Defendant Sentenced To Nine Years In Prison For Orchestrating 11 Armed Robberies Across New York City

 

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that JOSEPH SANDERS was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla to nine years in prison in connection with committing 11 armed robberies of bodegas, smoke shops, and other retail businesses across the Bronx, Queens, and Brooklyn. 

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Joseph Sanders terrorized hardworking New Yorkers across the City, committing 11 armed robberies.  On multiple occasions, he brutally pistol whipped his victims.  This Office’s career prosecutors continue their exhaustive commitment to keeping those who commit violent robberies off of our streets.” 

According to the Indictment, public filings, and statements made in court:

In the spring and fall of 2022, SANDERS committed 11 armed robberies throughout New York City.  Between March and April 2022, he committed four armed robberies of bodegas and smoke shops located in Queens, the Bronx, and Brooklyn.  Wearing a mask, SANDERS would enter the businesses, brandishing a silver gun and demanding money.  At times, he would point the gun directly at the terrified cashier.  For three of the robberies, SANDERS was accompanied by co-conspirators, but in all cases, it was SANDERS carrying the firearm.

In November 2022, SANDERS continued his robbery spree.  Between November and December 2022, he committed seven armed robberies of a tax preparation business, bodegas, and smoke shops located in the Bronx and Brooklyn.  SANDERS would enter the businesses brandishing a firearm and demanding money.  During one of those robberies, he kicked open a door, holding a firearm in his hand, then grabbed the sole employee by the arm and led her to a back room.  After the victim told SANDERS that the business had no cash on hand, he took her phone and $200 from her wallet. 

On two occasions, SANDERS violently pistol-whipped cashiers of the stores that he was robbing, before taking thousands of dollars from the cash registers.  Even when not assaulting the victims with a firearm, SANDERS threatened violence, pointing his firearm directly at the victims.  One such example is below, from the November 26, 2022, robbery of a deli:

In total, SANDERS stole $22,374.  At the time of his arrest, a .40 caliber Iberia pistol, which was loaded with ammunition, was found in his apartment. 

In addition to his prison term, SANDERS, 46, of Brooklyn, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $22,374 and to forfeit the same amount.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (“ATF”) and the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), in particular, the Strategic Patterned Armed Robbery Technical Apprehension Task Force, which is composed of agents and officers of the ATF and the NYPD.

Sixty-Two Members of Violent Gang Charged with Drug Trafficking and Firearms Violations in Puerto Ric

 

On April 24, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment charging 62 violent gang members from Arecibo, Puerto Rico, with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, possession and distribution of controlled substances, and firearms violations.

“Thanks to the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), FBI, U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and our state and local partners, more than 60 alleged gang members have been charged and over $72 million in drugs have been seized in this operation,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The residents of public housing projects deserve better than to be terrorized by violent drug trafficking gangs, and the Justice Department will be relentless in our efforts to dismantle the gangs that fuel violent crime and profit from poisoning our communities.”

“The allegations in today’s indictments tell a scary story about gang violence in these public housing communities,” said ATF Director Steven Dettelbach. “For all the innocent residents who are trying to raise healthy families in safe communities, law enforcement wants you to know that we are here for you. Living in public housing cannot, and should not, mean being subjected to an atmosphere of gun violence and drug dealing around you and your family. ATF’s number one priority is getting the worst criminals — the trigger pullers and drug dealers — off the streets. When rival gangs declare war on each other in the streets in any city, it is the innocent bystanders that suffer the greatest consequences. I want to commend all the ATF agents and our federal and local partners who worked tirelessly to make Arecibo and all of Puerto Rico a safer place.”

“The arrests in this case underscore the resolve of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and its law enforcement partners to uphold the rule of law and bring to justice violent criminals who threaten our communities,” said U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow for the District of Puerto Rico. “The Justice Department remains steadfast in its commitment to dismantle criminal organizations, hold gang members accountable, and pursue justice for victims.”

“Through the relentless collaboration, between the DEA and ATF, state and federal partners have dealt significant blows to the violent drug trafficking organizations operating within the El Cotto public housing project,” said Special Agent in Charge Denise Foster of the DEA Detroit Field Office. “With over $72 million in street value narcotics seized and over 40 arrests made, our joint efforts underscore our unwavering commitment to dismantling criminal enterprises and safeguarding our communities.”

The indictment alleges that, from 2014 through the present, the defendants worked as part of a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed illegal drugs for significant financial gain and profit — including cocaine base (commonly known as crack), heroin, cocaine, marijuana, Oxycodone (commonly known as Percocet), Alprazolam (commonly known as Xanax), Clonazepam (commonly known as Klonopin), and Tramadol — all within 1,000 feet of the Ramón Marín Solá Public Housing Project (PHP), Trina Padilla de Sanz PHP, Manuel Zeno Gandía PHP, Bella Vista PHP, and La Meseta PHP, all five facilities owned by a public housing authority and collectively referred to as El Cotto. The charging documents further allege that the leaders of the DTO that operates within the five PHPs comprising El Cotto met regularly to discuss drug trafficking activities and prevent issues between the members of the organization. The goal of the DTO was to maintain control of the drug trafficking activities within their territory by the use of force, threats, violence, and intimidation.

The defendants acted in different roles to further the goals of the drug trafficking conspiracy, including acting as leaders, enforcers, runners, sellers, and facilitators. The defendants charged in the indictment are:

1. Melquisedec Navarro-Lorenzo, also known as Melqui and La M
2. Joel Caraballo-López, also known as Flaqui
3. Luis Amezquita-Lorenzo, also known as Berto and Bethoven
4. Reinaldo Ortiz-González, also known as Chiqui, Compi Rey, Rajao, and Viejo
5. Alex Montalvo-Novoa, also known as Alex Chiquito
6. Jonathan Joel Franco-Mercado, also known as Gancho
7. Ivan Acosta-Rodríguez, also known as Luis Ivan Acosta Rodríguez, Luis Ivan Santiago Pérez, Ivan El Negro, Billy The Kid, and Wakala
8. Albert De Jesús-Schelmety, also known as Macu and Macuco
9. Renso Marcial-Rodríguez
10. Josué Cedeño-Feliciano, also known as Camboya
11. César Cardona-Mena, also known as Chivas
12. Lydia M. Pagán-Arocho, also known as Tata
13. Luis Méndez-Medina, also known as Tommy El Gago and Tommy El Loco
14. Jonathan Robles-Maldonado, also known as Paramédico and Jonathan Paramédico
15. Joseph Sanabria-Alequin, also known as Pitbull
16. Yefrain Molina-Viruet, also known as Harry Potter
17. Erick Juarbe-Rodríguez, also known as Erico
18. Ramón Colón-Crespo, also known as Papito
19. Jonathan Feliciano-Torres, also known as Duende
20. Abdiel Yadiel Carrión-Rosado, also known as Gemelo
21. Yadiel Abdiel Carrión-Rosado, also known as Gemelo
22. Emmanuel Pérez-Rodríguez, also known as Manny, Manes, and El Duraco Del Castillo
23. Obrian D. Mercado-Rivera
24. Ashley J. Rodríguez-Pérez, also known as Chal and Char
25. Jimar I. Álvarez-Maldonado, also known as Gordo
26. Jimel J. Ortiz-Delgado, also known as Miky and La Jota
27. Bryan Medina-Herrera, also known as Bryan Dialysis
28. Rafael Valle-Delgado, also known as Rafa Valle
29. Mitzuel Torres-Rivera
30. Jan C. Cuevas-Correa
31. Alexander Serrano-Colón, also known as Calle 13
32. Joselito Rodríguez-Álvarez, also known as Bombili
33. Ángel M. Felix-García, also known as Bully
34. Ángel Cortés-Soto, also known as Ángel el Bizco
35. Evans Y. Herrera-Quiñones, also known as El Enano
36. Luis O. Valentin-Rivera, also known as Luis Paramédico, Paramédico Valentin, and Omar
37. Jesús D. Rodríguez-Martínez, also known as Spock and Danny
38. Héctor Y. Rodríguez-Miranda, also known as Negri/Negrito
39. Michael Jordan-Lugo, also known as Jordan and Goldo
40. Kenneth Medina-Velázquez, also known as Kenny
41. Edgardo J. Ríos-Santana, also known as Coco
42. Kelvin Hernández-Bonilla, also known as Yampi and Yapi
43. Carlos Rodríguez-Herrera, also known as Carlitos and Hermano de Brian Dialysis
44. Natanael Franco-Mercado, also known as Nata, Hermano de Gancho, and Cirilo
45. Amisael Flores-Martínez, also known as Misa
46. Giovanni Molina-Viruet, also known as Giovannie and Giovanny
47. Alvin Y. Torres-Santiago, also known as Wisin and Yamil
48. Emmanuel Serrano-Feliciano, also known as Nana
49. Brandom L. Díaz-Navarro, also known as Brandon
50. Joshua Vargas-Feliciano, also known as Buda
51. Geovanell Mercado-Marrero, also known as Kiko
52. Jorge Cintrón-Cordero, also known as Ogui
53. Adonis J. Rosado-Serrano
54. Jonathan Ayala-Torres, also known as Menor, Siete Pestes, and Jon
55. José Santiago-Quiles, also known as Ewan
56. Liuzkany Rivera-Arroyo, also known as Kany and Luzkany
57. Adrián M. Lezca
58. Kevin X. Pérez-Molina, also known as Chino
59. Jair X. Galarza, also known as Marciano
60. Shaquilomar Molina-Soto, also known as Shaquille
61. Israel Rivera-Rivera, also known as Gemelo
62. Dexie Marie Narpiel Nieves, also known as La Flaca, Depsi, and Petunia

If convicted on the drug trafficking charges, the defendants face a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. Thirty-six of the above-listed defendants also face one charge of possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. If convicted on the firearms charge, the defendants face a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison, to be served consecutively to any penalty imposed on the drug trafficking charges. Upon conviction, all defendants are subject to a narcotics forfeiture allegation of $72,868,600. If convicted, a federal district court judge will determine any sentence after consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

ATF, the Puerto Rico Police Bureau (PRPB), Arecibo Strike Force, and DEA investigated the case, with the collaboration of the FBI, USMS, Bayamón Municipal Police, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Puerto Rico Public Housing Authority, and Puerto Rico Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney and Chief of the Gang Section Alberto López-Rocafort, Deputy Chief of the Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Teresa Zapata-Valladares, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Pedro R. Casablanca and R. Vance Eaton for the District of Puerto Rico are prosecuting the case.

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Comptroller Lander & NYC Pension Trustees: Shareholders Should Reject Election of Out of Step Saudi Aramco CEO to BlackRock Board

 

Conflicts of interest and detrimental views on climate raise concerns about compatibility and signify a major step backward for the company

New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, on behalf of the New York City Employees’ Retirement System (NYCERS), filed an exempt solicitation urging BlackRock shareholders to ‘VOTE NO’ against the board election of Saudi Aramco CEO Amin H. Nasser. As shareholders, Comptroller Lander and fellow NYCERS trustees believe that Nasser’s role with Saudi Aramco poses conflicts of interest that compromise his ability to fulfill board responsibilities. Nasser has been an advocate for the expansion of fossil fuels and moving away from decarbonization efforts.  

The solicitation to shareholders notes, “Nasser is not qualified to serve as an independent member of BlackRock’s Board, which is responsible for ‘[o]versight of near- and long-term business strategy (including sustainability).’ His nomination represents a step backward for the company, aligning BlackRock with outdated perspectives and practices that are incompatible with the pressing need for climate action and responsible business practices as reflected in BlackRock’s own commitments.” 

At a time when the climate crisis has never been more urgent, the public comments of Nasser are in direct conflict with BlackRock’s stated climate commitment of “supporting the goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 or sooner.” The solicitation brings into question the progress BlackRock can truly make with the board election of Nasser and cites the company’s withdrawal from Climate Action 100+. 

Despite BlackRock’s positioning of Nasser as an independent director, Aramco has conducted sizeable, related-party transactions with BlackRock within the past three years. One of the largest transactions was a 49% equity interest in Aramco Gas Pipelines Company for $15.5 billion by a consortium of investors co-led by BlackRock. 

The close relationship between Saudi Aramco and BlackRock may compromise Nasser’s independence as a director. According to the NYSE listing standards, a director cannot be independent if he is “a current executive officer of a company that has made payments to, or received payments from, the listed company for property or services in an amount which, in any of the last three fiscal years, exceeds the greater of $1 million, or 2% of such other company’s consolidated gross revenues.” Even if a director passes this test, he still may not be independent. Ultimately, the board must make a final determination of independence based on all relevant facts and circumstances. 

BlackRock has not disclosed its Aramco-related fees or tariff payments enabling investors to assess whether such payments may be material to their own proxy voting decision-making. 

The solicitation also cites human rights concerns, and notes that “in his capacity as the CEO of Aramco, Nasser received a June 2023 letter from independent human rights experts appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council, expressing concern and requesting clarification with respect to allegations that Aramco had engaged in one of the largest ever climate-related breaches of international human rights law by a business.” BlackRock has committed to incorporating the UN Global Compact’s Ten Principles in their “strategy, culture, and day-to-day operations,” raising further questions about the alignment of Nasser with BlackRock’s overall business strategy. 

As of February 28, NYCERS has approximately $43 million invested in BlackRock. Additionally, BlackRock manages approximately $19 billion on behalf of NYCERS. 

The full exempt solicitation has been filed with the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) as of May 1, 2024. 

In addition to Comptroller Lander, trustees of the New York City Employees’ Retirement System are as follows: 

Mayor Eric Adams’ Appointee Bryan Berge, Director, Mayor’s Office of Pension and Investments; New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams; Borough Presidents: Mark Levine (Manhattan), Antonio Reynoso (Brooklyn), Donovan Richards Jr. (Queens), Vito Fossella (Staten Island), and Vanessa L. Gibson (Bronx); Henry Garrido, Executive Director, District Council 37, AFSCME; Richard Davis, President Transport Workers Union Local 100; and Gregory Floyd, President, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local 237. 

Cox: Hochul AWOL while Jewish New Yorkers Under Attack by Radicals

 

Statement from NYGOP Chair Ed Cox on Kathy Hochul's Fundraising Trip to Philadelphia NYGOP Chair Ed Cox released the following statement in response to Kathy Hochul's trip to Pennsylvania to raise money while New York's Jewish community remains under attack by radical leftists:   “Anti-Semitic violence has erupted on college campuses around New York State and Kathy Hochul is AWOL in Philadelphia to raise money.   "Jewish New Yorkers, and all those who care about the scourge of leftwing anti-Semitism plaguing our state and country, have no friend in Kathy Hochul or other top New York Democrats, who have either been silent in the face of this ongoing evil or, in the case of AOC and Jamaal Bowman, made common cause with Hamas sympathizers."

During Older Americans Month, NYSOFA Releases County Data from First-Ever Statewide Needs Assessment Survey of New Yorkers 60+

 

72% of older adults consider their overall health to be "excellent/good"; 78% called their community an "excellent/good" place to live

May is Older Americans Month and the New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) today announced the release of county-by-county data from NYSOFA’s Community Assessment Survey of Older Adults. The statewide survey – which received nearly 27,000 responses from New Yorkers age 60 and older – is the first and most comprehensive of its kind in New York State, providing extensive findings on how older adults view themselves and the communities in which they live. 

The 62 county-specific reports are available on NYSOFA’s website here, offering key insights for local governments, human services organizations, businesses, research organizations, and others interested in understanding the views, experiences, and priorities of older adults in their communities.

The statewide Comprehensive Community Assessment Survey was conducted in the winter and spring of 2023 in partnership with the research firm Polco and the Association on Aging in New York (AgingNY).

NYSOFA Director Greg Olsen said, “The county results we are announcing today include over 100 data points and information on the preferences of nearly 27,000 older adults statewide, as well as their perceptions of themselves, their communities, and the needs of their communities. While the results may be surprising to some, they confirm what many in the aging services field already recognize – older adults broadly consider themselves healthy, active, and engaged in their communities. The local results vary, and they identify several challenges for many older adults who need some assistance or support. NYSOFA and our partners across state and local governments are working to address these needs and challenges at multiple levels.”

More Details about the Survey

NYSOFA’s aggregate Statewide Community Assessment Survey results were used to inform NYSOFA’s Four-Year Plan. The federally required plan is submitted to the Administration on Community Living (ACL) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), outlining how NYSOFA and its network will address federal priorities for older adults. The survey was made available in six languages and conducted through direct mail and online. Some of the findings are below. All of the survey findings can be downloaded in the full report here.

Overall Health 

• 72% of older adults considered their overall health to be “excellent or good.”

• 82% considered their overall mental health/emotional wellbeing to be “excellent or good.”

Overall Community

• 78% of older adults called their community an “excellent or good” place to live.  

• 52% of older adults called their community an “excellent or good” place to retire. 

• 71% of older adults said they are very “likely/somewhat likely” to remain in their community throughout retirement.  

• Nearly 70% of older adults have lived in their community for 20 years or more. 

Housing 

Housing was identified as a priority area of need. To address housing concerns for older adults and New Yorkers of all ages, the Fiscal Year 2025 Enacted State Budget includes a landmark agreement to address the state’s housing crisis by building more housing, protecting tenants and homeowners, eliminating price gouging for renters, protecting consumers from evictions, a measure to protect homeowners from deed theft, and combatting housing discrimination in Section 8 and affordable housing providers. Housing is also an important focus area of the state's Master Plan for Aging, which is developing a roadmap of supports for older adults under the direction of Governor Kathy Hochul. According to the NYSOFA survey:

• 39% of older adults indicated some problem finding housing that “suits their needs.”

• 63% of older adults indicated housing variety was “fair/poor.” 

• 69% of older adults indicated that the availability of affordable quality housing was “fair/poor.”

Transportation and Ease of Travel 

There was a mix of results on ease of travel, depending on the mode (i.e., public transportation, car, walkability, and more):

• In general, 73% of respondents rated their community as “excellent or good” when it comes to the ease of “getting to places they like to visit.”

• Regarding the “ability to drive,” approximately 76% said it was “not a problem,” approximately 7% said it was a “minor problem,” and approximately 18% said it was a “moderate or major problem.”

Engagement and Recreation

Older adults were split in their assessment about engagement and recreation opportunities: 

• 50% of older adults said recreation opportunities were “excellent or good.”

• 44% said opportunities to participate in community matters were “excellent or good,” and 33% said that opportunities to enroll in skill building or personal enrichment classes were “excellent or good.” 

Concerns about Daily Activities

For individuals needing assistance to age-in-place, local offices for the aging provide more than 20 core services and supports. The Fiscal Year 2025 Enacted State Budget further invests in these services, including additional funds to help local offices for the aging in their efforts to direct resources toward locally determined, demonstrated service needs. According to NYSOFA’s survey:

• 34% of older adults said “doing heavy or intense housework” was “not a problem,” with 37% saying it was a “moderate or major problem.”

• When it comes to “maintaining their home,” 41% of older adults said this activity was “not a problem,” with 31% saying it was a “moderate or major problem.”

Availability of Resources 

• Depending on the specific question, between 43% and 49% of respondents had concerns about the availability of resources like financial/legal planning, daycare for older adults, and availability of quality mental health, all of which are areas being evaluated through New York’s Master Plan for Aging process. 

Services and Care 

Older adults identified some problems with falling or injury in the home, getting needed services and affording medications. To address services and care, the Fiscal Year 2025 Enacted State Budget provides an historic $37 billion Medicaid investment and maintains the state’s commitment to supporting the health care safety net and transforming the health care delivery system, while simultaneously making bold investments to expand access to services and support the workforce. The budget also eliminates insulin cost sharing for New Yorkers enrolled on state-regulated insurance plans and protects low-income New Yorkers from medical debt lawsuits by banning hospitals from suing patients earning less than 400 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (or $120,000 for a family of four), and more. Further efforts to enhance long-term services and supports and community-based options are being evaluated as part of the state’s Master Plan for Aging.  

• 39% of older adults indicated that finding affordable health insurance was a problem.

• 37% of older adults indicated getting needed health care was a problem.

• 56% of older adults indicated the availability of preventive health services (such as health screens, flu shots, and educational workshops) was “excellent/good.” 

Social Isolation 

Social isolation affects older adults and people of all ages. For older adults facing isolation, NYSOFA has a 50-year track record of services, supports, and interventions, including many nation-leading program innovations.

• 84% of older adults said feeling lonely or isolated was either “not a problem” (for 61% of respondents) or a “minor problem” (for 23% of respondents), with similar results for feelings of depression, boredom, or having friends/family to rely upon. 

• 34% of older adults indicated that opportunities to volunteer were “fair/poor.”

• 44% of older adults indicated opportunities to participate in community matters were “fair/poor.” 

Crime and Social Inclusion 

• While only 16% of older adults said that “being a victim of crime” is a “minor” or “moderate/major” problem, 25% had concerns about “being a victim of fraud/scams.” NYSOFA offers many elder-justice programs and services, including important initiatives to educate the public about scams and fraud.

• 26% of older adults had concerns about “being discriminated against due to age.”

• 46% of older adults felt like their “voice was not heard in the community.” 

Caregiving 

NYSOFA has a multi-tiered caregiver support program and initiatives, including many services that directly help caregivers, such as respite and adult day care programs. NYSOFA has also advanced digital tools to support caregivers through New York State’s Caregiver Portal, a Working Caregivers Campaign to help individuals balancing work and caregiving, as well as campaigns to help people self-identify as caregivers. Caregiver supports are being further advanced through the Master Plan for Aging.

• 33% of older adults are providing some uncompensated care to someone older than 55.

• 15% are doing so for 1-3 hours per week; 9% for 4-10 hours per week; 2% for 11 to 19 hours per week; and 7% for 20 or more hours per week. 

• Between 23% and 27% of older adults felt physically, emotionally, or financially burdened by the role of uncompensated caregiving. 

Hospitalizations and Long Term Care 

While the health care services system rightly works to address the needs of individuals requiring intensive services or medical frailty, NYSOFA’s Community Assessment Survey of Older Adults reveals that many older adults are healthy, and the vast majority are not directly served by institutional systems of long-term care.

• 80% of older adults had not been hospitalized in the past 12 months.
  
  
• 97% had not needed long-term care in a facility (i.e., nursing home or rehab) during the last 12 months.
  
  
• 68% did not have injuries from falls in the last 12 months, with 28% experiencing some injury 1 to 2 times, and 4% experiencing some injury 3 or more times. 

NYS Office of the Comptroller DiNapoli: Number of New Yorkers Going Hungry Increases Despite Improving Economy

 

Food insecurity is increasing in New York, with one-in-nine households (11.3% or 875,000 families) unable to get enough food at some point during 2020 through 2022 because they lacked money or other resources, according to a follow-up analysis released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. A report released last year found one-in-10 New York households (800,000 families) experienced food insecurity in 2019 through 2021. Nationally, food insecurity increased for the first time in over a decade to 11.2% during 2020 through 2022.

“As the COVID pandemic ended, so did many of the enhanced federal benefits that helped struggling families put food on the table, and just as food and other household costs started to rise,” DiNapoli said. “These benefits drove down the number of households facing food insecurity and food insufficiency. Higher food costs and rising poverty rates leave far too many New York households with too little to eat. I urge the federal government to expand eligibility for nutrition assistance programs so we can make sure families throughout New York and America don’t go hungry.”

Data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau since the start of the pandemic also show general increases in food insufficiency among New York and U.S. households through 2023. Rates rose in 2021 and remained elevated in 2022 and 2023. Households with children experienced the highest rates of food insufficiency over the last few years, as high as 16% in 2022. Data from the first three months of 2024 indicate that while rates are dropping, roughly one-in-nine households with children in New York sometimes or often do not have enough to eat. 

Food Assistance Programs Use Remain High

During the pandemic, New York families benefitted from temporary increases in Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, including a 15% increase to maximum SNAP benefit amounts from Jan. through Sept. 2021. Monthly SNAP expenditures increased by $506.4 million, or 142%, from Jan. 2020 to Feb. 2023, when supplemental emergency SNAP allotments ended.

SNAP recipients increased to 2.8 million by June 2020, and continued to trend upward through March 2023, reaching a recent peak of 3 million. SNAP recipients increased during this period even as job growth continued steadily. Since March 2023, the number of monthly SNAP recipients decreased by 1.9% to about 2.9 million in Jan. 2024. 

Financial Pressures on New Yorkers

In the last five years – but especially from late 2021 through early 2023 – year-over-year “food at home” costs have risen sharply nationally. In the New York Metropolitan area, year-over-year growth in these costs increased from 4.6% in Sept. 2021 to 11.9% in July 2022 and experienced the only percentage decreases in such costs in February and March 2024.

State Budget Actions

The enacted budget for State Fiscal Year 2024-25 draws on state and federal funding to implement and administer a new federal food program for low-income families with school-aged children when schools are closed in the summer. It is estimated the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program for Children will serve about two million children in New York state. The enacted budget also provides a total of $192.3 million for school lunch and breakfast programs, for a year-over-year increase of $11 million. In addition, the budget appropriates $57.8 million for the Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program, which supplements food and operational costs of food pantries, soup kitchens, and emergency shelters, and $54.3 million for the Nourish New York program. These funding levels reflect year-over-year increases of $1.3 million and $4.3 million, respectively.

Analysis

Economic and Policy Insights – Food Insecurity Persists Post-Pandemic

Related Report

New Yorkers in Need: Food Insecurity and Nutritional Assistance Programs

VCJC News & Notes 5/3/24

 

Van Cortlandt Jewish Center

News and Notes

Here's this week's edition of the VCJC News and Notes email. We hope you enjoy it and find it useful!

Reminders

1. Shabbos
   
   

   Here are the times you need:  
   Shabbos Candles Friday 5/3/24@ 7:36 pm
   Shabbos morning services at 8:40 am.  Please join the services if you can do so safely. 
   Shabbos Ends Saturday 5/4/24 @ 8:40 pm
   If you require an aliyah or would like to lead services, read from the torah or haftorah please speak to one of the gabbaim.
    

2. YOM HASHOAH PROGRAM
   HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY

   SUNDAY MAY 5th

   10:30AM Memorial Program

   Followed by a Webinar at 11 AM presented by:

   TOLI Institute for Holocaust Studies and Human Rights
   Please note that the Senior Center will also be using the building for a makeup day.

3. Yizkor Donations
   A reminder that Yizkor was said on the last day of Passover during the morning service.  It is traditional to donate to charity in conjunction with Yizkor.  VCJC would welcome your donation if you see fit to give to us.  You may do so directly in the office, by check, or through PayPal on our website.

Our mailing address is:

Van Cortlandt Jewish Center

3880 Sedgwick Ave

Bronx, NY 10463