Attorney General James Announces Takedown of Gun Traffickers for Selling Ghost Guns and Other Firearms in Central New York

 

AG’s Investigation Recovered Dozens of Firearms and Gun Parts, Including Nine Ghost Gun Pistols and Nine Receivers Used to Make Assault-Style Ghost Guns

New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced the indictment of four defendants charged with 35 crimes related to their participation in a gun trafficking operation in Central New York. An investigation led by the Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) Organized Crime Task Force (OCTF) recovered 31 firearms and receivers, including 18 ghost guns or parts used to make ghost guns, dozens of high-capacity magazines, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. Two indictments charge the four defendants with various crimes, including felony counts of Criminal Possession and Criminal Sale of a Firearm. 

“Untraceable ghost guns help empower criminals and are a threat to New Yorkers everywhere,” said Attorney General James. “This takedown is part of my office’s ongoing work with our partners in law enforcement to remove ghost guns from our streets and ensure the gun traffickers who threaten our communities see justice. I will continue to use every tool at my disposal to stop the sale of illegal guns in our state and protect New Yorkers from gun violence.” 

"Today’s indictments and arrests would not have been possible without the dedication, hard work, and expertise of our many partners in law enforcement,” said New York State Police (NYSP) Superintendent Steven G. James. “Through our efforts, we have disrupted a significant gun trafficking operation plaguing central New York, sending a strong message that gun trafficking and the violence that is often associated with it will not be tolerated anywhere in New York State. I want to thank Attorney General Letitia James for her ongoing partnership and all of our law enforcement colleagues for their tremendous investigative efforts and never-ending professionalism."

The takedown was the result of a joint investigation between OCTF and the NYSP Community Stabilization Unit, with assistance from the NYSP Special Investigations Unit’s Rochester and Syracuse offices and the Syracuse Police Department. The investigation included law enforcement subpoenas, covert physical surveillance, the use of undercover investigators, and other intelligence gathering techniques in combination with overt proactive law enforcement activities, including identified citizen encounters. 

The investigation is part of a continuing multifaceted operation designed to recover unregistered, untraceable firearms in the wake of legislation enacted in New York in 2021 to crack down on the possession and sale of unregistered and unserialized firearms, or ghost guns, and their component parts. In June 2022, the OCTF investigative team began an investigation into two sources of illegal firearms trafficking, including ghost guns, in the Syracuse area.

Over the course of the investigation, authorities seized the following firearms and components:

• Nine Polymer80 and AR-15 style unfinished frames/receivers, used to assemble ghost guns 
• Nine unserialized and unregistered Polymer80 ghost gun pistols 
• Nine serialized unregistered firearms 
• Three AR-15 style rifles
• One 7.62 assault rifle 
• Dozens of magazines, including several extended magazines classified as high-capacity ammunition feeding devices 
• Hundreds of rounds of ammunition

Short-barrel AM-15 rifle with extended magazine and Polymer80 ghost gun pistol recovered by the investigation

Polymer80 9mm Luger pistols (ghost guns)  

Taurus 9mm Luger pistol with high-capacity magazine and ammunition

The four individuals who were charged with various counts of Criminal Possession and Criminal Sale of a Firearm (class B, C and D felonies) for their involvement in the firearms trafficking operation are: 

• Charles Baker, 26 years old, Brewerton, New York 
• Jeremy Baker, a/k/a “Rico,” 23 years old, Syracuse, New York  
• Brian Lawson, a/k/a “P’Nut,” 23 years old, South Carolina 
• John Leone, Jr., 52 years old, Elbridge, New York 

Indictment One

The first indictment outlines the activities of Lawson and both Bakers. Lawson is charged with Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the First Degree for allegedly selling three or more firearms in a period of less than one year. Lawson allegedly obtained the firearms he sold from the Bakers, who are also charged with several offenses relating to illegal firearms sales and possession. During the course of the investigation, OCTF detectives recovered numerous firearms alleged to have been sold by Lawson and the Bakers, including Polymer80 9mm pistols with no serial numbers.

Indictment Two

The second indictment outlines the activities of John Leone, Jr., who is charged in a 21-count indictment with Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the First Degree and other felony firearms offenses. Throughout that investigation, OCTF detectives recovered three Polymer80 9mm Luger pistols with no serial numbers and an Anderson Manufacturing AM-15 semiautomatic rifle assault weapon with a 7 ¾ inch barrel, all alleged to have been sold by Leone in Elbridge. 

The charges against the defendants are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law. 

Today’s takedown is the latest effort by Attorney General James to combat illegal gun trafficking. In March 2024, Attorney General James secured a $7.8 million judgment against gun retailer Indie Guns for illegally selling ghost gun components in New York. In February 2024, Attorney General James announced the takedowns of a gun trafficking network that sold ghost guns and assault-style rifles and a narcotics trafficking network in Dutchess County. In December 2023, Attorney General James and the NYSP indicted a Manhattan man for trafficking guns and narcotics. In March 2023, Attorney General James announced the takedown of a ghost gun and narcotics trafficking operation in New York City. Also in March 2023, Attorney General James secured a court order banning 10 gun distributors from selling and shipping ghost gun parts into New York. In December 2022, Attorney General James announced the takedown of a ghost gun trafficking operation in Queens and Westchester counties.

The investigation was led by NYSP Senior Investigator Todd Grant of the Community Stabilization Unit and OCTF Detective William Elsenbeck and Supervising Detective John T. MacConaghy, under the supervision of OCTF Upstate Chief Detective John Monte and Deputy Chief Andrew Boss. The Attorney General’s Investigations Division is led by Chief Oliver Pu-Folkes.

New York Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Unlawfully Export Dual-Use Electronics Used in Russian Military Drones

 

New York Company Received Over $250,000 from Sanctioned Russian Entity to Purchase and Export Electronic Components

Nikolay Grigorev, 36, of Brooklyn, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to defraud the United States for his role in an illicit export control scheme to ship electronic components from the United States to companies affiliated with the Russian military. Co-defendants Nikita Arkhipov and Artem Oloviannikov remain at large. 

“In pleading guilty today, the defendant admitted he conspired to smuggle over $250,000 worth of sensitive American drone technology to Russian companies fueling Putin’s unlawful war against Ukraine,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “Swift action by agents and prosecutors unraveled a web of fake orders and wire transfers to prevent over 11,500 electronic components from making their way to the Russian war machine. The Justice Department will continue to hold accountable those who defy our sanctions and export controls to support Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified aggression in Ukraine – whether they’re based in New York City or overseas.” 

“The FBI is relentless in its efforts to prevent sensitive, dual-use technology from being acquired by adversaries,” said FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate. “The technologies in this case supported Russia’s war effort and poses a significant threat to the United States and its allies. The FBI continues to tirelessly pursue any illegal transfers that threaten national security and hold accountable those who violate the law.”

“When I visited Ukraine last November, I saw firsthand the death and destruction that such drones and other Russian weapons of war have caused, and heard from our counterparts about the importance of stopping the illicit flow of technology to support the Russian war machine,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “Today’s plea reinforces our commitment to hold accountable those who violate our laws and our determination to undermine the Russian government’s unjustified campaign of aggression against the Ukrainian people.”

“Grigorev admitted today that he conspired to supply Russia with U.S.-sourced, dual-use technologies, knowing full well that his actions violated export controls and sanctions designed to stop those items from being sent to Russia and used in the production of drones like those found on the battlefields in Ukraine,” said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York. “Today’s guilty plea reaffirms that my office will pursue anyone who violates our export controls and threatens our national security.”

“Today’s guilty plea is just the latest example of our unyielding efforts to reduce the flow of electronic components to the Russian military,” said Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement Matthew S. Axelrod. “Criminal convictions await those who willfully circumvent U.S. export controls and aid the manufacture of Russian drones used against Ukraine.”

As alleged in the indictment, Grigorev utilized a Brooklyn-based corporate entity, Quality Life Cue LLC (QLC), to facilitate the scheme. QLC was registered and controlled by Grigorev and Oloviannikov, with Arkhipov utilizing a QLC email account from Russia. Through QLC, the defendants procured dual-use electronic components for entities in Russia involved in the development and manufacture of drones for the Russian war effort in Ukraine. The most notable of these entities was SMT-iLogic, a Russia-based technology company that was sanctioned in May 2023 for its involvement in the supply chain for producing Russian military UAVs used in Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Between Oct. 22, 2021, and Feb. 22, 2022, QLC accounts controlled by Grigorev received wire transactions from SMT-iLogic totaling approximately $272,830. These funds were used almost entirely to make payments to a Brooklyn-based electronics distributor (the “Brooklyn Company”) or to pay Grigorev’s credit cards, which he used to buy goods from the Brooklyn Company. In email and chat communications, the defendants explicitly discussed their efforts to circumvent U.S. export restrictions, including through the use of front companies in third countries, such as Kazakhstan, and they also forwarded invoices listing SMT-iLogic as the recipient of semiconductors and other electronic components purchased from the Brooklyn Company. In addition, in December 2022, in response to negative press coverage of SMT-iLogic, Grigorev forwarded a news article to his co-defendants and stated, “they are already writing about your (sic) guys in articles about how Russia is getting American components for drones.” In June 2023, a court-authorized search warrant of Grigorev’s residence in Brooklyn resulted in the successful seizure of over 11,500 electronic components that had been purchased from the Brooklyn Company and were awaiting unlawful export to Russia.

As a result of today’s guilty plea, Grigorev faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Artie McConnell and Kate Mathews for the Eastern District of New York are prosecuting the case. Natalya Savransky, formerly of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, provided valuable assistance.

Today’s actions were coordinated through the Justice and Commerce Departments’ Disruptive Technology Strike Force and the Justice Department’s Task Force KleptoCapture. The Disruptive Technology Strike Force is an interagency law enforcement strike force co-led by the Departments of Justice and Commerce designed to target illicit actors, protect supply chains, and prevent critical technology from being acquired by authoritarian regimes and hostile nation states. Task Force KleptoCapture is an interagency law enforcement task force dedicated to enforcing the sweeping sanctions, export restrictions and economic countermeasures that the United States has imposed, along with its allies and partners, in response to Russia’s unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine.

Recidivist Child Pornography Offender Who Sent Threatening Powder-Filled Letter To FBI Agent Sentenced To 130 Months In Prison

 

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that OKAMI LANDA was sentenced to 130 months in prison for possession of child pornography and for sending a threatening, powder-filled letter to a federal agent who previously investigated and arrested him.  LANDA previously pled guilty before U.S. District Judge P. Kevin Castel, who imposed today’s sentence. 

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Okami Landa has twice been convicted in this District of possessing child pornography.  Today’s sentence holds Landa accountable not only for his participation in the exploitation and victimization of young children, but also for his intolerable decision to retaliate against the FBI by sending a terrifying, powder-filled letter to the agent who investigated him.  This Office stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the dedicated FBI agents who investigate crimes against children.  Their work should never make them targets of reprisal.” 

According to court documents and statements made during court proceedings:[1]

In November 2021, LANDA, who had previously been convicted and sentenced to two years in prison for possession of child pornography in 2016, mailed a threatening letter filled with white powder to a Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) agent (the “FBI Agent”) who was assigned to a squad responsible for investigating crimes against children.  The FBI Agent had interviewed and arrested LANDA in connection with his previous child pornography conviction.  The threatening letter, which the FBI Agent opened inside a forensic laboratory at an FBI office in Manhattan, contained a white powdery substance and a message that said, among other things: “Hope you and your ugly cracker children and family get what you deserved, a slow, painful and terminal disease to end your sorry life.”  The letter and powder prompted an emergency response from the FBI’s weapons and mass destruction team, which sealed the forensic laboratory before examining the powder and determining that it was safe.  The FBI Agent and other FBI personnel in the area were quarantined and hospitalized for medical evaluation.

Through the FBI’s investigation, law enforcement examined the serial number of the stamp affixed to the threatening letter and learned that it was purchased using a credit card belonging to LANDA’s mother, who lived with LANDA at their residence in the Bronx.  At the time, LANDA was on federal supervised release for his previous child pornography conviction and had previously made threatening statements about law enforcement, including about a desire to “blow up Federal Plaza because I hate the feds and they ruined my life.”  Following an interview at his residence by FBI agents, the U.S. Probation Office conducted a search of LANDA’s residence, where they recovered multiple electronic devices, including a USB drive that contained 11 files with child pornography.  The child pornography on LANDA’s USB drive included depictions of prepubescent minor females and adult males engaging in sex acts.

In addition to the prison term, LANDA, 41, of the Bronx, New York, was sentenced to 10 years of supervised release.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding efforts of the FBI’s New York Joint Terrorism Task Force, which consists of investigators and analysts from the FBI, the New York City Police Department, and over 50 other federal, state, and local agencies.

Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on College Campus Safety

 Governor Hochul: “Every American has a First Amendment right to peacefully protest and assemble and many students we know have very strong convictions, strong beliefs about what has taken them to protest. We don't have to agree with them. That's not always how it is. But when actions cross over into vandalism, harassment, destruction of property, or even violence, then the line has been crossed.”

I want to first address the situation at Columbia University. I visited the campus last week, sat down with security personnel, NYPD, the college President, as well as students, students who were fearful.

We've been engaged intensely all this week. My team has been having many, many conversations. And all across the state, every campus, we have to ensure that everyone on that campus is safe. That is our number one priority. I will reiterate what I've said before: every American has a First Amendment right to peacefully protest and assemble. Many students, as we know, have very strong convictions, strong beliefs, about what has taken them to protest. We don't have to agree with them. That's not always how it is.

But when actions cross over into vandalism, harassment, destruction of property, or even violence, then the line has been crossed. A few of the individuals participating in last night's actions, they forced staff from their jobs, students from the security of using buildings — they broke windows, barricaded exits — and these individuals are clearly breaking the law. There must be accountability, whether that's disciplinary action from the school or from law enforcement.

Again, our number one job is to keep students safe. There are 30,000 students at Columbia University. The vast majority are not involved in the protests. There are Jewish students who feel threatened and harassed right now, and there have been times when Arab and Muslim students have felt the same over the last year.

There are students who agree with the protesters but left the encampments under fear of suspension. And the vast majority of them are young people who simply want to finish out the semester, study for their exams without interruption, and in some cases, graduate. All of them deserve to be safe.

So, what we need to do is de-escalate the situation, restore a sense of normalcy on campus, and be sure that every student is safe and unharmed. The State of New York has offered our universities any assistance, should they need them. But I've also sent a notice to our colleges and universities — every student deserves to celebrate at a commencement. We have seen across the country, other schools have canceled commencements denying these students who were also denied the opportunity to walk across their stage four years ago because of the pandemic as high school students.

They have a right to graduate. They have a right to celebrate with their families and in many cases these families have traveled long and far to be here to congratulate their children on the extraordinary accomplishment that would lead them to that place. They've worked hard and they should not be denied this opportunity because of the actions of others.

So, I've offered my support from the administration to all of the universities to find a path to make sure that there are security measures in place. And advise them in ways to make sure that in person commencements can move safely forward.

Let me close with this: we are gathered here on Roosevelt Island, just steps from here is Four Freedoms Park. I’m reminded of Franklin Roosevelt's comments about the freedoms that Americans are entitled to — freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want and freedom from fear. All of these freedoms are essential. We have a right to speak and to worship. But it must be done without fear. As my predecessor FDR made clear, that is what everyone deserves and we’ll ensure that is the case.

MAYOR ADAMS CELEBRATES LAUNCH OF NEW YORK CITY’S FIRST CLIMATE BUDGETING PROCESS

 

New York City is First Big City in U.S. to Adopt Climate Budgeting, Joins Elite Group of Global Cities, Including London, Oslo, and Mumbai 

 

Climate Budgeting Will Permanently Embed Climate Considerations Into Budgeting Decisions, Helping to Reach Climate Goals 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams introduced the city’s first-ever climate budgeting publication through the city’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Executive Budget. Climate budgeting is a process that incorporates science-based climate considerations into the city’s budget decision-making process by evaluating how actions and spending today contribute to meeting longer-term climate targets and needs. The process will allow New York City to understand the climate impact of the dollars New York City spends, identify where more effort is needed to tackle climate change, and champion forward-looking investments.  

 

New York City is the first big city in the United States to adopt climate budgeting, joining other elite global cities, such as London, Oslo, and Mumbai, to utilize the process. Now, for the first time ever, climate will be formally integrated into the City of New York’s decision-making to ensure climate considerations are prioritized in all relevant investment decisions. Climate budgeting is a new tool in the city’s arsenal to achieve its stated goal of getting to net-zero emissions by 2050 and bolster its resiliency to extreme heat and flooding.  

 

“Big problems require big solutions, and few problems are as massive as climate change,” said Mayor Adams. “By embedding climate into our budget decision-making, we are changing the very calculus of government spending going forward and acknowledging that climate must be at the forefront of what we do. From this day on, we will have the tools to evaluate the impact of city projects and programs on achieving the city’s climate-related goals. By weighing these impacts — both positive and negative — in the critical early stages of the budgeting process, we will know how each dollar the city spends affects citywide sustainability and resiliency. I look forward to continuing this process and ensuring New York City is a leader in the fight to tackle climate change.” 

 

Starting this year, the New York City Mayor’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has embedded new management practices into the city budgeting process. OMB assessed progress toward climate goals and needs, including through the development of the first annual forecasts of citywide and city government emissions through 2050, and first assessment of projects in the city’s capital commitment plan for alignment with net-zero emissions and flood and extreme heat resiliency goals. The process also initiates a requirement that climate data be provided for capital projects and alongside all relevant agency funding requests, and, moving forward, all proposed sustainability and resiliency investments will be centrally reviewed to prioritize for impact and cost-effectiveness. 

 

“I am proud that New York City is prioritizing sustainability and our environment,” said First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright. “By considering climate in our financial planning, we are not only investing in a greener future for our community but also ensuring that our fiscal decisions align with our environmental goals. This first-in-the-nation approach reflects our commitment to combating climate change and building a resilient, sustainable city for future New Yorkers.” 

 

“Excessive heat, rain, tides, and pollution threaten the foundational strength of New York City, a foundation critically necessary for strong housing, strong schools, and a strong economy,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. “Climate budgeting is the most effective and focused way to meet the moment, by mainstreaming climate action into New York City’s daily operations through targeted, considered investments. Through this daily discipline, we will meet our climate goals and, more importantly, ensure the bright New York City future that our children and grandchildren deserve.” 

 

“Climate budgeting is monumental for New York City, a tool that will help to ensure we understand and fully account for the climate impacts of city spending and make investments that advance resilience, accelerate a just transition away from fossil fuels, and progress the city's overall climate goals,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Maria Torres-Springer. “With this novel, precedent-setting approach, New York City is furthering its position as a global leader in the green economy by leveraging the city's purchasing power to confront climate change, generate economic value, and reach our goal of 400,000 ‘green-collar’ jobs by 2040." 

 

“Climate change is an existential threat to the city’s fiscal stability and infrastructure, and increasingly frequent extreme weather events cause injury and damage and disrupt critical city services. We must be proactive and do our part to take on one of the greatest challenges the city has faced.” said OMB Director Jacques Jiha, Ph.D. “Now, for the first time, through the climate budgeting process, our budget decision-making will include an evaluation of how our investments impact the ability to meet the city’s long-term, ambitious climate goals. Using this data to help make smart and informed choices that reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen our resiliency will benefit New Yorkers now and for generations to come. I want to thank Mayor Adams for his leadership in making climate budgeting a permanent part of the city’s budget process.” 

 

“There is an old line that says, ‘show me your budget and I’ll show you your values.’ This is a great first step towards a day when our budget fully reflects our commitment to climate action,” said New York City Chief Climate Officer and New York City Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala. “When fully implemented, climate budgeting will ensure that each budget decision incorporates climate as a key aspect of fiscal responsibility.” 

 

“Our climate and our health are interconnected,” said New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan. “Addressing climate change will require innovation, ingenuity, and intention. It will also require courageous pragmatism to consistently evaluate what works and pivot based on what is most effective. Climate budgeting promises that the resources we commit have the greatest possible impact.” 

 

 “The climate budget illustrates the critical role a budget office plays in climate planning,” said Mayor’s Office of Climate & Environmental Justice (MOCEJ) Executive Director Elijah Hutchinson. “We cannot phase out our spending on fossil fuels, prioritize investments along with our climate and environmental justice priorities, or identify where we need to target interventions without a climate budget. This first-of-its-kind accounting exercise is a critical first step.” 

 

“Integrating climate budgeting into the city's budget process will lead to better decision-making, both from a cost effectiveness and carbon reduction standpoint,” said New York City Chief Decarbonization Officer and Deputy Commissioner of Energy Management Sana Barakat. “As the city continues to implement decarbonization projects across city government operations, this new approach will be critical in maximizing investments that will further support us achieving LL97 mandates. This is why climate budgeting is transformative and the Department of Citywide Administrative Services is proud to be a partner to OMB on this first-in-the-nation initiative.” 

 

Key findings from the first climate budgeting cycle include: 

 

• The ambitious climate actions the city is taking today puts it on track to achieve science-based emissions targets in 2030, with additional effort required to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.  
• Private building emissions limits through Local Law 97 are the most impactful action the city is taking, followed by the Green Rides program to electrify for-hire vehicles.  
• New York City government is on track to meet and exceed its own Local Law 97 targets in 2030 through planned investments in energy efficiency, building and fleet electrification, and a commitment to procure 100 percent renewable electricity for its operations.  
• City action, supported by state commitments to transition to a 100 percent clean electric grid and away from gas-powered vehicles, is key to achieving long-term goals. 
• Capital projects that include funding for fossil fuel-powered generators, vehicles, and heating and hot water systems, present key opportunities for the city to continuously evaluate the feasibility of greener alternatives, such as electrification, battery storage, and electric vehicles. 

 

New investments and reallocations in the FY25 Executive Budget and the Capital Commitment Plan act on key initial climate budgeting findings and advance the city’s sustainability and resiliency efforts. To help ensure the success of Local Law 97, the budget allocates $4 million and 36 full-time positions to the New York City Department of Buildings to implement and enforce the law, and $1.27 million per year to continue the Property Assessed Clean Energy Financing program to help building owners make buildings more efficient.  

 

The FY25 Executive Budget also supports reducing greenhouse gas emissions from city facilities by accelerating $1.06 billion into the FY24-FY28 Capital Commitment Plan and supporting a strategic electrification plan for city-owned and -operated facilities to advance the city’s commitment to phase out capital spending on new fossil fuel equipment and infrastructure.  

 

To support the transition to a renewable electric grid by transforming the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal into a leading offshore wind hub, the city has committed to allocating up to $85 million in additional capital to this project.   

 

Climate budgeting analysis will evolve over the coming years to further support strategic investment decisions that bolster resiliency and advance city actions equitably, incorporating new insights gained from efforts funded in the FY25 Executive Budget. Nearly $27 million over the next four fiscal years will enable smart sewer sensors and citywide modeling will inform future targeted flood resiliency investments. MOCEJ will build upon the findings of its recent report and mapping tool to create a plan that details actionable steps to meaningfully address environmental concerns and provide recommendations on how city agencies can design and administer initiatives to support the ability of communities to thrive.  

 

The FY25 Executive Budget also supports additional efforts to make the city more sustainable and resilient, including through investments in sewer siphon cleaning, catch basin replacement, and pumping station upgrades to enable water to better flow through the sewer system (FY24-28, $70.5 million Capital; FY25, $5.9 million Expense); funding to begin work on a Climate Innovation Hub at the Brooklyn Army Terminal (FY25, $10 million Capital); emissions upgrades for NYC Ferries and an electric rapid charging station for the Governor’s Island Ferry (FY24-25, $15.3 million Capital); and purchasing renewable diesel for medium-and heavy-duty vehicles and the Staten Island Ferry (FY25, $22.6 million Expense). 

 

These new investments and reallocations continue the city’s substantial ongoing investments in climate action. Climate highlights of the city’s FY24-FY28 Capital Commitment Plan include:   

• $5.8 billion to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at city facilities; 
• $2.9 billion for coastal resiliency projects; 
• $923 million for green infrastructure to help mitigate inland flooding; 
• $292 million for electric vehicle, ferry, truck, and school bus purchases; and 
• $139 million for tree canopy preservation and expansion. 

 

Leveraging the climate budgeting process, the city will regularly assess available options to achieve the city’s net-zero goal while managing costs and preserving affordability for New Yorkers. 

 

The Adams administration has a proven track record of securing federal funds to advance climate goals. This includes taking full advantage of federal funding opportunities from the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Since the start of the Adams administration, New York City has secured more than $1.6 billion in federal infrastructure funds and nearly $700 million in competitive infrastructure grant funds from Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law programs, including the recently-awarded Environmental Protection Agency Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund announcement, directing nearly $250 million for state and city programs for solar energy.  

 

Last year, New York City published “PlaNYC: Getting Sustainability Done,” the city’s fifth long-term sustainability plan, and MOCEJ recently detailed the city's progress one year into the plan. PlaNYC builds on the prior four plans and focuses on implementing the necessary actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve quality of life, build a greener economy, and protect New Yorkers — especially the most vulnerable New Yorkers — from climate threats. As part of PlaNYC, New York City is introducing climate budgeting, a new process managed by OMB in collaboration with MOCEJ that permanently incorporates science-based climate considerations into the city’s budget decision-making process, including by evaluating how actions and spending today contribute to meeting long-term climate targets and continuously seeking to align resources with sustainability and resiliency needs.