 Continuing the Fight to End Gun Violence I attended Darcel Clark (the Bronx District Attorney's) 4th Annual March to End Gun Violence as a continued show of my support for gun violence prevention programs. While the fight to end senseless gun violence continues, it’s important that Bronx residents are educated on what they can do to take action, and to bridge the gap between victims of gun violence and the officials that can assist them.
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With Over 46,000 Asylum Seekers Currently in City’s Care, New Program Allows Houses of Worship to Host 19 Asylum Seekers Each Overnight
Up to 50 Houses of Worship Set to Participate in First Cohort
As New York City continues to care for more than 46,000 asylum seekers, New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced the creation of a faith-based shelter program — a new, two-year partnership with New York Disaster Interfaith Services (NYDIS) that will allow up to 50 houses of worship or faith-based spaces to offer overnight shelter for up to 19 single adult men at each location. To provide programming and support for asylum seekers during the day — while these faith-based spaces continue to offer their normal activities — the city will also open five daytime centers. Faith-based partnerships have played a critical role in the city’s response to the asylum seeker humanitarian crisis, and, at full scale, this program will host nearly 1,000 asylum seekers, with potential for further expansion.
“No matter what faith you practice, caring for those in need is part of every spiritual tradition,” said Mayor Adams. “As we continue to tackle this humanitarian crisis, I’m proud that through this new partnership with New York Disaster Interfaith Services, New York City’s faith community will be able to provide shelter to asylum seekers in need at houses of worship throughout the five boroughs. Not only will this increase the space we have by nearly 1,000 beds, but it will also connect asylum seekers with local communities. New York City continues to do all that we can to address this crisis, but we need additional assistance from other partners.”
"The city’s response to the asylum seeker crisis has not only required a whole-of-government effort, but has also taken a citywide effort that includes nonprofits, community organizations, volunteers, and the faith community," said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. "Today’s announcement with houses of worship, NYDIS, and the city demonstrates the strength of this response to meet the ongoing need. Thank you to NYDIS and to the faith community for coming together with us in this work to support people seeking asylum."
“Our city has witnessed an unprecedented influx of asylum seekers coming to New York City since last spring,” said Pastor Gil Monrose, executive director, Mayor’s Office of Faith-Based and Community Partnerships. “They are escaping violence, oppression, poverty, and, like all of us, want to live and support their families in peace. New York City is the city of immigrants, as attested by the words of Emma Lazarus engraved on the inner pedestal of the Statue of Liberty: ‘Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.’ I am really grateful that faith leaders are opening their doors to asylum seekers — providing their space as well as the hands of the community to care for them. New York is truly a city of faith.”
“We are asking New York City’s faith communities to join us in our mission to open your sacred spaces into havens of safety for asylum seekers, our new neighbors in need of our hospitality,” said Peter B. Gudaitis, M.Div., executive director and CEO, NYDIS. “Since 9/11, when called upon, New York Disaster Interfaith Services has partnered with the city to provide dignity, hope, and the disaster human services needed in times of crisis. We thank Mayor Adams for his shared vision and for providing NYDIS with the resources to give our city’s congregations the opportunity to meet a critical basic human need for food, shelter, and clothing, while covering their operating costs. We are reminded that, across all faith traditions, hospitality to the stranger is both a divine calling and a sacred obligation.”
The faith-based shelter program delivers on the faith initiatives outlined in “The Road Forward: A Blueprint to Address New York City’s Response to the Asylum Seeker Crisis,” and will not only expand the city’s ability to provide temporary shelter, but also help integrate asylum seekers into local communities. The overnight centers will offer a full suite of services, including dining and social areas, shower facilities, meals, storage space, and more. The larger, daytime locations will also offer a full range of services — including meals and snacks, shower facilities, social areas, and additional services — to meet the needs of asylum seekers during the day.
Today’s announcement comes as New York City has, largely on its own, supported over 72,000 asylum seekers since last spring, with more than 46,000 still in the city’s care. The city has already spent more than $1.2 billion on the crisis this fiscal year alone and is projected to spend more than $4.3 billion by the end of June 2024, yet the federal government has only allocated New York City less than $40 million in funding — enough to pay for only five days of asylum seeker costs, at current rates of spending. Mayor Adams has repeatedly called on the federal government to provide multiple forms of support, including expedited work authorization for asylum seekers, a nationwide decompression strategy, increased funding to manage the crisis, and meaningful immigration reform.
Two weeks ago, Mayor Adams was joined by New York Governor Kathy Hochul, other elected officials, labor and business leaders, and asylum seekers to once again call for that expedited work authorization, which would allow asylum seekers to start providing for themselves and lessen the burden on New York City’s overtaxed shelter and social services systems.
It was the Second Annual Riverdale Pride at the Riverdale Neighborhood House which was attended by hundreds of people and elected officials Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson, City Councilman Eric Dinowitz, and Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz. Performers included the Famous Kelly KaBoom Alexus Lewinsky, Alexa Dumont, and Jahiyrah McQueen, Laura Levine-Pinedo, and others. There was a Drag Queen Hour Storybook reading, and even a pride dog show.
Tables were set up in the Riverdale Neighborhood front, back and side yards with various gifts to buy, free information, and games to play. The two local Democratic clubs were well represented as three of the four party positions are controlled by the Unity Democratic Club, while the assembly, city council, and fourth party position seats are controlled by the Ben Franklin Democratic club.
NYC DOT works with community-based organizations, educational institutions, and groups of businesses to execute Open Streets citywide.
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New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced proposed changes to recreational fishing regulations in New York's Marine and Coastal District. This rulemaking would improve the management and protection of sharks by establishing gear restrictions for recreational shore anglers to enhance law enforcement’s ability to protect sharks and includes new handling and release methods for anglers to improve shark and angler safety. The proposed regulation is available for public comment until Aug. 7, 2023.
This proposed regulation seeks to further protect shark species that are currently illegal to take or possess under New York State regulation, referred to as “prohibited” shark species for recreational fishing. A complete list of the existing recreational shark fishing regulations is available on DEC’s website. The proposed regulations were designed to protect these shark species while maintaining recreational opportunities for shore-based anglers targeting legal species. Proposed gear restrictions specific to recreational shore anglers include the prohibition of:
In addition, this rulemaking seeks to improve shark handling and release practices for all shore- and vessel-based anglers. The proposed rules clarify requirement to immediately release all prohibited shark species and prohibits the removal from the water of any shark that will be released. The rulemaking also requires recreational anglers fishing for sharks to possess a device capable of cutting the leader or hook to remove fishing gear immediately without unnecessary harm, as well as requiring anglers to take every precaution to ensure the maximum probability of survival of any shark that will be released.
Prohibited shark species found in New York State waters include sandbar ("brown"), dusky, and sand tiger sharks, and are the primary shark species caught from shore. These species are also encountered by vessel-based anglers in nearshore waters. Dusky and sand tiger sharks are both listed as “High Priority Species of Greatest Conservation Need” in the New York State Wildlife Action Plan. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed sandbar and dusky sharks as “endangered” species and sand tiger sharks as “critically endangered” due to population declines and long expected recovery times. Additionally, both sand tiger and dusky shark are listed as “species of concern” under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, which indicates their populations are declining or appear to need conservation actions.
The proposed regulations and additional information are available on DEC's website. DEC will hold a virtual public hearing to accept public comment on Tuesday, Aug. 1, at 6 p.m. Information on how to participate in the hearing can be found at DEC's website.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., announced the indictment of BENJAMIN ABRAMS, 56, for a car chase through Midtown that injured two police officers, caused a collision with multiple vehicles and destroyed an outdoor dining structure. Over 37 grams of methamphetamine were also recovered from his vehicle pursuant to a search warrant. ABRAMS is charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with one count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree; one count of Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree; four counts of Assault in the Second Degree; one count of Burglary in the Second Degree; and two counts of Attempted Assault in the First Degree. [1]
“This driver allegedly engaged in an incredibly reckless and dangerous car chase that injured two NYPD officers. Many other lives were put at risk as he wove through streets and sidewalks, and even drove right through an outdoor dining structure. I wish the officers injured a full and speedy recovery,” said District Attorney Bragg.
According to court documents and statements made on the record, on April 19, 2023, police officers pulled ABRAMS over for a traffic stop after observing him weaving in and out of traffic with a temporary license tag with writing on top of the expiration date. ABRAMS provided a fraudulent North Carolina driver’s license, refused to step out of the car and fled.
ABRAMS then led officers on a pursuit throughout Midtown South, driving the wrong way into oncoming traffic and onto sidewalks. To evade traffic on East 30th Street between Park and Madison Avenues, he repeatedly rammed his car into a vehicle in front of him and behind him. He then accelerated his vehicle, reversed, and drove his car into two police officers, causing them to fly backwards. One officer was concussed, needed stiches on his head, and was bruised and swollen. Both officers were treated at the hospital for their injuries.
ABRAMS then plowed through an outdoor dining area, causing pedestrians to jump out of the way and sending debris flying into the air.
D.A. Bragg thanked members of the NYPD, particularly Midtown South and the 17th Precinct, for their extraordinary efforts in this case.
[1] The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. All factual recitations are derived from documents filed in court and statements made on the record in court.
“The Clean Slate Act can help provide an equitable boost to our communities, economy, and public safety by removing the barriers to employment, housing, education, and other economic opportunities for more than 2 million New Yorkers with an old conviction record. At a time when our city and state are recovering from the economic effects of the pandemic, this bill is estimated to generate over $7 billion more in state earnings and help address our workforce shortage. That’s why leaders in the government, business, civil rights, and labor sectors all support this common-sense legislation. When we clear the old legal records of those who are trying to move forward in their lives, we make our communities safer and the economy stronger by reducing recidivism and enhancing employment. New York can no longer afford to continue contributing to the approximately $80 billion in lost economic activity that our country experiences each year by excluding people with past convictions from the workforce. I fully support the State Legislature and Governor advancing this important reform.”
Transaction achieves $108 million in debt service savings for the City.
The City of New York (“the City”) announced the successful sale of approximately $1.56 billion of General Obligation Bonds, comprised of $1.41 billion of tax-exempt fixed rate bonds and $151 million of taxable fixed rate bonds. Proceeds of the bond sale will be used to refinance outstanding bonds for savings. The transaction achieves over $108 million in total debt service savings, spread primarily across Fiscal Years 2024 through 2027.
The tax-exempt portion of the transaction generated significant investor demand with nearly $2.2 billion of orders during the retail order period, the highest in recent history, and over $6.4 billion of priority orders during the institutional order period. In total, the City received orders representing approximately 6.1x the amount of tax-exempt bonds offered for sale.
Due to the strong demand, yields on the tax-exempt bonds were reduced relative to the start of the institutional order period by 7 basis points in 2025 through 2033, 10 basis points in 2034, and 12 basis points in 2035 through 2039. Final yields ranged from 3.12% to 3.64%.
Additionally, during the order period for the taxable bonds, the City received indications of interest of approximately $274 million or 1.8x the amount of taxable bonds offered for sale.
Given the demand for the taxable bonds, the final spread for the bonds maturing in 2025 was reduced by 7 basis points. Final yields were 5.13% in 2024 and 4.81% in 2025.
The bonds were underwritten through a syndicate led by joint senior managers Jefferies and Siebert Williams Shank.
To achieve additional savings, the City also conducted a tender process to purchase back certain outstanding bonds from bondholders. The City received nearly 1,200 offers from bondholders during the tender process for a total of roughly $454 million, or 40% of the outstanding principal of the relevant bonds. This level of bondholder participation makes the City’s tender one of the most successful tender solicitations to-date in the municipal bond market.
The City will purchase $353 million of the bonds offered – about 78% of the total amount offered for tender. The tender process generated approximately $26 million of total debt service savings, or 24% of the total savings achieved by the overall transaction. Jefferies and Siebert Williams Shank served as Dealer-Mangers for the tender transaction.
