MAYOR ADAMS ANNOUNCES MORE THAN HALF OF HARDEST-TO-REACH NEW YORKERS HAVE MOVED FROM STREET INTO CARE ONE YEAR AFTER SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS PLAN LAUNCHES

 

Coordinated Efforts and Investments to Support New Yorkers With Severe Mental Illness Have Helped Stabilize Lives of Over 50 of “Top 100 Hardest-to-Reach New Yorkers”

 

City Strengthening Services, With All NYC Health + Hospitals Psychiatric Beds Closed During COVID-19 to Open This Year, Nearly All First Responders Receiving Specialized Training, More People Moving From Temporary to Permanent Housing

 

Stronger Coordination Between City Agencies, State, MTA, Has Led to Fewer People Cycling Between Emergency Rooms and Streets

 

Since Launching Subway Safety Plan, More Than 6,100 New Yorkers Have Checked Into Shelter

 

Intensified Efforts Will Support New Yorkers Sleeping on Streets and Subways Ahead of Winter

 

City Continues to Work with Albany to Advance Supportive Interventions Act So More New Yorkers Can Receive Care They Need

One year after launching an ambitious plan to support New Yorkers living with untreated severe mental illness and experiencing homelessness, New York City Mayor Eric Adams updated New Yorkers on the city’s progress, announcing that more New Yorkers are getting connected to the care they need and have begun stabilizing their lives. Thanks to intense coordination between city and state agencies, increased training for first responders, expanded deployment of clinicians, and additional psychiatric beds coming online, over 50 of the 100 hardest to reach New Yorkers living on city streets — those who have been on the Coordinated Behavioral Health Task Force’s two “Top 50” lists, many of who are known or believed to have severe mental illness — now have a roof over their heads and are stabilizing their lives in a hospital or another supportive setting. This represents a 145 percent increase over the prior year. Additionally, hundreds of additional New Yorkers living on city streets believed to have untreated severe mental illness have been connected to hospitals for evaluations.

 

Mayor Adams also today announced that homeless outreach staff have referred 70 percent more people experiencing street homelessness to shelter during Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) compared to FY22 and have moved approximately 1,000 people from Safe Haven and stabilization beds to permanent housing during FY23 — more than double the number from FY22. Ahead of this winter, the city is launching intensified street outreach efforts to help all New Yorkers living on the streets move to safer, healthier indoor conditions.

 

“One year ago, we made a commitment to New Yorkers that the days of ignoring the mental health crisis playing out on our streets were over,” said Mayor Adams. “I'm proud that a year into this effort, we have made progress helping and housing a significant number of those most in need of care and support. We're investing in training first responders, bringing psychiatric beds online, and strengthening inter-agency coordination — and the early results show what's possible when we lean into the most challenging cases with engagement, compassion, and support. While we're encouraged by the early results, we look forward to working with our partners in Albany to pass the Supportive Interventions Act, as well as engaging even more New Yorkers and providing them with the help they so desperately need. We will not abandon New Yorkers in need, and we’re committed to getting this right so all New Yorkers can live, work, thrive, and be safe.”

 

“Today’s announcement is a product of work over more than a year to bring hope and support to New Yorkers struggling with severe mental illness,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “Over that time, we have helped people transition into stable housing, receive care for their mental health and other conditions, and connect them with supports to achieve a more dignified life. Every person we have supported has friends, family, or loved ones that can now witness them in a safe, stable place receiving the care they need. While we know there are many more out there that need support, we come together today to recognize the incredible inter-agency work that has made this all possible and to affirm that this work will continue to help New Yorkers in need.”

 

“As we mark critical progress expanding and strengthening pathways to stability and permanent housing for some of our most vulnerable New Yorkers, we are seeing the real impact of this administration’s unprecedented investments in specialized beds and outreach resources,” said New York City Department of Social Services (DSS) Commissioner Molly Wasow Park. “We are grateful to our agency partners for bolstering the city’s health care response to this crisis, and especially thankful to our incredible outreach teams for their around-the-clock, citywide efforts to reach and encourage thousands of New Yorkers experiencing unsheltered homelessness to come inside and stabilize their lives. The dedication of countless outreach workers and shelter staff, providing care and supports every step of the way, helped nearly 1,000 New Yorkers who were living unsheltered eventually move into permanent homes in the last fiscal year. We look forward to building on this vital progress as we work to ramp up specialized bed capacity and outreach efforts this winter.”  

 

“As we work together to support our neighbors with serious mental illness and build a healthier city, we have to make sure we’re adjusting our practices to best meet the needs of New Yorkers,” said New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan. “Better communication across agencies means we can focus on ensuring people who have been ignored for too long receive the care, support, and stability they deserve.”

 

“As the largest provider of behavioral health care in New York City, NYC Health + Hospitals is committed to doing all we can to meet the need of New Yorkers experiencing serious mental illness,” said NYC Health + Hospitals (H+H) President and CEO Mitchell Katz, MD. “We are proud to offer a range of services for our patients with serious mental illness, including two Extended Care Units where patients who are leaving inpatient psychiatric care can stay for up to 120 days to receive additional treatment, music and art therapy, and rehabilitative activities to help them integrate back into the community upon discharge. The mayor’s plan announced last year has helped us improve communication with the city’s mobile outreach teams, and we look forward to continuing this work with DHS, homeless services providers, the city and state health departments, and our other partners to ensure that patients get the care that they need in the most appropriate setting.”

 

“The Mayor’s Office of Community Mental Health is extremely proud of the accomplishments achieved over the last year supporting New Yorkers with severe mental illness under the leadership of Mayor Adams and Deputy Mayor Williams-Isom. The tireless efforts and seamless coordination required to identify care gaps, devise new strategies, strengthen communication pathways, and develop data collection infrastructure to measure progress are all rooted in this administration’s commitment to effect long-lasting improvement to the continuum of care,” said Mayor’s Office of Community Mental Health Executive Director Eva Wong. “As we move forward, our focus remains unwavering, ensuring a more inclusive and supportive city for vulnerable New Yorkers facing mental health challenges and homelessness.”

 

“New York City Police Department members are acutely aware of this longstanding, highly complex issue and are proud to be part of the significant advances already being made in our city,” said New York City Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Edward A. Caban. “We work closely with our many partners each day and night to ensure that all New Yorkers, especially our city’s most vulnerable populations, can access the services they require and deserve. Essential to this vital undertaking is the ongoing support and attention of our collective efforts.”

 

“Responding to help New Yorkers in need of emergency medical care is the core mission of the FDNY,” said Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) Commissioner Laura Kavanagh. “Working together with our government partners, our goal is simple: to be there for every New Yorker during their most difficult moments and provide the critical care they need.”

 

Progress Supporting New Yorkers with Untreated Severe Mental Illness

 

Since launching the city’s intensified efforts last year, the Adams administration has made progress to address the ongoing crisis of individuals experiencing severe mental illnesses left untreated and unsheltered in New York City’s streets and subways, while delivering on promises made in the original announcement. While much work remains, the early progress following decades of failed efforts suggests that the administration’s efforts could lay the groundwork for lasting progress.

 

Over the past year, the city has made progress by:

 

Bringing More Psychiatric Beds Online: City agencies have partnered closely with the state and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to ensure New Yorkers in need of extended hospitalization to stabilize their lives have access to that care. Through a partnership with the New York State Office of Mental Health, the city is transferring patients to the state’s new Transition to Housing Unit, which provides extended care and is designed to facilitate discharge directly to permanent supportive housing. The city has also opened an Extended Care Unit for this population at H+H/Kings County, building on the success of the existing Extended Care Unit at H+H/Bellevue. Finally, the city announced today that all H+H psychiatric beds closed during the COVID-19 pandemic would be brought back online by the end of 2023, bringing the total H+H psychiatric bed capacity to 1,000 beds.

 

Improving Communication Between First Responders and NYC Health + Hospitals: A new H+H protocol has vastly improved communication surrounding involuntary removals by certified clinicians, reducing the number of people cycling between hospitals and the street. New communication channels established this year ensure clinical information on removals is received by the hospital — allowing hospital staff to prepare for an arrival and reducing the likelihood of communication breakdowns. Since the implementation of this system, approximately 72 percent of patients for whom H+H received such notifications were admitted to hospitals for a medical or psychiatric need.

 

Training Clinicians and First Responders: Enhanced training on the legal standards that allow for the last resort of involuntarily removing and involuntarily admitting an individual to a hospital has been delivered to over 400 H+H emergency rooms and inpatient psychiatric clinicians, and 39,500 first responders — representing approximately 95 percent of FDNY emergency medical services personnel, voluntary ambulance emergency medical technicians, and NYPD patrol officers. This training has a new emphasis on the legal authority to intervene when severe mental illness is preventing a person from meeting their basic needs so first responders and clinicians can identify more New Yorkers in need of support.

 

Implementing Data Collection Processes: Before Mayor Adams’ directive last fall, data was not tracked consistently across the continuum of the removal process. Agencies were not comprehensively tracking the number of involuntary removals being performed, which made monitoring and measuring progress nearly impossible. All agencies involved in the involuntary removal process have now created mechanisms to better track all involuntary removals.

 

Piloting Joint Response Teams: The city continues to deploy inter-agency teams comprised of clinicians, outreach workers, and first responders to reach and serve New Yorkers in need of varying mental health and shelter services. With multiple team configurations operating throughout New York City, teams are now able to better meet the wide range of needs New Yorkers living on the street have.

 

Introducing State Legislation: The Supportive Interventions Act — legislation based on Mayor Adams’ legislative agenda announced last year — has been introduced by New York State Assemblymember Edward Braunstein. The new legislation will scale up the city’s efforts and takes aim at several legal barriers to psychiatric crisis care and crisis avoidance. If enacted, this legislation would help ensure timely and effective provision of hospital care — reducing the number of individuals stuck in the mental health system’s revolving door and strengthening coordination of care between inpatient and outpatient providers when patients shuttle between hospitals and the community.

 

In addition to the plan to assist New Yorkers with untreated severe mental illness experiencing homelessness, the Adams administration has continued to invest in the entire mental health continuum of care to support the mental health of all New Yorkers. As part of these efforts, the administration has committed to tripling the capacity at Clubhouses — spaces that offer support and community to New Yorkers living with severe mental illness — doubling Intensive Mobile Treatment and Assertive Community Treatment teams, and investing in Support and Connection Centers.

 

Progress Supporting New Yorkers Experiencing Unsheltered Homelessness

 

As a result of the Adams administration’s unprecedented investments to aggressively expand Safe Havens and stabilization beds, increase outreach staffing, and strengthen interagency coordination, the city is making significant strides in addressing unsheltered homelessness. In FY23, the city more than doubled the number of permanent housing placements from Safe Havens and stabilization beds, which are designed to help New Yorkers experiencing unsheltered homelessness transition off the streets and subways as they receive robust services to stabilize their lives. With a 60 percent increase in outreach staffing since January 2022, overall referrals to shelter placements surpassed 8,500 in FY23 — a 70 percent increase in FY23 compared with FY22. Additionally, since the launch of the Subway Safety Plan in February 2022, more than 6,100 New Yorkers have checked into shelter.

 

In FY23, the New York City Department of Homeless Services (DHS) connected more than 1,000 New Yorkers in Safe Haven and stabilization settings to permanent housing — a more than 130 percent increase over the prior year.

 

To continue to build on this progress and ensure robust services for New Yorkers experiencing unsheltered homelessness during the winter, the city is opening 270 Safe Haven and stabilization beds and ramping up training for outreach staff, including collaborative training for clinical staff with DSS, DOHMH, and H+H. Additionally, the city will open a new, hybrid low-barrier program right by one of the city’s busiest end-of-line subway stations. This hybrid model will serve both as a Drop-In Center and stabilization bed site. It is scheduled to open in the coming weeks in Queens.

 

“BronxWorks is committed to serving all residents of the Bronx, including our borough's most vulnerable members,” said Scott Auwarter, assistant executive director, BronxWorks. “To better serve these members of our communities, a continuum of care that includes all of our partners in this work, from our fellow community organizations to our city agencies, to our healthcare systems is absolutely vital. Over the past year, we have seen unprecedented progress in the coordination of services with hospitals and mental health teams for clients with severe mental illness who are the most vulnerable living on the street. Most of our clients subject to removal orders are now receiving comprehensive inpatient treatment and are now able to stabilize so they can succeed in transitional and permanent housing. ”

 

U.S. Attorney Announces Charges In Connection With Foiled Plot To Assassinate U.S. Citizen In New York City

 

Indian Government Employee Directed a Plot From India to Murder U.S.-Based Leader of Sikh Separatist Movement

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Matthew G. Olsen, the Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, Anne Milgram, the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), and James Smith, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced the filing of murder-for-hire charges against Indian national NIKHIL GUPTA, a/k/a “Nick,” in connection with his participation in a foiled plot to assassinate a U.S. citizen in New York City.  The charges are contained in a Superseding Indictment unsealed today in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.  The case is pending before U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero.  Czech authorities arrested and detained GUPTA on June 30, 2023, pursuant to the bilateral extradition treaty between the United States and the Czech Republic. 

 

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, the defendant conspired from India to assassinate, right here in New York City, a U.S. citizen of Indian origin who has publicly advocated for the establishment of a sovereign state for Sikhs, an ethnoreligious minority group in India.  I am grateful that my Office and our law enforcement partners neutralized this deadly and outrageous threat.  We will not tolerate efforts to assassinate U.S. citizens on U.S. soil, and stand ready to investigate, thwart, and prosecute anyone who seeks to harm and silence Americans here or abroad. 

Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen said: “The dedicated law enforcement agents and prosecutors in this case foiled and exposed a dangerous plot to assassinate a U.S. citizen on U.S. soil.  The Department of Justice will be relentless in using the full reach of our authorities to pursue accountability for lethal plotting emanating from overseas.”

DEA Administrator Anne Milgram said: “When a foreign government employee allegedly committed the brazen act of recruiting an international narcotics trafficker to murder a U.S. citizen on U.S. soil, DEA was there to stop the plot.  I want to recognize the outstanding work of the DEA New York Field Division for their leadership in this investigation, the prosecution team at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Manhattan for pursuing today’s indictment, and our federal and global law enforcement partners for their assistance.” 

FBI Assistant Director in Charge James Smith said: “Murder for hire is a crime out of a movie, but the plot in this case was all too real.  The excellent teamwork of the law enforcement partners in this case exposed this brazen conspiracy and is why Nikhil Gupta finds himself in jail waiting to answer to these charges.”

As alleged in the Superseding Indictment and other public court documents:[1]

Earlier this year, an Indian government employee (“CC-1”), working together with others, including GUPTA, in India and elsewhere, directed a plot to assassinate on U.S. soil an attorney and political activist who is a U.S. citizen of Indian origin residing in New York City (the “Victim”).

GUPTA is an Indian national who resides in India, is an associate of CC-1, and has described his involvement in international narcotics and weapons trafficking in his communications with CC-1 and others.  CC-1 is an Indian government agency employee who has variously described himself as a “Senior Field Officer” with responsibilities in “Security Management” and “Intelligence,” and who also has referenced previously serving in India’s Central Reserve Police Force and receiving “officer[] training” in “battle craft” and “weapons.”  CC-1 directed the assassination plot from India.

In or about May 2023, CC-1 recruited GUPTA to orchestrate the assassination of the Victim in the United States.  The Victim is a vocal critic of the Indian government and leads a U.S.-based organization that advocates for the secession of Punjab, a state in northern India that is home to a large population of Sikhs, an ethnoreligious minority group in India.  The Victim has publicly called for some or all of Punjab to secede from India and establish a Sikh sovereign state called Khalistan, and the Indian government has banned the Victim and his separatist organization from India.

At CC-1’s direction, GUPTA contacted an individual whom GUPTA believed to be a criminal associate, but who was in fact a confidential source working with the DEA (the “CS”), for assistance in contracting a hitman to murder the Victim in New York City.  The CS introduced GUPTA to a purported hitman, who was in fact a DEA undercover officer (the “UC”).  CC-1 subsequently agreed in dealings brokered by GUPTA to pay the UC $100,000 to murder the Victim.  On or about June 9, 2023, CC-1 and GUPTA arranged for an associate to deliver $15,000 in cash to the UC as an advance payment for the murder.  CC-1’s associate then delivered the $15,000 to the UC in Manhattan.

In or about June 2023, in furtherance of the assassination plot, CC-1 provided GUPTA with personal information about the Victim, including the Victim’s home address in New York City, phone numbers associated with the Victim, and details about the Victim’s day-to-day conduct, which GUPTA then passed to the UC.  CC-1 directed GUPTA to provide regular updates on the progress of the assassination plot, which GUPTA accomplished by forwarding to CC-1, among other things, surveillance photographs of the Victim.  GUPTA directed the UC to carry out the murder as soon as possible, but GUPTA also specifically instructed the UC not to commit the murder around the time of anticipated engagements scheduled to occur in the ensuing weeks between high-level U.S. and Indian government officials.

On or about June 18, 2023, masked gunmen murdered Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside a Sikh temple in British Columbia, Canada.  Nijjar was an associate of the Victim, and like the Victim, was a leader of the Sikh separatist movement and an outspoken critic of the Indian government.  On or about June 19, 2023, the day after the Nijjar murder, GUPTA told the UC that Nijjar “was also the target” and “we have so many targets.”  GUPTA added that, in light of Nijjar’s murder, there was “now no need to wait” on killing the Victim.  On or about June 20, 2023, CC-1 sent GUPTA a news article about the Victim and messaged GUPTA, “[i]t’s [a] priority now.”

GUPTA, 52, of India, has been charged with murder-for-hire, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the DEA’s New York Drug Enforcement Task Force and the Counterintelligence Division of the FBI’s New York Field Office.  Mr. Williams also thanked the DEA’s Special Operations Division, the DEA’s Vienna Country Office, the FBI’s Prague Country Office, the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, and the Czech Republic’s National Drug Headquarters for their assistance.  The DEA’s New York Drug Enforcement Task Force comprises agents and task force officers of the DEA, New York City Police Department, and the New York State Police.

This case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and International Narcotics Unit, Violent and Organized Crime Unit, and Narcotics Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Camille L. Fletcher, Ashley C. Nicolas, and Alexander Li are in charge of the prosecution with assistance from Trial Attorneys Christopher Cook and Robert McCullers of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, as well as Trial Attorney A.J. Dixon of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.

 The charges contained in the Superseding Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Superseding Indictment and the description of the Superseding Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

Attorney General James Announces Takedown of Drug Trafficking Ring that Sold Heroin, Fentanyl, and Cocaine in the Capital Region

 

Investigation Recovered Handguns, High-Capacity Magazines, and $350,000 Worth of Heroin, Fentanyl, and Cocaine

25 Individuals Indicted and Charged with 164 Crimes

New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced the takedown of a major drug trafficking ring that was distributing heroin and fentanyl, as well as powder and crack cocaine in Rensselaer, Albany, Saratoga, Schenectady, and Dutchess counties. The takedown resulted in the indictment of 25 individuals charged with 164 crimes and recovered more than three kilograms of cocaine, approximately 40 grams of heroin laced with fentanyl — which have a combined potential street value of approximately $350,000 — four handguns, two large capacity ammunition feeding devices, and the seizure of over $50,000 in cash.

“These individuals trafficked a deadly combination of heroin and fentanyl that has claimed lives and poisoned communities across our state,” said Attorney General James. “This investigation is part of my office’s ongoing work to keep New Yorkers safe and combat the scourge of drug-related addictions and overdoses. We will continue to pursue drug traffickers who endanger lives and threaten public safety, and I thank our partners in law enforcement for their support and collaboration in this operation.”

“The culmination of this investigation and the dismantling of a major drug trafficking ring in the Capital Region is the direct result of the hard work done by members of the various local law enforcement agencies involved and exemplifies just how effective law enforcement can be when we work together,” said New York State Police Acting Superintendent Dominick L. Chiumento. “This case also shows the scale of drugs, weapons, and money that travel through our suburban and upstate communities. We have shown by this collaborative effort that law enforcement will rise to the challenge and protect our communities from these ruthless criminals and the destructive drugs that are infiltrating our neighborhoods.”

“The Troy Police Department applauds the collaborative efforts of the Attorney General and this law enforcement group,” said Troy Police Department Chief Daniel DeWolf. “We are proud to be a part of this successful investigation. The scourge of illegal drug use and distribution are far reaching and negatively affect neighborhoods, families, and the entire community. The fruits of this laborious operation can serve as a beacon of hope in our combined duty to quell the illegal drug trade and provide a safer environment for our residents.”

Recovered firearms

Heroin and fentanyl packages stamped with the phrase “American Gangster”

Cocaine recovered by the investigation

Alexander Torres and Yamillet Galarza were central figures in this narcotics distribution network and they often partnered together to obtain and sell heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine in Rensselaer County. As alleged in the indictment, the investigation revealed that Torres had four different sources of supply for the cocaine and narcotics and he then sold the drugs to a network of customers around the Capital Region.  

During the investigation, Torres attempted to import a kilogram of cocaine from a supplier in Puerto Rico by mailing the cocaine to his residence in Troy inside of an encyclopedia. Later in the investigation, Torres purchased heroin laced with fentanyl from a Bronx-based narcotics dealer in custom-designed bags stamped with the phrase “American Gangster” as a brand to distinguish his narcotics from other local narcotics sellers. Torres is charged with Operating as a Major Trafficker, which carries a mandatory life sentence in state prison.

Efrain Acevado was also a major cocaine distributor in this operation. During the course of the investigation, Acevado opened a restaurant called “El Coqui,” in Troy, and he sold narcotics to customers from the restaurant and used it as a location to stash his narcotics and related proceeds. 

The multi-agency investigation brought together the resources of state and local law enforcement agencies led by the Attorney General’s Organized Crime Task Force (OCTF), including the New York State Police, City of Troy Police Department, the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office, Schenectady Police Department and the Schenectady Sheriff’s Office. The year-long investigation included covert surveillance and hundreds of hours of wiretaps over more than two dozen target phones, aimed at rooting out heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine dealers operating in the Capital region and elsewhere in New York state.

Today’s takedown is the latest in the Attorney General’s SURGE Initiative (Suburban and Upstate Response to the Growing Epidemic) to root out violent drug trafficking. Since launching in 2017, SURGE has taken 934 alleged traffickers off the streets.

The indictment, which was unsealed today in Rensselaer County Court, contains 164 counts, charging the defendants with crimes in relation to their involvement in the narcotics trafficking operation, including various counts of Criminal Sale and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance (class A, B, C, D felonies), as well as Conspiracy in the Second Degree (class B felony). Those charged in today’s indictment include:

Efrain Acevedo, Troy, NY – 33 years old

Raul Baez, Schenectady, NY – 36 years old

Erick Baez, Schenectady, NY – 35 years old

Jose Cintron, Troy, NY – 37 years old

Elvis Colon, Troy, NY – 45 years old

Javier Colon, Philadelphia, PA – 51 years old

Mercedes Danahy, Troy, NY – 38 years old

James Foley, Troy, NY – 43 years old

Jack Frazier, Troy, NY – 37 years old

Jose Galarza, Troy, NY – 49 years old

Yamillet Galarza, Troy, NY – 35 years old

Vladimir Guzman Grullon, Bronx, NY – 31 years old

David Harden, Troy, NY – 62 years old

Mark House, Troy, NY – 55 years old

Karim Little, Troy, NY – 32 years old

Jordan McCullen, Troy, NY – 32 years old

Jahtiek Milisci, Troy, NY – 25 years old

Beau Moreau, Schenectady, NY – 36 years old

Michael Nelson, Troy, NY – 37 years old

Tracy Taylor, Troy, NY – 52 years old

Denzel Timot, Troy, NY – 24 years old

Alexander Torres, Troy, NY – 36 years old

Israel Vasquez, Troy, NY – 37 years old

Abner Velasquez, Holyoke, MA – 42 years old

David Venson, Troy, NY – 56 years old

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

Attorney General James would like to thank Rensselaer District Attorney Mary Pat Donnelly and the Schenectady County Drug Task Force for their assistance in the investigation.    

The investigation was directed by New York State Police Investigator Matthew Guiry under the supervision of Senior Investigators Robert Martin and Vonnie Vardine and OCTF Detective Michael Connelly, with the assistance of the U.S. Army National Guard Counterdrug Task Force, under the supervision of OCTF Supervising Detective Brian Fleming, OCTF Assistant Chief Investigator John Monte, and OCTF Deputy Chief Investigator Andrew Boss. The Attorney General’s Investigations Division is led by Chief Oliver Pu-Folkes. 

Governor Hochul Announces $100 Million in Environmental Bond Act Funding Now Available for Zero-Emission School Buses

 

New York School Bus Incentive Program Makes Clean Buses and Charging Infrastructure More Affordable for Public Schools

Supports Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act Goal to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 85 Percent by 2050

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced $100 million is now available for zero-emission school buses under the historic $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022. The New York School Bus Incentive Program provides funding to make clean buses and the associated charging infrastructure more affordable for public school districts and bus operators that contract with them while reducing pollution, and improving air quality in communities across the state, particularly those that are underserved. Today’s announcement supports the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 85 percent by 2050 and New York State’s requirements that all school buses in New York State be zero-emission by 2035.

“New York State is empowering school districts to embrace zero-emission school buses which will provide our leaders of tomorrow with healthy and clean transportation today,” Governor Hochul said. “Ensuring electric school buses are at the forefront of student transport is a critical health investment and demonstrates the benefits of clean energy while reducing harmful emissions to improve air quality and protect our precious environment.”

Administered by The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), NYSBIP provides incentives to eligible school bus fleet operators that purchase zero-emission battery electric vehicles (BEV) or hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV). This funding is available on a first-come, first-served basis with incentive amounts starting at $114,000 and covering up to 100percent of the incremental cost of a new or repowered zero-emission school bus, depending on the type of vehicle. Larger voucher amounts are available for priority districts that include high-need school districts and disadvantaged communities, as defined by the New York State Climate Justice Working Group. Additional incentives are also available for fleets removing internal combustion engine buses from operation, purchasing wheelchair accessible buses, or purchasing buses with vehicle to grid capability.

NYSERDA CEO and President Doreen M. Harris said, “Made possible through the historic Environmental Bond Act, this incentive program will help school districts accelerate the deployment of zero-emission school buses in the medium- and heavy-duty vehicle weight classes throughout New York State. Bringing manufacturers, school districts, and bus operators together to reduce transportation emissions and create cleaner, healthier commutes to school for our students will pay dividends for decades to come.”

The program also provides rebates to eligible school bus fleet operators who purchase and install eligible charging infrastructure in association with newly purchased zero-emission school buses. School bus fleet owners (the school district or their contractor) are also eligible to receive $25,000 per bus for charging infrastructure, or $35,000 if they serve a priority district. Fleet owners that have completed electrification plans are eligible to receive $55,000 per bus for charging infrastructure, or $65,000 if they serve a priority district. Vehicle manufacturers and bus dealers can also continue to apply to offer their vehicles on a rolling basis.

Program eligibility and rules for charging infrastructure funding are available online through the NYSBIP Implementation Manual. NYSERDA will accept applications on a rolling basis until funding is exhausted under the current round and will accept applications under future rounds as it oversees the distribution of the Bond Act’s additional $400 million earmarked for zero-emission school buses and infrastructure. Schools and school bus contractors do not apply to the program directly. School bus dealers apply on their behalf after they have issued purchase orders for their electric buses. Incentives for school buses are disbursed directly to dealers and manufacturers to offset some or all of the difference in purchase price between zero-emission school buses and comparable diesel or gas-powered buses while charging infrastructure incentives are issued directly to the fleet owner. To share more information about the NYSBIP process and new charging incentives, NYSERDA will host a webinar on December 11, 2023 at 3pm ET (register here). 

Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson - Community Resources & Updates

Dear Neighbor,

 

Thank you for joining us for another week in review. 

We hope everyone had a safe and fun holiday weekend. This Thanksgiving season, our team was proud to join with community partners and colleagues in government to distribute over 2,000 turkeys and chickens to our residents and their families. Thank you to everyone who contributed to making this season of giving a huge success.

As the temperature drops, we urge tenants without heat or hot water to contact their landlord. Building owners are legally required to provide heat and hot water to their tenants. Hot water must be provided 365 days per year at a constant minimum temperature of 120 degrees Fahrenheit. If an issue with hot water or heat persists, please contact 311 immediately.

Lastly, join us tomorrow at Bronx Borough Hall (851 Grand Concourse) as we host a public hearing on the Department of City Planning`s 'City of Yes for Economic Opportunity' proposal. You can click here for more information.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact our office at 718-590-3500 or email us at webmail@bronxbp.nyc.gov.

 

In partnership,

Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson

IN THE COMMUNITY

Our borough’s Puerto Rican Pride was on full display at our Puerto Rican Heritage Celebration. Thank you to Monroe College, our emcee, sponsors, honorees, performers, and everyone else who helped to make this event a huge success.

This Thanksgiving season, we provided Bronxites with food for their families! Thank you to our generous sponsors for their collaboration and thoughtful contributions! We are so grateful for their support.

We had a wonderful Senior Luncheon for our older adults this Thanksgiving season! We had a wonderful afternoon of dancing, food, music, giveaways, and great company. 

UPCOMING EVENTS