Members Of Bronx Street Gang Charged With Murder, Attempted Murder, Assault, Racketeering, And Firearms Offenses

 

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Keechant Sewell, Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), and Ricky J. Patel, the Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) in New York, today announced charges against ten alleged members of a street gang known as “ABG” in the Bronx, New York.  HENRY JONES, a/k/a “Dew Man,” DAIVON MORGAN, a/k/a “Leeky,”  ROBERTO ESPINOSA, a/k/a “Taco,” AMIER WILSON, a/k/a “Smula,” DAVION TRUSTY, a/k/a “Saint,” ELIJAH PERKINS, a/k/a “Eli,” JAMIE WILKINS,  a/k/a “OJ,” XAVIER ARAU, a/k/a “X,” JUAN REYES, a/k/a “Gunplay,” and CASSIUS MILLER, a/k/a “Cash,” all of whom are members of ABG, were charged in a Superseding Indictment with racketeering conspiracy, drug trafficking, and firearms offenses.  JONES, MORGAN, WILSON, TRUSTY, PERKINS, WILKINS, ARAU, and REYES were also charged with engaging in violent crimes in aid of racketeering.  JONES and MORGAN are additionally charged with aiding and abetting the February 8, 2019, murder of Darren Scruggs in the Bronx.  The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil.

JONES, PERKINS, WILKINS, ARAU, and MILLER were already in custody in connection with charges contained in a previous indictment related to this prosecution.  AMIER WILSON and REYES are in federal custody in connection with charges filed in other prosecutions.  TRUSTY and ESPINOSA are in state custody and will be transferred into federal custody.  MORGAN was arrested this morning in the Bronx.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said:  “As alleged in the Superseding Indictment, ABG was an extremely violent street gang that brutalized the Bronx by shooting and slashing their victims.  Among ABG’s many victims was Darren Scruggs, who we allege was gunned down at the age of 19 by Roberto Espinosa with the assistance of Daivon Morgan and Henry Jones.  With this Superseding Indictment, ABG’s members will face justice for these serious alleged acts of violence.”

NYPD Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell said:  “Targeting and dismantling gangs and crews, and preventing the violence so often associated with their illegal activities, continues to be among the highest priorities for the NYPD and our law enforcement colleagues.  I thank and commend the NYPD and HSI investigators, along with the prosecutors from the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, for their hard work on this important case.  We vow to remain relentless in our efforts to identify and arrest anyone who involves themselves in such behavior.”

Ricky J. Patel, the Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of HSI, said: “Today’s charges are yet another step towards making our city a safer place for everyone.  The individuals charged today are alleged to have committed numerous acts of senseless violence in the name of loyalty to their gang.  This superseding indictment demonstrates HSI’s continued commitment to working together with our partners to dismantle the violent gangs that are terrorizing our communities.” 

According to the allegations in the Superseding Indictment filed today in federal court:[1]

From at least in or about 2017 to in or about the present, ABG was a criminal enterprise centered in the Bronx, New York.  ABG primarily operated in the vicinity of the Mitchel Houses in the vicinity of 135th and 138th Streets and Lincoln and Willis Avenues.  In addition to their local affiliation, many of ABG’s members also affiliated with the national Crips gang.  In order to make money for the gang, protect the gang’s territory, and promote the gang’s standing, members of ABG engaged in, among other things, narcotics trafficking and violence, including murder.  To that end, ABG members sold crack cocaine and marijuana, promoted their gang affiliation on social media, possessed firearms, and engaged in shootings as part of their gang membership and narcotics trafficking. 

For years, ABG engaged in disputes with rival crews in the Bronx, which resulted in numerous acts of violence.  Among the many shootings that resulted from those rivalries was the murder of Darren Scruggs on February 18, 2019.  On that date, HENRY JONES and DAIVON MORGAN assisted ROBERTO ESPINOSA when he shot and killed Scruggs.  In addition, ELIJAH PERKINS shot at rival gang members on October 30, 2018, and committed another shooting on August 21, 2021, with assistance from AMIER WILSON.  Separately, WILSON carried out a shooting on March 25, 2022, during which he struck a victim.  JAMIE WILKINS also carried out a different shooting on October 28, 2021, and JONES committed a shooting on November 7, 2021, with assistance from JUAN REYES.

ABG’s rivalries also resulted in multiple slashings.  For example, on May 8, 2020, REYES, PERKINS, and XAVIER ARAU beat and slashed a victim.  Then on February 20, 2021, MORGAN slashed a victim across the face at the direction of TRUSTY.

ABG members also participated in a conspiracy to distribute narcotics in New York.  All defendants named in the Superseding Indictment participated in a conspiracy with other individuals to distribute more than 280 grams of crack cocaine from at least in or about 2017 up to and including the present.

Between in or about 2017 and the present, the defendants also possessed, used, brandished, and discharged firearms in furtherance of the narcotics conspiracy in which they all participated.  JONES, MORGAN, WILSON, PERKINS, WILKINS, and REYES are further charged with engaging in violent crimes in aid of racketeering, and using, brandishing, and discharging firearms in furtherance of these crimes of violence based on the shootings described above. 

The statutory maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencings of the defendants would be determined by a judge.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the NYPD, HSI, and the New York City Department of Corrections.

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

MAYOR ADAMS’ STATEMENT ON THE PASSING OF QUEEN ELIZABETH II

 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today released the following statement on the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.

“It is with sadness that I learned of the passing of her majesty Queen Elizabeth II. She was committed to a life of service which impacted many. She was a global force who will be remembered for her reign of 70 years. Our deepest condolences to the Royal Family, the people of the United Kingdom, and the Commonwealth.”

 

Mayor Adams today ordered all flags on all city buildings, as well as stationary flagstaffs throughout the five boroughs, to be lowered to half-staff, beginning immediately.

Attorney General James Releases Statement on CAIR-NY’s Survey of Hate Crimes and Bias against Muslim New Yorkers

 

 New York Attorney General Letitia James today released the following statement in response to the Council on American Islamic Relations New York’s (CAIR-NY) report on hate crimes and bias incidents against Muslim New Yorkers:

“The findings in CAIR-NY’s survey demonstrate that more needs to be done to protect and support Muslim New Yorkers. It’s clear that years of unjust policies and prejudice have left deep wounds in Muslim communities in New York. No New Yorker should be targeted or discriminated against because of what they believe, what they wear, or the color of their skin. My office will continue our work to take on hate and bias and make sure every New Yorker feels safe here.”

Read CAIR-NY’s report here.

Long Island MS-13 Gang Members Face Additional Racketeering Charges, Including for the 2016 Murder of a Central Islip Man

Defendants Now Charged with a Total of Seven Murders Committed in Freeport, Roosevelt, Brentwood, and Central Islip in 2016-2017 

 Today, in federal court in Central Islip, a 29-count superseding indictment was unsealed charging eight members and associates of the violent transnational criminal organization La Mara Salvatrucha, also known as the “MS-13,” with multiple racketeering offenses, including predicate racketeering acts involving murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and related narcotics and firearms offenses.  The defendants will be arraigned on a later date before United States District Judge Joan M. Azrack.

Two of the defendants, Kevin Torres, also known as “Inquieto” and “Quieto” (Torres), and Oseas Gonzalez, also known as “Manota” and “Cordero” (Gonzalez), have now been charged with the September 5, 2016 murder of Marcus Bohannon, in Central Islip.  Racketeering charges and related offenses were also added against Gonzalez and Victor Lopez-Morales, also known as “Persa” (Lopez-Morales), in connection with the October 14, 2016 murder of Carlos Ventura-Zelaya; and against David Sosa-Guevara, also known as “Risky” (Sosa-Guevara), in connection with a May 23, 2020 assault against a rival gang member at the Nassau County Correctional Facility.  Finally, the superseding indictment charges an additional defendant, Kevin Cuevas Del Cid, also known as “Creeper,” “Malcriado,” “Sombra,” “Vinky” and “Dabura” (Del Cid), in connection with his participation in the May 21, 2016 murder of Kerin Pineda, and the October 10, 2016 murder of Javier Castillo. 

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), Rodney K. Harrison, Commissioner, Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD), and Patrick Ryder, Commissioner, Nassau County Police Department (NCPD), announced the superseding indictment.

“The superseding indictment demonstrates the resolve of this Office and the Long Island Gang Task Force to bring to justice the MS-13 gang members responsible for each and every one of the appalling and senseless murders they have committed in our communities on Long Island and elsewhere,” stated United States Attorney Peace.  “It is my hope that these latest charges bring some consolation to the families of the victims.”

“We are making a positive impact in the communities once terrorized by these MS-13 members, but we are seeing signs the gang is attempting to rebuild. Along with our law enforcement partners on our Long Island Gang Task Force, we remain determined to prevent that from happening, but we cannot do it alone. We need the public to remain vigilant and contact us with any information they have to prevent another rash of MS-13 murders,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Driscoll.

“These MS-13 members are calculated, manipulative and have no regard for human life,” stated SCPD Commissioner Harrison.  “I commend the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York and the Long Island Gang Task Force for their relentless pursuit to hold these individuals accountable. The unsealing of this indictment sends a clear message to gang members who think they are enhancing their gang’s reputation by committing heinous crimes—you will be held accountable.”

“These eight new indictments for murder of individuals connected to MS-13 is another clear example of how the Long Island Gang Task Force continues to bring these criminals to justice. The dedicated investigators that comprise the task force from multiple law enforcement agencies are the most experienced and professional in their departments.  I would like to thank them for their continued diligence by keeping all of our communities safe,” stated NCPD Commissioner Ryder.

Bohannon murder

As detailed in the superseding indictment, as well as in court filings, Torres and Gonzalez have been charged in connection with the murder of Bohannon, who was shot and killed shortly after midnight on September 5, 2016.  Prior to the murder, on the evening of September 4, 2016, members of the Sailors Locos Salvatruchas Westside (Sailors) clique and Hollywood Locos Salvatruchas (Hollywood) clique of the MS-13 met at a house in Central Islip.  Torres, who was the leader of the Sailors clique for all of New York, told the other gang members who were gathered at the house, including Gonzalez, a member of the Hollywood clique, that they would be going out that night hunting for rival gang members to kill.  The MS-13 members separated into several cars and drove around Central Islip and Brentwood looking for people they could target as rivals.  While Gonzalez and his fellow MS-13 members were driving through Central Islip, they observed Bohannon walking along Lowell Avenue.  Suspecting that the victim was a member of the rival Bloods gang, Gonzalez and another MS-13 member, both armed with handguns, got out of the vehicle, approached the victim and started shooting.  After shooting the victim numerous times, Gonzalez handed his gun to the other MS-13 member who fired several more shots into the victim after his own gun had jammed.  Bohannon died from his wounds.

Ventura-Zelaya murder

The superseding indictment also adds charges against Gonzalez and Lopez-Morales in connection with the October 14, 2016 murder of Carlos Ventura-Zelaya, in Roosevelt.  Ventura-Zelaya had been marked for death by the MS-13 because of his suspected membership in the rival 18th Street gang.  On the day of the murder, Gonzalez observed the victim at a deli in Roosevelt and alerted other members of the Hollywood clique.  Gonzalez then picked up several fellow gang members, including Carlos Alfaro, also known as “Russo” (Alfaro), to assist in the murder.  The group next drove to the home of Lopez-Morales, who gave them a handgun.  After obtaining the weapon, Gonzalez drove the group back in the direction of the deli to look for and kill the victim.  Once they spotted Ventura-Zelaya walking on Hudson Street in Roosevelt, Alfaro, who was armed with the gun, and another MS-13 member got out of the car, approached him and Alfaro fired multiple times, striking and killing the victim.    

Pineda and Castillo murders

Del Cid is charged in this superseding indictment with the May 21, 2016 murder of Kerin Pineda, the October 10, 2016 murder of Javier Castillo, and conspiring to distribute cocaine and marijuana.  Del Cid, who was 16-years’ old at the time of these murders, was initially charged as a juvenile in a sealed proceeding before being transferred to adult status by order of the Court following a juvenile transfer hearing before the United States Circuit Judge Joseph F. Bianco sitting by designation. 

Members of the Sailors and Hollywood cliques murdered Pineda after suspecting him to be a member of the 18th Street gang.  On the day of the murder, Del Cid, who was a member of the Sailors clique and seeking promotion in the gang, helped to lure Pineda to a secluded wooded area near the Merrick-Freeport border where he and other MS-13 members were lying in wait armed with machetes.  When the victim arrived, Del Cid, and other MS-13 members, including Ever Morales-Lopez, also known as “Kyen,” “Lenky” and “Inke,” Jose Jonathan Guevara-Castro, also known as “Suspechoso,” and Gonzalez surrounded and attacked Pineda, stabbing, slashing and hacking him to death with machetes.  While this was taking place, Torres and Sosa-Guevara, the leaders of the Sailors and Hollywood cliques, respectively, were driving around the area in two separate cars looking out for any police presence.  Lopez-Morales was in the car with Sosa-Guevara.  After Pineda was killed the MS-13 members buried him in a hole that had been dug the day before.  Pineda’s remains were recovered more than a year later. 

Castillo was also killed based on his suspected membership in the 18th Street gang.  Del Cid, Torres and more than a half dozen other members of the Sailors clique participated in the Castillo murder.  On the night of October 10, 2016, the MS-13 members lured Castillo to Cow Meadow Park in Freeport.  They brought him to an isolated marsh area along the water where he was viciously attacked with machetes.  After killing Castillo, the MS-13 members dug a hole and buried the body, which was not recovered until one year later.  Many of the participants in the Castillo murder were previously charged in a separate case, two of whom have pleaded guilty. 

Additional Charged Crimes

Finally, the superseding indictment charges Sosa-Guevara with assaulting a rival gang member while in prison.  On May 23, 2020, Sosa-Guevara and several other MS-13 members got into an altercation with an inmate who was a member of the Bloods street gang.  Sosa-Guevara and the other MS-13 members armed themselves with sharpened metal objects and attacked the victim beating and stabbing him repeatedly until corrections officers intervened and stopped the assault.  The victim sustained multiple lacerations and stab wounds, and later recovered from his injuries. 

In the underlying indictment, Torres was charged with the 2016 murder of 19-year-old Oscar Acosta in Brentwood; Lopez-Morales and Gonzalez were charged with the 2016 murder of 19-year-old Josue Amaya-Leonor in the Roosevelt Preserve; and Lopez-Morales and Sosa-Guevara were charged with the 2017 murder of 15-year-old Angel Soler in Roosevelt.

This superseding indictment is the latest in a series of federal prosecutions by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York targeting members and associates of the MS-13, a violent, transnational criminal organization.  The MS-13’s leadership is based in El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico, but the gang has thousands of members across the United States.  With numerous branches, or “cliques,” the MS-13 is the most violent criminal organization on Long Island.  Since 2003, hundreds of MS-13 members, including dozens of clique leaders, have been convicted on federal felony charges in the Eastern District of New York.  A majority of those MS-13 members have been convicted on federal racketeering charges for participating in murders, attempted murders and assaults.  Since 2010, this Office has obtained indictments charging MS-13 members and associates with carrying out more than 60 murders in the district, and has convicted dozens of MS-13 leaders, members and associates in connection with those murders.  These prosecutions are the product of investigations led by the FBI’s Long Island Gang Task Force, which is comprised of agents and officers of the FBI, SCPD, Nassau County Police Department, Nassau County Sheriff’s Department, Suffolk County Probation Office, Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Police, Hempstead Police Department, Rockville Centre Police Department and New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.

BRONX MAN INDICTED FOR 1996 FATAL STRANGLING OF PREGNANT WOMAN

DNA From Under Victim’s Fingernails Matched Defendant

 Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a Bronx man has been indicted for second-degree Murder in the 1996 strangling death of a pregnant woman after his DNA was recently matched to DNA found under the victim’s fingernails.

 District Attorney Clark said, “Forensic experts were able to match the DNA from the defendant with the victim who was strangled and killed in her home with her 5-year-old son present. Investigators never gave up on getting justice for her, and her alleged killer is now being held accountable.”

 District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Gregory Fleetwood, 66, last of 3507 Laconia Avenue, was arraigned on September 6, 2022 on second-degree Murder before Bronx Supreme Court Justice George Villegas. The defendant was remanded and is due back in court on September 16, 2022.

 According to the investigation, on February 5, 1996, inside of 1706 Davidson Avenue in the Morris Heights section of the Bronx, the defendant allegedly choked Jasmine Porter, 36, to death in her apartment. Porter’s 5-year-old son was in the home and was alone with her body for two days before it was discovered. DNA was recovered from under the victim’s fingernails. Recently the investigation matched that evidence with Fleetwood’s DNA, using technology that wasn’t available in 1996.

Fleetwood had a previous conviction for strangling another pregnant woman in the Bronx in 1987.

 District Attorney Clark thanked Lieutenant Sean O’ Toole and Detective Robert Klein of NYPD Bronx Homicide, and the Office of Chief Medical Examiner Forensic Biology Department, for their work in the investigation. 

An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.

Bronx Chamber of Commerce - Celebrating our Members: 2022 Honorees Announced

 

The evening is the Bronx's #1 business networking event of the year and features a two-hour cocktail reception, dinner, and dancing. Invited speakers include New York State Governor Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Eric Adams. The evening includes star-studded performances by Master of Ceremonies, Sal Valentinetti, "The Voice,” Brenda K. Starr, C-Bank, Cynthia, Steven Maglio, and DJ Serg. This annual event raises critical funds for borough economic and workforce development. 100% of all contributions support the Bronx Chamber’s business and economic development programs.  Sponsor, Purchase Tables & Tickets - Click Here The Board of Directors and leadership of The Bronx Chamber of Commerce invite you to join celebrating our longstanding history and commitment to our communities, while honoring extraordinary champions and partners who have made a lasting impact on our mission and those we serve.  This year, we are proud to honor: Joseph Kelleher is an experienced business executive with an extensive background in real estate development and philanthropy. He was appointed president and chief operating officer of Hutch Management LLC in 2009. Kelleher previously served as the executive director of leasing and property management for the 42-acre Hutchinson Metro Center in the Bronx. The Hutchinson Metro Center is a highly successful mixed-use complex that features 1.4 million square feet of Class A office, medical, retail and educational space. Kelleher first began his real estate career in the real estate division of NYNEX as property manager for the Corporate Headquarters Building in New York City. Subsequently, he served as director of property management for Catalano Kornblum Management Corp. and Winoker Realty Corp., as well as chief executive officer for Casino New York LLC. Joseph Kelleher also served as president of the Bronx Council of the Boy Scouts, and on the executive board of the Bronx Chamber of Commerce as president, treasurer and vice president. Since 2008, he has served as Chairman of the Bronx Chamber of Commerce, as well on the board of the Bronx Chamber’s Foundation. John Collazzi has served as publisher and Co-Founders of The Bronx Times. He founded the paper in 1981 with Michael Benedetto, expanding it from a monthly to a bi-weekly paper within a few years, and to a weekly in 1989. After the publication was sold in 2007 he continued to work for the new ownership until his retirement in 2012. At present he is the Chief of Staff for Michael Benedetto, Assembly member representing the 82nd Assembly District. He co-founded the Bronx Chamber of Commerce in 2001, was a Community Board 10 member for over ten years, served on the Bronx YMCA's board of managers for 15 years and was an original member of the Bronx Initiatives Corporation. Collazzi is a founding member of the Bronx Chamber of Commerce, where he now serves as a vice-president emeritus. The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. They are one of two major league clubs based in New York City. The team was founded in 1903 and was established as the New York Highlanders. The Highlanders were officially renamed the New York Yankees in 1913. The team is owned by Yankee Global Enterprises, controlled by the family of the late  George Steinbrenner, who purchased the team in 1973.  Mr. Steinbrenner passed away in 2010. He was the longest-serving owner in club history, and the Yankees won seven World Series championships and 11 American League pennants under his ownership. During his tenure, Mr. Steinbrenner was actively involved in developing The Bronx Chamber of Commerce and served as Executive Vice President to the Board of Directors. His outspokenness and role in driving up player salaries made him one of the sport's most controversial figures. Steinbrenner was also involved in the Great Lakes and Gulf Coast shipping industry. Known as a hands-on baseball executive, Mr. Steinbrenner earned the nickname "The Boss". The NY Yankees are currently owned by Yankee Global Enterprises, for which Steinbrenner's four children have served as general partners. ‌ Sponsor, Purchase Tables & Tickets - Click Here Secure Your Journal Ad - Click Here ‌ ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌

Governor Hochul Announces Groundbreaking of $9.5 Billion New Terminal One in a Major Step Forward for Port Authority's JFK Transformation

 

2.4 Million Square Foot International Terminal Will Be Built in Phases on Sites of Current T1, T2, and Former T3

Arrivals and Departures Hall and First New Gates Will Go Live in 2026

The New Terminal One Will Be the Largest Terminal at JFK International Airport and Represents an Integral Part of the $18 Billion Transformation Project Now Well Underway

Private Partners Will Provide Financing To Cover Full Cost of Terminal; Port Authority To Build Supporting Road and Utility Infrastructure

State of the Art Technology, Best Sustainability Practices, Public Art, Iconic Local Concessions and Revamped Roadways Will Create a World-Class Passenger Experience

Project Will Create More Than 10,000 Total Jobs Including 6,000 Union Construction Jobs

Includes 30 Percent MWBE Goal for Contracts and Financing Interests; Extensive Opportunities for Local Businesses and Jobseekers Guided by Community Advisory Council

Renderings for New Terminal One Available Here

 Governor Kathy Hochul today celebrated a key milestone in the Port Authority's transformation of John F. Kennedy International Airport with the groundbreaking for a $9.5 billion, privately financed New Terminal One. The start of construction follows a revised agreement late last year between the Port Authority and the New Terminal One - a consortium of financial sponsors - to build the 2.4 million square foot, state of the art new international terminal that will anchor the south side of John F. Kennedy International Airport and create 10,000 jobs, including 6,000 jobs in construction.

"Our state-of-the-art renovations of New York State's airports are critical and long overdue - especially at JFK, the nation's front door to the world," Governor Hochul said. "The investments we are making today will ensure all New Yorkers, and the tens of millions of people who come here every year, have a first-class travel experience tomorrow - all while creating more than 10,000 jobs. Congratulations and thank you to everyone who has put in the years of hard work to make this transformative project possible."

Designed to accommodate the growing demand for international air travel, the New Terminal One will be more than twice the size of Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. Bright and airy check-in halls and arrival spaces advanced security technology and a state-of-the-art baggage handling system will enhance the passenger experience. The new Terminal One will double the number of gates that currently accommodate wide-body aircraft, with 22 of the 23 new gates designed for larger aircraft that are key to international travel.

With more than 300,000 square feet of world-class, locally inspired dining and retail concessions, as well as lounges, indoor green-space, inspiring public art, family friendly amenities and revamped roadways, the New Terminal One will provide customers the world class experience expected at a global gateway, and it will compete with some of the highest-rated airport terminals in the world.

In keeping with the Port Authority's commitment to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, the Terminal will be sustainably designed and future focused, including on-site renewable energy generation, electric ground support equipment and optimized lighting and building controls.

Initially expected to break ground in 2020, the severe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on air travel required that the Port Authority and the New Terminal One (NTO) consortium restructure the previous agreement to build and operate the new Terminal. A revised agreement was approved by the Port Authority Board of Commissioners and announced by Governor Hochul in December 2021, enabling the project to move forward.

In June, the Port Authority's Board also voted to approve a new lead investor in the project. Ferrovial, a global airport operator with experience building world-class terminals, acquired 96 percent of The Carlyle Global Infrastructure Fund's 51-percent stake in the New Terminal One. The consortium, which also includes the financial partners ULLICO and JLC Infrastructure, will design, build and operate the state-of-the-art terminal.

The entire cost of the Terminal will be privately financed by the NTO consortium. The Port Authority will undertake infrastructure upgrades and improvements including roads, parking and utilities, including a new electrical substation as part of the project. The project will be built in phases, with the arrivals and departures hall and 14 new gates opening in 2026 and completion of the Terminal's final nine gates in 2030

The New Terminal One will be built on the sites of the current undersized and outdated Terminal 1, the aging and obsolete 60-year-old Terminal 2 and the site of the former Terminal 3, which was demolished in 2014. In order to maintain full flight operations during construction, demolition of old structures will be coordinated with the opening of new facilities. Work will begin at the vacant Terminal 3 site. Terminal 2 will be demolished after Delta Air Lines consolidates its operations at a newly expanded and modernized Terminal 4 in 2023. The current Terminal 1 will be torn down after the first phase of the New Terminal One is completed in 2026, allowing the second phase of the project to move forward.

Transforming JFK Into a World-Class Global Gateway

The New Terminal One builds on the momentum of the other three major components of the airport's transformation. The $3.9 billion development of a state-of-the-art new Terminal 6, to be built by JFK Millennium Partners, on the airport's north side that will seamlessly connect with JetBlue's existing Terminal 5 and was approved by the Port Authority Board of Commissioners in August, 2021. The $1.5 billion expansion of Terminal 4, led by Delta Air Lines and JFK International Air Terminal, was approved in the spring and is now under construction. Additionally, work began in December 2019 on the $425 million expansion of JFK's Terminal 8, led by American Airlines, which operates the Terminal, and British Airways, which will be relocating to Terminal 8 from Terminal 7, once the project is completed by the end of this year.

Combined, the privately financed terminal projects combined with the Port Authority's roadway, parking and infrastructure projects represent an $18 billion transformation of JFK International and an extraordinary series of public-private partnerships. The Port Authority capital investment of $2.9 billion is leveraging private investment at a rate of more than five to one when taking into account the full private investment of more than $15 billion that has been committed to the four projects comprising the full JFK redevelopment program.

Redeveloping JFK Airport in Lockstep with the Local Community

In 2018, the JFK Redevelopment Community Advisory Council was formed. It is co-chaired by U.S. Representative Gregory Meeks and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, and is composed of elected officials, community boards, business and nonprofit organizations, civic organizations, and clergy leaders from the targeted local communities of Southeast Queens, Southwest Queens, the Rockaways, and western portions of Nassau County.

Since its inception, the Council has been working with the Port Authority to expand community outreach efforts and develop community-focused programs, ensuring that this ambitious project solicits ongoing feedback from local stakeholders and provides meaningful opportunities for local businesses, MWBEs, students, and jobseekers.

This includes programming to advance the Port Authority's commitment to a 30 percent MWBE contracting goal in all categories of work, and a special focus on opportunities for local businesses across all aspects of the JFK Redevelopment program, including this terminal project, which will be built by union labor under a full project-labor agreement. Other community development initiatives prioritized by the Council focus on job opportunities and workforce development programs for local residents, small business outreach and development, and educational programming for local students.

Governor Hochul Announces $35 Million Available for Permanent Supportive Housing Projects

 

Request for Proposals Issued for Funding Through the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative

Awards to Provide Operating Expenses for 1,400 Supportive Housing Units Statewide

 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the availability of $35 million in funding to provide supportive services for affordable housing projects statewide. The seventh round of funding through the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative will help cover operating expenses for 1,400 units of permanent supportive housing that will help reduce housing instability among vulnerable populations in New York.

"Supportive housing is a critical component of our efforts to build inclusive communities and ensure all New Yorkers have a safe, affordable place to call home," Governor Hochul said. "The funding announced today through the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative will be critical to addressing the root causes of housing instability and uplifting our most vulnerable and marginalized populations."

The State Office of Mental Health - the lead procurement agency for the initiative -issued a request for proposals today for Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative funding, which is dispersed by an interagency workgroup of eight State agencies serving vulnerable New Yorkers. The initiative provides operating funding for supportive service providers serving homeless veterans and their families; victims of domestic violence; seniors or frail elderly; young adults with a history of incarceration, homelessness, or foster care; chronically homeless individuals and families; individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities; individuals reentering the community from prison; and those living with HIV or AIDS, serious mental illness and/or substance use disorders.

Projects may receive up to $25,000 per unit per year for service and operating funding needed to operate permanent supportive housing units. Applicants are expected to secure separate capital funding to finance the development and construction of their housing project.

Funding awarded through the initiative may be used for rental assistance and services to eligible target populations to ensure their housing stability. Permissible uses include rental subsidies and other occupancy costs; services or staff to identify and locate eligible individuals that need housing; primary and behavioral health services; employment and vocational training; educational assistance, parenting skills development and support; child care assistance counseling and crisis intervention; children's services, including educational advocacy, support and counseling; and costs associated with services that help individuals and families remain stably housed.

Research has shown that permanent supportive housing reduces the demand for shelters, hospital beds, emergency rooms, prisons, and jails, in addition to having a positive effect on employment, school attendance, and mental and physical wellbeing. Supportive housing projects can also positively impact neighborhoods through new construction or by rehabilitating existing buildings.

The Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative is an important component of Governor Hochul's bold statewide plan to make housing more affordable, equitable, and stable. In the FY 2023 State Budget, Governor Hochul successfully secured a new $25 billion, five-year, comprehensive housing plan that will increase the housing supply by creating or preserving 100,000 affordable homes across New York, including 10,000 with support services for vulnerable populations, plus the electrification of an additional 50,000 homes.

New York State Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said, "The ESSHI program, and Governor Hochul's commitment to supportive housing have provided new opportunities to thousands of vulnerable individuals and families. Supportive housing is a powerful resource that helps people live productive, successful and fulfilling lives in their own homes and their own communities, and we at OMH are proud to join our partners in state government to offer this funding opportunity."

New York State Department of Health Commissioner Mary T. Bassett said. "Access to affordable and supportive housing not only improves New Yorkers quality of life but also directly enhances their personal health, allowing many the ability to leave homelessness and live in permanent housing in the community. This is another illustration of Governor Hochul's commitment to supporting the most vulnerable New Yorkers by building affordable housing, with on-site social services, the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative promotes social equity and economic prosperity for all New Yorkers."