Give the Gift of a VCPA Membership!

Winter Membership Special

Join or renew now at $50+ to receive a VCPA Beanie!

Give the Gift of Membership this Holiday Season! Support your favorite park while giving a special gift this holiday season!  It’s a win-win! Gift memberships must be received by Monday, December 11th to ensure arrival in time for the holidays.   Use our Membership Form to become a Member of the Van Cortlandt Park Alliance through a secure donation online.

Membership Benefits   Wetland Protector – $50   A new VCPA Beanie! VCPA Sticker and Van Cortlandt Park Map Two-for-one admission to Van Cortlandt House Museum Invitations to Members-only hikes 100% tax deductible   Trail Blazer – $100  All the above plus a personalized tour for 5 to 20 of your friends and family 100% tax deductible   Forest Guardian – $250 All the above plus one free lesson at Van Cortlandt Riding Stables $190 tax deductible   Park Leader – $500 All the above plus a two-for-one coupon at Van Cortlandt Golf Course $386 tax deductible

Become a VCPA Member Today!

VCPA beanie offer runs until the end of January, or until supplies last.

Your contribution to Van Cortlandt Park Alliance (VCPA) is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.* Our federal tax identification number is 13-3843182. VCPA is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization, IRS Section 170(b) (2) (iii) for both federal and state tax purposes.

Our Contact Information Van Cortlandt Park Alliance 80 Van Cortlandt Park South, Ste. E1 Bronx, NY 10463 718-601-1460 http://vancortlandt.org

 

Permits Filed For 3118 Webster Avenue In Norwood, The Bronx

 

Permits have been filed for an 11-story mixed-use building at 3118 Webster Avenue in Norwood, The Bronx. Located between East 204th Street and East 205th Street, the lot is near the Norwood-205th Street subway station, serviced by the D train. Matthew Gross of Urban Builders Collaborative is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 111-foot-tall development will yield 76,101 square feet, with 74,469 square feet designated for residential space and 1,632 square feet for commercial space. The building will have 109 residences, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 683 square feet. The concrete-based structure will also have a cellar but no accessory parking.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

An 11 story mixed use building with 109 residences and no parking, what kind of insanity is that?

Foreign National Convicted of Racketeering and Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

 

A federal jury in Beaumont, Texas, convicted a Romanian national for plotting to traffic hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from the United States in a scheme that also included money laundering, arms trafficking, and an attempt to assassinate rival gang members.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Marius Lazar, 50, of Bucharest, Romania, was a “founding member” of his local chapter of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club, a transnational outlaw motorcycle gang that was founded in the United States and is now active on six continents. Through his relationship with a fellow Hells Angels member from New Zealand, Lazar joined a conspiracy to purchase more than 400 kilograms of cocaine from a person in the United States, who the conspirators believed was a powerful drug trafficker but who was actually an undercover agent of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). As part of his negotiations for the cocaine purchase, Lazar also solicited the undercover agent to kill two members of a rival motorcycle club in Romania, and offered to supply the undercover with rifles, grenades, armored vehicles, and other military-grade equipment that Lazar understood would be used against police officers in the United States. Members of the conspiracy sent nearly $1 million to the United States, via bank wires and Bitcoin transfers, as payment for the drugs and murders.

The jury convicted Lazar of conspiracy to commit racketeering, conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. He faces a maximum penalty of life years in prison. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Co-defendants Murray Michael Matthews and Marc Patrick Johnson remain fugitives.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Damien Diggs for the Eastern District of Texas, DEA Administrator Anne Milgram, Special Agent in Charge Mark B. Dawson of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Houston, U.S. Marshal John Garrison of the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and Special Agent in Charge Christopher J. Altemus Jr. of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Dallas Field Office made the announcement.

The DEA, HSI, USMS, and IRS-CI investigated the case, with significant assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Trial Attorney Conor Mulroe of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Rapp for the Eastern District of Texas are prosecuting the case.

The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Romania to secure the arrest and extradition of Lazar.

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

Governor Hochul Encourages New Yorkers to Make an Energy Plan Ahead of Winter

 New York State Programs Help New Yorkers Manage Energy Use, Reduce Energy Bills, and Explore Electrification Solutions

Utilities and Fuel Providers Reminded to Ensure Adequate Reserves and Customer Communication

Governor Kathy Hochul today encouraged New Yorkers to prepare now to keep their homes and businesses warm heading into winter. Multiple New York State agencies and authorities offer programs that can help residents manage energy use, reduce electric and heating bills, and increase comfort during cold temperatures by weatherizing and making these buildings more energy efficient. Governor Hochul also reminded the State’s utilities and fuel providers to ensure there are adequate reserves and communication with customers to meet peak winter demand.

“As the weather gets colder, New York State is prepared to assist residents and businesses in managing their energy use, maximizing energy efficiency, and understanding the resources available in case of extreme weather,” Governor Hochul said. “As consumers undertake their own planning, utilities and fuel suppliers should strategize now to meet consumer needs and enhance communication to reduce unexpected service interruptions and respond to emergencies.”

New Yorkers can take advantage of programs offered through the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), Department of Public Service (DPS), Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, and Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Service that provide assistance to keep families, particularly those of low-or-moderate income warm during the times of the year when energy consumption may be high.

New York State programs offer funding and technical assistance that can assist homeowners, renters, and businesses manage their energy needs. This includes:

• Apply for HEAP. As of November 1, applications are being accepted for the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) which can provide up to $976 to eligible homeowners and renters depending on income, household size and how they heat their home (e.g., family of four with a maximum monthly gross income of $5,838 can qualify). For more information visit NYS HEAP.
• Energy Affordability Program/Low Income Bill Discount Program. This program provides income-eligible consumers with a discount on their monthly electric and/or gas bills, as well as other benefits, depending on the characteristics of the particular utility's program. New Yorkers can be enrolled automatically if they receive benefits from a government assistance program. For more information, they should visit their utility website or links can be found at DPS Winter Preparedness.
• Community-based Service Programs. Service organizations and local community agencies provide financial aid, counseling services and assistance with utility emergencies. New Yorkers can contact organizations like the American Red Cross (800-733-2767), Salvation Army (800-728-7825), and United Way (2-1-1 or 888-774-7633) to learn more.
• Take immediate action to be more energy efficient. NYSERDA offers energy saving tips for residents and homeowners, as well as businesses, that can lower energy use. NYSERDA also offers a range of home energy efficiency programs that can help save energy and reduce costs over time. Income-eligible customers may qualify for reduced cost or free energy upgrades to their homes through the EmPower+ program. Homeowners should also check with their local gas and electric utility companies to access discounted products and services
  that can help them lower their energy costs all year long.
• Receive a customized list of energy-related assistance in the State. New York Energy Advisor can help income-eligible New Yorkers locate programs that help them spend less on energy and create healthier and more comfortable spaces. With New York Energy Advisor, consumers answer simple questions and get connected with energy-saving offers in New York State. Sponsored by NYSERDA and utilities, qualified New Yorkers can get help paying utility bills, receive special offers on heating assistance, and more.
• Prioritize Home Heating Safety. Property owners should avoid connecting occupied buildings to wells producing natural gas because doing so can be dangerous and potentially deadly. The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) also encourages property owners who use oil for heat to inspect fuel storage tanks for potential leaks or spills before receiving shipments of fuel oil for the heating season. Additional information can be found here.

New York State's utilities — including Con Edison, Central Hudson, Orange and Rockland, National Grid, NYSEG, RG&E, National Fuel Gas, and PSEG-LI — and home heating fuel providers were also reminded to ensure adequate fuel reserves, contingency plans, and to communicate with customers to help them access assistance programs, avoid disrupted service and to keep warm. Actions include:

• Reminding dual-fueled and interruptible commercial customers to fill their alternate fuel tanks and to maintain and inspect fuel storage tanks for potential leaks or spills before receiving fuel shipments.
• Reviewing emergency plans that address alternate fuel supply disruptions, and prepare to work with local and state government agencies to protect public health and safety when temperatures drop below 20 degrees.
• Informing customers about warming centers, hot meals, and access to a list of master plumbers in case pipes freeze in unheated buildings.
• Coordinating with the New York Independent System Operator and major power generators to encourage the dual-fuel operators to fill tanks in advance of the winter heating season and to inspect fuel storage tanks for potential leaks or spills before receiving fuel shipments.