Monday, April 22, 2024

Two Former Arkansas Sheriff’s Deputies Plead Guilty to Federal Civil Rights Violations for Violently Assaulting a Man They Arrested

 

Two former Crawford County, Arkansas, sheriff’s deputies, Levi White, 34, and Zackary King, 28, pleaded guilty to federal civil rights offenses for using unlawful force on a man they arrested.

“The defendants swore an oath to uphold the law, then violated that oath and abused their power by assaulting a person who was pinned to the ground and not resisting,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “These defendants will now face the serious consequences that result from their unlawful actions. The Justice Department will continue to protect the right of every person in this country to be free of excessive force by law enforcement officers.”  

“The videos from this incident are a shocking display of the violent deprivation of civil rights committed by these officers,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Fowlkes for the Western District of Arkansas. “No person in police custody should ever feel threatened or should ever experience violence at the hands of those who are sworn to protect the public. We will continue to vigorously pursue justice in cases involving the violation of civil rights in the Western District of Arkansas.”

“The violent and abusive actions of these two men, who were sworn to serve and protect our community, are unacceptable,” said Assistant Director Michael D. Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “Law enforcement officers hold positions with significant authority and influence, and their credibility in the eyes of the American people depends on their ability to maintain integrity. These guilty pleas serve as a reminder that the FBI will continue to hold accountable those who take advantage of their positions and will always fight to protect the civil rights of all Americans.”

“Disgraceful actions, like those of the two Crawford County sheriff’s deputies, negatively impact all members of Arkansas law enforcement,” said Special Agent in Charge Alicia D. Corder of the FBI Little Rock Field Office. “A gun and a badge do not give someone the right to ignore the Constitution. The FBI’s ArkTrust Task Force will continue to work to restore the public’s trust in law enforcement by investigating officers who violate the civil rights of citizens in our community.”

According to court documents, White, King and a third officer approached a man identified as R.W. in a gas station parking lot on Aug. 21, 2022, during their investigation into a person threatening a store attendant. R.W. lunged at White and tackled him, then all three officers quickly subdued R.W. and pinned him to the ground. After R.W. was pinned to the ground and no longer fighting the officers, King kicked R.W. in the back and struck R.W. once in the midsection with his fist. At approximately the same time, White punched R.W. at least nine times in the head, then lifted R.W.’s head and slammed it into the pavement. The third officer did not strike R.W. R.W. suffered head injuries from the assault.

Sentencing hearings will be scheduled at a later date. White faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. King faces a maximum penalty of one year in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $100,000. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The FBI Little Rock Field Office and ARKTrust Task Force investigated the case.

KRVC Book Club, May & June 2024 Meetings - Join Us!

 

Join Us for Our Next Two KRVC Book Club Meetings!

The Book for Our May Meeting is

The Rose Code


Wednesday, May 1, 2024 - As the royal wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip whips post-war Britain into a fever, three friends-turned-enemies are reunited by a mysterious encrypted letter—the key to which lies buried in the long-ago betrayal that destroyed their friendship and left one of them confined to an asylum.


Please note that The Rose Code is replacing Defending Alice, which was the book originally scheduled for the May 2024 meeting.


The Book for Our June Meeting is

The Giver of Stars



Wednesday, June 5, 2024 - Set in Depression-era America, The Giver of Stars is the story of five extraordinary women and their journey through the mountains of Kentucky and beyond. The women deliver library books to people in the mountains of Kentucky during the Great Depression, a real-life program launched by President Franklin D.

Look forward to seeing you!


505BX.org

State Senator Gustavo Rivera on the 2024-2025 New York State Budget

 

GOVERNMENT HEADER


State Senator Gustavo Rivera (33rd District, The Bronx) joined his colleagues in the Senate Majority to vote for the 10 bills of the 2024-2025 New York State Budget. Senator Rivera voted in favor of all bills, including Aid to Localities, Debt Service, Revenue, Capital Projects, State Operations, Legislature and Judiciary, Transportation, Economic Development and Environmental Conservation (TEDE), Public Protection and General Government (PPGG), Education, Labor, and Family Assistance (ELFA), and Health and Mental Hygiene (HMH).


BUDGET OVERVIEW


I know that our Conference will focus on addressing the concerns of working-class New Yorkers that were not addressed in this budget by the Governor’s heavy-handed austerity and misaligned priorities during a period of extreme wealth inequality.


“Amidst a severe affordability crisis, New Yorkers need the government to support their basic needs, including caring for family members, affordable healthcare, and stable housing. Holding the line on the issues that would make New Yorkers’ lives easier does not end with this budget. My district sent me to Albany to advance policies and secure services that make our communities safer by ensuring economic stability for every New Yorker, and that’s what I will continue to do.” 


HEALTH


“Unlike the beginning of her tenure, Governor Hochul’s health budget proposals this year were a blast from the past, declining to sustain the investments our healthcare system needs to stabilize it. I’m dismayed that the Executive was unwilling to do more to ensure the long-term financial stability of healthcare providers and institutions that serve our most vulnerable. While we rightfully increased Medicaid rates for our hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities, we needed more for health services across the board. Many of the providers in our community, including community health centers, home care providers, and hospices, are still facing financial challenges that we must take action to address. 


“The consolidation of the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) under a single Fiscal Intermediary (FI) to supposedly cut down on costs is a concerning measure that will have serious implications for the populations it serves and will require continued oversight. As a State, we should be pushing to ensure older and differently abled New Yorkers have the choice to stay in their communities and receive the care they need from their loved ones.


“I am incredibly proud that this budget includes several proposals that I have championed for years. One proposal furthers my mission to end medical debt in our State. This new policy will expand financial assistance for New Yorkers that need hospital care and shield them from lawsuits by hospitals, because no one should go bankrupt simply because they fell ill. I’m also grateful that we are eliminating cost sharing for insulin, a life-saving measure for many diabetic New Yorkers. Two other proposals will expand protections for soon-to-be mothers. One of these will establish pre-natal leave to ensure that their pregnancies are optimal and in that way, keep fighting to reduce our State’s maternal mortality rates; this proposal is the first of its kind in our country. The second proposal will ensure the children under the age of six will receive continuous coverage under the Medicaid and Child Health Plus programs, ensuring continuous health coverage and reducing headaches from paperwork for parents that puts their children at risk of gaps in care.


“I’m glad the Executive agreed to apply for a waiver that, when approved, will give the State the ability to impose fees on managed care plans based on the number of members served. The State would impose a heavier tax on Medicaid managed care compared to non-Medicaid managed care and then, the funds would be used to secure a federal match for State Medicaid spending and the entire amount would be reinvested back into the program. It is a potentially short term but lucrative solution to address funding gaps in the Medicaid program. It is also a relief the State will allocate significant funding to SUNY Downstate that is connected to a public input process, to ensure the impacted community members and workers will have a say in the future of this critical institution.


“The failings of this part of the budget are largely in what was not included. It is unjustifiable that my Coverage For All proposal was excluded and that we have left hundreds of millions of dollars and savings off the table. While we are expanding the Essential Plan to include our State’s DREAMers, we need to do more to bring funds to safety net institutions. With the 1332 waiver, New York could have saved hundreds of millions by offering health coverage to New Yorkers that are dependent on emergency Medicaid for care rather than having access to less costly, preventive health services. The administration’s decision not to seek federal funds to cover this population is not only devastating for immigrant New Yorkers, but fiscally irresponsible.”


HOUSING


“We should have protected every tenant, but new policies will give many more tenants a chance to challenge threats of eviction that destabilize our housing market. Thanks to the leadership of the Senate Majority Conference, we are passing critical Good Cause Eviction protections for many tenants in unregulated units. These protections will help tenants stand up to corporate landlords and unscrupulous building owners that artificially drive up rents. 


My team and I are concerned about the increase of the Individual Apartment Increase threshold to up to $50,000 jeopardizing hard-earned rights and security, so we will be vigilant in empowering and protecting the tens of thousands of rent-regulated tenants in my district who may be affected by this policy. There are far too many bad actors whose business strategy depends on neglecting property maintenance, forcing tenants out of apartments, and jacking up rents in an effort to cash in on bloated, speculative valuations. 


It should be of great concern to every New Yorker that the housing market’s runaway rent hikes are drastically increasing homelessness and poverty. Our responsibility is to address affordability and protect tenants in our state, not the real estate industry’s profits.”


PUBLIC SAFETY 


“When we passed the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act, we committed to fulfill the law's primary purpose of delivering social and economic equity for Black and Brown communities after decades of targeted criminalization. The reality is that current CAURD and Social Equity licensees are facing competition from unlicensed cannabis shops without the financial and technical support promised in the law. With this budget, we will be able to assertively close unlicensed shops selling illicit cannabis within a civil enforcement framework, and help to boost our nascent legal cannabis industry. 


“There are so many retail shops and small businesses in my district and we can all agree that retail workers should feel protected. There has been a lot of coverage of retail theft incidents across New York, leaders should not be fear mongering and contributing to the fears New Yorkers have about public safety. This budget will include tax relief for retail and commercial stores to enhance their store’s security, but it is critical that we don’t fall into the trap of increasing criminalization as a solution when we need to invest in our communities to increase economic stability.” 


CLIMATE JUSTICE 


“Our entire borough feels the impact of environmental injustice and we must do everything in our power to transition to renewable energy and address the climate crisis. The Senate successfully restored $250 million for the Clean Water Infrastructure Grant program for a total of $500 million as we welcome the first-ever federal limits on toxic PFAS forever chemicals in drinking water. This budget also includes a sales tax exemption on the installation of residential energy storage systems for two years, which will help keep costs down for consumers and make it easier for them to upgrade and electrify their homes. I look forward to working with the Senate Majority to pass meaningful legislation like the NY HEAT Act before this session ends.”


DELIVERING FOR THE BRONX AND SENATE DISTRICT 33


“This budget allocates funding for many local initiatives and organizations serving my Bronx constituents including legal and social services for vulnerable communities and landmark cultural institutions, as well as securing once again state funding for the redevelopment of the Kingsbridge Armory.”


“For hunger relief, as Health Chair and as a proud Bronx public servant, I worked hard to restore the unjustifiable proposed cuts by the Governor to critical emergency food programs. We secured an increase in funding for the Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance program of over $23 million and for Nourish NY by over $4 million for a total of over $112 million for these essential programs.”


District Funding Highlights:


  •   Reappropriates $100.5 million exclusively for the development of the Kingsbridge Armory.
  •   Restored all cuts to bring $30 million to our city’s ZBGA institutions, including the New York  Botanical Garden and Bronx Zoo.
  •   For public schools, Foundation Aid increased by $934 million statewide, a 3.9% increase over last year and a 1.8% increase over the Executive’s initial proposal. The Senate also continued its commitment to school meal access with $180 million.​
  •   $140,000 for Kingsbridge Riverdale Van Cortland Development Corporation.
  •   $100,000 for Bronx Legal Services. 
  •   $350,000 for Part of the Solution (POTS).
  •   $250,000 for Mosholu Montefiore Community Center.
  •   $89,425 for NMIC Legal Services.
  •   $140,000 for The HOPE program.
  •   $250,000 for the Kingsbridge Heights Community Center.
  •   $438,885 for various programs of MFJ Legal Services

Triple Chocolate Opens Second Store on Allerton Avenue

 

It was a perfect Friday afternoon for the official Grand Opening of the new Triple Chocolate Fountain located at 750 Allerton Avenue (corner of Holland Avenue). Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson, City Councilwoman Kristy Marmorato, Founder of the Allerton Avenue Merchants Association Gene DeFrancis, The President of the Alliance of Yemen American Businesses President Yahay Obeid, and dozens of supporters of the second Triple Chocolate store. 


Triple Chocolate owner Hemyiar Assaedi had plenty of samples for all the people who came to the grand opening to enjoy. There were samples of the delicious Crepes, Waffles, Pancakes, Smoothies and other varieties of beverages. The original Triple Chocolate location is 712 Morris Park Avenue between Hunt Avenue and White Plains Road. 


The new Triple Chocolate location at 750 Allerton Avenue, corner Holland Avenue.


AYAB President Yahay Obeid talks about the second Triple Chocolate location, and it is part of a growing Yemini presence on Allerton Avenue as Triple Chocolate is the twentieth Yemen American owned business on Allerton Avenue. 


Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson was on hand to celebrate the opening of the second Triple Chocolate store in the Bronx. 


City Councilwoman Kristy Marmorato shows her pleasure that another new store has opened up in her district. 


Triple Chocolate owner Hemyiar Assaedi welcomes everyone to his second Triple Chocolate Store at 750 Allerton Avenue. 


The ribbon is cut by Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, Triple Chocolate owner Hemyiar Assaedi, AYAB President Yahay Obeid, and Councilwoman Kristy Marmorato to officially open the new Triple Chocolate store. 

Sunday, April 21, 2024

MAYOR ADAMS’ STATEMENT ON ONGOING PROTESTS AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today released the following statement in response to the ongoing protests occurring at Columbia University:

I am horrified and disgusted with the antisemitism being spewed at and around the Columbia University campus — like the example of a young woman holding a sign with an arrow pointing to Jewish students stating ‘Al-Qasam’s Next Targets,’ or another where a woman is literally yelling ‘We are Hamas,’ or another where groups of students are chanting ‘We don’t want no Zionists here’ — and I condemn this hate speech in the strongest of terms. Supporting a terrorist organization that aims is to kill Jews is sickening and despicable. As I have repeatedly said, hate has no place in our city, and I have instructed the NYPD to investigate any violation of law that is reported. Rest assured, the NYPD will not hesitate to arrest anyone who is found to be breaking the law.

“We will not be a city of lawlessness, and those professional agitators seeking to seize the ongoing conflict in the Middle East to sow chaos and division in our city will not succeed.

“I do, however, want to be abundantly clear: Columbia University is a private institution on private property, which means the NYPD cannot have a presence on campus unless specifically requested by senior university officials. The NYPD has an increased presence of officers situated around the campus to protect students and all New Yorkers on nearby public streets, and they stand ready to respond if another request is made by the university, as they did on Thursday, when the NYPD successfully cleared encampments on Columbia’s South Lawn without any injuries.

“I urge Columbia’s senior administration officials to improve and maintain an open line of communication with the NYPD to ensure the safety of all students and staff on campus, as well as for the safety of all New Yorkers.

“I know the conflict in the Middle East has left many of us grieving and angry. New Yorkers have every right to express their sorrow, but that heartbreak does not give anyone the right to harass or threaten others or to physically harm someone they disagree with.

“As mayor of the city with the largest Jewish community in the world outside of Israel, the pain these protests are causing Jews across the globe is not lost on me, especially as we start Passover tomorrow evening. I also see and hear the pain of those protesting in support of innocent lives being lost in Gaza.

“In this moment of heightened tension around the world, we stand united against hate.”


DEC Seeking Data on Vulnerable Species to Inform New Status Assessments

 

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Scientific Input Sought for Planning to Assist State’s Species of Greatest Conservation Need

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced it is seeking data on species status assessments for use in updating New York’s State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) for 2025-35. The SWAP guides management actions for New York’s Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) and is a requirement for New York to participate in the federally funded State and Tribal Wildlife Grants Program. SGCN are species native to New York State currently experiencing threats likely to jeopardize the future of their populations if action is not taken within the next 10 years.

“The preservation of New York State’s iconic wildlife is critical to the long-term health of our environment,” DEC Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar said. “Data provided by the public to help inform the process of updating the State’s Wildlife Action Plan will bolster DEC’s ongoing efforts to conserve wildlife and protect habitats for the enjoyment of future generations of New Yorkers.”

The SWAP serves as New York State’s guiding document for managing and conserving species and habitats before they become too rare or costly to restore. Congress requires states and territories to develop a SWAP and update it every 10 years. As part of the SWAP public outreach process, DEC solicits input from partners and stakeholders on SGCN and strategies and actions to address threats to these species.

States may only spend grant funds on SGCN identified in their SWAP. Each SGCN listed in the 2015 action plan has a species status assessment (SSA) updated for the 2025 SWAP. DEC is seeking public input on additional sources of information on the status and distribution of New York’s SGCN, including new information on threats to these species.

Draft revised SSAs are available to download from the DEC website. The public can nominate a new SGCN, or propose a species be removed from the list. Anyone interested in providing data, updates, or other comments pertaining to the nomination of a new SGCN can download copies of a blank form from the website, populate one form per species, and send to nyswap2025@dec.ny.gov by June 17, 2024.

DEC will provide an opportunity for public comment on the draft SGCN list for the 2025 SWAP later this year. In addition, there will be an opportunity for public review and comment of the updated SWAP prior to its submission to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

All input and data are due by June 17, 2024, and may be submitted by email to nyswap2025@dec.ny.gov. Please include “SGCN Feedback” in the subject line. Information may also be sent by mail to:

SWAP Coordinator
Division of Fish and Wildlife
NYSDEC
625 Broadway
Albany, NY 12233-4754

Questions about the status assessment process can be sent to the SWAP Coordinator at nyswap2025@dec.ny.gov or by phone at (518) 402-8858. For more information on New York’s State Wildlife Action Plan, visit the DEC website at https://dec.ny.gov/nature/animals-fish-plants/biodiversity-species-conservation/state-wildlife-action-plan  

Permits Filed For 710 Oakland Place In Crotona, The Bronx


 

Permits have been filed to vertically enlarge a three-story structure into a four-story residential building at 710 Oakland Place in Crotona, The Bronx. Located between Crotona and Clinton Avenues, the lot is near the West Farms Square-East Tremont Avenue subway station, serviced by the 2 and 5 trains. Shaya Seidenfeld of Capstone Property Care is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 38-foot-tall development will yield 3,544 square feet designated for residential space. The building will have ten residences, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 354 square feet. The concrete-based structure will also have a 41-foot-long rear yard.

Lester Katz, Ncarb is listed as the architect of record.

Demolition permits will likely not be needed as the project calls for an expansion. An estimated completion date has not been announced.

MAYOR ADAMS’ STATEMENT ON STATE BUDGET AGREEMENT EXTENDING MAYORAL ACCOUNTABILITY FOR TWO MORE YEARS

 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams released the following statement after New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced an extension of mayoral accountability for two more years:  

“With the inclusion of mayoral accountability in the state budget, our administration has now secured every single one of our legislative priorities in the budget. Every. Single. One. 

 

“In the 22 years since mayoral accountability was implemented, New York City’s public schools have transformed — increasing our students’ reading scores, math scores, and graduation rates; reducing the racial disparity gap; allowing the implementation of critical initiatives like ‘NYC Reads’ and universal dyslexia screenings, and ensuring a seamless and timely coordination with partners to welcome, enroll, and support thousands of newly-arriving students and their families on a citywide scale.  

 

“The continuation of mayoral accountability is important to New York City families, students, teachers, and the entire school community, and we thank Governor Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, Assembly Speaker Heastie, and the Legislature for delivering for our students and allowing me and Chancellor Banks to continue to provide bold and necessary programs for the betterment of our children. 

 

“We will continue to partner with the nearly 1 million students, their families, my colleagues in government, the unions representing school personnel, and the entire New York City community to provide an education system free from bureaucracy and one that allots them the certainty they deserve, provides historic investments in our schools, and changes the way we approach learning in New York City.”