Statement from NYGOP Chairman Nick Langworthy on the 2023 Budget Agreement - April 7, 2022

“Both on process and substance, this budget can be summed up as a colossal failure. It’s a week late, was negotiated in secret by three Democrats, will be voted on without any time to read the bills and we are still short on key details. Democrats are pissing away billions of dollars with record spending in giveaways to billionaires and socialist programs that are rife with fraud, while the middle class continues to be squeezed. They failed to do what’s necessary to fix the public safety nightmare they created--but don’t take our word for it, the Hochul Administration said themselves they are ‘not here to undo bail reform’ and they ‘are not going to have a law and order way of addressing it.’ 

“This budget puts election year bandaids on bullet-sized wounds that are causing New York to bleed out. The only way we are going to truly save New York is by restoring balance with a Republican governor who will make the real changes that will restore safety, prosperity, and common sense to state government.” 

WILLIAMS & ARCHILA RESPOND TO GOVERNOR HOCHUL'S FINAL BUDGET PROPOSAL

 

“Tonight Governor Kathy Hochul brokered a $220 billion budget that benefits billionaires, big-money special interests and the owners of the Bills – not struggling and working New Yorkers who who can't make ends meet. After a historic delay, her inaugural budget will go down in history as a colossal missed opportunity that failed to meet the moment. We’re at a pivotal juncture in our state. We need a budget that meets this destabilized moment by addressing housing, homelessness, mental health, child care, health care, public safety and so much more.

"A Williams-Archila administration would prioritize these issues above all to deliver for those who need it most. Tonight, Governor Hochul demonstrated her priorities instead."

VCJC News & Notes 4/8/22

 

Van Cortlandt Jewish Center News and Notes

Here's this week's edition of the VCJC News and Notes email. We hope you enjoy it and find it useful!

Reminders Shabbos Shabbos information is, as always, available on our website, both in the information sidebar and the events calendar. Here are the times you need:   Shabbos Candles Friday 4/8/22 @ 7:10 pm Shabbos morning services at 8:45 am.  Please join the services if you can do so safely.  Shabbos Ends Saturday 4/9/22 @ 8:14 pm There will be a kiddush sponsored by Merrill Penn in memory of his mother, Sadie Penn    Selling your chometz For Passover 2022, you may use this form to sell your chometz. Return it to the office, either in person or by email to vancortlandtjc@aol.com.  There is no charge.  April 14th  Search for Chometz in the evening 8:19 or later April 15th   Candle lighting 7:17 pm, Erev Pesach -- Fast of the First Born – 1st Seder

Governor Hochul Gets $220 Billion Dollar Budget Deal With the State Legislature

 

Albany leaders say they have a budget deal a week after missing an April 1 deadline. 

The $220 billion deal reportedly includes several wins for Gov. Kathy Hochul, including controversial changes to bail reform and funding for a new stadium for the Buffalo Bills. Legislators secured additional funding for child care and public schools as well as changes to state law that will help more undocumented people access health care, among other provisions.

“It was worth the time to get this right for New Yorkers,” Hochul said. “Seven and a half months ago, I said we're going to do things differently.”

Several budget bills have already been introduced before the Legislature. Hochul will need to issue a so-called Message of Necessity to overcome a legislative rule that new bills wait at least three days before getting a vote. State lawmakers are expected to begin voting Thursday night. 

WILLIAMS & ARCHILA SUBMIT MORE THAN 40,0000 PETITION SIGNATURES TO SECURE PLACEMENT ON DEMOCRATIC BALLOT

 

NYC Public Advocate and candidate for Governor Jumaane Williams today joined his running mate for Lt. Governor Ana Maria Archila in front of the New York State Board of Elections to announce their campaigns collected more than 40,000 petition signatures from voters across the state to secure their placement on the Democratic primary ballot in June.

During the press conference, Jumaane Williams said, “Despite the Democratic machine trying to keep their incumbency protection politics in place to preserve the status quo, our campaigns were able to mobilize a statewide coalition of grassroots volunteers to secure our spot on the Democratic primary ballot. We did it without the billionaire donors who are dictating the Governor's budget and stocking her campaign war chest with millions of dollars in contributions, and we will continue our people-powered strategy through to victory on June 28th.”

Ana Maria Archila added, "Jumaane and I are organizers by training, so we embraced this petition drive with our dedicated volunteers who helped us organize and mobilize across the state to meet New Yorkers, hear their issues and share our vision of a renewed New York. Thanks to countless hours of hard work, voters will have the choice to cast their ballots for people who prioritize the needs of working families in June’s primary.”

Fifteen thousand signatures from registered Democratic voters across New York are required for ballot access to compete in the June 28th Democratic primary.

Rep. Jamaal Bowman Issues Statement Following Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s Confirmation to the Supreme Court

 

Today, Congressman Jamaal Bowman, issued the following statement following the confirmation of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court with a vote of 53-47.

 

“Today’s confirmation of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the highest court in the United States is historic and long-overdue, but it is also a reminder of how far we have come and how far we have yet to go,” said Congressman Jamaal Bowman. “Throughout the confirmation process, Judge Jackson made it abundantly clear that not only was she the most qualified person for the job right now, but that she was the most qualified person for the job — full stop. Because of her accomplishments, an entire generation of children will now grow up knowing by example that Black women can and do become Supreme Court Justices. An entire generation will grow up dreaming of wearing their hair just like Judge Jackson while presiding over a court. An entire generation will grow up believing that progress and change is possible if we work for it collectively. I applaud President Biden for fulfilling his commitment to shaping the court in the image of America’s strong diversity and nominating a Black woman to the highest court in the land, I thank the 53 senators who voted to confirm her for their deep study of Judge Jackson’s record and qualifications, and on this monumental day in American history, I celebrate with the American people and await Judge Jackson taking her rightful seat on the Supreme Court of the United States. May we continue to push forward with perseverance, just like Judge Jackson.”

 

MAYOR ADAMS’ STATEMENT ON HISTORIC CONFIRMATION OF JUDGE KETANJI BROWN JACKSON TO U.S. SUPREME COURT

 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today released the following statement after the U.S. Senate voted to confirm U.S. Circuit Court Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as an Associate Justice to the U.S. Supreme Court:

 

“I congratulate Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as the first Black woman to be confirmed as an Associate Justice to the highest court in the land. Her confirmation is a historic moment for our country, and an inspiring signal to every little girl, especially Black girls, all across this country that there is no limit to what they can accomplish. Today, we take one more step toward a court that better reflects the diversity of the United States — and a more perfect union for all.”

20 ALLEGED G-SIDE/DRILLY GANG MEMBERS INDICTED FOR CRIMES INCLUDING MURDERS, NON-FATAL SHOOTINGS AND STABBINGS

 

Defendants Carried Out 32 Crimes Over the Last Three Years; Boasted About Acts of Violence in Drill Rap Scene; 18 Guns Taken Off Streets

 Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark and New York City Police Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell today announced that 20 people—including four adolescent offenders—have been indicted on charges related to multiple shootings and stabbings that spanned three years, the latest one on March 15.

 District Attorney Clark said, “These defendants allegedly engaged in dozens of acts of violence, including murder and attempted murder, over the last three years, with the most recent just a few weeks ago. The defendants allegedly committed multiple shootings, some in broad daylight, killing two people and injuring innocent bystanders. These defendants terrorized residents of the Fordham/Bedford Park neighborhoods who were forced to run for their lives as bullets flew. We thank the NYPD for their intense work on this investigation. We are doing all we can to battle the gun scourge, but more must be done to deviate young people from a life of gangs and senseless violence.”

 Commissioner Sewell said, “Today’s sweeping indictment highlights the focused efforts that continue to identify the relatively small percentage of people responsible for much of our city’s crime and disorder. I commend the members of the NYPD’s Gun Violence Suppression Division and Violence Reduction Task Force, along with our partners in the Bronx District Attorney’s Office, for remaining steadfast in our obligation to protect New Yorkers in every community. We vow to keep dismantling gangs and crews, and working hard to prevent the senseless violence so often associated with their activities.”

 District Attorney Clark said the 82-count indictment includes charges of Conspiracy, Murder, Manslaughter, Attempted Murder, Criminal Possession of a Weapon, Reckless Endangerment, Assault, Attempted Assault and Grand Larceny. Seven defendants were arraigned Tuesday by Bronx Supreme Court Justices George Villegas and Naita Semaj and are due back in court later this month. The remaining defendants, who are in custody already, are awaiting arraignment. If convicted of the top count of first-degree Conspiracy, four of the defendants face a minimum of 15- 25 years to a maximum of life in prison.

 According to the investigation, the defendants, alleged members of the G-Side/Drilly gang, a subset of Bloods Sex Money Murder, allegedly carried out a total of 32 acts of violence mainly in the areas of East Gun Hill Road, Hull Avenue and Decatur Avenue—between September 20, 2018 and March 15, 2022. The defendants allegedly carried out fatal shootings, as well as non-fatal shootings and stabbings, killing two people and leaving six people wounded. The defendants, who are prominent in the Drill rap scene, allegedly boasted about the acts of violence they or their associates executed in music videos that were posted on YouTube. A total of 18 guns were seized in the investigation. Three defendants were also charged for allegedly committing an act of violence while held in Rikers Island. 

The indictment includes these crimes:

On January 9, 2019 at approximately 1:00 p.m., four defendants, including one teen, and other individuals surrounded an 18-year-old CUNY Prep student as he left the school and attempted to rob him. The defendants allegedly attacked the victim with multiple weapons, including a knife. The victim was seriously injured and required emergency resuscitation and life-saving blood transfusions. Video surveillance captured the incident.

 On July 20, 2020, in front of 3343 Decatur Avenue, six defendants, including two who were teens at the time, chased James Rivera, 24. Four defendants allegedly shot at Rivera multiple times, and one defendant also allegedly attempted to stab him when he fell on the ground. The victim died of a gunshot wound to the back.

 On September 29, 2020 at approximately 2:00 p.m. on East Fordham Road, two juvenile defendants allegedly fired shots at their target in a busy commercial area near a subway station, endangering the lives of multiple people, including children. No one was injured.

 On April 25, 2021, inside the Robert N. Davoren Center in Rikers Island, three defendants allegedly assaulted a rival gang member.

 On March 17, 2021, four defendants went to an apartment on Hull Avenue and allegedly shot Delilah Vasquez, 20, at close range in the forehead, killing her. Video surveillance shows the defendants allegedly entering and fleeing the building.

 On June 28, 2021 at approximately 10:00 p.m., two defendants fired multiple shots at their target in front of 3573 Dekalb Avenue. The shooting left three innocent bystanders—a 66-year-old woman, 39-year-old man and 31-year-old man—wounded.

 On the evening of October 22, 2021, two defendants waited outside a barbershop on East Gun Hill Road for approximately 15 minutes then entered and allegedly fired multiple shots at their target. The individual who was getting a haircut at the time, tried to hide behind a chair and was shot in the stomach and leg. He was taken to the hospital and survived. Surveillance video of the incident shows patrons in the barber shop running for cover.  

 District Attorney Clark thanked NYPD Detective Michael Delgardo, Lead Detective of the Violence Reduction Task Force, and NYPD Detectives Patriciann Caputo and Brandon Ravelo, also of the Violence Reduction Task Force; NYPD Captain Brian McCaughey, Commanding Officer of the Gun Violence Suppression Division, Zone 2; NYPD Lieutenant Paul Prendergast of the Violence Reduction Task Force; and Sergeants Bladimir Falette and John McFarland of the Violence Reduction Task Force. District Attorney Clark also thanked 46th Precinct and 52nd Precinct Detective Squads and Field Intelligence Officers; and the Department of Correction’s Correction Intelligence Bureau for their assistance.

Arraigned Defendants: 

Brayan Hernandez, AKA Breezo, 17, Bronx 

Jaheim Buchanan, AKA Jah, 17, Bronx

Anthony Brea, AKA Chubbs, 17, Bronx 

Michael Brito, AKA Yogi, 20, Bronx 

Ali Doby, AKA Lee Drilly, 19, Bronx 

Claurvin Rosario, AKA Pegotes, AKA Kelvin Rodriguez, 21, Bronx 

Omar Gibbs, AKA Leeky, 20, Bronx

Defendants in Custody Awaiting Arraignment: 

Richard Santiago, AKA Swift, 21, Bronx 

John Martinez, AKA Suave Drilly, 23, Bronx 

Tabu Harris, AKA Spazz Drilly, 21, Bronx 

Careem Williams, AKA Houdini, 20, Bronx 

Mario Jimenez, AKA MB, 19, Bronx 

True Bell, 18, Bronx 

Nasir Carter, AKA Nas Fourty, 19, Bronx 

Donjuan Patterson, AKA Bobby Drilly, 17, Bronx 

Precious Williams, AKA PW Jet, 21, Bronx 

Daniel Abreu, AKA D-Dot, 18, Bronx 

Brandon Beltres, AKA Nonstop, 19, Bronx 

Angel Rodriguez, AKA Milly2Drilly, 20, Bronx 

Briant Gonzalez, AKA Faze Drilly, 23, Bronx

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