Mayor Eric Adams Announces $23M Investment To Enhance Open Spaces At NYCHA Housing Projects

Aerial view of Kinsborough Houses - Photo by STV Inc.

New York City mayor Eric Adams recently announced a $23 million pilot program to enhance access to public open spaces, playgrounds, and parks at six NYCHA housing developments. The project includes three developments in Queens, two developments in The Bronx, and one development in Brooklyn.

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held at Pomonok Houses, a 35-building mega-complex in Flushing, Queens, where tenants now have access to outdoor recreational spaces offering fitness equipment, play areas for children, seating, and new landscaping.

Additional developments include Redfern Houses, a nine-building complex in Far Rockaway; Woodside Houses, a 20-building property in Woodside; 1471 Watson Houses, a 179-unity building in the Soundview section of The Bronx; Kingsborough Houses, a 16-building complex in Crown Heights, Brooklyn; and Sotomayor Houses, a 28-building complex also located in Soundview.

“New York City’s parks, playgrounds, and open spaces aren’t luxuries, but necessities—playing a critical role to build community and nurturing our physical, mental, and emotional health,” said mayor Adams. “This investment in NYCHA’s playgrounds and open spaces is a down payment on our city’s future that will pay dividends for generations to come.” 

Aerial view of Pomonok Houses – AP Photo by Mark Lennihan

Sotomayor Houses – Nelligan White Architects

Before construction broke ground, NYCHA and NYC Parks met with the residents at Woodside, Pomonok, Redfern, Watson, Sotomayor, and Kingsborough Houses to request feedback on the proposed sites for improved landscaping, parks, and recreational areas.

Enhancements at Pomonok Houses cost approximately $3 million and included 13,000 square feet of new areas and facilities. Project costs for the remaining developments range between $1.9 million at Sotomayor Houses up to $9.3 million at Redfern Houses.

As the most expensive project, scope of work at Redfern Houses will include reconstruction of an existing playground and an adjacent open space. New areas will include a ball field, a basketball court, a handball court, fitness equipment, and a grilling area.

Construction is currently underway at Woodside and Redfern Houses. Construction at Watson and Kingsborough Houses is expected to break ground by spring 2023, and will begin at Sotomayor Houses by summer 2023.

“All New Yorkers deserve to have high-quality parks that are just a short walk away from their homes,” said NYC parks commissioner Sue Donoghue. “We are so proud of our partnership with NYCHA to transform underutilized areas under their jurisdiction into thriving public amenities, and grateful for the hundreds of NYCHA tenants and community members who came out to our input meetings and shared with us their dreams for these spaces.”

As part of the partnership, NYC Parks will maintain and operate the renovated open spaces, once complete.

Yonkers Man Sentenced To 20 Years For March 2011 Murder

 

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that MARCUS CHAMBERS, a/k/a “Chino,” a/k/a “Chi D,” a/k/a “SP,” was sentenced yesterday to 20 years in prison for the 2011 murder of Jonathan Johnson, 21, on March 18, 2011, in White Plains, New York.  On December 20, 2021, CHAMBERS pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Nelson S. Román, who imposed his sentence.

According to the allegations in the Indictment to which the defendant pled guilty and statements made in public court proceedings:[1]

On or about March 18, 2011, CHAMBERS and his co-defendant DARNELL KIDD murdered Jonathan Johnson by shooting him during the course of an armed robbery for marijuana in White Plains, New York. CHAMBERS arranged by phone to purchase the marijuana from Johnson. CHAMBERS and KIDD met with Johnson to rob him of marijuana, and during the robbery, Johnson was shot and killed.

In addition to his prison term, CHAMBERS, 31, of Yonkers, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the White Plains Police Department and the FBI Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force, which comprises agents and task force officers from the FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, United States Probation Office, New York State Police, New York City Police Department, Mount Vernon Police Department, Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, Town of Ramapo Police Department, Yonkers Police Department, Greenburgh Police Department, Peekskill Police Department, Westchester County Police Department, and Westchester County District Attorney’s Office.  Mr. Williams also thanked the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office for its assistance in this matter.

The allegations contained in the Indictment against DARNELL KIDD are merely accusations, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

[1] As the introductory phase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth below constitute only allegations, and every fact described regarding DARNELL KIDD should be treated as an allegation.

Governor Hochul Launches First Annual New York State Disability Rights and Employment Awareness Month

 

Symposium and Virtual Job Fair to Feature State Agencies, Private Employers and Non-Profit Organizations Committed to Hiring People with Disabilities

Governor Issues Proclamation Designating October as Disability Rights and Employment Awareness Month

Legislation (S.7578-C/A.8549-C) Enables the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities To Establish Voluntary Training and Certification Program for Employers That Hire People With Disabilities

Legislation (A.8915-B/S.7746-B) Creates a New Threshold for What Percentage of a Preferred Source Contract Must Be Performed by New Yorkers With Disabilities

 Governor Kathy Hochul today launched New York's first annual Disability Rights and Employment Awareness Month Symposium, featuring both a full day event consisting of a vendor fair, workshops, entertainment and award presentations, and will also offer an online job fair aimed at highlighting the state's commitment to supporting the rights of people with disabilities in the workplace next Tuesday, October 11. Governor Hochul also signed legislation (S.7578-C/A.8549-C) that will enable the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities to establish a voluntary training and certification program for employers that hire people with disabilities; and another law (A.8915-B/S.7746-B) that creates a new threshold for what percentage of a preferred source contract must be performed by New Yorkers with disabilities.    

"For the New York Dream to be a reality, we must continue making our state inclusive, integrated and accessible for all," Governor Hochul said. "Disability Rights and Employment Awareness Month recognizes how far we've come toward this end and a realization that there is more work to be done to expand the rights of people with disabilities and ensure they have the same opportunities in the workforce as all New Yorkers."   

The Governor also issued a proclamation launching the first annual Disability Rights and Employment Awareness Month and the 'DREAM' Symposium, aimed at acknowledging the rights of New York's disability community, including the right to equal employment opportunities. The two-day event that began today featured an in-person vendor fair with more than 70 private, public and not-for-profit organizations and will continue next Tuesday with a virtual job fair consisting of more than 100 businesses interested in hiring people with disabilities and almost 8,000 job openings.     

The symposium featured four workshops related to employing people with disabilities:   

• The ABLE Program in New York State 
• An Overview of OPWDD's Proposed 5.07 Plan - 2023-2027  
• New York State's Civil Service 55 B & C Programs 
• Work Incentives for People with Disabilities 

Also as part of the symposium, the state recognized the achievements of two advocates whose work has helped ensure that people with disabilities are served in the most inclusive, integrated and accessible manner possible to meet their needs. Brad Williams, the executive director of the New York State Independent Living Council, was given the DREAM Lifetime Advocacy Achievement Award, while Kristin Booth Glen, a retired university professor and dean emerita at CUNY School of Law, was presented with the DREAM 2022 Advocate Award. The event also featured FLAME the Band, a group of musicians with disabilities who performed at the Empire State Plaza Concourse.

In advance of the symposium, Governor Hochul signed legislation (S.7578-C/A.8549-C) that directs the state Office for People With Developmental Disabilities to establish a voluntary training and certification program for employers that have taken the agency's EmployAbility pledge. The voluntary training program will promote techniques and strategies employers can implement to increase diversity through hiring of people with disabilities.   

NYC PUBLIC ADVOCATE'S STATEMENT ON THE CLOSURE OF THE ORCHARD BEACH TENT SHELTER

 

Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams released the following statement after the Adams administration announced it would not be moving forward with the Orchard Beach Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center for asylum seekers, moving instead to Randall's Island. 

"While Orchard Beach was a particularly poor location for a tent shelter given its history of flooding and other factors, a tent shelter anywhere in this city cannot be used to circumvent the right-to-shelter mandate. We’re grateful the administration terminated the Orchard Beach location after cautions and pressure from advocates and local leaders, including our office. At the same time, we can’t see another tent city pop up without basic humanitarian conditions being met, and I hope the administration is more quickly receptive to our concerns moving forward.

"Asylum seekers seeking support, solidarity, and a better life deserve much more than a tent in a transit desert as winter approaches – at the very least, the city should tap into the same resources we used during the height of the pandemic to further open space at hotels or large indoor areas, as well as expedite CityFHEPS vouchers to quickly move unhoused New Yorkers out of shelters and into permanent housing, opening shelter space for asylum seekers. 

"New York City has an opportunity to set asylum seekers up for long-term success in our city, state, and country – we must take steps to make that future a reality instead of abandoning the newest New Yorkers in inadequate housing."

MAYOR ADAMS, ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN’S SERVICES ANNOUNCE ‘COLLEGE CHOICE’ PROGRAM TO HELP COVER COST OF COLLEGE EXPENSES FOR HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS IN FOSTER CARE

 

ACS Will Continue to Support Youth in Care by Paying up to $15,000 Each Year in Tuition, Plus Room and Board Not Covered by a Student’s Financial Aid Package

 

Providing a $60 Daily Stipend, Coaching, Tutoring, and Career Counseling

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) Commissioner Jess Dannhauser today announced “College Choice,” a program that will provide college students in foster care with greater support systems, including financial support, so they can attend the college of their dreams without having to worry about the hefty price tag. As part of the program, ACS will help pay remaining costs of college tuition— up to $15,000 each year — in addition to any room and board not covered by a student’s financial aid package. College students in foster care will also receive a $60 daily stipend per year, which can be used towards food, clothing, transportation, and more.

 

All youth in foster care will additionally be able to keep the coaching they already receive through “Fair Futures,” which has provided thousands of youth in foster care, ages 11 to 21, with dedicated coaches and tutors since 2019. The Adams administration recently expanded Fair Futures for youth ages 21-26. Further, the New York Foundling — a non-profit social service organization that supports young people in foster care— will provide students with tutoring, career counseling, and other related services.

 

“College Choice will provide college students in foster care with the support they need to complete their college education successfully and attend the school of their choice, regardless of cost," said Mayor Adams. "This new program provides our young people in foster care help in covering up to $15,000 in tuition costs each year not covered by financial aid, as well as room and board, and even provides a daily stipend for food or clothes. Growing up has never been more challenging, so we are holding up the torch to support our young people. No students’ chances for success should depend on factors outside of their control. Now, our youth in foster care can attend a community college, a CUNY, a SUNY, an Ivy League, an HBCU, or any other school they dream of without worrying about how they pay for their education.”

 

“This program is truly remarkable. College Choice will provide the opportunity for young people in the foster care system to pursue their goals and dreams, with reliable, realistic, and sustained support,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams Isom. “The program accounts for day-to-day expenses and real-world costs, all of which give young people the sincere chance to advance educational attainment and likely their lifetime earning ability. Thank you to ACS for its leadership and to all of our philanthropic and nonprofit partners for making this program possible.”

 

“New York City is making sure more doors of opportunity are open for young people in foster care, and the College Choice program is just one more way that we are doing that,” said ACS Commissioner Dannhauser. “This new program will mean that young people in foster care can attend the college of their dreams without having to worry about the financial nightmare. No matter the school — east coast, west coast, public, private, two years, or four years — ACS will support our young scholars in foster care. We are thrilled to launch the ‘College Choice’ program and I am confident it will help put more and more young people on the path to success.”

 

“A college degree is a major step toward upward mobility and economic freedom, but it is often out of reach for students because they can’t pay for costs not covered by financial aid. I’m proud of New York City for providing a financial pathway for young people in foster care to pay for tuition, room and board costs, and other essentials, like food and transportation,” said The City University of New York (CUNY) Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez. “These young people shouldn’t have to go hungry or build debt to attend college. More than half of the students benefiting from College Choice this academic year are attending a CUNY college and we are grateful to Mayor Adams for helping these young people get the support they need to achieve their educational dreams.”

 

“With the Dorm Project, I was able to pursue my dual bachelor’s and master’s degrees without having to worry about my financial situation. I was really able to just focus on my goals and my studies. The College Choice program is now a resource available to all youth in care if they choose to pursue higher education,” said Sanjida Afruz, student participant in College Choice at City College. “The College Choice program essentially says that young people in foster care can and should dream big. With time and evident passion from people, like Mayor Adams and Commissioner Dannhauser, we are seeing changes that we have advocated for, and it makes me happier than ever.”

 

“For over 150 years, The Foundling has been dedicated to serving our community. Our Fostering College Success Initiative is an example of how we have responded to meet the needs of the children and families that we serve,” said Melanie Hartzog, president and CEO, The New York Foundling. “We are grateful to the Adams administration and the Administration for Children’s Services for launching the College Choice program and expanding the vital supports provided by the Fostering College Success Initiative. Continuing this partnership means equipping College Choice participants with the necessary framework to reach their full potential.”

 

College Choice builds off the Adams administration’s investments in upstream solutions and deep commitment to improving educational outcomes for youth in foster care, and helping ensure they lead healthy, productive, and self-sufficient adult lives. All full-time college students in foster care will be eligible for the benefits as long as they have applied for financial aid, maintain a 2.0 grade point average, and participate in any academic support programs for which they’re eligible. Benefits will be available for a maximum of three years for an associate degree or five years for a bachelor’s degree.

 

College Choice will offer all full-time college students in foster care the following benefits covered by ACS:

• Tuition and mandatory fees (up to $15,000 per year), that are not covered by a student’s financial aid award.
• The cost of room and board.
• A stipend of $60 per day to cover food and other expenses while attending school. This benefit is also available for up to six months after graduation from college.
• Students attending a college or university in New York City can choose to live in housing sponsored by that college or university, or in one of the following six housing options:
  • The Towers at City College of New York
  • The Summit at Queens College
  • Hunter College Residence Hall (Only for students attending Hunter College)
  • International House of New York
  • 92Y Residence
  • Outpost-Club Student Housing in New York City

• Students attending in-person classes at a college or university outside of New York City can live in housing sponsored by that college or university, or in safe and appropriate off-campus private housing.
• Students enrolled only in online classes at a college or university can live in housing sponsored by that college or university, or in any of the six housing options for New York City students.
• Students who want to stay in college/university housing during the summer are required to be engaged in meaningful summer activities (such as participating in an internship or taking classes).
• Students can receive tutoring, career counseling, and related support provided online and in-person by New York Foundling staff.
• Students can maintain their Fair Futures coach while in college.

 

New York City leads the nation in providing support to youth in foster care and youth transitioning from foster care. Fair Futures has been in place since 2019, but the Adams administration recently provided additional resources to ACS so that Fair Futures could be expanded to include youth in foster care from ages 21 to 26.

Previously, students in foster care were eligible to participate in The Fostering College Success Initiative, also known as “The Dorm Project,” which provided year-round housing and academic supports to youth in foster care attending CUNY schools. ACS also offered the Fostering College Success Stipend, which provided college students in foster care with a $31 daily stipend.

 

College Choice expands upon these offerings by providing similar benefits to all students in foster care, regardless of which college they choose to attend. New York City is the first jurisdiction in the nation to implement an initiative for youth in foster care of this breadth and scale. Earlier this year, the Adams administration also announced a new vocational training and apprenticeship program, VCRED, for youth, ages 16-24, who are in foster care, as well as youth who recently left foster care or the juvenile justice system.

 

Approximately 230 young people in New York City foster care will benefit this upcoming school year from College Choice.

 

Bronx Republican Candidates fight Orchard Beach Tent City - Mayor Adams to Relocate the Tent City From Orchard Beach

 

Police from the 45th Precinct watch over the tent city at Orchard Beach.

As the Orchard Beach 'Tent City to house incoming Immigrants' was being built various Bronx Republican candidates and Community Leaders rallied against the project, calling it Inhumane, for reasons of the tent city being in a flood zone, sitting right next to Long Island Sound where the temperature would drop down due to the wind currents coming from the water, and nowhere near any mass transit facilities. The question of safety to the Bronx and Westchester County came in as it was said that Orchard Beach leads to New Rochelle while being in the Borough of the Bronx.

While the rallies went on the tent city at Orchard Beach was flooded twice the past week during the heavy rains. Mayor Eric Adams finally gave in when fellow Democrats like State Senator Gustavo Rivera and others began to agree with the Bronx Republican candidates and community leaders who protested that  Orchard Beach was not a good site for an Immigration Tent City. The Republican Candidates on hand for the final rally included Ms. Tina Forte Candidate for the 14th Congressional District, Ms. Samantha Zherka Candidate for the 34th State Senate District, Ms. Phyllis 'Tiz' Nastasio Candidate for the 80th Assembly District, Mr. John Greany Candidate for the 82nd Assembly District (where Orchard Beach is located), Bronx Republican Party Leader Michael Rendino, Bronx Conservative Party Leader Patrick McManus, and many many Community Leaders. 

Bronx Republican Party Leader Michael Rendino begin speaking against the Orchard Beach Tent City, which Mayor Adams would later announce 'It will come down".

14th Congressional candidate Tina Forte had her big sign behind her as she spoke against the tent city and her opponent.

34th State Senate candidate Samantha Zherka also mentioned she opposes the Just Home project at Jacobi Hospital, where the city wants to house criminals in a low crime area that her opponent a few days earlier said she is preparing for.

Morris Park Community Association President Al D'Angelo spoke against the tent city, and Just Home at Jacobi Hospital project, while saying the Bronx continues to be dumped on by the current elected officials. 

Van Nest Community Leader Bernadette Ferrara speaks out against what the city is doing to the Bronx saying we need schools and community centers not a jail and a tent city. 

Allerton Community Leader Gene De Francis told it as it is, the Bronx is last in everything good, and first in everything bad, which has to change. 

MAYOR ADAMS’ STATEMENT ON CITY’S HUMANITARIAN EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND RELIEF CENTER FOR ASYLUM SEEKERS

 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams tonight released the following statement on the buildout of the city’s Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center:

 

"New York City has, on its own, safely and efficiently provided shelter, health care, education, and a host of other services to more than 16,000 asylum seekers pursuing a better life over the last few months. As we now work to open the city's first Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center, safety for those seeking asylum remains our top priority. Following this weekend's storms, New York City Emergency Management determined that, while we would be able to put in place the necessary ponding mitigation measures, relocating the Orchard Beach humanitarian relief center to Randall's Island is the most efficient and effective path forward, and work is underway to make this move. This new location is less prone to flooding, is closer to public transportation, and will provide temporary respite to 500 asylum seekers. We expect this site to open in approximately the same timeframe as the originally planned location, and we continue to build out our options and explore additional sites as we handle this humanitarian crisis created by human hands."

State Senator Gustavo Rivera - Statement on Tent Shelters at Orchard Beach

 

"No one should be subject to unsafe and uninhabitable conditions, especially asylum seekers arriving in a city of immigrants. The tent shelters constructed in the Bronx’s Orchard Beach flooded with less than an inch of rain. There are reports that the “Emergency Relief Center” is similar to detention centers built in Texas by the same contractor. Our newly arrived neighbors should be offered the full range of services and safe shelter as any New Yorker in need. My office is available to new neighbors in the Bronx who need assistance. My team and I will continue to advocate for resources and suitable plans that ensure we uphold the principles and standards of a sanctuary city."