Good Samaritan Helps Apprehend Armed Man Brandishing Two Loaded Guns In Manhattan

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Ivan J. Arvelo, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), and Keechant L. Sewell, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced the arrest of JASON FLEMING after he brandished a loaded semiautomatic Hi-Point carbine rifle and a loaded Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum revolver in broad daylight after a dispute in a bodega in Chelsea.  FLEMING was arrested after a civilian, seeing FLEMING running down the street with a revolver in his hand as police were chasing him, stood in FLEMING’s way and pushed him into a nearby fence and then held onto him until police officers, who were still in pursuit, placed FLEMING under arrest.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, the defendant illegally brandished two loaded firearms in broad daylight on a Manhattan street, one of which was a carbine rifle, frightening numerous New Yorkers, including a child.  Thanks to our law enforcement partners and the heroic efforts of a Good Samaritan, the defendant was apprehended before he could hurt anyone, and his weapons are now off the streets.”          

HSI Special Agent in Charge Ivan J. Arvelo said: “HSI special agents are committed to public safety and do not hesitate to act when members of the community are threatened.  I am proud of our agents’ hard work and efforts with the rapid apprehension of this criminal and the follow-on investigative support provided to the New York City Police Department.  HSI remains steadfast in our commitment to our law enforcement partners in the cause of community safety.”

According to the allegations in the Complaint:[1]

On or about March 16, 2023, JASON FLEMING entered a crowded bodega in the Chelsea neighborhood in Manhattan after having a verbal dispute with a man.  FLEMING then stood in the doorway of the bodega and flashed a handgun as a girl attempted to leave the bodega.  The child then ran away from the store when she was able to pass by FLEMING onto the sidewalk.  The surveillance video then shows FLEMING outside the bodega and pulling back his coat momentarily to reveal a rifle that had been swung over his shoulder.

Police officers then approached FLEMING after a witness called 911, and FLEMING took off running down the sidewalk.  While running, FLEMING brandished a semiautomatic carbine rifle in broad daylight while frightened civilians began running away from him, as seen in the below screenshots from surveillance videos:

FLEMING then threw the rifle over a fence near where customers were dining at a restaurant’s outdoor dining shed.  Law enforcement officers recovered the rifle and found that it was a loaded semiautomatic Hi-Point carbine rifle, a photograph of which is below:

Meanwhile, after throwing the rifle, FLEMING brandished a revolver and continued running down the street, with police officers in foot pursuit.  A nearby civilian, seeing FLEMING running down the street with a revolver in his hand, stood in FLEMING’s way and pushed him into a nearby fence and then held onto him until police officers, who were still in pursuit, placed FLEMING under arrest and handcuffed him.  A screenshot of FLEMING, brandishing the revolver after the civilian made contact with him, is below, along with a photograph of the revolver:

FLEMING was not permitted to possess firearms because of his two prior felony convictions for unlawful firearms possession.

JASON FLEMING, 39, of New York, New York, is charged with possession of firearms after a felony conviction, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. 

The statutory maximum penalty is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of HSI and the NYPD.  Mr. Williams also thanked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives for its assistance in this case.

This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent & Organized Crime Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael R. Herman is in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. 

[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint, and the description of the Complaint set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation. 

Bronx Chamber of Commerce - Celebrating Rob Walsh - Irish Heritage Celebration & Networking Reception

 

Reserve Your Spot - Click Here

Robert Walsh is the interim President of the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation (BOEDC) and serves on the Board of Directors for The Bronx Chamber of Commerce. Walsh currently teaches at Columbia University, School of Public and International Affairs. His segment “The Bottom Line for Small Business” airs on 1010 WINS Radio where he is also the moderator of the Small Business Challenge which recognizes the work of entrepreneurs in the New York metropolitan area. From 2014-18, he has served on the faculty at Baruch College’s School of Public and International Affairs, where he has also served as the faculty director of the executive master’s degree in public administration program. In January 2002, Mayor Michael Bloomberg appointed Walsh the commissioner of the Department of Small Business Services (SBS). During his 12 years there, SBS became one of the city's most innovative agencies in serving the needs of its 200,000 small businesses. Walsh re-energized the city's business improvement districts and created an award-winning neighborhood leadership program in partnership with the Coro Foundation. Under his leadership, seven NYC Business Solutions Centers were established that secured more than $200 million for small businesses in the last six years of his tenure. He created a wide array of entrepreneurial courses and forged new partnerships with groups, including the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City, Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program, Interise, and the Kauffman Foundation. Prior to serving in the Bloomberg administration, Walsh served as president of Charlotte (N.C.) Center City Partners. He led the Center City master plan initiative that led to significant private and public investments. He also attracted Johnson & Wales University to the Center City. From 1989 to April 1997, he played an instrumental role in the revitalization of one of New York’s great neighborhoods, as executive director of the Union Square Partnership. During the 1980s, he worked in the administration of Mayor Edward I. Koch. He began his career in public service as a New York City Urban Fellow, a program he later directed.  Walsh holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and master’s degree in public affairs from Fordham University. He also participated in the senior executives in state and local government program at the Harvard Kennedy School.

Local Sales Tax Collections Grew by Over 14% in February Compared to Last Year

 

DiNAPOLI: LOCAL SALES TAX COLLECTIONS GREW BY OVER 14% IN FEBRUARY COMPARED TO LAST YEAR

Local sales tax collections in New York state increased by 14.1% in February compared to the same month in 2022, according to an analysis released by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. Overall, local collections totaled $1.64 billion, up $203 million compared to the same time last year.

“While local sales tax collections continue to experience major growth in 2023, future collections may not grow at such a fast pace,” DiNapoli said. “With the nation and the state facing significant economic challenges, local governments should exercise caution and use responsible budgeting practices.”

New York City’s collections totaled $718 million, an increase of 11.6%, or $74.5 million, over February of 2022. All counties experienced strong increases in February collections, with most seeing double-digit growth. Albany County had the largest increase at 48.8%, followed by Columbia (29.1%) and Yates (26.8%) counties. Onondaga County had the smallest growth at 8.9%.

These monthly sales tax collections are from the cash distributions made to counties and tax-imposing cities by the state Department of Taxation and Finance, and the amounts are based on estimates of what each municipality is due. In the third month of each calendar year quarter, these distributions are adjusted upward or downward, so that the quarter as a whole reflects reported sales by vendors. The next quarterly numbers (for January to March) will be available in April.

Table

Monthly Local Sales Tax Collections by County and Region

Governor Hochul Announces New York City Subway Sets Ridership Record on March 16

 

Subways Reach 3.94 Million Riders on a Single Day for First Time Since March 2020

OMNY Surpasses Two Million Taps in a Single Day First Time Ever on March 16; Subway OMNY Taps Hit Record on Consecutive Days

 Governor Kathy Hochul announced today that the New York City Subway set a ridership record yesterday, Thursday, March 16, with 3,946,310 paid rides. This tops the previous record set on December 8, 2022, by 11,000 rides. The last time the subways carried more than 3.94 million riders was March 12, 2020, when 4.1 million New Yorkers rode the subway. 

"People are coming back to our subways as we have made critical investments in service and safety," Governor Hochul said. "The MTA is the lifeblood of this city, and these ridership numbers demonstrate that New York is continuing to make a strong comeback."

 OMNY's Continued Growth 

OMNY continues to grow in market share among New York City Transit customers, with the first one million tap day reached in April of 2022. The MTA reached the 500 million total OMNY tap milestone in September of 2022 when a customer tapped in at Grand Central Terminal. OMNY has now processed cards issued in 192 of the 195 countries that issue bank cards. 

OMNY customers now consistently comprise nearly half of all subway riders, with a 40% market share of paid rides. Nearly 100% of all OMNY transactions are made on customers' own personal devices or cards, making the MTA unique among North American transit systems. 

In October, OMNY was rolled out to Reduced-Fare customers, who can now make the switch from MetroCard to riding with their personal device or contactless card. Reduced-Fare customers can make the switch from MetroCard to OMNY seamlessly online with the OMNY digital assistant, which is available 24/7 at OMNY.info.  

A how-to video for customers who want to switch to OMNY can be seen here. 

U.S. Attorney Announces Arrest Of Yonkers Man For Threatening To Kill Yonkers Police Officers

Ridon Kola Threatened to Kill Yonkers Police Officers and the Mayor of Yonkers in Online Messages While Expressing His Support for Radical Islamic Extremism and Terrorist Attacks 

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York,  Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), Keechant L. Sewell, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), and Christopher Sapienza, Commissioner of the City of Yonkers Police Department (“YPD”), announced that RIDON KOLA was arrested based on a criminal Complaint filed in White Plains federal court charging KOLA with making threatening interstate communications, in which KOLA threatened to kill officers of the YPD and the Mayor of Yonkers.  KOLA was be presented in White Plains federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Paul E. Davison.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, Ridon Kola posted threats on social media against law enforcement, stating his support for ISIS and his intention to murder numerous police officers.  Undeterred after questioning from law enforcement, Kola’s conduct escalated, as he continued to assure police his threats would be carried out.  Threatening violence against police or to undermine public safety will not be tolerated, as Kola now stands charged and faces prison time for his threats against our dedicated law enforcement partners tasked with keeping us safe.”

FBI Assistant Director Michael J. Driscoll said: “As we allege today, Kola, who has demonstrated support for radical Islamic extremism and terrorist attacks, made a series of threats to the lives of law enforcement and others, and now he will be forced to face the consequences of his actions.  Counterterrorism remains the FBI’s top priority, and through our NY JTTF, we remain committed to keeping all New Yorkers safe from acts of terror.”

NYPD Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell said: “The NYPD remains steadfast in its commitment to fight against the grave threat of violence and hate in every form.  This arrest reinforces our work to protect people and ensure consequences for those who are charged with threatening our way of life.  I want to thank the members of the FBI-NYPD Joint Terrorism Task Force, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, and everyone else who worked to interdict and stop this threat.”

YPD Commissioner Christopher Sapienza said: “The safety of our residents, our community, and the members of our Police Department is paramount; every threat is investigated to the fullest extent possible.  Thankfully, due to the outstanding collaborative efforts of the FBI’s New York Joint Terrorism Task Force and our Yonkers Police Intelligence Division, our City will enjoy a safe Saint Patrick’s Day parade tomorrow free from intimidation by bad actors.”

As alleged in the Complaint unsealed today:[1]

KOLA has engaged in escalating threats of violence against, among others, law enforcement, culminating in recent online threats against the YPD in connection with the Yonkers St. Patrick’s Day parade scheduled for Saturday, March 18.  KOLA’s posts demonstrate support for radical Islamic extremism and terrorist attacks.  In a recent threatening post, KOLA displayed himself with an axe.

On November 19, 2021, KOLA posted to a YPD official social media account a message in Albanian that translated to the following: “I am going to slaughter you little girls.”

On December 5, 2021, KOLA posted to the same YPD social media account a message stating that: “Starting tomorrow I will start killing your officers just so u know who is doing it, Ridon Kola Albanian blood,” and that he would also kill the Mayor of Yonkers.

Following those threats, in December 2021, YPD detectives interviewed KOLA at his residence.  KOLA admitted to making the threatening posts but claimed he had no plans to harm YPD officers or the Mayor.  Based on his demeanor, YPD subsequently issued a warning to officers to exercise diligence and caution in any encounters with KOLA.  Beginning in early 2023, and continuing in the days leading up to the planned St. Patrick’s Day parade, KOLA has escalated his threats against the YPD and other government officials and has expressed his support for violent Islamic extremism and terrorist attacks.

In January 2023, KOLA posted multiple statements expressing support for “jihad,” or “to war against non-Muslims,” and the establishment of a “caliphate,” and depicting the raised index finger gesture used by jihadist groups, including the terrorist organization the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (“ISIS”).   

On March 6, 2023, appearing to reference YPD’s prior interview of KOLA, KOLA sent a direct message to the YPD social media account stating: “I’m looking for that officer that came to my house and threatened me and my family to kill us. I’m going to burn the world until I find him Vallahi [by God], no matter what happens to me there will never be peace in this country anymore! Allahu Ekberr.”  The phrase “Allahu Ekberr” is one form of an Arabic phrase meaning “God is great,” which radical Islamic extremists have proclaimed in connection with the commission of terrorist attacks.

The next day, March 7, 2023, KOLA posted a statement praising Sayfullo Saipov, the recently convicted perpetrator of a terrorist attack for ISIS in which Saipov used a truck on Halloween in 2017 to murder eight victims and injure many more on a bike bath in lower Manhattan.  KOLA referred to Saipov as “my BROTHER.”

As of March 9, 2023, KOLA’s social media account profile included the statement, “Now is personal America and the world!!!” and a threat to burn “cia fbi nsa police jud[g]es alive w their families too!”

Also on March 9, KOLA sent two direct messages to the YPD social media account stating: “First people to be crucified will be the Yonkers rats Vallahi.  Allahu Ekberr”; and “I will crucify Yonkers cops and their bosses all along McLean ave.  It will be a horror scene . . . Allahu Ekberr.”  McLean Avenue in Yonkers is part of the route for the Yonkers St. Patrick’s Day Parade taking place on March 18, and numerous YPD officers will be posted to the parade route along that street.  KOLA’s residence is in the area of the parade route.

Three days later, on March 12, 2023, KOLA posted to his social media feed a photograph of himself holding an axe with a statement in Albanian, translated to the following: “Come on Judas, I’m waiting for you.”

KOLA, 32, of Yonkers, New York, is charged with making threatening interstate communications, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. 

The maximum potential penalty is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant would be determined by the judge.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative efforts of the FBI’s New York Joint Terrorism Task Force, which consists of investigators and analysts from the FBI, the NYPD, and over 50 other federal, state, and local agencies.  Mr. Williams also thanked the YPD and the Yonkers Police Intelligence Division for their assistance.

The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the descriptions of the Complaint set forth below constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

DEC Announces Start of Prescribed Fire Season

Prescribed Fires Will Improve Habitats Across the State

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced today the agency will be conducting prescribed burns on DEC managed land in different areas of the state from late March to early May. The first burns will occur on Long Island. Prescribed fire is a tool used to manage fire-dependent ecosystems in a manner that develops a resilient natural balance of fire in the desired vegetation. These fires are regulated by law and regulation and require technical expertise to conduct the burns safely.

Before any prescribed fire is conducted, a burn plan is developed. Burn plans outline management's objectives, as well as parameters that must be satisfied before any prescribed fire can take place. Careful consideration is given to environmental factors such as current and expected weather conditions and smoke management considerations in close coordination with the National Weather Service. These burn plans are executed by nationally certified burn bosses. Every burn boss in DEC is a fully credentialed and certified Forest Ranger.

Prescribed burns accomplish more than simply using fire to manipulate habitat for a land management objective. The burns serve as an opportunity to develop partnerships among different DEC divisions. Working with the Divisions of Lands and Forests, Operations, and Fish and Wildlife creates the potential to train more staff to become wildland firefighters, supporting efforts to implement prescribed burns in the future and response to wildland fires.

In 2022, DEC and partner agencies burned hundreds of acres of grassland habitat and dozens of acres of forested lands. These treatments included controlled burns on two of DEC’s largest Long Island properties, the Otis Pike Pine Barrens State Forests and the Rocky Point Pine Barrens State Forest, as well as on several other smaller, DEC-managed properties in eastern Suffolk County.

While DEC makes the necessary notifications before conducting any prescribed fires, the public is encouraged to report smoke columns to local authorities. More information on wildfire prevention may be found on the FIREWISE New York webpage.

While prescribed burns are happening with multiple trained wildland firefighters on hand, the annual residential brush burn ban is in effect from March 16 to May 14. Open burning of debris is the single-largest cause of spring wildfires in New York State. When temperatures warm and the past fall's debris and leaves dry out, wildfires can start and spread easily, further fueled by winds and a lack of green vegetation. Each year, DEC Forest Rangers extinguish dozens of wildfires that burn hundreds of acres. In addition, local fire departments, many of which are staffed by volunteers, all too often have to leave their jobs and families to respond to wildfires caused by illegal debris fires. DEC will post the Fire Danger Map for the 2023 fire season on DEC's website once there is a moderate risk anywhere in New York.

 

The Plains Affordable Housing Project Tops Out At 4519 White Plains Road In Wakefield, The Bronx

 

The 4519 White Plains Rod project team celebrates the construction milestone - [From left, to right] Carlton Roye, project manager at Galaxy Construction; Jack Coogan, principal at OCV Architects; Jimmy Zervoudis, principal at Galaxy Construction; John McDonald, interim president at The Doe Fund; Lucy Sanchez, DASNY project manager; and Jeff Chu, development director of finance at Robert Sanborn Development

Construction has topped out on The Plains, a nine-story mixed-income residential property at 4519 White Plains Road in the Wakefield section of The Bronx. Led by developers The Doe Fund and Robert Sanborn Development, the building will contain 98 deeply affordable homes, 20 apartments reserved for tenants 62 and older, and on-site supportive housing for 49 formerly homeless adults living with disabilities.

Overall, the units will be available to low- and moderate-income individuals and families. Eligible income will be capped at 80 percent of the area median income (AMI), with preference given to local residents who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Applications for the affordable units are expected to open next February.

“Topping out at The Plains brings us one step closer to providing desperately needed deeply affordable and supportive housing to the Bronx,” said John McDonald, interim president of The Doe Fund. “For the nearly 100 individuals and families who will soon call The Plains home, that means shutting the revolving door of homelessness once and for all.”

Designed by OCV Architects, the building will comprise just over 82,000 square feet. In addition to apartments, the amenity spaces will include tenant storage, a multipurpose room, a shared laundry room, a fitness center, and communal outdoor space.

To improve energy efficiency, the structure will support a green roof and roof-level solar panels. Additional efficiency features will include triple-glazed windows, high-efficiency HVAC systems, LED lighting with motion sensors, Energy Star-rated appliances, and low-flow plumbing fixtures.

Upon completion, the project will seek LEED Gold certification.

Total construction costs are estimated at $48.5 million. Funding for the project includes a $1.2 million award from the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative, $2.5 million in federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits, $4.9 million in capital funding through the Homeless Housing Assistance Program, and another $4 million acquisition loan from the Corporation for Supportive Housing for pre-development.

Additional financing includes a $2.8 million award from New York State Homes and Community Renewal‘s (HCR) Supportive Housing Opportunity Program, $5 million from its All Affordable New York City Program, and $1.9 million from its NYS HOME Program. The Doe Fund also obtained private sector construction and permanent loans through Merchant’s Bank and Freddie Mac, and tax-credit equity was syndicated by Richman Housing.

“As one of the nation’s top affordable housing financiers, we at Merchants are always looking for new ways to serve the housing needs of populations across the U.S.,” said Michael Milazzo, senior vice president of originations at Merchants Capital. “By working with The Doe Fund, we are creating safe, new supportive housing for nearly 100 of New York’s most vulnerable residents.”

Construction is expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2023.

Permits Filed For 225 Bedford Park Boulevard In Jerome Park, The Bronx

 

Permits have been filed for a nine-story residential building at 225 Bedford Park Boulevard in Jerome Park, The Bronx. Located at the intersection of Valentine Avenue and Bedford Park Boulevard, the corner lot is near the Bedford Park Boulevard subway station, serviced by the B and D trains. Vilson Lumaj is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 84-foot-tall development will yield 48,480 square feet designated for residential space. The building will have 73 residences, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 664 square feet. The masonry-based structure will also have a cellar and a 30-foot-long side yard.

Badaly Architects is listed as the architect of record.

Demolition permits were filed in December 2022 for the residential structure on the site. An estimated completion date has not been announced.