Comptroller Lander’s Report Offers Overview of Per Diem Hotel and Service Costs for Shelter for Asylum Seekers

 

An estimated 77 percent of asylum seekers are sheltered in hotels around New York City

A new report from New York City Comptroller Brad Lander analyzes the cost of hotel rooms contracted by the Department of Homeless Services (DHS) to house asylum seekers across New York City.  

“Procuring in an emergency can lead to fluctuating prices and rampant overspending, yet this contract is an example of how to manage keeping costs in check,” said New York City Comptroller Brad Lander. “Our office will continue to conduct oversight of this contract, all emergency procurements, and any shelter and services contracts that will provide cost-effective care for asylum seekers going forward.” 

In late spring 2022, an unexpected and sustained migration of asylum seekers required the City to seek out emergency shelter options. Since the start of the influx, over 207,000 asylum seekers have come through the City’s system. Currently, approximately 65,000 asylum seekers live in the emergency shelter system on top of the roughly 54,000 people already housed in the DHS system prior to July 2022.  

Comptroller Lander’s Office estimated that around 77 percent of asylum seekers live in approximately 15,750 rooms across 157 hotels in New York City — around 11.5 percent of the overall hotel inventory of 136,000 rooms in New York City.  

DHS entered into a new contract with Hotel Association of New York City (HANYC) for 5,000 rooms for up to $237 million for September 2022 through August 2023. The City then extended and increased the contract’s total value to $987 million for up to 14,000 rooms from September 2022 through August 2024. 

The report analyzes the cost of approximately 9,500 rooms — nearly half of the total hotel rooms in use — that are contracted through an agreement with HANYC to provide shelter for asylum seekers. 

The report found:  

1. Under the HANYC contract, DHS paid an average of $156 per day per hotel room, in line with market data of comparable hotels. 

1. The daily all-in cost of DHS emergency hotel shelters of $332 is substantially lower than the cost of the emergency shelter and services contracted by other City agencies, estimated to be $404.  

1. The combination of the non-emergency DHS service per diem and the average HANYC hotel rate, for a total of $306 per day, likely represents a floor for the provision of shelter in hotels, still 24% less than the current estimated cost for the non-DHS emergency shelters – a significant savings opportunity.  

Read the full report here. 

BRONX WOMAN INDICTED FOR MURDER OF HER TWO YOUNG SONS INSIDE FAMILY SHELTER

 

Defendant Stabbed Children Multiple Times, Submerged Them in Bathtub 

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced that a Bronx woman has been indicted on Murder charges in the fatal stabbing of her eleven-month-old and three-year-old sons inside a family shelter. 

District Attorney Clark said, “Children should be safe and feel protected by their mothers. Instead, these little boys were allegedly stabbed multiple times then submerged in a bathtub by their mother. The defendant’s alleged actions against her children are chilling. I send my heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of these innocent young boys, Octavius and Daishawn, who were taken too soon.” 

District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Dimone Fleming, 23, who was living in a family shelter at 246 Echo Place, was arraigned today on first-degree Murder, four counts of second-degree Murder, and two counts of first-degree Manslaughter before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Brenda Rivera. The defendant was remanded and is due back in court on August 7, 2024.

According to the investigation, on November 26, 2022, inside the apartment in 246 Echo Place, the defendant allegedly murdered her two children, Octavius Canada, 11 months old, and Daishawn Fleming, three years old. According to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, the children had extensive stab and slicing wounds to their necks and surrounding areas. Both children had four fatal wounds. They were found lifeless in a bathtub full of water covered by a dark sheet. The defendant was allegedly the sole caretaker of the children inside of their home at the time of their death.

District Attorney Clark thanked NYPD Detective Diego Marin of the 46th Precinct, Detective Patrick Flatley of Bronx Homicide and Detective Julie Casale of the Crime Scene Unit for their work in the investigation. District Attorney Clark also thanked FDNY Emergency Medical Services and the responding officers from the 46th Precinct for their extensive efforts to render aid to the children at the scene.

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

Governor Hochul Unveils $108 Million Proposal to Transform Former Bayview Correctional Facility Into 124 Affordable Housing Units and Vibrant Community Hub

 

Partnership by Camber Property Group and Osborne Association to Deliver Housing, Community Services, and Reentry Support for Formerly Incarcerated Individuals

Supports Governor Hochul's Commitment to Addressing the Housing Crisis – Including Historic FY 2025 Budget Agreement to Increase New York’s Housing Supply

Builds on Recommendations of the Prison Redevelopment Commission to Reimagine Underutilized Jails and Prisons

Governor Kathy Hochul unveiled Liberty Landing, a transformative project to convert the state-owned 100,000 square-foot former Bayview Correctional Facility in Manhattan into affordable housing for low-income residents and supportive housing for formerly incarcerated individuals reentering the community. The proposed project, a joint venture between Camber Property Group and Osborne Association, would invest over $108 million in West Chelsea and provide 124 permanently affordable housing units and on-site supportive services.

“Every New Yorker deserves access to safe, stable, and affordable housing. Liberty Landing represents a significant step forward in our efforts to provide inclusive housing opportunities and support to vulnerable New Yorkers,” Governor Hochul said. “This innovative project will transform a former symbol of incarceration into a beacon of hope, healing, and opportunity.”

The Request for Proposals focused on the opportunity to increase the critical shortage of affordable housing options in the region and specifically prioritized the need for housing for New Yorkers who require services within a supportive living environment, while enhancing the neighborhood vibrancy and quality of life for residents in the surrounding area. Liberty Landing will adaptively reuse the historic Bayview Correctional Facility, transforming the space into a vibrant, multi-faceted community hub.

The redevelopment will keep the Main and Annex buildings largely intact while constructing a new addition in the interior courtyard to maximize housing opportunities. The project will include 124 affordable housing units, providing much-needed income-restricted residences for individuals and families. The development will also feature a 9,300 square foot community facility unit dedicated to youth-oriented programming, enabling the delivery of a wide range of services and activities tailored to the needs of young people in the surrounding community. Additionally, the project will feature a 15-unit short-term transitional residence to support individuals with mental health needs who are navigating life transitions and in need of temporary housing. The State Office of Mental Health is providing both capital and operating funding for these residences. The proposed project will be sponsored by Empire State Development under a General Project Plan, will undergo environmental review under the State Environmental Quality Review Act, and will be presented for public review and comment prior to its final consideration and approval.

Osborne Association, the supportive service partner at Liberty Landing, will provide a comprehensive array of on-site social services and programming designed to meet the unique needs of individuals reentering the community after incarceration. Services will be integrated into the fabric of the development, ensuring that residents have easy access to the resources they need to thrive. The services include workforce development programs, family and relationship coaching, independent living skills training, and onsite wellness services, such as nutrition education and chronic disease management. Residents will also have access to benefits advocacy, peer mentorship, and connections to healthcare, mental health support, and substance use disorder treatment through community partnerships. These holistic services are designed to provide residents with the resources they need to overcome challenges, achieve housing stability, improve their health outcomes, and successfully reintegrate into the community.

Governor Hochul’s Housing Agenda

Governor Hochul is committed to addressing New York’s housing crisis and making the state more affordable and more livable for all New Yorkers. As part of the FY25 Enacted Budget, the Governor secured a landmark agreement to increase New York’s housing supply through new tax incentives for Upstate communities, new incentives and zoning relief to create more housing in New York City, a $500 million capital fund to build up to 15,000 new homes on State-owned property, an additional $600 million in funding to support a variety of housing development statewide, and new protections for renters. In addition, as part of the FY23 Enacted Budget, the Governor announced a five-year, $25 billion Housing Plan, to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide. More than 40,000 homes have been created or preserved to date.

Governor Hochul's administration has taken positive steps to repurpose former prison sites, with a strong focus on addressing the state's housing needs. Projects like Liberty Landing and Seneca exemplify this approach, transforming decommissioned correctional facilities into vibrant, inclusive communities. These developments not only provide affordable housing but also integrate employment opportunities, cultural amenities, and essential supportive services. Furthering this strategy, Empire State Development has advanced key recommendations from the Prison Redevelopment Commission's report, demonstrating the state's commitment to reimagining these spaces for community benefit. Under the leadership of Governor Hochul, Empire State Development has issued a Request for Proposals for Watertown Correctional Facility and worked with Seneca County to develop the RFP for Willard Drug Treatment Campus. Additionally, a developer was conditionally chosen to transform the former Downstate Correctional Facility into a vibrant, mixed-income housing site and Livingston Correctional Facility was transferred to the Livingston County Industrial Development Agency, completing the first successful land transfer of a state-owned prison for potential redevelopment.

Governor Hochul’s Mental Health Agenda

Governor Hochul’s historic $1 billion plan enacted last year is strengthening the State’s mental health care system. Adopted as part of the FY 2024 budget, this multi-year plan is now dramatically increasing access to services, reducing wait times, and ensuring appropriate levels of care statewide.

The plan provided $890 million in capital and $120 million in operating funding to establish and operate 3,500 new residential units for New Yorkers with mental illness. This includes 1,500 supportive housing units, 500 community residence-single room occupancy units; 900 transitional step-down units; and 600 licensed apartment units serving individuals who require an intermediate level of services.

Building on this investment, Governor Hochul made strengthening the state’s mental health system a priority in the FY 2025 Budget, which will add 200 new inpatient beds at state-operated psychiatric centers, will establish mental health navigators in the court system; expand crisis intervention training for law enforcement; improve mental health admission and discharge procedures for Article 28 and 31 hospitals; and increase transitional and specialized housing. The Budget also provides start-up funding for school-based mental health clinics, increases resources for youth receiving treatment in their community or in residential care, and bolsters outpatient supports, such as Youth Assertive Community Treatment teams.

In addition the Budget supports a loan forgiveness program specifically for licensed mental health clinicians serving children and families and an expansion of peer-to-peer mental wellness efforts among young people across the state, including training programs like Teen Mental Health First Aid.

About Camber Property Group

Camber Property Group specializes in developing, rehabilitating, and preserving affordable and mixed-income housing across New York City. With a portfolio of nearly 10,000 units valued at over $2.5 billion, the firm has been dedicated to impactful work for all stakeholders since its founding in 2016.

About Osborne Association

Osborne Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming the criminal justice system and supporting individuals, families, and communities affected by incarceration. Through advocacy, direct service, and policy reform, Osborne works to create opportunities for people to heal, grow, and thrive.

MAYOR ADAMS, GOVERNOR HOCHUL, COMPTROLLER LANDER ANNOUNCE $500 MILLION INVESTMENT TO BUILD AND PRESERVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN NEW YORK CITY

 

Agreement Designates Monies from Battery Park City Authority’s Joint Purpose Fund to Be Spent on Affordable Housing

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, New York Governor Kathy Hochul, and New York City Comptroller Brad Lander today announced a $500 million investment from the Battery Park City Authority’s Joint Purpose Fund to build and maintain affordable housing across New York City. Through an agreement between Mayor Adams, the Battery Park City Authority (BPCA), and Comptroller Lander, BPCA will disburse $500 million in excess operating funds to New York City’s Affordable Housing Accelerator Fund for the purpose of building affordable housing. The agreement builds on commitments by Mayor Adams, Governor Hochul, and Comptroller Lander to address the housing crisis by building safer, more stable, and more affordable homes, and reducing overall housing costs for New Yorkers.

“To solve a generational housing and affordability crisis, every sector has a role in providing relief to working-class New Yorkers. Today’s announcement takes us one step closer to delivering that relief,” said Mayor Adams. “Our administration and our partners are united by a common cause: building more affordable housing. The only way to solve these dual crises is to simply build more, and with this $500 million commitment, we are coming together to use our dollars to make a difference and better support working-class New Yorkers.”

“When it comes to building the affordable homes that New Yorkers deserve, my administration is leaving no stone unturned,” said Governor Hochul. “This agreement will turn excess funds from the Battery Park City Authority into a massive $500 million investment to help New York City realize its housing potential. From our landmark budget agreement to tackle the housing crisis to transformative investments that get housing built, I am continuing to work with partners like the BPCA, Mayor Adams, and Comptroller Lander and fighting for a more affordable and more livable New York.”

“Financing the production of affordable housing remains the city’s most powerful tool in combatting the city’s housing affordability crisis,” said Comptroller Lander. “This landmark $500 million investment will help ensure that New York City and New York state have the resources we need to effectively deliver safe and affordable housing to New Yorkers.”

“Our administration is dedicated to solving our housing crisis by building together with partners across government," said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Maria Torres-Springer. “This historic investment with our administration, Governor Hochul, Comptroller Lander, and the Battery Park City Authority meets the moment, provides affordable housing for New Yorkers, and advances our moonshot goal of 500,000 new homes for New Yorkers by 2032.”

“Building and preserving more affordable homes is an absolute priority in the face of our ongoing housing crisis,” said New York City Executive Director for Housing Leila Bozorg. “I extend my sincere appreciation to Mayor Adams for his clear-eyed leadership on investing in housing, and to Governor Hochul, Comptroller Lander, and the Battery Park City Authority for this meaningful partnership that aims to make affordable housing options in our city more abundant." 

“This multi-year $500 million investment in affordable housing is an agreement that will do more than build more brick-and-mortar buildings, it will transform lives and create new futures for individuals and families waiting for secure, affordable housing,” said New York City Department for Housing Preservation and Development Commissioner Adolfo Carrion Jr. “Today, in collaboration with city and state leaders, we recommit and extend this partnership to collectively do all we can to tackle the housing crisis. When considered alongside recently secured state legislative tools, a significant city investment in housing funding from the adopted budget, and the possibility of once-in-a-generation zoning changes to accelerate construction and supply, we have a roadmap that puts us in the direction we need to create the housing access we deserve.”

The BPCA is a New York state public benefit corporation charged with operating, maintaining, and improving Battery Park City, a 92-acre community of residential, commercial, retail, and open space in lower Manhattan. As Battery Park City was being developed, the BPCA entered into long-term ground leases with developers, generating lease revenue from commercial and residential buildings that serves as the primary source of funding for this affordable housing commitment.

Today’s Joint Purpose Fund agreement succeeds the previous agreement for the disbursement of BPCA’s excess operating revenues, which, since 2010, has contributed $461 million in dedicated funding for affordable housing across the five boroughs and helped build or preserve over 10,000 units of affordable housing. 

Since the start of his administration, Mayor Adams has made record investments towards creating and preserving affordable housing. Last month, the Adams administration delivered an on-time, balanced, and fiscally-responsible $112.4 billion Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Adopted Budget that invests $2 billion in capital funds across FY25 and FY26 to HPD and NYCHA’s capital budgets. In total, the Adams administration has committed a record $26 billion in housing capital in the current 10-year plan as the city faces a general housing crisis. In addition to these historic investments, the Adams administration is in the middle of public review for “City of Yes for Housing Opportunity,” the most pro-housing zoning proposal in New York City’s history. The New York City Department of City Planning estimates that the Adams administration’s City of Yes plan could produce as many as 108,850 new homes over the next 15 years.

The Adams administration is using every tool available to address the city’s housing crisis. Earlier this year, Mayor Adams and members of the administration successfully advocated for new tools in 2024 New York state budget that will spur the creation of urgently needed housing. These include a new tax incentive for multifamily rental construction, a tax incentive program to encourage office conversions to create more affordable units, lifting the arbitrary “floor-to-area ratio” cap that held back affordable housing production in certain high-demand areas of the city, and the ability to create a pilot program to legalize and make safe basement apartments. 

Under Mayor Adams’ leadership, the city financed a record number of affordable homes in 2023 and is ahead of schedule on a 2024 State of the City commitment to advance two dozen 100-percent affordable housing projects on city-owned land this year through the “24 in ‘24” initiative. Mayor Adams has also taken steps to cut red tape and speed up the delivery of much-needed housing, including through the “Green Fast Track for Housing,” a streamlined environmental review process for qualifying small- and medium-sized housing projects; the Office Conversion Accelerator, an interagency effort to guide buildings that wish to convert through city bureaucracy; and other initiatives of the Building and Land Use Approval Streamlining Taskforce. 

This Week at KRVC - Librado Romero Artwork on Display, Arts & Crafts and Networking Seminar

 

Giving Back to Our Community.....

On Friday, July 19th, we held an ice cream social for the community. We celebrated summer and cooled off from the heat with some local friends and great conversation!

Librado Romero's life-inspired art exhibited at Gallery 505 in Riverdale

Librado “Lee” Romero was an accidental photographer but a natural born artist. Now a Riverdale resident, his life story traverses the globe, with every new landscape inspiring portions of his art.  

COMING UP AT KRVC.....

Assemblymember John Zaccaro - Summer Events in the 80th AD!!

Friends, 

Summer is in full swing and Team JZ has been very busy across the 80th AD!! From Movies under the Stars to free Community Shredding, meeting hardworking Bronxites and so much more, my Team and I are proud to serve you!

Take a look at what we've been up to!

COMMUNITY PARKS CLEAN UP INITIATIVE

Team JZ joined forces with Friends of Mosholu Parkland to remove trash, debris, and ensure that we are stewarding our communities green spaces. We are proud to regularly host cleanup days at parks throughout our communities. Know a park that could use some cleaning? Want to host a cleanup event in your neighborhood? Give us a call! 

COMMUNITY SHREDDING DAY #InThe80thDistrict

Our office was proud to host a community shredding event in partnership with the Department of Sanitation where residents were able to join us safely and dispose of important/sensitive documents, receipts, and more. 

KICKING IT WITH OUR SENIORS

Assemblyman Zaccaro spent time with our seniors at Bronx House, Morris Park Senior Center and Parkside Senior Center and distributed free tickets for a day trip to the New York Botanical Garden. 

HONORING THE ALBA LIFE SCHOOL

This past May, Assemblyman John Zaccaro, Jr., welcomed Qemal Zylo, Kozeta Zylo, and the dedicated team of teachers and staff at the Alba Life School in Albany to introduce them on the Assembly floor, where a resolution in their honor was adopted. 

In recognition of all the work they do for our Albanian community, Assemblyman Zaccaro joined students, family, and staff at Columbus High School to present the teachers and administrators with the adopted resolution on behalf of the New York State Assembly. 

MOVIES UNDER THE STARS #InThe80thDistrict

Assemblyman John Zaccaro, Jr., hosted a Movie under the Stars at Kossuth Playground in Norwood with the showing of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. 

Movies under the Stars brings out community members and families to enjoy a movie and refreshments sponsored by Assemblyman John Zaccaro, Jr. Stay tuned for the next round of Movies under the Stars near you!

COMMUNITY FOOD GIVEAWAY

Team JZ is proud to host regular food giveaways that help bridge the gap in tackling food insecurity in our community. That's why we were proud to host a food distribution event in partnership with New York Common Pantry to residents of Pelham Parkway Houses.

Stay tuned for more food giveaways coming soon!

CELEBRATING JUNETEENTH!!

Juneteenth commemorates the day in 1865 that enslaved people of African descent in Galveston, Texas finally learned of their freedom from slavery. Assemblyman Zaccaro joined Bronx Community Board 11 to reflect on the end of slavery as we celebrated Black History and committed ourselves to the journey towards equality and justice. 

Phase Two Of Starhill Affordable Housing Complex Breaks Ground At 1600 Grand Avenue In Morris Heights, The Bronx

 

Services for the UnderServed and Bronx Pro Group recently celebrated the groundbreaking for phase two of Starhill, an affordable housing project at 1600 Grand Avenue in Morris Heights, The Bronx. The project will add 244 affordable apartments to the property, with 74 of which designated as supportive housing for formerly homeless individuals and families. On-site supportive care services will be provided by Services for the UnderServed. The project was designed by Marvel Architects. 

Rendering of Starhill at 1600 Grand Avenue. Designed by Marvel Architects

The project’s site originally housed the House of Calvary, a property built in 1915 that was later renamed Calvary Hospital, and eventually became a residential substance use treatment facility in 1979. Services for the UnderServed took over the property in 2014, and the building was demolished to make way for the redevelopment. Phase I of the project, which is set to begin leasing in early 2025, will bring 326 affordable apartments, with 200 homes reserved for homeless single adults with substance use challenges. Phase two will complete the Starhill campus, bringing the total number of new affordable units to 570.

In addition to the residential units, this phase of development will add approximately 10,000 square feet of community facility space and 11,500 square feet of publicly accessible open space to the complex.

Funding for the project comes from multiple sources, including the NYC 15/15 program, the New York City Housing Development Corporation, and the Department of Social Services. Chase Community Development Banking and Enterprise Community Partners also provided support for the project.

“The Starhill Phase II project is not just about laying foundations—it’s about uplifting lives and empowering the Morris Heights community, turning hope into homes and transforming lives,” said New York state senator Robert Jackson. “This initiative provides critical housing and fosters a stronger, more vibrant neighborhood, ensuring everyone has the support they need to thrive. Today, we celebrate progress in unity, ensuring every individual can find a home and a new beginning in our community.”

DEC Announces 12-Pound, 6-Ounce Largemouth Bass Breaks 37-Year-Old State Record

Catch from Cayuga Lake in Cayuga County is Second State Record Fish Established for 2024

 New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar today announced a new state record for largemouth bass was set on July 11, 2024. James Britenbaugh of Pennsylvania reeled in the record-breaking 12-pound, 6-ounce largemouth bass from Cayuga Lake, Cayuga County while fishing in preparation for an upcoming bass tournament. The record-breaking catch surpasses the previous 37-year-old State record largemouth bass, caught from Buckhorn Lake, Otsego County, in 1987 by one pound and two ounces.

“It’s no secret that New York has the best bass fishing opportunities in the country and Mr. Britenbaugh’s incredible fish certainly confirms that,” Interim Commissioner Mahar said. “DEC encourages all anglers fishing in New York to check out the Angler Achievement Awards Program before dropping a line in the water. It's an exciting program that recognizes sizable catches and shines a light on the numerous lakes, rivers, ponds, and streams producing trophy-sized fish right here in New York.”

This year, New York State landed five lakes on Bassmaster Magazine’s Top 100 Best Bass Lakes in the country. Among the New York waters included are the St. Lawrence River (Thousand Islands), ranked as the best bass water in the nation, and Lake Erie/Upper Niagara River, ranked as the seventh-best water. Lake Champlain, Cayuga Lake, and Oneida Lake made the list as well and are in Bassmaster Magazine’s Top 25 Northeastern Best Bass Lakes of 2024.  Other waters across the state also offer exceptional bass opportunities and New York continues to be a destination for world class fishing.

 

The largemouth bass record comes weeks after a new state record for longnose gar was set. On June 21, 2024. Chuck Zimmerman of Hilton, Monroe County, reeled in a 15-pound, 14-ounce longnose gar from Butterfield Lake in Jefferson County.

 

Both Mr. Britenbaugh and Mr. Zimmerman submitted details of their winning catches as part of DEC's newly revamped Angler Achievement Awards Program, which recognizes anglers who catch any of the 40 eligible fish species that meet or exceed the minimum qualifying lengths established for that species and tracks state record fish. Through this program, anglers can enter freshwater fish that meet specific qualifying criteria and receive official recognition of their catch along with a species-specific sticker commemorating their achievement.

The three categories that make up the program are: Angler Award, Youth Angler Award, and State Record. As part of the program revamp anglers can now submit entries for qualifying catches from the convenience of their smart phone through an online entry form. The program further supports the Governor's “Get Offline, Get Outside” initiative, which was launched earlier this month to promote physical and mental health by helping encourage New York’s kids and families to put down their phones and computers, take a break from social media, and enjoy recreation and outdoor social gatherings.

For official program rules, eligible species and associated minimum qualifying lengths, visit the Angler Achievement Awards webpage.

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