Federal Task Force to Combat Antisemitism to Visit Leadership of Four Big Cities Rocked by Incidents of Antisemitism

 

Today, the Federal Task Force to Combat Antisemitism notified the local leaders of New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Boston that it wanted to meet soon to discuss their responses to incidents of antisemitism at schools and on college campuses in their cities over the last two years. The Task Force, created pursuant to President Trump’s Executive Order on Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism, told the cities it wanted to engage with local leadership, including the mayors, district or city attorneys, and local law enforcement.

Leading Task Force member and Senior Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Leo Terrell informed Eric Adams of New York, Karen Bass of Los Angeles, Brandon Johnson of Chicago, and Michelle Wu of Boston that the Task Force was aware of allegations that the schools in their respective cities may have failed to protect Jewish students from unlawful discrimination, in potential violation of federal law. Mr. Terrell said he intends for the Task Force to meet with city leadership, impacted students, local law enforcement, and community members as it gathers information about these incidents and considers whether federal intervention is warranted.

“Too many elected officials chose not to stand up to a rising tide of antisemitism in our cities and campuses following the horrific events of October 7, 2023,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Actions have consequences – inaction does, too.”

“The Task Force looks forward to meeting with the mayors and other municipal leaders in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Boston to quickly and effectively identify ways that, working together or apart, we return safety, civility, and sanity to our nation’s schools,” said Mr. Terrell. “These meetings, in conjunction with our visits to university campuses around the country, are just two of the many actions President Trump and Attorney General Bondi are taking to end this scourge of anti-Semitism.”

If you have been discriminated against, you can file a complaint with the Civil Rights Division, at civilrights.justice.gov. President Trump’s Executive Order can be found here: Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism – The White House

NYS Private Sector Employment Up 14,500 Jobs in January 2025

 

Unemployment Rate Held Steady for Seventh Consecutive Month

According to preliminary seasonally adjusted figures released today by the New York State Department of Labor, the number of private sector jobs in New York State increased over the month by 14,500, or 0.2%, to 8,466,400 in January 2025. The number of private sector jobs in the U.S. increased by 0.1% in January 2025.

New York State's private sector jobs (not seasonally adjusted) increased by 155,400, or 1.9%, over the year in January 2025, exceeding the 1.3% increase in the number of private sector jobs in the U.S.

New York State's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held constant at 4.4% in January 2025. At the same time, New York State's labor force (seasonally adjusted) decreased by 900. The statewide labor force participation rate decreased to 60.8% in January 2025.

The number of private sector jobs in New York State is based on a payroll survey of New York businesses conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Monthly payroll employment estimates are preliminary and subject to revision as more complete data become available the following month. The BLS calculates New York State’s unemployment rate based partly upon the results of the monthly Current Population Survey (CPS) of approximately 3,100 households in the State.

Jobs data are revised at the end of each year for all states and the nation as more complete information becomes available from employers’ Unemployment Insurance records. This process is called “benchmarking” and is federally mandated. For a comparison of 2023 – 2024 annual data after benchmarking, see Summary of Annual Results beginning on page 14.

Labor force data, including unemployment rates, are also revised at the end of each year, using methods established by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The revised labor force data show that New York State’s annual average unemployment rate increased from 4.1% in 2023 to 4.3% in 2024.

Note: Seasonally adjusted data are used to provide the most valid month-to-month comparison. Non-seasonally adjusted data are valuable in year-to-year comparisons of the same month – for example, January 2024 versus January 2025.

Statewide Industry Employment

January 2025 – Seasonally Adjusted

• On a net basis, the total number of nonfarm jobs in the state increased by 20,100 over the month, while private sector jobs increased by 14,500 in January 2025.
• At the same time, the total number of nonfarm jobs in the nation increased by 143,000, while private sector jobs increased by 111,000.

NYS Exceeded Nation in Job Growth

Over-the-Month % Change in Total Nonfarm & Private Sector Jobs, December 2024 – January 2025  

Total Nonfarm and Private Sector Jobs Increased in January 2025 Total Nonfarm and Private Sector Jobs (in 1000s), January 1990 – January 2025 Statewide Unemployment January 2025 – Seasonally Adjusted The statewide unemployment rate held constant at 4.4% in January 2025. New York City’s unemployment rate decreased from 5.6% to 5.5%. In the rest of the state, the unemployment rate held constant at 3.5% in January 2025. The number of unemployed New Yorkers decreased over the month by 1,200 from 434,900 in December 2024 to 433,700 in January 2025. NYS Unemployment Rate Unchanged Over the Month Labor Force Statistics, January 2024, December 2024 - January 2025 Labor Force and Number of Unemployed Decreased in January Total Labor Force & Number of Unemployed, January 2009 - January 2025 Unemployment Rate Unchanged in NYS, Decreased in US Unemployment Rate, NYS & US, January 2009 - January 2025 Unemployment Rate Decreased in NYC, Unchanged in Balance of State Unemployment Rate, NYC & BOS, January 2009 - January 2025 Substate and Industry Employment  January 2025 – Not Seasonally Adjusted New York State Gains Private Sector Jobs Over the Year Over-the-Year Change in Total Nonfarm & Private Sector Jobs, January 2024 – January 2025 Note: New York State is adopting the July 2023 Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) definitions from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Bulletin No. 23-01 for CES MSA publication. This change will be effective with the release of data for January 2025. MSAs delineations are determined using decennial census data. Changes in January 2025 New York data include the removal of Yates County from the Rochester, NY MSA and the creation of the Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY MSA, which includes Dutchess and Orange counties. More detailed information about MSA redefinition can be found in the OMB bulletin here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/OMB-Bulletin-23-01.pdf The sum of sub-state area job estimates will usually differ from the New York State total. This is because the State total is calculated separately from the sub-state areas and is estimated based on an independent sample. Private Education & Health Services Jobs Increased by 4.6% Over the Year Over-the-Year Change in Jobs by Major Industry Sector, January 2024 – January 2025 *Government includes public education and public health services. Note: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is responsible for the production of monthly estimates of state and metro area nonfarm employment by industry. More detailed information is available on the BLS web site. Many economic data series have a seasonal pattern, which means they tend to occur at the same time each year (e.g., retail jobs usually increase in December). Seasonal adjustment is the process of removing seasonal effects from a data series. This is done to simplify the data so that they may be more easily interpreted and help to reveal true underlying trends. Seasonal adjustment permits comparisons of data from one month to data from any other month. In New York State, payroll jobs data by industry come from a monthly survey of business establishments conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Data are preliminary and subject to revision. Jobs data by industry do not include agricultural workers, the self-employed, unpaid family workers, or domestic workers in private households. Labor force statistics, including the unemployment rate, for New York and every other state are based on statistical regression models specified by the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The state’s unemployment rate is based partly upon the results of the Current Population Survey, which contacts approximately 3,100 households in New York each month. Jobs and Unemployment Fact Sheet This fact sheet conveys important technical information that will contribute to a better understanding of labor force data (“household survey”), including resident employment/unemployment rates, and jobs by industry data (“business survey”), which are presented in the New York State Department of Labor’s monthly press release. State Unemployment Rates Based on Regression Model Beginning with data for January 1996, unemployment rates for New York State and all other states (as well as New York City and the City of Los Angeles) have been estimated using time-series regression statistical models developed by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Advantage of Regression Model Use of a time-series regression model reduces the month-to-month variation in unemployment rates and resident employment by reducing variation caused by sampling errors and other components of statistical noise (irregularities). Benchmarking of Estimates Once each year, labor force estimates, such as civilian labor force and the unemployment rate, are revised to reflect updated input data including new Census Bureau populations controls, newly revised establishment jobs data and new state-level annual average data from the Current Population Survey (CPS). As part of this procedure, all state figures are reviewed, revised as necessary and then re-estimated. This process is commonly referred to as “benchmarking.” Changes in Methodology Labor force estimates are now produced with an improved time-series regression model, which utilizes “real-time” benchmarking. “Real-time” benchmarking reduces end-of-year revisions, which also means that major economic events will be reflected in a more-timely manner in state labor force estimates. In addition, the new methodology includes an updated way of estimating for sub-state areas (e.g., counties, metro areas) the number of unemployed who are new entrants or re-entrants into the labor force. This change in methodology will result in lower unemployment rates in some areas and increased rates in others. Unemployed and UI Beneficiaries The estimate of the number of unemployed includes all persons who had no employment during the reference week (the week including the 12th of the month), were available for work, except for temporary illness, and had made specific efforts to find employment sometime during the 4-week period ending with the reference week. Unemployment insurance (UI) beneficiaries include those who apply for and qualify for UI benefits. Consequently, the estimate of the number of unemployed and the number of UI beneficiaries do not necessarily move in tandem. Jobs Data Jobs data are obtained from a separate joint federal-state survey of business establishments. The survey, called the Current Employment Statistics of Establishments, samples establishments in New York State. It excludes self-employed workers, agricultural workers, unpaid family workers and domestic workers employed by private households. This data represents a count of jobs by place of work. Data for each month is revised the following month as more complete information becomes available. Summary of Annual Results New York City Saw the Fastest Private Sector and Total Nonfarm Job Growth in 2024  % Change in Annual Average Jobs, U.S., New York State & Metro Areas, 2022-2023 & 2023-2024 Two New York State Metro Areas and Seven Non-Metro Counties Lost Private Sector Jobs in 2024 % Change in Annual Average Private Sector Jobs, New York State Metro Areas & Non-Metro Counties, 2023-2024 Job highlights for New York State metro areas: In 2024, private sector jobs increased most rapidly in these New York State metro areas: New York City (+2.3%) Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh Metro Area (+1.3%) Syracuse Metro Area (+1.1%) Glens Falls Metro Area (+0.7%) Nassau-Suffolk Metro Division (+0.7%) In addition, private sector employment grew by 0.9% in New York State’s non-metro counties in 2024. More than Half of the State’s Private Sector Job Gains were in Private Education and Health Services Change in Annual Average Jobs by Industry, New York State, 2023-2024 Job highlights for statewide industries: The state’s annual average private sector employment increased by 118,800,or 1.4%, to 8,377,600 in 2024. Private education and health services added the most jobs (+101,800) of any industry sector in the state in 2024. Sector job gains were concentrated in health care and social assistance (+102,200), especially ambulatory health care services (+47,900). The second largest increase was in leisure and hospitality (+15,700). Sector gains occurred in accommodation and food services (+9,000) and arts, entertainment, and recreation (+6,700). The third largest increase occurred in professional and business services (+13,100). Sector gains were greatest in administrative and support and waste management and remediation services (+5,500) and management of companies and enterprises (+4,300). The New York State Department of Labor is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Program.

Join Assemblymember John Zaccaro, Jr.'s Annual Easter Egg Hunt

Friends & Neighbors, 

 

Spring has sprung and it’s time to get out those Easter baskets, fancy hats, and pastel colors. It’s time for our annual Pelham Parkway Easter Egg Hunt!

 

This year, we’re thrilled to bring you an afternoon filled with music, games, face painter, popcorn, and of course, lots of Easter eggs. Here are the details: 

 

WHEN: Saturday, April 5, 2025

WHERE: Pelham Parkway Greenway (across from Peace Plaza)

TIME: 11:00AM - 2:00PM

 

Events like these are what makes our community so special. Come out, enjoy the afternoon, and spend time with old and new friends. 

 

Looking forward to seeing everyone then! 

 

In Gratitude, 

John Zaccaro, Jr.

MAYOR ADAMS AND FDNY COMMISSIONER TUCKER DECLARE 2025 “FIRE PREVENTION YEAR” IN NEW YORK CITY IN HONOR OF 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF NATIONAL FIRE PREVENTION WEEK

FDNY to Surge Fire and Life Safety Educational Resources to 100 Most Fire-Prone Blocks in New York City to Keep Residents Safe

FDNY Releases Data-Driven Community Risk Assessments for Each Community Board in NYC  

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) Commissioner Robert S. Tucker today declared 2025 “Fire Prevention Year” in New York City to mark the 100^th anniversary of National Fire Prevention Week. The announcement comes on the heels of the department’s response to several high-profile multiple-alarm fires in the city during the first two months of 2025. 

During Fire Prevention Year, the FDNY will host thousands of public education events across the five boroughs and provide targeted fire prevention and life safety educational resources to 100 blocks identified by the department as having the highest risk of fires. Additionally, Commissioner Tucker today announced the release of Community Risk Assessments for all 59 community boards in the city, which provide a detailed analysis of each neighborhood’s emergency preparedness and vulnerability to fire incidents. 

“When New Yorkers face danger, this administration takes decisive action,” said Mayor Adams. “We have relentlessly worked to get unsafe e-bikes, e-scooters, and lithium-ion batteries off our streets — and worked with communities to educate them on heater safety and the importance of smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. The FDNY will continue to host thousands of public education events across the five boroughs, providing targeted fire prevention and life safety resources to 100 blocks with the highest risk of fires. We are urging New Yorkers to protect themselves through education.”  

“For 100 years, National Fire Prevention Week has been a vital opportunity to raise awareness about fire safety and prevention. As we commemorate this milestone, we are proud to dedicate 2025 as ‘Fire Prevention Year’ in New York City,” said FDNY Commissioner Tucker. “The FDNY is committed to empowering our communities with the knowledge and tools to prevent fires and protect lives. Through over a thousand public education events, our dedicated teams will continue to engage with New Yorkers across all five boroughs. By focusing on the 100 most fire-prone blocks and providing tailored Community Risk Assessments, we are strengthening our efforts to keep every neighborhood safer. Together, we can ensure that fire prevention remains a priority every day of the year.”  

President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed Fire Prevention Week a national observance in 1925, making it the longest-running public health observance in the country. Since its inception, the FDNY has organized public education campaigns throughout National Fire Prevention Week, which this year will be held from October 5 to October 11. 

To identify the 100 most fire-prone blocks in New York City, Commissioner Tucker directed the FDNY’s data team to analyze historical data on multiple-alarm fires over a five-year period, as well as types and ages of buildings, recent fire safety education outreach, and population density. The department will provide personalized fire safety education to residents on these blocks, including door-to-door outreach, community events, awareness campaigns in partnership with local elected officials, and participation in community board meetings. Outreach will emphasize:

• The importance of installing and maintaining smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
• Developing fire escape plans specific to fireproof or non-fireproof buildings.
• Taking necessary precautions to stay safe in the event of a fire. 

The Community Risk Assessments released today also build on the expanded effort by FDNY to use data analysis to shape fire prevention strategies. Developed by the FDNY’s Geographic Information Systems Unit, the assessments highlight leading causes of residential fires, types of buildings most affected, and vulnerability indicators specific to each community. Throughout 2025, the FDNY will use these assessments to work collaboratively with residents on customized fire risk reduction strategies. 

FDNY’s ongoing fire and life safety education efforts have already made a significant impact on protecting New Yorkers’ lives and property. In 2024, fire deaths were down 25 percent compared to 2023. More specifically, fires caused by lithium-ion battery explosions killed six people in 2024 compared to 18 deaths in 2023, a 67 percent decrease. The department’s Fire Safety Education Unit conducted 3,160 fire and life safety presentations at community groups, schools, businesses, and faith-based institutions last year, reaching an estimated 508,975 New Yorkers — an increase of 37 percent from 2023. Additionally, the Mobile Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Training Unit trained 104,277 people, a 55 percent increase from 2023, with high school students comprising 28 percent of trainees. These trainings are critically important, as early CPR and defibrillator use have been shown to drastically improve survival rates for sudden cardiac arrest victims.

Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson - JOIN US: Irish Heritage Month Celebration

 

Allerton Avenue Homeowners and Tenants Association Thursday, March 20th Community Meeting.

 

Hello Neighbors,

We will be hosting the Bronx Borough Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection Effie Ardizzone for our Thursday, March 20th community meeting. The meeting will start at 7 PM at Kings Harbor, located at 2000 East Gunhill Road.  

The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) protects public health, critical quality of life issues, and the environment by supplying clean drinking water, collecting and treating wastewater, and reducing air, noise, and hazardous materials pollution.  

Please join us on Thursday, March 20th, for this very important and informative event.

Best,

Rita

BRAC - March Event Reminder

 

BRONX RIVER ART CENTER 

Celebrating 37 Years of Bringing Arts & Cultural Programs to the Bronx

Reminder

Winter 2025 Student Show

Saturday, March 15th, 12 - 4pm

On Saturday, March 15th, celebrate the work of our Winter 2025 semester art students in a student show held in BRAC's event space! And while you're here, why not register for our Spring semester classes?

RSVP for Student Show

March 14 - Drink & Draw (6 - 9pm) SPOTS STILL AVALIABLE

An open drawing session for adults, with a model and live music. We will provide the snacks, paper and charcoal.

March 21 - Family Friday Origami Night (5 - 8pm) FULL

Learn the Japanese art of Origami from BRAC studio artist Michele Brody to make a folded paper menagerie of creatures, puppets, and more.

Register for Friday Workshops!

Pledge Your Support!

Donate to BRAC!

Four Individuals Sanctioned for Forging Bankruptcy Petitions for a Dead Person in Scheme to Obtain Real Property

 

The U.S. Trustee Program (USTP) recently obtained sanctions against four individuals connected to the filing of fraudulent bankruptcy petitions bearing forged signatures of a dead person in a scheme to stall a foreclosure and gain possession of real property.

On Feb. 20, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Georgia granted the U.S. Trustee’s motion for sanctions against Emanuel Clark, Charles Freeman Jr., Patrick Iverson and Jacquelyn Duffy. Based on evidence presented by the U.S. Trustee’s Atlanta office, the court found that the four individuals presented or were responsible for presenting four forged bankruptcy petitions in the name of a person who had died more than a year earlier. Each of the four successive petitions halted a scheduled foreclosure sale on the dead person’s property, which had been fraudulently deeded postmortem to a company controlled by Clark. The court further found that the four individuals knowingly engaged in a fraud on the court and entered an order prohibiting them from presenting further bankruptcy petitions to the court unless they are the named debtor or the named debtor’s attorney.

In its order, the bankruptcy court also credited the U.S. Trustee with identifying “a system of fraud and abuse” in the four cases as well as several other petitions presented for filing by Clark, Freeman, Iverson, and Duffy. The four individuals “intentionally engaged in a pattern and practice of filing forged or suspicious property deeds and presenting skeletal pro se petitions to the court for improper purposes, often in the name of deceased persons.” Additionally, the order noted that Clark and Freeman were serial abusive filers of bankruptcy petitions in their own names.

“These four swindlers abused the bankruptcy system in an attempt to fraudulently obtain property in the wake of the owner’s death and to obstruct a creditor from exercising its rights,” said Mary Ida Townson, U.S. Trustee for Region 21, which includes the Northern District of Georgia. “We will aggressively pursue bad-faith actors such as these to preserve the system for Americans who legitimately need relief.”

The USTP’s mission is to promote the integrity and efficiency of the bankruptcy system for the benefit of all stakeholders — debtors, creditors and the public. The USTP consists of 21 regions with 89 field offices nationwide and an Executive Office in Washington, D.C. Learn more about the USTP at www.justice.gov/ust.