Comptroller Lander, Older Adults, Disability Advocates Call on Adams Admin to Safeguard New Yorkers’ Social Security Benefits as Trump Dismantles SSA and Threatens Benefits

 

Today, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, older New Yorkers, and disability advocates called on the Adams Administration to protect the Social Security benefits of New Yorkers as President Trump dismantles the agency that runs the program, closes local offices, and threatens benefits for millions.  

The Trump Administration’s latest attacks on Social Security risk pushing many of New York City’s 1.3 million recipients into poverty. Joined by advocates from LiveOn, Center For Independence of the Disabled-New York, Brooklyn Center for Independence, Citymeals on Wheels, JFREJ and Caring Majority, Jewish Association serving the Aging, and Project Guardianship; Comptroller Lander called on the Adams Administration to protect New Yorkers by deploying the Public Engagement Unit (PEU), 311, and the Department for the Aging (DFTA) to provide multilingual outreach, education, and technical assistance for vulnerable New Yorkers who receive Social Security by providing real-time information about changes and help them keep their benefits.  

“The Trump Administration is threatening the Social Security benefits that over 1 million New Yorkers rely on – and City Hall must do more to protect them,” said Comptroller Brad Lander. “As Trump puts stumbling blocks in front of older adults and people with disabilities, New York City must use all its tools to provide clear, real-time information that helps people keep their benefits. Older New Yorkers won’t pardon Eric Adams if he fails them now.” 

Approximately 1.3 million New York City residents receive Social Security benefits, and over 40% of these recipients—among them some of the most vulnerable New Yorkers—use monthly payments to cover basic expenses. New bureaucratic hurdles, office closures, and denials of language access imposed by Trump’s Executive Order disproportionately impact older adults, people of color, people with disabilities, and New Yorkers with Limited English Proficiency (LEP). Older adults—19% of NYC’s population—account for 37% of LEP residents. Meanwhile, 40% of households lack reliable home or mobile broadband (18%, or 1.5 million people, lack both), disproportionately impacting Black, Latino, and older New Yorkers. Forcing New Yorkers to navigate unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles could result in vulnerable community members unjustly losing their monthly payments. 

Recent policy changes to Social Security under the Trump Administration also create barriers to receiving on-time payments. These policies make it harder to change direct deposit information and withhold entire monthly payments in the case of overpayment. Additionally, mass firings of federal staff and office closures make accessing Social Security benefits even harder. Coupled with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) move to end the Administration for Community Living, the Trump Administration will harm older adults and people with disabilities.  

As of March 27, 2025, the Social Security Administration reversed its policy on overpayments. From March 27 onwards, when Social Security overpays a benefit, 100% of monthly payments will be withheld from recipients until the overpayment amount is fully recovered, leaving recipients, many of whom use regular Social Security payments to cover monthly expenses without critical income. Under the Biden Administration, the amount withheld was capped at just 10%. Beginning April 14, 2025, Social Security recipients can no longer update their direct deposit information over the phone. New applicants to Social Security and those seeking to change their direct deposit information must either use the website’s two-factor authentication system or schedule an in-person appointment at a Social Security office.  

Additionally, HHS announced a “restructuring” that would eliminate the Administration for Community Living (ACL). ACL was established to bring together programs across HHS for older adults and people with disabilities to allow people to receive care and remain in their communities, as opposed to unnecessary and costly institutionalization.  

These policy changes serve only one purpose: to make it more difficult to access Social Security. The City and its elected leaders must act swiftly to do all they can to ensure that no one loses access to their monthly payments.  

The Office of the Comptroller and advocates called on City Hall leaders to:  

• Immediately deploy Public Engagement Unit staff to conduct outreach to impacted communities and educate them on the new policy changes. Deploy navigators at senior centers, NYCHA campuses, and libraries to assist beneficiaries. 

• Create a 311 script to ensure that New Yorkers who have questions about the new changes to Social Security are swiftly connected to the assistance they need. 

• Department for the Aging (DFTA) should immediately share information on Social Security benefit changes at senior centers, through meals programs, and host technical assistance workshops for older adults navigating the Social Security online portal.     

• City agencies include PEU, DFTA, the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA), Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD), NYC Department of Veterans Affairs (DVS), and the Office of Technology and Innovation (OTI) should collaborate to create an inclusive outreach and engagement plan, including outreach materials (graphics, videos, multilingual flyers) and ads in ethnic and community media, to ensure that the communities most vulnerable to losing payments as a result of these changes have access to multilingual resources and the digital tools necessary to preserve their benefits. 

• Direct the Law Department to explore legal challenges to Trump’s Executive Order on behalf of vulnerable New Yorkers. 

“The federal government’s attacks on social security and HHS endanger the lives of all Americans, but especially older adults,” said Jeanette Estima, Director of Policy and Advocacy at Citymeals on Wheels. “The people Citymeals serves are homebound and many are not online. Most are struggling to get by on limited fixed incomes, making impossible decisions between buying groceries or prescriptions or paying bills. Any disruption to social security or the programs they rely on like home-delivered meals would be disastrous. We need to make access to benefits and programs easier, not harder for older New Yorkers. They built this city and should be able to live with the dignity that these benefits ensure.” 

Attorney General James Secures up to $335 Million from Pharmaceutical Company Mylan for Its Role in Fueling Opioid Crisis

 

New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced that her office secured a multistate settlement in principle with pharmaceutical company Mylan Inc. (Mylan) that will deliver up to $335 million nationwide to help combat the opioid crisis. Mylan, which is now a part of Viatris, has manufactured and sold a variety of opioids since 2005, including generic fentanyl patches, oxycodone, hydrocodone, and buprenorphine products. The attorneys general allege Mylan deceptively promoted its products as less prone to abuse despite knowing for years that many of its opioid products – particularly its fentanyl patches – were actually more vulnerable to abuse. The company fueled the opioid crisis by marketing directly to doctors, leading to dangerous overprescribing and diversion of its opioids into the illegal drug market. Under the multistate settlement in principle, Mylan will pay up to $335 million to participating states over nine years. 

“When drug companies put profits over people, innocent patients can get sucked into deadly cycles of addiction and overdoses,” said Attorney General James. “Mylan deceptively marketed its opioid products as safe, despite knowing they would be abused and sold illegally. While no settlement can fully repair the damage caused by dangerous opioids, these funds will help New York and other states fight the opioid crisis.” 

This settlement in principle was negotiated by Attorney General James and the attorneys general of California, Illinois, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah, and Virginia in coordination with the attorneys general of Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, and Vermont.

Attorney General Pamela Bondi Statement on Supreme Court Stay of Maryland District Court Order

Attorney General Pamela Bondi released the following statement regarding the U.S. Supreme Court's temporary administrative stay blocking the district court's order that Salvadoran national Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia must be returned to the United States by midnight tonight:

"We welcome this stay from the Supreme Court as we continue to fight this case and protect the executive branch from judicial overreach."  

MAYOR ADAMS, CORPORATION COUNSEL GOODE-TRUFANT ANNOUNCE LAWSUIT AGAINST NINE MAJOR NATIONAL DISTRIBUTORS FOR ILLEGALLY SELLING DISPOSABLE FLAVORED E-CIGARETTES, CELEBRATE NEW PHASE OF HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL “OPERATION PADLOCK TO PROTECT” INITIATIVE

 

Lawsuit Seeks to Block Distributors of Flavored Vapes from Further Selling Products in New York City, Monetary Damages, and Penalties

As New York City Approaches One-Year Mark of “Operation Padlock to Protect,” Adams Administration Unveils Plan for Un-Sealing Previously Padlocked Businesses and Maintaining Enforcement 

Since Launching in May 2024, Mayor Adams’ Successful “Operation Padlock to Protect” Sealed Over 1,370 Illegal Cannabis Businesses, Seized Over $94 Million of Illegal Products 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Corporation Counsel Muriel Goode-Trufant today announced that the City of New York has filed a federal lawsuit against nine of the largest nationwide distributors of disposable e-cigarettes, popularly known as “vapes” — the most popular devices for nicotine use among middle and high school youth. The defendants — all of whom have close relationships with e-cigarette manufacturers in China — are alleged to be distributing e-cigarettes with such youth-attracting flavors as pink lemonade, watermelon, banana ice, lychee ice, and cool mint to sub-distributors in the city that then supply them to retail stores or sell them directly to consumers in New York City and around the country through online sales, violating nearly every applicable federal, New York state, and New York City law governing the sale of e-cigarettes.   

Today's lawsuit seeks to block these so-called “master distributors” from further sales of these illegal items into New York City, seeks both monetary damages and penalties, and marks the continuing effort by the Adams administration to curb illegal sales of flavored e-cigarettes, which are appealing and addictive, especially to teens. 

“Nicotine addiction among middle and high school youth is exploding — fueled in large part to the targeting of our children. Today’s lawsuit not only builds on our previous two lawsuits against distributors and wholesalers, but makes clear that we will do whatever it takes to keep our children safe and enforce the law when it comes to illegal vape sales,” said Mayor Adams. “Building on the resounding success of ‘Operation Padlock to Protect’ and the sealing of more than 1,370 illegal cannabis shops, we are taking every step in our power to stop the flow of harmful products to young New Yorkers. We are also hopeful landlords will now move to get legitimate businesses into their vacant storefronts and look forward to what this next phase will bring for our local economy. Every day, we are working to make New York City the best place on the globe to raise a family, and a key part of that mission is protecting the health of our children, which we continue to do every day.” 

“This case builds on the city’s ongoing efforts to hold predatory companies accountable for undermining public health and fueling an epidemic of vaping among youth in our communities,” said Corporation Counsel Goode-Trufant. 

“I am proud of the incredible work 'Operation Padlock to Protect' has done to rid our communities of the illegal cannabis shops that were plaguing our neighborhoods,” said New York City Sheriff Anthony Miranda. “This initiative is one of the greatest examples of community and law enforcement at its best, with multiple agencies working together to deliver extremely quick and meaningful results that make New Yorkers safer and healthier. We will continue to enforce the law and ensure that illegal operators are held accountable.” 

“It is illegal to sell flavored e-cigarettes in New York City,” said City Hall Chief Counsel Allison Stoddart. “With this new lawsuit against nine distributors, the Adams administration is continuing to hold companies accountable when they put profits over the health of New Yorkers.” 

The defendants in today’s lawsuit are:

• 10 Days, Inc. d/b/a Pod Juice: A California corporation with a principal place of business in Agoura Hills, California.
• EVO Brands, LLC: A Delaware limited liability company with its principal place of business in Los Angeles, California.
• Midwest Goods Inc.: A corporation formed under the laws of the State of Illinois with a principal place of business in Bensenville, Illinois.
• MYLÉ VAPE INC.: A New York corporation with a principal place of business in Ridgefield, New Jersey and Jamaica, New York.
• MVH I, Inc.: A New York corporation with its principal place of business in Ridgefield, New Jersey.
• Puff BAR Inc.: A corporation formed under the laws of the State of California with its principal place of business in Glendale, California.
• PVG2, LLC, d/b/a, “Puff Bar”: A Delaware limited liability company with its principal place of business in Los Angeles, California.
• Safa Goods LLC: A Florida limited liability company with its principal place of business in Port Charlotte, Florida.
• SV3, LLC d/b/a Mi-One Brands: An Arizona limited liability company with its principal place of business in Phoenix, Arizona. 

The dangers of e-cigarettes to youth led the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in January 2020, to ban flavored vape products. Most e-cigarettes provide nicotine levels far exceeding that of conventional cigarettes. Further, federal health authorities, such as the U.S. Surgeon General and the FDA, say fruit, cola, and dessert-flavored e-cigarettes tempt kids to vape high levels of nicotine. Cartoon character packaging on e-cigarettes and devices that look like toys or include mini-games target youth and have contributed to the epidemic of nicotine addiction among youth. 

As cited in today's lawsuit — filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York — the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released data in 2024, showing 14 percent (3.8 million) of middle and high school students reported ever using e-cigarettes, and 3.5 percent (410,000) of middle school and 7.8 percent (1.2 million) of high school students reported using e-cigarettes within the past 30 days. More than one in four (26.3 percent) of current youth e-cigarette users reported using an e-cigarette product daily. More than one in three (38.4 percent) youth e-cigarette users reported using e-cigarettes in at least 20 of the last 30 days. The 2023 National Youth Tobacco Survey  showed e-cigarettes remained the most commonly used tobacco product among both high school and middle school students for the 10^th year in a row. Flavored e-cigarettes continue to be the most popular products according to the survey.  

Today's lawsuit alleges that the nine defendants violated the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act, a federal law that effectively bars the sale of any e-cigarettes except in face-to-face transactions. Violations of New York Public Health Law § 1399-ll (1-a), which makes it illegal for anyone to deliver e-cigarettes to anyone other than a state-licensed vapor business, are also alleged, as well as violations of New York City Administrative Code § 17-715, which makes it illegal to sell, offer for sale, or possess for sale flavored e-cigarettes in New York City. Additionally, the defendants are alleged to have caused a common law public nuisance through the sale of flavored e-cigarettes in a manner injurious to the public right to health and safety. The case is filed as a related matter to a suit initiated by the Office of the New York Attorney General in February 2025.

Sample vape sold by defendant Puff BAR, Inc. demonstrating a variety of child-friendly flavors, such as strawberry, pink lemonade, watermelon, and blend called “O.M.G.” Image credit: SRITA database. 

The city’s case represents an ongoing effort by the Adams administration to ensure compliance with laws that protect public health. In July of 2023, the administration announced that the City of New York had filed a federal lawsuit against several distributors of illegal flavored vapes, including the nation's largest vape distributor. In April 2024, the administration announced a second lawsuit against 11 local wholesalers, which has now been transferred to federal court. In November 2024, the city sued Price Point, a major distributor of e-cigarettes based on Long Island. All three actions target distributors for their part in the illegal sale of flavored disposable e-cigarettes, the most popular vaping devices among middle school and high school youth. All three cases are pending. 

In addition to taking legal action, the Adams administration has been laser focused on enforcement against illegal operators that threaten communities and children. After Mayor Adams successfully advocated for and won legal authority to seal illegal cannabis shops last year that state law originally failed to grant the city, the administration launched “Operation Padlock to Protect,” which, since May 2024, has already sealed over 1,370 shops and taken over $94 million in illegal products off city streets. Under the state legislature’s 2024 amendments to the Administrative Code related to searches, penalties, and sealings of illegal cannabis shops, the New York City Sheriff’s Office was granted authority to seal illegal operators for up to one-year. With the one-year mark approaching since the city closed the first shops under its new authority, the Adams administration is informing businesses of their next steps and urging them to contact the New York City Sheriff’s Office at (718) 707-2100 or email SmokeShopRelease@nyc.gov to schedule an appointment. The New York City Department of Finance will be mailing letters to the building owners and businesses with a secure code to present to the New York Cit Sheriff’s Office with detailed instructions.   

The Adams administration has implemented supports for legal operators to help them thrive. Cannabis entrepreneurs with Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary licenses can apply for loans of up to $100,000 through the Cannabis NYC Loan Fund. There is no application fee, no minimum credit score, and a 36-month repayment period. The New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS) also offers FastTrac® for Cannabis Entrepreneurs, a 10-session course covering the fundamentals of starting, operating, and scaling a cannabis-focused business in New York City. Additionally, SBS provides support with commercial lease negotiations, permitting, and licensing through the NYC Business Express Service Team, and the NYC LEASE initiative helps to connect dispensary licensees with viable storefronts and education about state regulations.

Permits Filed for 3963 Saxon Avenue in Kingsbridge Heights, The Bronx

 

Permits have been filed for an eight-story residential building at 3963 Saxon Avenue in Kingsbridge Heights, The Bronx. Located between Sedgwick Avenue and Van Cortlandt Park South, the interior lot is near the Mosholu Parkway subway station, served by the 4 train. Yosef Beer is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 74-foot-tall development will yield 31,967 square feet designated for residential space. The building will have 38 residences, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 841 square feet. The concrete-based structure will also have two enclosed parking spaces.

Nikolai Katz Architects is listed as the architect of record.

Demolition permits were filed in February for the two-story building on the site. An estimated completion date has not been announced.

United States Secures the Extradition from Canada, Colombia, Germany, Honduras, Kosovo, Israel, Mexico, Spain and Thailand of Fugitives Wanted for Murder, Drug Trafficking, Child Sexual Abuse and Cybercrime in California, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Minne

 

Extensive coordination and cooperation efforts between the United States Department of Justice and law enforcement authorities in Canada, Colombia, Germany, Honduras, Kosovo, Israel, Mexico, Spain, and Thailand resulted in the extraditions last week of individuals alleged to have committed murder child sexual abuse, drug trafficking, cybercrime, money laundering, and fraud.

The fugitives extradited to the United States include:

• Roberto Avina-Casillas, 30, a Mexican citizen, was extradited from Mexico to stand trial in Franklin County, Ohio for murder, felonious assault and endangering children. Avina-Casillas evaded arrest for more than 11 years after he was accused of the Aug. 7, 2013 death of his former girlfriend’s 3-year-old son.
• Justin David Lanoue, 44, a Canadian citizen, was extradited from Canada to stand trial in Washington County, Utah, on charges filed against him in 2015 related to child rape and felony sexual abuse of a minor. The Washington County Attorney’s Office is handling the prosecution.
• Dominik Rydz, 24, a Polish national, was extradited from Germany to stand trial in the state of Michigan, where he faces two counts of criminal sexual conduct in the second degree and one count of unlawful imprisonment. On the night of Sept. 3, 2023, Rydz allegedly lured a woman away from her friends at a social gathering and proceeded to sexually assault the victim and would not let her leave. Rydz’s extradition was first sought from Poland, where he resided. While out on release from the Polish proceedings, Rydz travelled to Germany and was arrested there on an INTERPOL Red Notice.
• Olof Kyros Gustafsson, also known as “El Silencio,” 31, a Swedish national, was extradited from Spain to face conspiracy, wire and mail fraud, and money laundering charges in a 115-count federal indictment filed in the Central District of California alleging that he licensed the rights to use the name and persona of the late Colombian narco-terrorist Pablo Escobar and defrauded investors around the world by marketing and selling products — including flamethrowers and cellphones — that did not exist and that he never delivered to paying customers.
• Ardit Kutleshi, 26, and Jetmir Kutleshi, 28, both Kosovo nationals, were extradited from Kosovo to face identity theft, access device fraud, and money laundering charges in the Western District of Pennsylvania for their roles as the alleged administrators of the Rydox cybercrime marketplace, an illicit website dedicated to selling stolen personal information, access devices, and other tools for carrying out cybercrime and fraud. The Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania are handling the prosecution.
• Rene Javier Santos Alfaro, 53, a Honduran citizen, was extradited from Honduras to stand trial in the Southern District of Florida for drug trafficking offenses. Santos Alfaro is an alleged leader of a drug trafficking organization based in Honduras that was allegedly responsible for importing large quantities of cocaine from Honduras directly into Miami via commercial aircraft.
• Cristian Eduardo Garcia Jerez, 36, a Colombian national, was extradited from Colombia to face drug trafficking charges in the Northern District of Georgia. Garcia Jerez is alleged to have owned two cocaine processing laboratories and coordinated the manufacturing of cocaine in Colombia and the smuggling of cocaine from Colombia into the United States.
• Jose Guillermo Granja Rojas, 36, a Mexican national, was extradited from Colombia to face a money laundering conspiracy charge in the Northern District of Georgia. Granja Rojas was allegedly a money launderer for a Mexico-based drug trafficking organization (DTO) who collected hundreds of thousands of dollars of proceeds from the sale of methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin in the United States and transferred them to Mexico. DTO members directed the deposit of drug proceeds into accounts allegedly controlled by Granja Rojas, and Granja Rojas also allegedly traveled from Mexico to the United States to receive cash drug proceeds in person.
• Tien Vy Tai Truong, 46, an alleged leader of a transnational drug trafficking organization, was extradited from Thailand to face conspiracy to export methamphetamine charges in a 2024 indictment filed in the Central District of California. Truong is alleged to have engaged in negotiations with a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) confidential human source to export about 200 pounds of methamphetamine from the United States to Australia for sale.

The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs (OIA) provided significant assistance in securing the defendants’ arrests and extraditions along with the U.S. Marshals Service. OIA and the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section’s Office of Judicial Attaché in Bogotá, Colombia provided significant assistance in securing the arrests and extraditions from Colombia. The Criminal Division’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT) also provided assistance with the extraditions from Kosovo. The Justice Department thanks and acknowledges the instrumental role of its law enforcement partners in Canada, Colombia, Germany, Honduras, Kosovo, Israel, Mexico, Spain, and Thailand for making these extraditions possible.

An indictment and criminal complaint are merely allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Weekly News from State Senator Gustavo Rivera!

 

SENATOR RIVERA'S STATEMENT ON THE MOST RECENT DEVELOPMENTS RELATED TO CDPAP’S TRANSITION TO A SINGLE FISCAL INTERMEDIARY

This week, Senator Rivera provided a new statement about the recent developments regarding CDPAP’S transition to a single fiscal intermediary. As he has expressed in multiple occasions, Senator Rivera continues to be concerned about how incredibly chaotic this process has been since it was announced by the Executive last year:

“The Executive has been unwilling to extend their self imposed April 1st deadline and recognize that the short 3-month timeframe would harm thousands of CDPAP’s enrollees and caregivers, including many who have attempted to transition to PPL in good-faith.

I have done everything in my power to at least delay this process including the introduction of my bill, the CDPAP Accountability Act to ensure a more optimal transition. The deadline has now passed while enrollees or caregivers continue to experience many difficulties in their efforts to complete this burdensome process. Make no mistake, the Department of Health, PPL and the Executive administration are solely responsible for what happens to consumers and caregivers after April 1st,” said Senator Rivera.

Watch Senator Rivera's reel here.

SENATOR RIVERA HOSTS A "KNOW YOUR RIGHTS" VIRTUAL WORKSHOP FOR SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS IN COLLABORATION WITH NYCLU

Senator Rivera hosted a ‘Know Your Rights’ Virtual Workshop in partnership with and presented by members of the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) for school administrators, teachers and parents.

During this event, participants learned about the protections all individuals in this country have under the U.S. Constitution and much more!

Thank you to all who join us!

Check out the Senator’s Facebook for the recording, here

Senator Rivera's team has created a Know Your Rights palm card (available in English and Spanish). Watch Senator Rivera's message here.

Remember, If your organization, or school would like to receive these cards, please fill out the form here and a staff member from our team will follow up to confirm your request.

If you are an individual constituent, call our office at 718-933-2034 or visit us at 2432 Grand Concourse, Suite 506, Monday through Thursday, from 10 am to 5 pm.

SATURDAY 04/19: THE ANNUAL SPRING EGG HUNT AT WILLIAMSBRIDGE OVAL RECREATION CENTER

2025 EARTH DAY SENATE CONTEST: SUBMISSIONS ARE DUE ON APRIL 11

The Earth Day Celebration is for school children in grades K-12 from every corner of New York State. The Senate’s goal is to encourage children to develop an awareness of the environment and its resources. Teaching children about the importance of recycling and waste reduction is critical as we face the environmental challenges of the 21st Century.

OUR Theme: Our Power, Our Planet! The Senate’s focus is to emphasize the importance of recycling and waste reduction, to encourage the exchange of ideas about recycling and waste reduction among schools, children and adults and to stimulate creative thinking about solutions to problems concerning recycling and waste reduction. We are asking students to create a poster that could be used as part of this campaign.

If you would like to participate, all submissions must be made by teachers or parents of homeschoolers by April 11 to nysenate.gov/earthday.

NEW YORK STATE'S MUNICIPAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM (MIP) REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS

MIP connects unserved and underserved communities to high-speed internet through open-access and publicly controlled broadband infrastructure. To date, ConnectALL has awarded over $240 million, enabling the construction of almost 2,400 miles of fiber and connecting nearly 100,000 locations statewide.

The new Phase 4 Application expands the program to nearly $300 million, drawing on funds from the US Department of Treasury Capital Projects Fund.

Applications are open with a deadline of April 25.

Interested parties must submit applications through the New York State Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) Portal here.

Detailed information on eligibility and program requirements is available here.

iMENTOR NYC: EXPERIENCE THE JOY OF MENTORING A NYC STUDENT!

Are you ready to make a lasting difference? iMentor NYC, the largest school-based mentoring program in the city, is on a mission to empower first-generation college students to achieve their dreams. With 25 years of success and ov}er 35,000 students impacted, we need 1,200 passionate volunteers to join us in mentoring the leaders of tomorrow.

What You’ll Do:

• Time Commitment: Just 3 hours a month
• Engagement: Weekly online chats and monthly events with your mentee

Get Started: Ready to inspire and lead? Your next step in becoming a mentor in our program is to attend an iMentor orientation. During orientation, you will learn more about the program, our students, and the volunteer experience

If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Celeste Whitfield, Senior Manager of Recruitment Operations:cwhitfield@imentor.org

FRIDAY 4/11: SUBS, SUPPLIERS & WORKFORCE BREAKFAST