Weekly News from State Senator Gustavo Rivera!

 

SENATOR RIVERA´S STATEMENT ON THE 2025-2026 NEW YORK STATE BUDGET

Senator Rivera urges Bronx tenants to testify in the upcoming Bronx Public Hearing of the Rent Guidelines Board on June 12, and inform the Board about the impact these proposed hikes could have in our communities.

Bronx Public Hearing

When: Thursday, June 12, 2025

Time: 5:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M.

Location: Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture 

Hostos Community College/CUNY 

450 Grand Concourse, Bronx

Click here for more info

SENATOR RIVERA JOINS THE MORRIS HEIGHTS HEALTH CENTER'S (MHHC) BI- MONTHLY COMMUNITY WALK & CLEAN UP!

Last weekend, Senator Rivera joined neighbors at the Morris Heights Health Center's (MHHC) bi-monthly Community Walk & Clean Up! The Senator got to work with many of his constituents to keep our streets clean and safe. Click here to see more photos on Senator Rivera's Instagram.

Are you media savvy and interested in public service?

Apply for our Communications Summer Internship and help Senator Rivera’s team to shape the message behind the mission.

We will accept applications on a rolling basis but we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

Send us your resume and cover letter at grivera@nysenate.gov

JustFix, in partnership with the Housing Justice for All coalition, has launched Good Cause NYC a powerful new tool designed to help NYC tenants take advantage of their new protections. 

By analyzing public data from multiple sources, the tool helps cut through the confusion, making it easier for tenants to learn if they’re covered to fight back against unjust rent hikes and eviction.

With this new tool they're putting knowledge and power back in the hands of tenants.

How does Good Cause NYC help?

• Eligibility Screener: Enter your address and answer a few short questions to find out if you are covered.

• Your Rights: No matter what result you get, they offer next steps to learn about the protections you have and how to assert your rights.

• Rent Increase Calculator: If you know you’re covered by Good Cause, you can use their new rent increase calculator to learn if your rent hike is considered “unreasonable” by the law.

Visit Good Cause NYC here for more information

THE NYPL BRONX LIBRARY CENTER: FREE EVENTS AND CLASSES IN MAY!

Justice Department and City of Albuquerque Seek Termination of Consent Decree Covering the Albuquerque Police Department

 

The Justice Department and the City of Albuquerque filed a joint motion seeking U.S. District Court approval to terminate the federal consent decree covering the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) since 2015. The joint motion follows a long record of findings that APD has maintained full compliance with the decree.

“This consent decree has run its course successfully,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “We are proud to stand by the men and women of the Albuquerque Police Department and ask the court to terminate this consent decree. Albuquerque Police operates constitutionally. It is now appropriate to end federal oversight and return full control of local law enforcement to the city.”

“The Albuquerque Police Department has made meaningful progress toward constitutional policing and a culture of accountability,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison for the District of New Mexico. “This progress builds on nearly a decade of hard work and partnership with the community, laying a strong foundation for the future and opening the door to a new chapter. This chapter demands leadership that listens, a community that stays engaged, and a department committed to doing what is right, even when it is difficult, in service of a safer, more just Albuquerque for all.”

Georgia Man Charged With Gun Trafficking Approximately 47 Firearms And Drugs To New York City

Jay Clayton, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; Bryan Miller, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”); and Jessica S. Tisch, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced the arrest and filing of a criminal complaint charging DAVID MORRIS with trafficking 47 firearms and numerous rounds of ammunition from Georgia to Lower Manhattan.  MORRIS was arrested while following the sale of 17 firearms and cocaine to undercover officers.  The defendant was before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stewart D. Aaron. 

U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said: “As alleged, David Morris illegally trafficked dangerous drugs and 47 firearms from Georgia to New York City.  The unchecked flow of illegal firearms is a threat to every New Yorker.  Anyone who is thinking about illegally trafficking guns to New York City should know that our Office and our law enforcement partners are watching, and we will hold you accountable for jeopardizing the safety of our streets.” 

ATF Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller said: “This arrest serves as a notice to those who think they are above the law and can illegally traffic guns into our communities.  The men and women of ATF NY will never waver in our commitment to protect the public and to aggressively target firearms traffickers.  I thank our partners at NYPD and SDNY for their diligent work and tireless dedication to our shared public safety mission.”

NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch said: “David Morris trafficked illegal firearms, ammunition, and narcotics into our city—but our brave officers were one step ahead, stopping these weapons and drugs from ever reaching the streets.  Gun traffickers fuel violence in our communities, and the NYPD will never stop working to shut down these pipelines.  I’m grateful to the ATF and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their partnership in this critical case.”

According to the allegations contained in the Complaint:

On or about March 28, April 18, and May 9, 2025, MORRIS sold 47 firearms and numerous rounds of ammunition to undercover law enforcement officers with the New York City Police Department in the vicinity of Catherine Slip and South Street in Lower Manhattan.  MORRIS transported the firearms from Georgia and stated that he works with a team of other individuals in Georgia, has been selling firearms for approximately ten years, and has access to machine gun conversion devices, which are used to convert semiautomatic pistols into fully automatic weapons.

MORRIS also trafficked narcotics to the undercover officers on or about April 18 and May 9, 2025. On or about April 18, MORRIS provided one of the undercover law enforcement officers a “sample” of a substance that contained cocaine.  On or about May 9, MORRIS sold to one of the undercover officers’ plastic baggies of white powder consistent with, and that MORRIS represented to be, cocaine.  A photograph of the contraband seized from MORRIS is depicted below:

MORRIS, 31, of Georgia, is charged with one count of unlicensed dealing of firearms, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; one count of firearms trafficking, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison; and one count of using and carrying a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, which carries a maximum sentence of life and a mandatory minimum of five years in prison.

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

Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the ATF and the NYPD’s Joint Firearms Task Force and the 5th Precinct’s Field Intelligence Office.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Justice Department to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Wheelock is in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. 

Wave Hill Weekly Events (May 29 – June 5) | Yoga in the Garden & Afternoon Tea

 

If you haven’t caught it yet, don't miss out on the pops of purple around the garden this spring! Flaming fuchsia’s, pale lilacs, and deep violets, all work together to complement the surrounding shades of the season. Take your time to breathe in the sweet smell of wisteria as it decorates the front of Glyndor Gallery. Then, make your way along the paths to see the diverse arrangements of plants, carefully crafted by our horticulturists and gardeners. This time of year, is a treat for all your senses! 

 

  

Nature: 

 

Garden Highlights Walk 

Sun, Jun 1, 1:00PM – 2:00PM  

Free with admission to the grounds  

Registration not required.     

Join a knowledgeable Wave Hill Garden Guide for a leisurely stroll in the gardens. Discuss topics of the upcoming season with the expertise of the Guide; each walk varies with the Guide leading it. This walk lasts a half-hour to 45 minutes. Public Garden Walks are most appropriate for adults or young adults. 

 

 

Family:  

 

Family Art Project: Barking up a Wave Hill Tree 

Sat, May 31, 10:00AM – 1:00PM 

Sun, Jun 1, 10:00AM – 1:00PM   

Free with admission to the grounds  

Registration not required. 

Visit some of Wave Hill’s treasured trees and enjoy a tactile experience by making rubbings of their textured bark. Then, frame and decorate your designs to take home a reminder of our woodsy friends.   

 

  

Wellness: 

 

Yoga in the Garden  

Sun, Jun 1, 10:00AM – 11:00AM  

Registration encouraged.     

Root your feet in the grass and look out upon the vistas as you enjoy a gentle beginner yoga class led by Susie Caramanica. 

 

 

Special Events: 

 

Afternoon Tea 

Thurs, May 29, 11:00AM – 1:30PM  

Tues, Jun 3, 11:00AM – 1:30PM 

7 Day Advanced Booking Required 

Every Tuesday and Thursday at 11:00AM or 1:30PM, enjoy delicious tea sandwiches and delectable pastries with a specialty tea selection served on our Kate French Terrace, weather permitting, or in our quaint Tea Room at the historic Wave Hill House. Provided by our exclusive partner Great Performances, the menu uses local and seasonal ingredients, inspired by their own organic farm, Katchkie Farm. Due to the nature of the event, no substitutions or changes are available. 

 

  

 

HOURS STARTING MARCH 15: 10AM–5:30PM, Tuesday–Sunday  

Shuttle Service Free from Subway and Metro-North, Saturday–Sunday 

Information at 718.549.3200. On the web at wavehill.org.