Assemblymember John Zaccaro's Shred Fest is BACK!

 

Friends, Shred fest is back! I'm thrilled to announce that we will be holding a community shredding event TOMORROW, Friday, May 23rd.  Please join us at Assemblymember John Zaccaro, Jr.'s Community Office to shred your unwanted personal documents and unwanted papers. WHEN: TOMORROW, Friday, May 23rd TIME: 11AM - 1PM WHERE: Assemblymember John Zaccaro, Jr's Community Office 2018 Williamsbridge Rd  As a reminder, we are not able to shred anything that is bound, so we ask that you remove all bindings before stopping by. Of course, if you need help doing so, we’ll be glad to assist. Looking forward to seeing you on TOMORROW. LETS GET SHREDDED! In Gratitude, John Zaccaro, Jr.

Governor Hochul and Mayor Adams Announce Major Office-to-Housing Transformation at 5 Times Square to Create Up to 1,250 Homes, Including 313 Affordable Homes

Made Possible by Governor’s Action To Change 60-Year-Old State Law To Lift 12 FAR Cap and Incentivize Major Office-to-Housing Conversions in New York City

Since Governor’s Action Last Year, Approximately 10,000 New Homes Completed or Under Construction in New York City Through Office Conversions

Governor Also Delivered $1 Billion This Year To Secure New York City’s “City of Yes for Housing Opportunity,” Which Will Create up to 18,000 New Homes Through Conversions

Continues Governor's Commitment To Build More Housing Statewide

Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams today announced the Empire State Development (ESD) Board of Directors voted to enable a massive office-to-housing conversion at 5 Times Square, transforming underused office space into a mixed-use development with up to 1,250 new homes, including up to 313 permanently affordable homes. This project was made possible by Governor Hochul’s historic move last year to change 60-year-old state laws and lift the 12 Floor Area Ratio (FAR) cap on residential development in New York City, which had blocked new housing development since 1961. The 313 permanently affordable homes at 5 Times Square are a result of the Governor’s enactment of the Affordable Housing from Commercial Conversions Tax Incentive program (467-m).

As a result of these and other actions, approximately 10,000 new apartments have been completed or begun construction through office-to-housing conversions in New York City since last April. Additionally, the Governor’s FY26 budget includes $1 billion in State funding to secure the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity, an initiative that has made changes to New York City's Zoning Code that are expected to allow for up to 120 million new square feet for conversion and up to 18,000 new homes.

“We took bold action to unlock major office-to-housing conversions in New York City, and transforming 5 Times Square from underused offices into 1,250 new homes — including over 300 permanently affordable apartments — is a prime example of how we’re getting it done,” Governor Hochul said. “As I’ve made clear, the only way to address our housing crisis is to build more of the homes New Yorkers need — and I’ll never stop working to make that a reality.”

New York City Mayor Eric Adams said, “Confronting a decades-long housing crisis requires creating new housing in every neighborhood at an accelerated pace — even here at the ‘Crossroad of the World’ in Times Square. The transformation of 5 Times Square from an underutilized office building into 1,250 new homes capitalizes on hard-fought Adams and Hochul administration victories while fulfilling my plan to build 100,000 new homes in Manhattan over the next decade. Thank you, Governor Hochul, for your continued partnership in delivering the affordable housing New Yorkers need and for proving, once again, what can be accomplished when the city and state work together towards a common goal.”

The vote today by the ESD Board of Directors approved an amendment to the 42nd Street Development Project General Project Plan that will enable the conversion of 5 Times Square.

5 Times Square will repurpose nearly 1 million square feet of office space while preserving more than 37,000 square feet of retail space. The project will create up to 1,250 new homes — a mix of 1,050 studio and 200 one-bedroom units — with equal access to building amenities for all residents. The project will include over 300 permanently affordable homes for New Yorkers earning up to 80 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI).

The conversion addresses the building's high office vacancy rate of 77 percent, transforming an underutilized property into much-needed housing. Construction is anticipated to begin in Q3 of 2025, with the first phase anticipated to be completed in 2027. The building’s configuration allows for a mixed-use program that can accommodate both residential and the existing commercial occupancy. The project is expected to create approximately 1,400 construction jobs and 830 permanent direct and indirect jobs. The project will also comply with the State MWBE and SDVOB policies, with an overall 30 percent MWBE participation goal.

The project's location at Seventh Avenue between 41st and 42nd Streets offers unparalleled access to 12 subway lines and regional transit connections, exemplifying Governor Hochul and Mayor Adams’ commitment to transit-oriented development that reduces car dependency and promotes sustainable urban living.

The 5 Times Square project represents an important advancement in New York's approach to solving its housing crisis. The original construction of the building is at 33.35 FAR — nearly three times the previous residential cap of 12 FAR. This means that the new development approved today would not have been possible without the Governor’s action in the FY25 Enacted Budget to change 60-year-old state laws and lift the 12 FAR cap in New York City. Combining the removal of the FAR cap with 467-m tax incentives enables the conversion of high-density office buildings into residential use properties, bringing more affordable housing to prime locations. As part of a growing trend in reimagining New York City's business districts, projects like 5 Times Square have the potential to create thousands of new homes in high-opportunity areas.

Statement from NYC Comptroller Lander on Congressional Budget Cuts

 

In the early hours of the morning, the House of Representatives passed a budget reconciliation bill by the thinnest of margins—a single vote—to deliver on the Trump Administration’s spending and tax cuts.

New York City Comptroller Brad Lander issued the following statement to highlight its impact on the daily lives of New Yorkers: 

“Donald Trump and House Republicans’ ‘big, beautiful’ budget will make working class New Yorkers sicker, hungrier, and more vulnerable. Slashing Medicaid, gutting SNAP, and nixing clean energy tax credits will hurt millions of Americans nationwide already struggling to make ends meet in a stagnant Trump-era economy.  

“The Trump Administration’s budget reflects his values clearly and cruelly: lavish giveaways and tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy in exchange for shuttering community hospitals, further burning up our planet’s future, endangering the lives and safety of our trans community members, and decimating essential programs, like Medicaid, for working-class people. 

“New York City must prepare for these cuts’ real and dangerous impact on millions of New Yorkers. As I called for before, the Adams Administration must add $1 billion the City’s general reserve fund to blunt the impact of these cuts and another approximately $1 billion against broader economic uncertainties. We must do everything we can now to safeguard our City’s fiscal health and stand up for our communities targeted by the Trump Administration’s callous and constant attacks.” 

Trump’s budget impacts: 

• New York State will lose over $3 billion in New York’s Medicaid funding. 

• 224,000 people will lose their Essential Plan coverage completely and over 500,000 will be forced onto state-funded Medicaid coverage, costing $10.3 billion due to the changes in ACA eligibility. 

• Hospitals will lose $1.3 billion in reduced compensation.   

• Over 1.5 million New Yorkers statewide, over 800,000 New York City residents, could become uninsured. 

• New York State will lose up to $1.8 billion in the SNAP funding. 

• Significant changes will be made to student loan forgiveness and repayment programs, shrinking options and increasing costs for students and colleges. 

• The rollback of clean energy tax credits will curb the development of wind, solar, and geothermal projects needed to combat climate change. 

Attorney General James Co-Leads Bipartisan Coalition Urging Congress to Pass Legislation to Prevent Youth Substance Abuse

 

New York Attorney General Letitia James today co-led a bipartisan coalition of 40 other attorneys general from across the country in calling on Congress to pass the Youth Substance Use Prevention and Awareness Act, bipartisan legislation to reduce youth drug use through research-based public education campaigns and strategic community outreach. In a letter to Democratic and Republican leadership in the House and Senate, Attorney General James and the coalition emphasize the importance of proactive, science-based prevention efforts at a time when young people face increased risk of exposure to dangerous narcotics like fentanyl and xylazine.

“Too many young people know firsthand just how deadly drugs like fentanyl can be,” said Attorney General James. “As the opioid epidemic continues to tear apart families and communities, attorneys general remain on the front lines protecting our youth, and we need all levels of government to help fight back. The Youth Substance Use Prevention and Awareness Act is a commonsense bipartisan measure that will provide significant resources to help save lives and educate young people about the dangers of drug use.”

The legislation, introduced by U.S. Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Thom Tillis (R-NC), would amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to provide targeted federal funding for public service announcements (PSAs), youth-led campaigns, and other outreach tools that help prevent early substance use. All campaigns funded under the bill must be grounded in evidence, designed for cultural relevance, and adapted to meet the specific needs of local communities.

Attorney General James and the coalition argue that youth substance use remains a growing public health and safety concern, especially amid a rise in fentanyl-related overdoses and the increasing availability of synthetic drugs. Research consistently shows that young people who begin using drugs at an early age are more likely to develop long-term substance use disorders, and the consequences can be devastating for families, schools, and communities.

The Youth Substance Use Prevention and Awareness Act would fund a range of efforts to better reach young people with timely, credible, and accessible information, including:

• Culturally relevant PSAs tailored specifically to youth;
• Youth-led PSA contests to drive peer-to-peer engagement and creativity;
• Federal grants for outreach across TV, radio, social media, streaming platforms, and other media; and
• Annual reporting requirements to measure reach and effectiveness, ensuring transparency and accountability.

The letter is led by Attorney General James and the attorneys general of Connecticut, New Hampshire, and South Dakota. Joining the letter are the attorneys general of Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and American Samoa. 

Leader of Qakbot Malware Conspiracy Indicted for Involvement in Global Ransomware Scheme

A federal indictment unsealed today charges Rustam Rafailevich Gallyamov, 48, of Moscow, Russia, with leading a group of cyber criminals who developed and deployed the Qakbot malware. In connection with the charges, the Justice Department filed today a civil forfeiture complaint against over $24 million in cryptocurrency seized from Gallyamov over the course of the investigation. These actions are the latest step in an ongoing multinational effort by the United States, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, the United Kingdom, and Canada to combat cybercrime.

“Today’s announcement of the Justice Department’s latest actions to counter the Qakbot malware scheme sends a clear message to the cybercrime community,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “We are determined to hold cybercriminals accountable and will use every legal tool at our disposal to identify you, charge you, forfeit your ill-gotten gains, and disrupt your criminal activity.”

“The criminal charges and forfeiture case announced today are part of an ongoing effort with our domestic and international law enforcement partners to identify, disrupt, and hold accountable cybercriminals,” said U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli for the Central District of California. “The forfeiture action against more than $24 million in virtual assets also demonstrates the Justice Department’s commitment to seizing ill-gotten assets from criminals in order to ultimately compensate victims.”

“Mr. Gallyamov's bot network was crippled by the talented men and women of the FBI and our international partners in 2023, but he brazenly continued to deploy alternative methods to make his malware available to criminal cyber gangs conducting ransomware attacks against innocent victims globally,” said Assistant Director in Charge Akil Davis of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “The charges announced today exemplify the FBI’s commitment to relentlessly hold accountable individuals who target Americans and demand ransom, even when they live halfway across the world.”

According to court documents, Gallyamov developed, deployed, and controlled the Qakbot malware beginning in 2008. From 2019 onward, Gallyamov allegedly used the Qakbot malware to infect thousands of victim computers around the world in order to establish a network, or “botnet,” of infected computers. As alleged, once Gallyamov gained access to victim computers, he provided access to co-conspirators who infected the computers with ransomware, including Prolock, Dopplepaymer, Egregor, REvil, Conti, Name Locker, Black Basta, and Cactus. In exchange, Gallyamov was allegedly paid a portion of the ransoms received from ransomware victims.

The announcement of charges today is the latest step taken by the Justice Department against the Qakbot conspiracy. In August 2023, a U.S.-led multinational operation disrupted the Qakbot botnet and malware. At that time, the Justice Department announced the seizure of illicit proceeds from Gallyamov, including over 170 bitcoin and over $4 million of USDT and USDC tokens.

According to the indictment, after the disruption and takedown of the Qakbot botnet, Gallyamov and his co-conspirators continued their criminal activities. Instead of a botnet, they allegedly used different tactics, including “spam bomb” attacks on victim companies, where co-conspirators would trick employees at those victim companies into granting access to computer systems. The indictment alleges that Gallyamov orchestrated spam bomb attacks against victims in the United States as recently as January 2025. It also alleges that Gallyamov and his co-conspirators deployed Black Basta and Cactus ransomware on victim computers.

On April 25, 2025, pursuant to a seizure warrant, the FBI seized additional illicit proceeds from Gallyamov, including over 30 bitcoin and over $700,000 of USDT tokens. Today, the Department filed a civil forfeiture complaint in the Central District of California against all of the illicit proceeds seized from Gallyamov — worth over $24 million as of today — in order to forfeit and ultimately return those funds to victims.

The investigation of Gallyamov was led by the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, which worked closely with investigators from Germany’s Bundeskriminalamt (BKA), the Netherlands National Police, The Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Netherlands, France’s Anti-Cybercrime Office (Office Anti-cybercriminalité) and Cyber Division of the Paris Prosecution Office, and Europol. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the FBI Milwaukee Field Office provided significant assistance.

Trial Attorney Jessica Peck of the Justice Department’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Khaldoun Shobaki, Lauren Restrepo, and James Dochterman for the Central District of California are prosecuting the case.

These law enforcement actions were taken in conjunction with Operation Endgam, an ongoing, coordinated effort among international law enforcement agencies aimed at dismantling and prosecuting cybercriminal organizations around the world.

Resources for victims can be found on the following website, which will be updated as additional information becomes available: https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/divisions/national-security-division/qakbot-resources

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. 

Permits Filed for 1718 Crotona Park East in Crotona Park East, The Bronx

 

Permits have been filed for a nine-story mixed-use building at 1718 Crotona Park East in Crotona Park East, The Bronx. Located between East 173rd Street and East 175th Street, the lot is one block from the 174th Street subway station, served by the 2 and 5 trains. Yonah Grunhut of Grun Group LLC is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 90-foot-tall development will yield 34,959 square feet, with 28,488 square feet designated for residential space, 6,208 square feet for commercial space, and 262 square feet of community facility space. The building will have 73 residences, most likely condos based on the average unit scope of 1,004 square feet. The masonry-based structure will also have 17 open parking spaces.

Leandro Nils Dickson Architect, LLC is listed as the architect of record.

Demolition permits have not been filed yet. An estimated completion date has not been announced.