Statement From Governor Kathy Hochul “We’ve won — again.

“We’ve won — again.

“Judge Liman’s temporary restraining order is a massive victory for New York commuters, vindicating our right as a State to make decisions regarding what’s best for our streets. New Yorkers deserve to control our own traffic patterns, keep gridlock off our streets and protect our clean air. We need to make the massive investments necessary to support our transit system and prevent it from falling into disarray and disrepair. Congestion pricing is the right solution to get us there.

"So here’s the deal: Secretary Duffy can issue as many letters and social media posts as he wants, but a court has blocked the Trump Administration from retaliating against New York for reducing traffic and investing in transit."

“Congestion pricing is legal, it's working and we're keeping the cameras on.”

Statement from NYC Comptroller Lander on Court Ruling Protecting Congestion Pricing from Trump Administration Overreach

 

In response to Judge Lewis Liman’s ruling to block the federal government from withholding funds and grant the MTA a temporary restraining order against the Trump Administration’s illegal attempts to stop congestion pricing, New York City Brad Lander released the following statement: 

“Today’s ruling is a promising outcome for New Yorkers who are already experiencing the benefits of a city with less traffic, cleaner air, and faster transit service. Because of the tireless efforts of straphangers, transit advocates, and local leaders to get congestion pricing implemented, New York is on its way toward the $15 billion it needs to modernize our signals for faster trains and install elevators for more accessible stations.   

“We look forward to seeing the MTA prevail against Sean Duffy and Donald Trump’s bogus lawsuit in court.”  

Attorney General James Fines Walmart for Shipping Illegal Realistic Toy Guns to New York

 

OAG Investigation Found That Walmart Shipped Nine Realistic Toy Guns to New York, Walmart to Pay $14,000 in Penalties 

New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced that her office secured a settlement with Walmart for shipping realistic-looking toy guns to New York. An investigation by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) found that third-party sellers on Walmart’s online store sold realistic-looking toy guns to New Yorkers and Walmart shipped nine of them to addresses in New York, including New York City, Westchester, and Western New York. New York law prohibits retailers from selling or shipping toy guns that are black, dark blue, silver, or aluminum-colored and look like a real gun. Realistic-looking toy guns can be used to engage in unlawful activity and have led to several deaths and shootings across the state. Businesses that illegally sell or distribute realistic-looking toy guns in New York can be fined up to $1,000 per violation. As a result of this settlement, Walmart must pay $16,000 in penalties and fees and ensure that all its third-party sellers are unable to sell imitation toy guns to New York.

“Realistic-looking toy guns can put communities in serious danger and that is why they are banned in New York,” said Attorney General James. “Walmart failed to prevent its third-party sellers from selling realistic-looking toy guns to New York addresses, violating our laws and putting people at risk. The ban on realistic-looking toy guns is meant to keep New Yorkers safe and my office will not hesitate to hold any business that violates that law accountable.”

An OAG investigation found that third-party sellers on Walmart’s online store sold realistic-looking toy guns and Walmart shipped them to New York through its fulfillment services. Investigators from OAG were able to purchase a toy gun from Walmart and have it shipped to New York.

Realistic-looking toy gun shipped by Walmart to New York

New York’s General Business law does not allow retailers to sell or distribute realistic-looking imitation guns, which can be black, dark blue, silver, or aluminum-colored. Toy guns sold in New York must be made in bright colors or made entirely of transparent or translucent materials. Businesses that illegally sell or distribute realistic-looking toy guns in New York can be fined up to $1,000 per violation.

As a result of this settlement, Walmart must pay $14,000 in penalties and $2,000 in fees to the state for illegally shipping realistic-looking toy guns to New York addresses.

Attorney General James encourages consumers who see realistic-looking guns sold in stores or online with shipping to New York to contact her office by filing an online complaint.

Iranian Man Pleaded Guilty to Role in Robbinhood Ransomware

 

Robbinhood Ransomware Scheme Caused Tens of Millions of Dollars in Losses and Major Disruption of Public Services in U. S. Cities

An Iranian national pleaded guilty today to participating in an international ransomware and extortion scheme involving the Robbinhood ransomware.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Sina Gholinejad, 37, and his co-conspirators compromised the computer networks of cities, corporations, health care organizations, and other entities around the United States, and encrypted files on these victim networks with the Robbinhood ransomware variant to extort ransom payments. These cyber attacks caused significant disruptions and tens of millions in losses, including to the City of Greenville, North Carolina, and the City of Baltimore, Maryland. Baltimore lost more than $19 million from the damage caused to their computer networks and the resulting disruption to several essential city services, including online services for processing property taxes, water bills, parking citations, and other revenue-generating functions, which lasted many months. The conspirators used the damage they caused these cities to threaten subsequent victims.

“Gholinejad and his co-conspirators — all of whom were overseas — caused tens of millions of dollars in losses and disrupted essential public services by deploying the Robbinhood ransomware against U. S. cities, health care organizations, and businesses,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The ransomware attack against the City of Baltimore forced the city to take hundreds of computers offline and prevented the city from performing basic functions for months. Gholinejad’s conviction reflects the Criminal Division’s commitment to bringing cybercriminals who target our cities, healthcare system, and businesses to justice no matter where they are located. There will be no impunity for these destructive attacks.”

“Cybercrime is not a victimless offense — it is a direct attack on our communities, as seen in this case. Gholinejad and his co-conspirators orchestrated a ransomware scheme that disrupted lives, businesses, and local governments, and resulted in losses of tens of millions of dollars from unsuspecting victims and institutions,” said acting U. S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar for the Eastern District of North Carolina. “The announcement today marks a significant step towards justice for the countless victims impacted by the defendant’s malicious scheme. Cases like these act as a reminder that cybercriminals who seek to exploit our digital infrastructure for personal gain will be identified, prosecuted, and held accountable.”

“These ransomware actors leveraged sophisticated tools and tradecraft to harm innocent victims in the United States, all while believing they could conduct their illegal activities safely from overseas,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge James C. Barnacle Jr. of the FBI’s Charlotte Field Office. “This case demonstrates the capability and resolve of the FBI and our partners to find and impose consequences on cybercriminals no matter where they attempt to hide.”

Beginning in January 2019, Gholinejad and others gained and maintained unauthorized access to victim computer networks and then copied information from the infected victim networks to virtual private servers controlled by the conspirators. The conspirators also deployed Robbinhood ransomware to encrypt the victims’ files and extort Bitcoin from victims in exchange for the private key required to decrypt the victims’ computer files.

Gholinejad and his co-conspirators attempted to launder the ransom payments through cryptocurrency mixing services and by moving assets between different types of cryptocurrencies, a practice known as chain-hopping. They also hid their identities and activities through a number of technical methods, including the use of virtual private networks and servers that they operated. The indictment identifies multiple additional victims of Robbinhood ransomware, including, but not limited to, the City of Gresham, Oregon and the City of Yonkers, New York.

Gholinejad pleaded guilty to one count of computer fraud and abuse and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced in August. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The FBI Charlotte Field Office investigated the case, with substantial assistance from the FBI Baltimore Field Office. The Justice Department extends its thanks to international judicial and law enforcement partners in Bulgaria for providing valuable assistance with the collection of evidence.

Senior Counsels Aarash A. Haghighat and Ryan K. J. Dickey of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U. S. Attorney Bradford DeVoe for the Eastern District of North Carolina are prosecuting the case, with valuable assistance from Trial Attorney Alexandra Cooper-Ponte of the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Deputy Chief Matthew Anzaldi of the National Security Division’s National Security Cyber Section.

The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs also provided substantial assistance in the collection of evidence.

Additional details on protecting networks against ransomware are available at StopRansomware. gov.

NYC PUBLIC ADVOCATE TELLS TRUMP TO STAY AWAY FROM NYC TRANSIT FUNDING IN NEW CONGESTION PRICING PROGRESS REVIEW

 

As the MTA is in court seeking to block the Trump administration from retaliatory cuts to the city’s transit funding over its congestion pricing, New York City Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams has released a review of the first four months of the policy being in place. The review highlights the many successes achieved in the early implementation, and provides recommendations moving forward, standing against any efforts by the federal government to undo the progress made.

“Donald Trump doesn’t decide what’s best for our city’s streets,” said New York City Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams. “His efforts to reverse the progress we’ve made in implementing congestion pricing amount to blackmailing our city, undermining the public transit system that New Yorkers rely on. The early data is clear that congestion pricing is reducing travel times and traffic. I’ve always said that adjustments can and should be considered as implementation continues, and I hope to work with city and state leaders to monitor and improve congestion pricing as it moves forward – and it will move forward, no matter what Donald Trump says.” 

Public Advocate Williams is currently on a 5-Boro Transit Tour, using a range of public transportation to travel all five boroughs while speaking directly to New Yorkers about the improvements to transit that they need, and where they believe transportation funding should be distributed, and the consequences federal cuts would have.

“The Trump administration is trying to pull federal funding for transportation projects at a time when we need to be investing in improving our systems, not grinding them to a halt,” added the Public Advocate. “New Yorkers who are on our trains, buses, and ferries every day know what we need, and they’re who I’m going to listen to when it comes to how to strengthen our public transportation infrastructure and improve travel all across the five boroughs. Someone needs to stand up for our city in this moment.” 

The Office of the Public Advocate’s new review points to early successes of congestion pricing in reducing average traffic and travel times. An average decrease of 7.5% - 16% in daily traffic with weekday average trips on bridges and tunnels showing a 10% - 30% reduction in traveling time can already be seen. It also notes the improvements in public opinion about congestion pricing, now that the benefits are becoming clear and the worst predictions failing to appear.

Crucially, the review finds a 12.69% decrease in vehicular crashes below 60th Street, comparing data from 2024 and 2025 during the periods between January 5 and May 5. There has also been a 8.75% drop in injuries and fatalities during the same period. Based on the available data the dramatic effect that congestion pricing has on the lives of New Yorkers is clear.

Moving forward, the review offers several measures to maximize effectiveness. Among the recommendations are:

• Investing fully in the Interborough Express (IBX) & MTA’s 2025-2029 Capital Program.
• Creating Low Emission Zones (LEZs)
• Signage and modifications on the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge
• Prioritizing alternative forms of trucking, such as Blue Highways.
• Supporting QueensLink for better transit options.
• Accommodating low-income drivers.
• Prioritizing Staten Island’s MTA needs.

The Trump administration has threatened to cease construction authorizations and approvals for projects – first in Manhattan, then citywide – unless the city and state back down.

As the legal cases surrounding congestion pricing continue, so too will the policy and the revenue it generates, and as this review emphasizes, the Public Advocate will continue to monitor implementation and propose adjustments to maximize its success in supporting New Yorkers. Read the full review here. 

MAYOR ADAMS KICKS OFF “WE OUTSIDE SUMMER” BY ANNOUNCING NEW EFFORT TO TRANSFORM VACANT, ABANDONED LOTS INTO GREENSPACE ACROSS NEW YORK CITY

Adams Administration Has Committed $80 Million to Acquire New Parkland Since Taking Office

Targeted Acquisitions in Neighborhoods Without Parks Access Will Bring New Greenspaces to Communities That Need Them Most

City Has Added Over 86 Acres of Parkland During Adams Administration, Bringing Greenspace to an Additional 37,000 More New Yorkers

“We Outside Summer” Kicks Off, Will Include Range of Announcements, Investments, and Programs Across Five Boroughs 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Departments of Parks and Recreation (NYC Parks) Commissioner Sue Donoghue today announced a new effort to transform vacant, abandoned lots into green space for New Yorkers and put more residents of the five boroughs within walking distance of a park. Since taking office, the Adams administration has committed a total of $80 million to expand New Yorkers’ access to the citywide greenspace network — $50 million has already been spent over the past three years to acquire new parkland in all five boroughs, adding over 86 acres of parkland and bringing greenspace within a 10-minute walk of an additional 37,000 New Yorkers.

As part of the “Vital Parks for All” initiative, Mayor Adams announced that an additional $30 million was being allocated to transform vacant, underutilized, and abandoned lots into parkland, playgrounds, and open green space in neighborhoods that do not currently have access to such space. By transferring land from other city agencies and using neighborhood-wide Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) applications, this initiative furthers the Adams administration’s work to ensure that more New Yorkers live within a 10-minute walk of a park. Mayor Adams announced the start of this effort with the submission of the first two neighborhood-wide ULURP applications in Brooklyn and Queens earlier this month.

Mayor Adams used today’s announcement to also kick off “We Outside Summer,” a new initiative that will include a series of announcements, events, investments, and new programming across the five boroughs to ensure New Yorkers have a safe, enjoyable summer.

“As we kick off the 'We Outside Summer,' we know New Yorkers across the five boroughs are looking for more places to enjoy the warmer weather with friends and loved ones,” said Mayor Adams. “Today, we're announcing a new effort to turn vacant, abandoned lots into parks — bringing more green spaces to neighborhoods across New York City that don’t currently have access to them. This initiative builds on our administration's commitment to put a park within walking distance of a park because access to parks is critical, and as summer arrives, we're working hard to deliver green spaces to the areas most in need across the five boroughs.”

“Parks aren’t just a nice to have — they’re a need-to-have.  New Yorkers find respite in the public realm, a place to connect and recharge outside,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Jeff Roth. “There’s no better way to celebrate the summer than by creating new outdoor spaces in busy neighborhoods, like Jackson Heights and East New York, within walking distance of tens of thousands of New Yorkers who went without these space for too long. We look forward to continuing this process with local communities.”

“Access to high-quality parks is not a luxury, it is a necessity for the health and wellness of our communities. Expanding our green spaces is just one of the ways we’re making New York City the best place to raise a family,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Donoghue. “We’re committed to supporting creative efforts to add more open space in the city so that every New Yorker — regardless of your zip code — has room to play, grow, and gather outside.”

“In just three and a half years, we’ve added the equivalent of over 86 football fields of new public space — and NYC Parks has been a critical partner in that transformation” said Chief Public Realm Officer Ya-Ting Liu. “By turning vacant, underutilized lots into parks, we are working towards making sure as many New Yorkers have easy, local access to the public realm. These are the kinds of investments that bring neighborhoods together and spark joy and connection in our shared public spaces.”

The acquisition plan includes multiple strategies, including pursuing neighborhood-wide ULURP applications in communities that lack access to parkland. In collaboration with the New York City Department of City Planning (DCP), NYC Parks has identified 19 community districts that are underserved by the existing parks network and has begun submitting one ULURP application per community district, encompassing many smaller sites within the district. While not every site included in the applications will be acquired, the successful ULURP applications will allow NYC Parks to purchase the sites, pending a willing private seller.

Mayor Adams’ Get Stuff Build initiative made this new strategy possible – neighborhood-scale ULURPs – which allow multiple locations to go through the ULURP process in one application, thus cutting red tape and bureaucracy throughout city government. NYC Parks recently submitted ULURP applications for 44 sites in the first two communities identified through this initiative: Brooklyn Community District 5, which includes East New York and Cypress Hills, and Queens Community District 3, which includes Jackson Heights, East Elmhurst, and Corona. Not all of the sites will be turned into parkland, and additional community districts and sites will be shared in the coming months.

Brooklyn Community District 5 sites. Credit: NYC Parks

Queens Community District 3 sites. Credit: NYC Parks

In addition to acquisitions from private property owners, NYC Parks also plans to acquire new parkland through transfers from other city agencies. The majority of new acquisitions by NYC Parks over the past three years have been property transfers from other agencies at no cost. To advance the Adams administration’s priority of building more affordable housing, NYC Parks collaborated with DCP and the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development to determine which sites were better suited for housing development or parkland, depending on factors like size, location, and status of adjacent properties.

Since the beginning of his administration, Mayor Adams has made transforming the city’s public spaces for families to enjoy a central focus, creating over 85 football fields of new public spaces and adding 86.5 acres of parkland, from smaller additions like a new overlook at Starlight Park in the Bronx to major public space projects like the new Freshkills Park in Staten Island on the site of a former landfill. In his 2025 State of the City address, Mayor Adams announced that New York City will open more schoolyards in underserved neighborhoods for use during the summer, after school, and on the weekends, and put another 20,000 individuals within a 10-minute walk of a park. By transforming these vacant, abandoned lots into green space for New Yorkers, this announcement builds on Mayor Adams’ State of the City commitment to give even more New Yorkers in under-resourced areas access to valuable public spaces as his administration continues its efforts to make New York City the best place to raise a family.

Van Cortlandt Park Alliance - Do you hear what I hear?

 

On Thursday, June 5th at 8pm, the New York Philharmonic will partner with NYC Parks to present a free concert on the Van Cortlandt Park Parade Ground. Come early to snag a seat, or bring a picnic blanket and a meal to hear this special concert for all New Yorkers. 

 

This year the soon to be Music and Artistic Direction Gustavo Dudamel will conduct the concert! Known for his active and joyful conducting style, this Venezuelan native will become the first Latin American artistic director ever to lead the NY Phil, and the youngest, in 2026. It’s sure to be a lively concert. 

 

We hope to see you there!

Our Contact Information Van Cortlandt Park Alliance 80 Van Cortlandt Park South, Ste. E1 Bronx, NY 10463 718-601-1460 http://vancortlandt.org

North Cove Nears Completion at 3875 Ninth Avenue in Inwood, Manhattan

 

Construction is nearing completion on North Cove, a 30-story residential building at 3875 Ninth Avenue on the Harlem River waterfront in Inwood, Manhattan. Designed by Aufgang Architects and developed by Maddd Equities, the 295-foot-tall structure will span 544,000 square feet and yield 611 affordable rental apartments. The project will also include 60,000 square feet of lower-level retail space, residential amenities, and 120 parking spaces. The property is alternately addressed as 373 and 375 West 207th Streets and is bounded by West 207th Street, Ninth Avenue, and the Harlem River.

The building was constructed to its pinnacle and almost entirely enclosed in its façade since our last update in early February 2024, when the reinforced concrete superstructure had recently passed the halfway mark. The following photos show the look of the tower’s red and beige brick exterior and grid of rectangular windows with black metal spandrels. Some scaffolding remains standing around the lower levels as crews finish installing the floor-to-ceiling glass panels.

The property was formerly vacant, as seen in the below aerial image from before construction broke ground.

Joy Construction Corporation and Maddd Equities are completing the project with the help of $288 million in financing secured in 2023. Wells Fargo’s Community Lending and Investment provided the financial package, which includes a $155 million letter of credit to back NYC-issued tax-exempt bonds arranged by CLI Debt. The remaining $133 million was provided by CLI Equity as an equity investment through the purchase of Low Income Housing Tax Credits and New York State Brownfield Redevelopment Tax Credits.

Residential amenities at North Cove will include bicycle storage, recreation rooms, shared laundry facilities, outdoor lounge and recreation spaces, and picnic areas. The property will also offer public access to an adjacent waterfront park on land provided by the city.

The nearest subway is the local 1 train at the elevated 207th Street station to the west.