Summer Biweekly News from State Senator Gustavo Rivera!

 

SENATOR RIVERA IN THE COMMUNITY

SENATOR RIVERA HOSTS

9TH ANNUAL SENIOR HEALTH FAIR

Yesterday, Senator Rivera hosted his Annual Senior Health Fair and Luncheon! More than 200 seniors joined the Senator and more than 25 community partners at Lehman College for an afternoon filled with free health screenings, delicious food, raffle prizes, and a great musical performance by the Morrisania Project Band Project.

Senator Rivera wants to thank all of the sponsors and partners who made this event possible, and his District Office team for their diligent work in making this event a successful one. Senator Rivera is already looking forward to the next Senior Health Fair and Luncheon, coming July 2026!

SENATOR RIVERA PRESENTS THE 2025

NEW YORK STATE SENATE

VETERANS HALL OF FAME AWARD

TO MR. MIKE SARDO

As part of this year's Senior Health Fair, Senator Rivera was honored to present his 2025 New York State Senate Veteran Hall of Fame Inductee, Mr. Michele (Mike) Sardo, with a commemorative award in recognition of his years of service.

A US Army Veteran, a union electrician, and a lifelong resident of Van Nest, Mr. Sardo fought valiantly for our country during World War II and the Cold War, and as a civilian, he has worked tirelessly to preserve his community’s quality of life by addressing issues that concern them the most. Congratulations, Mr. Sardo!

Senator Rivera is thankful to the Kingsbridge Historical Society for the thoughtful plaque they presented to him last week recognizing the $80,000 grant he secured to upgrade their HVAC system. The historic Edgehill Church is now climate-controlled, making it more suitable for preserving our local history. Thank you to the Kingsbridge Historical Society President, Nick Dembowski and of all his hard working team for the recognition.

This week, Senator Rivera spoke with Caroline Lewis from WNYC/Gothamist about the potential impact that the sweeping budget cuts to the Medicaid program in the recently signed 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' (OBBBA) could have on health care employment and access to care in New York City and particularly, in The Bronx.

Senator Rivera emphasized that the Medicaid funding losses will be felt by every New Yorker whether or not they are Medicaid recipients. The Republicans passed cuts that will harm every hospital, nursing home, and healthcare facility across the state, which consequently will harm people with private health insurance or that get their coverage from the New York Health Marketplace.

Senator Rivera believes that Democrats need to deliver solutions to stop the bleeding including raising taxes on the wealthy who are slated to be the “big winners” of this terrible bill. Further, Senator Rivera expressed that this is an opportunity to push for his New York Health Act (S.3425), which would provide comprehensive, universal health coverage for every New Yorker through a single-payer plan for our state that would save us money.

FROM 7/10 TO 8/10: DROP OFF SCHOOL SUPPLIES AT THE RIVERDALE Y!

The Summer Meals program in NYC provides free breakfast and lunch to anyone 18 years old and younger, and to people with disabilities participating in special education programs, regardless of age. The program begins today, Friday, June 27, and ends Friday, August 29, though locations and times may vary. No registration or identification is needed to participate. 

Find more information about locations here:

https://www.opt-osfns.org/schoolfoodny/meals/default.aspx

Attorney General Bondi Takes Action to End the Subsidization of Open Borders

 

Attorney General Pamela Bondi announced a decisive move to help end the subsidization of open borders by taxpayers.

As noted in the announcement by the White House yesterday, the Attorney General has rescinded a nearly 30-year-old order allowing for the provision of federal benefits to illegal aliens. In 1996, Congress passed the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 1996 (PRWORA), which limits public benefits to citizens and “qualified aliens” who have a legal right to be in the United States. 

To conform with President Trump’s Executive Order, the Attorney General has now issued an order expressly declining to exempt any programs from PRWORA, revoking overly broad exceptions put in place by Attorney General Reno nearly three decades ago.

“Previous administrations have acted for decades to undermine the principles and limitations directed by Congress through PRWORA—no longer,”  said Attorney General Bondi. “The Trump Administration’s action will preserve public benefits for American citizens, support the rule of law, and avoid the waste of taxpayer dollars.”

The East Bronx History Forum will present a talk and slideshow on Monday, July 21, 2025, the 75th anniversary of this tragic event that resulted in the death of off-duty NYPD Patrolman Alfred Loreto, for whom Loreto Park is named.

 

Dear East Bronx History Forum Member,

         On, July 21, 1950, the Morris Park neighborhood experienced a tragic and totally unforeseen event that reverberated throughout the Bronx and within New York City itself. 

   

       The East Bronx History Forum will present a talk and slideshow detailing exactly what happened. Monday, July 21, 2025 is the 75th anniversary of this tragic event that resulted in the death of off-duty NYPD Patrolman Alfred Loreto, shield #1524 and the subsequent naming of the newly constructed Loreto Park and Playground the following year.

         Please join us at St. Clare of Assisi Church located at 1027 Rhinelander Avenue on July 21st at 7:00 pm as EBHF vice-president Tom Vasti leads the presentation and details the tragic loss of Patrolman Alfred Loreto. Feel free to check out our webpage at Bronxnyc.com or contact us directly at EastBronxHistory@gmail.com for any questions or further details.

         The entrance to this free event is on Paulding Avenue in Msgr. Joseph Raimondo Hall. Parking is free and located north of the Rhinelander address on Paulding Avenue. The EBHF is a 501(c)3 non-profit chartered by the New York State Education Department. Donations are always accepted and can be made through our website BronxNYC.com. Additionally, remember to follow us on our Facebook, Instagram, Youtube and Vimeo account pages for the most current updates or information. We look forward to seeing you.

Dorothy A. Krynicki 

Secretary 

dabkrynicki@aol.com

Richard F. Vitacco
President
East Bronx History Forum
http://www.bronxnyc.com
EastBronxHistory@gmail.com 

718-824-8992 office

914-426-9401 

MAYOR ADAMS ANNOUNCES PLAN TO CLOSE DOT CONCRETE RECYCLING FACILITY AT BROOKLYN MARINE TERMINAL, BOOSTING QUALITY OF LIFE

 

Concrete Recycling at Brooklyn Marine Terminal Facility Will End by August, With Full Relocation by End of 2025

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez announced a plan to cease operations at the DOT concrete recycling facility at the Columbia Street Waterfront District by this August and close the yard by the end of the year. The end of concrete recycling operations and closure of the temporary facility comes in response to ongoing concerns raised during the public engagement around the redevelopment plans for the Brooklyn Marine Terminal (BMT) and will, according to local residents, improve quality of life in the neighborhood.

“With the closure of the concrete recycling facility at the Columbia Street Waterfront District, we are taking an important step toward realizing a greener, safer, and more vibrant Brooklyn Marine Terminal for the residents of this community,” said Mayor Adams. “This move not only clears the way for much-needed housing, open space, and a school as part of our proposed Brooklyn Marine Terminal project, but also reflects our city’s deep commitment to continuing to improve the quality of life for all New Yorkers. From building safer sidewalks and intersections to reducing noise and pollution in communities, we are investing in the future of this city one improvement at a time as we make New York City the best place to raise a family.”

“While concrete recycling is a critical part of DOT’s work to make our streets safer and more accessible, we’ve heard loud and clear from local residents that this temporary facility has disrupted their quality of life,” said DOT Commissioner Rodriguez. “In response to residents’ concerns and as the BMT redevelopment is discussed, we will cease concrete recycling work and accelerate the timeline for the planned closure of this temporary facility.”

The Columbia Street concrete recycling facility — which currently occupies an area of the BMT site that would be redeveloped with housing, open space, and a school as part of the proposed BMT project — will be relocated to an alternate location. The facility was temporarily relocated to a yard on Columbia Street, near Kane Street, in 2024 to accommodate the city's critical, climate-saving offshore wind hub and the development of renewable energy at the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal. This temporary facility has supported the city's Vision Zero goals through the construction of sidewalk extensions, pedestrian and bus boarding islands, and more, as well as the upgrading of corners, sidewalks, mid-block crossings, and medians to be safe, accessible, and compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

DOT will accommodate the yard’s end of concrete recycling operations while continuing its concrete construction efforts to improve safety and accessibility across the city. Additional critical operations that took place in the yard before 2024, including bridge de-icing and traffic operations fiber electricians, will continue to operate at the Columbia Street yard.

ICE and CBP Law Enforcement Dodge Literal Bullets from Rioters While Rescuing at Least 10 Migrant Children During Operations at Two Marijuana Grow Sites in California

 

Brave agents faced gun fire as they executed on criminal search warrants at a marijuana facility where they rescued at least 10 migrant children, arrested approximately 200 illegal aliens

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today released the following statement after U.S. Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers faced gunfire while conducting operations at two marijuana grow sites in California. The shooter remains at-large.

On July 10, 2025, federal law enforcement officers executed criminal warrant operations at marijuana grow sites in Carpinteria and Camarillo. During the operation, at least 10 migrant children were rescued from potential exploitation, forced labor, and human trafficking. Federal officers also arrested approximately 200 illegal aliens from both sites in Carpinteria and Camarillo.

During the operation, more than 500 rioters attempted to disrupt operations. Four U.S. citizens are being criminally processed for assaulting or resisting officers. The rioters damaged vehicles and one violent agitator fired a gun at law enforcement officers. The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) is now offering $50,000 for any information leading to the arrest of this violent rioter.

The individual was caught on video firing what looked like a pistol at federal law enforcement. Despite law enforcement’s heroic actions to rescue these children, politicians are defending rioters and attacking our men and women in uniform.

“At the California marijuana facilities, ICE and CBP law enforcement rescued at least 10 migrant children from what looks like exploitation, forced child labor, and potentially human trafficking or smuggling. Our law enforcement also arrested nearly 200 illegal aliens,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “During the operation, a violent agitator fired a gun at our brave officers. While ICE and CBP officers are being assaulted by rioters and dodging bullets to save children, Sanctuary politicians are demonizing ICE and CBP. We will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law anyone who assaults or doxes federal law enforcement.”

The investigation into immigration and potential child labor violations is ongoing. Information will be released as it becomes available.

Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State’s Preparedness in the Face of Extreme Weather

Extreme Weather Continues To Grow in Frequency and Intensity — Dozens of Temperature and Snowfall Records Broken in Recent Years, Along With Numerous Significant Rainfalls and Wildfires

Governor Launched Innovative State Weather Risk Communication Center at UAlbany; Invested More Than $25 Million to Expand Regional Presence of State Emergency Management Staff and Response Assets

New Yorkers Encouraged To Prepare Themselves Through Citizen Preparedness Corps

New Yorkers Can Text Their County or Borough to 333111 To Receive Real Time Emergency and Weather Alert Texts Directly to Their Phones

Governor Kathy Hochul today updated New Yorkers on the state’s preparedness and response capabilities as extreme weather continues to grow in frequency and intensity each year. In the face of this growing threat, as well as looming cuts in critical federal funding, Governor Hochul has made it a top priority to invest in the State’s capabilities to prepare for, and respond to, all types of extreme weather.

“New York State is no stranger to extreme weather, and New Yorkers must be prepared for the myriad of severe weather events that come our way,” Governor Hochul said. “Keeping our state safe and protected is my top priority, and my administration is committed to ensuring accessible emergency weather preparedness and an all-hands-on-deck approach to response and recovery operations as severe weather threats increase.”

New York has one of the nation’s most diverse threat landscapes, especially when it comes to the threat of extreme weather. Since taking office in 2021, weather-related natural disasters have resulted in eight Major Disaster Declarations, five Emergency Declarations and one Fire Management Assistance Grant Declaration from the federal government, as well as the declaration of at least 19 State Disaster Emergencies by Governor Hochul herself.

The diversity of natural threats has been wide ranging too. In 2024 and 2025 alone, New York has:

• Broken 49 High Temperature Records
• Broken 10 Low Temperature Records
• Broken 19 Snowfall Records
• Experienced 38 Tornadoes
• Experienced 20 significant brush and wildfires, including the largest wildfire in NYS in 30+ years
• Experienced at least 20 significant rainfall events; and
• Experienced impacts from two tropical systems (Beryl and Debby)

Strengthening Preparedness and Response, While Building Resiliency

Under the leadership of Governor Hochul, New York has invested heavily in not only preparedness and response capabilities, but in building a more resilient state. Some of those efforts have included:

• In December 2023, Governor Hochul announced the creation of New York’s State Weather Risk Communication Center (SWRCC) at the State University of New York at Albany. The Center is a first-of-its kind operational collaboration between university researchers and state emergency managers and serves as a clearinghouse for critical weather information. It also works to develop tools to help emergency managers make informed decisions to help protect communities and examines how communicating extreme weather risks to the public can be improved.
• Governor Hochul secured $15 million in the FY25 Enacted Budget to enable the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services to supply county partners with critical emergency response assets such as generators, high-flow pumps and flood barrier technology.
• Governor Hochul secured an additional $10.4 million in the FY25 Enacted Budget to further strengthen the regional presence of State Emergency Management Staff, which will add to the volume and availability of on-the-ground support, planning, trainings, exercises, as well as build out our analytic and geospatial capabilities.
• Governor Hochul secured a total of $90 million in the past two years to launch the Resilient & Ready, an initiative administered by New York Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) consisting of two programs that support resiliency and home repair efforts for low-and-moderate income homeowners. The Resilient Retrofits program provides assistance to eligible homeowners for making proactive flood mitigation and resiliency improvements. The Rapid Response program helps assist eligible households that experience home damage to make necessary repairs in the aftermath of certain major storms.
• In January 2024, the Governor announced a comprehensive resiliency plan to protect people, communities, infrastructure and homes.
• Following the devastating tornado in Rome, Governor Hochul provided $11 million in Emergency Assistance, including up to $5 million for homeowners and $4 million for demolition in Oneida County after the event did not qualify for federal assistance. Another in May 2025 provided $3.5 million to rehab two buildings destroyed by the tornadoes as well.

State Preparedness, Response and Recovery Operations

The New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services’ Office of Emergency Management (OEM) is New York’s primary conduit for emergency preparedness and response operations for all emergencies, both natural and human made. During emergencies, OEM not only coordinates with local emergency responders to support local operations but helps coordinate the deployment of thousands of State personnel and pieces of equipment from numerous State agencies.

OEM is also home to the State Watch Center which is staffed 24/7/365 to monitor hazardous activity throughout the State and ensure situational awareness for state leaders. Additionally, OEM maintain nine stockpiles located throughout the State which are able to provide emergency response assets and supplies as needed.

Along with Emergency Management, training first responders from all disciplines is a core mission for the Division. Whether online, or in-person, over 54,000 firefighters, emergency managers, officers and other first responders received some form of training from the Division, including the 4,778 students who received training at the state’s Academy of Fire Science in Montour Falls. Separately, nearly 10,000 state and local first responders received training at the State Preparedness Training Center in Oriskany — one of the nation’s premier first responder training facilities.

The Division is also home to the Office of Disaster Recovery Programs which is responsible for the legwork necessary for obtaining federal disaster declarations and administering the federal recovery dollars that flow to communities as a result. Since 2021, the Division has issued payments totaling $12.36 billion in federal Public Assistance recovery funding and $410.6 million in Hazard Mitigation Assistance funding.

Individual Preparedness

In any emergency situation, individual preparedness is one of the most critical components of an effective response and the state offers New Yorkers a number of different ways to not only stay prepared, but stay informed as well.

The New York State Citizen Preparedness Corps (CPC), administered by the Division and the New York National Guard, was established in 2014 to train New Yorkers how to prepare for emergencies and disasters, respond immediately and recover as quickly as possible to pre-disaster conditions. Nearly 433,000 New Yorkers have taken CPC training in community settings throughout the State.

CPC trainings are free and held in-person throughout the State. New Yorkers can find a local training and enroll online at the DHSES website. For those unable to attend in person, courses are also available online in English and with subtitles in 12 additional languages, including Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, English, French, Haitian Creole, Italian, Korean, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Urdu and Yiddish.

Additionally, Governor Hochul announced a new real-time emergency and weather alert system earlier this year as part of the State’s Hurricane Preparedness Week recognition efforts. Managed by the Division, this text option allows New Yorkers to text the name of their county or borough to 333111 to receive real time emergency and weather alerts and updates directly to their phones. New Yorkers should also remember to follow their local forecasts and visit the DHSES Facebook page, follow @NYSDHSES on X, or visit dhses.ny.gov for important safety information.

Heat waves and other extreme heat events are likely to happen again this summer and New York State agencies are working to implement initiatives recommended by the State’s Extreme Heat Action Plan to help New Yorkers prepare for heat’s negative health and environmental impacts. In June, New York State marked significant progress on the first year of implementation of the Extreme Heat Action Plan (EHAP) with the first readiness update now available. The EHAP, led by DEC and NYSERDA along with DHSES and DOH under the direction of Governor Hochul, includes nearly 50 actions by State agencies to address extreme heat impacts across four tracks (local planning and capacity building, community preparedness and workers’ safety, resilient buildings and access to cooling, and advancing ecosystem-based adaptations). The full update on implementation progress is available here.

The State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) closely monitors air quality conditions statewide and works with the State Department of Health to issue timely public health advisories that millions of New Yorkers depend on each year. Visit DEC's website  for  updated forecasts  and information about  air quality index levels, and the Department of Health website for information on  health risks and precautions  related to air quality. 

Attorney General James Takes Action to Protect Survivors of Domestic Violence

 

AG James and Coalition File Amicus Brief Urging Court to Stop Trump Administration from Restricting Violence Against Women Act Funding

New York Attorney General Letitia James today joined a coalition of 21 other attorneys general in defending critical funding from the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) for organizations that provide services for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking. In an amicus brief filed with the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island, Attorney General James and the coalition argue that the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) new requirements that these organizations certify they will not use funding for services that don’t align with the Trump administration’s political agenda are illegal and will endanger vulnerable people. The Trump administration’s targeting of VAWA programs jeopardizes resources for both survivors and law enforcement that have helped dramatically reduce domestic violence since the law took effect in 1994.  

“For decades, the Violence Against Women Act has helped protect domestic violence survivors and bring their abusers to justice,” said Attorney General James. “This administration’s illegal attempt to play politics with its funds will put the most vulnerable members of our communities in danger. I will continue to fight any reckless policy that puts New Yorkers at risk and makes it harder for our law enforcement partners to keep our communities safe.”

For the past 30 years, Congress has dedicated funds under VAWA to support training for law enforcement and provide medical care, hotlines, shelters, and services for survivors of domestic abuse, sexual assault, and other similar crimes. Under both Democratic and Republican administrations, more than $11 billion has been distributed under VAWA, which has helped dramatically reduce domestic violence by 64 percent.

As Attorney General James and the coalition note in the brief, VAWA programs have changed the way law enforcement responds to domestic violence by spurring investments in new forensic tools and victim advocates that have helped increase convictions and protect survivors. Every year, VAWA programs help train more than 600,000 professionals – including police officers, prosecutors, judges, and advocates – and provide more than two million individual services to survivors.

Earlier this year, the Trump administration imposed new conditions on VAWA funds to prohibit organizations that receive these funds from providing vaguely defined “out-of-scope” services, including those that promote so-called “diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility programs” and “gender ideology.” As Attorney General James and the coalition argue in the brief, these conditions will severely undermine public safety by threatening VAWA-funded organizations with prosecution for operating programs that serve the most vulnerable people. Congress has mandated that VAWA funds provide assistance to the LGBTQ community and other vulnerable groups like immigrants without legal status. As Attorney General James and the coalition argue, DOJ’s new conditions contradict Congress’ updates to VAWA that prevent discrimination in its programs. The brief also argues the conditions will affect public safety by making it harder for those in need to get help and inhibiting law enforcement from bringing abusers to justice.

Attorney General James and the coalition are urging the court to grant a preliminary injunction preventing DOJ’s new guidelines on VAWA funding from being enforced.

Joining Attorney General James in filing the brief are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.

CEO of an Iranian Engineering Company Arrested for Allegedly Shipping Sophisticated Electronics from the U.S. to Iran in Violation of U.S. Sanctions

 

An Iranian national and U.S. lawful permanent resident has been arrested on a four-count federal indictment charging him with unlawfully exporting electronics used in railway signaling and telecommunications systems from the United States to Iran, in violation the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations (ITSR).

Bahram Mohammad Ostovari, 66, a resident of Santa Monica and Tehran, Iran, was arrested Thursday afternoon upon his arrival at Los Angeles International Airport.

Ostovari is charged with one count of conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and three counts of violating the IEEPA.

According to the indictment unsealed today, Ostovari is the founder and CEO of a Tehran-based engineering company – identified in the indictment as “Company A” – that supplied signaling and communications systems to Iran and its government, including on projects for the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways. From at least May 2018 to July 2025, Ostovari and his co-conspirators obtained and shipped sophisticated computer processors, railway signaling equipment, and other electronics and electronic components to Company A in Iran. Many of these items were controlled under federal regulations, and their export to Iran without a license was prohibited.

To perpetrate his illegal export scheme, Ostovari used two front companies he controlled in the UAE – MH-SYS FZCO and Match Systech FZE – as conduits. Ostovari directed co-conspirators at these front companies to acquire the electronics and electronic components for Company A. Ostovari and his co-conspirators intentionally concealed from electronics suppliers in the United States and elsewhere that the goods were destined for Iran, falsely stating that MH-SYS and Match Systech in the UAE were the end users when in fact the true end user was Company A in Iran. Ostovari then directed his co-conspirators to arrange to ship the goods from the UAE to Company A in Iran.

After he became a lawful permanent resident of the United States in May 2020, Ostovari continued to export, sell, and supply electronics and electrical components to Company A in Iran.

As alleged, Ostovari knew of the U.S. sanctions against Iran, mentioning them in emails to co-conspirators and directing one co-conspirator to provide false information to a federal export control officer regarding the end use of U.S.-origin goods they had shipped to Company A in Iran.

The IEEPA and the ITSR impose controls and restrictions on transactions involving Iran based on the threats posed by Iran to the national security of the United States including, among others, its pursuit of nuclear weapons and sponsorship of terrorism. The IEEPA and ITSR, among other things, prohibit the export, re-export, sale, or supply, directly or indirectly, from the United States or by a United States person, wherever located, of any goods, technology, or services to Iran or the Government of Iran without first obtaining authorization from the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

At no time did Ostovari, his companies, or his co-conspirators apply for or obtain authorization from OFAC to export, sell or supply goods and technologies from the United States to Iran.

If convicted, Ostovari faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count.

Homeland Security Investigations and the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security are investigating this case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys David C. Lachman and Colin S. Scott for the Central District of California are prosecuting the case, with valuable assistance from Trial Attorney Kathryn DeMarco of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.

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