MAYOR ADAMS EXPANDS PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS WITH ‘NYC PUBLIC SAFETY’ ACCOUNT ON CITIZEN APP TO KEEP NEW YORKERS SAFE AND INFORMED

 

No-Cost Initiative Allows City to Share Verified Real-Time Safety Updates Directly to Over 3 Million New Yorkers on Citizen 

 

Rollout Builds on Adams Administration’s Commitment to Breakdown Communications Siloes, Make New York City Safest and Best Place to Raise a Family 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced a new city-run account, “NYC Public Safety” on Citizen, a free app that provides users with real-time notifications about nearby emergencies and ongoing incidents. The account will compile public safety alerts and notifications from across public safety agencies to share public safety updates and incident information directly with Citizen users — including more than 3 million subscribers across the five boroughs — ensuring that critical information reaches New Yorkers when and where it matters most. New York City government has a presence in multiple languages across various social media channels, including Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, X, and the city’s own NotifyNYC channel, among others, to meet New Yorkers where they are online and ensure information is accessible. 

 

“A huge part of building a safer city is ensuring New Yorkers have the information they need to keep themselves and their loved ones safe,” said Mayor Adams. “Whether it’s a heat emergency, a flood warning, a fire or crime, our new ‘NYC Public Safey’ account on Citizen will keep New Yorkers informed on threats and how their city government is working to keep them safe. Since taking office, we’ve made real progress on making our city safer and improving communications, and this new official account is yet another way we’re working to meet New Yorkers where they are by providing real time alerts to keep every New Yorker safe and informed.” 

 

“Millions of New Yorkers already use the Citizen app to stay informed about public safety incidents in their neighborhoods, and now the people who protect our city will be able to use this platform to send critical information directly to the people we serve,” said Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Kaz Daughtry. “Whether it’s an alert about a major incident, a crime pattern, or a safety tip that could help someone avoid being scammed, we’re putting that information right into New Yorkers’ hands. That’s what this administration is all about: meeting people where they are, keeping them informed, and using technology to protect our communities.” 

 

“Easily accessible and digestible information and clear, accurate communication are critical to keeping New Yorkers safe, especially during emergencies,” said Deputy Mayor for Communications Fabien Levy. “Today’s announcement builds on the work our administration has already done to utilize technology and expand our channels of communication as we break down siloes to make our city safer for the 8.5 million New Yorkers we serve and who call this city home every day. By expanding our outreach and establishing the ‘NYC Public Safety’ account on Citizen, we will more immediately share more information with more New Yorkers about the emergencies and public safety issues they care most about, keeping people across the five boroughs informed and safe.”  

 

The NYC Public Safety account will publish public safety-related announcements, alerts about major incidents or weather emergencies, safety tips about crime patterns and scams, and updates to high-profile incidents. The city will also be able to send geo-targeted push notifications to users citywide based on neighborhood, zip code, or borough. This initiative has been launched at no cost to the city.  

 

Additionally, designated public safety agencies — including the New York City Police Department (NYPD), Fire Department of the City of New York, and New York City Emergency Management (NYCEM) — will be granted secure access to a dashboard that allows authorized personnel to view and download user-submitted videos from incident scenes, potentially aiding investigations and after-action reviews. NYPD and NYCEM also operate accounts on Citizen to share alerts with New Yorkers. 

 

Today’s announcement adds another layer to the city’s public safety communication strategies, helping to reach even more residents with timely, verified information from official sources. Over 1.2 million New Yorkers are enrolled in NotifyNYC, the city’s official emergency notification system. Subscribers can opt in to receive updates through text, email, social media, RSS feed, or the Notify NYC mobile app. It is available in 14 languages, including American Sign Language. In April 2025, Mayor Adams announced that New Yorkers could enroll in Notify NYC by texting “NOTIFYNYC” to 692-692 in addition to the previous methods of signing up on the NotifyNYC website, by calling 311, or by downloading the free NotifyNYC app. 

 

This initiative is the latest way the Adams administration is leveraging emerging technologies to serve as force multipliers for first responders, increase efficiency, and keep New Yorkers safe. In May, Mayor Adams announced that the city is investing $1.6 million to equip bodegas with emergency buttons to combat retail theft and protect staff and customers. In March, he expanded the New York City Department of Transportation’s automated enforcement efforts to keep streets safe. And, last year, he launched a program allowing businesses to voluntarily share security camera footage with the NYPD to aid in criminal investigations. New York City has also led the nation in utilizing drone technology to keep residents safe, including by creating the “Drone as First Responder” program to enhance the NYPD’s emergency-response capabilities, as well as to use drones to combat subway surfing, increase situational awareness for first responders, inspect infrastructure, assist with search and rescue operations, deliver flotation devices to distressed swimmers and monitor for sharks at beaches, and broadcast flood warnings in low-lying communities. 

 

Permits Filed for 2055 Ryer Avenue in Tremont, The Bronx

 

Permits have been filed for a 13-story residential building at 2055 Ryer Avenue in Tremont, The Bronx. Located between East 180th Street and East Burnside Avenue, the lot is near the Tremont Avenue subway station, served by the B and D trains. Darwin Torres is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 114-foot-tall development will yield 64,908 square feet designated for residential space. The building will have 95 residences, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 683 square feet. The masonry-based structure will also have a basement and a 33-foot-long rear yard.

Becall Engineering Services Inc. is listed as the architect of record.

Demolition permits were filed in March for the residential structure on the site. An estimated completion date has not been announced.

Housing Lottery Launches for 66 East 177th Street in Mt. Hope, The Bronx

 

The affordable housing lottery has launched for 66 East 177th Street, a 12-story residential building in Mt. Hope, The Bronx. Designed by Badaly Architects and developed by Aglin Zefi of A2Z Construction Group, the structure yields 55 residences. Available on NYC Housing Connect are 11 units for residents at 80 percent of the area median income (AMI), ranging in eligible income from $76,595 to $140,000.

Amenities include bike storage lockers, elevator, and laundry service. Residences are equipped with intecoms, air conditioning, and name-brand kitchen appliances, countertops, and finishes. Tenants are responsible for electricity.

At 130 percent of the AMI, there are four studios with a monthly rent of $2,027 for incomes ranging from $76,595 to $103,680; five one-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $2,167 for incomes ranging from $82,389 to $116,640; and two two-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $2,585 for incomes ranging from $99,395 to $140,000.

Prospective renters must meet income and household size requirements to apply for these apartments. Applications must be postmarked or submitted online no later than August 5, 2025.

Attorney General James Sues St. Lawrence County Gun Shop for Violating Gun Safety Laws

 

Owner of Bowman’s Gun Shop Failed to Properly Secure His Store, Despite Two Burglaries Where 58 Guns Were Stolen and Trafficked, Putting New Yorkers at Risk

New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit against Bowman’s Gun Shop, a gun store in St. Lawrence County, and its owner, Timothy Bowman, for violating New York’s gun safety laws, storing guns and ammunition in an unsafe manner, and failing to properly secure the gun shop, all of which endangered New Yorkers. The lax security at Bowman’s Gun Shop led to two burglaries, where on one occasion, burglars were able to enter through an unlocked door, and in a separate incident, through an open window. In total, 58 guns and dozens of boxes of ammunition were stolen and some of the stolen guns were trafficked to New York City, Philadelphia, and even internationally to Barbados. Despite these burglaries, Mr. Bowman has persistently violated New York’s gun safety laws and still has not taken adequate steps to improve security at the store to prevent additional theft and trafficking. New York law requires gun dealers to have a security plan for their store, properly store firearms, and install and maintain a security alarm system from a licensed alarm system operator, all of which Mr. Bowman failed to do. For these violations of New York’s gun safety laws, Attorney General James is seeking to stop Bowman from owning or operating a gun shop in New York and collect disgorgement and penalties.

“Irresponsible and inadequate security at gun shops is dangerous for all New Yorkers,” said Attorney General James. “New Yorkers deserve to feel safe in their communities, and gun shop owners like Timothy Bowman, who repeatedly violate our gun safety laws and make it easy for thieves to steal and traffic guns, put New Yorkers at risk. Gun shop owners have a responsibility to maintain the utmost security in and around their stores to prevent theft and gun trafficking. Mr. Bowman violated that responsibility and today we are taking action to hold him accountable and protect New Yorkers.”

Bowman’s Gun Shop is located in Gouverneur, New York and has been operating since 2014. In April 2019, Mr. Bowman’s license to sell pistols and his permit to possess pistols were suspended by the St. Lawrence County Court for six months and one year, respectively. His license and permit were suspended after an investigation by the New York State Police (NYSP), during which Mr. Bowman admitted that he had knowingly received two handguns from someone who he knew possessed them illegally and that he made false entries about these two handguns into his legally required logbooks.

While his license and permit were suspended, Mr. Bowman continued to operate his store irresponsibly. In September 2019, burglars broke into Bowman’s Gun Shop and stole two shotguns, three rifles, two pistols, a BB gun, over 50 boxes of ammunition, and cash. The burglars entered through an exterior door that was unlocked and then forced open an interior door. Following this first burglary, Mr. Bowman did not take adequate steps to improve security at the store. 

A year later, in September 2020, another group of burglars broke into Bowman’s Gun Shop. This time, the burglars stole 28 pistols, 12 revolvers, nine rifles—including four AR-style rifles—and two shotguns. The burglars were able to enter the store because Mr. Bowman had left a window partially open when the store was otherwise closed. Although Bowman’s Gun Shop had an alarm system in place at the time of the second burglary, Mr. Bowman admitted that he neglected to arm the system “three quarters of the time,” including on the night of the second burglary. In investigating the second burglary, NYSP were repeatedly contacted by other police departments that had recovered guns in the course of their criminal investigations that had been stolen from Bowman’s Gun Shop. Guns stolen in the 2020 burglary were recovered by authorities in New York City, Philadelphia, and Barbados. Moreover, the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) recovered an additional gun that was stolen but was not reported as stolen by Bowman’s, as required by federally licensed gun dealers.

In October 2023, NYSP inspected Bowman’s Gun Shop and concluded that it did not comply with legal safety requirements for gun stores. In New York, all gun stores are required to:

• Implement a security plan;
• Secure all guns after business hours;
• Store ammunition separately from guns and out of reach of customers;
• Maintain recordings of security video footage from the store for a minimum of two years; and
• Maintain backups of paper records.

With this lawsuit, Attorney General James seeks to ban Bowman from owning or operating a gun store in New York and to obtain a court order requiring Mr. Bowman to comply with all of New York’s gun safety laws. Attorney General James also seeks to collect disgorgement, penalties, and fees. 

CaaStle Founder Charged In $300 Million Fraud Scheme

 

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), Christopher G. Raia, announced the unsealing of an Indictment charging CHRISTINE HUNSICKER with wire fraud, securities fraud, money laundering, making false statements to a financial institution, and aggravated identity theft.  The charges in the Indictment arise from an alleged scheme by the defendant to defraud investors in the fashion technology business CaaStle and a related venture out of more than $300 million through false statements, misleading claims, and fabricated documents.  HUNSICKER self-surrendered and was presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jennifer E. Willis.  The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge J. Paul Oetken.  

"As alleged, Christine Hunsicker defrauded investors of hundreds of millions of dollars through document forgery, fabricated audits, and material misrepresentations about her company’s financial condition,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton.  “The promise of pre-IPO technology companies can be fertile ground for fraudsters who play on investor euphoria.  Investors should be aware of these incentives and that pre-IPO companies are not subject to the rigors of SEC registration.  This Office is committed to protecting investors who place their trust and capital in emerging companies.  We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to investigate, detect, and prosecute those individuals who abuse our markets and our investors” 

“Christine Hunsicker allegedly submitted fraudulent financial statements to swindle investors and banks of more than $300 million,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia.  “This alleged scheme was stitched together with repeated deception and misinformation, ultimately betraying the trust of the defendant’s clients.  The FBI remains committed to apprehending any business owners who implement unlawful practices to increase their personal wealth.”

As alleged in the Indictment:[1]

HUNSICKER, a well-known entrepreneur and successful businessperson in the fashion-tech industry, founded and was the chief executive officer of CaaStle, a clothing technology business.  While promoting CaaStle as a rapidly growing business valued at more than $1.4 billion, HUNSICKER knew that CaaStle was in financial distress with limited cash and significant expenses.  To raise the capital for CaaStle’s operations, HUNSICKER provided investors with falsified income statements, fake audited financial statements, fictitious bank records, and sham corporate documents that grossly overstated CaaStle’s operating profit, revenue, and available cash. She also misrepresented to investors that their funds would be used to purchase discounted shares from existing shareholders who needed liquidity, when in fact she fabricated the existence of those shareholders and used the money as new capital for CaaStle while concealing the company’s cash needs.  In total, HUNSICKER fraudulently induced more than $275 million in investments.

When confronted by an audit firm in October 2023 about transmitting a fake audit to an investor, HUNSICKER lied, falsely claiming that she had created the fake audit in connection with a lecture she gave at Princeton University, and that sending the audit to the investor had been a one-time error. In reality, HUNSICKER had provided two fake audits to the investor while soliciting an investment. She later repaid that investor to prevent the public disclosure of her fraud. Undeterred, she continued the scheme, providing an investor with fake bank account screenshots showing nearly $200 million in available cash when CaaStle had less than $200,000. One month later, in October 2024, HUNSICKER provided a different investor with a fake draft audit. In 2024, HUNSICKER also falsified the signature of a Board director to make it appear that the Board had authorized the grant of stock options to another investor, raising more than $20 million for CaaStle. Around the same time, HUNSICKER extended her fraudulent activities to a new business venture, P180, using false information about CaaStle’s success to raise approximately $30 million for P180. HUNSICKER also submitted false information about CaaStle to a bank in order to obtain and keep a $20 million personal loan.

Even after the CaaStle Board removed HUNSICKER as Chair and prohibited her from soliciting investments, she continued her fraudulent activities and attempted to raise new capital. In early 2025, she sold $8 million of her CaaStle shares and more than $5 million in P180 convertible notes without disclosing material information to investors. In February 2025, HUNSICKER attempted to sell an additional $19 million of her CaaStle shares to another investor. HUNSICKER persisted in her deceptive practices even after law enforcement agents seized her electronic devices in March 2025, continuing to meet with the investor about a fake audit without revealing its fraudulent nature, her removal from the Board, or the prohibition against her selling shares. CaaStle filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on June 20, 2025.

HUNSICKER, 48, of Lafayette, New Jersey, is charged with one count of wire fraud, two counts of securities fraud, and one count of money laundering, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.  HUNSICKER is also charged with one count of making false statements to a financial institution, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, and aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory sentence of two years in prison.       

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

Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the FBI. Mr. Clayton also expressed appreciation for the assistance of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which separately initiated civil proceedings against the defendant.

The case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marguerite Colson and Alexandra Rothman are in charge of the prosecution.

[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the descriptions of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

ICE Continues to Round Up the Worst of the Worst: Convicted Killer and Fentanyl Trafficker Off American Streets

 

Operations across the U.S. target criminal illegal aliens convicted of burglary, kidnapping, and human trafficking

The Department of Homeland Security announced U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers arrested removable criminal illegal aliens across the country on July 17, 2025, as part of coordinated enforcement targeting some of the worst of the worst in our communities. Among those taken into custody were previously deported felons, gang members, and individuals with long histories of violent criminal conduct.

One of the most serious arrests was of Phong Thanh Nguyen, a criminal illegal alien from Vietnam, with a conviction for second-degree murder, indecent exposure, and a U.S. immigration judge issued a final order of removal in 2012. Nguyen was arrested by ICE Los Angeles officers after it was determined he had violated the terms of his supervision. Despite his murder conviction, indecent exposure, and removal order, Nguyen was released under an Order of Supervision in 2012 during the Obama administration. 

“A Vietnamese national murdered someone, exposed himself in public and remained on U.S. soil for years,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “ICE has a duty to protect the American public from criminal illegal aliens. President Trump and Secretary Noem will not allow convicted criminal illegal alien killers to hide behind outdated policies. Our message to criminal illegal aliens is clear, leave now. If you don’t, we will find you and deport you, and you will never return.” 

ICE continues to target and remove the worst offenders—those who pose the greatest threat to the safety and security of American communities. Nguyen remains in ICE custody pending removal procedures.  

ICE agents across the country carried out similar arrests of criminal illegal aliens with serious convictions, including: 

• Abraham Taddesse, an illegal alien from Ethiopia, convicted of rape in the second degree in Upper Marlboro, Maryland.

• Juan Felix Yanes-Montano, a criminal alien from Cuba, convicted of robbery with a deadly weapon, armed burglary, and kidnapping with a deadly weapon in Miami-Dade County, Florida. 

• Cesar Porras, an illegal alien from Mexico, convicted of possession with intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl in Pecos, Texas. 

• Eduardo Salinas-Gonzalez, an illegal alien from Mexico, convicted of smuggling aliens, escape, and two illegal re-entries in Zapata County, Texas. 

Governor Hochul Announces Metropolitan Transportation Authority Has Installed Protective Platform Barriers at Over 50 Subway Stations

Per Governor’s State of the State Promise, MTA Remains on Track To Deliver More Than 100 Stations With Barriers by the End of 2025

Platform Barriers Delivered Better, Faster and Cheaper by Using In-House NYC Transit Labor

Customer Surveys Show Barriers Make Majority of Riders Feel Safer

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has installed protective platform edge barriers at 56 subway stations. Halfway through 2025, the MTA is on track to deliver on Governor Hochul’s 2025 State of the State direction to install barriers at more than 100 subway stations by the end of the year. This directive is part of a larger set of initiatives Governor Hochul announced in her State of the State address to protect subway riders and workers. The MTA continues to upgrade station lighting with brighter, safer LED bulbs. LEDs are now installed in 342 stations, on schedule for all 472 subway stations to be upgraded by the end of the year. Safety in the subway system continues to improve with overall major crimes dropping by 3 percent from the same period last year and by almost 10 percent when compared to pre-pandemic levels.

“New Yorkers’ safety will always be my number one priority, and customers need to both feel and be secure every time they ride the subway,” Governor Hochul said. “At my direction, the MTA has ramped up the installation of protective platform barriers, building on their efforts to brighten stations with LED lighting and equip every subway car with security cameras. Transit crime is down in 2025, and these efforts will make the subway system safer for everyone.”

Recent customer surveys have shown that 59 percent of riders wanted the installation of protective platform barriers throughout the system — including 88 percent of riders over the age of 65. A majority of respondents have also noted that they believe the presence of platform barriers in the station makes them feel safer and believe the barriers will protect against falls onto the tracks. Platform barriers are built and installed using in-house New York City Transit (NYCT) labor with in-house machinery in a NYCT facility resulting in lower costs and a faster installation timeline.

The selection of stations for the installation process prioritizes feasibility, including stations with standard car-stopping positions in segments of the 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, F, M and L trains. Among these train lines, stations with higher ridership levels and island platforms are prioritized.

The following stations have platform barriers now installed:

Brooklyn:

• Clark St - 2, 3
• Morgan Av - L
• Grand St - L
• Dekalb Av - L
• Halsey St - L
• Bushwick Av-Aberdeen St - L
• Myrtle-Wyckoff Avs - L, M
• Graham Av - L
• Jefferson St - L
• Bedford Av - L
• Lorimer St - L
• Wilson Av - L
• Montrose Av - L
• Eastern Pkwy-Brooklyn Museum - 2, 3
• Grand Army Plaza - 2, 3
• President St - 2, 3
• Hoyt St - 2, 3
• Beverly Rd - 2, 5
• Sterling St - 2, 5
• Winthrop St - 2, 5
• Bergen St - 2, 3

Manhattan:

• 191 St - 1
• 5 Av - 7
• 1 Av - L
• 6 Av - L
• 125 St - 4, 5, 6
• Bowery - J, Z
• Fulton St - J, Z
• Broad St - J, Z
• Canal St - J, Z
• Wall St - 2, 3
• 23 St - 6
• 125 St - 2, 3
• Central Park North-110 St - 2, 3
• 135 St - 2, 3
• Astor Place - 6
• 8 Av - L
• Bleecker St - 6
• Fulton St - 2, 3
• Spring St - 6
• 103 St - 6
• Park Place - 2, 3
• 28 St - 6
• 68 St-Hunter College - 6
• 33 St - 6
• 96 St - 6
• 77 St - 6
• 145 St - 1
• Grand Central-42 St - 7
• Christopher St-Stonewall - 1

Queens:

• Flushing-Main St - 7
• 46 St - M, R
• 67 Av - M, R
• 75 Av - E, F
• Woodhaven Blvd - M, R
• Jamaica Center-Parsons Blvd-Archer Av - E, J, Z