NYC PUBLIC ADVOCATE RESPONDS TO REPORT THAT CRIME RATES DO NOT CORRELATE TO NYPD HEADCOUNT

 

"Vital City’s report Makes clear that the hysteria pushed by some media, candidates, and officials is not founded in fact. I agree that filling existing vacancies is important – at the same time, NYPD headcount is not a panacea. More money or more officers does not automatically make New Yorkers safer – the truth is much more challenging and less politically convenient. This reporting is new, but the reality has been consistent.

"Hopefully, this new analysis, coming from a former police executive, will push our leaders to go beyond simple posturing and talking points. Targeted deployment coupled with services has always been more effective in the long term than surges. Public safety is not about simply pushing more police toward a problem – it's about ensuring law enforcement has the targeted resources and support to fill their most effective role alongside sustainable investment in community-driven solutions in additional areas."

MOST PRO-HOUSING ADMINISTRATION IN CITY HISTORY: MAYOR ADAMS ANNOUNCES VISION FOR OVER 900 NEW AFFORDABLE HOMES ON BRONX WATERFRONT

 

Adams Administration Moves Forward With Plan to Build “Fordham Landing South,”  Create Vibrant Mixed-Use Community on Underused Stretch of Harlem River 

  

Project Builds on Recent Announcement That Adams Administration Has Created, Preserved, or Planned Over 426,000 Homes for New Yorkers Through Efforts to Date 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced the city will move forward with “Fordham Landing South,” a transformative affordable housing development along the Bronx waterfront that will create more than 900 affordable homes for New Yorkers. Along with developers Dynamic Star and Lettire, the Adams administration will advance this project along an underused stretch of the Harlem River, creating a new mixed-use community with approximately 927 affordable homes and waterfront public access area. Today’s announcement reinforces Mayor Adams’ ongoing commitment to creating new homes across the entire city, with over 426,000 homes already created, preserved, or planned through the Adams administration’s efforts to date. 

  

“This stretch of the Bronx waterfront has led many lives but will soon be home to over 900 families. Our vision for Fordham Landing South will create nearly a thousand 100-percent affordable units along with a vibrant mixed-use community and new access to the Metro North transit hub,” said Mayor Adams. “When we took office three years ago, our housing situation was at a breaking point: too many families were being pushed out of the housing market and too many plots of land like this one lay empty. So, our administration turned inaction into initiative, shattering affordable housing records year after year after year and passing the first citywide rezoning in six decades to unlock new housing across every neighborhood. The key to your own front door is the key to unlocking the American Dream, and in the Bronx, we are making sure that dream stays strong and affordable.” 

  

“Once again, Mayor Adams and his team deliver on longstanding dreams and opportunities not achieved by previous administrations,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Adolfo Carrion, Jr. “When I was a city planner, district manager, and councilmember in the 1990s, we were envisioning housing here on Fordham Landing. Now it will finally get done! Working with Dynamic Star, Lettire Construction, and in partnership with New York state, we will provide over 900 units of affordable housing to New Yorkers and beautiful public waterfront space, all adjacent to mass transit easily accessible to the central business district of our global city. Terrific!” 

Fordham Landing South will bring over 900 new affordable homes, as well as a vibrant mixed-use community, to the Bronx waterfront. Credit: Perkins Eastman 

The vision for Fordham Landing South includes the creation of over 900 new homes — all 100 percent affordable — along the Harlem River waterfront, as well as the construction of two mixed-use buildings, structured parking, a waterfront public access area, a new road, and new access to Metro North to redevelop a vacant riverfront site that is immediately south of the University Heights Bridge. The 927 affordable units will serve a variety of income levels, with at least 15 percent dedicated to formerly homeless families. The project will be financed, in part, by both the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, and additionally, the project has received a $55 million award from New York state, administered by Empire State Development (ESD), to assist with site infrastructure.    

  

Since entering office, Mayor Adams has made historic investments to create more affordable housing and ensure more New Yorkers have a place to call home. Last week, Mayor Adams announced that his administration has created, preserved, or planned approximately 426,800 homes for New Yorkers through its work to date. Mayor Adams also announced that, in Fiscal Year 2025, the Adams administration created the most affordable rental units in city history and celebrated back-to-back-to-back record-breaking years for producing permanently-affordable homes for formerly-homeless New Yorkers, placing homeless New Yorkers into housing, and connecting New Yorkers to housing through the city’s housing lottery.  

  

In addition to creating and preserving record amounts of affordable and market-rate housing for New Yorkers, the Adams administration has also passed ambitious plans that will create tens of thousands of new homes as well. Last December, Mayor Adams celebrated the passage of “City of Yes for Housing Opportunity,” the most pro-housing proposal in city history that will build 80,000 new homes over 15 years and invest $5 billion towards critical infrastructure updates and housing. 

  

The Adams administration is also advancing several robust neighborhood plans that, if adopted, would deliver nearly 50,000 units over the next 15 years to New York neighborhoods. In addition to the Bronx-Metro North Station Area Plan and the Atlantic Avenue Mixed-Use Plan, both of which have been passed by the New York City Council, the Adams administration is advancing plans in Midtown South in Manhattan, as well as Jamaica and Long Island City in Queens. 

  

Today live at 12 PM Talking Politics

 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Lz0R1QC7lNE

Today's guest is Bronx Borough President candidate Grace Marrero, the latest on Bally's rebirth, Isreal taking over Gaza, Hochul's Cannabis problem, Rikers stats, the mayor's race, and lots more live at 12 PM or anytime on YouTube at the links above or below.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Lz0R1QC7lNE

Talking Politics Host: Robert PressDirector/Producer: Mutiu Olawuyi Executive Producer :https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Lz0R1QC7lNE

Permits Filed for 870 Home Street in Foxhurst, The Bronx

 

Permits have been filed for a six-story residential building at 870 Home Street in Foxhurst, The Bronx. Located between Rev. James A. Polite Avenue and East 169th Street, the lot is near the Freeman Street subway station, served by the 2 and 5 trains. David Jones LLC is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 56-foot-tall development will yield 11,928 square feet designated for residential space. The building will have 20 residences, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 596 square feet. The masonry-based structure will also have a cellar and a 36-foot-long rear yard.

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

Demolition permits were filed in June for the single-story structure on the site. An estimated completion date has not been announced.

Affordable Housing Lottery Launches for 1840 Harrison Avenue in Morris Heights, The Bronx

 

The affordable housing lottery has launched for 1840 Harrison Avenue, a seven-story residential building in Morris Heights, The Bronx. Designed by Sander Williams Architect and Yoel Kahan in HSK Management Inc., the structure yields 53 residences. Available on NYC Housing Connect are 53 units for residents at 130 percent of the area median income (AMI), ranging in eligible income from $72,000 to $167,570.

Amenities include a garage with assigned parking spaces, common area Wi-Fi, elevator, and storage. Residences are equipped with air conditioning, patio or balcony, hardwood floors, smart controls for heating and cooling, energy-efficient appliances, and name-brand kitchen countertops and finishes. Tenants are responsible for electric including stove, heat, and hot water.

At 130 percent of the AMI, there is one one-bedroom with a monthly rent of $2,706 for incomes ranging from $102,172 to $189,540, and 52 two-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $2,991 for incomes ranging from $117,052 to $227,500.

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 19, 2025.

VCJC News & Notes 8/8/25

 

Van Cortlandt Jewish Center

News and Notes

Here's this week's edition of the VCJC News and Notes email. We hope you enjoy it and find it useful!

Reminders

1. Shabbos
   
   

   Shabbos information is, as always, available on our website, both in the information sidebar and the events calendar.
   Here are the times you need:  
   Shabbos Candles Friday 8/8/25 @ 7:44 pm
   Shabbos morning services at 8:40 am.  Please join the services if you can do so safely. 
   Shabbos Ends Saturday 8/9/25 @ 8:47 pm
   If you require an aliyah or would like to lead services, read from the torah or haftorah please speak to one of the gabbaim.
    

2. Buy a shirt, support VCJC
   JpodPlus, operated by Jack Kleinfeld, will donate all profits made from the sale of its Bring them home, NOW, T-shirt to VCJC.  The shirt is available in adult, youth long sleeve and youth short sleeve tees. The shirts are available in several colors and will be shipped directly to the buyer from the Print On Demand manufacturer.  The adult version in black is shown below along with a few of the available colors.
   Other shirts and Print on Demand products can be seen at the store site.

Our mailing address is:

Van Cortlandt Jewish Center

3880 Sedgwick Ave

Bronx, NY 10463

CITY OF NEW YORK LEADS COALITION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO PROTECT AFFORDABLE CARE ACT COVERAGE FOR MILLIONS OF AMERICANS

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Corporation Counsel Muriel Goode-Trufant announced that the City of New York is leading a coalition of local governments in filing an amicus brief supporting plaintiffs in California v. Kennedy et al., fighting to protect patient coverage under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). The lawsuit — brought by a coalition of states, including New York — challenges a recently finalized federal rule that will create obstacles to enrollment in the ACA, result in millions more uninsured and underinsured people across the nation, and ban gender-affirming care as an essential health benefit. The coalition’s amicus details the harmful effects of the rule and supports the states’ effort to stop the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from implementing the rule on August 25.  

  

“Access to health care is a human right codified into law by the historic passage of the Affordable Care Act, which has provided health coverage to millions of Americans. At a time when too many New Yorkers and people across the country are struggling with high costs, stripping away that coverage will only take us backwards,” said Mayor Adams. “Government should do everything in its power to provide and expand access to health care and other essential services, not restrict it, but this federal rule only serves to jeopardize health coverage for New Yorkers and Americans all across the nation. New York City is proud to lead this coalition of localities fighting to protect health coverage for the people we represent.” 

  

“The sweeping regulatory changes to the Affordable Care Act adopted by the federal government are unlawful and a major step backwards for public health,” said Corporation Counsel Goode-Trufant. “As detailed in our brief, this misguided new federal rule will cause millions of people to lose their health insurance and force them to turn to severely strained public hospitals for care, exacting a tremendous human and financial cost on us all.”  

  

The coalition’s brief argues that public hospitals will be rocked by the new rule at a time when steep staffing shortages, as well as soaring demand and costs, are already causing widespread hospital closures across the nation. The brief details how the new federal rule will undermine the ability of local officials to protect public health with devastating consequences across the board, including decreased trust in public hospitals as they are forced to stretch resources to deal with increased number of patients.  

  

The brief further contends that when low-income individuals lose affordable coverage, their medical costs do not simply disappear, as the federal government assumes; they are shifted onto the backs to public health care systems and localities. For example, hundreds of thousands of the nearly 400,000 patients that New York City’s public health care system serves every year are uninsured, and most other patients are insured by public payers that reimburse at below-cost rates, resulting in more than $1 billion in uncompensated costs for the health systems seeing these patients. 

  

If the new rule is allowed to take effect, some safety-net providers will surely buckle under the burden of caring for millions of newly uninsured people and billions of additional dollars in unpaid bills.  

  

Filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts by 16 states, California v. Kennedy et al. alleges HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy’s actions violate federal laws such as the Administrative Procedure Act, the Separation of Powers doctrine, and the Spending Clause.  

  

Joining the City of New York and NYC Health + Hospitals in filing this amicus are Santa Clara County, California and King County, Washington, as well as the city and county of San Francisco, California.   

BRONX MAN INDICTED IN TWO SHOOTINGS

 

Defendant Fired 17 Bullets on Busy Street, Shot into Apartment Building

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced that a Bronx man has been indicted on Attempted Murder, Attempted Manslaughter and other charges for two separate shootings in which he fired numerous shots and put lives in danger. 

District Attorney Clark said, “This defendant shot across a busy intersection, sending people running for cover, and on another occasion he fired through the front door of an apartment building. Fortunately, no one was physically harmed, but gunfire traumatizes residents, and such brazen disregard for public safety will not be tolerated.” 

District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Christopher Gonzalez, 37, of Belmont Avenue, the Bronx, was indicted today on Attempted Murder in the second-degree, Attempted Assault in the first-degree, Attempted Manslaughter in the first-degree, first-degree Reckless Endangerment, three counts of second-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon and three counts of Criminal Possession of a Firearm by Bronx Supreme Court Justice George Villegas. Bail was set at $300,000 cash, $1,000,000 bond. He is due back in court on November 19, 2025. 

According to the investigation, on April 7, 2025, at approximately 4:30 a.m., the defendant is seen on video surveillance approaching 726 East 181st Street in the Tremont section and stopping a few feet from the entrance where he allegedly opens fire with a 9-mm pistol. Four bullets tore through the interior walls. 

On June 7, 2025, at approximately 8:00 p.m., the defendant is seen on video at the intersection of East 180th Street and Crotona Avenue in the Crotona section, engaged in an argument with an unidentified man, and as the man walks away, the defendant allegedly points a 9-mm pistol in his direction and fires multiple shots. The unidentified male returned fire. 

Families walking with children as well as people sitting on their front stoops can be seen running for cover. In total, 17 shell casings were recovered from the scene by NYPD. 

The defendant was arrested on June 8, 2025, in possession of a loaded pistol. Ballistics testing confirmed that it was the same weapon used in the June 7 shooting.

District Attorney Clark thanked NYPD Detectives Mark Ricketts and Pedro Silverio from the 48th Precinct Detective Squad for their work on the investigation.

An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.