NYC PUBLIC ADVOCATE RESPONDS TO THE TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER ON ICE’S CONDITIONS AT 26 FEDERAL PLAZA

 

"While the federal government has done all it can to hide the horrific conditions of its de facto detention center at 26 Federal Plaza, we have all seen the truth. I thank Make the Road New York, both the ACLU and the New York Civil Liberties Union, and Wang Hecker LLP, who brought this case and secured this order. 

 

"The Trump administration has refused Congressional and city leaders like myself from seeing its grotesque treatment of human beings in custody, and despite our efforts, the Adams administration has refused to try to exert its authority to inspect the space. Today’s Temporary Restraining Order should be a measure of protection against the worst of these conditions, though in the last several months DHS has openly defied laws and orders – so we still need to gain access and bear witness. 

 

"The conditions on the 10th Floor of 26 Federal Plaza are inhumane, and ICE’s abductions I’ve witnessed throughout other floors of the building show the depths of inhumanity in conditions and conduct that this administration is willing to inflict on immigrant New Yorkers. Today’s ruling provides some temporary protections against the first – and we must continue to use every tool available to fight Donald Trump’s extra-legal abductions and abuses." 

Victory! Comptroller Lander Recoups $3 Million for COVID-19 Subway Cleaners

 

LN Pro settled for $2.4M & Fleetwash settled for $606K

With this settlement, the Bureau of Labor Law collected over $15M during Comptroller Lander’s tenure

In a groundbreaking prevailing wage agreement, the New York City Comptroller’s Office reached a $3 million settlement with LN Pro Services, LLC and Fleetwash, Inc. to pay back wages for subway cleaners hired to clean and disinfect subways during the COVID-19 pandemic. LN Pro Services, LLC’s settlement totals $2,400,000; Fleetwash, Inc.’s settlement totals $606,686.80. Under these settlements, the New York City Transit Authority (NYCTA), a part of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), will cover 100% of LN Pro’s settlement and 80% of Fleetwash’s settlement. These most recent settlements bring the total collected under New York City Comptroller Brad Lander’s term to over $15 million.  

Comptroller Lander released the following statement: 

“By reaching this long-overdue settlement, the Comptroller’s Office proudly and successfully recovered millions of dollars on behalf of the hundreds of subway cleaners who performed a vital service and risked their own health at the height of the pandemic. The court agreed with us that the workers were entitled to prevailing wages – a higher rate than what the NYCTA instructed its contractors to pay. Without these cleaners sanitizing and keeping our train system from piling up with debris, New York City would have had a much harder time getting moving again five years ago.” 

In November 2024, the New York City Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH) ruled that NYCTA’s contracts covering hundreds of workers who cleaned subway cars during the COVID-19 pandemic were subject to prevailing wage requirements. OATH found that the work of cleaning and disinfecting subway cars qualifies as “building service work” under Article 9 of the New York Labor Law. In doing so, the Administrative Law Judge Kevin F. Casey rejected NYCTA’s arguments and agreed with the Comptroller that these subway cleaners “performed an essential public service” during the pandemic. The parties ultimately reached a total settlement of $3 million covering both contractors.  

During the height of the pandemic, NYCTA entered into contracts with private cleaning services to conduct deep cleaning and disinfecting work of subway cars within subway stations. The Office of the Comptroller sued two of the companies, Fleetwash, Inc. and LN Pro Services, LLC, in February 2024 after the conclusion of a multi-year prevailing wage investigation. Despite the Comptroller’s Office informing the MTA NYCTA that cleaning subway cars required prevailing wages, the agency disagreed and continued to instruct the contractors that the work was not subject to prevailing wage requirements, arguing that even though the subway cars were cleaned while they were in the stations, it did not qualify as building service work. While NYCTA contracts required prevailing wages for cleaners in the removal of trash and maintenance of cleanliness at subway stations, the requirement to pay prevailing wage rates was not included in the COVID contracts for the cleaning and disinfecting of train cars parked at terminal stations.  

Under the New York Labor Law, the New York City Comptroller sets and enforces prevailing wage laws for public works projects and City-owned properties in the City of New York. The New York Labor Law requires that prevailing wages and supplemental benefits be paid to building service employees on public contracts. 

UPDATED AIR QUALITY HEALTH ADVISORY ISSUED FOR LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK CITY METRO, LOWER HUDSON VALLEY REGIONS

 

In Effect for Today, Tuesday, August 12, 2025

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Amanda Lefton and State Department of Health (DOH) Commissioner Dr. James McDonald issued an updated Air Quality Health Advisory for Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, for ozone for the Long Island, New York City Metro, and Lower Hudson Valley regions. In addition, smoke from wildfires in Canada may still be visible aloft as it continues to clear out of New York State. 

The pollutant of concern is: Ozone 

The advisory will be in effect: 11 a.m. through 11 p.m.

The Quality Health Advisory regions consist of: Long Island, which includes Nassau and Suffolk counties; New York City Metro, which includes New York City and Rockland and Westchester counties; and Lower Hudson Valley, which includes Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Ulster, and Sullivan counties. 

DEC and DOH issue Air Quality Health Advisories when DEC meteorologists predict levels of pollution, either ozone or fine particulate matter (PM2.5), are expected to exceed an Air Quality Index (AQI) value of 100. The AQI was created as an easy way to correlate levels of different pollutants to one scale, with a higher AQI value indicating a greater health concern.

New Yorkers are encouraged to be “Air Quality Aware” and check airnow.gov for accurate information on air quality forecasts and conditions. To view the latest DEC air quality forecasts, visit the DEC website. 

Ozone 

Summer heat can lead to the formation of ground-level ozone, a major component of photochemical smog. Automobile exhaust and out-of-state emission sources are the primary sources of ground-level ozone and the most serious air pollution problems in the northeast. This surface pollutant should not be confused with the protective layer of ozone in the upper atmosphere. 

Ozone is not a direct emission, but rather forms when sunlight chemically reacts with nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from automobile exhaust and industrial emissions. High ozone is not as visible as PM2.5 because it is a colorless gas, but will produce hazy skies and reduce visibility in high concentrations. Ozone production can also be enhanced by the presence of wildfire smoke. 

People, especially those with cardiovascular disease and those who have respiratory disease (such as asthma), young children, the elderly, those who exercise outdoors, and those involved in vigorous outdoor work should consider limiting strenuous outdoor physical activity when ozone levels are the highest (generally afternoon to early evening). When outdoor levels of ozone are elevated, going indoors will usually reduce exposure. Individuals experiencing symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, or coughing should consider consulting their personal physician. 

Ozone levels generally decrease at night and can be minimized during daylight hours by curtailment of automobile travel and the use of public transportation where available. 

New Yorkers also are urged to take the following energy-saving and pollution-reducing steps:  

• use mass transit or carpool instead of driving, as automobile emissions account for about 60 percent of pollution in our cities;
• conserve fuel and reduce exhaust emissions by combining necessary motor vehicle trips;
• turn off all lights and electrical appliances in unoccupied areas;
• use fans to circulate air. If air conditioning is necessary, set thermostats at 78 degrees;
• close the blinds and shades to limit heat build-up and to preserve cooled air;
• limit use of household appliances. If necessary, run the appliances at off-peak (after 7 p.m.) hours. These would include dishwashers, dryers, pool pumps and water heaters;
• set refrigerators and freezers at more efficient temperatures;
• purchase and install energy efficient lighting and appliances with the Energy Star label; and
• reduce or eliminate outdoor burning and attempt to minimize indoor sources of PM 2.5 such as smoking.

Additional information on ozone and PM 2.5 is available on DEC's website and on DOH's website (PM 2.5) / DOH's website (ozone). A new DEC fact sheet about the Air Quality Index is available on DEC’s website or by PDF download. 

To stay up-to-date with announcements from DEC, sign up to receive Air Quality Alerts through DEC Delivers: DEC's Premier Email Service. A toll-free Air Quality Hotline (1-800-535-1345) was also established by DEC to keep New Yorkers informed of the latest air quality situation.

Attorney General James Urges New Yorkers to Be Cautious of Fake Bad Bunny Concert Tickets

 

AG James Encourages New Yorkers Who Were Sold Invalid Bad Bunny Concert Tickets to Contact Her Office 

New York Attorney General Letitia James today issued a consumer alert warning New Yorkers of fake or invalid tickets to Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio “Bad Bunny” concerts. Bad Bunny, a popular Puerto Rican musician with a fan base in New York and around the world, is performing concerts in San Juan, Puerto Rico through September 14, 2025. The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) received a complaint from New Yorkers who purchased tickets to the concert and traveled to Puerto Rico but were denied entry to the concert because they were told their tickets were invalid. Attorney General James urges New Yorkers to follow tips provided by her office to avoid concert ticket scams and to contact her office if they were sold fake or invalid tickets by filing a complaint online.

“Bad Bunny is a musical icon in New York, and scammers are taking advantage of his popularity to sell fake concert tickets,” said Attorney General James. “People have paid thousands of dollars to travel to Puerto Rico and see Bad Bunny perform, only to be turned away at the door because the tickets they were sold were fake. Too often, scammers take advantage of big events to dupe people out of their hard-earned money, and I am urging New Yorkers to take caution when purchasing their Bad Bunny concert tickets.”

The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) issued the following tips to help New Yorkers avoid concert ticket scams. When purchasing tickets secondhand, consumers should:

• Check to see if the venue, performer, or event has an official, verified source for buying and reselling tickets.
• If you are buying tickets from a ticket reseller, only purchase through a reputable ticket resale platform that guarantees it will provide a refund if something goes wrong. An illegitimate reseller could provide a ticket that is counterfeit or in a location that is different than what was advertised, or not provide a ticket at all.
• Avoid paying for tickets by cash, wire transfer, or pre-paid money transfer.  If the tickets turn out to be fake, it is highly unlikely you will get your money back. If you pay by credit card or PayPal and the tickets turn out to be fake, you can dispute the charge.
• Be wary of ticket prices that are too good to be true or sold with any high-pressure sales tactics. Ask questions of the seller to verify that the tickets are legitimate. Ask to see their proof of purchase. If the deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.
• If you buy from an online ticket broker, check out its reputation first through the Better Business Bureau and consumer complaint sites. Tickets from reputable online brokers may be expensive, but they may come with added protections. For example, some brokers will provide replacement tickets or full refunds if the tickets turn out to be fake.
• Be wary of tickets that are printed at home. Even though a ticket looks authentic, it may not be. Many venues allow consumers to print tickets from their personal computers. Scammers can sell the same ticket to multiple buyers. Based on the barcode, only the first buyer to show up at the venue will get in. Counterfeiters can also reproduce barcodes – you may get into the venue, but then the real ticket holder shows up and you have to leave. When possible, seek out tickets printed by the venue.

If you believe you are the victim of a scam, you can contact the Office of the Attorney General by calling 1-800-771-7755 or file an online complaint.

Thursday: Kingsbridge Armory CPC Hearing

 

Dear Neighbor, 

I want to share with you an update on the Bronx Kingsbridge Armory Development Project. The city selected 8th Regiment Partners LLC as the Armory's new developer. It is essential that during the planning, construction, and operation of this project, our community participates in overseeing accountability efforts, benefits, and investments for the Bronx. 

I’m inviting you to join the Virtual City Planning Commission (CPC) and the Public Draft Scope of Work for the Environmental Impact Statement Public Hearing on the proposed redevelopment of the Armory. This hearing aims to take into consideration the potential environmental impacts of the proposed project, such as air and water quality, noise levels, traffic, and potential impacts on the landmark status of the Armory. 

WHEN: Wednesday, August 13th, at 10 AM 

WHERE: The agenda can be found here. Please note that there are other projects on the agenda; the Kingsbridge Armory is expected to be the second item. 

In Person: 

City Planning Commission Hearing Room, Lower Concourse, 1

20 Broadway, New York, NY 10271

Upon arrival, please sign in and wait to be called to testify.

Remotely: 

You must register at 9 AM, one hour before the hearing starts, at this link. 

Dial-in numbers to participate by any phone will also be posted in advance of the meeting. 

Watch Online: 

Watch the meeting live on the NYC Department of City Planning YouTube Channel. 

You will have 72 hours after the public hearing to submit written testimony. Log in to the City Planning Commission Comments Form and drop-down menu to submit written testimony. All comments submitted through the form will be accepted until 11:59 PM, the week before the date of the vote. Written comments will be accepted by CPC until Monday, September 8th, 2025, at 11:59 PM. 

This meeting is a vital opportunity to ensure your voice is heard and to contribute to shaping the future of this important project.

I hope to see you there! 

State Senator Gustavo Rivera

MAYOR ADAMS ANNOUNCES OPENING OF 13 NEW CLUBHOUSES TO SUPPORT NEW YORKERS LIVING WITH SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS

 

Adams Administration’s Recent $30 Million Investment Supports Increased Capacity and Improved Quality of Services for City-Supported Clubhouses

Continues Administration’s “End Culture of Anything Goes” Campaign, Highlighting Mayor Adams’ Efforts to Change Culture, Laws, and Investments That Have Allowed for Public Disorder on City Streets 

Builds on Mayor Adams’ Commitment to Support Those Experiencing Severe Mental Illness 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced the opening of 13 clubhouses across the five boroughs to engage adults living with severe mental illness, thanks to a $30 million investment of city and state dollars. In 2023, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) began the process to expand the clubhouse model — for the first time in nearly 30 years — through a city-state investment that doubled previous funding. Of the 13 newly contracted clubhouses, there are seven new sites opening, and six are being granted contracts to continue operations. The new clubhouses will expand opportunities for people with serious mental illness to participate in the unique community-driven environment that clubhouses offer. The additional clubhouses will more than double enrollment to 6,600 members by 2027, allowing the city to expand capacity, especially in high-need neighborhoods.

Today’s announcement continues Mayor Adams’ “End the Culture of Anything Goes” campaign, highlighting the work the administration has done to change the culture and laws that prevented people with severe mental illness from getting the help they needed while making the investments necessary to support outreach, harm reduction, wraparound services, and housing to make lasting impacts in lives and communities. Mayor Adams is bringing the same energy and approach that proved to be successful in carving a new path to help people with severe mental illness to addressing other health crises playing out on city streets, and will soon lay out how he plans to realize that vision.

“For those struggling with mental illness, clubhouses are a game-changer. These are free member-led spaces where New Yorkers can do everything from accessing health or legal benefits to finding employment or educational services. Most importantly, clubhouses decrease social isolation, create thriving communities, and they are proven to be effective. That’s why our administration took bold steps to expand this model for the first time in nearly 30 years,” said Mayor Adams. “Thanks to our efforts, alongside a $30 million investment of city and state dollars, New Yorkers will now have 13 high-quality clubhouses to join. This will expand enrollment to 6,600 members by 2027, increasing access and care. From day one, we promised we would tackle the issue of serious mental illness in our city. From housing with wraparound services to outreach on the subways, we have taken the steps needed to help our fellow New Yorkers in need. We are excited to welcome even more New Yorkers to these life-changing programs, and we thank our providers for the great work they continue to do to improve New Yorkers’ lives each and every day.”

“Everyone deserves access to spaces where they feel seen, safe, and supported, and clubhouses offer that and more,” said DOHMH Acting Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse. “At the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, we are committed to expanding access to high-quality resources like clubhouses for our neighbors living with serious mental illness. I look forward to continuing this work with our valued partners.”

Clubhouses are free, member-led spaces for adults experiencing severe mental illness that facilitate social connections and provide access to resources like benefits, health and legal services, and employment and educational services through a supportive community of peers. Clubhouses vary by location and are shaped by the local neighborhoods and the members who create community within their spaces. Activities are designed based on member interests or skills, which could include language lessons, creating a group newsletter, or cooking meals that reflect members’ heritage, and more. Several newly contracted sites are in the process of building permanent spaces, allowing old and new members to have further input in shaping their communities.

The 13 newly contracted clubhouses are:

Bronx:

• Fountain House Bronx
• Goodwill Industries of Greater New York and New Jersey: Lantern House
• Venture House

Brooklyn:

• Brooklyn Community Services Greater Heights Clubhouse
• Services for the Underserved: Brooklyn Clubhouse
• Venture House

Manhattan:

• Fountain House Midtown
• Fountain House Harlem
• New York Disaster Interfaith Services: Elements House
• Phoenix House Harlem.

Queens:

• Goodwill Industries of Greater New York and New Jersey: Citiview Connections
• Venture House

Staten Island:

• Venture House

All 13 providers were selected through a competitive request for proposals process.

Numerous factors can impact mental health, including stress, environment, and social isolation. DOHMH’s 2024 report, “The State of Mental Health of New Yorkers” found that less than half of adult New Yorkers said they had someone they could count on for emotional support most or all of the time. According to estimates from the 2023 “NYC Neighborhood Wellness Survey,” of those who have been diagnosed by a health care professional, approximately 1 percent of adult New Yorkers have been diagnosed with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or psychosis; 3 percent have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, mania, or manic depression; 5 percent have been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder; and 11 percent have been diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder or severe depression.

Mayor Adams has made supporting New Yorkers with severe mental illness a top priority. In 2022, the Adams administration announced an ambitious plan to support unsheltered New Yorkers struggling with untreated severe mental illness, which included a new city protocol on involuntary removals and a package of proposed state legal reforms to maximize the city’s ability to serve this population. Since then, the Adams administration has developed new programs, like Subway Co-Response Outreach Teams (SCOUT) and Partnership Assistance for Transit Homelessness; added 1,400 new safe haven and stabilization beds, and successfully advocated for changes to state law passed in 2025 that remove barriers to psychiatric care for those unable to recognize their own need for it. All this work comes in tandem with the collection and public reporting of new data on involuntary hospital transports to increase transparency in the process.

New Yorkers can find a clubhouse near them by visiting DOHMH's “Serious Mental Illness” page for a list of locations or calling 311 for assistance. Those looking for mental health and substance use support information or referrals can call or text 988 24/7 to speak with a trained professional.

Secretary Noem on Sentencing of Rachel Morin’s Convicted Killer: Should’ve Never Been Here in the First Place

 

Rachel’s killer entered the U.S. illegally and was released by the Biden Administration

U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem released the following statement on the sentencing of Rachel Morin’s killer—a criminal illegal alien from El Salvador—Victor Martinez-Hernandez. 

In April, a jury found Martinez-Hernandez guilty of kidnapping, raping, and brutally murdering Rachel Morin—a young mother from Maryland—just two years prior, in August 2023. Martinez-Hernandez illegally entered the U.S. and was released in the country in 2023 under the Biden administration. 

“Rachel Morin’s killer was sentenced to life without parole for her brutal murder. This criminal illegal alien should have never been in our country in the first place. Rachel should still be here watching her 5 children grow up,” said Secretary Kristi Noem. “We hear far too much in the mainstream media about sob stories of gang members and criminal illegals and not enough about their victims. God bless Rachel and her family.” 

On August 5, 2023, Morin’s boyfriend reported her missing after she went for a hike on a trail. On August 6, 2023, her body was discovered by law enforcement, and it was revealed that this mom of five endured a brutal rape and killing. 

The depraved and savage Martinez-Hernandez was found guilty of bashing Morin’s head with rocks and raping her deceased body. He then attempted to hide her corpse in a drain.  

Secretary Noem re-opened the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) office. This office was first launched in 2017 by the Trump administration as a dedicated resource for those who have been victimized by crime that has a nexus to immigration. The Biden Administration shuttered the office, leaving victims and their families without access to key resources and support services. 

If you or a loved one has been impacted by a crime committed by an illegal alien, you are not alone. Call 1-855-48-VOICE (1-855-488-6423) 

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Founder of Lender Service Provider Pleads Guilty for Role in PPP Fraud Scheme

 

A founder of the lender service provider Blueacorn pleaded guilty in connection with a scheme to fraudulently obtain COVID-19 relief money guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

“During a national emergency, this defendant exploited a taxpayer-funded program that individuals and small businesses desperately needed to survive,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This conviction demonstrates the Department’s ongoing commitment to bring to justice those who would steal from the public fisc to enrich themselves.”

“This defendant had the opportunity to help small businesses overcome tremendous financial hardships during a time of national crisis but instead exploited the system to line his own pockets with taxpayer money,” said Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Nancy E. Larson.  “We will continue to pursue convictions against those fraudsters who preyed upon the generosity of the American people as we struggled through the pandemic.”

“The FBI takes our responsibility to investigate and pursue those who commit fraud for personal gain very seriously,” said Assistant Director Jose A. Perez of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division. “Reis and others exploited a program meant to keep small businesses afloat during the pandemic. The FBI will continue to work tirelessly to prevent these programs from becoming targets and fight fraud wherever we find it.”

According to court documents, Nathan Reis, 47, of Rio Grande, Puerto Rico, and previously of Arizona, conspired with others to submit false and fraudulent PPP loan applications, including by fabricating documents that falsified income and payroll figures in order to receive loan funds for which they were not eligible.

Reis co-founded Blueacorn in April 2020, purportedly to help small businesses and individuals obtain PPP loans. Through Blueacorn, Reis and his co-conspirators submitted fraudulent PPP loan applications they knew contained materially false information to make more money. Reis and others fabricated documents, including tax documents and bank statements. As part of the conspiracy, Reis and his co-conspirators charged borrower’s fees based on a percentage of the funds received.

Reis pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 21 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.  A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The FBI, IRS-CI, the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery, Federal Reserve Board-CFPB Office of Inspector General, and SBA OIG investigated the case. 

Acting Assistant Chief Philip Trout of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, Trial Attorneys Elizabeth Carr and Ryan McLaren of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Weybrecht for the Northern District of Texas are prosecuting the case.

The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s prosecution of fraud schemes that exploit the PPP. Since the enactment of the CARES Act, the Fraud Section has prosecuted over 200 defendants in more than 130 criminal cases and has seized over $78 million in cash proceeds derived from fraudulently obtained PPP funds, as well as numerous real estate properties and luxury items purchased with such proceeds. More information can be found at www. justice. gov/criminal/criminal-fraud/cares-act-fraud

MLARS’s Bank Integrity Unit investigates and prosecutes banks and other financial institutions, including their officers, managers, and employees, whose actions threaten the integrity of the individual institution or the wider financial system.

Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at www. justice. gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.