NYC PUBLIC ADVOCATE'S STATEMENT ON THE LABOR DAY SHOOTINGS

 

"After a day of celebration for the community and city, the plague of gun violence struck. I pray for the swift recoveries of the New Yorkers injured in these separate attacks and am relieved that all appear to be in stable condition.

 

"Recent weeks have seen horrible violence in several boroughs. After all of our public safety partners collaborated to produce a decrease in violence through most of Labor Day weekend, it was marred at its end by multiple shootings in close succession and proximity. That people could bring guns into the area and carry out these shootings, despite immense police presence and dedicated teams of community anti-violence workers, demonstrates the depth to which this epidemic has infected our city and nation. 

 

"It also shows that the best way to prevent that violence is to stop someone from picking up a gun in the first place, in part by strongly limiting access to these weapons of war. Communities across the city, including in Central Brooklyn, face the realities of gun violence year-round. We need strategies to address both the supply and demand components of that violence, ones that will keep us all safe every weekend, on every street." 

DEC and Partners Confirm Laurel Wilt Invasive Plant Disease on Long Island

 

First Detection in New York State

The New York State Departments of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Agriculture and Markets (AGM), Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) of Suffolk County, and the Cornell University Plant Disease Diagnostic Clinic (CU-PDDC) confirmed the presence of the invasive plant disease laurel wilt on Long Island, marking the first discovery of the plant disease in New York State. Originating in Asia and first identified in the U.S. in Georgia in 2002, the disease is deadly to plants and present in multiple southeastern states, with the northernmost cases prior to New York’s detection in Kentucky and Virginia.

“The detection of laurel wilt on Long Island marks a troubling new chapter in the spread of this invasive plant disease,” DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton said. “DEC is collaborating with our conservation partners to understand the extent of impacted trees, evaluate control options, and launch public outreach to increase awareness about laurel wilt and how to report it.”

Laurel wilt is a fungal pathogen that kills trees and shrubs in the laurel family. Laurel wilt is spread by the invasive redbay ambrosia beetle, which introduces the fungus when it tunnels into the stems and branches of host plants, leaving behind the fungal spores. In New York, native species at risk are sassafras and spicebush. Despite its name, mountain laurel is not in this family and is not impacted by the disease.   

The Suffolk County case originated when a private landowner in the village of Northport observed a dying sassafras on their property this summer and sent a sample to the Suffolk County CCE to diagnose the problem. Cornell University’s Long Island Horticultural Research and Extension Center then isolated the fungus and CU-PDDC confirmed the identification, followed by confirmation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.   

State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “We’re collaborating closely with our partners to respond to this detection of laurel wilt on Long Island. As we continue to learn more about the spread of this harmful plant disease and how to control it, we’re also working to increase awareness of this find and encouraging the public to report any sightings.”   

Cornell University Plant Disease Diagnostic Clinic Director Karen Snover-Clift said, “Cornell’s Plant Disease Diagnostic Clinic has been building molecular testing capacity for years and is well-prepared to respond to emerging threats like laurel wilt. The CU-PDDC is proud to serve as the state’s primary laboratory for confirming future samples.”

The loss of sassafras and spicebush could have wide-ranging impacts on southern New York’s forests and wildlife. Both species provide food and shelter for birds, pollinators, and mammals. Spicebush berries are a critical fall food source for migratory birds, while the leaves of both spicebush and sassafras support the larvae of native butterflies such as the spicebush swallowtail. Their decline would reduce forest diversity, weaken natural food webs, and increase native forest susceptibility to invasive plants.

Laurel wilt causes rapid decline in sassafras and spicebush. Signs and symptoms to look for include:

• Sudden wilting of leaves;
• Dark streaking of sapwood beneath the bark; and
• Small entry holes on the branches, trunk, or roots, which are sometimes surrounded by fine sawdust-like “toothpicks” pushed out from the bark.

For members of the public who encounter symptomatic sassafras and spicebush:

• Submit a report through nyimapinvasives.org; and 
• Do not move or transport branches, trunks, or bark from symptomatic sassafras or spicebush, even for disposal. Chip dead wood and use it as mulch on-site.

People often use wood from trees that have died on their property as firewood when they go camping, which can allow invasive pests and diseases to spread long distance in a short period of time. To help stop the spread of laurel wilt and other invasives, follow DEC’s firewood regulations and use local or heat-treated firewood.

Cornell University is hosting an information session on Sept. 10 about the laurel wilt detection. The public is encouraged to attend. To learn more, visit the DEC Laurel Wilt webpage. 

2025 VAN NEST NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE (VNNA)–SEPT 10–MONTHLY MEETING—7PM

 

VAN NEST NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE

SEPT. 10, 2025 MONTHLY MEETING

7:00 PM

1830 AMETHYST STREET

GROUND FLOOR, COMMUNITY ROOM

CANDIDATES FOR CITY COUNCIL MEMBER DISTRICT 13

Van Nest Neighborhood Alliance

www.facebook.com/VanNestNeighborhoodAlliance

Comptroller Lander’s Office Hits $15 Million Mark in Securing Back Wages for Workers

Comptroller reached $855K settlement with ICP Construction/CLS Project Solutions for NYPD precincts & 1PP renovation contractors 

On Labor Day, the New York City Comptroller’s office announced that it recovered $15 million for workers whose employers failed to pay them prevailing wages and benefits since the start of Comptroller Lander’s term in 2022. This total includes a settlement reached this month for over $855,000 for 22 workers who renovated and rehabilitated police precincts citywide and at the NYPD’s headquarters at 1 Police Plaza, as well as two for over $3 million for subway cleaners during the pandemic.  

“Because of the hard work of my office, we have recovered $15 million for thousands of New York City workers who worked hard to renovate our NYPD precincts and bus depots, build our schools, clean our subways, and staff our apartment buildings, but were cheated out of the prevailing wages they were owed” said Comptroller Brad Lander. “These are hardworking New Yorkers who keep our city running our city and deserve every penny they rightfully earned. My office works hard to have their backs every day – and we have no intention of stopping now.”  

“When companies deny workers their rightful wages, they undermine labor standards and fairness,” said Claudia Henriquez, Director of Workers’ Rights at the Comptroller’s Bureau of Labor Law. “This settlement with ICP Construction is a testament to our commitment to fair pay for the New Yorkers who work tirelessly to build and improve our city. Every settlement should serve as a reminder that contractors doing business with the city must adhere to prevailing wage laws, and companies that neglect to pay their workers will be held accountable. We are proud to reach the $15 million benchmark under Comptroller Lander.” 

Construction and other workers on City-funded projects are required to be paid prevailing wages and benefits as set forth in the Comptroller’s Prevailing Wage Schedule. The Comptroller’s Bureau of Labor Law determined that from October 22, 2018 through November 24, 2020, ICP Construction and their prime contractor CLS Project Solutions failed to pay their workers prevailing wages as required by law for the bathroom renovation work at 1 Police Plaza, resulting in an underpayment of $645,971. BLL reached a settlement providing for $645,971 in underpayment, $117,715 in interest to workers, and $91,642 in civil penalty to the City for a total of $855,328.42. 

Earlier this month, the Bureau of Labor Law reached a groundbreaking settlement of $3 million with two MTA subcontractors, Fleetwash and LN Pro, that hired subway cleaners during COVID-19 but did not pay them the prevailing wage.  

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 employees on certain publicly funded projects, including construction workers, building service workers, and temporary office workers.   

Investigator Rudolpho Donawa conducted the investigation of ICP Construction under the supervision of Francisco Gonzalez, Director of Investigations, and Jose Quiroz, Deputy Director of Investigations. Ilona Stadnicka, Auditor, performed the audit of underpayments under the supervision of Stuart Rimmer, Director of Audit.  Supervising Attorney Amy Luo negotiated the settlement. Claudia Henriquez, Director of Workers’ Rights oversees the Bureau of Labor Law. 

For a list of all settled cases and workers rights information, visit https://comptroller.nyc.gov/services/for-the-public/workers-rights/overview/ 

On Labor Day, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem Celebrates the 2.5 Million American Workers Who Joined the Workforce Since Trump Took Office

 

Thanks to President Trump and Secretary Noem’s leadership, DHS is getting U.S. citizens back to work, saving their hard-earned money, and ensuring America works for Americans again

This Labor Day, Secretary Noem is celebrating the 2.5 million American workers who joined the U.S. workforce since President Trump took office. In comparison, 88% of jobs created during the same period under Biden went to foreign-born workers. New jobs created under President Trump are going to American workers. 

Additionally, the U.S. has seen an estimated decline of approximately 1.6 million illegal aliens across the country.

“This Labor Day, America works for Americans again. 100% of all new job gains have gone to U.S. citizens, and 2.5 million Americans are back at work since January. Under Biden, 88% of all jobs went to foreign born workers. Meanwhile DHS reforms have saved taxpayers over $13.2 billion,” said Secretary Noem. “President Trump and I are putting the American worker FIRST. Happy Labor Day!” 

The U.S. economy continues to surge because it is safer to do business here. Under this administration, 70% of arrests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement involve illegal aliens who have been convicted or charged with a crime in the U.S.—this doesn’t even count foreign fugitives, gang members, or terrorists who don’t have a rap sheet in the U.S.

In addition to helping put Americans back to work, Secretary Noem is saving U.S. taxpayers their hard-earned money. Secretary Noem saved U.S. taxpayers $13.2 billion.  All of these savings were achieved without cuts to key law enforcement, border security, national security, immigration enforcement and positions with a public safety responsibility.

For years, unelected bureaucrats rubber-stamped hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts, fueling a culture of waste, fraud, and abuse. Under Secretary Noem, that era is over.

Joint Labor Day Statement on Offshore Wind From Governor Kathy Hochul, Governor Maura Healey, Governor Ned Lamont, Governor Dan McKee, and Governor Phil Murphy

“On Labor Day, we honor the strength, skill, and determination of America’s workers. From construction sites and factories to ports and power plants, working people are the backbone of our economy and the foundation of our shared prosperity.

“Nowhere is that clearer than in the offshore wind industry, where labor is on the front lines. Today, more than 5,000 workers—many of them proud union members—are directly engaged with building this new American industry, with many thousands more manufacturing products across 40 States that will help lead to a new era of U.S. energy independence. These projects represent years of planning, billions of dollars in private investment, and the promise of tens of thousands of additional jobs. They are revitalizing our ports, strengthening our supply chains, and ensuring that America—not our competitors—leads in clean energy manufacturing and innovation.

“We are looking for the Trump Administration to uphold all offshore wind permits already granted and allow these projects to be constructed. Efforts to walk back these commitments jeopardize hardworking families, wasting years of progress and ceding leadership to foreign competitors. Workers, businesses, and communities need certainty, not reversals that would cost tens of thousands of American jobs and critical investment. Sudden reversals would also impact countless other workers and taxpayers on scores of non-energy public projects. The U.S. markets operate on certainty. Canceling projects that have already been fully permitted--including some near completion—sends the worrisome message to investors that the work can be stopped on a whim, which could lead them to decide to either not finance different projects or impose higher interest rates that would ultimately place a bigger burden on taxpayers.

“At the same time, we remain committed to ensuring that the electric grid is reliable, resilient and affordable. Offshore wind and other renewables are central to that effort, but it must be complemented by a diverse mix of resources—including nuclear power, natural gas, hydropower, and other technologies—that together keep our system strong and our energy sources secure. Doing so will also help us attract major economic development projects that will offer economic security for American workers and transform communities as we move to a 21st century economy. As Governors, we are committed to delivering on this energy system for our states and working with the Trump Administration to advance projects that meet these objectives.

“On this Labor Day, we reaffirm our unwavering support for working people and the unions that represent them. We stand with America’s workers and strongly urge the Trump Administration to keep these projects on track—for our jobs, our families, our competitiveness, our energy security, and our future.”

 

Talking Politics Friday August 30, 2025

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Mlpib24kaA

On Talking Politics this week, where are Trump national guard troops going next, Ukraine latest where's the peace, Hochul gearing up for 2026, the mayor's race and Mayor Adams visits Haffen Park promising 1,000 more police officers to the Bronx, how about another police precinct, who may be the next speaker of the council, and lots more live anytime on YouTube at the link above. 

Talking Politics

Host: Robert PressDirector/Producer: Mutiu Olawuyi

Permits Filed for 3728 Bronx Boulevard in Olinville, The Bronx

 

Permits have been filed for a six-story residential building at 3728 Bronx Boulevard in Olinville, The Bronx. Located between East 216th Street and East 219th Street, the lot is a short walk to the East 219th Street subway station, served by the 2 and 5 trains. Erenik Nezaj is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 76-foot-tall development will yield 19,012 square feet designated for residential space. The building will have 28 residences, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 679 square feet. The masonry-based structure will also have a 32-foot-long rear yard.

Jakov Saric of Node Architecture, Engineering, Consulting is listed as the architect of record.

Demolition permits were filed in early August for the three-story residential building on the site. An estimated completion date has not been announced.