Governor Hochul Declares State of Emergency During Ongoing Coastal Storm

State of Emergency Declared in Bronx, Kings, Nassau, New York, Queens, Richmond, Suffolk and Westchester Counties

Coastal Flood Warning Issued for Long Island, New York City and Southern Westchester County Beginning 12 p.m. Sunday Through 8 p.m. Monday; Moderate to Major Coastal Flooding Possible Along South Shore of Long Island and Jamaica Bay

High Wind Warning in Effect for Eastern Suffolk County Beginning 12 p.m. Sunday Through 6 p.m. Monday; Wind Advisory in Effect for Rest of Long Island, New York City and Southern Westchester County; MTA To Implement Ban on Empty Tractor-Trailers and Tandem Trucks on Its Seven Bridges Beginning 3 p.m. Sunday

1.5-3 Inches of Rainfall Expected Downstate

Utilities Add More Than 1,600 Workers in Mid-Hudson, New York City and Long Island Regions; 7,100 Workers Now Available Statewide

Governor Kathy Hochul today declared a State of Emergency for eight counties across southern New York after urging New Yorkers to continue to prepare as a strong coastal storm is set to impact much of New York beginning Sunday afternoon. The State of Emergency includes the Bronx, Kings, Nassau, New York, Queens, Richmond, Suffolk and Westchester Counties as well as counties contiguous to those eight. New York State has been working in close coordination with all county and city partners on storm preparations including the City of New York. The storm has strengthened as it has moved up the mid-Atlantic coast toward southern New England and is expected to cause widespread moderate to major coastal flooding throughout Downstate New York, along with bringing strong winds and long duration rain to the region. In response, utilities have added more than 1,600 workers throughout the Mid-Hudson, New York City and Long Island Regions to support storm response operations.

“As the Nor’easter continues making its way through New York, I’m declaring a State of Emergency across boroughs and counties most impacted by the storm,” Governor Hochul said. “The safety of New Yorkers is my top priority, and I continue to urge extreme caution until the storm has passed through the state.”

Governor Hochul began warning New Yorkers of this storm and its impacts earlier this week and is continuing to urge New Yorkers to closely monitor their local forecasts, prepare their households accordingly and avoid traveling in impacted areas this weekend.

New York State Department of Public Service staff have been in communication with the electric utilities with service territories in the forecasted area anticipated to be affected by this weekend’s Nor’easter event. Con Edison, Orange and Rockland, PSEG Long Island, Central Hudson Gas and Electric, and NYSEG are all actively monitoring forecasts and preparing for potential impacts to their respective service territories.

Utility preparations have included bringing in an additional 1,618 workers, activation of respective Incident Command, staging equipment, conducting outbound calls to Life Support Equipment (LSE) customers and critical facility customers in the areas anticipated to receive the most impacts, as well as conducting municipal officials calls. Utility crews are prepared to operate in the overnight hours to respond where safe to do so. All utilities continue to monitor the forecast and will make resource adjustments in alignment with existing emergency plans.

The utilities have approximately 7,118 workers available statewide to engage in damage assessment, response, repair, and restoration efforts across the state, as necessary. This includes the addition of more than 1,600 workers since Friday, with ConEd and Orange and Rockland adding 900 workers, PSEG LI adding 520, and NYSEG adding 198 workers, and Central Hudson adding 44 workers. Department staff will track utilities’ work throughout the event and ensure utilities shift appropriate staffing to regions that experience the greatest impact.

The threat for coastal flooding has increased as the storm has moved up the coast and the National Weather Service now has Coastal Flood Warnings in place for Long Island, New York City and Southern Westchester County beginning 12 p.m. Sunday through 8 p.m. Monday. Forecasts are calling for widespread moderate to major coastal flooding for the south shore bays of Nassau and southwestern Suffolk counties during times of high tide until Monday. Widespread minor to moderate coastal flooding remains a threat for the remainder of the coastline, with the widespread possibility of dune erosion and localized overwashes along the Atlantic Ocean beaches.

Strong winds are also expected to be a major hazard throughout the duration of the storm. The National Weather Service has issued a High Wind Warning for much of Suffolk County beginning at 12 p.m. Sunday through 6 p.m. Monday, with a Wind Advisory in place for the rest of Long Island, New York City and Southern Westchester County. During this period, wind gusts of up to 60 miles per hour are possible and could result in downed trees and possible power outages. Due to the forecasted high wind conditions, MTA Bridges and Tunnels will implement a ban on empty tractor-trailers and tandem (piggyback, dual, triple, etc.) trucks on its seven bridges beginning 3:00 p.m. Sunday. Based on the current forecast and the overall timing of this weather event, it is anticipated this ban will be in place until 6:00 p.m. Monday.

Forecasters are also calling for long duration rainfall as part of this storm, the most intense of which will be focused downstate where between 1.5 and 3 inches of rainfall is expected in the lower Mid-Hudson, New York City and Long Island Regions and minor flooding resulting from poor drainage is possible. The northern Mid-Hudson and southern Capital Regions are forecast to receive between an inch and 1.5 inches of rain, while the rest of the state should see an inch or less. The rainfall has the potential to cause flooding in urban areas with poor drainage throughout Sunday and into Monday.

New Yorkers are encouraged to monitor their local forecasts, weather watches and warnings. It is critical to ensure that government emergency alerts are enabled on their mobile phones. New Yorkers can also sign up for real-time weather and emergency alerts that will be texted to their phones by texting their county or borough name to 333111. For a complete listing of weather alerts, visit the National Weather Service website at alerts.weather.gov.

Safety Tips

Power Outages:

• Check with your utility to determine area repair schedules.
• If you lose power, turn off or unplug lights and appliances to prevent a circuit overload when service is restored; leave one light on to indicate when power has been restored.
• If heat goes out during a winter storm, keep warm by closing off rooms you do not need.

To Report an Electric Outage, call:

• Central Hudson: 800-527-2714
• Con Edison: 800-752-6633
• National Grid: 800-867-5222
• NYSEG: 800-572-1131
• O&R: 877-434-4100
• PSEG-LI: 800-490-0075
• RG&E: 800-743-1701

Flood Safety:

• Learn the safest route from your home or business to high, safe ground should you have to leave in a hurry.
• Develop and practice a 'family escape' plan and identify a meeting place if family members become separated.
• Make an itemized list of all valuables including furnishings, clothing and other personal property. Keep the list in a safe place and consider maintaining photo and video documentation.
• Stockpile emergency supplies of canned food, medicine and first aid supplies and drinking water. Store drinking water in clean, closed containers.
• Plan what to do with your pets.
• Have a portable radio, flashlights, extra batteries and emergency cooking equipment available.
• Keep your automobile fueled. If electric power is cut off, gasoline stations may not be able to pump fuel for several days. Have a small disaster supply kit in the trunk of your car.
• Find out how many feet your property is above and below possible flood levels. When predicted flood levels are broadcast, you can determine if you may be flooded.
• Keep materials like sandbags, plywood, plastic sheeting and lumber handy for emergency waterproofing.
• Check on your insurance coverage. Homeowners' insurance policies generally do not cover flood damages. Only flood insurance can protect your home against flood damages. You can purchase flood insurance whether or not you live in a mapped flood zone.

For a complete list of weather terms and preparation ideas before, during and after a flood, visit the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services website at https://www.dhses.ny.gov/flood.

 

Assemblymember John Zaccaro, Jr. Invites You To A Night of Celebration and Italian Culture

Friends,

It is my great honor to invite you to the inaugural Italian American Heritage Dinner at the Bronx Zoo.

Please join me on Friday, October 24, 2025, at 5:30 PM at the Bronx Zoo’s Schiff Hall as we celebrate Italian culture and heritage in our community and honor the many great Italian Americans—past and present.

The Italian community has been at the heart of the Bronx for generations. From the South Bronx to the North Bronx, Italian families have left their mark on our neighborhoods, and we are proud that the traditions of yesterday continue to thrive today.

This event is FREE and open to the community, but RSVP is required as space is limited.

Please see the flyer below for RSVP details, or click here. 

With Gratitude, 

John Zaccaro, Jr 

This week on Talking Politics with Robert Press

This week on Talking Politics my guest is Sheikh Musa Drammeh faithadvisor to Mayor Eric Adams to tell you why he is endorsing Curtis Sliwa for mayor and Kristy Marmorato for City Council District 13. We will talk about the mayor's race, Gaza, and lots more view the show at the link below. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhooMtZ1UoM

BAYSIDE WOMAN CHARGED WITH RUNNING PIG BUTCHERING SCAM ON VICTIMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY

 

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Tiffany Yang was arraigned on charges of grand larceny in the first degree, criminal possession of stolen property and related crimes for allegedly stealing approximately $2.1 million from 17 victims across the country through what is known as a “pig butchering scam.”

These schemes involve scammers who develop relationships with victims under false pretenses and then lure them into fake financial investments. The FBI’s Internet Complaint Center registered approximately $6.57 billion in losses due to investment scams in the United States last year.

The victims in this case were befriended online and then convinced to invest in fraudulent assets through fake websites. The websites often showed artificial gains to manipulate the victims into depositing more money. Eventually, the victims lost access to their “accounts” as the funds were routed to accounts of multiple shell companies in the defendant’s control, and the fraudulent websites were shut down.

District Attorney Katz said: “As alleged, the defendant was part of a scheme that gained the trust of victims across the United States and then lured them into a fraudulent investment opportunity and siphoned off their hard-earned money. Pig butchering scams are organized, calculated and cruel. My office has a dedicated Cybercrime Unit to fight back against this large-scale financial fraud. I urge anyone thinking of investing their money to be wary of people offering unsolicited financial advice online. Never share personal financial information with individuals you have not met in person and take the time to consult a trusted friend, a loved one, or a federal or state regulatory authority.”

Yang, 35, of 200th Street in Bayside, was arraigned Wednesday on a 27-count criminal complaint charging her with grand larceny in the first degree, criminal possession of stolen property in the first degree, six counts of grand larceny in the second degree, 11 counts of grand larceny in the third degree, seven counts of criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree and scheme to defraud in the first degree.

Yang was previously arraigned on October 3 on a complaint charging her with criminal possession of a firearm.

Criminal Court Judge Maria T. Gonzalez remanded the defendant Wednesday on the 27-count complaint. Yang is due back in court November 13. If convicted of the top count, she faces a potential maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.

District Attorney Katz said that, according to the charges and investigation, one of the victims began chatting with an individual named “Lily List” over Facebook messenger in March 2023. After several days of chatting, the individual suggested switching the conversation to WhatsApp, which is end-to-end encrypted. Eventually, the individual posed a financial opportunity to the victim on a trading platform called Spread Ex Ltd., with a website that appeared to be a lawful trading site. The provided URL was very close to Spread Ex, which is a legitimate financial and betting services company.

A short while later, the victim began wiring money from his personal accounts to what he believed to be his personal Spread Ex Ltd. account – depositing a total of $1,086,244 through 13 wire transfers between March 2023 and February 2024. During this time period, the victim was able to log into the alleged website and view his “investments,” which appeared to be growing.

Eventually, the victim attempted to withdraw money from the account but was unable to do so. He eventually lost access to the Spread Ed Ltd website before it was removed in its entirety.

The subsequent investigation surrounding the victim’s losses determined that one of the victim’s wire transfers was deposited into a JP Morgan Chase account linked to an address of 153-53 77th Avenue, Apartment 2B, in Flushing. A records search revealed that at least 97 JP Morgan Chase customers, many purporting to be businesses, have used the same address as the listed address on the accounts. Some of the names on these accounts were Jian Ma Foot Spa 2 Inc., Chen Graceful Nails, Inc., Chen the Bronx Bar Inc., Chen New Funny Nail Inc., Chen I love Spa Inc., Fend Thao Nail Inc., and others. A further review showed multiple wire transfers into these accounts that were recalled or were confirmed to be fraudulent by the sender.

Investigators with the District Attorney’s Detective Bureau identified an additional 16 victims who had wired their money into the Chase accounts registered to Apartment 2B from August 2023 through January 2024. Each victim stated that they had spoken to a female online who had promised them great investment opportunities. Following these conversations, each victim wired the money believing that they were making successful financial decisions. A short while later, the victims tried unsuccessfully to withdraw their funds and eventually lost all access to their investment accounts.

Deed records from the New York City Department of Finance indicated that the defendant was the registered owner of the condominium. An IP address used to log into the Chase account for Chen Graceful Nails Inc. was traced back to her house in Bayside.

On October 2, members of the District Attorney’s Detective Bureau and the NYPD executed a court-authorized search warrant at the location. The defendant was observed inside and arrested for possession of an unloaded .45-caliber pistol.

The search further uncovered numerous bank receipts, cashier checks, business checks, debit cards as well as forged U.S. Visas and numerous Chinese and U.S. passports, all indicative of fraudulent activity. Yang was re-arrested on October 7 pursuant to the grand larceny charges.

The investigation was conducted by Detective Eleni Karasakalides and other members of the District Attorney’s Detective Bureau and Cybercrime Unit within the Major Economic Crimes Bureau.

The U.S. Department of State and the NYPD provided crucial assistance.

Chicago Rioter with Suspected ties to Antifa Arrested with Firearm and Four Magazines Outside ICE Broadview Facility

 

This violent rioter is a journalist and teacher at the University of Illinois; social media posts glorify violence against federal law enforcement

Chicago Rioter with Suspected ties to Antifa Arrested with Firearm and Four Magazines Outside ICE Broadview Facility

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the Sept. 26 arrest of Elias Cepeda, a violent rioter with suspected ties to Antifa and previous social media posts calling ICE Nazis, outside the ICE Broadview facility. He was carrying a loaded firearm and multiple rounds of ammunition. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF), federal partners supporting Operation Midway Blitz, seized the gun.

According to his Linked-in, he is a journalist and is college professor at the University of Illinois.

“Elias Cepeda has suspected ties to the domestic terrorist organization ANTIFA and has a history of glorifying violence against—and the killing of—our brave law enforcement,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “Violent individuals like Cepeda are putting the public and our law enforcement’s lives in danger. Just two days after the horrific attack on ICE in Dallas, Cepeda brought a loaded gun and multiple magazines to our ICE Broadview facility. Thank God law enforcement intervened and arrested Cepeda before he could have potentially shot or killed anyone. Let this serve as a stark warning to any individual who wishes to do our law enforcement harm or any ANTIFA terrorist: President Trump and Secretary Noem will fight every day to protect and defend the men and women who keep our country safe from violent extremists and criminal illegal aliens alike.”

Below are some of the most radical X posts from this suspected Antifa terrorist, which include multiple Antifa posts and posts calling ICE nazis and calling for killing of ICE officers.

 

 

 

Governor Hochul Announces Launch of SUNY Brain Institute With $10 Million Investment to Fuel SUNY Excellence in Life-Saving Research

Appropriation from 2025-26 Enacted State Budget Will Fund Research Infrastructure and Shared Equipment at Eligible SUNY Campuses

Multi-Campus Initiative Will Increase Collaboration, Expand SUNY’s Neuroscience Research, and Investigate Topics Including Brain Aging, Stroke, and Mental Health

Governor Kathy Hochul announced a $10 million investment to launch the SUNY Brain Institute; a multi-campus initiative focused on expanding SUNY’s groundbreaking neuroscience research. The SUNY Brain Institute will fund shared equipment and research infrastructure at SUNY institutions with significant capacity in this vital area, including SUNY’s four University Centers, as well as the State University of New York Upstate Medical University, State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University, and other research-intensive campuses.

“SUNY campuses are leading the way on groundbreaking research that saves lives and improves the quality of life for millions of New Yorkers and people around the planet,”

Governor Hochul said. “The SUNY Brain Institute will leverage all of the strengths of our statewide public higher education system by increasing our researchers’ capacity for new discoveries and life-saving treatments. This is a smart, strategic investment in neuroscience research that will improve lives.”

The $10 million investment is made possible by the capital support SUNY received from the 2025-26 enacted state budget. The new SUNY Brain Institute will foster collaborative neuroscience research between SUNY's over 600 active neuroscience faculty researchers to investigate topics such as brain aging, stroke, mental health, neurodegenerative disorders, and neurotechnology.

The funds will be allocated following the solicitation of proposals from eligible SUNY campuses for shared equipment and research infrastructure. Existing neuroscience research across SUNY includes projects on:

• The progression of early Alzheimer’s disease, and the effects of circadian rhythms on learning and memory at the State University of New York at Albany.
• A study at the State University of New York at Binghamton exploring how electrical engineering principles can be used to better understand neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s Disease and Lewy body dementia.
• Work on the development of an Alzheimer’s vaccine at the State University of New York at Buffalo that uses immunotherapy to target key sites of the disease’s two main proteins to train the immune system to recognize and attack the proteins more broadly.
• A study at the State University of New York at Stony Brook published in Nature Communications Medicine showcasing technologies that could be used to treat traumatic brain injuries.
• State University of New York Upstate Medical research on vision restoration and identifying cures for the conditions that cause vision degradation and loss.
• A study at the State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University which demonstrates how stress resilience skills in adolescence can improve mental health in adulthood.

State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli's Weekly News - Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month

 

Comptroller DiNapoli Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month in Washington Heights

Comptroller DiNapoli celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month at the Alianza Dominicana Cultural Center in New York City’s Washington Heights neighborhood. The evening was a celebration of the diverse Hispanic community and recognizing honorees whose service enriches our state and makes the community and New York stronger.

Honored at the celebration were:

• Shaun Abreu, New York City Council Member
• Aneiry Batista, President & CEO of the Batista Group LLC
• José DeJesus, TWU NY State Conference Chairman & Local 106 General Recording Secretary/Senior Political Director
• Rosemary Rivera, Senior Adviser for Citizen Action of New York and co-founder of End Prison Violence
• Susana Osorio, Restauranteur, Entrepreneur

Watch Video

NYC Area Is Nation's Second-Largest Venture Capital Market

The New York City metropolitan area is the second-largest market for venture capital funding in the United States, with $28.5 billion in investments, or 13.3% of the national total in 2024. The amount invested in the region has more than doubled since 2015, according to a report released by Comptroller DiNapoli. Individual deals valued at more than $50 million drove growth nationally. 

“As the financial capital of the country, New York City is a natural hub for venture capital investing and the latest numbers bear that out,” DiNapoli said. “State and local officials should look at ways to make New York City’s business environment even more attractive to investors and support entrepreneurs who lack access to capital, especially as larger deals divert funds from startups hoping to establish themselves and spur growth in the area’s economy.” 

Read More

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month

This Cybersecurity Awareness month, here are some tips from the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency on how to protect your personal and financial information in an increasingly digital world. 

Watch Video

Future Forward Internship Academy:

Where Public Service Careers Begin

The Office of the New York State Comptroller is once again seeking college students to participate in its Future Forward Internship Academy. This 13-week paid summer program is designed to immerse students in the challenges and rewards of public service, offering a unique blend of academic coursework and hands-on professional experience.

Students from all majors are considered and must be completing their sophomore, junior, or senior year of college at the time of application. The application for the Summer 2026 session is now open.

Learn More & Apply

A U D I T S

• Office of General Services – Capital Asset Management (Follow-Up)
• New York State Health Insurance Program – CVS Caremark: Effectiveness of CVS Caremark Audits of the Empire Plan Prescription Drug Program
• New York Power Authority – Selected Management and Operations Practices (Follow-Up)
• Hudson River Valley Greenway – Access Controls and Vulnerability Management
• State Education Department (Preschool Special Education Audit Initiative): The Arc Jefferson-St. Lawrence – Compliance With the Reimbursable Cost Manual

A L S O   I N   T H E   N E W S

• VC investment in city’s pharma and biotech sectors falls amid software boom
• New York families lack shelters amid surging family homelessness, advocates say
• Battle over Elon Musk’s trillionaire pay package builds as pension funds face off against Tesla
• New York Has $20 Billion In Unclaimed Funds, Want Your Money Back?
• Audit: Agency fell behind in its EV charger installation goals

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P O S T   O F   T H E   W E E K

East Bronx History Forum will be holding its 198th meeting this Wednesday, October 15, 2025 at 7:30 pm

 

Dear East Bronx History Forum Member,

With the fast approaching 250th anniversary of the United States, semi quincentennial (half of five hundred years) or if you prefer bisesquicentennial (two sesquicentenaries, meaning two, one-hundred and twenty-five years) either way you would not be wrong. In another manner of speaking, a bisesquicentennial, is a century and a half, by adding bi makes it two and half. However, pardon the math class, the East Bronx History Forum we will be holding its 198th meeting this October 15, 2025 at 7:30 pm in Msgr. Joseph Raimondo Hall located in the lower level of St. Clare of Assisi Church at 1027 Rhinelander Avenue.

Our speaker this month will be a familiar friend, Mr. Stephen Paul DeVillo. Stephen is a local historian and author of The Bronx River in History and Folklore; The Bowery: The Strange History of New York’s Oldest Street and The Battle of White Plains: Washington and Howe in Westchester. He is a longtime walking tour guide of the Bronx River Rambles and has given numerous talks and webinars on topics of the Bronx River, the Revolutionary War and local history. Stephen is firm believer in “research by walking around,” he has explored (on foot or on water) every mile of the Bronx River and the places in The Bronx and Westchester where history has happened.

For this October lecture, he will be focusing on the Neutral Ground, the area in the Bronx and Westchester after the battle of White Plains in 1776, which became a no-man’s land riven by bandits, vigilantes, spies, and clashing military patrols led by some of the most colorful (and lethal) commanders of the day. Termed the “Neutral Ground,” it was a place where nobody was allowed to actually remain neutral, and many people, driven from their homes and farms, became uprooted refugees. So please, join Stephen Paul DeVillo for an illustrated presentation based on his forthcoming book, Westchester in the Revolution: Neutral Ground. We’ll explore the dramatic events of this time, the folklore the conflict engendered, and the legacy that endures to this day.

There is ample free parking just north of the main entrance on Paulding Avenue. Additionally, remember to follow us at BronxNYC.com, and on our Facebook, Instagram, Vimeo and Youtube account pages for the most current updates or information. We look forward to seeing you.

Dorothy A. Krynicki 

Secretary