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. 

ICE Arrests Violent Illegal Alien Child Rapist Released by Richmond’s Sanctuary Policies

 

An ICE arrest detainer for this child rapist was not honored and he was released 

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the October 14, 2025, arrest of Rick Martinez Lopez, a criminal illegal alien pedophile from Guatemala with multiple convictions in the commonwealth of Virginia. His criminal history includes convictions for sexual assault of child, failure to register as a sex offender, and probation violation. 

In August 2025, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lodged an arrest detainer on Martinez Lopez with the Richmond City Jail. They stated they would not honor the detainer and released this child predator back into the community.

Rick Martinez Lopez

“To allow a convicted pedophile, registered sex offender, illegal alien to freely roam Virginia streets is barbaric,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “It is unconscionable to think sanctuary policies and political activists would rather protect this sicko than our own nation’s children. Every sanctuary politician in Virginia is putting the safety of Americans at risk with their dangerous and lawless policies.”

Martinez Lopez entered the United States at an unknown date and time and without inspection by an immigration official.

ICE law enforcement officers will continue working without pay during the Democrats’ shutdown to ensure the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens are removed from our streets. 

Governor Hochul Marks Progress on Micron’s $100 Billion Investment in New York with Approval of Critical Infrastructure to Support the Project

Micron Fabs Will Create Over 50,000 New Jobs, Including 9,000 Jobs at Micron and Thousands of Prevailing Wage Construction Jobs

Includes Nation’s Largest Clean Room and Industry-Leading Standards

Local Hiring has Begun, Veterans and Small Businesses Prioritized

Governor Kathy Hochul marked a step forward for the Micron project in Central New York with the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) adopting the terms of a joint proposal in connection with National Grid’s petition to construct a two-mile, 345-kilovolt underground transmission service line between an existing substation and the proposed Micron technology fabrication areas in the Town of Clay, Onondaga County. The PSC also approved National Grid’s environmental management and construction plan for the first phase of construction activities, which involves the installation of the eastern expansion of the Clay substation, and installation of equipment from the Clay substation to the Micron campus. The joint proposal was signed by National Grid, the New York State Department of Public Service Staff and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

“We’re working hard to shape the upstate economy into an economic powerhouse,” Governor Hochul said. “Today’s decision by the PSC marks a major milestone for the development of the Micron project in upstate New York. This project is set to transform Central New York — and we’re moving quickly ahead with all due speed and deliberation.”

In addition to approving the transmission connections, the PSC also approved the utility’s plans regarding receiving and addressing public complaints, addressing environmental concerns such as waterbody and wildlife protection, and where and when construction activities would occur. It also seeks to identify and minimize the disruptive effects of construction and describes cleanup and restoration following construction.

The PSC’s decision regarding the transmission lines, the substation upgrades, and construction plans is the latest milestone marking the ongoing partnership between Micron and New York State that was forged in October 2022 when Micron chose Central New York for its megafab, a facility to construct in-demand semiconductors. Governor Hochul has worked closely with State, local and federal partners to prepare for Micron’s arrival and make continued investments in the community and the region. As part of the Governor’s Green CHIPS incentive program, Micron will work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, expand water restoration, reuse, and recycling efforts and target carbon-free energy.

Earlier this year, the Onondaga County Industrial Development Agency and the U.S. Department of Commerce released the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Micron’s megafab project, a required component of both the State Environmental Quality Review Act and the federal National Environmental Policy Act. The approximately 20,000-page document, jointly prepared by the Onondaga County Industrial Development Agency, the US Commerce Department, and Micron, reflects one of the most thorough analyses ever conducted for a project in New York State, befitting the historic nature and transformative impact of Micron’s plan to invest up to $100 billion and support the creation of over 50,000 jobs over the next 20-plus years. The project will include the nation's largest clean room space at approximately 2.4 million square feet.

The $100 billion investment by Micron is the largest private investment in New York’s history. By the end of the decade, one in four U.S.-made chips will be manufactured in and around Upstate New York — no other region in the country will manufacture a greater share.

Micron’s presence in Central New York, represents transformative growth in Upstate New York. This includes:

• 9,000 new, good paying jobs at all levels of education on site.
• Over 50,000 new permanent jobs in the region over next 30 years and tens of thousands of construction jobs over the next 20 years to build the campus.
• An additional $9.5 billion in regional economic output annually starting in 2027, ramping up to over $16 billion annually by 2041.
• An additional $3.3 billion in annual disposable income for Central New Yorkers by 2035, rising to an average of $5.4 billion per year through 2055.
• Nearly $20 billion in additional revenue for state and local governments to improve schools and other public services over the next 30 years.

Governor Hochul and Micron have also partnered on critical initiatives to make sure that Central New Yorkers benefit from this transformative investment, including:

• The $500 million Community Investment Fund developed to ensure inclusive economic growth, workforce development & quality of life enhancements for Central New York
• The opening of a state-of-the-art $15 million cleanroom simulation lab at Onondaga Community College.
• The establishment of the Syracuse STEAM School, Central New York’s first regional technical high school which opened for students this fall.

Governor Hochul has prioritized the semiconductor industry as a major part of her economic development agenda since taking office. The Governor secured a $500 million capital investment for NY CREATES’ Albany Nanotech Complex with total State investment of $1 billion to jumpstart a $10 billion partnership that will bring a cutting-edge High NA EUV Lithography Center to the Complex. Governor Hochul announced the partnership with IBM, Micron, Applied Materials, Tokyo Electron and other leaders from the semiconductor industry last year as part of her commitment to establishing a global hub for semiconductor manufacturing in New York. Once completed, this new center will build on other semiconductor-related investments to make New York home to the first publicly owned High NA EUV Lithography Center in North America, support the long-term growth of New York’s tech economy, and create and retain thousands of direct, indirect and union construction jobs.

Governor Hochul as part of the FY 2026 Budget secured $100 million in additional funding for the Focused Attraction of Shovel-Ready Tracts New York (FAST NY) program. Launched in December 2022, FAST NY has awarded more than $175 million to prepare more than 2,500 acres across 20 sites in every Upstate region for shovel-readiness, a key feature business seeks when looking to locate. Awards to improve sites have attracted companies such as Edwards Vacuum, Siemens Mobility, Chobani and fairlife. These companies are investing $2.23 billion in new facilities statewide, which will create over 2,150 new jobs.

Semiconductors are vital to the nation's economic strength, serving as the brains of modern electronics, and enabling technologies critical to U.S. economic growth, national security and global competitiveness. The industry directly employs over 300,000 people in the U.S. and supports more than 1.8 million additional domestic jobs. Semiconductors are a top five U.S. export, and the industry is the number one contributor to labor productivity, supporting improvements to the effectiveness and efficiency of virtually every economic sector — from farming to manufacturing.

New York is home to a robust semiconductor industry of 156 semiconductor and supply chain companies that employ over 34,000 New Yorkers. Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, the industry is continuing to expand with major investments from semiconductor businesses and supply chain companies like Micron, GlobalFoundries, AMD, Edwards Vacuum, Menlo Micro and TTM Technologies to expand their presence in New York.

 

Investors Call on Starbucks to Restart Negotiations with Unionized Workers

 

Investors are concerned that Starbucks’ labor relations have significantly deteriorated, evidenced by more than one hundred Unfair Labor Practice complaints filed this year, worker protests over store closings, and threats to strike

New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, PIRC, SHARE and Trillium Asset Management have sent a letter to the Starbucks Board of Directors expressing concern over stalled negotiations between the company and unionized employees represented by Starbucks Workers United (SBWU), urging Starbucks to restart negotiations with SBWU and promptly reach a first contract.

The letter to Starbucks explains that a failure to reach a contract jeopardizes the company’s reputation and long-term shareholder value. The company has itself recognized that “our responses to any union organizing efforts could negatively impact how our brand is perceived and have adverse effects on our business, including on our financial results.” On Wednesday, New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli also sent a letter to the board expressing his concerns. This underscores the growing investor scrutiny over the company’s handling of unionization efforts.

“As investors committed to the long-term success of Starbucks, we know that poor labor relations are a risk the company cannot afford to take,” said New York City Comptroller Brad Lander. “Stalled negotiations despite union threats to strike, inaction, and too many reports of unfair labor practices put Starbucks’ reputation and shareholder value on the line. Starbucks’ Board must come to the table with Starbucks Workers United swiftly to reach an agreement and demonstrate to Starbucks customers and investors that human capital management is a priority.”

“It’s been almost four years since the first Starbucks stores in Buffalo, NY voted to unionize,” said Jonas D. Kron, Chief Advocacy Officer at Trillium Asset Management. “Trillium expects companies to uphold human rights, including core labor rights, and to engage in collective bargaining that leads to a fair agreement in a timely manner. A first contract is long overdue.”

In 2023, this coalition of investors secured majority support of Starbucks shareholders for a proposal urging the company to conduct an independent assessment of the company’s adherence to its stated commitment to workers’ rights of freedom of association and collective bargaining rights. Starbucks released the third-party assessment in December 2023, which did not consult workers, but nonetheless acknowledged clear corporate governance failures.

“Good human capital management practices are crucial to any company’s success, because workers who are valued also create value for their employers,” said Juana Lee, Associate Director, Corporate Engagement, SHARE. “Shareholders are relying on the Company to bargain in good faith with Starbucks Workers United.”

After the shareholder proposal and the third-party assessment, there were positive developments in February 2024, when Starbucks and SBWU announced an agreement to begin discussions on a foundational framework designed to achieve both collective bargaining agreements for represented stores and partners, and the resolution of litigation between the union and the company.

However, recent reports suggest that Starbucks has allowed these efforts to languish, and investors are concerned that labor relations at the company appear to have deteriorated during CEO Brian Niccol’s tenure.

The coalition is committed to ongoing engagement with the company and continues to urge Starbucks to set the tone from the top, restart negotiations, and reach a first contract with SBWU. Re-prioritizing these efforts can show that the company is focused on positive labor relations with its workers. The coalition remains committed to monitoring Starbucks’ efforts to uphold their Global Human Rights Statement and these fundamental workers’ rights, and has requested a meeting with Board members to share its investors’ perspectives and concerns.

Read the full letter to the Starbucks Board of Directors: https://comptroller.nyc.gov/reports/letter-to-starbucks-board-of-directors-from-comptroller-lander-trillium-asset-management-shareholder-association-for-research-and-education-share-and-pensions-investment-research-consultants-pir/

Gaza Man Arrested for Alleged Involvement in October 7, 2023 Terrorist Attacks

 

Mahmoud Amin Ya’qub Al-Muhtadi, 33, a Gazan native currently residing in Lafayette, Louisiana, was arrested yesterday for his alleged involvement in the Hamas-led terrorist attack against Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. 

“After hiding out in the United States, this monster has been found and charged with participating in the atrocities of October 7 — the single deadliest day for Jewish people since the Holocaust,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “While nothing can fully heal the scars left by Hamas’s brutal attack, this Department’s Joint Task Force October 7 is dedicated to finding and prosecuting those responsible for that horrific day, including the murder of dozens of American citizens. We will continue to stand by Jewish Americans and Jewish people around the world against anti-Semitism and terrorism in all its forms.” 

“As set forth in documents filed yesterday, on October 7, when Al-Muhtadi learned of the unfolding barbaric attack on Israel and civilians from multiple nations, including the United States, he sprang into action. He armed himself, recruited additional marauders, and then entered Israel, where there is evidence placing him near one of the worst-hit Israeli communities,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “Subsequently, Al-Muhtadi fraudulently obtained a visa to enter the United States where he hoped to remain undetected. This arrest is the first public step in bringing to justice those responsible for harming Americans on that day.” 

“October 7 is a day that lives in infamy for so many, Gentile and Jew alike, because of the terrorist attack on Israel that began a wave of antisemitic violence,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana. “Let this arrest serve as a reminder both that those who perpetrate acts of terrorism cannot evade justice by hiding in our communities and that state, local, and federal law enforcement — here, the FBI, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, Louisiana State Police, Lafayette Police Department, and Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office — are working tirelessly to bring these people to justice.”

According to court documents, Al-Muhtadi is an operative for the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine’s (DFLP) military wing, the National Resistance Brigades (NRB, also known as the Martyr Umar al-Qasim Forces), a Gaza-based paramilitary group that participated in the Hamas-led terrorist attack against Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

As alleged, on the morning of Oct. 7, 2023, Al-Muhtadi learned about the Hamas invasion, armed himself, gathered others, and crossed into Israel with the intention of assisting in Hamas’s terrorist attack. According to the complaint, Al-Muhtadi’s phone utilized a cell tower located near Kibbutz Kfar Aza in Israel – the location of a horrifying massacre by Hamas and its supporters resulting in the deaths of many civilians, including at least four American citizens.

In addition, Al-Muhtadi allegedly provided false information in his U.S. visa application relating to his involvement with a paramilitary organization, connection to Hamas, participation in a terrorist attack, and military training. Al-Muhtadi swore to the accuracy of numerous materially false statements in his visa application with respect to at least his affiliation with DFLP, the NRB, and Hamas, his training, and his involvement in the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks. According to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Customs and Border Protection records, Al-Muhtadi entered the United States on Sept. 12, 2024.

Joint Task Force October 7 (JTF 10-7) and the FBI New Orleans Field Office are investigating the case, with valuable assistance from Israeli authorities, including the State Attorney’s Office of Israel, the Israeli Security Agency, Lahav 433 and the Intelligence and Investigation Department of the Israel National Police, the Israel Defense Forces, and the Israeli National Bureau for Counter Terror Financing, as well as the FBI Law Enforcement Attache Office in Israel. The Louisiana State Police, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Lafayette Police Department and the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office also provided significant assistance.

Assistant U.S. Attorney John Nickel for the Western District of Louisiana; Trial Attorneys A.J. Dixon, Andrew Sigler and JTF 10-7 Lead Attorney Alicia Cook of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section; and Assistant U.S. Attorney Zoe Bedell for the Eastern District of Virginia are prosecuting the case. Valuable assistance was also provided by Trial Attorney Mark Aziz with the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs.

Al-Muhtadi’s presence in the U.S. was discovered by JTF 10-7. Established in February 2025 by Attorney General Pamela Bondi, JTF 10-7 was created to spearhead the Justice Department’s ongoing investigations into the perpetrators of the heinous October 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Israel, in which approximately 1,200 people were murdered by Hamas, including 49 U.S. citizens, and approximately 250 additional people were abducted by Hamas, including 8 U.S. citizens. The task force reinforces the Department’s commitment to degrading and dismantling Hamas, holding Hamas supporters accountable, achieving justice for victims, and fighting terrorist-led antisemitism.

VCJC News & Notes 10/17/25

 

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 schedule
   
   
   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 10/17/25 @ 5:54 pm
   Shabbos morning services at 8:40 am.  Please join the services if you can do so safely. 
   Shabbos Ends Saturday 10/18/25 @ 6:57 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. Shabbos parsha

   
   

   
   

   
   

   Parashat Bereshit 5786 / פָּרָשַׁת בְּרֵאשִׁית

   18 October 2025 / 26 Tishrei 5786

   Parashat Bereshit is the 1st weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading.

   Torah Portion: Genesis 1:1-6:8

   Bereishit (“In the Beginning”), the first parashah in the annual Torah reading cycle, begins with God’s creation of the world. The first people, Adam and Eve, eat from the Tree of Knowledge and are banished from the Garden of Eden. Their elder son, Cain, kills their younger son, Abel, and Cain is destined to a life of wandering. [1]

   
   

   
   

3. Yizkor donations

   It is customary to make a charitable donation in conjunction with Yizkor.  If you wish to donate to VCJC as part of your Yizkor observance, it can be done in person at the office, by check, or online through our website
   

4. Please help with information about buildings

   As part of rebuilding the membership and congregation, the Board of Trustees would like your help. There are a lot of either new or renovated buildings being put up in our catchment area. We would like to seek the cooperation of the owners / developers of those properties in publicizing these opportunities to live near an orthodox synagogue.  If you are aware of any of these buildings, please provide what information you can about them.  This could include the address, any contact information that might be posted, and any information about the building itself (size, type, etc.). Additionally, if you are aware of vacancies in existing buildings or of houses for sale, please let us know about that as well.

   
   

5. From the Derfner Judaica Museum
   

   1. OPEN HOUSE NEW YORK: Guided Exhibition Tour

      Sunday, October 19, 1:30 p.m. in person

      Reserve a spot art@riverspring.org or 718-581-1596

      
      

      To learn more about Open House New York, click here.

      
      
      AND

      Creating Fantastical Spaces

      Join the Museum's Senior Curator for a Free Virtual Talk

      Tuesday, October 28, 2 p.m. on Zoom

      Click here to register
       

      5901 Palisade Avenue

      Riverdale, New York 10471

      718-581-1596

      www.derfner.org

Our mailing address is:
Van Cortlandt Jewish Center
3880 Sedgwick Ave
Bronx, NY 10463

In Governor J.B. Pritzker’s Illinois, Illegal Alien Is Working as a Sworn Police Office with Badge, Gun, and a Pension

 

It is a felony for an illegal alien to possess a firearm

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) today announced the arrest of Radule Bojovic, an illegal alien from Montenegro, who was working as a sworn police officer with the Hanover Park Police Department in sanctuary state Illinois. Radule Bojovic was encountered during a targeted enforcement action as part of Operation Midway Blitz.

Hanover Park Police Department records confirm, Radule Bojovic was approved by the Pension Fund Board of Trustees in January 2025 and was eligible to receive a starting salary of $78,955.70. Additional records indicate his 2025 earnings cost taxpayers $205,707 including $9,276 for FICA/Medicare taxes.

“Governor J.B. Pritzker doesn’t just allow violent illegal aliens to terrorize Illinois’s communities, he allows illegal aliens to work as sworn police officers. Radule Bojovic violated our nation’s laws and was living ILLEGALLY in the United States for 10 years—what kind of police department gives criminal illegal aliens badges and guns? It's a felony for aliens to even possess a firearm. A so-called law enforcement officer who is actively breaking the law,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “Under President Trump and Secretary Noem ICE is restoring law and order. Criminal illegal aliens have NO PLACE in our communities, especially on our police forces.”

Bojovic overstayed a B2 tourist visa that required him to depart the U.S. on March 31, 2015. Over a decade later, he was still illegally in the U.S. 

On September 8, the Department of Homeland Security started Operation Midway Blitz in honor of Katie Abraham who was killed in a drunk driving hit-and-run car wreck caused by criminal illegal alien Julio Cucul-Bol in Illinois. The operation targets criminal illegal aliens who flocked to Chicago and Illinois seeking protection under the sanctuary policies of Governor Pritzker.  

Ohio Man Faces Federal Charges for Shooting Deputy U.S. Marshal in Barricade Incident

Defendant Faces Up to 20 Years in Federal Prison if Convicted 

An Ohio man was taken into custody and charged with assaulting a federal officer who was engaged in the performance of official duties.

According to the criminal complaint, on Oct. 15, Larry Leon Dwight Wiley, 55, of Cleveland, barricaded himself in his apartment for several hours after members of the Cleveland U.S. Marshals Service arrived to execute an arrest warrant for a previous federal law violation. Wiley took aim at the federal officers and began firing as they entered the unit. One deputy U.S. Marshal was struck in the arm with a .380 caliber round and was transported to a nearby hospital to receive treatment for his injuries. Wiley made his initial appearance Oct. 16 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jennifer Dowdell Armstrong. He was ordered to remain in custody while the matter is pending, following a motion made in court by U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio.

“Law enforcement officers risk everything to protect us, and this case is a stark reminder of the dangers they face in the line of duty,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “I am grateful that our deputy U.S. Marshal will make a full recovery and I will ensure that this heinous crime is prosecuted and punished to the fullest extent of the law. Any attack on law enforcement is an attack on our society itself.”

“An assault on federal law enforcement is an assault against society. We will aggressively prosecute anyone who harms a federal law enforcement officer who is pursuing the mission of protecting the public,” said U.S. Attorney Toepfer. “I would like to thank the Cleveland Police Department, FBI, and ATF for their rapid response to this situation. I also commend the officers on scene who quickly rendered first aid to their wounded colleague.”

“The swift and decisive actions by the United States Marshal’s Service, Cleveland Division of Police, ATF, and the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office to prevent additional harm to the people in the community underscores the collaboration and partnership among our local, state, and federal agencies,” said FBI Cleveland Special Agent in Charge Greg Nelsen.  “We are united in our resolve to take the most dangerous criminals and repeat offenders off the streets and keep our neighborhoods safe places to live and work. The FBI will conduct a thorough investigation into the assault of a federal officer and ensure justice is served.”

Wiley is charged with assault on a federal officer with a deadly or dangerous weapon and faces up to 20 years in prison. If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after a review of factors unique to the case, including prior criminal record, role in the offense, and characteristics of the violation.

This case is being investigated by the FBI Cleveland Division, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and the Cleveland Division of Police. The Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office also provided valuable assistance. The prosecution is being led by Assistant United States Attorneys Margaret A. Sweeney, Scott Zarzycki, and James P. Lewis for the Northern District of Ohio.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.