Attorney General James Launches Portal to Collect Photos and Videos of ICE Activity in New York

 

New York Attorney General Letitia James is encouraging New Yorkers to submit videos or other documentation of federal immigration enforcement actions in New York following yesterday’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid on Canal Street in New York City.

“Every New Yorker has the right to live without fear or intimidation,” said Attorney General James. “If you witnessed and documented ICE activity yesterday, I urge you to share that footage with my office. We are committed to reviewing these reports and assessing any violations of law. No one should be subject to unlawful questioning, detention, or intimidation.”

Attorney General James is asking New Yorkers to share photos or videos of federal government actions using the Office of the Attorney General’s new online portal.

Governor Hochul Announces the Largest New York State Department of Transportation Paving Investment in History to Take Place in 2026

Unprecedented Paving Investment Leverages $800 Million Secured in Current State Budget to Reinforce the State Department of Transportation’s Capital Plan, Largest in State History

Nearly 2,150 Lane Miles To Be Paved in Every Region of the State in Addition to the Department’s Core Road and Bridge Program

View List of Paving Projects Broken Down by Region Here

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced an unprecedented investment to renew dozens of vital state roadways across New York State during the 2026 construction season. Leveraging the $800 million that Governor Hochul secured in the most recent state budget to augment the final two years of its five-year, $34.3 billion Capital Plan, the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) will invest more than $600 million in over 180 paving projects across the state to be completed next year. These projects, which total almost 2,150 lane miles, are in addition to the paving initiatives already scheduled as part of NYSDOT’s core programs and, taken together, represent the most ambitious annual road resurfacing agenda ever put forward by NYSDOT. This historic investment is part of Governor Hochul’s commitment to improve public safety through critical investments in transportation infrastructure, enhancing quality of life for all New Yorkers. In 2022, Governor Hochul secured full funding for NYSDOT’s 2022-2027 Capital Plan, the largest in the agency’s history.

“As someone who has ridden on virtually every mile of every state road across New York, I know firsthand every curve and every pothole, and next year we will be making an unprecedented investment to improve state roads across New York,” Governor Hochul said. “New Yorkers will be seeing crews out there like never before next year, rejuvenating highways, enhancing the safety of the traveling public, and laying a solid foundation for economic development across the Empire State.”

Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, New York State is investing in road and bridge infrastructure more than ever before in state history. The $34.3 billion, five-year Capital Plan, the largest in State Department of Transportation history, helps fulfill the Governor’s vision for a modern transportation system that serves all New Yorkers. That plan was bolstered in the most recent state budget with an additional $800 million to augment NYSDOT’s purchasing power. Thanks to that funding commitment, and taking into account the Department of Transportation’s core paving program in its current Capital Plan, a total of over 250 pavement renewal projects across the state are planned for 2026, a nearly $1.2 billion investment that will resurface more than 4,000 lane miles.

Permits Filed for 3057 Sedgwick Avenue in Kingsbridge Heights, The Bronx

 

Permits have been filed for a six-story residential building at 3057 Sedgwick Avenue in Kingsbridge Heights, The Bronx. Located between Perot Street and West 231st Street, the lot is near the 231st Street subway station, served by the 1 train. Roman Malakov of Sedgewick Ave NY 2 LLC is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 62-foot-tall development will yield 14,822 square feet designated for residential space. The building will have 22 residences, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 673 square feet. The concrete-based structure will also have a 35-foot-long rear yard.

Robert Bianchini of ARC Architecture + Design Studio is listed as the architect of record.

Demolition permits will likely not be needed as the lot is vacant. An estimated completion date has not been announced.

MAYOR ADAMS CANCELS NEARLY $135 MILLION IN MEDICAL DEBT FOR WORKING-CLASS NEW YORKERS, CELEBRATES OPENING OF EIGHT NEW FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CENTERS AT SELECT NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS LOCATIONS TO HELP NEW YORKERS AVOID FUTURE MEDICAL DEBT

 

Pioneering Program Launched by Mayor Adams Cancels Medical Debt for Over 75,000 New Yorkers in Partnership with Undue Medical Debt

 

When Done, New York City’s Investment Will Provide $2 Billion in Relief for up to 500,000 New Yorkers, Becoming Largest Municipal Medical Debt Relief Program in Nation 

City Opens Eight Financial Empowerment Centers, Making More Financial Services Accessible to More New Yorkers 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced over 75,000 New Yorkers. Last year, Mayor Adams launched a pioneering program that — through an $18 million investment by the city over three years — will relieve some or all of the medical debt for 500,000 working-class New Yorkers on a one-time basis, totaling over $2 billion in eliminated debt. In addition, Mayor Adams today celebrated the opening of eight new ‘NYC Financial Empowerment Centers’ run by the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) at select NYC Health + Hospitals locations across the health system to help New Yorkers better plan and avoid going into medical debt in the future. This announcement continues to fulfill two more key commitments made during Mayor Adams’ 2024 State of the City address, to relieve $2 billion of New Yorkers’ medical debt and embed additional financial counselors in New York City hospitals — providing more New Yorkers with access to vital personalized financial guidance.

 

“For too long, and for too many, medical debt has not only been a barrier for those looking to get the health care they need, but also a major financial and emotional stressor for families through no fault of their own. Working-class New Yorkers shouldn’t have to live in fear that getting sick will break their bank, and, thanks to our administration, they won’t have to,” said Mayor Adams. “We are proud to announce another milestone in our initiative to abolish medical debt for New Yorkers. Since launching our program with Undue Medical Debt, we have cancelled nearly $135 million in medical debt for over 75,000 people and we will not stop until we reach our goal of providing $2 billion in relief for half a million of our city’s residents. We are also fulfilling our promise to place more Financial Empowerment Centers where they are needed: in our hospitals so that we can give people the tools they need to avoid going into medical debt from the start by making smarter financial decisions. Through the largest municipal medical debt relief program in the nation and providing greater access to financial resources, we are delivering debt relief and peace of mind to New Yorkers across the five boroughs, as we put money back in their pockets and make our city more affordable every day.”

 

“Our administration is taking a range of steps to support working-class families, and this program is one of these steps,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Suzanne Miles-Gustave. “We expect more relief to come in the coming months and years for hundreds of thousands more families. Thank you to our partners at Undue Medical Debt and the Mayor’s Fund for helping lift this financial weight from the shoulders of so many New Yorkers.” 

 

“Erasing medical debt isn’t just a gesture of compassion — it’s a necessity when so many New Yorkers are often forced to choose between their health and basic needs like food or housing,” said New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Acting Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse. “We must create a more equitable and affordable system so that New Yorkers do not fear financial ruin after seeking necessary medical care. By relieving debt burden, we're providing people with the freedom to prioritize their health while making our city stronger and more accessible for everyone.” 

“Improving our financial health can have direct impacts on our physical and mental health,” said DCWP Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga. “Today, we’re encouraging all New Yorkers to get a dose of financial empowerment at one of our Financial Empowerment Centers! As a client of our Financial Empowerment Centers myself, I know firsthand how liberating it is to set yourself up for long-term financial success. Thank you to Mayor Adams and to NYC Health + Hospitals for partnering with us to help New Yorkers learn smart money habits and strengthen their financial health.”

“We're honored to continue our partnership with the City of New York to bring medical debt relief to more New Yorkers burdened by these unpayable debts,” said Allison Sesso, president and CEO, Undue Medical Debt. “Removing financial barriers to care is more important than ever. This initiative helps families breathe easier and re-engage with the health care system without fear of financial ruin.”

About New York City’s Medical Debt Relief Program

Medical debt is the number one cause of bankruptcy in the United States, disproportionately affecting uninsured, under-insured, and low-income households. The city has partnered with Undue Medical Debt, a national New York City-based nonprofit specializing in buying and ultimately wiping out medical debt to acquire debt portfolios from health care providers and hospitals across New York City, as well as from collection agencies.

 

There is no application process for New York City’s one-time debt relief program, which is the largest municipal initiative of its kind in the country. Instead, Undue Medical Debt will purchase bundled, qualifying medical debt portfolios from providers, like hospitals and commercial debt buyers, to then abolish that debt at pennies on the dollar. Debt relief recipients will then be notified that their debt has been bought by a third party and erased, with no strings attached. Recipients owe nothing on the debt and face no tax penalty. New Yorkers who fit one of the two eligibility criteria will qualify for the debt relief if their debt has been acquired: 1) having an annual household income at or below 400 percent of the Federal Poverty Line or 2) having medical debt equal to 5 percent or more of their annual household income.

 

To supplement the city's investment, Undue Medical Debt and the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City will also partner to raise additional funding over three years in order to relieve more medical debt, New Yorkers interested in helping relieve medical debt can donate online.

 

More than 100 million Americans hold some amount of medical debt, with the total amount nationwide exceeding $220 billion. Carrying medical debt can undermine financial stability and mobility, as it can affect credit scores and put individuals and families in difficult positions to choose between care and other necessary expenses. Nationwide, , and while medical debt may be held by those without insurance, even those with insurance are at risk of carrying medical debt.

 

About New York City’s Financial Empowerment Program

NYC Financial Empowerment Centers provide free one-on-one financial counseling and coaching services to help New Yorkers reach their financial goals. The Financial Empowerment Centers can help New Yorkers learn how to create action plans and take small but meaningful steps to manage their money, establish or improve their credit, set up a spending plan, open a safe and affordable bank account, contact their lenders about debt, including student loans and medical debt, develop a strategy to reduce debt or lower payments, and more.

Building on DCWP and NYC Health + Hospitals’ existing partnership in providing access to free tax preparation services through NYC Free Tax Prep at select health system sites, this new expansion will offer all of the services available at NYC Financial Empowerment Centers across the city but now conveniently located where many New Yorkers receive health care. Research shows that offering financial counseling and coaching in clinical settings can improve quality of life and overall health outcomes. This collaboration ensures that more New Yorkers can access the financial care they need to improve their lives and achieve their goals.

Since the start of the Adams administration, DCWP’s Financial Empowerment Centers have helped tens of thousands of New Yorkers improve their credit, reduce their debt by more than $45.1 million, and increase their savings by $5.1 million through free one-on-one financial counseling services. There are over 40 centers across the five boroughs with services available in 11 languages. New Yorkers 18 and older can visit DCWP’s Financial Counseling webpage or call 311 and say “financial counseling” to schedule an appointment or for more information.

New Yorkers can now access free one-on-one financial counseling and coaching services at the following NYC Health + Hospitals locations:

BRONX

NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Tremont

1920 Webster Avenue, Bronx, NY 10457

Mondays and Tuesdays, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi

1400 Pelham Pkwy S, Building 8 Atrium, Bronx, NY 10461

Wednesdays and Thursdays, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

BROOKLYN

NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, East New York

2094 Pitkin Ave, 2nd Floor, Room 202, Brooklyn, NY 11207

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County

451 Clarkson Avenue, E Building, Main Lobby, Brooklyn, NY 11203

Mondays and Wednesdays, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

MANHATTAN

NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue

462 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016

Finance Department, First Floor, Hospital Building

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Gouverneur

227 Madison Street, 5^th Floor Lobby, New York, NY 10002

Mondays and Wednesdays, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

QUEENS

NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst

79-01 Broadway, Main Lobby, Broadway Entrance, Elmhurst, NY 11373

Mondays and Wednesdays, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens

82-70 164th Street, Main Building, Conference Room D, Jamaica, NY 11434

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Mother and Daughter Charged with Forced Labor in the District of Puerto Rico

 

Defendants are alleged to have physically and psychologically abused the victim, exploiting her intellectual disability to compel her to panhandle, engage in fraudulent and criminal activities, and perform domestic chores for the defendants

A federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment charging Luz Maria Peña Lopez, 55, and her daughter, Tatiana Correa Peña, 36, of Carolina, Puerto Rico, with forced labor and conspiracy to commit forced labor, announced Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico W. Stephen Muldrow.  Peña Lopez was also charged with document servitude, and Peña Lopez’s husband, Enrique Gutierrez Rivera, 54, a municipal police officer in Carolina, Puerto Rico, was charged with misprision of a felony related to his knowledge, failure to report, and concealment of his co-defendants’ misuse of the victim’s Social Security benefits.  

According to the indictment, defendants Peña Lopez and Correa Peña used physical beatings, physical restraint, threats of violence, document servitude, isolation, denial of basic hygiene and medical care, and the provision of drugs and/or unprescribed medication to force the victim—an intellectually disabled adult woman—to panhandle for money, engage in criminal and fraudulent activities for their financial benefit, and perform domestic labor in their shared residence.  Defendants Peña Lopez and Correa Peña also converted the victim’s monthly Social Security disability benefits for their own personal use.

“The Justice Department condemns the appalling abuse and forced labor inflicted on this disabled victim, as alleged in this indictment, and we are committed to ensuring the perpetrators face the full consequences of the law,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division.

The indictment specifically notes that as part of their coercive scheme to compel the victim’s labor, defendants Peña Lopez and Correa Peña threatened the victim with violence and death; physically beat the victim, sometimes using objects such as belts, broomsticks, and cables; restricted the victim’s ability to leave the residence by forcing her to sleep in a space formerly used to house goats and roosters, at times locking her inside overnight; and used the victim’s Social Security disability benefits for their own personal use, denying those funds to the victim for even basic hygiene items such as clothes, toothbrushes, deodorant, and sanitary pads.

The maximum penalty for the offense of forced labor is 20 years in federal prison.  The maximum penalty for misprision of a felony is three years. 

The case is being investigated by the FBI.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daynelle Alverez and Trial Attorney Jessica Arco of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit.

Anyone who believes they may have relevant information to share about this case is asked to contact the FBI Field Office at 1-787-987-6500.

If you or someone you know is a victim of human trafficking, please call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

MANHATTAN MAN SENTENCED TO 18 YEARS IN PRISON FOR SEX TRAFFICKING TEEN GIRL

 

Defendant Convicted After Jury Trial

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced that a Manhattan man has been sentenced to 18 years in prison and five years post-release supervision for Sex Trafficking of a Child and additional charges for forcing a 14-year-old girl into prostitution. 

District Attorney Clark said, “This defendant was a brutal pimp who degraded a 14-yearold girl. He beat and threatened her to engage in sex with men and then led her to another pimp who forced her to have numerous “dates” in a Bronx motel that served as a brothel. The girl bravely testified at trial. This conviction and sentence show our commitment to victims of sex trafficking. We will continue our tireless work to hold perpetrators accountable and support vulnerable victims.” 

District Attorney Clark said the defendant Akeem Lee, 36, of Manhattan was sentenced today to 18 years in prison and five years post-release supervision by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Laurence Busching. He is required to register as a sex offender upon release. A jury convicted the defendant on July 2, 2025, of two counts of Sex Trafficking of a Child, two counts of first-degree Promoting Prostitution, Sex Trafficking, second-degree Intimidating a Witness, third-degree Intimidating a Witness, and Endangering the Welfare of a Child. 

According to the facts presented at trial, Lee met a 14-year-old girl inside a Bronx subway station, and she began engaging in prostitution for him. Lee hit and choked her and threatened to kill her if she went to the police. The defendant introduced the teen to a network of pimps who operated and trafficked her out of the 7 Days Hotel at 2338 Bruckner Boulevard. The sex trafficking enterprise operated from June 2019 to November of 2022.

The victim began taking up to 22 dates daily and was given ecstasy and cocaine to stay awake all night and was repeatedly beaten to comply with demands. By 2021, the now 16-yearold victim went on approximately 100 dates. In January 2021, an undercover investigation began at the hotel. Lee was among three pimps and three 7 Days Hotel staffers charged in 2023.

Co-defendants Anthony Reyes, 33, pleaded to fifth-degree Conspiracy, Robert Olaguibel, 48, Golam Rabbani 30, and Patrick Walker 53, hotel employees, pleaded guilty to fourth-degree Criminal Facilitation. All were sentenced to three years probation. Marvin Flint, 34, pleaded guilty fourth-degree Conspiracy and was sentenced to nine years in prison.

District Attorney Clark thanked NYPD Detective Denis Regimbal and NYPD Detective Mark Shackel of the NYPD Human Trafficking Team for their work on the investigation. 

OGS Commissioner Moy Announces Free HarlemWeen Family-Friendly Event

October 31 Event to Include Costume & Dance Competitions, Candy Giveaways, Free Live Entertainment, and More

New York State Office of General Services (OGS) Commissioner Jeanette Moy announced that the annual HarlemWeen family-friendly event will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, October 31, at the Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. State Office Building, located at 163 West 125th Street in Harlem.

“Plenty of eerie entertainment, ‘Thriller’ dancing, and free candy will be the ingredients of the special potion that makes our annual HarlemWeen event at the Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. State Office Building perfect for getting into the Halloween spirit,” Commissioner Moy said. “Join Team OGS in Harlem on October 31 for an evening of bewitching family fun made possible by our generous sponsors, performers, and volunteers.”

There will be music provided by DJ Stormin’ Norman, activities, and performances throughout the event, including:

• Costume and dance competitions
• “Thriller” dance lessons with Michael Jackson tribute artist Moses Harper and dance students from the Harlem School of the Arts
• Stilt walking by Brooklyn Jumbies Inc.
• Candy giveaways (while supplies last)
• Free hot beverages courtesy of Starbucks (while supplies last)

Sponsors include Starbucks, Harlem Community Development Corporation, The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce, NYC Cultural Affairs, Harlem Presents, NYS Council on the Arts, Raising Cane’s, WBLS, Touro College, and the Harlem School of the Arts.

Special thanks to the volunteers from Harlem Mothers S.A.V.E. and Pen & Scroll Organization Inc.

CITY OF NEW YORK FILES LAWSUIT TO PROTECT OVER $100 MILLION IN FEDERAL EMERGENCY AND DISASTER GRANTS TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS NATIONWIDE

 

Lawsuit Argues Federal Conditions Imposed on Grants from DHS and FEMA Are Unlawful and Would Harm Public Safety, Emergency Preparedness

The City of New York — as part of a national coalition of nine local governments from across the country — has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), challenging the federal government’s effort to force cities and counties to agree to unlawful conditions to continue to receive over $100 million in federal funding for countering terrorism, disaster preparedness, and other public safety programs. In the lawsuit, the coalition argues that without this funding, the New York City Police Department’s (NYPD) ability to detect and defend against a radiological or nuclear attack could be compromised. Additionally, funding that supports the New York City transit system’s operational security capability and capacity, including active shooter training and deploying specialized teams within the transit system every day, could be affected.

“Public safety has always been our administration’s North Star, which is why we have always fought for every penny from our state and federal counterparts to keep us safe,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “We’ve hit historic lows in crime because we’ve always been willing to make the necessary investments, so now is not the time to go backwards. We are proud to join partners from across the nation, once again, in filing this lawsuit to keep New Yorkers, and Americans from across the nation, safe.”

“Losing funding that helps the NYPD prevent terror attacks on our subways, bridges, and tunnels would be contrary to law, the intent of Congress, and put millions of New Yorkers at risk,” said New York City Corporation Counsel Muriel Goode-Trufant.

In each of the last three fiscal years, New York City has been awarded approximately $150 million in grant funding for critical emergency management programs at the NYPD, the New York City Department of Transportation, and other city agencies. However, in Fiscal Year 2025, as part of the “Standard Terms and Conditions,” DHS adopted unlawful new conditions requiring recipients to certify that they do not “operate any programs that advance or promote ‘Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility’,” and requiring compliance with all of President Donald Trump’s executive orders to be eligible to receive the funds. The DHS grants help local governments prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters such as acts of terrorism, mass shootings, cyber incidents, and other complex emergencies, putting critical services for numerous communities, including New York, at risk.

The lawsuit — led by the City of Chicago in Illinois and filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division — states that new funding conditions added by the heads of federal agencies are unconstitutional and an overreach by the executive branch, which does not have the authority to change conditions related to federal grants without the approval of Congress.

The lawsuit resists efforts by the federal administration to coerce local governments into accepting these unlawful grant conditions, including a condition that puts at risk three times the amount of the grants based on vague and undefined requirements — further endangering critical services for New Yorkers.

Joining New York City and Chicago in filing the lawsuit are the cities of Denver, Colorado; New Haven, Connecticut; Baltimore, Maryland; Boston, Massachusetts; Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Saint Paul Minnesota; as well as the county of Ramsey, Minnesota.