ICE Continues Arresting the Worst of the Worst Criminal Illegal Despite the Democrats’ Government Shutdown

 

Yesterday, ICE arrested pedophiles, rapists, and kidnappers during the Democrats’ government shutdown 

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) today announced the arrest of more worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens despite the Democrats’ government shutdown. ICE arrested these illegal aliens from across the country convicted of heinous crimes including lewd and lascivious act on a minor, aggravated criminal sexual assault with bodily harm, aggravated kidnapping and possession with intent to distribute.

“Nothing—not even the Democrats’ government shutdown—will slow us down from arresting the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens. Yesterday, the brave men and women of ICE arrested pedophiles, rapists, and kidnappers,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “These are the types of predators ICE is taking off of America’s streets every single day. DHS will stop at nothing to make America safe again and remove these violent illegal offenders from our streets.” 

Frank Rene Gacita-Borges, a criminal illegal alien from Cuba and convicted for lewd and lascivious act on a minor in Miami, Florida.

Alfonso Batalla-Garcia, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, convicted for aggravated criminal sexual assault with bodily harm, and aggravated kidnapping in Cook County, Illinois.

Carlos Eduardo Garcia-Alarcon, a criminal illegal alien from Guatemala, convicted for sexual assault in Davidson County, Tennessee.

Adan Martinez-Gonzalez, criminal illegal alien from Mexico, convicted for aggravated kidnapping in Tarrant County, Texas.

Nicanor Hernandez-Gutierrez, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, convicted for possession with intent to distribute a quantity exceeding five kilograms (21.8 kilograms) of cocaine.

DOI BEGINS REVIEW OF NYPD RESPONSE TO PROTESTS AS AGREED TO IN SETTLEMENT OF LAWSUIT INVOLVING POLICING OF SUMMER 2020 DEMONSTRATIONS

 

Jocelyn E. Strauber, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation (“DOI”), announced today that DOI has begun overseeing the New York City Police Department’s (“NYPD”) response to certain protests, as agreed to in the City’s settlement of In Re: New York City Policing During Summer 2020 Demonstrations, No. 20-CV8924(CM)(GWG) (S.D.N.Y. 2023). As part of “Phase II” of this settlement agreement, DOI’s Protest Response Oversight (“PRO”) Unit is now reviewing NYPD’s response to two protests selected by the Plaintiffs in that litigation: the demonstrations at Brooklyn College on May 8, 2025 and at 26 Federal Plaza on June 14, 2025. The Plaintiffs include the New York State Attorney General’s Office and individuals who brought complaints involving their treatment during Summer 2020 protests, represented by organizations including the New York Civil Liberties Union and the Legal Aid Society. 

If you have witnessed conduct of concern involving NYPD at these or other protests that you would like to share, you can provide information to the PRO Unit using this Online Portal or call the PRO Unit's hotline at: 212-825-6854.

The PRO Unit, which is staffed by an Inspector General, two Special Counsels and two Senior Investigators, was established in March 2025 following the City’s settlement of In Re: New York City Policing During Summer 2020 Demonstrations. This settlement includes reforms to the policies and procedures governing the NYPD’s response to First Amendment Activities (“FAAs”) in New York City and establishes DOI as the oversight authority responsible for monitoring the NYPD’s compliance with the settlement, specifically the NYPD response to protests, demonstrations and other FAAs. The NYPD finalized approval of all policies, procedures, and training curricula pursuant to the settlement agreement, concluding Phase I of the agreement and prompting the start of Phase II.

Two new protests will be selected for DOI’s review every six months until Phase II ends in 2028. The PRO Unit will produce recommendations and several public reports as required by the settlement agreement. These public reports will be filed with the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and will describe the PRO Unit’s findings and recommendations and report on NYPD’s implementation of prior recommendations. The parties involved in the settlement will also be entitled to file a response to these reports. The first public report will be filed in Spring 2027.

During Phase II, the DOI Commissioner will chair a “Collaborative Review Committee” comprised of representatives of the parties involved in the litigation, including a representative of the Office of Corporation Counsel, a representative from the Office of the New York State Attorney General, and two attorneys representing the Plaintiffs, among others. At periodic meetings, the Committee will discuss NYPD’s response to the FAAs reviewed by DOI, provide input on DOI’s recommendations stemming from their reviews, and address any other issues that may arise during Phase II. 

For more information on DOI’s PRO Unit, please visit their webpage by clicking here.   

Member of Violent Extremist Network ‘764’ Charged with Animal Crushing, Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, Cyberstalking and Interstate Threats

 

A federal grand jury in the Eastern District of California has returned a six-count indictment against Tony Christopher Long, also known as Inactive, Inactivee0, and inactivecvx, 19, of Porterville, California, charging him with animal crushing (two counts), sexual exploitation of a minor, possession of material involving the sexual exploitation of a minor, cyberstalking, and transmitting an interstate threat. Long is currently in state custody on related charges.

“This defendant allegedly engaged in acts of extreme cruelty by exploiting a child, abusing animals, and threatening violence — his conduct reflects the depravity of ‘764,’” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “These networks seek to terrorize and destabilize our communities by preying on the most vulnerable, and the Justice Department will stop at nothing to dismantle this network and bring offenders to justice.”

“The FBI has no tolerance for anyone who preys on children or other vulnerable members of society,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “This defendant allegedly targeted juveniles, took part in animal crushing, and was part of a violent online network which seeks to sow chaos and destabilize our society. The FBI will work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and hold accountable anyone who engages in such reprehensible and illegal activity.”

“This indictment charges a constellation of offenses related to the troubling emergence of NVEs like ‘764’ and related groups,” said U.S. Attorney Eric Grant for the Eastern District of California. “My office will vigorously investigate and prosecute offenses committed by NVE groups, including those alleged to have been committed by Long against young and vulnerable victims,” he added.

According to court documents, Long was a member and associate of “764,” a criminal organization of Nihilistic Violent Extremists (NVEs). NVEs are individuals who engage in criminal conduct within the United States and abroad in furtherance of political, social, or religious goals that derive primarily from a hatred of society and a desire to bring about its collapse via chaos, destruction, and social instability. NVEs work individually or as part of a network with the goal of destroying civilized society through the corruption and exploitation of vulnerable populations, which often include minors.

The indictment, returned by the grand jury on Oct. 23, alleges that in late 2024, Long purposely engaged in animal crushing, sexually exploited a juvenile victim living in Washington state, and committed cyberstalking and made online threats against a juvenile victim living in Kern County, California.

If convicted, Long faces a maximum penalty of seven years in prison on each of the two counts charging animal crushing; a minimum mandatory penalty of 15 years in prison up to a maximum of 30 years in prison for sexual exploitation of a minor; a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for possession of material involving the sexual exploitation of a minor; a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for cyberstalking; and a maximum statutory penalty of two years in prison for making an interstate threat. Each count of the indictment also carries a fine of up to $250,000. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The FBI is investigating the case, with assistance from the Porterville Police Department.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

The Justice Department remains vigilant against the threat of Nihilistic Violent Extremist (NVE) networks, like 764, that operate within the United States and around the globe. NVEs often target vulnerable individuals, including minors, using social media platforms to share child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and gore material, and groom victims toward committing acts of violence. Victims are often extorted, coerced, compelled, and blackmailed into complying with NVE demands, including self-mutilation, online and in-person sexual acts, harm to animals, sexual exploitation of siblings and others, acts of violence, threats of violence, suicide, and murder. For more information on how to protect children and others, read about the online risks here: Parents, Caregivers, Teachers — FBI and the FBI’s March 2025 public service announcement.

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

Attorney General James Sues Federal Government for Illegally Suspending SNAP Benefits During Shutdown

 

Multistate Coalition of 26 AGs and Governors Fight to Prevent Millions of Americans from Going Hungry

New York Attorney General Letitia James and 24 other state leaders, as well as the District of Columbia, today announced that they are suing the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for unlawfully suspending Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits during the ongoing federal government shutdown. Attorney General James and the coalition argue that the administration’s refusal to issue November SNAP payments to more than 40 million Americans – including nearly three million New Yorkers – violates federal law and could leave countless families hungry. The coalition emphasizes that the administration’s pause is unlawful because USDA is legally required to continue providing benefits as long as it has funding, and the agency has access to billions of dollars in contingency funds that Congress specifically appropriated to keep benefits flowing during funding lapses. The coalition is asking the court to intervene immediately and ensure USDA uses its existing contingency funds to maintain life-saving food assistance benefits through the shutdown. 

“Millions of Americans are about to go hungry because the federal government has chosen to withhold food assistance it is legally obligated to provide,” said Attorney General James. “SNAP is one of our nation’s most effective tools to fight hunger, and the USDA has the money to keep it running. There is no excuse for this administration to abandon families who rely on SNAP, or food stamps, as a lifeline. The federal government must do its job to protect families.”

SNAP is the nation’s largest anti-hunger program, providing critical assistance to low-income households to help them buy groceries and put food on the table. Nationwide, more than 42 million Americans depend on SNAP to feed themselves and their families. Children and seniors make up nearly 60 percent of all SNAP recipients, and well over a million veterans receive SNAP benefits each year. In New York alone, SNAP serves nearly three million people, including nearly one million children and over 600,000 older adults. Approximately seven percent of New York SNAP recipients are disabled. This past year, New Yorkers received approximately $650 million in SNAP benefits each month.

Now, for the first time in SNAP’s 60-year history, the federal government is refusing to issue monthly food assistance payments due to a lapse in appropriations. Despite initially guaranteeing it would use contingency funding to maintain SNAP benefits, on October 10, USDA instructed states to “hold” their payments for November benefits. Two weeks later, USDA formally ordered all states to suspend benefits effective November 1. This directive will halt food assistance for 42 million Americans – people who now risk going hungry due to this suspension.

Attorney General James and the coalition argue that this pause is avoidable and unnecessary. The USDA has access to at least $6 billion in contingency funds appropriated by Congress for exactly this purpose. For decades – including during the first Trump administration’s government shutdown – the federal government has maintained that SNAP operations must continue during funding lapses, using contingency funds as needed. Despite this, on October 24, the administration declared that it will not use these funds to protect families from losing access to food assistance, meaning it is actively deciding to deprive more than 40 million Americans of the lifeline food benefits they depend on. The coalition warns that this decision threatens catastrophic consequences for millions of families and will exacerbate food insecurity nationwide.

On Friday, Attorney General James and 22 other attorneys general wrote a letter to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins, seeking clarification on the administration’s plan to protect food assistance through the shutdown, and highlighting the agency’s contingency funds as a possible solution. The attorneys general have not received a response.

The coalition asserts that this cruel and unlawful decision is a clear violation of the Food and Nutrition Act, which requires that “assistance under this program shall be furnished to all eligible households,” and the Administrative Procedure Act, because the action is arbitrary and capricious. Attorney General James and the coalition are asking the court to intervene immediately to ensure vulnerable families do not lose access to food assistance on November 1. They are seeking a temporary restraining order directing USDA to put available contingency funds toward November SNAP benefits for all plaintiff states.

Joining Attorney General James in filing this lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia, as well as the governors of Kansas, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania.

SCHOOL JANITOR SENTENCED TO FIVE YEARS IN PRISON FOR SEXUALLY ASSAULTING 8-YEAR-OLD IN EMPTY CLASSROOM

 

Child Ran Away Screaming for Help, Teacher Called 9-1-1

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced today that a Bronx janitor was sentenced to five years in prison for sexually abusing a 2nd grader at a public school. 

District Attorney Clark said, “The defendant grabbed a little girl and abused her, in what should be a haven for children. He will spend five years in prison and register as a sex offender for violating a child.” 

District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Cesar Ortega Licona, 45, of Yonkers, was sentenced today to five years in prison plus five years post release supervision by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Laurence Busching. The defendant must also register as a sex offender. Licona pleaded guilty to first-degree Sexual Abuse on September 9, 2025.

According to the investigation, on December 17, 2024, at approximately 3:45 p.m., inside a public school, the defendant, a janitor at the school, forcefully pulled an 8-year-old girl into an empty classroom. He sexually assaulted the girl, and she ran out of the classroom screaming for help. A teacher called 9-1-1. The defendant was linked to the attack by DNA.

District Attorney Clark thanked NYPD Officer Jessica Zerbo from the 52nd Precinct for her work on the case.  

NYS Office of the Comptroller DiNapoli: Extreme Weather and Disaster Response Costs Rise in NY

 

State and Local Resiliency Efforts Can Limit Damages but Federal Support is Crucial

Suffolk County Had Most Severe Weather Events, Followed by Counties in Hudson and Mohawk Valleys and North Country

A new report from State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli found the frequency of severe weather in the state is growing, taking a toll on New York’s residents, property and economy. While New York is investing to reduce those impacts through the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Bond Act, DiNapoli warned that the federal government should expand its funding and efforts, not claw back funds and leave states and communities vulnerable to extreme weather and flooding.

Since 1998, federal assistance to New York provided for declared disasters and emergencies has averaged $958.6 million in aid annually. While actual annual amounts are variable based on the severity of weather events, the aid provided captures only a portion of the full cost of the damages.

“Extreme weather events are happening more and more often and inflicting financial and emotional stress on New Yorkers from loss of life to property destruction,” DiNapoli said. “From flooded subway tunnels and roadways to destroyed and damaged homes, the consequences are dire and growing. Fortunately, New Yorkers approved the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act, which will help pay for resilience investments, but the state cannot shoulder the whole cost burden itself. The federal government cannot abandon the states in preparing for and responding to disasters.”

DiNapoli’s report utilized data produced by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), as well as analysis in the New York State Hazard Mitigation Plan. Major findings include:

• Weather-related disasters that cause $1 billion or more in damage have occurred at an increasing rate since 1980.
• Severe weather events are increasing in New York and certain types of events, including thunderstorm-related damaging wind and flash flooding, are also increasing.
• Since 1998 there have been an average of 2.5 weather events per year in New York that resulted in federal disaster or emergency declarations with authorized annual assistance averaging $958.6 million.
• There have been 594 deaths in the state due to severe weather between 1996 and 2024. Heat and extreme heat events caused the most deaths (122), followed by rip currents (62), and flash flooding (57).

New York State has dedicated $1.1 billion of the $4 billion bond act to projects to move structures and infrastructure out of high flood risk zones, restore natural drainage features like flood plains and wetlands that can help control storm water and projects to protect infrastructure from floods. Through August 2025, $129.7 million in restoration and flood risk reduction projects have been awarded.(Report Appendix includes bond act grant awards in specific communities). Other corporate and municipal entities are also undertaking such resiliency investments, which are essential for the protection of lives and infrastructure and future economic growth.

Severe Weather Events

The NOAA Storm Events Database reports incidents of powerful weather in “episodes” and “events.” Episodes are weather patterns that generally affect a region of the state, while events are recorded as the results of these weather patterns in a county or a portion of a county. From 1996 through 2024, events have increased over time, with three out of the four years with the highest numbers of severe weather events occurring in 2019 (2,498), 2021 (2,395) and 2024 (2,268). Among types of events, winds associated with thunderstorms were the most common type of severe weather, with 14,824 incidents recorded, followed by hail (4,315), flash floods (3,985), winter weather (3,817) and winter storms (3,714). These five types accounted for 63.1% of all events.

Since 1996, there have been more flash floods occurring in New York. The largest numbers occurred in recent years, with the first, second and sixth largest numbers of flash floods occurring in the last four years. Thunderstorm wind events also increased significantly over the period, with the top seven years with the largest number of such events taking place in the last eight years. Suffolk County experienced the highest number of severe weather events during the period reviewed, followed by Saratoga, Herkimer, Ulster, Albany, Dutchess, Columbia, Rensselaer, Oneida and Washington Counties.

Economic and Human Impacts Nationwide, NOAA has found that weather related disasters that cause $1 billion or more in damage increased since 1980. In the 1980s there were 82 days between one of these highly damaging events on average, whereas between 2020 and 2024 there was only an average of 16 days. Damage figures from NOAA show the most property damage is attributed in New York to flash flooding ($2.5 billion), flooding ($1.2 billion), thunderstorm wind ($294 million), and high wind ($228 million). Controlled for inflation, data on claims paid by NFIP in New York shows an increasing trend in the amount of money paid to remediate flood damaged buildings. The highest payments were related to Superstorm Sandy in 2012, which amounted to $5.8 billion, adjusted for inflation. In nominal terms, from 1978 to 2024, Nassau and Suffolk counties received the majority of the payments at 59.2%. State Support for Climate Resilience The bond act passed by state voters in 2022 allocates funding that can help municipalities upgrade infrastructure to address severe weather impacts of climate change, or move buildings and infrastructure out of high-risk flood zones. The bond act includes $1.1 billion for restoration and flood risk reduction projects. In addition, state programs such as Climate Smart Communities (CSC) or the Smart Growth Countywide Resiliency Program (SGCRP) assist municipalities in identifying the hazards they face from climate change and in developing climate adaptation plans to address these hazards. Municipalities that participate in the CSC or SGCRP may be eligible for grants made available through the Environmental Protection Fund or the bond act. The state is currently in the process of developing a comprehensive statewide adaptation and resilience plan. The plan is intended to “establish a coordinated strategy to increase resilience, build adaptive capacity across New York communities, and develop tools and resources to help communities thrive in a changing climate. Recommendations According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, climate resilience expenditures reduce the cost of cleanup and rebuilding by as much as $6 for every dollar spent and lower economic damage by as much as $7 for every dollar spent. DiNapoli’s report recommends the State Adaptation and Resilience Plan include a clear assessment of associated costs, revenue sources and a timeline for implementation. The state should also partner with local communities on projects and redouble its efforts to assist municipalities in planning and developing cost-effective initiatives to mitigate extreme weather and to facilitate communities’ ability to access resilience funding in the bond act. It should also provide oversight so projects are completed in a timely and affordable way. Given the increase in severe rain events, capacity for storm water management may need to be upgraded in New York’s urban areas. Serious consideration should be given to planning for protecting lives and property in areas at high risk for flooding and limit development in these areas. Attention should also be paid to disadvantaged communities located in areas that may be at greater risk, such as those in flood plains. Report Severe Weather Events and Resiliency in New York State Related Work New York’s Local Governments Adapting to Climate Change: Challenges, Solutions and Costs Metropolitan Transportation Authority – MTA Bridges & Tunnels, MTA Bus Company, and New York City Transit-Department of Buses: Risk Assessment and Implementation of Measures to Address Extreme Weather Conditions Metropolitan Transportation Authority – Long Island Rail Road: Mitigation for Extreme Weather Conditions and Flooding

CONSUMER ALERT: New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection Reminds Domestic Violence Survivors & Advocates of Consumer Protections Available in New York State

 

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month

New York State Offers Many Resources to Help Support Survivors, Victims and Advocates

Secretary Mosley said: “During this Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we thank Governor Kathy Hochul for her commitment to make our state a leader in protecting victims and survivors of domestic violence. Through Governor Hochul’s vision by offering much-needed resources that can help victims and their families alike, we become – as a state – more resilient and far more stronger from it.”

Video Soundbite Here

The New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection and the Address Confidentiality Program are reminding domestic violence survivors and victims about the resources available in New York State to protect New Yorkers to end the cycle of violence at home. This reminder comes during National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, which is an opportunity to highlight this important issue and raise awareness while continuing to provide support to victims and survivors.

“October is a month that reminds us that many New Yorkers live in fear of violence in the domestic front and having resources such as the Address Confidentiality Program help them move away from dangerous situations at home,” said Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley. “During this Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we thank Governor Kathy Hochul for her commitment to make our state a leader in protecting victims and survivors of domestic violence. Through Governor Hochul’s vision by offering much-needed resources that can help victims and their families alike, we become – as a state – more resilient and far more stronger from it.”

NYS Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence General Counsel Jara Traina said, “New York is a leader when it comes to domestic violence prevention, response, and education. It is crucial that we inform survivors about programs like Address Confidentiality and Service Contract Opt-Out, which can help them achieve safety and independence. OPDV is grateful for the unwavering support from Governor Kathy Hochul in protecting victims and survivors, and for our partnerships with other state agencies in ensuring New York’s programs and services are survivor-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive.”

New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Commissioner Barbara C. Guinn said, “The Address Confidentiality Program continues to be a vital resource for survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking, so they can safely receive assistance from our programs and services. Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, New York has consistently been a leader in providing services and supports to survivors. As we mark Domestic Violence Awareness Month, it’s important that we highlight these available tools to assist survivors and help them stabilize their lives, safely and securely.”

New York State Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said, “The victims and survivors of domestic violence often face significant mental health challenges. Domestic Violence Awareness Month is a good opportunity to remind New Yorkers of these resources and other services available for those who can benefit from this support to live and thrive in their community. Also, that help is always available to those who need it by calling the 988 helpline and speaking with a trained counselor, who can connect them to services if needed.”

Domestic violence can happen to anyone, and can have physical, emotional, mental, and financial impacts. Financial abuse is a common aspect of domestic violence, leading to consumer protection concerns like identity theft, credit reporting difficulties, and economic hardship.

Consumer Rights and Protections for Domestic Violence Survivors:

• Address Confidentiality: If you are a New York State resident and a victim of domestic violence, victim of stalking, victim of sexual offense, victim of human trafficking, victim of kidnapping or are a reproductive health care services provider, employee, volunteer, patient or immediate family member of reproductive health care services provider who has moved or are planning to move for safety reasons, the Department of State Address Confidentiality Programassists with shielding an address from an abuser at no cost to the survivor. Domestic violence survivors can also provide alternate address information for their telephone services directly through their service provider to prevent their abusers from finding out their actual address.
• Service Contract Opt-out: Domestic violence survivors can request an opt-out of certain service contracts without any fee, penalty or charge if they provide a written statement confirming their domestic violence status. This covers wireless, telecommunication, cable, satellite and utility contracts.
• Identity Theft Resources: Identity theft can be a challenge for domestic violence survivors, but regularly examining credit reports, setting up fraud alerts and security freezes, and checking bank records are available tools that may assist in preventing identity theft. Learn more here.
• Insurance Anti-discrimination: New York State Insurance Law prohibits any insurance policy providers from discriminating against someone because they are a domestic violence survivor.
• Alternate Contact Information for Health Insurance: New York law requires health insurers to protect domestic violence victims by allowing them to designate an alternative address or contact information for claim information and billing details.  Learn more about health insurance rights by reviewing the reference guide offered by the NYS Office of the Prevention of Domestic Violence.
• Protecting Smart Technology: New York State law allows domestic violence orders of protection to include bans against remotely controlling any domestic violence survivor’s connected devices affecting their home, vehicle or property. A new law that took effect on March 21, 2025, also requires vehicle manufacturers to terminate access to technology that enables a domestic violence survivor’s vehicle to be tracked or operated remotely. Learn more here.
• Workplace Protections: Employers cannot discriminate against victims of domestic violence, family offenses or human trafficking for using leave accruals for sick time, family sick time or safe time related to such matters. Learn more here.
• Residential Lease Protections:
  • Ending a Lease: A domestic violence victim may terminate a residential lease to support their safety, without liability, if they provide the landlord with a written 30-day notice and documentation affirming their domestic violence status. Learn more here.
  • Protection from Discrimination: Residential landlords cannot refuse to rent to or discriminate against a person or their accompanied child(ren) who are victims of a criminal act or family offense of domestic violence. Domestic violence survivors who experience discrimination may initiate a civil claim in court.
  • Protection from Eviction: Residential landlords cannot evict a tenant based on their domestic violence victim status. If a proceeding for eviction begins, a tenant may defend the proceeding by asserting their status as a domestic violence victim as the basis for the eviction. This protection does not apply to owner-occupied housing with two or fewer units. This protection also does not ban eviction proceedings on grounds other than a tenant’s status as a victim of domestic violence.
• Campground Membership Contracts: Domestic violence survivors can cancel their membership contract for a campground even if the cancellation has passed by submitting valid documentation confirming their domestic violence experience. 

About the New York State Division of Consumer Protection

Follow the New York Department of State on Facebook, X and Instagram and check in every Tuesday for more practical tips that educate and empower New York consumers on a variety of topics. Sign up to receive consumer alerts directly to your email or phone here.

The New York State Division of Consumer Protection provides voluntary mediation between a consumer and a business when a consumer has been unsuccessful at reaching a resolution on their own. The Consumer Assistance Helpline 1-800-697-1220 is available Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm, excluding State Holidays, and consumer complaints can be filed at any time at www.dos.ny.gov/consumerprotection. The Division can also be reached via X at @NYSConsumer or Facebook.

Permits Filed for 3248 Riverdale Avenue in Riverdale, The Bronx

 

Permits have been filed for a seven-story mixed-use building at 3248 Riverdale Avenue in Riverdale, The Bronx. Located between Greystone Avenue and Irwin Avenue, the lot is near the 238th Street subway station, served by the 1 train. Jacob Brach of Boen Construction LLC is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 75-foot-tall development will yield 33,975 square feet, with 31,244 square feet designated for residential space and 2,730 square feet for community facility space. The building will have 45 residences, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 694 square feet. The concrete-based structure will also have a cellar and a 35-foot-long rear yard.

Diego Aguilera Architects P.C. is listed as the architect of record.

Demolition permits have not been filed yet. An estimated completion date has not been announced.