MOST PRO-HOUSING ADMINISTRATION IN CITY HISTORY: MAYOR ADAMS IMPLEMENTS EXPANDED HOUSING PREFERENCE FOR CITY EMPLOYEES AND MILITARY VETERANS

 

Adams Administration Expands Portion of Homes on Affordable Housing Lottery With Preference for City Employees and Veterans to 10 Percent 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today marked Veterans Day by announcing the official launch of the expanded Municipal Employee Housing Preference, which now includes military veterans as well. Starting on November 15, 2025, all new affordable housing lotteries listed on the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development’s (HPD) Housing Connect website will include a 10 percent preference for eligible city employees and military veterans. Previously, city employees only received a preference on 5 percent of newly constructed affordable homes financed by HPD or the New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC) and listed on the city’s Housing Connect lottery. But, earlier this summer, Mayor Adams announced the city’s intention to expand the housing preference for city employees and veterans as part of “Housing Week.” By expanding this preference to include military veterans — and increasing the overall share to 10 percent — the city is strengthening its commitment to the workforce that keeps New York City running, while also honoring those who serve the country.  

 

“Municipal workers and veterans should be able to live in the city they love. With this new policy, we’ll make it easier for city employees and veterans to live, raise a family, and retire in the five boroughs,” said Mayor Adams. “This Veterans Day, we’re not only honoring our veterans and public servants with our words; we’re honoring them with our actions, too, and giving back to the people who give their all every day for their city and country.” 

 

“New York City runs on the dedication of over 300,000 municipal workers, the people who keep us safe, clean our streets, deliver clean water, and keep this city moving forward every single day,” said HPD Acting Commissioner Ahmed Tigani. “Today, as we celebrate Veterans Day, we are proud to expand this long-standing preference to include those who have served our country as well. This effort is about recognizing service, whether to our city or our nation, and ensuring that those who give so much to others have a secure, affordable place to call home.” 

 

“Service to city and country deserves the dignity of a stable home,” said New York City Department of Veterans’ Services Commissioner James Hendon. “By expanding the preference to 10 percent of new Housing Connect opportunities for municipal workers and military veterans, we’re turning gratitude into access — so the people who keep New York running, and those who wore the uniform, can find an affordable home in the city they serve.” 

 

Expanding the Municipal Employee Preference to include military veterans supports both the city’s recruitment and retention goals of municipal employees and addresses the unique housing challenges faced by veterans. The initiative also reflects the city’s broader strategy of removing barriers to affordable housing and promoting stability and well-being among New Yorkers who serve their communities and country. The 10 percent preference applies to all HPD- and HDC-financed new construction projects listed on the Housing Connect lottery moving forward.  

 

Applicants must meet one of the following eligibility criteria to qualify: 

 

• Municipal Employees: Applicants currently employed by the City of New York can qualify by answering “yes” to the Housing Connect question about city employment and submitting proof, such as a recent paystub or a tax document. 

• Military Veterans: Applicants who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, National Guard, or Reserves can qualify by answering “yes” to the Housing Connect question about military service and providing supporting documentation, such as a DD214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), or a Statement of Service. 

 

This expansion is part of the city’s ongoing effort to improve access to affordable housing and promote equity within the Housing Connect system. 

NYC PUBLIC ADVOCATE'S STATEMENT ON VETERANS DAY

 

"On Veterans Day we honor service, and the people who have courageously taken up that call through our armed forces. We can support those who risked their safety in service, to stand with them as they stood for us, without supporting violence and war. I choose to honor our veterans, including those in my own family, by advancing a peace that prevents our service members from the pain and sacrifice that so many have seen, and by advancing policies to provide vital services to veterans returning home.  
 
"I must also always elevate that Veterans Day takes its root from Armistice Day, a celebration of peace. We should all be dedicated to ending violence and pursuing peace. The spirit of service that veterans embody, one of self-sacrifice for the good of others, is something we should all aspire to in whatever ways we are able, in our city and our world." 

Five MS-13 Members Found Guilty of Committing String of Six Grisly Murders to Advance Their Standing in the Criminal Street Gang

 

Five members of the transnational criminal organization Mara Salvatrucha 13 (MS-13) were found guilty by a jury today of committing six murders to advance their standing in the gang – killings in which the victims varyingly were strangled, shot, stabbed with knives or a machete, beaten with a baseball bat, then, in some cases, had their bodies thrown off a cliff or down a hill in the Angeles National Forest.

At the conclusion of a nine-week trial, a jury found the following defendants guilty of one count of conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act:

• Walter Chavez Larin, 26, of Panorama City;

• Roberto Alejandro Corado Ortiz, 30, of Baldwin Park; and

• Edwin Martinez, 28, of Cypress Park.

Chavez and Corado also were found guilty of two counts of violent crimes in aid of racketeering (VICAR) murder. Martinez was found guilty of three counts of VICAR murder. Bryan Alexander Rosales Arias, 28, of South Los Angeles, was found guilty of one count of VICAR murder. Erick Eduardo Rosales Arias, 27, also of South Los Angeles and who is Bryan Rosales’s brother, was found guilty of one count of VICAR murder.

“The horrific violence in this case underscores the urgency of destroying MS-13 and putting its depraved members behind bars,” said United States Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Under President Trump, MS-13 can no longer unleash terror on the American people with impunity: We will eradicate this foreign terrorist organization and secure justice for its victims.”

“We thank the jury for returning swift guilty verdicts against these MS-13 criminals who engaged in horrific acts of violence and murder,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “I thank and commend our law enforcement partners for their work in removing members of this terrorist organization from our streets. MS-13 is a violent brutal gang that must be eliminated from the United States, and we will not stop until we succeed in our mission.”

“Cases such as this one serve as a reminder that MS-13 has been designated as a foreign terrorist organization,” said Akil Davis, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “The defendants in this case carried out barbaric attacks on their victims to simply enhance their ranking within the gang. I’m proud of the hard work that went into this trial by agents and prosecutors which resulted in a guilty verdict and a measure of justice for the victims, and which will effectively remove murderers and terrorists from Los Angeles communities.”

“The brutality of these crimes is a stark reminder of the importance of our shared mission: to protect the people of Los Angeles from those who seek to do harm,” said Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell. “I thank every investigator, prosecutor, and law enforcement professional who contributed to this case. Their dedication has brought justice to the victims and sent a clear message — we will not tolerate this kind of violence in our city. Together, we are stronger, and together, we will continue to stand against gang violence in all its forms.”

“These convictions send a powerful message that criminal gang violence and intimidation have no place in Los Angeles County,” said Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert G. Luna. “These violent individuals terrorized our communities and tore families apart to further their criminal network. Through the tireless efforts of our local and federal partners, we have brought justice to the victims’ families and held these individuals accountable for their brutal crimes.”

“MS-13 has inflicted unimaginable suffering on victims and their families in our communities,” said Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman. “These guilty verdicts for crimes related to murder, extortion and drug trafficking against five members of MS-13’s leadership demonstrate the relentless and fearless partnership between local and federal law enforcement and prosecutors to bring these dangerous criminals to justice.”

According to evidence presented at trial, the defendants murdered their victims who either were – or perceived to be – members of the 18th Street gang, a rival of MS-13, or had violated MS-13’s rules.

The trial focused on MS-13 Los Angeles cliques that implemented gang rules that required its members to use murder and extreme violence to rise within its ranks.

The charges relate to machete, knife, and baseball bat killings in the Angeles National Forest and several other areas in remote, mountainous locations in Los Angeles County. Those six murders – which included murders committed in the mountains near Malibu, in a remote area of the Santa Clarita Valley, and two in Van Nuys – are also charged as violent crimes committed in aid of racketeering (VICAR). Those six counts allege that the victims were killed “for the purpose of gaining entry to and maintaining and increasing position in MS-13 Los Angeles.”

In June 2017, one victim – who claimed he had a leadership role in MS-13– was taken to the Angeles National Forest then stabbed and hacked to death by his killers, including Chavez. Several of the assailants unsuccessfully tried to decapitate him then left his body behind.

In October 2017, another victim – rumored to be an 18th Street member – was lured to his death by two teenage girls. He was kidnapped, strangled, beaten with a baseball bat then fatally stabbed with a large hunting style knife. Before his body was thrown off a cliff in the Angeles National Forest. This victim’s assailants included Corado and Bryan Rosales.

In July 2018, a third victim – also rumored to be an 18th Street member – was lured to Malibu hills under the auspices of smoking marijuana and drinking beer with several other people. While the victim stood at a scenic overlook, Corado shot him in the back of the head. Corado gave the gun to Erick Rosales, who shot the victim before passing the gun to other MS-13 members who took turns shooting him. This victim’s body ultimately was thrown off the edge of a road down a hill.

Martinez murdered three victims – one of them was shot to death in December 2018 after returning from the gym and was mistaken for an 18th Street gang member, another was an MS-13 associate addicted to methamphetamine (a violation of MS-13 rules) who was shot to death on January 13, 2019, and the third was a homeless man who was fatally shot on January 14, 2019 for having a tattoo believed to be related to 18th Street. Chavez participated in the January 13 murder.

Sentencing hearings before United States District Judge Otis D. Wright II are scheduled for July 2026, at which time each of the defendants will face a mandatory sentence of life in federal prison.

Prosecutors have secured 25 convictions so far in this case. Several other MS-13 members and associates are scheduled to go to trial in April 2026 in connection with racketeering conspiracy and gang murders.

The FBI, the Los Angeles Police Department, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department investigated this matter.

In Honor of Veterans Day, Governor Hochul Signs Legislation to Support the Heroes Who Served Our Nation

Legislation S2623A/A4751A Provides Notice of Employment Opportunities to Disabled Veterans

Legislation S8150/A8476 Establishes a Process Intended To Safeguard Benefits Received by Veterans

Legislation S1889/A29 Designates the State of New York as a Purple Heart State

In honor of Veterans Day, Governor Kathy Hochul today highlighted legislation she recently signed to demonstrate the state’s appreciation of the service and sacrifice of New York’s veterans. The legislative package designates the State of New York as a Purple Heart state, while expanding employment opportunities for disabled veterans and safeguarding the benefits received by veterans.

“Our veterans and service members made the selfless choice to step up to protect our nation and our liberties,” Governor Hochul said. “Signing this legislative package ensures that those who served our country face fewer barriers to employment and benefits and are properly honored for their commitment to our country.”

New York State Department of Veterans’ Services Commissioner Viviana M. DeCohen said, “These measures strengthen the promise we make to every person who wore the uniform of our nation: that their service will be honored, their benefits protected, and their opportunities expanded – not diminished – in civilian life. By safeguarding earned benefits, expanding pathways to meaningful employment for disabled Veterans, and formally honoring our courageous Purple Heart heroes, New York is once again proving that gratitude must be matched with action. We thank Governor Hochul for her steadfast allyship and for championing policies that uphold dignity, protect those who served, and ensure every Veteran and Military Family in our state is supported and empowered.”

Currently, under section 55-c of the Civil Service Law, the Civil Service Commission may make up to 500 positions eligible to disabled veterans — a majority of which currently go unfilled. Legislation S2623A/A4751A is designed to increase awareness of the availability of employment opportunities for disabled veterans by requiring the Department of Veterans’ Services to amplify information about employment opportunities online. This bill also requires local veterans’ services agencies to inform veterans about the availability of jobs under section 55-c of the civil service law.

 Legislation S8150/A8476 establishes a process intended to safeguard the benefits received by veterans. Pension poaching, and the theft of other benefits, has long been an issue faced by the veteran population. This legislation protects veterans from fraud and unaccredited representatives; institutes a civil penalty of up to $10,000 for violation; establishes the class A misdemeanor crime of unaccredited representation of a veteran; and establishes a veterans' services fund that consists of all civil penalties collected for violations of this act. The fund will be used to give grants to certified veteran service organizations that assist veterans in preparing and presenting claims for benefits.

Legislation S1889/A29 designates the State of New York as a Purple Heart state, honoring combat veterans for their service and sacrifices made for the country and for the State of New York.

CITY OF NEW YORK TAKES ACTION TO SUPPORT PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENT DETAINED AFTER ATTENDING ROUTINE CHECK-IN

 

Amicus Brief Argues That Detention Should Always Be Last Resort for Children, Students Must Remain in Their Communities While Immigration Proceedings Play Out 

The City of New York today took action in support of E.J.C.C., a New York City Public Schools student who was detained on October 23, 2025, after attending a mandatory, routine immigration check-in with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, by filing an amicus brief in support of E.J.C.C.’s petition for immediate release from custody.  

 

E.J.C.C., a 16-year-old who lives with a relative chosen by his mother, is a student at Gotham Collaborative High School in the Bronx. An average of 93 percent of students graduate from Gotham Collaborative High, and E.J.C.C., who has a 100 percent attendance record, is described by his teachers as a committed and responsible student. He is a leader in his college and career readiness class, showing his dedication to building a successful future.  

 

“Our public schools should be safe, nurturing places where any child can get the best education and the tools they need to succeed,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “E.J.C.C. is a hard-working student, dedicated to his school work and future, who followed the proper immigration process. We are proud to support his petition for justice, just like we have done with the many other New York City Public School students who have been detained during routine immigration proceedings.” 

 

“As detailed in this brief, the unnecessary detainment of children who pose no flight or safety risk causes irreparable harm to their schooling and to the educational system as a whole,” said New York City Corporation Counsel Muriel Goode-Trufant. “The Trump administration has not met the very high bar for detaining this minor student who is better served remaining in the community with his family.” 

 

The brief — filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York — argues that “detention should always be a last resort. In cases like this, where the child has been living with a family member and undisputedly poses no flight or safety risk, children should remain in their communities, allowing them to access city schools and services while their immigration issues are being resolved.” E.J.C.C. has already missed three weeks of class as a result of his detention.  

 

The detainment will only further derail his education, and “given the passage of so much time, E.J.C.C.’s release will not be ‘prompt,’ as the law requires. Only his immediate release can prevent further harm.” 

 

The brief further argues that “if the federal government wished to deport [E.J.C.C.] and believed his Special Immigrant Juvenile status and deferred application were no obstacle, it could have informed him that it planned to do so, allowed his lawyer to make any relevant legal challenges, and left him in the care of his family and school in the meantime. Instead, it chose to detain him without warning at the appointment he faithfully attended. The City of New York has a strong interest in ensuring that immigrant minors are not unnecessarily detained, and the city prides itself on offering a free and robust education to all children regardless of immigration status, ensuring that the city’s schoolchildren grow up prepared for civic life.” 

 

The City of New York has taken similar legal action in support of other New York City Public School students, including Dylan Lopez Contreras, Jose Luis, and Derlis Snaider, who were all arrested in Manhattan courthouses after attending mandatory, routine immigration hearings.  

Governor Hochul Announces Expansion of Grow Therapy's Mental Health Platform in New York City, Creating Nearly 200 New Jobs

Grow Therapy’s $16 Million Research and Development Investment Will Accelerate Technology and Product Development To Expand Access to Mental Health Care

Improves Access to Affordable and Quality Care Increasing Opportunities for New Yorkers for Mental Health Support

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that Grow Therapy (Grow), a mental health platform that allows licensed therapists and psychiatrists to deliver in-person and online therapy and psychiatric care, will relocate its New York headquarters from SoHo to a larger office in Lower Manhattan. The company has signed a lease at 100 Broadway for approximately 19,000 square feet to accommodate its growing operations. Supported by up to $1.8 million in performance-based Excelsior Jobs Program tax credits, Grow plans to create at least 186 new full-time jobs over the next five years, in addition to the more than 100 roles it currently maintains across New York State.

“Grow Therapy’s decision to expand in Lower Manhattan underscores New York’s commitment to building a vibrant tech sector that creates high-quality jobs, attracts world-class talent and improves access to care for those who need it most,” Governor Hochul said. “By supporting innovative companies and investing in the next generation of technology development, we’re strengthening the foundations of New York’s economy and positioning our state as a national leader in tech-driven growth and opportunity.”

Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “New York is home to world-class talent and forward-thinking companies driving change in healthcare and technology. Grow Therapy’s decision to expand here underscores our state’s leadership in building a modern, equitable healthcare system powered by innovation. These are the kinds of high-quality jobs that strengthen our communities and keep New York at the forefront of digital health.”

Founded in 2020, Grow was created to make high-quality mental health care more accessible and affordable by connecting clients, independent therapists, and insurance providers through a unified platform. As part of Grow’s expansion, it will add at least 186 new jobs in New York. These roles will be focused on technological innovation, operations, and marketing, as the company accelerates the development of technology and AI applications that assist clinicians and enhance the delivery of care through a $16 million investment in research and development in New York. The move to 100 Broadway will be effective Monday, December 1, 2025.

Grow Therapy CEO and Co-Founder Jake Cooper said, “New York is where Grow began, with a simple Craigslist ad asking mental health providers if they needed help contracting with health insurance. Today, nearly one million people across the country turn to Grow for effective mental health care, and that kind of momentum starts in New York. As we take on the hard work ahead, we are building clinician-guided artificial intelligence that supercharges care, and we are investing here because this city is a magnet for talented people with grit and purpose. We are grateful to Empire State Development and the Excelsior Jobs Program for their support.”

New York’s tech sector continues to be one of the fastest-growing in the nation, adding tens of thousands of jobs and billions in venture investment each year. Between 2013 and 2023, the city’s technology industry grew more than 160 percent and now supports more than 400,000 jobs with an average salary exceeding $180,000. Venture investment in NYC startups topped $22 billion in 2023 alone, keeping New York City ranked second globally behind Silicon Valley for startup activity. These trends underscore Governor Hochul’s commitment to making New York State a global hub for innovation, entrepreneurship, and high-quality job creation.

About Empire State Development

Empire State Development is New York's chief economic development agency, and promotes business growth, job creation, and greater economic opportunity throughout the state. With offices in each of the state's 10 regions, ESD oversees the Regional Economic Development Councils, supports broadband equity through the ConnectALL office, and is growing the workforce of tomorrow through the Office of Strategic Workforce Development. The agency engages with emerging and next generation industries like clean energy and semiconductor manufacturing looking to grow in New York State, operates a network of assistance centers to help small businesses grow and succeed, and promotes the state's world class tourism destinations through I LOVE NY. For more information, please visit esd.ny.gov, and connect with ESD on LinkedIn, Facebook and X.

About Grow Therapy

Grow Therapy is a mental health platform empowering providers to deliver exceptional in-person and online therapy and psychiatric care. Its rigorously vetted network of 23,000 providers delivers high-quality care covered by insurance, with 180 million Americans able to access Grow through their health plan. Grow Therapy has raised $178 million, and key investors include Sequoia Capital, Goldman Sachs Alternatives, Transformation Capital, TCV, SignalFire, and Plus Capital. For more information, visit growtherapy.com.

Bronx River Art Center (BRAC) - Host your Holiday Party at BRAC!

 

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NYGOP Response to NY Democrats Opposing Deal to Reopen Government

 

NYGOP Chair Ed Cox released the following statement:

 

"Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries, and every New York Democrat in Congress have made it clear that they would prefer to keep the government closed and continue their game of legislative extortion - and Kathy Hochul stands with them.

 

"Thankfully, eight Democratic senators finally came to their senses and voted to reopen the government.

 

"New York Democrats are still attempting to hold the government hostage over extra subsidies for certain Obamacare insurance plans that were supposed to last only through the pandemic. These subsidies would cost $360 billion over the next 10 years.

 

"Earth to Democrats: the pandemic ended years ago. 

 

"The only reason SNAP benefits were jeopardized was that Democrats voted to shut down the government.