Affordable Residential Projects Announced for Clason Point and Concourse Village, The Bronx

1810 Randall Avenue. Photo by Michael Young

Plans have been announced for two 100-percent affordable housing projects in The Bronx at 1810 Randall Avenue in Clason Point and 860 Village Concourse East in Concourse Village. Designed by Aufgang Architects, the buildings will yield a combined 446 units.

Pictured above, 1810 Randall Avenue will stand eight stories and contain 180 affordable rental units for senior housing. Developed by Vertical Community Development, the project will also include a ground-floor church, replacing the facility that formerly occupied the site before its demolition. The residential program will feature 157 studios, 22 one-bedrooms, and one two-bedroom apartment. Amenities will include a gym, storage rooms, a bike storage room, social support services center, and 1,285 square feet of indoor and outdoor recreation space. The property is bounded by Randall Avenue to the north, Taylor Avenue to the east, and Beach Avenue to the west.

The rendering looks southwest at the structure showing a multifaceted massing with several setbacks on the eighth story that will create space for terraces. The building will be enclosed in an earth-toned façade surrounding a grid of rectangular windows. Dark brick will enclose the ground floor, and a flat roof lined with metal railings will cap the structure. The design was selected as the winner of the NYC Housing Preservation and Development’s first Future Housing Initiative Award.

In addition to the religious facility, the property was formerly occupied by a row of low-rise buildings, as seen in the below Google Street View image from 2022.

The second project at 860 Village Concourse East is slated to consist of two 18-story towers spanning a combined 201,031 square feet and yielding 266 rental units. Developed by Gilbane, the project will also include a 7,818-square-foot health hub operated by the Institute for Community Living. The affordable homes will be divided into 148 studios, 60 one-bedrooms, 47 two-bedrooms, and 11 three-bedroom apartments. Amenities will include a bike room, fitness room, laundry and package rooms, a demonstration kitchen, recreation room and lounge, and an outdoor courtyard. The structure is being engineered for sustainability and its design has received a Buildings of Excellence Award from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.

The site is currently occupied by an open-air parking lot, as seen in the following Google Street View image. The property is located along Morris Avenue at the center of a large block bounded by East 161st Street to the north and East 158th Street to the south. Renderings for the project have yet to be revealed.

860 Village Concourse East. Image via Google Maps.

Construction timelines for both projects have yet to be announced.

BRONX MAN SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR MURDER OF ESTRANGED WIFE WITH THEIR YOUNG DAUGHTERS PRESENT

 

Defendant Repeatedly Shot Her, Girls Saw Mother’s Lifeless Body

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced that a Bronx man was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison for second-degree Murder for killing his estranged wife in her apartment while their daughters, ages 11 and six years old, were home. 

District Attorney Clark said, “This defendant shot the mother of his young daughters, and let them see her lifeless body. He took their mother away and traumatized these girls. We hope his decades in prison bring some solace to them.” 

District Attorney Clark said Lacon Brown, 50, last of Monroe Avenue, was sentenced today to 20 years to life in prison for second-degree Murder by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Audrey Stone. He pleaded guilty to that charge on September 26, 2025. 

According to the investigation, on August 23, 2023, inside an apartment at 660 Arnow Avenue in the Allerton section, Brown shot Cindy Maxwell, 45, multiple times, killing her. Maxwell’s two young daughters, 11 and six years old were home and heard the gunshots. The defendant then forced them to get dressed and step over their mother’s body as they fled the apartment. He took them to his mother’s home in the Bronx. He did not call 911 or tell anyone where he had taken the girls.

On August 26, 2023, police officers responded to 911 calls for a foul odor coming from the victim’s apartment. They found the victim’s body inside, covered in a blanket. The floor was bloody and there were multiple bullet holes in the wall. The defendant was traced to his mother’s apartment, where a loaded gun was recovered. 

District Attorney Clark thanked NYPD Detective Jonathan Burke of the Bronx Homicide Squad and Detective Miguel Adorno of the 49th Precinct for their work in the investigation.  

Governor Hochul Announces Additional Benefits for New Yorkers Facing Food Insecurity Through FreshcConnect Program

New York Providing Boost to Families This Holiday Season With Additional Allotment of FreshConnectChecks Available Now

FreshConnect Allows Food Insecure New Yorkers To Purchase Fresh Food at Participating Farmers’ Markets

Governor Kathy Hochul announced that additional benefits for food insecure New Yorkers are now available at participating farmers’ markets through the State’s FreshConnect program. Through the FreshConnect Emergency Response Program, New York is partnering with eligible farmers’ markets to distribute $20 worth of FreshConnect Checks each week to New Yorkers in need to spend on fresh foods. A total of $2 million is dedicated to this emergency relief effort, as part of $106 million in funds fast tracked by the Governor to assist with food needs following the federal government shutdown and in response to senseless cuts by the Trump administration.

“While Washington Republicans continue to slash benefits for those who need them most, my administration has been focused on just the opposite,” Governor Hochul said. “This emergency expansion of our FreshConnect program is one component of New York’s multi-faceted response to the federal government’s slashing of benefits, as we continue to do everything in our power to ensure that New Yorkers do not go hungry this holiday season. I encourage eligible New Yorkers to find a participating market near them and take part in this program.”

 Through the FreshConnect Emergency Response Program, New Yorkers in need may receive $20 of FreshConnect Checks once per week at participating farmers’ markets while supplies last or until December 31, 2025. Administered by the Department of Agriculture and Markets, the FreshConnect program typically provides $2 in FreshConnect Checks for every $2 spent as part of the SNAP program, providing a dollar-for-dollar match that allows families to purchase more SNAP-eligible food items. The FreshConnect Emergency Response Program announced today does not require a SNAP dollar match.

Consumers may use their FreshConnect Emergency Response Checks to purchase SNAP-eligible food items, including fruits, vegetables, meats, fish, poultry, bread, honey, sauces, dairy products, pasta, baked goods, and more. Checks may be spent in conjunction with any other form of payment, including SNAP EBT or tokens and other nutrition incentive coupons.

Participating markets can be found across the state and a full list of participating markets can be found at agriculture.ny.gov/market-schedule-freshconnect-emergency-response-program. New Yorkers interested in receiving this benefit should visit participating markets’ management or information table for details on how to take part.

Each participating market has received a limited number of coupons to distribute. Locations expect increased market traffic and high demand for these coupons, so New Yorkers should be aware that they may experience long wait times to access these benefits. The Department and market managers thank participants in advance for their patience.

As announced in recent weeks, Governor Hochul has dedicated $106 million in additional support for emergency food programs, including:

• $65M in new State funds for programs that support food banks, pantries, soup kitchens and more to provide emergency food assistance to New Yorkers
• Fast-tracking $30 million in State funds to support over 16 million meals
• Committing more than $11 million to support emergency food relief for New Yorkers in need

Since the inception of the program, SNAP benefits have been federally funded. New York administers approximately $650 million per month in federally funded SNAP benefits to nearly 3 million New Yorkers. Given the scale of the program, Governor Hochul along with governors across the country have repeatedly emphasized that no state government can replace SNAP benefits or backfill the program.

About the FreshConnect Program

New York State launched the FreshConnect Checks program in 2011 to create new farmers’ markets and support existing markets that provide outlets for fresh food in high need neighborhoods. FreshConnect’s goal is to expand access to fresh food in underserved communities and foster economic development by driving revenue to farmers’ market vendors, including farmers, and helping them to reach new customers. FreshConnect Checks can be accepted by producers who sell SNAP-eligible food items at any farmers' market, farm stand, or mobile market in New York State.

In 2024, 71 farmers’ markets participated in the program, with 1,466,750 coupons made available to consumers.

State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli's Weekly News - Disparities Remain for Workers with Disabilities Despite Labor Force Gains

 

 Disparities Remain for Workers with Disabilities Despite Labor Force Gains

A new report from Comptroller DiNapoli shows the labor force participation rate for those with a disability age 16 and over rose between 2019 and 2024, while it decreased for the state’s nondisabled workforce. Despite this progress, only 28.8% of individuals with disabilities participated in the labor force in 2024, less than half the rate of people in New York without a disability and below the national rate for people with disabilities.

“This year marks the 35th anniversary of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act and while we’ve made some progress, challenges remain and more effort is needed to ensure people with disabilities have equal opportunities in the workplace,” DiNapoli said. “Providing accommodations for workplace flexibility and encouraging employers to practice inclusive hiring can help improve employment outcomes for people with a disability. By championing inclusion, we create progress, prosperity and a stronger New York.”

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NYC Vehicle Fleet Meeting Fuel Efficiency Goals but Often Sidelined for Repairs

New York City has cut fuel use and emissions across its municipal vehicle fleet, but the average vehicle age is now the highest it has been since 2012, and aging emergency and service vehicles are increasingly sidelined for repairs, according to a report released by Comptroller DiNapoli.

The city operates a fleet of about 30,100 vehicles (owned and rented) and motorized equipment maintained and operated by more than 50 city agencies, mostly the Police Department and the departments of Sanitation and Transportation. These vehicles, including police and park vehicles, fire and sanitation trucks, and ambulances, support critical and daily emergency services throughout the city. In fiscal year 2025, the city spent $415 million on fuel and fleet repair, and over $400 million in capital funding for new vehicle acquisitions.

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Former Hoosick Falls Police Chief Charged with Stealing from Rescue Squad

The former officer in charge of the Village of Hoosick Falls Police Department and former chief of the Town of Hoosick Rescue Squad was arrested for allegedly using rescue squad funds to purchase over a thousand dollars in tires for his personal vehicle, Comptroller DiNapoli, Rensselaer County District Attorney Mary Pat Donnelly, and New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James announced.

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Three Individuals and Two Corporations Charged with Stealing Over $3.5 Million in Medicaid Fraud Case

Comptroller DiNapoli and Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that a Town of New Windsor couple were arraigned on an indictment charging them with Grand Larceny in the First Degree and Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree in connection with a scheme to defraud the New York State Medicaid program of millions of dollars. A co-defendant and two corporations were also arraigned on several related charges.

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Comptrollerpalooza! 2025

The Citizens Budget Commission hosted a conversation on New York's economy led by former NYC Comptroller and CBC Trustee William C. Thompson and CDC President Andrew Rein, featuring State Comptroller DiNapoli, NYC Comptroller Brad Lander, and NYC Comptroller-Elect Mark Levine. The discussion centered on navigating the significant fiscal hurdles, including federal funding pressures, currently impacting both the city and state budgets.

Watch Video

M U N I C I P A L  &  S C H O O L   A U D I T S

• Town of Elmira Fire District No. 1 – Long-Term Planning
• Richburg-Wirt Fire District – Board Oversight
• Town of Cherry Valley – Budget Review
• West Irondequoit Central School District – Emergency Drills
• Newark Valley Fire District – Audit Follow-Up
• Hunter-Tannersville Central School District – Audit Follow-Up

A L S O   I N   T H E   N E W S

• New York pension giant demands answers on Trump tariff impact
• New Yorkers with disabilities make up more of workforce in recent years, but challenges remain
• Fired Hoosick Falls officer-in-charge accused of stealing from rescue squad
• Hudson Valley trio indicted In record $3.5M NY Medicaid fraud case

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P O S T   O F   T H E   W E E K

NYCHCC - 20th Annual Business Banquet and Scholarship Award Reception

 

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From Border Chaos to Idaho Streets: Criminal Illegal Alien Driver Kills 8-Year-Old Girl in Hit and Run

 

8-year-old Mora Gerety was killed by an illegal alien who was released into the US by the Obama administration and was ordered removed by an immigration judge after he failed to show up for his hearing

On November 11, 2025, Elvin Elgardo Ramos-Caballero, a criminal illegal alien from Honduras, was charged with hit and run in a tragedy that killed 8-year-old Mora Gerety in Boise, Idaho. 

Image courtesy of www.memoriesformora.com 

This illegal alien was given a license by the sanctuary state of Oregon. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested Ramos-Caballero on November 11, 2025. Ramos-Caballero illegally entered the U.S. in September 2015 and was released into the country by the Obama administration. He never showed up for his immigration hearing and was ordered removed in absentia on May 9, 2016. 

 

“8-year-old Mora Gerety’s precious life was taken by an illegal alien who should have never been in our country, let alone issued a driver's license by the sanctuary state of Oregon,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “Mora Gerety’s classmates, teachers, friends, and our nation will carry this loss forever. We ask every American to lift this family up in prayer and we ask God to grant them the courage as they face the hardest days a family can endure. Decades of open border polices have turned every community into a border town. These policies have deadly consequences.” 

DHS law enforcement is committed to protecting American communities every day from another senseless tragedy like this taking place in another town, to another family. Victims of illegal alien crime may receive support from the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) Office by contacting 1-855-488-6423.

FIVE DEFENDANTS INCLUDING ONE TEEN INDICTED IN SPREE OF GUNPOINT ROBBERIES IN BRONX

Alleged Trinitarios Members Captured on Video Terrorizing Victims 

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced that four men and a 16-year-old boy have been indicted on first-degree Robbery, Conspiracy, Grand Larceny and other related charges for seven gunpoint robberies that netted them nearly $100,000 in jewelry. 

District Attorney Clark said, “The defendants—including a 16-year-old boy--allegedly put guns to victims’ heads or chests and stole their jewelry in a spree that lasted two weeks. They accosted people of various ages, in different areas of the Bronx, causing fear on our streets. We are fortunate that no one was shot, but these victims’ lives were threatened, and some are forever traumatized. No one should have to live that way. My crime victims advocates stand ready to assist them.” 

District Attorney Clark said the defendants, Manuel Rivas, 20, of Newark, New Jersey, Wilfren Carbuccia, 20, Anthony Perez, 29, and John Doe, 16, all of the Bronx, and a fifth defendant who has not been apprehended, were indicted on first, second and third-degree Robbery, third and fourth-degree Grand Larceny and fourth-degree Conspiracy. Rivas is additionally charged with second-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon, Possession of a Firearm, fourth-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon and Possession of Ammunition.

The 16-year-old defendant is also charged in a separate indictment for a robbery on September 27, 2025, in which a man was invited to a party at a Bronx apartment where he was held up for his watch and gold chain as the defendant allegedly held a pistol with an extended magazine to his chest. 

The 16-year-old was arraigned on the pattern indictment on November 20, 2025 before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Gayle Roberts and bail was set at $100,000 cash, $500,000 bond and $500,000 partially secured bond at 10%. Carbuccia was arraigned on November 20, 2025 before Bronx Supreme Court Justice George Villegas and was remanded. Perez and Rivas are awaiting arraignment.

According to the investigation by Bronx DA’s Violent Criminal Enterprise Bureau, Bronx Robbery Squad, Manhattan Robbery Squad, Officers of the 41, 46, and 52 Precincts, Manhattan North Homicide and Shooting Enhancement Team, and the FBI/NYPD Westchester Safe Streets Taskforce, the defendants—who are alleged members of the Trinitarios set BB7--allegedly committed seven armed robberies between September 20 and October 6, 2025 in the Bronx. 

They allegedly wore masks and accosted victims who were wearing gold chains or expensive watches and rings, pointed multiple guns at them or held the firearms against them, and forcibly removed the jewelry. They joined up at two Bronx motels before the robberies and then afterwards, to inspect the proceeds.

The victims included an elderly man on a stoop in Kingsbridge who was so fearful he moved out of the area within two weeks of the incident; a business owner in Mott Haven whom they cut off with a moped; a man standing outside a nightclub in Fordham Heights, and people in vehicles whom they would drive up to and block them in with their getaway car.

District Attorney Clark thanked NYPD Detectives Giselle Batista and Eric Capowski, and Lieutenant Carlos Felipe of Bronx Robbery Squad, Police Officers Michael Rubeis of the 41st Precinct, Brandon Scott and Jorge Flores of the 46th Precinct, Joseph Giacoio of 52nd Precinct, and Russell Crawford of Manhattan Robbery Squad; Detective Alex Tegan of Bronx Transit, Detective Paul Pastorini of Manhattan North Homicide and Shooting Enhancement Team, and Detectives Jesus Capo and Joseph Spina and Sergeant Christopher McGrisken of the FBI/NYPD Westchester Safe Streets Taskforce for their work in the investigation.

An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.