New York City Council District 13 - Happy Thanksgiving! - Upcoming Road Changes! - Upcoming Food Giveaways!

 

Latest News from Councilwoman Marmorato!

Dear Neighbors,

This past week, we continued supporting the community through several wonderful events and food giveaways! We held a Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway at our office, and we proudly distributed fresh produce and hot meals to families across the district at RAIN Middletown, Throggs Neck Houses, 3555 Bruckner Ave., Friends of Pelham Parkway, and more.

We also kicked off the weekend and the Thanksgiving festivities by hosting a Thanksgiving Buffet at PS 83.

In this week’s newsletter, you’ll find highlights from recent district events, updates on what’s happening in our community, and details about exciting upcoming events we have planned for you.

During this Thanksgiving season, I want to thank you all for your continued support and trust. I am grateful to serve District 13, and I am blessed that you have trusted me during this time. May this Thanksgiving be full of peace, joy, and time spent with loved ones.

As always, it is an honor to represent you in the New York City Council and to continue working to keep our community safe, happy, healthy, and prosperous.

Sincerely,

Councilwoman Kristy Marmorato

District 13, Bronx

PAST WEEK'S EVENTS RECAP & HIGHLIGHTS

This past week, my office and I had the privilege of serving our community through several events and multiple produce and meal giveaways.

We distributed fresh produce and hot meals to our friends and families at RAIN Middletown, Throggs Neck Houses, 3555 Bruckner Ave., Friends of Pelham Parkway, and Montefiore.

Additionally, we held our annual Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway, and over the weekend, we hosted a Thanksgiving Buffet at PS 83.

As always, we remain committed to supporting our neighbors through our ongoing food distributions. We were proud to serve families across the district, ensuring that everyone has access to fresh, healthy food and warm meals.

My job is to serve, protect, and support our community in every moment of need. I am incredibly proud of the work we do together to uplift one another, and I want you to know that I will always be here to support you however I can.

What's Happening in D13?

Here is a reminder of the upcoming events happening in our district!  Reminder: If you want to share any event with us, please do so! We will share it with the community. WE WILL BE CLOSED ON NOVEMBER 27th! In observance of Thanksgiving Day, our office will be closed this November 27th, 2025. Please remember that most public schools and city offices will be also closed during this time!

WE WILL BE REMOTE ON NOVEMBER 28th! In observance of Thanksgiving Day, We will be working remote on Friday as well! But don’t worry, we’ll be back on Monday, business as usual!

UPCOMING PRODUCE & MEAL DISTRIBUTION We’re hosting fresh produce and meal giveaways over the next few days! Below is some information on the dates and the organizations we’re partnering with. For details on the exact time and location of each food or produce distribution, please contact the organizations directly. We hope this information is useful and makes it easier for you to access these resources!

DOT'S ROAD SERVICES CHANGES On Monday, December 1st and intermittently through December 26th the NYCDOT Division of Bridges will continue routine maintenance, structure, and under-deck repairs of the Shore Road Bridge over the Hutchinson River. Important Update for Homeowners: NYC Garbage Bin Refunds! SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS Let us Know! Illegal Smoke Shops Please let us know about illegal and unlicensed smoke shops operating within District 13! FORM LINK Your Feedback on E-Scooters Matters! Report E-Scooters that are blocking sidewalks, fire hydrants, ADA-accessible entrances, or creating any other hazardous conditions in our community. Reach out to us at district13@council.nyc.gov Councilwoman Marmorato  718-931-1721 District13@council.nyc.gov

Virginia High School Assistant Principal and Brother Arrested for Plotting to Kill ICE Law Enforcement Officers

 

Our ICE officers are facing an 8,000% increase in death threats against them

Today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the arrest of John Wilson Bennett and Mark Booth Bennett, both United States citizens, for planning to carry out attacks against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.

On November 17, 2025, DHS alongside the Virginia Beach Police Department launched an investigation after an off-duty Norfolk, Virginia police officer overheard John Wilson Bennett, and his brother Mark Booth Bennett, discussing plans to “kill police officers and ICE agents.” Mark Bennett was also overheard saying he was planning to meet with likeminded individuals in Las Vegas, Nevada, to purchase firearms with explosive rounds to carry out the attacks.

John Wilson Bennett (left) and Mark Booth Bennett (right)

On November 19, 2025, Mark Bennett was arrested at the Norfolk International Airport where he was scheduled to depart on a flight to Charlotte, North Carolina, en route to Las Vegas. The same day, John Bennett was arrested in Virginia Beach, where he has served as the Assistant Principal of Kempsville High School since 2009. 

“It’s chilling that a human being, much less a child educator, would plot to ambush and kill ICE law enforcement officers—offering such specifics as to getting a high caliber rifle that would pierce the law enforcements’ bullet proof vests. Thanks to Homeland Security Investigations and our partners, these men are behind bars,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “Our officers are facing a more than 1,150% increase in assaults against them and an 8,000% increase in death threats while they risk their lives every single day to remove the worst of the worst including murderers, rapists, pedophiles, terrorists, and gang members. From bounties placed on their heads for their murders, threats to their families, stalking, and doxxing online, our officers are experiencing an unprecedented level of violence and threats against them and their families.”

Both men were charged with conspiracy to commit malicious wounding, a violation of Virginia state law and will undergo court proceedings at a later date.

Attorney General James Sues to Stop Trump Administration’s Attempt to Cut Off SNAP Benefits for Permanent Residents

 

35,000 New Yorkers’ SNAP Benefits in Jeopardy as States Face Threat of Catastrophic Financial Penalties

AG James Leads Coalition of 21 Attorneys General Arguing Harmful New USDA Guidance Violates Federal Law

New York Attorney General Letitia James today led a coalition of 21 attorneys general in filing a lawsuit to stop the Trump administration from unlawfully cutting off Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for tens of thousands of lawful permanent residents. Attorney General James and the coalition are seeking to block new guidance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that wrongly declares several groups of legal immigrants ineligible for food assistance, including permanent residents who were granted asylum or admitted as refugees. The attorneys general warn that the guidance would saddle states with catastrophic financial penalties unless they immediately implement the unlawful restrictions, and they are urging the court to strike down the guidance before it can cause lasting harm. 

“The federal government’s shameful quest to take food away from children and families continues,” said Attorney General James. “USDA has no authority to arbitrarily cut entire groups of people out of the SNAP program, and no one should go hungry because of the circumstances of their arrival to this country. My office will always fight to protect Americans’ SNAP benefits, and I will do everything in my power to shield New Yorkers from this unlawful policy.”  

On October 31, USDA issued new guidance to state SNAP agencies describing changes under the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which narrowed SNAP eligibility for certain non-citizen groups, including refugees, asylum recipients, and others admitted under humanitarian protection programs. The memo went far beyond the statute Congress enacted, however, asserting that anyone who entered through these humanitarian pathways would remain permanently ineligible for SNAP, even after becoming lawful permanent residents. 

Attorney General James and the coalition emphasize that nothing in the “One Big Beautiful Bill” or any other federal law supports USDA’s new position. Federal law is clear that refugees, asylees, humanitarian parolees, individuals whose deportation has been withheld, and other humanitarian entrants become eligible for SNAP once they obtain their green cards and meet standard program requirements. USDA’s memo attempts to rewrite those rules, ignoring Congress and threatening to cut off food assistance for people who are fully eligible under the law. 

The attorneys general argue that USDA’s guidance also blatantly misapplies the agency’s own regulations. Federal rules guarantee states a 120-day grace period after new guidance is issued to update their systems without facing severe financial penalties. USDA now claims that this period expired on November 1 – just one day after the memo was released, over a weekend, and in the middle of a federal shutdown. This reading is impossible to implement under USDA’s regulations, and the attorneys general assert that it renders the guidance unlawful on its face. 

States have already begun implementing the statutory changes enacted earlier this year, but USDA’s abrupt and incorrect directive now forces them to overhaul eligibility systems overnight. Attorney General James and the coalition warn that the directive threatens to destabilize SNAP nationwide, increase the risk of wrongful terminations, and create widespread confusion and distrust among families who rely on the program. Even more alarming, under the “One Big Beautiful Bill” penalty scheme, USDA’s interpretation could saddle states with fines so extreme that some warn they could be forced to shut down their SNAP programs entirely – a disastrous outcome that would leave millions of Americans without access to the nation’s most essential anti-hunger program. 

In New York alone, compliance with USDA’s unlawful guidance would force the state to cut off SNAP benefits for as many as 35,000 lawful permanent residents, leaving families without food and pushing thousands into immediate crisis. The sudden loss of benefits would deepen hardship across the state and place monumental strain on other safety-net and emergency food assistance programs. In addition, USDA’s inaccurate and last-minute directive exposes New York to staggering financial penalties. Under the draconian new penalty scheme, New York could face fines of up to $1.2 billion, placing a catastrophic strain on the state’s SNAP program and draining resources from other essential services. 

Last week, Attorney General James and 20 other attorneys general formally called on the federal administration to withdraw and correct the memo. The USDA did not respond. With today’s lawsuit, the attorneys general are asking the court to vacate the unlawful guidance and block its implementation to ensure families do not lose critical food assistance.  

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

Permits Filed for 1934 Prospect Avenue in Tremont, The Bronx

 

Permits have been filed for a six-story residential building at 1934 Prospect Avenue in Tremont, The Bronx. Located between East Tremont Avenue and Elsmere Place, the lot is near the West Farms Square–East Tremont Avenue subway station, served by the 2 and 5 trains. Alban Haxhari of KGCJ Development Corp. is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 77-foot-tall development will yield 19,667 square feet designated for residential space. The building will have 33 residences, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 595 square feet. The concrete-based structure will also have a penthouse and a 22-foot-long rear yard.

Jakov Saric of Node Architecture, Engineering, Consulting is listed as the architect of record.

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

’TIS THE SEASON TO BE SPENDING: MAYOR ADAMS RELEASES NEW DATA SHOWING SURGE IN FOOT TRAFFIC DURING NEW YORK CITY HOLIDAY SEASON

 

Manhattan Retail Hubs Saw Major Boost in Foot Traffic Throughout 2024 Holiday Season, With Over 1 Million Visitors on Black Friday Alone 

 

Businesses Districts in Queens and Brooklyn Also Saw Increases in Traffic Compared to 2023 

 

Holiday Season Adds Nearly $500 Million to City’s Economy Every Year 

 

Data Highlights City’s Continued Draw as Global Holiday Destination, Boosting Tourism Sector 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today released new year-end data showing significant increases in foot traffic and tourism during the 2024 holiday season, with last year’s Black Friday and December weekends drawing millions of visitors to New York City’s retail and shopping districts. The New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) analyzed daily visitation on Black Friday and December weekends in 2024 — tracing foot traffic across traditional Manhattan tourism and retail hubs like Times Square and Fifth Avenue, as well as neighborhoods across the boroughs like Downtown Flushing in Queens and MetroTech in Brooklyn. The 2025 holiday season is poised to bring a significant boost to New York City’s economy and continue to put money back in New Yorkers’ pockets, making the city more affordable for working-class people.   

 

“From lively holiday markets to iconic department stores, New York City’s holiday festivities add hundreds of millions of dollars to our economy and draw visitors from the across the entire country and from around the globe. Whether it’s opening up more streets for pedestrians through our city’s Holiday Streets program, keeping New Yorkers safe during major holiday events, or supporting small businesses across all five boroughs, our administration has helped grow our city’s holiday economy year after year,” said Mayor Adams. “But our administration’s work does not end in December. Thanks to smart investments in public safety and working people, we’ve broken the record for the most jobs and small businesses in city history multiple times and laid the groundwork for growth in the years to come.” 

 

“Nothing compares to the holiday season in New York City, and the economic energy this time of year is something we can all celebrate throughout all five boroughs,” said NYCEDC President and CEO Andrew Kimball. “This year, we are thrilled to welcome the millions of visitors whose spending will generate a significant economic impact and uplift the local businesses that keep our neighborhoods and communities thriving, from Bryant Park to Flushing to Fordham and beyond.” 

 

Key takeaways from the analysis include: 

 

•    Manhattan retail hubs like Bryant Park, Times Square, and SoHo remain the most popular destinations for holiday shopping, with foot traffic increasing significantly on Black Friday as well as on December weekends. Overall, more than 1 million people visited these shopping districts on Black Friday in 2024 alone. 

•   Weekend foot traffic throughout December showed a more varied picture, with several key tourist destinations posting impressive growth. Times Square welcomed 48,000 more visitors on an average weekend in December 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, while Fifth Avenue saw 27,000 more weekend visitors on average.  

•   Compared to typical weekends throughout the rest of the year, December weekends in 2024 saw a major spike in activity across several iconic destinations. Bryant Park was 2.6 times busier, Fifth Avenue was 2.3 times busier, and Times Square was 1.5 times busier than an average weekend in 2024. 

•   The data also underscores the importance of the holiday shopping season for New York City’s tourism sector. On Black Friday 2024, two-thirds of Times Square visitors were from outside the city and roughly half were from outside the metro area, highlighting the city’s continued draw as a global holiday destination.  

•   Business districts outside of Manhattan are also popular shopping destinations, primarily for city residents. In Queens, Jamaica and Flushing both attracted a combined total of nearly 170,000 visitors on Black Friday 2024, an increase of more than 11,000 from the prior year. Meanwhile, Fordham Road in the Bronx and Metrotech in Brooklyn also attract thousands of shoppers, and each experienced year-over-year growth of 11 percent on Black Friday.  

•   Every way the data is sliced, core business districts remain vital to the city’s economy, especially during the holiday shopping season. Increased spending and foot traffic drives seasonal employment across the city, providing job opportunities for city residents and generating more than $500 million in economic impact annually.   

 

METHODOLOGY 

 

NYCEDC used a variety of primary and secondary data sources to study the economic impact of the holiday season. The total economic impact estimate is based on seasonal retail employment, which NYCEDC analyzed through data from the New York State Department of Labor. The visitation and foot traffic data are based on NYCEDC’s analysis of anonymized cell phone mobility data from Placer.ai.  

ICE Detroit Arrests Criminal Illegal Alien with History of Sex Crimes Working as College Professor

 

His criminal history includes sexual interference with a minor, gross lewdness, uttering death threats, invitation to sexual touching, and disorderly conduct

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) law enforcement officers arrested Sumith Gunasekera, a criminal illegal alien sex offender from Sri Lanka, in Detroit on November 12, 2025. During processing, Gunasekera claimed to be employed as an associate professor for Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan.

Gunasekera’s criminal history includes:

• On August 28, 1998, Gunasekera was arrested by the Peel Regional Police in Brampton, Ontario for uttering death threats. He was arrested again just three days later again for invitation to sexual touching and sexual interference. Gunasekera admitted to officers that this charge was related to a minor.
• On November 12, 1998, a criminal court in Brampton, Ontario convicted Gunasekera for utter threat to cause death or bodily harm and sexual interference and sentenced him to 1 month of incarceration and 1 year of probation.
• On September 25, 2003, the Metropolitan Police Department in Las Vegas arrested Gunasekera for open and gross lewdness.
• On January 16, 2004, the Las Vegas Justice Court convicted Gunasekera of disorderly conduct and sentenced him to fines.

“It's sickening that a sex offender was working as a professor on an American college campus and was given access to vulnerable students to potentially victimize them,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “Thanks to the brave ICE law enforcement officers, this sicko is behind bars and no longer able to prey on Americans. His days of exploiting the immigration system are OVER. Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, criminals are not welcome in the U.S.”

Gunasekera entered the U.S. in February 1998, left for Canada, and returned later that year on a student visa. It was later discovered, when he applied for a change of status with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in 2012, that he was convicted of crimes in Canada.

Over the years Gunasekera repeatedly attempted to manipulate our immigration system between applications, denials, and appeals despite the convictions in Canada that made him ineligible for legal status in the United States.

Gunasekera remains in ICE custody pending further immigration proceedings.

Man Pleads Guilty To Discharging Machine Gun That Killed 69-Year-Old Bystander In East Harlem

Faisil McCants Admitted to Causing the Death of Robin Wright 

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), Ricky J. Patel, announced that FAISIL McCANTS pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff to possessing and brandishing a machine gun in connection with an August 27, 2025, daytime armed robbery and shooting in which McCANTS fired 15 rounds on a public street in East Harlem, striking and killing a 69-year-old woman.  McCANTS is scheduled to be sentenced on March 31, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. 

“Faisil McCants fired 15 bullets in a matter of seconds in the middle of the day, killing a 69-year-old innocent woman who was doing nothing more than standing by her walker on an East Harlem street,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton.  “This type of senseless violence cannot and will not be tolerated.  The people of this City expect and deserve to be able to walk our streets without fear.  Thanks to the swift and tireless work of our partners at HSI and the NYPD, McCants will now face justice for his August 2025 crime.  His plea today underscores our Office’s unwavering commitment to investigating and prosecuting those who use guns to destroy communities and lives.”       

“Nearly three months ago, Robin Wright’s life was cut short in what can only be described as a senseless, avoidable, and absolutely unacceptable tragedy,” said HSI Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel.  “With today’s guilty plea, an admitted violent criminal will spend decades in prison with no choice but to relive the events—and the decisions—that landed him there, while an innocent woman’s grieving family prepares for their first holiday season without her.  Protecting New Yorkers is non-negotiable, and HSI New York, alongside our law enforcement partners, will use every tool at our disposal in doing just that.”

As alleged in public court filings, statements in public court proceedings, and the charging documents in the case:

On or about August 27, 2025, shortly before 12:30 p.m., McCANTS and two co-conspirators (“CC-1” and “CC-2”) robbed a drug dealer (“Individual-1”) near East 109th Street and Madison Avenue in Manhattan, New York.  During the robbery, McCANTS and his co-conspirators got into a physical altercation with Individual-1 before both McCANTS and CC-1 grabbed backpacks from Individual-1—which contained marijuana—and then fled north on Madison Avenue, turning onto East 110th Street.

McCANTS pulled a black firearm (equipped with a machine-gun conversion device) out of his right sweatshirt pocket and fired 15 shots in quick succession in the general direction of Individual-1.  A photograph of McCants firing is below:

A 69-year-old woman (the “Victim”) standing with a walker on the northwest corner of East 110th Street and Madison Avenue—in the direction that McCANTS shot the firearm—was struck by gunfire.  The Victim was transported to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

McCANTS, 18, of New York, New York, pled guilty to one count of use, carrying, and possession of a machine gun, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison. 

The minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of Homeland Security Investigations and the New York City Police Department.  He also thanked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service, the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, the New York State Board of Parole, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, and the Special Agents of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.