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Wednesday, December 24, 2025
Bronx River Art Center (BRAC) - Happy Holidays from everyone here
Housing Lottery Launches for 1119 Boston Road in Morrisania, The Bronx
Justice Department Reaches Proposed Consent Decree with LivCor, One of America’s Largest Landlords, to Resolve Information Sharing and Algorithmic Coordination Claims
Decree Would Prohibit Algorithmic Coordination and Exchanging Competitively Sensitive Data with Competitors
The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division filed a proposed consent decree to resolve the United States’ claims against LivCor, LLC, a Blackstone portfolio company, as part of its ongoing enforcement action in the Middle District of North Carolina against algorithmic coordination and other anticompetitive practices in rental markets across the country. Today’s proposed decree builds on the Justice Department’s success in obtaining proposed consent decrees in the same enforcement action against RealPage, Inc. and two other large landlords, Cortland Management, LLC and Greystar Management Services, LLC.
On January 7, 2025, the United States, together with its state co-plaintiffs, filed a complaint alleging that LivCor, along with five other landlords, actively participated in a scheme to set their rents using each other’s competitively sensitive information through common pricing algorithms. As alleged in Plaintiffs’ complaint, LivCor and other landlords, including five codefendants, shared competitively sensitive data to generate pricing recommendations using RealPage’s algorithms, which also included anticompetitive rules that aligned their pricing. In addition, LivCor and other landlords discussed competitively sensitive topics—including pricing strategies, rents, and selected parameters for RealPage’s software—directly with each other.
“The Trump-Vance Administration is committed to an economy that works for all Americans,” said Assistant Attorney General Abigail Slater of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “Landlords across America are on notice that the competition laws protect renters from the harms caused by competitors sharing competitively sensitive information or aligning prices, whether through an algorithm or otherwise.”
If approved by the court, the proposed consent decree would require LivCor to:
- Refrain from using any anticompetitive algorithm that generates pricing recommendations using its competitors’ competitively sensitive data or that incorporates certain anticompetitive features;
- Refrain from sharing competitively sensitive information with competitors;
- Accept a court-appointed monitor if it uses a third-party pricing algorithm that is not certified pursuant to the terms of the consent decree;
- Refrain from attending or participating in RealPage-hosted meetings of competing landlords; and
- Cooperate with the United States’ claims against other defendants.
As required by the Tunney Act, the proposed settlement, along with a competitive impact statement, will be published in the Federal Register. Any interested person should submit written comments concerning the proposed settlement within 60 days following the publication to Danielle Hauck, Acting Chief, Technology and Digital Platforms Section, Antitrust Division, U.S. Department of Justice, 450 Fifth Street NW, Suite 7050, Washington, DC 20530. At the conclusion of the public comment period, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina may enter the final judgment upon finding it is in the public interest.
DEC Region 2 Invites New Yorkers to Celebrate the Start of 2026 with First Day Hikes
Free Guided Hiking Event Offered on Staten Island to Ring in the New Year
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Region 2, in collaboration with the Protectors of Pine Oak Woods, is hosting a First Day Hike event at Mount Loretto Unique Area on Thursday, January 1, 2026. First Day Hikes encourage New Yorkers to “Get Offline, and Get Outside” this holiday season, by celebrating the New Year at State parks, historic sites, natural areas, canal trails, environmental education centers, and various other public lands across the Empire State. The 15th annual First Day Hikes program offers varied hike options for people of all experience levels at more than 115 locations throughout the state.
DEC, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, and the Canal Corporation are partnering to host these many walks and hikes taking place on New Year’s Day. A full list of New York State First Day Hikes, location details, format, pre-registration requirements and additional information can be found online for DEC, Parks, and Canals. Interested participants are encouraged to check the details of their preferred host site and register where required.
In DEC Region 2, the Protectors of Pine Oak Woods are hosting the following hike opportunity for the public:
Staten Island:
Mount Loretto Unique Area – Hike with the Protectors of Pine Oak Woods
Date: January 1, 2026
Time: 9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Meet up Location: Mount Loretto Unique Area Parking Lot (GPS Coordinates: 40.509370, -74.218136) Google Maps
Description: Join the Protectors of Pine Oak Woods for a refreshing 2-mile coastal hike at Staten Island’s Mount Loretto Unique Area. We will enjoy forest and meadow trails, walk along the Raritan Bay shoreline, and take in sweeping views from the bluff while looking and listening for birds. Registration is not required.
Difficulty Level: Easy, with spots to sit and rest along the route.
Special Instructions: Please dress for the weather. This event is rain or shine. All ages welcome. Well-behaved pets are allowed on leash.
Point of Contact for Inquires: José Ramirez-Garofalo ppow@siprotectors.org
OPRHP Awards More Than $28 Million for Recreation, Historic Preservation and Trail Projects Through the 2025 Regional Economic Development Council Initiative
Matching grants help local governments and not-for-profits improve parks, historic properties, and heritage areas
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation announced that more than $28 million has been awarded to support 64 recreation, historic preservation and trail projects through the 2025 Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) initiative. A full list of 2025 REDC awards that have been made can be found here.
"These grants will help advance Governor Hochul’s goals to more New Yorkers to ‘Get Offline, Get Outside’ and take part in healthy recreation,” Executive Deputy Commissioner
The awards include $25.4 million from the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) to support 49 projects, such as park improvements, heritage area enhancements and historic preservation projects. Additionally, the awards include $3.3 million from the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) to support 15 projects. In New York State, both the EPF and RTP are administered by the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP).
The EPF Grant Program for Parks, Preservation and
The RTP Grant Program supports matching grants to develop and maintain recreational trails and trail-related facilities for both motorized and non-motorized trail uses. The RTP is an assistance program with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration. The maximum award in this year’s grant cycle was $300,000.
For more information about grant programs administered by OPRHP, visit here.
Funding for the programs was included in the 2025 Regional Economic Development Council Initiative. The REDC process continues to support and empower regional stakeholders in developing strategic plans and funding priorities that meet local economic needs. Regional Councils reviewed projects from this program and provided scores that reflect how well a project aligns with a region’s goals and strategies. Applicants utilized New York’s Consolidated Funding Application, the state’s single application for state resources, which includes programs for numerous agencies. It is designed to provide expedited and streamlined access to a combined pool of grant funds and tax credits from dozens of existing programs.
About the Consolidated Funding Application
The Consolidated Funding Application was created to streamline and expedite the grant application process. The CFA process marks a fundamental shift in the way state resources are allocated, ensuring less bureaucracy and greater efficiency to fulfill local economic development needs. The CFA serves as the single-entry point for access to economic development funding, ensuring applicants no longer have to slowly navigate multiple agencies and sources without any mechanism for coordination. Now, economic development projects use the CFA as a support mechanism to access multiple state funding sources through one application, making the process quicker, easier, and more productive. Learn more about the CFA here.
About the Regional Economic Development Councils
The Regional Economic Development Council initiative is a key component of the State’s approach to State investment and economic development. In 2011, 10 Regional Councils were established to develop long-term strategic plans for economic growth for their regions. The Councils are public-private partnerships made up of local experts and stakeholders from business, academia, local government, and non-governmental organizations. The Regional Councils have redefined the way New York invests in jobs and economic growth by putting in place a community-based, bottom-up approach and establishing a competitive process for State resources. Learn more at regionalcouncils.ny.gov.
Two Members Of Violent Gang Alliance Charged With Murdering A Sixteen-Year-Old Boy In The Bronx
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), Ricky J. Patel, and Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), Jessica S. Tisch, announced the unsealing of an Indictment charging AHMAR GARCIA, a/k/a “OB,” and RAHEEM PATTERSON, a/k/a “Rah Rah,” with committing the murder of sixteen-year-old Nisayah Sanchez on September 29, 2021, as a result of a gang war that plagued the city throughout that year that cost the lives of multiple young men and boys throughout the Bronx. They are also charged with an attempted murder and assault with a dangerous weapon which injured another victim during that same shooting. PATTERSON is also charged with an attempted murder and assault with a dangerous weapon that occurred on December 2, 2021, when he shot at a rival gang member in Manhattan.
GARCIA and PATTERSON were each brought into federal custody from New York State custody where they had each been serving state sentences for other violent crimes. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer.
“These charges stem from a violent gang war that played out on the streets of New York and ended with the cold-blooded murder of sixteen-year-old Nisayah Sanchez,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “I want to thank the women and men of this Office and our law enforcement partners who never wavered in the over four years since Sanchez’s senseless murder. Our Office will bring gun-toting criminals who threaten the safety of New Yorkers to justice.”
“As alleged, the defendants’ callous disregard for human life—brazenly carrying out an attack in broad daylight and then boasting about their crimes online—will not be tolerated,” said HSI Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel. “For too long, these criminal organizations have terrorized neighborhoods and placed innocent lives at risk—leaving families shattered and communities living in fear. This indictment marks a decisive blow against the violent street gangs that have inflicted fear and devastation on our neighborhoods. HSI New York, the New York City Police Department, and the Southern District of New York are unwavering in our commitment to rooting out those who threaten the safety of our streets.”
“Ahmar Garcia and Raheem Patterson allegedly turned a gang rivalry into the killing of a 16-year-old boy on a Bronx street in broad daylight,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “That decision ended a young life, devastated a family, and put an entire community in danger. When violence is carried out this openly—and then celebrated—it demands a decisive response. This case shows what focused enforcement and strong federal partnerships can accomplish, and why the NYPD will continue to pursue violent gangs before they can take another life. I thank Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York for their partnership in bringing these charges.”
According to the allegations in the Indictment:[1]
Since at least 2019, two warring alliances of violent street gangs engaged in retaliatory shootings, resulting in multiple young men and boys being shot, injured, and killed. After each shooting, the gangs glorified their acts of violence against their rivals, taunting them for their dead gang members, and promoting their own gangs and their allies via social media and through their rap videos. These posts and videos in turn fueled the cycle of violence, where the rival gangs retaliated against each other for each shooting, taunt, or perceived slight.
Over the spring and summer of 2021, these two alliances engaged in a gang war that included multiple shootings against their enemies, real or perceived. These shootings resulted in the deaths of multiple young men and boys throughout the Bronx. On one side of this gang war was an alliance consisting principally of the MacBallers, the Drillys, and the 800 YGz gangs, which historically and generally aligned, collectively or through its individual members, with the Bloods. On the other side of this gang war was an opposing alliance principally including the Sev Side, Third Side, and Reyway gangs, all neighborhood sets generally aligned with the Crips.
On September 29, 2021, in retaliation for the murders of their own gang members, and to promote their own standing in their respective gangs, members of the alliance of MacBallers, Drillys, and 800 YGz gangs, including AHMAR GARCIA, a/k/a “OB,” and RAHEEM PATTERSON, a/k/a “Rah Rah,” shot and killed Nisayah Sanchez, a 16-year-old member of the rival Sev Side, Third Side, and Reyway gang alliance, by sneaking up beside Sanchez and shooting him to death on a Bronx street in broad daylight, while also shooting and injuring another rival gang member.
A little over two months later, on December 2, 2021, PATTERSON and another member of his gang alliance shot multiple times at a rival gang member in midtown Manhattan as the rival was leaving a restaurant.
GARCIA, 25, and PATTERSON, 28, both of the Bronx, New York, are each charged (with respect to the September 29, 2021, shooting) with murder in aid of racketeering, which carries a mandatory sentence of life or death; conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison; attempted murder and assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and discharging a firearm during an in relation to a crime of violence, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison and a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison. PATTERSON is also charged (with respect to the December 2, 2021, shooting) with attempted murder and assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and discharging a firearm during an in relation to a crime of violence, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison and a mandatory minimum of 10 years 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 of the defendants will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of HSI and the NYPD. Mr. Clayton also thanked the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office for its assistance.
The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Violent Organizations and Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael R. Herman and Patrick R. Moroney are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment, and the description of the Indictment set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Attorney General James Wins Case to Restore Funding for Lifesaving Anti-Terrorism and Emergency Response Programs
New York Attorney General Letitia James secured a major victory in a lawsuit filed with a coalition of 11 other attorneys general against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for illegally depriving states of hundreds of millions of dollars in funding to keep communities safe. In September, DHS began reallocating funds under the Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) away from New York and other states that have refused to use state resources to support the administration’s mass deportation agenda. As a result, these states saw a significant cut to funding that supports critical law enforcement training, emergency preparedness, and counter-terrorism activities. The U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island granted Attorney General James and the coalition’s motion for summary judgment, declaring the decision to reallocate funding unlawful and ordering DHS to restore funding to the plaintiff states.
“Law enforcement and local leaders throughout New York depend on these funds to keep New Yorkers safe,” said Attorney General James. “The administration’s attempt to play politics with these resources was illegal and put our state at risk. This decision is a significant win in our ongoing efforts to protect New Yorkers from reckless funding cuts.”
HSGP funds provide states and local governments with critical resources to plan for and prevent natural disasters, terrorist attacks, and other emergencies. As a result of the administration’s reallocations, New York saw a reduction of over $100 million, or 77 percent of its HSGP funds. These funds help support counter-terrorism activities, border security measures along the Canada border, and efforts to protect essential infrastructure like power grids and water systems throughout the state from attacks. The Urban Area Security Initiatives (UASI) program within HSGP directs tens of millions of dollars every year to the New York City Police Department (NYPD) and the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) for training and planning to protect high-risk areas of New York City.
On September 29, Attorney General James and the coalition sued DHS, arguing that DHS’ funding reallocation decision was a violation of the Administrative Procedure Act. The court’s decision granting the coalition’s motion for summary judgment requires the administration to restore reallocated grant funds to the plaintiff states.
Joining Attorney General James in this lawsuit are the attorneys general of California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia.
Tuesday, December 23, 2025
MAYOR ADAMS APPOINTS MARK GUERRA AS 36TH FIRE COMMISSIONER OF FDNY
Guerra Currently Serves as Acting Commissioner of FDNY
Guerra Brings Nearly Four Decades of Experience to the Role
New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced the appointment of, and swore in, Mark Guerra as the 36th commissioner of the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY). Guerra — who joined the FDNY in 1988 and currently serves as acting commissioner and first deputy commissioner — brings nearly four decades of experience across public safety and public service to the position.
“Under our administration, keeping New Yorkers safe and protected has always been our North Star, and having principled, qualified public servants in place to lead our critical public safety agencies is crucial to fulfilling that goal; there’s no person who meets those high standards Commissioner Mark Guerra,” said Mayor Adams. “Commissioner Guerra has served the FDNY for nearly four decades, honorably leading New York’s Bravest who keep New Yorkers safe every day. It’s my utmost honor to appoint him as our 36th FDNY commissioner to continue his dedicated and courageous leadership for our city. Congratulations, Commissioner!”
“For nearly four decades, I have been proud to serve not only the FDNY but the people of New York City. The entire department works day and night to keep New Yorkers safe, responding to fast-moving crises with courage, compassion, and intelligence. They embody ‘The Bravest and the Best’ in everything they do, and it is the honor of a lifetime to lead them,” said FDNY Commissioner Guerra. “I appreciate Mayor Adams’ trust in me and the opportunity to lead the greatest fire department in the world.”
“Thank you, Mayor Adams, for appointing Mark Guerra as the 36th Commissioner of the FDNY,” said Uniformed Firefighters Association President Andrew Ansbro. “When you enter the FDNY Academy, you are told ‘to leave the job better than you found it,’ and Mark has spent his years in the FDNY working toward that goal. The city and the FDNY are all better off for his service.”
About Mark Guerra
Mark Guerra began his career as a firefighter assigned to Engine 237 and Ladder 124 in Brooklyn. Guerra was promoted to lieutenant in 1994 and worked in Ladder 112 in Brooklyn. In 2002, Guerra was promoted to captain and served in Engine 214 in Brooklyn. In 2019, he was promoted to battalion chief and assigned to Battalion 35. He has been cited for bravery on four separate occasions during his career.
Guerra also served as the executive officer to FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro, and as executive officer of the FDNY Ceremonial Unit. He was promoted to first deputy commissioner of the FDNY in October 2024 and became acting commissioner after FDNY Commissioner Robert Tucker left his position last week.
Guerra holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Manhattan College, a Juris Doctor from St. John's Law, and is a graduate of the FDNY’s Fire Officers Management Institute.
Guerra is also a member of the FDNY Hispanic Society.