Wave Hill Weekly Events (Jan 8 – Jan 15) | Ground Yourself in a Winter Landscape

 

The trees across the city lay bare and shivering in the midwinter season as an icy breeze passes through their branches. Their percussive sound reminds us of their life, mixing with songbirds, and the whistle of the wind to create a song of nature. Walk along the path, take life easy, and hear a new song of the season at Wave Hill, a place of harmony.  

  

Fill your weekend with winter activities! Enjoy the outdoors with Forest Bathing and Winter Birding. Alternatively, take the opportunity to ground yourself indoors with some Warming Winter Yoga.   

 

Nature & Wellness 

 

Forest Bathing in the Winter Landscape 

Sat, Jan 10, 11:00AM – 12:00PM    

Registration required.    

Bundle up, breathe deep, connect, and explore Wave Hill’s serene winter landscape using all of your senses. led by certified nature therapy guide Cindy Olsen. Forest bathing is known to support well-being—boosting the immune system and cardiovascular strength. Adults only. 

 

Winter Birding 

Sun, Jan 11, 9:30AM – 11:00AM    

Registration encouraged.    

The Hudson River Valley hosts a diversity of bird species, even during the winter months. Explore Wave Hill’s tranquil gardens and woodlands with birding guide, Haley Scott to observe birds in their winter habitat. 

 

Warming Winter Yoga 

Sun, Jan 11, 11:00AM – 12:00PM    

Registration encouraged.    

Yoga returns to the majestic Armor Hall this winter! As you’re surrounded by panoramic views of the Conifer Slope, stunning trees, and the tranquility of the winter garden, feel reconnected, refreshed, and revitalized through gentle yoga practice.  

 

Garden Highlights Walk 

Sun, Jan 11, 1:00PM – 1:30PM    

Free with admission to the grounds     

Registration not required.    

Join a knowledgeable Wave Hill Garden Guide for a leisurely stroll in the gardens. Topics vary by season and the expertise of the Guide; each walk varies with the Guide leading it. 

 

Family 

 

Family Art Project: Starry Night Sky 

Sat, Jan 10, 10:00AM – 1:00PM   

Sun, Jan 11, 10:00AM – 1:00PM   

Free with admission to the grounds     

Registration not required.    

Get lost in the vast expanse of the night sky as we explore the stars and planets visible at this time of year. Capture this cosmic spectacle by making your own light box full of constellations and learn what these phenomena can teach us about the mysteries of space. At 11:30AM, families can enjoy storytime in the Gund Theater.  

 

HOURS STARTING MARCH 15: 10AM–4:30PM, Tuesday–Sunday  

Shuttle Service Free from Subway and Metro-North, Saturday–Sunday 

Information at 718.549.3200. On the web at wavehill.org.   

Mayor Mamdani Appoints Dina Levy as Housing Commissioner, Announces Formation of “Rental Ripoff” Hearings

Dina Levy brings decades of housing finance and organizing experience inside and outside of government to HPD 

 

“Rental Ripoff” hearings in all five boroughs will offer New Yorkers a microphone to share poor conditions, unconscionable business practices that City will act upon 

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani today announced the appointment of longtime housing leader Dina Levy as Commissioner of the Department of Housing Preservation & Development (HPD). Levy brings decades of experience developing and organizing for safe, affordable housing to the agency, fighting tirelessly for dignified housing for all New Yorkers. At HPD, Levy will execute on the Mamdani administration’s ambitious housing agenda, including preserving rent-stabilized housing, financing and constructing new affordable housing, connecting New Yorkers to housing, and ensuring the habitability of all homes in New York.  

 

“I am proud to welcome Dina Levy as our next Housing Commissioner. Levy is an experienced and fearless housing leader, and I know that she will fight to protect tenants and tackle our housing crisis head-on,” said Mayor Zohran Mamdani. “Too many New Yorkers have been forced to pay more for less — living in unsafe, unconscionable, and unaffordable housing. Under my administration, that ends. Today's executive order is the first step towards giving New Yorkers a voice in addressing the housing crisis that is pricing them out of our city.” 

 

ABOUT DINA LEVY 

 

Levy has fought for safe, affordable housing for years, working as both an advocate and within government. She previously served as Senior Vice President of Homeownership and Community Development at Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), New York State’s affordable housing agency. Prior to that, she worked as senior advisor to the New York Attorney General and as Director of Organizing at the Urban Homesteading Assistance Board (UHAB). She will bring this extensive experience organizing tenants, managing housing finance, and much more to HPD. The appointment was announced at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue in The Bronx, widely considered to be the “Birthplace of Hip Hop” – and where Levy led a successful organizing campaign in 2010 to replace a predatory equity investor with a more responsible landlord, with City assistance.  

 

“I am honored to join the Mamdani administration, and especially honored to join the team working to make New York City an affordable place to live. My experience as a community organizer has shaped my work in public service and will continue to be my inspiration in the work ahead at HPD,” said incoming HPD Commissioner Dina Levy. “It is my honor to join forces with tenants, homeowners, and dedicated public servants at HPD as we work to usher in a new era of quality and affordability for all.” 

 

“Dina Levy has long fought for safe and affordable housing both inside and outside of government, and I am thrilled to welcome her to the helm at HPD. Her experience spans the breadth of HPD’s mission, from affordable housing finance to organizing tenants and everything in between,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing and Planning Leila Bozorg. “Dina will help deliver a more affordable city and ensure tenants and homeowners across the city are represented in our government.” 

MAYOR MAMDANI ANNOUNCES CITY TO COMPLETE REDESIGN ON MCGUINNESS BOULEVARD

 

Mamdani Administration will deliver DOT’s original plan for protected bike lanes along the full length of McGuinness Boulevard from Meeker Avenue to the Pulaski Bridge  

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Mike Flynn announced today that NYC DOT will complete the redesign of McGuinness Boulevard.  

 

McGuinness Boulevard, which operates as a critical cycling connection between Brooklyn and Queens that serves more than 4,000 daily riders during the summer months, is dangerous for bikers, pedestrians, and drivers alike.  

 

Under Mayor Mamdani, NYC DOT will implement its original plan to install parking-protected bike lanes along the entirety of McGuinness Boulevard to ensure traffic calming measures throughout the entire corridor, extending the existing parking-protected lanes running between Meeker and Calyer Street northbound up to the Pulaski Bridge. Upon completion, McGuinness Boulevard will feature one travel lane in each direction, one parking-protected bike lane in each direction, and one vehicular parking and loading lane in each direction.  

 

“For too long, critical street safety projects have been delayed or shelved because of political considerations and backroom deal-making rather than the needs of New Yorkers. Those days are over,” said Mayor Zohran Mamdani. “New Yorkers deserve to be safe no matter how they commute — whether they bike, walk, or drive. That’s why, as one of my first acts as Mayor, my administration is committing to restarting implementation of parking-protected bike lanes on McGuinness Boulevard and complete its redesign. New Yorkers deserve an administration that gets right to work to deliver genuine street safety.” 

 

“New Yorkers deserve to feel safe when they’re traveling with their families and loved ones on city streets — and McGuinness Boulevard should be designed to stitch Greenpoint together, not divide it in half,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn. “We are moving swiftly to finish the redesign of McGuinness Boulevard because we know too many lives have already been lost on this street — and that this project was altered against the best interests of New Yorkers. This is just the beginning, and we look forward to doubling down to aggressively deliver on our bus and street safety agenda and restore faith in our community engagement process.” 

 

The redesign will bring a host of safety benefits for all New Yorkers, including pedestrians and drivers, by shortening crossing distances, calming turning vehicles, and reducing reckless driving behavior. Similar designs across the city have been shown to reduce traffic deaths and serious injuries by 30 percent.   

ICE Announces Historic 120% Manpower Increase, Thanks to Recruitment Campaign that brought in 12,000 Officers and Agents

 

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced that its unprecedented nationwide recruitment campaign has shattered expectations, hiring more than 12,000 officers and agents in less than a year.

After receiving more than 220,000 applications to join ICE from patriotic Americans, ICE blew past its original hiring target of 10,000 new officers and agents within a year. In fact, we have more than doubled our officers and agents from 10,000 to 22,000. With these new patriots on the team, we will be able to accomplish what many say was impossible and fulfill President Trump’s promise to make America safe again.

“The good news is that thanks to the Big Beautiful Bill that President Trump signed, we have an additional 12,000 ICE officers and agents on the ground across the country,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “That’s a 120% increase in our workforce. And that’s in just about four months.”

Thousands of these newly hired officers and agents are already deployed nationwide and actively supporting enforcement operations, including arrests, investigations, and removals. The accelerated hiring tempo has allowed ICE to place officers in the field faster than any previous recruitment effort in the agency’s history. 

The recruitment initiative utilized data driven outreach efforts to recruit qualified patriotic Americans from across the country. As a result, ICE was able to exceed its hiring surge target while maintaining rigorous standards for training and readiness.

ICE continues to accept applications and encourages individuals interested in federal law enforcement careers to learn more at join.ice.gov.

MAYOR ZOHRAN MAMDANI STATEMENT ON U.S. STRIKES IN VENEZUELA

 

In response to President Donald J. Trump’s strikes in Venezuela, Mayor Zohran Mamdani issued the following statement:  

 

“I was briefed this morning on the U.S. military capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, as well as their planned imprisonment in federal custody here in New York City. 

 

Unilaterally attacking a sovereign nation is an act of war and a violation of federal and international law.  

 

“This blatant pursuit of regime change doesn’t just affect those abroad, it directly impacts New Yorkers, including tens of thousands of Venezuelans who call this city home. My focus is their safety and the safety of every New Yorker, and my administration will continue to monitor the situation and issue relevant guidance.” 

Housing Lottery Launches for 3602 Holland Avenue in Williamsbridge, The Bronx

The affordable housing lottery has launched for 3602 Holland Avenue, a five-story residential building in Williamsbridge, The Bronx. Designed by Cavalry Associates and developed by Lazer Derbarmdiger of The Ionic Group LLC, the structure yields 22 residences. Available on NYC Housing Connect are 13 units for residents at 130 percent of the area median income (AMI), ranging in eligible income from $98,332 to $189,540.

Residences are equipped with air conditioning, and name-brand kitchen appliances, countertops, and finishes. Tenants are responsible for electricity including stove, heat, and hot water. 

At 130 percent of the AMI, there are 12 studios with a monthly rent of $2,684 for incomes ranging from $98,332 to $168,480, and one one-bedroom with a monthly rent of $2,778 for incomes ranging from $103,749 to $189,540.

Prospective renters must meet income and household size requirements to apply for these apartments. Applications must be postmarked or submitted online no later than January 22, 2026.

ASSEMBLYWOMAN RAJKUMAR'S STATEMENT ON NYSNA NOTICE OF STRIKE

 

As the daughter of health care professionals, I stand in unwavering solidarity with NYSNA nurses who are preparing to take this historic stand across New York City. These nurses are the frontline of our healthcare system. They are the ones who stay at the bedside, catch emergencies before they escalate, and advocate for patients when no one else will. Their demands are simple and just: safe staffing, real protections from workplace violence, and guaranteed healthcare benefits for the caregivers who give everything to care for others.

Several of the hospitals involved — particularly Wyckoff Heights Medical Center — provide critical care to residents of my district and communities across Queens and Brooklyn. When nurses speak up about staffing and safety, they are doing so to strengthen patient care and ensure our neighborhoods receive the quality healthcare they deserve.

It is especially troubling that some of the wealthiest hospital systems in New York City claim they cannot afford fair contracts, while holding billions in cash reserves and preparing to spend enormous sums on temporary traveler nurses. Instead of investing those resources into the experienced nurses who know their patients, neighborhoods, and hospitals, executives are choosing confrontation over collaboration. That decision puts profits ahead of patient care and undermines the stability of our healthcare system.

Our nurses are the backbone of New York City’s healthcare system. Supporting them means supporting safer hospitals, stronger communities, and better outcomes for patients. I urge hospital leadership to listen to nurses and settle fair contracts immediately. The best way to protect patients is not through strikebreaking tactics, but by respecting nurses, valuing their expertise, and ensuring that there are always enough trained professionals at the bedside. Our City’s health depends on it.

Governor Hochul Announces Special Elections in Senate Districts 47 and 61, and in Assembly District 36

Governor Kathy Hochul announced that a special election to fill the vacancies in the 47th and 61st Senate Districts, and the 36th Assembly District will be held on Tuesday, February 3, 2026. The vacancies were created by the resignations of former State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal, former State Senator Sean Ryan and former Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, respectively. Governor Hochul issued the proclamation on January 2 pursuant to the Public Officers Law.

“These State Legislators represented their communities with distinction in Albany, and we wish them well in their next chapters,” Governor Hochul said. “To ensure constituents of these districts are represented in the State Legislature, there will be a special election on February 3, 2026 to fill the vacancies. I look forward to working with their successors and working on the issues that matter to New Yorkers.”