QUEENS MAN ARRAIGNED ON ANIMAL CRUELTY CHARGES FOR TYING DOGS BEHIND CAR AND DRAGGING THEM

 

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Dan Bujor was charged with animal cruelty for tying two dogs behind his car in Long Island City and then driving through the neighborhood. Video captured by a bystander showed the dogs, named Marzipan and Nougat, forced to run behind the vehicle.

District Attorney Katz said: “As alleged, the defendant tied a German shepherd and a pit bull to the back of a car and dragged them down a Long Island City street. I thank the good Samaritans who came forward to report this cruel act and the NYPD for quickly apprehending the defendant and seizing the animals, which are now under the medical treatment of the ASPCA. We are grateful that the dogs survived and their alleged abuser will now be held accountable in our court system.”

ASPCA Vice President of Humane Law Enforcement Howard Lawrence said: “The footage of this incident is deeply disturbing and serves as a stark reminder of the persistent issue of animal abuse in New York City. In the last two weeks alone, the ASPCA has taken in nearly 20 animals from 18 suspected cruelty situations. We are thankful to be able to provide ongoing care for these dogs and other vulnerable animals as they recover, and we extend our sincere gratitude to the Veterinary Emergency Group (VEG) Upper East Side, the New York City Police Department, and the Queens District Attorney’s Office for their swift action and invaluable support in this case.”

Bujor, 68, of Long Island City, was arraigned last night on a criminal complaint charging him with two counts of overdriving, torturing and injuring animals; failure to provide sustenance; and driving by unlicensed operator. Queens Criminal Court Judge Anthony Battisti ordered Bujor to return to court March 5. If convicted, he faces up to one year in jail.

DA Katz said that, according to the charges, on January 4, at approximately 6 p.m., a witness observed Bujor driving a red Volkswagen Passat near 11th Street and 43rd Avenue in Long Island City and dragging two dogs by their leashes connected to the trunk of the car.

One of the dogs, a pit bull, became unhooked from the car. Bujor allegedly grabbed both dogs, put them in the car and fled.

The witness contacted the NYPD.

An officer observed Bujor holding two dogs by the leash on the corner of 11th Street and 43rd Avenue. He was allegedly unable to produce a valid driver’s license.

The NYPD removed the dogs, and the animals were taken to the ASPCA in Manhattan to be examined. The German shepherd, named Marzipan and about 2 years old, had a ruptured eardrum. The pit bull, estimated to be 2 to 4 years old and named Nougat, had new abrasions to the paw pads behind her wrists, inflammation of the skin between her toes and diarrhea.

The investigation was conducted by the NYPD’s 108th Precinct.

Speaker Julie Menin Unveils Senior Leadership Team

 

History-making new appointments include first-ever female Chief of Staff to the City Council Speaker and first-ever Chief Equity Officer

New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin today announced a slate of senior leadership appointments. Earlier today, Speaker Menin’s colleagues elected her to lead the city’s legislative body. The diverse and experienced team will play a central role in advancing the Council’s priorities and Speaker Menin’s vision for a more affordable and safer city.

Two of the appointments represent historic firsts for New York City: Miguelina Camilo is the first woman to serve as Chief of Staff in the Speaker’s Office, and Deputy Chief of Staff Simone A. Jones will serve as the Council’s first-ever Chief Equity Officer.

“I’m proud to announce this exceptional and diverse team of senior leaders, who bring deep experience in government and a shared commitment to serving New Yorkers,” said Speaker Julie Menin. “Together, we will work to build a city that’s more affordable, with a stronger, more equitable economy, more affordable housing, and greater investments in our communities. This team reflects the values of New York City and the future we are building together.”

Miguelina Camilo has been appointed Chief of Staff and is the first woman and Latina to serve in this role in the Speaker’s Office. Miguelina has dedicated her legal career to public service for the City of New York, the Bronx, and the Dominican communities from which she comes. Miguelina most recently served as Counsel to Speaker Carl E. Heastie of the New York State Assembly, where she played a senior advisory role overseeing legislative initiatives, including reforms of discovery laws and helping to manage budget negotiations. In this capacity, she coordinated across government agencies, legal teams, and external stakeholders.

Miguelina’s leadership and management experience also extends to the nonprofit sector. She has served as President of the Dominican Bar Association, President of 100 Hispanic Women – Bronx Chapter, and President of the Bronx Women’s Bar Association. In addition, she previously served as a Commissioner of the New York City Board of Elections.

Jonathan Szott will serve as Senior Deputy Chief of Staff, bringing decades of experience in the New York City Council and a proven record of leadership in policy and governance. He has been a trusted advisor and Chief of Staff to three Council Members — Peter F. Vallone Jr., Paul A. Vallone, and most recently, Speaker Julie Menin. Throughout his career, Jonathan has played a central role in advancing legislative priorities and implementing impactful policy solutions. His institutional knowledge of the Council and dedication to public service have supported major initiatives such as the nation’s first municipal Office of Healthcare Accountability. In his new role as Senior Deputy Chief of Staff, Jonathan will continue to provide essential leadership to the Speaker’s team, helping to shape the Council’s agenda and advance policies that make a meaningful difference for the people of New York City.

Simone A. Jones will serve as Deputy Chief of Staff and the inaugural Chief Equity Officer, marking the first time a Council Speaker has established a Chief Equity Officer role. She previously served as Chief of Staff to Council Member Kevin C. Riley, supporting land use applications throughout New York City, and worked under New York State Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie. Simone brings extensive experience in legislative leadership, community-centered governance, and advancing equity across city and state government.

Bhav Tibrewal has been named Chief Advisor. He joins the Speaker’s Office after serving as Political Director at the Hotel & Gaming Trades Council (HTC). After 18 years in the labor movement in roles at HTC and UNITE HERE, he brings a depth of legislative, political, and union campaign experience to the City Council. His record of winning aggressive legislative campaigns and his strong relationships across New York politics will be an incredible asset to the Speaker’s Office.

John Tritt will be joining as Senior Advisor for External Affairs, bringing more than 18 years of experience at the intersection of labor, policy, and New York government. He began his career at the Hotel & Gaming Trades Council as a union organizer. He continued his work in the labor movement in the political department of 32BJ SEIU, leading their efforts in New York on zoning and land use issues. He served at New York City Public Schools as Executive Director of Outreach for Early Childhood Education and Student Enrollment, where he led citywide organizing and communications efforts that enrolled tens of thousands of children annually in Pre-K for All and launched enrollment for 3-K. Most recently, John was Senior Vice President at Moonshot Strategies, where he expanded their labor portfolio. This builds on a career that began as a union organizer and deepened through senior political and external leadership roles across the labor movement.

Julie Menin Elected Speaker of New York City Council

 

Speaker Menin is a three-time City Commissioner and former regulatory attorney with a history of strengthening consumer and worker protections

The New York City Council voted today during its 2026 Charter Meeting to elect Julie Menin as Speaker. Speaker Menin will lead the City Council during a pivotal moment, when the lawmaking body will address the affordability crisis, an affordable housing shortage, and other key issues. Speaker Menin has laid out a bolder, more proactive vision for the Council to confront New York’s challenges, including building more affordable housing; lowering skyrocketing health care costs; slashing fines and bureaucratic red tape for small businesses; and rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse from city government.

Speaker Menin is a three-time City Commissioner and former regulatory attorney. The daughter and granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, she is the first Jewish Speaker to lead the City’s legislative body. Speaker Menin will preside over a continuing women-majority City Council.

“I am deeply honored and humbled that my City Council colleagues have elected me as Speaker,” said Speaker Julie Menin. “New York has a long history of turning moments of challenge into moments of opportunity. Together, we will forge a new City Council that takes a more forceful and proactive approach to New York’s shared goals. That includes enacting universal child care, lowering skyrocketing health care costs, building more affordable housing, and slashing fines and bureaucratic red tape for small businesses.”

MANHATTAN MAN SENTENCED TO SIX MONTHS IN JAIL FOR DEFRAUDING 89-YEAR-OLD MAN OUT OF HIS BRONX HOUSE

 

He Stole Property Rights While Victim Was in Nursing Home 

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a Manhattan man has been sentenced to six months in jail for Grand Larceny for stealing an 89-year-old relative’s house while the victim was in a nursing home. 

District Attorney Clark said, “Deed theft is a merciless crime that robs people of their homes, community, and financial stability. This defendant took advantage of a vulnerable elderly man. Now, will spend time behind bars and pay restitution for the victim’s legal fees.” 

District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Frank Blackshear, 47, of West 122nd Street, Manhattan, was sentenced today by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Timothy Lewis to six months in jail and four years’ probation for second-degree Grand Larceny, second-degree Criminal Possession of Stolen Property, first-degree Falsifying Business Records and first-degree Offering a False Instrument for Filing. He pleaded guilty to those charges on September 3, 2025. The Court ordered that the defendant transfer the house back to the victim and reimburse him for legal fees. 

According to the investigation, Milton Roberts, 92 years old, was the sole owner of a house on Taylor Avenue in the Soundview section with a value of $698,000. In August 2022, Roberts entered a nursing home for health issues. Between February 14, 2023, and May 19, 2023, Blackshear, Milton Roberts' grandson-in-law, transferred Roberts' property with a deed bearing Frank Blackshear as Trustee. The investigation further revealed that Blackshear created legal documents that gave him and his wife, Jessica, control over Roberts’ assets and health care that included a living will that specifically denied the victim life-prolonging procedures should they be necessary. Another document created was a Power of Attorney which grants Jessica Blackshear the authority to control Roberts’ assets.

District Attorney Clark thanked BXDA Detective Investigator Randy Scarpinato and former BXDA Senior Detective Investigator Brendan Hammond, and former BXDA Investigator Benjamin Ahmadi for their work on the case. 

Keeping New Yorkers Safe: Governor Hochul Announces Nation-Leading Proposals to Crack Down on 3D-Printed Guns and Other Illegal Firearms

Governor’s Plan Confronts 3D-Printed Ghost Guns, Nation’s Fastest Growing Gun Safety Threat

Proposal Establishes Criminal Penalties for Unlicensed Manufacture and Sale of 3D-Printed Firearms and Requires Reporting of All Recovered 3D-Printed Guns

First-in-the-Nation Policy Would Create Minimum Safety Standards for 3D Printer Manufacturers; Blocking Production of 3D-Printed Firearms and Firearm Components

Builds on New York’s Nation-Leading Gun Laws by Requiring Gun Manufacturers To Design Their Pistols To Prevent Easy Modification Into Illegal Machine Guns

As part of her 2026 State of the State agenda, Governor Kathy Hochul today unveiled proposals to strengthen New York’s nation leading gun laws by cracking down on 3D-printed and illegal firearms. The new legislation would establish criminal penalties for the manufacture of 3D-printed firearms and order minimum safety standards to be established for 3D printer manufacturers to block the production of firearms and firearm components. The proposed legislation would also require gun manufacturers to design their pistols so they cannot be quickly and easily modified into illegal machine guns, and require police departments and sheriffs’ offices to report recoveries of all 3D printed guns to the state. These proposals build on Governor Hochul’s historic efforts to get guns off the streets, reduce firearm deaths, and end the scourge of gun violence in New York State — which are delivering dramatic results. In 2025, shootings statewide fell to their lowest levels on record and were down 60 percent from when Governor Hochul took office in 2021.

“Public safety is my top priority. When I took office, I made a promise to New Yorkers to attack the gun violence epidemic head-on, and as gun technology continues to evolve, so do our strongest-in-the-nation gun laws,” Governor Hochul said. “From the iron pipeline to the plastic pipeline, these proposals will keep illegal ghost guns off of New York streets, and enhance measures to track and block the production of dangerous and illegal firearms in our state. I remain committed to continuing the progress we saw in 2025 to reduce gun violence in New York and ensuring our laws remain the strongest and safest in the nation.”

Enhancing New York’s Nation Leading Gun Laws

New legislation proposed to continue the progress New York State has made in cracking down on 3D printed guns and ghost guns would:

• Make it a crime for a person to intentionally sell, distribute, or possess digital instructions to illegally manufacture or produce a firearm or component parts without a license.
• Mandate the reporting of 3D printed guns to the Criminal Gun Clearinghouse database maintained by the New York State Police.
• Create a first-in-the-nation policy that requires the establishment of minimum safety standards for 3D printer manufacturers to ensure their products are equipped with technology that blocks the printer from creating firearms and component parts.
• Require gun manufacturers to design pistols so they cannot be quickly and easily modified into DIY machine guns through the use of illegal devices, such as Glock switches.

Preventing Gun Violence in New York

Since taking office, Governor Hochul has invested $1.27 billion in gun violence prevention initiatives. The FY 2026 Budget included $347 million in funding for these initiatives. Recent program allocations have included:

• $36 million for the Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative, which currently provides equipment, overtime, and personnel, as well as comprehensive, focused training and technical assistance to 28 police departments outside of New York City and their county law enforcement partners: district attorneys’ offices, probation departments and sheriffs’ offices.
• $20.7 million to support SNUG Street Outreach programs that work to reduce gun violence and save lives across New York State. These grants to community-based organizations and hospitals fund outreach workers, hospital responders, social workers and case managers who are credible messengers and work with individuals at risk of gun violence, connecting them with support and services to change behavior and increase opportunities.
• $20 million to support programs and services that strengthen violence prevention, youth development, mental health supports, and economic opportunity for young people in 10 communities statewide through Project RISE (Respond, Invest, Sustain, Empower).
• $40.6 million for the Youth Employment Program, which aims to help reduce community gun violence and youth criminal justice involvement by providing year-round employment and training opportunities to at-risk youth in parts of the state, outside of New York City, most impacted by gun violence.
• $127 million for law enforcement technology grants to modernize law enforcement technology and equipment and help local law enforcement agencies prevent and solve crimes, particularly violent crimes by firearms and crimes of community concern.

During the first 11 months of last year, communities participating in GIVE reported 477 shooting incidents with injury, the fewest reported since the state began tracking this data. This represents a 60 percent decline in shooting incidents with injury as compared to the same time in 2021, and a 15 percent reduction compared to 2024.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani Appoints Christine Clarke to Lead the New York City Commission on Human Rights

Mamdani Administration continues efforts to use law as a tool to fight the affordability crisis

 

Clarke has fought — and won — legal battles for low-income New Yorkers, securing language access rights for immigrant victims of domestic violence and life-saving housing subsidies for elderly and disabled New Yorkers 

 

As Chair, Clarke will advance the Mayor’s agenda of fiercely defending the rights of working New Yorkers 

TODAY, Mayor Zohran Mamdani appointed Christine Clarke as Chair of the Commission on Human Rights. As Chair, Clarke will tirelessly defend the rights of every single New Yorker, enforcing the NYC Human Rights Law, one of the most comprehensive civil rights laws in the nation, and will promote public education so every New Yorker knows their rights. Clarke will report to Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su.  

 

Christine Clarke is the Chief of Litigation and Advocacy and member of the executive team of the largest civil legal services organization in the country, Legal Services NYC — offering a vast array of legal services benefiting over 100,000 low-income New Yorkers each year. Clarke has fought, and won, countless legal battles for low-income New Yorkers, including helping secure access to life-saving housing subsidies for elderly and disabled New Yorkers after their head of household has died, access to residential water services for elderly or disabled low-income homeowners, and language access for NYCHA tenants. 

 

She has also represented countless individual New Yorkers who were victims of workplace discrimination and harassment, survivors of domestic violence who faced housing and employment discrimination, people with disabilities who needed workplace and housing accommodations, and so much more.  

 

“I am proud to announce Christine Clarke as our Chair and Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights. She has spent her career fighting for working people and using the law as a powerful tool to confront inequity. In the midst of an affordability crisis, Christine will ensure the Commission enforces the law to protect New Yorkers and helps build the city we deserve,” said Mayor Zohran Mamdani. 

 

“It is a privilege and an honor to join this administration — and to fight alongside the Mayor for a vision of a fairer, more equitable and affordable New York City,” said Christine Clarke, Chair of Commission on Human Rights. “I've spent my entire career fighting for working New Yorkers — because no matter where you were born, what language you speak, what religion you practice, whether you have a disability, your race or ethnicity — if you live here, you're a New Yorker. I promise that as the next Chair of the NYC Commission on Human Rights, I will work with you and fight for you to help make New York City a place where we can all survive and thrive.” 

 

“There is much more work to be done to make our city more equitable, just, and affordable, and I know with Christine Clarke as Chair of the Commission on Human Rights, New Yorkers have a dedicated ally who will fight for that vision of New York City. Economic justice includes the ability to participate fully in the life of the city whether you’re looking for a job or a place to live and I look forward to working with Christine to confront inequality and protect working New Yorkers," said Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su. 

 

Christine Clarke is the Chief of Litigation and Advocacy and member of the executive team of the largest civil legal services organization in the country, Legal Services NYC — offering a vast array of legal services benefitting over 100,000 low-income New Yorkers each year. Clarke has fought, and won, countless legal battles for low-income New Yorkers, including helping secure language access rights for immigrant victims of domestic violence in encounters with the NYPD, access to life-saving housing subsidies for elderly and disabled New Yorkers after their head of household has died, access toyhh residential water services for elderly or disabled low-income homeowners, and language access for NYCHA tenants. 

 

Clarke’s passion for fighting oppression and injustice has been a driving force throughout her career. As the Director of LSNYC’s Civil Rights Justice Initiative until 2018, she worked on a range of civil rights matters including multiple lawsuits against the New York Police Department, NYC’s Department of Finance and NYC Housing Authority, which resulted in critical changes to policies and procedures, including better language access for immigrant and LEP New Yorkers.  

 

Clarke also recently served as a staff attorney at Planned Parenthood Federation of America where she challenged abortion bans in multiple states, helping keep health center doors open as long as possible to ensure people had a chance to make their own decisions about their lives and futures.  

 

She is a graduate of Oberlin College and Yale Law School, where she was a student editor of the Human Rights and Development Law Journal and a member of the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association. 

Beware this stealth bid to steal a GOP House seat

By the New York Post Editorial Board 

In what looks like a stealth bid to steal a House seat from New York Republicans, acting Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Jeffrey Pearlman this week is hearing arguments in a lawsuit over Rep. Nicole Malliotakis’ Brooklyn-Staten Island district — with Gov. Kathy Hochul conspicuously conspiring to override an electoral map she herself signed into law in 2024.

 

The plaintiffs in Williams v Board of Elections argue that the state’s 2024 Voting Rights Act requires a district that gives black and Hispanic voters greater “influence.”

 

Problem No. 1: The VRA says outright that it doesn’t apply to any state actions, including the drawing of election districts.

 

No. 2: The plaintiffs’ “solution” is not to add minority voters to the district, but simply to replace its Brooklyn portion with a Lower Manhattan one — that is, to swap one set of mostly-white voters for another, also non-black/Hispanic one that’s simply far more likely to vote for a Democrat.

 

Plainly, this isn’t about race at all, but a purely partisan power play.

 

Making that more obvious: Malliotakis is Hispanic — her mom’s from Cuba. That sure looks like at least 50% Hispanic “influence” in the district.

 

Plus, the fact that the district’s largest minority is Asian voters (20%) somehow doesn’t matter at all: Apparently, the fact that Asians sometimes vote Republican means their voting rights don’t count.

 

Now comes problem No. 3: When Hochul and the Legislature revised New York’s “maps” in 2024 (after years of litigation), they chose not to mess with this district.

 

Yet now the gov and state Attorney General Tish James have written the court, not to ask it to toss this case, but to argue that the judge can read the state Constitution as requiring a new district — and could even appoint a special master to dictate a new map.

 

Judge Pearlman, incidentally, worked for Hochul in several jobs before she put him on the Court of Claims bench, from which he’s been “drafted” to serve as an acting Supreme Court judge.

 

Yet he refused to recuse himself from this case, one more move that sure makes it seem like the fix is in.

 

Mayor Zohran Mamdani Appoints Simonia Brown as Senior Advisor for Policy and Strategy

Brown, a budget and policy veteran in NYC and Albany, will work with the State to advance the Mayor’s affordability agenda  

TODAY, Mayor Zohran Mamdani appointed New York City and State policy and budget veteran Simonia Brown as Senior Advisor for Policy and Strategy. In this role, Brown will work alongside partners in Albany to help deliver on the Mayor’s affordability agenda. Brown will report to the First Deputy Mayor. 

 

Simonia Brown has more than two decades of experience in New York City and New York State government, advising elected officials and negotiating key policy and budget issues. Under Mayor Bill de Blasio, Brown served as the Director of New York City’s State Legislative Affairs Office, where she was responsible for advancing the City’s budgetary and legislative agenda.   

 

Brown served as an Associate Director at the NYC Office of Management and Budget, where she oversaw the budgets for the NYC Department of Education, the City’s investments at CUNY, and the 59 Community Boards. Additionally, at OMB, Brown led the Intergovernmental Relations unit, advancing the City’s fiscal priorities at the city, state and federal levels.  

 

Before working in New York City government, Brown held several roles at the New York State Assembly advising the Speaker and Assembly leadership, directing budget analysis, developing policy initiatives, and leading budget and policy negotiations. Currently, Brown serves as the Assistant Deputy Comptroller at the Office of the State Comptroller where she leads several teams in overseeing local government and school district finances including the distribution of more than $1 billion annually and statewide fiscal stress monitoring. 

 

“I am thrilled to welcome Simonia Brown to our administration,” said Mayor Zohran Mamdani. “Simonia is an experienced and deeply committed leader. Her track record of winning budgets and policies that lift up working people will be invaluable as we deliver on our affordability agenda for New Yorkers.” 

 

“I am honored to join Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration. Mayor Mamdani gave a voice to New Yorkers facing a soaring cost-of-living crisis. I’m looking forward to working alongside our partners in Albany to deliver the Mayor’s affordability agenda and provide real relief for working families in New York,” said Simonia Brown, Senior Advisor for Policy and Strategy.