Weekly News from State Senator Gustavo Rivera!

 

WELCOME 2026!

SENATOR RIVERA IN THE COMMUNITY

This week, Senator Rivera joined Assemblymember Tony Simone, colleagues and advocates at an emergency press conference at 26 Federal Plaza. Those in attendance strongly condemned the murder of Renee Nicole Good, a U.S. citizen who was fatally shot three times by an ICE agent in Minneapolis as she was driving away from a peaceful protest.

Senator Rivera condemned this horrific murder and urged the Legislature to pass the MELT Act, the Radar Act, and New York for All as soon as possible. Our communities are under attack and we have an obligation to protect each other with every legal tool we have.

Watch Senator Rivera's remarks at the press conference here. You can also watch his conversation with Yolanda Vazquez from Telemundo 47 here.

SENATOR RIVERA URGES NYS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO EXTEND PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR THE CROSS BRONX FIVE BRIDGES PROJECT

This week, Senator Rivera sent a letter to the NYS Commissioner of Transportation Marie Therese Dominguez to extend the Environmental Assessment public comment period for the redevelopment of the Cross Bronx Expressway until March 10th. The current deadline is today.

Constituents and Community Board members were given a 6,000 page document to review in just 30 days during the holiday season, forcing experts and community members to quickly review and add comments to the document for a $900 million project that will deeply impact the South Bronx.

The Cross Bronx has caused too much damage in our borough for almost seven decades so it is only fair that we get this project right and ensure future generations in the South Bronx grow up in a safer and healthier environment.

Last month, Rebecca Lewis from City and State joined Senator Rivera and staff for a small business canvass in his district as part of his 'Know Your Rights' Small Business Outreach Program. During the canvass, Senator Rivera spoke with local businesses and constituents about their rights and distributed materials such as a 'Private: No Entry Without Warrant' signs and 'Know Your Rights' palm cards, which are available in English, Spanish, French, and Arabic. Our office will have one in Bangla soon!

The Senator wants to thank the New York Immigration Coalition for equipping his team with the tools to safely conduct this work, and to Rebecca Lewis and City & State for taking interest in covering such an important effort.

As we start the new year, Senator Rivera's team will resume efforts to provide our community the necessary tools in case they have an encounter with an ICE agent.

Read City and State article here.

SENATOR RIVERA IN ALBANY

This week marked the start of the 2026 legislative year in Albany.

During the first day of session, Senator Rivera had the opportunity to greet advocates visiting the Capitol in support of the New York Health Act. This bill will be is the top priority for this legislative session along with making the wealthy pay their fair share.

Watch a short video from Senator Rivera celebrating the start of the 2026 legislative session here.

1/14/26: NEW YORK CITY CONTRACTING SUMMIT EVENT AT BARCLAYSCENTER: A NEW ERA FOR SMALL BUSINESS

On Wednesday, January 14, the NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) will host their NYC Contracting Summit: A New Era for Small Business to widen opportunities for small businesses, by increasing access to M/WBE firms, across New York City. SBS wants to ensure constituents have the opportunity to learn about how doing business with government and other partners can fuel the growth of their business. SBS highlights: Every year NYC spends billions of dollars contracting with small businesses. 

Please find the link below or register HERE to RSVP for the event.

Event schedule of activities include:

• Networking with contracting agents from all levels of government
• Workshops providing a blueprint to finding opportunities, winning contracts and growing your company
• Free business resources, including on-site technical assistance, financing assistance, and capacity building programming

See below for more details and registration information.



Date:

Wednesday, January 14, 2026

Time:

9 AM – 4 PM

Location:

Barclays Center

620 Atlantic Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11217

Directions

Dress Code:

Business Casual

Cost:

Free

Link to register: https://NYCContractingSummit.eventbrite.com/?aff=CommunityPartner

Note: Registration is NOT transferrable. Each person attending must complete a separate registration form.

Questions? Contact outreach@sbs.nyc.gov

Changes to MTA fares and tolls across New York City Transit, Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North Railroad and MTA Bridges & Tunnels will take effect on January 4, 2026. Learn more: mta.info/fares2025

In addition, it's the end of an era! We're saying farewell to the MetroCard at the end of 2025. Switch to tap and ride and sign up for a free OMNY account at omny.info to track your charges, transfers, and progress toward free rides.

NMIC HOSTS FREE TAX PREP! STARTING JANUARY 2026

THE HEAP BENEFIT IS SCHEDULED TO OPERATE THROUGH APRIL 7,2026

For more information, visit the: HEAP Webpage or consult Access HRA for benefits eligibility.

HOUSING COURT ANSWERS REMINDERS:

If you do not receive heat, you can call 311 to make a complaint. You can also take your landlord to court for repairs, otherwise known as HP Action (link for recent training). 

•   However, if you do utilize a space heater, here are a few safety tips.Unplug space heaters when not in use. Never leave space heaters unattended, especially around pets or children.
•   Do not use the heaters with broken, cracked, or loose plugs.
•   Space heaters should never be used to cook food, dry clothing or thaw pipes.
•   Heaters must be at least 3 feet away from anything that can burn.
•   Avoid the cord becoming a tripping hazard.
•   Plug space heaters directly into a wall outlet. Extension cords or power strips can overheat and cause fires.
•   Do not plug any other electrical devices into the same outlet as the heater.
•   Place space heaters on level, flat surfaces. Never place heaters on furniture or carpets, which can overheat and start a fire.
•   Make sure your smoke alarm is working properly.

State Senator Gustavo Rivera - Team Rivera's 2025 Constituent Services Report

 

Senator Julia Salazar - Next Week's Food Drive

 

In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., my office is partnering with AHRC New York City, The Arc, and City Meals on Wheels for a food drive to support our Brooklyn neighbors.

Next Monday-Thursday from 10am - 5pm, please donate non-perishable food items to our Bushwick office at 212 Evergreen Ave, Brooklyn, NY.

For any questions, please email teamsalazar@nysenate.gov.

More details below!

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - Changes to Recommended Childhood Vaccines

 

Protecting Children from Preventable Diseases

To our NY-14 community,

Upholding critical public health measures that assure the protection of all children is of the utmost importance. This week, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) took concerning steps to unilaterally change the U.S. childhood immunization recommendations, proposing fewer routine immunizations for children without any scientific basis for the changes. Notably, HHS avoided the standard scientific review that is required before any changes can be made to federal vaccine guidelines. This is yet another example of how Secretary Kennedy’s HHS is endangering our community.

Changes to The Childhood Vaccine Schedule

HHS’s recommendations are effective immediately, cutting the number of immunizations children are recommended to receive from 18 down to 11.

HHS is no longer recommending the following vaccines to all children:

• RSV
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Meningococcal 
• Influenza, or flu
• COVID-19
• Rotavirus

Officials are also now recommending only one dose of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine instead of two.

HHS will continue to recommend that all children are vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), pneumonia, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox. 

Though HHS has stated that all insurers will still cover these vaccines, these changes may still present new challenges for parents across the country who need to consult with doctors about immunizations no longer routinely recommended for all children. These changes will also increase confusion among parents and possibly cause them to doubt the benefits of vaccines and delay or skip these vaccines for their children.

What This Means and Protecting Your Children

These changes to immunization recommendations mean that millions of babies across the U.S. are at greater risk now than they were days ago. For example, prior to the development of the Rotavirus vaccine, Rotavirus was the leading cause of hospitalizations among U.S. infants, and the current leading cause is RSV. Additionally, the hepatitis B birth dose has prevented an estimated 500,000 childhood infections and more than 90,000 related deaths. We are also currently experiencing the deadliest flu season in several years, and, last year, the U.S. recorded more measles cases than any year since 1992. 

Parents with questions about the new guidance should talk to their child’s doctor and are encouraged to follow guidance that is backed by decades of scientific evidence and medical experts. 

For those who don’t have access to physicians, vaccines are available from providers around the city including pharmacies. To find vaccines near you, you can visit the New York City Health Department’s NYC Health Map. There are also 14 federally-funded community health centers in New York’s 14th Congressional District that serve over 1 million patients. 

The New York State Department of Health confirmed that New York State’s existing childhood vaccination policies, including school immunization requirements, remain unchanged at this time. There is no change to vaccine access, insurance coverage, liability protections or the federal Vaccines for Children (VFC) program, which continues to provide vaccines at no cost to eligible children.

In Service,

The Office of Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

DHS Provides Update on U.S. Border Patrol in Portland Who Attempted to Arrest Tren de Aragua Gang Associate and Suspected Member

 

DHS law enforcement is facing an unprecedented 3,200% increase in vehicular attacks 

Yesterday, two suspected Tren de Aragua gang associates—let loose on American streets by Joe Biden—weaponized their vehicle against Border Patrol in Portland. The agent took immediate action to defend himself and others, shooting them. 

After fleeing, the suspects drove nearly five miles to an apartment complex and called emergency medical services. They were transported to separate hospitals. Luis David Nino-Moncada sustained an injury to the arm while Yorlenys Betzabeth Zambrano-Contreras was hit in the chest. Nino-Moncada is now in FBI custody. These individuals are not married.  

“Only one day after an ICE officer was almost ran over in Minneapolis, two vicious Tren de Aragua gang members—let loose on American streets by Joe Biden—weaponized their vehicle against Border Patrol in Portland,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “The agent took immediate action to defend himself and others, shooting them. Thankfully, no law enforcement was injured as these criminals fled. Our law enforcement officers are on the frontlines arresting terrorists, gang members, murderers, pedophiles, and rapists. They are facing a 1,300% increase in assaults against them, a 3,200% increase in vehicular attacks against them, and an 8,000% increase in death threats against them. The violence must end.” 

Zambrano-Contreras is a criminal illegal alien from Venezuela and is associated with the Tren de Aragua gang. She illegally entered the U.S. in 2023 near El Paso, Texas, and was released into this country by the Biden administration. Since illegally entering, Contreras played an active role in a Tren de Aragua prostitution ring and was involved with a prior shooting in Portland in July.  

Nino-Moncada is a criminal illegal alien from Venezuela and suspected Tren de Aragua gang member. He illegally entered the U.S. in 2022 and was RELEASED into the country by the Biden administration. Since then, he was arrested for DUI and unauthorized use of a vehicle. He has a final order of removal.  

Texas Couple Who Operated an Illegal Pyramid Scheme Are Convicted of Conspiracy, Wire Fraud and Money Laundering

 

A federal jury in Sherman, Texas convicted a married couple on Thursday for operating a multi-million-dollar pyramid scheme during the COVID‑19 pandemic.

“While many Americans struggled during the COVID-19 pandemic, LaShonda and Marlon Moore orchestrated a lucrative pyramid scheme with the sole aim of enriching themselves,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Through lies and deceit, the defendants recruited vulnerable people and defrauded them of millions of dollars. The Criminal Division is committed to prosecuting fraudsters who inflict substantial harm on every day Americans trying to make a living.”

“The defendants, through their operation of the Blessings in No Time (BINT) pyramid scheme, defrauded over 10,000 individuals of more than $25 million, using false promises and misleading statements to recruit participants,” said U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs of the Eastern District of Texas. “The defendants' actions were a betrayal of trust, and the Justice Department will continue to work tirelessly to hold those accountable who engage in such schemes. I commend the efforts of our investigative partners and the team who worked to bring about a “win” for the victims who suffered great losses at the hands of these defendants.”

“The harm caused by greed-driven, deceptive investments promising returns too good to be true cannot be overstated,” said Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Criminal Investigations Group. “The mission of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service continues, to aggressively investigate such schemes and hold fraudsters fully accountable.”

“The Moores used a polished image and even a reality TV appearance to build trust, but behind the scenes, they orchestrated a multi-million-dollar pyramid scheme during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher J. Altemus Jr. of IRS Criminal Investigation’s (IRS-CI) Dallas Field Office. “This scheme deliberately targeted the African American community, exploiting cultural trust and community ties. Today’s conviction sends a clear message: if you abuse trust and exploit communities for personal gain, you will face justice.”

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, LaShonda Moore, 38, and Marlon Moore, 39, of Frisco, Texas, co-founded and ran BINT, known as “Blessings in No Time,” an illegal chain-referral pyramid scheme that targeted victims during the COVID‑19 pandemic from June 2020 to June 2021. BINT targeted and recruited victims with false and misleading promises through weekly live-stream video broadcasts to thousands of participants across the United States during the COVID-19 shutdown. Victims were falsely promised that participants would earn 800% returns on each $1,400 investment and were guaranteed a refund if the participant was unsatisfied with BINT. The Moores falsely presented BINT as a means for new participants to help other members of their own community by paying “blessings” of at least $1,400 to participants who had already joined. The Moores falsely promised that new participants’ “blessing” payments would be paid back eight fold within a few weeks. BINT was falsely presented as an altruistic invitation-only community to help others during the economic downturn from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The defendants structured BINT to operate on “playing boards” that had positions for participants on four levels: eight Fires, four Winds, two Earths, and one Water. Once eight new participants were recruited to fill all eight Fire positions on the playing board, each Fire was directed to “bless” or pay at least $1,400 to the participant in the Water position. A Water participant then received eight payments totaling more than $11,000. After a Water participant received his or her payment, other participants at lower levels would move up one level on the playing board and then be required to recruit new participants into the Fire positions to perpetuate the scheme. To profit from the investment scheme, the defendants placed themselves in positions on the playing boards, so that they received the ultimate payments, and they otherwise diverted substantial money to themselves that were paid by the participants. The defendants’ pyramid scheme victimized more than 10,000 people across the country and inflicted more than $25 million in victim losses.

LaShonda and Marlon Moore were each convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, five counts of wire fraud, and three counts of money laundering. Their sentencings have not been set. Each face a maximum penalty of 20 years on each of the conspiracy and wire fraud counts and 10 years on each money laundering count.

USPIS, the United States Secret Service, and IRS-CI investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Theodore Kneller and Adam Stempel of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr. for the Eastern District of Texas are prosecuting the case.

If you believe you are a victim in this case, please contact the Fraud Section’s Victim Witness Unit toll-free at (888) 549-3945 or by email at victimassistance.fraud@usdoj.gov. To learn more about victims’ rights, please visit www.justice.gov/criminal/criminal-vns/victim-rights-derechos-de-las-v-ctimas.