Keeping New Yorkers Safe: Governor Hochul Highlights Growing Support for Local Cops, Local Crimes Act

District Attorneys, County Sheriffs, Police Chiefs, and County Executives from Across New York Voice Support for Governor’s Proposed Ban on 287(g) Agreements

Legislation Would Ensure Local Law Enforcement Is Focused on Fighting Crime and Prevent Resources from Being Used by Federal Authorities to Enable Mass ICE Operations Against New Yorkers

Would Not Prohibit Local Law Enforcement or State Police From Continuing To Work With Federal Law Enforcement in Criminal Investigations

Governor Hochul today hosted a roundtable with law enforcement and elected officials to announce growing support for the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act, which would prohibit local law enforcement from being deputized by ICE for federal civil immigration enforcement. Joined by more than a dozen district attorneys, county sheriffs, police chiefs, and county executives from across the state, the Governor highlighted her commitment to keeping New Yorkers safe by ensuring local police are focused on fighting local crime.

In the last two weeks, additional law enforcement and elected officials from across the state have expressed support for the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act. The legislation would eliminate 287(g) agreements, barring state and local police from acting as federal agents or using taxpayer-funded resources or personnel to carry out federal civil immigration enforcement. It would also prohibit federal agents from using local detention centers to house civil immigration detainees. The Local Cops, Local Crimes Act would not prevent police from working with ICE or other federal law enforcement to apprehend dangerous criminals.

“Today I heard from a bipartisan group of law enforcement and elected officials about the importance of keeping our police resources focused where they are needed most – in our communities,” Governor Hochul said. “That is why I have proposed common sense legislation to send a clear message: New York will not tolerate flagrant abuses of power by ICE carried out in the name of public safety.”

Last month, Governor Hochul introduced the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act , a series of comprehensive legislation to protect New Yorkers, strengthen constitutional safeguards, and prohibit local law enforcement from being deputized by ICE for federal civil immigration enforcement. The Governor was joined by NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, Albany Police Chief Brendan Cox and more than a dozen district attorneys, county sheriffs and police chiefs. Today, the list of supporters has grown to 29 individuals:

• Albany County Executive Dan McCoy
• Albany County District Attorney Lee Kindlon
• Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple
• Albany Police Chief Brendan Cox
• Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez
• Broome County Executive Jason Garnar
• Columbia County District Attorney Chris Liberati-Conant
• Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz
• Kingston Deputy Police Chief Ricky Negron
• Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg
• Monroe County District Attorney Brian Green
• Mt. Vernon Police Chief Marcel Olifiers
• New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch
• Onondaga County District Attorney William “Bill” Fitzpatrick
• Onondaga County Sheriff Tobias Shelley
• Queens County District Attorney Melinda Katz
• Richmond County District Attorney Michael McMahon
• Rochester Police Chief David Smith
• Rochester Mayor Malik D. Evans
• Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon, Jr.
• Syracuse Police Chief Mark Rusin
• Tompkins County District Attorney Matt Van Houten
• Ulster County District Attorney Manny Nneji
• Ulster County Sheriff Juan Figueroa
• Utica Police Chief Mark Williams
• Utica Deputy Police Chief Ed Noonan
• Washington County District Attorney J. Anthony “Tony” Jordan
• Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins

In New York, 14 law enforcement agencies including 10 County Sheriff's Offices, 1 County Police Department and 3 Municipal Police Departments are currently operating under various 287(g) agreement enforcement models. If enacted, this legislation would void all existing 287(g) agreements across the state.

The Governor’s proposal builds on recent legislation introduced as part of her State of the State agenda to protect the constitutional rights of New Yorkers from federal overreach and hold federal agents accountable for unconstitutional action, and to ensure sensitive locations including New Yorkers’ homes are protected from civil immigration enforcement without a judicial warrant.

 

Establishing a Right To Sue Federal Officers for Constitutional Violations

With unprecedented escalations in aggressive federal immigration enforcement, communities across the United States are reeling from heavy-handed tactics that have been alleged to trample on constitutional rights.

To protect communities across the state and ensure accountability when constitutional rights are violated, Governor Hochul will advance legislation that gives New Yorkers a clear path to seek justice when their rights are violated.

The proposal authorizes individuals to bring state-level civil actions against federal officers who violate New Yorkers' U.S. constitutional rights, consistent with the same legal standards that already exist for state and local officers under federal civil rights law. By aligning state law with existing federal civil rights frameworks, this proposal reinforces constitutional protections and provides New Yorkers with a meaningful legal recourse when federal authority is unconstitutionally abused in New York.

Protecting New Yorkers in Sensitive Locations

For decades, federal policy under both parties has limited warrantless civil immigration enforcement in sensitive locations such as schools, hospitals, and houses of worship. Recent federal changes have rolled back these protections, disrupting public safety, school communities, access to care, and trust in critical institutions.

New Yorkers should be able to attend school, access child care, seek medical care, worship, and reside in their private homes in peace. Governor Hochul has proposed legislation to ensure sensitive locations – including homes – can be protected from civil immigration enforcement without a judicial warrant. This measure will help provide stability for children and families in essential community spaces.

ICE Asks Charlotte Politicians to Not Release Criminal Illegal Alien Charged for Attempted Murder in North Carolina

 

Sanctuary policies resulted in the release of 1,400 criminal illegal aliens from jail directly back onto North Carolina streets

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lodged an arrest detainer—which is a request that local law enforcement not release this criminal into Charlotte neighborhoods without notification to ICE—for Jamie Iram Gamez Cadena, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, after he was arrested for attempted first-degree murder after allegedly stabbing his ex-girlfriend.

Jamie Iram Gamez Cadena 

On February 1, 2026, this criminal illegal alien allegedly attacked and stabbed the victim repeatedly.

“Sanctuary politicians repeatedly place dangerous MONSTERS like this above the safety of American citizens,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “We are calling on North Carolina politicians to commit to not releasing this attempted murderer from jail back into American communities. Unfortunately, the state of North Carolina has a history of refusing to cooperate with ICE and releasing criminals back onto our streets to create more victims.”

Gamez Cadena is here in the United States illegally as an overstay on a B-2 tourist visa.

ICE lodged a detainer February 1, 2026, to prevent his release back into American communities.

DHS law enforcement is protecting American communities every day from another senseless tragedy like this taking place in another town, to another family. Victims of illegal alien crime may receive support from the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) Office by contacting 1-855-488-6423.

Plymouth Woman Sentenced to 8 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Over Seven Pounds of Methamphetamine

 

Jessica Olena, 48, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Samantha D. Elliott to 8 years in federal prison and 4 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces. Olena previously pleaded guilty to two counts of methamphetamine distribution.

“Today’s sentence reflects the serious threat posed by those who deal in dangerous drugs like methamphetamine,” said U.S. Attorney Creegan. “This defendant was distributing large quantities of this highly potent substance. Our office will continue supporting our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners in drug interdiction efforts to prevent illicit drugs from reaching our streets, and to hold accountable those who seek to profit from poisoning New Hampshire communities.”

“DEA stands committed to keeping highly addictive drugs like methamphetamine off the streets of New Hampshire,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget, New England Field Division. “Today’s sentence not only holds Ms.Olena accountable for her crimes but serves as a warning to those traffickers who are contributing to the drug crisis. This investigation demonstrates the strength of collaborative law enforcement efforts and our strong partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Hampshire.”

Between January and June 2024, a confidential source, acting at the direction of law enforcement, arranged to purchase more than one and a half pounds of methamphetamine from Olena. When law enforcement arrested Olena for these drug transactions on June 26, 2024, she admitted to selling a pound of methamphetamine to someone else the night prior and to routinely purchasing significant quantities of methamphetamine for distribution.

The Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation. The New Hampshire State Police Mobile Enforcement Team provided valuable assistance. 

Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Role in $73 Million Global Cryptocurrency Investment Scam

 

A dual national of China and St. Kitts and Nevis was sentenced in absentia today in the Central District of California to the statutory maximum of 20 years in prison and three years of supervised release for his role in an international cryptocurrency investment conspiracy carried out from scam centers in the Kingdom of Cambodia. The defendant, Daren Li, 42, is a fugitive after cutting off his ankle electronic monitoring device and absconding in December 2025.

“As part of an international cryptocurrency investment scam, Daren Li and his co-conspirators laundered over $73 million dollars stolen from American victims,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Court’s sentence reflects the gravity of Li’s conduct, which caused devastating losses to victims throughout our country. The Criminal Division will work with our law enforcement partners around the world to ensure that Li is returned to the United States to serve his full sentence.”

“While technology has made it possible for people to quickly communicate with others who live oceans away, it also has made it easier for criminals to prey on innocent victims,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli for the Central District of California. “I urge the investing public to use caution and to not talk to strangers…especially ones who solicit money online.”

On Nov. 12, 2024, Li pleaded guilty in the Central District of California to conspiring with others to launder funds obtained from victims through cryptocurrency scams and related fraud. As part of his plea agreement, Li admitted that unindicted members of the conspiracy would contact victims directly through unsolicited social-media interactions, telephone calls and messages, and online dating services. The unindicted co-conspirators would gain the trust of victims by establishing either professional or romantic relationships with them, often communicating by electronic messages sent via end-to-end encrypted applications. These co-conspirators established spoofed domains and websites that resembled legitimate cryptocurrency trading platforms and promote fraudulent cryptocurrency investments to the victims after gaining the victims’ trust.

In some instances, the co-conspirators would induce victims into investing in cryptocurrency through the fraudulent and spoofed investment platforms. In other iterations of the scam, Li’s unindicted co-conspirators misrepresented to victims that they were from a customer service or technology support company and induced victims to send funds via wire transfer or cryptocurrency trading platforms to purportedly remediate a non-existent virus or other false computer-related problem.

As part of his plea agreement, Li admitted that he and his co-conspirators caused at least $73.6 million in victim funds be directly deposited into bank accounts associated with defendant and his co-conspirators, including at least $59.8 million from U.S. shell companies that laundered victim proceeds.

Li further confessed that, to conceal or disguise the nature of the crime, location, source, ownership, and control of the victim funds, he would direct co-conspirators to open U.S. bank accounts established on behalf of shell companies and would monitor the receipt of interstate and international wire transfers of victim funds. Li and other co-conspirators would receive victim funds in financial accounts that they controlled and then monitor the conversion of victim funds to virtual currency,

Eight co-conspirators have pleaded guilty so far. Li is the first defendant to be sentenced who was directly involved in the ultimate receipt of victim funds.

The U.S Secret Service (USSS) Global Investigative Operations Center is investigating the case. The Homeland Security Investigations’ El Camino Real Financial Crimes Task Force, Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center, U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Dominican National Police, and U.S. Marshals Service provided valuable assistance.

Trial Attorney Stefanie Schwartz of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS), Trial Attorney Tamara Livshiz of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maxwell Coll, Alexander Gorin, and Nisha Chandran for the Central District of California, prosecuted the case.

The sentencing is the latest outcome of the Criminal Division’s continuing work to investigate, disrupt, and bring to justice individuals facilitating scam center operations worldwide, in partnership with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the country. In combating scam centers, the Criminal Division draws on its expertise in countering cybercrime, cryptocurrency fraud, money laundering, human trafficking, and transnational organized crime. By seizing and forfeiting crime-linked cryptocurrency, dismantling digital infrastructure used by the scammers to target U.S. citizens, and disrupting domestic and international money laundering networks, the Criminal Division and its partners will cut off access to victim proceeds and tools that enable the fraud. As international relationships are critical to address this growing threat, the Criminal Division will draw on its network of International Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property prosecutors (ICHIPs) who are strategically posted throughout the world to coordinate with foreign law enforcement partners.

CCIPS investigates and prosecutes cybercrime in coordination with domestic and international law enforcement agencies, often with assistance from the private sector. Since 2020, CCIPS has secured the conviction of over 180 cybercriminals and court orders for the return of over $350 million in victim funds.

If you or someone you know is a victim of a digital asset investment fraud, report it to IC3.gov. 

Senator Gustavo Rivera on Tentative Deal to End Strike Between NYSNA and Montefiore Health System

 

“Today is a great day for The Bronx and New York City. In the last few hours, NYSNA nurses reached a tentative agreement with Montefiore. If ratified by the members, this deal will end the five-week strike.

I’m glad that the parties reached a deal that will ensure the safety of both patients and nurses by improving working conditions.  

No worker wants to go on strike. It is done out of necessity. Nurses dedicate their lives to serve their patients with the utmost professionalism. These tentative deals are the result of these nurses’ commitment and passion to their profession.

 

If ratified, this will be a victory for our borough, nurses in our City, and the labor movement.

I truly hope it is.” 

EDITOR'S NOTE:

What's the deal State Senator Rivera?

MAYOR MAMDANI ANNOUNCES OPENING OF NEW SHIRLEY CHISHOLM RECREATION CENTER IN FLATBUSH

 

First ever rec center in Central Brooklyn and now borough’s largest rec center will serve over 41,000 New Yorkers 

  

For first week, New Yorkers can spend a full free day in the center to explore the indoor pool, dedicated youth spaces, teaching kitchen, media lab, dance studio, and more 

  

Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center tour footage HERE 

TODAY, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced the opening of the brand-new Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center in East Flatbush. He was joined by NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, State Senator Kevin Parker, Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, and Councilmember Farah Louis. The new center is the first new Parks recreation center in over a decade, the first ever in Central Brooklyn, and the largest recreation center in the whole borough. Located in the heart of Little Haiti, the center is expected to serve residents of East Flatbush and Midwood, with over 41,000 New Yorkers living within a 15-minute walk or transit ride of the new center.  

   

The approximately 74,000-square-foot recreation center provides space for swimming, team sports, exercise, educational programming, and even A/V production in a media lab. Like all Parks recreation centers, discounts are available for New Yorkers of all ages, and membership is entirely free for people 24 years and younger.  

   

The center will fully open to the public on Tuesday, February 10. For the first week, all New Yorkers will have the opportunity to use the brand-new center for one free day of their choosing, prior to becoming members. Parks is also hosting guided tours, registration events, and demonstrations to help New Yorkers experience what the new facility has to offer.   

   

“The Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center will soon be alive with possibility — kids learning to swim, cook, and grow their own food; friends coming together on the court; neighbors of every generation creating and connecting, from the gym to the podcast studio. This will be a space where the city meets itself, built to serve the people who call it home,” said Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani. “Shirley Chisholm believed that politics should be accountable to everyday people. In that spirit, this center will stand as a living tribute to her legacy — proving that when we invest in truly affordable, accessible public spaces, we can build a city that works for all of us.”  

   

“Central Brooklyn, cancel your gym subscription and join us at Shirley Chisholm, where we have state-of-the-art amenities at a fraction of the cost. This new center means that over 41,000 New Yorkers now have an affordable space to exercise, learn, and connect with their neighbors, a fitting tribute to Chisholm's commitment to community investment,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura. “This recreation center represents the very best of city government. Shared spaces like this make our city more affordable, more livable, and more safe. I am so grateful to our partner agencies for their collaboration, and to City Councilmember Farah Louis and State Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn for their tireless advocacy and support, making this center—the first in all of Central Brooklyn—possible. Working together and with the community, we've created a space where all Brooklynites are welcome." 

 

“The Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center is a huge milestone in construction reform for the City and proves that design-build works,” said NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC) Acting Commissioner Eduardo del Valle. “Using design-build contracting, DDC was able to complete the Center three years faster than would have been possible with traditional lowest bidder contracting. And 36 percent of the budget went to M/WBEs, exceeding our goal of 30 percent on design-build projects. We are proving that construction reform is possible and that design-build is fast and effective. Right now, we’re working, via design-build, on three new recreation centers in Staten Island, Brooklyn and Queens that will all see similar time savings.”  

  

Now Brooklyn’s largest recreation center, the Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center includes brand-new fitness resources for New Yorkers of all ages and backgrounds, including:  

   

•   Competition-sized 6 lane pool, including a ramp, chairlift, and stairs so all visitors can comfortably enter the water regardless of ability  

•   Three lane walking track  

•   Competition-sized gym perfect for basketball, pickleball, and volleyball  

•   Exercise rooms for cardio workouts, weightlifting, and spin classes  

   

The center also features spaces for events, classes, and relaxation, including:  

   

•   Teaching kitchen  

•   Afterschool space with its own outdoor play area   

•   Dedicated teens-only space with supervision  

•   Dr. Roy A. Hastick Sr. Media Lab with a mixing room for A/V production  

•   Multipurpose rooms for events and classes  

    

The new center is named for Shirley Chisholm, the Brooklyn-born politician who became the first African American woman to serve in Congress, representing Brooklyn in the House of Representatives from 1969 to 1983.   

Van Cortlandt Park Alliance - Celebrate Black History Month with VCPA

 

Legacy of Enslaved Africans in Van Cortlandt Park

Saturday, February 21 at 1pm

Join VCPA and Van Cortlandt House Museum for a program exploring the legacy of enslaved Africans in Van Cortlandt Park featuring two guided tours:

First, Pathways to the Past Walking Tour, led by Ashely Hart Adams (VCPA), focusing on the Enslaved African Burial Ground and the broader landscape of memory, history, and labor within the park. Followed by Van Cortlandt House Museum Tour, led by Nick Dembowski (VCHM), highlighting the site’s 18th-century history and its connections to enslavement.

Join the Waitlist

Van Cortlandt House Museum

 

Reimagining Memorial Spaces: A Black History Month Conversation

Monday, February 23 at 6:30pm

Join VCPA for a live, virtual conversation with designers Immanuel Oni and Jeremiah Olayinka Ojo exploring the project, Reimagining the Enslaved African Burial Ground in Van Cortlandt Park, and the importance of working thoughtfully with memorial spaces.This conversation will focus on process, examining how artists, designers, and communities engage with sites of memory, trauma, and legacy, and why intentional, community-centered approaches matter when shaping public spaces of remembrance.

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Virtual

 

Enslaved African Legacy Tour

NEW DATE: Saturday, February 28 at 11am

The frigid weather forced us to cancel our previously scheduled date, so we’ve rescheduled. Join VCPA’s Arts Integration Strategist, Ashley Hart Adams, on a guided walk that will enlighten participants on the true history that shaped Van Cortlandt Park.

The walk will be approximately 90 minutes long with stops throughout to talk.

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Van Cortlandt House Museum

Black History Month events are part of Van Cortlandt Park Alliance’s REIMAGINING initiative. In partnership with the Design Trust for Public Space and Immanuel Oni, Liminal Sp, VCPA invites the community to reimagine the park’s Enslaved African Burial Ground site as a memorial space that fosters long-term healing and restoration. This project is supported by a generous grant from the Mellon Foundation.

Support Our Work in Van Cortlandt Park

 

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The park is really big. Our staff is really small. Only with your help can we grow our capacity, hire more staff, and take on projects to improve Van Cortlandt Park… for YOU!  Please consider a gift to Van Cortlandt Park Alliance today.

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Our Contact Information
Van Cortlandt Park Alliance
80 Van Cortlandt Park South, Ste. E1
Bronx, NY 10463
718-601-1460
http://vancortlandt.org

Permits Filed for 528 East Fordham Road in Belmont, The Bronx

 

Permits have been filed for a 12-story mixed-use building at 528 East Fordham Road in Belmont, The Bronx. Located at the intersection of Bathgate Avenue and East Fordham Road, the lot is near the Fordham Road subway station, served by the B and D trains. Ralph Martucci is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 119-foot-tall development will yield 94,852 square feet, with 68,497 square feet designated for residential space and 26,355 square feet for commercial space. The building will have 99 residences, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 691 square feet. The concrete-based structure will also have a cellar but no accessory parking.

Robert Bianchini of ARC Architecture + Design Studio is listed as the architect of record.

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