State Senator Julia Salazar - Tomorrow: Free Tenant Support

 

DEC Commissioner Lefton and Attorney General James Take Enforcement to Protect Hempstead Bay

 

Lawsuit Filed to Stop Pollution Discharges from Harbourview Shoppes in Roslyn

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Amanda Lefton and New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit against Harbourview Realty LLC to force the company to stop discharging pollutants that are affecting Long Island water quality. In the complaint New York State alleges the company is violating the Clean Water Act and is seeking an immediate cease to illegal activities, as well as civil penalties.   

“DEC is committed to holding polluters accountable,” said DEC Commissioner Lefton. “The facility's ongoing noncompliance with environmental law required immediate action to protect local residents and the environment. I am grateful to Attorney General James for partnering with DEC on this case to immediately end the ongoing contamination of the Roslyn community.”  

“Clean water is a basic right for every New Yorker," said Attorney General James. "For too long, Harbourview Shoppes has polluted Hempstead Bay with illegal discharge, putting families and communities in Roslyn at risk and violating our environmental laws. I am proud to partner with DEC to fight this unlawful pollution and protect Long Island’s waters." 

The ongoing pollution being discharged from Harbourview Shoppes in the Village of Roslyn, Nassau County, to the municipal storm sewer is negatively impacting Hempstead Bay water quality and is in direct violation of the Clean Water Act.   

New York State, along with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, are taking joint civil action against Harbourview Realty LLC, MRL Realty Corp., and Mary Hauptman, as owners and/or operators of Harbourview Shoppes. The lawsuit is seeking injunctive relief to eliminate illegal, unpermitted discharges, including contaminants, to the municipal storm sewer system and civil penalties for discharging pollutants into waters of the United States. 

DEC’s investigation discovered illegal, unpermitted discharges from Harbourview Shoppes’ on-site French drain system that captures the Shoppes’ grease, oils, foam, suds, fecal coliform, bacteria and contaminated surface runoff. Through illicit pipe connections, the system discharges from the shopping center to a municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) owned and operated by Nassau County, which connects to a second MS4 owned and operated by the Village of Roslyn. Harbourview Shoppes does not have an approved State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) permit or coverage under the General permit despite repeated attempts by DEC to bring the facility into compliance.   

New York State will continue to closely monitor the facility, collect additional data, and hold the facility accountable for any and all violations that occur during this legal process. 

Permits Filed for 3008 Godwin Terrace in Kingsbridge, The Bronx

 

Permits have been filed for a 12-story mixed-use building at 3008 Godwin Terrace in Kingsbridge, The Bronx. Located between West 230th Street and Kimberly Place, the lot is near the 231st Street subway station, served by the 1 train. Steven Westreich of Westorchard Management is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 124-foot-tall development will yield 116,798 square feet, with 94,169 square feet designated for residential space, 22,454 square feet for commercial space, and 175 square feet of community facility space. The building will have 99 residences with a total 164 units on the lot, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 574 square feet. The concrete-based structure will also have rooftop terraces on the fifth and eight floors, 13 open parking spaces, and 28 enclosed parking spaces.

Kao Hwa Lee Architects is listed as the architect of record.

Demolition permits have not been filed yet. An estimated completion date has not been announced.

Statement from Ed Cox in response to Mamdani, Albany Dems' Tax Hike Proposal

NYGOP Chair Ed Cox today released the following statement in response to Zohran Mamdani and Albany Democrats' proposal to slap a 25% "surcharge" on NYC businesses:

 

"New York state already leads the nation in outmigration as the most taxed state in America. As New York bleeds, states and cities with no- or low-tax, business friendly environments are booming and building. Many large financial firms - the geese that have laid the golden egg for New York's coffers - are expanding their footprints elsewhere - and taking their jobs with them. 

 

"We know Kathy Hochul is too weak to stand up to Zohran Mamdani. She has already said that she will support raising taxes on businesses, and after her blatant post-election flip-flop on congestion pricing in 2024, any promises she makes to the contrary are not worth the air into which they are uttered. 

 

"New Yorkers who want to fight back against Mamdani and his band of radicals have a real alternative: elect Bruce Blakeman Governor and vote for our pro-growth Republican candidates at all levels of government." 

Justice Department and U.S. Patent and Trademark Office File Statement of Interest Reaffirming the Importance of Incentives to Innovate

The Justice Department and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) filed a statement of interest in Collision Communications Inc. v. Samsung Electronics Co., et al. in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. The statement reaffirms the importance of preserving incentives to innovate, which are key to growth and dynamic competition in the U.S. economy and fundamental to the U.S. patent system.

“Innovation is core to dynamic competition, and vigorous competition is central to the success of the American economy. Policies that preserve incentives to innovate are therefore vital to safeguarding competition,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Dina Kallay of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “We are pleased to partner with our USPTO colleagues to address these critical issues and support innovators, both big and small.”

“The USPTO again joined the Justice Department in filing a statement of interest because a thorough evaluation as to whether a patent owner is entitled to injunctive relief is foundational to the exclusionary right a patent confers,” said John A. Squires, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. “Injunctions prevent ongoing and irreparable harm to innovators and the innovation economy, and ensure that legal remedies can stop unlawfully copied inventions from continuing to harm innovators.”

This statement of interest explains that unduly limiting patentees’ ability to seek injunctive relief to block patent infringement undermines the incentive to innovate. A patentee’s right to exclude is grounded in the U.S. Constitution. Non-practicing patentees should not be categorically denied the opportunity for injunctive relief and, under certain circumstances, such patentees can demonstrate irreparable harm and the inadequacy of monetary damages to compensate for the harm of continuing infringement. The statement was filed in support of neither party and does not take a position on the merits or the ultimate outcome of the questions at issue in the case.

The Antitrust Division routinely files statements of interest and amicus briefs in federal court. These statements are available on the Division’s website.

Permits Filed for 3065 Barker Avenue in Bronxwood, The Bronx

 

Permits have been filed for a 13-story residential building at 3065 Barker Avenue in Bronxwood, The Bronx. Located between Adee Avenue and Burke Avenue, the lot is two blocks from the Burke Avenue subway station, served by the 2 and 5 trains. Joel Steinmetz of Lead It Builders LLC is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 121-foot-tall development will yield 90,867 square feet designated for residential space. The building will have 80 residences with a total 134 units on the lot, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 678 square feet. The masonry-based structure will also have a basement and 65 open parking spaces.

Boaz M. Golani Architect is listed as the architect of record.

Demolition permits have not been filed yet. An estimated completion date has not been announced.

Amid Shutdown, DHS Celebrates 23rd Anniversary

 

Since its creation following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, DHS has stood at the helm of our country’s national security, protecting the American people and our Homeland 

Today marks the Department of Homeland Security’s 23rd anniversary. Less than two years after the devastating terror attacks of September 11, DHS was formed, and since then, DHS has stood at the helm of our country’s national security, protecting the American people and our Homeland.

“As the threat landscape continues to evolve, DHS is there. By air, land, sea, or in cyberspace, the DHS workforce boldly confronts the threats our nation faces every day,” said Secretary Kristi Noem. “We are working diligently to prevent cybersecurity and terror threats, safeguard the southern border, reform our broken immigration system, and help Americans in the face of natural disasters. Our mission could not be achieved without your extraordinary courage and commitment. I am especially grateful to those of you who are serving during the current shutdown without a paycheck.” 

The mission of DHS today remains the same as it did at its inception 23 years ago: protect the homeland and keep Americans safe. Under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump and Secretary Noem, DHS has fulfilled this mission. In one year, DHS has made America safe again by restoring the rule of law, securing our borders, removing dangerous criminal illegal aliens and national security threats, strengthening cyber defense, and reforming disaster response.  

Under Secretary Noem’s leadership, some examples of the crucial work the men and women of DHS have achieved to keep Americans safe and protect the homeland include:   

1. DHS has provided the most secure border in American history, with nine straight months of zero releases by Border Patrol at the border, ending the Biden Administration's disastrous catch and release policy.
2. Total border apprehensions under the Trump Administration’s first year in office were lower than a single average month under the Biden Administration.
3.  Over the last 13 months, nearly 3 million illegal aliens have left the U.S. because of the Trump Administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration, including an estimated 2.2 million self-deportations and more than 713,000 deportations.
4. These arrests include 7,808 gang arrests, including 1,232 individuals associated with Tren de Aragua and 1,271 individual MS-13 gang members. 
5. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been instrumental in preventing terror threats, with over 1,538 known or suspected terrorists (KSTs) being arrested, and 1,534 KSTs removed.
6. 49,740 special interest aliens have been arrested. 
7. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has stopped 2.62 billion malicious connections on federal civilian networks and 371 million within critical infrastructure during the Trump Administration.
8. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) seized 617,648 pounds of illicit drugs nationwide over the past year (January 21, 2025, to January 31, 2026) — an 8 percent increase over the previous year. This included 10,915 pounds of fentanyl, 186,359 pounds of methamphetamine, and significant quantities of cocaine, heroin, and marijuana, preventing deadly narcotics from reaching American streets.    
9. Under President Trump, DHS and the Department of Health and Human Services have located 145,000 unaccompanied children that the Biden administration lost. Too many of these children were exploited and abused before, during, and after being trafficked over our borders. All told, the Biden administration lost more than 450,000 children because of its open border policies. 
10. Within hours of the November 26 attack where an Afghan national murdered one National Guard member and severely wounded another in Washington, DC, Secretary Noem directed U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to put asylum processing on hold for aliens from every country, implemented a full-scale reexamination of every green card for aliens from every presidentially designated high-risk country, and placed a hold on the processing of immigration applications and petitions for all Afghan nationals and aliens from those countries of concern.
11. The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) seized over 547,000 pounds of illegal narcotics – a record-setting amount nearly three times its normal annual average – worth more than $3.9 billion.
12. These USCG counter drug operations disrupted transnational criminal organizations and prevented more than 206 million lethal doses from reaching U.S. communities, saving taxpayers over $10 billion in avoided costs, including $2.27 billion in healthcare expenses.
13. Under the leadership of President Donald Trump and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been reformed to empower states and support state-led recoveries faster than ever.
14. President Trump approved a historic 12 federal emergency disaster declarations for Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia – unlocking FEMA resources and enabling states to access critical federal resources to supplement their response efforts.  

Governor Hochul Directs New York State Landmarks to Be Lit Purple in Celebration of Women’s History Month

Directs 15 State Landmarks To Be Illuminated in Purple on Sunday, March 1

Represents Governor Hochul's Commitment To Championing New York Women and Girls

Governor Kathy Hochul today directed landmarks across the state to be lit purple on March 1 in recognition of Women’s History Month. Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, New York continues to be a national leader in expanding and strengthening women’s rights and safeguarding access to reproductive health care.

“Despite systemic efforts to dismantle women’s rights and reverse hard-fought progress under the Trump administration, New York continues to lead the way in the fight for equal rights and efforts to support women and their families,” Governor Hochul said. “As New York’s first mom Governor and first woman governor, I will continue to advance initiatives that invest in women and girls statewide, ensuring that New York remains a place where their safety, health, and rights are protected.”

Governor Hochul’s FY 2027 Executive Budget includes investments that build on the Governor’s record as a champion for women in New York including:

Delivering Universal Child Care

Governor Hochul this year announced a historic investment totaling $4.5 billion to deliver affordable, universal child care for children under five years of age across New York State. The Governor’s investments in universal child care will ease a major stress for New York women and combat the onerous costs that pull parents — and especially moms — away from the workforce. Nearly a third of women in New York City leave the workforce due to lack of affordable child care options. Studies show that implementing universal affordable child care in New York could increase labor force participation by as many as 28,000 additional workers, leading to as much as $1.6 billion in additional wages across the state.

Protecting and Expanding Access to Reproductive Health

Since first taking office in 2021, Governor Hochul has made historic investments to expand reproductive freedom for New Yorkers. In addition to record investments, the Governor has taken action to protect abortion access statewide by codifying abortion as emergency health care in state law and ensuring that hospitals provide abortion care when necessary to protect the life and safety of pregnant New Yorkers. Last year, Governor Hochul also signed legislation to protect New York doctors and patients and secured $25 million annually to fund abortion services through the New York State Abortion Access Program. This year the Governor’s proposed budget includes up to $35 million in targeted investments that would allow the state to step in to fully fund services at Planned Parenthood health centers despite draconian federal cuts.

Supporting Workplace Equity and Economic Empowerment

This January marked the one-year anniversary of New York’s first-in-the-nation Paid Prenatal Leave law. Under Governor Hochul, New York became the first state in the nation to give eligible workers the ability to take paid leave for any pregnancy-related medical appointments. In its first year of implementation alone, the new law provided up to 2.7 million hours of leave for pregnant workers. Under the law, pregnant New Yorkers who are privately employed are able to receive up to 20 hours of paid leave for prenatal care.

The Paid Prenatal Leave law was implemented in addition to New York State Paid Family Leave, existing employer-provided leave, and existing sick leave benefits, which all work to ensure that working New Yorkers can receive the health care they need to address all pregnancy-related care without putting at risk their employment or finances. The law applies to all private employers in New York State, with no minimum employee threshold, and is applicable to both full-time and part-time employees.

Additionally, to confront traditional barriers to mentoring and leadership resources for young Black and Latina women, Governor Hochul launched the Black Girls Mentoring Initiative and the Latina Mentoring Initiative. This year, she is reaffirming her support for these programs that empower participants to enhance their professional and personal skills while building confidence to become leaders among their peers.
These 13 landmarks will be illuminated purple in celebration of women’s history month:

• One World Trade Center
• Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge
• Kosciuszko Bridge
• The H. Carl McCall SUNY Building
• Alfred E. Smith State Office Building
• Empire State Plaza
• State Fairgrounds – Main Gate & Expo Center
• The “Franklin D. Roosevelt” Mid-Hudson Bridge
• Grand Central Terminal – Pershing Square Viaduct
• Albany International Airport Gateway
• Lake Placid Olympic Center
• MTA LIRR – East End Gateway at Penn Station
• Fairport Lift Bridge over the Erie Canal
• Moynihan Train Hall
• Roosevelt Island Lighthouse