SIX ALLEGED MEMBERS OF THE “SLATTERY” GANG INDICTED FOR MURDER OF 14-YEAR-OLD BOY IN 2022

Defendants Allegedly Were Targeting Victim’s Brother for Disrespecting Another Murder Victim  

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that five men and a woman alleged to be members of the “Slattery” aka “Slaughtery” street gang have been indicted on second-degree Murder, Manslaughter, Attempted Murder and other related charges in the killing of a 14-year-old boy in a hail of bullets meant for his older brother. 

District Attorney Clark said, “These defendants, who were teens at the time of the incident, allegedly fired nine shots at a 16-year-old boy purportedly because he disrespected a boy killed a few months earlier, in social media postings. Instead, the target’s younger brother was killed in this vicious cycle of gun violence. His tragic death was also mocked on social media. We must change the mindset of youth to value every human life.” 

District Attorney Clark said the defendants, Yaselis Feliz (aka ‘Yaya’), 20, Diondre Martin (aka ‘Dread’, aka ‘Rasta’), 22, Juan Gomez (aka ‘Bando’), 23, David Marte (aka ‘Polo’), 20, Ethan Lopez (aka ‘E Dot’), 19, and Christian Cruz (aka ‘Flaco’), 22, were charged with second-degree Murder, first-degree Manslaughter, Attempted Murder in the second-degree, Attempted Assault in the first-degree, four counts of second-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon, second-degree Robbery, first-degree Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle, fourth-degree Criminal Possession of Stolen Property, second-degree Conspiracy and fourth-degree Conspiracy. 

Feliz was arraigned on March 27, 2026, by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Grace Park. She was remanded and is due back in court on April 20, 2026. David Marte was arraigned on March 26, 2026, by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Grace Park. He was remanded and is due back in court on April 1, 2026. Christian Cruz was arraigned on March 27, 2026, by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Pamela Goldsmith. He was remanded. He is due back in court on June 18, 2026. Lopez and Gomez are currently incarcerated on other matters and will be arraigned at a later date. Martin has not yet been apprehended.

According to the investigation, at approximately 9:13 p.m. on November 30, 2022, on Morris Avenue, the defendants, acting in concert with one another, allegedly fired nine shots from two semi-automatic pistols at Supreme Shabazz, then 16 years old, as he was walking with his brother, Prince, 14. Prince was struck in the chest. He was rushed to St. Barnabas Hospital where he was pronounced dead. 

According to the investigation, the defendants fled in a vehicle that was allegedly carjacked five days prior. While driving away from the scene of the shooting the defendants allegedly recorded a cell phone video of themselves bragging about the shooting and declaring defendant Diondre Martin to be a “top shooter.” Then, Yaselis Feliz allegedly sent via text message a screenshot of the Citizen App alert about Prince’s shooting to Christian Cruz, and Cruz allegedly texted the co-defendants that they shot the wrong person.

The investigation determined that this shooting occurred on the birthday of Calvin Aaron, who was killed in rival gang territory in Manhattan on July 1, 2022.

District Attorney Clark thanked NYPD Detective Brandon Ravelo of the NYPD Gun Violence Suppression Unit for his work in the case. 

An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt. 

Governor Hochul Announces Groundbreaking $225 Million Affordable Housing Development in the Bronx

River Avenue Apartments Will Deliver Nearly 300 Affordable Homes in the Bronx

Project Advances Governor’s Commitment to Expanding Housing Supply and Making New York More Affordable

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the groundbreaking of River Avenue Apartments II, a $225 million development in the West Concourse neighborhood of the Bronx that will create 292 affordable apartments, including 173 apartments with on-site support services. Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) has created or preserved more than 10,000 affordable homes in the Bronx. River Avenue Apartments II continues this effort and complements Governor Hochul’s $25 billion five-year Housing Plan which is on track to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide.

“This major investment in River Avenue Apartments is a perfect example of how we’re tackling the housing crisis,” Governor Hochul said. “The State, the City and our private partners are working hand-in-hand to create new opportunities for individuals and families to find an affordable home – we are strengthening neighborhoods, and we are ensuring residents have access to transportation, health care and modern amenities.”

River Avenue Apartments II, developed by Community Access and Blue Sky Bronx, will be affordable for households earning up to 80 percent of the Area Median Income. There will be a mix of studios, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments designed to meet the needs of individuals and families.

There are 173 supportive apartments reserved for eligible tenants including veterans with disabilities, individuals with mental illness, and formerly homeless individuals. On-site support services are provided by Community Access and include individual counseling, self-help groups, structured group activities, harm-reduction services, linkages with community mental health and health care providers, medication management assistance, and vocational and employment referrals.

The development includes fully accessible and adaptable apartments. There are 15 units to accommodate residents with mobility impairments and six units to accommodate residents with sensory disabilities.

The development’s features emphasize the outdoors and connections with nature, helping to reduce isolation and loneliness. There will be green space and an urban farm on the roof, a children’s play area, outdoor exercise equipment, and a meditation walking path. There will also be commercial space in the cellar that is intended to be occupied by a grocery store providing fresh food access to residents.

Strategically located along the River Avenue corridor, the development offers convenient access to public transportation, employment opportunities, healthcare, and neighborhood services. The project continues the transformation of River Avenue that has been ongoing since the new Yankee Stadium opened in 2009.

The all-electric building is designed to meet Energy Star Multifamily New Construction ERI Path Program criteria and will incorporate energy-efficient and sustainable design features including air water heat pumps, LED lighting, and low-flow water fixtures.

The project follows the $120 million River Avenue Apartments I, which was completed in March 2024 and features 245 affordable apartments, including 148 with supportive services for individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

State financing for River Avenue Apartments II will include New York State Homes and Community Renewal’s State and Federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit programs that are expected to generate approximately $90 million in equity and $60 million in subsidy; as well as $9.8 million from the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance’s (OTDA) Homeless Housing and Assistance Program. Rental and operating subsidies for 70 of the supportive units are funded through an Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative award administered by OTDA and 103 of the supportive units are funded through the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development’s NYC15/15 Rental Assistance program.

MAYOR MAMDANI INVESTS $108 MILLION TO IMPROVE SEWER PERFORMANCE CITYWIDE, ENHANCING NEIGHBORHOOD RESILIENCY

 

City will replace more than 6,700 catch basins over the next decade  

  

Spending builds on $20 million purchase of 40 modernized catch basin cleaning trucks  

  

Modernized catch basins feature bike-friendly redesigns and improved water drainage  

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Lisa F. Garcia today announced that the City is investing $108 million to upgrade and replace more than 6,700 catch basins over the next decade to ensure the City’s street drainage network is resilient in the face of more frequent and intense rain events. This investment follows the City’s $20 million purchase of 40 new catch basin cleaning trucks — ensuring neighborhoods are better protected as extreme weather becomes more frequent.  

  

“Investing in resiliency is an affordability strategy we cannot take for granted,” said Mayor Mamdani. “By investing in our sewer system, we’re protecting our neighborhoods from the destruction and devastation severe storms bring. These new and improved catch basins are a recognition that climate preparedness must be built into every feature of our City.”  

  

“This administration is making smart, targeted investments in the infrastructure New Yorkers rely on every day,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Julia Kerson. “By combining data-driven inspections, modern equipment and long-term capital upgrades, we are improving sewer performance citywide while delivering faster service and greater accountability to the public.”   

  

“As we modernize our water and sewer infrastructure and advance major projects, we’re also investing in local improvements that make a real difference at the neighborhood and block level. No project is too small when it comes to protecting New Yorkers,” said DEP Commissioner Lisa F. Garcia. “We’re seeing more intense rainfall than ever, and these investments in catch basins, more commonly known as storm drains, and specialized cleaning trucks will help keep streets passable, protect communities from flooding, and ensure our stormwater system is ready for climate challenges.”   

  

New York City has more than 150,000 catch basins, also known as storm drains, that are an important part of the City’s 7,500‑mile sewer network. These curbside grates channel stormwater into underground pipes that carry it to one of DEP’s 14 wastewater resource recovery facilities or directly into local waterways.   

  

When catch basin grates become blocked by litter or debris, they cannot drain properly, increasing the risk of street flooding. Designs vary across the five boroughs due to evolving standards over time.   

  

$108 MILLION FOR FULL REPLACEMENTS OVER THE NEXT DECADE  

A full replacement involves rebuilding or replacing the entire underground catch basin structure. DEP will invest $108 million to replace 6,708 older catch basins that no longer meet modern standards. Work will begin this July in Queens.  

Section diagram of a catch basin  

$1.5 MILLION ANNUALLY TO MODERNIZE EXISTING BASINS   

Catch basin modernization focuses on upgrading existing components, such as grates, to improve performance and reduce blockages.  

  

Since July 2024, DEP has upgraded 3,273 catch basins and will invest $1.5 million annually to continue this work. The agency expects to upgrade approximately 1,700 basins by June and has already completed 1,176 of those improvements.  

  

The upgrades pair improved catch basin grates in the road with slotted manhole covers on sidewalks. If the grate becomes blocked, the slotted cover provides an alternate path for stormwater to reach the basin below. DEP has already installed 427 slotted manhole covers and 298 bike-friendly catch basin grates citywide since 2024.  

New bike-friendly grate (background) and slotted manhole cover (foreground)  

FORTY NEW CLEANING TRUCKS   

DEP is modernizing its fleet of catch basin cleaning trucks — specialized vehicles used to clear blockages within underground basins.  

  

The agency has ordered 40 new trucks, nine of which have already been delivered, with another four expected by December. DEP plans to fully replace its 47-truck fleet by June 2029.  

  

Over the past decade, DEP has adopted a data‑driven, proactive approach to sewer system maintenance. Its inspection program prioritizes flood‑prone areas and has significantly reduced response times. Catch basin and street flooding complaints are now resolved within three days of a 311 request — well below the legally mandated eight business days.  

New specialized catch basin cleaning vehicle  

Van Cortlandt Park Alliance - April is Perfect for Volunteering

 

Woodlawn Wednesdays

Wednesdays, April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 - Meet at 9am

Woodlawn Wednesdays are back! Tackle harmful plants like multiflora rose, bush honeysuckle, bittersweet, and Japanese angelica trees that threaten our native biodiversity in the northeast forest.

RSVP Now

Meet at Woodlawn Playground

 

Trail Work Thursdays

Thursdays, April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 - Meet at 9am

Blaze trails with us! Whether you’re an experienced trailblazer or new to trail maintenance, your help will make a significant impact to ensure trail safety for runners and hikers.

RSVP Now

Meet at Van Cortlandt Golf House 

 

Forest Fridays

Fridays, April 3, 10, 17 - Meet at 9am

Help restore Van Cortlandt Park’s vital northwest forest by removing invasive plants like multiflora rose, bittersweet, and porcelain berry. Your efforts will create space for native plants to thrive and support long-term forest health.

RSVP Now

Meet at VCPA’s Learning Garden

Pitch In For Parks

Saturday, April 11 - Meet at 10am

Join VCPA for our annual Pitch in for NYC Parks Day event, a morning of hands-on park stewardship near Caryl Field along the park’s northern edge by the Yonkers border. Volunteers will collect litter and debris from park paths, natural areas, and surrounding green spaces, making a direct and visible difference in the park.

RSVP Now

Meet at Caryl Field

 

Sunday Stewardship

Sunday, April 26 - Meet at 10am

Celebrate City Nature Challenge weekend  by helping with garlic mustard removal and iNaturalist species mapping.

RSVP Now

Meet at VCPA’s Learning Garden

Support Our Work in Van Cortlandt Park

Make a Donation

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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Show your love for Van Cortlandt Park while supporting the Alliance!

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Members get VCPA merch and invitations to member only hikes while supporting their favorite park!

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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

Cox: Democrats Drunk on Power, Rigging Elections

 

NYGOP Chair Ed Cox today released the following statement after the Campaign Finance Board ruled that Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman may not participate in the state's matching funds program:

 

"Kathy Hochul and Democrats are drunk on power and rigging our elections. The self-styled 'defenders of democracy' tried to rig our elections with their illegal gerrymander in 2022, they tried to rig our elections by corrupting our courts with partisan judges, and they are trying to rig our elections now by using the flimsiest pretense to deny the Republican candidate for Governor public campaign funding. 

 

"Republicans have been warning about the corruptibility of public campaign finance for years, and now New Yorkers are seeing exactly how Democrats will weaponize the system to protect their own power and silence their opposition.”

MAMDANI ADMINISTRATION OPENS ELECTRIC VEHICLE FAST CHARGING STATION IN DOWNTOWN FLUSHING, QUEENS

 

Station to dramatically expand access to affordable public charging in Queens  

  

Fast chargers will serve an area where many TLC-licensed drivers live, supporting City’s plan to make all for-hire vehicle trips zero-emission or wheelchair accessible by 2030  

Eight new electric vehicle fast chargers now online at NYC DOT’s municipal lot in downtown Flushing, Queens  

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Mike Flynn and the New York Power Authority (NYPA) today announced an expansion of the City’s network of public electric vehicle (EV) fast chargers with the opening of a new eight-unit station at NYC DOT’s municipal lot in downtown Flushing, Queens (135-23 39th Avenue). This location is the first of 10 scheduled to come online over the next year through a partnership between NYC DOT and the Power Authority, which operates 300 fast chargers in its EVolve NY network throughout New York State.   

  

The new fast charging station will support the City’s commitment to reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The station was sited in a community with limited access to affordable charging and a high concentration of drivers licensed by the Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC). Fast charging customers will not be subject to additional parking fees on site. The station features eight 360kW chargers, capable of providing an 80% charge in 10-15 minutes.  

  

“Clean energy infrastructure is the foundation of our City’s green future,” said Mayor Mamdani. “We’re bringing safe charging hubs where they’re needed the most: the neighborhoods our for-hire drivers call home. This Flushing hub will deliver affordability and sustainability, and I look forward to the continued expansion of our green energy network across the city.”  

  

“Building EV chargers in neighborhoods where many working drivers live will make it easier to encourage a switch to electric vehicles and help for-hire vehicle drivers spend more time fulfilling rides, not searching for a charge,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn. “These chargers will also be available to the public and help serve communities with few affordable charging options. Achieving a greener transportation future is only possible if our city makes equitable investments in every neighborhood, for every New Yorker.”  

  

“The new downtown Flushing Evolve NY fast chargers will provide ride-share drivers and local EV owners with quick, convenient and reliable charging right in their neighborhood.” said NYPA President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll. “Expanding EV fast charging infrastructure across the five boroughs is essential as we accelerate our transition to clean transportation. Expansion of electric vehicles, supported by fast charging infrastructure, means cleaner air for New York City residents.”  

  

“Equitable access to electric vehicle charging infrastructure ensures that working-class New Yorkers can participate in the city’s clean transportation future, making the shift to electric vehicles both accessible and fair while supporting our broader climate commitments,” said New York City Chief Climate Officer Louise Yeung. “Expanding electric vehicle charging to communities that have never had access is a concrete step to make sustainable transportation attainable for all.”  

   

“These fast chargers are a boon for the city's taxi and for-hire drivers who are leading us to a cleaner, more sustainable future,” said TLC Deputy Commissioner for Policy and Community Affairs James DiGiovanni. “With over a third of TLC drivers calling Queens home, charger locations like this are essential to keeping them — and our city — moving, and I thank DOT and NYPA for continuing to prioritize infrastructure for our hardworking drivers.”  

  

NYPA is installing fast charging stations with multiple fast chargers at six additional NYC DOT municipal parking lots in Queens. Locations in Bayside at 214-32 41st Avenue and Rosedale at 13913 Francis Lewis Boulevard are expected come online in the next few weeks. Additionally, 12 chargers are now online at LaGuardia airport for rideshare drivers.   

  

In total, 66 EVolve NY fast chargers will be available at 10 NYC DOT municipal parking facilities across Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx.   

  

The following locations are scheduled to open throughout 2026 and early 2027:  

•   Jerome-190th St Municipal Parking Garage  

•   Brighton Beach Municipal Parking Field  

•   Canarsie Municipal Parking Field  

•   Ditmars #2 Municipal Parking Field  

•   Rockaway Park Municipal Parking Field  

•   Steinway #1 Municipal Parking Field  

•   Sunnyside Municipal Parking Field  

  

These new fast chargers add to the City’s growing network of public charging stations. NYC DOT operates five fast-charging stations:  

•   Queens Borough Hall municipal garage in Queens  

•   Court Square municipal garage in Queens  

•   The Delancey/Essex municipal garage in Lower Manhattan  

•   White Plains Road Municipal Parking Field in the Bronx  

•   Bensonhurst #1 Municipal Parking Field in Brooklyn  

  

NYC DOT is also advancing fast charging stations at three other lots, expected to be completed in 2026-2027 under NYPA’s project management. In addition to these hubs, the agency operates 92 curbside on-street Level 2 chargers, installed by the NYC DOT in partnership with Con Edison, helping New York City spearhead the recent growth in EVs in the state. As of January 2026, more than 79,000 EVs are registered in NYC, representing 25% of all EVs registered in New York State and a year-over-year increase of 14% over 2024.