Speaker Julie Menin, Council Members Encourage New Yorkers to Join Participatory Budgeting Vote Week to Shape $22 Million in Capital Funding for Community Improvements

 

From Saturday, April 11 through Sunday, April 19, New Yorkers ages 11 years old and up can vote online or in person at poll sites in 22 participating Council districts

Speaker Julie Menin and the New York City Council kicked off Participatory Budgeting (PB) Vote Week, encouraging New Yorkers who are 11 years old and up to make their voices heard by voting for projects to improve their communities. From April 11 to April 19, New Yorkers can vote online or in-person at voting sites in the 22 participating City Council districts to decide how $22 million in capital funding will be spent in the city’s Fiscal Year 2027 city budget. New Yorkers will be able to choose projects focused on improving neighborhood schools, parks, libraries, and other public spaces.  

“Participatory Budgeting Vote Week is proof that the best ideas for our neighborhoods come from the people who live in them,” said Speaker Julie Menin. “When New Yorkers have a direct say in how public dollars are spent, we get a stronger, more responsive city. I encourage everyone in a participating district, including District 5, to cast their votes this week. To every New Yorker who has made participatory budgeting a priority, thank you for strengthening our civic democracy.”

This year, 22 districts across Queens, the Bronx, Manhattan, and Brooklyn are participating. The following list includes participating City Council Districts:

Council District	Borough	Council Member	Neighborhoods
1	Manhattan	Council Member Christopher Marte	Financial District-Battery Park City, Tribeca-Civic Center, The Battery-Governors Island-Ellis Island-Liberty Island, SoHo-Little Italy-Hudson Square, Chinatown-Two Bridges, Lower East Side
2	Manhattan	Council Member Harvey Epstein	Greenwich Village, Lower East Side, East Village, Midtown South-Flatiron-Union Square, Gramercy, Murray Hill-Kips Bay
3	Manhattan		SoHo-Little Italy-Hudson Square, West Village, Chelsea-Hudson Yards, Hell’s Kitchen, Midtown South-Flatiron-Union Square, Midtown-Times Square
5	Manhattan	Speaker Julie Menin	East Midtown-Turtle Bay, United Nations, Upper East Side-Lenox Hill-Roosevelt Island, Upper East Side-Carnegie Hill, Upper East Side-Yorkville
6	Manhattan	Council Member Gale A. Brewer	Hell’s Kitchen, Midtown-Times Square, Lincoln Square, Upper West Side, Central Park
7	Manhattan	Majority Leader Shaun Abreu	Upper West Side, Manhattan Valley, Morningside Heights, Manhattanville-West Harlem, Hamilton Heights-Sugar Hill, Washington Heights
8	Manhattan/Bronx	Deputy Whip Elsie Encarnación	Mott Haven-Port Morris, Melrose, Concourse-Concourse Village, Upper East Side-Carnegie Hill, Upper East Side-Yorkville, East Harlem, Randall’s Island
12	Bronx	Council Member Kevin C. Riley	Co-op City, Pelham Gardens, Allerton, Williamsbridge-Olinville, Eastchester-Edenwald-Baychester, Wakefield-Woodlawn, Pelham Bay Park
14	Bronx	Council Member Pierina Ana Sanchez	University Heights, Morris Heights, Mount Hope, Fordham Heights, Fordham, Bedford Park, Kingsbridge Heights-Van Cortlandt Village, Kingsbridge-Marble Hill
16	Bronx	Council Member Althea Stevens	Morrisania, Claremont Village, Concourse-Concourse Village, Highbridge, Mount Eden, Yankee Stadium-Macombs Dam Park, Claremont Park, Morris Heights, University Heights, Fordham
18	Bronx	Council Member Amanda Farías	Soundview-Bruckner, Clason Point, Castle Hill-Unionport, Harding Park, Parkchester, Westchester Square
22	Queens	Council Member Tiffany Caban	Astoria, Ditmars-Steinway, Hallets Point, Woodside, Dutch Kills, Rikers Island, Jackson Heights, East Elmhurst
25	Queens	Council Member Shekar Krishnan	Jackson Heights, Elmhurst, East Elmhurst, Woodside
26	Queens	Council Member Julie Won	Astoria, Woodside, Queensbridge, Ravenswood, Dutch Kills, Long Island City, Hunters Point, Sunnyside, Jackson Heights, Elmhurst, Maspeth
27	Queens	Deputy Speaker Dr. Nantasha Williams	Jamaica, South Jamaica, Springfield Gardens, St. Albans, Hollis, Queens Village, Cambria Heights, Laurelton, Jamaica
29	Queens	Council Member Lynn Schulman	Rego Park, Forest Hills, Kew Gardens, Richmond Hill, South Richmond Hill, Ozone Park (North), South Ozone Park
34	Brooklyn/Queens	Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez	Williamsburg, South Williamsburg, East Williamsburg, Bushwick, Ridgewood
35	Brooklyn	Council Member Crystal Hudson	Downtown Brooklyn, DUMBO, Boerum Hill, Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Park Slope, Prospect Heights, Crown Heights, Prospect Lefferts Gardens-Wingate
37	Brooklyn	Council Member Sandy Nurse	Bushwick, Cypress Hills, East New York, City Line, Ocean Hill, Brownsville
39	Brooklyn	Council Member Shahana Hanif	Downtown Brooklyn, DUMBO, Boerum Hill, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, Gowanus, Red Hook, Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, South Slope, Sunset Park, Prospect Heights, Borough Park, Kensington, Flatbush, Ditmas Park
40	Brooklyn	Council Member Rita Joseph	Windsor Terrace, South Slope, Crown Heights, Prospect Lefferts Gardens, Wingate, Borough Park, Kensington, Mapleton-Midwood, Flatbush, Parkville, East Flatbush-Erasmus, East Flatbush-Rugby,
45	Brooklyn	Council Member Farah Louis	Flatbush, Midwood, East Flatbush, Flatlands, Marine Park, Canarsie

New Yorkers can call or contact their Council Member’s office or check their social media pages to confirm the exact hours, locations, and times of neighborhood Participatory Budgeting poll sites. Council Member’s District Offices will also be used as voting sites during the week.

The Participatory Budgeting proposals on this year’s ballots were created by New Yorkers who attended neighborhood assemblies and budget delegate meetings throughout the fall and winter. All projects are capital budget proposals, which are significant neighborhood infrastructure investments. They were crafted and refined in partnership with relevant city agencies and facilitated by participating Council Members’ offices.

2026 marks the 15th year that the New York City Council has hosted Participatory Budgeting since the initiative began in 2011. To read more about the Council’s Participatory Budgeting initiative and past results, visit council.nyc.gov/PB.

Weekly News from State Senator Gustavo Rivera!

SENATOR RIVERA IN THE COMMUNITY

SENATOR RIVERA JOINS COMMUNITY SPRING ACTIVITIES!

Last weekend, Senator Rivera attended the Oval’s Annual Spring Egg Hunt as well as the Bronx Park East Easter Egg Hunt, where Bronx families gathered for a day of fun activities and community.

SENATOR RIVERA JOINS THE LOWER EAST SIDE ECOLOGY CENTER FOR COMMUNITY RECYCLING EVENT

Last weekend, Senator Rivera joined the Lower East Side Ecology Center, in collaboration with the Francis Martin Library, to host a free electronics and textiles recycling event, providing community members with an opportunity to safely dispose of unwanted items and support sustainability efforts.

SENATOR RIVERA HOSTS SATELLITE OFFICE HOURS AT THE MOSHOLU MONTEFIORE COMMUNITY CENTER

This week, Senator Rivera held satellite office hours at the Mosholu Montefiore Community Center (MMCC), where seniors and community members were able to meet with the Senator, and a representative from his office provided additional resources and guidance.

SENATOR RIVERA ATTENDS THE NHCSL SPRING EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING

This week, Senator Rivera attended the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL) Spring Executive Committee Meeting, joining legislators from across the nation, where he was invited to speak on affordability, legislative efforts, and policy priorities.

NYC DOT will celebrate the 56th anniversary of Earth Day on

Saturday, April 25, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Citi Bike will offer free one-day passes to all riders

New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Mike Flynn announced the return of Car-Free Earth Day — bringing car-free streets and events in all five boroughs. The annual event, hosted by NYC DOT, makes select city streets car-free and promotes activism and education surrounding climate change, environmentalism, and sustainable modes of transportation.

“Car-Free Earth Day is a reminder that we only have one planet—and that our streets play a critical role in our fight against climate change,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn. “Transportation is the second biggest source of carbon emissions in New York City, and finding ways to make clean transportation options quicker, easier, and more affordable is key. We encourage all New Yorkers to come out to enjoy temporary public art, programming, music, and other activities at dozens of car-free streets around New York City.”

Through the support of Lyft, on Car-Free Earth Day, Citi Bike will offer unlimited 30-minute rides on a classic Citi Bike for 24 hours.

ABOUT CAR-FREE EARTH DAYFirst launched in 2016, Car-Free Earth Day originally converted select Manhattan streets into public plazas and car-free streets for pedestrians, cyclists, and local businesses. Car-Free Earth Day has expanded to locations throughout the five boroughs – connecting Open Streets, plazas, and accessing over 1,000 miles of NYC's Bike Network! Environmental programming is offered by City agencies and community organizations along the routes to promote activism and education surrounding climate change and sustainability. NYC DOT is proud to partner with local artists to bring exciting performances to the event.

Signature event locations are listed below, and additional information can be found at nyc.gov/carfreenyc.

SIGNATURE EVENT LOCATIONSManhattan:

• Broadway: 17th Street to 46th Street
• St. Nicholas Avenue: 181st Street to 185th Street
• Dyckman Street: Broadway to La Marina/Inwood Hill Park

Queens:

• Woodside Avenue: 75th Street to 78th Street

Brooklyn:

• Fifth Avenue: 41st Street to 45th Street

The Bronx:

• East 188th Street: Grand Concourse to Valentine Avenue

Staten Island:

• Port Richmond Avenue: Castleton Avenue to Bennett Street

PUBLIC ART INSTALLATIONSNYC DOT also commissioned artists to provide temporary, environmentally focused artworks through the NYC DOT Art program. The popular NYC Art Stop Letters will come to Car-Free Earth Day with an original design by NYC-based illustrator Molly Magnell, showcasing springtime in a car-free urban utopia.

NYC DOT Art will also present two sculptural installations at Car-Free Earth Day. New York-based interdisciplinary artist Duy Hoàng will present An Indicating Cycle, a sculptural book highlighting different indicator species that reflect current environmental conditions due to their sensitivity to climate change. The “pages’ reference figures and diagrams in scientific textbooks and museological specimen drawers. By turning the pages visitors can learn about the species’ life cycles while underscoring their active participation in the caring and stewarding our environment. A large scale-installation by New York-based artist Frahydel Falczuk, titled The Plastic Sea, will evoke the sensation of being submerged in a "sea of plastic," as a commentary on waste and consumption. Participants are invited to collaborate by weaving colorful strips of non-recyclable film plastic into green mesh, transforming discarded materials into immersive surfaces that ripple like ocean waves. Artists were selected through recent open calls from NYC DOT Art. More about NYC DOT Art initiatives and open calls at: nyc.gov/DOTArt

 

Three Family Members Plead Guilty to Smuggling Drugs into Prison

 

A District of Columbia (D.C.) inmate, his mother, and his brother pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy and the smuggling of contraband into the District of Columbia Central Detention Facility (CDF) in 2023.

According to statements made in court, on May 23, 2023, D.C. correction officers seized approximately 31 sheets of paper soaked in a synthetic cannabinoid and a mixture or substance containing fentanyl and heroin from the cell of Malique Lewis, 28, of D.C., when Malique was an inmate at the CDF. At the time, Malique was awaiting trial on kidnapping, murder, and firearm charges. He has since been convicted of those charges and is serving a life sentence.

In furtherance of the conspiracy and to facilitate the introduction of controlled substances into the CDF, Malique Lewis communicated with his mother, Teleka Lewis, 47, and his brother, Michael Lewis, 32, both of D.C., as well as the drug supplier, through third-party calling prison accounts. Malique and Teleka arranged to have Michael pack an accordion style legal folder with controlled substances that were disguised as “legal papers” to enable their introduction into the CDF and delivery to Malique. Teleka then delivered this folder to Malique’s legal counsel so that it could be covertly introduced into the prison facility and delivered to Malique. There is no evidence that the lawyer knew that the papers were laced with drugs. Malique intended to distribute, and did distribute, controlled substances to other inmates at the CDF.

Teleka, at Malique’s direction, also managed the proceeds and finances derived from the scheme on Malique’s behalf, including by receiving and making payments for the drugs that were sold inside the CDF through online payment services such as Cash App and Apple Pay.

Malique and Teleka pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute controlled substances, to include fentanyl, heroin, and synthetic cannabinoids, within a federally contracted prison. They are scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 21 where they both face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

Michael pleaded guilty to providing contraband in a prison, a misdemeanor crime. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 21 and faces a maximum penalty of one year in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Special Agent Jeffrey Lee Tyler of the FBI Washington Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI Washington Field Office and D.C. Department of Corrections Office of Investigative Services are investigating the case.

Trinitarios Gang Member Convicted Of Witness Retaliation For Assault At Detention Center

 

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced the conviction at trial of BRIAN HERNANDEZ, a/k/a “Malaki,” for his role in an assault carried out at the Metropolitan Detention Center (“MDC”) in Brooklyn, New York on December 3, 2023.  The conviction comes after a four-day jury trial before U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman.  HERNANDEZ is scheduled to be sentenced on July 28, 2026.  

“With this verdict, the jury has found that the defendant, a member of the Trinitarios, committed this brutal attack in which another inmate was horribly stabbed and slashed across the face,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton.  “They also found that this heinous and senseless crime was committed for the purpose of retaliating against his victim because the defendant believed he was cooperating with the government.  We commend the jury for its careful consideration of the evidence, and this verdict repeats loud and clear for all to hear that New Yorkers will not tolerate the harassment and intimidation of any witness, let alone the kind of violence a notorious and violent street gang committed here.  Regardless of who you are or who you may be affiliated with, if you retaliate against a witness, the women and men of this Office and our partners in law enforcement will bring you to justice.” 

As alleged in the Indictment and statements made in public filings and public court proceedings:

On December 3, 2023, HERNANDEZ and other members of the Trinitarios, while incarcerated at MDC, coordinated and carried out an attack on another inmate believed by the attackers to be providing information to the Government.   During the attack, the victim was slashed and stabbed multiple times, including by HERNANDEZ who slashed the victim above the eye, leaving a deep gash and causing substantial bleeding.

HERNANDEZ, 26, of New York, New York, was convicted of three total counts and faces up to 50 years in prison.

Count	Charge	Sentence
Count One	Conspiracy to Retaliate Against a Witness	20 Years In Prison
Count Three	Witness Retaliation (Causing Bodily Injury)	20 Years In Prison
Count Four	Witness Retaliation (Causing Harm to a Person)	10 Years In Prison

The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. 

Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Bureau of Prisons. 

Governor Hochul Announces Nearly $350 Million in Financing to Create or Preserve 750 Affordable Homes

Awards Support Governor’s $25 Billion Statewide Housing Plan and Expand Affordability in New York City, Long Island, Capital District and Mohawk Valley

Governor Kathy Hochul announced nearly $350 million in housing bonds and subsidies have been awarded for five housing developments that will create or preserve 750 affordable, supportive, sustainable and modern apartments. The awards are part of the Governor’s $25 billion five-year Housing Plan which is on track to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide.

“These investments are another major step forward in our mission to expand housing opportunities in every corner of the state and make New York more affordable.” Governor Hochul said. “By leveraging public and private resources, we are creating and preserving hundreds of high-quality, energy-efficient homes while strengthening communities and supporting economic growth. This funding is part of our $25 billion Housing Plan and brings us closer to ensuring that every New Yorker has access to a safe, stable and affordable place to live.”

Financing is allocated through New York State Homes and Community Renewal’s recent bond issuances which provided $234 million in housing bonds and $114 million in subsidies. When coupled with additional private funding and resources, the projects receiving funding are expected to generate $529 million in overall investment.

The awarded projects are:

New York City

$73 million for Taryn Tower in the Bronx - New construction of an 11-story residential building at 431- 441 Concord Avenue, creating 142 apartments affordable to households earning at or below 70 percent of the Area Median Income. Developed by Carthage Advisors and Rester Management.

$79 million for 729 Van Sinderen in Brooklyn – Demolition of a vacant building and new construction of an eleven-story building with 193 apartments affordable to households earning at or below 60 percent of the Area Median Income. The development includes 116 apartments with supportive services for vulnerable New Yorkers. Developed by Housing Plus Solutions, Inc. and Spatial Equity Co.

Long Island

$22 million for Great Neck Senior Housing in the Village of Great Neck, Nassau County – Acquisition and rehabilitation of a senior housing development with 75 affordable apartments for seniors 55 years or older. 74 apartments are affordable to households earning at or below 50 percent of the Area Median Income, with the remaining unit occupied by a superintendent. Developed by Georgica Green Ventures, LLC and the Village of Great Neck Housing Authority.

Capital Region

$128 million for the Cohoes Housing Authority in the city of Cohoes, Albany County – Rehabilitation of 238 affordable apartments within three of the Cohoes Housing Authority’s public housing developments: Manor Sites (95 units), McDonald Towers (93 units) and Roulier Heights (50 units). All 238 rental apartments will remain affordable to households who earn no more than 60 percent of the Area Median Income. Developed by Cohoes Portfolio Preservation LLC and MDG Development Owners LLC.

Mohawk Valley

$46 million for THRIVE Cornhill in the City of Utica, Oneida County – New construction of two four-story buildings, creating 102 apartments affordable to households earning at or below 70 percent of the Area Median Income, as well as commercial space and community program space. Includes 15 units with supportive services for individuals aged 55 and older with a chronic condition or physical disability, and four units with supportive services for young adults that are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Developed by People First (Municipal Housing Authority of the City of Utica).

Governor Hochul’s Housing Agenda

Governor Hochul is dedicated to addressing New York’s housing crisis and making the State more affordable and livable for all New Yorkers. Since FY23, the Governor has worked to increase housing supply to make housing more affordable by launching a $25 billion five-year comprehensive Housing Plan, enacted the most significant housing deal in decades and implemented new protections for renters and homeowners. Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, HCR has created new programs that jumpstart development of affordable and mixed-income homes — for both renters and homebuyers. These include the Pro-Housing Community Program, which allows certified localities exclusive access to up to $750 million in discretionary State funding. More than 400 communities throughout the state have been certified Pro-Housing.

As part of Governor Hochul’s 2026 State of the State, the Governor proposed her “Let Them Build” agenda, a series of landmark reforms to speed up housing and infrastructure development and lower costs. This initiative will spur a series of common-sense reforms to New York’s State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) and executive actions to expedite critical categories of projects that have been consistently found to not have significant environmental impacts, but for too long have been caught up in red tape and subject to lengthy delays.

The FY27 Executive Budget completes the Governor’s current five-year Housing Plan to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide, including 10,000 with support services for vulnerable populations plus the electrification of an additional 50,000 homes. More than 80,000 affordable homes have been created or preserved to date. The Executive Budget also invests $250 million in capital funding to accelerate the construction of thousands of new affordable homes.