Mayor Mamdani Unveils Proposal for Transformational Redesign of Brooklyn’s Grand Army Plaza

 

Project will create a world-class public space at the entrance to ‘Brooklyn’s backyard’  

  

NYC DOT to present project details and host public workshops beginning April 23      

   

Grand Army Plaza’s current design (L) and NYC DOT’s proposal (R). Credit: NYC DOT 

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Mike Flynn announced today a proposal to create a world-class public space and dramatically improve pedestrian and cyclist safety at Grand Army Plaza by connecting the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Memorial Arch to Prospect Park. The project aims to make it easier to travel around and through the plaza, including by streamlining bus service on one of the busiest routes in Brooklyn, with 27,300 daily riders on the B41 and 5,600 daily riders on the B6.  

  

NYC DOT will finalize the capital project’s design through a series of public workshops beginning on April 23. More information and a community feedback survey will be posted online the day of the workshops at nyc.gov/grandarmyplaza. The survey will be available through Sunday, May 31.  

  

“Grand Army Plaza is the gateway to Brooklyn’s backyard, Prospect Park — and it should welcome New Yorkers with street design that puts safety first,” said Mayor Mamdani. “Anyone who’s tried to cross here knows how dangerous and chaotic the streets can be. This redesign is long overdue and will provide a sense of ease and enjoyment to one of Brooklyn’s most important public spaces.”  

  

“This restoration will breathe new life into one of Brooklyn's most historic spaces, bringing critical improvements that will make the plaza safer and more accessible for everyone,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Julia Kerson. “This is a significant step toward building better-designed public spaces with the needs of New Yorkers front and center.”  

  

“Under Mayor Mamdani, we are focused on making our streets the envy of the world — and Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn presents a perfect opportunity to do so,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn. “Every time NYC DOT has provided more space to pedestrians at the park, it’s been an instant success, and it becomes impossible to think of how the space could have functioned before. The Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Memorial Arch is an iconic symbol of Brooklyn, and we’re ready to take the next big step to create a public space all of Brooklyn will be proud of and enjoy.”  

  

“Our parks are at their best when they are safe, welcoming and easy for all New Yorkers to get to. This improvement to Grand Army Plaza would give pedestrians and cyclists a safer and more relaxing way to enter Prospect Park and take advantage of all it has to offer,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura. “We look forward to working with our partners in the community and across City government to reshape this space for the benefit of all New Yorkers.”  

  

Previous workshops held in 2024 showed significant community support for the project with over 85% of the 3,600 survey respondents supporting a project that connects the park and plaza to the Memorial Arch and Bailey Fountain, or “Option B” in the outreach summary chart below. 

NYC DOT’s design for Grand Army Plaza, developed through years of community feedback. Credit: NYC DOT 

Once the capital project scope development is completed this year, NYC DOT will explore options for reconstruction that would include reconstructing the roadway to add a host of new pedestrian and cyclist amenities.

 

NYC DOT will be hosting virtual and in-person public sessions at the dates and locations below:  

•   Thursday, April 23 from 4pm to 6pm: Visit NYC DOT's tent south of the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Arch in Grand Army Plaza. In case of rain, the event will be held in the Grand Lobby of the Brooklyn Public Library. Please use the main entrance.  

•    Saturday, April 25 from 10am to 1pm: Visit our tent south of the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Arch in Grand Army Plaza. In case of rain, the event will be held in the Civic Commons area of the Brooklyn Public Library. Please use the Flatbush Avenue Entrance.  

•    Wednesday, April 29 from 6pm to 7:30pm on Zoom: Register for the April 29 virtual workshop in advance via Zoom.  

 

Four Sentenced for Cocaine Operation Hidden Inside Indianapolis Business

 

Four individuals have been sentenced in federal court for their roles in a drug trafficking organization responsible for distributing at least 55 kilograms of cocaine throughout Central Indiana.

Defendant	Charge(s)	Sentence
Kristopher Chavez, 38, Gary, Indiana	Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Cocaine	8 years, 11 months in federal prison; 5 years supervised release
Eric Kendrick, 45, Fishers, Indiana	Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Cocaine	11 years, 8 months in federal prison; 5 years supervised release
Delray Bragg, 42, Richmond, Indiana	Possession with Intent to Distribute 5 Kilograms or More of Cocaine	5 years, 11 months in federal prison; 3 years supervised release
Joaquin A. Ramirez-Molina, 41, of Phoenix, Arizona	Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Controlled Substances	4 years, 9 months in federal prison; 3 years supervised release

According to court documents, law enforcement identified a drug trafficking organization operating out of a near east-side Indianapolis business in 2023. Investigators learned that in 2019, Eric Kendrick leased commercial property at 5641 Massachusetts Avenue. Law enforcement discovered that Kendrick used this location as a stash house for storing and distributing cocaine.

On May 31, 2023, courier Joaquin Ramirez‑Molina arrived at the stash house with two suitcases filled with cocaine. Around the same time, Kristopher Chavez arrived with contraband in his vehicle, and the pair retrieved items used to repackage the drugs, including a vacuum sealer, heat‑seal bags, duct tape, and a black duffel bag containing $200,000 in cash for payment.

Moments later, Delray Bragg arrived to pick up ten kilograms of cocaine for redistribution. As he left the property, IMPD officers conducted a traffic stop. Before officers searched his vehicle, Bragg alerted other members of the organization via text message, prompting them to flee the stash house.

Subsequent searches of the property and the defendants’ residences followed. In total, the investigation recovered the following contraband and proceeds of criminal activity:

• $582,591 in cash
• 55 kilograms of cocaine
• Ruger 57 Pistol 
• Glock 23 Gen 5 Pistol 
• Glock 22 Gen 4 Pistol 
• Glock 19 Pistol
• Glock 27 Pistol
• Sig Saurer Pistol
• Pioneer Arms Co. Handgun
• 2023 Mercedes Benz 
• 1972 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu 
• 2014 Chevrolet Camaro 
• Assorted ammunition

“Shipments containing multiple kilograms of cocaine, delivered in suitcases, underscores the profound danger these drugs pose. The larger the number of drugs, the larger the threat to our community, and accordingly the more aggressive the response of my office and our law enforcement partners,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Our federal prosecutors remain steadfast in partnering with the DEA, ATF and local drug task forces to remove dealers from our streets. These poisons are devastating our neighborhoods and the people we love, and we are committed to confronting that harm with every tool at our disposal.”

The Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, IMPD, and the Hamilton/Boone Drug Task Force investigated this case. 

The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Chief Judge James R. Sweeney II. 

IBM Pays $17 Million to Resolve Allegations of Discrimination Through Illegal DEI Practices

 

Acting Attorney General Blanche Announces First Civil Rights Fraud Initiative Resolution

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the first False Claims Act resolution secured under the Civil Rights Fraud Initiative, which he launched in May 2025.  International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) has agreed to pay the United States $17,077,043, inclusive of civil penalties, to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by failing to comply with anti-discrimination requirements in its federal contracts due to practices the United States contends discriminated against employees and applicants for employment because of race, color, national origin, or sex.

Most federal contracts contain provisions that require contractors to comply with anti-discrimination requirements as to employees and applicants for employment.  As a condition to being a federal contractor, the company must certify that it will not discriminate against an employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, national origin, or sex and must further certify that it will take steps to ensure that applicants are employed, and employees are treated during employment, without regard to race, color, national origin, or sex. The settlement resolves allegations that IBM failed to comply with these requirements and knowingly maintained practices that the United States contends were discriminatory employment practices.

“Racial discrimination is illegal, and government contractors cannot evade the law by repackaging it as DEI,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The Department launched the Civil Rights Fraud Initiative to root out this misconduct, hold offenders accountable, and end this practice for good.”    

In connection with the settlement, the United States acknowledged that IBM took significant steps entitling it to credit for cooperating with the government in its investigation.  IBM made early disclosures of facts relevant to the government’s investigation gathered during IBM’s independent investigation, including information to assist in the calculation of damages and penalties.  The company also undertook voluntary remedial measures, including the termination and/or modification of various programs and practices at issue.   

“Merit drives promotion and opportunity. Not someone’s sex or race,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward. “Today’s settlement proves this Department’s commitment to ensure companies are not using taxpayer funded work to further woke unconstitutional practices in American workplaces.”

“The Nation’s anti-discrimination laws are clear and reflect our basic commitment that opportunity, compensation, and advancement should turn on merit and performance, and not immutable characteristics,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brenna E. Jenny. “When a company accepts federal funding while engaging in practices that sort, prefer, or disadvantage employees on the basis of race or sex, the company is stepping outside the conditions under which the government agreed to contract with them, and we will hold them accountable.”

The United States alleged that IBM took race, color, national origin, or sex into account when making employment decisions, including by using a diversity modifier that tied bonus compensation to achieving demographic targets.  The government further alleged that IBM altered interview criteria based on race or sex through the use of “diverse interview slates” and other related employment practices in connection with identifying “diverse” candidates for hiring, transfer, or promotion.  Additionally, the government alleged that IBM developed race and sex demographic goals for business units and took race and sex into account when making employment decisions to achieve progress towards those demographic goals.  Finally, the United States alleged that IBM offered certain training, partnerships, mentoring, leadership development programs and educational opportunities only to certain employees, with eligibility, participation, access or admission limited on the basis of race or sex.   

The settlement can be viewed  here.   

The matter was handled by the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section.

The claims resolved by the United States in the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.

Governor Hochul Directs State Flags to Half-Staff in Honor of Former Representative Eliot Engel

Flags Will Be Flown at Half-Staff Across New York State April 12, From Sunrise to Sunset

Governor Kathy Hochul directed flags to be lowered at half-staff to honor the life and public service of Former Representative Eliot Engel, who passed away on Friday, April 10, at the age of 79. Flags will be lowered from sunrise to sunset.

“The son of Ukrainian-Jewish immigrants, Eliot Engel brought the best of the lower Hudson Valley and the Bronx to Congress,” Governor Hochul said. “I had the honor of serving alongside Eliot, who fought tirelessly for the people he served in his 44 years as a public servant. My thoughts and deepest condolences are with his family and loved ones today.”

Former Representative Eliot Engel represented the Bronx and Westchester for over three decades. He is survived by his wife, Patricia, and children.

 

Mayor Mamdani Unveils Website Tracking First 100 Days Achievements

New interactive map shows achievements across the five boroughs — from fighting for workers and tenants, to delivering universal child care and improving roads.  

*** VISIT WEBSITE HERE ***  

 

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani announced today the launch of a new website to keep New Yorkers informed about the administration’s first 100 days. The site features an interactive map highlighting accomplishments across the five boroughs, along with a dropdown menu to sort initiatives by the administration’s key priorities. 

 

In his first 100 days, Mayor Mamdani has delivered results for New Yorkers. On Day 8, the Mayor joined Governor Hochul to announce a historic $1.2 billion investment in universal child care, including a 1,000-seat expansion of 3-K. This fall, the Mamdani administration will offer full-day, full-year 2-K seats for the first time in city history.  

 

The administration has also secured more than $9 million in restitution for workers and small businesses, expanded protected time off for 4.3 million workers and delivered $34 million in repairs, settlements and judgements on behalf of tenants. 

 

“New Yorkers deserve a government that works as hard as they do,” said Mayor Mamdani. “We promised transparency and accountability, and this website lets people see exactly when and where we’re investing in our city. The best part is, this is only the beginning.”  

 

Since taking office Jan. 1,  Mayor Mamdani has made stops and announcements in all five boroughs. From filling the 100,000th pothole in Staten Island to clearing illegal dumping in the Bronx, the map illustrates the scope of the administration’s work in its first 100 days.  

 

The website is organized around four key themes: delivering child care for all, tackling corruption and waste, solving problems big and small and protecting all New Yorkers. The interactive map also includes links to press releases, photos, videos and other relevant information.