Bronx River Art Center (BRAC) - Join us Thursday May 14th for the opening of Mujeres de Archivo

 

Join us Thursday Night!

RSVP for Opening Reception

BRAC is pleased to present Mujeres de Archivo, an exhibition featuring the work of three Latinx women artists that deploys a decolonial and feminist approach to archiving, foregrounding memory work, an ongoing history of overlooked labor and knowledge across the Americas. Working across mediums such as textile, print, and sculpture, the exhibition centers archival fragments both inherited and imagined.

Grounded in Latinx feminist scholarship, the exhibition frames memory work as both a political and aesthetic intervention, particularly within a heightened anti-immigrant climate. It asks: What does it mean to transmit memory across borders and generations? How might archives open space for speculation, for alternate pasts and futures? How can we revalue processes and repetitions often marginalized in archival practice?

Curated by Nikki Meyers

Featured Artists: C.J. Chueca, Cinthya Santos Briones, Blanka Amezkua

The exhibition will run from May 14 to June 21, with an opening reception held on May 14th from 6 - 8pm.

Gallery Hours:

Tuesday-Friday: 3-6pm

Saturday and Sunday: 12-5pm

Donate to BRAC!

Wave Hill Weekly Events (May 14 – May 21) | Paint the Town Rainbow: Artistry & Movement as Medicine

 

The warmer weather picking up in the city has us longing for that summer vacation far from the chaos of the city. Step through a portal into paradise at Wave Hill and find yourself closer to an oasis. The birdsongs, shining sun, and the picturesque landscape of the palisades transports you to a world away from the rush.   

Nature & Wellness

Garden Highlights Walk

Sun, May 17, 1:00PM – 1:30PM 

Free with admission to the grounds    

Registration not required.   

Join a knowledgeable Wave Hill Garden Guide for a leisurely stroll in the gardens. Topics vary by season and the expertise of the Guide; each walk varies with the Guide leading it.

Yoga in the Garden

Sun, May 17, 10:15AM – 11:15AM     

Advanced registration encouraged.   

Root your feet in the grass and look out upon our vistas as you enjoy a gentle yoga class led by Susie Caramanica. All levels welcome; this is a beginner level class that can be modified.

 

Art

Public Gallery Tour

Thu, May 14, 2:00PM – 3:00PM  

Free with admission to the grounds     

Registration not required.   

Solo and group exhibitions at Glyndor Gallery explore the dynamic relationships between nature, culture, and site. Visitors can expect an in-depth look at artworks on view, showcasing the work of both emerging and established artists in the unique context of a public garden.  

David Antonio Cruz: Meet the Artist

Sat, May 16, 2:00PM – 3:00PM  

Free with admission to the grounds     

Registration not required.   

Join us for an artist-led exhibition walk-through in Glyndor Gallery. David Antonio Cruz will discuss the paintings, drawings, and installations he has on view in his solo exhibition. Inconversation with Director of Arts and Chief Curator Gabriel de Guzman, Cruz will describe his creative process and the themes he is engaging in his work. At this event, we will also be celebrating the publication of the catalogue for this exhibition, which will be available to visitors for free. 

Family

Family Art Project: Rainbow Passage

Sat, May 16, 10:00AM – 1:00PM  

Sun, May 17, 10:00AM – 1:00PM   

Free with admission to the grounds     

Registration not required.

Let’s explore the colors of the rainbow. We'll use transparent materials to create bright window hangings that will unveil the incredible world of light. At 11:30am families can enjoy a story time program in the Gund Theater, all ages welcome.

Kids on the Move! Rainbow Dancing

Sun, May 17, 1:00PM – 2:00PM   

Free with admission to the grounds     

Registration not required.

Move through the color of the rainbow! Explore the grounds with guest educator Corinne Flax as you discover all the garden’s different and beautiful colors. After the guided nature walk, move through a series of relaxing and energizing yoga-inspired postures to express the many colors around you. Recommended for ages three to eight.  

HOURS STARTING MARCH 15: 10AM–4:30PM, Tuesday–Sunday  

Shuttle Service free from Subway and Metro-North, Saturday–Sunday

Information at 718.549.3200. On the web at wavehill.org. 

ICE Arrests Criminal Illegal Alien Drug Trafficker in Sanctuary Virginia

 

Another day, another criminal illegal alien arrested in Governor Abigail Spanberger's sanctuary Virginia

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued the following statement after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested an illegal alien in Virginia who was found to be in possession of drugs, including fentanyl, narcotics, and cocaine.

On May 4, ICE law enforcement arrested Eduardo Perez-Legra, a criminal illegal alien from Cuba, in Newport News, Virginia. During a post-arrest search, law enforcement seized 19.5 grams of cocaine, 101 oxycodone pills, 5 fentanyl pills, and 27 individually packaged suboxone sublingual films.

Perez-Legra’s criminal history includes FOUR felony convictions for drug trafficking and TWO felony convictions for cocaine – possession.

“Another day, another criminal illegal alien arrested in Governor Abigail Spanberger’s sanctuary Virginia,” said Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis. "This criminal illegal alien from Cuba was previously convicted of drug trafficking. When ICE arrested him on May 4, he was in possession of fentanyl, narcotics, and cocaine. Virginia is a hotbed for criminal illegal alien crime. Criminals flock to sanctuary Virginia because they know Governor Spanberger and her fellow sanctuary politicians will protect them.”

Perez-Legra became a green card holder in 2004. His felony conviction in 2011 cost him his green card and made him eligible for removal. The Obama Administration RELEASED Perez-Legra in 2012 despite a Department of Justice Immigration Judge issuing him a final order of removal earlier that year on May 15, 2012.

During her first days in office, Governor Spanberger signed executive orders banning state cooperation with ICE as well as terminating 287(g) state and local agreements.

Under Governor Spanberger, Virginia has become a hotbed of illegal alien crime.

• Earlier this month, ICE arrested Walvin Victor Hugo Garcia, an illegal alien from Guatemala, after he was released by sanctuary politicians in Fairfax County despite facing charges of raping a child under the age of 13.
• Earlier this month, ICE arrested Josue Saul Garcia-Lopez, an illegal alien from El Salvador and MS-13 gang member, in Harrisonburg, Virginia.
• In April, Roni Mendez-Escobar, an illegal alien from Guatemala, was arrested by ICE after previously being released by Fairfax County, despite being charged with possession of child porn with intent to distribute.
• In April, ICE lodged a detainer asking sanctuary politicians in Arlington County to not release Luzvin Orvando Garcia Moran, an illegal alien from Guatemala, after he was arrested for attempted rape.
• In April, Israel Christopher Flores-Ortiz, a criminal illegal alien from El Salvador, was convicted for NINE counts of assault and battery after he groped multiple underage girls at a high school in Fairfax County.
• In April, the Fairfax County District Attorney’s Office offered an insane plea deal of just 5 years to two illegal aliens who murdered a man at a park and walking trail in Oakton, Virginia in July of 2024.
• In April, Misael Lopez Gomez, an illegal alien from Guatemala, was arrested and charged with murder and felony child abuse after bludgeoning his own 3-month-old daughter to death in Fairfax County.
• In March, Anibal Armando Chavarria Muy, an illegal alien from Guatemala, was arrested and charged with second degree murder after fatally stabbing a man inside his home in Bailey’s Crossroads, Virginia.
• In February, Abdul Jalloh, an illegal alien from Sierra Leone with more than 30 prior arrests, was charged with murder after fatally stabbing 41-year-old Stephanie Minter at a bus stop in Hybla Valley, Virginia.

Governor Hochul Celebrates Groundbreaking of Transformative Lincoln Center West Initiative

$10 Million State Investment Supports Redevelopment of Damrosch Park and Improved Public Access to Lincoln Center Campus

Project Will Create New Outdoor Performance Venue, Expanded Green Space, and Welcoming Community Gathering Spaces

Opening Set for Summer 2028

Governor Kathy Hochul today celebrated the groundbreaking of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Lincoln Center West Initiative, a transformative project that will redevelop Damrosch Park and reimagine the western side of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts campus into a more welcoming, accessible, and inclusive public space. Supported by $10 million in State capital funding, the project will deliver a new state-of-the-art outdoor performance venue, expanded green spaces, improved streetscapes along Amsterdam Avenue, and year-round community amenities. The redesigned campus is set to open in summer 2028.

“Lincoln Center is one of the world's premier cultural destinations, and this project will ensure it remains a place where every New Yorker feels welcome,” Governor Hochul said. “By investing in this transformative redevelopment, we're opening up world-class arts and performance spaces to the surrounding community, creating new opportunities for free programming, and ensuring that the next generation of New Yorkers can experience the power of the arts right in their own neighborhood.”

The SNF Lincoln Center West Initiative will redevelop the approximately 2.4-acre Damrosch Park, replacing the existing Guggenheim Bandshell with a newly designed permanent outdoor performance venue — The Baron Theater — capable of hosting free performances for audiences of up to 2,000. The project will also remove the existing wall along Amsterdam Avenue, opening the campus to the surrounding neighborhood and creating new entry points, gardens, seating areas, and a 50 percent increase in trees on the site.

The project is being designed by Hood Design Studio, WEISS/MANFREDI, and Moody Nolan, and incorporates feedback from thousands of community members gathered through a robust participatory planning process. Engagement included more than 7,000 touchpoints with stakeholders, including residents of NYCHA's Amsterdam Houses and Amsterdam Addition, students from Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Educational Complex, and members of Manhattan Community Board 7.

In addition to the redesigned park and performance venue, the project includes streetscape improvements along Amsterdam Avenue, with widened sidewalks, new benches, increased greenery, improved bus waiting areas, and enhanced pedestrian access. The project will also deliver upgrades to the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts entrance and improve circulation between Amsterdam Avenue and the West 65th Street/Broadway subway station.

The State's investment is part of a broader $335 million capital campaign that has been fully raised through foundations, private donors, the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts Board of Directors, and public support from the State and City of New York. The project is expected to support approximately 3,640 worker-positions over the construction period, with on-site workforce projected to peak at approximately 230 workers per day by the end of 2027.

The redevelopment also honors the rich cultural history of the San Juan Hill neighborhood, the historically Black and Latino community that once thrived on the site. As part of this commitment, Lincoln Center recently unveiled "The Future We Create," a mural by lead artist Vanesa Álvarez and assistant artist Derval Fairweather that depicts historic figures from the neighborhood — including James P. Johnson, Thelonious Monk, Mary White Ovington, and Arturo Alfonso Schomburg — alongside current residents. The mural is on view along Amsterdam Avenue and 62nd Street.

The project builds on Lincoln Center's growing commitment to free, accessible programming for all New Yorkers. The annual Summer for the City festival has served more than 1.6 million visitors since its launch in 2022, with hundreds of free events and thousands of artists performing across Lincoln Center's 16-acre campus. Lincoln Center also offers a free NYCHA Neighbors Pass to residents of Amsterdam Houses, Amsterdam Addition, and Harborview Terrace, providing priority entry to free performances and early booking for additional programming.

COIB Settlements Announced

 

The New York City Conflicts of Interest Board (the “Board”) announces two settlements.

 

Misuse of City Position. A Principal for the New York City Department of Education (“DOE”) hired her sister as a teacher at her school and supervised her sister’s employment for one year. The Principal interviewed her sister by herself and without interviewing any other candidates. After hiring her sister, the Principal reassigned her from teaching to non-teaching duties; she continued to receive a full-time teacher’s salary. The now-former Principal, who is currently a Citywide Director of Social and Emotional Learning and Academic Integration at DOE, agreed to pay a $5,000 fine for misusing her City position to benefit her sister. In setting the penalty, the Board considered that DOE had demoted the Principal, resulting in an annual salary reduction of over $20,000. The Disposition is attached as “COIB Disposition (DOE).”

 

Misuse of City Position; Superior-Subordinate Financial Relationship. A Custodian at the New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services (“DCAS”) requested and received two loans totaling $330 from a DCAS subordinate. The Custodian repaid the loans several months later. By seeking the loans, the Custodian misused his City position; by receiving the loans, he entered into a prohibited financial relationship with his subordinate. In a joint settlement with DCAS and the Board, the Custodian agreed to the DCAS-imposed penalty of a three-day suspension, valued at approximately $540. The Board determined that the penalty imposed by DCAS was sufficient and sought no additional penalty. The Disposition is attached as “COIB-DCAS Disposition.”

Soccer Streets: Mayor Mamdani Transforms 50 School Blocks Across New York City Into World Cup Field Days for Students

 

Mayor Mamdani's 'Soccer Streets' series will travel to 50 schools across the five boroughs, turning car-free blocks into day-long soccer pitches, block parties and community celebrations leading up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani today launched "Soccer Streets," a traveling series of field days visiting 50 public schools across the five boroughs ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. At each stop, car-free streets outside schools will be transformed into soccer pitches, art stations and block-party celebrations. The activations began May 1 and will continue school to school through the last day of school on June 26.  

  

As part of Soccer Streets, students will play pickup matches, run drills, paint team flags and celebrate the world’s biggest sporting event coming to New York City this summer.   

  

“The World Cup is coming to New York City, and we want every kid in this city to experience the joy of the game,” said Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani. “Soccer Streets takes that energy directly into our neighborhoods — closing streets to cars, opening them to play and making sure this celebration isn't reserved for people who can afford a ticket. Open Streets is one of the best tools we have to reclaim public space for the public and these activations are another step toward bringing the World Cup to our city’s young people.”  

  

“For so many schools, the street outside their door is the only outdoor space they have. Soccer Streets shows what's possible when we give that space back to kids — for play, for learning, for community,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn. “We're thrilled to partner on this celebration, and we want every school in the city to know the door is open to join Open Streets year-round.”  

  

“Outdoor play and physical activity are essential to the whole child,” said Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels. “Initiatives like this remind us that the street right outside a school door can be just as powerful a learning environment as the classrooms inside it. I’m grateful to all partners who had a hand in making this possible and can’t wait for our students to have this experience.”  

  

“Growing up I loved soccer. It was more than just a game. I learned it has the power to unify all of us, create belonging, and teach skills that go far beyond the field,” said Hamdi Ulukaya, Founder and CEO of Chobani. “From supporting the U.S. National Team to youth clubs across the country, we’ve seen that when you feed people’s dreams they grow. Teaming up with Mayor Mamdani to bring that spirit to neighborhoods across New York City feels truly magical. Seeing streets filled with kids playing, families cheering, and communities connecting through this beautiful game—that’s what makes soccer so special. Especially ahead of the World Cup, there’s no better way to celebrate.”  

  

“The World Cup is about more than the games in the stadium. It’s about sparking the joy of the game in young people and bringing communities together around this historic celebration,” said World Cup Czar Maya Handa. “Every borough will participate and every neighborhood should benefit from the World Cup coming to our city.”  

  

“Open Streets for Schools hold a special promise for the future of the city,” said Leslie Davol, Executive Director of Street Lab. “We’re seeing students, families, teachers, and neighbors, working side-by-side to transform streets into places to gather, bringing learning from out behind the walls, and inspiring the whole community. It’s a grassroots movement, rising from the ground up and from the boroughs in. We’re excited to be working with this administration to help bring this new vision of NYC streets to life.”  

  

The City is partnering with the nonprofit Street Lab and Chobani to bring Soccer Streets to schools across the five boroughs.   

  

Schools interested in participating can contact Street Lab to learn more and get involved. Soccer Streets is a part of NYC DOT's Open Streets for Schools program, which allows schools to close an adjacent street to traffic for recess, outdoor learning and safer pickup and drop-off. Several Soccer Streets locations are already Open Streets schools. Applications for the 2026–27 school year are open now and the City is encouraging more schools to join the program.    

Soccer Streets builds on Mayor Mamdani’s broader effort to ensure every New Yorker — not just tourists — can participate in and enjoy the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Last month, Mayor Mamdani, New York Governor Kathy Hochul and the FIFA World Cup 2026™ New York New Jersey Host Committee announced a free, citywide slate of Official NYNJ Fan Events across all five boroughs, including live match viewings, cultural programming, engagements at local businesses and interactive experiences for New Yorkers.    

HSTF: Chinese National and Las Vegas Man Charged in Scheme to Import Deadly Synthetic Opioid into U.S.

 

Law Enforcement in the People’s Republic of China Confirmed That a Defendant Was Arrested as Part of a Parallel Investigation

A Chinese national and a Las Vegas man have been charged by federal indictment for their roles in a scheme to import large quantities of the powerful synthetic opioid protonitazene in the U.S. and distribute it as counterfeit pills. These charges stem from an investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), with assistance and collaboration with the People’s Republic of China’s Ministry of Public Security.

According to court records, beginning in approximately September 2024, Jia Guo, a/k/a “idmaster21,” a/k/a “imyourBDOguy,” a/k/a “OXY GUY,” of China, and Seven Schmidt, a/k/a “Vegas,” of Nevada, operated a drug trafficking organization that sourced protonitazene overseas and shipped it into the U.S. for distribution. Protonitazene — often used in counterfeit pill production — is significantly more potent than fentanyl. A quantity as small as 200 grams can produce hundreds of thousands of pills, each potentially lethal.

“This case shows why President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Force matters,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “The indictment alleges that a China-based supplier and a domestic distributor worked together to bring a deadly synthetic opioid into the United States and turn it into counterfeit pills for distribution across the country. These pills are made to look familiar, but one pill can kill. If you use South Florida as a gateway to import synthetic opioids, make counterfeit pills, or profit from addiction, you will face federal prosecution. The charges are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.”

“The bilateral investigation with the Chinese Ministry of Public Security underscores DEA Asia Pacific Division’s unwavering commitment to the protection of American lives: disrupting criminal organizations responsible for distributing dangerous synthetic opioids across the United States is one of DEA’s main priorities,” said Special Agent in Charge David L. King of the DEA Asia Pacific Division. “We commend the Chinese Ministry of Public Security for their thorough and swift investigative work on this case, which was initially presented at the February 2026 Bilateral Drug Enforcement Intelligence Working Group, hosted by DEA Asia Pacific Division in Colorado.”

“This was the very definition of agents and officers working in unison to bring these criminals to justice,” said Special Agent in Charge Miles Aley of the DEA Miami Field Division. “Lives will be saved because of their efforts.”

“The US Postal Inspection service remains committed to removing these poisons from our communities,” said Inspector in Charge Bladismir Rojo of the USPIS, Miami Division. “These charges serve as a warning to others that, using the US Mail to distribute dangerous drugs has consequences.” 

Guo allegedly coordinated the illegal procurement and shipment of protonitazene from China to co-conspirators, including an associate in Miami-Dade County. That associate allegedly used pill presses to manufacture counterfeit pills, which were then distributed to drug dealers throughout the U.S. 

Schmidt allegedly ordered distribution quantities of the counterfeit pills and arranged for their shipment from South Florida to Nevada using the U.S. Postal Service.

As part of the investigation, China’s Ministry of Public Security took law enforcement action in China against Guo. In April 2026, Chinese officials arrested Guo and the freight forwarder, who Guo conspired with to send controlled substance parcels to the U.S. As part of the investigation, the Ministry of Public Security seized 10 parcels filled with controlled substances that Guo sent which were for recipients in the U.S. The Justice Department thanks the Ministry of Public Security for its assistance and coordinated efforts.

Guo and Schmidt are charged with conspiracy to import protonitazene into the United States from China and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute protonitazene. If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each of the two counts.

U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones, Special Agent in Charge Aley, Special Agent in Charge King, and Inspector in Charge Rojo made the announcement.

DEA Miami, USPIS Miami, and DEA Beijing are investigating the case with the assistance from and in collaboration with China’s Ministry of Public Security. U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Homestead (FL) Police Department, the Henderson (NV) Police Department, DEA Dallas, DEA Las Vegas, DEA Seattle, the Miami-Dade Sherriff’s Office, and the Miami Beach Police Department also provided invaluable assistance.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Monique Botero is prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mitchell Hyman is handling asset forfeiture. The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Prosecutorial, Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT) Beijing Resident Legal Advisor, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada, and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in this matter.

This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Miami comprises of agents and officers from DEA and USPIS with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.