The Peninsula Complex Selected For Municipal Grocery Store In Hunts Point, The Bronx

 

Rendering of The Peninsula, courtesy of Hudson Companies.

A 20,000-square-foot municipal grocery store is planned for The Peninsula mixed-use development in Hunts Point, The Bronx, with an expected opening date in 2027. Developed by Gilbane Development, The Hudson Companies, MHANY Management, and Broadway Builders, the project is the second location selected for the city’s municipal grocery store program, which aims to establish one publicly supported grocery store in each borough before the end of the mayor’s first term. The store will occupy commercial space within The Peninsula, the redevelopment of the former Spofford Juvenile Detention Facility along Spofford Avenue between Manida and Tiffany Streets.

The full master plan for The Peninsula will ultimately yield 740 units of fully affordable housing across four mixed-use buildings. In addition, it is slated to contain more than 50,000 square feet of public open space, 30,000 square feet of light-industrial manufacturing space, approximately 52,000 square feet of community facility space, and retail and cultural components spread throughout the campus-style complex.

Construction on the second phase of The Peninsula topped out in 2025 and is progressing on two mid-rise mixed-use buildings that will deliver 359 additional affordable apartments in studio- to four-bedroom layouts. Amenities across the project will include landscaped public plazas, fitness rooms, shared laundry facilities, bicycle storage, and residential lounge spaces with outdoor terraces. Community-focused facilities planned for the site include a DOE-administered Head Start center, Inspiration Point’s cultural arts facility, and a health and wellness center operated by UrbanHealth Plan. Sustainable design features are expected to include rainwater harvesting systems and rooftop solar panels.

Transit nearby includes the Hunts Point Avenue and Longwood Avenue subway stations, both served by the 6 train.

Mayor Mamdani and Governor Hochul Extend Nearly 100,000 3-K, Pre-K Offers; Cut Average Travel Distance For 3-K Families by Six Blocks

After announcing the addition of 2,000 3-K seats yesterday, Mayor Mamdani and Governor Hochul are addressing longstanding 3-K accessibility concerns and reducing average travel distance for families 

  

Every family is encouraged to accept their offer by the deadline listed in their offer letter  

Today, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, Governor Kathy Hochul and Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels announced that the City has extended 99,921 offers for 3-K and Pre-K for the upcoming school year, with more families receiving offers to one of their top choice programs and average travel distances decreasing across the city.   

  

On day eight of this Administration, Mayor Mamdani and Governor Kathy Hochul announced the City’s first steps toward universal child care, announcing the launch of 2-K, expansion of Pre-K and an aggressive focus on expanding 3-K access so families could find care in their own neighborhoods. Those efforts, made possible by a more than $1.2 billion investment from the state to support early childhood care and education, have already resulted in more families receiving offers to their preferred 3-K program and fewer families ending up on waitlists.   

  

Fewer families this year received placements at programs they did not rank on their applications. For those 3-K families, the average distance between home and program decreased by .85 miles, or approximately 17 city blocks. That distance is expected to decrease further as families express interest in the additional 3-K seats added by the City, including more than 700 new seats announced yesterday that will be available through the waitlist process.  

  

“Every child deserves a strong start, and every parent deserves to know their child has a safe, high-quality place to learn and grow,” said Governor Hochul. “Today’s announcement ensures more families are able to access the 3-K opportunities they want, and provides universal 3-K and Pre-K to 100,000 families across New York City, giving more parents access to affordable child care in their own communities and setting up the next generation for success. I’m proud to partner with Mayor Mamdani to deliver for New Yorkers across all five boroughs.”  

  

“Today’s announcement marks a new era for child care in New York City – one where families can trust that government will deliver for them,” said Mayor Mamdani. “Across the five boroughs, families are traveling shorter distances, more children are receiving offers to their top-choice programs, and fewer parents are being forced to choose between unaffordable private care and leaving the city they love. This is what government excellence looks like.”  

  

“Our young children are the future, and New York City’s future just got brighter,” said Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels. “I am deeply grateful to Mayor Mamdani and Governor Hochul for their leadership in this work, and the dedication of our community partners who ensure our families are seen, supported, and served. Because of this collective effort we are putting nearly 100,000 children on a path to success close to home.”  

  

This year, the percentage of families receiving their top 3-K choice increased from 65% to 70%, while the percentage receiving one of their top three 3-K choices increased from 80% to 84%.   

  

While every family received a seat offer, the percentage of families receiving placements at programs not listed on their application decreased from 15% to 12%, helping ensure more families received offers they could realistically accept.   

  

Last year, 720 families received 3-K offers outside their home borough, with most placements located more than three miles from home. This year, fewer than 200 families received out-of-borough offers, and all placements are within three miles from home. Many of those families will also have an opportunity to receive an close-to-home placements through the waitlist process following the more than 700 newly available 3-K seats.   

  

These historic gains follow the administration’s first steps to rebuild the City’s child care outreach system and reach families too often left behind by government. That work will continue through the Mamdani administration’s commitment to baseline $5 million annually for outreach and engagement. The administration has also committed new funding to strengthen agency staffing and provide more comprehensive support for families and providers.

In April, the Mayor joined New York City public school students to open seven previously vacant child care sites, creating 240 new 3-K seats. That announcement followed the administration’s addition of more than 1,000 new 3-K seats across 56 zip codes, now more than 2,000, as well as the opening of a previously vacant child care center on the Upper East Side. Yesterday, Mayor Mamdani announced that the City had doubled those efforts, adding 2,000 3-K seats across all five boroughs and confirming that the City’s ninth new child care center will open this fall in Columbia Waterfront.   

  

The offers extended today are preliminary. Families will have the opportunity to express interest in additional programs over the coming weeks.    

California Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Money Laundering, False Testimony

 

A California man was sentenced in the Southern District of Alabama to 180 months in prison for money laundering conspiracy and providing false testimony in court. 

“The defendant helped launder millions of dollars for a drug trafficking organization to conceal drug sale proceeds,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Dismantling criminal organizations is a critical priority for the Department. Alongside the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and our local law enforcement partners, we will continue to prosecute the financial networks that fuel illegal drug trade and profit from the sale of illicit substances.”

“For years, Adi and his coconspirators used a sophisticated web of corporations and bank accounts to launder millions of dollars’ worth of profits from illegal drug sales in the Mobile area,” said U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello for the Southern District of Alabama. “Working alongside our dedicated federal, state, and local partners, we will continue to pursue and dismantle drug networks that abuse the U.S. financial system.”

“This individual not only used sophisticated financial webs to conceal and profit from illegal drug trafficking, but he also chose to lie under oath to protect his criminal enterprise,” said Special Agent in Charge Steven Hofer of the DEA New Orleans Field Division. “This sentence sends a clear message: the DEA and our law enforcement partners will ruthlessly target the financial infrastructure of drug organizations, and we will absolutely not tolerate attempts to obstruct justice and deceive the courts.”

According to court documents, Mohammed Zohair Adi, 58, a dual citizen of the United States and Syria, helped launder millions of dollars for a drug trafficking organization that transported over 1,000 kilograms of high-grade marijuana from California to Alabama, often on commercial flights via drug couriers. Adi operated multiple corporate entities and bank accounts to launder the proceeds of drug sales, and at times, structured financial transactions to avoid triggering currency transaction reporting requirements. Adi laundered drug money for several purposes, including promoting drug trafficking and maintaining California-based real estate properties, some of which were used as marijuana grow sites.

On Jan. 30, 2023, Adi pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit money laundering. On March 14, 2023, after his guilty plea, Adi falsely testified before a judge in the Southern District of Alabama at a detention hearing for co-defendant Navjit Bhullar. At the time, Adi and Bhullar were on pretrial release and court-ordered not to communicate with co-defendants about case-related matters. Adi testified that he met with Bhullar only once while on pretrial release, in mid-January 2023, in a one-on-one meeting at which they discussed their criminal case. In truth, Adi also met Bhullar in person in February 2023, with others present, at an office in Sacramento, California, and discussed the criminal case, including Adi’s guilty plea, in violation of the Court’s no-contact rule. Adi later lied to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) about his contacts with Bhullar. On March 2, 2026, Adi pleaded guilty to providing false testimony under oath before the Court.

In imposing this sentence, the Court noted that Adi was a leader of the money laundering conspiracy, that he was significantly involved in a serious federal crime, and that laundering drug funds was critical to the operations of a drug trafficking organization. As part of Adi’s sentence, the Court also imposed a $50,000 fine and a three-year term of supervised release.

Co-defendant Navjit Bhullar is scheduled to be sentenced on June 29. Ten co-defendants have already been sentenced.

The DEA investigated these cases.

Trial Attorneys Sinan Kalayoglu and Kaycee Sullivan of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller for the Southern District of Alabama prosecuted the cases.

The Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section's (MNF) mission is to take the profit out of crime, eliminate drug cartels, and protect the U.S. financial system. MNF pursues criminal prosecutions and criminal and civil asset recovery actions involving: financial facilitators who launder profits for criminals; financial institutions and their officers and employees whose actions threaten the U.S. financial system and financial institutions; international money launderers who support transnational organized crime; and the top command and control of international drug trafficking organizations.

MNF’s International Unit investigates and prosecutes cross-border money laundering schemes involving transnational criminal organizations, cartels, foreign official corruption and related money laundering affecting the U.S. financial system and prosecutes criminal cases and civil forfeiture matters to recover the proceeds of those crimes.

ICE Asks Officials in Florida to Not Release Illegal Alien Accused of Sexually Assaulting a 12-Year-Old Girl

 

This illegal alien from Guatemala was RELEASED by the Biden Administration

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued the following statement after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lodged a detainer asking officials in Florida to not release from jail an illegal alien who has been charged with sexual battery of a victim under 12.

On May 9, 2026, police in Martin County, Florida arrested Henry Roldan Perez-Roblero, a criminal illegal alien from Guatemala, on the felony charge of sexual battery of a victim under 12.

Henry Roldan Perez-Roblero 

According to local reports, Perez-Roblero, a 20-year-old illegal alien, was caught having sex with a 12-year-old girl. Investigators believe that the abuse was not limited to a single incident and occurred repeatedly over the previous two years, starting when the victim was just 10 years old.

“This monster from Guatemala is accused of repeatedly sexually abusing a 12-year-old girl over the last two years,” said Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis. “He is now charged with sexual battery of a victim under the age of 12. This sicko was released into our country by the Biden Administration. ICE lodged an arrest detainer and will ensure with our Florida partners this creep is NEVER released back onto the streets to victimize another innocent child.”

Perez-Roblero illegally entered the United States in Arizona as an unaccompanied minor in January 2021 and was released by the Biden Administration. A Department of Justice Immigration Judge issued Perez-Roblero a final order of removal on January 22, 2025.

New York Business Owner Sentenced to Prison for Using Shell Companies to Launder Health Care Fraud Proceeds for Transnational Criminal Organization

 

A New York man was sentenced to 37 months in prison for conspiring to launder nearly $1.5 million in illicit health care fraud proceeds through multiple domestic and global banks on behalf of a Transnational Criminal Organization (Organization).

According to court documents, Elnar Zarbailov, 42, of Staten Island, New York, and dual citizen of the United States and Azerbaijan, was a fixer and money launderer for the foreign-based  Organization that spearheaded the largest health care fraud case ever prosecuted by the Department of Justice, as uncovered by Operation Gold Rush. The Organization, based in Russia and elsewhere, orchestrated a multi-billion-dollar health care fraud and money laundering scheme to target, exploit, and steal from Medicare and private health insurance companies.

As alleged in charging documents, the Organization exploited the United States’ financial system by depositing insurance reimbursement checks from the fraud. The health care fraud proceeds were particularly susceptible to laundering because they originated from legitimate sources—Medicare and established private insurance carriers—giving the funds the initial appearance of legitimacy. To gain access to the United States’ financial system, the Organization deployed a range of tactics to circumvent internal controls at multiple banks and in some cases coordinated directly with associates employed at the banks.

As further alleged, to open financial accounts, the Organization armed its nominee owners, many of whom were not lawfully present in the United States, with false sale documentation and false corporate registration documents. This documentation falsely reflected that the nominee owners maintained beneficial ownership and control of various fraudulent durable medical equipment (DME) companies. This disguised the true beneficial ownership and control of the companies and the financial accounts. Upon opening the financial accounts, the Organization funneled fraud proceeds from Medicare and other legitimate health care insurers into the accounts as seemingly “clean” money. From there, the Organization siphoned off the funds to shell companies and various banks overseas.

Zarbailov facilitated a critical element of the transnational scheme. In furtherance of the conspiracy, Zarbailov deposited fraud proceeds from five DME companies linked to the scheme and transferred the fraud proceeds to other accounts, including accounts located overseas.

Zarbailov was arrested at John F. Kennedy International Airport in September 2024 as he attempted to leave the United States to Azerbaijan. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering in October 2025. In addition to the prison term, Zarbailov was ordered to pay $1,457,898 in forfeiture.

Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s Fraud Division, Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Scott J. Lampert for the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG), and Chief Division Counsel Tony Costanza for the FBI New Haven for the FBI made the announcement.

HHS-OIG and FBI investigated the case. Homeland Security Investigations and the El Dorado Task Force assisted in the defendant’s arrest.

Assistant Chiefs Shankar Ramamurthy and Kevin Lowell, and Trial Attorneys Leonid Sandlar and Sara E. Porter, of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case.

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.

The Department of Justice’s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

AIR QUALITY HEALTH ADVISORY FOR LONG ISLAND AND NEW YORK CITY METRO REGIONS

 

In Effect through May 19, 2026

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Amanda Lefton and State Department of Health (DOH) Commissioner Dr. James McDonald issued an Air Quality Health Advisory through Tuesday, May 19, 2026, for ozone for the Long Island and New York City Metro regions.  

The pollutant of concern: Ozone 

 

The advisory will be in effect: 11 a.m. through 11 p.m.

 

The Quality Health Advisory regions consist of: Long Island, which includes Nassau and Suffolk counties; and New York City Metro, which includes New York City and Rockland and Westchester counties. 

DEC and DOH issue Air Quality Health Advisories when DEC meteorologists predict levels of pollution, either ozone or fine particulate matter (PM2.5), are expected to exceed an Air Quality Index (AQI) value of 100. The AQI was created as an easy way to correlate levels of different pollutants to one scale, with a higher AQI value indicating a greater health concern. 

OZONE  

Increased heat can lead to the formation of ground-level ozone, a major component of photochemical smog. Automobile exhaust and out-of-state emission sources are the primary sources of ground-level ozone and the most serious air pollution problems in the northeast. This surface pollutant should not be confused with the protective layer of ozone in the upper atmosphere.

Ozone is not a direct emission and is produced indirectly when sunlight chemically reacts with nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from automobile exhaust and industrial emissions. High ozone is not as visible as PM2.5 because it is a colorless gas but will produce hazy skies and reduce visibility in high concentrations.

People, especially those with cardiovascular disease (such as pre-existing heart disease or high blood pressure) and those who have respiratory disease (such as asthma), young children, the elderly, those who exercise outdoors, and those involved in vigorous outdoor work should consider limiting strenuous outdoor physical activity when ozone levels are the highest (generally afternoon to early evening). When outdoor levels of ozone are elevated, going indoors will usually reduce exposure. Individuals experiencing symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, or coughing should consider consulting their personal physician.

Ozone levels generally decrease at night and can be minimized during daylight hours by curtailment of automobile travel and the use of public transportation where available.

New Yorkers also are urged to take the following energy-saving and pollution-reducing steps:

• use mass transit or carpool instead of driving, as feasible, as automobile emissions account for about 60 percent of pollution in our cities; 
• conserve fuel and reduce exhaust emissions by combining necessary motor vehicle trips; 
• turn off all lights and electrical appliances in unoccupied areas; 
• use fans to circulate air. If air conditioning is necessary, set thermostats at 78 degrees; 
• close the blinds and shades to limit heat build-up and to preserve cooled air; 
• limit use of household appliances. If necessary, run the appliances at off-peak (after 7 p.m.) hours. These would include dishwashers, dryers, pool pumps and water heaters; 
• set refrigerators and freezers at more efficient temperatures; 
• purchase and install energy efficient lighting and appliances with the Energy Star label; and 
• reduce or eliminate outdoor burning and attempt to minimize indoor sources of PM 2.5 such as smoking.

Additional information on ozone and PM 2.5 is available on DEC's website and on DOH's website (PM 2.5) / DOH's website (ozone). A new DEC fact sheet about the Air Quality Index is available on DEC’s website or by PDF download https://dec.ny.gov/sites/default/files/2024-05/aqiweb.pdf.

To stay up-to-date with announcements from DEC, sign up to receive Air Quality Alerts through DEC Delivers: DEC's Premier Email Service. A toll-free Air Quality Hotline (1-800-535-1345) was also established by DEC to keep New Yorkers informed of the latest air quality situation.

Bronx River Art Center (BRAC)- Plant, Print, and Celebrate Together!

 

Dear Friends,   Now that April showers have brought May flowers, let's celebrate the new season and plant flowers – in recycled metal cans! Join us this Friday, May 22nd, to celebrate the ones who help us grow with a fun family workshop combining outdoor printmaking and planting  Families will decorate recycled tin cans — such as bean, corn, or soup cans — and plant flowers together, while creating handmade mini plant stands using repurposed materials. RSVP to Plant, Print, and Celebrate Together!

Click here to join us on Friday!

This workshop will be led by Tammy Wofsey, one of BRAC's beloved teaching artists and founder of Plotzing Press in Mott Haven. We hope to see you there! — Team BRAC

DHS Arrests Illegal Alien Charged with Arson in New York

 

This illegal alien from Guatemala set fire to 10 cars, including in a parking lot near a children’s center

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the following statement after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested an illegal alien charged with arson after burning multiple cars in New York.

On May 10, 2026, police in Nassau County, New York arrested Elder Lopez-Avalos, a criminal illegal alien from Guatemala, on charges of fire and arson. According to local reports, Lopez-Avalos set fire to 10 cars in Freeport. Several of the acts of arson took place in a parking lot near a children’s center.

The Nassau County Police Department cooperated with ICE law enforcement, and with assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), ICE took Lopez-Avalos into custody on May 12.

“Thanks to ICE and CBP law enforcement, this criminal illegal alien charged with arson was arrested by ICE on May 12,” said Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis. “This pyromaniac set fire to 10 cars and was a clear public safety threat. If you come to our country illegally and break our laws, we will arrest you and deport you.”

Lopez-Avalos illegally entered the United States at an unknown date and location. He will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.

Unfortunately, many New York jurisdictions do NOT cooperate with ICE. As of December 1, New York’s failure to honor ICE detainers has resulted in the release of 6,947 criminal illegal aliens since January 20. The crimes of these aliens include 29 homicides, 2,509 assaults, 199 burglaries, 305 robberies, 392 dangerous drugs offenses, 300 weapons offenses, and 207 sexual predatory offenses. As of December 1, 7,113 aliens in the custody of a New York jurisdiction have an active detainer. The crimes of these aliens include 148 homicides, 717 assaults, 134 burglaries, 106 robberies, 235 dangerous drugs offenses, 152 weapons offenses, and 260 sexual predatory offenses.