Mayor Mamdani Permanently Closes a Rikers Facility, Marking a Major Milestone Toward Closing the Jail Complex

 

North Infirmary Command permanently closes as City transfers three Rikers facilities to DCAS   

  

First property transfer on Rikers Island from DOC to DCAS since 2021 advances plans to close the jail complex  

Today, New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, Department of Correction (DOC) Commissioner Stanley Richards and Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) Commissioner Yume Kitasei announced major milestones in the City’s effort to close the jails on Rikers Island and replace them with a modern, borough-based jail system.   

  

Under the Mayor’s direction, DOC permanently closed the North Infirmary Command, a vacant jail that first opened in 1932, and transferred the facility to DCAS. The DOC also transferred jurisdiction over large portions of the George Motchan Detention Center (GMDC) and Anna M. Kross Center (AMKC) to DCAS. Neither facility currently houses people in custody. These are the first property transfers from DOC to DCAS since 2021.   

  

“For decades, Rikers Island has represented one of the deepest failures of our City government. It has failed people in custody, correction officers and every New Yorker who believes our justice system should live up to its name,” said Mayor Mamdani. “This milestone brings us closer to ending that chapter. We are replacing a system built around neglect with one centered on rehabilitation and accountability because public safety and human dignity are not competing values.”  

  

“Today’s announcement represents another important step toward closing Rikers Island,” said First Deputy Mayor Dean Fuleihan. “For too long, the people who are in custody and work on Rikers have been treated as an afterthought by City government. With this transfer, our Administration is showing New Yorkers that we are seriously committed to building a safer, more humane borough-based jail system and governing with compassion.”  

  

“This is not just about closing facilities; it is about building a modern, state-of-the-art system that promotes dignity for staff and those in our care,” said DOC Commissioner Stanley Richards.  “Now is the time to be ambitious and create a system that supports the lifesaving work of this Department while helping those in our care make meaningful changes that will allow them to thrive upon their return home. This is an important step toward a safer, more effective correctional system for our city and the communities we serve.”  

  

“Today’s announcement marks an important step in the city's ongoing efforts to close facilities on Rikers Island and advance the island's future,” said DCAS Commissioner Yume Kitasei. “In coordination with the Department of Correction, the North Infirmary Command and portions of the Anna M. Kross Center and George Motchan Detention Center are being moved into our agency portfolio, and we are looking forward to identifying meaningful future uses for these sites, including opportunities for sustainable infrastructure and other public purposes that serve the city’s long-term needs.”  

  

“Every facility we close and every jail we transfer brings us one step closer to finishing the job of closing Rikers Island. Today’s milestone is another example of the Mamdani administration turning a long-standing legal obligation into meaningful action through coordinated work across City government,” said Close Rikers Czar Dana Kaplan. “We are moving with urgency to transition away from Rikers while replacing it with a smaller, safer, and more humane correctional system.”

  

“Today’s transfers demonstrate the strong leadership we need to permanently end the failures of Rikers, and use the island for something that actually helps New Yorkers. Closing the decrepit, dangerous jails on Rikers is essential to safety and justice,” said Jonathan Lippman, former Chief Judge of New York State and chair of the Independent Rikers Commission. “That's why our Commission looks forward to working with the Administration and all stakeholders to replace Rikers with a safer, more effective system, and to bring the Renewable Rikers vision to life.”  

  

“Today’s announcement by Mayor Mamdani signals a welcome and unambiguous change in direction from the previous administration,” said Eric A. Goldstein, NYC Environment Director at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) and a public member of the Rikers Island Advisory Committee established by the City Council. “The post-incarceration future for Rikers Island envisions solar energy, composting, and modern wastewater facilities on the island that can produce hundreds of green jobs for city residents and turn an island of shame into a showplace of sustainability — social justice and environmental protection moving hand in hand.”  

  

The North Infirmary Command (NIC) originally opened in 1932 and most recently housed people in DOC custody with acute medical needs requiring infirmary-level care.   

  

The closure was made possible by Mayor Mamdani’s push to open the Outposted Therapeutic Housing Unit at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue in April. The 104-bed unit provides a therapeutic setting with direct access to specialty medical care and is the first of three planned Outposted Therapeutic Housing Units across the city.   

  

AMKC opened in 1978 and was once the largest jail on Rikers Island, spanning 40 acres. The facility stopped housing people in 2023, although Rikers’ main kitchen remains there. GMDC opened in 1971 and stopped housing people in 2018. Today, the facility serves as a DOC Training Academy annex, while its former visit house has been converted into a wellness center for correction officers.  

  

The City previously transferred the James A. Thomas Center and several parcels of unused land on Rikers Island to DCAS in 2021. With these additional transfers, the Mamdani administration will accelerate planning for future use of Rikers Island as the City continues the work of permanently closing the jail complex.   

The Department of Justice Files Complaints Against Massachusetts and Rhode Island Challenging State Laws that Provide In-State Tuition to Illegal Aliens

 

Today, the Department of Justice’s Civil Division filed complaints against Massachusetts and Rhode Island to challenge state laws that provide in-state tuition and financial assistance to illegal aliens. These laws unconstitutionally discriminate against U.S. citizens who are not afforded the same reduced tuition rates or scholarships, create incentives for illegal immigration, and reward illegal aliens with benefits that U.S. citizens are not eligible for, all in direct conflict with federal law.

“The Department of Justice is committed to fulfilling President Trump’s promise that illegal aliens will not receive taxpayer benefits or preferential treatment over America’s own citizens,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward. “As our Nation marks 250 years of freedom, we will continue to challenge state laws that place aliens over citizens in clear defiance of Congress’s commands.

“This is a simple matter of federal law: colleges cannot provide benefits to illegal aliens that they do not provide to U.S. citizens,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “This Department of Justice will not tolerate American students being treated like second-class citizens in their own country.”

In the complaints, the federal government seeks to enjoin enforcement of Massachusetts and Rhode Island laws that require colleges and universities to provide in-state tuition rates for all aliens who maintain in-state residency, regardless of whether those aliens are lawfully present in the United States. Additionally, the complaint seeks to enjoin Massachusetts and Rhode Island from enforcing state laws that afford financial assistance and scholarships to illegal aliens.

Today's filings mark three lawsuits in the past week challenging in-state tuition for illegal aliens, bringing the Department’s total in this series of actions to 12.

The Department’s efforts have already delivered several victories for the American people, as four similar lawsuits in Texas, Kentuck, Oklahoma, and Nebraska have resulted in favorable orders permanently enjoining and declaring unconstitutional analogous laws that gave reduced tuition to illegal aliens. Lawsuits against other states that similarly place illegal aliens ahead of U.S. citizens are pending across the country in  Illinoi, Minnesot, Virginia, California, New Jersey, and Kansas.

Attorney General James Announces Arrest of Medical Supply Company Owner for Stealing More Than $2.5 Million from Medicaid

 

Nduka Lewis Ekpenyong Charged Medicaid Millions for Pediatric Formula That Was Never Delivered to Children

New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced the arrest and indictment of Nduka Lewis Ekpenyong, 36, of Hewlett, New York arrest and indictment of Nduka Lewis Ekpenyong, 36, of Hewlett, New York for allegedly stealing more than $2.5 million from Medicaid through a fraud scheme that left children without the nutritional supplements they needed. An investigation by the Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) found that from April 13, 2023, to July 15, 2025, Ekpenyong submitted over 6,000 claims to Medicaid through his company, Duke Medical, Inc. (Duke Medical), for PediaSure with Peptides, but did not purchase the vast majority of the product for which he submitted claims to Medicaid. Ekpenyong pocketed more than $2.5 million from Medicaid through his false billing scheme, which he used to buy luxury cars, including a Bentley and a Range Rover, and pay the mortgage on his Long Island mansion. Ekpenyong and Duke Medical were charged with Grand Larceny, Healthcare Fraud, and Scheme to Defraud.

“While Nduka Ekpenyong was buying luxury cars with money he allegedly stole from our state’s Medicaid program, families affected by his fraud were struggling to feed their children,” said Attorney General James. “My office has shut down this heartless fraud scheme for good. This case should send a strong message to anyone seeking to profit by exploiting Medicaid: we will use the full force of the law to bring you to justice.”

Duke Medical is a medical supply company located in Brownsville, Brooklyn that provides medical equipment and supplies. The OAG’s investigation found that Ekpenyong allegedly instructed office staff at pediatric practices to alter doctors’ prescriptions for the basic PediaSure Nutritional Supplement and submit requests that would allow him to bill Medicaid for the more expensive, and medically unnecessary, PediaSure with Peptides. PediaSure with Peptides is intended only for children diagnosed with severe gastrointestinal issues.

Ekpenyong, through Duke Medical, allegedly submitted thousands of fraudulent reimbursement claims to Medicaid for cases of PediaSure with Peptides that Ekpenyong never actually ordered. In fact, an OAG audit revealed that Duke Medical purchased only 10 percent of the amount for which Ekpenyong billed Medicaid. As a result, Medicaid paid Duke Medical approximately $2,531,194.30 for PediaSure with Peptides that was not medically necessary, and in many cases, was not purchased or delivered by Duke Medical at all. The OAG’s investigation found that Duke Medical’s fraudulent scheme prevented some families in need from getting the formula their children’s pediatricians had ordered, preventing them from receiving the care they needed.

Ekpenyong’s house, which was partially paid for using stolen Medicaid funds, and his cars that were seized as a result of OAG’s investigation  

In addition to the criminal indictment against Ekpenyong and Duke Medical, Attorney General James filed a civil asset forfeiture action, allowing OAG to seize assets Ekpenyong purchased with his stolen Medicaid funds, including a Bentley and a Range Rover. The OAG’s civil asset forfeiture action also constrains Ekpenyong from selling his multi-million-dollar house on Long Island, the mortgage for which he paid using stolen Medicaid funds.

Ekpenyong and Duke Medical were charged with one count of Grand Larceny in the First Degree, one count of Health Care Fraud in the Second Degree, and one count of Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree. If convicted, Ekpenyong faces a maximum sentence of eight and a third to 25 years in state prison on the top count. The OAG’s civil asset forfeiture action seeks $7,593,582.90 in damages for Ekpenyong’s fraud.

These charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

Governor Hochul Announces the Launch of $30 Million Tariff Relief Program for New York Agricultural Producers

Applications for Dairy, Livestock, Specialty Crop and Aquaculture Producers Now Available

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the release of the $30 million Agricultural Resiliency Against Tariffs Program for New York agricultural producers. The program, first announced in the Governor’s 2026 State of the State address, will help offset rising costs and market loss that New York farmers faced in 2025 because of federal tariff policy. Applications for dairy, livestock, specialty crop and aquaculture producers are now available here.

“The tariffs imposed by the Trump administration are reckless and damaging to so many of our industries, including our agricultural producers, who rely so heavily on the forces of international markets.” Governor Hochul said. “I promised to stand up and fight for our farmers and I’m proud that our Agricultural Resiliency Against Tariffs Program will provide the much-needed relief to New York’s farmers who feed our communities.”

With an estimated 20 percent of a farmer’s income on average dependent on export markets of their product, the federal tariffs instituted in 2025 and resulting market instability are creating economic hardship for New York’s agricultural producers. In addition, farmers are facing the escalating costs imposed by tariffs on essential imports like grain, feed and other inputs. Over 80 percent of agrochemical imports and 70 percent of farm machinery imports originate from countries that were subjected to U.S. tariffs, making it difficult for farmers to secure alternative sources.

While the broader financial impact of tariffs on New York agricultural producers is still being calculated, many commodities have already reported financial burdens. For example, New York’s wine industry, which is the third largest in the nation, supports tens of thousands of jobs and New York’s grape growers, has seen significant impacts. Canada is the largest market for U.S. wine exports, including New York, and last year New York exports to this bordering country were down 77 percent, a major market loss at a time when the U.S. wine exports decreased 33 percent overall.

The Governor’s tariff relief program will provide direct payments of a minimum of $1,000 and a maximum of $25,000 to eligible producers. Distribution of funds will be determined through two tracks:

• Track 1: Cow Dairy Farms    
• Track 2: Livestock, Livestock Products, Specialty Crops, Aquaculture

Eligible applicants must fill out a general application, provide agricultural sales or milk production data and meet specific criteria, including:

• Applicants must have at least two-thirds of federal gross income in excess of $30,000 derived from agricultural activities, as defined by New York State Tax Law.
• Applicants must produce eligible crops within New York State.
• Eligibility and production data must be certified by a qualified financial professional.
• All applicants must provide a complete substitute W-9 form, necessary for payment.
• Dairy farm applicants must sign a records release form, allowing confirmation of milk production data.

The deadline to apply for the Tariff Relief Program is Tuesday, August 11, 2026. Only complete applications will be considered for payment. The application and detailed instructions on how to apply, including a webinar, are available on the Department’s webpage. Farmers are encouraged to begin the application process early to ensure all parts are completed and submitted by the deadline.

 

Mayor Mamdani Honors 2026 Knicks Championship Team With Temporary Street Co-Namings Across Manhattan

 

  

An NYC DOT worker installs a Josh Hart Street sign for a temporary co-naming. Credit: NYC DOT  

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Mike Flynn today announced that each member of the 2026 National Basketball Association (NBA) champion New York Knicks will be honored with a temporary street co-naming in Manhattan.  

  

Each blue-and-orange commemorative sign features a player’s name and jersey number. The street where each sign is installed corresponds to that player’s name and jersey number, creating a championship route through the heart of Manhattan.  

  

“This championship is bigger than basketball. It represents what our city is capable of when the odds are stacked against us. For as long as we live, every New Yorker will remember the feeling of our city coming together — not because of tragedy or adversity, but out of joy and happiness,” said Mayor Mamdani. “This championship belongs to every fan who packed our parks and plazas and every neighbor who high-fived a stranger after another impossible comeback. These street signs are a tribute to the players who delivered the championship generations of fans waited their whole lives to see and the city that stood behind them every step of the way. Long after the confetti is gone, New Yorkers will be able to walk these streets and remember the team that brought our city so much joy. Knicks in five.”  

  

“This New York Knicks team brought so much life to our streets during their magical playoff run, so it’s only right we return the favor,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn. “With each postseason win, more and more New Yorkers came together in the streets, on sidewalks and in plazas to watch the Knicks play and celebrate their improbable comebacks. New Yorkers will never forget this historic championship run or the players that brought them together for the most joyful 10 weeks we’ve ever experienced.”  

  

The Knicks captured their first NBA championship in 53 years with a 16-3 postseason record, completing one of the most memorable playoff runs in franchise history. Time and again, the team erased double-digit deficits and delivered dramatic comeback victories that united New Yorkers across all five boroughs.  

  

The temporary co-named streets will be installed today along Sixth and Seventh Avenues in Manhattan. Each sign will remain in place for four weeks. Street locations are listed below.  

  

•   Sixth Avenue and West Houston Street – Jordan Clarkson #00  

•   Sixth Avenue and Bleeker Street – Dillon Jones #1  

•   Sixth Avenue and Minetta Lane – Miles “Deuce” McBride #2  

•   Sixth Avenue and West 3 Street – Josh Hart #3  

•   Sixth Avenue and West 4 Street – Pacôme Dadiet #4  

•   Sixth Avenue and Washington Place – Jose Alvarado #5  

•   Sixth Avenue and West 8 Street – OG Anunoby #8  

•   Sixth Avenue and West 9 Street – Kevin McCullar Jr.# 9  

•   Seventh Avenue South and West 11 Street – Jalen Brunson #11  

•   Seventh Avenue and West 13 Street – Tyler Kolek #13  

•   Seventh Avenue and West 20 Street – Jeremy Sochan #20  

•   Seventh Avenue and West 23 Street – Mitchell Robinson #23  

•   Seventh Avenue and West 25 Street – Mikal Bridges #25  

•   Seventh Avenue and West 32 Street – Karl-Anthony Towns #32  

•   Sixth Avenue and West 44 Street – Landry Shamet #44  

•   Seventh Avenue and West 50 Street – Trey Jemison III #50  

•   Seventh Avenue and West 51 Street – Mohamed Diawara #51  
•   Seventh Avenue and West 55 Street – Ariel Hukporti #55  

Mayor Mamdani Breaks Ground on $255 Million River Commons Development, Bringing 328 Affordable and Supportive Homes to the South Bronx

 

229 homes will be reserved for low-income New Yorkers, including 98 supportive apartments for homeless New York City Health + Hospitals (H+H) patients    

Today, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, NYC Health + Hospitals, the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development and development partners broke ground on River Commons, a $255 million mixed-use development that will bring 328 affordable and supportive homes, an expanded public health care center and new public green space to the South Bronx.

Built on the campus of NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Morrisania River Commons marks the first time NYC Health + Hospitals has integrated a health care facility into a residential building on hospital property, bringing housing, health care and community services together in one place.

“New Yorkers deserve safe, affordable homes and the stability that comes with them,” said Mayor Mamdani. “River Commons will deliver 328 homes to the South Bronx, with nearly 70% reserved for low-income New Yorkers and 98 supportive apartments for homeless H+H patients. By bringing affordable housing, health care and community services together in one place, we’re investing New Yorkers who deserve a chance to build a secure future.”

“Our city is confronting both a housing and health care crisis, made even worse by federal attacks on the health care that New Yorkers rely on,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Dr. Helen Arteaga. “Despite these threats, the Mamdani Administration is creating deeply affordable homes alongside expanded health care services. This is what government can accomplish when we bring people together to meet New Yorkers’ needs.”

“For many New Yorkers, housing and health are inseparable. Our Housing for Health initiative addresses a holistic set of New Yorkers' needs, using our public land to build housing, provide medical services, and ensure residents are able to thrive,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing and Planning Leila Bozorg. “My thanks to the H+H, HPD, and development teams for their work to make River Commons a reality, and I look forward to delivering even more Housing for Health projects across the city as a part of our Block by Block housing plan.”

“Housing is a powerful prescription for so many of our patients to support their health,” said NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Mitchell Katz, MD. “Our Housing for Health initiative has placed nearly 2,000 patients experiencing homelessness into safe, stable homes. NYC Health + Hospitals is particularly proud to use our land to create more housing for our patients and our community. River Commons will be one of our largest housing projects in years, with affordable and supportive housing as well as additional primary care space. We are deeply grateful to our partners in and out of government for making this shared purpose a reality.”

“Residents of the South Bronx have long faced high barriers to quality healthcare and affordable housing. River Commons is a remedy, and this first-of-its-kind development is a model for what's possible when we think boldly about the intersection of housing and health," said Dina Levy, Commissioner of the Department of Housing Preservation & Development. "For more than 300 families, this marks the beginning of a new life. Children who grow up here will be able to focus on their homework without worrying about whether the heat's going to come on, or whether their parents will be able to make rent. I want to thank H+H, our development partners, and the dedicated staff at HPD who have spent years bringing River Commons to life."

“Housing is the foundation for health, stability, and opportunity, and a critical part of building stronger, healthier communities,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. “River Commons is a transformative investment in the South Bronx and a powerful example of the promise of the Jerome Avenue Neighborhood Plan, creating affordable housing, expanding access to healthcare, and ensuring that longtime residents can benefit from the growth and development taking place in our borough. Bringing together affordable and supportive housing, healthcare services, and community-based resources will help residents build brighter futures and strengthen the health and well-being of our communities. Thank you to NYC Health + Hospitals, Type A Projects, BronxWorks, L+M Development Partners, and all of our partners for helping create healthier, more equitable housing solutions where Bronx residents have the opportunity to thrive.”

“To improve the health of New Yorkers, NYC Health + Hospitals is always looking for innovative partnerships that can leverage City and private resources and creativity,” said Leora Jontef, Senior Assistant Vice President for Housing and Real Estate at NYC Health + Hospitals. “River Commons will do just that: it will transform a parking lot into over 300 new affordable and supportive homes while also expanding and improving spaces for care delivery for the larger community.”

“Gotham Health is proud to be part of this transformative project that will modernize Gotham Health, Morrisania and expand access to high-quality care for the Bronx,” said Michelle Lewis, CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health. “It reflects our commitment to innovative solutions that bring healthcare, housing, and community resources together to address the factors impacting health beyond the exam room.”

Located on the campus of NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Morrisania River Commons is financed in large part by the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development’s New Construction Finance (NCF) Extremely Low and Low-Income Affordability (ELLA) program, which supports housing for New Yorkers with the greatest need.

River Commons will transform an underused parking lot into a vibrant 17-story mixed-use building with 328 affordable and supportive homes. Nearly 70%, or 229 homes, will be reserved for New Yorkers earning between 30% and 70% of the area median income (AMI). Another 98 apartments will provide permanent supportive housing for NYC Health + Hospitals homeless patients through the hospital’s Housing for Health initiative.

Apartments will range from studios to three-bedroom homes. Residents will have access to a fitness center, children’s playroom, community room, coworking space, a 15th-floor community terrace and around-the-clock security. BronxWorks will provide on-site social, wellness and employment services for residents.

The development will also include a new 43,000-square-foot state-of-the-art health care facility for NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Morrisania, expanding access to primary care and allowing the clinic to serve more patients. The project also includes a 15,000-square-foot parking garage.

Along River Avenue, River Commons will create 6,000 square feet of community space for African Communities Together and the BronxWorks Empowerment Center, to serve the greater Bronx community. The development will also include a 7,000-square-foot public green space designed in partnership with the community, featuring a landscaped plaza and a public art installation by multidisciplinary artist, designer and educator Fitgi Saint-Louis that reflects the neighborhood’s history, culture and future.

Friends of the Hudson River Greenway in The Bronx - Summer '26

Friends of the Hudson River Greenway in the Bronx

Bronx, NY 10463

www.greenwaylink.org

Governor Hochul Marches in Annual New York City Pride March

Earlier today, Governor Kathy Hochul marched in New York City’s annual Pride March. The Governor also announced several expanded initiatives designed to increase support for LGBTQ+ New Yorkers, including additional investments to support LGBTQ+ youth and transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming communities (TGNCNB).