Nevada Businesswoman Sentenced to Prison for Fraudulent Scheme Seeking Millions in COVID-19 Tax Credits

 

Caused a Loss to the United States Exceeding $7 Million

A Nevada woman was sentenced today to 18 months in prison for conspiring to defraud the United States by filing false COVID-19 employment tax credits. The government recommended a sentence of 40 months’ imprisonment.

“The Fraud Division will not tolerate anyone who steals from public benefits programs designed to support Americans in need,” said Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division Colin M. McDonald. “If you attempt to defraud these programs, we will come after you with the full force of federal law. We are committed to safeguarding America’s tax dollars and the programs they are meant to support.”

“Today’s sentence, once again, highlights our District’s commitment to the American taxpayer that when people commit fraud, they will face the legal consequences of those criminal acts,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Adonia Stiles, of Las Vegas, was a real estate agent, tax preparer, and clothing store owner. Stiles conspired with others to file false tax returns fraudulently seeking refunds based on the employee retention credit (ERC) and sick and family leave credit. Congress created both the ERC and the sick and family leave credit to aid struggling businesses during the COVID-19 global pandemic. 

Stiles caused one of her co-conspirators, Candies Goode-McCoy, to file 11 false employment tax returns for Stiles’s clothing store seeking a total of more than $800,000 in refundable tax credits. Stiles also referred 18 other people to Goode-McCoy, for whom Goode-McCoy filed over 150 false employment tax returns. Goode-McCoy claimed $15 million in fraudulent tax credits on behalf of these taxpayers, which resulted in the United States paying out more than $7 million in refunds. In exchange for making these referrals to Goode McCoy, Stiles received at least $135,000. She did not report this income on her individual income tax returns. In April 2026, Goode-McCoy was sentenced to 54 months in prison for her role in the scheme.

In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey ordered Stiles to serve two years of supervised release and to pay $7,079,121.48 in restitution to the United States.

IRS Criminal Investigation and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration investigated the case.

Trial Attorney John C. Gerardi of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Anthony Lopez of the District of Nevada prosecuted the case.

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the 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.

Ten Pounds of Fentanyl Seized from Bronx Apartment - Two Daycare Centers in Building Evacuated

 

A short-term investigation into a fentanyl packaging and distribution operation led authorities to recover approximately 4.5 kilograms of suspected fentanyl (nearly 10 pounds) from a third-floor apartment at 2075 Morris Avenue, a five-story residential apartment building in the Fordham neighborhood of the Bronx.

As agents and officers entered the location, defendant Antonio CABRERA allegedly tossed some of the narcotics powder towards a nearby window inside of the apartment. The powder became airborne, prompting law enforcement officers to clear and secure the apartment and other areas in the building. Emergency responders evacuated 14 children from two daycare centers on the first floor as a precaution. No injuries were reported.

A criminal complaint filed by the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor (SNP) charges CABRERA with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree, Reckless Endangerment in the Second Degree, and Criminally using Drug Paraphernalia in the Second Degree.

Bridget G. Brennan, New York City’s Special Narcotics Prosecutor, Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark, Christopher Roberts, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) New York Task Force Division, New York City Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch, and New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James announced charges against CABRERA following his arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court last night. CABRERA was held in custody without bail being set.

The investigation was conducted by the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force Group T-14, with assistance from SNP’s Investigators Unit. Task Force Group T-14 is comprised of agents and officers from DEA New York Division, the New York City Police Department (NYPD), the New York State Police, and U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP). The NYPD’s Emergency Service Unit (ESU) and HazMat Team assisted, as did the NYPD K9 Unit.

“Once again the DEA New York Task Force Division, alongside our law Enforcement partners, has dismantled another fentanyl packaging and distribution operation operating out of a Bronx apartment building, which also housed two daycare facilities” stated DEA New York Task Force Division Special Agent in Charge Christopher Roberts. “In one particularly disturbing moment, as our Task Force agents, officers, and K-9 “Mulk” made entry into the apartment, the defendant attempted to dispose of the fentanyl powder by throwing it out of a window, exposing our personnel and residents living in the building to this deadly poison. This was not simply drug trafficking; it was blatant disregard for human life and could have become a death sentence for the innocent families living in the building. This operation underscores both the scale and the lethality of the threat we confront every day and highlights the grave danger these traffickers pose to our children, our neighbors, and our communities.”

Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan said, “I appreciate the hard work and sacrifice of the attorneys and investigators who identified a drug packaging operation in a Bronx residential building, suspected of distributing large amounts of deadly fentanyl. When officers entered the apartment, the potentially lethal drug was tossed out of a window, prompting the evacuation of two nearby childcare centers. I commend the investigators from our office, the NYPD, DEA and State Police who shut down the narcotics operation, and NYPD Emergency Service Unit and HazMat responders who ensured the safety of children in nearby daycare centers.”

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark said, “"This case is the latest to show the lethal threat that fentanyl poses to our community. As arresting officers closed in, this defendant in an attempt to separate himself from the narcotics and with no regard for innocent people in the building and on the street, allegedly tossed the drugs out of a third-floor window. It is a miracle that none of the children in the daycare center or people on the sidewalk were injured. I thank the investigators from the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor, the NYPD, DEA and New York State Police who joined forces to take down this fentanyl drug packaging operation. May this reinforce in the minds of the public that law enforcement is laser focused on ridding our community of these deadly drugs."

“This defendant recklessly packaged and distributed fentanyl from a Bronx building with two daycare centers, endangering the lives of innocent children." said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “The NYPD will work tirelessly to find drugs, shut down illegal pipelines, and hold criminals accountable. I thank our NYPD investigators and the Special Narcotics Prosecutor’s Office for their diligent work on this case, which recovered 4.5 kilograms of suspected fentanyl.”

New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James said, "This investigation demonstrates the critical importance of strong partnerships between local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. The amount of suspected fentanyl recovered had the potential to cause devastating harm to our communities, and the fact that this operation was taking place in a residential building with children nearby underscores just how dangerous these criminal activities can be. I commend the members of the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force, our State Police investigators, and all of our law enforcement partners for their professionalism, swift action, and unwavering commitment to protecting the people of New York."

During the short-term investigation, agents and officers with Task Force Group T-14 conducted physical and electronic surveillance. They observed CABRERA repeatedly entering and exiting 2075 Morris Avenue, Apt. 3J over the course of a week. On multiple occasions, he remained inside the apartment for approximately six to eight hours before leaving again.

On Monday, July 13, 2026, at approximately 2:30 p.m., agents and officers approached the apartment door accompanied by NYPD K9 “Mulk,” who alerted to the presence of narcotics. Agents and officers gained access to the apartment after hearing commotion inside and allegedly observed CABRERA cupping powdered narcotics with his hands and attempting to toss it out of a window. White powder coated surfaces in the apartment, including the floor.

Members of Task Force Group T-14 took CABRERA into custody and cleared the apartment. NYPD’s Emergency Service Unit (ESU) and HazMat Team responded to the scene and evacuated 14 children from the two daycare centers on the building’s first floor. No injuries were reported.

At approximately 3:30 p.m., detectives with the NYPD’s ESU conducted a court authorized search of the apartment and recovered nearly 10 pounds of fentanyl. Some of the fentanyl had already been packaged into glassine envelopes that were stamped with brand names in preparation for distribution.

All the equipment necessary for processing fentanyl was present, including blenders used for mixing narcotics, boxes of empty glassine envelopes, scales, stamps, and inkpads. Stamp names included "Black Mamba," "Pandemic," "Covid-19," "Blue Magic," and "Shot."

The results of DEA laboratory analysis on the recovered substances are pending.

Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget Brennan thanked Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark, and commended SNP’s Special Investigations Bureau and Investigators Unit, the DEA New York Task Force Division, the New York City Police Department, and the New York State Police for their work on the investigation.

Special Prosecutor Brennan also thanked the emergency medical responders and hazardous materials team from the NYPD for their quick response.

Defendant                                 

Antonio Cabrera                      

New York, NY                           

Age: 62 

Charges

CPCS 1st – 1 ct

Reckless Endangerment 2nd – 1 ct

Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia 2nd – 2cts                                     

The charges and allegations are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Owner Of Long Island Bus Company Sentenced to Prison for Multi Million-Dollar Bank Fraud

 

John B. Mensch Stole Over $9 Million From Two Banks to Keep His Insolvent Businesses Operating

Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, John B. Mensch, the owner and chief executive officer of a bus conglomerate based in Medford, Long Island, was sentenced by United States District Judge Nusrat J. Choudhury to 18 months in prison for bank fraud conspiracy.  Judge Choudhury also ordered Mensch to pay restitution in the amount of $9,326,366.03.  Mensch pleaded guilty to the charge in October 2024. 

Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Matt McCool, Special Agent in Charge, United States Secret Service, New York Field Office (USSS), announced the sentence. 

“John Mensch kept a failing business afloat by manipulating the banking system and exploiting the trust that financial institutions place in their customers,” stated United States Attorney Nocella.  “By cycling worthless checks through multiple bank accounts, the defendant obtained millions of dollars in funds that did not exist, creating the illusion of financial stability while concealing the company’s insolvency. Today’s sentence should serve to warn fraudsters like the defendant that the loss of freedom and restitution to victims is the price of their crimes.  This Office will continue to hold accountable those who abuse the financial system through sophisticated fraud schemes.”

“John Mensch’s feedback loop of fraud stole more than nine million dollars and manipulated financial institutions to keep his bankrupt business afloat. The FBI continues to hold accountable fraudsters who abuse our economic system for personal enrichment,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle.

“This was not a victimless crime.  It was a sophisticated scheme involving millions of dollars in fraudulent checks to benefit the defendant, while threatening the integrity of the banking system and harming his creditors, customers and employees,” stated USSS Special Agent in Charge McCool.  “This sentencing should serve as a warning to other criminal fraudsters: We will catch you and you will be held accountable.  Thanks to our partners in the New York law enforcement community and the Eastern District of New York for your collaboration in bringing justice in this case.”

Mensch was the owner and operator of East End, a transportation company that provided busing services for students on Long Island and elsewhere.  Between 2017 and September 2018, East End maintained numerous accounts—and was granted expedited check-clearing privileges—at banks located in Suffolk County, New York, and Orange County, New York.  Those privileges allowed East End to obtain near-immediate access to the deposited funds before the underlying checks had cleared.  Mensch and other East End executives abused those privileges by engaging in an elaborate “check-kiting” scheme, passing fraudulent checks between East End’s various accounts to keep East End operational despite being effectively insolvent. 

Specifically, Mensch and other East End executives drew checks on East End’s bank accounts at Financial Institution #1, despite those accounts containing insufficient funds to cover the checks.  Those bad checks were then deposited into East End’s bank accounts at Financial Institution #2, which, unaware that the checks would eventually bounce, allowed East End immediate access to the funds.  East End withdrew those funds to meet various financial obligations and then, before the checks bounced, conducted the same process in the reverse, drawing bad checks on its Financial Institution #2 accounts and depositing them into its Financial Institution #1 accounts to create the false impression that funds were available to cover the earlier checks.  This circular flow of worthless checks continued, with the banks advancing East End non-existent funds for several months until the scheme was detected in September 2018.  By that time, East End had obtained nearly $10 million dollars from Financial Institution #1 and Financial Institution #2, all of which it had spent while continuing to operate at a deficit. 

NYPD INSPECTOR INDICTED ON ATTEMPTED RAPE, SEXUAL ABUSE, ASSAULT AND OFFICIAL MISCONDUCT CHARGE

 

Defendant Allegedly Assaulted Female Subordinate Inside His Office

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced that NYPD Inspector Jeremy Scheublin has been indicted on charges including Attempted Rape, Sexual Abuse, Assault, Official Misconduct, and related offenses for allegedly sexually assaulting a female subordinate inside his office at the 46th Precinct stationhouse. 

District Attorney Clark said, “Members of the New York City Police Department are entrusted with tremendous authority and are held to the highest standards of integrity and conduct. The allegations against this defendant are deeply disturbing. He is accused of attempting to rape a female subordinate in his office and then threatening retaliation if she reported the assault. Alleged abuses of power of this nature demand a thorough investigation and vigorous prosecution.”

Inspector Jeremy Scheublin, 46, is charged in a Bronx County Supreme Court indictment with Attempted Rape in the First Degree, Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, Assault in the Second Degree, Assault in the Third Degree, Unlawful Imprisonment in the Second Degree, Forcible Touching, Official Misconduct, and Obstructing Governmental Administration in the Second Degree. 

Scheublin was arraigned before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Laurence Busching. Bail was set at $25,000/$75,000/$75,000. He is due back in court October 30, 2026. Scheublin has been suspended without pay by the NYPD.

According to the investigation, on January 1, 2025, Scheublin, while serving as Commanding Officer of the 46th Precinct, allegedly sexually assaulted a female subordinate inside his office at the precinct stationhouse. Investigators allege that the following day, Scheublin approached the victim and stated, “The last person who made accusations against me, it didn’t go well for them,” in an apparent attempt to discourage her from reporting the incident.

District Attorney Clark also thanked the NYPD Internal Affairs Bureau for its assistance with the investigation.

An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

Attorney General James Secures More Than $29 Million From Glenmark Pharmaceuticals for Illegal Scheme to Inflate Drug Prices

 

AG James Urges New Yorkers to Register Online to Check Eligibility and Claim Compensation

New York Attorney General Letitia James today joined a bipartisan coalition of 48 other attorneys general in securing more than $29 million from Glenmark Pharmaceuticals (Glenmark) for their role in a long running, coordinated scheme with other pharmaceutical companies to artificially inflate generic drug prices and reduce competition. The settlement is part of ongoing multistate lawsuits against dozens of companies that engaged in illegal agreements to coordinate the supply and sale of generic drugs to fix prices and boost profits. The companies in the scheme, some of which increased prices by 1,000 percent, manufactured essential medications to treat diseases ranging from diabetes to cancer to ADHD. Attorney General James is encouraging all New Yorkers who may have faced higher prices to register on the settlement website, check their eligibility, and submit a claim to seek compensation when the claims process begins.

“Affordable generic drugs are a lifeline for New Yorkers with heart conditions, diabetes, and a range of other chronic illnesses,” said Attorney General James. “Glenmark and other companies worked behind the scenes to boost their profits by illegally coordinating to raise drug prices, and now we are getting justice for the consumers who were harmed. I urge any New Yorker who may have been cheated by this scheme to find out if they are eligible for restitution and claim the money they are owed.”

New Yorkers who purchased a generic prescription drug listed here between May 2009 and December 2019 may be eligible for compensation. To determine your eligibility, call 1-866-290-0182 (toll-free), email info@AGGenericDrugs.com, or visit www.AGGenericDrugs.com. 

The settlement with Glenmark is the result of three lawsuits filed by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) and a coalition of attorneys general against some of the nation’s largest generic pharmaceutical companies. The first complaint included 18 corporate defendants, two individual defendants, and 15 generic drugs. Two former executives from Heritage Pharmaceuticals, Jeffery Glazer and Jason Malek, have since entered into settlement agreements and are cooperating. The second complaint was filed in 2019 against Teva Pharmaceuticals and 19 of the nation’s largest generic drug manufacturers. The complaint names 16 individual senior executive defendants. The third complaint, to be tried first, focuses on 80 primarily topical generic drugs that account for billions of dollars of sales in the United States and names 26 corporate defendants and 10 individual defendants. Six additional pharmaceutical executives have entered into settlement agreements with the coalition of attorneys general and have been cooperating to support the states’ claims in all three cases.

The lawsuits allege these companies engaged in a broad, coordinated, and systematic conspiracy to fix prices, avoid competition, and rig bids for more than 100 different generic drugs. The companies maintained an interconnected web of industry executives where competitors met with each other during industry dinners, lunches, cocktail parties, and golf outings, and communicated via frequent telephone calls, emails, and text messages that sowed the seeds for their illegal agreements. Defendants used terms like “fair share,” “playing nice in the sandbox,” and “responsible competitor” to describe how they unlawfully discouraged competition, raised prices, and enforced an ingrained culture of collusion.

The drugs included in the scheme span all types – including tablets, capsules, creams, and ointments – and classes – including antibiotics, anti-depressants, contraceptives, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. They treat a range of diseases and conditions from basic infections to diabetes, cancer, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, HIV, ADHD, and more. In some instances, the coordinated price increases were over 1,000 percent.

Under the terms of the settlement, Glenmark will pay $25 million with interest over the course of the next four years, for a total of $29,668,000. The funds will be distributed to impacted consumers across the coalition states. Glenmark will also implement internal reforms to ensure fair competition and compliance with antitrust laws, including implementing an antitrust compliance program with annual training of sales and management staff.

Joining Attorney General James in securing the settlements are the attorneys general of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, the District of Columbia, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Governor Hochul Issues Update on Statewide Air Quality to Keep New Yorkers Safe

Smoke From Canadian Wildfires and High Temperatures Will Create Unhealthy Air Conditions in New York

With Visible Smoke Statewide, New Yorkers Encouraged To Take Precautions and Be ‘Air Quality Aware’

Air Quality Tracked by DEC Meteorologists Using Data From More Than 50 Sites Across New York State

Governor Kathy Hochul today warned New Yorkers that smoke from wildfires in Canada and high temperatures will create unhealthy air conditions in New York. The smoke, which will be visible, is set to cross into the western part of the state in the early morning before moving across the rest of the state throughout the day.

“Distant wildfires have impacted New York State in recent years, and this week unfortunately will be no different with expected hazy skies and poor air quality,” Governor Hochul said. “We are now closely tracking these conditions and I strongly encourage New Yorkers to stay informed and take appropriate precautions to stay safe. Sensitive groups should take particular caution.”

The latest forecast indicates variable Air Quality Index levels throughout the day that are expected to create unhealthy air quality conditions. Smoke will be visible in the atmosphere but may not reach the ground level where people breathe.

New York State updated an Air Quality Health Advisory for fine particulate matter for today, July 15, 2026, to include all regions of New York State due to the impact of smoke from wildfires in Canada. While the western regions are expected to see the greatest impact, there will likely be spikes of poor air quality throughout the state. There is the potential for visible smoke and hazy skies across the state and New Yorkers may see temporary spikes in smoke-related pollution.

The New York Department of Environmental Conservation and the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services will be closely monitoring conditions to make any necessary changes to advisories. New York residents and visitors are reminded to include air quality awareness in their daily warm weather routines.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) provides daily air quality forecasts to ensure air quality information is available at New Yorkers’ fingertips. While New York State has some of the nation’s most stringent air quality regulations to reduce air pollution and protect public health and the environment, there are certain days that ozone or particulate matter can impact air quality.

Using data collected from more than 50 sites across the state, DEC and Department of Health (DOH) issue Air Quality Health Advisories when DEC meteorologists predict levels of pollution, either ozone or 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. 

AQI Health Guidelines

AQI health guidelines are associated with recommendations to protect impacted populations.

• 0-50: Good – Air quality is considered satisfactory and air pollution poses little or no risk.
• 51-100: Moderate – Air quality is acceptable. However, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are usually sensitive to air pollution.
• 101-150: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups – Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected. Sensitive groups include people with asthma, heart or lung disease, older adults, children and teenagers, minority populations, and outdoor workers.
• 151-200: Unhealthy – Everyone may begin to experience health effects. Members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects.
• 201-300: Very Unhealthy – Health alert. Everyone may experience more serious health effects.
• 301-500: Hazardous – Health warnings of emergency conditions. The entire population is more likely to be affected.

The Air Quality Health Advisory for PM2.5 was issued for July 15 applied statewide and remains in effect through 11:59 p.m.

The AQI is forecasted to exceed 100, and could go above 150. When the AQI is above 100, air quality may be unhealthy for sensitive groups, including children, teens, older adults, people with heart or lung disease, and outdoor workers. An AQI above 150 means the air is unhealthy for everyone. We urge everyone, especially those in sensitive groups, to check their local AQI and take precautions as needed. 

Double Decker: Mayor Mamdani Advances First Busway in the Bronx, Launches Community Engagement for Three Bus Rapid Transit Corridors in Brooklyn

 

Just one week after unveiling historic plan with Governor Hochul to speed up 175 bus routes by up to six minutes, Mayor advances four major transit projects

 

Tremont Avenue busway will shorten commutes for 39,000 daily riders

 

Community engagement begins to transform three Central Brooklyn corridors, delivering faster trips for 150,000 riders along 13 bus routes every day  

 

City will deliver a new, world-class Bus Rapid Transit corridor on Flatbush Avenue by 2030   

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Mike Flynn today advanced major transit projects in the Bronx and Brooklyn that will speed commutes for nearly 200,000 bus riders every day.

The announcement comes just one week after Mayor Mamdani and Governor Hochul launched Next Stop: Fast Buses, Better Service, a comprehensive plan to make buses up to six minutes faster on more than 175 routes across the city.

In the Bronx, the City will install the long-delayed Tremont Avenue busway later this year. In Brooklyn, the City is launching a summer of community engagement to shape immediate improvements and a long-term vision for Bus Rapid Transit on three of the borough’s busiest transit corridors: Flatbush Avenue, Utica Avenue and Church Avenue.

On Flatbush Avenue, where construction is already underway on a center-running bus lane between Livingston Street and Grand Army Plaza, the City will build a full Bus Rapid Transit corridor by 2030. Bus Rapid Transit delivers faster, more reliable service through dedicated bus lanes and busways, techniques that give buses a head start at intersections, world-class stations with more seating and shelter, expanded public space and greenery and more frequent service.

Since January, the Mamdani administration has advanced major projects to speed buses along Fordham Road and 161st Street in the Bronx; 34th Street, 116th Street, Madison Avenue and Lexington Avenue in Manhattan; Marcy Avenue, Flatbush Avenue and Linden Boulevard in Brooklyn; Victory Boulevard on Staten Island; and Broadway in Queens.

“New Yorkers should not lose hours of their lives sitting in traffic on a bus. From the Bronx to Brooklyn, we’re building streets that move people instead of sticking them in gridlock,” said Mayor Mamdani. “These projects will make commutes faster, make our streets safer and return precious time to nearly 200,000 New Yorkers every single day. That’s exactly what public transit should do.”

“Just last week, I stood with Mayor Mamdani and the MTA and committed to bus riders a new era of faster speeds and better trips, all made possible through a historic collaboration between state and city leaders,” said Governor Hochul. “Today, we are moving full speed ahead, decisively advancing projects that will help hundreds of thousands of riders move faster and laying the groundwork for even more service improvements across the five boroughs to come.”

“When we said that we were going to make buses faster, we meant it — now upgrades are on the way in some of the City’s most bus-dependent communities,” said MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber. “This is what happens when the State, City and MTA are on the same page about speeding up service. Tremont and Central Brooklyn are just the beginning.”

“Along Tremont Avenue in the Bronx and all through central Brooklyn, slow, unreliable buses are robbing New Yorkers’ of their precious time every day,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn. “We want New Yorkers to have faith in our outreach, and that starts with actually delivering on projects promised years ago, like on Tremont Avenue, where riders deal with unreliable, over-packed buses every day. We look forward to discussing the possibilities for fast buses through Central Brooklyn this year as we develop exciting proposes for critical bus corridors in the area.”

“Today’s dual bus project announcements show that from the Bronx to Brooklyn, this Mayor is focused on delivering real results for New Yorkers on better buses,” said Elizabeth Adams, Senior Advisor for Fast and Free Buses for Mayor Mamdani. “The proof is in the pudding — and this administration is unsticking stalled projects, rolling out new bus corridor plans and taking immediate steps to bring Bus Rapid Transit to New York City. We aren’t waiting because we know bus riders have no time to waste when it comes to faster bus service. The Bronx is long overdue on getting its first busway on Tremont Avenue, and today’s announcement on central Brooklyn public engagement shows we are thinking differently when it comes to reaching bus riders. We’ll be out in the streets talking with New Yorkers directly about ways to improve their commute and speed up their buses. The millions of New Yorkers who depend on our buses everyday should have a say.”

The Bronx’s First Busway: Tremont Avenue

Mayor Mamdani today announced that the City will install the Bronx’s first busway on Tremont Avenue, delivering faster, more reliable service for 39,000 daily riders while making one of the borough’s busiest and most dangerous corridors safer.

Tremont serves the Bx36, where buses current travel as slowly as 5 mph, and connects riders to nearby subway routes and the Metro-North Railroad service. The corridor is home to a transit-dependent community, with 72% of households not owning a private car.

Tremont is also among the Bronx’s most dangerous streets, with one of the borough’s highest rates of pedestrian fatalities per mile. Between 2020 and 2024, nearly 630 people were injured in crashes along the corridor. There were 46 people severely injured and four traffic deaths in that period.

The redesign will improve safety while speeding bus service. Busways across New York City have increased bus speeds by as much as 60% while reducing injuries by up to 45%.

The project will include: 

• An eastbound busway from Third Avenue to Southern Boulevard. 
• A westbound busway from Southern Boulevard to Belmont Avenue. 
• An offset shared bus-and-bike lane eastbound from Webster Avenue to Third Avenue.  

As part of the project, NYC DOT will also improve safety at intersections: 

• Tremont Avenue and Webster Avenue. 
• Tremont Avenue and Third Avenue. 
• Tremont Avenue, Southern Boulevard and Crotona Parkway. 
• Third Avenue and East 175th Street. 
• Southern Boulevard, Crotona Parkway and 180th Street. 
• Crotona Avenue and 180th Street. 
• Third Avenue and 180th Street. 
• Tremont Avenue and Washington Avenue. 

The redesign will add painted sidewalk extensions that shorten crossing distances for pedestrians and naturally slow turning vehicles. The curb extensions will be reinforced with flexible delineators, granite blocks and bicycle parking to discourage illegal parking.

The busway will operate seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Buses, trucks with six or more wheels, emergency vehicles and Access-a-Ride vehicles will be permitted to travel the full corridor. Other vehicles, including taxis and for-hire vehicles, may enter only for local access and must exit at the next available right turn.

More information can be found online at nyc.gov/tremontbusway.

Next Stop: Fast Buses for Central Brooklyn

Central Brooklyn is home to three of the city’s most important bus corridors — Flatbush Avenue, Utica Avenue and Church Avenue — which together carry 150,000 bus riders every day across 13 routes where buses move as slowly as 5 mph.

One week after announcing the Next Stop bus action plan, Mayor Mamdani is launching a community engagement process to develop faster, more reliable bus service throughout Central Brooklyn.

NYC DOT and the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) will develop short-term bus-priority improvements that can be implemented as early as next year while also creating a long-term vision for world-class bus service, including new Bus Rapid Transit corridors on Utica Avenue, Church Avenue and Flatbush Avenue, with Flatbush coming online by 2030.

The community engagement campaign will include: 

• An online feedback portal, open July 15 through October 31. 
• Bus rider engagement events beginning August 6 at 6 p.m. in Central Brooklyn. RSVP for exact location at organize.nyc.gov/fastbuses. 
• Surveys of riders, pedestrians, local health and educational institutions, businesses and other stakeholders. 
• Outreach at Open Streets events, block parties and community events. 

Following the summer engagement process, NYC DOT expects to release updated plans for bus-priority improvements this fall.

New Yorkers can learn more about Next Stop: Fast Buses for Central Brooklyn at nyc.gov/fastbuses-centralbk.

Read Next Stop: Fast Buses, Better Service for more information on the City’s bus action plan.

Permits Filed for 2786 Webster Avenue in Fordham, The Bronx

 

Permits have been filed for an 11-story mixed-use building at 2786 Webster Avenue in Fordham, The Bronx. Located between Bedford Park Boulevard and East Fordham Road, the lot is closest to the Kingsbridge Road subway station, served by the B and D trains. Yonah Grunhut of Grun Group LLC is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 103-foot-tall development will yield 75,380 square feet, with 52,081 square feet designated for residential space and 23,299 square feet for commercial space. The building will have 99 residences, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 526 square feet. The concrete-based structure will also have a 10-foot-long rear yard but no accessory parking.

Leandro Nil Dickson Architect, LLC is listed as the architect of record.

Demolition permits will likely not be needed as the lot is vacant. An estimated completion date has not been announced.