New Yorkers for Parks - August Newsletter: 1 week 'til Daffodil Project registration

 

Just 1 week ‘til 2026 Daffodil Project registration

Registration for the 2026 Daffodil Project goes live on Monday, August 17th at 9:00 am! We're excited to announce seven distributions taking place across the city in October. We hope you’ll join us to celebrate 25th anniversary of this beloved civic initiative.*

Saturday, October 3 – Prospect Park Plaza West, Brooklyn  Sunday, October 4 – Union Square North Plaza, Manhattan  Saturday, October 10 – 34th Ave Open Street, Queens  Sunday, October 11 – Willowbrook Park, Staten Island  Sunday, October 11 – 58-03 Rockaway Blvd at RISE HQ, Far Rockway   Saturday, October 17 – A. Philip Randolph Square, Harlem  Sunday, October 18 – St. Mary’s Park, Bronx

Once again, we're partnering with NYC Parks Plant Ecology Center and Nursery (PECAN) to distribute native perennial seeds at each distribution along with daffodil bulbs. Native seeds support pollinators, biodiversity and resilient ecosystems!  For the 25th anniversary, we want to hear from you, the people who make this living memorial what it is. If you have a story to tell about the Daffodil Project or want to share what it means to you, please reach out to cnelson@ny4p.org.  Interested in volunteering at a distribution, or at our native seed packing event? Sign up at the link below. And if you know someone who wants to participate this year, have them join our mailing list.  *Please note that distribution dates are subject to change  Volunteer with the Daffodil Project NY4P partners with Speaker Menin, Cornell Tech on Generative Canopy project Cornell Tech's Generative Canopy initiative is putting advanced AI, aerial imagery, and existing tree census data to work, mapping NYC's urban canopy tree by tree. The tool measures how much cooling shade individual trees provide and pinpoints exactly where new trees are needed most.  NY4P is proud to partner with New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin and Cornell Tech on this effort to strengthen NYC's tree canopy. Community engagement is central to the work: we'll be building planting plans with direct input from residents in heat-vulnerable neighborhoods.  Stay tuned for details on upcoming tree-focused visioning sessions at Community Boards in Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx.  Thanks to Council Members Ty Hankerson, Justin Sanchez, Shanel Thomas Henry, Carmen De La Rosa, Phil Wong, and Sandy Nurse for supporting this initiative!  Read more in Cornell Chronicle "POPS for the People" tours Lower Manhattan public spaces This week, NY4P supported a "POPS for the People" walking tour through Lower Manhattan, hosted by Field Notes. The tour brought together public realm professionals, advocates, designers, planners, and community leaders to observe and discuss New York City's Privately Owned Public Spaces (POPS).  We're grateful for the participation of NYC Department of Buildings Commissioner Ahmed Tigani and the DOB team. Commissioner Tigani's willingness to walk the spaces, hear directly from advocates, and engage with people who care about public space sent a strong signal about DOB's commitment to improving POPS and recognizing them as valuable public assets.  The tour was a chance to explore both the promise of these spaces and the work still needed to make them more welcoming and accessible for all New Yorkers.  Play Fair highlight: Queens Community House Queens Community House (QCH) is one of Queens' largest nonprofit organizations, serving more than 34,000 children, youth, adults, and older adults each year with programs that help people thrive at every stage of life. For more than 50 years, QCH has partnered with residents to strengthen neighborhoods through community organizing, civic engagement, and advocacy. Through QCH Neighbors in Action, volunteers come together to clean parks, build community, and advocate for healthier, more welcoming public spaces—including monthly cleanups at Flushing Meadows Corona Park. On August 13, QCH will join residents and community partners for a rally to build support for a stronger, better-funded Flushing Meadows Corona Park, recognizing that vibrant, well-maintained public spaces are essential to healthy, thriving communities.  Learn more Join the next Play Fair Coalition August meeting on August 11 This Tuesday, August 11, NY4P will convene the Play Fair Coalition and parks advocates over Zoom to discuss the Daffodil Project, summer programming, and advocacy opportunities.      Play Fair Coalition July Meeting    Tuesday, August 11      12 PM to 1 PM      Click to access the Zoom link  Be a Part of It! Calling all parks people: Become an NY4P member with a monthly donation of $5 or more! You’ll help sustain our work and enjoy special access to advocacy opportunities and events. See you outside!   Become a Member! NY4P in the News Cornell Chronicle: Tree-focused tech aims to bring more shade to vulnerable New Yorkers  PIX 11: NYC funds AI maps to fight heat and help plan new planting  Brooklyn Daily Eagle: Registration for 25th annual Daffodil Project opens Aug. 17  New York City Council: Speaker Julie Menin and Council Members Announce Funding for Tree Canopy Research to Combat Extreme Heat  NYLCV: NYC Parks: Boosting Community, Quality of Life, and Resilience Since 1686  CBS News: NYC getting funding for tree research project  Since 1908, NY4P has protected and promoted open space across the city. Today we're the only independent non-profit championing quality open space for all New Yorkers.   NY4P is a 501(c)3 non-profit charitable organization, All donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

Permits Filed for 2419 Crotona Avenue in Belmont, The Bronx

 

Permits have been filed for a six-story residential building at 2419 Crotona Avenue in Belmont, The Bronx. Located between East 187th Street and East 189th Street, the lot is near the Fordham Road subway station, served by the B and D trains. Doug Pelinkovic is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 70-foot-tall development will yield 36,994 square feet designated for residential space. The building will have 54 residences, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 685 square feet. The masonry-based structure will also have a 20-foot-long rear yard and four enclosed parking spaces.

John Backos of Grid Drafting and Consulting LLC is listed as the architect of record.

Demolition permits were filed in early 2026 for the two-story structure on the site. An estimated completion date has not been announced.

Construction Nears Completion On 307 Bruckner Boulevard In Port Morris, The Bronx

 

Construction is nearing completion on 307 Bruckner Boulevard, a two-story last-mile logistics facility in Port Morris, The Bronx. Designed by AO Architects and developed by the Sterling Organization, the 59-foot-tall structure spans approximately 100,000 square feet. The project includes approximately 46,000 square feet of covered fleet parking and storage, a 46,000-square-foot high-bay warehouse with 36-foot clear heights, an 8,200-square-foot mezzanine, four loading docks, and two drive-in doors.

Since our last update in August 2023, when permits were filed for the two-story warehouse and demolition permits had been submitted earlier that month, the steel-based structure has been erected and exterior work is finishing up. The facility is scheduled to open in the third quarter of 2026.

The building is designed for modern urban logistics, a product type rarely found within the five boroughs. The ground level comprises approximately 46,000 square feet of covered fleet parking and storage, topped by a 46,000-square-foot warehouse bay with 36-foot clear heights. An 8,200-square-foot mezzanine provides additional operational space. Infrastructure includes ESFR fire protection and 4,000 amps of power.

The nearest subway from the site is the 6 train at the Cypress Avenue station, two blocks south. The property is located less than a mile from the RFK, Willis Avenue, and Third Avenue bridges, with immediate access to the Bruckner and Major Deegan expressways.

ICE Arrests Illegal Aliens Charged for Thefts in West Virginia, Including $21,000 Worth of Jewelry

 

All three criminal illegal aliens were RELEASED into the country by the Biden Administration

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the following statement after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested three illegal aliens charged with larceny after several thefts occurred on the same day in West Virginia. 

According to local reporting, the two separate thefts took place on July 26, with one in Weston and the other in Sutton. In the first case, while a Walmart in Weston was undergoing repairs from flood damage, two suspects were arrested after $21,000 worth of jewelry was stolen from a secure display case during the cleanup. In the second case, a suspect was arrested for a separate theft in Sutton.

The suspects in the Walmart theft are Deivis Willyan Diaz and Daniel Alberto Arias Ramirez, who have been charged with grand larceny and conspiracy to commit a felony. Diaz’s criminal history includes arrests for assault and carrying a concealed weapon in Colorado. The suspect in the Sutton theft is Oscar Jose Hernandez Silva, who has been charged with petit larceny.

Deivis Willyan Diaz

Daniel Alberto Arias Ramirez

Oscar Jose Hernandez Silva

All three suspects are criminal illegal aliens from Venezuela. Local authorities have since turned them over to ICE custody.

“These three criminal illegal aliens are all charged with larceny after two separate thefts on the same day in West Virginia,” said a DHS Spokesperson. “None of these illegal aliens would have been in our country if it weren’t for the reckless open-border policies of the Biden Administration, which RELEASED them all into our communities. Thanks to our state and local partners, these criminals are now in ICE custody and we will REMOVE them from our country.” 

Diaz illegally entered the United States through Texas in April 2024, and was RELEASED into the country by the Biden Administration. Ramirez illegally entered the United States through Texas in December 2023, and was RELEASED by the Biden Administration. A Department of Justice (DOJ) Immigration Judge issued Ramirez a final order of removal on December 4, 2024. Hernandez illegally entered the United States through California in May 2024, and was RELEASED into the country by the Biden Administration.

Interstate Cocaine Trafficker Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison Following Conviction at New York Trial

 

Carlos ALMONTE PALMERS, convicted for his role in an interstate narcotics trafficking organization, received a 14-year prison sentence for Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree following a jury trial prosecuted by the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor for the City of New York. The sentence was imposed in Manhattan Supreme Court by Acting Supreme Court Justice Sara Litman, who presided over the two-week trial that concluded with a conviction on June 26, 2026. 

The multi-agency investigation into interstate narcotics trafficking resulted in the seizure of approximately 20 kilograms (nearly 45 pounds) of cocaine, carrying a street value of more than $1 million, from a Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by ALMONTE PALMERS on March 13, 2024. Members of U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) New York Task Force Division Group T-41 tracked the vehicle from Connecticut through New York City to a truck stop in New Jersey, where ALMONTE PALMERS picked up the load of cocaine. 

As detailed at his sentencing, ALMONTE PALMERS faced a minimum of 12 years in prison due to his status as a predicate felon. He was previously deported from New York to the Dominican Republic in 2022, after serving an eight-year sentence for a prior Bronx conviction for Attempted Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree. 

DEA New York Task Force Division Group T-41 is comprised of agents and officers from DEA New York Division, the New York City Police Department (NYPD), and the New York State Police, with assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service New York Division.

“This 14-year prison sentence sends a clear message to those looking to use our nation’s highways to traffic deadly narcotics into our communities, that your actions will have consequences,” stated DEA New York Task Force Division Special Agent in Charge Christopher Roberts. “The seizure of nearly 45 pounds of cocaine prevented more than a million dollars’ worth of poison from reaching neighborhoods throughout New York and the Northeast corridor. This outcome is the result of relentless investigative work and seamless coordination among our federal, state, and local partners. I commend the outstanding efforts of the DEA New York Task Force Division, comprised of DEA Special Agents and Task Force Officers from the NYPD and NYS Police. I also would like to extend my sincere appreciation to our prosecuting partners, whose unwavering commitment ensured this dangerous trafficker was brought to justice. Together, we remain committed to disrupting the criminal organizations that profit from addiction and violence.”

Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan said, “The sentence imposed in this case reflects the devastating impact of high-level narcotics trafficking. Thousands of precious lives across the US are lost to cocaine related overdose each year – often when cocaine is mixed with fentanyl and other deadly substances.  Our office and partner agencies relentless track and prosecute narcotics organizations that rake in millions by endangering the lives of our friends, neighbors, and loved ones.”

“This defendant attempted to flood our city with nearly 45 pounds of cocaine, but our interagency task force was there to stop him,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “Our investigators tracked down the defendant’s car as he crossed state lines, and because of their diligent work, those drugs never made it to our streets. I thank our NYPD investigators and the Special Narcotics Prosecutor’s Office for their commitment to identifying drug traffickers and working together to hold these criminals accountable.” 

On March 13, 2024, at approximately 7 p.m., members of NYDETF Group T-41 conducted surveillance as the white Jeep Grand Cherokee, registered to ALMONTE PALMERS in Massachusetts, travelled southbound on I-95 from the New York State/Connecticut border. Geolocation data showed the Jeep had started traveling at or around Lawrence, Mass. The Jeep crossed into the Bronx and Manhattan, and then over the George Washington Bridge towards New Jersey. 

At approximately 7:50 p.m., the Jeep stopped at the Alexander Hamilton Travel Plaza in Secaucus, N.J., and pulled beside a large tractor trailer. Minutes later, the Jeep drove away heading towards New York City and into the Bronx. Agents and officers stopped the vehicle on the Major Deegan Expressway near the Cross County Parkway exit in Yonkers an hour later and recovered a large duffel bag stuffed with rectangular objects that proved to be 20 kilograms of narcotics. DEA laboratory analysis later identified the seized narcotics as cocaine.

Evidence presented at trial demonstrated that ALMONTE PALMERS made similar same-day trips on several prior occasions from Massachusetts to the New York City area.

Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget Brennan thanked Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark, and commended Assistant District Attorneys Oleg M. Shik and Luke X. Flynn-Fitzsimmons of SNP’s Special Investigations Bureau, Trial Preparation Assistant Kayla Paolicelli, Senior Trial Preparation Assistant Kristine Lamburini, J. Patrick Slattery, Deputy in Charge, Digital Forensics and Litigation Unit, and Investigative Analyst Natalie Vitale for their work on the prosecution and trial. She also commended the DEA New York Task Force Division, the New York City Police Department, the New York State Police, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service New York Division for their work on the investigation.

Convicted	Charge	Sentence Imposed
Carlos Almonte Palmers  Worcester, MA  Age: 45	CPCS 1st – 1 ct	14 years in New York State prison;  5 years post-release supervision

D.A. Bragg: Man Indicted On Hate Crime Charges In Anti-Gay Attack On Child On Lower East Side

 

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., announced the indictment of KEVIN MAXWELL, 37, for allegedly assaulting a 12-year-old boy in an anti-gay attack at Baruch Playground on the Lower East Side in April 2026. MAXWELL is charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with Assault in the Second Degree as a Hate Crime, Assault in the Third Degree as a Hate Crime and Endangering the Welfare of a Child, among other charges. [1]

“Hate crimes undermine the values of dignity, safety and inclusion that define our city,” said District Attorney Bragg. “As alleged, Kevin Maxwell violently attacked an innocent and vulnerable child – a stranger – while directing hateful language at him. Every child deserves to feel safe in our parks and other shared spaces, and we are dedicated to protecting New Yorkers by using every tool available to hold those who commit bias-motivated attacks accountable.”

As alleged in court documents and statements made on the record in court, on April 29, 2026, at approximately 6:00 p.m., the 12-year-old boy was with friends at Baruch Playground in the New York City Housing Authority’s Bernard M. Baruch Houses on the Lower East Side. MAXWELL approached the child and stated, in substance, that he should be mindful of his property to avoid it getting stolen. When the child did not respond and instead hummed and sang to himself, MAXWELL allegedly called the child “stupid” and made an anti-gay remark. Shortly after, MAXWELL left the playground and went to a nearby building.

A few minutes later, MAXWELL returned carrying a belt. He approached the child and allegedly hit him with the belt, lacerating his shoulder. As further alleged, MAXWELL repeatedly called the child “gay” during the assault.

MAXWELL was arrested on July 5, 2026.

D.A. Bragg thanked the NYPD, particularly Detective Steven Acevedo of the Hate Crimes Task Force.

Justice Department Partners with Tennessee Attorney General to Preserve Competition for Asphalt in Western Tennessee

 

The Proposed Settlement with Two of Western Tennessee’s Largest Hot-Mix Asphalt Suppliers would Prevent Competitive Harm from APAC’s Purchase of Standard Construction

The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, joined by the Attorney General of Tennessee, announced that they will require CRH and its subsidiary APAC-Tennessee to divest two hot-mix asphalt plants as part of its acquisition of Standard Construction to address antitrust concerns in western Tennessee. 

“This settlement is a model for how government works better when federal law enforcers collaborate with states in protecting local interests from competitive harm,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward Jr. “I thank Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti for his partnership to protect critical roadway infrastructure in western Tennessee and preserve the state and federal funds that pay for it.”  

“State antitrust enforcers can play an important role in merger enforcement in local markets in which potential harm is limited to a single state,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General G. Charles Beller of the Justice Department's Antitrust Division. “I am proud of our partnership with the Tennessee Attorney General and our collective efforts to preserve competition in local asphalt markets. This enforcement action builds on recent consent settlements we have taken alongside other state attorneys general to obtain local concrete plant divestitures in California and power plant divestitures in Texas.”

The divestiture is part of a proposed settlement that was filed at the same time as a civil antitrust lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee to block APAC’s proposed acquisition of hot-mix asphalt plants from Standard Construction. The proposed settlement, if approved by the court, will resolve concerns that the transaction, as originally proposed, would likely harm competition, leading to higher prices, lower quality, and less favorable terms for hot-mix asphalt used by the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

The Antitrust Division is actively collaborating with state antitrust enforcers in reviewing mergers in which potential competitive harm is local. State enforcers often bring significant local expertise, and their participation and leadership in local matters helps preserve federal resources for matters of regional and national significance. 

As alleged in the complaint, APAC and Standard Construction are two of the three leading suppliers of hot-mix asphalt in western Tennessee. The acquisition, as originally proposed, would have left the Tennessee Department of Transportation and other customers with fewer choices and higher prices. The proposed settlement requires APAC and Standard to divest two hot-mix asphalt plants in western Tennessee to Dunn Construction of Birmingham, Alabama. 

CRH plc, headquartered in Ireland, is a global supplier of building materials. In 2025, CRH had global sales of approximately $37.4 billion, with sales in the United States of approximately $10 billion through subsidiaries, including APAC-Tennessee, Inc. Standard Construction Group, Inc. is a privately held corporation headquartered in Cordova, Tennessee. 

As required by the Tunney Act, the proposed settlement, along with a competitive impact statement, will be published in the Federal Register. Any person may submit written comments concerning the proposed settlement within 60 days following the publication to Soyoung Choe, Acting Chief, Defense, Industrials, and Aerospace Section, Antitrust Division, U.S. Department of Justice, 450 Fifth Street NW, Suite 8700, Washington, DC 20530. At the conclusion of the public comment period, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee may enter the final judgment upon finding it is in the public interest.