During SOMOS Reception, Governor Hochul Announces Over $1.5 Million Investment in the CUNY Mexican Studies Institute at Lehman College

Funding Will Support the Institute’s Mission To Serve as a Vital Hub for Mexican and Mexican American Communities in New York City

Governor Hochul Also Announced $250,000 To Establish the Carol Robles Román Award for Legal Excellence at CUNY’s John Jay College

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that the CUNY Mexican Studies Institute (CUNY MSI) at Lehman College will receive over $1.5 million to expand their role as a vital resource for students and Mexican and Mexican American communities in New York. Additionally, the Governor announced $250,000 to establish the Carol Robles Román scholarship fund at CUNY’s John Jay College. Today’s funding announcement builds on Governor Hochul’s long-standing commitment to making public higher education in the state accessible to New Yorkers of all backgrounds.

“Investing in education is investing in New York’s future,” Governor Hochul said. “This nearly $2 million investment at CUNY will honor Carol Robles-Román’s long career of public service and create more resources for students on campus while also continuing to build on my commitment to make higher education more accessible and transformative for all New Yorkers.”

Governor Hochul’s $1.5 million investment in the CUNY Mexican Studies Institute at Lehman College will support the Institute as a vital hub for the university’s Mexican and Mexican-American communities, providing educational resources, support services, and programs that aid in social mobility, such as business and entrepreneurship training. The Institute also promotes academic research and scholarship on Mexican history, culture, and contributions, enriching our broader understanding and appreciation of Mexican traditions within the diverse New York City landscape.

Governor Hochul also announced $250,000 for CUNY’s John Jay College to establish a scholarship fund in honor of Carol Robles Román. The Carol Robles Román Award for Legal Excellence will support students who demonstrate academic excellence and a strong commitment to pursuing a career in public service.

CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez said, “We are grateful to Governor Hochul for these investments that will help CUNY make good on its promise to be a transformative engine of social mobility for all New Yorkers. This funding will help the CUNY Mexican Studies Institute build upon its critical work of empowering Mexican and Mexican-American communities and enhancing our understanding of the Mexican experience through research and scholarship. We also are grateful for the fitting tribute to Carol Robles Román, who had longstanding ties to CUNY and was a fierce warrior for social justice and women’s rights. The Carol Robles Román Award for Legal Excellence will honor her legacy by supporting students who are dedicated to serving the public with passion, commitment and talent, as she once did.”

Lehman College President Fernando Delgado said, “Mexicans and Mexican-Americans have played a vital role in the economic and cultural growth of New York City. Their history is our history and this investment in the CUNY Mexican Studies Institute at Lehman College will help continue that tradition by supporting students and scholars across the city. We thank Governor Hochul for her unwavering support of public education.”

About the CUNY Mexican Studies Institute at Lehman College

Founded in 2012, the mission of the CUNY Mexican Studies Institute at Lehman College (CUNY MSI) is boost enrollment of Mexican and Mexican-American students in CUNY; promote equity through academic achievement; foster research with a focus on Mexico and Mexicans in the United States, especially in NYC; and collaborate with community-based organizations and public institutions to support and empower the immigrant community.

Through targeted research and comprehensive services, CUNY MSI reached over 404,000 constituents across New York in FY 2024, impacting lives and advancing opportunities for countless individuals and families. As a hub for scholarship, community engagement, and advocacy, CUNY MSI has been instrumental in empowering Mexican and Mexican American students and addressing the needs of immigrant communities statewide.

This funding will help MSI continue to sustain and build their efforts and will be used to hire staff as well as for programming, educational resources and community events. One example of the work being done by MSI is their Bronx Education and Literacy Initiative (which received $1.25 million from U.S. Representative Adriano Espaillat in 2023). The program focuses on harnessing the power of multiple literacies to drive academic success while collaborating with local organizations to empower Bronx residents.

Garantex Cryptocurrency Exchange Disrupted in International Operation

 

Two Administrators Charged with Operating Multibillion-Dollar Crypto Money Laundering Service

The Justice Department announced today a coordinated action with Germany and Finland to disrupt and take down the online infrastructure used to operate Garantex, a cryptocurrency exchange that allegedly facilitated money laundering by transnational criminal organizations — including terrorist organizations — and sanctions violations. Since April 2019, Garantex has processed at least $96 billion in cryptocurrency transactions.

Garantex Splash Page

In conjunction with the operation targeting Garantex, the Department also announced the unsealing of an indictment in the Eastern District of Virginia against Aleksej Besciokov, 46, a Lithuanian national and Russian resident, and Aleksandr Mira Serda (previously Aleksandr Ntifo-Siaw), 40, a Russian national and United Arab Emirates resident. Mira Serda and Besciokov are charged with money laundering conspiracy, and Besciokov is charged with conspiracy to violate sanctions and conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business.

According to court documents, between 2019 and 2025, Besciokov and Mira Serda controlled and operated Garantex. Besciokov was Garantex’s primary technical administrator and responsible for obtaining and maintaining critical Garantex infrastructure, as well as reviewing and approving transactions. Mira Serda was Garantex’s co-founder and chief commercial officer.

Garantex received hundreds of millions in criminal proceeds and was used to facilitate various crimes, including hacking, ransomware, terrorism, and drug trafficking, often with substantial impact to U.S. victims. According to the indictment, Besciokov and Mira Serda knew that criminal proceeds were being laundered through Garantex and took steps to conceal the facilitation of illegal activities on its platform. For example, when Russian law enforcement sought records relating to an account registered to Mira Serda, Garantex provided incomplete information in response and falsely claimed the account was not verified. In reality, Garantex had associated the account with Mira Serda’s personal identifying documents, even while disclosing identifying information related to other accounts requested by Russian law enforcement.

On April 5, 2022, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Garantex for its role in facilitating money laundering of funds from ransomware actors and darknet markets. According to court documents, despite the widespread publicity of the sanctions and Garantex administrator’s personal knowledge of them, Besciokov and his co-conspirators violated those sanctions by continuing to transact with U.S.-based entities. Further, Besciokov and his co-conspirators redesigned Garantex’s operations to evade and violate U.S. sanctions and induce U.S. businesses to unwittingly transact with Garantex in violation of the sanctions. For example, Garantex moved its operational cryptocurrency wallets to different virtual currency addresses on a daily basis in order to make it difficult for U.S.-based cryptocurrency exchanges to identify and block transactions with Garantex accounts.

Despite doing substantial business in the United States and operating as a money transmitting business, Garantex failed to register with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) as required.

On March 6, U.S. law enforcement, led by the U.S. Secret Service (USSS), executed a seizure order authorized by a judge in the Eastern District of Virginia against three website domain names used to support Garantex’s operations. According to court records unsealed today, Garantex.org, Garantex.io, and Garantex.academy were associated with the administration and operation of Garantex. The seizure of these domains will prevent these sites from being used for money laundering and additional crimes. Individuals visiting those sites now will see a message indicating that the site has been seized by law enforcement.

As part of the coordinated actions, German and Finnish law enforcement seized servers hosting Garantex’s operations. U.S. law authorities have separately obtained earlier copies of Garantex’s servers, including customer and accounting databases. In addition, U.S. law enforcement has also frozen over $26 million in funds used to facilitate Garantex’s money laundering activities.

Besciokov and Mira Serda are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Besciokov is also charged with one count of conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and with conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.    

Supervisory Official Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Erik S. Siebert for the Eastern District of Virginia, Assistant Director Michael Centrella of the USSS’ Office of Field Operations, and Assistant Director Bryan Vorndran of the FBI’s Cyber Division made the announcement.

USSS and the FBI are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Zoe Bedell for the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney Tamara Livshiz of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section’s National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s National Security Division and Office of International Affairs provided valuable assistance.

The Justice Department also recognizes the critical cooperation of the German Federal Criminal Police Office, the Frankfurt General Prosecutor’s Office, the Dutch National Police, Europol, the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation, and the Estonian National Criminal Police.

Finally, the Department thanks Tether and blockchain analytics firm Elliptic for their proactive assistance in this investigation.

Any individual who believes he/she is a victim whose funds were laundered through Garantex or who may otherwise have a claim to restrained funds should reach out to law enforcement via email address GarantexClaimants@secretservice.gov.

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

Attorney General James Takes Action to Defend Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelans

AG James Co-Leads 17 Attorneys General in Amicus Brief Supporting Challenge to Trump Administration’s Unlawful Early Termination of TPS for Venezuelans

New York Attorney General Letitia James today co-led a coalition of 17 attorneys general to defend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans. The program is a critical humanitarian program established by Congress in 1990 that protects individuals from being returned to certain countries that have been deemed unsafe. TPS also provides eligible recipients with authorization to work in the United States. TPS countries may be deemed unsafe due to ongoing armed conflict, environmental disaster, or other extraordinary and temporary conditions.

In an amicus brief filed today in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, Attorney General James and the coalition support the plaintiffs challenging the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) unprecedented efforts to terminate TPS for hundreds of thousands of Venezuelan nationals, many of whom have built lives in the United States. In the brief, the attorneys general urge the court to postpone the administration’s unlawful early termination of the TPS designation for Venezuela.

“By eliminating TPS protections for Venezuelans, the administration is disregarding our fundamental American values and cruelly putting vulnerable families at risk,” said Attorney General James. “The TPS program offers refuge to those who came to this country in search of safety and stability, a tradition that dates back to our nation’s founding. This move is as dangerous as it is unlawful, and it must be stopped.” 

As of January 2025, more than 600,000 Venezuelans are living in the United States with TPS status. Additionally, more than 130,000 American citizens live in “mixed status” households with those who are living and working in the United States under TPS. The termination of TPS for Venezuelans will force hardworking families that have been living in the United States to make an impossible choice between:

• Returning to their country of origin alone, leaving their families behind;
• Taking their family members, some of whom are American citizens, with them to a dangerous country that they do not know; or
• Staying in the United States and retreating into the shadows, knowing that they cannot work legally and could be ripped from their families at any time.

New York is home to approximately 56,800 TPS holders. In 2023, New York TPS households earned $2.3 billion in income, paid $348.9 million in federal taxes, $305.5 million in state and local taxes, and contributed $1.6 billion in spending power. Annually, New York’s immigrant entrepreneur community generates approximately $8.6 billion in income.

In the brief, the coalition urges the court to prevent this order from going into effect, arguing that the termination of TPS for Venezuelans is unlawful and will:

• Result in irreparable harm to families, stripping members of work authorization and exposing them to the threat of deportation;
• Harm states’ economies and workforces as TPS holders, including Venezuelans, are dynamic contributors to the states’ economies;
• Raise healthcare costs and pose substantial risks to public health; and
• Create challenges in protecting public safety for jurisdictions across the country. 

Joining Attorney General James and California Attorney General Rob Bonta in filing the brief are the attorneys general of Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia.

 

SEVEN ALLEGED BRONX GANG MEMBERS INDICTED FOR RETALIATORY SHOOTING THAT WOUNDED TWO INNOCENT BYSTANDERS

 

Defendants Engaged in Three Additional Shootings

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that seven alleged members of the violent Bronx street gang, Courtlandt Over Everything have been indicted in a conspiracy of violence that includes four shootings that terrorized the residents of Mott Haven and Melrose. 

District Attorney Clark said “These defendants put the lives of countless people at risk in senseless episodes of gunfire all in broad daylight. In retaliation for a fatal shooting, they allegedly shot two innocent bystanders as well as their target. They allegedly engaged in a shootout outside a school as children were dismissed. They put the entire community in danger, and they will be held accountable for their actions.” 

New York City Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch said “The indictment demonstrates the critical work that the NYPD does every day to stop violent gangs that terrorize our communities. I commend the NYPD investigators and our law enforcement partners for their tireless work to get these dangerous individuals off of our streets and bring them to justice.” 

District Attorney Clark said the defendants Ibrahim Kaba, 18, (a/k/a Mullet), Chalim Perry, 21, (a/k/a Sha EK), Elijah Santiago, 18, (a/k/a Eli Drako), a defendant who was 17 at the time of the incidents, and two 16-year-old boys were arraigned on Thursday, March 6, 2025, before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Guy Mitchell. Bail for Perry was set at $300,000 cash over $300,000 bond. Bail for Kaba was set at $100, 000 cash over $200,000 bond. Bail for Santiago was set at $500,000 cash over $750,000 bond. Zaire Flowers, 18, (a/k/a ZAZA), had not been apprehended as of March 6, 2025. The next court date for the arraigned defendants is March 12, 2025. 

The 62-count indictment charges defendants with second-degree Conspiracy, Attempted Murder in the second-degree, first-degree Assault, Attempted Assault in the first-degree, seconddegree Criminal Possession of a Weapon, second-degree Assault, first-degree Reckless Endangerment, Attempted Assault in the second-degree, Criminal Possession of a Firearm, fourth-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon and second-degree Reckless Endangerment. 

According to the investigation, the defendants, alleged members of Courtlandt Over Everything (COE) gang, were involved in four shootings between July 22, 2024, and October 8, 2024, in the Mott Haven and Melrose neighborhoods. 

On July 22, 2024, at approximately 3:30 p.m., Perry, Williams, Flowers, and a 16-yearold defendant, acting in concert with an un-apprehended male, went to 338 East 145th Street in the Patterson Houses, where they allegedly fired at least nine shots. It is believed that this shooting was in retaliation for the fatal shooting of a COE member’s father the night before.

The target, an 18-year-old member of a rival gang, was shot in the buttocks, and a 67- year-old man was shot in the leg and a 30-year-old male NYCHA employee was shot in the arm. Nine shell casings and one live round as well as a bullet fragment lodged in an MTA Bus that was traveling on Third Avenue and 145th Street, were recovered. 

The defendants are seen on video surveillance going to the July 22 shooting, carrying out the shooting, and leaving the scene. Perry also posted a “Drill Rap” video on his social media account making explicit references to the shooting. 

A half hour later, defendants Kaba and Flowers went to the vicinity of 320 East 156th Street, in the Melrose Houses, where they allegedly fired multiple times sending elderly bystanders fleeing for their lives. 

On October 7, 2024, at approximately 10:17 a.m., in the vicinity of Courtlandt Avenue and East 153rd Street, Kaba allegedly fired multiple shots at a man on a motorcycle, causing the rider to crash into a parked vehicle at the intersection and fall to the ground. Kaba allegedly continued to shoot at the rider, who left the scene before he could be questioned by police. 

On October 8, 2024, at approximately 4:11 p.m., Santiago, the 17-year-old defendant, and another individual, went to East 149th Street and outside Port Morris School of Community Leadership PS/MS 5X, they allegedly engaged in a shoot-out with a male believed to be a rival gang member. Twelve shots were fired as children were leaving school.

Defendants Perry, Santiago, and the 17-year-old defendant rapped about their exploits in drill rap videos posted to YouTube and Instagram. Perry posted to YouTube under the name “Sha EK,” while Santiago posted under the name “Eli Drako.” In the months following the charged shootings, Perry posted several drill rap videos, including “Less Than 24hrs (Official Video)” where he bragged about shooting at rivals, threatened harm to members of rival gangs, and promised to give a gold chain to the first member of Courtlandt to commit a murder.

District Attorney Clark thanked NYPD Gun Violence Suppression Division Detectives Patriciann Caputo, Brandon Ravelo, Alexis Melo; NYPD Intelligence Division Detective Sanjay Gidarisingh, 40th Precinct Detectives Javish Ortiz, Ray Silva, Lamik Fitzgerald, Rossi Mata, and officers from the 40th Precinct and Police Service Area 7.

An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt. 

Safer Subways: One Year After Deploying Additional Law Enforcement and Safety Measures, Governor Hochul Highlights Ongoing Efforts to Keep Riders and Transit Workers Safe on Subways

Major Transit Crimes Down 29% and Arrests Up 71% Year to Date

Major Transit Crimes Down 28% Compared to Same Period in 2019

Continued Investments by Governor, NYPD and MTA Aim to Further Reduce Crime

Two Police Officers Deployed on Every Subway Train Between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m.

Security Cameras Installed on Every Subway Car; Expanded Mental Health Outreach

Ridership Continues To Increase With 1.2 Billion Riders in 2024, Ridership Up 7% Year to Date

Governor Kathy Hochul marked one year since enacting her five-point subway safety plan by highlighting reductions in New York City transit crimes and her administration’s ongoing efforts to expand safety initiatives throughout the transit system. Last year, Governor Hochul announced a surge in State personnel to assist with NYPD bag checks, directing the MTA to accelerate camera installation throughout the system, and also increase the number of Subway Co-Response Outreach (SCOUT) teams throughout the system — which operate in addition to the existing Safe Options Support (SOS) teams. Earlier this year, Governor Hochul announced additional steps to increase law enforcement presence, expand public resources and strengthen mental health policies to make the transit system safer. These new measures included partnering with New York City officials to increase NYPD patrols on subway platforms and trains; installing new protective barriers on subway platforms to protect riders; upgrading fare gates and delaying egress on exit gates to help crack down on fare evasion; adding LED lighting throughout stations to increase visibility; and updating and strengthening key mental health laws to ensure that New Yorkers with severe mental illness are connected with care instead of being left to languish on subway trains and platforms.

“Keeping New Yorkers safe is my top priority — and I’ll never stop working to ensure riders can rely on our subways to safely get wherever they need to go,” Governor Hochul said. “By adding uniformed officers to every train, fortifying our transit infrastructure, and expanding mental health outreach, we've made real progress in driving down transit crime. Working in partnership with law enforcement, district attorneys and mental health experts, we're working to make the subways safer for every straphanger.”

As a result of these initiatives, major transit crimes are down 29 percent and arrests are up 71 percent year to date. When looking at the same time period, major transit crimes are down 28 percent from pre-pandemic levels in 2019. In the first nine weeks of 2025, New York City is experiencing the lowest number of subway crimes in 30 years, outside of the pandemic. Crime is 55 percent lower than in 2001 and 32 percent lower than in 2013.

MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said, “It’s not a mystery — more cops, more enforcement, and more effective mental health outreach and treatment directly cuts down on transit crime. Now we need legal changes proposed by Gov. Hochul that will ensure recidivist criminals aren’t free to keep preying on subway riders.”

Governor’s Five Point Plan to Address Subway Safety

Governor Hochul’s five-point plan utilizes State resources to protect New Yorkers on the subways. This includes surging State personnel to assist NYPD bag checks, a program bill that permits transit bans for individuals that assault other passengers, the addition of new cameras to protect conductor cabins, increased coordination between District Attorneys and law enforcement and an increased number of Subway Co-Response Outreach (SCOUT) teams throughout the system — which operate in addition to the existing SOS teams. These actions build on the Governor’s unprecedented investment in safety on the subways, from standing up SOS teams to directing the MTA to install cameras in every subway car. Governor Hochul also called on judges to use their expanded discretion to set bail to keep repeat offenders off the streets.

Increasing Law Enforcement Presence Throughout the Transit System

Governor Hochul is working in partnership with New York City to increase New York Police Department (NYPD) presence on platforms and trains by temporarily surging patrol levels in addition to the National Guardsmen that have been re-deployed into the transit system. Approximately 750 NYPD officers will be stationed across New York City with an additional 300 in the train cars themselves. The increase in enforcement will prioritize 30 subways stations and transit hubs that account for 50 percent of crime in the transit system.

The Governor worked with New York City to increase police patrols on every overnight train for a six month time period. NYPD officers are working from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., and there are two uniformed officers onboard every subway train in service during those hours.

This expansion of law enforcement patrols builds on the Governor’s previous announcement in December 2024 to add an additional 250 members of the National Guard to support subway safety, bringing the total to 1,000 National Guardsmen stationed at subway entrances in points throughout New York City.

New Public Safety Resources To Protect Riders and Prevent Fare Evasion

Governor Hochul will provide the funding to install platform edge barriers at more than 100 additional stations by the end of 2025. The selection of stations for the installation process will prioritize feasibility, including stations with standard car-stopping positions in segments of the 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, F, M and L trains. Among these train lines, stations with higher ridership levels and island platforms will be prioritized.

To address fare evasion, Governor Hochul will invest in modern fare gates in more than 20 stations across the system in 2025, and an additional 20 stations in 2026.

Additionally, exit gates will delay egress at 150 additional stations in an effort to reduce fare evasion. At the Governor’s direction, the MTA will prioritize stations with higher ridership traffic, accessibility features and those with high fare evasion. The piloted design used in the roll-out was solicited through the MTA’s “Request for Information” to qualify the next generation of fare gates across the system. Initial installation is scheduled to begin at 42 St-Port Authority, Delancey St-Essex St and Roosevelt Av-Jackson Heights.

The Governor will also provide funding to install LED lighting in all subway stations throughout the system which will increase visibility throughout the stations.

Expanding Mental Health Partnerships and Resources

Governor Hochul’s SOS initiative has successfully transitioned nearly 850 unhoused individuals into permanent housing and continues to make progress. SOS teams deployed across New York State often encounter individuals experiencing unmet medical and psychiatric needs. To address this gap, Governor Hochul is adding street medicine and street psychiatry providers to SOS teams statewide. These providers deliver timely care directly to individuals during outreach, improving access to psychiatric evaluations and medical treatment without requiring individuals to leave their belongings or seek care in hospitals. This approach is enhancing trust, building rapport and encouraging individuals to accept services and transition indoors, improving outcomes for New York’s most vulnerable residents.

Additionally — to further help reduce homelessness in the subway system — Governor Hochul is working with the NYC Department of Homeless Services to expand their 24/7 “Welcome Center” model near end-of-line stations and will create spaces within stations that have a large presence of unhoused people for our mobile outreach teams to better connect and coordinate services.

Governor Hochul previously announced a $20 million investment to expand the SCOUT Teams throughout the system to ten by the end of 2025, as a part of her five-point plan to protect New Yorkers on the subway. SCOUT teams are trained to address the most severe cases of mental health crisis within the subway system and assist New Yorkers in gaining access to mental health treatment and supportive housing.

The Governor has made strengthening New York State’s mental health system a priority of her administration, landing historic investments in housing for people with mental illness and directing a large increase in inpatient psychiatric bed capacity at state-operated and community-based hospital systems. In addition, her initiatives have broadened prevention services, improved insurance coverage and expanded outpatient services for people with mental illness.

 

Assemblymember John Zaccaro - Get Your Questions Answered by a Dept. of Buildings Rep.

 

Dear Friends,

We are excited to announce that our office will once again be hosting a representative from the NYC Department of Buildings to assist you with any home-related issues. Whether you're a property owner, planning a remodel, dealing with outstanding violations, or have questions about permits, this is a great opportunity to get all your concerns addressed directly by an expert.

Here are the details: 

 

When: May 16, 2025

Time: 2:00pm - 7:00pm

Where: Assemblymember John Zaccaro, Jr.'s Community Office, 2018 Williamsbridge Rd

 

IMPORTANT: This is an appointment-only event, and spots are filling up quickly. Be sure to call us today to reserve your time! (718-409-0109)

 

In Gratitude, 

John Zaccaro, Jr. 

MAYOR ADAMS APPOINTS ADOLFO CARRIÓN, JR. AS DEPUTY MAYOR FOR HOUSING, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND WORKFORCE; SUZANNE MILES-GUSTAVE AS DEPUTY MAYOR FOR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES; JEFFREY D. ROTH AS DEPUTY MAYOR FOR OPERATIONS; AND KAZ DAUGHTRY AS DEPUTY MAYOR FOR PUBLIC SAFETY

 

Appointments of Talented Public Servants Will Help Mayor Adams Continue to Make New York City Safer, More Affordable, and Best Place to Raise a Family 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced the appointments of Adolfo Carrión, Jr. as deputy mayor for housing, economic development, and workforce; Suzanne Miles-Gustave, Esq. as deputy mayor for health and human services; Jeffrey D. Roth as deputy mayor for operations; and Kaz Daughtry as deputy mayor for public safety. Each will bring decades of experience to managing their respective portfolios as they help Mayor Adams continue his successful record of making New York City a safer, more affordable city that is the best place to raise a family. Over the last three years, the Adams administration has passed three on-time, balanced budgets, helped put more than $30 billion back into the pockets of working-class New Yorkers, produced record levels of housing, increased the total number of jobs to its highest levels in city history, safely brought New York City out of COVID, managed an international humanitarian crisis better than any other city in the nation, built unprecedented public space, and made the city safer at every level.  

  

Deputy Mayors Carrión, Miles-Gustave, and Roth will begin their roles starting at the close of business on Friday, March 14, while Deputy Mayor Daughtry will begin his new role at the close of business today. 

  

“Every day, more than 300,000 city employees work tirelessly to make our city safer, more affordable, and the best place to raise a family. We have attracted the most talented and dedicated workforce in the country to deliver for 8.3 million New Yorkers daily, and we must have leaders that are just as talented and dedicated to help lead that workforce — and that’s exactly what the city is getting with the appointments of Deputy Mayors Adolfo Carrión, Jr., Suzanne Miles-Gustave, Jeffrey Roth, and Kaz Daughtry. These exemplary public servants have decades of experience serving our city and their fellow New Yorkers, and I thank them for their willingness to step up and serve at such a critical time,” said Mayor Adams. “I also want to say how much I appreciate all the good work of our outgoing team members: Maria Torres-Springer, Anne Williams-Isom, Meera Joshi, and Chauncey Parker. All four have been vital to our work reshaping New York City. We’ve broken record after record together, and New Yorkers owe them an enormous debt of gratitude for their service to our city. I wish all four all the best in their future endeavors.” 

  

“The charge I accept today is to continue growing and managing our city with opportunity for everyone,” said incoming Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Carrión, Jr. “Our core task is to focus on the fundamentals that allow New Yorkers to succeed: a good home, a job, and the freedom to pursue their dreams in the greatest city in the world. We will continue to produce record affordable housing and create the stability and economic opportunity New Yorkers need to thrive, while ensuring our city remains an attraction for tourism and investment. I am indebted to this city, which welcomed my parents and gave my family a solid and stable foundation through affordable housing and a great public school education. I thank Mayor Adams for the opportunity to work with this team of amazing public servants to ensure that this and future generations have the same opportunity to succeed.”    

  

“I am honored to join this administration in its historic efforts to make New York a safer, healthier place for our children and families,” said incoming Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Miles-Gustave. “For 20 years, I have been dedicated to advancing health equity for our most vulnerable communities. As deputy mayor, I will continue working to strengthen our public health systems, support our communities, and ensure every New Yorker has access to the care and services they deserve.” 

  

“I have dedicated my life to serving New Yorkers, both in and out of uniform, and I am grateful to Mayor Adams for this opportunity to serve once again. Stepping into this deputy mayor role, I am committed to making city government more efficient, responsive, and innovative,” said incoming Deputy Mayor for Operations Roth. “Every day, New Yorkers depend on the strong, smart, and safe management of our city’s infrastructure and operational agencies to keep us moving forward. I am excited to collaborate with our experienced and effective leaders to build a more resilient and dynamic city.” 

  

“I am deeply honored to serve as deputy mayor of public safety. After 19 years with the NYPD dedicated to protecting New Yorkers, my commitment to safeguarding our streets remains unwavering,” said incoming Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Daughtry. “In this role, I will prioritize cutting-edge technology and strong community partnerships to strengthen the city’s approach to public safety. I am grateful to Mayor Adams for this opportunity to help realize his vision of a safer, more secure New York City for all.” 

  

About Adolfo Carrión, Jr. 

  

Adolfo Carrión, Jr. is a lifelong public servant dedicated to strengthening communities and expanding opportunities for all New Yorkers. Carrión currently serves as commissioner of the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, where he has advanced policies to create and preserve affordable housing, while driving neighborhood investment, building and preserving record amounts of housing, and furthering tenant protections, fair housing, and equity.  

  

Carrión’s leadership spans the local and federal government, as well as the private sector, always leading efforts to develop housing, infrastructure, and business opportunity. He began his career as a teacher and community board manager before serving as a New York City councilmember and Bronx borough president.  

  

Later, under President Barack Obama, Carrión was regional administrator for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Region II and director of the White House Office of Urban Affairs.  

  

Beyond government, he also led the National Association of Latino Elected Officials. Carrión holds a Bachelor of Arts from King’s College and a Master of Arts in urban planning from Hunter College. 

  

About Suzanne Miles-Gustave 

  

Suzanne Miles-Gustave, Esq. is an experienced collective-impact executive with over 20 years of legal, strategic policy, and management expertise in the human services and education reform sectors. With a mission to create equitable systems of care and support that foster multi-generational family and community well-being, she recently was part of the inaugural Ph.D. cohort at Meharry Medical College School of Global Health.  

  

As the former acting commissioner and executive deputy commissioner at the New York state Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS), Miles-Gustave led a team of over 3,000 staff, while managing a budget of $5 billion to provide a range of programs, services, and initiatives to protect and support children, families, and communities across the state. As the previous general counsel for OCFS, she led a team of legal professionals providing all in-house legal guidance and risk mitigation support.  

  

Miles-Gustave began her public service work at the local level in New York City and Westchester County. She previously practiced law in the private sector and clerked on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.  

  

Miles-Gustave is a product of the New York City public school system, holds a Bachelor of Arts in photography from the State University of New York at Buffalo, and earned her law degree from Fordham University School of Law. 

  

About Jeffrey D. Roth 

  

Jeffrey D. Roth is a proven leader in government operations, military service, and emergency management, with a track record of driving critical initiatives that enhance public services, leverage data-driven decision-making, and improve emergency response protocols. Roth’s career in public service began in New York City government, where he held pivotal leadership roles across multiple agencies.  

  

As deputy commissioner at the New York City Department of Veterans’ Services, he led efforts to support over 210,000 veterans. At the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission, Roth oversaw policy development and data analytics as deputy commissioner for policy and external affairs. His tenure at the Fire Department of the City of New York as assistant commissioner of management initiatives saw him spearhead the Risk-Based Inspection System, a groundbreaking initiative that identified high-risk buildings and prioritized them for inspection. Earlier in his career, Roth served in the New York City Mayor’s Office of Operations under former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, where he led high-priority interagency initiatives focused on data analytics, emergency response coordination, and customer service improvements.  

  

Alongside his public service career, Roth has served with distinction in the Army National Guard, rising to the rank of colonel. He commanded the 1-258th Field Artillery Regiment in Harlem and currently serves as commander of Joint Task Force Empire Shield (JTF-ES), leading homeland security operations across the New York City metropolitan area. Under his leadership, JTF-ES has expanded its role, including deploying forces into the New York City subway system. Roth’s military service spans global and domestic crisis response operations. He played a pivotal role as chief of operations for the U.S. Army Operation Spartan Shield COVID-19 Emergency Operations Cell, managing pandemic response across six Middle Eastern countries over 35 U.S. military installations, supporting more than 30,000 U.S. Department of Defense personnel. His deployments have included serving in Jordan and Kuwait for Operation Spartan Shield and in Sinai, Egypt as part of the Multinational Force and Observers, where he contributed to maintaining peace between Egypt and Israel. Closer to home, he was activated during Superstorm Sandy in 2012, assisting in New York City’s emergency response and recovery efforts.  

  

Roth has a Master of Arts in public policy and urban planning from Harvard University, a Master of Arts in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College, and a Bachelor of Arts in social relations from Michigan State University. 

  

About Kaz Daughtry 

  

Kaz Daughtry is currently the deputy commissioner of operations at the New York City Police Department (NYPD). His major functions include monitoring ongoing critical situations, such as officer-involved shootings, major demonstrations, and newsworthy incidents. Daughtry is credited with spearheading technological innovations within the NYPD, such as the expansion of the drone program in all five boroughs.  

  

While assigned to the 75th Precinct, Daughtry developed and maintained relationships with local community leaders, such as clergy members and elected officials, earning the respect of the East New York community and becoming a trusted ally. In 2015, he was promoted to detective specialist, after which he was promoted to detective 2nd grade in 2020. Later that year, Daughtry moved to NYPD’s Community Affairs Bureau, where he helped create the “Rapid Response Team.” As the team leader of this new unit, Daughtry responded directly to all critical events citywide, providing resources to those in need. 

  

Daughtry helped to create and lead the “Community Response Team” in the Patrol Services Bureau, an elite team of police officers throughout the city who address quality-of-life concerns voiced by the community. His dedication to improving quality of life across New York City earned him a promotion to detective 1st grade in 2022, to assistant commissioner in 2023, and to deputy commissioner of operations in 2024.  

  

In his current role, Daughtry partners with New York City Emergency Management and other city, state, and federal agencies to coordinate plans and preparations for large scale events and in response to catastrophic circumstances. He also presides over department and interagency tabletop and practical exercises to prepare for and evaluate potential responses to terror attacks, active shooter incidents, and natural disasters. Finally, Daughtry oversees the NYPD Security Operations Center, which tracks and manages all police incidents within the five boroughs, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  

  

Daughtry holds a Bachelor of Arts from Excelsior University.