Affordable Housing Lottery Launches for 1004 Summit Avenue in Highbridge, The Bronx

 

The affordable housing lottery has launched for 1004 Summit Avenue, a four-story residential building in Highbridge, The Bronx. Designed by Nikolai Katz Architect and developed by Shaya Seidenfeld of MZS Realty, the structure yields 12 residences. Available on NYC Housing Connect are three units for residents at 80 percent of the area median income (AMI), ranging in eligible income from $75,840 to $122,160.

Residences include air conditioning, energy efficient appliances, high-speed internet, intercoms, and name-brand kitchen appliances, countertops, and finishes. Tenant is responsible for electricity, including electric stove, heat, and hot water.

At 80 percent of the AMI, there are two studios with a monthly rent of $2,000 for incomes ranging from $75,840 to $108,560, and one one-bedroom with a monthly rent of $2,092 for incomes ranging from $81,326 to $122,160.

Prospective renters must meet income and household size requirements to apply for these apartments. Applications must be postmarked or submitted online no later than July 13, 2026.

DEC ANNOUNCES VIRTUAL INFORMATION WEBINAR TO ADDRESS RECENT CHANGES TO FRESHWATER WETLANDS REGULATIONS

 

Informational Webinar Scheduled for June 23

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Amanda Lefton announced DEC is hosting a virtual information webinar titled “Changes to Freshwater Wetland Regulations” on Tuesday, June 23 at 11:00 a.m. to promote public understanding of changes in DEC’s approach to freshwater wetland protection in response to a recent court ruling. 

“This session will offer vital insights into the recent freshwater wetland regulatory updates and an overview of the jurisdictional determination process, practical examples for when to request jurisdictional determinations, and information on available freshwater wetland general permits,” Commissioner Lefton said. “I encourage anyone interested in learning more or with any questions to register and attend DEC’s informational webinar.” 

On April 8, 2026, the Albany County Supreme Court issued a decision impacting regulations governing the protection of freshwater wetlands in New York State. In response, DEC has conducted a thorough evaluation of the ruling's implications for permitting and enforcement programs related to freshwater wetlands, reaffirming our commitment to protecting the environment and the numerous benefits that wetlands provide.

Registration is required to attend the June 23 webinar. DEC encourages participants to submit questions during registration to ensure the session effectively addresses community interests. During the webinar, the audience will also have the opportunity to ask questions, provide comments, and engage with a DEC Freshwater Wetland Program Manager and Outreach Coordinator in discussion. 

To register for the webinar, please visit:?https://meetny-gov.webex.com/weblink/register/r811b75f1221e97c2b9860a5281dd5b68

For those unable to attend, a recording of the webinar will be made available on the Freshwater Wetland Jurisdictional Determination web page following the event.

Permits Filed for 696 East 187th Street in Belmont, The Bronx

 

Permits have been filed for an eight-story mixed-use building at 696 East 187th Street in Belmont, The Bronx. Located at the intersection of Beaumont Avenue and East 187th Street, the lot is nearest to the Fordham Road station subway station, served by the B and D trains. Zev Mayer of Walton Developers is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 80-foot-tall development will yield 35,528 square feet, with 28,611 square feet designated for residential space, 6,718 square feet for commercial space, and 198 square feet for community facility space. The building will have 37 residences, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 773 square feet. The concrete-based structure will not have any accessory parking.

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

Demolition permits have not been filed yet. An estimated completion date has not been announced.

This week on Talking Politics Our Guest is Andy King

 

https://www.youtube.com/live/PO6hYTtkouY?si=hyoMBU5cVf3SRoEb

This week is there finally Peace in the Middle East, the Department of Justice goes after California Governor Newson and New York Governor Hochul, Community Board 11's Juneteenth event, plus a roundtable discussion on Bronx Primary Day June 23, 2026, with former City Councilman Andy King. Anytime on YouTube at the link above or below.

youtube.com

Talking Politics

NYCHCC - Save the date - Silent Procession NYC4PR

 

Weekly News from State Senator Gustavo Rivera!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

Senator Rivera wants to wish a happy Father's Day to all the incredible fathers and father figures in his district and across New York State!

On Father's Day, we honor the strength, guidance, and unconditional love that fathers bring to our families and communities. Your dedication, compassion, and lessons are shaping the next generation!

HAPPY FIRST DAY OF SUMMER!

SENATOR RIVERA IN ALBANY

12 BILLS PASS THE LEGISLATURE

The 2026 legislative session has been a tough one amidst such challenging times for our community. However, Senator Rivera is proud that he was able to pass 12 bills through both legislative Houses.

Senator Rivera will work closely with his Assembly colleagues and stakeholders so the Governor signs them into law. These include his:

 Sodium Warning Act (S.428A) 

Transitional Reentry Health Act (S.614B)

 bill to ensure the children of police officers who die in the line of duty continue receiving special accidental death benefits when there is no surviving spouse, allowing support to remain available until the youngest child turns 26.

SENATOR RIVERA VISITS SENIOR CENTERS IN HIS DISTRICT

This week, Senator Rivera stopped by the Morris Innovative Senior Center and the R.A.I.N. Mt. Carmel Senior Center to have a chat with our seniors and invite them to his upcoming Senior Health Fair next month! More information about this event will be posted soon so stay tuned!

SENATOR RIVERA PARTICIPATES IN PANEL AND DRIVE TO BOOST BLOOD DONATIONS IN LATINO COMMUNITIES

This week, Senator Rivera participated in a blood drive and educational panel hosted by the American Red Cross and Fordham University, that focused on boosting blood donations in Latino communities.

During the panel, Senator Rivera emphasized the shared responsibility we all have to help our community to become active blood donors and initiatives such as the Red Cross' "Los Donantes" are key to improve public health and get more Latinos to become involved one blood donation at a time.

Once again, thank you to the American Red Cross and Fordham University for their partnership! 

MONDAY 6/29 TO FRIDAY 9/4: FREE SUMMER MEALS AT A LOCATION NEAR YOU!

Starting Monday, June 29, 2026 through Friday, September 4, 2026 (no service on Friday, July 3), all children and teens ages 18 and under can receive free breakfast and lunch at sites across New York City—including schools, parks, libraries, and pools—in all five boroughs.

Program Highlights:

• No registration, ID, or documentation required
• Meals available Monday through Friday
• Breakfast: 8:00 AM – 9:15 AM
• Lunch: 11:00 AM – 1:15 PM
• Open to all children and teens ages 18 and under

We encourage you to share this information with your loved ones and acquaintances to help ensure that young New Yorkers have access to nutritious meals all summer long.

For additional details and to find locations near you, please visit the NYC Public Schools Summer Meals website: https://www.schools.nyc.gov/school-life/food/summer-meals.

REGISTER YOUR CHILD IN ONE OF THE NYC PARKS' 2026 SUMMER SWIM PROGRAMS!

Join one of the many free swim programs offered by NYC Parks for the the Summer of 2026!

Learn to Swim for Tots in the Bronx at Claremont, Crotona, and Van Cortlandt Pools:

Session I: July 6 – July 21, 2026

Session II: July 22 – August 6, 2026

Session III: August 7 – August 21, 2026

Advanced Learn to Swim for Children in the Bronx at Claremont, Crotona, and Van Cortlandt Pools:

Session Dates: August 24 – August 28, 2026

Learn to Swim for Children in the Bronx at Claremont, Crotona, and Van Cortlandt Pools:

Session I: July 6 – July 21, 2026

Session II: July 22 – August 6, 2026

Session III: August 7 – August 21, 2026

Addresses of pools:

Claremont Pool | 170th St. and Clay Ave., Bronx, N.Y. 10456

Crotona Pool | 1700 Fulton Ave., Bronx, N.Y. 10457

Van Cortland Pool | West 242 St. and Broadway, Bronx, N.Y. 10471

Register online at nyc.gov/parks/citywideaquatics or scan code from respective flyers.

For more information call (718) 760-6969. Contact accessibility@parks.nyc.gov or (212) 360-1430 for more information regarding accessibility.

New SNAP Work Requirements: What You Need to Know

New federal rules are changing SNAP work requirements for some New Yorkers. Starting this year, certain adults may need to work, attend job training, or volunteer to keep their benefits.

You may be affected if you are:

● Between ages 18–64

● Not living with a child under 14

● Not exempt due to a health condition or other reason



If these rules apply to you, you may need to take action each month to avoid losing your SNAP benefits.



Check your status and learn what to do: on.nyc.gov/snap.

As a reminder, should extreme heat occur, New Yorkers are advised to stay cool and stay hydrated. Avoid spending prolonged periods of time outdoors. Call 911 immediately if you or someone else shows signs of heat-related illness, such as confusion, dizziness, or difficulty breathing. For more preparedness tips, visit: nyc.gov/BeReady or nyc.gov/beattheheat.

 

Mayor Mamdani Announces New and Upgraded Bus Lanes and Widened Bike Lanes on Manhattan’s Sixth Avenue

 

New and upgraded bus lanes would deliver faster, more reliable service for 51,000+ daily bus riders — in a corridor where bus speeds are as low as 3.5 mph

 

Widened protected bike lanes would create a safer riding experience on one of Manhattan’s highest-crash corridors

 

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Mike Flynn today unveiled a proposal for bus and bike lane upgrades along Sixth Avenue in Manhattan, delivering faster, more reliable service for more than 51,000 daily bus riders on four local and 27 express MTA routes — as well as safer biking for cyclists along the corridor.

The proposal adds a new offset bus lane from Watts Street to 34th Street where there is currently no bus lane at all and upgrades existing curbside lanes with offset bus lanes from 34th Street to 58th Street — in some places creating double bus lanes.

For cycling infrastructure, the project will widen the avenue’s existing protected bike lane north of 35th Street up to 59th Street, creating a double-wide bike lane for most of the avenue from Lispenard Street to 59th Street.

“Every day, 51,000 New Yorkers rely on buses along this corridor to get to work, school and home to their families. And every day, too many of them are stuck in traffic that slows them down and takes their valuable time,” said Mayor Mamdani. “By installing new and upgraded offset bus lanes and expanding bike infrastructure on Sixth Avenue, we’re helping New Yorkers move faster, move safer and experience the reliable public transit they deserve.”

“The Mamdani administration has made clear that bus riders deserve a fast, dignified commute, but right now it can be as fast to walk along Sixth Avenue as it is to ride a local bus,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn. “This proposal would bring faster and safer commutes for bus and bike riders commuting in Manhattan from all five boroughs.”

Currently, local bus speeds along the Sixth Avenue corridor are as low as 3.5 mph — about the average walking speed — and express bus speeds are as slow as 4.2 mph during evening peak times. Offset bus lanes help speed up rides by allowing buses to bypass parked vehicles that frequently block curbside bus lanes while also providing improved curbside access for businesses and passenger pick-up and drop-off.

Sixth Avenue is a Vision Zero priority corridor, which means it has among the highest rates of pedestrian deaths and serious injuries in Manhattan. Bus and bike infrastructure upgrades would enhance safety along the corridor by better organizing the flow of traffic. New painted curb extensions, pedestrian islands and turn calming treatments would shorten crossing distances and slow turning vehicles. A similar treatment on 3rd Avenue resulted in bus speed increases of up to 14%, while injuries decreased by 28%.

An example of a full-block bus stop planned between 45th Street and 46th Street on Sixth Avenue. Credit: NYC DOT.

NYC DOT presented the proposal on Wednesday night to Manhattan’s Community Board 4, with future presentations planned for relevant boards in the borough. The agency will review feedback and finalize a proposal before planning installation.

ICE and FBI Investigation Leads to Charges Against Illegal Alien Who Flew Drone in Restricted FIFA Airspace

 

This illegal alien had already been deported TWICE

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the following statement after an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), alongside the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), led to federal charges against an illegal alien who flew a drone in restricted FIFA airspace.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia, Lorenzo Rojas-Martinez, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, operated a drone in restricted airspace near Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta, Georgia on June 12, 2026, during the 2026 FIFA Fan Festival. FBI agents confronted him and requested his identification. Upon confirming he was in the United States illegally, the agents took him into custody. The next day, the FBI turned him over to ICE custody.

Lorenzo Rojas-Martinez

Rojas-Martinez was charged on June 15 with operating a drone in a temporary flight restricted zone and illegal re-entry. His criminal history includes prior convictions for drug trafficking, stolen property, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and TWO counts of fraud, and an arrest for driving under the influence of liquor.

“This criminal illegal alien dangerously flew a drone in restricted airspace near a FIFA event in Atlanta, Georgia,” said Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis. “His lengthy criminal history includes drug trafficking, stolen property, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and driving under the influence. The Trump Administration will not allow illegal aliens to threaten the safety and security of the American people.”

Rojas-Martinez claimed to have first illegally entered the United States in Texas in 1999, and was deported in 2013. He then illegally re-entered the country – a felony – at an unknown date and location before being deported a second time in 2019. He then illegally entered the country for a THIRD time at an unknown date and location.