Assemblywoman Rajkumar's Statement on Alleged ISIS-Inspired Plot to Attack the New York State Capitol

 

I am deeply disturbed by the alleged ISIS-inspired plot to bomb the New York State Capitol.

I have walked through those doors countless times. So have my staff, and so do the public servants, visitors, and New Yorkers who come to their Capitol every day to petition their government. An attack on them is an attack on all of us and on the democratic institutions that belong to every New Yorker.

I am profoundly grateful to the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and to our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners. Their work is the reason this ended in a courtroom and not a catastrophe.

We must also confront the forces of radicalization that recruit people into ideologies of hatred and violence. That means countering extremist propaganda and online recruitment, and it means giving people a stronger sense of belonging, purpose, and hope. Preventing terrorism means stopping attacks, but it also means preventing radicalization before it takes root.

Three weeks from the 25th anniversary of September 11th, this is a sobering reminder that vigilance against terrorism and violent extremism is a permanent obligation, one New York has carried every day since.

New York will never be intimidated by terror. We will stand together, protect one another, and defend our democracy.

Mayor Mamdani, Department of Veterans Services and New York Road Runners Announce Registration for First-Ever City-Sponsored Ruck

 

New Yorkers can register here  

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and the NYC Department of Veterans’ Services (DVS), in partnership with New York Road Runners, today announced that registration is open for the inaugural Remembrance Ruck, a City-sponsored ruck celebrating and honoring New York City’s veteran and military community.   

  

The Remembrance Ruck will take place September 13 and kick off at 9:00 a.m. The Ruck will begin at Cadman Plaza in Brooklyn, cross the Brooklyn Bridge and conclude at Foley Square in Manhattan.   

  

The event is open to all, including veterans, active-duty service members, reservists, caregivers, survivors, Gold Star Families, military families, members of the broader military community and civilians. Anyone who wishes to participate and show their support can register at on.nyc.gov/ruck.  

  

The Ruck will culminate in a resource fair at Surrogate’s Court, connecting veterans, service members, military families and members of the broader military-affiliated community with resources and services. Attendees will have access to information and support related to housing, mental health, health care, benefits, financial assistance, community engagement and other essential services. The fair will make these resources more accessible and easier to navigate for those who have served and their families.  

  

“New York City would not be complete without the countless contributions, courage and conviction of the service members, veterans and families who call our City home,” said Mayor Mamdani. “The Remembrance Ruck will bring New Yorkers together to honor and support the people who have served and continue to serve our country and city. We are grateful to our veterans and their families for their sacrifice, and our administration will continue working to ensure they have the support and resources they deserve.”  

  

“Rucking holds a special meaning within the military community. For so many of our veterans, carrying a ruck was part of their everyday service, a symbol of endurance, resilience, and carrying the mission forward together. This Ruck is an opportunity to honor that service and sacrifice, while also recognizing the families who carried the weight of that service alongside them,” said Department of Veterans Service Commissioner Yesenia Mata. “But honoring our military community must extend beyond a single day. Our veterans and their families deserve to know that the community they served is here to support them in return. By bringing together critical resources, services, and community partners, we are ensuring that veterans and military families know where to turn, how to access the benefits they have earned, and most importantly, that they never have to navigate that journey alone.”  

  

The NYC Department of Veterans’ Services’ mission is to connect, mobilize and empower New York City’s Veteran community to foster purpose-driven lives for U.S. military service members— past and present — and their caregivers, survivors and families. The Department assists NYC Veteran community members on issues including employment, housing, food security, wellbeing, benefits, culture and targeted advocacy. For more information about DVS programs and services, please visit www.nyc.gov/vets, call (212) 416- 5250 or email connect@veterans.nyc.gov.  

Attorney General James Releases Guidance to Help New Yorkers Access Hospital Financial Aid

 

As Federal Cuts Strip Health Coverage from Hundreds of Thousands of New Yorkers, New Guidance Explains How Patients Can Get Discounts and Payment Plans for Hospital Bills

New York Attorney General Letitia James released guidance to help New Yorkers understand and exercise their right to financial assistance for hospital bills under New York’s Hospital Financial Aid Law. All hospitals in New York state are required to offer financial aid to eligible patients who cannot afford their bills, but many New Yorkers are unaware of this protection or do not know how to apply for it. In new guidance released today, Attorney General James breaks down who qualifies for hospital financial aid, what the law covers, and how patients can apply for help paying their medical bills, as well as financial aid protections for immigrant patients.

“No New Yorker should have to choose between their health and their financial security,” said Attorney General James. “As federal cuts strip health coverage away from hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers, I urge anyone struggling to pay a hospital bill to use this guidance to understand their rights. Hospitals have a legal obligation to help patients who are eligible for financial assistance, and no one should be pushed into medical debt because they did not know where to turn.” 

Attorney General James released this guidance as federal funding cuts are causing hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers to lose their health coverage. Because of cuts passed in the federal budget law known as H.R. 1, New York’s Essential Plan income limit dropped from 250 percent to 200 percent of the federal poverty level on July 1, 2026, causing an estimated 450,000 New Yorkers to lose their zero-premium coverage and shift to marketplace plans with higher premiums, deductibles, and out-of-pocket costs. As more New Yorkers face coverage gaps or costlier plans, hospital financial aid may be one of the few protections standing between a medical emergency and crushing debt. 

New York’s Hospital Financial Aid Law requires hospitals to offer discounted or free care, sometimes called “charity care,” to patients who cannot afford their bills. Patients with household incomes up to 400 percent of the federal poverty level may qualify, and hospitals must waive all charges for patients earning less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level. This means single New Yorkers earning less than $31,920 and four-person households earning less than $66,000 are entitled to free care, while single New Yorkers earning up to $63,840 and four-person households earning up to $132,000 may qualify for a discount. Patients do not need to be uninsured to qualify; those with insurance who have exhausted their insurance benefits or who have spent more than 10 percent of their household income on out-of-pocket medical costs in the past year may also be eligible. 

In the guidance, Attorney General James also outlines critical protections many patients do not know they have. Hospitals cannot deny emergency or medically necessary care because of an unpaid bill, cannot limit financial aid based on a patient’s medical condition, and cannot ask about or consider a patient’s immigration status when determining eligibility. Applying for financial aid does not count as a public benefit and does not affect immigration status. Additionally, hospitals are legally prohibited from reporting applicants to immigration authorities. Hospitals also cannot send a bill to a debt collector while a financial aid application is under review, or for at least six months after sending a patient’s first bill. 

New Yorkers can apply for financial aid at any time, starting from the day they receive services and continuing throughout the billing and collections process, using a standard application created by the New York State Department of Health (DOH).  

Attorney General James encourages New Yorkers who believe a hospital failed to offer financial aid, improperly disqualified them, or unlawfully sent their bill to a debt collector to reach out to OAG’s Health Care Helpline for assistance. 

Ahead of School Year Kick Off, Comptroller Levine Finds Just 48 NYC Public Schools Take Advantage of City Program to Create More Outdoor Space for Students

 

Improvements to “School Streets” Could Provide Cost-Effective, Fast, Safe Access to Outdoor Space for 324 Schools

As nearly one million New York City students prepare to return to school on September 10, just 48 New York City Public Schools (NYCPS), serving approximately 27,000 students, use the City’s “School Streets” program to turn adjacent streets into additional outdoor space for PE, recess, outdoor learning, arrival, dismissal, and other activities, according to a new analysis from the Office of Comptroller Mark Levine.  

The limited reach of the program comes as hundreds of schools face constraints on outdoor space: while the City does not maintain comprehensive data on outdoor space available for school activities, 371 NYC public schools serving almost 200,000 students – nearly one in four public school students citywide — lack outdoor physical education space. Yet 324 of those schools have an adjacent street likely eligible to become a School Street, highlighting the potential for the cost-effective Department of Transportation (DOT) program to reach more students. 

The report, The Right-of-Play: Expanding “School Streets” Access in NYC, finds that the 5-year-old School Streets program is governed by a cumbersome and lengthy approval process that, if streamlined, could better serve principals and school staff while expanding much-needed outdoor space for students. This space can be crucial not only for physical education and recess, but also for improving safety during arrivals and departures and creating opportunities for parents, staff, and students to connect as a school community. 

“Students spend much of their day at school, and kids need to move, play and get outside in order to thrive – but too many New York City schools lack the outdoor space to give students those opportunities,” said Comptroller Mark Levine. “Regular physical activity and time outdoors not only support their physical health but also their mental health, focus, and ability to learn.  We should make it as easy as possible to put that space to use. School Streets are a simple, low-cost solution to expand outdoor space, and we should make it as easy as possible for principals, parents and school staff to take advantage of it if they want. ”  

The Schools Streets program – which launched as a Covid-19 outdoor learning initiative in 2020 —  has seen low participation since it moved to DOT in 2021.  Many school principals report limited familiarity with the program, while others find DOT’s application process overly burdensome. 

The process requires developing multiple plans and letters of support, followed by a minimum 90-day review by DOT. Just 48 NYCPS schools had School Streets in the 2025-26 academic year.   

The report found that:  

• Only 74 schools took part in the program during the 2025-26 academic year: 48 NYCPS, 14 private, 10 charter, and two childcare programs.  

• Of 1,156 school buildings reviewed, 93% have an adjacent street likely eligible for School Streets – meaning an initial review didn’t find any major public safety or emergency concerns. 

• Of the 371 schools without outdoor physical education space, 324 have an adjacent street likely eligible for School Streets. 

• Schools using the program showed a commendably equitable distribution in terms of demographics and other factors.  

• The City lacks a publicly available dataset that identifies the total outdoor recreation space available to students at each school for recess and other activities. 

The Comptroller’s Office offered several recommendations to more efficiently deliver School Streets for young New Yorkers:  

• Shift Application Responsibility to Agencies. DOT and NYCPS should take the burden off individual principals to assess potential School Streets’ safety and viability, engage other agencies and community partners, and work with administrators on an implementation plan. 

• Proactively Assess Principal Interest Across NYCPS. This joint effort should first gauge how many principals potentially want a School Street. This can be done through existing NYCPS outreach, such as the Principal Annual Space Survey, after which the agencies can engage these administrators to see if they have an eligible adjacent street and are interested in joining the program.  

• Prioritize Schools without Outdoor Physical Education Space. Buildings without a dedicated area for physical education should be targeted to potentially take part in School Streets.  

• Set Clear, Ambitious Annual Expansion Goals. DOT and NYCPS should jointly set targets to deliver School Streets to as many students as possible every year.  

• Assess Citywide Outdoor Recreation Space Inventory. New York City currently only keeps data on how many schools have outdoor space used for physical education. NYCPS should expand this data set to understand how many schools have outdoor space that can be used for activities like recess. 

You can read the full report here: https://comptroller.nyc.gov/reports/the-right-of-play-expanding-school-streets-access-in-nyc/

Albany, New York Woman Charged with ISIS-Inspired Terror Plot Targeting New York State Capitol

 

Jessica Bowie, 35, of Albany, New York, made her initial appearance today in federal court on charges of attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, ISIS. 

“As alleged, Bowie plotted to deploy an explosive device at the New York State Capitol, intending to kill public officials and to destroy ‘as much of the building as possible’ before fleeing to ISIS‑controlled territory in Syria,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “The National Security Division and our law-enforcement partners are committed to the painstaking work of preventing plots like this from succeeding and securing convictions against those who attempt such plots.”

“The American people represent an undying spirit of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness — values fundamentally opposed by foreign terrorist organizations such as the one this defendant allegedly pledged her support to,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III for the Northern District of New York. “I am incredibly proud to work side by side with the men and women of the FBI and our law enforcement partners who identified, investigated, and ultimately stopped this defendant before she was able to act on her plot to bring terror to the Capital Region and the United States. My office looks forward to aggressively prosecuting this case and delivering justice for the American people.”

“The FBI detected and stopped an alleged plot to attack the New York State Capitol and kill elected officials,” said Operations Director Matt Fodor of the FBI National Security Branch. “According to the criminal complaint, the defendant in this case swore allegiance to ISIS and wanted to follow up with additional horrific acts of terrorism. This case is yet another example of how this FBI is built to not only identify threats of terrorism quickly, but to stop their alleged plots before they are able to harm the American people. I want to commend the FBI Albany Field Office, the Justice Department, and our law enforcement partners for their outstanding work in this case. Cooperation and partnership are essential to protecting the U.S. homeland.”

On Aug.19, Bowie was apprehended by law enforcement as she gained possession of what she believed to be an explosive device, with the intent of targeting the New York State Capitol and New York State Senators.

Bowie buying items necessary to build an explosive device

Through the course of the investigation and as alleged in the government’s complaint, investigators learned that Bowie had intended to conduct the attack before fleeing to Syria to join others in ISIS-controlled territories. She was observed making several visits to the New York State Capitol grounds and taking several photographs of the building. In describing the New York State Capitol building as her target, Bowie stated: “I want to destroy as much of the building as possible and kill the senators while they are meeting. I want them to lose a lot of important documents as well” and “I want it to have a affect on the American system. And destroy some of the taghut.” 

Bowie doing reconnaissance on New York Capitol

According to the complaint, Jessica Bowie has expressed anti-American messages online. On one account identified as belonging to Bowie, she said, “Praise be to Allah for September 11th” and “When I can migrate, I will poison these infidels.” Further, Bowie recorded and disseminated to others online her “Bayah,” or formal oath of allegiance to ISIS. 

The case is being investigated by the FBI with assistance from the U. S. Secret Service, New York State Police, and Albany Police Department. 

Statement From Governor Kathy Hochul

 

“Today, the U.S. Department of Justice and FBI announced the arrest of an individual who allegedly plotted an attack on the New York State Capitol. I’m grateful to the FBI for leading this investigation and to the New York State Police for their work to apprehend this dangerous individual.

“Earlier this year, amid a rise in political violence and threats against public officials, we took steps to strengthen security at the State Capitol and across state government.

“While there is no immediate threat at this time, we will continue working closely with our law enforcement partners to protect New Yorkers and keep our communities safe.”

Former West Virginia Sheriff’s Office Deputy Indicted for Alleged Deprivation of Rights of Inmate

 

A deputy with the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office was charged in an indictment with one count of alleged deprivation of rights under color of law arising out of his alleged sexual assault of a female inmate in his custody.

According to the indictment, on July 29, 2025, Cass Aaron Close, 56, violated the civil rights of the victim when he sexually assaulted her. At the time of the assault, Close was on duty as a Kanawha County Sheriff’s deputy and the victim was in his custody at the Kanawha County Judicial Annex. If convicted of all the charges, Close faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Moore Capito for the Southern District of West Virginia, and Special Agent in Charge Richard Evanchec of the FBI Pittsburgh Field Office made the announcement.

The case was investigated by the FBI Pittsburgh Field Office with assistance from the West Virginia State Police.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Herrald for the Southern District of West Virginia and Trial Attorneys Cassandra Hughes and Tenette Smith of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section.

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

Leaders And Members Of Bronx Gang “Dub City” Sentenced For Multiple Shootings, Racketeering, Narcotics, Fraud, And Firearms Offenses

 

Bruce Silva, a/k/a “Brucie,” a Leader of the Dub City Gang and the Last of the 10 Defendants to Be Sentenced, Was Sentenced to 22 Years in Prison

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, announced that BRUCE SILVA, a/k/a “Brucie,” a leader of the Bronx gang “Dub City,” which was affiliated with the larger MacBallers street gang, was sentenced to 22 years in prison.  On February 24, 2026, SILVA pled guilty to racketeering conspiracy and multiple firearms offenses in connection with shootings, one of which left the victim paralyzed, before U.S. District Judge Paul G. Gardephe, who imposed this sentence.   

“For years, the members of the so-called ‘Dub City’ gang terrorized several Bronx neighborhoods in their claimed territory by repeatedly shooting at rivals and fellow gang members alike,” said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald.  “The significant sentences imposed in this case serve to hold the leaders and members of this violent street gang accountable for their gun violence and other criminal activity.  This Office will continue to work with our federal, state, and local partners to dismantle violent criminal organizations and protect the communities they prey upon through violence.” 

According to the charging instruments, court filings, and statements made in court:

The “Dub City” gang was a criminal organization based in the Mt. Hope and Morris Heights sections of the Bronx, New York, whose members predominantly were also members of the larger MacBallers street gang.  A map of Dub City’s claimed territory is below:

From 2019 until the defendants were arrested in April 2023, the Dub City gang members sold drugs, committed robberies, committed financial fraud, used guns, and committed numerous acts of violence in furtherance of the Dub City gang, including shootings against members of rival gangs and against other Dub City gang members. The violence committed by the defendants included shootings where innocent bystanders were hit.   In one case, SILVA shot at an individual, causing permanent paralysis.  In another case, co-defendant BRUCE MELVIN shot at a rival gang member, hitting an innocent bystander in the leg.

In total, the defendants were collectively convicted for their roles in eight separate shootings on Bronx streets between summer 2019 and summer 2022.

The following photographs depict Dub City members and co-defendants SILVA, MELVIN, and ELIJAH POUGH firing their weapons at rival gang members and others on Bronx streets:

In imposing this sentence, Judge Gardephe said that Silva poses a “clear and present danger to the community.”

A chart containing the names and ages of the defendants, the charges they were convicted of, and the sentences they received is set forth below.

Mr. McDonald praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York City Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations, and also thanked the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office for its assistance. 

This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent Organizations and Crime Unit.

Defendant	Age	Conviction	Sentence
BRUCE SILVA, a/k/a “Brucie,”	30	Racketeering conspiracy  Two counts of use, possession, and brandishing of a firearms in connection with an attempted assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering  Possession of ammunition after a felony conviction	22 years in prison;   3 years supervised release
BRUCE MELVIN, a/k/a “BG,”	27	Racketeering conspiracy  Two counts of use, possession, and brandishing of a firearms in connection with an attempted murder and assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering	240 months in prison;   5 years supervised release
JORDAN BENNETT a/k/a “Billy Bandz,” a/k/a “J Bills,”	32	Racketeering conspiracy	144 months  3 years supervised release
ELIJAH POUGH, a/k/a “Eli,”	30	Racketeering conspiracy  Use, possession, and brandishing, of a firearm in connection with an attempted murder and assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering	120 months  5 years supervised release
SHADELL MCBRIDE, a/k/a “Deli,”	31	Racketeering conspiracy  Use and possession of a firearm in connection with an attempted murder and assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering	120 months  5 years supervised release
JUSTIN BALLESTER, a/k/a “J-Gunz,”	31	Racketeering conspiracy	60 months  3 years supervised release
ALZUBAIR SALEH, a/k/a “Sammy,”	35	Racketeering conspiracy	51 months  3 years supervised release
GIOVANNI RODRIGUEZ, a/k/a “Karrot,”	27	Racketeering conspiracy	36 months   3 years supervised release
GABRIEL VALDEZ, a/k/a “Wolf,”	27	Racketeering conspiracy	48 months (including 20 months spent in New York state custody)  3 years supervised release
EMMANUEL PEREZ, a/k/a “Manny,” a/k/a “Haven,”	26	Racketeering conspiracy	36 months  3 years supervised release