Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson's Pride Flag Raising at Borough Hall

It may have been pouring outside Thursday afternoon, but inside the Bronx Courthouse Rotunda, Bronx Pride was overflowing. Bronx Borough President Vanesa Gibson and Deputy Borough President Janet Peguero honored LGBTQIA+ community leaders for their work and service to the LGBTQIA+ community.

Honorees included Emcee and Pharmaceutical Sales Rep and AIDS advocate Jomil Luna, Executive Director of the ChocoBar Cortes Brand Carlos Cortes, CEO for the New York Transgender Bodybuilding Federation Lailani Muniz,  Entrepreneur - Social Activist - and Model Mx. B Hawk Snipes, Youth Recognition with Destination Tomorrow Prevention Services and Outreach Specialist Jaisen Garcia-Castillo, and the John Wade Memorial Award to the Executive Director of the Sunnyside Shines BID and former Director of External Affairs for Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. Dirk McCall. Bronx Borough President Vanesa Gibson also proclaimed June Pride Month. 

After the award presentation inside, the rain let up enough for all to go outside, and raise the rain soaked Pride Flag above Bronx Borough Hall.

Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson welcomes everyone to the Borough President's Pride celebration and Pride Flag raising. The banner which had said Ruben Diaz Jr. for over twelve years now says Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson.

On hand to celebrate with Bronx Borough President Vanesa Gibson were (L - R) Bharati Kemraj, BP Gibson, Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark, New York City Commissioner on Human Rights Annabel Palma, and Deputy Bronx BP Janet Peguero behind the BP and DA. 

Bronx BP Gibson and Deputy BP Peguero with honoree and Emcee Jomil Luna.

New York City Commissioner on Human Rights Annabel Palma, Bronx BP Vanesa Gibson, John Wade Memorial Award Honoree Dirk McCall. Bronx DA Darcel Clark, and Deputy Bronx BP Janet Peguero.

Sean Coleman, the founder and Executive Director of Destination Tomorrow holds the proclamation for Pride Month from Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson. also in the photo is Deputy Bronx BP Janet Peguero.  

(L - R) Honorees Jomil Luna, Carlos Cortes, and Mx. B Hawk Snipes, Deputy BP Janet Peguero, Bronx BP Vanessa Gibson, Honorees Jaisen Garcia-Castillo, Lailani Muniz, Dirk McCall, and Sean Coleman, with Rev. Dr. Vanessa Brown.

A moment of silence for all who have died fighting for the cause.

Everyone prepares to go outside to raise the pride flag.

The rain soaked Pride Flag (seen between the lights) is being raised, as Bronx BP Gibson and Deputy BP Peguero turn the crank to raise the flag. 

STATEMENT FROM MAYOR ADAMS ON END OF ALBANY’S LEGISLATIVE SESSION

 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today released the following statement regarding the end of Albany’s legislative session:

 

“After months of advocacy, New Yorkers achieved major victories in Albany.

 

“The creation of a NYCHA Trust will funnel billions of dollars to residents for critical repairs. Legislation facilitating the conversion of vacant hotels to housing will deliver much needed relief to our homelessness crisis. And keeping pedestrians on our streets safe and allowing life-saving 24/7 speed cameras is a victory for us all.

 

“While there is more work to do to deliver on the priorities New Yorkers are asking for, we are optimistic that there is a way forward on key elements, including ensuring we achieve the shared goal of smaller class sizes without forcing the city into a fiscal crisis and impacting programs for our most vulnerable students. I want to thank the Governor and my colleagues in Albany for their partnership through this session.

 

“We’ve delivered for New Yorkers over and over again, but we will continue to fight to remove guns from our streets, protect our communities, and create a safe, prosperous, and just city for all New Yorkers.”

Governor Hochul Announces New Online Resource Center for New York's Continued Expansion of Electric Vehicle Infrastructure

 

New Website Shows How National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program Funding Can Be Used Across New York State

Website Survey Will Help State Department of Transportation Develop New York's National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Plan 

National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program Funding Supports Fast Charging Along Designated EV Alternative Fuel Corridors

 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the launch of New York's National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program website. The newly launched website provides additional background on the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure funding program, and includes a short survey to collect user feedback in order to assist the State in the development of its National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Plan that will advance New York's nation-leading climate agenda. The website also allows visitors to sign up for alerts as more information on the development of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program becomes available. The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program provides dedicated funding to states to support the strategic deployment of electric vehicle Level 3 Direct Current Fast Charging infrastructure and establish an interconnected network for reliable charging.

"We cannot sufficiently reduce our carbon footprint unless we keep expanding our electric vehicle infrastructure, but thanks to the efforts of President Biden, Senator Schumer, Senator Gillibrand and our Congressional Delegation, who fought for the creation of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program, we have additional resources to help us reach our climate goals," Governor Hochul said. "Expanding our electrical vehicle capabilities is a key part of my administration's ongoing efforts to reduce the impact of climate change across New York State. This new online tool will not only help educate the public on the future of electric vehicle charging, but will give us additional data to plan the next phase of New York's transportation electric charging network development."

New York's National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Plan will be developed by the New York State Department of Transportation in collaboration with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. A public meeting on New York's National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Plan development will be announced by NYSDOT. More information is available here.

State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said, "A strategic plan for the continued development of EV infrastructure is paramount to achieving an environmentally sound and reliable transportation system across New York State. The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program gives us a great framework to collect data which we can use to inform where we need to increase the number of fast-charging stations along our roads, so we can continue to invest in GHG reduction and build our way towards a greener economy."

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority President and CEO Doreen M. Harris said, "New Yorkers across the State can play an important role in providing input on where EV chargers should be located as we continue building out infrastructure that makes it easier for more clean vehicles to hit the roads in our communities. This new resource will facilitate the flow of information and provide important data for our National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program to ensure we continue to reduce emissions and transition to a healthier, low carbon, clean energy future."

National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure is a federal fund source newly created under the Federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that became law in November 2021. The initial emphasis of the program is on making available publicly accessible Direct Current Fast Charging for passenger EVs at intervals of no more than 50 miles apart within 1 travel mile of the designated corridors, with an emphasis on locations near Interstate highway exits.

New York is expected to receive $175 million over five years. Before funding can be spent, the New York State Department of Transportation must submit a National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Infrastructure Deployment Plan that describes how the funding will be used to the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation by August 1.

In early 2022, Governor Hochul announced more than $12 million was added to the State's Drive Clean Rebate program to help consumers save up to $2,000 on the purchase of an electric vehicle and $2.7 million awarded to local governments to purchase electric vehicles and install zero-emission charging/fueling stations for public use to address climate change and build healthier communities. Together, the consumer rebate program and the grants awarded to 49 community-based projects total $14.7 million to advance the State's efforts to achieve New York's ambitious Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent by 2050.

State Senator Gustavo Rivera - Meet me at Poe Park tomorrow!

 

Meet me at Poe Park tomorrow at 11AM for free COVID-19 tests and smoke alarms thanks to the Red Cross of Greater New York. Acompáñame mañana en Poe Park a las 11 a.m. para recibir pruebas de COVID-19 e inscribirse para un detector de humo gratuito, gracias a la Cruz Roja.

Van Nest Memorial Day Remembrance

As is the tradition, the Van Nest Memorial Remembrance begins a short time after the Peace Plaza Memorial Day Remembrance ends so people can attend one and then the other. Then Councilman Ritchie Torres refurbished the Van Nest Memorial, flagpole, and the playground next to it. The names of area veterans who passed away are on the memorial. More names are added each year as the veterans pass away.  

After a small parade around the Van Nest Memorial, East Bronx Historian Richard Vitacco gave a brief history of the Memorial and said this year's special veteran was Sergeant Vincent Serrano of the 23rd Artillery Group Vietnam who was killed in action March 26th 1967. Twelve pairs of carnations One white and one red were dropped by the monument for the twelve veterans from the area who passed away this year. 

Bronx Borough President Vanesa Gibson was on hand as was Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez, and Van Nest Neighborhood Alliance President Bernadette Ferrara, all who spoke with each saying that this was a day for remembering those who gave their lives so we could be here to honor them. 

The large crowd of people marched around the Van Nest War Memorial through the streets of Van Nest.

Rich Vitacco speaks as veterans Earl Manard Jr, and Richardo Garcia are on either side holding plaques of Sergeant Serrano.

Bronx Borough President Vanesa Gibson speaks about her grueling five month in office, but we pay tribute to our veterans today on Memorial Day.

Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez speaks about giving veteran the services they need.

L - R, Earl Manard Jr., Bernadette Ferrara, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, Rich Vitacco, and Richardo Garcia.

Lev Tahor Operatives Convicted At Trial Of Kidnapping Offenses

 

Mordechay Malka and Matityau Malka Convicted of Scheme to Kidnap 14-Year-Old Girl and 12-Year-Old Boy From Their Mother

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced that MORDECHAY MALKA and MATITYAU MALKA were convicted in White Plains federal court of kidnapping following a three-week jury trial.  The defendants, members of an extremist Jewish sect called Lev Tahor, participated in a scheme to kidnap a 14-year-old girl (“Minor-1”) and a 12-year-old boy (“Minor-2”) from their mother in Woodridge, New York in December 2018.  The kidnappers then smuggled the children across the U.S. border to Mexico, where they reunited Minor-1 with her adult “husband,” who she had religiously “married” when she was 13 years old.  After the children were recovered and returned to their mother, the defendants and their co-conspirators tried to kidnap the children a second time in March 2019.  Two co-conspirators, Nachman Helbrans and Mayer Rosner, were previously convicted of kidnapping and sexual exploitation charges in connection with this case after an October 2021 trial and have each been sentenced to 12 years in prison. 

According to the allegations contained in the Superseding Indictment, other court filings, and the evidence presented at trial:

MORDECHAY MALKA and MATITYAU MALKA are U.S. citizens and members of Lev Tahor, an extremist Jewish sect that has been located in several different jurisdictions, including New York, Israel, Canada, Mexico, and Guatemala.  In or about October 2018, the mother of Minor-1 and Minor-2 escaped from Lev Tahor’s compound in Guatemala and arrived in the United States in early November 2018.  Also in November 2018, a Brooklyn family court granted her sole custody of the children and prohibited the children’s father, a leader within Lev Tahor, from communicating with the children.

After the mother fled and settled in New York with her children, MORDECHAY MALKA and other Lev Tahor members devised a plan to return Minor-1 and Minor-2 to the Lev Tahor community.  Then, in December 2018, the kidnappers took the children in the middle of the night from a home in upstate New York and transported them through various states and, eventually, to Mexico.  MORDECHAY MALKA and his co-conspirators used disguises, aliases, drop phones, fake travel documents, an encrypted application, and a secret pact to execute on their kidnapping plan.  At the time of the kidnapping, Lev Tahor leadership was seeking asylum for the entire Lev Tahor community in the Islamic Republic of Iran. 

Following a three-week search involving hundreds of local, federal, and international law enforcement officers, Minor-1 and Minor-2 were recovered in Mexico and returned to their mother in New York. 

Then, in March 2019, members of Lev Tahor again tried to kidnap the children.  The leader of Lev Tahor, Nachman Helbrans, attempted another kidnapping of the children while incarcerated in Westchester, New York.  MATITYAU MALKA acted as the operative on the ground to execute the attempted kidnapping.

MORDECHAY MALKA, 27, of Guatemala, and MATITAU MALKA, 30, of Guatemala, were convicted of one count of conspiring to commit international parental kidnapping, to unlawfully use a means of identification, and to enter by false pretenses the secure area of an airport, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.  MORDECHAY MALKA was also convicted of two counts of international parental kidnapping, which carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison for each count.  MATITYAU MALKA was also convicted of one count of attempted international parental kidnapping, which carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison for each count. 

The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the FBI, United States Customs and Border Protection, the Department of State, the Transportation Security Administration, the New York State Police, the Rockland County Sheriff’s Department, the Sullivan County District Attorney’s Office, the Village of Spring Valley Police Department, Special Agents with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, and our law enforcement partners in Mexico, Guatemala, Canada, and Israel.

Statement From Governor Kathy Hochul on Passage of Legislation Creating The New York City Public Housing Preservation Trust

 

"This is a major win for New Yorkers who call NYCHA home. This legislation has the power to unlock additional federal funding and lead to billions of dollars in renovations — after decades of federal disinvestment — and provide for critical improvements at developments across the city. My administration has been working closely with City Hall, community groups, and local leaders to find real solutions to deliver support to NYCHA residents. The revised legislation that passed ensures there is increased resident feedback and input, giving residents at each development the power to opt in or reject participating in this program, and I am confident this process of engagement and collaboration will continue now that the bill has passed. I am grateful to Mayor Adams, Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, Speaker Heastie and our legislative and advocate partners for collaborating on this crucial legislation and look forward to signing it into law."

AlessandraBiaggi.com - Really quick

 

Friends — we’ll be quick. Here’s why:

This is going to be a very fast campaign. Election Day is just 82 days away. Even faster if you count early voting.

That means we have 82 days to get our message about why Alessandra is the best candidate in this race out to as many voters as possible.

82 days to knock as many doors and make as many calls as we possibly can.

82 days to mobilize, organize, and win.

Doing that is going to take a lot of resources, especially when our opponent has the entire corporate establishment and political machine in New York and Washington behind him.

There’s a tremendous amount of work ahead of us, and Alessandra can’t do it alone.

We don’t want to wake up on the morning of August 24 — the day after the primary — and be left wondering if there was anything more we could have done to defeat Sean Patrick Maloney.

Let’s leave it all out on the field.

Thanks,

Team Biaggi