Wednesday, April 17, 2024

BRONX MAN SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS IN PRISON FOR KILLING TWO MEN IN RETALIATORY SHOOTING

 

Defendant Pleaded Guilty to Manslaughter

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced that a Bronx man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for fatally shooting two men and wounding another inside a building hallway in Claremont, in retaliation for the killing of his uncle. 

District Attorney Clark said, “After his uncle was fatally shot while walking down the street holding his daughter’s hand, the defendant acting in concert with his co-defendant, killed two people and wounded a third. Retaliatory justice only puts more people in danger and continues the bloodshed.” 

District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Nasir Greene, 28, of 1521 Sheridan Avenue, pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree Manslaughter on November 30, 2023. He was sentenced today by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Margaret Clancy to 20 years in prison and five years post-release supervision. His co-defendant, Kalvin Robinson 32, was sentenced to 25 years in prison and five years post release supervision in January after pleaded guilty to Manslaughter and Criminal Possession of a Weapon charges. 

According to the investigation, at 8:00 p.m. on July 5, 2020, inside 306 East 171st Street, the defendants fired multiple shots at Eghosa Imafidon, 26, Joel Baba, 22, and Mohammed Baba, 29. Imafidon was struck multiple times in the neck, head and arm, and Joel Baba was struck multiple times in the torso, arm, and leg. Both died. Mohammed Baba was shot in the arm.

District Attorney Clark thanked NYPD Detective Mark Konecni, formerly of the 44th Precinct, NYPD Detective Dominic Robinson of the Bronx Homicide Squad and NYPD Detective Vincent Figueroa of the 44th Precinct Squad for their work in the case. 

District Attorney Clark thanked the NYS Division of Parole for their help in the investigation.

Governor Hochul Celebrates Historic Opening of 100th Brick and Mortar Adult-Use Cannabis Dispensary

The leaves of the cannabis plant

110 Adult-Use Cannabis Retailers Open and Operating in New York State


Governor Kathy Hochul today announced New York State has reached a significant milestone in growing the legal cannabis industry with the grand opening of the 100th Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary brick-and-mortar store, Big Gas located in New Paltz, NY. The Office of Cannabis Management joined Big Gas owners, Kareem Haynesworth and Zymia Lewis for the grand opening of the dispensary for public sales.

“New York State continues to make progress on standing up a safe and legal cannabis industry for business owners, farmers and residents across the state,” Governor Hochul said. “Today marks a historic milestone in establishing a thriving and equitable industry in our state with the 100th brick-and-mortar store opening.”

New York currently has 110 adult-use cannabis retailers (including storefronts and temporary delivery-only (TDO) locations) open and operating across the State, with more anticipated to open soon. These retailers represent a diverse mix of Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary (CAURD) licensees with storefronts, CAURD licensees providing delivery services, and adult-use dispensaries co-located with existing medical dispensaries. The growth of the cannabis industry in New York is reflected in the rapidly growing retail sales figures, with total sales exceeding $237 million. Notably, $77 million of these sales were generated in the first two and a half months of 2024, indicating a thriving market.

Within its first year of operation, the State has surpassed the Social and Economic Equity (SEE) goal set out in Cannabis Law by awarding 60 percent of licenses to social and economic equity applicants. Within that group, 40 percent are minority-owned businesses and 40 percent are women-owned businesses, respectively.

The State has also almost doubled the percentage of majority minority-owned dispensaries nationwide. As of April 2024, 37 percent of NY's adult-use dispensaries are majority minority-owned; nationwide only 19 percent are majority minority-owned. Similarly, 11 percent of NY’s adult-use dispensaries were majority Black-owned, while the nation is at 2 percent. Approximately 50 percent of New York’s open dispensaries are Minority- and/or Women-Owned Businesses, underscoring the state's commitment to inclusivity and accessibility.

Co-owned by two experienced entrepreneurs Zymia Lewis and Kareem Haynesworth, this location recently transitioned from a Temporary Delivery-Only (TDO) site to a brick-and-mortar retail dispensary to better serve local New Yorkers looking to purchase legal, tested, safer cannabis products. Haynesworth is a justice-involved individual and the dispensary is supported by the New York Cannabis Social Equity Investment Fund. Following the press conference, Big Gas opened its doors for sales to the public, offering a diverse range of New York State grown and processed cannabis products to adult consumers. The event was attended by community leaders and stakeholders who came together to support this landmark addition to New York's burgeoning cannabis sector.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

This comes from a state government that said smoking regular cigarettes are bad, and each pack of cigarettes has a warning from the U.S. Surgeon General. Does Cannabis come with the same warning?

Bronx Chamber of Commerce - Call to Action: Learn how the proposed Vendor Bill might affect your business

 



Join The Bronx Chamber of Commerce for a webinar briefing on the vendor bill April 24th at 1:00 p.m. to highlight the potential impacts of this bill on our businesses. 


The proposed changes, including a 2-foot buffer from the curb and the allowance for vendors to set up in front of street furniture, could significantly alter our streetscape and increase competition for our small businesses. We believe it is crucial for our business community to unite and voice our concerns.

Your support and collaboration are vital as we work to protect the interests of our local business community.


Register - Click Here


Bronx Chamber of Commerce 1200 Waters Place
Suite 106Bronx, NY 10461