Possession of a Dangerous Weapon in a Federal Facility; Depredation of Federal Property
Keith Michael Lisa, 51, of New Jersey (with ties to Mahwah and New York City), is a fugitive wanted by the FBI as of November 2025 for allegedly vandalizing the office of Acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba in Newark’s Peter W. Rodino Federal Building on November 13, 2025. According to authorities, Lisa entered the building with a baseball bat after being denied a meeting, causing damage to government property. He faces federal charges of possession of a dangerous weapon in a federal facility and depredation of federal property, with a U.S. District Court arrest warrant issued the same day. T he FBI describes him as 6’3″ tall, with brown and gray hair and brown eyes, and considers him dangerous. A reward of up to $25,000 is offered for information leading to his arrest and conviction; tips can be submitted to 1-800-CALL-FBI or tips.fbi.gov. He was previously booked in Bergen County, NJ, on October 26, 2025, on unrelated charges. The FBI took him into custody shortly after the incident, per reports
Date(s) of Birth Used
April 11, 1974
Place of Birth
California
Hair
Brown/Gray
Eyes
Brown
Height
6’3″
Weight
200 to 230 pounds
Sex
Male
Race
White
Nationality
American
Reward:
The FBI is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Keith Michael Lisa.
Remarks:
Lisa has ties to New York City, New York, and Mahwah, New Jersey.
Caution:
Keith Michael Lisa is wanted for allegedly entering the Peter W. Rodino Federal Building in Newark, New Jersey, on November 12, 2025, while in possession of a bat. After being denied entry, he discarded the bat and returned. Once inside the building, he proceeded to the U.S. Attorney’s Office where he damaged government property. A federal arrest warrant was issued for Lisa on November 13, 2025, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey after he was charged with Possession of a Dangerous Weapon in a Federal Facility and Depredation of Federal Property.
– New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced a major evolution of Behavioral Health Emergency Assistance Response Division (B-HEARD) — the city’s health-led response to 911 mental health calls — that will shift the focus even further towards a health-first response by streamlining management to be fully operated and managed by NYC Health + Hospitals in the coming months. As part of the transition, Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) emergency medical technicians (EMTs) previously assigned to B-HEARD will be reassigned to other emergency response units as part of the city’s efforts to improve ambulance response times in cases of emergencies. This change will preserve EMTs for the most critical medical emergency responses while enabling B-HEARD to continue featuring medical and mental health professionals for nonviolent mental health 911 calls. After the transition, B-HEARD will continue to send out response teams to nonviolent 911 mental health calls with medical and mental health professionals. The new model is expected to take effect in the spring of 2026. Today’s announcement further builds on Mayor Adams’ commitment to supporting New Yorkers with serious mental illness and treating the city’s mental health crisis as a public health issue.
“Today, we are proud to announce a new model for our city’s response to 911 mental health calls that will be fully operated by NYC Health + Hospitals ,” said Mayor Adams. “This new model for B-HEARD will allow our FDNY EMTs the opportunity to focus further on other emergency response units as part of our city’s efforts to improve ambulance response times and use our resources more efficiently, while still addressing mental health emergencies we continue to see playing out in our city. From day one, our administration’s goal has been to keep New Yorkers safe and to help those struggling with severe mental illness; doing this means we must provide treatment and support to those in crises in the most efficient and compassionate way possible. We are building a culture of compassion in the name of public safety, public health, and the public interest, and we are proud to be delivering just that.”
“NYC Health + Hospitals is proud to be the largest provider of behavioral health services in New York City, and our commitment to the city’s innovative B-HEARD program is unwavering,” said NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Mitchell Katz, MD. “We are grateful to our outstanding partners in the program’s first iteration, and we look forward to continuing its evolution as we serve New Yorkers in mental health crisis.”
Launched in 2021, B-HEARD was created as an interagency collaboration between the FDNY and NYC Health + Hospitals with oversight from the Mayor’s Office of Community Mental Health (OCMH). During its initial years of operation, B-HEARD partnered EMTs and mental health clinicians to respond as a team to 911 mental health calls without violence or weapons as the primary concern.
Over the life of the program — between its launch in 2021 through June 2025 — B-HEARD teams have responded to nearly 35,000 mental health 911 calls. Of the patients who received a mental health assessment by a NYC Health + Hospitals clinician, 43 percent were served in the community instead of being transported to a hospital emergency department. B-HEARD teams work to understand each individual’s needs, de-escalate situations, and, whenever possible, connect with family members and the individual’s existing clinicians to determine the best path forward. The program achieved an overwhelming patient-satisfaction rate with 96 percent of survey respondents reporting B-HEARD helped them and 94 percent agreeing that the B-HEARD response was more appropriate for their needs than the traditional emergency response they had previously received. Each B-HEARD response reflects New York City’s commitment to responding to the mental health crisis with the most appropriate care and reducing unnecessary use of a hospital’s emergency department and of police resources.
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest provider of behavioral health in New York City. The system provides over 60 percent of behavioral health services citywide, serving over 78,000 patients annually across emergency, inpatient, and outpatient care.
Commitment to Mental Health
In 2023, Mayor Adams announced a sweeping mental health agenda, “Care, Community, Action: A Mental Health Plan for New York City,” with $20 million in new commitments that invested in, among other initiatives, an online hub to connect New Yorkers with serious mental illness to care, as well as a substantial expansion of the clubhouse program.
Alongside the Adams administration’s focus on mental health, Mayor Adams also launched “HealthyNYC” in November 2023, an ambitious plan to extend the average lifespan of all New Yorkers by, among other things, reducing the impact of deaths related to mental health, like overdoses, suicide, and homicides, by 2030. Additionally, HealthyNYC expands access to culturally responsive mental health care and social support services, including early intervention for communities of color and LGBTQIA+ youth, and helps address the impact of social media on youth mental health and suicidal ideation to reduce suicide deaths.
The announcement builds on the work of the Adams administration in addressing the crises of severe mental illness on New York City streets. In August 2025, Mayor Adams launched the “End the Culture of Anything Goes” campaign to highlight the work the administration has done to change the culture and laws that prevented people with severe mental illness from getting the help they needed while making the investments necessary to support outreach, harm reduction, wraparound services, and housing to make lasting impacts in lives and communities. As part of this campaign, Mayor Adams made a series of announcements promoting the administration’s efforts to help New Yorkers struggling with severe mental illness and substance addiction while simultaneously addressing quality of life and public safety on New York City streets, including:
An expansion of the New York City Police Department’s (NYPD’s) Quality of Life Division, or “Q-Teams,” announced earlier this year, to every precinct and all housing commands citywide. Q-Teams focus on tackling daily issues that impact New Yorkers’ sense of safety and well-being, including cracking down on illegal mopeds, towing abandoned vehicles, cleaning up encampments, addressing outdoor drug use, responding to noise complaints, and more.
Opening of 13 newly contracted clubhouses — the city’s first procurement of clubhouses in nearly 30 years — to support people with severe mental illness thanks to a $30 million investment by the Adams administration.
Launching the city’s first-ever Involuntary Transports Dashboard, which allows New Yorkers to track trends in involuntary transports and better understand how the city connects individuals with emergency psychiatric care, while simultaneously upholding the administration’s commitment to transparency.
Opening the Bridge to Home facility, a new, innovative support model designed to help patients living with severe mental illness who are ready to be discharged from the hospital but do not have a place to go.
Opening two additional Extended Care Units in the city’s public hospitals, where patients can stay for up to 120 days after being discharged from an inpatient psychiatric unit, receive psychopharmacological treatment, and pursue rehabilitative activities.
Strong Fiscal Management
In the lead up to the upcoming November 2025 Financial Plan Update, Mayor Adams recently announced a new investment that will increase the uniformed headcount of the NYPD by 5,000 officers, increasing the total number of officers to 40,000 — the highest level in 20 years — by Fiscal Year (FY) 2029. Mayor Adams is making an investment of $17.8 million in the upcoming fiscal year that will increase to $315.8 million by FY 2029 to support the phased-in hiring of the additional 5,000 officers by July 2028.
Today’s announcement follows Mayor Adams’ long history of strong fiscal management, including delivering an on-time, balanced, and fiscally-responsible $115.9 billion Adopted Budget earlier this year, which built on the FY 2026 Executive Budget, often called the “Best Budget Ever.” The Executive Budget doubled down on Mayor Adams’ commitment to make New York City the best place to raise a family by, among other things, investing in “After-School for All,” a $755-million plan to deliver universal after-school programming to families of children in kindergarten through eighth grade; baselining funding for 3-K citywide expansion and special education pre-K to build on the administration’s work to dramatically expand access to early childhood education; investing over $400 million to fully fund the transformation of Fifth Avenue in Manhattan into a world-class, pedestrian-centered boulevard; and revitalizing “The Arches,” the public space on the Manhattan side of the Brooklyn Bridge. The FY 2026 Adopted Budget was also the first to implement Mayor Adams’ landmark “Axe the Tax for the Working Class” plan, which abolishes and cuts New York City’s personal income tax for filers with dependents living at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty line. Because of this plan — which the Adams administration successfully fought to pass in Albany this budget cycle — $63 million will go back into the pockets of over 582,000 low-income New York filers, including their dependents, helping make New York City more affordable for working-class families.
Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams announced a 10-year extension of the Roosevelt Island Master Lease to 2078, securing housing stability and financial certainty for over 5,500 residential units and 12,000 residents. Alongside the extension, a joint planning and community engagement process with the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) will explore new affordable housing, infrastructure upgrades, and public amenities, including potential redevelopment of the former Steam Plant site and the NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler campus. The initiative aims to preserve the island’s unique character while preparing for sustainable growth, with long-term lease updates to reflect community priorities and streamline operations between the State, City, and RIOC.
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) (IEEPA), the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), section 604 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 2483), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, it is hereby ordered:
Section 1. Background. In Executive Order 14257 of April 2, 2025 (Regulating Imports With a Reciprocal Tariff To Rectify Trade Practices That Contribute to Large and Persistent Annual United States Goods Trade Deficits), I found that conditions reflected in large and persistent annual U.S. goods trade deficits, including the consequences of those deficits, constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and economy of the United States that has its source in whole or substantial part outside the United States. I declared a national emergency with respect to that threat, and to deal with that threat, I imposed certain ad valorem duties that I deemed necessary and appropriate. In Annex II to Executive Order 14257, I set forth a list of certain goods that, in my judgment, should not be subject to the ad valorem rates of duty imposed pursuant to that order.
In Executive Order 14346 of September 5, 2025 (Modifying the Scope of Reciprocal Tariffs and Establishing Procedures for Implementing Trade and Security Agreements), I modified the scope of products subject to the reciprocal tariff imposed under Executive Order 14257, as amended, and I issued an updated version of Annex II to Executive Order 14257.
I have received additional information and recommendations from various officials who, pursuant to my direction, have been monitoring the circumstances involving the emergency declared in Executive Order 14257. After considering the information and recommendations these officials have provided to me, the status of negotiations with various trading partners, current domestic demand for certain products, and current domestic capacity to produce certain products, among other things, I have determined that it is necessary and appropriate to further modify the scope of products subject to the reciprocal tariff imposed under Executive Order 14257, as amended. Specifically, I have determined that certain agricultural products shall not be subject to the reciprocal tariff imposed under Executive 14257, as amended. Accordingly, updated versions of Annex II to Executive Order 14257, as amended, and the Annex to Executive Order 14346 entitled, “Potential Tariff Adjustments for Aligned Partners,” are attached to this order and shall be effective with respect to goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time on November 13, 2025. In my judgment, these modifications are necessary and appropriate to deal with the national emergency declared in Executive Order 14257.
Sec. 2. Updating Scope of Duties Globally.The Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States shall be modified as provided in Annex I to this order. The modifications shall be effective with respect to goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time on November 13, 2025. To the extent that implementation of this order requires a refund of duties collected, refunds shall be processed pursuant to applicable law and the standard procedures of U.S. Customs and Border Protection for such refunds.
Sec. 3. Implementation. (a) The Secretary of Commerce and the United States Trade Representative shall continue to monitor the circumstances involving the emergency declared in Executive Order 14257 and shall regularly consult on such circumstances with any senior official they deem appropriate. The Secretary of Commerce and the United States Trade Representative shall inform me of any circumstance that, in their opinion, might indicate the need for further action by the President.
(b) Consistent with applicable law, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the United States Trade Representative are directed and authorized to take such actions, including adopting rules, regulations, or guidance, and to employ all powers granted to the President, including those granted by IEEPA, as may be necessary to implement and effectuate this order. The Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the United States Trade Representative, consistent with applicable law, may redelegate any of these functions within their respective department or agency. All executive departments and agencies shall take all appropriate measures within their authority to implement this order.
Sec. 4. Severability. If any provision of this order, or the application of any provision to any individual or circumstance, is held to be invalid, the remainder of this order and the application of its other provisions to any other individuals or circumstances shall not be affected thereby.
Sec. 5. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
(d) The costs for publication of this order shall be borne by the United States Trade Representative.
Two men from Texas and Florida were sentenced today to four years and two years in prison, respectively, for their roles as leaders of a marketing company that solicited Medicare beneficiaries for medically unnecessary genetic testing. The Florida man received an additional two years in prison, to be served concurrently, for his role in falsifying the ownership information in Medicare enrollment documentation for a clinical laboratory.
According to court documents, Paul Wexler, 56, of Spring, Texas, and Paul Bleignier, 64, of Seminole, Florida, operated a telemarketing company that recruited Medicare beneficiaries for cancer genetic (CGx) testing that was medically unnecessary. CGx testing uses DNA sequencing to detect mutations in genes that could indicate a higher risk of developing certain types of cancers in the future. It is not a method of diagnosing whether an individual presently has cancer, and Medicare covers CGx testing in limited circumstances. Further, Wexler, Bleignier and their co-conspirators solicited and received kickbacks in exchange for referring Medicare beneficiaries for CGx testing that was not eligible for Medicare reimbursement. Through the scheme, Wexler and Bleignier caused Medicare to be billed $17.3 million, and they were paid $5.2 million.
While the criminal case for genetic testing fraud was pending, Bleignier opened a clinical laboratory and enrolled it in Medicare. Medicare requires a certification listing anyone with 5% or more ownership interest, but Bleignier used other people’s identities to disguise his involvement. The claims related to that laboratory were further tainted by kickbacks. Bleignier and his co-conspirators billed Medicare for $3,012,156 in claims that were ineligible for reimbursement, and they were paid $916,106.
In April 2024, Wexler pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud. In November 2022, Bleignier pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States and pay and receive kickbacks, and in November 2024, he pleaded guilty to making false statements related to health care matters. At sentencing the two were ordered to pay $1.2 million in forfeiture each and $5.2 million in restitution. Bleignier was ordered to pay an additional $916,106 in forfeiture for his role in falsifying the ownership information in Medicare enrollment documentation.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida; and Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) made the announcement.
HHS-OIG and FBI investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Charles D. Strauss of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
– Five members of the transnational criminal organization Mara Salvatrucha 13 (MS-13) were found guilty by a jury today of committing six murders to advance their standing in the gang – killings in which the victims varyingly were strangled, shot, stabbed with knives or a machete, beaten with a baseball bat, then, in some cases, had their bodies thrown off a cliff or down a hill in the Angeles National Forest.
At the conclusion of a nine-week trial, a jury found the following defendants guilty of one count of conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act:
Walter Chavez Larin, 26, of Panorama City;
Roberto Alejandro Corado Ortiz, 30, of Baldwin Park; and
Edwin Martinez, 28, of Cypress Park.
Chavez and Corado also were found guilty of two counts of violent crimes in aid of racketeering (VICAR) murder. Martinez was found guilty of three counts of VICAR murder. Bryan Alexander Rosales Arias, 28, of South Los Angeles, was found guilty of one count of VICAR murder. Erick Eduardo Rosales Arias, 27, also of South Los Angeles and who is Bryan Rosales’s brother, was found guilty of one count of VICAR murder.
“The horrific violence in this case underscores the urgency of destroying MS-13 and putting its depraved members behind bars,” said United States Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Under President Trump, MS-13 can no longer unleash terror on the American people with impunity: We will eradicate this foreign terrorist organization and secure justice for its victims.”
“We thank the jury for returning swift guilty verdicts against these MS-13 criminals who engaged in horrific acts of violence and murder,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “I thank and commend our law enforcement partners for their work in removing members of this terrorist organization from our streets. MS-13 is a violent brutal gang that must be eliminated from the United States, and we will not stop until we succeed in our mission.”
“Cases such as this one serve as a reminder that MS-13 has been designated as a foreign terrorist organization,” said Akil Davis, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “The defendants in this case carried out barbaric attacks on their victims to simply enhance their ranking within the gang. I’m proud of the hard work that went into this trial by agents and prosecutors which resulted in a guilty verdict and a measure of justice for the victims, and which will effectively remove murderers and terrorists from Los Angeles communities.”
“The brutality of these crimes is a stark reminder of the importance of our shared mission: to protect the people of Los Angeles from those who seek to do harm,” said Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell. “I thank every investigator, prosecutor, and law enforcement professional who contributed to this case. Their dedication has brought justice to the victims and sent a clear message — we will not tolerate this kind of violence in our city. Together, we are stronger, and together, we will continue to stand against gang violence in all its forms.”
“These convictions send a powerful message that criminal gang violence and intimidation have no place in Los Angeles County,” said Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert G. Luna. “These violent individuals terrorized our communities and tore families apart to further their criminal network. Through the tireless efforts of our local and federal partners, we have brought justice to the victims’ families and held these individuals accountable for their brutal crimes.”
“MS-13 has inflicted unimaginable suffering on victims and their families in our communities,” said Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman. “These guilty verdicts for crimes related to murder, extortion and drug trafficking against five members of MS-13’s leadership demonstrate the relentless and fearless partnership between local and federal law enforcement and prosecutors to bring these dangerous criminals to justice.”
According to evidence presented at trial, the defendants murdered their victims who either were – or perceived to be – members of the 18th Street gang, a rival of MS-13, or had violated MS-13’s rules.
The trial focused on MS-13 Los Angeles cliques that implemented gang rules that required its members to use murder and extreme violence to rise within its ranks.
The charges relate to machete, knife, and baseball bat killings in the Angeles National Forest and several other areas in remote, mountainous locations in Los Angeles County. Those six murders – which included murders committed in the mountains near Malibu, in a remote area of the Santa Clarita Valley, and two in Van Nuys – are also charged as violent crimes committed in aid of racketeering (VICAR). Those six counts allege that the victims were killed “for the purpose of gaining entry to and maintaining and increasing position in MS-13 Los Angeles.”
In June 2017, one victim – who claimed he had a leadership role in MS-13– was taken to the Angeles National Forest then stabbed and hacked to death by his killers, including Chavez. Several of the assailants unsuccessfully tried to decapitate him then left his body behind.
In October 2017, another victim – rumored to be an 18th Street member – was lured to his death by two teenage girls. He was kidnapped, strangled, beaten with a baseball bat then fatally stabbed with a large hunting style knife. Before his body was thrown off a cliff in the Angeles National Forest. This victim’s assailants included Corado and Bryan Rosales.
In July 2018, a third victim – also rumored to be an 18th Street member – was lured to Malibu hills under the auspices of smoking marijuana and drinking beer with several other people. While the victim stood at a scenic overlook, Corado shot him in the back of the head. Corado gave the gun to Erick Rosales, who shot the victim before passing the gun to other MS-13 members who took turns shooting him. This victim’s body ultimately was thrown off the edge of a road down a hill.
Martinez murdered three victims – one of them was shot to death in December 2018 after returning from the gym and was mistaken for an 18th Street gang member, another was an MS-13 associate addicted to methamphetamine (a violation of MS-13 rules) who was shot to death on January 13, 2019, and the third was a homeless man who was fatally shot on January 14, 2019 for having a tattoo believed to be related to 18th Street. Chavez participated in the January 13 murder.
Sentencing hearings before United States District Judge Otis D. Wright II are scheduled for July 2026, at which time each of the defendants will face a mandatory sentence of life in federal prison.
Prosecutors have secured 25 convictions so far in this case. Several other MS-13 members and associates are scheduled to go to trial in April 2026 in connection with racketeering conspiracy and gang murders.
The FBI, the Los Angeles Police Department, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Catharine A. Richmond and Sara B. Vargas of the Major Crimes Section, Benedetto L. Balding of the Transnational Organized Crime Section, William Larsen of the Criminal Appeals Section, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Eric W. Siddall are prosecuting this case.
Updated November 10, 2025
Monday, November 10, 2025 Office of Public Affairs
Governor Kathy Hochul has broken ground on “The Morgan,” an eight-story, all-electric affordable housing development in Jamaica, Queens, delivering 50 new homes—including 30 supportive units for New Yorkers with serious mental illness. Backed by a $32.5 million investment, the project features on-site case management, 24/7 staff, skill-building programs, a library, outdoor terrace, garden, and free Wi-Fi. Funded through state mental health initiatives, low-income housing tax credits, and city partnerships, The Morgan replaces a vacant lot with a sustainable, community-focused residence that promotes stability, recovery, and dignity for vulnerable residents.
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Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the start of construction on a development that will add 50 units of affordable housing in the Jamaica area of Queens, including 30 units to serve New Yorkers living with serious mental illness. The project to build ‘The Morgan’ resulted from a $32.5 million investment — including $12.4 million through the State Office of Mental Health (OMH) — and is part of Governor Hochul’s effort to expand specialized housing throughout New York.
“We are fully committed to ensuring all New Yorkers have access to affordable housing, including the most vulnerable among us,” Governor Hochul said. “The Morgan will offer much-needed support and dignified housing for individuals living with serious mental illness, providing them with services so they may remain safely and stably housed in the Jamaica area of Queens.”
Transitional Services for New York is developing The Morgan and will create 30 units with supportive services, including case managers, around-the-clock staff, and other services, such as skill development, conflict management and harm reduction, community and social integration, and peer support. The project will also include 20 units of affordable housing serving those earning at or below 50 percent of the area median income.
The project is receiving $12.4 million through OMH capital funding secured as part of Governor Hochul’s landmark $1 billion investment in mental health initiatives and housing, with DASNY assistance at loan closing in anticipation of future long-term financing. Additional investments include approximately $7 million through Homes and Community Renewal’s Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program, $4 million through the State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance’s Homeless Housing and Assistance Program, and $7 million through New York City’s Housing Preservation & Development Supportive Housing Loan Program.
The project will demolish a vacant house and construct an eight-story, 31,218-square foot building, including a library/computer area, an outdoor terrace, laundry room, recreation space, and garden. The Morgan will be an all-electric, energy-efficient space that incorporates active design features, and with free Wi-Fi for all tenants.
New York State Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said, “By providing stable housing for New Yorkers living with serious mental illness, we can create an environment where they can live and thrive in their community. The Morgan will help individuals access supportive services and continue their journey toward recovery. This project represents Governor Hochul’s ongoing investments to strengthen mental health care and provide safe, affordable housing for all.”
New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Commissioner Barbara C. Guinn said, “The permanent supportive housing units being created as part of this development will provide individuals not only with a safe, affordable place to live, but with easy access to services to help them overcome barriers that may have contributed to them experiencing homelessness. We’re grateful to Governor Hochul and our State partners for their recognition that more than brick and mortar is needed to provide stable housing for some of our most vulnerable fellow New Yorkers.”
New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said, “Our $7 million investment is helping to provide 50 affordable, sustainable, and supportive homes that will help the Jamaica community thrive. We thank our partners for their dedication and look forward to seeing this project progress.”
Dormitory Authority of the State of New York President & CEO Robert J. Rodriguez said, “DASNY is honored to support Governor Hochul’s efforts to expand specialized housing for New Yorkers living with mental illness. Throughout financing assistance and construction oversight, we’re helping ensure The Morgan provides the stable, dignified housing that individuals need to thrive in their community.”
State Senator Leroy Comrie said, “Southeast Queens has been home to several transitional services facilities, and I am happy to welcome permanence and stability into our community to those ready to graduate to independent living. This project helps address one of the biggest gaps in our mental health and housing systems, creating stable, permanent places for people to transition into. Too many New Yorkers complete treatment or supportive programs only to find there is nowhere appropriate for them to successfully and safely continue their development. By expanding housing paired with on-site services, we are giving individuals a real path forward and giving families peace of mind. I’m grateful to see this project advancing in Southeast Queens and look forward to the stability it will bring to our community.”
State Senator Jessica Ramos said, “In Queens, we understand that supportive housing is a lifeline. It’s how we care for our neighbors who need stability, compassion, and a fair chance to rebuild their lives. The Morgan continues that proud tradition. I’m grateful to Governor Hochul for investing in real safety for Queens and expanding the mental health services New Yorkers have long deserved. When we talk about treating mental health, we have to commit to the full picture. That’s housing, dignity, and the holistic support that truly empowers people to heal and thrive.”
State Senator Patricia Fahy said, “Investments in affordable housing and assistance for people living with mental illnesses are needed now more than ever. Providing New Yorkers with the opportunity to live independently fulfilling lives with affordable housing shows where our priorities lie, and that’s with the people. ‘The Morgan’ will not only replace a vacant property; it will create a community that allows New Yorkers living with mental illness to reside safely with access to the services they need. Thank you to Governor Hochul for her continued support of mental health care and investment in specialized housing across New York.”
Assemblymember Angelo Santabarbara said, “Supportive housing helps individuals living with mental illness build stability and independence. Projects like The Morgan are more than new buildings — they offer hope and opportunity for people who deserve the opportunity to thrive in their communities. By expanding access to safe, affordable, and supportive housing, we’re improving our mental health system and building a stronger network of support for those who need it.”
Assemblymember Clyde Vanel said, “Housing that is both affordable and accessible is essential to the well-being of our community. It is vital that we take care of all New Yorkers and provide them with the assistance that they need. I want to thank Governor Hochul for her commitment to mental healthcare and supportive housing.”
OMH has been aggressively expanding specialized housing, including 1,276 new units associated with Governor Hochul’s mental health initiative, with an additional 2,224 housing units under development. This includes 500 new community residence-single room occupancy units, 750 supportive housing-single room occupancy units, and 900 short-term transitional residential units designed to help New Yorkers living with mental illness reside safely within their community.
TSINY Chief Executive Officer Dr. Larry Grubler said, “We are proud to partner with New York State in establishing these additional units of supportive housing in the community. The Morgan will continue our mission of offering stable housing and access to services for residents who have traditionally faced hurdles in securing them. We share Governor Hochul’s vision for adding housing units and supporting New Yorkers in need.”
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced nearly $550,000 in emergency state funding to restock food pantries at SUNY’s 30 community colleges as students and families struggle with food insecurity tied to the nation’s longest federal government shutdown. The new money builds on more than $106 million the state has already fast-tracked to fight hunger, including $40 million for the Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program, $25 million for the Nourish NY farm-to-food-bank initiative, and $41 million for food banks, pantries and soup kitchens. Hochul’s administration has also mobilized SUNY’s Empire State Service Corps, hosted a statewide Day of Hunger Action, and required campuses to share basic-needs information with students. SUNY leaders praised the governor, saying the investment will help community colleges support students’ basic needs so they can stay in school and succeed.
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced an emergency investment of nearly $550,000 in assistance for SUNY community college food pantries and related efforts to help campuses address the ongoing food insecurity crisis as a result of the longest federal government shutdown in United States history. The emergency assistance announced by Governor Hochul will help the food pantries located at each of SUNY’s 30 community colleges restock supplies and support students in need.
“As the consequences of the longest federal government shutdown in history drag on, millions of New Yorkers are struggling to make ends meet and facing a food insecurity crisis,” Governor Hochul said. “My administration will continue to take action and use all of the tools and resources at our disposal to protect New Yorkers and ensure they receive the food support they need and deserve.”
As the nation faces the ongoing consequences of the longest federal government shutdown in history, millions of New Yorkers are struggling to make ends meet and enduring a food insecurity crisis. Governor Hochul has taken repeated action to address this crisis, including declaring a state of emergency and directing the SUNY Empire State Service Corps members to take action and help support New Yorkers experiencing food insecurity. Governor Hochul has allocated and fast-tracked the expenditure of more than $106 million to address the hunger crisis impacting New York State, including the allocation of:
$40 million in new funding for the Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program, which provides emergency food relief and nutrition services to food-insecure populations. HPNAP works in partnership with a network of about 2,700 Emergency Food Providers (EFPs), including food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters.
$25 million in new funding for Nourish NY, which supplies surplus agricultural products (e.g., milk, apples, cheese, yogurt, cabbage, squash) to populations who need them through the State’s network of food relief organizations (i.e., regional food banks, food pantries, soup kitchens, and community-based organizations that provide food for free to persons experiencing food insecurity).
$41 million in state funds to support food banks, pantries, soup kitchens and more to provide emergency food assistance to New Yorkers.
To build on these efforts, Governor Hochul has now announced an additional nearly $550,000 in emergency state funding to support State University of New York (SUNY) community college food pantries.
SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. said, “SUNY thanks Governor Hochul for her continued commitment to helping New Yorkers address the hunger crisis facing our state. From our hundreds of Empire State Service Corps members who answered the call and stepped up to take action against food insecurity, to this investment in our community college food pantries throughout the state, SUNY is proud to support our students and all New Yorkers.”
The SUNY Board of Trustees said, “We have community colleges spread throughout New York State, and these engines of upward mobility recognize that meeting students’ basic needs is essential to student success. We have been proud to support every SUNY community college and their vital mission, and we are grateful to Governor Hochul for her continued investment in our campuses and in the New Yorkers who rely on them.”
The nearly $550,000 food support investment announced by Governor Hochul is part of SUNY’s ongoing efforts to take action against hunger and to support students struggling with food insecurity. These actions include:
Requiring, through SUNY Board of Trustee action, that information on how to access food and other basic needs resources be included at orientation and on websites for SUNY students, faculty, and staff. This includes encouraging SUNY faculty to voluntarily include basic needs statements on syllabi.
The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, and more than 95 percent of all New Yorkers live within 30 miles of any one of SUNY’s 64 colleges and universities. Across the system, SUNY has four academic health centers, five hospitals, four medical schools, two dental schools, a law school, the country’s oldest school of maritime, the state’s only college of optometry, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.4 million students amongst its entire portfolio of credit- and non-credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Research expenditures system-wide are nearly $1.16 billion in fiscal year 2024, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and one in three New Yorkers with a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit www.suny.edu.
The City of New York on Tuesday filed an amicus brief in federal court backing the immediate release of E.J.C.C., a 16-year-old Bronx public school student detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement after a routine Oct. 23 check-in, arguing that detention should be a last resort for children who pose no flight or safety risk. The brief, submitted in the Southern District of New York, says the student—who lives with a family member, attends Gotham Collaborative High School with perfect attendance, and is described by teachers as responsible and engaged—has already missed three weeks of classes and faces irreparable educational harm. Mayor Eric Adams called public schools “safe, nurturing places” and said the city is “proud to support his petition for justice,” while Corporation Counsel Muriel Goode-Trufant contended that the Trump administration had not met the “very high bar” for detaining the minor. The filing asserts that if the government intended to deport the teen despite his Special Immigrant Juvenile status and deferred application, it could have allowed legal challenges while leaving him in family care; instead, it detained him without warning at an appointment he “faithfully attended.” City officials said they have taken similar legal steps for other detained students in recent years.
– The City of New York today took action in support of E.J.C.C., a New York City Public Schools student who was detained on October 23, 2025, after attending a mandatory, routine immigration check-in with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, by filing an amicus brief in support of E.J.C.C.’s petition for immediate release from custody.
E.J.C.C., a 16-year-old who lives with a relative chosen by his mother, is a student at Gotham Collaborative High School in the Bronx. An average of 93 percent of students graduate from Gotham Collaborative High, and E.J.C.C., who has a 100 percent attendance record, is described by his teachers as a committed and responsible student. He is a leader in his college and career readiness class, showing his dedication to building a successful future.
“Our public schools should be safe, nurturing places where any child can get the best education and the tools they need to succeed,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “E.J.C.C. is a hard-working student, dedicated to his school work and future, who followed the proper immigration process. We are proud to support his petition for justice, just like we have done with the many other New York City Public School students who have been detained during routine immigration proceedings.”
“As detailed in this brief, the unnecessary detainment of children who pose no flight or safety risk causes irreparable harm to their schooling and to the educational system as a whole,” said New York City Corporation Counsel Muriel Goode-Trufant. “The Trump administration has not met the very high bar for detaining this minor student who is better served remaining in the community with his family.”
The brief — filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York — argues that “detention should always be a last resort. In cases like this, where the child has been living with a family member and undisputedly poses no flight or safety risk, children should remain in their communities, allowing them to access city schools and services while their immigration issues are being resolved.” E.J.C.C. has already missed three weeks of class as a result of his detention.
The detainment will only further derail his education, and “given the passage of so much time, E.J.C.C.’s release will not be ‘prompt,’ as the law requires. Only his immediate release can prevent further harm.”
The brief further argues that “if the federal government wished to deport [E.J.C.C.] and believed his Special Immigrant Juvenile status and deferred application were no obstacle, it could have informed him that it planned to do so, allowed his lawyer to make any relevant legal challenges, and left him in the care of his family and school in the meantime. Instead, it chose to detain him without warning at the appointment he faithfully attended. The City of New York has a strong interest in ensuring that immigrant minors are not unnecessarily detained, and the city prides itself on offering a free and robust education to all children regardless of immigration status, ensuring that the city’s schoolchildren grow up prepared for civic life.”
The City of New York has taken similar legal action in support of other New York City Public School students, including Dylan Lopez Contreras, Jose Luis, and Derlis Snaider, who were all arrested in Manhattan courthouses after attending mandatory, routine immigration hearings.
What it is: A U.S. federal holiday honoring all who served in the Armed Forces. It marks the Armistice ending WWI (11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month).
Today’s date: Tuesday, November 11, 2025 (observed the same day since it’s not a weekend).
What’s open/closed: • Federal offices & USPS: Closed; no regular mail delivery. • Banks: Generally closed. • Schools/DMV: Often closed (varies locally). • Markets: U.S. stock markets open; bond markets closed.
Flag etiquette: Fly the U.S. flag at full staff (Memorial Day is the half-staff one until noon).
Ways to observe (simple & meaningful): • 11:00 a.m. moment of silence. • Thank a veteran directly or donate to a reputable veterans’ charity. • Attend a local parade or ceremony. • Support veteran-owned businesses.
Here’s what’s happening in New York City for Veterans Day (Tue, Nov 11, 2025):
NYC Veterans Day Parade (America’s Parade) • Opening ceremony: ~11:00 a.m. at Madison Square Park (Eternal Light Flagstaff) with wreath-laying. Madison Square Park Conservancy • Step-off:12:30 p.m. on 5th Ave at 26th St, marching up to 47th/48th St; runs to about 3:30 p.m. New York Post+2CBS News+2 • Grand marshals (2025): Suni Williams (Navy), Clinton Romesha (Army), Stephen Peck (USMC). UWVC • How to watch: Livestream/TV via local outlets (e.g., ABC7). ABC7 New York
Street closures (Manhattan, at NYPD discretion): • Route: 5th Ave 25th–48th St. • Formation/Dispersal & misc. closures: Broadway (Flatiron area), cross streets around 23rd–29th, 45th St between 6th Ave & Madison Ave, and nearby segments. Plan for delays in Flatiron–Midtown. FOX 5 New York+2CBS News+2
Transit notes: • PATH runs a weekday schedule on Veterans Day. Port Authority NY-NJ • MTA subways/buses generally run normal weekday service; allow extra time near the parade zone due to detours. (City traffic advisories note event-related closures along 5th Ave.) New York City Government
What’s open/closed locally: • NYC government offices & courts:Closed today. New York City Government+1 • USPS:Closed; no regular mail. (Private carriers may operate.) NBC New York+1
Today and everyday, we’re grateful to the men and women who have put on the uniform of our great country. To those who have served in the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Space Force, and U.S. Coast Guard, thank you, you are the best of us.