civil rights

Bronx Man & NJ Man Get Three Years Each for Running $65 Million+ Illicit Money Transfer Scheme

By SÍLE MOLONEY
A Bronx man and his partner have each been sentenced to three years in prison for running an unlicensed money transfer business responsible for illicitly transferring more than $65 million between the United States and countries in the Middle East, including Yemen, Turkey, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan, federal officials announced on Wednesday, April 23. 

UPDATE Bedford Park: “Alien” Arrested by ICE Agents as Council Seeks to Block Rikers Island ICE Office

By SÍLE MOLONEY & M. QUIÑONES
As Bronxites remain on edge amid news of ongoing deportations, including those of some on working visas, ICE officials now confirm that an “alien” with a criminal record was arrested at gunpoint in the Bedford Park section of The Bronx on Tuesday afternoon, April 15. When asked, an NYPD spokesperson said the department had no arrest on file for the location in question.

Rivera Reacts to CDPAP Injunction Ruling for Recipients & Caregivers

By SÍLE MOLONEY
State Sen. Gustavo Rivera (S.D. 33) shared his reaction on Friday, April 11, to news announced April 10 of a preliminary injunction agreement which delays a controversial transition deadline for the CDPAP homecare program by NYS Department of Health (DOH) to May 15 for consumers, and to June 6 for caregivers.

Salamanca Secures Spot on Democratic Ballot for Election as Bronx BP

By SÍLE MOLONEY
City Council Member Rafael Salamanca Jr. (C.D. 17) announced on Wednesday, April 2, that he has submitted over 11,000 petition signatures to NYC Board of Elections to officially qualify for the ballot in the upcoming Democratic primary race for Bronx borough president which takes place in June 2025.

UPDATE Court Extends Temporary Stop on State Homecare Program Transition as Advocates Hold Rally

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Advocates for older and disabled New Yorkers and their caregivers reacted on Friday, April 4, to a same day federal court ruling which has extended a temporary halt to a controversial, 3-month transition by NYS Department of Health (DOH) of its home care program to a new single, statewide financial intermediary (FI), in place of around 600 individual FIs. The deadline by which program participants (consumers and workers) were due to transition to the new FI was April 1, with the transition having started in early January, but there is at least some evidence that suggests it was not going as smoothly as anticipated.   

Op-Ed: Why I Oppose Gov. Hochul’s Proposed Mask Restrictions

By J. GOODMAN
Regarding Gov. Hochul’s proposed mask ban, which she seeks to bundle into New York’s upcoming state budget (due to be finalized by March 31), I oppose the ban. As a disabled Jewish woman who engages in activism, I find the possible codification of this measure to be a horrific violation of human and civil rights, in multiple ways:

As Bird Flu Spreads, Gillibrand Calls on Trump Administration to Fight Spread, Reduce Cost of Eggs

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Live poultry markets in New York are back open after a five-day closure was implemented by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday, Feb. 7, after the avian flu/bird flu or H5N1 virus was discovered in bird flocks at seven live bird markets in The Bronx, Queens, and Brooklyn. Officials said the ordered closures were mandated for testing, cleaning and disinfection of poultry markets in New York City, Westchester and Long Island.