INTERNACIONAL
NYC Dem, Hochul aide under investigation over alleged migrant shelter bribes
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Federal prosecutors are investigating whether a New York City councilmember and her sister, a top aide to Gov. Kathy Hochul, accepted bribes or kickbacks tied to city funding steered to a migrant shelter provider, according to a search warrant obtained by The Associated Press.
The March 19 warrant seeks evidence of possible criminal conduct involving Councilmember Farah Louis, a Brooklyn Democrat; her sister, Debbie Louis, Hochul’s assistant secretary for New York City intergovernmental affairs; and Edu Hermelyn, husband of Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, the chair of the Brooklyn Democratic Party.
A spokesperson for Hochul said Debbie Louis was placed on leave last week after the governor became aware of the federal corruption probe. Someone answering a phone number associated with Louis ended the call when asked by the AP about the investigation, and the AP reported messages left for Farah Louis and Hermelyn were not returned.
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New York City Councilmember Farah Louis is reportedly under federal investigation for an alleged bribery scheme. (Jason Mendez/Getty Images for Brooklyn Academy Of Music)
According to the warrant, investigators are examining whether the three received benefits in exchange for actions taken on behalf of BHRAGS Home Care Inc., a Brooklyn nonprofit that historically provided in-home care for sick and elderly clients.
As New York City’s migrant influx intensified in 2022, BHRAGS broadened its work to include emergency shelter operations for asylum seekers and other homeless services. Since then, public records show the group has been awarded more than a dozen contracts worth upward of $200 million from the city’s Department of Homeless Services.
«This is political persecution driven by the far-right, targeting immigrants and the leaders who stand with them,» a political insider tied to Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn told the New York Post on Monday. «There are no charges at this time, and the facts will ultimately lead to this case being dropped on its merits.»
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An attorney for BHRAGS Executive Director Roberto Samedy declined to comment to the AP.
The warrant also seeks records of money transfers and communications involving Edouardo St. Fort, a former New York Police Department sergeant who retired in 2023. That same year, records indicate his firm, Fort NYC Security, secured a $3 million contract from the Department of Homeless Services. AP calls and emails seeking comment from St. Fort were not returned.
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The warrant’s existence does not mean charges are imminent. It indicates only that federal investigators convinced a judge they had sufficient grounds to search for and seize potential evidence.
The probe lands amid broader scrutiny over how New York City awarded emergency shelter contracts during the migrant crisis, when the arrival of tens of thousands of asylum seekers strained the city’s shelter system and prompted officials under then-Mayor Eric Adams to rapidly expand housing capacity through outside providers.
Some of those arrangements have drawn criticism from watchdogs and political opponents, who questioned the speed, scale and oversight of the contracting process.
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The figures named in the warrant are all connected to Brooklyn’s Democratic political establishment, which has been rocked by a series of ethics controversies in recent years.
Hermelyn, who once served as a senior adviser to Adams, stepped down after questions were raised about whether his role as a Brooklyn district leader conflicted with rules barring certain dual government positions. He also went on to advise former Gov. Andrew Cuomo during Cuomo’s unsuccessful mayoral campaign.
The Trump administration, led by fraud investigation czar Vice President JD Vance, has prioritized federal law enforcement investigations nationwide.
VANCE SAYS BIDEN ADMIN ‘TURNED OFF’ ANTI-FRAUD PROTECTIONS, DEBUTS NEW TASK FORCE WITH FOCUS ON SOMALI SCHEMES
Just this week, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s Treasury Department announced it is offering whistleblowers a major financial incentive to help expose fraud, directing would-be tipsters to the Treasury.gov website, telling Fox News on Monday that the administration has already received more than 700 leads.
The Treasury’s whistleblower page says eligible tipsters can receive between 10% and 30% of monetary sanctions collected for successful actions.
While Minnesota fraud among the state’s Somali community has made headlines thus far thanks to independent journalist Nick Shirley’s reporting, Bessent actually praised that state for having some level of transparency that is not permitted in California or New York.
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«That’s why that young man, Nick Shirley, was able to go to see the scams, because it was: This is the name of the facility; this is the address; this is how much money they got,» Bessent said. «Oh look, it’s an empty storefront. There’s no one here. New York, California are hiding it.»
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
justice department, crime world, immigration, democrats elections
INTERNACIONAL
Ecuador incluirá la enseñanza del Holocausto en las escuelas tras acuerdo de cooperación con Israel
Los gobiernos de Ecuador e Israel firmaron un acuerdo de cooperación bilateral que, entre otros componentes, incluye la incorporación de contenidos educativos sobre el Holocausto en el sistema escolar ecuatoriano, como parte de una agenda más amplia orientada a fortalecer los vínculos entre ambos países en áreas como educación, ciencia, cultura y deporte.
El acuerdo corresponde a un Programa de Cooperación para el período 2026–2027 y fue suscrito en el marco de una política de acercamiento entre ambas naciones que prioriza el intercambio académico, el desarrollo científico y la promoción cultural. Según el boletín oficial del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores y Movilidad Humana, el instrumento busca impulsar iniciativas conjuntas en sectores estratégicos, con énfasis en el trabajo entre instituciones educativas y el desarrollo de proyectos vinculados a la innovación y la tecnología.
En este contexto, la enseñanza del Holocausto se enmarca dentro de los esfuerzos por fomentar el entendimiento histórico, la memoria y la formación en valores en las nuevas generaciones. Aunque el documento oficial no detalla los contenidos curriculares específicos ni los mecanismos de implementación en el sistema educativo ecuatoriano, la inclusión de este tema responde a prácticas internacionales orientadas a prevenir el antisemitismo, la discriminación y otras formas de violencia basadas en el odio.
El acto de suscripción contó con la participación de la canciller ecuatoriana Gabriela Sommerfeld y del embajador de Israel en Ecuador, Tzach Sarid. Ambos destacaron la importancia del acuerdo como un paso significativo en la consolidación de una agenda conjunta que promueve el intercambio académico y científico, así como la cooperación entre instituciones educativas de ambos países .
Además del componente educativo, el programa contempla el fortalecimiento de iniciativas de intercambio juvenil, la cooperación en materia de patrimonio cultural, el impulso de actividades deportivas y la participación conjunta en eventos internacionales. Estas acciones están orientadas a fomentar el entendimiento mutuo y a consolidar relaciones bilaterales sostenidas en el tiempo, especialmente entre las nuevas generaciones.
La incorporación de la enseñanza del Holocausto en las escuelas ecuatorianas se alinea con estándares promovidos por organismos internacionales como la UNESCO y la Alianza Internacional para la Memoria del Holocausto (IHRA), que han impulsado la inclusión de este tema en los sistemas educativos como herramienta pedagógica para reflexionar sobre los riesgos de los regímenes autoritarios, la intolerancia y las violaciones masivas de derechos humanos.
En América Latina, varios países han avanzado en iniciativas similares en los últimos años, incorporando contenidos sobre el Holocausto y otros genocidios en sus currículos escolares como parte de políticas de educación en derechos humanos. En ese marco, el acuerdo entre Ecuador e Israel representa un paso en la convergencia con esas tendencias regionales e internacionales.
El documento oficial también subraya que el programa de cooperación reafirma el compromiso de ambos países de continuar trabajando conjuntamente en la construcción de oportunidades compartidas que impulsen el desarrollo y la integración a nivel internacional. En esa línea, la cooperación educativa es vista como un eje clave para fortalecer capacidades institucionales y promover valores democráticos.
Hasta el momento, no se han anunciado detalles sobre cuándo comenzaría la implementación de estos contenidos en el sistema educativo ecuatoriano ni si se realizará a través de reformas curriculares, programas piloto o capacitaciones docentes. Tampoco se ha especificado si la iniciativa contará con apoyo técnico o pedagógico por parte de instituciones israelíes especializadas en la enseñanza de la memoria histórica.
El acuerdo se produce en un contexto de fortalecimiento de las relaciones bilaterales entre Ecuador e Israel, que en los últimos años han profundizado su cooperación en distintos ámbitos, incluyendo seguridad, tecnología y comercio. La dimensión educativa se suma ahora como un componente estratégico en esta relación, con énfasis en la formación de nuevas generaciones y el intercambio de conocimiento.
Con esta iniciativa, Ecuador se incorpora a un grupo creciente de países que buscan integrar la enseñanza del Holocausto como parte de una política educativa orientada a la memoria, la prevención y la promoción de sociedades más inclusivas.
Auschwitz,Holocausto,Nazismo,prisioneros,Segunda Guerra Mundial,retratos,víctimas,historia,genocidio,fotografía
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«The water bill went up. The light bill went up. Now property taxes — what exactly are we doing here?»
This was one of many cries of worry and frustration voiced by New York City residents at a recent public meeting, where they said that Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s policies since taking office have made life more expensive. The backlash is significant as Mamdani, like many Democrats who swept into office in November, campaigned explicitly on making life more affordable for constituents.
It’s not just in New York. Like Mamdani, Democratic Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger campaigned as a vocal critic of Republican economic policies. Now, she is facing voter outrage as costs in the Old Dominion continue to rise, and an economic climate that is increasingly seen as hostile to businesses drives away some of the biggest contributors to the tax base.
The trend underscores mounting political risk for Democrats, who will now need to demonstrate that they’re keeping their promises ahead of the midterms.
New York’s ‘one-two wealth destruction punch’
Democratic New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani placed affordability at the center of his campaign to lead America’s largest city. (Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis/Getty Images)
In New York City — the world’s financial capital and home to nearly 9 million — rising costs have national consequences.
Residents say Mamdani is backtracking on campaign promises to lower housing costs, pointing to a proposed property tax hike, rising water bills and higher electricity costs as signs that life is only getting more expensive.
With the city’s housing market already under strain, where demand far exceeds available supply, critics say Mamdani’s proposed rent freeze could discourage new construction, tighten inventory and push prices higher over time.
MAMDANI BUDGET POURS MILLIONS INTO DEI OFFICES AND CUTS 5,000 NYPD JOBS
For tenants and homeowners, Mamdani’s changes could mean fewer housing options and higher costs over time. (Adam Gray/Bloomberg/Getty Images)
«Economists — whether they are on the right or on the left — essentially are in universal agreement that when the government implements price controls in the rental market, you end up with housing shortages,» said E.J. Antoni, chief economist at the Heritage Foundation.
Antoni argued the city’s affordability challenges are largely policy-driven. «If we look at the ways in which New York City is more expensive than other places around the country, it is chiefly due to bad public policy that has imposed those costs,» he said, adding that «doubling down on those government failures will only make it worse.»
Edward Pinto, a senior fellow and co-director of the AEI Housing Center at the American Enterprise Institute, said Mamdani’s proposal to freeze rents and increase property taxes in New York would be a «one-two wealth destruction punch.»
MAMDANI’S ESTATE TAX PLAN COULD DRIVE WEALTH OUT OF STATE, CRITICS WARN
Economists warn that Mamdani’s housing proposal will exacerbate affordability issues in the nation’s largest city. (Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto/Getty Images)
«The rent freeze would drive multifamily property values down and the increase in property taxes would drive both multifamily and single-family values down. At the same time, the construction of new supply would contract and property upkeep would diminish as repairs are deferred and improvements are not made,» Pinto said.
For tenants and homeowners, those shifts could translate into fewer housing options and higher long-term costs.
When asked about Mamdani’s latest proposal — an estate tax plan that could pull middle-class families into a levy long aimed at the wealthy — Pinto warned it would deal a new blow to the city.
«This proposal would destroy NYC’s wealth in a different manner,» Pinto said. «This estate tax proposal will mistreat capital and result in the voluntary exodus of NYC residents and their wealth to places like Florida and Tennessee,» he added.
Virginia: ‘Particularly determined to raise the tax burden’
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger offers the Democratic response to the State of the Union. (Mike Kropf/Getty Images)
Despite the fact that Spanberger campaigned on affordability in Virginia, lawmakers from her party in Richmond are advancing a sweeping set of tax proposals that will raise costs for residents and businesses.
They propose more than 50 taxes targeting income, investment and everyday economic activity, from joining a gym to bringing pets to the groomers.
«This is part of a broader picture we’re seeing across blue states,» said Jack Salmon, a research fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University focusing on tax and fiscal policy. «These states seem particularly determined to raise the tax burden on their highest-earning taxpayers.»
At the center are changes to Virginia’s tax structure. One bill would raise top income tax rates to as high as 10%, while another would impose a 3.8% tax on investment income.
CONSERVATIVE STATES SEE LOWER INFLATION THAN LIBERAL ONES NATIONWIDE, WHITE HOUSE DATA SHOWS
For some high earners, those levies could stack — pushing rates to 13.8% and moving Virginia closer to high-tax states.
Lawmakers are also considering a range of new taxes and fees across the economy, from higher sales taxes and levies on deliveries and rideshare services to taxes on everyday services like repairs, gym memberships, dry cleaning and dog grooming, along with new taxes on large employers.
Adding to the strain are rising energy costs. A Dominion Energy rate hike that took effect Jan. 1 reflects, in part, the costs of transitioning to offshore wind under the Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA) — a policy that could result in higher utility bills for customers.
Spanberger has also moved to rejoin the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a carbon pricing program her predecessor, Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin, exited — a move critics warn will increase the burden on household energy bills.
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The mounting costs are already drawing concern from business leaders. Aerospace giant Boeing plans to move its headquarters from Virginia to Missouri, a shift expected to hit the state’s tax base and business climate.
Even if the immediate fiscal impact is limited, the loss of high-paying headquarters jobs and the spending they support is expected to erode tax revenues and create ripple effects across the local economy, from reduced consumer spending to weaker demand for services.
With costs rising and frustration mounting, voters will soon decide whether those promises still hold — or whether change is coming in November.
Mamdani and Spanberger’s office did not respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment.
zohran mamdani, new york city, abigail spanberger, taxes, midterm elections
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