Politics

Ocasio-Cortez Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Cap Credit Card Interest Rates at 10%

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), a Democrat, and Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (FL-13), a Republican representing Florida, introduced legislation that would immediately cap credit card interest rates at 10%. U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT), an independent representing Vermont, and Josh Hawley (R-MO), a Republican representing Missouri, introduced companion legislation last month in the Senate.

UPDATE Inquiring Photographer: Opinions on Bill Which Would Allow Wine Sales in Supermarkets

By DAVID GREENE
This week, we asked readers for their opinions on proposed State bill which, if passed, would allow supermarkets to sell wine under a new license which would only be available to full-service grocery stores primarily engaged in the sale of food, which already have a license for off-premises beer sales, and which have a surface area of more than 5,000 sq. ft. Incentives would also be given to supermarkets to sell New York wine.

Hochul Announces State Investment Win of $20 Million for Greater Morris Park Neighborhood

By SÍLE MOLONEY
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Thursday, Feb. 27, that the Bronx neighborhood of Greater Morris Park will receive an unprecedented $20 million in funding after the neighborhood was announced as the New York City winner of the eighth round of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) and the third round of the NY Forward program. Previous funding received by The Bronx under the program was capped at $10 million.

Daycare Operator Grei Mendez Gets 45 Years for her Part in Fentanyl-Related Death of Nicholas Dominici

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Grei Mendez, 37, the operator of El Divino Niño Daycare Center in Kingsbridge Heights where one-year-old Nicholas Feliz Dominici died on Sept. 15, 2023 from fentanyl poisoning, was sentenced to 45 years in prison for trafficking fentanyl out of the daycare center. The undercover drug operation resulted in the unintentional death of Nicholas, and the poisoning of three other infants who survived being unintentionally poisoned. As reported, Mendez had pleaded guilty in Oct. 29, 2024 in relation to her part in the operation before U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff, who imposed sentence.