Day: February 20, 2025

A Bed-Stuy man who pleaded guilty to fatally stabbing social justice advocate Ryan Carson in an unprovoked 2023 attack was sentenced Wednesday to 20 years to life in prison.

Brian Dowling, who was 18 at the time of the killing, accepted a plea deal during a Jan. 22 hearing before Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun. The sentencing marked the conclusion of a case that sent shockwaves through the community and cut short the life of Carson, a 32-year-old activist known for his work with the New York Public Interest Research Group.

“With today’s sentence, justice has been served – but that will not bring back Ryan Carson or all the benefits he would have brought to our communities if his life wasn’t cut short by this defendant,” District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said on Wednesday following the sentencing hearing. “The tragic murder of this promising and passionate activist was beyond abhorrent and senseless, necessitating the lengthy prison term imposed in this case. We will continue to vigorously prosecute all acts of violence in Brooklyn and obtain accountability on behalf of victims and their loved ones.”

The fatal incident occurred on Oct. 2, 2023, at approximately 3:50 a.m. Carson and his girlfriend were waiting at a bus stop on Malcolm X Boulevard and Lafayette Avenue when they encountered Dowling, who was visibly agitated and kicking parked scooters. Dowling turned toward the couple, shouting threats, including, “I’m going to kill you.”

Surveillance footage presented as evidence showed Carson attempting to de-escalate the situation before Dowling swung a knife at him. Carson tried to flee but tripped over a bench. Dowling then ran up to Carson and stabbed him multiple times as he lay on the ground, striking his heart.

After the attack, Dowling discarded the knife but returned to retrieve it. Investigators later recovered a knife believed to be the murder weapon hidden in greenery near the scene. On Oct. 5, Dowling turned himself in at the 81st Precinct after being identified as a suspect.

A search of his apartment uncovered multiple knives with handles resembling the weapon used in the attack, as well as clothing matching that seen in the surveillance footage.

News of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids is making headlines around the country as President Trump makes good on his promise

The post ✰PREMIUM<br><i>Spotlight: </i> What happens to undocumented immigrants in detainment? appeared first on Brooklyn Eagle.

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S DECISION TO FIRE HUNDREDS OF CRITICAL FAA EMPLOYEES was sharply rebuked by U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.

The post NY’s Senator Gillibrand demands answers on FAA and air safety personnel firings appeared first on Brooklyn Eagle.

THE CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION BUREAU must be saved from the Trump administration’s axe, says a coalition of 23 attorneys general.

The post Attorneys general from 23 states move to save Consumer Financial Protection Bureau appeared first on Brooklyn Eagle.

As Mayor Eric Adams’ reelection hopes continue to dim and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo appears to be on the verge of entering the race for City Hall, some Democratic pols and labor leaders are turning to someone who has shown zero interest in running for mayor: City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams.

The speaker, who has led the council since 2022, has been fielding calls from an array of elected officials, labor groups, and advocates urging her to jump into this year’s Democratic mayoral primary, according to two sources familiar with the matter. Among those pushing Adams to run are state Attorney General Letitia James and leaders of the city’s largest municipal union, District Council 37, as first reported by Politico and confirmed by the two sources.

“The groundswell of support from Albany is real,” one source, who was granted anonymity to discuss the private matter, told amNewYork Metro Thursday. “What does that mean for the speaker? She doesn’t know.”

The speaker’s office did not immediately comment on the prospect of her being recruited to run.

Thea Setterbo, a DC37 spokesperson, said in a statement that the union is “not recruiting anyone to run for mayor.”

“We follow an endorsement process and look forward to the candidates addressing our members’ questions at our mayoral forum on Feb. 26,” she added.

The source said those trying to recruit the speaker to enter the race view her as someone who could stand in the way of Cuomo dominating the current mayoral field, as they have overlapping constituencies. Many local pols fear Cuomo returning to power due to the brash and aggressive governing style that defined his time as governor.

The speaker, who is Black, represents a portion of southeast Queens, home to an active Black middle-class voter base. She has served in the City Council since 2017 and is term-limited at the end of this year.

Adams vs. Adams?

One source said they also view her as someone who could be a bulwark against Mayor Adams, whom she is not related to, for the same reason.

While the speaker has often found herself at odds with Mayor Adams over an array of political and policy issues, she has never shown any interest in challenging him electorally. Thus, her leadership style has often been one of cautious public comments and behind-the-scenes negotiations rather than making brash political statements to grab headlines.

The apparent push for the speaker to enter the contest comes as the mayor faces a nearly impossible path to re-election, following President Trump’s Justice Department’s decision to dismiss his federal corruption case last week.

The mayor is facing growing calls to resign or be removed by Gov. Kathy Hochul after former acting US Attorney Danielle Sassoon accused his legal team of engaging in a quid pro quo with top DOJ officials last week. Sassoon charged that Adams’ attorney, Alex Spiro, offered his cooperation with Trump’s mass deportation push in exchange for dropping the charges against him.

Spiro, Mayor Adams, and DOJ officials all deny Sassoon’s accusation. Adams swore under oath that he did not engage in the alleged quid pro quo during a Wednesday court hearing, which he told NY1 shows that it did not happen.

“A question that has been, I think, inappropriately put out there that was in some form of quid pro quo,” Mayor Adams said during the NY1 interview. “Was I forced for my acknowledgement? Was I forced at anything? And under oath, I clearly stated I was not.”

Meanwhile, on Thursday, it was reported that Hochul will likely not remove Mayor Adams from power — but rather impose sanctions designed to curb some of his executive authority. 

It also comes as Cuomo appears quite likely to launch his own campaign imminently over the next couple of weeks.

The former governor, who resigned amid nearly a dozen allegations of sexual misconduct that he denies, has consistently led the current field in public polling over the past few months. He also has a massive campaign war chest at the state level that he could conceivably use as a mayoral candidate.

Cuomo is viewed by the current field of Democratic candidates and many other city electeds as a force who would dominate the race if and when he runs.

As Mayor Eric Adams’ reelection hopes continue to dim and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo appears to be on the verge of entering the race for City Hall, some Democratic pols and labor leaders are turning to someone who has shown zero interest in running for mayor: City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams.

The speaker, who has led the council since 2022, has been fielding calls from an array of elected officials, labor groups, and advocates urging her to jump into this year’s Democratic mayoral primary, according to two sources familiar with the matter. Among those pushing Adams to run are state Attorney General Letitia James and leaders of the city’s largest municipal union, District Council 37, as first reported by Politico and confirmed by the two sources.

“The groundswell of support from Albany is real,” one source, who was granted anonymity to discuss the private matter, told amNewYork Metro Thursday. “What does that mean for the speaker? She doesn’t know.”

The speaker’s office did not immediately comment on the prospect of her being recruited to run.

Thea Setterbo, a DC37 spokesperson, said in a statement that the union is “not recruiting anyone to run for mayor.”

“We follow an endorsement process and look forward to the candidates addressing our members’ questions at our mayoral forum on Feb. 26,” she added.

The source said those trying to recruit the speaker to enter the race view her as someone who could stand in the way of Cuomo dominating the current mayoral field, as they have overlapping constituencies. Many local pols fear Cuomo returning to power due to the brash and aggressive governing style that defined his time as governor.

The speaker, who is Black, represents a portion of southeast Queens, home to an active Black middle-class voter base. She has served in the City Council since 2017 and is term-limited at the end of this year.

Adams vs. Adams?

One source said they also view her as someone who could be a bulwark against Mayor Adams, whom she is not related to, for the same reason.

While the speaker has often found herself at odds with Mayor Adams over an array of political and policy issues, she has never shown any interest in challenging him electorally. Thus, her leadership style has often been one of cautious public comments and behind-the-scenes negotiations rather than making brash political statements to grab headlines.

The apparent push for the speaker to enter the contest comes as the mayor faces a nearly impossible path to re-election, following President Trump’s Justice Department’s decision to dismiss his federal corruption case last week.

The mayor is facing growing calls to resign or be removed by Gov. Kathy Hochul after former acting US Attorney Danielle Sassoon accused his legal team of engaging in a quid pro quo with top DOJ officials last week. Sassoon charged that Adams’ attorney, Alex Spiro, offered his cooperation with Trump’s mass deportation push in exchange for dropping the charges against him.

Spiro, Mayor Adams, and DOJ officials all deny Sassoon’s accusation. Adams swore under oath that he did not engage in the alleged quid pro quo during a Wednesday court hearing, which he told NY1 shows that it did not happen.

“A question that has been, I think, inappropriately put out there that was in some form of quid pro quo,” Mayor Adams said during the NY1 interview. “Was I forced for my acknowledgement? Was I forced at anything? And under oath, I clearly stated I was not.”

Meanwhile, on Thursday, it was reported that Hochul will likely not remove Mayor Adams from power — but rather impose sanctions designed to curb some of his executive authority. 

It also comes as Cuomo appears quite likely to launch his own campaign imminently over the next couple of weeks.

The former governor, who resigned amid nearly a dozen allegations of sexual misconduct that he denies, has consistently led the current field in public polling over the past few months. He also has a massive campaign war chest at the state level that he could conceivably use as a mayoral candidate.

Cuomo is viewed by the current field of Democratic candidates and many other city electeds as a force who would dominate the race if and when he runs.