A marcher holds a Juneteenth ‘Freedom Day’ sign as the parade moves through East New York on Saturday, June 20, 2026. Photo: Deric Johnson / East New York Times

Deric Johnson Reporter, East New York Times 3 min read

East New York showed up Saturday. Hundreds of adults and teenagers lined Pitkin Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue as the Juneteenth NYC 2026 parade stepped off at 9:30 AM from Gotham Health at 2950 Pitkin Avenue, moving through the heart of the neighborhood in a celebration of 161 years of freedom.

The Parade

A pickup truck led the procession, fitted with large speakers, a DJ, and an MC working the crowd from the truck bed. The music was high-energy soca. It set the tone early.

Gotham Health East New York’s banner led the parade marchers. Organizations from across the community followed with their own banners down Pennsylvania Avenue, drawing bystanders out onto sidewalks and fire escapes. People danced as the procession passed. Several stopped to take photos and video from above.

The NYPD managed traffic and crowd flow across the route without incident.

The parade traveled approximately 1.5 miles. It turned left on Stanley Avenue and arrived at Gershwin Park, where the festival was already taking shape.

The Festival

Vendors filled the exterior and interior of Gershwin Park. Food, drinks, and community resource tables lined the grounds. A professional stage with a full PA system anchored the center of the park.

The festival opened with the Black National Anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” followed by a welcome address from event organizer Athenia Rodney. DJ Fame opened the performance set.

Young performers took the stage throughout the afternoon. A fashion show drew a strong crowd. The energy held from the parade right through the evening.

The festival ran from 10 AM to 6 PM.

161Years of freedom celebrated

1.5 miParade route through East New York

8 hrsFestival at Gershwin Park, 10 AM to 6 PM

About the Event

Juneteenth NYC is an annual community celebration organized around the mission to Educate, Empower, and Entertain. The 2026 event was anchored in East New York, a neighborhood whose residents are disproportionately Black and among the families the Juneteenth holiday most directly speaks to.

This year’s theme: 161 Years of Freedom.

More information at juneteenthny.com.

Council Member Sandy Nurse, District 37, speaks at a community event. Her district covers Bushwick, Brownsville, Cypress Hills, Cityline, and East New York. Photo: Deric Johnson / East New York Times

Deric Johnson Reporter, East New York Times

What Is Happening

New York City Council Member Sandy Nurse has drawn a line. She will not vote for the city’s FY2027 budget unless it includes significant expansion of CityFHEPS, the city’s rental voucher program, and Mayor Zohran Mamdani drops the lawsuit his administration filed to block that expansion.

Nurse was quoted directly: she would not support a budget that “does not have significant expansion to CityFHEPS and a dropped lawsuit.”

She is not alone. Council Member Pierina Sanchez said she would “have a tough time voting on a budget that doesn’t include significant expansion.” The City Council’s Progressive, Black, Latino, and Asian caucuses have all publicly called on Mamdani to fund the expansion. The budget deadline is June 30, 2026.

What CityFHEPS Is

CityFHEPS stands for City Fighting Homelessness and Eviction Prevention Supplement. It is New York City’s rental voucher program. The city pays the difference between 30% of a household’s income and their rent, up to a cap set by federal fair market rent standards. Vouchers can be used anywhere in New York State and last up to five years.

To qualify today, a household must have a gross income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level and meet at least one eligibility condition — most commonly, facing eviction or living in a shelter. A family of four earning up to roughly $64,300 per year qualifies on income.

70,000Households currently served by CityFHEPS

47,000Additional households that would qualify under the 2023 expansion law

$1.7BProjected cost this fiscal year

The History of This Fight

In July 2023, the City Council passed a package of four bills expanding CityFHEPS. The reforms were significant. They removed the requirement that applicants live in a shelter for 90 days before becoming eligible. They allowed people to demonstrate eviction risk with a rent demand letter instead of waiting for a formal court case. They raised the income eligibility ceiling. They removed work requirements.

Mayor Eric Adams refused to implement the laws. Legal Aid Society and tenant advocates sued. The courts ruled in favor of the expansion. The Appellate Division upheld it.

Then Zohran Mamdani took office. He had campaigned on a promise to “ensure expansion proceeds as scheduled and per city law.” In February 2026, his administration filed an appeal to the New York Court of Appeals, arguing the city cannot afford the expansion. His FY2027 budget proposal cuts $500 million from the program, citing unsustainable cost growth.

The cost of serving existing voucher holders has tripled in three years. The Citizens Budget Commission says the program will cost the city $1.7 billion this fiscal year. Comptroller Mark Levine estimates full expansion would add $6 to $20 billion over five years. The Mamdani administration cites these numbers as its reason for the reversal.

The Council’s response: shelter costs nearly five times more than permanent housing. Every family kept out of shelter saves the city money long-term. Nurse made that case directly in April 2026: “Monthly shelter costs are nearly five times more expensive than permanent housing, while filling our vacant NYCHA, supportive housing, and housing lottery units is a painstakingly slow process. We can balance the budget and expand vouchers to get families into safe, stable, permanent housing.”

“Monthly shelter costs are nearly five times more expensive than permanent housing. We can balance the budget and expand vouchers to get families into safe, stable, permanent housing.”

CM Sandy Nurse, District 37, April 30, 2026

What This Means for East New York

District 37 covers Bushwick, Brownsville, Cypress Hills, Cityline, and East New York. Sandy Nurse has represented this district since 2022. The neighborhoods she covers have some of the highest rates of rent burden, eviction filings, and shelter entry in the city.

Under the 2023 expansion that Mamdani is appealing, a tenant in East New York who receives a rent demand letter from their landlord could apply for a CityFHEPS voucher without first entering shelter. Under the current blocked version of the program, that same tenant must enter shelter to qualify. The difference is whether families have a path to stay in their homes or are forced out first.

The 47,000 households that would become newly eligible under the expansion are people exactly like the residents of East New York: working households earning too much for Medicaid but too little to absorb a missed paycheck, a rent increase, or a landlord harassment campaign.

There is no housing lottery they can realistically wait for. NYCHA has a multiyear waitlist. Supportive housing has its own eligibility gates. CityFHEPS, if expanded, is the one program that could move fast enough to keep a family housed when the eviction notice arrives.

If You Are Facing Eviction in East New York

CityFHEPS — How to Apply Now

• Call 311 and ask for CityFHEPS or Homebase. They will connect you to the nearest Homebase coordinator in East New York.

• Homebase East New York: Good Shepherd Services, 1776 Pitkin Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11212. (718) 498-6234.

• To qualify today you need an income at or below 200% FPL (roughly $31,300 single / $64,300 family of four) and an eviction case in housing court OR a referral from DSS.

• Current program pays up to: $2,387/month for a 1-bedroom, $2,696/month for a 2-bedroom, $3,058/month for a 3-bedroom (2026 payment standards).

• If you already hold a CityFHEPS voucher: Renew annually. Renewal application is mailed 5 months before expiration. Contact HRA Rental Assistance: (718) 557-1399, Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM.

What Happens Next

The budget deadline is June 30. If the Council does not pass a budget by then, the city operates under an emergency spending plan. Speaker Julie Menin’s current budget framework does not include CityFHEPS expansion. The Mamdani administration has not publicly signaled it will drop the lawsuit or restore the $500 million cut.

Nurse and at least one other council member have said publicly they will vote no on a budget without the expansion. Whether that bloc holds — and whether it is large enough to force a negotiation — will be determined in the next 11 days.

East New York Times will follow this through the June 30 deadline. If you are facing eviction in East New York and want to share your situation, email info@eastnewyorktimes.com.

A building in East New York with NYC permit notices posted. HPD’s new Supportive Preservation Program aims to stabilize aging supportive housing buildings before they reach this point. Photo: Deric Johnson / East New York Times

RELATED COVERAGE

NYCHA Has Placed 14 Families. Nearly 5,100 Are Still Waiting. →

On June 17, the City Council held an oversight hearing on the Emergency Housing Voucher program. More than 5,100 NYCHA families face losing their rental assistance by November. The agencies that run the program admitted they do not have enough units to house everyone. Nobody knows how many families will be displaced.

One day earlier, on June 16, HPD launched the Supportive Preservation Program. The program is designed to stabilize and preserve supportive housing buildings across New York City. These are the same buildings where many low-income, formerly homeless, and disabled New Yorkers live. They are aging. Some need major repairs. Without intervention, some will fail.

The two programs were announced independently. Neither agency referenced the other at the Council hearing. But they are addressing two sides of the same problem: vulnerable New Yorkers are at risk of losing stable housing from two different directions at once.

What the Supportive Preservation Program Does

Supportive housing combines affordable apartments with on-site social services. It houses people who are homeless, disabled, elderly, in recovery, or leaving the criminal justice system. HPD says many of these buildings have unmet financial and physical needs that require a dedicated preservation strategy to keep them viable.

The Supportive Preservation Program assigns a dedicated HPD team to each supportive housing project seeking preservation. The team assesses each building’s financial and physical condition and builds a long-term plan to keep it viable. The tools HPD can offer include tax exemptions, below-market loans, and modifications to existing HPD loans to bring in conventional financing.

HPD Commissioner Dina Levy said in the program announcement: “Supportive housing is a vital resource for New Yorkers facing homelessness and other complex challenges. For those struggling with immense challenges, the Supportive Preservation Program will offer an opportunity to live more stable and dignified lives in homes that are safe and affordable.”

The NYC 15/15 Connection

HPD also announced a new RFP tied to the program that would expand eligibility for NYC 15/15 rental assistance to supportive housing projects seeking to preserve or rehabilitate existing buildings. NYC 15/15 is the city’s existing supportive housing program, which funds both the apartment and the social services in the same building.

The new RFP is limited to projects that already have city or state-administered supportive service contracts. It is not a broad expansion. But for buildings that qualify, it provides a stable revenue source to support long-term operations.

The Two Sides of the Crisis

EHV CRISIS (COUNCIL HEARING, JUN 17)

• 5,100 NYCHA families losing rental vouchers by November 2026

• Families at risk of eviction from private market apartments

• NYCHA has only 700 move-in ready units available

• No confirmed housing plan for 3,500+ households

• Federal funding cut four years early

SPP RESPONSE (HPD, JUN 16)

• Existing supportive housing buildings need capital repairs

• Buildings at financial risk of failure without intervention

• HPD assigns dedicated team per project

• Tools: tax exemptions, below-market loans, financing support

• New NYC 15/15 RFP to stabilize operating revenue

What This Means for East New York

The SPP addresses the supply side of a broader housing equation: keeping existing supportive buildings financially stable and physically sound. If the city loses supportive housing units while simultaneously trying to house thousands of displaced EHV families, the pressure on its remaining shelter and housing resources grows. The SPP, if it works, limits one side of that pressure.

Tierra Labrada, Director of Policy at the Supportive Housing Network of New York, said: “Supportive housing cannot focus solely on new development. To fulfill its promise of safe and stable housing, we must also preserve existing buildings, modernize aging infrastructure, and ensure tenants can age in place with dignity.”

“New York City cannot solve its housing crisis without protecting the homes that already provide stability, affordability, and critical supportive services to vulnerable New Yorkers.”

Rachel Levine, Executive Director of Nazareth Housing, June 16, 2026

The Gap Between the Two

The SPP and the EHV crisis are not the same program and do not solve the same problem. The SPP preserves existing supportive housing buildings. The EHV crisis involves families who are housed in the private rental market and may be displaced when their subsidies end. These are different populations, different agencies, and different solutions.

What connects them is this: both programs serve overlapping populations of vulnerable New Yorkers at risk of losing stable housing. The SPP addresses the physical and financial stability of the buildings. The EHV crisis addresses whether families can afford to stay in their apartments. The SPP does not solve the EHV problem. The EHV programs do not solve the building preservation problem. Both have to work.

East New York Times will continue to cover both. If you live in supportive housing in East New York and want to share how building conditions affect your daily life, email us at info@eastnewyorktimes.com.

Council Member Chris Banks at the dais during the Committee on Public Housing oversight hearing on the Emergency Housing Voucher program. New York City Council, 250 Broadway, June 17, 2026. Photo: Deric Johnson / East New York Times

Deric Johnson Reporter, East New York Times

The number that stopped the room was 14.

Council Member Chris Banks chairs the City Council Committee on Public Housing. He represents District 42 in East New York. For more than an hour at today’s oversight hearing at 250 Broadway, he pressed NYCHA and HPD officials on their plan to house the thousands of families about to lose their Emergency Housing Vouchers. The federal government cut the program four years early. The city has known since March 2025.

Banks asked how many families had actually been moved into alternative housing.

NYCHA said 14.

The audience gasped. Banks said: “14 is astounding. I just want to write this so I can understand.” At another point during the hearing, as agency officials continued to answer questions, one audience member said aloud: “They’re lying.”

The Numbers

5,100NYCHA households losing EHV assistance by November

700Move-in ready units NYCHA has available today

14Families actually moved to alternative housing

3,500Additional units NYCHA says it still needs

$125MAnnual federal funding being cut

Nov 2026When NYCHA funding runs out

What the EHV Program Is

Congress created the Emergency Housing Voucher program in 2021 through the American Rescue Plan. It provides rental assistance to people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking, and families with children. New York City received nearly 8,000 vouchers. NYCHA runs roughly 5,100 of them. HPD administers roughly 2,000 more.

In March 2025, HUD said the program would run out of federal funding by the end of 2026, four years ahead of its original 2030 end date. Every family holding a voucher started counting down.

What NYCHA Admitted

NYCHA’s Lakeisha Miller, Executive Vice President of Lease Housing, told the committee the agency was working to find housing options for every household. She said 67% of EHV households had completed a public housing application. Of those, roughly 1,000 were out of compliance with program requirements. She said 568 households had been matched to available units. Then she said 14 had moved.

Banks pressed on the math. NYCHA does not have 5,100 units available. It has 700. To house everyone, NYCHA acknowledged it needs 3,500 additional move-in ready units. Those units do not exist in its portfolio today.

On the Record

Banks: “Does NYCHA have enough units readily available to transfer the 5,200 EHV households to its portfolio?”

NYCHA: “We do not have 5,200 units available.”

Banks: “How many units will NYCHA need to turn over before a complete transfer is possible?”

NYCHA: “We would require rough math and an additional 3,500 units.”

When Banks asked how long the transition would take, NYCHA said they were acting with urgency. Banks asked again. NYCHA said the process had been underway roughly a week.

This Is Not a Lottery

A NYCHA official compared the housing transition to a lottery. Banks corrected him on the record.

The Exchange

NYCHA official: “It’s sort of like the lottery, you have to be in it to win it.”

Banks: “I want to be clear. This is not a lottery.”

NYCHA official: “I’m sorry.”

No Commitment on Evictions

Banks asked NYCHA directly: will you commit to not evicting any EHV tenants when the program ends?

NYCHA said no, without using that word. A NYCHA official identified in the hearing only as Brian explained that EHV holders live in private apartments with private landlords. When the subsidy stops, the relationship is between the tenant and the landlord. NYCHA said it would not be responsible for what happens next.

When Banks Asked for a Commitment

Banks: “You will not evict any tenants.”

NYCHA: “It won’t be on us, the evictions. They are not, we’re not their landlord. They were given these vouchers and they went into the private market.”

Banks: “Can you give us an estimate of how many households will be displaced?”

NYCHA: “No, because we really don’t know.”

Two Agencies. Two Different Outcomes.

HPD told a different story. All 2,000 of its EHV households received applications to move to a new program called Home TBRA. About 80% returned their applications. Those families do not have to move. They stay in their current apartments with a different voucher.

Princess Thomas, a domestic violence survivor with a NYCHA voucher, called out the difference directly in her testimony.

“I do not understand why families facing the same crisis are being treated differently depending on which agency managed their voucher.”

Princess Thomas, NYCHA EHV holder, City Council hearing, June 17, 2026

HPD First Deputy Commissioner Adam Phillips confirmed it: “For the HPD voucher holders, the transition from EHV to Home TBRA, no households are moving. It’s just a different voucher program. Folks are not moving into other units, they’re staying in their current units.”

The People in the Room

Stephanie Mansfield testified first. She is a single mother of three neurodivergent children. She is a domestic violence survivor and a strangulation survivor. She navigates daily life with a traumatic brain injury. It took her ten years to be safely rehoused. The EHV gave her family two and a half years of stability.

“Two and a half years to be told that, hey, this voucher that provided that safety and security is no longer available for me and my children. This is why I am here. I am here to advocate for my children.”

Stephanie Mansfield, EHV recipient, City Council hearing, June 17, 2026

She was nervous when she sat down. Banks offered her water and told her to take her time.

A woman testified through an Arabic translator. She is a single mother in Bay Ridge, a domestic violence survivor. She said the voucher was the only reason she felt safe. “Before I got this voucher, I was extremely stressed about my ability to pay rent. I was considering going back to Egypt,” she said. “I don’t want my daughter to change schools. I don’t want her to lose her community.”

A written statement was read on behalf of Dr. Qua’ser Brown, who had a school interview and could not attend. “Housing is the foundation that allows people to succeed. EHV gave me that foundation. We are not asking for luxury. We are asking for the opportunity to continue living, working, learning, and contributing to our communities.”

The Landlord Who Never Got the Letter

NYCHA said it sent letters and emails to all affected landlords starting in March 2026. Angelica Charles, testifying virtually, said that was not true for her landlord.

“I can tell you that my landlord never received that email,” she said. “I received the email in March. I followed all the protocols, but yet I was told that I’m on the wait list.”

What CM Banks Introduced This Week

Intro 926 requires NYCHA to report monthly on vacant units, how many are habitable, how many are under repair, and what the timelines are. NYCHA currently has no public monthly accounting of its vacancies.

Resolution 495 calls on the New York State Legislature to strengthen the state’s Housing Access Voucher Program. As currently funded, HAVP covers roughly 1,000 vouchers statewide. New York City was allocated nearly 8,000 EHV vouchers. Resolution 495 calls for stronger inspection standards and priority placement for EHV holders losing their assistance.

If You Hold an EHV Voucher

What to Do Right Now

• NYCHA EHV holders: Complete your public housing application on the NYCHA self-service portal. Applications are still being accepted. This is required before NYCHA can place you in alternative housing.

• Make sure your annual recertification is current. About 1,000 households are out of compliance and at risk of being passed over.

• Make sure your apartment inspection is up to date. NYCHA cannot place you if your unit has an outstanding inspection issue.

• HPD EHV holders: Return your Home TBRA application immediately if you have not. You do not need to move. The transition keeps you in your current apartment.

• District 42 residents: Contact CM Banks’ office at (718) 649-9495 or council.nyc.gov/district-42

• Facing eviction or loss of assistance: Contact Legal Aid at legalaidnyc.org

• Domestic violence survivors: Contact New Destiny Housing at newdestinyhousing.org

What Happens Next

HPD’s Home TBRA stop-gap program has about two years of funding. After that, the 1,700 NYCHA households and 2,000 HPD households on that program face the same problem again in 2028. Both agencies said the only long-term solution is restored federal Section 8 funding.

Whether EHV holders will be made eligible for CityFHEPS, which would let them stay in their current apartments with a city-funded voucher, remains unresolved. HPD said it prefers to use existing resources before turning to CityFHEPS. Advocates at the hearing disagreed. The Coalition for the Homeless called for at least $500 million in CityFHEPS funding and said those vouchers must be made available to EHV holders now. The New York Housing Conference called on the city to extend CityFHEPS eligibility to NYCHA EHV families and fund it in the FY2027 budget. Safe Horizon called for expanding CityFHEPS for survivors of domestic violence.

East New York Times will continue to cover this. If you hold an EHV voucher in East New York and want to share your experience, email us at info@eastnewyorktimes.com.

An MTA hybrid bus in New York City. The B20 and B83 run on Pennsylvania Avenue in East New York, connecting Broadway Junction to Spring Creek and Gateway Center. Photo: Deric Johnson / East New York Times

The Budget Fight

New York City Council is pushing Mayor Zohran Mamdani to include one of two transit affordability measures in the FY2027 budget before the June 30 deadline. The two proposals are different in scope and cost, but both would put money back in the pockets of low-income riders across the city.

Option 1 — Make all buses fare-free. Every bus rider, regardless of income, pays nothing. The city’s Independent Budget Office estimates this would cost about $1.1 billion per year, assuming ridership grows by 25% as a result. The cost would be split between the MTA, New York State, and the city.

Option 2 — Expand Fair Fares. Fair Fares already gives low-income riders a 50% discount on subway and bus fares. The Council wants to expand who qualifies or increase the discount to 100%. The IBO estimates expansion would cost between $87 million and $419 million per year depending on what changes are made. This cost would fall entirely on New York City.

What Fair Fares Is Right Now

Fair Fares launched in 2019. Today it gives a 50% discount on subway rides, local buses, and Access-A-Ride trips to New Yorkers between 18 and 64 years old whose household income is at or below 150% of the federal poverty level. In 2026, that means:

• Single person earning up to $23,940 per year

• Family of four earning up to $49,500 per year

About 940,000 New Yorkers currently qualify. Only 385,000 — roughly 41% — have actually enrolled. That means more than half a million eligible New Yorkers are paying full fare when they don’t have to.

940KNew Yorkers who qualify for Fair Fares

385KActually enrolled — just 41%

$700Estimated annual savings per enrolled rider

60MDiscounted rides provided per year

The East New York Connection

East New York is directly in this debate. The B20 and B83 run on Pennsylvania Avenue — one of the neighborhood’s main bus corridors, connecting Broadway Junction to Spring Creek and Gateway Center. The B12, B14, B15, B25, B42, B45, B65, B83, B84, Q24, and Q56 all operate out of the East New York Bus Depot. These are the buses ENY residents ride to work, to doctor appointments, to grocery stores, and to school every day.

For a household already stretched thin, $2.90 per ride adds up fast. Two trips a day, five days a week, is about $290 per month at full fare. Fair Fares cuts that to $145. Free buses brings it to zero. That difference is rent, food, and utilities for families living paycheck to paycheck.

Are You Eligible Right Now?

You may already qualify for Fair Fares and not know it. If you receive SNAP or cash assistance, you can enroll directly without additional paperwork. Otherwise you need proof of identity, address, and income.

How to Enroll in Fair Fares Today

• Online: nyc.gov/fairfares — apply through ACCESS HRA

• Income limit: At or below 150% of federal poverty level. Single adult: $23,940/year. Family of four: $49,500/year.

• Age: 18 to 64 years old

• Documents needed: Proof of identity, proof of address, proof of income (pay stub, tax return, or employer letter)

• SNAP/cash assistance recipients: Eligible for Fast Track enrollment — no additional documents needed

• Note: Fair Fares now uses an OMNY card, not a MetroCard. Cards are mailed after enrollment.

• Questions: Call 311 and ask for Fair Fares

What Happens Next

The FY2027 budget deadline is June 30, 2026. City Council and the Mamdani administration are still negotiating. The Comptroller has separately flagged a projected $8.8 billion gap in FY2028, which puts pressure on how much the city can commit to ongoing transit subsidies.

If neither proposal passes, nothing changes. Fair Fares stays at 50% for those enrolled, and the 555,000 eligible New Yorkers who haven’t signed up keep paying full fare.

If the free bus proposal passes, East New York riders on the B20, B83, and every other bus route would pay nothing starting as soon as the program is funded. If Fair Fares expands, more residents would qualify and the discount could increase to 100%.

The East New York Times will follow this as the budget deadline approaches. If you want to tell your City Council member what transit affordability means to your household, contact CM Chris Banks (District 42) at council.nyc.gov/district-42 or CM Sandy Nurse (District 37) at council.nyc.gov/district-37.

The NYPD 75th Precinct covers East New York, Brooklyn. Detectives from the 75th Precinct Detective Squad led the investigation into the murder of Susan Leyden. Photo: Deric Johnson / East New York Times

The Sentencing

On June 10, 2026, Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun sentenced Harvey Marcelin, 88, to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Marcelin had been convicted the previous month of first-degree murder, tampering with physical evidence, and concealment of a human corpse. The victim was Susan Leyden, 68, of Clinton Hill, Brooklyn.

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said at sentencing: “He must be locked away, and today’s sentence ensures that he will never be able to hurt anyone else again.”

The case took four years from the discovery of Leyden’s remains in March 2022 to sentencing on June 10, 2026. A jury deliberated for just one hour before returning a guilty verdict in May 2026.

What Happened

February 27, 2022. Surveillance footage captured Susan Leyden entering Marcelin’s apartment on Pennsylvania Avenue in East New York. She was never seen leaving alive.

March 2, 2022. Surveillance footage showed Marcelin rolling a wheeled shopping bag containing a black plastic bag out of the building.

March 3, 2022, early morning. Leyden’s torso was discovered inside that black plastic bag. A subsequent search of Marcelin’s apartment recovered her head and limbs. Police also found blood, cleaning supplies, a hammer, and the box from an electric saw.

Around this time. Separate surveillance footage showed Marcelin purchasing a saw and cleaning supplies at a Home Depot in Manhattan around the time of Leyden’s disappearance.

March 7, 2022. One of Leyden’s legs was found near a garbage can approximately three blocks from the apartment.

The Medical Examiner determined Leyden died from blunt force trauma to the head. Marcelin was 83 years old at the time of the murder. The investigation was led by Detective Thomas Pisano of the Brooklyn North Homicide Squad and Detective David Quattrocchi of the 75th Precinct Detective Squad. Prosecutors were ADA Leila Rosini, Chief of the DA’s Homicide Bureau, and Senior ADA Viviane Dussek.

Who Susan Leyden Was

Susan Leyden was 68 years old. She lived in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn. She was someone’s neighbor, someone’s family member, someone’s friend. In the coverage of this case, her name appeared most often alongside words like “victim” and “remains.” She deserves more than that. The East New York Times extends its condolences to her family and everyone who knew her.

Who Harvey Marcelin Is

This was not Marcelin’s first conviction for murder. It was his third.

In October 1963, he was convicted of first-degree murder in Manhattan for fatally shooting a woman. He was sentenced to life with the possibility of parole and released in 1984 after 21 years. In 1986, he was convicted of manslaughter for killing another woman and served additional prison time. He was on parole at the time of Susan Leyden’s murder in 2022.

The 1963 conviction formed the legal basis for the first-degree murder charge in this case under New York State law, which allows a prior murder conviction to elevate a subsequent charge.

“No hope for rehabilitation.”

Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun, at sentencing, June 10, 2026

Pennsylvania Avenue

Pennsylvania Avenue is one of East New York’s main corridors. Community Board 5 Brooklyn meets at 127 Pennsylvania Avenue. The street runs through the center of the neighborhood. The murder happened here. Leyden’s remains were found here and nearby. That is a documented fact, not an inference.

For anyone who lives on or near this street and has been affected by the details of this case, mental health support is available below. Reaching out is not a sign of weakness.

If You Need to Talk to Someone

Mental Health Support — East New York and Brooklyn

• NYC Well — Free, confidential support. Call 1-888-NYC-Well (1-888-692-9355). Text WELL to 65173. Available 24/7 in multiple languages. nycwell.cityofnewyork.us

• NY Psychotherapy and Counseling Center, East New York — 2857 Linden Boulevard, Brooklyn, NY 11208. (718) 235-3100. Services in English, Spanish, and Creole.

• Brooklyn Neighborhood Health Action Center — 1751 Broadway, Brooklyn, NY 11207. Monday, Wednesday, Friday 8 AM to 4 PM. Thursday 10 AM to 6 PM. (718) 573-3358

• Kings County Hospital Psychiatric Emergency Room — 451 Clarkson Ave, Brooklyn. (718) 245-2310. Open 24/7. Walk-ins accepted.

• Crisis text line — Text HOME to 741741. Free, 24/7.

What Comes Next

Marcelin will die in prison. The sentence is final. For the legal system, this case is over.

For East New York, the questions that cases like this raise do not disappear with a verdict. How does a neighborhood process something this disturbing happening on its main street? What support exists for residents who were affected? What does public safety actually look like on Pennsylvania Avenue going forward?

The East New York Times will keep reporting on public safety in this community. If you have a story tip, a concern about safety on your block, or want to share how this case affected you, contact us at info@eastnewyorktimes.com.

NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, East New York, 2094 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn. The center confirmed it offers Essential Plan enrollment assistance weekdays 9 AM to 5 PM. Photo: Deric Johnson / East New York Times

Deric Johnson Reporter, East New York Times

Action Required — Deadline Today

• Enroll by June 15, 2026 to avoid a gap in coverage starting July 1

• Call MetroPlusHealth: 1-866-496-6636

• In person in ENY: NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, East New York, 2094 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11207. Enrollment assistance confirmed weekdays, 9 AM to 5 PM. Call (718) 240-0400

• NY State of Health hotline: 1-855-355-5777. Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 8 PM. Saturday, 9 AM to 1 PM

• Online: nystateofhealth.ny.gov

What Is Changing

New York State’s Essential Plan has provided free or near-free health coverage to working New Yorkers with incomes between 138% and 250% of the federal poverty level. Starting July 1, 2026, federal funding cuts under H.R. 1 are forcing the state to drop the upper eligibility limit from 250% back down to 200% of the federal poverty level. The state cannot make up for the lost federal funding.

The result: approximately 450,000 New Yorkers who currently pay $0 in monthly premiums under the Essential Plan will be moved to Qualified Health Plans, which can carry monthly premiums, deductibles, and higher out-of-pocket costs. Coverage under the Essential Plan ends June 30, 2026.

Does This Affect You

You are affected if your household income falls between 200% and 250% of the federal poverty level. Here is what that looks like in actual dollar amounts:

Household SizeMonthly Income (affected range)Annual Income (affected range) Single person $2,661 – $3,325 $31,920 – $39,900 Couple (2 people) $3,608 – $4,509$43,300 – $54,100 Family of 3$4,554 – $5,691 $54,650 – $68,300 Family of 4 $5,501 – $6,876$66,000 – $82,500

If your income is below these ranges, you remain on the Essential Plan and nothing changes. If your income is above these ranges, you were already on a different plan. This affects the people in the middle working households earning too much for Medicaid but not enough to easily absorb higher insurance costs.

What Happens If You Do Nothing

Your Essential Plan coverage ends June 30. You will not automatically be enrolled in a new plan. Starting July 1, you will have no health insurance until you enroll in something else. That means any doctor visit, prescription, or emergency room trip after July 1 is paid out of pocket.

NY State of Health will give you a 60-day Special Enrollment Period to pick a new plan without penalty. But the clock starts July 1, and going even a week without coverage can disrupt prescriptions, mental health appointments, and ongoing care.

What Your New Options Are

Depending on your income and household size, you may qualify for one of the following:

• A lower-cost Essential Plan — if your income drops below 200% FPL, you may still qualify

• A Qualified Health Plan (QHP) — Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum. Federal tax credits may reduce the monthly premium significantly depending on your income

• Medicaid — if your income has dropped recently, you may now qualify

• Special circumstance coverage — if you are pregnant, recently gave birth, or had a major income change, additional options may be available

The state has also negotiated with insurers to cut deductibles in half for anyone moving from the Essential Plan to a QHP mid-year. That is a direct protection for people making this switch.

Where to Get Help in East New York

Free Enrollment Help Near You

• NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, East New York 2094 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11207. Essential Plan enrollment assistance confirmed weekdays, 9 AM to 5 PM. Call (718) 240-0400. Website

• MetroPlusHealth by phone 1-866-496-6636. Available to help you compare plans and enroll. Free service.

• NY State of Health hotline 1-855-355-5777. Monday to Friday 8 AM to 8 PM, Saturday 9 AM to 1 PM. Navigators speak over 40 languages.

• NYC residents Call 311, or text “CoveredNYC” to 877-877 for local enrollment help

• Online nystateofhealth.ny.gov. Live chat available during business hours.

What to Bring When You Call or Visit

• Your Social Security number

• Proof of income a recent pay stub, tax return, or employer letter works

• Your current Essential Plan member ID card

• A list of any doctors, medications, or specialists you currently use — so a navigator can find a plan that keeps your existing providers

The Bigger Picture

This change is a direct result of federal cuts under H.R. 1, the same legislation driving proposed Medicaid work requirements set to begin in 2027. New York State pushed back as hard as it legally could it preserved coverage for the 1.3 million New Yorkers below 200% FPL and negotiated the mid-year deductible reduction but it could not replace the lost federal funding entirely.

For East New York residents, this lands hardest on households with fluctuating work hours, multiple part-time jobs, or gig work people whose income moves in and out of the affected range month to month. If you are not sure whether you are affected, call 311 or the NY State of Health hotline today. The call is free and takes about 20 minutes.

Do not wait. Coverage ends June 30. The enrollment deadline to avoid a gap is today, June 15.

The annual John P. White benefit basketball tournament at Grace Playground, East New York. Photo: Deric Johnson

The buzzer sounded just after midnight on Saturday. The New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs 94–90 in Game 5. Jalen Brunson scored 45 points. The city erupted. East New York erupted with it.

53 years is a long time. It is longer than most ENY residents have been alive. The last time the Knicks won, this neighborhood looked different. The country looked different. The game looked different. This championship belongs to a generation that grew up with the heartbreak and never got the payoff. Until Saturday night.

What It Means Here

Gersh Park at Linden Boulevard and Vermont Street has been hosting one of Brooklyn’s most competitive summer basketball tournaments for 18 years, Nike-sponsored for 13 of them. Council Member Charles Barron secured the funding to renovate it. Grace Playground hosts an annual benefit basketball tournament in honor of John P. White, a beloved local mentor and community member. The Prince Joshua Avitto Community Center on Schenck Avenue opened in 2018 with a college-sized basketball court built for this community. These are the courts where people in this neighborhood play. When the Knicks win, it lands here.

The $202 Million Question

Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the NYC Economic Development Corporation announced the Knicks’ playoff run generated an estimated $202 million in economic activity from home games. Each playoff game brought in roughly $90 million for the city. Bars and restaurants citywide reported nearly 50% increases in revenue on game nights.

The honest question is where that money actually went. Did any of it reach Pitkin Avenue, Fulton Street, or New Lots Avenue? Or did it stay concentrated around Madison Square Garden and Midtown while ENY residents watched the games at home? That question is worth asking, and the East New York Times will be following it.

Get to the Parade

Knicks Championship Parade — Thursday

• Route: Canyon of Heroes, Lower Manhattan

• From ENY: J or Z train to Fulton Street. Or take the A/C from Broadway Junction toward Manhattan.

• Cost: Free

• Tip: Leave early. Every train heading into Manhattan will be packed Thursday morning.

What the Neighborhood Deserves Next

A championship creates an opening. The Knicks and the city now have a moment to invest in the neighborhoods that make New York what it is. That means youth sports funding, court renovations, and real programming at places like the PJACC. It means a Knicks organization that shows up in East Brooklyn after the parade ends.

East New York is part of this city. It celebrated this title the same as everyone else. It deserves to be included in what the city builds off it. The East New York Times will keep asking whether that actually happens.

For now, go to the parade. Bring your kids. Take the train. Fifty-three years is a long time to wait, and East New York waited right along with the rest of New York.

By Deric Johnson | East New York Times June 10, 2026

In May, the East New York Times reported on the June 1 SNAP deadline and what East New York residents needed to do before benefits were cut. This is an update on who is newly affected including groups that many assumed were still protected.

When federal SNAP work rules took effect on March 1, 2026, most people assumed certain vulnerable groups veterans, homeless residents, former foster youth were still automatically exempt. They are not.

Under the new rules, five groups that previously had automatic exemptions now have to meet the same 80-hours-per-month work or activity requirement as everyone else:

• Veterans

• People experiencing homelessness

• Former foster youth

• Refugees

• Survivors of human trafficking

If you fall into one of these groups and have not yet documented your hours or applied for an exemption, your benefits may already be at risk.

What the Rules Require

Adults ages 18 to 64 must complete at least 80 hours of qualifying activities per month about 20 hours per week. Qualifying activities include paid work, job training, job searching, community service, volunteering, and vocational education.

You do not have to be employed. But you do have to document what you are doing and respond to any notices from your local Social Services office.

You May Still Be Exempt

Even if you are in one of the newly affected groups, you may qualify for an exemption if you:

• Are physically or mentally unable to work get your doctor to fill out a Medical Statement Form from your Social Services office

• Are caring for a child under 13 or a household member with a disability

• Are pregnant, a full-time student, or already working 80+ hours per month

• Are in a drug or alcohol treatment program

If your health makes it hard to work, the most important step is getting your doctor to document it. Call your nearest Social Services office and ask for the Medical Statement Form.

What To Do Right Now

• Read every letter from Social Services immediately deadlines are strict and the window to respond is short

• Keep a written log of your work search or volunteer hours with dates, names, and activities

• Save your documents pay stubs, training records, employer letters, community service letters

• If you think you’re exempt, call right away do not wait for your three-month window to close

• If benefits were cut and you disagree, appeal immediately this is called a fair hearing and time matters

Where to Get Help

• Legal Services NYC: 917-661-4500 (Mon–Fri, 9:30am–4pm)

• LawHelpNY.org find a legal aid office near you

• NYC SNAP work requirements: access.nyc.gov/snap-work-requirements

• OTDA Hotline: 1-800-342-3009

Sources: LawHelpNY SNAP Changes: How to Keep Your Benefits (updated May 26, 2026)

Deric Johnson is a reporter for the East New York Times. Contact: info@eastnewyorktimes.com

By Deric Johnson | East New York Times June 10, 2026

This is Part 2 of a two-part series on Medicaid work requirements and East New York. Read Part 1 here.

In Part 1, we explained what the new federal Medicaid work rules are and who is affected. The picture was serious: starting January 1, 2027, many low-income adults on Medicaid must prove they are working, in school, volunteering, or qualify for an exemption or risk losing coverage.

This week, we have better news to share. New York State is actively preparing to protect as many residents as possible. But protection only works if you know about it. Here’s where things stand and what East New York families should do right now.

New York Got More Time

When the federal government released the official rules for implementing Medicaid work requirements on June 1, 2026, it included an important concession for states like New York that need more time to build the systems to verify compliance.

For 2027, New Yorkers who need an exemption because of a health condition, caregiving responsibility, or other qualifying reason will largely be able to self-declare that they qualify. You will not have to submit full documentation in 2027. That requirement kicks in later, in 2028.

This is significant. New York State Medicaid Director Amir Bassiri had flagged the original timeline as his primary concern. The state is now purchasing new software to manage verification alongside the existing New York State of Health system the online marketplace where most people in this situation manage their Medicaid.

A Critical Immigrant Deadline: October 1, 2026

Before the January 2027 work requirement deadline, there is another deadline East New York residents need to know about.

Starting October 1, 2026, federal reimbursement rules for immigrant Medicaid eligibility will tighten significantly. After that date, only certain categories of immigrants will qualify for federally-funded Medicaid:

• Green Card holders who have had their green card for more than five years

• Cuban and Haitian entrants

• Citizens of Micronesia, Palau, and the Marshall Islands

This does not necessarily mean these residents lose Medicaid New York State has historically used state funds to cover immigrants who lose federal eligibility. But it creates pressure on the state budget and may affect how quickly applications are processed or renewed.

If you or someone in your family is an immigrant on Medicaid, contact NYC HRA or a local immigration legal services provider now before October 1.

What East New York Residents Should Know About Exemptions

Here is the key detail that can protect families in our neighborhood: the exemptions are broad if you know about them and claim them.

New York City’s Health Department is actively working to help residents get exemptions through two main pathways:

1. Medical Frailty / Health Condition Exemption If you have a chronic illness, mental health condition, substance use disorder, physical disability, or other serious health issue, you may qualify as “medically frail” and be fully exempt. The city is working on outreach to help residents document and claim this exemption. For 2027, self-declaration is allowed but you should still get documentation from your doctor now while there is time.

2. Caregiver Exemption If you are caring for a child under 14, a disabled family member, or another dependent, you are exempt. This covers a very large share of East New York families but only if the system knows you are a caregiver.

Other exemptions include pregnancy and postpartum status (up to 12 months), participation in drug or alcohol treatment programs, veterans with total disability ratings, and former foster youth under 26.

The High Unemployment Exception ENY May Qualify

There is one more protection worth knowing. Federal rules allow counties with high unemployment rates at or above 8% or 1.5 times the national average to be exempt from work requirements entirely.

Research from KFF found that nine in ten Medicaid enrollees who could qualify for this high-unemployment exception live in five states and New York is one of them. Brooklyn neighborhoods including East New York have historically had unemployment rates above citywide and national averages. If East New York’s unemployment data qualifies, residents in our community could be exempt from the work requirement altogether with no paperwork needed.

The city and state have not yet announced which counties or zip codes will qualify. This is a story The East New York Times will track closely.

What To Do Right Now The 2026 Checklist

You have six months before the January 1, 2027 deadline. Here is exactly what to do:

1. Make sure your address is current with HRA/Medicaid Every notice about work requirements will go to the address on file. If you have moved, update your address now at nyc.gov/accesshra or call 718-557-1399.

2. Talk to your doctor about your health If you have any chronic condition diabetes, hypertension, mental health diagnosis, substance use history, mobility issues ask your doctor now to document it in your medical records. This becomes your exemption paperwork if needed.

3. Document your caregiving If you care for a child under 14, a disabled parent, or any dependent, write it down. School enrollment records, birth certificates, or a letter from a social worker can all help establish your exempt status.

4. Know where to get free help

• NYC HRA: 718-557-1399 or nyc.gov/accesshra

• New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG): Free legal help with Medicaid issues · nylag.org

• Community Health Centers in ENY: Gotham Health ENY, 2094 Pitkin Ave · (718) 240-0400

• Medicaid Matters NY Hotline: medicaidmattersny.org

5. Watch your mail starting now New York State is required to conduct outreach to affected residents before implementing the rules. When a letter arrives, open it immediately. You will have 30 days to respond if there is an issue with your coverage.

The Bottom Line

New York is fighting to protect its residents and has more time than originally feared. But protection is not automatic it requires residents to claim their exemptions, keep their information current, and respond to notices. In East New York, where residents already carry enormous burdens, that paperwork gap is the real risk.

The East New York Times will continue reporting on this story as New York releases more details on implementation, which zip codes may qualify for the unemployment exemption, and what local organizations are doing to help.

Have a question about Medicaid or know someone who needs help? Contact info@eastnewyorktimes.com.

Sources: CMS Interim Final Rule (June 1, 2026), Medicaid Matters New York, Alliance for Rights and Recovery, KFF Health Policy Research, Georgetown Center for Children and Families, NY Health Access