Latest news with #CeciliaGentili
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
NYC's effort to shut down garden that forced members to pledge ‘solidarity' with Palestine hits roadblock
An anti-Israel community garden in Queens that forced incoming members to pledge 'solidarity with the oppressed and marginalized people' of Palestine has been given a reprieve as the city tries to shut it down. Judge Hasa Kingo on Wednesday blocked the city's efforts to revoke the group's license to run a community garden at the site, allowing it to keep operating — for now, court records show. The former Sunset Community Garden's leadership had alienated several Jewish Ridgewood residents with 10 'community agreements' — which included a commitment to interrupt 'violent behavior or rhetoric that expresses all forms of hate' — and a special section of the green space it labeled 'Poppies for Palestine.' The pledge list breached Parks Department guidelines, the city said when revoking the group's license on May 5. Garden leadership had been given until June 6 to vacate the land on Onderdonk and Willoughby avenues in Ridgewood. Ridgewood resident Sara Schraeter-Mowers called Kingo 'ludicrous' for even entertaining the group's request to keep the garden up and running. The garden has since been renamed Jardin de Santa Cecilia, in honor of Latina trans advocate Cecilia Gentili, the group said in a news release calling the judge's decision 'a crucial legal victory' and 'a lifeline for our community.' The group accused the city of trying to 'erase a tribute' it erected last year to Gentili and 'punish our righteous solidarity with Palestinians facing genocide, and all oppressed peoples.' 'Pride is a riot they can't silence and this garden is a home they can't take away from us,' the group said in its statement. The case will be back before a judge next month. 'We hope to see the judge make this ruling permanent, preserving the garden as a sanctuary for queer, transgender, black, indigenous, and people of color communities,' the garden leadership said in a statement. It 'is unfortunate that this garden group continues to disregard the same rules upheld by every GreenThumb community garden, despite our repeated efforts to work with them,' the Parks Department said in a statement. 'Our goal has always been to ensure that GreenThumb community gardens are managed responsibly and remain open and welcoming for everyone, regardless of their background.'
New York Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Judge grants reprieve for anti-Israel Queens community garden after city pulls license
An anti-Israel community garden in Queens that forced incoming members to pledge 'solidarity with the oppressed and marginalized people' of Palestine has been given a reprieve as the city tries to shut it down. Judge Hasa Kingo on Wednesday blocked the city's efforts to revoke the group's license to run a community garden at the site, allowing it to keep operating — for now, court records show. The former Sunset Community Garden's leadership had alienated several Jewish Ridgewood residents with 10 'community agreements' — which included a commitment to interrupt 'violent behavior or rhetoric that expresses all forms of hate' — and a special section of the green space it labeled 'Poppies for Palestine.' 4 The city revoked the group's license to operate a community garden at the site. Helayne Seidman The pledge list breached Parks Department guidelines, the city said when revoking the group's license on May 5. Garden leadership had been given until June 6 to vacate the land on Onderdonk and Willoughby avenues in Ridgewood. 4 The memorial to Cecilia Gentili, who lived just blocks from the garden. poppies4palestine/ Insatgram Ridgewood resident Sara Schraeter-Mowers called Kingo 'ludicrous' for even entertaining the group's request to keep the garden up and running. The garden has since been renamed Jardin de Santa Cecilia, in honor of Latina trans advocate Cecilia Gentili, the group said in a news release calling the judge's decision 'a crucial legal victory' and 'a lifeline for our community.' 4 Jewish neighbors were put off by the Poppies 4 Palestine. Instagram @sunsetgardenridgewood The group accused the city of trying to 'erase a tribute' it erected last year to Gentili and 'punish our righteous solidarity with Palestinians facing genocide, and all oppressed peoples.' 'Pride is a riot they can't silence and this garden is a home they can't take away from us,' the group said in its statement. The case will be back before a judge next month. 'We hope to see the judge make this ruling permanent, preserving the garden as a sanctuary for queer, transgender, black, indigenous, and people of color communities,' the garden leadership said in a statement. 4 The group vowed to fight the city's move to shut them down. Helayne Seidman It 'is unfortunate that this garden group continues to disregard the same rules upheld by every GreenThumb community garden, despite our repeated efforts to work with them,' the Parks Department said in a statement. 'Our goal has always been to ensure that GreenThumb community gardens are managed responsibly and remain open and welcoming for everyone, regardless of their background.'
CBS News
28-05-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Man sentenced for selling drugs that killed Cecilia Gentili, prominent transgender activist in NYC
A New York City drug dealer who admitted providing the fentanyl-laced heroin that killed prominent transgender activist Cecilia Gentili was sentenced Tuesday to 19 years in federal prison, prosecutors said. Michael Kuilan, 45, of Brooklyn, was also ordered to pay $24,482 in restitution and forfeit $30,000 and a seized firearm. "Cecilia Gentili was tragically poisoned from fentanyl-laced heroin," U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Joseph Nocella said in a statement. "Today, the perpetrators who sold the deadly drugs to Gentili are being held accountable." Kuilan had three prior state felony convictions related to selling heroin before he pleaded guilty to the federal charges last year, according to prosecutors. He faced up to 20 years in prison for the drug distribution charge and up to 35 years for unlawful possession of a firearm as a felon at his sentencing in Brooklyn federal court. Kuilan's lawyer didn't immediately respond to an email seeking comment. Death of transgender activist Cecilia Gentili His co-defendant, Antonio Venti, 53, of Long Island, was sentenced in February to five years in federal prison after also pleading guilty to the same drug offense last year. Prosecutors said text messages, cell site data, and other evidence showed that Kuilan had supplied Venti with drugs that he then sold to Gentili. The 52-year-old Brooklyn resident was found dead in her bedroom from the combined effect of fentanyl, heroin, xylazine and cocaine on Feb. 6, 2024 — the day after purchasing the drugs, according to prosecutors. The former sex worker had been a leading advocate for other transgender people, as well as sex workers and people with HIV. She also acted in the FX television series "Pose," about the underground ballroom dance scene in the 1980s and 1990s. Gentili's well-attended funeral at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan drew outrage from some in the Catholic community, including from the venerable church's own pastor.
The Independent
28-05-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Dealer gets 19 years in prison for providing drugs that killed prominent NYC transgender activist
A New York City drug dealer who admitted providing the fentanyl-laced heroin that killed a prominent transgender activist was sentenced Tuesday to 19 years in federal prison, prosecutors said. Michael Kuilan, 45, of Brooklyn, was also ordered to pay $24,482 in restitution and forfeit $30,000 and a seized firearm. 'Cecilia Gentili was tragically poisoned from fentanyl-laced heroin,' U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Joseph Nocella said in a statement. 'Today, the perpetrators who sold the deadly drugs to Gentili are being held accountable.' Kuilan had three prior state felony convictions related to selling heroin before he pleaded guilty to the federal charges last year, according to prosecutors. He faced up to 20 years in prison for the drug distribution charge and up to 35 years for unlawful possession of a firearm as a felon at his sentencing in Brooklyn federal court. Kuilan's lawyer didn't immediately respond to an email seeking comment. His co-defendant, Antonio Venti, 53, of Long Island, was sentenced in February to five years in federal prison after also pleading guilty to the same drug offense last year. Prosecutors said text messages, cell site data, and other evidence showed that Kuilan had supplied Venti with drugs that he then sold to Gentili. The 52-year-old Brooklyn resident was found dead in her bedroom from the combined effect of fentanyl, heroin, xylazine and cocaine on Feb. 6, 2024 — the day after purchasing the drugs, according to prosecutors. The former sex worker had been a leading advocate for other transgender people, as well as sex workers and people with HIV. She also acted in the FX television series 'Pose,' about the underground ballroom dance scene in the 1980s and 1990s. Gentili's well-attended funeral at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan drew outrage from some in the Catholic community, including from the venerable church's own pastor.
Associated Press
28-05-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Dealer gets 19 years in prison for providing drugs that killed prominent NYC transgender activist
NEW YORK (AP) — A New York City drug dealer who admitted providing the fentanyl-laced heroin that killed a prominent transgender activist was sentenced Tuesday to 19 years in federal prison, prosecutors said. Michael Kuilan, 45, of Brooklyn, was also ordered to pay $24,482 in restitution and forfeit $30,000 and a seized firearm. 'Cecilia Gentili was tragically poisoned from fentanyl-laced heroin,' U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Joseph Nocella said in a statement. 'Today, the perpetrators who sold the deadly drugs to Gentili are being held accountable.' Kuilan had three prior state felony convictions related to selling heroin before he pleaded guilty to the federal charges last year, according to prosecutors. He faced up to 20 years in prison for the drug distribution charge and up to 35 years for unlawful possession of a firearm as a felon at his sentencing in Brooklyn federal court. Kuilan's lawyer didn't immediately respond to an email seeking comment. His co-defendant, Antonio Venti, 53, of Long Island, was sentenced in February to five years in federal prison after also pleading guilty to the same drug offense last year. Prosecutors said text messages, cell site data, and other evidence showed that Kuilan had supplied Venti with drugs that he then sold to Gentili. The 52-year-old Brooklyn resident was found dead in her bedroom from the combined effect of fentanyl, heroin, xylazine and cocaine on Feb. 6, 2024 — the day after purchasing the drugs, according to prosecutors. The former sex worker had been a leading advocate for other transgender people, as well as sex workers and people with HIV. She also acted in the FX television series 'Pose,' about the underground ballroom dance scene in the 1980s and 1990s. Gentili's well-attended funeral at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan drew outrage from some in the Catholic community, including from the venerable church's own pastor.
