NEW YORK MOURNS
Slain Police Offi cer Wilbert Mora funeral held at St. Pat’s
BY DEAN MOSES
Police Offi cer Wilbert
Mora was laid to rest
after a heartbreaking St.
Patrick’s Cathedral funeral on
Wednesday morning.
The second offi cer killed in
the infamous Harlem domestic
dispute shootout on Jan. 21
was mourned by family, politicians,
and thousands of extended
brothers and sisters in
blue during the Feb. 2 funeral.
A son of Dominican immigrants,
the 27-year-old Mora
was honored not merely for
how he died, but also for a life
spent serving his community.
Even after he drew his last
breath, Mora provided one last
service to the city he died to
protect — saving fi ve individuals
he never even knew, thanks
to his organ donation.
Mora was remembered as
a friendly giant who grew up
yearning to protect the city
from crime. He was likewise
called a warrior for attempting
to fi ght back, even in the face
of certain death. But far more
than his life in law enforcement,
his humanity was also
LOCAL NEWS
Offi cers hold hands, lending their support to one another.
fondly recalled.
His brother, Wilson Mora,
nicknamed Wilbert a teddy
bear who loved nothing more
than to hang out with his
friends and play video games.
“You were impossibly patient
with me even when I was
at my worst,” Wilson Mora
said. “I just want you to know
that I was always proud of you.
You chose a life of service to
your community and to our
adopted country.”
A rippling sea of NYPD
offi cers could be observed
stretching down Fifth Avenue
as thousands gathered to pay
PHOTO BY LLOYD MITCHELL:
their respects for the second
time in less than a week, after
Mora’s partner, Police Offi cer
Jason Rivera, was mourned on
Jan. 28.
In honor of Mora’s dedication
and sacrifi ce, Police Commissioner
Keechant Sewell
posthumously promoted both
Rivera and Mora to detective
fi rst grade.
Sewell described Mora as a
colossal force, not due to his 6’3
stature but, instead, the enormity
of his love, kindness, and
willingness to always help others.
Immigrating with his family
from the Dominican Republic
in search of a better, safer
life, Mora immediately gravitated
toward the law enforcement.
He was a proud member
of the NYPD Cadet Corps and
attended John Jay College of
Criminal Justice—each step
propelling him to fi ght for social
justice while also protecting the
adopted city he loved.
“With his combination of
strength and compassion. Wilbert
served this department
bravely, honorably as a colossal
symbol of promise, not for
the size of his frame, but for the
goodness in his heart. He was a
true leader,” Sewell said.
Adams also touched on the
prevalence of gun violence in
New York City, and vowed
to provide the resources and
tools necessary to help members
of the NYPD combat it.
He acknowledged that just last
night another offi cer was shot,
a sobering reminder of the danger
the police face every day
whether on or off duty.
“We will rise New York City
because we are a city of people,
of people like Offi cer Rivera
and Offi cer Mora we will never
forget their names and their acts
of heroism,” the mayor added.
Midblock litter baskets come to busy Upper East Side street
BY AIDAN SEIDEN
For the past decade, residents
of the Upper East
Side have taken umbrage
with the litter that stained
their bustling sidewalks, specifi
cally on East 86th Street,
and advocated for mid-block
cans and services with no response—
until recently.
On Jan 26., Councilmember
Julie Menin, in collaboration
with the Department of Sanitation
(DSNY), announced
the acquisition of eight midblock
litter baskets to be positioned
along the commercial
corridor of East 86th Street,
making this one of the councilmember’s
fi rst major initiatives
since her election into offi
ce earlier this month.
“Sanitation is an issue front
and center in our community
and I wanted to address it immediately
to better the quality of
life,” said Council Member Menin,
“we deserve clean streets.”
In addition to securing the litter
baskets, earlier this month,
Menin allocated $120,000 in
New York City’s fi scal year budget
to increase trash pickups to
4 times a day during the week.
While this may appear to be a
minor accomplishment, when it
comes to the trials and tribulations
of the New York City administration
system, it is a feat
only few can achieve.
“It’s a common sense solution,
but you need to know how
to cut through bureaucracy,”
Menin said. “There is a DSNY
threshold for eligibility on midblock
litter baskets,” which depends
on the location’s feasibility
for pickup, resulting in their
scarcity throughout the city.
PHOTO COURTESY OF COUNCILMEMBER JULIE MENIN’S OFFICE
Andrew Fine, the VP of the East 86th Street Association,
and Councilmember Julie Menin with a new litterbasket.
Navigating around these restrictions
can be daunting, however
Menin persisted, ensuring that
the residents of the Upper East
Side, “fi nally got this win.”
“This is a watershed moment
for East 86th Street, a
true milestone of progress,” said
Vice President of the East 86th
Street Association, Andrew
Fine. “It’s amazing what can be
accomplished when business,
neighborhood associations and
DSNY and Government work
together. We thank Julie for her
leadership and creative vision
for making this all possible.”
In conjunction with the baskets,
Menin implemented an
“Adopt-a-Basket” program
which allows any business,
organization, or local New
Yorker to help maintain one of
the 23,000+ litter baskets that
populate the City, as well as a
“Sponsor a Basket” program
which enables sponsors to purchase
higher-end litter baskets,
adorned with their logo or
name, that sanitation teams will
regularly empty.
Litter baskets can now be
found on mid-blocks between
Lexington and Park Avenue,
Lexington and 3rd Avenue,
and 2nd and 3rd Avenue on the
Upper East Side.
Schneps Media February 3, 2022 3