Wednesday, December 7, 2011

BOROUGH PRESIDENT DIAZ AND THE BOEDC HONOR 10 BRONX BUSINESSES

 

Today, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation honored ten Bronx businesses as part of the 2nd annual “Tribute to Bronx Businesses” luncheon.

Borough President Diaz awarded the businesses with proclamations in recognition for their achievements and contributions in helping drive economic success in the borough.

The businesses honored included Bronx Brewery, the Bronx/Manhattan North Association of Realtors, Dufour Pastry Kitchens, G.A.L. Manufacturing Corp., Gabrielli Truck Sales, Johnson Security Bureau, Just Bagels, Paper Enterprises, Skyline Windows, and the Anheuser-Busch Companies.

“Our businesses are what drive our borough’s economic engine, and each of these companies has displayed a strong commitment to helping build up the Bronx and work toward a stronger future for our borough. I am proud to have acknowledged these business leaders for their hard work not only to strengthen their own businesses but our entire borough as well,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

We are glad to honor these businesses. The BOEDC has been providing great assistance and financial support to our local businesses. I am delighted to see how hard our business community is working towards helping us build a brighter economic future for The Bronx," said Marlene Cintron, president of the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation.

The luncheon was held at F & J Pine Restaurant on Bronxdale Avenue in Morris Park.

 BP Diaz with all the honorees. Click the photo to enlarge.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Rangel On 2012 Primary: ‘It’s On!’

   That is the headline of the story listed here on Capital Tonight  about the fundraiser for his 21st term in congress by Congressman Charlie Rangel. The story goes on to say that one of Rangels opponents has already spent tens of thousands of dollars on polling. That refers to Clyde Williams, a former adviser to President Bill Clinton, and the poll shows only a 35% recolonization of Congressman Rangel. 

 

    There are many other potential challengers to Rangel next year from his 2010 opponent Adam Powell IV, to Manhattan Democratic county leader Assemblyman Keith Wright, and then some. 


   Also don't forget that the current 15th Congressional District will change by the next election due to redistricting. So who knows what to expect as the district may go up to Mount Vernon or even have the Riverdale section of the Bronx in it.

 

LIU STATEMENT ON PROPOSED TAX REFORMS

City Comptroller John C. Liu today issued the following statement in response to questions concerning the announcement of proposed tax reforms:

“The proposed tax reform agreement announced today looks promising, as it would cut taxes for the middle class, retain taxes on the wealthy, and generate new revenue for the State. Under the plan, the State’s income tax would be more progressive in the middle brackets -- making a greater distinction between those earning $40,000 a year and those earning $300,000 -- which is reasonable and warranted. Overall the plan would benefit our State’s working families, whose financial health is vital to our economic recovery. I applaud Governor Cuomo, Senate Majority Leader Skelos, and Assembly Speaker Silver for their leadership on this important issue and look forward to reviewing the proposal further.”


Senator Rivera Issues Statement Following Governor Cuomo's Announcement to Reform New York's Tax System

Senator Gustavo Rivera  issued the following statement in response to Governor Cuomo’s announcement that an agreement has been reached that will create jobs and reform New York’s tax system:

“I applaud Governor Cuomo's for his leadership in taking on tax reform and for acknowledging that New York State can address economic development at the same time that we address economic inequality. After being asked to continuously sacrifice during tough economic times, middle class and working families in the 33rd Senate District in the Bronx will be receiving a tax cut to help them get back on track.  Together, we have brought the tax rate for middle class families to its lowest in 58 years in the state of New York. Once again, Governor Cuomo and the state of New York have taken a lead on creating a more fair and progressive tax system that should be a model for other states and for our federal government.  

Despite lowering taxes, this plan will also bring in $1.9 billion in much-needed revenue to the state of New York that I hope will be used to fund education, health and public safety programs cut over previous years. With more than half of my constituents earning less than $25,000 a year, there is no doubt in my mind that the communities that I represent are hit the hardest by cutting critical human services. I hope that by continuing to work with Governor Cuomo over the coming days and months, we will be able to ensure that communities like the ones I represent are not being asked to sacrifice further and that a sense of fairness is restored to both our tax system and our budget priorities.”

 



Monday, December 5, 2011

BETTER MANAGEMENT OF CITYS PARKS CONCESSIONS WOULD NET MILLIONS 

  City Comptroller John C. Liu today announced that an audit of the Department of Parks and Recreation’s controls over recreational, dining, and retail concessions found that better management could have yielded $8.8 million more in badly needed revenue for the City.

Most notably, by allowing the Tavern on the Green restaurant to close without contracting for a new operator, the Parks Department has lost concession revenue of nearly $2.2 million, the audit states. In addition to the lost revenue calculations, the City and State have forfeited nearly $3.7 million in sales taxes with Tavern’s demise, and 500 jobs disappeared, the audit estimates. The storied Central Park restaurant closed nearly two years ago and has not reopened.


“Parks are not just about concessions, but concession contracts should be better managed so that revenue flows to the City without unnecessary interruption,” Comptroller Liu said.

The audit concluded that other concessions could also have been better managed – to the tune of $6.6 million. These include the pushcart licenses in Battery Park, the Central Park tennis courts, the ice skating rink at Flushing Meadows Corona Park, and the snack bar at Orchard Beach in Pelham Bay Park.

Specifically, the Parks Department should have started key contract solicitations earlier and ensured more competition, auditors said. Parks also failed to maintain key documentation supporting contract decisions and preventing conflicts of interest.

The Parks Department, as custodian of over 29,000 acres of City parkland, is responsible for soliciting and awarding concessions for various attractions. Typically, the concession operators pay a fee or a percentage of their total receipts – money that is used to support programs and services.

In Fiscal Years 2008, 2009, and 2010, Parks reported concession revenues of $52.6 million, $46.1 million, and $39.8 million, respectively.

The Parks Department has disagreed with many of the audit’s findings, maintaining that delays in implementing license agreements resulted from discussions made in the best interests of the City. It added that it cannot pursue concession revenue above all other considerations, such as legal obligations and long-term capital investments. The audit stated that Parks could have nonetheless avoided many delays with better planning and without compromising other aims.

The audit made 22 recommendations. Among the findings, Parks should:
•       Track the solicitation and award process to ensure that it progresses in a timely matter;
•       Retain written explanations of rejected proposals that detail why an award is not in the City’s best interest;
•       Examine why it receives a small number of responses to solicitations and initiate corrective action. The scope of the audit was July 1, 2008, through June 30, 2010.

Comptroller Liu credited Deputy Comptroller for Audit Tina Kim and the Audit Bureau for presenting the findings. The full report is available at: http://comptroller.nyc.gov/audits

Friday, December 2, 2011



Plans for Ice Skating Rink in Van Cortlandt Park
No Approval Needed

Click on the picture to enlarge it.

Here is the scaled down version of the proposed Van Cortlandt Park Ice Skating Rink that will come and go like a circus according to Parks Department spokesman Davita Mabourakh. 
The electric upgrade will be at the north end of the old tennis courts along with the ice chillers. One question though, will the electric upgrade and chillers be taken out each year like the new smaller ice skating rink?

Oh, by the way Ms. Mabourakh said that the Franchise and Concession Review Committee would not have to approve this smaller rink which was compared to a circus, note the tents, The local community board and elected officials are being told "we thought you wanted the ice skating rink", so we don't need your approval, but let us know you like it. 

By the way this was sprung on the few who attended the Community Board 8 Parks Committee meeting Wednesday night November 30th at the last minute.

Typical Bloomberg thinking.... 
Don't let anyone know what you are doing, and do it at the last minute so there can be little if any opposition. Also tell them that is what they wanted.


Assemblyman Dinowitz Speaks Out Against Potential Cuts to Senior Centers

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz spoke out against potential cuts to Title XX funding for senior centers at a rally at City Hall today sponsored by the Council of Senior Centers & Services of NYC.  For each of the last two years, the Governor's budget proposed cutting tens of millions of dollars from Title XX funding, which resulted in New York City threatening to close over a hundred senior centers.  Assemblyman Dinowitz, former Chair of the Assembly Committee on Aging, led the successful fight this year to prevent this cutback and the closing of senior centers.

"This time around, we want to convince the Governor to not propose this cut in the first place.  I will fight together with Speaker Sheldon Silver, Aging Committee Chair Joan Millman, and my other colleagues to make sure that seniors will not have to live in fear that the senior centers that so many of them depond upon would be closed," said Assemblyman Dinowitz.

 

COUNCILMAN KOPPELL ON A-LIST IN 2011 NYC HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT CARD

Council Member Oliver Koppell is pleased to announce that he is one of nine Council Members who received an A grade on the “2011 New York City Council Human Rights Report Card,” which was  released by the Human Rights Project at the Urban Justice Center on November 14, 2011.
 
The goal of the annual Human Rights Report Card is to provide reliable and accessible information on the performance of City Council representatives in protecting and advancing the human rights of New Yorkers in 2011. Council Members were graded based on their sponsorship of, and votes on, legislation  to advance human rights, as well as their responses to the Human Rights Questionnaire sent to each Council Member in June.
 
The Human Rights Project highlighted Koppell’s legislative priorities including the “Fair Wages for New Yorkers Act,” the “Accessible Taxi Mandate” and improving Department of Buildings access to illegal residential housing conversions as the basis for its rating.  The project also noted Koppell’s  advocacy on behalf of these measures, as well as his budget priorities, which included the “ Children Under Five Mental Health Initiative“, the “Geriatric Mental Health Initiative” and helping ensure that teachers were not laid off.
 
“I am very proud to have received an A grade on the NYC Council Human Rights Report Card based on my legislative record at the City Council, and I look forward to continuing  to advocate on behalf of this vital issue,”  Koppell said..

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Bronx Annual Chanukah Celebration

Bronx Borough President
Ruben Diaz Jr.

Invites you to join him at the

Bronx Annual Chanukah Celebration

Mistress of Ceremony
Suzyn Waldman
New York Yankees Broadcaster

Musical Performance
Dafna Israel-Kotok
Shir Fun
Recording Artist and Educator

Thursday, December 22, 2011
Program begins at 12:00 PM

The Bronx County Building
Veteran's Memorial Hall
851 Grand Concourse

Seating is Complimentary and Limited.

RSVP 718.590.3989

Bronx Borough President's Holiday Tree Lighting

         Bronx Borough President 

             Ruben Diaz Jr.

Invites you to join him at the annual
Holiday Tree Lighting
Thursday, December 8, 2011
5:00 pm
Bronx County Building
851 Grand Concourse (Corner of 161st Street)
Sing Christmas carols with Santa Claus

RSVP by Calling 718-590-3522 or email lroldan@bronxbp.nyc.gov