BP DIAZ DELIVERS 'STATE OF THE BOROUGH' ADDRESS

Today, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. delivered his ninth annual “State of the Borough” address to a crowded auditorium at the Bronx High School of Science.

In his speech, Borough President Diaz outlined the successes of his administration, noting that the borough had seen dramatic decreases in unemployment and crime concurrent with a historic influx of private development and new housing units.

“Look at how different things are in this borough today than just a decade ago. We have set the bar for the entire nation on transformative urban renewal and redevelopment. We are the new standard for revitalization,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. “The Bronx is rising.”

Since the borough president took office in May 2009 unemployment has been cut by more than half, down to 5.5 percent, and nearly 110,000 more Bronx resident have jobs. Additionally, the borough has seen more than 21,000 new units of affordable housing constructed during that timeframe.

“We’re keeping people in their homes, building new housing units for a diverse population, and setting the standard for tenant protection for the city,” said Borough President Diaz.

The borough president also discussed a wide variety of issues facing The Bronx and New York City during his speech, including the future of the New York City Housing Authority, criminal justice reform and the opioid crisis, among others.

On NYCHA, Borough President Diaz stated that the agency had not done enough to ensure the safety and well-being its 400,000 residents.

“The New York City Housing Authority is also facing a crisis of confidence. Crime persists. Buildings are dirty. Repairs are late, if they are made at all. And, of course, residents are being left out in the cold. Just when you think it couldn’t get worse, you find out the city has failed to properly inspect apartments for lead paint, putting children at serious risk,” said Borough President Diaz.

The borough president specifically noted NYCHA’s ongoing heat crisis and the agency’s failure to move on an emergency declaration to cut red tape in the procurement process and replace broken boilers faster, and urged Governor Andrew Cuomo to act on behalf of NYCHA’s residents if the city would not.

“We are turning up the heat on NYCHA to act as a responsible landlord, and if they refuse to do so I call on the governor to do it for them,” said Borough President Diaz.

Borough President Diaz also discussed last week’s surprise announcement by the de Blasio administration that they would look to build a new jail on a site in Mott Haven. The borough president decried the lack of community input in the site selection, adding that a failure to consult with local elected officials and other stakeholders could put the entire process in jeopardy.

“Reform efforts to fix our City's jails are needed,” said Borough President Diaz. “However, any new site for a jail in this borough must be thoroughly vetted, and the people of The Bronx must have a meaningful say in the selection of any site.”

Borough President Diaz also discussed the opioid crisis that has gripped the nation, as well as its impact on The Bronx.

“Here in The Bronx, addiction is not a novel issue. We should not accept a national failure to solve urban problems,” said Borough President Diaz. “When they speak of this crisis, are Republicans talking about helping the folks in our communities? This is the gentrification of the opioid epidemic.”

The borough president added that addicts should be connected to treatment programs rather than be dealt with as criminals. He also called for the end of cash bail in New York State, and greater mental health services for those caught up in the system.

“The system should rehabilitate, not debilitate,” said Borough President Diaz.

The borough president also called for greater synergy between the City University of New York and employers. In particular, Borough President Diaz called for the creation of incentive programs such as tax breaks and preferences on city contracts for those companies that hire recent CUNY graduates.

“We will continue to support our CUNY system, as well, as we marry our students’ job skills with the needs of this city. We can create incentive programs that directly link CUNY graduates with jobs,” said Borough President Diaz. “We must build the bridges to success through synergy.”

In closing, Borough President Diaz noted the progress his borough has made since he took office, and promised that The Bronx would continue to set the agenda and lead the way for all of New York City.

“Together, we will ensure our continued success and preserve all the freedoms that make New York City a beacon for the world,” said Borough President Diaz. “The State of the Bronx is strong, and we will continue lead the way for our great City.”

The full speech can be read at http://on.nyc.gov/2CbVt95.

Some photos from the event. Click on any photo to make it larger.

Above - The packed audience in the large school auditorium stands for the singing of the National Anthem.

Below - Bronx Science High School student Eden Augustine sings the National Anthem.

Above Left - Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark sits next to Public Advocate Letitia James.

Above Right - City Councilman Ruben Diaz Sr. with Congressman Adriano Espaillat.

Below Left - Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie with State Senator Jamaal Bailey.

Below Right - Former City Council Speaker Peter Valone with Current City Council Speaker Cory Johnson.

Above - Councilwoman Vanessa Gibson, Former Bronx Deputy BP Aurilia Greene, Councilman Ruben Diaz Sr., City Council Speaker Cory Johnson, and Former Councilwoman Annabele Palma.

Below - State Senate IDC Conference Leader Jeff Klein, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, and Assemblyman Michael Benedetto.

BP DIAZ DELIVERS 'STATE OF THE BOROUGH' ADDRESS

  On education, Borough President Diaz proposed that the Department of Education, and not the students themselves, should be responsible for the cost of remedial classes for public high school graduates at the City University of New York.

“We also need to do more to keep our college students from accumulating unnecessary debt,” said Borough President Diaz. “If you earned a public high school diploma, shouldn’t you be prepared for college? What does it mean when high school graduates are force to pay for their own remedial classes at CUNY?”

Borough President Diaz also called for expanded testing for gifted and talented programs for children in public universal pre-K programs, and for the City to consider using underutilized NYCHA community centers for UPK programs. He also called on all sides of the education debate to remember that children are the top priority in our schools.

“Remember, the education of our students is not about the grown-ups, or anyone’s particular ideology. It is about the children,” said Borough President Diaz. “All students must be treated equitably by the Department of Education, whether they are in a traditional public school or a public charter school.”

During the speech, Borough President Diaz also highlighted a number of new projects and new businesses that have made their way to the borough. He also announced that his office would take the lead on the redevelopment of the historic Orchard Beach Pavilion, and committed $10 million of his own capital funding to the effort.

“We need first-rate concessions, performance spaces and the ability to host top-notch events. We need to create jobs and rebuild Orchard Beach’s historic pavilion as the economic engine it once was and could be again,” said Borough President Diaz, who also announced that this initiative has also secured the support of his Bronx colleagues in the New York State Legislature.

Borough President Diaz also outlined other economic development and infrastructure priorities for his borough, including the consideration of a platform over the Concourse Yard in the Northwest Bronx, the continued push to bring four new Metro North station to the East Bronx and the need for a redevelopment plan for the Hunts Point food wholesale markets.

“This administration must finalize a plan for the redevelopment of the Hunts Point markets,” said Borough President Diaz. These markets employ thousands of people directly, and have an economic impact that can be felt across the east coast. City, state, and federal dollars have been put aside for this plan, and we cannot afford to wait any longer.

Borough President Diaz also discussed his office’s efforts on housing, noting that his office has directly funded nearly 7,000 units of mostly low and moderate income housing since 2009 and has been working hard in numerous areas to fight displacement. He also reiterated his call for the administration to abandon its proposed zoning text amendments, Mandatory Inclusionary Housing and Zoning for Quality and Affordability.

“How can we totally change the look and feel of this entire city on such short notice? How can we dramatically alter something so profound as how our city is built with a broad stroke?” asked the borough president. “These amendments as they stand are not the way to accomplish affordable housing for all New Yorkers. 

He also issued a call to conscience on homelessness, urging communities to be more accepting of housing units for the less fortunate while also calling for new metric to measure shelter performance.

“Can you imagine how deplorable the conditions have to be in the shelters that so many homeless would choose instead to brave the elements and unpredictability of the streets?” asked Borough President Diaz. “In addition to holding the right people accountable for these conditions, the City should provide the resources to augment services at shelter sites, such as mental health and job counseling. We must track the results of these programs to replicate the models of successful service providers, and to finally end homelessness one individual at a time.”

Borough President Diaz also outlined several new initiatives for the upcoming year that his office will take on, including the creation of a “Bronx Youth Corps” leadership program and a push to allow EBT users to purchase from online retailers. In closing, the borough president noted the tremendous success the borough has seen since 2009, and suggested that The Bronx is a model for progress to all five boroughs.

“Together, we have done the work to make The Bronx a better place,” said Borough President Diaz. “And what is good for The Bronx is good for the city.”Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. delivered his annual “State of the Borough” address, his seventh since becoming borough president in 2009. In his speech, which he delivered at Cardinal Hayes High School on the Grand Concourse, Borough President Diaz discussed the progress The Bronx has made since he took office while also outlining new programs and initiatives his office will pursue in the coming year on a wide variety of topics, including education, economic development and housing.

Borough President Diaz noted that, since 2009, more than 23,000 new units of housing and over 68 million square feet of total development. He also noted that unemployment has been cut nearly in half to 6.9 percent since 2009, that more than 100,000 Bronxites are employed today than when he first took office, and that the borough saw over $2 billion in new investment in 2015, an all-time record.

“It’s not just about new development, new jobs and new housing. It’s about a new mindset and a new image,” said Borough President Diaz in his speech. “We are changing how people feel and think about this borough. We are elevating expectations in all facets of Bronx life.”

Read the complete speech here: http://on.nyc.gov/1R8ElQa.

Above - New York City Public Advocate Letitia James, City Comptroller Scott Stringer, and City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito were the highest ranking elected officials in attendance. Mayor Bill de Blasio, any Deputy Mayor, any of the three statewide elected official, and even Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie were not in attendance.

Below - Former Bronx Borough President Freddy Ferrer chats with current Bronx Democratic County Leader Assemblyman Marcos Crespo. Bronx DA Darcel Clark is seated on the other side of Crespo, while behind them Assemblyman (and former Bronx Democratic County Leader) Jose Rivera is speaking to the new Community Board #7 District Manager Andrew Sandler, as Assemblyman Victor Pichardo looks on.