Tuesday, January 5, 2016

STATEMENT FROM BP DIAZ RE: President Obama’s Executive Order on Guns



   “Considering the divide that exists in Congress, it took great leadership and courage on the part of President Barack Obama to make this executive decision. I hope this is a first step in spurring Congress into action to work on a comprehensive gun bill helps prevent the violence seen in our cities every single day, as well as massacres like the one that occurred at Sandy Hook Elementary School and, more recently, the attack in San Bernardino, California.
“Strengthening background checks for purchasing guns and tightening the loopholes that exempt gun shows from background checks are two common sense approaches that can prevent people, such as those with a criminal past or those who have mental illnesses who should be denied access to such deadly weapons, from committing yet another mass murder that leaves us numb yet again.
“I want to thank President Obama for this bold step. Congress must follow his lead,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

Monday, January 4, 2016

Broadway McDonalds Manager Killed in Early Morning Stabbing




  The night manager of the McDonald's at Broadway and West 236th Street was stabbed repeatedly this morning and was later pronounced dead at the hospital where he was taken. The 50th Precinct House is right across the street from this McDonald's, and police were on the scene within minutes, but the suspect got away. Police reports have the suspect as a homeless man wearing a hoodie and jeans. It has also been reported that this homeless man was a frequent visitor to this McDonald's, and was said to often ask for money from customers. As you can see in the photos above and below police units were all around the McDonald's looking for any clues, and in the morning a police helicopter was looking for the suspect for hours to no avail. As of now this koller is still at large, and you are warned to be on the lookout for him.




STATEMENT FROM BP DIAZ RE: Gov. Cuomo’s Call for a Statewide Minimum Wage Increase



  “Governor Cuomo’s clarion call to increase the statewide minimum wage to $15 an hour is a game changer. We continue to create jobs and put people to work in The Bronx, but we need to do more as a society to ensure that all jobs are helping people rise out of poverty and make a better life for themselves and their families. Today’s proposal will help do just that.

“I am proud to join the Mario Cuomo Campaign for Economic Justice and to lend my voice to the fight for a $15 minimum wage across New York State. New York has always been a leader in the fight for economic fairness, and today’s announcement is the next logical step in that ongoing fight. I look forward to working with Governor Cuomo and elected leaders from across the city and state to make a fair minimum wage of $15 an hour a reality for all New Yorkers,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

Annual Family Court Bar Assoc. Dinner 1/14/16



Bronx County Family Court Bar Association
invite you to their
4th Annual Awards Dinner!  
      
Honorees:
Honorable Carol Sherman
Supervising Judge Bronx County
Dawne Mitchel, Esq.,
Attorney-in-Charge of Bronx Juvenile Rights Office
 
Assemblyman Carl Heastie
Speaker of the State
 
Thursday, January 14, 2016
6:00 pm to 11:00 pm
Maestro's Caterers
1703 Bronxdale Avenue 
Bronx, N.Y. 10462
For more information, please contact Michael Greifinger at

Sunday, January 3, 2016

“Supportive Housing” Training Feb 23, 2016



                  Gateway Community Development, Inc.   
                                                Partner With
Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church
Social Action Ministry
&
Center for Urban Community Services (CUCS),
Housing Resource Center
To
Present a Free Training for Service Providers
On
“Supportive Housing”
&
Presentations
February 23, 2016 (9:30 A.M. - 4:30 P.M.)
Ms. Gabriella Lake, LMSWMA, Trainer
Center for Urban Community Services (CUCS), Institute
Housing Resource Center

Training Location:
Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church
771 Fairmount Place BronxNY 10460
(Corner of Prospect Ave)

YOU MUST BE REGISTERED TO ATTEND. To register, send the following requested information to Carrie Taft at GtwyCDvlpmntInc@aol.com:

Your Name and Job Title: _____
Agency or Institution: _____
Address: _____
City, State: ____
Zip Code: _____
Office Telephone: ___
Office Email: _____
Registration will be confirmed by email. If you have any question or comment, contact Carrie Taft @ (917) 226-7960.

This training will help service providers improve their eligibility screening and appropriate referral forNY NY level I, II, and III Housing. Providers can improve in documentation and completion of the HRA 2010e on line housing application.

For providers who service the homeless (street /shelter) or at risk of homelessness with Mental Illness: Civilians & Veterans; Singles & Families; Adults, Young Adults, Young people aging out of foster care; HIV/AIDS positive; history of Alcohol Use and/or Substance Use.


Upcoming Cultural Events at JASA Van Cortlandt Senior Center in Jan. 2016



  Thurs. Jan. 7thCreate a Life Vision with Janice Hermalyn, M.S., Career Counselor at 1:00 PM.  Kosher lunch of soup, Tilapia Francaise or Chicken Salad will be served at 12:15 PM. Recommended senior meal contribution is $2.50.

   Thurs. Jan. 14th: * Commemorate Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. with songs and readings by senior volunteers at 1:00 PM.  Enjoy a varied piano program by Isaac ben Ayala, former accompanist of the Harlem Boys Choir at 1:20 PM
.  Kosher lunch of soup, lemon garlic tilapia or turkey breast will be served at 12:15 PM.Recommended senior meal contribution is $2.50 and event contribution: $1.00. Refreshments will be served.

  Thurs. Jan. 21stHagit and Zvi will present “Women of the Bible,” a dramatic and musical show. Hagit is a drama therapist and singer. Zvi accompanies her on keyboard. They captivate the audience with stunning background images, engaging storytelling and music selections
   Kosher lunch of soup, baked sole fillet or chicken salad will be served at 12:15 PM. Recommended senior meal contribution is $2.50 and event contribution: $2.00. Refreshments will be served

  Wed. Jan. 27thPierre Montiel, Film Historian, will present the life accomplishments of actress Loretta Youngat 1:00 PM. Kosher lunch of beef stuffed cabbage or tuna salad will be served at 12:15 PM. Recommended senior meal contribution is $2.25 and event contribution: $1.00. Refreshments will be served. 

  Thurs. Jan. 28thCelebrate Tu B'shvat, Israel Arbor Day, with Suki and Steve on flute and guitar at 1:00 PM.  They will perform classical, popular and Hebrew music. A festive meal of soup, salmon or turkey breast will be served at 12:00 PM. Recommended senior meal contribution is $2.50 and event contribution: $2.00. Holiday refreshments will be served.  

  For further information and meal reservations, please call the senior center office at 718-549-4700
JASA Van Cortlandt Senior Center
3880 Sedgwick Ave., First Floor 
Bronx, NY 10463
Phone: 718-549-4700
Sharon Wolfe, Director.
   

Saturday, January 2, 2016

Andy King New Year Celebration Fundraiser Brings Mayor De Blasio to The Bronx




  It was a celebration of many things last night at the Eastwood Manor in the 12th City Council District. It was New Year's Day for 2016, it was the fifth anniversary of Andy and Neva King, it was the kick off of the re-election in 2017 for the Andy King for City Council campaign, and it was a visit to the Bronx by Mayor Bill de Blasio as well as Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams a candidate for Mayor in 2021.
  While Mayor de Blasio, Brooklyn Borough President Adams, Congressman Eliot Engel, City Council members Fernando Cabrera and Inez Dickens, Assembly members Keith Wright and Victor Pichardo, District Leader Jamal Bailey, and a few Bronx Young Democrats were on hand there was no Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., no Bronx Democratic County Leader Marcos Crespo, or any other elected Bronx Democratic County official. Only the Executive Director of the Bronx Democratic County Committee Anthony Perez was in attendance, and he was very low key at that. It seemed that as I spoke to the attendees this was an independent minded group of about 400 people who came out to support an independent minded friend Councilman Andy King and his wife Neva Shillingford King. The photos below will tell the rest.


Above - As you walked in after signing in you were able to take your photo with Councilman King in front of the 2017 Andy King wall as one of King's staffer and protege does.
Below - Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams was one of the first to take a photo with Councilman King and Neva Shillingford King.




Above - Members of the Bronx YEP program which Councilman King started long before being elected are in the photo.
Below - Several members of the Bronx Young Democrats join Councilman King here.




Above - District Leader Jamal Bailey (left) was the Master of Ceremonies for the event.
Below - Manhattan Democratic County Leader Assemblyman Keith Wright congratulates the Kings, and says by the way, he is running for the soon to be vacant Congressional seat of Congressman Charlie Rangel. 




Above - Long time Congressman Eliot Engel shares his thoughts about his friend Councilman Andy King, and the fine job that Andy is doing. 
Below - Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams was on hand to say that he is not running for mayor in 2017, but is running in 2021 when the office will be vacant due to term limits that will also term limit him out of the borough president's office.






Above - The biggest surprise of the night was the appearance of Mayor Bill de Blasio as he is brought into the Ballroom by Councilman King.
Below - Mayor De Blasio sits with his friends Andy and Neva King as they celebrate their wedding anniversary with a prayer session. 




Above - The mayor also took a photo with the members of the Bronx YEP, and then with many of the attendees before he left for another event that was on his schedule.
Below - After the mayor left the party shifted into high gear as Councilman King and his wife Neva led the dancing that lasted for hours.