New York Passes Marriage Equality Bill

   On Friday Night June 24th Bill #1545 as it was called the "Marriage Equality Act" passed the New York State Senate by a vote of 33 to 29 at 10:30 PM. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the bill into law at 11:55 PM, and in 30 days New York State will join the states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Iowa, and Washington D.C. in legalizing gay marriage. 

  

   There were four senators who spoke on Bill #1545 either for or against the bill. Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. spoke against the bill, and in his lengthy debate he was interrupted by Senate President Robert Duffy (the Lieutenant Governor) more than once calling for Senator Diaz to wrap it up. Senator Tom Duane spoke in favor of the bill, by explaining his life after he came out as a homosexual, and his quest to get equal rights for other gay people.  Duane ended by saying that he and his life partner Louis could now be married in New York State. Senator Mark Grisanti explained his Catholic upbringing, and now that amendments to protect religious institutions were added into Bill #1545 and that as a lawyer he could now vote in the affirmative. 

   After a brief recess to go over procedure the last senator to speak was Senator Carl Kruger (who is facing a federal indictment on several items) said that when this issue came up in 2009 that he voted no, but after talking to his good friend Senator Duane and others that he would vote yes tonight this time. 

   The only Democrat to vote against Bill #1145 was Bronx State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. who is a Pentecostal minister. The four Republicans who voted yes were Senators James Alesi (Rochester), Mark Grisanti (Rochester area), Roy McDonald (Albany area), and Stephen Saland (Poughkeepsie).  

   Statements are coming in from all over such as this one from New York State Democratic Chair Jay Jacobs. "Last nights vote on Marriage Equality was an historic moment for New York State. Now all New Yorkers will be able to marry whomever they choose. I applaud the efforts of both Governor Cuomo and the State Legislature for their commitment to this issue." 

   Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. said that he now has two marriages to look forward to.  One being that of his niece Erica Diaz and the other of his Chief of Staff Paul Del Duca (both openly gay). 

 

MULLER LOCAL REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY PUBLIC HEARING

    The PS 21 auditorium in Wakefield was packed with people who wanted to have their say on the mayor's proposal to put a 200 bed homeless shelter at the Muller Army Reserve Center (MARC). While there was a statement read by  representatives of Deputy Mayor Linda Gibbs and Tokumbo Shobowale Chief of Staff to the Deputy Mayor for Economic Development (the other two Local Redevelopment Agency beside Bronx BP Diaz), everyone wanted to know why the two were not present to hear the public testimony. .  

    Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., Councilman G. Oliver Koppel, Representatives of Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, State Senators Jeff Klein and Gustavo Rivera all gave statements referring to the over saturation of homeless shelters in the area, and the need to have the National Guard from the buildings next to the Kinsbridge Armory be placed into the MARC so that much needed schools could then be built next to the armory. 

    Community Board #12 Chairman Father Richard Gorman thanked BP Diaz for the public hearing, and then went after the reps from the Deputy Mayors for only giving out speaking time to the first 25 people out of the hundreds in the audience who wanted to speak. He added that there is an American flag outside the school and went on to criticize the LRA report for not having any comments from the over 1,000 signatures handed in from the Wakefield Taxpayers Association and others who sent in comments. 

   Father Gorman than stated that the homeless shelter to be run by the DOE Fund was moved by the mayor after the City Council rejected the Related proposal for the Kingsbridge Armory. He said that it was payback to Diaz, and a reward for the Doe Fund for their testimony in the Charter Revision hearings that allowed Mayor Bloomberg to run for a third term. He concluded with "Either you have a bunch of numbskull's or liars working for you, and we should kick your butt out of City Hall". A standing ovation was then given to Father Gorman. 

   Speaker after speaker spoke about how a homeless shelter at the MARC could damage the community from the park across the street, to the girls Catholic school nearby, and even Yonkers City Councilman Dennis Shepherd who represents the ares a few blocks away outside of the city line. There was talk of the three other homeless shelters being built right near (one across the street) the MARC, and the row of bars on McLean Avenue just over the city line in Yonkers. There was not a person who said that this was a good idea, but almost everyone said that the now empty MARC should be used for the purpose it was built, that being to house the national guard. 

 

 

Assemblymember Crespo Co Sponsors Power Plant Siting Legislation Which Ushers in Cleaner, Safer, More affordable Energy, While Creating Good-Paying Jobs

Assemblymember Marcos A. Crespo (D-Bronx) announced that a three-way deal between the Assembly, Senate and governor reforms and renews the state’s Article X power plant siting law, cutting down on harmful emissions, protecting the environment and leading the state into a high-tech, sustainable future (A.8510).

    

“For nearly 10 years, New York’s been without a power plant siting law,” Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said. “This comprehensive measure will get us up to speed with rapidly advancing technology, positioning New York to embrace clean, reliable and affordable energy while attracting high-tech industries and the good-paying jobs that come with them.”

After the previous power plant siting law expired in 2003, the Assembly held strong in its commitment to protect host communities and the surrounding environment from potential harmful effects of new power plants. The latest bill makes those critical accommodations.

“Under previous Governors, power plant developers were allowed to side step regulations and were able to build four power plants within a mile and half of each other in the South Bronx. As a result, many Bronxites have suffered from poor air quality and shameful health disparities for a generation,” said Assemblyman Crespo.

“Under this law, we will ensure that these regulations are not side stepped and that environmental concerns in the immediate community are part of the considerations for any siting approval. I commend Speaker Silver, Chairman Kevin Cahill and organizations such as: Sustainable South Bronx, Mothers on the move, Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice, Nos Quedamos and others for their tireless efforts and advocacy to help us draft and negotiate this legislation,’  Assemblyman Crespo

added.

Under the measure, any proposals for facilities generating at least 25 megawatts – down from the previous law’s 80-megawatt threshold – will necessitate detailed analyses of potential health and environmental impacts, including cumulative impacts of emissions within a half-mile radius of the proposed plant. Newly constructed facilities will have to conform to stringent federal and state emissions regulations, and the bill provides for the fast-tracking of projects that could cut down on existing plants’ pollution.

In addition, any environmental justice concerns will have to be reviewed by a newly created siting board which will provide for representation by local appointees, boosts public participation by improving on the community-outreach process and increasing the amount of intervenor funding from a maximum of $400,000 to $750,000. Funding will be made available during both the pre-application process and the application process in order to facilitate participation by members residing in the community.

On-bill recovery for Green Jobs-Green New York

The legislation also authorizes the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), in conjunction with utilities and LIPA, to establish an on-bill recovery program. The recovery program will allow residential and non-residential customers to repay Green Jobs-Green New York loans, which go toward energy-efficient retrofits, through their utility bills.

“Getting this law on the books is a great victory for New York,”.  “This measure will simultaneously encourage environmental responsibility and create much-needed jobs.”

COUNCILMAN KOPPELL ANNOUNCES FREE SUMMER TENNIS PROGRAM FUNDED BY CITY COUNCIL

Council Member Oliver Koppell announced today that the New York Junior Tennis League (NYJTL), the most acclaimed scholastic tennis program in the United States,

is offering FREE tennis lessons this summer, provided by professional tennis instructors, to beginners and intermediate players 6-18 years of age.  The program will take place on the John F. Kennedy Campus, 99 Terrace View Avenue, Bronx from 9:00 a.m.- 12:00 noon starting on July 5, 2011.  The free tennis program is funded by the City Council. 

 

The program is open to all community residents.  Racquets and balls are supplied at no cost to the participants. Supervised practice, tournaments and contests are also scheduled. Registration is on-going and will take place at the site during program hours. 

 

“As a tennis enthusiast, I would like to encourage young people to take advantage of this opportunity to have fun, make friends and learn a new skill that will provide lifelong enjoyment, ”  Koppell said. 

 

For more information, call the New York Junior Tennis League, (718) 786-7110 or visit www.nyjtl.org.       

Goulden Avenue Construction outside Jerome Park Reservoir to Close Street for Two Months: DEP

Beginning this summer New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will make sizable water main connections under Goulden Avenue across from the Croton Filter Plant Shaft and Meter Chamber at Jerome Park Reservoir, near Bronx High School of Science.  The work is scheduled to begin in early July when regular student classes are in recess, so that noisier construction activities will be completed before schools resume their early September sessions. 

During July and August when a portion of Goulden Avenue between Sedgwick Avenue and 205 Street is closed to motorists, vehicles will detour to Paul Avenue via 205th Street..  205th Street will be open, and Goulden Avenue south of 205^th Street will be open. 

MTA-NYC Transit will detour the BX 10 bus off Goulden Avenue from July 3, 2011 until September 2, 2011. 

Beginning on September 2, DEP will open one northbound and one southbound lane on Goulden Avenue between 205th Street and Sedgwick Avenue.  Through traffic can then use Goulden Avenue for the remainder of this construction.

To develop the traffic plan, DEP worked closely with NYC Department of Transportation’s Borough Commissioner Constance Moran, with DOT’s experienced permitting staff, and with the Croton Facility Monitoring Committee to minimize impacts on the community.  

 

We must add that DEP originally had requested a closure of Goulden Avenue for five months to do this construction work. We maintain that Goulden Avenue needs to be closed only for a few days to install the pipe to the main, and that one northbound lane of Goulden Avenue can (and should) be open at all other times.

NATIONAL REVIEW ONLINE The Corner

If the NY Senate Passes Gay Marriage, It’s Republicans Who Will Take the Heat

By Ruben Diaz & Michael Long

We are two lifelong New Yorkers who do not agree about many things. We are of different races, religions, and political parties. One of us is a Bronx liberal Democrat, the other of us heads the Conservative party.

But we agree on at least three great truths:

First, marriage is and should remain the union of husband and wife. Same-sex marriage is a government takeover of an institution the government did not create and should not redefine.

Second, gay marriage is not inevitable. The mainstream media widely retailed a misconstrued version of Sen. Rev. Diaz’s remarks in Albany this week. We both agree, as Senator Diaz said, that if a gay-marriage bill passes it will be because the GOP caved for no discernible good reason at all.

Third, as practical pols we agree: If gay marriage passes, it is Republicans across the state who will pay the biggest price.

Politics is a team sport. The decision of senate Republicans to take up this bill, and thus help enable Governor Cuomo’s goal to pass gay marriage, will affect the way voters across the state view the Republican party — especially if Republican state senators told voters one thing during the campaign, and now propose to change their votes at Governor Cuomo’s behest.

The National Organization for Marriage released a poll of registered New Yorkers, conducted this past weekend. Fifty-seven percent of New York voters agree that “marriage should only be between a man and a woman” versus 32 percent who disagree. Meanwhile, the new NOM poll shows that only about one in four New York voters (26 percent) prefer legislators in Albany to decide this issue, while 59 percent say the issue of marriage should be decided by the voters in New York.

Other polls with different wordings have produced widely different results — but there is no poll that puts gay marriage high on the priority list of any significant number of voters.  And even those polls most favorable to gay marriage continue to show that solid majorities of Republican voters have not shifted at all in their opposition to gay marriage.

If gay marriage advocates honestly believe they have a super-majority of New Yorkers in their corner, they should join with us to agree to permit a referendum to decide this issue. If they do not, their claims to represent the majority will ring rather hollow.

This gay-marriage bill is not in the best interests of New York, it is not the choice of New Yorkers, and it is decidedly against the interests of the Republican party.

Republicans have conferenced for four days without reaching agreement on what to do about gay marriage in New York. The enormous public outpouring against the bill — Sen. Greg Ball said 60 percent of calls have opposed it in his district — and the hundreds of people who showed up to rally against gay marriage yesterday must have made state senate Republicans aware that they have a real problem on their hands.

The last time the Republican party caved on a deeply important social issue — abortion — it destroyed the party’s prospects for years. And for what? To help Andrew Cuomo run for president? As Brian Brown, president of NOM, quipped:

Selling your principles in order to get elected is wrong, selling your principles to help get the other guy get elected is just plain dumb.

Memo to GOP leadership: Kill this bill, and let the people of New York decide the future of marriage.

— Sen. Rev. Ruben Diaz is a Democratic state senator from the Bronx. Michael Long is the chairman of the Conservative Party of New York State.

http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/270218/if-ny-senate-passes-gay-marriage-its-republicans-who-will-take-heat-ruben-diaz#.TgIBvb3mw8M;facebook

KINGSBRIDGE ARMORY TASK FORCE ISSUES FINAL REPORT

In Brief - here is our summary

   It is recommended that New York City retain ownership of the Kingsbridge Armory.

   There are three models recommended with two other options that would be to costly. All models show various occupation of the three levels of the armory, the basement, the Head House area, and the Drill Floor. The basement area is to have market space or health related facilities. The Head House area is to have classrooms, community area, or retail office space. The Drill Floor area is to be a sports/concert area, or a food processing/catering hall, or a state of the art film production facility. 

   Estimated costs to create each model are listed including the minimum rental income to the break even point. It is also recommended that the Kingsbridge Armory be a mix of both public and private use. The history and size of the armory is listed, and the 267 page report goes into detail about the surrounding area of the armory.

Model #1 calls for a sports, wellness, and entertainment center.

Model #2 calls for Sustainable food industry and market.

Model #3 calls for a film studio with some retail space.  

 

A copy of the complete 267 page (which may take a while to download) report of the Kingsbridge Armory Task Force can be found at: http://bit.ly/kkq85L  

Today, the Kingsbridge Armory Task Force, co-chaired by Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and City Council Member Fernando Cabrera, released its final report. The report documents the work of the Task Force, which was created following its announcement at the borough president’s 2010 “State of the Borough” address.  It includes a number of models for redevelopment that were proposed to the Task Force during the past year-and-a-half, and recommends that the City put forward a new “request for proposals” (RFP) for the armory.

In addition, the final report includes the completed work of New York University’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service’s Capstone Program, which assisted the Task Force in identifying models for the redevelopment of the Kingsbridge Armory. The report includes a complete catalog of the work of the Task Force since it was formed in February 2010, recounting the various meetings the Task Force had with those parties interested in redeveloping the Kingsbridge Armory.

“During the past year, the Kingsbridge Armory Task Force met with dozens of individuals, organizations and businesses that expressed interest and submitted proposals for the redevelopment of the Kingsbridge Armory. I am delighted with the level and variety of response we received,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

Borough President Diaz noted that the mission of the Task Force was not to advocate for any particular redevelopment model for the Kingsbridge Armory, but to identify the range of opportunities for constructive and beneficial re-use of the site. As a result of the strong response, the Task Force is recommending that the Bloomberg administration issue a new RFP for the armory, soliciting proposals that respond to the economic development aspirations of the Bronx as well as the social and employment needs of the surrounding community.

“The work of the Task Force shows just how much interest there is in this historic structure.  It is time for us to move forward to get the job done.  This report proves that we can put together a proposal that not only brings development to the site, but does so in a complementary manner that takes into account the needs of the surrounding community and the Bronx as a whole,” said Borough President Diaz. “Mayor Bloomberg has stated that he is open to every good idea for the Kingsbridge Armory. This report illustrates the wealth of ideas and possibilities available for the Armory. I am ready to work together with the Bloomberg Administration to develop and issue a new RFP for the Kingsbridge Armory, and I hope that they will join us in working for the positive redevelopment of the armory.”

While there were some proposals that suggested purely private sector redevelopment of the Armory would be possible, none of these achieved the goals that the Task Force envisioned for this important site. As a result, the Task Force concluded that some type of public-private partnership would be required for the successful redevelopment of the facility, as has been the case with other armories across the city.

“I would like to thank my co-chair, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., and all the members of the Task Force for their diligent work and contribution to the Kingsbridge Armory Task Force Report. This Task Force saw stakeholders from the community, government, public, and private sector contribute to the dialogue around the armory and this report represents an important initial step as we begin the process of developing the Kingsbridge Armory into an important community asset,” said City Council Member Fernando Cabrera, co-chair of the Kingsbridge Armory Task Force.

"We know that the Kingsbridge Armory has the potential to revitalize not only the Kingsbridge community or the 33^rd Senate District, but to create jobs and jumpstart the economy of the whole borough of the Bronx. I want to thank Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. for recognizing the potential for greatness we have in the Kingsbridge Armory and for his leadership on putting together a thoughtful report on how we as a community should move forward on breathing new life into the Kingsbridge Armory,” said State Senator Gustavo Rivera.

“Opening up the discussion of the Armory’s future has allowed stakeholders to better understand the challenges and opportunities associated with its redevelopment. We have built a foundation for the collaborative effort that is needed to turn this vacant property into a community asset,” said Kathryn Wylde, President & CEO of the Partnership for New York City.

“The Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation’s participation in this Task Force was time well spent.  We were able to see for ourselves the large number of private as well as nonprofit entities interested in participating in the Kingsbridge Armory’s redevelopment,” said Marlene Cintron, president of the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation.

“On behalf of the Building and Construction Trades Council let me first thank the Borough President and the members of the Task Force for their hard work and the seriousness with which this issue was addressed. We look forward to a successful conclusion to the RFP process so that our members can get to work building a world class facility within the Kingsbridge Armory that will benefit all stakeholders in this project,” said Jack Kittle, political director of District Council 9.

"The take away from the Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment Alliance's (KARA) work with the Task Force is the armory is screaming for redevelopment as a community serving multi-use facility.  KARA  has included a model in the report which builds upon what Capstone submitted and shows how the that armory can be kept in public hands, financed through a public-private partnership, and be a ground breaking resource for our community-creating good jobs, training programs, cultural and athletic opportunities, and space for small businesses to thrive,” said Desiree Pilgrim-Hunter, President of the Northwest Bronx Community & Clergy Coalition.

"I am proud to have served on this Task Force with a leader like Ruben Diaz Jr who sees the potential of the Bronx based on its considerable assets, and not a just as a victim of its unfortunate past.   Our Kingsbridge Armory work is just one of what I hope to be many more examples, that value our urban density and diverse economic network in ways that can help the Bronx to grow into something greater - and not continue to mire the Bronx in the shockingly low expectations of past and present leaders - both inside and outside of the Bronx," said Majora Carter, President of the Majora Group.

Co-chaired by Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and City Council Member Fernando Cabrera, the Kingsbridge Armory Task Force was made up of Majora Carter, environmental consultant; Marlene Cintron, president of the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation; Paul Foster, chairman of Bronx Community Board #7; Jack Kittle, political director of District Council 9; Steven McInnis, political director for the New York City District Council of Carpenters; Desiree Pilgrim-Hunter, a board member of the Northwest Bronx Community & Clergy Coalition; Ned Regan, former state comptroller; Gustavo Rivera, State Senator; Jack Rosen, Chief Executive of Rosen Partners LLC; Steven M. Safyer, MD, President and CEO of Montefiore Medical Center, and Kathryn Wylde, President & CEO of the Partnership for New York City.

 

 

SENATOR RIVERA PASSES HIS FIRST BILL AS STATE SENATOR

S. 5734A CHARITABLE BAIL ORGANIZATION LEGISLATION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY

Senator Gustavo Rivera (Bronx) passed legislation today in the New York State that will allow charitable organizations to post bail. This legislation he introduced was inspired by a pilot program that set out to find a solution for individuals who cannot afford to post bail and has proved successful in Bronx county.

“Thousands of New Yorkers are held in jail each year because they simply cannot afford to post a few hundred dollars bail,” said Senator Rivera. “Every day, people plead guilty to crimes, regardless of guilt, because they can’t afford bail and just want to return home to their families and avoid time spent in jail. For individuals like the residents of the 33^rd Senate District that I represent, even just a few days of incarceration can have devastating consequences: job loss, eviction, and for non-citizens, deportation.”   

"For far too long, the poorest of the poor have been held in jail without a conviction for any crime because they couldn't afford even small amounts of bail,” said David Feige of the Bronx Freedom Fund. “Allowing charitable organizations like the Bronx Freedom Fund to post that bail is a giant step towards evening the scales and recognizing that pretrial justice shouldn't be about the size of your wallet."

"We thank and congratulate Senator Rivera for his tremendous leadership on legislation whose positive impact will be felt not only by thousands of Bronx residents but throughout New York State,” said Robin Steinberg, Executive Director, The Bronx Defenders.

S. 5734A is based on a pilot project in the Bronx where a fund called the Bronx Freedom Fund was created to allow charitable organizations to post small amount of bail for individuals who could not afford it.  The result was that 95% of people bailed out returned to every court date, and 50% of clients had their cases dismissed or had cases not result in criminal convictions.  This legislation was also passed in the Assembly, where it was brought to the floor by Assembly Member Jeff Aubry (Queens )passed A. 8158 in the State Assembly by 145 to 0.

***STATEMENT***  ON  CITYTIME

In response to questions about today’s additional criminal charges relating to CityTime, New York City Comptroller John C. Liu issued the following statement:

“Today’s announcement unfortunately sheds more light on just how flawed the management of the CityTime project was,�  said Comptroller John C. Liu. “According to the indictment ‘virtually the entirety of the more than $600 million that was paid to SAIC was tainted directly or indirectly, by fraud.’ New Yorker’s can hope that this will eventually lead to restitution for the hundreds of millions of dollars paid on an out-of-control project, years overdue and, ten-fold over budget.

Comptroller John C. Liu’s Record on CityTime

Jan. 1, 2010 Comptroller John C. Liu takes office, and makes the elimination of fraud, waste and abuse his top priority.                                                                                                                          Feb. 9, 2010 Rejected additional contract related to CityTime.
Feb. 25, 2010 Initiates audit of CityTime Project Oversight.
Mar. 3, 2010 Liu calls on Mayor to freeze all payments associated with CityTime; appoints new representative from the Comptroller’s Office to OPA.
Sept. 28, 2010 Liu and Mayor Bloomberg announce agreement to finish installation of CityTime at no additional cost.