New York City Summer Youth Employment Program

This comes from The New York City Department of Youth & Community Development.

Do you know a New York City youth between the ages of 14 and 24 who is looking for a job this summer?

The New York City Summer Youth Employment Program ( SYEP ) application is now available!  For more information about the program and to apply online, please visit www.nyc.gov/dycd.  Youth may also download and print an application from the website and return their completed application to an authorized SYEP provider. 

The deadline to apply is Friday, May 10, 2013.

Visit www.nyc.gov/dycd , call 311, or 1(800) 246-4646 for more information. 

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LIU, LAW DEPT. ANNOUNCE MAJOR SHAREOWNER SUIT AGAINST BRITISH PETROLEUM

    City Comptroller John C. Liu and the New York City Law Department today announced that the New York City Pension Funds have filed a lawsuit against British Petroleum (NYSE: BP) seeking to recover investment losses caused by BP’s fraudulent statements issued prior to, and after, the April 20, 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster.

“BP failed to disclose to shareowners the serious risks involved in its offshore drilling operation,” Comptroller Liu said. “After the spill began, it misleadingly attempted to minimize the extent of the damage and the cost to shareowners.”

“In light of the Supreme Court’s ruling in Morrison v. National Australia Bank, Ltd., the City Pension Funds are barred from seeking recovery from BP under federal securities laws for the vast majority of its losses,” noted Inga Van Eysden, Chief of the New York City Law Department’s Pensions Division.  “We strongly believe the Funds deserve to be compensated for BP’s fraudulent actions and are therefore pursuing this case.”

The New York City Pension Funds’ complaint, filed in the Southern District of New York, alleges that BP and its officers and directors failed to disclose the material facts regarding the dangers inherent in the offshore drilling operation, the extent of the leak, and the estimated cost of the cleanup.

The estimated transactional investment losses to City pension beneficiaries caused by BP’s misconduct and fraudulent behavior exceed $39 million.

Background

On April 20, 2010, BP’s Deepwater Horizon rig began leaking oil into the Gulf of Mexico. At first, BP officials said the rig was leaking a few thousand gallons a day. Weeks later, it acknowledged that over 206 million gallons of oil had poured into the Gulf.

A class action suit against BP was filed that year under federal securities law in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas.  However, in a decision dated February 13, 2012, relying on the Supreme Court’s holding in Morrison v. National Australia Bank, Ltd., 130 S.Ct. 2869 (2010), the Texas court dismissed all claims relating to BP shares purchased on the London Stock Exchange.  As a result, that litigation provides no recourse for recovering the majority of the City Pension Funds’ losses on ordinary shares that were purchased abroad.  The current lawsuit primarily focuses on state law claims in an effort to recover those losses.

New York City’s legal team includes Valerie Budzik and Richard Simon of the Comptroller’s General Counsel’s Office, and Inga Van Eysden and Keith Snow of the New York City Law Department’s Pensions Division.  The City Pension Funds are represented by outside counsel Pomerantz Grossman Hufford Dahlstrom & Gross LLP, whose legal team includes Marc Gross, Jason Cowart, and Matthew Tuccillo.

The New York City Law Department is one of the oldest, largest, and most dynamic law offices in the world, ranking among the largest law offices in New York City and one of the largest public law offices in the country. Tracing its roots back to the 1600s, the Department has an active caseload of 80,000 matters and transactions in 17 legal divisions.

The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, San Diego, and Weston, Florida is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust litigation, and was a pioneer in the field of securities class actions.

New York City Comptroller John C. Liu serves as the investment advisor to, custodian, and trustee of the New York City Pension Funds. The New York City Pension Funds are composed of the New York City Employees’ Retirement System, Teachers’ Retirement System, New York City Police Pension Fund, New York City Fire Department Pension Fund, and the Board of Education Retirement System.  The New York City Pension Funds held a combined 2,822,840 shares in British Petroleum valued at $19,301,743.45 as of April 15, 2013.

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Wave Hill Events May 10–May 17

 

  We’re reveling in this year’s late spring season―forsythia are just now peaking and tulips are still providing a bright splash of color―and so, I imagine, are the praying mantis that came to life in the Potting Shed yesterday. Enjoy the attached portrait.

In fact, spring has been so intoxicating that it’s easy to lose sight of Mother’s Day, fast approaching. Walks and a special Family Art Project provide the perfect context for appreciating Mom! I hear that The Shop at Wave Hill has in-store events, one on Saturday, May 11, with local jeweler Erika Rosenbaum and her unquie, handmade designs, and the other on Sunday, May 12, with Matthew Shapoff, who creates one-of-a-kind Cyanotype prints.

FRI, MAY 10    ORNAMENTAL HERBS WALK 

At Wave Hill, our gardeners mix garden-worthy herbs in beds with more traditional perennials. Enjoy a leisurely stroll through the Herb Garden and beyond to admire familiar and unfamiliar herbs in surprising garden combinations. Free with admission to the grounds.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, NOON

FRI, MAY 10    MARVELOUS MINTS COOKING DEMONSTRATION

Mint, rosemary, sage and many other herbs are members of the diverse mint family, Lamiaceae. Join Horticultural Interpreter Charles Day as he explains the essentials of growing these aromatic herbs, while a chef from Great Performances shares scrumptious seasonal recipes. Free with admission to the grounds.

ON THE GROUNDS, 2PM

SAT, MAY 11    FAMILY ART PROJECT—SACHETS AND FLORAL FANTASY FOR MOM

Sachets and Floral Fantasy for Mom/Fantasía floral para mama

Honor Mom with paper flowers and unique floral gifts, including fragrant sachets filled with lavender, tied with ribbon and bows and decorated with buds and other natural material. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon.

ECOLOGY BUILDING, 10AM‒1PM

SAT, MAY 11    TAI CHI CHUAN

Quiet like a mountain, moving like a river, Tai Chi is a sequence of gentle movements based on images found in nature. In this beginner-level class, Irving Yee, an active member of the William CC Chen Tai Chi School, will introduce students to the internal martial arts and promote an awareness of their health benefits. Sessions are held outdoors only and are weather dependent. Call 718.549.3200 x245 by 8AM on the day of the class for program updates. Session fee: Member $15/Non-member $23. Registration opens onsite at 9:30AM.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 10‒11AM

SAT, MAY 11    BEEKEEPING: SPRING HIVE INSPECTION

Don hat, veil and gloves—bring your own or borrow ours—and join urban beekeeper Sara Katz and Horticultural Interpreter Charles Day for a hands-on look at the Wave Hill hives. Learn proper techniques to safely work with a hive filled with 50,000 honeybees. Beginning and experienced beekeepers welcome.

$20 Member/$30 Non-Member. Registration required, online at www.wavehill.org, by calling 718.549.3200 x305 or at the Perkins Visitor Center.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 11AM

SAT, MAY 11    GALLERY TOUR

Join a curatorial fellow for a tour of Wave Hill’s spring exhibition, Drawn to Nature, which features the work of seven artists who use drawing to convey a deep connection to the natural world. In the Sunroom Project Space, Lynn Koble’s multimedia sculptural installation visualizes a partly scientific, partly whimsical plant classification. Tours take place Tuesdays and Saturdays at 2PM. Free with admission to the grounds.

GLYNDOR GALLERY, 2PM

SUN, MAY 12    BIRDING AT WAVE HILL

Expert birder, naturalist and educator Gabriel Willow leads these regular Sunday walks. Registration recommended, online at www.wavehill.org, by calling 718.549.3200 x305 or at the Perkins Visitor Center. Space is limited. Ages 10 and older welcome with an adult. Free with mission to the grounds. NYC Audubon Members enjoy two-for-one admission. 

MEET THE PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 9:30AM

SUN, MAY 12    FAMILY ART PROJECT—SACHETS AND FLORAL FANTASY FOR MOM

Sachets and Floral Fantasy for Mom/Fantasía floral para mama

Honor Mom with paper flowers and unique floral gifts, including fragrant sachets filled with lavender, tied with ribbon and bows and decorated with buds and other natural material. Free with admission to the grounds.

ECOLOGY BUILDING, 10AM‒1PM

SUN, MAY 12    HATHA YOGA

Find refuge from city life by practicing seasonal yoga. Decrease stress and increase your energy by focusing on your posture, breath control and meditation. Classes are led by Neem Dewji, certified in Hatha and Therapeutic Yoga by The Yoga for Health Foundation in Bedfordshire, England, and The Integral Yoga Institute in NYC. All levels welcome. Sessions are held outdoors only and are weather dependent. Call 718.549.3200 x245 by 8AM on the day of the class for program updates. Session fee: Member $15/Non-member $23. Registration opens onsite at 9:30AM.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 10‒11:15AM

SUN, MAY 12    GARDEN HIGHLIGHTS WALK

Join us for an hour-long tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free with admission to the grounds.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 2PM

MON, MAY 13

Closed to the public.

TUE, MAY 14    GARDEN HIGHLIGHTS WALK

Join us for an hour-long tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 11AM

TUE, MAY 14    GALLERY TOUR

Join a curatorial fellow for a tour of Wave Hill’s spring exhibition, Drawn to Nature, which features the work of seven artists who use drawing to convey a deep connection to the natural world. In the Sunroom Project Space, Lynn Koble’s multimedia sculptural installation visualizes a partly scientific, partly whimsical plant classification. Tours take place Tuesdays and Saturdays at 2PM. Free with admission to the grounds.

GLYNDOR GALLERY, 2PM

A 28-acre public garden and cultural center overlooking the Hudson River  and Palisades, Wave Hill’s mission is to celebrate the artistry and legacy of its gardens and landscape, to preserve its magnificent views, and to explore human connections to the natural world through programs in horticulture, education and the arts.

HOURS  Open all year, Tuesday through Sunday and many major holidays: 9AM—5:30PM. Closes 4:30PM, November 1—March 14.  

ADMISSION  $8 adults, $4 students and seniors 65+, $2 children 6—18. Free Saturday mornings until noon. Free until noon Tuesdays in  May. Free to Wave Hill Members and children under 6.

PROGRAM FEES  Program s are free with admission to the grounds unless otherwise noted.

Visitors to Wave Hill can take advantage of Metro-North’s one-day getaway offer. Purchase a discount round-trip rail far and discount admission to the gardens. More at http://mta.info/mnr/html/getaways/outbound_wavehill.htm

DIRECTIONS – Getting here is easy! Located only 3o minutes from midtown Manhattan, Wave Hill’s free shuttle van transports you to and from our front gate and Metro-North’s Riverdale station, as well as the 242^nd Street stop on the #1 subway line. Limited onsite parking is available for $8 per vehicle. Free offsite parking is available nearby with continuous, complimentary shuttle service to and from the offsite lot and our front gate. Complete directions and shuttle bus schedule at www.wavehill.org/visit/.

Information at 718.549.3200. On the web at www.wavehill.org.

 

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Kingsbridge Heights Community Center Neighborhood Festival!

Sign up to volunteer at our annual Neighborhood  Festival this Saturday, April 27th! Email us at volunteer@khcc-nyc.org.

Activities include:  Bouncy Castle - Face Painting - Photo Booth - Family Fitness Gardening - Music  & Performances - Games - Multicultural Cuisine - Theatrical Performances - Magic Show - Bollywood Dancing - Capoeira - Planting a Vegetable Garden - Painting a Mural & much more!         Kingsbridge Heights Community Center was founded in 1974 by three women community activists. Today, KHCC offers programs and services for all ages, guided by the Settlement House model of community development and involvement.       *****************************************

MAYOR BLOOMBERG ANNOUNCES PLANS TO TRANSFORM KINGSBRIDGE ARMORY INTO WORLD’S LARGEST INDOOR ICE FACILITY

Kingsbridge National Ice Center Will Feature Nine Year-Round Indoor Ice Rinks, Including a 5,000-Seat Feature Rink for Major Ice Hockey and Skating Events

KNIC Partners LLC Will Invest $275 Million to Redevelop the Vacant Building, Creating More Than 260 Permanent Jobs and 890 Construction Jobs

            Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today announced plans to transform the iconic Kingsbridge Armory in the Bronx – vacant since 1996 – into the world’s largest indoor ice facility. The landmark armory, which occupies a full City block at 29 West Kingsbridge Road, will be redeveloped into a 750,000-square-foot ice sports facility to be known as Kingsbridge National Ice Center (KNIC). KNIC will feature nine year-round indoor regulation size ice rinks, including a feature rink that can seat approximately 5,000 people and be used to host national and international ice hockey tournaments, figure and speed skating competitions and ice shows. The project will also include 50,000 square feet of space designated for community uses. It is expected that KNIC will draw more than 2 million visitors a year, vastly increasing the options of ice facilities in New York City, where there are currently only seven year-round ice rinks, none of which are located in the Bronx. The project represents a private investment of $275 million, which will generate 890 construction jobs and 267 permanent jobs. Mayor Bloomberg made the announcement at the Kingsbridge Armory and was joined by KNIC Partners LLC Founder Kevin Parker, New York Rangers hockey legend Mark Messier, Olympic Figure Skating Gold Medalist Sarah Hughes, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., City Council Member Cabrera and New York City Economic Development Corporation President Seth W. Pinsky.

           

            “Through this redevelopment the Kingsbridge Armory will now have an interior program befitting its iconic exterior architecture,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “The construction of the world’s largest indoor ice rink facility will create recreational opportunities for millions of visitors and local residents, and most importantly create hundreds of jobs for the local community. This plan is proof that working together we can put aside our differences and do what’s best for the city" Bloomberg and Bronx BP Ruben Diaz Jr. said.

“This historic announcement represents a great achievement for the Bronx and the entire City,” said New York City Economic Development Corporation President Seth W. Pinsky. “The Bloomberg Administration has long been committed to revitalizing the Bronx, and this $275 million private investment is another step forward, bringing a landmark building back to life with the largest ice sports facility in the world, while creating nearly 1,200 permanent and construction jobs that will contribute the area’s long-term economic growth.”

            “Today marks the beginning of a new chapter for the historic Kingsbridge Armory,” said Kevin Parker, founder of KNIC Partners. “I thank Mayor Bloomberg and the New York City Economic Development Corporation for this tremendous honor and for believing in our vision, and look forward to working with the community throughout this process to ensure the Armory’s future is as incredible as its past. This project is about opportunity, first and foremost, and we are confident the Kingsbridge National Ice Center will become a source of pride for the Bronx and all of New York City for generations to come.”

            “This is a fantastic project, one that will bring living wage jobs and new recreation opportunities to the northwest Bronx while completely transforming a long-vacant space into a new amenity that will complement the surrounding community,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. “This project shows the tremendous opportunity the Bronx has to offer, and I am proud to have helped move the redevelopment of the Kingsbridge Armory forward.”

“Today we are one step closer to transforming the Kingsbridge Armory into an important economic engine for the surrounding Kingsbridge community and the Bronx as a whole,” said State Senator Gustavo Rivera. “I am incredibly pleased that we were able to reach an agreement with the Kingsbridge National Ice Center that addresses the needs of the community I serve.”

            “I commend Mayor Bloomberg for his leadership in reaching this decision,” said New York Rangers legend and NHL Hall of Famer Mark Messier. “As a hockey player, I believe the Kingsbridge National Ice Center will change the sport in the metropolitan area. As a New Yorker, I know it will also change this city, providing invaluable educational and athletic opportunity to thousands of young people, and transforming the Bronx into the new center of ice sports in the United States.”

            “Today is a day for New York City to celebrate,” said Olympic Champion figure skater Sarah Hughes. “The Kingsbridge National Ice Center – and the educational and fitness initiatives it will create – represents new possibilities for so many children, including those who dream of one day becoming Olympic champions. This is the start of something incredible for the Bronx and I am proud to be part of it.”

Of the nine ice rinks, five will be located on the main floor and four will be constructed on two platforms elevated approximately 40 feet above the main floor. At least two rinks at KNIC will be sled hockey-compatible for people with disabilities. The facility is expected to be open 365 days a year. In addition to the ice rinks, the facility will feature: a wellness center, with off-ice training fitness, rehabilitation and sports therapy programs; dressing rooms and lockers with storage for individual hockey equipment; concession space; retail space for ice sport goods; and parking for approximately 480 cars. Renderings are available at www.flickr.com/nycmayorsoffice.

KNIC also plans to create a foundation to establish free after-school ice sports and academic tutoring programs for disadvantaged youth. The program will be modeled after the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation in Philadelphia with the goal of providing 12 hours of ice time each weekday during the school year and 9 hours each weekday during summer.

The project will now begin a comprehensive public and environmental review with an anticipated groundbreaking in late 2014. The entire project will be built in two phases, with the first phase, consisting of five ice rinks, 50,000 square feet community space, concessions and parking, expected to be complete by September 2018. The remainder of the project will be built in the second phase which is expected to open by September 2019.

KNIC Partners LLC was selected through a competitive public process that began with the issuance of an RFP by NYCEDC in January 2012, and will now enter into a 99-year lease for the property. The RFP sought a redevelopment plan that would promote economic growth in Kingsbridge and surrounding neighborhoods, provide quality jobs for local residents, and create an exciting destination for people throughout the Bronx and the City.

Built between 1912 and 1917, the Kingsbridge Armory was designed by the architecture firm of Pilcher and Tachau and is an outstanding example of military architecture featuring Romanesque arches, vaulted ceilings, decorative brick and terra cotta, and large battlement towers. Thought to be the largest armory in the world, Kingsbridge Armory is an approximately 575,000 square foot land marked building. The 180,000 square foot main drill floor measures 300 feet by 600 feet – more than a full New York City block – and is spanned freely by pairs of vaulted steel trusses that rise 110 feet above the drill hall floor. Beneath the drill floor, a 105,000 square foot basement level and a 207,000 square foot sub-basement formerly housed offices, a garage, rifle and pistol ranges, a dining room, a gymnasium, and an auditorium.  In addition, on the Armory’s south facade is a 35,000 square foot head-house, the central feature of which is a double-height entrance foyer with a vaulted ceiling. The Armory has not been used for military purposes since 1993. The City has invested about $30 million in capital funds for environmental cleanup in the building, replacement of its roof and repairs to the facade.

Left - Mayor Bloomberg at the mike announcing the plan to house the Kingsbridge National Ice Center at the Kingsbridge Armory. L - R are Mr. Kevin Parker of KNIC, Bronx BP Ruben Diaz Jr., CB 7 chair Paul Foster, Councilman Fernando Cabrera, Gold Medalist skater Sarah Hughes, NYCEDC President Seth Pinsky.

Right - Bronx BP Ruben Diaz Jr. at the mike.

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What You Should Know

By Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz
32nd Senatorial District, Bronx County, New York

HISTORY ALWAYS REPEATS ITSELF

You should know that a lot of people have been calling me and asking me about the endorsement by Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda to Mayoral Candidate Bill de Blasio. They are also asking me if my relationship with Luis Sepulveda has gone sour.

 

As you know, Luis Sepulveda was my protégé and when the Bronx Democratic Chairman and Committee did not want to endorse him, I was there to support, pressure and fight for their support. I was the only elected official, that four years ago, came out in support of Luis Sepulveda against an 18-year incumbent leader, Peter Rivera. That election was lost by almost 400 votes, but it was a stepping-stone for Luis Sepulveda to regroup and continue to fight and making Assemblyman Peter Rivera to resign and become New York State Commissioner of Labor and open the opportunity for Luis Sepulveda to be who he is today, a New York State Assemblyman for the 87th District in the Bronx.

 

Now, Luis Sepulveda has gone on his own and has supported Bill de Blasio for Mayor against my candidate, Rev. Erick Salgado.

 

All of my friends, all of my colleagues, and everyone in the media know that I am supporting a candidate whose name is Rev. Erick Salgado who announced his candidacy for Mayor earlier this month. Rev. Erick Salgado is a conservative Democrat and a businessman who is ready and willing to unite with all New Yorkers to fix our broken city.  He is the only Hispanic running in the Mayoral Democratic Primary.

   

My candidate, Rev. Erick Salgado and I know that at this moment, he is at the bottom rung and has only one way to go - up - and he will!

 

We all saw how Christine Quinn's poll numbers took a real hit after Senator Gustavo Rivera endorsed her for Mayor.  Before his endorsement, Christine Quinn had the support of 37 percent of those polled. She was so close to that coveted 40 percent mark. After Senator Gustavo Rivera's endorsement, she's down to 26 percent.

 

My advise to my dear friend Luis Sepulveda is to work very hard, especially in the Hispanic community, to be sure that Bill DeBlasio's poll numbers, which even last week were said to be sluggish, don't come down because as a Hispanic, I could imagine that Bill de Blasio is expecting him to deliver the Hispanic vote. One way to prove real leadership is when you and your followers endorse a candidate and after doing so, the poll number rise.  When you endorse a candidate and your candidate gets pummeled, you will lose credibility.

 

And to those that are questioning why this is happening, I must say that this is America where people can decide what is best for them. I should remind them, that this is not the first time and it will not be the last time that people come to our churches, meet our ministers, kiss our babies, tell us to pray for them, ask for our support and once elected, they vanish. We shall continue our struggle because some of us are in this business because of conviction and others only seek convenience.

 

This is Senator Rev. Ruben Diaz and this is what you should know.

 

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What You Should Know

By Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz
32nd Senatorial District, Bronx County, New York

TO FRACK OR NOT TO FRACK?
HAPPY EARTH DAY TO YOU!

   You should know that hydraulic fracturing, better known as fracking, is a process used to extract natural gas from underground shale formations.  It involves drilling thousands of feet below the earth's surface and pumping chemicals, sand and millions of gallons of water at high pressure into a well. When the shale shatters, the gas rises up into the well. There are currently 30 states in the United States where hydraulic fracturing is used.

You should also know that the Marcellus Shale formation stretches from the western part of New York State to Pennsylvania, and is a tremendous resource for natural gas.  There are many pros and cons about fracking this region of New York State, and I'd like to share some of them, today.

The pros of fracking include New Yorkers no longer having to be held hostage to and relying upon oil from the Middle East. Marcellus Shale is believed to be the largest known deposit of shale gas in the United States America.  Fracking in New York would bring natural gas - cheap energy  - to the market. New Yorkers could finally be energy independent.

Natural gas produced by fracking is a cleaner energy source - much cleaner than coal mining. If gas displaces coal, then fracking will be good for the global environment.

Jobs would be created and provide help for New York's economically depressed areas. Between 2009 and 2011 there were 72,000 shale jobs created in Pennsylvania.

The cons of fracking include serious concerns about the environmental impact in New York. These include how drilling and extraction will affect the air and water quality, truck traffic, and industrial accidents.

We have all heard the voices of high-profile celebrities who oppose fracking while claiming to be environmentalists, saying that we need to do more with less. If we take a closer look at some of these outspoken actors and artists, some who are quite wealthy and never have less, I have to wonder if they are just trying to ban progress.

You should know that while I support efforts in New York State to utilize solar, wind, and tidal resources, and while I share the concerns of those who oppose hydrofracking in New York, I strongly believe that if we make sure that our environmental regulations are prepared for the hydrofracking industry, and if we can control the air and water impact of fracking, it will be fine.

If it is safe, let's do it!

This is Senator Reverend Rubén Díaz and this is what you should know. 

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Committee For Effective Leadership Luncheon

   The Committee for Effective Leadership lead by Honorary Chair people Assemblyman Michael Benedetto, Assemblyman & Bronx Democratic County Leader Carl Heastie, Councilwoman Annabel Palma, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., and Councilman James Vacca held a luncheon Sunday afternoon to honor people for their exemplary leadership and service to their respective communities and to New York City. The honorees were 80th A.D. Male District Leader Kenneth Agosto, Executive Director of the Center for Community Change Deepak Bhargava, Director, & Senior Adviser on Disability and Access to the Democratic National Committee Becky Ogle. and 82nd A.D. State Committee person Naita Semaj. 

 

   The event was opened by Bronx Democratic County Adviser Patrick Jenkins who introduced 82nd A.D. State Committeeman Lewis Goldstein. Mr. Goldstein gave a brief speech about the honorees and brought up Congressman Eliot Engel. Congressman Engel said that he had to catch a plane to head back to Washington, spoke of the good work of the honorees, and did not miss any chance of slamming his Republican counterparts in Congress. Mr. Goldstein also introduced the Keynote speaker President of the NYS AFL/CIO  Mario Cilento. Mr. Cilento spoke of the gains and struggles of the labor movement in the past and now. He mentioned that some members of the legislature want to cut back on some of the gains that workers have made. He also wished the honorees all the best for the causes that they promote. 

Left - Mayoral candidates Bill Thompson and John Liu were in attendance.

Right - Congressman Engel thanks Mr. Lewis Goldstein for his hard work as BDCC advisor Patrick Jenkins looks on.

A group photo of the elected officials and honorees. 

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Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda Endorses Bill DeBlasio for Mayor

   Parkchester Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda and about 100 of the assemblyman's supporters came out today at the Metropolitan Oval to watch and cheer on Sepulveda's endorsement of current Public Advocate Bill BeBlasio for mayor in the upcoming Democratic primary. Assemblyman Sepulveda welcomed everyone by saying this year a new mayor will be elected. Parkchester is a microcosm of New York City made up of a lot of different people. Like New York City Parkchester has similar problems that have not been paid attention to. After careful talks with the candidates, community leaders, and his advisers he has chosen to endorse Bill DeBlasio for mayor in the Democratic primary. 

   Deblasio thanked Assemblyman Sepulveda for his choice of who to support in the mayors race, and Luis has done a great job for the community as an assemblyman and even before he was elected. Deblasio said that there needs to be a lot changed in the city starting off with a new Police commissioner, and that policing can be done that is more community friendly than it is now. Deblasio said that there are two New York City's. One where the rich get richer, and one where the poor get poorer. He added that the income disparity is now as great as it was in 1929 the year of the great depression. 

   DeBlasio went on to blast City Council Speaker (and opponent for mayor) Christine Quinn for holding up legislation in the council, sometimes for three years that was favorable to poor working New Yorkers. DeBlasio wants to tax the wealthiest New Yorkers to pay for full day Pre-K, and after school programs for middle school students. He said that Mayor Bloomberg is trying to close to many schools without helping said schools when they get into academic trouble. He added that he is in favor of an Inspector General to oversee the Police Department, and said "Yes you can have safety and respect also". 

   Deblasio closed by saying that Speaker Quinn wants to continue the Bloomberg Administration's policies that he wants to change. 

Left - Before the endorsement Public Advocate Bill DeBlasio, poses with Assemblyman Sepulveda. Deblasio's wife Charlene is between the two men.

Right - Deblasio shakes hands with some Parkchester residents.

Left - Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda tells why he is endorsing Bill DeBlasio for mayor in the upcoming Democratic primary. Sepulveda's wife Elizabeth stands to his right.

Right - Bill DeBlasio thanks Assemblyman Sepulveda for his endorsement, with DeBlasio's wife Charline on his left.

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