Saturday, August 9, 2014
Friday, August 8, 2014
PSC Report on Time Warner - Comcast Merger
In case you were wondering what happened to the proposed Time-Warner and Comcast cable merger you are going to have to wait until the Public Service Commission makes its final decision some time in October. The PSC had their staff do a report on the proposed merger which found no net positive benefit. The 49 page report was which was released Friday evening while saying there is no positive benefit does not as far as to recommend that the proposal be scraped.
The entire 49 page PSC report can be found here.
COUNCIL MEMBER KING and WIFE GIVE FROM THEIR POCKETS TO 7 LOCAL GROUPS
Seven local Bronx groups received monetary donations from Council Member King and his wife, Neva Shillingford-King, an executive vice president at 1199 SEIU, as a part of District 12 Community Award Day.
Said Council Member King, who does not receive an annual taxpayer-funded bonus, known as “lulu” from the City Council, “Every year, people come to my office to ask for donations for events in the way of journal ads, dinners, tickets and block parties. My wife and I decided to give a portion of our own personal income to seven charitable groups – once a year.”
The organizations that were randomly selected to receive a personal check from the Kings are:
• Beulah Church of God
• Mickle Avenue Block Association
• 47th Precinct Community Council
• New Testament Church of God
• C-BALL - Community Board Athletic Leadership League
• Wake-Eden Community Baptist Church
• Arnow-Barnes Block Association
The checks were given to the groups at Council Member King’s district office on East Gun Hill Road, Bronx.
Bronx Parks Community News
BRONX PARKS COMMUNITY NEWS
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**NEW ** Farmer’s Market at St Mary’s Park It’s My Park
Harvest Home Farmer’s Market brings fresh locally grown produce to St Mary’s Park. Farmers from Rancho La Baranja & Fresh Radish Farms both located in Goshen, NY, bring their freshly harvested seasonal produce every Thursday through Nov 20.
Food stamps are accepted. Ask about Health Bucks - $2 coupon for every $5 spent.
Forestry Dept Service Requests
Please Take Note:
Parks Forestry Department is having difficulty with 311 service requests that are made through the 311 mobile app. Instead, individuals should enter their complaints at the parks website (www.nyc.gov/parks). Once there, click on the “Trees” tab and the link to submit a service request.
It’s My Park Day… Accepting Project Leader applications! Applications due September 1, 2014 for October events. See Project Leader Application attached.
Partnerships for Parks is approaching the Fall It's My Park Day (IMPD)2014 season! Each year, our IMPD program supports over 300 community-led service projects and fun events in neighborhood parks from May through October. Special thanks to TD Bank for their continued sponsorship of IMPD.
Contact your Outreach Coordinator to hold an IMP event, and start planning your Clean Up events with neighbors and friends: Bronx Community Boards 1-6: Barbara (Basia) NikonorowBarbara.Nikonorow@parks.nyc.
Bronx Community Boards 7-12:
TEMPORARILY Please contact Mary Price Mary.Price@parks.nyc.gov
FREE Green Generations monthly nature workshop for kids at St. Mary’s Park Sat Aug 9 10AM-12PM. “Trees, Leaves, and Me!” For kids ages 8-12 years
Children learn how to identify trees by exploring their leaves and understand the significance trees contribute to biodiversity.
The workshops are held at St. Mary’s Park and drop-off/pick-up will be in front of the St Mary’s Recreation Center entrance. Workshops are held rain or shine.
Free but Register here: http://greengenerations.org/
Saturday Sept 20th: R is for Rocks!
St. Mary’s Park is home to a diverse variety of rocks and many of them have been here for centuries. Children will learn about the history of the earth beneath them.
St. Mary’s Park is home to a diverse variety of rocks and many of them have been here for centuries. Children will learn about the history of the earth beneath them.
Saturday Oct 11th: Autumn Exploration
Fall is a beautiful time for harvesting, expressing gratitude, and learning about the change of seasons. Children will explore the fall foliage and decorate their own pumpkins to take home.
Fall is a beautiful time for harvesting, expressing gratitude, and learning about the change of seasons. Children will explore the fall foliage and decorate their own pumpkins to take home.
JUNIOR TENNIS LEAGUE IN THE BRONX
FREE Summer Tennis Classes in the Bronx!
Learn more here: http://www.nyjtl.org/files/
Questions? Contact: Scott Daly TC@nyjtl.org
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Sunday Aug 24 – 1PM & 2PM Puppet Shows
FREE 2 City Parks Foundation Puppet Shows at St Mary’Park
Bronx parks news digest:
Try Pole Vaulting at Soundview Park's New $6M Track; DNAinfo; August 6, 2014
New Advocacy Guide Maps Path to Improved Parks
Park news from farther away:
Maybe the Bronx riverside can gain from some of the ideas put into action in Paris….
Heads Up: In Paris, a Playful Path Along the Seine; The New York Times; July 29, 2014
Near Asphalt Green and Carl Shurz Park….
3 Protesters Arrested for BlockingConstruction of UES Trash Station; DNAinfo; August 5, 2014
Similarly to Crotona Park
Prospect Park Needs Your Help Battling 18-Foot Weeds
Thursday, August 7, 2014
State Senator Jeffrey Klein and Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz demand improved MTA service for Bx7 and Bx10 bus lines
Standing near the all-too-often overcrowded bus stop on West 231st Street and Broadway, State Senator Jeffrey Klein and Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz called on the MTA to resolve the severe shortage of buses on the Bx7 and Bx10 lines, particularly during the morning and evening rush hours. Massive crowds regularly form at the 231st Street stop and others along the Bx7 and Bx10 lines between 5:30 and 8:00 PM as commuters wait to board a bus that will take them back home to their families. Oftentimes, commuters are left waiting as multiple buses pass by that are too crowded to take additional passengers.
“The severe overcrowding of the Bx7 and Bx10 bus lines and intolerably long waits are completely unacceptable,” said Assemblyman Dinowitz. “These buses are integral parts of this community’s transportation infrastructure, carrying commuters to and from work each day, yet they consistently fail to provide adequate service for the communities of Kingsbridge, Norwood, Riverdale, and Van Cortlandt Village. I urge the MTA to allocate funding for additional Bx7 and Bx10 buses so that commuters are not forced to wait for lengthy periods of time to board a crowded bus.”
Senator Klein said, "Day after day I hear from local residents that the BX 7 and BX 10 buses don't come on time, don't come frequently enough and don't have the capacity to serve the people who need it. Put simply, BX 7 and BX 10 bus service does not properly serve our community. That's why Assemblyman Dinowitz and I are standing with the daily commuters and Riverdale residents who depend on this vital service each and every day and are calling on the MTA to institute more buses, more often."
I was able to find a MTA supervisor a block away who agreed that at times the BX7 buses do bunch up especially on Friday afternoons by the George Washington bridge. The BX7 bus runs from The Yonkers city line to 168th Street in Manhattan and back. I was also told that due to construction on Sedwick Avenue the BX 10 schedule has been thrown out of whack due to detours this week.
Senator Klein Announces $150,000 Capital Grant for Wave Hill Funding will Renovate Historic Glyndor House
State Senator Jeff Klein announced a $150,000 capital grant he secured this year that will go towards completing the exterior renovation of historic Glyndor House and to installing permanent lighting on the grounds. Built in 1927, Glyndor Houses contains Wave Hill’s contemporary art galleries and serves as an educational venue for students and visitors participating in guided programs. Permanent lighting will allow Wave Hill to make their grounds safer for evening visitors and will allow Wave Hill to expand their educational programs into the evening.
Joined by Wave Hill Staff and Assemblyman Jeff Dinowitz (D-Bronx), Senator Klein made the announcement at a ‘Sunset Wednesday’ event, which featured a musical performance by Los Monstritos, a garden walk and tour of contemporary art in the Glyndor House..
Senator Jeff Klein said, “Wave Hill is a great place to find peace of mind in the heart of New York. With its picturesque vistas, serene grounds and world-class educational programming, Wave Hill is a destination for both local residents and visitors from across New York. That’s why I am so proud to announce this capital funding grant that will help keep Wave Hill well-lit and well-maintained for many years to come.”
Wave Hill Events Aug 22–Aug 29: Summer at its best!
SAT, AUGUST 23 FAMILY ART PROJECT: T’S OF SUMMER
Make a sketch outdoors of your favorite scene at Wave Hill, then bring the image indoors and use fabric markers and special crayons to decorate a summer T-shirt with your tribute to nature and summer. Use a T-shirt we provide or bring your own. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon.
WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM‒1PM
SAT, AUGUST 23 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, a member of the William CC Chen Tai Chi School, introduces students to the internal martial arts and promotes an awareness of its benefits. Sessions are held outdoors; indoors in inclement weather. Session fee: $25/$15 Wave Hill Member. Advance registration receives a $2 discount. Online registration closes at 8AM on the day of the session. Cancellations must be made by 3PM the Friday before; after that, refunds will not be made. Drop-ins will be accommodated as the limited space permits. Participants must present their Member’s ID card or a printed program registration form at the front gate.
MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 10‒11AM
SAT, AUGUST 23 GALLERY TOUR
Join a curatorial fellow for a tour of three current exhibitions. In the main gallery, Gregory Crewdson’s Fireflies series is being shown for the first time in its entirety; Crewdson’s photographs capture the fleeting light of these nocturnal creatures. In the Sunroom Project Space, Lauren Carly Shaw transforms the space into the setting of Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s short story “The Yellow Wallpaper” (1899), set in the late 19th century, when the original Glyndor House was constructed. Shaw chronicles the effect of confinement on a woman’s mental state. In the Sun Porch space, Reade Bryan’s sculptural installation investigates the way that iconic building materials, such as plywood and drywall supplies, are created and used. Here he evokes the effects of a flood or the mass of a cliff’s edge; the natural landscape appears to intrude on the interior, although the sculpture itself is made of domestic building material.
Tours take place Tuesdays and Saturdays at 2PM. Free with admission to the grounds.
GLYNDOR GALLERY, 2PM
SUN, AUGUST 24 EARLY MORNING BIRD WALK
Join naturalist Gabriel Willow on a special early morning bird walk. You’ll be amazed by the diversity of birds that are active on the grounds before the gates open to the public. Ages 10 and older welcome with an adult. $18/$10 Wave Hill Member. Registration required, online at www.wavehill.org, 718.549.3200 x251 or at the Perkins Visitor Center.
MEET AT THE FRONT GATE, 8AM
SUN, AUGUST 24 FAMILY ART PROJECT: T’S OF SUMMER
Make a sketch outdoors of your favorite scene at Wave Hill, then bring the image indoors and use fabric markers and special crayons to decorate a summer T-shirt with your tribute to nature and summer. Use a T-shirt we provide or bring your own. Free with admission to the grounds.
WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM‒1PM
SUN, AUGUST 24 HATHA YOGA
Reduce stress, increase your energy and bring strength and flexibility to mind, body and spirit with a yoga practice. Classes are led by Yoga for Bliss director Neem Dewji and other certified instructors. Ms. Dewji is certified in Hatha and Therapeutic Yoga from The Yoga for Health Foundation, England, and The Integral Yoga Institute, NYC. All levels welcome. Sessions are held outdoors, indoors in inclement weather. Session fee: $25/$15 Wave Hill Member. Advance registration receives a $2 discount. Online registration closes at 8AM on the day of the session. Cancellations must be made by 3PM the Friday before; after that, refunds will not be made. Drop-ins will be accommodated as the limited space permits. Participants must present their Member’s ID card or a printed program registration form at the front gate.
MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 10‒11:15AM
SUN, AUGUST 24 MEDITATION
This summer, take a moment to release stress and reconnect with your inner self while practicing meditation. Each session includes instruction in simple techniques followed by 20 to 30 minutes of meditation. Classes are led by Yoga for Bliss director Neem Dewji and other certified instructors. All levels welcome. Sessions are held indoors. Session fee: $25/$15 Wave Hill Member. Advance registration receives a $2 discount. Online registration closes at 8AM on the day of the session. Cancellations must be made by 3PM the Friday before; after that, refunds will not be made. Drop-ins will be accommodated as the limited space permits. Participants must present their Member’s ID card or a printed program registration form at the front gate.
MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 11:30AM‒12:45PM
SUN, AUGUST 24 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, AUGUST 25
Closed to the public
THU, AUGUST 28 STORIES IN THE GARDEN: ANIMAL FAMILY MATTERS
Each week, Wave Hill educators share some of their favorite nature stories. These stories––classics and more––will come to life through interactive readings, sing-alongs and puppets. Programs are held outdoors in good weather; in inclement weather we will meet in Wave Hill House. Like human beings, animals ––from the biggest blue whale to the littlest earth worm––have families. This week, meet some of the cutest and silliest animal families. For the final week of story time we will read Rabbits & Raindrops by Jim Arnosky, Tweedle Dee Dee by Charlotte Voake and Are You My Mother? By P.D. Eastman. Ideal for children ages 3 to 6 with their adult companions. Free with admission to the grounds.
ON THE GROUNDS, 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—4:30PM. Closes 5:30PM, March 15—October 31.
ADMISSION $8 adults, $4 students and seniors 65+, $2 children 6—18. Free Saturday mornings until noon. Free all day on Tuesdays in August. Free to Wave Hill Members and children under 6.
PROGRAM FEES Programs 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/
DIRECTIONS – Getting here is easy! Located only 30 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 242nd 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 atwww.wavehill.org/visit/.
Information at 718.549.3200. On the web at www.wavehill.org.
The Cove's 25th Birthday
Help celebrate The COVE’s 25th birthday!
Join the
Knox Gates Neighborhood Association / The COVE,
CTM DREAMS, and your neighbors
in a
Block Party & Harmony Day
Saturday, August 9, 2014
(Rain Date: Sunday, August 10)
12 noon to 6:00pm
Gates Place
(between Gunhill & Mosholu Parkway)
FUN for all ages - DJ & music - Bounce House - Film screenings
Food available on first come, first serve basis
Family Friendly Alcohol-Free & Smoke-Free Event
Children 6 years and younger must be accompanied by an adult.
www.COVEbx.org for more info.
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
Is Fernando Cabrera off the Ballot in the 33rd State Senate District Race?
Word that has come in to this blog is that sometime tomorrow the decision will come down in the court challenge to the petition of Fernando Cabrera for the 33rd State Senate race. Already one candidate Jose Padilla Jr. was knocked off the ballot in the hearings before the Board of Elections hearings that took place July 30th. Cabrera was left on the ballot by the Board of Elections with 1272 valid signatures, but the BOE did not rule on the charges of 152 signature forgeries, and similar handwriting in 501 signatures. The commissioners said that they do not rule on those two item, and the matter would have to go to a Court of law, then election lawyer 'King" Stanley Schlein slapped the BOE with a subpoena to appear in court.
Odds are now that State Senator Gustavo Rivera will not face a primary challenge when Cabrera is dropped from the ballot by the courts. Senator Rivera said last night that he was still going 100 percent as if he has a primary, that is until the announcement that his challenger Fernando Cabrera has been removed from the 33rd state senate race comes on Thursday.
Odds are now that State Senator Gustavo Rivera will not face a primary challenge when Cabrera is dropped from the ballot by the courts. Senator Rivera said last night that he was still going 100 percent as if he has a primary, that is until the announcement that his challenger Fernando Cabrera has been removed from the 33rd state senate race comes on Thursday.
GOVERNOR CUOMO SIGNS LEGISLATION TO PROTECT NEW YORKERS FROM IMMIGRATION ASSISTANCE FRAUD
New law strengthens penalties for those who take advantage of immigrants and codifies the Office for New Americans, launched last year
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today signed legislation to better protect immigrants living in New York from potential fraud or wrongdoing as they seek immigration-related assistance. These new New Yorkers will now benefit from stricter assistance-provider requirements, including the addition of a new crime to discourage this type of fraud. This bill also designates the New York State Office for New Americans – which Governor Cuomo launched last year – as a permanent executive office of State government, whose primary purpose is to offer support to the immigrant population. Complementing the legislation signed today, a statewide multilingual public service campaign is in progress to warn newcomers against fraud and encourage them to seek assistance if they feel they are a victim of an immigration-related scam.
“New York has a long history of welcoming immigrants from around the world, and today we are continuing that heritage with a new law that protects new New Yorkers and solidifies the services we provide,” Governor Cuomo said. “This bill will support those who come seeking a better future for their families, and I am proud to sign it into law today.”
The legislation will strengthen protections by enhancing translation requirements, increasing civil penalties for violations of the law, and barring the use of job titles that aim to mislead an assistance-seeker into believing that a service provider is an attorney or otherwise specialized professional when the provider has no such credential. It creates two new crimes, felony and misdemeanor immigration assistance fraud.
Additionally, the bill codifies the Office for New Americans, launched by the Governor in March 2013, which provides a range of services to New York’s recent immigration population. Just last year, the office helped over 34,000 peoplethrough neighborhood-based opportunity centers and a toll-free multi-lingual hotline (800-566-7636) offering a variety of services. The Opportunity Centers teach New Americans English, assist them in the process of becoming naturalized U.S. citizens, provide free legal advice so they can start and grow businesses, as well as offer training to community based organizations so that they may offer immigration services. The Office for New Americans is the first state-level immigrant office created by statute in the country.
Senator Rubén Díaz said, "When immigrants seek assistance on their path to becoming citizens, they need to be assured that the organizations that are providing the help will not take advantage of them. This new law sets clear standards for providers of immigration assistance services and establishes strict penalties for those who violate the law. Immigrants who call New York State home finally will receive the protection they deserve as they seek to become citizens of our great country.”
Assemblyman Marcos A. Crespo, Chair of the Assembly Task Force on New Americans and author the Immigrant Assistance Service Enforcement Act, said, "Thanks to dedicated support of our Governor, it is no longer open season on immigrants in our State. This new law will help prevent immigrants from becoming victims of fraud, increases penalties on those that try to scam immigrants out of their life's savings, gives immigrants an opportunity to recover their stolen fees and for damages, meets federal criteria that allows recourse when the fraud has interfered with immigration matters, and permanently establishes the Office for New Americans with a clear mandate on the work it is to perform for years to come. Thanks to the support of Governor Cuomo, this is a major change in public policy that will positively impact over 4.3 million New Yorkers who are of recent foreign decent. Today, because of his commitment to improving the lives of all New Yorkers, countless hardships and crimes will be prevented for decades to come and even more opportunities to help immigrants integrate into our society will be created."
New York Secretary of State Cesar Perales said, “By empowering our communities through legitimate services, we not only provide needed assistance to a vulnerable population, we also create economic opportunities across the State that will eventually benefit every New Yorker. I congratulate the Governor for combatting immigration scams affecting our state’s newcomers.”
Steven Choi, Executive Director of the New York Immigration Coalition, said, "The New York Immigration Coalition applauds Governor Cuomo for signing into law the Immigrant Assistance Service Enforcement Act, a critical piece of legislation that empowers New York’s immigrant communities. We are proud to have worked closely with the Governor’s office and Assemblymember Crespo in crafting a bill that provides new protections against immigration fraud, punishes those who seek to take advantage of immigrant communities, and lays a foundation to expand reliable immigration services across the State. We look forward to working with the Governor and the Office for New Americans to build on this legislation and ensure that New York is invested in immigrant communities that will pay off in benefits for our entire State.”
This law passed both houses of the legislature as S.6732-A and A.8947B, respectively.