Friday, July 19, 2019

MTA Bus and Subway Town Hall on Service Improvements?



  Last night the MTA held a Town Hall on service improvements and service cuts. As you can see this scarcely attended meeting was made up of mostly MTA employees. The funny part was that one was able to enter the school, go up to the second floor where the meeting was, but one had to stop and have a metal detecting wand moved over your body before entering the auditorium.

Andy Byford the new Chief Executive Officer of the New York City Transit Authority explained that the system has to be upgraded, and streamlined for better service to its riders. He went over the current system, and explained how new changes would improve service on buses and subways. There will be changes to some bus routes which may include moving buses to different streets to speed up service, cutting down a few stops that are clustered block after block, and new subway signaling.

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz was on hand and spoke for a few minutes praising the MTA, hoping what Mr. Byford was saying helps the riding public. Afterwards a question and answer period was done with several MTA executives including Mr. Byford. Questions that were written down were asked and answered, but it seemed two different men interjected after questions were answered. When a woman tried to interject she was told she could not. At that point one could see the two men were MTA employees, and the woman was not. 

I spoke to Tim Minton who said he was the Communications Director for the MTA, and asked him two questions. The first was how was the MTA going to stop the governor, state legislature, or even the mayor from taking any monies currently going to the MTA and moving said monies elsewhere in the budget once congestion pricing begins. I used the example of the lottery where monies that use to for education were moved elsewhere once lottery money went to education. I could not get an answer that the MTA would keep the same current funding streams from the state and city.

My second question which also could not be answered was how was the MTA going to offset the lack of revenue from the Henry Hudson Bridge since it was going to be a free bridge to get Assemblyman Dinowitz to go along with congestion pricing. I said that I was told bus routes in the Bronx would be cut or eliminated to make up the loss in revenue. Again there was no answer. 


Above - Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz speaks at the meeting about how the new changes will improve service, and there will no longer be a toll on the Henry Hudson Bridge.
Below - The panel with Andy Buford answered questions read by the moderator on the left. Certain MTA employees interjected after answers while the public was told they could not.



Blood drive to ease summer blood shortages being held at Van Cortlandt Jewish Center


Van Cortlandt Jewish Center 2019 Summer Blood Drive

  Help stop a potential blood emergency. The Van Cortlandt Jewish Center, 3880 Sedgwick Ave, Bronx, NY 10463 is having a Summer Blood Drive on Sunday, August 4, 2019 from 9:30 AM to 2:00pm in the game room. It is being run by the New York Blood Center.

The summer is always a time when blood banks are low on supplies. You can help by donating. Everyone that gets screened gets a $10 Dunkin’ gift card and high school students, 16 to 19 are eligible for an additional $15 gift card.
To sign up, please call Stu at 646-240-1279. You can also sign up through the form accessible via the VCJC website at https://vcjewishcenter.org/vcjc-blood-drive-august-4/ (https://donate.nybc.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/271054). Sign-ups are preferred, but walk-ins are always welcome.

Donor requirements are – Bring your donor card or ID with photo. Eat well and drink fluids before donating. You must be at least 16 to donate and between 16 and 18 you must have a parental permission on NYBC form. Donors over 76 need a doctor’s note, unless NYBC has a previous note and your health status has not changed. You cannot have had a new tattoo in the past 12 months, unless the tattoo was done in NJ. The minimum weight is 110 pounds.

WILLIAMS CALLS FOR NYPD COMMISSIONER TO FIRE DANIEL PANTALEO


   Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams today sent a letter to NYPD Commissioner James P. O'Neill reiterating his calls for the firing of Officer Daniel Pantaleo, just after the five year anniversary of the day he killed Eric Garner. Calls to fire Pantaleo have re-ignited after the Department of Justice, under Attorney General William Barr, announced it would not bring federal civil rights charges against the officer.

Full text is below, and the letter can also be downloaded here 


LETTER FROM PUBLIC ADVOCATE WILLIAMS


Dear Commissioner O'Neill,

As you know, five years ago, Eric Garner was killed by a member of the NYPD who used a prohibited tactic - the chokehold. As you also know, Mr. Garner repeated, several times, the phrase, "I Can't Breathe." 

Since then, Mr. Garner's family has fought for justice, on his behalf, and we've stood shoulder to shoulder with them. They've had to watch the video of their family member's killing countless times, all the while waiting for someone - anyone - to deliver any measure of justice. That measure wasn't delivered by his continued employment with the Department, it wasn't delivered by a Grand Jury that declined to indict, and it certainly wasn't delivered by the current U.S. Department of Justice whose leader, Attorney General Barr, overruled several members of his own team by declining to press civil rights charges. 

Simply put, five years is too long to wait. This letter serves as an official request from my office to fire Officer Pantaleo, now.

Sincerely,
 
Jumaane D. Williams
Public Advocate for the City of New York

Engel Votes to Raise Federal Minimum Wage to $15 an Hour


  Congressman Eliot L. Engel, a top member on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, today voted in favor of raising the federal minimum wage to $15 dollars an hour.

The Raise the Wage Act would increase wages for 33 million American workers, according to the Economic Policy Institute, by incrementally raising the federal minimum wage to $15 dollars an hour by 2025. Analysis by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) concluded the legislation would lift 1.3 million Americans out of poverty, including 600,000 children, and would help narrow the gender pay gap for nearly 20 million women. Engel, who is an original cosponsor of the Raise the Wage Act, has been a longtime advocate for increasing the federal minimum wage to $15 dollars an hour and was a vocal supporter of New York’s efforts to raise their minimum wage as part of the 2016-2017 state budget.  

“This is about treating the American worker fairly at a time when corporate interests have run amok,” Engel said.“Working men and women who earn the federal minimum wage are barely hanging on as costs rise across the board for food, housing, medical care, you name it. While these working families are struggling to make ends meet, big corporations are basking in record profits with CEOs and shareholders reaping the rewards. We need to rebalance the scales here. Raising the federal minimum wage isn’t just the right thing to do from an economic justice perspective—it’s also the right thing to do for our economy. More money in the pockets of American workers means more money staying in the community, flowing to local business. States like New York, which have already raised their minimum wage, have proven that this tack works. I was proud to cosponsor and vote for this bill, and I hope our Senate colleagues will join us in standing up for working-class Americans.”  

AHEAD OF SWELTERING WEEKEND, ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN’S SERVICES REMINDS PARENTS THAT HEAT EXPOSURE COULD POSE DANGER TO SMALL CHILDREN;


ACS URGES NEW YORKERS TO “LOOK BEFORE YOU LOCK” & EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION IN SIZZLING HEAT CONDITIONS

Children’s Bodies Heat Up Three Times Faster Than Adults

   As triple digit temperatures approach, NYC Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) Commissioner David A. Hansell today reminded parents to exercise extreme caution to keep children safe. First, parents should “look before you lock” -- never leave a child unattended in a car. During summer months, especially, vehicles can reach over 100 degrees Fahrenheit which could be fatal for small children as their bodies heat up three times faster than an adult’s does, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Just this week, an infant tragically died in Virginia after being left in a hot car. With the heat index expected to reach 109 degrees by Saturday, parents should always check the backseat of the car before leaving and locking a vehicle. Even if a child is sleeping and a parent is running a quick errand, they should take the child out of the car to ensure the child is safe.

“Children should never be left in a car unattended, and that’s why we’re reminding all parents to look before you lock,” said ACS Commissioner David A. Hansell. “Unfortunately, it’s all too easy for parents to become distracted and accidentally forget to check the backseat before getting out of the car. As the temperature rises, it’s important for New Yorkers to be mindful of the dangers involved in leaving a child in a hot car, to prevent future tragedies.”

Heat illness occurs when the body cannot cool down. Children’s body temperatures can rise very quickly, putting them at risk for heat-related illnesses. The most serious forms of heat illness are heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Heat stroke occurs when the body's temperature rises quickly and can rapidly lead to death. Keeping cool can be hard work for the body. This extra stress on the body can also worsen other health conditions such as heart and lung disease.

Extreme heat kills more New Yorkers than any other extreme weather event and leads to an average of 450 heat-related emergency department visits. Each year, on average, there are about 130 deaths in NYC either directly attributed to extreme heat (heat stroke) or in which heat played a role, worsening chronic conditions like heart disease.”

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, heat stroke is the leading cause of non-crash, vehicle-related deaths in children under 15. Infants and children up to four years of age are at the greatest risk for heat-related illness, according to the Centers for Disease and Control Prevention (CDC).

Just this week, a 10-month old child in Virginia tragically died after being left in a car outside a grocery store. So far this year, at least 19 children across the country have tragically died in hot cars. Parents should never leave infants or children in a parked car, even if the windows are open. To remind yourself that a child is in the car, keep a stuffed animal in the car seat. When the child is buckled in, place the stuffed animal in the front with the driver. If you see a child left unattended in a parked car, you should notify law enforcement immediately or call 911.

In New York City, most heat-related deaths occur after exposure to heat in homes without air conditioners. Parents can protect their children with these health and safety tips:

  • Keep kids cool and hydrated
  • Dress infants and children in loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing.
  • If possible, stay out of the sun. When in the sun, apply sunscreen to your child (at least SPF 15) and a hat to protect their face and head.
  • Make sure they drinking plenty of fluids. Stay away from really cold drinks or drinks with too much sugar.
  • Use an air conditioner if you have one.
  • If you do not have an air conditioner, keep rooms well-ventilated with open windows and fans.
    • Consider going to a public pool, air-conditioned store, mall, movie theater, or cooling center.
    • Call 311 (212-639-9675 for Video Relay Service, or TTY: 212-504-4115), or contact 311 online to find out whether a cooling center is open near you.
    • Note: these facilities are managed by agency partners who determine each site's hours of operation and level(s) of accessibility. For additional information, please contact these facilities directly.
    • Find a cooling center
    • Fans work best at night, when they can bring in cooler air from outside.

Thursday, July 18, 2019

Bronx Democratic County Dinner



  While there were many many VIP's at the 2019 Bronx Democratic County Dinner the above photo of former District Leader Kenny Agosto set the theme for last night's dinner. Agosto a loyal, proud, and openly gay person showed the many different aspects of the Bronx Democratic Party. It doesn't matter if you are White, Black, Hispanic, or what your sexual preference is, as Bronx Democratic County Leader Marcos Crespo said during his speech. The Bronx Democratic Party has been all of us. 

  The five honorees came from different areas of life. Ms. Lisa Sorin, business woman, and the Executive Director of the New Bronx Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Wayne Spence of the New York State Public Employees Federation, Mr. Nick Gjelaj a member of the New York State Trial Lawyers, Mr. Mike Hellstrom of the Laborers Local Union 140, and an award to the Stonewall Democratic Club of NYC. 

With Congress and the U.S. Senate in session, the prediction of heavy rain which began midway through the dinner, extra tables still had to be set up for the overflowing crowd, the largest in past years. With Mayor de Blasio on the Presidential campaign trail New York City Public Advocate was on hand to open the dinner along with current Queens Borough President (and likely Queens District Attorney) Melinda Katz. Many of the local State Senators, Assembly Members, District Leaders braved the stormy weather which caused the room to loose some power to the sound and projection system near the ending of the awards to the honorees. The last Honoree Mike Hellstrom a veteran of leading labor marches was loud enough so everyone in the room heard him when the sound went off. 


Above - Public Advocate Jumaane Williams opens the dinner.
Below - Bronx Democratic County Leader Marcos Crespo with Honoree Ms. Lisa Sorin.




Above - County Leader Crespo with Honoree Wayne Spence.
Below - Honoree Nick Gjelaj.




Above- Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. joined County Leader Crespo to present the Stonewall Democratic Club award.
Below - Honoree Mike Hellstrom right before the sound and some of the lights went out. Everyone in the room heard him as he put down the microphone after it went out. 



Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, Sinaloa Cartel Leader, Sentenced to Life in Prison Plus 30 Years


 Joaquin Archivaldo Guzman Loera, known by various aliases, including “El Chapo” and “El Rapido,” was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Brian M. Cogan to a life term of imprisonment plus 30 years to run consecutive to the life sentence for being a principal leader of a continuing criminal enterprise – the Mexican organized crime syndicate known as the Sinaloa Cartel – a charge that includes 26 drug-related violations and one murder conspiracy.  The Court also ordered Guzman Loera to pay $12.6 billion in forfeiture.
Guzman Loera was convicted by a federal jury on Feb. 12, 2019, following a three-month trial, of all 10 counts of the superseding indictment, including narcotics trafficking, using a firearm in furtherance of his drug crimes and participating in a money laundering conspiracy. 
The sentence was announced by Attorney General William P. Barr, Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Richard P. Donoghue for the Eastern District of New York (EDNY), U.S. Attorney Ariana Fajardo Orshan for the Southern District of Florida (SDFL), Acting Administrator Uttam Dhillon of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Director Christopher A. Wray of the FBI, Acting Secretary Kevin McAleenan of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Executive Associate Director Derek Benner of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Acting U.S. Marshal Bryan T. Mullee of the Eastern District of New York, New York City Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner James P. O’Neill and New York State Police Superintendent Keith M. Corlett.
The evidence at trial established that Guzman Loera was a principal leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, a Mexico-based international drug trafficking organization responsible for importing and distributing more than a million kilograms of cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine and heroin in the United States.  The evidence included testimony from 14 cooperating witnesses, including Sinaloa Cartel members Rey and Vicente Zambada, Miguel Martinez, Tirso Martinez, Damaso Lopez and Alex Cifuentes; narcotics seizures totaling over 130,000 kilograms of cocaine and heroin; weapons, including AK-47s and a rocket-propelled grenade launcher; ledgers; text messages; videos; photographs and intercepted recordings that detailed the drug trafficking activity of Guzman Loera and his co-conspirators over a 25-year period from January 1989 until December 2014.    
From the mid-1980s until his arrest in Mexico in 1993, Guzman Loera was a mid-level operative of the Sinaloa Cartel, earning a name for himself and the nickname “El Rapido” for how quickly he transported drugs from Mexico to the United States for the Colombian cartels.  After he escaped from a Mexican prison in 2001 by hiding in a laundry cart, Guzman Loera formed an alliance with fugitive co-defendant Ismael Zambada Garcia and, together, they became the preeminent leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel.  Guzman Loera enforced his will and maintained control of his drug empire through an army of lethal bodyguards and a sophisticated communications network.
The trial highlighted the methods Guzman Loera and his organization used to transport the cartel’s multi-ton shipments of narcotics into the United States, including fishing boats, submarines, carbon fiber airplanes, trains with secret compartments and transnational underground tunnels.  Once the narcotics were in the United States, they were sold to wholesale distributors in New York, Miami, Atlanta, Chicago, Arizona, Los Angeles and elsewhere.  Guzman Loera then used various methods to launder billions of dollars of drug proceeds, including bulk cash smuggling from the United States to Mexico, U.S.-based insurance companies, reloadable debit cards and numerous shell companies, including a juice company and a fish flour company.
Guzman Loera and his organization relied upon violence to maintain its power throughout the region and beyond.  Numerous co-conspirators testified that Guzman Loera directed his hitmen to kidnap, interrogate, torture and slaughter members of rival drug organizations, at times carrying out acts of violence himself.  As part of its arsenal, the Sinaloa Cartel had access to weapons, including grenades and a rocket-propelled grenade launcher.  Guzman Loera’s personal arsenal included a gold plated AK-47 and three diamond-encrusted .38 caliber handguns, one emblazoned with his initials, “JGL.” 
Guzman Loera and his organization also relied on a vast network of corrupt government officials and employees to protect and further the interests of the Sinaloa Cartel.  They included local law enforcement officers, prison guards, high-ranking members of the armed forces and elected office holders.  In exchange, the Cartel paid these individuals millions of dollars in bribes. 
“The long road that brought ‘El Chapo’ Guzman Loera to a United States courtroom is lined with drugs, death, and destruction, but ends today with justice,” said Assistant Attorney General Benczkowski.  “Thanks to the unflagging efforts of the Department of Justice and the law enforcement community over the past 25 years, this notorious leader of one of the largest drug trafficking organizations in the Western hemisphere, the Sinaloa Cartel, will spend the rest of his life behind bars.”
“Guzman Loera’s day of reckoning has finally come,” said EDNY U.S. Attorney Donoghue.  “Never again will he pour poison into our country, or make millions as innocent lives are lost.  We cannot undo the violence, misery and devastation inflicted on countless individuals and communities as result of his organization’s sale of tons of illegal drugs for more than two decades, but we can ensure that he spends every minute of every day in prison.  The same fate awaits those who would take his place.  I thank the brave members of law enforcement, here and abroad, for their tireless efforts that have finally secured justice in this case.”
“The life sentence imposed today is the only just result for someone who spent a lifetime spreading his poison throughout our country,” said SDFL U.S. Attorney Fajardo Orshan.  “The impact of keeping former Sinaloa Cartel leader Joaquin Guzman Loera behind bars, for the rest of his life, cannot be overstated: the world will now be shielded from his brutality.  Thanks to the unyielding efforts of this team, the public was finally able to see how Guzman Loera used any means necessary to control his ruthless empire, including kidnapping, corruption, torture, and murder.  Our U.S. Attorney’s Offices continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with our domestic and foreign law enforcement partners to protect our citizens from the scourge of illicit drugs.”
“This sentencing shows the world that no matter how protected or powerful you are, DEA will ensure that you face justice,” said DEA Acting Administrator Dhillon.  “This result would not have been possible without the dedication and determination of so many brave men and women of the DEA, who worked tirelessly to see the world’s most dangerous, prolific drug trafficker behind bars in the United States.  This is a huge victory for the rule of law, for thousands of current and retired DEA agents and analysts worldwide, and for all of our law enforcement partners here, in Mexico, and across the globe.”
“Today’s sentencing is the culmination of years of effort from numerous local, state, federal, and international partners,” said FBI Director Wray.  “It highlights the dedication and determination of men and women in law enforcement to bring one of the world’s most notorious drug traffickers to justice.  The FBI has no tolerance for those who endanger our communities and destroy lives through drugs and violence.  We’ll continue to work day and night to find and stop those who distribute illegal substances and commit unimaginable violence.”
“On behalf of the Department of Homeland Security, I want to express my gratitude to our HSI agents and diligent law enforcement partners for their work in this monumental conviction,” said Acting Secretary of Homeland Security McAleenan.  “This sentence will send a resounding message that transnational criminal organizations all over the world are being continuously investigated and their leaders will be brought to justice.”
“After a decade long investigation, Joaquin Archivaldo Guzman Loera’s reign over the Sinaloa Cartel is over,” said HSI Executive Associate Director Benner.  “Because of the initiative and expertise of HSI special agents in New York and Phoenix working together with our law enforcement partners, ‘El Chapo’ will no longer be able to inflict violence or traffic vast amounts of illegal drugs into our communities.”
“The U.S. Marshals Service was tasked with ensuring the integrity of the judicial process in this case,” said Acting U.S. Marshal Mullee.  “It was paramount that all participants in the case could operate without undue influence or fear in a secure environment, and we accomplished that.  On behalf of the U.S. Marshals Service in the Eastern District of New York, I would like to express my gratitude to all of our law enforcement partners who worked tirelessly in support of our mission, most notably, the incredibly talented men and women of the NYPD, The Federal Protective Service (FPS), The 24th Civil Support Team of the New York National Guard and the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP).”
“Let today’s sentencing show the world that Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman has not escaped the American justice system and, now, will finally be held accountable for his many years of criminal behavior,” said NYPD Commissioner O’Neill.  “I want to thank the members of the DEA, the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service, HSI, the New York State Police and the NYPD detectives on the Drug Enforcement Task Force for their hard work on this investigation and trial.”
“With this sentencing, justice has been served,” said NYSP Superintendent Corlett.  “For two decades, this individual used extreme violence, bribes, and any means necessary to bring dangerous and deadly drugs into our country and state.  This sentence should serve as a reminder that no one is above the law. I applaud our partners in law enforcement for their tireless work on this case, bringing an end to the destruction this man, and this enterprise caused for decades.”
The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gina Parlovecchio, Michael Robotti, Patricia Notopoulos and Hiral Mehta from the Eastern District of New York; Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Fels, Andrea Goldbarg and Lynn Kirkpatrick from the Southern District of Florida; and Trial Attorneys Amanda Liskamm, Anthony Nardozzi, Brett Reynolds and Michael Lang of the U.S. Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section.
The case was investigated by the DEA, ICE HSI and the FBI, in cooperation with Mexican, Ecuadorian, Netherlands, Dominican and Colombian law enforcement authorities.  Substantial assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in the Northern District of Illinois, Western District of Texas, Southern District of New York, Southern District of California, District of New Hampshire, District of Arizona and Eastern District of Virginia.  The Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs of the Criminal Division played an integral role in securing the extradition of Guzman Loera to the United States, in cooperation with authorities of the Mexican government, without which his prosecution would not have been possible. The Department of Justice’s Office of Enforcement Operations assisted with the use of critical investigative and prosecution tools, including wiretaps, Special Administrative Measures, and other sensitive investigative techniques that proved essential to facilitating Guzman’s capture and successful prosecution. The investigative efforts in this case were coordinated with the Department of Justice Special Operations Division, comprising agents, analysts and attorneys from the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section; DEA New York; DEA Miami; FBI Washington Field Office; FBI New York Field Office; FBI Miami Field Office; HSI New York; HSI Nogales; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U.S. Marshals Service; IRS Criminal Investigation; U.S. Bureau of Prisons; NYPD and New York State Police.
This case is the result of the ongoing efforts by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a partnership that brings together the combined expertise and unique abilities of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.  The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, dismantle and prosecute high level members of drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations and enterprises. 

Governor Cuomo Signs Legislation to Raise Tobacco and E-Cigarette Sales Age from 18 to 21


Builds on Governor's Comprehensive Efforts to Combat Health Threats from Tobacco and E-Cigarette Products
Governor Cuomo: "By raising the smoking age from 18 to 21, we can stop cigarettes and e-cigarettes from getting into the hands of young people in the first place and prevent an entire generation of New Yorkers from forming costly and potentially deadly addictions."

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today signed legislation (S.2833/A.558) to raise the minimum sales age for tobacco and electronic cigarette products from 18 to 21. This legislation builds on the Governor's comprehensive efforts to combat health threats from tobacco and e-cigarette products. The bill will take effect 120 days after becoming law.

"New York is taking aggressive action to stamp out smoking among teens and children, but tobacco and e-cigarette use still persists thanks to irresponsible corporate marketing campaigns targeting young people," Governor Cuomo said. "By raising the smoking age from 18 to 21, we can stop cigarettes and e-cigarettes from getting into the hands of young people in the first place and prevent an entire generation of New Yorkers from forming costly and potentially deadly addictions."

Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said, "Tobacco use is harmful to New Yorkers and leads to cancer, major health problems, and death. Raising the age of purchase to 21 will help ensure fewer children start this deadly habit. I applaud Senator Diane Savino for sponsoring this legislation and working to help save New Yorkers from lifetimes of addiction and health problems."

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said, "The Assembly Majority is committed to protecting the health and well-being of New York State's youth. But too many kids are using addictive and dangerous cigarettes and e-cigarettes. Thanks to the hard work of bill sponsor Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal, this law will raise the legal age for tobacco products, keeping them out of our schools and helping improve the health, present and future, of our young people."

Senator Diane Savino said, "Thank you Governor Cuomo for signing this important piece of legislation today. As a former smoker, I know how addictive these products can be - but as a legislator, I know its good public policy to take every step to continue protecting our youth from these potentially dangerous products."

Wave Hill events August 1–8: SalsaFest!


  Sunset Wednesdays come to a close with SalsaFest on August 7, a lively evening of dancing and salsa with performers Chino Pons and Grupo Irék. But even as Sunset Wednesdays wind down for the year, Summer Evenings continue with Twilight in the Garden Thursdays. I am particularly looking forward to hearing the ambient soundscapes of Sonic Experiences. This new “soundscapes” series features experimental artists who bring their unique sounds to different areas of the grounds each week. Twilight in the Garden Thursdays also feature nature programs that will connect you to a darker side of Wave Hill. As the sun begins to set, let the sweet fragrances of night-blooming flowers lure you on a walk led by Wave Hill's horticultural experts. The following week, it’s all about bats—take a peek into the secret lives of these elusive creatures. 


Thu, August 1
Join a Wave Hill Garden Guide for a public tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free with admission to the grounds.
Meet at Perkins Visitor Center, 1PM

Thu, August 1
Ambient, experimental, New-Age sound pioneer Laraaji takes us on a listening journey to deeply relaxing and inspiring live sound realms, featuring the innovative sound of electric zither, soaring vocals and nature sounds. In the early 1970s, Laraaji’s music, life and career shifted after he started studying Eastern mysticism and took a zither he purchased in a pawn shop and converted it into an electric instrument. From there, his experimentations grew and by the late 1970s, Laraaji started busking with his new sound on the sidewalks of New York. Brian Eno discovered Laraaji in Washington Square Park and released “Ambient 3: Day of Radiance,” the third installment of Brian Eno’s Ambient Series. Today, Laraaji is a pioneer in composing works for meditation, deep listening and experimentalism. Free with admission to the grounds. Special evening admission to the grounds starts at 4PM. $12 general adult admission; $8 student and seniors 65+; $6 children ages six+. Purchase admission online by 4PM day of event and save $2. No guest passes or reciprocal admission accepted.
Glyndor Terrace, 7PM

Thu, August 1
Sunset casts its warm but fleeting glow and fragrant, night-blooming plants lure passers-by. Join Horticultural Interpreters Charles Day and Alison Filosa for a garden walk and experience Wave Hill’s gardens in a whole new way as day transitions into night. Twilight in the Garden event. This event is free with admission to the grounds. Special evening admission starts at 4PM. $12 general adult admission; $8 student and seniors 65+; $6 children ages six+. Purchase admission online by 4PM day of event and save $2. No guest passes or reciprocal admission accepted.
Meet at Perkins Visitor Center, 7:30‒8:30PM

Fri, August 2
Join a Wave Hill Garden Guide for a public tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free with admission to the grounds.
Meet at Perkins Visitor Center, 1PM

Sat, August 3
For thousands of years, we have identified landforms with specific human traits to help connect to the environment around us. Explore the visual language of cartography and abstraction to make multi-layered artworks with landforms that take on their own lives. Using recycled maps and printmaking, create individual collages, or join in a collaborative installation highlighting landforms near and dear to you. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon.
Wave Hill House, 10AM–1PM

Sat, August 3
Tour Glyndor Gallery with Wave Hill’s Curatorial Fellow or Gallery Greeter to get an insider’s view of current exhibitions. The exhibition Figuring the Floral features artists who employ flowers to explore representations of identity—constructing narratives on race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexual orientation, and aging. The exhibition includes paintings, collages, drawings, sculptures and an outdoor installation. In the Sunroom, Kate Bae’s immersive installation consists of flowers created from layers of acrylic paint. They drape from the ceiling into a wishing well. The landscape evokes the ecosystem of Mount Halla on South Korea’s Jeju Island, a holy symbol of the unification of South Korea and North Korea. In the Sun Porch, Riad Miah creates a multi-part installation of double-sided, oil and acrylic, rectangular paintings on Dura-Lar. He traces light throughout the calendar year to portray a sense of time, with each piece representing a single month. Free with admission to the grounds.
Glyndor Gallery, 2PM

Sun, August 4
For thousands of years, we have identified landforms with specific human traits to help connect to the environment around us. Explore the visual language of cartography and abstraction to make multi-layered artworks with landforms that take on their own lives. Using recycled maps and printmaking, create individual collages, or join in a collaborative installation highlighting landforms near and dear to you. Free with admission to the grounds.
Wave Hill House, 10AM–1PM

Sun, August 4
Join a Wave Hill Garden Guide for a public tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free with admission to the grounds.
Meet at Perkins Visitor Center, 2PM

Tue, August 6
Tour Glyndor Gallery with Wave Hill’s Curatorial Fellow or Gallery Greeter to get an insider’s view of current exhibitions. The exhibition Figuring the Floral features artists who employ flowers to explore representations of identity—constructing narratives on race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexual orientation, and aging. The exhibition includes paintings, collages, drawings, sculptures and an outdoor installation. In the Sunroom, Kate Bae’s immersive installation consists of flowers created from layers of acrylic paint. They drape from the ceiling into a wishing well. The landscape evokes the ecosystem of Mount Halla on South Korea’s Jeju Island, a holy symbol of the unification of South Korea and North Korea. In the Sun Porch, Riad Miah creates a multi-part installation of double-sided, oil and acrylic, rectangular paintings on Dura-Lar. He traces light throughout the calendar year to portray a sense of time, with each piece representing a single month. Free with admission to the grounds.
Glyndor Gallery, 2PM

Wed, August 7
Join a Wave Hill Garden Guide for a public tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free with admission to the grounds.
Meet at Perkins Visitor Center, 1PM

Wed, August 7
One of New York City’s quintessential Salsa groups, Chino Pons and Grupo Irék, launches SalsaFest at Wave Hill this summer. New York City by way of Miami and Cuba, Chino Pons has early roots as a Salsa musician, starting out as a band boy in Miami for Tropical Sound. After moving to New York and spending years in the salsa scene here, he formed Grupo Irék with Hensy Perez, Tosso Hettinger and Heriberto Valentin, and made his first recording as a bandleader with them in 2008. It was during this period that Grupo Irék became one of the best-known and most respected Salsa acts on the New York City circuit. Chino also began playing every year at the Vanidades Magazine anniversary party—previously honoring such classic entertainers as Gloria Estefan,Paquito de Rivera, Ruben Blades and Juan Luis Guerra. In 2013, Chino toured in Japan, playing at the Cuban Japan festival. Since then, he has built up quite a following among Japanese fans of Salsa music. Free with admission to the grounds. Special evening admission starts at 4PM. $12 general adult admission; $8 student and seniors 65+; $6 children ages six+. Purchase admission online by 4pm day of event and save $2. Free to Wave Hill Members and children under age six. No guest passes or reciprocal admission accepted.
On the Grounds, 7PM

Thu, August 8
Join a Wave Hill Garden Guide for a public tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free with admission to the grounds.
Meet at Perkins Visitor Center, 1PM

Thu, August 8
Global Stereotype is a sonic journey of Outernational music. Multi-instrumentalist with a global headset  DJLightbolt mashes up sounds from both hemispheres and all manner of contemporary fusion. Based in NYC, he's performed for the art world at Exit Art, The Bronx Museum, Smack Mellon, for Performa at Museo del Barrio, Third Streaming, Bronx ArtSpace, NYFA, BRAC and on the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, in Washington, DC. He has also presided over NYC nightlife at various, venues including Shrine, The Frying Pan, Kush, Santos Party House, and BeautyBar. Free with admission to the grounds. Special evening admission to the grounds starts at 4PM. $12 general adult admission; $8 student and seniors 65+; $6 children ages six+. Purchase admission online by 4PM day of event and save $2. Free to Wave Hill Members and children under age six. No guest passes or reciprocal admission accepted.
Kate French Terrace, 7PM

Thu, August 8
Rewind and experience twilight in August. Explore the garden through a customized nature program or experience the gardens through sound. Tonight, join bat expert Kaitlyn Parkins and the New York City Bat Group for a peek at the secret life of bats that live in and migrate through the Bronx. Begin with an indoor presentation on the diversity of urban bats and their importance to our ecosystem, then venture out onto the grounds to search for bats at Wave Hill using a bat-detector. Don’t forget your flashlight. Ages 10 and older welcome with an adult. Rain date: August 29. Check wavehill.org for shuttle service and for The Café menu on this Thursday evening. The Café will be open till 7:30PM. $40; Wave Hill Members save 10%. Registration required, online or at the Perkins Visitor Center. Twilight in the Garden event.
Wave Hill House, 7:30-9:30PM

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, March 15–October 31. Closes 4:30PM, starting November 1.

ADMISSION – $10 adults, $6 students and seniors 65+, $4 children 6–18. Free Saturday and Tuesday mornings until noon. 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/getaways/outbound_wavehill.htm
  
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 W. 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 at www.wavehill.org/visit/.

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