Saturday, November 2, 2019

MANHATTAN U.S. ATTORNEY SETTLES FRAUD SUIT AGAINST AHERN PAINTING CONTRACTORS FOR FALSE STATEMENTS ABOUT DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS PARTICIPATION ON FEDERAL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS


Ahern Painting Contractors Agrees to Pay $3 Million and Admits Conduct Alleged in the Complaint 

  Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Douglas Shoemaker, regional Special Agent-in-Charge of the United States Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General (“USDOT-OIG”), Margaret Garnett, the Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation (“DOI”), and Carolyn Pokorny, Inspector General of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (“MTA-OIG”), announced today that the United States has settled civil fraud claims against New York-area painting contractor AHERN PAINTING CONTRACTORS CO. (“AHERN”). The settlement resolves the United States’ allegations in a False Claims Act lawsuit that AHERN fraudulently obtained payments on two federally funded construction projects by misrepresenting compliance with Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (“DBE”) rules, which require participation of businesses owned by women and minorities. Specifically, the United States alleged that AHERN misrepresented that co-defendant TOWER MAINTENANCE CORP. (“TOWER”), a certified DBE, was solely performing millions of dollars of work on the two projects when in fact much of that work was performed by co-defendant SPECTRUM PAINTING CORP. (“SPECTRUM”), a non-DBE. As part of the settlement approved by U.S. District Judge Deborah A. Batts, AHERN admits and accepts responsibility for conduct alleged in the Government’s complaint and agrees to pay $3 million to the United States. The case against defendants TOWER and SPECTRUM is ongoing

 Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “Contractors who exploit the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program to unlawfully obtain millions of dollars in federal funding will be held to account. Today’s settlement reflects this Office’s commitment to root out fraud in federally funded contracts, so that legitimate minority- and women-owned businesses can participate in public construction projects.”.

 USDOT-OIG regional Special Agent-in-Charge Douglas Shoemaker said: “Today’s settlement is a positive step on the way to closing the chapter on this egregious fraud scheme involving federally funded contracts administered through the New York City Department of Transportation and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. While the damage to the integrity of DOT’s DBE program in this instance has been done, it only serves to strengthen our resolve in pursuing those whose greed prevents the legitimate participation of disadvantaged businesses in federal contracting on public transportation projects.” 

 DOI Commissioner Margaret Garnett said: “Today’s multimillion-dollar settlement demonstrates that law enforcement has its sights on exposing fraud by companies that exploit City and Federal programs aimed at increasing the participation of disadvantaged businesses in public construction projects. DOI and its partners will continue to protect the integrity and effectiveness of these programs with investigations that uncover and deter dishonest conduct.” 

 MTA Inspector General Carolyn Pokorny said: “Disadvantaged Business Enterprise regulations enable honest competition in construction contracts by ensuring an equal and inclusive playing field for all. Today’s DBE fraud settlement highlights the commitment of the Office of the MTA Inspector General, along with all of our prosecutorial and investigative partners, towards prohibiting and rooting out discrimination.” 

As alleged in the complaint filed in Manhattan federal court on March 2, 2019, AHERN was a contractor on two federally funded steel painting projects to renovate the Brooklyn Bridge and Queens Plaza. Contracts for both projects required AHERN to hire DBEs to do a percentage of the work involved and adhere to the DBE regulations. Instead of hiring qualified DBEs to perform the allotted DBE work, AHERN allowed SPECTRUM and TOWER to use TOWER’s status as a DBE to take credit for millions of dollars of work performed, managed, and supervised by non-DBE SPECTRUM. To conceal this scheme, SPECTRUM employees repeatedly identified themselves as TOWER employees in documents that AHERN passed along to supervisors on the project. AHERN and TOWER repeatedly submitted false statements and records to NYC-DOT and MTA misrepresenting that TOWER alone did all of the work allocated to DBEs and that TOWER did not hire a subcontractor to perform any of that work.

As part of the settlement, AHERN admits, acknowledges, and accepts responsibility for conduct alleged in the complaint as described below:

 In March 2010, AHERN’s superintendent met with a TOWER manager and a SPECTRUM manager to do a walk-through of the Brooklyn Bridge worksite. AHERN’s superintendent understood that the SPECTRUM manager would assist TOWER in preparing the bid TOWER submitted for its work as a DBE subcontractor on the Brooklyn Bridge Project; o I

In documents that AHERN received from TOWER and then submitted to Skanska in 2010, TOWER identified the individual who AHERN knew to be a SPECTRUM manager as a “TOWER VP” or as a TOWER employee working on the Brooklyn Bridge Project. In documents AHERN received from TOWER and then submitted to the MTA in 2011, TOWER identified the individual AHERN knew to be a SPECTRUM manager as TOWER’s superintendent for the Queens Plaza Project;

Throughout the Brooklyn Bridge and Queens Plaza Projects, AHERN managers communicated directly with the SPECTRUM manager regarding the management and supervision of the projects, including scheduling and inspecting TOWER’s DBE work, ordering materials for TOWER’s DBE work, and payment for TOWER’s DBE work. An AHERN executive also communicated directly with SPECTRUM’s owner regarding the Brooklyn Bridge and Queens Plaza Projects.

AHERN recklessly disregarded facts showing that SPECTRUM managed and supervised TOWER’s DBE work on the Brooklyn Bridge and Queens Plaza Projects.

AHERN failed to seek clarification regarding the financial and other arrangements between TOWER and SPECTRUM or request a copy of any contract or agreement between TOWER and SPECTRUM regarding SPECTRUM’s role. If AHERN had done so, and TOWER had responded truthfully, AHERN would have learned that TOWER and SPECTRUM had entered into written agreements specifying that SPECTRUM would provide project management support and furnish equipment on the Brooklyn Bridge and Queens Plaza Projects, that TOWER and SPECTRUM would split any profits from the TOWER DBE work on the Brooklyn Bridge and Queens Plaza Projects, and that in addition to the SPECTRUM manager, two other individuals AHERN believed to be TOWER managers were in fact employed by SPECTRUM.

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the USDOT-OIG, DOI, and MTA-OIG.

Friday, November 1, 2019

Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez Halloween Party



 With a line continuously down the block as children and their parents came from all directions it was questionable if Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez would attend due to an impeachment vote in Washington, and bad weather in both Washington and New York. 


Above and Below - Children go around and play in the middle area set up waiting for AOC.





Above and Below - Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez would make the event by the midway mark, and everyone wanted their picture with AOC.



Al Shaib Community Peace Meeting




  Al Shaib President Yaseen Shaibi tells of some of the accomplishments of guest Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark at the monthly community meeting. DA Clark would then get up to speak about her first term as Bronx DA, and what lies ahead for her next term. DA Clark is running on the Democratic Party line with no opposition.


Above - District Leader John Perez a regular at the community meetings gives some insight as to what is going on in the area.
Below - Shiek Musa gives an overview of the job of Bronx District Attorney.




Above - Bronx District Attorney Clark took questions, here answering a question about the new no cash bail law recently passed in Albany, When questioned about repeat offenders, she said that she did not write the new laws, but has to be guided by said new criminal laws,
Below - A group photo with DA Clark.



Bronx Chamber of Commerce Halloween Party



  Early on at the Bronx Chamber of Commerce Halloween Party are (L - R) Darry Saldana, Lisa Sorin, June Eisland, Anna Reyes, Vanessa Baijnauth, and Dolores Saldana.

BRONX VETERANS DAY PARADE November 2nd


The Bronx Veterans Parade will be taking place Saturday, November 2, 2019.
Gather with the Bronx Veterans Parade Task Team at 11:00 am at the corner of Crotona Parkway & East 175th Street Bronx NY, to start marching at 12:00 Sharp!!!

Bronx Man Sentenced To More Than 12 Years In Prison For Conspiring To Distribute Narcotics On The Dark Web


Luis Fernandez Shipped Fentanyl and Carfentanil from New York to Customers Across the United States

  Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that LUIS FERNANDEZ was sentenced to 151 months in prison for participating in a conspiracy to distribute carfentanil, fentanyl, and a fentanyl analogue over the “dark web,” and for possessing a firearm after being convicted of a felony.  Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is significantly stronger than heroin, and carfentanil is a fentanyl analogue that is approximately 100 times stronger than fentanyl.  FERNANDEZ was also ordered to forfeit $269,623 in narcotics proceeds.  FERNANDEZ pled guilty on July 30, 2019, before U.S. District Judge Denise L. Cote, who imposed today’s sentence. 

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “Luis Fernandez and his co-defendant Richard Castro sold large quantities of fentanyl and carfentanil to hundreds of individuals across the country, including over the dark web.  Today’s sentence should be another clear reminder that any short-term profits from drug dealing are not worth the long-term price.”
According to the allegations in the Superseding Information to which FERNANDEZ pled guilty, public court filings, and statements made in court:
From at least in or about November 2015 through March 2019, FERNANDEZ and his co-defendant Richard Castro[1] conspired to distribute carfentanil, fentanyl, and phenyl fentanyl (an analogue of fentanyl).  For most of this period, the conspiracy dealt drugs over the dark web, using the monikers “Chemsusa”, “Chems_usa”, and “Chemical_usa.”  Castro was an operator of these online monikers and the leader of this conspiracy.  On one dark web marketplace, Dream Market, Castro boasted that he had completed more than 3,200 transactions on other dark web markets, including more than 1,800 on AlphaBay.  The customer feedback for “Chemsusa” included, “Extremely potent and definitely the real Carf,” as well as “The Carfent is unbelievably well synthesized, keep up the amazing work.”  In June 2018, Castro, using the “Chemsusa” moniker, informed customers that he was moving his business off of dark web marketplaces and would accept purchase requests for narcotics only via encrypted email.  To learn the off-market email address, “Chems_usa” required willing customers to pay a fee.  An undercover law enforcement officer paid this fee, obtained the encrypted email address, and placed orders with Castro.  Castro’s customers paid him in Bitcoin.
FERNANDEZ managed the conspiracy’s stash house, packaged narcotics, and shipped the narcotics via U.S. mail from the New York City area to hundreds of individuals throughout the United States.  For example, in early March 2019, FERNANDEZ was observed dropping several envelopes in a mailbox in Coney Island, New York; law enforcement seized and searched these envelopes, each of which contained carfentanil. 
In mid-March 2019, law enforcement searched FERNANDEZ’s residence in the Bronx, New York.  During this search, officers found, among other things, the following evidence in FERNANDEZ’s bedroom: (1) mailing labels similar to those found on packages connected to the conspiracy, (2) addresses of customers who had received packages from the conspiracy, and (3) approximately 78 grams of fentanyl analogues and 307.5 grams of u-47700 (an opioid analgesic that is approximately 7.5 times more potent than morphine).  Law enforcement also recovered a fumigation mask and rubber gloves.  In a different bedroom of FERNANDEZ’s residence, law enforcement recovered a Model R-73 handgun.  Because FERNANDEZ had previously been convicted of a felony (stemming from his sale of cocaine), he was legally prohibited from possessing this handgun.
In imposing sentence, the Court stated that the defendant played a “critical” role in the conspiracy and that he was responsible for “shipping death.”
In addition to his prison term, FERNANDEZ, 42, of the Bronx, was sentenced to four years of supervised release.
Mr. Berman praised the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the New York City Police Department for their outstanding investigative work.  Mr. Berman also thanked the Internal Revenue Service and the Orange County, Florida, Sheriff’s Office for their valuable assistance.  
[1] Castro pled guilty to money laundering and narcotics distribution conspiracy on July 25, 2019.

6 Mexican Nationals Plead Guilty To International Sex Trafficking Offenses


  Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that EFRAIN GRANADOS-CORONA, a/k/a “Chavito,” a/k/a “Cepillo,” pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Andrew L. Carter to sex trafficking by use of force, fraud, or coercion.  Five additional defendants in this case – JULIO SAINZ-FLORES, a/k/a “Rogelio,” JUAN ROMERO-GRANADOS, a/k/a “Chegoya,” a/k/a “El Guero,” ALAN ROMERO-GRANADOS, a/k/a “El Flaco,” PEDRO ROJAS-ROMERO, and EMILIO ROJAS-ROMERO – pled guilty to sex trafficking offenses last month before U.S. District Judge Andrew L. Carter.

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “These defendants systematically preyed on innocent women and girls in Mexico, smuggled them into the United States, and forced them into prostitution – depriving them of their freedom and dignity.  The devastation to these victims caused by the defendants is beyond comprehension.  With the defendants’ guilty pleas, we seek to deliver justice for the victims, and to deter others from engaging in this reprehensible conduct.”
According to the allegations in the Indictment to which each defendant pled guilty, public court filings, and statements made in court: 
EFRAIN GRANADOS-CORONA, a/k/a “Chavito,” a/k/a “Cepillo,” JULIO SAINZ-FLORES, a/k/a “Rogelio,” JUAN ROMERO-GRANADOS, a/k/a “Chegoya,” a/k/a “El Guero,” ALAN ROMERO-GRANADOS, a/k/a “El Flaco,” PEDRO ROJAS-ROMERO, and EMILIO ROJAS-ROMERO, the defendants, are members of an international sex trafficking organization (the “STO”).  Many of the members of the STO are related by blood, marriage and community. 
Between at least in or about 2000 and 2016, members of the STO (the “Traffickers”) have used false promises, physical and sexual violence, threats of the same, lies, and coercion to force and coerce adult and minor women (the “Victims”) to work in prostitution in both Mexico and the United States.
In most cases, a Trafficker enticed a Victim – frequently a minor – in Mexico.  The Trafficker then used multiple means to isolate the Victim from her family.  In some cases, the Trafficker used romantic promises to induce the Victim to leave her family and live with him.  In other cases, the Trafficker raped the Victim, making it difficult for her to return to her family due to the associated stigma of the rape.  Once a Victim was separated from her family, the Trafficker frequently monitored her communications, kept her locked in an apartment, left her without food, and engaged in physical or sexual violence against the Victim.  Traffickers often told Victims that the Traffickers owed a significant debt and that the Victim must work in prostitution to assist in repaying the debt.  Traffickers typically began forcing the Victims to work in prostitution in Mexico.  Victims were often required to see at least 20 to 40 customers per day.  Traffickers monitored the number of clients a Victim saw by surveilling the Victim, communicating with brothel workers, and by counting the number of condoms provided to a Victim.  Traffickers typically required the Victims to turn over all of the prostitution proceeds to the Traffickers. 
After a Victim worked in prostitution in Mexico for some time, Traffickers typically arranged for the Victim to be smuggled into the United States.  Members of the STO assisted one another in making smuggling arrangements.  In many cases, multiple Traffickers and multiple Victims were smuggled into the United States together.  In other cases, one Trafficker remained in Mexico while arranging for a Victim to be smuggled together with another Trafficker and other Victims.
Once in the United States, the members of the STO generally maintained their Victims at one of several shared apartments in New York City.  Victims living in the same apartment were frequently forbidden to communicate with one another.  Once in the United States, Traffickers continued to use physical and sexual violence, threats of the same, lies, and coercion to force the Victims to work in prostitution. 
In most cases, the Trafficker or another member of the STO provided a Victim with contact information with which to find work.  The Victims typically worked weeklong shifts either in a brothel, or in a “delivery service.”  In a delivery service, the Victim was delivered to a customer’s home by a “driver.”  These brothels and delivery services were located both within New York and in surrounding states, including but not limited to Connecticut, Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey, and Delaware.
Generally, each customer paid $30-35 for 15 minutes of sex.  Of that, half of the money typically went to the driver (in the case of a delivery service) or to the brothel.  The other $15 went to the Victim, who was then typically forced to give all of the proceeds to the Trafficker.  When a Trafficker was unavailable, a Victim might also give the proceeds to another member of the STO.
The Traffickers then frequently sent, or had their Victims send, some of the prostitution proceeds to Traffickers’ family members and associates in Mexico by wire transfer.  Such transfers provided financial assistance to the Traffickers’ families and provided financial support to the Traffickers themselves if they returned to Mexico.   
EFRAIN GRANADOS-CORONA, 43, of Mexico, pled guilty to sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
JULIO SAINZ-FLORES, 37, of Mexico, pled guilty to sex trafficking of a minor, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
JUAN ROMERO-GRANADOS, 33, ALAN ROMERO-GRANADOS, 28, PEDRO ROJAS-ROMERO, 40, and EMILIO ROJAS-ROMERO, 37, all of Mexico, pled guilty to conspiring to commit sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
The defendants are scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Carter in early 2020.

Attorney General James Provides Funds For Police Body-Worn Cameras To The Rochester Police Department And Monroe County Sheriff's Office


AG Presents Checks for more than $163,000 to Agencies for 100 Body-Worn Camera Systems as Part of Statewide Program to Support Local Law Enforcement

   Attorney General Letitia James today presented the Rochester Police Department and Monroe County Sheriff’s Office with checks to support body-worn camera (BWC) programs. The Rochester Police Department received $104,450 for 70 body-worn camera systems and 15 body-worn camera docking stations. The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office will receive approximately $59,694 for approximately 30 body-worn camera systems and six body-worn camera docking stations. These funds were provided by the Attorney General’s Capture an Account of a Material Situation (CAMS) program, which is awarding 13 law enforcement agencies around the state with more than $1 million to purchase 891 body-worn cameras and 321 body-worn camera systems through the CAMS program.

“Body-cameras are commonsense tools that protect both civilians and law enforcement,” said Attorney General Letitia James. “They are critical for transparency and accountability, but too often law enforcement agencies do not have the resources needed to outfit their officers. These funds will go a long way in increasing public safety and I am proud to play a role in protecting communities in Rochester and across Monroe County.”
The CAMS program, which was launched in July 2018 and is funded with money recovered from organized crime takedowns carried out by the Attorney General’s Office, provides body-worn cameras and body-worn camera systems to local law enforcement agencies. Body-worn cameras create independent accounts of encounters between police and the public, increasing transparency and accountability and often providing critical evidence in investigations.
In addition to the Rochester Police Department and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, funds have been or will be provided to:
Albany County Sheriff’s Office 
Amherst Police Department 
Buffalo Police Department 
Niagara Falls Police Department 
Suffolk County Police Department 
Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office 
Syracuse Police Department 
Troy Police Department 
Utica Police Department 
Ulster County Sheriff’s Office 
Westchester County Department of Public Safety  

Attorney General James Provides Funds For Police Body-Worn Cameras To The Buffalo, Niagara Falls, And Amherst Police Departments


AG Presents Checks for more than $238,000 to Three Agencies for 442 Body-Worn Cameras as Part of Statewide Program to Support Local Law Enforcement Departments 

 Attorney General Letitia James today presented the Buffalo, Niagara Falls, and Amherst Police Departments with funds to support body-worn camera (BWC) programs. The Buffalo Police Department received $150,000 for 300 BWCs, the Amherst Police Department received $37,240 for 49 BWCs, and the Niagara Falls Police Department will receive $51,759 for 93 BWCs and eight BWC docking stations. These funds were provided by the Attorney General’s Capture an Account of a Material Situation (CAMS) program, which is awarding 13 law enforcement agencies around the state with more than $1 million to purchase 891 body-worn cameras and 321 body-worn camera systems through the CAMS program. 

“The safety of our communities is our top priority and body-worn cameras are critical tools for promoting public safety,” said Attorney General Letitia James. “Body-worn cameras provide increased transparency and accountability that help to keep all New Yorkers safe. Communities throughout Erie and Niagara Counties will be better served because of this program.”
The CAMS program, which was launched in July 2018 and is funded with money recovered from organized crime takedowns carried out by the Attorney General’s Office, provides body-worn cameras and body-worn camera systems to local law enforcement agencies. Body-worn cameras create independent accounts of encounters between police and the public, increasing transparency and accountability and often providing critical evidence in investigations. 
In addition to the Buffalo, Niagara Falls, and Amherst Police Departments, funds have been or will be provided to:
Albany County Sheriff’s Office
Monroe County Sheriff’s Office
Rochester Police Department
Suffolk County Police Department
Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office
Syracuse Police Department
Troy Police Department
Utica Police Department
Ulster County Sheriff’s Office
Westchester County Department of Public Safety


Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. Halloween Eve Party




  I crashed Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.'s Private Halloween Eve Party Thursday night, for the above photo. BP Diaz Jr,'s costume was Terrifier from the Stephen King movie below. Hilda Diaz his wife and childhood sweetheart is to the far right with Devilish horns above her head. I left quickly after taking the photo remembering the movie, and looking at BP Diaz Jr's smile. I did not get the names of the other two lovely ladies in the photo or know of their fate afterwards. You can see the remarkable resemblance of BP Diaz Jr. to the character in the movie.

It (1990)

Thursday, October 31, 2019

STATEMENT FROM MAYOR BILL DE BLASIO ON PASSAGE OF COMMERCIAL WASTE ZONE LEGISLATION


 “I’m excited to see the Council’s passage of commercial waste zoning legislation today, and I’d like to thank Council Member Antonio Reynoso and Speaker Corey Johnson for their hard work to get this bill passed. This victory would not have been possible without their visionary leadership and the support of labor and advocacy groups.

“The historic vote today has been years in the making. Back in 2015 when I joined this process as part of the OneNYC plan, I wanted to completely reform this industry by making it safer for New Yorkers, cleaner for the environment, and more fair for workers. This plan achieves all these goals. Intro 1574-A will cut more than 18 million truck miles per year from our streets, while also preserving customer choice and keeping costs down.

“With the passage of this legislation, we've all but realized these once-ambitious goals and made an impact on two major priorities: It’ll help us in our pursuit of Vision Zero, getting dangerous trucks off the street and reducing incentives to ignore traffic laws and endanger pedestrians. And it shows how we can tackle climate change and drastically reduce carbon emissions among commercial carters while protecting jobs with fair wages and strong labor standards. I’m excited to sign this bill into law and implement a new system that will make such a difference in the lives of New Yorkers.”

STATEMENT FROM MAYOR DE BLASIO ON COUNCIL PASSAGE OF SAFE STREETS MASTER PLAN LEGISLATION


 “Congratulations to the Council on passage of this legislation, which will continue the City’s progress on Vision Zero, helping to make New York City’s streets even safer in the years and decades to come. Since the start of my administration, the City has built four times as many miles of on-street protected bike lanes as under every other mayor combined, and together with the Council we will continue to build infrastructure that will carry on the work that has brought down fatalities for the last five years.

“That work has recently continued under the ambitious commitments made this year in our Better Buses and Green Wave cycling plans, and we look forward to continuing work with elected officials and communities on creating new bus lanes and protected bike lanes in their districts even before this new Master Plan takes effect. I’m confident the City will continue to lay the critical groundwork that will firmly cement New York City’s reputation as the nation’s leader on street safety.”

BUSINESSES NEAR YANKEE STADIUM THREATENED BY NEW MERCHANDISING DEAL


A new contract between Nike and Major League Baseball has the potential to destroy the business district outside of Yankee Stadium

BP Diaz has written to MLB, Nike & the New York Yankees, urging them to protect Bronx businesses & allow local merchants to continue selling official merchandise

  Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. is calling on Nike, Major League baseball and the New York Yankees to reverse a potentially ruinous decision that prevents merchants surrounding Yankee Stadium from selling official Yankee merchandise.

A new merchandising agreement between Major League Baseball and Nike set to go into effect in 2020 will prevent most official league merchandise—including New York Yankees merchandise—from being sold at locations that are not considered “premium distribution points” by Nike.

This decision means that eight family-owned Bronx businesses—Ballpark Sports, D & J Variety, Home Plate, Pinstripe Collectibles, Sammy’s, S & A Sports, Stadium Souvenirs and Stan’s Sports World—will no longer be able to sell official Yankees merchandise. Since Yankees merchandise represents between 70 and 80 percent of each store’s total business, these merchants would be forced to close. These businesses employ 100 people and represent millions of dollars in economic activity each year.

“If these eight businesses can no longer sell official Yankees merchandise they will be forced to close, and the area surrounding the stadium will be a ghost town,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. “These eight businesses have been selling official merchandise for decades, and are the core of the business district surrounding the stadium. Preventing them from continuing to do just that devastate the economy in the area surrounding the stadium and put 100 people out of work. This is totally unacceptable.”

The full letter can be read at https://on.nyc.gov/2q4IvWb.

Borough President Diaz also noted that roughly $1.2 billion in taxpayer funding was used to construct the new Yankee Stadium, and that a key argument supporting that construction was the economic development that the stadium would spur in the surrounding area. Borough President Diaz called on the Yankees to stay true to this promise and intervene on behalf of these eight businesses.

“Taxpayers spent a great deal of money building the Yankees their new stadium. It is incumbent on the team to intervene on behalf of these eight businesses and get them grandfathered in to this new agreement, given their long history of selling official merchandise,” said Borough President Diaz. “It is time for the New York Yankees to step up to the plate and be a good neighbor. Failing to do so will cloud the team’s relationship with the surrounding community for decades to come.”

STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO PASSAGE OF INTRO. 1574 SMALL BUSINESS COMMERCIAL CARTING BILL


The Third Avenue Business Improvement District echos the message of disappointment from our small business colleagues on the New York City Council's passage of Intro. 1574 on small business commercial carting and trash removal. The City Council has ignored the concerns of small business owners by hastily passing a commercial waste zone plan that limits competition and restricts consumer choice with the intention  to harm the small businesses that drive New York City's economy.  This plan puts politics above constituents.  

This policy has failed when implemented elsewhere, and it is especially disheartening and shortsighted to see it implemented  in New York City when evidenced based alternatives are available. The Council should work with experts, community stakeholders, and businesses alike to strike a reasonable balance and achieve a smart, workable solution, not rush through a poorly-thought-out policy like this.  This policy was crafted by special interest and will lead to more garbage on our streets, shutter our largely immigrant owned businesses, and join a slew of other City policies that are passed on the backs of mom and pop shops.

"Our small business community has organized for over 2 years around what we thought was a fair bill that balanced small business choice with important safeguards that protect employee and public safety, and the environment" said Michael Brady, Executive Director of the Third Avenue BID, Southern Boulevard BID, and Bruckner Boulevard Commercial Corridor, "A balance that would not price gouge or price fix a major service industry in New York City or add new costs to have garbage removed.  It seems now that the New York City Council was swayed by special interest and forgot about the work we had been doing together for over two years.  This is very unfortunate and will have severe repercussions."

The business improvement districts will continue to work with local businesses to mitigate the damage of this legislation and will hold accountable those members of the Council that voted against their constituents. 

Wave Hill events Nov 14‒Nov 21


Thu, November 14

Garden Highlights Walk

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

Fri, November 15

Garden Highlights Walk

Join a Wave Hill Garden Guide for a public tour of seasonal garden highlights. This is the last weekday Garden Highlights Walk until next spring. Sunday afternoon walks continue year-round. Free with admission to the grounds.

Meet at Perkins Visitor Center, 1PM

Sat, November 16

Family Art Project: Three Sisters Companion Planting 

Honor the indigenous wisdom of companion planting by sampling in crafts that use corn husks, winter squash, and climbing beans. Take time to better understand the history of Seneca women’s relationship to companion planting and imagine how you can use the wisdom of Three Sisters companion planting to forge a new relationship with harvest time. 
Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon.

Wave Hill House, 10AM–1PM

Sat, November 16

Gallery Tour

Tour Glyndor Gallery with Wave Hill’s Curatorial Assistant or Gallery Greeter to get an insider’s view of current exhibitions. A flower’s life cycle of budding, blooming and pollinating, as well as its process of decay, strongly echoes the human condition. The exhibition Figuring the Floral features artists who apply this symbolism to their work—touching on race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexual orientation, aging and other facets of identity. Participating artists are Derrick AdamsNicole AwaiBahar BehbahaniChristian Ruiz BermanSanford Biggers, Cecile ChongMax Colby, Abigail DeVilleValerie HegartyChristopher K. Ho and Kevin ZuckerDiana LozanoNatalia NakazawaEbony G. PattersonBundith PhunsombatlertLina PuertaSimonette QuaminaDavid Rios FerreiraAlexandria SmithKatherine ToukhyLina Iris ViktorWilliam Villalongo and Saya Woolfalk. Free with admission to the grounds.

Glyndor Gallery, 2PM

Sun, November 17

Family Art Project: Three Sisters Companion Planting 

Honor the indigenous wisdom of companion planting by sampling in crafts that use corn husks, winter squash, and climbing beans. Take time to better understand the history of Seneca women’s relationship to companion planting and imagine how you can use the wisdom of Three Sisters companion planting to forge a new relationship with harvest time. 
Free with admission to the grounds.

Wave Hill House, 10AM–1PM

Sun, November 17

Garden Highlights Walk

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

Sun, November 17

Virtuoso pianists and Cuban brothers Orlay Alonso and Orlando Alonso return to perform a program scored expressly for two pianos. Their program brings to life Cuba’s rich musical heritage, with mambo, cha cha, salsa, bolero, son, donzón, congo and more. Concerts begin at 2PM and last approximately one hour without intermission. Tickets: Adults: $28 (includes admission to the grounds). Wave Hill Members save 10%. $12 children ages 8 to 18, unless otherwise noted. Purchase tickets online at wavehill.org or onsite at the Perkins Visitor Center. To learn more, call 718.549.3200 x251.

Wave Hill House, 2PM

Mon, November 18

Wave Hill is closed.

Tue, November 19

Gallery Tour

Tour Glyndor Gallery with Wave Hill’s Curatorial Assistant or Gallery Greeter to get an insider’s view of current exhibitions. A flower’s life cycle of budding, blooming and pollinating, as well as its process of decay, strongly echoes the human condition. The exhibition Figuring the Floral features artists who apply this symbolism to their work—touching on race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexual orientation, aging and other facets of identity. Participating artists are Derrick AdamsNicole AwaiBahar BehbahaniChristian Ruiz BermanSanford Biggers, Cecile ChongMax Colby, Abigail DeVilleValerie HegartyChristopher K. Ho and Kevin ZuckerDiana LozanoNatalia NakazawaEbony G. PattersonBundith PhunsombatlertLina PuertaSimonette QuaminaDavid Rios FerreiraAlexandria SmithKatherine ToukhyLina Iris ViktorWilliam Villalongo and Saya Woolfalk. 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, 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. 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.

Read Along with Speaker Heastie and Senator Bailey


 The Eastchester Library on Gun Hill Road Wednesday morning was the place to be if you wanted to read a book with New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and State Senator Jamaal Bailey. Speaker Heastie read from the book Undefeated, While Senator Jamaal Bailey read from the book Crown. 

Both elected officials talked softly and slow to the children (a break from the normal Albany Chatter), while keeping the children interested in the books being read. This was a usual read-along that takes place on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, but there were special guests to read to the children Jean Pomphile (Executive Director for the East Bronx Network)  said. He added  that about once a month or so a special guest may drop in to read to the children.



Above - Speaker Heastie reading from his book Undefeated.
Below - Senator Jamaal Bailey reading from his book Crown.  




The staff of the Eastchester Library with Speaker Hestie and Senator Bailey

Groundbreaking of the I.S.339 and I.S. 313 Community Playground.





Tuesday was the groundbreaking for a new Community Playground in the huge play area next to IS 339 and IS 313. The re is currently a play area for the students of both schools,but is in need of many repairs. 

In comes the the partnership of the Trust for Public Land,NYC Department of Education, NYC Department of Environmental Protection, NYC School Construction authority, and the New York Road Runners along with Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and City Councilwoman Vanessa Gibson to provide the funding needed to renovate this dilapidated playground into a Community Playground of the future. Councilwoman Vanessa Gibson and state Senator Gustavo River were scheduled to appear, but had city and state business they could not get out of.


Above - A drawing of the finished Community Playground.
Below - Eighth Grade student Salyrah tells of her role on the Design Committee 




 Assemblyman Michael Blake in a race against members of the New York Road Runners comes in third as they cross the finish line.