Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz - Dinowitz Digest: Tractor Trailers, NYCHA Needs, Poll of the Week, & More

 

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What's Happening in the 81st Assembly District?

Russian Invasion of Ukraine Hits Close to Home Pushing Back Against Tractor Trailers Parking on Our Local Streets Greystone Avenue Cave-In Taking More Time to Fix Update on Fort Independence Houses Capital Needs Tax Season is Here — Where to Find Free Tax Prep Help Local Update: Stop Sign Coming to Wakefield at Byron Avenue and East 237th Street Albany Update: Two More Dinowitz Bills Pass Assembly Poll of the Week: Mask Requirements for Children Too Young to be Vaccinated REMINDER: March, April, & May Dates for MetroCard Van Services in Woodlawn and Central Riverdale Updates from Government & Community Partners

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Russian Invasion of Ukraine Hits Close to Home

Russia's war on Ukraine may not be an issue that a state legislator has much influence on, but as Putin's aggression continues into its third week — I want to take a moment to acknowledge what is happening. My heart goes out to every Ukrainian who is caught up in this unjustified war, whether they are trying to escape or they are staying to fight for their continued independence from Russia. I recently attended two rallies in solidarity with Ukraine, both held in our community outside of the Russian Diplomatic Compound on Mosholu Avenue. I am proud of how many members of our community showed up to show their support for Ukraine. Additionally, I want to take a moment to recognize that there are a lot of people living in our community who are Russian — many of whom have lived here for many years. From what I have seen, both here in the Bronx and throughout New York City, many Russian immigrants have been incredibly vocal in support of Ukraine — which may not be the easiest decision for those who have family still living in Russia. For those of us who grew up during the Cold War, the overarching threat of a nuclear power acting aggressively and in opposition to the vast majority of the world is deeply disquieting. I do not envy President Biden and our leaders in Congress who are faced with major decisions about how to combat Russian aggression without setting off a nuclear war. I support the sanctions which have been imposed thus far, but there do not seem to be very many straightforward decisions left to make. I stand with Ukraine.

Pushing Back Against Tractor Trailers Parking on Our Local Streets

In recent months, although there have been periodic issues for a long time, there has been a concerning increase in the frequency of tractor trailers parking on our local streets. This problem appears to be especially concentrated on three areas that I am aware of: Nereid Avenue Bridge across the Bronx River Parkway, Webster Avenue next to Woodlawn Cemetery, and Jerome Avenue next to the Major Deegan Expressway. Although I am sympathetic to the working conditions of truck drivers, who are subject to legally required breaks where they are not allowed to drive more than a certain number of hours in a given time period, we cannot have a system that allows tractor trailers to take over local streets in our own neighborhoods. In particular, I am concerned about the possibility that having so many tractor trailers parked on top of the Nereid Avenue Bridge may be causing structural harm. To this end, along with Council Member Eric Dinowitz, I have contacted the NYC Department of Transportation as well as the NYPD to address this problem. In our letter to DOT Commissioner Rodriguez, we asked for help with three things: coordination with NYPD to remove chronic violators of no parking regulations for commercial vehicles, inspection of the Nereid Avenue Bridge to ensure that no damage has been done by these tractor trailers, and designation of tractor trailer rest areas in New York City which include legal parking spaces as well as sanitary services such as restroom facilities. Please contact my office if there are additional locations where there are chronic problems with tractor trailers parking on local streets, and we will incorporate them into our conversations with DOT and NYPD.

Greystone Avenue Cave-In Taking More Time to Fix

For many months, there has been a recurring cave-in on Greystone Avenue which the Department of Environmental Protection has worked to fix several times. This cave-in, which is currently marked off by construction barriers while it is being fixed, only compounds the parking challenges created by several active construction sites in the area (including a very ill-advised construction project next to Brust Park). My office has been in communication with the DEP about this, and they have told us that there is utility interference from Con Edison that needs to be resolved before they can make the needed repairs to sewer infrastructure. We have also contacted Con Edison to ask about when they can address this utility interference issue. I understand the impatience from local residents, especially considering how many parking spaces have already been lost to construction sites. However, I urge everyone to remain as patient as they can — this is an issue that has reoccurred several times and it seems clear that the roadway will continue caving in unless the underlying cause is fixed. As aggravating as it is to have to deal with this now, I think it would be even worse if the roadway collapsed — or worse.

Update on Fort Independence Houses Capital Needs

My office and I have continued to work with NYCHA to address the significant backlog of capital needs at Fort Independence Houses. As you may recall, there is an ongoing issue with the boiler at Fort Independence — exacerbated by a recent breakdown of the temporary boiler during a very cold couple of days in January. In recent weeks, I hosted a meeting with NYCHA leadership, Fort Independence Tenant Association President Barbara Lauray, representatives from the MMCC Cornerstone Project and Senior Center programs at Fort Independence, a representative from Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition (who have been working with tenants to get weatherization improvements installed to help with heating and indoor air quality issues), and a representative from the Office of Council Member Pierina Sanchez. We discussed a litany of capital needs, including the need to fix the permanent boiler as well as getting the community center space reopened. We also discussed other concerns, including the installation of windows that apparently do not fit correctly and allow rainwater to come inside. With regard to the boiler issue, I was told that they are installing a second temporary boiler to add redundancy and ensure that there is a reliable supply of heat and hot water for all residents. Additionally, they are working to functionally replace the permanent boiler – however there are highly customized parts that are being procured and they basically need to replace every single part of the system. My office was notified this week that multiple elevators on the Bailey Avenue side were not working because of a leak. My office contacted NYCHA and, as of last night, elevator technicians were working to fix the elevators that had water damage. At least one elevator on the Bailey Avenue side was working, which is important because otherwise residents would be forced to walk all the way around to the Fort Independence Street side (which is a quarter-mile uphill walk away) in order to get into their homes. We will continue fighting for residents at Fort Independence Houses, and everyone in our community who is having housing issues, and please continue to notify my office if there are issues in your building that need to be addressed.

Tax Season is Here — Where to Find Free Tax Prep Help

It's that time of year again — time to file your taxes! My office has the most common state tax forms available in our office (we do not have the instruction books, but those are available online here: https://www.tax.ny.gov/forms/form_number_order_income.htm). If you need a form that is more unusual, please contact my office and we may be able to print one out for you (within reason — please note that the IT-201 instruction booklet is 72 pages). The city also has once again made available free tax preparation assistance for families with dependents who earned $72,000 or less as well as individuals who earned $50,000 or less in 2021. Information on that program is available here. There are several in-person locations for free tax prep help through New York City. The full list is available here (https://a866-dcwpwb.nyc.gov/ftps_map/), and I have listed the closest ones to our community below. Please note that each site has its own protocol for whether appointments are required, what types of filings they can help with, what the income requirements are, languages available, and COVID-19 safety protocols. Please contact the site directly before going to ensure that you are prepared when you arrive. • 3350 Bailey Avenue (Fort Independence Houses) — operated by Mosholu Montefiore Community Center Phone: 718-882-4000 ext. 209 Income Limit: $48,000 (individuals without dependents) or $68,000 (families with dependents) Hours: Saturday from 11:00am to 7:00pm • 3450 DeKalb Avenue (Mosholu Montefiore Community Center) Phone: 718-882-4000 ext. 209 Income Limit: $65,000 (individuals without dependents) or $68,000 (families with dependents) Hours: Monday-Friday from 11:00am to 7:00pm • 4100 Lowerre Place (Wakefield Library) — operated by Ariva Phone: 718-652-4663 Income Limit: $32,000 (individuals without dependents) or $58,000 (families with dependents) Hours: Friday from 10:00am to 4:00pm • 4141 Carpenter Avenue (Montefiore-Wakefield) — operated by BronxWorks Phone: 646-430-4827 Income Limit: $50,000 (individuals without dependents) or $72,000 (families with dependents) Hours: Thursday from 9:00am to 4:00pm • 4471 Mundy Lane (Agatha House Foundation) — operated by Food Bank for NYC Phone: 718-514-1170 Income Limit: $60,000 (individuals without dependents) or $60,000 (families with dependents) Hours: Monday from 2:00pm to 5:00pm, Friday from 6:00pm to 9:00pm, Saturday from 9:00am to 2:00pm • 310 East Kingsbridge Road (Bronx Library Center) — operated by Ariva Phone: 718-579-4244 Income Limit: $32,000 (individuals without dependents) or $58,000 (families with dependents) Hours: Friday from 10:00am to 4:00pm • 54 Nagle Avenue (Washington Heights YM & YWHA) — operated by Fedcap Phone: 212-569-6354 Income Limit: $50,000 (individuals without dependents) or $72,000 (families with dependents) Hours: Monday from 9:00am to 3:00pm, Wednesday from 9:00am to 3:00pm

Local Update: Stop Sign Coming to Wakefield at Byron Avenue and East 237th Street

I am pleased to share that the NYC Department of Transportation has approved a multi-way stop request at the intersection of Byron Avenue and East 237th Street. This is a request that I advocated in favor of along with a number of community residents who organized petition signatures as well as worked with the Wakefield Taxpayers Association, Bronx Community 12, and other local elected officials to get done. The underlying need for a stop sign is to help combat speeding drivers who cut through the neighborhood to avoid traffic lights. I hope that this multi-way stop sign is installed soon so that local residents can feel safer walking around their neighborhood, and I will continue to advocate for any additional safety improvements that are needed. If you have a location that you think needs a stop sign, or any other kind of safety improvement, please contact my office at DinowitzJ@nyassembly.gov. If you submit a request to DOT yourself (here: https://www1.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/contact/contact-form-map.shtml), please feel free to send me the reference number and so that we can include it in any advocacy efforts that we do.

Albany Update: Two More Dinowitz Bills Pass Assembly

I am pleased to share that two more of my bills have passed the Assembly this week. Both bills have passed the Assembly before, but died in the State Senate. The first bill (A1877) pertains to prohibiting pre-payment penalties for mortgages for coop buildings. This legislation would forbid pre-payment penalties and fees from being charged or collected on a loan or forbearance for coop buildings where at least fifty percent of the units are shareholder-occupied. It would also make such pre-payment penalties unenforceable. This legislation functionally extends protections from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau that are already offered to single family units, including those in a coop, but not currently for an entire coop building. Furthermore, state regulations limit the ability of lenders to impose a pre-payment penalty for loans with high interest rates in coop buildings that contain one-to-six family owner-occupied residences. Similar legislation has been enacted in Colorado, and I believe it will help coop buildings better manage their finances and prevent them from being trapped in a bad mortgage with their only option being foreclosure. The second bill (A2085A) pertains to colorectal cancer screenings. This legislation would require health insurance providers to provide coverage for colorectal cancer screenings in accordance with the American Cancer Society guidelines for average risk individuals. These screenings are currently recommended for people starting at age 45. Colon cancer is the second leading cancer killer in the United States and is the primary cancer killer when you eliminate smoking-related cancers. With colonoscopy screening, the diagnosis rate of colon cancer falls from one in every seventeen Americans to one in one hundred Americans. The sooner colorectal cancer is discovered, the more effective treatment will be — and this legislation would remove a critical barrier that often prevents people from getting the screenings that could save their lives. Both of these bills now go to the State Senate, where I urge my colleagues to finally take action on them so that we can move New York forward with better financial tools available to coop buildings and fewer people dying of colorectal cancer.

Poll of the Week: Mask Requirements for Children Too Young to be Vaccinated

The poll last week asked "Do you support allowing bars and restaurants to sell to-go alcohol on a permanent basis?" We had well over one hundred responses, and the results from that poll are as follows: Yes: 32% No: 60% Undecided or It Depends: 7%

This week's poll involves mask requirements for children. As you may recall, Mayor Adams recently lifted the mask requirement for schoolkids aged five and older. However, he left in place the mask requirement for both staff and children between the ages of two and five to wear a face mask in a childcare setting. Current city policy does allow a childcare program to modify this requirement when appropriate for the developmental needs of the child.

Do you support a continued mask requirement for children who are too young to be vaccinated? Yes Select No Select Undecided or It Depends Select

REMINDER: March, April, & May Dates for MetroCard Van Services in Woodlawn and Central Riverdale

At our request, the MTA has agreed to provide their MetroCard van in central Riverdale and in Woodlawn once again during the months of March, April, and May. This is an easy way for you to apply for a reduced-fare MetroCard, to refill a MetroCard (including reduced-fare MetroCards), or to deal with any other MetroCard-related issue you may be having. The MetroCard van will be available at West 235th Street and Johnson Avenue between 9:30am and 11:30am, and will be available at the Woodlawn Library (Katonah Avenue and East 239th Street) between 12:30pm and 2:30pm on the following dates: • Tuesday, March 29 • Friday, April 29 • Tuesday, May 31 As a reminder, the MetroCard van is also available on a recurring basis at the following locations: • Riverdale at Skyview Shopping Center (Riverdale Avenue between West 256th Street and West 259th Street) on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month between 10:30am and 12:30pm • Kingsbridge at West 231st Street and Broadway on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month between 1:30pm and 3:30pm • Knolls Crescent Mall (11-21 Knolls Crescent) on the 2nd and 4th Friday between 10am and 12pm My office will continue to advocate for the restoration of MetroCard van service to the Van Cortlandt Senior Center as well as the permanent addition of the locations in central Riverdale and Woodlawn to their regular schedule. The MTA has also indicated that riders can refill their MetroCards at participating retailers throughout the city. For a list of these retailers, please visit: tripplanner.mta.info/metrocardmerchants/BoroughMetroCardMap.aspx?zone=BX. Additionally, for those who are comfortable with online payments, the MTA will continue rolling out OMNY (which is their new fare payment system to replace the MetroCard). Using OMNY, you can pay for your transit fare using you contactless card (check your credit or debit card for