Council Member Marjorie Velázquez - What's Happening in District 13

 

Dear Neighbor,

In this week’s email, you will find information regarding upcoming events, including an upcoming Public Hearing - Vote for the Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection. For information regarding the bill that will be voted on, please scroll to the ‘Legislative Corner.’ For those interested in upcoming events and community resources, you will find a plethora of information, including family days and movie nights, critical information for our seniors, and educational resources such as scholarships, internships, and more.

In the meantime, if you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, please call us at (718) 931-1721 or email us at District13@council.nyc.gov.

Wishing you all a beautiful and joyous weekend.

Sincerely,

Council Member Marjorie Velázquez

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN DISTRICT 13

Family Summer Series Returns!

Mark your calendars! I am happy to announce that Family Day and Movies Under the Stars will return next month. This year’s movies are perfect for the entire family and can be found throughout the district for all to participate in. As each event approaches, we will share it with you not only through this email, but also across our social media channels. If you have any questions or would like more information, please call our office at 718-931-1721 or email District13@council.nyc.gov.

Construction Advisories

Hutchinson River Parkway

The NYC DOT Division of Bridges has extended the weeknight full closures until Friday, April 21. They will close the northbound Hutchinson River Parkway between Exit 1B: E Tremont/Westchester Ave and the Northbound entrance ramp from Hutchinson River Parkway East. The closure will occur Monday to Friday in the following stages.

• Single Lane Closure - 10 PM to 5 AM

• Full Closure - 11:30 PM to 4:30 AM

Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection

On Tuesday, April 11 at 11 AM, the Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection will vote on legislation regarding the disclosure of service fee charges associated with tickets to entertainment events in New York City.

To watch the vote live, follow the below link:

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https://council.nyc.gov/livestream/

NYC Department of Sanitation - Notice of Public Hearing

On April 27, 2023 at 10 AM, DSNY will hold a public hearing regarding a proposal to amend the rules regarding residential collection of designated recyclable materials to require source separation of yard waste and to allow for the commingling of organic waste with source-separated yard waste.

To join the hearing, follow the below link:

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https://departmentofsanitationnewyork.my.webex.com/departmentofsanitationnewyork.my/j.php?MTID=m21e40a96266cbed7b02b34d15e02e277

Meeting Number: 2634-774-0670

Password: kpUpySx3u83

If joining by phone

• 1-408-428-9388

• Access Code: 263-477-40670

To Testify

• Online: https://rules.cityofnewyork.us by April 27, 2023

• Email: nycrules@dsny.nyc.gov by April 27, 2023

• To speak during the hearing: mliguori@dsny.nyc.gov by 5 PM on April 26

HPD Hiring Fair

The NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development will host a hiring event on Saturday, April 15 from 9 AM to 3 PM. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about current vacancies and will have a chance to interview with someone from the HPD’s Division of Tenant Resources. It is encouraged to have multiple copies of your resume and a valid photo ID with you during the event. If you would like to submit your resume and cover letter ahead of the event, please email DTRPersonnel@hpd.nyc.gov by April 13, 2023.

Temporary Water Bill Amnesty

The NYC Department of Environmental Protection is offering limited one-time amnesty with up to 100% interest forgiveness for all delinquent customers. If you owe water or wastewater charges, you may be eligible. To determine your eligibility, see available options, and receive amnesty immediately, click here to use the Amnesty Look Up Tool. The deadline to apply is Sunday, April 30.

More Information

Annual Bronx Child Safety Fair

Did you know April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month? To promote awareness, the Bronx District Attorney’s Office will host their 6th Annual Child Safety Fair on Saturday, April 15 from 11 AM to 3 PM at the Baychester Community Center (1220 E 228th Street, Bronx, NY 10466). The Child Safety Fair aims to engage and provide education to the community about children’s safety and wellness.

ECHO Free Clinic

Next Saturday, April 15 at 10 AM, ECHO will host an in-person presentation on their free services and scheduling eligible attendees at their Bronx clinic site, located at 1894 Walton Avenue, Bronx, NY. For more information, please call 347-854-0170

Citizens Committee NYC - Community Grants

Did you know Citizens Committee for NYC is accepting applications for community grants? Citizens Committee for NYC is one of the nation’s oldest micro-funding organizations and is offering community grants of up to $3,000 and small business micro-grants of up to $10,000 to small businesses.

The deadline to apply is Monday, May 1, 2023.

Apply Here

Understanding Elder Abuse The Neighborhood Self Help by Older Persons Project is a non-profit social service agency located in the Bronx, that serves older adults and families caring for ill, frail, or disabled loved ones. SHOPP’s mission is based on the philosophy of self-help, and they believe older adults are capable of helping themselves and helping others improve their capacity to deal with the physical, emotional, social, and financial challenges they face as they age. To spread awareness and education around their programs and services, SHOPP will be hosting several workshops in the coming weeks. We invite you to share these webinars with a friend, a neighbor, or a loved one. For more information or to register, call: 347-862-5200. Elder Abuse Referral Form JASA Older Adult Services Northeast Bronx Senior Center Bronx House High School and College Readiness Prom Dress and Suit Drive In celebration of the upcoming prom season, District Attorney Darcel D. Clark is hosting a Prom Dress and Suite Drive. We will be collecting gently worn formal dresses, suits, shoes, accessories, and handbags. Donations can be dropped off in the lobby of the Bronx District Attorney’s Office at 198 E 161st Street until April 21st.

Van Cortlandt Park Alliance - Van Cortlandt Park Alliance

Birding with NYC Audubon
Saturdays at 9am
Explore Van Cortlandt Park’s ecologically diverse grounds and celebrate a long tradition of birding in the park. Each walk will be led by a New York City Audubon guide.
RSVP Now.

Meet at VCP Nature Center.

East Meets West
Tuesday, April 11, 6-8pm
Join VCPA and Friends of Pelham Bay Park for a FUNdraiser to support programs in the two largest parks in the Bronx at the Rambling House in Woodlawn.

Tickets!

 

Earth Day Celebration
Saturday, April 22, 2-5pm
Join us at this FREE event to celebrate Earth Day. Activities include:
- Garden Projects
- Nature Crafts
- Music & Dancing with Edwin Ferreras & Company
- NYC Parks’ Urban Park Rangers
- Meet the Horses!

RSVP Encouraged.
Event will be held on the Stables Lawn and inside VCPA’s Garden & Compost Site in Van Cortlandt Park. Enter the park at Broadway and Mosholu Ave.

 

Weekend Programs at Garden & Compost Site 

This spring, VCPA will be offering two programs for kids at our newly renovated Garden & Compost Site.

Super Seedlings

Saturdays starting April 29 - Meet at 9:30am
Young adventurers, ages 3-7 with an accompanying adult, will experience nature in their city! Kids and their grown-ups will dig, plant seeds, and create crafts together.

This is a free 7-week program. Come once, twice, or all seven weeks for playing, planting, crafts, and more!
RSVP Required.
Meet at VCPA Garden and Compost Site.

 

Growing Gardeners
Saturdays starting April 29 - Meet at 12pm
Young gardeners, ages 8-11, will participate in the urban farming process by planting, growing, and harvesting vegetables.
This is a 7-week drop-off program with a $135 fee.
Register Now.

Meet at VCPA Garden and Compost Site.

 

Support Our Work in Van Cortlandt Park

 

Springtime Shindig!

Thursday, May 11 from 6:30-8pm

VCPA’s annual fundraiser to support our education, restoration, research, and community stewardship programs in Van Cortlandt Park.

Honoring Courts of Dreams Junior Board and the Friendly Fridge BX.

Tickets, Sponsorships and Journal Ads

Make a Donation
The park is really big. Our staff is really small. Only with your help can we grow our capacity, hire more staff, and take on projects to improve Van Cortlandt Park… for YOU!  Please consider a gift to Van Cortlandt Park Alliance today.

Donate!

VCPA Merch Shop!

Show your love for Van Cortlandt Park while supporting the Alliance!

Shop Now!

 

Become a Member
Members get VCPA merch and invitations to member only hikes while supporting their favorite park!

Join Now

Our Contact Information
Van Cortlandt Park Alliance
80 Van Cortlandt Park, Ste. E1
Bronx, NY 10463
718-601-1460
http://vancortlandt.org

NYGOP Chair Ed Cox Responds to Hochul, James Amicus Brief in the Hoffman litigation

 

NYGOP Chair Ed Cox released the following statement in response to the Hoffman Amicus brief filed by Governor Hochul and Attorney General James challenging New York’s 2022 Congressional maps:

 

“Democrats’ unconstitutional 2022 gerrymander was thrown out by three separate courts and Washington Democrats are now desperate to enact a new gerrymander in New York in time for the 2024 elections.

 

“The Hoffman litigation is their attempt to get the New York judiciary to disregard the will of the voters of New York who first passed the constitutional amendment that created a new redistricting process and then defeated an attempt by Democrats in Albany to weaken those reforms.

 

“By caving to an unprecedented and ham-handed use of the Senate’s ‘advice and consent’ power and by signing on to this Amicus brief for a gubernatorial-appointed appellate court, Governor Hochul is abandoning any pretense of maintaining judicial independence and respecting our state’s constitution.

 

“Albany Democrats have already corrupted the judicial nominating process via an unconstitutional program bill making it easier to do a back-room nomination deal with the Governor as well as the unprecedented rejection of the highly qualified Justice Hector LaSalle for Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals.

 

“James’ Amicus brief and its bogus arguments fueled by partisan politics is leading Governor Hochul down the path of corrupting the Court of Appeals and tarnishing its reputation as one of the greatest common law courts in the world.

 

“This is a tragedy in the making, not just for New York’s judiciary, but for New York State, as Democrats further corrupt our political and governmental processes in their pursuit of more power at all costs — in this case over the judiciary by corrupting the nominating process and appropriating the Governor’s nominating power.”

Attorney General James and Governor Hochul Urge Court to Order Independent Redistricting Commission to Redraw Congressional District Lines

 

Current District Lines were Drawn by Court-Appointed Special Master Without Accountability and with Limited Time for Public Input

New York Attorney General Letitia James and Governor Kathy Hochul today filed an amicus brief in support of efforts to redraw New York’s Congressional district lines rather than leaving the lines drawn by a court-appointed special master in place between now and the 2030 census. The state’s Independent Redistricting Commission’s (IRC) maps were rejected by the Legislature, and the Congressional maps drafted afterwards were challenged in the courts, resulting in a special master drawing lines head of the 2022 Election. In the brief, filed in the Appellate Division, Third Department, Attorney General James and Governor Hochul assert that while the special master’s maps may have been appropriate for the 2022 Election, there is significant time for IRC to generate new maps and follow the process outlined in the New York State Constitution for Congressional maps going forward.

“Our state’s Constitution makes it clear that an independent body, with participation from the general public, is charged with drawing maps for Congressional districts,” said Attorney General James. “Relying on a process with no accountability and with limited time for public input is not how we engage the public and ensure their interests are addressed throughout this process. I am committed to ensuring our electoral process is as transparent as possible and that we follow the process outlined in our Constitution. New Yorkers deserve free and fair elections, and to have a say in how their communities will be represented in Congress.”

“I am committed to protecting the rights of all New Yorkers to fully participate in our electoral system,” said Governor Hochul. “We are urging the court to support the Constitutionally-protected process in order to ensure accountability and fairness for New York voters.”

The IRC was charged with generating district maps for the State Assembly, State Senate, and New York’s U.S. House of Representative districts. Following the 2020 census, IRC was unable to submit maps following the process spelled out in the State Constitution, and the State Senate and State Assembly instead drew districts which were signed into law on February 3, 2022. The Congressional electoral maps were challenged, and eventually thrown out by the state’s Court of Appeals on April 27, 2022. Given the short timeframe ahead of the 2022 election, a special master was appointed by the trial court which first heard the challenge against the electoral maps, and new lines were generated. 

In their amicus brief, Attorney General James and Governor Hochul note that the State Constitution is clear that the State Legislature must have the opportunity to remedy electoral maps found to be invalid by a court. They also note that since the problem that led the Court of Appeals to approve the involvement of a special master — the short time to impose new electoral maps, with only months to go before the 2022 primary elections — no longer exists, the electoral maps drawn by the special master should not be used for the remainder of the decade. To address this problem, the amicus brief urges the Appellate Division to reverse the lower court order rejecting the voters’ claim and to order IRC to draw and submit a new congressional map as required by the Constitution. 

Attorney General James has been at the forefront of fighting for New Yorkers’ rights to have free and fair elections, and to ensure their voices are heard in the halls of power. In March, Attorney General James won a lawsuit against conspiracy theorists who attempted to intimidate black voters through threatening robocalls. Attorney General James also maintains a voter resources webpage and, during early voting and election day, staffs an election hotline to protect New Yorkers’ rights at the polls. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Attorney General James called for automatic absentee voting to help protect voters’ rights and health, and following the November election, Attorney General James issued an alert to ensure absentee voters were aware of their rights in case there was an issue with their ballots.