Coronavirus Pop-Up Testing Site Drive-Thru at Co-op City, Bronx, NY

A Message from Council Member Andy King 

Coronavirus Pop-Up Testing Site Drive-Thru

at Co-op City, Bronx, NY

Greetings Co-op City Residents and all Bronxites,

I am happy to announce through our joint advocacy, community and elected official that there will be a pop-up drive through testing site in Co-op City. The exact location will be by the AMC Bay Plaza Cinema, in the back of the Bay Plaza Mall. 

The goal is to have the pop-up site running by this Monday, March 30^th. 

Hours of Operations:

Sunday – Saturday (7 days/week)

Hours: 8:00AM – 6:00PM

Please note - this will be a Mobile Testing Drive Thru, by Appointment Only – go to:            

            https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/covid-19-testing

Hotline at 1-888-364-3065.

We will keep you posted as additional information is provided to us.

Our Sincere thank you to Governor Andrew Cuomo for his leadership in these trying times!

Thank you to my colleagues in government (Senator Jamaal Bailey, Assemblyman Michael Benedetto, Congressman Eliot Engel, Speaker Carl Heastie) for sharing one voice for us to serve the residents of Co-op City and The Bronx!

God Bless All!

STAY INFORMED - PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD - STAY IN PRAYER! CM-King

VNNA MONTHLY MEETING – MONDAY FEB. 3, 2020 AT 7:00PM – MONSIGNOR FIORENTINO APTS, 1830 AMETHYST STREET, BRONX

Please join VNNA at our first monthly meeting of 2020 on Monday Feb. 3, 2020 – 7:00pm at

Monsignor Fiorentino Apts, 1st floor Community Room

1830 Amethyst Street Bronx, NY 10462

Bronx, New York, Man Admits Role In Conspiracy To Distribute Heroin And Fentanyl From A Drug Mill In The Bronx

  NEWARK, N.J. – A Bronx, New York, man today admitted participating in a conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl from a drug mill in the Bronx to locations in New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Jose Antonio Vasquez Pena, a/k/a “Tono,” 47, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Esther Salas in Newark federal court to an indictment charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl. Dilson Vazquez Genao, 23, Eddie Urena Rodriguez, 35, and Francisco Mercedes Gil, 31, also of the Bronx, New York, pleaded guilty before Judge Salas to the same charges in September 2019.

Three other individuals – Jhan Carlos Capellan Maldonado, 31, Daury Contreras Ulerio, 34, and Reimon Genao Rosario, 23 – were indicted on the same charge as Pena in August 2019. Their cases are pending.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

In early February 2019, law enforcement officers learned that Maldonado used an apartment in Bronx to store, mix, and package heroin and fentanyl in distribution quantities. Pena stayed at the apartment in order to safeguard the narcotics and narcotics supplies. Maldonado employed approximately five workers at a time—including Rodriguez, Ulerio, Rosario, Gil, and Genao—to assist in preparing the heroin and fentanyl for distribution, which Maldonado then distributed to customers in New Jersey.

On Feb. 25, 2019, law enforcement officers saw Maldonado drive to a retail store and emerge with several full shopping bags and then drive to the apartment. Genoa came out of the building and met with Maldonado, who got out of his vehicle and gave Genoa the plastic shopping bags. Through its investigation, law enforcement later learned that the plastic shopping bags contained materials to package heroin and fentanyl.

Genoa went back inside the building and was followed by law enforcement officers, who watched as Genoa entered Maldonado’s apartment with a key, still carrying the shopping bags. On Feb. 27, 2019, law enforcement searched Maldonado’s apartment and found seven individuals inside, including Rodriguez, Ulerio, Rosario, Gil, Maldonado, Pena, and Genao. All seven defendants attempted to escape out a window, but all but one – Rosario – were apprehended and arrested by law enforcement officers waiting outside. Rosario was arrested at a later date. Law enforcement recovered nearly a kilogram of fentanyl from the apartment, along with materials to grind and package fentanyl for distribution.

Each defendant faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of life in prison, and a $10 million fine. Sentencing is scheduled for April 27, 2020.

U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito credited the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)’s New Jersey Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Brian Michael, with the investigation leading to the charges.

The charge and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

We have left in the City of Newark N.J. 

We now have to question if this was a man/men who was/were placed in living quarters in Newark N.J., unsupervised by the NYC Department of Homeless Services.

MTA NY Transit head Andy Byford Meets Bronx CM Andy King, Other Elected & Com. Leaders in Co-op City, Bronx, Speaks to Hundreds of Community Residents Rallying Against MTA BX Bus Redesign Plan

  MTA New York City Transit head Andy Byford came to Co-op City this evening to meet with local Council Member Andy King, Senator Jamaal Bailey, Assembly member Michael Benedetto, members of the Riverbay Cooperative Board and community leaders, as well as to address hundreds of local residents in the Co-op City community at a rally in opposition to current efforts by the Metropolitan Transit Authority [MTA] to radically change bus routes that go through the Co-op City community, the largest co-operative housing community in the world and the largest "Naturally Occurring Retirement Community" [NORC] in the nation.

Byford, after explaining it was a draft and a willingness to compromise, joked that residents who didn't want addition bus transfers would ensure he saw a transfer if an amended plan were not made a reality

King, who has represented Co-op City in the Council since 2012, stressed that the current plan was unacceptable, but offered he felt Byford was genuine in expressing openness to the community's suggestions to amened the draft plan.

The rally rook place outisde in a courtyard next to a public community engagement meeting at the Bartow Community Center.

The MTA has stated that the draft proposal seeks to update the bus routes, "which have largely remained unchanged since they were converted from trolley lines nearly a century ago, within the Bronx’s existing grid system. These recommendations take into consideration the service performance of each route, the speed, ridership and reliability on key corridors, and how individual routes contribute to the larger network. Recommendations were developed in collaboration with NYCDOT, with focus given to identifying key corridors where roadway treatments and traffic signal improvements can be implemented to expand bus priority and better support sustainable, all-day bus service. The details of NYCDOT’s proposed bus priority plan for the Bronx are included in the draft plan for the Bronx Bus Network Redesign." - MTA Bus Design press release<http://www.mta.info/press-release/nyc-transit/mta-releases-draft-plan-redesign-bronx-bus-network>, June 5, 2019

Information about the Bronx Bus Network Redesign can be found at https://new.mta.info/bronxbusredesign .

Chief of Department on the Police-involved Shooting in the 44 Precinct, Bronx

  Chief of Department Terence Monahan.

February 4, 2019.

At approximately 11 a.m. today, officers from the 44 Precinct were made aware of a stolen vehicle wanted in connection to a violent citywide robbery pattern that was located in the vicinity of 162 Street and Sheridan Avenue.

The pattern was being actively investigated by our Central Robbery Division, and involved a violent crime spree that went across three boroughs. It began yesterday morning at 6 a.m. in the 41 Precinct, with a carjacking. The suspects then drove to the 13 Precinct in Manhattan, where they committed a robbery.

The suspects then traveled to the 61 Precinct in Brooklyn, where they allegedly committed an additional two robberies and carjacked another vehicle, a black Hyundai Sonata. This car was being tracked by our Central Robbery Division using our Domain Awareness System. A license plate reader connected to this system triggered an alert for that vehicle here in the 44 Precinct just before 11 a.m.

This alert was brought to the attention of 44 Precinct personnel, who began to search for the vehicle in this immediate vicinity. Moments later, uniformed officers from the 44 Precinct observed the vehicle double parked in front of 909 Sheridan Avenue. They also observed three individuals approach the vehicle and get inside.

At this time, uniformed officers assigned to the 44 Precinct approached the vehicle. One of the uniformed officers approached the vehicle from the driver's side. The suspect's vehicle suddenly began to drive in reverse, pinning the officer between the suspect's vehicle and another parked vehicle.

The officer then discharged her service weapon in the direction of the vehicle, striking the driver. The vehicle came to a stop and all three occupants of the vehicle were taken into custody. The officer has been taken to an area hospital and is being treated for injuries to the hip area and legs.

One other officer sustained an injury to their left hand during the incident. The driver of the vehicle was taken to Lincoln Hospital with gunshot wounds to her chest and left side of her torso, where they are listed in critical but stable condition.

In addition to the robbery pattern I've already mentioned, it should be noted two of the suspects arrested today were also arrested for the involvement in an additional carjacking and robbery on January 22nd in the Bronx. This investigation is ongoing and we will keep you apprised of updates as they happen.

12 Members Of Heroin Drug Trafficking Organization Operating In Manhattan, Bronx, And New Jersey Charged In Manhattan Federal Court

  Joon H. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Carl J. Kotowski, the Special Agent in Charge of the New Jersey Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), today announced the unsealing of an indictment charging 12 defendants with participating in a drug trafficking organization that distributed large quantities of heroin in and around Monmouth and Ocean Counties, New Jersey, and obtained the heroin from Washington Heights and the Bronx, among other places.  In conjunction with the unsealing of the Indictment, search warrants were executed at several locations in New Jersey.

Defendants MIGUEL ARIEL SUSANA, a/k/a “Jariel Santos,” QUADREE HUBBARD, JAMES F. SMITH III, a/k/a “Trey,” a/k/a “Brim Reaper,” a/k/a “Reaper,” TAHMIR RICE, DAMAR BIVINS, JAIR OLIVER, TYSHEEM SMITH, JOEL ROSADO, AVEENA VITRANO-MANLEY, and FRANK DESANTO were arrested by DEA agents this morning and will be presented in federal court in Manhattan before U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara C. Moses later today.  Defendant MARCELLUS CUTLER has not yet been apprehended.  Defendant TYRON TROTMAN is currently in custody on state charges and will be transferred to federal custody and presented at a later date.  The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Richard J. Sullivan.

Acting U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim stated:  “As alleged, this organization transported large quantities of heroin from Washington Heights and the Bronx across the Hudson to Monmouth and Ocean Counties in New Jersey, helping to fuel the opioid epidemic plaguing our nation.  Today’s arrests of twelve alleged members of this heroin distribution organization is part our sustained commitment, along with our partners at the DEA, to stop the flow of heroin into and out of New York.”

DEA Special Agent in Charge Carl J. Kotowski said:  “Today’s arrests should send a clear message to the drug traffickers that DEA and our partners are committed to keeping our neighborhoods safe.  Those arrested are facing significant time in prison and will no longer be pushing their poison.”

According to the Indictment[1] unsealed in Manhattan federal court:

MIGUEL ARIEL SUSANA, a/k/a “Jariel Santos,” QUADREE HUBBARD, JAMES F. SMITH III, a/k/a “Trey,” a/k/a “Brim Reaper,” a/k/a “Reaper,” TAHMIR RICE, DAMAR BIVINS, JAIR OLIVER, MARCELLUS CUTLER, TYSHEEM SMITH, JOEL ROSADO, AVEENA VITRANO-MANLEY, TYRON TROTMAN, and FRANK DESANTO conspired to distribute significant amounts of heroin from May 2017 to August 2017, as members of a drug trafficking organization (the “DTO”) that obtained narcotics for resale from Washington Heights, New York, and the Bronx, New York, among other places, and packaged and sold those narcotics throughout Monmouth and Ocean Counties.  SUSANA acted as a source of supply for HUBBARD and SMITH.  RICE, BIVINS, OLIVER, CUTLER, and TYSHEEM SMITH each assisted either HUBBARD or SMITH in managing certain aspects of the DTO, including in obtaining, packaging, storing, and distributing narcotics.  DESANTO and TROTMAN sold heroin obtained from SMITH to street-level customers.  ROSADO and VITRANO-MANLEY worked with SMITH to obtain significant quantities of narcotics, including by pooling money with SMITH.

Each defendant is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute narcotics.  Defendants SUSANA, HUBBARD, JAMES F. SMITH III, RICE, OLIVER, and CUTLER are charged with conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute one kilogram and more of mixtures and substances containing a detectable amount of heroin, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison.  Defendants BIVINS, TYSHEEM SMITH, ROSADO, and VITRANO-MANLEY are charged with conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 100 grams and more of mixtures and substances containing a detectable amount of heroin, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.  Defendants TROTMAN and DESANTO are charged with conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute a quantity of mixtures and substances containing a detectable amount of heroin, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.  The statutory maximum sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.  A chart with the defendants’ ages and residences is below.

Mr. Kim thanked the DEA Monmouth Ocean HIDTA Task Force for their outstanding work on the investigation.  The Monmouth Ocean HIDTA Task Force comprises representatives from the DEA, the ATF, the New Jersey State Police, Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, Toms River Police Department, and the Neptune Township Police Department.  Mr. Kim also thanked the Howell Police Department, the Freehold Township Police Department, the Lakewood Police Department, the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office, the Union County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey for their assistance in this investigation.  He added that the investigation is continuing.

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

 [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment, and the description of the Indictment set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens District Attorneys Announce Unprecedented Dismissal of Nearly 700,000 Open Summons Warrants

Staggering Backlog of Open Warrants, More Than 10 Years Old, to be Vacated Next Month Allowing Thousands of New Yorkers to Move on With Their Lives without Fear of Arrest Stemming from Low-Level Warrants Issued More Than a Decade Ago 

  Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark, Acting Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, New York County District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr., and Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown today announced that nearly 700,000 summons warrants that are 10 years or older will be vacated in the next few weeks. The warrants in question were issued for failure to pay a ticket for a minor infraction, subjecting individuals to arrest as well as carrying other negative consequences. 

  Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark said, “By asking the Court to purge these old warrants, we are removing a hindrance to many people’s lives. Those who committed minor offenses a decade ago or longer and have not been in trouble with the law pose no threat to public safety today. These warrants bog down the court system. As a judge, I handled these summonses and I dismissed many of them because they were legally insufficient. The Bronx was ground zero for summonses emanating from questionable stop-and-frisks, so purging the old warrants is a way to not only improve the lives of tens of thousands of Bronx residents but to restore the community’s trust in the criminal justice system.”

  Acting Brooklyn District Attorney Gonzalez said, “We have been working in Brooklyn to build trust between law enforcement and the community, and to focus our resources on violent crime. Dismissing these old warrants is an important step in advancing both of these goals. The bulk of these summonses have been issued to mostly poor, Black and Latino individuals, many of whom may not even be aware that they have become open warrants that could trigger an arrest for minor infractions dating back many years. Vacating these warrants enhances public safety and promotes fairness.”

  New York County District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr., said, “We continually seek to strike the right balance between fairness and public safety and are confident we will be doing that when we collectively dismiss open summons warrants older than ten years en masse. In Manhattan alone, we estimate that approximately 240,000 summons warrants will be expunged through this effort, giving those New Yorkers a fresh start and a new chance to engage more fully in their communities. I applaud my colleagues in the Queens, Bronx, and Kings County DA’s Offices, as well as OCA, the NYPD, and the City Council, for their work on this issue.” 

  Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown said, “The prosecution of thousands of ten year old and older summons part cases would pose serious factual and legal challenges. The NYPD has vetted the list and excluded the most flagrant violators who may still be prosecuted if apprehended. We believe the people of Queens County will be better served by focusing our resources on more serious offenses.”

  The dismissal of the warrants poses no risk to public safety as those individuals whose warrants are being dismissed have not been arrested in the past 10 years or their warrants would have been triggered. Furthermore, the warrants stem from summonses issued for minor infractions such as riding a bicycle on the sidewalk, drinking beer in public, disorderly conduct, and being in a park after dark.

There are approximately 1.5 million open summons warrants citywide. These summons warrants, when left unresolved, subject those who have them to an automatic arrest when questioned by police on the street or during a traffic stop. They may also carry a number of negative consequences, including impeding one’s ability to apply for citizenship, to secure employment or obtain public housing, and subject undocumented immigrants to deportation.

  Approximately 143,000 warrants will be dismissed in Brooklyn; 166,000 in the Bronx; 240,000 in Manhattan; and approximately 100,000 in Queens. 

  The warrants will be dismissed in court proceedings in each county next month. The large-scale dismissal of the warrant backlog comes following multiple warrant forgiveness events in Brooklyn (Begin Again); Manhattan (Clean Slate) and the Bronx (Another Chance).  

  The dismissals follow months of work with the Office of Court Administration, the New York City Police Department and the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice.

HPD And HDC Announce A New Housing Lottery For Affordable Apartments In Crotona Park East, Bronx

NEW HOUSING LOTTERY FOR MORE THAN 70 AFFORDABLE APARTMENTS IN 

CROTONA PARK EAST IS NOW OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS

The lottery is for 1776 Boston Road, a mixed-income development affordable to a wide range of incomes including individuals earning just $28,355 annually

The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) Commissioner Vicki Been and New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC) President Eric Enderlin today announced the opening of the Housing Connect lottery for 72 affordable apartments at 1776 Boston Road in the Crotona Park East section of the Bronx.

“Each new lottery offers eligible New Yorkers fairly offers a chance at securing a high quality, affordable home,” said HPD Commissioner Vicki Been. “This new building in Crotona Park East will reach families at a range of incomes ensuring the diversity that makes our communities so vibrant.  We encourage all those seeking affordable housing to register on NYC Housing Connect and learn more about the opportunities available and how to apply.”

“I am pleased to join HPD in announcing the latest Housing Connect lottery to bring greater affordability to more than 70 households in Crotona Park East,” said HDC President Eric Enderlin. “Not only is this new development within easy access to public transit, educational facilities, medical centers, retail and other services, it will provide its own onsite community facility and commercial space adding to the vibrancy of the area.  High Hawk Apartments at 1776 Boston Road will truly be a great place to live and we encourage all applicants to visit nyc.gov/housingconnect to review this and other affordable housing developments accepting applications.”

1776 Boston Road is currently under construction. Once complete, it and will be an eight-story building with one studio apartment, 16 one-bedroom apartments, 47 two-bedroom, and 8 three-bedroom apartments. The building will feature security cameras, bicycle storage, a community room, and an outside recreation area. Fifty percent of the apartments will have a preference for residents of Bronx Community Board 3. A percentage of units will be set aside for mobility and vision or hearing impaired applicants.

The rents range from as low as $788 a month for a studio apartment to $1,683 a month for a three-bedroom apartment.

In order to be eligible to apply, individuals earning as little as $28,355, two-person households earning just $30,412; three- and four-person households earning just $36,549; and five- and six-person households earning as little as $42,378. All eligible income ranges for one- to six-person households and all application information for 1776 Boston Road can be foundhere. The application deadline is December 16, 2016. Eligible applicants who have been selected can expect to start moving into their new homes as early as April 2017.

More information on all available apartments and instructions on how to apply to the City’s affordable housing lottery are available in Arabic, Simplified Chinese, Haitian Creole, Korean, Russian, and Spanish on the NYC Housing Connect website here: NYC Housing Connect.

Learn more about the affordable housing lottery process and other available housing lotteries by visiting the links below:

• For a summary of affordable housing resources visit: How to Find Housing
• Learn What to Expect when you apply
• For more information on Income Guidelines
• Find out what happens After you Apply

Since its 2013 launch, NYC Housing Connect has simplified the city’s housing lottery process. The website allows New Yorkers to fill out a single online profile, which can be used to apply to multiple new housing lotteries. That profile can be saved and edited, eliminating the need to fill out individual paper applications for upcoming lotteries.

This month, Mayor de Blasio announced changes to the City’s marketing guidelines designed to ensure that City-assisted affordable housing reaches the New Yorkers who need it most. Important changes to the policies include ending developers and leasing agents’ ability to deny applications based solely on credit scores; new standards for homeless shelter referrals to account for special challenges faced by these households; strictly limiting the ability of landlords to deny an applicant based only on their exercising due process rights in housing court; and imposing limits on personal assets. This changes are the most recent in a series of adjustments by the de Blasio Administration to increase information accessibility and transparency to the housing lottery process.

Registered applicants are notified via email when new lotteries are posted to the Housing Connect site. Instructions on how to submit a paper application are also available, and listed in each housing lottery advertisement. Applicants may not submit both a paper application and a web application for the same project.

RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BRONX

COMUNILIFE TO HOLD RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY

FOR 65 UNIT El Rio RESIDENCE

 

 

  On Friday, April 8th, at 10am, Comunilife, Inc. will host a ribbon cutting ceremony to formally inaugurate its newest supportive and affordable housing building - the 65 unitEl Rio Residence.

 

The facility located at 1041 East 179th Street in the West Farms section of The Bronx, includes 39 studio apartments for New Yorkers living with special needs and 26 studio apartments for low-income residents.  Amenities include community room, laundry, back garden, staff offices, and 24/7 security.

 

"The El Rio Residence is Comunilife's latest housing development for low-income and special needs New Yorkers," said Comunilife's President and CEO, Dr. Rosa M. Gil.  "We are delighted to be able to provide a new, safe and affordable housing option in the Bronx's West Farms Community.  El Rio is an important contribution to the City's commitment to increase the number of supportive housing units available to our most at-risk residents."

 

El Rio is NYSERDA certified and follows the Enterprise Green Communities guidelines.  The building incorporates energy efficient features including low-flow fixtures, bi-level lights in hallways, low VOC paint, FSC certified wood, energy star appliances, native vegetation at the recreational areas, erosion control during construction and construction materials with a high recycled content.

 

The project was developed with Capital Financing received through NYS's Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Homeless Housing and Assistance Program, NYC's Department of Housing Preservation and Development Supportive Housing Loan Program, the Bronx Borough President's Office, and with low-income housing tax credit equity from Red Stone Equity Partners.  The building was designed by Gran Kriegel Architects with Fazio Construction serving as the general contractor.

 

El Rio is part of Comunilife's housing portfolio which now includes 1,607 units of housing in nine transitional and permanent congregate residences for homeless New Yorkers living with special needs; three low-income apartment buildings and 993 units of supportive scatter site apartments.

 

The grand opening will give Comunilife the opportunity to thank the following elected and appointed officials for their support in ensuring the project's successful completion -- Mayor Bill de Blasio, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr., NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Commissioner Samuel D. Roberts and NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development Commissioner Vicki Been.  We also wish to thank NYS Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan, and NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett, for their ongoing support of supportive housing programs across our city and state.

 

The grand opening will also allow Comunilife to formally welcome the building's 65 new residents to the community and Comunilife family.

ABOUT COMUNILIFE:

Founded in 1989, Comunilife is a health and human service agency whose mission is to improve the quality of life and create a healthier tomorrow for children, adolescents, adults, families and seniors living with mental illness and/or HIV/AIDS in New York City's underserved, diverse communities. Comunilife provides culturally-competent, community-based services to 3,500 New Yorkers annually.

WHAT:

Ribbon cutting ceremony for El Rio Residence, a new, state-of-the-art supportive and affordable housing building with 65 units.

 

WHEN:

Friday, April 8, 2016; 10:00am

 

WHERE:

1041 East 179th Street at Boston Road, West Farms, Bronx.

Sat. May 17, 2014 Drake Park - Its My Park Day & Historical Sign Unveiling in Hunts Point, Bronx

Saturday May 17, 2014  IT’S MY PARK DAY at Joseph Rodman Drake Park.

Join us to learn about Joseph Rodman Drake Park in Hunts Point, and hear about the historical research done by PS48 4^th grade students

10AM-12PM

Park stewardship (raking, planting and mulching) & Urban Park Ranger (Tree, Bird ID & History programs)

12PM-2PM

Program including remarks by Bronx Borough Historian Lloyd Ultan & Unveiling of the new Historical Sign, that honors the historical research done by PS48 students.

All ages are welcome!

Spanish language translation will be offered.  

Bring your NYC tree & wildlife questions! Learn about the history of Hunts Point and Joseph Rodman Drake Park.

Roll up your sleeves and do some gardening!

Kindly see the English and Spanish language flyers attached.

Please RSVP to Barbara.Nikonorow@parks.nyc.gov

What You Should Know by Senator Rev. Ruben Diaz

By Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz
32nd Senatorial District, Bronx County, New York 

The Second Floor is Calling

  You should know that the Office of the New York State Governor is located on the Second Floor of the Capital Building in Albany.  Therefore, anything and everything that has to do with the Governor is referred to as coming “from the Second Floor.”
   You should also know that there were seven pieces of legislation dealing with the Budget.  Independently, each piece of legislation was supposed to be discussed and approved by the majority of the Senators before they could be sent to the Governor to sign into law.
   It was on Friday, March 30, 2012 when the Senate started its Session at 10am to begin “The Battle of the Budget” in order for the greatest legislators to show the world how they “protect, defend and care for” their communities.
   By 12 noon, we had only gone through and approved two (2) of the seven (7) pieces of the Budget legislation.  Senator Liz Krueger was standing on the Floor of the Senate, discussing in depth the third piece of Budget legislation – and then it happened: there was a call from the Second Floor.
   Suddenly, everything stopped, the Senate went into an immediate recess.  Every Senator was instructed to eat pizza - courtesy of the Leadership – while the Senate Leadership went to the Second Floor to stand by the Governor in front of the cameras while Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into law a Budget that was not yet approved by the Senate.
   What a marvelous achievement by the powerful Governor - and what a demonstration of obedience by the Members of the New York State Legislature!
   Can you imagine: this was history in the making to sign into Law a Budget that had not been approved by the legislature ... only in New York.
   There are many questions that come to my mind:  Is this legal?  Was there any law broken?  Is this democracy in action?  Did the Governor call everyone beforehand and get them to promise their votes in order for him not to be embarrassed?
   Can you imagine what would have happened if the Governor signed the Budget into Law in front of the cameras – and then the legislature did not approve it?  He would have been the joke of the nation.
   I believe something is going on here ... Some people believe that this was done as a favor to Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver in order for him to have time to observe his religious beliefs.  If that was in fact the reason to break the rules and sign the Budget without the approval of the Legislature, I must ask everyone who accuses ME of mixing my religion with my political duties what they have to say now.
   By 1:30pm, the Senate was called back into Session, and Senator Liz Krueger, acting like nothing unusual had happened, resumed her lengthy questioning of the Budget.
   What was the purpose, and what was the point?  We should have all been sent home.
   The Second Floor had its second victory:  an on-time budget (the second year in a row), done during daylight, another Budget balanced on the backs of the poor, and the first one signed into law even before it was even passed in the Senate.
   You should know that the Budget did not include the Dream Act; it took away senior citizens STAR tax relief help; it eliminated the Tenant Protection Unit leaving tenants all over New York State without protection; and it has no money for minority business enterprises – among other things.
   I do not understand why Black and Hispanic legislators would vote in favor of and approve of something like that, even knowing that it was already signed into law a few hours earlier by the Governor.  I cannot understand how they could stand on the Senate Floor and speak on the Senate Floor as if they were fighting for the immigrant students and the rest of the needy people in New York.
   You should also know that the day before the Budget was signed into Law, the Governor asked all of the Senators to go to his mansion and partake with him drinking and eating his food.  Would it be possible that it was during that gathering that they promised him they would vote in favor of the Budget?  I don’t know and I can’t say for sure because I was not there.
   The whole situation only reminds me of when Rome was controlled by Emperors, and the way in which the Emperor used to summon his subjects to his palace. Everyone had to stop what they were doing and run to him or suffer the consequences.

   Oops! I have to go.  My phone is ringing.  The Second Floor is calling.
I am Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz, and this is what you should know.

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