100 PERCENT - Election Day 2021 - The Winners and Losers

 

Election Day 2021 came and is in the closing stages now, as the absentee ballots have to be counted. In this lower than usual turnout the results should stay the same with the majority of the absentee ballots going the way of the Democrats. The bigger question is will the three ballot proposals #1, #3, and #4 which were defeated on election day hold their lead after the absentee ballots are counted, as Proposal #4 had to do with absentee balloting.

In an eight to one Democratic city that would mean that Democratic candidates should receive at least eighty percent of the vote in the General Election. That held true for all but one Bronx City Council race. The 13th City Council District, with the 82nd Assembly District being the last strength of the Bronx Republican Party. The early results show a poorer showing than four years ago, but the absentee ballots should go for the Democratic candidate, and increase her margin of victory. 

In the race for Citywide offices only City Comptroller elect Brad Lander broke the seventy percent level. From day one Mayor elect Eric Adams will have to win over those who voted for one of his many opponents or did not vote. Mayor Adams will have to be a mayor for all the people as he said, and not like previous Mayor Bill de Blasio, or it will be a long hard four years, as it has been under Mayor de Blasio after he won re-election. Could this less than average showing by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams show that he is not ready to run for Governor of New York State?

As we congratulate the new Bronx elected officials, we were at Bronx Borough President Elect Vanessa Gibson's victory party. Just like we saw at the Adams victory speech later, we were wondering where the Bronx Democratic Party officials were. Had they all gone down to SOMOS in Puerto Rico like we were told that Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez had done, to party, or were they sending Bronx Borough President Elect Gibson a message. At least Assemblyman Jose Rivera was there with his video camera to document that. 

Bronx Borough President Elect Vanessa Gibson looked around the room to see who was there. 

Bronx Borough President Elect Vanessa Gibson, 16th City Councilwoman Elect Althea Stevens, and 13th City Councilwoman Elect Marjorie Velazquez toast their victories, with Assemblyman Jose Rivera video taping the toast.

Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark was on hand to celebrate Borough President Elect Gibson, and the many city council members on hand, victories. 

Former Councilman and advisor to the current Bronx Borough President was in the House. 

Assemblyman Jose Rivera always has a shoulder to put a head on.

A view of the standing room only crowd at the victory celebration of Bronx Borough President Elect Vanessa Gibson. The action is at the back of the room where it was like being on a rush hour subway pre pandemic. 

Bronx Borough President Elect Vanessa Gibson's replacement in the 16th Council, Althea Steven received over ninety percent of the vote for the honor of the highest percentage of any Bronx City Council member on election day. 

59 Days and Running

 

I am still going to be here as your mayor for 59 more days. Congratulations to our new Mayor Eric Adams, but we knew that the winner of the Democratic Primary was going to be the next Mayor. As I have done for the past eight years the quality of life has increased in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and even Staten Island. As in the past eight years I have continued to dump on the Bronx everything bad including an unfair share of homeless people. 

It will be up to Mayor Adams to fix not only the Bronx, but the entire city. This city will be left to Mayor Adams in a much worse condition than when I took over. I can blame the Pandemic for that, and say if you are not vaccinated you are not welcome in New York City. 

AOC is Officially Running for Reelection!

 

We’re exactly one year out from the 2022 midterms.

And that means, today we’re officially kicking off Alexandria’s reelection campaign!

We can’t take anything for granted, Robert. Last year Alexandria faced a record 13 opponents during the primary and a $10 million challenge during the general. And, already this year, she has three opponents raising thousands against her.

So we’re going to need your help to build the powerful momentum and organizing program we’ll need to keep Alexandria in Congress fighting for our communities.

Will you endorse AOC’s reelection right now? Your commitment will show Republicans and corporate Democrats alike that AOC is here to stay »

Endorse AOC »

From day one, we have been defined by people-power. In 2018, we beat a machine with a movement. In 2020, we beat millions in corporate and special interest dollars with that same movement. And we’re going to do it again. How? By once again proving that people-power is winning power.

Across the country, people look towards our campaign as a vanguard of progressive change. Every person who endorses Alexandria’s reelection isn’t just endorsing her — they’re endorsing our movement and everything we’re fighting for.

That has an impact. When other members of Congress or politicians see thousands of grassroots activists aligning themselves in support of Medicare for All, a Green New Deal, and a livable minimum wage, it entices them to join our cause.

But building a movement takes work. And there are already opponents aligning to try and stop our momentum. That’s why we’re asking for you to lend us one of your most powerful resources today: Your voice.

So will you take a moment to lend us your grassroots endorsement right now, and tell the entire nation that you stand with AOC?

Thank you for everything.

Pa’lante,

Team AOC

Endorse AOC »

CITY ANNOUNCES FALL CITIZENSHIP DRIVE TO PROVIDE APPLICATION ASSISTANCE AND RESOURCES FOR IMMIGRANT NEW YORKERS

 

The citizenship drive aims to provide 2,000 immigrant New Yorkers with naturalization eligibility screenings, and at least 900 people with citizenship application assistance 

 Mayor Bill de Blasio and the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) Commissioner Raquel Batista today announced the NYC Fall Citizenship Drive to provide naturalization eligibility screenings and free citizenship application assistance to immigrant New Yorkers.  

  

“New York is the ultimate city of immigrants,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “We don’t take that distinction lightly. We work every day to ensure our immigrant communities have the tools, resources, and support they need to make our city and our nation their permanent home.” 

 

“Helping immigrant New Yorkers thrive makes us stronger as a city,” said Raquel Batista, Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs. “We are excited to collaborate with community organizations deeply rooted in our city’s hardest-to-reach immigrant communities to provide resources and support with the citizen application process.” 

 

An estimated 589,000 immigrant New Yorkers are lawful permanent residents (i.e., green card holders) and currently eligible to naturalize. Of those, approximately 169,000 are low-income and limited English proficient. The Fall Citizenship Drive aims to reach this population through a series of events hosted by MOIA, CUNY Citizenship Now!, and select community based organizations (CBOs).  

 

The drive will feature two large-scale application assistance clinics run by CUNY Citizenship Now!, each aiming to serve 200-300 people. These large application assistance events will be held later this fall. The first will be on November 20 at MS 2 in Brooklyn, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and will mark the return of Citizenship Now! in-person events since March of 2020. The second event will be held in December, date and location to be announced in the coming weeks. 

 

Additionally, from October through December 2021, the following select community-based organizations will provide community outreach, naturalization screenings, and citizenship application assistance to immigrant New Yorkers across all five boroughs.  

 

·         Arab American Association of New York - Brooklyn 

·         Haitian American United for Progress – Brooklyn & Queens 

·         Mexican Coalition for the Empowerment of Youth and Families – Brooklyn & The Bronx  

·         Dominicanos USA – Bronx/Upper Manhattan 

·         Sauti Yetu – Bronx & Staten Island 

 

CUNY Citizenship Now!, the largest university legal assistance program in the U.S., will also provide technical assistance and capacity building support to the community-based organizations providing services during the drive.  

 

For information regarding CUNY Citizenship Now!’s large citizenship application assistance events, call 646-664-9400.To schedule an appointment with a participating community-based organization, you may visit them directly or call the ActionNYC Hotline at 1-800-354-0365 and say “Citizenship.”  

 

“CUNY is pleased to partner with the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs in this Fall Citizenship Initiative, providing New Yorkers with free, high-quality legal assistance, helping them take the final step in their long road to U.S. citizenship,” said CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez. “Over more than 25 years, CUNY Citizenship Now! has helped more than 150,000 New Yorkers navigate the complicated path through the immigration labyrinth. Throughout the pandemic, Citizenship Now! has provided remote services to New York immigrants.  We look forward to this return to in-person services aided by hundreds of volunteers from the CUNY/NYC Volunteer Corps.” 

  

“Pure Armenian Blood” Member Pleads Guilty To Racketeering And Fraud Offenses

 

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that DAVIT YEGHOYAN pled guilty today to his role in a coast-to-coast racketeering enterprise referred to as “Pure Armenian Blood” or “P.A.B.,” in connection with the charges filed in United States v. Narek Marutyan, et al., 20 Cr. 652 (VM).  YEGHOYAN pled guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah L. Cave, and will be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero on a date to be determined. 

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As a member of a sophisticated coast-to-coast organized criminal enterprise, Davit Yeghoyan enriched himself by stealing others’ identities, falsifying documents, and spending other people’s money, as he admitted in court today.” 

According to the allegations contained in the Indictment, and statements during court proceedings:

Pure Armenian Blood was an organized criminal group operating under the direction and protection of an unindicted co-conspirator (“CC-1”), a “vor v zakone” or “vor,” which are Russian phrases translated roughly as “Thief-in-Law” or “Thief,” and which refer to an order of elite criminals from the former Soviet Union who receive tribute from other criminals, offer protection, and use their recognized status as vor to adjudicate disputes among lower-level criminals.  Members and associates of Pure Armenian Blood operated under the direction and protection of CC-1, a vor of Armenian descent previously based in Los Angeles before being deported in or about 2018.  Pure Armenian Blood operated through groups of individuals, often with overlapping members or associates, dedicated to particular criminal tasks, particularly identity theft, access device fraud, and credit card fraud, among others.  While Pure Armenian Blood exploited victims and the financial system in New York City, it had operations in various locations throughout the United States and abroad, including through the use of purportedly legitimate business entities operating under the control and in conjunction with members of P.A.B. at various points throughout the conspiracy.

As a member of P.A.B., YEGHOYAN participated in and facilitated P.A.B’s various illicit activities, including the use of counterfeit credit cards and stolen personal identifying information, selling goods purchased with counterfeit credit cards for profit, fraudulently opening and exhausting lines of credit, and then falsifying documents to “clean” the credit of account holders in whose names the lines of credit were opened, and making purchases at collusive businesses with counterfeit credit cards or credit cards that were fraudulently opened.

YEGHOYAN, 29, of Brooklyn, New York, pled guilty to participating in a racketeering conspiracy, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.  The statutory maximum penalty is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant would be determined by the judge.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of FBI New York’s Eurasian Organized Crime Squad, as well as the FBI’s Newark, Los Angeles, and Miami offices, Homeland Security Investigations, the New York City Police Department, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and United States Customs and Border Protection for their investigative efforts and ongoing support and assistance with the case.  This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”) operation.  OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.

Van Nest Neighborhood Alliance November Meeting

With one day before election day the Van Nest Neighborhood Alliance had Democratic City Council candidate Marjorie Velazquez address the community. Candidate Velazquez with her arm in a sling, and bandaged finger stood up front to explain why people voting the next day should choose her. 

A question and answer period came afterwards, in which candidate Velazquez had little trouble answering the questions. A question about the massive housing complex which is proposed where a Foodtown Supermarket currently sits with a large parking lot, was answered where she said the community is opposed to this, and so is she and the community board. 

Senior Advisor to VNNA Robert Nolan then went over the ballot, reminding those in attendance to turn the ballot over, because there were five Ballot Proposals on the back. Representatives of State Senator Gustavo Rivera, and Assembly members Karines Reyes and Nathalia Fernandez then spoke. As VNNA President Bernadette Ferrara was about to introduce Republican City Council candidate Alex Mici, he stormed out of the room saying why did you wait and not have me speak after his opponent. Ms. Ferrara replied to him that he was the speaker at last month's meeting, but did not show up. The conservative Party candidate for Bronx Borough President Sammy Ravelo asked to speak, and was given time to plead his case as to why he should be elected. 

One more piece of business was handled, which was the president giving her personal opinion on VNNA letterhead. One community member objected to that, and requested that a letter be sent to the city council stating the mistake, that it was only one person's opinion, and not that of the VNNA. The matter was about a street in Community Board 11 to be co-named for the slain former President of Yemen.

Democratic candidate for the 13th City Council district Marjorie Velazquez standing in front of VNNA's Executive Board tells the crowd why they should choose her on election day.

Candidate Velazquez answers a question brought up by Senior Advisor Bob Nolan.

Friends of Mosholu Parkway plant Daffodil Bulbs For Spring Thaw

 

The friends of Mosholu Parkway planted hundreds of Daffodil bulbs so they can settle into the soil, and when spring comes with the warm weather the Daffodil bulbs will come out all over Mosholu Parkway.

Since it was Halloween Community Activist Christian Amato gave out Halloween candy with his friend Ramdal Singh another Community Activist. 

Elizabeth Quaranta shows how to plant Daffodil Bulbs. It takes a little hard work, some gardening tools, and Daffodil Bulbs, as she shows here. A helper also makes the job a little easier. 

Here this volunteer plants Daffodil Bulbs near this tree by the roadway, as you can see the New York City Bus go by.

Scarecrows are set up so no birds try to eat the Daffodil Bulbs.

Here at the corner of Bainbridge Avenue and the parkway, Community Activists Christian Amato and Ramdal Singh hand out bags of candy to children who passed by. 

Governor Hochul Signs Legislation Allowing Individuals Initially Eligible but Denied Youthful Offender Status to Reapply for Retroactive Designation

 

Legislation (S.282/A.6769) Allows Individuals Who Were Convicted Of A Crime and Eligible for Youthful Offender Status But Initially Denied the Designation, to Reapply For Retroactive Designation

 Governor Kathy Hochul today signed legislation (S.282/A.6769) that allows individuals who were under the age of 19 when they were convicted of a crime, and therefore eligible for youthful offender status, but denied the designation to reapply for youthful offender status retroactively.

"Far too many New Yorkers who made poor choices at a young age are forced to deal with the lifelong consequences of criminal convictions that deny them a second chance at a productive, fulfilling life," Governor Hochul said. "Communities thrive when every member has the opportunity to contribute and it's time for New York to make the changes necessary for ensuring everybody has a fair shot at success. Thanks to this legislation, we can now support those who have learned from their mistakes by doing away with the stigma of a criminal conviction, and giving them the opportunity to get back on their feet."

For those convicted of a crime when they are under the age of 19, New York's Youthful Offender law provides the opportunity for their conviction to be replaced by a confidential, non-criminal adjudication and reduced prison sentence. A criminal record has lasting effects, including societal bias and limited access to employment - two significant barriers to rehabilitation that dramatically increase the likelihood of recidivism. Many of those under the age of 19 when convicted and eligible for youthful offender status are still not granted it. This legislation allows those who were not granted that designation and who have not been convicted of another crime in at least five years since their original sentence to apply for retroactive designation of youthful offender status.