MAYOR DE BLASIO KICKS OFF CONSTRUCTION ON MAJOR STREET REDESIGNS AS WARM WEATHER BEGINS

$1.6 billion effort underway to add crosswalks, medians, turn-bays and bike lanes that lower risk of collisions

Roadway fatalities down: 2017 shows 20% drop from 1st quarter of last year

   Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced that with the arrival of spring and warmer weather, the City is beginning work on dozens of Vision Zero street redesign and construction safety projects as part of a $1.6 billion safety initiative. New Yorkers will see new crosswalks, wider sidewalks, pedestrian refuge medians and new protected bicycle lanes in every borough. The Mayor joined agency commissioners to inspect improvements underway at the entrance to the Brooklyn Bridge at Tillary Street, an area where 482 people have been injured, 23 of them seriously and one person killed over the last five years. One of the biggest overhauls this season, the project includes a wide new promenade for cyclists and pedestrians using the bridge, new crosswalks, trees and medians.

“Dangerous streets have to change,” said Mayor de Blasio.  “We want to get the word out: we’re moving lanes, adding new space for pedestrians and making it safer to cross intersections—all to keep your family safe. These changes have helped make each of the last three years under Vision Zero safer than the last.”

Spring brings more than just new road engineering. Thanks to a Vision Zero education and enforcement campaign targeting the darker wintertime evening rush hour, the first quarter of 2017 has so far seen a 20 percent drop in fatalities, or 8 fewer lives lost, compared to the 48 lost in 2016. To continue that progress, the NYPD has augmented failure to yield and speeding enforcement in the early morning hours, which are the most dangerous during the spring.

Enforcement against the most dangerous driving behaviors that put pedestrians and cyclists at risk is up on the year. As of March 20th, NYPD speeding enforcement is up 17 percent year-to-date, and up 67 percent from 2014. Failure to yield enforcement up 29 percent year-to-date, and up 104 percent from 2014.

A citywide Pedestrian Safety initiative was recently conducted from Monday, March 6, 2017 through Sunday March 12, 2017. During that time, 1,915 Failure to Yield to a Pedestrian summonses were issued (an increase of 121% from the same period last year) and 12,088 other Vision Zero summonses were issued. A total of 17,416 summonses were issued for the initiative.

NYPD has a Speed Enforcement initiative currently underway. It began Monday, March 20th and concludes March 26th. NYPD is in the process of planning two more for April along with other regularly scheduled enforcement blitzes throughout the year.

Mayor de Blasio warned that the steady progress under Vision Zero would be undercut by cuts in  transportation programs in President Trump’s proposed budget announced last week.  The budget would completely eliminate important discretionary funding programs like TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) that would reduce funding for future capital projects like Adams-Tillary.

Since 2014, DOT has committed $98.8 million in Federal funds for over 30 Vision Zero capital projects, including  $7 million in Federal Highway formula funds for the Brooklyn Bridge entrance capital project, $35 million in TIGER funding for the redesign at Fordham Plaza at the Bronx and various other Vision Zero safety improvements.  In addition, NYCDOT’s four-year capital plan (FY17-20) includes over $200 million in Federal funding for dozens of additional Vision Zero capital projects.  Mayor de Blasio and DOT Commissioner Trottenberg—the former federal Undersecretary of Transportation—pledged a bipartisan effort with other major cities to push back on the President’s cuts.

Highlights of this year's safety projects (with anticipated season when construction is expected to begin):

Brooklyn

•   Tillary Street Entrance to Brooklyn Bridge, Downtown  - widening of pedestrian-bike entrance leading to historic bridge promenade; added enhanced crosswalks; addition of berm, over 50 new trees, and other amenities. (In progress, expected completion in summer)

•   4th Avenue, limits to be determined, multiple neighborhoods (pending community review) - Installation of parking-protected bike lanes and painted pedestrian refuge islands in advance of Vision Zero Great Streets capital project, including elevated medians, larger pedestrian refuge islands, and additional trees, greenery and art installations. (Implementation date TBD)

•   Flatbush Ave and Belt Parkway Exit Ramps, Marine Park: Project will upgrade bike and pedestrian crossings over the belt parkway exit/entrance ramps, among several projects planned along Flatbush Avenue this year.  Expands on improvements to Jamaica Bay Greenway made in 2016 at Ave V and Hendrickson. (Spring)

•   South 4th St, Borinquen Pl, and South 5th St, Williamsburg: Improved bike and pedestrian access to Williamsburg Bridge in advance of L train closure. Protected bike network mileage, ongoing effort to improve cyclist connections. (Summer)

Bronx

•   138th St, Major Deegan to 3rd Ave, Mott Haven: Improved bike and pedestrian access to Madison Avenue Bridge. Major pedestrian improvements including new signalized crossings plus protected bike network mileage. (Summer)

•   Boston Rd, Waring Ave to Pelham Pkwy North, Allerton: Two new signals will provide improved access for pedestrians and widened sidewalks will provide shorter, safer crossings. New traffic patterns will clarify and simplify traffic movements. (Summer)

•   East Fordham Rd, Washington Ave to Southern Blvd, Fordham: Corridor safety improvements.  (Summer)

Queens

•   Woodhaven and Cross Bay Boulevards, multiple neighborhoods:  Addition of Select Bus Service for Q52 and Q53 routes; numerous pedestrian and corridor safety improvements (Spring)

•   Jamaica Avenue, Jamaica: Major Vision Zero pedestrian and school safety project with new pedestrianislands (Spring)

•   23rd Ave and Corporal Kennedy Blvd, Bay Terrace -- Complex intersection redesign that will create simpler, safer pedestrian crossings and clearer vehicle traffic patterns. (Spring)

Manhattan

•   5th Avenue, 23rd to Washington Sq Park, Flatiron & Greenwich Village: Protected bike lanes (Spring)

•   Broadway, West 155th to West 170th St, Hamilton Heights & Washington Heights: Traffic calming project based on the recommendations from the Washington Heights Transportation Study. Improvements include new pedestrian space, shorter safer crossings, new markings to clarify vehicle movements, and signal timing changes to improve traffic flow. (Spring)

•   Centre St, Park Row, Lower Manhattan: Smaller sister project to Tillary-Adams improving bike and pedestrian connections to Brooklyn Bridge, including a new 2-way protected bike lane in front of City Hall (Spring)

Staten Island

•   Greeley Ave, Midland Park: New York City's first-ever neighborhood traffic circles will be added to increase safety and deter speeding in a residential neighborhood (Spring)

•   Van Duzer St, Targee St, and St. Pauls Ave, Stapleton: Approximately 5 miles of bicycle lanes to link together the neighborhoods of Tompkinsville, Stapleton, Concord and Park Hill on Staten Island.  In addition to creating a bicycle link to the ferry, the project will calm traffic, add parking, and create safe pedestrian crossings near schools. (Spring)

•   Staten Island Ferry Improvements, St. George: Improves biking connections to the ferry. (Summer)

"Thanks to planners, designers, engineers and construction crews, DOT is looking forward to another banner year of street redesigns," said Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg.  " While traffic fatalities are increasing nationally, Nw York City is bucking those trends, with the last three years under Vision Zero the safest in our City's history. Under the leadership of the Mayor and with the hard work of our sister agencies, we will together continue to make progress."

“As we start 2017, the City continues to experience decreases in both crime and traffic fatalities,” said NYPD Commissioner James P. O’Neill. “We welcome the early signs of success, yet we remain focused on both.”

About Vision Zero

In January 2017, after three successive years of declines in traffic fatalities, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced New York City would make an additional $400 million investment in Vision Zero – for a total of $1.6 billion over the next five years. DOT is implementing its most aggressive street redesign safety program, an increased investment in street redesign and traffic-calming measures citywide. Other Vision Zero changes announced by the Mayor include ensuring NYPD crossing guards at every post, faster replacement of street markings, intersection upgrades in the bike-lane network, more left-turn calming efforts, brighter lighting and more equipment at each police precinct to catch speeding.

For more information about the de Blasio Administration’s Vision Zero initiative, please seewww.nyc.gov/visionzero

MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES SELECTION OF STEPHEN ROBINSON AS CIVILIAN REPRESENTATIVE FOR HANDSCHU COMMITTEE

  MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES SELECTION OF STEPHEN ROBINSON AS CIVILIAN REPRESENTATIVE FOR HANDSCHU COMMITTEE FOLLOWING FORMAL RESOLUTION OF MUSLIM SURVEILLANCE SUITS

  Mayor de Blasio today announced the selection of former federal Judge Stephen Robinson as the Independent Civilian Representative to the NYPD Handschu Committee. Judge Robinson served as a U.S. District Judge in the Southern District of New York as well as the U.S. Attorney in Connecticut. His appointment as the Civilian Representative follows a federal court’s approval of proposed modifications to the Handschu Guidelines which will resolve two lawsuits alleging the improper investigations of Muslims. As part of the settlements, the City agreed to add an independent civilian representative to the internal NYPD committee to foster public confidence that the department maintains best practices in intelligence investigations and decisions.

Currently a partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom's New York office, Judge Robinson is a nationally-respected lawyer and former Deputy General Counsel of the FBI where he participated in the investigation into the Oklahoma City bombing. With decades of experience in state and federal court, Judge Robinson will work with the NYPD’s internal team of advisors to ensure continued compliance with the Handschu guidelines when the NYPD opens or extends investigations into political activity including terrorism. He was selected by the Mayor in consultation with Commissioner Bratton. The position requires at least a five year term of service.

“Every New Yorker should feel safe and protected, no matter their background or faith. And in times like these, our resolve to build trust and respect across all religions only grows stronger. Our city's Muslim communities are valued partners in our ongoing efforts to keep New York City the safest big city in America, and Judge Stephen Robinson’s selection will help ensure we continue to work closely and respectfully with those of every origin and background. Judge Robinson has spent his career working to ensure Americans are treated equally and justly under the law, and I know he shares this administration’s commitment to transparency and fairness,” said Mayor de Blasio.

"Judge Stephen Robinson has served as a jurist, a prosecutor, a national security counsel for the government and a guardian of civil liberties. There is no one more uniquely qualified to help guide and advise the team that conducts investigations under the rules of the Handschu Agreement,” said Commissioner James O’Neill.

“Judge Robinson’s decades-long experience in both law enforcement and as a protector of civil rights makes him the perfect choice as civilian representative,” said Corporation Counsel Zachary W. Carter. “He is uniquely qualified to ensure that there is independent oversight that will help all communities to have confidence in the NYPD’s intelligence gathering processes under the Handschu rules to both strengthen police community relations and to keep our City safe. We are pleased with this appointment and with the formal resolution of these cases by the Court.”

“I am honored that Mayor de Blasio has chosen to select me as the Independent Civilian Representative to the NYPD Handschu Committee. The Police Department and the Handschu Committee serve vitally important roles in keeping New Yorkers safe from terrorist activity. In the course of that effort, all New Yorkers deserve to know that the Police Department is working just as diligently to uphold the rule of law and protect the rights of all our citizens. I look forward to adding my efforts to those of the Handschu Committee,” said Judge Stephen Robinson.

Bronx Chamber of Commerce Irish Heritage Luncheon

The Bronx Chamber of Commerce Chamber President & CEO Nunzio Del Greco to receive City & State Corporate Social Responsibility Award

  

 

The Bronx Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce that Chamber President & CEO Nunzio Del Greco has been selected as a City & State Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Award honoree for outstanding work promoting diversity in New York.

The award will be presented at CSR's celebratory breakfast reception on Thursday, March 30, 2017 at The 3 West Club in Manhattan.

 

The event will include a thirty-minute "Thought Leadership" discussion panel focused on innovative Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives for workplace diversity and inclusion; supplier diversity and procurement; and supply chain management.

 

Keynote Speaker: Rev. Al Sharpton, Founder & President, National Action Network

Emcee: Saundra Thomas, Vice President of Community Affairs, WABC-TV

 

Schedule:

8:00am     Registration & Breakfast

8:30am     Welcome & Keynote Remarks

8:45am     Award Presentations & Photo Opportunity

9:15am     Panel discussion featuring industry leaders with a  focus on the best practices for promoting diversity in New York

 

Date & Time:

Thursday, March 30, 2017 / 8:00am - 10:00am

Location: 

The 3 West Club, 3 West 51st Street, NYC 10019

 

Click here for more information and tickets to the breakfast.

For general inquiries, e-mail csr@cityandstateny.com.

 

City & State CSR showcases outstanding New York business leaders and corporations through their series of highly publicized award ceremonies, conferences, and specialty publications, for their tremendous work in the area of Corporate Social Responsibility.

Bronx Chamber of Commerce - Ridgewood Savings Bank'sFree Small Business Financial Workshop - Rescheduled

BOROUGH PRESIDENTS ADAMS & DIAZ HOST GIFTED AND TALENTED EDUCATION HEARING

  It was evident from the small turnout that important information is not getting to parents. Under Mayoral Control parent involvement went from high parental involvement to the low point it is at now. Parents just are not getting vital information they should be receiving and this was said by many of the speakers at the hearing. 

  What was also learned was that Staten Island with only one school district serving about one third the students of the Bronx has the same number of gifted and talented programs as the six Bronx school districts. Bronx School districts 7 and 12 have no gifted and talented programs while the other four Bronx School districts have only two programs each including School District 10 the largest school district in the city (and second largest in the state) serving over forty-five thousand students. Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. said that he was enrolled in what was called a 'Special Program' for gifted and talented students while he attend public school, and it is his intention that all children get a chance to be in such programs like he did.

Above and Below - One by one sixteen people spoke about their personal experiences with trying to get into a Gifted and Talented program, the lack of information about Gifted and Talented programs by the DOE, the lack of the programs or even other information about the DOE and Gifted and Talented programs. One speake wanted to know why Staten Island with only one school district has the same number of Gifted and Talented programs as the six Bronx school districts.

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, and their education advocates listen to the speakers asking many to see their aides to get the information the speakers need and so that the BP's can know all the problems facing parents in getting their children Gifted and Talented programs or why they can't.

IDC: It’s time to put the brakes on predatory, subprime auto lending; Senators Klein, Savino & Hamilton introduce bills to stop New Yorkers from getting ripped off when buying used cars

Senators Jeff Klein, Diane Savino & Jesse Hamilton introduce bills to stop New Yorkers from getting ripped off when buying used cars

Independent Democratic Conference Leader Senator Jeff Klein, Senator Diane Savino, Committee on Consumer Protection Chair Senator David Carlucci, and Senator Jesse Hamilton introduced a legislative package on Monday to protect consumers from predatory and subprime auto lending.

The issue is a new subprime lending crisis waiting to happen, a practice that HBO host John Oliver blasted over the summer for offering the working-poor, with little or no credit, rates too good to pass up which ultimately leave individuals paying astronomical amounts for used vehicles.

“Theoretically, it is a good thing that car dealers lend money to people who can’t get financing elsewhere, but in practice, these dealerships can trap people with few options into paying vastly more than a car is worth,” Oliver said. “It’s just one of many ways in which when you are poor everything can be more expensive.”

The IDC worked to put the brakes on bad practices in the subprime auto industry to protect consumers, some of whom are stuck paying the price of a new car for a junker because of the terms of the loan.

“We cannot allow our working-class consumers to be taken for a ride. Unscrupulous auto dealerships often engage in lending practices that mirror the subprime mortgage crisis, and we need to take action now to protect our most vulnerable residents from being hurt by these deceptive practices,” said Senator Klein.

“It is simply unconscionable to green-light a loan, knowing that a person could never afford to repay it. The legislature needs to take the wheel because our working-class constituents are getting hurt by these too-good-to-be-true offers made at auto dealerships, and in the end are stuck with outrageous debt,” said Senator Savino.

“As the chair of the Senate Committee on Banks, I take seriously these predatory practices that impact working class citizens who have already suffered through the subprime mortgage crisis. We must take action now to avoid a future crisis in the subprime auto lending industry that preys on those who could least afford it,” said Senator Hamilton, Chair, Senate Committee on Banks.

“Our consumer friendly legislative package keeps used car buyers in the driver’s seat both at the negotiating table and of their own cars. Consumers need to have information given to them as clearly as possible when making auto-purchases and the solutions we are putting forward will help fight subprime auto lending by empowering consumers.  As the Chair of the Consumer Protection Committee, I look forward to advancing this package,” said Senator Carlucci, Chair, Senate Committee on Consumer Protection.

The bills introduced by the IDC include:

• Limiting Dealer Mark-Up Discretion - Dealers can add-on anywhere from 0-3% to the financing APR of a vehicle without a consumer’s knowledge, and studies have found widespread racially discriminatory practices at play. Senator Klein’s S.5276 would require disclosure of a dealer mark-up at the time of sale, and would also request the Department of Financial Services to conduct a study on the issue of mark-ups to determine how dire this discrimination problem is, and how we can work to remedy it.

• Regulating Dealer Advertising - Dealers and subprime financiers often target customers with bad credit or no credit through internet advertisements promising a 100% approval rating. Many times these ads deceive those collecting SSI and SSD. Senator Klein’s S.5277 would authorize the State’s Division of Consumer Protection to regulate used auto dealership advertising and ban dealerships from misrepresenting that SSI and SSD are sufficient income sources for loans.

• Transparency Reform - A uniform loan form for used car financing would be created by the State’s Department of Financial Services. Senator Savino’s S.5274 would allow DFS to create a form disclosing all costs and warning consumers that add-on costs are  not required to obtain loans and what the loan to value ratio is upon financing. This legislation would also ban all conditional deliveries.

• Require a Cooling Off Period - Most major retail purchases provide a buyer with a window to cancel a transaction, but car purchases have no cooling off period. Senator Savino’s S.5275 would require a three-day cooling off period for used car purchases, giving consumers the opportunity to review lengthy financial documents and return a used automobile within three days. It would also create the same opportunity for new car transactions, although a car must remain in a lot for the duration of the cooling off period since a new vehicle automatically loses value as soon as it’s driven off a lot.

• License Financial managers at Dealerships - The State’s Department of Financial Services would license all financial managers who provide loans to customers at auto dealerships under Senator Hamilton’s S.5278, and would require all dealerships who issue financing or facilitate financing to designate and license a finance manager.

In April 2015 the IDC released an investigative report, “Road to Credit Danger: Predatory Subprime Auto Lending in New York,” that examined the deceptive practices used by car dealers to take advantage of consumers. The introduction of these bills is a continuation of the work that the IDC has done to shine light on this issue.

Last year, Senator Klein’s bill S.5485A which requires increased surety bonds at used car dealerships was signed into law. Now, if the dealer sells more than 50 used cars annually, the surety bond, held as a consumer protection raised from $10,000 to $100,000. Smaller used car dealers can take out $20,000 bonds if they sell fewer than 50 vehicles a year.

Senator Savino’s bill S.5152, which passed the Senate, would grant courts the power to make the assignee of an auto loan pay reasonable attorney's fees if a consumer sues the assignee and wins, over and above the limitation on assignee liability that currently exists in statute. This bill responds to the reality that in auto loan transactions, while the dealer often technically originates the loan, the actual lender is termed the assignee for purposes of the transaction, despite the fact that the "assignee" often exercises a great degree of control over the terms of the transaction.

NYC Council Parks Committee to Address Maintenance Workers, Park Security, and Federal Funding Cuts at Budget Hearing

  The NYC Council Parks Committee, chaired by Council Member Mark Levine will hear testimony from the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) and parks advocates regarding the department’s Fiscal Year 2018 budget.

  Key topics to be addressed will include:

·         Calling upon the Mayor to baseline $9.7m in expense funding for 150 gardening and maintenance workers left out of the Mayor’s preliminary budget

·         The addition of 80 Park Enforcement Patrol (PEP) officers, in response to a 28% increase in crimes committed in City parks between FY15 and FY16, including an even higher rate during the first four months of FY17

·         The potential loss of $4.5m in federal Community Development Block Grant funding, devastating the GreenThumb program which works mainly in low and moderate income neighborhoods, and has a 40 year history of community improvement, beautification and community building

·         Major new and renewed investment in Parks capital projects and programs over the next decade coupled with continued attention into the length and efficiency of the overall Parks capital process.

Where: City Hall Committee Room

When: Thursday, March 3 @ 10 AM

Who:

·         Parks Committee Chair Council Member Mark Levine

·         Members of the City Council Parks Committee

·         Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver

·         Park Advocates