South Bronx Leadership Business Award and Meeting

  Michael Brady the Executive Director of the Third Avenue Business Improvement District gave a current view of what is happening in the Third Avenue BID. 275,000 visitors, 240+ shops and Businesses, and five million square feet of real estate. After going over some more details Mr. Brady said that he expects the figures he quoted to triple in a few short years. The Third Avenue BID will increase in size as old buildings are finished with their renovations, and the new buildings that are currently going up will be completed. He thanked City Councilman Rafael Salamanca (who was at City Hall) and Congressman Jose Serrano (who was in Washington) for the success of the Third Avenue Bid. The event was held at  the Metropolitan College of New York, located on East 149th Street at Third Avenue. 

On hand were Bronx District Attorney and the Executive Director of the Bronx Chamber of Commerce Ms. Lisa Sorin. DA Clark spoke about working with the businesses on obtaining the video footage of security cameras when a crime occurs so the police can catch the crooks. Ms. Sorin spoke about partnering with the Third Avenue BID to increase business throughout the entire Bronx. 

Above - Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark talks to the BID.

Below - Bronx Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Lisa Sorin.

Above - Congressman Jose Serrano was the first to receive a South Bronx Leadership Award, but Congressman Serrano was in Washington, as District Director Anthony R. Jordan accepts the Leadership Award from Mr. Brady and Ms. Sorin. 

Below - In 2020 a  new YMCA will be opening in the Third Avenue BID area. Sharon Greenberger CEO/President of the YMCA of Greater New York receives a Leadership  Award from Mr. Brady and Ms. Sorin.  

Above - Ramon Cuaya Coyotl owner of Coffee Delight receives a Leadership Award from Mr. Brady and Ms. Sorin.

Below - Esmeralda Herrera of Communitas America HGI Initiative receives a Leadership Award from Mr. Brady and Javier Medrano the Deputy Director of the Third Avenue BID.

Reverend Francis Skelly of the Immaculate Conception Church received the final award named Bread and Roses for his 42 years of service to the community. He is being transferred elsewhere. 

Summit on Latin@s - New York City at Lehman College

  The 2019 Summit on LatinAs-New York City was held Tuesday at Lehman College. It was a full day event starting with opening remarks by New York City Council Speaker Cory Johnson. An overview of SOL-NYC 2019 was given, and panel discussions began. 

 The first panel discussion topic was Economic Development. This panel had on it Hector Cordero-Guzman a professor from the School of Public and International Affairs at Baruch College. Wendy Garcia the Chief Diversity Officer from the NYC Comptroller's Office, Paul Quintero CEO Accion NY, and Henry Garrido the Executive Director for District Council 37. 

 The second panel had elected officials NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer, Councilman Carlos Menchaca, Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez, and Assemblywoman Carmen de la Rosa. This panel was followed by a lunch where Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. spoke about where the Bronx was before he became borough president to where the borough now is at. 

 Bronx BP Diaz said that in a city with a population of three million Latinos 'Why is it that there has not been a citywide Latino elected official?' Cheers of Diaz for Mayor could be heard after that. He finished by saying that he has been an elected official for twenty-one years now, and it is time that we have a seat at the table. 

      

Above - BP Diaz and Councilman Rodriguez greet each other, and chatted for a few minutes.

Below - BP Diaz making a point to the audience during his speech, as to why with three million Latinos, why is there not a Latino citywide elected official?

Above - Jose L. Venegas asks a question of BP Diaz about new building in the Bronx displacing Latinos. 

Below - BP Diaz answers that those who come to build in the Bronx must respect the community, not displace the community, but build for the community. 

COUNCILMAN TORRES & CULTURAL COMMUNITY TO RALLY & PUSH FOR $25 MILLION INCREASE IN CITY BUDGET TO SUPPORT CULTURAL & ARTS INSTITUTIONS IN THE BRONX & ACROSS NYC

 Councilman Ritchie Torres  artists and cultural activists and leaders from cultural institutions across the Bronx to rally and press Mayor de Blasio to invest $25 million for cultural funding in the city’s budget that is currently being negotiated. New York City is home to more than 1,500 cultural organizations. The cultural sector brings $4 billion in revenue to the city annually and employs 8% of the city’s workforce, but the current proposed fiscal year 2020 budget for arts and cultural institutions is $48.1 million (24% less) than last year’s budget. The City must continue to expand funding for cultural organizations that drive our economy and together make New York City the cultural capital of the world Councilman Torres said.

Above - Ms. Lucy Sexton of New Yorkers for Cultural Arts speaks why the arts are so important to all New Yorkers.

Below - Charles Rice-Gonzalez of BADD an Arts provider speaks about why different Arts programs are important. 

Above and Below - Those in attendance were given a little sample of a dance routine by Jennifer Beasty Acosta and Ana "Rokefella" Garcia.

MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES EXTENDING FHV CAPS TO PROTECT HARDWORKING DRIVERS, INCREASE THEIR PAY & REDUCE CRUISING BY EMPTY CARS IN MANHATTAN

Extended cap on vehicle licenses and new cap on cars cruising empty will increase driver wages, reduce congestion

  Mayor de Blasio today announced a new plan by the Taxi and Limousine Commission to extend the cap on For-Hire Vehicle licenses announced last year, and to create a second cap on how long FHV companies can let their vehicles cruise empty without passengers in the Manhattan core, below 96th Street. Taken together, these caps are expected to cut congestion, increasing speeds in the evening rush hour by up to 10 percent. As companies reduce the time drivers cruise without a passenger, these policies have the potential to increase net driver hourly pay as much as 20 percent during the busiest times. They build on the unprecedented, first-in-the-country actions the City has taken to protect hardworking drivers and reign in congestion. You can read the report that informed these policies here.

This comes after last year’s driver pay standard, which increased earnings at the four major high-volume FHV companies: Uber, Lyft, Via and Juno. The standard, which went into effect earlier this February, guarantees drivers a per-trip amount that will net at least $17.22 an hour, and if they make less on any give trip, the app companies must pay the difference. After the rule took effect, between February 1 and May 19 drivers earned an additional $172 million, based on per-trip pay earned before and after the rules took effect. Before the standard went into effect, drivers only made the minimum pay standard on 4 percent of trips, now they make that or more on 100 percent of trips — equivalent to an annual pay increase of $10,000. More than 80,000 FHV drivers are now benefiting from increased wages.

“For too long, app companies have taken advantage of hardworking drivers, choking our streets with congestion and driving workers into poverty,” said Mayor de Blasio. “That era will come to an end in New York City. Last year we took the first step, and this year we’re going further with new restrictions on how many empty cars these companies can have on our streets. That means higher wages for drivers and less congested streets for our city.”

Extending the Cap on FHV Licenses: The initial cap on FHV licenses was initially temporary, set to run out in August 2019. Now, TLC will pursue rulemaking to extend this cap, with vigilant monitoring to ensure outer borough services remains fast and reliable. The cap will exclude wheelchair accessible vehicles and all-electric vehicles, to accelerate the creation of a greener, more accessible FHV fleet. Rules extending the cap will be noticed in June so it can take effect before the temporary cap expires in August.

New Cap on Cruising in the Manhattan Core: TLC will create a new rule that limits the amount of time an app company’s drivers can cruise in the core without passengers. Currently they cruise a remarkable 41 percent of the time without passengers, increasing congestion. This cap would require companies to reduce cruising to just 31 percent of the time vehicles are on the road. Strict penalties will ensure compliance, and TLC retains the right to suspend or revoke a company’s license to operate in New York City if they fail to comply.

This cap will be in effect weekdays 6 AM to 11 PM and weekends 8 AM to 11 PM. Companies will be required to decrease cruising to 36 percent by February 2020, and reach the 31 percent target by August 2020 in order to avoid sanction.

These caps complement other actions announced by the de Blasio Administration to help yellow taxi drivers this week, including:

·         Waiving Medallion Fee: Medallion owners no longer have to pay $1,100 every two years to renew their medallion. TLC will immediately stop collecting the fee, and we will work with the Council to pass Council Members Levine’s legislation.

·         Driver Assistance Center: The City will create a new driver assistance center within one year that will have on-site staff to screen drivers for various issues and then connect to relevant services including advocacy, financial counseling and debt restructuring assistance, referrals to health services and screening for HRA benefits.

The City is doing more to fight discrimination in the industry. TLC launched the Office of Inclusion five months ago. Since then, there has been robust outreach to civil rights groups, the driver industry, and the broader community. TLC has assigned a dedicated data analyst to work with TLC’s Prosecution and IT divisions to review patterns of potential systematic discrimination in the FHV sector to inform TLC Prosecution enforcement. TLC is also looking at how to make the process of filing complaints more efficient, and will educate the public about how to make those complaints.

“The Mayor’s announcement today is welcome news for everyone who has ever sat in Midtown traffic in a bus, cab or car,” said DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg. “Having over 40 percent of FHVs in peak hours cruising empty on the City’s most congested streets is simply unsustainable.  Along with other ambitious solutions like the Better Buses plan and congestion pricing, we look forward to working with TLC on implementing these new common-sense rules for FHVs that will help get our City moving again.”

“The de Blasio Administration is fully committed to making transportation more accessible to New Yorkers and visitors with disabilities,” said MOPD Commissioner Victor Calise. “Extending the cap on the issuance of for-hire vehicles (FHV) licenses while continuing to have an exception for wheelchair accessible vehicles is a powerful incentive for FHV companies and potential drivers to increase the number of wheelchair accessible vehicles on the road to serve the needs of everyone. MOPD is proud of the gains the City has made to increase the size of the wheelchair accessible FHV fleet thanks to the enactment of the TLC’s accessibility rules and we look forward to further enhancing accessible transportation options after today’s announcement.”

“With this new policy, New York City is holding companies accountable for the underutilization of drivers and oversupply of vehicles that have choked the city’s streets,” said Acting TLC Commissioner Bill Heinzen. “This innovative approach represents a major win for our hardworking drivers and the city as a whole.  It shows how cities nationwide can take back control of their streets.”

STATEMENT FROM MAYOR DE BLASIO ON HISTORIC ALBANY RENT REGULATION BILLS

  “Tenants have pounded on Albany’s door for decades for the protections they deserve. We’ve stood with them, fought for them tooth-and-nail, and now the wait is finally over. Our State Legislature has answered the call. This is a remarkable achievement that will halt displacement, harassment and unjust evictions, and keep working families in the homes they love. Combined with the City’s rapid pace of building and protecting affordable homes, these reforms mean we can go from just holding the line to actually growing the number of apartments New Yorkers can afford.

“It goes without saying: nothing like this would have been possible without the Assembly and the new Democratic majority in the State Senate working together on behalf of the people. Elections matter. For more than 2 million New Yorkers who depend on our rent laws to protect their homes, and the millions more who will enjoy new protections for the first time, steadfast advocacy and an election has helped keep a roof over their heads.”

Senator Rivera Introduces Resolution Recognizing June as Immigrant Heritage Month in New York State

Today, State Senator Gustavo Rivera introduced a resolution to designate the month of June as Immigrant Heritage Month in the state of New York. For the fifth consecutive year, Senator Rivera's resolution serves to highlight, acknowledge and celebrate the countless contributions immigrant communities have made and continue to make to the Empire State.

"New York State has always been a beacon of hope for those who have left their countries of origin in search of a brighter future for themselves and their families. While the federal government continues to deliberately implement malicious policies to dehumanize and tear our communities apart, New York must never waiver in our commitment to provide them the support they need to fully thrive," said State Senator Gustavo Rivera. "As a Legislature, we will continue our work to enact policies that ensure our already embattled immigrant communities are provided the protections they deserve. I would like to thank my colleagues in the New York State Senate for adopting this resolution and joining me in celebrating our State's rich immigrant heritage."

THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY PASSES THE GREEN LIGHT BILL (CRESPO A. 3675B) RESTORING ACCESS TO DRIVER’S LICENSES TO ALL NEW YORKER'S

   Today, the New York State Assembly passed the Driver's License Access and Privacy Act. The need to secure driving privileges for all residents of New York, including undocumented immigrants, has been a long term effort. This legislation enhances public safety because all drivers will be required to pass a written exam and demonstrate safe driving skills.

 

“Today, the Assembly passed the Green Light Bill which aims to restore all New Yorker's access to driver’s licenses,” says Assemblyman Marcos A. Crespo.  “This legislation allows for undocumented immigrant New Yorker's, who contribute to our state economy in so many ways, to drive safely to and from school, work, and home. Not only will our roads throughout New York State be safer, but families of immigrants will have more peace of mind while their loved ones are on the roads. I am grateful for the Speaker’s support and leadership, to my colleagues in the assembly for doing the right thing, and to the advocates’ unwavering activism and visibility throughout the state.”

 

Popularly known as the Green Light Bill, this legislation addresses the long-held need to restore access to driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants. This legislation allows for the issuance of a driver's license, protects the data of those applying for such privilege from unwarranted release and moves New York closer to recognizing the huge and positive economic impact undocumented residents have on the economy.

 

Attorney General James And NYC Comptroller Stringer Announce Sentencing Of Construction Contractors For Failing To Pay More Than $280,000 In Wages To Workers In Public Work Projects

Vickram Mangru, Owner and Operator of Vick Construction and AVM Construction Corp., is Sentenced to 30 Days in Jail, and 3 Years of Probation for Failing to Pay Prevailing Wages on Construction Work at Several Bronx Public School

  Attorney General Letitia James and New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer today announced the sentencings of Vickram Mangru, his wife Gayatri Mangru, and AVM Construction Corp., of Valley Stream, NY, for failing to pay proper prevailing wages to workers related to a publicly-funded New York City construction project.   

The defendants were sentenced in Bronx County Supreme Court in front of Justice James A. McCarty.  Vickram Mangru will serve 30 days in jail, followed by 3 years of probation, after his felony conviction of Failure to Pay Prevailing Wages and Benefits. Gaytari Mangru was sentenced to a Conditional Discharge as result of her misdemeanor conviction on the same charge. The defendants both pled guilty to the charges on February 11, 2019, and have paid $80,000 in restitution to three workers. The remaining $201,630.09 was subject to an Order of restitution issued by the court. 

In addition, all defendants will be prohibited from bidding on or being awarded any public works contract in the State of New York for a period of five (5) years.   

“New Yorkers who work on publicly-funded projects deserve to be paid a prevailing wage,” said Attorney General Letitia James. “Employers who underpay their employees, and attempt to evade wage laws have no business in the state of New York. My office will continue to ensure that all New Yorkers – no matter their trade – are paid a fair wage.” 

"My office has zero tolerance for unscrupulous, predatory actors who flout the law and cheat workers out of their wages – that’s why we debarred this contractor,” said Comptroller Scott M. Stringer. “The defendant in this case was forbidden from obtaining contracts for public works projects in New York City and State after he was found to be violating our labor laws. We referred this case to the Attorney General’s Office after Mangru created a new company in an attempt to continue operating in New York City, but was allegedly still committing labor violations. There’s no place in New York for these kind of acts, and my office will always fight to break the grip of those who cheat our workers – finger by finger."   

Between December 22, 2012 and February 14, 2015, Vickram Mangru – as owner of Vick Construction and operator of AVM Construction Corp. – failed to pay several of his employees’ proper prevailing wages for construction and repair work on several public schools in the Bronx. State law requires that on certain construction projects designated as “public works,” workers must be paid a pre-determined industry minimum wage per hour, plus a benefit rate, collectively known as a “prevailing wage rate.” Instead of paying this prevailing wage rate, the investigation revealed that Vickram Mangru allegedly paid his workers between $120 and $160/day for 40-50 hours worked per week – an amount far less than what his employees were owed under the prevailing wage rate. To cover up the crime, Vickram Mangru falsified Certified Payroll Records and Reports submitted to the New York City Department of Education by claiming that he did pay workers the proper prevailing wage rate. The New York City Comptroller’s Office previously barred the defendant, Vickram Mangru, from obtaining contracts for public works projects in New York City after he was found to be in violation of labor laws. The Comptroller’s Office referred the case to the Attorney General’s Office after Mangru created a new company in an attempt to continue operating in New York City, but was allegedly still committing labor violations.