End of Men's Homeless Shelter - Beginning of New Family Homeless Shelter?

  The Van Cortlandt Motel, on Riverdale Avenue was found to be housing homeless men at a Community Board 8 Land Use meeting. An Assistant Commissioner from the NYC Department of Homeless Services said that the use of the motel for homeless men would stop in September. Community residents living near the motel are now worried that homeless families are going to be placed in this motel. In the photo above, Yes that is a school bus parked in front of the Motel office at the far left of the photo. I went into the office to talk to a person behind the locked glass door claiming to be in charge at the time. I had two questions for this person. 

1 - Are the homeless men out of the motel? His answer was, yes.

2 - Are there any homeless families living in the motel? His answer was, not yet.

I then saw this room at the motel being cleaned, and so clean as if it had to pass an inspection. One picture is worth a thousand words. 

Bronx Library Center's 6th Annual Job Expo

  Over 2,000 people lined up to apply for the possible hundreds of job openings that were available at Wednesday's Job Fair. The community room was filled with government employers such as the NYPD, MTA, Parks Department, and NYPL. There were also many private companies and non-profits with job openings. The photos below should tell the rest of the story.

Above - The line went around two corners as over 2,000 people came looking for a job.

Below - State Senator Gustavo Rivera was very happy to see over 2,000 people come to the Job Fair at the Bronx Public Library, but he said there were not enough jobs to go around for everyone on the lines.

Above - Community Board 7 had a table, and after Tuesday night's full board meeting it was unclear if current CB 7 District Manager Andrew Sandler was collecting names to be his replacement or for other jobs. 

Below - The NYPD is always looking for good citizens to become police officers or School Safety Officers.

Hope Home Care was one of the many private or non profits who had job openings.

Dark Horse Announces New York Comic Con 2016 Programming Schedule

DARK HORSE COMICS | NEW YORK COMIC CON 2016 | BOOTH #1636

SIGNING SCHEDULE

All creators signing in our booth offer their autographs for FREE. FREE prints, comics, or posters are provided for most of our signings (while supplies last). You may purchase or bring items to be signed; however, we may restrict the type or number of items to be signed as necessary.

Some signings require a wristband for entry, as noted on the schedule. Drawings for wristbands for these events will begin at show opening the day before and day of each signing. Come to the Dark Horse booth early for the best chance to join these events.

Lines may also be closed for some signings due to crowding or time restrictions.

We have two signing stages. One features art by Mike Mignola for Hellboy; the other showcases The Legend of Zelda with art from the upcoming The Legend of Zelda: Art & Artifacts. The location of each signing is indicated by the following abbreviations:

HB = Hellboy Signing Stage  LZ = The Legend of Zelda Signing Stage

All events are subject to change. Some restrictions apply. Please see Dark Horse Comics staff if you have questions.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6

11:00 a.m.–11:45 a.m.   HB    CHIMICHANGA #1 NYCC EXCLUSIVE: Stephanie Buscema

12:00 p.m.–12:45 p.m.   LZ    CREEPY: Dan Braun

1:00 p.m.–1:45 p.m.       HB    HALO: TALES FROM SLIPSPACE: Frank O’Connor, Tyler Jeffers,                                                                                                                                 Jon Goff, Marco Rudy, John Jackson Miller

2:00 p.m.–2:45 p.m.       HB    TREE MAIL: Brian Smith 

2:00 p.m.–2:45 p.m.       LZ     SEMIAUTOMAGIC, ARCHIE VS. PREDATOR,                                                                                                     GRINDHOUSE, SMOKE/ASHES: Alex de Campi

3:00 p.m.–3:45 p.m.       HB    MASS EFFECT: Mac Walters

3:00 p.m.–3:45 p.m.       LZ     LEAVING MEGALOPOLIS: Jim Calafiore

4:00 p.m.–4:45 p.m.       HB    THE SECRET LOVES OF GEEK GIRLS: Hope Nicholson, Adrienne Kress,                                                                                                                            Fionna Adams

4:00 p.m.–4:45 p.m.       LZ     THE SECRET LOVES OF GEEK GIRLS: Megan Lavey-Heaton,                                                                                                                                            Kristen Gudsnuk, Tini Howard

5:00 p.m.–5:45 p.m.      HB     BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER: Rebekah Isaacs 

5:00 p.m.–5:45 p.m.      LZ      CRYPTOCRACY: Van Jensen

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7

11:00 a.m.–11:45 a.m.   HB      BUFFY: THE HIGH SCHOOL YEARS, MISFITS OF AVALON: Kel McDonald

11:00 a.m.–11:45 a.m.   LZ       ALABASTER: THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE BIRD,                                                                                       SPACE-MULLET!, THE GHOST FLEET: Daniel Warren Johnson

12:00 p.m.–12:45 p.m.   HB      HELLBOY: INTO THE SILENT SEA: Gary Gianni

12:00 p.m.–12:45 p.m.   LZ       ABE SAPIEN: Max Fiumara

1:00 p.m.–1:45 p.m.       HB      ALEISTER & ADOLF: Douglas Rushkoff

1:00 p.m.–1:45 p.m.       LZ       THE FIFTH BEATLE: THE BRIAN EPSTEIN STORY: Vivek J. Tiwary

2:00 p.m.–2:45 p.m.       HB      THE BATTLES OF BRIDGET LEE,                                                                                                                         NANJING: THE BURNING CITY: Ethan Young

2:00 p.m.–2:45 p.m.       LZ       TARZAN ON THE PLANET OF THE APES: David Walker

3:00 p.m.–3:45 p.m.       HB      THE SHAOLIN COWBOY,                                                                                                                                       THE BIG GUY AND RUSTY THE BOY ROBOT: Geof Darrow

3:00 p.m.–3:45 p.m.       LZ       APOCALYPTIGIRL: Andrew MacLean

4:00 p.m.–4:45 p.m.       HB      FIGHT CLUB 2, B.P.R.D. HELL ON EARTH,                                                                                                                               SIN TITULO: Cameron Stewart

                                                             FIGHT CLUB 2, KABUKI: David Mack

4:00 p.m.–4:45 p.m.       LZ      ASTRID, ALENA, THE COMPLETE LOVE HURTS: Kim W. Andersson

5:00 p.m.–5:45 p.m.       HB      THE MASSIVE, THE MASSIVE: NINTH WAVE: Brian Wood, Garry Brown

5:00 p.m.–5:45 p.m.       LZ       PROMETHEUS: LIFE AND DEATH, REBELS: Andrea Mutti

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8

11:00 a.m.–11:45 a.m.    HB     ASTRID, ALENA, THE COMPLETE LOVE HURTS: Kim W. Andersson

11:00 a.m.–11:45 a.m.    LZ      NEIL GAIMAN'S TROLL BRIDGE: Colleen Doran

12:00 p.m.–12:45 p.m.   LZ      HOUSE OF PENANCE, LIGHT BRIGADE, THE MIGHTY: Peter Tomasi

1:00 p.m.–2:45 p.m.       HB     SIN CITY: THE HARD GOODBYE CURATOR’S COLLECTION: Frank Miller

                                                                                                                              (WRISTBAND REQUIRED)

                                                 *LIMIT ONE PRINT PER PERSON

                                                 *OTHER RESTRICTIONS APPLY—SEE STAFF FOR INFO

3:00 p.m.–3:45 p.m.       HB      CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS III: Larry Hama

3:00 p.m.–3:45 p.m.       LZ       BUFFY: THE HIGH SCHOOL YEARS, MISFITS OF AVALON: Kel McDonald

4:00 p.m.–4:45 p.m.       HB      THE FIFTH BEATLE: THE BRIAN EPSTEIN STORY: Vivek J. Tiwary

4:00 p.m.–4:45 p.m.       LZ       PROJECT TBA, LARA CROFT AND THE FROZEN OMEN,                                                                                 DEEP GRAVITY: Corinna Bechko

5:00 p.m.–5:45 p.m.       HB      BRIGGS LAND, REBELS: Brian Wood, Andrea Mutti

                                                  ALIENS: DEFIANCE: Brian Wood, Tristan Jones

                                                  PROMETHEUS: LIFE AND DEATH: Andrea Mutti

5:00 p.m.–5:45 p.m.       LZ       PROJECT TBA: Evan Dorkin, Sarah Dyer

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 9

11:00 a.m.–11:45 a.m.    HB     SOUPY LEAVES HOME: Jose Pimienta

11:00 a.m.–11:45 a.m.    LZ      CHIMICHANGA #1 NYCC EXCLUSIVE: Stephanie Buscema

12:00 p.m.–12:45 p.m.    HB     HENCHGIRL: Kristen Gudsnuk

12:00 p.m.–12:45 p.m.    LZ      TOMB RAIDER: Phillip Sevy

1:00 p.m.–1:45 p.m.        HB     ITTY BITTY HELLBOY, AW YEAH COMICS!,                                                                                                       GRIMMISS ISLAND: Art Baltazar, Franco

1:00 p.m.–1:45 p.m.        LZ      MYSTERY GIRL: Alberto J. Alburquerque

2:00 p.m.–2:45 p.m.        HB     KINGSWAY WEST: Greg Pak

2:00 p.m.–2:45 p.m.        LZ      TREE MAIL: Brian Smith

Bronx Chamber of Commerce Italian Heritage Luncheon honors six distinguished individuals for their contributions to our borough!

   

**Taste of Morris Park Food Festival TOMORROW!**

	Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj Senator Jeff Klein & The Morris Park Community Association presents TASTE OF MORRIS PARK FOOD FESTIVAL **TOMORROW** Saturday, September 24, 2016  Time: 1pm - 4pm  Location: Loreto Park (Between Haight Avenue and Tomlinson Avenue) Come and enjoy food, music and activities with your friends and families!

$20 MILLION IN PRIVATE DONATIONS RAISED FOR MAYOR DE BLASIO’S COMPUTER SCIENCE FOR ALL INITIATIVE

  Program has already reached 246 schools and trained more than 450 teachers

Goal of universal access to computer science education for 1.1 million students ahead of progress

  Mayor Bill de Blasio, Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña and Gabrielle Fialkoff, Senior Advisor and Director of the Office of Strategic Partnerships, announced today that Mayor de Blasio’s Computer Science for All (CS4All) initiative has raised $20 million in private funding. The fundraising campaign is half-way toward meeting a $40 million goal that will ultimately be matched in public funding for one of the cornerstones of the Mayor’s Equity and Excellence education reforms.

Today, 246 elementary, middle and high schools across the city are participating in CS4All. More than 450 teachers are receiving rigorous training to bring computer science instruction to their schools. CS4All gives students the computational thinking, problem solving and critical thinking skills necessary for college and professional success. Last September, the Mayor announced that the City would be bringing the program to every elementary, middle, and high school by 2025.

“Last year we announced an ambitious plan to bring computer science education to every public school student by 2025 – making New York City the largest school district in the country to do so. Today, we are announcing real strides in completing our goal,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “The city’s tech industry is growing, yet before Computer Science for All, fewer than five percent of our public school students had even the most basic skills necessary to apply for these jobs. Through this program, we’re laying the groundwork today so that our kids can apply for these jobs tomorrow.”

The initiative is a model for effective public-private partnerships, with the City of New York and the private sector bearing programmatic costs equally. Today the Mayor announced new commitments from: Math for America (MƒA); Robin Hood Education and Technology Fund, co-chaired by David Siegel and John Overdeck; Paulson Family Foundation; Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc.; the Hutchins Family Foundation; Association for a Better New York and the Rudin Family Foundation; Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz; Ron Conway, Founder, SV Angel; and Nancy and Alan Schwartz. Founding partners Fred Wilson and CSNYC, Robin Hood and the AOL Charitable Foundation, as well as early investment from AT&T that helped make the initiative possible. Public dollars support the infrastructure and human capital needed to pull off what is the largest effort of its kind. Private dollars support the training of nearly 5,000 teachers over the next ten years. These funds are overseen and administered by the New York City Fund for Public Schools.

“Computer Science for All is a cornerstone of equity and excellence in our public schools – these are the skills our students need to be successful in high school, college, and careers in the 21st century,” said Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña. “This isn’t just for particular students from particular backgrounds; learning how to think critically and computationally, and how to create with technology, must be for all students. I thank our private partners for recognizing the importance of this initiative and for their investment.”

"The Mayor’s vision for New York City schools will put a new generation on the path toward success,” said Gabrielle Fialkoff, Senior Advisor to the Mayor and Director of the Office of Strategic Partnerships. “Through this landmark public-private partnership, we will level the playing field for every student in every borough. Computer Science for All is an investment in creating opportunities for all of our young people, particularly in a global economy where technology is integral to every industry.”

Through the implementation of this ten-year initiative, New York City will be the largest school district in the country to provide computer science education to all students, particularly populations underrepresented in tech including girls, African-American and Latino students and students from low-income families. Most students in public schools traditionally either lack access to computer science or gain these skills too late. Early and widespread exposure to computer science is key to breaking down gender and racial barriers, leading to greater diversity and equality in the tech sector and relevant industries. The initiative promotes critical skills like thinking creatively, working as a team, and interacting with technology, as well as technical skills that will power the 21st century economy.

Computer science education at the scale of New York City’s public school system, encompassing 1.1 million students, will allow a new generation to be active creators of technology. By expanding access to computer science throughout NYC public schools, CS4All will also promote the cultivation of local and diverse talent for the City’s own workforce, including technology, and have a ripple effect across the country, where only a quarter of professional computing jobs are held by women and less than ten percent are held by African-Americans and Latinos.

Of the 246 schools participating in Computer Science for All programs, 98 are offering full-year courses or multi-year sequences including AP Computer Science Principles, the Software Engineering Program (SEP) and the SEP Jr. program for elementary schools. Teachers from the remaining schools have participated in the “CS Track” of the Department of Education’s STEM Institute and received intensive training to implement rigorous, hands-on CS lessons and units in their schools. Through teachers’ participation in these programs, students in elementary, middle and high school will learn the fundamentals of computer science, such as coding, robotics and web design.

By 2025, all New York City public school students will receive at least one meaningful, high-quality computer science unit or course at each school level: elementary, middle, and high school. The centerpiece of the initiative is the training of nearly 5,000 teachers who will, by year ten, bring computer science to more than 245,000 students each year.

Importantly, many of these students will be prepared to fill the 200,000 additional technology jobs that New York City’s employers will create over the next decade while all graduates will be equipped with soft skills needed to successfully navigate the 21st century economy. Together, the Equity and Excellence initiatives will support progress across all schools so that, by 2026, 80 percent of students graduate high school on time, two-thirds of graduates are college ready and all students are reading on grade level by the end of 2nd grade. More information on Equity and Excellence is available online.

Mayor de Blasio Visits MS 223, the Laboratory School of Finance and Technology

  In an effort to bolster computer skills of all students in NYC public schools the Mayor visited MS 223 in the South Bronx to show off a school with a new computer technology room. The mayor said that only 246 public schools only have the technology that MS 233 has, and when I asked him to give me a breakdown by borough of schools, the answer which I received was 'We will have to get back to you on that'. I already knew that the borough with the most technology in its public schools in the borough of Manhattan, and wanted to hear that from the mayor, but apparently he just played dumb. The photos below should tell more of the story.

Above - The sign on the door to this computer room says We do not play games - We make them'.

Below - 30 of the latest computers with large screens are in place for students in the school to use. There are also two Smart \boards in the room at either end.

Above - The mayor and Chancellor Farina enter the computer room. The mayor heads to one student, and the chancellor to another.

Below - Mayor de Blasio sits with Amaih to see what she is working on.

Above and Below - The Mayor, Chancellor, and other partners in the Computer Science for All program then went to the library to give a description of the new initiative, and then took questions from the media.  

Here is part of that press conference to introduce the Computer Science for All Program.

MS 223, the Laboratory School of Finance and Technology, truly offers us a window into the future when computer science education is available to all of our students. It is said that genius can be found in every zip code, but not necessarily opportunity, and that is really at the heart of why we are here today. Computer Science for All is the largest public-private partnership of the de Blasio administration – an $81 million-dollar initiative to bring computer science education to every one of our 1.1 million students. 

I am so pleased to be joined by all of our partners in this effort today. We have experts that are equipping our teachers with the knowledge they need to make this vision a reality. And our funding partners who are bringing us the resources to roll this out to every neighborhood in our city. 

In today’s world, our students need to be as fluent in reading and writing computer code as they are in reading and writing the alphabet. The tech sector grew 57 percent between 2007 and 2014 in our city, nearly six times the overall city-wide employment average. And before we launched this initiative, we know that too few of our students were receiving computer science education. And yet, in spite of this phenomenal growth, our employers are starved for talent, and we all know that talent is one thing we have plenty of in this city. But talent alone with not secure these future good jobs. Our students need opportunity. Opportunity paired with skills-based learning and the support of all of the stakeholders in this room will help us guarantee New York City a 21st Century workforce. 

Computer Science for All is yet another example of Mayor de Blasio’s commitment to public-private partnerships. Wedding the scale of government with the entrepreneurial spirit of the private sector helps to create opportunities for all New Yorkers. I like to call this initiative a win-win-win – a win for our students who receive new skills and learning, who have access now often to computers in their classroom; a win for our industries all throughout the city who gain a local and diverse workforce; and a win for our city as our economy soars with this new generation of leaders. 

I’m so proud to be here today and to introduce our Mayor, whose vision for education in New York City looks to truly equip every student with the resources they need to be successful. Gabrielle Fialkoff, Director, Office of Strategic Partnerships. 

Mayor de Blasio then went on to say what he had done with Amaih, and that over the next ten years he expected that all NYC public schools would be a part of this program expanding it from the current 246 schools.

Ahmad Khan Rahami Charged In Manhattan And New Jersey Federal Courts With Executing Bombings In New York City And New Jersey

   Attorney General of the United States Loretta E. Lynch, Assistant Attorney General for National Security John P. Carlin, U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara for the Southern District of New York, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman for the District of New Jersey, Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) Director James B. Comey, Assistant Director-in-Charge William Sweeney of the FBI New York Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Timothy Gallagher of the FBI Newark Field Office and Commissioner of the Police Department for the City of New York (“NYPD”) James O’Neill announced that Ahmad Khan Rahami, a/k/a “Ahmad Rahimi,” has been charged in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, for conducting and attempting to conduct bombings in New York City and various locations in New Jersey on September 17, 2016, and September 18, 2016.  

Rahami will first be transported by the United States Marshals Service, pursuant to a writ of habeas corpus ad prosequendum, to the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York to face the charges filed in the Southern District of New York. More than 30 people were injured as a result of the detonation of a bomb in the Chelsea area of New York City.

Rahami, 28, of Elizabeth, New Jersey, is charged in a Complaint filed in the Southern District of New York with one count of using and attempting to use weapons of mass destruction, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2332a, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment; one count of bombing and attempting to bomb a place of public use, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2332f, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment; one count of destroying and attempting to destroy property by means of fire or explosive, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 844(d), which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and use of a destructive device in furtherance of a crime of violence, namely, the use and attempted use of weapons of mass destruction, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c), which carries a mandatory minimum consecutive sentence of 30 years in prison, all in connection with Rahami’s alleged detonation of an explosive device and efforts to detonate explosives in New York City.

Rahami is also charged in a Complaint filed in the District of New Jersey with two counts of using and attempting to use weapons of mass destruction, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2332a, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment on each count; one count of bombing and attempting to bomb a place of public use and public transportation system, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2332f, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment; one count of attempting to destroy property by means of fire or explosive, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 844(i), which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and two counts of using a destructive device in furtherance of a crime of violence, namely, the use and attempted use of weapons of mass destruction, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c), each count of which carries a mandatory minimum consecutive sentence of 30 years in prison and, if convicted of both counts, a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment, all in connection with Rahami’s alleged efforts to detonate explosives in Seaside Park, New Jersey, and Elizabeth, New Jersey.

Mr. Bharara and Mr. Fishman praised the outstanding efforts of the FBI’s New York Joint Terrorism Task Force, which principally consists of agents from the FBI and detectives from the NYPD, and the FBI’s New Jersey Joint Terrorism Task Force.  Mr. Bharara and Mr. Fishman also thanked the Counterterrorism Section of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division for its assistance.

The prosecution in the Southern District of New York is being handled by that Office’s Terrorism and International Narcotics Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas J. Lewin, Emil J. Bove III, Andrew J. DeFilippis, and Shawn G. Crowley are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Trial Attorney Brian Morgan of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.

The prosecution in the District of New Jersey is being handled by that Office’s National Security Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dennis C. Carletta, Francisco J. Navarro, Margaret Ann Mahoney, and James M. Donnelly are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Trial Attorney Brian Morgan of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.

The charges contained in the Complaints are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.