CSEA Endorses Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj for City Council

   Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) Local 1000, the state’s largest public employees union, announced their endorsement of Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj in his campaign to represent the 13th District in the City Council.

"The Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA), which represents over 14,000 members and retirees throughout NYC, is proud to endorse Mark Gjonaj for the 13th city council district in the Bronx. CSEA has worked with Mr. Gjonaj during his time as a NYS Assemblyman and we know he has a strong commitment to representing the interests of the hard working men and women in his district, including those who provide the public services that make this the greatest city in the world. We look forward to working with Mark in the city council,” said Lester Crockett, CSEA Metro Region President.

“Throughout my time in the Assembly, I have worked hard to represent the best interests of working New Yorkers, so it is a privilege to be receiving the support of the men and women of the CSEA. Advocating for the worker, from equal pay to safe working conditions, has always been at the forefront of all that I do. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work together on so many common issues, and I pledge to fight tirelessly on their behalf and on behalf of all workers to preserve their rights and improve their quality of life,” said Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj.

CSEA joins CSA, 32BJ, Steamfitters Local 638, State Committeeman Joseph McManus, and the Bronx Democratic County Committee in their support of Assemblyman Gjonaj’s campaign for City Council.

Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj is running for City Council to represent The Bronx’s 13th District. He currently represents the 80th Assembly District, which encompasses the neighborhoods of Allerton, Bedford Park, Morris Park, Mosholu Parkway, Norwood, Pelham Gardens, Pelham Parkway and Van Nest. He serves as Chair of the Subcommittee on Micro Business and is a member of several committees: Banks; Local Governments; Real Property Taxation; Small Business; Tourism, Parks, and Sports Development; and Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task Force.

CSEA is one of the largest representatives of employees in New York with thousands of active and retired State, Local Government, School District and private sector workers. They are dedicated to establishing an effective working relationship with area elected officials and to make our communities a better place to live and work.

ASTOR APPOINTS JEANNINE MENDEZ AS DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT, PUBLIC AND GOVERNMENT RELATIONS IN THE BRONX

   Astor Services for Children & Families in the Hudson Valley and the Bronx, a non-profit that serves more than 8,000 children with emotional and behavioral challenges, has named Jeannine Mendez as director of development, public and government relations in the Bronx.

  A Bronx native, Mendez will oversee and implement the non-profit's fundraising strategies, build brand awareness and cultivate relationships with foundations, government agencies and major donors in the region, to help advance the work of The Children's Foundation of Astor.

 

Previously, Mendez worked with the New York City Human Resources Administration's Office of Citywide Health Insurance Access, where she spearheaded education and outreach initiatives to promote access to health insurance and health programs for small businesses plus minority and low-income communities. Additionally, Mendez guided the development of health insurance outreach and enrollment efforts for numerous New York City government agencies, and developed critical data to support the work of the Commissioner and Mayor's Office.

 

Mendez also worked with the Arthritis Foundation, where she created donor events and cultivated relationships to ensure success and financial viability for the Hudson Valley branch of the New York Chapter, and served as adjunct professor at Metropolitan College of NY, Masters of Public Administration program. 

 

"Jeannine's background in strategic development, communications, New York City government, and health and education, are core strengths that will help forward Astor's work in the Bronx and beyond," said Sonia Barnes-Moorhead, executive vice president of The Children's Foundation of Astor. "Her facility in researching, analyzing and presenting information to key audiences and stakeholders is exceptional and we look forward to working with her to the benefit of the children and families served by Astor."

 

Mendez holds a Master of Science in Urban Policy and Management from New York University, Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Manhattanville College and several certifications in fundraising and event planning. She is an active member of the Parent Teacher Committee at Our Lady of Victory School where she runs the organization's fundraising restaurant nights.

 

About Astor Services for Children & Families

 

Astor Services for Children & Families, as it has since 1953, promotes the well-being of children, adolescents and their families through a range of programs that prevent and treat emotional problems and facilitate healthy development. Now serving more than 8,000 children and families annually, Astor's current range of services to families in the Mid-Hudson Valley and the Bronx include: Residential Treatment, Therapeutic Foster Family Care, Early Childhood Programs, and Community-Based Behavioral Health and Prevention Services. For additional information please visit http://astorservices.org/ or call (845) 871-1117.

Council Member Andrew Cohen and Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz Oppose Homeless Shelter on Broadway

  Assemblyman Dinowitz and Council Member Cohen have expressed their opposition about a Department of Homeless Services plan to convert a recently constructed APT building on 5731 Broadway between W 234^th and W 236^th street into a homeless shelter for families.

The recently constructed building was billed by the STAGG group as market-rate housing. They even had a website where people could submit applications.

“I am outraged at the city’s plan to convert a brand new apartment building in Kingsbridge into a homeless shelter,” Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitzexplained. “The community was led to believe that 5731 Broadway was to contain market rate housing. Now, without the slightest consultation with the community board, members of the community, or my office, we find out that we were the victims of a classic bait and switch. Where will the children, possibly numbering in the hundreds, attend school? P.S. 7 as well as other schools in the area are overcrowded already. When did the STAGG group know that this site would be used as a homeless shelter? Recently? Or, did they know from day one even as they billed it as market rate housing. Furthermore, the Van Cortlandt Motel already contains homeless families. The community was lied to on more than one occasion with respect to the use of that site as a homeless shelter. Given the history of lies and deceit regarding both of these sites, as well as the severe impact this shelter could have in the Kingsbridge community I strongly oppose the use of 5731 Broadway as a homeless shelter and condemn the secretive and deceitful behavior of those involved in creating this debacle.”

“I am frustrated and angry that the Department of Homeless Services is obsessed with dumping another shelter on the Broadway corridor,” said Council Member Andrew Cohen. “We as a community have been trying to improve the business climate on the southern end of Broadway and strengthen the residential portion of the northern end—DHS seems committed to destroying that effort.  This decision by DHS will have a particularly hard impact on already overcrowded P.S. 7.  Until the Administration comes up with concrete measures to keep people in their homes before they become homeless, continuing to expand the number of shelters in our community will not solve the homeless crisis.”

Engel, House Colleagues Introduce Disaster Assistance Equity Act for Co-op and Condo Owners

Engel, Sanford, Nadler, Zeldin, King Introduce Disaster Assistance Equity Act

  Congressman Eliot L. Engel joined Congress Members Sanford, Nadler, Zeldin, and King in introducing H.R. 3238, the Disaster Assistance Equity Act, a bipartisan bill which would make common interest communities, including co-ops and condominiums, eligible for the same FEMA assistance available to other homeowners.

This bill would make two changes to the Stafford Act:

• Make homeowners associations eligible for the Public Assistance Program for debris clearance and repair of common infrastructure; and 
• Enable condominium associations and housing cooperatives to be eligible for the Individual Assistance Program.

“This bipartisan bill fixes an obvious flaw in current federal law as it pertains to disaster assistance for co-op and condo owners,” Congressman Engel said. “We saw after Superstorm Sandy how vital it is for FEMA funds to be accessible to all homeowners, not just some or even most. Co-op and condo owners should not be treated like second class citizens by FEMA, especially in those difficult times after a natural disaster hits. I am proud to reintroduce this bill with my colleagues Rep. Sanford, Rep. Nadler, Rep. Zeldin, and Rep. King and will work hard to ensure its swift passage.” 

“I find it strange that FEMA treats the 70 million Americans who live in common interest communities differently than it does those who live in other types of communities,” said Congressman Sanford. “In my experience, storms don’t discriminate between different kinds of communities. As such, it seems to me that FEMA should treat them all equally when it comes to the assistance available in the wake of a disaster. I want to thank my colleagues for signing on as original co-sponsors of the bill, and we will be working in the weeks ahead to build support.”

“In the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, thousands of New Yorkers were shocked to learn they could not restore their condos and co-ops to livable condition because their common areas were not eligible for assistance,” said Congressman Nadler. “Millions more Americans have come to the same startling realization after natural disasters in the five years since Sandy. A storm doesn’t care what type of home you live in before destroying it, and FEMA should treat all homeowners fairly when helping them rebuild. I am proud to join Representatives Sanford, Engel, Zeldin, and King in re-introducing this critical bill, which builds on my ongoing efforts to ensure that every American can rebuild their home and their lives in the aftermath of natural disasters.”

Congressman Zeldin said, “Superstorm Sandy devastated our coastal communities and businesses in New York. Unfortunately, many New Yorkers learned the hard way that FEMA does not treat all homeowners equally. Condos, co-ops, and homeowners associations did not have the same access to federal disaster assistance as single family homeowners, which made it difficult to restore their homes and communities. Joining with Congressmen Sanford, King, Nadler, and Engel, the Disaster Assistance Equity Act would make important reforms to ensure that all homeowners are able to recover after a natural disaster.”

“As we saw in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, residents of condominiums and cooperatives should be eligible for FEMA Individual Assistance just as other home owners are,” said Congressman King. “This legislation will correct that inequity.”

Bronx Borough President - Bronx Summer Concert Series

MAYOR DE BLASIO WELCOMES FIRST DAY OF PROSPECT PARK’s CAR FREE SUMMER

East Drive from Park Circle to Grand Army Plaza, previously open to vehicles during weekday morning rush hours, is car-free 24-7 for two months from today through the weekend after Labor Day

  Today marks the first day of Prospect Park’s car-free summer, announced by Mayor de Blasio last week. Previously open to northbound traffic during the morning rush-hour, Prospect Park entire loop drive is car-free 24/7 from today until Monday, September 11^th. The New York City Department of Transportation (DOT), in coordination with NYC Parks, has been publicizing  Prospect Park East Drive’s new hours to affected drivers. 

“It’s a great day for Prospect Park. For kids and families using the park as their summer oasis, it just got quieter, healthier and safer” said Mayor de Blasio. 

“We are delighted to announce that Prospect Park for the rest of the summer will be completely car-free for the first time,” said DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg.  “Cyclists, joggers and pedestrians, young and old, can rejoice during these next couple warmer months in a safer and quieter park.”   

“New Yorkers look to their parks for green space and fresh air, especially in the heat of the summer,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP.  “Completely removing car traffic from Prospect Park turns one of our most historic sites back over to the kids, joggers, ball players, picnickers, and amblers who love it.  This summer, all visitors to Prospect Park will enjoy cleaner air, improved safety – and peace and quiet.”

In 2015, Mayor de Blasio announced that the West Drive of Prospect Park would be permanently car-free. Since that time, DOT has received a number of requests from the community and local officials to expand car-free hours to all of Prospect Park, which during the summer sees increased recreational use, including by several children’s day camps.  DOT is coordinating its efforts this summer with NYC Parks and the Prospect Park Alliance.

 According to DOT data, vehicle volumes on the East Drive are consistently lower during summer months: during a peak morning hour in the summer, fewer than 300 vehicles use the East Drive (a decline from over 400 hourly vehicles on a fall morning) while during a peak morning hour, the drive is used by nearly 1,000 pedestrians, joggers and cyclists.

The summertime car-free hours are also anticipated to have a negligible effect on travel times on alternative routes on streets around the park.  After the closure of the West Drive in June 2015, DOT studies showed that the most affected alternative southbound route saw an increased travel time of less than a minute after the West Drive went car-free, where other afternoon drivers actually saw travel times improve.  During the period of this summer’s East Drive closure, DOT will similarly collect data and conduct ongoing observations to determine the effect on alternate northbound routes during the morning rush period. 

EDITOR'S NOTE:

We can do the same thing here in Van Cortlandt Park. Just close down the Deegan Highway, but then again this is the Bronx.

MAYOR DE BLASIO, NYPD UNVEIL NEW 116TH PRECINCT STATIONHOUSE TO AID WITH RESPONSE TIME AND JURISDICTION LINES IN SOUTHEAST QUEENS

Mayor Bill de Blasio and the New York City Police Department today unveiled the site for the new 116^th Precinct located at 242-40 North Conduit Avenue in the Rosedale neighborhood of Queens. The siting of the future 116^th Precinct is a decades in the making accomplishment, born out of calls from local communities to cut down on response times and better allocate public safety resources across the 105^th Precinct’s vast geography.

“Thanks to the tireless efforts of the NYPD, New York City is the safest big city in America. Every New York City neighborhood deserves the same quality of service and safety we’ve come to expect from the NYPD. That is why we are making unprecedented investments in establishing high-quality precincts,” said Mayor de Blasio. “The future 116^th Precinct will help reduce current response times in Southeast Queens and expand coverage throughout the community.”

The 105^th Precinct is the fifth largest in the City, covering 12.43 square miles and 354 miles of roadway in Southeast Queens. The new 116^th Precinct will assume over half of the 105^th Precinct’s territory. While the citywide average emergency response time is approximately seven minutes, the 105th’s response time averages closer to nine minutes. The addition of the 116^th Precinct, which will be located at the 105^thPrecinct’s satellite building, will allow officers to respond more quickly and maintain a significant police presence in the southernmost part of the jurisdiction. Last March, the NYPD created a satellite precinct to assist with its coverage and service in the 105^th Precinct, which included 18 new officers, two new sergeants and a 24-hour operation to aid with the case loads and stretched jurisdictions.

The NYPD will conduct an analysis to determine the precinct’s eventual borders. The study will consider factors such as geography, population, 911/311 calls, crime and quality of life issues with the goal of increasing services while distributing workload as equitably as possible. In connection with this analysis, stakeholders – including residents and elected officials – will be consulted.

Staffing levels and operating costs for the 116^thPrecinct will be determined as the process moves along, boundaries are determined, designs are completed and construction gets underway.

"We are excited to be here in Queens as we announce the site of the new 116 Precinct," said NYPD Commissioner James P. O'Neill. "This new investment will reduce response times and inevitably enable us to even further reduce crime."

 

Mayor de Blasio and Police Commissioner O’Neill also announced that the City will invest $1.3 million to retrofit all 72 command vehicles following the death of Officer Miosotis Familia, who tragically lost her life while on duty in the Bronx. The retrofits will be funded by a combination of City Tax Levy funds and asset forfeiture funds. 

Following the tragic deaths of two NYPD officers in late 2014, the City allocated $6.8 million to outfit the NYPD’s 3,813 patrol cars with bullet-resistant panels to protect the doors. To date 2,100 vehicles have been installed with bullet-resistant door panels and the City is on track to have bullet-resistant door panels installed in every patrol vehicle by end of 2017. After an initial bullet-resistant window pilot program, additional funding of $10.4 million dollars was allocated for the installation of bullet-resistant window inserts for patrol vehicles. The first 500 NYPD patrol car bullet-resistant window insert installations are expected to be completed this month.