Below is a list of upcoming events.
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| Family Fun Day
When: Saturday, 9/7/19 from 11am-2pm
Where: 1377 Jerome Avenue, Bronx, NY 10452
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Come out for a fun day with
the family! Enjoy good food, a bouncy house, games and face painting!
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Monday, August 12, 2019
The Bronx Democratic Party - Bronx events to check out
Representative Adriano Espaillat Responds to Trump Administration’s Public Charge Ruling
The rule, by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), penalizes immigrant families and is a cornerstone of the administration’s attempts to limit legal immigration, burden families, and disenfranchise communities of color
Representative Adriano Espaillat released the following statement in response to the Trump Administration’s decision to implement the final public charge rule, which would go into effect October 15, 2019:
“By attempting to keep immigrants from accessing programs vital to supporting their families, Donald Trump’s public charge rule fails to uphold the values of our nation and will force individuals to choose between putting food on the table for their children and being granted legal status. This rule is unacceptable, heartless and continues the Trump administration’s sweeping government-wide assault on immigrant families. Donald Trump is weaponizing basic needs to send immigrant families one message, loud and clear: if you’re not white and you’re not wealthy, you’re not welcome here. We have witnessed his attacks since day one of his administration and we must take a stand and fight back against these racist, abusive, anti-immigration and anti-American policies.”
STATEMENTS FROM MAYOR DE BLASIO AND COMMISSIONER MOSTOFI ON TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S PUBLIC CHARGE RULE
Statement from Mayor Bill de Blasio:
“The President is launching a direct assault on our immigrant brothers and sisters. The America we know was built by hardworking dreamers from all over the world. That’s the America we’re fighting to protect. To our immigrant New Yorkers: we stand with you now and always. To our president: we’ll see you in court.”
Statement from the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affair’s Commissioner Bitta Mostofi:
“The ‘public charge’ rule is yet another attempt by the Trump administration to instill fear and concern among working immigrant families, but rest assured New Yorkers are fighters and the City will do everything in our power to ensure people have the resources they need to at this critical time. If you are worried or have questions about how ‘public charge’ could impact you or your loved ones, you can call ActionNYC at 311 or 1-800-354-0365 and say ‘public charge’ to access city-funded, trusted legal advice. The City is here to help you make the right decision for you and your family.”
STATE SENATOR GUSTAVO RIVERA HOSTS HIS SIXTH ANNUAL BACK TO SCHOOL CELEBRATION
With the start of the new school year quickly approaching, State Senator Gustavo Rivera will host three Back to School events on Thursday, August 15 and Thursday, August 22 at Clinton Playground and the Crotona Mall respectively.
During the three events, families in Senate District 33 will receive free backpacks, have access to free health screenings and enjoy fun, children-friendly activities. The number of backpacks is limited and they will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis. Children between 4 and 13 years old must be present and in the company of an adult while youths between the ages of 14 and 18 do not need a parent present.
SCHEDULE OF BACK TO SCHOOL EVENTS
1) Back To School Event at Clinton Playground
Who: State Senator Gustavo Rivera
When: Thursday, August 15, 2019
Who: State Senator Gustavo Rivera
When: Thursday, August 15, 2019
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Where: Clinton Playground (entrance on Crotona Park South and Clinton Avenue)
Where: Clinton Playground (entrance on Crotona Park South and Clinton Avenue)
2) Health Fair and Backpack Giveaway with Unique Peoples Services
Who: State Senator Gustavo Rivera and Unique Peoples Services
When: Thursday, August 22, 2019
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Backpack Giveaway
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM: Health Fair
Where: Crotona Mall (entrance on Crotona Parkway between E 181st Street and Bronx Park South)
*These events are free and open to the public*
Where: Crotona Mall (entrance on Crotona Parkway between E 181st Street and Bronx Park South)
*These events are free and open to the public*
NYS Common Retirement Fund Reports First Quarter Results
Investment Performance Strong but DiNapoli Urges Caution
The New York State Common Retirement Fund’s (Fund) estimated return in the first quarter of the State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2019-20 was 3.38 percent for the three-month period ending June 30, 2019, raising its estimated value to $216.2 billion, according to New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.
“The Fund is off to a strong start this fiscal year,” DiNapoli said. “Markets have been volatile, however, warranting caution from investors. Longer term, we continue to take a conservative approach and closely examine our seven percent target rate of return to determine if it is due for an adjustment as a matter of prudent fiscal management. Our constant goal is to ensure that New York state’s pension fund remains one of the nation’s strongest and best funded, providing state and municipal employees with retirement security for generations to come.”
The Fund's estimated value reflects benefits of $2.89 billion paid out during the quarter. Its audited value as of the March 31, 2019 close of last fiscal year was $210.5 billion.
As of June 30, 2019, the Fund had 38.6 percent of its assets invested in publicly traded domestic equities and 15.3 percent in international public equities. The remaining Fund assets by allocation are invested in cash, bonds and mortgages (24.8 percent), private equity (9.2 percent), real estate and real assets (8.5 percent) and absolute return strategies and opportunistic alternatives (3.6 percent).
In June, the Pew Charitable Trusts once again ranked the Fund one of the best funded in the nation. Only eight states had a funded ratio of 90 percent or higher based on 2017 data, with New York ranked fourth behind Wisconsin, South Dakota and Tennessee.
DiNapoli initiated quarterly investment performance reporting in 2009 as part of his ongoing efforts to increase accountability and transparency. Quarterly rates of return provide a snapshot of performance over three months and reflect a fraction of the Fund’s annual investment return.
About the New York State Common Retirement Fund
The New York State Common Retirement Fund is the third largest public pension fund in the United States. The Fund holds and invests the assets of the New York State and Local Retirement System on behalf of more than one million state and local government employees and retirees and their beneficiaries. The Fund has consistently been ranked as one of the best managed and best funded plans in the nation. The Fund's fiscal year ends March 31.
Sunday, August 11, 2019
MAYOR DE BLASIO PUTS INTO EFFECT FOR-HIRE VEHICLE CRUISING CAP AND EXTENDS LICENSE CAP
License cap extension & cruising cap were approved by TLC on August 7; the Mayor yesterday signed finding of substantial need, putting caps into effect Monday, August 12
Mayor Bill de Blasio took steps to quickly put into effect a historic set of Taxi and Limousine Commission regulations that will combat congestion in Manhattan by requiring high-volume for-hire vehicle app companies to more efficiently manage their fleets. These rules will preserve a valuable service for New Yorkers while providing better balance between for-hire services and other road users. The new rules were approved by the TLC on August 7, and Mayor de Blasio yesterday signed a finding of substantial need to expedite their publication in the City Record, as required by the City’s Administrative Procedures Act (CAPA). See here for the one page document. The rules will be in effect on Monday, August 12.
“For too long, the status quo has been gamed by companies who flood our streets, depress driver incomes and make it harder for the rest of us to get around,” said Mayor de Blasio. “Those days are over. The era of app companies’ exploitation of their drivers and our streets has come to an end. We will hold these companies accountable, and in doing so, we will reduce congestion and help drivers make ends meet.”
“These historic regulations show that just as app companies have used technology to bring consumers service in new ways, cities can challenge companies to use this same technology to combat congestion and climate change,” saidActing TLC Commissioner Bill Heinzen. “Combined with TLC’s landmark driver income protections, which are providing 85,000 app drivers with an average $500 extra per month, these rules confirm New York City’s support for workers is not just words, but actions.”
The regulations are the culmination of an intensive study by the TLC and the NYC Department of Transportation, which found that 30% of Manhattan Core traffic is for-hire services (FHVs), most of which work with apps like Uber and Lyft, and that these vehicles are cruising empty 41% of the time. The FHV fleet had tripled from under 40,000 vehicles in 2010 to over 120,000 vehicles in 2019, and greenhouse gas emissions from TLC-regulated fleets had grown 62% from 2013 to 2018. The study took place following August 2018 City legislation that paused the issuance of new FHV licenses while the City studied the problem and evaluated long-term policy solutions.
These rules give large app companies one year to bring their Manhattan Core cruising time – when drivers are working but not earning money – down to 31% during the peak hours. The regulations also continue the pause on issuance of new FHV licenses for one year, with exceptions for wheelchair accessible vehicles and fully electric vehicles. As a result of these rules, FHV-related traffic congestion below 96th Street during rush hours is projected to decrease by more than 20%.
Before the cap on non-accessible for-hire vehicles went into effect last summer, about 2,000 new vehicles were hitting the streets every month. An oversaturation of cars has meant a greater dilution of income and opportunity, and there has been a large pool of drivers that are eager for more work. Since the cap began, daily app trips have risen in the outer boroughs and Northern Manhattan, and wait times have dropped in neighborhoods across the city – with the largest decreases in waits in the Bronx and Staten Island.
The regulations include twice yearly reviews and public reporting. The TLC will evaluate congestion, driver pay, and passenger service levels and can adjust policies as needed.
Benefits of the new policy:
· More than 20% decline in FHV traffic below 96th Street during rush hours
· Faster bus speeds in Manhattan
· More room for other road users, such as pedestrians and cyclists
· Less driving means fewer crash opportunities
· Further incentivizes growth in the wheelchair accessible FHV fleet, which has risen from 226 in August 2018 to 761 now
“For a workforce in an unprecedented crisis of poverty and debt, the vehicle cap has been lifesaving. It's at the heart of our unity campaign for yellow, green, livery, black car, and Uber and Lyft drivers to finally come out of poverty wages by each earning more fares and burning less fuel. We still have so much work ahead of us, but as we've always said, without the cap, it would be impossible for drivers to earn more or to stabilize those earnings. We applaud the Mayor's actions, and thank the TLC and DOT for their steadfast work,” said Bhairavi Desai, Executive Director of the 21,000-member New York Taxi Workers Alliance.