Community Board 8 Homeless Shelter Meeting

  It was a hot night with words being hurled at the assistant Commissioner of the Department of Homeless Services, and the CEO of Praxis who are going to run a homeless shelter at 5731 Broadway. The 83 unit building was built by Stagg Developers who when applying for a 421 A tax break stated that the building was going to be Market Rate rentals. Stagg Developers even said to Community Board 8 that the building was going to be market rate housing when CEO Mark Stagg appeared before the board for the boards support for the 421A status.

  Land Use Chair Charles Moerdler who has fought hard over the years to keep CB 8 the way it is, questioned 1sr Deputy Commissioner of DHS Jackie Bray, and Praxis CEO Sween Jorgenson on how this situation has come about, when he said that there has been a mis representation by someone of the building status. 

 The mayor has a new plan to house homeless people as close to where they said they have come from, and Ms. Bray said that CB 8 has 360 homeless people some are at the Van Cortlandt Motel currently which would close at the end of this year, while others are scattered throughout the city. Praxis as a non-profit runs scatter site homeless services and two buildings, and have answered the RFP to run another. The question then came up as to how Praxis was obtaining 5731 Broadway, and what type of people would be housed there. Ms. Bray mentioned six year old children, but later would admit that it would also be adult males. 

  Mr. Jorgenson said that he had a contract with Stagg Developers, but when Mr. Moerdler asked to see it Mr. Jorgenson said it was a verbal agreement. When asked when this verbal agreement was made the answer was in April of 2017 with Stagg Vice-President Adolfo Carrion Jr. (Mr. Carrion Jr. is a past Bronx Borough President). The next answer seemed to be once DHS approves the Praxis contract would there be a written agreement with Stagg. 

  The site is to be a Tier Two Transitional housing, and that brought out many more questions as to why it is not going to be permanent housing. Moerdler said that people in the board area are humaine, and not against helping people, but would want to see permanent housing rather than a come and go situation as proposed. He said it is the people who make money off the homeless such as CEO's of non profits then asking the salary of Mr. Jorgenson who refused to answer the question. 

  Mr. Moerdler then asked for a copy of the latest draft between Praxis and Stagg, a copy of the draft letter between the city and Praxis, and a ledger of salaries for the non profit Praxis. In essence Mr. Moerdler wants to know how much money Praxis and Stagg Developers (who were not present) are making off this deal with the city to house the homeless.

Above - Praxis CEO (left) Sween Jorgenson with other Praxis and DHS people sitting at the table.

Below - 1sr Deputy Commissioner of DHS Jackie Bray tries to answer one of the many questions board members had.

Above - The mayor's Community Affairs spokesperson tried to answer a question directed at the mayor.

Below - Part of the packed room of over 200 people in attendance had their own opinion of who to blame.

Senator Jeff Klein holds groundbreaking ceremony at Pelham Parkway Houses for $2.1 million lighting project

   Senator Jeff Klein, along with Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj, NYCHA General Manager Michael Kelly and other NYCHA staff members, held a groundbreaking ceremony for his $2.1 million lighting improvement project at the Pelham Parkway Houses. The outdoor lighting enhancements represent the latest project aimed at improving safety at the Pelham Parkway Houses following two tragic homicides just months apart in the summer of 2012.

“Today is an exciting day for the Pelham Parkway Houses community. This $2.1 million project is a long time coming, and I’m thrilled that this summer we broke ground. We’re now well on our way to improving safety for all residents of the Pelham Parkway Houses,” said Senator Klein.

“Increasing public safety is a top priority of mine, and this project does exactly that. I commend Senator Jeff Klein for this $2.1 million funding allocation, which is a tremendous step towards a safer Pelham Parkway Houses Community,” said Assemblyman Gjonaj.

“The commitment from our local elected officials is vital in achieving our NextGen goal to provide safe, clean and connected communities for all NYCHA residents,” said NYCHA General Manager Michael Kelly. “These new lights will mean safer homes and improved quality of life for the more than 2,500 Pelham Parkway residents.”

New outdoor lights will go up throughout the entire development as a result the state funding secured by Senator Klein. The project includes the installation of 93 lighting poles with LED lights. The majority of the new fixtures will be park-like poles installed in locations that previously lacked efficient lighting.

Above - State Senator Jeff Klein with Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj and NYCHA General Manager Michael Kelly behind the senator. You can see the open trench and the wire to the new light pole on the lower left.

Below - The traditional first shovel of dirt to cover the new wiring to the pole on the right which is blocking one NYCHA official.

STATEMENT FROM MAYOR DE BLASIO ON THE CITY COUNCIL LAND USE COMMITTEE VOTE TO REZONE GREATER EAST MIDTOWN

  “Greater East Midtown is New York City’s largest and most important business district, representing a huge part of our tax base and hundreds of thousands of jobs. But, its aging office buildings and overburdened transit have threatened its ability to compete in the 21^st century. The rezoning, approved by City Council subcommittee and full Land Use Committee today and to be voted on by the full Council, makes an ironclad promise to the people who work in East Midtown: This district’s growth is now directly linked to real-time improvements in its public transit and public realm. In the years ahead, this neighborhood will see major upgrades to subway stations, more expansive space for pedestrians, investments in its iconic landmarks, and a new generation of office buildings that will spur good jobs for New Yorkers and will keep our city the global capital of commerce. This is a powerful promise that will make our city stronger.”

“Years in the making, this plan represents an unprecedented consensus by elected officials, civic organizations and New York City-based businesses. I congratulate Council Member Dan Garodnick for shepherding and honing this proposal, his colleagues in the Council for their support and Borough President Brewer for her collaboration throughout this extensive community process. The future of our city is brighter for their efforts.”

New York League of Conservation Voters Endorses Bill de Blasio For Re-Election as New York City MayorNew York League of Conservation Voters Endorses Bill de Blasio For Re-Election as New York City Mayor

A proven record of leadership on environmental justice & sustainability

  The New York League of Conservation Voters, which works to make environmental sustainability a top political and policy priority in New York State, has announced its endorsement of Bill de Blasio for New York City Mayor.

Since he was elected in 2014, Mayor de Blasio has been a fierce advocate for environmental causes. The sustainability agenda he put forth under OneNYC includes ambitious initiatives such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2050, sending zero waste to landfills by 2030, and having the best air quality among major U.S. cities by 2030. Accompanying these initiatives is a roadmap that contains milestones and specific indicators that are to be completed by the end of each year. This endeavor has not only increased transparency but it has kept his administration focused on creating a greener, healthier, and more equitable New York.

Under Mayor de Blasio's leadership, the City has has reduced more than 300,000 metric tons of CO2e, reduced GHG emissions 14 percent, expanded the City’s solar capacity to over 100 MW, expanded the City’s electric vehicle fleet to nearly 1,000, completed the remediation of 577 toxic properties, and completed the TreesCount! tree census surveying over 130,000 blocks to identify the number of trees in the City. 

"When you have an incumb

ent mayor who has wholeheartedly embraced a robust environmental agenda, the case for re-election is open-and-closed. Through his OneNYC Plan, Mayor de Blasio has put New York City on the path to a greener, healthier and more equitable future. There is still much work to be done, however, and achieving initiatives like 80 x 50 requires a steady course. The Mayor deserves a chance to see these efforts through in a second term and NYLCV is proud to endorse him," said Marcia Bystryn, President of the New York League of Conservation Voters. "Officials in Washington are responding to climate change by burying their heads in the sand so cities must fill the vacuum and lead. Mayor de Blasio understands the grave threat a changing climate poses to our city and the world. He and his administration have embraced their role in charting a bold and innovative path forward for others to follow. When leaders step up on climate as Mayor de Blasio has, we must stand with them at the ballot box."

“No one fights harder for the air we breathe, the water we drink, or our impact on climate change than the New York League of Conservation Voters,” said Mayor de Blasio. “Under the OneNYC plan, New York City will reduce carbon emissions 80% by 2050, send zero waste to landfills by 2030, and have the cleanest air of any big city in America.  Achieving these goals will make our City a global leader in sustainability and environmental justice, and I look forward to working closely with the NYLCV to make them a reality.”

THE MONEY FOR THE MTA’S SUBWAY CRISIS PLAN IS IN GOVERNOR CUOMO’S BUDGET

THE CITY OF NEW YORK

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR

NEW YORK, NY 10007 

  This morning, Governor Andrew Cuomo asked New York City to put money into the MTA’s new plan to fix the subways. But before he asks hardworking New York City taxpayers to kick in more, the Governor should return the money he siphoned away from MTA riders, re-allocate the money he’s using to light up bridges, and fulfill his $1 billion promise.

Here’s what New York City residents, riders, and taxpayers deserve to know:

1. Will Governor Cuomo move to return the $456 million the State siphoned from MTA riders since 2011?

Since 2011, Governor Cuomo has diverted $456 million of operating money specifically earmarked for MTA riders.

·         $391.5 million diverted from the Metropolitan Mass Transportation Operating Assistance Account, (MMTOA), to the State’s general fund:

o   $200 million in 2011

o   $20 million in 2013

o   $30 million in 2014

o   $141.5 million in 2015

·         $65 million reduction in State reimbursements to the MTA in 2017 (for the exemption of schools, libraries, and small businesses from the dedicated-MTA payroll mobility tax) - a reduction of state general fund operating support from $334 million to $269 million.

o   For comparison, New York City provides approximately$800 million in direct annual operating support to the MTA, and an additional $800 million in in-kind services like NYPD Transit Police, debt service for capital contributions, and homeless outreach. In addition, NYC residents, businesses, and workforce contribute nearly $10 billion through taxes, fares, and tolls.

The State's $5 billion operating "contribution" referenced by the Governor is disingenuous because it includes:

·         $4.7 billion in dedicated taxes for MTA riders from the MTA region (including $2.9 billion from New York City residents), from which Governor Cuomo has siphoned $456 million to support the State general fund since 2011

·         Just $300 million in direct State operating support

The State’s money is available and ready to spend. These additional operating funds diverted from riders helped Governor Cuomo and New York State end the 2017 fiscal year with a $7.7 billion operating surplus.

2. Will Governor Cuomo shift more than $200 million for the “light show” on the MTA bridges to support Chairman Joe Lhota’s subway crisis plan?

·         In January 2017, Governor Cuomo announced a plan to illuminate “all the bridges in New York City with different-colored lights, and the bridges can then be coordinated and choreographed to music…” [CBS]

·         Officials from the governor’s office estimate the cost of the “show” to be $216 million. [Politico]

3.  How much of the $1 billion Governor Cuomo committed to the MTA will go towards Chairman Lhota’s plan?

·         Just last month, Governor Cuomo committed $1 billion to the MTA, saying “New York is going to put its money where its mouth is ... so the MTA has the resources to get this done…” [NYDN]

STATEMENT FROM BX BOROUGH PRESIDENT RUBEN DIAZ JR. RE: Pedro Hernandez/Bail Reform

 

"The case of Pedro Hernandez highlights the need for significant bail reform, if not the elimination of the money bail system altogether, in the State of New York. We need a system that places greater emphasis on the objective risk a defendant poses.  Unfortunately, for too long, bail policies have been applied inconsistently and disproportionately. For low-income New Yorkers, the bail system has been prohibitive and punitive.

"The actions taken by the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights demonstrate that, for too many, bail is simply out of reach.  For Pedro Hernandez, for Kalief Browder, and for the thousands of individuals currently waiting for trial on Rikers Island and elsewhere, the status quo must be changed. I support the recommendations on bail reform made by the Independent Commission on New York City Criminal Justice and Incarceration Reform, led by Judge Jonathan Lippman, as a way to keep New Yorkers out of jail when the interests of public safety permit it, and look forward to working with colleagues and advocates for criminal justice reform to move this issue forward," said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. 

13th City Council Candidatess Forum on City Island

  It was a little unexpected of some of the things that went on at last night's candidates forum on City Island There were those who thought questions might be slanted against current Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj, and those who felt that there might be some soft questions for City Island resident John Doyle. That did not happen even though there were a few people who did not get called on with questions for candidate Doyle. This was a City Island Civic Association meeting, and it was said that only City Island residents would be able to ask questions of the candidates.

  In opening statements (of which candidates Marjorie Velazquez, John Cerini, and Egidio Semitelli were at the Community board 10 meeting also going on at the same time) began with candidate Victor Ortiz spoke of the city's failure on Rodman's Neck, and local community needs. Candidate Mark Gjonaj spoke of his experience in the State Assembly, his 14 years as a resident of City Island, that he will work with those who have endorsed him such as senator Klein and Assemblyman Benedetto. He also mentioned his wives work as a nurse, and to vote for Nurse Roberta's husband Mark Gjonaj. John Doyle spoke of growing up on City Island, fighting for the community, that he wants to do the same thing for the entire 13th council district, and of the broken machine in Albany. Candidate Alex Gomez said that he was a regular person like those in the audience, and they should vote for him.

  Questions came next - to Mark Gjonaj a question on women's health and integrity to a mailing he sent out touting his record on women's rights, but he voted against the ten point woman's health plan. Gjonaj answered that he was for nine of the ten points, but would not let someone other than a doctor perform abortions as in point ten. Candidate Doyle said that the mailer said it was all ten points not just nine, and that Senator Klein voted for the bill. Candidate Gomez said that he was disappointed that this was still an issue in 2017. 

  Next question to all - how do you plan to make City Island more resilient? Gomez - An emergency evacuation plan needs to be put in place. Ortiz - No evacuation plan for the island. Doyle - Not many public facilities on the island, he would try to bring Emergency Management Services to the island and to all parts of the district in question. Gjonaj - would send out a survey to find the needs. Said that the island is not ready for another super storm. 

  There was a question on vacant waterfront properties which brought answers - Gomez, important to preserve the 100 year old buildings - Cerini who just came from the CB 10 meeting said he wants the CB to have more say, and the power to veto proposals. Doyle - wants a part time urban planner to propose downzoning. Gjonaj - mentioned that while living on City Island it was like a vacation home that he wants to keep that type of living, Ortiz - cur option on CB's, BP's office, and mayor's office allows overdevelopment. 

Candidates Velazquez and Semitelli came in at the end, with the high point being after candidate Doyle gave an his closing speech, Semitelli said that he was voting for Mr. Doyle, to say later that he was only joking. photos are below.

Above - Candidate Victor Ortiz

Below - Candidate Mark Gjonaj

Above - Candidate Alex Gomez

Below - Candidate John Doyle

Above - Candidate Marjorie Velazquez

Below - The now infamous photo of candidate Egidio Sementelli with candidate John Doyle.

Former New York City Police Officer Merlin Alston Sentenced To 20 Years In Prison For Drug Trafficking And Firearms Offenses

  Joon Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that Former New York City Police Officer MERLIN ALSTON, was sentenced this afternoon in Manhattan federal court to a prison term of 20 years for participating in a long-running conspiracy to distribute approximately 200 kilograms of cocaine in the Bronx while he was an active-duty police officer, as well as for using firearms to protect members of that conspiracy. ALSTON was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon, who presided over a two-week jury trial last year at which ALSTON was convicted on all counts.

Acting U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim stated: “Merlin Alston betrayed his city and his shield. Instead of serving and protecting the citizens of New York City, as he swore an oath to do, Alston served and protected drug dealers, participating in a long-running conspiracy to distribute hundreds of kilograms in the Bronx. For his criminal betrayal that included sharing confidential police information with drug dealers, Alston was convicted by a jury and now sentenced to 20 years in federal prison.”

According to court papers and evidence admitted at trial:

From 2010 to 2014, ALSTON, who at the time was an active NYPD police officer, conspired with others to distribute large quantities of narcotics. ALSTON personally delivered approximately 40 kilograms of cocaine during that time, and in total members of his conspiracy delivered approximately 200 kilograms of cocaine. In addition, ALSTON provided armed security to a cocaine trafficker, using a shotgun and his NYPD service weapon to do so. ALSTON also provided confidential information about law enforcement operations, including arrests and surveillance, to several Bronx drug dealers.

In addition to his prison sentence, ALSTON, 34, of the Bronx, was sentenced to five years of supervised release.

Mr. Kim praised the DEA, the FBI, the NYPD, and the New York State Police for their outstanding work in this investigation. He also thanked the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor for the City of New York for its invaluable assistance.