Croton Filtration Monitoring Committee Meeting March 2014

  It was a Tuesday and not a Thursday night, but the room was still packed with people who wanted to know what the DEP was doing. Father Richard Gorman the Chair of Community Board 12 was now the chair of the CFMC once again. Father Gorman was brief in his opening statement, and went into the public comment portion of the agenda. 

   Mr. Gary Axelbank was angry that the DEP was using the anti-terrorism explanation as the for not allowing residents who live around the Jerome Park Reservoir access to the inside roadway around the reservoir. He said that there is nothing to protect since one could easily get over or through the fences. He suggested to upgrade the inside fence while opening up the outside fence for residents to enjoy the reservoir.

  I spoke next, and questioned the constant moving back of dates on almost every project listed on the DEP schedule. I also questioned again how the DEP had to remove asbestos from a building that was built after the city banned the use of asbestos in all construction. I also questioned the listing of a second entrance to the Water Filtration Construction site into Van Cortlandt Park at East 213th Street. The question of the second entrance was answered that the DEP had always had that for when they rebuilt the golf house on Jerome Avenue. It will also be used to improve vehicular access to the construction area. The use of asbestos after the ban on it question did not get an answer.

  When Bronx Parks Commissioner Hector Aponte was asked if there would be any other construction of any kind in the park the answer was that he would fight against it. His final words however were "I can't guarantee it". 

  There was a presentation of the 66 Bronx parks projects either done, being worked on, or in design from the $186 million dollars in mitigation monies. 51 are completed, 8 are in construction, and 7 are still in design.  There was also mention of the other $20 million dollars of which $10 million dollars went to Roberto Clemente State Park, and $10 million dollars to NYSERTA, making the total $206 million dollars. 

  Father Gorman held up any questions about the Jerome Park Reservoir for the next meeting which he had scheduled for some time in April. Shane Ojar the Community Outreach Director for DEP however said that the meetings were every three months. Father Gorman said that with a new DEP commissioner, new mayor, and an extension of good faith by him with shorter meetings he was hopeful that the next meeting  could take place on April 22nd or 29th. 

  This meeting lasted only 90 minutes starting at 7:35 PM and ended shortly after 9 PM. 

Upcoming Job Fair!

Upcoming Job Fair!

Hosted by Council Woman Vanessa L. Gibson & Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

Bronx Borough President and  Councilwoman Vanessa Gibson are teaming up with  the Martin Luther King Jr. Resource Center for Nonviolence to host their 2nd Annual Free Job Fair on Thursday, April 17, 2014 from 10 am to 2 pm. The Job Fair will be held at Harriet Tubman Charter School, 1176 Franklin Avenue, Bronx, NY 10454. Directions Take the 21 bus to 167th Street and walk 1 block WEST. Take the 15 or 55 bus to 167th Street & walk 1 block EAST. Take the 2 or 5 train to Third Avenue. Then Follow the Steps Above Remember to bring your resume!

Queens Assemblyman William Scarborough Homw & Office Raided by the FBI

  It is being reported that the Home, District and Albany office of Queens Assemblyman William Scarborough has been raided by the FBI. Boxes marked evidence were taken from the Albany office. It is believed that the state attorney generals office along with the FBI may be looking into whether Scarborough abused his assembly travel exHome, District and Albany office of Queens Assemblyman William Scarborough has been raided by the FBI.penses called "Per Diem". In 2012 Scarborough had almost thirty-four thousand dollars in Per Diem listings. no amount was given for 2013. 

  State legislatures are given a Per Diem payment for every day they spend in Albany. That amount includes $165.00 for hotels & meals, but they also get reimbursed for mileage or tolls at the federal government standard rate. It was reported that it was the Per Diem expenses that first got Bronx Assemblyman Eric Stevenson put under the scrutiny by federal agents. 

  Many state legislatures have been questioned about their Per Diem expenses, but according to a spokesman for State Assembly leader Sheldon Silver said they were unaware of any probe. It is now expected that there will be a federal indictment of Assemblyman Scarborough in the near future. At first Scarborough denied that, but it was later reported that he said federal agents are looking into his Per Diem expenses. Scarborough, first elected in 1995, represents the Jamaica section of Queens.

Mayor de Blasio Announces Unprecedented Recruitment and Training for High Quality pre-K Teachers in Preparation for Expansion

$6.7 million partnership with CUNY will invest in New York City’s workforce by training and certifying 400 teachers for new pre-K classrooms

City projects recruitment pool and professional pipelines at up to 8,000 teachers, far above the 1,000 needed this September

Teacher recruitment open at TeachNYCPreK.org

“No single factor is more important to starting a child’s education right than ensuring that child has an excellent teacher. I have seen what a difference it can make firsthand with my own children. We have put in place the building blocks to make sure we have trained and qualified professionals in every single classroom,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “We have the classrooms. We have the teachers. And with bipartisan consensus on delivering the resources we need to make these programs a reality, we are closer than ever to transforming the lives of thousands of children.”

“We know that a great education builds upon pre-K and is only possible with a teacher who has the knowledge, training and expertise to help our youngest excel. This partnership is an investment to ensure we have outstanding pre-K instruction across our city,” saidSchools Chancellor Carmen Fariña. “Through collaboration, our children and families benefit, and we move forward in our commitment to ensure quality in every classroom, school and program.”

“We commend Mayor Bill de Blasio on his quest to ensure that every 4-year-old child has access to a high quality pre-kindergarten experience. The City University of New York (CUNY) has a longstanding commitment to serving the New York City public schools. With the involvement of CUNY colleges and The Early Childhood Professional Development Institute, we look forward to supporting the preparation of early childhood teachers in order to implement this vitally important initiative,” said Interim CUNY Chancellor William P. Kelly.

The DOE will hold recruiting events throughout the city with particular emphasis on areas of the city with a high number of new classrooms, and will launch a “Teach NYC Pre-K” subway advertising campaign this spring.

Read the report:http://www1.nyc.gov/assets/home/downloads/pdf/reports/2014/Teach_NYC.pdf

 

“Abrazo Bangladesh in New York”

 New York State Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz, together with New York State Senator Jeff Klein, Assemblyman Marcos Crespo and Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda, will celebrate the First “Abrazo Bangladesh in New York.”  This event will honor the contributions of the Bangladesh Community to the State and City of New York.  

This historic event will take place at Maestro’s Caterers located at 1703 Bronxdale Avenue, Bronx, New York, this Friday, March 28, 2014 from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz stated that “The amazing growth and the contributions of the Bangladesh Community in the City of New York and in Bronx County cannot be ignored.

This historic event has been coordinated to honor six distinguished members of the Bangladesh Community in Bronx County.”  The honorees are: Mr. Zakir A. Khan, Mr. Mohammed N. Mujumder, Mr. Abdus Shahid, Ms. Farida Yeasmin, Mr. Rezael Islam Salim, and Mr. Mohammed Shamin Miah.

For more information, please contact Ms. Leila Martinez at (718) 991-3161.

Croton Facility Monitoring Committee Meeting March 25, 2014 Agenda

Croton Facility Monitoring Committee Meeting

Tuesday, March 25, 2014 – 7:30 PM

DEP Office – 3660 Jerome Avenue, Bronx NY 10467 - (718) 231-8470

                                            Agenda

I Welcome, Opening Remarks from CFMC Chair Father Gorman, Chair

II Consider, Adopt March CFMC Agenda CFMC Representatives

III Public Questions & Comments (15 minutes)

IV Consider, Adopt 12/12/13 Meeting Minutes CFMC Representatives

V Update on Croton Funded Parks Projects Andrew Penzi, DPR

VI Croton Construction Update & Croton Bernard Daly, DEP &

Costs Report - Including new VCP Heather Goetsch, DEP &

Construction Entrance Erin Guire, AECOM

VII CFMC Discussion &.Set Date for Next CFMC Representatives

CFMC Meeting

VIII Adjourn

24th Anniversery of the Happyland Fire

The date was March 26, 1990 very early in the morning.
87 people were killed in the now infamous Happyland fire.

The date today. This is what the fire site now looks like.

Friday across the street there was a vigil held to mark the 24th Anniversary of the Happyland tragedy.

Public Advocate Letitia James, State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr., Councilman Fernando Cabrera, relatives of those killed, firemen, Lieutenant Roy Davis who was the first EMS technician to respond to the fire, and many more people gathered to remember the 87 people who were killed in the Happyland fire by Mr. Julio Gonzalez.

The plaque presented by parents of School District 12 to remember the 87 has each name listed in alphabetical order.

Community Board 6 Chair Wendy Rodriguez speaks about the tragic fire and why this vigil is so important to the community. CB 6 District Manager Ivine Galarza, Public Advocate Letitia James, Senator Ruben Diaz Sr., and Councilman Fernando Cabrera are also in the photo

.

Community Board 6 District Manager Ivine Galarza informs everyone that the Happyland killer Mr. Julio Gonzalez will come up for parole next year, and that the community wants to make sure that he stays in jail the rest of his life.

Ma

Nine Arrested in Protest of FreshDirect

 

100 March, Nine Arrested in Protest of FreshDirect Relocation to South Bronx

Group asks Mayor de Blasio to drop opposition to environmental lawsuit

Nine South Bronx residents were arrested when blocked from entering public brownfield land on the South Bronx waterfront, the proposed location of FreshDirect. Their intention was to plant detoxifying sunflowers.

Residents have filed a lawsuit in opposition to FreshDirect’s proposed relocation.

The lawsuit seeks a full environmental impact study of the proposed project.

Mayor de Blasio has the opportunity to drop the City’s opposition to the lawsuit. This would compel the environmental review.

Those arrested include faith leaders, directors of local organizations and other South Bronx community leaders. They arrived at the Harlem River Yard as part of a march of more than 100.

The event was peaceful and exuberant. It included traditional Puerto Rican plena drummers, a mariachi band, giant puppets, local children playing cello, and an interfaith reflection.

FreshDirect, if allowed to proceed, would bring 1,500 additional daily truck trips through the South Bronx. This plan is a Bloomberg-era relic attempting to give the diesel-intensive grocer nearly $130 million in public subsidies to move to this public waterfront land. This community is already burdened by asthma hospitalization rates at 21 times that of other New York City neighborhoods.