Friday, June 21, 2024

Bronx Chamber of Commerce - Bronx Business News You Can Use


Upcoming Events, Legislative News, 
Grant Opportunities, & More
Friday Extra June 21, 2024
(Friday) Extra, Extra
Highlights from our annual Joseph P. Kelleher Memorial Golf Tournament -- on and off the course -- including a tribute to past Bronx Chamber Chairman Joe Kelleher, celebration of this year's honoree Mark Stagg of the Stagg Group, plus a sneak peek at our upcoming Bronx Chamber Gala on September 19!
LEGISLATIVE NEWS
TESTIMONY DELIVERED TO CITY COUNCIL
COMMITTEE ON CONSUMER AND WORKER PROTECTION
Today, the Bronx Chamber visited City Hall to deliver testimony in support of Int 762 , legislation that would amend the city’s price control on third-party food delivery; in opposition to Int 737 and Int 738, legislation mandating the suggested amount and timing of tipping on delivery platforms; in opposition to Int 859, legislation mandating costly and burdensome new features on delivery platforms; in opposition to Int 0030, legislation that would regulate e-bikes used by delivery workers or commercially; and in opposition to Int 715, legislation would impose costly liabilities for traffic violations on the food delivery industry.

[Regarding Int 762 - excerpt from full testimony] "This year’s legislation is significantly different from prior proposals to reform the city’s food delivery price control. Int 762 not only ensures that affordable delivery options are available to restaurants, it also sets limits on allowable fees and addresses other important issues for restaurants beyond fees. This includes provisions that enable restaurants to manage online searches for their restaurant, control pricing, and directly market to customers by adding menus or flyers to deliveries. We support the process that stakeholders have undertaken to address concerns raised by the Council."
 
Click here to view the full testimony submitted to the NYC Council Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection on June 21, 2024.
FULL MTA BOARD MEETING JUNE 26, 2024

Next Wednesday, June 26 at 9:00am the MTA will hold its first full Board meeting since Governor Kathy Hochul put Congestion Pricing on indefinite pause. Should you wish to view the public meeting livestream and/or make your voice heard at the meeting regarding Congestion Pricing or other MTA business, visit the MTA website to learn how to participate.
THANK YOU TO ALL WHO PARTICIPATED IN OUR GOLF OUTING!
2024 Joseph P. Kelleher Memorial Golf Tournament

Over 200 business & community leaders from the Bronx & beyond came together on Tuesday, June 18 for a day of friendly competition, new connections, and vital fundraising for Bronx business development programming in remembrance of the leadership legacy of the Bronx Chamber's longtime prior Chairman Joe Kelleher. We were thrilled to celebrate this year's honoree Mark Stagg of Stagg Group Development, and enjoy a full day of top-tier amenities at Bally's Links at Ferry Point. We are grateful to all who participated in the Tournament and apres-golf festivities, members who donated to our raffle, our Board of Directors, and the hard work of the Golf Planning Committee, chaired by Greg Gonzalez of Manhattan Parking.
Sending special thanks to our 2024 Golf Outing sponsors:

Monroe College, BronxCare Health System, Lettire Construction Corp., Simone Development Companies, Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts, Orange Bank & Trust Company, A&A Maintenance Enterprise, Altice USA, The Stagg Group, Stagg Wabnik Law Group LLP, KZA Realty Group, Inc., Berkadia Commercial Mortgage Holding LLC, Thermal Systems Associates Inc., Hisense HVAC, Manhattan Parking Group, Newman Design, LEAD Security Group, Chatam Management, Bacardi USA, Michael Anthony Jewelers, HUB International, Bill Mooney, and Kevin Plunkett.

Funding from our generous sponsors is essential to achieving our mission.
THANK YOU!
IN THE COMMUNITY - MEMBER NEWS
This week, following the exhilaration of of our wildly successful Bronx Chamber Signature Golf Outing, our team was invited to unwind and enjoy the hospitality of our President's Circle Member Residence Inn Bronx at their Client Appreciation BBQ!

We often host gatherings of our Board, New Member breakfasts, and other events in their modern and inviting space, taking advantage of fully-outfitted meeting rooms, welcoming bar, leafy outdoor space and free parking. Contact the Residence Inn Bronx team if you're seeking space for a future event!
UPCOMING BRONX CHAMBER EVENTS
June 27: The Art of Networking

Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education
928 Simpson Street
6:00 - 8:00pm
TICKETS ARE COMPLIMENTARY

Join The Bronx Chamber of Commerce for an evening of networking in Casita Maria's beautiful Art Gallery, surrounded by the inspiring work of local artists. Don't miss this opportunity to cultivate your network and ignite your creative spirit at this FREE event, and learn about ways to partner with Casita Maria in support of their community-focused programming!
* SAVE THE DATE *

Thursday, August 1, 2024
Bronx Chamber Summer BBQ
Pelham Split Rock Golf Course

Our annual summer soiree is coming up soon! Come celebrate the season with the Bronx Chamber network.

Registration Opening Soon - Stay Tuned
* SAVE THE DATE *

Friday, August 9, 2024
Bronx GameChangers Night
Yankee Stadium

Enjoy an all-inclusive luxury suite, private stadium entrance, open bar, dinner, and a great view while making new connections with Bronx business & community leaders working to make our borough thrive!

Registration information coming soon
* SAVE THE DATE *

Thursday, September 19, 2024
Bronx Chamber of Commerce Annual Gala

Anything Is possible...

Check out the last segment of today's (June 21) Friday Extra video for a preview of what's to come in September from our Gala committee co-chair!

Registration information coming soon
PARTNER EVENTS
Coming Up: Rock The Block!

Join the Bronx Chamber of Commerce and City Council Member Althea Stevens as we bring together city agency resources for neighborhood businesses, while engaging Bronx youth in support of the next generation of entrepreneurship & workforce development. Join us for an afternoon of business and community-building featuring live music, games, food, prizes and more!

The event is free, but advance registration is required - Click Here

Want to get involved? Email outreach@bronxchamber.org

July 17, 2024
11:00 am - 3:00 pm
1377 Jerome Avenue 
Bronx, NY 10452

Developed in partership with the office of City Council Member Althea Stevens and NYC Deptartment of Small Business Services/Chamber on the Go
DIGITAL TOOLS FOR GROWTH
OPEN + ONLINE
Applications are still open for Bronx businesses to sign up for the popular Open + Online program through the NYC Small Business Resource Network!

It's crucial that your small business has a strong online presence to compete in today's marketplace. The Open + Online program offers FREE website building, logo & branding design, or expert SEO (search engine optimization) consulting.

WEBSITE UPDATES: CITY & STATE LEGISLATION
Check out the latest Bronx Chamber website updates for city and state legislation policy news impacting your business, plus events, resources and much more.

To visit our website, Click Here

 

MAYOR ADAMS LAUNCHES SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAM FOR AT RISK YOUTH IN BRONX AND QUEENS

 

New Program Will Support Youth and Families for up to Three Months Following Suicide Attempt

Suicide is Second Leading Cause of Death in Youth, Ages 10 to 24, in U.S.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, NYC Health + Hospitals, and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) today announced Caring Transitions, a new program to serve youth, ages five through 17, in the Bronx and Queens who are seen in a hospital following a suicide attempt or serious suicidal behavior.

“With nearly half of teens in New York City reporting depressive symptoms, and suicide as the second leading cause of death in youth, ages 10 to 24, we cannot wait; now is the time to take action and finally address the mental health crises affecting our children,” said Mayor Adams. “By meeting our kids where they are when they need treatment most, this program will bring a critical resource to youth at risk of harming themselves, so they and their families have the sustained support they need to live healthy and thriving lives. Whether it’s launching free tele-mental health services for teenagers, opening more mental health clinics in our public schools, or holding accountable powerful social media companies for their role in today’s youth mental health crises, our administration is focused on giving young people the tools they need to be healthy and happy.”

“It is heartbreaking that among our young people, ages 10 to 14, suicide is now the second leading cause of death,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “The initiative announced today to support young people most at risk adds to our layered and sustained approach to supporting our young people at every turn, including efforts we’re making to help protect them from the challenges growing up in an age of social media. That also includes delivering mental health supports in ways that work for young people, such as Teenspace, an app for young people, ages 13 to 17, to talk, text, or video chat with a mental health professional for free from their smartphone.”

“The increase in youth suicide is deeply concerning,” said NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Mitchell Katz, MD. “Our emergency department team meets these young people immediately after they have experienced a trauma and today, we are announcing a new approach to support them in the critical weeks after they leave the hospital. We are grateful to our partners at DOHMH for building this program with us to provide a bright future for our youth.”

“The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has put connections to care at the center of our strategic response to our ongoing mental health crisis and we’re proud to resource this program, which intervenes after some of the most difficult moments in the life of a young person who is struggling,” said DOHMH Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan. “Increasing connections to care will help lower that burden so families can focus on what matters most — supporting the young people who need them and making space to heal.”

This program will engage young people within 24 hours of presentation in the hospital and will follow them through their hospital stay and up to three months post-discharge. Risk for repeated suicide attempts is greatest within the 30 days after youth leave a hospital, making the time during their hospital stay and immediately after critical to preventing another attempt. The program will also engage families and help connect them to care and to navigate the system to ensure that there is support in the community and in the home. Caring Transitions will be available in Queens at NYC Heath + Hospitals/Elmhurst and in the Bronx at NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln, Jacobi, and North Central Bronx. Consisting of a multidisciplinary team of social workers, youth and family peer advocates, and a psychiatrist, these teams will work directly with patients on skill development and connections to provide ongoing treatment and support. The program is funded through DOHMH, which co-designed the model and planned for its implementation in partnership with NYC Health + Hospitals.

, and the third leading cause of death among 15- to 24-year-olds. In New York City, Black (10 percent) and Latino (9 percent) high school students were more likely than white (6 percent) students to report attempting suicide. In New York City’s landmark 2024 report, “The State of Mental Health of New Yorkers,” nearly half of teens surveyed in New York City reported depressive symptoms of some kind. The report also found that, in 2023, 14 percent of teens surveyed did not receive mental health treatment because their families could not afford it, did not know where to go, or did not find convenient hours or locations. 

Just yesterday, Mayor Adams and DOHMH Commissioner Dr. Vasan released a first-in-nation report, which provides concrete data on the relationship between social media use and mental health among families. The report found that, among teens who report using social media daily, 90 percent report worrying in general and 56 percent report at least some depressive symptoms. Alongside the report, the city released resources to support parents, caregivers and youth-serving organizations

The Adams administration has long been vigilant in its pursuit to support New Yorkers, particularly young people, needing mental health care as a result of the toxic environment caused by social media platforms. Last November, Mayor Adams announced “TeenSpace” — the city's tele-mental health service available to all New York City teenagers between the ages of 13 and 17 years old at no cost. In its first six months alone, the service — created in partnership with online therapy platform Talkspace — has allowed more than 6,800 New York City teenagers to connect with a licensed therapist through phone, video, and text with 65 percent of users reporting improvement in their mental health and underserved neighborhoods, including Brownsville and East New York, leading the city in signups.

In his State of the City address earlier this yearMayor Adams announced that DOHMH issued a Health Commissioner's Advisory, identifying unfettered access to and use of social media as a public health hazard, just as past U.S. surgeons general have done with tobacco and firearms, and recommending parents delay initiation of social media for their child until at least age 14. This was soon after followed by the Adams administration filing a lawsuit to hold the owners of five social media platforms — TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and YouTube — accountable for their role in helping to fuel the nationwide youth mental health crisis and force tech giants to change their behavior, as well as the release of a social media action plan  to hold different platforms accountable, provide education and support to young people and families, and study the long-term impacts of social media on youth. 

 

Additionally, in April, in partnership with the New York City Department of Education and NYC Health + Hospitals, the administration announced it will open 16 mental health clinics in New York City public schools over the next six months to serve over 6,000 students across the Bronx and Central Brooklyn.  

 

All of these actions followed the release of “Care, Community, Action: A Mental Health Plan for New York City,” Mayor Adams’ sweeping mental health agenda — with over $20 million in new commitments — that invested in, among other initiatives, child and family mental health. The plan laid the groundwork for a 2023 summit on social media the Adams administration hosted with more than 150 advocates, researchers, technologists, and caregivers, in partnership with New York City youth, to lay out potential pathways for action to protect the mental health of children and youth.  

 

Alongside the Adams administration’s focus on mental health, Mayor Adams also launched “HealthyNYC” last November, an ambitious plan to extend the average lifespan of all New Yorkers, including reducing the impact of mental health related deaths like overdoses, suicide, and homicides by 2030, and by expanding, among other initiatives, access to culturally responsive mental health care and social support services, including early intervention for communities of color and LGBTQIA+ youth, and addressing the impact of social media on youth mental health and suicidal ideation to reduce suicide deaths. 

 

If you or you know are in crisis, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or dial 911 in case of emergency.

 

Statement from Attorney General James on Supreme Court Decision Upholding Federal Law Blocking Domestic Abusers from Possessing Guns

 

New York Attorney General Letitia James today issued a statement after the United States Supreme Court announced a decision in United States v. Rahimi, reversing the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit’s decision that a federal law prohibiting persons under a domestic violence restraining order from accessing guns violates the Second Amendment. The case involved Zackey Rahimi, who was under a domestic violence restraining order for assaulting his girlfriend, and was therefore barred from possessing guns. Rahimi was subsequently involved in multiple shootings and then indicted for possession of a firearm while under a domestic violence restraining order. The Supreme Court’s decision in this case upholds the federal law and will ensure domestic abusers cannot legally access firearms:

“Gun safety laws save lives. I am pleased with the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the federal law that stops domestic abusers from legally possessing firearms. This law, and the similar statutes that have been established in nearly every American state and territory, help protect vulnerable people, and keep guns out of dangerous hands. I am proud of the work my fellow attorneys general and I did to stand up for this federal law and to protect commonsense guardrails when it comes to gun safety. I will continue to use the great tools of my office to get guns off New York streets and protect our state’s residents from the scourge of gun violence.”

Attorney General James as part of a coalition of 25 attorneys general, submitted an amicus brief to the Supreme Court arguing that striking down the existing federal law would make it more difficult to protect survivors of domestic abuse. Attorney General James and the coalition noted that studies have shown an abuser is five times more likely to murder an intimate partner if a firearm is in the home. Attorney General James and the coalition also noted that in addition to the federal law, 46 states, the District of Columbia, and multiple territories have laws limiting the ability of those under a domestic violence restraining order to access firearms, and asserted that the lower court ruling could negatively impact these existing laws and make it harder to protect Americans’ lives and safety. Additionally, the coalition pointed out that 80 percent of these homicide victims are women, and pregnant women and women of color are disproportionately the targets of intimate partner violence.

DEC Issues Guidance to Reduce the Risk of Negative Interactions with Sharks

 

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Follow Safety Guidance to be 'Shark Smart' When Visiting Ocean Beaches

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today issued guidance to promote public safety at ocean beaches and help minimize the risk of negative interactions between people and sharks. The annual summer migration of sharks into New York's coastal waters is underway and sightings of shark activity in the nearshore ocean waters is expected to increase during the summer months, June through September. DEC encourages New Yorkers to be aware of their surroundings in the water with the potential for shark-human interactions and follow DEC guidelines to minimize the risk of negative interactions.

“While human-shark interactions are rare, DEC encourages the public to follow shark safety guidance to help minimize the risk of negative interactions with sharks this summer,” DEC Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar said. “DEC reminds all visitors to the world-class beaches and coastal waters along New York’s shoreline that these are also wild and natural marine ecosystems supporting a wide diversity of marine life, including sharks. Do your part and be shark smart.”

To reduce and minimize potential interactions with sharks, New Yorkers are encouraged to take the following steps:

  • Avoid areas with seals;
  • Avoid areas with schools of fish, splashing fish, or diving seabirds;
  • Avoid swimming at dusk, night, and dawn;
  • Avoid murky water;
  • Swim, paddle, and surf in groups;
  • Stay close to shore, where feet can touch the bottom; and
  • Always follow the instructions of lifeguards and park staff.

Humans assume risk whenever they enter any wild environment, whether on land or in the water. Although it is impossible to eliminate risk altogether, ocean users can modify their behavior to minimize potential interactions with sharks and reduce overall risk. When in the ocean, follow DEC's shark safety guidelines to minimize the potential for negative interactions with sharks.

Sharks have existed in New York's marine waters for millions of years. Today there are more than 13 shark species that migrate through New York's marine waters each year. Each shark species has unique habitat and food preferences and plays an important role in maintaining a healthy and balanced marine ecosystem. Sharks can prevent other species from monopolizing limited resources and degrading the marine environment. The presence of sharks in New York's marine waters is a positive sign of a healthy marine ecosystem.

Learn more about sharks in New York by visiting DEC's website.