Thursday, June 11, 2015
Senator Rev. Rubén DÃaz Announces Passage of his Bill, S.597
Senator Rev. Rubén DÃaz announced that the State Senate passed his bill S.597 today. This bill excludes crime data or statistics in setting rates of insurance when the data or statistics are as a result of crimes committed in correctional or detention facilities.
Earlier today at an event sponsored by the New York Hispanic Clergy Organization that welcomed NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton, Senator Diaz stated: “I am grateful to Commissioner Bratton for sending a delegation of NYPD officials to meet at my district office when we first brought this issue to light. We all know that crimes that occur on Rikers Island - which is officially located in Queens County - should not be counted as Bronx crimes. As soon as this change was made, the crime rate in the 41st Precinct here in the South Bronx went down considerably."
Senator DÃaz stated: “This bill is very important, not only for my constituents, but for any New York resident across the state who lives near a prison or jail. Homeowners should not be subjected to increased insurance rates as a result of crimes that are committee inside correctional facilities.”
Crimes that are committed within prisons and other correctional facilities should have no impact on the crime statistics of the surrounding area and on the local police precincts and departments. Local police are not assigned to prisons and jails, local law enforcement has no ability whatsoever to prevent prison-based crime or increase their patrols in order to reduce crime.
Editor's Note:
This has not become law, as the state Assembly must also pass this legislation, and it must be signed by Governor Cuomo to become law.
MAYOR DE BLASIO APPOINTS SARAH SAYEED AS SENIOR ADVISOR TO THE COMMUNITY AFFAIRS UNIT
Mayor de Blasio today appointed Sarah Sayeed as a Senior Advisor in the Community Affairs Unit. Sayeed will specialize in issues related to the city’s Muslim community, coordinating with City agencies to determine how to best serve Muslim New Yorkers and building on the City’s existing network of outreach and engagement to improve communication and delivery of services.
“I am proud to welcome Sarah, with her strong background in community engagement and interfaith outreach, to her new role as Senior Advisor. Sarah will work with the Community Affairs Unit to further engage the Muslim community in the genesis and formation of City policy,” said Mayor de Blasio. “New York’s robust and vibrant Muslim community is an integral part of our city, and Sarah’s strong ties will help City Hall better connect with our Muslim brothers and sisters across the city to improve the lives of all New Yorkers.”
“Over the past year and a half, we have built strong links with New York City’s Muslim communities on important issues from pre-K to paid sick leave to school holidays,” said Marco Carrión, Commissioner of the Community Affairs Unit. “I am pleased that Sarah will be utilizing her experience and insight to make sure the city’s Muslim community is both heard and served by city government.”
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
The Bronx Chamber of Commerce Upcoming Events - Seats are Limited! Register Now!
Friendly Reminder
Monday, June 15th, 2015
Bronx Day in Albany
Join the Chamber for Lunch Reception
Bus leaving from Pelham Split Rock at 8:00A.M
Spaces are limited to RSVP please contact events@bronxchamber.org
Drivers: Please RSVP
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Upcoming June Events:
Beso Lounge Merchant Mixer - June 11th
Councilman King Boston Road Clean Up - June 12th
Bronx Day - June 15th
Small Business Services Workshop - June 23rd
Empire Casino BBQ and Networking - June 25th
Business Expo and Trade Show - June 30th
for more information
The Assembly Might Kill Rent Control as They Killed the Dream Act
What You Should Know
By Senator Rev Rubén DÃaz
32nd Senatorial District
You should know that even though a majority exists in the New York State Assembly to permit passage of the Parental Choice in Education bill, the Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie says the bill won’t get to the floor for a vote unless there is enough support among Democrats alone to back the bill.
This completely ignores this bill’s bipartisan success that has been championed by coalitions throughout New York State, headed by Cardinal Timothy Dolan. These coalitions include Interfaith Leaders, and more than 150 labor unions, community-based organizations, businesses and schools.
If the vote were taken today and we added up the numbers, there most certainly ARE enough votes among the Assembly’s Democrats and Republicans combined to pass the Parental Choice in Education bill - even though there are not 76 Democrats in the 150-Member chamber to support the bill. The result of this bill’s passage would help children and families – especially in our Black and Hispanic communities – to have better education resources and provide financial relief to families in our communities who need it the most.
The Assembly Speaker is even opposed to linking an extension of rent control to the passage of the Parental Choice in Education bill.
This begs the question: “Why put in jeopardy rent control which is set to expire next Monday just because there aren’t enough Democrats to pass the Parental Choice in Education bill?”
My dear reader, there was no such opposition by the Assembly Speaker and Assembly Members to support tax credits for wealthy developers – and not even for people who wanted to buy luxury yachts and private planes. You may recall earlier this year how nicely Speaker Carl Heastie chummied up with former Senate Leader Senator Dean Skelos to justify tax breaks such as these for the wealthy to buy private planes and yachts. They both said it would be good for business and create more jobs. They were willing to give tax credits to purchase private planes and yachts, but not for parents to send their children to the school of their choice. Oh really?
You may also recall earlier this year that I wrote a column titled “All or Nothing” when the DREAM Act was linked to the Parental Choice in Education bill. I wrote:
“As you already know, the DREAM Act has been designed to help the children of undocumented parents, and undocumented students who already have earned their high school diploma or GED to receive financial assistance for college. The Education Investment Tax Credit is designed to provide a tax credit for businesses and individuals who donate money to private and parochial schools’ scholarship funds. Both of these bills offer more educational opportunities for New York’s students.”
“Speaker Carl Heastie and the Assembly know that the Assembly voted four (4) years in a row to pass the DREAM Act - to no avail - because the Senate didn't want to vote for it … Do they really want the DREAM Act to pass?”
Today, again I ask: “Why is the Assembly Speaker refusing and rejecting these opportunities that our children and their families deserve?” When the Governor wanted to pass the DREAM Act he linked it to the Education Investment Tax Credit bill, and the Assembly opposed it. Consequently killing the DREAM Act and denying the opportunity for thousands of undocumented youth.
It looks like the Speaker of the Assembly is doing the same thing to Rent Control since the Governor is also linking it to the Parental Choice in Education bill.
Ladies and gentlemen, I believe that New Yorkers elected us to represent all of them - not to cater to special interests and not to make ourselves look powerful by refusing to work in a bipartisan effort. If the Assembly allows Rent Control to expire and puts in jeopardy thousands of poor and needy residents of the City of New York, the Assembly will have no one else to blame but themselves.
The art of politics is to know how to honestly negotiate with others in order to protect and to serve the people who elected us.
This is Senator Rev. Rubén DÃaz and this is what you should know.
NEWS FROM ASSEMBLYMAN JEFFREY DINOWITZ
Dinowitz Bill to Protect Consumers From Fees on Gift Cards and Certificates Passes Assembly
Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz announced that his bill to prevent fees from being assessed on gift cards and certificates has passed unanimously in the State Assembly (A.7610). “Too often have consumers either purchased or been given a gift card, only to later find out that there is little to no money left to spend due to exorbitant fees assessed on the card due to inactivity,” Assemblyman Dinowitz said.
Current New York State law requires notice of expiration dates as well as any fees that will be charged along with other terms and conditions that must be clearly and conspicuously stated on the card, package, or accompanying printed document. Fees are currently not allowed to be assessed prior to the thirteenth month of dormancy, but New York State does not specify how much of a fee can be assessed, offering consumers little to no protection. Consumers purchase gift cards just like other products sold that have no fees assessed after the initial purchase.
“Businesses selling gift cards have already made the profit of selling it, so there is no reason that a consumer should be penalized with fees for not using it within a specific time frame,” said Mr. Dinowitz, who chairs the Assembly’s Consumer Affairs Committee. “It is simply unconscionable that a consumer who pays for a gift card in full should lose their investment because of the amount of time passed before spending the funds.”
If the legislation becomes law New York will be joining twenty other states that have passed similar legislation preventing any fees on gift cards and certificates, with some only allowing a fee at the time of purchase.
Assemblyman Dinowitz Announces
New York State Mobility and Opportunity for Vulnerable Employees (MOVE) Act
Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz introduced a bill to stop employers from requiring low-wage employees to sign non-compete agreements, preventing them from seeking higher paying jobs. The bill, known as the Mobility and Opportunity for Vulnerable Employees (MOVE) Act, will ban the use of non-compete agreements for employees making less than $15 an hour, or $31,200 annually (A.8108). This legislation is modeled after recently introduced federal legislation by Senator Al Franken (D-Minnesota).
“Requiring low-wage workers to sign non-compete agreements as a condition of employment is a practice that must end immediately,” said Assemblyman Dinowitz. “Practices like these by employers hinder workers’ ability to move up in the world by using their experience to find better paying jobs; the MOVE Act will help remove barriers for those currently stuck in their low-wage jobs so they can work toward a better life for themselves and their families.”
Additionally, the bill requires that any company using non-compete agreements for employees not defined as “low-wage,” must disclose the use of such an agreement at the beginning of the hiring process.
“By removing these barriers we will be a taking a big step forward in making sure that those workers who need it most are being protected,” said Assemblyman Dinowitz. “Ensuring the ability of low-wage workers to work hard and climb out of poverty is a paramount issue.”
Though similar legislation has been proposed in Congress, Assemblyman Dinowitz asserted that “New Yorkers just can’t wait for the gridlock in Congress to subside to protect low-wage workers.”
Monday, June 8, 2015
What the Carl Heastie Campaign Was Spending Money on According to The New York Times
In a lengthy New York Times Article titled - 'Carl Heastie's Campaign Spending Blurs Line Between Politics and Personal'. The New York Times goes into detail of what have been called questionable or even unexplained campaign expenses as many are listed after the Times staff went over Assemblyman Carl Heastie's Campaign filings since he was elected to office..
The article opens that on the eve of Carl Heastie's 39th Birthday (Heastie is now 47) a tab for $270.00 for food is listed as a campaign expense. The Times writes that the $270.00 tab was from the Happy Valley night club in Manhattan which the Times wrote did not serve food, and that the club was famous for its dance floor and Go-Go dancers. Happy Valley has been permanently closed for years now.
The next item in the Times article is how $30,000.00 has been spent over 9 years on Heastie's BMW by his campaign, while Heastie has collected over $51,000.00 in mileage reimbursements from the state meant to cover auto repairs of elected officials.
The Times goes on to say that from 2001 the Heastie Campaign has taken in over $1.1 Million Dollars, with details of spending mostly left out. Also with no explanation of where almost $150,000.00 came from. The Times says Heastie claimed that the donations were less than 50 dollars and did not have to be itemized under state law.
The Times continues to detail a $97,910.00 unexplained or to whom the recipient was for said campaign expenditure. The Times also references the Mooreland Commission in which Assemblyman Heastie was one of 28 elected officials under investigation for spending at least $10,000.00 over a six year period without identifying a recipient or omitting the information. The Times adds that the U.S. Attorney's office has taken up the investigation files from the Mooreland Commission which was disbanded by Governor Cuomo last year.
Unexplained Credit Card Bills involving a check for $8,203.00 to American Express, and almost $17,000.00 more in unexplained credit card bills paid by the campaign are mentioned in the Times article. The Times goes into details about his Frequent car repairs, naming names and amounts.
The Times then mentions Campaign funds paid to two of Heastie's Girlfriends, buy football tickets to his Alma Mater Stony Brook University (on Long Island), and frequent meetings or staff events at Manhattan Night Clubs. Several such meetings and or Staff Events are listed and the amounts listed that go up to $1,700.00 for 3 events at H &Y Duet located on West 48th Street in Manhattan.
The entire New York Times article on now Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie's Campaign Spending can be found at the link in the first sentence of this blog posting.
The Times goes on to say that from 2001 the Heastie Campaign has taken in over $1.1 Million Dollars, with details of spending mostly left out. Also with no explanation of where almost $150,000.00 came from. The Times says Heastie claimed that the donations were less than 50 dollars and did not have to be itemized under state law.
The Times continues to detail a $97,910.00 unexplained or to whom the recipient was for said campaign expenditure. The Times also references the Mooreland Commission in which Assemblyman Heastie was one of 28 elected officials under investigation for spending at least $10,000.00 over a six year period without identifying a recipient or omitting the information. The Times adds that the U.S. Attorney's office has taken up the investigation files from the Mooreland Commission which was disbanded by Governor Cuomo last year.
Unexplained Credit Card Bills involving a check for $8,203.00 to American Express, and almost $17,000.00 more in unexplained credit card bills paid by the campaign are mentioned in the Times article. The Times goes into details about his Frequent car repairs, naming names and amounts.
The Times then mentions Campaign funds paid to two of Heastie's Girlfriends, buy football tickets to his Alma Mater Stony Brook University (on Long Island), and frequent meetings or staff events at Manhattan Night Clubs. Several such meetings and or Staff Events are listed and the amounts listed that go up to $1,700.00 for 3 events at H &Y Duet located on West 48th Street in Manhattan.
The entire New York Times article on now Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie's Campaign Spending can be found at the link in the first sentence of this blog posting.