VAN NEST NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE —NOV. MONTHLY ZOOM MEETING — 11.2.2020 at 7:00pm

 

VAN NEST NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE

OCTOBER ZOOM MEETING IS CANCELLED.

OUR NEXT ZOOM MEETING IS

MONDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2020

7:00PM

GUEST SPEAKER: SENATOR GUSTAVO RIVERA

Meeting ID: 259 251 0029

Dial in number: +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)

Eight Bronx Supreme Judges over 70 Were Not Recertified as Part of an Effort to Trim the State’s Judiciary Budget

 

Forty-Six of the forty-nine Judges in the New York State Supreme Court system over the age of seventy will be retiring on December 31, 2020 in an attempt to help fill a ten percent or three-hundred million budget cut. Under state law Supreme Court judges are required to apply for recertification and undergo cognitive exams every two years after turning seventy, until they reach the mandatory retirement age of seventy-six.

Eight of the forty-six judges are from the Bronx. They are Civil Term Justices Ben Barbato, Robert Johnson, Donald Miles, Howard Sherman, and Fernando Tapia, Criminal Term Justices Lester Adler, Steven Barrett, and Nicholas Iacovetta. The elimination of these forty-six positions is to save Fifty-Five million dollars over the next two years, and avoid other judicial cuts to the New York State Supreme Court system.

Governor Cuomo Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress During COVID-19 Pandemic - OCTOBER 12, 2020

 

New York State Positivity Without Red Zone Focus Areas Included is 1.05 Percent; Full New York State Positivity is 1.12 Percent

40 Percent of Yesterday's Hospital Admissions from Areas in Hot Spot Zones Downstate and Southern Tier Counties State is Monitoring after Recent Increases in Cases

12 COVID-19 Deaths in New York State Yesterday

SLA and State Police Task Force Visits 641 Establishments; Observes 5 Establishments Not in Compliance

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. New York State's positivity rate without the Red Zone focus areas included was 1.05 percent for yesterday's test results. The state's overall positivity rate is 1.12 percent.

In "Red Zone" focus areas included as part of the Governor's Cluster Action Initiative, the positivity rate for test results reported yesterday is 3.70 percent - down from the 6.13 percent average from last week - however, it is important to note that weekend test results are often not reflective of the current situation and testing results over the next days will help show the impact of recent efforts to combat these outbreaks. The "Red Zone" focus areas are home to 2.8 percent of state's population, yet had 17.6 percent of all positive cases reported last week to New York State. 

"In New York our strategy is to identify micro-clusters. We do more testing than any other state, so we have more data. We also are obsessive about getting incoming case numbers from the hospitals. You map those cases and you find the greatest predominance of cases in a geographic area. That is a micro-cluster," Governor Cuomo said. "We have an approximately 1 percent infection rate statewide, which is very low compared to other states. If we find an area where the rate is 2 percent, that's a micro-cluster. Three percent in a lot of states would be a safe zone - in New York, we consider it a micro-cluster. So we are doing very targeted analysis because we have so much testing capacity, and we will continue to let the data and science drive our approach to keeping the virus in check."

Within the "Red Zone" focus areas, 2,190 test results were reported yesterday, yielding 81 positives or a 3.70 percent positivity rate. In the remainder of the state, not counting these "Red Zone" focus areas, 89,603 test results were reported, yielding 948 positives or a 1.05 percent positivity rate.

The "Red Zone" focus areas are home to 2.8 percent of the state population yet had 7.9 percent of all positive test results reported to the state yesterday, and 17.6 percent of all positive case results reported to the state last week. The positivity rate for test results this past week in the "Red Zone" areas was 6.13 percent last week, down slightly from the prior week as shown in the charts below. Given that yesterday's test results are from weekend data reporting, additional weekday data will be required to assess current trends and the effect of efforts to combat the viral spread in 'red zone' focus areas.

Yesterday, the State Liquor Authority and State Police Task Force visited 641 establishments in New York City and Long Island and observed 5 establishments that were not in compliance with state requirements. A county breakdown of yesterday's observed violations is below:

• Nassau - 5

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

• Patient Hospitalization - 878 (+58)
• Patients Newly Admitted - 122
• Hospital Counties - 39
• Number ICU - 185 (-1)
• Number ICU with Intubation - 86 (+2)
• Total Discharges - 77,691 (+60)
• Deaths - 12
• Total Deaths - 25,587

Governor Cuomo Unveils Mother Cabrini Memorial in Battery Park City

 

Located in View of the Statue of Liberty, Memorial Honors the Heroic Legacy of Mother Cabrini, Who Dedicated Her Life to Serving Immigrants and the Needy

Winning Design by Artists Jill and Giancarlo Biagi Recommended by Governor's Mother Cabrini Memorial Commission

New Memorial Educational Website and Audio Tour Here

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today unveiled New York State's Mother Cabrini Memorial located in Battery Park City, just south of South Cove along the Battery Park City Esplanade. With a direct view of both the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, this area provides a fitting location to pay tribute to the patroness of immigrants. The Memorial was unveiled one year after the Governor first announced plans for its creation on Columbus Day of last year. The Memorial includes interpretive panels highlighting  Mother Cabrini's service to Italian-American immigrants and the poor in New York including building dozens of orphanages, hospitals, and schools. The plaza is surrounded by seating and a mosaic created from stones from Mother Cabrini's birthplace of Sant'Angelo Lodigiano, Italy.

"This Columbus Day, the celebration of Mother Cabrini is even more appropriate than when we announced it last year because of the difficulties that we are facing. We all know that these are challenging times, but we also know that in the book of life, it is not what one does when the sun is shining that tests our metal - it's what one does in the fury of the storm, and that's where we are today," Governor Cuomo said. "In this complex world, may this statue serve to remind us of the principles that made us great as a country and as a people and the principles that keep us special on this globe - the values of Mother Cabrini: compassion, acceptance, community, freedom, faith, hope and love."

The bronze Memorial which sits on a marble base depicts Mother Cabrini on a paper boat with two children, a representation of the paper boats which, as a child, Mother Cabrini would fold and fill with violets. Placing them in the currents outside of her home, these boats would send her "missionaries" around the world. The paper boat serves as a symbol of hope and courage: Although fragile and delicate, it can hold against the water's currents and stay afloat - symbolizing Mother Cabrini's determination in the face of adversity and struggle.

The three figures are all facing the Statue of Liberty, a beacon of hope for immigrants as they entered New York Harbor to begin their new lives in America, and where Mother Cabrini arrived on a mission to help Italian migrants in 1889. The young girl, a reflection of Mother Cabrini's youth, is holding a book, a symbol of Mother Cabrini's commitment to educating children. As music has been important to the heritage of immigrants, the young boy is holding luggage and an ocarina, an instrument invented near Mother Cabrini's birthplace, representing the music and culture immigrants have brought to America.

Read more about the Mother Cabrini Memorial and listen to an audio tour here

On October 24, 2019, Governor Cuomo established the Mother Cabrini Memorial Commission to oversee the creation of a statue honoring Mother Cabrini. Consisting of 19 members appointed by the Governor, the Commission was charged with providing recommendations to the Governor pertaining to the design, location and installation of the new memorial. Mother Cabrini Commission member Philip Foglia, long-time prosecutor and counsel to Italian American Legal Defense and Higher Education Fund, sadly passed away due to COVID-19 in April.

The Commission opened the competition for proposals on December 13, 2019, and solicited designs through robust outreach to the artistic community. The Commission received submissions from artists from around the world, each movingly telling the story of her life and her many contributions to immigrants in New York and worldwide. After a thorough review process, the Commission recommended New York City-based sculptors Jill and Giancarlo Biagi to design and build a memorial to Mother Cabrini.

Jill Biagi studied at the University of Washington and she received a fellowship to work and study art in Pietrasanta, Italy with stone carving artisans. Giancarlo Biagi studied at the Istituto d'Arte Stagio Stagi of Pietrasanta before moving to the United States to attend the Art Students League of New York. Together, Jill and Giancarlo have created sculptures for several public commissions with the goal of capturing the life story and preserving the legacy of revered individuals. Additional works by these artists are found in major museums around the world. Jill and Giancarlo maintain studios in New York and Pietrasanta.

The creative team also included architect Martin Sendlewski and lighting designer Ken Farley.

Mother Cabrini was an Italian-American who founded many organizations to help the needy. She was the youngest of 13 children, born in Lombardy in 1850, and before migrating to the United States, she took vows and founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart, an order that served and schooled orphans.

While in New York, she taught at St. Joachim's parish, the Church of Our Lady of Pompeii, and the Transfiguration Catholic Church - all in Manhattan - as well as St. Rita of Cascia in The Bronx and the Church of St. Stephen in Brooklyn. She also founded the Columbus Hospital, which was eventually renamed the Cabrini Medical Center and was housed in Manhattan for many years.

Mother Cabrini was originally buried in West Park and is now interred at the St. Frances Cabrini Shrine in Manhattan, which she founded. In 1946, nearly 30 years after her death, Mother Cabrini became the first naturalized U.S. citizen to be canonized. She is recognized as the patron saint of immigrants. Several academic institutions, religious buildings and hospitals across New York are named after her.

Northwest Bronx Democrats Support Gene De Francis for 80th Assembly District in the November General Election

 Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez announced her decision to run for Bronx Borough President in September two months before the general election in November. Was she taking the 2020 November election for granted having handily defeating her opponent in the November 2018 election? In the Bronx it is the Democratic Primary which is the real race you have to win to be elected, that could be up to now. 

The decision by Assemblywoman Fernandez made some people unhappy because there was still a challenger to her in the November election, one who was a community leader, and a former opponent in the special election for the 80th A.D., Mr. Gene De Francis. The 2020 November election also has a strong challenger to Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Mr. John Cummings who is aligned with Gene De Francis, and will benefit him in the East Side of the district which accounts for about eighty percent of the vote. The twenty percent on the West Side of the 80th A.D. (split by the Bronx River Parkway) now becomes important in the 2020 general election. 

I was able to get the exclusive story of a meeting between Mr. Anthony Rivieccio head of the West Side Northwest Bronx Democrats and candidate Gene De Francis. There were concern that while campaigning for borough president the 80th A.D. would suffer from a lack of coverage by its elected official, what might happen to the district should Ms. Fernandez become the new borough president, and many of the problems that currently exist in the 80th A.D. I was told that this was not the first conversation between the two, but that it was the culmination of discussions between them for the support of the Gene De Francis candidacy for the 80th A.D. Mr. Rivieccio went on to say that he wishes Nathalia Fernandez all the best in her race for Bronx Borough President. He added that this decision is in no way connected to the exploratory committee that has been set up by the club to look at candidates for the 2022 races for assembly and party positions in the 80th A.D.  

80th A.D candidate Gene De Francis with a thumbs up to the announcement by Anthony Rivieccio that the Northwest Bronx Democrats are supporting him for Assembly in the November general election. The photo was taken at the corner of Bedford Park Blvd. and Webster Avenue across from the Bronx Botanical Garden garage.

12th Council Special Election Calendar

Below is the Political Calendar for the Special Election to take place on Tuesday December 22, 2020, which will be voted on at the Tuesday October 13, 2020 Commissioners of Elections in the City of New York meeting.  

How could the process begin five days before it is adopted by the Commissioners of Elections in the City of New York?

BOARD OF ELECTIONS IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK

ADOPTED FILING CALENDAR FOR INDEPENDENT NOMINATING PETITIONS

FOR DECEMBER 22, 2020 SPECIAL ELECTION FOR

MEMBER OF THE CITY COUNCIL – 12TH CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT

Date of Proclamation & First Day to circulate & file petitions..   October 8, 2020

Last day to file petitions................... 9 a.m. – Midnight..... October 20, 2020

 

FOR PETITIONS FILED ON:            General Objections 

                                                            Must Be Received By:*

Thursday, October 8, 2020................... Tuesday, October 13, 2020

Friday, October 9, 2020 .......................Tuesday, October 13, 2020

Tuesday, October 13 2020.......................Friday, October 16, 2020

Wednesday, October 14, 2020...............Monday, October 19, 2020

Thursday, October 15, 2020..................Monday, October 19, 2020

Friday, October 16, 2020......................Monday, October 19, 2020

Monday, October 19 2020...................Thursday, October 22, 2020

Tuesday, October, 20 2020......................Friday, October 23, 2020

 

GENERAL OBJECTIONS FILED ON:     Specifications Must 

                                                                    be Received By:*

Tuesday, October 13, 2020...................Monday, October 19, 2020

Friday, October 16, 2020……………  Thursday, October 22, 2020

Monday, October 19, 2020…………… Monday, October 26, 2020

Thursday, October 22, 2020……….Wednesday, October 28, 2020

Friday, October 23, 2020…………… Thursday, October 29, 2020

Last day to file Cert of Acceptance. or Declination of Nomination……………                         Friday, October 23, 2020

Last day to fill vacancy caused by. Declination of Nomination………………         .         Tuesday, October 27, 2020

 

Last day to institute court proceedings with regard to independent nominating petitions is October 27, 2020 or three (3) business days after hearing where petition is invalidated.

 

Last day to submit proof of service of Specifications is the day after specifications are filed.

 

Board of Elections hearings on Independent Nominating Petitions at Executive Office,

42 Broadway, 6th Floor Hearing Room – TO BE DETERMINED

*Board of Elections is open for filing from 9 AM to 5 PM. The Board of Elections will remain open until Midnight only if a specified filing date for objection(s)/ specification(s)/certificate(s) is the last day to file said objection(s)/ specification(s)/certificate(s).

 

For information, call the Board of Elections at 212-487-5300.This calendar has been constructed in conformity with New York City Charter 25 and all relevant Election Law provisions.

 

To be adopted by the Commissioners of Elections in the City of New York – Tuesday, October 13, 2020

Governor Cuomo Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress During COVID-19 Pandemic - OCTOBER 11, 2020

 

Full New York State Positivity Rate Drops Below 1 Percent for the First Time Since September 24 to .96 Percent 

New York State Has Conducted 12 Million COVID-19 Tests 

"Red Zone" Focus Area Positivity is 5.74 Percent Yesterday; 6.13 Percent Positivity for Past Week 

New York State Positivity Without Red Zone Focus Areas Included is 0.84 Percent 

5 COVID-19 Deaths in New York State Yesterday 

SLA and State Police Task Force Visits 777 Establishments; Observes 5 Establishments Not in Compliance 

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. New York State has conducted 12 million COVID-19 tests. In "Red Zone" focus areas included as part of the Governor's Cluster Action Initiative, the positivity rate for test results reported yesterday is 5.74 percent and 6.13 percent for the past week. These "Red Zone" focus areas are home to 2.8 percent of state's population, yet have had 17.6 percent of all positive cases reported this week to New York State. 

New York State's positivity rate without the Red Zone focus areas included was 0.84 percent for yesterday's test results. The state's overall positivity rate - with Red Zone focus areas included - dropped to 0.96 percent yesterday, under 1 percent for the first time since September 24.  

"We're dealing with a very specific situation, which is the clusters. Overall the state is doing very well. We have a sophisticated testing mechanism where we take, now, more tests per day than most states take per week. That allows us to do a very granular analysis. Most states don't have that capacity or don't have that desire," Governor Cuomo said. "Because we test as much as we do, and because we have such an ability to target, we then see clusters and we can track cases in very small clusters. We're now tracking a cluster in about 2 or 3 percent of the population. No other state has this discussion because no other state has the ability to target that way. We do, and that's a good thing because when you can target a specific cluster, it means you can attack a specific cluster. Attacking a cluster is much easier than trying to attack a statewide increasing rate."

Within the "Red Zone" focus areas, 2,961 test results were reported yesterday, yielding 170 positives or a 5.74 percent positivity rate. In the remainder of the state, not counting these "Red Zone" focus areas, 115,293 test results were reported, yielding 973 positives or a 0.84 percent positivity rate.

The "Red Zone" focus areas are home to 2.8 percent of the state population yet had 14.9 percent of all positive test results reported to the state yesterday, and 17.6 percent of all positive case results reported to the state this week. 

Yesterday, the State Liquor Authority and State Police Task Force visited 777 establishments in New York City and Long Island and observed 5 establishments that were not in compliance with state requirements. A county breakdown of yesterday's observed violations is below:

• Manhattan - 2
• Nassau - 3

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

• Patient Hospitalization - 820 (-6)
• Patients Newly Admitted - 111
• Hospital Counties - 39
• Number ICU - 186 (+7)
• Number ICU with Intubation -- 84 (+3)
• Total Discharges - 77,631 (+117)
• Deaths - 5
• Total Deaths - 25,574

Former Long Island Liquor Distributor Sentenced to 24 Months in Prison for Defrauding Investors in Wine Product Featured on “Shark Tank” TV Show

 

Defendant Stole More Than $500,000 from Investors to Fund His Securities Trading Account and Satisfy Mortgage on a Florida Home

 Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, Joseph Falcone, who formerly operated a wine and liquor distribution business known as 3G’S VINO LLC, was sentenced by United States District Judge Sandra J. Feuerstein to 24 months’ imprisonment for wire fraud in connection with his scheme to defraud investors.  As part of the sentence, Falcone was ordered to pay $1.8 million in restitution to seven of 3G’S investors.  Falcone pleaded guilty in June 2019.

Seth D. DuCharme, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced the sentencing. 

“Falcone’s victims were reeled in by his “Shark Tank” pitch, but with today’s sentence, the defendant is now squarely on the hook for his crimes,” stated Acting United States Attorney DuCharme.  “This Office remains committed to prosecuting those who mislead the public and abuse the trust placed in them to engage in fraud against their own investors.”  Mr. DuCharme thanked the Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office, for its outstanding investigative work on the case.

In December 2012, Falcone established 3G’S, which was based in Bethpage and Farmingdale, New York.  Among other products, 3G’S distributed a single-serving wine in a sealed glass, which was featured on the television program “Shark Tank.”  Between September 2014 and November 2015, Falcone solicited investments and promised potential investors that their money would be used to fund 3G’S by purchasing the single-serving wine product.  Relying on those promises, investors wired money to bank accounts in Florida controlled by Falcone.  Rather than invest the money as promised, Falcone used approximately $527,064 for his personal benefit – paying off the mortgage on a residence in Florida and funding his online securities trading.