Wage Theft, Sham Charities & More

Cracking Down On Wage Theft At Papa John’s Restaurants

Nine Papa John’s Pizza restaurants in New York City will paynearly $500,000 in back wages and damages to 250 workers they ripped off. An investigation with the U.S. Department of Labor found that these restaurants failed to pay their employees proper minimum wage and overtime pay, among other violations. This is the latest is a series of settlements with Papa John’s restaurants across New York City, and the Attorney General is sending a strong message: he will not stop until workers are treated with respect and paid lawful wages. Papa John’s and other fast food companies must step up and stop the widespread lawlessness plaguing their businesses. 

Shutting Down Sham Charitable Organizations

The Attorney General announced that his office obtained an order to dissolve an animal hospice and rehabilitation charity that misused $3.1 million in donations. While the charity had been touted on shows such as Oprah and Martha Stewart, an investigation found that owner Susan Marino actually used donations to cover living expenses. The charity will now be dissolved, and the remaining funds will be directed to a different animal care and protection charity. When New Yorkers donate their hard-earned dollars to a charity, they should not have to worry that their generosity is being exploited. 

Cutting Costs For New Yorkers At Urgent Care Centers

Four urgent care centers in New York City and Long Islandhave agreed to improve their disclosure of accepted insurance plans. These agreements build upon letters the Attorney General issued to 20 urgent care centers requesting information about representations on websites that the centers’ participate in certain health plans. When urgent care centers provide clear and detailed information about their participation in health plans, consumers will be protected from unexpected medical billings and there will be lower costs for patients. These agreements also represent the first enforcement action of New York’s ‘Surprise Bill Law,” which in part requires providers to disclose in writing or online the health care plans in which the provider participates. 

Protecting Tenants During Condo Conversions

The developer of an Upper East Side condominium will pay $1.75 million to the city and state for improperly terminating leases for market-rate tenants during a condo conversion. An investigation by the Real Estate Finance Bureau found the developer terminated 82 leases during the conversion and only allowed tenants to stay for an additional six months if they waived standard legal protections. As part of the settlement, the developer will pay $1.5 million to New York City’s Affordable Housing AG Settlement Fund, which was established in 2014 to help finance affordable housing for low income New Yorkers. More than $7 million has now been given to the settlement fund from agreements the Attorney General has reached as a result of investigations into violations of state rent stabilization laws. 

Have a question, comment, or complaint? Click here. You can also learn more about the various initiatives of the Attorney General's office by visiting our website at ag.ny.gov. 

Senator Reverend Ruben Diaz to be Honored as the Great Defender of Life

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW 
By Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz 
District 32 Bronx County, New York 

  New York State Senator Reverend Ruben Diaz (D-Bronx) will be honored as the Great Defender of Life during the Human Life Foundation’s Annual Gala on Thursday, October 22, 2015 at 6:30 PM. This event will be held at the Union League Club located at 38 East 37th Street in New York City. 

Senator Diaz stated: “ During these days when the value of human life is undermined and undervalued, and when babies’ body parts are being sold on the open market, I am humbled to receive this award. Even though I am a Democrat and an elected official here in the City of New York, with the encouragement of Pope Francis’ words about the “innocent victims of abortion,” I will proudly continue my pro-life stance to protect and to cherish the precious lives of our unborn children.” 

The Human Life Foundation is recognized in the United States for their work on behalf of the unborn. 

I am Senator Reverend Rubén Díaz and this is what you should know. 

COUNCIL MEMBER ANDREW COHEN ANNOUNCES PARTENERSHIP WITH FEDCAP

Councilman Cohen allocates $65,000 of NYC Cleanup Initiative Funding to Fedcap

  

   Council Member Andrew Cohen of the 11th City Council District has allocated $65,000 of his NYC Cleanup Initiative funding to Fedcap, a nonprofit organization that will help maintain commercial corridors throughout District 11.

Fedcap will be rotating the cleanup of commercial corridors on a weekly basis, three days per week, beginning in October. Members of the community are encouraged to contact the office of Council Member Cohen if there are additional areas that need to be targeted.

The New York City Council’s Cleanup Initiative awards $103,921 to each member for street and park beautification in their district.

Riverdale areas that are currently scheduled for cleanup by Fedcap:

Riverdale Avenue between West 236th and West 238th Streets

West 235th Street between Oxford Avenue and Netherland Avenue

Johnson Avenue between West 235th Street and West 236th Street

Riverdale Avenue between West 256th Street and West 259th Street

Mosholu Avenue between Broadway and West 254th Street

Broadway between West 238th Street and Manhattan College Parkway

“The NYC Cleanup initiative is an innovative effort by the City Council to beautify our communities. Through this initiative, Fedcap will help us ensure that residents enjoy the dynamic neighborhoods they call home, while also welcoming visitors to experience all this community has to offer. Maintaining our district is a quality of life improvement that I believe will help encourage more people to shop at our businesses. I look forward to working with Fedcap to enhance the cleanliness of our shopping corridors,” said Council Member Andrew Cohen.

“Wildcat, a division of Fedcap, is grateful to Council Member Cohen for his support of our Neighborhood Improvement Program (NIP), and of the extensive clean-up initiatives that will be taking place in District 11 this year and beyond. Through his strong support of NIP in the 11th District, Council Member Cohen has paved the way for Wildcat a division of Fedcap to provide job opportunities and a path to economic independence for people with barriers, and to provide invaluable clean-up services to the community. In partnership with Council Member Cohen, Fedcap and Wildcat will continue to work to improve the quality of life for all stakeholders involved in this important initiative,” said Mario La Rosa, Manager of Fedcap Operations.

 Council Member Andrew Cohen stands with Mario La Rosa, Manager of Fedcap Operations, and some of his workers after announcing the allocation of $65,000 to the non-profit organization for help maintaining commercial corridors throughout Riverdale. Also in the photo are Community Board 8 Chairman Dan Padernacht, KRVC Executive Director Tracy Shelton, and Mario Curaj owner of Yo Burger one of the fine restaurants on Riverdale Avenue pictured in the background.

SENATOR KLEIN & ACC LAUNCH BRONX MOBILE ADOPTION CENTER

With lack of access to full service animal shelter in The Bronx, Klein secures $250,000 for mobile adoption center to bring man’s best friend directly to Bronxites’ doors

Animal Care Centers of NYC: “New Bronx Mobile Adoption Center is the cat’s meow”

      

State Senator Jeff Klein, joined by Risa Weinstock, executive director of Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC), today announced $250,000 in state funding for a new mobile pet adoption center in The Bronx.

“Providing safe, quality care to animals is critically important and nobody does it better than the Animal Care Centers of NYC. As one of the only boroughs lacking access to a full service animal shelter, I’m proud to have secured $250,000 in state funding for a new mobile adoption van in The Bronx,” said State Senator Jeff Klein. “This vehicle will not only encourage more pet lovers to adopt, but reduce overcrowding at shelters in Manhattan, Staten Island and Brooklyn. Be on the lookout for our new mobile adoption center, coming to a neighborhood near you!”

“This new mobile adoption center enables us to expand our outreach in The Bronx significantly and to find more homes for wonderful animals,” said Risa Weinstock, executive director of Animal Care Centers of NYC. “We’re very grateful for Senator Klein’s clear commitment to NYC’s shelter animals and his very generous support, without which we wouldn’t be here today. Now, thanks to Senator Klein, adoptions in The Bronx are Easy as ACC!”

"BASE thanks to Senator Klein for his outstanding commitment to animal welfare in The Bronx,” said Donna Dechiaro of the Bronx Animal Shelter Endeavor (BASE). “By providing the funding for this new mobile adoption van, Bronx animals have a much improved opportunity for adoption and for a widening audience of well-informed Bronxites on the care of animals. We sincerely thank Senator Klein. "

The announcement was made as part of Senator Klein’s annual Fall Festival at the Holy Cross School on Sunday afternoon. Families and children enjoyed fun fall activities like face painting, pumpkin picking, arts and crafts and more. Local residents also had the chance to take home a furry new friend.

With the lack of access to a full service animal shelter in The Bronx, Klein’s funding will significantly boost opportunities for adoptions in the borough. The current ACC facility, located at 464 East Fordham Road, serves as an admissions center and therefore does not accommodate adoptions or sick animals. Animals can be surrendered at The Bronx location, but are then transferred to other facilities for care, treatment and adoption. The new mobile adoption center will help connect more cats and dogs with loving homes.

In the coming weeks and months, the mobile adoption center will be at locations throughout The Bronx, including:

• Sunday, October 25 from 12:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Petland Discounts East Tremont

New Horizons Shopping Mall, 961 East 174th Street

• Saturday, October 31 from 12:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Petland Discounts Bay Plaza

Bay Plaza Shopping Center

2096 Bartow Avenue, Bronx, NY

• Sunday, November 8 from 12 - 4:00 p.m.

Petland Discounts E. 170th St., Super Foodtown Shopping Center

62 E 170th St, Bronx, NY

• Saturday, November 14 from 12:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Petco Riverdale

193 West 237th Street, Bronx, NY

• Sunday, November 15 from 12:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Petco Riverdale

193 West 237th Street, Bronx, NY

Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) is one of the largest animal welfare organizations in the country, taking in more than 30,000 animals each year. ACC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that rescues, cares for and finds loving homes for animals throughout the five boroughs. ACC is an open-admissions organization, which means it never turns away any homeless, abandoned, injured or sick animal in need of help, including cats, dogs, rabbits, small mammals, reptiles, birds, farm animals and wildlife. It is the only organization in NYC with this unique responsibility. For more information, please visit www.nycacc.org, and be sure to follow ACC on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Animals available for adoption can be viewed online at http://nycacc.org/AdoptionSearch.htm, or on ACC’s free mobile app. ACC adoptions include vaccinations, a microchip, spay/neuter, a free office visit at a participating veterinarian, a collar and a free identification tag.

SENATOR KLEIN HOSTS FIRST ANNUAL ‘TASTE OF MORRIS PARK’

Klein partners with Morris Park Community Association, local merchants to celebrate and highlight the best of Morris Park

Nearly 500 Bronxites come out to enjoy Morris Park’s culinary delights

State Senator Jeff Klein, together with the Morris Park Community Association (MPCA), hosted the first annual ‘Taste of Morris Park’ food festival on Sunday. The event brought together the local business community and families to celebrate and showcase the best of Morris Park.

Senator Klein said: “The first annual ‘Taste of Morris Park’ is a real treat for everyone – supporting our local businesses and bringing together the community to enjoy all the great food we have to offer. I’ve lived in Morris Park all my life and I think this festival is a great way to spread the word and celebrate some of our hidden treasures with family and friends. I’m proud to host the ‘Taste of Morris Park’ in partnership with the MPCA, and I look forward to working together to improve the quality of life and lift up local residents for many years to come.”  

Tony Signorile, president of the Morris Park Community Association, said: “I’m excited to host the first annual ‘Taste of Morris Park.’ This event is a continuation of Italian Heritage Month, and in the next few years, we hope to build it up to be as big as the Columbus Day Parade. Thank you Senator Jeff Klein for working hard to make this happen. I know myself, and so many Bronx families, are already looking forward to the next Morris Park food festival.”

Rocky Miano, owner of Burger Time, said: “There’s no better way to celebrate all that Morris Park has to offer than sharing a bite with friends and family. I’m proud to participate in the first ever ‘Taste of Morris Park’ and I’m thrilled all the local merchants joined together to make it such a successful event. Thanks to Senator Jeff Klein for hosting the first annual ‘Taste of Morris Park.’”

Savitri McCrea, owner of Lotus Flame Restaurant, said: “The ‘Taste of Morris Park’ brought together the best of The Bronx. This is a wonderful event that allowed us to enjoy each other’s company and sample some great food. Lotus Flame was thrilled to participate in the community’s first food festival and we look forward to many more coming up in the future.”

The festival was held at Loreto Park from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. Nearly a dozen local merchants participated in the event, including:

• Patricia's
• Patsy's Pizzeria
• Enzo's Italian Restaurant
• Lotus Flame Restaurant
• G & R Italian Deli
• Burger Time
• Pasta Pasta
• The Pine
• Good to Go Restaurant

Throughout the day, restaurants sold and sampled tantalizing treats and homestyle favorites like fried ravioli, Italian meatballs, hamburgers, pizza, rice balls and chicken scarpariello. An array of West Indian delicacies were also available from Lotus Flame Restaurant.

The 3rd Annual Halloween Parade This Saturday!

The 3rd Annual Halloween Parade and Party! Saturday, October 24, 2015 Halloween Parade Assemble at 1:30 PM at the Southeast Corner of Pelham Parkway & White Plains Road Parade Kicks off at 2:00 PM Towards P.S. 105 Halloween Party 2:30 -  5:00 PM At P.S. 105 725 Brady Avenue Bronx, NY 10462 For further Information, Please Contact Senator Jeff Klein's office at 718-822-2049

Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj's Immigration Forum on October 21

Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj's Forum i Emigracionit

Bashkohuni me ne  për një panel të hapur të diskutimeve për udhëzimet të emigracionit e mërkurë, 21 tetor 2015 6:00 pm deri 8:30 pm Bronx House 990 Pelham Parkway South Bronx, N.Y. 10461 Për më shumë informacione, ju lutem kontaktoni Lilyanna Pekic në (718) 409-0109  ose email lpekic.nysa@gmail.com

'100 PERCENT' OCTOBER 15,2015

100 PERCENT

By Robert Press

The Demise of the Bronx News

   

     By looking at the headline you may be asking yourself, why is he writing about the demise of the Bronx News when this column appears in the Bronx News? Well my dear readers after over 7 years of a happy union of the Bronx News and myself the owner of the Bronx News has decided to move the paper in another direction. That being one of getting away from giving you the news and information of the Bronx to one of meeting advertising commitments by printing something that resembles a shell of what the Bronx News once was, and probably folding the Bronx News as was done with the Parkchester News. This column has not appeared in the Bronx News for the past two weeks, and the editor of the Bronx News Mr. Dan Gesslein was fired last week without notice. The column 100 PERCENT will be appearing on this blog until a new home (which is in the works) is found. It will be the same column that will pull no punches, and tell it as it has for the past 7 years. Now on with the column.

     After the second of two infants was thrown from a different Bronx building by their mothers to their deaths the question of the day has to be "What are you waiting for Mayor Bill de Blasio", an epidemic of infant deaths as was the case in the Legionnaires Disease outbreak where it took 10 deaths for the city to act to correct the problem. One death is one to many, where is ACS on the matter. 

    Another item in the news is that the city wants to have the police force handcuff suspects in the front instead of the back as part of the 'Revision of the Patrol Guide regarding the use of Force'. For the last 100 years suspects have always been handcuffed in the rear, except for the time reported where a suspect was handcuffed in the front in a Queens Police precinct. The result was that the suspect was able to get his hands on a gun and shoot two officers. Is this new handcuff policy better policing, politics, or lunacy?

    You can check this blog archive for a report on the 'Dirty Dozen' buildings by State Senator Jeff Klein. It seems that government subsidised buildings are the worst offenders of mold and pest violations with the Bronx having more than its fair share. Also check the archive section for the latest listing of events being presented by the Bronx Chamber of Commerce. The Bronx Democratic County organization which for a fundraiser for Bronx District Attorney candidate Darcel Clark at Maestro's Caterers on Monday October 19th from 6 - 8 PM. Ms. Clark's position paper appears on this blog, and you can join her and the Bronx Democratic County organization Monday night. Go through the archive section to find out many different events that are going on all over the Bronx including next Sunday's Tour De Bronx. Click on the posting to find out how you can register to participate in the Tour De Bronx. There are two different bike rides available the 25 mile tour around parts of the Bronx, or the full 40 mile ride around the entire borough of the Bronx. 

     Finally, I would like to answer Mr. Mike Nieves from a City and State item where he is quoted. It seems the story I wrote that former 80th Assemblywoman Naomi Rivera now a resident in the 78th A.D. could be in line for a possible run for her fathers seat was picked up by City and State. Mr. Nieves has been Assemblyman Jose Rivera's campaign manager for many years now, and he is quoted as saying that the elder Rivera has no plans to retire, and that whoever is spreading the rumor that she will replace her father is a jerk who should call him. Well Mr. Nieves I am that so called Jerk you are talking about, and Assemblyman Jose Rivera told me that his daughter Naomi Rivera was living with him in Fordham Hill and not in another apartment in Fordham Hill I had mentioned. By the way Mike, what then is the address of Ms. Naomi Rivera? I have a petition when she ran for the 80th Assembly seat with the address of 601 Pelham Parkway North. 601 Pelham Parkway North is now in the 78th A.D. and no longer in the 80th A.D. Will wonders never end Mr. Nieves, and by the way check your voice mail because the mailbox is full so I could not call you as you suggested. Who feels like a Jerk now Mike?

     If you have any political information that you want to share or have checked out, any comments about this column, or would like to have an event listed or covered in this column or on my blog you can e-mail us at 100percentbronxnews@gmail.com or call 718-644-4199 Mr. Robert Press.