Wednesday, September 21, 2016

CB 7 District Manager Keeps Job for at Least 28 Days



   A motion is being read to fire the current Community Board 7 District Manager Andrew Sandler. This was the result of an Executive Board meeting of CB 7 which resulted in a 9 - 1 vote to place this resolution on the calendar for the September full board meeting. 
  As the motion was read there was a motion to go into Executive Session to discuss the matter further. The public meaning all non board members including the DM and CB 7 staffer were asked to leave until this Executive Session was done. 
   While Councilman Andrew Cohen and other City Council members who suggest membership to this board are Ex-Officio members of the Community Board since it is a city agency three other non board members were allowed to stay in the room. Mr. Tom Lucania of the Borough Presidents office, Mr. Greg Faulkner of Councilman Cabrera's office, and Assemblyman Jose Rivera.
    The outcome of the hour long Executive Session led to a motion to table the original motion to let go of the District Manager. Another motion was put forth to extend the probation of DM Sandler until the next full board meeting (in 28 days), and to have Mr. Lucania as a mentor and for the DM to attend professional development at a cost of over $1,500.00 to the board.
   There have been three different District Managers at CB 7 in the past few years since longtime DM Rite Kessler was let go.



City & State Bronx Borough Series Reception


 It was at the Hard Rock Cafe in Yankee Stadium, called 'The Bronx at Bat', and hosted by City & State Editor at Large Mr. Gerson Borrero. There was a dynamic view of how the Bronx has changed under the past eight-plus years of Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., and Mr. Borrero who had been a critic when Diaz Jr. first came into office gave the BP his credit that was due. There were speakers who said how they felt the Bronx had become a better place to live or work in, but BP Diaz Jr. said it best by asking 'Look at the Bronx then and Now'. The BP spoke for over ten minutes about his accomplishments as BP, and the even more good he wants to do for the Bronx in the future. Please excuse the photos, as the lighting was not conducive to photography.


Above _ City & State Editor at Large Gerson Borrero welcomes the audience to the 'Bronx at Bat' edition of City & State magazine.
Below - Bronx BP Ruben Diaz Jr. waits to be called up to speak. Assemblymen Jeffrey Dinowitz and Marcos Crespo are with the BP.




You can see how Editor at Large Borrero is listening to every word that Bronx BP Ruben Diaz Jr. is saying.

SENATOR KLEIN HOSTS BACK TO SCHOOL CELEBRATIONS AND SCHOOL SUPPLY GIVEAWAYS


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State Senator Jeff Klein hosted a series of back to school celebrations and school supply giveaways.   Families gathered to enjoy the festivities and celebrate the start of the academic year.  The events featured face-painting, a bouncy house, arts and crafts, music and food. Local school children received school bags filled with supplies.
“I am thrilled to host these back to school celebrations and provide our future leaders with the tools needed for a successful academic year. I am thankful to the participating parents, community leaders, and faculty who demonstrate an unwavering commitment to our children and contribute to their scholastic success and well-being,” said Senator Klein.
Senator Klein on Sunday hosted a celebration at St. Frances de Chantal School.
“What a wonderful ‘Back to School Event’on Sunday, September 18th. Thank you, Senator Klein, for bringing a great day of fun, food and school supplies for the children of St. Frances de Chantal School,” said Grace Lucie, Principal at Saint Frances de Chantal School.
Last week, Senator Klein also held an event at Clason Point Gardens and Sack Wern Houses.

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

NYC’S FIRST MAJOR PARKS EQUITY INITIATIVE ADDS NINE NEW SITES FOR RECONSTRUCTION


Community Parks Initiative Expands While Inaugural 35 Sites Break Ground


  Mayor Bill de Blasio and Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP, announced the addition of nine new parks to the portfolio of sites in line to receive full reconstruction through the Community Parks Initiative (CPI) – a citywide program launched in 2014 improving historically under-funded parks in densely populated and growing neighborhoods with higher-than-average concentrations of poverty. Through Mayoral funding, CPI is investing $285 million in capital dollars – along with a sustained annual commitment of more than $2.5 million in expense funding – to improve neighborhoods’ quality of life by revitalizing more than 60 smaller community parks that have not undergone significant improvements in decades.

The Community Parks Initiative is NYC Parks' first major equity initiative and part of oneNYC, the mayor’s plan for a just and strong New York City. After its 2014 launch, CPI funding was doubled by the Mayor in 2015.

“At its core, the Community Parks Initiative is about making good on our promise of a strong, equitable city, giving once-overlooked neighborhood parks the resources they need to become true focal points of community life,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “With more than 60 parks receiving full transformations – and targeted improvements and enhanced programming in more than 100 additional sites – CPI is a sustained commitment to high quality parks that serve all New Yorkers.”

“All around the city, parks act as meeting spaces that serve a variety of needs in our communities,” said City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito. “The Community Parks Initiative targets the most underfunded parks to ensure that they are reinvigorated, and better equipped to offer their local residents a safe, clean and welcoming place to gather and play. For those in my own district, Playground 134 will become a revitalized neighborhood hub. I commend Mayor de Blasio and Parks Commissioner Silver for their work on bringing improved park space to New Yorkers across the city.”

“For health, for relaxation, and for happiness, great neighborhoods need the great neighborhood spaces the Community Parks Initiative creates” said Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP. “This is why CPI is not only an investment in parks – it’s an investment in the wellbeing of millions of New Yorkers for generations to come.”

The following nine parks have been identified for the 2017 CPI site expansion:

Bronx
·         Garrison Playground
·         Playground 174
·         Playground 134
·         Plimpton Playground

Brooklyn
·         La Guardia Playground
·         Weeksville Playground

Manhattan
·         Abraham Lincoln Playground
·         Audubon Playground

Queens
·         Almeda Playground

Since Mayor de Blasio and Parks Commissioner Silver committed to create a more equitable park system at the 2014 CPI launch, neighborhoods across the city have benefitted from immediate, high impact improvements—47 parks have begun the overall capital reconstruction process on time and on budget. The inaugural 35 CPI sites have completed design and have begun breaking ground for construction across the five boroughs; most recently DeMatti Playground and Arrochar Playground in Staten Island. The 12 parks announced in 2015 are in design, with final designs expected in spring 2017. In addition to the nine new sites announced, more parks will be added next year.

CPI also includes ongoing Targeted Improvements – high-impact, fast-action enhancements such as new pavements for basketball courts, new plantings, and aesthetic improvements. Since 2014, 85 CPI neighborhood playgrounds have been identified for these improvements; 60 completed in 2015, and 25 are on track for completion this fall. Last year’s additional funding also allows the Targeted Improvements program to continue, with 25 additional sites to be completed over the next 12 months.

In addition to CPI’s capital investment in neighborhood parks, the initiative has an impact on these neighborhoods through community partnership building, park programming, enhanced sustainability, and operating support. Through funding from the City Council, The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and NYC Housing Preservation & Development (HPD); in-kind donations from park conservancies; and community engagement — through partners including City Parks Foundation, New York Road Runners, the Public Theater, the Uni Project and El Museo del Barrio — resources are allocated across critical categories including community outreach, recreational programming, green infrastructure, and park maintenance.

“New Yorkers in every neighborhood deserve first-rate local parks and playgrounds,” said Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer. “I’m pleased that through this initiative, two additional playgrounds in Harlem and Washington Heights will be transformed, and I look forward to seeing gleaming new play equipment and landscaping at these playgrounds soon.”

Congressman Jose E. Serrano stated: “As a longtime advocate and champion of expanding access to green spaces in urban areas, I’m glad that Mayor de Blasio has decided to expand the Parks Equity initiative and invest millions more in the reconstruction of dozens of small community parks in neglected neighborhoods, including 4 in the Bronx. Thanks to this effort, Bronxites will be able to enjoy a better quality of life by having access to more recreational areas where they can relax with family, friends or by themselves.

State Senator Jose M. Serrano stated: “Our local parks and playgrounds provide a vital source for recreation while improving the health of our community. The reconstruction of Plimpton Playground, Garrison Playground, and Playground 134 will ensure a fun and healthy outlet for the youth in our neighborhoods. Many thanks to Mayor de Blasio and Parks Commissioner Silver for their commitment to our local green spaces." 

“The proposed upgrades for Plimpton Playground will enhance the park as a great escape for families living near Plimpton Avenue, West 172nd Street and Edward L. Grant Highway in my district,” said Assemblywoman Latoya Joyner (D-Bronx, 77th AD). “Now, with this investment from Mayor de Blasio and NYC Parks Commissioner Silver, the Community Parks Initiative will infuse Plimpton Playground and other similarly under-funded and overlooked neighborhood parks like it in the Bronx and across the City with much needed improvements that can help ensure families in our community are granted access to superb parks that are built to last for generations. These investments will improve the quality of life for my constituents and ensure the community has a say in what their local neighborhood park should look like.” 

"New York City’s small parks and playgrounds are the under-appreciated jewels of our park system. But too many have languished for decades without adequate upgrades and renovations--especially in our low- and moderate income neighborhoods,” said Council Member Mark Levine, Chair of the Committee on Parks. "The Community Parks Initiative has injected new life into dozens of these special places already, and I am thrilled that nine more parks will now be receiving similar investments.”

"I applaud the de Blasio administration for incorporating Playground 174 in my district through the Community Parks Initiative. For too long, parks domiciled in economically underserved communities have been overlooked, eventually transitioning into a perpetual state of disrepair. This initiative is an encouraging step in the right direction. I look forward to witnessing the constituents I represent partake in all of the forthcoming improvements," said Council Member Annabel Palma.


“I’m incredibly pleased to see such a commitment to making real investments into our parks and playgrounds, specifically the Garrison Playground in the South Bronx,” said Council Member Rafael Salamanca, Jr. “Often we forget what a difference quality greenspace makes to a community, particularly communities that struggle with high poverty, which is why today’s announcement is so important.”

EDITOR'S NOTE:
With the Manhattan Bororough President and several Bronx elected officials named, one has to wonder where is the name of Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

For additional information on the Community Parks Initiative, please visit nyc.gov/parks.

STATEMENT BY SENATOR JEFF KLEIN, ASSEMBLYMAN JEFFREY DINOWITZ & COUNCILMAN ANDREW COHEN ON THE VAN CORTLANDT MOTEL




   “A year ago the City promised not to transform the Van Cortlandt Motel into a homeless shelter — and then they did. Six months ago, when the community learned of the secret men’s shelter inside of the motel, the City promised to forgo the motel’s use as a shelter by September. Today, we’ve learned that the city is moving the men out to make way for a family shelter. This is simply another case of broken promises, lies and a severe lack of transparency. Communities must voice their opinions when shelters come into neighborhoods and the opaque siting process must end.  The legislature must pass Senator Klein’s commonsense homeless shelter siting legislation to empower communities by giving them a say to prevent this from happening over and over again.”

Croton Facility Monitoring Committee Meeting (CFMC) - Agenda - Thursday, September 29, 2016


Agenda

Croton Facility Monitoring Committee Meeting (CFMC)

Thursday, September 29, 2016 – 6:30 PM

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



I  Welcome, Call Meeting to Order
Dan Padernacht, Chair


II Consider, Adopt September 29 CFMC Agenda -
CFMC Representatives


III Consider, Adopt Minutes from June 15, 2016 Meeting
      CFMC Representatives


IV Jerome Park Reservoir Task Force Report
Bill Hall & Task Force on Public Access

V  Future Construction at Jerome Park Reservoir
Vincent Sapienza, Commissioner DEP
VI Croton Costs Report & Construction Update
Bernard Daly, DEP

VII Old Business CFMC Representatives, & Public


VIII New Business CFMC Representatives, & Public


IX Adjourn