Wednesday, March 6, 2019

WOMEN.NYC: DE BLASIO ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES FOUR NEW MONUMENTS HONORING FEMALE LEADERS AS A PART OF SHE BUILT NYC INITIATIVE


With this announcement, there will be a She Built NYC monument in all five boroughs

  Today, First Lady Chirlane McCray and former Deputy Mayor Alicia Glen announced the next four monuments as a part of She Built NYC, an initiative to honor the trailblazing women who have helped shape New York City while addressing the absence of female statues in our public realm. These four women have made extraordinary contributions to society and were nominated by the public as part of an open call conducted last year. The monuments—which include Billie Holiday, Elizabeth Jennings Graham, Dr. Helen Rodríguez Trías, and Katherine Walker—mark a critical step towards creating a more dynamic, diverse, and inclusive collection of permanent public artwork across all five boroughs.

“We cannot tell the story of New York City without recognizing the invaluable contributions of the women who helped build and shape it,” said First Lady Chirlane McCray. “Public monuments should tell the full history and inspire us to realize our potential – not question our worth. In honoring these four trailblazers today, New Yorkers will have the opportunity to see powerful women who made history receive the recognition they deserve.”

“When we launched She Built NYC, we promised this would not be a ‘one and done,’” said former Deputy Mayor Alicia Glen. “Today’s announcement marks real action by the City of New York to ensure that our public realm exemplifies the diverse and accomplished women who make this city so great.”

The four new monuments will be placed throughout the five boroughs and will honor:

Billie Holiday near Queens Borough Hall (Queens)

Billie Holiday (born Eleanora Fagan Gough, 1915-1959) is one of the most celebrated jazz singers of all time. Her career helped to define the New York “swing sing” jazz scene and to challenge racial barriers.  One of the first black women to sing with a white orchestra, she struck out on her own to win fame with Strange Fruit, a powerful protest song about lynching, named by Time Magazine “the song of the century” (1999). Her career was recognized by four posthumous Grammys and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
       
A monument to Billie Holiday will be built in her home borough near Queens Borough Hall. Holiday lived in Addisleigh Park and later in Flushing.

Elizabeth Jennings Graham in the Vanderbilt Avenue Corridor near Grand Central Terminal (Manhattan)

Elizabeth Jennings Graham (1827–1901) challenged racial segregation a century before the modern Civil Rights movement. On July 16, 1854, the 27-year-old schoolteacher boarded a streetcar that did not accept African-Americans as passengers. When the conductor confronted her, she refused to leave until forcibly removed by the police. Graham used her education and connections in New York’s middle-class black community to publish an account of the incident and sue the Third Avenue Railroad Company, the conductor, and the driver. The judge ruled in her favor, holding that “a colored person… had the same rights as others.” In addition to winning $225 in damages, Jennings’s case took the first step toward ending transit segregation in New York. By 1860 all of the city's streetcar lines were open to African-Americans. In her later years, Jennings continued to teach, helping to found the first kindergarten in the city for black children.

A monument to Elizabeth Jennings Graham next to Grand Central Terminal, the city’s most iconic transit hub, highlights the interconnected history of civil rights and transportation in New York as well as the historic role of this important activist.

Dr. Helen Rodríguez Trías at St. Mary’s Park (Bronx)

Dr. Helen Rodríguez Trías (1929-2001) was a pioneer in pediatrics and public health. Over the course of her career, Dr. Rodríguez Trías focused on issues including reproductive rights and HIV/AIDS care and prevention; she did this work on behalf of women and children, especially those in poor and minority communities. She became the medical director of the New York State Department of Health’s AIDS Institute and the first Latinx director of the American Public Health Association (APHA).  Dr. Rodríguez Trías was a recipient of the Presidential Citizens Medal. Among her greatest legacies are shaping regulations that govern informed content for sterilizations and empowering low-income and minority women through the women’s health movement.
  
A monument to Dr. Rodriguez Trías in St. Mary’s Park, which is near Lincoln Hospital (today known as NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln), is fitting; Dr. Rodríguez Trías was the head of the hospital’s pediatrics department and advocated for better medical care for the communities of color that the institution served.

Katherine Walker at the Staten Island Ferry Landing (Staten Island)

Katherine Walker (1838-1941), the keeper of the Robbins Reef Lighthouse for nearly three decades, is credited with saving the lives of at least 50 people and maintaining the light that guided countless ships to safe passage through Kill Van Kull,  the shipping channel between Staten Island and Bayonne, New Jersey. One of the few female lighthouse keepers in American history, she broke barriers in a male-dominated field and raised her two children at the lighthouse, rowing them back and forth to attend school on Staten Island. Walker’s story sheds light on the largely untold history of women working in New York City’s thriving marine ecosystem. Her efforts contributed to the infrastructure of the shipping industry, which was the lifeblood of the city’s economy for centuries.

A monument to Katherine Walker at the Staten Island ferry landing celebrates her impact on the borough and on maritime life of the city.

"It's long past time we honor the great women who helped shape this city," said women.nyc Executive Director Faye Penn. "We are tremendously proud to be recognizing this diverse and dynamic set of women with monuments celebrating their accomplishments and thank the public for answering the call to help make us a fairer city for all women."

“The people and groups we celebrate in our public art should reflect the rich diversity and cultural history that has made New York City such an extraordinary place,” said Cultural Affairs Commissioner Tom Finkelpearl. “By honoring these four remarkable women New Yorkers, She Built NYC is taking important steps toward a fuller telling of our city’s dynamic story through public monuments. We look forward to the upcoming community engagement and artist selection processes, bringing New Yorkers together to help preserve these legacies and what they represent for generations to come.”

The four new monuments will be commissioned through the Department of Cultural Affairs’ Percent for Art process, which requires that one percent of the budget for eligible City-funded construction projects be spent on public artwork. This inclusive process builds community engagement and input into the artist selection and artwork design process. The construction of these monuments will be funded through the $10 million the Department of Cultural Affairs has committed over the next four years to commissioning new permanent public monuments and commemorations. 

Artist selection for each of these monuments will begin by the end of 2019, with artist selection concluding in the first half of 2020. The monuments will be built throughout 2021 and 2022.

The City will also work with the Museum of the City of New York to identify potential future monuments that honor groups of women. The Museum will use the recommendations of the She Built NYC selection committee, as well as the public nominations list, to research and comment on the appropriateness of various groupings of women from the list. The City will then use this research to inform future She Built NYC monuments.  

The announcement of these four monuments follows the City’s November 2018 announcement of Shirley Chisholm as the first She Built NYC commission. Chisholm, the first black woman to serve in Congress, will be honored with a monument at the Parkside entrance of Prospect Park in Brooklyn adjacent to the congressional district she proudly represented.

She Built NYC started with an open call asking the public to nominate women, groups of women, or events involving women that significantly impacted the history of New York City. Through the women.nyc website, the public submitted nearly 2,000 nominations. Ninety-eight percent of respondents said they would like to see a woman honored who was committed to social reform or justice. The most frequently used word in the submissions was “first,” followed by “leader” and then “advocate.” An advisory panel with individuals representing a broad range of expertise and backgrounds helped refine the public submissions list and provided recommendations to the City.

She Built NYC is an initiative of women.nyc, which was launched in May 2018 by First Lady Chirlane McCray and former Deputy Mayor Alicia Glen to ensure that New York remains the best city in the world for women to succeed.

The launch of She Built NYC followed a report issued by the Mayoral Advisory Commission on City Art, Monuments, and Markers in January 2018, which led Mayor de Blasio to order actions on a number of its recommendations. Most critically, the report called for adding more voices and broader representation to the City’s collection of public art to better reflect its diverse history.

Other efforts underway in response to the Monuments Commission report include “Beyond Sims,” which is commissioning new artwork for the former site of the J. Marion Sims statue along the edge of Central Park in East Harlem. The statue of Sims was removed in April 2018 following years of community advocacy.


Tuesday, March 5, 2019

Citywide Overall Crime Continues to Decline in February 2019




There were 736 Fewer Index Crimes in February 2019 Compared to February 2018
This February, New York City experienced 10.8% less index crime than in February 2018. Despite that reduction in overall crime, the NYPD will implement a five- point plan that takes aim at the increase in violent crime in several Patrol Boroughs throughout the City. This plan includes:
  1. Precision Deployments: Highly-focused distribution of additional uniformed personnel will occur in four initial commands based on a thorough analysis of crime conditions. These conditions will be reassessed each week and adjustments will be made accordingly.
  2. Strengthen Gun Prosecutions: Working closely with the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office on ensuring strong gun prosecutions.
  3. Expansion of CeaseFire Program: The program in which violent crime is combatted by providing interventions to known gang members will now occur in additional areas of Brooklyn and the Bronx.
  4. Launch Re-EntryStat: Re-EntryStat: will marshal the resources of parole, probation, district attorneys and other partner agencies to ensure resources are provided to individuals re-entering the community from the prison system.
  5. Domestic Violence Gun Investigations: Intensive investigations by members of the Intelligence Bureau partnered with Domestic Violence Officers in any domestic violence case involving a firearm.
"New York City has seen massive overall reductions over the years and I'm proud of the work our members on the ground do to continually focus – very precisely – on the real drivers of crime," said Police Commissioner James P. O'Neill. "Through the next iteration of Neighborhood Policing, we are bringing together fellow city agencies, elected officials and neighborhood leaders to build trust, strengthen relationships and take action together to further drive down crime and violence."
"With crime at a record low in New York City, there is still more work to do to ensure that every New Yorker feels safe in their neighborhood," said Mayor de Blasio. "I have full confidence that the NYPD will stop this recent surge in its tracks and make our City safer."
“I am committed to expanding the gains in public safety that we achieved over the last few years and to addressing any change in homicides. We will enhance cooperation with the NYPD and expand partnerships with community groups and violence interrupters, among other proactive approaches, to make sure that the historic lows are maintained. I am encouraged by the overall reduction in major crime categories and confident that the steps announced today will help us stem any pockets of violence. I am resolved to continue to keep everyone in Brooklyn safe and strengthen community trust,” said Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez.
Additional uniformed personnel will be deployed in the 34th, 43rd, 79th, and 113th Precincts. In each command, eight additional officers will be strategically deployed at high-visibility locations at critical times, based upon continuous CompStat analysis. The Strategic Response Group will also provide an additional layer of resources and visibility in these commands. The Warrants Section, working closely with the Detective Bureau, will focus efforts on apprehending top offenders and violent criminals with open warrants. Each of these commands will be evaluated on a weekly basis.
To combat an increase in homicides centered in Brooklyn, the Department will further enhance its strong working relationship with prosecutors in the office of Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez. Top NYPD executives in partnership with the Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice will work collaboratively to ensure that those who illegally carry or commit crimes with firearms will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
In order to provide young people an alternative to gangs and to prevent retaliatory violence, the CeaseFire program will expand in the 60th and 70th Precincts in Brooklyn as well as Police Service Area (PSA) 1. CeaseFire will also expand to the 43rd and 48th Precincts in the Bronx.
The NYPD is also launching a new program, Re-EntryStat, which will closely monitor and analyze the resources provided to people who are re-entering their communities upon release from prison. The goal will be to ensure that they do not go on to become the victim of a crime or commit crimes.
A review of domestic incidents from the calendar year 2018 shows there were 27 shooting incidents and 19 homicides by gun. As a result, a pilot program was launched in which the Intelligence Bureau and command-level Field Intelligence and Domestic Violence Officers conduct intensive investigations in each domestic violence case where a firearm is used or access to a firearm is suspected. Thus far, 56 firearms have been recovered under this pilot program. In 2019 year-to-date, there has not been a domestic violence homicide by gun.
Key highlights from this month's crime statistics include:
  • A -10.8% reduction in index crime in February 2019 (6,056), compared to February 2018 (6,792).
  • Transit crime up 5.6% in February 2019 compared to February 2018.
  • Housing crime up 4% in February 2019 compared to February 2018.
  • Robberies, felony assaults, burglaries, grand larceny and grand larceny auto are all down -8.0%, -9.9%, -16.4%, -12.5% and -3.3% in February 2019 compared to February 2018, respectively.

Statistics on Index Crimes 2018-2019

  Feb. 2019 Feb. 2018 Change +/-% Year-to-Date 2019 Year-to-Date 2018 Change +/-%
Murder 24 16 8 -50.00% 52 38 14 36.80%
Rape 133 122 11 9.00% 285 240 45 18.80%
Robbery 866 941 -75 -8.00% 1801 2088 -287 -7.90%
Felony Assault 1240 1376 -136 -9.90% 2682 2913 -230 -7.90%
Burglary 715 855 -140 -16.40% 1616 1860 -244 -13.10%
Grand Larceny 2754 3147 -393 -12.50% 6085 6543 -458 -7.00%
G.L.A. 324 335 -11 -3.30% 673 748 -75 -10.00%
TOTAL 6056 6792 -736 -10.80% 13195 14430 -1235 -8.60%

Additional Statistics on Crimes 2017-2018


Feb. 2019 Feb. 2018 Change +/-% Year-to-Date 2019 Year-to-Date 2018 Change +/-%
Transit 189 179 10 5.60% 387 378 9 -2.40%
Housing 341 328 13 4.00% 705 729 -24 -3.30%
Shooting Incidents 42 36 6 16.70% 93 95 -2 -2.10%

February Rape Breakdowns

CompStat Year Count Occurred Same Year Occurred Previous Year Occurred 2 Years Prior Occurred 3 Years Prior Occurred 4 Years Prior Occurred 5+ Years Prior
2019 133 96 24 1 3 1 8
2018 122 83 17 7 1 1 13
2017 88 66 14 2 0 1 5
2016 109 79 16 4 2 1 7
2015 80 56 14 2 1 2 5
2014 89 65 12 5 3 0 4

Note: All crime statistics are preliminary and subject to further analysis, revisions, or change.

EDITOR'S NOTE:
The 43rd precinct has been designated by the NYPD as one of the four precincts where crime has spiked the most. Eight officers will be reassigned to the 43rd precinct from other Bronx precincts. 

By doing that the NYPD will only move crime from one precinct to other Bronx precincts. The real problem is that the manpower at the precinct level has not kept up with the attrition level. Any new officers are replacing officers who have retired or were reassigned to other duties. There has been nio net gain in officers at the precinct level, and according to several precinct commanders there has been a decrease in the number of officers at the precinct level. 

Five Defendants Charged With Murder In Aid Of Racketeering And Other Crimes


  Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Angel M. Melendez, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), and James P. O’Neill, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced the unsealing of superseding federal indictments charging RICHARD DRAYTON, a/k/a “Rad,” FRANKIE REYES, a/k/a “Biscuit,” ALFREDO RODRIGUEZ, a/k/a “Fetti,” TEVIN MABLE, a/k/a “Tot,” and JORGE IRIZARRY, a/k/a “Gito,” with gang-related crimes, including the March 13, 2015, murder of Johnathan Martinez, 18, in the Bronx, New York.

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman said:  “As alleged, the defendants were members of a violent gang who killed a young man from their neighborhood in a pointless, gang-related dispute.  We thank HSI and the NYPD for their outstanding work investigating this terrible murder.  We will continue our efforts with our law enforcement partners to prevent such senseless acts of violence.”
HSI Special Agent in Charge Angel M. Melendez said:  “As alleged, the individuals charged are members of the Crips gang who gunned down an 18-year-old man in the Bronx to bolster their street credibility.  For this alleged violent crime, if convicted, they could face life sentences that would put an end to their racketeering and murderous ways.  HSI remains committed to working alongside NYPD’s Bronx Violent Crime Squad.”
NYPD Commissioner James P. O’Neill said:  “The ability of investigators to bring about justice for this young man and provide a sense of closure to his loved ones is paramount.  The identification and arrest of these defendants was a team effort that would not have been possible without the close partnership that exists between the NYPD and our law-enforcement partners.  I thank and commend the NYPD investigators, the Southern District of New York, and Homeland Security Investigations for their relentless work in this case.”
According to the Indictment[1]
DRAYTON, REYES, RODRIGUEZ, MABLE, and IRIZARRY were members of the “Wild Card” set of the Crips gang.  The defendants sold drugs and used guns to further the aims of the Wild Cards.  On March 13, 2015, the defendants took part in the shooting murder of Johnathan Martinez in order to maintain and increase their reputation in the Wild Cards.
IRIZARRY, 25, of the Bronx, New York, was arrested on March 2, 2019, near Ocala, Florida.  He was presented in federal court in the Middle District of Florida earlier today, and will be transported to the Southern District of New York to face charges.  MABLE, 26, of the Bronx, New York, was arrested on February 28, 2019, near Kinston, North Carolina.  He was presented in federal court in the Eastern District of North Carolina, and will also be transported to the Southern District of New York to face charges.  DRAYTON, 43, of the Bronx, New York, was arrested in the Bronx on Friday, February 22, 2019, and presented in this District before United States Magistrate Judge Ona Wang the same day.  REYES, 24, and RODRIGUEZ, 27, both of the Bronx, New York, were already in federal custody on other charges. This case is assigned to United States District Judge Loretta A. Preska.
Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the NYPD’s Bronx Violent Crime Squad and HSI’s Violent Gang Unit.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proved guilty.
Charts containing the names, charges, and maximum penalties for the defendants are set forth below.  The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.
COUNT
DEFENDANT(S)
MAX. TERM OF IMPRISONMENT
Count One: Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering
(18 U.S.C. § 1962(d))
Richard Drayton

Frankie Reyes

Alfredo Rodriguez

Tevin Mable

Jorge Irizarry

Life Imprisonment
Count Two: Murder in Aid of Racketeering
(18 U.S.C. § 1959(a)(1))

Richard Drayton

Frankie Reyes

Alfredo Rodriguez

Tevin Mable

Jorge Irizarry

Mandatory Minimum Sentence of Death or Life Imprisonment

Count Three: Use of a Firearm to Commit Murder (18 U.S.C. § 924(j)(1))

Richard Drayton

Frankie Reyes

Alfredo Rodriguez

Tevin Mable

Jorge Irizarry

Death or Life Imprisonment; Mandatory Minimum Sentence of 5 Years

Count Four: Use and Discharge of Firearms in Furtherance of Racketeering Conspiracy (18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(iii))

Richard Drayton

Frankie Reyes

Alfredo Rodriguez

Jorge Irizarry
Life Imprisonment; Mandatory Minimum Sentence of 10 Years

Count Five: Conspiracy to Distribute Narcotics (21 U.S.C. §§ 846 and 841(b)(1)(A))
Richard Drayton

Frankie Reyes

Jorge Irizarry

Tevin Mable

Life Imprisonment; Mandatory Minimum Sentence of 10 Years

Count Six: Use and Discharge of Firearms in Furtherance of Narcotics Conspiracy (18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(iii))
Richard Drayton

Frankie Reyes

Jorge Irizarry

Tevin Mable
Life Imprisonment; Mandatory Minimum Sentence of 10 Years


[1]
 As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the descriptions of the Indictment constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

DOI ISSUES CALENDAR YEAREND 2018 STATISTICS


   MARGARET GARNETT, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation (“DOI”), announced the agency’s statistics for Calendar Yearend (“CY”) 2018, which showed steady outcomes in several areas, specifically, arrests, current and closed investigations, and policy and procedure recommendations. In CY 2018:

DOI made 720 arrests, comparable to CY 2017, when DOI’s investigations resulted in 738 arrests. 

There were more than 15,000 complaints to DOI in CY 2018, an increase from 12,440 in CY 2017.  

DOI had approximately 2,073 investigations on its docket in CY 2018, similar to the previous calendar year, when it had 2,023. 

DOI closed 1,439 investigations in CY 2018, as compared to 1,344 closed investigations in CY 2017. 

DOI issued an estimated 1,871 policy and procedure recommendations in CY 2018, an increase from the 1,118 the agency issued in CY 2017.

“Numbers are important as an introduction to the larger story of this agency,” said DOI Commissioner Margaret Garnett. “But numbers should not be viewed in isolation and must be understood in the context of the types of investigations, arrests and reforms that result from DOI’s work. Holding public officials and City agencies accountable; finding and fixing problems that impair the City’s ability to be effective; protecting public funds and the safety of New Yorkers: these are the tangible results of DOI’s work and the meaningful outcomes that make these statistics matter. I commend the staff at DOI for their hard work in 2018.”

Some highlights of DOI cases from 2018 include:

A former Brooklyn Assemblywoman was charged, pleaded guilty, and sentenced to prison for multiple fraud schemes and witness tampering. DOI worked with the office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) on the investigation. 

The arrest of 17 certified asbestos investigators on charges of filing documents that falsely stated planned construction at dozens of properties in Manhattan and Staten Island would not disturb asbestos. DOI worked with the District Attorney offices for Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island, as well as the City Department of Environmental Protection (“DEP”). The investigation resulted from concerns brought to DOI by DEP asbestos enforcement staff. Separately, DOI worked with the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office on an investigation that led to the indictment of five people and two businesses in connection with the illegal renovation of four properties in the borough, allegedly conspiring to bypass safety protocols, including asbestos abatement, using forged documents and falsifying business records to maximize profits. 

A year-long investigation that found the Police Department’s Special Victims Division (“SVD”), which investigates cases involving sexual assaults, was understaffed and under-resourced. Following this investigation, the Police Department added over 60 new investigators to the SVD squads that investigate adult sex-crimes. Upgrades to current SVD facilities are underway and new facilities are being planned. And the prioritization of stranger rape over acquaintance rape has ended.

A joint investigation with the Manhattan District Attorney and other law enforcement partners resulted in the indictment of 13 individuals and nine companies on charges of engaging in three separate schemes that involved bribery, business fraud and misrepresentations about political campaign contributions. The investigation also revealed how a City employee and contractors corrupted the integrity of the City’s procurement and minority business enterprise program. Read DOI’s report on the investigation.

DOI continued its focus on rooting out contraband smuggling and other corruption from the City’s jails, making a dozen separate arrests of Correction Officers and other City Department of Correction personnel on contraband, assault, false filing and other charges. In December 2018, DOI was part of the joint investigation that resulted in the indictment of 29 alleged Mac Balla gang members and associates on crimes that included attempted murder, assault and smuggling scalpels into jails. 

A DOI investigation found that the City Department of Homeless Services (“DHS”) did not adequately screen for criminality before placing homeless families with children at commercial hotels. The investigation led DOI to issue recommendations that called for strengthening DHS protocols for vetting potential hotel sites and mitigate risks associated with ongoing criminal activity.

Criminal complaints and indictments are accusations. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Monday, March 4, 2019

YGT 2019 Youth Talent Event Information

AUDITIONS:
For Youth Ages 5 y/o - 25 y/o
Youth Gifted & Talented: “Stirring Up The Gifts”  
(previously called Youth Got Talent: “Stirring Up The Gifts”)
Competition & Show (May 2019 event)
March 23rd (Sat)
10am-12pm @ Claremont Neighborhood Center Upstairs                                 489 E. 169th Street (off Third Ave) Bronx, NY 10456 Bus #15 exit E. 169th St
~ or ~ 2pm-4pm @ GMBC- (See Address Below)
April 9th (Tues)
6pm-8pm @ GMBC- (See Address Below)

Event (Target Date May 4, 2019) By
The Youth of Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church (GMBC)
& Their Adult Supporters
YGT Committee of Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church
771 Fairmount Place (corner of Prospect Ave) ׀ Bronx, NY  10460
Rev. Torrence Robinson, Pastor

Calling Solo and Group Performers
Vocalists, Rappers, Poets; Instrumentalists; Dancers, Steppers; Mimes, Pantomimes; Actors/Actresses, other performances. Also screening for Models.
ACT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE GOSPEL BUT “KEEP IT CLEAN”.                       PERSONS UNDER AGE 18 y/o MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY THEIR PARENT/ GUARDIAN or ANOTHER AUTHORIZED ADULT IN ORDER TO AUDITION.

Entry Categories:
I.    Perform as CONTESTANT Chance to win prize 1st Place $500, 2nd Place $250, 3rd Place $100.
II.  Perform as SUPPORT/GUEST/NON-CONTESTANT - NOT considered for the prize.
III. Model Fashion Wear (SUPPORT/GUEST/NON-CONTESTANT) NOT considered for the prize.      
       Models deadline March 12th (Arrive 6pm-7pm @ GMBC 771 Fairmount Pl)
Youth age 5 -25 y/o who would like to participate as a Contestant (for chance to win prize) or Non-Contestant must first be auditioned. If interested, request information to preregister for audition: send email to ygtcompetition@gmail.com
Location for Audition:  
GMBC 771 Fairmount Place (at corner of Fairmount Pl & Prospect Ave), Bronx NY 10460
Bus #40/#42 exit E. Tremont Ave & Prospect Ave (walk 2 blocks off E. Tremont Ave & Prospect Ave to Fairmount Pl).  Bus #17 exit E. 175th/176th Crotona Ave (walk approx. 5 mins off Crotona Ave to Prospect Ave, then
1 block from E. 176th to Fairmount Pl /Prospect Ave).
More Info available at (917) 226-7960

MAYOR DE BLASIO AND SPEAKER JOHNSON ANNOUNCE EXPANSION OF FAIR FARES PROGRAM


City formally launching digital advertising campaign to reach more eligible New Yorkers

  Mayor de Blasio and City Council Speaker Johnson today announced plans to expand the Fair Fares program, an unprecedented City effort to address poverty through the development of a half-priced MetroCard program for low-income New Yorkers.

Starting this fall, the City will expand the program to eligible New Yorkers in NYCHA, enrolled students at CUNY and military veterans below 100 percent of poverty line.

“We’re doing all we can to help low-income riders get around in a city that can be very difficult to afford. We think this program will go a long way toward making our city even fairer and we’re excited to expand this unprecedented initiative to more New Yorkers,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio.

“Fair Fares is a landmark program for New York City, helping the many New Yorkers who truly need it most. No New Yorker should have to choose between a swipe and a meal. Fair Fares is an example of our City’s commitment to providing equal opportunity for all. I am excited we are starting the outreach program, which will enable us to expand Fair Fares and help as many New Yorkers as possible. I thank Mayor de Blasio, my Council colleagues, and especially the tireless advocates for their support in making Fair Fares a reality for low-income New Yorkers and their families,” said Speaker Corey Johnson.

“We want a city where everyone, regardless of economic status, has the opportunity to thrive — including being able to get to important appointments, such as seeing a doctor or attending a job interview. This expansion shows our commitment to that vision. We will continue to work with the City Council to strengthen our Fair Fares program and to making New York City the fairest city in America,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Dr Herminia Palacio.

In January 2020, City plans to launch an open enrollment process for all eligible New Yorkers at or below the Federal Poverty line who don’t have discounted transportation from the MTA or the City. Those who were previously enrolled in the program and are still eligible will be able to recertify and receive the benefit again. All other eligible applicants will be able to apply through an online platform.

The City is also pleased to announce the pay-per-ride option is launching ahead of schedule and will be available as an option mid-March.

As part of our efforts to reach more eligible New Yorkers, the City will also be formally launching a three month targeted online advertising campaign in March. Advertisements will appear across social media platforms and Google keyword searches, targeting the top 25 NYC zip codes where there are large numbers of eligible individuals to raise awareness of the Fair Fares program.

The City launched the first phase of the program in January. The Department of Social Services has been conducting outreach to over 45,000 eligible working New Yorkers who are receiving cash assistance and/or SNAP benefits. The City sent notifications, and subsequent telephone calls, to inform this first group of their eligibility and invite them to visit the nearest Fair Fares NYC location to receive their half-priced MetroCard. Eligible recipients can also call 311 to assist in receiving their card. The City is poised to launch its online platform for eligible cash assistance and SNAP recipients in April.

Last spring, the Mayor and Council announced a plan to fund $106 million for the Fair Fares NYC program in the first year. Funding for further expansion of the Fair Fares program will be subject to budget discussions.