Pelham Parkway Neighborhood Association Meeting

Tuesday Night April 9th was the monthly meeting of the Pelham Parkway Neighborhood Association. Pictured above are (R - L) PPNA President Edith Blitzer, PPNa Treasurer Steven Glosser, and guest speaker Hazel Miura Director of Housing and Community Development for Neighborhood Initiatives Development Corporation. 

Ms. Miura spoke about tenant rights, rent laws due to expire in June, and what the state legislature is trying to do to strengthen the current rent laws that are on the books. 

Health Fair Saturday at IS 192

  After the rain stopped and the ground dried up the play yard at IS 192 became an informational yard with many tables set up for a Health Fair. Various health providers such as Montefiore Hospital were present as well as several other organizations and groups with advice or free gifts for the public to have. 

Above - There was allergy testing available to see if you were allergic to any one of many things people are allergic to. 

Below - Effie Ardizzone, Bronx Borough Coordinator for the NYC Department of Environmental Protection Department is joined by Christian Amato of State Senator Alessandria  Biaggi's office.

Councilman Mark Gjonaj Holds Prom Dress Giveaway

  There were some very fancy Prom dresses available to young ladies to have for free at Friday's Prom Dress Giveaway by Councilman Mark Gjonaj. One young lady who came with her girl friend said that she already had a dress for her prom which she bought online for $850.00 dollars. 

  Young ladies came in with several choosing the Prom Dress they liked. There was an office that was turned into a fitting room so the dresses could be tried on. Also several accessories that included shoes, jewelry, and other items a girl needs for the prom that were also given away by Councilman Gjonaj. 

  Councilman Gjonaj with some of the young ladies who came in to pick a Prom Dress, and one of his staffers who helped the young ladies, and even donated the Prom Dress she wore for the event 

Councilman Ruben Diaz Sr. Announces his Candidacy For Congress

In a letter given out at the Hispanic Clergy of New York meeting Saturday Councilman Ruben Diaz Sr. announced his candidacy for the Congressional seat of Jose Serrano in 2020. The letter written in Spanish is below as hundreds of people gathered for the luncheon cheered loudly when Councilman Diaz Sr. announced that he would be running for Congress. 

Councilman Ruben Diaz Sr. now becomes the second announced candidate for the 15th Congressional District after current Congressman Jose Serrano announced that he would not be seeking re-election due to advancing Parkinson's Disease. It is expected several other candidates will announce that they are also running. With the new June primary that has placed all federal and state primaries together any NY State elected official would have to give up their current seat to run for congress. That fact may influence some current elected NY State officials not to run for the soon to be open 15th congressional seat.

IMPORTANT LEGISLATION PASSED IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS

A456 (Rosenthal L) requires the board of directors of residential cooperative corporations and not-for-profit corporations to provide tenants with changes to the by-laws in writing. This legislation renders the tenants with rights to be given notice of such changes.

A1148 (Gottfried) requires every general hospital to have a community advisory board. This legislation will allow for communities to establish their needs while also providing vital information and programs.

A3002 (Solages) requires each industrial development agency to live stream and post video recordings of all open meetings and public hearings. This legislation allows for constituents to view live streams and recordings at all times. Therefore, it increases transparency and allows for communication

with the whole community.

A3471 (Zebrowski) decreases the amount of alcohol in a person's system necessary to be considered to be intoxicated while hunting. This legislation makes it unlawful to be above the 0.8% BAC while hunting. It lowers the risk of any accidents while hunting and protects the people from harm due to intoxication.

A6188 (Lentol) protects the tenant with rights towards any kind of harassment and eliminates the need to prove a physical injury, therefore protecting victims of harassment.

A3077 (Gottfried) – simplifies the process by which physicians and other health care professionals are credentialed by health care plans and hospitals, as well as to standardize the referral forms that primary care physicians use to facilitate care for a patient by a specialist physician.

A2653A (Dinowitz) increases the applicability of the plain language law to consumer contracts involving amounts up to $250,000.

A4275 (DenDekker) authorizes a study that will review the rate of the fees and charges being assessed to residents of assisted living facilities. Residents of assisted living facilities should not have to worry about affording their stay in these facilities as a result of fees and charges.

  

Assemblywoman Fernandez stands in support of the NY Truth Act, that would require the release of NY income tax returns for statewide elected officials, including the President.

Assemblywoman Fernandez speaks in support of the SCAR Act, A1436A, which identifies where the children separated at our countries borders are, holding us accountable to bring families together.

Assemblywoman Fernandez allocated fund to our local libraries last year. The Allerton Branch used the funding for their new Kids Corner and Meet-the-Author program. Children attendance at the library has almost doubled since!

IMPORTANT RESOLUTION PASSED IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS

K216 (Joyner) memorializes April 2019 as Oral Cancer Awareness Month in the State of New York.

K221 (DeStefano) memorializes April 2019 as Bullying Prevention Month in the State of New York.

K230 (Lupardo) memorializes the week of April 7-13, 2019 as Crime Victims' Rights Week in the State of New York.

K234 (Barrett) memorializes proclaim March 29, 2019 as Vietnam Veterans' Day in the State of New York.

K235 (Rosenthal L) memorializes 8:30pm-9:30pm on Saturday, March 30, 2019, as Earth Hour in the State of New York.

Young Professionals Happy Hour

Friday, April 26th from 5-8pm at Lexa Bar and Grill (357 E.204th Street)

Join me and Senator Jamaal Bailey as we host a happy hour for Young Professionals. Come, meet, and network with like-minded people!

Prom Beyond Expo

Saturday, April 27th from 11am-4pm at North Central Hospital (3424 Kossuth Ave 17th floor)

We, alongside Lady Pamela Damon's Talitha Cumi Urban Etiquette & Leadership Academy and Senator Jamaal Bailey, are hosting a Prom Giveaway.

DISTRICT OFFICE
2018 Williamsbridge Road Bronx, NY 10461
(718) 409-0109

STATEMENT FROM MAYOR DE BLASIO ON PRESIDENT TRUMP’S THREAT TO RELEASE DETAINED UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS IN NEW YORK CITY

 

“President Trump has yet again proven that the only constant in his immigration policy is cruelty. He uses people like pawns. New York City will always be the ultimate city of immigrants – the President’s empty threats won’t change that.”

EDITOR'S NOTE:

  We thank Vice-Presidential candidate Bill de Blasio for his statement, but say "Bill de Blasio - Where are you?"

NYC Council Member Andy King Applauds Governor’s Comprehensive Agenda to Combat K2

  “At a time when there is so much conversation on the tolerance of substance use, I applaud Governor Cuomo for his aggressive, multi-agency and multifaceted initiative tackling the scourge of synthetic marijuana, or K2, in our great state," said Council Member Andy King (D-Bronx), who introduced a bill in the New York City Council last week to increase fines to business owners and landlords of establishments where K2 has been sold. “We are sending a clear message state- and city-wide that our communities will not be engulfed by illegal drug use and those who have profited from the sales.  The goal is to ensure that our families live in a safe and drug-free environment.”

Bronx Man Convicted Of Defacing African Burial Ground National Monument With Threatening Racial Slur

  Geoffrey S. Berman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that IVAN NIEVES was convicted of vandalism for defacing a sign on the grounds of the African Burial Ground National Monument by writing a threatening racial slur on it.  The conviction follows a bench trial before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang.

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “The protections of the First Amendment do not extend to defacing federal property.  Ivan Nieves was rightly found guilty today for defacing the African Burial Ground National Monument with racial slurs.”

According to the evidence presented during the trial: 

On the morning of November 1, 2018, NIEVES wrote “Kill N----rs” in large bold letters across the face of a signpost entitled “A Place of Remembrance” in front of the African Burial Ground National Monument, which is located at the corner of Duane Street and Elk Street in Manhattan.  The monument commemorates the skeletal remains of approximately 15,000 African slaves who built the early City of New York.  Those remains were discovered in 1991 buried 30 feet beneath the streets of the city across more than six acres in lower Manhattan.

NIEVES, 57, of the Bronx, New York, was convicted of one count of vandalism, which carries a maximum penalty of six months in prison.  NIEVES was acquitted of one count of disorderly conduct.  The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.  NIEVES is scheduled to be sentenced before Judge Wang on July 17, 2019, at 11:00 a.m.

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Protective Service, the New York City Police Department Hate Crimes Task Force, and the United States Park Police.  Mr. Berman also thanked the National Park Service for its dedication and assistance.