Senator Klein, Assemblyman Sepulveda Host First Annual Three Kings Event

   State Senate Co-Leader Jeff  Klein and Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda hosted their first annual Three Kings event celebration at Melcher Hall at the Church of Holy Family on Saturday. For many who celebrate Christmas, Three Kings Day marks the official end of the Christmas season. The event featured a musical performance, nativity scene, sweet treats and gift giving. Over 70 children were on hand to help celebrate.

From left to right, District Leader Julia Rodriguez, two of the Three Kings, Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda, one of the Three Kings and State Senator Jeff Klein, pictured with children after the gift-giving portion of the event.

Alex Rodriguez Suspended for 162 Games

  Alex Rodriguez the New York Yankee third baseman has been slapped with a 162 game suspension in connection with the Biogenesis doping scandal by baseball's chief arbitrator. In addition A-Rod will be fined $25 million dollars and any incentives that he may have received from the Yankees this year.

   

  The decision comes close to a month after A-rod contested his original suspension of 211 games by Major League Baseball. A-Rod has vowed to continue to fight the suspension, this time in federal court. A-Rod will reportedly be in the Yankee spring training camp, and await a decision if he can be with the team as the season begins.

  Other Major League Baseball players have received a 50 game suspension when caught using performance enhancing drugs for the first time. The suspension for being caught a second time is 100 games, and a third banishment from baseball.

Con Edison What is Taking so Long?

  Imagine driving down a street on a bright reflective winter day and coming upon this scene right in front of you. The street is West 239th Street between Blackstone And Independence Avenues. This is no side street, but one of the three main roads that lead across the Henry Hudson Parkway. 

  Con Edison dug up this street as part of its "oil to gas conversion" two weeks before Thanksgiving. Chanukah, Christmas, and the New Year have all passed with the third week of January upon us. Con Edison has said that the work would be done all before the new year, and a few other things such as "we don't have to tell you anything where or when we dig, and for how long". Street work like this should last no more than two to four weeks at a location. However since Con Edison has an outside contractor doing the work, and only doing spot check ups on their contractors - This is exactly what happens.

With the onset of snow and snowplows going up and down streets to clear the snow two things happen when they come upon the many, many, many, metal plates Con Edison has left on the streets. One is that snow plows hit these metal plates and move them (as in the photos to the left), or two the plows just don't plow over them leaving the metal plates an accident waiting to happen when either a person or car slides on them.

Below are photos after workers came back to this street not to finish the work, but just move the metal plates back over the opening.

  My guess is that in the past when Con Edison did this work and quickly fixed the street that problems occurred such as leaking gas vapors at PS 81 and other sites shortly afterwards. Con Edison must not want to fix the street completely if they are going to have to dig it up again due to the shoddy work of their contractors. Below are photos after the metal plates were moved back in place here.

 

As you see in the photo on the right - these metal plates are in the middle of the street.

Borough President Diaz Celebrates Inauguration & Bronx Centennial Kickoff

  Thursday evening Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. was joined by elected officials as well as business and community leaders for his inauguration ceremony and the official kick off to Bronx County’s year-round centennial celebration.

The ceremony featured the swearing-in of the Borough President and the entire Bronx City Council delegation, a historical nod to the first swearing in that took place when Bronx County was created in 1914.

“Today is a historic day. Not only is it the ceremonial start of my second term as Borough President of this great borough I love, but we are also marking a major milestone as we celebrate the first 100 years of Bronx County.  It is our time to shine and let the world know that the Bronx is rich in history, culture and diversity and this is what we are going to showcase in our yearlong celebration,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

“The centennial affords us an opportunity to look two ways.  We look back 100 years to the origin of the Bronx County and the progress we have made since then.  We look forward to using our past advance as a springboard to the future,” said Bronx Historian Lloyd Ultan.

During the ceremony, Borough President Diaz and the Bronx Chamber of Commerce also unveiled a commemorative plaque celebrating the centennial.

“The Bronx’s Centennial could not have come at a better time.  What has been accomplished in the area of economic development in just the last five years will insure that the next 100 years provide our residents and businesses with a community where residents can work in their borough, receive excellent education and health care, our businesses will thrive, while tourists and visitors can shop and visit our sports many diverse sports venues throughout,” said Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation President Marlene Cintron.

“This is an exciting time to be in The Bronx! The entire year will be dedicated to celebrating the last 100 years that have brought us to where we are today and we are anxious to share that with the world,” said Bronx Tourism Council Executive Director Olga Luz Tirado.

In addition, tonight the Empire State Building is lit in the colors of the Bronx flag to honor the 100th anniversary celebration of the creation of Bronx County.

Also, as part of the celebration, the office of Borough President Diaz partnered with the Legislative Gazette to produce a special edition celebrate The Bronx and its centennial. A PDF of that publication can be read at: http://on.nyc.gov/1adg7QY

Click on any photo to enlarge it.

Left - Mayor Bill de Blasio addresses the packed rotunda of the Bronx County building.

Right - BP Diaz waits to enter the room with new City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viveito next to him. 

 

Left - Rivals from the special election in the 86th A.D. New Assemblyman Victor Pichardo and Yudelka Tapia join together to celebrate.

Right - Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. finds a friend who is also wearing a cowboy hat.

 

Left - Mike's Deli from Aurthur Avenue is in the house with some great eats after the ceremony.

Right - The Cupcake House from Coop-City gave out assorted delicious cup cakes, and made a special pastry for the event. 

DINOWITZ AND SPEAKER SILVER CO-SPONSOR LEGISLATION RESTRICTING STATE AID TO DISCRIMINATORY COLLEGES

  New York State Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz joined with Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver in co-sponsoring legislation that would prohibit the use of state aid to fund academic entities that engage in discrimination.

The legislation follows a decision by the American Studies Association (ASA), a conglomerate of individuals, universities, libraries and other academic institutions, to boycott Israeli universities in protest of Israel’s policy towards Palestinians. Their stance has created a firestorm of controversy that is generating substantial public backlash. The newly proposed legislation would prohibit organizations that pass resolutions or undertake official actions boycotting certain countries or their higher education institutions, like the ASA, from receiving tax dollars.

“This legislation is an appropriate response to the outrageous decision by the ASA to boycott Israeli universities and cultural institutions,” Dinowitz said. “Their boycott is out-and-out discrimination based on national origin and, yes, religion. New York State taxpayers should not have to fund discrimination and anti-Semitism.”

The law would only apply to schools in countries that host a higher education institution chartered by the Board of Regents, which as of 2005 included six institutions located in Lebanon, Israel, Hungary and the Czech Republic. Colleges violating this ban would not be eligible for state aid during the academic year in which the violation occurs.

An employee of a college may still attend any event of an academic entity engaging in a boycott, and attendance at any such event shall not be used by the college with regard to employment decisions. However, colleges would be prohibited from using state aid to pay membership dues to a boycotting academic entity, or reimburse travel or lodging for an employee attending any meeting of such academic entity.

 

INAUGURATION CEREMONY FOR COUNCIL MEMBER ANDY KING THIS SUNDAY

  NYC Council Member Andy King’s inauguration celebration to kick-off his first four-year term as representative of the 12th District is scheduled for Sunday, January 12, at Evander Childs High School, 800 East Gun Hill Rd., Bronx. Doors open at 3 p.m. and the program will begin at 4 p.m. sharp. Originally, the celebration was scheduled for Friday, January 3rd. However, due to severe weather conditions, the celebration was postponed and rescheduled for this coming Sunday.

The ceremony will include music performances by PS 76 School Band, Gospel Singer Pauline Green of Crawford Methodist Church and modern dance by I Raise. New York City Mayor William DeBlasio has been invited to administer the Oath of Office to Council Member King. A number of elected officials, labor leaders and members of the clergy community will be in attendance, including U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, Congress Members Eliot Engel and Charles Rangel, Bronx Democratic County Chairman and Assembly Member Carl Heastie, Public Advocate Letitia James, City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, the City Council's Bronx Delegation, George Gresham, president of 1199 SEIU, and Anthony Wells of DC37, Local 371.

Mayor Bill de Blasio and Chancellor Carmen Farina come to MS 306

  Late Thursday afternoon as the school day had ended Mayor Bill de Blasio and Schools Chancellor Carmen Farina visited MS 306 located on Tremont Avenue in School District 10. They came to see the successful after school programs at MS 306, to talk about the mayors Pre-K proposal, and more after school programs in NYC public schools. They first met with MS 306 Principal Serapra Cruz, and then visited one room in which a vibrant after school program was going on.

  When de Blasio and Farina came into the room where a press conference was going on Mayor de Blasio opened with being able to have the programs that are in this school help children progress into adulthood, bond them together, and keeps them off the streets and out of trouble. De Blasio then said that in MS 306 all the students receive free lunch due to the high poverty rate of the area. He went on to say that he was a school board member of District 15 where he met Ms. Farina, and helped to bring her to become the Superintendent of that school district. He added that Chancellor Farina will have as a goal to improve the middle schools in NYC. 

  Next in the speech by the mayor was on after school programs. The mayor said that in the past 6 years 30,000 after school seats have been lost under Mayor Bloomberg. He wants to have principals be able to choose which after school programs that will fit into their schools best. Chancellor Farina then said that she wants to replicate those good schools and programs citywide. The mayor added that public libraries and community based organizations will be asked to help. 

  Mayor de Blasio then took questions. One question was that in MS 306 only 25% of the students participate in after school programs. The mayor said that he wants all students to have after school programs as well as Pre-K, and that is why he is pushing for his 5 year tax on those who earn more than $500,000.00.

He cautioned however that NYC will have to wait until the state budget is done in April to find out what the state is giving NYC in aid, but he wants these programs not to be tied into any politics.

  To the questions of some of the reporters on hand the answer by Mayor de Blasio was " you have to give me some time I was just elected". On a personal note I was a parent leader and member of the Chancellor's Parent Advisory Council when former schools chancellor Joel Klein was appointed, and I heard the very same answers that Mayor de Blasio gave. "I'm new here, Give me some time, and finally it was give me the question ahead of time so I can have the answer for you". 

  I then asked a question of Chancellor Farina what she was going to do about parent involvement that was at its high before Joel Klein was schools chancellor, and is now at its lowest point. Chancellor Farina had some green index cards saying that she meet with the current Chancellor's Parent Advisory Council the day before, and she took note on the green cards that she said was for parents. Chancellor Farina then said that she was meeting with the Community (District) Education Councils next week, and would have a set of orange index cards for their comments. She went on to say that she will have a different color of index card for each different situation. Below are some photos of the Mayor and Chancellor's visit to MS 306.

Mayor de Blasio and Chancellor Farina chat with MS 306 principal Serapra Cruz in a crowded school hallway.

Mayor de Blasio at the podium as he outlines his education goals. 

Not being as tall as Mayor de Blasio Schools Chancellor had to hop onto the pull out step from the podium to speak.

JASA CEO Kathryn Haslanger Elected to Commonwealth Fund Board of Directors

 

JASA Congratulates our CEO, Kathryn Haslanger, who was Elected to the Commonwealth Fund Board of Directors

 

The Commonwealth Fund is a private foundation that aims to promote a high performing health care system that achieves better access, improved quality, and greater efficiency, particularly for society's most vulnerable, including low-income people, the uninsured, minority Americans, young children, and elderly adults.

 

The Fund carries out this mandate by supporting independent research on health care issues and making grants to improve health care practice and policy. An international program in health policy is designed to stimulate innovative policies and practices in the United States and other industrialized countries.

 

Below is the press release from the Commonwealth Fund:

 

New York, NY, January 7, 2014-  Kathryn D. Haslanger, chief executive officer of JASA (Jewish Association Serving the Aging), has been elected to the Commonwealth Fund Board of Directors, effective immediately. Haslanger has spent more than 30 years in health care policy, research, and delivery, holding leadership roles in organizations dedicated to ensuring access to health care for New Yorkers. JASA, a New York-based nonprofit, serves more than 53,000 older adults each year through its housing and home health divisions. Prior to her appointment as CEO of JASA, Haslanger served as a senior vice president for Community Benefit and External Affairs at the Visiting Nurse Service of New York, from 2006 to 2012. In that role, she led the development of the organization's community benefit strategy and new community initiatives, including a Caregiver Support demonstration project.

Earlier in her career, Haslanger was vice president for health practice and policy at Maimonides Medical Center, a 705-bed nonprofit teaching hospital in Brooklyn, where she developed programs to help ensure safe transitions across care settings for geriatric patients and advanced adoption of health information technology, and designed care coordination models that colocated primary care physicians with behavioral health clinicians.

Haslanger was at the United Hospital Fund of New York from 1990 to 2005. While serving as vice president for public policy, among other roles, she shaped the organization's policy agenda and identified, developed, and managed programs in the areas of health insurance coverage, managed care, health care finance, and Medicaid. She also led a coalition to support Disaster Relief Medicaid in New York City after September 11, enabling 340,000 people to obtain Medicaid coverage during a four-month period of simplified eligibility.

"Kathryn Haslanger brings to The Commonwealth Fund Board a wealth of experience in turning health policy into real improvements in the health and lives of people, especially the most vulnerable," said Board chairman James R. Tallon, Jr., who is president of the United Hospital Fund of New York. "Her knowledge of health systems and health care delivery will be an invaluable asset as The Commonwealth Fund continues to monitor and inform the implementation of the Affordable Care Act."

"We are very fortunate to be able to benefit from Kathryn Haslanger's practical knowledge and forward thinking as The Commonwealth Fund continues its work toward a high performance health system, and as we face the challenges of rising health care spending and growing needs of our aging population," said Commonwealth Fund President David Blumenthal, M.D.

Haslanger earned a J.D. from Boston College Law School and an M.C.R.P. from Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. She is a member of the New York State Medicaid Managed Care Advisory Panel, appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly, as well as the National Academy of Social Insurance and the United Hospital Fund Health Policy Forum.