SENATOR KLEIN FINDS BRONX SEX OFFENDER IN VIOLATION OF STATE LAW

  One day after being released from state correctional facility, registered sex offender moves 450-feet from local elementary school

Convicted felon also found living dangerously close to UPK program, currently legal due to gaping hole in New York State Penal Law

Klein sponsored legislation would ban sex offenders from residing near UPK programs and strengthen protections for children and families

State Senator Jeff Klein today announced that a registered sex offender, Mark Mercado, released from Gowanda Correctional Facility in western New York has relocated to The Bronx – directly violating state law and moving a mere 449-feet from a special needs elementary school.

What’s more shocking than the speed at which this convicted felon found a new home next to the Biondi Elementary School, is a dangerous loophole in state law that does not place residency restrictions on stand-alone Universal Pre-Kindergarten programs. The sex offender also resides within 950-feet of a stand-alone UPK at the Westchester Tremont Day Care Center, serving 100 local children.

Senator Klein said: “Across New York, we’ve found sex offenders violating their parole, living dangerously close to traditional schools, and more egregiously, right next to our most vulnerable children attending pre-K programs. This is absolutely unacceptable. The legal definition of ‘school’ does not currently prevent registered sex offenders from residing within 1,000 feet of pre-K programs – posing a deadly threat to the safety and security of New York’s families. It’s our duty to protect our children from pedophiles and I strongly urge the State Assembly to pass this important legislation and close this loophole immediately.”

In 2014, Senator Klein introduced legislation (S.1520) that would update New York State Penal Law to prohibit Level 2 and 3 sex offenders from knowingly being within 1,000 feet of a facility where pre-kindergarten or kindergarten instruction is provided. The bill overwhelmingly passed the State Senate in 2014 and 2015. The bill was never moved to the floor for a vote in the Assembly.

Six months ago, the Independent Democratic Conference released a bombshell investigative report “Keeping Our Children Safe From Sex Offenders” which uncovered startling violations of residency restrictions and numerous sex offenders living dangerously close to both traditional and stand-alone UPK programs in New York.

Two of the sexual predators found in that investigation – Michael Nieves and Damon Ford – are already back in prison. Ford violated his parole after police found him purchasing synthetic marijuana. Nieves also violated parole conditions when police were called to his home for a domestic dispute.

SEX OFFENDERS CURRENTLY RESIDING WITHIN 1,000 FEET OF PRE-KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM IN NEW YORK CITY:

Sex Offenders Residing Within 1,000 ft. of a UPK Program affiliated with a Public School

Name

Address

Victim Age

School

Distance From School

Bronx

Charles S. Grant

1160 Teller Ave, Bronx, NY 10456

10-years-old

PS 53 Basheer Quisim 360 E 168thSt, Bronx, NY 10456

369 ft.

Staten Island

James Randolph

St. Elizabeth Ann HC 91 Tompkins Ave, Staten Island, NY 10304

9-years-old

PS 078 100 Tompkins Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10304

106 ft.

Sex Offenders Residing Within 1,000 ft. of a Community UPK Program

Name

Address

Victim Age

School

Distance From School

Bronx

Ernest W. Clark

1265 Fulton Ave, Bronx, NY 10456

8,12-years-old

Habitot Es 3480 Third Ave., Bronx, NY 10465

633 ft.

Queens

Joel Navarro

217-19 110th Ave Top Floor, Queens Village, NY 11429

7-years-old

St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church 217-55 110th Ave, Queens Village, NY 11429

264 ft.

 

Brooklyn

Arturo Ragler	501 New Lots Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11207	7-years-old	United Community Day Care 613 New Lots Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 12207	898 ft.
Angel Rios	606 Jerome St. Brooklyn, New York 11207	7, 5-years-old	Brightside Academy, 683 Barbey Street, Brooklyn, NY 11207	898 ft.
Garry Manson	32 Rochester Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11233	7-years-old	BCS Atlantic Avenue Early Learning Center 1825 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11233	580 ft.
Mike Montes	25 Fairview Place, Brooklyn, NY 11226	6, 4-years-old	Joan Watkins Corp. DBA Pre-School Minds Day Care Center, 3316-18 Church Street, Brooklyn, NY 11203	633 ft.
Guillermo Ayala	32 Rochester Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11233	14-years-old	BCS Atlantic Avenue Early Learning Center 1825 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11233	580 ft.

In 2009, Senator Klein introduced legislation that created a sex offender email notification system that later became Chapter 478 of New York State Law. The system allows local residents to receive instant email alerts any time a sex offender moves into a selected zip code. The legislation has been hailed by community groups and advocates.

UPDATE --Kennedy Campus Gas Explosion

  Mayor Bill de Blasio has announced that a worker at the site of the gas explosion was responsible for the incident. The mayor said one worker had lit a match near a gas line to see if the gas was on. The mayor then went on to sAy that it looks like the building will not be in shape for opening day of the new school year. In all there are 8 schools that comprise the Kennedy Campus which was one known as John F. Kennedy High School, which was closed due to continued poor performance under then Mayor Michael Bloomberg. 

  The 2 Charter schools inside the Kennedy Campus were scheduled to open for the new school year next week, and those students will be housed in the nearby INTech school building in front of the Kennedy Campus until the building reopens. Mayor de Blasio said that every student who is scheduled to attend any of the schools inside the Kennedy Campus will have a seat in a nearby school until the building can safely reopen.

STATEMENT FROM COUNCIL MEMBR COHEN

Re: Gas Explosion at John F. Kennedy High School

  “I am grateful for all of the efforts of our first responders in the aftermath of last night’s unfortunate gas explosion at John F. Kennedy High School.  While I was on the scene of the incident, the emergency response from the FDNY, NYPD, OEM and others aiding the victims was nothing short of tremendous.  I am thankful for their hard work and my thoughts are with the victims who I wish a quick and full recovery.

  “I will work diligently with the Mayor, Department of Education, the School Construction Authority and my other colleagues in government to ensure that the damage at the JFK campus is repaired so classes can safely take place there as soon as possible.  In the meantime, the City is committed to finding a temporary location that is both a safe and productive learning environment for our students.”

Statement from Assemblyman Dinowitz on The Gas Explosion at John F. Kennedy High School

  “Last night’s gas explosion at John F. Kennedy High School Campus in Marble Hill was a shock to our community. Though we are very fortunate that the school was not in session, my thoughts and prayers are with the three construction workers who were injured in this unfortunate incident. Additionally, I am very grateful to the FDNY, the NYPD, the New York City Office of Emergency Management, Mayor de Blasio, and everyone else who responded to this incident as quickly and efficiently as possible, ensuring the public’s safety. In the coming weeks we will do everything we can to make sure that John F. Kennedy High School Campus is safe and ready to open for students.”

Editor's note: 

  It will be up to the FDNY to determine the exact cause of the explosion, and if it was indeed a lit match by one of the workers by an open gas line. One has to wonder since the city has said that this was a contractor that had an excellent safety record and had completed many jobs in the past without incidents. Was this a worker from the contractor, or was the worker determined to be at fault from a sub contractor which is a common practice when bids are awarded to contractors by the city?

  

Make Toplessness in Public Illegal for Everyone

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

Make Toplessness in Public Illegal for Everyone 

You should know that some time ago, Times Square used to be the pits of the nation where criminals, drug dealers, prostitutes and all kind of sordid behavior could be found in the area. 

Times Square was a haven for open prostitution, commercialized sex, selling and using drugs. There were used condoms all over the place. People were afraid to take their families – especially children to Times Square because they didn’t want to witness the immoral behavior. Even the streets were dirty. 

It is well known that New York City Mayors used to come and go, and Times Square didn’t see any change - until a guy by the name of Rudy Giuliani was elected Mayor and instituted the quality of life policy.  Regardless of anyone’s opinion or fight for supposed civil rights, his legacy includes completely reforming Times Square. 

During his war on crime, Giuliani cleaned the streets and transformed Times Square into a new place where families from all over the world were drawn. New York’s next Mayor Michael Bloomberg closed the streets in Times Square and created a plaza. 

But ladies and gentlemen, surprise, surprise: Times Square has made a turn for the worse and is on its way back to what it was before Giuliani. 

Now we have naked cowboys, topless women doing business and taking photos – accosting and molesting tourists, a cursing Elmo, and people pissing in the streets.  All kinds of immorality have returned to Times Square. 

Our current Mayor Bill de Blasio’s solution to the problem is to close the Times Square Plaza due to the fact that equality in the law allows for women to go topless because men can go topless.  Therefore, Police Officers are not permitted to arrest, summons or harass topless women, because of “equality.” 

The problem with Mayor de Blasio’s solution in closing the Times Square Plaza, will cause the naked cowboys and the naked women to move to other places. That will create a situation where Mayor de Blasio will have to keep closing places all throughout the City of New York.  He will have to keep chasing them all over and closing places until there are no places left to close. 

The law that authorizes women and men to go topless needs to be changed! As a Senator representing the South Bronx, I am afraid that Hunts Point might be next to go back to what it was. 

Therefore, I am introducing legislation to make it illegal for anyone to go topless in the streets and places in New York State except for beaches. 

In a city where millions of people are drawn to Times Square, we need to push against the immorality that has taken root there once again so families can enjoy New York. If equality laws are in the way, let’s push for equality so neither men nor women can go topless in our streets. 

My dear reader, I hope that my colleagues in the State Legislature and the Mayor of New York City will support my legislation to do away with toplessness in the streets of New York. 

That will be better than chasing topless women and closing streets all over New York City. 

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

BDCC Annual BBQ & Family Day This SATURDAY!

Gas Explosion Rocks Kennedy Campus

  At 8 PM last night an explosion rocked the Kennedy campus home to 8 schools and over 4,000 high school students. The above photo shows only some of the emergency response that responded to a call of a gas explosion at the Marble Hill site. 

  It appears to be a mistake by the contractors working on refurbishing the science labs in the rear of the building,where plumbers were working on the gas lines when the explosion took place at 8 PM. Rescue units from all over the Bronx and Upper Manhattan responded, and 3 of the workers were taken to the hospital with injuries, 2 of them serious. As you will see in the photos below the windows and part of the building were blown to the ground across the rear courtyard of the high school building. The force of the explosion sent some parts of the window frames, glass, and building exterior to the roadway leading to the back of the building and to the front parking lot. Mayor Bill de Blasio arrived at the site a few hours later saying that it is not known if part or all of the building will open in September when the new school year begins, and that the building will be carefully inspected for any structural damage.

Above - Another photo of the huge response by emergency workers.

Below - The sixth floor science lab area where the explosion happened. 3 classrooms were heavily damaged, and you can see some of the glass and building exterior on the ground.

Above - A better photo of the damaged 6th floor of the 8 story school.

Below - Parts of the window frames, and glass were blown on to the roadway in front of the building, and even into the front parking lot.

KLEIN ANNOUNCES $200,000 IN STATE FUNDING FOR THE YMCA OF GREATER NEW YORK

State Senator Jeff Klein, together with Executive Director of The Bronx YMCA Sharlene Brown, Senior Vice President for Public Affairs at the YMCA Paul Custer, and Vice President of Public Affairs at the YMCA Sharon Levy, today announced $200,000 in state funding for the YMCA of Greater New York.

Senator Jeff Klein said: “Encouraging a healthy, active lifestyle is critical to improving health outcomes in The Bronx and across New York State. I’m proud to have secured $200,000 in state funding for health and wellness initiatives, youth development and senior programming at the YMCA of Greater New York. I look forward to continuing to work together to ensure all New Yorkers are able to lead full, healthy and happy lives.”

Senator Klein visited The Bronx YMCA where local campers put on a special end-of-summer performance, including a song and dance routine. Families and children enjoyed hits like, “You’re The One That I Want,” “Tutti Frutti,” and “Happy.”

Sharlene Brown, Executive Director of the Bronx YMCA, said: “With $200,000 secured in this year’s budget by State Senator Jeff Klein, The Bronx YMCA will be able to serve even more youth and families at the branch and program sites.”

State funding secured by Senator Klein will be used to promote various health and wellness initiatives, including  intergenerational programming, family engagement, nutrition and senior services. The YMCA of Greater New York is a community service organization dedicated promoting positive values and building strong communities.

STATE SENATOR GUSTAVO RIVERA, ASSEMBLY MEMBER VICTOR M. PICHARDO AND COUNCIL MEMBER RITCHIE TORRES TO HOST A BACK TO SCHOOL CELEBRATION

  State Senator Gustavo Rivera, Assembly Member Victor M. Pichardo and Council Member Ritchie Torres will host a back to school event on Friday, August 21st at Tremont Park.  

 

This event, which is part of the Bronx CAN Health Initiative, will have a backpack giveaway, fun activities and free health screenings in an effort to help celebrate a healthy start to the upcoming school year. A limited number of backpacks will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Children between 5 and 12 years old need to be accompanied by an adult while youths between 13 and 18, do not need a parent present.

 

 WHAT: Back to School Celebration  

 

 WHO:  State Senator Gustavo Rivera

              Assembly Member Victor Pichardo   

              Council Member Ritchie Torres 

 

 WHEN:   Friday, August 21, 2015

                  2:00 pm - 5:00 pm 

 

 WHERE: Tremont Park 

                   Corner of E. Tremont Avenue and Arthur Avenue   

                   Bronx, NY 10457 

                  *Rain Location:

                   Abraham Plaza, Community Room

                   1870 Crotona Avenue

                   Bronx, NY 10457

**This event is free and open to the public. Other organizations participating in the event include our main sponsor, Metroplus, Union Community Health Center, Morris Heights Health Center, FDNY, New York Life Insurance, Bronx Community Board 6, NYPD's 48th Precinct, the Alzheimers' Association and Bronx Lebanon Hospital. 

   

ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK AT SETON PARK

  If one photo could tell the story of the Engelbert Humperdinck concert at Seton Park in Riverdale last night it would be this one, as the famed singer came to the edge of the stage as 50 - 75 fans shimmied their way to the bottom of the stage to snap a photo or two while they were up close to one of their singing idols. The 90 minute concert was full of Humperdinck's long list of hit songs (many Grammy Award winners) such as 'Release Me', After the Lovin', and 'Am I That Easy to Forget to name a few.

. The concert the third year of the 'Summertime Concerts' presented by State Senator Jeff Klein was well attended by over 600 people making this the largest attended concert held in Seton Park. In between songs Engelbert Humperdinck (whose real name is Jerry Dorsey) told stories of being with other famous stars who would mangle his stage name in various ways. The photos below will tell the rest of the story. 

Above - State Senator Jeff Klein is on stage before the concert with Congressman Eliot Engel, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, and Councilman Andy Cohen.

Below - Senator Klein works the audience before the concert to get a feeling of the people, some who arrived hours before the concert to get a good spot. 

Senator Klein’s Summertime Symphonies Series continues this month with Alive & Kickin’ on Monday, August 24 at 7:00 p.m at Ambrosini Field and Chubby Checker on Wednesday, August 26 at 7:00 p.m. at Loreto Park. For more information, please call Senator Klein’s office at (718) 822-2049.