Gov. Cuomo’s Call for $15 Minimum Wage - Statements from Bronx Elected Officials

STATEMENT FROM BOROUGH PRESIDENT DIAZ

RE: Gov. Cuomo’s Call for $15 Minimum Wage

“Governor Cuomo’s call for a statewide $15 minimum wage is a welcome one, and something I fully support. I have been a champion for higher wages throughout my career, having led the fight to pass the nation’s strongest living wage law, the ‘Fair Wages for New Yorkers Act,’ early in my time as borough president. Today’s announcement builds on those prior victories.

“A $15 minimum wage will help lift working New Yorkers and their families out of poverty and into the middle class, and I look forward to working with Governor Cuomo and my colleagues at every level of government to make this proposal a reality,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

Assemblymember Pichardo: It’s time to raise the minimum wage for all workers

“The Governor’s announcement supporting an increase in the minimum wage to $15 an hour for all workers is a huge step in the right direction. While I supported the raise for fast-food workers, I have long advocated for an across-the-board increase that will significantly boost the paychecks of my neighbors and millions of New Yorkers.

            For far too long, workers who depend on the minimum wage have found it impossible to provide for their families. Setting the statewide standard at $15 an hour is the right thing to do because no one who works full time should have to live in poverty. I look forward to working with the Governor, the Speaker, and my colleagues to ensure that my neighbors and all New Yorkers can live and prosper in our state.”

FREE Pony Rides at our Upcoming KRVC North Riverdale Festival!

FREE Pony Rides at Our Upcoming North Riverdale Festival!

Sponsors Needed!

 Click  here for the sponsor festival brochure.

 

North Riverdale Block Festival

Sunday, September 20, 2015, 12-4pm

Riverdale Avenue, 258th-259th Street

Event will feature live music all day, clowns, face painting, children's activities and much more!  

Greenway Gala

Sunday, November 22, 2015, 5-8pm

Hebrew Home at Riverdale

Save the Date for Riverdale RiverFest 2016
Sunday, June 5, 2016
College of Mount Saint Vincent

Warner Bros. TV is Taking Over NYCC

October 8 - 11, 2015 | Javits Center

Show Floor Hours Thursday: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Friday: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Saturday: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Sunday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Panel Hours Thursday: 10:30 AM - 10:00 PM Friday: 10:30 AM - 10:00 PM Saturday: 10:30 AM - 10:00 PM Sunday: 10:30 AM - 5:00 PM

City Council Leadership and 200+ Concerned Individuals Question Permit for South Bronx Power Plants

  New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and Councilmember Maria del Carmen Arroyo, Chair of the Community Development Committee, penned a joint letter to the State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) last Friday in regard to the application of New York Power Authority (NYPA) for the Title V re-permitting of its Harlem River Yards (HRY) fossil fuel power generation facility comprising two turbines, located at 688 East 132nd Street in the South Bronx.

As representatives of the environmentally overburdened community, where the deadly outbreak of Legionnaires was recently linked to the community’s chronic respiratory and other illnesses, the councilwomen asked for an extension to the public comment period and a public hearing on the re-permitting.

“…no evidence has been presented to our offices that the closure of this plant would have any impact on the price or availability of electricity in the City or have any other impact other than the elimination of a source of air pollution from a severely overburdened neighborhood,” the letter stated.

Located on State land privately leased by then Governor Mario Cuomo, the NYPA facility was pushed through as a temporary facility 15 years ago and bypassed environmental review at the time on the basis that it generated 79.9 MW, 0.1 MW shy of the trigger for a comprehensive impact analysis. The power plant sits within an approximate half mile of five other facilities also requiring air pollution permits and in close proximity to traffic-heavy highways and NYCHA and other residential buildings.

“This is the cycle in environmental justice communities of color,” said Mychal Johnson, co-founder of South Bronx Unite, a local environmental and economic justice organization, and board member of the Bronx Council for Environmental Quality. "How can we keep allowing projects to be sited and permitted without evaluating the harm? If we have a health crisis in the South Bronx because of such projects, why isn't there a higher level of scrutiny?"

More than 200 residents and other environmental leaders wrote letters to DEC urging rejection of the permit.  

Concerns and questions raised include the necessity of the facility, the adequacy of the siting process, the lack of pre-construction environmental review and the risk of exceeding permitted emission limits, including during start up and shut down. Organizations have also asked to review compliance reports, mitigation plans and PM 2.5 measurements, among other requests.

"DEC has a policy mandating enhanced public participation in environmental justice communities," said Harry Bubbins, Director of Friends of Brook Park. "We hope they will not close the door to engagement before giving us the information to formulate meaningful questions.”

While DEC originally closed the public comment period last Friday, September 4, they have now extended it to September 18.  South Bronx Unite is encouraging people to continue contacting DEC in regard to this matter.

Muslim Holiday Celebration Bronx BP Diaz

    On Tuesday, September 8 New York State Senator Reverend Ruben Diaz joined with Aguila's Director, Ms. Jenny Rivera to give backpacks filled with school supplies to the families who are residents of the homeless shelter located at 437 Morris Park 

    Aguila, Inc. is a Bronx based non-profit organization that provides transitional housing for homeless families throughout the New York Metropolitan Area. 

Above - State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. (cowboy hat) stands with Ms. Jenny Rivera as staffers of Aguliar Inc. and Senator Diaz's staff line up backpacks to be given out to the children.

Below - All who had a part in making this backpack give away a success pose for a congratulatory photo.

U.S. SENATOR KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND

BRONX BOROUGH PRESIDENT

  RUBEN DIAZ JR.

PRESENT

SERVICE ACADEMY NIGHT

Meet representatives from the Service Academies

U.S. Military Academy

U.S. Naval Academy

U.S. Coast Guard Academy

U.S. Merchant Marine Academy

U.S. Air Force Academy

Army, Navy, and Air Force R.O.T.C.

For High School Students Considering Applying to a Service Academy,

Their Parents, and School Officials

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

Speakers’ Panel begins promptly at 6:30 P.M.

Hostos Community College

Savoy Multipurpose Room,  2nd Floor

120 East 149th Street (corner of Walton Avenue)

nominations@gillibrand.senate.gov 

Bronx, NY 10451

Please R.S.V.P. at

(212) 688-6262

STADIUM STREET FAIR V

    The 161st Street BID is sponsoring its fifth STADIUM STREET FAIR, Saturday, September 12, from 10 am – 5 pm on River Avenue across from Yankee Stadium. Fans heading to the game can stroll along under the el eating a hot sausage sandwich and sipping some delicious Bigelow tea. Bigelow’s rolling tea bar will feature a variety of flavors dispensed as free samples to thousands of fair-goers.

  New York City Council Member, Vanessa Gibson will greet fairgoers at noon. The Bronx Museum and The Bronx Children’s Museum will provide free art activities for children.

  “This is a great way to enjoy a beautiful day in The Bronx,” said Dr. Cary Goodman, the BID’s executive director. ”free souvenirs, tasty food and complimentary drinks, all in one place.”As a special treat, The BID’s Youth Ambassadors will be distributing free A-Rod Day baseball stickers. The team will be honoring Alex’s 3,000th hit inside the ballpark the next day.

  The 161st Street BID, one of 71 BIDs managed by the Department of Small Business Services, distributed stickers honoring Mariano Rivera and Derek Jeter in 2013 and last year.