100PercentBronx

Thursday, March 17, 2016

Bronx BP Ruben O'Diaz Jr. Hosts Irish Heritage Celebration

On Wednesday the day before St. Patrick's Day Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. held his Annual Irish Heritage Celebration in the heart of Woodlawn at the Rambling House. Mary Murphy of WPIX television was the Mistress of ceremonies As you will see in the photos below it was a great time that was had by all. The Honorees were Keith Klain Ceo of Doran Jones, and James P. Quent of Partner Statewide Public Affairs Inc. There was also a Proclamation Presented to the Honorable Shane Cahill the Vice-Consul General of Ireland in New York.

Above - The New York State Courts Pipes & Drums played as the procession led by Bronx BP Ruben Diaz Jr. entered the room.

Below - Mistress of Ceremonies Mary Murphy (of WPIX TV) enters, followed by 80th A.D. State Committeeman Joe McManus (background left).

Above - Mistress of Ceremony Mary Murphy speaks to the audience.

Below - Amara Valerio Yonkers Junior Idol of 2014 sings the United States National Anthem.

Above - Michael Fogarty sang the Ireland National Anthem.

Below - BP Diaz Jr. congratulates Mr. Fogarty on his excellent performance.

On hand was former Councilwoman June Eisland who also congrated Mr. Fogarty after his singing of the Ireland National Anthem.

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Comptroller Scott M. Stringer Cordially Invites You to a Bronx Town Hall on March 31 @ 6:30PM

The Town Hall meeting is being held at Bronx House located at 999 Pelham Parkway South/

State Senator Jeff Klein, Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj, and Councilman Jimmy Vacca are expected to be in attendance.

Assemblymember Pichardo - Assembly budget makes education a priority

Assemblymember Victor Pichardo announced that the Assembly’s budget proposal provides needed funding for education, with a total of $25.4 billion going toward general support for public schools, an increase of $2.1 billion, as well as a significant investment in our public colleges - including a 20 percent increase to support opportunity programs. Additionally, the New York State DREAM Act was included in the Assembly’s plan, which will support eligible immigrant students for tuition assistance, scholarships and opportunity programs.

“We must provide the resources and support our students need to reach their full potential,” said Pichardo. “I’ll continue fighting for students at all levels to ensure our schools can provide a quality education, particularly for those students who are most at risk.”

This year’s budget plan calls for an increase of $1.1 billion in Foundation Aid, which is $875 million over the governor’s budget proposal. This reflects the Assembly’s commitment to fulfill the obligations set down by the Campaign for Fiscal Equality court decision and to provide every child with a quality education, noted Pichardo.

The Assembly’s budget also funds the implementation of My Brother’s Keeper, a program to support and encourage education and employment opportunities for boys and young men of color. $50 million is allocated to this program, with $8 million going toward programs in higher education. This would provide funding for family and community engagement programs, professional development and the development of exemplary school models and practices, as well as programs addressing racial disparities and restorative justice.

Other highlights of the Assembly’s budget include:

· $14.3 million in full restorations for Teacher Resources and Computer Training Centers;

· $10 million for schools with growing enrollment of English-language learners, as well as $1 million for bilingual services;

· $10 million in grants for services for homeless students; and

· an extension of mayoral control by seven years, to June 2023.

The 2016-17 Assembly budget also increases funding for CUNY; it rejects the governor’s plan to shift some of the financial burden of CUNY operating costs to New York City and rejects tuition hikes. Further, the budget includes an increase in capital assistance for CUNY and increases base operating aid for community colleges.

“Higher education should never be out of reach for my neighbors, their children and for generations after, nor should it force them to be swimming in debt when they complete their degree,” said Pichardo. “Investing in public schools and universities is critical for our future.”

South Bronx Unite - FreshDirect Back in Court

FreshDirect South Bronx Move Back in Court
A Deal Riddled with Controversy for More than Four Years

The Appellate Division, First Department (27 Madison Avenue), will hear oral arguments on Thursday, March 17th

, at 2:00, on the appeal of the constitutional issue of whether public land can be used for purely private benefit. The subject of the case is FreshDirect’s move to State-owned waterfront land in the South Bronx, which would bring upwards of 1,000 diesel truck trips through a community facing asthma rates eight times the national average from the more than 15,000 diesel trucks already crossing the neighborhood every day.

Harlem River Ventures, the developer subleasing the land to FreshDirect, received a sweetheart deal from the Cuomo administration 21 years ago that allowed the developer to reap a $60+ million profit while paying the State a little over $5 million. During that time, the developer has subleased the land to a host of environmentally degrading uses that have contributed to the health crisis in the South Bronx, including fossil fuel power plants, 8,000 ton per day waste transfer stations and truck distribution hubs for FedEx and the New York Post.

“We have a health epidemic in the South Bronx, and our City and State policies are exacerbating it,” said Professor Monxo Lopez, co-founder of South Bronx Unite and a plaintiff in the case.

“No other community would be expected to trade our ability to breathe for a promise of low paying jobs,” said Mychal Johnson, another co-founder of the group spearheading the challenge.

Last October, South Bronx residents met with Mayor Bill de Blasio, City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and senior members of the city's Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) who promised to look into the changes to the project that would trigger the need for a new inducement resolution from the NYC Industrial Development Agency (NYCIDA).

According to the Bronx Department of Buildings, the FreshDirect footprint has increased by more than 50% since originally reviewed and approved by NYCEDC/NYCIDA. Originally proposed as a 423,530 square foot facility with a $127 million subsidy, the project now stands to be built as a 637,882 square foot facility with a nearly $140 million subsidy. No oversight or approvals have been given for the significant increase in project size and subsidy.

Meanwhile, FreshDirect continues to be the source of controversy where, in recent months the company has been cited as a source of un-subsidized grocer Fairway’s danger of possible bankruptcy as well as a source of over-congested City streets and new legislation to study the impact of trucks in Manhattan. In addition, Larry Scott Blackmon, former Parks Department employee hired by FreshDirect, is alleged to have violated the New York City Charter’s conflicts of interest law when he negotiated a sponsorship package with the Parks Department on behalf of the company during a one year ban on appearing before the agency.

Assemblymember Michael A. Blake - Statement Following the Nomination of Chief Judge Garland

Assemblymember and Former White House aide Michael A. Blake released the following statement on the nomination of Chief Judge Garland to the Supreme Court of the United States

I stand with President Obama and support his nomination of Merrick Garland to be the next Supreme Court Justice on the United States Supreme Court. From Brown vs. Board of Education to ensuring marriage equality for all, the Supreme Court is the beacon for providing justice for all. The nomination of Chief Judge Garland provides another opportunity for us to bend the moral arc of justice closer to all people in our nation. Garland was a clerk for the late Supreme Court Justice William Brennan, served as Deputy Attorney General in the Justice Department and most recently the Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. In Garland’s words: “The role of the court is to apply the law to the facts of the case before it—not to legislate, not to arrogate to itself the executive power, not to hand down advisory opinions on the issues of the day.” Confirming Garland to the Supreme Court means appointing someone who will remove partisanship when voting on cases before the Supreme Court. Garland’s strong track record and dedication to public service makes him a qualified candidate to fill the current vacancy created by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia.

As Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall said, “History teaches that grave threats to liberty often come in times of urgency, when constitutional rights seem too extravagant to endure.” With the end of President Barack Obama’s second term only 9 months away, we now find ourselves in a time of urgency, and Congress’s determination to block any Supreme Court nomination proposed by the President is threatening the liberty of our citizens. The President’s constitutional directive to nominate and appoint Supreme Court Justices does not become an extravagant privilege at any point during the President’s term, so the Senate’s resolute refusal to cooperate is legally unfounded. To the Senators refusing to cooperate, we urge you to #DoYourJob.

The Supreme Court will continue hearing cases regardless of whether the bench is full or not, but with only eight justices, many cases are likely to end in a split decision, leaving the rights of the American people in limbo. Two weeks ago, the Supreme Court heard an important case regarding women’s right to access abortion services without undue burden. This case has the ability to set a national precedent that will secure women’s rights to easily accessible health services, but without a full court bench, it is possible that the case will wallow in a state of uncertainty.

Other upcoming cases will address the public sector union rights, redistricting and voter rights, immigration policy, and affirmative action, cases that will affect tens of millions of people throughout the nation, including tens of thousands of Bronx residents in New York’s 79th Assembly District. We cannot let inaction hold our country back. We must move forward. Congress must fulfill their constitutional mandate.

I urge Congress to end this partisan battle, which only succeeds in threatening the liberty and the rights of the American people.