“Andrew Cuomo putting his personal political ambitions over the needs of grassroots organizations fighting for racial and economic justice tells you everything you need to know about him. And it shows just how terrified he is of Cynthia Nixon.”
Friday, April 13, 2018
Wave Hill Events April 27‒May 4 Arbor Weekend!
Fri, April 27 Garden Walk: Notable Trees of Wave Hill
Wave Hill’s landscape includes magnificent old trees, rare species and native beauties. Wander through the gardens on this special walk with Senior Director of Horticulture Louis Bauer to see some of his favorites from the living collection. Free with admission to the grounds. Arbor Weekend event.
MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 1PM
Sat, April 28 Family Art Project: Barking up a Wave Hill Tree
With wax crayons and paper in hand, visit some of Wave Hill’s treasured trees and have a tactile experience making simple, but rich, bark rubbings. Using these inspired rubbings, work with burlap, cheesecloth, bits of leather, craft paper and yarn to create a collection of rich textures and bark-inspired designs. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon. Arbor Weekend event.
WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM‒1PM
Sat, April 28 In The Shop: Maple Syrup Tasting
In honor of Arbor Weekend, stop in The Shop to sample some of the distinctive flavors of maple syrup. Free with admission to the grounds. Arbor Weekend event.
PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 10AM‒4PM
Sat, April 28 Garden Highlights Walk
Join a Wave Hill Garden Guide for an hour-long tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon.
MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 11AM
Sat, April 28 Neighborhood Walk: The Trees of Fieldston
The historic district of Fieldston is home to more than 1,000 street trees, many dating to the early 1900s. Senior Horticultural Interpreter Charles Day leads a walk through this leafy neighborhood to appreciate the variety and quality of this urban woodland. Walk ends at Wave Hill. $20; 10% discount to Wave Hill Members. Registration required, online at wavehill.org or onsite at the Perkins Visitor Center. Arbor Weekend event.
WALK BEGINS OFFSITE, 11AM–1PM
Sat, April 28 Junior Arborist Station
Kids are invited to don tree-climbing harnesses and hardhats and ascend into the canopy of our old sugar maple tree to get a bird’s-eye view of Wave Hill. Arborists from Almstead Tree, Shrub & Lawn Care are on hand to assist budding arborists as well as answer questions about the big, old trees at Wave Hill. Ages five and older welcome with an adult. This program is generously sponsored by Almstead Tree, Shrub & Lawn Care. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon. Arbor Weekend event.
ON THE GROUNDS, 11AM–3PM
Sat, April 28 Garden Walk: Trees and the Designed Landscape
Trees play an integral role in landscape design, from defining garden spaces to softening architecture and acting as focal points. Take a spring stroll with Director of Public Programs Laurel Rimmer to see how trees enhance the design of the gardens at Wave Hill. Free with admission to the grounds. Arbor Weekend event.
MEET AT THE PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 1PM
Sat, April 28 Gallery Tour
Learn about Glyndor Gallery exhibitions on a tour led by Wave Hill’s Curatorial Fellow. Avifauna: Interplay of Birds + Habitatfeatures artworks that delve into the relationship between birds and their habitats—from the role birds play in propagating plants to changes in how natural and built environments affect migration patterns. Artists working in photography, video, artist books, wall painting, installation, drawing and sound include Tatiana Arocha, Tanya Chaly, Marna Chester, Nina Katchadourian, Paula McCartney, Jeff Mertz, Peter Morgan, Sarah Nicholls, James Proseck, Jenna Spevek and Fred Tomaselli. In the Sunroom Project Space, Adrienne Elise Tarver builds tactile plant sculptures that create an immersive, sheltering landscape. Free with admission to the grounds.
GLYNDOR GALLERY, 2PM
Sun, April 29 Family Art Project: Barking up a Wave Hill Tree
With wax crayons and paper in hand, visit some of Wave Hill’s treasured trees and have a tactile experience making simple, but rich, bark rubbings. Using these inspired rubbings, work with burlap, cheesecloth, bits of leather, craft paper and yarn to create a collection of rich textures and bark-inspired designs. Free with admission to the grounds. Arbor Weekend event.
WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM‒1PM
Sun, April 29 In The Shop: Maple Syrup Tasting
In honor of Arbor Weekend, stop in The Shop to sample some of the distinctive flavors of maple syrup. Free with admission to the grounds. Arbor Weekend event.
PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 10AM‒4PM
Sun, April 29 Wellness Workshop: Nature’s Medicine Cabinet—The Healing Power of Trees
Working with herbalist Tina Triburgo of Tina’s Tinctures, learn about the healing power of alternative remedies made from tree parts—bark, berries, roots and more—and go home with samples, recipes and resources for creating products on your own. Concludes with an herbalist-led walk in the garden to see plants used in the workshop. $55; 10% discount to Wave Hill Members. Registration required, online at wavehill.org or onsite at the Perkins Visitor Center. Ages 10 and older welcome with an adult. Arbor Weekend event.
MEET AT WAVE HILL HOUSE, 11AM–1PM
Sun, April 29 Totally Trees Family Walk
Wave Hill boasts a collection of extraordinary, stately and old trees. Through observation and inquiry, discover how trees grow by looking at a tree’s parts and the role each part plays in a tree’s life cycle. With trees as your inspiration, venture across the grounds with Environmental Educator Olivia Kalin. Ages six and older welcome with an adult. Free with admission to the grounds. Arbor Weekend event.
MEET AT WAVE HILL HOUSE, 1PM
Sun, April 29 Garden Highlights Walk
Join a Wave Hill Garden Guide for an hour-long tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free with admission to the grounds.
MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 2PM
Sun, April 29 Cooking Demo: Cooking with Maple Syrup
Discover creative ways to cook with maple syrup, the delectable sweetener made from native sugar maple trees. Senior Horticultural Interpreter Charles Day explains the maple-sugaring process while a chef from Wave Hill exclusive catererGreat Performances prepares delicious maple-flavored dishes. Free with admission to the grounds. Arbor Weekend event.
WAVE HILL HOUSE, 2PM
Mon, April 30
Closed to the public.
Tue, May 1 Garden Highlights Walk
Join a Wave Hill Garden Guide for an hour-long tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon.
MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 11AM
Tue, May 1 Gallery Tour
Learn about Glyndor Gallery exhibitions on a tour led by Wave Hill’s Curatorial Fellow. Avifauna: Interplay of Birds + Habitatfeatures artworks that delve into the relationship between birds and their habitats—from the role birds play in propagating plants to changes in how natural and built environments affect migration patterns. Artists working in photography, video, artist books, wall painting, installation, drawing and sound include Tatiana Arocha, Tanya Chaly, Marna Chester, Nina Katchadourian, Paula McCartney, Jeff Mertz, Peter Morgan, Sarah Nicholls, James Proseck, Jenna Spevek and Fred Tomaselli. In the Sunroom Project Space, Adrienne Elise Tarver builds tactile plant sculptures that create an immersive, sheltering landscape. Free with admission to the grounds.
GLYNDOR GALLERY, 2PM
A 28-acre public garden and cultural center overlooking the Hudson River and Palisades, Wave Hill’s mission is to celebrate the artistry and legacy of its gardens and landscape, to preserve its magnificent views, and to explore human connections to the natural world through programs in horticulture, education and the arts.
HOURS Open all year, Tuesday through Sunday and many major holidays: 9AM–5:30PM, March 15–October 31. Closes 4:30PM, starting November 1.
ADMISSION $8 adults, $4 students and seniors 65+, $2 children 6–18. Free Saturday and Tuesday mornings until noon. Free to Wave Hill Members and children under 6.
PROGRAM FEES Programs are free with admission to the grounds unless otherwise noted.
Visitors to Wave Hill can take advantage of Metro-North’s one-day getaway offer. Purchase a discount round-trip rail far and discount admission to the gardens. More at http://mta.info/mnr/html/
DIRECTIONS – Getting here is easy! Located only 30 minutes from midtown Manhattan, Wave Hill’s free shuttle van transports you to and from our front gate and Metro-North’s Riverdale station, as well as the W. 242nd Street stop on the #1 subway line. Limited onsite parking is available for $8 per vehicle. Free offsite parking is available nearby with continuous, complimentary shuttle service to and from the offsite lot and our front gate. Complete directions and shuttle bus schedule at www.wavehill.org/visit/.
Information at 718.549.3200. On the web at www.wavehill.org.
MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES DROP IN NYC POVERTY RATE
141,000 fewer New Yorkers in poverty or near poverty in 2016 compared with 2013
The Mayor’s Office for Economic Opportunity today released its annual New York City Government Poverty Measure report, which shows that both the poverty rate and the near-poverty rate (the percentage living below 150% of New York City’s poverty threshold) have decreased since last year’s report. Today’s report shows a drop in the near-poverty rate to 43.5% in 2016, which is a 1.6 percentage point decline from 2014’s rate of 45.1 percent. The report also demonstrated that New Yorkers in actual poverty has declined since 2014, from 20.6% to 19.5%. Poverty is at its lowest level since the Great Recession. In 2016, there were 141,000 fewer New Yorkers in poverty or near poverty than there were in 2013, surpassing prior projections and indicating that the City is on pace to reach its goal of moving 800,000 people out of poverty or near poverty by 2025.
“We’re always working to make this city fairer for everyone, and it’s promising to see there are fewer New Yorkers living in or near poverty,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “From Pre-K for All to paid family and sick leave to the most ambitious affordable housing plan in the city’s history, we are working to provide opportunities that will make a lasting difference in the lives of New Yorkers. Today’s report shows real progress toward our goal of lifting 800,000 New Yorkers out of poverty or near poverty by 2025.”
Both the poverty rate and the near poverty rate have fallen significantly since Mayor de Blasio took office in 2014. The drop in poverty was broadly felt across many groups of New Yorkers, and included decreases in the poverty rate for black New Yorkers, adults working part time, and families with children under 18, among others.
The City’s NYCgov poverty measure is updated annually. This year’s report uses the most recently available information from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey and is augmented by the Mayor’s Office for Economic Opportunity. It offers a more precise measure for policy makers than the official U.S. poverty measure.
Highlights from this year’s Poverty Report include:
· The NYCgov Poverty Rate for 2016 was 19.5%, down from 19.9 % in 2015.
· The NYCgov At or Near Poverty Rate for 2016 was 43.5%, down from 44.2% in 2015.
· From 2014 to 2016, the following groups experienced significant declines in their poverty rates:
o Working Age Adults (19.7 percent in 2014 to 18.3 percent in 2016)
o Blacks (21.3 percent in 2014 to 19.2 percent in 2016)
o Asians (26.6 percent in 2014 to 24.1 percent in 2016)
o Families with one full time and one part time worker (14.8 percent in 2014 to 12.8 percent in 2016)
o Unmarried childless adults (20.8 percent in 2014 to 17.1 percent in 2016)
“At Operations, we track progress on the Administration’s public commitments, including its ambitious goal of moving 800,000 New Yorkers out of poverty or near poverty by 2025. As we continue to increase equity across our city, the 1.2 percentage point reduction in the New York City poverty rate shows we’re making progress,” said Emily W. Newman, Acting Director of the Mayor’s Office of Operations.
“Poverty and near poverty are down, and that is good news for New York City,” said Matthew Klein, Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office for Economic Opportunity. “Reducing poverty is a critical part of the City’s goal to be the fairest big city in America. We have much more progress to make, but the findings in this report show that we are headed in the right direction.”
“The NYCgov poverty measure continues to be a unique tool in New York City’s efforts to lower the poverty rate,” said Christine D’Onofrio, Director of Poverty Research for the Mayor’s Office for Economic Opportunity. “Mayor de Blasio’s commitments to affordable housing, better wages, good jobs and fair access to public benefits address the main sources of poverty identified in this data.”
The decrease in the poverty rate has been accompanied by other positive trends. The economy grew steadily in 2016, with more New Yorkers holding jobs. Median household income in New York City has increased 7.8% since 2014. Income in the bottom 20th percentile has increased 4.0% from 2014, adjusted for inflation. A significant factor in the decline in poverty has been increases in the minimum wage, which the City lobbied for at the state level.
In addition, the City has many initiatives aimed at increasing equity and fairness. These programs include Pre-K for All, which gives every 4-year-old in the city access to early education and saves families money; paid family leave and paid sick leave; ACCESS NYC, a portal designed to help New Yorkers apply for benefits; and Housing New York, the largest and most ambitious plan to build and preserve affordable housing in the nation.
The NYCgov poverty measure was developed to provide a more precise portrait of poverty in New York City than official U.S. poverty measure. It takes into account the cost of living in New York City, including the higher cost of housing, and counts as income those programs that supplement New Yorkers’ income, such as tax credits and SNAP benefits—elements that are not taken into account in the federal measure. Additionally, the U.S. Official poverty measure has remained largely unchanged for 50 years. New York City is the only U.S. city that calculates its own poverty rate using this more precise measure.
EDITOR'S NOTE:
It is great to see the figures from 2016, but this is mid April 2018.
Where are the 2017 numbers?
Or did they go up?
Thursday, April 12, 2018
Bronx Democratic Party - Judicial Screening Process Now Open!
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The Independent Judicial Screening Committee of Bronx Democratic Party (IJSC) is currently accepting applications is currently accepting applications for all of the elected judicial positions that will occur in the 2018 election in and for The Bronx and the City of New York.
All potential candidates for Judge of the Civil Court of the City of New York and Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York must complete and submit a 2018 questionnaire. Questionnaires must be completed and submitted no later thanFriday, April 27th at 4:00 p.m. to the offices of Bronx Democratic Party headquarters located at 1640 Eastchester Road, Bronx, NY 10461.
Candidates who qualify will be interviewed by a judicial screening panel between May 5th and 6th, 2018, at the Bronx Democratic Party headquarters.
For more information on the application process, please visit: http://bronxdems.org/
EDITOR'S NOTE:
It should be noted that the Bronx Democratic Party usually endorses incumbents.
Since this is for the Democratic Primary in September, this should apply to all open seats only for the September Democratic Primary.
It must be noted that current Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda is a candidate favored to win the 32nd State Senate Special election to be held on April 24th 2018. That would result in a vacant 87th Assembly seat which should also be screened for the upcoming September Primary election.
However this is the Bronx, and Bronx Democratic County Leader (and Dictator) Marcos Crespo has already selected a candidate for the 87th Assembly seat without any interviews, even before the 87th Assembly seat is vacant. When asked if Assemblyman Sepulveda should lose the special election 'Comrade Crespo' replied "I Guess then We Have No Candidate".
We would suggest to anyone who may be seeking the endorsement of the Bronx Communist/Democratic Party the following. If you don't already have 'Comrade' Crespo's endorsement, your not going to get it.
VISION ZERO: AS WARMER SPRING WEATHER FINALLY ARRIVES, MAYOR ANNOUNCES NEW EFFORTS TO STOP DANGEROUS DRIVERS THIS WEEKEND
NYPD’s new “Warm Weather Weekends” enforcement focuses on the correlation between rising temperatures and a springtime weekend surge in traffic crashes – including an 88 percent increase in serious motorcyclist injuries and fatalities
Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced that as part of Vision Zero and with warm weather in the forecast, the NYPD and the DOT would begin a new safety campaign aimed at motorists and motorcyclists, whom crash data show drive more dangerously on warmer spring weekends. This Saturday’s weather forecast calls for sunny skies and temperatures in the 70s.
“The groundbreaking Dusk and Darkness campaign delivered promising results, leading our Vision Zero agencies to laser-focus on data-driven strategies to drive down fatalities,” said Mayor de Blasio. “Another unfortunate trend we have seen is the increase in dangerous driving during the spring, especially on weekends as weather begins to warm. So we are telling drivers and motorcyclists: we know that this winter has been too long and too cold, but nicer weather this weekend is no excuse for dangerous driving. The NYPD will be out in force to ensure you do not travel at speeds that endanger you and your fellow New Yorkers.”
“NYPD officers will be out in force on weekends to combat the behaviors most associated with traffic tragedies,” said Chief Thomas Chan, the NYPD’s Chief of Transportation. “It is unfortunate we see upticks in dangerous driving behavior during these long-awaited warm weather weekends, especially in the form of reckless motorcycle driving. Our goal is to ensure everyone enjoys these weekends and returns home safely. That will be our measure of success.”
“After this endless winter, spring cannot come soon enough. We know from past years’ experience that on warm weather weekends we see far too many tragedies on our roads, especially among motorists and motorcyclists,” said DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg. “So our message to New Yorkers is simple: go out and play this spring -- but if you are driving, please do so safely. You could save a life, including your own.”
Warm Weather Weekends: Officials were spurred to action by the events of April 29, 2017: In a year that was the overall safest-ever on New York City streets, that Saturday was the second deadliest day of the entire year. The first warm weekend day at the end of an unusually cool month, April 29th was sunny with a high temperature of 87 degrees. In a number of different serious crashes around New York City that day, many of which involved speeding, 4 New Yorkers lost their lives and 204 were injured.
DOT then conducted a detailed analysis of traffic fatalities and severe injuries from 2007 to 2016, observing the rate of traffic deaths and serious injuries on warmer days in March through June. Comparing crash data to weather records, DOT studied days where temperatures were 60 degrees or higher, and uncovered the following clear correlative trends:
· The average number of people killed or seriously injured (KSI) in traffic crashes on weekends starts to rise in March and peaks during June. In April, the weekend KSI rate is 28 percent higher than in January/February.
· The danger in the spring is most pronounced for motor vehicle occupants and motorcyclists: on warm weather Saturdays and Sundays in April, the KSI rate for drivers and car occupants is 41 percent higher than the winter weekend rate. For motorcyclists, the KSI danger on weekends rises by 88 percent.
· Data appear to show that higher KSI rates on warmer spring days are limited to Saturdays and Sundays. On weekdays, DOT data show that the average number of KSI annually during April warm weather weekdays is only 4% higher than the January/February winter weekday rate.
· In response to this data, NYPD and DOT will this weekend initiate season-specific efforts to deter reckless behavior to keep all New Yorkers safe. Officials will remind drivers that they should continue to obey the speed limit, slow down, turn slowly and yield to pedestrians. Drivers should expect heightened enforcement, from NYPD Highway Patrol and local precincts, each of which now has its own speed detection equipment.
Last year was the fourth consecutive year of declining traffic deaths under Vision Zero, with the fewest-ever overall traffic fatalities citywide, driven by a 29 percent one-year decline in pedestrian fatalities. As part of the initiative, DOT implemented its most aggressive street redesign safety program, with increased investment in street redesign and traffic-calming measures citywide. Unfortunately, even with historic fatality declines, 2017 was marked by increases in both motorcyclist and motor vehicle fatalities – trends that Warm Weather Weekends is designed to address.
For more information about the de Blasio Administration’s Vision Zero initiative, please seewww.nyc.gov/visionzero.
NEWS FROM CONGRESSMAN ELIOT ENGEL
REPS. ENGEL, PALLONE, AND THOMPSON URGE FCC TO CRACK-DOWN ON FAKE CELL TOWERS KNOWN AS ‘STINGRAYS’
Following reports this week of possible foreign entities spying on Americans’ cellular calls, Congressman Eliot L. Engel (D-NY), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, today called on the FCC to crack-down on fake cell towers known as stingrays.
Stingrays are cell-site simulators that function essentially as fake cellphone towers. They allow their operators to trick nearby consumers’ cell phones into giving up confidential information that would normally be protected by consumers’ cell phone providers.
“Press reports surfaced earlier this week that the Department of Homeland Security had identified suspected, unauthorized cell-site simulators operating throughout Washington. More troubling, it appears that these cell-site simulators could be gathering intelligence on unwitting Americans on behalf of foreign governments. If these reports are true, it marks an incredible security vulnerability in the seat of the Federal government,” the three Ranking Members wrote.
The Members continued: “[N]o action has been taken to date to actually address this problem. With foreign actors now potentially taking advantage of the Commission’s inaction, the FCC should act, consistent with applicable law and regulations, to investigate these allegations and address any unlawful use of cell-site simulators in the Capital and anywhere else they are used in U.S. soil.”
Engel Signs Discharge Petition to Bring Legislation Protecting Special Counsel Robert Mueller to the Floor
Congressman Eliot L. Engel, a top member on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, has signed a discharge petition to bring legislation protecting Special Counsel Mueller to the floor. H.R. 3654, the Special Counsel Independence Protection Act,would ensure that any step to remove a special counsel from office must first be approved by a panel of federal judges. Engel is a cosponsor of the bill.
“President Trump’s consistent attacks on Special Counsel Mueller undermine our nation’s law enforcement institutions and are a direct threat to our democracy,” Engel said. “The investigation must be able to continue, unimpeded, until the American people get the full story of what happened in the 2016 election. It’s time for my Republican colleagues in the House to uphold the rule of law and work to protect the Special Counsel’s investigation.”
Congressman Eliot L. Engel (NY-16) and Congressman Steve Stivers (OH-15) today reintroduced the Quality Care for Moms and Babies Act, a bipartisan bill that will allow us to better track Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program’s (CHIP) performances in caring for American mothers and infants.
Rates of maternal mortality have fallen worldwide in recent years but, shockingly, have risen in the United States. Given this trend, it is similarly alarming that the U.S. is not measuring and evaluating the performances of Medicaid and CHIP in caring for newborns and their moms – especially since Medicaid finances roughly half of all births in the U.S.
The Quality Care for Moms and Babies Act aims to remedy this problem.
The bill would bring together diverse stakeholders to identify care quality benchmarks for women and children in Medicaid and CHIP, as well as fund new and existing maternity and infant care quality collaboratives. These collaboratives bring together local stakeholders, like doctors and nurse-midwives, to share best practices and improve care for patients.
The bill has been endorsed by March of Dimes, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the National Partnership for Women & Families, American College of Nurse-Midwives, Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs, Lamaze International, March for Moms and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine.
The bill was introduced with more than a dozen bipartisan original cosponsors: Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), John Garamendi (D-CA), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Adam B. Schiff (D-CA), Don Young (R-AK), Doris Matsui (D-CA), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Tony Cárdenas (D-CA), John Yarmuth (D-KY), Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL). Companion legislation has been introduced in the Senate by Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI).
“Medicaid and CHIP have been essential in caring for America’s moms and babies – especially in New York’s 16th District, where more than a quarter of children are covered by these programs,” Engel said. “As such, it just makes sense that we should carefully measure the quality of the care moms and infants are getting through these programs. I am pleased to once again co-lead the effort to take better care of America’s mothers and babies.”
MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES CHARTER REVISION COMMISSION APPOINTEES
Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced the appointment of the 13 remaining members to the City’s Charter Revision Commission – first announced as part of the Mayor’s DemocracyNYC agenda at his 2018 State of the City address in February. Last month, Mayor de Blasio appointed Cesar Perales as Chair with Rachel Godsil serving as his Vice-Chair. The newly formed commission will review the entire City Charter. The review will include an examination of New York City’s campaign finance system, enhancing voter participation, and improving the electoral process, among other issues identified by the public in a series of hearings.
“In New York City, we’re committed to doing all we can to drive democracy and that starts with reviewing our charter,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “I’m proud to announce the full Commission and thank them for their hard work for the people of this city.”
Announced today, the new members of the Charter Revision Commission are listed below:
Carlo A. Scissura, a lifelong New Yorker and President and CEO of the New York Building Congress, will be the Secretary of the Commission. Before his time at the Building Congress, Scissura spent years as a dedicated public servant in Brooklyn – working as the President and CEO of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce and as Chief of Staff and General Counsel to Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz.
Larian Angelo is a Senior Fellow at the CUNY Institute for State and Local Governance (ISLG). Prior to joining the ISLG, she served in city government for 27 years as first deputy director at the NYC Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Vice-President for Administration at Guttman Community College, deputy director for education and intergovernmental relations at OMB and Finance Director at the New York City Council. Angelo holds a Ph.D in economics.
Deborah N. Archer is an Associate Professor of Clinical Law at NYU Law. She was previously an Assistant Counsel at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund where she litigated at the trial and appellate levels in cases involving affirmative action in higher education, employment discrimination, school desegregation, and voting rights. Archer additionally served as a Marvin H. Karpatkin Fellow with the American Civil Liberties Union where she was involved in federal and state litigation on issues of race and poverty. Archer previously served as a mayoral appointee to the New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board.
Kyle Bragg is 32BJ SEIU’s Secretary-Treasurer. A member of the 165,000 member 32BJ for more than 30 years, Kyle serves as trustee of several 32BJ funds and as chair of the union’s social and economic justice committee. He is a member of the executive board of the two million-member national Service Employee International Union, the National African-American Caucus of SEIU and serves on the international union’s first Racial Justice Task Force. Bragg also serves as a board member of Community Board 13 in Queens.
Marco A. Carrión is the Commissioner of the Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit, working to connect City Hall to communities across the city, especially in the outer boroughs. Before his role as Commissioner, Marco was the Political and Legislative Director for the New York City Central Labor Council, Chief of Staff to New York State Senator Gustavo Rivera, Director of New York City Intergovernmental Affairs to Governor David Paterson, and worked for the AFL CIO in Washington D.C.
Una Clarke serves as President of Una Clarke Associates, a consulting firm specializing primarily in education management, political consulting, and small business services. Previously, Clarke served as a New York City Councilwoman, representing Brooklyn’s 40th Council District for 10 years starting in 1991. Clarke sponsored more than 300 pieces of legislation on issues including child welfare, education, health and mental health, economic development, public safety and transportation. Clarke is currently a CUNY trustee, appointed by Mayor de Blasio.
Angela Fernandez is the Executive Director and Supervising Attorney of Northern Manhattan Coalition for Immigrant Rights, a leading community-based legal services and advocacy organization for low-income immigrants. She brings to the Board 20 years of experience in law, media, non-profit management, government, policy development, and advocacy. Her prior government experience includes working as District Chief of Staff to U.S. Representative José Serrano and as a staff aide to U.S. Senator Bill Bradley.
Sharon Greenberger is the 10th President and CEO of the YMCA of Greater New York, a leading New York City non-profit organization serving over 500,000 children, adults and seniors annually through programs and services focused on empowering youth, improving health, and strengthening community. Prior to joining the YMCA in July 2015, Sharon served as the Senior Vice President, Facilities and Real Estate at New York-Presbyterian Hospital and the Chief Operating Officer for the New York City Department of Education.
Dale Ho is the Director of the ACLU's Voting Rights Project where he supervises the ACLU’s voting rights litigation and advocacy work nationwide. Dale has active cases in over a dozen states throughout the country. He has litigated cases under the federal Voting Rights Act and the National Voter Registration Act. Dale is also an adjunct professor of law at NYU School of Law.
Mendy Mirocznik is the president of C.O.J.O of Staten Island, a borough wide civic organization dedicated to providing services to those less fortunate, including housing and a food pantry which provides hundreds of hot meals to our fixed income seniors. Mirocznik is also a member of Community Board 2.
Annetta Seecharran has a 25-year track record working to improve conditions for marginalized communities, with a focus on championing initiatives that benefit immigrants and young people and always drawing attention to emerging trends impacting vulnerable populations. She is currently the Executive Director of Chhaya Community Development Corporation, previously led South Asian Youth Action and has served as Director of Policy for United Neighborhood Houses.
John Siegal is a partner at BakerHostetler where he handles litigations, arbitrations, and appeals for clients in the financial services, media, and real estate industries. John’s public service experience includes working as an Assistant to Mayor David N. Dinkins and as a Capitol Hill staff aide to Senator (then Congressman) Charles E. Schumer.
Wendy Weiser directs the Democracy Program at the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law. Her program focuses on voting rights and elections, money in politics and ethics, redistricting and representation, government dysfunction, rule of law, and fair courts. She founded and directed the program’s Voting Rights and Elections Project, directing litigation, research, and advocacy efforts to enhance political participation and prevent voter disenfranchisement across the country.
The Commission will begin its work immediately. It will hold its first organizational meeting next week, which the public is invited to attend, and its first public, borough meeting the following week.
You can learn more about the Commission and find more information about public meetings here.
“It is an honor to be named Secretary of the City’s Charter Commission, and I thank Mayor de Blasio for the opportunity to serve our residents by further establishing New York as the model for an inclusive, engaged democracy,” said Commission Secretary Carlo A. Scissura. “As a vital pillar of New York City, the construction industry continually strives to offer common-sense solutions to the challenges facing the five boroughs and aims to grow our economy and make our neighborhoods better places to live. I look forward to bringing our industry’s dedication and expertise to the table in the commission’s efforts to encourage civic engagement.”
“As a lifelong New Yorker and public servant, I understand the central role the City Charter plays in providing an electoral and governance road map for city leaders,” said Commission Member Larian Angelo. “I am grateful to Mayor de Blasio for this opportunity to take a fresh look at the foundational processes that keep New York City strong”
“I am proud to have this opportunity to work Chair Perales and the other members of the Commission to help make our democracy more inclusive and more equitable. Now, more than ever, it is critical that all New Yorkers have a voice in how their City is run,” said Commission Member Deborah M. Archer.
“It’s an honor to be appointed to the City’s Charter Review Commission,” said Commission Member Kyle Bragg. “Now more than ever, it’s incumbent upon all of us to ensure that our democracy is as inclusive as can be. I look forward to serving with this esteemed group to ensure that New York City is doing everything it can to increase voter participation and put democracy in the hands of the working people of our city, not the moneyed few.”
“I thank Mayor de Blasio for the opportunity to serve in the new City’s Charter Revision Commission and outline meaningful and long-lasting reforms to assure that our communities increase their participation in our democracy,”said Commission member Marco A. Carrión. “New York City is on its way to become the fairest big city in America by constantly pursuing justice and equity, and the creation of a City’s Charter Revision Commission is a step in the right direction to achieve that goal sooner.”
“It is my honor and privilege to serve on the City’s Charter Review Commission,” said Commission Member Una Clarke. “I look forward to working with the rest of the members as we ensure that New Yorkers have a fair and democratic charter that empowers them.”
"I look forward to serving on the Charter Revision Commission and working to bring about reforms that will enhance New Yorkers’ civic participation and electoral representation,” said Commissioner Member Angela Fernandez.
Commission Member Sharon Greenberger said, “I am thrilled to join this effort to expand access to our democracy, enhance voter participation, and make New York City a healthier and stronger community.”
"I am honored to join a distinguished group of Commissioners and look forward to reviewing proposals for improving the electoral process, to help build and sustain the vibrant and inclusive democracy that New Yorkers deserve," said Commission Member Dale Ho.
“I am honored to serve and I look forward to this opportunity to work diligently for the people of New York City,”said Commission Member Mendy Mirocznik.
Commission Member John Siegal said, “I appreciate the opportunity to join this Commission in the ongoing reform effort to make this a safer, more just and equitable, and more democratic and responsive City.”
Commission Member Annetta Seecharran said, “Protecting and preserving our democracy feels more urgent than ever. I look forward to working with my fellow commissioners to ensure that New York City is truly fair, inclusive and representative of its people.”
“Energizing our democracy starts at the local level,” said Commission Member Wendy Weiser. “At a time when our country’s democratic institutions face serious challenges, this is an opportune moment to reimagine how our city can be a model for participatory politics nationwide. I’m proud to be part of that effort.”
EDITOR'S NOTE:
We find this Charter Commission to be no different from the Panel for Education Policy. All mayoral appointees who will be puppets of Mayor Bill de Blasio or the Mayor will say "YOUR FIRED".
We await the appointees of the City Council Charter Revision Commission, so we can comment on them.