New District Lines

Here is the link to see the new district lines that have been proposed from the New York State Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment. You can see the current district lines that were drawn in 2002, and the district lines from 1992 also. 

   The new State Assembly and State Senate lines have to go through 12 hearings throughout the state, and pass the Voting Rights Act where applicable. Then there will also be the lawsuits that may come up, as we are sure that there will be many to the new senate district lines. 

  By the way that new 63rd State Senate District runs right through Republican rich upstate around the Albany area, just as we told you weeks ago.

From Senator Jeff Klein-

A Senator You Can Count On

 
Dear Friends,

I’m proud to announce the release of the Independent Democratic Conference’s blueprint on how to help small businesses in New York.

This five-point plan was developed with the input of more than 75 small businessmen and women who participated in our ThoughtRaiser Initiative.

 Through these ThoughtRaiser roundtables, businesses told us that they grapple with:

-- Escalating Health Insurance Costs

-- Burdensome Regulations

-- Paying the Highest Combined Tax Burden in the Country

-- Limited Access to Credit

-- Excessive Paperwork Requirements

The IDC has released an action plan and report on how to tackle these issues. They can be found here.

Read coverage of the IDC’s Small Business Action Plan here, and click here to watch the IDC’s recent interview on New York Now. 

We need to stand by the small businesses that stood by New York.

In order to help grow our economy, we need to help those who have persevered through the bad times and kept their businesses and their jobs in our communities.

Sincerely,



Jeff Klein

 


SAVE THE DATE

Senator Jeff Klein's Black History Month Breakfast
Saturday, Feb.  25 

9:00 a.m.Villa Barone Manor

737 Throggs Neck Expressway Bronx, NY 10465 
To RSVP, call 718-822-2049.

 

News Feom Comptrolwe Liu: "ONE-THIRD OF ALL NEW YORKERS CAN’T AFFORD TO RETIRE"

 

  A study released today shows a growing number of New Yorkers don’t have enough money to retire. Over one-third of older residents are expected to either subsist on Social Security, or not be able to retire at all.

The study, entitled Are New Yorkers Ready for Retirement?, is part of a research initiative by New York City Comptroller John C. Liu and the Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis (SCEPA) at The New School. Using recent New York City and New York State metropolitan-area data, the report examines whether New York City residents are financially prepared for their senior years. The answer, increasingly, is no.

The study found:
·         Between 2000-2009, the percentage of employees in New York City who had access to employer-sponsored retirement plans declined from 48% to 40% – below the U.S. average, which is 53% (2009).
·         Only 35% of New York City workers participated in an employer-based retirement plan in 2009.
·         More than one-third of New York City households in which the head is near retirement age will have to subsist almost entirely on Social Security income or will not be able to retire at all due to the fact that they have less than $10,000 in savings.

“It is a significant public policy concern when such a high proportion of the workforce will not have enough money in their retirement years,” Comptroller Liu said. “This report focuses attention on the need to help workers, both public and private sector, properly prepare throughout their working careers for their eventual retirement.”

The report found that employers have become less willing or able to sponsor pensions – a trend that is true across most industries and occupations, and affects New Yorkers of nearly all ages and income groups. The brewing retirement crisis cuts across racial, ethnic and gender lines.

“The deck is becoming increasingly stacked against New Yorkers in their efforts to retire,” said SCEPA Director Teresa Ghilarducci, Ph.D. “Fewer New Yorkers have access to the convenience and affordability of employer-sponsored retirement plans. More and more residents now face a choice between retiring into poverty or continuing to work in old age. Without significant policy reforms, the economic tea leaves foretell a decrease in the standard of living for retired New Yorkers. ”

The study was authored by Dr. Ghilarducci, a national expert on public pensions and retirement issues, along with economist Joelle Saad-Lessler, Ph.D. The New York City Comptroller’s Office Budget and Policy Bureau provided key data and analysis.

The main study data were drawn from the 2001 and 2010 Current Population Survey (CPS), the 2008 Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP), and the 2009 New York State Personal Income Tax Files.

Download the “Retirement Readiness” Report and Fact Sheet at http://www.comptroller.nyc.gov/rsnyc/

The report is the fifth in a series produced by Comptroller Liu’s Retirement Security NYC initiative:

Municipal Employee Compensation in New York City The $8 Billion Question: An Analysis of NYC Pension Costs Over the Past Decade Sustainable or Not? NYC Pension Cost Projections through 2060 A Better Bang for New York City’s Buck: An Efficiency Comparison of Defined Benefit Pension Plans and Defined Contribution Retirement Savings Plans

Contacts:
Bridget C. Fisher, Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis (SCEPA), 212-229-5901 x4911, fisherb@newschool.edu Stephanie Hoo, Office of NYC Comptroller John C. Liu, 212-669-3747, shoo@comptroller.nyc.gov

About Retirement Security NYC Retirement Security NYC is a major initiative launched by Comptroller John C. Liu to protect the retirement security of public employees while ensuring the City’s financial health. Retirement Security NYC has partnered with two leading institutions – the National Institute on Retirement Security (NIRS) and The New School’s Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis (SCEPA) – to analyze the current state of public pensions and offer sensible reforms.
About the Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis (SCEPA) at The New School SCEPA is the economic policy research arm of the department of economics at The New School in New York City’s Greenwich Village. SCEPA works to focus public debate on the role government can and
should play in the economy to raise living standards, create economic security, and attain full employment. With a focus on collaboration and outreach, it provides original, standards-based research on key policy issues to empower policy makers to create positive change. For more information, please visit www.economicpolicyresearch.org

.

About The New School

Located in the heart of New York’s Greenwich Village, The New School is a center of academic excellence where intellectual and artistic freedoms thrive. More than 10,200 matriculated students and 6,400 continuing education students enjoy a disciplined education supported by small class sizes, superior resources, and renowned working faculty members who practice what they teach. The New School is comprised of The New School for General Studies, The New School for Social Research, Milano The New School for Management and Urban Policy, Parsons The New School for Design, Eugene Lang College The New School
for Liberal Arts, Mannes College The New School for Music, The New School for Drama, and The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music. For more information, please visit http://www.newschool.edu.

 

 

JASA Presents: The Annual Volunteer Ventures Expo for New Yorkers 50+

  JASA, New York’s largest agency serving older adults in the New York Metropolitan area, is pleased to announce the annual JASA Volunteer Ventures Expo, a free conference and volunteer opportunities fair for adults 50+. The expo will take place on Wednesday, March 7, 2012 from 10 am to 2 pm at UJA-Federation of New York, 130 E. 59th Street.

This event is being produced in association with UJA-Federation of New York, New York City Department for the Aging, NYC Service, New Yorkers Volunteer/State Commission on National and Community Service, Retired Senior Volunteer Program/Community Service Society of New York, The Transition Network and Coming of Age NYC.

“JASA recognizes the immense talent and experience that older adults bring to nonprofit organizations,” said Alexandra Collier, JASA’s Director of Volunteer Services and Special Projects. “The JASA Volunteer Ventures Expo provides older adults with the opportunity to find dynamic and engaging volunteer and civic engagement programs in their communities, and connects New York City nonprofits with talented and experienced older adult volunteers.”

At the JASA Volunteer Ventures Expo, adults 50+ from across the New York Metropolitan area will meet with representatives from top New York City nonprofit organizations. Volunteers and staff members from a wide variety of nonprofits including, advocacy, arts, environmental, faith-based and cultural organizations, will answer questions about volunteering with their organizations.

In addition to the Volunteer Opportunities Fair, attendees can choose from 3 workshops on strategies for finding the right volunteer opportunity, volunteering with children and youth, and creating individualized volunteer opportunities.

Admission to the Volunteer Ventures Expo is free for adults 50+, but advanced registration is required. Download registration form online at www.jasa.org or contact Larissa Belcic: 212-273-5222; lbelcic@jasa.org. Organizations interested in sponsoring a table at the Volunteer Opportunities Fair should also email Larissa Belcic at lbelcic@jasa.org or register online at www.jasa.org.

Since 1968, JASA and its affiliates with its 3,000 staff and volunteers, have provided social, recreational, health, housing, cultural and educational programs for 53,000 older adults per year -- regardless of their race, religion, or ethnicity -- to help sustain them in their homes and communities and to offer opportunities for a better quality of life.  Services are available in Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx, Nassau and Suffolk Counties.

 

Assemblyman Nelson L. Castro Helps Pass Legislation to Increase Taxi Service to the Outer Boroughs and Upper Manhattan

Legislation will improve access to taxis for people with disabilities

 

Assemblyman Nelson L. Castro (D-Bronx) announced the Assembly passed legislation he helped pass that will allow New York City to issue 18,000 hail accessible inter-borough licenses (HAIL) allowing livery cars to pick up street hails (A.8691-A). Twenty percent of the licenses will be for accessible vehicles to provide more transportation options to people with disabilities. An agreement on this legislation has been reached with the governor and the Senate.

“About 70 percent of constituents in my district are self employed, many of which are taxi drivers,” Assemblyman Castro said. “This legislation will afford New Yorkers in under served areas greater access to taxicab service in and around the city. This will also lead to more revenue for the city of New York, helping protect vital programs for seniors and hardworking families.”

Under the legislation, New York City will be able to issue the new licenses over the next three years. The city will also be authorized to issue up to 450 new base permits, generating up to $1.3 million in revenue.

In addition, the Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) will issue 2,000 new taxicab licenses for vehicles that are accessible to people with disabilities. The TLC will also be required to provide grants of up to $15,000 to retrofit HAIL vehicles to accommodate people with disabilities and establish a program to support the introduction of handicapped-accessible vehicles into the HAIL vehicle fleet.

  “The issuance of new HAIL licenses to service the under served areas of the five 

boroughs  and Upper Manhattan, and new medallions, will  substantially improve the

ability of New Yorkers, especially those with  disabilities, to get where they need to 

go quickly and easily, ” Assemblyman  Castro said. “It is imperative that we continue 

to support these kinds of  initiatives to make traveling within New York City more 

accessible, efficient and affordable.” 

  In 2010, Assemblyman Castro introduced legislation (A10190) to allow 

affiliated vehicles in the city of New York to obtain a special street hail license to 

accept hails from passengers in the street in areas outside the Manhattan central

 business district.

CITY ENDED 2011 WITH ELEVATED UNEMPLOYMENT AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE, MINORITIES

 

  Unemployment is up in New York City, highlighted by persistent inequities by race, age and borough, according to a data analysis released today by City Comptroller John C. Liu. The quarterly data showed that the City ended 2011 with unemployment in the double digits for young people, African Americans, and Hispanics – with the rate nearly twice as high in the Bronx as in Manhattan.

“As President Obama pointed out in his State of the Union, expanding opportunities is essential to job creation,” Comptroller Liu said. “We must level the playing field and close these employment gaps, because they undermine the health of entire neighborhoods and threaten our economic future. The City should clearly set fiscal policy to expand opportunities for Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises, which have proven track records of creating jobs in neighborhoods that need them the most.”

With the release of New York City employment data on Thursday, Jan.19, the Comptroller’s Bureau of Fiscal and Budget Studies analyzed raw data in the Current Population Survey (CPS) conducted by the Census Bureau and highlighted several trends.

Unemployment for the City was 9.7 percent in the fourth quarter of 2011, compared with 8.6 percent in same quarter of 2010, and 10.1 percent in 2009. A closer look at the data illustrated that unemployment was more pronounced in communities of color, among young people, and in the outer boroughs.

Age

Most strikingly, unemployment rose for 16-24 year olds to 16.5 percent.

	4Q09	4Q10	4Q11
16-24 years old	22.4%	11.9%	16.5%
25-54 years old	9.3%	8.7%	9.8%
55 years and older	5.7%	6.0%	5.2%

Source: NYC Comptroller’s Office from CPS microdata

Race

The unemployment rate for African Americans was 13.6 percent and for Hispanics it was 10.0 percent, compared with 7.8 percent for whites and 7.4 percent for Asians and others.

	4Q09	4Q10	4Q11
African American	14.6%	14.9%	13.6%
White	7.5%	5.7%	7.8%
Hispanic	11.9%	9.8%	10.0%
Asian and other	6.0%	3.9%	7.4%

Source: NYC Comptroller’s Office from CPS microdata

Borough

By borough, the unemployment rate in the Bronx was 12.6 percent, nearly twice as high as Manhattan’s 6.4 percent.

	4Q09	4Q10	4Q11
Bronx	13.0%	14.8%	12.6%
Brooklyn	10.5%	8.2%	11.6%
Manhattan	6.5%	6.2%	6.4%
Queens	10.6%	8.3%	8.4%
Staten Island	12.2%	6.1%	12.4%

Source: NYC Comptroller’s Office from CPS microdata

Education

Unemployment was also in the double digits for New Yorkers without a college diploma.

	4Q09	4Q10	4Q11
No HS diploma	12.5%	13.7%	10.4%
HS, some college	12.1%	9.4%	12.3%
BA or more	7.1%	6.0%	6.7%

Source: NYC Comptroller’s Office from CPS microdata

Due to the sample sizes of the CPS data, information was broken down on a quarterly basis to establish the most accurate depiction of the City’s unemployment trends.

The Current Population Survey is a monthly survey of about 50,000 households conducted by the Bureau of the Census for the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The survey has been conducted for more than 50 years. CPS data are used by government policymakers and legislators as important indicators of our nation’s economic situation and for planning and evaluating many government programs. They are also used by the press, students, academics, and the general public.

A full spreadsheet of the unemployment breakdown can be found at:

http://www.comptroller.nyc.gov/bureaus/bud/Summary_economic_notes.shtm

*The data estimates are computed directly from the US Census Bureau Current Population Survey, and may not correspond with estimates released by the State Department of Labor.

TESTIMONY OF BRONX BOROUGH PRESIDENT RUBEN DIAZ JR. TO THE CITY COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEE ON LANDMARKS AND MARITIME USES IN FAVOR OF DESIGNATION OF

THE GRAND CONCOURSE HISTORIC DISTRICT

 

Last year, I applauded the designation of a Grand Concourse Historic District by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Center, and now I urge its approval by the New York City Council.

Designation as a New York City Historic District will complement the Grand Concourse’s already established listing on the National Register of Historic Places. In the future, I hope to see this historic district extended to match the more extensive national register boundaries.

This Grand Concourse Historic District is significantly intact, and contains many notable examples of art deco and other classic apartment houses. As I mentioned in my testimony to the Landmarks Preservation Commission, the threats to buildings on the Grand Concourse are in the details. Poorly done renovations and building management with short vision are carving away at the inherent value of this illustrious built environment. As an historic district, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission can guard against ill conceived and undesirable solutions that threaten proper maintenance of these buildings.

The area of the new district has been richly added to with the new Yankee Stadium and Gateway Center. The City itself has invested greatly in the area with infrastructure improvements, including improvements to both the concourse roadway and park system. The lower Grand Concourse has also been re-zoned to create a vibrant, mixed-use, mixed-income community with new housing, waterfront open space, and an array of retail services.

Its status as an historic district is the finishing touch to the revival of the entire area, and I urge its support. Thank you for your consideration.

What You Should Know by Senator Rev. Ruben Diaz

 

The Christians and Evangelicals in South Carolina resurrected Newt Gingrich from a political grave.  

Yes, my dear readers, this past Saturday, January 21st, the Republican presidential primary took place in South Carolina, where four of the presidential candidates from that party argued the right to decide who will be the one who will get the opportunity to challenge President Barack Obama in the November General Election.

Mitt Romney, the ex-Governor from Massachusetts, Newt Gingrich, the ex-Speaker of the House, Rick Santorum, the ex-Senator from Pennsylvania, and Congressman Ron Paul from Texas, are the only ones left from the original ten Republican contenders that started the run to the White House.

On this occasion, the Christians and Evangelicals in South Carolina sent a message to the whole nation stating that they really believe in the biblical commandment to pardon those who repent and who publicly acknowledge their sin.

The victory that our brothers and sisters in South Carolina handed to Newt Gingrich was not even close.  It was an overwhelming and unexpected victory.

You should know that the most interesting aspect of Gingrich’s victory is that Christians and Evangelicals apparently overlooked the fact that Newt Gingrich has been divorced twice and married three times.  It seems to me that they thought if the Democrat President William Jefferson Clinton was pardoned and not condemned by his many infidelities, including having sexual relations in the White House with Monica Lewinsky, an intern, why should we in South Carolina not forgive Newt Gingrich who is divorced twice and married three times, when he publicly has admitted his wrongdoing and has asked for forgiveness?

Now the battle of the Republican Party moves on to Florida, where a great number of Christians and Evangelicals reside.  The Christian vote has become a force to reckon with, especially in the Southern States where in order to get elected the candidates have to establish his or her conservative credentials, reject homosexual marriage, reject abortion and show who is the closest one to biblical teachings.  What a difference to Christians in New York!

I would give anything to see the day when our God will open our eyes and we will see and follow the example of the Southern Christians, especially the examples given to us last Saturday by the Christians in South Carolina.

I hope and pray that the message sent by South Carolina Christians, when they came out as a strong voting block and voted their conscience,  will be followed by Christians all over the nation and that it will be the beginning of the resurrection for the respect and fear of Christian voting power in the nation.  Maybe this way we will finally have our faith and beliefs respected.

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

 

  

Gingrich wins South Carolina Republican Primary

Florida is next for the candidates

 

 

 

  Newt Gingrich won the South Carolina Republican primary with 40% of the vote. Mitt Romney came in second with 27%, Rick Santorum wound up with 17%, and Ron Paul got 15%. The numbers are rounded off to the nearest percentage, which accounts to them adding up to only 99%. 

  We know that we predicted Rick Santorum as the winner, and we now believe that he will end up the Republican candidate, as he was awarded Iowa after a recount. So after three races only Ron Paul has not pulled out a victory, and with numbers like all four have gotten this could be a long race for the Republican nod. 


  Mitt Romney appears to be falling fast, and is not expected to do well in Florida, which will give Santorum and Paul a better chance of gaining larger percentages if not win.

 


 

Nation's Passion for Firearms Reflected in Record-setting SHOT Show^®

LAS VEGAS--Energized by unprecedented gun sales nationwide, firearms industry professionals turned out in record numbers to the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show^SM (SHOT Show^®), and many made a point of saying "the best is yet to come."

"It's a wonderful time to be in our industry," said Sandy Chisholm of North American Arms, a handgun manufacturer. "We've seen tremendous enthusiasm on the part of sellers and buyers, and we see the prospect of a very good year ahead." Many agreed with that assessment of the market and of the SHOT Show.

The largest trade show of its kind in the world and the fifth largest trade show in Las Vegas, a city of trade shows, the SHOT Show set an overall attendance record of more than 61,000, including new highs for buyers at 36,383 and media at 2,466. Though show organizers deliberately reduced the size of the show to better accommodate attendees at the Sands Expo and Convention Center, still some 1,600 exhibitors filled booth space covering 630,000 net square feet. The show attracted industry professionals from all 50 states and 100 countries.

The SHOT Show is owned by the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the trade association for the firearms, ammunition, hunting and shooting sports industry. Revenues from the show support NSSF's many programs that carry out its mission of promoting, protecting and preserving hunting and the shooting sports. "The SHOT Show allows NSSF to do many good things for industry, shooting and hunting," said NSSF President and Steve Sanetti. Added Chris Dolnack, NSSF senior vice president and chief marketing officer, "We have worked hard to make sure SHOT is a great selling and buying experience, and it has resulted in our best show ever."

Thanks to Americans' passion for firearms, the $4 billion firearms and ammunition industry has been a bright spot in the down economy. The industry supports many small businesses and helps preserve the 180,000 jobs associated with the shooting sports. In 2011, company executives saw records set for background checks, a reliable indicator of sales, including the most ever in a single month (December) and single day (Black Friday). Many in the industry believe, however, that Americans' interest in owning firearms will continue to grow in 2012, fueling their unabashed optimism about the year ahead. Many also said they would not be surprised to see supporters of the Second Amendment react as they did before the last presidential election when their fears over candidates who were unfriendly toward firearms ignited a sales surge.

From the opening bell, buyers filled the aisles to review products, many of them new offerings that will make their way to retail stores during the year. "Traffic is like we've never seen it before," said Mark Malkowski, president of Stag Arms, maker of modern sporting rifles (AR-style rifles), a big seller over the past several years. "Retailers we've talked to are expecting a record year."

One firearms retailer, Todd Vance of Vance Outdoors in Columbus, Ohio, agreed. "We had our best-ever year in 2011, and we've started off this year great and expect to be up." In his store, Vance said buyers are interested in concealable handguns, home-defense firearms, ammunition and tactical rifles, particularly new .22 caliber models.

Another handgun manufacturer, Sig Sauer, reported having its best first day at SHOT since the company began keeping sales records. "The market is stimulated," said Bud Fini, vice president of marketing, who added that the company's shooting academy is seeing many new gun owners. "First-time buyers, that's where the expansion is coming from," Fini said.

Accessories, from holsters to rifle slings to optics, are an important part of the SHOT Show. "We are selling sights like you can't believe," said Aimpoint's Roger Bell of the company's pro staff. "We signed up a lot of new dealers, and that says to me the market is expanding."

In the Mossberg booth, Tom Taylor, vice president of marketing, said, "This is about as much excitement as I've seen at a SHOT Show. People are buying optimistically, and we're going to build optimistically."

For first-time exhibitors, the SHOT Show can provide a big lift. "When you are a start-up company without a big marketing budget, the SHOT Show helps put you in front of the right audience," said Jeane Stewart of U.S. RAC, maker of firearm safety products for law enforcement. Stewart said her company great valued the show's New Products Center.

Any SHOT attendee will tell you the show is more than about selling and buying; it's a powerful display of industry unity and its resolve to meet any challenge affecting the right to make, sell and own firearms. At the NSSF State of the Industry Dinner, NSSF President Steve Sanetti said, "I have never seen us so unified and united in our purpose." As evidence, he pointed to NSSF's fast-growing membership, which now tops 7,000, an all-time high.

More than 2,000 NSSF supporters filled the sold-out hall for the State of the Industry Dinner, which was sponsored by Outdoor Channel and included a review of NSSF's accomplishment from the past year and entertainment from hugely popular comedian Larry the Cable Guy.

Opportunities abound at the SHOT Show, and some who attend are selling more than products. At South Dakota's booth, representatives had a goal of convincing manufacturers they should be making products in the state. "Last year South Dakota connected with more than 50 companies. Within four months, two of those companies expanded their operations to South Dakota," said economic development commissioner J. Pat Costello.

Many awards are presented at the show. NSSF presented Larry Potterfield of Midway USA with its Ken Sedlecky Achievement Award for his generous and longstanding contributions to programs that promote youth target shooting. The Professional Outdoor Media Association and NSSF honored veteran communicator and best-selling author S.P. Fjestad with the prestigious POMA/NSSF Grits Gresham Shooting Sports Communicator Award. Fjestad publishes "The Blue Book of Gun Values," a widely consulted database.

The show continues to benefit from the broadbased press contingent that lavishes attention on newly released products. The media, of course, are usually the first to spot celebrities, who this year included American Idol judge and rock star Steven Tyler, and NFL Hall of Famer Lynn Swann. A big success was SHOT Show Media Day at the Range on the day prior to the show, where credentialed press reviewed and tested products. More than 1,100 press and 100 exhibitors attended Media Day--more than ever before.

NSSF ramped up its use of social media to keep its members and consumers informed about the show, making frequent posts to the SHOT Show Blog and providing Twitter updates that showgoers followed on "Twitterfall" screens placed throughout the venue. An expanded NSSF press room sponsored by Budweiser accommodated the record number of press with free Wi-Fi, a large working press area and other amenities.

In conjunction with the SHOT Show, NSSF sponsored the PGA Charities' Birdies for the Brave golf tournament that raised funds for injured armed service veterans.

The SHOT Show will return to the Sands Expo & Convention Center next year January 15-18.

About NSSF
The National Shooting Sports Foundation is the trade association for the firearms industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of more than 7,000 manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen's organizations and publishers. For more information, log on to www.nssf.org. 

Quinn Visits Riverdale

  City Council Speaker Christine Quinn visited the Hebrew Home for the Aged in Riverdale today. Along with the Speaker were local Councilman G, Oliver Koppell, and her father. This was Quinn's second visit to Riverdale as she visited the Riverdale YMHA nearby less than two weeks ago. Quinn gave a brief speech including a comment that even with the budget cuts that the city did not cut any funding to senior centers such as the one she was in.

  The Speaker took a few questions, and asked her father to answer one about aging. Councilman Koppell helped on another that was a local community question. When asked if she was running for mayor Quinn did not say yes or no, just that she is thinking about it.

  In a separate announcement a spokesman for the Hebrew Home said that the home had purchased the property next door known as the Cardinal Spellman Home to expand in the near future.

  Speaker Quinn addressing the audience, with her father and Councilman Koppell off to the side.

  Speaker Quinn and Councilman Koppell pose for a picture.

Our Prediction For The South Carolina Republican Primary

  With the South Carolina Republican primary set for tomorrow, and the field down to four choices now we thought we would have some fun in getting out our crystal ball and asking it who the winner will be.

  We saw all four candidates names whirling around in our crystal ball Romney, Gingrich, Santorum, and Paul. Our crystal ball reminded us that it was Rick Santorum that won the Iowa caucus and not Mitt Romney, and that fact may have a difference on the South Carolina primary. 

  We said, so who is the winner, and don't say President Obama again. The one name that surfaced as the winner of the South Carolina primary was Rick Santorum. Our Crystal ball said since the candidates took off their mitts and went after Romney, that Santorum gained the most. No other name surfaced, and we guess that at least one more candidate will duck out of the race after South Carolina.

 

  We know that candidate Santorum is currently last in the polls, but we love an underdog.

   

And Now There Are Four Left

Rick Perry is the latest candidate to DUCK OUT of the race for President. Perry has endorsed Newt Gingrich to be the Republican choice to run against President Barrack Obama.

Who does this really help?

Klein, Vacca and Community Celebrate Extension of Bx24 Bus Route

 Year Long MTA Campaign Ends in Victory

 

  New York State Senator Jeffrey D. Klein (D- Bronx/Westchester) and New York City Councilmember James Vacca (D-Bronx) announced today that they had received assurances from the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) that the Bx24 bus would finally be extended to run along Westchester Avenue to Westchester Square.  For well over a year, Klein and Vacca supported community efforts to get the MTA to extend the bus route past Pelham Bay Station.

The MTA also announced that the Bx5 bus would return to its previous route along Bruckner Boulevard towards Pelham Bay, rather than run along Crosby and Westchester Avenues.

The announcement is seen as a successful conclusion to their outreach and efforts, which included constant communication with MTA officials throughout the year.  Last April, Senator Klein hosted an MTA town hall meeting in Country Club with top brass of the Authority which forced them to listen to the communities concerns.  The town hall meeting attracted well over one hundred residents who were uniform in their desire to see the Bx24 extended to Westchester Square and the Bx5 rerouted back to Bruckner Boulevard.  Councilmember Vacca, as chair of the City Council Transportation Committee, used every opportunity, both publically and privately, to convey to high level MTA officials that restoring service on the Bx24, at least to Westchester Square, was an action that he and his constituents considered a necessity. He also submitted to MTA officials hundreds of petitions that his office had collected, demanding restoration of service and making it clear to them that this issue was not going to go away.

“For more than a year, I've been working with community leaders to push the MTA to properly serve neighborhood residents and provide comprehensive service to Westchester Square. I demanded that the MTA hold an open public forum in my district, so they could hear directly from those Country Club and Spencer Estates residents who were ill-served by the current system. We stuck together, spoke in one voice and -- because of that -- we were able to achieve this very important victory" said Senator Klein.

“When I sink my teeth into something, I don’t let go, and I wasn’t going to let go on this one. Much more than MTA officials, I know the Country Club community and I know that not giving residents access to Crosby Avenue and Westchester Square meant that many of them could not make doctors’ appointments or do food shopping without using their cars or arranging for someone to take them. We certainly pay enough taxes to have basic bus service and I refuse to settle for anything less!” said Councilmember Vacca

“This is really great news” said Marcia Pavlica, President of the Country Club Civic Association “It shows that Westchester Square is not off bounds to us and is a very important part of our larger community. It also shows our elected officials kept on top of this and delivered for our neighborhood.”

"Bronx Community Board #10 is gratified to note that through the joint efforts of all of our elected officials, and our Board, that service to Country Club community, along the BX 24's route has been restored. The Board was proud to work with our elected officials and the MTA to restore this vitally needed service." Said Kenneth Kearns, District Manager of Bronx Community Board #10

The route changes will be voted upon at the MTA Board on Monday, January 23^rd 2012 and will be implemented in April 2012. 

Residents who have questions regarding the route can call either Senator Klein’s Office at (718) 822-2049 or Councilmember Vacca’s Office at (718) 931-1721.