Call for Bold Change to Fix Failing Schools Crisis.

   Senator Ruben Diaz Sr., Assemblymen Marcos Crespo, Michael Blake, and Mark Gjonaj, Stand with Prominent Clergy and Parents to Call for Bold Change to Fix Failing Schools Crisis.

Standing in the freezing temperature in front of failing P.S. 52 on Kelly Street State Senator Diaz calls for more choice for parents as he advocates for the option of more charter schools such as the successful Girls Prep Charter School that shares the P.S. 52 building. To Senator Diaz's left is Assemblyman Marcos Crespo, and to Senator Diaz's left are Assemblymen Michael Blake and Mark Gjonaj amid the children, parents, ad Clergy members.

A bundled up Assemblyman Marcos Crespo a product of the NYC public schools explains why he is part of this push for better school options for parents.

 Assemblyman Michael Blake said that he went to PS 79 which became a failing school in District 10 after he graduated from the school. He wanted to know why the worst teachers wind up in the communities of color.

Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj of Morris Park/Norwood explains why he agrees with the need for more charter schools. He added 'Charter Schools are here to stay'.

 When it was time for questions I asked - With 12 years of Mayoral Control under Mayor Michael Bloomberg that was a disaster, and with Mayoral Control up in June of this year, what are each of the elected officials present doing to change Mayoral Control. 

 Unfortunately I can only say that these four elected officials could not give any answers, and one by one they either stood up for continuing Mayoral Control under current Mayor Bill deBlasio,  or said that is not why they are here. They are here to give parents more options such as the Girls Prep Charter School. 

Bronx Business Bridge Opens at Lehman Concourse Campus

In a collaboration of The New York City Economic Development Corporation, the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation, and Lehman College CUNY on the Concourse had the ribbon cutting for the Bronx Business Bridge. 

Above Lehman College President Ricardo Fernandez is joined by Assemblymen Michael Blake and Jeffrey Dinowitz, BOEDC head Marlene Cintron, and others in cutting the ribbon to open the new Bronx Business Bridge. 

Bronx Business Bridge is an incubator type of area to support new small business ventures know what will be expected of their business, and how to succeed in their business by having a plan for their new business. Eric Ganter of the NYCEDC said that it is the over 90 percent of small business owners that provide the largest portion of jobs in the city. 

Left - State Senator Gustavo Rivera said that he could not run a small business. While unemployment may have dropped in the Bronx under 10 percent that in his district it is still at 13 percent. 

Right - Assemblyman Michael Blake speaks of the opportunities that are now available through the Bronx Business Bridge for men and women of color where no such opportunity existed before, 

A photo of the three men in the room from Albany. State Senator Gustavo Rivera is between Assemblyman Michael Blake (on his right), and Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz (on hir left). 

Council Member Andy King to Host Coat Giveaway on Sunday, Feb. 22

  The polar vortex is expected to unleash even more bitter cold in our area in coming days.

And, unfortunately, far too many Bronx residents are unable to afford a warm winter jacket or coat.

To help, New York City Council Member Andy King will distribute coats to the neediest residents of our borough on Sunday, Feb. 22, at noon, at his district office, 940 East Gun Hill Rd., Bronx.

“There are far too many people – children and seniors included – who have been suffering through these bitter cold days without a coat. It is our hope to bring warmth and comfort to as many needy residents as possible,” said Council Member King who accepted the coats from the Bronx Clergy Taskforce.

The coats, some new or slightly used, range in sizes from age 3 to adult for males and females.  Council Member King and his staff will distribute the coats from noon to 2 p.m.

For more information, contact the office of Council Member Andy King at (718) 684-5509.

NYC Public Advocate Mayoral Control Forums

Dear Parents and Guardians: On February 25th, I will launch the first in a series of Mayoral Control Forums. These forums will take place in each of our five boroughs, giving parents, elected officials, and education advocates a much needed platform to discuss the future of mayoral control in New York City.  I would like to hear your thoughts about mayoral control and how modifications to the law can help to improve our education system. This is an opportunity to discuss what real community and parent engagement should look like moving forward. Join me February 25th and beyond, in this vital discussion - by preregisting for any of the forums. I look forward to hosting you! Sincerely, Letitia James The Public Advocate for the City of New York Brooklyn Forum February 25, 2015 6:00PM - 8:00PM Brooklyn Law School Moot Court Room 250 Joralemon St. Brooklyn, NY 11201 Staten Island Forum March 3, 2015 6:00PM - 8:00PM College of Staten Island Williamson Theatre 2800 Victory Blvd. Staten Island, NY 10314 Bronx Forum March 5, 2015 6:00PM - 8:00PM Lehman College East Dining Hall 250 Bedford Park Blvd. W Bronx, NY 10486 Queens Forum March 10, 2015 6:00PM - 8:00PM P.S. 69 Auditorium 77-2 37th Ave, Jackson Heights, NY 11372 Manhattan Forum March 11, 2015 6:00PM - 8:00PM John Jay College 524 West 59th St. New York, NY, 10019 For more information call 212-669-7200 or emailoutreach@pubadvocate.nyc.gov. New York City Public Advocate |1 Centre Street,15th Floor North | New York, NY 10007

Celebrating 7 Years of Kosova's Independence!

Congratulations to  Kosova   on their 7th Year of  Independence ! Please join us for an  Independence Day Celebration!   Saturday, February 21, 2015 6:00pm-9:00pm Maestro Caterers 1703 Bronxdale Avenue Bronx NY, 10462 Admission is Complimentary Attendees must RSVP to (347) 671-4355,  (347) 971-4385 or email assemblymangjonajevents@gmail.com                                          Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj                                         1126 Pelham Parkway South                                       Bronx, New York 10461

Senator Klein Announces Launch of 5th Annual Earth Day Poster Contest

Senator Jeff Klein (D-Bronx/Westchester) today announced the launch of the New York State Senate’s 5^th Annual Earth Day Poster Contest to celebrate and honor Earth Day. Kindergarten through sixth grade students from across the Bronx and Westchester are encouraged to participate in this statewide competition.

  

Senator Klein said: “By adopting simple, everyday ‘green’ habits we can work to preserve our environment and keep it clean, healthy and safe for future generations. The Earth Day poster contest is a fun way to raise awareness and teach our children about the importance of recycling and other environmentally-friendly actions we can take to protect our planet."

The theme of this year’s Earth Day celebration is “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.” The winning posters will be displayed on Senator Klein’s official website and social media sites. Participants will also receive a certificate acknowledging their participation.  Students wishing to participate in this year’s event must submit their entry online at www.klein.nysenate.gov by April 6, 2015.

Since the first Earth Day was celebrated in 1970, over 20 million Americans have participated, helping to improve the quality of air we breathe and the water we drink.  In addition, landmark legislation has been passed to help support this effort, such as the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act.

Bronx Freedom Fund Releases First Year of Results & Inspires City-wide Bail Fund

  BRONX FREEDOM FUND RELEASES FIRST YEAR OF RESULTS

State Senator Gustavo Rivera's First Law Helps 140 Bronxites Successfully Avoid Unnecessary Jail Time in First Year and Inspires City-wide Bail Fund 

  The Bronx Freedom Fund has released its one year report highlighting its success in helping 140 low-income Bronx residents post bail over the nonprofit's first year. The Bronx Freedom Fund was the first organization to be licensed as a charitable bail organization in the State of New York after Governor Cuomo signed into law a bill sponsored by Senator Gustavo Rivera allowing these types of organizations to function in the State.

"No one should be forced to sit in jail awaiting trial or plea to a charge because they cannot afford bail," said State Senator Gustavo Rivera. "Charitable bail organizations, like the Bronx Freedom Fund, provide countless of struggling New Yorkers with a fairer alternative to navigating the justice system, while saving tax payer money. Expanding such programs, including the creation of a city-wide bail fund as Speaker Mark-Viverito recently proposed, would go a long way in ensuring our justice system is more effective and just for all New Yorkers."

The Bronx Freedom Fund has leveraged its revolving bail fund to post bail for low-income Bronx residents facing a misdemeanor case where bail is set at $2000 or less. In its first year of operation, the Bronx Freedom Fund saw the following results:

•  They posted bail for 140 individuals, helping change the trajectory of each of those cases.
•  98 percent of these clients made all required court appearances.
•  56 percent of these cases have ended in dismissals where all of the charges were dropped
•  23 percent of the cases have resulted in non-criminal disposition
• 9 percent of the clients plead guilty to a misdemeanor

"The Bronx Freedom Fund's first year not only proved that our model works, but that it can be the difference between an individual being saddled with criminal charges or allowed to go free," said Alyssa Work, Project Director of the Bronx Freedom Fund. "The success of our model is a great step forward for fairer bail practices in New York State, but there are still too many New Yorkers who are needlessly held in jail before trial or forced to take a plea because they cannot afford bail."

Citing the growing need to reform various parts of our criminal justice system and the Bronx Freedom Fund's success, Speaker Mark-Viverito proposed creating a $1.4 million city-wide bail fund during her first State of the City address. The proposed city-wide fund would be modeled after the Bronx Freedom Fund's successful pilot program in an effort to provide the same effective and cost-saving program to all New Yorkers across the five boroughs.

"Too many New Yorkers are in detention centers because they could not make bail and the bail fund is a common sense reform to this long-standing problem. This is an exciting and innovative idea and I want to especially thank State Senator Gustavo Rivera for his advocacy. I look forward to engaging with my Council colleagues as we seek to create the first ever citywide bail fund," said Council Speaker Mark-Viverito.  

In addition to helping individuals avoid spending unnecessary time in jail, the report also proves that providing low-income individuals with the ability to post bail helps them achieve better outcomes in their cases and avoid the negative consequences that stem from pre-trial incarceration, which can range from becoming homeless and unemployed to facing deportation.

"I found myself charged with a misdemeanor for driving under the influence and was unable to post bail," said Billy, a Bronx Freedom Fund client. "If the Bronx Freedom Fund had not stepped in to help, I would have had to stay in jail until my trial was completed and I would have lost my job as a senior care aide. Thanks to them, I was not only able to return home immediately, but I was also able to fight my case and resolve it by attending an alcohol treatment program.