Verdict Is In: EDC's $1 Million Living Wage Study is Rigged

Council Members Say, 'Pass the Fair Wages for New Yorkers Act Now'

 

    New York City Council Members will blast the Economic Development Corporation for spending $1 million on a rigged living wage study. Their charge is supported by a report, to be released tomorrow, that exposes Charles River Associates (CRA), EDC's choice to conduct the study, as a business-backed lobbying group using economists who oppose living wage and even minimum wage policies for EDC's study. The detailed report on CRA and its economists is written by the National Employment Law Project and the Fiscal Policy Institute, two highly respected economic research groups.
    Council Members Oliver Koppell, Annabel Palma, Brad Lander, Fernando Cabrera, Melissa Mark-Viverito, James Sanders, Julissa Ferraras, Jumaane Williams, Letitia James, Margaret Chin, Ydanis Rodriguez, Other Elected Officials, National Employment Law Project, Fiscal Policy Institute, Clergy, Living Wage NYC coalition partners
    Wednesday, October 27, 2010 at Noon ---The New York City Hall Steps.  

Interns Sought

 The office of Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. is seeking college interns for the Fall 2010 and Spring 2011 semesters. Internships are available in a number of departments, including planning and development, health, communications, special events, constituent services and others. To apply for an internship, please submit a resume and a writing sample to internships@bronxbp.nyc.gov. College credit is available, and hours are flexible.

We Say Vote No on Term Limits
Proposal #1

This is the reason why!
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Reprinted from The Daily News Wednesday, October 20th 2010.

Vote for term limits, but demand another crack at it next year

By Anthony Cassino

When New Yorkers go to the polls on Nov. 2, they'll get to decide - for a third time - whether they want a two-term limit for all city elected officials. I was a member of the 2010 New York City Charter Revision Commission that put this choice on the ballot as part of Question 1. While I strongly encourage all voters to vote yes on this question, I believe that the decision by the Charter commission to exempt incumbents from the two-term limit was incorrect.

Unfortunately, this provision will serve to increase cynicism rather than help to restore confidence in government.

That is why I propose that if New Yorkers vote yes on Question 1, they be given a chance next year to vote on whether the two-term limit should apply to incumbents as well. The only way that will happen is if all New Yorkers who agree with this suggestion speak up and demand this choice.

First, some history. The Charter commission on which I served was created by Mayor Bloomberg in the aftermath of the public's outrage over the way that city elected officials overturned two public referendums on term limits. You no doubt know the story: In 1993, the public overwhelming supported a two-term limit for all city officials. This was reaffirmed by a second referendum in 1996.

Then these two decisions were overturned by the City Council and mayor in 2008, enabling all city elected officials to serve three full terms.

Given that history, the Charter commission unanimously voted to put a two-term limit on the ballot - to give New Yorkers a chance to go back to the way things were. We also voted unanimously to eliminate the ability of the City Council to overturn a public referendum on term limits for current elected officials.

So far, so good.

But the Charter commission was sharply divided on the question of when the two-term limit would become effective. Of the 15 members on the commission, six of us wanted the change to be effective immediately so that it would apply to all incumbents.

After two nights of impassioned debates and a few attempts at compromise, the commission narrowly voted to make the change applicable only to officials who were first elected in or after the 2010 general election. In other words, all incumbents who are not already in their third terms would be "grandfathered in" and would get a shot at a third term.

After hearing all the public testimony and listening to my fellow commissioners, I remain convinced that our panel got this provision wrong. In a minority report that I authored along with two fellow commissioners, we stated that "by 'grandfathering' all incumbents, the commission failed to deliver on the public's implicit demand that the restoration occur as soon as possible." In fact, during the commission's numerous discussions, I did not hear even one good reason for granting such a windfall to incumbents, who can't seem to take no for an answer.

One message was heard loud and clear at our hearings: The public wanted to go back to two terms and wanted us to end the City Council's ability to override the will of the people on term limits. Regrettably, instead of being fully responsive to those concerns, we actually created another "loophole" by making the effective date so far in the future.

Not all is lost. I strongly urge the public to vote yes on Question 1. Returning to a two-term limit that cannot be overturned by the City Council will go a long way toward restoring some of our faith in government. However, once those changes are enacted, we need another Charter commission or public referendum to give New Yorkers the chance to finish the job we started.

Cassino is a lawyer who lives in the Bronx.

We Say Vote No On Proposal #1

BOROUGH PRESIDENT DIAZ GOT IN GEAR TO HOST NEW YORK STATE’S LARGEST FREE CYCLING EVENT -TOUR DE BRONX 2010

    On Sunday, October 24, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and Transportation Alternatives, in conjunction with Montefiore Medical Center, St. Barnabas Hospital and Bronx Lebanon Medical Center, hosted New York State’s Largest Free Bicycling Event, Tour de Bronx. In its 15th year, this special biking event attracted a record crowd of over 5,000 avid cyclists from throughout the tri-state area and beyond. 

    “Tour de Bronx give us the chance to show to thousands of people that the Bronx is filled with beautiful places to visit.  Riding a bike around our borough is the healthiest  way to see exactly what The Bronx has to offer,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. “I want to thank the many visitors who participated on our tour and to keep the invitation open for them to continue experiencing our wonderful borough.”

    Over five thousand of cyclists rode around the borough’s streets, enjoying attractions like St. Ann’s, the borough’s oldest church once owned by the Morris family, Yankee Stadium, the historic Longwood section celebrated for its stately Victorian-era townhouses, Orchard Beach  and many more great Bronx attractions.  Following the ride, the cyclists got together at the Botanical Gardens to enjoy the Tour de Bronx Festival, which featured live entertainment and refreshments.

    This year’s ride honored the memory of Megan Charlop, a former Montefiore employee and avid cyclist. She died on March 17, 2010, as she biked to P.S. 55 along Crotona Avenue. A moment of silence was held in her memory.  

   

 That's Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. wearing his "I Love the Bronx" shirt and his helmet as he finishes up the "Tour de Bronx". 

Illyria Newspaper Endorses Vernuccio

    This came in from the Friends of Frank Vernuccio 34nd Senate District.

       The Illyria Newspaper, America's only Albanian-American newspaper, has endorsed the candidacy of Frank Vernuccio for the 34th Senatorial District.

      Noting that Vernuccio "Has gained the respect of ...Albanian-American activists," the paper stressed the candidates' record. 

      The support of the hard-working Albanian-American community for a candidate who does not have Albanian roots is the result of Vernuccio's strong stand on ethics, low taxes for individuals, property owners, and small business, as well as his support for the freedom of Kosova.  

      We want to add that the Riverdale Review has also endorsed Mr. Vernuccio's campaign. 

It's My Park Day Big Success

    The Bedford Mosholu Community Association's "It's My Park Day" clean up of Mosholu Parkway between Webster and Hull Avenues was a huge success today. Dozens of volunteers were on hand to rake, paint, and plant the park like area used by hundreds of local people at almost any time of the year. BMCA President Barbara Stronzer was extremely pleased with the turnout, and all the work that was done to beautify the area. Ms. Stronzer is also the chairperson of Community Board #7's Parks and Recreation Committee. Even workers from the Foodtown supermarket (that burnt down last month) who live in the area came out to lend a hand. They hope to see the local community soon when their Foodtown supermarket is rebuilt into a larger and more modern store.

BOROUGH PRESIDENT DIAZ NAMES GUSTAVO RIVERA TO KINGSBRIDGE ARMORY TASK FORCE

    Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. announced today that Gustavo Rivera, Democratic nominee for the State Senate in the 33^rd District, will be joining the Kingsbridge Armory Task Force, effective immediately. 

    “Gustavo will bring an important perspective to this group, and I am happy that he has accepted my invitation to join the Kingsbridge Armory Task Force. I welcome his input on the redevelopment of this historic building,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

    “I look forward to working with Borough President Diaz and the other members of the Kingsbridge Armory Task Force on this important endeavor. I am resolved to making sure that we transform this structure into something that will be useful to the community, the Bronx and the entire city, and I am committed to working with my colleagues in government, labor and the private sector to make it happen,” said Gustavo Rivera.  The 33^rd State Senate District includes the Kingsbridge Armory.   

BOROUGH PRESIDENT DIAZ NAMES MONICA MAJOR AS BRONX REP TO PANEL FOR EDUCATION POLICY

    Today, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. announced the appointment of Monica Major as his representative to the Panel for Education Policy (PEP), which holds approval power over the actions of the New York City Department of Education. 

    A Morris Park resident and lifelong Bronxite, Ms. Major is a former president of the Community Education Council of School District #11 (CEC), and served as its vice president until her appointment to the PEP. Prior to serving on CEC #11, Ms. Major was a member of the Parent Commission on Mayoral Control, a grassroots, parent-led organization that advocated on the issue of school control. In addition to currently serving as a member of the school leadership team at P.S. 121—The Throop School, Ms. Major is a lifelong advocate on education issues.

    Prior to being appointed to the PEP, Ms. Major had already worked with Borough President Diaz on issues such as increasing gifted and talented programs, school zoning, and ongoing issues regarding testing and student achievement.

    Ms. Major currently works as a software trainer and certified mediator with the New York State Homes and Community Renewal.

    “I have known Monica Major to be a fierce advocate for the needs of Bronx children since before I came to Borough Hall, and I am thrilled that she will now be a part of our team. We have a great deal of work to do to improve our borough’s public schools, and I know Monica will be a strong ally to both myself and the 1.4 million residents of the Bronx,” said Borough President Diaz.

    “I love advocating for both parents and students, and I look forward to helping our schools move forward and improving the education of children in the Bronx and throughout the City. I am proud to be working with Borough President Diaz to craft his education agenda, and I look forward to hearing from parents, educators, and the public over the next few months on what can be done to improve our public school system,” said Ms. Major.

    Ms. Major replaces Anna Santos, who stepped down from the PEP this week after having served admirably in that position since February 2009.