City Comptroller Liu Holds Bronx Town Hall Meeting

Monday February 14th New York City Comptroller John Liu held a town hall meeting in the Bronx at the Bronx County Building. Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. thanked Comptroller Liu for coming to the Bronx and talking to the people of the Bronx about any problems that they may have concerning the purview of the Comptroller's office.

Comptroller Liu discussed the process of auditing city agencies, and checking for any fraud that maybe or has occurred. One such audit turned up a number of city checks still being sent (and cashed) to people who have died. 

The comptroller said that there have been ten different audits of the Department of Education including one on the issue of school closings and funding. Other concerns raised and answered by the comptroller were on no bid contracts, overtime, nursing homes, and the filtration plant.

A message from State Senator Jeff Klein

Dear Friend,

Recently, I was named the Chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Alcohol and Substance Abuse.

I do not take this appointment lightly. Addiction is on the rise in our state and incidents of driving related injuries and deaths involving drugs and alcohol are all to common. I accepted the position with a promise to introduce legislation and foster bi-partisan ideas and debate that will ultimately create a healthier and safer New York.

During my career in public service, I have fought to protect minors and families from alcohol and drug abuse and stand up for communities that have been harmed by its side effects. 

I’ve sponsored legislation to require first-time alcohol and drug offenders to participate in rehabilitation and to make mandatory the use of ID scanners for all who seek to sell alcohol and tobacco products.

  In addition, I carry legislation that would make anyone caught selling IDs to minors responsible for an injury, death or damage caused by the minor who got drunk using one of those illegal IDs.  

I believe that when a New Yorker walks into a bar to enjoy a drink with good friends they shouldn’t have to worry about being the victim. That’s why I’ve introduced a bill that prohibits the possession of firearms in, or on, the grounds of a place that serves alcoholic beverages. 

   After three Westchester teens were rushed to the emergency room with alcohol poisoning last summer, I led the fight to ban dangerous caffeinated alcoholic beverages from our stores and get them out of the hands of minors in New York State. 

   Earlier this year, I worked with Craigslist to make sure we removed all online postings seeking to illegally sell these drinks to minors. 

   I’ve worked closely with the NYPD and the State Liquor Authority to crackdown on troublesome and noisy bars and nightclubs in our communities and worked with the Department of Health to investigate and root out “pill mills” that put powerful drugs like Oxycontin in the hands of children and young adults. 

   During the last legislative session, we took the first step toward helping and healing thousands of New Yorkers by reforming this state's Draconian Rockefeller drug laws. As chairman, I will be examining the effectiveness of these reforms and will see where further improvements can be made to help those battling addiction, and to protect our communities from the twin scourges of alcohol and substance abuse.

   Additionally, I will continue to investigate the alarming trend of beverages with high alcoholic content being sold cheaply in our stores and within easy access to minors.

   I also pledge to fight prescription drug abuse before it starts by giving pharmacists access to the Department of Health database, so they can see when a person is filing multiple prescriptions at multiple locations. 

   I believe that, through this committee, we will save New Yorkers from further anguish, pain and injury.

   If you have any suggestions, feedback, or ideas, to share related to alcohol and drug abuse, or on any other issue, please contact my office to share them at (718) 822-2049. 

State Senator Jeff KleinRepresenting the 34^th Senate District (Bronx/Westchester)

 

IDC Releases School Mandate Relief Plan

Independent Democratic Conference 

Regional Collective Bargaining among measures to lower costs, preserve educational quality.

 

  The Independent Democratic Conference today introduced a mandate relief package that will help schools reduce costs, maintain educational quality and ultimately help with the implementation of a tax cap.

   "Mandate relief is a key component of the Independent Democratic Conference’s plans to reduce the tax burden on New Yorkers,” Senator David J. Valesky, (D-Oneida), said. “If we are asking school districts to reduce spending, it only makes sense to provide them with tools to maximize efficiency and minimize the pressure caused by unfunded state mandates."

   The IDC previously released a mandate relief package for local governments.

The legislative package includes:

  Allowing Regional Collective Bargaining  

 Currently, each of the nearly 700 school districts in New York separately negotiate their own collective bargaining agreements. This is despite the fact that teachers, and some other employees, are organized at the state level. The IDC is introducing legislation that will level the playing field. It will create a voluntary system to allow neighboring districts to band together, share information better and jointly negotiate future contracts that will end up saving taxpayer money.  

  Giving New Flexibility in Purchasing Contracts 

  New York is currently one of only three states that do not allow cooperative contract use. Allowing schools and local municipalities to join out-of-state and national procurement cooperatives has proven successful in other states and has led to significant cost savings. The IDC has introduced legislation (S.624) to give school districts and local governmental entities the ability to consider favorable contractual purchasing conditions outside New York State and to "piggy-back" on to those contracts. Cooperative contracts provide a 10 to 15 percent cost savings per contract. Reform of these purchasing rules has the ability to save New York taxpayers $2 billion per-year, according to the New York State School Board Association.

  Freeing Up Excess Reserve Funds 

  A 2008 audit by the State Comptroller's Office found that school districts have collected as much as $407 million more than was needed for their Employee Benefit Accrued Liability Reserve funds. These funds, used to pay employees for accrued leave time due to them when they leave district employment, currently have restrictions placed on them that prohibit even excess money from being used for other purposes. The IDC has introduced legislation, (S.1524), that would allow districts with excess funds in their EBALR accounts to use those funds to help support schools and lower the tax levy. The IDC recommends that, if this measure becomes law, these excess funds be used to pay one-time expenses – such as capital projects --– pay off debt, or finance other post-employment benefits that would provide taxpayers relief today and reduce future costs. 

  Breaking Down Barriers to Share Services and Consolidate Healthcare Initiatives  

  The IDC has introduced legislation (S.2843) that streamlines the process for schools and other local governments to join together to consolidate administration and healthcare administration operations. These efforts would cut down on duplicative services, increase purchasing power in order to drive down costs, and allow schools access to the Healthy NY program. On average, Healthy NY is 7 percent cheaper than other health insurance products.

  “This package is a road map that will help control costs, maintain our educational system, and, with a tax cap, make sure we live within our means,” Senator Jeffry D. Klein, (D-Bronx/ Westchester), said. “I am looking forward to working with the rest of the Independent Democratic Conference and our partners in government to build bi-partisan support for this critically important legislation.”

Additionally, the IDC makes the following recommendations to the Governor's Mandate Relief Design Team:

• Enforce current laws that allow school districts to be customers of the New York Power Authority, making them eligible for lower energy-related costs. Currently, not all districts who seek this benefit are receiving them.
• Return curriculum decisions to local districts.
• Revamp the Payment In Lieu of Taxes process to ensure that any PILOT agreement includes an equitable payment to the local school district.
  
  
   “It's time to put aside the explosive rhetoric and work as a team with our educators and school administrators to do more with less,” Senator David Carlucci (D-Rockland) said. “No one wants to lessen the quality of our education and working together we can continue to lower costs while improving results. These common sense solutions will allow school districts to make the best use of their financial resources without treating our taxpayers like limitless cash machines.”

 

 

16th ANNUAL VALENTINES FOR VETERANS
Senator Klein Will Join Beauty Queens and Kids to Bring Gifts to Bronx Veterans

   Senator Jeff Klein (D-Bronx/Westchester) will join Miss New York Claire Buffie and Miss Teen USA Kamie Crawford in delivering Valentine's Day cards and gifts to Veterans at the James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The gift presentations will be followed by a musical performance by the P.S. 83 school choir. The cards and gifts are the creation and generous donation of students from across the 34th Senate District.

  WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16TH  AT 3:00PM 

  Senator Jeff Klein, Miss New York 2010, Miss Teen USA 2010, Students from P.S. 83  and others present gifts and Valentines to hundreds of Bronx Veterans 

  James J. Peters VA Medical Center, 130 West Kingsbridge Road,  Bronx
   

Bronx Community Leaders Organize Fundraiser for Young Bronx Student

   February 15^th @ 6:30 PM:  bronx community leaders organize  fundraiser for young student who wants nothing else but the opportunity to fulfill her dream of a better future.

   Moved by the plight of a single mother in the South Bronx – recently featured in the New York Times – who had to choose between paying bills or sponsoring her daughter, Destiny Sanchez, 17 years old, to participate in an exchange program abroad, outstanding Bronx community leaders Ken Padilla, Charlie Ramos, Melba Feliberty-Padilla, Eddie Padilla, Ephraim Cruz, and others, will be hosting a fundraiser to support this rising community star with strong ambitions in furthering her education.  

A fundraiser to support the dreams, goals, and aspirations of Destiny Sanchez

   Tuesday, February 15, 2011 6:30 pm  

   Joe’s Place 1841 Westchester Avenue

   Bronx, New York 10472

                   RSVP by emailing: cramos_jr@yahoo.com

COMPTROLLER LIU TAKES AUDIT BUREAU ON FIVE-BOROUGH TOUR

Audit Town Hall gives New Yorkers Opportunity to Suggest an Audit


New York City Controller John C. Liu will take his audit bureau on the road for a series of borough town hall meetings to give New Yorkers a chance to learn about the power of the auditing process. New Yorkers will have the opportunity to suggest an audit to the Comptroller’s award-winning audit team.

City Comptroller John C. Liu

Elected officials

Deputy Comptroller for Audit H. Tina Kim and Audit Bureau

Learn about the Who, What, When, Where and Why of audits. Suggest an audit to the Comptroller’s office.

Monday Feb. 14th   6-8 PM

Bronx Borough Hall, 1st floor rotunda

851 Grand Concourse Bronx, NY 10451.

 

Croton Filter Project - CFMC Meeting on Thursday, February 17, 2011

The Croton FMC will meet next week on Thursday, February 17 at 7pm at the DEP Community Office. The agenda will  Include a construction update, costs & jobs as well as a presentation on DEP's minority and women owned business program.

 

Public Hearing on the Mayor's Preliminary Budget for Fiscal Year 2012, The Capital and Service Needs of the Borough

  

Pursuant to Section 241 of the New York City Charter
Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

Invites residents to attend and speak at: 

The Bronx Borough Board Public Hearing on the 

Mayor's Preliminary Budget for Fiscal Year 2012 

and the capital and service needs of the Borough.

Thursday, February 17^th, 2011

10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

3^rd Floor Litigation Room

198 East 161st Street, Bronx, NY

Subway: 4, B, D to 161^st Street/Yankee Stadium Stop

 This hearing will give an opportunity to Bronx and Citywide non-profits, colleges, hospitals, schools, neighborhood organizations and any other parties to speak out on the Mayor's proposed budget and the capital and service needs of our neighborhoods.

Anyone interested in presenting testimony should email name, title, organization and telephone number to bmccray@bronxbp.nyc.gov 

to register in advance of the hearing.  Please bring 25 copies of your written testimony.

For accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact 718-590-3500