Senator Rivera and Assembly Member Castro Host Job Fair for Bronxites

Senator Gustavo Rivera and Assemblyman Nelson L. Castro will be hosting a job fair Friday, November 4th from 9:30am to 1:30pm at the Bronx Library Center at 310 E. Kingsbridge Rd. Friday's Job Fair was organized in collaboration with the NYS Department of Labor and the Bronx Women’s Resource Center. With unemployment hovering at 14% in the Bronx, higher than any other borough, it is critical that our elected officials are working with community based organizations to help connect local businesses to Bronxites looking for employment. 

WHO:    Senator Gustavo Rivera and Assembly Member Castro 

WHAT:   Job Fair 

WHERE: Bronx Library Center - 310 East Kingsbridge Road

WHEN:  Friday, November 4th - from 9:30am-1:30pm

- Senator Rivera and Assembly Member Castro available from 12:30pm-1:30pm 

Employers that will be present on Friday include: Aflac, Albert Einstein, Best Choice Home Healthcare, FEDEX, Food Bank, HHH Continuum of Care, Jewish Home Lifecare, MTA- Metro North Railroad,  United Healthcare, SoBRO, Morton Williams, US Customs and Border Patrol, New York Life, St. Barnabas Hospital and the Wyndham Garden Hotel.

 

LIU STATEMENT ON SCHOOLS F.A.C.T. ACT

New York City Comptroller John C. Liu issued the following statement in response to questions concerning the enactment of the Schools Facility, Accountability, Capacity and Transparency Act today.

“The DOE can do better to reduce overcrowded schools and classrooms starting with better understanding of how space is currently used. The Schools F.A.C.T. Act will push the DOE further in this direction and we thank the Mayor and the Council for enacting this measure.”

Comptroller Liu’s office in September released an audit of the DOE’s “Blue Book” estimates of available space in schools.  The Blue Book is used by the DOE and the School Construction Authority to assist in making decisions regarding the placement of new schools and programs in pre-existing buildings and plans for major capital projects and upgrades that may increase capacity. The audit found errors in both the measurements of rooms’ sizes and their use, whether for instructional or non-instructional purposes.  Details of the audit’s findings are available at:
http://www.comptroller.nyc.gov/bureaus/audit/audits_2011/09-14-11_ME11-064A.shtm
 

Holy Family Church Invites you to a Dedication to the Virgen de la Providencia, Patron of Puerto Rico

  Holy Family Church invites you to a dedication to the Virgen de la Providencia, Patron of Puerto Rico and In recognition of Senator Ruben Diaz for his interest working for the betterment of the community.

Date:            Saturday, November 12, 2011

Time:           7:30 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.

Donation:     $25.00 – Hot Buffet

Music:         Conjunto Tropical

Place:          Mechler Hall, 2158 Watson Avenue, Bronx, New York (Between Castle Hill and Olmstead Avenues)

Enjoy Raffles, Surprises and Attractions (Ice, and Refreshments are available at a minimal cost.)

For Ticket Information Please Call: (718)829-7436 or (718) 931-3813

 

Pension Reform Oped From Comptroller John Liu

 

World-Class Pensions for a World-Class City

By New York City Comptroller John C. Liu  

New York is one of the world’s financial capitals, and yet our pension investment system exists in an outdated backwater. Dating from the 19th Century, it is unwieldy, inefficient, and heavily politicized. The City’s five pension funds are governed by five separate boards, and no two funds are managed the same. The result is a mess – even as it is responsible for $120 billion in retirement funds for 700,000 hardworking and retired New Yorkers.

Pension Reform NYC will change things. Labor leaders, elected officials, and pension trustees themselves have joined forces to replace this outmoded system with a streamlined structure that will lower pension costs, improve returns on workers’ pension investments, and ensure greater accountability.  It will save money right from the start by in-sourcing the management of certain assets. And, it will save more money over time by focusing on long-term investment decisions, strategic risk management, and all the elements one would expect in a top-tier financial center like New York.

Under the plan, the City’s five pension funds would cede authority to a new Pension Investment Board – with representation from municipal employees and the Mayor and Comptroller -- that would set policies and objectives for the system as a whole. The Bureau of Asset Management would move out of the Comptroller’s Office and be reestablished as the NYC Investment Management Company, headed by a Chief Investment Officer whose term would not coincide with any elected official.

This new structure will be more efficient and more nimble – allowing it to increase investment results while lowering taxpayer costs. It is important to note that the biggest driver of pension cost escalation over the past decade has been poor market performance. And amid looming risks of a double-dip in our economy, long-term strategy is more essential than ever.

Full implementation of Pension Reform NYC requires state and city legislative approval. The Comptroller’s Office is committed to working with all stakeholders to shepherd this proposal to fruition in the months to come.

Municipal workers’ and retirees pensions should be entrusted to a modern, professionally managed system that can withstand the volatility and unpredictability of markets for years to come. This is our best chance to create a public pension system that New York City deserves. There is no time to waste.

For more information on Pension Reform NYC visit http://pirnyc.com

"Former NYC Councilman" Fernando Ferrer?

That is what the headline of a Celeste Katz item that can be found here was sent out by State Senate Republicans as a headliner at their first-ever Hispanic conference. 

The story goes on to say that Ferrer has not been a councilman since the 1980's, and that the Senate Republicans forget that Ferrer is best known as Bronx Borough President. 

Katz even goes as far as to say how disconnected Senate Republicans are with the Latino community.

One Senate Democrats joke that he wonders how Assemblyman Pataki is doing.

Senator Rivera Hosts Final Bronx CAN Health Initiative Check-In 

Bronxites Attending the  Health Fair, Will Learn Healthy Comfort Food Recipes for Winter

Senator Gustavo Rivera (D, WF-Bronx) is hosting the final Bronx CAN Health Initiative Check-In at St. James Park Recreation Center on Saturday, October 29, 2011. The event will include a health fair with Bronx CAN Health community partners and a healthy "comfort food" recipes food demonstration that will help Bronxites stay healthy in the winter.

WHO: State Senator Gustavo Rivera

WHAT: Bronx CAN Health Initiative Check-In

WHERE: St. James Park Recreation Center – 2530 Jerome Ave.

WHEN: Saturday, October 29, 2011 at 2:00PM

LIU RETAINS OUTSIDE REVIEW OF CAMPAIGN FINANCES

 

As to the question of possible campaign finance irregularities that has been brought up recently in the media we have received the following from the Friends of John Liu.

 

John Liu has initiated a comprehensive independent review of his campaign's fundraising.  The review will be conducted by Robert Abrams, partner at Stroock & Stroock & Lavan and former New York State Attorney General.  The review is expected to be completed within 60 days.

"I look forward to a thorough and prompt review," said Liu.

Borough President Diaz & Sanitation Commissioner Doherty Fight 'Pooper-trators'

On Thursday, October 27, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. joined NYC Sanitation Commissioner John J. Doherty and Bronx Community Board #7 District Manager Fernando Tirado to announce a new information and enforcement campaign aimed at keeping Bronx streets free of canine waste.

Here, Borough President Diaz holds a “pooper scooper,” which typically cost about $20 each—a contrast to the $250 fine “pooper-trators” will receive for failing to clean up after their pet.