CITY COMPTROLLER LIU: PARKS SLOW TO FIX PROBLEM PLAYGROUNDS

Audits Find Rats and Busted Equipment; Hazards Remain Long After Parks Department’s Own Inspectors Report Them 

City Comptroller John C. Liu today announced that a series of borough-specific audits found the Parks Department was slow to fix hazardous conditions in some playgrounds and may have missed others in its regular inspections.  Although Parks generally inspected playgrounds as required, in many instances the agency didn’t fix problems, including rusted and broken equipment, even after they were flagged for repair. 

“Parents shouldn’t have to worry about their children playing on broken equipment or near rat holes – especially after Parks’ own inspectors have already reported the hazards,” Comptroller Liu said.  “In some cases, the Parks Department is inexplicably slow to give its full attention to poor playground conditions and needs to better meet its own guidelines for making badly needed repairs.”

The Parks Department randomly inspects 205 playgrounds every two weeks – and each site in the City is usually inspected twice a year.  Inspection reports are forwarded to Parks staff for review and correction of unacceptable conditions.  Hazardous conditions such as protruding bolts, broken or damaged equipment or benches, etc., are supposed to be repaired within two to four weeks.  Parks inspectors then revisit those playgrounds to verify whether the problems have been corrected. 

Auditors inspected 107 playgrounds in all five boroughs in July 2011.  At many locations, they found problems were still present months after Parks’ own inspections had brought them to light.  In other cases, the auditors found hazards that had not been included on the most recent Parks inspection report. 

Manhattan

Auditors inspected 22 Manhattan playgrounds in July 2011. 

Dry Dock Playground, East 10^th Street and Avenue D:

• Parks inspectors reported that protruding cobblestones caused safety mats to be lifted and created a tripping hazard on December 2, 2010. When auditors visited 207 days later, in July 2011, they saw that the problem hadn’t been fixed and had grown worse.

East River Playground, FDR Drive and East 106^th Street:

• On February 8, 2011, Parks inspectors noted 10% of safety mats were broken or deteriorated.  When auditors visited 139 days later, they found the problem had expanded to 25% of the mats, a portion of which were now barricaded. 
• Auditors found that bolts were missing from a wooden slat in a ramp used by children, a hazard not mentioned in Parks inspectors’ February report.

Tompkins Square Park:

• Auditors found a rat infestation adjacent to the playground in July that was not mentioned in Parks Department inspectors’ reports filed in April and May 2011.

Brooklyn

Auditors inspected 30 playgrounds in Brooklyn in July 2011.

Fox Playground, Avenue H and Avenue I at East 54^th and East 55^th streets:

• Auditors found badly damaged benches with missing slats and peeling paint on July 14, 2011, but there was no mention of them in the Parks inspection report filed one day earlier.

Hickman Playground, Veterans Avenue between East 66^th and East 68^th streets:

• A Parks inspection reported on April 1, 2011, that safety mats were no longer attached and uplifting, but auditors found the problem persisted 104 days later.

Homecrest Playground, Shore Parkway and Williams Court:

• A Parks inspection report in December 2010 noted safety mats were no longer attached and uplifting. In July 2011, 279 days later, auditors found the problem had yet to be fixed. 

Queens

Auditors inspected 33 playgrounds in Queens in July 2011.

Hammel Playground, Rockaway Beach Boulevard, between Beach 84^th and Beach 81^st streets:

• The auditors’ inspection in July 2011 found a dangerously protruding metal bracket at the entrance that was not mentioned in the Parks inspection two months earlier.

Highland Park, Lower Highland Playground, Jamaica Avenue and Elton Street:

• The Parks inspection report on March 21, 2011, reported that a section of the safety surface was missing. When auditors visited 113 days later, the safety mats were scattered, overturned, and missing.

Bronx

Auditors inspected 17 playgrounds in the Bronx in July 2011.

Soundview Playground, Bronx River at Lafayette Avenue:

• Parks inspectors reported rotted and splintered playground equipment on March 28, 2011.  Auditors inspected the playground 106 days later and found conditions unchanged.

Noble Playground, Noble Avenue between Bronx River Avenue and East 177^th Street:

• Parks inspectors reported 15% of the safety mats were deteriorated on May 6, 2011. Auditors found the condition of the mats unchanged two months later.

Staten Island

Auditors inspected five playgrounds in Staten Island.

• The auditors’ inspections determined that the condition of the playgrounds matched the reports filed by Parks inspectors and that problems were addressed in a timely manner.

Response

The Parks Department, in its response, said it would “prioritize repairs depending on the severity of these conditions” and will make “the best effort to address outstanding items, which is dependent on existing resources and materials as well as the availability of manpower.”  However, it disagreed over whether certain hazards were not corrected in a timely manner.

Scope

The audit inspected 107 playgrounds.  Each inspection occurred at a specific time and, as a result, each inspection was unique to each playground and cannot be projected to others that are not part of the audit.  The audit inspected playgrounds in July 2011 and compared the findings to the most recent Parks Department reports.  The scope of the audits was July 2011 to November 2011.

Comptroller Liu credited Deputy Comptroller for Audit Tina Kim and the Audit Bureau for presenting the findings. The latest audit reports are available at: http://comptroller.nyc.gov/audits.

Rat holes in Tompkins Square Park (Manhattan)

Protruding metal at Hammel Playground (Far Rockaway)

Uplifting mats at Hickman Playground (Brooklyn)

Broken benches at Fox Playground (Brooklyn)

Chipped and peeled paint on equipment at Soundview Playground (Bronx)

 

 

Bronx Chamber of Commerce Irish Heritage Luncheon

   Wednesday March 7^th was the Bronx Chamber of Commerce Irish Heritage Luncheon, but it was former Mayor Rudy Guiliani who was the Guest Speaker that was the center of attention. BCC President Lenny Caro opened the luncheon after a small press conference by former Mayor Guiliani. He welcomed everybody, and praised his excellent staff without whom the Chamber would not be able to do the work that it does. The National Anthem was sung by Ms. Caitlin Snyder (of Mercy College), and the Invocation was given by Father Richard Gorman (chairman of Community Board # 12). Mr. Caro mentioned that at 3:30 PM that Mayor Bloomberg was to sign the Westchester Avenue Business Improvement District proposal that several BCC members had worked on. 

 

   Councilman Fernando Cabrera then spoke about the Kingsbridge Armory, and the “Living Wage” issue. Cabrera said that he lives three blocks from the armory, and that the church where he is a pastor at is only one block away from the armory. He added that the community wants the Kingsbridge Armory to be an epicenter to bring people to the area from all over the city. The Burnside Avenue shopping district is his council district, and he said that he is looking to make that area into a BID also.

   Before introducing the honorees Mr. Caro introduced Mr. John Calvelli (of the Wildlife Conservation Society) who told the story of the opening of the New Congo Exhibit at the Bronx Zoo, where then Mayor Guiliani came dressed as the Lion King. Calvelli then gave former Mayor Guiliani a framed photo of the event.

 

   The Honorees included Mr. Chris Lemmon (the son of two time Oscar winning actor Jack Lemmon), Mr. Joseph Kelleher (President and CEO of the Hutchinson Metro Center), Father Richard Gorman (chair of CB 12), Ms. Elizabeth Barker Pinapfel (General Manager of the Pelham & Split Rock Golf Course), Mr. John Habermann ( Regional Executive of Capital One Bank), and Mr. Barry Fitzgerald (of F & F Insurance). 

 

   Guest Speaker former Mayor Rudy Guiliani then spoke about what it was like being mayor during the crisis in 2001 of the World Trade Center (aka 911). He said that he calmed New Yorkers by saying that New York City will still be here tomorrow. He then mentioned the heritage of the Irish immigrants that came to America to become police officers, firemen, and other valued members of society. Guiliani spoke of his days as the U.S. Attorney and eating with friends in a Bronx Italian restaurant after jailing several big Italian criminals. He said that the there was a newscast of an $800,000.00 dollar contract on him, and that the restaurant started to empty out. He then said that it was old news, that the FBI had already arrested those who had made the contract, and said that the FBI didn't give out that part of the story. Guiliani said that the next time he arrested a big criminal after the trial he was already elected mayor, and that contract on him was only $400,00.00. 

 

   Mayor Guiliani then went into the subject of energy, and how New York City only relies on 25 percent of its power from the Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant. He added that 50 percent of the city's power still comes from coal burning plants, 20 percent from natural gas, and of the remaining 5 percent less than half comes from wind or solar power. He said as mayor that he was most worried about the electric grid that serves New York City, and mentioned the citywide blackouts of 1965, and 1977 where there was wide spread looting. During his watch as mayor there were two small blackouts, one in 1995 in Queens ,and !999 in Washington Heights. He stressed that in the two smaller blackouts and in 2003 under Mayor Bloomberg that there was minimal looting if any, adding by that it told him the city has turned around.

Continuing on the subject of energy, he spoke of foreign countries that are now building many nuclear power plants unlike in this country where only one is being built. Guiliani said that Indian Point had hired his security consulting firm as has many other companies from other countries. He added that he believes that New York should allow hydraulic fracturing, and ended by saying the most hallowed place in New York City is Yankee Stadium. He took a couple of questions about running for mayor again, and president which he said that the job he would love to do again is that as U.S. Attorney. 

Below are photos of the event. Click on them to enlarge.

 Father Gorman and Mike Tully of the FDNY above.

Mr. John Calvelli presenting Mayor Guiliani with the photo of the Congo Exhibit opening.

Left is Mr. Caro, Chris Lemmon, Joseph Kelleher, and Mayor Guiliani being served lunch.

Councilman Fernando Cabrera and Father Richard Gorman

Ms. Caitlin Snyder singing the National Anthem, while Father Gorman waits to give the Invocation.

 Councilman Fernando Cabrera addressing the audience.

Former Mayor Rudy Guiliani addressing the audience, as BCC President Lenny Caro looks on.

Community Groups Seeking Information on Redistricting, Express Your Concerns

 

Bronx, NY – Community groups including the Bedford Mosholu Community Association, Tracey Towers Committee for Survival, Friends of the Williamsbridge Oval, the Kingsbridge Heights Neighborhood Improvement Association and Mosholu Preservation Corporation (MPC) are hosting a community forum on the redistricting process, seeking to understand more about the process and how redistricting could impact their community. This is also a forum to express concerns about how the current redistricting process could split the neighborhoods of Bedford Park and Norwood.

Where: Mosholu Montefiore Community Center, 3450 Dekalb Avenue

When:  Thursday, March 8th, at 6:00 PM

Who: Guest presenters include Susan Lerner from Common Cause as well as Lucia Gomez-Jimenez from La Fuente.

Representatives from the Bedford Mosholu Community Association, Tracey Towers Committee for Survival, Friends of Williamsbridge Oval, the Kingsbridge Heights Neighborhood Improvement Association, and Mosholu Preservation Corporation will attend.

 

Bronx Borough President's Education Summit

Follow up Event

 

 

Judge Mann's New Congressional District Lines,
and What it Means to the Bronx

  The draft Congressional Districts for New York State has been released by Judge Mann, and here is what it means for the Bronx ans state. There are two congressional districts to be eliminated which are the current CD #22 in Hudson Valley upstate currently held by Democrat Maurice Hinchey. The other district to be eliminated would be CD #9 currently held by Republican Bob Turner, who won the seat in a special election last September after Congressman Anthony Weiner resigned. 

  As for the Bronx it looks like there is little change to Congressman Jose Serrano's district which becomes CD #15. Congressman Joe Crowley would loose most if not all of Coop-City, keeping the part of the Bronx he currently has below Pelham Parkway, and parts of Queens. That district becomes CD #14. Eliot Engel's current district which runs from Bedford Park in the Bronx up into Rockland County on the west sides of the Bronx and Westchester, and the neighboring district that also runs north to south from the Bronx on up to the rest of Westchester would run east to west with I-287 being the dividing line of the two districts. The new 16th CD would start at Riverdale, go across to Coop-City then up to below White Plains covering both the east and western portions of Westchester in between. The 17th CD starts with White Plains going up to Yorktown and across the Tapan Zee Bridge into Rockland County as it currently does. 

  

  If you are wondering where the Bedford Park, Norwood, Kingsbridge, Kingsbridge Heights, and University Heights areas of the Bronx are, they wind up in the CD # 13 which is currently Charlie Rangel's district. The 13th CD covers all of northern Manhattan from 96th Street on the East Side, and West 110th Street on the West Side, or the top of Central Park. 

  These new proposed congressional district lines are just that, as the state legislature still has about one week left to come up with their own plan for congressional district lines. Many state legislatures are saying that they are hoping to us Judge Mann's proposed lines as a guide.

  If you want to look at Judge Mann's findings, there are 34 pages in all, and  here is the link to the proposed district lines.

NEW YORK CARES SALUTES STUDENTS AND ORGANIZATIONS FOR COLLECTING THE MOST COATS DURING 23^rd ANNUAL COAT DRIVE 

Bronx Students and NYPD Precinct in the Bronx recognized for collecting largest number of coats.

New York Cares and presenting sponsor Health Plus today announced the winners of the Winter Warmth Awards which recognize individuals and organizations that made the largest donations to the 23rd Annual New York Cares Coat Drive. Learning Tree Prep School in the Bronx collected the most coats in the youth division and the 50^th Precinct in the Bronx gathered the most coats out of all the NYPD precincts. Other award winners include: St. John’s University, Vornado Realty Trust, Storage Post Self Storage, the New York Mets and Toshiba America.

“The individuals and organizations we honor in the Winter Warmth Awards helped us collect and distribute 77,000 coats, helping almost 20,000 more men, women and children than last year,” said Gary Bagley, Executive Director of New York Cares.  “We’re grateful to everyone who supported the New York Cares Coat Drive. New Yorkers dug deep to help their neighbors in need, and their generosity was a lifeline for thousands of people in our community.” 

The New York Cares Coat Drive is an annual lifeline for New York’s neediest citizens during the cold winter months. The Drive collects gently used adult and children’s coats during November and December throughout the metropolitan area, and distributes them to struggling men, women and children at homeless shelters, community organizations, and agencies for senior citizens. 

The 2011 Winter Warmth Awards Winners include:

• NYPD Awards: These awards recognize the NYC Police Department’s continued support of the New York Cares Coat Drive.  NYPD precincts collected more than 24,000 coats in 2011, 32% of the total collected citywide.
• First Place - NYPD Award: 50^th Precinct for collecting 1,375 coats (Bronx).
• Second Place - NYPD Award: 24^th Precinct for collecting 345 (Manhattan).
• Third Place - NYPD Award: 104^th Precinct for collecting 344 coats (Queens).
• Top Youth Group Coat Collection to Learning Tree Prep School in the Bronx for collecting 300 coats.
• Top Civic Coat Collection to St. John’s University for collecting 500 coats.
• Top Corporate Coat Collection to Vornado Realty Trust for collecting 1,168 coats.
• Largest New Coat Collector to Storage Post Self Storage for collecting 2,195 coats.
• Largest One Day Coat Collection to the New York Mets for collecting 1,592 in one day.
• Special Recognition Award to Toshiba America for their generous support of the Coat Drive.

New York Cares’ Youth Service Clubs, which offer volunteer opportunities to teens in the city’s public schools, collected a total of 615 coats.  The students at the Youth Service Club at Mott Hall High School (M304) won the NY Mets Warm Up Challenge by collecting 100 coats.  This spring, the teens from Mott Hall High School will have an on-field honor at a home game for giving back to their community. 

The New York Cares Coat Drive, presented by Health Plus, is one of the largest of its kind in the United States. New York Cares has collected 1.5 million winter coats for men, women and children in need throughout the city since 1989.   This year, New York Cares added twice as many public sites and started the Coat Drive two weeks earlier to meet unprecedented need.   

“Health Plus is pleased once again to sponsor The New York Cares Coat Drive,” said Ada Rodriguez, Chief Marketing Officer of Health Plus. “The mission and values of New York Cares are so similar to ours. We both offer coverage to New Yorkers in need -- we provide healthcare; they provide winter warmth. It was a privilege to partner with them on this extraordinary initiative.”

Other organizations that held special events and collected large numbers of coats during this year’s Drive included:  NYC Service, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, Lincoln Square Business Improvement District’s Winter’s Eve, A Fabolous Way Foundation’s ‘3 Kings Coat Drive’, Hang it “All on the Line with Joe Zee,” Egypt’s ‘Give Back Tour’ and 107.5 WBLS-FM Radio, Macy's Fur Vault, Oz Moving and Storage, Weatherproof Garment Company, St. John’s United Methodist Church, CUNY Department of Human Resources, Leman Manhattan Prep School, Saint David's School, Jodie Jacobs, Muslim American Society Service Corps, and the National Society of Black Engineers.

For more information about New York Cares, visit www.newyorkcares.org or call (212) 228-5000.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

By Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz
32nd Senatorial District, Bronx County, New York

Manhattan County Chair Assemblyman Keith Wright is dead wrong. (And so is Bronx County Chair Carl Heastie.)
By this time I'm pretty sure you already know about the desperate struggle we’re having to maintain the strength and future of Black and Hispanic communities in New York State.

You should know that the way the lines have been drawn to define our districts is detrimental to our communities.  The proposed lines will dilute the power for our people that we have gained through hard work and strong leadership.

Reverends Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton have both stepped up to the plate to call for Governor Andrew Cuomo to veto proposals that have been submitted because even they know that the proposed district lines will dilute the power of Black and Hispanic communities.
I was shocked to read in an article by Andrew Hawkins titled “Minority Fury Growing Over New Congressional Maps” that Assemblyman Keith Wright declared: “This is not a caucus issue, this is not a Shelly issue. This is a county leader issue."

As my eyes continued down the page I could not believe what I was reading: Assemblyman Wright continued by saying, “If Carl Heastie and I could come to an agreement, we’d be all good.  It’s not a caucus issue, not a Shelly issue, it’s between two county leaders. Shelly’s in the middle.”

These are by far the very worst statements that anyone representing any of our communities could possibly make.

You should know that in reality, this problem is not just the problem of two County leaders to work out, but the problem of EVERY elected person who represents Black and Hispanic communities.

This is most definitely a Black and Hispanic issue.

Is there anyone among us who actually believes that the future of our communities are in the hands of Assemblyman Keith Wright and Assemblyman Carl Heastie, and that when they get together the Black and Hispanic communities will all be okay?

What a laugh!

You should know that it is ludicrous to think that "This is not a Shelly issue" when we know perfectly well that everything in Albany ends with Speaker Sheldon Silver. It's just not possible to honestly say that there is a way to take the responsibility of this struggle away from Speaker Silver.
Of course we need to put the blame on Speaker Sheldon Silver!  We – and we includes Assemblymen Heastie and Wright – need to help Speaker Silver to realize that what he is doing is wrong.

If this is not the issue for the Black and Hispanic community, nor the issue for Speaker Silver, then whose problem is this?

Assemblyman Keith Wright should know at the core of his being that this IS a problem for the Black and Hispanic community.  He has to know that the ugly truth is that the proposed district lines are intended to try to kill the civic spirit in Black and Hispanic communities.  He has to know in his heart that a goal to alienate the growing Black and Hispanic population is sufficient so that people become apathetic and don't get involved in politics and all sort of civic matters.

We don't want our young professionals and our youth moving out of the communities because no one speaks for them in our communities.  We don’t want them to feel deprived of their youthful vigor, fresh ideas and ability to become leaders in their communities.

Every single Black and Hispanic elected official has to know that the future of our community, of our youth, of our people is in our hands.  We have no right to let this slip away.

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

New Low Vision Center Dedication

  Mr. Daniel Reingold ( the President & CEO of the Hebrew Home at Riverdale) welcomed those who came to view the new "Sonia Jaye and Edward Barsukov Low Vision Center". There was an amazing view of the local area that included the George Washington Bridge as you exited the elevator to the 7th floor where the new low vision center was located. This is the first ever Low Vision Center in a nursing home in the U.S.  Mr. Reingold said, and it is thanks to the generosity and hard work of Ms. Sonia Jaye. The lighting was bright, the walls were a bright light color, and everything else on the floor was specially designed to meet the needs of residents of the Hebrew Home that had vision problems.

  As Ms. Robin Dessel began the tour of the floor there was a painting done for the Low Vision Center, one that could not only look good, but also be touched by those who had problems seeing it. The new kitchen had vibrant lighting, and more space to sit then before. More 12 watt florescent bulbs replaced the old 75 watt bulbs to increase the lighting and decrease the electricity costs. On the new computers there were larger bolder keyboards that were easy to see, and larger screens to view. In the rooms there was also more and better lighting. The tour of the New Low Vision Center ended with a ribbon cutting ceremony with Ms. Sonia Jaye, Mr. Reingold, joined by State Senator Jeff Klein, and former governor David Paterson (see picture below)

  There are 870 residents currently at the Hebrew Home, and 5,400 low income New Yorkers who receive home medicaid services from the Hebrew Home. This is done at a 1/4 of the cost of in house services, and was signed into law by then Governor Paterson, which has been increased by current Governor Cuomo.

  Mr. Reingold thanked Ms. Sonia Jaye for not only her gift of the Low Vision Center, but her hard work along with others to make it happen. Ms. Jaye said that she chose the Hebrew Home because of the great reputation that the Hebrew Home has, and that she wanted to do something for residents with vision problems.

  State Senator Klein and former Governor Paterson had only words of praise for Ms. Sonia Jaye and the Hebrew Home. Senator Klein said that he had sponsored a bill that then Governor Paterson signed into law to allow the many people with life insurance to use their benefits to help pay for long term care in a place such as the Hebrew Home when it is needed.

  One interesting area of the Hebrew Home has been set aside as a Judaic museum, where there are over 200 different items on display. The theme of the museum is "Memories" so that some of the residents can remember their history as their ability to remember starts to fade away. I was touched by a surviving Torah on display that had come from a German synagogue that was burnt down during what is known as "Kristallnach, The Night of Terror against Jews in Germany" by the Nazi government.

    

You can click on a picture to enlarge, then click back to view another.