13th Congressional Race Mr. Clyde Williams

    Redistricting has changed the once majority black district into a majority Hispanic district. While Harlem, East Harlem, Washington Heights, and Inwood remain as part of the district 200,000 Bronx voters have been added to the district. The mostly Hispanic communities of Bedford Park, Kingsbridge Heights, Van Cortlandt Village, and most of Kingsbridge were placed in the new 13th Congressional District. A date of June 26th was also place as the date of the new congressional primary.

   Charlie Rangel has claimed to be the incumbent in this new district as most of it came from his old 15th Congressional District. Rangel has the backing of the Manhattan and Bronx Democratic county machines (and we said that both Democratic county leaders were looking at the proposed district lines for a possible future run). State Senator Adriano Espaillat announced his intention to run in the now majority Hispanic 13th C.D. Senator Espaillat has nothing to loose if he does not get elected to congress, as he can still run for his state senate seat in the September Democratic primary.

   We sat down last week with Mr. Clyde Williams, who is another candidate in the 13th Congressional race.  Mr. Williams is concerned how the district has problems that have not been addressed by Congressman Rangel. High unemployment, lack of jobs, poor public education, lack of accountability, and high oil prices are high on his priority list of things to get done. How can Clyde get that done, I asked. Mr. Williams who first praised Congressman Rangel for the good things that he did in the past, and said that there are new problems now then there were in the past. He went on to say that there are huge health care disparities and education gaps.

   Mr. Williams spoke of putting people to work in the jobs that are needed, such as nursing, auto mechanics, electricians, and other good paying jobs. when I asked about the Empowerment Zone that Congressman Rangel set up, Mr. Williams said most are out of business by using the funds for the community, but that "the Harlem Empowerment Zone still has lots of money left". Mr. Williams said that up to 5,000 new jobs could be created right now if tourism was set up not only for lower Manhattan, but the rest of the city. New Hotels and restaurants could be built for tourist to stay over rather then come for an hour or two, or to see the Yankee game then leave.

  When I asked Mr. Williams what his qualifications for congress were, he said that he knows the D.C. area very well, the president, and how congress works. He added that he worked for both President Clinton and President Obama in high level positions. Mr. Williams believes like others do that in this election the Bronx will play a key role in determining who the representative from the 13th Congressional District will be. He is making important connections in the Bronx, and plans to keep them. when asked if he is doing all this to set up for a run for office when Congressman Rangel decides to retire possibly in 2014 or sooner, Mr. Clyde Williams said "I am in this race to win this race".

Mr. Clyde Williams stands in front of the Kingsbridge Armory with two of his supporters

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Here the trio stand by the Kingsbridge Road Subway station of the   # 4 subway line. On Mr. Williams left is Mr. Ephraim Cruz of Bronx For Change, and Mr. Anthony Rivveccio of NWBD on his right.

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K.A.L.E.A.C Honors 50th Pct. Officers

  The Korean-American Law Enforcement Advisory Council came to the 50th Precinct to bestow honors upon the police officers and Captain Kevin J. Burke for the swift apprehension of the two individuals that killed 26 year old Hang Yang on his way home for his I Phone. Mr. Yang was shot at the corner of Cambridge Avenue and West 232nd Street, and died a short time later.
  

  Mr. Joo Tae Yoo President and Mr. Yeon S, Hong Vice-President of K.A.L.E.A.C. said that their organization tries to bridge the gap between citizens and the police department. The organization also raises money for fallen hero's and provides scholarships to their children. Both thanked the officers of the 50^th Precinct for the swift apprehension of Mr. Yang's killers. Also  on hand were Mr. Yang's mother and sister who conveyed the same message. 

   

  Captain Kevin J. Burke, Lieutenant John Gogarty, Sergeant Lucas Miller, Detective James Campbell, and Detective Joseph K. Oneil all received awards from. K.A.L.E.A.C. Captain Burke in speaking about the case said “it was the fine police work that his detectives and officers did to crack the case, and the arrest of the two killers”. The two men identified as Dominick Davis and Alejandro Campos (when they were arrested) tried to sell the I Phone on Craigslist. “Have 2 I Phones 4 sale Inwood/Washington Heights” the ad read, and the detectives took it from there. 

 

  Local Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz and Councilman G. Oliver Koppell also presented awards to the police officers. Assemblyman Dinowitz commented "that there had never been an incident such as this in Riverdale, and the community was outraged. Dinowitz added that these two men must be tried and sent away to jail for a long time. Mr. Adam Sandler of Councilman Koppell's office said that crimes like this will not be tolerated in our neighborhoods and that Councilman Koppell hopes that the swift apprehension of these killers will deter any similar events in the future. 

Left - Captain Kevin Burke explaining the details of the crime, and how officers apprehanded the two men responsible for the crime. Next to Captain Burke are Mr. Joo Tae Yoo President and Mr. Yeon S, Hong Vice-President of K.A.L.E.A.C. Right- Assemblyman Dinowitz presenting award to one of the officers as Captain Burke looks on.

Left - Assemblyman Dinowitz is between Mr. Yoo and Mr Hong from K.A.A.E.A.C., with Mr. Sandler of behind the officers and Captain Burke (Sergeant Miller was not at the ceremony, and is not in the photo).  Right - Community Affairs officer Mindy Ramos stands in for Sergeant Miller in this photo.

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Klein Holds Property Managers Accountable

Klein Property Preservation Law Succeeds In Removing Dangerous Situation 

VAN NEST, BRONX, N.Y. –  Senator Jeffrey D. Klein (D-Bronx/Westchester) announced today that his office has been successful in seeing to the removal of an illegally constructed deck that had posed a serious fire hazard to the Van Nest community. The foreclosed property, located at 840 Van Nest Avenue, is currently managed by Carrington Mortgage Services, LLC. At Senator Klein’s insistence, Carrington recently removed the illegally constructed deck which had been built upon an existing kitchen. The dangerously situated deck was a concern to many in the area in light of the recent and devastating four alarm fire on the same block. The successful removal illustrates the importance of property preservation legislation introduced by Senator Klein in the state legislature—and enacted into law—last year. Klein's landmark legislation requires banks and lending institutions who reclaim foreclosed properties to maintain their assets up to code. 

In April, neighborhood resident Patti Doyle reached out to Senator Klein’s Office to express her concerns about the shoddily constructed deck atop the property.  Around the same time, the NYC Department of Buildings visited the home and issued a violation for the deck’s construction, which was carried out without the required approval of DOB.

Klein and his staff investigated the matter and discovered that Wells Fargo was listed as the owner of this property, with Carrington as the property manager.  Upon learning this information, Klein reached out to Carrington and brought his and the community’s concerns to their attention. Within days of Senator Klein’s call, Carrington dispatched a construction crew to remove the deck from the property.  The work was completed just days ago.

The recent four alarm fire originated on the same block at nearby 726 Van Nest Ave.

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Bronx Chamber of Commerce Golf Outing

    

The Bronx Chamber of Commerce would like to thank all attendees for registering for the biggest Golf Event of the year!

  

On Monday, May 21st, there will be a complimentary warm-up and Golf Clinic at 9 AM located at

Turtle Cove Golf Center 

1 City Island Road

Bronx, NY 10464

After the warm-up and Golf Clinic golfers will proceed to

Pelham Split Rock Golf Course for registration at 11 AM.

We look forward to a wonderful day of golf.  Thank you again for all of your support.

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LIU STATEMENT ON PROPOSED REFORMS TO STOP AND FRISK

 

  City Comptroller John C. Liu stated the following in response to questions about proposed police reforms to stop and frisk:

“The stop and frisk policy doesn’t need to be reformed, it needs to be abolished. Remedies such as training videos and informational cards are inadequate band-aids. It’s time to end this divisive and ill-conceived tactic.

“According to reports, New Yorkers were stopped and frisked by police  nearly 700,000 times last year – almost all of those targeted were innocent of any crime, and almost all of them were Black or Latino. It’s just impossible to say stop and frisk is not racial profiling,
and continuation of this practice not only violates the department ban against racial profiling but raises civil rights questions. It also poses a potential financial liability to the City, as evidenced by rising claims against the NYPD and the federal judge’s ruling allowing class-action status in a stop and frisk lawsuit. It’s time to stop ‘stop and frisk’.”


Background:

•       According to preliminary statistics, there were 2,241 new civil  rights claims filed against the NYPD in Fiscal Year 2011, up 23 percent from the 1,826 claims filed in FY 2010.

•       Overall, 8,913 claims were filed against the NYPD in FY 2011  (including personal injury and property damage), an historic high.

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LIU STATEMENT ON CITY UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

 

  City Comptroller John C. Liu stated the following in response to questions about new unemployment figures:

“Although today’s labor market report shows a record number of jobs in  the city, the unemployment rate remains at an unacceptable 9.5 percent and continues to disproportionately impact minorities and young people.  We must find ways to create jobs for the 345,000 unemployed
New Yorkers who cannot wait years for the recovery to filter down to them.

“My office has put forth a Capital Acceleration Plan which would  create 15,000 jobs and enhance our City’s infrastructure; all the while saving taxpayers money in the long-run. As the City Council and Mayor’s Office negotiate the upcoming budget, we are calling for the inclusion of this plan in order to put New Yorkers back to work as quickly as possible and revive the City’s ailing construction industry.”

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Come Celebrate Bronx Weeks Grand Finally!!!

 

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LIU: TUTORING FIRM OWES CITY $850,000 FOR BAD BILLING

 Audit Raises Serious Concerns over Dubious Timesheets

 

  City Comptroller John C. Liu today announced that an audit of Champion Learning Center, a tutoring company in contract with the Department of Education, uncovered questionable payments for dubious bills.

Many of the submitted attendance sheets that the DOE paid did not have the required documents that would prove a student was in fact tutored. An additional set of payments went to tutoring services supposedly performed between midnight and 5 a.m.

“Taxpayers can’t afford to write multi-million dollar blank checks for tutoring services that may not have taken place,” Comptroller Liu said.   “The DOE’s lack of oversight not only shows serious mismanagement, but may have also enabled fraudulent billings.  Every education dollar wasted robs students of the education they deserve. DOE should investigate these billings and recover all the money the City is owed. Doing so will send a clear message to companies that do business with the City that New Yorkers will not be taken for a ride.”

Under the federal No Child Left Behind Act, eligible students enrolled in schools in need of improvement are provided free tutoring to improve their education and performance on state academic standards and assessments.  Champion Learning Center was one of 52 state-approved tutoring providers during School Year 2009-2010.  Champion entered into a $40 million contract with DOE to offer tutoring services, primarily in students’ homes, from September 1, 2009 through August 31, 2012.

The audit found that Champion lacked adequate controls and failed to live up to key provisions of its contract.  Champion’s management weaknesses were compounded by DOE’s inadequate oversight. Ultimately, Champion billed and was paid by DOE for tutoring services for which there was inadequate or questionable documentation.

The findings raised questions about the accuracy of the overall billing for tutoring services that Champion submitted to the DOE.

Timesheets show tutoring at barred or impossible hours

During school years 2009-2010 and 2010-2011, Champion billed the DOE and was paid $836,254 for services reportedly provided during hours in which it was not allowed to tutor or at odd times (midnight to 5 a.m.). The billing for these hours could signal fraud. 

The DOE agreed with the audit’s recommendation that it recoup the $836,254. The agency has since changed its billing portal for vendors to prevent them from submitting requests for payment for services during school hours or the middle of the night.

Billing documentation lacking or missing

DOE paid Champion for tutoring services without adequate evidence that the services were, in fact, provided.  Auditors examined a random sample of 164 attendance sheets cards paid by the DOE and determined that 10% (16 of 164) did not contain the tutor’s name or signature as required and 47% (77 of 164) were not signed by the supervisor as required. The audit also reviewed records for tutoring services for 76 students and found that of the total $151,435 the DOE spent, $22,525 (15%) covered 322 hours of work that did not have adequate attendance sheets.

DOE agreed with the recommendation that it investigate and, if warranted, recoup the total of $22,525 for payments that were not supported by attendance sheets.

Champion agreed with the audit’s recommendations that the company strengthen its internal controls to ensure that attendance sheets are properly reviewed and include the required signatures.

Liu credited Deputy Comptroller Tina Kim and the Bureau of Audit for their work on this report.  The full audit can be found at www.comptroller.nyc.gov.

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