For more information contact Angela Porcelli at (718) 283-4081 or angela@masmarketingny.com.
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Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
DOT to Create "Neighborhood Slow Zone" proposed by Assemblyman Dinowitz for Independence Avenue
The NYC Department of Transportation announced tod, ay that it
will implement a “Neighborhood Slow Zone” that was proposed by
Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz for Independence Avenue and several surrounding
streets. Assemblyman Dinowitz submitted an application for the
Neighborhood Slow Zone last November with the support of Council Member Oliver
Koppell, State Senator Adriano Espaillat, the captain of the 50th
Police Precinct, members of the community board, and the parents associations
of several schools.
The Neighborhood Slow Zone will include many important
traffic safety modifications for the area, including a 20 miles-per-hour speed
limit, speed bumps, markings, and signs and gateways indicating the presence of
the Slow Zone. The Slow Zone will help remedy the dangerous traffic
situation on Independence Avenue, which is home to several schools, houses of
worship, a library, and a public park.
“I am delighted that the City has agreed to my
proposal for a Neighborhood Slow Zone. The safety of all people in our
community must come first. This is possible because we put together a
coalition of leaders in our community to support this proposal, including
Council Member Koppell, Senator Espaillat, Captain Burke of the 50th Precinct,
and members of the community board and parents associations. I am
confident that the slower speed limit combined with additional signage and speed
bumps will result in fewer accidents and make our community safer,” said
Assemblyman Dinowitz.
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Monday, July 9, 2012
Espaillat Calls it Quits in 13 C.D. Race
In a press conference outside his State Senate office Adriano Espaillat announced that he will no longer go forward with his challenge to the results of the 13th congressional race. Espaillat said that while a few more votes were found for him lowering Rangel's lead to 953 votes that number could not be overcome. Espaillat then congratulated Rangel on his victory saying that he will work with him as he has done in the past for the districts they share.
When asked if he would be continuing the court challenge, he said that he would not, but others will still be doing that in the hopes of fixing the election system.
When asked if he would now be running for his old state senate seat, Espaillat fudged a little saying that after the June 26th election when he thought that he lost he allowed people to get signatures in his name for state senate.Petitions are being handed in starting today for state senate and assembly seats, and will continue for the next few days. After that is the challenge phase, and then rulings by the Board of Elections as to just who stays on the September primary ballot.
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LIU CALLS ON BLOOMBERG TO CHANGE EDC’S “LAW-BREAKING” CULTURE
Urges Mayor to hold senior Administration officials accountable and open EDC’s books
Liu called on Bloomberg to change the agency’s “law-breaking” culture a day before the EDC was set to hold a public meeting to approve the agency’s restructuring as part of its recent settlement with the New York State Attorney General.
City
Comptroller John C. Liu today called on Mayor Bloomberg to move swiftly
to identify those senior administration officials
responsible for orchestrating and overseeing the illegal lobbying
activities at the Economic Development Corporation. In a letter to
Bloomberg, Liu also called for all of EDC’s finances to be made publicly
available online through the Checkbook NYC transparency
website.
Liu called on Bloomberg to change the agency’s “law-breaking” culture a day before the EDC was set to hold a public meeting to approve the agency’s restructuring as part of its recent settlement with the New York State Attorney General.
“Installing
new leadership and opening the books would help change the EDC’s
law-breaking culture, which, as documented in the settlement with
the Attorney General, used the agency’s budget as a political slush
fund for illegal lobbying,” Liu wrote.
The
EDC signed an agreement with the State Attorney General last week in
which it admitted to illegally lobbying City Council Members about
the Mayor’s economic agenda. However, there has been no move to hold
anyone at City Hall or the EDC accountable for these acknowledged
illegal activities.
Background:
Comptroller
Liu has been an outspoken critic of the EDC, its policies, and the
failure of the agency to create jobs — one of its main objectives. Some
links to past statements/audits are below:
LIU STATEMENT ON EDC ILLEGAL LOBBYING SETTLEMENT
(July 3, 2012)
LIU: EDC SUBSIDIZES EMPTY JOB PROMISES (March 19, 2012)
LIU STATEMENT ON EDC’s $100 MILLION SUBSIDY TO FRESH DIRECT (February 14, 2012)
AUDIT REPORT ON CONEY ISLAND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION’S FINANCIAL AND OPERATING PRACTICES
(November 7, 2011)
LIU: EDC KEEPS MILLIONS IDLE (Sept. 21, 2011)
LIU STATEMENT ON EDC’S IMMIGRANT ENTREPRENEUR PROGRAM (April 12, 2011)
LIU: CASH DISAPPEARS AT THE WATER CLUB ON EDC’S WATCH (February 9, 2011)
CITY RECAPTURES $120 MILLION FROM EDC (July 27, 2010)
AUDIT: EDC HOARDS $125 MILLION OF TAXPAYER MONIES (April 28, 2010)
The full letter from Comptroller Liu to Mayor Bloomberg is below:
July 9, 2012
Honorable Michael R. Bloomberg
Mayor
City Hall
New York, New York 10007
Dear Mayor Bloomberg:
Last week your Administration admitted in a settlement with the New York State Attorney General that the New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC) knowingly and illegally lobbied City Council members about your development agenda.
The proposed legal restructuring of the EDC, which appears to have been undertaken so that the impermissible lobbying can continue, is clearly insufficient. It amounts to nothing more than business as usual.
To this end, I urge you to move swiftly to identify those senior officials from City Hall and the EDC responsible for the flagrant and repeated law-breaking activities, and hold them accountable. I also urge you to finally open the EDC’s books to the public. The EDC’s FY 2013 budget is projected to exceed $800 million. It’s time to post all of the EDC’s spending online on a daily basis, as other City agencies now do through Checkbook NYC.
Installing new leadership and opening the books would help change the EDC’s law-breaking culture, which, as documented in the settlement with the Attorney General, used the agency’s budget as a political slush fund for illegal lobbying.
As someone who has signed into law a number of lobbying reforms and been outspoken on the need for “insulating policymakers from the sway of special and moneyed interests” and strengthening the “taxpayers’ faith in their elected and appointed representatives,” I trust you agree that accountability and transparency in government are imperative.
These actions are necessary to prevent further waste of taxpayer money. I look forward to your prompt action in these matters.
Sincerely,
John C. Liu
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Adriano Espaillat Calls for 2 PM Press Conference
13th C.D. candidate Adriano Espaillat who finished second after all the ballots have been counted has schudeled a press conference for today at 2 PM.
It is being speculated that Espaillat will either admit defeat in the 13th C.D. race to run for his State Senate seat again, or will announce that he will push on with his lawsuit against the Board of Elections.
We will have the results for you in a later post.
Exhibit at Bronx Senior Center Turns Spotlight on Elderly Artists; Portraits Draw on Favorite Memories
Jacqueline
Amonitti with her grandson Cosmo Arzeno, 7, in front of her painting
called "Cosmos Dream" at SPARC (Seniors Partnering with Artists
Citywide) Art Show at the JASA Van Cortlandt Senior Center.
|
Holding
her grandson close, Jacqueline Amonitti stood before a colorful drawing
of a carousel horse on display at the JASA Van Cortlandt senior center.
"I call it 'Cosmo's Dream,'" she said, then looked at 7-year old Cosmo Arzeno. "It's his when the show is over."
The
informal exhibit, which features drawings, paintings and collages of 23
artists, is the culmination of art classes at the senior center on
Sedgwick Ave. run by the Jewish Association Serving the Aging (JASA).
Artist
Michael Ferris Jr. worked with the seniors for five months as part of
the city's SPARC (Seniors Partnering with Artists Citywide) program
which pairs artists with senior centers.
Ferris encouraged his students to delve into their memories to create self portraits, landscapes and other imagery.
"As
time went on, they became a lot freer and weren't so intimidated by the
process of making art," he said. "As a result, there was a lot of
creativity kicking in at the end."
Amparo
Charneco's colorful drawing of two ballerinas took her back to her days
studying fashion illustration as a student at the Fashion Institute of
Technology in Manhattan.
"This
refreshed me," said Charneco, 73. "I haven't drawn anything in more
than 35 years. This got me to be more active again and I really enjoyed
it."
Amonitti,
65, who described the classes as "therapeutic," enjoyed them so much
she plans to return for more sessions in the fall.
"It was great," she said. "It's a type of expression and that brings out stuff you didn't even know was there."
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BOROUGH PRESIDENT DIAZ PROVIDES NEARLY $23 MILLION IN FUNDING FOR BRONX ORGANIZATIONS
Housing, Education & Economic Developmen
Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. announced that his office has provided more than $22 million in capital funding to worthy Bronx organizations as part of his FY2013 budget.
In
total, Borough President Diaz has provided $22,971,000 in capital
funding to organizations from every corner of the Bronx, focusing on
areas of economic development, housing, education and parks, among other
areas.
“Each
year, my office is proud to support dozens of amazing schools,
community organizations and development projects across the Bronx. This
critical funding will help to bring many important projects to
completion, helping our borough become an even greater place to live, to
work and to raise a family,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz
Jr.
The
largest portion of this year’s budget allocation—roughly 24
percent—went towards funding housing developments in the borough. This
includes 110 units of mixed-use housing in West Farms as well as a solar
thermal project to green existing buildings through partnerships with
community organizations.
Borough
President Diaz also threw a significant portion of his funding—22
percent—behind several crucial economic development projects in the
Bronx. This includes $3 million towards site remediation at the Hunts
Point Produce Market, $1 million towards the creation of an alternative
fueling station in Hunts Point and another $1 million towards site
remediation at the Harlem River Rail Yards.
“Our
borough’s economy continues to grow, and these projects will ensure
that we continue to see considerable job creation and retention in the
Bronx,” said Borough President Diaz.
Borough
President Diaz also funded a total of 29 projects related to the
borough’s education institutions. This includes funding for a green roof
installation at the future Highbridge Middle School, an auditorium
upgrade at P.S. 91 in University Heights, gymnasium upgrades at P.S. 119
in Castle Hill and technology upgrades at a number of schools across
the borough.
Borough
President Diaz also funded several important higher education projects,
including new handicapped entrance ramps and a renovation of Ohio Field
on the campus of Bronx Community College, a roof replacement at the
Savoy Building at Hostos Community College and the development of a
One-Stop Student Services & Transfer Center at Lehman College.
“Education
remains an important focus of my administration, and my office will
continue to provide the necessary funding that Bronx students at all
levels need to succeed,” said Borough President Diaz.
Borough
President Diaz also provided significant funding for parks, almost 15
percent of the budget for a total of $3.4 million. This includes a new
dog park at Soundview Park, as well as renovations to the hockey rink at
Bufano Park in Throggs Neck and basketball courts at Orchard Beach.
Borough President Diaz also funded libraries, health providers and other
important institutions in this year’s capital budget, such as upgrades
at the Spuyten Duyvil and Wakefield branch libraries and new dental
equipment at both Lincoln Hospital and the Union Community Health
Center.
The
borough president’s budget also provides for security cameras at three
Bronx public housing developments—Betances Houses, Mill Brook Houses and
the Soundview Houses—along with funds for a renovation of BronxNet’s
current studio at Lehman College and new tennis courts for the New York
Junior Tennis League.
“Each
of these projects, in its own way, will contribute to the continued
revitalization of our borough, and I am thrilled to have played a role
in so many exceptional new developments,” said Borough President Diaz.
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Sunday, July 8, 2012
End in 13th Congressional District Race Could be Near
The Board of Elections has counted all the holdover votes that being the affidavit and absentee ballots and there are preliminary numbers that show Congressman Rangel's lead increased to 990 votes.
The total unofficial breakdown of the 42,718 votes is as follows. Charlie Rangel - 18,940, Adriano Espaillat - 17,950, Clyde Williams - 4,227, Joyce Johnson - 1,009, and Craig Schley - 592. Since the lead between the first and second place finisher is less than 5 percent of the total vote there is no automatic recount by the Board of Elections.
The results for the 13th C.D. is scheduled to be made official at Tuesdays meeting of the commissioners of the board. A scheduled Wednesday court date will be the last chance for Senator Espaillat to try to over tun the election.
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