BOROUGH PRESIDENT RUBEN DIAZ JR., BLINK FITNESS, AND LINCOLN HOSPITAL TO LAUNCH THE 2nd BRONX CAN HEALTH CHALLENGE

On Saturday, July 14, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.’s office will launch the 2^nd Bronx Can Health Challenge, hosted by Blink Fitness, a new fitness center located at 744 St. Ann’s Ave and East 156^TH Street.

Staff from Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center, a CAN partner, will be on site to register community residents, record vital stats, measurements and screen for blood pressure and diabetes. Blink Fitness will have trainers on site to provide fitness tips and will be extending free trials to all participants 18 years and older. Blink Fitness will also provide a complementary six-month membership to the top male and female participants with the highest percentage of weight loss.

“I am pleased to launch the second Bronx CAN Health Challenge in the Morrisania section of the Bronx. The Bronx CAN Family Health Challenge is a perfect example of how members of our Bronx community could work together to create great programs that have a large, positive impact on the well-being of the borough. I urge all Bronx students and their families to take on the eight-week Family Health Challenge,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

"The Bronx CAN Initiative has changed the lives of countless Bronxites by promoting a healthy lifestyle and allowing people to take control of their well-being by establishing positive goals. Too many of our residents are suffering from preventable ailments like obesity and high blood pressure. It’s very exciting that this initiative is expanding outward to other areas of the Bronx, and I look forward to working with Borough President Diaz to promote healthy living in my district. I encourage everyone to take the Challenge, and take a positive step toward an active, healthy life,” said Senator Jose M. Serrano.

The Bronx CAN Health Initiative brings together individuals, doctors and other health providers, places of worship, community gardens and community centers, schools, and civic-minded groups of all kinds to promote the types of behaviors that lead to healthy lifestyles. The goal of the Bronx CAN Health Initiative is to have all the members of our community – young and old alike – build healthier lives, free of ailments like obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and cardiovascular disease.

WHEN:          Saturday, July 14

TIME:            10 a.m.-12 p.m.

WHERE:       Blink Fitness, 744 St. Ann’s Ave and East 156^TH Street, Bronx


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ABRAZO DOMINICANO

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National Night Out in the Bronx 2012

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

Encourages All Bronxites to Join Their Neighbors & Attend  

 

 

“America’s Night Out Against Crime”

TUESDAY, AUGUST 7^th, 2012

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**NATIONAL NIGHT OUT BRONX COMMUNITY LOCATIONS**

40th Precinct/CB #1 St. Mary’s Park -147th Street & St. Ann’s Avenue (2-7 p.m.) PSA 7 Mitchell Houses (bet. Willis Avenue and Alexander Ave.) (4-8 p.m.) 41st Precinct/CB #2 Police Athletic League 991 Longwood Avenue (4-8 p.m.) 42nd Precinct/CB #3 Crotona Ave. (bet. Boston Road and E. 170th Street)     (4-7 p.m.) 43rd Precinct/CB #9 Morrison Avenue (bet. Westchester and Watson Aves.)          (2-6 p.m.)

44th Precinct/CB #4 2 East 169th St. (bet. Jerome and Walton Avenues) (3-8 p.m.) 45th Precinct/CB #10 Co-op City- Section 1 (Greenway-Enter at 120 Benchley Place)   (6-9 p.m.) 46th Precinct/CB #5 120 West 184th Street (bet. Morris and Walton Aves.) (5-9 p.m.) 47th Precinct/CB #12 Grenada Place (bet. Laconia & Ely Aves.)         (5-8 p.m.) 48th Precinct/CB #6 Arthur Avenue (bet. E. 187th and 188th St.) (4-8 p.m.)

49th Precinct/CB #11 Great Lawn of Pelham Parkway North (bet. Wallace and Barnes Aves.) (6-8:30 p.m.) 50th Precinct/CB #8 Marble Hill Avenue (bet. West 228th Street and West 230th Street) (4-8 p.m.) 52nd Precinct/CB#7 Williamsbridge Oval Park (Reservoir Oval East and Putnam Place) (4:30-7:30 p.m.) PSA 8 Monroe House (Rear of 1790 Story Avenue) (4-8 p.m.)

NATIONAL NIGHT OUT HELPS US TO:

• heighten crime and drug prevention awareness;
• generate support for, and participation in, local anti-crime programs;
• strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and
• send a message to criminals letting them know that Bronxites are organized and fighting back.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PLEASE CALL 718-590-6001.

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JOBS AVAILABLE--FRESHDIRECT

The Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation—the economic development arm of Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.—is  prescreening candidates for job openings with FreshDirect.

Details on those jobs are available at the following links:

http://www.facebook.com/notes/bronx-overall-economic-development-corporation-boedc/jobs-pickerpacker-picking-and-packing-orders-for-customers/431643760192476

http://www.facebook.com/notes/bronx-overall-economic-development-corporation-boedc/jobs-mobile-equipment-operatiors/431662436857275

http://www.facebook.com/notes/bronx-overall-economic-development-corporation-boedc/jobs-delivery-representative/431664270190425

 Applicants should have their paperwork to the BOEDC by Monday, July 16.

 

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Salsa In The MIX! Sat. July 28th

For more information contact Angela Porcelli at (718) 283-4081 or angela@masmarketingny.com.

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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 50^th 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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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

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)

http://comptroller.nyc.gov/press/2012_releases/pr12-07-082.shtm

LIU: EDC SUBSIDIZES EMPTY JOB PROMISES (March 19, 2012)

http://www.comptroller.nyc.gov/press/2012_releases/pr12-03-025.shtm

LIU STATEMENT ON EDC’s $100 MILLION SUBSIDY TO FRESH DIRECT (February 14, 2012)  

http://www.comptroller.nyc.gov/press/2012_releases/pr12-02-015.shtm

AUDIT REPORT ON CONEY ISLAND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION’S FINANCIAL AND OPERATING PRACTICES (November 7, 2011)

http://www.comptroller.nyc.gov/bureaus/audit/audits_2011/11-07-11_FM11-070A.shtm

LIU: EDC KEEPS MILLIONS IDLE (Sept. 21, 2011)

http://www.comptroller.nyc.gov/press/2011_releases/pr11-09-075.shtm

LIU STATEMENT ON EDC’S IMMIGRANT ENTREPRENEUR PROGRAM (April 12, 2011)  

http://www.comptroller.nyc.gov/press/2011_releases/pr11-04-035.shtm

LIU: CASH DISAPPEARS AT THE WATER CLUB ON EDC’S WATCH (February 9, 2011) 

http://www.comptroller.nyc.gov/press/2011_releases/PR11-02-013.shtm

CITY RECAPTURES $120 MILLION FROM EDC (July 27, 2010)

http://www.comptroller.nyc.gov/press/2010_releases/pr10-07-080.shtm

AUDIT: EDC HOARDS $125 MILLION OF TAXPAYER MONIES (April 28, 2010)

http://www.comptroller.nyc.gov/press/2010_releases/pr10-04-046.shtm

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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