DIAZ, LIU & VACCA TO DOT: GIVE CITY ISLAND A CHANCE TO SPEAK!

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., City Comptroller John Liu and City Council Transportation Committee Chairman James Vacca, together with the City Island Civic Association, are calling on the City’s Department of Transportation to begin the formal public input process regarding the scheduled construction of the new City Island Bridge, slated for next year, through ULURP as soon as possible.

Specifically, they noted that the bridge construction is required to undergo a ULURP review through the Department of City Planning, as stated in the DOT’s own document released in March 2007.

Borough President Diaz, Comptroller Liu and Council Member Vacca demanded that the DOT begin the ULURP process as soon as possible—prior to the construction of the new bridge. The ULURP process requires public hearings by both the local Community Board and the Borough President’s Office, offering the people of City Island and, in fact, the entire Bronx, a chance to weigh in on this proposed construction project.

“The people of City Island have the right to voice their concerns or support for the construction of a new City Island Bridge through the ULURP process. This is a requirement of this project, and the DOT admits just that in its own document, which my office confirmed last week. The DOT should begin the ULURP process immediately, so that City Island residents have their chance to speak out on this proposal prior to the construction of the bridge next year,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

“The Mayor has long taken a ‘my way or the highway’ approach to governing, which now seems to have extended to bridges,” said City Comptroller John Liu. “By circumventing the formal public review process, the Mayor has once again demonstrated his complete disregard for the City Charter which requires that the City provide community members and elected officials an opportunity to comment on land use matters. The City should not only hold public hearings on the City Island bridge proposal but also explain to taxpayers why the cost of this capital project has ballooned by more than $100 million.”

“If the Department of Transportation’s own documents show the need for a ULURP action in order to replace the City Island Bridge, that process must begin before construction starts on the bridge, not after,” said Council Member James Vacca, who represents City Island and is also Chair of the Council Transportation Committee. “DOT should not treat the ULURP process as a foregone conclusion, when City Islanders and myself have expressed real concerns with the design and cost of this bridge. The ULURP process should begin immediately, with transparency and collaboration with the residents and businesses of City Island, before a single shovel hits the ground.”

“The fusion of the City Island community and our Bronx Borough President shows how local government can serve its purpose by actually helping the people. Hopefully, the people that sit in their ivory towers will hear this, and we will have our chance to be heard,” said Bill Stanton, president of the City Island Civic Association.

A copy of the relevant section of the DOT’s March 2007 document is available at: http://on.nyc.gov/PztDzh.

BACKGROUND ON ULURP PROCESS:

The overall intent of New York City’s Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) is to provide citizens and elected officials an opportunity to comment on pending land use matters.  In 1975 and again in 1989, the City Charter was amended and Section 197-c established ULURP.  It is administered by the Department of City Planning (DCP) and the City Planning Commission (CPC).  ULURP is also one of the specifically noted Charter mandated responsibilities of the Borough President, who under the City Charter must maintain a Bureau of Planning.

In the context of ULURP the Borough President offers recommendations and commentary pursuant to the specific application only after the Community Board in which the matter is located has taken action on the proposal.  The Borough President may recommend approving the application, approve it with modifications, or disapprove the application.  Like the Community Board, the Borough President tenders a recommendation to the City Planning Commission which may concur with the Community Board or may not.  Likewise, the City Planning Commission may concur or not with either the Community Board or the Borough President.

 

 

National Night Out 49th, 50th, and 52nd precincts

  We were able to cover three different events for "National Night Out". We started at the 50th Precinct on Marble Hill Road between West 228th and West 230th Streets. Hundreds of people took part in this event and Mr. Tony Edwards of Councilman Ydanis Rodriguwz's office was a major force behind this National Night Out for the 50th Pct. A $2,000.00 grant from the local Target store.along with several other smaller donations helped make this event a success. Photos are below with descriptions. 

  We then went to the 49th PCT. event that was being held on the large Pelham Parkway medium by Barnes Avenue. As you will see in the photos below we arrived at the start of the program when most of the elected officials were there. 49th Pct. Council President Mr. Joe Thompson estimated that by the time the event ends about 4,000 people will have participated in this event alone. 

  We were able to speak to a few of the elected officials, New York City Comptroller John Liu, State Senators Ruth Hassell-Thompson and Jeff Klein, Councilman Jimmy Vacca, and several local Community Board # 10 members and local Bid members. All praised the 49th Pct. police officers and their leadership on a fine job of lowering crime and then lowering it even more. 

  We ended at the Williamsbridge Oval for the ending of the 52 Pct. event. By the time we arrived most of the local elected officials had left, but we were able to get one photo of Assemblyman Nelson Castro with 52 Pct. Council President Brenda Caldwell and the Captain of the 52 Pct.

Left - Chef Keith Bayart of Winners Sports bar and Restaurant gave out samples like a delicious Banana corn bread topped with Teriyaki chicken, Red chiffon cake, and Sweet potato tarts.

Right - Councilman Koppell giving words of praise to 50 Pct. Captain Burke and the officers of the 50 Pct. on their outstanding work to make the 50 Pct. one of the safest in the city.

Left - New York City Department of Youth and Community Development Commissioner Jeanne B. Mullgrav (who lives in the 50 Pct.) also praises Captain Burke and the officers of the 50 Pct. on their outstanding work.

Right - Commissioner Mullgrew presents Captain Burke and the officers with a proclamation from City Hall.

Left - Some of the 4,000 people who attended the 49th Pct. event on Pelham Parkway.

Right - Ms. Alisa Blackman sings the National Anthem while the 49 Pct. Explorer color guard stands at attention.

Left - Councilman Jimmy Vacca speaking to the crowd.

Right - 49th Pct. Council President Mr. Joe Thompson holding proclamation given by New York City Comptroller John Liu, State Senators Jeff Klein and Ruth Hassel Thompson are left and right.

Assemblyman Nelson Castro standing next to the captain of the 52 Pct., with 52 Pct. Council President Ms. Brenda Caldwell to the right of Assemblyman Castro.

BP Diaz Endorses Assemblywoman Rivera

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. today endorsed Assemblywoman Naomi Rivera as his choice in the 80th A.D. Above front row from left is 80th A.D. State Committeeman Joe McManus, Bronx BP Ruben Diaz Jr., Assemblywoman Naomi Rivera, Ms. Sally Caldwell (a staffer of the assemblywoman), with supporters in the background.

Posing with BP Diaz, Assemblywoman Rivera called him "A dear friend and colleague". She added that she wants to run on her record, and when we asked Assemblywoman Rivera if she would be participating in debates this year she declined to say yes or no.

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Summer Health Fest, Sunday, August 5th

  

YDANIS RODRIGUEZ

NYC COUNCIL, DISTRICT 10

  

You Are Invited...  

  

 Summer Health Fest

  

Sunday, August 5th, 2012/ 11:00am- 4:00pm

175th Street, Between Audubon and St. Nicholas Avenue

Information on Healthy Eating, Men & Women's Health, 

Pediatrics. Blood Pressure test on site.

Co- sponsored by:

NYS Senator Adriano Espaillat

American Cancer Society

Northern Manhattan Cancer Services Program

ACCESS Medicare

Amsterdam Medical Practice

Flyer, Summer Health Fest

 

SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY CONVERSATION

 NYC Council Speaker Christine. Quinn and City Council member G. Oliver Koppell and Jeffrey Dinowitz held a business luncheon with small business owners to see how they and the City Council can help them operate and grow. The luncheon was held at Greentree Restaurant in the heart of the North Riverdale Merchants Association area, and was well attended with members or representatives of, the South Riverdale Merchants Association, Kingsbridge Business Improvement District, Kingsbridge Riverdale Van Cortlandt Development Corp and others also attending.

 Speaker Quinn opened the meeting by asking everyone to get their lunch, and then Councilman Koppell thanked Speaker Quinn for her attendance at the luncheon to hear from his local merchants and what types of problems that they run into. Koppell noted that the council is not anti-business, but business friendly. Dinowitz also thanked Speaker Quinn for coming to listen, and said that it appears that this is an area that new business wants to come to by the two new shopping centers that are being built in the area.

 There was a question and answer period in which questions about a central data base, the local business city scape, street vendors, lack of bike racks, lack of credit for small business, and the lousy repaving that is being done by DOT in the area were brought up. 

 Quinn answered that the city does send business around to different agencies, but that she is trying to help business by having a central office help in cutting that down. As for the city scape Quinn replied that DOT can come out to do a survey of what can be changed, and gave examples of more trees, better street lights, and even surveillance cameras (but that the city can not pay for such cameras), with Koppell and Dinowitz concurring. On the subject of the repaving Councilman Koppell said the DOT has done a miserable job by towing cars with short notice, and not working on days that signs said they were posted. As for street vendors Quinn said that there is a task force that was set up for Manhattan, and maybe they should come to the area for a day. She added that it is up to the police department, DOT, and Department of Consumer Affairs to monitor street vendors.

  Below are a few photos of the event, which went off very well with everyone learning something new. There was a call for more of the businesses to band together such as having a local Restaurant Week similar to the City and Bronx ones. 

Left - Councilman G.Oliver Koppell addressing the luncheon.

Right - City Council Speaker Quinn addresses the luncheon.

Speaker Quinn answers a question from Mr. Gary Wartel (far left) the President of the North Riverdale Merchants Association.

 

SENATOR RIVERA HOSTS LAST BRONX CAN HEALTH FAIR OF THE SUMMER

The focus of Saturday's Health Fair is Access to Healthcare and Preventative Medicine

State Senator Gustavo Rivera (D-WF), along with Montefiore Medical Center and other community health partners, will host the third and final Bronx CAN Health fair of the summer on Saturday, August 4th at St. James Park. The Bronx CAN Health Initiative was launched in a partnership with Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. in 2011 in response to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's study that showed the Bronx as the unhealthiest county in the state of New York.

  

WHO: Senator Gustavo Rivera, Montefiore Medical Center and other community partners 

  

WHAT: Bronx CAN Health Initiative Final Health Fair of the Summer

  

WHERE:  St. James Park- 2530 Jerome Ave Bronx NY 10468

  

WHEN: Saturday, August 4, 2012 1:30-3:30 PM

This event is the last in a series of Bronx CAN Health fairs. Saturday's health fair will include a free pilates class as well as free health screenings. All events are free and open to the public.

New York League of Conservation Voters Endorses Luis Sepulveda For State Assembly

    The New York League of Conservation Voters, which works to make environmental sustainability a top political and policy priority in New York State has announced its endorsement of candidate Luis Sepulveda for the 87th Assembly District.

As an environmental advocate in his community in the Bronx, Luis Sepulveda co-founded the Cross Bronx Expressway initiative. This agenda was created to bring attention to the toxicity produced by the traffic congestion of the expressway and its deleterious effects on the health of the surrounding community.

Although Sepulveda is a new candidate, this has not undermined his dedication to environmental health. His background in environmental biology will prove to be very useful in the fight to protect New York’s environment.

“The Bronx needs leaders who understand the importance of environmental sustainability, and realize that it is the path to a greener community and a stronger economy” said Marcia Bystryn, NYLCV’s president. “Luis Sepulveda has proved that he has the passion and the drive to fight for a greener New York within the State Assembly, and that’s why the New York League of Conservation Voters is proud to endorse his candidacy.”

In response to the endorsement, Sepulveda said: “I am honored to be endorsed by the New York League of Conversation Voters. The mission of this environmentally-oriented organization is right in line with my campaign's ethos which aspires to make the great borough of the Bronx and the state of New York, "greener" places to live. With their support, I will be a staunch advocate for the advancement of environmental concerns within the state legislature.”

DOT Still Leaves Road Paving Unfinished

  We told you in today's edition of the Bronx News about the Movie in Seton Park, and how the road Independence Avenue was milled the first week of July weeks before the event and was awaiting repaving by the Department of Transportation. Well the event went on July 21st with the street still unpaved, and Independence Avenue as of August 2nd still has not completely been repaved. DOT also put up signs for the repaving with less than 24 hour notice, and then did not repave the area only to put up signs for the next day.

  The stretch of Independence Avenue from West 232nd Street to West 239th Street was milled in two days, but the repaving has gone on one block at a time. The last two blocks we will say was held up due to Con Edison work under the street, but Con Ed was finished quickly. This stretch of Independence Avenue is an emergency route that ambulances, police, fire trucks, buses, and many trucks use as an alternate to the busy service road of the Henry Hudson Parkway that often gets backed up. You will see in the photos below how the paving is going, sections of the road left unpaved, and problems due to the way DOT has left the unpaved sections.

Left - The corner of Independence Avenue and West 239th (south side)

Right - Crater left in street by Dot after removing Con Ed patch.

Left - Area by a handicap access ramp is not completley smoothed down.

Right - Sewer cover sticks up several inches by unpaved section remaining.

Left - Shows seams in repaving

Right - Another photo of the sewer cover that sticks up past repaved area in front of 3777 Independence Avenue.

Left - BX 10 bus going down unpaved area of Independence Avenue.

Right - MTA Express bus enters Independence Avenue South at West 239th even though the street has not been completely repaved. Note that the street is closed even though no paving is going on.

UPDATE
  On Friday August 3rd the DOT paving crew finished paving the last section of Independence Avenue, and other areas in the local community board that were scheduled to be milled and repaved.
 We want to commend the mayor on the usual swiftness, and lack of information as is commonly found throughout the Bloomberg administration.