Andrew Cohen Fundraiser

    Last Saturday afternoon Councilman G. Oliver Koppell held a fundraiser in his home for Mr. Andrew Cohen, Councilman Koppell's choice to replace him in the City Council. The fundraiser was attended by over 100 people including Congressman Eliot Engel, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, Candidate for Public Advocate Letisha James (currently representing part of Brooklyn in the city council), sever Community Board # 8 members, and many others. There were several speeches as to why Andrew Cohen should be elected to the city council. Since candidate Cohen is participating in the campaign finance program the  money collected at the fundraiser (from residents of the council district) will be matched 6 - 1 by the CFB.

Below are a few photos of the fundraiser.

 Left - Councilman Koppell's wife  Lorraine (who played an active role in her husbands campaigns) extols the virtues of candidate Andrew Cohen.

Right - Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz speaks, as Community Board # 8 members Steve Balicer and Xaxia Sanchez are in the photo behind Dinowitz and Koppell. Candidate Andrew Cohen is off to the right in what appears to be a glow of light. 

Left - Public Advocate candidate Letisha James is in the photo,

Right - City Council candidate Andrew Cohen stands between Assemblyman Dinowitz and Councilman Koppell, as Congressman Engel is on the right.

Third Night Lighting of the Riverdale Menorah

    Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. had the honor of lighting the Riverdale menorah on the third night of Chanukah. As you will see in the photos below it was no easy strike a match and light the menorah. Diaz Jr. and the Rabbi had to be secured in the bucket of the truck, and hoisted up to the top of the menorah with a small torch in hand to light the giant menorah. You can click on any photo to enlarge it.

Left -  BP Diaz is strapped in by Con Edison worker, as you can see the head of one of the BP's staffers speaking to him.  Right - The bucket starts to lift with the Rabbi and BP Diaz in it.

Left - you can barley see the Rabbi and BP Diaz in the tiny bucket.
Right - Is a close up of the photo on the left.

Left - BP Diaz finishes lighting the third light.
Right - Back on the ground BP Diaz shows off his lighted menorah necklace that was given out to all who attended.

Riverdale Menorah Lighting

   On Sunday The second night of Chanukah Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz lit the traditional Riverdale Menorah, the largest menorah in the Bronx. In the photos below you will see the menorah top on its side before being put up, and the Con Edison truck with its lift bucket to hoist the rabbi and elected official up to light the giant menorah. You can click on any photo to enlarge it.

Below left - The menorah top lays on the ground as it dwarfs the two men.

Below right - You can see the Con Edison truck used, and police needed. In the background you can see the fully assembled menorah.

Left - Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz and City Council candidate Andrew Cohen survey with the rabbis what has to be done to light the giant menorah.

Assemblyman Dionowitz with the Rabbi before the lighting of the menorah.

Left - Assemblyman Dinowitz finishes lighting the second of two lights for the night.

Right - The Assemblyman and rabbi descend down from the giant Riverdale menorah.

White Plains Road Menorah Lighting

   On Saturday for the first time thanks to the generosity of newly elected Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj there was a menorah lighting at the intersection of White Plains Road and Pelham Parkway. Over 200 local residents joined Congressman Eliot Engel, State Senator Jeff Klein, Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj, White Plains Road BID Director Joe Thompson, and Rabbi Zuckerman. Jelly dounuts and hot coffee were also provided. Below are photos of the event.

Left - Rabbi Zuckerman Stands to left of the unlit menorah.
Right - The elected official are behind the menorah before the lighting.

 Here you see the White Plains Road Menorah lit for the first night of Chanukah.

Left to right are newly elected Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj, one of the many Rabbi's, Congressman Eliot Engel, Rabbi Zuckerman behind Senator Jeff Klein, Joe Thompson of the WPR BID, and former Assemblyman  Steve Kaufman.  

 

 

 

Grafitti returns to West 235th Street Overpass

     Within only a few days after Councilman G. Oliver Koppell himself painted over graffiti that had been placed on the wall of the West 235th Street pedestrian overpass of the Henry Hudson Parkway new graffiti has replaced the old in the same location. As in the previous post of Councilman Koppell painting over graffiti the photos below are of the same location the following Monday morning. You can see the paint on the sidewalk where Councilman Koppell and City Solve painted over graffiti.

Koppell Plants New Trees and Cleans Graffitti

   We caught up with Councilman G. Oliver Koppell Friday as he was on Riverdale Avenue with North Riverdale Merchants Association Co-Presidents Anthony Fella & Gary Wartels and Long time Riverdale Avenue merchant Patricia Cassiere stand in front of three of the trees trees that Councilman Koppell had planted on Riverdale Avenue in the West 259th Street area. The merchants also described several of the ideas they had such as modernization of the area, a study of the area for traffic improvements, possible movement of bus stops to other locations, and a few other ideas that Councilman Koppell had his ace staffer Andrew Sandler copy down for later review by both. 

   A short time later Councilman Koppell was on the West 235th pedestrian overpass of  Henry Hudson Parkway pointing out some new graffiti to Mr. Bruce Pienkny President of City Solve Graffiti Removal. City Solve does graffiti removal work city wide, and Councilman Koppell was able to have the company do graffiti removal throughout his council district. Below are some photos of each event.

Councilman Koppell (2nd left) stands between North Riverdale Avenue Merchants Association Co-Presidents Anthony Fella and Gary Wartels, as Andrew Sandler (of Koppells staff0 and long time merchant Patrica Cassiere are on the right.

Left - Councilman Koppell points to some graffiti on the wall of the pedestrian bridge over the Henry Hudson Parkway at West 235th   Street.

Right - Koppell paints over another piece of graffiti.

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LIU: YET MORE QUESTIONABLE BILLING FOR SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENT SERVICES

   

Audit Finds Department of Education Paid Consultants for Services That Many Parents Say Never Took Place

     City Comptroller John C. Liu announced today that an audit of the Department of Education (DOE) found possible fraudulent billing by consultants hired to provide services for special needs students. 

 

“There’s just no excuse for this sloppiness,” Comptroller Liu said.  “If the DOE is paying without checking that services were actually rendered, can anyone believe they’re checking on the quality of service?  And how many more students could have been served if money had not been misdirected or misspent?”

 

Comptroller Liu’s audit determined that the DOE did not monitor consultants’ invoices for special education services, paying bills for services reportedly provided in the middle of the night or for services which parents said their child never received.

 

The DOE’s failure to catch these invoices opens the door to fraud and abuse of taxpayer money. Comptroller Liu referred his audit findings to The Special Commissioner of Investigation for the New York City School District.

 

Weak Protections Against Bad Billing

Consultants bill the DOE either electronically through the agency’s Vendor Portal or by submitting paper invoices.  The Vendor Portal is supposed to automatically reject invoices that charge for services at inappropriate or disallowed hours. However, the Vendor Portal didn’t always do this. For example, it did not reject billings submitted for services that were supposedly provided at odd hours (such as 3:00 a.m.) or on Federal holidays (which are not allowed).

 

Even in cases where the DOE contacted parents to confirm the services and parents wrote back that their child had been on vacation, out of the City, or simply had not received services from a consultant, the DOE still paid the questionable bills.

Possible Bill Padding

In a sample of five consultants who were identified to have received unusually large payments, Comptroller Liu’s audit found three that appeared to have padded their bills.

 

DOE staff stated that services should reasonably be provided between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m. But the three consultants flagged by the audit, who billed DOE for $34,000 in a one-month period for after-school sessions, claimed $15,000 in payments for services rendered after 9 p.m.  One consultant regularly submitted bills for 15 or 16 hours of work per day. The consultants charged from $31.49 to $41.98 per session.

 

The audit scope was Fiscal Years 2010 and 2011.

The DOE’s Auditor General acknowledged that the agency needs greater controls over invoices.  Comptroller Liu’s audit commended the agency for its efforts to enact better controls over billing.

 

Today’s audit is attached and is available for download here: http://www.comptroller.nyc.gov/bureaus/audit/audits_2012/12-6-12-MH11-060A.shtm

BACKGROUND:

In addition to today’s audit, two earlier audits by Comptroller Liu’s office also found that the DOE has weak controls over the consultants it hires to provide special needs student services. 

 

In January 2012, an audit found the DOE failed to provide special education services to as many as 72,000 students — more than a quarter of those children who qualified for physical therapy, speech therapy, or other assistance. That audit is available here:

http://www.comptroller.nyc.gov/bureaus/audit/audits_2012/1-24-12_FK10-147A.shtm

 

A May 2012 audit found that a DOE consultant, Champion Learning Center, owed the City nearly $1 million due to questionable bills. That audit is available here: 

http://www.comptroller.nyc.gov/bureaus/audit/audits_2012/5-16-12_MD11-106A.SHTM

Wave Hill Events December 21–December 28

This week takes us through the holidays, past Chanukah and Christmas and the beginning of Kwanzaa, with new year’s staring us in the face. Resolve to enjoy the last ten days of the year!

FRI, DECEMBER 21    MEDITATION AT WAVE HILL: A HOLIDAY RESPITE

During this busy holiday season, take a moment to release stress, breathe and reconnect with your inner self. Whether sitting on the floor or a chair, learn simple meditation techniques, training your mind to be more focused and aware. Each session includes instruction in simple techniques like watching the breath, mantra repetition, and awareness-training followed by 20 minutes of meditation. Led by Yoga for Bliss director Neem Dewji and instructor and long-time meditator Lea Tenneriello. $15 Member/$23 Non-member. All levels welcomed. Registration recommended, online at www.wavehill.org, by calling 718.549.3200 x305 or onsite at the Perkins Visitor Center. Drop-ins will be accommodated as space permits. This series concludes December 22.

GLYNDOR HOUSE, 10‒11:15AM

SAT, DECEMBER 22    FAMILY ART PROJECT—GLITTERY GIFT BASKETS

Glittery Gift Baskets/Cestas de regalo brillantes

Make a basket from unusual materials for a lovely, seasonal container or work of art.  We’ll show you how to transform and recycle an ordinary carton into something fantastic using sparkles, gems and more. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon.

ECOLOGY BUILDING, 10AM‒1PM

SAT, DECEMBER 22    MEDITATION AT WAVE HILL: A HOLIDAY RESPITE

During this busy holiday season, take a moment to release stress, breathe and reconnect with your inner self. Whether sitting on the floor or a chair, learn simple meditation techniques, training your mind to be more focused and aware. Each session includes instruction in simple techniques like watching the breath, mantra repetition, and awareness-training followed by 20 minutes of meditation. Led by Yoga for Bliss director Neem Dewji and instructor and long-time meditator Lea Tenneriello. $15 Member/$23 Non-member. All levels welcomed. Registration recommended, online at www.wavehill.org, by calling 718.549.3200 x305 or onsite at the Perkins Visitor Center. Drop-ins will be accommodated as space permits.  Final session in this series.

GLYNDOR HOUSE, 10‒11:15AM

SUN, DECEMBER 23    FAMILY ART PROJECT—GLITTERY GIFT BASKETS

Glittery Gift Baskets/Cestas de regalo brillantes

Make a basket from unusual materials for a lovely, seasonal container or work of art.  We’ll show you how to transform and recycle an ordinary carton into something fantastic using sparkles, gems and more. Free with admission to the grounds.

ECOLOGY BUILDING, 10AM‒1PM

SUN, DECEMBER 23    GARDEN AND CONSERVATORY HIGHLIGHTS WALK

Join us for an hour-long tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free with admission to the grounds.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 2PM

MON, DECEMBER 24

Closed to the public.

TUE, DECEMBER 25 CHRISTMAS DAY

Closed to the public.

A 28-acre public garden and cultural center overlooking the Hudson River  and Palisades, Wave Hill’s mission is to celebrate the artistry and legacy of its gardens and landscape, to preserve its magnificent views, and to explore human connections to the natural world through programs in horticulture, education and the arts.

HOURS  Open all year, Tuesday through Sunday and many major holidays: 9AM—4:30PM. Closes 5:30PM, March 15—October 31.  

ADMISSION  $8 adults, $4 students and seniors 65+, $2 children 6—18. Free Saturday mornings until noon. Free all day Tuesdays in December. Free to Wave Hill Members and children under 6.

PROGRAM FEES  Program s are free with admission to the grounds unless otherwise noted.

Visitors to Wave Hill can take advantage of Metro-North’s one-day getaway offer. Purchase a discount round-trip rail far and discount admission to the gardens. More at http://mta.info/mnr/html/getaways/outbound_wavehill.htm

DIRECTIONS – Getting here is easy! Located only 3o minutes from midtown Manhattan, Wave Hill’s free shuttle van transports you to and from our front gate and Metro-North’s Riverdale station, as well as the 242^nd Street stop on the #1 subway line. Limited onsite parking is available for $8 per vehicle. Free offsite parking is available nearby with continuous, complimentary shuttle service to and from the offsite lot and our front gate. Complete directions and shuttle bus schedule at www.wavehill.org/visit/.

Information at 718.549.3200. On the web at www.wavehill.org.