Annual Bronx County Chanukah Menorah Lighting

   The official Bronx Borough Chanukah Menorah lighting at Borough Hall took place today. New York Yankees Broadcaster Ms. Suzyn Waldman was the Mistress of Ceremony, as both the Israeli national anthem (Hatikvah) and United States national anthem (The Star-Spangled Banner) were sung by Dafna, Shir Fun. Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. then welcomed the assembled  crowd, and spoke of how one of the most enjoyable things about being borough president is hosting events such as this menorah lighting. 

   

   After greetings by Rabbi Michael Miller (of the Jewish Community Relations Council of NY) and William Papfogel (CEO of the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty) there was a musical tribute to Chanukah by the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale Community Choir. Rabbi Israel Greenberg of the Bronx Jewish Community Council then assembled the elected officials to light the Bronx County Chanukah Menorah. Below are a few photos of the event.

 

Left - a photo of the crowd as music is played before the menorah lighting.

Right - Mistress of Ceremony Suzyn Waldman opening the menorah lighting ceremony.

Left - the elected officials sit in the front row with Ms. Walden.

Right - Rabbi Greenberg has the elected officials join him by the Chanukah Menorah.

 

Left - The traditional Chanukah prayer is said by Rabbi Greenberg.

Right - The menorah is lit on the fifth day of Chanukah. Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, Ms. Waldman, Rabbi Greenberg, Bronx BP Rubrn Diaz Jr., Deputy BP Aurelia Greene, and newly elected Councilman Andy King line the front row in the photo on the left.

PARTY BY NIGHT SKATE BY DAY Fundraiser

PARTY BY NIGHT 
SKATE BY DAY      

INVITES YOU TO
A SPECIAL NEW YEAR'S

DOUBLE HEADER  

Monday, December 31st              Tuesday, January 1st

9:30 pm to 12:30 am                   2:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Dinner and Festivities                 Ice Skating in Van

@ Yo Burger                                Cortland Park

3726 Riverdale Avenue                Broadway @ 242nd Street 

 

 

RSVP for either event (or both!) by Dec. 25th: cliff@cliffstantonforcouncil.com

ADVANCE PAYMENT IS EASIEST! 

NEW YEAR'S EVE minimum               SKATING minimum 

$50/person or $100/family             $30/person or $60/family

Includes dinner - BYOB                    Includes skate and locker rental

                                                        $50/person or $100/family

 Or... suggested donations: $100 $175* $250 $500

  

https://cliffstantonforcouncil.com/contribute/

*Contributions up to $175 are matched by the NYC Campaign Finance Board at a $6 to $1 rate!

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"HEALTHY EATING DURING THE HOLIDAYS"

SENATOR RIVERA JOINS MARC ACADEMY AND FAMILY CENTER & SOUTH BRONX JOB CORPS FOR "HEALTHY EATING DURING THE HOLIDAYS"

Senator G. Rivera, will join MARC Academy and Family Center as well as South Bronx Job Corps this Friday December 14, 2012 at 11:00 AM at 2105-2111 Jerome Avenue for a special presentation and tasting of healthy foods to eat during this holiday season. 

   

WHO:        NYS Senator Gustavo Rivera,  Assembly Member Nelson Castro, MARC                               Academy and Family Center and South Bronx Job Corps.

  

WHAT:       Presentation/Food demo on Healthy Eating During the Holidays

WHERE:    MARC Academy & Family Center

                   2105-2111 Jerome Avenue, 

                   Bronx NY 10453

  

WHEN:       Friday, December 14, 2012 at 11:00 AM

  

MARC Academy and Family Center, Inc. is a non-profit EarlyLearn NY program providing quality early childhood education, Family Day Care Network and school age support programs to children in the Bronx.

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LIU PEELS BACK THE CURTAIN ON EDC’S FINANCES

   Secures unprecedented transparency and accountability concessions from New York City Economic Development Corporation 

   City Comptroller John C. Liu today announced that the New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC), the Mayoral-controlled entity that awards corporate subsidies and tax breaks, has instituted unprecedented new measures for transparency and accountability as part of its contract agreement.  Liu made the announcement after his office registered the EDC’s annual $896 million Master and Maritime agreement for the City.  

“Finally we have more light shining into the black hole that has been EDC. They will answer to taxpayers now that we've cracked open their books,” said Comptroller Liu. “These new measures will help EDC be more focused on their responsibility to create real jobs, not simply dole out publicly funded subsidies to private companies.”

As part of the contract parameters, City Hall has agreed to implement unprecedented reforms including:

-          Publication of  all City-funded expenditures on Comptroller Liu’s Checkbook NYC online transparency tool, beginning Feb 1, 2013;

-          Detailed reports on companies that fail to live up to their job commitments along with the enforcement actions, including claw backs, which were brought against them;

-          Certification by the President of EDC that the agency is in full compliance with the terms and conditions of the NY State Attorney General’s agreement to prevent additional illegal lobbying; and

-          Provisions to encourage the hiring of New York City residents for publicly subsidized projects. 

Background:

Comptroller Liu has criticized the EDC for its failure to create jobs, while doling out huge corporate subsidies. Even though Comptroller Liu views these reforms as a step in the right direction his office will continue to scrutinize the agency’s finances and incentive programs.

After revelations by the State Attorney General of illegal practices at the EDC, Comptroller Liu’s July 9, 2012 letter urged Mayor Bloomberg 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.”

In a letter dated September 26, Liu wrote, “The City cannot afford to miss this opportunity to meaningfully improve the way it promotes economic development and job creation in a more transparent and accountable manner.”

“If the EDC cannot manage its own operations with greater transparency and accountability, produce the number and types of jobs it has promised, and stimulate the City’s economy to a degree commensurate with the public subsidies it receives, then the City must directly reassume those responsibilities,” Liu continued, directly questioning the premise that economic development policy can best be implemented through a quasi-city nonprofit organization.

The September letter can be viewed at http://comptroller.nyc.gov/press/pdfs/Letter-to-Mayor-re-EDC-09-26-12.pdf

Some links to past statements/audits are below:

LIU CALLS ON BLOOMBERG TO CHANGE EDC’S “LAW-BREAKING” CULTURE (July 9, 2012)
http://www.comptroller.nyc.gov/press/2012_releases/pr12-07-083.shtm

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: 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

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.