My Top Ten Wishes for 2013

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
By Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz
32nd Senatorial District, Bronx County, New York

My Top Ten Wishes for 2013

You should know that every year, many people wait for the coming of the New Year, celebrating with friends and family and wishing for different things.

For example, thousands and thousands will make their way to Times Square to wait for the ball to drop. Others will go to different fiestas to dance the night away.

During the past 45 years, I have gone to church to ring in the New Year.  Before 12 midnight, we all go down on our knees and wait for the New Year to arrive, making our wishes and resolutions for the next year.  After midnight, the traditional first meal of the year is shared in the temple.

This year on December 31st, when I bend my knees in church and make my New Year's resolutions, you should know that I will be making the following political wishes for some people:

1. For Senator John Sampson, to find better and more faithful friends.

2. For reporters Bob Kappstatter, from the Bronx Times and Jim Odato from the Times Union, to learn how to be impartial and objective journalists.

3. For Senator Jeff Klein and his Gang of Four, to find a parachute to allow them to make their landing easy and soft when Senator Dean Skelos and the Republicans - fearing the Conservative Party - reject their support for a progressive agenda, leaving the Gang of Four out in the cold.

4. For Senator Malcolm Smith, to find another minority to join him in order for him not to be the only Uncle Tom in the house.

5. For Assemblyman-Elect Luis Sepulveda, to take it a little bit easier with a little more patience and wait for his time, because it will come.

6. For my three friends, Carl Kruger, Pedro Espada, and Hiram Monserrate, to try to get together in 2013 while they are away and write a book instructing Jeff Klein and the Gang of Four how to deal with Dean Skelos and what to expect from him.

7. To Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, to buy a back-stabbing proof vest.

8.  For Senator Adriano Espaillat, to get a big handkerchief to wipe away his saliva because Charlie Rangel will be there for many years more - and aside from that, Adam Clayton Powell is warming up in the bullpen.

9. For Governor Andrew Cuomo, to be honest enough to admit that he has been the creator of the mess in the New York State Senate.

10. As for myself, should these nine other wishes come true, that I will be able to take a break and keep my mouth shut.

This is Senator Reverend Rubén Díaz and this is what you should know.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!

 
 

Watch Out Driving on Independence Avenue

 

 As you have seen in a previous post two of the nine new speed bumps in the multi-block new "Riverdale Slow Zone" (pictured above, click on the photo to enlarge it.) have been placed on Independence Avenue between West 232nd and 235th Streets. In that post we took pictures of the huge speed bumps showing just how large they are. One photo was of the skid marks on one speed bump, as there is only one sign on the sidewalk where the speed bump starts. We also showed in one photo how that one sign can be blocked thus giving no warning that a speed bump is ahead. 

   Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz sponsored the application for the "Riverdale Slow Zone", and (in a recent political mailing) city council candidate Cliff Stanton  is claiming his perseverance with the PS 24 PA were the reason for the awarding of the "Riverdale Slow Zone" by the Department of Transportation.

   We went around to see other areas where speed bumps have been placed. There is a warning sign 25 feet before the speed bump in addition to a sign at the speed bump. There are also markings on the roadway warning of an impending speed bump, and at the start of the bump is another marking. So why did the DOT put only one warning sign at the start of a huge speed bump on a heavily traveled emergency route such as Independence Avenue? By the way we went around the corner on West 235th Street where a speed bump already exists, and that has several signs and road markings to warn of the upcoming speed bump as in the photos below.

Left - As you see in this photo the driver is made aware of upcoming speed bump with two separate warning signs and road markings.

Right - Again several signs and road markings warn drivers of the upcoming speed bump.

Left - Again you can see on this street that drivers are given advance warning of the upcoming speed bump.

Right - On this road warning signs are posted on both sides of the street in addition to street markings.

Traffic on Independence Avenue

Or Life Now With Speed Bumps

   Two new speed bumps were placed on Independence Avenue by PS 24 with a third to come by MS/HS 141. Traffic problems have increased over the past few years during the students arrival and dismissal times for both schools. Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz sponsored a Slow Zone application for the area as described in the previous post, and this is what you get as seen in the photos below the day after only two of the proposed speed bumps were placed. In all there will be nine new speed bumps on various area streets around PS 24 and MS/HS 141 in addition to the two existing speed bumps by PS 24 on the side streets. .

 Left - traffic is now backed up past West 239th Street on Independence Avenue past the Riverdale Temple, and to West 246th Street. You can see cars turning from Independence Ave. to West 239th Street to avoid the traffic jam in other photos.

Right -The photo may be blurry but you can make out the police car with its emergency lights on trying to navigate the traffic.

 

Left - The police car in the previous photo winds up turning left at West 237th Street to get around the traffic jam.

Right - You can see that traffic stretches all the way down Independence Avenue to where the two new speed bumps have been placed.

Speed Bumps Placed on Independence Avenue

   This is what you now encounter as you drive down Independence Avenue past Seton Park which is on the right. Two newly installed speed bumps between West 232nd and West 235th Streets (with a third on the way nearby). The speed bumps are part of a "Slow Zone" that the New York City Department of Traffic has come up with to try to calm the traffic flow of a street by one or more schools that has become overused at certain times of the day, and due to a lack of police enforcement a pedestrian (or school child's) hazard due to speeding and haphazard drivers. In the photos below are the size of the speed bumps, the tire markings already on the first day from short stops, and quality of the work by DOT. You will see that overnight graffiti has appeared on a piece of equipment at the location of the next speed bump. You will also see the one and only small sign that denotes the speed bump which is placed right at the beginning of the speed bump without any other markings or warnings that a speed bump is ahead. Finally you will also see just how the speed bump sign can be and is blocked by one or more buses loading or unloading (or in the case in the photo parked bus). 

   If you want to comment to the people who brought you the slow zone with its NINE new additional speed bumps that will be placed on Palisade Avenue, Hudson Manor Terrace, Douglas Avenue, West 237th Street, West 239th Street, and Independence Avenue the application was submitted by Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz. City council candidate Cliff Stanton can also be thanked for the NINE new speed bumps having admitted that he was one of the speeders. 

Left - DOT equipment waiting at the site of a new speed bump.
Right - overnight graffiti was placed on DOT equipment.

 

Left - Click on this photo to see the asphalt already separating in the center of this speed bump.

Right - Tire skid marks are visible not even after 24 hours since the speed bumps were installed.

 

Left - You can see how big the size of the speed bump is, as it spans front front wheels to rear wheels of this large truck.

Right - One small sign is in place right at the beginning of the speed bump that can be blocked as you will see in the next photos.

Left - A school bus loading or unloading can block most of the speed bump sign.
Right - Here a parked bus can completely block the speed bump sign leaving a motorist no warning of the speed bump ahead.

Riverdale Avenue Christmas Tree Lighting

   The Menorah that had been lit on eight nights for the eight nughts of Chunakah was already taken down, but this year the Christmas tree that stands next to the Bell Tower on Riverdale Avenue at West 239th Street was not to be lit this year. The reason Hurricane Sandy and the lack of manpower and funds by the Parks Department. Enter Community Board 8 member and city council candidate Andrew Cohen, and as you will see in the photos below the tree was lit. Cohen said that he was only happy to do this for the community.

 Community Board 8 member and candidate for city council Andrew Cohen stands next to Christmas tree by the Bell Tower on Riverdale Avenue that is now lit for Christmas.

Cohen is interviewed by Local News 12 and New York 1 cable television stations.

LIU OFFERS ROADMAP FOR NEW YORK CITY’S FUTURE AT STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS

  Calls for higher minimum wage, proposes small biz economic stimulus plan,

City Comptroller John C. Liu today reported on the health of New York City’s economy and put forth an ambitious plan to ensure that New York City’s future benefits every New Yorker, not just the well-connected few.

During his State of the City Address, Comptroller Liu called for raising the minimum wage from $7.25 to $11.50 per hour over the next five years in order to help the “working poor” climb out of poverty. 

Liu also outlined initiatives to sustain and rebuild the City’s middle class, including lowering taxes and fines on 90 percent of the City’s small businesses.  In order to do so, Liu called for an end to the corporate welfare being doled out annually by the City’s Economic Development Corporation and the elimination of outdated corporate tax loopholes, which cost the City more than $500 million each year.

In addition to putting forward innovative solutions to impending economic problems, Liu outlined educational policies that would better prepare our City’s youth for the challenges ahead, such as:

·         Free CUNY tuition to the top 10 percent of every NYC public high-school,

 

·         Using City schools as community centers during non-school hours to offer services like health clinics and financial literacy classes,

 

·         Expanding of the Nurse Family Partnership, a program that increases children’s cognitive skills, producing higher reading and math scores,

 

·         Expanding the “Computers for Youth” program to every middle school at which at least 75 percent of the students receive a free lunch, in order to provide computers to all low income families,

 

·         Creating “sister college” relationships  that pair every high school with one of the City’s many colleges and universities, so that college and graduate students can mentor our high-school students.

 

Liu also highlighted a number of his office’s successes over the past year; such as the role his office played in the City’s recoupment of $466 million in cost overruns from CityTime, the identification of fraudulent billing on the City’s 911 call center upgrade, emergency spending approvals for the response and recovery related to Superstorm Sandy, and the more than $1 billion saved as part of City bond refinancings. 

Liu noted that the Mayor and City Council adopted his Capital Acceleration plan to rebuild City infrastructure and spur job growth, an idea he proposed in his last State of the City Address.

Comptroller Liu also announced that, in the coming weeks, his office will launch Checkbook 2.0, an upgrade to the current online transparency tool, Checkbook NYC, making New York City the most financially transparent government in the United States.

Wave Hill Events January 4–January 11

Just a reminder that our Hibernators Pajama Pop-In is coming up on January 12 and 13, a weekend when, thanks to Target, admission is free both days. Read more on the attached!

SATURDAY, JANUARY 5    FAMILY ART PROJECT—SUNRISE, SUNSET

Sunrise, Sunset/Amanecer y atardecer

Look to the sky’s palette of colors, infused with shades of dusk or dawn, then blend and blur paint and tissue-paper dyes against a silhouette of forest, city skyline, river or bridge to create an inspirational scene.  Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon.

ECOLOGY BUILDING, 10AM‒1PM

SUNDAY, JANUARY 6    FAMILY ART PROJECT—SUNRISE, SUNSET

Sunrise, Sunset/Amanecer y atardecer

Look to the sky’s palette of colors, infused with shades of dusk or dawn, then blend and blur paint and tissue-paper dyes against a silhouette of forest, city skyline, river or bridge to create an inspirational scene.  Free with admission to the grounds.

ECOLOGY BUILDING, 10AM‒1PM

SUN, JANUARY 6    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, JANUARY 7

Closed to the public.

THU, JANUARY 10    NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY: TREES IN WINTER

Session 1

In this three-session workshop, photographer Benjamin Swett brings into focus Wave Hill's extraordinary collection of trees to explore the pleasures and challenges of photographing trees in the season when they most reveal themselves. Covering technical questions of tree photography, from tree identification to color calibration and parallax, the workshop aims to help participants understand what makes a good photograph and how to achieve their goals as photographers. Each day combines outdoor photography in the woods and gardens of Wave Hill, examines the work of professional and fine art photographers and reviews of student work. All levels welcomed. Series fee: $90 Member/$105 Non-member. Registration required, at www.wavehill.org, by calling 718.549.3200 x305 or at the Perkins Visitor Center. Continues January 17 and 24.

ECOLOGY BUILDING, 1−4PM

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 January. 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.

LIU STATEMENT ON MTA FARE HIKES

City Comptroller John C. Liu stated the following today about the latest MTA fare hikes:

“The MTA fare hikes are unfortunate because they fall disproportionately on low-income New Yorkers, and they hurt even worse because so many are still reeling from the economic effects of the recent recession and Superstorm Sandy. New Yorkers already pay a disproportionately high price for mass transit. The MTA needs to look for more support from the City, state, and federal governments and not try to balance its books on the backs of straphangers.”

Visit www.comptroller.nyc.gov for the latest news, events and initiatives. Follow Comptroller Liu on Twitter, YouTube.