By Senator Rev. Rubén DÃaz
32nd Senatorial District, Bronx County, New York
Now it’s the Bronx Borough President’s Time!
You should know that the Constitution of the United States of America mandates
that the President of our Nation, once a year, informs Congress about the
current situation of the nation and presents his future plans for the nation.
This event, which is broadcast live for all residents in our nation,
is called the State of the Union Address.
It is also important for you to know that this mandate is followed by governors,
mayors, city council presidents, and almost every elected official who
oversees townships and municipalities.
Here in New York State, practically everyone has already given their State
of their respective government or municipality Address. Starting
with Governor Andrew Cuomo, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, New
York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, and practically every other
borough president, the speeches have been given.
Now comes the time for Bronx Borough President Rubén DÃaz, Jr., who in
more familiar settings is called “Rubencito,” to render his Fourth Annual
State of the Borough Address.
You will hear directly from the lips of the President of Bronx County,
or as I refer to it: El Condado de Papa Dios. (Others
who used to call it El Condado de la Salsa, now call it El
Condado de la Salsa y el Merengue due to the great influx of Dominicans
who reside here.) Bronx Borough President Rubén DÃaz, Jr. will be
informing us about the Bronx’s economic, housing, labor, educational,
health, environmental, transportation, and social services situations.
He will let us know all about his many achievements during his tenure,
and share with us what he envisions for the future of this great county.
Yes, my friends, you should all come to this great event on Tuesday,
February 19, 2013 at 11:00AM at James Monroe High School located at 1300
Boynton Avenue (on the corner of East 172nd Street) in the Bronx River
section of the Bronx, where the Honorable Rubén DÃaz, Jr. has invited everyone
to come and hear his speech about the State of the Bronx and his plans
for our great borough!
This is Senator Reverend Rubén DÃaz, and this is what you should know.
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
LIU APPLAUDS PRESIDENT OBAMA’S FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE PROPOSAL
City Comptroller John C. Liu issued the following statement in support of President Obama’s call to increase the federal minimum wage:
“New Yorkers should find a lot to like in last night's State of the Union address. President Obama's proposal to increase the federal minimum wage to $9.00 is necessary to rebuild the middle class and help the working poor climb out of poverty. In order to combat our City’s high cost of living and growing wealth gap, we continue to call for raising the minimum wage in New York City to $11.50 an hour. While we wholeheartedly support the President's proposal, the fact remains that $9.00 goes much further in Oklahoma City and Salt Lake City than in New York City.”
Background:
During his December State of the City address, Comptroller Liu called for a New York City minimum wage of $11.50 an hour, to be phased in over five years and then pegged to the Consumer Price Index.
Comptroller Liu’s Minimum Wage Proposal at his State of the City –
December 20, 2012:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Comptroller Liu’s Income Inequality in NYC Report – May 21, 2012:
http://www.comptroller.nyc.
“New Yorkers should find a lot to like in last night's State of the Union address. President Obama's proposal to increase the federal minimum wage to $9.00 is necessary to rebuild the middle class and help the working poor climb out of poverty. In order to combat our City’s high cost of living and growing wealth gap, we continue to call for raising the minimum wage in New York City to $11.50 an hour. While we wholeheartedly support the President's proposal, the fact remains that $9.00 goes much further in Oklahoma City and Salt Lake City than in New York City.”
Background:
During his December State of the City address, Comptroller Liu called for a New York City minimum wage of $11.50 an hour, to be phased in over five years and then pegged to the Consumer Price Index.
Comptroller Liu’s Minimum Wage Proposal at his State of the City –
December 20, 2012:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Comptroller Liu’s Income Inequality in NYC Report – May 21, 2012:
http://www.comptroller.nyc.
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Toy Fair 2013
The New York Toy Fair 2013 was the place to find this Christmas's "next big toy". As you will see from the photos below there could be many big toys this Christmas or Chanukah.
Left - The Power Rangers were out in force at the Toy Fair as usual.
Right - There were bins of ball to be had.
Left - is a variation on the famous board game Monopoly called Old Age-Opoly where John Moran explains that the company has been in business for 28 years.
Right - some other versions of the Opoly game.
Left - is the old classic small slot racing game on the market for over 25 years that has been updated for better performance.
Right - For a few dollars more one can get a real top of the line much larger home slot car racing game.
Left - Star Trek space ships, phasers, and communicators from Captain Kirk and Piccard are still being made.
Right - The new breed of robots that do more and cost less. the one on the right or the dinosaur now sell for $79.99 suggested retail.
Left - Unlike the old hand held robot fighters these are electronically controlled.
Right - Is a wooden Boys action Figure House.
Left - Tom Sempts of Oyo Sports Toys shows off his companies Baseball and Football products that are Lego compatible as you can see on the right.
Left - An assortment of wooden sleds since there was a blizzard the day before the Toy Fair began.
Right - Yoo Hoo from the My Little Pony booth mingles with the crowd.
Left - In October 2012 two college buddies started a company that makes mustache tattoos, and the company has taken off. The pair have an NCAA licencing agreement now for college teams.
Right - Art Radani another young entrepreneur shows off his Ring Stix of which there are several different varieties.
Left - Brett Outchcunis of Yomega Corp shows his combination move of Double or Nothing & the Eiffel Tower. While yo yo sales peaked in the late 1990's Yomega produces high performance yo yo's for competition, and sales are still strong.
Right - Stink Cards from Stinkerz.com are not only for boys. Girls like the stink cards also.
Left - For Girls is Wild Styles dolls and accessories.
Right - Sassy Fashion handbags for girls.
Left - Three friends who started the Bunnies by the Bay company.
Right - is a company that makes washable color able stuffed toys.
Left - A stencil drawable game called Doodle Art.
Right - Julie Blumberger of Jewish Educational Toys shows off some great gifts and toys for Chanukah.
LIU: CITY’S TIMES SQUARE GIVEAWAY COST TAXPAYERS $344.9 MILLION
Taxpayers Lost Big Time with EDC’s
Outrageous Deal on
Marriott Marquis Hotel Lease, Audit Finds
Comptroller John C. Liu today called on
Mayor Bloomberg and the City’s Economic Development Corporation (EDC) to
renegotiate a lease agreement with the Marriott Marquis Hotel that
could
cost taxpayers at least $344.9 million.
“This
is one of worst deals since Manhattan was sold for $24,” Comptroller
Liu said. “The EDC betrayed its fiduciary responsibility to act
in taxpayers’ interest when it recommended this sweetheart deal to the
City in 1998. The clock is ticking — the lease set to expire in less
than four years would let the Marriott Marquis purchase one of the
hottest pieces of New York real estate for a fire-sale
price of $20 million — that’s ten cents on the dollar compared to its
value today.”
Comptroller
Liu urged the City to renegotiate the lease or find another tenant for
this prime real estate. “City Hall needs to reexamine this
agreement and do whatever it can to recoup the millions taxpayers have
lost in this boondoggle. If Marriott refuses to renegotiate the lease
they should vacate the property; after all the land still belongs to the
City and there are certainly other luxury
hotels that would be willing to pay a fair price for a Times Square
location.”
The
Marriott Marquis was built on City land under a 1982 agreement that was
fair and beneficial to both the hotel and the City. In 1998, the
City’s EDC encouraged City Hall to rewrite the terms and shorten the
life of the 75-year lease by 40 years. The new lease drastically cut the
hotel’s rent payments and allows the Marriott Marquis to buy a large
corner of the Theater District for a song when
the lease expires in 2017 — instead of 2057.
Comptroller
Liu’s audit conservatively estimates that taxpayers stand to lose
$344.9 million since the EDC rewrote the Marriott Marquis’ lease
with two major changes:
- Below Market Value Purchase Price (Loss of $173.1 million) – The EDC provided the Marriott with the right to buy the land at Broadway and 46th Street for a bargain basement price of $19.9 million. The original lease allowed the Marriott Marquis to purchase the land in 2057 for “fair market value,” which today is estimated to be worth $193 million, according the City’s Finance Department records.
- Rent Forgiveness (Loss of $171.8 million) – The EDC agreed to dramatically reduce Marriott Marquis’ annual rent payments to the City by allowing the hotel to pay off all of its back rent in lieu of current rent.
EDC’s Excuses
When
asked why the agency revised the lease at such a disadvantage to the
City, EDC officials responded that the individuals who had brokered
the deal no longer worked at the agency and that the EDC had little or
no record of the transaction
—
a breathtaking assertion for a deal of this magnitude that is still in
effect. In addition, officials pointed to Times Square’s condition and
the need to develop it, in contradiction
of the fact that, by 1998, Times Square had boomed and hotels and other
businesses were pushing to open there.
Missing Documents: Breach of Contract
Under
its lease Marriott has to keep financial records for six years. Audits
in both 1990 and 1997 uncovered that the Marriott failed to follow
this provision. As a result of these scathing reports, Marriott wrote
to the City in 1997 that it “changed its retention policy and since late
1995 every underlying document is stored on CD-ROM” and that it was
complying with the six-year retention policy
stated in the Lease Agreement. When auditors last year asked for
Marriott to turn over six years of financial records, Marriott stated it
only had records dating to 2008, a violation of its contractual
obligation. Because of Marriott Marquis’ indisputable
contract breach, Comptroller Liu is asking the City to reopen the lease
and renegotiate the terms that have left the City at such a lopsided
disadvantage. Moreover, Comptroller City should pursue recoupment of
the lost $344.9 million.
Other Findings:
The
Marriott Marquis owes the City $3.6 million in Accrued Unpaid Rent
interest dating to 1998. Under its 1998 agreement Marriott was required
to pay off back rent with interest. However, Comptroller Liu’s audit
found that the Marriott Marquis failed to make an interest payment of
$1.8 million at that time. Over time, compounded interest has increased
the amount Marriott owes the City to $3.6 million.
A copy of the audit is attached to this e-mail. It is also available for download at
http://www.comptroller.nyc.
You're Invited to celebrate Dominican Heritage Month
Dominican Heritage Month
Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.
Invites you to join him in celebrating the Dominican culture with traditional music and food on
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
5:30 pm
Grand Slam, 478 East Tremont Avenue, Bronx
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Wave Hill Events February 22–March 1
The
second session of Wave Hill’s Winter Workspace residency gets underway
next week, so by the time of the February 23 and 26 workshops, Onyedika
and Tessa will be well settled in. Both workshops are almost full, but
we are accommodating drop-ins as space permits. These sessions offer a
way to connect with nature as muse, in a way that is distinctly Wave
Hill. Be sure to pair the workshop—or papermaker Randy Brozen’s Family
Art Project—with a walk through the landscape, already teasing us with
signs of spring: This morning, I was thrilled to see clusters of
daffodil stems pushing up around the base of the dawn redwoods in front
of Glyndor House. Of course, if you can’t make it to the Bronx this
week, check out the lecture urban farmer Annie Novak is offering on
Wednesday evening at the New York School of Interior Design.
If you live in the Bronx, take advantage of free admission to the grounds through Sunday, February 24!
SAT, FEBRUARY 23 FAMILY ART PROJECT—SEEDY BEADY PAPER
Seedy Beady Paper/Papel, pepitas y abalorios
Popular
papermaker Randy Brozen shows us how to make beautiful sheets of
handmade paper. We’ll make it extra fancy, and dress it up with seeds
and seed beads! Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon.
ECOLOGY BUILDING, 10AM‒1PM
SAT, FEBRUARY 23 WINTER WORKSPACE: EXPLORING FORM—MOLD MAKING AND CASTING
Visitors
gain insight into Winter Workspace artist Onyedika Chuke’s creative
process and explore the winter landscape as a source of inspiration. In
this mold-making workshop, participants learn about different casting
techniques and then create their own molds and casts of both organic and
machined forms. Art materials are provided unless otherwise noted.
Workshops are open to all visitors ages 12 and over when accompanied by
an adult. Space is limited, so registration is recommended, at www.wavehill.org, by calling 718.549.3200 x305
or at the Perkins Visitor Center. Free with admission to the grounds.
Drop-ins will be accommodated as space permits. This program also takes
place on March 17.
GLYNDOR GALLERY & ON THE GROUNDS, 10AM–1PM
SUN, FEBRUARY 24 FAMILY ART PROJECT—SEEDY BEADY PAPER
Seedy Beady Paper/Papel, pepitas y abalorios
Popular
papermaker Randy Brozen shows us how to make beautiful sheets of
handmade paper. We’ll make it extra fancy, and dress it up with seeds
and seed beads! Free with admission to the grounds, and admission is
free for Bronx residents.
ECOLOGY BUILDING, 10AM‒1PM
SUN, FEBRUARY 24 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, FEBRUARY 25
Closed to the public.
TUE, FEBRUARY 26 WINTER WORKSPACE: PORTRAIT OF A LANDSCAPE—PAINTING WITH NATURAL MATERIALS
Visitors
gain insight into Winter Workspace artist Tessa Grundon’s creative
process and explore the winter landscape as a source of inspiration.
Grundon demonstrates how she creates images of the environment using
natural materials such as mud and beeswax sourced from the site. Using
these techniques, participants will make their own drawings of the local
landscape. Art materials are provided unless otherwise noted. Workshops
are open to all visitors ages 12 and over when accompanied by an adult.
Space is limited, so registration is recommended, at www.wavehill.org, by calling 718.549.3200 x305
or at the Perkins Visitor Center. Free, and admission to the grounds is
free all day. Drop-ins will be accommodated as space permits. This
program also takes place on March 19.
GLYNDOR GALLERY & ON THE GROUNDS, 1–4PM
WED, FEBRUARY 27 HORTICULTURAL LECTURE #2―ANNIE NOVAK: THE FUTURE OF FARMING
Wave
Hill Horticultural Lectures are devoted to landscape design and the
meaning of our interactions with plants and the natural world. This
year’s distinguished lecturers offer a walk down memory lane. But these
presentations are not simply an indulgence in nostalgia, because the
past strongly informs the present in the three subjects we address. Hear
from the front lines of the urban farm movement, as Annie Novak,
founder and director of Growing Chefs, a field-to-fork non-profit for
food education, explains how city farmers are learning from the lessons
of agricultural history, even as they incorporate their own innovations
on rooftops. A lifelong vegetarian and passionate advocate for ecology
within good agriculture, Novak is cofounder and farmer of the nation’s
first greenroof vegetable farm, the Eagle Street Rooftop Farm in
Brooklyn. The final lecture in this series takes place March 13. Series:
$48 Member, Student/$60 General. Individual lectures: $20 Member,
Student/$25 General. Reservations recommended, online at www.wavehill.org or by calling 718.549.3200 x216.
NEW YORK SCHOOL OF INTERIOR DESIGN, 170 EAST 70TH STREET, MANHATTAN, 6PM
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 February and March. 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/
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 242nd
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.
Sen. Klein Hosts Free Flu Vaccine Event
On Thursday, February 7, 2012, State Senator Jeff Klein held a free flu vaccine event at Vladeck Hall at 74 Van Cortlandt Park
South in the Bronx.. The event was co-sponsored by
Jacobi Hospital where a RN from Jacobi gave free flu vaccinations to
attendees who signed up for them. By offering free flu vaccinations, Senator Klein, working with the Jacobi Hospital, wants to help Bronx residents protect themselves
and their families against influenza. The flu season lasts through May, yet it
peaks in February. The sooner Bronxites get vaccinated, the better protected
the community will be from influenza.On hand were co-sponsor Assemblyman Jeff Dinowitz, and 11th city council district candidate Andrew Cohen.
Left - Senator Klein comforts Mr. Emanuel Badger as Assemblyman Dinowitz and 11th council candidate Andrew Cohen (behind Senator Klein) look on while Jacobi Hospital RN Kylia Ester gives Mr. Badger his flu shot.
Right - Senator Klein, Assemblyman Dinowitz, and council candidate Andrew Cohen pose for the camera.