Croton Facility Monitoring Committee Meeting March 21st

Croton Facility Monitoring Committee Meeting

Thursday, March 21, 2013 – 7:00 PM

                           DEP Office – 3660 Jerome Avenue
                                                                     

Agenda

          

I  Welcome -                        Bob Fanuzzi, Chair

   

II Consider, Adopt March CFMC Agenda  -     
CFMC Representatives

III Consider, Adopt 1/17/13 Meeting Minutes   -
CFMC Representatives

IV Comment on CFMC Letters to DEP & DEP  Responses  - 
Bob Fanuzzi & CFMC

      

V Update on Croton Filter Plant Landscape Design & Construction  -       
DPR, DDC, DEP, & Grimshaw  Architects            

   

VI Croton Construction Schedule & Costs Report   -    
Bernard Daly, DEP

VII Update on Field Equipment & Field System Testing  -
Bernard Daly Lauren D’Attile, DEP

VIII Preliminary Budget Planning 2015 – Van Cortlandt Park Pedestrian Bridge -
Bob Fanuzzi

       

IX   CFMC Discussion & Set Date for Next Meeting -      
CFMC Representatives

X Adjourn

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Mayoral Candidate John Liu Visits Riverdale

   After making his announcement that he is running for mayor current City Comptroller John Liu visited all five boroughs ending up in the Riverdale home of Community Board 8 Vice-Chair Maria Kurry before his days events were over. About 35 friends and supporters were on hand at Ms. Kurry's home to congratulate Mayoral candidate Liu on his announcement where candidate Liu spoke with his supporters. Earlier in the day on the steps of City Hall Comptroller Liu announced that he is running for mayor, and due to the extremely large crowd Liu had to repeat his speech to the many people who could not fit into the area by the steps of City Hall and were in City Hall Park. Below are a few photos of the visit to the Riverdale home of Ms. Kurry. Click on any photo to enlarge it. 

Below Left - Mayoral candidate John Liu with Host Ms. Maria Kurry.

Right - Candidate Liu explaining some of the points of his mayoral campaign. 

Below Left -  Liu and many Riverdale supporters gather around for a group photo.
Right - Another group photo with more supporters.

Bronx Week 2013

We will have more information on these and other events that will be going on for Bronx Week 2013 as they are released. 

DanceBrazil at Lehman Center for the Performing Arts

 Three Decades of Acrobatic Dance and Dazzle
DanceBrazil
AT LEHMAN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
Sunday, April 7, 2013 at 6pm

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"There can't be much anywhere to match the strength, flexibility, speed and idiomatic allure of the dancers and musicians of DanceBrazil." —The Washington Post

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Bronx, NY – Lehman Center for the Performing Arts proudly presents the triumphant return of DanceBrazil to the Bronx.  Whether in the streets or on stage in the most prestigious theaters, the hot dancers and musicians of DanceBrazil enthrall audiences with the company's unique fusion of Afro-Brazilian movement, contemporary dance and Capoeira – the traditional dance/martial arts form that had its origins in Africa and evolved in colonial Brazil as a means of fighting enslavement. The company performs on Sunday, April 11, 2013 at 6pm at Lehman Center for the Performing Arts, 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West, Bronx, NY.

For over thirty years, DanceBrazil has thrilled audiences across the United States and the world with its dazzling artistry, which is inspired by the cultural tapestry of Brazil. The New York Times recently wrote, “There was enough appreciative whistling to make a construction worker blush…, when DanceBrazil rolled through town with its crowd-pleasing style of high-octane, high-flying, pelvis-swiveling choreography.” 

Founder and Artistic Director of DanceBrazil, Jelon Vieira and the late Loremil Machado were the first artists to bring traditional Afro-Brazilian dance and Capoeira to the United States over thirty-five years ago. He has devoted his life to sharing Afro-Brazilian culture with audiences in the United States and world-wide. In 2008, he was honored for work and awarded a National Heritage Fellowship, the country’s highest honor in the folk and traditional arts.  This spring he will tour a new work, Fé do Sertão, and bring a company favorite, Banguela, to Lehman Center. 

Special ticket price for children 12 and under, $10 any seat

DanceBrazil performs on Sunday, April 7, 2013 at 6pm at Lehman Center for the Performing Arts located at 250 Bedford Park Blvd. W. on the campus of Lehman College in the Bronx.  Tickets cost $40, $35 and $25, and for children 12 and under, $10 any seat.  Tickets can be purchased through 24 hour online access at www.LehmanCenter.org or by calling the Lehman Center box office at 718-960-8833 open Monday & Wednesday-Friday 10am-5pm (closed on Tuesdays) and beginning at 12 noon on the day of the concert.  Lehman Center is accessible by #4 or D train to Bedford Park Blvd., and is right off several major highways, including the Henry Hudson Parkway, the Saw Mill River Parkway and Major Deegan Expressway.  Low-cost on-site parking available for $5.

Lehman Center is supported, in part, with public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the New York City Council.  The 2012-2013 season is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature, JPMorgan Chase, and through corporations, foundations and private donations.  Special $10 tickets for children are underwritten by Con Edison. 

City Council Candidate Andrew Cohen Calls for Council Reform

 

4-point plan includes elimination of lulus and

calls for automatic votes on bills with majority sponsorship

Bronx-City Council candidate Andrew Cohen unveiled his 4-point plan for reforming the New York City Council, through broad new measures that emphasize majority control, support Council committees, equalize funding for community needs, and eliminate Council Members’ subsidy stipends known as “lulus.” The need for reform has recently been highlighted by Council Member Oliver Koppell’s accessible taxi legislation and the renewed battle over the paid sick leave bill, which has stalled in the Council without a vote for three years despite widespread support among City Council Members.

“What we have with paid sick leave is a bill that has 38 sponsors, nearly three-quarters of the entire Council membership, which has been on the agenda since March 2010, and it still hasn’t even been voted on,” Cohen said. “Whether or not you support the legislation, its stagnant history in the face of overwhelming support clearly shows that the lawmaking process in the Council is in need of real reform.”

To reform the process, Cohen proposes establishing a sponsorship threshold whereby a bill sponsored by a majority of Council Members will be automatically heard and scheduled for an up or down vote. 

“Bills with significant support from the majority of the Council should not be denied a hearing or a vote,” said Cohen.

The Cohen reform plan also calls for other measures that would improve the legislative process by strengthening the roles of committees and individual Council Members:

• Committee Reform: As it currently stands, committee chairs do not have the authority to hire any committee staff, severely handicapping their ability to lead effectively. The Cohen reform plan would allow each committee chair, rather than central leadership, to hire the counsel for the committee. 

• Member Item Reform: Every year, Council Members are allocated discretionary funds known as member items to be used for improvements in their districts; however the amount of these funds varies widely among Council Members. As a result, member items often reflect the needs of central leadership, not the needs of the constituency. To reform this process the Council needs to move toward greater transparency and evenhandedness when dealing with member items. If he is elected, Andrew Cohen has already committed to setting aside a portion of his budget for participatory budgeting, which would give members of the community a chance to directly affect how his member items are spent. But that isn’t enough. To ensure that each member has an equal opportunity to respond to his or her constituency’s needs, and to treat our communities equitably, each Council Member, who by law represents a district with the same number of New Yorkers as any other, would receive the same amount of discretionary funds.

• Elimination of Lulus: Lulus are stipends in addition to salary, doled out to certain members who hold leadership positions in the Council. Unfortunately, like member items money lulus are often tied to loyalty, rather than to the effectiveness of the legislator. If elected to the City Council, Andrew Cohen promises that he will not accept any lulus and will fight to have them eliminated altogether.

Wave Hill Events March 29–April 5

SAT, MARCH 30    SHOP TEA ROOM SALE

Enjoy discounts of up to 70% off at this seasonal clearance event on jewelry, accessories and beauty products; delicacies; and books, gifts and children's toys. Purchases of $50 and up will be rewarded with a free gift. And enjoy free onsite parking when you make purchases totaling $40 or more per visit. As always, 100% of the proceeds of your purchases supports Wave Hill. Cash only; no additional discounts.

GLYNDOR GALLERY, 10AM‒4PM

FRI, MARCH 29    SPRING BREAK: 3-D PAPER SCULPTING

Make sheets of paper from pulp, and turn them into an array of free-form or object-based three-dimensional sculptures, like a vase, bowl or animal, adorned with ribbons, lace and other paraphernalia, with renowned papermaker Randy Brozen. Geared for children between the ages 5 to 10 and a parent or caregiver. $15/Member/$23 Non-member per session includes one child and one adult.  Additional child or adult $10. Registration required, online at www.wavehill.org, by calling 718.549.3200 x305 or at the Perkins Visitor Center. Space is limited.

ECOLOGY BUILDING, 1:30–3PM

SAT, MARCH 30   FAMILY ART PROJECT—ECO FAIR

Eco Fair/Feria Ecologica

Celebrate nature by making arty, nature-inspired crafts from a variety of recycled materials. Make a plastic flower, make a cork animal or decorate an Earth Day pin to display your care for our planet in this fun fair. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon.

ECOLOGY BUILDING, 10AM‒1PM

SUN, MARCH 31    FAMILY ART PROJECT—ECO FAIR

Eco Fair/Feria Ecologica

Celebrate nature by making arty, nature-inspired crafts from a variety of recycled materials. Make a plastic flower, make a cork animal or decorate an Earth Day pin to display your care for our planet in this fun fair. Free with admission to the grounds.

ECOLOGY BUILDING, 10AM‒1PM

SUN, MARCH 31    SHOP TEA ROOM SALE

Enjoy discounts of up to 70% off at this seasonal clearance event on jewelry, accessories and beauty products; delicacies; and books, gifts and children's toys. Purchases of $50 and up will be rewarded with a free gift. And enjoy free onsite parking when you make purchases totaling $40 or more per visit. As always, 100% of the proceeds of your purchases supports Wave Hill. Cash only; no additional discounts.

GLYNDOR GALLERY, 10AM‒4PM

SUN, MARCH 31    GARDEN 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, APRIL 1

Closed to the public.

TUE, APRIL 2    GARDEN HIGHLIGHTS WALK

Join us for an hour-long tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free, and admission to the grounds is free all day.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 11AM

WED, APRIL 3    WATERCOLOR PAINTING: NATURE AND ARCHITECTURE

Session 1

Relying on memory and direct observation of Wave Hill’s plant collection and architecture, create beautiful plein-air watercolor paintings with artist Carrie Beckman. Moving from pencil sketches to watercolor, participants create both large and small paintings and experiment with abstract and representational styles. $90 Member/$105 Non-member. Limited supplies provided. Registration required, online at www.wavehill.org, by calling 718.549.3200 x305 or at the Perkins Visitor Center. Space is limited. Continues April 10 and 17.

ECOLOGY BUILDING, 1–4PM

THU, APRIL 4    MIXED MEDIA ART: ENVIRONMENTS OF EXPLORATION

Session 1

Explore the natural, planted and built aspects of Wave Hill with artist Paul Lambermont. Using the gardens and Glyndor Gallery as inspiration, participants experiment with drawing, text, collage and photography to develop a mixed-media work that reflects the interdependence of nature, horticulture and architecture. All levels welcome. $90 Member/$105 Non-member. Registration required, online at www.wavehill.org, by calling 718.549.3200 x305 or at the Perkins Visitor Center. Space is limited. Continues April 11 and 18.

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—5:30PM. Closes 4:30PM, November 1—March 14.  

ADMISSION  $8 adults, $4 students and seniors 65+, $2 children 6—18. Free Saturday mornings until noon. Free all day Tuesdays in March and April. 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.

 

 

Senator Jeff Klein Joins TV Star Padma Lakshmi and Students from JHS 141 in Riverdale to Kick-off Teen Health Awareness Campaign

Launch of New Online Survey for Teens, www.TeenHealthNY.com and Education Fund Announced

   At the State Capitol on Wednesday, Padma Lakshmi, host of Bravo TV’s Top Chef and co-founder of the Endometriosis Foundation of America, joined Senator Jeff Klein (D-Westchester/Bronx) and members of the Senate’s Independent Democratic Conference to kick-off a Teen Health Awareness Campaign.  The campaign focuses on reducing adolescent obesity, educating students about the health consequences of short and long-term alcohol and substance abuse, and raising awareness among young women and health professionals about endometriosis, an often undiagnosed but debilitating disease.  March is Endometriosis month.  

Senator Klein was joined at the press conference by seventh graders from JHS 141, a middle school in the Riverdale section of the Bronx. Following the press conference, the students received a private tour of the Capitol.

As part of the awareness campaign, the Independent Democratic Conference launched a new online survey, www.TeenHealthNY.Com, which encourages young New Yorkers to “weigh-in” on how much they know about these important health issues. TeenHealthNY.com will provide policymakers with input straight from the source about where additional educational resources may be needed.  Additional educational resources for these three health areas will be provided through a newly created Healthy Teen Awareness and Education Fund.  The IDC, which included the Fund as part of this year’s Senate budget resolution, is hoping to raise as much as $1 million for the Fund’s programs through voluntary taxpayer donations, beginning next year. If enacted in the state’s final budget package this year, the Healthy Teen Awareness and Education Fund will appear as a “check-off box” on all future state income tax forms. The check-off box will enable New Yorkers to make donations directly on their tax form.

Senator Klein said, “Focusing on our teens’ health is critical to New York’s future.  By learning more about where our current health education is lacking, we can more effectively and efficiently distribute these additional resources. The purpose of the Teen Health Fund is simple -- we want to give kids the tools they need to make smart choices about their health. By creating this fund and directing resources where they’re needed, we can ensure that New York students are being given a full spectrum of health education. I am thrilled that seventh graders from JHS 141 in my district were able to come and show their support for this initiative right at the start of the campaign. With student support and the past success of our Cyber Bully Census, I am also excited to launch the online survey today. I believe this will be a very powerful tool for kids and lawmakers. ”

Padma Lakshmi, co-Founder of the Endometriosis Foundation of America and award winning author said, "We must educate our children in a broader, more comprehensive manner. If we are to prepare our youth for a bright future we must ensure their physical and emotional well being is addressed before we can raise their academic levels and intellect. This focus on health should include sex education that openly speaks about issues such as endometriosis to both genders at a critical time in a young person's life. The value of such education helps not only these adolescents but whomever their lives should touch."

  

Assemblyman Marcos Crespo (D-85th District) said, "Senator Jeff Klein's relentless work on chronic illnesses now taking a heavy toll on our residents and stressing our health care delivery system is welcomed leadership that will force positive change in the way health care is delivered in our State.  To combat alarming rates of obesity, asthma, cardiovascular diseases, and substance abuse we must focus our efforts on problems which can no longer be ignored for the sake of our families, as well as to protect the financial stability of our health care system.  I'm proud to join Senator Klein in his effort to reshape healthcare in New York," stated Assemblyman Marcos Crespo, member of the Assembly Standing Committee on Alcohol and Drug Abuse. 

32BJ SEIU Endorses Tish James for NYC Public Advocate

  Councilwoman Letitia “Tish” James’ campaign announced that she has earned the endorsement of 32BJ SEIU, one of the most influential labor unions in New York, in her bid for Public Advocate. The announcement marks the first major endorsement of the campaign season and a significant show of support for James, who currently serves as a City Councilwoman from Brooklyn.

“I am honored to earn the support of 32BJ SEIU, a great union whose members are a crucial part of the larger labor movement that has built our city. I am running for Public Advocate because New York’s working men and women need a strong voice fighting for them in government,” said James. “As a City Council member I have led the way on passage of the Safe Housing Act which helps improve conditions for tenants in some of the toughest buildings, fought to improve our schools, preventing cuts to after-school programs, and worked to bring good-paying jobs to our city. I’ll be a Public Advocate with the same passion and vision who will fight for New Yorkers from every part of our great city.”

In announcing the endorsement, Hector Figueroa, president of 32BJ SEIU said: “For years, Tish James has demonstrated a deep commitment to the working people of our city. She has worked hard to help improve the lives not only of our 70,000 members in New York City but for all working families in New York. In addition, she has strongly supported initiatives to improve our transportation and educational systems through her committee work."

A Brooklyn native, Tish James has been a long-time public servant. Prior to being elected City Councilwoman in 2003, James was a top-level aide to members of the State Assembly, where she played a crucial role in bringing resources to some of New York’s most vulnerable communities. In the City Council, James has been an outspoken advocate for economic and social justice.

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