80th A.D. Mayoral Forum

  Sunday 80th A.D. Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj wanted to let the people of the 89th A.D. get to know more about the candidates running for mayor. Assemblyman Gjonaj hosted a mayoral forum at Columbus High School (the place of his inauguration) with Cable talk show host Gary Axelbank as the moderator. Axelbank I was told selected the panel to ask questions of the candidates. It was surprising not only to me, but many in the audience to see that the panel was not representative of the area, and the questions told the tale. A question about the Fresh Direct subsidiary by one panel member who had written at least one editorial against the project was asked to the first three candidates. Bill Thompson answered the question the best by saying "If Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. is for it, so am I". Christine Quinn and Bill DeBlasio waltzed around the matter with their answers.

   Other questions included the Kingsbridge Armory, Living Wage Bill, Croton Water filtration Plant, and other topics that did not relate to the 80th A.D. By the third candidate was answering the questions people started to leave and told me "what do these questions have to do with my neighborhood"? The battle between candidates Quinn and Thompson over the East 92nd Street Waste Transfer Station  came up in one question, but nothing about the problems of the 80th A.D. Bill Thompson was the closet when he spoke of the broken education system under Mayor Bloomberg. Bill DeBlasio said what he has many times before that he wants to build 200,000 new units of affordable housing, but did not go into any details of how and where. Quinn in answering a question about the poor transportation infrastructure around the Hutch Metro Center (which was a question from outside the panel) put the responsibility for that on the City Council Transportation Chair Jimmy Vacca to deal with.

   After Quinn, DeBlasio, and Thompson came former Bronx BP Adolfo Carrion. He answered the question about the water filtration plant by saying that it had to be built somewhere, and added that the Bronx got millions of dollars for Bronx wide park improvements. Carrion said that he wanted to have "World Class Neighborhood Schools", but when I asked him afterwards why his children did not go to his neighborhood school Carrion answered "There was no World Class school in my neighborhood".

   John Liu was next and last of the major candidates. Liu spoke of his work as Comptroller, and that he would have no problem moving across the street to City Hall. when asked of the conviction of two of his campaign workers Liu said that he is the only candidate who has been investigated for four years, and that nothing has been found except by an undercover agent who Liu said had lied. He added that the agent had entrapped his campaign workers. Liu said that he is not accepting any contributions from people who do business with the city or from Wall Street. Liu said that he was a member of his local community board and civic organization, and that other than his eight years as a councilman and four years as Comptroller that he is not a politician like the other candidates. On a question about cuts to senior centers of 26 million dollar Liu said that the city books need to be opened up to see just where there may be extra dollars and how they can then be used to fill that 26 million dollar gap. Liu added that should not be hard in a 70 billion dollar budget which is the largest of any city in the world.

   After John Liu came Sal Albanese and any other minor candidate that arrived. The two top Republican candidates Joe Lhota and John Catsimatidis were no shows as well as current second place Democratic candidate Anthony Weiner. I must say however that on Sunday it was very warm out, and Assemblyman Gjonaj had plenty of water available to quell any thirst of the attendees.  He and his staff tried to do a good job as they have done for the past year, but I am sure that they will learn from their mistakes. 

Left - Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj opens the 80th A.D. mayoral forum. You can notice by his rolled up sleeves how hot it was in the auditorium.

Right - Bronx County Democratic Party Vice-Chair Lou Goldstein and, State Senator Gustavo Rivera were in the Audience.

Left - City Council Speaker Christine Quinn is seated as she waits for her turn to speak to the voters in the audience.

Right - Public Advocate Bill DeBlasio speaks to some potential voters outside the auditorium where this forum was being held.

 

Left - Former City Comptroller Bill Thompson as he is interviewed by the local cable T.V. station.

Right - City Comptroller John Liu poses for a photo with Mr. Ron Jordan a former parent and community activist.

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Sen. Klein Visits with Students Participating in College Trip Program at Riverdale/Kingsbridge Academy

College trips made possible with funding from Senator Klein

 
  New York State Senate Co-Leader Jeff Klein visited with high school students, guidance counselors and school administrators at MS/HS 141 Riverdale/Kingsbridge Academy in Riverdale to learn from students about their experiences on college trips made possible with funding Senator Klein provided through Project BOOST. Along with Senator Klein were Mr. Larry Greenbush ( who oversees the 12 schools of Senator Klein in Project Boost), and Mr. Carl Vinci (who is the director of the 82 school program). This funding comes through the State Education Department, and is made possible to help aid students see just what is involved in going to college after high school. 

  During a question and answer period with students who participated in the Project Boost program Senator Klein learned from the students just what they experienced on their visits to different colleges in New York. Some students visited colleges on Long Island while others went upstate to visit SUNY colleges. The senator briefly gave his recollection of going to Bronx schools, college, graduate school, and then Law school. When asked if he went to school  to be a senator, Klein answered that he was always involved in student government and his first job was working in a congressman's office. Klein ended by saying that when he went to Columbia Unversity in the 1980's tuition was $10,000,00 a years back then. He said that it is now over $65,000.00.

  Senator Klein said, “Hearing directly from the students at the Riverdale/Kingsbridge Academy about their experiences traveling to college campuses - many for the first time - confirmed exactly the reason why I support programs like Project BOOST. 120 students from the high school went on college visits where they got to see, first hand, what the experience of being independent, taking responsibility for your schedule and actively thinking about your future looks like. I am proud to have made this opportunity possible for students at MS/HS 141 and will continue to do what I can to support access to academic and cultural experiences outside of the class room for students in my district.”

 

Left - Senator Klein listens to RKA students talk about their experiences about visiting different colleges.
Right - Senator Klein and RKA Principal Laura O'Mara (on the senators right) talk with staff members about the students trips.

  

Senator Klein and RKA Principal O'Mara stand amid the students who participated in this Project Boost program.

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LAWSUIT ON FRESHDIRECT DISMISSED

 

  Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., FreshDirect CEO Jason Ackerman and Marlene Cintron, president of the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation expressed their satisfaction today after learning that the lawsuit in opposition of FreshDirect’s impending move to the Harlem River Yards has been dismissed.

“I am thrilled to learn that the plaintiff’s legal efforts to thwart FreshDirect’s relocation to our borough have been stopped, and their lawsuit has been dismissed,” said Borough President Diaz. “My office has, since day one, understood that this project is crucial to the future economic health and vitality of the Bronx.”

Borough President Diaz noted that this project will create 1,000 new jobs while also relocating 2,000 jobs to the Bronx from Queens. Already, FreshDirect has displayed their commitment to the Bronx through hiring initiatives that have led to Bronx residents getting jobs at their existing Queens facility, the impending greening of their delivery fleet, the expansion of their services to the entire borough and their efforts to expand their services to EBT users.

“In short, FreshDirect is now and will continue to be a great asset to the Bronx. I look forward to seeing this project come to fruition,” said Borough President Diaz.

“We're very happy that the Court has recognized that the environmental review was proper and in accordance with the law.  We are eager to move forward with our plans to bring thousands of jobs to the Bronx and make it easier for people to get fresh food.  We look forward to working with our Bronx neighbors,” said FreshDirect CEO Jason Ackerman.

“Our belief in the justice system has been reinforced by this decision. Now we can get to the serious work of bringing 3,000 much needed jobs to the Bronx as soon as possible,” said Marlene Cintron, President of the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation. 

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Bronx Day in Albany

       

   

A larger version is below.

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NYLCV To NYC Mayoral Candidates:

Solid Waste Management Plan Must Be Comprehensive

   The New York League of Conservation Voters, which works to make environmental sustainability a top political priority in New York, today called on all New York City mayoral candidates to support the comprehensive approach to solid waste as embraced in the current Solid Waste Management Plan.

 

Passed in 2006 with strong support from New Yorkers, city leaders and environmental organizations, the Solid Waste Management Plan revolutionized the way New York handles its garbage. Prior to the plan’s implementation, the overwhelming majority of the city’s garbage was trucked into low-income and minority neighborhoods outside of Manhattan. For decades, those communities faced disproportionate environmental burdens including noise, reduced air quality and odors.

The Solid Waste Management Plan addressed this environmental injustice by requiring each borough to handle its own share of waste. The plan also helped clean the air and reduce quality-of-life complaints by establishing a system of marine transfer stations to reduce truck traffic and transport waste more efficiently. The locations of the marine transfer stations were carefully selected after exhaustive studies and community input.

“The strength of the Solid Waste Management Plan is its comprehensive nature. If one marine transfer station in Manhattan is eliminated, the burden simply shifts back to other stations and other boroughs – undermining the success of the entire effort,” said NYLCV President Marcia Bystryn. “Environmental and environmental justice organizations fought for the current Solid Waste Management Plan for many years. New York must not go back to the polluting and unfair ways of the past.”

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The New York League of Conservation Voters (NYLCV) was founded in 1989 as a nonpartisan, policy-making and political action organization that works to make environmental protection a top priority with elected officials, decision makers, and voters by evaluating incumbent performance and endorsing and electing environmental leaders to office in New York State.

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Croton Filter Plant - Croton FMC Agenda

Agenda

Croton Facility Monitoring Committee Meeting

Thursday, June 6, 2013 – 7:00 PM

DEP Office – 3660 Jerome Avenue, Bronx NY 10467 - (718) 231-8470

I  Welcome                         Bob Fanuzzi, Chair

II Consider, Adopt June CFMC Agenda        CFMC Representatives

III Consider, Adopt 3/21/13 Meeting Minutes    CFMC Representatives

IV Update on Jogging Path Construction          DPR            

    At Jerome Park Reservoir

V Discuss DEP Responses regarding            CFMC Representatives

    SSE Performance                                         

Croton Site-wide Emergency Generator                 and DEP

   

VI Discussion about CFMC Request for Tour      CFMC and DEP

    of Jerome Park Reservoir

VII Croton Construction Update & Croton         Bernard Daly, DEP

    Costs Report

VIII CFMC Discussion.  Confirm Date for         CFMC Representatives

September 19, 2013 CFMC Meeting

IX Adjourn

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Advocates and Lawmakers Call for State Senate and Governor to Toughen Laws to Protect Immigrants

Assemblyman Marcos Crespo, Senator Ruben Diaz and immigrant advocates concerned that with federal immigration reform on the horizon immigrants will be victims of mass fraud without immediate State action

   Immigrant advocates and policymakers today called for tougher measures to discourage rampant immigrant assistance service fraud.  Federal immigration reform proposals are moving quickly in Washington DC and both the US Senate and House of Representatives are scheduled to pass the legislation in June and August respectively.  “Passage of immigration reform will open flood gates of immigrants seeking assistance with federal requirements and fraudulent immigration services providers are already lining up to strike thousands of victims,” stated Assemblyman Marcos A. Crespo, Chair of the Assembly Task Force on New Americans. In the spring of 2011 a sweep by federal and New York City law enforcement agencies found over 220 immigration service providers operating outside the limits of the law and issued over $288,000 in fines.  Surveys on this type of fraud in other major US cities have found that over 40% of immigration assistance services operations are fraudulent.

According to Crespo, “Immigration assistance services fraud is a serious problem facing the more than two million New Yorkers who are non-citizens, including some 800,000 who are considered undocumented immigrants.  Many immigrants looking for assistance with federal immigration matters have been defrauded and have lost their lifes savings trying to navigate our immigration system.” 

Senator Ruben Diaz, Sr. stated, “I am proud to be the Senate Sponsor of this important bill and I thank my co-sponsors Senators Parker and Sampson for having the courage to put their names on this legislation. The Federal Government has taken long-awaited steps to improve the lives of millions of undocumented immigrants.  The time has come for New York State to do everything in its power to protect these immigrants who live all throughout our great State, from the eastern shores of Long Island to Niagara Falls and everyplace in between.  Now that the Assembly has passed this bill unanimously for the second time, I am calling on the Senate leadership to bring this bill to the Senate floor for a vote before the legislative session ends.”

“With federal immigration reform on the horizon and a rush of huge number of immigrants seeking to qualify for the new Registered Provisional Immigrant (RPI) status, it is anticipated that mass scale immigration services fraud will be committed. Tougher measures at the State level to discourage and punish immigration services fraud are needed and should be in place prior to the enactment of federal immigration reform,” declared Crespo.

The legislation (A.158/S.786) which passed the Assembly on May 29, 2013 via a unanimous vote increases fines, requires qualifying criteria to be able to be an immigration assistance service provider and requires such providers to be registered with the New York State Department of State and requires that they prominently display their State certification.

"Comprehensive Immigration Reform is a very real possibility, and immigrant New Yorkers will be seeking assistance to determine their best options," said Wayne Ho, Executive Director of the Coalition for Asian American Children and Families.  "Immigrant New Yorkers deserve reliable, credible immigration assistance services.  Service providers should not take advantage of immigrants who will be making important decisions that impact the well-being of not only themselves but also their children and families.  Immigration services fraud should not be tolerated, especially in New York."

“Immigrants living in New York City who could applying to legalize their immigration status need more than ever a law that guarantees a qualified assistance to fulfill  a complex immigration application process. Therefore LULAC Queens Council 23047 supports the bill proposed made by Assemblyman Crespo concerning: "Immigrant Assistance Service Enforcement Act." The bill propose increases fines imposed upon those who violate laws regarding immigrant assistance services; requires certain immigrant assistance service providers to be registered with the Department of State.  I invites our Latino community to support it to prevent deceptive actions of people and organizations who are not following the  laws, rules and procedures, causing serious consequences for the applicants,” stated Sylvia Mata, President of the Queens Chapter for League of United Latin American Citizens.

"The NYIC commends Assemblyman Crespo and the New York Legislature for addressing the need for consumer protections against the unauthorized practice of immigration law and the provision of incompetent or unscrupulous legal services.  It enhances penalties for fraudulent services; establishes a registration system for immigration legal providers and requires that they meet clear criteria for registration and renewal of registration; and imposes penalties for providers who fail to register,” stated Chung-Wha Hong, Executive Director of the New York Immigration Coaliton.  “Two key elements remain to be addressed: a robust public education campaign funded by the state to increase consumer awareness so that immigrant communities know how to protect themselves against unscrupulous providers; and a clear mechanism for reporting incidents of unscrupulous and incompetent practices to ensure both enforcement and restitution, as appropriate.  We look forward to working with Assemblyman Crespo and the New York Legislature to make this bill as effective as possible.”

According to Alfred Placeres, Esq., Legal Director for Casa Puebla, "This bill will help to expose those unscrupulous immigrant service providers who continue to  plague our community. Protecting our New Americans from getting ripped off as they travel down the path to citizenship is something we can all support.

“Last year, my organization published a report that relied on community led research where we documented that Immigration Service Providers are routinely violating the law and engaging substandard, predatory and fraudulent practices.” says Valeria Treves, Executive Director of New Immigrant Community Empowerment, “In clear contravention of the law, none the ISPs visited by the our ‘mystery shoppers’ had a required “not an attorney” sign posted, up to a quarter of them advertised that they provide legal advice; and a quarter of them falsely identified themselves as an immigration attorney office. Furthermore, 23% of mystery shoppers received legal advice on the spot and one in three ISPs visited by the mystery shoppers guaranteed success in their applications for immigration benefits, which also forbidden by law. The consequences of an immigration services scam can range from the loss of money (sometimes thousands of dollars), to immigration consequences (including deportation) to social and emotional trauma.”

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DISTRICT COUNCIL 37 ENDORSES NYC COMPTROLLER JOHN LIU FOR MAYOR

DISTRICT COUNCIL 37 ENDORSES NYC COMPTROLLER JOHN LIU FOR MAYOR

John Liu has been an ally in our union’s campaign against wasteful contracting out and a good friend to New Yorkers we serve in communities citywide.

 

  On May 28, the 300-member Delegate Assembly of District Council 37, New York City’s largest public employee union representing 121,000 active members and its Retirees Association, representing 50,000 members, voted unanimously to officially endorse New York City Comptroller John Liu for Mayor. The union’s endorsement was announced at a news conference on the steps of City Hall on May 29.

DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts said, “DC 37 members and all New Yorkers face a critical mayoral election this November, which could bring a truly great mayor who will end the current favoritism toward the wealthy 1% and restore government ‘for the people’— the poor and working-class people of New York City. A mayor who makes New York City’s neglected communities and the public workers that serve them a priority. With last night’s vote by our Delegates, DC 37 officially endorsed New York City Comptroller John Liu as the candidate best qualified to be that mayor.”

DC 37’s endorsement came after a process of careful deliberation and evaluation of mayoral candidates seeking its support, which included an evaluation and recommendation by the DC 37 Screening Committee and the Delegates. Earlier DC 37 also held a Mayoral Forum on May 16, co-sponsored by 15 labor/community partners, where candidates seeking the union’s endorsement had an opportunity to speak and answer questions on issues of importance to DC 37 and its labor/community partners before an audience of hundreds of members.

“We evaluated Comptroller Liu’s answers to tough questions — both at our Mayoral Forum and from the DC 37 Screening Committee — regarding issues of importance to District Council 37 and the communities our union members serve,” said Roberts. “We also looked at his consistent track record of actions to curtail contracting out, overspending and waste of taxpayer dollars throughout his tenure as Comptroller. DC 37 members have been able to count on John Liu’s support during our fight to protect vital services and our jobs. 

"With DC 37’s endorsement of Comptroller Liu,” Roberts continued, “comes a pledge to work diligently on his behalf with our powerful, sophisticated field operations to get out the vote. This union has a proven record of successfully supporting our endorsed candidates. We look forward to putting DC 37’s mighty army of volunteers into the field to help elect New York City Comptroller John Liu as New York City’s next mayor — a mayor who truly believes in government for the people.”

District Council 37 is New York City’s largest public employee union, with 121,000 members and 50,000 retirees.

 

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