LHOTA: COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO VOTED FOR “COMMUNITY SAFETY ACT” PUT THE LIVES OF EVERY SINGLE NEW YORKER AT RISK

This cam e in from the Joe Lhota Camp.

Successes Combating Terrorism and Crime Will Unravel With These Bills  

Former deputy mayor and reform candidate Joe Lhota today blasted members of the City Council who voted in favor of the self-entitled “Community Safety Act”--a misnomer that in fact greatly threatens the safety of the City’s communities --for putting the lives of every single New Yorker at risk.  

 

The City Council earlier this morning passed two bills that will have a dramatic impact on the NYPD’s ability to fight crime and terrorism. The bills were brought to the floor following a controversial procedure that allowed them to bypass being approved by the Public Safety Committee, whose chairman has remained vociferously opposed to the measures.

“I can’t for the life of me imagine why the City Council would pass this reckless legislation and put the lives of every New Yorker at risk,” said Mr. Lhota. “These politicians are handcuffing law enforcement from being able to effectively fight crime. Our successes thwarting terrorism and bringing crime to record lows will unravel if these bills become law. I applaud Mayor Bloomberg for his intent to veto these bad bills and that’s where the process should end.”

The profiling bill would allow any individual who is subject to an action by a police officer to file a civil lawsuit against the city, the NYPD or the police officer. The legislation would open law enforcement to unreasonable sanctions by a judge and discourage police work out of fear of frivolous lawsuits.

The second bill would create an inspector general within the city Department of Investigation with subpoena power. It would prepare public reports on NYPD policy, including with the sensitive Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF). Mr. Lhota noted the potential exposure of the JTTF’s work as a particularly troublesome in that the federal government could possibly withhold information from the NYPD that would put efforts to thwart potential terrorist attacks at risk if made public. 

Speed Cameras Come to New York City

  Mayor Bloomberg came to PS 81 today with DOT Commissioner Janetts Sadik-Khan, and Senator Jeff Klein to celebrate the passage of S.4459A authorizing NYC to finally install speed cameras in school zones afflicted by persistently fast and dangerous driving. The bill passed the State Senate and Assembly, and Governor Cuomo announced that he would sign the bill. According to a DOT study, PS 81 has the highest rate of speeding of any school zone in the Bronx, and that is of concern to all. In the photos below Mayor Bloomberg, DOT Commissioner Sadik-Khan, and Senator Klein all speak of the dangers of speeding in school zones. 

   Mayor Bloomberg said "20 speed cameras will be stationed around 20 different schools such as PS 81". He continued "It would be wonderful if we didn't have to ticket anybody in the future, which would mean that the cameras would have worked". DOT Commissioner Sadik-Khan said "This will act as a roadblock to speeding on streets by schools". She added that NYC streets are the safest in history. Mayor Bloomberg then thanked Senator Klein for helping get this legislation passed in the state senate. Senator Klein said "This is a smart common sense law that will make people think about speeding by a school". 

   Signage is to be put up around schools to warn of the speed cameras which will be mobile so they can be moved from location to location if needed. You can go to the NYCDOT website to see the 100 schools that will be targeted for the 20 speed cameras.

  Mayor Bloomberg is flanked by DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan & State Senator Jeff Klein. Also in the photo is PS 81 principal Anne Kirrane next to Senator Klein.

Left - DOT Commissioner Sadik-Khan explaing the reason to try to keep drivers from speeding as a matter of safety for the students.

Right - Senator Klein explains the reasoning for the Speed cameras adding that a police officer can not be by every school.

Town Hall Meetings By Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda

 "I think one of the most effective ways to keep our communities informed and engaged are through town hall meetings; below are a listing of our upcoming events which will be discussing crime prevention, public safety, and other pertinent issues".

Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda.

 

Castle Hill Town Hall Meeting

 

Location: St. Anthony's Parish Center, 781 Castle Hill Avenue, Bronx, NY 

Date & Time: TODAY (6/24), 6:30PM

Notes: We will be accepting books on behalf of our book drive (pre-k to 8th grade). 

Sponsored by: Myself & City Councilwoman Annabel Palma 

Co-Sponsored by: District Leader Julia Rodriguez, State Senator Ruben Diaz, State Senator Jeff Klein, & ABC Little Angels 

 

 

Parkchester Town Hall Meeting

 

Location:St. Paul's Evangelical Luther Church, 1891 McGraw Avenue, Bronx, NY 

Date & Time: Tomorrow (6/25), 6:30PM

Notes: We will be accepting books on behalf of our book drive (pre-k to 8th grade). 

Sponsored by: Myself & our NYC Public Advocate, Bill de Blasio

Co-Sponsored by: Parkchester Community Association, Councilwoman Annabel Palma, & State Committeeman William Rivera 

 

 

West Farms Town Hall Meeting

 

Location: New Tabernacle Baptist Church, 990 East 181st., Bronx, NY 

Date & Time: Wednesday, 6/26, 6:30PM

Notes: We will be accepting books on behalf of our book drive (pre-k to 8th grade). 

Sponsored by: Myself & our NYC Public Advocate, Bill de Blasio

Co-Sponsored by: State Committeewoman Barbara Brown, Councilwoman Maria del Carmen Arroyo, & State Committeeman William Rivera 

 

 

Rosedale Town Hall Meeting

 

Location: Noble Mansion Community room, 1500 Noble Avenue, Bronx, NY 

Date & Time: 7/2, 6:30PM

Notes: We will be accepting books on behalf of our book drive (pre-k to 8th grade). 

Sponsored by: Myself & City Councilwoman Annabel Palma 

Co-Sponsored by: State Committeewoman Barbara Brown, State Senator Ruben Diaz, & State Committeeman William Rivera, Noble Mansion & Rosedale Associations, & Sustainable South Bronx

 

 

Lhota: Dems More Concerned With Supporting Political Ally Than Victims

This came in from the Joe Lhota for Mayor camp.

LHOTA: DEMOCRATS MORE CONCERNED WITH SUPPORTING POLITICAL ALLY THAN VICTIMS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT 

Blasts Decision to Authorize Tax Dollars for Silver Legal Defense

  

Former Deputy Mayor Joe Lhota today blasted his Democratic rivals in the race for mayor for their support of Speaker Silver, charging they are more concerned with supporting a political ally than standing up for victims of sexual harassment.

 

At a televised NY1 debate last week, all of the Democratic candidates for mayor, with the exception of Eric Salgado, said they continue to support the Speaker, despite his direction to repeatedly  cover-up the sexual harassment and assault of young women in state government at the hands of political colleagues.  

 

Mr. Lhota last week called on his fellow candidates to join in a unified front against the sex abuse cover-up. The Democratic candidates have so far refused to heed the call and it is expected they will all seek the endorsement of the powerful Lower East Side Democrat. An earlier report in the New York Post indicated that Mr. Silver will likely back Bill Thompson in the Democratic primary.

 

“The fact that my opponents continue to support one of New York’s most powerful leaders when he repeatedly covered up the sexual harassment and abuse of young women shows they are more concerned with supporting a political ally than protecting women’s rights to a safe workplace,” said Mr. Lhota. “What are our values if those in public service continue protecting Speaker Silver and the harm he’s caused women? Is that really the message they want to send?

 

Mr. Lhota also blasted the decision to allow the Speaker to use taxpayer dollars to fund his legal expenses in two lawsuits filed against him by women who were victimized by former Assemblyman Vito Lopez.

 

“First, he used taxpayer dollars to give a six-figure hush-money settlement to the victims and now he is using taxpayer dollars to pay his legal bills in lawsuits where he is admittedly at fault,” said Mr. Lhota. “It’s absurd and a further assault on already strapped taxpayers. Who exactly is getting justice in this whole matter? As long as he’s in power, it’s not these women or the taxpayers of New York.”

2nd Annual Unity In The Community Festival!

  It was across Kingsbridge Road from last years festival on the armory side, and there was much more room this year for the 2nd Annual Unity in The Community Day sponsored by the Kingsbridge Road Merchants Association. Reservoir Avenue was filled with many different opportunities for people in the community (and others) to enjoy. There was an inflatable Bouncy Castle and face painting for kids, many different food vendors, a wide variety of local stores participating, medical and other informative booths set up, a stage, and about 1,000 attendees to this 2nd Annual Unity in The Community Festival just outside the Kingsbridge Armory. The purpose of this event is to celebrate community unity and raise awareness on the diverse array of merchants in this district.

    As you will see in the photos below the event was hosted by Ms. Bharati Kemraj (of Bronxnet Television fame) who did a fantastic job as the MC.

Left - Ms. Bharati Kemraj warming up the crowd.
Right - one of the many performers on stage during the day.

Left - The action came down to the street in front of the stage at times.
Right - The crowd viewing what was happening on stage at the time.

Left - Ms. Evelyn Torres the2013 Bronx Puerto Rican Parade Queen (center) with friends Miriau Quinones (her right) and Eileen Marquez.

Right - CB 8 Eco Dev. Chair Sergio Villarvede standing with former Assemblyman Adam Powell.

BP DIAZ HOSTS 3rd ANNUAL LGBT AWARDS

 

   On Thursday, June 20, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. presented the second annual John F. Wade Memorial Award to Stuart Appelbaum, president of the Retail, Wholesale & Department Store Union (RWDSU), at the third annual Bronx LGBTQ & Allies Award Ceremony.

The award is given in memory of John F. Wade, a former staff member for Bronx Borough President Fernando Ferrer, well-respected New York City political activist and leader in the LGBT community who passed away in 2011. The award honors an individual who exemplifies the spirit, commitment and dedication that Mr. Wade brought to his advocacy, to politics and government, and to the City of New York.

 There was a question of just who were standing next to BP Diaz and Mr. Appelbaum. Appolonia Cruz (far left) and Tyra Allure Ross (far right), both of whom served as Mistresses of Ceremonies at the event are included in the photo above.

  Keep the comments clean or they will not get posted.

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Lhota Calls on Silver to Step Down as Speaker

 

Calls on Mayoral Candidates to Join him in Unified Front Against Albany Sex Abuse Cover-up

Censorship Tactics Last Straw in Sheldon Silver Matter;

Speaker Has to Go

Former Deputy Mayor Joe Lhota today called the muzzle tactics exhibited by embattled Speaker Silver the last straw in the Albany sex abuse cover-up and called on him to immediately resign his speakership. 

 

“Whether its victims of sexual assault or his duly-elected colleagues, Speaker Silver seems to think he can get away with misdeeds by trying to silence everyone around him,” said Mr. Lhota. “He has repeatedly demonstrated a gross abuse of power and has proven that he is incapable of ethical leadership. He must resign his speakership immediately.”

 

Mr. Lhota blasted the Speaker’s conduct repeatedly covering up sexual assault and harassment against young, female Assembly staffers at the hands of his political colleagues.

 

“I’m urging all of the other candidates in the race--Democrat and Republican--to join me in showing a unified front against sex abuse cover-ups in state government. Let’s put politics aside to show the public that this behavior won’t be tolerated so that integrity can begin to be restored in our elected officials.”

 

Mr. Lhota, who earlier in the campaign laid out a sweeping ethics reform plan, also called on the City Council to immediately pass legislation prohibiting candidates who violate the public’s trust to participate in the New York City Campaign Finance Board’s public matching funds program.

 

He continued, “I am urging the City Council to swiftly pass legislation that would prohibit Vito Lopez and any other candidate--Democrat or Republican-- who violates the public trust from running for office using the public’s hard-earned tax dollars.”

The New York State Assembly Passes the Women's Equality Act

  All ten reforms points of the Women's Equality Act that Governor Cuomo had requested have been retained, and passed by the New York State Assembly.

 

The ten reforms are: 

1. Protect a women's right to make decisions about her own body: Codifies existing federal law to protect a woman’s right to obtain an abortion prior to 24 weeks, or when necessary to protect her life or health
2. Achieving pay equity: Eliminates the ability of employers to justify pay disparities based on gender and instead requires that their pay decisions be based on legitimate reasons
3. Stopping sexual harassment in the workplace: Protects all employees by banning sexual harassment in every workplace, regardless of the number of employees
4. Strengthening human trafficking laws: This legislation creates the “Trafficking Victims Protection and Justice Act,” which will strengthen New York’s existing human trafficking laws
5. Empowering domestic violence victims: Creates a pilot program to allow domestic violence victims to seek temporary orders of protection through electronic means rather than having to appear in person
6. Ending housing discrimination for victims of domestic violence: Prohibits landlords from discriminating against victims of domestic violence
7. Ending family status discrimination: Prohibits employers from denying work or promotions to employees simply because they have children
8. Ending pregnancy discrimination: Creates a specific protection that requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations for pregnant employees  
9. Removing legal barriers to fighting discrimination: Allows successful plaintiffs to recover attorney’s fees in employment or credit discrimination cases based on gender 
10. Ending source-of-income discrimination: Creates a task force to study the impact of source of income on access to housing  

     

    Several Assembly members have said "As a legislative body, we believe that the actualization of these initiatives denoted within this bill will provide women with more equal footing in our great state. We could not be more in favor of such a grand agenda. It's now up to our colleagues in the New York State Senate.

    Our governor is waiting to sign, the Assembly has done its part. It's now up to the Senate...

   The State Senate has said that it can not pass item #1 about the right to an abortion at any time, and several senators including Senator Jeff Klein and the IDC are taking heat for it. The senate has said that they will pass items # 2 through 10, but not item # 1.

   It will have to be seen who wins this showdown in Albany.