Are the Odds Stacked in Favor of Las Vegas Style Casinos in New York State

  In several recent media reports on Election Day voting for the 6 ballot proposals, ballot proposal #1 is to allow the state legislature to authorize up to seven casinos statewide. To help stack the odds in favor of having voters pass this ballot proposal the following words have been added. "The purposes of promoting job growth, increasing aid to schools, and permitting local governments to lower property taxes through revenues generated". Already there are plans for four upstate casinos, deals have been struck with the Native American tribes that run federally approved casinos for no nearby casinos, a deal for no such casino in Manhattan, and a deal with the New York Racing Association to have no new casino near any of the seven NYRA tracks that have Racino's. That could mean that the Bronx most likely could not get a casino since there is a Racino at Yonkers Raceway right over the New York City line. 

   It is reported that 17 million dollars has been spent on lobbying for casinos in New York, with 3 million dollars contributed to state politicians and parties in the last two years alone, and Governor Cuomo receiving almost 250 thousand dollars of the 3 million dollars in contributions. This was made possible in March of 2012 when part of a deal with the legislature removed a prohibition from receiving campaign contributions from gambling interests.

   It is also reported that Governor Cuomo sees the new casinos as the best way to jump start the stagnant upstate economy. by creating new jobs and up to 1 billion dollars in new revenue to pay for proposed tax cuts and aid to education. 

   

  In a recent poll reported to have been done less than half on the people questioned were in favor of adding more casinos, but when the additional language of promoting job growth, more aid to education, and lower taxes was added more than half of the people questioned were in favor of adding more casinos.  

  If you can remember back to when the lottery was introduced revenue was to go to supporting aid to schools. What happen was that as lottery revenues came in state monies were reduced so little if any additional money went to education. Also don't forget the NYC OTB which provided new jobs with other promises of where the revenue would go. What happen was that NYC OTB went bankrupt costing more than it was worth. 

 A pro casino group NY JOBS is also about to mount a multi-million dollar advertising campaign in favor of ballot proposal #1.

 

   "This process appears rigged,” said Blair Horner of the New York Public Interest Research Group. “The best place to influence voters is in the polling place – which is why you can’t do it. Unless the amendment language is ‘gamed.’ ” 

 

Assemblyman Luis R. Sepulveda obtains DOT approval for Slow Zones in Parkchester

  As many are aware, speeding is a major cause of vehicular deaths and accidents throughout the country. In fact, speeding accounts for 31% of automobile accidents.

It is pertinent that more drivers, particularly in populous areas in our district begin to slow down. Parkchester is a high traffic prone area. Cars enter and exit the nearby Cross Bronx Expressway into the area at high velocity. Not only is it a commercial area, but it also hosts many of the district's schools.

In an effort to prevent vehicular accidents from occurring, I contacted the Department of Transportation in May 2013 to request slow zones in the area. By installing slow zones, it forces drivers to be more cautious when entering residential streets.

The safety of the local residents is important to me. I am proud to state that the DOT has approved the request and the project will be completed in 2015. The speed zones will be installed within the area that borders East Tremont Avenue, Castle Hill Avenue, and White Plains Road.

I am confident that these changes will positively affect the prevalence of speed related accidents in my area. If you have questions concerning this matter, please contact the district office at (718) 931 2620.

OFFICE OF THE HON. LUIS SEPÚLVEDA

District Office: 1973 Westchester Ave. Bronx, NY 10462

Phone: 718- 931- 2620/

RJCRC 28th Annual Legislative Breakfast

   The Riverdale Jewish Community Relations Council 28th Annual Legislative & Awards Breakfast was held this morning. While there was a reorganizing of the RJCRC last year in which this breakfast was not held and a late start on this years legislative breakfast the room was still packed with supporters.

     In the above photo (from right to left are) Master of Ceremonies Judge Mark Friedlander, Mayoral candidate Joe Lhota, Honoree William Abramson, State Senator Jeff Klein, Honoree Jeff Moerdler, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, and two more honorees.

   As usual when the breakfast started more tables had to be rolled out and set up, and after that was done Judge Friedlander greeted the audience. Due to his schedule Mayoral candidate Joe Lhota spoke first, and told the audience this would not be the only time they see him. Lhota said that he would be back two more times to the community before election day. Lhota said that he wants NYC to be a great place to live and have fun, but most importantly a place to raise a family. He went on about his vision for the city while criticizing what he said was his opponents lack of vision. 

  On his way out Lhota stopped to speak to Mr. Charles Moerdler whom he had a battle with when Lhota was head of the MTA and Moerdler a board member. Mr. Moerdler told me that while the two have battled in the past, he and Lhota have a cordial relationship. 

   William Abramson received the Community Builder Award Presented to him by State Senator Jeff Klein. Jeffrey Moerdler (son of Charles Moerdler) received the Jewish Community Service Award presented to him by Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz. The Community Service Award was presented to Stefa Hasson, Ari Hoffnung, and Ted Weinstein by Congressman Eliot Engel. Councilman Oliver Koppell presented the Interfaith Brotherhood Award to the Menachem of Parkchester Synagogue in the Al Iman Mosque Project.

Below are some photos of the event.

Left - Judge Friedlander and Joe Lhota pose for a photo.

Right - Lhota chatting with Community Board 8 member Irving Ladimer.   

 

Left - Honoree Jeff Moerdler is seated between Assemblyman Jeff Dinowitz and State Senator Jeff Klein.

Right - Joe Lhota stops to chat with Charles Moerdler as Jeff Moerdler looks on.

 

Left - The spotlight was on Honoree Jeff Moerdler as Assemblyman Jeff Dinowitz presents the Community Builder Award.

Right - Councilman Oliver Koppell with the honorees of the Interfaith Brotherhood Award he presented.

Celebrate FVCP & Help Toast Our Volunteers

 

Celebrate with the Friends & Help us Toast our Most Dedicated Volunteers Get Your Tickets Now!!! Join the Friends of Van Cortlandt Park as we celebrate  all that we have accomplished this year and toast our  most dedicated volunteers.  Wednesday November 20th, 2013 from 6 to 8pm Bronx Ale House 216 W. 238th St. Bronx, NY 10463 Ticket prices: - FVCP Members: $15 in advance - Non-Members: $25 in advance includes a 1 Year Membership to FVCP - At the Door: $25 for all (no membership included)   Ticket Includes: your first beer, finger foods, FVCP pint glass  (for first 70 ticket purchasers) and Happy Hour Prices. Get Your Tickets Now! A special thank you to our generous host,  the Bronx Ale House.
Visit www.vancortlandt.org for more information

Bronx Community Board Four Opposes New Transitional Housing Facility

Bronx CB 4 & community leaders are opposing a proposed project in CB 4. Here are the details.

 

Who:        Bronx Community Board Four & Community Leaders

What:        Tier II Transitional Facility on the Grand Concourse

Where:        1387 Grand Concourse

When:         10:00 am; Monday, October 21, 2013  

Why:        It is our opinion that the City continues to disregard the spirit of the City Charter with respect to fair share analysis and siting procedures throughout our neighborhoods.  While we sympathize with the individual and or families in need of supportive services, we simply cannot and will not continue to support developments like 1387 Grand Concourse.  Our decision is not based on any bias towards a particular group or population but rather our dismay over the continued site selection and notification of such facilities.  The Community Board argues that the selected site will cause a considerable increase in the already congested residential neighborhood and furthermore this district cannot thrive under these conditions.  

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Here is the letter sent to Mr. Issac Leshinsky of Housing Bridge.

October 17, 2013

Isaac Leshinsky

President & CEO

Housing Bridge, Inc.  

652 Willoughby Avenue

Brooklyn, New York 11206

Dear Mr. Leshinsky:

Please be advised that on October 16th we received your letter outlining your intent to acquire 42 units at 1387 Grand Concourse for the purposes of operating a Tier II Transitional Housing Facility.  While we sympathize with the individual and or families in need of such services, we simply cannot and will not support your efforts to secure approval from DHS.  Understand our decision is not based on any bias towards Housing Bridge and the work that you do, but rather our dismay over site selection and notification of such facilities.   

Community Board Four has taken the position that the fair share analysis is inadequate and does not involve true “community notification” by either potential organizations or the administrative agency.  The care of this population, indeed a noble task, is not the issue it is the inundation of supportive facilities in District Four.  

It is our responsibility to provide the services and resources to community districts that will enable them to thrive and meet their goals.  The service demands of each neighborhood and constituency in our district must be matched with the appropriate response, not only from the appropriate City agency but from all our residents in order to create healthy living conditions in our fast-growing community.  We will do our best to ensure that our community district is made aware and act accordingly as we stand at the forefront in protecting and servicing our citizenry.

Sincerely,

Kathleen Saunders

Board Chair

Ice Skating Back Soon at VCP

 

  The above two photos are from last year when the Van Cortlandt Park temporary ice skating rink was set up. Mr. Ron Kraut of Ice Rink Events is the person in the photos. On the left he is lacing up a  pair of ice skates, and then on the right he is taking a spin on the newly formed ice.

   Last year the ice was not as firm as it could be with warm weather and the crowd of people using the ice skating rink. At times the rink had to be shut down to refinish the ice with the Zamboni machine. This year a sand base was placed under the rink foundation so the ice could freeze faster and last longer. 

   As you will see in the photos below the ice skating rink is almost ready for its grand opening. The "Chillers" are back and being placed inside as the rink that has been set back up. The only thing missing is the ice and the advertisements that will be placed on the sidewalls of the rink.

 

Klein, Dinowitz Announce New Legislation Aimed at Cracking Down on Black Market for Stolen iPhones

 

Amid Rising Numbers of iPhone Thefts Citywide, Klein/Dinowitz Bill Takes Aim at Distribution Network for Stolen Smartphones

 

   From the scene of the April 2012 murder and robbery of Hwang Yang. Yang, who was killed on his way home by two assailants who wanted to steal Yang’s iPhone Senate Co-Leader Jeff Klein  and Assemblyman Jeff Dinowitz, Chair of the Assembly’s Consumer Affairs and Protection Committee, introduced new legislation today aimed at stemming the tide of iPhone thefts across New York City. Over the past several years, iPhone thefts in New York City have soared. Current NYPD statistics show that Apple device thefts are up 10% this year—and with the September release of the new, technologically advanced iPhone 5S, some experts are predicting an even greater increase by year’s end.

  The key to stopping these thefts, Klein believes, is by cutting off demand from some of the most frequent purchasers of stolen phones. News reports demonstrate that many stolen iPhones are sold in neighborhood stores, such as laundromats, flea market stands, and bodegas. These stores sell stolen phones off the books after buying the phones from street criminals. Klein’s bill targets these black market retailers by requiring them to prove that they are the rightful owners of the phones they sell. If a retailer is unable to prove that he or she purchased the phone legally, that retailer can face hefty fines or even jail time.

Senator Klein said, “The goal of this legislation is to scare black market retailers out of this terrible business. If you’re a retailer making a few extra bucks by selling stolen phones, you’re now going to think twice before you open up your wallet and pay one of these criminals. I have had someone killed in my district over an iPhone. That is as bad as it gets. But it’s an epidemic across this city and we can’t wait any longer to take meaningful action.”

Assemblyman Dinowitz said, "The theft of smart phones and other wireless communication devices is perhaps one of the most frequent crimes committed in New York. In my district there has been a rash of these thefts in the past couple of years, including a horrific incident where a young man was murdered for his iPhone. We must take swift action to fight this crime by creating every possible disincentive for committing these thefts."

The legislation will also require retailers to provide detailed receipts for every phone sold. Under the Klein/Dinowitz legislation, these receipts must show the phone’s serial number. By providing that information, law enforcement and consumers will be able to keep better track of how and where stolen phones move in the marketplace. 

 

Left - Senator Klein gives details of the new legislation, with 50th Precinct Community Council President Paulette Schomo (left) , Assemblyman Dinowitz, and PS 24 PTA President Farrah Reuben.
Right - Assemblyman Dinowitz gives more details about the reason for the new legislation.
Below - A vacant lot across the street from where the announcement was made which has been like this for many years. Could it have given cover to the killers as they waited for their prey?

CRAIN'S NEW YORK BUSINESS ENDORSES JOE LHOTA

This came in from the Joe Lhota for Mayor Campaign.  Read the bold print that I highlighted. This endorsement seems to be less than flattering, and even states that the two are much alike. The big sticking point to me is that in a time when Madison Square Garden is negotiating a new deal with the city I do not like that Mr. Lhota was a top executive of Cablevison and MSG. Mayor Bloomberg gave enough of the city away to his friends.

  Crain's New York Business today announced their endorsement of Joe Lhota for mayor of New York City. 

Boiling down the two mayoral candidates to their basic experience and skill makes our choice clear.

Despite the candidates' rhetoric, picking the city's next mayor is not about Bill de Blasio returning New York to its crime-ridden past or Joseph Lhota implementing Tea Party policies. It's not even about their actual goals, which are similar: Both men aim to address the struggles of average New Yorkers, to stop punishing small businesses, to increase the city's supply of affordable housing and to expand early-childhood education.

Rather, New Yorkers should choose the candidate most capable of fulfilling these ambitions in an unusually challenging fiscal environment, judging by the latest battle in Washington. That depends not on ideology or charisma, but on management skill and familiarity with government. It also demands an understanding of the private sector's role in supporting the many public services that help make New York a global center of corporate might and entrepreneurial moxie. On all those counts, Mr. Lhota is the superior choice.

A moderate Republican with a libertarian bent, Mr. Lhota has a résumé tailor-made for the job. He was finance commissioner, budget director and a deputy mayor in the 1990s, and knows city government down to its granular details. Before his public service, he was an investment banker, and after it, was a top executive at Cablevision and Madison Square Garden. He then ran the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, famously getting the world's largest transit system rolling again after Superstorm Sandy.

Mr. Lhota, like all candidates, has shortcomings. He's not exactly inspirational, which would be a nice quality for a mayor, though not essential. While his ideas are good—such as dramatically increasing teacher training and building affordable housing on unneeded Postal Service and MTA properties—he hasn't offered enough big ones to capture the public's imagination.

Yet his strengths more than compensate. The first function of the city's CEO is to run its sprawling bureaucracy, and Mr. Lhota has the ability and experience to do that exceptionally well. He would break down the silos in which some city agencies reside, ensuring that they work together and within a clear chain of command. At the same time, he would not run roughshod over commissioners who understand their fields far better than he does. Mr. Lhota possesses a refreshing combination of competence and humility.

Mr. de Blasio also knows government well, having worked in it or with it his entire career. But the Democrat's management experience is thin, and he has not made a case for himself as chief executive. His economic plan centers on business mandates—a dubious strategy—and his school expansion depends on an unlikely tax increase, whereas Mr. Lhota would fund prekindergarten expansion by finding budget efficiencies. That exemplifies their differing philosophies.

For his breadth of knowledge, managerial expertise and mastery of city government, Crain's endorses Joseph Lhota for mayor.