Bronx Borough Board Meeting - Re Kingsbridge Armory Vote

  Today was the November Bronx Borough Board Meeting. There were three things on the agenda for today's meeting.

  Item #1 - A presentation by the Taxi & Limousine Commission in the new "Green Outer Boro Taxi"

This presentation was given as it has and will be at the local community board level. there were minimal questions as to which fare would be cheaper. The current flat fee or the new metered fare. Mr. Gordon of TLC Policy Affairs said that most likely it is the metered fare as most trips are short. Another question was the timing of how the new taxi's is going to be. 6,000 each year over the next three years, and 20 percent to be wheelchair accessible. Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. commended the TLC on this new Green taxi program saying that he was one of many people who had input into the process.

  Item #2 - Was a presentation by Mr. Ricky Wong if the NYC Department of Consumer Affairs on Information and Tips for Holiday Season Shopping. Mr. Wong handed out a pamphlet with 10 points to know going over a few such as the Store Refund Policy, when a receipt has to be given, credit card limits, and to go to the DCA website at www.nyc.gov/consumers for more information. BP Diaz asked if the DCA handles the current Shop And Frisk issue in some stores, and was told that is handled by the Department of Human Rights. Councilman Oliver Koppell complimented DCA on the hand out, but said that while the outside of the hand out is in normal size print the inside is in much to small print for someone like him to read. Koppell joked that it was as big as the printing on the recent ballot on election day that was to small for most people to read.

  Item #3 - A vote by the Bronx Borough Board on the agreement between  the NYC Department of Economic Development and the Kingsbridge National Ice Center (KNIC) for a 99 year lease of the Kingsbridge Armory as a hockey and Ice Skating Arena. 

  An overview presentation by Ernesto Padron of NYCDEC of the proposal led to a discussion of the benefits to not only the area of the Kingsbridge Armory, but the entire borough of the Bronx. Councilmen Andy King, Oliver Koppell and Fernando Cabrera were in attendance and each spoke on the proposal. BP Diaz spoke of his visits to Philadelphia where a similar program was started by a former professional hockey Player that has given minority children chances of learning how to ice skate and play ice hockey that they never had the opportunity to have. Diaz continued on how the children and their parents adhere to the rules, such as good grades, good attendance, and good behavior so the children can play on the ice. 

  Councilman Andy King thanked BP Diaz for his leadership in this project, and said that he use to go to the old ice skating Rink on Broadway in the Riverdale area in his youth. King added that he is a Knick fan no matter how you spell it. King said he was voting for the KNIC proposal for the Kingsbridge Armory.

  Councilman Oliver Koppell said that this is the most exciting proposal for the Bronx in his 40 years of elected office, and that while he is the neighboring district that he had wanted a sports complex to be places in the armory for many man y years. Koppell said that he would be voting yes on the proposal. 

  Councilman Fernando Cabrera was much more subdued in his comments by saying only that he would vote yes on this proposal today and encourage his fellow council members to vote yes when the proposal comes before the City Council as a final step to approval.Up to this point Councilman Cabrera was the lone holdout on the KNIC proposal.

Left - Councilman Cabrera and Community Board 8 Chair Robert Fanuzzi chat as Councilman Oliver watches in the background.

Right - Councilman Cabrera speaks and then quickly leaves after the vote is over.

 

Left & Right BP Diaz speaking about why this proposal for the Kingsbridge Armory should be approved. 

  Diaz would say after the vote by the Borough Board 

“Today’s vote will facilitate the construction of a world class skating, community and educational facility that will be the catalyst for positive redevelopment not just in the surrounding community, but across the borough,” said Borough President Diaz.

The 10-0 vote of the Bronx Borough Board included three City Council Members—Fernando Cabrera, G. Oliver Koppell and Andy King—who attended the meeting to offer their support for the project in person.

“The Kingsbridge National Ice Center promises to not only bring living wage jobs to the community, but also provide world class facilities that will benefit our youth here in the Bronx, the City of New York and the surrounding region. As I have said numerous times, this project is going to have a tremendous positive impact on not just the Northwest Bronx but the entire borough, and I am proud to support the development of the Kingsbridge National Ice Center,” said Borough President Diaz.

The Community Benefits Agreement has been signed by dozens of neighborhood organizations and community partners representing thousands of residents in the Northwest Bronx that support the project.

News From Comptroller John Liu

MAYOR’S BUDGET MATH DOESN’T ADD UP

 

“The Mayor’s math doesn’t add up. The facts are clear, not only will the next Administration not inherit a balanced budget but it will also be greeted on Day 1 with a fiscal mess of historic proportions – 300,000 employees working with expired contracts.

 

“Mayor Bloomberg’s final budget modification continues to conceal huge fiscal risks and rely on one-shots like selling City property and depleting the Retiree Health Benefit Trust. His budget may seem balanced on paper, but the fiscal reality points to multi-billion-dollar budget gaps on the fiscal horizon.”

 

Background:

 

There is a multi-billion dollar budgetary risk associated with the fact that all City unions are currently working under expired contracts. The Bloomberg Administration’s negotiating position with the unions does not include retroactive pay for any contract settlement. The current financial plan includes funding for a settlement of a five-year contract in which the first three years would have no increases followed by two years of 1.25% increases. The unions have all rejected this proposal. Any wage increases above and beyond the funding already in the financial plan would need to be funded through increased revenues or decreased services. 

An analysis by the Comptroller’s office has found that if all unions agreed to a minimal 1% increase a year over the five-year term of the contract, the City would need to fund $1.3 billion in retro pay.  If the wage increase were instead linked to inflation, this number could balloon to $3.1 billion. These numbers are on top of the potential $3.5 billion in retroactive wages that the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) and the Council of School Supervisors & Administrators (CSA) members are seeking.

 

 

NYC PENSION FUNDS CALL ON ADVERTISING GIANTS TO PROVE COMMITMENT TO EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

 

As Two Ad Firms Prepare for Mega-Merger, NYC Funds Ask Them to Disclose Their Employee Composition and Demonstrate Diversity

  City Comptroller John C. Liu today announced that he has called on the boards of two advertising firms, Omnicom (NYSE: OMC) and Publicis Groupe (PUB: FP), to disclose the makeup of their employees across a range of titles by gender and ethnicity before shareowners vote on their proposed merger. 

“These companies operate in an industry with an abysmal record of hiring and promoting women and minorities, particularly African Americans.  They claim they care about diversity and are making progress, but unless they disclose the actual makeup of their employees it’s impossible to know whether it’s just empty talk,” Comptroller Liu said.  “Studies have demonstrated that workplace diversity leads to innovation and innovation increases value.  We want these firms to prosper by hiring the best and brightest and we expect them to demonstrate that they pay more than lip service to equal opportunity employment.”

The advertising industry, like the financial services industry, has a history of wide and pervasive employment disparities, particularly among senior positions.  One 2009 study found that racial disparity is 38 percent worse in the advertising industry than in the overall U.S. labor market, and that the “discrimination divide” between advertising and other U.S. industries is more than twice as wide as it was 30 years ago. 

Omnicom and Publicis have both declined Comptroller Liu’s past requests that they disclose the composition of their workforce by race and gender.  The pending Omnicom-Publicis merger heightens the need for disclosure.  The merger will not only create an advertising behemoth; it will create the least transparent major ad firm in the world, by combining the two firms that have consistently refused to demonstrate their commitment to equal employment opportunities.

Despite the companies’ assurances that they have existing diversity programs, their refusal to provide employment data makes it impossible for shareowners to determine managements’ effectiveness in this important area.  Meanwhile, the other global ad giants, Interpublic (NYSE: IPG) and WPP Group (WPP: LN), have taken steps to disclose annual data on the diversity of their employees.

BACKGROUND

In Nov. 2011, on behalf of the NYC Funds, Comptroller Liu wrote several advertising firms — Omnicom, Publicis, Interpublic, and WPP — to ask they disclose employment data. 

When Comptroller Liu filed this request in the form of a shareholder proposal at Omnicom, the company tried and failed to exclude it from their 2012 annual meeting.  At that meeting, 33.8% of voting shares backed the NYC Funds’ proposal, which was the highest ever vote on such a proposal.  Despite broad shareowner support, Omnicom declined to provide employment disclosures even as its peers have done so.

Comptroller Liu and the NYC Funds have also engaged numerous financial services firms — Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS), MetLife (NYSE: MET), AIG (NYSE: AIG), BNY Mellon (NYSE: BK), and US Bancorp (NYSE: USB) — all of which subsequently agreed to provide comprehensive employment disclosures. 

The NYC Pension Funds hold a combined 829,714 shares in Omnicom and Publicis with a market value of $61 million.

BRONX RALLIES IN SUPPORT OF KINGSBRIDGE NATIONAL ICE CENTER AND HISTORIC COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT

  TONIGHT -  6 PM

 

St. Nicholas of Tolentine

 2345 University Avenue

      Bronx, New York

  Hundreds of members of the Bronx community to rally in support of the proposed Kingsbridge National Ice Center (KNIC) and the project’s historic Community Benefits Agreement (CBA).

  Community leaders, local officials and clergy to urge swift, final approval of the KNIC project by the NY City Council. Former NY Rangers captain and KNIC CEO, Mark Messier, will attend along with Sarah Hughes, Olympic figure skating gold medalist.

 

  The Kingsbridge National Ice Center (KNIC), proposed for the iconic Kingsbridge Armory in the Bronx, would be the largest indoor ice sports facility in the world. With nine year-round rinks, including a 5,000-seat center show-rink, KNIC would be an international sporting destination, drawing more than 2 million visits a year.

KNIC will welcome first-time skaters and champion athletes alike, with recreational skating, private and group instruction, training, rehearsals and competitions all under one giant, historic roof. Educational and athletic programs led by New York Rangers legend Mark Messier and Olympic gold medal-winning figure skater Sarah Hughes will make ice sports accessible and exciting for young people in the surrounding community with free instruction, equipment and ice time. And with special events including local, regional, national and international tournaments, camps, competitions and shows, this world-class facility will become a global center of hockey, figure skating, speed skating, synchronized skating, ice dancing and even curling.

On April 17, 2013 the KNIC development team entered into an unprecedented Community Benefits Agreement with twenty-seven signatories offering living wage jobs, 50,000 square feet of community space, a business incubator, programs for children, and a number of other commitments.

FREE Flu Shot!

 Bronx Borough President  Ruben Diaz Jr.

Invites you to protect yourself and receive your

FREE Flu Shot!


FLU SEASON IS HERE !

Join us on

Friday, November 22, 2013

9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.


Bronx Library Center

310 East Kingsbridge Road

Light refreshment will be available.


The flu shots are limited, please RSVP in advance! RSVP 718-537-5268

or email mcebollero@bronxbp.nyc,gov and make your appointment.

Special thanks to the Visiting Nurse Service of NY for

providing and administering the flu shots.

Cardinal Spellman High School Takes Positive Action In Postponing Talk On "Same-Sex Attraction"

  The new Bronx LGBTQ Center (the “Center”) appreciates Cardinal Spellman High School's decision, as reported by The New York Times, to postpone the talk scheduled to be delivered by Rev. Donald Timone at its school on Tuesday evening. We believe that the interests of Spellman's community are better served by a balanced presentation that includes all views on this sensitive subject, including views that affirm and accept youth and their sexuality as they are.

"We would like to reiterate our desire to open a constructive dialogue with the school to talk about LGBTQ issues in ways that won't cause harm. We have been working with a number of organizations and individuals who would support such efforts that would hopefully result in a positive outcome," Tym Moss, the Center's president stated.

"We thank all of the Cardinal Spellman HS alumni, as well as those who contacted us to express their views -- one way or the other -- on this sensitive issue. Our focus and goal was and remains that no person come to any harm as a result of discussions surrounding LGBTQ issues. The school's action in postponing this talk is a positive move that provides hope in achieving this goal," Peter C. Frank, the Center's secretary, said.

The Center's initial statement on this issue can be found online:
http://bit.ly/18yUmGR.

You're Invited to the Borough's Official Hanukkah Celebration

Bronx Borough President  Ruben Diaz Jr.

Invites you to join him  at the Annual Bronx  Hanukkah Celebration  Mistress of Ceremonies Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer Psychosexual Therapist and  Author Dramatized in "Becoming  Dr. Ruth"  at the  Westside Theater Musical Performance Kinneret Day School     Tuesday, December 3,  2013 - At  1:00 PM     The Bronx County Building Veterans' Memorial Hall 851 Grand Concourse Light refreshments will be served. Seating is Complimentary  and Limited. RSVP 718.590.6116

HISPANICS CLERGY TO PRAY FOR ALEX RODRIGUEZ

  New York State Senator Reverend Rubén Díaz (D-Bronx) and Ministers from the New York Hispanic Clergy Organization will lead a Prayer Vigil on Thursday, November 21, 2013 at 11:30 am outside the Offices of Major League Baseball, located on the corner of Park Avenue and East 47th Street in Manhattan.

The Prayer Vigil will be to pray for a successful outcome for New York Yankees baseball player Alex Rodriguez's appeal, and to bear witness to the injustice Alex Rodriguez is facing by Major League Baseball. The Hispanic Ministers and supporters will be standing side-by-side with the Honorable Fernando Mateo, President of Hispanics Across America.

According to Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz: "The 211-game suspension penalty imposed on Alex Rodriguez by Major League Baseball is unprecedented. This penalty is excessive and abusive, and it reeks of discrimination. I believe that MLB Commissioner Bud Selig has been much kinder and gentler in their punishments for others who have done worse things.  

 On Thursday, members of the New York Hispanic Clergy Organization and I  and I will raise our voices in prayer for Alex Rodriguez's health, and we will ask the Lord to protect him and his family. We will pray that Alex Rodriguez's appeal of this outrageous penalty will be successful. We will not turn our backs on this injustice."

Wave Hill Events November 28–December 5

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

THU, NOVEMBER 28    THANKSGIVING DAY

Closed to the public.

SAT, NOVEMBER 30    NO TAI CHI CHUAN

Tai Chi Chuan resumes December 7.

SAT, NOVEMBER 30    FAMILY ART PROJECT; HARVEST TIME HANGINGS

Gather fall leaves, cones, pods and seed heads. Weave them together with other materials from gardens and meadows to create a decorative wall hanging celebrating the bounty and beauty of the season. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon.

WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM–1PM

SAT, NOVEMBER 30    GALLERY TOUR

Join a curatorial fellow for a tour of Wave Hill’s fall exhibition, Tandem Pursuits: Armor & Ichthyology, which celebrates the interests of former Wave Hill House resident Bashford Dean. Dean was Curator of Arms and Armor at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Curator of Fish at the American Museum of Natural History. The intersection of his interest in both fish and armor provides the opportunity to bring together a remarkable group of contemporary art that explores concepts of adaptation, pattern, and protection. The tour also includes Alan Ruiz’s Sunroom Project Space installation, an architectural intervention that complicates the distinction between interior and exterior spaces. Tours take place Tuesdays and Saturdays at 2PM. Free with admission to the grounds. FINAL TOUR OF THIS EXHIBITION

GLYNDOR GALLERY, 2PM

SUN, DECEMBER 1   FAMILY ART PROJECT—HARVEST TIME HANGINGS

Gather fall leaves, cones, pods and seed heads. Weave them together with other materials from gardens and meadows to create a decorative wall hanging celebrating the bounty and beauty of the season. Free with admission to the grounds.

WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM‒1PM

SUN, DECEMBER 1    HATHA YOGA

Reduce stress, increase your energy and bring strength and flexibility to your mind, body and spirit with a yoga practice. Classes are led by Yoga for Bliss director  Neem Dewji and other certified instructors. Ms. Dewji is certified in Hatha and Therapeutic Yoga from The Yoga for Health Foundation, England, and The Integral Yoga Institute, NYC. All levels welcome. Sessions are held indoors from November through April and outdoors from May through October, weather permitting. Advance registration is available online, by calling 718.549.3200 x305 or at the Perkins Visitor Center. Participants must register by Friday 3PM before each weekend session and must bring a printed registration confirmation form.  Session fee: $25/Wave Hill Member $15.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 10‒11:15AM

SUN, DECEMBER 1    MEDITATION

This fall, take a moment to release stress and reconnect with your inner self while practicing meditation. Each session includes instruction in simple techniques followed by 20 to 30 minutes of meditation. Classes are led by Yoga for Bliss director Neem Dewji and other certified instructors. All levels welcome. Advance registration is available online, by calling 718.549.3200 x305 or at the Perkins Visitor Center. Participants must register by Friday 3PM before each weekend session and must bring a printed registration confirmation form. Session fee: $25/Wave Hill Member $15.
MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 11:30AM‒12:45PM

SUN, DECEMBER 1    GARDEN & 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, DECEMBER 2   

Closed to the public.

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 on Tuesdays in November and December. Free to Wave Hill Members and children under 6.

PROGRAM FEES  Programs 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.