NEWS FROM THE DESK OF SENATOR DIAZ

This comes from our friend Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. who may have changed his "What You Should Know"  to this new form of opinion. 

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NEWS FROM THE DESK OF SENATOR DIAZ

District 32 Bronx County, New York

  Senator Rev. Ruben Diaz Outraged by Farm Bill Passage and Cuts to SNAP (Food Stamps) for Needy Seniors.  Where were our Congressional Representatives?

New York State Senator Reverend Ruben Diaz (D-Bronx), who serves as the Ranking Member of the New York State Senate Aging Committee, has released the following statement in response to  today's passage of the Farm Bill (H.R. 2642) with cuts of about $8 billion from the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly called the Food Stamp Program - over the next 10 years.

"It is heartbreaking that almost 8 billion dollars in SNAP funds will be cut over the next 10 years, causing more suffering for vulnerable senior citizens, veterans, children and sick people.  Our seniors have done so much for all of us - how can we take food from their plates?

I was sickened to read headlines that couched these cuts by the House of Representatives as "modest."  How can anyone not be aggrieved that taking more food away from hungry people is anything except disgraceful.

I am disheartened that United States Representative Jose Serrano who is supposed to be representing my district - the poorest district in the nation - wasn't out there campaigning and rallying against this awful bill that will harm his already hungry constituents.

Like many Democrats from New York, Congressman Jose Serrano has no problem getting media attention for things he believes in: gay marriage, late-term abortion, the late Hugo Chavez, repealing the 22nd Amendment to end term limits for the US Presidency, and his views on building sports stadiums.  While he voted NO on the Farm Bill, where was he during the past several months when Congressional leaders started to plan ways to take food away from hungry senior citizens and hungry children who live in the South Bronx?"

 

Name the new Tappan Zee bridge for Pete Seeger!

  This comes from Change.org who has an on line petition to name the new bridge that will replace the Tappan Zee bridge "The Pete Seeger Bridge."

  Singer/Songwriter/Activist Pete Seeger, who died January 27, 2014 at the age of 94, was a champion of justice, civil rights and the environment. 

  Naming the new Tappan Zee bridge across the Hudson River for this lifelong resident of New York State would be a fitting tribute to a man who did so much to help improve the mighty Hudson and the towns along its banks.

Seeger pushed for a cleaner river in the 1960s — long before others took on the cause — and used music to push for an environment friendly river. He was the founder of the Hudson River sloop Clearwater which to this day sails up and down the river helping to encourage environmental activism and the waterway's rebirth. Over the years, Seeger's efforts have lead to a significantly cleaner river; today swimming is possible in many formerly polluted areas.

The idea of naming the new bridge, which is expected to open in 2018, has been put forth by Greenburgh town supervisor Paul Feiner who hopes naming the bridge after Seeger will inspire travelers to keep the river clean. Feiner has promised to bring this proposal to NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo and members of the NY State legislature. The entire  story and petition can be found here.

 

1ST TRANSPORTATION HEARING OF NEW TERM TO VOTE ON NYPD HIT-AND-RUN REPORTING BILL VETO OVERRIDE

 

High Number of Traffic Related Injuries and Deaths Prompt Need for Greater Enforcement & Investigation into Traffic Incedents; Intro. 1055 Will Share Data and Methodology

  On Wednesday, January 29, 2014, the NYC Council Committee on Transportation will hold its first hearing of the new term with a planned vote to override former Mayor Michael Bloomberg's veto of a bill requiring the NYPD to report on data of traffic accidents that cause "Severe Injuries" or death. This bill, vetoed at the end of 2013 after passing the City Council, will seek to bring to light information regarding the methodology behind traffic accident investigations in addition to the number of cases closed with arrests vs. without arrests. As traffic related violence has already caused the death of 17 New Yorkers in 2014, the Council and the administration of Mayor Bill de Blasio have made pedestrian safety one of the top priorities of the New Year.

This hearing and vote will set the tone for the coming term as newly appointed transportation chair, Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez , has been adamant about the need to stem the tide of traffic related accidents, the number one cause of injury-related death for children under 14 in New York City. Council Member Rodriguez is expected to discuss the Mayor's "Vision Zero" initiative and discuss further ways the committee can assist in the goal of reducing traffic deaths to zero in a decade's time.

The veto is expected to be overridden with wide support from the committee.

What: First Transportation Committee Hearing of New Term to Override Mayor Bloomberg Veto of Hit-and-Run Reporting Bill

Who: NYC Council Committee on Transportation

Where: Council Committee Chambers, City Hall

When: Wednesday, January 29^th, 2014, 1:15pm

Comptroller Stringer Announces Comprehensive Fiscal Audits of NYC’s Public Library Systems

Three Audits, Beginning with the Queens Borough Public Library

New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer announced today he will conduct comprehensive audits of New York City’s three library systems. Stringer officially commenced the series of audits by sending an audit engagement letter yesterday to Thomas W. Galante, President and CEO of the Queens Borough Public Library.

“Our public libraries are vital resources for New Yorkers and taxpayers deserve to know that public money is being used appropriately,” Stringer said. “My auditors will assess whether the spending practices of our library systems follow applicable rules and prudent business practices.  We want our libraries to maximize the value of the public funds they receive while finding ways that they can be more efficient and effective from top to bottom.”

The planned audits will examine a broad range of fiscal controls at the Queens Borough Public Library, New York Public Library (which serves Manhattan, The Bronx and Staten Island), and the Brooklyn Public Library including scrutiny of spending practices, executive pay and compensation. Auditors will also look at funding of capital improvements, the use of city tax levy funds as well as the oversight role of the library systems’ individual boards of trustees.

To read the Comptroller’s audit engagement letter, click here.

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JASA's Elder Abuse Training Institute Presents: The Role of Social Service Professionals

 

   

Elder Abuse Training Institute 

Presents

The Role of Social Service Professionals

Thursday, February 13th

9:00 am- 12:30 pm

UJA-Federation of New York 

130 E. 59th Street, NYC, Room 653/655

Topics will include:

• Types of elder abuse and risk factors
• Interviewing and counseling techniques
• Mock case presentation with audience participation
• Prevention and intervention strategies
• Interdisciplinary referral sources

Suggested attendees: social workers, case managers, geriatric case managers, legal and health care professionals, housing and home care providers, law enforcement, and advocacy coalitions that work with elderly.

Click Here to download JASA's Elder Abuse Training Institute brochure

Registration Deadline: February 10th

For more information or to register contact: 

Martha Pollack, LCSW at 718-286-1540 or mpollack@jasa.org.

Fee: $30.00 Light refreshments will be served.

 

 

Preschoolers at Bronx Special Ed. School Compete in Annual Winter Olympics

 

As U.S. athletes prepare for the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, about 100 preschoolers in the Readiness Program at New York Institute for Special Education (NYISE) will participate in their own annual Winter Olympics, Thursday, January 30, from 10 AM- Noon, in the Readiness Solarium, 985 Astor Avenue, behind the main building on Pelham Parkway North, Bronx.

Developmentally-delayed three to five-year-olds will participate in fun winter-themed activities designed to improve gross motor skills such as coordination, balance, strength and agility.

Each class will select a country to represent and make a flag for display at the Olympics. Students will wear their team color as they partake in Olympics-inspired games such as hockey, winter bowling, luge, ice-skating and snow ball fights with crumbled paper. The students will also get to participate in their favorite activity, the ice breaker.

A medal ceremony will follow and the children will be invited to create a large torch on the wall using pre-made painted hand-prints. Each student will receive a medal and be crowned a winner.

The New York Institute for Special Education, founded in 1831 as The New York Institute for the Education of the Blind, is one of the oldest and most respected schools in the nation that provides specialized services for children with disabilities.

WHAT:         WINTER OLYMPICS FOR PRE-SCHOOLERS AT NEW YORK INSTITUTE FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION

DATE:           THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

TIME:           10 AM – NOON

PLACE:         READINESS SOLARIUM (BEHIND MAIN BUILDING AT 999 PELHAM PARKWAY NORTH)

985 ASTOR AVENUE

BRONX

*Please RSVP if interested in attending: Bill Easton at weaston@rubenstein.com*

State Labor Department Releases Preliminary December 2013 Area Unemployment Rates

 

  The New York State Department of Labor today released preliminary local area unemployment rates for December 2013, which are calculated following procedures prescribed by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The state’s unemployment rate relies in part on the results of a telephone survey of 3,100 households (out of more than 7 million) in New York State. 

  The state’s private sector job count increased by 109,900 from December 2012 to December 2013. As reported last week, the state’s unemployment rate was 7.1% in December 2013. The economy added 10,400 private sector jobs in December 2013, bringing the state’s job count to a record high of 7,503,700. 

 

Unemployment rate highlights in December 2013:

• The counties in New York State with the lowest unemployment rates include:
  • Tompkins County (4.1%)
  • Nassau County (4.8%)
  • Putnam County (4.8%)
  • Rockland County (4.9%)

• The counties in New York State with the highest unemployment rates include:
  • Bronx County (10.6%)
  • Hamilton County (9.1%)
  • Jefferson County (9.1%)
  • Lewis County (8.9%)

LDA Elects New President

  The Liberty Democratic Association of the 80th A.D. elected Ms. Monica Major as its new President. Councilman Ritchie Torres stepped down as President when he was elected as the councilman from the 15th district. Since President Major was the secretary of the club, Ms. Marjorie Velazquez-Lynch was elected as the new treasurer. Since Ms. Velazquez-Lynch was the secretary of the club, Ms. Andrea Siegel was elected as the new secretary of the club. All three ran unopposed.

   State Committeeman Joe McManus suggested that since the next meeting of the club was not until the clubs Spring Fling event in May that the club consider endorsing its two local state elected officials now in case primary day is moved up. A motion was then made to endorse 80th Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj, and a vote passed overwhelmingly. A motion was then made to endorse Senator Jeff Klein. Mr. Barry Soltz President of Jannel Towers said that the club should not endorse Senator Klein because Senator Klein is not a true Democrat, and is caucusing with the Republicans in the state senate. A vote was then taken to endorse  Senator Klein which passed overwhelmingly. 

  Congressman Charlie Rangel, Councilman Jimmy Vacca and Councilman Ritchie Torres stopped by to say hello and briefly speak to the club. 

 Left - Congressman Charlie Rangel enters the room, and is greeted by State Committeewoman Maria Gonzalez.

Right - Congressman Rangel poses with the Liberty Democratic Association Executive Committee. 

 

Left - Councilman Jimmy Vacca says a few words to club members.

Right - Councilman Ritchie Torres poses with New LDA President Ms. Monica Major and State Committeeman Joe McManus.