Derek Jeter to Hang up the Spikes After the 2014 Season

  In an announcement on his Facebook page New York Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter has said that he will retire from baseball after the 2014 season is over. Jeter came up to the Yankees in 1995, and will be entering his 20th season as a major league player, and New York Yankee. 1995 was the same year that ace Yankee reliever/closer Mariano Rivera also started with the New York Yankees. Rivera retired after the 2013 season. It is interesting that Rivera sat out the previous year to his retirement due to an injury, as Jeter has sat out the previous season to his announcement due to an injury. Jeter will be 40 on June 26th.

  The baseball career of Derek Jeter spans 19 seasons with the Yankees, with 2014 being season #20. Jeter has a career batting average of .312, on base percentage of .381, and 3316 base hits currently which places him #9 on the all time hits list. Jeter is just 3 hits behind #8 Paul Molitor, 99 hits behind #7 Honus Wagner, and 103 hits behind #6 Carl Yastrzemski all of which can be reached if Jeter plays a full season. Next on the all time hit list is # 5 Tris Speaker 198 hits away, which Jeter should not be able to catch in his last season. Derek Jeter has had over 200 hits in only 2 of his last 6 seasons. 

Senator Rivera Introduces Bill to Tax Electronic Cigarette Cartridges in the State Senate

  Senator Gustavo Rivera introduced a bill in the State Senate that would tax electronic cigarette cartridges as a tobacco product in an effort to continue the pursuit of reducing New Yorker's exposure to nicotine and other damaging chemicals. This bill has also been introduced in the State Assembly by Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz.     

"In recent years, makers of electronic cigarettes have claimed they are a 'safer' alternative to cigarettes, but the simple truth is that these devices still expose individuals to nicotine and hazardous chemicals," said Senator Gustavo Rivera (D-Bronx)."Taxing electronic cigarette cartridges at the same rate as other tobacco products will send a clear message to the public that these products are not as safe as they are advertised to be."

To date, electronic cigarettes have not been sufficiently studied to allow the U.S. Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to determine the long-term health risks associated with their use, including the quantity of nicotine or other harmful chemicals that users inhale.  Furthermore, there is no hard evidence to support the claim that electronic cigarettes are an effective cessation tool.

There is also a growing concern that electronic cigarettes can lead young people to become cigarette smokers. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), from 2011 to 2012 the number of students in grades 6 -12 that reported ever having used an electronic cigarette doubled from 3.3 percent to 6.8 percent.

While the FDA has yet to determine how to regulate electronic cigarettes, New York State along with other localities and states have moved forward with legislation to address public health concerns caused by the wide-spread use of these devices.  

Wave Hill Events February 28–March 6

  SAT, MARCH 1    FAMILY ART PROJECT: STYLISH SEED POTS

With spring fast approaching, we need a pot for planting. Take an ordinary, terracotta pot and make it into something fantastic by adding beads, tiles, buttons, ribbons and other odds and ends. Then, add some soil and a seed and don’t forget to water! Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon.
WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM‒1PM

SAT, MARCH 1    TAI CHI CHUAN

Quiet like a mountain, moving like a river, Tai Chi is a sequence of gentle movements based on images found in nature. In this beginner-level class, Irving Yee, a member of the William CC Chen Tai Chi School, introduces students to the internal martial Wave Hill Conifer Winter 2014 credit Wave Hill-3arts and promotes an awareness of its benefits. March sessions are held indoors. Session fee: $25/$15 Wave Hill Member. Register online and, day of, onsite at the Perkins Visitor Center. (Reservations may not be made by telephone.) Online registration closes at 8AM on the day of the session. Cancellations must be made by 3PM the Friday before; after that, refunds will not be made.  Drops-ins will be accommodated as the limited space permits. Participants must present a Member’s ID card or a printed program registration form at the front gate.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 10‒11AM

SAT, MARCH 1    GARDEN WORKSHOP: SEED STARTING WITH THE EXPERTS
Horticultural Interpreter Charles Day and Assistant Director of Horticulture Brian McGowan share techniques for starting both common and unusual garden plants from seed. Peek behind the scenes to see what’s germinating in Wave Hill’s propagation house, then sow seeds and transplant seedlings for your own garden. Don’t leave without checking out the selection of seeds in The Shop, a perfect complement to today’s workshop! $30/$20 Wave Hill Member. Registration required, online at www.wavehill.org, onsite at the Perkins Visitor Center or by calling 718.549.3200 x251. 
MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 2PM

SUN, MARCH 2    FAMILY ART PROJECT: STYLISH SEED POTS

With spring fast approaching, we need a pot for planting. Take an ordinary, terracotta pot and make it into something fantastic by adding beads, tiles, buttons, ribbons and other odds and ends. Then, add some soil and a seed and don’t forget to water! Free with admission to the grounds.
WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM‒1PM

SUN, MARCH 2    HATHA YOGA

Reduce stress, increase your energy and bring strength and flexibility to 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 until May. Session fee: $25/$15 Wave Hill Member. Register online and, day of, onsite at the Perkins Visitor Center. (Reservations may not be made by telephone.) Online registration closes at 8AM on the day of the session. Cancellations must be made by 3PM the Friday before; after that, refunds will not be made.  Drops-ins will be accommodated as the limited space permits. Participants must present a Member’s ID card or a printed program registration form at the front gate.

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

SUN, MARCH 2    MEDITATION

This spring, 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. Sessions are held indoors. Session fee: $25/$15 Wave Hill Member. Register online and, day of, onsite at the Perkins Visitor Center. (Reservations may not be made by telephone.) Online registration closes at 8AM on the day of the session. Cancellations must be made by 3PM the Friday before; after that, refunds will not be made. Drops-ins will be accommodated as the limited space permits. Participants must present a Member’s ID card or a printed program registration form at the front gate.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 11:30AM‒12:45PM

SUN, MARCH 2    WINTER WORKSPACE WORKSHOP: DRAWING THROUGH LANDSCAPE
Gain insight into Winter Workspace artist Cristina Ataide’s creative process and explore the winter landscape as a source of inspiration. The artist will give an introduction to her work and the processes she uses to connect to the landscape. Afterward, she leads participants on a stroll through the woodlands to collect natural elements for use in a collaborative art project. Art materials are provided unless otherwise noted. Workshops are open to all visitors ages 12 and over when accompanied by an adult. Registration required, online at www.wavehill.org, onsite at the Perkins Visitor Center or by calling 718.549.3200 x251. Free with admission to the grounds.
MEET AT GLYNDOR GALLERY, 1–4PM

SUN, MARCH 2    GARDEN 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, MARCH 3

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 February and March. 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.

 

 

Reaction to Mayor de Blasio's 'State of the City' Address

STATEMENT FROM BP DIAZ:

  “I congratulate Mayor de Blasio on his first ‘State of the City’ Address. I am particularly pleased to hear that the mayor has committed his administration to drop the ongoing lawsuit opposing the ‘Fair Wages for New Yorkers’ Act, and will direct his administration to begin the full implementation of this important law. The fight for ‘living wages’ remains a fight for income equality, and I am proud to count Mayor de Blasio among our allies in that fight. My office will work with the mayor and the City Council to expand this law to cover more New Yorkers.

“Mayor de Blasio’s call for municipal identification cards is also a welcome initiative. My office handles thousands of constituent cases each year, and many of those come from undocumented immigrants and their families. These individuals are often reluctant to go to the police government for help for fear of reprisal, and this proposal will bring them out of the shadows. Municipal identification cards will make it easier for undocumented immigrants to receive essential city services and cooperate with police, leading to a safer city for all.

“I also echo Mayor de Blasio’s call for increased STEM education options within our CUNY system. In my ‘State of the Borough’ address last year I called for the creation of a STEM high school in the Bronx, one based on the successful P-TECH school in Brooklyn. “This is a top priority for my administration, and I will continue to work with the Department of Education to continue to make this happen.” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

 

STATEMENT FROM STATE SENATORS ESPAILLAT AND PERALTA ON NYC MUNICIPAL ID CARD FOR UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS 

“For immigrant families in New York City whose undocumented status leaves them vulnerable to abuse and exploitation by unethical employers, landlords and scam artists, Mayor de Blasio’s municipal ID card will change lives for the better. Under our current system, immigrants’ inability to obtain a government ID excludes them from services most people take for granted, and makes it harder for them to provide for their children.

But with incredible momentum in Albany and across the country, we can’t let up the fight to accomplish what 11 states and the District of Columbia have already done – passing legislation giving immigrants the opportunity to earn legal driving privileges. When we look across the country and see our neighbors in Connecticut, big states with major cities like Illinois and California, and a deep red state like Utah all taking this sensible step forward, there is no reason why the issue remains unaddressed in New York.

As comprehensive reform remains stalled in Washington, we applaud Mayor de Blasio’s commitment to helping vulnerable immigrant communities. Once in place, this initiative will help dispel the baseless and xenophobic arguments opponents have used to block this needed reform for too long.

By the same token, it is unacceptable that hardworking immigrants are made to break the law in order to commute to work or take their kids to school. Providing undocumented immigrants the opportunity to obtain drivers licenses will ensure that all New York drivers are properly credentialed, educated and operating registered, inspected and insured vehicles, making our roads safer and benefiting all New Yorkers.”

 

Bronx Republican Party Lincoln Brunch

  There was no Donald Trump as I had hoped, but it appears that the Bronx Republican Party may be back on its feet after its Lincoln Brunch today. After taking control of a county organization that was so far down after its former county leader plead guilty to public corruption new Bronx Republican Party Leader Mr. John Greaney had his first major event. 

  Headlining the event was probable Republican Gubernatorial candidate Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, probable candidate for Attorney General of New York former U. S. Attorney Michael Garcia, and former New York City mayoral candidate Joe Lhota. Also on hand was New York State Republican Chairman Ed Cox, and upstate Senator Cathy Young Chair of the Senate Republican Campaign Committee.

  The program opened with a few words from Bronx Republican County Leader Greaney, then the salute to the flag, and the singing of the national anthem by Artist Sheimyrah Mighty. There was a special tribute of "Celebrating the Life of Nelson Mandela" by Revernd Raymond Mickens, John Burnett, and Fred Brown. 

  Then came the introduction of Westchester County Executive (and presumed Republican candidate for governor) Rob Astorino. Astorino spoke about how he was victorious in a county that is democratic by 2 to 1. He said that he attended Fordham University, and it is great to know that the Bronx Republican Party is alive and well. Astorino went on to talk on how he feels the current governor does not understand what is going on by a policy of increased gambling, increased spending, and legalizing pot. He went on to say that he has cut government spending in his county, and that its unemployment is 5.5% compared to the rest of the state. Former U.S. Attorney Garcia, Joe Lhota, and State Republican Party Leader Ed Cox also spoke.Below are a few photos of the event.

 

Left - Former NYC Mayoral candidate Joe Lhota and Bronx Republican Party official Anthony Ribustello.

Right - Bronx Republican Party Leader John Greaney speaks to the attendees.

Left - Artist Sheimyrah Mighty ssings the national anthem.

Right - The tribute to Nelson Mandella.

 

Left - Some of the crowd, and that is Rob Astorino in the center of the table listening to the speaker.

Right - Astorino addresses the crowd.

STOP TAKING PICTURES OF YOUR GENITALS

This comes from the Facebook Page of Sen. Diane Savino came after the chair of the Orange County Republican Party, Robert Krahulik, was forced to take a leave of absence after feasting up to sending "provocative" photos of himself over social media.
  The photos have been described as very similar to those sent by a former congressman. 
 

  "In light of the fact that this is Valentine's Week, when our minds turn to the pursuit of Amore, i see it is time for me to remind everyone of what i have warned in the past, if you are in public life, or hell, an anonymous existence, listen up. STOP TAKING PICTURES OF YOUR GENITALS! JUST STOP IT! first of all, men, no one wants to see your penis pop up in a text message, no one! and ladies, really, leave a little to the imagination. if you ask me, i would much rather you send me a picture of your estate in the Hamptons, that might get my blood racing, and would keep you off the front page".

  the Facebook posting, and comments to it can be found here. 

  

Funds Dedicated for Highway & Bridge Capital Projects Continue to be Diverted for Operating and Debt Costs

  New York State Comptroller Tom Dinapoli has issued a report that says -

Money in the Dedicated Highway and Bridge Trust Fund continues to be diverted for non-capital purposes, leaving critical highway and bridge projects at increased risk as the state faces fiscal challenges and shrinking debt capacity, according to a report issued today by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. 

"Taxpayers have paid billions in taxes and fees into a fund that was created to keep our roads and bridges in good repair. Now, more than three-quarters of this money is siphoned off to pay for borrowing and operating costs of state agencies, leaving fewer dollars for improving our infrastructure,”DiNapoli said. “While the state is making progress with its capital planning, New York needs a reliable source for investment in its transportation infrastructure and should restore the use of this fund for capital purposes.”

Created in 1991, the fund was initially intended to provide dedicated funding to reconstruct, replace and preserve the state’s highways and bridges. Funding comes from dedicated taxes and fees, including a gas tax, petroleum business tax, vehicle licensing fees and rental car tax. By 2002, debt payments had surpassed capital projects. Just 22.2 percent of its $3.8 billion disbursements were spent on capital construction in state fiscal year (SFY) 2012-13, according to DiNapoli’s report.

State operations costs also consume the greatest share of the fund: nearly $1.6 billion in the last fiscal year, including the costs of snow and ice removal by the Department of Transportation and day-to-day staff expenses at the Department of Motor Vehicles. Typically, staff expenses and snow and ice removal costs are regarded as ongoing costs of state operations and maintenance, not capital expenses.

The proposed Executive Budget for SFY 2014-15 projects capital disbursements to account for 23.5 percent of all trust fund disbursements, a slight increase from the current year. Meanwhile, combined debt service and operations spending is projected to remain at more than three-quarters of all fund spending.

The decline in cash support for New York’s highway and bridge program has continued since the Comptroller’s 2009 report, which found that the fund had shifted from support for the capital highway and bridge program to a broader transportation program. 

A useful measure of the health of the fund is called pay-as-you-go, or PAYGO, which gauges the amount of cash in the fund that the state dedicates to pay for capital and operational expenses. PAYGO is an alternative to debt, which must be repaid over time with interest. PAYGO levels have declined steadily over the years, dropping to just over 28 percent in SFY 2012-13 and expected to fall to about 23 percent by SFY 2018-19. 

While some debt is appropriate for the state’s capital program, debt becomes a burden when the payment of debt service becomes such a large use of the fund.  When this happens New York’s ability to fund highway and bridge capital projects is constrained, DiNapoli’s report concludes.

The report also found:

• In state fiscal year 2012-13, debt service accounted for 40.7 percent of all fund disbursements;
• Since the creation of the fund through SFY 2012-13, capital disbursements have totaled $14.5 billion, or just 30.6 percent of all disbursements; and
• The fund’s reliance on increasingly large transfers from the state’s general fund and federal funds shows no signs of reversing. The general fund subsidy is expected to climb to $849.6 million by state fiscal year 2018-19.

He called for a long-term plan to restore the fund to its core mission and increase pay-as-you-go financing for road and bridge capital purposes. The report includes revenues and spending for the past 20 years.

For a copy of the report, visit:  http://www.osc.state.ny.us/reports/trans/dhbtf020413.pdf

For a copy of the 2009 report, visit: http://osc.state.ny.us/reports/trans/dhbtf102809.pdf 

Bronx Elected Officials & RWDSU Announce New Living Wage Bill

 

Bronx Elected Officials Unite to Introduce New City Council Bill that will Promote Labor Harmony at Future Living Wage Retail Developments 

***Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., Annabel Palma, Ritchie Torres, and Stuart Appelbaum Jointly Announce New Living Wage Bill Today***

  The historic campaign for living wage jobs that grew out of the Bronx is re-emerging with a coalition of Bronx elected officials and the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), UFCW announcing today the framework of a new City Council bill.

  Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., Councilwoman Annabel Palma, Councilman Ritchie Torres, and  RWDSU President Stuart Appelbaum are jointly announcing legislation that would include a labor harmony requirement for all future living wage retail developments subsidized with $1 million or more in city taxpayer money.

Councilwoman Annabel Palma will be the lead sponsor of the new bill, with Councilman Ritchie Torres serving as co-sponsor. The legislation will be introduced with the full support of RWDSU President Stuart Appelbaum and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

Labor harmony promotes respectful relationships between workers and employers, and protects taxpayers by removing conflict from development projects and the tenant businesses that anchor them. Under the framework of the new bill, labor harmony would apply to all retail tenants of development projects subsidized at $1 million or more.

Labor harmony agreements for economic development are well-established in New York and around the country. They benefit taxpayers, workers and businesses. Employers maintain neutrality when it comes to workers’ efforts to join unions. And in return, unions agree not to engage in picketing and other disruptions in the operation and flow of commerce at tenant businesses in development projects.

“Under my administration, the Bronx has come a long way toward improving the quality of life of the hard working people of my borough.  Unfortunately, we still have far too many people struggling to make ends meet in every corner of this great city.  By strengthening our current living wage with a labor harmony requirement, we can do more to provide good jobs to the people of this city. As the Chief Executive Officer of the Bronx, I am proud to be working with the RWDSU and my colleagues in the City Council to introduce this powerful and necessary bill.  It’s a top priority for everyone involved in this coalition, and I look forward to the day that this bill is signed into law,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., a leader of the recent living wage campaign that grew out of the Bronx.

“When it comes to economic justice and workers’ rights, the Bronx is united.  We led the fight to pass the Living Wage Law and establish an essential linkage between public dollars, private development, and good-paying jobs. Now, through the use of labor harmony agreements, we intend to strengthen this link and more fully realize what we envisioned four years ago when we began this fight. There is a growing economic crisis in our communities, and this new living wage legislation will help us tackle it. I am committed to working with this coalition and my colleagues in government to get this done,” said Bronx Councilwoman Annabel Palma, who was a lead sponsor of the living wage legislation passed in 2012 and will now be the lead sponsor of this new living wage legislation.

“I grew up very poor in public housing in the Bronx, so the fight for living wage jobs has always been personal for me, my family, and my community. My brother has worked in many low-wage retail jobs. It's fitting that the fight for living wage jobs in our city is being driven by the Bronx, the borough with the lowest average wage for retail workers and where 1 in 3 residents lives in poverty. I am proud to stand with such a strong and unified coalition to support the very fundamental right of workers to earn a paycheck that can sustain a family. We are going to do everything in our power to ensure that this legislation is passed as soon as possible,” said Bronx Councilman Ritchie Torres, a Deputy Leader in the City Council, who will co-sponsor the new living wage legislation with Councilwoman Annabel Palma.

“The campaign for living wage jobs began in the Bronx at the Kingsbridge Armory, and I’m thrilled that several prominent Bronx leaders want to finish what was started there. The new bill will ensure that future taxpayer-subsidized living wage retail developments promote labor harmony. Greater unionization in retail, one of the fastest growing low-wage sectors of our economy, will help lift more New Yorkers out of poverty. A union contract is still the greatest anti-poverty program in our country’s history. We look forward to working with Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and Mayor Bill de Blasio in this effort,” said Stuart Appelbaum, President of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) UFCW, which led the campaign that passed the existing living wage legislation covering economic development in the City Council in 2012.