Sen. Jeff Klein and Luis Sepulveda Announce Anti-Gun Legislation

  In the pouring rain State Senator Jeff Klein and Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda announced new legislation they will propose in the state senate and state assembly that would stiffen jail sentences for gunmen who injure a child or discharge a firearm near playgrounds and schools called "Luisito's Law".

  This legislation has come about after 3 year old Luis Oyola Jr was shot by a stray bullet while playing in Vidalia Park. Luckily, the brave toddler survived the August 30, 2013 shooting after being rushed from the park to St. Barnabas Hospital.

   Klein and Assemblyman Sepulveda, who are proposing legislation that would toughen minimum sentencing requirements for anyone who discharges a weapon near a playground, children’s park or school and/or injures a child under 10-years-old. Under “Luisito’s Law,” named for Oyola, Jr., who was struck by a stray bullet in the arm, a class E felony assault charge would become a higher class D felony. The little boy's shooter would have faced a minimum 5-to-25 years behind bars if this law existed instead of 1 ½-to-4 years on an assault charge.

  Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda lives two blocks away from where the shooting took place. He said that he and his wife often bring their two year old son to this park where the shooting occurred.  Senator Klein said that he was not going to allow our playgrounds to become shooting galleries. 

  On hand was Councilwoman Maria Del Carmen Arroyo who said that she had just picked up this area in the latest redistricting, and agrees 100 percent with Senator Klein and Assemblyman Sepulveda on this legislation. Also speaking was Councilman Fernando Cabrera who chairs the City Council Juvenile Justice Committee, and Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. Senator Diaz said that he will co-sponser this legislation in the State Senate. Diaz made it a point to add that more people like Senator Jeff Klein are needed in the State Senate.

 Left - Senator Klein opens the discussion as to why "Luisito's Law" was being proposed.

Right - Assemblyman Sepulveda is saying how he lives only two blocks from the park where the shooting took place, and that he and his wife bring their two year old son to this same park to enjoy. 

 

Left - As he stands on the side, the grandmother of Luis Oyola Jr. tells of the nightmare that she went through. She hopes that this legislation will prevent others from going through the same horror.

Right - Councilman Cabrera speaks about the importance of the law, and that the parks and playgrounds need to be safe for our children. 

 

COMPTROLLER SCOTT M. STRINGER ANALYZES NEW YORK CITY'S PRELIMINARY FISCAL YEAR 2015 BUDGET

  New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer presented his office’s analysis of New York City’s Preliminary Fiscal Year 2015 budget in the context of the local and national economies at the Municipal Building in Lower Manhattan. 

“We are at a moment of great transition in our City,” Stringer said.  “Mayor de Blasio’s Preliminary Fiscal Year 2015 Budget strikes a prudent balance between funding vital programs while putting aside money for future needs. However, we still face some big unknowns that must be resolved between now and the end of the fiscal year on June 30^th.”

As the City’s Chief Fiscal Officer, the Comptroller has a charter-mandated duty to comment on the financial condition of New York.  Today’s analysis focused on the economic and fiscal trends affecting the City such as weak wage growth, bright spots in the local economy – including the city’s burgeoning tech sector – and the importance of resolving more than 150 expired labor contracts.

“Negotiating contracts with the City’s workforce is a complex and daunting task, but it is critical that we resolve these contracts if we are going to achieve real balance,” Stringer said. “We have always faced budget challenges in this city and we have overcome those challenges by working together.  I am confident that we will find ways to keep the City growing, ensure workers are compensated fairly and maintain New York’s status as the greatest city in the world.”

Stringer noted that unlike most years, the budget was balanced for FY 2015 prior to the release of the Preliminary Budget, which allowed Mayor de Blasio to prudently set aside new revenue – $1 billion into the Retiree Health Benefits Trust Fund, and $300 million to the general reserve.  The budget also provides for important new policy initiatives, including a municipal ID system, relieving NYCHA of the burden of paying for its own police protection and capping rental costs for those with HIV/AIDS who live in city-supported housing.

Stringer presented ten strategies for discussion that could potentially generate revenue or create the savings needed to support our budgetary needs:

1.    Restoring revenue sharing to New York City

2.    Collecting education funds due to the City under the Campaign for Fiscal Equity

3.    Drawing down federal Medicaid funds for special education services

4.    Claiming New York City’s share of the $8 billion federal Medicaid waiver

5.    Producing agency savings from efficiencies that don’t reduce services or hurt vulnerable populations

6.    Achieving savings through productivity and benefit reforms including health care costs

7.    Reforming tax expenditures

8.    Generating additional savings in FY15 debt service through aggressive refinancing

9.    Recognizing FY14 resources from prior year payables that are not needed

10.  Realizing savings from ending the budget dance and member item reform.

Teachers Union Looking for Retroactive Pay Also

  The United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew said that the 100,000 member teachers union members have been working for a long time without a pay raise. Mulgrew added that back pay or retroactive pay will become a big issue in negotiations with the de Blasio administration. Estimates of over 3 Billion dollars have been calculated as to what it could cost the city if the UFT demands were met for back pay to the teachers union.

  This comes one day after the DEP Police union scored a new contract with retroactive pay of $50,000.00 for its 200 members. The UFT would be requesting somewhere near two-thirds of that settlement for its members amounting to over 3 Billion dollars. 

Mayor Bill de Blasio Strikes First Contract Deal With DEP Police - $50K Retro Pay

  With all city labor contract up and waiting to be negotiated Mayor Bill de Blasio has one less headache to worry about as the city has reached an accord with the 200 Department of Environmental Police force. The  DEP police force was the only city union working without a contract from 2005 or for nine years, and they were represented by the Law Enforcement Employees Benevolent Association. Kenneth Wynder the head of LEEBA gave words of praise to the de Blasio administration for its quickness and fairness in the contract.

  The exact details of the contract were not released only that the DEP police will each receive about $50,000.00 in retroactive pay for the nine years without a contract. Robert Linn Mayor de Blasio's new Labor Relations commissioner did not comment on the details that he had worked out with the union. 

State Senate Co-Leader Jeff Klein Releases Disturbing Report on Sex Offender Registry:

Finds pedophiles living close to schools and inaccuracies in address reporting. 

Klein introduces legislation requiring the Commissioner of Corrections and Community Supervision to obtain a quarterly list of schools.

After learning that a Level 2 sex offender, who molested a five year old boy, moved within 1,000 feet of a Bronx school in violation of New York State law, State Senate Co-Leader Jeff Klein launched an investigation into the sex offender registry system and discovered that the incident was not an anomaly.

The troublesome findings of a report released today by Klein’s office reveal that six other Level 2 and 3 sex offenders in New York City have been living within 1,000 feet of schools. In the case of Roland Marrero, the sex offender who prompted this report, the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision and the Department of Criminal Justice Services approved his address within 1,000 feet of P.S. 357, which was constructed in September. The new school was not listed on their database.

Senator Klein introduced legislation, S6600, which would require the Commissioner of Corrections and Community Supervision to obtain a quarterly  list of all elementary and secondary schools in the state to prevent the mistake from happening again.

The analysis also uncovered another alarming error. In over 130 instances registered sex offenders were listed under incorrect zip codes, rending New York's "Sex Offender Alert System" entirely useless. Parents and community members alike utilize the system to receive notification when a sex offender moves into the area.

“These mistakes are leaving entire communities vulnerable to the type of disturbed, dangerous criminals who often strike more than once. There's a reason why the law does not allow pedophiles to live within 1,000 feet of a school. Parents expect those laws to be enforced. That's why I'm committed to passing legislation that will keep a close watch on the Division of Parole and prevent these types of inexcusable mistakes from ever happening again,” Senator Klein said.

New Woodlawn Supermarket Brings out Local Elected Official

  While this may look like many other supermarkets this store is special to the residents of Woodlawn. Several years ago Mayor Bloomberg closed the local firehouse, and two years ago the local supermarket closed. The economic picture was getting bleak for residents of Woodlawn. Last week however this new C-Town supermarket opened up on Katonah Avenue in the heart of Woodlawn. This new supermarket signifies that Woodlawn is turning around. Local elected officials State Senator Jeff Klein, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, Councilman Andrew Cohen, and a representative of Congressman Eliot Engel were on hand to cut the ribbon and greet customers.
  All of the elected officials said that they were glad to see this new supermarket, and that now residents of Woodlawn will have a first class supermarket right on Katonah Avenue. The store was enlarged, and many specialty areas have been added. There were lots of taste testing and gifts for the customers as they spun a wheel of prizes. Assemblyman Dinowitz won a new key chain.

 The elected officials cut the honorary ribbon with the store owner.

Another shot of the elected officials and store personal inside the new C-Town Supermarket located on Katonah Avenue in Woodlawn.

Klein Hosts 19th Annual Black History Month Breakfast

  State Senator Jeff Klein hosted his annual Black History Month Breakfast at Villa Barone Manor this past Saturday, honoring local black leaders and featuring a keynote address from Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams. Nearly 300 constituents attended the breakfast. 

  Senator Klein said "Black History Month provides an opportunity to not just reflect and recognize the achievements of civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela, but also the contributions made by black leaders in their local communities. At my annual Black History Month breakfast, we do just that - honor the invaluable work of African-Americans here in the Bronx and across New York, while celebrating the rich diversity of our local community."

  However during his keynote speech Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams mentioned that he would be looking to run for mayor after his 8 years in office are up due to term limits. This could pur the Brooklyn Borough President and our Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. on a collision course if both decide to run for mayor in 8 years. Bronx BP Diaz Jr. has 8 more years to serve as Bronx Borough President, and has expressed desires to be the first Latino mayor of New York City.  below are some photos of Senator Klein's Black History Month Breakfast, and the choir singers children and adult.

  Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams announcing that he wants to run for mayor in 8 years.

 Tiana Von Johnson, President/CEO Gold Star Properties, Barbara Moye, President Harbour Pointe at Shorehaven Condos III, Senator Klein and Cheray E. Diggs, granddaughter of Estella Diggs, the first female African American NYS Assembly Member from the Bronx, who received her award posthumously.

 Senator Klein with former Brooklyn State Senator now Brooklyn BP Eric Adams.  

 

Council Member King and Bronx YEP Honor Former Mayor David Dinkins

  It’s not often a person gets to meet a living legend. So, when former NYC Mayor David Dinkins walked into a Bronx high school library Wednesday morning the students marveled at the fact that in their presence was a black man who had made history when he was elected the Mayor of the City of New York.

Many of the students were unaware that at one time the people of New York City had elected a mayor of African-American heritage.

“These children were not born around the time Mr. Dinkins was mayor and brought about a lot of positive changes during his administration. It is a blessing and an honor to have Mayor Dinkins, a living legend, come out and share his story with us,  said Council Member Andy King who co-hosted the second annual “Celebrating Our History” event with the Bronx Youth Empowerment Program (YEP) at Evander Childs High School.

The event brought together more than 300 students from nearby elementary schools and the high school itself, and also members of R.A.I.N Seniors Centers, in a spirit of celebration, awareness and appreciation of the black community’s diversity.

Council Member King and YEP presented Mayor Dinkins with a City Council Proclamation and a specially designed print of African-American heroes in history, with Mayor Dinkins' portrait featured in the print. The print was designed by Cee Lewis, Council Member's Deputy Chief of Staff.

When Mayor Dinkins walked to the podium he decided not to give his prepared speech and, instead, talked to the youngsters about his life growing up, lessons he learned as a child and he encouraged them to stay in school, work hard and “don’t bully others. It’s not cool to be a bully. I was bullied in school when I was a kid because I was small. It wasn’t fun.”

The event included Dr. Hazel N. Dukes, President of the NAACP New York State Conference who also addressed the audience. There were performances by the Williamsbridge NAACP Early Childhood Education Center students, Bronx YEP, International Hip-Hop Opera Singer Marie Claire and Spoken Word Poet NeNe Ali. In addition, there were tables containing information regarding black history and historic black colleges.

Black History Month is a celebration of the contributions of African Americans to American history and culture. The celebration came about when the former son of slaves and University of Chicago and Harvard-trained historian and author, Carter G. Woodson, sponsored a national Negro History week in 1926, choosing the second week of February to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. President Gerald R. Ford expanded the celebration in 1976 to include the entire month of February. Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month. Other countries around the world, including Canada and the United Kingdom, also devote a month to celebrating black history.

“Ultimately, celebrating the black community needs to be a part of all of our daily routines and not reserved just for the month of February,” Council Member King said. He noted that plans are under way to host three more “Celebrating Our History” programs later this year.

To see more pictures, visit Council Member King's Facebook fan page or Bronx YEP Facebook Fan page.

Council Member Andy King, his wife Neva Shillingford-King, and members of Bronx YEP, present former Mayor David Dinkins with a special print of African-American legends, which features Mayor Dinkins portrait, during a “Celebrating Our History” program held at Evander Childs High School Library.
PHOTO CREDIT: Office of Council Member Andy King