New York State Budget Passed "On Time Once Again"

  There is a lot of news out of Albany which relates to the state budget of $138 Billion Dollars that was passed last night. It is the fourth on time budget in a row now. Each individual state legislator will tout their part in the budget negotiations, but when you come down to it the old "Three men in a room" cliche is now "Four men in a room" thanks to IDC Conference Leader Senator Jeff Klein who had a big say in this years budget. Since the deal was struck in the final hours in order to be able to be signed without having to wait the normal three days for bills to age (or be able to be read by the state legislators) Governor Cuomo issued a "Message of Necessity" to waive the three day aging process. 

  There is already infighting between state senators that is the Democratic Conference and the Independent Democratic Conference, not to mention the Republican Conference. In one instance State Senator Gustavo Rivera comments on a provision by Senate Co-Leader Jeff Klein that includes a provision that adds new requirements for health facilities projects just in our Borough for more community input. This after a proposed 11 story medical facility by Montefiore Hospital was given to the community rather than having community input in the facility. Rivera says it will just add another layer of bureaucracy. 

  Mayor Bill de Blasio while he did not get the authorization to administer his Pre K tax did receive the needed monies to start the Pre K agenda that he has. The only problem is with the majority of public schools operating at or above 100 percent capacity, where will he find the space? Then there is the part of the budget that will require the mayor to find space in the public schools for more charter schools. 

   

  

 

VCP Hike-a-Thon 4.26.14

 

Take a Hike in the Park to Help Friends of Van Cortlandt Park

The Friends of Van Cortlandt Park (FVCP) is hosting their Fifth Annual Hike-a-Thon on Saturday April 26th, 2014 to help implement FVCP’s Trails Plan and strive to introduce more people to the Park's amazing variety of hiking and walking paths.

"Each year, this event expands and we are thrilled with the results," said Christina Taylor, Executive Director of FVCP. "Not only are we raising funds to make wonderful installments to the park but we continue to draw people in with the wonderful hiking opportunities in Van Cortlandt Park.”

Like a Walk-a-Thon, Hike-a-Thon participants will sign up supporters to sponsor their hike. All participants who pay the register fee of $25 will receive a Hike-a-Thon t-shirt (New this year!) water, snacks and receive a beautiful hiking tour of various trails as well as become members of the organization for the year. Additionally people who donate an extra $30 receive a small bag of giveaways. Members who donate an additional $60 dollars will receive a reusable FVCP shopping bag filled with giveaways. Finally, those who donate a generous $100 will receive a large FVCP tote bag full of great giveaways. Registration deadline is Monday, April 21^st, 2014

Participants will be able to choose from three routes—a family friendly one-mile loop on the John Kieran Trail, a medium 3 mile hike or a 5 mile excursion into the outer reaches of the Park.

All of the funding raised by participants will be used to help implement and improve  the FVCP’s Trails Plan which is a strategic plan aimed at making  the Park's hiking trails more sustainable, better suited to serve Park visitors and better able to highlight as well as protect the Park’s unique and beautiful  natural resources.  Special thank you to our sponsor TD Bank.

For a trail map, registration forms and more information, please visit the Friends' web site at www.vancortlandt.org/hike-a-thon.html.  For more information, contact Christina Taylor of the Friends of Van Cortlandt Park at 718-601-1460 or christina@vancortlandt.org.

Mayor de Blasio Booed as He Threw Out The First Pitch at Citifield

  Maybe the fans at Citifield were warming up for the real game as they booed Mayor Bill de Blasio when he threw out the first pitch to start the baseball season for the New York Mets. Wearing the number 6 on a special Met uniform as de Blasio went to the mound the boos started. De Blasio is an admitted Boston Red Sox fan, just like his predecessor Mayor Bloomberg was. 

  As the baseball game began the Mets started off ahead in the bottom of the first inning leading after a three run homer by left fielder Andrew Brown. It wound up tied after 9 innings at 5 - 5 after Met closer Bobby Parnell gave up the tying run. In the top of the 10th inning the Met bullpen then completely collapsed when relievers J. Familla and J. Lannan gave up a total of 4 runs to the Washington Nationals that the Mets could only get 2 back in the bottom of the 10th inning. Met pitcher J.Familla was given the loss as the final score was 9 - 7 in this 2014 Met home opener. 

   Maybe Mayor de Blasio should have been called upon to pitcher for the Mets in the top of the 9th inning, he couldn't do any worse than what happened.

 
(Rob Bennett/NYC Mayor’s Office)

Rally for Pedestrian Bridge Over Deegan Highway

  Saturday March 29th even as rain was coming down people gathered at the Broadway/West 242nd Street and at the Jerome/Bainbridge Avenues entrances to Van Cortlandt Park to walk the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail from both ends to the middle where the Deegan Highway cuts right through the trail. As both groups encountered the Deegan Highway as in the photo above, the highway prevented the people from connecting with one another. All that could happen were that the two groups of people could wave to each other across the highway, and hold signs which read "Give us a bridge to connect the two broken parts of the Old Croton Trail".

  As traffic passed by cars and even trucks honked their support for the pedestrian bridge over the highway as you will see in the photos below. There was a meeting finally at Schandler Field with several elected officials to sing a song about building the bridge to re-connect the broken parts of the Old Croton Aqueduct trail. The elected officials and several park activist called on the city to honor its agreement from 1999 that put the plans to build the pedestrian bridge over the Deegan Highway to re-connect the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail. Click on any photo to make it larger.

 This was the group that started from Jerome/Bainbridge Avenues traveling west on the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail that stops at the Deegan Highway. 

 

Left - The Old Croton Aqueduct Trail as it appears on the Jerome/Bainbridge Avenues side.

Right - The marker for the trail.

 

Left - This was the view from east side of the Deegan Highway at the point where the highway goes right through the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail. 

Right - Driver of the Oreo truck honks in support of the signs for the pedestrian bridge over the highway.

 

 

Left - Even as the rain was coming down it could not dampen the spirits of those who came.

Right - Dart Westphal and Steve Murphy lead the group in a song they wrote for the building of the pedestrian bridge over the Deegan Highway.

 

Left - Councilman Andrew Cohen leads a group of people that were on the west side of the Deegan Highway as they finally arrive at Schandler Field for the second part of the rally.

Right - Father Richard Gorman Chair of the Croton Filtration Monitoring Committee & Community Board 12 tells of the problems with the DEP, and the denials by the DEP that the pedestrian bridge was a part of the deal that allowed the Water Filtration Plant to be built in Van Cortlandt Park.

Councilman Andrew Cohen, State Senator Marcos Serrano, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, Christine Taylor of the Friends of VCP, Congressman Eliot Engel, Father Gorman, and Park Activist Karen Argenti show their disapproval that the pedestrian bridge over the Deegan Highway has not been built.

ABRAZO BANGLADESH by Senator Ruben Diaz Sr.

  It was billed as ABRAZO BANGLADESH in Honor of Bangladesh Independence Day. State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. State senator Jeff Klein, Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda, and Assemblyman Marcos Crespo were on the front page of the program, but Senator Klein was still up in Albany as one of the now 4 men in the room discussing and finalizing the state budget. Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. was on hand as was Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj, and a brief stop in by Bronx Democratic County Leader Assemblyman Carl Heastie who had his daughter with him so he could not stay. The room was filled to capacity as the program began.

  The six honorees were from the Bronx Bangladesh community based mainly around the Parkchester area. The honorees were Mr. Mohammed Shamin Miah, Mr. Abdus Shahid, Mr. Mohammed N. Mujumder, Mr. Zakir A. Khan, Ms. Farida Yeasmin, and Mr. Rezaul Salim. 

  Each of the elected officials on hand said a few words of what the occasion meant to them. Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. said that "You are part of the 1.4 million people of the Bronx". Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda asked for a moment of silence for the "Freedom Fighters" for the Independence of Bangladesh. Assemblyman Marcos Crespo spoke of the connection between the Bangladesh and the Hispanic community in his district. Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj being the first Albanian elected to the state legislature said he knows what lies ahead for the Bangladesh community of the Bronx. 

  Several of the Freedom Fighters from the Independence war with Pakistan in 1971 were on hand and brought up for a photo with the honorees at the end of the program. Below are several photos of the event. You can click on a photo to enlarge it.

 

  

Left - Team Diaz 2014. 

Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda, State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr., Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., and Assemblyman Marcos Crespo.

Right - Team Diaz with the honorees.

 

Left - The singing of the Bangladeshi National Anthem, with traditional Harmonium & Tobla Drum.

Right - The invocation by Iman Mohammed Moinul Islam.

 

Left - Senator Diaz Sr. is starting the program by asking the honorees to come up front.

Right - Bronx BP Diaz Jr. is speaking of the mosaic of the Bronx where everyone is a part of the 1.4 million people of the Bronx.

 

Left - Ms. Farida Yeasmin receives her awards from Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj.

Right - Mr. Mohammed N. Mujumder receives his awards from Senator Diaz Sr.

A group photo of the elected officials, honorees, and several of the 1971 Bangladesh Freedom Fighters who were on hand pose for this photo.

After the program there was a dance by the Bangladesh Academy of Fine Arts.

Comptroller DiNapoli and Attorney General Schneiderman Announce Three Arrests in $200,00 Contract Fraud

  Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli and Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced the arrests of three contractors for conspiring to defraud the state of over $200,000 by submitting false invoices over a two year period for HVAC equipment, supplies and labor.

“These vendors shamelessly falsified numerous invoices to inflate their bills to the state in an effort to defraud the taxpayers of over $200,000,” DiNapoli said. ”My office will continue to monitor public expenditures, investigate corruption, and partner with law enforcement to ensure those who try to rip off the state are caught and punished. I thank Attorney General Schneiderman for his continued work as part of our joint task force to root out corruption in New York.”

“These greedy contractors sought to profit by defrauding the state, and now they are being held accountable,” Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman said. “Comptroller DiNapoli and I will remain vigilant to ensure that New York’s hard-working taxpayers don’t get fleeced by corrupt contractors.”

Attorney General Schneiderman charged Charles Angelillo, Jr., 40, and his wife, Carol Angelillo, 39, owner and office manager of Classic Air Conditioning and Heating of Eastport, and Anthony Cuccinello, 46, owner of AM/PM Supply Corporation of Maspeth, with falsifying business records for a series of emergency contracts with the state Office of General Services from 2010 to 2012 on state contracts for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment, supplies and labor.

All three were charged with multiple felonies including grand larceny in the second degree, falsifying business records and other charges. They were arraigned in Suffolk County Criminal Court on March 25 and released on their own recognizance. They are due back in court May 28.

The investigation revealed that almost immediately after receiving their first contract, the Angelillos started submitting false bills to the state for equipment they never purchased. Later, they forged invoices to double or triple the amount the state owed them. In 2011, the Angelillos allegedly enlisted Cuccinello to join the scheme. Together, the three defendants attempted to deceive the state into paying more than $200,000 in bloated payments.

The arrests are the latest in the combined efforts of the Comptroller and Attorney General’s Joint Task Force on Public Integrity which resulted in more than 30 public corruption arrests last year alone and more than $5 million in restitution.

The charges against the defendants are allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.

Anyone with additional information on this matter or any other suspected public corruption is encouraged to contact the State Comptroller’s office by calling the toll-free fraud hotline at 1-888-672-4555; filing a complaint online at investigations@osc.state.ny.us; or mailing a complaint to: Office of the State Comptroller Investigations Unit, 110 State Street, 14th floor, Albany, NY 12236 or the Attorney General’s Office at 1-800-996-4630.

Bronx Chamber of Commerce Women of Distinction Luncheon

  With the rainy chilly weather it looked as though there might be some empty seats at the Bronx Chamber of commerce Women of Distinction Luncheon. However once the luncheon started all seats were filled, and there were a few added guests such as Assembly members Mark Gjonaj (80th A.D.) and Victor Pichardo (86th A.D.). That was not the reason this luncheon was special, it was the four female high school seniors who were receiving $1,000.00 scholarships, and the two very special women that were being honored.

  The luncheon was opened by Mistress of Ceremony Juliet Papa of 1010 Wins Radio fame, and the national anthem was sung by Ms. Joelle Encarnacion of Preston High School. Ms. Geri Sciortino the luncheon chair then welcomed everyone before she introduced the first of the two men involved in the luncheon Mr. Lenny Caro the President of the Bronx Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Joe Kelleher the Chair of the Bronx chamber of Commerce was the second man introduced who also spoke briefly. 

  It was on to the Scholarship Award Presentation next as Ms. Lisa Sorin the founder of the Bronx Chamber Scholarship Fund introduced Ms. Evelyn Oliver of the Con Edison STEM Scholarship program called up three high school seniors to receive their $1,000.00 check for college. Jashleen Valerio pf the Collegiate Institute for math & Science, Bernice Oteng of the Bronx High School for Medical Science, and Natailai Dubrey also of the Bronx High School for Medical Science.  Mr. Joe Kelleher President & COO of the Hutchinson Metro Center presented Jocelyn Mercado with the Hutch Metro Center Scholarship. 

  After lunch Dr. Carole M. Berotte Joseph of Bronx Community College, and Deborah A. Tymon Vice President of the New York Yankees the Women of Honor were recognized for their contributions to the advancement of Women. 

Left - Scholarship winner Bernice Oteng with Evelyn Oliver of Con Edison.

Right - Scholarship winner Jocelyn Mercado with Joe Kelleher of the BCC.

 

Left - The four scholarship winners with Ms. Lisa Sorin founder of the BCC scholarship program.

Right - Honoree Dr. Carole M. Berotte Joseph, with Ms. Geri Sciortino and Lenny Caro of the BCC.

 A group shot with Mistress of Ceremony Juliet Papa back row on the left.

Another group shot of the four scholarship winners with some of the gang from the BCC. Missing is Alexandra of the BCC who was standing to the left of Michelle in the blue dress on the right.

Statement of Mayor Bill de Blasio on the Appointment of Philip Eure as NYPD Inspector General

 

March 28, 2014

"In New York City, we are fortunate to be protected by the nation's largest, best-trained and most effective police force, and with the appointment of Philip Eure as Inspector General, we are today further enhancing the NYPD's efforts. Independent police review is a critical component in the constant improvement of our public safety efforts, and will help us enhance the operations, programs and practices of the NYPD, while also strengthening the NYPD's relationship with the community - all vital elements in keeping us safe. Phil has decades of law enforcement experience and is one of the nation's premier police accountability experts, making him an excellent choice to serve as the city's first NYPD Inspector General."

 

 

Bill de Blasio

Mayor New York City.