COMPTROLLER STRINGER RELEASES CLAIMSTAT ALERT ANALYZING OVER 1,200 PEDESTRIAN INJURY CLAIMS THAT HAVE COST TAXPAYERS NEARLY $90 MILLION

  Data on City’s 28,000-Vehicle Fleet Shows More to be Done to Achieve Vision Zero Initiative

  On the eve of the City’s newly-implemented 25 mile-per-hour speed limit, New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer released a new ClaimStat Alert today highlighting the human and financial cost of pedestrian personal injury claims against the City of New York.

“New Yorkers know all too well the dangers faced by pedestrians on our City streets,” Comptroller Stringer said. “We need to reduce claims, not merely maintain the status quo. This ClaimStat Alert shows that City agencies must do more to improve safety on our streets and do their part to further the goals of the Mayor’s ambitious Vision Zero initiative.” 

From FY 2007-FY 2014, there were 1,213 pedestrian personal injury claims filed against the City, including 22 claims related to pedestrian fatalities. In addition to the human cost associated with these claims, taxpayers pay millions of dollars a year in settlements and judgments for personal injury claims by pedestrians—a total of $88,134,915 over the same time period. 

The report examined all City agencies, but highlights trends at the Police Department, Department of Sanitation, Department of Education and the Fire Department. Findings include: 

• Manhattan had the highest number of claims, with 378 from FY07-FY14, but Brooklyn saw the highest amount of settlements and judgments over that time period, with $29.1 million.
• While the total number of claims has been relatively flat over the last eight years, the number of claims at certain agencies, including the Departments of Sanitation and Education, spiked in FY 2014.
• The highest number of claims occur in pedestrian-heavy districts, such as Midtown Manhattan. However, no neighborhood in New York City is immune from harm.

“The City should employ best practices to reduce risk to pedestrians, examine the hot spots identified by this data and determine whether additional traffic calming measures may be needed,” Stringer said.

The ClaimStat report found that pedestrian personal injury claims come from every corner of the City:   

• Police Department claims center in the Manhattan core, but also the Melrose/Morissania neighborhoods of the Bronx;
• There have been no Fire Department claims in Staten Island over the past eight years;
• Sanitation Department “hot spots” include East Harlem, Inwood, Washington Heights in Manhattan and Maspeth, Glendale, Middle Village and Ridgewood Queens;
• The largest number of claims against the Department of Education came from Community District 11 in Brooklyn and Corona, Elmhurst and Lefrak City in Queens.

In July, Comptroller Stringer launched ClaimStat, a data-driven tool designed to drive down the cost of judgments and settlements by empowering City agencies to reduce claims through changes in training or resource delivery.

To see the full ClaimStat Alert on the pedestrian personal injury claims, pleaseclick here. To explore the interactive map of pedestrian personal injury claims,click here.

BP Diaz Brokers Deal, Barnes & Noble to Stay in The Bronx

BARNES & NOBLE TO REMAIN IN BAY PLAZA

BP Diaz Brokers Compromise Between Bookseller & Prestige Properties

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. today joined representatives of Barnes & Noble and Prestige Properties to announce that the bookseller’s location at the Bay Plaza Shopping Center will remain open.

Following the intervention of Borough President Diaz, Barnes & Noble and Prestige Properties have agreed to a two-year extension of their current lease, averting the expected closure of the store in January, saving 50 jobs and allowing both companies more time to develop a long-term agreement.

“For several days my staff and I went back and forth with both Barnes & Noble and Prestige Properties, and we were able to help these two entities work towards a compromise that keeps this bookstore in The Bronx. I hope that, during this two year extension, both companies are able to reach a long-term agreement that ensures their mutual success in our borough while keeping Bronxites employed. This is a major victory for The Bronx, and I am grateful that both companies have come to an agreement for the betterment of our borough,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

“Barnes & Noble is extremely excited to announce that we have reached an agreement with Prestige Properties to extend our lease.  We deeply appreciate the help of Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., in helping to coordinate our discussions with Prestige.  We look forward to continuing to serve the Bronx community,” said David Deason, Vice President, Real Estate, Barnes & Noble Booksellers.

“As a courtesy to the community and upon the request of Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., we made every effort to ensure that Barnes & Noble remains at their current location. Keeping Barnes & Noble in our borough is beneficial for all and we are thankful for the Borough President’s assistance in helping make this happen,” said Sam Shalem, Chairman and CEO of Prestige Properties and Development Co., Inc.

“I am delighted to see Barnes & Noble renew their lease and stay in The Bronx.  They are a treasured community institution and their continued investment in our borough is greatly appreciated,” said Marlene Cintron, president of the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation.

“With 1.4 million residents, Barnes and Noble is a necessary fixture in our borough. We cannot afford to close the Bronx's very last book store - a store we worked so hard to bring to our community almost two decades ago. As a parent I often visit Barnes and Noble with my children and know the value of this institution,” said Lenny Caro, president, Bronx Chamber of Commerce.

“Reading is fundamental. Since its opening, the Barnes & Noble at Bay Plaza has been an invaluable part of the neighborhood, serving 1.4 million Bronxites and countless others beyond the borough. Barnes & Noble is the last brick and mortar bookstore in The Bronx, so its closure would have been devastating. I am pleased that Prestige Properties and Barnes & Noble were able to agree on a new, two-year lease. This extension is a huge win not only for the people of Co-op City, but the entire Bronx, and I commend Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. for brokering this great deal,” said Congressman Eliot Engel.

"It’s truly a blessing that Barnes & Nobles will be remaining as pillar to education in Bay Plaza," said Council Member Andy King, co-chair of the Black, Latino & Asian Caucus whose district includes Co-op City. “The commitment of such a well-established tenant to service the people of The Bronx should be applauded. Thank you to all who made the great learning experience at Barnes and Noble a continue reality."   

“Borough President Diaz deserves a very warm ‘job well done’ for brokering a deal to keep Barnes and Noble at Bay Plaza. Keeping Barnes and Noble at Bay Plaza adds to the dignity and character of our community. It means that adults and children have a first class haven to learn, a place to explore the ideas of classical and off-beat thinkers, a place to hear and see writers speak, a space to hear and see puppet shows or celebrity book signings. It symbolizes that people who love to learn, who love to read, and who love to explore come to our community to enjoy life and to grow…and this is good for all of us,” said State Senator Ruth Hassell-Thompson.

  

ASSEMBLYMAN LUIS R. SEPULVEDA TO HOLD DOMESTIC VIOLENCE EVENT Cunday Oct. 25

Croton FMC Meeting on October 28 Agenda

Croton Facility Monitoring Committee Meeting

Tuesday, October 28, 2014 – 7:00 PM

DEP Office – 3660 Jerome Avenue, Bronx NY 10467 - 

(718) 231-8470

Agenda

I Welcome and Call to Order Father Richard Gorman, Chair

II Consider, Adopt October CFMC Agenda CFMC Representatives

III Consider, Adopt 6/24/14 Meeting Minutes CFMC Representatives

IV Brief Remarks from the DEP Commissioner’s Eric Landau, DEP

 Office – including Comments about Public Access to Jerome Park Reservoir

V Update on Department of Design & Rebecca Clough, DDC 

 Construction Landscaping & Schedule

VI Croton Costs Report & Construction Schedule Bernard Daly, DEP

VII Discussion - Old Business CFMC Representatives, Agencies & Public

Update on Jogging Path Project Andrew Penzi, DPR

Update- JPR Tree Removal & Replanting DPR and DEP

Update - Robert Solomon Correspondence Shane Ojar, DEP

VIII Discussion - New Business 

IX CFMC Discussion &.Confirm November 25, CFMC Representatives 

2014 for next CFMC Meeting

X Adjourn

Wave Hill Events Nov 07–Nov 14

SAT, NOVEMBER 8    FAMILY ART PROJECT: BUILDINGS AND LAND

Consider structures that incorporate nature—including Wave Hill’s Ecology Building with its green roof. Explore homes that have many uses, then use clay, cardboard and recycled materials to create your own nature-dependent dwelling. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon.

WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM–1PM

SAT, NOVEMBER 8    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 arts and promotes an awareness of its benefits. Sessions are held indoors. Session fee: $25/$15 Wave Hill Member. Advance registration online receives a $2 discount. Online registration closes at 8AM on the day of the session. Cancellations must be made by 3PM the Fridaybefore; after that, refunds will not be made. Drop-ins will be accommodated as the limited space permits. Participants must present their Member’s ID card or a printed program registration form at the front gate.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 10‒11AM

SAT, NOVEMBER 8    WOODWORKING: BIRD FEEDER WORKSHOP

Using basic woodworking tools, assemble a one-of-kind sculptural bird feeder for your garden’s avian friends, with master carpenter and Wave Hill Director of Facilities Frank Perrone. The finished project can be mounted on a pole or hung from a wire, just in time for winter bird-watching! No carpentry experience required. Ages 12 and older welcome with an adult. Space is limited. $75/$60 Wave Hill Member. Registration required, online at www.wavehill.org or at the Perkins Visitor Center. Please call 718.549.3200 x251 for more information.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 10AM−4PM

SAT, NOVEMBER 8    GALLERY TOUR

Join a curatorial fellow for a tour of current exhibitions. In the main gallery, Recapturing the Scenic Wilds is inspired by Theodore Roosevelt, a former resident of Wave Hill who had a lifelong passion for discovering and collecting specimens for the public to appreciate. Exhibiting contemporary artists investigate the natural history display and what it says about our relationship to nature. In the Sunroom Project Space, Hilary Lorenz creates an immersive environment by experimenting with the arrangement of large shaped paper constructions printed with plant and animal imagery that appears to dance around the room, Tours take place Tuesdays and Saturdays at 2PM. Free with admission to the grounds.

GLYNDOR GALLERY, 2PM

SUN, NOVEMBER 9    FALL BIRDING

Naturalist Gabriel Willow contributes his extensive knowledge of diverse bird species and their behavior on these captivating walks through the gardens and woodlands. Wave Hill’s garden setting overlooking the Hudson River flyway provides the perfect habitat for native and migrating birds. Ages 10 and older welcome with an adult. Birders of all levels welcome! Severe weather cancels. Free with admission to the grounds. (NYC Audubon Members enjoy two-for-one admission.) Registration required, online at www.wavehill.org or at the Perkins Visitor Center. Please call 718.549.3200 x251 for more information..

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 9:30AM

SUN, NOVEMBER 9    FAMILY ART PROJECT: BUILDINGS AND LAND

Consider structures that incorporate nature—including Wave Hill’s Ecology Building with its green roof. Explore homes that have many uses, then use clay, cardboard and recycled materials to create your own nature-dependent dwelling. Free with admission to the grounds.

WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM–1PM

SUN, NOVEMBER 9    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. Session fee: $25/$15 Wave Hill Member. Advance registration online receives a $2 discount. 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. Drop-ins will be accommodated as the limited space permits. Participants must present their Member’s ID card or a printed program registration form at the front gate.

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

SUN, NOVEMBER 9    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. Sessions are held indoors. Session fee: $20/$10 Wave Hill Member. Advance registration online receives a $2 discount. 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. Drop-ins will be accommodated as the limited space permits. Participants must present their Member’s ID card or a printed program registration form at the front gate.

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

SUN, NOVEMBER 9    FALL BIRDING FAMILY WALK

After joining the Family Art Project, continue exploring the theme—or take your artwork in new directions—with a naturalist on a family-friendly walk through the gardens and woodlands. Slow down and look up into the skies to find a medley of birds on this kid-friendly walk. Naturalist and educator Gabriel Willow leads you through the gardens and woodlands of Wave Hill. Ages six and older welcome with an adult. Free with admission to the grounds. 

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 1PM

SUN, NOVEMBER 9    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, NOVEMBER 10

Closed to the public

TUE, NOVEMBER 11    GARDEN HIGHLIGHTS WALK

Join us for an hour-long tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free, and admission to the grounds is free untilnoon.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 11AM

TUE, NOVEMBER 11    GALLERY TOUR

Join a curatorial fellow for a tour of current exhibitions. In the main gallery, Recapturing the Scenic Wilds is inspired by Theodore Roosevelt, a former resident of Wave Hill who had a lifelong passion for discovering and collecting specimens for the public to appreciate. Exhibiting contemporary artists investigate the natural history display and what it says about our relationship to nature. In the Sunroom Project Space, Hilary Lorenz creates an immersive environment by experimenting with the arrangement of large shaped paper constructions printed with plant and animal imagery that appears to dance around the room, Tours take place Tuesdays and Saturdays at 2PM. Free with admission to the grounds.

GLYNDOR GALLERY, 2PM

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 and Tuesdaymornings until noon. 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 30 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.

Bronx District Attorney Johnson Investigating Election Fraud in 86th A.D. primary

  That is the headline of a New York Post story. While I reported that DA Johnson should investigate the entire election in the 86th Assembly District the Post says that he has subpoenaed Board of Election records relating to people who submitted absentee ballots. The Post also says that investigators also visited the homes of some voters, some of whom are Dominican immigrants.   

  This political columnist who asked Bronx DA Johnson about the 86th A.D. election does not believe that the Bronx District Attorney's office has any jurisdiction over absentee ballots since they are mailed to voters. This would be Mail Fraud, which comes under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Attorney's office. The Bronx DA may not even have jurisdiction over the Board of Elections since it is a citywide agency. I also believe that Assemblyman Victor Pichardo is not under investigation, but it is his opponent Hector Ramirez who had some absentee ballots challenged.  

MARRIOTT TO OPEN ITS FIRST HOTEL IN THE BRONX, KLEIN HOSTS FIRST JOB FAIR FOR WELL-KNOWN CHAIN

Well-known international hotel chain invests in Bronx County, expected to provide hundreds of good jobs for Bronxites in the process

                   

State Senator Jeff Klein joined by Bronx Chamber of Commerce members and Residence Inn by Marriott hotel representatives hosted the first job fair for the new Residence Inn by Marriott Bronx at Metro Center Atrium, expected to open in early 2015. The new hotel will be located at the Hutchinson Metro Center Atrium, 1776 Eastchester Road, Bronx, NY 10461.  The job fair was held in conjunction with Bronx H.I.R.E. - an innovative and targeted jobs program developed by the Office of Senator Klein and the Bronx Chamber of Commerce.

“With this investment from Residence Inn by Marriott we see clearly that the Bronx is open for business. With their international reputation for high-quality hospitality and stellar service, we are delighted to welcome Residence Inn by Marriott to the Bronx and know they will be not only be the first choice for travelers and guests in the area but a strong economic partner for years to come,” said State Senator Jeff Klein.

“All the Bronx residents and business people that I have met express great enthusiasm over the upcoming opening of The Residence Inn by Marriott Bronx at Metro Center Atrium.  The community has clearly voiced the need for the services of a new first class hotel in the borough.  We are excited to interview candidates from our local neighborhoods and build a team of friendly hospitality professionals who share our pride in The Bronx,”  said Clement Carey, General Manager, Residence Inn by Marriott Bronx at Metro Center Atrium.

“The Bronx Chamber of Commerce plays an active role in the economic development of the Bronx and creating jobs.  With the Throggs Neck Shopping Center, Marriott Hotel, the Outlet Mall, a new Macys, and Trump Golf Course moving in to the Bronx, we will work with these companies to promote Bronx job fairs for placement in these new businesses,”  said Lenny Caro, President & CEO, Bronx Chamber of Commerce

“We are thankful for Senator Jeff Klein’s funding, which invests in the Bronx workforce.  Through Bronx H.I.R.E., we can properly match Bronx job seekers with quality positions at new developments, such as Residence Inn by Marriott.  The Bronx Chamber of Commerce encourages job seekers to contact our office for more employment opportunities, support for certifications, help with resumes, interviews, applications, and further assistance,” said Michelle Dolgow Cristofaro, H.I.R.E. Administrator and Bronx Chamber of Commerce Chief-of-Staff.

“The hotel is an example of the economic growth that we are witnessing across the borough. New businesses and developments are choosing to invest in our great borough, which produces more jobs and benefits the Bronx economy.” said Joseph Kelleher, President and COO Hutchinson Metro Center and Chairman of Bronx Chamber of Commerce.

Bronx H.I.R.E (Help Identify Real Employment) is a unique jobs program aimed at connecting Bronx workers with real jobs through a comprehensive, direct approach developed by Senator Klein’s office and the Bronx Chamber of Commerce. The Bronx H.I.R.E. program, announced in July, is made possible through a $200,000 grant secured by Senator Klein in this year's state budget.

The program consist of two parts - one that will make sure that the new and existing Bronx businesses and institutions are employing Bronx residents and the other that will establish a hands- on worker development program. The second part of this program, known as the “Opening Doors Initiative” will give Bronx workers an opportunity to receive support for additional certifications, help with resumes, interviews, applications and assistance with follow-up for positions to which H.I.R.E. participants have applied. The program will be facilitated by the Bronx Chamber of Commerce.

 

For more information and to enroll in the Bronx H.I.R.E program visit: http://www.bronxchamber.org or contact the Bronx Chamber of Commerce at (718) 828-3900.

Broadway/West 231st Street Mall Ribbon Cutting

  With three stores still vacant and work going on in the old gas station next to it, the ribbon was cut for the Broadway/West 231st Street mall. On hand were Congressman Eliot Engel, Councilman Andrew Cohen, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, State Senator Gustavo Rivera, Community Board 8 Chair Dan Padernacht, and BOEDC head Marlene Cintron to join Kyle Kimball of the NYCEDC and Michael Brookfield of Equity One. 

  Each elected official was cordial in their remarks, thanking the NYCEDC and Equity One for the new mall. Currently Sports Authority, T.J.Maxx, and Party City fully occupy the top floor, with Aldi Markets the only tenant on the main floor. There is also one floor for parking. Construction is going on for a Starbuck's Coffee shop and fitness center in the old gas station next to the mall which was said to be separate from the mall.

Left - Congressman Engel says a few words about the new mall.
Right - Councilman Andrew Cohen speaks.

 Left - Assemblyman Dinowitz speaks.
Right - Community Board 8 Chair Dan Padernacht.

The ribbon cutting.

 Work goes on where the old gas station once stood, to bring a new Starbuck's and a fitness center adjacent to the new mall.