TESTIMONY OF BP DIAZ RE In Favor of Freshdirect's Proposed Relocation to The Bronx

I testify today in favor of Freshdirect’s move to The Bronx, and in favor of the subsidy package the State has presented to the company.

What we have in Freshdirect is an opportunity to expand a diverse economy in The Bronx, to create new jobs on an underutilized industrial waterfront, and to develop the blueprint for corporate America to work hand-in-hand with elected officials, community organizations and the people of this borough to make sure those jobs go to Bronx residents.

When Freshdirect’s move to The Bronx was first announced, the company entered into a “memorandum of understanding” with my office and the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation.

That MOU stated, among other things, that Freshdirect would commit to local hiring, that they would expand their services to the entire Bronx, that they would build a “green” delivery fleet and that they would work to accept EBT benefits for their services, among other things.

Freshdirect currently has a workforce of roughly 2,500 individuals—about 600 of whom live in The Bronx and commute to Long Island City every day. The company has worked with BOEDC over the past three years to hire numerous Bronxites. Already, before they put shovel to ground in The Bronx, Freshdirect is creating jobs for our residents.

They have also come to an agreement with Uniform Food and Commercial Workers Local 2013, which represents roughly 900 Freshdirect employees, on a new contract, and my office is happy to see such cooperation between labor and management.

Freshdirect has expanded its services to every corner of The Bronx, something it does not necessarily do in other boroughs. For those who receive EBT benefits,Freshdirect has launched a pilot program in the 10454 and 10455 zip codes to accept EBT benefits from eligible Bronxites. Currently, EBT benefits cannot be accepted by online retailers due to federal law, and Freshdirect is working to change the current law, so that they and other online retailers can expand their services to more individuals and families who may want to take advantage of them.

Freshdirect has also begun the process of greening its fleet. Over the past months, the company has converted ten percent of its truck fleet to environmentally-friendly fuels, as its tests out both electric trucks and CNG trucks in advance of a full conversion.

Most importantly, the company has committed to bringing new jobs to our borough. Already, the company has 600 Bronx employees—employees who would have likely been unable to keep their jobs if the company had moved to New Jersey. Upon their move to The Bronx, they will expand their company to hire even more Bronx residents.

This project represents new jobs, and new development, and is a key component of our “New Bronx” agenda. Now that this project has cleared the hurdles placed before it, I would urge the Empire State Development Corporation to continue its own support of this critical project, joining my office, Community Board #1 and numerous elected officials, community organizations and people of The Bronx.

Since Freshdirect first announced their move to The Bronx in February 2012, they have been a good neighbor, and have done everything we have asked of them. They deserve our support in return.

Thank you,

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

Koppell for State Senate 2016?

  The above sign at the # 7 & #10 bus stop on the northbound Henry Hudson Parkway service road just north of West 246th Street was put up weeks before the September Democratic primary. This is a key visible location, as all north bound traffic on the parkway service road above West 246th Street must pass this location. Traffic coming over the bridge from the west side of the parkway gets an even better view of this sign as they turn left onto the northbound parkway service to go north or enter the parkway shortly after this bus stop. 

  Candidate Oliver Koppell at one time had the Workings Family ballot line so it would be to Koppell's advantage to have this sign up until the November election. Koppell got screwed however by the Working Families Party when they withdrew their endorsement of Koppell (and ballot line) after his opponent current State Senate Co-Leader Jeff Klein made a deal to sever his relationship with the Senate Republican Conference, and work with the Senate Democrat Conference to co-lead the state senate.  

  Things didn't go as planed on election day, and Senate Republicans won an outright majority in the state senate. Adding to this Democratic State Senator Simca Felder of Brooklyn has said that he will continue to conference with the Republicans giving them an additional vote. Senator Jeff Klein has recently announced that he would like to continue working with the Senate Republican Conference. to this Oliver Koppell has now said after that announcement "I Told You So". 

  It is now weeks after the general election and the 'Koppell for State Senate' poster is still up. One has to think does this means that Oliver Koppell is getting an early start on a rematch with Senator Klein in 2016. It has been said by many including myself that there are others that Koppel may run against. Could it be that either father Assemblyman Jeffrey or son new Male District Leader Eric Dinowitz are now in Koppell's sights.

  

Savor The Bronx Ends With Marty Markowitz as Matire D'

  Last night at Tin Marin Restaurant (located at 3706 Riverdale Avenue) you were greeted by former Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz. Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. had dinner at Tin Marin at the very same time that Markowitz was Matire D' . As you will see in the photos below Markowitz greeted people, and the both he and Diaz Jr. spoke of the wonderful eating opportunities that can be found in the Bronx. Markowitz said 'The better the Bronx does, the better the city does'. 

  “We have dozens of great restaurants in every corner of the Bronx, and not just on Arthur Avenue or City Island,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. “From tapas in Riverdale to craft beer in the South Bronx, our borough offers a tremendous variety of great tastes of all ethnicities, from traditional fare to the unexpected. We are thrilled to have Marty Markowitz and NYC & Company helping us showcase our epicurean delights, and I look forward to an incredible evening of food and fun.”

  NYC & Company is the city's official marketing, tourism, and partnership organization. Markowitz's appearance was part of NYC & Company's effort to encourage tourism to the Bronx and other boroughs. This restaurant was selected on a block of various different types of eating establishments that can be found in the Bronx.

Left - Markowitz greets Bronx Bp Diaz.

Right - Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz joins Diaz Jr., as Markowitz reads off the specials of the day in Spanish.

Left - Community Board 8 Chair Dan Padernacht is next to Assemblyman Dinowitz.

Right - Bronx Bp Diaz and former Brooklyn BP Markowitz enjoy the moment as the two talk about all the eating options in the 'New Bronx.'.

Left - Tin Marin, Spanish Tapas Restaurant.

Right - Salvatore's of Soho Italian Restaurant.

Left - Greek Express Restaurant.
Right - Blackstone's Bar & Grill.

Left - The ever popular Yo Burger Restaurant where you can get a burger, fries and a shake, or yogurt with dozens of topping s to choose from.      
Other places to eat on this block include Tiny's Diner, Ginger Grill, Corner Cafe, and Palumbo Bakery.                

Senator Ruben Diaz Sr.Basks in the Joy of the Recent Election

  State Senator Ruben Diax Sr. points to 'The Diaz Team' composed of the senator, his son Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., Assemblyman Marcos Crespo, and Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda. Together Team Diaz has come a long way in political system gaining not only influence, but helping to improve the Bronx everyday. 

  The start of the long road was several years ago when then Assemblyman Ruben Diaz Jr. (elected in 1997) and his father Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. (elected to the city council in 2002, and then to the State Senate in the 2003) worked with elected officials from different parts of the Bronx to begin the Rainbow Rebellion. In the 2008 Democratic primary they got a judge elected over the then Bronx Democratic County Leader Jose Rivera's choice for the position. At the 2008 Bronx Democratic County Committee meeting Rivera was overthrown as county leader. Assemblyman Ruben Diaz Jr. became Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. in early 2009. State Committeeman Marcos Crespo was elected to Diaz Jr.'s assembly seat, and Luis Sepulveda was elected to the assembly in 2012. The rest is history for 'The Diaz Team' as they continue to grow adding new people to the team's political foundation.

  It looks like Senator Diaz Sr. could be a key player in the 2014 State Senate. With the outright victory of the Republican Party having a one vote majority, and Brooklyn Democratic State Senator Simca Felder sitting in the Republican Conference the IDC may no longer be needed by the Republican majority. Then there is also the fact that the conservative Republican majority is more in line with the goals of Senator Diaz Sr., so I look for Senator Diaz Sr. to be a key player in the upcoming two years of the next state senate.

More Con Edison Gas Woes

  This is what has popped up across the Bronx (and New York City). Ugly High Pressure gas connections to buildings. Most of the gas connections are behind fences to hide them from public view, but this connection however is one of those visible with plantings that are to grow in front to block it view. These high pressure gas connections have no protection from the elements such as rain and snow, or any other thing that it may come in contact with. A tree fell right near this connection, and what could of happened if the gas connection had been where the tree fell. This particular connection has been red flagged twice, and on two separate occasions I have walked by this site to hear a hissing sound coming from this connection.  According to Con Edison there should be no noise at all coming from this high pressure gas connection, but the local FDNY Engine 52 has been called over 10 times to this location to answer calls of sounds coming from this connection by various different residents and people. I was told by one firefighter when I saw the truck elsewhere that a clicking sound is normal when the high pressure gas engages. I told him that Con Edison had said no sound should be coming from these connections, but he said not to worry. I do not trudt Con Edison, but I have to have trust in our fire department.

This photo of very recent markings by the above high pressure gas connection leading from a Con Edison sewer (in between the two parked cars) makes me wonder if Con Ed is going to redo this connection.

Here is another fine example of the work being done by the contractors hired by Con Edison because this is way to big a job for Con Ed to handle alone. Above is the corner by the building connection pictured above where Con Edison's contractor has worked. Enlarge the photo to see what else went into this section before it was covered. Also note that the size is much larger than the street cut markings. 

Here is how the crosswalk of this intersection was left. When you enlarge the photo you can notice that there is a several inch gap in the pavement still where Con Ed worked, and that the gas main head in the middle of the patch work is sticking up a few inches from the patch. This is a hazard waiting to happen as once the sun goes down the difference of the levels of the road, the patchwork, and the gas main head are very hard to see. 

Grand Opening of the Throggs Neck Shopping Center

The Bronx Chamber of Commerce 

invites you to join...

    The Grand Opening of the New 

Throggs Neck 

Shopping Center

Over a dozen New Stores and Restaurants

- Including -

Target - TJ Maxx

Sleepy's - Petco

Skechers - Metro Optics

BX Sports

Applebee's - Subway

5 Guys Burgers & Fries 

Sarku Japan

and more to come.

Grand Opening 

Thursday Nov. 20th 2014

11 AM.

Free Parking

 

Latino Leader & Former Mayoral Candidate Demands Better Latino Representation in de Blasio Administration

Erick Salgado to Join Rally Critical of 13% Decline in 

Latino Presence Since the Bloomberg Administration

      Latino community leader and former Mayoral candidate, Rev. Erick Salgado is demanding that Mayor Bill de Blasio make his administration more representative of New York City’s Latino population by immediately recruiting and hiring more qualified Latinos.  

       There has been a 13 percent decline in the number of Latinos in the city administration since Mayor Bloomberg left office.

      “With Latino’s comprising almost a third of this city’s population it is unbelievable that Mayor de Blasio has reduced the number of Latinos working in his administration by 13 percent.  If anything, he should have increased our number. This is disrespectful of the Latino community.  Does the mayor not care about 2.4 million New Yorkers? We cannot allow this to remain unchallenged,” Salgado stated.

       “Latino New Yorkers play a significant role in every aspect of this city.  To ignore us as the 

mayor has done is to deny every New Yorker the talent, experience and energy that so many of us have and want to use to make this city an even better place in which to live,”  Salgado continued. 

       Salgado will join a rally, sponsored by The Coalition of Latino Organizations, to be held on the steps of City Hall Monday, November 17th, at 10 a.m., calling on the mayor to hire more Latinos.

      “The Latino community has been patient long enough.  We have waited almost 11 months for the mayor to do the right thing; we will not wait any longer.  Mayor de Blasio must immediately demonstrate that he cares about New York City’s 2.4 million Latinos,” Salgado said.

COMPTROLLER STRINGER QUARTERLY ECONOMIC REPORT SHOWS NEW YORK CITY ECONOMY CONTINUES STRONG PACE IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 2014

 Job Creation in New York City at Fastest Pace in at least a Quarter Century

  New York City created private-sector jobs at an annual rate of 5.4 percent in the third quarter of 2014, the biggest quarterly increase in at least 24 years,according to an analysis of the City’s economic performance released today by New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer.

“New York City’s economy has been gaining strength the past two quarters and continues to outpace the nation’s,” Comptroller Stringer said. “Venture capital investment in our region’s burgeoning start-up economy has surged, the real estate market has continued its strong pace and tourism remains on an upswing.  The City has put another strong quarter in the books as we head to the end of 2014.”

“The NYC Quarterly Economic Update” examines economic trends and reports data from New York City’s economy within the national context. It analyzes a broad range of economic indicators that reflect the City’s current conditions. These indicators include Gross City Product (GCP), job growth, income tax withholding, unemployment rates, inflation, commercial real estate vacancy and rental rates, residential real estate sales, hotel occupancy rates and public transit ridership.

In the third quarter, New York City’s Real GCP grew at an estimated 4.0 percent annual rate, the fastest growth since this quarter last year and half a percentage point faster than the pace of the U.S. economy in the same period. New York City’s private-sector added 47,000 jobs, a seasonally adjusted annualized growth rate of 5.4 percent, a record gain.

The report highlights factors that contributed to the quarter’s impressive performance:

• Reflecting job gains and salary increases, City Personal Income Tax withholdings rose to $1.6 billion, the highest ever third quarter level.
• The Manhattan office vacancy rate, including sublease space, fell to 10.2 percent in 3Q14. New leasing activity in 3Q14 totaled over 7.6 million square feet, the best third quarter in eight years.
• New York City’s unemployment rate fell to 7.3 percent in 3Q14, the lowest quarterly average since 4Q08, when unemployment was at 6.6 percent. All five counties displayed a significant decrease in unemployment.
• Local startups are gaining momentum, with record venture capital investment in the New York metro area surpassing $1.7 billion in 3Q14, more than double the $0.72 billion invested in 3Q13.
• The city’s hospitality industry continued to prosper. Hotel occupancy in Manhattan averaged 92.6 percent in 3Q14, and over 3 million people attended Broadway shows, 12.7 percent more than in 3Q13.

“After a long road back, job creation continues to be a positive indicator that our City is on a sustainable path forward,” Stringer said. “However, I continue to be concerned about the fact that too much of our job creation is concentrated in low-wage industries. The economic recovery is not reaching the middle class of our City.  We need to continue to find the on-ramps to opportunity for every New Yorker and emphasize the importance of educating our children so that they can fully participate in the 21^st century economy in our own great city.”

To view the full report, click here.