STATE SENATOR JEFF KLEIN ANNOUNCES $18,000 IN PROJECT BOOST FUNDS FOR P.S. 14

  New Funding Boosts Local School’s Enrichment Opportunities for Students K-5

State Senator Jeff Klein, joined by more than 150 local parents, school administrators and students, announced $18,000 in Project BOOST (Building Options and Opportunities for Students) funding for P.S. 14 in the Bronx. The announcement came at P.S. 14’s annual parent teacher conference night on Wednesday evening.  

“Whether it’s making sure our students are ready for high school or simply helping them ace that test, Project BOOST provides today’s students with the tools they need to be successful tomorrow. I’m proud to have secured $18,000 in BOOST funding for P.S. 14, and more than $700,000 for schools across the Bronx. Project BOOST offers our students innovative cultural and academic enrichment opportunities that will greatly influence their educational paths as they move forward. I want to thank the parents and administrators for their ongoing support and commitment to this program,” said Senator Klein.

“Today, making sure our students have a first-rate education means providing them with innovative learning and enrichment activities that help improve their performance both in and out of the classroom,” said Ira Schulman, Principal of P.S. 14. “This funding has given us the opportunity to offer new music and arts programs that boost student engagement and further encourage hands-on learning. We are are very grateful to Senator Klein for his work with Project BOOST and his efforts on behalf of all students across the Bronx and New York State.”

This year, P.S. 14 has used BOOST funds to benefit students in a variety of ways, including music and arts enrichment programs like ballroom dancing, after-school clarinet, saxophone, and flute lessons, percussion classes and the Learning through Expanded Arts Program (LeAp) for the school’s youngest students.

Project BOOST is an enrichment program targeted at elementary and middle school students who have demonstrated a commitment to academic success but come from disadvantaged neighborhoods. Currently, Project BOOST operates in 60 elementary and middle schools, serving more than 700 students in grades four through eight across New York City.

Bronx Week Business Day Breakfast

 The Bronx Business Breakfast was held at the Anheuser Bush headquarters located at 550 Food Center Drive in the Hunts Point Market area. Ms. Marlene Cintron of the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation opened the meeting giving a brief history of Bronx business expansion since Ruben Diaz Jr. was elected Bronx Borough President. She finished by saying that the Bronx was no longer number 1 in unemployment, a position the borough has had for to many years, and it was the hard efforts of BP Diaz and that of BOEDC that changed that statistic. 

  The keynote speaker was Mr. Andy Unanue (a name many mispronounced) who gave his life story including the business his grandfather began that became the largest Hispanic food company, and the reason it was not called Unanue Foods, but Goya Foods, Andy is the managing partner of AUA Private Equity Partners, former CEO of Goys Foods, and Chairman of the Board of the Associated Supermarket Group that owns the Associated, Compare, Met, Met Fresh, Metropolitan City Market, Pioneer, and Victory Market banners. 

  Ed Fitzsimmons and Joe Viscowitch were on hand from Anheuser Busch to tell of the 350 employees in its 6th years of operation in the Bronx to which Manhattan and Queens are also serviced from. The warehouse was the first green building in the Bronx, and solar panels were just recently installed on the roof. Assemblyman Ruben Diaz Jr. it was said helped bring Anheuser Busch to its current site, and BP Diaz Jr. mentioned the 1,300 jobs at the Bay Plaza Mall, and the new Trump Golf Course as only a few examples of where the Bronx has grown. 

   Keynote Speaker Andy Unanue after speaking of his family business that his grandfather had started, and when it came to pick a name for the growing company bought the name Goya for $1.00 and the rest is history. Andy said that he ran the business for a while, but he wanted to do more to help others like those in his family be able to have their own dreams seen, and that was why he left the family business to start his own company. He added that while he remains on the board of Goya Foods, that he loves his family, but working with family is very tough on you. He now can continue to love his extended family that is still involved in Goya Foods. 

  In 2008 Andy bought the Associated Coop group, and when I asked about the Associated  Coop Group having been in the supermarket business, I learned about how they are growing under Mr. Unanue's guidance where as before the stores were just numbers. I also met a former owner of a Pioneer Supermarket from Riverdale who now owns two stores, one in the Bronx and one in Brooklyn. Andy's investments include the recent acquisition of the 100 store Tex/Mex Restaurant which he wants to bring to the Metro New York area. He also wants to expand the Associated Food Stores to 350 by the end of this year. 

   Ms. Marlene Cintron of BOEDC mentioned that the BIC division of BOEDC lends money from Twelve -hundred dollars all the up to the limit of $5.5 million dollars. The photos below will tell the rest of the story.

Left - BP Diaz with Joe Wiscowitch, and Keynote Speaker Andy Unanue.

Right - BP Diaz with Anheuser Busch VP Ed Fitzsimmons.

Left - BP Diaz with the Bronx Week 2015 banner behind him.

Right - Keynote Speaker Andy Unanue.

Andy Unanue holds citation from BP Diaz.

 That was not all Mr. Unanue received, as he was also given the Bronx Quilt.

 Lastly - a photo of the new Bud Light Lemon - ade - Rita as seen on last seasons Celebrity Apprentice.

Skelos Out - Flanagan in as New Republican Senate Leader

Now Former Republican State Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos joins his Assembly Counterpart Former Speaker Sheldon Silver under indictment from U.S. Attorney Pheet Bharara. All this quickly happened when this blogger posted on April 17th that Senator Skelos and his son were under investigation by the U.S. Attorney's office. 

Newly elected State Senate Republican Majority Leader John J. Flanagan (of Long Island, as was Skelos) said that the Republican State Senate Conference is now unified and is now ready to deal with the business at hand. That work includes such items gs as Mayoral control of NYC Schools, NYC Rent Regulations, and the 421A tax abatement program to name only a few.  

STATEMENT FROM INDEPENDENT DEMOCRATIC CONFERENCE LEADER JEFF KLEIN ON ELECTION OF NEW YORK STATE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER JOHN FLANAGAN

"It has been a difficult week of distraction in the State Senate and I, and the entire Independent Democratic Conference, look forward to turning the page and getting back to the business of the people. I offer my sincerest congratulations to Senator John Flanagan in his new role as Majority Leader. I look forward to a positive and productive six weeks ahead as we focus on the remaining legislative session and working together to improve the lives of all New Yorkers."

There has been no word as of yet from the State Senate Democratic Conference Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins.  

COUNCIL MEMBER ANDREW COHEN ANNOUNCES PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING RESULTS

  Council Member Andrew Cohen announced the results of the Participatory Budgeting voting process at Riverdale Kingsbridge Academy (RKA) in front of members of the community, Participatory Budgeting volunteers and RKA students.

This announcement concluded a year-long process that gave residents decision-making power of $1 million towards community improvement projects in their neighborhoods. During the voting week, residents in the community were able to see all the proposals on the ballot, as well as place their votes on which projects they thought deserved funding the most. Anyone who lives in the district, 16 years and older were welcome to cast a vote. A total of twenty-four council members participated this year, giving communities all over the city decision-making power of more than $25 million.

“Participatory Budgeting was a huge success for District 11 and I am proud to say that I was able to bring this project into our communities for the first time. This innovative process gave my neighbors a direct voice in how their tax dollars were spent. It was an inviting system that promoted civic engagement, as well as gave the opportunity for members of the community to help develop ideas that eventually became project proposals. The thing I’m most proud of was the quality of the ballot. The ideas were truly created from community members, people who know the district and the needs of their block. This enabled us to have a ballot that included 11 projects that would make a difference to our neighborhoods,” said Council Member Andrew Cohen.

Thousands of residents throughout District 11 came out to cast their vote. Out of 11 projects residents of the community were permitted to vote for five projects from four different categories: education, parks & recreation, transportation and libraries.

Of those 11 projects, the top five that were voted to receive funding are:

·         M.S/H.S. 141 Auditorium renovation

o   $200,000 will be used to upgrade the 55 year old auditorium used by 1,400 students and several other community organizations. Installation of new stage drapes and replacements of wooden seats that are in disrepair

·         Bus Countdown Clocks

o   $120,000 will be used to install bus countdown clocks at Bx1, Bx10, Bx16 and Bx34 bus stops throughout Wakefield, Bedford Park, Woodlawn, Riverdale, Kingsbridge and Norwood to alert commuters as to how many stops away their next bus is.

·         P.S. 24 Technology Expansion

o   $70,000 will be used to purchase two computer carts consisting of 36 laptop units each to help students in their current curriculum and prepare them for future subject matter, as well as college readiness.

·         Spuyten Duyvil Playground Renovation

o   $400,000 will be used to reconstruct the existing wading pool as an accessible spray shower and install new pavement, fencing, seating, planting and utilizes.

·         Van Cortlandt Library

o   $300,000 will be used to replace the outdated a leaky roof to prevent water damage to the facility.

With the Mosholu Library and P.S. 8 projects coming in as close runner-ups, Council Member Cohen decided to also allocate capital funding to them as well:

·         P.S. 8 Auditorium Renovation

o   $450,000 will be used to replace the outdated seating in the 60-year-old auditorium, a common area use for community meetings and performances throughout the year.

·         Mosholu Library Window Replacement

o   $350,000 will be used to install new windows and frame to help insulate the facility during the summer and winter months.

Left - Councilman Cohen is introduced by RKA Principal Laura O'Mara, who at first called him Councilman Koppell catching herself to say that Councilman Cohen was recently elected to the City Council. 

Right - Cohen Chief of Staff Dan Johnson guards the winning PB  Project announcements.

Left - 5th Place winner Van Cortlandt Library Roof replacement.

Right - 4th Place winner Spuyten Duyvil Playground renovations.

Left - 3rd Place winner P.S. 24 Technology Expansion.
Right - 2nd Place winner Bus Countdown Clocks Districtwide.

Left - 1st Place winner RKA Auditorium Renovations.
Left - Even though they were not winners, the P.S. Auditorium and Mosholu Library projects will be funded by Councilman Cohen.

A group photo with RKA Principal Omara (left) and Councilman Cohen among the Student Council members  of RKA.

MAYOR DE BLASIO LAUNCHES SHELTER REPAIR SQUAD TO ADDRESS URGENT HEALTH AND SAFETY CONDITIONS IN CITY SHELTERS

Department of Homeless Services, Fire Department, Department of Buildings, Housing Preservation and Development, and Department of Health, Department of Investigation to join forces to expedite violation corrections at over 500 city shelters following a report by the Department of Investigation

NEW YORK—Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced that the City will be deploying over a hundred workers from multiple City agencies to over 500 buildings that operate as homeless shelters to begin immediately addressing building, fire and other code violations that may impact the health and safety of residents. 

After decades of neglect and underfunding from Federal, State, and City government, the City’s shelters have seen deteriorating conditions, and Mayor de Blasio is ordering a top to bottom inspection and repair process from the newly launched Shelter Repair Squad – an interagency team spearheaded by Deputy Mayors Anthony Shorris and Lilliam Barrios-Paoli and comprised of the Department of Homeless Services (DHS), Fire Department (FDNY), Department of Buildings (DOB), Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), and Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH). Each agency has assigned teams to the Shelter Repair Squad for both inspection and repair.

This effort will be funded by $12.5 million through Fiscal Year 2016. The Administration will also commit further funding for ongoing costs as needed.

Agency Roles and Responsibilities:

DHS:  Remediate issues found by other agencies

DOB: Inspect and dismiss violations

HPD: Inspect and help remediate violations (example: repairing plumbing, fixing walls, replacing wiring)

FDNY: Inspect and ensure safety fire panels, smoke detectors fire plans, and fire exits 

DOHMH: Inspect inside and outside shelters for rodents and cockroaches, and provide guidance on pest control

The announcement comes two months after the City’s Department of Investigation released a report, commissioned by the Mayor, about conditions at 25 City-run homeless shelters. The DOI Report called for the creation of an inter-agency task force. The Department of Homeless Services worked closely with DOI in identifying and addressing issues, and started a series of reforms to improve shelter inspections and hasten the timeline for making corrections, and DOI will continue to monitor and oversee where City government can be more effective. DOI found a total of 621 violations in their report, and 273 of those violations were outstanding when the report was published. All but a handful of the outstanding violations are now repaired or in process of being repaired. The Shelter Repair Squad will now extend this work to include all City shelters, including family and adult shelters and clusters run by external providers.

 

“Being homeless is tough enough – no one in shelters, particularly children, should have to endure poor or unsafe living conditions,” said Mayor de Blasio. “Our shelter system is old, and has endured decades of neglect and bad policies from every level of government, but we are working aggressively to correct dangerous conditions, and to make sure that people have a decent place to stay while they need it.”

 

“DHS has stepped up inspections and streamlined repairs – this concerted approach brings the urgency of our work to other city agencies with a role in correcting physical problems at shelters,” said DHS Commissioner Gilbert Taylor. “I feel confident that this effort will help us dramatically reduce the number of outstanding safety and health violations at our shelters and allow us to address those we do find within days.”

“This task force is an important step forward in the effort to improve housing for the homeless. Continued and consistent vigilance by all the agencies involved in providing and inspecting homeless shelters is the only path to lasting change,” said DOI Commissioner Mark G. Peters. 

“DOI’s investigation played a key role in establishing this task force and we will continue to work with our partners to expose deficiencies and inefficiencies in City government.”

DHS will begin tracking each and every violation, and the agencies are working together to assign tasks and actions teams to remediate issues as they are discovered by teams of inspectors. All outstanding violations will be addressed by special teams of City workers and contractors within 7 days of identification. All major capital repairs will begin within 30 days and completed by the end of the year. Shelters that need additional assistance complying with health and safety requirements will be placed in a streamlined corrective action process, and will have their progress closely monitored. Once the backlog of work is cleared, the City will continue to ensure the safety of all facilities through regular inspection and prompt repair. DHS will publicly post a scorecard for all facility operators within two weeks to insure on-going accountability for conditions in the shelters.

“Every New Yorker has the fundamental right to a safe and clean roof over their head. But we know that thousands of families and children, who rely on homeless shelters as safety nets each night, are forced to live in dangerous conditions,” said Public Advocate Letitia James. “This interagency effort will help address critical shortcomings in our City shelter system and protect vulnerable families who are in need of a permanent home.”

Editors Note: 

This Press release came from not the Mayors office, but from Councilman Andy Kings office. I have deleted the lip service from the Mayors supporters, and all the elected officials including the few from Councilmen Andy King and Andrew Cohen, as if they are being quoted by the mayor's office in praise of something they have called to be closed You and I know the words have been edited to fit the Mayors needs. 

STATEMENT FROM BP DIAZ RE: Governor Cuomo’s Emergency Measures to Protect Nail Salon Workers

   “I want to thank Gov. Andrew Cuomo for the swift action he has taken on this pressing issue. As last week’s New York Times exposé showed, there are serious issues that need to be addressed in the spa and beauty industry as far as ensuring the health and safety of both customers and employees in these establishments—especially in regards to helping those workers in the industry who feel they have no voice as far as the substandard conditions in which they are forced to work. That cannot be tolerated.

“The proposals we have presented to the City Council will go a long way towards ensuring that the people of this city, employees and customers alike, have a clean and safe atmosphere to get their hair done, to get a manicure or pedicure, or any of the other practices typically found in spas and beauty establishments. This is an important public health issue, one that benefits not only customers but also protects the personal safety and workers’ rights of those in the industry. I look forward to working with Governor Cuomo, as well as all interested parties at the city and state levels, to make the cosmetology industry safer for everyone,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

  In August, Borough President Diaz proposed a legislative package relating to the creation of a letter grading system for cosmetology businesses, including nail salons, spas, barber shops, beauty parlors and other similar establishments throughout the five boroughs. More information on that legislation can be found at http://on.nyc.gov/17jqxjX.

Senator Klein to Address the Community on his trip to Cub

The Van Cortlandt Jewish Center, 3880 Sedgwick Ave, (next to the Van Cortlandt library) Bronx, is pleased to have Senator Jeff Klein address the community on Thursday, May 21, 2015 at 7:15 on his recent trip to Cuba. This trip is the start of talks to bring business to New York State and especially to the Bronx.

Senator Klein was among the first state delegation to travel to Cuba. The purpose of the visit was to try to improve business between New York State and Cuba.

This address is open to the public and all are invited.

Before leaving for his trip to Cuba, Independent Democratic Conference Leader Jeff Klein said: "I am pleased to be joining Governor Cuomo as part of the New York delegation to Cuba. This trip is a positive first step in exploring ways we can grow and expand economic opportunities that will build an even stronger New York. We've made great strides at getting people back to work in the Bronx and I'm always open to innovative and targeted approaches that offer us the possibility of creating even more good paying jobs in my borough as well as throughout the state."

In addition to the Governor and members of his administration, the delegation included Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, Senate Minority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Independent Democratic Conference Leader Jeff Klein, and business leaders representing a number of important sectors and industries in New York’s economy.

For additional information call Van Cortlandt Jewish Center at 718-884-6105.

Dean Skelos, Sheldon Silver, et al, and the J51 and 421a Tax Break

What You Should Know 

By Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz 

32nd Senatorial District 

  

You should know that with all of the media focus on Senator Dean Skelos and Assemblyman Sheldon Silver, the J-51 tax break and the 421-a tax benefit have become hot topics, and they will get even hotter as their sunset date in June approaches. 

When Senate Bill 2320 – the bill that deals with J-51 and 421-a came to the Senate Floor on January 23, 2013 for a vote – I stood up to speak against it, starting my speech with a criticism of Senator Liz Krueger.  I criticized Liz Krueger because she took about an hour to expose all of the ills and bad things about this bill, but when she finished, she voted: yes.   

This confused me, especially knowing how smart and intelligent Liz Krueger is. It really threw me off. How could she have voted yes when she knew it was a bad bill?  As the Bible teaches: it is a sin for those who know the truth to purposely ignore it. 

Below is a copy verbatim of the transcript of my January 23, 2013 speech, along with the YouTube link to that speech, followed by the actual Senate vote tally for Senate Bill 2320. 

You should know that Senate Bill 2320 is filled with lavish benefits for luxury condo developers and tax giveaways, without any improvement to residential rent laws for everyday New Yorkers. 

You should also know that there were only 6 other Senators – aside from me – who voted against this bill.  The NO votes were cast by: Senators Rubén Díaz, Adriano Espaillat, Terry Gipson, Bill Perkins, Gustavo Rivera, Jose Marcos Serrano, and Cecilia Tkaczyk.  All of the other 56 Senators voted YES, hurting New York families who desperately need affordable housing. 

Ladies and gentlemen, the allegations involving the real estate companies that stem from Senate Bill 2320 that give capital improvement benefits to wealthy developers while increasing tenant’s rent need further investigation. If not, affordable housing in New York will be a thing of the past. 

I am State Senator Rubén Díaz and this is what you should know. 

This is the transcript of my speech from January 23, 2013 

“Senator Krueger, I just love you. I love you so much. You know, I love you for keeping me one hour listening to you talking bad about a bill and at the end saying "I'm voting yes." I love you. I love you. Mr. President and ladies and gentlemen, once in a while I write a column called "What You Should Know," It’s my way to inform my constituents and the voters of New York of what's going on.  Today, I wrote one. And I call it, based on the Roman Empire old saying, I entitled it "Caesar's wife should not only be pure but should also have the appearance of purity." And by voting for this bill, we might be sending an appearance of impurity, because this bill only benefits the rich. It is a multi-million program of rent exemption and abatement for landlords who renovate their buildings.  This piece of legislation, ladies and gentlemen, does nothing to protect and strengthen tenant protection. So tenants in the City of New York will not be protected with this bill. On the contrary, they might be put in danger. It is just a tax benefit to developers producing luxury buildings. 

This bill, ladies and gentlemen -- and I'm so sorry that Liz Krueger voted for it -- this bill does nothing to prevent landlords from double-dipping. That's a word that -- a nice word, double-dipping. Meaning that a lot of them are receiving a J-51 tax credit from the government and at the same time will be increasing the tenants' rent based on a major capital improvement. So this bill will allow landlords to get money from the government for the renovation based on J-51 and at the same time will allow landlords to increase tenants' rents based on something called major capital improvement for the same renovation. 

And this bill will extend 421-a tax benefits to the owners of 15 specific plots in 22 Midtown and downtown Manhattan which are now being developed as luxury condominiums and office buildings. Fifteen of them. And according to the New York Tenants and Neighbors Coalition, it seems that only five specific developer companies will benefit from this piece of legislation. 

They are number one, Extell Development Company, Extell Development Company, for their billionaire tower, One57, Silverstein Properties, the owner of the World Trade Center. Thor Equities, the company behind the controversial Coney Island redevelopment for 516-520 Fifth Avenue. Number four, Steinhardt Management, who wants to develop two former Stock Exchange buildings in Lower Manhattan. Number five, Shoreham {ph} Association, Incorporated, who plans to build a 30-story glass tower over the site of the original New York Times building. 

Ladies and gentlemen, these developments do nothing to address the New York City ongoing affordable housing crisis. Therefore, to vote for this bill we might be sending a message, an impure message, that we're only working for the landlords and against the tenants and the regular people in New York City. 

So again, you can read my "What You Should Know" on my website.  It's free, you don't have to pay anything.  And today, I'm quoting, Liz Krueger, Caesar's wife not only shall be pure but should have the appearance of purity. I'm voting no with all my heart, with all my strength.  And I ask all my colleagues to reject this piece of legislation, especially an irony, and guided to the rich, not to the poor.  Thank you.” 

This is the YouTube link to my January 23, 2013 Session Comments www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TrDsGbXUaE