Mayor de Blasio Announces Record Breaking 20,325 Affordable Apartments Last Year.

   In an announcement in front of a 66 unit affordable housing building located at 950 Summit Avenue (just north of Yankee Stadium) Mayor Bill de Blasio, City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, Bronx Borough President, and many local Bronx elected officials cheered that more affordable housing was created last year than since 1978.

  Mayor de Blasio said “This is real progress, in real time, for real families. Together with the city council, community based organizations, and the private sector this will remain a city for everyone.” Speaker Mark-Viverito said “ It is imperative that we proactively protect affordability in our communities.” Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. said that his office will continue to work with the de Blasio administration to plan and build new affordable housing units that work for the people of the Bronx. Other Bronx elected officials on hand included Congressman Jose Serrano, State Senator Jose Marcos Serrano, Councilwoman Vanessa Gibson, Assembly members Latoya Joiner (who thanked the Rent Guidelines Board for its rent freeze for one year leases), Michael Blake, Luis Sepulveda. HPD Commissioner Vicki Been said that surpassing the goal of 20,000 units this year is a testament to the work that is being done at HPD. HDC President Gary Rodney added that the record breaking 20,000 plus units demonstrates the the de Blasio administration is achieving concrete results towards its ambitious vision of Housing New York.

  The 66 unit building on Summit Avenue is currently under construction, and is slated for completion in a little over one year from now. A lottery system will be put into place to select the winners of the various income level tiered apartments which will be advertised a few months before construction on the building is finished.

  The goal of Mayor Bill de Blasio's affordable housing plan is to have 200,000 new or rehabilitated current affordable units by 2021 completed or in construction.  Photos are below.

Above - City Council Melissa Mark-Viverito with Mayor  de Blasio at her side with Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. , and other Bronx elected officials congratulate the mayor on surpassing the goal of creating 20,000 affordable housing units this year. The affordable housing 66 unit building in the background is in Speaker Mark-Viverito's council district which includes parts of the Bronx and Manhattan. 

Below - Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. is excited about the new affordable housing units being built in the Bronx like the one he is standing in front of. 

Eric Adams 2017

  This came in from the Eric Adams 2017 Campaign, but just what is the current Brooklyn Borough President running for? There are rumors that it is going to be for mayor against Bill de Blasio!

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Castle Hill Family Day

   Hundreds of people came to today's 'Family Day in Castle Hill' provided by State Senator Jeff Klein and Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda. Also on hand were Congressman Jose Serrano, Female District Leader Julia Rodriguez, and many others. There was free hot dogs, hamburgers, popcorn, cotton candy, ices, snacks, juice, and water, along with other attractions such as a face painter, balloon clown, and many informative community tables set up as you will see in the photos below.

Above - Congressman Jose Serrano, Female District Leader Julia Rodriguez, Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda, and Female State Committeewoman Barbara Brown.

Below Assemblyman Sepulveda holds his son who wants to have some fun in the bouncy castle that was set up.

Above - Two representatives of Homebase explain some of the services offered which include Eviction Prevention Services, Paralegal and Financial Counseling, Case Management and Housing Placement/Retention Services, Job Training and Placement, and several other Advocacy services offered by Homebase which is located at 2155 Blackrock Avenue phone number 718-414-1050.

Below - Nick of A1 Food Distributors mans the grill as there were plenty of hamburgers and hot dogs given out. 

Above and Below - The Balloon clown at the Well Care table was fantastic, as he made different items out of balloons for the children. 

Free Fitness Class - by Seton Falls Park Coalition

As you see in the photo above there were a crowd of lovely ladies on hand for this mornings 'Free Fitness Class' at Seton Falls Park that was run by 'Tony the Trainer of 'Magic Fitness' These fitness classes will occur every Saturday morning there is good weather. Check in time is 9:45 AM, and the class runs for about one hour of fun, stretching, and exercise. Ms. Renee Paterson is the President of the Seton Falls Park Preservation Coalition, and can be reached at 917-544-8859 for more information about the fitness classes in Seton Falls Park located on Crawford Avenue just behind MS 142 in the Baychester section of the Bronx.

Another happy Fitness Class member with Tony the Trainer at the Seton Falls Park summer fitness classes on Saturday mornings.

8th Annual Allerton Food Festival Saturday, July 18th

	We hope you can join us! Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj, Allerton Avenue Homeowners & Tenants  Association, and The Bronx Chamber of Commerce present the 8th  Annual International Food Show happening on Saturday, July 18th from  12 - 5 PM on Allerton Ave from Boston Road. This event will feature signature cuisines from all around the world. Free food sampling will be from 12 - 1 PM  Attendees are welcome to enjoy free salsa lessons, balloon art,   GIVEAWAYS and more!  Bring your family and friends and enjoy this tasteful event

CM COHEN TO HOST ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION REGARDING CITY COUNCIL BUDGET

  Council Member Cohen will host a round table discussion regarding the City Council Budget for Fiscal Year 2016

   On Thursday, July 16th at 1:00 p.m. Council Member Andrew Cohen will host a round table discussion regarding the allocation of funds in the City Council Budget for fiscal year 2016 at the Kingsbridge Public Library.

The budget is the centerpiece of policy making in government. It is the single most important municipal document that affects the lives on New Yorkers. Members of the media in attendance will have the opportunity to discuss the budget and how it will affect New York City, as well as how it will impact the residents of District 11.

WHO:     Council Member Andrew Cohen

WHEN:   Thursday, July 16, 2015 at 1:00 p.m.

WHERE: Kingsbridge Public Library

              291 West 231st Street, Bronx, NY 10463

DiNapoli: Dormitory Authority Overstated MWBE Contract Participation

DiNapoli: Dormitory Authority Overstated MWBE Contract Participation

The state Dormitory Authority (DASNY) for the past four years overstated the amount of business it did with minority- and women-owned business contractors (MWBE) and could not show how it determined the authority’s overall MWBE participation goals or industry-specific goals, according to a report released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

“Ensuring MWBE opportunities with the state isn’t about being politically correct, it’s smart business. It’s about creating a more diverse, vibrant, and ultimately, more successful New York,” DiNapoli said. “My auditors found DASNY officials have not properly set annual participation goals for minority- and women-owned businesses and need to improve the accuracy of reporting program results.”

State law requires state agencies and public authorities to promote the participation of minority- and women-owned business enterprises in their contracts. The agencies and authorities are supposed to establish annual goals for MWBE, make a good faith effort to achieve those goals, and report quarterly on their MWBE participation to the Department of Economic Development (DED).

The law sets the state’s MWBE participation target at 28.92 percent. DASNY set an annual goal in each of the four fiscal years 2011-12 through 2014-15, ranging from 20 percent to 26 percent. While authorities may submit MWBE plans with participation goals that are less than the statewide goal; they must also include explanations as to why. DASNY did not do so.

DASNY officials told DiNapoli’s auditors that the goal of 28.92 percent participation was not achievable, due to certain unique circumstances faced by the authority. However, they provided no formal analysis to support that claim and could not demonstrate how they determined the authority’s overall MWBE participation goals.

According to DASNY:

• For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012, it paid MWBEs $200.3 million out of $864.9 million in total contract payments, for a MWBE participation rate of 23.2 percent. 
• For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013, it paid MWBEs $181.8 million out of $839.3 million in total contract payments, for a participation rate of 21.7 percent; and
• For the nine months ended Dec. 31, 2013, it paid $166.2 million to MWBEs out of $591.4 million, for a participation rate of 28.1 percent.

DiNapoli’s auditors, however, determined that DASNY overstated these numbers. Auditors found that a sample of payments to prime contractors totaling $37.8 million was overstated by $9.2 million (24 percent), and a sample of payments to subcontractors totaling $25.9 million was overstated by $4 million (15 percent).

The law allows payments from MWBE prime contractors to MWBE subcontractors to be counted towards MWBE participation goals. However, in preparing reports to DED, DASNY did not make adjustments for such payments. 

For example, one prime contractor was paid $3,877,310. Out of that, sub-contractors were paid $1,103,868. DASNY, however, reported a total of $4,981,178 being paid to MWBEs.

DASNY also reported MWBE participation for two payments made to non-MWBE prime contractors. The payments of $1.5 million were sent to the prime contractor’s address, with a notation that they were “in care of” the MWBE vendor. However, there was no evidence that the MWBE vendor actually had any role in the procurements.

DiNapoli’s recommendations to DASNY include:

• Develop and implement formal processes to properly establish annual MWBE participation goals.
• Develop ways to assure data entered into the authority’s automated MWBE participation reporting system is correct; and
• Develop processes to correct data-entry errors, including providing revised amounts and participation rates to DED and other stakeholders.

DASNY officials generally disagreed with the auditors’ observations and conclusions. However, officials also indicated the report provided useful observations about data management and they will formalize the authority’s process to establish annual MWBE participation goals.

See the report Contract Participation of Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises, or go to:http://osc.state.ny.us/audits/allaudits/093015/14s7.pdf

BP DIAZ ANNOUNCES 2015 BRONX CONCERT SERIES SCHEDULE

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. has announced the slate of performers that will take part in the 2015 Bronx Summer Concert Series at Orchard Beach.

“The Bronx has been nurturing ground for the development of a lot of types of musical genres, and we want to keep that musical tradition alive,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. “Whether it’s Hip Hop or Salsa, music is as much a part of our identity as Yankee Stadium or the Bronx Zoo. Our concert series helps add to that longstanding legacy of great music that comes out of our borough.”

The Bronx Summer Concert Series at Orchard Beach kicks off this Sunday, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., with Salsa legend Domingo Quinones.

The concert series is sponsored this year by Optimum, Macy’s, BronxCare, Latino Sports Ventures, the National Jazz Museum in Harlem, the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation, The Bronx Tourism Council and NYC Parks.

This year’s concert series lineup, who will perform next to the Orchard Beach boardwalk at the main stage by Section 9, will feature acts such as:

·         Sunday, July 19: Conjunto Imagen & The Karl 

                                      Browne Band

·         Sunday, July 26: Julian Vazquez "El Diamanté de la 

                                      Salsa" & Music with a Message

·         Sunday, August 2: Tipica 73

·         Sunday, August 9: Nelson Gonzalez

·         Sunday, August 16: The Mambo Legends Orchestra

·         Sunday, August 23: CharanSalsa

·         Sunday, August 30: Luis Damon

“The summer season is a great time to celebrate the musical heritage of the borough,” said Olga Luz Tirado, Executive Director of The Bronx Tourism Council. “Not only are we the birthplace of Hip-Hop and Doo-Wop, but the borough was home to many Jazz greats and played a pivotal role in the global phenomenon we know as Salsa.”