“The Civilian Complaint Review Board’s finding of excessive force by Sgt. Eliezer Pabon confirms what Javier Payne’s family and the community have long known. Independent oversight of the NYPD is essential to winning back the community’s trust and necessary to ensure fair practices. I commend the CCRB for bringing Javier’s family closer to justice. Moving forward, the NYPD should pursue disciplinary charges against Officer Pabon and hold him accountable for his actions. A swift response by the NYPD will make clear that police brutality is always unacceptable. Failing to pursue further actions is counterproductive to efforts that attempt to improve the relationship between communities and the police,” said Council Member Ritchie Torres of the Bronx.
Tuesday, July 28, 2015
Assemblyman Dinowitz Introduces Nation's Toughest Immunization Law to NYS Assembly
Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz announced today he introduced a bill that would eliminate all non-medical exemptions for immunizations for children, giving New York State the strongest immunization law in the country.
Currently, under section 2164 of Title VI of the New York State Public Health Law, all children are required to receive immunizations for poliomyelitis, measles, mumps, diphtheria, rubella, hepatitis B, HiB, and varicella (commonly known as the chicken pox). However, current law also grants an exemption from the immunization requirements for parents who have religious objections to vaccinating their children, as well as a medical exemption should a physician certify that an immunization may be detrimental to a child’s health. The new proposed law would repeal all non-medical exemptions.
“This past winter we were all reminded of the dangers of not vaccinating our children when a measles outbreak that started with just one person in California, made its way across the country, infecting over 141 people,” saidAssemblyman Dinowitz. “While some seem to question the science behind immunizations, the fact is that vaccinations are endorsed by the United States Surgeon General, the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) as a necessary public health measure to ensure the general health and welfare for everybody. When you decide not to vaccinate your children, you’re not just putting them at risk; you’re putting everyone they’ll ever meet at risk.”
According to the CDC, sustaining a high vaccination rate among school children is critical to the prevention of disease outbreaks, including the reestablishment of diseases that have been largely eradicated in the United States, such as measles.
State data from the 2013-14 school year revealed there are at least 285 schools in New York with an immunization rate below 85%, including 170 schools with rates below 70%, well below the CDC’s standard of at least 95% to maintain herd immunity.
“I was shocked to find that in my district alone there are two schools that fail to meet the CDC’s 95% standard for maintaining herd immunity with respect to the measles” said Assemblyman Dinowitz. According to NYC Department of Education data, 5.5% of the students at P.S. 24, and 7.1% of the students at St. Brendan’s School in Norwood are not completely vaccinated. “This data is alarming, and it just goes to show that low vaccination rates are problem across New York State.”
The bill is sponsored in the Senate by Senator Brad Hoylman (D-Manhattan). Should the legislation pass, New York would become just the fourth state nationwide to adopt such a strict immunization standard, joining California, Mississippi, and West Virginia.
“Because not every child can be vaccinated for legitimate medical reasons, it is incredibly important that we make sure that every child who can, receive the proper immunizations. This bill will ensure that every child across the state is properly vaccinated, not just to protect them, but to protect the community around them,” said Assemblyman Dinowitz.
Monday, July 27, 2015
Council Member Andy King to Bring Free Dental, Legal and Mammogram Services to Bronx Residents
Council Member Andy King is bringing free health and legal services to residents of the Bronx on Saturday, Aug. 8, as part of the 2015 Community Engagement Service Day.
Mobile vans from the New York Legal Assistance Group, New York University Dental and St. Barnabas Hospital’s Mammogram Services will be parked outside Council Member Andy King’s District Office at 940 East Gun Hill Road, Bronx, NY 10467, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Rain or shine)
Free legal assistance will be offered on family law issues, including domestic violence, orders of protection, divorces, child custody/visitation and child and spousal support; housing issues, such as eviction prevention, landlord disputes, unsafe housing conditions; and public benefits, including social security disability insurance, food stamps and public assistance.
The NYU Dental Van services include exams, X-rays, cleanings, fillings and tooth extractions.
The SBH Mobile Mammography Van provides free mammogram screening for women without health insurance coverage. Medicaid, Medicare or private insurance care required.
All vehicles are equipped with private meeting rooms and computers that allow it to operate as full-service offices.
Also in attendance will be the FDNY CPR van, OTC Mobile Stores van, Metro Plus, Rite Aid, the Bronx Community Health Network, Asphalt Green, HealthFirst and many others.
Appointments must be schedule for the mobile vans by contacting the Office of Council Member Andy King's office at 718-684-5509 and ask for Stephannia Cleaton.
Tuesday Aug. 4th, 6:00pm - Grand Opening Travesias Latin Fusion Cuisine
Save The Date
Tuesday, August 4th
Grand Opening of
Travesias Latin Fusion Cuisine
at
3834 East Tremont Ave
Bronx, NY 10465
Ribbon Cutting at 4:30PM
Cocktail hours start at 6:00PM
To Register email travesiasnyc@gmail.com
------------------------------
for more information
25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act - Looking Back, and Forward
Sunday July 26th marked the 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act; historic legislation that gives individuals with disabilities certain legal rights and protections, while sending a message to all Americans that disabilities rights are civil rights.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) gives civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities similar to those provided to individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, and religion. It also assures equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities and access to businesses, employment, transportation, state and local government programs, services, and telecommunications. Through the establishment of a clear and comprehensive national mandate for the elimination of discrimination against individuals with disabilities, millions of lives have been and continue to be affected every day.
The road to this point was not easy but 25 years later we remain more committed than ever to championing the protections under the ADA and improving the lives of people with disabilities in New York State. As the former Chair of the Senate Committee on Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities, and current Chair of the Senate Committee on Social Services, I work with advocates, constituents and my colleagues in the legislature on initiatives to advance the health, independence, and quality of life for people with disabilities.
To increase employment and independence, we passed the ABLE Act; legislation that provides people with disabilities and their families the ability to create a tax-exempt savings account that can be used for maintaining health, independence and quality of life. We also passed Inspire New York; legislation that creates a tax credit to incentivize employers to hire individuals with a developmental disability that are unemployed or a current employee of a sheltered workshop.
We continue our work to decrease the stigma associated with disabilities and mental health by creating the Mental Health Public Awareness Tax Check Off, which allows taxpayers the ability to make a tax-free donation that will fund mental health public awareness campaigns across the state to help end the stigma associated with mental illness and encourage those in need of help to seek treatment. Legislation was also passed in New York State that requires the removal of the word handicapped from new or replaced state signage, as well as update and eliminate the stigma of the old the Accessibility Logo.
It is truly amazing how far we have come, but there is still imperative work that needs to be done to improve the lives of people with disabilities. As we celebrate this important anniversary, please join me in re-affirming your commitment to the ADA by signing the national pledge here.
Sincerely,
David Carlucci
New York State Senator
38th Senate District
BRONX UNEMPLOYMENT DROPS AGAIN
Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. is praising new job numbers from the New York State Department of Labor, which show another drop in the borough’s unemployment rate and a significant increase in the county’s labor participation rate.
“We are creating more jobs in The Bronx, and more and more Bronxites are finding work,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. “We still have work to do, but the work we are doing is have a real effect on the economic outlook of The Bronx.”
Newly released statistics from the New York State Department of Labor show The Bronx unemployment rate at 7.8% for June 2015, down from 9.7% in June 2014 and down from a peak of 13.9% in January 2010. In addition, these numbers indicate that roughly 20,500 more Bronx residents are employed now than in June 2014, and that the overall Bronx labor force grew by roughly 10,000 individuals over the same time period.
The Department of Labor’s complete release can be found athttp://on.ny.gov/1HRKDx1.
Since Borough President Diaz took office in 2009, The Bronx has seen more than $7 billion in total development, which has led to the creation of over 15,000 new jobs. In addition, a new partnership announced by Governor Andrew Cuomo announced in August between the New York State Department of Labor and the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation, as part of the “NY Works,” program is placing Bronx residents in these jobs, helping to ensure that new development here benefits everyone, especially Bronxites.
Editor's Note: Kudos to BP Diaz once again.
Saturday, July 25, 2015
Van Nest Family Day
This was what it was all about, Family Fun as Assemblymen Mark Gjonaj and Luis Sepulveda who jointly represent the Van Nest area came out to help celebrate Van Nest Family Day.
There were free hot dogs, snacks, bottles of water, and even the Balloon Lady who made pretty animals out of balloons.
Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda brought his darling son, who just wanted to eat the snack bag rather than get a kiss from daddy.
As usual Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj had his bag of whistles that he was giving a whistle to all the children, and even some Adults.
Pictured here are Ms. Bernadette Ferrara President of the Van Nest Neighborhood Alliance, with Executive board members Virginia Toreli, and John Messenger who stand around the two assembly members who represent their community. On a sad note I saw that the once thriving Catholic School that is on the corner of White Plains Road and Van Nest Avenue has closed and is to become PS 311 of the New York City School System. Everyone was unhappy when St. Dominick's church and school was closed by the Archdiocese, but there are hopes now that PS 311 will occupy the building.
