Making Progress this Summer.New York City Public Advocate Letitia James

Friends,

I hope you are enjoying your summer! I'd like to tell you about some of the issues my office has been working on. As always, I value your feedback and ideas on how we can make New York work for all children and families who call our city home.

Protecting Children

Last month, I sent you an e-mail about Elisa W. and the nine other foster children who joined me in filing a class action lawsuit  against the New York City Administration for Children's Services (ACS) and the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS). Protecting our foster children has continued to be a focus this summer, as we pursue our case. There are currently 11,137 children in the New York City foster care system, accounting for almost 60% of children in foster care in the state. Children in New York City spend over twice as long in foster care than children in the rest of the state and the country. Many of them are victims of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse while in care.  Please read a summary of our case and our full complaint to learn more about Elisa's story and the stories of the children we are fighting to protect. 

 

Taking on Guns

Our nation is bleeding from gun violence. We cannot, and should not, bolster the gun retailers whose weapons are used to kill and damage our communities. Last week, the New York City Employee Retirement System(NYCERS) overwhelmingly passed my resolution to begin divestment proceedings from gun and ammunition retailers, such as Walmart. A study will be conducted of NYCERS' investments in gun retailers, including Walmart, Dick's Sporting Goods, Big 5 Sporting Goods, and Cabela's. The transitional costs of divestment, and a transition strategy to ensure minimal financial impact to the City, will also be developed.

 

Fighting for the Futures of Working Families

Our current retirement system is broken. Millions of New Yorkers are facing a retirement without adequate savings or a retirement plan. My office issued a report highlighting the urgent need for New York City to take action against an impending retirement crisis. I introduced legislation that will be the first step in a process to create a City-based retirement savings program. This program would place no significant financial burden on taxpayers or private employers, but uplift millions of New Yorkers for generations to come. In fact, states like California, Illinois, and Massachusetts are already moving forward with similar initiatives, and New York City cannot fall behind. Retirement should not just be a luxury for the rich, and I am determined to do everything I can to ensure every working New Yorker can live out their golden years with security and dignity.  

Sincerely,

Letitia James

New York City Public Advocate

Movie on Riverdale Avenue - August 27th!

The Movie on Riverdale Avenue! has been 

rescheduled to Thursday August 27th

"Jurassic Park"

Bronx Chamber of Commerce Upcoming Events

Please save the dates for our upcoming events:

Job Fair - September 9th

Hispanic Heritage - September 17th 

Italian Heritage - October 7th 

MORE DETAILS TO FOLLOW !

Call 718-828-3900, email events@bronxchamber.org or log on to our website at www.bronxchamber.org 

for more information

Assemblyman Crespo and Senator Diaz Donate Sewing Machines to James Monroe Senior Center

Pictured above (courtesy of Franck L. Strongbow) from left to right : Agustina Chez, Director Glisette Rivera, Raquel Olivieri, Assemblyman Marcos Crespo, Juanita Camacho, and partially hidden, Aida Sosa.

On Friday August 7, 2015 New York State Assemblyman Marcos Crespo performed a ribbon cutting inaugural ceremony donating three new sewing machines to James Monroe Senior Center located at 1776 Story Avenue in The Bronx, New York.   The Monroe Senior Center is celebrating its 53rd years since opening in 1962, and is looking forward to a structural modest renovation that will take place next summer, 2016.

Assemblyman Crespo's donation was also sponsored by New York State Senator Ruben Diaz, Sr. Thanks to Mr. Frank Strongbow for this item which was edited for content. 

You're Invited to Celebrate

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. In Conjunction With The Jamaica Progressive League Cordially Invites You To Celebrate The 128th Birthday Anniversary of Marcus M. Garvey Jamaica's First National Hero & To Commemorate Jamaica's 53rd Year of Independence Thursday, August 20, 2015 - 5:30 P.M. The Bronx County Building 851 Grand Concourse The Bronx, New York Free admission; please RSVP to: Sadie Campbell at 718.994.5496 Refreshments to be provided after program!

Chase Manhattan Bank at 5581 Broadway Robbed This Afternoon

Police cars lined the bus stop on West 231st Street at the entrance to the Southbound #1 subway line after 3 PM, while a police officer stood in front of the Chase Manhattan Bank located at 5581 Broadway after the bank was robbed. According to 50th Precinct Commanding Officer O'Toole a note was passed to one of the tellers demanding money, while the suspect said that he had a weapon. The teller gave a yet undisclosed amount of money to the suspect who then fled on foot up Broadway. Captain O'Toole described the suspect as a 6 foot male Black in his mid 30's, and that the video cameras in the bank had good footage of the suspect and the robbery. It is not known how soon the suspect will be apprehended. 

Above - One police officer stands in front of the Chase Bank located at 5581 Broadway to make sure the crime scene is not interrupted. 

Below - One of the CSU officers is seen in the doorway of the bank.

Captain O'Toole the commanding officer of the 50th Pct. was right on the spot just after the Chase Bank was robbed. He spoke with me in front of the bank about the robbery. A notice on the bank door says that the bank is closed due to an emergency. The ATM windows on West 231st Street remained open and were very busy.

STATEMENT FROM BP DIAZ RE: Legislation on Legionnaires Inspections

“When it became clear that such outbreaks of Legionnaires’ Disease could be prevented through regular inspections, I proposed that the City Council move to create such legislation as quickly as possible. Today’s announcement is a great first step towards developing a system of regular inspections for cooling towers and other infrastructure that could breed the legionella bacteria.

“I will continue to work with all levels of government to ensure that we are better prepared to combat future epidemics,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

Borough President Diaz first proposed legislation to address the lack of an inspection mechanism for cooling towers and other breeding grounds for the legionella bacteria last month. His original statement can be found here: http://on.nyc.gov/1Iz2ATC.

Editor's Note:

2 more cases of Legionnaire Disease have resulted in death, now bringing the death total to 12. As of August 3 rd it is said that the total number of cases peaked at 112 reported cases of Legionnaire Disease. No new outbreak cases have been reported since then. 

Stand Up To Violence Saturday August 22nd