With Swearing-In of Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark, A New Era Officially Begins in the Bronx

   Among dignitaries, community leaders, family and neighbors from across the Bronx, Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark was officially sworn into office today.

Bronx DA Darcel Clark was joined by a number of prominent elected officials, including Senator Charles Schumer, Mayor Bill de Blasio, New York Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, Public Advocate Letitia James, City Comptroller Scott Stringer, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., New York Speaker Carl Heastie, City Speaker Melissa Mark Viverito, Bronx Democratic Committee Chairman Marcos Crespo, Alphonso David Counsel to Governor Andrew Cuomo, and the Hon. Luis Gonzalez, Presiding Justice of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, First Judicial Department, Retired. Also in attendance was Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, who gave the Invocation. 

Taking the oath of office from the Honorable Sheila Abdus-Salaam, who serves on the New York Court of Appeals, District Attorney Clark is the first woman to serve as Bronx District Attorney and the first woman of color to serve as a District Attorney in New York State history.

In her inaugural speech, District Attorney Clark spoke of how she hopes her story can serve as an example of how along with perseverance, hard work and the grace of God, having an appreciation for your community can lead any ordinary person to extraordinary opportunities.

“Growing up and seeing the violence and crime in the Bronx of the seventies and eighties fueled a fire in me to do something with my life that could allow me to be bigger than myself, and that’s why I decided to further my education, become a lawyer, and eventually return to this community to start giving back,” she said.  

She also highlighted some of the challenges she hopes to address while in office, including improving the office’s responsiveness and transparency, weeding out public corruption, eliminating gun and gang violence in the borough, collaborating to fix the problems plaguing Rikers Island and working with the NYPD to continue to improve police and community relations. For each, she emphasized the need for collaboration.

“These should be our priorities and they are attainable, but only if we work together beyond race, beyond precincts and beyond politics to get things done for each other,” she said.   

In the end, she issued a challenge to those listening.

“I would like to challenge you each today - to not only understand The Bronx and the issues we face, but to appreciate this borough for all that makes it beautiful and to serve as the catalyst to make it better,” she stated.  

“Once again, while many of us may come from ordinary means - we are all capable of extraordinary things.” 

Above - His Eminence Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan gives the Invocation.

Below - Mayor Bill de Blasio had only words of praise for the Bronx, and for new Bronx DA Darcel Clark. Bronx DA Darcel Clark's husband NYPD Detective Eaton "Ray" Davis is now seated next to her. 

Above - U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer spoke for over five minutes.

Below - City Comptroller Scott Stringer (a 'Bronx Boy' once) speaks.

Above - Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. tells how proud he is of the new Bronx DA Darcel Clark, and the expected fine job that she will do as Bronx District Attorney.

Below - After the ceremony everyone wanted to have their picture taken with new Bronx DA Darcel Clark.

New Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark must have taken a photo with almost everyone of the near 1,000 attendees. 

Substance Abuse Forum Held By City Councilman Andrew Cohen and CB 8

   It was billed as a 'Forum on Drug Use and Dependence to Inform the Community on how to Reduce the Risks Associated With Drug Use and How to Best Treat Drug Dependency'. 

  The Forum was being jointly sponsored by Councilman Andrew Cohen, and Community Board 8 through its Health, Hospitals, and Social Services Committee. The forum was held on Thursday January 14th, and seemed to be a hit in the community, as the room where the forum was held in the Riverdale Neighborhood House was packed. There were several speakers who took questions,and the forum included a power point presentation on drug use and dependence. 

   Below - Captain O'Toole commanding officer of the 50th Precinct was the first speaker who went over statistics that seemed to startle many in the audience.

 

A Deal Is A Deal -- What You Should Know

By Senator Rev Rubén Díaz 
32nd Senatorial District 

You should know that in this, my first What You Should Know column of 2016, I would like to talk to you about a donation and a deal made by Donald Trump with the State of New York.

It is important for you to know that back in 2006, Mr. Donald Trump donated a 435-acre park that is located in Westchester County, to the State of New York. This donation was made with the knowledge and agreement that the park would bear Donald Trump's name. It was a free gift from Donald Trump to the State of New York, which the State of New York accepted with the conditions already stated.

You should also know that there is a group of elected officials here in New York State who now are calling for Donald Trump’s name to be removed from the State Park that he donated, simply because they don’t like Donald Trump.

One of those elected officials is my colleague, Senator Daniel Squadron, who says that he will submit legislation to remove Donald Trump’s name from that State Park.  Senator Squadron decreed: “Mr. Trump has shown that he is unworthy of having a New York State Park named in his honor.”

Ha ha ha!! Another elected official asking for Donald Trump's name to be removed is Canadian-born Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney, who lost his bid in 2006 for New York Attorney General.  He has started an online petition in favor of renaming the park.

It is important for you to also know that when Donald Trump gave the parkland to the State of New York, the terms and conditions of his donation was that the park would always carry Donald Trump’s name, and the State accepted these terms. All politics aside, to me it seems highly immoral to take a gift of 435 acres of land - that costs a fortune - and then want to keep it without abiding by what was agreed originally upon by both the person who gave it and the recipient.

Even though I never attended law school, I believe that the terms of the contract between Donald Trump and the State of New York cannot be overlooked by any of New York’s elected officials.

My dear reader, I would like to suggest that if my colleagues Senator Daniel Squadron, Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney and all those who don't want to see Donald Trump's name on that park, they should start an effort to give back the parkland, and just return those 435 acres to Donald Trump.

I don't think it is moral to accept land from Donald Trump - or from anyone - with an agreed upon deal for the donor's name to remain on the 435 acres of parkland that he gave, and then to reject and erase the name of the person who gave it.  

Ladies and gentlemen: A deal is a deal, and deals should be read carefully, knowing the consequences - good or bad - because once you sign onto one, it's a deal.

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

EDITOR'S NOTE:

  I wonder what Senator Diaz's protege 17th City Council District candidate Rafael Salamanca thinks about this? Then again it sure looks like Senator Diaz will be trying to get some of those Donald Trump dollars in return for supporting Republican candidate Donald Trump. Will Senator Diaz's protege candidate Salamanca also be supporting Donald Trump then? After all Senator Diaz was one of the 'Four Amigos' with former State Senators Pedro Espada, Carl Kruger, and Hiram Monserrate. Espada and Kruger wound up in jail, and Monserratee was expelled from the State Senate after being convicted of a misdemeanor assault.  Kind of makes you wonder about Senator Diaz and Rafael Salamanca - 'Two Peas in a Pod', or is it 'Two Amigos This Time'? 

RELEASE--BP DIAZ CRITICIZES ‘BAG FEE’ LEGISLATION

  Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. has issued a letter expressing his strong concerns about Intro 0209-2014, more commonly known as the “bag fee” legislation. While the legislation seeks to protect the environment, Borough President Diaz is concerned that it places that burden on low-income New Yorkers and seniors that are struggling to pay bills, and represents a regressive tax.

“The bill operates like a regressive tax, and will not yield the environmental goals the legislation hopes to achieve,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. “Higher-income New Yorkers will not be motivated to change their behaviors through this proposed fee, and lower income New Yorkers will bear the brunt of this proposal. While the environmental goals of this legislation are laudable, the methods are flawed.”

The complete letter can be read here: http://on.nyc.gov/1ORLHrH.

Borough President Diaz noted that there are multiple alternatives to achieving environmentally-friendly ends without negatively impacting low-income individuals and families. He added that the City should explore public education campaigns, a free bag distribution program for low-income New Yorkers, better bag recycling programs and bans on some types of bags, among other proposals.

“More creative and less punitive options should be explored that would actually achieve the intended purpose as opposed to encumbering low-income people whose demanding lives make it challenging to bring cloth bags to run every errand, exposing them to this regressive, backdoor tax,” wrote Borough President Diaz in his letter to Council Member Brad Lander, the chief sponsor of the legislation.

NPRDP Extends 2016 Scholarship Application Deadline

National Puerto Rican Day Parade, Inc.

NATIONAL PUERTO RICAN DAY PARADE

EXTENDS 2016 SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINE

 

Applications now accepted through Monday, February 15th 

 

January 14th, 2016, New York City - The National Puerto Rican Day Parade (NPRDP) has extended the deadline to apply for its 2016 Scholarship Awards Program, toMonday, February 15th.  

The extension is meant to allow qualified candidates extra time to gather documents for the application package, while ensuring that the largest possible amount of students, will get to apply for the program that in 2016 is tripling the dollar figure and number of scholarships to be awarded, since 2014.

 

The organization will grant 60 scholarship awards, up from 15 awarded in 2014 and 30 in 2015.  In total, NPRDP will provide $120,000 for scholarships in 2016, up from $30,000 in 2014 and $60,000 this year. 

  

NPRDP established the Scholarship Awards Program to help promote the pursuit of higher education within the community.  

To be eligible to participate in the 2016 Scholarship Awards Program, applicants must:

*  Be of Puerto Rican descent;

*  Have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or better

*  Participate in an interview with a member(s) of the Selection Committee;

*  Be between the ages of 17 and 25 and enrolled in a 4-year institution, for applicants already in college;

*  Be in their senior year, for high school applicants. 

 

Application packages must include: a completed application form; an essay; a written biography; a volunteer community service statement; two letters of recommendation, of which one letter of recommendation must be from the site where the student performs his/her volunteer work; official academic transcripts and head shot photo.  Letters of recommendation should be requested from teachers, professors, counselors, mentors, clergy, community leaders, etc.  The letters should highlight the applicant's volunteer community service, length of the relationship with the candidate, and the specific contributions the applicant has made to the community.

To download the application package, the public can visitwww.nprdpinc.org.  Packages must be submitted electronically to NPRDP.Scholars@gmail.com by Monday, February 15, 2016.  Letters of recommendation and sealed transcripts should be mailed together to National Puerto Rican Day Parade, P.O Box 975, New York, NY 10272 by Monday, February 15, 2016.  Materials received after this date will result in the applicant's disqualification.  Applicants selected for an interview will be notified by email, and interviews will take place the week of February 29, 2016.  The original application deadline was Friday, January 15th, 2016. 

Council Member Andy King Hosts “Open House” for the Community

  City Council Member Andy King was pleased with the turnout at his district offices’ “Open House” this afternoon with a steady stream of people walking through the doors within three hours.

The Open House was a chance to not only invite members of the community to the district offices at 940 East Gun Hill Rd., and 135 Einstein Loop in Co-Op City, but observe the birthday of the slain civil rights leader Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

“It’s only fitting that on the day of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s actual birthday that we open up our house as Dr. King had opened up his heart and gave his life to improve the lives of others. That true commitment to service is what we strive for in the 12th District,” said Council Member King, of his third annual Open House.

In addition to meeting Council Member King, his staff and representatives from various government agencies and service organizations, constituents and a student government group from PS 103 raised questions on issues regarding community safety, quality of life, health care and housing. A prayer of blessings over Council Member King’s offices was given by the Rev. Stephen Amponsah, pastor of the Church of Pentecost in the Wakefield section of the Bronx.

NYC Council Member Andy King, 12^th Council District, Bronx, is joined by community residents, students from PS 103 and representatives from government and community agencies.

The Bronx Chamber of Commerce Upcoming Events

Dear Members and Friends:   We are busy planning the Bronx Chamber of Commerce's major business networking events. 2016 will be a Great Year!   Please mark your calendar and plan on attending some of the following events:   February 11, 2016   Annual Valentine's Business Networking                                 Marriott Resident Inn 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm   February 24, 2016   African American Heritage Awards Dinner                                 Tosca Marquee 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm   March 9, 2016         Irish Heritage Luncheon                                 Rambling House 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm   March 18, 2016       Women of Distinction Luncheon                                 Villa Barone Manor 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm   April 13, 2016          Annual Gala                                 Marina del Rey Caterers 5:30 pm - 10:30 pm   May 3, 2016            Annual Golf Outing                                 Trump Links 11:30 am - 8:00 pm   June 16, 2016          Annual Business Expo                                 The Mall at Bay Plaza 11:00 am - 5:00 pm   Additional events dates will be added as they are confirmed.   In 2016, the Bronx Chamber of Commerce will be expanding its programs and services including publishing a printed Annual Membership & Business Referral Directory to enhance benefits for current members and attract new members. I need your support and cooperation to request companies that you do business with to join the Bronx Chamber of Commerce. If you make it a requirement, they will join. We are witnessing a renaissance in our great borough that is unprecedented.   Together, we will grow the Chamber, enhance its influence and further improve the image of "The Bronx"!   The Bronx Chamber of Commerce sponsors a wide range of programs and services to businesses ranging from large corporations, Cultural Institutions, Universities and Colleges, Hospitals and Medical Centers, and mid-sized to small companies. Patronize local Bronx businesses and strengthen our community! Companies do not need an office in the Bronx to be active members of the association. To join or for more information, please contact Josann Ferguson (718) 828-3900 or email:Josann@bronxchamber.org.   I look forward to your active membership and meeting you at some of our upcoming networking events.   Sincerely,   Nunzio   Nunzio Del Greco President and CEO Bronx Chamber of Commerce "The Network for Business Success" 1200 Waters Place, Suite 106 Bronx, NY 10461 718-828-3900Nunzio@bronxchamber.org

Congressman Charles Rangel New Year Town hall Meeting Tuesday 1/19

REP. CHARLES B. RANGEL
INVITES YOU TO
TOWNHALL MEETINGTuesday, January 19, 2016
7:00pm - 8:30pm
Union Settlement237 East 104th Street, New York, NY 10029

Congressman Rangel and staff, as well as representatives from government agencies, will be available to meet with you to address your questions and concerns about Washington and federal benefits.

PRESENTATIONS BY:U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services; New York Regional Office; Manhattan Taxpayer Advocate Service

RSVP: https://rangel.house.gov/harlemevents
Questions?
Visit RANGEL.HOUSE.GOV or Call 212-663-3900