Friday, May 20, 2016
City Island Memorial Day Parade and Wreath-Laying Ceremonies
CITY ISLAND MEMORIAL DAY PARADE AND WREATH-LAYING CEREMONIES TO HONOR THOSE WHO SACRIFICED FOR OUR NATION
The United War Veterans Council (UWVC) — organizers of the New York City Veterans Day Parade — calls on Bronx residents to remember this Memorial Day Weekend those who have sacrificed for us by participating in the City Island Memorial Day Parade and other events on Monday, May 30.
The Parade begins 1:45 p.m. at City Island Ave. & Belden St. Prior to the parade UWVC will participate in two wreath-laying ceremonies in the area: the first, 10:30 a.m. at Bicentennial Veteran Memorial Park (Throgs Neck Expressway at Pennyfield and Elisworth Aves.); and the second, 11:15 a.m. at Throgs Neck Memorial Post – American Legion (1456 Shore Dr.).
The UWVC is working with community groups throughout the metropolitan area to help organize and promote memorials, parades and other Memorial Day-related events.
WHAT: CITY ISLAND MEMORIAL DAY PARADE & WREATH-LAYING CEREMONIES
WHEN: MONDAY, MAY 30
WHERE: 1:45 P.M. (PARADE)
CITY ISLAND AVE. & BELDEN ST.
10:30 A.M. (WREATH-LAYING)
BICENTENNIAL VETERAN MEMORIAL PARK
THROGS NECK EXPRESSWAY AT PENNYFIELD/ELISWORTH AVES.
11:15 A.M. (WREATH-LAYING)
THROGS NECK MEMORIAL POST – AMERICAN LEGION
1456 SHORE DR.
BRONX, NY
COST: FREE
BP DIAZ RE: Compromise on Puerto Rico’s Debt Crisis/PROMESA
“After more than a year of negotiation and advocacy by my office and many others, I am pleased to see an important first step between the White House and Congress on the future fiscal health of the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, H.R. 5278, the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA).
“This bipartisan compromise, while certainly not perfect, is a tremendous step forward and offers many of the solutions that I and others have been advocating for. Although access to bankruptcy courts would have been preferred, we are encouraged by the bill’s provision to allow Puerto Rico to reduce repayments to creditors. However, the process for appointing members of the proposed control board must ensure that the individuals selected protect the best interests of the Puerto Rican government and its people.
“There is still much work needed to be done by Congress to update and revise the Puerto Rican economic regulatory framework. Health care must be delivered more effectively, import costs reduced and infrastructure investments made so that Puerto Rico has greener energy solutions and is prepared for the dramatic changes already being produced by climate change.
“I thank the White House and Congress for taking the concerns of the Puerto Rican government, its citizens and their advocates on the mainland seriously and working towards this agreement. I especially want to thank those who have worked assiduously on this compromise, including House Speaker Paul Ryan, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand; and Reps. Nydia Velázquez, Jose Serrano and Luis Gutiérrez.
“The people of Puerto Rico are American citizens, and they deserve the same rights and protections as their countrymen,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW - CHARLES BARRON IS RIGHT: OUR CHILDREN CAN’T TAKE 3 MORE YEARS OF FAILURE
BY Senator Rev Rubén DÃaz
District 32 Bronx County, New York
You should know that in 2002, when I was elected to the New York City Council, I was one of the first Councilmembers to work to support Mayoral Control of New York City’s public school system under former Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
After years of seeing our public school education system fail our children, especially our Black and Hispanic children, I have decided that this Mayoral Control should not be allowed to continue.
You should also know that Assemblyman Charles Barron, a Democrat from Brooklyn, made one of his most passionate speeches during the Assembly Session on May 17, 2016. His speech was followed by a round of applause from his colleagues.
Charles Barron pleaded for the Assembly to stop giving total control to Mayor de Blasio for a school system of 1.1 million children and a $24 billion dollar budget. He said that Mayor de Blasio wants to be held accountable, but Charles Barron says the Mayor is already accountable, insisting that the reason Mayor de Blasio really wants the control is for the billions of dollars in contracts.
“Contracts … contracts,” repeated Charles Barron, “people are making millions of dollars off of a failing school system.” He detailed how “test taking companies get multi-billion dollar contracts to make these tests” that do nothing for our children and their families except to cause stress.
Charles Barron reminded everyone of one excuse being used to push this legislation through: “Bloomberg had control so why not de Blasio?” He asked how we could give “one single man who is clueless about education” this kind of power, citing to Bloomberg’s choice of Cathy Black as an example of someone “so incompetent.”
It is important for you to know that while Charles Barron agreed that the Department of Education’s Chancellor Fariña is an educator, he qualified that fact by saying how “she is implementing the same policies as Bloomberg.”
You should know that Charles Barron stressed how our children are not being prepared for college: “If a Black child doesn’t get an education, their pipeline is going to be to prison,” and “the diplomas our children are receiving are not worth the paper and ink they are on.”
He continued by explaining how 78% of New York City public high school graduates, if they attend any of the New York City CUNY Colleges to continue their education, “need remediation because they were not properly educated.”
Another fact that Charles Barron presented to his colleagues is: “In New York City, the #1 city in the world, where we brag about democracy, parents have no control of the budget of what happens to their children.”
I completely agree with Charles Barron and his insistence that the Legislature only extend Mayoral Control for one year, and to include a Commission that would let experts review the current system and devise a way to let our children be properly educated so they could attend college or a trade school and compete in our global economy.
As my colleagues in the Senate, especially my Black and Hispanic colleagues, examine the merits of extending Mayoral Control of Schools in the New York City school district, I urge them to carefully consider what Charles Barron says, and to take his recommendations very seriously.
Our children cannot take 3 more years of failure.
I am Senator Reverend Rubén DÃaz, and this is what you should know.
EDITOR'S NOTE:
It seems that State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. is right on the money here, and I rarely if ever agree with Councilman Charles Barrons, but they are both right when it comes to Mayoral Control of the public schools.
Why is it that charter schools can operate better on lower budgets? The answer is they are accountable to their Board of Directors, the state, parents, and do not have the bureaucracy of the New York City Department of Education. The mayor must admit that Mayoral Control is a failure, and try to come up with a system of school governance that involves everyone, and that will make all schools better.
That is 'What You Should Know'.
Wednesday, May 18, 2016
Bronx Democratic County Committee - Upcoming Events
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In solidarity,
The Bronx Democratic County Committee
1640 Eastchester Rd.
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A.G. Schneiderman Announces State Prison Sentence For Unregistered Bronx Tax Preparer
Raul D. Kelley Sentenced To 2 To 6 Years in Prison For Submitting Forged NYC Transit Authority W2 Statements And Preparing Over 700 Fraudulent Tax Returns
Schneiderman: If You Intentionally Lie On Your Taxes, You Will Be Caught And You Will Be Held Responsible
Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced the sentencing of Raul D. Kelley, 49, of the Bronx, NY for submitting forged W2 statements and preparing over 700 fraudulent tax returns while acting as an unregistered tax preparer. Kelley also submitted fraudulent documents and information on his own personal income taxes in an effort to illegally take more than $25,000. Kelley was sentenced today in Albany County Supreme Court to 2 to 6 years in state prison on his pleas of guilty to the crimes of Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, a class “D” felony, and Attempted Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class “E” felony.
“When individuals attempt to cheat on their taxes, it shifts the burden to other honest New Yorkers,” said Attorney General Schneiderman. “Today’s sentencing makes it clear that if you intentionally lie on your taxes, you will be caught and you will be held responsible.”
In January 2015, as a result of a joint investigation by the Attorney General’s Criminal Enforcement and Financial Crimes Bureau and the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance’s (DTF’s) Criminal Investigations Division, Kelley was arrested on felony charges regarding his operation of an unregistered tax preparer business, in which he submitted fraudulent tax returns on behalf of taxpayers.
According to the indictment and statements made to prosecutors, Kelley worked for the NYC Transit Authority from 2007 until 2008 as a train operator. However, after leaving the NYC Transit Authority, Kelley continued to submit forged W2 Statements through the 2012 tax year, claiming thousands of dollars in fraudulent tax withholdings. In addition, Kelley claimed thousands of dollars in deductions and credits that he was not entitled to, all in an effort to personally wrongfully collect more than $25,000 in New York State tax refunds.
The investigation by the Attorney General and the DTF uncovered additional crimes linked to Kelley’s role as an unregistered tax preparer, including the submission of over 700 fraudulent New York State personal and corporate income tax returns for tax years 2009 through 2012. These submissions resulted in the theft from the DTF of $267,425 and the attempted theft of an additional $506,572.
On April 5, 2016, Kelley pleaded guilty to the crimes of Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree (a Class “D” felony) and Attempted Grand Larceny in the Third Degree (a Class “E” felony). At the time of his plea, Kelley admitted that these crimes were related to Kelley’s role as an unregistered tax preparer and his submission of fraudulent New York State personal and corporate income tax returns for clients between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2013.
Kelley was sentenced today by the Honorable Andrew G. Ceresia in Albany County Supreme Court to 2 to 6 years in state prison.
Commissioner Boone encourages taxpayers to ensure that tax preparers are registered with New York State by using the Tax Department’s searchable online database of 40,000 tax preparers. Certified public accountants, attorneys and enrolled agents have other professional requirements and are, therefore, not required to be registered.
The Attorney General thanked the DTF’s Criminal Investigations Division for its cooperation in the case.