Thursday, June 9, 2016

Senator Klein Hosts Chart-Topping Band Orleans at Riverfest



    State Senator Jeff Klein, hosted the popular 70’s pop/rock band Orleans at RiverFest on Sunday evening.  

The annual festivities, sponsored by the Kingsbridge Riverdale Van Cortlandt Development Corporation, celebrated the picturesque Hudson River and highlighted the need for a Greenway, during a fun-filled day along the waterfront.
“RiverFest has become a valued tradition in the Riverdale community. This year I was proud to present Orleans, the chart-topping music group, to wow our residents with a memorable show. This festival truly celebrates the beauty of the Hudson River. Further, with the $250,000 funding I secured for the Greenway study and the newly updated timeline for this project, Riverdalians will soon be better able to enjoy this gorgeous outdoor area,” said Senator Jeff Klein.

Senator Klein secured $250,000 for a Greenway feasibility study last year. Now, the MTA will issue a Request For Proposals at the end of this month, bringing the long-envisioned project closer to reality. The study will examine the stabilization of the Hudson River’s embankment in Riverdale and include the development of several design alternatives as well as the selection of the final trail design.

For this year’s bash. the group Orleans, which has produced 16 albums, amazed the crowd with hits like “Still the One,” “Dance with Me,” and “Love Takes Time.” Families gathered throughout the day to enjoy arts and crafts, boat rides, face painting, food, miniature golf, and more.

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Katrina Asante Withdraws Her Candidacy for the 36th State Senate District Inbox x



    Katrina Asante released the following statement after withdrawing her candidacy for the 36th State Senate District.

“After much reflection and many discussions with my family and supporters, I have decided to withdraw my name for consideration for the 36th New York State Senate race. I am truly honored by all of the support I have received during these last few months, but it has become clear to me that I would not be able to run the campaign my community deserves. This experience has given me the opportunity to grow deeper roots in my community, meet people who are making a difference in our neighborhoods and bring attention to the many issues my community still needs addressed.  I will be forever grateful for that. 

This decision does not in any way lessen my commitment to serving our district and being a tireless advocate for the issues that matter to us most.  

Moving forward, I believe we need a leader in the 36th Senate District who not only understands the needs of this community, but is committed to serving our constituency and fighting for the issues that can make a difference in our neighborhoods. Jamaal Bailey and I share many of the same values and positions. We both grew up in this district, have dedicated most of our professional lives to public service and agree on the main issues that need to be addressed for our community, such as education for our youth and quality jobs. The people of the 36th Senate District are vibrant, strong and hardworking, and their leader should reflect all of those qualities. 

I sincerely thank all of those who supported my candidacy, especially the constituents of the 36th district, who I will continue to call my friends and neighbors.  I would also like to thank the Stonewall Democratic Club of NYC for endorsing my candidacy and believing that I would be a vigorous fighter for equal rights for all people by helping tear down the shadows of ignorance. 

While I will not get the opportunity to serve as a State Senator at this time, I clearly understand that my help is still needed.  My commitment to help open doors for those who are deserving and are facing many of the same challenges I faced during my times of struggle remains unchanged. 

I look forward to continuing the work to make the Bronx a great place to live. Thank you all again."

STATEMENT FROM BP DIAZ RE: S.7336/ ‘Bag Tax’ Legislation



   “With today’s vote, the State Senate has struck a bipartisan blow for economic fairness against a backdoor, regressive tax. The city’s attempt to charge individuals a nickel per plastic bag is well-intentioned, yet poorly executed, and I congratulate State Senator Simcha Felder and his colleagues for recognizing as much. Lower income New Yorkers will be disproportionately burdened by this proposal. In addition, this new law will put a strain on the relationship between local and small businesses and their most loyal customers, potentially causing those customers to spend less money in their neighborhoods and harming our local economies.

“Everyone agrees that these bags are an environmental hazard, but the bag tax is not an effective way to reduce their impact on our communities. Our city needs to consider more creative ways to reduce litter and pollution, as well as more creative ways to spend any funding derived through such efforts. We cannot place a new tax on the backs of the poor and call it progressive government,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Ischia Bravo for Assembly - Our Campaign Begins Today




Friends & Supporters,

OUR TIME HAS COME! Today, June 7th, through July 10th our campaign will be out on the streets going door to door collecting petitions in order to officially get on the primary ballot. 

Our campaign has set a HIGH GOAL when it comes to the number of signatures we want to collect and we cannot do it without you. I am running because, as someone born and raised in the 78th district and now raising my two boys here, I have seen firsthand what a lack of leadership in the Assembly has done to hold back our community from progress. I've spent my life fighting for the people of the Bronx - we cannot afford to go on without effective, proactive, and vocal leadership when our communities deserve so much more!

WE NEED YOU to come out and show your support for real effective change we so desperately need. 


Our campaign headquarters is located at 14 Kingsbridge Road and we will be giving out petitions and walk lists every day from 9am until 8pm.

Never petitioned before? Don't worry. Our campaigns staff will train you on the ins and outs of petitioning when you come into the office as well as provide you with a one page sheet with instructions and frequently asked questions. 


I cannot do this without you! 

In Solidarity,
Ischia


OVERSIGHT AND INVESTIGATIONS COMMITTEE TO HEAR POLICE MISCONDUCT BILL



  Tomorrow, the Committee on Oversight and Investigations will hold a hearing for Deputy Leader Council Member Jumaane D. Williams' Intro. 119C bill. 
 
The Early Warnings System bill would require the Inspector General for the Police Department, in consultation with the Law Department, the Police Department, the Comptroller, the Civilian Complaint Review Board, and Commission to Combat Police Corruption, to review information on police misconduct and develop recommendations related to the disciplining, training, and monitoring of police officers. To facilitate this review, the Law Department would be required to publish information on civil actions every six months.

The committee will hear testimony from members of the Administration, New York Police Department (NYPD), and the Law Department.
 
WHO: Committee on Oversight and Investigations, Council MemberVincent J. Gentile (Chair), Council Member Jumaane D. Williams, Members of the Administration, NYPD, and Law Department
 
WHAT: Bill Hearing
 
WHERE: City Hall Council Chambers
 
WHEN: WednesdayJune 8 - 10 a.m.

Monday, June 6, 2016

COMPTROLLER STRINGER AUDIT UNCOVERS NYC BOARD OF ELECTIONS HAS NOT KEPT TRACK OF OVER 1,450 PIECES OF ELECTION & OFFICE EQUIPMENT


   A new audit released today by New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer uncovered that the New York City Board of Elections (BOE) doesn’t have accurate records of over 1,450 pieces of election and office equipment, raising alarms that property could be stolen or go missing without anyone noticing. Without proper inventory controls, the BOE can’t guarantee that all election day materials will get to where they are intended and operations won’t be impeded.
“Just as the Board of Elections may have let thousands of voters slip through the cracks in the most recent election, they’ve bungled the job when it comes to keeping track of their electronic election and office equipment,” Comptroller Stringer said. “Every New Yorker deserves to have their voice heard at the polls and this equipment is essential to running elections smoothly and making sure that happens. Maintaining an accurate inventory is critical to transparency, integrity and accountability at any government agency, and on this count BOE is clearly absentee.”
The City’s inventory control guidelines require the BOE to register all of its equipment on inventory records. The Comptroller’s audit examined how well it is meeting these responsibilities, sampling 5,042 out of 11,146 total BOE items from July 1, 2013 through February 3, 2016. Auditors visited five locked warehouses maintained by the BOE, BOE’s main office in Manhattan and five borough offices.
Over 1,100 Pieces of Equipment not Properly Tagged and Identified
• Auditors discovered 1,176 items that had not been properly tagged with identification markings and asset control numbers, a significant lapse that leaves them vulnerable to theft or the possibility that voting operations may be hindered. These included 463 computers, 449 monitors, 23 laptops, 232 printers and 9 tablets.
Nearly 300 Pieces of Election and Office Equipment not on Inventory lists
• Items that aren’t listed on inventory records can disappear without being noticed. The audit uncovered 287 pieces of voting and office equipment, including 177 purchased since 2014, which were physically located at BOE facilities but weren’t listed on its current inventory records. These items included 45 computers, 127 monitors, 9 laptops, 85 printers, 5 tablets, 12 televisions and 4 voting machines.
Missing Monitors, Laptops and Printers
• Overall, auditors identified 11 missing items, including three monitors, two laptops, four printers, a tablet and a television set. When BOE was asked to locate these 11 items, officials said they would attempt to find them but as of the date of the final audit release, no information was forthcoming.
The Comptroller’s audit made a series of recommendations to BOE, including that they find missing items, maintain complete and accurate records, update its inventory records in real time, conduct an annual inventory of major electronic equipment, tag all of its property and ensure its inventory procedures follow City standards.
“New Yorkers demand that the BOE run elections accurately and efficiently and they also expect it to be able to keep track of the equipment it buys with taxpayer dollars. With three more elections this year there’s a lot of moving pieces to juggle. BOE must take steps now to assure New Yorkers that elections won’t be compromised by mismanagement and poor record-keeping,” Stringer said.


Audit Recommendations
The audit made the following eight recommendations that the BOE should:
  • Ensure that all missing inventory items are located and accounted for.
  • Maintain complete and accurate records of all equipment in accordance with DOI’s Standards for Inventory Control and Management and Comptroller’s Directive #1.
  • Update its inventory records promptly and accurately when changes occur, including new purchases.
  • Conduct an annual inventory count of all its major electronic equipment, ensuring that accurate information regarding all such items and their locations are properly recorded in BOE’s inventory records.
  • Ensure that the annual inventory count of major electronic equipment is properly supervised.
  • Affix proper identification tags marked “Property of the City of New York” to all electronic equipment items and include a sequential internal control number.
  • Review and enhance its written inventory procedures and include all the requirements set forth by DOI’s Standards for Inventory Control and Management.
  • Charge all office equipment purchases to the correct object code in accordance with Comptroller’s Directive #24, Agency Purchasing Procedures and Controls.
Agency Response
BOE generally agreed with the report’s findings and recommendations and described steps they have taken or will take to implement the report’s recommendations.  Further, BOE stated that   “The comptroller’s audit of Board of Elections in the City of New York (the ”Board”) inventory practices for office equipment and voting machines has been instructive and will aid in improving the Board’s inventory practice.  The Board has worked diligently and cooperatively with the Office of the Comptroller of the City of New York in completing this necessary and informative process.”

Man Pleads Guilty In Manhattan Federal Court For Threatening To Blow Up The Statue Of Liberty



   Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that JASON PAUL SMITH pled guilty in Manhattan federal court today to communicating a hoax threat to bomb the Statue of Liberty that resulted in the evacuation of more than 3,200 people from Liberty Island in New York Harbor.  SMITH pled guilty to a one-count Indictment before U.S. District Judge Vernon S. Broderick.
According to the criminal Complaint, Indictment, other documents filed in federal court, and statements made at various proceedings in this case, including today’s guilty plea:
On April 24, 2015, SMITH initiated a call to the emergency 911 system (the “911 Call”) from his iPad using a service that assists hearing-impaired individuals with making and receiving telephone calls (the “Service”).  In the 911 Call, SMITH identified himself as “Abdul Yasin,” described himself as an “ISI terrorist,” and threatened that “we” are preparing to “blow up” the Statue of Liberty.   
Law enforcement officers responded to the threat that SMITH conveyed in the 911 Call, and conducted a sweep of the areas in and around the Statue of Liberty and Liberty Island with the aid of canine units trained to detect explosives.  Canine units alerted in the vicinity of the visitor lockers at the base of the Statue of Liberty, prompting law enforcement officers and emergency responders to evacuate the more than 3,200 people who were on Liberty Island at the time.  Later, the threat conveyed by SMITH was determined to be unfounded.
The iPad registered in SMITH’s name has used the Service to make other 911 calls, including at least two calls in May 2015 from a user who identified himself as “Isis allah Bomb maker” and who threatened to attack Times Square and kill police officers at the Brooklyn Bridge.
SMITH, 42, pled guilty to one count of conveying false and misleading information and hoaxes, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.  The maximum penalty is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.  SMITH is scheduled to be sentenced on September 6, 2016, at 11:00 a.m., before Judge Broderick.           
Mr. Bharara praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (“FBI”) New York Joint Terrorism Task Force – which principally consists of agents from the FBI and detectives from the New York City Police Department.  Mr. Bharara also thanked the United States Park Police for its assistance.

Sunday, June 5, 2016

640 West 238th Street - The Windows of the A Line of the Apartment Building Next Door




  Unfortunately this was the best photo that I could get of the former windows of the bottom floor of the apartment building in which the 'A Line' of the Bonnie House have been closed off with cement blocks and cement. This A line was built to the property line of the Bonnie House where a one family house was set back from the sidewalk allowing for a lovely view and ventilation from the soon to be cemented windows.
   The building right next door which replaces the one family house will be eight stories tall (two more than its neighbor), and those windows you see will also have to be cemented over (after the air conditioners are removed) just like the bottom floor which no longer has windows facing 640 West 238th Street. 
   As you saw in previous posts on this blog it appears that the developer of 640 West 238th Street has no compassion for the community, and is only after making a quick buck. The fun will begin in two months on the corner of Blackstone Avenue and West 238th Street when the one family home with a nice size yard which included two (about) 75 tear old trees will have to be cut down. The garage of the Bonnie House at the corner of Blackstone Avenue and West 237th Street is to be demolished and an L-Shaped building constructed to the property line. Oh, did I forget to say that the Blackstone Avenue site is directly across from where Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz lives, and after he bought his coop the 18 story glass building the Solaria was built. This new building would be the second taller building across from his terrace of the assemblyman.