DE BLASIO ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES $135 MILLION RENOVATION AND PRESERVATION OF ABOUT 550 APARTMENTS FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES IN HARLEM

   Mayor Bill de Blasio, the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC), the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), today join Tahl Propp Equities (TPE), Bellwether Enterprise Real Estate Capital LLC (Bellwether Enterprise) and Enterprise Community Investment Inc. (Enterprise), both subsidiaries of Enterprise Community Partners, Inc., to announce the closing of a deal to finance the acquisition and renovation of five affordable housing properties with a combined total of 18 buildings containing a total of 549 apartments in Harlem. The deal allows for the rehabilitation of all buildings, and means all apartments will remain affordable to low-income tenants for the next 40 years. In addition, all buildings have federal project-based Section 8 contracts, further preserving affordability throughrental subsidies for the property owners.

 

"Preserving affordable housing is an impactful way for us to make our city more affordable and keep New Yorkers thriving. This vast preservation project will help keep more than 500 families in their homes, and is representative of the day-in-and-day-out work we do to make New York stronger," Mayor de Blasio said.

 

U.S. Congressman Charles B. Rangel said, "I'm proud of the work Mayor de Blasio, along with strong public and private partners, has done to keep families together in their homes. These apartments provide hard-working residents with affordable housing options that will allow them to stay in our beloved community. This deal wouldn't have been possible without the hard work of so many people, and I am confident it will provide a blueprint for the kind of public-private cooperation that our constituents expect and depend on to live in the best city of the world."

 

"I am thrilled that buildings in our community will be receiving much needed improvement," said Council Member Mark Levine, Co-Chair of the Affordable Housing Preservation Task Force. "This agreement demonstrates our resolve to preserving affordable housing in communities for decades to come. With quality affordable housing far too much of a rarity in our city, it is imperative that we continue to work together to protect every single unit. Through the partnership of the Mayor, the department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and private investment, we see clearly that affordable housing and quality housing are not mutually exclusive. The fact that affordability can be preserved while quality of life is improved for the over 500 Harlem families is a tremendous achievement and a positive indicator for the direction of housing in our city."

 

Assembly Member Robert J. Rodriguez said, "Great things happen when the public and private sectors collaborate to improve our neighborhoods. The success of these affordable housing properties is a perfect example. This deal will improve the quality of life for hundreds of families who will now have updated furnishings and appliances. Additionally, the long-term commitment to affordability for over 500 units is an incredibly powerful tool to maintain families in their homes and protect the fabric of our community. Congratulations to all partners involved."

 

The five properties are Gladys Hampton Houses (2411 Frederick Douglas Blvd and 400 St. Nicholas Avenue), New West I and II (8-56 West 111th St), and Riverside I and II (602-622 West 135th St). This deal will finance extensive building-wide renovations including roof replacements, new windows and boilers, updates to common areas, and updates to apartment interiors with new kitchen cabinets, appliances, flooring, and bathroom fixtures.

 

"It had been more than 10 years since my apartment had any significant improvements", said Barbara Johnson, a grandmother of three who has resided in one of the buildings for 29 years.  "Under this new partnership with Tahl Propp, my entire kitchen and bathroom have been redone, and soon, work will start on brand-new floors.  With rent prices escalating in this neighborhood so fast, it is important that the private sector and government work together to ensure that people can afford to live here, and there's decent and quality affordable housing for every income". 

Carlos Navarro, a 34-year-old a father of two, said, "Our building was deteriorating, but things are now turning around very fast. The improvements are fantastic, and the response to tenants' needs and concerns by Tahl-Propp is great. This program is helping improve our quality of life for all of us, keeping our housing up-to-date and keeping rents affordable for a long time". 

The properties will remain at full occupancy and continue to receive rental revenue from the project-based Section 8 contracts, as they undergo construction, which will allow, for a more efficient renovation. A portion of the units, upon vacancy, will be set aside for homeless individuals and families.

 

The preservation of this much-needed affordable housing in Harlem and all neighborhoods across New York City is a core mission of Mayor Bill de Blasio's Housing New York: A Five-Borough, 10-Year Housing Plan to finance the creation and preservation of 200,000 affordable units to house New Yorkers with a range of incomes, from the very lowest to those in the middle class. The plan seeks to use affordable housing as an anchor to foster diverse, livable neighborhoods.

 

"Preserving affordable homes is a core HPD mission, and the deals extending the affordability of these 18 buildings in Harlem means over 500 New York families will have affordable homes for another 40 years. That is key to the stability of our families, or neighborhoods -- and indeed our city as a whole," HPD Commissioner Vicki Been said.  "I want to thank our partners at Tahl Propp, Bellwether, Enterprise, and HDC for their commitment to making New York City a more affordable city."

 

"Investing in the revitalization of our communities' affordable housing stock is an effective way to mitigate the City's housing crisis. Through thoughtful investments, we are preserving affordability and creating opportunities across our city for so many New Yorkers in need," said HDC President Gary Rodney. "I want to commend HPD, HUD, Bellwether Enterprise, Fannie Mae, Tahl Propp, and Enterprise Community Partners for devoting their talents, skills, and capital towards ensuring New York City is a city for all."

 

"HUD's long-term Section 8 contracts not only preserve desperately needed affordable housing units, but also ensure that our neighborhoods remain economically diverse," said Holly Leicht HUD Regional Administrator for New York and New Jersey. "These buildings, which will be significantly renovated, will provide quality housing at a reasonable cost for hundreds of longtime Harlem residents, so they can continue to share in the benefits of the neighborhood revitalization they helped catalyze."

 

"Over the past decade, rents in Harlem have increased dramatically, pushing out hardworking families who struggle to make ends meet," said Phil Melton, executive vice president of Bellwether Enterprise. "Protecting affordable housing is crucial to helping families get ahead and ensuring the continued vitality of historic neighborhoods around the country." 

 

"New York City loses thousands of affordable apartments each year despite the ever-increasing need, which is why the city's effort to preserve affordable homes in a variety of neighborhoods is absolutely critical," said Judi Kende, vice president and New York market leader, Enterprise Community Partners. "We're proud to work with Bellwether Enterprise, Tahl Propp and our city partners on such a large-scale initiative to keep Harlem families in their neighborhood for the long term."

 

"The City's affordable housing shortage, especially in vulnerable, historic neighborhoods like Harlem, calls for bold and innovative solutions, rooted in strong partnerships, vision and responsiveness to the community. Since launching our affordable housing preservation initiative in 2013, we have achieved the long-term preservation of some 1,500 units of affordable housing in both East and West Harlem, all of which are specifically set aside for low-income residents. We are also working with the City on the construction of over 1,000 units of new affordable housing in Harlem, for total preservation and new production of 2,500 affordable units. We are proud to work with dedicated and talented affordable housing professionals at HPD, HDC, HUD, Bellwether Enterprise and Enterprise on this important effort to provide and preserve quality affordable housing for our families in Harlem who need it the most", said Joseph A. Tahl, president and co-founder of Tahl Propp Equities.

 

The total development costs of the portfolio, including the cost of acquisition and rehabilitation, total nearly $135,133,374. HPD provided a loan in the amount of approximately $15.2 million. HPD also provided Low-Income Housing Tax Credits to the project which resulted in $35.9 million in equity. HDC provided Tax Exempt Bonds which resulted in $62,345,000 in construction financing from Bellwether Enterprise. Enterprise syndicated the tax credit equity to finance the deal.

 

To finance the loan, Bellwether Enterprise arranged a Fannie Mae credit enhancement for two series of bonds issued by the New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC). Fannie Mae's Reduced Occupancy and Rehabilitation (ROAR) program underwrote the property's credit enhancement.

 

More information on available apartments and instructions on how to apply are available in Arabic, Simplified Chinese, Haitian Creole, Korean, Russian, and Spanish on the NYC Housing Connect website via this link: NYC Housing Connect. To learn more about the affordable housing lottery process and other available housing lotteries, visit HPD's website at nyc.gov/hpd/renters/find-housing.page. Applicants may submit either a paper or an electronic application. Duplicate applications will be disqualified.

 

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

By Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz

District 32 Bronx County, New York

If Charter Schools Help Our Black and Hispanic Children, Why Are Our Black and Hispanic Elected Officials Opposed to Them?

You should know that charter schools are a blessing to help our Black and Hispanic children to be able to obtain a good education in our poor areas.

These charter schools have been opened in minority communities where Black and Hispanic children reside.  There are very few charter schools in other communities.

If this is so, then why are our Black and Hispanic legislators opposed to these charter schools opening in our barrios.

It is important for you to know that in the Tuesday, August 2, 2016 edition of the New York Post, there is an article, “Minority report – charter tops” that was written by Selim Algar that states:

1.     Minority charter students are twice as likely to be proficient in math than public school peers;

2.     Minority charter students are 50 percent more likely to be proficient in English than public school peers;

3.     76 percent of charter schools outperformed their district schools in math;

4.     71 percent of charter schools outperformed their district public schools in English

The questions we all have to ask ourselves are:

1.     If charter schools give Black and Hispanic children a guarantee for a better education so they can compete, then why oppose charter schools to continue operating in our area?

2.     If our Black and Hispanic legislators say that they wish to improve education opportunities for our children, then why are the majority of these legislators opposed to progress for our children by rejecting charter schools?

We legislators all have to recognize the importance of our public schools and we have to assign resources so teachers and principals will have all the resources necessary in order for our children to get a good education in their public schools.

On the other hand, it is well known that there is a high percentage of our Black and Hispanic children who are being left behind in our public schools, which we know by the high percentage of students dropping out, and other students being promoted to the next grade without knowing how to read or write.

The charter schools have to be competitive, and they are.  They have proven that our children are smart, intelligent and with the right tools, resources and attention, they can compete with anyone else.

We all know that children in public schools that are located in other ethnic communities get better resources, buildings, equipment, maintenance, protection, and overall better attention than what is given to our children in our barrios.

You should also know that I, together with the Reverend Wyatt Tee Walker and Reverend Floyd Flake were the first ones who fought for the establishment and creation of charter schools in New York City.

In 1999, the three of us were part of the first charter school opening in the City: the Canaan Charter School in Harlem.  I was happy to see this documented on page 27 in the book written by Mary C. Bounds titled “A Light Shines in Harlem.”

Since that time, and as a New York State Senator, even with the opposition of Black and Hispanic legislators, we have approved 460 charter schools, we have at least 34 charter schools that serve the families of my Senatorial District, and for this, I am very proud.

As a minority State Senator who wishes the best for our community, I will continue to fight to get more charter schools in my district because parents who I represent want the opportunity to send their children to a charter school or a school of their choice.  

I will also continue to fight for more resources for the public schools in my district so teachers have the resources they need to educate our children.

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

National Night Out in the 50th, 52nd, and 49th Precincts

   Tuesday was National night out in the eleven police precincts in the Bronx. Since I could not be at all eleven event I attended three of them. I began at the 50th Pct.on West 234th Street between Bailey Avenue and Broadway. The photos will tell the rest of the story.

Above - Deputy Inspector O'Toole shows off his latest addition to the fleet of police cars.

Below - Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz joins DI O'Toole along side the new Smart police car, and it appears the two take up more than half of the cars length, and may both just fit into the new police car. Each police precinct has been assigned one Smart police car which replaces the three wheeled scooters, and at half the cost.

Above - The Community Board 8 table has State Senator Jeff Klein and CB 8 Chairman Dan Padernacht are on each side of board member Amy Joy Robateau as the community board  is giving out reusable tote bags. 

Below - A photo of the early crowd here.

Fresh fruits such as bananas, apples and oranges were being given out as healthy snacks.

Above - It was on to Poe Park on the Grand Concourse and the 52nd Pct. The Councilman Ritchie Torres Table is at the lower Right with Mr. Ron Jordan manning the table.

Below - Community Board 7 District Manager Andrew Sandler seems to have things well in hand at the CB 7 table, as Traffic and Transportation Chair Lowell Greene sits beside her DM. 

Above - The Assemblyman Jose Rivera table.

Below - Assemblyman Rivera's opponent in the September Democratic primary was also on hand to talk to potential voters. Other elected officials here included Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj, Councilman Fernando Cabrera while I was here.

Above - It was off to the 49th Pct. National night out where the commanding officer welcomed everyone.

Below - State Senator Jeff Klein greets the crowd.

Above - City Comptroller Scott Stringer was short but to the point in his speech.

Below - Stringer and Bronx BP Diaz Jr. get in a few words.

Above - Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie was on hand as he chats with 36th State Senate candidate Jamaal Bailey.

Below - 80th A.D. Female District Leader Andrea Seagle (in red) stands with Comptroller Stringer and Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj. It appears that Seagle is the only one in the 80th A.D. with a primary challenge.

Above - Staff and friends of councilman Andy King.

Below - Staff members of State Senator Jeff Klein and Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj.

New State of the Art Recreation Center Coming to the Edenwald Area

 

   Above are renderings of the new State of the Art recreation center that is coming to the edenwald area to be located at 1250 East 229th Street. Mayor Bill de Blasio, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, local Councilman Andy King, former State Senator now Special Advisor to Governor Cuomo on Housing Ruth Hassel-Thompson, and other Bronx elected officials were also on hand for the announcement. This is to be a 50,000 square foot YMCA that will include an aquatics center (with two swimming pools), a wellness center, full length basketball court, gymnasium, and programing for people of all ages and income levels. This will create 100 permanent living wage jobs, and 101 construction jobs. The Ymca has also pledged to a 35 percent MWBE contracting goal for design and construction, and to hire local residents through the NYCEDC's Hire NYC program. There will be 200 parking spaces for the new recreation center. The total estimated cost is forty-eight million dollars 

   Mayor de Blasio said that his commitment to the Y comes from his wife who grew up in a small town where the local Y had a big impact on her life. He quoted numbers that show this area of the Bronx has been short changed when it comes to family recreation centers, but that will now end when this new YMCA open in 2020. 

    Speaker Heastie said that this is not a new idea, but one that has lingered under five mayors now, and it seems that five is the lucky number to the community as their dream will become a reality. This had been a dream of former Community Board 12 District Manager Carmen Rosa before she passed away, and it would be fitting to name the recreation center after her. 

   Former State Senator Ruth Hassel-Thompson said that she rushed up from her new job in Manhattan as an advisor to Governor Andrew Cuomo on housing to be at this event. She said that it was the boys Mayor de Blasio, Speaker Heastie, and Bronx BP Ruben Diaz Jr. who were getting the credit, but that there were several women like herself who were involved in making this a reality. 

Above - Mayor Bill de Blasio points to a rendering of what the new Edenwald Recreation Center will look like when it is built.

Below - The mayor makes the famous Bronx X showing his support for the Bronx.

Above - Speaker Heastie and Bronx BP Diaz Jr. go over some of the features of the new recreation center.

Below - Mayor Bill de Blasio and Speaker Heastie.

Above - Mayor de Blasio with an ally from the 2013 election former State Senator Ruth Hassel-Thompson, who said she loves her new job as an advisor to Governor Cuomo on housing, and the commute to lower Manhattan.

Below - The mayor and the leading candidate to replace Hassel-Thompson in the state senate Mr. Jamaal Bailey, whom she has endorsed.

Above - Councilman Andy King is speaking as Mayor de Blasio listens. Councilman Kink was another supporter of candidate Bill de Blasio in th 2013 mayoral race.

Below - Councilman Andy King with Councilman Andrew Cohen who represents part of Wakefield and the neighboring council district. 

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. is interviewed by the local cable channel.

Nothing New at Board of Elections Hearings

  There seemed to be nothing new this year when compared to previous years when party positions have been up for grabs. There have been slates of people who want to get elected to a party position, and then there are those who want to stay an elected to their party positions. This year was no different. 

Down in the pits (as it is called) you can see the two Bronx Board of Elections official with counsel to the Board of Elections as the Commissioners of the Board of Elections sit in the background. 

Above - King Stanley Schlein is defending a candidates petition to keep that candidate on the ballot.

Below - King Stanley is representing the challenger to try to knock off the candidates petition.

  The highlights included King Stanley Schlein the lawyer for the Bronx Democratic County organization representing current 78th A.D. Assemblyman Jose Rivera's Democratic petition.  As I said in last weeks 100 PERCENT column in the Bronx Voice that Rivera's petition looked like a school board petition with lots of mistakes that would be expected of an amateur. Here are the numbers from the clerks report - 2,553 signatures filed for current Assemblyman Jose Rivera. Total valid signatures 901, valid signatures needed 500 - result Jose Rivera will be on the democratic primary ballot even though the Board of Elections ruled more than seventy-one percent of the signatures invalid. That was not counting any fraud, forgery, or any one of many items that the Board of Elections does not rule on which has to be challenged in the courts. Bronx Democratic County Counsel Stanley Schlein however was also able to keep incumbent Jose Rivera on the Working Families line. Probably should Rivera lose the Democratic primary he will still be on the November ballot. One person asked me "Just who is Schlein working for" adding that Schlein has no business keeping someone on the Working Families line. "What's next keeping someone on the Republican line"?

   As for others - Hector Ramirez was ruled to be on the ballot in the 86th A.D., Jason McNeil was ruled off for not having enough signatures filed, but was also ruled off earlier for no cover sheet. King Stanley said he wanted to give "A Double Whack to this one". In the 80th A.D. it looks like Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj will not face a challenger, but his Female District Leader will. In the 87th A.D. the entire slate of candidates for Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda will be facing primary opponents, and the 79th A.D. insurgent Judicial Delegate slate has been knocked off by Current Female District Leader Cynthia Cox. 

  

   The court challenges now begin as some of the challenges heard today are already in the courts as said by a few candidates. 

Potential Settlement over 15.1 percent Maintenance Hike at Parkchester

   Assemblymember Sepulveda, and Senator Diaz, a unit owner and lead plaintiff,  filed a lawsuit in Bronx state Supreme Court on March 23 against the Parkchester South Condominium's management over a 15.19 percent  maintenance hike that management said it needs for structural repair work. The court has barred management from evicting any unit owners for failure to pay the increase until the outcome of the court case. They will announce tonight a preliminary settlement in the case.

WHEN: 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, August 2, 2016

WHERE: St. Paul's Church gymnasium, 1891 McGraw Ave., Bronx, NY 

New York Post - Opponents Claim Crespo's Petition Riddled With Fraud

   That is the theme of a story in the New York Post which says that the 2016 petition of  Assemblyman, and Bronx Democratic County Leader Marcos Crespo includes. The Post reports that three pages in the petition have nearly identical signatures from the same address from one Bronx address, and are witnessed by three different people on the same day. 

   Crespo's opponent also claims that only 222 of the over 3,400 signatures are valid. 500 valid signatures are needed to be placed on the ballot for the Democratic Primary, which in the Bronx usually is the only election needed to win office. The Post says that Crespo is not concerned at all, and calls the charges "Absurd'. I was unable to contact the Crespo campaign for any other comments.

 Tomorrow is the hearings before the commissioners of the Board of Elections, but I can tell you the answer Crespo's opponent will get is that the Board of Elections does not rule on any cases of fraud, forgery, or any other matter that must be decided by the court system. 

  My prediction is that the Board of Elections will throw out any duplicate signatures or other matters they have jurisdiction over, thus leaving Assemblyman Marcos Crespo with more than enough valid signatures to make the primary ballot. The clerks report will be moved by King Stanley Schlein, and Crespo's petition will be ruled valid by the Board of Elections.

Frightening Pokémon GO sex offender investigation sent to Niantic Inc

Senators Klein & Savino urge company in letter to remove in-game objectives from within 100-feet of high-level sex offenders homes

Legislators also introduce legislation to requiring companies to consult sex offender registry; and bar sex offenders from playing augmented reality games

Senators Jeff Klein and Diane Savino on Monday sent a copy of their frightening investigation to Pokémon GO game developer Niantic Inc., asking the company in a letter to police their own application by purging in-game objectives from within 100-feet of dangerous sexual predators listed publicly under Megan’s Law.

Within 48 hours of the investigation’s release, Governor Andrew Cuomo recognized that the alarming discoveries spelled disaster and issued a directive to ban sex offenders from playing internet-based games.

“We do not want children hunting down to encounter a predator. Lingering in front of a dangerous pedophile’s home to capture a wild Zubat, a Pidgey or a Pikachu could lead to dangerous consequences and that’s why we must make sure that Niantic, Inc. and all future augmented reality game makers remove in-game objectives from appearing within 100-feet of sex offenders’ addresses. That includes pokéstops and Gyms where children congregate,” said Senator Klein.

“There could be real world consequences to playing augmented reality games and before any child winds up getting hurt we want Niantic, Inc. to act responsibly. Throwing pokeballs in front of a predator’s home to catch a creature generated by the game, or hanging out to battle a Pokemon at a Gym or collect needed objects at a pokéstop within 100-feet of a sex offender’s home puts children at risk,” said Senator Savino.

During the investigation, 100 Level 2 and 3 sex offenders’ residences were visited. “Protecting Our Children: How Pokémon GO and Augmented Reality Games Expose Children to Sex Offenders,” released on Friday, found:

• Pokémon materialized in front of Level 2 or 3 sex offenders’ homes 57% of the time.

• Pokéstops or Gyms were located within a half-block of convicted pedophiles’ residences 59% of the time.

• A Pokémon-related item appeared near a high-level sex offenders’ residences 73% of the time.

Senators Klein and Savino introduced legislation to require augmented reality game developers to regularly consult the Division of Criminal Justice Services sex offender registry and remove all in-game objectives within 100-feet of a high-level sex offenders home.

The legislators also introduced legislation to ban Level 2 and 3 sex offenders on parole and probation from playing augmented reality games. This legislation will codify Governor Cuomo’s directive.