Morris Park Community Association & Bharati Foundation Presents "BOOKS With BHARATI" on Friday, December 9th 6:30PM at MPCA Community Center 1824 Bronxdale Ave.

The Morris Park Community Association

The Bharati Foundation

Presents “Books With Bharati”

An Evening of Reading for the Youth and the Community

Friday, December 9^th 6:30PM at MPCA Community Center

Must RSVP by December 2nd at mpassociation@outlook.com or call Tina 718-823-0596

SBA Roundtable with Hispanic Business Owners

MAYOR DE BLASIO RELEASES NOVEMBER FINANCIAL PLAN UPDATE, INCLUDES FIRST NOVEMBER CITYWIDE SAVINGS PROGRAM UNDER HIS ADMINISTRATION

City maintains historic levels of reserves, protecting fiscal health

   Mayor Bill de Blasio released New York City’s November Financial Plan Update on Thursday. The $83.46 billion Fiscal Year 2017 budget remains balanced, including $1 billion in savings in FY17 and FY18 and $719 million in FY19 and FY20. This marks the first time the de Blasio Administration has a Citywide Savings Program in the annual November budget update. 

“This year’s Plan proves yet again that we can be both progressive and fiscally responsible,” said Mayor de Blasio. “With this updated budget, we are announcing $1 billion in savings – and our Plan to build on these savings during next year’s budget process. We are once again proving to New Yorkers that we will continue to prioritize the initiatives most important to the city’s future while protecting the City’s fiscal health.”

The Plan released Thursday reduces this year's tax revenue projection by $127 million. This shortfall will be covered by agency and debt service savings, which have also allowed the Administration to reduce the FY18 out-year gap by $576 million.

Click here to view the November Plan.

Increased Pension Contributions

The November Plan includes $120 million dedicated to covering pension fund obligations in FY18 in light of the fund’s underperformance this year. Pension fund performance will push city taxpayer contributions to $241 million in FY19, and $361 million in FY20. The City is required to cover any returns below an assumed fund growth rate of 7 percent. The funds grew 3.2 percent in FY15 and 1.5 percent in FY16.

Savings

The November Financial Plan recognizes savings, including:

• Contracting directly with storage service vendors to reduce annual costs by 40 percent, resulting in savings of $3.7 million annually beginning in FY18.
• Reducing use of paper checks by increasing the number employees and vendors paid electronically, and eliminating inter and intra agency checks, saving $1 million in FY18, $2 million in FY19 and $3 million in FY20.
• Using city vehicles more efficiently by expanding car sharing and intra-agency transfer of available vehicles, which will eliminate underutilized vehicles and reduce rental expenses, saving $10 million in FY18, $13 million in FY19 and $11 million in FY20.
• Debt service savings, equaling $151   million in FY17, $33 million in FY18, $72 million in FY19 and $83 million in FY20.

Reserves

This budget maintains the unprecedented levels of reserves achieved by Mayor de Blasio:

• $4.0 billion in the Retiree Health Benefit Trust.
• $1 billion annually in the General Reserve.
• $500 million in the Capital Stabilization Reserve.

THIS WEEKEND!!!! Public Access to Jerome Park Reservoir

  GROUNDS OF JEROME PARK RESERVOIR TO BE OPENED FOR LIMITED ACCESS RECREATION IN NOVEMBER

The New York City Environmental Protection Agency will open the grounds of Jerome Park Reservoir in the Bronx for special limited access November 19 and 20 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. 

The two-mile perimeter along the Reservoir will be open to the public.  Entrance to the Reservoir will be through the Gate House located at the west side of Goulden Avenue, just south of West 205 Street, across the street from Bronx High School of Science. There will be a security check, and no bags, cameras, or cell phones will be allowed inside. EPA will give visitors the opportunity to check cell phones, but should not bring any bags.

Smoking is not allowed near the reservoir, so please do not bring any cigarettes, cigars, lighters or matches with you.

Please wear closed toe shoes.

Dogs will not be allowed.

All participants will be required to sign a liability waiver before admittance.

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz Kicks Off Annual Holiday Canned Food Drive

NY-Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz(D-Bronx) has kicked off his annual canned food and turkey drive with students from local schools and participating residential buildings. 

The Assemblyman’s office will be accepting donations until December 16^th with a pick-up for Thanksgiving scheduled for November 14^th. Food will be donated to various non-profit organizations in the Northwest Bronx for families in need during the Thanksgiving, Chanukah, and Christmas holiday seasons.  The following canned and non-perishable food items are accepted: canned fruits and vegetables, cereals, dried beans, pasta, rice, tuna, coffee, teas, canned juices, powdered milk, jell-o, and soups.  No glass jars are acceptable except for baby food.

Some schools are also collecting one-dollar donations for the purchase of turkeys for needy families on Thanksgiving.

“Our annual food drive is always such a wonderful event, and I believe this year’s will be even better than the last,” said Assemblyman Dinowitz. “I am always encouraged to continue this event by the selfless actions of our community. We always see a huge swell of support for this, from buildings, to schools, to residents who drop off even a single can at my office. Every year this community donates an impressive amount of food for those in need, making me proud to represent such a generous community. I look forward to another great year of giving, and thank in advance everyone who participates through their donations.”   

Residents are encouraged to set up their own collection bins in their buildings as well, and a time for pick-up can be coordinated by contacting Assemblyman Dinowitz’s office.

Residents may donate their canned goods to Assemblyman Dinowitz’s office located at 3107 Kingsbridge Avenue; one block west of Broadway, just off of West 231st Street.  For more information, call (718) 796-5345.

VISION ZERO: AS DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME ENDS, MAYOR DE BLASIO REMINDS NEW YORKERS OF DANGERS OF DUSK AND EVENINGS ON OUR STREETS

Clocks “fall back” this Sunday, November 6 at 2:00 AM; as part of new Vision Zero Dusk and Darkness initiative, stepped up NYPD enforcement against dangerous driving will be concentrated between 4:00 PM and 9:00 PM

   Mayor Bill de Blasio today issued a reminder to New Yorkers about the dangers of dusk and evening hours as clocks change this coming Sunday. The de Blasio Administration last week announced a new Vision Zero Dusk and Darkness initiative that includes stepped-up NYPD enforcement against unsafe driving during those hours, supplemented by the addition of new street lighting to high-crash crosswalks, a new educational awareness campaign and new street redesigns. Fall and winter evenings have traditionally been the most dangerous time of year for pedestrians, with serious crashes during that time increasing by 40 percent compared to the rest of the year.

“While we all can be grateful for an extra hour’s sleep this coming weekend, at the same time we all need to stay alert and mindful of the Vision Zero focus on safety,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “Darker afternoons and evenings make a big difference on our streets for the safety of pedestrians, especially for our seniors. We are reminding drivers to be extra-vigilant, slowing down and turning at 5 miles per hour on our streets – someone’s life could literally depend on it.”

“The NYPD is working with our partners to increase pedestrian safety, especially after the daylight saving time change – when the sunset is earlier in the day and coincides with the evening rush,” said NYPD Commissioner James P. O’Neill. “New York is a fast-paced City, but I want to ask all New Yorkers – especially motorists – to slow down and look out for one another. Officers will be issuing summonses to those who don’t.”

“Our research shows that rush-hour driving in newly dark evenings of the fall can be a perilous combination for pedestrians,” said DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg. “One of our major goals for Vision Zero is to increase awareness and counteract careless driving behavior, so we are reminding New Yorkers that in the colder, darker months ahead, they need to exercise extra caution and slow down, especially when taking turns.”

DOT conducted extensive analysis of year-over-year crash trends, and noted that:

·         The earlier onset of darkness in the fall and winter is highly correlated to a 40 percent increase in traffic injuries and fatalities.

·         Lower visibility during the dark hours of the colder months leads to twice as many crashes involving turns.

·         Daylight saving time ended last year on November 1, 2015; in the eight days following last year’s “fall-back” clock change, nine New York City pedestrians lost their lives, one of the deadliest periods of the entire year. All of the victims were between 55 and 88 years old; only three of those deaths occurred during daylight hours.

In 2016, as part of Vision Zero, DOT has implemented its most aggressive street redesign safety program, with increased investment in street redesign and traffic-calming measures citywide. DOT has also improved the safety at a record number of dangerous intersections and thoroughfares, installing more than 18 miles of protected bike lanes along key high traffic corridors like Queens Boulevard, 6th Avenue, Chrystie Street, Jay Street, and Amsterdam Avenue and installed a record number of leading pedestrian intervals (LPIs) – more than 500 – to give pedestrians a head start while crossing the street.

For more information about the de Blasio Administration’s Vision Zero initiative, please see www.nyc.gov/visionzero.

BJCC Breakfast of Champions Wed. Nov 30th

Help us keep our food pantry full!  Tickets for the breakfast can be  purchased at our NY Charities Page.  We need your journal ads by Friday,  November 18!  Looking forward to seeing you on  November 30.

Visit our Website:  http://www.bjcconline.org/ and  Like us on Facebook

SENATOR JEFF KLEIN HOSTS NALOXONE TRAINING

  In response to recent heroin-related deaths in the community, Senator Jeff Klein, along with the Throggs Neck Community Action Partnership and the NYC Department of Health, hosted a Naloxone training session at Villa Barone Manor last night. The event was attended by over 200 people who were very interested in stopping a problem that has become increasing in their community

Carolynn Colandro, whose son died of a fatal overdose, shared the story of how her 29 year old Nicholas was lead on to a path which eventually killed him. As she was telling the story Ms. Colandro had to stop, and her daughter Francesca had to continue until her mother regained her composure to be able to finish her families tragedy over drug addition which led to Nicholas's death.

Also on hand were family and friends of Christopher Morello, Anthony Trotta, and Billy Brennan who also recently died of drug overdoses. They wanted to know what the police department in the area was doing about drug sales in the 45th Precinct, and Senator Klein said that he would set up a town hall meeting so that community residents could get the answers why this is increasing in the area.

To prevent further tragedies, Senator Klein discussed the recently enacted laws to help combat the heroin and opioid epidemic. there was also a presentation from the New York City Department of Health. Those in attendance who came to find out more about Naloxone who filled out a required form received a Naloxone kit. They were also instructed on how to use Naloxone if they see someone they think is overdosing on a drug.

Above - Photos and names of those who have died of drug overdoses in the 45th Precinct over the past year or two.

Below - State Senator Jeff Klein presents some information on how New York State has put aside $189 million dollars to fight and educate people of all ages on drug treatment and prevention programs, among other ways of ending the current drug overdose crisis.

Above - Carolynn Colandro tells of the horrors of her son Nicholas's addiction to drugs. She mentions that he was overcoming it, but wound up using drugs again which wound up killing him.

Below - As her mother can no longer speak Nicholas's sister Francesca continues to tell of the horrors that the Colandro family went through.

Above - Senator Klein thanks Carolynn Colandro and daughter Francesca on being brave and able to tell the story of the addiction that lead up to the death of Nicholas Colandro.

Below - Naloxone kits are being given to those who filled out requests, and they are being given instructions on how to use Naloxone should they ever need to use it.