Statement from New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer on the Tragic Explosion at a Bronx Homeless Shelter

  “This stirs up incredibly difficult emotions. What heartbreaking news. It’s another tragic day for the city, with more tragic news for those who need our help most.

“We’ve lost two more of our youngest, most vulnerable New Yorkers. It comes as the homeless population has just reached yet another record high, and the number of children in the DHS system is soaring. We have to do better.

“We will ask questions and work to get answers about what happened here—transparency is key. But for now, these children are in my family’s thoughts. It’s a sad day.”

Following Tragedy, Comptroller Stringer Calls on the City to Create a Roadmap to Tackle Homelessness

After promising to phase out both “cluster sites” and commercial hotels, the City is making little progress on both 

With over 13,000 open violations, "cluster site" shelters remain dangerous for our children

Department of Homeless Services dramatically escalating the use of commercial hotels, costing hundreds of millions of dollars

  

  Following the tragic death of two children in the Bronx yesterday, New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer today called for the City to release a roadmap to solving the homelessness crisis.

“I am outraged by the deaths of these children. What a horrifying loss. My heart goes out to this family in this time of unimaginable pain,” New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer said. “I’m calling on the City to release a roadmap to tackle our homeless crisis. Cluster sites are known to be dangerous. Hotels are extraordinarily expensive and provide limited services. These options make no sense. That’s why we need a clear, transparent, public plan. While I know that progress will take time, we cannot continue to accept the status quo. The City promised to end its reliance on both of these forms of shelter – and we are no doubt trending in the wrong direction.”

As the deaths of two young children in the Bronx yesterday highlighted, “cluster sites” – buildings that have a mix of renters and DHS clients – can be extremely dangerous for homeless families. Many of these rooms are within buildings owned by notoriously bad landlords, a problem the City has known about for years. Currently, cluster sites not previously identified for closure have more than 13,000 open violations – including nearly 1,000 that are “high priority” and especially dangerous.

Currently, roughly 280 of the over 600 buildings that are used to house homeless New Yorkers – or 42 percent – contain cluster sites for families with children. At 720 Hunts Point Avenue, the location of yesterday’s tragedy, there are over 60 open HPD and DOB violations.

In January 2016, the City pledged to phase out thousands of units in the cluster program within three years. Yet, the city has made minimal progress towards that goal and the public has no timelines or milestones upon which to judge the agency’s approach.

New data also shows DHS’ use of commercial hotels is soaring. Because of a lack of a roadmap, in the letter to HRA Commissioner Steven Banks, Comptroller Stringer outlined his deep concerns with greatly expanding the approved capacity for hotel use:

• 2,629 hotel units for families with kids.
• 225 hotel units for adult families.
• 1,075 beds for single adults.
• The total cost of the most recent hotel escalation: over $217,000,000.

New cost numbers show the soaring price-tag for commercial hotels:

• Commercial hotel units cost about $6,600 per month, or almost $79,000 per year – nearly double the cost for any other shelter type.
• Yet, often, commercial hotel shelters have more limited services than other types of shelter, like child care service for families.
• These hotels are also known to be less secure than traditional shelters.
• Furthermore, hotel units lack kitchens and provide less privacy – making them inappropriate for families to live in long-term.

Comptroller Stringer also questioned if DHS had a comprehensive plan to address our City’s homelessness crisis. He specifically asked the City to answer:

• How the City plans to phase out the use of “cluster site” shelters by the end of 2018, and if it was on track to do so;
• If, given DHS’ request to dramatically expand the use of commercial hotels, the Administration’s policy was still to end using this type of shelter.
• Whether the City had offered security services to every commercial hotel used as a shelter, what those services entail, if the hotels had accepted, and if the City had stopped using any hotels that declined security services.

Over the last year, audits, investigations, and reports from Comptroller Stringer’s office have highlighted deplorable shelter conditions, the use of unsafe commercial hotels to house the homeless, and unregulated shelter-based childcare centers that put children at risk.

CRESPO AND DIAZ ANNOUNCE NEW APPLIANCES FOR NYCHA RESIDENTS

Assemblyman Marcos Crespo and Senator Ruben Diaz worked to secure  $3 Million in funding for New York City Housing Authority Improvements

    Assemblyman Marcos A. Crespo, Chair of the Assembly Puerto Rican Hispanic Task Force and member of the Speaker’s Anti-Poverty Working Group has announced that thanks to funding he helped secure through the 2016-17 State Budget, residents of housing developments in the Bronx will be receiving new appliances.  The upgrade to new appliances comes a few weeks before Christmas, Hanukkah and end of year celebrations.

According to Assemblyman Marcos A. Crespo: “I am proud to be able to deliver critical funding for the developments in my district including providing over $500,000 for new appliances for the residents of Stebbins and Bronx River housing developments.”

In addition, Assemblyman Crespo said: “This is part of my ongoing work to improve our communities and quality of life for all its residents.  Safe, decent and affordable housing is the bedrock to achieving such goals.”  

“These investments in Stebbins-Hewitt and Bronx River Houses will improve quality of life for hundreds of residents,” said NYCHA General Manager Michael Kelly. “Brand-new appliances, like stoves and refrigerators, will improve residents’ kitchens and cooking experiences for the long term. We thank the Assembly Member for his commitment to strengthening these communities with these in-home upgrades.”

Norma Saunders, President of the Bronx River Houses Tenant Association made the following remarks: "They say that when you practice gratefulness, there is a sense of respect towards others. This quote is exactly who Assemblyman Marcos Crespo and Senator Rev. Ruben Diaz Sr. represents They are providing new appliances for our seniors in both senior buildings at Bronx River Houses. This is much needed and much appreciated by the seniors and the Resident Association."

Ray Serrano President for the Resident Association of Stebbins Hewitt said: "It was definitely a pleasant surprise to our residents from Stebbins Hewitt Houses to receive new stoves and refrigerators this week. As resident leader I appreciate the fact that NYCHA with the help of Marcos Crespo recognize that the stoves and refrigerators we previously had in our apartments or substandard. One of our residents stated "the stove I had previously had two burners that did not light and I was constantly worried if there was a gas leak. Now I do not have to worry about that. I guess I could call it an early Christmas gift. Thanks NYCHA for stepping up!”

Under the Leadership of Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie, the Assembly Majority fought hard to secure much needed capital funding for the public housing developments owned and operated by New York City House Authority (NYCHA). 

While the residents of Stebbins – Hewitt are already in the process of receiving the delivery of new appliances, On Friday, December 9th at 3:30PM, Assemblyman Crespo, and NYCHA staff met with the residents of 1350 Manor Avenue of the Bronx River Houses Senior Buildings to announce their delivery schedule.

Above and Below - Assemblyman Marcos Crespo went to the residents with NYCHA officials to personally let the residents know that they were to receive a new stove and refrigerator providing the appliances had not been already replaced in the past five years. The residents thanked Assemblyman Crespo for his help, while informing him of other problems at the houses that the assemblyman and his staff will look into.

2016 New Year's Eve Party in the Heart of Times Square

BP DIAZ STATEMENT ON TODDLERS DEATH IN CLUSTER HOMELESS SHELTER

  "The cluster homeless shelter program has been broken for a long time and should have been eliminated years ago," said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. "There is an undeniable homelessness crisis in this city, and the city must initiate an aggressive reform in the shelter system to provide humane, clean and safe spaces for our most vulnerable residents during a difficult time.

“This is why Councilmember Rafael Salamanca will be introducing legislation, at my behest, to prevent the City of New York from leasing space in buildings that have outstanding C-level violations or stop-work orders; including hotels, motels, cluster-sites, and shelters; used for the purpose of housing homeless individuals or families.

“I will continue to work with all of my partners in government to identify the bad actors in our shelter system, in order to protect our most vulnerable residents.”

MAYOR DE BLASIO ON THE DEATH OF TWO CHILDREN IN THE BRONX

  I wanted to speak for a couple of minutes about the tragedy our city experienced yesterday in the Bronx. And I visited the apartment where the two children passed away – Ibanez and Scylee – two-year-old and one-year-old – and it is very painful to see that. My heart goes out to this family – to the parents who have lost their two children. I can only imagine that pain. Two beautiful children – there were photos on the walls; drawings on the wall. It was a very – clearly a warm, and loving household, there is no question about that.

And the loss that we all feel here – I was with the precinct commander and some of the detectives from the precinct – everyone felt the sort of [inaudible] silence looking at this room  and sensing the loss that this family had experienced. And it was really hard to talk about. And I have to tell you, there’s going to be a very full investigation – rigorous investigation to figure out what happened here. NYPD is doing an investigation – of course, the Department of Homeless Services and our Housing Department – HPD – are investigating as well.

But what we know so far suggests an extraordinary an unprecedented accident – something that we – no one that I have talked to so far in any agency has ever seen anything like this. Steve Banks, who has so much history – for 30 years worked with the homeless and [inaudible] leading experts on building [inaudible] for New York City – no one has ever seen anything like this. And we need to understand what happened here. We do not see any precedent in anything that has happened before. This was a freak accident, a series of painful coincidences that led to the loss of these children. HPD went through the building and the adjoining building. They apparently have an adjoined boiler system – went through, went to every apartment last night, did not find anything [inaudible]. They restored the heat as a result. There were no specific complaints that we knew of that would have indicated anything like this. There had been an inspection of this apartment last month. We are trying to put the pieces together, but so far cannot understand how something like this could happen.

 I think a very natural question – should New Yorkers be concerned about their radiators? What I can tell you is, again, we have no history of something like this specific incident. We will – if there is anything we learn from the investigation we are going to make it the public immediately, obviously, that would tell people to take a precaution, but so far just appears to be an extraordinarily unusual and particular incident – but horribly, horribly tragic.

  The valve that every radiator has – something happened with that valve. We do not know if it was something wrong with the manufacturer of that unit. We do not know if it was altered in some way. Something unusual was going on. That’s what we have to figure out, but somehow the valve – even though it was a low pressure system. I just talked to deputy commissioner [inaudible] who was there himself and again is an expert on repairs in apartment buildings – the low pressure system – the boiler was in another building, there was nothing that indicated the valve coming off, but apparently somehow it came off and steam came out in an extraordinary quantity. We don’t know how or why. It has nothing to do with the rest of the surface of the radiator. It’s just the valve.

Community Board 7 Christmas Tree Lighting

  Hundreds of people came to hear local elected officials and several Community Board 7 members gathered on the stage, the chorus of PS 20 sing holiday songs, the lighting of the CB 7 Christmans Tree, and welcome Santa. Above Barbara Stronzer Chair of the CB 7 Parks Committee welcomes everyone.

Above - Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz tells of the wonderful time of year it is for him, and is glad to be at the CB 7 tree lighting as he has for many years now.

Below - Councilman Andrew Cohen echoes the remarks of Assemblyman Dinowitz as this now has become a yearly event for him also.

Above - Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj tells everyone why this tome of the year is special to him, as he is able to attend many tree lightings and holiday events in his district. 

Below - The Chorus of PS 20 sing several holiday songs before the tree is lit.  

Above - The Cb 7 Christmas looks nice, but something is missing.

Below - Santa arrives to light the Christmas tree.

The Christmas tree is lit.

Council Member Andrew Cohen Announces Selection of New “District 11 Community Activist of the Month”

  At the 50th Police Precinct Council meeting last night Councilman Andrew Cohen presented his first Community Activist of the Month Award to Ms. Elisha Bird of Riverdale for her 'Traffic Safety Advocacy Efforts. Ms. Bird was injured while crossing a busy Kingsbridge intersection and has advocated for safer crossings at the intersection for all who cross at the intersection of Riverdale Avenue and West 231st Street where she was injured.

  “I am thankful that DOT heeded our request to introduce traffic calming measures at this busy location,” said Council Member Cohen. This will help students, teachers, and commuters in the Kingsbridge area. He added, “Elisha Bird is one of many individuals in the district who are my eyes and ears on the ground. I am grateful to her and others who bring dangerous conditions to my attention, so I can constantly suggest improvements to DOT.  I will continue to work with my colleagues and DOT to improve pedestrian safety at every dangerous intersection in my district. For her efforts in this key task, it is fitting that Elisha Bird be honored as District 11 Community Activist of the Month.”

Mounted PEP officers spotted on Mosholu Parkway

Two Parks Enforcement Officers on horseback can be seen traveling along Mosholu Parkway as they patrol Van Cortlandt Park including the stretch of parkland that runs along both sides of Mosholu Parkway.  The PEP officers are mainly used as a deterrent against any criminal action in the park or along the parkway. 

Above and Below - The PEP officers let their horses bring them back to VCP as the horses know the route they travel. You can click on the photos to enlarge them for more detail.