Bronx Democratic County Holiday Party

  The Bronx democratic County organization held their annual holiday party last night, and below are a few photos of the event with captions. Thanks go out to Anthony Perez the Executive Director of the BDCC, and his mother who cooked the delicious food. I left before Mayor Bill de Blasio arrived.

Above - Bronx Democratic County Leader Assemblyman Marcos Crespo chats with City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito.

Below - The County Leader has on his ugly sweater a few minutes later as he poses with the speaker.

Above - County Leader Crespo also pit on a moose hat complete with musical moving antlers. 

Below - Assembly Speaker (and former county leader) Carl Heastie with Assemblyman (and former BDCC Chair) Jeffrey Dinowitz. 

Above - State Senator Jeff Klein with Assemblyman Victor Pichardo.

Below - Bronx BP Ruben Diaz Jr. with Senator Klein.

Above - Executive Director of the BDCC Mr. Anthony Perez reads off the long list of names of elected officials from the Bronx and others who are in attendance.

Below - County Leader Marcos Crespo speaks to the packed room, however his antler hat had to be turned off as it also was making music as the antlers were moving.

Riverdale Avenue Holiday Lights

  The official Holiday lights on the South Riverdale Avenue merchants corridor from West 236th to West 238th Streets were turned on yesterday by State Senator Jeff Klein, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, and Councilman Andrew Cohen. The three local elected officials were helped out by KRVC and several youngsters who caroled along the route from the KRVC office to the front of the popular Yo Burger restaurant where Senator Klein turned on the holiday lights.

Above - The group Began at the KRVC office located on West 236th Street and Riverdale Avenue. 

Below - The group led by Senator Klein greeted people and merchants such as John from Botany Bay Florists along the way to the holiday lighting

Above - The young carolers march to Yo Burger where they will sing several songs before Senator Klein throws the switch to light the holiday lights on Riverdale Avenue.

Below - Senator Klein and his staff have reached their destination Yo Burger.

Above - The carolers sing several songs before Senator Klein turns on the holiday lights.

Below - They pose with the elected officials 

Above - Councilman Cohen says a few words as he stands with Senator Klein and Assemblyman Dinowitz. To the councilman's right is the owner of Yo Burger Mario. 

Below - Senator Klein turns on the holiday lights.

The elected officials pose with some merchants and Ms. Tracy Shelton (with the Christmas hat on) Executive Director of KRVC who help make the holiday lights happen.

STATEMENT FROM MAYOR DE BLASIO ON ACS REPORT INTO THE DEATH OF ZYMERE PERKINS

  “This report uncovered a troubling series of lapses and missed opportunities in ACS’s failed effort to protect Zymere Perkins. Procedures were not followed, common sense was not exercised, and due diligence was lacking up and down the chain of command responsible for Zymere. I will not accept excuses for this failure and I will not accept the notion that every single one of these tragedies cannot be prevented. The buck stops with me. As a result of this investigation, we’ve ordered the firings of three employees directly involved in Zymere’s care. We’ve moved to suspend and demote another six employees who should have shown better judgment in carrying out one of the most important and difficult missions of City government. As we transition the agency to new leadership, we will continue to embrace bold reforms capable of meeting our mandate: the protection of every child who needs our care. I will accept nothing less.”

BETTER JOBS, HIGHER WAGES: MAYOR DE BLASIO TO SECURE THOUSANDS OF GOOD JOBS FOR NEW YORKERS IN THE LIFE SCIENCES INDUSTRY

16,000 new jobs at all education levels, 1,000 paid internships, average salaries of $75,000

   Mayor Bill de Blasio today unveiled a $500 million initiative, LifeSci NYC, to spur an estimated 16,000 new, good-paying jobs and establish New York City as a global leader in life sciences research and innovation. New Yorkers hoping to secure a career-track job in a growing industry and struggling with the rising cost of living will have access to 1,000 paid internships, new training programs and job placements in a field with average salaries of $75,000. The City will develop a new “Applied Life Sciences Campus” mirroring successful Cornell-Tech model.

“We have to break the vice grip of stagnant wages and the ever-rising cost of living in this city. That’s why we are giving thousands of New Yorkers a foothold in the 21st century economy through paid internships, training and career-track jobs,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “We are creating a springboard into the innovative Life Science economy for our workers, innovators and startup businesses that will make our whole economy stronger.”

“Increasing opportunities for the study of life sciences in New York City benefits all of our communities by providing paths to stable, well-paying careers. LifeSci NYC will positively impact thousands of New Yorkers, and I would like to thank the de Blasio Administration for working hard to make this program a reality,” said Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito. “I am especially proud that the New York Proton Center will be opening in East Harlem, where their services will touch the lives of thousands of cancer patients in need of treatment.”

“We are making strategic investments to diversify and grow our economy. We can lead the nation in Life Sciences and harness the sector’s incredible job growth. We already have the best research institutions in the world, and by investing in lab space, talent and emerging firms, we can vault New York City to the industry’s forefront,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development Alicia Glen.

“The life sciences industry is not only producing new discoveries that improve people’s lives, but it also has the potential to play a major role in the future of our five-borough economy,” said New York City Economic Development Corporation President Maria Torres-Springer. “We’re making these groundbreaking investments to bring 16,000 good middle-class jobs to New Yorkers from all backgrounds. And working with industry leaders, we’re going to help shape the sector’s growth to ensure it remains accessible and inclusive.”

The life sciences and biotechnology industry includes a wide array of disciplines focused on developing cures, treatments and technologies. Its companies work to develop new vaccines and pharmaceuticals, build advanced prosthetic devices, and design software that makes diagnostics more accurate.

With 16 percent growth in jobs since 2009, the life sciences sector is among the fastest growing in the city. It offers a wide range of technical jobs such as microbiologists and lab technicians, as well as non-technical jobs in areas like marketing and administration. Roughly 30 percent of jobs in the industry require only a high-school diploma or Associate’s Degree, while another 50 percent of jobs require only a Bachelor’s Degree.

With more than 100 research foundations and nine academic medical centers, New York City is home to one of the largest concentrations of academic life sciences research in the world. However, challenges such as a shortage of commercial laboratory space have made it hard for New York City to hold on to young companies spinning out of its research institutions.

‘LifeSci NYC’ will generate 9,000 new direct jobs in the sector, 7,000 new jobs in related fields, and 7,400 construction jobs, increase economic output by $2.5 billion a year, attract $6.5 billion in additional private investment, and generate $1 billion in tax revenue. The City will develop a new Applied Life Science Campus along Manhattan’s East Side or in neighboring Long Island City, unlock 2.8 million square feet of private investment in new commercial lab space, provide training programs for workers and facilitate collaboration between the City’s leading medical research institutions, pharmaceuticals, startups, venture capital firms and philanthropies.

The ten-point plan includes a major focus on workforce development programs to connect New Yorkers to jobs, with 1,000 new paid internships at leading life sciences companies. Working with the City University of New York, other schools and teaching hospitals, the initiative will create new curricula focused on skills-building in the life science sector.

To further boost this sector, the Mayor will assemble a new Life Sciences Advisory Council, a world-class team of experts from academia, industry, philanthropy and finance, to advise the City on its life science programs and catalyze strategic partnerships with the larger industry. The council will be co-chaired by Doctors Harold Varmus and Vicki Sato. Dr. Varmus is a Nobel Laureate and former director of both the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute. He currently serves as a Professor at Weill Cornell Medicine and as a Senior Associate at the New York Genome Center. Dr. Sato is the Professor of Management Practice at Harvard Business School, the Chair of Denali Therapeutics, and a member of the Board of Directors of Bristol Meyers Squibb. She previously served as President of Vertex Pharmaceuticals.

“As a strong proponent of New York City’s contributions to the life sciences, I am pleased to have an opportunity to help expand this critical sector under City Hall’s new initiative,” said Dr. Harold Varmus, co-Chair of the Mayor’s Life Sciences Advisory Council.

“As a relative newcomer to New York City but a long time veteran in the biotechnology and pharma industries, I look forward to working with Dr. Varmus and the Mayor’s team to help create a world class biomedical innovation center in New York,” said Dr. Vicki Sato, co-Chair of the Mayor’s Life Sciences Advisory Council. “The rich history of innovation and biomedical discovery in this city, together with the commitment of its business and civic leaders, can deliver improved healthcare and catalyze economic growth.”

The Ten-Point LifeSci NYC Plan

1. Invest $100 million to create a new Applied Life Sciences Campus. The de Blasio Administration will provide funding to create a world-class facility along Manhattan’s East Side or in neighboring Long Island City that drives bio-engineering innovations, research and development (R&D) partnerships and entrepreneurial training. The campus will serve as an institutional anchor for the life sciences industry, much as Cornell Tech serves as an anchor for applied sciences and engineering.

2. Provide $50 million to expand network of life sciences R&D facilities. To remain at the forefront of the innovative research that leads to new businesses, the Administration will make targeted investments in New York City’s existing academic medical centers and research institutions. The City will provide capital to a network of up to eight non-profit research facilities, to help create new workspace for research with a high potential for commercialization and job growth.

3. Invest $10 million to expand network of incubators for life sciences start-up facilities. To provide affordable space for the next generation of life science startups, the City will invest in up to five new incubators and innovation centers, with the first expected to open in late 2017. Incubators will be located near existing research centers to better support innovators and connect skilled workers with jobs.

4. Commit $20 million a year in matching funds to support early-stage businesses. Young life sciences startups often struggle to secure the capital they need to expand. By committing $20 million in seed and growth funding, and seeking matching funds from private sources, the City will help spur growth of up to 80 companies, helping them expand and create new jobs for New Yorkers. 

5. Invest $7.5 million to create internships and life sciences curricula. The City will launch a new internship program next summer, which will connect students each year with opportunities at life sciences companies and institutions. Organizations that have already agreed to take on interns include global pharmaceutical companies such as Roche and Elli Lilly, research institutions such as the New York Genome Center, and investors such as Deerfield Management. The City will also provide funding to support the development of new curricula for local colleges and universities, based on input from local employers, to prepare the next generation of life sciences talent.

6. Commit $300 million in tax incentives to attract investment in commercial lab space for life sciences businesses. The high cost of lab construction has resulted in a shortage of space for new life science companies. By offsetting that cost, the City will unlock affordable lab space for growing companies that provide accessible, middle class jobs for New Yorkers.

7. Modernize land use policies to encourage new space for life sciences firms. To more than double the potential areas for life sciences jobs, the Administration will clarify regulations to make explicit that lab space for life sciences R&D is permitted in the majority of commercial zones. In addition, the administration will leverage upcoming rezonings to include life sciences sites where appropriate.

8. Provide $7.5 million to create a Life Sciences Management Corps. The City will provide financing to life sciences startups to help them secure experienced entrepreneurs to help launch and grow their businesses in New York City. These entrepreneurs will be committed to growing companies, cultivating new talent and creating good and accessible jobs in the five boroughs.

9. Provide $3.8 million to expand training programs for entrepreneurs. The de Blasio Administration will provide funding to expand and improve on two successful programs, serving up to 500 companies over the course of the program. NYCEDC will expand its Bio and Health Tech Entrepreneurship Lab (ELabNYC) with new curriculum in areas such as corporate commercialization and project management. It will expand the SBIR Impact program, which helps life sciences firms compete for funding through the National Institute of Health’s Small Business Innovation Research program.

10. Launch the Mayor’s Life Sciences Advisory Council. The Life Sciences Advisory Council, with experts from academia, industry, philanthropy and finance, will advise the City of New York on its life science programs and catalyze strategic partnerships with the larger industry. The council will work with the administration to promote New York as a global center for life sciences.

Learn more at LifeSci.NYC.

BP DIAZ ON "TRANSIT FOR ALL" METROCARD CAMPAIGN

  I testify here in opposition to the proposed four percent fare hike the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has proposed for MetroCard users in its forthcoming budget.

This 25-cent fare hike, which would raise the base fare of a bus or subway trip from $2.75 to $3, may not seem like much to the average observer. However, for far too many New Yorkers—from our students to our seniors and everyone in between—the spare change in one’s pocket can be the difference feeding one’s family, paying one’s rent or, in this case, getting to work, school or a doctor’s appointment.

Of course, I understand that the MTA has critical funding needs, and must find the money to keep our region’s transit system moving somewhere. However, this fare hike will disproportionally affect those commuters who can least afford it.

Instead of simply raising them, we should instead consider developing a more nuanced system of collecting fares—a system that takes into account a commuter’s means, and provides a discount to those New Yorkers who need it the most.

In April, a report from the poverty advocacy organization Community Service Society (CSS) found that more than 1 in 4 poor New Yorkers could not afford their transit fare. The same report also found that many of those same New Yorkers had missed important appointments, such as doctor visits or even work, due to the inability to pay their subway or bus fare.

CSS has also noted that, for more than 300,000 working poor New Yorkers, transit expenses often exceed 10 percent of their family budgets. This cost places a real strain on the mobility, both physical and social, of our most economically disadvantaged residents.

We have a way to fix this dire situation. We can provide real relief at the turnstiles. We have a way to give riders a break.

City Hall must support the “Transit for All” campaign, which seeks to give low-income New Yorkers real relief from rising transit fares. For an estimated $200 million in funding, we can provide half-price MetroCards to every New Yorker living at or below the federal poverty line.

CSS has found that this half-fare discount program would save those who take advantage of it as much as $700 a year off the cost of 12 monthly passes for the roughly 800,000 adults who would be eligible for the discount. It is estimated that roughly 360,000 riders would take advantage of this program.

$700 per year is a considerable amount of money, especially for the poorest among us. We must set the example for the rest of the nation by embracing this discount program and offering a helping hand to those who need it the most.

For a relatively small investment, considering the size of the overall city budget, we can make the lives of hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers appreciably better.

I join with CSS, the Riders Alliance and so many others in support of the “Transit for All” campaign, and I urge this administration to join us in the push for a fair fare.

Thank you.

Van Cortlandt Jewish Center - Upcoming Events

VCJC Sisterhood Chanukah Party

 

This Sunday, December 18, 2016 at 1:30 PM the Van Cortlandt Jewish Center Sisterhood is having a Chanukah Party at VCJC, 3880 Sedgwick Ave; Bronx, NY 10463. There will be a concert “Oy Chanukah, Oy Chanukah”; a celebration featuring Cantor Susanne Katchko’s vocals, singing Yiddish, Hebrew, Broadway and Cantorial Tunes. There is a charge of $10.00, which includes entertainment, coffee and dessert. 

 

Everyone is invited. 

 

They will have a raffle of a $50.00 gift card to Food Dynasty, a bottle of wine, Lottery scratch-offs and more.

 

Pay cash or check at the door. Checks can be made out to Sisterhood VCJC. For information call VCJC at 718-884-6105.

Van Cortlandt Jewish Center Free Chanukah Celebration

 

On Tuesday, December 27, 2016, the night of the 4^th Chanukah candle, at 7:15 PM the Van Cortlandt Jewish Center is having a free Chanukah Celebration  at VCJC, 3880 Sedgwick Ave; Bronx, NY 10463. There will Musical Entertainment by David Joseph of David’s Piano. Food will include latkes and jelly donuts.

 

They will have a raffle for adults and games and prizes for children. Everyone is invited.

 

For information call VCJC at 718-884-6105.

Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj Announces He is Running For The 13th City Council District

   If front of a packed Chippewa Democratic Club with many friends in attendance including State Senator Jeff Klein, 82nd A.D. Assemblyman Michael Benedetto, Tom Messina from Congressman Joe Crowley's office (the Chippewa Democratic Club Vice-Chair), several District Leaders, and a roomful of supporters Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj announced that he will be running for the soon to be vacant 13th City Council seat.

Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj stood waiting with His wife Roberta Gjonaj, fellow Assemblyman Michael Benedetto, and close friend State Senator Jeff Klein.

Chippewa Democratic Club Vice-Chair Tom Messina called up  the elected officials to say a few words about Assemblyman Gjonaj including some of his own kind words for a man he said has the 'Community First'.

Above - Assemblyman Michael Benedetto praised his fellow legislator in Albany, and said it would be great to get Mark Gjonaj elected to the City Council so Mark would no longer be able to show him up in Albany by doing such a good job.

Below - State Senator Jeff Klein could have spoken for over an hour about the help Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj has been to him in the community, and Klein hopes to have Gjonaj as the next City Councilman from the 13th Council district to help even more.

Above - Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj was very humble in saying he is running for the 13th City Council seat for the 'Community First' over any other reason. He mentioned several items in which need to be improved in the coming years such as the merchant corridors, keeping crime low, education, senior members of the community, and the high property taxes to name a few.

Below - Assemblyman Michael Benedetto holds Gjonaj's hand up high in victory as he hopes to do after the the September Primary, and November general election. Notice the look of determination on the face of 13th City Council candidate Mark Gjonaj. 

Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj now joins a growing list of candidates for the 13th City Council seat currently held by term limited Councilman Jimmy Vacca which includes Mr. John Doyle, Mr. John Marano, Ms. Marjorie Velazquez Lynch, as the major contenders for the council seat. It looks like Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj can now be considered the favorite to win the 13th City Council seat in 2017. Candidate Mark Gjonaj also announced that he would not be taking any matching funds so that the money could go to better use than a political campaign, he also called upon his challengers not to accept any political campaign matching funds from the city.  

STATEMENT FROM MAYOR BILL DE BLASIO ON RETIREMENT OF ACS COMMISSIONER GLADYS CARRIÓN

  “Today I accepted the resignation of my colleague and friend Gladys Carrión. Gladys has spent four decades serving the public with excellence and an unparalleled commitment to the children and families of New York. Gladys’ leadership and reforms have ushered in a heightened level of accountability and performance at the Administration for Children’s Services. That progress must continue as we work to meet one of the most difficult missions and mandates in city government. With a search process already underway, New Yorkers can rest assured that the Administration for Children’s Services will continue to be led by a passionate reformer who demands results.