STATEMENT FROM COUNCIL MEMBER ANDY KING REGARDING DISPARAGING REMARKS BY ALTICE USA’S CEO AT BRONX MEETING

   “It has come to my attention today that the CEO of Altice USA, the company that acquired Cablevision Systems Corporation last year, held an anti-union meeting in the Bronx today and specifically called out by race potential workers in an insulting manner, stating:  ‘We're not bringing in some Mexican guy, some French guy...’

“What does that mean? I was appalled by the references and demand that Dexter Goei apology to those who were in that meeting, as well as, the company’s residential and corporate customers for his outlandish statement. I sincerely hope that this is not the work-culture temperament Mr. Goei plans to impose in the new company.  We are a community that is union-friendly, family-friendly and employee-friendly. This is the direction Mr. Goei needs to go in when dealing with the company’s employees, its contractors, its customers and other business matters here in the Bronx,” said Council Member Andy King, who sits on the Council’s Civil Rights Committee.

Engel Statement in Opposition to Republican Rules Package for 115th Congress

  Congressman Eliot L. Engel, a leading member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following statement in opposition to the Republican rules package for the 115th Congress: 

“Today House Republicans took aim at unraveling the Constitution on the same day they swore an oath to protect it. After flirting this morning with the idea of destroying the Office of Congressional Ethics – until finally backing away from that ill-conceived plan – the House GOP then attacked the First Amendment and our nation’s very right to freedom of speech. Imposing unconstitutional fines upon Members who try to bring light to the efforts and conduct of the proceedings on the House floor is an outrage. The American people deserve better.”

Friends of VCP's January 2017 Enewsletter

  Happy New Year!  We are looking forward to 2017 as we have lots of exciting events and projects planned for the year.

Throughout 2017, the Friends of Van Cortlandt Park will be celebrating our 25th Anniversary of Bringing Youth, Community & Nature Together in Van Cortlandt Park.  To celebrate, we will be hosting special events throughout the year which will begin to announce soon.  

In addition to our anniversary, we have several exciting projects planned including a restoration project for the Grand Central Stones and the area around them (pictured below), trail restoration projects throughout the Park including the eastern end of the John Muir Trail, continuation of our water quality monitoring of Tibbetts Brook and Van Cortlandt Lake on a biweekly basis and advocating for Daylighting Tibbetts Brook.  This is all while continuing our environmental education programs, volunteer days, youth internships and community hikes that we have been offering for years now.

2017 is going to be a great year for the Friends of Van Cortlandt Park and we hope you will join us as celebrate our 25th Anniversary.  One way to help support our 2017 efforts is by becoming a Bronx Pass Member.  Great parks require strong communities and FVCP has always been built upon the support of its hundreds of members and thousands of volunteers.  In recognition of this, FVCP has created a new, one-year Bronx Pass Membership that is designed to both (1) help educate our most dedicated members so they can become strong advocates for the Park and (2) recognize and thank you for your commitment. 

Hope to see you in the Park!

Christina and all of your Friends at the Friends of VCP

News From Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman

Defending the Clean Power Plan

This week I led a coalition of 19 states and localities in calling on President-elect Trump to continue the federal government’s defense of the Clean Power Plan. The Clean Power Plan is vital to efforts to limit carbon pollution and is a blueprint for the critical action needed to fight climate change’s devastating environmental, economic, and public health impacts.

States like New York are on the front lines of climate change – and have demonstrated how to cut pollution and emissions while protecting affordable and reliable electricity, creating jobs, and growing our economy. The science is clear, and far too much is at stake to turn back the clock on our climate efforts.

Protecting Our Natural Resources

I join the thousands of New Yorkers who have raised serious concerns about the Coast Guard's Hudson River anchorage proposal. Last week my office sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security asking officials to reject the proposal, which would designate 43 new anchorage berths at 10 locations along the Hudson River between Albany and New York City.

The Hudson River is one of our state’s greatest natural resources, and we must remain vigilant in protecting it. The proposal to add 43 new anchorage sites along the river doesn’t pass the test.

Have a question, comment, or complaint? Click here. You can also learn more about the various initiatives of the Attorney General's office by visiting our website at ag.ny.gov. You can also call our General Hotline: 800-771-7755. 

Bronx Borough Presiden - Community Interfaith Service

Statement from The Legal Aid Society on Governor Cuomo Veto of Gravity Knife Reform Legislation

   The Legal Aid Society released the below statement today following Governor Andrew Cuomo’s veto of A9042A/S6483A - legislation that would reform New York State’s antiquated knife statute and reclassify common-folding work knives as tools not weapons: 



“With this veto, Governor Cuomo ignores the calls from defender organizations, civil rights associations, trade unions and many others to fully reform one of New York State’s most discriminatory laws. While we are disappointed with the outcome, The Legal Aid Society will continue to explore all options – including litigation – that will finally address New York’s ambiguous knife statute that has long marginalized communities of colors and working class families.” 


STATEMENT FROM MAYOR DE BLASIO ON THE GOVERNOR'S VETO OF LEGISLATION THAT WOULD HAVE DECRIMINALIZED GRAVITY KNIVES

  "I applaud Governor Cuomo for vetoing shortsighted legislation that would have legalized a broad swath of dangerous knives and created significant uncertainty in the law. Credit goes as well to those district attorneys of New York City and law enforcement leaders who opposed the decriminalization of these deadly weapons. This sensible decision will help keep our streets safe and aid in the NYPD's diligent work to stomp out knife assaults while officers continue to drive crime down to record lows.

"We must be diligent in ensuring fairness in our criminal justice system. While the answer is not legislation permitting the widespread availability of cutting instruments, it is incumbent upon us to discuss with the various stakeholders how best to ensure fair treatment for New Yorkers who do not intend to perpetrate an illegal act, but rather carry tools to and from work."

“Bmb” Gang Member Pleads Guilty To Bronx Murder In Connection With Racketeering Conspiracy

   Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that MARTIN MITCHELL, a/k/a “Tyliek,” pled guilty today to involvement in a racketeering conspiracy in connection with his membership in the “Big Money Bosses” (“BMB”), a violent street gang that operated primarily on White Plains Road from 215th Street to 233rd Street in the Bronx.  As part of his guilty plea, MITCHELL admitted that he committed the murder of Keshon Potterfield, on or about June 22, 2014, in the vicinity of East 232nd Street in the Bronx.  MITCHELL’s guilty plea was presided over by Magistrate Judge Barbara Moses.

U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said: “Martin Mitchell, as a member of the violent Bronx street gang Big Money Bosses, admitted to shooting and killing a 17-year-old boy at a birthday party.  This type of senseless gang violence threatens the safety and security of all New Yorkers, and we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to confront it aggressively.”

According to the Indictment and other documents filed in the case, as well as statements made during the plea proceedings:

BMB is a subset of the “Young Bosses,” or “YBz” street gang, which operates throughout New York City.  Between 2007 and 2016, members and associates of BMB committed numerous acts of violence against rival gang members in the Bronx – including murders, attempted murders, and armed robberies – and sold crack cocaine and marijuana.  

MITCHELL was a member of BMB.  On June 22, 2014, MITCHELL and other members of BMB attended a birthday party in the backyard of a residence in the vicinity of 232nd Street in the Bronx.  Potterfield was one of the guests at the party and was shot by MITCHELL in connection with BMB’s rivalry with another street gang.  Potterfield was 17 years old. 

MITCHELL was arrested in this case as a result of a multi-year investigation by the New York City Police Department’s Bronx Gang Squad (the “Bronx Gang Squad”), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations Violent Gang Unit (“HSI”), the New York Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), and the Joint Firearms Task Force of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (“ATF”) into gang violence in the Northern Bronx.  The Indictment, which was unsealed on April 27, 2016, charged 63 members and associates of BMB with racketeering conspiracy, narcotics conspiracy, narcotics distribution, and firearms charges.  To date, 30 of these defendants have pled guilty.

MITCHELL, 22, of the Bronx, New York, was arrested on April 27, 2016, in the Bronx, New York, and has been in federal custody since.  MITCHELL pled guilty today to one count of racketeering conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.  The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the judge.  MITCHELL is scheduled to be sentenced by United States District Judge Alison J. Nathan on April 6, 2017, at 3:30 p.m.

Mr. Bharara praised the outstanding work of the NYPD’s Bronx Homicide Task Force, the NYPD’s 47th Precinct Detective Squad, the NYPD’s Bronx Gang Squad, HSI, DEA, and ATF.