STATE SENATOR GUSTAVO RIVERA HOSTS A DAY OF ACTION IN RESPONSE TO THE INAUGURATION OF DONALD TRUMP

    State Senator Gustavo Rivera in partnership with Planned Parenthood of New York City, Citizen Action of New York, Saint Barnabas, Montefiore Health System, the Teen Health Center and the Committee for Hispanic Children & Families, Inc. held a Day of Action this morning at the intersection of Grand Concourse and Fordham Road. This day of action is in direct response to the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States. 

    Senator Rivera used this Day of Action as a way to directly interact with his constituents and to have a honest conversation about the potential challenges facing our communities in the era of Trump. Additionally, 

participating organizations and his office's staff distributed important information about the variety of services and resources available to them to help address issues they may be facing, whether they concern women's reproductive and health rights to the criminal justice system, among many others.

 This Day of Action reaffirmed Senator Rivera's support towards all those organizations that provide vital services to his constituents and face an uncertain future due to the potential actions by the incoming administration and the Republican-led Congress. Senator Rivera took this opportunity to reassure his community that both as an elected official and as an American he is committed to protecting and defending the rights and dignity of his fellow Bronxites and Americans against any attempt by the federal government to infringe upon them. 

Bronx Community Board 7 Land Use Meeting.

  In what can be described as a usual bland short meeting attended normally by a handful of people, last night's CB 7 Land Use Meeting lasted several hours before a packed room at the Community Board 7 office.

  The agenda included a length;y discussion of the old Dollar Savings Bank building by the corner of  the Grand Concourse and Fordham Road. The new owner wants to build a new entrance to the building which was built in three parts over a period of years in 1938. The ten story tower has only one entrance, and another entrance must be built to accommodate new tenants in the tower that was used by the bank as a headquarters in the past. New Congressman Espiallat has taken an office on the first floor of the old bank, and there are also plans for a day care center. The building is land marked, and any alterations to a land marked building must be approved  by the NYC Landmarks Commission. The owner came to CB 7 for a letter of support which the committee approved.

  A proposed 12 story building on Creston Avenue at the corner of West 191st Street where a current parking lot is was then discussed. The building will be built over the parking lot which is to remain on the ground floor level. There was much opposition to a 12 story building in an area where currently there are buildings no higher than six stories. 174 apartments will be built ranging from studios up to three bedroom apartments. The apartments will be half affordable half market rate priced. 

  The meeting ended with a discussion about the possible down zoning of the Mosholu Parkway area that has been promoted by many area residents. some wanted to know why it was not included in the recent approved contract to survey certain areas of the community board area for possible down zoning. After a gallant try by the residents to add more neighborhood area to the survey, they were told by the Land Use Chair Ms. Jean Hill that the current survey underway could not be increased since the agreement signed stated only a limited area. She added that the consultant would not add any more area to the previously agreed upon contract. Ms. Hill said that the board would have to wait until the next fiscal year to hire another consultant for another survey of the area requested that is not being done currently.

One of the frustrated community members.

A.G. Schneiderman Announces Settlement With Drug Manufacturer For Engaging In Anticompetitive Conduct To Prevent Competition For A Life-Saving Drug For Infants

Joint Investigation Found That Mallinckrodt Illegally Acquired Rights To Competitor Drug 

Schneiderman: We Will Vigorously Enforce The Antitrust Laws To Prevent Consumers And Taxpayers From Being Saddled With The Out-Of-Control Pricing That Can Result From Unlawful Conduct

   Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced a joint settlement with four other Attorneys General and the Federal Trade Commission with Mallinckrodt plc and its U.S. subsidiary, formerly known as Questcor Pharmaceuticals (“Questcor”), a drug manufacturer. The complaint and settlement, filed jointly, alleges that Questcor unlawfully acted to prevent competition for its drug H.P. Acthar Gel, which is typically used as a last resort to treat certain life-threatening diseases, including infantile spasms and multiple sclerosis.  

“This is an egregious case of a monopolist doing a deal to eliminate potential competition and keep its power over pricing. It is abhorrent that lifesaving drugs cost New Yorkers tens of thousands of dollars.” said Attorney General Schneiderman. “This settlement will restore the competition that was prevented by Questcor’s illegal actions, and my office will continue to vigorously enforce antitrust laws to prevent consumers and taxpayers from being saddled with the out-of-control drug prices that can result from unlawful conduct.” 

In 2001, Questcor bought the rights to Acthar, known as an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-based therapeutic drug, which are used to treat certain life-threatening diseases, and is the standard of care for infantile spasms. It is the only such drug sold in the United States. Since then, Questcor has increased the price of Acthar 85,000%, from $40 per vial to over $34,000 per vial. The complaint alleges that Questcor monopolized the market for ACTH drugs by purchasing the rights to Synacthen, which was being sold by Novartis Pharma A.G. in 2012. Synacthen is used to treat patients with the same life-threatening conditions as Acthar, but is sold in Europe and Canada at a fraction of the price.

The complaint alleges that three other companies had all conducted due diligence and submitted formal offers for Synacthen with plans to develop and launch Synacthen in the United States in direct competition with Questcor.  However, perceiving the threat to its U.S. monopoly if a rival drug company purchased the assets, Questcor stepped in to outbid the three other companies, offering Novartis $135 million in guaranteed payments with only vague plans for Synacthen and after very limited due diligence. Through the acquisition, Questcor sought to extinguish the most likely challenges to its Acthar monopoly. According to the complaint, this allowed Questcor to continue charging over $34,000 per vial for H.P. Acthar Gel. 

Under the settlement, Mallinckrodt will pay $100 million. The company will also be required to license a competitor to the rights it acquired from Novartis to commercialize and develop Synacthen in the United States, including the Synacthen trademark, along with clinical trial data and certain intellectual property related to manufacturing and formulation. Mallinckrodt is also prohibited from taking actions that would interfere with clinical trials or clinical plans for Synacthen. 

The defendants named in the antitrust action are Mallinckrodt ARD, Inc., formerly known as Questcor Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and its Ireland-based parent company Mallinckrodt plc. In addition to New York, the Attorneys General of Alaska, Maryland, Texas, and Washington entered into this settlement.

Bx Branch NAACP Annual Freedom Fund Dinner Dance & Honorees

Please Join

THE BRONX BRANCH NAACP

as we present our

ANNUAL FREEDOM FUND DINNER DANCE

“Our Lives Matter, Our Votes Count”

Honoring Community Leaders

2017 HONOREES:

Rella Fogliano * Bronx NABVETS Chapter #0029

Ted Jefferson * Dr. Varleton McDonald *

We McDonald* I’m My Sistah’s Keeper

* Alice Witt Smith* Ruby Williamson

Friday, April 28, 2017

 (7:00 PM - 1:00 AM)

At

The EASTWOOD MANOR CATERING HALL

3371 Eastchester Road/Bronx,  NY 10469

                Adult Tickets: $85.00 per person                                   Children $65.00

(Children 12 years & under) (NAACP Membership Included) 

For Further Information and/or Tickets

Gwendolyn Primus (718) 300-3905

    Freedom Fund Chairperson

Alice Johnson 609-923-6811

Freedom Fund Ticket Chairperson

Biarni Burke/Bronx Branch President

Origin of the Freedom Fund Banquet

“The NAACP Freedom Fund began in 1953 (on a national level) as a ten-year program to intensify efforts to complete the job of emancipation. Near the culmination of this effort, Medgar W. Evers, a heroic NAACPMississippi Field Secretary, was killed by an assassin’s bullet. This prompted the NAACP Chairman Bishop Stephen Spottswood to pay tribute to this gallant warrior at the NAACP Convention in Chicago, Illinois in July 1963. He did so by proclaiming that the NAACP Fighting Fund for Freedom will continue until the job of emancipating our people is complete.”

DE BLASIO ADMINISTRATION AND CITYBRIDGE ANNOUNCE LINKNYC HAS REACHED ONE MILLION USERS IN LESS THAN ONE YEAR

Link usage rises to 4 million Wi-Fi sessions every week; 78 percent of New Yorkers have a favorable opinion of world’s largest and fastest free public Wi-Fi network

   LinkNYC announced today that the world’s largest and fastest free public Wi-Fi network has added its millionth user less than a year after publicly launching on the streets of New York City. As of January 4th, over 1,040,000 people – more than the populations of San Jose, San Francisco, Seattle, or Denver – have signed up to use its gigabit Wi-Fi service, with approximately 40,000 people joining the network for the first time each week.

“Bringing free Wi-Fi to our sidewalks is an important part of our efforts to increase internet access for all New Yorkers. It’s no surprise that people are using the LinkNYC program and are happy about the services it provides – ultrafast Wi-Fi, phone calls, and more – at no cost to taxpayers,” saidMayor Bill de Blasio.

“With Link kiosks now in all five boroughs, we have helped more than a million New Yorkers and visitors get online at the fastest speeds available in New York City, for free.” said Jen Hensley, General Manager of LinkNYC. “Less than one year in, we are thrilled with the response to LinkNYC.”

LinkNYC By the Numbers (As of January 4, 2017)

• Total Wi-Fi subscribers: 1,040,000
• New Wi-Fi sign-ups per week: 40,000
• Wi-Fi sessions per week: 4,000,000
• Data downloaded by LinkNYC users since launch: 555,710 Gigabytes

• Busiest day by users: Jan 4, 2017: 125,756 unique users
• Busiest day by data transferred: Dec 31, 2016: 4,656 GB

New Yorkers Know – and Love – LinkNYC

71% of New Yorkers are aware of LinkNYC, and of them, 92% believe it has positive benefits for New York City, according to a survey conducted by Sachs Insights of 1,000 people across the New York City region. Among those aware of LinkNYC:

• 78% have a favorable opinion of the network.
• 89% believe LinkNYC makes NYC more innovative than other cities.
• 89% appreciate that LinkNYC’s services are free thanks to advertising, which reaches over 11 million people weekly. 
  
  

Where to Find the City’s Most Popular Link

The city’s most popular Link stands in Herald Square (at 1313 Broadway) and has served about 600,000 Wi-Fi sessions all by itself.

“We’re incredibly excited to see the overwhelmingly positive response to LinkNYC over the past year,” said Anne Roest, Commissioner of the Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications. “Reaching 1 million users demonstrates that New Yorkers and our City’s record-breaking number of visitors are taking advantage of the free services that LinkNYC provides - superfast Wi-Fi, USB charging, City and emergency services, and phone calls. Our progress has been incredible so far, with over 500 active kiosks across the city, and we will continue to build on this ambitious, first-of-its kind network across the City in the coming years.”

“Over 1 million users is a major milestone but it is just the beginning for LinkNYC. As the network expands and the word gets out, LinkNYC will continue to be a key component to provide connectivity for New Yorkers across the 5 boroughs,” said New York City Chief Technology Officer Miguel Gamiño.

About LinkNYC

LinkNYC is the first-of-its-kind communications network replacing the city’s payphones to build the world’s fastest, largest free public Wi-Fi network at no cost to taxpayers. Since Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the public launch of LinkNYC in February, more than 600 Links have been installed across all five boroughs. Each Link provides New Yorkers with free, fast Wi-Fi, free domestic calling, two USB charging ports, Maps, and direct access to 911 and 311.

To find a Link near you, visit: link.nyc/find-a-link.html

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. - 2017 State of the Borough Address

You are cordially invited to Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.'s 2017 State of the Borough Address. The Honorable Ruben Diaz Jr. President, Borough of The Bronx cordially invites you to The State of The Borough Address Thursday, February 23, 2017 11:30 a.m. John F. Kennedy High School 99 Terrace View Avenue The Bronx seating is limited Click Here to R.S.V.P.

The Office of Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. | 718-590-3500 webmail@bronxbp.nyc.gov |  bronxboropres.nyc.gov

Bronx Democratic Party - 2017 Winter Networking Reception

MAYOR DE BLASIO APPOINTS PUBLIC HOUSING RESIDENTS TO THE NYCHA BOARD

Ensuring residents are represented in decision-making is a strategic objective of NextGeneration NYCHA, the Authority’s ten-year strategic plan

   Mayor Bill de Blasio today appointed three public housing residents to the Board of the New York City Housing Authority.

“No one understands the challenges and importance of public housing more than our residents and I’m proud to welcome Jacqueline Young and Jacqueline Arroyo who will join Victor Gonzalez to share their first-hand experiences and knowledge,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “As active leaders in their NYCHA communities, they will help move us forward as we work tirelessly to protect and strengthen public housing.”

“The voices of NYCHA community members’ are central to our mission and inform all of our work. These resident board members bring years of service as community leaders and their personal experiences to the table to help us improve quality of life for all our residents,” said Chair and CEO Shola Olatoye. “Now more than ever, resident input is critical as we continue to implement NextGeneration NYCHA, our long-term strategic plan to create safe, clean and connected public housing.”

Resident members of the Board represent the more than 400,000 people who call NYCHA home when voting on contracts, resolutions, policies, rules and regulations, and other administrative matters. They attend each monthly board meeting along with Chair and CEO Shola Olatoye, General Manager Michael Kelly, other NYCHA executive leadership and appointed board members who bring relevant professional expertise to bear on NYCHA business decisions. Resident board members also represent NYCHA at a variety of events ranging from press conferences to Family Days.

About the Appointments:

Victor A. González was appointed as the first NYCHA Resident Board Member in 2011 by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and reappointed by Mayor Bloomberg in 2013. A public housing resident for more than 50 years, González currently resides in the Rabbi Stephen Wise Towers on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. He is the former President of the Wise Towers Residents Association and also served as an alternate member of NYCHA’s Resident Advisory Board.

González has worked extensively with advocacy groups, organizing workshop meetings for residents and supporting activities that impact not only his development, Wise Towers, but also the surrounding community. During his tenure as a NYCHA Board member, he has worked to streamline maintenance requests for apartment repairs and improve family services for formerly homeless residents and senior citizens.

Born in New York City to Puerto Rican parents, González received his Bachelor’s degree from Mercy College and served for five years in the U.S. Air Force, honorably discharged after reaching the rank of Sergeant of Security Police. Following his military service, he spent 33 years working for the United Parcel Service, retiring as International Team Leader in Customer Service in 2005.

Jacqueline Young is a 30-year public housing resident currently residing at Lenox Road Houses who raised two daughters as a single mother. Young served as President of the Lenox Road Houses Residents Association from December 2014 to January 2017. She has worked on behalf of formerly homeless and low-income individuals for the past 20 years at three not-for-profit agencies and presently serves as Low Income Housing Compliance Manager at Comunilife, a community based health and housing service provider. Prior to this role, Young served as a Property Manager for Services for the Underserved and as a Senior Property Manager at Northeast Brooklyn Housing Development Corporation. Young is active on pastoral committees in her church and in the Bedford-Stuyvesant community. She holds an Associate’s degree from LaGuardia Community College/CUNY, a certification in property management from the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development and a Registered in Apartment Management (RAM) certification from Boricua College.

Jacqueline Arroyo is a resident of Louis Armstrong Houses, where she attends Residents Association meetings and NYCHA town halls on initiatives such as the Rental Assistance Demonstration and NextGeneration NYCHA, the Authority’s 10-year strategic plan. While raising two children, Arroyo has pursued a career in City service, working for 15 years for two City agencies. She is currently employed in the New York City Department of Education as a supervisor in the Office of the Auditor General and has also worked at high schools located in the South Bronx, Williamsburg and lower Manhattan. Prior to that, she was employed at the Health and Hospitals Corporation. Arroyo participates in parents’ associations at her children’s schools and in fundraising drives to fight diabetes and breast cancer. She holds an Associate’s degree in Liberal Arts and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, both from Boricua College.