STATEMENT FROM MAYOR DE BLASIO ON CITY FILING LAWSUIT AGAINST VERIZON

  “Verizon must face the consequences for breaking the trust of 8.5 million New Yorkers. Verizon promised that every household in the city would have access to its fiber-optic FiOS service by 2014. It’s 2017 and we’re done waiting. No corporation – no matter how large or powerful – can break a promise to New Yorkers and get away with it.”

A.G. Schneiderman Updates Legal Guidance For “Sanctuary” Jurisdictions, Making Clear: President Trump’s Deportation PoliciesTo Protect Immigrant Communities

At Least 9 NY Localities Are Using A.G. Schneiderman’s Guidance To Protect The Rights Of All New Yorkers, Regardless Of New Federal Immigration Enforcement Practices

The A.G.’s Updated Guidance Can Be Found Here 

   In response to President Trump’s recent executive orders and Department of Homeland Security memoranda, Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman updated his legal guidance to support local governments and law enforcement agencies in protecting vulnerable immigrant communities. Attorney General Schneiderman’s supplemental legal memo issued today makes clear: no part of President Trump’s policies changes local governments’ right to protect their immigrant communities by codifying “sanctuary” policies into local laws.

Anticipating major changes to federal immigration enforcement, on January 19^th Attorney General Schneiderman released legal guidance to provide localities and local law enforcement with model laws and policies to become sanctuary jurisdictions. Since the guidance was issued, at least 9 localities across New York State have used it to protect their immigrant communities, regardless of new federal enforcement practices. Those localities include Rochester, Syracuse, Ithaca, Albany, Kingston, Newburgh, Hudson, White Plains, and Irvington. 

“Our legal guidance is clear: President Trump does not have the authority to unilaterally transform state and local police into federal immigration agents,” said Attorney General Schneiderman. “We know that effective policing – and safe neighborhoods – depend on building and maintaining trust with the communities our officers bravely serve. Yet President Trump’s draconian immigration policies seek to undercut that trust, threatening to drive immigrant communities underground and make them fearful to report crimes, serve as witnesses, and more. The fact that local governments across New York State are utilizing our guidance sends a strong message that we will do what it takes to protect our immigrant communities.”

Following President Trump’s executive orders and DHS memos, a number of local governments and law enforcement agencies contacted the Attorney General’s office to confirm that the January 19^th legal guidance still applied.

“After closely reviewing the Executive Orders and DHS Memoranda, the NYAG has concluded that none of the provisions contained therein alter or invalidate the analysis and model provisions set forth in the Guidance. Localities still retain substantial discretion to limit their involvement in federal immigration enforcement. The NYAG issues this Supplemental Memorandum to assure localities that they may continue to consult the Guidance to keep our communities—including our immigrant neighbors—safe and secure,” the Attorney General’s supplemental legal memo states.

Click here to read the updated guidance.

The model provisions offered by the Attorney General’s Civil Rights Bureau make clear that local New York  law enforcement agencies can limit their participation in federal immigration enforcement activities in several ways, including by: (1) refusing to enforce non-judicial civil immigration warrants issued by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) or Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”), (2) protecting New Yorkers’ Fourth Amendment rights by denying federal requests to hold uncharged individuals in custody more than 48 hours, (3) limiting access of ICE and CBP agents to individuals currently in custody, and (4) limiting information gathering and reporting that will be used exclusively for federal immigration enforcement.

Attorney General Schneiderman’s model procedures were issued to assist local governments and law enforcement agencies in fulfilling our joint responsibilities to protect vulnerable communities and promote public safety. The guidance also intends to insulate local authorities from potential legal liability arising out of Fourth Amendment (unlawful detention) claims and ensure that local governments are not forced to spend limited local resources on increased federal immigration enforcement efforts that do not improve public safety.

The updated legal guidance follows a number of other steps taken by Attorney General Schneiderman to protect New York’s immigrant communities in recent months, including the following.

• Last month, Attorney General Schneiderman and State Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia sent guidance to New York school districts detailing their duty to comply with existing state and federal laws that ensure the rights of immigrant children to attend public schools without fear of reprisal. The Attorney General has also secured settlements with 24 school districts across the state to ensure equal access to education regardless of immigration status.
• Last week, Attorney General Schneiderman announced that he will join the lawsuit in the Western District of Washington against President Trump’s second immigration ban.
• After the election and amid a rise in hate incidents across the nation, the Attorney General issued an urgent bulletin to local law enforcement officials statewide to provide guidance in identifying and prosecuting hate crimes. 
• Given a rise in reported immigration-related scams in recent months, with scammers attempting to prey on immigrants’ fears, Attorney General Schneiderman issued a consumer alert.

Assemblymember Sepulveda on firing of U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara

  I am perplexed that after assurances from President Trump that he wanted Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara to remain, that he was asked to resign - and was ultimately fired.

 Something is afoul here. With Wall Street and corporate America now basically the mainstay of the Trump administration, I have to wonder if there is a connection to dismissing a prosecutor who has been the scourge of Wall Street, big banks and corporations.

 

Assemblyman Sepulveda represents the 87^th Assembly District covering Parkchester, Castle Hill, West Farms, Van Nest and Stratton Park.

CITY LEADERS LAUNCH IDNYC ON THE GO! MOBILE ENROLLMENT VAN AT NEW YORK CITY FOOTBALL CLUB HOME OPENER

IDNYC partner New York City FC celebrates international fans by hosting first rollout of IDNYC mobile command center

   Mayor Bill de Blasio, Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, Commissioner Nisha Agarwal and Commissioner Steven Banks today unveiled IDNYC on the Go!, a mobile enrollment center bringing IDNYC and its extensive array of benefits directly to New Yorkers. To reduce obstacles to government issued identification, IDNYC on the Go! is an ADA-accessible enrollment facility that will serve New Yorkers where they live and work. The command center debuted today at New York City FC’s home opener at Yankee Stadium, where the team and IDNYC partner celebrated the diversity of their fans and surpassing 1 million fans at Yankee Stadium.  

“IDNYC was created to bring New Yorkers of all stripes closer to their city, and to bring the city closer to New Yorkers,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “Today we are rolling out our new mobile enrollment center at New York City Football Club’s first home game, dedicated to celebrating their fans and families that make New York City the most diverse and culturally rich city in the world. We know that demand remains high for IDNYC, and this new mobile enrollment site will help us sign up more New Yorkers, and will even double as an emergency recovery vehicle.”

IDNYC opened the Mobile Command Center outside Yankee Stadium, the home of the New York Yankees and New York City FC, for the first time Sunday. New York City FC is a key partner to the IDNYC program, offering discounted tickets to all of their home games for IDNYC cardholders. At their first home game of the season, New York City FC is taking the opportunity to celebrate the diversity of their fan base by flying the flags of the 20 largest immigrant communities in NYC. As part of their efforts to welcome their fans and their partnership with the City, they are hosting the IDNYC Mobile Command Center at Yankee Stadium from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm.

As IDNYC partners, New York City FC makes family-friendly entertainment even more accessible to New Yorkers. New York City FC collaborated on a video promoting IDNYC as a card for all New Yorkers.

This mobile command center will operate year-round, staffed by IDNYC staff, and has the capacity to process between 40 and 60 applications per operating day. It will also be utilized by the Department of Social Services as an emergency recovery vehicle. It is equipped with a generator and electrical power systems that are self-sufficient and will be fully operational in the event of an emergency or natural disaster. Further, the vehicle is configured and connected with DSS computers and corresponding networks, which allows for it to be repurposed to provide other essential DSS services, including: 

·        Serve as a crisis management outpost with internet and phone access, and as a conference area with seating

·        Transmit, receive and communicate information to other city agencies and programs pertaining to larger emergency and evacuation plans

·        Transport and distribute emergency supplies, medicine and food

·        Direct traffic due to visibility and lighting system 

Sign up New Yorkers for essential services, including:

·        Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and emergency food services 

·        Medicaid support and benefits

·        Cash assistance for TANF and WeCare recipients, as well as individuals who qualify under other guidelines

IDNYC has a wide array of benefit partners. All City residents age 14 and above are eligible to get a municipal ID card, and enrollment is free for anyone who applies in 2017. All IDNYC applicants must have documentation that proves identity and residency in New York City. The City will protect the confidentiality of all IDNYC card applications and will not ask applicants about their immigration status. For more information on eligibility criteria, benefits, enrollment centers across the five boroughs and more, applicants can visit nyc.gov/idnyc or call 311.

Harlem River Conference Wed 3-22 at 3-7 pm

HURRY       HURRY

We are ordering food, if you have not signed up, send your email ASAP now to{EMAIL_ADDRESS|rsvp@bceq.org}

Bronx Council for Environmental Quality (BCEQ)

16^th Annual Water Conference & 46^th Annual Membership Meeting

 

    Manhattan College, Leo Engineering

    Fischbach Room (4^th Floor)

    3840 Corlear Avenue at 238th St.

    Bronx, NY 10463

Wednesday, March 22, 2017 from 3 to 7 pm

 

AGENDA

 

Green Infrastructure (GI) for private property owners   3-4:30 PM

3:05 PM          Welcome, opening remarks – Dart

3:10 PM          Sean Dixon, Riverkeeper & Korin Tangtrakul, SWCD: 

                            Green Infrastructure as an Urban Landscape Design Guideline

3:30 PM           Samuel Robinson, Greenwood Robinson Showcase DIY green infrastructure techniques

3:45 PM           Breakout – Green Infrastructure techniques/ideas for your property

4:00 PM           Melissa Enoch, NYC Department of Environmental Protection:  

                            Green Infrastructure Grant Program

4:20 PM           Summary, Q&A, Closing

 

4:30-5 PM  Break/networking/food

 

GI Long Term Control Plan:  Community Advocacy   5-7 PM

5:00 PM           Welcome + Introductions  – Dart Westphal, BCEQ

5:05 PM           Special Guest Speaker:  James Foster, Anacostia Watershed Society

5:35 PM           Sean Dixon, Riverkeeper, and Korin Tangtrakul, SWCD: 

                             LTCP - it’s just a plan

5:55 PM           Christina Taylor, Friends of Van Cortlandt Park: Daylighting Coalition

6:05 PM           Sara Powell, Bronx & Harlem Rivers Urban Waters Federal Partnership Ambassador:  

                            Welcome & Introduction

6:10 PM           Jamie Ong, NYC Parks, Harlem River Watershed Plan Update

6:20 PM           Jamie Ong, NYC Parks, Depot Place Planning Grant

6:30 PM           Therese Kelly, President, Manhattan College Green Club

6:35 PM           Wrap up +  BCEQ Annual Membership Meeting, Joyce Hogi, BCEQ President

                                Nomination of Directors, Jane Sokolow, BCEQ

 

Refreshments will be served, courtesy of ConEdison.   

Participants/partners:  ConEdison, Bronx and Harlem Rivers Urban Waters Federal Partnership Ambassador, Harlem River Working Group, Manhattan College, Manhattan College Green Club, NYC Department of Environmental Protection, NYC Department of Parks, NYC Soil and Water Conservation District, Open Sewer Atlas NYC, Riverkeeper, and Storm Water Infrastructure Matters (SWIM).

 

Statement By U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara

   “Today, I was fired from my position as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. Serving my country as U.S. Attorney here for the past seven years will forever be the greatest honor of my professional life, no matter what else I do or how long I live. One hallmark of justice is absolute independence, and that was my touchstone every day that I served. I want to thank the amazing people of the Southern District of New York, the greatest public servants in the world, for everything they do each day in pursuit of justice. They will continue to do the great work of the Office under the leadership of Joon H. Kim, the current Deputy U.S. Attorney, who will serve as Acting U.S. Attorney.”

Statement From A.G. Schneiderman on U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara

   "Preet Bharara, like many of the U.S. Attorneys dismissed this week, served with honor and distinction. His integrity, tenacity, and commitment to rooting out wrongdoing -- whether in the boardroom, the halls of government, or anywhere else -- will be sorely missed.

President Trump’s abrupt and unexplained decision to summarily remove over 40 U.S. Attorneys has once again caused chaos in the federal government and led to questions about whether the Justice Department's vital and non-partisan work will continue under Attorney General Sessions, as it must."

Still No Work at the Riverdale/Oxford Avenue Former Proposed Medical Center Site.

  Over two years after plans were submitted for a fourteen story building on this site where a proposed medical center was defeated the site still remains as it was after the former DJ Drug building was torn down. 

  This site still remains an eyesore as rumors continue that the site is still up for sale.