Bronx Democratic Party - Upcoming Events

Bronx Dems Host Landlord/ Tenants & Consumer Credit Law Panel When: Thurs. 6/8/17, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.  Where: Davidson Community center, 2038 Davidson Avenue Join the Law Committee of the Bronx Democratic Party as we host a  Landlord/ Tenants & Consumer Credit Law panel as part of a Know Your Rights series.   For more information on this event,  please see the attached flyer.

Click to Enlarge Chippewa Democratic Club's 119th Annual Dinner Dance  When: Thurs. 6/8/17, from 6:30 to 11:00 p.m. Where: Villa Barone Manor, 737 Throggs Neck Expressway  Join the Chippewa Democratic Club as they honor the Bronx Democratic Party Chairman, Marcos A. Crespo, among other honorees, at their 119th Annual Dinner Dance.  For more information on this event, please contact  Edward L. Koester at (718) 671-1679 or at edkoester@optonline.net

Click to Enlarge Bronx Elected Officials Host Abrazo Boricua When: Thurs. 6/8/17, from 7:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. Where: Eastwood Manor Caterers, at 3371 Eastchester Road Join Bronx Democratic Party Chairman Marcos A. Crespo, Senator Ruben Diaz Sr., Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda, City Councilman Rafael Salamanca, State Senator Marisol Alcantara, and Assemblyman Victor Pichardo for their Abrazo Boricua event.  For more information on this event please contact Leila Martinez at (718) 991- 3161.

Click to Enlarge Councilwoman Vanessa Gibson Hosts Annual Housing Conference When: Weds. 6/14/17, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Where: Bronx Museum of the Arts, South Wing, Lower Level, at 1040 Grand Concourse, (Corner of East 165th Street) Join Councilwoman Vanessa Gibson with the Offices of State Senator Jose M. Serrano and Assemblywoman Latoya Joyner, along with the 16th Council District's Tenant, Block  and Neighborhood Council, as they host their Annual  Housing Conference. For more information on this event, please see the attached flyer.

Bronx Elected's Hosts a Job Fair When: Fri. 6/17/17 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Where: New South Bronx Center - Police Athletic League, 991 Longwood Avenue  Join Assemblyman Marcos A. Crespo, Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda, City Councilman Rafael Salamanca, and Senator Ruben Diaz for a job fair in the South Bronx, in partnership with the Department of Labor and the Department of Youth and Community Development.  For more information on this event, please call  Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda's office at (718) 931- 2620.

Click to Enlarge Latino Leadership Institute Hosts The Women, Millennials and LGBTQIA+ In Politics Panel  When: Sat, 6/24/17, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  Where: Transit Workers Union, 195 Montague Street (3rd Floor) Brooklyn, NY, 11201 Join the Latino Leadership Institute as they host a conference and day long panel dedicated to educating, enlightening, supporting and hearing from the women, millennials, and LGBTQIA+ individuals in politics.  For more information on this event, please see the attached flyer or call (347) 446 - 5786.

NATIONAL CARIBBEAN AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH KICKS OFF WITH CELEBRATION HOSTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ANDY KING

  The first ever “Our Caribbean Heritage Celebration” was a community-relationship builder for one of the most diversified cities in the northeast region.

New York City Council Member Andy King and other elected officials kicked off National Caribbean American Heritage Month with a celebration of nine outstanding people of Caribbean heritage at the “Our Caribbean Heritage Celebration” on June 3rd at the Celeste Bartos Forum, New York Public Library--Stephen A. Schwarzman Building at Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street, Manhattan.

“The National Caribbean American Heritage Month provides a wonderful opportunity for us as a people to strengthen and develop additional relationships,” said Loreen Bannis-Roberts, Dominica’s Ambassador to the United Nations and an honoree at Saturday’s celebration, which included music by the City South Steel Orchestra, songs by world-renowned opera and jazz singer from Dominica, Marie-Claire Giraud and videos about the Commonwealth of Dominica.

“I represent the 12th District of the Bronx, a large Caribbean community. We’re full of color, we’re full of life, zeal and love for one another,” said Council Member King, who organized the celebration.

“Puerto Rico is where I was born and raised, Puerto Rico is where my mother continues to live, and I am really, really proud of my identity, my culture, and my heritage, ” said New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, who received the “Real Leadership” award. 

In addition to Speaker Mark-Viverito and the Honorable Bannis-Roberts, other honorees  awarded for their outstanding contribution to their community and country were: Ms. Giraud, Gabriel J. Christian, Esq., Henry A. Garrido, DC 37, Executive Director; Ambassador Curtis Ward, former ambassador of Jamaica to the United Nations; Hon. Dr. Irving W. André, Superior Court of Justice, Dominica; Crispin Gregoire, United Nation Development Program’s (UNDP) Chief of the Caribbean Strategic Monitoring and Support Unit of the Regional Bureau of Latin America and the Caribbean and Dr. Clayton Shillingford, former president of the Dominica Academy of Arts and Sciences.

“It is with great pleasure to recognize and honor these individuals in our community who have made significant contributions in their chosen fields and supported Caribbean communities,” said Council Member King.

ANDY ABREU, CANDIDATE FOR NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL INVITES YOU TO HIS OFFICE OPENING & RALLY

Who: Randy Abreu – Candidate for New York City Council, 14^th Council District

What: Office Opening, accompanied by a rally and Reception for Randy Abreu.

Where: 10 W. Kingsbridge Rd. Bronx, NY 10468

When: Saturday, June 10, 2017 at 4:00pm

Why: Randy Abreu is a progressive Democrat running for New York City Council District 14. Raised in the Bronx, Abreu – a young lawyer – wants to help give back to the community that raised him. Having previously worked for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and in the administration of former President Barack Obama, he has the knowledge and experience necessary to represent the people of Council District 14 at City Hall. For more information on Randy Abreu for City Council, visit AbreuForNYC.com

Council Transportation Chair Rodriguez Proposes Solutions to Crippling Congestion

  On Monday, June 5th, the NYC Council Transportation Committee will held an oversight hearing on persistent traffic congestion and its economic, environmental and safety impacts. The hearing examined an array of contributing factors and possible solutions. Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez, Chair of the Committee offered several possible solutions to ease congestion in Manhattan and other busy areas in the city. His opening statement is available here.

"Congestion is choking Manhattan," said Council Transportation Chair Ydanis Rodriguez. "We've seen this in report after report and we know the impacts can be severe. From lost economic output to environmental damage to increased danger for pedestrians and cyclists, this is a serious issue that we have to tackle today; we cannot push this problem on the next generation as the costs are too great. From increasing enforcement, to rethinking freight delivery, to investments in mass transit and restricting vehicle use in the city core, we can make a major impact on reducing crippling congestion in our City."

Chair Rodriguez pressed hard on the need for increased enforcement against behavior that adds considerably to congestion. From double parking, to parking in bike and bus lanes, to the abuse of public parking placard privileges, congestion is greatly contributed to by illegal actions. Council Member Rodriguez highlighted findings from CCNY Professor Robert Paaswell that posited congestion could be cut by 15% if enforcement was stronger against this low hanging fruit.

Council Member Rodriguez also spoke to issues with freight delivery creating issues on city streets. With online shopping booming in recent years, we are seeing more truck deliveries than ever before. This is also true of deliveries to big box and chain stores that have grown in number across the city. Council Member Rodriguez posed that many of these personal deliveries can be made by cargo tricycles like those used in cities around the world. The smaller, cheaper and more efficient electric trike that powers these deliveries could have a major impact on city congestion.

Council Member Rodriguez also called for the restriction of public parking placards in midtown and downtown, saying that city workers should instead travel by subway or one of the many other modes available to them. This privilege should be reserved for emergency and vital city vehicles, rather than for those making inspections or going to meetings, tasks easily and sometimes faster accomplished by public transportation.

Legislation heard today by Council Members Levine and Rodriguez would require the NYC DOT to study the traffic impact of trucks delivering during the day, some even at rush hour. Intro 1031 would focus on downtown Manhattan and Brooklyn and offer recommendations based on the findings.

"The issue of traffic and congestion in lower Manhattan has been escalating for years," said Council Member Mark Levine, sponsor of Intro 1031. "Though there are several factors behind these issues, delivery trucks are a significant driving force. By conducting a comprehensive study on the effects of these trucks' impact on lower Manhattan traffic, we will be taking a critical step towards assessing what can be done to address this problem. I thank Transportation Rodriguez for his commitment to reducing the amount of congestion not just in Manhattan, but across the five boroughs, and look forward to working with him to pass this legislation."

EDITOR'S NOTE:

Why is it that the constant bumper to bumper traffic on the Cross Bronx Expressway is not also being studied to find a remedy to this traffic, and health problems of the Bronx residents who live around the Cross Bronx Standstill.

Independent Democratic Conference brings successful model of governing to Albany for New York’s middle- and working class

New digital ad campaign tells the story of the six-year -old, third conference that gets results

In a three-and-a-half minute digital media campaign that launched on Monday, Independent Democratic Conference Leader Jeff Klein speaks about six years of steady success of his third, separate conference.

Klein kicks off with the founding of the IDC, borne out of the severe dysfunction of a Democratic Majority in the Senate — a majority that he worked hard to achieve.

“We accomplished a Democratic Majority, but the finger pointing among Democrats, and between Democrats and Republicans, had paralyzed our state. New York became the most dysfunctional legislature in the country,” Klein says.

“It was then that I made a decision that there had to be a new model for how to serve the people of this state. A new way of governing,” he adds.

IDC leader Klein makes clear that the members of the IDC have always put policy before politics, and the needs of their constituents first. The IDC began with four members and has since grown to eight members, who come from upstate to downstate.

“Our legislative agenda has been clear: reach out to our middle class, working families, and those most vulnerable. Our initiatives have to help homeowners with an onerous tax burden as well as the working poor who cannot make enough to make ends meet. We must help families that find it difficult to cover tuition for their college kids as well as tenants who need legal representation when facing eviction,” Klein says.

Among the IDC’s achievements are fighting side-by-side with Mayor Bill de Blasio to secure funding for universal pre-K, and with Governor Cuomo on the minimum wage and Paid Family Leave.

“And this year, we would not give up, working with the Democratic Assembly, until the Senate agreed to raise the age of criminal responsibility, which has been generally accepted would not have happened had it not been for the untiring work of the IDC members,” Klein continues.

“The IDC refused to stand idle as we witness Trumps’ frontal attack on our immigrant community. Our work resulted in the largest budget allocation in New York State history to help immigrants – from those who need legal assistance while they face deportation hearings to those who need information to fulfill their dream to become US citizens.”

“If you don’t know of our work at the IDC – you should know that while members of the Republican and Democratic legislative conferences in Albany have a divergent set of positions on the most controversial issues, the IDC is the only legislative conference that is unanimously in support of the Dream Act, a woman’s right to choose and upholding the rights of LGBT New Yorkers,” Klein says.

“The IDC’s philosophy is clear – we will work with those who are ready to move forward a progressive agenda that lift New Yorkers economically and socially. But we will not allow for the legislative dysfunctionality of the past to prevail. Our commitment is only to our constituents who sent us to Albany to get the people’s work done, to fight for them and to bring resources to our neighborhoods. Our goal is to serve you because you put your trust in us.”

VIDEO LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPPjGddvOVo&feature=youtu.be

Elvin Garcia - We need your help now more than ever

Friends,

First, thank you to all who attended our Campaign Office Party yesterday. The amazing diverse turnout of people-power speaks for itself -- where over 50% of the turnout were #Women4Elvin:

Lets now use our grassroots support to help us get on the ballot: Tomorrow is the first day of petitioning, and we need your help to reach as many people as possible to sign our petitions. Can we count on you? It's important to note as we start petitioning that people must only sign petitions for ONE candidate (Elvin Garcia) in order for them to be valid -- so we have to work hard to get as many petitions as possible starting tomorrow.   We need your support now more than ever This campaign has run entirely on grassroots people-power --- people just like you. Because of your support we have: Opened the our campaign office --- ahead anyone else running in this race. Collected over 570 individual contributions --- more than anyone else in this race. Built the most diverse coalition of neighborhood mayors --- independent of ANY elected official.  Petitioning shifts are happening ALL WEEK starting TOMORROW: 10:00AM - 3:00PM  and/or 3:30PM - 8:30PM We've already proven we can run an independent campaign with no hand-holding from special interests. The next step is the get on the ballot. Help us get there, sign up to collect petitions.

Best,

newyorkersformarkgjonaj Can’t wait to petition for your next City Councilman?

Of course you can’t!

I know it and I love you for it.

I hope you’ll come out and get involved in our petitioning process this year. We’ve got thousands of signatures to gather and only about a month to do it!

Petitioning Kick-off
Wednesday, June 7
7:30 pm 

New Yorkers for Mark Gjonaj Headquarters
2018 Williamsbridge Rd.
Bronx, NY

 Light refreshments will be served.

 

Petitioning is one of those things I just can’t do without you and really shows the strength of support we have in the community. I hope I can count on you to join us and be part of our team.

Please fill out this short form if you're available to join us.

Thank you and I’ll hope to see you Wednesday!                            

MAYOR DE BLASIO, SPEAKER MARK-VIVERITO, CHANCELLOR FARIÑA ANNOUNCE UNIVERSAL PHYSICAL EDUCATION INITIATIVE

  City will invest $385 million in Capital Funding to bring designated PE space to all schools citywide

  Mayor Bill de Blasio, Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, Assembly Member Cathy Nolan and Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña today announced a Universal Physical Education (PE) initiative to provide all schools with a designated PE space by 2021. The initiative will focus on around 200 schools, out of a total of 1,629, that do not currently have a gymnasium. The first phase will focus on 76 schools that do not have any designated PE space and will cost approximately $385 million over the next four years in Capital funding, including $105.5 million in new Capital funding as part of the recently-announced Adopted Budget for Fiscal Year 2018. As part of the budget agreement, the City will also invest an additional $1.8 million for some of the schools to lease nearby PE space.

Over the next several months, the DOE and the School Construction Authority (SCA) will work with individual schools to explore a variety of options at each school to ensure all students have access to space for PE. These options will include constructing new gymnasiums, renovating schoolyards, converting or enhancing existing rooms into fitness areas, converting auditoriums into “gymatoriums”, or leasing PE space from community-based organizations.

Of the 76 schools across the City that do not currently have any designated PE space, the SCA has already identified 20 that have outdoor space that can accommodate a new gym addition, a standalone gym or a schoolyard renovation. DOE and the SCA are in the process of conducting space assessments at the remaining 56 schools.

“The lack of physical education classes in our schools has been a concern of mine for over 20 years,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “I could not be more proud to be dedicating resources to ensure that every school will have an adequate PE space by 2021. Incorporating physical activity into the day isn’t just the healthy thing for our young people, it is the law and one that was ignored for far too long.”

“Every student needs quality physical education to stay healthy and remain focused during the school day. Not only are we committing to providing all students with PE space, but we are also strengthening physical education curricula with more trained PE instructors and new educational resources. This is part of equity and excellence in all our schools, and setting students up for success,” said Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña.

The Mayor and Chancellor announced Universal PE at P.S. 81 in Ridgewood Queens, where in 2018, the school will break ground on a new, stand-alone gymnasium. Starting next school year, the school will also have a new, full-time certified PE instructor. Additionally, starting this week, air conditioning installations will begin to address the nearly 80% of classrooms that lack units. This will be completed by the end of summer 2017 and all classes will have air conditioning for the 2017-18 school year.

Universal PE will build upon the administration’s PE Works initiative, an unprecedented, multi-year, $100 million investment launched in April 2016 that envisions PE as a foundational component of our schools, and seeks to revitalize this subject area for all students. PE Works began as a pilot in approximately 400 schools in the 2015-16 school year, and included jumpstart funding for 50 elementary schools without a certified PE teacher to hire and retain one.

The PE Works team is developing multi-year action plans in collaboration with school staff to address barriers to PE, including space constraints. Based on the action plans, the PE Works team will work with every district school to implement the instructional, operational and family engagement steps that schools can take to improve and sustain conditions for PE to thrive. PE Works staff is also developing a K-12 PE Scope and Sequence so that teachers, administrators, and parents have a shared understanding of the benchmarks of good PE instruction for students at all grades. By June 2019, with the help of nearly 500 new certified PE teachers hired for elementary schools that need one, all elementary schools are expected to meet State PE requirements.

Of the 76 schools included in the first phase of Universal PE, 30 are in Brooklyn, 13 are in the Bronx, 8 are in Manhattan, 16 are in Queens and 8 are in Staten Island. While all schools are required to provide PE, not all schools have PE space. Universal PE, coupled with PE Works, will ensure that all students have access to a PE space, resources and instructors who can provide them with the rigorous PE instruction they need and deserve. 

As part of the City’s larger effort to enhance learning environments for all students, Mayor de Blasio, Chancellor Fariña and the City Council also recently announced funding to provide every classroom in New York City with air conditioning. The City will dedicate a total of $28.75 million over the next five years to purchase and install air conditioning units in all classrooms by 2022, providing thousands of students with a more safe and comfortable learning environment.

“Being more active throughout the day has been shown to improve students’ concentration and performance in class. With the Universal PE Initiative, all students across the five boroughs will now have access to gyms – which will provide students with more opportunities to exercise and play,” said New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito. “I am proud to support this initiative, and look forward to continuing to work to promote healthy behaviors across New York City.”