Senator Marisol Alcántara Passes Bill Establishing Commission on Adolescent Mental Health

Council will Monitor Statewide Mental Health Programming, Suggest Policy Solutions for Youth with a Special Focus on Latinos

Senator Marisol Alcántara on Tuesday passed The Strong Minds, Strong Communities Act (S.5500C) that establishes a council to tackle the ongoing adolescent mental health crisis with a special focus on the disproportionate rates of mental health problems faced by Latinos in the state.

“We must address the mental health needs of the Latino community, particularly Latino adolescents, who face a higher rate of depression and suicide than their peers. This council will not only help deliver much needed services to this community, but also hopefully shed light on the sources of disparities between minority adolescents and their peers,” said Senator Alcántara.

In 2015, one in four of New York State’s Hispanic youth considered suicide and one in seven attempted suicide. At the same time, only 35% of Hispanics with depression received care as opposed to 60% of whites. Furthermore, just 1% of the American Psychology Association identified themselves as Latino, and many bilingual Latinos are unable to find mental health treatment in their native language.

This bill will establish a nine-member council with duties that include coordinating the delivery of mental health resources, monitoring the implementation of mental health agencies’ action plans, and determining further services and policies that will address the needs of adolescents at risk of suicide.

This final mandate will be conducted with an eye towards the special needs of minority groups, especially Latina and Latino adolescents who face higher rates of depression and suicide than their peers. In the course of their duties, the members of the council will prepare a report with policy recommendations that will be submitted to the governor and the legislature no later than October 2018.

CRESPO HAILS COURT OF APPEALS DECISION THAT ALLOWS MUNCIPALITIES TO BAN SEX SHOPS AND STRIP CLUBS NEAR CHURCHES, SCHOOLS, PARKS

Calls for other cities across New York State to use ruling to clean up their communities from such lewd businesses

The following is a statement being released by Assemblyman Marcos Crespo, Chair of the Assembly Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task Force, on efforts to halt the proliferation of “adult” shops from being located in residential neighborhoods.

“For over decades and more aggressively over the past few years there has been a strong push to stop the proliferation of “adult” shops and strip clubs into residential communities.   Legislation I authored on this issue was considered a possible violation of First Amendment rights (Assembly Bill 6832 of 2015).

Yesterday’s unanimous ruling by the New York Court of Appeals allowing municipalities like New York City the ability to enforce its 2001 law to restrict the location of these establishments near schools, parks, churches and is most neighborhoods is a tremendous victory for families and children.

In my community and many more throughout New York State and New York City, parents and community leaders have found themselves helpless to prevent such establishments from setting up in the core of their neighborhood life.

These establishments have a history of attracting criminal activity, sex trafficking, drug trafficking and lewd behavior.

I applaud the Court of Appeals decision that allows policymakers to protect the moral fabric of our communities without infringing on Constitutional guaranteed rights of free speech.

The Court has clearly decided that the focus of these establishments on sexually explicit materials and activities allows them to be regulated as New York City has done.

I encourage other localities and cities in New York State to use this court decision to clean up their neighborhoods and protect their families and children from the associated lewd and dangerous activities that follow strip clubs and pornography dens.

Calling on Governor Cuomo to Protect Medicaid Patients who need Topical Oxygen Wound Therapy

What You Should Know 
By Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz 32nd Senatorial District 

  You should know that the New York State Department of Health is attempting to exclude Topical Oxygen Wound Therapy for Medicaid patients, and on behalf of these Medicaid patients, I am calling upon Governor Andrew Cuomo, who oversees the Department of Health, to stand by his decree that “healthcare is a human right” and permit this therapy to continue for the poor and the needy.

It is important for you to know that Topical Oxygen Wound Therapy is a safe and effective treatment for patients suffering from chronic, open wounds that come from diseases like diabetes, and have not responded to other forms of therapy.  

For several years, I have met with Medicaid patients who use Topical Oxygen Wound Therapy because it helps to prevent amputations.

You should know that New York State’s Medicaid patients who need this treatment are overwhelmingly low income Black and Hispanic people, and more of these patients live in the 32nd Senatorial District in the Bronx than in any other part of the State of New York.

This means the New York State Health Department’s decision, which are overseen by our beloved Governor Andrew Cuomo, affects me personally because it affects the people I directly represent and care about deeply.

Topical Oxygen Wound Therapy treatment is proven effective and New Yorkers like those in my district cannot afford to lose access to it. It is imperative that the State of New York does not deny our Medicaid patients the treatment they need and already receive.

My colleagues in the New York State Legislature and I have been fighting to make sure the State covers Topical Oxygen Wound Therapy treatment. We in the Senate have even passed the bill.

I’m asking Governor Andrew Cuomo to step in and do whatever it takes to protect our vulnerable Medicaid patients who rely upon Topical Oxygen Wound Therapy, because their healthcare is a human right, too.

I am State Senator Rubén Díaz and this is what you should know.

DE BLASIO ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES COMPLETION OF CAMERA INSTALLATION AT 22 NYCHA DEVELOPMENTS

New, state-of-the-art closed-circuit television cameras are creating safer communities for more than 42,000 residents

  The de Blasio Administration today kicked off National Safety Month by announcing the installation of new closed-circuit television cameras at 22 public housing developments, representing an investment of $15 million in City and State funding. These comprehensive security upgrades will strengthen security throughout NYCHA developments and improve the quality of life for more than 42,000 residents.

“We are continuing on our promise to improve the quality of life for public housing residents” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “These installations will help more than 42,000 New Yorkers feel safer in their homes, and are a vital tool in our efforts to decrease violence and illegal activity in our neighborhoods.”

“Security upgrades are crucial to improving safety, and we’re making them across our portfolio with the support of our City and State partners," said NYCHA Chair and CEO Shola Olatoye. “These security cameras will benefit over 19,000 NYCHA families and bring us one step closer to our NextGeneration NYCHA goal of creating safe, clean and connected communities.”

With the $15 million in City and State funding, NYCHA has installed 599 new CCTV cameras and upgraded 38 existing cameras at 121 buildings. The Authority is aggressively expanding security measures throughout its portfolio, installing cameras, exterior lighting, and layered-access control (LAC), which uses key-fob technology to provide building entry access to residents. Since 2014, NYCHA has spent more than $171 million installing and upgrading nearly 4,000 CCTV cameras, bringing the total number of cameras to approximately 14,0000. NYCHA has also installed LAC doors at 32 developments.

As part of the Mayor Action Plan for Neighborhood Safety, a comprehensive strategy to reduce violence and increase neighborhood safety at the 15 NYCHA sites, $140 million has been allocated for security enhancements, including lighting, CCTV and LAC doors, with funding from the City Council and Speaker, the Mayor’s Office and the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. NYCHA has completed the installation of 4,469 state-of-the-art, energy efficient LED lighting fixtures at 11 of 15 MAP sites, and work is underway at 3 sites. By the end of this year, 14 of the 15 sites will have brand new lighting. The next phase of security enhancements will include the installation of CCTV and LAC. CCTV installation is complete at 1 site—Butler Houses— and work is underway at 13 MAP sites. Most of the sites are estimated to be completed by the end of 2018.

In addition to MAP, NYCHA is installing safety lighting at 4 developments with $9 million in City and State funding. To date, work has been completed at one site—Ravenswood Houses.

The State has committed approximately $50.6 million for security upgrades, including safety lighting, CCTV, and LAC at 74 NYCHA developments citywide. The Dormitory Authority of the State of New York is administering these funds and projects. To date, DASNY has completed two projects.

List of developments with newly installed cameras

1. Bayview
2. Berry St/South 8^th St.
3. Breukelen
4. Boston Secor
5. Douglass
6. Forest
7. Gowanus
8. Highbridge
9. Holmes Towers
10. Isaacs
11. Lafayette
12. LES V
13. Lexington
14. Melrose
15. New Lane Shores
16. Palmetto Gardens
17. Throggs Neck
18. Tilden
19. Todt Hill
20. Webster
21. West Brighton
22. Whitman

News From Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz

Dinowitz Urges Transit Revolution from Albany Following Latest Disas

Reiterates call on Cuomo to reinstate $65 million cuts to MTA operating budget

   Yesterday's F train nightmare was just one more reminder that we're operating on borrowed time. Those trapped commuters may have escaped unharmed, but what about the next disaster?

I have repeatedly called on Governor Cuomo to reinstate the $65 million in operating funds he and the MTA decided to cut. We are facing a major transit emergency that could put lives at risk and jeopardize the city's long term economic growth. We need to move beyond the empty rhetoric, cosmetic solutions and budget cuts. What we need is nothing short of a full blown revolution in how New York provides public transportation to 8.5 million people. Our city lives and dies by its buses and subway. It's time Governor Cuomo and the MTA step and give New York the transit system we deserve.

Assemblyman Dinowitz Applauds Kingsbridge Armory’s Long Awaited Release From Limbo

Mayor de Blasio recently announced that the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) will finally release the Armory’s lease to the Kingsbridge National Ice Center LLC (KNIC) once the $108 million loan earmarked for the Armory in the state budget is formalized.

The proposed project, to convert the armory into a massive multi-ice rink complex, stalled after the city placed the armory lease in escrow until KNIC was able to secure funding for the project. In turn, KNIC claimed not holding the lease diminished their chances of successfully securing investment in the project and essentially placed the project on hold.

The project seemed destined to remain in limbo until state leaders including Assemblyman Dinowitz broke project out of limbo by granting the project $108 million loan in the state budget and giving KNIC the push it so desperately needed to get off the ground, secure the lease from the city, and begin development of the project.

Dinowitz was one of the first and most prominent supporters of the plan to develop the Kingsbridge Armory into a community center or sports facility voicing his support in 2011 to the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation, urging support for it when the ice skating project was still being contemplated among a number of other proposals.

“I have long believed that the Kingsbridge Armory should be used for the people of the Bronx and I am pleased that this project will finally proceed so that the Bronx can benefit. Having grown up just blocks from the Armory I am very familiar with its amazing potential. The Kingsbridge Armory is the largest in the world and the KNIC will be the largest ever ice rink complex. It will  greatly benefit people all over the Bronx as it can provide recreational and educational opportunities for thousands and thousands of Bronx residents and those beyond our borough. It also has the potential to create new businesses, particularly along Kingsbridge Road, that will bring provide many good to the community. I look forward to this project becoming a reality and to the positive impact it will have on Kingsbridge Heights, the Bronx and beyond,” said Assemblyman Dinowitz

CB 8 Traffic and Transportation Resolution RE: Broadway Corridor - Repost Upon Requests

Traffic and Transportation Committee

Bronx Community Board No. 8

5676 Riverdale Avenue

Bronx, New York 10471

Resolution

Dated: May 25, 2017.         

WHEREAS, Broadway between West 242nd Street and the City Line (“Broadway Corridor”) is a wide street, comprised of at least two northbound lanes and two southbound lanes, with parking on each side; and

WHEREAS, the New York City Department of Transportation (“DOT”) has presented a plan for safety improvements from West 242nd Street to the City Line; and

WHEREAS, DOT cites speeding as an issue along the corridor and states speeding is especially prevalent during off peak hours; and

WHEREAS, DOT cites a number of accidents between 2010 and 2014 on the Broadway Corridor;

WHEREAS, DOT recognizes Broadway as an important bus route for 9 NYC Transit lines, some of which connect to the subway lines; and

WHEREAS, Broadway is also known as U.S. Route 9, a designated truck route; and

WHEREAS, Broadway is the western boundary of Van Cortlandt Park; and

WHEREAS, DOT installed two signalized crossings (traffic lights) on Broadway and West 246th Street and at Broadway at the Tortoise and Hare Statue Park entrance in November 2016; and

WHEREAS, the Committee heard testimony from the public that speeding has been greatly reduced on the Broadway Corridor since the installation of these new traffic lights; and

WHEREAS, DOT has stated that it cannot study the effects of these new traffic lights for at least one year from the date of their installation;

WHEREAS, the Committee heard testimony from the public that lack of parking is an issue on the Broadway Corridor; and

WHEREAS, the Committee heard testimony from the public that they would like DOT to study the possibility of angle parking along Van Cortlandt Park; and

WHEREAS, DOT proposed the addition of parking spots along the Broadway Corridor which could be installed regardless of the plan being implemented; and

WHEREAS, the Committee heard testimony from the public that double parking is an issue on the Broadway Corridor; and

WHEREAS, the Committee heard testimony that the wide 13’ parking lane permits the flow of traffic around double parked vehicles; and

WHEREAS, the Committee heard testimony from the public that if the DOT plan was implemented, which would narrow the traffic lanes, double parking would stop the flow of traffic on Broadway Corridor; and

WHEREAS, the Committee heard testimony from the public that, Van Cortlandt Park, as a renowned cross country and track destination, attracts schools from across the country to sporting events and that during these events, large buses double park along the Broadway Corridor on both sides of the street; and

WHEREAS, the Committee heard testimony from the public that if the DOT plan was implemented, which would narrow the traffic lanes, double parking of these buses at the sporting events would stop the flow of traffic on Broadway Corridor; and

WHEREAS, DOT proposes that the curbside bus stops on the northbound side of the Broadway corridor will be eliminated and replaced with bus bulbs thereby forcing buses to stop in a moving traffic lane to pick up and drop off passengers; and

WHEREAS, the Committee heard testimony from the public that if the DOT plan was implemented, the new bus stops would stop the flow of traffic on Broadway Corridor; and

WHEREAS, the Committee heard testimony that similar changes as those proposed have been implemented in Manhattan and have caused devastating congestion;

WHEREAS, the Committee heard testimony that the proposed protected bike lane may be dangerous to pedestrians entering and exiting the park, especially individuals with baby carriages which enter the bike lane first; and

WHEREAS, the Committee heard testimony that the proposed protected bike lane may be dangerous to motorists exiting their vehicle, particularly with packages, carriages and children on the Northbound lane because of the narrowed lane with oncoming traffic and the bike lane on the other side of the vehicle; and

WHEREAS, the Committee heard testimony that the proposed plan may be dangerous to motorists exiting their vehicle, particularly with packages, carriages and children in the Southbound lane, being reduced to an 8’ width, with oncoming width; and

WHEREAS, the Committee heard testimony that the public would prefer bike lanes in the park and not in the street;

WHEREAS, the narrowing of lanes coupled with double-parked vehicles and buses stopping in traffic lanes will create congestion and gridlock on the Broadway Corridor;

WHEREAS, the Committee heard testimony that if the plan was implemented, the congestion and gridlock will cause vehicles to use alternate streets in North Riverdale such as Post Road, Fieldston Road and Riverdale Avenue;

WHEREAS, the Committee heard testimony that if the plan was implemented, the congestion and gridlock will cause emergency vehicles to be hindered in their vital functions; and

WHEREAS, the Committee heard testimony from the public that the Broadway Corridor has been made dangerous by the failure of DOT to maintain the striping of key crosswalks and intersections; and

WHEREAS, the Committee heard testimony that the businesses on West 242nd street and Broadway rely on the use of the service lane on West 242nd Street and that the proposed plan will hurt their businesses.

THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED that the Committee does not approve the DOT plan as presented but finds that certain elements of the plan may be beneficial; and

BE IT RESOLVED that the Committee appreciates the efforts of Council Member Cohen for bringing safety issues of the Broadway Corridor to the forefront of community discussion; and

BE IT RESOLVED that the Committee recommends the restriping of the intersection at Broadway and Mosholu Avenue so as to narrow the intersection for pedestrian safety; and

BE IT RESOLVED that the Committee recommends that DOT install the additional parking spots identified along the Broadway Corridor; and

BE IT RESOLVED that the Committee recommends that DOT study the possibility of angled parking along Van Cortlandt Park; and

BE IT RESOLVED that the Committee recommends that DOT initiate a study to analyze the effects of the two new traffic lights on Broadway Corridor promptly after the one year period; and

BE IT RESOLVED that should the DOT study of the traffic lights reflect additional measures needed, that DOT reconfigure the timing of the traffic lights in order to slow traffic further; and

BE IT RESOLVED that the Committee recommends additional traffic lights on the Broadway Corridor; and

BE IT RESOLVED that the committee recommends aggressive enforcement of double parked vehicles on the Broadway Corridor;

BE IT RESOLVED that, at the Broadway exit from the southbound Henry Hudson Parkway, DOT study the elimination of the northbound lane on to Broadway, where two pedestrians have been injured, thereby directing all exiting cars to the existing lane controlled by a traffic light, as recommended in the Van Cortlandt Park Master Plan approved by Community Board #8.

BE IT RESOLVED, that DOT conduct a separate and distinct study of the area between Manhattan College Parkway and West 242nd Street in order to analyze the entire activity of this important transportation and commercial Hub;

BE IT RESOLVED that DOT move the bus stop on the west side of Broadway between Manhattan College Parkway and West 242nd Street from its current spot to a new location further north to alleviate some of the issues at this Hub;

BE IT RESOLVED that DOT consider the possibility of a traffic circle at Broadway and Manhattan College Parkway to alleviate some of the issues at the Hub; and

BE IT RESOLVED that DOT investigate the installation of unprotected, designated bike lanes on the northbound and southbound side of Broadway.

BE IT RESOLVED DOT initiate a study of alternatives for bike lanes along the Broadway Corridor, including the installation of unprotected, designated bike lanes on the northbound and southbound side of Broadway, in and out of the park, and present this study to this committee in a separate and distinct proposal from the safety plan presented herein.

In Favor: Sylvia Alexander; Margaret Donato; Myra Joyce (Community Committee Member); Joseph O’Brien; Dan Padernacht; Georgia Santiago

Opposed: Eric Bell

Abstain: Daniella Fuchs

Croton Filter Plant - June Croton FMC Meeting

 

The Croton Facility Monitoring Committee will meet on Monday, June 19, 2017 at 6:30pm at the DEP Croton office, 3660 Jerome Ave Bx 10467.

The proposed agenda will be forwarded in advance.

MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES ALL-TIME RECORD NUMBER OF TELEVISION SHOWS SHOOTING IN NEW YORK CITY

56 television series filmed in NYC during the 2016-17 season, an increase of 8 percent over last year – creating thousands of jobs and bringing millions of dollars in spending to local economy

  Mayor de Blasio and Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment Commissioner Julie Menin announced a record-breaking 56 episodic television series filmed in New York City during the 2016-17 season. The new high, up from 52 last year, reaffirms the City’s status as the premier location for the episodic television production industry. The number of television shows shot in the city has been setting records every year for the last seven seasons, thanks to the proliferation of networks and platforms commissioning scripted content, including streaming services like Netflix, Hulu and Amazon.

“We are experiencing a new golden age of television. The industry is enjoying a period of substantial expansion – not only to different audiences, but new platforms. And our City is doing an excellent job of getting its share of this growth,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “Production activity is spreading out to all five boroughs, and with it, more and more good-paying jobs for New Yorkers.” 

“We are thrilled that, once again, New York City has broken a new record in the number of television series shooting here,” said Media and Entertainment Commissioner Julie Menin. “New York is the greatest backdrop in the world, and the diversity of the city’s locations is unparalleled as is its skilled workforce. This increase in production provides enormous revenue to the city’s small businesses, and as well as thousands of well-paying jobs, something we can all celebrate.”

Every television show that shoots in the five boroughs brings tangible economic benefits to the City’s neighborhoods in the form of increased spending at local businesses and hundreds of well-paying jobs. The city’s soundstages are in high demand, and York Studios is breaking ground on a new 350,000 facility in the Bronx, in part to keep pace with all of the demand.

The number of pilots filmed throughout the five boroughs also rose, to 17 pilots in the 2016-2017 season (including network, cable and digital) up from 15 last year, an increase of 14 percent. The increase is all the more notable since the total number of network pilots has reportedly declined and the industry has moved away from the traditional pilot commissioning process.

Among the award-winning shows filmed in New York City are Mr. Robot, Billions, and The Americans. A number of prestigious projects have already announced they will film in New York in the 2017-18 season, including Succession with HBO, Maniac, a Netflix series which is the first Paramount TV project for shoot in New York, and Ray Donovan, the hit Showtime drama about a Hollywood fixer, which relocated from Los Angeles.

Overall, New York City’s filmed entertainment industry contributes nearly $9 billion to the local economy and creates 130,000 full-time, well-paying jobs.

Pilots filmed in New York City during the 2016-17 season include:

Start Up, ABC

Salamander, ABC

Deception, ABC

Untitled Paul William Davies Project, ABC

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Amazon

Untitled Jenny Lumet Project, CBS

Live from Everywhere, Comedy Central

Issues, Freeform

Succession, HBO

Luncheonette, JAX Media

Redliners, NBC

Salvation, NBC

Drama High, NBC

Happy, Syfy

Mating, Showtime

Civil, TNT

The Tap, USA