Election Results in Puerto Rico Are No Different Than the Election Results for the Mayor of the City of New York

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

  You should know that on Sunday, June 11, 2017, the election results for Puerto Rico’s referendum showed that 97 percent of the votes favored Statehood for Puerto Rico.

Following the election, Puerto Rico’s Governor Ricardo Rosello proudly announced in a press statement: “Today, we the people of Puerto Rico are sending a strong and clear message to the US Congress … and to the world … claiming our equal rights as American citizens.”

It is confusing to me that instead, there are more people focusing on the low voter turnout of 23 percent, as if there should be some question about the final results.

It is important for you to know that voter turnout in New York City’s Mayoral election in 2013 was only 24 percent of registered voters, the lowest turnout election in years, yet no one questioned the results.

In fact, the media shouted from the rooftops that Bill de Blasio won his election against Joe Lhota in a landslide, and that his victory was a mandate.

No one focused on the fact that more than 75 percent of the New York City’s registered voters stayed home.

Yet these same cheerleaders want to sit back and question the real will of Puerto Ricans.

Statehood for Puerto Rico was decided by the voters.

I have always stood for Statehood for Puerto Rico, and I hope the elections results will be respected the same way election results are respected in our city.

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

MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES OPENING OF NEARLY 300 AFFORDABLE APARTMENTS AT PACIFIC PARK IN BROOKLYN

First 100 percent affordable building serves New Yorkers earning as little as $20,100, and up to moderate and middle income earners

  Mayor Bill de Blasio, Deputy Mayor Alicia Glen, local officials, Greenland Forest City Partners and community groups announced the opening of 535 Carlton. The building’s 298 homes are all affordable, and reserved for New Yorkers with household incomes of between $20,100 for an individual and $149,000 for a family of three. Preference goes to municipal employees and those with vision, hearing or mobility disabilities.

“Our administration is delivering on the affordable housing this community was promised. For hundreds of families right here in Brooklyn, these homes represent economic security, the chance to save a little every month and get ahead, and the assurance that they’ll be able to afford to stay in the borough they love,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio.

“Having an affordable place to call home and sleep at night is a prerequisite for experiencing the American Dream. The addition of hundreds of critically-needed affordable housing units at 535 Carlton is welcome news for Brooklyn,” Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams said.

“Thank you to everyone who helped me make the dream of having a place of our own a reality and for prioritizing affordable housing at Pacific Park Brooklyn,” said Crystal Patterson, a resident of 535 Carlton.

The new building is part of a commitment Greenland Forest City Partners made with Governor Cuomo, Mayor de Blasio and local community groups in June 2014 to build 2,250 affordable apartments by 2025. There are currently 479 units of below market-rate housing at Pacific Park and another 303 will become available this summer. The project contributes to Mayor de Blasio’s affordable housing plan, which has financed more than 63,000 affordable homes in three years.

When complete, Pacific Park Brooklyn will include six million square feet of residential space across 6,430 units of housing, of which 2,250 will be affordable rental units. It will also contain 247,000 square feet of retail space, up to 1.6 million square feet of office space, and eight acres of publicly-accessible open space.

For high-resolution images of 535 Carlton, click here.  

“With nearly 300 units that are affordable to low, moderate, and middle income households, 535 Carlton will provide an anchor of affordability in the heart of Prospect Heights, Brooklyn,” said Housing Development Corporation President Eric Enderlin. “The Pacific Park development also brings significant open park space, retail, and additional transit-infrastructure that will benefit the larger community. Thanks to all our partners, including the Mayor’s Office, the NYS Empire State Development Corporation, Greenland Forest City Partners, COOKFOX, and so many others, including various Brooklyn community stakeholders, for contributing to the success of 535 Carlton and the ongoing development at the Pacific Park project.”

“Through Housing New York, the City set out to secure as much affordability as possible in all our neighborhoods.  When complete, the Pacific Park development will provide more than 2,200 affordable housing opportunities near this vital hub of transportation in thriving downtown Brooklyn,” said Housing Preservation and Development Commissioner Maria Torres-Springer. “The opening of 535 Carlton Avenue, the first hundred-percent affordable housing development underway at Pacific Park, represents housing security for 298 families, and the promise of more to come. Congratulations to HDC, the NYS Empire State Development Corporation, Greenland Forest City Partners, COOKFOX, and all our partners for working with us to ensure our neighborhoods are inclusive places of opportunity for New Yorkers at a wide range of incomes.”

The New York City Housing Development Corporation is providing a $73 million tax-exempt first mortgage for the building, funded by Citi Community Capital. HDC is also contributing $11.75 million in subsidy financing. Pacific Park Brooklyn is a state-regulated development established by a General Project Plan adopted by the Empire State Development (ESD) Board of Directors in 2006 and governed by ESD. Pacific Park Brooklyn will include 6,430 units of housing, more than one-third of which will be affordable.

CSA ENDORSES ASSEMBLYMAN MARK GJONAJ FOR CITY COUNCIL

  The Council of School Supervisors & Administrators (CSA), a coalition organization and powerful advocate of education development, has endorsed Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj for City Council. 

“CSA is pleased to announce our support of Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj amid his 2017 City Council campaign. We share in Mark’s commitment to better the Bronx community. His continued efforts to protect quality educational programs and maintain safe neighborhood environments have not gone unnoticed,” said CSA President Ernest Logan. “We are particularly appreciative of his guidance over the this year's State Budget, of which he fought to create the Excelsior Scholarship Program, and to increase valuable services and aid for community schools. We are thrilled to stand by Mark, a hardworking candidate who delivers important resources to students and families.” 

“I am honored to have received CSA’s endorsement. I thank Ernest Logan and the CSA staff for their praise and recognition. All elected officials have a responsibility to help better district schools, to show care for students and teachers, and to create civic opportunities. I look forward to playing an active role alongside the CSA in strengthening educational programs,” said Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj.

New Yorkers have embraced Mark’s candidacy. He has been endorsed by Bronx Democratic County Committee, Senator Jeff Klein, Assemblyman Michael Benedetto, U.S. Rep. Joseph Crowley, State Committeeman Joseph McManus, 32BJ, and Steamfitters Local 638.

The Council of School Supervisors and Administrators is the collective bargaining unit for 6,100 Principals, Assistant Principals, Supervisors and Education Administrators who work in the NYC public schools and 200 Directors and Assistant Directors who work in city-subsidized Centers for Early Childhood Education (ECE). CSA also has more than 10,000 members in its Retiree Chapter.

Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj is running for City Council to represent the 13th District. He currently represents the 80th Assembly District, which encompasses the neighborhoods of Allerton, Bedford Park, Morris Park, Mosholu Parkway, Norwood, Pelham Gardens, Pelham Parkway and Van Nest sections of The Bronx. He serves as Chair of the Subcommittee on Micro Business and is a member of several committees: Banks; Local Governments; Real Property Taxation; Small Business; Tourism, Parks, and Sports Development; and Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task Force.

Senator Jeff Klein, NYC Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña & IDC members unveil new transparency system for school cafeteria inspections

IDC releases School Food Facts: Providing Transparency for School Cafeteria Inspections

Senator Jeff Klein, NYC Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña and members of the Independent Democratic Conference unveiled a new, online transparency system where parents will be able to search for cafeteria health code inspections.

“Parents should never be left in the dark when it comes to the health and safety of their children. I’m proud that by working with the city, parents will now have information on inspections at their fingertips and they can be the arbiters of what grade their child’s cafeteria deserves,” said Senator Klein.

“We remain dedicated to providing students with healthy meals in cafeterias that are clean and safe,” said Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña. “Families are critical partners and making cafeteria reports available online will provide communities with an additional level of transparency.”  

"Parents of students who depend on their school cafeterias for breakfast and lunch deserve to know the conditions of the facilities where their food is prepared. This new easy to use system will allow for greater transparency and help ensure that cafeterias are clean and sanitary. Today's announcement is a great victory for New York City parents," said Senator Diane Savino.

“New York City’s children deserve the same peace of mind and cleanliness that restaurant patrons expect. I applaud Senator Klein and Chancellor Fariña for their efforts to ensure the health and safety of our children, who are the future of New York City,” said Senator Marisol Alcántara.

“Giving parents accurate information serves as an important safeguard for all our students. This new system delivers the transparency and the up-to-date information parents need – providing reassurance and allowing parents to voice their concerns about any shortcomings. This step opens an additional avenue to parent participation to the benefit of all,” said Senator Jesse Hamilton.

“Providing healthy and quality meals to our students is a key part of a school day, and this is why parents should know what their kids are eating. I support this initiative by Senator Klein and the Department of Education,” said Senator Jose Peralta.

"Transparency is crucial across all aspects of life. The fact that parents can now see the conditions of their child's cafeteria will allow parents to know that when their children are at school they are not being exposed to unsanitary conditions,” said Senator Tony Avella.

Parents and guardians will be able to access the reports by the start of the 2017-2018 school year online at www.schoolfoodnyc.org. They will also receive copies of health inspections and steps taken to remedy violations.

A parent would simply visit the site and enter a school’s number or name:

And it’s inspection data would pop up for review.

Senator Klein passed S.4173A, which requires the New York City Department of Education to post cafeteria health inspection data online and send secondary notices home with students. Assemblywoman Cathy Nolan (D-Queens) sponsors its companion bill in the Assembly, is expected to pass by the end of session.

The IDC also released “School Food Facts: Providing Transparency for School Cafeteria Inspections,” illustrating the need for this method of transparency.

Schools sometimes receive violations that wouldn’t necessarily lead to a bad letter grade, but would certainly be of interest to parents. For example:

• At one Brooklyn school staff failed to adequately wash their hands, and discovered old food encrusted on preparation equipment and fruit left out without proper covering.
• Schools that receive violations for storing foods like milk and fresh vegetables in temperatures too high — a common violation —would not score enough points for this singular violation to yield a bad grade.
• Conversely, foods like macaroni and cheese and hamburgers that must be kept at high temperatures are sometimes not, leading to a violation.
• At one school in Queens toxic chemicals were stored in the food preparation area. Through the new transparency method, parents would immediately learn of the finding.

Schools work with the City’s Department of Health to correct the violations. Parents would be made aware of corrective actions through transparency measures.

The Passing of William J. Madonna

 The Bronx, NY - William J. Madonna, 55, of the Bronx died suddenly Friday, June 10th at his home.

 

He was born in Mount Kisco, New York on October 6, 1961. He was raised in Yorktown Heights and earned his Bachelor of Science from Northeastern University in Boston. He later graduated from the New England School of Law where he received his Juris Doctorate.

 

Will, as he was fondly known, began his legal career in the office of Corporation Counsel of the City of New York Law Department and later joined the Bronx District Attorney's Office as a prosecutor. Since 1994 he has maintained a successful private practice in the Morris Park section of the Bronx. He was a zealous advocate for all of his many clients. Will was an active community member, especially in his role as chief counsel to local assemblyman, Mark Gjonaj.

 

Will leaves behind his deeply beloved sons, Matthew and Eric as well as his loving parents, Phyllis and Nicholas. He is survived by his siblings, Susann, Joan, and Robert. He leaves behind several nieces and nephews and an entire legal community. His smile, contagious laugh, and quick wit will be missed dearly by all.

 

A viewing will be held at Schuyler Hill Funeral Home Tuesday, June 13th and Wednesday, June 14th from 2:00PM to 5:00PM and from 7:00PM to 9:00PM. The funeral service will be at Saint Francis de Chantal's Church. The family will greet friends at 10:00AM until the time of the service.  

 

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made to the American Heart Association and the High School for Community Leadership (HSCL), a scholarship fund for underprivileged students to assist in college tuition costs.

Donate to the American Heart Association

To make a donation to HSCL Scholarship fund, please send checks to:
The High School for Community Leadership
Attn: Carlos Borrero
 167-01 Gothic Drive
 Jamaica, New York 11432. 

Manhattan Tax Attorney And Florida CPA Plead Guilty To Multimillion-Dollar Tax Evasion Scheme

  Joon H. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that HAROLD LEVINE, a Manhattan tax attorney, and RONALD KATZ, a Florida certified public accountant, pled guilty today in Manhattan federal court to tax crimes based upon their roles in a corrupt multi-year tax evasion scheme involving the failure to report to the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) millions of dollars in fee income stemming from tax shelter transactions. LEVINE and KATZ are scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Rakoff on October 11, 2017.

Acting U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said: “As tax professionals, both Harold Levine and Ronald Katz well knew their obligations to report their income to the IRS. As they have now admitted, they instead engaged in a corrupt scheme to evade taxes on millions of dollars of income. Now both defendants will be held to account for their crimes.”

According to the allegations in the Indictment to which LEVINE and KATZ pleaded guilty, and statements made during the plea proceedings and other court proceedings:

Between 2004 and 2012, LEVINE, a tax attorney and former head of the tax department at a major Manhattan Law Firm (the “Law Firm”), schemed with KATZ, a certified public accountant, to obstruct and impede the due administration of the Internal Revenue laws by evading income taxes on millions of dollars of fee income generated from tax shelter and related transactions that LEVINE worked on while a partner of the Law Firm. Specifically, LEVINE failed to report approximately $3 million in income to the IRS on his personal tax returns during the period 2005-2011. For his involvement in this scheme, KATZ received and failed to report to the IRS over $1.2 million in income on his personal tax returns.

As part of the scheme, for example, LEVINE caused tax shelter fees paid by a Law Firm client to be routed to a partnership entity he co-owned with KATZ and thereafter used those fees – totaling approximately $500,000 – to purchase a home in Levittown, on Long Island. LEVINE caused the home to be purchased as a residence for a Law Firm employee (the “Law Firm Employee”) with whom he had a close personal relationship. Although LEVINE allowed the Law Firm Employee to reside in the Levittown house for over five years without paying rent, LEVINE and KATZ prepared tax returns for the entity through which the home was purchased that claimed false deductions as a rental property.

In or about 2013, LEVINE was questioned by IRS agents concerning his involvement in certain tax shelter transactions and the fees received by LEVINE and KATZ from those transactions. During that questioning, LEVINE falsely represented that the Law Firm Employee paid him $1,000 per month in rent while living in the Levittown home. In addition, when the Law Firm Employee was contacted by the IRS and summoned to appear for testimony, LEVINE urged the employee to falsely represent to the IRS that she had paid $1,000 per month in rent to LEVINE.

LEVINE, 59, of New York, New York, and KATZ, 59, of Boca Raton, Florida, each pled guilty to one count of corruptly endeavoring to obstruct and impede the due administration of the Internal Revenue laws, which carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison, and one count of tax evasion, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Kim thanked the IRS for its assistance in this investigation and praised the outstanding investigative work of both IRS-CI and IRS Civil – Large Business & International

Florida Man Sentenced In Manhattan Federal Court To 18 Months In Prison For Attempting To Gain Unauthorized Access And Cause Damage To The Computer Network Of A Charitable Organization

  Joon H. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that TIMOTHY SEDLAK was sentenced in Manhattan federal court to 18 months in prison for attempting to access without authorization the computer network of a global charitable organization based in New York, New York (the “Organization”), and as a result of such conduct, recklessly causing damage to computers of the Organization.  He was convicted on February 23, 2017, and was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams.

Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said:  “Timothy Sedlak used dozens of computers and electronic devices to unlawfully access others’ computer networks, making hundreds of thousands of attempts to steal information from one charitable organization.  Although he was ultimately unsuccessful, Sedlak’s efforts impaired the organization’s ability to operate.  I want to thank our partners at the Secret Service for their work to combat cyber attacks like this one.”

According to the Superseding Information, other documents filed in Manhattan federal court, and statements made at various proceedings in this case, including the guilty plea:

SEDLAK made hundreds of thousands of attempts to gain access without authorization to the computer network systems of the Organization, and in so doing, impaired the availability of the email accounts and web-based applications of more than 10 employees of the Organization.

From June 2015 to July 2015, computers associated with two internet protocol addresses subscribed to SEDLAK at SEDLAK’s residence in Florida (the “IP Addresses”) made nearly 400,000 attempts to gain unauthorized access to the Organization’s computer network. As a result, numerous Organization employees experienced difficulty accessing their Organization email accounts, and were disrupted in their ability to conduct regular business functions. In particular, between June 22 and July 8, 2015, from one of the IP Addresses, there were approximately 195,000 attempts to log into approximately 20 email accounts of the Organization. Between July 8 and July 10, 2015, from the other IP Address, there were an additional approximately 195,000 attempts to log into approximately six email accounts of the Organization. SEDLAK has never been employed by the Organization, and was not authorized to access any email accounts of the Organization.

On September 11, 2015, U.S. Secret Service (“USSS”) agents executed a search warrant at the Sedlak Residence, from which they seized 42 computers and electronic devices (the “Sedlak Computers”).  The forensic examination of the Sedlak Computers revealed that 31 devices contained known hacking software and/or artifacts, indicating they were used in attempts to gain unauthorized access to a network. The forensic examination of the Sedlak Computers also revealed that at least 11 personal email accounts were successfully accessed without authorization. The email accounts belong to individuals in the United States and abroad, none of whom are known to be associated with the Organization.  In addition, unsuccessful attempts to gain unauthorized access to over 1,000 entities and IP addresses were uncovered. SEDLAK targeted international and domestic victim entities, including charitable organizations, political organizations, law firms, financial firms, and businesses.  When he was interviewed by USSS agents, Sedlak claimed that he hoped to sell the information he found. 

SEDLAK, 44, of Ocoee, Florida, was sentenced to 18 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release.  The defendant’s right, title, and interest in specific property seized by the USSS – including 31 electronic devices – was ordered to be forfeited to the United States.

Mr. Kim praised the investigative work of the United States Secret Service.

Assemblyman Dinowitz - DOT Breaks Promises, Sedgwick Avenue Traffic Hazard Remains

  Assemblyman Dinowitz sent a letter to New York City Department of Transportation(DOT) Commissioner Polly Trottenberg and Bronx DOT Commissioner Nivardo Lopez regarding the recent installation of caution signs on the Sedgwick Avenue pedestrian island at Van Cortlandt Avenue West.

Assemblyman Dinowitz has been calling for the pedestrian island to be redesigned by DOT since 2014. The island, which sits awkwardly at the three-way intersection, is frequently hit by vehicles and has caused innumerable traffic incidents. In October of 2014 Assemblyman visited the traffic island with former Bronx DOT commissioner Constance Moran to highlight his concerns that the island was a danger to vehicles and residents of the community. Commissioner Moran agreed at that meeting to have DOT redesign the island as well as in subsequent correspondence.

Several years have gone by and despite continued and numerous phone calls, emails, and letters by Assemblyman Dinowitz to both the former Bronx DOT Commissioner as well as the current Commissioner, nothing was done to remediate this dangerous traffic island.

Finally, in January of this year, Assemblyman Dinowitz personally met with both NYC DOT Commissioner Trottenberg and Bronx DOT Commissioner Lopez to personally address the Sedgwick traffic island situation, and visited the traffic island with Lopez. Assemblyman Dinowitz was promised verbally and in a letter by Commissioner Trottenberg that they would address the situation and that “Borough Commissioner Lopez will share these design plans with you prior to construction this summer, as you requested”.

Instead, Assemblyman Dinowitz learned from an announcement made by a Bronx DOT staffer at Community Board 8’s district service meeting, that several caution signs had been installed in lieu of redesign and reconstruction of the traffic island. “Not only was the DOT promise to keep me appraised of the development and plan for redesign of the island not kept, but the promise to redesign the island itself was not kept. In my opinion these caution signs do not constitute a redesign at all and do nothing to remediate the problem of vehicles constantly hitting the island when they make left turns from northbound Sedgwick Avenue to westbound Van Cortlandt Avenue West. I was never informed that there was a new plan, and I was not even notified by DOT after they installed those pathetic caution signs instead of doing what they explicitly said they would do,” said Assemblyman Dinowitz.

EDITOR's NOTE:

We drove by the site and saw no caution signs, and what seemed to be a smaller hazard of an island where Assemblyman Dinowitz states.