Engel Alerts Constituents About Salmonella Outbreak

  Congressman Eliot L. Engel released the following statement on the outbreak of Salmonella Kiambu infections linked to Maradol papayas:

“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are currently investigating an outbreak of Salmonella Kiambu infections. Investigators believe that Maradol papayas have caused the outbreak. Sadly, 47 people in 12 states – including 13 in New York – have fallen ill. One person in New York City tragically died from the illness.

“The CDC is advising that ‘that consumers not eat, restaurants not serve, and retailers not sell Maradol papayas until we learn more.’ I urge the people of NY-16 to heed that recommendation, and to visit the CDC’s website for more information.”

For additional information regarding the outbreak, Maradol papayas and Salmonella Kiambu infections, visit the CDC’s website at https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/kiambu-07-17/index.html.

NEWS FROM ASSEMBLYMAN JEFFREY DINOWITZ,

Dinowitz Applauds DOT for Measures to make West 230^th Street Corridor Safer

  After months of continued urging from Assemblyman Dinowitz to implement changes on the West 230^th Street corridor, the Department Of Transportation(DOT) has agreed to implement a left turn signal at the intersection of West 230^th Street and Broadway. According to the 50^th precinct, the traffic corridor has one of the highest traffic incident rates in the area including incidents with serious injury and occasionally deaths. In total 131 independent incidents occurred in 2016 with 61 of those occurring on or near the exit/entrance ramp to the Major Deegan Expressway. Several weeks ago, a pedestrian was struck on Broadway and West 230^th Street as she crossed the street and she later of her injuries.

The intersection of West 230^th and Broadway has been particularly problematic given the awkward configuration of the intersection as it joins in an irregular shape with Exterior street making it difficult to navigate safely for drivers and pedestrians alike.

Assemblyman Dinowitz has called on the DOT to review the entire West 230^th Street corridor from Riverdale to Bailey Avenue. Just last week, the Assemblyman asked DOT to make specific changes at West 230^th Street and Broadway including possibly adding a “no left turn sign” for northbound traffic.

“While the change made is not a “no left turn sign” this is certainly a big improvement. I believe the entirety of West 230^th Street needs to be reexamined. Residents from all over the Bronx use the street to gain access to the Major Deegan and many of them deal with this hazardous situation daily. What happened on Broadway and West 230^th street was a tragedy that must never be repeated,” said Assemblyman Dinowitz. “While it is good that DOT has finally begun to take pedestrian safety on West 230^th and Broadway more seriously, the entire traffic corridor, not just that one intersection, must be examined and safety improved in order to prevent further senseless deaths.”

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz Applauds DOT/MTA Expansion of Transit Signal Priority, But Asks for More and Sooner

DOT and the MTA say they will add Transit Signal Priority to 550 intersections and 10 bus routes by 2020, and that TSP decreases travel time by 18%. Assemblyman Dinowitz says, “Let’s do more routes and get it done sooner.”

   Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, Chairman of the Committee on Corporations, Authorities, and Commissions, responded to the NYC Department of Transportation’s Green Means Go: Transit Signal Priority in NYC report with both applause and a request to expand their initiative. The move reflects a request from Assemblyman Dinowitz and his colleagues in Albany contained in a letter to Governor Andrew Cuomo dated May 10, 2017 to implement two basic changes that would dramatically improve service: expansion of Transit Signal Priority (TSP) and all-door cashless boarding technology. Transit Signal Priority enables communication between traffic signals and buses to extend a green light or shorten a red light by a few seconds to reduce the amount of time a bus is stopped along its route.

“I am glad that NYC DOT and the MTA arrived at the conclusion that Transit Signal Priority improves bus service. I am glad that they have decided to expand this great program to more routes and more intersections. I do not know why it needs to take until 2020 to make this change, and I do not know why only 10 routes were selected for expansion. Perhaps only 10 routes meet the criteria indicated in their report, but I find that hard to believe,” said Dinowitz. The DOT report said that TSP works best on two-way streets and intersections that do not have complicated cross traffic patterns in addition to streets with existing bus lanes.

Dinowitz added, “It’s good to see the beginnings of change happening in our bus system, which is so important in outer boroughs like the Bronx. Many people rely on buses to get around because they have difficulty using the subway system due to accessibility concerns. I hope that DOT looks at how to accelerate Transit Signal Priority implementation more quickly than 3 years for 10 routes, given that we already have a lot of the required infrastructure installed in our traffic signals.” The DOT report indicates that a new TSP system has been developed using the NYC Wireless Network and new signal controllers, as well as existing GPS technology on buses.

WHAT NEW YORK CITY RIDERS DESERVE FROM GOVERNOR CUOMO'S SUBWAY TURNAROUND PLAN

The following comes from the office of Mayor Bill de Blasio.

  By July 31, Governor Cuomo has ordered that MTA Chairman Lhota present a plan to stop the dramatic slide in subway performance, improve predictability and reliability, and restore New York City residents’ faith in their transit system.

Riders have every right to be frustrated. Over the last five years, subway delays have more than doubled, from around 28,000 per month in 2012 to more than 70,000 per month today. Only 63 percent of trains are now running “on-time,” a drop of more than 15 percent since 2012, meaning longer waits and less-reliable travel times.

The City looks forward to a comprehensive plan to improve the operations of the subways and address this emergency. As subway riders, here are a few of the items that New Yorkers deserve to see in a credible subway turnaround plan:

(1) Immediate relief for riders. The MTA needs to articulate and quickly implement changes that can improve service and reliability now. Long-term steps will also be essential in the future, but long-term promises will mean little if the MTA cannot demonstrate to riders it can manage its own affairs.

(2) Public performance goals and standards. The MTA should make clear what riders should expect from their system and frequently report actual performance against those standards. These should include simple operating measures – how long riders have wait for a train during rush hour, how many times a train is too crowded to get on – and some service standards – no train should fail to have air conditioning in the summer, no station should be unattended in case people need help, and riders should never be stuck in trains for more than a few minutes as a result of maintenance issues, especially without knowing what is happening. These goals and standards should be based on best-practice performance metrics from peer systems in cities around the world, like the London Underground’s “Excess Journey Time” and “Lost Customer Hours” measurements, and be reported on frequently and clearly.

(3) Clear accountability for continual improvement. The MTA should measure performance against these metrics by line and station for rush hour and non-rush hours, and, like CompStat, hold managers accountable for their performance. The MTA should be consistently pushing to improve reliability and expand service frequency.

(4) An efficient and fair MTA budget and a reallocation of resources towards core needs. The MTA should fund new measures first by accelerating the usage of available resources from every source of funds. If additional funds are needed, the MTA should re-allocate resources from less-critical investments, including funds being made available to it for lights on bridges, any primarily aesthetic portions of station enhancements, or bureaucratic staffing that does not impact customer service. And the MTA, which has among the highest operating and capital construction costs of any major transit agency in the world, should be rigorous in making its operations and capital project delivery as efficient and cost effective as possible before sending yet another bill to the hard-working taxpayers and riders of New York City. A fair plan would also involve ensuring New York City subway and bus riders get a larger share of resources already available to the MTA. New York City subways and busses carry 93 percent of all MTA riders, and there should be investments and operating support commensurate with this ridership.

(5) A meaningful State commitment to the needs of subway riders. The plan should return the more than $450 million of operating funds diverted from the MTA to the State general fund since 2011 and provide a clear accounting of how and when the additional $1 billion of State funds announced by the Governor will be available.

These are basic steps that are required of public agencies everywhere: set high standards, report on performance, use every available dollar wisely, and hold managers accountable. It's time for the MTA to level with its New York City riders. 

MAYOR DE BLASIO TRAVELS BY SUBWAY FROM PARK SLOPE TO THE JAY STREET-METROTECH STATION

  Mayor Bill de Blasio: You've heard a lot of fiction the last few days, so I'm going to give you some facts. The State – the State and the MTA are responsible for the operations of New York City's subways. It's been that way for decades. The State of New York is responsible for making sure our subways run. Again, everyone knows this – it's been decades and decades that the Governor of the State – whoever the Governor is – has named the head of the MTA and has effective control over the MTA. The law that started the creation of the MTA goes all the way back to 1953. If you talk to people who have been involved for decades with the MTA, they say consistently that the State has had responsibility. 

No one questions, for example, whether I have responsibility for making sure the city is safe and for how the NYPD is run or how our schools are run. But when it comes to the MTA, in the last weeks, we've heard all sorts of different explanations. There's only one explanation – the State of New York is responsible for the MTA, period – for the expense budget, for the capital budget, for the whole thing. The expense budget is almost $16 billion a year, the capital budget is $32 billion over five years. Here's the truth – they're not even spending their capital budget. There's a huge amount of money sitting there, including the money the City gave them. We gave them $2.5 billion a couple years ago. Almost 90 percent of that money is just sitting there. 

So this is not about the MTA needing more money right now. This is the MTA needing to use its money the right way, spend its money properly on the things that matter. What people of the city want is for the subway to show up, for it to run on time, for these horrible delays to end, and these breakdowns to end. That's where the State should be putting its focus and the MTA should be putting their focus, not on other matters that are not as important. That's the bottom line.

So they have money. They need to spend that money on what matters. We need to see a plan immediately that will fix the problems that riders face every day. 

Also, remember – the State of New York has used the MTA as a piggy bank. They have taken almost half a billion dollars in money out of the MTA to use for the State budget. That money needs to come back to the MTA, so it could be used for the needs of everyday riders. 

So there's lots to be done, but the resources are there. It's about the MTA and the State of New York stepping up, taking responsibility, coming up with a real plan, and fixing things. It's as simple as that. 

Happy to take your questions.

Question: Mr. Mayor, you at one point said that you thought that Joe Lhota was a good choice for MTA Chair. He came out and said the City owns it and made some claims that you would dispute. Do you still think that he's a good choice –

Mayor: I think he's a good choice. 

Question: Did you take public transportation when you were traveling to Germany?

Mayor: Did I take public transportation in –

Question: When you were traveling in Hamburg – 

Mayor: I don't remember taking the public transportation there. Next question.

Question: Is Andrew Cuomo lying to New York City residents, do you think?

Mayor: He needs to just take responsibility. That's the simple answer. What he said and what the Chairman said over the last few days just is fiction. He needs to take responsibility for the MTA. He's done it at different points. He was certainly doing it on New Year's Eve. He should just do it again. Say look – I'll look you in the face and say I'm responsible for the NYPD, I'm responsible for the DOE, I'm responsible for the Fire Department, I'm responsible for the Sanitation Department. If something goes wrong, it's on me. If something goes right – great, I'll take credit. It's that simple. The Governor and Chairman Lhota simply need to get in front of everyone and say – we're fully responsible, we have to fix the problem. They have the resources. They have the resources. There's no doubt about it. Now give us a plan that will fix the problem.

Question: And if you have your druthers, how would this end? What's the best case scenario?

Mayor: It's very simple. Use the money you have. Look it – we have it on a fact sheet. Look at the past amount of money that has not been spent, including the money the City of New York gave. 90 percent of the money we gave them two years ago hasn't been spent.

Question: So you'll just say no?

Mayor: I'll – listen, listen to logic – my guys, look – I want to reason here on the subway with you because I've been surprised by this demand for more money when the money they have is not being spent in any rational fashion. One, look at the fact sheet – how much MTA money is not being spent overall, not just the money we gave them, but the money they had from other sources, including New York City residents and taxpayers – they're not spending it. Two, they don't have a plan to address the immediate problems, and that's what they need to focus on – the signals, the electronics, the basics. Show everyone that plan and shift resources to that plan. So why are we talking about more money when we know they have money that they're not spending now? And the State of New York took half a billion out of the MTA budget for its own needs. Give that money back before you talk about anything from the City of New York. 

Question: Does the Governor need to ride the subway more?

Mayor: That's his choice. I've ridden the subway throughout my life for 20 years, I told you guys, 1979 to 1999 – the only thing I did was ride the subway. Chirlane has ridden the subway throughout her life. We have a lot of experience with it. I'll keep riding the subway. I want to make sure straphangers know I'm fighting for their needs, and that means a new plan from the MTA, for the MTA to spend the money they have on the things that matter. 

Question: Mr. Mayor, are you going to play hardball and not provide money to the MTA?

Mayor: We have provided $2.5 billion. I don't know which part of this is not getting across. We provided $2.5 billion. They have not spent 90 percent of it. It's as simple as that. We are not under a legal obligation to provide more. The MTA has a lot of money they're not spending. Read my lips – they're not spending the money they have, and they're not spending it on the right things. Spend it on the signals, spend it on the new train, spend it on the electronic system, spend it on more maintenance. Let's see the MTA come forward with a plan. Let's see the MTA use the money it has. Let's see the State of New York return the half billion they took out of the MTA budget.

Question: Mr. Mayor, you recently called these subway rides cheap symbolism. Why today – 

Mayor: I was talking about a very specific question my friends. I said when I go from Gracie to the gym, my cars go along too. That's what the question was about. Do my cars go with me? And yes, they do. So that's my point. The car's going to be going with me either way, whether I'm in the subway or in the car. 

But now we are in the midst of a crisis over these last couple of months. It's important for New Yorkers to know I'm fighting for these changes in the MTA and I'm out there experiencing what they're experiencing. I'm talking to a lot of people on the subway. I'm going to keep doing it. 

Question: Do you think New Yorkers would be willing to pay more money to support mass transit?

Mayor: I think the money the MTA has is not being spent and is not being spent properly. Let's do that before you talk about anyone spending more money. Let's use the money we have. 

Question: You're on a train right now having a press conference here.

Mayor: Send a message that there needs to be a new plan for the MTA that fixes the problem. Thank you guys.

EDITOR'S NOTE: I was not on the train with the mayor. This is from a transcript provided by the mayor's press office.

5th Annual International Music Festival in Loreto Park

  There were many events today, but as I have in previous years I went to the 5th Annual International Music Festival in Loreto Park on Morris Park Avenue in the Morris Park area. This event was billed as a three elected official event, and rather than go to other events Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj stayed during the entire time this event went on. 

  

  As is every year traditional Albanian dancers from Rozafati Dance were on hand, along with Ms. Donna Williams who did an excellent impersonation of Nancy Sinatra including the high boots, and many other singers and dancers which included Mindbuilders and Tamicia Dancers. 

  While Assemblyman Gjonaj is running for the term limited 13th City Council seat none of his opponents in the Democratic primary showed up as the high temperature probably kept some of the crowd at home in their air conditioned rooms or at the beach. photos of the event are below.

Above - Assemblyman Michael Benedetto was on hand during the setting up and opening of the event.

Below - Assemblyman Gjonaj smiles as mom and her baby return the smiles. 

Above - It never hurts to have your picture taken with some happy children.

Below - the local talent began.

Above and Below - Ms. Donna Williams does her Nancy Sinatra impersonation, complete with the High Stepping Boots Made For Walking.

Above - Ms. Williams even got a few ladies to join in and dance with her on this very hot afternoon.

Below - It was time for the Rozafati Dancers now in full traditional Albanian dress.

Above and Below - Some more photos of the traditional Albanian dance.

The entire dance team with their instructor in the middle.

  

DE BLASIO ADMINISTRATION RELEASES AGE-FRIENDLY NYC: NEW COMMITMENTS FOR A CITY FOR ALL AGES

Guide includes nearly 90 programs and initiatives across City agencies designed to enrich the lives of older New Yorkers

  Deputy Mayor for Strategic Policy Initiatives Richard Buery and DFTA today released Age-Friendly NYC: New Commitments For a City For All Ages at Sunnyside Community Services in Queens. The report presents a comprehensive guide of City programs and initiatives designed to enrich the lives of older New Yorkers. As the population of New York City grows older — with adults ages 60 and above projected to account for 20.6 percent of the City’s population by 2040 — Age-Friendly NYC: New Commitments For a City For All Ages will help meet the demands of this demographic shift.

“New York would not be the city it is today without the invaluable contributions of our senior citizens – a debt we are paying down with programs to help them age in place,” said Mayor de Blasio. “The initiatives outlined in Age-Friendly NYC will build on the progress we have made in meeting the needs of our growing community of older New Yorkers. By preserving or creating affordable housing, keeping rents down, investing in geriatric mental health, and through many more initiatives, we can truly make this a city for people of all ages.”

The initiatives outlined in the report include existing programs of the de Blasio Administration that support the well-being of older adults, such as the Mayor’s Housing New York  plan, a five-borough, 10-year strategy, which includes a plan to create or preserve affordable housing for seniors; raising income eligibility limits for the Senior Citizen Rent Increase and the Disability Rent Increase Exemptions; and ThriveNYC programming at senior centers throughout the City that provide on-site counseling and help remove the stigma of mental health issues.

Age-Friendly NYC includes nearly 90 programs and initiatives across the spectrum of the City’s agencies and community partners, including:

·         Increasing baselined City funding for essential aging services by $84 million under the de Blasio Administration

·         Expanding the City’s senior housing commitment by 5,000 to 15,000 units of the 200,000 total units in the Mayor’s Housing New York plan

·         Providing universal access to civil justice and tenant legal services for New Yorkers who are facing eviction and have incomes below 200 percent of the federal poverty level

·      Focusing on geriatric mental health by embedding mental health practitioners in senior centers and addressing social isolation and depression faced by homebound older adults

·         Creating multidisciplinary teams in the Bronx, Queens and Staten Island as well as strengthening existing teams in Brooklyn and Manhattan in order to better serve elder abuse victims

·         Implementing Vision Zero education and enforcement initiatives that focus on the safety of older New Yorkers

“Through 86 initiatives, Age Friendly NYC: New Commitments For a City For All Ages demonstrates our vision for our City: a place where older New Yorkers can thrive as they age: in good health, safe and secure in their homes, and able to enjoy all that New York City has to offer,” said Richard Buery, Deputy Mayor for Strategic Policy Initiatives. “With more people reaching and living beyond age 60 than ever before, it has become increasingly important to make sure this growing population has the supports and resources they need. When the City becomes fairer and more inclusive to seniors, we all benefit.”

“I’m proud to lead the Department for the Aging’s work with our sister agencies in support of older adults through Age-Friendly NYC,” said DFTA Commissioner Donna Corrado. “Seniors deserve our support as they age in place. They still have much to offer society, and they contribute greatly to New York’s diverse communities.”

REP. ADRIANO ESPAILLAT, STATE AND LOCAL LEADERS WORK TO FIND SOLUTIONS FOR NEW YORK’S SUBWAY CRISIS AND TRANSIT ISSUES

  Rep. Adriano Espaillat led a group of New York State and New York City elected officials for a community discussion for constituents to address New York’s subway crisis following a series of derailments, commuter delays, cancellations, fires and a host of other transit issues.

“Today we are standing with our constituents and commuters from across the city to say enough is enough and it is far time that we work together to find solutions to address the treacherous state of New York City’s subway system,”said Rep. Espaillat. “The stoppages, cancellations, delays, derailments, safety, and cleanliness are all issues that come at a cost and commuters have carried this burden alone for too long. I have addressed these issues with the MTA and created this forum to give commuters a platform to let their voices be heard, because at the end of the day, these transit issues impact their pockets, their livelihood, and their wellbeing the most.”    

“Everyone has a role to play – because we all have a stake in the success of the MTA,” said NYC Comptroller Scott M. Stringer. “Behind every breakdown and behind every stalled car, there’s a real human impact on our city. That’s why we can’t delay and we all need to work together, come up with innovative solutions, and step up for New Yorkers. I want to commend Representative Espaillat on holding this important community conversation, because this affects all of us.”

"Uptown Manhattan has already faced more than its share of issues due to the 'Summer of Hell' New Yorkers have been talking so much about,” said NYS Senator Marisol Alcantara. “The subway system is not a luxury or a supplement to car travel and the LIRR. It is one of the foundations of New York City and New York State economic competitiveness. It gets millions of workers, students, and everyday people around the city to produce economic value, buy goods, engage in tourism, and otherwise participate in our civic life. When the subway is unreliable, businesses cannot plan on a reliable labor force. When the subway is unreliable, tourists leave our city with feelings of anger and frustration and are less likely to come back. I look forward to working with elected officials at all levels of government and with the MTA to resolve this crisis."

"From derailments to delays, signal malfunctions to broken elevators, this is a system in severe need of repair,” said NYC Council Transportation Chair Ydanis Rodriguez. “For years, I have been calling on the MTA to put together a plan to upgrade the signals and maintain a quality system. What we see now is a result of years of deferred maintenance coming back to haunt us. We don't have more time. We need a plan of action now. I stand ready to support these goals in any way I can, as the health of our city depends on it."

“YGz” Gang Member Sentenced To 33 Years In Prison For Stomping Murder Of 16-Year-Old And Other Crimes

  Joon H. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that WILLIAM BRACY, a/k/a “Rel,” was sentenced yesterday to a prison term of 396 months for his crimes as a member of the “Young Gunnaz” or “YGz” gang, including the April 16, 2012, murder of Moises Lora, a/k/a “Noah,” 16, during which BRACY and several other YGz gang members stomped Lora to death in a courtyard in the Melrose housing projects in the Bronx.  BRACY was sentenced in Manhattan federal court by United States District Judge Valerie E. Caproni, before whom he previously pled guilty.  For purposes of the sentencing, Judge Caproni found, following an evidentiary hearing held yesterday, that BRACY was one of the YGz members who kicked Lora while he lay on the pavement during the attack that resulted in Lora’s death.

Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said: “William Bracy and his fellow gang members stomped 90-pound, 16-year-old Moises Lora to death a few yards from a playground in a South Bronx housing complex. While we cannot bring Moises Lora back, we hope that his family finds justice, and a measure of solace, in today’s sentence. Together with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to aggressively prosecute all those who inflict this deadly violence on our communities.”

According to the charging and other documents filed in the case, as well as the evidence presented at BRACY’s presentencing hearing and statements made during BRACY’s guilty plea, sentencing proceedings, and other court proceedings in this case:

BRACY was a member of the Bronx-based street gang known as the YGz.  From at least 2005 to 2016, members and associates of the YGz enriched themselves by committing robberies and by selling drugs, such as crack cocaine, heroin, and marijuana, and committing acts of violence, including the murder of rival gang members, rival drug traffickers, and innocent bystanders.  As part of his involvement in the YGz gang, BRACY participated in numerous acts of violence, as well as crack cocaine distribution, in the South Bronx. 

For example, as part of his involvement in the YGz gang, BRACY and several other YGz gang members murdered Moises Lora, a member of a rival gang, on April 16, 2012, in the South Bronx. On the date of the murder, a group of YGz members, including BRACY, got drunk, and began arguing among themselves about who had done the most violence for the YGz. This group of YGz members went to the territory of a rival gang in the Melrose housing projects to settle their dispute. Upon arriving at the Melrose projects, BRACY and other members of the YGz saw Lora and attacked him. During the attack, Lora’s skull was fractured in several places.  BRACY and the group left Lora to die. Following the stomping, BRACY and several of his confederates bragged to fellow YGz members about what they had done.

BRACY, 23, of the Bronx, is the fourth defendant to be sentenced this year by Judge Caproni for participation in a YGz-related murder.  Judge Caproni sentenced BRACY’s co-defendant Anthony Scott, a/k/a “Tyson,” to 23 years in prison primarily for Scott’s role in shooting and killing Darrel Ledgister on June 27, 2009, in the South Bronx during an attempted robbery.  Judge Caproni sentenced BRACY’s co-defendant Paul Gilbert, a/k/a “2Fly Tay,” to more than 30 years in prison primarily for Gilbert’s role in the murder of Cody Dubose on September 27, 2014, near the Taft Houses in Manhattan during an attempted robbery.  Finally, Judge Caproni sentenced BRACY’s co-defendant Terrance Williams, a/k/a “TA,” to more than 33 years in prison primarily for Williams’s role in the murder of Curtis Smith on July 3, 2011, near the Jackson housing projects in the South Bronx.     

Mr. Kim praised the outstanding work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the New York City Police Department in the investigation of this case.  He also thanked the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office for their support in this case.