CONGRESSMAN ADRIANO ESPAILLAT STATEMENT ON REPUBLICAN PROPOSED RAISE ACT

  Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) released the following statement in response to the Raise Act, proposed earlier today by Republican Senators Tom Cotton (AR) and David Perdue (GA).

“The anti-immigration bill introduced earlier today by Donald Trump and Republican Senators Tom Cotton and David Perdue essentially targets immigrants not only by their race but based on their ability to pay,” said Rep. Adriano Espaillat. “America is the land of opportunity, not based on a person’s wealth or some preconceived notion of their ability to achieve.

“This is the same hateful, profiling and divisive rhetoric we have witnessed repeatedly from Donald Trump since his taking office – no surprise here, but shame on Senator Cotton of Arkansas and Senator David Perdue of Georgia and relative of Perdue Farms, whose respective states rely heavily on an immigrant workforce that drives their state agriculture industry accounting for billions to their state economies on an annual basis.

“In a report previously released by the USDA, more than 70 percent of America’s farm workers are foreign-born and half of those individuals are undocumented. The parameters that would be established by this senseless piece of legislation would block immigrant farm laborers, low-income immigrants, as well as immigrants with family members in the United States, from a legal pathway to citizenship.

“The Raise Act is not the RIGHT answer, and I implore my Republican colleagues to work with Democrats once and for all to find better solutions to address immigration in our country.”   

50th Precinct National Night Out

   Deputy Inspector O'Toole is with Assemblyman Jeffery Dinowitz, and State Senator Jeff Klein. Councilman Fernando Cabrera, one of his primary opponents Randy Abreau, and lots of people filled West 234th Street where the 50th Precinct held their National Night Out. Photos are below.

Above - Former Councilwoman June Eisland os with Councilman Andrew Cohen, as they stand in front of the NYCEPA table. 

Below - Two new members of Community Board 8 Myra Joyce and Eric Dinowitz are with CB 8 members Karen Pesce, Joe O.Brien, and Marvin Goodman who is on the phone calling people to come to the event.

Above - Those hard working folks at KRVC were on hand with lots of information and goodies for the kids.

Below - Captain Molina of the 50th Precinct Auxiliary police was looking for involved community residents to join the 50th Precinct Auxiliary force.

Above - Staff from the nearby Burger King gave out toys that come in their children's meals, and yes that is traffic from the Major Deegan Highway which you can see is bumper to bumper at 5 PM.

Below - There was a live band on this side while a DJ was at the other side of this event.

National Night Out 43rd Precinct

 

  This was the first of the National Night Out events in the Bronx where all police precincts had events at staggered times so you could attend more than one if you wanted. The 43rd Precinct National Night was held at the Oval in Parkchester which was packed as usual. photos are below.

Above - Metro Optics was on hand.

Below - Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark had a table.

Above - Applebee's brought along some delicious food tp sample.

Be;low - The candidates for 18th Council district were on hand. Candidate Michael Beltzer in the photo, and candidate Elvin Garcia also was trying to get votes before State Senator Reverend Ruben Diaz Sr. the favorite for the 18th City Council seat.

BP DIAZ ALLOCATES MORE THAN $7 MILLION IN HOUSING FUNDS

BP DIAZ ALLOCATES MORE THAN $7 MILLION IN HOUSING FUNDS

  Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. announced today that his office has allocated more than $7 million in capital funds for 10 housing developments across The Bronx, creating more than 1,500 new affordable units in neighborhoods across the borough.

“Our latest capital funding allocation shows our continued commitment to maintaining and building affordable housing, a promise I have strived to keep since the first day that I became borough president,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. “This year’s allocations will help a wide range of individuals find and keep an affordable home, right here in The Bronx. I look forward to continuing to build on all of these great successes, in our housing sector, as our borough continues its positive transformation.”

Highlights in this year’s capital budget include $500,000 to New Destiny Housing to build units for survivors of domestic violence and $750,000 for Second Farms Affordable Housing, a project focused on finding quality housing for the formerly homeless in partnership with Catholic Charities.

This year’s capital allocations will fund a total of 1,589 new units of affordable housing. In all, since 2009, Borough President Diaz has invested $51,879,000 in capital funding towards affordable housing across The Bronx, helping to create 7,772 new affordable housing units.

“We understand our resident’s need for affordable housing, as the cost of living continues to trend upward in our city,” said Borough President Diaz. “By far, the greatest volume of constituent requests received by my office is for housing assistance. Funding these upcoming projects addresses some of these housing issues we face, as we continue to build on the successes we have seen last few years in our great borough.”

This year, Borough President Diaz’s office has provided $58,718,000 in total capital dollars across 146 projects. Since coming to office in 2009, Borough President Diaz has provided $248,646,000 in total capital funding to 725 projects.

A complete list of Borough President Diaz’s capital allocations towards housing in FY 2018 can be found at http://on.nyc.gov/2tDB8lo.

Friends of VCP's August Enewsletter

Bringing Youth, Community and Nature Together for 25 Years!

August 2017

This summer the Friends have had several projects going on in Van Cortlandt Park ranging from our summer interns maintaining the trails and removing water chestnut from the lake to a professional crew cleaning the Grand Central Stones.  For our Grand Central Stone project we have partnered with the Municipal Art Society thanks to funding 

from the Paul and Klara Porzelt Foundation.  Together we are making progress with the stones being cleaned so that you can now see the different types of stones that the railroad company was testing.   We are also developing a plan to combat any future graffiti that may appear, cleaning up the forest around the stones and working on historical signage.  We hope to have the project completed in time for our Hike-toberfest.

On Saturday September 23rd, join us for our second annual Hike-toberfest to hike, eat, drink & celebrate with Friends during a fun fundraiser for the hiking trails of Van Cortlandt Park. Come see why VCP is Where NYC Hikes.  Thank you to all our sponsors to date: Allstate Insurance, Bronx Beer Hall, Bronx Native, Food Dynasty, Loreley Restaurant & Biergarten, Loving the Bronx, and Van Cortlandt House Museum.  Click here to purchase tickets securely onlineor use this Registration Form to pay by check. 

Also, this year the Friends of Van Cortlandt Park are celebrating our 25th Anniversary in several ways including the new banners that have been put up along Broadway and Van Cortlandt Park South and our 25th Anniversary Benefit on Sunday October 15th.  This celebration will be honoring our founders and is being hosted by Meredith Vieira.  For details on these events and more please see below and visit the Events page of our website. 

Christina and all of your Friends at the Friends of VCP!

Friends of VCP's Upcoming Events

Rowboating on VC Lake Fridays until September 1st from 4:30pm to 7:30pm Village Community Boathouse will provide FREE rowing  in their fleet of traditional wooden rowboats.  Children  under 18 years old need a parent present to sign waiver.  Enter the park at Van Cortlandt Park South & Bailey Ave.  Meet near the Lake. Garden Crew  Tuesdays until August 22nd from 10am-1pm Help care for our vegetable beds (where all of our produce  will be donated to local food pantries) and compost bins.  Bring water and sunscreen. Held at Friends’ Compost &  Garden Site. Enter the Park at Broadway & Mosholu Ave. Youth Run Farm Stands Wednesdays from 2-7pmuntil October 25th–  at the Train Park at Orloff Ave and Gale Place. Thursdays from 12-7pmuntil November 16th–  on the Corner of E. Gun Hill Road and DeKalb Ave.  Wednesdays will include healthy cooking demonstrations  and hands-on activities for the community.  Thursday’s  market is being held in partnership with GrowNYC. Both  markets will accept Cash, EBT/Credit/Debit, Healthbucks,  FreshConnect Bucks, WIC and FMNP checks. Special  Thank You to Our Supporters: New Yankee Stadium  Benefits Fund, Clif Bar Family Foundation and Bon  Secours Healthy  ommunity Initiative. Hike-toberfest 2017 Saturday September 23rd from 2pm-7pm Hike, Eat, Drink & Celebrate with Friends during our  new fun fundraiser for the hiking trails of Van Cortlandt  Park. Come see why VCP is Where NYC Hikes. Hike starts  at 2pm and attendees will participate in a 2 hour 4-5 mile  hike or a 2 mile leisurely hike. Oktoberfest starts is from  4pm-7pm where there will be German food by Loreley  Restaurant & Biergarten, beer and fun yard games!  Meet  at the Van Cortlandt House Museum. Tickets and  Sponsorship information below and can be purchased  here through Eventbrite or via mail using this form. 25th Anniversary Celebration: Honoring our  Founders Sunday October 15th from 6-9pm Join us as we celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the  Friends of Van Cortlandt Park and Honor our  Founders:  Felicity Nitz, Frances Beinecke, Susan  Morgenthau, Elizabeth Scheuer, Jane Sokolow and  Sybil Wailand.  Event hosted by Meredith Vieira.   Our guests will enjoy dinner, drinks and dessert out  on the deck of the Van Cortlandt Golf House  overlooking Van Cortlandt Lake.  Tickets and  Sponsorship information below and can be  purchased here through Eventbrite or via mail  using this form.

“ANOTHER CHANCE” EVENT WILL BE HELD IN BRONX SPONSORED BY BRONX DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, OFFICE OF COURT ADMINISTRATION AND THE BRONX DEFENDERS

Event Will Help New Yorkers Resolve Open Warrants for Quality of Life Offenses 

  Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced today that her office will host its second annual summons warrant forgiveness program in the Bronx, inviting residents from all five boroughs to clear their records and move on with their lives. 

  The “Another Chance” event, in partnership with the Office of Court Administration and The Bronx Defenders, will be held on Saturday, August 5, 2017, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Eastchester Presbyterian Church, 3154 Fish Avenue at the corner of East Gun Hill Road in the Baychester section of the Bronx. A resource fair also will be held. 

  District Attorney Clark said, “This is a way to give people “Another Chance” to remove a potential obstacle to employment, citizenship, housing or educational opportunities. If you have had a minor brush with the law such as drinking alcohol in public, littering or unlawful possession of marijuana and did not address it, you have a warrant. If you do not resolve these warrants, they can adversely affect aspects of your life but even more significantly, they can lead to arrest and jail time. I urge those who are eligible for this warrant forgiveness program to clear their records and look to a brighter future.”

  Supervising Judge for Citywide Arraignments George Grasso said, “On behalf of our Chief Judge Janet DiFiore, the Criminal Court of Bronx County is proud to participate once again in the Bronx District Attorney’s “Another Chance” Program. This is another fine example of the ability of the Criminal Court to work with our partners to effect justice and fairness in Bronx County.”

  Robyn Mar, Deputy Managing Director of Criminal Defense Practice at The Bronx Defenders, said, “Open warrants for low-level summonses affect people's ability to keep their jobs, homes, and even to remain in this country with their families. Events like this can go a long way toward undoing that harm. We applaud District Attorney Clark for hosting this amnesty program and giving Bronx residents a chance to resume their lives without the burden of an open warrant and the constant fear of arrest."

  Pastor Phil Tom, of the Eastchester Presbyterian Church, said, “Eastchester Presbyterian Church is honored to work with the Bronx District Attorney, the New York City Office of Court Administration and other agencies in hosting the Another Chance event. It seems appropriate that this event will be held in a church building where we believe that God provides every person with another chance to have a good and fruitful life.”

  There are 1.5 million open summons warrants citywide, 334,000 of them in the Bronx. A mobile courtroom will be created in the Eastchester Presbyterian Church with Honorable Bahaati Pitt, Criminal Court Judge, presiding, as well as attorneys and staff from the Bronx District Attorney’s Office and The Bronx Defenders. District Attorney Clark said 500 people attended last year’s event and some 355 warrants were cleared.

  Vendors will be on site providing information and resources on jobs, health care, and social services.

BOROUGH PRESIDENT DIAZ ALLOCATES NEARLY $10 MILLION TO BRONX PARKS

  Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. has announced that his office is providing almost $10 million in capital funds to parks all over the borough through his FY 2018 capital funding allocations, as part of his “#Not62” Campaign for a Healthier Bronx.

This year, Borough President Diaz will allocate $9,916,000 to nine borough parks. This includes funding for upgrades, redesign and construction of basketball courts, staircase and site work at Seton Park in Riverdale; as well as two new pedestrian bridges, four new community access points and five new acres of waterfront parkland at Starlight Park in Soundview, in conjunction with the Bronx River Alliance. 

“Providing quality park spaces is paramount for our ‘#Not62’ health initiative, as we work to build a healthier Bronx,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. “We must make sure that our shared recreational spaces are in good condition and inviting to the public, so that more and more Bronxites of all ages will take advantage of them. What starts off as kids being kids—playing sports, and running around, having fun in our park spaces—becomes the building blocks to developing a healthier lifestyle as our kids become adults. I am proud to have provided so much of my capital funding to worthy park projects all over The Bronx this year.”

Since taking office in 2009, Borough President Diaz has funded a total of $52,684,000 across 70 park projects.

Borough President Diaz is providing $4.7 million to improve access to existing open spaces on the Harlem River Greenway by building a promenade to connect and creating an accessible waterfront along the Harlem River and reconstructing an existing step street to improve access to Bridge Park. 

Other notable park projects Borough President Diaz is funding this year include $1 million towards the reconstruction of Kossuth Playground on Mosholu Parkway, $500,000 towards the spray showers at Woodlawn Playground and $650,000 towards renovation and upgrade of windows and roof at Owen Dolen Recreation Center in Westchester Square.  

This year, Borough President Diaz’s office has provided $58,718,000 in total capital dollars across 146 projects. Since coming to office in 2009, Borough President Diaz has provided $248,646,000 in total capital funding to 725 projects. 

A complete list of Borough President Diaz’s capital allocations towards parks in FY 2018 can be found at http://on.nyc.gov/2v58tdr.

PROTEST RALLY IN BRONX AGAINST DEVELOPER'S "BAIT & SWITCH"

  Bronx residents opposed to the opening of an apparent transitional housing for the homeless that was initially promoted as a “market rate” apartment building for middle-income working families rallied with NYC Council Member Andy King, outside the building at 3677 White Plains Road, Bronx, to demand that the City and the developer, the Stagg Group, return to the original plan as stated in 2015 by developer Mark Stagg. Councilman King wants to know how this building was turned into a homeless shelter rather than market rate housing much like the old 'bait and switch' unscrupulous business people do. Councilman King said that he grew up one block away from this site, and owes it to the people of his council district to find out how this happened and to try to get middle class working people into this building.

  Two candidates for the 12th council district were on hand to speak about a similar fear of a building Stagg Developers built on Pelham Parkway. Also on hand were some Kingsbridge residents living near another building in Community Board 8 where Stagg Developers Vice-President Adolfo Carrion has made a verbal deal with Praxis to house transitional homeless people. Praxis also runs a halfway house further up on White Plains Road for HIV-AIDS transition people. It would seem that Praxis would not be able to have two locations so close to each other, thus the reason for the Kingsbridge site.

Above and Below - Councilman Andy King talks about speaking with the developer of 3677 White Plains Road Mark Stagg, who said that this building would be market rate housing. Councilman King wants to know what happened to the working people who were suppose to occupy 3677 White Plains Road, and how Arcadia Corp (a South Bronx scatter site homeless provider) is using the building as a homeless shelter.

Above - Mr. Mohamet Mbaye of the Williamsbridge NAACP tells of what bad deeds the current residents of 3677 are doing to the community. 

Below - Candidates for the 12th council district, John Doyle (L), and Egidio Sementelli (R) talk about a similar building built by Stagg Developers on Pelham Parkway with the fears of that community that the Pelham Parkway building will also turn into a homeless shelter.