MAYOR DE BLASIO SIGNS LEGISLATION TO PROMOTE PUBLIC SAFETY AND ACCESS TO SERVICES FOR ALL NEW YORKERS

Signs legislation to improve access to SNAP for low-income seniors, facilitate tipping in for-hire vehicles, and study pedestrian safety measures around schools and parks

  Mayor Bill de Blasio today held public hearings for and signed seven pieces of legislation into law—Intro. 671-A, in relation to pedestrian countdown displays; Intro. 1000-B, in relation to NYPD reporting for seized property data; Intro. 1234-A, in relation to notifications for muni-meter installations; Intro. 1411-A, in relation to pedestrian access to park facilities; Intro. 1519-A, in relation to SNAP enrollment and recertification for seniors; Intro. 407-A, in relation to notice of changes to Parks capital projects; and Intro. 1646-A, in relation to gratuity for for-hire vehicles. The Mayor also held a hearing for Intro.214-B, in relation to providing legal services for tenants.

“These bills enrich the lives and ensure the safety of New Yorkers, by improving transparency and access to government services. This Administration is committed to helping low-income New Yorkers and making this a fairer city for all,” said Mayor de Blasio. “Thank you to Speaker Mark-Viverito and the sponsors of these bills for their tireless efforts to improve the lives of all New Yorkers.”

“The legislation being signed represents essential quality of life improvements for New Yorkers,” said Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito.“With some of the highest rates of food insecure seniors nationally, increasing coordination between the Department of Social Services and the Department for the Aging to increase awareness of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is a vital initiative to be taking on. Similarly, requiring the option to tip for-hire vehicles helps ensure that our residents are that much more empowered to provide for themselves. I thank my colleagues on the City Council for their work in developing these items, and I thank Mayor de Blasio for signing them into law today.”

The first bill, Intro. 1000-B, requires the NYPD to issue regular reports about property they have seized. In his remarks, the Mayor thanked the bill’s sponsor, Council Member Torres.

“The civil forfeiture process has stripped many low-income citizens of their property and belongings without due process and in violation of their constitutional rights. This first-of-its-kind transparency legislation will shed light on the reasons why the NYPD has seized someone's property, whether revenue is generated from property seizure, and if an individual has been able to get their property back. The legislation will help ensure that the civil forfeiture process is used legitimately,” said Council Member Ritchie Torres.

The second bill, Intro. 1234-A, requires that the Department of Transportation notify Council Members and community boards at least 10 days before a muni meter is installed in their district and provides an opportunity for public comments on the installations. In his remarks, the Mayor thanked the bill’s sponsor, Council Member Salamanca.

The third bill, Intro. 1519-A, will further enable the enrollment of low-income New Yorkers in SNAP food assistance at senior centers. In his remarks, the Mayor thanked the bill’s sponsor, Council Member Koslowitz.

The fourth bill, Intro. 1646-A, requires a tipping option for for-hire vehicles through the same method that riders use to pay their fares. In his remarks, the Mayor thanked the bill’s sponsor, Council Member Rodriguez.

The fifth and sixth bills, Intro. 407-A, requires that the Parks Department notify Council Members if there is a price change of at least 10 percent for construction projects costing more than $500,000. Intro. 1411-A mandates that all athletic facilities are safely and directly accessible from roads via sidewalks and paths. In his remarks, the Mayor thanked the bills’ sponsors, Council Members Vacca and Borelli.

“Intro. 1411 was derived of the frustration of countless parents and children who, in trying to safely enter their local parks for weekend soccer matches, have had to carry equipment and push strollers on Arthur Kill Road because no sidewalks were ever installed to provide safe pedestrian access from the street. 

The seventh bill, Intro. 671-A, requires the Department of Transportation to study the potential impact of pedestrian countdown timers near schools and parks and install them where appropriate. In his remarks, the Mayor thanked the bill’s sponsor, Council Member Vallone.

BP DIAZ ALLOCATES OVER $2.4 MILLION IN FUNDS FOR COMMUNITY FACILITIES

   Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. has allocated more than $2.4 million in capital funds for six community facilities across The Bronx.

These capital improvements help with the renovation of youth facilities that provide safe havens for our most vulnerable communities, while also enhancing and improving access to resources for those who need it the most.

Among the projects that will receive funds are the completion of repairs to the swimming pool area at BronxWorks, a green roof and solar panels for Rocking the Boat and new refrigerated delivery vans for God's Love We Deliver, which helps provide nutritious meals for those living with life-altering illnesses.

“These investments allow for us to continue to build on the successes we have had since I became borough president,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. “We want to make sure Bronxites who need our help are getting the services they need, whether that means providing meals for those who cannot leave their homes, providing facilities where our children can exercise their minds and bodies, and providing space for afterschool activities, among other important services.”

This year’s capital allocations will fund a total of $2.45 million in improvements to community facilities and services. Since 2009, Borough President Diaz has invested over $15 million over 32 projects to help build or renovate community facilities across The Bronx.

“I’m proud to fund these projects that help uplift our community, strengthening core values of helping one another within our community,” said Borough President Diaz “These will be amazing enhancements to our amenities in The Bronx, and I’m proud to have been able to help make these projects a reality.”

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 community facilities in FY 2018 can be found at http://on.nyc.gov/2vgjk2I.

BRONX DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, THE BRONX DEFENDERS AND OFFICE OF COURT ADMINiSTRATION HELD SUCCESSFUL “ANOTHER CHANCE” EVENT

Over 300 People Attended Event and Resource Fair; 226 Warrants Were Cleared

  Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark, Honorable George Grasso, Supervising Judge of Bronx Criminal Court, and The Bronx Defenders Managing Director Justine Olderman announced today that over 300 people attended Saturday’s “Another Chance” event and 226 summons warrants were erased, helping people move on with their lives. 

  District Attorney Clark said, “It was a rewarding event for the community and for my Office. Those who came to the Eastchester Presbyterian Church made the decision to resolve these old warrants so they don’t risk arrest, jail or missed opportunities because they once made a mistake such as drinking alcohol in public or some other quality-of-life offense. Now they can enjoy the rest of the summer knowing their record is clear.”

  Judge Grasso said, “The Criminal Court is proud to have worked with our Criminal Justice partners in making the second annual ‘Another Chance’ event a success. It is efforts like these that serve to enhance the community’s respect for the Criminal Justice System. We look forward to continuing to engage the people of Bronx County in this type of positive interaction.”

  Ms. Olderman said, “The Bronx Defenders was a proud partner at Saturday's event, representing hundreds of community members and working to help mitigate the harm caused by these warrants. Warrants for low-level offenses can have a devastating impact on people's employment, benefits, housing and even their ability to stay in this country. We hope that events like these represent a shift in the way the city approaches 'quality of life' infractions and illustrate that these cases have no place in the criminal justice system."

  According to the Office of Court Administration, 226 warrants were vacated, the majority involving summonses for public consumption of alcohol. Participants attended a resource fair, where vendors provided information and resources on jobs, health care and social services.

  A mobile courtroom was created in the Eastchester Presbyterian Church on Fish Avenue in Baychester and presided over by the Honorable Bahaati Pitt, Bronx Criminal Court Judge. Volunteer Assistant District Attorneys and The Bronx Defenders handled the cases.

  District Attorney Clark thanked Judge Pitt of Bronx Criminal Court, the Court Officers and Office of Court Administration personnel – including clerks, stenographers and interpreters – for making the process run smoothly. 

 District Attorney Clark thanked her Assistant District Attorneys, Detective Investigators, Community Affairs staff and support staff from her Office, as well as The Bronx Defenders Attorneys and support staff and all the vendors who participated in the resource fair for helping to make “Another Chance” a success.

KRVC Works - Register to Participate in our Job Networking Event!

KRVC Works is our jobs initiative.  Through this program, KRVC has hired more than a dozen community members since 2016 to work locally. The program also includes a job and resume online bulletin board, skills workshops and networking events. This program also includes volunteer, internship and community service opportunities. krvcdc.org/work

505 West 236th Street * Bronx, NY 10463 * 

Save the Date and Register to Participate in Our Upcoming Job Networking Event

Click here for more upcoming KRVC events.

The "KRVC Works" project is made possible through generous funding allocations from State Senator Jeff Klein. 

Union Community Health Center 2017 OPEN HOUSE & COMMUNITY HEALTH FAIR on Thursday, August 17th, 2:00 PM - 7:00 PM at UCHC, 2016 Bronxdale Avenue

Union Community

Health Center

OPEN HOUSE & COMMUNITY

HEALTH FAIR

Thursday, August 17th, 2:00 PM - 7:00 PM

2016 Bronxdale Avenue Bronx, NY 10462

(Between Holland & Antin Place)

For more info contact Muniz Serena 718-960-3206

 or smuniz@uchcbronx.org

KRVC - Upcoming Community Events!

krvcdc.org/news

krvcdc.org/events

Also check out our community calendar!

Five Individuals Charged In Manhattan Federal Court With Conspiring To Possess Over 2,000 Kilograms Of Cocaine In Violation Of Federal Maritime Drug Enforcement Laws

  Joon H. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, James J. Hunt, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s New York Field Division (“DEA”), Angel M. Melendez, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), George Beach, the Superintendent of the New York State Police (“NYSP”), James P. O’Neill, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), and George Beach, Superintendent, New York State Police, announced charges against five defendants for allegedly possessing and conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute over 2,000 kilograms of cocaine, in violation of the maritime drug enforcement laws of the United States.  IVAN CORTES MOLINERO, FRANCISCO JAVIER OCHOA JOAQUIN, MIGUEL CHAVEZ DELGADO, ENEDINO GATAN VARGAS, and FERNANDO MORENO HERNANDEZ were transported to and arrived in the Southern District of New York on August 4, 2017, and are expected to be presented later today, before Magistrate Judge Ronald L. Ellis in Manhattan federal court.

Manhattan Acting U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said:  “These five defendants allegedly made a brazen attempt to ship nearly 5,000 pounds of cocaine to the U.S., packing the drugs in a speedboat and then trying to outrun authorities in the waters off of Mexico. I want to thank our law enforcement partners, who stopped this massive shipment of narcotics from arriving at our shores.”

DEA Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt said:  “From digging border tunnels to using go-fast boats, drug cartels will stop at nothing to get their illicit product into America. This seizure was a significant profit loss to the traffickers with a sobering effect to drug users in the U.S. I would like to thank our law enforcement partners in the U.S, Mexico and Colombia for their diligent work and collaboration on this investigation.”

HSI Special Agent-in-Charge Angel Melendez said:  “This team of perpetrators allegedly attempted to bring more than two tons of cocaine though U.S. borders.  It is the collaborative effort with the DEA and other federal and local agencies that law enforcement was able to interdict this action and keep deadly drugs off American streets.”

 

NYPD Commissioner James P. O’Neill said:  “As alleged, this criminal enterprise attempted to import a significant amount of cocaine to the United States by boat but law enforcement intercepted this shipment, five individual were taken into custody, and were subsequently charged. This investigation demonstrates the commitment of the NYPD to work alongside our federal partners to stop illegal drugs from entering our communities and hold responsible those who work to profit from illegal narcotics.”

State Police Superintendent George P. Beach II said: “We simply will not tolerate this type of alleged illegal drug trafficking activity in New York State. The valuable partnerships developed through the New York Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Strike Force were instrumental in these arrests and the seizure of these lethal narcotics. I want to thank our federal, state and local partners for their ongoing hard work and collaboration on this case, which has resulted in the arrests and removal of five alleged dangerous criminals who profit at the expense of our communities.”

As alleged in the criminal Complaint,[1] filed earlier this week in Manhattan federal court:

The DEA has been investigating a Colombian drug cartel (the “Cartel”) that sends shipments of cocaine to various points around the world by, among other methods, panga boats or “go-fasts.”  Go-fasts are small boats, typically similar in size to speed boats, with hulls of approximately 20 to 50 feet and a maximum capacity of approximately five passengers. 

On or about July 8, 2017, a United States Navy Aircraft (the “Aircraft”) was on routine patrol off the western coast of Mexico and approximately 590 nautical miles south of Mexico.  While there, an occupant of the Aircraft observed what appeared to be a go-fast boat (the “Go-Fast”).  The Aircraft communicated this information to the command of the United States Coast Guard (the “Coast Guard”), which dispatched a Coast Guard cutter (the “Cutter”) to intercept and board the Go-Fast.

The Cutter approached the Go-Fast and launched a helicopter and a patrol boat (the “Patrol Boat”), which proceeded to intercept the Go-Fast.  Occupants of the Patrol Boat (the “Boarding Team”) boarded and gained control of the Go-Fast, where they found CORTES MOLINERO, OCHOA JOAQUIN, CHAVEZ DELGADO, GATAN VARGAS, and MORENO HERNANDEZ. 

The Boarding Team observed numerous bales or large bundles wrapped in black plastic and brown tape on the deck of the Go-Fast.  The bales were in plain sight and occupied a substantial portion of the deck of the Go-Fast.

The Boarding Team recovered approximately 107 bales and one loose brick from the Go-Fast.  Two samples from the bales were field-tested, and tested positive for the presence of cocaine.  In total, the contents of the 107 bales and brick weighed approximately 2,141 kilograms or approximately 4,720 pounds.

CORTES MOLINERO, 30, OCHOA JOAQUIN, 40, CHAVEZ DELGADO, 46, GATAN VARGAS, 51, and MORENO HERNANDEZ 31, are citizens of Mexico.  Each defendant is charged with one count of conspiring to violate maritime drug enforcement laws and one count of violating maritime drug enforcement laws by possessing with the intent to distribute cocaine.  Each defendant faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years’ imprisonment.  The statutory maximum penalties and mandatory minimum penalties in this case 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 praised the outstanding efforts of the DEA’s New York Drug Enforcement Strike Force, which is comprised of officers of the DEA, the New York City Police Department, Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations, the New York State Police, and the U.S. Marshal Service, among other agencies.  Mr. Kim also praised the outstanding efforts and assistance provided by the Coast Guard, United States Customs and Border Protection, the United States Navy, and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.

The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.           

[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth below are only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

MAYOR DE BLASIO PROPOSES “FAIR FIX” TAX ON WEALTHIEST NEW YORKERS TO MODERNIZE SUBWAYS AND BUSES, FUND HALF-PRICED METROCARDS FOR LOW-INCOME RIDERS

New, dependable revenue source will provide up to $800 million in annual funding for transit system & its riders

  Mayor Bill de Blasio unveiled today a progressive City tax proposal aimed at raising as much as $800 million annually for New York City’s deteriorating subway and bus system. The proposed tax adjustment – levied on fewer than 1% of the city’s wealthiest tax filers – would also allow the City to cut in half subway and bus fares paid by 800,000 low-income New Yorkers.

“Rather than sending the bill to working families and subway and bus riders already feeling the pressure of rising fares and bad service, we are asking the wealthiest in our city to chip in a little extra to help move or transit system into the 21^st  century,” said Mayor de Blasio. “Instead of searching for a quick-fix that doesn't exist, or simply forking over more and more of our tax dollars every year, we have come up with a fair way to finance immediate and long-term transit improvement and to better hold the State accountable for the system's performance. Our subways and buses are the veins that make life in the greatest city in the world possible. This fair funding source will provide immediate help to straphangers – and it will help New Yorkers get around our city reliably for the next generation and beyond.”

The new tax would increase the City’s highest income tax rate by 0.534%, from 3.876% to 4.41%, on taxable incomes above $500,000 for individuals and above $1 million for couples. 

This tax will be paid by an estimated 32,000 New York City tax filers – 0.8% of the city’s filers. The tax is projected to raise $700 million in 2018, before rising to $820 million a year by 2022. This new investment will add on to an annual $1.6 billion in City operational support for subways and buses, and a $2.5 billion commitment in 2015 to the long-term needs of the MTA.

The $500 million in revenue dedicated to modernizing our aging subways and buses could support borrowing up to $8 billion for capital upgrades. The Mayor believes this funding should be immediately directed toward core infrastructure improvements like signal improvements, new cars and track maintenance key to reducing delays and disruptions that have paralyzed the system in recent months.

Half-priced MetroCards for low-income New Yorkers will be financed by an expected $250 million of the revenue raised by this tax. As many as 800,000 New Yorkers are expected to qualify for half-priced MetroCards based on their income levels. 

EDITOR'S NOTE:

It is nice of Mayor de Blasio to say this when the city has no power to enforce this. The state legislature must approve the legislation and then it must be signed by the governor. 

State Senate Majority Leader Flanagan has called for the city to give its fair share into the system instead of counting on Albany to do what the city has to.