TOMORROW: BP DIAZ TO HOST 'BACK TO SCHOOL' EVENTTOMORROW: BP DIAZ TO HOST 'BACK TO SCHOOL' EVENT

  On Saturday, August 26, 2017 (TOMORROW), Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. will host his annual “Back to School” Literacy & Health Fair at the Pablo Casals Middle School 181 on the Co-op City Education Campus, 800 Baychester Avenue, Bronx. The event will take place from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

 

The event is co-sponsored by Montefiore, 92.3 AMP Radio, Healthfirst, with additional school supplies and backpacks donated by MetroPCS and FreshDirect.

 

The event will be emceed by 92.3 AMP Radio personality and host Shoboy, and will feature music, games and giveaways. Additional entertainment will be provided by performers from the Ed Sullivan Fellows Program at New York University, Mind Builders and Rob and EC Salsero.

 

WHEN:          

Saturday, August 26, 2017 (TOMORROW)

 

TIME:

11:00 a.m.—3:00 p.m.

 

WHERE:        

Pablo Casals Middle School 181

800 Baychester Avenue

Co-op City Education Campus

The Bronx

International Family Day is this Saturday

ASSEMBLYMAN MARK GJONAJ, STATE SENATOR JEFF KLEIN & ASSEMBLYMAN MICHAEL BENEDETTO
 

INVITE YOU TO ATTEND THE

5TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL FAMILY DAY !

AUGUST 26TH,2017

12PM-4PM

OWEN F. DOLEN PARK

2551 WESTCHESTER SQUARE

BRONX,NEW YORK 10461

JOIN US FOR A DAY FULL OF FUN!

PONY RIDES! ARTS & CRAFTS! MAGIC SHOWS! BOUNCY HOUSES!FACE PAINTING &
BACK TO SCHOOL GIVEAWAYS!

MAYOR DE BLASIO SIGNS LEGISLATION TO BETTER PROMOTE HEALTH, TENANT PROTECTIONS AND FAIRNESS FOR ALL NEW YORKERS

Signs legislation to increases protections for tenants, improve the health of all New Yorkers, cracks down on those who violate construction codes, and help keep seniors in their homes

  Mayor Bill de Blasio today held public hearings for, and signed, two pieces of legislation into law. Intro. 1676 raises the maximum qualifying income for real estate tax exemptions for low-income senior citizen and disabled homeowners; Intro. 1676 raises the maximum qualifying income for real estate tax exemptions for low-income senior citizen and disabled homeowners; Intro. 1677 continues a surcharge on wireless communications service in order to fund for emergency 911 services. The Mayor also held public hearings for 25 other bills, including a package of bills aimed at decreasing smoking, Intro.1131-B, 1471-A, 1532-A, 1544-B, 1547-A, 1585-A, 484-A, a package of bills cracking down on tenant harassment, Intro. 347-B 1530-A,1548-A, 1549-A, 1556-A, Intro. 1133 and a package of bills championed by the Stand for Tenant Safety coalition, Intro. 918-A, 924-A, 926-A, 930-A, 931-B, 936-A, 938-A, 939-A, 940-A, 944-A, 1523-A.

Seniors and disabled individuals often struggle with a higher cost of living. Intro. 1676 will help alleviate that burden by allowing these New Yorkers to benefit from a greatly increased income eligibility threshold for property tax exemptions,” said Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito. “I congratulate Council Member Deutsch on his hard work that made this bill a reality and thank the Mayor for signing this very important bill. Public safety communications networks help keep our city safe by improving the speed and ease of communications between the NYPD, FDNY, and other city agencies. I want to thank Council Member Julissa Ferreras-Copeland for her dedication to making this legislation a reality and the Mayor for signing this bill into law.”

"Today's bill signing is an important step towards easing some of the financial burdens that plague many senior and disabled homeowners. Until now, the Senior Citizen/Disabled Homeowner Exemption only entitled individuals who earned less than $37,400 for a tax benefit. We raised that income limit by $20,000, and now tens of thousands of New Yorkers with an income of $58,400 or less will be able to qualify for a property tax break of up to 50% of their total bill. They will no longer need to make a choice between paying their tax bill and putting food on their table. This is a huge victory for New Yorkers, and I want to thank my colleagues State Senator Diane Savino and Assemblymember Brian Kavanaugh for their leadership on this effort on the state level. I also want to thank Mayor Bill de Blasio for his collaboration and commitment to ensuring the passage of Intro 1676," said Council Member Chaim Deutsch.

Council Member King Sponsors Bill Providing Long Overdue Transparency & Oversight to DOC Inmate Transfer Protocol

  NYC Council Member Andy King introduced legislation (Int. 10849) today that would bring much needed oversight and transparency to current New York City Department of Correction (DOC) procedures concerning inmate transfers to facilities outside of the five boroughs.

Currently, DOC can transfer individuals to another State correction facility without providing timely notice to the actual individual or the individual’s attorney. This leaves little room for intervention if the transfer is unwanted. Existing procedure does not even afford incarcerated people the opportunity to notify relatives in an expedient fashion of a potential transfer.

Unwanted transfers can carry a whole set of consequences that restrict an incarcerated person’s involvement in their case, and access to their relatives and support network.

Specifically, this legislation would require DOC to:

• Institute an internal review procedure for each transfer request

• Notify an incarcerated person of the decision to seek their transfer

• Permit incarcerated people to notify up to three personal contacts by telephone immediately after receiving a notice of potential transfer

• Provide for notice to an incarcerated person’s attorney

• Maintain an electronic record of all transfer requests

“New Yorkers imprisoned in our city’s correction system deserve to be respected as people not chattel,” said Council Member Andy King. “With my legislation, we are ensuring that the process of transferring an inmate will be transparent and the incarcerated will be fully aware of their transfer applications. Nothing should be done in secrecy.”

“It’s as simple as this - our clients shouldn’t be moved overnight without ample notice provided to their attorney and family allowing a chance to intervene if necessary,” said Tina Luongo, Attorney-In-Charge of the Criminal Practice at The Legal Aid Society. “This has happened too often to many of our clients, impacting their cases and access to family. We applaud Council Member King for introducing this legislation and his leadership on crucial criminal justice issues.”  

Editor's Note:

  If this is not voted on by the city council by December 31st, this and all other proposed legislation not voted on by the council must be reintroduced when the new city council meets after January 1st 2018.

ZARO'S WILL RETURN TO PARKCHESTER

World-renowned baker and Bronx institution will also expand commercial facility in Port Morris to include retail component

  Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., Zaro’s Family Bakery and the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation announced today that the company would open a new retail location in Parkchester on Metropolitan Oval this coming fall.

Zaro’s closed their original Parkchester location on Hugh Grant Circle, which had originally opened in June 1959, at the end of 2015. In addition to returning to Parkchester, the company announced that it would open a retail location at their current Port Morris commercial baking facility in Spring 2018.

“Zaro’s has been a great neighbor to The Bronx ever since they first founded their business in our borough in 1927. Their return to Parkchester, as well as their expansion in Port Morris, shows that their commitment to The Bronx has not wavered one bit during the 90 years they have called our borough home,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. “I congratulate Zaro’s on their expansion, and wish them another successful 90 years right here in The Bronx.”

“The day our Parkchester store closed in December of 2016 was a sad day for the Zaro family. We felt we were an integral part of the community. There were customers there that day who told me they were there the day it opened in June of 1959 - almost 60 years ago. Needless to say we are overjoyed to be returning and look forward to opening this fall,” said Stuart Zaro, co-president of Zaro’s Family Bakery.

“I am thrilled to welcome Zaro’s back to Parkchester. They are bringing back not only fresh pastries and bagels to our community, but also additional job opportunities for our residents,” said Marlene Cintron, President of the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation (BOEDC). “We have reinvigorated The Bronx with multiple developments and investments; investments that include residential and commercial projects throughout The Bronx. The return of Zaro’s to Parkchester and the memories that the aroma of fresh baked goods creates are incalculable to our residents, young and old.

Zaro’s first opened in The Bronx on Edward L. Grant Highway in 1927, and has maintained a constant retail and commercial presence in the borough for 90 years. The company’s Port Morris facility opened in 1982, following previous commercial facilities in Hunts Point and on Kingsbridge Road. The company currently employs more than 125 individuals in The Bronx, and the two retail expansions are expected to generate an additional 40 jobs.

What Community Board is This, Was one member present or Absent, Why is he Listed Voting For Only One Item, and When Was the Meeting Adjourned?

I an not going after any member of this community board, but it is good that this is only a Draft copy one member sent me so the mistakes that I found in bold type can be fixed. 

DRAFT MINUTES SUBJECT TO COMMITTEE APPROVAL

Traffic and Transportation Meeting

July 10, 2017

Kingsbridge Heights Community Center

Kingsbridge Terrace

Committee Members Present:

Sylvia Alexander, Eric Dinowitz, Margaret Donato, Diomarys Escano, Myra Joyce, Joseph O’Brien, Dan Padernacht, Georgia Santiago, Laura Spalter, Herb Young

Committee Members Absent:

Eric Bell, David Gellman, Herb Young

General Attendance:

1. DDC appeared in front of the committee to give a presentation on the West 229th Street step street reconstruction and to ask that the scope of work be amended to remove the temporary staircase from the project.

Ali Malik – DDC, Maria Centeno – DDC, Charlie Martinez – Resident engineer for project

DDC explained the project. Project is to completely reconstruct the West 229th Street step street. 18 month construction period. DDC has chosen contractor. Notice to commence project has gone out.

Contractor stated he can do project in 12 months as opposed to 18 months if temporary staircase is removed from the scope of work. Detour is one block to 230th Street. DDC will maintain for 18 months and then community must go to agencies for maintenance. DDC believes step street will be good for 10 years. The project will start in a couple of months. There will be a community contact liaison (CCL). CCL will gather information and continue to update board members. Ali Malik said 231st Street and Sedgwick is next street to be done. D. Padernacht made a motion to remove the temporary staircase from the scope of work as requested by DDC. Chair O’Brien secondedmotion.

In Favor: Sylvia Alexander, Margaret Donato, Diomarys Escano, Myra Joyce, Joseph O’Brien, Dan Padernacht, Georgia Santiago, Laura Spalter

Opposed: None

Abstain: Eric Dinowitz

2. Budget consultation discussion. L.Spalter stated that the reconstruction of the step street at Summit Place and Bailey Avenuebe added to budget requests.

D. Padernacht made a motion that the reconstruction of the step street at Summit Place and Bailey Avenue be added to the T & T Committee budget requests. L. Spalter Seconded.

In Favor: Sylvia Alexander, Eric Dinowitz, Margaret Donato, Diomarys Escano, Myra Joyce, Joseph O’Brien, Dan Padernacht, Georgia Santiago, Laura Spalter

Opposed: None

Abstain: None

3. Unenclosed sidewalk application by Blackstone Bar & Grill. Steve Catechis appeared for the applicant. The sidewalk café will have 21 seats in 9 tables. Hopefully by end of summer the café will be open. Will be serving food. Applying to SLA to serve liquor outside. Tables will go inside each night. Entire sidewalk utilized is 14 feet width by 8 1⁄2 feet from corner. From wall of Blackstone. Will be temporary fencing which is removable and taken in each night.

D. Padernacht made a motion that the application be approved. M. Donato seconded the motion.

In Favor: Sylvia Alexander, Eric Dinowitz, Margaret Donato, Diomarys Escano, Myra Joyce, Joseph O’Brien, Dan Padernacht, Georgia Santiago, Laura Spalter

Opposed: None

Abstain: None

4. SAPO Application –St. Jemiel Back to School Rally with full street closure on September 2, 2017 to be held on Webb Avenue between West 197th Street and Reservoir Avenue. Eda Clarke Ramsey spoke on behalf of the applicant. This event has been held previously in Fort Independence Park in 2013. Event will run from 10am-4pm. 9am set up. Breakdown at 4pm. Out by 5pm. Funded by ACS and DOB. Full day care camp. Beginning of school year should be a good start. Want to have a block party with school supplies. Rides and attractions for kids. Inviting families to attend to do health care screening. Invited Board of Ed as well to give information to the community.

Approval conditioned on permits from other agencies. Chair O’Brien made a motion that the application be approved. D. Padernacht seconded the motion.

In Favor: Sylvia Alexander, Eric Dinowitz, Margaret Donato, Diomarys Escano, Myra Joyce, Joseph O’Brien, Dan Padernacht, Georgia Santiago, Laura Spalter

Opposed: None

Abstain: None

5. Broadway Corridor.

D. Padernacht noted that during the testimony from the community on the DOT proposal for changes to the Broadway Corridor, a member of the community stated how crosswalks needed to be re-striped. D. Padernacht presented several pictures in a PowerPoint Presentation which indicated several intersections from the city line to Manhattan College Parkway which showed crosswalks had faint markings or no markings at all. D. Padernacht made a motion for a resolution to send DOT a letter requesting it re-stripe each intersection from the city line to Manhattan College Parkway.

In Favor: Sylvia Alexander, Eric Dinowitz, Margaret Donato, Diomarys Escano, Myra Joyce, Joseph O’Brien, Dan Padernacht, Georgia Santiago, Laura Spalter, Herb Young

Opposed: None

Abstain: None

R. Ginty said many streets were being re-milled in North Riverdale. DOT will be striping anyway. R. Ginty asked if the committee could send in letter to DOT in time for re-milling.

New business:

Elevator at 242nd Street. Can we get elevator at 242nd Street. R. Ginty stated that there is a drop down menu for budget codes that we can use in our budget consultations. D. Padernacht made a motion that the Traffic and transportation Committee include a request for an elevator at the West 242nd Street Subway Station in the committee budget requests. S. Alexander seconded the motion.

In Favor: Sylvia Alexander, Eric Dinowitz, Margaret Donato, Diomarys Escano, Myra Joyce, Joseph O’Brien, Dan Padernacht, Georgia Santiago, Laura Spalter

Opposed: None

Abstain: None

Padernacht made motion. Sylvia Alexander seconded.

Georgia Santiago stated that someone was hit on West 230th Street today. We don’t always recognize all of the needs of the community. G. Santiago asked if we could have one police officer at that

intersection since it was so dangerous.

Assemblyman Dinowitz spoke about intersection. Said a capital project would be the best thing for the area.

B. Press spoke about 640 West 238th Street construction and said the building was almost complete. However, street is completely ripped up. B. Press would like developer to fix street completely. R. Ginty said it will probably be the last thing developer does before opening building.

David Bush asked for a 4 way stop sign on West 235th Street Oxford Avenue. Assemblyman Dinowitz said his office put in request. J. Stephenson said Council Member Cohen put in a request.

Assemblyman Dinowitz said the Bronx Park Commissioner and 50th Precinct Deputy Inspector and other officials were in his office to come up with solutions for the double parking of buses at Van

Cortlandt Park on Broadway during track meets. They want buses to park on Major Deegan service road by East 233rd street and McLean Avenue at the city line. Buses will go there and we will need

enforcement by PD and Parks Department. Buses must know about this and agencies must enforce. Assemblyman Dinowitz stated that having a dedicated place to go will be very helpful.

Meeting adjourned.

TESTIMONY OF BRONX BOROUGH PRESIDENT RUBEN DIAZ JR.

RE: MTA Public Hearing Regarding a Proposed Increase in Service at Metro-North’s Melrose and Tremont Stations August 23, 2017

  My office enthusiastically supports expanding the availability of Metro-North Commuter Railroad services at the Melrose and Tremont stations in The Bronx, and I am proud to testify in favor of such an expansion here today.

Perhaps not since the 1920’s, when 536,000 people made their way to The Bronx for the first time, has the borough sustained as much investment and development as we see taking place today. Across all our communities business and residential growth are breaking records, with over $3 billion committed to The Bronx during 2016. Residential investment was approximately $1.7 billion, $1.3 billion was invested in commercial development and $228 million in institutional development.

Looking specifically at the communities which are served by the Melrose station, we know that during 2016 in Bronx Community Districts #3 and #4, approximately 1.6 million square feet of new development was created. In Bronx Community District #6, the Tremont station’s service area, 3.7 million square feet of new development was built. 

Needless to say, this new development means more passengers wanting to reach more places. Ridership figures provided to my office by Metro-North support this observation, as the pilot program initiated by the railroad exceeded all ridership expectations.

Key to continuing this amazing growth is our ability to provide efficient and reliable transit services to The Bronx and our northern suburbs. We know that a substantial number of Bronx residents commute to Westchester County for employment. 

By expanding access to Melrose and Tremont this will not only offer more convenient commuter rail options, but by so doing, reduce reliance on our over-burdened highway network. Select Bus Service (SBS) on Webster Avenue and the soon-to-be SBS on 161^st Street connect to the Melrose or Tremont stations.

On a related matter, the Department of Parks and Recreation recently reached out to my office to solicit input regarding Railroad Park. Located on East 161^st Street, one block south of the Melrose station, it is now possible to imagine this park and its unique park-building as being able to afford Metro North passengers a place to stop at, or pass through as they make their way to a destination. My office looks forward to coordinating the various visions that the community, Metro-North and the Parks Department may want to propose for this strategic site.

As our city’s subway system’s ridership exceeds six million passengers per day and our roadway and highway network sustains record levels of use, expanding Metro North Railroad service is not only desirable but essential.  

I thank Metro-North for this opportunity to offer my comments. I look forward to not only seeing this expanded service provided to Melrose and Tremont, but even more exciting, the introduction of Metro-North Railroad transit to the communities of Co-op City, Morris Park, Parkchester-Van Nest and Hunts Point.

Using tracks laid out over a century ago, this entirely new railroad option will offer over 160,000 people who live within a mile of the four proposed railroad stations, one-seat transportation to Penn Station in Manhattan and along the New Haven Line, in Westchester and Fairfield Counties.

State Senator Gustavo Rivera and Assemblymember Victor M. Pichardo will host their annual Back to School event on Friday, August 25 from 3:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. at Devoe Park. 

This event is free and open to the public

Call Senator Rivera's office at 718-933-2034 for more information.