MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES 11 SITES ADDED TO COMMUNITY PARKS INITIATIVE

NYC Parks�� Community Parks Initiative will now fully reconstruct 67 total sites �C reaching 500K New Yorkers who live within a short walk of one of these parks

  Mayor Bill de Blasio and NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP, announced the next  set of parks added to the Community Parks Initiative portfolio �C the City��s first major parks equity initiative investing $318 million to revitalize everyday community parks that have received less than $250,000 over the past 20 years. With 67 park sites to receive full reconstruction with the additional 11, CPI is one of the largest data-driven park equity programs in the nation, with 500,000 New Yorkers within a short walk of one of the parks.

��When we talk about improving parks in New York City, we��re really talking about improving the lives of New Yorkers,�� said Mayor Bill de Blasio. ��The Community Parks Initiative focuses on parks and neighborhoods that have faced the most historic disinvestment and serve dense, growing populations �C so every New Yorker can be proud of their neighborhood park.��

"Since 2014, the Community Parks Initiative has brought New Yorkers together to improve their parks and playgrounds - and in doing so, to strengthen their communities.  With the addition of eleven more parks to the program, thousands more will now have the opportunity to reimagine and rebuild their most precious resource: their shared public space," said NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP.

Launched by Mayor de Blasio in October 2014, CPI is a multi-faceted investment in the neighborhood/local parks that are located in New York City��s densely populated and growing neighborhoods where there are higher-than-average concentrations of poverty. CPI is NYC Parks' first major equity initiative and part of the Mayor��s OneNYC: The Plan for a Strong and Just City.

Entering the design process this fall, the 11 parks bringing the CPI portfolio total to 67 are:

Bronx

��         Prospect Playground

��         Mapes Ballfield

Brooklyn

��         Bartlett Playground

��         Lewis Playground

��         Penn Triangle

Manhattan

��         Bill Bojangles Playground

��         Harlem Lane Playground

��         Joseph C. Sauer Park

��         Playground One

Queens

��         Chappetto Square

Staten Island

��         Mariners Harbor Playground

Newly reconstructed CPI parks began opening ahead of schedule this summer �C five across Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens, from the initial 35 announced in 2014: twelve sites will be open by the end of 2017 and the balance in 2018. The 12 parks announced in 2015 are in procurement, and are expected to enter construction in 2018; and the nine announced in 2016 will enter procurement next year. The final 11 parks, entering design next month, are expected to be completed in winter 2020/21.

Additionally, CPI receives capital program support for many of these sites from DEP, which has committed $50 million in funding for the construction of green infrastructure installations. The green infrastructure will manage the precipitation that falls on the parks, and some of the surrounding streets, keeping it out of the combined sewer system and helping to reduce combined sewer overflows that sometimes occur during heavy rainfall. New York City has the most ambitious and aggressive green infrastructure program in the nation, with thousands of installations currently under construction across the city. In addition to managing stormwater, green infrastructure helps to improve air quality while also providing shade and lowering summertime temperatures. In addition, CPI parks has also received support from city and state elected officials, sister agencies including HPD, as well as Parks-related conservancies and private developers.  

In addition to CPI��s capital investment in neighborhood parks, the initiative has an impact on these neighborhoods through community partnership building, park programming, enhanced sustainability, and operating support. Through funding from the City Council, in-kind donations from park conservancies; and community engagement �� through partners including City Parks Foundation, New York Road Runners,  the Uni Project and El Museo del Barrio �� resources are allocated across critical categories including community outreach, recreational programming, green infrastructure, and park maintenance.

For additional information on the Community Parks Initiative, please visit nyc.gov/parks .

Senator Klein Hosts Seventh Annual First Responder Appreciation Barbeque

First responders from across The Bronx and Southern Westchester were honored for their service

Senator Jeff Klein along with Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj hosted the seventh annual First Responders Appreciation Barbeque on Saturday at Orchard Beach.

“This annual event is a special day where we give back to the first responders who selflessly serve us everyday. These brave men and women go above and beyond to protect us, and I’m proud to be able to give them the recognition they deserve,” said Senator Jeff Klein.

“I am proud to have joined Senator Klein to celebrate the bravery and hard work of our first responders. These honorees safeguard and serve our community and deserve this special recognition,” said Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj.

Saturday’s event included a barbeque lunch, live music by FDR Drive, children’s games, popcorn, cotton candy and much more. Retired New Yorks Knicks player John Wallace made a special appearance.

Senator Klein honored local heroes who demonstrate exemplary courage and bravery protecting the people of New York. Also recognized were three New York City first responders who died in the line of duty this year. The following men and women were recognized during the ceremony:

• Officer Stephanie Batista-Fernandez, PSA 8
• Officer Joselyn Paulino, PSA 8
• Lieutenant Reymond Meyer, 41st Precinct
• Lieutenant Neftali Betance, 41st Precinct
• Inspector Fausto B. Pichardo, 43rd Precinct
• Officer Michael Lagani, 45th Precinct
• Officer John Souhrada, 45th Precinct
• Officer Carlos Perez, 45th Precinct
• Officer Patrick McGovern, 49th Precinct
• Detective Kenyatta Rouse, ESU #4
• Detective Robert Goldstein, ESU #4
• Sergeant Kevin O’Doherty, ESU #4
• Dr. Michael Murray, 50th Precinct Medical Division
• Lieutenant Thomas Hilliard, 50th Precinct Medical Division
• Officer Jerry Gonzalez, 50th Precinct
• FDNY Engine 88/Ladder 38
• Firefighter James P. Lee, Jr., FDNY Rescue Company 1
• Lieutenant Phil DeSimone, Pelham Fire Department
• Firefighter Frank Bellantoni, Pelham Fire Department
• Firefighter Artie Viggiano, Pelham Fire Department

In memoriam:

• Officer Miosotis Familia, 46th Precinct
• Battalion Chief Michael Fahy, FDNY Battalion 19
• EMT Yadira Arroyo, FDNY Station 26

MAYOR DE BLASIO NOMINATES DR. MITCHELL KATZ FOR PRESIDENT AND CEO OF NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS

Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today that Dr. Mitchell Katz will be nominated to the NYC Health + Hospitals Board of Directors for appointment as President and CEO of the public healthcare system. As a highly experienced public health executive and practicing physician, Dr. Katz is well poised to further the City’s plan to stabilize hospital finances and expand access to high-quality, community-based healthcare. Health + Hospitals has long functioned as a safety net for the most vulnerable New Yorkers, specifically the uninsured and Medicaid patients, who collectively represent 70 percent of patients served.

“With renewed attacks on our healthcare by Republicans in Washington, it is now more important than ever to put stable leadership in place as we make progress on our plan to expand access to quality, community-based care throughout the city. I thank Stanley Brezenoff not only for his decades of service to the City, but also for preserving Health + Hospitals' as our safety net,” said Mayor de Blasio. “Dr. Mitchell Katz’s vast experience as physician and public health executive will be an invaluable asset as we work to modernize and save our treasured public hospital system.”

“Under Mayor de Blasio's leadership, NYC Health + Hospitals has made progress in expanding primary care and addressing immediate fiscal challenges,” said Dr. Mitchell Katz. “I'm committed to continuing these critical efforts to help preserve Health + Hospitals’ essential safety net mission and improve access to healthcare services for all New Yorkers." 

NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest public healthcare system in the nation, with a $7.2 billion budget and serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system’s trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlus health plan—all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 42,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. Since Mayor de Blasio launched One New York Health + Hospital’s Transformation Plan in April 2016, the public health system exceeded its FY17 $770 million gap-closing plan by $120 million in revenues and savings.

About Mitchell Katz

Dr. Katz is a highly experienced public healthcare executive and physician with a track record of achieving measurable results throughout his career.

Mitch is currently the Director of the Los Angeles County Health Agency, a newly created agency that combines the Departments of Health Services, Public Health, and Mental Health into a single entity so as to provide more integrated care and programming within Los Angeles. The Agency has a budget of 7 billion dollars, 28,000 employees, and a large number of community partners. For the past five years Dr. Katz served as the Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (DHS), the second largest public safety net system in the United States. During this time, he created the ambulatory care network and empaneled over 350,000 patients to a primary care home. He eliminated the deficit of DHS through increased revenues and decreased administrative expenses, and used the new ACA funding to pay for a modern electronic health system, Orchid, which has now been implemented in 90% of DHS clinical sites. He has moved over 1000 medically complex patients from hospitals and emergency departments into independent housing, thereby eliminating unnecessary expensive hospital care and giving the patients the dignity of their own home. Dr. Katz continues to see patients every week as an outpatient physician at Edward R. Royal Comprehensive Health Center and sees patients on the inpatient medicine service at LAC+USC, Harbor-UCLA, and Olive View-UCLA Medical Centers.

Before he came to Los Angeles Dr. Katz was the Director and Health Officer of the San Francisco Department of Health for 13 years. He is well known for funding needle exchange, creating Healthy San Francisco, outlawing the sale of tobacco at pharmacies, and winning ballot measures for rebuilding Laguna Honda Hospital and San Francisco General Hospital. He is a graduate of Yale College and Harvard Medical School. He completed an internal medicine residency at UCSF Medical School and was an RWJ Clinical Scholar.

He is the Deputy Editor of JAMA Internal Medicine, an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences (previously the Institute of Medicine) and the recipient of the Los Angeles County Medical Association 2015 Healthcare Champion of the year.

A.G. Schneiderman Reminds New Yorkers Of Charitable Giving Tips In Response To Hurricane Maria And Other Recent Natural Disasters

   Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman issued an alert reminding New Yorkers to consider consulting the office’s charitable giving tips before making a donation to support organizations assisting the victims of Hurricane Maria and other recent natural disasters.

Following Hurricanes Harvey, reports indicated that some scammers were using links to purported charitable organizations as a phishing attempt to steal personal information from those seeking to make a donation. In the lead up to Hurricane Irma, there were attempts to set up fake GoFundMe campaigns soliciting donations.

“Over the last several weeks, we’ve seen natural disasters devastate Houston, Florida, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and communities across the United States and the Caribbean. As New Yorkers, many of us have family and friends in these places. We can all do our part by giving to charities that are helping people recover and rebuild. Unfortunately, natural disasters can also bring out the most shameless scammers, looking to take advantage of our generosity during a crisis, and I encourage everyone to take precautions before making a donation,” said Attorney General Schneiderman.

The Attorney General offers the following tips for those contributing to the relief effort:

Take Time To Research The Organization. Make sure you are familiar with the organization, its mission, and its effectiveness before giving. Always ask for information in writing – be wary if an organization will not provide information about charitable programs and finances upon request. Any legitimate organization will be happy to send you information. Check the Attorney General’s website – www.charitiesnys.com – to ensure that it is registered, and to learn more about its mission and finances.

Know Where Your Money Will Go. Find out from the charity what it will do with your money. Review the charity’s financial reports for information about how it spends donations. If you have been contacted by a telemarketer, review Pennies for Charity, the New York Attorney General’s annual report of fundraising campaigns in New York, to see how much is spent on fundraising costs and how much has been kept by the charity. Ask specifically how the charity plans to use your donation, including the services and organizations your donation will support. Ask if the charity already has worked in the local area or has relationships with any local relief organizations. Also, ask what the charity plans to do with any excess donations. Avoid charities that make emotional appeals but are vague in answering your questions. Be wary if an organization will not provide written information about charitable programs and finances upon request. Any legitimate organization will be glad to send you this information.

Give to Established Charities. Donate to organizations you are familiar with, or have an experience assisting in disaster relief. Get information about charities that pop up solely in response to the hurricane or those with unfamiliar names.

Be Cautious With Telephone Solicitations. Telephone calls asking for donations to charity are often made by a professional fundraiser who is required to register with the Charities Bureau. Remember – you can always hang up. If you choose not to end the call, ask whether the telemarketer is registered and how much of your donation will go to charity and how much the telemarketer is being paid. Many telemarketers receive most of the money they raise. Giving directly to a charity avoids those costs.

Check Before You Text A Contribution. Check the charity’s website or call the charity to confirm it has authorized contributions to be made via text message. One thing to keep in mind is that donations via text messaging may not reach the charity until after your phone bill is paid. It may be faster to contribute directly to the charity.

Check Before Donating to an Online Giving Site. Make sure your contribution to campaigns set up by individuals on sites such as GoFundMe or CrowdRise will go to charity and not to the person raising the funds. Don’t contribute unless you know that person. 

Don’t Respond to Unsolicited Spam Emails. These formats are usually not associated with legitimate charities. Check the Department of Homeland Security’s tips, such as Avoiding Social Engineering and Phishing Attacks that are posted at http://www.us-cert.gov/ncas/tips/ST04-014.

Never Give Cash. Give your contribution by credit card or a check made payable to the charity.

Be Careful About Personal Information. Avoid giving credit card or personal information over the phone or by text message. In all cases, make sure you are familiar with the organization and check to see that the fundraising campaign is legitimate before donating.

Report Suspicious Organizations. If you believe an organization is misrepresenting its work, or that a scam is taking place, please contact the Attorney General’s Charities Bureau at charities.complaints@ag.ny.gov or 212-416-8401. The following additional websites contain helpful information to evaluate charities:

• CharityWatch – charitywatch.org
• Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance – bbb.org
• GuideStar – guidestar.org
• Charity Navigator – charitynavigator.org

Click Here For Video Of A.G. Schneiderman Discussing These Tips https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eC3x0k0Xd0M&feature=youtu.be

A.G. Schneiderman Announces Guilty Pleas And Convictions Of Two Specialty Food Markets For Failing To Pay Workers Nearly $450,000 In Wages

S&L Vegetables, Corp. And J&B Vegetables, Inc. – Operating As Apna Bazar – Failed To Pay Minimum Wage And Overtime To Over 150 Employees

Grocer Paid Nearly $450,000 In Restitution To Workers For Unpaid Wages And Over $160,000 In Unpaid Unemployment Contributions

To Date, A.G. Schneiderman Has Won Back Nearly $30 Million In Stolen Wages For Over 21,000 Workers Across New York

   Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced the guilty pleas and convictions of S&L Vegetables, Corp. and J&B Vegetables, Inc., two grocers that did business as Apna Bazar Cash & Carry (“Apna Bazar”) and operated two food markets in Floral Park and Hicksville, NY. Each Apna Bazar market pled guilty to one count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, one count of Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree, one count of Failure to Pay Wages, and one count of Willful Failure to Pay Contributions. The plea agreement mandates that Apna Bazar pay a total of $447,832.11 for unpaid wages and $162,445.47 in unpaid unemployment contributions to the New York State Department of Labor (“NYSDOL”)–bringing the total wages recovered by Attorney General Schneiderman since taking office to nearly $30 million for more than 21,000 workers. Today, the Queens County Supreme Court sentenced each Apna Bazar market to a three-year conditional discharge with a condition that the stores undergo monitoring for one year. The Court also ordered the defendants to pay restitution for the back wages and unemployment insurance contributions, which the Attorney General’s Office confirmed has been paid in full by the defendants.

"The defendants in this case acted out of greed, cheating over 150 hardworking employees out of hundreds of thousands of dollars in wages they earned," said Attorney General Schneiderman. "My office will continue to enforce wage and labor laws to make sure that New Yorkers get the pay they rightfully earn and ensure companies are meeting their obligations to the unemployment insurance safety net."  

"Under the leadership of Governor Cuomo, the Department of Labor will continue to vigorously pursue any employer who willingly cheats workers out of what they’re rightfully owed,” said State Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon. “What’s more, in this case, the employer chose to attempt to skirt their Unemployment Insurance obligations. The Department of Labor takes the responsibility of investigating these crimes very seriously and will continue to refer these cases to law enforcement offices around the state."

An investigation conducted by the New York State Department of Labor and referred to the Attorney General’s Office revealed that between 2012 and 2015, Apna Bazar repeatedly failed to pay proper minimum wage and overtime to more than 150 employees working at both of these markets. Many of these employees worked over 60 hours per week but were paid a fixed daily amount, which often resulted in paychecks that were well below the state minimum wage for even a typical 40 hour workweek. In addition, the employees did not receive proper overtime compensation of time-and-one half for working over 40 hours in a week. Both Apna Bazar entities also failed to accurately report to the NYSDOL the number of employees working at both locations during this period, falsifying their New York State Quarterly Combined Withholding, Wage Reporting, and Unemployment Insurance Return forms—resulting in significant underpayment of unemployment contributions to the NYSDOL.

Apna Bazar’s Long Island market is located at 217 Bethpage Rd. in Hicksville, NY and its Queens location is located at 260-04 Hillside Ave. in Floral Park, NY. As part of the plea agreements, Apna Bazar agreed to place both locations under supervision by an independent monitor for one year. The monitor will ensure that employees are paid properly, that there is accurate reporting of employees and that all documentation is properly submitted to the NYSDOL, as well as require two bi-annual reports detailing defendants’ compliance with the applicable labor and penal laws.

Engel: Republicans Should Not Vote on Graham-Cassidy Without CBO Score

  Congressman Eliot L. Engel, a top member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following statement:

“Today, I signed a letter with 56 of my Democratic colleagues calling on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to wait for a complete analysis by the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) before holding votes on the GOP’s newly minted Trumpcare 3.0 bill, also known as Graham-Cassidy.

“This issue is simply too important to be dealt with in a haphazard, rushed manner. Our health care sector makes up one sixth of our economy, and tens of millions could lose their insurance if this bill becomes law. We need to know exactly how many people the Graham-Cassidy plan covers and what happens to their premiums. To proceed without that information would be the height of irresponsibility. 

“CBO score or no CBO score, there are some things we can be sure of: this new version of Trumpcare will decimate Medicaid, allow insurers to jack up premiums based on your health history, and strip consumers of vital protections that ensure you get value for your money.

This bill, like its predecessors, is a disaster and Senate Republicans should not be allowed to pass it without all of the gory details being made public.”  

Con Edison Never Ending High Pressure Gas Line Work

This could be almost any intersection in the Bronx, however it is the corner of Johnson Avenue and West 235th Street. The photo above is of a Con Edison outside contracted crew putting in new larger high pressure gas pipes. This intersection, and almost all of Johnson Avenue and surrounding streets to the Henry Hudson Parkway service road were dug up by a Con Edison contracted crew two years ago to put in new high pressure gas pipes, so why does this section of a three block radius in the heart of the business district have to be redone now? The only comments I got was 'Why are you taking our picture'? If you look close the worker in the hole appears to be scratching his head  trying to figure out what to do as the other worker stands nearby. The New York State Public Service Commission stated in a report that of the outside contractors Con Edison is using seventy-five percent have no experience in this type of work. That could be one of the reasons a lot of the work has to be redone by a second crew or Con Edison workers themselves. 

Just look at the condition of the street which was milled and repaved last year. The street foundation is cut like a cake, and will probably start to cave in from the heavy trucks that go over it in a few years like other streets have already done after being opened up for construction. By the way where is Councilman Cohen?

Watch Out For That Leaning Fence

  Things are getting pretty bad when your city council members and mayor are voting to allow for public urination, and setting up a committee to end the cabaret laws. Then there are the District Attorney's who want not to prosecute turnstyle jumpers. What is this city coming to? 

  After two construction workers dying on two different construction sites here is another careless example of what a developer on Johnson Avenue two houses away from Congressman Engel's office is doing.

Above - You can see the flimsy work done on this wood fence to hide what went on in tearing down the house that use to be on this property. There still remains a huge old tree on the property which must be taken down before any new construction can take place.

Below - From this angle you can see just how stable the last two panels of this fence is. with every gust the wall is in danger of falling down. 

  So where is the Councilman Cohen? Protesting a homeless shelter he says is going into Sams Carpet on Webster Avenue across from PS 20. While there is no construction going on at the carpet store, there is however at the empty former Feggs location at 3600 Jerome Avenue which Councilman Cohen suggested to Community Board 7 in August as an alternate site to the Webster Avenue site across from PS 20. What construction is going on at the former Feggs site you may ask, alterations for a homeless shelter according to the site supervisor.

Construction workers at the former Feggs site on Jerome Avenue doing alterations for a homeless shelter.