Wave Hill Events Nov 3–Nov 10

  After an action-packed October, starting with Wings over Wave Hill Day and ending with Spider Day, November opens on a wonderfully quiet note.

Another reminder that with shorter days, the grounds close earlier, too, at 4:30, instead of 5:30PM.

Sat, November 4    Family Art Project: Autumn Color Papermaking

Join visiting artist and papermaking expert Randy Brozen to create richly colored paper using red, orange and yellow pulp. Use a simple process to fashion your handmade paper into a leaf shape, or add a found leaf for fancy decoration. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon. 

WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM‒1PM

Sat, November 4    Garden Highlights Walk

Join a Wave Hill Garden Guide for an hour-long tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 11AM

Sat, November 4    Family Garden Walk

Visit favorite, family-friendly locations in the gardens on a walk with a Wave Hill Garden Guide. Children ages six and older welcome with an adult. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon.

MEET AT WAVE HILL HOUSE, NOON

Sat, November 4    Gallery Tour

Wave Hill’s Curatorial Fellow leads a tour of the current exhibition in Glyndor Gallery. This fall, the entire gallery is given over to new site-responsive projects honoring the tenth anniversary of Wave Hill’s Sunroom Project Space. Call & Response showcases the work of 50 artists who have exhibited in this unique venue, in projects ranging from art objects created from natural materials gathered onsite, to sound pieces, outdoor installations and performance works. Free with admission to the grounds.

GLYNDOR GALLERY, 2PM

Sat, November 4    Call & Response Performance: Lauren Carly Shaw, Impression

On select Saturdays, Call & Response artists present talks, readings, live music, performance art and workshops in and around Glyndor Gallery. Through a durational performance, Lauren Carly Shawunderlines the role of the body in creating her site-specific work. Integrating into the architecture of the gallery, she enters and inhabits her work, a negative impression of her body made of foam and resin and set into a built-in cabinet. Free with admission to the grounds.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 2PM

Sat, November 4    Fall Foliage Walk

Enjoy colorful foliage at its seasonal peak. Horticultural Interpreter Charles Day shares some of his favorite trees and shrubs in their vibrant fall finery. Free with admission to the grounds.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 2PM

Sun, November 5    Family Art Project: Autumn Color Papermaking

Join visiting artist and papermaking expert Randy Brozen to create richly colored paper using red, orange and yellow pulp. Use a simple process to fashion your handmade paper into a leaf shape, or add a found leaf for fancy decoration. Free with admission to the grounds. 

WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM‒1PM

Sun, November 5    Garden Highlights Walk

Join a Wave Hill Garden Guide for an hour-long tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free with admission to the grounds.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 2PM

Mon, November 6    

Closed to the public.

Tue, November 7    Garden Highlights Walk

Join a Wave Hill Garden Guide for an hour-long tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 11AM

Tue, November 7    Gallery Tour

Wave Hill’s Curatorial Fellow leads a tour of the current exhibition in Glyndor Gallery. This fall, the entire gallery is given over to new site-responsive projects honoring the tenth anniversary of Wave Hill’s Sunroom Project Space. Call & Response showcases the work of 50 artists who have exhibited in this unique venue, in projects ranging from art objects created from natural materials gathered onsite, to sound pieces, outdoor installations and performance works. Free with admission to the grounds.

GLYNDOR GALLERY, 2PM

A 28-acre public garden and cultural center overlooking the Hudson River  and Palisades, Wave Hill’s mission is to celebrate the artistry and legacy of its gardens and landscape, to preserve its magnificent views, and to explore human connections to the natural world through programs in horticulture, education and the arts.

HOURS  Open all year, Tuesday through Sunday and many major holidays: 9AM–4:30PM, November 1–March 14. Closes 5:30PM, starting March 15.

ADMISSION  $8 adults, $4 students and seniors 65+, $2 children 6–18. Free Saturday and Tuesdaymornings until noon. Free to Wave Hill Members and children under 6.

PROGRAM FEES  Programs are free with admission to the grounds unless otherwise noted.

Visitors to Wave Hill can take advantage of Metro-North’s one-day getaway offer. Purchase a discount round-trip rail far and discount admission to the gardens. More at http://mta.info/mnr/html/getaways/outbound_wavehill.htm

DIRECTIONS – Getting here is easy! Located only 30 minutes from midtown Manhattan, Wave Hill’s free shuttle van transports you to and from our front gate and Metro-North’s Riverdale station, as well as the W. 242nd Street stop on the #1 subway line. Limited onsite parking is available for $8 per vehicle. Free offsite parking is available nearby with continuous, complimentary shuttle service to and from the offsite lot and our front gate. Complete directions and shuttle bus schedule at www.wavehill.org/visit/.

Information at 718.549.3200. On the web at www.wavehill.org.

Upcoming holiday cultural events and health activities at JASA Van Cortlandt Senior Center

Health & Relaxation w/Kathleen continues on Thurs. Nov. 2^nd, 9^th & 30th at 11 AM. Kathleen, a certified Yoga instructor, integrates Tai Chi and chair Yoga moves and stretches. 

Make-Up Sunday on November 5^th: enjoy a delicious meal of rosemary chicken legs or salmon salad will be served at 1:00 PM.  Soprano Sigal Chen and Jonathan Dzik, accompanist, will perform classical, Broadway and Hebrew favorites at 2 PM. Recommended senior meal contribution: $2.50 and $2.00 for the event.Call the center office 718-549-4700 for advance meal reservations by Thurs. Nov. 2nd.

Emblem Health will provide a brief health talk followed by chair zumba on Tues. Nov. 7^th and musical bingo on Tues. Nov. 14^that 12:45 PM.

Movement class with Judy Farnum, certified fitness instructor, will meet on Mon. Nov. 13^th, 20^th (*Tai Chi/Yoga) and 27th at 3:00 PM. This class combines low impact aerobics with easy-to-follow exercise routines as a fun way to 'get moving' to a wide variety of music including Classic Retro Pop, Latin Rhythms, Global Beats and more! * New more gentle movement class.

Wed. Nov. 15^th: start the day with a sumptuous breakfast followed by a shopping trip to Fairway. Thea Reznik, RN, will provide healthy shopping tips before the trip. Fee for the trip is $3.00 includes lunch. Call Cindy at the senior center office for advance registration: 718-549-4700.

Celebrate Nov. birthdays on Thurs. Nov. 16^th with Willa Bassen, guitar/vocals at 1:00 PM. Festive lunch of sole fillet or turkey salad will be served at 12:15 PM. Recommended senior meal contribution: $2.00 and $1.00 for the event. Call the center office 718-549-4700 for advance meal reservations by Tues. Nov. 14th.

On Tues. Nov. 21^st, celebrate Thanksgiving with a Mexican lunch of beef tacos or sole fillet, garden salad, rice & beans, fruit.  Acapulco 90 mariachi band (authentic & dynamic) will entertain at 1:15 PM. Recommended senior meal contribution is $3.00 and $2.00 for the event (includes refreshments). Please call in your meal reservations to the office 718-549-4700 by: Thurs.  Nov. 16^th.  

Enjoy a sumptuous Thanksgiving lunch on Wed. Nov. 22^nd at 12:15 PM followed by international entertainment by Igor, keyboard and Eva, vocals at 1:15 PM. Recommended senior meal contribution is $3.00 and $2.00 for the event including refreshments. Please call in your meal reservations to the office 718-549-4700 by: Fri. Nov. 17^th.

On Wed. Nov. 29^th, Bill Ronayne, lecturer, will present on “Mario Lanza” at 1 PM. Lunch of sole francaise or salisbury steak served at 12:15 PM. Recommended senior meal contribution: $2.00 and $1.00 for the event.Call the center office 718-549-4700for advance meal reservations by Fri. Nov. 24^th.

Doriana Castro, Senior Fitness instructor, will continue a new evidence-based Stay Active and Independent for Life (S.A.I.L.)course on Monday mornings at 10:30 AM and Friday mornings at 10 AM through November except for Fri.11/24. S.A.I.L. incorporates strength, balance, flexibility and endurance training. 

Save the Date: Make-Up Sunday on Dec. 3^rd with the East Side Trio. Lunch of turkey wings or fillet of sole served at 1 PM. Entertainment at 2 PM.

All meals at JASA Van Cortlandt Senior Center are catered by Mauzone(kosher) Meal Service. We offer a daily alternate choice of main  entree. Menu is subject to change. Please call the senior center office to request the alternative meal choice between 9:30 and 10:30 AM. Refreshments are served at all special events.

         

Note: Continuing and new Health Classes & Activities:  Movement plus Tai Chi Yoga Dance, Health & Relaxation Healthy Cooking demonstrations and Healing mbira Music are funded by a Health Initiative grant from CM Andrew Cohen.

We will also be offering occasional shopping trips to Fairway along with a sumptuous breakfast and healthy tips by Thea in future.

 We are located on the first floor of the Van Cortlandt Jewish Center at 3880 Sedgwick Ave. Take the Bronx #1, 2 or 10 bus to the intersection of Sedgwick Ave. and Van Cortlandt Ave. West. For more information, please call the center office at 718-549-4700. JASA Van Cortlandt Senior Center is funded by NYC Dept. for the Aging, UJA- Federation of NY and by special legislative grants from Council Member Andrew Cohen and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr.

NO TENANT STANDS ALONE: MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES $1M FUNDING BOOST FOR DOOR-TO-DOOR OUTREACH CONNECTING TENANTS TO FREE LEGAL REPRESENTATION

Mayor’s Tenant Support Unit has already helped 14,000 New Yorkers fight harassment and eviction, secure repairs

  Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced that his Tenant Support Unit has resolved 4,500 cases, helping more than 14,000 tenants in fast changing neighborhoods stay in their homes by getting health and safety code violations corrected and connecting tenants facing eviction and harassment to legal services groups.

TSU specialists proactively go door-to-door informing tenants of their rights, documenting and case managing tenant issues related to harassment, repairs, and eviction, and making referrals to legal support whenever necessary. 

The Mayor is also announcing that TSU is allocating $1 million to build a dedicated 15-person TSU team to conduct outreach in nine more neighborhoods to low-income tenants facing eviction in housing court, to notify them of their right to free legal representation under a new City law that provides universal access to legal representation. Click here for more information about the law. The funds will also go to launch a multilingual paid ad campaign in these neighborhoods to ensure tenants are aware of their new right.

The neighborhoods, which cover 10 zip codes, are Bushwick, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Crown Heights, Harlem, Jamaica, Tremont, Williamsbridge, Mariners Harbor, and Port Richmond.

The TSU team will work directly with the City’s Human Resource Administration’s Office of Civil Justice to direct data-driven outreach to tenants who are facing eviction cases in court to notify them of their access to free legal services in court.

“We want to keep tenants in their homes. Rather than waiting for New Yorkers to reach a crisis or call 311, the Tenant Support Unit is knocking on doors in New York’s most rapidly changing neighborhoods to make sure tenants are aware of their legal rights and get the services they need. Make no mistake about it, as we build and protect 200,000 affordable homes across this city, we are also confronting landlords who ignore their duty to provide safe homes,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said.

 “No tenant should lose their home because they didn’t know their rights or didn’t have legal assistance. With the enactment of the universal access to counsel law, New York City has set a new standard as the national leader in access to justice for tenants in need,” said Department of Social Services Commissioner Steven Banks.  

“The Office of Civil Justice is proud to work with our legal service providers and with the TSU to ensure that tenants facing eviction know their rights and do not stand alone in Housing Court,” said Jordan Dressler, HRA’s Civil Justice Coordinator.

“The Tenant Support Unit is the City making house calls,” said Regina Schwartz, Director of the Mayor’s Public Engagement Unit. “Bringing the City to the door of hundreds of thousands of tenants ensures New Yorkers are directly connected to resources that help them stay in their homes and thrive in the communities they love. We are thrilled to continue our partnerships with the HRA and legal service providers to expand this effort to additional neighborhoods.”

State Senator Gustavo Rivera said “No tenant in New York City should lose their home because they cannot access affordable and adequate legal representation,” said State Senator Gustavo Rivera. “The comprehensive services that the Tenant Support Unit has offered at my office have helped many of my constituents avoid unnecessary evictions and get the repairs they need. I look forward to continue working with the Tenant Support Unit as they expand their services and thank Mayor de Blasio for proactively working to raise awareness of the critical legal services our City continues to offer in an effort to keep more New Yorkers in their homes.”

The Tenant Support Unit is part of a multi-pronged approach Mayor de Blasio has implemented to fight displacement. It includes a ten-fold increase in free legal services for tenants ­– totaling $62 million – that will be fully implemented this year. In addition, since 2014, the administration has locked in more than 52,000 apartments into long-term affordability agreements that help low-income families stay in their homes for decades to come and has financed the construction of more than 25,000 new affordable homes. 

Prior to this administration, very few tenants had legal representation in Housing Court, estimated at just 1% in 2013 by state court officials. This resulted in high incidences of evictions and unchecked tenant harassment. To help close the gap, the Administration dramatically increased the availability of City-funded legal services for low-income tenants, increasing funding for legal assistance for tenants facing eviction and harassment from $6 million in 2013.

The program successfully increased tenant representation in Housing Court to 27% in 2016, and has provided more than 50,000 households with legal services since 2014. At the same time, residential evictions by marshals declined by 24 percent, allowing 40,000 people to remain in their homes during 2015 and 2016.

Last February and to compliment the bill that was eventually signed into law, the Administration agreed to more than double this financial support, dedicating an additional $93 million at full implementation for a program to provide access to legal representation to all low-income tenants facing eviction proceedings in Housing Court earning up to 200% of the federal poverty line and brief legal assistance for all tenants facing eviction in court whose income is above that level.  In total and once the program is fully implemented, the City will spend $155 million annually to cover the costs of the initiative. Beginning this month, the program also started providing legal services to NYCHA tenants in administrative proceedings to terminate their tenancy. There are approximately 3,200 cases that go through NYCHA administrative hearings annually.

The program will serve 400,000 tenants when it is fully implemented in five years.

Modeled after the outreach program for Pre-K for All that successfully enrolled tens of thousands of children in free, full-day Pre-K, the Tenant Support Unit reaches New Yorkers directly. Since it launched in July 2015, specialists from the unit have knocked on more than 180,000 doors and made more than 72,000 phone calls to tenants, identifying 6,828 cases that needed help. Of the total 4,500 cases have been resolved so far, and agencies and legal service providers are addressing the remainder. 

Key efforts of the Tenant Support Unit:

·         Know Your Rights: Specialists are trained to educate tenants about their fundamental rights in multiple languages, ensuring tenants are not intimidated or deceived into accepting a buyout offer or illegal surcharges on their legal rent.

·         Securing Repairs: Specialists help tenants document complaints about inadequate heat or hot water, infestations and mold, and work directly with HPD's Division of Code Enforcement to secure necessary repairs.

BP DIAZ & THE BRONX TOURISM COUNCIL ENCOURAGE RIDERS TO TAKE PART IN TOUR DE BRONX 2017!

  Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. hosted a press conference at Woodlawn Cemetery to encourage cyclists to participate in the upcoming Tour de Bronx, the largest free cycling event in New York State, which will take place on Sunday, October 22, 2017.

The Tour de Bronx was established in 1994 by the office of the Bronx Borough President and The Bronx Tourism Council as a means to promote a healthier lifestyle, encourage alternate modes of transportation and as a way to see the borough and its attractions.

“This is one of my favorite events of the year,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., who plans on participating in the event as he has done in the past. “The Tour De Bronx not only emphasizes maintaining a healthy lifestyle, complementing our ‘#Not62’ initiative to improve the overall health of our borough, but it also highlights our historical sites, beautiful waterfronts and vibrant neighborhoods, showcasing the best we have to offer to both our residents and visitors from around the world. We welcome riders from across the region and around the globe to see The Bronx as they have never seen it before.”

Participants come from all over the country and choose from two possible routes; a 25-mile ride or a 40-mile route; taking riders through different areas of The Bronx, including Clason Point along the East River, Castle Hill, Morrisania, Pelham Bay Park, historic Fort Schuyler on the Throggs Neck peninsula, the nautical community of City Island, and more. Both routes culminate at the iconic New York Botanical Garden, where riders receive a complimentary souvenir T-shirt and enjoy a live musical performance and refreshments as they relax from the day’s event.

The Tour De Bronx has grown exponentially since its inception. In 2016 the event saw a record-breaking 8,000+ registrants. This year, The Bronx Tourism Council has partnered with Ride with GPS, a route-mapping tool designed for cycling and walking. This app will, not only, alert riders where to turn using voice navigation, it will also indicate neighborhoods and give a brief history of various parts of the borough as riders make their way to the end point.  

“We’re thrilled to partner with The Bronx Tourism Council to help promote the longest-running free cycling event in New York. With easy-to-use maps and voice navigation, riders will stay on course to appreciate the rich culture and history of the Bronx,” said Kevin Prentice, director of support & business development at Ride with GPS.

“This is a highly-anticipated event for many cycling enthusiasts and casual riders alike. Utilizing the GPS technology Bronxites and visitors will experience the borough in a more fun and unique way,” said Olga Luz Tirado, executive director of The Bronx Tourism Council.

The Tour de Bronx is made possible by Montefiore Medical Center; Bronx Lebanon Hospital Center; St. Barnabas Health System; and Mercy College. Additional support is provided by The Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation; The Business Initiatives Corporation of New York; The Coca Cola Company; Domino’s Pizza; The Nature’s Bounty Co.; the Castle Hill Y; Woodlawn Cemetery; the New York Botanical Garden; and Fordham University.

The event is also supported by the New York City Department of Transportation; the New York City Fire Department; the New York City Police Department; The New York Department of Sanitation and Transportation Alternatives.

Log onto www.tourdebronx.com to register or for more information.

Wrong On Red: A.G. Schneiderman Releases New Report Detailing Red Light Camera Violations By School Buses

A.G. Investigation Found Nearly 1,500 Red Light Camera Violations By Westchester And Suffolk County School Bus Companies – Yet Bus Companies Have No Legal Obligation To Report Them

During National School Bus Safety Week, A.G. Schneiderman Calls For State Action To Close Safety Loophole

  Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced today that an investigation by his office into school bus safety identified nearly 1,500 red light camera violations by school bus companies in Westchester and Suffolk Counties – highlighting a serious gap in State laws that are meant to ensure the safety of over 2.3 million New York children who ride school buses every day.

Today, during National School Bus Safety Week, Attorney General Schneiderman released a new report: “Wrong on Red: Report on School Bus Traffic Light Violations”. The report details the findings of his investigation and calls for changes to state law to close the safety loophole by requiring bus companies to report red light camera violations to the state and school districts, and use those violations in their assessments of drivers.

“Every morning, more than two million New York children are put on school buses by families that trust they’ll be safe. Unfortunately, New York law has a safety loophole big enough to drive a school bus through,” said Attorney General Schneiderman. “Bus companies can rack up red light camera violations – yet have no legal obligation to report them to the state, or even use them as part of their evaluation of drivers. It’s time for action to protect our kids by requiring bus companies to report red light violations to the state and the school districts they serve, and to use those violations in driver evaluations. We must crack down on the problem now, before it turns tragic.”

The Attorney General’s office collected and analyzed data from 15 randomly selected school bus companies operating in Westchester and Suffolk counties. The investigation found that in Westchester County, in 2016 alone, the sampling of school bus companies subpoenaed by the Attorney General received almost 300 red light camera ticket violations. In Suffolk County, the subpoenaed companies received nearly 1,200 red light camera ticket violations from 2014 through 2016. Under existing State Law, these violations are not required to be reported to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles as part of the State’s oversight of school bus company safety.

The State’s Vehicle and Traffic Law (Article 19-a) provides State oversight of school bus companies, yet it does not require school bus companies to report any information relating to tickets issued for red light camera violations.  The law states that upon request by the DMV, school bus companies are required to submit driving reports that include miles traveled, convictions and accidents, and the number of convictions and accidents per ten thousand miles traveled; however, that does not include red light camera tickets. School bus companies are also required to review employees' driving records at least once every 12 months, and consider any evidence that the bus driver violated applicable provisions of the vehicle and traffic law. Yet again, this language does not mandate that school bus companies report red light camera tickets to the DMV. Under existing law, a bus driver can receive an infinite number of red light camera tickets and remain as a school bus driver.

Red light cameras are intended to capture offenses not witnessed by a police officer. Since it’s often too hard to prove who was driving the vehicle, the owner of the vehicle is assessed the fine from a red light camera violation. If a school bus driver got three red light tickets from a police officer within an 18-month period, they would get nine points on their driver’s license and be disqualified from driving a school bus for a year. However, if that same driver got three red light camera tickets in the same timeframe, there would be no repercussions – since the tickets are sent directly to the bus company.

This loophole means it is unlikely that drivers or bus companies face any real repercussions for running red lights – as companies can shield themselves and their drivers from liability by not reporting red light violations to the Department of Motor Vehicles.

As part of this investigation, Attorney General Schneiderman subpoenaed nine school bus companies in Suffolk County and six bus companies in Westchester County.

• Between 2014 to 2016, the nine Suffolk bus companies amassed 1,199 red light tickets, including 368 in 2014, 409 in 2015, and 422 in 2016. Within those nine companies, there were 154 bus drivers who were repeat offenders.
• In 2016, the six Westchester County companies amassed 296 red light tickets, with 20 drivers who were repeat offenders.

There are, on average, 115 fatal crashes involving school buses every year across the country, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office’s 2017 Report on School Safety. Fortunately, school bus crashes make up a low percentage of all fatal motor vehicle crashes because of protections already in place, such as licensing, training, vehicle standards, and vehicle inspections. However, by failing to include red light camera tickets as part of a school bus company’s driving history, school children are unnecessarily put at risk. 

In calling for this safety loophole to be closed, Attorney General Schneiderman is proposing the following changes in state law:

• School bus companies should be required by law to maintain copies of all red light camera violations received by the school bus companies and its school bus drivers.
• School bus companies should be required by law to report the number of red light camera violations in the annual affidavit of compliance filed with the DMV.
• School bus companies should be required by law to consider red light camera violations in its annual assessment of its drivers; and drivers who accumulate three red light camera violations should be disqualified from driving for a one-year period.
• School bus companies should be required by law to provide an annual report to the school districts that they service of their driver’s records, including a record of the red light camera violations issued and who was driving.

The matter was handled by Suffolk Regional Office Head Assistant Attorney General Kim Kinirons, Westchester Regional Office Head Assistant Attorney General Gary Brown, and Assistant Attorneys General Rachael Anello and Jennifer Gashi, under the supervision of Executive Deputy Attorney General for Regional Offices Marty Mack.

 “As a father, I wanted to know when I sent my children off to school in the morning, they were safe and secure on the bus. We can never be too careful when it comes to our children’s safety, but the Attorney General’s investigation into school bus driving records indicates additional steps need to be taken at the state level to ensure that safety. I applaud his efforts to require the consideration of red light camera violations in assessing the safety record school bus drivers and school bus companies,” said Congressman Eliot Engel.

Click here to watch video of Yonkers red light violation (Central Park Ave. at Arlington St. on June 7, 2016 at 1:24 pm). 

MAYOR DE BLASIO SIGNS LEGISLATION TO BETTER PROMOTE CONSTRUCTION SITE SAFETY, CLEAN AIR AND GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY

  Mayor Bill de Blasio held public hearings for, and signed, twelve pieces of legislation into law. Intro. 139-C adds non-tobacco shisha to the City’s Smoke-Free Air Act;Intro. 1075-A requires hookah bars to post signage warning of the dangers of hookah smoking; Intro. 1076-A raises the minimum age for purchasing shisha; Intro.1031-A requires DOT to study specific traffic congestion; Intro. 1292-A requires all city agencies, to accept electronic invoices; Intro. 1375-A requires DOT to notify certain stakeholders when it issues a permit to open any street or intersection that has been reconstructed or resurfaced within the previous 5 years; Intro. 1539-A establishes additional rights and protections for customers who are purchasing second-hand automobiles; Intro. 1540-A requires second-hand automobile dealers to display and provide consumers with a bill of rights; Intro. 934-A, which creates a real-time enforcement unit within DOB; Intro. 1359-A requires HPD to audit buildings receiving tax-exemptions to ensure compliance with affordability requirements; and Intro. 1366-A requires HPD to audit certain buildings receiving tax-emptions to ensure compliance with rent-registration requirements. Intro. 1447-C, which increases safety training requirements for construction workers.

“New York City is built on the ideals that every single person deserves a City with clean air to breathe, a City whose government works efficiently on behalf of its residents, and of course, a City whose hard-working construction workers will get the safety training they need,” saidMayor Bill de Blasio. “For the hard-hats in one of our city’s most dangerous jobs, this bill will help get them home to their families at night and keep the general public safe around construction sites. I want to thank Speaker Mark-Viverito and the Council for bringing this legislation into fruition and helping making our city even healthier, fairer and safer city for all.”

“New Yorkers deserve to have their safety looked after in any circumstance, and this legislation goes far in achieving that goal,” said Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito. “From the air they breathe, to the cars they drive, to the buildings in which they dwell and the construction that made those facilities possible, residents can rest assured that their wellbeing is paramount to the work that we are doing. I thank my colleagues on the City Council for their dedicated efforts on these initiatives, and I thank Mayor de Blasio for signing them into law today.”

Deputy Mayor for Strategic Policy Initiatives Richard Buery‎, Citywide M/WBE Director, said, “Access is a core principle driving the City’s new M/WBE program – whether its providing minority and women business owners access to capital to take on new and larger projects, or access to the resources and tools that will increase M/WBEs’ participation and performance in the market. Intro 1447-C is another means for access, ensuring M/WBEs and small businesses have resources that provide safety training for their workers. Today’s bill signing is a critical step to building a future New York City that is fair, just and safe for all.”

Jonnel Doris, Senior Advisor and Director of the Office of Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprises (M/WBEs), said, “The City’s building boom is not only creating immense opportunities for M/WBEs, but it is also creating the skyline of the future, and we need to ensure the safety of all workers and the public during its rapid construction. Intro. 1447-C does just that - it prioritizes the safety by mandating the proper training required to successfully and safely complete City projects. The bill also provides some common-sense relief for small businesses, which include minority and women-owned businesses, to help deliver safety training for their employees.”

“Increased safety training is vitally necessary to protect the men and women who build our city, and all New Yorkers. We look forward to working with the task force envisioned in the legislation to implement this significant new program,” said Buildings Commissioner Rick D. Chandler, PE.

MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES NYC SERVICE CENTER TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS & FAMILIES RECOVERING FROM HURRICANE MARIA, IRMA, & HARVEY

NYC service center will provide information and assistance for individuals affected by recent hurricanes

  Mayor de Blasio announced that a service center will open next week to support displaced individuals and families from Puerto Rico, Texas, Florida, the U.S. Virgin Islands and other Caribbean islands following recent hurricanes. The center will be open starting on Thursday, October 19 at the Julia De Burgos Latino Cultural Center located at 1680 Lexington Avenue in Manhattan.

“New York City will help those affected by recent hurricanes in any way we can. We’ve been sending donations and emergency responders to affected areas, and now we’re setting up a central location to help displaced people in our city receive essential services and assistance,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio.

“This is a humanitarian crisis the likes our city has ever experienced and we must do everything we can to help our fellow Puerto Ricans who have given so much to our city and to our country,” said Speaker Melissa Mark Viverito. “Where the federal government has come up short, New York has always stepped up and it is no different in this case. This city is prepared to help Boricuas from the island with the resources and providing essential services during this dire time of need”

The City’s service center will offer in-person support and access to services to individuals affected by the hurricanes, and will be open from 9 AM to 5 PM Monday through Friday, 10 AM to 4 PM on Saturday, and 1 PM to 5 PM on Sunday. The City of New York is urging individuals planning to visit the service centers to make an appointment beginning October 18by visiting nyc.gov or call 311. (Note: the center will be closed Saturday, October 21.)

New York City government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and community-based organizations will be on-site to help connect families and individuals to critical services, including enrollment in public benefits and health insurance, food assistance, and mental health counseling.

Services provided at the center include but are not limited to:

·         Department of Social Services will assist with enrollment in SNAP benefits, cash assistance, and public health insurance, and help connect people with emergency food assistance. English and Spanish speakers will be available to assist with enrollment.

·         Department of Health and Mental Hygiene will provide mental health counseling, health insurance support, emergency pharmacy assistance and will refer individuals to medical care in collaboration with NYC Health + Hospitals. They will also provide information on immunization assistance targeted toward school enrollment.

·         Department for the Aging will provide meals to seniors, assist in case management, and assist with senior employment.

·         Department of Education will provide information and assistance for displaced students.

·         Human Resource Administration’s Office of Civil Justice will convene several legal providers to provide legal consultation to individuals in need.

·         American Red Cross of Greater New York will assist in disaster relief management — including referrals, distribution of emergency supplies, and applying for assistance — and mental health counseling. 

·         Animal Care and Control and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals will provide veterinary care and pet supplies.

·         The New York Disaster Interfaith Services will provide spiritual care to those in need.  

“Those individuals and families affected by these natural disasters need our help, and that includes being prepared to assist those who decided to leave their homes and come to New York City. This service center will provide those seeking refuge from these disasters with a one-stop shop for critical services, and I appreciate Mayor de Blasio’s efforts to make life a little bit easier for those who are being forced from their homes due to these natural disasters,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

Senator Klein, Council Member Andrew Cohen, Rabbi Avi Weiss, and the Fieldston Property Homeowners Association host an Anti-Hate Forum

  Local school, religious and community leaders also join to discuss religious tolerance and acceptance in the wake of a recent hate-crime in Fieldston

Senator Jeff Klein, Council Member Andrew Cohen, and the Fieldston Property Homeowners Association hosted an Anti-Hate Forum Monday night at the Ethical Culture Fieldston School.

An eight-member panel comprised of the elected officials, educational, religious and community leaders led a discussion on religious tolerance and acceptance to our youth in light of a recent anti-Semitic hate crime in Fieldston where a teen was arrested for the incident.

“Any act of anti-Semitism is appalling and inexcusable, but when perpetrated by minors it is our duty to educate our youth on religious acceptance and tolerance. What happened in Fieldston last month is heartbreaking on many fronts. On Monday night we sent a message that hate will not be tolerated, and it’s my hope this educational forum will help deter any future hate crimes against this community,” said Senator Jeff Klein.

“We cannot tolerate any act of hatred in our community,” said Council Member Andrew Cohen. “It is important that we come together to take a strong stand against hatred, especially in light of the act of anti-Semitism that occurred last month in Fieldston. I thank all the community leaders who participated to educate our youth on kindness and tolerance.”

Rabbi Avi Weiss spoke of his past experiences with the subject, and he said that an Anti-Semite is also a Racist, while a Racist is also an also an Anti-Semite. Dr. Mehnaz Afridi who is a Muslim spoke of directing a Holocaust Museum at a Christian College Christian College. Father Tom Franks, also of Manhattan College said that while he was new to the area he was watching the events as they happen. Other members of the panel included the principals of RKA, and PS 24. Deputy Inspector Terrance O'Toole of the 50th Precinct also gave some information about the incident which happened in the Fieldston area, and what was happening now since the youngster who was arrested was getting counseling

Above - Rabbi Avi Weiss tells of his experience with incidents such as the one that happened in Fieldston.

Below - Deputy Inspector O'Toole of the 50th Precinct explains what happened, and how the youngster who was taken in is now getting counseling.

In addition to stressing the importance of religious acceptance, Senator Klein on Monday night highlighted legislation aimed at combatting hate crimes. Following the chilling rash of bomb threats to Jewish Community Centers (JCCs) last winter, Senator Klein and the Independent Democratic Conference introduced the Religious Freedom Package. One of the pieces of IDC legislation in the package addresses the Fieldston hate crime. The bill would create a specified offense for graffiti making as a hate crime. Currently graffiti vandalism is a misdemeanor, but the bill would elevate it to a felony if it’s made to target a person’s race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, religion, religious practice, age, disability or sexual orientation.