BP DIAZ HOSTS RE-OPENING OF ZARO’S IN PARKCHESTER

  Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. today joined the Zaro family and other community leaders to host the grand re-opening of the new Zaro’s Family Bakery retail location in Parkchester.

The new space will mark Zaro’s official return to the neighborhood following the closure of their original Parkchester location on Hugh Grant Circle, which had originally opened in June 1959, at the end of 2015. 

As part of the grand opening celebration, the Zaro family announced they would donate 25 percent of the proceeds from the first day of sales to ongoing humanitarian efforts in Puerto Rico following the destruction caused by Hurricane Maria earlier this year.

“Zaro’s Family Bakery is a Bronx institution, and I am proud to welcome this bakery back to its Parkchester home,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. “It is especially gracious of the Zaro family to use their first day back in business to benefit the people of Puerto Rico, which is a cause that so many Bronxites have already thrown their full support behind. I congratulate Zaro’s on their return to Parkchester, and wish the company and the Zaro family continued success.”

“We’re thrilled to be back in the old neighborhood and to see so many warm and familiar faces again. As we heat up the ovens once more we do so in aid of our friends and family in Puerto Rico who are dear to so many of our valued customers – in Parkchester and throughout the City,” said Brian Zaro, Executive Vice President of Zaro’s Family Bakery.

“I am thrilled to be celebrating the return of Zaro’s bakery, and the return of the aroma of freshly baked goods, to Parkchester in The Bronx. I am also very pleased that the Zaro family is offering considerable financial support to our brothers and sisters in Puerto Rico, and I thank them for their community spirit during this difficult time for so many Puerto Ricans,” said Marlene Cintron, President of the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation.

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.

In addition to returning to Parkchester, Zaro’s has also announced that the company would add a retail location at their current Port Morris commercial baking facility in spring 2018.

STATEMENT FROM MAYOR BILL DE BLASIO ON NET NEUTRALITY

  “Access to a free and open internet is a fundamental right of every citizen. Repealing net neutrality would stifle opportunity for individuals, students and small businesses, while letting huge corporations profit at our expense.New York City stands with other cities against the repeal of Net Neutrality. We will do everything within our power to keep the internet open and accessible for all. New Yorkers, I call on you to not be silent. Contact your representatives and make your voice heard.”

State Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz - THANKSGIVING DINNER FOR THE COMMUNITY

  You should know that The Christian Community Neighborhood Church and it's Pastor, New York State Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz will be serving hot Thanksgiving meals for residents of local shelters and members of the community in celebration of the traditional Thanksgiving Day. 

This activity will take place tomorrow Thursday, November 22, 2017 at 12:30 pm in the Christian Community Neighborhood Church; located at 1437 Longfellow Ave (bet. Freeman and Jennings St) in Bronx County.  

As a way of teaching our children the importance of serving and caring for others, the church has chosen to designate the children to serve those in attendance.

For more information please feel free to call my office at 718-991-3161.      

                 

I am Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz, and this is what you should know.

STATEMENTS FROM MAYOR BILL DE BLASIO ON NEIGHBORHOOD REZONING BY THE CITY COUNCIL

STATEMENT FROM MAYOR BILL DE BLASIO ON CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE VOTES TO APPROVE EAST HARLEM NEIGHBORHOOD REZONING

  “Our affordable housing plan is on the move, with new programs and investments, a new goal of 300,000 affordable homes – and now an agreement on the East Harlem neighborhood plan that will bring nearly 4,000 more affordable homes to residents of this diverse and vibrant community. With Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, Council Member Bill Perkins, and the entire City Council, we are pushing on every front to keep this city affordable.”

STATEMENT FROM MAYOR BILL DE BLASIO ON CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE VOTES APPROVING BEDFORD UNION ARMORY PROJECT

  “The Bedford Union Armory won’t sit vacant any longer. We’re putting it back into service for Crown Heights as an affordable community rec center and affordable homes. The end result is one this neighborhood can be proud of. We worked with Council Member Cumbo to hone the project, adding nearly 100 affordable apartments and removing market-rate condos. We look forward to the day the armory reopens it doors as a resource to this community.”

Testimony of Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. Before the New York City Council Committees on Housing and Buildings & General Welfare RE: Intros. 1524 and 1529

  I testify today in favor of Intro 1524, introduced by Council Member Rafael Salamanca and Intro 1529, introduced by Council Member James Vacca. Both of these bills were introduced at my request.

It is a known fact that New York City is in the midst of a homelessness crisis, and that innovative and comprehensive solutions to this crisis are needed. Today, we are hearing two bills that seek to make temporary housing safer and to better facilitate the elimination of cluster sites, which the Administration has acknowledged must be its goal. Both of these bills seek to promote the health and safety of New York City’s most vulnerable residents.

The first, Intro 1524, requires that during any inspection conducted or overseen by the Department of Homeless Services (DHS) related to health, safety, or the physical conditions of a shelter, defined as “temporary emergency housing,” the radiators must also be inspected.

This safety measure must be mandated because malfunctioning radiators can cause severe bodily harm or even death. This was clearly demonstrated in the tragedy in December 2016 when a faulty radiator killed two small children in their temporary cluster-site housing in The Bronx. The radiator in this apartment was reported broken in 2015 by the previous tenant, yet no action by the landlord was taken. If the inspection of the radiators was part of the regular inspection process, perhaps this tragedy could have been avoided.

This risk should be immediately eliminated, and we must do everything we can to be sure the people who access temporary housing are safe. This measure should therefore be implemented immediately.

The second bill, Intro 1529, seeks to regulate and to ensure the reduction and eventual elimination of the cluster site system, which is widely considered to be an important safety and public health goal.  The legislation creates an obligation to report to the City Council on the plan for the phase-out of each cluster site, progress made towards the elimination of cluster sites, and on inspections and repairs as well as any new cluster site contracts. 

The legislation also requires that the City produce a plan to eliminate cluster sites that utilizes metrics to determine whether the sites should be converted for use as permanent housing for the homeless family residing in the cluster site or for another homeless family, be converted to a stand-alone shelter for homeless families, or no longer be used by the department as shelter or as permanent housing for a homeless family.

The legislation requires that the following metrics be utilized in the plan: first, the condition of the cluster site; second, whether the owner of the building and the provider under contract or similar agreement with the department to operate the cluster sites within the building have cooperated with the department in maintaining the cluster sites; third, whether the cluster site is rent regulated; and fourth, whether the homeless families residing in the cluster sites have expressed an interest in remaining in the cluster site as tenants.

Efforts should be made to only contract with landlords that cooperate to maintain safe premises. Efforts should also be made to promote the availability of rent-regulated housing. 

We believe that the reporting mechanisms outlined in the bill would provide the public with the necessary information to monitor the progress that DHS is making on phasing out cluster sites. We believe that this bill will also provide much needed transparency when DHS enters into new contracts to provide homeless services in a cluster site. We applaud the city’s goal of phasing out these cluster sites for sheltering homeless families. However, there presently is no way for the public to monitor and follow the progress made towards this goal. This legislation would provide a necessary tool to monitor this progress.

Finally, the data demonstrate that HPD violations are endemic to cluster sites, and we need to provide safer, better temporary housing options.  The City has recognized this in the “Turning the Tide” plan, and this legislation introduced at my request moves the needle in the right direction. I urge the City Council to approve these two important pieces of legislation.

MAYOR DE BLASIO RELEASES NOVEMBER FINANCIAL PLAN UPDATE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018

City spending entirely offset by savings

  Mayor Bill de Blasio released New York City’s November Financial Plan Update for Fiscal Year 2018 (FY18) and an updated four-year financial plan. City spending, which increased by $47 million in FY18 and $59 million in FY19, is entirely offset by $234 million in new savings this fiscal year and $238 million of new savings and $123 million in pension savings next.  New savings include debt service savings, health care savings, and agency adjustments. The vast majority of growth in the budget, which is now $85.99 billion in FY18, is due to increases in federal funding for Superstorm Sandy recovery efforts and homeland security grants. Additional increases are due to State Asset Forfeiture funds.

"When we came into office four years ago, we promised to bring opportunity to those who for so long had been left without,” said Mayor de Blasio. “Since then, we’ve created an entirely new grade for our youngest learners, brought police and community closer together while driving crime to historic lows, and are on track to invest more in affordable housing than any administration in decades. While we will continue to provide for New Yorkers however we can, we must also be cognizant of the fact that Washington continues to threaten billions of dollars of federal aid and investments must be thoughtful.”  

As part of the November Plan, the City is reducing City tax revenues by $207 million for the current fiscal year. This primarily reflects a decline in Business Taxes despite a partial offset by increases in Real Property Tax collections.

Read the November Financial Plan update here.

New City Spending

The $85.99 billion balanced budget protects the City’s long-term fiscal health while continuing to create opportunity and fairness across the five boroughs. New spending highlights include:

$4.5 million to help fund the city’s new construction safety site program.

Funding to assist with NYC Emergency Management’s efforts to dispatch supplies and city workers to Puerto Rico to assist with recovery. The city will spend $4 million on these efforts.

Upgrading the 311 call-taking platform and other citywide IT projects supported by DOITT. Upgrades will cost $7 million in FY18.

Building out the new citywide procurement system, PASSport, which will cost an additional $10 million in FY18.

NEW YORK CITY ANNOUNCES VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS ARE NOW PROTECTED FROM DISCRIMINATION UNDER CITY HUMAN RIGHTS LAW

The new law makes it illegal for employers, landlords, and providers of public accommodations to discriminate against veterans and active military service members

  New York City has begun enforcement of a new law that protects current and prior military service members from discrimination, bias, and harassment. It is now illegal in New York City for employers, landlords, and providers of public accommodations to discriminate against veterans and active military service members due to their military status. The law, introduced in 2016 and signed by Mayor de Blasio in August 2017, establishes a protected class for veterans and active military service members under the NYC Human Rights Law to give them direct access to justice when their rights have been violated.

“The brave men and women that put their lives on the line for our country deserve to be treated with nothing but dignity and respect,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “This law will ensure all military and other uniformed service members, both returned and active, can live and work free from discrimination in New York City.”

“Veterans and active duty military service members make invaluable contributions to our City,” said Department of Veterans’ Services Commissioner Loree Sutton, MD. “We owe it to them to ensure that their service to our country is cause for celebration, not discrimination. I applaud the creation of this new law for providing the protections to our veterans and service members that they so richly deserve.”

“This new law will ensure that veterans and active military service members who risk their lives for this country are protected against discrimination and bias,” said Chair and Commissioner of the NYC Commission on Human Rights, Carmelyn P. Malalis. “We are proud to enforce this new law to get justice for victims and hold violators accountable so the brave individuals who serve this country get the dignity and respect they so richly deserve.”

“Veterans have dedicated years of their lives to protect the ideals that we live by, and the Council remains committed to making their needs a top priority – especially when it comes to preventing employment discrimination,” said New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito. “We are proud to have ushered this important piece of legislation and will continue to work hard to ensure the wellbeing of our veterans in New York City.”

New York State is home to nearly 900,000 veterans, 225,000 of whom call New York City home, and nearly 30,000 active duty military personnel and 30,000 National Guard and Reserve personnel statewide. Veterans and active military service members may experience discrimination and bias due to their military status in employment, housing, and public accommodations like stores, restaurants, and cabs. The most common forms of discrimination against veterans and active military service members include negative stereotypes about PTSD, unfounded fear of deployment, and the misconception that veterans and service member skill sets won’t transfer to civilian employment.

The NYC Commission on Human Rights, which enforces the new law, has the authority to fine violators with civil penalties of up to $250,000 for willful and malicious violations of the Law and can award unlimited compensatory damages to victims, including emotional distress damages and other benefits.

The law is the City’s latest effort to remove unnecessary obstacles to housing, employment, and public accommodations for veterans and active military service members and ensure that they have the resources and protections they need to thrive. In addition to creating the Department of Veterans’ Services in 2015, the Mayor and the City Council have quadrupled funding and staff in support of the Department over the last two years, which has also expanded employment opportunities for our veterans, launched an IDNYC veteran designator, and brought veterans' mental health services to the forefront.

If you are a veteran or active military service members and believe you have been subject of discrimination because of your military service, or any other type of discrimination under the NYC Human Rights Law, call the Commission’s Infoline at 718-722-3131. Reports may also be filed anonymously and reported on the Commission’s website. 

NEWS FROM CONGRESSMAN ELIOT ENGEL

ENGEL STATEMENT ON TRUMP’S DECISION TO END TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS FOR HAITIANS LIVING IN U.S.

  Representative Eliot L. Engel, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, today made the following statement on the President’s decision to end Temporary Protected Status for Haitians living in the United States:

“The Trump Administration’s decision to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians living in the United States is cruel and inhumane.  I visited Haiti following its devastating 2010 earthquake and have been a longtime proponent of U.S. assistance to the island.  It sadly seems that whenever the country takes a step forward, natural disasters—like Hurricane Matthew last fall—force it to take a step back.  Haiti is simply not in a position to take back the 59,000 Haitians currently living in the United States. 

“Unfortunately, President Trump has chosen cruelty over kindness in terminating TPS for so many hardworking Haitian families.  The America that I know is a land of acceptance where opportunities are available for one and all.  Cutting off TPS for Haitians does not represent who we are as a country.”

Engel Statement on FCC Plan to Destroy Net Neutrality

   Congressman Eliot L. Engel, a top member on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following statement on reports that the Federal Communications Commission plans to reverse all rules pertaining to net neutrality:

“For months we suspected the FCC, under the leadership of Chairman Ajit Pai, would make some type of move to weaken net neutrality. Today’s reporting not only confirms those suspicions, but indicates their plan is about as bad as it can get.

“Net neutrality is a critical protection for consumers, one that prevents Internet Service Providers (ISP) from charging extra for certain websites and data usage. Without net neutrality, an ISP could decide to institute a tiered system for your internet access, blocking websites like Netflix and forcing you to pay extra to use them. Repealing net neutrality rules would also allow those same ISP’s to throttle—or slow down—your internet access if it suits them, or offer other consumers who are willing to pay more priority access to certain parts of the web. Clearly, this would be harmful to consumers. This proposal would also limit innovation, reduce competition among ISPs, and make the internet a less open place.

“Millions have people across the country have spoken out against repealing net neutrality, but the FCC, Chairman Pai, and the Trump Administration have chosen to ignore what the American people want. This cannot stand. We must preserve net neutrality now, and for future generations.”