Friday, December 1, 2017

THE MAYOR’S PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT UNIT’S DECEMBER EVENTS SCHEDULE


  Throughout December, Mayor de Blasio’s Public Engagement Unit has events planned citywide to help New Yorkers access resources and information from the Tenant Support Unit, Home Support Unit, and GetCoveredNYC.

The Tenant Support Unit engages and provides assistance to New Yorkers who may be at risk of displacement or experiencing harassment in zip codes covered under the Human Resources Administration (HRA)’s Anti-Harassment Tenant Protection legal service funding. In addition, TSU proactively engages New Yorkers who may be eligible for the Department of Finance’s Rent Freeze benefits to assist them through the application process. Outreach specialists go door to door to inform tenants of their rights, identify any housing-related issues and connect them with a range of resources, such as anti-eviction legal assistance, to keep them in their homes. In addition, outreach specialists’ partner with elected officials and community groups to hold weekly office hours and attend local events.

The Home Support Unit partners with landlords and brokers to identify apartments for clients transitioning out of shelter with rental subsidies. HSU partners closely with the Human Resources Administration, the Department of Homeless Services (DHS), and community-based providers to match prospective tenants to apartments, coordinate viewings, and navigate landlords and brokers through the City’s leasing process. Specialists remain engaged with the landlord even after lease signing to ensure new tenants are supported and have access to resources that help them remain stably housed.

The Homebase Outreach Team proactively engages families at risk of entering shelter to connect them to Homebase, a homelessness prevention program that provides casework services and referrals to existing resources. Specialists make phone calls and attend community events to provide families at risk with information about the preventive services available in the community and, when appropriate, help them access those services, so they avoid entering shelter.

GetCoveredNYC is a city-wide initiative to enroll New Yorkers in health insurance and provide them with access to primary and preventive care at NYC Health and Hospitals. The initiative is a partnership between NYC Health and Hospitals, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Human Resources Administration and MetroPlus.  The initiative includes a robust team of outreach specialists, who proactively go door to door and call uninsured New Yorkers to discuss their health insurance options, schedule them for free in-person enrollment assistance and case manage them through the enrollment process. In addition, the initiative launched a city-wide paid media campaign to promote the importance of coverage and how New Yorkers can receive free in-person enrollment assistance – including calling 311 or texting CoveredNYC to 877877.

For more information on these initiatives, New Yorkers can call 311 or visit nyc.gov.

The Bronx

December 1, 6, 8, 13, 15
10:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.
Davidson Community Center- Food Pantry
(Home Support Unit)

December 1, 15
10:30 A.M. – 1:30 P.M.
New York Public Library- Bronx Library Center Branch
610 E 186th Street
Bronx, NY 10458
(Tenant Support Unit)

December 5
11:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M.
Bronxworks Heights Senior Center
200 West Tremont Avenue
(Tenant Support Unit)

December 5, 12
10:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.
Food Pantry at Highbridge
(Home Support Unit)

December 6, 20
10:30 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.
New York Public Library- Kingsbridge Branch
291 W 231st Street
Bronx, NY 10463
(Tenant Support Unit)

December 6, 13, 20, 27 (Weekly on Wednesdays)
11:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M.
Assembly Member Blake’s Office
(GetCoveredNYC)

December 9
10:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M.
North Central Bronx Hospital
(GetCoveredNYC)

December 13
2:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M.
DOF: Council Member Cohen Enrollment
Emerald Isle Immigration Center
(Tenant Support Unit)

December 14
11:00 A.M. – 6:00 P.M.
UNHP Refuge House
(Tenant Support Unit)

December 14
3:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M.
DOF: Assembly Member Joyner Rent Freeze Clinic
(Tenant Support Unit)

December 15
10:30 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.
Evelyn Place Senior Center
(Tenant Support Unit)

December 19
2:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M.
DOF: Council Member Cabrera Enrollment
(Tenant Support Unit)

REPRESENTATIVE ADRIANO ESPAILLAT MARKS WORLD AIDS DAY


Today, Representative Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) marked December 1st as World AIDS Day and recommitted to addressing the global HIV/AIDS epidemic.

“The AIDS epidemic is a public health crisis that affects every community,” said Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13). “But despite the tragic toll of this disease, we are making historic progress to halt this epidemic in its tracks. U.S. initiatives like the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and the Ryan White AIDS Program have saved millions of lives around the world and here at home.

“We cannot afford to backslide on our commitments to ending this public health emergency. Despite the tremendous gains we’ve made in prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS, more than 36 million people worldwide are living with the illness. In the United States, more than a million people are living with HIV – and one out of every seven HIV-positive Americans don’t know that they’ve been infected.

“The United Nations believes we can achieve an AIDS-free generation by 2030, but that requires action to address the persistent gaps in education and care. On World AIDS Day and every day, I am committed to saving lives and protecting critical public health programs.”

The theme for World AIDS Day 2017 is “Increasing Impact through Transparency, Accountability, and Partnerships.” To find an HIV testing site near you, click here.


First elected to Congress in 2016, Rep. Adriano Espaillat is serving his first term in Congress where he serves as a member of the influential U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, and the House Select Committee on Small Business.  He is a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) and serves in a leadership role as CHC Freshman Representative to the Democratic Caucus. He is also chairman of the CHC Task Force for Transportation, Infrastructure and Housing.  Rep. Espaillat’s Congressional District includes Harlem, East Harlem, northern Manhattan and the north-west Bronx. To find out more about Rep. Espaillat, visit online athttps://espaillat.house.gov/.

ENGEL STATEMENT ON FLYNN GUILTY PLEAS


  Representative Eliot L. Engel, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, today made the following statement:

“Today, Special Counsel Robert Mueller announced that General Michael Flynn, Donald Trump’s short-lived National Security Advisor, pleaded guilty to the felony of lying to the FBI about a conversation he had with the Russian Ambassador last December.  I know that every American understands the gravity of today’s guilty plea, as this sad parade of indictments slowly makes its way through Trump’s inner circle.

“Yet, far too many questions still remain unanswered about the Trump Russia Scandal, such as who was involved with instructing Flynn to speak with the Russians directly, about what, and why.  Frankly, it seems that more evidence is uncovered every day about collusion between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin, and I’m glad that Special Counsel Mueller is investigating these very serious allegations.”

Applebee's presents Dinner and a Movie: "Elf" | Sunday | December 17, 2017 | 5:00-7:30pm


Applebee's Movie Night presents "Elf"


Join Us this December for this Great Community and KRVC Events








Salamanca Legislation Holding ACS Accountable Passes Council




Legislation by Council Member Rafael Salamanca, Jr. bringing greater accountability to the Administration on Children's Services (ACS) unanimously passed the City Council today. 

Part of a package of bills aimed at reforming ACS, Salamanca's legislation, Intro 1609-A, would require the ACS to report annually on the findings and recommendations of its child fatality reviews during the previous calendar year.  

Such a report would include the number of fatalities known to ACS for the previous year, the cause of death in such fatalities, the age, gender, race and ethnicity of children with such fatalities, any relevant trends identified and systemic recommendations, and a summary of any case practice findings and agency policy changes made in response to child fatalities in the previous 12 months.

The legislation comes after ACS came under increased scrutiny in reports highlighting a persistent lack of progress in meeting its own targets for how investigations surrounding fatalities are conducted, supervised and managed, including a number of child deaths in the last two years. 

"While I believe that the administration has taken steps to rectify problems at ACS, it is my belief that the Council is taking meaningful and needed steps forward today to reform ACS through this package of legislation," said Salamanca. 
'While we will never forget the names Michael Guzman, Jaden Jordan and Zymere Perkins - three beautiful kids who tragically lost their lives on a fatality list that’s way too long, my hope is that we can prevent all fatalities of young children in the future.  I appreciate the support I received today on Intro 1609-A." 

Assemblymember Michael Blake - Statement on the 62nd Anniversary of Rosa Parks refusing to give up her seat, which lead to the Montgomery Bus Boycott



Today, December 1st, 2017 marks the 62nd anniversary of Rosa Parks not giving up her seat that lead to the Montgomery Bus Boycott.  Please see Assembly Member Michael Blake's statement:
 
In an environment where women are taking courageous and bold stances to speak up for justice, equity and fairness, we pause to never forget how Rosa Parks refusing to give up her seat 62 years ago today gave all of us a chance to stand up as a people for generations to come.  Moreover, at a time where eyes of political and societal discourse are forthcoming in Alabama, it is a powerful reminder that all women, Black women and women of color have and continue to be transformational leaders for change in our communities who move our prospect of the promise forward.  It may have been a seat on a bus, but, it was a movement far greater than one vehicle. 
 
Whether it is Rosa keeping her seat to Colin taking a knee, true courage is realizing that you will suffer personal attacks for the sake of your people achieving progress.  The realization that it is not about the individual but the collective is why Rosa Parks is a Shero! 
 
Never forget that Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on December 1st, 1955 which later lead to the bus boycott from December 5, 1955 until December 20, 1956.  We may not realize that our one act of courage can shift the course of history forever.  We must also recognize that justice does not come quickly, and we should not be deterred if the reward is not immediate.  Because Rosa Parks was not going to have her justice denied any longer, we have a chance to move history's journey of justice further down the road to a new vision unseen. 
 
Thank you Rosa Parks for not standing up.  It is our moment to be descendents of your lineage of courage and refuse to give in to present day injustices until we all can move forward together.

Thursday, November 30, 2017

Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj - Join me for these upcoming Holiday Events



Annual Holiday Tree Lighting 
Rudy Macina Peace Memorial Plaza !
Thursday, December 7th 3:30pm
Rudy Macina Peace Memorial Plaza
Pelham Pkway, North at Esplanade


Annual Holiday Tree Lighting 
at Loreto Park !
Thursday, December 7th 5:00pm
Loreto Park
Corner of Morris Park Ave. & Haight Ave

Join us for hot cocoa, caroling, and a special appearance by Santa!

Breakfast with Santa ! 
Saturday, December 16,2017
9:30AM - 11:30AM Maestro's Caterers
Menorah Lightings ! 
Tuesday, December 12th,2017

3:30PM - Bronx House

4:30PM - Einstein Hospital
Corner of Morris Park Avenue and Eastchester Rd
Bronx, New York 10461

5:30PM - Rudy Macina Peace Memorial Plaza
Pelham Parkway N at Esplanade 
                                         717-822-2049.