STATE SENATOR GUSTAVO RIVERA INDUCTS CLAUDE S. COPELAND JR. INTO NYS VETERAN'S HALL OF FAME

  State Senator Gustavo Rivera honored Claude S. Copeland, Jr. at the New York State Senate's 2018 Veteran's Hall of Fame Ceremony. This event seeks to honor those across the state that served as members of the United States Armed Forces and who have served their community with the same honor and dedication. Every year, State Senators across New York State nominate one veteran from their district to be inducted to the Hall of Fame.

Claude S. Copeland, Jr., was a Specialist for the United States Army from May 2001 to November 2008. In 2003, he was deployed to Iraq for almost a year. During his service, he received the Army Achievement Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. Claude currently serves his neighbors and community through his social justice work as the Climate Justice and Energy Democracy Organizer for the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition. He is a staunch advocate and focuses his efforts on fighting for oppressed individuals within his community and abroad. Claude found his purpose in social justice work after joining New Day United Methodist Church in the Bronx. Claude is an active member of About Face, a progressive-thinking organization where he helped organize hundreds of veteran members to support the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and others aligned against an interstate pipeline that was planned for their territory. On a local level, he worked vigorously with the Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment Association in successfully securing a Community Benefits Agreement for the redevelopment of the Kingsbridge Armory into the country's largest ice sports complex. Claude selflessly dedicates his time to participate in an array of community organizations to improve access and opportunities in underserved communities. Claude Copeland is originally from Queens, NY, but has chosen to make the borough of the Bronx his home.

"I am very proud to honor Mr. Claude S. Copeland, Jr. by inducting him into the New York State Veteran's Hall of Fame for the 33rd Senate District. Claude works closely with my team, and so many others, to address energy access and sustainability by helping families with utility bills and by fighting for climate and environmental justice for the Bronx. Claude shows us every day what being an armed forces member teaches you about service to our country in the name of peace. His commitment to fostering change within his own community and beyond serves as an example to us all," said State Senator Gustavo Rivera.

MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES FIRST-IN-NATION TASK FORCE TO EXAMINE AUTOMATED DECISION SYSTEMS USED BY THE CITY

   Mayor de Blasio announced the creation of the Automated Decision Systems Task Force which will explore how New York City uses algorithms. The task force, the first of its kind in the U.S., will work to develop a process for reviewing “automated decision systems,” commonly known as algorithms, through the lens of equity, fairness and accountability.

“As data and technology become more central to the work of city government, the algorithms we use to aid decision making must be aligned with our goals and values,” said Mayor de Blasio. “The establishment of the Automated Decision Systems Task Force is an important first step towards greater transparency and equity in our use of technology.”

“Fairness and equity are at the heart of human rights, and we are pleased to be partnering with leaders in and out of government to make sure City government itself aligns with these core values,” said Chair and Commissioner of the NYC Commission on Human Rights, Carmelyn P. Malalis. “The NYC Commission on Human Rights is proud to be part of New York City’s groundbreaking effort to ensure equity and transparency in the City’s use of algorithmic tools and we look forward to working with members of the task force and NYC diverse communities on this effort.”

The Task Force, the product of a law passed by City Council in December 2017, aims to produce a report in December 2019 recommending procedures for reviewing and assessing City algorithmic tools to ensure equity and opportunity.

 “We are excited to be the first city in the country bringing our best technology and policy minds together to understand how algorithms affect the daily lives of our constituents. Whether the city has made a decision about school placements, criminal justice, or the provision of social services, this unprecedented legislation gets us one step closer to making algorithms accountable, transparent, and free of potential bias. I thank my former colleague, James Vacca, for spearheading this effort while he was in the Council, and the Mayor for his support,” said Speaker Corey Johnson.

The task force will be co-chaired by Emily W. Newman, Acting Director of the Mayor’s Office of Operations, and Brittny Saunders, Deputy Commissioner for Strategic Initiatives at the Commission on Human Rights. It will be composed of City agency commissioners or their designees, as well as representatives from a variety of fields, including individuals from academic and legal communities, experts in data and technology, and leaders of nonprofits and think tanks. Representatives from the Department of Social Services, the New York City Police Department, the Department of Transportation, the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, the Administration for Children’s Services, and the Department of Education are will also be named to the task force.

“I’m honored to co-chair the ADS Task Force, as its work will no doubt contribute to making New York City the fairest big City in the country,” said Emily W. Newman, Acting Director of the Mayor’s Office of Operations. “With equity and fairness as our guiding principles, I look forward to working alongside leaders and experts from multiple fields as we examine how the city uses algorithms to guide its decision making.”

“As emerging technologies evolve, it is imperative that they are developed and used with equity in mind,” saidDeputy Commissioner for Strategic Initiatives at the Commission on Human Rights, Brittny Saunders. “I am honored to co-chair this important task force and look forward to working alongside leaders and experts to increase transparency around these critical tools.”

“Cities must operate through the lens of understanding the many facets that make up their diverse mosaics,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric L Adams. “This algorithmic data task force, which has an incredibly broad cross-section of members, is a welcome step in ensuring that the City’s day-to-day functions and resource allocations meet New Yorkers’ needs while addressing generational disparities. Equity should be at the forefront of all service delivery in every function of our municipal government.”

"Open data promotes open government. Today, our city makes another big step towards a more transparent government for all New Yorkers," said Council Member Peter Koo, Chair of the Committee on Technology. "The findings of the Automated Decision Systems Task Force will allow us to better understand what data is used, and how it is used, and will help us create a more equal system for all of our residents. I thank Mayor De Blasio and the NYC Commission on Human Rights for making our government more open, fair, and accountable, and I look forward to working with the new task force to ensure these values remains a priority for all city agencies."

Task Force Co-Chairs:

Emily W. Newman, Acting Director of the Mayor’s Office of Operations

Brittny Saunders, Deputy Commissioner for Strategic Initiatives at the NYC Commission on Human Rights

Task Force members include:

Solon Barocas, Assistant Professor, Cornell University

Shelby Chestnut, National Organizing and Policy Strategist, Transgender Law Center

Khalil Cumberbatch, Associate Vice President for Policy, The Fortune Society

Judith H. Germano, Esq., Founder, GermanoLaw LLC; Senior Fellow on Cybersecurity, NYU Center on Law & Security

Afaf Nasher, Esq., Executive Director, Council on American-Islamic Relations – New York

Jennifer Rodgers, Esq., Executive Director, Center for the Advancement of Public Integrity at Columbia Law School

Julie Samuels, Esq., Executive Director, Tech:NYC

Vincent Southerland, Esq., Executive Director, Center on Race, Equality, and the Law at NYU Law School

Julia Stoyanovich, Assistant Professor of Computer Science, Drexel University; Data, Responsibly

Meredith Whittaker, Co-Founder, AI Now Institute; Distinguished Research Scientist, NYU

Maya D. Wiley, Esq., Senior Vice President for Social Justice, The New School; Co-Director, Digital Equity Laboratory at The New School

Jeannette M. Wing, Avanessians Director of the Data Science Institute and Professor of Computer Science at Columbia University

Rosa Parks is the name you know. Claudette Colvin is a name you probably should.

Did you know we have a Civil Rights Icon living in Parkchester?

 Join NAACP Parkchester Branch as they pay tribute to

CLAUDETTE COLVIN

HEAR HER REMARKABLE STORY

Question and Answer to follow

Claudette Colvin unsung civil rights heroine refuse to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama bus nine months before Rosa Parks. Claudette Colvin’s actions and not Rosa Parks’ that became the basis for the court case, Browder v. Gayle that ended segregation on public transportation in Montgomery. 

St. Paul's Church 

1891 McGraw Avenue

Sunday May 20th 3:30 PM

49 PCT NCO SECTOR ADAM "BUILD A BLOCK" MEETING at the Morris Park Community Ctr., 1824 Bronxdale Ave

New York City Police Department

The 49th Precinct

Neighborhood Coordination Officers

Giuseppe Cannova  AND  Janine Varela 

Sector A – Morris Park & Van Nest 

***“BUILD A BLOCK” MEETING***

At Morris Park Community Ctr., 1824 Bronxdale Ave.

THIS Thursday, May 17th 7:30 PM 

***BRONX NYPD 49th Precinct***

Commanding Officer, DEPUTY INSPECTOR Thomas J. Alps

2121 Eastchester Road

Bronx, New York 10461

Precinct: (718) 918-2000

http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/html/precincts/precinct_049.shtml

News From Congressman Eliot Engel,

Engel Statement on Senate Passing Resolution Protecting Net Neutrality

   “I applaud my colleagues in the Senate for passing a resolution to protect net neutrality today. This vote is a huge victory for the American people, the majority of whom overwhelmingly support maintaining net neutrality. A free and open internet is essential to modern democracy and thus must be protected under any circumstance. Now that the Senate has taken this important step, it is up to the GOP controlled House to follow suit. Leadership must allow the House to vote on this critical resolution, which already has 162 cosponsors, myself included.”  

Engel Speaks in Opposition to GOP Cuts to SNAP in Farm Bill

  Congressman Eliot Engel took to the House floor today to speak in opposition to House Republicans’ proposed cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in their Farm Bill.

“SNAP is a lifeline for 40 million low-income Americans and millions of working families,” Engel said. “It is the most effective anti-hunger program in the country.

“And yet, instead of protecting a successful program like SNAP, this cruel GOP bill would take over $23 billion in benefits away from children, seniors, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and working families struggling to make ends meet.”

Video of Congressman Engel’s remarks can be found at this link. Text of the remarks as prepared for delivery can be found below:

Mr. Speaker,

I rise in opposition to the Rule.

SNAP is a lifeline for 40 million low-income Americans and millions of working families.  It is the most effective anti-hunger program in the country.  It is a proven pathway out of poverty for America’s most vulnerable families. 

And yet, instead of protecting a successful program like SNAP, this cruel GOP bill would take over $23 billion in benefits away from children, seniors, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and working families struggling to make ends meet. 

My colleagues on the other side of the aisle argue that the requirements in this Farm Bill would help people find work.  But if they are really interested in promoting jobs that allow people to care for themselves and their families, then I’d invite them to consider legislation to raise the minimum wage, ensure fair work scheduling, provide paid family and medical leave and paid sick days, and address basic living standards.

Instead, we’re considering a callous Farm Bill that cuts benefits from those who need it most in order to pay for massive handouts to corporations and the top one percent.

I urge my colleagues to vote against this rule.

DE BLASIO ADMINISTRATION UNVEILS WOMEN.NYC, NEW PLATFORM DEDICATED TO HELPING WOMEN SUCCEED

New website and marketing campaign will help make NYC fairer for working women

Women across the five boroughs are encouraged to share their experiences, advice and goals with #NYCPowerMove

  First Lady of New York City Chirlane McCray and Deputy Mayor of Housing and Economic Development Alicia Glen today unveiled Women.NYC, a new initiative to  support the advancement of women in their careers and help make New York City fairer for working women. The website and citywide marketing campaign will provide access to key resources and tools that will help advance women in the workplace.

The launch of Women.NYC is in response to known gender disparities in the workplace and seeks to motivate other women to make “power moves” to further their careers and get equal pay for equal work. Campaign ads and videos that will be located throughout the city can be viewed here.

“This Administration has taken bold steps to fight the forces of inequality that are holding society back, and this new initiative will give women the tools they need to succeed in one, easy to access place. I thank the First Lady and Deputy Mayor Glen for spearheading this effort that will help make New York City fairer for women,” saidMayor Bill de Blasio.

"New York City cannot continue as a successful city if women cannot succeed too. And now, for the first time in history, the women of New York City have all the tools they need to succeed in one place with Women.NYC," saidFirst Lady Chirlane McCray, co-chair for the Commission on Gender Equity. "Power means something different for every woman, but we are all better off when every woman can tap into her power."

"Women have waited long enough for equal pay, power and respect. In New York City, we aren’t going to wait any longer. That's why we are launching Women.NYC," said Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development Alicia Glen. "We know women can do it alone. But we don't have to. Women now have concrete tools for concrete success, all in one, easy-to-navigate place. New York City is already the best city in the world for women. Today, we're making it even better."

The Women.NYC website will function as a one-stop-shop that will provide information, resources, and tools on key topics such as finding a job, starting and running a business, getting legal help, accessing health services, raising a child/family, money management and more.

The initiative is backed by a citywide marketing campaign comprised of traditional and digital media that will be located at various, highly trafficked and visible locations throughout the five boroughs and online. The thought-provoking ads are meant to encourage women across the city to share the story of their career journey and inspire other women using the hashtag #NYCPowerMove.

Despite significant progress made under the de Blasio Administration to date, such as establishing Pre-K For All, instituting paid sick and family leave, and banning questions about salary history to prevent pay discrimination, many women continue to face barriers to success due to a number of factors like inflexible family leave policies and societal reinforcement of gender-normative career tracks.

The Stats

In New York City, women earn about 89 cents on the dollar compared to men, and out of the 55 Fortune 500 companies in New York City, only one has a female CEO.

The numbers are staggering for women-owned businesses too. On average, female-owned businesses generate 61 percent less revenue than male-owned businesses. In NYC, there are 360,000 women entrepreneurs, yet men own 1.5 times the number of businesses, have 3.5 times the number of employees, and generate 4.5 times the amount of revenue. Women own 30 percent of small businesses in the country, but only 4.4 percent of small business loans are allocated to women.

What Women.NYC Can Do

The Women.NYC site will function as a unified platform that will foster an online community of change-makers, local leaders and more. Women are encouraged make their voices heard, get engaged, use their agency to create new partnerships, develop programming and introduce policy ideas that support the advancement of women professionally and personally. 

In addition to positioning NYC as the leading city in the world for women, the initiative is specifically calling on the private sector to do their part to close the pay gap by 2028, achieve gender parity on corporate boards and senior leadership teams by 2025, and offer at least six weeks of paid parental leave for new parents. 

Following the initial campaign launch, there will be a series of workshops, forums and new programs designed to help women and promote the initiative. 

New Yorkers can get involved with Women.NYC by following @Women_NYC on Instagram, sharing power move stories using the hashtag #NYCPowerMove, and logging on to Women.NYC to learn how the city can help you and your sisters, friends, mothers, and daughters achieve more.

New Comptroller Stringer Analysis: Legalizing Marijuana Could Lead to Millions in Tax Revenue for City and State

Comptroller report estimates potential $3.1 billion adult-use marijuana market for New York State including $1.1 billion City market

New York City could realize $336 million in tax revenue from legalizing adult-use marijuana, on top of $436 million for the state

  As support for marijuana legalization grows across the nation, New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer today released a new report on the fiscal impact of legalizing adult-use marijuana sales in New York. While New York State continues to study the implications of legalization, the Comptroller’s analysis estimates the potential market for adult-use marijuana in New York State at roughly $3.1 billion, including approximately $1.1 billion in New York City. By applying tax rates in line with other states, New York State could reap as much $436 million annually in new tax revenue from legal marijuana sales, while New York City could garner as much as $335 million – funds that could be used to invest in communities most damaged by decades of criminalizing marijuana usage and possession.

“This is not just about dollars – it’s about justice. Not only is marijuana an untapped revenue source for the City and the State, but the prosecution of marijuana-related crimes has had a devastating and disproportionate impact on Black and Hispanic communities for far too long,” said New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer. “There is simply no reason for New York to be stuck in the dark ages. This new analysis shows just how much New York City and State stand to benefit by moving toward legalization. Legalizing marijuana and reclassifying past convictions would be critical steps towards turning the page on decades of failed policies. This is an opportunity to do what’s right and build up the very communities that criminalization tore down.”

Estimated Size of Adult-Use Marijuana Market in New York

Using data from Washington State and Colorado, which legalized adult-use marijuana sales in 2014 as guides, the Comptroller’s office estimated:

• There are roughly 1.5 million regular marijuana users in New York State, of whom roughly 550,000 reside in New York City.
• Assuming New York marijuana users would spend amounts similar to those in Washington and Colorado (about $2,080 in annual spending per user), the Comptroller’s office estimated a total annual adult-use marijuana market of roughly $3.1 billion in New York State, of which $1.1 billion is attributable to New York City.
• These estimates are conservative, in that they ignore the potential impact of some 970,000 workers who work in New York City but live outside it, many of whom might purchase marijuana in the city if sales are legalized. They also do not account for the impact of foreign and domestic tourism on New York’s potential marijuana market.

Estimating the Size of the Adult-Use Marijuana Market

Potential Tax Revenues from Adult-Use Marijuana Sales 

Jurisdiction	Adult Population	Monthly Adult Use	Estimated Monthly Users	Estimated Annual Sales/User	Market Size ($ millions)
Washington State	5540571	11.42%	632733	$2,055.00	$1,300.00
Colorado	4180931	17.12%	715775	$2,106.00	$1,507.70
New York City	6505088	8.43%	548151	$2,080.00	$1,140.40
NY State	15109013	9.90%	1495792	$2,080.00	$3,112.00

 

When estimating the potential tax revenues from marijuana sales in New York, the Comptroller’s office considered a number of factors, including New York’s existing tax regime for medical marijuana and the established excise taxes on items like cigarettes, beer, and liquor. The report found:

• A 25% retail excise tax in New York City would generate up to $336 million in tax revenue annually (and as much as $570 million in other New York State localities).
• For New York State, tax revenue is estimated at roughly $436 million annually, combining a 10% retail excise tax together with sales tax at the existing rate of 4%.

Estimated Tax Revenues from Adult-Use Marijuana Sales

$$ in millions	Market Size	Excise Tax	Sales Tax	Total
New York State	$3,111.00	$311.20	$124.50	$435.70
New York City	$1,140.00	$285.10	$51.30	$336.40

Social Benefits and Considerations of Legalizing MarijuanaThe combined maximum excise tax rate of 35% would be roughly equivalent to Washington State’s current marijuana retail excise tax.

Along with establishing a new, sustainable stream of revenue, legalizing adult-use marijuana could reduce costs for public safety, help mitigate public health problems related to the opioid crisis, and help drive broader economic and social benefits that will accrue after eliminating a source of harm that has afflicted communities of color for so long.

In 2018, the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act was introduced by Sen. Liz Krueger and Assemblywoman Crystal D. Peoples-Stokes. The bill would legalize adult possession, while also creating a process to reclassify past convictions related to marijuana and to re-sentence individuals currently incarcerated as a result of a prior marijuana-related offense.

Comptroller Stringer Releases Agency Watch List Report on Homeless Services

As spending on homeless services continues to rise, Comptroller Stringer calls for increased transparency to measure results

Agency Watch List report to be released quarterly on City agencies that must deliver better results

  As the New York City Council Committee on Homeless Services holds a hearing today on the Executive Budget for Fiscal Year 2019, Comptroller Stringer released the second “Agency Watch List” report, this time focused on the City’s spending on homeless services. Amid extraordinary increases in City expenditures on programs to address a historically large homeless population, the Comptroller’s report spotlights the lack of data available to measure the effectiveness of City spending.

The analysis found that while total spending on homelessness across agencies is projected in FY 2018 to increase by 149% from FY 2014, including a more than seven-fold increase in spending on prevention and permanent housing, the population in shelter has barely changed. Meanwhile, comprehensive publicly available information allowing for evaluation of the success of the City’s programs is lacking.

“Resolving our city’s unprecedented homelessness crisis requires urgency and funding, no question – but while the rise in City spending on homeless services has been extraordinary, we are concerned with the lack of results for our most vulnerable New Yorkers,” said New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer. “Reducing our homeless population has to be our top priority – and that goal won’t come easy or cheap. But with a cooling economy and uncertainty from Washington, we need to be smarter with our dollars today – and we need to see results. Data-driven policy matters, but without the publicly available data needed to measure results, it’s impossible to evaluate what is working and what is not. We want to see results for the New Yorkers most in need – that’s why we’re shining a spotlight on when and how the City is spending on services to support the homeless.”

The Agency Watch List, first announced in the Comptroller’s Preliminary Budget Presentation, spotlights City agencies – the Department of Correction (DOC), Department of Education (DOE), and Department of Homeless Services (DHS) – that raise the most budgetary concerns due to rapidly increased spending and insufficient measurable results. Reports, to be released on each department quarterly, will review trends and recommend indicators that should be reported and monitored to evaluate the effectiveness of agency spending in achieving the Administration’s stated goals.

New York City’s homeless services expenditures cross five agencies that share responsibilities for supporting, sheltering and permanently housing every eligible person or family that seeks assistance, including the Department of Homeless Services (DHS), as well as the Departments of Social Services, Youth and Community Development, Health and Mental Hygiene, and Veterans Services. Accordingly, the Comptroller has analyzed multi-agency spending on homeless services in his Agency Watch List for FY 2019.

Shelter Population Historically Large

• From FY 2014 to the current year, FY 2018, total citywide spending on homelessness by all agencies rose from $1.2 billion to over $2.9 billion;
• In the last four years, shelter costs have more than doubled, to over $1.9 billion. The City has added $466 million in spending for shelters in 2018 since the budget was adopted last June;
• New York City’s shelter population increased by 17.5 percent between January 2014 and April 2018. The City’s shelter population reached a record high of 61,075 individuals on February 7, 2018; and
• Among the determinants of daily shelter population is the average length of stay in shelter. The Comptroller’s Watch List report found that the number of families with children in shelter for one year or longer increased by 9 percent from June 2014 to February 2018.

Investment in Prevention Services Grows as Shelter Population Remains High

• Spending on programs to prevent homelessness or to provide successful permanent exits from shelter have dramatically expanded from $105 million in FY 2014 to over $700 million in FY 2018 and now constitutes nearly a quarter of total homelessness spending;
• At the same time, the number of single adult shelter entrants has grown while shelter entrances among families with children and adult (childless) families is consistent with, or slightly below, recent levels, contributing to stagnation in the City’s shelter population;
• As the City bolsters its prevention services, including through increased funding for anti-eviction legal services, the number of requests for emergency rent assistance rose 42 percent between FY 2014 and FY 2016, and remains high; and
• Spending on subsidized rental placements through several new initiatives has grown from just $22.9 million in FY 2014, to nearly $287 million in FY 2018 and is budgeted at $369.1 million for FY 2019. Yet, the number of monthly subsidized housing placements for all household types has leveled off since mid-2015 at roughly 800 placements per month.

Use of Cluster Sites and Commercial Hotels Continues as Expenditures Soar

• The City announced in February, 2017 that it would eliminate the use of cluster sites by the end of 2021, and commercial hotel facilities by the end of 2023. However, over the next three years, the City is anticipating nearly $1.1 billion in expenditures for commercial hotel rooms alone;
• On average, the City spent in excess of $1.1 million per month for hotel rooms that were not used during the six month period ending Dec. 31, 2017;
• Last year, the Comptroller’s Office released a report detailing the exorbitant costs and extraordinary increase in City spending on commercial hotels for shelter residents, in which Comptroller Stringer called for greater transparency to ensure the City made progress in eliminating the use of cluster sites and commercial hotels; and
• As part of the Agency Watch List report, Comptroller Stringer is calling once more on the City to provide detailed public data on the number of cluster sites and commercial hotels in use, as well as the size of the population housed in them. Without this data, it is nearly impossible to measure the City’s progress in closing such sites or to monitor the effectiveness of spending.

Over a Dozen Key Indicators Currently Not Reported

A number of key indicators regarding the City’s spending on homeless programs are not currently publicly reported, resulting in a gap between the Administration’s stated goals and the measures available to evaluate their success. These indicators include:

• Applications for shelter by household type, quarterly;
• Reasons for seeking shelter, quarterly;
• Number of cluster sites in use and population housed, monthly;
• Commercial hotel use, utilization rates and expenditures, monthly;
• Subsidized housing placements by type of subsidy, monthly; and
• Preventive services provided, by household type and type of assistance, monthly (partially reported in MMR).

As part of the Agency Watch List report, the Comptroller’s Office is calling on the Administration to immediately make these statistics publicly available, and incorporate them into the Mayor’s Management Report.