MAYOR DE BLASIO APPOINTS NEW MEMBERS TO MAYOR’S FUND BOARD OF ADVISORS

  Mayor de Blasio announced 19 new appointments to the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City Board of Advisors. These new members bring with them skills and knowledge from philanthropy, finance, design, technology, hospitality and other industries key to the City’s ongoing growth and success. For over 20 years, the Board of Advisors has provided expertise and critical support for the Fund as it pursues its goal of creating innovative and evidence-based approaches to address the City’s most pressing challenges. Board members act as advocates for the work of the Mayor’s Fund and are committed to making our City more equitable.

“To address the challenges facing our city, we need all New Yorkers pushing for progress together – including those in our robust private sector,” said Mayor de Blasio. “I welcome these new members to the Mayor’s Fund board and thank them for their commitment to making New York City the fairest big city in America.”

"We depend on New York City's civic leaders to partner with government to make our city more vibrant and equitable,” said First Lady Chirlane McCray, Chair of the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City. “Today, I'm excited to welcome true New York citizens, some of the best and the brightest, to help us continue the tremendous work of civic engagement promoted by the Mayor's Fund."

“I am pleased to welcome this dynamic group of civic-minded New Yorkers to the Mayor’s Fund.  They and their fellow Board members reflect the diversity of New York City’s public and private sector leadership, along with their collective dedication to creating a better future for all New Yorkers,” said Tishman Speyer President and CEO Rob Speyer, Chair of the Board of Advisors for the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City.

Founded in 1994, the Mayor’s Fund is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization which annually works with an average of over 80 City programs, projects and initiatives; over 300 institutional funders; and more than 100 community-based organizations. The Mayor’s Fund and its partners advance a diverse set of initiatives that address needs across the five boroughs, with a particular focus on improving the lives of vulnerable New Yorkers and New Yorkers in need. The Fund has made strategic investments to promote mental health services for all New Yorkers, increase workforce development opportunities for young New Yorkers, and meet the needs of New York City’s diverse immigrant community. Additionally, when critical needs have emerged locally or beyond the city, the Mayor’s Fund has served as the vehicle to capture and direct New Yorkers goodwill and resources. Recently, the Mayor’s Fund has supported relief work in response to the unprecedented natural disasters that hit Puerto Rico, Texas and the Caribbean, including collecting $1.7 million in aid for residents displaced by Hurricane Maria.

“Through public-private partnerships, the Mayor’s Fund has driven progress  over the past four years to build program models that deliver equity and reflect New York values – from helping  immigrant New Yorkers access the tools they need to become citizens, to bringing mental health services  into disadvantaged neighborhoods to putting New Yorkers on a career path . None of this work happens without the thought leadership and expertise of our Board of Advisors. We value their contributions and look forward to building upon this success,” said Mayor’s Fund To Advance New York City Vice Chair Gabrielle Fialkoff, Senior Advisor to the Mayor and Director of the Mayor’s Office of Strategic Partnerships. 

“For almost 25 years the Mayor’s Fund has benefited from the support, guidance and partnership of New York City business and civic leaders, as we’ve helped develop innovative solutions to our city’s most intractable challenges,” said Darren Bloch, Executive Director of the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City. “We are thrilled to welcome this new class of members to our board. Each of these individuals are well versed in the challenges of our city and the promise and opportunity that New York City uniquely holds. I have no doubt they will be valuable partners in our work, and we are immensely grateful for their service and generosity.”

The new members are:

• Ellen Alemany, Chairwoman and CEO of CIT Group: Ellen Alemany was named as chairwoman and CEO of CIT in 2016 and is leading the company’s evolution as a leading national bank serving the middle market and small business. Formerly, she was head of The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) Americas, and held several senior positions during her tenure at Citigroup, including executive vice president for Commercial Business and president and CEO of CitiCapital. She also serves on the boards of Fidelity National Information Services, Inc., The Center for Discovery, Operation Hope and the Partnership for New York City.

• Jay G. Badame, President, AECOM Tishman and AECOM Hunt: Jay Badame currently serves as chair of the Board of the Regional Alliance for Small Contractors, Co-Chairman of the Building Trades Employers’ Association, vice chairman of the New York Building Foundation and trustee of the Citizens Budget Commission.

• Charles Bendit, Co-CEO, Taconic Investment Partners: In addition to founding Taconic, Charles Bendit founded CBC properties where he acquired, repositioned, and managed more than one million square feet of office properties in New York City and Washington, D.C. Mr. Bendit has been actively involved in the educational community serving as Regent of the New York State Board of Education, and a member of the Board of Advisors of the George Washington University School of Business. 

• Neil Blumenthal, co-founder and co-CEO, Warby Parker: Neil Blumenthal is a co-founder and co-CEO of Warby Parker which was named the most innovative company in the world by Fast Company in 2015. Prior to launching Warby Parker in 2010, Neil served as director of VisionSpring, a nonprofit social enterprise that trains low-income women to start their own businesses selling affordable eyeglasses to individuals living on less than $4 per day in developing countries. He was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and one of the 100 Most Creative People in Business by Fast Company. He serves on the board of RxArt and on the United Nations Foundation Global Entrepreneurs Council. A native of New York City, Neil received his BA from Tufts University and his MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

• Richard Born, Co-Owner, BD Hotels: Richard Born co-owns the largest portfolio of independent hotels in New York, spanning 28 properties and 5,000 rooms in Manhattan and Brooklyn. BD properties has been at the forefront of the city’s boutique hospitality scene for the past three decades. Among their properties are the first Pod Hotel, opened in 2007, and the historic and infamous Chelsea Hotel, which they expect to open in 2019.

• Valentino D. Carlotti, Executive Vice President & Global Head of Business Development, Sotheby’s:Valentino D. Carlotti, has been a partner since 2006 with Goldman Sachs where he began in 1994. He joined Sotheby’s executive management team in October 2017. He currently serves as a trustee on the boards of Carnegie Hall, the Guggenheim Museum, American Ballet Theatre, Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Studio Museum in Harlem, The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Guild Hall, MLT, and the Boys’ Club of New York.

• Debra Martin Chase, Founder and owner, Martin Chase Productions: Debra Martin Chase is an American Motion picture and television producer. After receiving her law degree, she practiced law before transitioning to the film industry in the late 80s. Throughout her career she has produced movies such as Courage Under Fire, The Princess Diaries and The Cheetah Girls. She has served on the Board of Directors of the United Friends of Children; the Women at NBCUniversal Advisory Board; and the Advisory Board of Columbia College of Chicago. Currently she sits on the board of the New York City Ballet, Mount Holyoke College and Second Stage Theater.

• Kenneth Daly, COO for National Grid’s US Electric business: Kenneth Daly leads the delivery of safe, reliable electricity service to 3.3 million customers across New York, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. For the past seven years, Mr. Daly was the president and COO of the New York business of National Grid. He serves on the Board of Trustees of Saint Francis College, has been an adjunct professor there for 25 years, and has been the director of the St. John’s University Executive-in-Resident Program since 1992. Mr. Daly is also a member of the David Rockefeller ‘Fellows Program,’ the Long Island Energeia Partnership, and serves on the Boards of the, NYC Partnership, Ridgewood Savings Bank, Advanced Energy Research and Technology Center (AERTC), and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). 

• Vijay Dandapani, President & CEO, Hotel Association of New York City: Vijay Dandapani is a hotel industry veteran, recognized in 1998 as one of Crain’s New York Business top 100 minority business leaders in New York City. In 2002, the Asian American Business Development Center, New York selected him as one of 50 outstanding Asian Americans in Business. He is an alumnus of the grad program at Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and an Aga Khan Foundation Scholar.

• Gigi Ganatra Duff, Vice President of Public Relations and Corporate Affairs, Nordstrom Inc.: Gigi Ganatra Duff is a veteran in strategic marketing, brand development, and communications within the fashion, hospitality and real estate industries. Ms. Duff oversees external and internal communications for Nordstrom, Nordstrom Rack, HauteLook and Trunk Club. Nordstrom supports the communities they serve through Nordstrom Cares which supports local and national organizations that support kids and empower youth.  Ms. Duff is responsible for the strategic development of Nordstrom Cares and will lead community efforts for Nordstrom as they open their first Nordstrom store in New York City.  Previously Ms. Duff led Communications and Cares initiatives for HSNI and was head of Global Brand Communications for Starwood Hotels.  She currently serves on the foundation board for Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital.

• Jeffrey Gural, Chairman of GFP Real Estate LLC.: Jeffrey Gural, along with his son and nephew, is responsible for acquisitions, management and leasing of the 10 million square feet of real estate under their umbrella of companies. He is also the former chairman of the Board of Directors of the Times Square Alliance, a Trustee of the New School, and a member of the Board of Directors of the UJA-Federation, among others.

• Jill Iscol, President, IF Hummingbird Foundation: For almost three decades Dr. Jill Iscol has supported and participated in numerous non-profit organizations, including Bank Street College, Prep for Prep, Facing History and Ourselves, Stand for Children and Acumen. She was founding co-chair of City Year New York and continues to provide strategic advice to many non-profit advisory boards, including Teachers College, Columbia University, International Refugee Assistance project and NEST, enabling them to become stable, sustainable and successful, impacting lives around the globe. Currently, she serves on the Council on Foreign Relations Women’s Advisory Council. Dr. Iscol is an appointed member of the New York State Commission on National and Community Service and author of Hearts on Fire: Stories of Today’s Visionaries Igniting Idealism into Action.

• Charles McCall, CEO, Astoria Energy LLC and Astoria Energy II LLC: Charles McCall oversees two significant energy companies in New York City in his roles as CEO, Partner, and General Manager, having led the development, financing, construction and managing the operations of companies that produce over 13% of the electricity consumed in New York City. Prior to joining Astoria, Mr. McCall held various director-level positions with PSEG Power LLC.

• Keith Mestrich, President & CEO, Amalgamated Bank: Keith Mestrich is president and chief executive officer of Amalgamated Bank, a values-based financial institution with over $4 billion in commercial assets and a trust and investment management business with over $40 billion in custody and investment assets under management. Under Mr. Mestrich’s leadership, Amalgamated has undertaken a number of initiatives to underscore its mission of social responsibility, including its support of a $15 minimum wage (and its becoming the first bank to raise its minimum wage to $15 for all employees), its acceptance of IDNYC as an alternative form of ID to open a bank account, and the company’s certification as a B Corp, recognizing for-profit companies that meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.  Mr. Mestrich currently serves on the Board of The Democracy Alliance, The Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute, and is on the Leadership Council for NY Habitat for Humanity.

• Henry Muñoz, Chairman and CEO, Muñoz & Company: Henry Muñoz is a nationally respected voice in the discourse about Latino culture and identity upon American Society in the 21st Century, and leads one of the largest and oldest minority-owned design practices in the country. Mr. Muñoz is also founder of The Dream.US, which has raised over $100 Million in scholarships for DREAMers.     

• JoAnn Murray, Chief Human Resources Officer, Condé Nast: During Ms. Murray’s tenure, she has built strong partnerships with brand leaders to ensure Condé Nast retains its position as an employer of choice and a place for dynamic talent in the competitive world of media. Murray is a passionate advocate for the education and empowerment of young women, and is actively involved with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and is a volunteer for St. Judes and the American Cancer Society.

• Deven Parekh, Managing Director, Insight Venture Partners: Mr. Parekh manages investments in vertical and horizontal software and consumer internet companies globally. He serves as Board Chair for Bullhorn, DrillingInfo, Turnitin and Ministry Brands. He is a member of the Board of Directors for Appriss, Campaign Monitor, Fanatics, Diligent, 1stdibs, Vela, Chrono24, LetGo, and Wallapop. He is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the Economic Club of NY and the Greater NY Partnership. He was nominated by President Obama, and confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve on the Overseas Private Investment Corporation Board. He is a member of the Board of the Tisch New York MS Research Center and the Board of Trustees and Executive Committee for the Ethical Culture Fieldston School. In addition, he is chairman emeritus of Publicolor, a New York City based non-profit organization that focuses on inner city schools.

• Morris Pearl, Chair, Patriotic Millionaires: Morris Pearl serves as chair of the Patriotic Millionaires, a group of hundreds of high-net-worth Americans who are committed to making all Americans, including themselves, better off by building a more prosperous, stable, and inclusive nation. The group focuses on promoting public policy solutions that encourage political equality, guarantee a sustaining wage for working Americans, and ensure that millionaires, billionaires, and corporations pay their fair share of taxes. Previously, Mr. Pearl was a managing director at BlackRock, one of the largest investment firms in the world.  His work included the Maiden Lane transactions and assessing governments’ potential losses from bank bailouts in the United States and in Europe.

• Marilyn Simons, President, Simons Foundation: Founded in 1994, the Simons Foundation is one of the country’s leading private funders of basic scientific research. In addition to co-founding and serving as President of the Simons Foundation, Marilyn brings more than 25 years of experience actively supporting nonprofit organizations in New York. She is vice president of the board of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, an outstanding U.S. research facility specializing in molecular biology and genetics, and a board member of the Turkana Basin Institute, a research institution that supports scientific projects in the Turkana Basin, Kenya. She also serves as chair of the Stony Brook University Women’s Leadership Council.  Simons is a member of the board of trustees of the LearningSpring School, a New York City based school for children diagnosed on the autism spectrum, and the East Harlem Scholars Academy in New York City.

The new members will join the existing members of the board:

Janet Bell

Barry Berke

Barbara Bowen

Steve Buscemi

Mitch Draizin

Harold Fetner

Marian Fontana

Charlene Gayle

George Gresham

Jon Halpern

Louis Hernandez

Amabel James

Carol Lewis

John McAvoy

Charles McCall

Mary McCormick

Cheryl McKissack

Ron Moelis

Mike Muse

Sean Parker

Ron Perelman

Steven Rubenstein

William Rudin

Chris Shelton

Edward Skyler

Jerry Speyer

Robert Speyer

Mary Alice Stephenson

Stuart Suna

Kenneth Sunshine

Jonathan Tisch

Jeff Wilpon

Steven Witkoff

New York State Homes and Community Renewal Celebrates Construction of the First LGBT-Friendly Seniors Affordable Housing Development in the Bronx

Financed with State and New York City resources, developed by HELP USA, SAGE, $41.4 Million, 84-Apartment Affordable Development Features LGBT Support Services for Tenants; 26 Units Reserved for Homeless Elders

  New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas broke ground today for the Crotona Senior Residences, the first LGBT-friendly, low-income senior housing apartment building in the Bronx. Of the 84 apartments, 26 will be reserved for seniors who have been homeless. Any individual who is age and income-qualified can apply to live in Crotona Senior Residences regardless of sexual orientation or gender identification.

HCR Commissioner Visnauskas said “All New Yorkers deserve a safe, affordable home with the support and companionship that a robust community offers. Crotona Senior Residences will offer all of that while expanding its neighborhood’s diversity and strengthening its economy. We are proud to be working with SAGE and HELP USA to serve the needs of the aging LGBT community – and all seniors – here in the Bronx.”

Under construction in the Bronx’s Tremont neighborhood, the $41.4 million development reflects Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s commitment to providing all New Yorkers with access to safe, affordable housing through the State’s unprecedented $20 billion, five-year Housing Plan. The plan makes housing accessible and combats homelessness by building and preserving more than 100,000 units of affordable housing and 6,000 of supportive housing.  The plan is a comprehensive approach to statewide housing issues and includes multifamily and single-family housing, community development, and rent stabilization.

The Crotona Senior Residences will have 84 apartments for very-low income tenants aged 62 years and older. An on-site SAGE Center, run by the nation’s largest and oldest organization dedicated to improving the lives of LGBT older adults, will provide health and cultural programs, meals, and a computer center. The SAGE Centers at the sites will be open to both building residents and community members, regardless of sexual orientation. SAGE will also offer social services for residents living in the 26 units targeted to homeless seniors.  Located in the Tremont section of the Bronx, with easy access to public transportation, pharmacies, grocery stores, and public parks, the seven-story building will feature energy efficient construction, including windows, fixtures, and an integrated solar array as well as a rooftop terrace and community garden.   

New York State Homes and Community Renewal provided $1.5 million through the Community Investment Fund. HCR’s annual federal tax credit allocation generated more than $16.7 million in equity for the development. The Community Preservation Corporation is providing $10 million in permanent financing through its funding agreement with the New York City Retirement System (NYCRS).

New York City’s Housing Preservation and Development SARA Program provided $10.2 million, including project-based Section 8 vouchers. This is a piece of Mayor Bill de Blasio’s 2016 Housing New York: A Five-Borough, 10-Year Housing Plan and the Mayor’s “Seniors First” initiative, developed to increase the amount of affordable housing programs for New York City seniors. The Office of the Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. and the Office of New York City Councilman Ritchie Torres contributed $600,000 each.

Since 2011, in the Bronx HCR has financed 13,794 apartments in affordable multifamily developments – including 790 supportive units – with more than $982 million in HCR resources, which have leveraged more than $3 billion in other private and public sources.

President & CEO of HELP USA Tom Hameline says, “For 30 years, we’ve worked tirelessly to serve communities who are under-resourced and under-served. We are so proud to stand with SAGE and our partners at the state and city levels, as allies of New York’s LGBT population. A stable home and a supportive community can make all the difference, and we’re happy to provide both with this new development.”

This project is a continuation of HELP USA’s 30-year commitment to developing affordable housing with targeted services that ensure people remain housed. To date, the agency has developed 15 affordable housing programs across the country – with more than 950 units – which are home to underserved populations including veterans, survivors of domestic violence, people living with HIV, and the formerly homeless. HELP USA’s affordable housing developments can be found in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Nevada.

“Crotona Senior Residences will provide crucial housing and supportive services to the many older New Yorkers who are in desperate need of an affordable place to live.  SAGE is thrilled to break ground on this development with our partners, HELP USA, and all of our supporters,” says SAGE CEO Michael Adams. “Finding welcoming housing is one of the most difficult challenges faced by our LGBT elders. Thanks to this development, many LGBT pioneers and allies who fought for recognition and civil rights will now have a place to live and thrive. This development will be more than a building – it will be a community of trailblazers.”

Across the nation, older people have extremely limited options for housing that is both LGBT welcoming and affordable. The Crotona Senior Residences, and the Ingersoll Senior Residences in Brooklyn, are part of SAGE’s National LGBT Elder Housing Initiative. Launched in 2015 to address the housing crisis faced by LGBT elders, the multi-year initiative encourages model inclusive housing like Ingersoll and Crotona, policy advocacy, consumer education, cultural competence training for providers, and technical assistance to communities seeking to address LGBT elder housing issues.  

“All seniors deserve the opportunity to thrive in a safe, accessible, and affordable environment. Crotona Senior Residences will create 84 welcoming homes for extremely low-income seniors and provide supportive services while creating a safe space for LGBT elders” said HPD Commissioner Maria Torres-Springer.  “I want to thank HELP USA, SAGE, and our partners in government for their collaboration in providing desperately needed affordable housing for our seniors who helped to build this city.”

"I sincerely commend HELP USA, SAGE, and all the agencies and organizations that have made the opening of the Crotona Senior Residences possible," said State Senator Gustavo Rivera. "The first of its kind in the Bronx, the Crotona Senior Residences provides affordable housing and support to LGBT seniors, a population that is often overlooked and under-served in our community. The hard work and contributions of these organizations will go a long way in helping us combat homelessness in our City, particularly within the LGBT community. I look forward to continued success and collaborative work with HELP USA and SAGE in my district."

"Today, SAGE and HELP USA have once again demonstrated their commitment to seniors and the LGBTQ community with the launch of the first affordable housing development for LGBT seniors in the Crotona Park North section of our district. It is an exciting step forward in advancing housing justice for some of the most vulnerable members of our community," said Assemblymember Michael Blake. "LGBT seniors face unique challenges as they are more susceptible to facing housing discrimination, slipping into homelessness and living in isolation. Every New Yorker deserves equal access to safe and affordable housing. As we make great strides in safeguarding civil rights for all, we remain committed to creating open, accepting and inclusive spaces in the Bronx where everyone, regardless of color, creed, religion or sexual orientation, can live and thrive. Living comfortably without discrimination and supporting LGBT seniors is how we continue #BuildingABetterBronx."

“Creating affordable housing units for our LGBTQ senior citizens is very important to me and to our community,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. “It is with great pleasure that I support the development of SAGE and HELP USA’s senior housing in the Bronx, and I am proud to have provided $600,000 in capital funding for construction of this worthy project.”

Wave Hill Events May 31‒June 7 Turtle Day!

  Sat, June 2    Family Art Project: A Turtle’s Pace

Marvel at the beautiful patterns that cover the protective shell of the local box turtle. Use fabric and leather scraps to design and decorate a stuffed, wearable turtle-shell backpack. Make a turtle egg-shaker and, wearing your shell, gather outside to waltz in an oh-so-slow parade. Sunday is Turtle Day! Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon.

WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM‒1PM

Sat, June 2    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, June 2    Meet the Artist: Austin Ballard

Join us at this artist talk in the Sunroom Project Space. Artist Austin Ballard will discuss his installation Rumors with Curator of Visual Arts Eileen Jeng Lynch. Fabricating furniture using cane webbing and epoxy clay, Ballard constructs an immersive domestic setting. Intended as functional sculpture, the forms are reminiscent of Victorian furniture and recall Wave Hill’s history as a private home. Free with admission to the grounds.

GLYNDOR GALLERY, 2PM

Sun, June 3    Family Art Project: A Turtle’s Pace

Marvel at the beautiful patterns that cover the protective shell of the local box turtle. Use fabric and leather scraps to design and decorate a stuffed, wearable turtle-shell backpack. Make a turtle egg-shaker and, wearing your shell, gather outside to waltz in an oh-so-slow parade. Free with admission to the grounds. Turtle Day event.

WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM‒1PM

Sun, June 3    Yoga in the Garden

Enjoy a morning yoga class in the gardens, offered in partnership with Yoga Haven. All levels welcome; please bring a mat and be on time. Meets indoors in case of rain. Online registration suggested, or register day-of at the Front Gate. Yoga sessions continue through July 29. $25 per session. Wave Hill Members save 10%.

ON THE GROUNDS, 10–11AM

Sun, June 3   In the Shop: 20% off Folkmanis Turtle Puppets

Enjoy a special discount on delightful turtle puppets—from sweet little finger puppets, to larger, classic, 13” hand puppets—and encourage your kids’ imaginative pretend play and sense of discovery. California-based Folkmanis has been making innovative, realistic and engaging specialty puppets since 1976, delighting imaginations and inspiring connections to the natural world. Turtle Day event.

PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 10AM‒4PM

Sun, June 3    Turtle & Shell Show and Tell

Our youngest visitors and their families are invited to drop by this informal info station to see turtle shells, eggs and meet a live turtle. Ages four to six welcome with an adult. Free with admission to the grounds. Turtle Day event.

WAVE HILL HOUSE, 1‒1:30PM

Sun, June 3    Nature Presentation: Turtle Talk

June is an active time for turtles, as the females strike out on land in search of safe places to lay their eggs. Join environmental educator Carl Heitmuller from the Hudson Highlands Nature Museum for an informative (and humorous) foray into the world of turtles. Meet rotund reptiles from the museum’s collection. Ages six and older welcome with an adult. Free with admission to the grounds. Turtle Day event. 

WAVE HILL HOUSE, 2PM

Sun, June 3    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, June 4

Closed to the public.

Tue, June 5    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, June 5    Gallery Tour

Learn about Glyndor Gallery exhibitions on a tour led by Wave Hill’s Curatorial Fellow. Avifauna: Birds + Habitat features artworks that delve into the relationship between birds and their habitats—from the role birds play in propagating plants to changes in how natural and built environments affect migration patterns. Artists working in photography, video, artist books, wall painting, installation, drawing and sound include Tatiana Arocha, Tanya Chaly, Marna Chester, Nina Katchadourian,Paula McCartney, Jeff Mertz, Peter Morgan, Sarah Nicholls, James Prosek, Jenna Spevack and Fred Tomaselli. In the Sunroom Project Space, Austin Ballard’s installation Rumors is on view. Fabricating furniture using cane webbing and epoxy clay, Austin Ballard constructs an immersive domestic setting. Intended as functional sculpture, the forms are reminiscent of Victorian furniture and recall Wave Hill’s history as a private home. 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–5:30PM,  March 15–October 31. Closes 4:30PM, starting November 1.

ADMISSION  $8 adults, $4 students and seniors 65+, $2 children 6–18. Free Saturday and Tuesday mornings 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.

NYC to Expand Network of Electric Vehicle Chargers, Use New Technology to Charge Cars in as Little as 15 Minutes

Fast Chargers Will Help Keep City Government Vehicles in Continuous Use

  

The New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) will today announce a planned major expansion of the City’s network of electric vehicle (EV) chargers. The City currently operates 500 EV chargers, which are used to charge City government vehicles. It is the largest network of EV chargers for any vehicle fleet in the country, and the City expects to add 100 new chargers. The new chargers will also be the City’s first ‘fast electric vehicle chargers,’ which will keep electric vehicles in continuous use by reducing lengthy charging periods that can take vehicles out of commission. The new chargers can charge vehicles in as little as 15 minutes. Most of these new chargers will be located at existing City-managed fueling locations. This project is expected to be funded by $10 million from the City’s proposed capital budget with construction to begin early next year. The EV expansion is part of a series of announcements to be made today at the City’s 30th Annual Truck and Equipment Show presented by the NYC Parks Department and DCAS at Flushing Meadows Corona Park. “New York City government has the cleanest and greenest vehicle fleet in the country, and we’re building upon our success by installing 100 new electric vehicle chargers that will significantly decrease charging times,” said Lisette Camilo, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services. “In as little as 15 minutes, we’ll be able to charge environmentally-friendly electric vehicles and get them back on the streets serving the people of New York City.” DCAS will also announce additional enhancements to the City’s municipal vehicle fleet, including: ·     Construction of 50 new solar carports. Solar carports capture solar energy to fully charge EVs without any connection to the electric grid. In addition to environmental benefits, the solar carports offer an important resiliency measure if the City were to lose power and need to charge EVs. The City currently operates 37 carports that were put into operation over the last six months. ·     The City of New York has installed over 12,000 new safety features on City vehicles in the first year of the Vision Zero Safe Fleet Transition Plan. The plan, part of Mayor de Blasio’s Vision Zero initiative to protect the public by reducing injuries and fatalities stemming from traffic collisions, formalized best practices to integrate vehicle safety technologies into City vehicles. Installed safety features include automatic braking systems, rear-view cameras, sideguards that prevent pedestrians and bicyclists from going under large trucks during side-impact collisions, and adaptive headlights, among other technologies. These advances in greener and safer vehicle technologies are part of record investments in the specialized emergency and heavy fleet units that support NYC government operations. In FY18, over $380 million has been invested in new City fleet vehicles, including 662 sanitation trucks for the City of New York Department of Sanitation. This is the third consecutive year of record investments in the fleet that supports City government agencies. This includes $1.1 billion invested in the last three years alone. “NYC is one of the nation’s largest procurers of safe and sustainable fleet technology,” said DCAS Deputy Commissioner and NYC Chief Fleet Officer Keith Kerman. “At today’s 30th Fleet Show, we celebrate our latest milestones including 1,500 electric vehicles, our first contract for hybrid police vehicles, expanding electric charging, and the safest fleet we have ever ordered. We thank our partner agencies and our vendors at the show.”  The 30th Annual Truck and Equipment Show is free to vendors and the public and offers a chance for the automotive and trucking industry to demonstrate the latest and best in safe, green, and reliable vehicle technology.

About DCAS

The Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) ensures that all City agencies have the critical resources and support needed to provide the best possible services to the public. It does this in part by working with City agencies on recruiting, hiring, and training; providing facilities management for 55 public buildings; purchasing, selling, and leasing City property; purchasing more than $1 billion in supplies and equipment annually; and implementing conservation and safety programs throughout they City's facilities and fleet.

DiNAPOLI: STATE PENSION FUND VALUE $206.9 BILLION

Earns 11.35 Percent Return on Investments in State Fiscal Year 2018

  New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today announced that the New York State Common Retirement Fund (Fund) earned an estimated 11.35 percent return on investments in the state fiscal year that ended on March 31, 2018. The Fund ended the year with an estimated value of $206.9 billion, which is subject to change once returns are fully audited. The Fund’s value at the end of state fiscal year 2017 was $192.4 billion.

“The New York State Common Retirement Fund’s value rose with help from strong markets through most of the fiscal year, which ended with a volatile fourth quarter,” DiNapoli said. “Fortunately, our conservative approach for gaining long term, sustainable returns protects the Fund in times of uncertainty. The Fund ended the fiscal year just as it began it, as one of the best funded, best managed pension plans in the nation. The strength and stability of our state’s pension fund is good news for the more than one million individuals in the state retirement system and for New York taxpayers.”

During state fiscal year 2018, the Fund’s public equities, including domestic and non-U.S. holdings, enjoyed overall returns of 15.03 percent. The Fund’s broader approach to fixed income markets over the last year returned 2.14 percent. The Fund’s diversification strategy performed well, with private equity and real estate delivering returns of 18.70 percent and 9.01 percent, respectively.

The Fund is the third-largest public pension fund in the country and is ranked one of the nation’s best-fundedpension plans, according to Pew Charitable Trusts. The New York State and Local Retirement System provides retirement security to more than one million active state and local government employees, retirees and their beneficiaries. Employer contribution rates are determined by investment results over a multi-year period along with numerous other actuarial assumptions, including wage growth, inflation, age of retirement and mortality. The Fund’s long-term expected rate of return is 7 percent. 

Solid returns in recent years have resulted in reductions in employer contributions.

The Fund’s value and rate of return in prior years is available online: http://www.osc.state.ny.us/press/docs/nyscrf_values_chart_2018.pdf

Non-US Equities	17.02%	15.20%
Private Equity	18.70%	8.3%
Real Estate	9.01%	6.7%
Global Equities	17.49%	5.3%
TIPS**	1.25%	3.9%
Absolute Return Strategies	5.90%	2.7%
Cash	1.71%	0.9%
Non-Core Fixed Income	5.23%	1.7%
Opportunistic Alternatives	12.32%	1.2%
Real Assets	10.33%	0.7%
*  Returns are estimated, pending audited data available later this year
** Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities

About the New York State Common Retirement Fund 
The New York State Common Retirement Fund is the third largest public pension fund in the United States. The Fund holds and invests the assets of the New York State and Local Retirement System on behalf of more than one million state and local government employees and retirees and their beneficiaries. The Fund has consistently been ranked as one of the best managed and best funded plans in the nation. The Fund's fiscal year ends March 31, 2019.

Bronx Man Convicted Of 2010 Murder

  Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that JOSE SANTIAGO-ORTIZ was found guilty of murder, participating in a narcotics conspiracy, and firearms offenses yesterday after a one-week jury trial before the Honorable Lewis A. Kaplan.

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “A unanimous jury convicted Jose Santiago-Ortiz of killing Jerry Tide in cold blood.  In addition, Santiago-Ortiz was convicted of narcotics conspiracy and firearms offenses.  We hope today’s verdict will bring some solace to the victim’s family, while also taking a violent offender off the street.”

According to the allegations contained in the Complaint and the Indictment and the evidence presented in court during the trial:

On September 11, 2010, SANTIAGO-ORTIZ shot and killed Jerry Tide in the vicinity of Jerome Avenue and 182nd Street in the Bronx.  Between 2010 and November 2015, SANTIAGO-ORTIZ was the leader of a violent heroin trafficking enterprise that trafficked kilogram quantities of heroin, stamped “Flow,” in the Bronx and to Rutland, Vermont. SANTIAGO-ORTIZ killed Jerry Tide in part to increase SANTIAGO-ORTIZ’s position within the Flow Heroin Enterprise.  In addition, in 2015, members of the Flow Heroin Enterprise engaged in several shootings with rival drug dealers in the Bronx.

SANTIAGO-ORTIZ, 27, of the Bronx, New York, was found guilty of one count of murder in aid of racketeering, which carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison; one count of murder while engaged in a narcotics conspiracy, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison; one count of conspiring to distribute one kilogram and more of heroin, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison; and one count of using firearms in furtherance of a narcotics conspiracy, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison.

The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of a defendant will be determined by the judge.

SANTIAGO-ORTIZ is scheduled to be sentenced on September 18, 2018.

Mr. Berman thanked the FBI’s New York Field Division for their work on the investigation.

Former Bank Branch Manager Charged In $5 Million Fraud Involving Two New York Area Banks

  Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Philip R. Bartlett, Inspector in Charge of the New York Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (“USPIS”), announced today the unsealing of a criminal Complaint charging MOSHE BENENFELD, a/k/a “Michael Benenfeld,” with bank fraud, in connection with hundreds of unauthorized transactions BENENFELD conducted in bank customer accounts when employed by two different New York-area banks.  BENENFELD is expected to be presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara C. Moses.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman said:  “As alleged, Moshe Benenfeld betrayed his position of trust as a bank branch manager to steal account holders’ money.  Thanks to the Postal Inspection Service, Benenfeld is in custody and facing prosecution for his alleged crime.”

Inspector in Charge Bartlett said:  “Mr. Benenfeld exploited the position of trust granted to him by his employer.  He stole from family and friends to enrich himself and others.  Postal Inspectors encourage customers to keep a watchful eye on their money, no matter who it is entrusted to.” 

According to the allegations in the Complaint[1] unsealed today in Manhattan federal court:

Between 2000 and 2016, BENENFELD was the branch manager at a branch of a New York-area bank (“Bank-1”).  Beginning in or about 2004 and continuing into 2016, while employed at Bank-1, BENENFELD conducted hundreds of unauthorized transactions involving the accounts of over 20 bank customers, including the accounts of BENENFELD’s relatives.  Among other things, BENENFELD made unauthorized draws on, and payments to, customers’ lines of credit; made unauthorized withdrawals from, and deposits to, customers’ deposit accounts; and used customers’ deposit accounts as collateral for other customers’ lines of credit, without authorization.  To effect the unauthorized transactions, BENENFELD would, among other things, forge the signatures of bank customers and use a document previously signed by a bank customer to create paperwork that falsely purported to authorize a different transaction.  In or about April 2016, after having discovered BENENFELD’s conduct, Bank-1 terminated BENENFELD’s employment.  In or about June 2016, BENENFELD was hired by another bank (“Bank-2”).  At Bank-2, BENENFELD continued to conduct unauthorized transactions involving customer accounts.  As a result of the unauthorized transactions conducted by BENENFELD, Bank-1 sustained losses of over $5 million.

BENENFELD, 49, of Brooklyn, New York, is charged with one count of bank fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.  The maximum potential sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Berman praised the investigative work of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s New York Division.

The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

[1]  As the introductory phase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint, and the description of the Complaint set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.