BP DIAZ MARCHES IN ANNUAL NATIONAL PUERTO RICAN DAY PARADE

The borough president used the parade as an opportunity to Highlight federal inaction in the wake of Hurricane Maria

   Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. marched in the 61st Annual National Puerto Rican Day Parade. The borough president used the parade as an opportunity to highlight the plight of the island of Puerto Rico in the wake of the devastation left behind by Hurricane Maria as well as continued inaction by the Trump administration and the federal government to help the island rebuild.

Focusing on the importance of bringing about change through voting, Borough President Diaz and his contingent wore black t-shirts highlighting the death of the more than 4,645 Puerto Ricans since Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico last year, as reported in a recent Harvard University study.

Borough President Diaz’s t-shirts urged parade goers to “Remember, Register, Resist,” and the borough president’s group handed out 1,000 voter registration cards to attendees along the parade route.

“The lack of support that the Trump Administration has shown to the people of Puerto Rico is either the worst case of incompetence by the Oval Office or intentional governmental malpractice. Either way, this is unacceptable,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. “The National Puerto Rican Day Parade is supposed to be a lively celebration of culture and heritage but we are still recovering from the effects of Hurricane Maria, and we need to focus on what needs to be done so that island rebound. The Trump Administration has failed the island, forcing American citizens to live in third-world conditions.”

Borough President Diaz added, “We are not asking for special treatment for Puerto Rico. We are asking that the 3.5 million American citizens who call Puerto Rico home be treated with the same respect and dignity as residents in Texas and Florida received after dealing with a natural disaster.”

BRONX MAN SENTENCED FOR AGGRAVATED CRUELTY TO ANIMALS FOR BRUTAL BEATING OF DOG; STRUCK CANINE IN FRONT OF GIRL

 Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a Bronx man has been sentenced to two years in prison for Aggravated Cruelty to Animals, the maximum sentence, for the brutalization of a small dog. 

 District Attorney Clark said, “The defendant was ruthless in his actions against a defenseless animal. Surveillance video captured this horror and now we have obtained the maximum sentence for this heartless crime. We emphasize our continued dedication to protecting vulnerable animals.” 

 District Attorney Clark said the defendant, George Reid, 38, of 2414 Belmont Avenue, was sentenced to two years in prison by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Robert Neary for Aggravated Cruelty to Animals. Additionally, the defendant will not be allowed to own any pets for the next 10 years and will enroll in the Animal Abuse Registry. He pleaded guilty on May 18, 2018.

 According to the investigation, on August 16, 2017 in his apartment building, the defendant repeatedly attacked his dog, punching, kicking and slamming the animal to the ground. At one point during the assault, the defendant held the small dog by the neck and punched the canine in front of a young girl. The crime was captured on surveillance video and the defendant was later seen taking out a garbage bag. The body of a small dog was observed in the building’s garbage bin later that evening

 DA Clark thanked the NYPD Animal Cruelty Investigation Squad, specifically Detectives Kevin Connors and Charles Cadiz, as well as ASPCA veterinarian, Dr. Robert Reisman.

BRONX MAN SENTENCED TO 16-22 YEARS IN PRISON FOR STABBING WOMAN AND TRYING TO BRIBE HER TO NOT TESTIFY AGAINST HIM

  Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a man has been sentenced to 16 to 22 years in prison in the stabbing of a Bronx woman whom he later tried to bribe so she would not testify truthfully against him. 

 District Attorney Clark said, “The defendant attacked the victim, causing serious injuries, and when she was ready to serve as a witness against him he tried to corrupt the criminal justice process by offering her money to lie to a grand jury. I applaud the victim for going forward in the case, and now her assailant will serve time in prison for his crimes.” 

 District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Shakur Carrasquillo, 40, of 763 East 213th Street, was sentenced today to 16 to 22 years in prison for Attempted Assault First Degree, second-degree Assault, Bribery of a Witness, Perjury and Conspiracy by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Robert Neary. Carrasquillo was convicted by a jury on March 19, 2018.

 According to trial testimony, in August, 2015, the 26-year-old victim passed a gun to two men who shot at the defendant on White Plains Road. The defendant chased the victim down and stabbed her. Then, on February 20, 2016, on Holland Avenue, Carrasquillo and another suspect got out of a car and stabbed the victim in her stomach and in her right ear. He was arrested in that incident, and then had a relative offer her a total of $4,000 to lie about the incident in the grand jury.

 District Attorney Clark thanked NYPD Detective Robert Konner of the 47th Precinct Squad and Department of Correction Investigator and Liaison Scott Frank for their assistance in the case.

Wave Hill Events June 21‒June 28 Summer Evenings!

Thu, June 21   Midsummer Night’s Solstice Meditation

Celebrate the summer equinox in the gardens with Sara Hart of iHart Lens. Explore the enchanted gardens on a guided meditative walk and finish with a series of restful poses. Bring a yoga mat. $25. Wave Hill Members save 10%. Serene Thursday event.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 6–8PM

Thu, June 21    Evening Garden Walk

Enjoy a short evening stroll in the gardens with a Wave Hill Garden Guide. Free with admission to the grounds. Serene Thursday event.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 6:30PM

Sat, June 23    Family Art Project: Butterfly Habitat Hats

See them and sketch them flying among the meadow grasses or on the butterfly bush in Wave Hill’s Flower Garden. Learn about the life cycle of local butterfly species and the conditions they need in order  to survive. Then make a richly textured butterfly-habitat hat filled with flowers and insects in an active landscape. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon.

WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM‒1PM

Sat, June 23    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 23    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

Sun, June 24    Family Art Project: Butterfly Habitat Hats

See them and sketch them flying among the meadow grasses or on the butterfly bush in Wave Hill’s Flower Garden. Learn about the life cycle of local butterfly species and the conditions they need in order to survive. Then make a richly textured butterfly-habitat hat filled with flowers and insects in an active landscape. Free with admission to the grounds. 

WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM‒1PM

Sun, June 24    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 24    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 25

Closed to the public.

Tue, June 26    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

Wed, June 27    Sunset Wednesdays: Live Music on the Great Lawn‒The Hot Sardines

Lead by French chanteuse Elizabeth Bougerol and pianist Evan Palazzo, the Hot Sardines believe that classic jazz feeds the heart and soul and connects generations through their mission to make old sounds new again. “Simply phenomenal,” saysThe Times (London). “One of the best jazz bands in NY today, writes Forbes. Rain or shine, all Sunset Wednesday Concerts are held on the Great Lawn. In case of inclement weather, concerts will be moved indoors to Armor Hall with overflow space in the Mark Twain Room and the covered terrace behind Wave Hill House. Check wavehill.org for shuttle service and for The Café menu on Sunset Wednesdays. The onsite parking lot closes at 4PM, except to accommodate vehicles with a disability license plate or placard. Free with admission to the grounds, which is $12 starting at 4PM. Free to Wave Hill Members. The grounds close at 8:30PM. 

ON THE GROUNDS, 7PM

Thu, June 28    Art Workshop: An Evening of Inks

Explore the colorful and unpredictable medium of alcohol inks and create abstract, organic, floral forms. Leave precision at the door and join artist Barbara Nahmias as you free your mind and simply go with the flow of the inks. $40. Wave Hill Members save 10%. Supplies included. Serene Thursday event. 

WAVE HIL HOUSE, 6–8PM

Thu, June 28    Evening Garden Walk

Enjoy a short evening stroll in the gardens with a Wave Hill Garden Guide. Free with admission to the grounds. Serene Thursday event.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 6:30PM

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.

Council Member Andy King Introduces Legislation to Institute Panic Buttons for Drivers of Taxicabs

  New York City Council Stated Meeting, Council Member Andy King introduced legislation (Int. No. 967) to institute panic buttons for drivers of taxicabs, street hail liveries and for-hire vehicles, which would ensure the safety of livery drivers when confronted with an emergency.

Tragically, in recent months, New York City livery drivers have been brutally assaulted on the job by criminals.  The panic button will be a help or distress signaling system connecting a driver in distress with the police department. Each taxicab, HAIL vehicle and for-hire vehicle would have a panic button within reach of the driver’s seat.

“This piece of legislation is about saving lives,” Council Member King said at a press conference held yesterday at the Co-op City base of Best Deal Car Service, where he pre-announced the bill.

Joining Council Member King at the press conference were Council Member Ruben Diaz Sr. and dozens of livery drivers in support of the panic button.

“As the chairman of the For-Hire Vehicles Committee, I support this bill. I don’t want to go back to the hospital. I went there to see this guy (Jeffrey C. Camacho) when he was shot,” said Council Member Diaz. “I ensure you that as chairman of the committee, this bill will see the light of day.”

Camacho, a father of three, was a driver for Excellent Care Service when he was shot eight times by an armed passenger who robbed  him. Seated in a chair because of his injuries, Camacho spoke in Spanish at the press conference through Jose Altimarno, president of El Barrio Livery Service, letting everyone know that he is “happy to be alive. And, he sees the legislation Council Member King is introducing as a benefit. He wants all his fellow cab drivers to be safe.”

Albert Williams, owner of Best Deal Car Service, said “It’s critical that we have the tools in place to protect our drivers. I commend the New York City Council, the TLC and NYPD on this because the last thing I want to do as a base owner is attend a funeral of a driver.”

Also on hand was Omer Haberman of LimoSys Software, the technology expert developing the software.

Council Member King said the panic button should not be a cost burden to drivers. “We want to do this with existing technology. More important, the ultimate goal is to make sure drivers don’t incur any additional costs according to this legislation,” said Council Member King.

King noted that he backs Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez’s legislation calling on the State of New York to make it a felony to assault a New York City taxi driver.

In addition to Intro. 967, Council Member King introduced two addition pieces of legislation today in the City Council. They were:

·        Intro 966, which would require the department of citywide administrative resources to designate one or more employees to provide information on available housing resources to municipal employees who are seeking housing within the city and to publish housing-related information and resources on their website.

·        The proposed bill would prohibit advertisements for hookah tobacco or related paraphernalia on the exterior and publicly visible areas of retail establishments selling such products, within a certain distance of school buildings, child daycare centers, and youth centers.

News From Congressman Joseph Crowley

Congressman Crowley, Engel, Members of the New York City Congressional Delegation Meet with Deputy Postmaster General

  Congressman Joe Crowley, Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, and Members of the New York City Congressional Delegation, led by Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke, met with United States Postal Service (USPS) Deputy Postmaster General Ronald Stroman yesterday to discuss the ongoing postal issues facing residents throughout New York City.

During the meeting, the Members expressed their concerns about delivery, efficiency, and service, including the suspension of mail service as well as misdelivered, and in some cases, stolen mail throughout NYC.

“I deeply appreciate this opportunity to meet with Deputy Postmaster General Ronald Stroman to bring greater attention to inadequate mail delivery service in Queens and the Bronx,” said Congressman Crowley. “For months, I’ve been hearing from constituents about delayed mail deliveries, mislabeled packages, and poor customer service. My constituents rely on the United States Postal Service as an effective and dependable means of communication, and I hope the Deputy Postmaster General will take the steps necessary to improve the quality of service in New York City.”

“I appreciate this opportunity to meet with Deputy Postmaster General Ronald Stroman,” said Congresswoman Clarke. “I walked away with an even greater understanding of the systemic issues plaguing the USPS. I expressed my concerns about delivery, efficiency, and service, including the suspension of mail service for nearly a week last month, which affected many seniors and people with disabilities. I also specifically raised concerns about unique issues faced by residents of affordable housing buildings. Our constituents expect their government to meet their needs and it is our duty as their representatives to hold any and all splintered government agencies accountable.”

“From missing green cards to stolen social security checks, New Yorkers are facing serious and systemic problems with their mail service,” said Congressman Eliot Engel . “I appreciate that the Deputy Postmaster took the time to meet with us in Washington and listen to the concerns of our constituents. In the meeting, we were told that Postal officials are committed to better communication with us, but we’ve heard promises from the U.S. Postal Service before. We will continue to press for real, tangible solutions to the problems our constituents face with their mail.”

“I am hopeful following our meeting with USPS Deputy Postmaster General Ronald Stroman and Members from the New York congressional delegation, and appreciate his taking the time to hear our concerns and discuss one of the most critical issues impacting our constituents on a daily basis,” said Congressman Adriano Espaillat. “I often hear about the lack of services in multiple languages, two-hour waits, and inefficiency that residents experience when engaging with the USPS locations throughout my district. My hope is that following our discussion, USPS now has a better understanding of the urgency of this issue and the frustration that constituents face. We will engage with USPS on a weekly basis to ensure issues are resolved and look forward to the replacement of mailboxes to curb stolen mail, better communication with USPS, and improved services for constituents whose lives often depend on these services.”

“I thank Deputy Postmaster General Ronald Stroman for briefing us about efforts to improve postal service operations in New York City and I thank Rep. Clarke for organizing this meeting,” said Congresswoman Grace Meng “Earlier this year, I met with postal officials to demand a plan to improve ongoing and serious mail delivery problems in Queens. I also urged the Postal Service to address poor customer service, and to replace postal collection boxes with new anti-theft boxes in order to combat mail fishing. I’m pleased that the agency is working to tackle these problems and I will continue to make sure that officials follow through on resolving these issues. The Postal Service must rebuild trust with borough residents.”

“Residents in my community and across New York have endured systemic issues with the USPS,” said Congressman Gregory Meeks. “The NY delegation's meeting with DPMG Stroman allowed us to further relay the frustrations endured daily by New Yorkers. In increasing communication between our offices with the USPS, we will hopefully yield constructive solutions to these ongoing issues.”

“Residents of New York and many of our local small businesses have for too long suffered from postal delivery that is slow and characterized by poor customer service,” said Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez. “I’ll continue working with my colleagues to see these issues remedied and postal service improved in these communities.”

Members of the Delegation had sent a letter to Postmaster General Brennan in February calling on her to provide a detailed course of action to mitigate the multitude of ongoing postal issues facing several communities across New York City.

News From Congressman Eliot L. Engel

Engel, House Dems Fight Back Against DHS Separating Families at the Border

  Congressman Eliot Engel today joined Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal and 106 of his Democratic colleagues in urging the Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security to restrict the Department of Homeland Security’s ability to separate families at the border.

The letter urges appropriators to make it clear that no funds for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security may be used to support family separation as a means of deterring future migration. The letter also urges appropriators to restore funding for the Family Case Management Program that provided asylum-seeking parents and their children with legal counsel and connected them to community resources. The letter can be found here.

“These families come to the U.S. seeking refuge, often from violence and environmental disaster in their home countries,” Engel said. “Tearing families apart is cruel, unnecessary, and contradicts the most basic American values. If the Administration won’t do the right thing, then Congress must act to force their hand. Our country is better than this.”

Engel Votes NO on Latest Trump Cuts

  Congressman Eliot L. Engel voted against H.R. 3, a bill to cancel federal spending already approved by Congress.

The bill contains approximately $15 billion in cuts, proposed by the Trump Administration, targeting the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), flood prevention measures, clean energy investments, intercity passenger rail improvements, and other federal supports.

“The same Republican Congress that exploded the deficit with their tax scam just months ago is now willing to sacrifice critical supports for working families, continuing to stack the deck for the wealthy and well-connected against American families who play by the rules,” Engel said. “Children will be among the victims of this political gambit, as H.R. 3 cuts the CHIP contingency fund by almost 80 percent. This fund exists to ensure states can care for children if an unexpected event, like a natural disaster, causes a spike in CHIP enrollment. It also makes damaging cuts to programs that improve our infrastructure, protect our communities, and prepare our economy for the future.

“These cuts are short-sighted and cruel, and their intent is utterly transparent. If Republicans are so concerned about the state of federal spending, perhaps they shouldn’t have blown a trillion-dollar hole in the deficit with the GOP tax scam. I voted No on that irresponsible bill, and I voted No on this one.”

ENGEL STATEMENT ON TRUMP’S G7 RUSSIA COMMENTS

“The United States helped establish and lead the G7 in pursuit of a peaceful and prosperous world. While the other G7 democracies continue to uphold those values, President Trump has isolated the United States, weakened American influence, and alienated our closest allies. So it’s hardly a surprise he’s now looking to the leader he seems to admire most: Vladimir Putin. One of the priorities for the G7 is addressing foreign interference in elections. While Russia may have ‘unique expertise’ in this area, Moscow’s aims don’t align with those of the G7 democracies.

“The G8 became the G7 precisely because of Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea and the war Russia is waging in eastern Ukraine. Since then, Putin has pressed ahead with his destructive efforts to undermine western unity. With Donald Trump’s reckless trade policy and affinity for Moscow, the American President sadly appears to be Mr. Putin’s willing partner.”

Comptroller Stringer Debars Bronx Contractor for Stealing Over $120,000 in Prevailing Wages from Immigrant Workers

Repeat prevailing wage offender falsified payroll records for iron work at the Jamaica Water Pollution Control Plant in Queens for the New York City Department of Environmental Protection

  New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer announced Globe Gates, Inc., a Bronx-based contractor which does business as Global Overhead Doors, its owner and president Agostinho Tome, and his related corporate entity Global Iron Works, Inc. have been debarred from public works in the State of New York for their willful failure to pay prevailing wages to their workers and for the falsification of payroll records. The $143,000 settlement with Globe Gates provides for payment of roughly $120,000 in unpaid prevailing wages, plus interest, to the two Latino, immigrant workers who notified the Comptroller’s Office of the abuse of their rights in 2015.

“Now more than ever, we have to protect the most vulnerable members of our community from being cheated out of their hard-earned wages. Unfortunately, when the federal government creates a climate of fear for immigrants, workers become less likely to complain about workplace abuse and unscrupulous employers exploit that fear to cheat workers out of their wages. My office is committed to protecting workers who are the victims of wage theft, and to cracking down on contractors who prey on immigrant workers,” Comptroller Stringer said.

Globe Gates employed the two workers to perform ornamental iron work at the Jamaica Water Pollution Control Plant over the course of two years, from September 2013 to August 2015. The general contractor, WDF, Inc., hired Globe Gates as a subcontractor to work on the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) project to upgrade the water pollution control plant. Globe Gates’s payroll records showed payments of the prevailing wage rate for significantly fewer hours than were actually worked. No additional wages were paid for the unreported hours. Globe Gates was able to keep the workers in the dark by providing them with pay stubs that omitted the number of hours worked and the wage rate paid. The Comptroller’s investigation was aided by the detailed records maintained by DEP for work at the plant.

While these two workers were employed at the Jamaica Water Pollution Control Plant and being underpaid by Globe Gates, the company was already under investigation by the Comptroller’s Office for prevailing wage violations on a different project. The Comptroller resolved the prior investigation in January 2015 by stipulation of settlement and found that Globe Gates underpaid more than $75,000 in prevailing wages to two other Latino, immigrant workers.

“Monitoring and enforcing prevailing wage law in New York City is a responsibility that I take very seriously,” Comptroller Stringer said. “Globe Gates was already under investigation by my office and nonetheless continued to cheat their workers and falsify payroll records. My office has zero tolerance for contractors who steal wages from their workers and then cook their books to cover it up.”

Under state law, the Comptroller’s Office sets and enforces prevailing wage and benefit rates on New York City public works projects, such as renovating public schools and parks, and on New York City building service contracts for work including security and custodial services. When companies on these public contracts do not pay the proper wages and benefits, the Comptroller enforces the law to ensure workers receive the money they are owed.

Since 2014, Comptroller Stringer’s office has assessed more than $26 million in prevailing wage violations and paid over $11 million to employees who were cheated out of their wages. The Comptroller has also debarred over 50 contractors who falsified payroll records to cover up their wage theft.

Prevailing wages are required to be paid for work performed on public construction and building service contracts. If workers believe they have been cheated out of prevailing wages, they should call our confidential Labor Law Hotline at 212-669-4443 or email laborlaw@comptroller.nyc.gov.

To read more about how the Comptroller’s Office sets and enforces prevailing wage and benefit rates on New York City public works projects, please click here.