A.G. Underwood Announces $190K Settlement With Sham Coop For Operating As A Rental Building

For Decades, 417 E 60 Owners Corp Operated as a Rental Building in Violation of Business Corporation and Rent Stabilization Laws

Corporation Must Pay $190,000 to New York City – Will Help Finance Affordable Housing Projects in NYC 

  Attorney General Barbara D. Underwood announced a settlement with 417 E 60 Owners Corp, a former cooperative corporation on the Upper East Side of New York City, for violating state law by using a cooperative as a rental building for decades and depriving tenants of protections they’re entitled to under rent stabilization laws.

The settlement agreement requires 417 East 60 Street to operate exclusively as a rental building and abandon the cooperative plan so that it can no longer claim cooperative exemption under the Rent Stabilization Law. In addition, the corporation must pay $190,000 to the New York City Department of Finance – which will be used by the Department of Housing Preservation and Development to finance housing projects for low-income New Yorkers.

“Sham cooperatives acting as rental properties diminish opportunities for homeownership and fail to provide rent stabilized protections for New York tenants,” said Attorney General Underwood. “At a time when affordable housing is so scarce, my office will continue working to preserve critical protections for tenants and ensure more housing is made available to New Yorkers.”

Prior to 1982, 417 East 60 Street in Manhattan was an occupied rental apartment building containing rent regulated units. In 1984, the building converted to a cooperative and transferred ownership to 417 E 60 Owners Corp. The Owners Corp was formed in order “to make apartments, space and facilities located in [417 East 60th Street] available to the shareholders of the Corporation for residential purposes under leases commonly known as proprietary leases.” Prior to October 2015, one individual acquired all shares to become the sole shareholder and sublet certain apartments so the building operated as a for-profit rental building – in violation of New York Executive and Business Corporation Law. No shareholders resided in the building and tenants that sublet the units were not treated as rent regulated tenants.

MAYOR DE BLASIO AND DOT COMMISSIONER TROTTENBERG APPOINT FORMER COUNCIL SPEAKER MELISSA MARK-VIVERITO AND STATE SENATOR MICHAEL GIANARIS TO

THE METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY WORKGROUP

Mayor Bill de Blasio and Department of Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg appointed former Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and State Senator Michael Gianaris to the Metropolitan Transportation Sustainability Advisory Workgroup. The two appointees have extensive experience working on behalf of New Yorkers to improve New York City’s transit system. The workgroup was established in the enacted 2018-19 New York State budget. The 10-member workgroup will study the regional public transit system and recommend ways in which the system can be improved to provide safe, adequate, efficient and reliable transportation for New Yorkers.

“Former Speaker Mark-Viverito and State Senator Gianaris have a proven track record advocating on behalf of New Yorkers for a fair and reliable transportation system,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “I’m confident that their valuable insights – informed by their many years of public service – will help the workgroup conduct a thorough analysis of our transit system’s ailments and potential solutions.”

"Mass transit in New York City faces enormous challenges, and former Speaker Mark-Viverito and State Senator Gianaris both have the kind of experience and expertise to ably represent the City on this workgroup," said NYC DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg. "I look forward to supporting them as they study the MTA – and give the City substantial opportunity to make positive changes for the City and the entire region's transportation future."

"I am honored to join the Metropolitan Transportation Sustainability Advisory Workgroup which will examine ways to make the critical upgrades needed to provide the kind of safe and reliable transit service that New Yorkers need and deserve," said former Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito. "I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Workgroup to carefully study the challenges facing our transit system and ensure that we bring our subways and buses into the 21st Century."

“New York deserves a world-class transit system that is reliable, affordable and 100 percent accessible – right now, we have none of these,” said State Senator Michael Gianaris. “There is much work to do to get our mass transit where it needs to be, and I am honored to be trusted with the responsibility to help make that happen.”

About Former Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito:

Melissa Mark-Viverito is Vice President for Strategic Engagement at the Latino Victory Fund (LVF). Mark-Viverito previously served as Speaker of the New York City Council, the first Puerto Rican and Latina to hold citywide office, and represented the 8th District, which includes El Barrio/East Harlem and the South Bronx. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, she worked for over a decade in local activism, nonprofit organizations and grassroots labor organizing before being elected to the City Council in 2005. As Speaker, she focused on transparency in government and policies that generate socioeconomic opportunity and combat systemic inequality, including groundbreaking work on immigration and criminal justice reform.

Under her leadership, the Council supported increasing access to transportation for all New Yorkers, including Select Bus Service, the city's ferries and protected bike lanes. She has been a longtime and consistent advocate for the creation of a dedicated revenue stream for critical transit upgrades. In her district, she was also a strong advocate for improved public transit options, such as Phase II of the Second Avenue Subway, which will extend the Q line into El Barrio/East Harlem, and the Select Bus Service line on 125th Street.

About State Senator Michael Gianaris:

State Senator Michael Gianaris is the Chair of the Senate Democratic Conference and a leading voice for better transit policy in New York, authoring the Millionaire’s Tax legislation to create a dedicated revenue stream for the MTA. He has played an active role providing oversight of the MTA and calling for needed reforms. Most recently, he wrote a major report highlighting the transit system’s dubious distinction of being the least accessible in the nation. 

State Senator Gianaris has also been a leader in efforts to reform the criminal justice system, authoring legislation to eliminate cash bail in New York. The son of Greek immigrants, he staunchly defended New York’s immigrant communities during recent policy attacks from the federal government. State Senator Gianaris is a graduate of New York City public schools, Fordham University and Harvard Law School

About the Metropolitan Transportation Sustainability Advisory Workgroup:

The Metropolitan Transportation Sustainability Advisory Workgroup will review the regional transportation network within the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District, including subways and buses, the Metro-North commuter railroad, the Long Island Rail Road, etc. The workgroup will study issues related to the sustainability of the network such as funding, motor vehicle traffic, congestion, fares and for-hire vehicle services, among other things. The workgroup will issue a report with recommendations by end of year. The workgroup will consist of 10 members – two appointed by the City of New York, including the NYC DOT; four by the State, including NYS DOT and the MTA; two by the state Senate, and two by the state Assembly. The Governor will appoint the chair of the workgroup.

MAYOR DE BLASIO, CHANCELLOR CARRANZA, AND COUNCIL MEMBER BRANNAN HIGHLIGHT NEW BAY RIDGE PRE-K CENTER

New 250-seat pre-K center in Bay Ridge fully equipped with interactive white boards, community meeting room, and multipurpose room

  Mayor Bill de Blasio, Schools Chancellor Richard A. Carranza, and Council Member Justin Brannan today toured a brand-new pre-K center in Bay Ridge. Opening for the 2018-19 school year, the new three-story, state-of-the-art building will offer seats to more than 250 pre-K students.

“Early childhood education has the power to put kids on the path to success, said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “As a parent, I believe that it should be a right – not a privilege - and that all New York City children deserve that opportunity. This new Bay Ridge school is the brick and mortar proof of our commitment to expanding Pre-K for All and ensuring that every young New Yorker has a chance to succeed in school.”

“This building is a concrete testament to our investment in the education of our youngest New Yorkers,” said Deputy Mayor for Strategic Policy Initiatives Mayor Phil Thompson. “We are incredibly excited for the students in Brooklyn who will get to learn and play in this brand new space in just a few weeks.”

“Pre-K for All is a game-changer for young students and families across this City, and this new state-of-the-art building will benefit hundreds of Brooklyn students every year,” said Schools Chancellor Richard A. Carranza. “In this amazing learning environment, our four-year-olds will get an early start to their educational career that will form the foundation of their long-term academic success.”

The District 20 Pre-K Center at 369 93rd Street is fully ADA-accessible and includes:

•         14 classrooms

•         Interactive white boards 

•         An outdoor playground

•         An indoor multipurpose recreation room

•         A community meeting room

 “This new state-of-the-art school building will bring excitement and an eagerness for learning to hundreds our youngest New Yorkers,” said Lorraine Grillo, President and CEO of the NYC School Construction Authority. “This news space includes all the amenities we expect in a world class education facility, and we are thrilled to open this space up to Bay Ridge families.”

Parents with children enrolled in free, full-day pre-K save an average of $10,000 annually on childcare costs. Additionally, a 2017 NYU study found that Pre-K for All increases the chance that a low-income child in New York City is properly diagnosed with asthma or vision problems and receives screenings or treatment for hearing or vision problems. Independent research from the NYC Center for Economic Opportunity demonstrated high satisfaction with Pre-K for All: 92 percent of families surveyed rated their program as excellent or good, and 83 percent of families said their child learned a lot in pre-K. Across the board, the research shows that both students and families are seeing critical benefits from Pre-K for All.

Pre-K for All and 3-K for All are part of the Mayor and Chancellor’s Equity and Excellence for All agenda. Together, the Equity and Excellence for All initiatives are building a pathway to success in college and careers for all students. Our students are starting school earlier, with free, full-day, high-quality education for three-year-olds and four-year-olds through 3-K for All and Pre-K for All; and our schools are strengthening foundational skills and instruction earlier, with Universal Literacy and Algebra for All. Our schools are also offering students more challenging, hands-on, college and career-aligned coursework, as Computer Science for All brings 21st-century computer science instruction to every school, and AP for All works to give all high school students access to at least five Advanced Placement courses. Along the way, our schools are providing students and families additional support through College Access for All, Single Shepherd, and investment in Community Schools. Efforts to create more diverse and inclusive classrooms are central to this pathway.

DISTRICT COUNCIL 37 LOCAL 420 ENDORSES JUMAANE WILLIAMS FOR LT. GOVERNOR

  Lt. Governor candidate Jumaane Williams announced today that his campaign has received the endorsement of District Council 37 Local 420 AFSCME. The prominent local union represents a wide range of employees in the health sector, including those who work in health and hospitals corporations, fire departments, the Department of Corrections and the Department of Health.

DC 37 Local 420 released the following statement regarding the endorsement, "As a councilman, Jumaane has fought tirelessly to better the lives of his constituents. As a New York City resident, he readily gave up his freedom fighting for the freedom of others. As Lieutenant Governor, we can trust him to protect and preserve the rights of all New Yorkers. Local 420 AFSCME is proud to endorse Jumaane Williams for Lieutenant Governor of New York!"

Local 420 is the leading force in DC 37's organizing efforts in the health sector. Unlike in years past, the DC 37 governing body did not endorse a candidate for this year's Lt. Governor race, which has led to the 51 local unions to make individual endorsements. 

"I'm proud to have Local 420's support to become New York's next Lieutenant Governor," said Williams. "The politics of the past are failing workers across the state, which is why Albany needs bold progressive leaders to advance a truly progressive agenda. I am grateful to the nearly 9,000 members of Local 420 for their support, and look forward to working along side of them during the final stretch of this important race."

Local 420 is the third union to endorse Jumaane's insurgent campaign in the Democratic primary for Lt. Governor. He was previously endorsed by DC 1707 AFSCME and SSEU Local 371. This endorsement builds on two separate endorsements this week by New York City Council Member Carlina Rivera, Co-Chair of the Counci's Women's Committee, and New York State Senate candidate Jessica Ramos.

BP DIAZ & TENANTS TO NYCHA: WHERE’S THE MONEY?

Borough President highlights agency’s funding fiasco,

Calls for NYCHA to open its books to public review

  Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. joined more than 100 New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) tenant leaders and residents of all ages for a rally today at the Bronx River Houses to bring attention to the agency’s failure to spend money that has been given to it to improve tenants’ lives. The borough president also called on the agency to open its books to the public for review.

“No matter how great or small an issue, NYCHA can always find a way to fail. Be it lying about lead paint inspections or failing to provide adequate heat during the coldest months, NYCHA has demonstrated time and time again it cannot deliver for its more than 400,000 tenants,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. “This latest escapade shows that NYCHA cannot even do something nice for its residents when someone else pays them to do it.”

Last year, Borough President Diaz allocated $139,000 in capital dollars to NYCHA to provide computers and other technical assistance to the community centers in three Bronx developments—the Bronx River Houses, the Sonia Sotomayor Houses and the Soundview Houses.

The money was intended to kick-off a pilot program to provide new programming opportunities within NYCHA developments and activate community centers in new ways in order to assist tenants with everyday tasks, be it homework for young people to job searches for adults and everything in between. To date, not a penny of this money has been spent.

Tenant leaders at these developments have circulated petitions throughout the summer, collecting nearly 1,000 signatures from residents of the Bronx River Houses. The petitions demand that NYCHA move to spend the money and bring new computers to these centers before the start of the upcoming school year.

“I'm very disgusted because the community center is a resource, not just an after school or senior center but a safe haven, a tool. The director of this center fulfilled every step with regarding this grant through the Bronx Borough President Office, and Bronx River was one of the chosen centers to solidified the grant. Now NYCHA has not answered any of our questions. We have residents that need this computer room to create resumes, students that need to apply for college. NYCHA, do right and release the funding,” said Norma Saunders, tenant leader at the Bronx River Houses.

At the press conference Borough President Diaz called for NYCHA’s books to be opened for public review, adding that NYCHA should be forced to explain how it spends—or does not spend—money that has been allocated to the agency.

“It is time for the agency to open its books to the public. Put them online. Let’s be transparent. Let’s see how much money has been allocated to NYCHA, and just how much of that money has been spent,” said Borough President Diaz. When money sits unspent, we need to know why that is. We can no longer accept this level of unaccountability.”

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. - Back to School Health and Literacy Community Fair

Allerton Avenue International Food Festival

NEWS FROM STATE SENATOR GUSTAVO RIVERA

THIS FRIDAY: SENATOR RIVERA HOSTS HIS FIRST BACK-TO-SCHOOL CELEBRATION AT CROTONA PARK!

With the start of the new school year quickly approaching, State Senator Gustavo Rivera will host three Back to School events on Friday, August 24, Tuesday, August 28 and Friday, August 31 at Crotona Park, Saint James Park and Tremont Park respectively.

The three events, part of Senator Rivera's Bronx CAN Health Initiative, will offer families in Senate District 33 an afternoon filled with free backpacks, fun activities and free health screenings. The number of backpacks is limited and they will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis. Children between 5 and 13 years old must be present and in the company of an adult while youths between the ages of 14 and 18, do not need a parent present.

SCHEDULE OF BACK TO SCHOOL EVENTS:

1) Back To School Event at Crotona Park

Who: State Senator Gustavo Rivera

When: Friday, August 24, 2018

            3:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Where: Crotona Park (Bathgate Playground on E 173rd Street and Fulton Avenue)

2) Back To School Event at Saint James Park

Who: State Senator Gustavo Rivera

When: Tuesday, August 28, 2018

            3:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Where: St. James Park (entrance on Jerome Avenue and W 192nd Street)

3) Back To School Event at Tremont Park

Who: State Senator Gustavo Rivera, Assembly Member Victor M. Pichardo, and              Council Member Ritchie Torres.

When: Friday, August 31, 2018

            3:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Where: Tremont Park (corner of E Tremont Avenue and Arthur Avenue)

**This event is free and open to the public. Participating organizations include Hispanic Federation, Kars for Kids, VIP Community Services, Union Community Health Center, Bronx Care Health System, 32BJ, DC37, the New York City Police Department 52nd Precinct, the New York City Police Department 52nd Precinct, the New York City Police Department 48th Precinct Explorers Program, Bronx Community Board 6, Bronx Community Board 7, NAC, North West Bronx Community Clergy Coalition -Sistas and Brothas United.