Tuesday, October 2, 2018
BP DIAZ PROVIDES $2.5 MILLION TO CUNY CAMPUSES
As part of his FY2019 capital allocations, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. announced today that his office will provide $2.5 million in funding to projects at the borough’s three City University of New York college campuses.
“Education at all levels is a top priority of my administration,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. “I myself an a CUNY ‘two-fer,’ having graduated from both Lehman College and LaGuardia Community College, so I understand just how important it is to keep our public colleges operating at a high level. I am always proud to support CUNY any way I can, and with this funding we can provide critical upgrades to our three Bronx CUNY campuses.”
This year’s projects include $1,000,000 to build smart classrooms at Hostos Community College, $750,000 for gymnasium renovations at Bronx Community College, $500,000 to install new seating at the Lehman Center for the Performing Arts and $250,000 for network and technology upgrades in 220 classrooms at Lehman College.
Since 2009, Bronx Borough President Diaz Jr. has invested $15,642,000 in capital funds towards higher education across 29 projects.
This year, Borough President Diaz’s office has provided $23,250,000 in total capital dollars across 81 projects. Since coming to office in 2009, Borough President Diaz has provided $271,897,000 in total capital funding to 806 projects.
Senator Rivera on Senate Republican Public Hearings on State's Current Parole Policies
"It's unfortunate that Senate Republicans are using a public hearing, such a critical legislative tool, as an obvious political ploy. This questionably timed hearing is clearly a stunt that will not be conducive to what should be our ultimate goal as legislators: to closely examine important issues affecting our State in an objective, non-partisan manner.
While there may be legitimate concerns around our State's current parole policies and the restoration of voting rights for New Yorkers on parole, the fact is that my Republican colleagues are rushing these hearings a mere four weeks before November's general election in their attempt to score cheap political points and mobilize their base of voters.
Furthermore, we cannot deny that one of the main goals of these hearings is to deepen the public's distrust against incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals, even after they have paid their debt to society, and have been rehabilitated.
In the meantime, I will continue to advocate for common sense measures, such as my bill to implement discretionary release as part of the parole process (S8346). If adopted, this bill would make a real difference in creating a fairer system, especially for low-income communities and people of color.
Without a doubt, the road to reforming our State's criminal justice system will be long and filled with obstacles. That is why we cannot allow elected representatives to play political games that undermine true efforts to improve the parole process for both victims and incarcerated individuals."
Next Croton FMC meeting will be held on October 16th at 6:30pm.
The next Croton FMC meeting will be held on October 16th at 6:30pm. Please note the new location -- Mosholu Montefiore Community Center at 3450 Dekalb Avenue, basement. Attached is the agenda for this meeting.
If you have any questions, please contact:
Effie Ardizzone | Bronx Borough Coordinator | NYC Environmental Protection
Bureau of Public Affairs & Communications
(O) 718-595-3493 | (M) 646-438-0773
Agenda
Croton Facility Monitoring Committee Meeting (CFMC)
Thursday, October 16, 2018 – 6:30 PM
Mosholu Montefiore Community Center – 3450 DeKalb Avenue
I Welcome and Call Meeting to Order Bill Hall, Chair
II Consider, Adopt October 16th Agenda CFMC Representatives
III Consider, Adopt Minutes from CFMC Representatives
April 11, 2018 CFMC Meeting
IV Update on Project to construct Pedestrian Bridge Department of Design and Construction over Major Deegan Expressway to Connect Sections Representatives of Van Cortlandt Park
V Update on Golf Clubhouse Department of Design and Construction Representatives
VI Croton Costs and Construction Update Bernard Daly/ Arne Fareth, DEP
VIII Old Business CFMC Representatives and Public
IX New Business CFMC Representatives and Public
STATEMENT FROM MAYOR DE BLASIO ON SIGNING OF BODY SCANNER LEGISLATION IN CITY JAILS
“Getting more advanced body scanners in our jails has been a top priority. These units will help us drive down violence and make our jails safer for staff and inmates. I want to thank Governor Cuomo, Assembly Speaker Heastie, Senate Leaders Flanagan and Stewart-Cousins, bill sponsors Assembly Member Weprin and Senator Hannon, and COBA President Elias Husamudeen for their role in this critical reform.”
Rep. Adriano Espaillat Statement on DHS Report on Separated Children
Representative Adriano Espaillat released the following statement in response to a report by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on its handling of the separation of families at the southern border under President Trump’s ‘zero tolerance’ policy.
“The Department of Homeland Security’s implementation of Donald Trump’s ‘zero tolerance’ policy separating immigrant children from their parents and detaining them has become one of the most harmful, misguided, and inhumane policies put forth by this administration to date,” said Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13).
“Additionally, this new report released by the DHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) highlights the Trump administration’s inability to identify, keep track of, and reunify families that it separated and further demonstrates that this administration is not up to the task of implementing policies of its own creation, which has tragically led to a humanitarian crisis that could have been prevented. There are still hundreds of families separated – many of these children are at the Cayuga Center in my district. I continue to push for their reunification even in spite of an Administration that has been slow to process fingerprints and slow to process their cases.”
Sunday, September 30, 2018
DE BLASIO ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES FASTER, UPDATED PLAN FOR EAST SIDE COASTAL RESILIENCY PROJECT
New plan will reduce construction time, transform East River Park and deliver flood protections for the East Side nearly a year earlier
The de Blasio administration announced that the City will pursue an alternative design for part of the massive East Side Coastal Resiliency project in Lower Manhattan.
This updated design will enable flood protection to be implemented nearly one year earlier, and the entire project to be completed six months earlier, than the design that was previously considered. The updated design will raise the entire East River Park, with the flood wall at the water’s edge integrated with the bulkhead and esplanade that does not obstruct views to the water. The raising of the park also extends the protected area toward the waterline, greatly reducing the likelihood of the park itself being inundated during a storm.
To see how the projects compare and maps of the affected area, please see here.
Approximately 30% of the project will remain unchanged. The unchanged portions run between Montgomery and Cherry Streets and East 13th and East 25th Streets.
BENEFITS OF THE UPDATED DESIGN
Faster construction: The updated plan will shave approximately six months off the projected timeline and provide flood protections for residents nearly one full year sooner.
The adoption of the new design follows a value engineering study performed earlier this year and a review of the project by a panel of experts with experience from around the nation. Under the accelerated schedule construction will begin in spring 2020 and flood protection will be provided by summer 2023, in time for the year’s hurricane season.
Less disruptive construction: The new design shifts much of the heavy construction work away from residents who live near the FDR Drive toward the waterline, reducing construction noise in the community. It will also reduce traffic disruptions and night-time lane closures during construction. The new plan also makes it possible for construction materials to be brought to the site by barge.
Improved park access: The updated plan will allow the City to provide better connections to East River Park for community residents, with fewer walls between the park and the community. The design of this project will now also accommodate a separate project to address the East River Greenway pinch point near the ConEd facility (known as the Flyover Bridge). As previously planned, the project will also replace the Delancey Street and East 10th Street pedestrian bridges, and create a Houston Street entry plaza with direct connection to the water.
World-class park: The plan will lead to rebuilding Lower Manhattan’s largest park, East River Park. The new 40 acre greenspace will reflect and serve the community priorities, addressing their recreational needs by providing amenities that include eight baseball fields, three soccer fields, a running track, a multipurpose field, four and a half basketball courts, 12 tennis courts, and more; all while ensuring that this asset is not flooded from sea level rise and frequent storms.
BACKGROUND
The overall East Side Coastal Resiliency project seeks to establish flood protection on the east side of Manhattan from Montgomery Street north to East 25th Street, a distance of 2.4 miles. The City has already allocated $760 million toward East Side Coastal Resiliency. This includes funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which provided the City with $338 million in Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery funds.
The East Side Coastal Resiliency project team is led by the NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC), Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), and the Mayor's Office of Recovery and Resiliency (ORR). Other agency partners include the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the Department of City Planning (DCP), Small Business Services (SBS), and the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC).
The City will present the new approach to local elected officials, the Community Board, and other neighborhood stakeholders at upcoming meetings this fall. We will continue to take into account the feedback we have gathered throughout the engagement process on ESCR and there will be many opportunities for additional input on design elements moving forward.
Saturday, September 29, 2018
Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. Invites you to The Official Bronx Celebration of Italian-American Heritage & Culture Month “Mese della Cultura Italiana”
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