SENATOR RIVERA AND SENATOR BAILEY ON REPORTS CONCERNING MONTEFIORE MEDICAL CENTER'S EMERGENCY UNITS

Legislators Will Continue to Work with All Involved Parties to Identify Efficient Course of Action to Address Concerns at Montefiore Medical Center

 

Several Solutions are Being Weighed to Improve Patient Care in Emergency Rooms in the North Bronx and The Bronx overall

  State Senator Gustavo Rivera, Ranking Member of the Senate Health Committee, and State Senator Jamaal Bailey sent a letter to New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) and New York City Health + Hospitals (NYC H+H) to discuss possible solutions to the alarming reports of increased wait times, overcrowding, and unsafe hallway placement at Montefiore Medical Center's emergency departments.

 

Last month, after these concerning reports surfaced, Senator Rivera and Senator Bailey met with nurses employed at Montefiore, representatives of the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA), and Montefiore's leadership to discuss possible solutions to address the aforementioned issues and improve patient care in emergency situations in the North Bronx and Bronx in general. A few of the proposed solutions will require the input and participation of the NYSDOH and the NYC H+Hospitals. They include:

1. Reopening units at Westchester Square Medical Center. Montefiore has space at Westchester.
2. Identifying potential patient rooms in all of Montefiore Bronx hospitals and produce a schedule to reopen closed beds.
3. Expanding emergency services at North Central Bronx Hospital.
4. Closing or repurposing the Ebola unit and using it for emergency patient care.

"Our first priority is to ensure that our constituents and all Bronx residents have access to quality and safe medical care," said State Senator Gustavo Rivera. "There are a number of factors that need to be considered and addressed to determine the best step forward in this situation. Several proposals have been put on the table and we are committed to working with all the interested parties to implement thought-out solutions that will improve care, while taking into consideration the serious health care needs of our borough."

 

"Ensuring that all patients in the Bronx receive appropriate medical attention in a timely and efficient manner is a priority. In a borough where we are constantly looking to increase healthcare outcomes, we must carefully look at the balance between all interested parties, and work towards the best solution to these issues. We must weigh the totality of the circumstances and continue the conversations with all involved. I am glad to be working with all parties in order to improve healthcare in the Bronx," said State Senator Jamaal Bailey. 

To read the letter to New York State Department of Health, please click here. 

To read the letter to New York City Health + Hospitals, please click here. 

REP. ADRIANO ESPAILLAT VOWS TO FIGHT EFFORT TO END SUPPORT TO HONDURAS

  In a tweet Tuesday morning, President Trump threatened to end aid to Honduras if its government does not stop immigration to the U.S.

  Today, Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) released the following statement in response to President Trump’s tweet, this morning, threatening to end USAID support for Honduras. 

“President Trump is the epitome of ‘man's inhumanity to man’ as he threatens, yet again, another policy that would devastate individuals fleeing poverty and violence in Honduras, their home country, in search of a better life here in the United States,” said Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13).

“First, the President separated children from their families, in some cases only months old, orphaned, and now this.  The Trump Administration has continuously put forth policies aimed against immigrant communities and against vulnerable women, men, and children seeking asylum in the United States. Our nation is the land of hope, freedom and opportunity. 

“I vow to continue to fight the hate-based rhetoric and anti-immigrant policies from this administration and will champion our efforts to protect the rights of people seeking protection from persecution and asylum here in the United States,” he concluded.

Bronx Veterans Day Parade on November 3rd

The Bronx Veterans Parade Task Team, Inc (TBVPTT, Inc) 

is calling you/your group to participate in the annual Bronx 

Veterans Day Parade as follow:

March/Walk with the veterans in the parade 

(Inviting all Veterans, Service Members, and their 

families; Community Leaders, 

Service Organizations, Marching Bands, 

Schools, and associates of Veterans (Registration required).

Service providers set up table to share information 

of their available service/support to help veterans

and their family (Registration required);

Forward event announcement to your network;

We welcome all constituents to come out along the 

parade route to cheer our veterans on.  

Please fill out and return the attached application that 

match your area of interest.

Parade Date/Time: Saturday,

November 3rd @ 12Noon

Parade Formation: 11:00AM at E. 175th Street 

Crotona Parkway (parallel to Southern Blvd/ E. 175th)

Parade Route: From E. 175^th Street & Crotona Parkway 

going north; turn right on E. 180^th Street, and continue

to the West Farm Soldiers Cemetery located on E 180^th 

Street & Bryant Avenue for a memorial service. 

Exit cemetery, Reassemble, and proceed to River Park 

(Bronx) at E. 180^th Street & Boston Road to receive 

announcements, resource information & screenings, music, 

and refreshments.

 Respectfully,

 The Bronx Veterans Parade Task Team (TBVPTT)

Attachments area

"Get in the Networking Spirit" at The Bronx Chamber of Commerce Halloween Networking Mixer

Join us for a BOO-tifle night of Networking and Fun. FREE FOR CHAMBER MEMBERS!

Engel, Bipartisan House Members Introduce Permanent Extension of 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund

  Congressman Eliot L. Engel joined bipartisan Members of Congress to introduce H.R. 7062, Never Forget the Heroes; Permanent Authorization of the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund.

In the aftermath of September 11, 2001, tens of thousands of Americans have fallen ill and lost their lives due to toxic pollutants that filled the air surrounding the wreckage. Responders and survivors have been promised permanent health care through legislation signed into law in 2015. However, the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund, which offers financial assistance to these Americans and their families, will expire in 2020 without action from Congress.

H.R. 7062, of which Engel is an original cosponsor, will permanently fund this program.

“The heroes of 9/11 came from far and wide to help their fellow Americans in their time of need. The least we can do is take care of them, and do it permanently,” Engel said. “I was proud to support the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act and its 2015 reauthorization—two bills I fought hard to get through the Energy and Commerce Committee—and I am tremendously proud to support this legislation. It is my honor to represent the people of New York, including the heroes this program serves, and I will fight to keep this program running for them.”

5th Annual Domestic Violence Awareness By the Carrion Movement "THERE IS LIFE AFTER ABUSE"

(L - R) - Ms. Jayda Palau, Ms. Zelideth Diaz-Hatch, Ms. Tanya Carrion, Master of Ceremonies Jose Rivera, Ms. Alison Santiago, and Ms. Meryland Cuevas-Canela. 

"THERE IS LIFE AFTER ABUSE"

That was the theme of the 5th Annual Domestic Violence Awareness event held at the UFT Bronx headquarters. It was to teach people that while a person (men as well as women) that there is life after abuse. 

It was a quick four and a half hours as there were many different segments of this event. There were 'Life Stories' by some who have experienced Domestic Violence. You could see real tears as the speakers told their stories, and real concerns they had while in the abuse part of a relationship, but also fears of what may happen now that those relationships have ended. The stories were very different, telling some of the many horrors of Domestic Violence, and what it does to the victims other than the injuries. The lack of belief of the story by some of those in authority,

Two elected officials were present who spoke, Assemblyman and Bronx Democratic County Leader Marcos Crespo, and recently elected 87th A.D. District Leader John Perez. While Assemblyman Crespo spoke of his travels to Puerto Rico with Governor Cuomo, District Leader Perez spoke of the Domestic Violence he had endured during a marriage. 

There was different entertainment as you will see in the photos, Zumba, children performing, and singers where people went up front to dance. 

Above - Event organizer Tanya Carrion stands with Assemblyman Marcos Crespo (r), and District Leader John Perez (l).

Below - Ms. Jayda Palau told a very revealing story of her Domestic Violence that she endured. 

Above - Assemblyman Marcos Crespo congratulates Ms. Palau for telling her story of abuse.

Below - District Leader John Perez tells of a very bad case of abuse his former wife hurled on him while they were married.

Above - A song by Juanky.

Below - The Skk Dancers.

Above - Miguel and John Q in a song performance.

Below - Ms. Tanya Carrion joins with Ms. Jayda Palau and others to dance to the music.

A group photo with Miguel and Jon Q, Emcee Jose Rivera, and the Domestic Violence survivors who came up to dance.

DOI INVESTIGATION LEADS TO ARREST OF NEW YORK CITY CORRECTION OFFICER ON CHARGES OF SMUGGLING CONTRABAND INTO THE MANHATTAN DETENTION COMPLEX

  Mark G. Peters, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation (“DOI”), announced today the arrest of a Correction Officer with the New York City Department of Correction (“DOC”) on charges of bringing in contraband, specifically what is believed to be marijuana, into the Manhattan Detention Complex. DOI’s drug-sniffing dog, Buster, was positioned at the front gate during a routine screening on Friday morning, October 12, 2018, at about 9:40 a.m. and alerted on Correction Officer THOMAS STEWART as he entered the facility where he is assigned. The case is being prosecuted by office of New York County District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr.

 DOI Commissioner Mark G. Peters said, “This is the second arrest this week involving insider corruption at the City’s jails. In this case, and the one earlier this week in the Bronx, a correction officer violated his oath to protect safety within the jails, the safety of his fellow officers, by smuggling in contraband, according to the charges. We know that contraband fuels an underground trade and violence behind bars. We thank the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office for its partnership on these important arrests.” 

  STEWART, 37, of Brooklyn, N.Y., was charged with Bribe Receiving in the Third Degree, a class D felony; Promoting Prison Contraband in the Second Degree, Criminal Possession of Marijuana in the Fourth Degree and Official Misconduct, all class A misdemeanors. Upon conviction, a class D felony is punishable by up to seven years in prison, and a class A misdemeanor is punishable by up to one year’s incarceration. 

 STEWART has been employed by DOC as a Correction Officer since June 2017, he receives an annual base salary of approximately $44,333, and was suspended immediately after his arrest.

 According to the criminal complaint and DOI’s investigation, on October 12, 2018, DOI’s drugsniffing dog, Buster, alerted on STEWART as he entered the front gate at the Manhattan Detention Complex. After Buster alerted, the defendant surrendered two brick-sized packages wrapped in black plastic tape that he had concealed on himself. The investigation determined that the bricks weighed approximately 142.6 grams, or over five ounces, and contained multiple rubber balloons filled with a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana. DOI later recovered $140 in cash from the defendant who indicated he had been paid that sum to bring in the contraband to give to a prisoner.

 The investigation is ongoing.

DOI Commissioner Peters thanked Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr. and his staff for their prosecution of this matter; and DOC Commissioner Cynthia Brann and her staff for their cooperation in this investigation.

 A criminal complaint is an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty 

STATEMENT BY DOI COMMISSIONER MARK G. PETERS

  James McGovern, who I appointed to conduct an independent investigation of whistleblower claims by Anastasia Coleman and Daniel Schlachet, has informed me that he has substantiated their claims. He recommended and determined the following: (1) That they be restored to their prior employment and provided with back pay; (2) I exceeded my authority by integrating the office of the Special Commissioner of Investigation within the Department of Investigation and that all actions in that regard should be reversed; (3) I erred in my conduct and should be disciplined in the form of a letter of apology. I will accept and follow Mr. McGovern’s recommendations. 

 Accepting oversight, even when you are the subject of that oversight, is critical for good government. Now that this process is complete, I look forward to continuing the systemic and important oversight work of DOI, the City’s Inspector General.