DE BLASIO ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES HEATING IMPROVEMENTS FOR NYCHA RESIDENTS IN ADVANCE OF WINTER

New strategy to reduce outages and restore heat faster by installing new boilers, hiring more heating staff and external contractors, as well as improving resident communication

  The de Blasio Administration announced the result of heating improvements made across NYCHA this summer and fall to prepare for cold weather. In response to last year’s record cold temperatures, NYCHA’s new leadership has developed a comprehensive strategy to reduce outages and restore heating faster this winter. Systemwide, NYCHA residents now have more heating staff, more mobile boilers on hand for emergencies and better handling of their heat complaints. And 87,000 residents at developments that had chronic heating issues last year have received target improvements, ranging from new boilers to new third-party experts that will manage heating plants to reduce outages.

  

“Every NYCHA resident deserves heat in the winter. Our new leadership at NYCHA have delivered major improvements that will reduce outages and get the heat back on faster,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “This plan will benefit all 400,000 New Yorkers who call NYCHA home, and is the only the beginning of more improvements to come."

“In preparation for this winter season, we have been fully dedicated to ensuring real improvements to keep residents warmer,” said NYCHA Interim Chair and CEO Stanley Brezenoff. “While there is no magic wand, our operations team, under the leadership of our General Manager Vito Mustaciuolo, is tackling problems we have immediate control over while looking to the future when we can have more reliable heating throughout our portfolio for all New Yorkers who rely on us.”

“After joining NYCHA in the height of the heating problems last winter, I committed from day one to ensure that we were better prepared when this winter season came around,” said NYCHA General Manager Vito Mustaciuolo. “With unprecedented support from Mayor de Blasio, we have achieved operational improvements, streamlined capital timelines and better technology both internally and for resident communication, so when the winter freeze comes, we will be able to respond faster and get boilers up and running quicker.”

Last winter in New York City was one of the coldest on record, bringing NYCHA’s aging infrastructure to a brink. Approximately half of NYCHA developments experienced one or more heat service interruptions lasting longer than 24 hours last heat season. This winter, NYCHA is targeting investments towards the worst performing heating systems. 

The citywide improvements for the 2018-19 heating season include:

• More Heating Staff: NYCHA has added 50 new heating technicians this heating season, and added more contracts with skilled laborers to provided additional expertise if needed. These staffing expansions will improve maintenance and speed response times.
• Better Customer Service: When NYCHA makes heating repairs, it will now robocall all affected residents before closing out work orders. Any resident that has not experienced heat restoration will be able to immediately respond through the call to keep staff on site to address their issue.
• New Mobile Boilers: 5 additional mobile boilers are ready to deploy during emergencies to keep heat running.

The targeted improvements affected 87,000 residents include:

• New Boilers: 12 developments have had boilers replaced since last winter with three more under repair now, improving heating service for 9,100 residents. Six developments, with 7,300 residents, have received dedicated mobile boilers. 
• Outside Experts to Monitor and Manage Boilers: For 41 scattered sites or high-tech heating plants, third-party agencies will provide faster and better fixes, helping 70,000 residents experience better heat this season. Further developments will be transferred to third party managers over the course of the heating season.

• Better Windows: 7,600 senior apartments received new window balances, a key issue in last year’s struggles to keep the cold out. These repaired windows will lock in the heat more securely for NYCHA’s elderly residents.

Below is a list of sites that are receiving targeted improvements:

New Boilers

·         104-14 Tapscott Street

·         Claremont Rehab (Group 2)

·         Claremont Rehab (Group 4)

·         Coney Island I (Site 1B)

·         Coney Island (Sites 4&5)

·         Fort Washington Avenue Rehab

·         Hope Gardens

·         Ingersoll

·         International Tower

·         Lower East Side I

·         Manhattanville Rehab (Group 2)

·         Manhattanville Rehab (Group 3) *

·         Melrose*

·         Ocean Hill-Brownsville

·         Rehab Program (Wise Rehab)

·         Robinson *

·         Rutland Towers*

·         Sutter Avenue-Union Street

·         Taft*

·         Washington Heights Rehab

·         Wyckoff Gardens*

Note: The locations with an asterisk are receiving a mobile boiler.

Third Party Management

·         303 Vernon Avenue

·         Albany

·         Albany II

·         Astoria

·         Beach 41ST Street

·         Brownsville

·         Conlon Lihfe Towers

·         Cooper Park

·         Corsi Houses

·         East River

·         Elliot

·         Fiorentino Plaza

·         Glenmore Plaza

·         Highbridge Gardens

·         Howard

·         Hughes Apartments

·         International Tower

·         Jefferson

·         Kingsborough

·         Kingsborough Extension

·         Lexington

·         Long Island Baptist Houses

·         Low Houses

·         Pink

·         Queensbridge North

·         Queensbridge South

·         Rangel

·         Roosevelt I

·         Roosevelt II

·         Shelton House

·         Sumner

·         Tilden

·         Unity Plaza (Sites 17,24,25A)

·         Unity Plaza (SITES 4-27)

·         Van Dyke I

·         Van Dyke II

·         Vandalia Avenue

·         Wagner

·         Washington

·         Williamsburg

·         Woodson

Better Windows

·         Armstrong I

·         Baruch Houses Addition

·         Betances I

·         Bethune Gardens

·         Borinquen Plaza I

·         Boston Road Plaza

·         Bronx River Addition

·         Brown

·         Cassidy-Lafayette

·         Chelsea Addition

·         Claremont Parkway- Franklin Avenue

·         College Avenue – East 165^th Street

·         Conlon Lihfe Towers

·         Corsi Houses

·         Davidson

·         East 152^nd Street- Courtlandt Avenue

·         Fort Washington Avenue Rehab

·         Garvey (Group A)

·         Glebe Avenue- Westchester Avenue

·         Haber

·         Harborview Terrace

·         Hope Gardens

·         International Tower

·         Kingsborough Extension

·         La Guardia Addition

·         Leavitt Street- 34^th Avenue

·         Lower East Side I

·         Marshall Plaza

·         Meltzer Tower

·         Middletown Plaza

·         Mitchel

·         Morris Park Senior Citizens Home

·         Morrisania Air Rights

·         Palmetto Gardens

·         Public School 139 (Conversion)

·         Randall Avenue-Balcom Avenue

·         Rehab Program (College Point)

·         Reid Apartments

·         Robbins Plaza

·         Roosevelt I

·         Shelton House

·         Stuyvesant Gardens II

·         Surfside Gardens

·         Twin Parks East (Site 9)

·         Union Avenue – East 163^rd Street

·         Upaca (Site 5)

·         Upaca (Site 6)

·         Van Dyke II

·         Vandalia Avenue

·         West Brighton II

·         West Tremont Avenue – Sedgewick Avenue

·         White

·         Woodson

The de Blasio Administration has made an unprecedented commitment to preserve and strengthen public housing. This investment is part of the Administration’s total commitment to $2.1 billion to support NYCHA’s capital infrastructure from Fiscal Year 2014 to Fiscal Year 2027 and $1.6 billion to support NYCHA’s operations from Fiscal Year 2014 to Fiscal Year 2022. This investment includes $1.3 billion to fix over 900 roofs, over $500 million to repair deteriorating exterior brickwork at nearly 400 buildings, and $140 million to improve security at 15 NYCHA developments.

The City waived NYCHA’s annual PILOT and NYPD payments to the City, relieving NYCHA of nearly $100 million in operating expenses a year. In January 2018, the Mayor announced $13 million to improve NYCHA’s response to heating emergencies this winter, followed by an additional $200 million for long-term heating improvements at 20 NYCHA developments. 

Bronx CB 7 General Board Meeting | Annual Budget Public Hearing FY20 | Tuesday, October 23, 2016 | 6pm

Annual Budget Public Hearing FY20 -  Review of Community Board 7's FY20 Budget Priorities and Requests

  *   Tuesday, October 23, 2018 @ 6:00 pm

Location

Montefiore Hospital Medical Center

Cherkasky Auditorium

110 East Gun Hill Road

Bronx, NY 10467

________________________________

Bronx CB 7 General Board Meeting

  *   Tuesday, October 23, 2018 @  6:30 pm

Location

Montefiore Hospital Medical Center

Cherkasky Auditorium

110 East Gun Hill Road

Bronx, NY 10467

Parkchester/Van Nest Public Workshop/Open House

  

Please join us and help plan around coming Metro-North service in your neighborhood!

Parkchester/Van Nest
Public Workshop and Open House

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Join us for a public workshop/open house and help plan around future Metro-North service in your neighborhood! The interactive self-paced event is an important opportunity for the community to join city agencies to plan around future Metro-North service – share your local expertise, hear from your neighbors, contribute your ideas to improve Tremont Avenue, plan for the station area, consider what the service means for jobs, health, housing, youth and more.  Activities will be self-paced and participants can come when they wish and stay for as long as they are able to.

WHEN Saturday, October 27, 2018 10AM–1PM: Workshop/Open House 1PM–1:30PM: Group Visioning Activity (Self-paced activities. Come when you wish and stay for long as you are able to.)

WHERE St. Raymond’s Elementary School Monsignor Tierney Auditorium (Enter at corner of E Tremont Ave and Purdy St.)

Light refreshments will be provided. For any questions or special needs, please email bmns@planning.nyc.gov or call 718 220 8500

Find Out More

Join us for a public workshop/open house and help plan around future Metro-North service in your neighborhood! The interactive self-paced event is an important opportunity for the community to join city agencies to plan around future Metro-North service – share your local expertise, hear from your neighbors, contribute your ideas to improve Tremont Avenue, plan for the station area, consider what the service means for jobs, health, housing, youth and more.  Activities will be self-paced and participants can come when they wish and stay for as long as they are able to.

Join us for a public workshop/open house and help plan around future Metro-North service in your neighborhood!

The interactive self-paced event is an important opportunity for the community to join city agencies to plan around future Metro-North service – share your local expertise, hear from your neighbors, contribute your ideas to improve Tremont Avenue, plan for the station area, consider what the service means for jobs, health, housing, youth and more. 

Activities will be self-paced and participants can come when they wish and stay for as long as they are able to.

WHEN Saturday, October 27, 2018 10AM–1PM: Workshop/Open House 1PM–1:30PM: Group Visioning Activity (Self-paced activities. Come when you wish and stay for long as you are able to.)

WHEN

Saturday, October 27, 2018
10AM–1PM: Workshop/Open House
1PM–1:30PM: Group Visioning Activity
(Self-paced activities. Come when you wish and stay for long as you are able to.)

WHERE St. Raymond’s Elementary School Monsignor Tierney Auditorium (Enter at corner of E Tremont Ave and Purdy St.)

WHERE

St. Raymond’s Elementary School
Monsignor Tierney Auditorium
(Enter at corner of E Tremont Ave and Purdy St.)

Light refreshments will be provided. For any questions or special needs, please email bmns@planning.nyc.gov or call 718 220 8500

Light refreshments will be provided. For any questions or special needs, please email bmns@planning.nyc.gov or call 718 220 8500

Find Out More

Find Out More

DE BLASIO ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES NEW STEPS TO INCREASE ACCESS TO BIRTH CONTROL IN CITY HOSPITALS

First Lady Chirlane McCray calls on cities across the U.S. to follow NYC’s lead

  First Lady Chirlane McCray and NYC Health + Hospitals today announced a new initiative aimed at increasing access to birth control in the City’s public hospitals, doubling down on the City’s commitment to be a national leader in reproductive rights.

This fall, the City’s public health system — the largest in the nation — will increase its stock of long-acting reversible contraceptives at all 11 of the city’s hospitals and its six ambulatory care centers, making these contraceptive devices available to women who request them during their primary care visit. Nearly half of all pregnancies in the United States are unintended. Long-acting reversible contraceptive methods, like intrauterine devices (IUD) that are implanted in women, are over 99 percent effective and can be removed at any time.

“With our constitutional rights at serious risk, it’s time for cities and states to step up to protect the health and well-being of women and their families,” said First Lady Chirlane McCray, co-chair of New York City’s Commission on Gender Equity. “These new steps will help prevent unintended pregnancy in New York City and allow women to care for themselves and their loved ones. Beyond that, we are sending a clear message: New York City will not stop fighting for the health and wellness of women and families. Cities across the country can and should follow our lead.”

“Having effective contraceptive methods readily available ensures that women and families in New York City face fewer barriers to the critical reproductive health care they want and need,” said Dr. Herminia Palacio, Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services. “These new initiatives demonstrate our City’s continuing commitment to streamline and ultimately increase women’s access to birth control, at a time when the Trump administration is making clear attempts to roll back access.”

“While I made my choice to specialize in OB/GYN many years ago, my passion for the field — and its important role in helping women make life-altering decisions — is just as strong today, which is why I’m excited about our enhanced commitment to greater and easier access to all classes of contraception, including the most efficient and reliable,” said Dr. Machelle Allen, chief medical officer of NYC Health + Hospitals. “Each woman is different, having differing needs and lifestyles. We at Health + Hospitals are committed to providing choice, which implies access to all options. As women’s reproductive options are being challenged across the country, I’m proud that we in New York continue to expand, not contract, these options.”

Under its initiative, Health + Hospitals will purchase 13,000 contraceptive devices over the next three years – more than doubling the system’s current supply. Health + Hospitals currently serves approximately 113,000 female patients of reproductive age (13 –49 years) across the public health system’s ambulatory care centers and neighborhood clinics in the five boroughs. The increase in contraceptives will help protect nearly 5,000 more women against unwanted pregnancy. The initiative will also include:

·  “Pregnancy intention” screenings for women of reproductive age: This screening will become a routine part of primary care, with the aim of connecting women as early as possible to the appropriate pre-pregnancy care, prenatal care, or birth control of their choice.

· “Health readiness” assessments for women planning a pregnancy: The screenings will help identify and manage chronic medical conditions – such as obesity, diabetes and hypertension – that increase the risk of maternal complications and deaths. 

· Faster access to contraceptive devices for adolescents: Women ages 13 to 18 will be able to get same-day access to intrauterine devices in ambulatory clinics that offer women’s health services. The current process requires adolescents first visit a pediatrician then be referred to a gynecological specialist to get an IUD.

·  Additional Staff: A new women’s health Nurse Practitioner and support staff will be added to the family planning clinics at each of the 11 hospitals and six large community-based health centers.

“Every New Yorker has the right to access comprehensive, affordable, and culturally-competent reproductive rights services,” said Jacqueline Ebanks, Commissioner of NYC’s Commission on Gender Equity. “We applaud First Lady McCray and the de Blasio Administration for putting the reproductive rights of New Yorkers first, and helping ensure more people have control over their reproductive health care, regardless of their gender identity or expression.”

Gang Leader Convicted Of Racketeering And Related Offenses, Including Attempted Murder In Subway Station

  Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that MICHAEL WHITE, a leader of two violent street gangs, “MBG,” and the “Young Gunnaz,” was convicted of racketeering conspiracy, attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon in aid of racketeering, and a firearms offense.  WHITE was convicted following a two-week trial before U.S. District Judge Robert W. Sweet. 

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “Michael White, a leader of two gangs, committed a spree of shootings in and around New York City Housing Authority’s Mill Brook Houses.  He shot rival gang members in front of a public school, in a community center, and in a subway station.  Now he stands convicted for his crimes.  We thank the New York City Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration for their tireless efforts to secure this important conviction.”

According to the evidence presented in court during the trial:

From 2007 through October 2017, WHITE was a member of MBG, also known as “Money Bitches Guns,” a local gang based in the Mill Brook Houses.  From 2010 through October 2017, WHITE was a member of the Young Gunnaz set of the YGz gang also based in the Mill Brook Houses.  As part of his membership in both gangs, WHITE shot seven people.  Specifically, on January 25, 2010, WHITE shot and injured a 16-year-old rival on a street corner in the Mill Brook Houses.  On January 31, 2010, WHITE shot and injured an 18-year-old rival at a baby shower.  Later on January 31, 2010, WHITE shot a rival gang member near a building in the Mill Brook Houses, causing the individual to suffer life threatening injuries.  On February 12, 2010, WHITE shot and injured an 18-year-old rival outside a public school.  On October 28, 2012, WHITE shot and injured three individuals in the Cypress Avenue Subway Station.

WHITE, 30, of the Bronx, New York, was convicted of two counts of racketeering conspiracy, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of violent crime in aid of racketeering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of use of a firearm during a violent crime, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 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 sentence for the defendant will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York City Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration.