|
|
Wednesday, November 21, 2018
Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr - Bronx Jewish Hall of Fame's 2018 induction
MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENTS TO THE VETERANS ADVISORY BOARD
Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the appointment of six members to New York City’s Veterans Advisory Board, an independent advisory council of military service veterans.This eleven-member Board works in partnership with the Department of Veterans’ Services, veteran service organizations, and individuals across the City to better understand and address the issues facing veterans and their families. More information on the board can be found here.
“The Veterans Advisory Board ensures the voices of those who bravely served our country are heard,” said Mayor de Blasio. “These appointees are exemplars of service, both as military veterans and advocates for their communities. New York City is fortunate to gain the perspective and wisdom these distinguished veterans will provide over the next three years.”
“Our City is only as strong as the people who call it home,” said Deputy Mayor J. Phillip Thompson. “The men and women appointed to the Veterans Advisory Board exemplify the strengths, capacity for leadership, and commitment to public service that define New Yorkers. I commend the appointees for their service to our nation and their continued service to the people of our City.”
“We’re thrilled at the Mayor’s selection of appointees, who are as diverse as the City itself, representing different eras of military service and educational and professional backgrounds,” said Commissioner Loree Sutton, MD, Brigadier General (US Army, ret.). “This brings a diversity of perspectives that will most effectively represent the interests of the City’s veteran population. As always, we thank the Veterans Advisory Board for their leadership within the veteran community and look forward to continuing a strong, collaborative working relationship with the VAB in this new term.”
Todd Haskins, Chair of the Veterans Advisory Board said, “I am personally honored to be re-appointed to the New York City Veterans Advisory Board. As Chairman, I am thrilled to have so many citizens step forward to support New York City in its quest to develop the most effective local veteran policies of any large city in the nation.”
Mayor de Blasio appointed four new members including:
Tiffany Daughtery (US Army): Tiffany is the Head of Military Employment for First Data Corporation, where she is charged with driving the strategy for veteran and military spouse hiring, retention, internal mobility, and community engagements. Since Tiffany joined First Data, the team has won several national awards, including being ranked as the #1 “Best for Vets: Employers” in 2017 by Military Times. Tiffany began her career as a US Army Air Traffic Controller, serving in the US as well as the Republic of Korea. Prior to First Data, Tiffany spent four years at the Wounded Warrior Project, serving as both a regional and then national employment program manager. She holds a Masters of Arts in Rehabilitation Counseling from Assumption College and a Bachelor of Science in Professional Studies from Austin Peay State University.
James Hendon (Lieutenant Colonel, US Army Reserve): James is the Director of the NYU Veterans Future Lab, a small business incubator for practicing and aspiring entrepreneurs who are US Military Veterans or Veterans’ Spouses. A Veteran entrepreneur himself, James is also the CEO of the Energy Economic Development Corporation, an organization that helps communities and small businesses take advantage of energy-related advancements. Before entering the civilian workforce, James spent seven years in the US Army as an Active Duty Infantry Officer where he deployed as a Mortar Platoon Leader and Battalion Public Affairs Officer to Iraq (2005), worked as an Admissions Officer for West Point (2006-2007), and served as the Senior Advisor to the Afghan Border Police in Afghanistan (2007-2009). James is a 2002 graduate of West Point, a 2012 graduate of Harvard Kennedy School and Columbia Business School, and a 2015 graduate of the Earth Institute’s Program in Conservation and Environmental Sustainability. As a drilling US Army Reservist, James serves as the New York City Lead for the 75th Innovation Command.
Peter Kauffmann (US Navy): Peter is the founder and principal of Bluejacket Strategies, a public affairs firm based in New York City. He is Vice Chair of VoteVets, a progressive advocacy organization representing 500,000 veterans. Prior to starting Bluejacket, Peter was Communications Director for the Governor of New York, Press Secretary for Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, and Deputy Press Secretary at the Democratic National Committee. During his military service, Peter spent five years on active duty as a Naval Intelligence Officer and was part of the 2005 tsunami relief operations in the Pacific Rim. Peter earned his Bachelors of Arts in Government at Franklin & Marshall College, is a member of the Board of Advisors for the VetVoice Foundation, and a Truman National Security Project Fellow.
Annette Tucker Osborne (US Army Reserve): Annette served as Chief of Clinical Operations from 2009-2013 at the 8th Medical Brigade, Fort Wadsworth in Staten Island and is now a doctoral candidate at Walden University. Having devoted 29 years of service to the US Army Reserve, Annette held numerous positions of increasing authority in both general and combat support hospitals and deployed to Kuwait in 2011 as Chief of Clinical Operations at the rank of Colonel. Annette received fifteen separate commendations for her service, including the Legion of Merit. Previous employment includes positions at the New York City Health + Hospitals Corporation, United States Department of Health & Human Services, and the Visiting Nurse Services of New York. Annette is a registered nurse and holds a Masters Degree in Professional Studies, as well as certifications as a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator and Legal Nurse Consultant.
Mayor de Blasio reappointed two members:
Todd Haskins (US Marine Corps): Todd serves as Chairman of the Veterans Advisory Board, a position he has held since 2015. He is currently a principal at Reverence Capital Partners, a private investment firm focused on thematic investments in leading financial services businesses. Previous employment experience includes over twelve years with Goldman Sachs Group Inc as a Managing Director where, among other roles, he served co-chair of the Goldman Sachs Veterans Network and was actively involved in the leadership of Veterans on Wall Street (VOWS). Todd holds a Masters of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Texas at Austin and a Bachelors of Science in Chemical Engineering from Rice University, where he was a Naval ROTC student.
Charles Greinsky (US Army; New York Army National Guard): Charles has represented Staten Island on the Veterans Advisory Board since 2015. He served for a total of ten years in the US Army and New York Army National Guard and holds a number of military commendations. Charles currently serves as Commander of the Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America, Staten Island Post 80. He also serves as Chair of the Staten Island Sports Hall of Fame. Charles was a board member of the Civilian Complaint Review Board from 1993 to 2003. He holds a Bachelors of Arts from Touro College.
REP. ADRIANO ESPAILLAT RENAMES HARLEM POST OFFICE IN HONOR OF THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN
The United States Postal Service has renamed a Harlem post office facility in honor of the Tuskegee Airmen, a group of African-American pilots who fought in World War II, following passage of a bill by Rep. Adriano Espaillat, which was signed into law earlier this year. A ceremony was held Monday at the post office on Macombs Place, which will now be known as the Tuskegee Airmen Post Office Building.
“Renaming this post office facility after the Tuskeege Airmen is a fitting tribute to honor their memory and contributions to this country,” said Rep. Adriano Espaillat.
Congressman Espaillat was joined by city and state leaders, and recognized the service of Wilfred R. DeFour, Sr. who served as a Tuskegee Airman and recently celebrated his 100th birthday. “Mr. DeFour is a lifelong New Yorker and returned to New York City after his military service to work for the U.S. Postal Service for 33 years where he demonstrated extraordinary pride in his work for the people of Harlem as evidenced by his ascendance to Superintendent of Special Delivery and Parcel. His contribution to our New York City community is omnipresent, and it is my personal honor to highlight his life of achievement and service to our nation, honoring him and each of the Tuskegee Airmen during today’s renaming ceremony,” Congressman Espaillat concluded.
MARBLE HILL TENANTS STILL WITHOUT GAS SINCE SUMMER; THANKSGIVING IMMINENT
Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz decried the slow restoration of gas service for tenants of the Marble Hill Houses, many of whom have been without gas since July and August, as they face the possibility of cooking Thanksgiving dinner on temporary hot plates.
The woes of NYCHA tenants continue to stack up, this time for residents of four buildings in the Marble Hill Houses which straddle the border of Manhattan and the Bronx. Despite a recent letter from Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, Councilman Andrew Cohen, and five other elected officials who represent Marble Hill Houses expressing vital concern about the lack of gas service in four buildings, there are still dozens of families without gas with the Thanksgiving holiday right around the corner.
Gas service was first disrupted at 5360 Broadway on July 31, followed by 125 West 228th Street on August 16 and 69 West 225th Street and 210 West 230th Street on August 24, as NYCHA is in the process of installing new stoves for residents of Marble Hill Houses. A similar disruption of gas service plagued residents last year, also impacting Thanksgiving plans, as part of the same stove installation process. Last year, NYCHA officials indicated that as stoves were being installed workers noticed that the gas lines had frequently been altered improperly which necessitated the shutting off of each line until repairs could be made.
NYCHA officials stated at a Tenants’ Association meeting on October 18 that they had permits from Department of Buildings for 5360 Broadway and were in the process of acquiring permits for the other three buildings. However officials from the Department of Buildings indicated that there remained only the one permit as recently as November 16. The Tenants’ Association has also requested that no further stove installations are undertaken until after the winter holidays in anticipation that future gas disruptions will occur during the process. NYCHA officials acknowledged that the Tenants’ Association request made sense, and also indicated that gas service should be restored at 5360 Broadway before Thanksgiving, but have not responded to repeated inquiries regarding the other three buildings with gas-less tenants.
Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz said: “The situation for these tenants is absolutely unacceptable. We are days away from Thanksgiving, a holiday for which many families spend multiple days together preparing huge meals, and NYCHA doesn’t even have permits for the work to begin. It has been four months without gas for dozens of families – what has NYCHA been doing? Why didn’t they anticipate these problems after we went through the exact same song and dance last year? Something’s got to give and people have every right to be furious.”
MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES 62,000 NYCHA APARTMENTS TO RECEIVE COMPREHENSIVE REPAIRS
Innovative public private partnerships will address nearly $13 billion for critically needed repairs while maintaining rent and rights for 140,000 residents
Mayor Bill de Blasio announced a commitment from the New York City Housing Authority to bring repairs to 62,000 apartments. These comprehensive upgrades, which will address nearly $13 billion in repairs, will be made possible through public-private partnerships, including the Rental Assistance Demonstration program. All 62,000 apartments will be converted to Section 8 funding and remain permanently affordable. Maintenance and ongoing operations will be provided by quality private managers. The approximately 140,000 residents in these units will retain all their rights as public housing residents, pay rent limited to 30% of their income, and remain in their buildings during the renovations, which will include new kitchens and bathrooms; replacing windows, elevators, boilers and roofs; and improved common areas.
Renovations have already been completed at the 1,395 apartments at Ocean Bay. There are currently nearly 8,900 units in NYCHA’s preservation program in resident engagement, predevelopment, or development for comprehensive capital repairs. All 62,000 units will be completed on a rolling basis by 2028.
“This is a turning point for tens of thousands of NYCHA residents. We have an opportunity to undo decades of neglect and mismanagement, and we have to take it,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “These partnerships are one of our best-proven tools to deliver critical repairs. We look forward to working with officials, residents and advocates on this and other new strategies to make a concrete difference for the 400,000 people who call NYCHA home.”
“We’re proud to be here today as we convert Betances to the Section 8 program, which will enable us to bring significant improvements for the hundreds of families who call Betances home through our PACT program,” said NYCHA Interim Chair and CEO Stanley Brezenoff. “As our properties need $32 billion worth of repairs, a new and radical approach is absolutely necessary to tackle that enormous figure. This is why we are announcing a major expansion of PACT to transform 62,000 NYCHA apartments across the City by 2028, benefitting approximately 142,000 New Yorkers – more than a third of our residents – with nearly $13 billion of renovations and major repairs to their homes. With the support of Mayor de Blasio, who knows the vital role of public housing in New York City, PACT is the way of the future for NYCHA, as we work to improve residents’ quality of life while contending with the harsh reality of declining federal funding.”
“The expansion and acceleration of RAD is a game changer for public housing in NYC. We know from experience that RAD is a reliable, scalable strategy that resolves deferred maintenance while keeping rents affordable - now, we're able to bring these improvements to more than 140,000 NYCHA residents,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development Alicia Glen.
The Mayor made today’s announcement at Betances Houses, a 1,088-apartment complex in the Bronx that officially converted to Section 8 through RAD this past Friday. Starting next month, the 2,683 Betances residents will begin seeing comprehensive capital repairs, including new kitchens and bathrooms, new flooring, replacing all boilers with new energy efficient boilers and hot water heaters, upgrading elevator machinery and equipment, and installing a new security system by late 2021.
Betances is NYCHA’s third conversion closing, after Ocean Bay (Bayside) in 2016 and Twin Parks West last month, meaning 7,600 residents are seeing immediate repairs in their homes.
RAD is an innovative tool from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that lets public housing authorities permanently preserve public housing developments as affordable homes and make necessary repairs. In New York City, RAD includes collaboration between the Authority, NYCHA residents, development partners, and community and housing advocates, and it is a key part of NextGeneration NYCHA, the Authority’s long term strategic plan to create financial stability and improve residents’ lives.
NYCHA announced 2,400 new apartments undergoing RAD conversions this past summer, and the RFP is expected to be released for these 21 developments across Manhattan and Brooklyn next month:
Manhattan sites:
· 335 East 111th Street
· Manhattanville Rehab (Group 2)
· Manhattanville Rehab (Group 3)
· Park Avenue-East 122nd, 123rd Streets
· Public School 139 (Conversion)
· Samuel (MHOP) I
· Samuel (MHOP) II
· Samuel (MHOP) III
· Washington Heights Rehab (Groups 1&2)
· Washington Heights Rehab Phase III
· Washington Heights Rehab Phase IV (C)
· Washington Heights Rehab Phase IV (D)
· Fort Washington Avenue Rehab
· Grampion
Brooklyn sites:
· Armstrong I
· Armstrong II
· 572 Warren Street
· Berry Street-South 9th Street
· Marcy Avenue-Greene Avenue Site A
· Marcy Avenue-Greene Avenue Site B
· Weeksville Gardens
New York City is using innovative strategies to generate revenue for repairs in public housing. There are currently nearly 8,900 NYCHA RAD and unfunded apartments in resident engagement, predevelopment, or development for comprehensive capital repairs. These unfunded developments have had no consistent funding stream since the State of New York divested them in 1998. In the NextGeneration NYCHA plan, the City committed to renovating 15,000 apartments through RAD and that the approximately 5,000 unsubsidized apartments receive subsidy by 2025, and today’s announcement expands that to 62,000 apartments in total.
EDITOR'S NOTE:
It should be noted Congressman Gregory Meeks was at this event to talk about the Arverne/Edgemere Rockaway projects that are now called Ocean Bay, and not Bayside. Bayside is an upper middle class neighborhood in Northern Queens while Ocean Bay is on the Rockaway Peninsula in South Queens.
Because NYCHA was developed for struggling working class people and senior citizens many years ago mismanagement has caused the current problems which were passed down from mayor to mayor. With no real plan or money to correct the problems at NYCHA houses in the city this piecemeal approach is being undertaken.
Happy Thanksgiving! From Bronx Chamber of Commerce
|
Bronx Chamber of Commerce Holiday Party: Make OUR Holiday Party YOUR Holiday Party!
| Bronx Chamber of Commerce Holiday Party & Toy Drive
Wed | Dec 12 | 5:30pm | Villa Barone Manor
Let OUR Holiday Party be YOUR Holiday Party!
An excellent opportunity for large and small businesses to host their office, department or company party as part of ours.
Buffet | Wine | Beer | Music | Dancing
Ugly Sweater Contest
Raffles and Prizes
Fun Photos with Santa
Everyone gets a souvenir photo to take home
Donated Toys will be distributed to Children in Need
by Unique People Services
It will be an evening of fun and memories
We hope to see you there!
Events, Communications & Grants Director
Bronx Chamber of Commerce
"The Network for Business Success"
1200 Waters Place, Suite 106 Bronx, NY 10461 |
Sunday, November 18, 2018
Throggs Neck Veterans Parade
The Throggs Neck Veterans Parade began at Lafayette and East Tremont Avenues, went across East Tremont Avenue, turned down Philip Avenue over the Throggs Neck Expressway turning right and ending Bicentennial Veterans Memorial Park reviewing stand. The photos should tell the rest of the story.
Above - People lined East Tremont Avenue to see the Throggs Neck Veterans Parade.
Below - State Assembly members Michael Benedetto and Nathalia Fernandez march with Councilman Mark Gjonaj, and State Committeeman Thomas Messina.
Above - Grand Marshal Captain Robert Doonan was driven to the reviewing stand by Community Board 10 Vice-Chair John Marano.
Below - Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. congratulates one of the marchers.
Above - An army car that was used in World War Two.
Below - Two vehicles used in later wars.
Above - The Honorary Marshal Airman First Class John Powers family and friends.
Below - Parade Grand Marshal Captain Robert Doonan with his two Honorary Parade Marshals at each side.
Twenty-two flags were placed at the foot of the reviewing stand to commemorate that twenty-two veterans commit suicide every day. There were twenty-two flags held in place also.