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 100^th 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 228^th Street on August 16 and 69 West 225^th Street and 210 West 230^th 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 "The Network for Business Success" 1200 Waters Place, Suite 106 Bronx, NY 10461 - 718-828-3900

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! Information or to RSVP: 718-828-3900 or phil@bronxchamber.org.      Phil Cardone Events, Communications & Grants Director Bronx Chamber of Commerce "The Network for Business Success" 1200 Waters Place, Suite 106 Bronx, NY 10461

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. 

BOROUGH PRESIDENT DIAZ & AT&T HOST YOUTH BASEBALL AWARDS BRUNCH

   In between the Throggs Neck Veteran Breakfast, and the Throggs Neck Veterans Parade Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and AT&T East Region President Marissa Shorenstein held their annual celebration for youth baseball teams who participated in this year's Borough President's Cup held at Yankee Stadium. The two teams were the Champion Bronx Bombers, and the Grand Slam Little League. During the event Bronx Borough President Diaz Jr. told of how he became a third baseman looking up to New York Yankee third baseman Greg Nettles. He added that he also played center field and did some pitching. 

Above - Parents and their children listen to Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. speak of how he and his brother played little league baseball, and what positions the BP played. 

Below - AT&T East Region President Marissa Shorenstein presented each team with thousands of dollars in gift cards to Modell's Sporting Goods to help pay for equipment for the upcoming baseball season. 

A set of requirements of at least a B- grade average, ninety percent or better attendance record, and a demonstrated commitment to community service is required of each student to compete in the Borough President's Cup.

Councilman Mark Gjonaj Veterans Day Parade Breakfast

  The Annual Throggs Neck Veterans Day Parade Breakfast held at Villa Barone every year was missing something this year. As you can see the room was packed as usual, but a key figure was missing, that being the current 34th State Senator Jeff Klein. Senator Klein lost a close primary race in September to Ms. Alessandra Biaggi who will become the next State Senator from the 34 district when she is sworn in at the state capital on January 2nd. 

  The breakfast went on however without Senator Klein as the honorees included Grand Marshal Captain Robert Doonan of the U.S. Army, Honorary Marshal Airman First Class John Powers of the U.S. Air Force, Honorary Marshal Sgt. Major Paul Golluscio U.S. Army, the Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Ms. Judy Lanci President of the Theodore Korony American Legion Post, and the Spirit of Patriotism Award was given to World War II Navy Veteran Pat Simone.

Above - Assemblyman Michael Benedetto, Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez, and Councilman Mark Gjonaj went around to greet the veterans and their families.

Below - The Throggs Neck Parade Grand Marshal Captain Robert Doonan speaks to a veteran and his wife.