Bay Plaza Pop Up Fashion Show

  Saturday the Bay Plaza Mall featured a Holiday Market Pop Up & Mini Fashion Show. Councilman Andy King, Ms. Flora Montes, and the Bronx Fashion Corporation in conjunction with Macy's, J. C. Penney, gave Bay Plaza shoppers a look at some of the different fashion items on sale in the mall.

Candidate for Public Advocate, Nomiki Konst, Slams Tucker Carlson on Climate Denial on Fox

Tucker Carlson: “Volume is not the same as an argument.”

Nomiki Konst: "You don't like opinionated women do you?"

Investigative journalist and candidate for New York City Public Advocate Nomiki Konst accused Fox News Host Tucker Carlson on Wednesday of disliking opinionated women during a heated climate change debate. The exchange took place during a discussion on Tucker Carlson Tonight of the Green New Deal plan being put forth by Democratic Socialists Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Nomiki Konst, Julia Salazar and others. “I want to talk about the solutions [to climate change]. A solution would be a Green New Deal. Moving to 100% renewable energy. Forcing the companies that are jacking up the price on working people to actually reduce their emissions so that working people aren’t displaced, so working people don’t have to pay for hurricane damage and have clean water. And that water isn’t being privatized,” said Konst. “Ok, but volume is not the same as an argument,” responded Carlson. “You don’t like opinionated women, do you?” shot back Konst. Video of the exchange has been viewed over one million times online across all channels and was viewed by another five millions viewers watching live on Fox News. Watch full video of the exchange here. About Nomiki Konst. Nomiki Konst is an award-winning investigative reporter who has exposed political and financial corruption from the Democratic National Committee and New York State government (including of the Independent Democratic Caucus), to Wall Street’s disaster capitalism in Puerto Rico. On the DNC Reform Commission, she led the fight for accountability, financial transparency, and to eliminate the power of superdelegates while reforming the primary and caucus structure. Nomiki got her start in politics volunteering for Hillary Clinton’s campaign in 2000. She has been a key figure in two Presidential campaigns campaigns. In 2012, she served as one of Barack Obama’s National Co-Chairs. In 2016, she was a top surrogate for Senator Bernie Sanders’ insurgent campaign. She’s running to be Public Advocate to reinforce the duty of an independent, investigative power that not just calls out the City government, but holds the special interests and political machines accountable.

Citywide Overall Crime Continues to Decline in November 2018

This November, New York City experienced fewer index crimes than in any previous November during the modern Compstat era, as overall crime since January continues to fall to historic lows compared to the same time in 2017. New York City achieved a reduction of 402 index crimes or -5.0% during November 2018, compared to the same period in 2017. Murders fell -25%, while burglaries fell -15.8%, and robberies fell -11.8%. Overall crime in 2018 is still currently projected to drop beneath what would become a new record-setting low of 97,000 total index crimes by the year's end.

"In our ongoing mission to further reduce crime and keep all New Yorkers safe, the NYPD's highly-effective, targeted approach toward the real drivers of violence and disorder continues to yield positive results. Increasingly, our efforts are supported by the full and willing partnership of our communities — which not only makes our city safer, it makes the people we serve feel safer too," said Police Commissioner James P. O’Neill."

"In 2014, my administration took a new approach to policing that brings officers and community together to heal historic wounds. And, month after month of record new lows proves that neighborhood policing coupled with targeted enforcement is a winning formula," said Mayor Bill de Blasio. "We will never stop working to make New York City safer and fairer for all."

Key highlights from this month's crime statistics include:

• Lowest November on record for index crimes. Four-hundred-and-two fewer in November 2018 compared to November 2017.
• Year-to-date, overall index crimes are down -1.5% from 2017.
• Robberies, felony assaults, burglaries, grand larcenies, and grand larceny autos continue to be down year-to-date.
• Lowest number of homicides (15) ever in a November.
• First November ever with burglaries under 1,000.
• Year-to-date, shootings are down -3.3% from 2017.

Statistics on Index Crimes 2017-2018

 

	Nov. 2018	Nov. 2017	Change	+/-%	Year-to-Date 2018	Year-to-Date 2017	Change	+/- %
Murder	15	20	-5	-25.00%	266	264	2	0.08%
Rape	141	125	16	12.80%	1659	1332	327	24.50%
Robbery	1057	1199	-142	-11.80%	11821	12749	-928	-7.3%%
Felony Assault	1472	1481	-9	-0.60%	18477	18633	-156	-0.8%%
Burglary	895	1063	-168	-15.80%	10643	11115	-472	-4.2%%
Grand Larceny	3665	3733	-68	-1.80%	39608	39609	-1	0.00%
G.L.A.	447	473	-26	-5.50%	5060	5206	-146	-2.8%%
TOTAL	7692	8094	-402	-5.00%	87534	88908	-1374	-1.5%%
Additional Statistics on Crimes 2017-2018
	Nov. 2018	Nov. 2017	Change	+/-%	Year-to-Date 2018	Year-to-Date 2017	Change
Transit	257	242	15	6.20%	2292	2257	35	1.60%
Housing	364	401	-37	-9.25%	4237	4489	-252	-5.60%

Note: All crime statistics are preliminary and subject to further analysis, revisions, or change.

Luchese Crime Family Soldier Sentenced to 12 Years and Colombo Crime Family Associate Sentenced to 40 Months’ Imprisonment for Conspiring to Distribute Oxycodone

Defendants Threatened a Brooklyn Doctor and Obtained Fraudulent Prescriptions for More Than 230,000 Oxycodone Pills

  Anthony Grado, a member of the Luchese organized crime family, and Lawrence Tranese, an associate of the Colombo organized crime family, were sentenced by United States District Judge Carol B. Amon to 12 years’ and 40 months’ imprisonment respectively for conspiring to distribute oxycodone that they obtained through fraudulent prescriptions. The Court also ordered Grado to pay $70,000 in forfeiture and Tranese $12,000 in forfeiture.

Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, William F. Sweeney, Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and James P. O’Neill, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the sentence.

“Today’s sentence punishes the defendants for ruthlessly endangering our community through their organized crime-backed distribution of highly-addictive opioid drugs,” stated United States Attorney Donoghue.  “This Office, working together with our law enforcement partners, will continue our relentless efforts against those responsible for the opioid epidemic.” Mr. Donoghue thanked the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office for its assistance during this investigation.

“Opioid and prescription drug abuse affects communities and families in New York and across the country. Grado and Tranese’s conspiracy to distribute oxycodone contributed to this nationwide crisis, and even worse, they threatened a doctor with violence in order to coerce him into providing fraudulent prescriptions,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Sweeney.  “Today’s sentence should stand as a warning to organized crime families, their associates, and anyone else who would commit similar acts in order to further the scourge of opioid addiction for their own benefit: you will be found out and brought to justice.”

 “Dismantling criminal enterprises, in all their forms, will always be a priority for the NYPD and our law-enforcement partners at the Eastern District and the FBI,” stated NYPD Commissioner O’Neill. “Collectively, we have a very long reach and we will not tire in our mission of fighting crime and keeping people safe – which includes removing from our streets anyone who adds to our nation’s opioid crisis by dealing illegal narcotics.”

Grado and Tranese, together with their coconspirators, gave a Brooklyn-based doctor the names of people for whom the doctor should write prescriptions, and the doctor complied, usually without conducting any physical examinations.  The defendants then filled the prescriptions and sold the pills.  Alternatively, the defendants and their coconspirators used violence and threats of violence to force the doctor to write the prescriptions, or seized the doctor’s prescription pad and Grado completed the prescription.  In one recorded conversation, Grado told the doctor that he would make the doctor write “a thousand scripts a day and [expletive] feed you to the [expletive] lions” if the doctor wrote prescriptions without Grado’s approval.  In the same conversation, Grado told the doctor that if newly ordered prescription pads “go in anybody’s hands” besides Grado’s, “I’ll put a bullet right in your head.”  During the course of the conspiracy, one of Grado’s associates stabbed the doctor in a dispute over the doctor’s prescription pads.

The Defendants:

ANTHONY GRADO

Age:  54

Monroe Township, New Jersey

LAWRENCE TRANESE (also known as “Fat Larry”)

Age:  55

Brooklyn, New York

James Dolan to Pay $609,810 Civil Penalty for Violating Antitrust Premerger Notification Requirements

  The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, at the request of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), filed a civil antitrust lawsuit today in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., against James Dolan for violating the premerger notification and waiting period requirements of the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Act of 1976 when he acquired voting securities of Madison Square Garden Company in 2017.  At the same time, the department filed a proposed settlement, subject to approval by the court, under which Dolan has agreed to pay a $609,810 civil penalty to resolve the lawsuit.

The HSR Act imposes notification and waiting period requirements for transactions meeting certain size thresholds so that they can undergo premerger antitrust review.  Federal courts can assess civil penalties for premerger notification violations under the HSR Act in lawsuits brought by the department.  The maximum civil penalty for an HSR violation, which is adjusted annually, is currently $41,484 per day.

Further details about this matter are described in the FTC’s press release issued today, and in the attached complaint and competitive impact statement.

Consistent with the requirements of the Tunney Act, the proposed settlement, along with the competitive impact statement, will be published in the Federal Register.  Any person may submit written comments concerning the proposed settlement during a 60-day comment period to Roberta S. Baruch, Special Attorney, United States, c/o Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, CC-8407, Washington, D.C. 20580.  At the conclusion of the 60-day comment period, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia may approve the proposed settlement upon finding that it is in the public interest.

News From Councilman Mark Gjonaj,

Impacting our Community

Tree Planting/Pruning Tree Sidewalk Prog Building Maintenance Con Edison Eviction

Councilman Mark Gjonaj's Weekly Survey

This week, the NYC DOT announced on Twitter that they will pursue with the Road Dieting Plan. Despite intense community opposition, the Road Dieting Plan would reduce the number of traffic lanes on Morris Park Avenue leading to many unintended consequences such as increased congestion.

Do you believe that the Road Diet will reduce the number of traffic  fatalities in Morris Park? Yes No Do you think the Road Diet plan will negatively impact local  small businesses in the area? Yes No Do you consider Morris Park Avenue a dangerous street for  pedestrians and cyclists? Yes No

News From New York State Assembly Member Marcos Crespo

I am excited to share news about further enhancements coming to our community’s infrastructure ultimately designed to improve our quality of life and overall safety. My office has been actively working with the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) to begin to restore the underpass located on Rosedale Avenue & Bruckner Blvd. This particular space is one of two major connectors that bring together parts of the district divided by the Bruckner Expressway.  The scope of work being executed by NYSDOT include: the excavation of soil, installation of decorative gravel, cleaning of surrounding fences and sidewalks. The extent of work also includes: increased lighting and the installation of solid planking above the sidewalks, which will help keep our walking space free of bird waste. While weather and other factors could impact the timeline, completion of this work is expected to be reached before early 2019.  Furthermore, a second phase of this effort will involve bringing together residents, community based organizations and other partners to envision and transform this space into a artistic, vibrant and welcoming structure that represents the environment our community deserves.  For questions about this project or other community related information please contact the office of Assemblyman Marcos A. Crespo at 718-893-0202 | email:crespom@nyassembly.gov

Riverdale Town Hall Meeting

  Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, Congressman Eliot Engel, State Senator Alessandra Biaggi, and Councilman Andrew Cohen held a Town Hall meeting in the Riverdale section of the Bronx where all four elected officials districts cover. the town hall meeting was attended by almost 300 people, and was moderated by cable television personality Gary Axelbank. 

  Cards were given out for questions to be written down, and then collected. Mr. Axelbank grouped similar questions into one question, and then read the question to the individual elected official or all of the electeds. Questions many pertained to the area which asked about improving local bus service, constant construction in the area with roads constantly being dug up, the Coop Tax Penalty, the environment, quality of life complaints, all the new construction, and what is Senator Biaggi's first priority to name a few.

  The answers were what has been heard in the past on most questions. Construction in the roads has to be done to upgrade a gas, electrical, water, and sewer system that is up to one hundred years old. It is also being done to serve a growing population in the area. Work is still being done on equalizing the reason why Coops are taxed at a higher rate than homes. The MTA controls the mass transit system, and has to find ways to fill a shortfall in its budget, and that is by cutting back (saving money) on its services. Lastly, Senator Biaggi said that there is more than one thin, that there are many thins that she wants first, but passage if the Health Reproduction Act and ethics reform are numbers one and two.

Above - New 50th Precinct Captain Emilio Melendez speaks about what he sees as the priorities of the police department which includes making sure that everyone is safe. You can see moderator Gary Axelbank going over the questions in the background.

Below - (l-r) Female District Leader Randi Martos, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, Congressman Eliot Engel, State Senator Alessandra Biaggi, Councilman Andrew Cohen, Male District Leader Eric Dinowitz, and Chief of Staff to Congressman Engel Bruce Weitz.