Councilman Ruben Diaz Sr. Christmas Toy Giveaway

  Councilman Ruben Diaz Sr. not only brought Santa to Soundview Tuesday afternoon to give toys away to local children, but also the person who helps sponsor the toy giveaway New York State Republican Party Chairman Ed Cox. This has become a annual event for Councilman Ruben Diaz Sr. going back to when he was in the State Senate where Diaz Sr. was one of the 'Four Amigos'.

  

Above and Below - Four children were called up to the stage and asked questions about the history of Christmas. If the child answered the question correctly they received a crisp ten dollar bill from Councilman Diaz Sr. All four children answered their questions correctly.

Above - The crowded auditorium at IS 133.

Below - Councilman Diaz Sr. brings up the first row of children to meet Santa, and choose their present.

Above - Once on the stage the children get a greeting from Santa.

Below - Then one of Santa's helpers gets the toy for the child.

Assemblymember Nathalia Fernandez - You're Invited to My Inauguration Ceremony

  

Dear Friends and Neighbors, I hope this holiday season is treating you well. As many of you already know, I was successfully elected into the New York State Assembly this past April during a special election. After five very successful and wonderful months in office, I was re-elected in November during the state wide elections. I want to thank everyone for their overwhelming support. My community continues to instill their confidence in me and I would not have been able to get this far without your help. However, because I initially came into office half-way through the year, I was not able to hold an inauguration -- I went straight to work instead! As such, I am proud to announce that I will officially be holding my community-wide inauguration ceremony on Saturday, January 5th at the Jacobi Medical Center Rotunda. This is a very special moment for me, marking years of hard work and support from everyone. Therefore, I would like you all to attend. The ceremony will begin at 12 pm. Everyone who would like to attend - and I do hope there are a lot of you - will have to RSVP at this link: tinyurl.com/y9j4stq8 Once again, I thank you all for your support throughout the last few months. If you have any questions, please call my office at (718) 409-0109. I hope to see you at my inauguration! Best Regards, Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez 80th Assembly District

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Governor Cuomo Delivers Address on Agenda for First 100 Days

Governor Andrew Cuomo Gave a fifty minute speech before the New York Bar Association in Manhattan outlining his twenty-point agenda to be passed by the state legislature now that the Democrats now control both the State Assembly and the State Senate. To some this appeared to be a preview of the State of the State Address to be given by the governor in 2019.

The 20-point agenda includes:

Ensure a Progressive Tax System: While the federal government prioritizes tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy, Governor Cuomo believes in a just, progressive tax system that taxes its citizens based on their ability to pay. The Governor will maintain the state's progressive income tax with a millionaire's tax, while permanently capping regressive local property taxes at 2%.

Cut Middle Class Taxes while Fighting to repeal SALT: The federal government's cap on state and local tax (SALT) deductions was a devastating and targeted assault on New York that has increased taxes on New Yorkers and reduced home values. Governor Cuomo will continue to lead the fight to repeal the cap on SALT while in New York continuing tax cuts for middle class families. 

Protect Quality, Affordable Health Care: While the federal government and radical judges continue to roll back the Affordable Care Act and tear away health care from millions of Americans, Governor Cuomo will take action to make sure New Yorkers are protected. The Governor will work to codify the health exchange into law and pass a law to ensure pre-existing conditions continue to be covered by insurance companies regardless of what happens at the federal level.

Codify Reproductive Rights: In the face of the federal assault on women's reproductive rights, including a Supreme Court that threatens to roll back Roe v. Wade, Governor Cuomo will fight to pass the Reproductive Health Act and the Comprehensive Contraceptive Coverage Act within the first 30 days of the new session.

Enshrine Gender Equality into Law: Nearly a century after it was first proposed, New York State has still not passed the Equal Rights Amendment to protect against discrimination on the basis of sex in our State constitution. To right this decades-old wrong, Governor Cuomo will push to pass the Equal Rights Amendment to add sex as a protected class.

Combat Gun Violence: 2018 was by far the worst year for school shootings in American history. To once again lead the nation on gun safety, Governor Cuomo will push to pass the Red Flag Law, ban bump stocks and extend the waiting period for purchasing a gun from three days to 10 days.

Launch a $150 Billion Infrastructure Plan: While the federal government fails to make progress on an infrastructure plan, Governor Cuomo will expand on New York's nation-leading $100 billion infrastructure plan — building new airports, bridges and train stations all across the state — by investing an additional $150 billion in our infrastructure that will create hundreds of thousands of jobs. 

Fund and Restructure the MTA While Easing Traffic in New York City's Business District: After decades of neglect and diffused responsibility, the MTA is in dire need of funding and reorganization. Governor Cuomo will fix the MTA by passing congestion pricing and overhauling the outdated structure of the authority in order to build a reliable, state of the art mass transit system with a steady funding stream and a structure that supports operational excellence.

Ensure Education Equity: After requiring data on how local schools distribute funds in last year's budget, it's clear that poorer schools too often do not receive an equitable share of funding from their school districts. Governor Cuomo will fight for an education system where districts distribute funding based on need and fairness to ensure that every child receives a quality education.

Pass the Dream Act: While the federal government has declared war on new immigrants, New York is standing up for our immigrant communities. This year, New York will pass the Dream Act once and for all to ensure a higher education system that opens the door of opportunity to all of our children.

Launch the Green New Deal: The federal government still denies climate change, remarkably turning a blind eye to their own government's scientific report. New York will be the most progressive state in the nation in moving to renewables and growing the new sustainable green economy. The Green New Deal will make New York's electricity 100% carbon neutral by 2040 and put the state on the path to eliminating its carbon footprint. 

Ensure Clean, Safe Drinking Water for All: Industrial toxins have infiltrated many of our communities' drinking water systems, but the federal Environmental Protection Agency has been slow to test and regulate chemicals and to regulate pollution. Governor Cuomo will invest in our water infrastructure and clean our water for our children and our children's children.

Improve Our Democracy: To continue New York's progressive path of justice for all, Governor Cuomo will protect our democracy to make sure our government truly represents the people. While the federal government works to disenfranchise voters, Governor Cuomo will encourage citizens to engage in the democratic process by allowing voting by mail, enacting early voting, instituting same day and automatic voter registration, synchronizing federal and state elections and make Election Day a State Holiday to ensure as many people as possible participate in the democratic process.

Increase Trust in the Democratic System: To ensure our government is for the people, by the people, Governor Cuomo will close the LLC loophole, ban corporate campaign contributions, overhaul our campaign finance system and end outside income for lawmakers.

Protect Public Sector Unions: While the federal government is waging an all-out attack on the labor movement in both the public and private sector and seeks to undermine the right to organize and collective bargaining, Governor Cuomo believes that the labor movement is a force for social justice and the middle class. The Governor will expand the Janus protections to cover public sector labor unions at the local level and ensure workers have labor rights in the gig economy.

Keep Housing Affordable for New Yorkers: The lack of affordable housing is a crisis across the state and nation. While the federal government has abandoned its constitutional and moral responsibility dictated by the 1949 Housing Act, under Governor Cuomo's leadership New York will invest more in affordable housing than ever before. Governor Cuomo will reform rent regulations, including ending vacancy decontrol, repealing preferential rent and limiting capital improvement charges to protect affordable housing and respect tenants' rights.

Pass the Child Victims Act: Governor Cuomo will fight to ensure our society holds those who abuse our children accountable criminally and civilly by passing the Child Victims Act once and for all.

Protect LGBTQ Rights: New York was the first large state to pass marriage equality, but as the federal government still seeks to discriminate against the LGBTQ community, Governor Cuomo will codify the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act into New York State law and end conversion therapy.

Legalize Adult Use of Recreational Marijuana: Governor Cuomo will end the disproportionate criminalization of one race over another by regulating, legalizing and taxing adult use of recreational marijuana.

Ensure Fairness in the Criminal Justice System: Governor Cuomo will work to address injustice in the criminal justice system by ending cash bail and enacting speedy trial and discovery reforms.

MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF THE NATION’S FIRST CITY-LED NURSE RESIDENCY PROGRAM AT 24 LOCAL HOSPITALS

New nurse residency program is the first-ever in the nation’s largest public hospital system

  Mayor Bill de Blasio, Deputy Mayor J. Phillip Thompson and Department of Small Business Services Commissioner Gregg Bishop today announced the launch of the nation’s first City-led nurse residency program in 24 participating local hospitals. During the first year of the program, called the Citywide Nurse Residency program, 500 newly-hired nurses will be provided with specialized training that promotes job retention. The program will support participating hospitals with implementing a year-long residency that bridges the gap between education and practice for newly-graduated nurses. This is the first time that New York City’s public hospital system, the largest in the nation, has adopted a nurse residency program.

According to hospital partners, losing one nurse can cost up to $100,000 and retention of newly-graduated nurses is a challenge. While residencies are a recognized best practice for retaining nurses, New York City’s public and safety net hospitals have not had the capacity and resources to launch these programs.

“We’re exploring every possible avenue to create new pipelines of opportunity for New Yorkers who deserve good paying jobs as we continue to make strides toward being the fairest big city in America,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “This Citywide Nurse Residency program will help expand opportunities and retain skilled professionals at public hospitals that deliver quality health care to countless New Yorkers.”

“Nurses are an integral part of the fabric that helps hospitals and clinics provide patients with the best care,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Dr. Herminia Palacio. “This initiative will help ensure nurses receive the training and support they need to thrive in our hospitals and help New Yorkers get and stay healthy.”

“The de Blasio administration is working hard to prepare New Yorkers for a more competitive and challenging economy," said Deputy Mayor for Strategic Policy Initiatives Phillip Thompson. "While creating job opportunities for those who need them the most, we are also developing adequate training to meet these challenges with a particular focus on economic inclusion. I commend the City's Small Businesses Department and the New York Alliance for Careers in Healthcare for creating a training program that focuses on the needs of our nurses and hospitals to ensure New Yorkers receive the highest quality healthcare year round."

“The City is investing in ensuring that New Yorkers have a path to a viable, lasting career,” saidGregg Bishop, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Small Business Services. “The Citywide Nurse Residency program is a national model for bringing together hospitals to support the systematic change that puts nurses on track to succeed.”

New York Alliance for Careers in Healthcare (NYACH) at SBS provided over $300,000 in funding to create and implement the Citywide Nurse Residency program. The program is part of ApprenticeNYC, a central part of Mayor de Blasio’s New York Works plan.

The Citywide Nurse Residency program is being offered in partnership with the Greater New York Hospital Association, NYU Langone Health, and New York-Presbyterian Hospital to implement residency programs for staff at participating hospitals. The residency program will provide newly-hired, first-time nurses with on-the-job training through a curriculum developed by Vizient/AACN that focuses on topics including ethics, decision making, clinical leadership, and the incorporation of research-based evidence into practice. The program also provides new nurses with support and mentorship proven to enhance nurse satisfaction, performance, and retention. The following hospitals are participating in the program:

1.  BronxCare Health System

2.  Brookdale University Hospital

3.  Interfaith Medical Center

4.  Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center

5.  Mount Sinai Brooklyn

6.  Mount Sinai Hospital

7.  Mount Sinai Queens

8.  Mount Sinai St. Luke’s

9.  Mount Sinai West

10. Maimonides Medical Center

11. NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist

12. NewYork-Presbyterian Queens

13. NYC Health + Hospitals – Bellevue

14. NYC Health + Hospitals – Coney Island

15. NYC Health + Hospitals – Elmhurst

16. NYC Health + Hospitals – Harlem

17. NYC Health + Hospitals – Jacobi

18. NYC Health + Hospitals – Kings County

19. NYC Health + Hospitals – Lincoln

20. NYC Health + Hospitals – Metropolitan

21. NYC Health + Hospitals – North Central Bronx

22. NYC Health + Hospitals – Queens

23. NYC Health + Hospitals – Woodhull

24. St. Barnabas Hospital Systems

For more information, visit nyachnyc.org/initiatives/nursing/ .

“Research and experience tell us that nurse residency programs lead to improved nurse retention and satisfaction, and a greater level of confidence for new nurses as they transition from the classroom to the bedside,” said Kenneth E. Raske, President of the Greater New York Hospital Association (GNYHA). “GNYHA is pleased to provide data analytic and project management support to this important initiative, and we applaud the New York Alliance for Careers in Healthcare for supporting nurse residency programs in hospitals across New York City.”

"This initiative puts a spotlight on New York City’s nursing community and will ultimately benefit every hospital involved,” said Kimberly S. Glassman, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, Senior Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer at NYU Langone. “We’re thrilled to support this program and share the benefits our institution has experienced with nurse residency over the past 20 years.”

“This residency program is an exciting addition to the training and support we provide to our newest nurses,” said Mary Anne Marra, DNP, RN, Interim Chief Nursing Officer at NYC Health + Hospitals. “This new training will complement the exceptional clinical support we already provide and help make our least experienced nurses the complete professionals they aspire to be.”

Bronx Metro-North Morris Park Station Area Study - Thank You to those Who Attended

THANK YOU For Making The Morris Park Public Workshop & Open House - A Success! Thank you to all those who attended the Bronx Metro-North Public Workshop and Open House for the Morris Park station area on 12/11/18 at Montefiore Einstein. Thanks to you and your neighbors, we had an impressive cross-section of area workers, residents, and organizations represented at the event. Thanks to this, we were able to have important and robust conversations around your vision for the future of the station area in advance of future Metro-North service.  What's Next? We're compiling all that we've heard to date and we look forward to sharing it with you and your neighbors at an upcoming public open house to be scheduled for early 2019 (details to follow!). This will be an opportunity to learn about and comment on a preliminary set of priorities, recommendations, and strategies for the Parkchester/Van Nest and Morris Park station areas based on everything we've heard. To follow progress on the Bronx Metro-North Station Area Study, sign-up for updates, or just to learn about the study itself, please follow the link below. Find Out More Our mailing address is: bmns@planning.nyc.gov

Assemblyman Marcos Crespo Christmas Event at the Justice Sonia Sotomayor Community Center

 Saturday afternoon Santa stopped by the Sonia Sotomayor Community Center in Soundview to help Assemblyman Marcos Crespo give the Soundview community a huge Christmas party. The event was co-sponsored by the Sheet Metal Workers Local 28 who are with Santa before he left for his next event. Several elected officials were in the house including Bronx Borough president Ruben Diaz Jr., City Councilman Ruben Diaz Sr., and 87th A.D. District Leader John Perez. Music and entertainment was provided by FPJ Amusements, and a good time was had by all who attended.

Above - Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. wishes everyone a MERRY CHRISTMAS. Ruben Diaz Jr. also said that this would be his last term in office as Bronx Borough President, but that in 2021 when he is term-limited out he will be running to become the first Latino Mayor of New York City. 

Below - City Councilman Ruben Diaz Sr. with Assemblyman Crespo and former assembly candidate George Alvarez had a contest testing the knowledge of local residents about their community. 

Above - One member of Local 28 holds the bag with the raffle tickets to win a PlayStation Four, as another Local 28 member draws the winning number.

Below - The winner of the Sony Playstation Four, who wanted to remain anonymous.

Above - Since he announced that he was running for mayor in 2021, it was time to for BP Diaz Jr. to shake hands and gain support for his upcoming mayoral run.

Below - A candidate also has to take photos, especially with union members like these from Local 28 of the Sheet Metal Workers Union.

As the event wound down, it was all smiles for Assemblyman Marcos Crespo as he carries his young daughter Graciela up on his shoulders.

Santa Visits Pelham Parkway Vision Center

  The line of children stretched down the block outside the Pelham Parkway Vision Center to see Santa on Saturday Afternoon. Pelham Parkway Vision Center owner Michael Orloff and the Pelham Parkway Neighborhood Association gave out presents and books from Montefiore Hospital to children who waited to see Santa. 

Above - Pasley and Jason hold up their gifts from Santa. 

Below - (L-R) Pelham Parkway Neighborhood Association President Edith Blitzer, Vision Center Owner Michael Orloff, PPNA Vice-President Steven Glosser, Santa, Montefiore Hospital Vice- President  of Community Relations Mariela Salazar, PPNA member Andrea Siegal, PPNA Secretary Louis Lutnick.

Mark Gjonaj Community Breakfast and Meet Santa

  It was an early breakfast for Santa Saturday at the Pines Restaurant on Bronxdale Avenue with City Councilman Mark Gjonaj and Assemblyman Michael Benedetto. Over 100 children and their parents received a hearty healthy breakfast, and then the children got to tell Santa what they wanted for Christmas. 

Above - Councilman Gjonaj and Santa are with Dora, Jeta, and Atdhe.

Below - Unik Isufi and his mother Qendresa are with Santa.

Above - Joe and Darien Pinto stand with one of Santa's helpers Police Officer Batista-Fernandez.

Below - The room at the Pines Restaurant where the event was held. Most children were at one of the many different things to do.

Throggs Neck Houses Tenant Leader Ms. Nichole Johnson with a few of the children from the TN Houses who enjoyed the face painter and balloon artist before seeing Santa.