News From Congressman Eliot Engel

  Engel Elected Chairman of House Committee on Foreign Affairs

  Today, Congressman Eliot L. Engel was unanimously elected the new chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. With his ascension to the chairmanship, Engel now becomes the top Democratic voice on foreign affairs matters in the House of Representatives. He released the following statement:

“I’m honored that my colleagues have unanimously elected me chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee. Congress has an important role to play in foreign policy, and I’m committed to making sure we live up to those responsibilities.

“Diplomacy and development are critical to our national security. These efforts help advance our interests, strengthen friendships and alliances, and stop conflicts before they start. We must do all we can to support the public servants carrying out this work, including making an annual State Department authorization a central part of the Committee’s activity.

“As Chairman, I’ll ensure the Committee places a renewed emphasis on America’s overseas alliances—particularly NATO. We’ll work to underscore the importance of American values—human rights, democracy, and the rule of law—as pillars of our foreign policy. And, we will bring a new focus to issues including climate change and the root causes of migration.

“It’s also well past due for the House to grapple with questions of how, when, and where American armed forces are engaged around the world. Successive administrations have acted as though they have a blank check to send our service members into harm’s way, when in fact that is a matter for Congress to decide.

“Thorough and fair oversight is also an essential part of Congress’s role as a coequal branch of government. In the days ahead, the Committee will push the Administration for answers about the way it has crafted policy dealing with some of the world’s most important hotspots, from Saudi Arabia and Yemen, to Venezuela, to Syria, to Russia, to North Korea. I’m confident the Committee can do this work in a way that puts politics to the side and gets to the facts about matters pivotal to our security.

“In the years I served as the Committee’s ranking member, I was proud of the bipartisan record of accomplishment we built. I’m hopeful we can continue on this course, and I look forward to working with Ranking Member McCaul and all our members to advance our country’s interests and values.”

Dems Introduce H.R. 1 Featuring Key Voting Reform Concepts From Rep. Engel’s Proposed Constitutional Amendment

  Today, Congressman Eliot L. Engel cosponsored H.R. 1, the For the People Act, Democrats’ first legislative priority for the 116^th Congress. The For the People Act is a broad anti-corruption and democracy reform package that will expand Americans’ access to the ballot box, reduce the influence of big money in politics, and strengthen ethics rules at all levels of the government. The bill includes several key concepts from Rep. Engel’s comprehensive Constitutional Amendment to reform our voting and electoral system, which he also reintroduced yesterday (H.J.Res. 9).

“For far too long, our political system has not reflected the needs of all Americans,” Engel said. “We’ve seen gerrymandered districts drawn to favor partisan elected officials, increasing voter suppression, and an unprecedented flood of money from special interests. With Democrats now in the majority in the House, we are committed to restoring transparency, ethics, and accountability to Washington.

“I believe that our democracy can only function when all Americans have a seat at the table. That’s why yesterday, I reintroduced a comprehensive Constitutional Amendment to fix our country’s broken electoral system. I’m pleased that the ‘For the People Act’ includes many concepts from my Constitutional Amendment, including instituting automatic voter registration, making Election Day a federal holiday, prohibiting voter ID requirements, and ensuring that failure to vote is not grounds for removing registered voters. It also bans partisan gerrymandering and reaffirms that Congress should have the authority to regulate money in politics, pushing back on Citizens United.

“Protecting the integrity of our electoral system from special interests and interference is critical and I am pleased the Democratic Caucus has made it an early priority.”

H.R. 1 also strengthens the ethics laws and expands oversight, ensuring integrity from all levels of government. In addition, the bill would extend the current conflict of interest laws to include the President and Vice President, requiring the release of their tax returns, while closing the revolving-door loophole for members of Congress.

Next Croton FMC Meeting Monday January 28th

  The next Croton Filtration Monitoring Committee meeting will be held on January 28th at 6:30pm. Please note the location is same as our last meeting -- Mosholu Montefiore Community Center at 3450 DeKalb Avenue, basement. An Agenda will follow as soon as it is ready.

#1 TRAIN WILL BYPASS 168TH ST. STATION BEGINNING TOMORROW, SATURDAY, JANUARY 5, 2019

  "I want to let constituents and riders of the #1 Train to know that beginning at midnight on Saturday, January 5, the #1 train will bypass 168th St. Station in Washington Heights for approximately one year while four new elevators are constructed. I will be onsite at the 168th St. Station tomorrow, January 5, 2019, at 12:00PM (Noon) to monitor the additional bus service that will be provided to accommodate riders needing to access 157th St. Station to catch the 1 train. I have the commitment of the MTA that they will be actively observing the bus service so that it meets the needs of riders and also will have additional staff available to answer questions from the public.

MTA has stated that they will finish the construction around early 2020. I've requested that this reconstruction project finish on-time, and if possible, reduce the total duration of the project. Additionally, while the new automatic elevators will be able to accommodate a higher volume of subway riders, the elevators will not extend to the subway platform. I've asked the MTA to conduct a feasibility assessment on options to bring the 1-train platform to ADA compliance."

COORDINATION NEEDED AT CITY AND STATE LEVELS TO IMPLEMENT NEW PROPOSAL OF L-TRAIN TUNNEL

  "Brooklyn and Manhattan residents, small businesses, and commuters have been planning and anticipating the L-train shutdown for months. I am glad that the Governor was able to find a group of top engineers to facilitate a less disruptive plan for over 250,000 riders of the L-train. However, further review of the new scope of work is necessary to ensure efficiency, that the project is completed without going over the original budget, that bus routes and ferry service previously included in the project are evaluated, and to figure out what additional resources or public outreach is required to guarantee a well-organized timeline of construction," said Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez, Chair of the Committee on Transportation.

Rep. Adriano Espaillat to Host District Event Honoring Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

 Representative Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) will host his annual open house event honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Friday, January 18^th from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. EST. The event will take place at Rep. Espaillat’s Harlem district office located at 163 West 125^th Street, Suite 508, New York, NY 10027. Light refreshments will be served.

This event is open to the public and press.

WHO:            Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13)

          

WHAT:          Harlem District Office Open House and Commemoration Event Honoring the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

WHEN:          Friday, January 18th at 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. EST

                       

WHERE:       Adam Clayton Powell State Office Building

                        163 West 125th Street, Suite 508

                        New York, NY 10027

RSVP:            RSVP.Espaillat@mail.house.gov or by phone at 212-663-3900

MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES RICK CHANDLER STEPPING DOWN AS BUILDINGS COMMISSIONER

  Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today that Rick D. Chandler, PE, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Buildings, will be retiring from city service after 31 years with the city, including nearly 20 with the Department, four of which were as Commissioner. Commissioner Chandler led a sweeping modernization effort touching every part of the Buildings Department, including the launch of DOB NOW, which will allow New Yorkers to do all business with DOB online; hiring more than 230 new inspectors and 150 technical staff, resulting in significantly faster permit reviews and inspections of construction sites and 311 complaints; and regulating the city’s real estate and construction industries during the largest building boom in at least 50 years.

Thomas Fariello, RA, the agency’s First Deputy Commissioner, will serve as Acting Buildings Commissioner, effective February 1, 2019.

“When I took office, I called for a fundamental reform of the Buildings Department – and I am grateful to Commissioner Chandler for helping deliver on that promise. As Buildings Commissioner, Rick presided over an unprecedented building boom while at the same time launching an aggressive modernization plan to give the public faster service and greater transparency about DOB’s operations. While I’m sad to see Rick go, I thank him for his decades of service to the city and wish him well in his future endeavors,” said Mayor de Blasio.

“I thank Mayor de Blasio for his confidence in me, and for the major investments he made at DOB. Our modernization plan is delivering quicker plan reviews and improved response times, bringing new clarity and consistency to agency operations, strengthening enforcement, and promoting the highest standards of integrity, both in the construction industry and within DOB. The centerpiece of these reforms is DOB NOW – a platform to bring nearly all the agency’s business online and into the 21st century, with far greater transparency for the public. I wish Tom well as Acting Commissioner,” said DOB Commissioner Chandler.

“It was a privilege to work with Commissioner Chandler to modernize and staff-up the Buildings Department to streamline our services for New Yorkers. As Acting Commissioner, I look forward to continuing to implement the Mayor’s vision for the department and to furthering our essential mission of regulating one of the city’s largest industries and keeping construction sites safe for workers and the public,” said incoming Acting Buildings Commissioner Fariello.

Thomas Fariello is a New York State Registered Architect with more than 30 years of experience in the fields of architecture and construction. Appointed First Deputy Commissioner in 2011, Tom has been an essential part of the Department’s leadership since 2003, when he became Deputy Borough Commissioner in Brooklyn. He later served as Borough Commissioner in Brooklyn and in the Bronx. His experience before joining the Department — as a private-sector architect and plan examiner with the New York City School Construction Authority — cultivated his deep understanding of the laws governing construction, as well as the importance of leading the department to provide professional, efficient public service.

The New York City Department of Buildings regulates and promotes the safe and lawful use of nearly 1.1 million buildings and more than 45,000 active construction sites in New York City.

Michael Blake Announces New Endorsements in Campaign for Public Advocate

Bronx Leaders Rally Around Blake as Campaign Gains Momentum

   There are four different Members of Congress, five State Senators, eleven Assembly members,  and eight and a half City Council members, not counting the Bronx Borough President representing the Bronx. 

  Is One Bronx State Senator, One Bronx Assembly member, and One Bronx City Council member a rally by Bronx elected officials around someone running for office? 

State Senator Luis Sepulveda, Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez, and City Councilman Rafael Salamanca braved the cold standing on the steps of the Bronx County building to throw their support behind candidate for Public Advocate Michael Blake. 

   State Senator Luis Sepulveda among other things said that as Public Advocate Michael Blake would help increase funding to New York City Schools.

  City Councilman Rafael Salamanca in his endorsement said that as Public Advocate Michael Blake would hold the mayor accountable for the problems at NYCHA.

  Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez was not as unrealistic in what she said about what Michael Blake could do as the next Public Advocate.

  Assemblyman Michael Blake had to answer my question of how a Public Advocate was going to get more money for schools when that is the job of the State Legislature and not the Public Advocate. Candidate Blake said that he would use the power of the office to influence his friends in Albany.

To my question of how the Public Advocate would fix NYCHA which is the job of the City Council, again candidate Blake said that he would use the influence of the office.

BP DIAZ LAUNCHES ‘#CleanUpNYCHA’ SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. today announced the launch of the#CleanUpNYCHA social media campaign.

This initiative aims to use social media to encourage New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) tenants, as well local residents, businesses and elected officials to call attention to any subpar living conditions encountered in public housing facilities, on the grounds of developments and within individual apartments.

Borough President Diaz and his office will be monitoring this hashtag and reposting from these entries, in addition to following up with the proper authorities, in order to highlight the ongoing issues facing public housing residents and to help NYCHA residents across the five boroughs receive necessary and required city services.

“New York City’s public housing tenants are entitled to the same services and respect that all tenants expect a responsible landlord to provide,” saidBronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. “We need to #CleanUpNYCHA because these living conditions would never be tolerated from private buildings. I encourage all New Yorkers to use this hashtag to highlight NYCHA’s failures to deliver for its residents and to push for a safer, cleaner and more livable public housing system.”

In December, there were two major incidents in which social media was used to shine a light on the unacceptable living situations facing residents in NYCHA complexes located in The Bronx.

Borough President Diaz used his own social media accounts to call attention to a neglected mountain of garbage at the Justice Sonia Sotomayor Houses and Community Center in Soundview on December 30. The pile was a health hazard, leaking filthy liquid garbage onto the sidewalk, causing a stench which attracted vermin to the area. NYCHA and Department of Sanitation employees were on-site cleaning up within hours of the media coverage of Borough President Diaz’s social media posts.

Previously, on December 2, the borough president was alerted to a situation in the Patterson Houses in the South Bronx, following social media posts in which residents reported having no running water at their apartments. A video posted on Facebook showed members of the community forced to line up, outside at nearby fire hydrants, to collect water for their homes. The situation was remediated following widespread media coverage and social media attention, with temporary water pumps installed so that residents had water service the following morning.

“I recently used my own social media accounts to call out the shameful situations in Soundview’s Justice Sonia Sotomayor Houses and the Patterson Houses in Mott Haven,” said Borough President Diaz. “These messes were cleaned up in a matter of hours because of how effective these social media platforms can be in spreading information to the news outlets and city officials. I want to build on this momentum by calling on NYCHA residents and anyone else who witnesses such inefficiencies to use this social media hashtag, so that we can catalog problems, act on them quickly and improve the living conditions of our NYCHA residents.”