The Harlem Chamber Players - Upcoming Events

Please come join us!

Flutist Julietta Curenton, violist Amadi Azikiwe, and harpist Ashley Jackson will perform aFREE family concert of music by Debussy, Arnold Bax and Miguel del Aguila at theNewark School of the Arts. Click on the image above for details.

Our 11th Annual Black History Month Celebration takes place at the Schomburg Center and will feature two world premieres by the noted African American composer Adolphus Hailstork. Pianist David Berry, violinists Ashley Horne and Curtis Stewart, violist Amadi Azikiwe, and cellist Wayne Smith will perform Hailstork's Piano Quintet "Detroit" and "Nobody Know," a work for baritone and string quartet with text by Herbert Martin featuring baritone Kenneth Overton. This work was commissioned by The Harlem Chamber Players to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the importation of the first black slaves to America. The evening will conclude with Dvořák's String Quartet in F Major "American."Host Terrance McKnight of WQXR will also read poetry by Langston Hughes. This concert is part of the Harlem Renaissance 100 Celebration.

This concert is FREE and open to the public. RSVP is required. Registration will open February 14, 2019. Click on the image above for details.

Hear the highly acclaimed students from Opus 118 Harlem School of Music and meet the founder and master teacher Roberta Guaspari, the inspiration behind the award-winning documentary “Small Wonders” and Miramax’s film, “Music of the Heart,” starring Meryl Streep. Click on the image above for details.

The Harlem Chamber Players will join Jason Moran, Alicia Hall Moran, Joseph Joubert, Imani Winds, and a host of other amazing artists in this Carnegie Hall production. Tickets are going fast! Click on the image above for details.

We will close our 11th Anniversary Season at Columbia University's Miller Theatre with a Gala orchestral concert. The concert will feature Met Opera soprano Janinah Burnett, violinist Ashley Horne, and violist Amadi Azikiwe in an evening of great music, including the Sibelius Violin Concerto, Adolphus Hailstork's Two Romances for Viola and Chamber Orchestra, Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson's Sinfonietta No. 1, and Barber's Knoxville: Summer of 1915. Maestro Ariel Rudiakov will conduct. Click on the image above for details.

Visit our Website

Liz Player, Founder, Executive and Artistic Director Carl Jackson, Associate Director and Director of Development The Harlem Chamber Players, Inc. | 212-866-1492 info@harlemchamberplayers.org | www.harlemchamberplayers.org

DE BLASIO ADMINISTRATION PLACES NYCHA RESIDENTS INTO 15,000 JOBS

Thousands of public housing residents have gained jobs after participating in NYCHA’s workforce development programs

  Mayor de Blasio announced that NYCHA has placed residents into nearly 15,000 jobs since 2014 through their workforce development programs.  Half of these jobs are at the housing authority or construction projects with NYCHA contractors and affordable housing developers,  and the rest are in the private sector.  Building on that success, the City is expanding NYCHA’s workforce development programs to Brownsville and Western Queens to provide more residents access to financial counseling, training and jobs.

“NYCHA residents are the backbone of our city. We are fighting every day to connect more residents to the good-paying jobs and careers they deserve,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio.

“We are proud to have supported thousands of residents with new job placements,” said NYCHA Interim Chair and CEO Stanley Brezenoff. “NYCHA will continue to empower our residents through programs like REES to advance their careers and open doors to additional opportunities for themselves and their families.”

The Office of Resident Economic Empowerment and Sustainability (REES), part of NYCHA’s Department of Community Engagement and Partnerships (CEP), has helped to engage and connect residents to jobs and opportunities through strategic partnerships and key programs including JobsPlus and the Resident Training Academy. JobsPlus is a place-based program that serves one or a cluster of public housing developments. The program connects residents to a variety of  private sector jobs, provides financial counseling and training. The Resident Training Academy provides employment-linked training for NYCHA residents that leads to careers with NYCHA in positions such as caretakers and pest control technicians, and to build careers in the construction trades through opportunities with NYCHA contractors and affordable housing developers. REES also connects residents to opportunities through a citywide network of over 80 community-based partners that offer high-quality workforce, business development, as well as educational and financial counseling services for residents.

The JobsPlus program provided 7,313 resident placements since 2014. Last year, those jobs provided a median wage of $14.95 per hour. REES, through its Resident Training Academy and other programs provided 7,169 additional job placements since 2014, with a median wage of $21.39. Building on the success of these workforce development programs, NYCHA is now expanding its Resident Training Academy by 70% or 225 additional trainees annually. As announced in NYCHA 2.0, residents will be prepared for good paying jobs that address NYCHA repairs needs, as well as new construction and preservation efforts. The JobsPlus program will also expand within Brownsville and Western Queens. For more info, residents should visit opportunitynycha.org.

Since 2014, NYCHA has implemented the following efforts to provide more economic opportunities to residents:

· Establishing seven union partnerships for direct employment and 80 community partnerships to provide quality social and economic opportunity services.

· Providing on the ground employment-linked training opportunities and job placement assistance to NYCHA residents through the NYCHA Resident Training Academy.

· Expanded the JobsPlus program to launch the City’s 10th site in East New York.

· Providing nearly 24,000 resident connections to high-quality economic opportunity services.

· Growing the graduating class from the Food Business Pathways Program (FBP) to 270 residents; FBP is a free business accelerator program, sponsored by Small Business Services, that empowers public housing residents and NYCHA Section 8 voucher holders to start and grow food businesses.

· Expanded access to the Earned Income Tax Credit by launching the first ever Virtual Volunteer Income Tax Assistance sites on NYCHA campuses.

· Launched the new OpportunityConnect portal to directly connect residents with services from REES and its partners.

“Increasing access to employment is key to fighting poverty and preventing homelessness,” said Department of Social Services Commissioner Steven Banks. “We’re proud to participate in this NYCHA program that is opening doors for the people we serve, connecting thousands of our hardworking neighbors in need to jobs and opportunity—and we look forward to continuing to collaborate to improve the lives of all New Yorkers.”

"Helping NYCHA residents connect to quality jobs increases economic mobility and strengthens communities," said Matt Klein, Executive Director of the Mayor's Office for Economic Opportunity. "We look forward to building on these successes to help more NYCHA residents achieve their goals. 

Women's March Celebration in Bronx

  It happened after the Women's March NYC in Manhattan at the Sanz on Allerton Avenue. Elected officials joined with the girls from the Talitha Cumi Academy for hours more of entertainment and flowers for all the women and girls courtesy of Councilman Mark Gjonaj the lone male elected official in attendance. Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark, Councilwoman Vanessa Gibson, State Senator Alessandra Biaggi, Assembly members Nathalia Fernandez and Karines Reyes, along with Civil Court Judge Naita Semaj were on hand to speak about their experiences as elected officials, with Bronx DA Clark saying that she is running for re-election. District Attorney's are prohibited from talking about politics unless it is the year they are up for re-election. 

 Tables were set up with various information, entertainment was provided in between events that were going on, and the hours went by as if they were only minutes. Below are more photos.

Above - Children took part with adults in making Mosaics, and were being filmed (upper left corner) to be part of a documentary called 'Eyes of The World'.

Below - An explanation of what 'Eyes of The World' is.

Above - This Women's March event was presented with the help of Lady Pamela Damen and the girls of the Talitha Cumi Academy and the Sanz where the event took place.

Below - After speaking Councilwoman Vanessa Gibson introduces Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark. 

Above - State Senator Alessandra Biaggi spoke about her first week in Albany, and being new to the State Senate with a lot of work to do.

Below - Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez spoke of the pleasure that this event was being held in her district, and the many things she also wishes to accomplish in the New York Assembly. Assemblywoman Karines Reyes (sitting behind Assemblywoman Fernandez) also spoke about her work as a nurse, and what she hopes to do as a legislator.

Above - Councilman Mark Gjonaj stands with Lady Pamela Damen as he talks about the Women's event. He brought roses for all the women to take home. Judge Naita Semaj holds her young daughter in the lower right of the photo.

Below - Part of the large crowd to enjoy the event.

Above - Allerton Avenue Merchants Association President Gene De Francis enjoys a glass of Red  Salivignon Blanc from the Papi Vineyard of Central Valley in Chile.

Below - Lady Pamela Damon, Joanne Hunter, Dawn Acosta, and Councilwoman Vanessa Gibson.

Comptroller Stringer Statement on Mayor de Blasio’s Affordable Housing Announcement

“Homeless shelters are bursting at the seams, families are forced into the streets and far too many people struggle with how to pay rent and buy food for their kids because of New York’s affordable housing crisis.

“While Mayor de Blasio deserves credit for announcing incremental progress towards building housing for the lowest income New Yorkers, we need bigger, bolder, and quicker action for those who are already at a breaking point when it comes to housing affordability.

“I urge the Mayor to realign the City’s housing plan to focus on the 400,000 New York City households who make less than $28,170 a year and to set aside 15% of new units for homeless families. Imagine the gains we could make if our affordable housing plan were focused on the households in the greatest need. We can no longer build affordable housing that is unaffordable for those who need it the most.”

To read our plan to build for those in the greatest need and a way to pay for it by reforming how we tax home purchases, click --- Comptroller Stringer Proposes Fundamental Realignment of the City Housing Plan to Address New Yorkers Most in Need NOVEMBER 28, 2018

“Operation Punch-Out”: Attorney General James Announces Takedown Of Three Gun Traffickers

   Attorney General Letitia James announced the take-down of members of a gun trafficking operation that brought guns from Pennsylvania and illegally resold them in New York. In two separate, but related indictments in Bronx and Nassau Counties, three defendants were charged with trafficking assault weapons, semiautomatic pistols, a ghost gun, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.

“Even though New York has some of the toughest gun laws in the nation, lax gun laws in our neighboring states jeopardize our safety,” said Attorney General Letitia James. “Not only did these individuals illegally traffic highly dangerous firearms through the Iron Pipeline, but they did so in the presence of their children. New York has zero tolerance for activity that is both illegal and harmful and we will continue to go after any individual who tries to bring these weapons of death into our state.”

In a 45 count indictment unsealed on November 28, 2018, before Nassau County Court Judge Patricia Harrington, Tadarrell Jones, and Shyrein Joseph were charged with Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Second Degree, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, and other related charges for their participation in the illegal gun trafficking operation, as the two sold guns, including assault weapons, in New York City and Nassau County.  Joseph was arraigned on January 15, 2019, before Nassau County Court Judge Robert McDonald and was remanded without bail.

According to the 45 count indictment, Jones and Joseph brought guns to New York from Pennsylvania and sold them to an undercover officer on five occasions between September 27 and November 1, 2016.  The investigation, led by the Attorney General’s Organize Crime Task Force (OCTF) along with the New York State Police Troop L Narcotics Enforcement Unit, resulted in the recovery of the following firearms and ammunition from Jones and Joseph:

• .45 Caliber Springfield Armory Pistol
• .44 Caliber S&W Revolver Magnum
• .22 LR Caliber Semiautomatic Rifle ATI
• 62 x .39 Caliber Semiautomatic Rifle AK 47
• .223 Caliber S&W Semiautomatic Rifle
• .44 Caliber Ruger Magnum Revolver
• 744 rounds of ammunition

Additionally, Jones and Joseph brought their underage children to several of the firearms transactions. As a result, each defendant has also been charged with several counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child.  Each defendant, if convicted, each faces a maximum of 15 years in prison.

In a separate and related 41 count Bronx County indictment, Reinaldo Rodriguez, a.k.a. Gringo, was charged with Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Second Degree, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, and other related charges. The investigation revealed that Rodriguez was purchasing guns from an unindicted co-conspirator in Pennsylvania and bringing them to Bronx County for resale.  Rodriguez was arraigned on November 7, 2018 by the Honorable Harold Adler and remanded without bail. 

Over the course of the five months long investigation, authorities recovered the following firearms and ammunition from Rodriguez:

• Four 9mm Semiautomatic Pistols
• .22 Long Rifle Caliber Assault Weapon
• .25 Caliber Beretta Semiautomatic Pistol
• .32 Caliber Revolver
• .45 Auto Caliber Semiautomatic Ghost Gun
• 59 Rounds of Ammunition

As alleged, Rodriguez focused his operation on the purchase and resale of firearms, specifically from purchasing guns from Pennsylvania and bringing to New York to resell.  The investigation uncovered that once Rodriguez obtained a firearm, he would arrange to sell the firearm to one of his customers.  If convicted, Rodriguez faces a maximum of 15 years in prison.

The Attorney General’s investigation included the use of physical surveillance, electronic surveillance, confidential sources, and undercover operations in Bronx, Nassau, and New York Counties. During the course of the recorded transactions, each of the defendants frequently referenced their ability to purchase other guns from outside of New York.

The Attorney General would like to thank the New York State Police Troop L Narcotics Enforcement Unit for their valuable participation in this investigation. 

 The charges against the defendants are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Photos of several firearms recovered from Jones and Joseph:

Photos of several firearms recovered from Rodriguez:

DE BLASIO ADMINISTRATION FINANCED MORE THAN 34,000 AFFORDABLE HOMES IN 2018 – A NEW RECORD

The City financed record-high for new construction with more than 10,000 affordable apartments; since 2014, the City has secured nearly 122,000 affordable homes

Mayor de Blasio announced that his administration financed 34,160 affordable homes last year, setting a new high-water mark for affordable housing production in New York City. This includes a record for both new construction, with 10,099 new homes financed, as well as for preservation, with 24,061 apartments. In 2017, the administration broke the previous record, set by former Mayor Ed Koch in 1989. This brings the total number of homes financed to date under the City’s ambitious Housing New York plan to nearly 122,000 apartments. Nearly 85 percent of all homes financed through the Mayor’s housing plan are affordable to low-income New Yorkers, of which more than 40 percent will serve families earning less than $46,950.

“Family by family, building by building, we’re giving people the security of knowing they can stay in the city they love. Last year, we created and preserved affordable housing that will reach 85,000 New Yorkers – enough to fill an entire neighborhood the size of Flushing. And we’re just warming up. This year, we’ll launch a new Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants that will fight for residents in every community,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio.

“In New York City, we’re preserving and building affordable housing at rates that far outpace any other city and even most states. We’ve created a powerful machine that will continue to produce results for years to come, so that even as our city grows, New Yorkers will be able to stay in the neighborhoods they helped build,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development Alicia Glen.

"The 34,160 homes financed last year represent a new high-water mark for affordable housing, and real relief for hard-working families struggling to make ends meet," said Department of Housing Preservation and Development Commissioner Maria Torres-Springer. “Last year, we broke all the records for affordable housing production, and a full 60 percent of the homes financed serve extremely- and very low-income New Yorkers. The 122,000 homes completed or underway reflect significant progress on large public sites, far-reaching policies to secure more affordable housing with no City financing, a lifeline to safeguard affordability at more of our city's Mitchell-Lamas, and major inroads on new programs laid out in HNY 2.0 from Neighborhood Pillars to Partners in Preservation. All this work complements our broader efforts to fight displacement and protect tenants, and we thank our Mayor and Deputy Mayor for their extraordinary vision and unwavering support, the tireless teams at HPD and HDC for their creativity and commitment, and all our dedicated partners for their steadfast support in our fight to keep this city affordable for generations to come.”

“HDC is proud to have provided more than $1.8 billion in bond financing toward another record-breaking year of affordable housing production for our city. The 122,000 homes created and preserved through Mayor de Blasio’s Housing New York plan are providing security and affordability to New Yorkers today, while also anchoring communities for generations to come,” said Housing Development Corporation President Eric Enderlin. “The 34,000 apartments financed last year are a testament to the visionary leadership of the administration, the ongoing support of our elected officials, the outstanding efforts of our countless partners across the public and private sectors, and of course our teams at HDC and HPD who are constantly working to meet the diverse housing needs of our dynamic and evolving city.”

To celebrate this historic milestone, the Mayor visited Tres Puentes, a new senior housing development financed through HPD’s Senior Affordable Rental Apartments program. These 175 new affordable apartments for seniors, including 53 formerly homeless seniors, were constructed on what had been a parking lot and underused space next to Borinquen Court, a 145-apartment federal Housing and Urban Development 202 senior project that the City previously preserved. This project is the prototype for the new Housing+ initiative proposed as part of HNY 2.0.

Protecting tenants is a core part of the City’s strategy to confront the affordable housing crisis. The newly created Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants will spearhead the City’s anti-harassment and outreach initiatives, aggressively enhance interagency enforcement and more closely engage with tenants and advocates. The City is also pursuing legislation to dramatically increase financial penalties against bad landlords and seize buildings from neglectful owners.

The 34,160 affordable apartments financed last year represent a direct City investment of $1.73 billion, leveraging more than $1.84 billion in bonds issued by HDC. This brings the total direct City investment under the Mayor’s housing plan to date to $5.05 billion, and the total bond financing to $8.12 billion. The City has continued to exceed its goals, not just in terms of numbers, but in terms of affordability, while staying within the amount of capital budgeted each year.

Affordable housing numbers are available here.

The plan continues to live up to its initial promises:

Rezoning Areas / Public Sites: The City advanced new construction on large public sites in rezoning and urban renewal areas, including major developments at Hunter’s Point South in Long Island City, Queens, MEC 125^th Street in East Harlem, and the first phase of a multi-phase development in Coney Island, Brooklyn. These projects represent some of the 3,000 newly constructed apartments financed on public land last year; bringing the total under HNY to 10,480 homes. 

Mandatory Inclusionary Housing: Since MIH was introduced in March 2016, the City has financed 1,300 permanently affordable homes, and is now tracking 7,800 MIH apartments through rezoning applications; including 5,600 MIH apartments in 64 projects approved by the City Council that have not yet closed. 

421a: The City also produced 1,175 affordable apartments across 134 projects through 421a with no additional City funding. This is almost a four-fold increase from last calendar year in the number of apartments created, most of which are in high-cost neighborhoods.

Homeless and Supportive Housing: Through significant changes to our financing programs, the City secured 2,500 apartments for homeless New Yorkers – a record number that brought the total to almost 10,000 apartments set aside for homeless households over the life of the plan. In part, this includes the 4,770 supportive housing apartments the City has financed since the start of the administration.

Housing Connect: The City’s housing lottery posted 7,700 affordable homes in 2018, an increase of nearly 50% from the 5,200 affordable apartments that went through the lottery in 2017, and nearly triple the 2,900 posted in 2014. Since 2014, HPD and HDC have marketed 24,443 affordable apartments through Housing Connect, including 18,800 financed under HNY. The agencies also updated their guidelines to speed up the delivery of affordable housing and ensure those homes serve the New Yorkers who need them most. 

M/WBE Build Up: New program spurred 63 projects with 18,122 apartments to set and meet M/WBE participation goals that are expected to generate more than $306 million in spending. Since the program’s inception, 105 projects have been required to participate in the program for a combined expected spending amount of $481 million.

Advancing Key Initiatives of HNY 2.0

In November 2017, the administration launched Housing New York 2.0, a roadmap to achieve the accelerated and expanded goal of producing 300,000 affordable homes by 2026. Since then, HPD and HDC have made significant progress towards many of the key initiatives laid out in HNY 2.0, including:

Seniors: As part of Seniors First, a three-pronged strategy to help serve 30,000 seniors over the 12 year plan, HPD introduced Aging in Place to ensure seniors in preservation projects get the improvements they need to stay in their apartments and age in place. Last year, the City financed 1,830 apartments for seniors; bringing the total number of senior homes produced under HNY to 7,390. 

Anti-displacement: Created the new Neighborhood Pillars program to help finance the acquisition and rehabilitation of rent-stabilized and unregulated buildings, and Partners in Preservation to identify community-based organizations to develop and coordinate anti-displacement strategies with local stakeholders and tenants in targeted neighborhoods.

Mitchell-Lamas: Secured the continued affordability of 14,859 coops and apartments in Mitchell-Lama developments, including Masyrk Towers, Lindsay Park, Franklin Plaza Apartments, and Starrett City, the largest federally subsidized development in the nation. This brings the total of Mitchell-Lama homes and apartments preserved under HNY to 33,937.

Homeownership: Rolled out the new HomeFix program to connect existing homeowners to funding for repairs and counseling, and launched Open Door to build new affordable condos and coops. Last year, the City financed 10,295 homeownership opportunities for a total of 22,895 under the plan. 

Innovation: Launched ShareNYC, a new initiative to reshape the model of shared housing into a dynamic new source of affordable housing for New Yorkers, and Modular NYC to leverage the use of modular design and construction.

To learn more about how New Yorkers can apply for affordable housing, fight eviction, and freeze their rent, visit the City’s new housing web portal at nyc.gov/housing. 

SCHUMER PUSHES AMTRAK TO BE MORE FLEXIBLE IN FINALIZING DEAL TO CREATE NEW & NEEDED TRANSIT LINE FOR EAST BRONX & WESTCHESTER COMMUTERS;

PENN STATION ACCESS WILL REDUCE TRAVEL TIMES BY CREATING ONE-SEAT RIDE TO PENN STATION & WEST SIDE OF MANHATTAN; WILL BOOST LOCAL BRONX & WESTCHESTER ECONOMY; & WILL IMPROVE SYSTEM RESILIENCY

Amtrak Needs To Be More Flexible So We Can Get To “Y-E-S” ASAP For Westchester Commuters 

New Line From New Rochelle To East And South Bronx Would Offer Westchester Commuters First Ever One-Seat Ride To Manhattan’s Booming West Side, And Establish Critical New Reverse Commute Option; Will Be Huge Boon For Westchester Commuters 

 Brand New Service From New Rochelle Hub, With Four Bronx Stations, Would Create One-Seat Train Ride For East, South Bronx & Westchester To Penn Station, And Aid Reverse Commuters, Too; Reduced Travel Time, Access To Major Job Market, & Overall Convenience Will Help Drive Transportation Relief For Countless NY Commuters

Touting the significant benefits of a potential new Bronx-Westchester Metro-North transit line, that would operate on existing Amtrak tracks and tunnel, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today pushed Amtrak to “be more flexible” and work with the MTA come to an agreement on Penn Station Access as soon as possible. Schumer described the proposed project, the need for less of a hard line and more flexibility on Amtrak’s part, and the benefits Westchester commuters stand to gain as he made the case for getting this project moving faster – while also noting that none of this can happen without first rebuilding our badly damaged East River Tunnels through which all the trains would need to travel.

“The new line from New Rochelle to Manhattan’s West Side through the East Bronx would provide Westchester residents with their first ever one-seat ride to Penn Station. Simply put, this line would be a major boon for commuters coming to and from Westchester, saving time, expanding their options and creating fantastic route flexibility,” said U.S. Senator Charles Schumer. “The fact that we can do it relatively affordably because it can be established on already built Amtrak tracks and the East River Tunnel, make this a compelling way to expand our transit system for beleaguered commuters.” Schumer noted, too, that, “The MTA must accelerate the repair and rebuilding of the Sandy-damaged East River tunnel, through which this line would have to run, with the $500 million I already secured from the federal FTA after the Sandy disaster.”

Schumer detailed how the MTA’s plan for starting a new Metro-North commuter rail service and four new proposed stations on Amtrak’s Hell Gate Line – at Hunts Point, Parkchester/Van Nest, Morris Park and Co-op City (all in the Bronx) – which would terminate/originate at the New Rochelle hub, and create a one-seat train ride for Westchester commuters to Manhattan’s booming West Side/Penn Station. Schumer said that the new line would, “Substantially reduce travel time, link communities to job markets, enhance economic development, and offer vital system resiliency.”

Schumer urged that, “Amtrak should take less of a hard line and instead be more flexible in their negotiations to finalize the Penn Station Access plan, including the anticipated maintenance and repair project for the Pelham Bay Bridge.” Schumer pointed out that any maintenance and/or repair of the bridge is not expected to begin for another 8-10 years, and an agreement on the cost of the project and how it should be divided can be determined at a later date, Schumer argued.

Schumer also urged Amtrak and the MTA to think creatively in their negotiations around access fees, which tenant railroads are required to pay hosts for using their trackage. Given that Amtrak and MTA share a larger regional transportation network, and are both host and tenant on different parts of that network, Schumer suggested, this could include an agreement in which the MTA provides some reciprocal value within the regional transportation network where Amtrak and the MTA share capacity such as the Hudson and Harlem Metro-North railroad lines.

"There's no need to iron out every single one of the nitty-gritty details involving access fees and maintenance of the Pelham Bay Bridge while the larger project languishes and loses momentum,” said Senator Schumer. “Let’s not keep the East Bronx and Westchester, which are clamoring for this project, waiting any longer than they already have. Amtrak and the MTA can come together now and agree to get this project on track – and sort out the finer details when the time comes. MTA and Amtrak share a lot of the railroad lines in the Greater New York area. Sometimes, MTA is the tenant; other times, Amtrak is. Amtrak should think creatively and consider what MTA could do on their Metro-North lines or elsewhere to provide value to Amtrak in exchange for Penn Station Access. This project isn't occurring in isolation; it's part of a complex regional transportation network, where both parties can and should continue their mutually beneficial relationship," Schumer explained.  

“My constituents in both the Bronx and Westchester deserve to have greater rail access, which not only will improve travel and reduce pollution, but will also provide economic benefits to the entire region. I’m proud to once again join Senator Schumer and all of my colleagues in government in calling on Amtrak to get on board with us and move this project forward,” said Congressman Eliot Engel.

“The strong bipartisan support for Penn Station Access speaks to the absolute necessity of the project. Penn Station Access will provide much-needed relief for commuters, saving them significant amounts of time and money by connecting Westchester and Manhattan’s west side. It will also improve transportation capacity and resiliency and drive economic growth throughout the region. I look forward to continuing to work with our partners at all levels of government to secure Amtrak’s cooperation in moving this project forward,” said Congresswoman Nita Lowey

“Access to Penn Station is advantageous for those who live in Westchester along the Sound Shore and need to commute to the Bronx or parts of Manhattan for work, making those communities even more attractive to live in and raising property values in the process. This project would significantly revitalize our region through its creation of a one-seat ride into Penn Station from Westchester for the first time ever. Not only would this save significant time and money for hard-working commuters, it would also alleviate congestion issues at Grand Central Terminal while providing flexibility to the thousands who commute from the Bronx to Westchester each day,” said George Latimer, Westchester County Executive.

"Penn Access is vital to the economy, environment, and even security of our region.  It will help foster job growth and transit-oriented development throughout the Bronx and Westchester, while also reducing travel times for commuters and providing New Yorkers with a more resilient transportation system in the event of emergencies.  We applaud Senator Schumer for his leadership on this essential priority and call on Amtrak to partner with the MTA to complete Penn Access as quickly as possible” said Noam Bramson, Mayor of New Rochelle. 

Assemblyman Steve Otis (D-Rye) added, "Penn Station Access is a key change that will give commuters on the New Haven line more options and relieve overcrowding on some trains. Senator Schumer's advocacy on this issue has been important to making sure Penn Station Access becomes a reality."

"I commend Senator Schumer for his persistent efforts to broker a solution between Amtrak and the MTA, so we can move forward on the Penn Access Project. This project will greatly expand transportation options and resiliency for Westchester residents and NYC residents working in Westchester. With so much at stake, it is essential that the Amtrak and the MTA find a solution to this impasse" said New York State Senator Shelley Mayer (D-Yonkers).

Schumer also noted that Penn Station Access is contingent on the completion of repairs to the East River Tunnels, which were badly damaged by millions of gallons of floodwater during Superstorm Sandy, and the larger East Side Access program. Previously, Schumer secured $432 million in unused Sandy relief funds for repairs to the East River Tunnels; the federal funds were awarded as part of an $800 million allotment of funding for transportation infrastructure resiliency projects. In 2016, following Schumer’s push, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) released these funds to the MTA, which committed to use the money to advance repairs in the East River Tunnels.

According to Amtrak reports, corrosive damage from the storm continue to impact the East River Tunnels and will likely lead to an increase in delays and equipment breakdowns, with these problems growing worse as time goes on if repairs are not made as soon as possible. In order for this new East Bronx service launch to be successful, the East River Tunnels and East Side Access program must move forward first.  

In November, Schumer sent a letter to Amtrak and the MTA to make the case for Penn Station Access and increased Metro-North access for the people of East and South Bronx and Westchester. The letter, which appears below, also urged Amtrak and MTA to continue their ongoing work with the East Side Access program and on the badly damaged East River Tunnels, through which this new line would travel.

November 2, 2018

Richard H. Anderson

President and Chief Executive Officer

National Railroad Passenger Corporation (AMTRAK)

1 Massachusetts Ave, NW

Washington, DC 20001

Joseph L. Lhota

Chairman

Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)

2 Broadway

New York, NY 10004

Dear Mr. Anderson and Mr. Lhota:

We write to express support for increased Metro-North access for the people of East and South Bronx and urge your agencies to continue to accelerate your work together to develop a reasonable timeline for launching this new commuter service with all due speed. It is critical, of course, that this new service not be designed or implemented in a way that diminishes any existing mass transit, regional or intercity rail service. As you know, MTA’s plans for starting new Metro-North commuter rail service and four new proposed stations on Amtrak’s Hell Gate Line – at Hunts Point, Parkchester/Van Nest, Morris Park and Co-op City – would create a one-seat train ride for East and South Bronx and parts of Westchester which will substantially reduce travel time, link communities to job markets, enhance economic development and offer vital system resiliency. It is the history of New York, and especially the Bronx, that transit development is linked to job and community development, and expanding Metro-North to the East and South Bronx will increase service to areas that lack adequate mass transportation connections into Manhattan as well as into Westchester and Connecticut. We believe expanding mass transit options can spark job growth and will reduce commute times and benefit the whole region.

Given the interdependencies of Amtrak’s and MTA’s ongoing work with the East Side Access program and the East River Tunnel repairs, as well as the enormous complexity of operations at Penn Station, it is imperative your entities work together to develop an acceptable design, realistic schedule, appropriate cost-sharing and feasible work plan that allows for the completion of ongoing projects – as well as the necessary construction activities to support the introduction of this rail service serving the East and South Bronx as soon as possible. We expect MTA and Amtrak to work together in good faith and consistent with federal law to forge an agreement for all necessary infrastructure to implement this vital service, including the stations and necessary track and Pelham Bay Bridge work.

We have seen – and hundreds of thousands of New York commuters have directly experienced – what can happen when the transit agencies in charge of this infrastructure cannot or do not stay on top of needed investments and repairs. Superstorm Sandy badly damaged the tunnels serving Penn Station, including the East River Tunnels, with approximately 14 million gallons of floodwaters. It is of utmost urgency to the commuters of Long Island, and beyond, that the East River Tunnels be repaired and upgraded – as has already occurred on a number of vital vehicle and mass transit tunnels. According to Amtrak reports, corrosive damage from the storm continue to impact the East River Tunnels and will likely lead to an increase in delays and equipment breakdowns, with these problems growing worse as time goes on if repairs are not made as soon as possible. This is why we fought so hard to pass the original $64 billion Sandy relief Bill, and later fought to prevent certain transit money from this legislation from being spent in projects outside of New York – so that, instead, these funds could be spent to repair the East River Tunnels. As we understand it, the timeline for the East River Tunnel repairs is dependent on the completion of the East Side Access program and both projects must be completed, in conjunction with the construction of infrastructure and capacity elements identified under the Penn Access Project, in order for the new East Bronx service launch to be successful.

As mentioned, after considerable effort, we secured $432 million in Sandy relief funds that can be used by the MTA for the vital repairs to the East River Tunnels and these funds specifically seek to supplement funds that Amtrak has received from insurance settlements for this work. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) released these funds to the MTA at our urging. It is our expectation that the MTA will make the full financial commitment needed to advance the East River Tunnel Repairs and work with Amtrak to develop a schedule for this work and related operations that permits it to advance quickly.

We cannot overstate the importance of each of these projects and the need to advance them quickly. Given the hundreds of thousands of commuters who depend on this link, and its central relationship to the health of the regional economy, failure is not an option. While we are sensitive to the wide variety of other issues facing both Amtrak and the MTA, the completion of all aspects of the East Side Access program, the repairs to the East River Tunnels, the launch of a new East Bronx service, and the continued management of the complex operations at Penn Station all require tight, constant and professional coordination between your agencies. We continue to ask you articulate a clear plan for the commencement and completion of these projects; that you reach agreement on the necessary commercial and access terms for use of Amtrak’s property, set ambitious deadlines to get the work done; and share these plans with the riding public. We are confident that, working together, you can create a reasonable timeline and work plan that provides the necessary investments, repairs, and benefits New York commuter deserve.

We appreciate your attention to this issue, should you need further information please do not hesitate to contact our offices.

Sincerely,

Charles E. Schumer

United States Senator

EDITOR'S NOTE:

The above is a press release from U.S. Senator Charles Schumer unedited. It appears that Senator Schumer's  appearance in the Coop-City section of the Bronx was to help his real agenda to get Westchester County better Metro North service on the backs of the people of the Bronx. 

The main stumbling block to this new (Westchester County/East Side of Manhattan) Metro North service is the repair of a bridge in the Bronx (which was close to where Senator Schumer held his press conference), that must be repaired if Metro North was to introduce this new train service. 

We now see Senator Schumer's real reason why he held this press conference, and that was for the benefit of people in Westchester County.