Charter Commission Meeting - 1/31, City Hall Council Chambers

NYC Charter Revision Commission 2019’s upcoming meeting on January 31, 6:00 p.m., at City Hall, Council Chambers, where the commission will consider focus areas. This is a meeting, not a hearing, so there will be no public testimony. For more information, visit: http://charter2019.nyc/hearings/8

Police Department City of New York - CompStat Bronx Report Covering the Week 1/14/2019 Through 1/20/2019

                            Week to Date                             Year to Date*
                            2019  2018  % Chg                    2019  2018  % Chg

Murder -               0          2      -100.0                     4         7        -42.9
Rape -                    6          7       -14.3                      20       17         17.6
Robbery -            65        73      -11.0                    178     163          9.2
Fel. Assault-      100      106       -5.7                   289     278          4.
Burglary -            39        25       56.0                   106       84       26.2
Gr. Larceny -      79      110      -28.2                   274      311      -11.9
G.L.A  -                 22        20       10.0                     62        64        -3.1
TOTAL                311      343      -9.33                   933      924       0.97

40th Precinct 
TOTAL                 39        36        8.33                     115      109      5.50
41st Precinct
TOTAL                 15        22      -31.82                    37          44    -15.91
42nd Precinct
TOTAL                 28        26         7.69                    96          67      43.28
43rd Precinct
TOTAL                 20        40       -50.00                  83         113     -26.55
44th Precinct
TOTAL                 42        37         13.51                   99         124     -20.16
45th Precinct
TOTAL                 17        19       -10.53                   65           50       30.00
46th Precinct
TOTAL                 39        36          8.33                  100          79       26.58
47th Precinct
TOTAL                 45        38        18.42                  111         105        5.71
48th Precinct
TOTAL                 12        24       -50.00                   50           53       -5.66
49th Precinct
TOTAL                 16        26       -38.46                   55           66      -16.67
50th Precinct
TOTAL                 14        11        27.27                    46           35        31.43
52nd Precinct
TOTAL                 24        28       -14.29                   76           79        -3.80

Brooklyn South
TOTAL               208      243       -14.40               652         671        -2.83
Brooklyn North
TOTAL               241      263         -8.37               721         710         1.55
Manhattan South
TOTAL               229      276       -17.03               723         717         0.84
Manhattan North
TOTAL               185      204         -9.31               548          597       -8.21
Queens South
TOTAL               147      174       -15.52               400          454      -11.89
Queens North
TOTAL               164      187       -12.30               477          499        -4.41
Staten Island
TOTAL                 36        49       -26.53               125          127        -1.57

EDITOR'S NOTE:

It should be noted that there are 12 police precincts in the Bronx. Brooklyn South has 12 precincts, Brooklyn North has 10 precincts, Manhattan South has 10 precincts, Manhattan North has 12 precincts, Queens South has 8 precincts, Queens North has 8 precincts, and Staten Island has 4 precincts. 

Is it to early to notice any crime patterns, but of the only two Bronx precincts that reported a drop in Murder and rape in 2018 the 46th precinct was one of the four precincts that show the greatest increase in overall crime. the 50th precinct which showed the second most increase in murder and rape in 2018 is now the precinct with the second greatest increase in overall crime. In August 2018 extra police officers were assigned to the 40th and 48th precincts. Last week extra police officers were assigned to the 40th, 41st, and 42nd precincts. While the 42nd precinct shows the greatest increase in overall crime for the first three weeks of 2019, the 45th, 46th, and 50th precincts show the three other highest increases in overall crime.

What did I know on January 8th when I said to Mayor Bill de Blasio (at a press conference at Lincoln Hospital) that crime was on the increase in the Bronx, especially the 50th precinct where overall crime has risen all three weeks of 2019?

All crime figures come from the NYPD CompStat reports. 

Bronx Democratic County Committee - Judicial Screening Application Now Open!

Judicial Screening Application Now Open!    The Independent Judicial Screening Committee of Bronx Democratic Party (IJSC) is currently accepting applications for all of the elected judicial positions that will occur in the 2019 election in and for the Bronx and the City of New York.  All potential candidates for Judge of the Civil Court of the City of New York and Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York must complete and submit a 2019 questionnaire. Questionnaires must be completed and submitted no later than Friday, February 1st at 4:00 p.m. to the office of Ululy Rafael Martinez located at 3602b East Tremont Avenue, Bronx, NY 10465. Candidates who qualify will be interviewed by a judicial screening panel on Saturday, February 9th at the Law Office of Jose Antonio Rodriguez, located at 644 Soundview Avenue, Bronx, NY 10473.  For more information on the application process, please visit: http://bronxdems.org/ijsc/  P.O. Box 580032 652 East 187th Street Bronx, NY 10458 T: 347-281-9759 www.bronxdems.org info@bronxdems.org

First Casualty of the Public Advocate Race - Count Down to 22 Candidates Now

Dear Friends, Supporters, and Comrades,  I’ve felt so blessed to have your support so far and we need it even more now. Last Friday, our team was alerted that our election attorney did not file the necessary Certificate of Acceptance form to the Board of Elections. This means that even though we have submitted the form in question upon this revelation, my name is unlikely to be on the ballot for the February 26th special election without intervention from the Commissioners of the Board of Elections. What we did win: The Board of Elections approved the name of our party, “Bring A Chair,” recognized as a tribute to the first African-American Congresswoman and Brooklyn’s own Shirley Chisholm. In the spirit of #BringAChair, we are continuing to explore every avenue and on January 29th, I will appear before the Commissioners to plead my case and fight for the 5,000+ New Yorkers who petitioned to have me as their nominee. Regardless of their decision, this is not the end. I am not out of public life, and I will forever be an advocate.

Democracy In Action: Woodlawn Neighborhood and Legislative Priorities Town Hall

REP. ADRIANO ESPAILLAT RECOGNIZES INTERNATIONAL HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY

CONGRESSMAN ADRIANO ESPAILLAT

Representing the 13th District of New York

  

  Today, Representative Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) issued the following statement in recognition of International Holocaust Remembrance Day:

“Today, International Holocaust Remembrance Day, we reflect on the atrocities committed towards Jewish people during World War II, and we honor the memory of the six million Jews whose lives were taken and bear witness to their legacy,” said Rep. Adriano Espaillat.

“Despite the traumatizing memories they carry, Holocaust survivors continue to educate each of us on the courage and wisdom required in our efforts to uphold human rights and ensure equal protections for all. Anti-Semitism and racism continue as destructive forces in our world, and it remains incumbent upon all of us to act against these dangerous ideologies. As the Holocaust moves further into history, it is our job to ensure that it remains present in our minds as well as in our convictions to dismantle hatred and to prevent this terrible injustice from repeating itself.

“This International Holocaust Remembrance Day marks the 74th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp. We all should take this day as a reminder to contemplate the meaning of our vow, ‘never again’, and recommit to stand united against all forms of bigotry, hatred, and social injustices today and for all time.”

John Fratta Says Good Bye to Bronx Community Board 11

Pictured Above - (l-r) Anthony Vitaliano 1st Vice-Chair, Albert D'angelo Chair, Jeremy Warneke District Manager, John Fratta (speaking), Joanne Russo-Rubino 2nd Vice Chair, 49th Precinct Captain Andrew Natiw.

  Thursday night was the last time that former District Manager and Business Promotion Coordinator at Bronx Community Board 11 John Fratta sat up front in an official role. During his Good Bye speech which came after a well attended retirement party, he wished the board, its members, and the CB 11 community a fond farewell after dedicating so many years of his life to CB 11. 

  After serving fifteen years as CB 11 District Manager John Fratta became the Business Promotion Coordinator at Cb 11, and also mentored Jeremy Warneke to adjust to his role as the new District Manager of CB 11. Many words of praise came from most of the current members of CB 11 who have been on the board from when John Fratta became the District Manager of CB 11. 

CITY HOUSING AUTHORITY SUPERVISOR CHARGED WITH STEALING A KITCHEN APPLIANCE AND OTHER EQUIPMENT FROM NYCHA’S WAGNER HOUSES

  Margaret Garnett, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation (“DOI”), announced today the arrest of a Supervisor of Housing Caretakers at the New York City Housing Authority (“NYCHA”), on charges of stealing kitchen cabinets, a refrigerator, and a sink from NYCHA’s Wagner Houses in East Harlem where the supervisor worked. DOI worked in partnership with the office of Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown, which is prosecuting the case. 

 DOI Commissioner Margaret Garnett said, “This NYCHA supervisor misused her position to give her personal kitchen a makeover, realizing the renovation with stolen equipment and an appliance from NYCHA and denying residents what was rightfully theirs, according to the charges. Employees who abuse their authority and steal from the City to enrich themselves will be investigated and arrested. DOI thanks the Queens District Attorney’s Office for their partnership in the prosecution of this case.”

 Queens County District Attorney Richard A. Brown said, “The defendant is accused of taking advantage of her trusted position to steal from her employer. Torres’ alleged scheme didn’t just rip off NYCHA, but also the thousands of residents who rely on the agency for housing. While greed may not be a crime, funneling goods and products meant for the truly needy is. This case should serve as a warning to others that my office will work diligently with our law enforcement partners to apprehend and prosecute those who attempt to cheat the system for their own personal gain.” 

 DOI arrested EVA TORRES, 42, of Queens, N.Y., today on charges of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, and Possession of Stolen Property in the Fifth Degree, a class A misdemeanor. Upon conviction, a class E felony is punishable by up to four years in prison and a class A misdemeanor is punishable by up to a year’s incarceration.

 According to the criminal complaint and DOI’s investigation, in September 2018, DOI began investigating a tip that TORRES had renovated the kitchen of her Queens residence with cabinets and an appliance from NYCHA. DOI investigators observed a post from TORRES’ Facebook account that showed TORRES in her kitchen standing in front of kitchen cabinets and a refrigerator that appeared to be similar to items used by NYCHA to furnish apartments. The specific model cabinets are procured by NYCHA from Crotone Kitchens Inc. in Canada and the exact model has never been sold privately to anybody including TORRES

 As a result of DOI’s observations, a search warrant was executed today, January 24, 2019, to search TORRES’ kitchen in Queens, at which time eight cabinets, a white refrigerator, and a sink -- all with matching serial numbers to items purchased by NYCHA for the Wagner Houses -- were found. The total value of the NYCHA property found in TORRES’ kitchen was $1,355, and TORRES did not have the permission or authority to take that property.

 The investigation was conducted by DOI’s Inspector General for NYCHA Ralph Iannuzzi and members of his staff, including Deputy Inspector General Gregory DeBoer, Assistant Inspector General Robin Jacknow, and Confidential Investigator Shateeka Washington. 

A criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty