MAYOR DE BLASIO AND CHANCELLOR CARRANZA ANNOUNCE 47 NEW PRE-K DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAMS ACROSS EVERY BOROUGH

Applications for free, full-day, high-quality Pre-K and 3-K for All open today

  Mayor de Blasio and Schools Chancellor Richard A. Carranza kicked off the first day of Pre-K and 3-K for All applications by announcing that 47 new pre-K Dual Language programs will open across the City this fall. The new programs will include the City’s first French, Haitian-Creole, Hebrew and Japanese pre-K Dual Language programs. At the start of the 2019-20 school year, there will be 107 programs throughout all five boroughs, more than triple the original 30 in 2015.

“Building the fairest big city in America starts in the classroom. We believe every child deserves the same strong start which is why we’re providing New Yorkers in every zip code with access to early childhood education,” said Mayor de Blasio. “By offering even more dual-language Pre-K programs across the five boroughs, we’re readying our children for the global economy of the future.”

“New York City’s youngest learners gain so much in 3-K and Pre-K classrooms across the City, and I encourage all eligible families to apply,” said Schools Chancellor Richard A. Carranza.  “I’m also excited to announce that we’re opening 47 new Dual Language programs, where our students are learning to speak two languages – one of the greatest gifts there is. More New York City kids will get an early start on becoming multilingual, multicultural, and ready to succeed in our diverse world.”

“No one in our city’s history has done more to ensure that all of our city’s children have the advantages of a high quality early education than Mayor de Blasio,” said Hispanic Federation President José Calderón. “Today’s announcement of the opening of 47 new pre-K dual language programs is a testament to the importance of mayoral control. It is an incredible gift of education and multi-language acquisition for our children and their families that will strengthen communities across our city for generations to come.”

“We’re excited to add 47 new pre-K Dual Language programs, and offer a diverse range of students and families the opportunity to become truly multilingual,” said DOE Chief Academic Officer Linda Chen. “These new programs will build on our current program options as our Division of Multilingual Learners works to provide a continuum of high-quality Dual Language learning from pre-K through the 12th grade.”

In the 2019-20 school year, these programs will be in 103 schools, Pre-K Centers, and New York City Early Education Centers (NYCEECs) in every borough, with four sites offering Dual Language in more than one language. The new programs include six in the Bronx, 16 in Brooklyn, 8 in Manhattan, 16 in Queens, and one on Staten Island. In addition to the new French, Haitian-Creole, Hebrew, and Japanese programs, the DOE will continue to offer programs in Bengali, Chinese, Italian, Russian and Spanish.

Dual Language classes are comprised of 50 percent children whose home language is the target language of the program and 50 percent English-proficient students. Instruction is held in both languages, and students in pre-K Dual Language classes may continue on the Dual Language track in Kindergarten and beyond.

In addition to the City’s pre-K Dual Language programs, there are currently 545 bilingual programs across every borough for students in grades K-12. Approximately 200 bilingual programs have opened or expanded since the 2013-14 school year. Bilingual programs are available in schools citywide in 13 languages, serving approximately 40,000 students. Building on this progress, earlier this school year, Chancellor Carranza formally re-named the Division of English Language Learners as the Division of Multilingual Learners in order to honor the value of the hundreds of home languages spoken by New York City public school students.

Below is a complete list of pre-K Dual Language sites available in September 2019:

Bronx

PS 30 Wilton – Spanish (New)

The New American Academy at Roberto Clemente State Park – Spanish (New)

Bedford Park Elementary School – Spanish (New)

Ready Set Learn – Spanish (New)

3467 Ready Set Learn – Spanish (New)

Monsignor Boyle Head Start – Spanish (New)

Samara Community School – Spanish (Expanding)

PS 49 Willis Avenue – Spanish (Current)

PS 161 Juan Ponce De Leon School – Spanish (Current)

PS 277 – Spanish (Current)

PS 138 Samuel Randall – Spanish (Current)

PS 73 Bronx – Spanish (Current)

PS 109 Sedgwick – Spanish (Current)

PS 226 – Spanish (Current)

PS 160 Walt Disney – Spanish (Current)

Belmont Community Day Care Center – Spanish (Current)

Brooklyn

PS 46 Edward C. Blum – Spanish (New)

PS 147 Isaac Remsen – Japanese (New)

PS 124 Silas B. Dutcher – Spanish (New)

PS 5 Dr. Ronald McNair – French (New)

PS 40 George W. Carver – Spanish (New)

Brighter Choices Community School – Spanish (New)

PS 238 Anne Sullivan – Spanish (New)

All My Children Day Care 10 – Hebrew (New)

Charles R. Drew ELC 5 – Haitian-Creole (New)

Higher Level – Spanish (New)

Kreative Kare Day Care Center – Spanish (New)

ABC Plus – Russian (New)

Learn and Explore – Russian (New)

District 20 Pre-K Center at 7415 Fort Hamilton Parkway – Chinese (New)

District 20 Pre-K Center at 140 58th Street – Spanish (New)

District 20 Pre-K Center at 21 Bay 11th Street – Chinese (New)

PS 9 Teunis G. Bergen – Spanish (Current)

PS 54 Samuel C. Barnes – Spanish (Current)

PS 133 William A. Butler – Spanish (Current)

PS 319 – Spanish (Current)

PS 1 The Bergen School – Spanish (Current)

PS 15 Patrick F. Daly – Spanish (Current)

PS 24 – Spanish (Current)

Sunset Park Avenues Elementary School – Spanish (Current)

Brooklyn Arts and Sciences Elementary School – Spanish (Current)

PS 89 Cypress Hills – Spanish (Current)

PS 108 Sal Abbracciamento – Spanish (Current)

PS 112 Lefferts Park – Italian (Current)

PS 90 Edna Cohen School – Spanish (Current)

PS 139 Alexine A. Fenty – Spanish (Current)

PS  123 Suydam – Spanish (Current)

PS 145 Andrew Jackson – Spanish (Current)

PS 151 Lyndon B. Johnson – Spanish (Current)

The Little Brooklyn Pre-K Center at 173-177 25th Street – Chinese, Spanish (Current)

District 20 Pre-K Center at 1423 62nd Street – Chinese, Spanish (Current)

Manhattan

PS 163 Alfred E. Smith – Spanish (New)

PS 242 The Young Diplomats Magnet Academy – Italian (New)

PS 155 William Paca – Spanish (New)

PS 5 Ellen Lurie – Spanish (New)

PS 48 P.O. Michael J. Buczek – Spanish (New)

PS 98 Shorac Kappock – Spanish (New)

East Harlem CHS Bilingual Head Start Program – Spanish (New)

Saint Elizabeth Pre-Kindergarten – Spanish (New)

PS 20 Anna Silver – Chinese, Spanish (Current)

PS 188 The Island School – Spanish (Current)

PS 1 Alfred E. Smith – Spanish (Current)

PS 145 The Bloomingdale School – Russian, Spanish (Current)

PS 180 Hugo Newman – Spanish (Current)

James Weldon Johnson – Spanish (Current)

PS 96 Joseph Lanzetta – Spanish (Current)

PS 129 John H. Finely – Spanish (Current)

PS 28 Wright Brothers – Spanish (Current)

PS 128 Audubon – Spanish (Current)

PS/IS 210 Twenty-first Century Academy for Community Leadership – Spanish (Current)

Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School – Spanish (Current)

Castle Bridge School – Spanish (Current)

Queens

PS 19 Marino Jeantet – Spanish (New)

PS 29 Queens – Spanish (New)

PS 163 Flushing Heights – Chinese (New)

PS 197 The Ocean School – Spanish (New)

PS 112 Dutch Kills – Spanish (New)

PS 127 Aerospace Science Magnet School – Spanish (New)

Mi Nuevo Mundo – Spanish (New)

Sesame Sprout – Spanish (New)

Charles R. Drew ELC 3 – Spanish (New)

Little Friends School Sunnyside – Spanish (New)

Long Island City YMCA – Spanish (New)

Kon Wah Day School – Chinese (New)

Home Sweet Home Children’s School – Chinese (New)

Atonement Preschool – Spanish (New)

Corona Friends – Spanish (New)

BWY Preschool – Spanish (New)

District 25 Pre-K Center at 123-07 22nd Ave – Spanish (Expanding)

Elm Tree Elementary School – Spanish (Current)

PS/MS 138 Sunrise – Spanish (Current)

PS 17 Henry David Thoreau – Spanish (Current)

PS 76 William Hallet – Spanish (Current)

Fire Fighter Christopher A. Santora School – Spanish (Current)

PS 228 Early Childhood Magnet School of the Arts – Spanish (Current)

Ezra Jack Keats Pre-K Center at 153-36 89th Ave – Bengali (Current)

District 30 Pre-K Center at 96-10 23rd Avenue – Spanish (Current)

District 30 Pre-K Center at 3252 37th Street – Spanish (Current

Staten Island

Little Smarties Preschool – Russian (New)

PS 16 John. J. Driscoll – Spanish (Current)

PS 19 The Curtis School – Spanish (Current)

PS 22 Graniteville – Spanish (Current)

PS 44 Thomas C. Brown – Spanish (Current)

What is This on A NYC Light Pole?

  The Above item connected to a NYC light pole appears to have some sort of camera or tracking device on top of it, but when A bus stopped at the bus stop the driver knew nothing about a bus tracker. I sent this and another photo (below) to the Bronx DOT Commissioner who thanked me, and said that he would look into what this thing was since he had no knowledge of what it was. 

 I have many ideas of what this device might be since it is mounted on a pole that is facing the intersection of the south bound Henry Hudson Parkway, and West 239th Street intersection. Three different bus routes run through this intersection, and it is mounted on a pole above the Henry Hudson Parkway. So is this a bus tracker, a monitoring camera for the south bound Henry Hudson Parkway, or something else?

The bottom of this device which is connected to this city light pole by two straps looks much like it was home made, that along with the fact that the Bronx DOT commissioner is looking into what this is also should arouse suspicion. I can tell you that it is not a Red Light Camera because there is no flash for the unit.

MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES MARIA TORRES-SPRINGER STEPPING DOWN AS COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING PRESERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT

  Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that Maria Torres-Springer will step down as Commissioner of the Department of Housing Preservation and Development in early March to take on a new role as Vice President of U.S. Programs for the Ford Foundation.  The Administration will announce a replacement for Commissioner Torres-Springer in the coming months.

During her tenure at HPD, Torres-Springer oversaw the design and implementation of Housing New York 2.0, which accelerated and expanded the Mayor's housing plan to create 300,000 homes by 2026.  Under her leadership, the City financed approximately 60,000 affordable homes, more than any two-year period in HPD’s history, bringing the City’s affordable housing production to date to 122,000 homes. Torres-Springer also oversaw policy changes to reach more of the city’s most vulnerable residents; supported the development of comprehensive plans for investments in Inwood, Downtown Far Rockaway, Jerome Avenue, and other neighborhoods; advanced initiatives to promote innovations in design and construction; and launched several new programs to protect tenants’ rights.

“No one has been more important in our fight to make New York the fairest big city in America than Maria Torres-Springer. Whether advancing rezonings or developing a record number of affordable homes, I have turned to her time and again to tackle the toughest issues facing our city. The Ford Foundation—and the country—are lucky to have her where she’s going,” said Mayor de Blasio.

Prior to joining HPD, Torres-Springer served as the first female President and CEO of the New York City Economic Development Corporation, where she led the implementation of city-wide Ferry, the launch of LifeSci NYC, and the expansion of EDC’s Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises programs. She also advanced projects including the re-imagining of Spofford, a former juvenile detention center in the Bronx, as a hub for the arts and affordable housing. 

Torres-Springer joined this administration as Commissioner of Small Business Services in 2014, and spearheaded efforts to raise wages and expand skill-building in workforce placement programs, streamline the regulatory environment for small businesses, and launch initiatives like the Tech Talent Pipeline.

“From her work promoting women entrepreneurs at SBS to strengthening our economy at EDC and setting a new national standard for affordable housing at HPD, Maria has been a fantastic partner. New Yorkers will benefit from her tireless work for generations to come,” said Deputy Mayor Alicia Glen.

“It has been a profound honor to serve the city that I love and be given the chance to make it even stronger and more equitable,” said Commissioner Maria Torres-Springer.  “I want to thank Mayor Bill de Blasio and Deputy Mayor Alicia Glen for entrusting me over the last five years with leading the work of three agencies devoted to balancing the equation in favor of New York City’s hard-working families. Together, we have created and preserved affordable housing at record speed while ensuring the city’s most vulnerable communities are protected and implemented major initiatives to spur economic opportunity across the five boroughs.  I am especially grateful to my exceptional colleagues at HPD, HDC, EDC, and SBS and will always be in awe of their talent, fortitude and abiding commitment to our city.”

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr - Black History Month Celebration

Bronx Borough President

Ruben Diaz Jr.

Invites you to celebrate

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Celebrating African-American History and Culture

Wednesday, February 13, 2019



Doors open at 5:30 p.m. 

Program begins at 6:30 p.m.

The Grand American Ballroom

899 Westchester Avenue, Bronx

(East 163rd Street)

Come out and enjoy the evening with live music, food and refreshments.

"Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world."

Harriet Tubman

STATEMENT FROM MAYOR DE BLASIO ON NYPD’S EXTERNAL DISCIPLINARY REPORT

  “Neighborhood policing has helped to make New York the safest big city in America. Central to that success are transparency and accountability in the relationship between our police officers and the communities they serve and protect. These thoughtful reform proposals represent meaningful progress in the never-ending mission to make our city safer and fairer. I commend the Police Commissioner for launching this review and for adopting its important findings.” 

Mayor de Blasio Ends City Hall in the Bronx with $3.7 Million Dollars for the Eastchester Gardens Community Center

  Keith Ramsey the Tenant Leader of the Eastchester Gardens NYCHA Houses introduced Mayor Bill de Blasio Friday morning on the mayor's final stop of City Hall in the Bronx Week. Also up front were the Bronx elected officials who represent Eastchester Gardens Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, State Senator Jamaal Bailey, and City Councilman Andy King.

Mayor Bill de Blasio was joined by Speaker Carl Heastie today to announce major repairs for the community center at NYCHA’s Eastchester Gardens Development. The City will invest nearly $4 million to renovate and upgrade the gym, classrooms, heating system and plumbing that serve over 2,000 NYCHA residents. Construction will start in 2021. 

“Community centers are the heart of our neighborhoods, and provide a place for all New Yorkers to come together, learn and have fun,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “These long overdue renovations will ensure that Eastchester residents have access to all the services they deserve.”

 Mayor de Blasio spoke briefly about the agreement with HUD Secretary Ben Carson saying that the NYCHA housing system must go forward with additional help from the federal and state governments. The mayor then said it was his commitment to bringing back NYCHA from the declining care of previous administrations. In addition the mayor added that the Bronx had also been shortchanged in many ways by previous administrations, but the Bronx is now going to get its Fair Share. Mayor de Blasio then called on Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie to say a few words. 

Assemblyman Heastie mentioned that he has lived in the area his entire life, that he is happy that $3.7 million dollars will finally be put into fixing up the community center at Eastchester Gardens, and asked the mayor is HUD Secretary Carson brought a check from Washington for NYCHA. 

This community center was last repaired more than 10 years ago. These upgrades will include the following:

• New, larger gym with a regulation size basketball court
• Upgraded HVAC and plumbing system to prevent leaking
• Renovated classrooms for afterschool programming

Above - Mayor de Blasio talking about bringing more resources to NYCHA, and the Bronx.

Below - Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie asks the mayor if HUD Secretary Ben Carson brought a check with him for NYCHA. Heastie would also mention that he grew up in the neighborhood of this soon to be refurbished community center. 

Above - Mayor de Blasio and Councilman Andy King were able to chat before the announcement.

Below - On our way in we found this huge leak of water pouring out of the buildings HVAC unit on a very cold dry day.

Approximately 70 Pounds of Heroin and Fentanyl Seized from Wholesale Distribution Network in the Bronx and Yonkers

Five indicted: Ring leader charged with Operating as a Major Trafficker under New York State’s drug kingpin statute

  Bridget G. Brennan, New York City’s Special Narcotics Prosecutor, Ray Donovan, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) New York Division, New York City Police Commissioner James P. O’Neill, New York State Police Acting Superintendent Keith M. Corlett and Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced the indictment of five individuals, including four linked to a wholesale heroin and fentanyl distribution network in the Bronx and one who represented a Mexico based narcotics supply organization. The alleged leader of the local distribution network, JUAN SILVA SANTOS, of Ridge Hill, Yonkers, is charged with Operating as a Major Trafficker under New York State’s drug kingpin statute. 

SANTOS and three co-defendants are scheduled for arraignment on the indictment today before Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Abraham Clott in Part 61, 111 Centre Street. The indictment filed by the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor contains charges of Conspiracy in the Second Degree, Operating as a Major Trafficker, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First and Third Degrees and Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia in the Second Degree.

Arrests occurred on October 25, 2018 following an investigation by the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force (NYDETF) Group T-32, which is comprised of agents and officers with the DEA, the New York City Police Department (NYPD) and the New York State Police (NYSP). A total of approximately 32 kilograms of heroin and fentanyl (nearly 70 pounds) were recovered from two locations on Underhill Avenue in the Soundview neighborhood of the Bronx and Ridge Hill Boulevard in Yonkers that same day. The narcotics would have carried a wholesale value of approximately $1.75 million and a street value upwards of $10 million.

Between September 4, 2018 and October 25, 2018, members of NYDETF observed SANTOS, EZEQUIEL THEN, CANDIDO DE JESUS and WILTON PAULINO come and go from the suspected drug stash location at 950 Underhill Avenue, Apt. 7K in Soundview on multiple occasions. The defendants typically arrived in the evenings up to six times per week and stayed no more than four hours. DE JESUS sometimes brought trash out to the curb rather than using the building’s garbage chute.

On October 24, 2018, agents and detectives observed SANTOS and THEN leave the 950 Underhill Avenue apartment, enter a taxi, which then traveled to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). DE JESUS exited the building and deposited two trash bags, later found to contain drug packaging materials and paraphernalia, on the curb along with the building’s other trash prior to leaving the area with PAULINO.

Sometime later, SANTOS, THEN, DE JESUS and PAULINO returned to the Underhill Avenue building with defendant JESUS VEGA GUZMAN., remaining only briefly before all departed again.

The investigation revealed that GUZMAN represented a Mexico-based narcotics supply organization and had travelled to New York City via JFK Airport. Detectives and agents also learned that SANTOS resided at 701 Ridge Hill Boulevard, a luxury apartment complex, and maintained control of a storage unit on another floor.

On October 25, 2018, members of NYDETF and the Special Narcotics Prosecutor’s Office obtained search warrants for 950 Underhill Avenue, Apt. 7K, and 701 Ridge Hill Boulevard, Apt. 5B and associated storage locker S59. 

At approximately 6:50 p.m., all five defendants arrived at Underhill Avenue in one vehicle. SANTOS and GUZMAN went to a nearby Popeye’s restaurant, while DE JESUS and THEN went to up the apartment. PAULINO remained in the car. Agents and detectives detained the five defendants in the vicinity of the apartment building and the restaurant. 

Agents and detectives recovered nearly 18 kilograms of heroin, the potent synthetic opioid fentanyl and a fentanyl analogue (chemically similar to fentanyl) from the Underhill Boulevard apartment. Upon entering 950 Underhill Avenue, Apt. 7K, agents and detectives interrupted THEN in the process sealing a kilogram of narcotics with a heat sealer in the kitchen. Another heat sealer was found in the bathtub. Heat sealing bags and drug preparation paraphernalia were strewn throughout the apartment. Subsequent laboratory testing indicated that the kilogram THEN had been sealing in the kitchen contained fentanyl, a potentially lethal substance.

A hidden compartment inside the back wall of a closet of one bedroom contained approximately 12 kilograms of heroin and fentanyl. The remaining kilograms were found between the box springs and mattress, and under a bed in that same bedroom.

Next to a bed was a device known as a kilo press that is commonly used to re-shape mixtures of heroin, fentanyl, other narcotics and nonnarcotic dilutants into bricks resembling original packaging. A hidden compartment behind a baseboard on a wall contained plates used with the kilo press to make “brand” imprints on the kilograms, including images of a scorpion and Chinese characters.

In a search of 701 Ridge Hill Boulevard, Apt. 5B, agents and detectives found approximately $28,000 cash inside a closet in the master bedroom. Storage locker 59, located within a common area on another floor, contained approximately 14 kilograms of fentanyl and heroin inside a suitcase. The narcotics were pressed into slim packages designed to fit underneath the suitcase lining.

The particular fentanyl analogue present in the Bronx apartment, valeryl fentanyl, is not currently included on New York State’s list of controlled substances, but has been linked to multiple overdose deaths in New York City. 

DE JESUS was arraigned on the indictment on January 24, 2019 and entered a not guilty plea.

Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan thanked the Bronx District Attorney’s Office and commended her office’s Special Investigations Bureau and NYDETF Group T-32, which is comprised of agents and officers from DEA New York Division, the NYPD and the NYSP, for their work on the case. 

“The defendants trafficked in multi-million dollar quantities of potentially lethal opioids. Through a direct connection to Mexico-based suppliers, the distribution network stockpiled heroin, fentanyl and other synthetic opioids in an apartment in the Bronx and in a common storage area of a luxury residential complex in Yonkers,” said Special Narcotics Prosecutor Brennan. “The types of narcotics seized in this case have fueled New York City’s epidemic of overdose fatalities. Members of the public should beware that ever more potent lethal synthetic substances are increasingly mixed into the drug supply.”

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark said, “This case is another inroad made by law enforcement into the heroin and fentanyl supply and distribution chain that is rooted in the Bronx, and has caused fatal overdoses in our city. We will continue our efforts to dismantle these criminal organizations as we remind the public that you take your life in your hands when you take these drugs. I thank Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget Brennan for her partnership and expertise in investigating and prosecuting heroin trafficking in the Bronx." 

“This highly organized trafficking network based their operations in both the Bronx and Yonkers in order to maximize their reach into surrounding counties,” said Special Agent in Charge Ray Donovan. “By dismantling this organization, we shut down a major supplier of the deadliest drugs on the streets today: heroin and fentanyl.” 

New York State Police Acting Superintendent Keith M. Corlett said, “Because of the critical partnerships forged through the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force we were able to dismantle a dangerous heroin/fentanyl drug distribution network. The arrests of these criminals reinforces that we will continue to be vigilant in stopping the flow of these dangerous narcotics into our neighborhoods. I want to thank our federal and local partners for their ongoing hard work and collaboration on this case, which has resulted in the arrests and removal of five dangerous criminals who profit at the expense of our communities.”

Indicted Defendants                                 Charges

Juan Silva Santos                Operating as a Major Trafficker – 1 ct

Yonkers, NY                         Conspiracy 2nd – 1 ct

DOB  5/31/1979                   CPCS 1st – 2 cts

                                             CPCS 3rd – 2 cts

                                    Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia – 1 ct

Ezequiel Then                    Conspiracy 2nd – 1 ct

Bronx, NY                           CPCS 1st – 1 ct

DOB  4/5/1988                   CPCS 3rd – 1 ct

                                   Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia – 1 ct

Wilton Paulino                  Conspiracy 2nd – 1 ct

Bronx, NY                         CPCS 1st – 1 ct

DOB  1/6/1997                 CPCS 3rd – 1 ct

                                  Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia – 1 ct

Jesus Vega Guzman        Conspiracy 2nd – 1 ct    

Sinaloa, Mexico                CPCS 1st – 1 ct

DOB  9/9/1983                 CPCS 3rd – 1 ct

                                  Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia – 1 ct

An indictment is an accusatory instrument and is not proof of a defendant’s guilt.

Castle Hill NYCHA HOUSES Go With Little or No Heat and Hot Water For Almost Two Weeks

    Friday, Castle Hill Houses Tenant Leader Roxanne Reid called in 87th Assembly District leader John Perez and Antirson Ortiz of City Comptroller Scott Stringer's office with her to find out why the 14 buildings that make up the NYCHA Castle Hill Houses had little or no heat and hot water for the past two weeks. The trio and other tenants there went into the management office to find out what the problem was. 

  After the second time Tenant Leader Reid was called inside 87th Assembly District Leader John Perez demanded to talk with the person that Ms. Reid was talking to. A man who said his name was Mr. Watts came out from behind the closed doors to say to District Leader John Perez that there the problem was a small portion of pipe that had to be replaced before the heat and hot water would be back to normal. Mr. John Perez having been a founder of 'We Stay Nos Quedamos' said that if there was a bad piece of pipe there would be no heat or hot water at all. He was then told that the problem was in the amount of pressure in the system which was operating at a below normal pace. John Perez then asked Mr. Watts where the replacement part was in the system, and was told the resident manager had to approve the purchase order. John Perez then asked where that person was, and was told inside two doors down. John Perez insisted that the resident manager be given the purchase order, which was signed within twenty minutes. 

News outlets Altice Cable News 12 and Telemundo (Channel 47) arrived at the NYCHA Castle Hill Houses to be led on a tour of various apartments where different problems such as an ice buildup on the inside window, cold walls, wet walls, broken windows, windows that did not close properly (which John Perez closed a couple after several attempts), and other problems in the apartments where work orders were opened and then closed by the Maintenance Department of the Castle Hill Houses without being corrected. 

In talking to 87th Assembly District Leader John Perez Saturday, he informed me that an elderly woman with health problems died during this lack of heat and hot water. He did not want to release her name until the family gives the approval to. John Perez said that he will be calling for an investigation of the two week outage of heat and hot water, and what part it played in the death of the elderly woman. 

Above - R-L, Mr. Antirson Ortiz Bronx Borough Liason for City Comptroller Scott Stringer, Castle Hill Tenant Leader Roxanne Reid, 87th Assembly District Leader John Perez, and unsatisfied residents of the Castle Hill Houses.

Below - 87th Assembly District Leader John Perez gets ready to talk with Mr. Watts of the Castle Hill NYCHA Houses. It was nice and warm inside the management office.

Above - This woman said no photos inside the management office.

Below - Another problem in the bathroom apartment that is not being taken care of. The pipe coming from the above apartment toilet leaks over this toilet and floor of the bathroom. This is a very hazardous situation which can spread many different types of diseases from the leaking toilet water from the above apartment.