TESTIMONY TO BE GIVEN BEFORE THE HEARINGS OF THE RENT GUIDELINES BOARD ON JUNE 11, 2019

This was e-mailed by SAVING JUSTICE Editor, Dr. Jim Fairbanks, (and to other media outlets.)

My desire is for trust and the working together of landlords and tenant associations so that our buildings and South Bronx community can survive and thrive.

Yet, looking historically, trust requires the justice of an apology and restitution from the real estate industry! After 50 years I still have not received an apology from the millionaire landlords for milking and burning down 10,000 buildings in the South Bronx for arson profit, and for making 500,000 residents flee for their lives in one of the greatest crimes and migrations of the 20 th century.

Rent increases? But, trust requires apology, restitution, repairs, rent rollback, more rollback. and a lot  more rollback. I would prefer that this not be a hearing on rent increases, but rather a hearing of a Truth & Reconciliation Commission. I would gladly forgive and restore trust!

A predatory landlord bought my building a year ago, and in less than a year, 25% of the tenants have fled the building because the landlord is ending the preferential rents of all tenants. Talk about a rent increase of hundreds and hundreds of dollars! And, the Rent Guidelines Board is considering increases? Really?

If things weren’t bad enough, here comes the Mayor’s unaffordable rezoning gentrification plan to destroy the diverse cultures of the South Bronx community and drive out the people of low and moderate income. And landlords want rent increases?

After the destruction and abandonment of the South Bronx by the real estate industry, we rebuilt the South Bronx by sweat equity, low income coops, non-profit community housing developers, and years of demand to the government and the private sector to rebuild. And the real estate industry made their billions in rebuilding. So, why gentrify and drive out the people again?

Thanks to the unprecedented organizing of CASA and dozens of such groups across the city, we are trying to hold off another eve of destruction. How long will the notion continue that the residents of the Bronx do not know what is best for the well being of our community, but only the people of power, wealth and control?

My desire as a tenant leader is the restoring of trust between landlords and tenant associations so that our buildings and community can survive and thrive. Thank you.

Please attend the Rent Guidelines Board’s Hearings on rent increases on Tuesday, June 11 at the Hostos Community College Main Theater. CASA will have a press conference at 5:00 PM before the Hearings.

TEAM DIAZ “Abrazo Boricua in New York”

  Thursday night the TEAM DIAZ  “Abrazo Boricua in New York” was held at the Eastwood Manor on Eastchester Road in the Northeast Bronx to a packed room as usual. 500 people were on hand for the evolution of TEAM DIAZ under City Councilman Ruben Diaz Sr. which has changed over the years. 

TEAM DIAZ 2019 features (L - R) 79th Assembly candidate George Alvarez, 87th A.D. Female District Leader Julia Rodriguez, City Councilman Ruben Diaz Sr., 87th A.D. Male District Leader and Assembly candidate Sergeant John Perez, and Community Activist Antonio Cabrera. Not in the photo is TEAM DIAZ 2019 member Councilman Rafael Salamanca.

The honorees for TEAM DIAZ 2019 TEAM DIAZ  “Abrazo Boricua in New York” were Mr. Frankie Hernandez President of La Flor De Mayo Express, Community Board # 2 District Manager Ralph Acevedo, Community Activist Carmen Martinez, and Puerto Rican Pioneer Federico Perez. 

Above - Councilman Rafael Salamanca with his honoree Community Board # 2 District Manager Ralph Acevedo.

Below - 79th Assembly candidate George Alvarez with his honoree Community Activist Carmen Martinez.

Representative Adriano Espaillat Celebrates LGBTQ Pride Month; Holds 9th Annual Pride Forum June 30th at Indian Road Cafe

  Representative Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), a member of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus, released the following statement in honor of LGBTQ Pride Month.

“Each year during the month of June, the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community comes together to celebrate their courage, their identity, the freedom to love who they love, and their right to equal treatment under the law. In communities across this country, LGBTQ individuals can still be fired from their jobs, evicted from their homes, and denied services simply because of who they are or who they love. It is critical that we do more to protect the dignity of the LGBT community and work to ensure full legal and societal equality. That is why I was proud to join my congressional colleagues last month in voting to pass the Equality Act in the U.S. House of Representatives, which would ensure comprehensive civil rights and protections for LGBTQ individuals in communities across the country.

“Pride Month recognizes the courage it takes for LGBTQ people to come out as their true selves into a society that is not always accepting, and it celebrates what for many is a transition from hiding who they truly are to boldly accepting and being proud of their identity.  It is an observance of those who have fought for equality, in some cases losing their freedom or even their lives. This year is particularly important as we recognize the 50^th Anniversary of the Stonewall Riots -- the starting point for the LGBTQ equal rights movement – and as New York City hosts the World Pride festival.

“As we celebrate Pride during the month of June, we also pause in reflection of the 49 individuals killed during the attack at the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida, and countless others whose lives have been lost due to targeted attacks based on their identity.

“As a strong ally, I am proud to celebrate Pride Month and recognize the significant contributions of the LGBTQ community throughout New York’s 13^th congressional district and around the nation. When we are inclusive of all persons, including our LGBTQ family, friends and fellow citizens, we are a stronger, more resilient and more unified society.”

Bronx Rally for NYC Culture

Join City Council Member Ritchie Torres 

in a Rally to Urge City Hall Not to Cut Funding to the Department of Cultural Affairs!

 

Monday June 10th @ 10AM

At the Bronx River Art Center Event Space

1087 East Tremont Ave, Bronx NY 10460

www.bronxriverart.org Bronx River Art Center, 1087 E. Tremont Ave, Bronx NY 10460 Train: 2 or 5 train to West Farms Square - E Tremont Av Station Bus: 9, 21, 36, 40, 42, Q44 to E. Tremont & Boston Road Click here for directions

Reprinted from the Bronx Chronicle

Senator Biaggi Holds Housing Resource Fair·

State senator Alessandra Biaggi greets guests and participating housing agency representatives. (Photos: Robert Press)

On Friday, State Senator Alessandra Biaggi (D-34) hosted a ‘Housing Resource Fair” at PS 83 in the Morris Park section of her district. Many city agencies related to the needs of a renter or homeowner joined other housing advocacy, civic or nonprofit organizations to provide a wealth of information to the many people who attended.

• 

  Senator Biaggi greets guests and participating housing agency representatives. 

Senator Biaggi went around room chatting with and thanking the volunteers manning the many tables set up with valuable housing information, And she spoke to many of the attendees.

NY Health Works RV at State senator Alessandra Biaggi’s Housing Resource Fair 2019. (Photos: Robert Press)

Outside PS 83 was a vehicle from New York Health Works where people could get their blood pressure taken and obtain information about developing a Roadmap to Health. Healthy foods, such as various cut fruits, and water were available to participants.

YOU'RE INVITED

TO THE "YOLANDA GARCÍA MEMORIAL PARK" DEDICATION
Tuesday, June 18, 2019 ~ 10am.

Detail from a 1994 planning map showing proposed park location. The location as a state-of-the-art park in 2019.

We Stay / Nos Quedamos, Inc., in partnership with the NYC Parks Department, request the honor  of your presence during the formal dedication of the newly constructed, state-of-the-art YOLANDA GARCÍA MEMORIAL PARK. Join us during this historic moment as we honor and celebrate the lifework and memory of YOLANDA GARCÍA, a staunch advocate of low-income and affordable housing development, an ardent proponent of community green space, and an iconic community role model. Yolanda García was Nos Quedamos' founder and first Executive Director. She spearheaded the historic and innovative "Melrose Urban Renewal Plan" that established a precedent for community-driven development. Before her untimely death in 2005, Yolanda helped create over one million square feet of attainable residential and commercial space—an accomplishment that shines as a beacon of responsible development organized and fronted by community residents, business leaders and home-owners, and activists working together with a common purpose. This model continues to be studied by fair housing scholars, urban planners, and anti-gentrification advocates from around the world, and that's something we can all be extremely proud of! The park's development and dedication also represents a major milestone in the investment in the quality-of-life and infrastructure in Melrose by municipal government, and is a living example and case-study of community-led environmental resiliency and sustainability in the South Bronx.

THIS IS A COMMUNITY-WIDE VICTORY. LET'S CELEBRATE TOGETHER! Melrose Avenue between East 159th &160th Streets, South Bronx. RSVP: avincenty@nosquedamos.org

Assemblyman Crespo's Bill Regarding Jury Duty Exemption for Breastfeeding Women Passes Assembly & Senate

Senator Montgomery and Assemblyman Crespo's Bill Regarding Jury Duty Exemption for Breastfeeding Women Passes Both Houses (S. 748 and A. 5424)

  This week the New York State Senate and Assembly passed legislation that provides breastfeeding women an exemption from jury duty. The legislation will allow women choosing to breastfeed their infant the ability to postpone their call to jury service up to two years. 

 

“Many women have decided to breast feed their infants,” said Assemblyman Marcos A. Crespo. “This bill will allow mothers and their families to postpone a call to jury duty in order to ensure the health of their newborn. I am honored to have carried this bill for several years. Thank you to Senator Montgomery and the Senate and to the Speaker and my colleagues in the Assembly.” 

 

Jury duty is an integral part of our justice system. However, if a woman choosing to breastfeed her infant is summoned to jury duty, it is during a critical time in the development of a child's cognitive and cerebral formation. This legislation provides new mothers with both the choice and ability to be excused from jury duty per the written notice by a physician.

 

This legislation is a common sense approach to ensuring the health and safety of mothers, newborns, and families throughout New York State. 

Gang Member Charged In Manhattan Federal Court With Racketeering, Narcotics, And Firearms Offenses

  Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced the unsealing of a Superseding Indictment charging ALJERMIAH MACK, a/k/a “Nuke,” with racketeering, narcotics, and firearms offenses in connection with his membership in, and association with, the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods, also known as “Nine Trey.”  The Superseding Indictment also contains charges against defendant ANTHONY ELLISON, a/k/a “Harv,” who was charged in a previous indictment with racketeering and firearms offenses.  The charges against ELLISON remain the same. 

MACK was taken into custody Thursday afternoon.  He was presented and arraigned before Chief U.S. Magistrate Gabriel W. Gorenstein.  The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer.  

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “As alleged in the Superseding Indictment, Aljermiah Mack, like his Nine Trey co-conspirators, engaged in brazen acts of gun violence and narcotics dealing.  Thanks to our remarkable partners at HSI, ATF, and the NYPD, he now faces federal charges for his serious crimes.”

As alleged in the Superseding Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court[1]:

Nine Trey was a criminal enterprise involved in committing numerous acts of violence, including shootings, robberies, and assaults in and around Manhattan and Brooklyn.  Members and associates of Nine Trey engaged in violence to retaliate against rival gangs, to promote the standing and reputation of Nine Trey, and to protect the gang’s narcotics business.  Members and associates of Nine Trey enriched themselves by committing robberies and selling drugs, such as heroin, fentanyl, furanyl fentanyl, and MDMA. 

The Superseding Indictment charges MACK and ELLISON with racketeering and firearms offenses.  Count One of the Superseding Indictment charges MACK and ELLISON with participating in a racketeering conspiracy for their criminal involvement in Nine Trey.  Count Two charges MACK and ELLISON with using and carrying firearms, which were brandished and discharged, in connection with the racketeering conspiracy.  Counts Three through Five charge ELLISON in connection with his kidnapping and assaulting another member of Nine Trey near the intersection of Bedford Avenue and Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn on or about July 22, 2018.  Count Six charges MACK with conspiracy to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and MDMA, from in or about 2015 to in or about 2018.  Count Seven charges MACK with using and carrying a firearm in connection with the narcotics conspiracy. 

A chart containing the charges and maximum penalties for the defendants are set forth below.  The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the New York City Police Department.  He also thanked the New York City Department of Correction’s Intelligence Bureau for its assistance in the investigation.

The charges contained in the Superseding Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.      

COUNT	CHARGE	DEFENDANTS	MAX. PENALTIES
1	Racketeering conspiracy   18 U.S.C. § 1962(d)	ALJERMIAH MACK (age 33) ANTHONY ELLISON (age 31)	20 years in prison
2	Using or carrying a firearm during and in relation to, or possessing a firearm in furtherance of, a crime of violence, which was discharged   18 U.S.C. § 924(c)	ALJERMIAH MACK ANTHONY ELLISON	Life in prison   Mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison
3	Violent crime in aid of racketeering (July 22, 2018)   18 U.S.C. § 1959	ANTHONY ELLISON	Life in prison
4	Violent crime in aid of racketeering (July 22, 2018)   18 U.S.C. § 1959	ANTHONY ELLISON	20 years in prison
5	Using or carrying a firearm during and in relation to, or possessing a firearm in furtherance of, a crime of violence, which was brandished   18 U.S.C. § 924(c)	ANTHONY ELLISON	Life in prison   Mandatory minimum of 7 years in prison
6	Conspiracy to distribute narcotics   21 U.S.C. § 846	ALJERMIAH MACK	Life in prison   Mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison
7	Using or carrying a firearm during and in relation to, or possessing a firearm in furtherance of, a narcotics trafficking offense   18 U.S.C. § 924(c)	ALJERMIAH MACK	Life in prison   Mandatory minimum of 5 years in prison

[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Superseding Indictment constitutes only allegations, and every fact described herein should be treated as an allegation.