Governor Cuomo & Legislative Leaders Announce Members of the Public Campaign Financing Commission

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart Cousins, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, Senate Minority Leader John Flanagan and Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb today announced the members of the Public Campaign Financing Commission. Established as part of the FY 2020 Enacted Budget, the Commission will have the binding power to implement public campaign financing for legislative and statewide offices, authorizing up to $100 million annually in public funds. The commission will determine specific aspects of the public financing system, including eligibility thresholds, public financing limits and contribution limits for participating candidates. The commission's findings will be due in a report by December 1, 2019 and will be binding unless modified by law within 20 days.

The commission is composed of 10 members: Two appointed by Governor Cuomo; two appointed by Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins; two appointed by Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie; one at large seat jointly selected by the Governor, the Assembly Speaker and the Majority Leader; and one appointee each for the two minority leaders.

The Governor has appointed:

• Mylan Denerstein, a litigation partner in the New York office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, and Co-Chair of Gibson Dunn's Public Policy Practice Group. Ms. Denerstein previously served as Counsel to the Governor from 2011 to 2014. Prior to that she served as the Executive Deputy Attorney General for Social Justice and Deputy Commissioner for Legal Affairs for the New York City Fire Department and as a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York.
• Jay Jacobs, current Chairman of the State Democratic Party and longtime Chairman of the Nassau County Democratic Party. Mr. Jacobs was first elected to the position of Nassau County Democratic Chairman in 2001, and served as the Chairman of the New York State Democratic Committee from 2009 to 2012, returning to the post in 2019. He is also an at large member of the Democratic National Committee.

Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins has appointed:

• DeNora Getachew, New York City Executive Director of Generation Citizen. Ms. Getachew was previously Campaign Manager and Legislative Counsel for the Brennan Center's Democracy Program and Policy Director for the Public Advocate's Office.
• John Nonna, County Attorney for Westchester county and co-founder of the Democratic Lawyers Council. Mr. Nonna previously served as a Westchester County Legislator and as Mayor of Pleasantville.

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie has appointed:

• Rosanna Vargas, currently serving as associate law clerk to a NYC Civil Court Judge in Bronx County criminal court. Prior to that, Ms. Vargas served as the Bronx Democratic Commissioner and later as the President of the Board of Commissioners for the Board of Elections of the City of New York. Ms. Vargas also has commercial litigation experience representing clients in trials, mediations and arbitrations in state and federal courts.
• Crystal Rodriguez, current chief of staff to Buffalo State College President Katherine S. Conway-Turner. Previously, Ms. Rodriguez was the chief diversity officer for the City of Buffalo where she developed the Opportunity Pledge to encourage diversity and provide opportunity to all in Buffalo, and made it easier for businesses to apply for New York State's Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprises (MWBE) certification. Prior to working for the City of Buffalo, she served as a law clerk in the New York State Unified Court System and worked as an adjunct professor at SUNY Buffalo.

At large seat jointly selected by the Governor, the Assembly Speaker and the Majority Leader:

• Henry Berger, an election law attorney with more than 40 years of experience litigating issues in state and national elections. He is also a former Special Counsel for the City of New York.  

Senate Minority Leader John Flanagan has appointed:

• David Previte, principal attorney at Hinman Straub, PC and former Chief Counsel to the New York State Senate Majority.

Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb has appointed:

• Kimberly Galvin, Co-Counsel and Co-Director of the State Board of Elections' Campaign Finance Compliance Unit. Ms. Galvin previously served as Chief of Staff and Counsel to the Republican Leader in the New York State Assembly.

BRONX PRESIDENT DIAZ ISSUES NEGATIVE RECOMMENDATION ON BRONX JAIL ULURP

  Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. has issued a negative recommendation on the de Blasio Administration’s proposal to build borough-based jails in four boroughs, including a new jail in the Mott Haven neighborhood of The Bronx.

“Throughout this process the city has refused to address the concerns of The Bronx, nor has the administration adequately included our borough in its planning process. Although I adamantly support the closing of Riker’s Island, I must remain steadfast in my opposition to any plan that not only builds a new jail at the wrong location but also refuses to address the legitimate concerns raised by individuals and organizations on all sides of the issue,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

Borough President Diaz has long held that there is a much better site for a proposed jail, specifically replacing the existing Bronx Family Court location and combining with adjacent vacant space next to the Bronx Hall of Justice on East 161st Street to construct a modern court and detention facility that meets the needs and concerns of all impacted stakeholders.

"The city has proposed a jail that is the wrong size and in the wrong place," said Borough President Diaz. "It is unfair to the people of The Bronx to force them to accept the burden of a plan that even the de Blasio administration admits is not the best it can be while also dismissing their concerns as unreasonable. The Mott Haven community would be better served through a reinvestment of city resources into the surrounding area."

Borough President Diaz’s complete ULURP recommendations can be read athttps://on.nyc.gov/328JSBu.

Maps of the proposed jail sites are available for download at https://flic.kr/s/aHsmBRbmet.

Borough President Diaz held his ULURP hearing on the jail proposal on Tuesday, June 25, 2019, at The Bronx County Building. Photos from that hearing can be downloaded athttps://flic.kr/s/aHsmExaWDh.

The Bronx Democratic Party - Less Than Two Weeks Until The Dinner

Our 2019 Dinner is less than two weeks away. We are looking forward to acknowledging and celebrating several incredible honorees. Our Chairman Marcos A. Crespo and the rest of the team are thankful for your support, and we truly hope to see you at the dinner taking place Wednesday, July 17th at 6PM.

To purchase single tickets to our dinner online please click HERE. CLICK HERE FOR CONTRIBUTION FORM (required w/ payment)

Bronx Chamber of Commerce Upcoming Events!

Small Business Workshop: Managing a Profitable Company Wednesday | July 10, 2019 | 6:30-7:30pm (doors open at 6:00pm) Flyer Admission: Free Location: Third Avenue HUB, 2825 Third Avenue, 3rd Floor, Bronx, NY 10455

The Bronx Chamber of Commerce invite you to a B2B Business Networking & Card Exchange sponsored by Ponce De Leon Tuesday | July 16, 2019 | 6:00-8:00pm (doors open at 5:30pm) Admission: Free for up to two Chamber company representatives; $15 for guests; $20 for non-members. Flyer Location: Ponce De Leon Federal Bank, 2244 Westchester Avenue, Bronx, NY 10462

Free Small Business Open House presented by Ridgewood Savings Bank: Unveil Your Inner Self Thursday | July 23, 2019 | 6:00-8:00pm (doors open at 5:30pm) Topics: “How to Increase your Social Media Networking” with John Trieu “How to Choose your Banking Soulmate” with Brian Tynan ‘How your Business Improvement District Works for You” with Richard Bassik “Getting Smart with your BIC/BOEDC” with Rafael Roger Flyer Admission: Free Location: Residence Inn by Marriott, 2nd Floor Conference Room, 1776 Eastchester Road, Bronx, NY 10461

State Comptroller DiNapoli: $16 Billion in Unclaimed Funds Waiting to be Claimed

Getting Your Lost Money Back State Comptroller DiNapoli is working hard to put lost money back into the hands of New Yorkers. There's $16 billion waiting to be claimed and the Office of the State Comptroller returns over $1.5 million a day and we want to do more. It's easier than ever to see if there are any unclaimed funds in your name. Simply visit our website and search your name to get started.

PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR BILL DE BLASIO FOR THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2019

On Thursday, Mayor de Blasio will be in Iowa. There are no official events scheduled.

Later, the Mayor will travel to Texas.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

It would have been nice for the Mayor of New York City to be in New York for the Annual Macy's 4th of July Fireworks display. 

Mayor de Blasio can always watch the Macy's Fireworks Display on television if local New York stations are carried on Texas cable systems.

Then again we can also watch our Mayor of New York City on television not in New York City.

Council Member Ruben Diaz Sr - INDEPENDENCE DAY A DAY OF AMERICAN PRIDE

What You Should Know

By Councilman Rev. Ruben Diaz

District 18, Bronx County

 

  You should know that today, 4^th of July, Americans throughout our nation celebrate America’s Day of Independence from British Rule 243 years ago.

Having won the Revolutionary War, America was on the genesis of becoming the greatest nation on earth. We are a free independent sovereign Nation thanks to all those great Americans that have shed their precious blood on a battlefield fighting for all the freedoms people in America enjoy today.  

Thanks to their strength and sacrifice on July 4^th, 1776, America declared its independence and as a result, the most important document in American History was written. That document isThe Declaration of Independence. 

The Declaration of Independence was an official act by all 13 American colonies in declaring America’s independence from British rule. The war between the American colonies and Great Britain lasted eight years from 1775-1783.

Today July 4^th, 2019 as you take a day off from work, visit friends and family, enjoy a barbecue, or however it is that you are celebrating America’s Independence, I encourage you to take a moment to remember those who made and paid the ultimate sacrifice. We should recognize that our freedom wasn’t free, a price was paid for our freedoms. Also, thank a veteran for his and her service and remember those families who lost loved ones on the battlefield.

You should know that thanks to the Declaration of Independence many wrongs in American History have been righted, and Americans today can celebrate and say with pride.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”

Today my wife Leslie and I will take a moment to reflect on how fortunate we are and what a privilege it is to be in America and call ourselves Americans.  You, my dear reader, should do the same. Americans have much to be grateful for.  

America we Salute You! Happy Birthday and God Bless America!

I’m Councilman Rev. Ruben Diaz and this is what you should know.   

Statement by 79th District Assemblyman Michael Blake on Independence Day

“Today, we celebrate the United States of America’s 243rd Independence. Let us remember that our pursuit for opportunities continue while we don't forget those whose lives were lost and the generations of color forever impacted. We thank those who served our country to give us a chance for Freedom.

When the founding parents of our great nation declared Independence from the British Empire, they sought to establish a land where one may be truly free, and have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We all must live out these principles daily, especially in the face of our moral fabric being stretched to the core by a person and Institutions seeking to divide us as a people. From how we treat Black people who were enslaved back then as too many still are incarcerated now to migrants seeking a better way of life, where they desire to leave a life of tanks in a street to display political power to Tribal nations who had so much taken from them without respect restored.

With a never yielding spirit seeking justice, we must continue fighting for what we know is right. We must ensure that everyone is treated fairly. We must defeat the root causes and symptoms of racism, sexism, anti-semisitism, Islamophobia, anti LGBTQ and people of disability rhetoric, which still plague this nation today and seek to rise above the pain to achieve an everlasting promise.

The fight is not over. We may have declared freedom from the British, but, we are still fighting for full Independence from challenges within our cities, state and country. Until every single American including all Bronxites, of all races, woman, man or child, immigrant or non-immigrant truly has a possible chance at life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, we will continue to work to achieve that dream.

As we celebrate today, let us continue to press ahead to achieve Independence and opportunity for all.

Happy Independence Day.

Sincerely, 

Assembly Member Michael A. Blake