“The city that never sleeps cannot be left in the dark. While I appreciate that Con Edison released their preliminary findings so quickly, I am troubled that one of the few factors Con Edison initially ruled out, the 13,000 volt cable, has been determined to be the catalyst of the outage. Thankfully, as a result of the quick work of our first responders, no one was injured and there was no spike in crime in the five hours the incident lasted. Our City cannot be left in the dark like this ever again, and we will continue to push Con Edison for a full accounting of this incident to ensure they are taking necessary steps to protect all New Yorkers.”
Thursday, July 18, 2019
Tuesday, July 16, 2019
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Announces Bankruptcy Settlement With Responsible Parties At US Magnesium Superfund Site
Settlement Provides More than $33 million for Environmental Cleanup
Geoffrey S. Berman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Susan Bodine, Assistant Administrator for Enforcement and Compliance Assurance for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”), and David Bernhardt, Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior (“DOI”), announced today that the United States has entered into a settlement agreement with the bankruptcy trustee for the estates of debtor MAGNESIUM CORPORATION OF AMERICA (“MAGCORP”) and RENCO METALS, INC. (“RENCO METALS”), resolving claims and liabilities related to environmental contamination at a former magnesium production facility in Rowley, Utah. The settlement agreement remains subject to court approval.
U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “Polluters will be held to account, even in bankruptcy, for contaminating the environment. As a result of today’s settlement, MagCorp and Renco Metals will pay more than $33 million to fund clean-up of the hazardous substances at the US Magnesium Superfund Site.”
EPA Assistant Administrator for Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Susan Bodine said: “Settlement of this long running litigation is a significant step forward in the effort to address the environmental issues at the U.S. Magnesium site. The resources secured will help fund remediation of the site.”
DOI Secretary David Bernhardt said: “At the Department of the Interior, we are focused on addressing environmental challenges, so we can provide the highest quality of life to all Americans. If approved by the Court, the funding recovered through this settlement will be used to reclaim and restore access to 58,000 acres of BLM-managed public lands, which were damaged and abandoned by MagCorp over two decades ago.”
In its proofs of claim filed in this bankruptcy, the United States asserted that MAGCORP and RENCO METALS (collectively, the “debtors”) were liable to EPA and DOI’s Bureau of Land Management (“BLM”) under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (“CERCLA”) (commonly known as the Superfund statute) for the cost of clean-up of hazardous substances released at a 4,525-acre site adjacent to the Great Salt Lake in Rowley, Utah, where MAGCORP had previously operated a magnesium production facility (the “US Magnesium Site”). The United States also asserted on behalf of BLM and DOI’s Fish and Wildlife Service that the debtors were liable under CERCLA for natural resource damages caused by these hazardous substances; on behalf of EPA that the debtors were liable for civil penalties under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (“RCRA”); and on behalf of BLM that the debtors were liable for reclamation of land owned by the United States that MAGCORP used in connection with its operations. Finally, the United States on behalf of BLM sought to recover from the debtors unpaid rent due in connection with a federal right-of-way and compensation for unpermitted removal of minerals from federal land.
The settlement agreement filed in Manhattan Bankruptcy Court today substantially resolves these proofs of claim and, among other things, provides substantial funding for the remediation of the US Magnesium Site and affected federal land. Pursuant to the agreement, the United States will receive allowed bankruptcy claims in the amount of $82,135,812, which is expected to result in a distribution of approximately $28.2 million dollars to fund remediation at the US Magnesium Site or reclamation of federal land used by MAGCORP in its operations, and more than $400,000 in compensation for natural resource damages, unpaid rent, and the unpermitted removal of minerals from federal land. The agreement also secures the commitment of the current operator of the magnesium production facility, US Magnesium LLC, and its parent entities, to use more than $5.8 million that they are recovering from the debtors for environmental activities at the US Magnesium Site.
The settlement agreement will be lodged with the Bankruptcy Court for a period of at least 30 days before it is submitted for the Court’s approval, to provide public notice and to afford members of the public the opportunity to comment on the settlement agreement.
Mr. Berman thanked the Environment and Natural Resources Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, EPA, DOI and the State of Utah for their assistance in this case.
BRONX TEEN FOUND GUILTY OF MANSLAUGHTER, ASSAULT IN STABBING OF STUDENTS IN HIGH SCHOOL CLASSROOM
Defendant Killed 15-Year-Old Matthew McCree, Critically Wounded Ariane Laboy
Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a Bronx teen has been
found guilty of the fatal stabbing of a 15-year-old boy and the attack on another student in a
classroom at the Urban Assembly School for Wildlife Conservation.
District Attorney Clark said, “In a matter of seconds, the defendant took out his knife and
stabbed two students in front of a crowded classroom, killing 15-year-old Matthew McCree and
critically wounding Ariane Laboy, then 16. The incident has forever traumatized the young
students and school faculty who watched in horror the violence that unfolded that morning. It is
truly a tragedy; a young life was taken, and so many other lives—including the defendant’s—
are irreparably damaged.”
District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Abel Cedeno, 19, of 2409 Beaumont Avenue,
was found guilty of first-degree Manslaughter, first-degree Assault and fourth-degree Criminal
Possession of a Weapon by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Michael A. Gross after a bench trial
that lasted about two weeks. The defendant faces up to 5-25 years in prison on each of the
Manslaughter and Assault charges and will be sentenced on September 10, 2019.
According to trial testimony, on September 27, 2017, the defendant and the victims,
Matthew McCree, 15, and Ariane Laboy, 16, were in their U.S. History class with other students
and teachers when a dispute began between the defendant and the victims. Cedeno, who was in
the doorway of the classroom, about to leave, became upset after a paper ball or pencil was thrown
in his direction. He angrily asked who had thrown it. McCree, who was sitting in the row with
Laboy, said he had thrown it, apologized and said the object was not meant to hit the defendant.
According to trial testimony, Cedeno then challenged McCree to fight, and the victim got
up and walked towards him. Cedeno, who was armed with a switchblade, stabbed the unarmed
McCree in the chest, plunging it into his heart about two and a half to three inches deep. After
McCree clutched his chest, Laboy, who was close friends with McCree, approached Cedeno to defend his friend. The defendant stabbed Laboy, who was unarmed, five times, including twice
in the chest. The victims were taken to St. Barnabas Hospital where McCree was pronounced
dead on arrival. Laboy was treated for his wounds and was left with life-altering injuries.
Laboy and McCree did not know and did not socialize with the defendant prior to the
incident
District Attorney Clark thanked NYPD Detectives Sean O’Donnell of the 48th Precinct
Squad and Anthony Velez of the Bronx Homicide Squad for their hard work on the investigation.
BRONX WOMAN AND BROOKLYN MAN INDICTED IN DEATH OF LAWRENCE LEATHERS
Defendants Allegedly Choked And Hit Victim
Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a man and a woman have
been indicted for Manslaughter and Criminally Negligent Homicide in the death of a Bronx man.
District Attorney Clark said, “The defendants allegedly acted together and caused the death
of the 37-year-old victim, Lawrence Leathers. They allegedly put him in a chokehold for an
extensive amount of time, and assaulted him. We will pursue justice for the victim and his loved
ones.”
District Attorney Clark said the defendants, Lisa Harris, 41, of 438 East 141st Street, and
Sterling Aguilar, 29, of 1216 East 34th Street, Brooklyn, were arraigned today on second-degree
Manslaughter and Criminally Negligent Homicide before Bronx Supreme Court Justice George
Villegas. Bail was continued at $5,000 bond/$3,000 cash. The defendants are due back in court
on October 3, 2019.
According to the investigation, on June 2, 2019, the defendants, who are friends, and the
victim were at the Mott Haven apartment Leathers shared with Harris, with whom he was in a
relationship. A fight allegedly began between Leathers and Harris, and Aguilar allegedly put
Leathers in a chokehold for about 30 minutes while Harris sat on the victim’s chest and allegedly
punched him multiple times in the face. An autopsy revealed that the victim’s cause of death was
homicidal asphyxia with compression to the neck.
District Attorney Clark thanked NYPD Detectives
Sandy Polanco of the 40th Precinct Squad and Christine Reyes from Bronx Homicide for their
assistance in the investigation.
An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.
As ICE began to round up a few people for deportation Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez planned to have groups of people inform undocumented immigrants of their rights.
One such group was called to meet at the Parkchester train station at 3 PM Sunday to distribute flyers advising everyone of what was required of ICE agents looking to pick up people for deportation, and what not to do if they felt they were being targeted.
About thirty volunteers assembled outside the Parkchester subway station where a staffer placed them into groups of four or five to circulate through the Parkchester community handing out flyers on what to do, and what not to do if confronted by any ICE agents.
One recognizable person in the group was political gadfly Michael Beltzer. He rode to the station by bicycle with his daughter. We spoke about politics for a while, then I moved on to ask others where they were from. I was told various locations such as Westchester County, and Long Island, and that people saw this event being posted on Facebook.
The event was scheduled to end at 5:30 PM, but something seemed to be missing. When I spoke to the staffer she said the delivery of the flyers had not arrived. Time started to ebb away, and one by one the volunteers started to drift away. Mr. Beltzer left sometime after 4 PM, and I decided to stay a little longer to see what would happen. Once I could see this hastily called event was not going to happen, I left shortly after 4:30PM
Above - The Parkchester rally organizer checks to see where the flyers are to be given out, as the flyers were not on hand for the rally.
Below - As time went on people talked among themselves, but started to leave as time went by without having the flyers to give out.
MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES CITY JAIL ADMISSIONS CUT IN HALF SINCE TAKING OFFICE
The average daily population in City jails is at its lowest rate since the late 1970s
Mayor de Blasio and the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice Director Elizabeth Glazer announced today that for the first time in decades, the number of city jail admissions fell below 40,000—a roughly 50 percent drop since the beginning of the Administration.
Along with the continued reduction in the average daily population in the city’s jail system to approximately 7,400 – about a 35 percent drop since the Mayor took office – the historic drop in jail admissions represents another concrete sign that the City’s plan to close the jails on Rikers Island by 2026 is well on track.
The total number of jail admissions between July 2018 and June 2019 fell to 39,420. This halving of admissions over five years follows a 20% drop over the past year alone, after Fiscal Year 2018 ended with approximately 49,500 admissions. The term “admissions” is not meant to indicate the number of individuals jailed; a person could enter the jail system more than once and each time count towards the total admissions.
“The safest big city in America is ending the era of mass incarceration,” said Mayor de Blasio. “For decades, we’ve been told we can only arrest and imprison our way to a safer city. Under my Administration, New York City has proven that’s not true. Instead, we can keep fathers at home and kids in school and get even safer.”
“These reductions result from a paradigm shift in our approach to public safety, with New York City at the leading edge of what works,” said Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice Director Elizabeth Glazer. “New Yorkers are committing fewer crimes, police are arresting less often, and our courts are releasing more people, resulting in a dramatic decrease in the numbers entering the jail system—all while New York City remains the safest big city in the United States.”
Since the Mayor took office, the City has invested tens of millions of dollars in pretrial services and alternatives to detention. Supervised Release, a diversion program used by judges, has alone served more than 13,600 people since launching citywide in 2016, ensuring that they stay in their communities rather than going to jail.
During the last legislative session, Albany legislators passed historic bail reform into law, which will further reduce the jail population. The Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice has convened a taskforce of criminal justice partners that includes the district attorneys' offices, public defenders, city agencies, representatives from the court system, and advocates. The task force is helping to identify and coordinate operational and resource needs to implement the new reforms, which take effect January 1, 2020.
BAAD launches Courageous Conversations 2019 an Arts/Talk Series for LGBTQ people and allies
Award-winning Cartoonists/Artivists
Ivan Velez, Jr. & Jennifer Camper
kick off BAAD!’s 2019 series
Courageous Conversations:
Strategies for Living and Loving in America
BAAD! - The Bronx Academy of Arts & Dance reignites its newest series called Courageous Conversations: Strategies for Living and Loving in America, a free mix of topical talks and resilience workshops led by leading thinkers and doers from the arts, media and politics, followed by a facilitated/open community forum for queer people and allies on how to navigate and thrive in the current political climate. The series kick-off will be on Tuesday, July 23. 2019 at 7pm at BAAD! 2474 Westchester Avenue in the Westchester Square section of the Bronx, and features the award-winning cartoonists, Jennifer Camper and Ivan Velez, Jr. These two powerhouses have fostered change through their art, activism and professional practice. The event is free and open to the public. Call 718-918-2110 or visit website: www.BAADBronx.org for info and additional directions. Courageous Conversations is supported by The Rubin Foundation and the NYC Dept of Cultural Affairs.
For the past 20 years, BAAD! has held consistent space for the Bronx’s LGBTQ community presenting live performance, community forums and social/civic engagement. BAAD! has also stepped into a leadership role linking LGBTQ community organizing efforts to performances when the art and activism share a theme. The Courageous Conversations series convenes LGBTQ people and allies to develop strategies to navigate social and political challenges to achieve success, wellness and thriveability.
The first event of the 2019 series features Bronx-born Boricua cartoonist, Ivan Velez, Jr., who used cartooning to help create social change. His comic book series, Tales of the Closet, created in 1987, was first used as a popular educational tool and was one of the first interventions for LGBTQ youth. Velez later joined Milestone to create multicultural superheroes. He wrote comics for Marvel and DC and has shown his work in museums and galleries from the Bronx to Taipei. His work has been included in several award-winning anthologies including Gay Comix and Qu33r, and he has edited graphic novels for Dutton Books which received recognition from the American Library Association. Among his many grants is a Creative Capital grant in 2015 to support his publishing imprint Planet Bronx. Velez hosts art workshops and is a popular teaching artist for the New York Public Library and the Bronx Museum of the Arts.
Jennifer Camper is a cartoonist and graphic artist whose art examines life from a perspective that is irreverent, female, queer, and mongrel (Lebanese American). Her work often explores gender, race, class, and politics, as well as sexuality, mermaids, and robots. She’s a cartoon editor, a teacher, and the creator of the biennial Queers & Comics Conference, an international and inter-generational gathering of queer cartoonists. Her books include Rude Girls and Dangerous Women, a collection of her cartoons, and subGURLZ, a graphic novella following the adventures of three women living in abandoned subway tunnels. She also edited two Juicy Mother comics anthologies. Her cartoons and illustrations have appeared in numerous publications and have been exhibited internationally.
Courageous Conversations continues through November 2019 and will include a diverse cross section of artists and thinkers including author Darnell Moore, artist Lola Flash, comic Devi Peacock.
Crowned “a funky and welcoming performance space” by The New York Times, BAAD! is a performance and workshop space that presents cutting-edge works in dance and all creative disciplines empowering to women, Latinos and people of color and the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) community. BAAD! is home to Arthur Aviles Typical Theatre (AATT), the Bronx Dance Coalition and the AATT Academy, and was founded by dancer/choreographer Arthur Aviles and writer/activist Charles Rice-Gonzalez in 1998 in Hunts Point. BAAD! moved to Westchester Square in October 2013 to a gothic revivalist building on the grounds of St. Peter’s Church.
BAAD!/AATT receive support from The Ford Foundation, The SHS Foundation, The NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, The Howard Gilman Foundation, The Lincoln Center Cultural Innovation Fund supported by The Rockefeller Foundation and administered by Lincoln Center, The Mertz Gilmore Foundation, The Emma A. Sheafer Charitable Trust, The Rubin Foundation, The Jerome Foundation, The Dance/NYC Dance Advancement Fund supported by the Ford Foundation, The Harkness Foundation for Dance, The New York State Regional Economic Development Corporation, the New York State Council on the Arts, and Councilmember Mark Gjonaj, and private donations.
Temple Hatikva Summer Service
As the temperature rises our desire to face the outside world descends. What could possibly make anyone want to venture out in this heat? Wait, I know! ICE CREAM!
It is that time, again! The famous Temple Hatikva Ice Cream Social Shabbat! Come and gather with us as we share a double scoop of Torah with a double scoop of your favorite frozen treat. All Services are Free Of Charge .
Temple Hatikva is a Reform / Conservative synagogue serving all those of the Jewish faith. We invite you to join us for our traditional, yet modern services.We serve all those of the Jewish faith and invite you to join us for our traditional yet modern services and adult education. If you have no synagogue background, we promise that you will have a meaningful experience. And, if you have attended other services, we're sure that you'll love our way of doing things!
Temple Hatikva's Service will be on Friday July 19 starting at 7:30pm. We are located at 990 Pelham Parkway South ,Bx NY 10461.