BOROUGH PRESIDENT DIAZ INVESTS $6.1 MILLION IN ORCHARD BEACH PAVILION

Since 2017, BP Diaz has allocated over $16 million to renovate ‘The Bronx Riviera’

  Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. announced that his office has invested an additional $6,107,400 in capital funds for the renovation of the historic Orchard Beach Pavilion and South Yard, as part of his FY2020 capital budget allocations.

“Orchard Beach is one of the jewels of not only our borough but all of New York City, and it has the potential to be an even greater tourist attraction thanks to this forthcoming renovation. A revitalized Orchard Beach will undoubtedly attract visitors from all over the region, if not the world,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. “This investment is part of our ongoing commitment to our grand vision for a new Orchard Beach, one that will help ‘The Bronx Riviera’ grow as both an economic engine for our borough as well as a destination point for visitors from across the region.”

Orchard Beach is The Bronx’s only public beach and draws visitors from across the city, seeing 1.9 million total visitors in 2017. Its pavilion has been closed to the public since 2007, when deteriorated conditions rendered it unsafe. During the early years of operation, the pavilion created a carnival-like atmosphere, with orchestras playing dance music in front of the pavilion and firework displays launched from offshore on Chimney Island.

The $6.1 million in capital funds that Borough President Diaz is adding to the renovation of Orchard Beach is on top of the $10 million he allocated in FY2017 for the historical venue. Mayor Bill de Blasio has contributed $20 million in capital funding towards the project, and both Governor Andrew Cuomo and New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie have contributed $10 million in funding each.

 

Borough President Diaz believes that, when renovated and reopened, the Orchard Beach Pavilion will once again become an amenity to thousands of beachgoers. Currently, Orchard Beach serves as the home to the annual “New York Salutes America” boardwalk festival and fireworks extravaganza, the “Hoops in the Sun” basketball tournament, as well as The Bronx Summer Concert Series.

Borough President Diaz hosts the concert series each Sunday, from July through August, featuring a wide-variety of artists, including local solo artists and dance teams. This year’s concert series lineup includes (subject to change):

·        July 21st: Frankie Negron and Everything Covered Band

·        July 28th: Raulín Rosendo and Merengue Dorado Band

·        August 4th: The Nelson Gonzalez All Star Band and Conjunto Clasico

·        August 11th: The Mambo Legends Orchestra

·        August 18th: Tipica 73 and Hector Tricoche

·        August 25th: Andy Montañez and Funk Salsa Urban

“Orchard Beach is not just a Bronx beach, Orchard Beach is for the entire city,” said Borough President Diaz. “We have so many great events, based out of Orchard Beach, that bond our community. But there is also so much untapped potential for Orchard Beach. Our investment will allow for us to be able to build first-rate concessions, top notch performance spaces and the ability to host even more top-notch events. Renovation of Orchard Beach will allow the area to evolve into the economic engine it once was and could be once again.”

This year, Borough President Diaz’s office has provided $31,477,000 in total capital dollars to 101 different projects. Since coming to office in 2009, Borough President Diaz has provided $303,374,000 in total capital funding to 905 projects.

DE BLASIO ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES DETAILS OF MAJOR CITI BIKE EXPANSION

City releases boundaries of Citi Bike’s next expansion, which will double the current service area by 35 square miles and triple the number of bikes to 40,000; System will expand to a diverse range of communities, including the South Bronx and northern Manhattan in the next year

  The de Blasio Administration joined Lyft to announce the boundaries of the planned expansion of Citi Bike over the next five years, which will bring the nation’s largest bike share system to a larger and more economically diverse range of communities.  Last November, the City and Lyft announced an agreement in which Lyft would invest $100 million to grow and strengthen the system, doubling the size of its service area and tripling the number of bikes over the next five years.  The third phase of Citi Bike’s expansion will bring Citi Bike to all of Manhattan, as well as into the Bronx, and deeper into Brooklyn and Queens.  Administration officials were joined by Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. for the announcement on the steps of the Bronx County Courthouse in the South Bronx, where Citi Bike also announced a $300,000 expansion grant program, sponsored by Healthfirst, as well as a new handcycle pilot for the disability community.

“This expansion will help us build a more fair and equitable city for all New Yorkers,” said Mayor de Blasio.  “Even more communities will have access to this low-cost, sustainable mode of transportation. With double the territory and triple the number of bikes over the next few years, Citi Bike will become an even better option for travel around New York City.”

“We are thrilled to work with NYC DOT on expanding one of the world’s best bike share networks — Citi Bike — in an equitable and accessible way,” said Caroline Samponaro, Head of Micromobility Policy at Lyft, the operator of Citi Bike. “Increasing access to affordable transportation options is a proven method for improving economic outcomes for lower-income residents, and through our City Works program, Lyft is committing $50 million annually to this cause in North America. Here in New York, Citi Bike’s expansion to new neighborhoods will provide convenient, affordable, and sustainable transit access to many additional New Yorkers, shortening commutes, boosting public health, and building connections between communities across our great city.”

“Six years after Citi helped launch this fantastic public-private partnership, it’s exciting to see Citi Bike weave its way deeper into the fabric of New York City,” said Ed Skyler, Citi’s Head of Public Affairs. “We welcome this expansion as a way to make Citi Bike even more accessible to the riders who have made it a sustainable, vital form of public transportation that we’re extremely proud to be a part of.”

Citi Bike has begun the expansion with 25 new stations along the L-train corridor in East Williamsburg and Bushwick.  In the months ahead, it will add more stations in these neighborhoods and within Ridgewood, Queens.

Next, Citi Bike will expand into the South Bronx and Upper Manhattan, beginning community board consultation this fall -- with stations installed in 2020.  The planned expansion through 2023 will include the following neighborhoods:

·         The Bronx: Mott Haven, Melrose, Port Morris, Highbridge, Claremont, Morrisania, Longwood, Concourse, and Mt. Eden

·         Brooklyn:  Bed-Stuy, Brownsville, Crown Heights, Prospect Lefferts Gardens, East Flatbush, Sunset Park, South Slope, Windsor Terrace, Prospect Park South and Kensington

·         Manhattan:  Harlem, Hamilton Heights, Sugar Hill, Washington Heights and Inwood (when completed, all of Manhattan will have Citi Bike)

·         Queens: Sunnyside, Maspeth, Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, and Corona

As Citi Bike grows, NYC DOT and Citi Bike will continue their robust community engagement and work alongside local organizations to ensure bike share is planned in an equitable, accessible manner that works for neighborhoods and the City’s overall transportation goals. All of Phase 3 expansion will be contingent upon Lyft meeting—and continuing to meet—strong milestones for providing a high-quality service for New Yorkers.

Lyft has begun to meet these milestones by increasing the Citi Bike fleet to over 13,000 bicycles—its largest ever—and greatly expanding the number of valet stations in the system to more than 40 different locations in total throughout Brooklyn and Manhattan, running on both weekdays and weekends. Additionally, Citi Bike can now be rented through the Lyft app, providing a convenient new way to ride for residents and visitors alike. These improvements have made both more bikes available to riders at the system’s busiest hours as well as increased ridership, leading Citi Bike to smash its single-day ridership record five times in May and June, with the all-time record set on June 12, 2019 with 86,614 trips completed throughout the entire Citi Bike system.

Citi Bike Equity Initiatives:  As part of its agreement with New York City, Lyft has also continued to expand Citi Bike's transportation equity efforts, including the Reduced Fare Bike Share program, presented by Healthfirst. There are now more than 3,300 New Yorkers who live in NYCHA developments or receive SNAP benefits who take advantage of a discounted Citi Bike membership for only $5 a month -- a 55% increase in enrollment in only one year. These members are actively using the system, riding at about twice the rate of full-fare members.  Growth in sign-ups and high-frequency ridership demonstrates that Citi Bike is playing a key role in meeting the transportation needs of thousands of low-income New Yorkers.

Community Grant Program: Citi Bike and Healthfirst also announced today a $300,000 Community Grant Program for local non-profits to grow bike share ridership further in lower-income neighborhoods. These funds are a portion of the sponsorship funds committed to Citi Bike by Healthfirst over the past year. Initial grantees of the community grants are the Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation, GrowNYC, Urban Upbound, Union Settlement, GOLES, Red Hook Initiative, and El Puente Bushwick. Citi Bike and Healthfirst will be partnering with and supporting additional non-profit organizations to grow a culture of bike share in the new expansion areas as well.

Handcycle Pilot: Citi Bike is further increasing access this summer by teaming up with NYC DOT on a handcycle pilot.  Handcycles are three-wheeled, hand-controlled, adaptive bikes for both people with disabilities and individuals who do not know how to ride traditional two-wheeled pedal bicycles. The handcycle fleet will be at Weekend Walks, Summer Streets, and other community-based events throughout the city all summer and participation is open to all adults and is completely free-of-charge. Citi Bike and NYC DOT are working with The NYU Ability Project to assess the impact of this initiative and consider future adaptive vehicle programming.

“This is an exciting moment for New York City, as we share the details of this expansion, which will transform the nation’s largest bike share program into one of the largest bike share systems in the world, as we bring bike share to so many more neighborhoods around the City, including here in the South Bronx.” said DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg. “We thank Lyft once again for its investment, as we know Citi Bike’s expansion will give even more communities convenient access to this safe, sustainable, affordable and fun way to get around.  As we this summer tackle new efforts to keep cyclists safe, the expansion of Citi Bike will be a critical part of our efforts.”

“With the proper adaptive equipment a person with a disability can participate fully in any activity,” said Victor Calise, Commissioner of the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities. “The Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities is excited to see that this handcycling pilot program is moving forward. We hope to see this pilot expand beyond handcycles to include other types of bikes that will assist the full range of people with disabilities. We look forward to collaborating with DOT and the disability community to ensure that accessible bikes are on our streets the same way as traditional Citi Bikes. By increasing access to this healthy and environmentally conscious form of transportation, New York City is one ride closer to becoming the most accessible city in the world.”

Citi Bike is an effective, healthy and sustainable mode of transportation for many New Yorkers, and I’m thrilled this next phase will give even more New Yorkers the opportunity to bike around the five boroughs. But as biking becomes more popular we must make sure we make it safe to ride in New York City.  I look forward to working with the Department of Transportation on establishing an connected network of protected bike lanes, and I also look forward to Citi Bike thriving for years to come,” said Speaker Corey Johnson.

“I am so excited that The Bronx will finally be included in the Citi Bike program, which has already become an important part of New York City’s transportation grid,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. “Connecting our borough to the Citi Bike network will empower so many Bronxites to travel outside their neighborhood for job opportunities, cultural events and to visit friends and family. Thank you to the DOT and for Citi Bike for investing in The Bronx, and I look forward to working with elected officials, community boards and others to rollout this expansion.”

STATEMENT FROM MAYOR DE BLASIO ON PRELIMINARY POWER OUTAGE FINDINGS FROM CON EDISON

“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.”

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.