MAYOR DE BLASIO DELIVERS REMARKS AT THE NEW YORK STATE FINANCIAL CONTROL BOARD ANNUAL MEETING

  Mayor Bill de Blasio: Thank you very much. I want to thank our Acting Chair, State Budget Director Robert Mujica, for the introduction and for the sixth year in a row I want to thank the members of this board for the work you do on behalf of our City and our State. I want to acknowledge two partners whose work is indispensable in everything we do, Comptroller of the State Tom DiNapoli, Comptroller of the City Scott Stringer, I want thank them and their staffs as well. Of course, thanks to the private members. It’s been an honor working with you, John Levin and Lawrence Golub, thank you so much. And the FCB’s Acting Executive Director Jeff Sommer, thank you for all you’ve done for many years, for all of us. The – we worked closely with the City Council and thank them for their partnership in reaching our budget agreement in June and I want to thank the members of my team who are here for the work they did in the budget process, and do every day, First Deputy Mayor Dean Fuleihan, Budget Director Melanie Hartzog, and their staffs as well.

So here’s the overview, the Fiscal Year 2020 Adopted Budget is $92.77 billion. It is balanced with record levels of reserves and manageable out-year gaps. And before I go into detail on the adopted budget, I want to talk to you about why we have put it together the way we have. I want to take us back to the beginning of this year when there was some good news, job growth was strong and the City’s unemployment rate was low, but we also saw a bigger picture and some real challenges. At that point we were in the 116th month of the longest recovery since World War II which is something to celebrate but also a reason to be hesitant about what would come next. Markets had just posted steep losses in December, the housing sector had become weaker, and we faced threats related to foreign trade conflicts. Obviously those threats have only intensified since. Many leading economists at that time forecasted that the national economy would slow. At the same time we saw tax revenue slowing in comparison to the preceding year and we faced budget hits and risks both from Albany and Washington. We responded by deepening our commitment to fiscal prudence. I set a mandatory savings goal of $750 million for the Executive Budget which included an expansion of the partial hiring freeze and this administration’s first program to eliminate the gap. We maintain that commitment over the next months as we move closer to adoption, even as financial markets recovered.

We are focused on two areas, growing our savings and increasing our already significant reserves. First our focus on savings, we have maintained aggressive savings plans during strong revenue periods and as growth has slowed. The wisdom of this approach is clear as these savings plans have allowed us to balance the budget and finance necessary initiatives. Every year OMB and city agencies work together to examine internal processes and use existing resources more efficiently, including an evaluation of personnel needs. OMB also develops initiatives to make use of shared resources and economies of scale across all of our city agencies. Now because of these efforts we achieved almost $2.9 billion in savings over Fiscal Years ‘19 and ‘20 since the last adoption. These savings were attained in part through the PEG and a permanent reduction of nearly 3,000, city-funded, personnel positions in this fiscal year, but we certainly are not done. Over the course of the year we will continue to find ways to save tax payer dollars – excuse me – while maintaining the critical services that New Yorkers need and expect.

Second, we have increased the level of budget reserves every single year of this administration so that we’re ready in the event of a downturn. We have a buffer from the unexpected. This year is no exception. We increased reserves to nearly $6 billion and that is a record level for the City of New York. This includes $1.15 billion in the General Reserve, $4.57 billion in the Retiree Health Benefits Trust Fund, and $250 million in the Capital Stabilization Reserve. Because of our yearlong savings efforts and cautious planning at the end of Fiscal Year ‘19, we were able to make a $4.22 billion re – prepayment – excuse me – prepayment on Fiscal Year 2020 expenses, leaving Fiscal Years 2019 and 2020 balanced.

I’m proud to say these efforts haven’t gone unnoticed. Our consistent focus on savings and reserves has been routinely praised by fiscal monitors and rating agencies. In March, Moody’s Investors Services upgraded the City’s GO Bond Rating to AA1, the highest level ever achieved by the City, and our first ratings increase in nearly a decade. In making the upgrade, Moody cited our strong financial management and improvements in our financial position that reflect a greater capacity to withstand an economic downturn. So that’s the level of prudent fiscal management we’ve always believed was the foundation to a progressive government. That’s what allows us to invest in the city in the responsible way we have.

And before I conclude I just want to highlight some of these investments. Much of the new agency spending in Fiscal Year 2020 went towards supporting basic City operations and mandates. This included funding upcoming elections, maintaining water and sewer services, and addressing NYPD’s critical IT infrastructure needs. Our investments are guided by a simple question I spoke about at this meeting last year. How does this help us keep building the fairest big city in America? You’ll find that this year’s plan goes a long way to further that mission. We are investing in health care as too many New Yorkers lack access to affordable, quality coverage.

At the State of the City, we announced NYC Care, part of our plan to guarantee health care access for 600,000 uninsured New Yorkers. We enhanced efforts to boost MetroPlus, New York city’s public option. At full ramp up, this investment will total $100 million per year. We are investing in mental health care as well, especially for younger New Yorkers. This year we will place 200 additional social workers in our public schools including mental health specialists working within the Thrive initiative. We will continue to invest in affordable housing which is so critical for vulnerable New Yorkers, and we are protecting this city and all New Yorkers from the impact of climate change. As part of NYC’s Green New Deal, we invested $60 million to retrofit City buildings with green technology, reflecting our ongoing focus on energy efficiency.

We are making sure as well that every New Yorker is counted in the 2020 Census. In partnership with the City Council, we invested $40 million to fund outreach staff and a public awareness campaign to make sure that New York is counted and we get our fair share in federal funding and federal representation.

And of course, nothing is more central to a fair New York City than bringing equity to our schools. That’s where we are continuing to invest in education which my administration has been focused on since day one. This year we expanded 3-K For All by funding 1,900 new seats in the Bronx and Brooklyn. This investment brings 3-K to 12 districts and 20,000 children this September. The quality of our pre-K and 3-K initiatives depends on recruiting and retaining quality, early childhood educators and last week I am proud to say DC1707 and the Daycare Council of New York City ratified an agreement that honors that commitment we made at adoption to develop a pathway to pay parity for our early childhood educators. We will add related funding in the fall and this agreement will serve as a model for the remaining certified providers going forward.

Similarly in recognition of the critical role legal defense attorneys play in the justice system, the City will continue conversations with providers to effectively address recruitment and retention issues in that sector as well.

Finally I’ll note that in April we released the $116.9 billion, ten-year capital strategy that details the City’s infrastructure plan. Our investments support expanding and enhancing school facilities, making repairs and safety improvements to roads and bridges, and building and preserving record levels of affordable housing. 75 percent of all capital funds are invested in maintaining or improving the City’s capital asset base, reflecting a continued focus on state of good repair. And as we have in the past, we have debt service payments below 15 percent of our City tax revenue, the bench mark for responsible capital financing.

To conclude, as always, I want to thank the Financial Control Board for your work. This partnership makes New York City stronger and this year’s budget continues to make the case that our administration has made for years now – that prudent financial management and big progressive change are not mutually exclusive. That we can be guided by fiscal responsibility and make the investments we need to build a growing, thriving city in every single borough. We have more work to do but these investments in our people and our city will continue to push us towards a future where fairness is a defining part of life in New York City. Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

Livery Base Owners' Reaction to Taxi, Limousine Commission Vote Today, For Hire Vehicles

 The Livery Base Owners represent over 250 livery bases in New York City. Our member bases serve approximately 150,000 New Yorkers each day in every borough across the City except for Staten Island. Our passenger profile was and remains residents of the outer boroughs who may or may not speak English as a first language. Our bases are equipped to serve these passengers because most of our member-base owners are immigrants as well; we come from the same communities as our passengers. On behalf of those base owners and the customers that we serve, we must express our deep concern over the TLC’s vote to extend the cap on for-hire-vehicle licenses.

In 2014, the livery sector of the for-hire-vehicle industry enjoyed over 25,000 affiliated vehicles. However, 2014 saw the entrance of what are now classified as “high-volume for hire vehicle services.” Those large corporate entities gobbled up market share and provided financial incentives to our affiliated drivers. Those high volume FHV services operate at a loss because their goal is to eliminate all of the competition here in the City. As a result, after 5 years, the number of affiliated vehicles in our sector has dropped to approximately 10,900 vehicles.

In an attempt to reign in the growth of the high-volume for hire vehicle services, the TLC is punishing every sector of the industry. Despite the fact that our member bases and affiliated vehicles are not the ones driving the congestion in Manhattan, the TLC has imposed the same restrictions on us as it has imposed on the large corporate players. This is fundamentally unfair, and will only hasten the demise of the traditional community car service.

The Livery Base Owners are asking for the TLC to consider a more flexible approach. The cap is not preventing the high-volume sector from flooding Manhattan’s congestion zone with empty vehicles. In practice, the cap is choking the remaining life out of the small bases that we represent.

Therefore, we would like the TLC to grant new licenses for drivers who would affiliate with our bases. Our sector of the industry is not responsible for the congestion problem, as most of our rides are local and in the outer boroughs. Therefore, additional vehicles will not undermine the TLC’s policy goals.

TLC reports that 26% of active licenses do not renew, which represents a service gap that threatens the communities that we serve. Our communities – poor and working-class immigrants and people of color – are the ones suffering from crumbling MTA infrastructure, service disruptions, and irregular and inconvenient bus lines. And those communities are the ones who suffer when small bases are unable to provide a ride.

Our small bases are in crisis. In only 5 years, we have lost more than half of our vehicles. And the trend of loss is not reversing. We are looking to the TLC to provide leadership on this issue, and to help us remain viable. We also call on the NYC Council and community leaders to step-in and address the concerns and needs of NYC’s livery base owners and the constituents who depend on their services for basic transportation, before one of the city’s most needed, reliable and dependable industries is driven to the ground.

While everyone focuses on the high-volume bases, and the yellow medallion crisis, our small livery sector is quickly disappearing. The City must not wait for another crisis before acting. We call on our Mayor, City Council Members, TLC Commissioners, and community leaders to work with us to address this problem.

MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES NEARLY $9 MILLION IN FUNDING TO SUPPORT BROWNSVILLE FOLLOWING MASS SHOOTING

Funding will support youth, health, and anti-violence services in the community

Mayor de Blasio, City Council Speaker Johnson and Council Members Barron and Ampry-Samuel announced nearly $9 million in new funding in support of the Brownsville community Tuesday, following the mass shooting on July 27 that resulted in 11 injuries and one fatality during the annual Old Timers Day community event.

The new funding will bolster and expand services supported by the Mayor’s Office to Prevent Gun Violence and the Mayor’s Action Plan for Neighborhood Safety (MAP) in the wake of the violence. This includes $5.2 million for the renovation of the Brownsville Houses Community Center, a MAP site, and $140,000 for new NYPD security cameras and public lighting around the Brownsville Playground facility. Lighting will be fully installed by December 2019. The NYPD has installed two cameras and will make additional upgrades by the end of the year.

“Our hearts ache for Brownsville; but this community will be defined by resilience, not tragedy,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “These programs will build on our commitment to end the epidemic of gun violence and lend much needed support to the local leaders and activists who work to bring positive, enduring change to the Brownsville community each and every day.“

"The mass shooting in Brownsville was a tragedy. As a City, we must do everything we can to stop this kind of violence from ever happening in our communities. I am proud today to announce this funding to support gun violence prevention programs, increase safety, and heal the wounds left by the horrific and senseless shooting," said Speaker Corey Johnson

On top of $5.2 million in capital funds, an additional $3.24 million will go to build on the effective anti-violence and community-building efforts already integrated into the Brownsville community. These include:

•$1 million in annual funding to expand the Mayor’s Office to Prevent Gun Violence’s successful Crisis Management System violence disruption program in Brownsville’s 73rd Precinct.

•$1 million to increase the capacity of the Department of Health’s Brooklyn Neighborhood Health Action Center (NHAC) to plan, prepare, and respond to incidents and systemic crises, including community violence, extreme weather, and environmental hazards, such as fires and building collapses.

•$590,000 for Brownsville Neighborhood YouthStat, a youth centered version of MAP’s NeighborhoodStat, which trains young people in community organizing and engagement, peacemaking, and crime prevention through environmental design, and a suite of mental health and trauma response skills.

•$175,000 for a Mobile Trauma Unit, part of a fleet of police precinct-specific van that provides access to available trauma resources and services, to help reduce and prevent shooting incidents and other acts of violence through swift, coordinated responses to immediate crisis incidents by providing increase.

•$576,000 to hire 12 additional staff for the Brownsville Recreation Center to provide additional recreational programming, expanded pool operating hours, and additional security.

The investments directly in the Brownsville community will provide much needed City resources in helping the community heal from recent violence, while continuing to build on the foundation laid by residents’ long-standing efforts of creating a safer Brownsville for all.

First organized in 1963, the annual Old Timers Day event provides the Brownsville community with a special opportunity to celebrate the contributions and impact of its elders, while inviting neighbors of all ages to partake in a fun, family friendly annual summer event.

"The community’s response in the hours and days that followed was a testament to years of effort by community members and government partners building support systems in the form of anti-gun intervention, youth engagement, violence disrupter training, and other ground-up solutions that helps empower residents," said Elizabeth Glazer, director of the Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice. "One tragedy cannot undo the tremendous success we've had working with communities to create a new understanding of what safety means. Brownsville is a testament and a model for the kind of change that can be accomplished when government and residents work together build a better future."

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. - August 14: Back to School Literacy & Health Fair

STATEMENT FROM MAYOR DE BLASIO ON PASSAGE OF FOR-HIRE VEHICLE CRUISING CAP AND LICENSE CAP EXTENSION

“For far too long, ride-share apps took advantage of their drivers. Their wages plummeted and families struggled to put food on their tables. We stood up and said no more. We will not let big corporations walk all over hardworking New Yorkers and choke our streets with congestion. Our caps have resulted in increased wages and families finally have some relief. I look forward to putting these new caps into effect immediately.”

EDITOR'S NOTE: 

We agree with Mayor de Blasio, has it been six years now? 

We suggest that you bring back the For Hire City Council Committee.

NEWS FROM CONGRESSMAN ELIOT ENGEL

Engel Calls for Greater Gun Control at Westchester Vigil for Victims of Gun Violence

  Congressman Eliot L. Engel issued the following statement on last night’s vigil in Westchester for victims of gun violence: 

“Last evening, the Westchester community came together in a beautiful showing of solidarity for the victims of this weekend’s awful gun violence. I was proud to join them and to remind the President and Moscow Mitch that we won’t stand a moment longer for their inaction. They work for the American people, not the NRA, and the American people want sensible gun control.

“The actions we need to take are obvious and have been staring the GOP in the face for years. We need expanded background checks. We need to ban assault weapons. We need to ban high capacity magazines. We need to ban armor-piercing ammunition. Video games and social media aren’t to blame for these shootings. And couching our national gun violence epidemic as a ‘mental health issue’ is just another way to avoid addressing the problem, while appeasing fanatics in the NRA.

“In order to move forward the President must also take stock in his own behavior, and how his words stoke the flames. You cannot say we need to condemn hatred and racism while simultaneously stoking hatred and racism for political gain. The American people aren’t stupid.”

Engel on the 54^th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act

  “54 years ago today, Congress passed one of the most meaningful pieces of legislation in our nation’s history, the Voting Rights Act. This landmark bill established the principle of fairness in our electoral system and removed longstanding discriminatory barriers to voting. But even in 2019, many still face undue burdens when it comes to exercising their right to vote. Shelby v. Holder set our country back tremendously by opening the door for a flurry of state activity aimed at suppressing voter turnout. We can’t sit idly by and allow GOP lawmakers to circumvent the will of the people. 

“I’ve introduced a comprehensive Constitutional Amendment, H.J.Res. 9, to fix many of the problems plaguing our electoral system, including the outdated and regressive electoral college and political gerrymandering. We need to abolish both and we also need to get big money out of politics, which my amendment would also do. Many of the provisions I included in H.J. Res. 9 made their way into the major electoral and ethics reform bill that I voted for and House Democrats passed earlier in the year, H.R. 1 the For the People Act.

“While passage of H.R. 1 by the Senate would be a tremendous step forward, H.J.Res. 9 represents my full vision for a more inclusive approach to voting rights in America. On this 54^th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, I urge my colleagues to think bigger when it comes to protecting the right to vote.”

ENGEL STATEMENT ON ADMINISTRATION’S PLAN TO WITHHOLD FUNDING FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS EFFORTS 

 Representative Eliot L. Engel, Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, today made the following statement regarding the Trump Administration’s decision to freeze foreign affairs funding approved by Congress:

“This Administration’s contempt for Congress is astounding. When Congress decides how much we spend on foreign assistance, it isn’t a suggestion. It’s the law, backed up by the constitution.

“This dangerous action would undermine global health efforts. It would stymie attempts to stop democratic backsliding and deter Russia’s harmful influence. It would devastate our ability to project American values and leadership across the globe. And when American troops are deployed to so many countries around the world, the last thing we should do is cut funding for the diplomats who can keep them from putting their lives on the line.

“President Trump and Secretary Pompeo should follow the law and stop playing politics with our foreign affairs budget. If they move ahead with this plan, I’ll use the full power of the Foreign Affairs Committee to reverse their efforts and to demand answers about why this Administration seems determined to ignore the will Congress and undermine American leadership.”

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr - Bronx Summer Concert Series at Orchard Beach August 11th.

Florida Man Sentenced In Manhattan Federal Court To 20 Years In Prison For Mailing 16 Improvised Explosive Devices In Connection With October 2018 Domestic Terrorist Attack

  Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and John C. Demers, Assistant Attorney General for National Security, announced today that CESAR ALTIERI SAYOC was sentenced today to 20 years in prison in connection with his mailing of 16 improvised explosive devices to victims across the country.  SAYOC pled guilty to a 65-count Superseding Information on March 21, 2019, before U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff, who also imposed today’s sentence. 

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “Cesar Sayoc assembled and mailed explosive devices to high-ranking officials and former elected leaders to incite fear and to terrorize his victims.  Though thankfully no one was hurt by his actions, Sayoc’s domestic terrorism challenged our nation’s cherished tradition of peaceful political discourse.  For his wanton disregard of the safety of so many people, Sayoc will now spend 20 years in prison.”

Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers said:  “Time and again, we have seen individuals attempt to express political views and resolve political disagreements through violence.  Cesar Sayoc has now been sentenced for acts of domestic terrorism that are repulsive to all Americans who cherish a society built on respectful and non-violent political discourse.  Our democracy depends on our debating our strongly held views peacefully and respectfully, and when someone does not, on our prosecuting and punishing those who do not abide by these values.  I applaud the efforts of so many in our law enforcement community whose alertness and tirelessness led to the prompt arrest of the defendant before he was able to injure anyone, as well as those whose efforts led to today’s sentence.”

According to the Superseding Information, court filings, and statements made during court proceedings: 

In October 2018, SAYOC mailed from Florida 16 padded envelopes, each containing an improvised explosive device (“IED”), to addresses in New York, New Jersey, Washington, D.C., Delaware, Georgia, and California.  In alphabetical order, SAYOC’S intended victims (the “Victims”) were former Vice President Joseph Biden, Senator Cory Booker, former CIA Director John Brennan, former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, CNN, Robert De Niro, Senator Kamala Harris, former Attorney General Eric Holder, former President Barack Obama, George Soros, Thomas Steyer, and Representative Maxine Walters.  Between October 22 and November 2, 2018, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) and the U.S. Postal Service recovered all of the 16 IEDs mailed by SAYOC.

Each of the IEDs mailed by SAYOC contained a mix of explosive powder from fireworks, shards of glass, and pool chemicals, designed to maximize potential injuries, damage, and the burning of his intended Victims’ skin.  On the outside of each IED, SAYOC placed photographs of each of the Victims, and sometimes their families and others, with a red “X” over their faces.  SAYOC also affixed black flags, similar in appearance to banners used by ISIS and other foreign terrorist organizations, to the outside of the IEDs.    

SAYOC had posted incendiary comments about liberal political figures online since at least 2011.  In the months prior to mailing the IEDs, SAYOC incited violence against the Victims, conveyed direct threats against them, and researched where and how to carry out his attack.  For example, in April 2016, he wrote that former President Barack Obama’s “head need[ed] to be chopped off” and he wished “death” to George Soros and former Attorney General Eric Holder.  In April 2017, SAYOC wished “Death” to “all Clintons” and in November 2017 posted “Your days are number[ed] Steyer[].”  Beginning in December 2017, SAYOC researched the Victims and their addresses.  For example, on December 23, 2017, SAYOC searched for the address of Congresswoman Maxine Waters, and, over the course of the ensuing months, SAYOC repeatedly searched for the “home address” or “address” of several of the Victims, and SAYOC intensified these searches in the days before his attack.  Finally, SAYOC researched online how to make a “letter bomb” and watched videos depicting explosions.    

The FBI arrested SAYOC in Plantation, Florida, on October 26, 2018—less than five days after the October 22 recovery of the first IED, which SAYOC mailed to Soros in New York. 

In addition to his prison sentence, SAYOC, 57, of Florida, was sentenced to five years of supervised release.

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding efforts of the FBI’s New York Joint Terrorism Task Force, which principally consists of agents from the FBI and detectives from the New York City Police Department, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.  Mr. Berman also thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Southern District of Florida, the District of Columbia, the District of Delaware, the District of New Jersey, the Central District of California, the Eastern District of California, the Northern District of California, and the Northern District of Georgia for their assistance in the investigation.