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Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( Phil Pasquini/Shutterstock )
Tuesday, February 25, 2020
Monday, February 24, 2020
Eric Dinowitz Receives UFT Endorsement for City Council
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Eric Dinowitz, community activist and special education teacher running for City Council in the 11th District, has been endorsed by the United Federation of Teachers (UFT). This is the first union endorsement of his campaign. This historically early endorsement is one of the first for any labor union across the city for 2021 City Council races.
"This is an incredibly meaningful endorsement and I am honored to have the support of UFT as I run for City Council. Throughout my career as a special education teacher, UFT has stood up for students, educators, and our progressive values, advocating for better mental health services, improved resources for students with disabilities, and support so that our students and teachers thrive. Education will always be a priority for me as a City Council Member, public school teacher, and parent," said Dinowitz.
"As a Special education teacher and UFT Chapter leader, Eric Dinowitz understands the needs of educators," said UFT President Michael Mulgrew. "We stand with Eric so that our schools, our children, and our members have a voice in the room."
Dinowitz has been a UFT member since 2007. The UFT is one of the City's strongest and most progressive unions, touting nearly 200,000 educators, school staff, classroom paraprofessionals, psychologists, and retirees among its members. Dinowitz is also the Democratic District Leader for the 81st Assembly District and the Chair of Bronx Community Board 8's Aging Committee. He has lived in the Northwest Bronx his entire life and is raising his family there. The Democratic primary for the 11th City Council District will be in June 2021.
MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES MAJOR PROGRESS ON GREEN WAVE PLAN TO MAKE STREETS SAFER FOR CYCLISTS
Since 2014, City has built over 100 miles of protected bike lanes; in 2020, City will construct 10 new miles of protected bike lanes in Manhattan
Mayor Bill de Blasio and Commissioner Polly Trottenberg released a progress report on the Green Wave, the City’s plan to make streets safer for cyclists. The City has built 104 miles of protected bike lanes (PBLs) since 2014, including 21.4 miles completed in 2019. The de Blasio Administration has built over 400 miles of bike lanes since 2014.
The City will also construct approximately 10 new miles of protected bike lanes in Manhattan in 2020, including completing the Central Park West northbound protected lane and bringing the 6th Avenue northbound lane through Midtown to Central Park. These new projects are part of the Green Wave commitment to build 30 PBL miles across the city this year.
“No loss of life on our streets is acceptable,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “We are deepening our efforts to protect cyclists and make our streets safer for all New Yorkers. We will not stop until we have finally reached Vision Zero.”
“While we have seen critical safety measures put into place since launching the Green Wave plan last summer, this year we are committing to an unprecedented amount of protected bike lanes throughout New York City – including around 10 miles in Manhattan,” said Deputy Mayor Laura Anglin. “This Administration remains laser-focused on ensuring our streets are safe and accessible for all New Yorkers.”
“We once again thank the Mayor for his leadership on the Green Wave, which has really forced DOT to up our game,” said DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg. “Our progress report shows we have done a lot for cyclist safety since last summer, but we have a lot more planned – including all over Manhattan. Over the last several years, one of every five protected bike lane miles in America has been built within New York City, and this year, we will do even more.”
Green Wave Progress Report
Unveiled in July 2019, the Green Wave lays out an ambitious approach to address the rise in cycling fatalities, including by increasing the annual production of PBLs from 20 miles in 2019 to 30 miles each in 2020 and 2021. The report card released today announced that DOT completed 21.4 PBL miles last year and is on its way toward reaching its goal of 30 miles this year.
DOT has focused much of its work on 10 Brooklyn and Queens’s community boards that have high rates of cyclists killed or seriously injured and limited cycling infrastructure. The Administration targeted 75 miles of bike lanes in these Priority Districts by 2022 and today’s progress report notes 37.5 miles have been completed since 2017. Traffic-calming turn treatments will also be installed at the 50 most dangerous intersections for cyclists by the end of 2020 and DOT will increase protection on existing protected bike lanes.
As part of Green Wave, the Administration also announced progress in three additional areas of focus between DOT and NYPD, including the Truck Safety Task Force, the passage of the Leading Pedestrian Rule for cyclists and DOT’s continued public outreach efforts.
Manhattan Protected Bike Lanes
In 2020, Manhattan will see its largest ever single-year addition of protected bike lanes, approximately ten miles, to help fill out the borough’s already extensive network. The projects are as follows:
- 6th Avenue, Midtown: A protected lane along 6th Avenue will be added in Midtown, extending the existing uptown lane from Herald Square to Central Park.
- Central Park West, Upper West Side: The second phase of this uptown lane will be completed in 2020, extending to 110th Street.
- 5th Avenue, Harlem: A new two-way protected lane will be installed from 120th to 110th Streets connecting Central Park and Marcus Garvey Park.
- St Nicholas Avenue, Washington Heights: Protected lanes will be added in both directions between 165th and 170th Streets.
- Manhattan Waterfront Greenway connection, Lower East Side: A new protected route will be added in Alphabet City to accommodate greenway riders during East River Park construction.
- Lower Manhattan Network: DOT will fill in the protected-lane network on several critical corridors in Lower Manhattan including lower Broadway, Whitehall Street, West Broadway, Varick Street, Church Street and 6th Avenue.
- Queensboro Bridge Connectors, Midtown: PBLs will be added to several crosstown approaches to the bridge.
- Additional Crosstown Lanes, Midtown: DOT is finalizing the most feasible streets on which to add a new set of crosstown lanes to complement the crosstown lanes that have been added since 2018 on 26th/29th and 52nd/ 55th Streets.
After community outreach scheduled for this year and pending completion of water main work by the Department of Design and Construction, a southbound protected lane along 2nd Avenue in Midtown will be constructed between 42nd and 34th Streets, closing the last remaining gap in the 5-mile 2nd Avenue protected bike lane.
“To build a 21st century city where New Yorkers can get around efficiently, safely, and sustainably it is critical that we have a citywide network of interconnected protected bike lanes,” said Council Speaker Corey Johnson. “Far too many cyclists were lost to traffic violence last year and we must do more to protect people on two wheels. I look forward to continuing to work with DOT to ramp up protected bike lanes and safe streets infrastructure around the city in the years to come.”
Wave Hill events March 5-March 12
Sat, March 7
Family Art Project: Homage to Spring Light
Join artist Samanta Batra Mehta as we create "drawing sculptures" with mylar, gold leaf and upcycled materials, to capture the light of early spring. Taking inspiration from Wave Hill’s gardens, we will make botanical drawings and enhance them with gold leaf and gilding. Transform your drawings into an homage to the coming Spring equinox through adding sculptural details and placing your work in the home of an upcycled glass jar. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon.
Wave Hill House, 10AM–1PM
Sun, March 8
Spring Birding
Welcome migratory birds back to Wave Hill this spring. Explore the gardens and woodlands with naturalist Gabriel Willow on a quest to spot both resident and rare birds as they pass through on their northern journey or settle down for the season. Severe weather cancels. Ages 10 and older welcome with an adult. NYC Audubon members enjoy two-for-one admission to the grounds. Registration suggested, online at wavehill.org or at the Perkins Visitor Center.
Meet at Perkins Visitor Center, 9:30AM
Sun, March 8
Family Art Project: Homage to Spring Light
Join artist Samanta Batra Mehta as we create "drawing sculptures" with mylar, gold leaf and upcycled materials, to capture the light of early spring. Taking inspiration from Wave Hill’s gardens, we will make botanical drawings and enhance them with gold leaf and gilding. Transform your drawings into a homage to the coming Spring equinox through adding sculptural details and placing your work in the home of an upcycled glass jar. Free with admission to the grounds.
Wave Hill House, 10AM–1PM
Sun, March 8
Family Nature Walk
Join naturalist and educator Gabriel Willow on a family-friendly walk through the gardens or woodlands. Ages five and older welcome with an adult. Severe weather cancels. Free with admission to the grounds.
Meet in front of Wave Hill House, 1PM
Sun, March 8
Winter Workspace Drop-In Sunday
Artists in the Winter Workspace program share their studio practice with visitors on this Drop-In Sunday. This Sunday, participating artists are Samanta Batra Mehta, Sal Muñoz and Tiffany Jaeyeon Shin. Free with admission to the grounds.
Glyndor Gallery, 1–3PM
Sun, March 8
Garden and Conservatory Highlights Walk
Garden highlights walks offer an intimate look at our living collections. Wave Hill Garden Guides help you explore the grounds and make sure that you do not miss any seasonal floral wonders. Free with admission to the grounds.
Meet at Perkins Visitor Center, 2–3PM
Mon, March 9
Wave Hill is closed.
A 28-acre public garden and cultural center overlooking the Hudson River and Palisades, Wave Hill’s mission is to celebrate the artistry and legacy of its gardens and landscape, to preserve its magnificent views, and to explore human connections to the natural world through programs in horticulture, education and the arts.
HOURS – Open all year, Tuesday through Sunday and many major holidays: 9AM–4:30PM, November 1–March 14. Closes 5:30PM, starting March 15.
ADMISSION – $10 adults, $6 students and seniors 65+, $4 children 6–18. Free Saturday and Tuesday mornings until noon. Free to Wave Hill Members and children under 6.
PROGRAM FEES – Programs are free with admission to the grounds unless otherwise noted.
Visitors to Wave Hill can take advantage of Metro-North’s one-day getaway offer. Purchase a discount round-trip rail far and discount admission to the gardens. More at http://mta.info/mnr/html/
DIRECTIONS – Getting here is easy! Located only 30 minutes from midtown Manhattan, Wave Hill’s free shuttle van transports you to and from our front gate and Metro-North’s Riverdale station, as well as the W. 242nd Street stop on the #1 subway line. Free offsite parking is available nearby with continuous, complimentary shuttle service to and from the offsite lot and our front gate. Complete directions and shuttle bus schedule at www.wavehill.org/visit/.
AMID NATIONWIDE INCREASES, MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES RECORD-BREAKING 41 PERCENT DECREASE IN EVICTIONS CITYWIDE
Residential evictions decreased 15 percent from previous year, representing largest single-year decrease in evictions since Mayor signed first-in-nation right to counsel law
Mayor de Blasio today announced that residential evictions by marshals declined more than 40 percent since 2013. In 2019 alone, evictions decreased 15 percent—the largest single-year decrease since Mayor de Blasio signed the first-in-the-nation “tenant’s right to counsel” law and launched the City’s Universal Access to Counsel program. Since 2013, through the City’s comprehensive efforts, more than 100,000 New Yorkers who might otherwise have faced evictions have been able to stay in their homes, with residential evictions steadily trending downwards in every borough.
“If we’re going to save our city, we must do everything we can to help people stay in the homes they love,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “With evictions down over 40 percent citywide, the unprecedented investments we've made in tenant legal services have helped 100,000 people stay in their homes and off the street."
Over the course of the de Blasio Administration, over 350,000 New Yorkers have received assistance in eviction and other housing-related matters through tenant legal services programs, including the right to counsel program, the nation’s first and largest initiative that will ensure that every tenant facing eviction in Housing Court has access to free legal services. Of the tenants receiving City counsel in cases where they are facing eviction, over 84 percent have been able to keep their apartments.
Since 2014, the City has dedicated unprecedented funding for legal assistance for tenants facing eviction and harassment, increasing overall investment from $6 million in Fiscal Year 2013 to over $128 million in Fiscal Year 2020.
Through the Universal Access initiative, 400,000 New Yorkers facing eviction are expected to receive legal assistance annually at full ramp up in 2022, with annual funding for legal services for tenants increasing to $166 million. In 2019 alone, 41,000 households representing 105,000 New Yorkers received legal representation and advice, including over 32,000 households representing 83,000 New Yorkers facing eviction in Housing Court. This reflects a 24 percent increase in households served compared to the prior year and a 74 percent increase compared to 2017, before the formal launch of right to counsel. In 2013, only 6,500 households representing 23,000 individuals had City-funded legal services.
The first phase of Universal Access included increasing access to free legal representation in Housing Court to low-income New Yorkers in fifteen ZIP codes across New York City that were identified as having high levels of eviction filings, shelter entry, and rent-regulated housing. During the second phase, five additional targeted ZIP codes were added, one in each borough, for a total of 20 ZIP codes across the city, and in its third phase Universal Access grew to include five more ZIP codes, with additional expansion expected next year.
Protecting tenants is a core part of this Administration’s strategy for confronting the affordable housing crisis. Unlike in New York City where investments in legal services are helping reduce evictions, evictions are up nationwide. As a result, cities across the country are taking notice and looking at this Administration’s programs and successes as models, implementing their own versions of this program to provide similar protections to their residents:
- Cities with established right to counsel laws, programs, and/or initiatives:
- Washington D.C., May 2017
- San Francisco, June 2018
- Minneapolis, November 2018
- Newark, December 2018
- San Antonio, April 2019
- Philadelphia, November 2019
- Localities where right to counsel is being considered and/or pursued:
- Cleveland
- Boston/Massachusetts
- Connecticut
- Seattle
- Los Angeles
- Detroit
- Santa Monica
In 2020, the City will also launch a citywide campaign to further spread the word about available resources and continue encouraging New Yorkers experiencing housing instability to reach out. If you or someone you know is facing eviction, our City is here to help. Don’t hesitate—call for assistance today at (718) 557-1379 or visit the HRA Office of Civil Justice website at www.nyc.gov/civiljustice
“A key part of our work to end homelessness is making sure New Yorkers stay in their homes in the first place,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Dr. Raul Perea-Henze. “With this drop in evictions, the de Blasio Administration is closing the justice gap for hundreds of thousands of tenants empowered by access to legal services. The Universal Access to Counsel program builds the foundation for healthier communities in New York City and shows the way for other cities grappling with the homelessness crisis.”
“We are laser-focused on keeping New Yorkers stably housed,” said Jackie Bray, Director of the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants. “In 2013, 1 in 100 tenants had legal representation; today that stands at 1 in 3. We’re making real progress and that means fewer New Yorkers who have to fear eviction.”
“The progress we have achieved driving down evictions, with more than 40 percent fewer evictions in 2019 than in 2013, represents the type of systemic change that we have been focused on since the Administration began and highlights why so many of us came into government: to have a real, tangible impact improving people’s lives and leveling the playing field for all,” said Department of Social Services Commissioner Steven Banks. “When we started, only 1 in 100 tenants facing eviction in housing court had a lawyer or access to legal services. Too often, when I was a Legal Aid lawyer, my clients had to navigate a complex process stacked against them. Our City’s right to counsel initiative has turned the tables for regular New Yorkers, with 1 in 3 tenants now receiving City-funded legal services in eviction cases. These investments to protect tenants are not only keeping New Yorkers in their homes, they are preserving stability and affordable housing across the five boroughs.”
“Thanks to our City’s first-in-the-nation Universal Access to Counsel initiative, New York is leveling the playing field and leading the way in ensuring that tenants have the day in court that they deserve” said HRA Administrator Grace Bonilla. “Not only are evictions down, having access to an attorney provides more New Yorkers with housing stability and the opportunity for families and individuals to focus on building their future in their city. We intend to take this progress even further by bringing this vital resource to even more New Yorkers, as we work towards this Administration’s mission of making New York City fairer and more equitable for all.”
“Every day in housing court, our City is committed to making sure tenants have access to free legal help, leveling the playing field like never before,” said Civil Justice Coordinator Jordan M. Dressler. “The Office of Civil Justice is proud of the progress we have made in implementing this historic initiative and we are grateful to our legal provider partners for their unflagging commitment to making justice available for all New Yorkers.”
AOC named #16 in City and State's 2020 New York City Power 100
16. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Congresswoman
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez represents the Bronx and Queens, but ever since her remarkable election in 2018, she has become a spokesperson and a symbol for the rising progressive left nationwide. She has adjusted to Washington, D.C., jettisoning controversial staffers and acknowleding that policy goals like Medicare for All may be unlikely. Her youthful charisma, in-the-weeds wonkishness and political adaptability have spurred speculation that she could one day run for New York City mayor.
Saturday, February 22, 2020
AOC’s “Courage To Change” PAC endorses Samelys López in crowded NY-15 congressional race
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s new political action committee makes first Northeast endorsement for Samelys López, in an open seat in the South Bronx. As a rebuff to the DCCC who last year blacklisted organizations that provide support for insurgent campaigns, Courage to Change PAC has chosen Samelys Lopez, a Dominican and Puerto Rican housing justice advocate, to represent the South Bronx.
“Growing up homeless in the shelter system, while facing housing insecurity like many of our neighbors in the Bronx, I have made it my mission to center those in my community who have been directly impacted by homelessness, food scarcity, and poverty,” said Samelys López. “It is personal experiences like these that have given me the courage to fight for transformative justice. I am honored to be the first candidate in the northeast to earn this endorsement. It truly takes political courage and a movement to change our politics.”
“When community leaders, activists, and working-class candidates try to run for office, organizations like the D.C.C.C. discourage them,” said Representative Ocasio-Cortez said in an interview with the New York Times. “One of our primary goals is to reward political courage in Congress and also to help elect a progressive majority in the House of Representatives,”
This endorsement signals that the movement, which brought people like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to power, is getting behind the true progressive candidate in this crowded race, full of current and former elected officials.
“The powers that be want you to believe that the fight for, social, economic, racial, immigrant, criminal, and environmental justice is an impossible dream,” Lopez said. “Let me be clear, we are fighting for our basic human rights.”
The primary will be held on Tuesday, June 23rd, 2020 in The Bronx. Samelys is excited to head into the petitioning phase of the election after spending the last 5 months in every community in the district. She has been invigorated by speaking to people about a Homes Guarantee, Medicare For All, Universal Childcare and a Green New Deal in NYCHA. López is also hosting a Homes Guarantee town hall on Saturday the 22nd at 2195 Valentine Ave, St. Simon Stock Gym from 2:00 - 4:00pm.
EDITOR'S NOTE:
There are thirteen active candidate Federal Election Commission accounts (fourteen if you include State Senator Gustavo Rivera who still has an open FEC account) for the 15th Congressional race Democratic Primary June 23, 2020. Three candidates are currently City Council members with Councilman Ruben Diaz Sr's District almost entirely in the 15th Congressional District. Councilman Ritchie Torres has a small part, and Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez is from Upper Manhattan, and has no part of the 15th Congressional District. Assemblyman Michael Blake represents the 79th Assembly District in which a majority of the smaller assembly district lies in the 15th Congressional District. Former Councilwoman Melissa Mark-Viverito represented a council district that was a majority Manhattan council district partly in the western part of the 15th Congressional District.
Over three quarters of a million dollars has already been spent by the four current and one former elected officials.
The favorite in this race is Councilman Ruben Diaz Sr. who previously was the State Senator from the 32nd State Senate District which almost entirely lies within the 15th Congressional. Councilman Ruben Diaz Sr. has tapped 87th Assembly District Male District Leader Sergeant John Perez to run against the embattled current state senator from the 32nd district.
More on all the races including the 14th Congressional District where Congresswoman Alexandria Ocassio-Cortez has five people who have registered with the FEC. It may not be a cakewalk for AOC who has spent close to three million dollars herself as of the last listed reporting.