Northwest Bronx Democrats Support Gene De Francis for 80th Assembly District in the November General Election

 Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez announced her decision to run for Bronx Borough President in September two months before the general election in November. Was she taking the 2020 November election for granted having handily defeating her opponent in the November 2018 election? In the Bronx it is the Democratic Primary which is the real race you have to win to be elected, that could be up to now. 

The decision by Assemblywoman Fernandez made some people unhappy because there was still a challenger to her in the November election, one who was a community leader, and a former opponent in the special election for the 80th A.D., Mr. Gene De Francis. The 2020 November election also has a strong challenger to Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Mr. John Cummings who is aligned with Gene De Francis, and will benefit him in the East Side of the district which accounts for about eighty percent of the vote. The twenty percent on the West Side of the 80th A.D. (split by the Bronx River Parkway) now becomes important in the 2020 general election. 

I was able to get the exclusive story of a meeting between Mr. Anthony Rivieccio head of the West Side Northwest Bronx Democrats and candidate Gene De Francis. There were concern that while campaigning for borough president the 80th A.D. would suffer from a lack of coverage by its elected official, what might happen to the district should Ms. Fernandez become the new borough president, and many of the problems that currently exist in the 80th A.D. I was told that this was not the first conversation between the two, but that it was the culmination of discussions between them for the support of the Gene De Francis candidacy for the 80th A.D. Mr. Rivieccio went on to say that he wishes Nathalia Fernandez all the best in her race for Bronx Borough President. He added that this decision is in no way connected to the exploratory committee that has been set up by the club to look at candidates for the 2022 races for assembly and party positions in the 80th A.D.  

80th A.D candidate Gene De Francis with a thumbs up to the announcement by Anthony Rivieccio that the Northwest Bronx Democrats are supporting him for Assembly in the November general election. The photo was taken at the corner of Bedford Park Blvd. and Webster Avenue across from the Bronx Botanical Garden garage.

12th Council Special Election Calendar

Below is the Political Calendar for the Special Election to take place on Tuesday December 22, 2020, which will be voted on at the Tuesday October 13, 2020 Commissioners of Elections in the City of New York meeting.  

How could the process begin five days before it is adopted by the Commissioners of Elections in the City of New York?

BOARD OF ELECTIONS IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK

ADOPTED FILING CALENDAR FOR INDEPENDENT NOMINATING PETITIONS

FOR DECEMBER 22, 2020 SPECIAL ELECTION FOR

MEMBER OF THE CITY COUNCIL – 12TH CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT

Date of Proclamation & First Day to circulate & file petitions..   October 8, 2020

Last day to file petitions................... 9 a.m. – Midnight..... October 20, 2020

 

FOR PETITIONS FILED ON:            General Objections 

                                                            Must Be Received By:*

Thursday, October 8, 2020................... Tuesday, October 13, 2020

Friday, October 9, 2020 .......................Tuesday, October 13, 2020

Tuesday, October 13 2020.......................Friday, October 16, 2020

Wednesday, October 14, 2020...............Monday, October 19, 2020

Thursday, October 15, 2020..................Monday, October 19, 2020

Friday, October 16, 2020......................Monday, October 19, 2020

Monday, October 19 2020...................Thursday, October 22, 2020

Tuesday, October, 20 2020......................Friday, October 23, 2020

 

GENERAL OBJECTIONS FILED ON:     Specifications Must 

                                                                    be Received By:*

Tuesday, October 13, 2020...................Monday, October 19, 2020

Friday, October 16, 2020……………  Thursday, October 22, 2020

Monday, October 19, 2020…………… Monday, October 26, 2020

Thursday, October 22, 2020……….Wednesday, October 28, 2020

Friday, October 23, 2020…………… Thursday, October 29, 2020

Last day to file Cert of Acceptance. or Declination of Nomination……………                         Friday, October 23, 2020

Last day to fill vacancy caused by. Declination of Nomination………………         .         Tuesday, October 27, 2020

 

Last day to institute court proceedings with regard to independent nominating petitions is October 27, 2020 or three (3) business days after hearing where petition is invalidated.

 

Last day to submit proof of service of Specifications is the day after specifications are filed.

 

Board of Elections hearings on Independent Nominating Petitions at Executive Office,

42 Broadway, 6th Floor Hearing Room – TO BE DETERMINED

*Board of Elections is open for filing from 9 AM to 5 PM. The Board of Elections will remain open until Midnight only if a specified filing date for objection(s)/ specification(s)/certificate(s) is the last day to file said objection(s)/ specification(s)/certificate(s).

 

For information, call the Board of Elections at 212-487-5300.This calendar has been constructed in conformity with New York City Charter 25 and all relevant Election Law provisions.

 

To be adopted by the Commissioners of Elections in the City of New York – Tuesday, October 13, 2020

Governor Cuomo Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress During COVID-19 Pandemic - OCTOBER 11, 2020

 

Full New York State Positivity Rate Drops Below 1 Percent for the First Time Since September 24 to .96 Percent 

New York State Has Conducted 12 Million COVID-19 Tests 

"Red Zone" Focus Area Positivity is 5.74 Percent Yesterday; 6.13 Percent Positivity for Past Week 

New York State Positivity Without Red Zone Focus Areas Included is 0.84 Percent 

5 COVID-19 Deaths in New York State Yesterday 

SLA and State Police Task Force Visits 777 Establishments; Observes 5 Establishments Not in Compliance 

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. New York State has conducted 12 million COVID-19 tests. In "Red Zone" focus areas included as part of the Governor's Cluster Action Initiative, the positivity rate for test results reported yesterday is 5.74 percent and 6.13 percent for the past week. These "Red Zone" focus areas are home to 2.8 percent of state's population, yet have had 17.6 percent of all positive cases reported this week to New York State. 

New York State's positivity rate without the Red Zone focus areas included was 0.84 percent for yesterday's test results. The state's overall positivity rate - with Red Zone focus areas included - dropped to 0.96 percent yesterday, under 1 percent for the first time since September 24.  

"We're dealing with a very specific situation, which is the clusters. Overall the state is doing very well. We have a sophisticated testing mechanism where we take, now, more tests per day than most states take per week. That allows us to do a very granular analysis. Most states don't have that capacity or don't have that desire," Governor Cuomo said. "Because we test as much as we do, and because we have such an ability to target, we then see clusters and we can track cases in very small clusters. We're now tracking a cluster in about 2 or 3 percent of the population. No other state has this discussion because no other state has the ability to target that way. We do, and that's a good thing because when you can target a specific cluster, it means you can attack a specific cluster. Attacking a cluster is much easier than trying to attack a statewide increasing rate."

Within the "Red Zone" focus areas, 2,961 test results were reported yesterday, yielding 170 positives or a 5.74 percent positivity rate. In the remainder of the state, not counting these "Red Zone" focus areas, 115,293 test results were reported, yielding 973 positives or a 0.84 percent positivity rate.

The "Red Zone" focus areas are home to 2.8 percent of the state population yet had 14.9 percent of all positive test results reported to the state yesterday, and 17.6 percent of all positive case results reported to the state this week. 

Yesterday, the State Liquor Authority and State Police Task Force visited 777 establishments in New York City and Long Island and observed 5 establishments that were not in compliance with state requirements. A county breakdown of yesterday's observed violations is below:

• Manhattan - 2
• Nassau - 3

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

• Patient Hospitalization - 820 (-6)
• Patients Newly Admitted - 111
• Hospital Counties - 39
• Number ICU - 186 (+7)
• Number ICU with Intubation -- 84 (+3)
• Total Discharges - 77,631 (+117)
• Deaths - 5
• Total Deaths - 25,574

Former Long Island Liquor Distributor Sentenced to 24 Months in Prison for Defrauding Investors in Wine Product Featured on “Shark Tank” TV Show

 

Defendant Stole More Than $500,000 from Investors to Fund His Securities Trading Account and Satisfy Mortgage on a Florida Home

 Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, Joseph Falcone, who formerly operated a wine and liquor distribution business known as 3G’S VINO LLC, was sentenced by United States District Judge Sandra J. Feuerstein to 24 months’ imprisonment for wire fraud in connection with his scheme to defraud investors.  As part of the sentence, Falcone was ordered to pay $1.8 million in restitution to seven of 3G’S investors.  Falcone pleaded guilty in June 2019.

Seth D. DuCharme, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced the sentencing. 

“Falcone’s victims were reeled in by his “Shark Tank” pitch, but with today’s sentence, the defendant is now squarely on the hook for his crimes,” stated Acting United States Attorney DuCharme.  “This Office remains committed to prosecuting those who mislead the public and abuse the trust placed in them to engage in fraud against their own investors.”  Mr. DuCharme thanked the Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office, for its outstanding investigative work on the case.

In December 2012, Falcone established 3G’S, which was based in Bethpage and Farmingdale, New York.  Among other products, 3G’S distributed a single-serving wine in a sealed glass, which was featured on the television program “Shark Tank.”  Between September 2014 and November 2015, Falcone solicited investments and promised potential investors that their money would be used to fund 3G’S by purchasing the single-serving wine product.  Relying on those promises, investors wired money to bank accounts in Florida controlled by Falcone.  Rather than invest the money as promised, Falcone used approximately $527,064 for his personal benefit – paying off the mortgage on a residence in Florida and funding his online securities trading. 

Brooklyn Man Charged with Covid-19 Related Fraud

 

Defendant Falsely Claimed that He Owned a Car Wash and Stole Emergency Relief Funds Earmarked for Small Businesses Suffering Economic Effects of the Pandemic

 A criminal complaint has been filed in federal court in Brooklyn charging Jeremy Trapp with wire fraud in connection with the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program.  Trapp is in federal custody on other charges, and made his initial appearance on the new charge yesterday before United States Magistrate Judge Vera M. Scanlon.  The defendant remains detained pending trial.

Seth D. DuCharme, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and William F. Sweeney, Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the charge.

“As alleged, Trapp filed an application containing outright lies in order to steal government funds intended to help small businesses and their employees survive the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic,” stated Acting United States Attorney DuCharme.  “The Department of Justice will ensure that taxpayer and pandemic relief funds are not misappropriated, but are used for their intended purpose and deserving recipients.”

"While small business owners around the country were scrambling to make ends meet and find ways to compensate their employees during the COVID-19 pandemic, Trapp blatantly lied on an application for economic stimulus, as alleged today,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Sweeney. “Without a legitimate business to claim or any employees to pay, he wasn’t at all eligible for the funding he eventually received. Stealing federal aid reserved for those suffering from the pandemic's economic fallout is an easy way to rack up criminal charges. As a result, the one thing Trapp is now eligible for is the chance of spending a significant amount of time behind bars.”

The Economic Injury Disaster Loan program (EIDL) provides qualifying small businesses with low-interest loans.  The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act expanded EIDL to provide economic support to help offset the temporary loss of revenue experienced by businesses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  As alleged in the complaint and other court documents, Trapp applied for an EIDL loan and grant in June 2020.  In the application, Trapp claimed that he was the sole proprietor of a car wash business located at his home address in Brooklyn, a multi-unit residential building.  Trapp further represented that he employed ten individuals and that his gross revenue for the 12 months prior to the COVID-19 pandemic was $150,000.  Based on Trapp’s false representations, the Small Business Administration approved a $42,500 loan and $10,000 grant to Trapp, and these funds were deposited into Trapp’s bank account.  On July 13, 2020, Trapp withdrew approximately $9,000 in cash from the bank account. 

The government’s investigation revealed that Trapp did not operate a commercial car wash business, did not employ anyone and had no gross revenue from the purported business. 

The charge in the complaint is an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.  If convicted, Trapp faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment on the fraud charge.

Attorney General’s Special Investigations and Prosecutions Unit Opens Investigation Into Death of Sofia Gomez

 

 The New York Attorney General’s Special Investigations and Prosecutions Unit has opened an investigation into the death of Sofia Gomez, who died on October 8, 2020, following an encounter with law enforcement in Bronx County on October 5, 2020, pursuant to the Attorney General’s authority under Executive Order No. 147.

Executive Order No. 147 confers upon the Attorney General exclusive authority to investigate and, if warranted, prosecute cases in which a law enforcement officer causes the death of an unarmed civilian, as well as cases in which the Attorney General has determined that there is a significant question as to whether the civilian was armed and dangerous at the time his or her death was caused.

Brian Melford Announces his Candidacy for the 12 Council District Special Election

 

More than 100 people came to The Gun Hill Houses to hear the announcement that Brian Melford was running for the 12th City Council seat in the upcoming Special Election to replace Councilman Andy King who was expelled from the City Council Monday October 5, 2020. 

Uptown Community Party is the name candidate Brian Melford has chosen for his petition to run for the 12th City Council Special Election to be held on December 22, 2020. Candidate Melford explained that the 12th City Council District is Uptown, and that the Community will elect him in the Special Election. Brian said that he has almost seven years of experience in City Council matters, and several years as the Budget Director for Councilman King. No other candidate has the experience that he has with the City Council he added.

There are only twelve days to collect signatures, and as of Sunday October 11, 2020 four days into petitioning there was nothing on the Board of Elections website about the 12th City Council Special Election. The only mention was during the October 6, 2020 BOE commissioners meeting where it was mentioned that the mayor had three days to call a special election that would occur right before the Christmas holiday, and would not involve Rank Choice Voting. 

Above - 12th City Council candidate Brian Melford announcing his candidacy for the December Special Election.

Below - Brian Melford with supporters Ms. Laura Capos from the Lion King, and her mother Diana.

Brian Melford with  supporters Ana Rivera and her son Johnathan. 

Bronx Community Board 8 = FY 2022 Capital & Expense Budget Requests - Public Hearing on Tuesday, 10/13 @ 6:30pm

 

NOTICE OF FULL BOARD MEETING 

& PUBLIC HEARING  

Bronx Community Board 8  

 

*PUBLIC HEARING: Capital & Expense Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2022, Tuesday, October 13^th, 2020 from 6:30PM to 7:00 PM via Zoom. 

 

The regular Full Board Meeting of Bronx Community Board 8 will follow the Public Hearing at 7:00 PM. 

 

Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82537437613 

 

Phone: +16465588656       Pin: 82537437613# 

 

 

AGENDA 

 

1. 1  Public Gallery Session 
2. 2 Report from the Bronx Borough President’s Office  
3. 3 Report from the 50^th Police Precinct 
4. 4  Chairperson’s Report 
5. 5  Treasurer’s Report 
6. 6  District Manager’s Report 
7. 7  Report from the Department of City Planning 
8. 8  Committee Reports: 
                                                                             
   
   a. Parks & Recreation
   b. Public Safety 
   c. Traffic & Transportation 
   d. Youth 
   e. Aging 
   f. Budget 
   g. Economic Development 
   h. Education, Libraries & Cultural Affairs 
   i. Environment & Sanitation 
   j. Health, Hospitals & Social Services 
   k. Housing 
   l. Land Use 
   m. Law, Rules & Ethics 
   n. Special Committee on Racial Equity 
   
    
9. 9 Discussion of Executive Committee Meeting Minutes of October 7, 2020 
10. 10 Approval of Board Meeting Minutes of September 8, 2020 
11. 11 Miscellaneous Business 

Bronx Community Board No. 8

5676 Riverdale Avenue, Suite 100

Bronx, NY 10471-2194

Tel: 718-884-3959  Fax: 718-796-2763

Email: bx08@cb.nyc.gov

Visit us on the web: www.nyc.gov/bronxcb8

 

Serving the neighborhoods of Fieldston, Kingsbridge, Kingsbridge Heights, Marble Hill, Riverdale, Spuyten Duyvil, and Van Cortlandt Village

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