Bronx CB 11 Chair Al D'Angelo Sends Alternate Site(s) to Mayor and DHS for Proposed Stillwell Avenue Adult Men's Shelter

 

The proposed 1682 Stillwell Avenue site.

On March 11th there was a proposal to Community Board 11 for a second two-hundred adult men's homeless shelter. This one is located at 1682 Stillwell Avenue to a height of six stories. The site is a closed former auto repair shop right next to a residential neighborhood, and one block from a highly successful charter school. Opposition quickly grew to the second adult men's homeless shelter which would burden Community Board 11 with four hundred homeless adult men, more than half of the seven hundred total homeless population the board was told it is responsible for. The Department of Homeless Services had a formula where no more than twenty-five percent of the total homeless population in a community board could be adult single men. 

When the first adult Men's homeless shelter (at 1400 Blondell Avenue) was proposed the community asked that it be a family shelter instead of an adult single men's homeless shelter, and now they are being given a second adult men's shelter. Mayor de Blasio answered a question of why the need for more single adult men's shelters by saying last year, with the new No Cash Bail law people are no longer being kept in jails when they could not pay bail, and the city now has more single adult homeless men.   

In a letter to Mayor Bill de Blasio and Department of Homeless Services Commissioner Steve Banks, Dated Jan. 22, 2021 Bronx Community Board 11 Chair Al D'Angelo is proposing an alternate site to the proposal of a homeless shelter at 1682 Stillwell Avenue. Chair D'Angelo has come up with 1956 Birchall Avenue where a two-story building with cellar space would be constructed with the owner of the properties approval, in an M1 zoned lot that would not need any zoning change. It is stated that the Birchall Avenue site is at the foot of an elevated subway station, not near any schools, or one family homes. It is further stated that this site would be less expensive and wind up saving the city close to one million dollars a year over the Stillwell Avenue proposed site. There are other alternate sites also listed. This letter has also been sent to local city, state, and federal elected officials, the Governor, NY State Attorney General, all citywide elected officials, DHS, DSS, and the Lantern Community Services (the provider).

In a second letter of Intent it is stated that the owner of the Birchall Avenue site in CB 11 has a total of 23,013 square feet, and can be estimated to be 35,000 square feet with a cellar. Included is that the homeless shelter would meet all compliance with Part 494 of the OTDA regulations and that the owner of this alternate site would work with the provider the Lantern Corporation or any other non-profit provider the city chooses. The letter of intent is signed by CB 11 Chair Al D'Angelo and the owner of the Birchall Avenue alternate site. 

342 Days and Counting

 

This photo is from January 2020. Today it would say 

'NOT THE SAFEST BIG CITY'.

342 days left of Mayor de Blasio.

Rally for Closing Riverdale Coffee Shop

 

Buunni Coffee located at 3702 Riverdale Avenue which has been open for over three years will be closing its doors at the end of January because it can not continue to operate at a loss as it has been since COVID-19 hit the city last year. While there is still six years to go on the lease co-founder Sarina Prabasi said that her landlord would rather have an empty store than let her continue at a fairer rent that would allow her business to survive.

There was a rally Saturday afternoon in front of the coffee shop where State Senator Alessandria Biaggi was joined by City Councilman Brad Lander to push the Commercial Vacancy Tax Bill in the State Senate, the City and State Recovery Lease Program, the City Councils Small Business Jobs Survival Act and Commercial Rent Stabilization Bill. Three of the candidates Mina Lori, Jessica Haller, and Dan Padernacht in the March special election to replace the former Councilman, now Supreme Court Judge Andrew Cohen were in attendance. 

Above - State Senator Alessandria Biaggi tells of how Buunni Coffee was the only store on the block to welcome her when she was running for the State Senate in 2018.

Below - Councilman Brad Lander met candidate Biaggi at Buunni coffee, and talked about what needs to be done to save businesses like Buunni Coffee from going under.

Above - Buunni Coffee owner Sarina Prabasi (r) explains why she has to close due to the loss of business during the Pandemic, and 11th City Council candidate Mino Lori said 'Those in power need to act now to save other small businesses'. 

Below - The crowd of people who came to the rally in freezing weather.

343 Days and Counting

 

343 days left for Lame Duck de Blasio.

DiNapoli: Tax Revenues Through December Were $2.5 Billion Lower Than Last Year

 

State tax receipts through the first nine months of the state fiscal year were $2.5 billion lower than last year, but were $1.8 billion higher than anticipated by the state Division of the Budget (DOB), according to the monthly State Cash Report released by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

Tax receipts in the month of December totaled $8.4 billion, $422.5 million above last year, and $1.4 billion above DOB’s latest projections.

“December’s tax receipts were better than expected, but the revenue challenge is still with us,” DiNapoli said. “President-elect Biden’s proposed stimulus plan, with new aid to help states and localities fill gaps created by the COVID-19 pandemic, is another hopeful sign. We still have a long way to go, and it’s essential that leaders in Washington act on a robust plan of assistance as quickly as possible.”

Personal income tax receipts in December were $544.8 million, or 12.7 percent, above December 2019, due in part to an additional day of withholding in 2020. Sales tax receipts continued to fall short of the previous year in December, down $86.6 million, or 5.5 percent, from 2019. 

State Operating Funds spending through the first nine months of the fiscal year totaled $63.9 billion, which was $7.8 billion, or 10.8 percent, lower than last year. This is largely due to higher federal reimbursement for Medicaid spending, as well as the withholding of certain payments.

As of December 31, the General Fund held a balance of $16.6 billion, $2 billion higher than DOB projections, and $8.4 billion higher than last year at the same time. The higher balance is driven partly by withheld payments as well as receipts from short-term borrowing that DOB anticipates repaying before the end of the fiscal year. The state has repaid $1 billion of that borrowing, with the remaining $3.4 billion due by March 31.

December Cash Report

Governor Cuomo Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress During COVID-19 Pandemic - JANUARY 22, 2021

 

Additional Cases of UK Variant in Westchester and Kings Counties, Brings Total Cases to 25 

8,846 Patient Hospitalizations Statewide

1,546 Patients in the ICU; 992 Intubated

Statewide Positivity Rate is 5.65%

165 COVID-19 Deaths in New York State Yesterday

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Three additional cases of the UK variant were identified in Westchester and Kings Counties. To date, there are 25 known cases of the variant in New York State

"We are in a war with COVID and as I've said time and again, winning this war will mean winning the footrace between how fast the infection rate goes up and how fast we can vaccinate New Yorkers," Governor Cuomo said. "Positivity and hospitalizations are both down, which is good news, but it in no way means we're out of the woods. What's concerning now is the emergence of three new frightening strains of the virus which could send those numbers back in the other direction. As we have done throughout this crisis, we will continue to monitor these strains closely, follow the science, and continue our work to vaccinate New Yorkers as quickly and fairly as possible."

• Test Results Reported - 268,001
• Total Positive - 15,144
• Percent Positive - 5.65% 
• Patient Hospitalization - 8,846 (-209)
• Patients Newly Admitted - 1,045
• Hospital Counties - 57
• Number ICU - 1,546 (-14)
• Number ICU with Intubation - 992 (-19) 
• Total Discharges - 119,953 (+1,064)
• Deaths - 165
• Total Deaths - 33,763

Councilman Rafael Salamanca Exits Borough President Race to Stay in City Council

 

The following statement was given by Councilman Rafael Salamanca on his decision not to run for Bronx Borough President, and run for re-election to his City Council seat.

That leaves City Council members Vanessa Gibson, and Fernando Cabrera, Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez, State Senator Luis Sepulveda, Former Police Officer Sammy Ravelo, and Businessman Victor Gutierrez currently as Bronx Borough President candidates for the June Primary. Petitioning begins the last week of February.

News from Councilman Mark Gjonaj

 

NYC COVID-19 Vaccine Hub Appointments Rescheduled

According to the NYC Department of Health, due to a vaccine shortage, all first dose appointments made for Thursday, Jan. 21 through Sunday, Jan. 24 at their COVID-19 Vaccine Hubs will be rescheduled to the same time next week as the City deals with vaccine shortages. Learn more: https://on.nyc.gov/3p6UZpC

COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility & Bronx Locations

The COVID-19 vaccine is available to certain groups in NYC. The following groups have recently become eligible:    People ages 65 and older    Teachers and education workers    First responders    Public safety workers    Public transit workers For more information, to make an appointment and for more eligibility requirements, Click Here.