Wednesday, March 24, 2021

MAYOR DE BLASIO, COMPTROLLER STRINGER, AND TRUSTEES ANNOUNCE PENSION FUNDS MORE THAN DOUBLE CLIMATE CHANGE SOLUTIONS INVESTMENTS TO OVER $6 BILLION

 

Surpasses goal set in September 2018 to increase investments to $4 billion in three years 

 

Builds on $4 billion fossil fuel divestment – one of the largest in the world 


 Mayor Bill de Blasio, Comptroller Scott M. Stringer, and other trustees of the City’s pension funds today announced the Funds will more than double investments in climate change solutions to over $6 billion. This surpasses the goal set in September 2018 to double the then-$2 billion investment across all asset classes to reach $4 billion of investment in companies that generate revenue from climate mitigation, adaption and resiliency such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, sustainable waste management, green buildings, and pollution prevention. It also includes companies that are measurably helping to facilitate the transition to a low-carbon economy consistent with goals established by the Paris Climate Accord. This achievement builds on three of the pension funds’ $4 billion divestment from securities related to fossil fuel companies – expected to be one of the largest in the world. 

 

"The climate crisis must be met head-on and from all fronts. This multi-billion investment in green tech and divestment from fossil fuels is a winning combination for our planet, our city and our pensioners,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “Our pension trustees are meeting the moment by doubling investments and securing a greener future for New York City.” 

 

“We need to meet the climate crisis with everything we’ve got, and that’s why New York City is leading the way forward with investments in sustainable solutions for our planet, our children, and our retirees,” said New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer. “New York City is standing up for our people, our pension beneficiaries, and the only Earth we have because the future is on the side of big ideas in clean energy — not big polluters. Investing in climate change solutions is in the fiduciary interest of our beneficiaries and together we’re leading the charge to build a cleaner and greener future for all.” 

 

The Mayor, Comptroller, and trustees set a goal to double investments in climate change solutions such as wind, solar power, energy efficient technologies, and more from approximately $2 billion or 1% of assets at the time to approximately $4 billion or 2% of assets by the end of 2021. With a vote on Friday, March 19, the pension funds approved allocations to climate change solutions public equity investments, identified by the Comptroller’s Office Bureau of Asset Management,  that bring the aggregate investments, including new commitments, to over $6 billion across the portfolio of all five pension funds.  

 

Governor Cuomo Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress During Covid-19 Pandemic

 

4,641 Patient Hospitalizations Statewide

918 Patients in the ICU; 596 Intubated

Statewide Positivity Rate is 3.51%

71 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.

"We are making good progress getting vaccines into arms and keeping our COVID numbers in check, but this war is not over and the new variants demand continued vigilance by all of us," Governor Cuomo said. "We're working 24/7 to vaccinate more New Yorkers every single day and we have established the capacity to do even more. We will get through this pandemic safely and make it to the light at the end of the tunnel as long as everyone continues being smart."

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

  • Test Results Reported - 207,496
  • Total Positive - 7,278
  • Percent Positive - 3.51%
  • 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 3.34%
  • Patient Hospitalization - 4,641 (-40)
  • Patients Newly Admitted - 614
  • Hospital Counties - 50
  • Number ICU - 918 (-7)
  • Number ICU with Intubation - 596 (+0)
  • Total Discharges - 158,173 (+538)
  • Deaths - 71
  • Total Deaths - 40,096

How the Two Special Elections Went

 

Logo
BOARD OF ELECTIONS IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK
2021 SPECIAL ELECTION
UNOFFICIAL ELECTION NIGHT RESULTS
 
Member of the City Council 11th Council District
(Unofficial Results from Round 1+)
 
 NamePartyVotesPercentage 
1 Eric Dinowitz Your Bronx Voice  2940 42.04 %
 
2 Jessica Haller New Leadership  1049 15.00 %
 
3 Mino Lora Justice for All  1776 25.39 %
 
4 Carlton Berkley The People's   135 1.93 %
 
5 Kevin Pazmino Patriot   172 2.46 %
 
6 Daniel Padernacht Community First  899 12.85 %
 
7 WRITE-IN   23 0.33 %
 
 6994
 
 
Percentage of Scanners Reported: 
 
Information As Of: 2021-03-24 00:11:10 EST

This is not counting the absentee ballots that are still coming in to the Board of Elections which when opened should push candidate Eric Dinowitz over 50% to be declared the winner without going into Rank Choice Voting.

Member of the City Council 15th Council District
(Unofficial Results from Round 1+)
 
 NamePartyVotesPercentage 
1 John E. Sanchez Community First  693 20.20 %
 
2 Oswald Feliz People United  973 28.36 %
 
3 Elisa Crespo Jobs & Justice  525 15.30 %
 
4 Kenny G. Agosto Empower People  87 2.54 %
 
5 Ischia J. Bravo We Matter  738 21.51 %
 
6 Ariel Rivera-Diaz Second Choice  41 1.19 %
 
7 Bernadette Ferrara Fifteen Forward  74 2.16 %
 
8 Latchmi Devi Gopal Go For The Bronx  138 4.02 %
 
9 Jose A. Padilla Jr. Safe & Stable  57 1.66 %
 
10 Altagracia Soldevilla People First  95 2.77 %
 
11 WRITE-IN   10 0.29 %
 
 3431
 
 
Percentage of Scanners Reported: 
 
Information As Of: 2021-03-24 00:11:10 EST

This is not counting the absentee ballots that are still coming in to the Board of Elections which when they are opened should not push any candidate over the 50% margin. Thus Rank Choice Voting will begin until one candidate has more than 50% of the remaining vote in that round.

283 Days and Counting

 


Congratulations Eric Dinowitz on your victory in the 11th City Council Special Election. In the 15th City Council District right now a candidate with only 28% is in the lead followed by two candidate with 21.5% and 20%. We will use Rank Choice Voting to make sure one of these candidates will win with what looks like over 50% of the vote.


Tuesday, March 23, 2021

Predictions for the 11th and 15th City Council Special Elections

 

The explanation of Rank Choice Voting by the NYC Board of Elections.


Everyone is waiting for my predictions in the 11th and 15th special elections where there are six candidates running in the 11th City Council District, and ten official and one write in candidate in the 15th City Council District.

This will be the first time for many to vote in a Rank Choice Election. The last time Rank Choice Voting was used in New York City was in 1999 (twenty-two years ago) in the last School Board Election. Rank Choice voting was disbanded when School Boards were abolished by the state legislature in 2002 when Mayoral Control of the public schools was given to then Mayor Michael Bloomberg. 

The school board Rank Choice Voting was for nine seats on a school board, and not just one seat as this Special Election is for. Previous special elections were not Rank Choice Voting so position on the ballot didn't matter, because people were just making one choice, and there were only a few candidates running. It was found out in School Board Rank Choice Voting that the candidate who was on the top of the ballot had an advantage because voters sometimes were voting 1 - 9 from the top down. This was amplified because in school board elections the listing of candidates was rotated so all candidates would have an equal number of election districts they were on the top of the ballot. 

Since it was found out in School Board Rank Choice Voting elections the candidate on top would get votes just for being on the top of the ballot, thus in the 2021 Rank Choice Voting there will be voters who rank their choices 1 - 5 from the top down. Since the candidates in both districts will be on the top of the ballot in every election district they have a distinct advantage and will get votes for being on the top of the ballot.

With the 11th district having 124 election districts, and the 15th having 108 election districts the candidates on the top of the ballot can expect one to two hundred or more number one votes just for being on the top of the ballot. 

Therefore since the two candidates are in the top tier of voter support with the additional votes for being on the top of the ballot the candidates I think will win the special election are, in the 11th council district Eric Dinowitz, and in the 15th council district John Sanchez. as for who comes in second, third, fourth or even tenth in the 15th council district, it does not matter because there is only one seat and only one winner. It is quite possible that one or both may win outright.

 

284 Days and Counting

 


I may not run for Governor since the state legislature is in even worse shape than the city council, where I have to deal with only one person.


SENATORS BIAGGI & RIVERA ENDORSE MINO LORA FOR CITY COUNCI AT PRESS CONFERENCE AGAINST OUTSIDE MONEY IN COUNCIL RACES

 


In front of the famous Norwood mural (L-R) State Senators Biaggi and Rivera, with City Council candidate Mino Lora. 

 What was billed as a press conference for two state senators to endorse a candidate for city council, and bash outside money going to her opponents was held in the senate district of Bronx Democratic Party Leader Jamaal Bailey who is endorsing one of the candidates who is receiving said so called outside money. State Senate candidate Gustavo Rivera was the beneficiary of over $250,000.00 of outside money in his 2010 State Senate bid against Incumbent Pedro Espada and Dan Padernacht, who coincidentally in this city council race. Senator Rivera would tell me after the press conference that he did not receive the money directly, it went into a PAC, which is the same here with the council candidates

Senator Gustavo Rivera was the first elected official to speak, and he began by bashing Bronx Borough President candidate Fernando Cabrera for running against him in 2014 and again in 2016. He then said how outside money influences a race. 

Senator Biaggi was next saying that her opponent in 2018 was the recipient  of outside money, but she failed to mention that she was also the recipient of outside money from several groups who were against her opponents Independent Democratic Conference. She then introduced candidate Mino Lora as a person of truth, integrity, and honesty.

Candidate Lora said this is our Bronx, we are tired of being treated like second class citizens, they are scared of us, and other comments out of the playbook of the Working Families Party who organized this event.  

When candidate Lora finished I said I had a question for her, I repeated it twice that I had a question for her, but a voice said no questions, and members of the Working Families Party then stood in front of me, I once again said I had a question and received the same answer no questions. I then said how can you have a press conference and say no questions. I was the only member of the media who had their recently renewed NYPD press card showing, while there was only one other member of the media, and a photographer for the local paper. 

As for the truth, integrity and honesty, Mino Lora says she founded the People's Theatre Project (PTP), when in fact on its website it lists Bob Braswell as a co-founder who is listed as living at the same address as Mino Lora. Mr. Braswell donated $275.00 to Ms. Lora's campaign. In Ms. Lora's speaking about the People's Theatre Project one would think it is in the council district or at least the Bronx, but the PTP is in the Washington Heights area of Manhattan. S o M. Lora is taking care of upper Manhattan children, not District 11 children who are very different.

Why was Mino Lora so interested in the Buunni Coffee shop on Riverdale Avenue, on the PTP webpage it lists the owner of Buunni Coffee Ms. Sarina Prabasi as the President of the PTP's Board of Directors. Ms. Prabasi also donated $175.00 to Ms. Lora's campaign on 9/18/2020 while her occupation is listed as unemployed. The Riverdale Buunni Coffee Shop closed on January 31, 2021. On 2/5/2021 after the Riverdale Buunni Coffee Shop Closed Ms. Prabasi donated $40.00 to the Lora campaign, again being listed as unemployed. There are three Buunni Coffee Shops that are open, one is located at 4961 Broadway, one is located at 4211 Broadway, and there is a Cafe Buunni located at 213 Pinehurst Avenue.          

Monday, March 22, 2021

A RECOVERY FOR ALL OF US: MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN FOR THE 2021 SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM

 

Nation’s largest summer youth employment initiative returns with paid work experiences and project-based learning opportunities for 70,000 young people; Applications now available at nyc.gov/syep

 

 Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced that New York City young people between the ages of 14 and 21 can apply through April 23 for the 2021 Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP). The initiative, which was launched in 1963, returns this year after the all-virtual SYEP Summer Bridge 2020 was created to adapt to the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic last summer. Beginning on July 6, the six-week program will offer SYEP participants the opportunity to explore their interests and career pathways, build workplace skills, and engage in learning experiences that help develop their social, civic and leadership skills. By participating in structured project- and work-based opportunities, NYC youth are better prepared for careers of the future and to help the City recover in the months and years to come.

 

 “Young New Yorkers have been through so much this year, and our recovery cannot leave them behind,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “I am thrilled the Summer Youth Employment Program will connect 70,000 young people to paid opportunities, and I encourage everyone interested to apply!”  

 

"Many of New York City’s successful leaders started their careers with a summer job or a mentor who helped build their skills and self-confidence,” said First Lady Chirlane McCray. "After a challenging year of social distancing and remote learning, the return of the Summer Youth Employment Program will restore a sense of normalcy for thousands of young people, provide income and give them the tools they need to launch successful careers."

 

"SYEP is a vital and resilient New York City institution that, like the city itself, has grown and evolved over the years," said Deputy Mayor for Strategic Policy Initiatives Phil Thompson. "This year's program builds upon the traditional SYEP model to further incorporate connections between education and the world of work, while supporting participants in exploring potential careers and building their skills as community leaders."

“The Summer Youth Employment Program has been a rite of passage for young New Yorkers for nearly 60 years. This summer, SYEP takes on the added role of bringing back a semblance of normalcy to the lives of tens of thousands of youth whose lives were upended by COVID-19. The opportunities offered by SYEP will go a long way toward helping teens and young adults learn critical skills and map out their futures—and become important contributors to New York City’s recovery from the pandemic,” said DYCD Commissioner Bill Chong.

 

“SYEP is a critical component in our plan to work with community-based organizations to provide students with a holistic summer experience that includes opportunities to heal, grow and dream of their futures,” said Schools Chancellor Meisha Porter. “Now more than ever, we must meet New York City’s young people where they are and open doors for our most vulnerable students who have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. I’m confident that this year’s participants will have meaningful work experiences while they learn work skills and earn a salary, restoring a sense of normalcy to their lives and putting them on the path to success in their future careers.”

 

“The full return of SYEP this summer will serve as a powerful affirmation that New York City is on the road to recovery from the public health and economic crises we have faced since last spring,” said David Fischer, executive director of the NYC Center for Youth Employment (CYE). “CYE is proud to support DYCD, DOE and other partnering City agencies, and thousands of employers hosting SYEP participants in creating valuable experiences that will help propel young New Yorkers into a brighter future.”

 

“The Summer Youth Employment Program and Ladders for Leaders have for years been an emblematic example of the power of partnership,” said Daniele Baierlein and JL Paniagua Valle, Co-executive Directors of the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City. “Thank you to employers throughout the City for providing tens of thousands of young people with critical professional development this summer and bringing New York City closer to recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

 

This summer, young people will be connected to diverse opportunities through robust partnerships between community-based organizations, employers and their schools. Older youth aged 16-21 who participate in the program will be placed in jobs, work-based experiences and technical and professional training that will expose them to promising career pathways, meet their unique needs and interests, and develop new skills. SYEP’s youngest participants, aged 14-15, can take part in structured project-based learning experiences that will provide a work-readiness foundation along with enriching career exploration and opportunities to develop social and emotional skills. Specialized programming is also available for New Yorkers who are 21 to 24 years old. 

 

Opportunities are available through the following initiatives:

 

SYEP Community-Based: Provides NYC youth between the ages of 14 and 21 with career exploration opportunities and paid work experience. There are opportunities with employers in all five boroughs, including health care, retail, information technology, construction, industrial/manufacturing, food service, media, and business/professional services.

 

CareerReady SYEP: Designed for students between the ages of 14 and 21 from select DOE schools to provide career exploration opportunities and paid work experience.

 

SYEP Emerging Leaders: Provides certain eligible NYC youth between the ages of 14 and 24 with career exploration opportunities and paid work experience. Additional eligibility requirements:

  • Homeless & Runaway (residing in shelters)
  • Justice/Court-Involved
  • Foster Care
  • Receiving Preventive Services through Administration for Children’s Services (ACS)
  • Human Resources Administration (HRA) participants receiving Cash Assistance via Business Link
  • Students from Access and Alternative Schools
  • Gender-Based Violence

 

SYEP Map to $uccess and SYEP CareerFirst: Offers NYC youth between the ages of 14 and 24 from select NYCHA developments identified by the Mayor’s Action Plan for Neighborhood Safety (MAP) with career exploration opportunities and paid work experience.

 

Outstanding high school and college students can also take part in Ladders for Leaders, a competitive professional summer internship component of SYEP that connects youth with leading corporations, non-profit organizations and government agencies in New York City. Past employer partners have included A+E Networks, Amalgamated Bank, AppNexus, Bank of America, Deloitte, Emmis Communications, KPMG, Maimonides Hospital, Medidata, the MET, NASDAQ, NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC), NYC Department of Parks & Recreation, NYC Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, NYC Department of Buildings (DOB), Tishman Speyer, Rudin ManagementVox Media, Seven Squared Media, Sotheby’s, and Y&R.

 

To ensure participant safety and meet the changing needs of employers during the COVID-19 recovery, all project-based learning and work-based opportunities may take place online, in-person or in a hybrid environment. SYEP participants in work-based experiences are paid in hourly wages at the prevailing minimum wage; younger youth participating in project-based experiences receive a stipend.

 

SYEP applications can be completed online or at participating community-based organizations, depending on the program option. Online applications are available at nyc.gov/syep. For more information, call 311 or DYCD Community Connect (1-800-246-4646).