Bronx Metro-North Station Area Study- BMNS Remote Open House- Get on Board !

 

The pandemic has changed the way the people are able to interact. The BMNS REMOTE OPEN HOUSE makes it possible to view ideas gathered before the Pandemic and build on them.

The Bronx Metro North Study (BMNS) Team invites you to the BMNS Remote Open House, a first-of-its-kind online portal specially designed to continue the conversation about New York City’s station-area planning to prepare the Bronx for new Metro North service in Parkchester/Van Nest and Morris Park. 

The BMNS Remote Open House is a new tool in DCP’s toolkit for public engagement as we continue to expand our outreach and engagement online. 

           

The Bronx Metro-North Station Area Study, launched in 2018, seeks to holistically plan for new Metro-North service in four communities in the East Bronx: Hunts Point, Morris Park, Parkchester/Van Nest, and Co-op City. This planning work will help ensure this new public transit service supports Bronx residents with local jobs, housing, amenities and more.   

The BMNS Remote Open House offers a dynamic experience; it has something for everyone: 

• Friendly accessible videos (in both English and Spanish!)  

• Engaging graphics that summarize the overall planning goals  

• Detailed draft recommendations with ways to implement and progress to date 

• Easy ways to “speak your mind” via accessible surveys, and  

• A series of online live streaming sessions for personal input and interaction. Stay tuned for dates and times. 

We want to hear directly from the community and all stakeholders: what does a vibrant, connected and working community mean to you?  

The BMNS Remote Open House will be available for all of Spring 2021 (April-June), but visit the site soon!  

The BMNS Remote Open House currently focuses on the Morris Park and Parkchester/Van Nest station areas but will be expanded to cover Hunts Point and Co-op City by the end of summer. 

 

What happens after the BMNS Remote Open House? We will use your feedback and comments gathered from surveys, zoom sessions and more to refine recommendations and develop a final plan for the Bronx Metro North Station Area Study.  

Visit the BMNS Remote Open House here:  www.nyc.gov/bmns-openhouse  

We welcome you and we look forward to your continued engagement! 

                                      

Oswald Feliz Sworn in as New 15th Councilman

 

Having been declared the winner of the March 23rd Special Election to replace now Congressman Ritchie Torres for the 15th council district in mid April, and having already been sworn in as the new councilman, it was time for a public swearing in.

Elected officials such as U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer, Congressman Adriano Espaillat, City Council Speaker Cory Johnson, City Council members Fernando Cabrera, Vanessa Gibson, and Ydanis Rodriguez, State Senator Luis Sepulveda, State Assembly members Nathalia Fernandez, Jose Rivera and Victor Pichardo, along with many other people were in attendance. The event was emceed by Ms. Rachel Miller-Bradshaw, and moved along smoothly. It was a picture perfect day, but new Councilman Oswald Feliz now has the June 22nd Democratic Primary to run in with many of the same candidates from the special election.

U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer was the first to speak, standing between Congressman Espaillat and new Councilman Oswald Feliz.

Congressman Adriano Espaillat congratulates his pupil on becoming the new Councilman for the 15th district, As City Council Speaker Cory Johnson listens.

Former 15th Councilman, now 15th Congressman Ritchie Torres points to City Council Speaker Cory Johnson as he says 'Mr. Speaker, Mr. Torres has gone to Washington'.

New 15th Councilman Oswald Feliz gets in a few words, and then it was on to be sworn in.

Judge Kim Adair Wilson has the honor of swearing in the newest member of the City Council, as his mother and his fiancee are on either side of the new councilman.

RECOVERY FOR ALL OF US: MAYOR DE BLASIO, PARKS COMMISSIONER SILVER AND DOT COMMISSIONER GUTMAN CELEBRATE $348 MILLION IN FUNDING TO ADDRESS RIVERSIDE PARK OVERBUILD

 

 Mayor Bill de Blasio, NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP, and DOT Commissioner Hank Gutman today announced a $348 million investment that will rehabilitate the Overbuild in Riverside Park, bringing the 1930s-era infrastructure into a state of good repair. 

“A recovery for all of us means investing in our green spaces,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “Riverside Park is a New York City gem and I’m proud this investment will keep the park going strong for generations to come.” 

“New York City parks are critical infrastructure and their upkeep is essential for the well-bring of our residents,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Laura Anglin. “NYC Parks and the Department of Transportation have come up with a great plan to ensure Riverside Park remains in good shape for future generations to enjoy.” 

“New Yorkers benefit physically, mentally, and socially when our parks are accessible and well-maintained. In particular, the past year has affirmed that our parks—with their healing nature—are integral to our city’s ecosystem,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development Vicki Been. “With the Mayor’s investment, Riverside Park can continue to be a sanctuary for future generations of New Yorkers to enjoy.”

“Parks are essential infrastructure. This is a major investment that will bring much-needed structural repairs to one of our most visited parks,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP. “This funding from Mayor de Blasio builds on a significant investment in rehabilitating Riverside Park’s infrastructure, and this multifaceted project will be critical in helping us care for the historic waterfront park for decades to come.”

"Riverside Park is an iconic New York City landmark, and we are proud to be a part of this major announcement by NYC Parks," said DOT Commissioner Hank Gutman. "However, with a state highway and major Amtrak lines both bisecting it, Riverside Park faces transportation and engineering challenges that must be met by both creative planning and long-term investment. The funding will bring major infrastructure upgrades that will make this historic park safer and more enjoyable for both pedestrians and cyclists."

“The City is committing well over half a billion dollars to restoring Riverside Park’s structural core, the largest investment in the park since the 1930s,” said Dan Garodnick, President of Riverside Park Conservancy. “This enormous investment in the park's fundamental infrastructure will ensure it is there for New Yorkers to enjoy for generations to come.” 

The Overbuild is a series of bridge structures underneath Riverside Park, built over the Amtrak lines from W. 72nd to W. 123rd streets. Its deterioration has affected the park’s usability, causing damaged pathways and an appearance of disrepair in the park. NYC Parks and DOT have developed a multi-faceted approach to addressing the structural condition, which includes additional inspections and temporary stabilization work. 

The full project details and timeline will be determined during the design process. 

The funding is in addition to more than $300 million previously invested under this administration to rehabilitate Riverside Park’s infrastructure – including $200 million to reconstruct the W. 79th Street Rotunda complex, $90 million to reconstruct the W. 79th Street Boat Basin, and more than $10 million to reconstruct pathways and staircases within the park. Mayor de Blasio has also funded an $11.5 million project to begin addressing the park’s drainage systems. 

One of only eight officially designated scenic landmarks in New York City, Riverside Park is widely regarded as Manhattan’s most spectacular waterfront park. Stretching along the Hudson River, the park offers a variety of recreational activities including multiple playgrounds, sports courts, and fields, a skate park, and a 110-slip public marina. Riverside Park is also home to many monuments including the General Franz Sigel, Joan of Arc, Lajos Kossuth and Soldiers’ and Sailors’ monuments.

Owner Of Consumer Products Testing Company Pleads Guilty To $46 Million Fraud Scheme Involving Fabricated Test Results

 

Defendant Admitted to Sending Customers Fraudulent Reports for Laboratory Tests That Were Not Fully Performed

 Audrey Strauss, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that GABRIEL LETIZIA Jr., the owner and executive director of AMA Laboratories, Inc. (“AMA”), a consumer products testing company in New City, pled guilty today to defrauding customers by reporting laboratory test results for panelist testing that was not fully performed.  LETIZIA pled guilty before United States Magistrate Judge Paul E. Davison.  Former AMA employees David Winne, Mayya Tatsene, Patrycja Wojtowicz, and Kaitlyn Gold previously pled guilty in connection with their respective roles in the scheme.

U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said:  “As he has now admitted, Gabriel Letizia schemed for decades to defraud customers of his laboratory, and caused sunscreens and other consumer products to be sold and marketed to consumers on the basis of false laboratory testing reports.  Letizia’s guilty plea underscores that my Office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute fraud and endangerment in the consumer products testing industry.”              

According to the allegations contained in the Second Superseding Information, publicly available information, court filings, and statements made during the plea proceedings:

LETIZIA is the owner and executive director of AMA, a consumer products testing company in Rockland County, New York.  David Winne served as AMA’s technical director, Mayya Tatsene served as AMA’s clinical laboratory director, Patrycja Wojtowicz served as AMA’s associate director of clinical studies, and Kaitlyn Gold served as AMA’s supervising laboratory technician.  AMA tested the safety and efficacy of cosmetics, sunscreens and other products on specified numbers of volunteer panelists for consumer products companies. 

From 1987 through April 2017, LETIZIA and his co-conspirators defrauded AMA’s customers of more than $46 million by testing products on materially lower numbers of panelists than the numbers specified and paid for by AMA’s customers.  LETIZIA, and AMA employees acting under his direction, sent the customers fraudulent reports, which falsely represented that AMA had tested the products on the number of panelists specified by the customers, causing the introduction of misbranded products into interstate commerce.

LETIZIA, 71, of New City, New York, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison; and two counts of causing a misbranded drug to be introduced into interstate commerce, each of which carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison.

The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as the sentence of LETIZIA will be determined by the Court.

LETIZIA will be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Karas on September 14, 2021, at 2:00 p.m.

Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations, and the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office.       

Governor Cuomo Announces Free Citizen Public Health Training Program Opens Wednesday, May 5

 

In Partnership with Cornell University, Free Online Training in Public Health Preparedness for New Yorkers Available Now to Build a Network of Public Health Leaders Across the State

Program First Announced as Part of Governor Cuomo's 2021 State of the State Address

Enroll Now to Become a NYS Citizen Public Health Leader Here

Video Preview of NYS Citizen Public Health Training Program Course Material is Available Here

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the Citizen Public Health Training Course for New Yorkers to learn about preparedness for and prevention of public health emergencies from top public health experts will open on Wednesday, May 5. This free, online course, delivered by the New York State Department of Health in partnership with Cornell University and supported by the State University of New York, will prepare and equip New Yorkers to become NYS Citizen Public Health Leaders and build an informed network of community health leaders across the state.

Program participants will learn about COVID-19, public health emergency preparedness and response, and other public health issues, while gaining insight into information and resources that will benefit their communities. Those interested in enrolling or getting more information about becoming a NYS Citizen Public Health Leader can visit the program website.

"We are determined to build back better, and part of that is making sure we are better prepared for the next pandemic," Governor Cuomo said. "This innovative free program was developed by trusted experts and it will empower everyday New Yorkers with critical knowledge to better protect themselves, their families and their neighbors from public health emergencies. Every challenge that we needed to overcome in our fight against COVID required us to work as a community to protect one another. Government played a role, but everyday citizens made the difference. In that spirit, I encourage everyone to sign up for this program and become a public health leader with key knowledge for whatever the future may bring."

This training, developed by Cornell University's Master of Public Health Program and delivered through eCornell, is a four-part online training program to equip New Yorkers with expertise and tools to help build and support community-led initiatives surrounding prevention, detection and response in the event of public health emergencies. Upon completion of the training, participants will be designated a "NYS Citizen Public Health Leader" and will be informed about how they can volunteer in support of their local public health operations - especially during emergencies - as well as how to find, use and share verified information about public health matters from reliable sources. The course will be available through 2023.

This program was first announced as part of the Governor's 2021 State of the State proposal. Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, New Yorkers were asked to do their part to fight a virus in ways they had never done before. Everyone was given a crash course in virology, learning to properly wash their hands, sanitize their homes and businesses, and safely care for their family and neighbors. Thousands of New Yorkers signed up and were trained to be contract tracers, helping to track and mitigate the spread of the virus. When other states needed help, these New Yorkers heeded the call and brought their new public health skills to the rest of the country. This new training will help New Yorkers gain the tools to protect themselves, their families and others against future health emergencies.

BRONX DA DARCEL D. CLARK, COMMUNITY LEADERS AND CHILD PROTECTION EXPERTS ANNOUNCE “NO HIT ZONE” CAMPAIGN IN THE HUB

 

Aim is to Raise Awareness that Corporal Punishment is Top Risk for Child Abuse

 Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark joined Dr. Mel Schneiderman,, Senior Vice President of The New York Foundling’s Vincent J. Fontana Center for Child Protection, Dr. Jaime Hoffman-Rosenfeld, Child Abuse Pediatrician at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, and Michael Brady, CEO of the Third Avenue Business Improvement District, to announce a new awareness campaign aimed at reducing child abuse. 

 Some stores in the area known as the Hub—where East 149th Street, Willis Avenue and Third Avenue meet—have agreed to be designated “No Hit Zones,” calm, safe and caring environments for children where adults and children pledge no hitting of any kind. The initiative addresses the most prevalent risk factor of child abuse: corporal punishment.

 The No Hit Zone initiative is a comprehensive program that includes multiple strategies to effectively influence attitudes, norms, and behaviors. Family homes, schools, hospitals, religious institutions, communities, and many more can be No Hit Zones. Signs posted in the No Hit Zone offer a 24-hour hotline number for parents and caregivers who may need crisis counseling.

 District Attorney Clark said, “I think this campaign will help people to realize how corporal punishment can increase the risk of child abuse, and I am pleased to launch it in the Bronx community with our dedicated partners Dr. Schneiderman and Dr. Hoffman-Rosenfeld. I know parents and caregivers sometimes are overwhelmed, and I want them to know help is available during crisis moments. I am grateful to Michael Brady, CEO of the Third Avenue BID, for his assistance once again in a community effort, and for the merchants and business owners who will post the signs.” 

 Dr. Schneiderman said, “The New York Foundling is thrilled to participate in the No Hit Zone initiative and commends the Bronx DA’s office in their efforts to create an environment of safety for children and families. The New York Foundling has been dedicated to protecting and supporting New York’s children for over 150 years. Through our Fontana Center for Child Protection, we work tirelessly to reduce child maltreatment, and are involved with many local and national efforts to reduce the reliance on and use of corporal punishment. We are proud to partner with other agencies and offices across the city to work toward this mission.”

 Dr. Hoffman-Rosenfeld said, “As a Child Abuse Pediatrician at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore and the Medical Director of the Bronx Child Advocacy Center, it is with great honor and optimism that we are partnering with the District Attorney of the Bronx, Darcel Clark, to end hitting, spanking and other forms of corporal punishment of children. By taking this stand, we are sending a message that people, and especially children, deserve to live in an environment of safety and comfort, free from violence. Spanking is one of the most common risk factors for child physical abuse.”

 Mr. Brady said, “Being a parent and a caregiver is difficult. Oftentimes we feel there is no support. The No Hit Zone program encourages a balanced and healthy home life for children and families. The Third Avenue BID is proud to partner on this initiative and launch it in the busiest commercial district in the Bronx where thousands of families live, work, and shop.”

 The National No Hit Zone Committee is part of the National Initiative to End Corporal Punishment (NIECP), whose overall goal is to help develop, coordinate, and lead a national campaign to end corporal punishment in the United States. NIECP is sponsored by three organizations: the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children, US Alliance to End the Hitting of Children, and the Vincent J. Fontana Center for Child Protection of the New York Foundling.

For more information, go to https://nohitzone.com/

FOLLOWING OFFICER TSAKOS’ MEMORIAL SERVICE, MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES SUPPORT FOR CRASH VICTIMS RIGHTS AND SAFETY ACT

 

 Following the funeral of NYPD Officer Anastasios Tsakos, who was killed by a dangerous driver, Mayor de Blasio announced support for the Crash Victims Rights and Safety Act. The legislation, currently advancing through the State Legislature, takes aggressive action against dangerous driving and supports the families of crash victims.

 

“Officer Anastasios Tsakos should be home today with his wife and his two beautiful children. Instead, yet another life has been taken by a reckless driver. This cannot continue. We must pursue fundamental changes. In honor of Officer Tsakos, I’m calling on the State Legislature to immediately pass the Crash Victims Rights and Safety Act,” said Mayor de Blasio. “For Officer Tsakos and every victim of traffic violence on our streets, let’s deliver on the full power and promise of Vision Zero and keep our streets safe for generations of New Yorkers to come.”

 

"Vision Zero is about leaving no stone unturned to improve safety of all those who share our roads, whether through street redesign or legislative change. These important policy changes will keep us moving towards a safer city," said Deputy Mayor for Operations Laura Anglin.

 

“The tragic loss of Officer Tsakos last week really underscored all the work we still have left to do on Vision Zero,” said New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Hank Gutman. “From 24/7 speed cameras to tougher standards for drunk driving and so much more, the Crash Victims Safety and Rights Act is the legislative package that honors Officer Tsakos’ memory and meets this moment. I look forward to speaking with State legislators about how its passage will save lives on New York City streets.”

 

"Creating safer streets for walking and bicycling is key to taking action on climate," said Ben Furnas, Director of the Mayor's Office of Climate and Sustainability. "Thank you to the State Legislature for taking up these critical proposals so that New Yorkers don't have to put their lives at risk just to get around."

 

The Crash Victims Rights & Safety Act includes:

 

* Traffic Crash Victim Bill of Rights: This legislation enacts rights for traffic crash victims in related legal proceedings similar to the federal Crime Victims’ Rights Act. This includes the right to receive timely crash reports and the right to attend crash-related hearings and submit impact statements. It would also require the State of New York to produce a report to the legislature with data about current crash victim compensation and support, including no-fault insurance and private insurance, to inform the need for adequate victim support.

* Sammy’s Law: Sammy’s Law is named after Samuel Cohen Eckstein, a 12-year-old boy from Brooklyn who was killed by a reckless driver in 2013. This bill would repeal the current state regulation that prevents New York City from easily setting 15 mph or lower speed limits on streets where pedestrians and vehicles mix. Each one-mph increase in speed results in nearly a three percent increase in mortality. Lower speed limits in New York City, authorized by the State Legislature in 2014, contributed to a 36 percent decline in pedestrian deaths. By widely authorizing speed limits lower than 25 mph, New York City would join other U.S. cities such as Washington, D.C., Portland, OR, Seattle, WA, and Minneapolis, MN.

* BAC lowered to .05: This legislation would lower the blood alcohol concentration limit for driving from .08 percent to .05 percent, and for aggravated driving while intoxicated from .18 percent to .12 percent.

* Dangerous driving “Rule of Two:” This bill clarifies existing law to overturn the “rule of two,” a judicial precedent that requires two reckless acts to convict a driver of criminal negligence, to make it easier for the most reckless drivers to be held accountable under existing misdemeanor law. This legislation would replace “reckless” with “dangerous” in “reckless driving” to avoid confusion with state of mind analysis.
* Speed safety cameras: This legislation would:  

- Allow the City to operate speed safety cameras 24/7

- Escalate penalties for extreme repeat offenders, including license suspension

- Allow records of speeding to be shared with auto insurance companies.

* Vehicle safety rating: This bill would require the New York State Department of Transportation and the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles to create a pedestrian safety rating system that accounts for the risk a motor vehicle’s design poses to vulnerable road users like pedestrians and cyclists. It would also require that such ratings be displayed prominently at the point of sale and on a state website.

* Safe passage for cyclists: This legislation would provide a clear and objective definition of what a “safe distance” is for motorists when overtaking bicyclists on the road (at least three feet), provide a mechanism for accountability following a crash, and foster a culture of safer driving through education.

* DMV pre-licensing course: This bill aims to create a safer and more thoughtful road culture by requiring robust street safety education, starting when new drivers get their driver permits. The bill would require instruction in pedestrian and bicyclist safety as part of drivers’ pre-licensing courses and would educate new drivers on how to safely pass bicyclists on the road and the dangers that large multi-ton vehicles pose to pedestrians, bicyclists, and other vulnerable road users.

 

"We have partnered with the de Blasio administration to launch Vision Zero and on our long-running campaign to secure and expand life-saving speed safety cameras. We are very grateful that he is fully supporting the Crash Victim Rights and Safety Act this year in Albany. Our just recovery and the lives of New Yorkers depend on the state legislature passing this package of bills this session, and we will continue to work with our partners in Albany and the de Blasio administration to expand the promise of Vision Zero on our streets," said Danny Harris, Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives.

 

"We can't bear to see one more family go through our nightmare of losing a loved one in a crash and are grateful for Mayor de Blasio's support of the Crash Victim Rights and Safety Act," said Amy Tam, member of Families for Safe Streets and mother of Allison Liao, a three-year-old who was killed in 2013 by a reckless driver while crossing the street in Flushing with her grandmother. "These lifesaving bills address the rampant speeding on our streets, reckless driving, the dangerous design of vehicles, and also provides support for those who have been personally impacted by a crash. We need our state legislature to pass this life saving package of bills without delay. The carnage on our streets has got to stop."

Councilman Mark Gjonaj Pet Food Giveaway

While people may be hungry during the pandemic Councilman Mark Gjonaj didn't forget that their pets may be hungry also, so this past Saturday he loaded up his van with two-hundred bags of pet food to give out to pet owners. There were fifteen pound bags of cat food, and sixteen pound bags of dog food that were given out on the Wallace Avenue Walkway of Pelham Parkway by Councilman Gjonaj and others.