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Sunday, June 20, 2021
The Bronx LGBT Expo 2021 - Celebrating the life and Legacy of Jose Ramon
Thursday June 17th was the Celebration of the life and legacy of Jose Ramon Creator and founder of the Bronx LGBT Expo and the White Shirt Project. Mr. Ramon was diagnosed with PTSD and Depression. However he also was diagnosed with ALS in January of 2020, and lost his battle to ALS on March 14th 2021. It was said that ALS affects 30,000 Americans every year. One person is diagnosed every ninety minutes, while another dies every ninety minutes from ALS.
Mr. Jomil Luna moderated the event which included a panel discussion for many different topics from problems the LGBT community faces to the death of Jose Ramon and the fight against ALS. Connie Pacheco President of Recoveries Us presented a check for three thousand dollars to Mr. Luna for ALS research.
Also on hand was local Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez, who spoke about the hope there still is for LBGT members of the community to integrate with the rest of the community saying, 'We are all one, and have to live together, even as there are forces that will try to stop that'. She added with the laws passed in Albany and the more people we educate, we can change that.
The presentation of the three thousand dollar check by Connie Pacheco.
Assemblywoman Fernandez speaks on the LGBTQ+ community, and the non acceptance by some of them.
Assemblywoman Fernandez is asked a few questions by the moderator Jomal Luna, and the audience, about what the state is doing to help the LGBTQ+ community.
There were plenty of informational tables set up with various items to educate people on a host of items, and to let people know where they can find various services.
The event took place in the new Destination Tomorrow building on the corner of Barnes and Lydig Avenues.
Stevenson Commons Expansion Project In The Bronx Proceeds To Next Step Of Review By The Department Of City Planning
The Department of City Planning is now reviewing Environmental Impact Statements for a six-building expansion of Stevenson Commons in the Soundview section of The Bronx. Owned by Camber Property Group, the development site is located at White Plains Road and 1850 Lafayette Avenue and currently comprises nine Mitchell-Lama buildings spanning 990,050 square feet.
The residential component currently includes 948 affordable rental units spanning approximately 914,634 square feet of residential area, 10,648 square feet of local retail, a 36,214-square-foot health center, and 570 surface-level parking spaces. The complex also contains private green spaces totaling approximately 3.1 acres that are used exclusively by current residents.
Aerial map illustrates project area (in red) and development site (in yellow)
Before construction can begin, Camber must obtain Zoning Resolution and Special Permit Authorizations from the Department of City Planning. This includes allowances for the construction of new commercial areas that will exceed 2 percent of total floor area in the development, a waiver of requirements for off-street parking spaces accessory to the commercial storefronts within the development, and the construction of a parking facility with more than 150 spaces.
If approved, the development would comprise six new buildings referred to as B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, and B6. The residential component would include 735 affordable residences including 621 income-restricted housing units and 114 affordable independent residences for seniors. Additional components would include roughly 34,000 square feet of community facilities, approximately 1.94 acres of publicly accessible open space, and around 466 parking spaces. The parking allotment includes 206 spaces within below-grade garages and 260 surface parking spaces.
Aerial view of Stevens Commons with expanded buildings – WXY Architecture
Construction of the proposed project would be completed in three phases. If all goes to plan, construction could break ground by the end of 2021, with all components complete and operational by early 2028. Renderings and illustrative documents included in the most recent expansion proposals are credited to WXY Architecture + Urban Planning, which could be the architect of record
Credit - YIMBY.
196 Days and Counting
Happy Father's Day all you fathers out there.
I get to do nothing today, but many of you say I do nothing every day.
Saturday, June 19, 2021
Governor Cuomo Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combatting COVID-19
Statewide 7-Day Average Positivity is 0.39%—Record Low for 22 Consecutive Days, Has Declined for 75 Consecutive Days
63,095 Vaccine Doses Administered Over Last 24 Hours—Vaccination Rate is 70.7%
9 COVID-19 Deaths Statewide Yesterday
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress combatting COVID-19.
"New Yorkers are getting a new lease on life as we defeat this pandemic and reopen our state's economy for the future," Governor Cuomo said. "Vaccination is the key to beating COVID-19, so we're offering incentives to encourage the remaining New Yorkers to take the shot. We're getting back to living, not just surviving, but I encourage anyone who hasn't been vaccinated yet to do so immediately for themselves and their families' safety."
Today's data is summarized briefly below
- Test Results Reported - 107,751
- Total Positive - 418
- Percent Positive - 0.39%
- 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 0.39%
- Patient Hospitalization - 532 (-16)
- Patients Newly Admitted - 65
- Patients in ICU - 126 (-17)
- Patients in ICU with Intubation - 73 (-6)
- Total Discharges - 184,129 (64)
- Deaths - 9
- Total Deaths - 42,914
- Total vaccine doses administered - 20,514,127
- Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 63,095
- Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 498,084
- Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 68.2%
- Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 61.6%
- Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 70.7%
- Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 62.8%
- Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 56.5%
- Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 50.6%
- Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 58.6%
- Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 51.6%
MAYOR DE BLASIO, SPEAKER JOHNSON COMMIT TO PROVIDE PREVAILING WAGES TO SECURITY GUARDS AT CITY CONTRACTED SHELTERS
Mayor Bill de Blasio and Speaker Corey Johnson announced the City will commit $40.5 million in the FY22 Budget to raise City contracted shelter security guards' wages to meet the prevailing wage rate for security guards. These security guards will see their wages increase from as low as $15 dollars per hour to approximately $18 an hour, in addition to benefits such as family health care. This investment will improve recruitment and retention and impact nearly 4,000 security guards and their families. The new wages will take effect October 1, 2021.
“A Recovery for All of Us includes supporting essential workers. Security officers safeguard some of our most vulnerable neighbors,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “We are proud to invest $40.5 million to ensure the essential security officers in shelters run by private contractors stay in their jobs and receive the wages and benefits they deserve.”
"Security officers in shelters are protecting our most vulnerable New Yorkers, but for too long they were not getting the wages they deserve. This agreement finally guarantees these essential workers a prevailing wage. This is great news, and comes at an important time. They’ve spent the past year helping our city through its darkest hours, and now we’re looking out for them,” said Speaker Corey Johnson.
“The challenging reality that so many shelter security officers continue to endure is changing, starting now,” said Kyle Bragg, President of 32BJ. “Today marks a critical turning point for these officers and their families. We are grateful to Mayor de Blasio, Speaker Corey Johnson and Council Members Diana Ayala and Francisco Moya for making sure no shelter security officer goes home hungry. We will continue to fight until all security officers receive the dignity, respect, and good, family-sustaining jobs they deserve.”
Attorney General James’ Office of Special Investigation Releases Report Related to the Death of Matthew Felix
New York Attorney General Letitia James’ Office of Special Investigation (OSI), formerly known as the Special Investigations and Prosecutions Unit (SIPU), released its report on the death of Matthew Felix. Following a thorough and comprehensive investigation, OSI concluded that the actions that led to Mr. Felix’s death did not rise to the level of criminal conduct by officers from the Nassau County Police Department (NCPD). Based on OSI’s exhaustive review of the incident, including but not limited to, video footage from surveillance cameras, medical records, and hours of interviews with relevant witnesses, it could not be concluded that the use of deadly force by the NCPD officers in connection with this incident was unjustified beyond a reasonable doubt.
On February 25, 2020, Matthew Felix responded to an online advertisement about a car that was for sale and asked the owner if he could test-drive the car. While test-driving the car, Mr. Felix pulled a firearm on the owner of the car and forced him to get out. The owner complied and shortly thereafter called 911 to report the stolen car. Detectives from the NCPD were able to track the stolen car through a tracking app associated with a laptop that was in the vehicle when it was stolen and traced it to Mr. Felix’s home in Queens.
Several hours later, NCPD officers, who were stationed nearby Mr. Felix’s residence, witnessed him leaving the residence in a different car and began to follow him. Officers made multiple attempts to signal to Mr. Felix to pull over. Mr. Felix did not initially comply with the officers’ directives to pull over, and finally, when he did slow down the vehicle down, officers positioned their cars both in front of and behind his vehicle in an attempt to stop the car. Officers then got out of their vehicles and approached Mr. Felix, demanding that he show his hands. Mr. Felix put the vehicle in reverse, striking the NCPD vehicle stationed behind him, and then began to accelerate the car forward in the direction of an NCPD officer.
As Mr. Felix appeared to pose an imminent threat to the officer directly in front of him and nearby civilians by driving onto a sidewalk, NCPD officers opened fire. Mr. Felix was struck by three bullets and pronounced dead at the scene.
At the time the officers pulled over Mr. Felix’s vehicle for the purpose of taking him into custody, they reasonably believed that Mr. Felix had committed an offense — namely, the gunpoint theft earlier that day. In light of the nature of the offense (armed robbery), coupled with other information suggesting Mr. Felix’s readiness to use a firearm, the officers’ decision to draw their weapons when approaching Mr. Felix, in order to protect their safety and to effect the arrest, did not appear to be objectively unreasonable.
The NCPD officers’ belief that Mr. Felix continued to present an imminent threat at each stage of the pursuit, to both the officers and nearby civilians, created a legal justification for the use of deadly force. Additionally, when Mr. Felix was directed to show his hands, it appeared as though he was reaching into the center console of the vehicle; a loaded firearm was later recovered from that center console.
In order to bring criminal charges against the officers, it must have been clear, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Mr. Felix did not pose an imminent threat to cause serious physical injury or death to an officer or others and, in this case, OSI could not determine that he posed no such threat.
Though this matter did not rise to a criminal charge, OSI remains seriously concerned about how the incident was handled by NCPD, especially the lack of body-worn cameras (BWC) and vehicles outfitted with dashboard cameras. The Office of the Attorney General has previously recommended that NCPD outfit its officers with BWCs and is issuing this recommendation again with the understanding that Nassau County recently committed to outfitting its officers with BWCs. OSI also recommends better use of police practices when it comes to taking control of a potentially dangerous car stop. Safety policies exist to protect all involved in these incidents and failure to follow them can lead to unnecessary escalation of an encounter, such as the one we saw in this matter.
New York State Announces First-Ever Loyalty/Reward Program at State Campgrounds
Reservations Now Open for 2022 Camping Season
New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Commissioner Erik Kulleseid and Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced the first-ever Camper Loyalty/Reward Program for overnight stays at state campgrounds across New York. The introduction of the new Loyalty program coincides with the opening of the nine-month online reservation window for the 2022 Camping Season.
The new Loyalty program will allow visitors to earn points for every dollar spent on overnight accommodations and redeem the points toward use fees on future stays. Points are awarded upon departure for all camping stays, so campers can earn points on already-booked reservations and any new reservations as soon as they enroll in the program, either online or by phone. For convenience, the user-friendly program is applied to the account without the need for a physical card.
“We know there are many outdoor destinations and lodging options available across New York, and this new Loyalty/Reward program is a way of saying thanks to those visitors who enjoy our state campgrounds and return with their families and friends time and time again,” said State Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid. “If an overnight stay among gorgeous parkland sounds like the perfect getaway, I encourage visitors to enroll in the program and book those vacations to start earning points!”
“DEC is thrilled to partner with State Parks to launch the Camping Loyalty/Reward Program to show our appreciation for loyal visitors to our campgrounds across the state. New York State’s new loyalty program is easy to use and encourages visitors to return to our campgrounds year after year,” said DEC Commissioner Seggos. “All DEC campgrounds will be open this summer and I encourage campers both expert and novice to experience the great outdoors with us.”
While occupancy at state facilities remains high, there is still availability for the 2021 season, particularly on weekdays and during non-peak seasons. Additionally, the nine-month booking window for the 2022 season advanced reservations has opened and 2022 season dates are now reservable in accordance with the nine-month window. Camping reservations can be made online at newyorkstateparks.
There are currently 120 campgrounds operated by New York State Parks and the Department of Environmental Conservation including 15,000 campsites for tents and RVs, and more than 800 cabins, cottages, yurts, and a lighthouse. Campers can choose from tranquil tent sites in the woods to boat-access only waterfront sites to luxe cottages, and everything in between. Many campgrounds are conveniently located near day-use parks, trails, historic sites, golf courses and other family-friendly destinations.
Points have no cash value and can only be used for the rewards offered by New York State campgrounds. Earning and redemption rates may be adjusted by New York State-operated campgrounds at any time. Details about the new Loyalty program and steps to enroll are available at newyorkstateparks.
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more than 250 parks, historic sites, recreational trails, golf courses, boat launches and more, which were visited by a record 78 million in 2020. For more information on any of these recreation areas, call 518-474-0456 or visit www.parks.ny.gov, connect with us on Facebook, or follow on Instagram , Twitter or on the State Parks blog.
DEC operates 52 campgrounds and five day-use areas in the Adirondack and Catskill forest preserves. The camping season runs through the summer, with some facilities remaining open during fall foliage and hunting season. For more information on DEC-operated campgrounds, including a list of campgrounds and schedules, visit DEC's website, or call DEC's Bureau of Recreation at 518-457-2500.