Reminder Bronx Progressives Invites You to Our Welcome Summer-City Reopens-Social Gathering!

 

Join Fellow Progressives for our Bronx Progressives Welcome Summer-City Reopens-Social Gathering!

RSVP HERE

Greetings Bronx Progressives Members!

Hope you and your loved ones are starting off your summer in good spirits, and are looking forward to a landscape of possibilities of summer fun and relaxation, as we experience a city fully reemerging into a new normal. 

With less than five days to go for the primary elections on June 22, I hope you're making the time to plan out your vote (whether that is voting early, by Absentee, or on Election Day), and using wisely Ranked Choice Voting to vote on the most progressive candidates to lead our city and communities.  

In the spirit of summer upon us and our city emerging into a citywide reopening, the Working Group at Bronx Progressives decided to do something different for our June general meeting. Something we haven't done as a group in a very long time since we went into a lockdown. 

Join us on Sunday, June 27 at 3pm to our In-person Welcome Summer-City Reopens-Social Gathering.

Come join us for some delicious food and beverages, fun and games, music, a safe space to reflect on the elections, our work and what comes next after the New York Health Act and Public Power. We will be visited by two special guests. So come join us to learn who they are! Stay tuned for updates. 

Bronx Progressives Welcome-Summer-City-Reopens-Social- Gathering!

RSVP HERE (So we can accommodate enough food)

Date: Sunday, June 27
Time: 3pm
Location: 2080 Barnes Avenue, Bronx, NY 10462 (Use service entrance at south end of building) Gate will be left open to allow guests to access space behind the building.

FYI: This is an in-person outdoor event

Transportation:
2 Train to Pelham Parkway

5 Train to Morris Park

DCP Introduces Remote Office Hours to Enhance Public Engagement Around Future Bronx Metro-North Stations

 

Office hours increase opportunities for the public to participate in ongoing planning work for Hunts Point, Parkchester/Van Nest, Morris Park and Co-op City

 Department of City Planning (DCP) Director Marisa Lago today announced the introduction of remote office hours for New Yorkers to continue to plan for and around four new Metro-North stations coming to the East Bronx. These office hours provide a convenient time and place for members of the public to ask questions and offer ideas to DCP planners, to help ensure the coming Hunts Point, Parkchester/Van Nest, Morris Park and Co-op City stations support the community’s current and future needs.

“Four new Bronx Metro-North stations are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to transform transit access in the East Bronx. These new stations need to integrate seamlessly into their neighborhoods, which means that DCP needs to hear directly from the New Yorkers who know these neighborhoods best – and that means you,” said DCP Director Marisa Lago. “With these remote office hours, DCP’s planners will be on-hand to answer your questions, hear your perspectives and work alongside you towards a brighter, more transit-accessible future. Reserve your spot and make your voice heard!”

“I applaud DCP for taking this step to ensure Bronx residents have their voices heard about the Metro North stations coming to Hunts Point, Parkchester/Van Nest, Morris Park and Co-op City, through holding new designated remote office hours,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. “For nearly a decade, I have been beating the drum on direct access to Penn Station from The Bronx, which is becoming a reality. I am encouraging all Bronxites to participate in these office hours to make their voices heard, because this form of transportation in the East Bronx will be beneficial to us all.”

Office hours are the latest in DCP’s public engagement for the new Metro-North service planned for the East Bronx. The public can ask questions and talk to team members one-on-one, or in a small group calling from the same device, for 15-minute bookings every Friday from 3 to 5 p.m. Office hours can be reserved here. People can sign up for the meetings up to 30 days in advance, starting on July 2. 

In addition to office hours, DCP will continue to seek feedback and ideas from the public through a remote open house and upcoming remote workshops. A workshop for Parkchester/Van Nest is scheduled for June 24 at 5:30 p.m. A workshop for Morris Park is scheduled for June 29 at 5:30 p.m. To learn how to participate online or by calling from any phone, and to view DCP’s interactive webpage with videos, maps and surveys, please visit our website.

Since the study started in 2018, DCP has worked alongside the MTA, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., the NYC Department of Transportation, the NYC Economic Development Corporation and other stakeholders to advance public engagement on the new stations via workshops, meetings and additional events with community members and city agencies concerning the transit-accessible project.

The new stations are set to open after completion of the Penn Station Access project in the coming years, which will provide Metro-North riders with a direct route into Penn Station, significantly reducing commute times to and from the East Bronx for the first time in more than a century.

DCP aims to release a final plan for these four station areas by the end of this year.

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Department of City Planning

The Department of City Planning (DCP) plans for the strategic growth and development of the City through ground-up planning with communities, the development of land use policies and zoning regulations applicable citywide, and its contribution to the preparation of the City’s 10-year Capital Strategy. DCP promotes housing production and affordability, fosters economic development and coordinated investments in infrastructure and services, and supports resilient, sustainable communities across the five boroughs for a more equitable New York City.

In addition, DCP supports the City Planning Commission in its annual review of approximately 450 land use applications for a variety of discretionary approvals. The Department also assists both government agencies and the public by advising on strategic and capital planning and providing policy analysis, technical assistance and data relating to housing, transportation, community facilities, demography, zoning, urban design, waterfront areas and public open space.

Council Member Ruben Diaz Sr. - Bronx County Demonstrated Political Force

Your should know that in Bronx County, Eric Adams, who was endorsed by the Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and by Councilman Rev. Ruben Diaz Sr., won the Bronx by a huge majority above all other candidates.

 

You should also know that Eric Adams, candidate for mayor of New York City, practically destroyed all the other candidates in the Bronx. We can therefore say that thanks to the Bronx, Eric Adams will be the next mayor for the city of New York.

 

Moreover, Corey Johnson, the candidate for City Comptroller, was also endorsed by Ruben Diaz Jr., and he too won in the Bronx, although he lost the other counties.  Michelle Caruso Cabrera who was also candidate for City Comptroller, was endorsed by Councilman Rev. Ruben Diaz Sr., and the New York Hispanic Clergy Org., and she came in 2nd place in BronxCounty. 

 

There are other candidates that we still can’t say exactly how they ranked in this election.  For now, we will have to wait for those results. I will be informing you as the results come in.

 

 

I am Councilman Rev. Ruben Diaz, and this is what you should know. 

EDITOR'S NOTE:

It seems that the biggest winner in the Bronx on Primary Day was Congressman Adriano Espaillat, whose candidates are leading in the 14th and 15th City Council Districts, and appear to be unreachable during the RCV process. By doing so he has enlarged his sphere of influence in the West Bronx which includes State Senator Gustavo Rivera, and Assemblyman Victor Pichardo. Congratulations Congressman Espaillat.

Founder Of Non-Profit To End Sexual Violence Against Youth Sentenced To Thirteen Years In Prison For Child Pornography, Enticing A Minor To Have Sex

 

 Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that JOEL DAVIS was sentenced to 156 months in prison for enticing a child to engage in illegal sexual activity, 60 months for possession of child pornography, and 60 months for distribution and receipt of child pornography, all to be served concurrently.  DAVIS previously pled guilty on January 16, 2020, before United States District Judge George B. Daniels, who also imposed the sentence.

U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “As he previously admitted, Joel Davis, founder of a non-profit called ‘Youth to End Sexual Violence,’ admitted to engaging in the very abhorrent behavior he had publicly pledged to fight.  Davis, who also claims to be a Nobel Prize nominee for his work with his organization, engaged in sex acts with a minor, recording them, and distributing that recording to others – including an undercover FBI agent. Sex with minors is obviously never permissible, acceptable, or justifiable, and by virtue of his non-profit work, Joel Davis was acutely aware of the irreparable harm these crimes inflict on victims. Davis will now serve a lengthy time in federal prison, where he can no longer victimize minors.”

According to the Information and other documents filed in the case to which DAVIS pled, as well as statements made during the plea proceeding:

In or about June 2018, DAVIS used a dating application on his iPhone to entice a fifteen-year-old boy (the “Victim”) to engage in sexual activity with him.  On June 13, 2018, DAVIS invited the Victim to his apartment building in Manhattan and engaged in sexual activity with the Victim, despite knowing that the Victim was a minor.  DAVIS used his smartphone to film a portion of that conduct and sent the video to at least two others, including an undercover FBI agent. 

In addition, between at least in or about May 2018 and June 2018, DAVIS possessed more than 3,700 images and more than 330 videos of child pornography, including numerous images of prepubescent minors who had not attained 12 years of age, and received and distributed material containing child pornography using a cellphone.  DAVIS was arrested on June 26, 2018.

In addition to today’s prison sentence, DAVIS, 25, of New York, New York, was sentenced to five years of supervised release.

Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI in this investigation.

Any individuals who believe they have information concerning the exploitation of children may contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation at 1-212-384-1000 or https://tips.fbi.gov/.

Attorney General James Sues Niagara Wheatfield Central School District for Failing to Protect Students from Sexual Assault

 

School District Repeatedly Violated Title IX by Ignoring Student Complaints of Rape, Sexual Assault and Harassment, Bullying, and Failed to Take Action Against Perpetrators

AG James Seeks Oversight, Monitoring, and Creation of New Procedures for the School District's Handling of Sexual Assault

 New York Attorney General Letitia James today filed a lawsuit against the Niagara Wheatfield Central School District (NWCSD) for failing to respond to incidents of sexual assault and bullying in the schools. This legal action follows an investigation launched by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) in 2019, which found that NWCSD deliberately ignored student complaints of rape, assault, sexual harassment, and gender-based bullying, and took no action to protect them from their assailants and harassers, leading several students to drop out of school and lose access to educational opportunities. The lawsuit alleges that NWCSD repeatedly violated the federal Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and New York state common law, requiring that schools provide adequate supervision of their students to protect them from harm. Attorney General James’ lawsuit seeks oversight, monitoring, and the creation and implementation of new procedures for the school district and all of its schools to better address the handling of sexual assault.

“It is unconscionable that an institution tasked with educating and protecting its students turned a blind eye to the abuse, harassment, and bullying happening right in its school halls,” said Attorney General James. “The NWCSD’s inaction demonstrates that it did not have adequate systems in place to protect its students — particularly young women — when they needed it most. This indifference to student suffering has caused physical, mental, and emotional trauma, and jeopardized students’ education. My office remains committed to standing against sexual assault of any kind, anywhere, and ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all New Yorkers. I will continue to use the law to hold the school district accountable for its negligence, and to empower survivors of sexual harassment and assault.”

“Three years ago, the Niagara Wheatfield School District failed me. Their negligence and active disregard for my well-being only deepened my pain and suffering. In the time since, they have repeatedly tried to intimidate and silence me,” said TG, a former Niagara Wheatfield High School student who was raped by a fellow classmate. “Today, with this lawsuit, I feel a glimmer of hope. It is time to ensure Niagara Wheatfield does not fail another student in the way they failed me. Thank you, Attorney General James, for taking a stand and joining me in this fight. I will not be silenced.”

Federal law guarantees all students the right to a public education, and it provides that they shall not be deprived of this most basic right on the basis of sex. To that end, Title IX specifically requires that schools take steps to protect students from gender-based harassment and sexual assault that create a hostile educational environment and deprive students of educational opportunities. 

The OAG’s investigation into NWCSD began after media reports detailed how NWCSD did nothing in response to the rape of TG by a fellow student in May 2018. TG was forced to attend school with her assailant for the year following her rape. Even after the assailant pleaded guilty to third-degree rape, he was still allowed to remain in school, and was told he could attend prom and graduation. The NWCSD finally expelled him in May 2019, but only in response to the nationwide public and media attention brought by a student walkout organized to protest the school’s inaction. The school district also took no action against the students that bullied TG over her rape, but instead punished several students for participating in the walkout.

The investigation found that on multiple occasions, NWCSD did not protect students from harassment and bullying, affecting the overall school climate and harming students for a period of years. In the last several years, there have been more than 30 documented incidents of sex discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual assault, or gender-based bullying at NWCSD, yet NWCSD never created a single written safety plan, nor took any documented effort to keep students safe following these reports of rape, physical or sexual assault, or harassment. As a direct result of the hostile environment cultivated by NWCSD, at least two students dropped out of school.

The lawsuit, filed today in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York, seeks injunctive relief, including oversight, monitoring, and trainings for NWCSD, and the creation of new policies and practices for the handling of sexual assault, including a written safety plan for victims of harassment and assault.

This is OAG’s first lawsuit against a school district for the mishandling of accusations of sexual assault, and it is the latest legal action that Attorney General James has taken in her continued national fight to ensure Title IX rights are not violated or infringed upon in any way. Attorney General James has previously worked to protect all New Yorkers from sexual harassment and sex-based discrimination at schools, in workplaces, and everywhere else.

MAYOR DE BLASIO AND DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AND WORKER PROTECTION ANNOUNCE $400K SETTLEMENT WITH T-MOBILE IN CONSUMER PROTECTION CASE

 

DCWP charged T-Mobile and several of its authorized Metro by T-Mobile dealers for using deceptive sales practices to scam New Yorkers

 Mayor Bill de Blasio and the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) Acting Commissioner Sandra Abeles today announced a settlement agreement with T-Mobile USA, Inc. (T-Mobile) to resolve the Agency’s alleged violations of the City’s Consumer Protection Law. As part of the settlement, T-Mobile has agreed to pay $306,000 in civil penalties and $100,000 toward a claim fund for consumers. This agreement resolves DCWP’s allegations that T-Mobile, its subsidiary MetroPCS NY, and more than 50 of its authorized dealers and corporate stores across New York City, sold used phones as new, overcharged consumers, destroyed customer credit scores, and used deceptive return policies, among other violations.

“If a company deceives New Yorkers, this city will hold them accountable,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “No one should be sold a used phone as new or be misled into expensive financing plans. We are pleased that T-Mobile is settling this case, and we’re grateful for their other efforts to provide free hot spots for remote learning and donate phones to domestic violence survivors.”

“Using deceptive sales tactics to scam and take advantage of customers who were seeking an affordable wireless plan is just plain wrong,” said DCWP Acting Commissioner Sandra Abeles. “We are pleased that this settlement agreement will put money in the pockets of consumers who fell victim to these predatory practices.”

 

As part of the settlement, T-Mobile has agreed to:

• Pay $306,000 in civil penalties;
• Pay $100,000 to a claims fund for eligible consumers to seek restitution;
• Stop advertising incorrect refund policies and prices, and disclose if any products are used or refurbished;
• Comply with the City’s Consumer Protection Law, the Rules of the City of New York, and all other relevant city, state, and federal laws and regulations.
  

DCWP’s investigation also found that its subsidiary MetroPCS deceived consumers into entering financing plans with third-party financing companies, SmartPay Leasing Inc. and Prog Finance LLC, that ruined consumers’ credit. DCWP recently released a report to bring awareness to the predatory practices of the virtual lease-to-own industry in New York City and the deceptive tactics that are often used to lure consumers into financing agreements. As part of the settlement, T-Mobile must also notify SmartPay and Prog Finance, the major credit reporting bureaus, and federal and state consumer protection agencies of DCWP’s allegations of deceptive conduct.

 

Consumers who were overcharged, sold a used or refurbished phone as if it were new, or were denied a valid return within 30 days of purchase by a MetroPCS or Metro by T-Mobile store on or after September 5, 2016 should file a claim no later than June 23, 2022. To check if they are eligible, consumers can review the Eligibility Notice in English and Spanish and then submit the Claims Form (Spanish) online at nyc.gov/dcwp. Consumers can also learn tips for buying electronics here and file a complaint at nyc.gov/dcwp or by calling 311.

 

Bronx Metro-North Station Area Study - Just two more days before the first Remote Workshop!

 

Register for the Remote Workshops to share your vision!   The Bronx Metro-North Study (BMNS) Team and the Department of City Planning (DCP) invites you to the BMNS Remote Workshops 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.    Just two more days before our first Remote Workshop!    Time & Date:    June 24th @5:30pm-7:00pm:  Parkchester/Van Nest Station Area    June 29th @5:30pm-7:00pm: Morris Park Station Area      Sign Up Today to the Remote Workshops!   Remote Workshop: Parkchester / Van Nest Remote Workshop: Morris Park Meanwhile, take our Station-Area Surveys! If you haven't already, make sure to complete the surveys for the Parkchester/Van Nest and Morris Park station areas, by choosing a station below to let us know what your vision is for the neighborhoods around these new planned stations!

Parkchester/Van Nest Station Area Survey           Morris Park Station Area Survey

Be sure to also visit our Remote Open House to watch our station-area overview videos and to read our draft recommendations and more by clicking below.   Remote Open House

FIRST EVER FORDHAM FLEA BABY!