A Message from the 13th Bronx Borough President, Ruben Diaz Jr.

 

Dear friends,

At the end of this week, after serving over 12 marvelous years as your Bronx Borough President, and after 26 years of public service, I will leave elected office. Having the opportunity to be the Chief Executive of my hometown has been the most challenging and rewarding job, and I am deeply thankful to all of you for allowing me to serve. 

As my final term comes to a close, it is with great pride that I reflect on the transformative agenda we built and executed, that has elevated every neighborhood and community in this great borough.

Right before we were hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, we saw unemployment numbers fall below five percent, reaching the lowest levels in the history of The Bronx. We brought new businesses to the borough, and not only did we see unprecedented job growth, but these jobs paid living wages, thanks to the fight for the $15 minimum wage that began right here in our borough.

We have invested over $65 million in housing, giving thousands of families affordable units to call home. We turned empty, dilapidated lots into residential oases while making it clear to anyone who wanted to build here that if they want to do business in The Bronx, they must do business with The Bronx.

Since I became Borough President, my office has invested close to $100 million in capital funding into education, across 637 school improvement projects in every corner of The Bronx. We have made technological improvements, built new school yards, upgraded multi-purpose spaces, funded the creation of a hydroponic science lab and more. Our communities depend on public schools to provide our children with a quality education and I am proud that my office has played a role in ensuring the growth of our leaders of tomorrow.

In addition to the upgrades in our schools, we have also made changes for our youth outside of the classroom. In the wake of the tragic death of Lesandro Guzman-Feliz, also known as Junior, we came together not only to mourn this great loss, but to instill hope for a brighter future for our youth. We used our pain as a push to establish Camp Junior, a place for Bronx kids to go and not only experience nature and the outdoors, but also create their own networks while participating in free recreation and educational opportunities, including an anti-violence curriculum.

Growing up here in The Bronx, I remember not having adequate playgrounds and knowing that needed to change. We invested over $83 million in parks and green spaces, giving Bronx residents outdoor amenities, improving the quality of life in our borough.

Time and again, we proved our commitment to rebuilding and modernizing our borough’s infrastructure. We’ve made tremendous progress in transportation, both with our roads and public transit. We were able to restore ferry service, which reduced travel times for many Bronxites and created an alternative way of getting from point a to point b. After years of advocacy, we were able to secure funding to upgrade the Bruckner Sheridan Interchange. This project transformed an outdated interstate highway into a boulevard giving residents and visitors a direct connection to the Bronx waterfront and parks. We also made sure the state heard us out, and soon there will be four new Metro North stations, bringing Penn Station access to the East Bronx, which will come with job opportunities and reduced congestion for residents and visitors alike.

Despite our progress, I know life is not perfect here, but Bronxites are resilient and in hard times, we always come together and show strength, creativity and compassion. When Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico, the spirit of The Bronx was on national display as people from all different backgrounds came together and donated over 300,000 pounds of goods for affected Puerto Ricans.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, our borough was devastated; however, we saw neighbors helping neighbors all around The Bronx. Through the generosity of numerous partners, my office was able to distribute food and PPE in every area of the borough. Through a public-private partnership, my office was able to work with the schools to distribute almost 1,000 laptops to help students with remote learning.

As we recover from the pandemic, we have made great progress on projects that will help make The Bronx a global destination and give our residents the amenities we deserve. We were able to break ground on the renovations of Orchard Beach, towards which my office allocated $30 million dollars, that will give The Bronx Riviera a new look and attract people to the borough year-round. We cut the ribbon on a brand-new state-of-the-art YMCA in Edenwald, and now the Northeast Bronx has a much-needed space filled with a variety of programming that is truly a transformative addition to the neighborhood. We broke ground on the Universal Hip Hop Museum, which will ensure that we honor hip-hop in its rightful home as well as serve as a tourist attraction.

No matter who you are or what part of our borough you call home, I want you to know that each day I woke up and gave everything I had to fighting for you. Once again, to all of my constituents and supporters, I say thank you. The Bronx is where I was born, grew up and raised my own family. I bleed this borough and the opportunity to serve as the president of my hometown has been the honor of a lifetime. I wish you all good health and a Happy New Year. I won’t say goodbye but I will say, “see you soon.”

Sincerely,

Ruben Diaz Jr. 

Permits Filed For 350 Grand Concourse In Mott Haven, The Bronx

 

350 Grand Concourse in Mott Haven, The Bronx

Permits have been filed for a 12-story mixed-use building with affordable housing at 350 Grand Concourse in Mott Haven, The Bronx. Located between East 138th and East 144th Streets, the lot is near the 138th Street-Grand Concourse subway station, serviced by the 4 and 5 trains. Peter Fine of Bolivar Development is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 144-foot-tall development will yield 196,902 square feet, with 108,334 square feet designated for residential space and 88,568 square feet for community facility space. The building will have 141 residences, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 768 square feet. The masonry-based structure will also have a 31-foot-long rear yard and 50 enclosed parking spaces.

GF55 Partners is listed as the architect of record.

Demolition permits have not been filed yet. An estimated completion date has not been announced.

NYC ADVISORY COMMISSION ON PROPERTY TAX REFORM RELEASES FINAL REPORT

 

Report recommends the most significant changes to New York City’s property tax system in 40 years

 The New York City Advisory Commission on Property Tax Reform today released its final report with recommendations to create a simpler, clearer and fairer property tax system. The final report, entitled “The Road to Reform: A Blueprint for Modernizing and Simplifying New York City’s Property Tax System,” recommends sweeping changes to the current system, with a particular emphasis on smaller residential properties which the public and subject matter experts most often cite as having the greatest inequalities.

 

The final report expands on the initial recommendations released on January 31, 2020 and details targeted owner relief programs that will help low- and moderate-income homeowners better afford their tax bills. The report marks the first top-down review of the property tax system by a government-appointed commission since 1993. It can be found here.

 

“I am pleased to present the final report of the Advisory Commission tasked with reforming the City's property tax system. I would like to thank the members of the commission who spent the last three years diligently working through the myriad issues involved. Hopefully, this report will serve as a blueprint for the state and city legislative bodies to take this long needed reform to enactment,” said Commission Chair Marc Shaw.

 

The Commission’s work was temporarily disrupted by the pandemic, but it resumed in 2021 with an additional five public hearings to solicit input on the 10 recommendations in the preliminary report. The public’s feedback was instructive for the Commission in developing its final recommendations, which involved stripping the system of the features that lead to inequities and reconstructing it to align with a set of basic principles that prioritize targeted relief for primary resident owners.

 

The Commission’s strategic approach centered on first establishing the right mix of structural changes to achieve horizontal equity, the principle that similar properties should be taxed similarly, and then layering on owner relief programs consistent with the longstanding ability-to-pay principle. The result is a system design that will help ensure low- and moderate-income owners have affordable tax bills and primary residents are not displaced from neighborhoods that they have called home.

 

The Final Report includes structural changes that would make the system more equitable and understandable by:

 

·         Creating a new tax class for small residential property owners: 1-3 family homes, condos, coops, and 4-10 unit rental buildings, ensuring that rules are applied uniformly regardless of property type;

 

·         Valuing property in this new residential class based on sales-based market value, thereby ending the statutory requirement to value coops and condos based on comparable rental buildings;

 

·         Ending fractional assessments which differ by property class and confuse property owners;

 

·         Removing assessed value (AV) growth caps, widely recognized as one of the primary drivers of inequity, and phasing in market value changes over five years instead;

 

·         Replacing the complicated class shares system with a simple, more transparent system where individual tax class rates are fixed for five-year periods, unless deliberately changed by the City Council and the Mayor.

 

Recommendations also include targeted relief for primary resident owners to help them better afford their tax bills, including:

 

Homestead Exemption: A flat rate or graduated rate partial exemption is recommended.

 

·         Flat Rate Exemption: Primary residents with incomes below $375,000 would receive a 20% property tax exemption based on sales-based market value. Those with incomes between $375,000 and $500,000 would receive exemptions between 4% and 16%.

 

·         Graduated Marginal Rate Exemption: Primary residents with incomes below $375,000 would receive an exemption of up to 30% based on their home’s sales-based market value. The exemption would decrease for higher-valued homes and, for those with incomes between $375,000 and $500,000, the exemption would be further reduced.

 

Circuit Breaker: In addition to the homestead exemption, a tax abatement for those who are tax-burdened, with incomes below $90,550, is recommended.

 

• Primary residents with incomes below $90,550 who pay more than 10% of their income in property taxes would receive a tax abatement for the amount in excess of 10% of their income, up to a limit of $10,000; for those with incomes between $58,000 and $90,550, the benefit would be gradually reduced as income rises.

 

 

“While New York City’s property tax system has resisted reform for forty years, this comprehensive package of proposals offers a realistic path forward that addresses deep inequities and responds to the realities of vast differences in ability to pay. I urge the City's State legislators to champion these reforms in Albany and show all taxpayers that government works in their interests,” said Commission Member James Parrott.  

 

“The work of this temporary commission draws a roadmap toward real estate tax equity in New York’s property tax system, which has treated too many New Yorkers unfairly for decades.  What frightens me the most, is that if government doesn’t take the steps towards fairness and transparency now, the inequity between homeowners is going to grow more and more disparate each and every year to come,” said Commission Member Allen Cappelli.

 

"Over the past three years, the Commission has worked diligently to find solutions and/or recommendations to make our current property tax system more efficient, understandable and transparent. I believe the recommendations in our final report make real and substantial progress towards realizing those goals.  Accordingly, I want to thank my Commission colleagues, as well as the invaluable support staff from the New York City Council, the Mayor’s Office, the Department of Finance, and the Office of Management and Budget for their hard work and dedication to our mission,"  said Commission Member Kenneth J. Knuckles.

 

“New Yorkers deserve a fairer property tax system than what we have, which is getting more unfair with each year.  The Commission presents a road map for a fairer and simpler system.  Our elected officials need to follow that road soon,” said Commission Member Carol O'Cleireacain.

 

"The Commission was asked to develop recommendations to make the property tax system fairer, simpler and more transparent.  The recommendations in this report will do just that and, if enacted, benefit residents who have been taxed unfairly for far too long," said Commission Member Elizabeth Velez.  

 

About the Commission

 

Mayor Bill de Blasio and Speaker Corey Johnson announced the Commission in May of 2018.  It was charged with developing recommendations to reform the existing property tax system to make it simpler, clearer, and fairer, while ensuring that there is no reduction in revenue to fund essential City services.

 

Beginning in 2018, the Commission conducted a first round of hearings where members of public provided feedback on the property tax system and the Commission received advice from experts.  Following a series of Commission meetings in executive session, a Preliminary Report was released in January 2020.  The Commission’s work was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, but resumed in the spring on 2021.  Five additional virtual hearings were held this year to solicit feedback on the preliminary recommendations.  In total, the Commission has sponsored 15 public events and has read hundreds of public comments. 

 

Commission members include Marc V. Shaw, Chair, Allen P. Cappelli, Carol O’Cleireacain, Kenneth J. Knuckles, James A. Parrott, and Elizabeth Velez.  The Commission also included non-voting ex-officio members including the Commissioner of Finance Sherif Soliman, Budget Director Jacques Jiha, City Council Finance Division Director Latonia McKinney, and the Deputy Director and Chief Economist of the City Council Finance Division Raymond Majewski.

3 Days and Counting

 

Charlene while I still am mayor today, tomorrow, and on January 1st until Eric Adams is sworn in we are being kicked out of Gracie Mansion today so it can be set up for Mayor Eric Adams. Have you taken out everything we brought in, were given in the eight years that I was mayor, and everything else that wasn't nailed down?

I had a good working relationship with the city council, first Melissa, and then Corey, but it looks like Eric may have some problems with the new city council. They are already talking about overriding any veto he does, an have their own agenda that does not look like it goes with Eric's train of thought. I wonder how long it will take before we hear "I miss Mayor Bill de Blasio'.

Free Produce Giveaway at Loreto Park

 

Wednesday evening after sunset there was a free food giveaway of fresh produce organized by Mr. Christian Amato outside of Loreto Park in Morris Park. The event was next to the Christmas tree outside the fence where the baseball field is being restored from a lightly used hockey rink. Construction of the ballfield was scheduled to be completed by fall 2021, but that date came and went, and the new completion date is now mid 2022. There are mostly one family with a few two family homes around Loreto Park, in this middle class/upper middle class area. 

Unlike other free food giveaways where people line up, down the block and around the corner, here when the produce was set up there were only a few people in line. They picked the vegetables and fruit they wanted, and as people passed by they were asked if they wanted some free vegetables or fruit. This was top quality produce Mr. Amato picked up from the Hunts Point Market, and this was his second produce giveaway of the day. When asked about the poor turnout, Mr. Amato said he wanted to see how it would go at this location. Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez was also on hand, as the 2022 election season is a short time away having been pushed up several months by the state legislature two years ago.  

The unfinished ball field is behind the fence where the produce was set up.

Various vegetable boxes were opened to be given away.

Large top quality melons and fruits were available. 

It seemed that there were more servers than customers.

Once the initial rush was over people came one by one. 

DEC REMINDS NEW YORKERS: STATEWIDE BAN ON POLYSTYRENE FOAM CONTAINERS AND LOOSE FILL STARTS JAN. 1

 

DEC and Partners Continue Targeted Outreach and Education Campaign for Foam Manufacturers and Distributors, Affected Entities Including Schools, Hospitals, Restaurants

 Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today reminded New Yorkers that the State’s ban on expanded polystyrene foam containers and 'packing peanuts' begins Jan. 1, 2022. While an estimated 65 percent of New Yorkers are living in communities that have already banned polystyrene, New York’s statewide ban on polystyrene foam containers and loose fill packaging is among the first in the nation. DEC and partners continue outreach efforts to advise affected entities about the ban, particularly sellers and distributors of disposable food service containers, such as retail food stores, restaurants, hospitals, and schools.

 

"Nearly two-thirds of New Yorkers already live in communities that are ‘foam free,’” Commissioner Seggos said.  “New York City and Long Island are seeing the benefits of their foam bans with reduced litter on their landscapes and waterways. Now the rest of the State is poised to reap the benefits of a cleaner environment. DEC continues to focus on outreach to educate affected entities, but we know the foam ban will work and we look forward to less waste in our landfills in 2022." 

 

Expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam is a major contributor to environmental litter, causing negative impacts to wildlife, waterways, and natural resources. EPS foam is lightweight, breaks apart easily, and does not readily biodegrade, rendering it persistent in the environment and susceptible to becoming microplastic pollution. In addition, EPS foam containers and loose fill packaging are not accepted by most recycling programs in New York State because the foam is difficult to recycle, easily contaminates the recycling stream, is often soiled, and has low value.

 

Starting Jan. 1, New York’s ban prohibits any person engaged in the business of selling or distributing prepared food or beverages for on- or off-premises consumption from selling, offering for sale, or distributing disposable food service containers that contain expanded polystyrene foam in the state. In addition, no manufacturer or store will be allowed to sell, offer for sale, or distribute polystyrene loose fill packaging in the state. Disposable food service containers made of expanded polystyrene foam banned under the law include bowls, cartons, hinged "clamshell" containers, cups, lids, plates, trays, or any other product designed or used to temporarily store or transport prepared foods or beverages, including containers generally recognized as designed for single use. Initially, DEC will focus its efforts to achieve compliance with outreach and education to ensure a smooth transition for affected stakeholders, with enforcement to follow as needed. 

 

While the ban begins Jan. 1, DEC will release final regulations to implement the law in the coming months to assist stakeholders with complying with the law. Draft regulations were released earlier this year. Visit the DEC website to learn more: https://www.dec.ny.gov/regulations/123704.html.

 

Examples of covered food service providers required to comply with the ban include: 

• Food service establishments, caterers, temporary food service establishments, mobile food service establishments, and pushcarts as defined in the New York State Sanitary Code;
• Retail food stores, as defined in Article 28 of the Agriculture and Markets Law, which include any establishment where food and food products are offered to the consumer and intended for off-premises consumption;
• Delis, grocery stores, restaurants, cafeterias, and coffee shops;
• Hospitals, adult care facilities, and nursing homes; and
• Elementary and secondary schools, colleges, and universities.

Under the law, any facility, regardless of income, operated by a not-for-profit corporation or by a federal, state, or local government agency that provides food and meals to food insecure individuals at no or nominal charge may request a financial hardship waiver of the requirements of the law. Examples include community meal programs, food pantries, and places of worship. For more information, visit https://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/120762.html.

 

DEC’s outreach and education efforts about the ban are underway, helping those affected by the new law get up to speed with the requirements. DEC continues to conduct outreach and education through the website, educational webinars, newsletters, listservs, magazines, social media, phone calls, and e-mail communications with stakeholders and the public. In addition, DEC is working in close partnership with other State agencies such as the Departments of Health and Agriculture and Markets to distribute outreach materials to retailers and covered food service providers directly affected by this law. DEC is also working with other partners, such as the Pollution Prevention Institute, New York State Center for Sustainable Materials Management, and New York State Association for Reduction, Reuse and Recycling to ensure affected providers receive information regarding the ban.  

 

The EPS foam ban builds on New York's environmental leadership in preventing litter, reducing waste and supporting recycling through measures such as the ban on plastic carryout bags, the bottle bill, and food scrap recycling and food waste prevention efforts. For more information, go to: https://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/294.html

MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES CITY CLEANUP CORPS HAS REMOVED ONE MILLION TRASH BAGS

 

 Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced that the City Cleanup Corps (CCC) has removed more than one million bags of trash citywide, among other recent milestones and expansions, since the program’s launch in April 2021. 

The New Deal-inspired economic recovery initiative supports communities, businesses, and tourism by refreshing and revitalizing public spaces. As of December 20, 2021, CCC members had hand-swept nearly 70,000 block faces, maintained more than 40,000 rain gardens, planted over 10,000 plants across the five boroughs, and painted over 630 properties that had been defaced with graffiti.

 

“To build a recovery for all New Yorkers, we knew that supporting our city's workforce, helping people get back on their feet, and revitalizing our public spaces were critical,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “That was a shared vision across the City agencies, community-based organizations, and elected officials who have participated in the City Cleanup Corps, and that vision has been realized through the tremendous work of the over 10,000 Corps members across the five boroughs. We thank the CCC and our partners for helping beautify New York City and leading the nation's economic recovery."

 

Among the latest City Cleanup Corps program milestones and expansions are: 

• A partnership with the New York City Day Laborer Coalition to expand access to hands-on work experience and training for low-income workers;
• New programs, Youth Sustainability Corps (YSC) and Green Applied Projects for Parks x Pathways to Graduation (GAPP x P2G), to support and invest in young adults; and,
• The completion of 21 public art projects through BeautifyNYC to revitalize neighborhoods and empower communities.

 

“When we launched the City Cleanup Corps in April, we had clear goals to expand access to work experience and training for New Yorkers, and to restore and refresh our public spaces,” said Deputy Mayor for Strategic Policy Initiatives J. Phillip Thompson. “Today, we celebrate program expansions that build on those goals, and milestones that demonstrate the positive impact the Corps has had on our communities and will continue to have on the careers of Corps members, low-wage workers, and youth.”

 

“Since its inception during an unprecedented time in our City's history, the City Cleanup Corps has been a truly unique and effective team effort thanks to our partnership with more than two dozen City agencies and community-based organizations,” said Acting Director of the Mayor’s Office of Workforce Development Chris Neale who leads the City Cleanup Corps. “These milestones and expansions are a testament to the collaboration and determination of Corps partners and members to serve our communities. We look forward to continuing our work to empower our Corps members with hands-on experience and training to prepare them for successful careers.”

 

Through the collaboration of more than two dozen City agencies and community-based organizations, members of the CCC tend to the needs of neighborhoods by hand-sweeping public spaces, cleaning defaced properties, power-washing sidewalks, tending to green spaces, and creating community murals, among other efforts to help bolster New York City’s economy. Since its inception, the CCC has employed more than 10,000 New Yorkers, and after surpassing this hiring goal, the program is supporting the extension of existing CCC members’ tenures through the end of Fiscal Year 2021, alongside the latest program expansions. 

 

Partnership with NYC Day Laborer Coalition to Expand Access to Hands-on Work Experience and Training for Low-Income Workers

 

​​Through a partnership with the New York City Day Laborer Coalition and the New York City Council, low-income workers will receive compensated training and work experience in cleaning, community gardening, and landscaping in partnership with community-based organizations and local businesses. The NYC Day Laborer Coalition is composed of community-based organizations New Immigrant Community Empowerment, Third Sector New England/Worker’s Justice Project, Staten Island Community Job Center - La Colmena, Northern Manhattan Coalition for Immigrant Rights, and Catholic Charities Community Services, Archdiocese of New York. These organizations were collectively allocated nearly $3 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funding under the Speaker's Initiative as part of the City Cleanup Corps program.

 

New Programs to Support and Invest in Young Adults 

 

Youth Sustainability Corps (YSC)

The New York City Department of Parks & Recreation (NYC Parks) has partnered with the Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD), the Mayor's Office of Youth Employment, and the City Cleanup Corps to develop the very first Youth Sustainability Corps (YSC). The YSC is a specialized Parks green job internship program within DYCD’s Work Learn Grow program where students gain work readiness, explore careers in the green economy, and receive targeted employment training and skills development with a focus on environmental justice and the City’s overall recovery. Parks’ YSC students will get hands-on experience in the full scope of green roof installation, and learn about systemic environmental challenges and a broad range of sustainable solutions NYC Parks is piloting. These program components, combined and funded through Mayor de Blasio’s City Cleanup Corps economic recovery program, will serve 30 young people from New York City schools with 225 hours of program, for total earnings of $3,375 per student.

 

Green Applied Projects for Parks x Pathways to Graduation (GAPP x P2G)

Through a collaboration between NYC Parks and the New York City Department of Education (DOE), the City Cleanup Corps is also funding a new work study program, Green Applied Projects for Parks x Pathways to Graduation (GAPP x P2G). The program fosters career readiness and skills building through practical application: students served will tackle a complete project from start to finish—for instance, building, blazing, and landscaping a trail—alongside Parks Department employees. In coordination with the DOE, the program allows students to work and attend high school equivalency classes in the same location, on the same day, and aims to help participants build a strong peer network to support them in school and through their careers. The nearly $1 million work study pilot funded by Mayor de Blasio will serve 36 New Yorkers, between ages 18 to 30, who have been disengaged from work and school, and may have been involved in the justice system. The pilot will run 40 hours a week, for 26 weeks, for a total earnings of $16,068 per participant plus transportation costs.  

 

Completion of 21 Public Art Projects to Revitalize Neighborhoods and Empower Communities

 

In partnership with the City Artist Corps, NYC Department of Probation, and Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute, City Cleanup Corps supported Beautify NYC, a program through which local artists and young people collaborated on arts projects to revitalize community spaces. From July to November, local arts organizations ran weekly project-based workshops for youth ages 16 to 24 across a variety of artistic disciplines, with both artists and young people paid for their work. The 21 projects, which ranged from designing tree guards to painting colorful murals, took place in seven neighborhoods across the City with Neighborhood Opportunity Network (NeON) Centers:  East New York, Jamaica, Brownsville, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Harlem, and the South Bronx. Each project culminated in a final event that connected artists, young people, and organizations to the broader community. Beautify NYC leveraged the power of art and culture to advance recovery in some of the areas most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. An additional number of workshops will continue through June 2022. 

 

Click here to watch a video recap of the Beautify NYC projects.

 

The City Cleanup Corps has had a significant impact on the local New Yorkers employed by the program, the supervisors they report to, and the communities CCC members have served. To read stories about the impact of this work, visit the CCC Instagram and Facebook Page. 

 

“Through City Cleanup Corps' support, Beautify NYC provided youth across the boroughs opportunities to explore the transformative power of art while centering our communities,” said Department of Cultural Affairs Commissioner Gonzalo Casals. “Just as they have throughout the pandemic, our City's arts community—now joined by Beautify NYC's promising young artists—have demonstrated how our cultural heritage and creative energy brings New Yorkers together, brightens our neighborhoods, and will help communities recover, now and in the future."

 

“As New York City’s Strongest pick up 12,000 tons of trash and recycling every day, City Cleanup Corps members have been valuable partners in our shared mission of keeping our city clean and safe,” said Department of Sanitation Commissioner Edward Grayson. “We applaud the Corps on today’s milestone and their ongoing work in the revitalization of our city. With nearly 1,000 new Sanitation Workers joining our team this year, the Department of Sanitation looks forward to continued partnership with the Corps’ expanded programs in the months ahead.”

 

“We congratulate NYC Cleanup Corps for reaching this impressive milestone," said Department of Transportation Commissioner Hank Gutman. "The Cleanup Corps provides vital maintenance services to Open Streets locations, plazas, and other public spaces, and we are happy the program will expand and continue to keep our public spaces clean and vibrant."

 

“The de Blasio Administration’s workforce development strategy has focused on developing young people’s workforce readiness in growing industries. Thanks to support from the City Cleanup Corps, Parks is leveraging the talent and expertise of our staff to teach the next generation of green innovators through our Youth Sustainability Corps and GAPP x P2G program,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Gabrielle Fialkoff. “The City Cleanup Corps has made a significant impact on the lives of New Yorkers and proven to be an invaluable asset as we work towards recovery in every borough.”

 

“Every opportunity we have to invest in and support our young adults is valuable for the individual and for our city as a whole,” said Schools Chancellor Meisha Porter. “We are so excited to partner with NYC Parks on Green Applied Projects for Parks x Pathways to Graduation. This incredible work study program funded by the City Cleanup Corps will empower young adults by kick-starting their careers, forging strong peer networks, and fostering important professional skills all while revitalizing our beautiful public spaces.”

 

“DYCD and the Work, Learn, Grow (WLG) program are proud to partner with NYC Parks and the City Cleanup Corps on the exciting Youth Sustainability Corps, which introduces young people to green careers, environmental justice, and opportunities such as repurposing rooftops to help us combat climate change and extreme weather events. High schoolers interning with the Youth Sustainability Corps will get hands-on training while gaining work readiness skills and exploring careers with in-demand industries,” said Department of Youth and Community Development Commissioner Bill Chong.

 

“The City Cleanup Corps has been a terrific help in ensuring the City’s drainage infrastructure is operating as efficiently as possible,” said Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Vincent Sapienza. “The Cleanup Corps has helped to clear trash and debris from catch basins and curbside rain gardens across the city. This is an important reminder that all New Yorkers can play a part in making New York a more livable city and support our drainage system by not littering on our streets.”

 

Attorney General James Issues Statement On New CDC COVID-19 Recommendations

 

  New York Attorney General Letitia James today issued a statement to employers following new recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) isolation periods:

“The health and safety of all New Yorkers has always been our top priority, and, in order to protect our communities, we must continue to act responsibly and carefully. It is essential that any employee who is exhibiting any COVID-19 symptom and tests positive not be pressured to return to the workplace before those symptoms subside. We must take the necessary steps to stop the spread of this virus, and this is a basic and common-sense approach.”