Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz Digest: Riverdale Road Diet, City Gives Pass to Athletes, & More

 

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What's Happening in the 81st Assembly District?

NYC DOT Plans Riverdale Avenue Road Diet Mayor Adams Ends Vaccine Requirement for Athletes and Performers Local Update: Update on Greystone Avenue Construction Albany Update: Trio of Dinowitz Bills Pass Assembly on Mandatory Arbitration Rights for Consumers Poll of the Week: Budget Surplus REMINDER: MetroCard Van Services in Woodlawn and Central Riverdale on Tuesday, March 29 Updates from Government & Community Partners

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NYC DOT Plans Riverdale Avenue Road Diet

The New York City Department of Transportation is once again proposing to implement a road diet on Riverdale Avenue between West 254th Street and the county line (West 263rd Street). The proposal will be discussed at a virtual public meeting held by the Community Board 8 Traffic & Transportation Committee on Thursday, March 31 at 7pm. The meeting can be accessed using Zoom at the following link, or telephone number if you prefer: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2114033690 or by dialing 1-646-558-8656 and entering the meeting ID number 2114033690#. I have not taken a position on the proposal itself at this time, and am very interested in hearing what people in our community think about the potential changes. Although everybody is entitled to their opinion regardless of where they live, I do continue to believe that people who live closest to a proposed change ought to carry a little more weight when they offer their opinions than someone who lives in Brooklyn or Manhattan, for example. However, I must address some serious process issues that I have with how Bronx DOT has conducted their community engagement process thus far. Historically, Bronx DOT has been very communicative with Community Boards, elected officials, and all relevant community stakeholders who may be affected by their decisions. I believe this has yielded positive results overall, such as with the bike lane on Broadway, the traffic signal at Kappock Street and Johnson Avenue, the left turn lane from Mosholu Parkway onto Sedgwick Avenue, and many other examples. With this particular road diet proposal, I am very concerned that Bronx DOT refused to share a copy of their plans with the Community Board, with elected officials, or with any community groups except for one specific group who has been pushing for the road diet for many years. I think it is perfectly fine for Bronx DOT to share their plans with community groups, but they need to be fair and equitable in how they are sharing information with stakeholders. It is unacceptable to give specific groups early access to information while refusing to provide that same information to other interested parties. I am pleased that Bronx DOT finally showed the plans to me via Zoom, although they continue to refuse to share a physical or digital copy of their plans that I (or Community Board members, or other stakeholders) can review on our own time, and I was able to provide my initial thoughts to them. However, I hope that going forward Bronx DOT is more communicative with everybody in the community — and not just the select groups that they want to attend a public meeting.

Mayor Adams Ends Vaccine Requirement for Athletes and Performers

As you may have heard, Mayor Adams has decided that athletes and performers should be exempt from the City's vaccination requirements for New York-based employers. I think this is a horrible decision, one that contradicts everything we have been working so hard to achieve over the past two years during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is absolutely ludicrous that millionaire athletes and performers are not being held to the same vaccination standard as the hard-working people who work in those very same venues — cleaners, ticket checkers, vendors, maintenance workers, window cleaners, and many other workers. The ostensible basis for Mayor Adams' decision is to boost morale for the City. I do not agree with this reasoning. The way we boost morale in the City is by supported the millions of people who have already done the right thing and gotten vaccinated and boosted, not by undermining all of our public health messaging about vaccination and giving anti-vaxxers a very powerful litigious weapon in their crusade against public health. There has been some justified confusion about the disparity with which New York City treated out-of-state performers and athletes as compared to those in-state. I agree that it doesn't make sense to prohibit athletes like Kyrie Irving and potentially Aaron Judge and Jacob DeGrom from playing home games in New York while simultaneously allowing their unvaccinated competitors to play games in New York. I carry legislation along with State Senator Brad Hoylman to do the opposite of what Mayor Adams did — my bill would have required out-of-state athletes and performers to meet the same requirements as in-state athletes and performers. I believe this is a much better solution that sufficiently emphasizes the importance of vaccination, and does not hold working-class people to a different standard than the rich and powerful.

Local Update: Update on Greystone Avenue Construction

A few weeks ago, I shared an update on the ongoing construction on Greystone Avenue near West 242nd Street to resolve a chronic cave-in issue. At the time, we were trying to help resolve an impasse between Con Edison and the NYC Department of Environmental Protection about so-called "utility interference." I am pleased to share that the issue appears to be resolved, and DEP will be resuming their work on Greystone Ave starting next week. The work is expected to last for approximately three days (barring inclement weather). My understanding of the delay is that DEP had asked Con Edison to allow them to work under a transformer to install sewage equipment, which according to Con Edison was not feasible. DEP apparently decided not to extend the sewer further in this area. I am somewhat concerned that this is going to create future problems down the road with the sewer infrastructure, but it appears that the short-term issue will be resolved soon.

Albany Update: Trio of Dinowitz Bills Pass Assembly on Mandatory Arbitration Rights for Consumers

I am proud to share that another three of my bills have passed the Assembly. These three bills are all on the topic of consumer protections against arbitration agreements. Arbitration is a process that basically replaces (or supplements, depending on the context) the court system as a venue to resolve disputes between two parties. There has been an increasingly prevalent issue with mandatory arbitration clauses being included in consumer contracts, which leads to many consumers unknowingly signing away the right to their day in court. Historically, the arbitration process disproportionately favors businesses over consumers. The first bill (A1450) requires mandatory arbitration clauses in certain consumer contracts to be disclosed to the consumer. Specifically, it would require companies to proactively inform the consumer and clearly explain (in writing and in plain language) what an arbitration clause is. The second bill (A1464A) requires employment and consumer dispute arbitrations to be submitted to neutral third party arbitrators. Specifically, the bill would establish a clear definition for "neutral third party" and void any agreement or contract that does not require any dispute be submitted to a neutral third-party arbitrator. It would also require a series of disclosures by an arbitrator that may impact their impartiality. This bill would help both consumer and employment disputes, which should be especially helpful for non-union workers whose contracts are more likely to include arbitration clauses that do not require the arbitrator to be neutral. The third bill (A1865) requires mandatory arbitration clauses in certain consumer contracts to be printed in large font type.

Poll of the Week: Budget Surplus

The poll last week asked "Do you think the gas tax should be suspended or rebated?" We had over 150 responses, and the results are below: Yes - Suspend: 36% Yes - Rebate: 8% No - Maintain: 36% No - Increase: 14% Undecided or It Depends: 6%

This week's poll involves the state budget, which is due by March 31, 2022. New York State has a surplus of revenue, largely due to federal support during the COVID-19 pandemic. There seem to be two prevailing schools of thought on what to do with this money: spend it or save it. Those who want to spend it believe it should be utilized immediately to help address urgent issues such as relief for undocumented workers who were ineligible for traditional assistance, investments in climate change mitigation, relief for renters and homeowners, utility relief, and other types of programs. Those who want to save it believe it should be put into a rainy day account for future deficits, so that we do not have to make budget cuts following an economic downturn.

Do you think that New York State should spend or save the surplus revenue we have this year? Spend Select Save Select Undecided or It Depends Select

REMINDER: MetroCard Van Services in Woodlawn and Central Riverdale on Tuesday, March 29

At our request, the MTA has agreed to provide their MetroCard van in central Riverdale and in Woodlawn once again during the months of March, April, and May. This is an easy way for you to apply for a reduced-fare MetroCard, to refill a MetroCard (including reduced-fare MetroCards), or to deal with any other MetroCard-related issue you may be having. The MetroCard van will be available at West 235th Street and Johnson Avenue between 9:30am and 11:30am, and will be available at the Woodlawn Library (Katonah Avenue and East 239th Street) between 12:30pm and 2:30pm on the following dates: • Tuesday, March 29 • Friday, April 29 • Tuesday, May 31 As a reminder, the MetroCard van is also available on a recurring basis at the following locations: • Riverdale at Skyview Shopping Center (Riverdale Avenue between West 256th Street and West 259th Street) on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month between 10:30am and 12:30pm • Kingsbridge at West 231st Street and Broadway on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month between 1:30pm and 3:30pm • Knolls Crescent Mall (11-21 Knolls Crescent) on the 2nd and 4th Friday between 10am and 12pm My office will continue to advocate for the restoration of MetroCard van service to the Van Cortlandt Senior Center as well as the permanent addition of the locations in central Riverdale and Woodlawn to their regular schedule. The MTA has also indicated that riders can refill their MetroCards at participating retailers throughout the city. For a list of these retailers, please visit: tripplanner.mta.info/metrocardmerchants/BoroughMetroCardMap.aspx?zone=BX. Additionally, for those who are comfortable with online payments, the MTA will continue rolling out OMNY (which is their new fare payment system to replace the MetroCard). Using OMNY, you can pay for your transit fare using you contactless card (check your credit or debit card for what looks like a series of increasingly large closed parentheses), your smart device (such as a smart phone or smart watch that has been set up as a digital wallet). You may also now get a physical OMNY card (available currently at several retailers in our community, shown here: omny.info/retail-locations). These physical OMNY cards are able to be connected to a debit or credit card as well as refilled using cash at participating retailers. Beginning on February 28, 2022, the MTA is launching their pilot program to offer customers a weekly fare cap option. Basically, if you participate in this program through OMNY, after 12 subway or local bus trips tapping with the same card or device, you will automatically ride free for the rest of the week (defined as Monday through Sunday). For more information, please see the MTA's website here: https://omny.info/ Additionally, you can also apply for EasyPay Express using traditional MetroCard technology. This option allows you to connect a credit or debit card to your MetroCard so that it automatically refills either a 30-day unlimited plan or to maintain a $20 minimum balance on your MetroCard. For more information, please see the MTA's website here: https://www.easypaymetrocard.com/vector/static/faq/XpressFaq.shtml

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Updates from Government & Community Partners

MTA – Track Work on Woodlawn-Bound 4 Trains (Started February 15) Upcoming track work will require Woodlawn-bound 4 trains to skip the Mosholu Parkway station Will affect midday travel during the week: Mar 29 - Apr 1, 2022 (Tuesday 10:45 AM - Friday 3:00 PM)   Note: This service change is expected to recur through April. For service to this station, take the 4 train to Woodlawn and transfer to a Crown Heights-bound 4 train. For service from this station, take a downtown 4 to Bedford Park Boulevard-Lehman College and transfer to a Woodlawn-bound 4 train.

MTA – Weekend Service Change on 1 Train 3/26/22-3/27/22 Track work will require upcoming planned service changes on March 26-27 Van Cortlandt Park-242 St. bound 1 trains will be replaced by shuttle bus from 238th Street to Van Cortlandt Park 242 St station. Impacted times will be 5:00am on March 12 until 8:00pm on March 13 and from 6:00am on March 26 to 8:00pm on March 27

NYC Department of Environmental Protection – Seeking Rain Garden Maintainers Would be Seasonal City Park Worker Would assist in general maintenance work, including edging, seeding, snow removal, cultivating, fertilizing, trimming, sweeping, removal of sediments and raking of litter Would clean and maintain facilities including drainage structures Would drive vehicles and operate certain other motorized equipment (valid NYS Driver license is required and must be maintained for the duration of employment) Salary: $16.63 per hour with a 40 hour work week Interviews are scheduled to take place in March Apply at nyc.gov/careers with the Job ID# 518491

Altice USA / Optimum – Free Calls, MMS, SMS to Ukraine Optimum Mobile, Optimum, and Suddenlink phone customers are able to place calls from the US to Ukraine at no additional cost Optimum Mobile customers are able to send free SMS and MMS messages to Ukraine Includes both residential and small business customers Lasts through the end of March More information: https://www.alticeusa.com/news/articles/feature/corporate/altice-usa-provide-optimum-and-suddenlink-customers-free-long-distance-calling-and-messaging-ukraine

NYC Mayor's Community Affairs Unit Newsletter

 

Dear New Yorker,

 

We continue to work with the victims of the Bronx fire in January. Earlier this week, Mayor Adams signed Executive Order 12 to strengthen fire safety enforcement and outreach in the aftermath of the tragic Twin Parks apartment fire in January. This will increase coordination between FDNY and HPD inspectors to identify safety violations earlier and increase fire safety compliance. FDNY and HPD will also launch a broad campaign to educate New Yorkers on fire safety.

 

Mayor Adams announced the expansion of the NYPD Neighborhood Safety Teams to five additional precincts at Manhattan's 25th and 28th precinct, Brooklyn's 69th precinct, Queen’s 114th precinct, and Staten Island's 120th precinct. Six days after launching the program, the NYPD made 31 arrests and removed 10 guns from our streets - that's about one gun removed from our streets each day.

 

Mayor Adams announced that masks will be optional for 2-4 year old children in schools and daycare settings starting Monday, April 4th. Two weeks ago, the City removed the mask mandate for K-12 public school children and found that our percent positivity in schools remained low. In addition, Mayor Adams expanded the performer exemption to the city’s private employer vaccine mandate, putting New York City-based performers on a level playing field with performers based outside of the city. The previous double standard hurt the city’s economy and put New York sports teams at a self-imposed competitive disadvantage. We will continue to follow the data and the science as we reopen our City. 

 

This week we continued having community roundtables. On Tuesday, we engaged the Muslim community leaders. On Thursday, we had a discussion with the Transgender People of Color community. We will work together to get stuff done for New Yorkers across all communities in New York City.

 

Mayor Adams announced the reappointment of Cecile Noel as commissioner of the Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence (ENDGBV), Laurie Cumbo as Department of Cultural Affairs Commission, Elizabeth Crotty as Business Integrity Commission Commissioner and Chair, and Abby Jo Sigal as executive director of the Mayor’s Office of Talent and Workforce Development.

 

We wish the Greek community a Happy Greek Independence Day! 

 

In partnership,

Fred Kreizman

Commissioner, Mayor's Community Affairs Unit

OCASIO-CORTEZ TO RALLY WITH VOLUNTEERS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THE BRONX AND QUEENS ON SUNDAY

 

This Sunday, March 27, 2022, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will join volunteers for her re-election campaign at events in The Bronx and Queens as they gather petition signatures for the June primary election. In Jackson Heights, Queens, Ocasio-Cortez will join State Senator Jessica Ramos (SD-13), State Senator Mike Gianaris (SD-12), Assemblymember Catalina Cruz (AD-39), Assemblymember Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas (AD-34), and Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani (AD-36).   11 AM on Sunday, March 27,  34th Avenue Open Streets, b/w 77th St and 78th St (in front of Travers Park), Jackson Heights, Queens In Parkchester, The Bronx, the Congresswoman will rally alongside Assemblymember Karines Reyes (AD-80) and Assemblymember Nathalia Fernandez (AD-87).  2 PM on Sunday, March 27, Virginia Park/Playground (west of Hugh J. Grant Circle), Parkchester, The Bronx.

Attorney General James Protects Consumers From Unscrupulous Energy Service Company

 

AG James Fines Columbia Utilities $500,000 for Prohibited Door-to-Door Marketing

 New York Attorney General Letitia James took action to protect consumers, securing more than $555,000 from an energy service company that was engaging in prohibited marketing practices over a two-month period. Columbia Utilities, LLC and Columbia Utilities Power, LLC (Columbia Utilities) entered into hundreds of gas and electric contracts through prohibited door-to-door marketing to convince consumers across the state to use its services. A previous settlement with Columbia Utilities and the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) prohibited the company from conducting door-to-door marketing. Columbia Utilities has paid $500,000 in penalties for violating the previous settlement and is paying nearly $60,000 in full restitution to the impacted consumers.

“Protecting consumers from unscrupulous companies is a top priority for my office,” said Attorney General James. “This hefty penalty forces Columbia Utilities to pay the price for its wrongdoing and ensures that it will follow the rules. Consumers can trust that my office will protect them from companies that break the rules. Companies that violate settlements with our office are on notice that such conduct will not be tolerated.” 

Columbia Utilities is a repeat offender. In 2011, an investigation by OAG found that the energy service company was misleading consumers. As a result, the company agreed to pay $2 million in restitution to consumers deceived by false promises of savings. The agreement also imposed restrictions on the company’s marketing practices. In 2014, the agreement was amended to impose a further restriction, entirely prohibiting Columbia Utilities from engaging in door-to-door marketing without prior approval from OAG. Nevertheless, in November 2020, the company violated the terms of the settlement and resumed door-to-door marketing for two months, before OAG learned of the conduct and promptly shut it down. During that time, Columbia Utilities convinced 912 consumers throughout the state to sign 1,334 contracts. The prohibited door-to-door marketing was predominately in and around New York City, Albany, Syracuse, Rochester, Ithaca, Utica, and Watertown.

To resolve the violation of Columbia Utilities’ prior settlement, the company has paid $500,000 in penalties plus full restitution under each of the prohibited contracts for every dollar that consumers paid above what they would have paid to their utilities. Columbia Utilities is providing the restitution to affected consumers without requiring any further action by the consumers. In addition, each contract with Columbia Utilities will be terminated, unless the consumer affirmatively opts to continue the contract with the company. Further, the prohibition against door-to-door marketing by Columbia Utilities will persist, unless the company presents a suitable marketing plan that is approved by OAG.

The settlement with Columbia Utilities is part of OAG’s long-standing, ongoing investigations into energy service companies (ESCOs) and their practices. As a result of those investigations, ESCOs have paid millions of dollars in restitution and penalties. Together with OAG’s recent settlement with Family Energy, over the last five years OAG has recovered more than $7.5 million in settlements from six ESCOs.

District Leader Candidates and CB 7 Give Out Groceries in Norwood

It was a warm Friday afternoon as 80th District Leader candidate Remy Salas had just dropped off one hundred bags of groceries on the corner of East 204th Street and Hull Avenue to be distributed to area residents who were in need of the free groceries. As the crowd lined up District Leader candidates Remy Salas and Sandra Pabon talked to the crowd of people who were waiting on line to introduce themselves. Many already knew Norwood resident Pabon, and she said that Remy Salas was her running mate in the upcoming June Democratic Primary. 

Also on hand was Community Board 7 District Manager Ischia Bravo, and CB 7 board member Monjur Choudhury Joglul who were giving out reusable grocery bags and other items. Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez stopped by to see how everything was going and to take a photo op with the District Leader candidates, CB 7 District Manager Bravo and her board member.

80th Assembly District Leader candidates Sandra Pabon, and Remy Salas who is holding one of the bags of groceries that was given out.

Community Board 7 District Manager Ischia Bravo holds a bag of containers to hold a weeks worth of daily vitamins and/or pills for people to have.

Assemblywoman Fernandez watches as District Leader candidate Remy Salas introduces himself to a woman waiting on line.

The group photo op. L-R are 80th A.D. Female District Leader Candidate Sandra Pabon, Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez, CB 7 DM Ischia Bravo who is holding one of the reusable grocery bags that were given out, 80th A.D. Male District Leader candidate Remy Salas, and CB 7 member Monjur Choudhury Joglul.