The Bronx Chamber of Commerce - Bronx Business News You Can Use

 

Upcoming Events, Legislative News, Grant Opportunities, & More

(Friday) Extra, Extra Click here for this week's video: Jerome and Burnside Avenue Strategy Walk Through with NYC SBS Commissioner Kevin Kim and the New York City Councilmember Chamber Team and National Night Out New York City's Investment in Bronx Cultural Institutions Regulations & Legislative News Redistricting Commission Hearing Dates & Locations announced Primary Elections Reminder: NYC Speed Cameras are now 24/7/365 Upcoming Events Member Spotlight Woodlawn Conservancy,  Bridge to Crafts Careers Landscape Restoration Program

CHAMBER JOINS NYC SMALL BUSINESS SERVICES COMMISSIONER & NYC COUNCIL FOR JEROME & BURNSIDE AVENUE TOURS

The Bronx Chamber of Commerce team led by Chamber President Lisa Sorin and Small Business Resource Network Supervisor Darry Saldana hosted a tour of Jerome and Burnside Avenues commercial districts with Councilmember Althea Stevens. Joined by NYC Department of Small Business Services Commissioner Kevin Kim and NYC Council Small Business Services Chair Julie Menin, the afternoon focused on the needs and opportunities of this historic area that recently underwent rezoning under the Jerome Avenue Rezoning Plan. The Jerome Avenue Neighborhood Planning Study aims to take a broad, comprehensive look at current and future community needs to identify a wide range of strategies and investments, including key land use and zoning changes, to support Jerome Avenue’s growth and vitality. This study looks at the two-mile stretch of Jerome Avenue, as well as the surrounding neighborhoods in Community District 4, 5 and 7 in the Bronx. The Bronx Chamber of Commerce has taken active steps to work with area businesses and property owners to explore methods to strengthen the area's commercial corridors.

THE BRONX CHAMBER & NATIONAL NIGHT OUT

From Edenwald to Mott Haven, The Bronx Chamber of Commerce joined local precincts, elected officials, residents, and community organizations to foster deeper police and community relationships during the annual National Night Out. National Night Out enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community. Furthermore, it provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances.  Millions of neighbors take part in National Night Out across thousands of communities from all fifty states, U.S. territories and military bases worldwide on the first Tuesday in August (Texas and select areas celebrate on the first Tuesday in October). Neighborhoods host block parties, festivals, parades, cookouts and various other community events with safety demonstrations, seminars, youth events, visits from emergency personnel, exhibits and much, much more.

UNIVERSAL HIP HOP MUSEUM & CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS RECEIVE SUPPORT FROM NYC GOVERNMENT

Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Culture Affairs, joined by Bronx electeds and community leaders announced a $5.5 million investment for the Universal Hip Hop Museum in the Bronx. The museum will open in a 52,000-square-foot space at the Bronx Point development at Mill Pond Park. The museum's new facility will include several gallery spaces, a black box theater, interactive exhibits and administrative offices . The Universal Hip Hop Museum is the only state chartered educational museum dedicated to celebrating and preserving local and global contributions to hip hop music and culture. Mayor Adams contributed $2 million of the $5.5 million investment. Another $2 million was provided by the Bronx Borough President and $1.5 million was allocated by the City Council.

LEGISLATION & REGULATIONS

The NYC Redistricting Commission released draft maps of proposed changes to New York City Council district lines. It is vitally important that we pay attention to these proposed changes and provide feedback. The Bronx and New York City need you to be engaged in drawing the lines for our government's City Council district maps. Provide Feedback: Public testimony can be submitted by email to publictestimony@redistricting.nyc.gov or by mail: 253 Broadway, 3rd Floor New York, NY 10007.

NYS Primary Elections The August Primary election is scheduled for August 23, 2022 with Early Voting from August 13th to August 21st and will include elections for these offices: U.S. House of Representatives  State Senate ​For more information or to see where you vote, click here

NYC Speed Cameras Go Live 24/7/365 Effective August 1st Following Governor Hochul's recent law modifying how speed cameras in New York State operate, New York City Department of Transportation announced a Citywide multi-agency "Day of Awareness" to promote the expansion of the City's speed camera program to 24/7/365. As a month-long multi-media public-awareness campaign comes to a close, the cameras will go 24/7 next Monday, August 1st. The City's speed camera program is highly effective when allowed to operate, but 31 percent of on-street traffic fatalities occur in camera zones at times when cameras were previously not permitted to operate. 

SAVE THE DATE - 2022 GALA: CELEBRATING OUR MEMBERS

Thursday September 29 - 6:30PM Marina Del Rey, Bronx NY 2022 Bronx Chamber of Commerce Gala Celebrating Our Members Join us for fun, networking and fundraising at this can't-miss Bronx Chamber Signature Event recognizing the importance of Chamber members and the vital services the Bronx Chamber of Commerce provides to the borough and New York City. Take a look at the 2021 Gala - Click HERE Click HERE for Sponsorship packages, securing your table & dinner ticket details. For more information, email dolores@bronxchamber.org

Upcoming Events

Tuesday, August 16 at 10am E-Commerce for Your Business Join The Bronx Chamber of Commerce and the team from RC Marketing to explore e-commerce integration for your business. This virtual event provides additional marketing support for your business. Don't miss out on hearing directly from the experts. Click HERE To Register

Wednesday, August 17 from 10am to 12pm Signing a Commercial Lease: What You Should Know and Ask. Join The Bronx Chamber of Commerce and New York City Department of Small Business Services to learn the ins and outs of commercial leasing and what you as a business owner should know and ask as you open or expand your brick and mortar operations. Click HERE To Register

For the complete Bronx Chamber Events Calendar, featuring educational workshops, networking events and other opportunities hosted by the Chamber, its members, & partners, please visit and bookmark our website events calendar link in your browser - new events are added weekly!

2022 Chamber Video Debut

Get to know (or re-familiarize yourself with) the work of the Bronx Chamber and the many ways we serve as your A.C.E. in business through our three pillars: Advocacy - Connections - Education Click HERE To View Our New Video! Many thanks to our media partner BronxNet Community Television

Chamber Member Spotlight

Woodlawn Cemetery - Crematorium - Conservancy Woodlawn Conservancy is pleased to announce the third cohort of the Landscape Restoration Program, a sector-based internship under the Bridges To Crafts Careers portfolio. In the fall, Woodlawn will offer 25 paid internships for young people interested in careers in landscaping and horticulture. This cohort is graciously funded by the Advance & Earn initiative, which was launched this spring by the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD). The Door, a youth development agency with holistic workforce programs and Woodlawn’s longtime partner in running the Preservation Training Program, will be overseeing the expansion of the sector training. To learn more & apply, Click HERE

Attorney General James and State Police Superintendent Bruen Announce Conviction and Sentencing of Phony Attorney

 

Andrew Schnorr, Who Defrauded Individuals in Buffalo by Posing as Attorney, was Sentenced to 5 Years’ Probation and Ordered to Pay Thousands in Restitution

 New York Attorney General Letitia James and New York State Police Superintendent Kevin Bruen announced the conviction and sentencing of Andrew Schnorr, 39, for practicing law without a license and defrauding New Yorkers in Buffalo. Despite never graduating from a law school nor passing a state bar exam, Schnorr posed as a licensed attorney and represented clients at legal proceedings. Schnorr, who previously pled guilty to Unauthorized Practice of Law (a Class E felony), was sentenced to 5 years’ probation and ordered to pay more than $7,800 in restitution.

“Not only does illegally practicing law without a license hurt people in need of legal services, it also weakens the public’s trust in our institutions,” said Attorney General James. “New Yorkers deserve to have confidence that the professionals representing them are properly educated, certified, and qualified to take on these important roles. When Andrew Schnorr betrayed that trust to line his own pockets, he harmed his clients and the entire legal system we rely on. Let today’s sentencing serve as a warning that fraud will never be tolerated in our state, and anyone who cheats our communities will be held accountable and brought to justice — bar none.”

“I commend the tireless work of our state police members and the Office of the Attorney General on this case,” said Superintendent Bruen. “Mr. Schnorr falsely portrayed a figure that people turn to for legal assistance and used their unsuspecting trust for his own selfishness and financial gain. May this sentencing serve as a reminder that no magnitude of fraud will be tolerated in New York state.”

This conviction and sentencing are the results of a joint investigation by the Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) Criminal Enforcement and Financial Crimes Bureau and the New York State Police. The investigation began in the summer of 2019 after OAG received complaints from an attorney concerning Schnorr’s lack of competence during a legal proceeding. The investigation ultimately revealed that Schnorr was in fact not a licensed attorney and that he had lied about graduating from New York University School of Law and about passing the bar exams in New York and California.

As outlined in the complaint during his arraignment earlier this year, Schnorr deceptively secured his job at a Buffalo law firm by submitting a resume with fake credentials, in which he falsely stated that he graduated from law school and was authorized to practice law in various states. He then worked as an associate attorney at the firm and was tasked with civil matters involving depositions and settlement conferences. Altogether, he represented more than nine clients at the law firm starting in 2019.

By law, attorneys must be licensed in New York state by the New York State Unified Court System’s Office of Court Administration (OCA). Prior to meeting or retaining an attorney, New Yorkers are encouraged to confirm whether an individual is an attorney by searching their license on OCA’s website. For legal representation outside of New York state, people should contact the respective state's licensing authority to confirm whether an individual is licensed to practice law in that jurisdiction.