One Book One Bronx - New Year to Begin Again with James Baldwin

 

ONE BOOK, THREE LOCATIONS Begin Again: James Baldwin's America and Its Urgent Lessons for Our Own by Eddie S. Glaude Jr., 232 pgs Each week, One Book One Bronx hosts restorative conversations related to gentrification, social justice, women's empowerment, criminal justice, and racial inequality. Discussions reflect the borough's racial, economic, and gender demographics and build bridges to engagement while (re)sparking a love of literature. Begin Again is one of the great books on James Baldwin and a powerful reckoning with America's ongoing failure to confront the lies it tells itself about race. Just as in Baldwin's "after times," argues Eddie S. Glaude Jr., when white Americans met the civil rights movement's call for truth and justice with blind rage and the murders of movement leaders, so in our moment were the Obama presidency and the birth of Black Lives Matter answered with the ascendance of Trump and the violent resurgence of white nationalism. REGISTER AT ANY LOCATION • Zambo Aroma, 3848 White Plains Rd at 221 St Thursdays, 7-8:30pm: 1/5*, 1/12, 1/19, 1/26, & 2/2 • The Bronx Museum, 1040 Grand Concourse at 165th St. Saturday, 12-1:30pm: 1/7*, 1/14, 1/21, 1/28, & 2/4 • On Zoom Tuesdays, 7-8:30pm 1/10, 1/17, 1/24, & 1/31 Choose the place that fits your schedule. *Free books are available to participants at Zambo Aroma and The Bronx Museum.

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS THIS FEBRUARY THE BLUEST EYE BY TONI MORRISON In Morrison’s acclaimed first novel, Pecola Breedlove—an 11-year-old Black girl in an America whose love for its blond, blue-eyed children can devastate all others—prays for her eyes to turn blue: so that she will be beautiful, so that people will look at her, so that her world will be different. This is the story of the nightmare at the heart of her yearning, and the tragedy of its fulfillment. Here, Morrison’s writing is “so precise, so faithful to speech and so charged with pain and wonder that the novel becomes poetry” (The New York Times). From the acclaimed Nobel Prize winner—a powerful examination of our obsession with beauty and conformity that asks questions about race, class, and gender with characteristic subtly and grace. 2 Locations • Zambo Aroma: Thursdays 2/9, 2/16, 2/23, & 3/2 (in-person, free books for participants) • On Zoom: Tuesdays 2/14, 2/21, & 2/28 Zambo Aroma specializes in crafting herbal-infused all-natural body care products, including soaps, body butters, body scrubs, candles, and more. CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS Literary Freedom Project 557 Grand Concourse, PMB 143 Bronx, NY 10451 info@literaryfreedom.org www.literaryfreedom.org

New York City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce - IT Seminar Presented by Donnelly & Moore Fordham University Center for Cybersecurity

 

An In-Depth Discussion of Cyber Security in Insider Threat, Software Supply Chain, Geopolitical Threats, Ransomware, Corporate Systems and Career Pathways

Presented by

Thursday, January 31th, 2023 12pm – 1pm Via Zoom

Click here to RSVP

Speaker

MANNY CANCEL Senior Vice President, Chief Executive Officer E-ISAC Manny Cancel assumed the role as NERC senior vice president and chief executive officer of the Electricity Information Sharing and Analysis Center (E-ISAC) in January 2020. He is responsible for the management and oversight of the E-ISAC and leading security operations and information sharing, threat intelligence and analysis, and stakeholder engagement initiatives designed to protect critical electricity infrastructure in North America. Mr. Cancel also serves as the E-ISAC’s key representative to important constituencies, such as the Electricity Subsector Coordinating Council (ESCC), government partners, and key industry groups and leads the E-ISAC’s strategic planning initiatives. Prior to joining NERC, Mr. Cancel served as Con Edison’s chief information officer (CIO) leading all aspects of information technology, including cyber security initiatives. In this capacity, he also supported various industry initiatives, serving as chair of the sector’s Cyber Mutual Assistance Program and supporting the Member Executive Committee (MEC), an advisory group formed out of the ESCC that provides guidance to the E-ISAC. Prior to assuming the role of CIO at Con Edison, Mr. Cancel held various roles over his 39-year career, including leadership roles in operations, customer service, audit, and information technology. New York City Hispanic Chamber  159 E 116th St, Second Floor, New York, NY 10029

TRANSCRIPT: MAYOR ERIC ADAMS DELIVERS UPDATE ON THREE NYPD OFFICERS ATTACKED IN MANHATTAN

 

Mayor Eric Adams: Thank you and Happy New Year's, and it is a happy New Year's. We have three officers who are going home. Three officers were attacked today. They were doing their jobs, the jobs that members of the New York City Police Department and other first responders and law enforcement officers do every day. And as we do a preliminary review of the body cam video, we see how well these officers executed the plan that was put in place by the New York City Police Department in ensuring we protect those who came here to bring in the New Year's. This attack took place outside of the screen area and it is why the commissioner and her team ensures that we properly screen everyone entering the area where the viewing is actually taking place. New Yorkers visited here, they visited and saw thousands of officers who were in the area making sure that we could have a safe bringing in the New Year's.

 

And the three officers involved in this incident, they were doing just that. One of the officers heard from the police commissioner and I just a few days ago at his graduation. It just goes to show you if it's not the first day or could be your last day, the actions that police officers must take every day, life-threatening situations. I spoke with Paul and his dad, whose name is Paul as well, and his mom and his girlfriend as he was being stitched up and he was in good spirits. He understood that his role saved lives of New Yorkers today. And we are really pleased by the response and how our officers handled this situation. All three of the officers are in stable conditions and there are no credible threats to New Yorkers at this time.

 

Again, this attack took place outside of the area that the police department has identified as the area that we wanted to do primary focus on and these officers responded in an admirable, professional manner and all officers involved. And I must say that even after the incident took place, the respondent officers made sure the scene was under control and returned to the primary focus of ensuring that everyone that was here in Times Square received the best professional service that we offer as a police entity and the other first responders that participated in this evening. I want to turn it over to the police commissioner at this time and then we'll hear from the FBI and then we will open up to any further questions after whomever else needs to speak. Commissioner.

 

Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Thank you for being here. I'll go over some details and reiterate a few things the mayor has just said. The information I'm about to provide is preliminary as this incident is only a few hours old. Earlier this evening at approximately 10:11 p.m., officers assigned to the New Year's Eve detail we're at the corner of West 52nd Street and 8th Avenue outside of the security screening zone, when unprovoked, a 19-year-old male approached an officer and attempted to strike him over the head with a machete. The male then struck two additional officers in the head with a machete. One officer, an eight-year veteran, suffered a laceration to the head. The second officer who graduated from the police academy on Friday was also struck in the head, resulting in a skull fracture and large laceration. One of the officers fired their service weapon striking the subject in the shoulder.

 

The three officers were removed to Bellevue Hospital where I'm relieved to report that they're in stable condition. I would like to thank assistant directors of nursing Dionne Bernadel and Bruce Martin and all the staff here at Bellevue Hospital for their excellent care of our officers. The subject was also removed to Bellevue Hospital where he's being treated for his injuries. We are working with our federal partners for this investigation and it is ongoing. I would like to stress, as the mayor said, there is no active threat at this time. This is another reminder of what our officers face. There were a lot of people out tonight. We are asking anyone who has any information to please call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS. And now I'd like to turn it over to the FBI Assistant Director in charge, Michael Driscoll.

 

Michael Driscoll, FBI Assistant Director: Thank you commissioner, mayor. I appreciate the invitation to join you tonight. I want to start tonight by commending the brave actions by the members of the NYPD who responded to this attack tonight. Truly impressive to see what they do every day and even more impressive to see how they respond in times of emergency. I want to thank the commissioner and the NYPD for their coordination on this. And I want to be clear that the FBI through the Joint Terrorism Task Force is working very closely with them to determine the nature of this attack and we will run every lead to ground. I also want to be very clear, as you've heard said tonight previously, this is very much an ongoing investigation. Our ability to talk about specifics is limited. And I do want to be very clear, as you heard the mayor and the commissioner state earlier, that there is no ongoing threat. We believe this was a sole individual at this time. There's nothing to indicate otherwise. Thank you.

 

Patrick Lynch, President, Police Benevolent Association: Once again on a holiday, we are here at a hospital but it shows what New York City police officers do and we thanked an awful lot of folks here. But one of the things we need to thank is our fellow police officers who responded to that 1013 by the thousands to make sure it didn't get worse. Got their colleagues here to the hospital so the staff here can stitch us up, but remember those family members, the family members who were probably watching the ball drop on the television and then their phone rings expecting a Happy New Year call then to find out that we're sending a car, we'll be picking you up, we'll be bringing you to the hospital. Let's think about those family members here who are in shock right now, never thinking the first call of the year would be their son, their husband, their family member would be here in Bellevue Hospital.

DEC ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF STATE LANDS KIOSK SURVEY

 

Public Input Will Help DEC Make Improvements to State Property Signage

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced the release of the new DEC Kiosk Survey seeking public input on informational kiosk signage on DEC properties. Feedback received will help inform DEC improvements to informational kiosk signage throughout the state.  

"DEC is encouraging New Yorkers to get outside, visit DEC’s many beautiful properties, and provide us with feedback on signage they see while they’re there," Commissioner Seggos said. "With input from our visitors, DEC can make meaningful improvements to our signage and provide an enhanced outdoor experience." 

Kiosks are small, open wooden structures that provide cover for educational and informational signs that feature trail maps, emergency phone numbers, and other important information. Kiosks are located at various State properties such as State forests, wilderness areas, conservation easements, wildlife management areas, boat launches, and more. 

By taking the survey, participants will be entered into the survey sweepstakes. Each month from January 2023 through January 2024, one lucky winner’s name will be pulled randomly from survey responses received that month. The winner receives a free subscription to DEC’s Conservationist magazine and a $50 gift card to a sporting goods store. In January 2024, DEC will announce the grand prize winner, pulled from everyone who correctly submitted the survey over the 12-month period. The grand prize winner receives a free subscription to the Conservationist and a $200 gift card to a sporting goods store. Individuals can submit multiple surveys per month but can submit only one survey response per kiosk location.  

Individuals looking to participate in the survey are encouraged to use DEC’s Info Locator to find a complete list of State lands to visit. Once at a kiosk, visitors can simply use their smart phones to pull up the survey and fill out the questions, or review the kiosk signage and fill out the survey later. DEC encourages visitors to provide detailed feedback and submit photos when possible.  

Additional information about the survey and sweepstakes and a link to the survey can be found on DEC’s website: https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/124251.html.

Gun Shop and Owner Charged with Transfer of Firearm to a Felon, Aiding and Abetting Unlicensed Firearm Trafficking, and Failure to Maintain Firearm Records

 

Gun Shop’s Armorer Charged with Possession of Machinegun

 A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment against Aileene Mudafort-Fernández and Mudafort Xtreme Sports & Motorsports Inc. for disposing of a pistol to a felon, aiding and abetting in unlicensed firearm trafficking, and failure to maintain firearm records.  In a separate indictment, José Berrios-Aquino, an armorer of Mudafort Xtreme Sports & Motorsports Inc., was charged with the possession of a machinegun.

According to the indictments, since at least 2020, Ms. Mudafort-Fernández and her gun shop aided and abetted “R.R.M.” in the illegal trafficking of guns. Additionally, Ms. Mudafort-Fernández disposed of a Taurus pistol in 2019 to “P.C.T.,” knowing that he was a felon. Ms. Mudafort-Fernández and her armory further failed to maintain firearm accords according to law. 

An armorer of Mudafort Xtreme Sports & Motorsports Inc., José Berrios-Aquino, was charged in a separate indictment with possessing a pistol that had been modified to be a machinegun.  According to public documents, Mr. Berrios-Aquino’s gun had been altered with an Alamo-15 Forced Reset Trigger, which modifies a gun to automatically fire more than one shot without manual reloading by a single function of the trigger.

“Violent crimes involving guns are often committed by people who cannot legally obtain a firearm, but they find a way. According to the indictments, these defendants engaged in the business of dealing guns without following the firearms laws,” said W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “The manufacturing and unlicensed sale for profit of high-capacity firearms is a serious threat to public safety. We will continue to vigorously investigate gun dealers and prosecute violations of the law.”

“Federal Firearms Licensees hold a special responsibility as the first line of defense against the illegal diversion of firearms from lawful commerce,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Christopher A. Robinson. “A dereliction of that duty by willfully participating in these alleged actions will never be tolerated by ATF.”

An indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt.

Borough President Mark Levine - A look back at 2022 + Save the Date

 

I hope you are enjoying a happy holiday season with family, friends, and loved ones. 

2022 has been a time of significant challenges—and real progress—for Manhattan and New York City.  It’s been my enormous honor to serve as your borough president during this eventful year.

When I took office last New Year’s Day, our city was in the midst of a crisis, with the deadly omicron wave at its peak.  Soon after we were rocked by the horrific losses of Michelle Go and Officers Wilbert Mora and Jason Rivera. We have faced the ongoing tragedy of homelessness and a broken mental system. Evictions have been rising. There has been an alarming rise in hate crimes. 

In the face of these challenges we have fought together to achieve something extraordinary: the comeback of our borough and city.

Our work together over the past year has included:  

• Collecting, organizing, and distributing thousands of pounds of donated clothing and essentials to migrants sent to New York City by a cruel Texas governor; 

• Fighting for strong public health policy, to contain the covid crisis, beat back the mpox outbreak, and more.

• Appointing hundred of local leaders, reflective of the diversity of their neighborhoods, to lead on Community Boards throughout Manhattan.

• Passing legislation to curb rat infestations; 

• Passing legislation to identify locations for public bathrooms in every ZIP code; 

• Working to create more space for pedestrians in our streets, and to improve safety for all—from pedestrianizing Broadway and 5th Avenue, to reducing the impact of e-commerce on our bus lanes, bike lanes, and sidewalks; 

• Pushing to make New York City more resilient, from launching a campaign to plant one million more trees, to creating an agency that better governs our waterfront infrastructure so that we are prepared for climate change; 

• Launching a $2 million small business loan fund in partnership with the Hebrew Free Loan Society to help small businesses fighting to recover from the pandemic. 

We have much more work to do together.  And as we prepare for another impactful year ahead, I'd like to take this time to invite you to my first State of The Borough on Tuesday, January 31, 2023 at 6 pm at The City College of New York (CCNY). We'll look back at the past year and forward to the next. Please save the date; invitations with information on how to RSVP will be sent out in January.

RSVP Here Make no mistake: the dynamism and diversity that have defined our borough and city for generations will continue to fuel our comeback.  I can’t wait to partner with you in 2023 to ensure our borough and city are healthier, more equitable, safer and stronger for all. Happy New Year Manhattan! Mark

Governor Hochul Announces 125 Awards to Provide Operating Funding for up to 5,000 Supportive Housing Units Statewide

 

Awards Support Governor Hochul's Historic $25 Billion, Five-Year Plan to Build or Preserve 10,000 Units of Supportive Housing

 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced 125 conditional awards for annual funding to provide services and operating expenses for up to 5,000 units of supportive housing to serve older adults, survivors of domestic and gender-based violence, veterans and chronically homeless families as well as individuals with a mental illness or substance use disorder, among others. The 125 conditional awards through the seventh round of the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative will fund supportive housing in 35 counties and allow recipients to secure separate capital funding to finance housing projects.

"All New Yorkers should have a safe, affordable place to call home, especially the most vulnerable among us," Governor Hochul said. "The Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative continues to be a critical component in our efforts to address the root causes of housing instability and providing those who experience homelessness with the services they can rely on to live safely in independent settings."

The conditional awards for services and operating expenses are contingent on a project securing the means for new construction, the adaptive reuse of non-residential property, or the rehabilitation of unregulated residential property to create integrated affordable supportive housing. The first projects to meet the capital conditions of their award are expected to result in as many as 1,400 new supportive housing units this year, generating as much as $30 million in operating awards.

The conditional awards will be used to provide rental assistance and services to eligible target populations to ensure their housing stability. Since its inception, the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative has provided operating funding for more than 7,400 units serving vulnerable populations.

The initiative provides operating funding for supportive service providers serving homeless veterans and their families; survivors of domestic and gender-based violence; seniors or frail elderly; young adults with a history of incarceration, homelessness, or foster care; chronically homeless individuals and families; individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities; individuals reentering the community from prison; and those living with HIV or AIDS, serious mental illness and/or substance use disorders. The state Office of Mental Health serves as the lead procurement agency for the funding, which is dispersed by an interagency workgroup of eight state agencies serving vulnerable New Yorkers

Funding awarded through the initiative may be used for rental assistance and services to eligible target populations to ensure their housing stability. Permissible uses include rental subsidies and other occupancy costs; services or staff to identify and locate eligible individuals that need housing; primary and behavioral health services; employment and vocational training; educational assistance, parenting skills development and support; child care assistance counseling and crisis intervention; children's services, including educational advocacy, support and counseling; and costs associated with services that help individuals and families remain stably housed.

Research has shown that permanent supportive housing reduces the demand for shelters, hospital beds, emergency rooms, prisons, and jails, in addition to having a positive effect on employment, school attendance, and mental and physical wellbeing. Supportive housing projects can also positively impact neighborhoods through new construction or by rehabilitating existing buildings.

Projects may receive up to $25,000 per unit per year for service and operating funding needed to operate permanent supportive housing units. Recipients are expected to secure separate capital funding to finance the development and construction of their housing project.

The Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative is an important component of Governor Hochul's bold statewide plan to make housing more affordable, equitable, and stable. In this year's State Budget, Governor Hochul secured a new $25 billion, five-year, comprehensive housing plan that will increase the housing supply by creating or preserving 100,000 affordable homes across New York, including 10,000 with support services for vulnerable populations.

DEC: SEVERAL NEW REQUIREMENTS TAKING EFFECT FOR 2023 TO PROTECT CONSUMERS FROM HARMFUL CHEMICALS

 

Statewide Laws will Limit Use of 1,4-Dioxane, PFAS, and Chemicals in Variety of Consumer Products

New Laws for Household Cleaning, Personal Care, Cosmetics, Food Packaging, and Children’s Products Help Prevent Public Exposure

Several new laws are taking effect in the new year to help protect public health and the environment by reducing exposure to harmful chemicals in everyday items, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced today. At the start of 2023, laws will be implemented that will cover 1,4-dioxane, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and other chemicals used in household cleaning, personal care, cosmetics, food packaging, and children’s products.

“DEC prioritizes the health and well-being of New Yorkers and our environment, and the implementation of new laws for chemicals in everyday household products is part of our state’s ongoing commitment to protect communities,” DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said. “With the start of the new year, these stringent requirements will build upon our nation-leading efforts to prevent exposure to emerging contaminants.”

PFAS are manmade chemicals that have been widely used in various consumer, commercial, and industrial products since the 1940s. These chemicals’ unique properties make them resistant to heat, oil, stains, grease, and water and useful in a wide variety of everyday products. One of the PFAS' was widely used in fire-fighting foam. These same properties also make PFAS challenging when found in our environment. PFAS do not break down easily and persist in the environment, especially in water. Because of widespread use, PFAS releases into the environment have been detected in surface water, groundwater, animals, and humans worldwide.

1,4-Dioxane is a synthetic industrial chemical commonly associated with chlorinated solvents and was widely used as a chemical stabilizer in other formulations. It is also a byproduct or contaminant in consumer products such as laundry detergent. 1,4-Dioxane has been found in groundwater at sites throughout the United States, particularly in the sole source aquifer of Long Island and in association with legacy industrial and hazardous waste sites. The toxicity and persistence of this compound in the environment represent a growing challenge; once released, this emerging contaminant is extremely costly to clean up from the environment, treatment technologies to remove 1,4-dioxane from drinking water supplies are complex and costly.

DEC will implement restrictions on the following chemicals for the following uses:

1,4 Dioxane in Household, Personal Care, and Cosmetic Products

Effective Dec. 31, 2022, New York State will require a maximum allowable concentration of two parts per million (PPM) of 1,4-dioxane in household cleaning and personal care products and a 10 ppm limit is established for cosmetics. A limit of 1 ppm for 1,4-dioxane in household cleaning and personal care products will be effective Dec. 31, 2023.

DEC has held meetings to gather stakeholder input and is currently in the process of drafting a rule to implement the law limiting 1,4-dioxane in household cleansing, personal care, and cosmetic products. DEC will provide an opportunity for public comment once the draft regulation is released. Additional information is available on the DEC website.

PFAS in Food Packaging Materials

DEC is implementing a prohibition on intentionally-added PFAS in food packaging. The law applies to paper-based food packaging (made from paper, paperboard, or other plant-derived materials) intended for direct food contact. Products of this type containing intentionally added PFAS cannot be sold in New York State after Dec. 31, 2022. The restriction of PFAS in food packaging was enacted under the Hazardous Packaging Act. Additional information on the prohibition of PFAS in food packaging is available on the DEC website.

Toxic Chemicals in Children’s Products (TCCP)

Beginning Jan. 1, 2023, DEC will implement restrictions on the sale of children's products containing intentionally-added benzene, asbestos, or tris (1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate in New York State. Also of note, the TCCP law will require the disclosure of certain chemicals of concern and high-priority chemicals if present in children’s products. DEC is currently working to develop lists of these chemicals.

Children’s products are defined as products marketed to children 12 and under. The products include such items as clothing; non-electronic toys; car seats; children’s bedding and mattresses; school supplies; products intended by the manufacturer to help children with sleeping, teething, or eating; furniture; and apparel. The law excludes certain items such as electronic products, batteries, sports equipment, and science kits.

DEC is in the process of developing a regulation to implement portions of the law. The rule will address the specific product categories that are covered, which chemicals and supporting information must be disclosed, details on how to obtain a waiver from reporting or the sales prohibition, and the fees associated with reporting and applying for a waiver. For more information, go to the DEC website at https://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/108831.html and https://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/water_pdf/emergingcontaminants.pdf.