Friday, June 9, 2023

Bronx Chamber of Commerce - Bronx Business News You Can Use

 

Upcoming Events, Legislative News, Grant Opportunities, & More
(Friday) Extra, Extra
Air Quality Alert
Bronx Chamber & 5 Chamber Alliance Meet with NYC Council Speaker Adams
Bronx Power 100 List Released

Legislative & Advocacy Updates
Bronx Chamber delivers testimony of LinkNYC 5G Expansion
Bronx Chamber Releases Statement of Opposition on NYS SWEAT Lein Law
Bronx Chamber Issues Casino Licensee Plan Rating System

Upcoming Events
MOCS En La Calle at 138th Street, 6/13/2023 from 11:00am-3:00pm - 138th Street b/w Willis Avenue and St. Ann's Avenue
Business to Business Networking w. Councilmember Stevens, 6/13/2023 at 6:00pm - SUYO, 1401 Plaza Drive
Joseph P. Kelleher Memorial Golf Tournament, 6/20/2023 - Trump Links at Ferry Point
NYC AIR QUALITY ALERT UPDATE
The Mayor’s Office is encouraging New Yorkers to stay home and indoors today, whenever possible as New York City manages unprecedented poor air quality resulting from Canadian wildfires.

All New Yorkers should limit outdoor activity to the greatest extent possible. City services will continue to be available for New Yorkers and we will continue to serve this city, but we will not be conducting outdoor events today. Public schools are closed today, and beaches are closed because of visibility.

Check the air quality forecast from local media outlets, the National Weather Service, or other weather and air-quality apps that you can access on the go. For more information and updates, visit https://on.nyc.gov/2Ho9W4J or contact 3-1-1 (212-639-9675 for Video Relay Service, or TTY 212-504-4115).

Beginning Thursday, June 8th, at 8:00 am, each New Yorker will be able to receive two N-95 masks from the locations below.
NYPD
All NYPD Precincts

Bronx 
FDNY Division 6 - 720 Melrose Avenue
FDNY Division 7 - 2417 Webster Avenue
NYC CHAMBERS CONVENE WITH NYC SPEAKER ADAMS
DISCUSS HIGH IMPACT OF SIGNATURE BUSINESS PROGRAM
Working to Fund the Small Business Resource Network.

The Bronx Chamber of Commerce joined the 5 Chamber Alliance for a debrief breakfast with NYC Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and her team to discuss the high impact of the Small Business Resource Network on businesses citywide.

In the Bronx alone over 6,000 businesses have been assisted. Special thanks you Laura Levine from Bronx Burger House and the 4 the Bronx Project for your passionate remarks on how the program has helped Bronx small businesses. The Bronx Chamber's senior leadership team has been actively working with both Bronx and NYC Council delegations to equitable fund this signature business program.

For more info: email, sbrn@bronxchamber.org

CITY & STATE RELEASE BRONX POWER 100 LIST
SORIN & BRADY JOIN MANY BRONX CHAMBER MEMBERS IN THE ANNUAL RECOGNITION
The Bronx Chamber of Commerce was very well represented during the annual Bronx Power Listing published by City and State with 30% of the honorees being long time Bronx Chamber members and Board Members.

If you were to judge the Bronx based solely on the news headlines coming out of the borough, you would wrongly assume that violence is prevalent there. Take a closer look, however, and you’ll discover something else entirely: a patchwork of vibrant, diverse communities, a thriving ecosystem of nonprofit organizations advocating effectively for residents and an array of leaders – elected or otherwise – who are doing all they can to make the Bronx a better place every day. 

City & State’s Bronx Power 100 reflects this reality, painting a more complete and complex picture of the borough. The latest iteration of this annual list highlights homegrown politicians who have attained positions of power at the city, state and federal levels, real estate developers and business executives who are bolstering the local economy and accomplished leaders in health care, higher education and other arenas who are improving the quality of life across the Bronx. See the complete listing
LEGISLATIVE & ADVOCACY UPDATES
Link NYC 5-G Expansion

The Bronx Chamber of Commerce testified before the NYC Council Committee on Technology in favor of the expansion of the LinkNYC 5-G Expansion and it's impact on Bronx businesses and communities.

To read the testimony, click here
Memorandum of Opposition - SWEAT Lien Bill

The Bronx Chamber of Commerce released a Memorandum of Opposition to the NYS Legislature on A46 (Rosenthal) / S1977 (Ramos), which would allow employees to file personal liens against business owners solely upon the allegation of a wage dispute, allow liens on property on behalf of claimants and make shareholders in limited liability companies personally liable for wage claims. We take wage theft extremely seriously – and recognize the proposal’s positive intentions – however, the bill as drafted would have serious negative consequences on small businesses and employment in New York State. Read the complete memorandum, click here
The Bronx Chamber of Commerce has released the following rubric to assist in measuring economic and community impact for gaming organization's seeking support for downstate casino licenses.

The Bronx Chamber serves on the coalition for Empire City by MGM, and Caesar's Coalition for a Better Times Square.
UPCOMING EVENTS
MOCS in the Streets - Make NYC Your Customer
June 13 from 11:00am to 3:00pm
138th Street between Willis Avenue and St. Ann's Avenue

Interested in making NYC your customer? The New York City Mayor’s Office of Contract Services (MOCS), Department of Small Business Services (SBS), and the Bronx Chamber of Commerce will be In the Streets/En La Calle at 138th Street in the Bronx on June 13th from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM helping businesses on their path to contracting with NYC. If you're just getting started on the path, climb aboard Mobie and one of our dedicated staff will help you take your first steps. Already started on the path? Stop by the MOCS table to get strategies to help your business take the next step. We'll have resources, selfie stations, and Meet and Greet opportunities that you don't want to miss.

Business to Business Networking Reception
June 13 at 6:00pm
SUYO, 1401 Plaza Drive Bronx, NY

Join the Bronx Chamber of Commerce, Councilmember Althea Stevens (District 16), and New York City Department of Small Business Services for a Business to Business Networking reception for merchants, entrepreneurs, and businesses in Council District 16.

During the event, businesses will have an opportunity to network and learn about Year 1 business data, challenges and opportunities within CD 16, how to become M/WBE certified, and the Small Business Resource Network.
Joseph P. Kelleher Memorial Golf Tournament
June 20 at 7:30am
Trump Links at Ferry Point, 500 Hutchinson Riverway Bronx, NY

Trump Links at Ferry Point, 500 Hutchinson River Parkway Bronx, NY.  Over 200 notable thought partners, colleagues in business, and influential New Yorkers will tee off for the 2023 Joseph P. Kelleher Memorial Golf Tournament at Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point. The 2023 Tournament features two (2) tee times, breakfast, lunch, cocktails, and the 2023 Awards Dinner honoring NYC Housing, Preservation, and Development Commissioner Adolfo Carrion, Jr. 
Summer BBQ Networking Reception
August 3 at 6:00pm
Pelham Bay & Split Rock, 870 Shore Road Bronx, NY

Join Bronx Chamber members, elected officials, and friends for a Summer evening of networking, great food & drinks, and conversation. The evening includes live music, barbeque, dancing, and networking.

Individuals wishing to golf before hand must contact Pelham Bay and Split Rock Golf Course directly.

MAYOR ADAMS CONVENES SUMMIT ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND IMPACT ON YOUNG PEOPLE

 

Summit Lays National Stake in Ground Towards Long-Term Citywide Strategy to Address Social Media as Potential Public Health Threat 

Convening with Health Department Aimed to Develop Shared Understanding of Impact on New York City Youth, Identify Areas for Action  

Participants Included Representatives From Government, Academia, Advocacy, Youth Work, as Well as Young People

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan yesterday held a summit on social media, assembling national experts to lay out potential pathways for action to protect the mental health of children and youth. The summit included representatives from government, academia, advocacy, and youth work, as well as young people themselves.

“Social media is a Trojan horse — it’s entered into our homes under false pretenses, promising increased social connection but too often delivering the opposite,” said Mayor Adams. “If we don’t really look at the impact that it’s having, it will continue to leave lasting scars on our young people. That’s why this convening was so important — we brought young people, scientists, and public health leaders together to understand this media and develop a strategy to combat it. In the coming weeks and months, we’ll develop a report to guide our work in protecting young people from this threat to our public health.”

“Social media is a part of our culture, particularly for young people,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “This summit elevated the voices of young people as we all work together to create a framework for healthier interactions with these platforms. I look forward to continuing the ongoing work of the administration in this area and centering the voices of young people every step of the way.”

“This gathering was an amazing collaboration between young people, academics, parents, educators, and government," said DOHMH Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan. "In working together to discuss the impact of social media on youth mental health and potential solutions, we will, together, craft a roadmap for action on addressing this digital toxin, and employing public health strategies grounded in education, harm reduction, policy, research, regulation, and litigation. We will draw from the rich discussions to address the challenge before us. I’m grateful to everyone who shared their time to make this event a successful one, and the first stake in the ground to demonstrate our city’s commitment to keeping our kids safe.”

The summit was first announced in March as one of the strategies included in “Care, Community, Action: A Mental Health Plan for New York City.” It also follows a report from the U.S. Surgeon General that recognized the potential harms to young people due to social media, and is the first nationwide stake in the ground towards a long-term citywide strategy to address social media as a potential public health threat. The summit included two panel discussions — “The Future of Social Media and its Implications for Children’s Mental Health” and “Challenges and Opportunities in Regulating Social Media Technologies” — as well as four working sessions focused on public health, research, policy, and litigation. The findings from the summit will inform a coming mayoral report on social media.

The gathering comes amid a growing need to address social media overuse, as well as to identify threats to young people’s wellness. For example, in 2021, 38 percent of New York City high schoolers reported feeling so sad or hopeless almost every day for at least two weeks during the past 12 months that they stopped doing their usual activities. The same year, 42 percent of Latino/a students and 41 percent of Black students reported feeling sad or hopeless, compared to just under 30 percent of white students. Over the past 10 years, rates of suicidal ideation among high schoolers increased by more than 34 percent.

Mayor Adams’ mental health plan lays out additional strategies to promote the mental health of young people, including a digital mental health program for New York City high school-aged teens, a suicide prevention pilot programming at NYC Health + Hospitals for youth entering emergency departments for suicide attempts, and DOHMH-led community-based suicide prevention programming to specifically serve Black and Brown youth.

New Yorkers in need of support can receive free assistance by calling 988.

“I am so excited to see New York City lead the nation with a thoughtful, informed, and exciting day of discussions and action steps that will help children minimize harms and maximize the potential benefits from social media,” said Mitch Prinstein, PhD, chief science officer, American Psychological Association.

"I was amazed by both the passion and the specific product ideas of New York City's youth. I learned a lot from them,” said Ravi Iyer, PhD, managing director, Neely Center, USC Marshall School of Business. "In a time of national political gridlock, it's great to see local governments leading the way on these critical issues."

“Our young people are very aware that social media use is a double-edged sword for them, as they told us during the summit and as research shows,” said Dr. Michael A. Lindsey, dean and professor of social work, NYU Silver School of Social Work. “We learned from them that they turn to social media for connection. They also find it to be addicting and feel let down by the experience as they are awash in content and messages that are disturbing on many levels. They want parents and caregivers to dig deeper to find out what they are experiencing online. Are we listening

VCJC News & Notes 6/9/23

 

Van Cortlandt Jewish Center
News and Notes



Here's this week's edition of the VCJC News and Notes email. We hope you enjoy it and find it useful!

Reminders

  1. Shabbos

    Shabbos information is, as always, available on our website, both in the information sidebar and the events calendar.
    Here are the times you need:  
    Shabbos Candles Friday 6/9/23 @ 8:08 pm
    Shabbos morning services at 8:40 am.  Please join the services if you can do so safely. 
    Shabbos Ends Saturday 6/10/23 @ 9:11 pm
     
 

2. Sunday, June 6/11/23 Sisterhood trip
to Derfner Judaica Museum at the Hebrew Home of Riverdale.  We will have lunch at the Corner CafĂ© about 11:00 am and  then go to the museum at 1:00 pm … Please call Ceil if you are interested in going.

3.Donate for Shavuos Yizkor! 
It is customary to make a charitable donation in conjunction with Yizkor.  If you wish to donate to VCJC as part of your Yizkor observance this past Shavuos, it can be done in person at the office, by check, or online through our website

 

4. Reminders
We have had very little response to these requests for feedback and advice.  Please consider giving us your input.


Tell us about your preferences for the Center Light via email
We are considering offering the Center Light by email (as an alternative).  It might be as a pdf, which might not work very well on mobile devices.  It might be as highlights or summaries with links to read more.  It could be a different format than that.  We are soliciting your input about this.  You can respond to this newsletter and tell us:
  • if you prefer postal mail or would like email instead,
  • if you would find pdf acceptable or would prefer a more mobile-friendly format,
  • if you think this is a good idea (to save money and make the Center Light more accessible) or a terrible idea.
     
Shiurim on the website
There are now several audio shiurim on the VCJC website. You can access them via the right column on any page or the blog summary page.  Let us know how you like them or if you have any suggestions for how they are presented. 

Van Cortlandt Jewish Center
3880 Sedgwick Ave
Bronx, NY 10463

MAYOR ADAMS ANNOUNCES NEW MECHANISM AND PROCESS TO REEXAMINE HOMICIDE CASES WITH LGBTQIA+ VICTIMS

 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, the New York City Police Department (NYPD) Community Affairs Bureau, the Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes (OPHC), and the Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit announced a new process for New Yorkers to contact the NYPD to re-examine cases involving LGBTQIA+ victims. Cases eligible for reexamination include unsolved cold cases that may have happened decades ago, and homicide cases, such as the fatal drugging cases that took place in Hell’s Kitchen last year.

 

The NYPD’s Detective Bureau will facilitate these requests and provide information on the status of cases, as well as review the overall facts to determine whether a case should be reexamined. All investigations remain “open” until either an arrest is made, or the suspect is identified but inaccessible due to death. Some cases may be referred to the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force to determine if any possible bias motivation exists.

 

This program responds, in part, to the murders of Julio Ramirez and John Umberger, who were fatally drugged and robbed in Hell’s Kitchen in 2022. Following an investigation by the NYPD and the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, five men were indicted as part of an alleged conspiracy to drug and rob individuals in at least 17 separate incidents, including in the deaths of Ramirez and Umberger, between March 2021 and July 2022. Two of the suspects were charged with murder in connection with their deaths.

 

“Every New Yorker should be able to go out at night, enjoy New York City’s renowned nightlife, and come home safely to their families and community,” said Mayor Adams. “We miss Julio and John, and all the LGBTQIA+ victims of crime. LGBTQIA+ New Yorkers and visitors must be safe and feel safe, especially during Pride Month, and we are hopeful this new process will help solve more cases and answer more questions for communities.”

 

“This is a crucial step towards justice and healing for the LGBTQIA+ community, which has historically suffered disproportionate levels of violence and persecution,” said Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks III. “By providing this avenue for the community to request reexamination of unsolved cases, we hope to restore faith in the system, honor the lives lost, and send a clear message that every member of our community deserves justice, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.”

 

“New York City is one of the most diverse places on the planet, and the New York City Police Department is committed to providing fair and equitable public safety for all,” said NYPD Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell. “To that end, it is critical that we amplify the voices of our LGBTQIA+ community — especially the voices of victims. This case review process reinforces that work, and in turn makes every community in our city safer. I thank the mayor’s office and all of our law enforcement partners for their ongoing efforts to enhance the public safety of all the people we serve.”

 

“This new program is an important step toward ensuring that LGBTQIA + New Yorkers are able to obtain justice if they are victims of crime,” said Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice (MOCJ) Director Deanna Logan. “I applaud the NYPD’s commitment to streamlining this process for victims and families. In a city where hate is not tolerated, MOCJ is likewise committed to working with our partners in government to ensure that LGBTQIA + New Yorkers are safe and free to enjoy everything our city has to offer.”

 

“OPHC stands with the LGBTQIA+ community,” said OPHC Executive Director Hassan Naveed. “Through our collaboration with partners in government, and members of OPHC’s Partners Against the Hate FORWARD program, we will directly engage the LGBTQIA+ community to conduct outreach, trainings, canvassing, and more to promote safe Pride and partying. We will pass on safety tips to our LGBTQIA+ communities during peak bar hours, and equip community members with resources and tips against hate violence.”

 

"The City of New York will not forget LGBTQIA+ victims of crime; we are committed to them and their loved ones to deliver the justice they deserve," said Community Affairs Unit Commissioner Fred Kreizman. "During this Pride Month, we reaffirm our responsibility to safety and justice for all New Yorkers."

 

New Yorkers can access the request form online to request the NYPD re-examines cases involving LGBTQIA+ victims. The NYPD will respond to all inquiries.


Thursday, June 8, 2023

Nos Quedamos - WE ARE MELROSE Community Festival | POSTPONED - New Date: July 8, 2023

 


We Stay / Nos Quedamos wants to inform you that, it is with caution and care that we follow public health guidance and POSTPONE our June 10th 30th Anniversary event as a result of the extremely poor air quality affecting New York City and the entire northeast corridor. This includes our daylong series of interconnected celebrations: 2023 WE ARE MELROSE2023 Harvesting Culture Awardsa street naming dedication that was to be officiated by Council Member Rafael Salamanca Jr., as well as a June 9th VIP Silent Kickoff Fundraising Breakfast that is being organized by our board members.

 

We understand the (Canadian) fires (affecting us) are still active, and while conditions may change here in NYC, we acknowledge the level of anxiety and stress in our community is high, and that residual airborne particulate matter is still present even as the air quality improves. As an environmental justice organization, we want to protect our community and feel an outdoor event at this time may unnecessarily expose our community members to harmful external toxins. This is especially critical in regions like the South Bronx that already suffer from high levels of asthma and related lung diseases.

 

Our tentative date for the 2023 We Are Melrose / Harvesting Culture Awards, and Street Dedication ceremony is Saturday, July 8, 2023, with a weather alternative set for Saturday, July 15, 2023. 

 

The VIP Kickoff Breakfast is tentatively being rescheduled for Thursday, August 10, 2023. More information to come!
 

This unprecedented experience is an example of the impacts of climate change and our new reality. As Mayor Eric Adams commented on the situation, “This is climate change in action, and we must continue to draw down emissions, improve air quality, and build resiliency.” This is why Nos Quedamos is developing climate adaptation responses and strategies for frontline resiliency hubs in Melrose and the South Bronx. These hubs will support coordination and provide access to information and resources for our community during a disturbance. Your generous support helps make this possible!
 

For more information, you may contact us at 718-585-2323 or email us at info@nosquedamos.org

 

Thank you for your continued support, contributions and flexibility. We look forward to seeing you!

For updated information on the rescheduling of WE ARE MELROSE Community Festival, Harvesting Culture Awards, and the Street Naming Dedication, visit — nosquedamos.org/wam