News from Senator Gustavo Rivera!

IN THE COMMUNITY

SENATOR RIVERA ATTENDS THE COUNCIL OF STATE GOVERNMENTS EAST ANNUAL MEETING IN CANADA

In August, Senator Gustavo Rivera attended the Council of State Governments (CSG) East 62nd Annual Meeting and Regional Policy Forum in Toronto, Canada. The CSG East Annual Meeting and Regional Policy Forum brings together policymakers from all branches of government who are within the member jurisdictions of CSG East to connect with experts from the private sector and academia to address a range of critical public policy issues facing the region.

During the forum, Senator Rivera participated in a panel that addressed the challenges facing the healthcare systems of the U.S. and Canada in a post-pandemic world, where he took the opportunity to speak about the New York Health Act and how he believes implementing a single-payer system in the U.S. is necessary. He also visited an overdose prevention center, which is legally authorized in Canada, and attended various workshops to discuss issues affecting communities in both countries such as the mental health crisis, affordable housing, transportation, energy, and the environment.

IT'S (ALMOST) BACK-TO-SCHOOL SEASON!

On August 10, Senator Gustavo Rivera hosted his first Back to School Celebration of 2023 at St. James Park.

During the event, Senator Rivera and his staff distributed more than 600 free backpacks and books to the children in attendance and connected their parents with a variety of resources and services from local community providers.

Senator Rivera's next Back to School event will be held on Thursday, August 31 at 2:00 PM at the Ben Abrams Playground in Bronx Park East. Aside from distributing backpacks, the event will double down as a job fair where Bronx residents will be able to learn about employment opportunities. 

The number of backpacks is limited and they will be distributed to children on a first-come, first-serve basis.

SENATOR RIVERA ON THE PROPOSED TEMPORARY CRICKET STADIUM AT

VAN CORTLANDT PARK

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: Governor Hochul Announces Completion of Phase 2 for Hunt Point Access Improvement Project Legislative Updates & Advocacy Trash Containerization Takes Effect for Food Businesses Member Spotlight YMCA - Castle Hill, Sunset Dinner Cruise Upcoming Events Mott Haven Business to Business Block Party, 8/26/2023 - Alexander Avenue at Bruckner Boulevard, 2:00pm - 8:00pm Business to Business Back to School Festival, 8/31/2023 - 1377 Jerome Avenue, 11:00am - 6:00pm Business to Business Networking & Financial Education w. Councilmember Marjorie Velazquez, 9/14/2023 - The Living Room, 2883 Dill Place Bronx, NY 2023 Gala - The Bronx is Building, 9/21/2023 - Marina Del Rey, 6:30pm

PHASE 2 - HUNTS POINT ACCESS IMPROVEMENT PROJECT COMPLETE

Governor Kathy Hochul advanced clean transportation and access improvements in the Bronx including a major milestone in the State's transformative, $1.7 billion Hunts Point Access Improvement Project. Phase Two of the project, which rehabilitated key sections of the Bruckner Expressway and Bruckner Boulevard to create a more direct route to the Hunts Point Market, will be completed ahead of schedule and under budget. Governor Hochul also announced a $10 million commitment for clean transportation initiatives in the Bronx. The investments in zero-emission school buses, all-electric mobility options, and electric vehicle charging stations will improve air quality and reduce pollution in an underserved congested area of New York City, which includes disadvantaged communities, historically overburdened by environmental pollution. Today’s announcement supports the State's Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 85 percent by 2050 and the State’s transition to zero-emission vehicles and infrastructure with all new passenger cars, school buses, and trucks sold to be zero-emissions by 2035. For more information, click here

LEGISLATIVE & ADVOCACY UPDATES

Commercial Containerization for Food Businesses - Effective August 1, 2023 - ALL food-related businesses in NYC must use rigid containers with secure lids when setting out trash for collection. Who is affected The new rule impacts ALL food-related businesses. This includes catering establishments, food manufacturers, food preparation establishments, food service establishments, food wholesalers, and retail food stores. Restaurants, grocery stores, delis, bodegas, caterers, and other businesses that sell or handle food MUST comply. What material is impacted Any putrescible material — refuse or organic material — set out on the curb for collection MUST be in a container with a SECURE LID. The requirement does not apply to other recyclables (metal, glass, plastic, or paper) or to businesses that have waste collected from a loading dock. This rule does not require the separation of trash and organics, only the use of containers for collection. However, some businesses are required to separate their organic waste. If your business meets the minimum requirements, you must comply with the NYC Commercial Organics Rules. When to set out In accordance with recent setout rules, businesses that place waste on the curb have two options:   Place waste at the curb 1 hour before closing, OR   After 8:00 PM. If placing out after 8:00 PM, recyclables do not need to be in a container. How to store bins Containers should be stored inside or in a rear yard if possible. If space is not available, bins can be stored within three (3) feet of the building line when not set out for collection. Bins must be maintained in a neat and orderly manner and always allow for a clear path of pedestrian travel on the sidewalk. NOTE: Businesses required to source-separate organics under Local Law 146 of 2013 must continue to do so by placing their food waste in a separate container with a latching lid. Garbage must be set out in a separate container.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Mott Haven Business to Business Block Party August 26 at 2:00pm Alexander Avenue Open Streets, Alexander Avenue at Bruckner Boulevard Join the Bronx Chamber, the Avenue NYC - Mott Haven Program, Mott Haven Merchants Association for a Block Party celebrating the businesses and residents of the Bruckner Boulevard area. During the event there will be live music by Johnny Mambo and Friends, DJ Menyu, dancing and information on business improvement district formation, marketing, and more!

Business to Business Street Festival August 31 at 11:00am - 3:00pm 1377 Jerome Avenue Bronx, NY Join Councilmember Althea Stevens, The Bronx Chamber of Commerce, New Settlement, and New York City government agencies in celebrating back to school while supporting local businesses. Enjoy face painting Bouncy Castles Music & Games Business to Business Networking NYC Agencies On-Site Assistance M/WBE Certification Information This is the culmination of economic and business development work in District 16 and seeks to continue to build strong neighborhoods and relationships between businesses and our young people. Reserve Your Spot

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!

 

Real Estate Investor Resentenced to Prison for Bid Rigging After Retaliating Against Witnesses

 

A real estate investor was resentenced yesterday in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky to 18 months in prison after his probation was revoked for retaliating against witnesses. He is also required to pay a criminal fine of $171,000 and restitution of $79,000.

Mackie E. Shelton of Scottsville, Kentucky, pleaded guilty to bid rigging a farmland auction on Nov. 29, 2022, in violation of the Sherman Act. According to court documents, Shelton and a co-defendant were real-estate investors who demanded and accepted payoffs to rig the outcome of an April 21, 2018, auction for hundreds of acres of farmland and timber in Allen County, Kentucky. The crime resulted in a financial loss to the Kentucky family selling the property. As a result of his conviction, Shelton lost his professional auctioneer and real-estate licenses, and initially received a sentence of three years of probation with 26 consecutive weekends in jail. While on probation, he retaliated against witnesses who cooperated with law enforcement in the case, resulting in the resentencing. His 18-month prison sentence will be followed by three years of supervised release. He was required to report for prison in two days. 

“As part of our commitment to investigating and prosecuting antitrust crimes throughout America’s heartland, we will never hesitate to protect witnesses who cooperate with law enforcement,” said Acting Director of Criminal Enforcement Emma Burnham of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “This sentence is a warning that intimidating or retaliating against witnesses will not be tolerated.”

“Retaliating against a witness strikes at the very heart of our country’s judicial system,” said Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI Miami Field Office. “The FBI will aggressively investigate allegations of witness retaliation as our system of justice demands that actions such as these not be tolerated.”

The FBI’s International Corruption Unit investigated the case.

Anyone with information about bid rigging and other antitrust crimes targeting America’s farmers and rural communities should contact the Antitrust Division’s Complaint Center at 888-647-3258, or visit www.justice.gov/atr/report-violations.

Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigation Opens Investigation into Civilian Death in the Bronx

 

The New York Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigation (OSI) has opened an investigation into the death of Eric Duprey, who died on August 23, 2023 following an encounter with members of the New York City Police Department (NYPD) in the Bronx.

On the evening of August 23, in the vicinity of 2505 Aqueduct Avenue, an NYPD officer threw a picnic cooler at Mr. Duprey, who was riding a motorbike. The cooler hit Mr. Duprey and caused him to fall on the ground. Mr. Duprey was pronounced dead at the scene.

Pursuant to New York State Executive Law Section 70-b, OSI assesses every incident reported to it where a police officer or a peace officer, including a corrections officer, may have caused the death of a person by an act or omission. Under the law, the officer may be on-duty or off-duty, and the decedent may be armed or unarmed. Also, the decedent may or may not be in custody or incarcerated. If OSI’s assessment indicates an officer may have caused the death, OSI proceeds to conduct a full investigation of the incident.

These are preliminary facts and subject to change.

Governor Hochul Highlights Over $185 Million for Local Water Infrastructure Projects Across New York State

 

Approval of Financial Assistance Authorizes Municipal Access to the Capital Needed for Projects that Reduce Risks to Public Health and the Environment

Refinancing a New York City Project with Federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funding is Projected to Save $33 Million for City Ratepayers

$189 Million Bond Sale Approved to Refinance Projects, Saving Borrowers $125 Million While Providing Funding for 25 Projects

 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the Environmental Facilities Corporation Board of Directors approved over $185 million in direct financial assistance for water infrastructure improvement projects across New York State. The Board's approval authorizes municipal access to over $94.7 million in low-cost short-term financing and previously announced grants to get shovels in the ground for critical water and sewer infrastructure projects, including treatment processes to remove emerging contaminants from drinking water.

The Board also took action to help ensure continued, long-term affordability of existing projects. This includes a $189 million bond sale which, when combined with previously authorized grants will save municipalities an estimated $125 million in debt service payments for 25 projects statewide.

“New York is committed to providing reliable access to clean and safe water,” Governor Hochul said. “This historic investment is a key step towards bolstering our environmental resiliency, public health, and economic development in communities across the state.

The funding approved today includes over $44 million from the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). BIL funding for water and sewer infrastructure is administered by EFC through the State Revolving Funds. New York City was approved to receive a $42 million long-term interest-free BIL financing for the North River cogeneration and electrification project that’s underway. Based on current market conditions, this interest-free financing is projected to save city ratepayers an estimated $33 million over 30 years. A $2 million BIL grant was also approved for Hicksville in Nassau County for a drinking water project to treat emerging contaminants.

The Board's approvals include financings through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, and grants already announced pursuant to the Water Infrastructure Improvement and Intermunicipal Grant programs.

Clean Water Projects:

• Village of Carthage, Jefferson County – $231,750 short-term, interest-free financing and $561,375 WIIA grant for the planning, design and construction of collection system improvements. The Village also will receive a $1,726,900 Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Municipal grant.
•  Town of Cherry Creek, Chautauqua County – $1,573,000 short-term, interest-free financing for the planning, design and construction of sanitary sewer and wastewater treatment improvements at the town's water pollution control facility.
• Village of Depew, Erie County – $202,500 short-term, interest-free financing, $877,500 short-term market-rate financing and $458,750 WIIA grant for the planning, design and construction of sanitary sewer improvements to reduce inflow and infiltration in the village's collection system.
• City of Peekskill, Westchester County – $750,000 WIIA grant for the planning, design and construction of sanitary sewer main improvements at Lower South Street, including installation of a new pump station and force main to reduce inflow and infiltration to Westchester County’s Peekskill Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Drinking Water Projects:

• Carle Place Water District, Nassau County – $5,000,000 WIIA grant for the installation of an advanced oxidation process treatment system and a granular activated carbon treatment system at Well No. 5 for the removal of 1,4-dioxane.
• Garden City Park Water District, Nassau County – $4,363,200 WIIA grant for the installation of an advanced oxidation process treatment system for the removal of 1,4-dioxane and a granular activated carbon system for the removal of PFOA and PFOS.
• Genesee County – $1,213,600 IMG for improvements to the county water supply to allow for an additional 2.4 million gallons per day through the Monroe County Water Authority water supply.
• Hampton Bays Water District, Suffolk County – $2,724,000 WIIA grant for the installation of two 12" water transmission mains across the Shinnecock Canal and the Shinnecock Bay.
• Hicksville Water District, Nassau County – $3,000,000 WIIA grant and $2,000,000 BIL-Emerging Contaminants (EC) grant for the installation of advanced oxidation process and granular activated carbon treatment system at Plant No. 6 wells 6-1R and 6-2 for the removal of 1,4-dioxane, PFOA and PFOS.
• Plainview Water District, Nassau County – $13,840,200 WIIA grant for the installation of an advanced oxidation process treatment system and a granular activated carbon treatment system at Plant No. 5, Well Nos. 5-1, 5-2, 5-3 and 5-4 for the removal of 1,4-dioxane, PFOA and PFOS.
• Saratoga County Water Authority, Saratoga County – $10,000,000 short-term market-rate financing for the construction of an additional 5-million-gallon water storage tank adjacent to the existing 5-million-gallon water tank at the Cordero Drive Tank site.
• South Farmingdale Water District, Nassau County – $3,000,000 WIIA grant for the installation of an advanced oxidation process treatment system and a granular activated carbon treatment system at the Plant No. 6 facility for the removal of 1,4-dioxane from Well No. 6-2
• South Huntington Water District, Suffolk County – $3,435,075 WIIA grant for the installation of an advanced oxidation process treatment system for 1,4-dioxane removal and the installation of Filtrasorb F-300AR carbon for PFAS removal in existing granular activated carbon vessels.
• City of Troy, Rensselaer County – $35,657,000 short-term market-rate financing and $3,000,000 WIIA grant for the replacement of existing transmission mains with new mains from Church Street to the Melrose Pretreatment Facility (approximately 5,500 linear feet each), as well as the reinforced concrete pipe from the Melrose Pretreatment Facility to the Rock Tunnel at Gate House 2 (approximately 2,500 linear feet).
• Village of Wurtsboro, Sullivan County – $1,047,600 WIIA grant for the construction of approximately 1,100 linear feet of 8-inch ductile iron pipe water main on Sullivan Street to Kingston Avenue, replacement of 8 water service connections and the replacement of the 300,000 gallon above-ground water storage tank in the village.

Refinancing Completed Projects Will Achieve Long-Term Debt Service Savings

The Board approved long-term refinancing for six existing projects totaling $90.6 million. Short-term financing provides capital for design and construction of projects. Once project construction is completed, the short-term financing is typically refinanced to long-term financing for up to 30 years, saving municipalities significant interest expenses versus financing on their own.

In addition to the financing provided to NYC, additional projects approved for long-term interest-free financing include the Albany Municipal Water Finance Authority in Albany County, the Village of Lake George in Warren County, the town of Pamelia in Jefferson County and two projects for the City of Schenectady in Schenectady County. Based on current market conditions, these long-term financings are projected to save ratepayers an estimated $103 million in interest payments and previously authorized grants over the life of the financings.

New York's Commitment to Water Quality and Current Funding Opportunities

New York State's nation-leading investment in clean water infrastructure totals $5 billion since 2017. Under the leadership of Governor Hochul, the 2023-24 Enacted Budget includes the $500 million in clean water funding. The Governor launched Community Assistance Teams this year to expand EFC's technical assistance program and help small, rural, and disadvantaged communities leverage this funding to address their clean water infrastructure needs. Any community that needs help with their water infrastructure needs is encouraged to contact EFC at efc.ny.gov/CAT.

The voter-approved $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act is advancing historic levels of funding to update aging water infrastructure and protect water quality, strengthen communities' ability to withstand severe storms and flooding, reduce air pollution and lower climate-altering emissions, restore habitats, and preserve outdoor spaces and local farms. Disadvantaged Communities will receive at least 35 percent of the benefits of Bond Act funding, with a goal of 40 percent.

Share your ideas for how the Bond Act could help your community and environment. Complete the short survey at https://bit.ly/BondActSurvey to submit project ideas and other feedback. The survey deadline is Sept. 15.