Affordable Housing Lottery Launches For 2438 Lyvere Street In Westchester Square, The Bronx

 

The affordable housing lottery has launched for 2438 Lyvere Street, an eight-story mixed-use building in Westchester Square, The Bronx. Designed by Badaly Architects and developed by Arjan Gjushi, the structure yields 45 residences. Available on NYC Housing Connect are 14 units for residents at 130 percent of the area median income (AMI), ranging in eligible income from $44,572 to $218,010. 

Amenities include bicycle storage and a shared laundry room. Tenants are responsible for electricity, which includes stove.

At 130 percent of the AMI, there are two studios with a monthly rent of $1,300 for incomes ranging from $44,572 to $161,590; three one-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $1,500 for incomes ranging from $51,429 to $181,740; eight one-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $1,550 for incomes ranging from $53,143 to $181,740; and one two-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $1,800 for incomes ranging from $61,715 to $218,010.

Prospective renters must meet income and household size requirements to apply for these apartments. Applications must be postmarked or submitted online no later than June 26, 2024.

Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson - Community Resources & Updates

 

Dear Neighbor,

Thank you for joining us for another week in review.

 

We are only a few days away from the official start of summer, and we want to make sure you and your family have the resources to stay cool during a heatwave. HEAP Cooling Assistance helps eligible New Yorkers purchase a fan or air conditioner for their home.

The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) can help eligible New Yorkers heat and cool their homes. If you are eligible, you may receive one regular HEAP benefit per program year and could also be eligible for emergency HEAP benefits if you are in danger of running out of fuel or having your utility service shut off. Click HERE to learn more about HEAP and if you qualify for assistance.

 

The New York Housing Authority (NYCHA) has also reopened the waitlist for its Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) Program until Sunday, June 9, 2024.

 

Eligibility for this program is based on a family’s gross annual income and family size.

 

The program works as a rental subsidy, allowing families to pay a reasonable amount of their income toward their rent.

 

Eligible families will receive a voucher to begin searching for housing.

 

Generally, families will pay no more than 40 percent of their adjusted monthly income toward their rent share.

 

You can click HERE for more information.

Lastly, we hope you will join us on Thursday, June 6th, at 11 a.m., as we make history with the raising of the Puerto Rico flag at Bronx Borough Hall. Our Puerto Rican community has contributed to the growth and success of our borough, and we look forward to celebrating Puerto Rican culture, history, and perseverance at the People`s House!

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact our office at 718-590-3500 or email us at webmail@bronxbp.nyc.gov.

In partnership,

Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson

I presented testimony in response to the Rent Guidelines Board`s proposal to increase rent on thousands of rent-burdened New Yorkers.

As inflation continues to batter the finances of our low- and middle-income households, we must avoid increasing the financial burden for residents who are already struggling. These price increases are often not being offset by increased wages for Bronxites, placing thousands of residents under increased financial stress. Half of rent-stabilized tenants are already rent-burdened and do not receive any other housing subsidy.

I urge the Rent Guidelines Board to protect vulnerable New Yorkers by rejecting these proposed rent increases.

IN THE COMMUNITY

Pride has officially started in the Boogie Down! We were proud to join our LGBTQIA+ Taskforce and community leaders to raise the Pride flag at borough hall.

A huge congratulations to our incredible honorees for their achievements and commitment to the Bronx and our LGBTQIA+ community.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Prom Dress and Suit Giveaway! We value our youth and understand the significance of Prom Season.

This is a special time for our students, and we wanted them all to feel their very best.

Thank you to everyone who donated, thank you to our volunteers and thank you to everyone who worked to make this possible.

Photo Credit: @geniusexposuremedia

Congratulations to Bronx Community College's graduating class of 2024! I am honored to celebrate our phenomenal scholars and their accomplishments. A special thanks to BCC President Dr. Milton Santiago, our Board of Trustees, Faculty, Staff, the BCC team, elected officials, and family members who all joined to honor our graduates.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Cox: Biden's Immigration Order an Election Year Stunt; Hochul should be Embarrassed

 

NYGOP Chair Ed Cox released the following statement:

"Joe Biden's executive order is an insincere election year stunt designed to fail, as it invokes a Trump-era immigration action successfully challenged in court by the ACLU. The ACLU has already promised legal action against the Biden Administration. As Congressman Lawler put it earlier today, this is 'election-year politics, plain and simple.'

 

"If he were serious, President Biden would reinstate President Trump's 'Remain in Mexico' policy, which Biden got rid of, and which successfully and legally had curbed the flood of illegal migrants on our southern border.

 

"Kathy Hochul should be embarrassed to have been a part of this charade, which will do nothing to stem the flow of illegal migrants into New York."

THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR ANNOUNCES $44,000 WAGE RECOVERY FOR TWO HOME HEALTH AIDES

 

The New York State Department of Labor announced two settlements following investigations into a Queens employer underpaying home health aides. The cases resulted in settlements totaling $44,000 for two home care workers who were denied adequate sleep time during 24-hour shifts and underpaid for hours worked. NYSDOL’s Division of Worker Protection has opened 1,587 home health industry investigations since July 2015, dispersing nearly $10.3 million in wages and damages to 14,878 claimants through 610 cases.

“Home health aides are essential to our medical infrastructure,” said New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon. “In order for them to stay healthy and provide the best possible care to patients, we must ensure they have proper sleep and meal breaks and compensate them for any interruptions to those breaks.”

Both claimants were employed by Caring Home Care of Ozone Park, based in Queens. It was determined that from February 2021 to October 2021, the employees were not properly paid for shifts where they did not receive adequate sleep and meal breaks.

Under state law, home health aides are paid for 13 hours of each 24-hour shift, so long as they are provided eight hours of sleep, five of which are uninterrupted and three uninterrupted meal breaks. NYSDOL encourages home health care employers to review their policies and practices to ensure full compliance with the law.

Over the past decade, NYSDOL has recovered and dispersed more than $360 million in owed wages and identified over a million misclassified workers. The Department is also the lead agency in Governor Hochul’s Wage Theft Task Force, a collaborative interagency effort to crack down on wage theft. Victims are encouraged to file a wage complaint and can email labor.sm.ls.ask@labor.ny.gov for assistance. For more information on claiming unpaid wages, visit the Division of Labor Standards webpage.

Bill Passes the Senate to Protect Children from Opioid Exposure

State Senator Gustavo Rivera released the following statement after his legislation S7815A passed the State Senate to protect New York children from opioid exposure at childcare facilities. This bill was introduced following the tragic passing of Nicholas Feliz Dominici in the Bronx on September 15, 2023.

“Last year, our community was left in deep mourning after the tragic death of one-year-old Nicholas Feliz Dominici as a result of a negligent exposure to fentanyl at a childcare facility in my district. From the moment I learned about this devastating tragedy, I knew that something needed to be done legislatively to prevent tragedies like this from happening again.

“That’s why I am incredibly proud that my bill (S7815) passed on the floor of the Senate today. This measure will provide education and training for providers on overdose prevention, enhance training for inspectors on how to identify illicit drugs, and most importantly, will empower parents, who are by far their children’s strongest advocates, by ensuring they are informed about avenues for inquiries and complaints to the State’s Office of Children and Family Services, as well as their rights to inspect childcare facilities. These new government protocols will give parents the reassurances they need that their children will be taken care of in a safe, drug free environment.

"I urge my colleagues in the Assembly to pass this bill given that this comprehensive public health approach will help us fight back the devastating rise of cases where minors and young children are inadvertently coming into contact with opioids, leading to overdoses. Our communities, especially our most vulnerable, must be protected at all costs and this bill will help us do that.”

Governor Hochul Announces the Finalization of New Contracts for Empire Wind 1 and Sunrise Wind

Once in Operation in 2026, Offshore Wind Projects Will Be the Largest Power Generation Projects in New York State in Over 35 Years

Supports Progress Towards Achievement of the State’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act Goal for 9,000 Megawatts of Offshore Wind by 2035

Governor Kathy Hochul announced the finalization of new contracts for Empire Wind 1, a planned 810-megawatt project (developed by Equinor), and Sunrise Wind, a planned 924-megawatt project (developed by Ørsted and Eversource) as the result of New York’s fourth offshore wind solicitation. The two offshore wind projects, totaling over 1,700 megawatts, will produce enough clean energy to power over one million New York homes and will be the largest power generation projects in New York State in over 35 years once they enter operation in 2026. Today’s announcement is part of New York’s 10-Point Action Plan to support the growing large-scale renewable energy industry, and represents progress toward the achievement of the State’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (Climate Act) goal to develop 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind energy by 2035.

“New York is leading the nation to build the clean energy industry, create good-paying jobs, and advance our climate goals,” Governor Hochul said. “Offshore wind is a critical piece of our clean energy blueprint to address the climate crisis, and our investments are building a healthy, sustainable New York so that future generations can thrive.”

The competitively selected projects will create more than 800 near-term family-sustaining construction jobs, and invest $2 billion in enhanced economic development statewide, including developer-committed investments to support disadvantaged communities. Beyond the projects’ contractual obligations, Empire Wind 1 and Sunrise Wind are expected to deliver more than $6 billion in economic benefits statewide over the 25-year life of the projects.

Empire Wind 1 and Sunrise Wind were previously awarded by NYSERDA in 2019 as part of NYSERDA’s first offshore wind solicitation, and re-awarded in 2023. As part of the new contracts, the projects will be held to new provisions that bring additional benefits to the State, including:

• New economic benefit commitments above what was originally contracted, including $32 million committed to community-focused investments in New York’s disadvantaged communities and $16.5 million towards wildlife and fisheries monitoring.
• Commitments to purchasing a minimum of $188 million of U.S. iron and steel, supporting U.S. manufacturing and the New York Buy American Act.
• Requirements for Labor Peace Agreements for operations and maintenance services.

With today’s announcement, the projects are now on a path to near term project completion, driving local investments and enhanced economic benefits to New York State at cost-competitive rates. The average bill impact for residential customers over the life of these projects under these awards will be approximately two percent, or about $2.09 per month. The weighted average all-in development cost of the contracted offshore wind projects over the life of the contracts is $150.15 per megawatt-hour which is on-par with the latest market prices.New York State's Nation-Leading Climate Plan

New York State's climate agenda calls for an orderly and just transition that creates family-sustaining jobs, continues to foster a green economy across all sectors and ensures that at least 35 percent, with a goal of 40 percent, of the benefits of clean energy investments are directed to disadvantaged communities. Guided by some of the nation’s most aggressive climate and clean energy initiatives, New York is advancing a suite of efforts – including the New York Cap-and-Invest program (NYCI) and other complementary policies – to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent by 2030 and 85 percent by 2050 from 1990 levels. New York is also on a path to achieving a zero-emission electricity sector by 2040, including 70 percent renewable energy generation by 2030, and economy-wide carbon neutrality by mid-century. A cornerstone of this transition is New York's unprecedented clean energy investments, including more than $28 billion in 61 large-scale renewable and transmission projects across the State, $6.8 billion to reduce building emissions, $3.3 billion to scale up solar, nearly $3 billion for clean transportation initiatives and over $2 billion in NY Green Bank commitments. These and other investments are supporting more than 170,000 jobs in New York’s clean energy sector as of 2022 and over 3,000 percent growth in the distributed solar sector since 2011. To reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality, New York also adopted zero-emission vehicle regulations, including requiring all new passenger cars and light-duty trucks sold in the State be zero emission by 2035. Partnerships are continuing to advance New York’s climate action with more than 400 registered and more than 130 certified Climate Smart Communities, nearly 500 Clean Energy Communities, and the State’s largest community air monitoring initiative in 10 disadvantaged communities across the State to help target air pollution and combat climate change.

Two Men Sentenced To 185 And 220 Months In Prison For Murder Of Rival Drug Dealer In 2002

 

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that TERRIS OLIVER, a/k/a “T-Bird,” and RICARDO AYALA, a/k/a “Richie,” were sentenced to 185 and 220 months in prison, respectively, for their roles in the March 27, 2002, shooting death of 19-year-old Atari Felton.  OLIVER and AYALA were participants in a drug conspiracy, members of which shot and killed Felton after a feud broke out between their group and Felton’s own drug business.  OLIVER was sentenced June 3, 2024, and AYALA was sentenced on May 6, 2024, both by U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute controlled substances.  During their pleas, they admitted to participating in the Felton murder. 

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “This case is yet another reminder that no matter how much time passes, this Office will prosecute, and seek significant sentences for, any drug dealers and gang members who shoot and kill another person.  There is absolutely no excuse for the taking of another life.  Atari Felton has been dead for longer than he lived — a tragedy brought about by gun violence that this Office and City should never abide.” 

According to the allegations in the Indictment and Information and statements made in public court proceedings:

OLIVER and AYALA were members of a drug crew that conducted open-air drug sales around 240 East 175th Street in the Bronx, near Monroe Avenue.  The group had planned to merge operations with Felton, but when that failed, Felton attempted to shoot at members of OLIVER’s and AYALA’s group.  Later that night, OLIVER, AYALA, and several other men traveled to the area of 1665 Topping Avenue, where at least four men, including OLIVER, fired shots at Felton as Felton exited a corner store.[1]  One bullet struck Felton in the back, causing lethal injuries. 

Following the murder, both OLIVER and AYALA incurred arrests and periods of incarceration on state charges of, among other things, gun possession, to which OLIVER pled guilty in 2006, and continued drug distribution, to which AYALA pled guilty in 2004.

OLIVER, 42, of Bridgewater, Massachusetts, and AYALA, 43, of the Bronx, New York, previously pled guilty to conspiring to distribute crack cocaine, heroin, and marijuana, and both admitted to participating in the Felton murder.  In addition to the prison term, OLIVER and AYALA were sentenced to three years of supervised release.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of Special Agents from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the New York City Police Department’s Cold Case Squad.  He also thanked the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Intelligence Analysts for their support and assistance in this matter.

BRONX DA ANNOUNCES 2024 SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM FOR LAW SCHOOL AND UNDERGRAD STUDENTS

 

Internship Program Offers Hands-On Experience to 118 Students

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that 118 law school and college students have joined the Bronx District Attorney’s Office this summer as interns. 

District Attorney Clark said, “We are excited to have this diverse, enthusiastic group of students who will gain first-hand knowledge of the criminal justice system. This internship will crystallize the importance and impact the Bronx District Attorney’s Office has in the community and will provide valuable lessons these students will take with them.” 

There are 86 students from 34 law schools in New York and across the nation. Eight are from the Bronx. 

There are 32 undergraduate students from 19 colleges throughout the New York area. At least 12 of the students are from the Bronx.

Under the supervision of the Recruitment Bureau and the Litigation Training Bureau, interns will take part in workshops, lectures, and hands-on training. Under a Student Practice Order, law school interns can perform some functions of an attorney in a courtroom. Interns have been assigned to bureaus throughout the Office. 

The summer internship program runs from June 3 to July 26.