Yudelka Tapia Statement on Supreme Court Ruling

  

Statement on Supreme Court Ruling

- In a surprise ruling, the New York State Supreme Court, rejected a request by Tapia for City Council for the New York City Campaign Finance Board to review expenditure documentation from the 2009 election cycle. Ms. Tapia, who acknowledges that her campaign was late in filing the documentation, will appeal the ruling in the hope that CFB will review all her expenditures.

Tapia’s elections lawyer, Leo Glickman, issued a statement on the matter:

“During the 2009 campaign,  the Tapia for City Council campaign committee submitted to the CFB’s routine audit, was found to be compliant and was cleared to receive  public matching funds. All  campaign money – public and private - was spent in accordance with CFB rules throughout the campaign.

“During the CFB’s routine post election audit, Ms. Tapia’s son, who was also her Treasurer, became very ill and was repeatedly admitted to the hospital. As a result, the campaign was late in submitting documentation in response to the CFB’s routine request to substantiate the spending of public funds.  The campaign made a request to the CFB to scrutinize the documentation even though it was submitted late.  The CFB determined that it would not consider the documentation because it was late - not because money was spent inappropriately.

“Certain that the documentation shows that all money was spent in accordance with campaign finance regulations, we commenced  an action asking the  Supreme Court to order the CFB to scrutinize the documentation. We are disappointed that the Judge ruled that missing the deadline supersedes all other matters.

“Our appeal will ask for the same relief we asked the Supreme Court.  The campaign has not asked that the penalties it has received for its late response be overturned. We are only asking that the CFB not proceed as if the documentation was never received, and perform its Charter mandated audit to ensure that money was spent appropriately.  If they do so, we are certain that there will be no question about our full compliance with spending regulations.

Yudelka Tapia reiterated her regret for having missed CFB deadlines in 2009, “I am, as I have always been, sorry for not having submitted required documentation by the deadline imposed by the Campaign Finance Board and I look forward to paying the fine for this mistake. My only request is that the CFB review the paperwork I have submitted so that we can put this matter to rest.”

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Yudelka Tapia has been a district leader or state committee person from the 86th Assembly District since 2002. A leader in her community for 25 years and a member of AFL-CIO Local DC37, Tapia founded the first Dominican based Democratic Club in the Bronx. Yudelka raised four sons in the Bronx, served as president of their PTA and lives in East Tremont with her husband, Tito.

 

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LIU STATEMENT ON CITY BANKING COMMISSION

  City Comptroller John C. Liu stated the following in response to questions about his vote today at the New York City Banking Commission.  Comptroller Liu voted against the proposed designated depository banks, because the Bloomberg Administration has failed to enforce the NYC Responsible Banking Act, which requires that the Mayor create a board to review banks’ reinvestments in local communities:

 

“The Mayor has refused to follow local law, which requires the City to examine whether the banks it designates as depositories are reinvesting in underserved communities,” Comptroller Liu said. “Depository banks receive billions of taxpayers’ dollars, so we must ensure that they comply with our stated aim of enhancing their reinvestment in those communities.  Because the Mayor has undermined the Responsible Banking Act by failing to appoint members to a Community Investment Advisory Board, we have no method for determining that compliance, and so we cannot approve any banks to serve as depositories for City funds today.”

 

BACKGROUND:

The Banking Commission last approved the City’s depository banks in May 2011. In June 2012, the NYC Council passed the Responsible Banking Act (RBA), overriding the Mayor’s veto.  The law stated that a Community Investment Advisory Board (CIAB) was to have been created within 60 days. In order to negate the effect of the law, the Mayor has refused to comply with the RBA’s requirement that he appoint members to a CIAB that would review banks’ performance in opening branches and investing in underserved and underfinanced neighborhoods.  By failing to appoint members to the CIAB, the Mayor has kept the CIAB from meeting in order to fulfill its intended role, and effectively vetoed the City’s RBA all over again.

 

In addition to Comptroller Liu, the Banking Commission consists of the Mayor and the Commissioner of Finance. The Department of Finance provides all administrative support for the Commission’s work.

Visit www.comptroller.nyc.gov for the latest news, events and initiatives.
Follow Comptroller Liu on Twitter. To receive Twitter updates via text message,
text “follow johncliu” to 40404.
 View the latest Comptroller’s office videos on YouTube.

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What You Should Know

By Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz
32nd Senatorial District, Bronx County, New York

My Two Cents on Election Reform

You should know that starting with my son, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr., and going all the way down the political landscape, I am feeling a lot of pressure to support Governor Andrew Cuomo’s campaign finance and election reform legislation.  There have been many, many conversations about election reform to try to get me on board … the pressure has been tremendous!

You should also know that yes, we are in need of election reform – but not just any old window-dressing reform.  We are in need of real, deep and serious campaign finance and election reform.  Therefore, I would like to contribute my two cents about how I believe we should start.

First, let’s start by giving four-year terms to our New York State Senators and Assembly Members.

Everybody else has four-year terms.  The Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the Attorney General, the New York City Mayor, and the New York City Council Members – they all serve four-year terms. This gives them all ample time to dedicate themselves to the business of the people – without having to be distracted too much about making time to raise money for their next election.  Instead, as soon as New York State’s Senators and Assembly Members get elected, they have to start raising money to get re-elected
instead of honestly and faithfully dedicating most of their time to their duties as legislators.  It is important to give Senators and Assembly Members four-year terms.  I assure you that this will be good, and it will help to lessen corruption and desperation for some legislators to raise money for their next campaign.

Second, it would be ideal if New York State’s election reform would also include a mandate to stagger elections.

You should know that in the United States Senate, Senators have six-year terms and every two years, one third of the Senate is elected.  If the New York State Senate and Assembly would have elections staggered so that only half of the body would be up for re-election every two years, we would have continuity and seniority and experience.  It would be more stabilizing for our government, and for our election cycles.

Third, we must be sure that every elected official – especially the lawyers who serve in the Senate and the Assembly – report who their clients are and who gives them money.

We need legislators to provide a full disclosure about all their business dealings, as well as every aspect of their operations.  If election reform changes the status of Senators and Assembly Members from a part-time to a full-time job, it would help eliminate a lot of the temptation and the hanky-panky of lawyers in elected office who currently do business with firms and serve as 'of counsel' to companies that do business with cities, local municipalities, and the State.  A legislator should be a full time legislator, with no other part-time jobs. Fourth, Governor Andrew Cuomo should donate to charity the $20 million dollars plus in campaign funds that was raised for him.

Those $20 million dollars plus were raised for Governor Andrew Cuomo in cooperation with the Committee to Save New York, and by people doing business with New York State.  As part of his call for transparency,
Governor Cuomo should require the release of the names of all of the people who made donations to the Committee to Save New York.  Like everyone else, Governor Andrew Cuomo should start from scratch.  It’s not nice for him to say, “Hey, I have $20 million dollars and can continue raising money, but the rest of you can go and start from scratch to raise your money.”

Fifth, you should also know that there are indications that the proposed election reform bill will give more power and control to groups, unions, organizations and PACS.

Right now, they can only contribute limited amounts of money to candidates. As things stand now, they are limited to how much money they can spend on a candidate.  If Governor Andrew Cuomo’s election reform bill passes as it is, they most certainly will have even more power and ability to raise money.

For example, if a political party decides to ask every one of their members to contribute at least $25 dollars to a candidate of their choice to oust an opponent, and they all contribute, the government matching funds for
each of those $25 dollar donations grows to $150.  If you multiply that amount by the number of party members who donate, that’s a lot of money – and a powerful tool for the party to either oust or help an incumbent or an insurgent.   I am deeply concerned that political parties and Super PACS and organizations backed by wealthy individuals will make it much easier to say “Bye-bye!” to any incumbent who has the strong support of his or her constituents.

Finally, you should know that I personally never liked using public funds to support political candidates.  I especially don’t like it now when Governor Andrew Cuomo has cut the Senators’ and the Assembly Members’ member items and capital funds.  These cuts prevent legislators from helping their communities.  If the justification for Governor Andrew Cuomo is because he believes the State cannot afford member items and capital funds, or if he says they need to money to balance the State Budget, then how can he allow for public funds to be used to support political candidates.

If there really is no money to help community organizations, senior citizen centers, little leagues, block associations and community watch groups, then we should not use public money to support political campaigns.  After eliminating resources to community groups and not-for-profit organizations that serve the people, why should we instead be giving money to politicians to run their campaigns?  New Yorkers would be much better served if their tax money is given to our senior citizens for computer labs, little leagues for uniforms and baseball equipment, and block associations to strengthen the role of our families and neighbors.

Ladies and gentlemen, as people attempt to pressure me and discuss ways to approach the much-needed election reform, you should know that I feel obligated to share my two cents with all of you.

This is New York State Senator Reverend Rubén Díaz and this is what you should know.

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POLICE POSTED AT 235TH STREET & JOHNSON AVENUE

At Councilman KOPPELL’S REQUEST
 

After Council Member Oliver Koppell received complaints that school kids were causing disturbances near Starbucks on Johnson Avenue and 235^th Street, he requested a police patrol in the area.

Koppell informed the precinct that the recent incident on May 7^th when a large crowd of school kids gathered and had to be disbursed, was only one of many instances of disorderly conduct at that location, including reports he had received of fighting, smashing bottles, cursing, and public indecency. Koppell reminded Deputy Inspector Burke that there had been a police patrol about two years ago that successfully discouraged kids from “hanging out” at that location.

Burke quickly responded to Koppell, indicating that he was deploying a scooter and a school van to 235^th Street & Johnson Avenue during school dismissal hours until further notice.  He further said he had been in touch with the neighboring schools and will continue to monitor the situation closely.

“I am grateful for Deputy Inspector Burke’s rapid and positive response to my request for a police presence near Starbucks on Johnson Avenue and his reassurance that he will closely monitor the situation. I have every expectation that the police attention will act as a deterrent to the young people’s rowdy behavior and provide relief to the residents and store owners in the area,” Koppell said.

Editors note: 

  While this is an important quality of life issue, there are many different types of actual lawbreaking that goes on in the 50th precinct that are not covered this quickly or at all, as we have documented previously in this blog. 

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MAYORAL FORUM MAY 23 AT THE RIVERDALE TEMPLE

THE BENJAMIN FRANKLIN REFORM DEMOCRATIC CLUB’S

           

SAL ALBANESE

BILL DEBLASIO

JOHN LIU

CHRISTINE QUINN

ERICK SALGADO

BILL THOMPSON

RIVERDALE TEMPLE

4545 Independence Avenue

(south of West 246th Street)

2013 DEMOCRATIC

MAYORAL FORUM

THURSDAY MAY 23RD 7:00 PM

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BP DIAZ HOSTS BANKERS BREAKFAST

  Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. once again hosted the largest networking event of its kind in the Bronx, the 15^th Annual Bronx Bankers Breakfast. The event is produced as part of Bronx Week 2013 in partnership with the Business Initiative Corporation of New York and the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation (BOEDC).

This year’s theme was “The New Bronx,” and the event saw more than 400 leaders in the fields of banking, business, real estate and tech come together to attend the breakfast, which is the largest event of its kind.

"Our Bankers Breakfast continued our focus on ‘The New Bronx,’ a theme I highlighted in my ‘State of the Borough’ address. We are seeing tens of millions of dollars currently being spent in the Bronx to develop commercial and residential sites, all of which are creating thousands of jobs in the process. That is certainly something worth celebrating,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. 

This year’s keynote speaker was Benjamin M. Lawsky, New York State’s first Superintendent of Financial Services. As Superintendent, Lawsky is the supervisor of all Insurance companies in New York, all New York State-chartered depository institutions and the majority of United States-based branches and agencies of foreign banking institutions. He also regulates all of New York State’s mortgage brokers, mortgage bankers, check cashers, money transmitters, budget planners, and similar providers of financial services. Entities supervised by the Department number approximately 4400, with assets of about $6.2 trillion.

Superintendent Lawsky led Governor Andrew Cuomo’s initiative to make the Department of Financial Services, which includes the former New York State Banking and Insurance Departments, into a modern unified financial regulator.

Superintendent Lawsky’s objectives for the new Department of Financial Services include three main goals—keeping New York on the cutting edge as the financial capital of the world, protecting consumers better than ever before, and serving as a model of efficient government.

Prior to his current position, Superintendent Lawsky was Governor Andrew Cuomo's Chief of Staff. Previously, he served as the Deputy Counselor and Special Assistant to then-Attorney General Cuomo. Prior to that, Mr. Lawsky had spent over five years as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of New York, where he prosecuted white collar crime, organized crime, and terrorism cases. He began his career as Chief Counsel to Senator Charles Schumer on the Senate Judiciary Committee and as a Trial Attorney in the Civil Division of the Department of Justice. 

 

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Van Cortlandt Senior Center to Get Head Start Program

  In what Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz called a "win, win, win for everybody" The Mosholu Montifiore Community Center will open up the Van Cortlandt Child Development center in the two floors of the Van Cortlandt Senior Center that the Department of Education leased for over 10 years, but did not renew after building the new Ampark school one block away. A total of 130 two, three, and four year old children will be attending the Universal Pre-K, Head Start or Child care programs to be offered by the MMCC. In addition to the ten classrooms available an enclosed play area will be built on a currently unused roof of the structure. Dinowitz said that he had secured $345,000.00 for the renovations needed, and thanked city council candidate Andrew Cohen for bringing the MMCC and the VCSC together to find a use for the unused space in the building. Cohen in what is typical of him was very breif by saying that he was glad to have brought much needed services to the area, and to help two great organizations get together to do so. 

  Don Bluestone the Executive Director of MMCC said that his organization is one of 13 groups that is part of the Head Start program, and there are 400 children on the wait list at his center. Robert Gillman President of the VCSC thanked Mr. Cohen, Assemblyman Dinowitz, and MMCC Executive Director Don Bluestone for working out a deal for the empty space in the center that was left when the DOE pulled out. Gillman said however that the center will have to still make up a small shortfall in revenue that will be done with fundraising by the center.

Left - Andrew Cohen candidate for city council, Robert Gillman President VCSC, Don Bluestone MMCC, and Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz.

Right - A view of where the enclosed play area is to be placed.

 

Left - One of the rooms as was left by the DOE.

Right - A close up view of one corner shows some of the minor work that needs to be done.

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53rd Annual Ben Franklin Democratic Club Dinner

  Last night over 200 Bronx and citywide politically minded people attended the 53rd Annual Ben Franklin Democratic Club Dinner. Elected officials that the club has endorsed included Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. State Senators Jeff Klein, and Gustavo Rivera, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, Bronx Democratic County Leader Assemblyman Carl Heastie, Councilman G. Oliver Koppell, several Judges, and Koppell's possible successor Andrew Cohen (who has been endorsed by the club). Four of the top six announced Democratic Mayoral candidates attending were City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, City Comptroller John Liu, Public Advocate Bill DeBlasio, and former City Comptroller Bill Thompson. Other elected officials who came to the dinner were State senators Dan Squadron (candidate for Public Advocate), State Senator Diane Savino, City Council members Dan Garodnick and Mark Weprin.

   The dinner was opened with a disclaimer about a story in a local Riverdale paper about political clubs which included the Ben Franklin Club. Club President Ellen Feld said the story did not mention any wrongdoings on the part any of the clubs listed, which was later echoed by Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz.   

Mr. Bill Weitz Chief of Staff to Congressman Engel, (who was detained in Washington) presented the Distinguished Institute Award to The College of Mount St. Vincent. Councilman G. Oliver Koppell presented The Lee Heimlich Community Service Award to The Crime Victims Support Services of the North Bronx. Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz presented the Jonathan B. Bingham Award to Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

  Highlights of the dinner- When I asked Bronx Democratic County Leader Heastie about some Bronx elected officials endorsing four different candidates for mayor already, Heastie said that there is over 60 elected and party officials in the Bronx. "Some are bound to have their own candidates, but the Bronx Democratic County organization will have a significant impact on the mayors race". 

State Senator Jeff Klein on the recent John Sampson corruption arrest and State Senator Huntly conviction said " That is why the Independent Democratic Conference was formed". 

Heard from one UFT rep at the dinner, the UFT will probably endorse John Liu or Bill Thompson for mayor, Quinn would be just like four more years of Bloomberg.

 

 

 Left- 81st A.D. Female District Leader Randi Martos greets City Council Speaker Christine Quinn as Quinn arrives at the Ben Franklin dinner.

Right - State Senator Dan Squadron (candidate for Public Advocate) speaks with fellow senators Jeff Klein and Diane Savino before the dinner.

 

Left - Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. speaks after receiving his award.

Right - Mayoral candidate Bill Thompson speaks with Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, his son Eric Dinowitz (back to camera), and Bronx Democratic Councty Leader Carl Heastie.

 

Left - Public Advocate Bill DeBlasio is heads above others as you see in this photo with staffer Paula Chowles.

Right - Councilman Koppell's right hand man seems to have the best seat in the house as he and two friends enjoy dessert and coffee as the dinner winds down.

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