Monday, November 9, 2015
Combating Climate Change By Defending EPA’s Clean Power Plan
Attorney General Schneiderman is leading a coalition of 25 states, cities and counties that are committed to aggressively defending the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan. The Clean Power Plan will require fossil-fueled power plants, the largest single source of greenhouse gas emissions in the nation, to cut their emissions. The plan’s projected reductions are equivalent to the pollution emitted by 70 percent of the nation’s passenger cars. Climate change represents an unprecedented threat to the environment, public health and our economy—and EPA’s Clean Power Plan is a critical step forward in protecting our planet.
Exxon Investigation
The New York Times and others reported last week that Attorney General Schneiderman had launched an investigation of Exxon Mobil to determine whether the company lied to the public about the risks of climate change or to investors about how such risks might hurt the oil business.
Taking Down An International Car-Theft Ring
The Attorney General and NYPD Commissioner Bratton announced the indictment of 14 individuals who allegedly operated a sophisticated international stolen vehicle theft ring. The alleged scheme involved driving fraudulently-rented Mercedes, BMWs, Infinitis and other luxury vehicles from lots at New York City airports to the Bronx, where they would be loaded into shipping containers bound for West Africa. “Operation Cruise Control” utilized wiretaps and other surveillance to gather evidence against the Bronx-based criminal ring. The Attorney General has no tolerance for fraudsters who try to profit at the expense of New York businesses.
Stopping Fraud Against The State
Along with Inspector General Leahy Scott, the Attorney General announced the guilty plea of a Department of Transportation worker for fraudulently obtaining nearly $10,000 in Workers’ Compensation benefits. Over a period of eight months, Corey Cragnolin falsified documents he submitted to the New York State Insurance Fund by stating he was not working in any capacity while accepting benefits when he was in fact still working.
The Attorney General and Inspector General also announced the guilty plea of Joseph Clare, a retired Department of Corrections officer who fraudulently obtained more than $56,000 in Workers’ Compensation benefits in less than three years. As part of the guilty plea, Clare paid $56,400 in restitution back to the state, and was sentenced to a one year conditional discharge.
And as part of his continued efforts to root out pension fraud, Attorney General Schneiderman and Comptroller DiNapoli announced the guilty plea of Terence Fitzpatrick, who allegedly stole $78,000 in pension benefits from the state. Fitzpatrick had allegedly failed to notify the state of his father’s death, who had been a retired Port Authority worker and collected pension benefits. Fitzpatrick faces a maximum penalty of 2 & 1/3 to 7 years in prison.
The Attorney General has made it a priority to punish those who take money out of the pockets of honest, hardworking New Yorkers who rely on these important funds.
Protecting Trial Witnesses
The Attorney General announced the indictment of two individuals charged with witness tampering in a mortgage fraud case. In 2011, an Onondaga County Grand Jury returned an indictment charging Alexander March, Sima March, and two other co-defendants in a mortgage fraud scheme, but the Marchs fled the United States and entered Canada to avoid arrest. During that time, it is alleged that Alexander March and an attorney, Jon Lefkowitz, engaged in a conspiracy to tamper with the Grand Jury witnesses who had testified against the Marchs. In an attempt to undermine the witnesses’ credibility, March and Lefkowitz allegedly demanded that witnesses sign affidavits and answer questionnaires that would discredit their prior sworn testimony. In furtherance of their conspiracy, Lefkowitz and March also allegedly impersonated various individuals, including attorneys, and sent out forged “judicial subpoenas” that appeared to have been authorized by a New York State Supreme Court Judge. The Attorney General will continue to be a staunch protector of the integrity of New York’s criminal justice system.
Protecting New Yorkers Against Mortgage Fraud
A Florida woman has been sentenced for her role in a mortgage fraud ring that netted more than $1 million by preying upon first-time home buyers and institutional mortgage lenders in the Syracuse area. Tracie Clark, the fifth and final participant of this mortgage to be sentenced, was given six months in jail and five years of probation. The ringleader of the scheme, Theresa Sanders, was previously sentenced to 2 1/3 to seven years in prison for her role.
Protecting Medicaid Against Fraud
A Rochester nurse has pleaded guilty to bilking Medicaid of nearly $9,000. Schmeka Morgan provided private nursing services to a special needs young adult and billed the state for numerous hours she did not work. Morgan’s guilty plea carries a sentence of 3 years’ probation and the full restitution of $8,838 she illegally charged the state.
Veterans Brunch - Job and Resource Fair November 18th, 2015!
Register Today !
Please Join The
Bronx Chamber of Commerce
at our Veterans Brunch
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Brunch - 10:00AM
Job and Resource Fair - 12:00PM
*Those interested in a complimentary interview table for our resource fair, please email Michelle@bronxchamber.org*
For More Information Please Email:
Sunday, November 8, 2015
9th ANNUAL THROGGS NECK VETERANS’ DAY PARADE BREAKFAST
That was how the event was billed as, but at the 9th Annual Throggs Neck Veterans Day Breakfast everyone found out that State Senator Jeff Klein would not be attending today's breakfast and Veterans parade due to the sudden loss of his mother Madeline the night before. Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj stood in for Senator Klein doing a fine job as the host, but everyone felt the sorrowness that Assemblyman Gjonaj and others close to Senator Klein were feeling as the breakfast went on.
More than 300 veterans were treated to a complimentary hot breakfast before the 31st annual Throggs Neck Veterans’ Day Parade kicked off between East Tremont and Lafayette avenues. Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj (standing in for Senator Klein) presented this year's grand marshal – Lieutenant Colonel Floyd Carter, a Tuskegee Airman who served in the military during WWII, Korea and Vietnam – with a proclamation honoring him for his service to this country. Honorary grand marshals Robert ‘Coz’ Eraneazio, Ray Karta, Maurice Powers, James Cerasoli, Cornelius Wallace, Robert Fritz, John Laguna and Angelo ‘Jerry’ Gerardi families also receive proclamations.
Above and Below - The New York City Transit Pipes and Drums played during the Presentation of the Colors
Above - Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj stood in for State Senator Jeff Klein.
Below - Honoree 92 Year-old Veteran Lieutenant Colonel Floyd Carter a United States Air Force Tuskegee Airman was the Grand Marshal of the Throggs Neck Veteran's Day Parade that took place after the breakfast.
Above - Taps was played for the fallen soldiers of past wars.
Below - Local Veteran leader Pat Devine thanks everyone who came to the breakfast, and Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj who stood in for State Senator Jeff Klein in the senator's time of sorrow.
Saturday, November 7, 2015
100 PERCENT SATURDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2015
100 PERCENT
By Robert Press
85 Percent
85 percent was the number I said in my pre-election day column that Democratic Bronx District Attorney candidate Darcel Clark would need, and it was 85 percent of the vote that Darcel Clark received as she glided to victory on as the new Bronx DA on election day. It was all smiles at the victory celebration that night after the polls closed, but not everyone was at the Eastchester Manor to help celebrate the victory. Bronx Democratic County Leader Marcos Crespo was already in Puerto Rico as the Chairman of the Somos El Futuro convention that was to begin the next day. With the county leader was Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and several other Bronx elected officials, This however did not make the celebration of new Bronx DA Darcel Clark's victory any less as there were enough people including New York Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, Bronx Democratic County Committee Chair Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, Assemblyman Victor Pichardo, Councilman Andy King (and his lovely wife), the winning team of Bronx County Judicial candidates and many district leaders. Check the blog archive for photos of the celebration.
The trials of both former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and former State Senate Leader Dean Skelos got underway this past week. If all go the U.S. Attorney's way I expect to see more indictments coming down, and it is not going to be pretty.
Speaking of something getting ugly, the 13th Congressional race is getting more ugly each day as more candidates are jumping into the race to succeed Charlie Rangel. Rangel has thrown his support behind Manhattan Democratic County Leader Assemblyman Keith Wright, but that has not stopped anyone from throwing their name into the race. As of now those in the race with Assemblyman Wright are former Assemblyman Adam Clayton Powell, State Senator Bill Perkins, Clyde Williams (candidate in 2014), State Senator Adriano Espailliat (candidate in 2012 and 2014), Manhattan Assemblyman Guillerrmo Linares, Susan Cook (former Clinton official), Mike Gallagher, and probably one or two more as the petition process begins next year.
The season of holiday parties will soon begin. and on Tuesday December 1st the North Bronx Democratic Club will be hosting its first holiday party at Maestros located at 1703 Bronxdale Avenue from 6 - 9 PM. The Guest of Honor will be Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, with the Honorees to include NYC Corrections Union President Norman Seabrook, RAIN Founder Beatrice Castiglia Catullo, Bronx Chamber of Commerce Chairman and Metro Properties President Joseph Kelleher, and School District 11 Superintendent Meisha Ross Porter. You can call 347-256-8719 or email northbronxdems@gmail.com for more information on purchasing tickets, and/or to place a journal ad. The North Bronx Democratic Club is on Williamsbridge Road and is the club of State Senator Jeff Klein and Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj.
Upcoming events include -
On Wednesday November 11th beginning at 11 AM there will be a Veterans Day Memorial at the Rudy Macina Peace Memorial Plaza located at the North corner of Williamsbridge Road and Pelham Parkway.
On Thursday November 12th there will be a Bronx borough Public Hearing on the proposed City Planning Commission Zoning for Quality and Affordability, and Mandatory Inclusionary Housing Text Amendments at the Bronx County Building located at 851 Grand Concourse (at East 161st Street) Room 600 from 6 - 8 PM.
On Wednesday November 18th The Bronx Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a Veteran's Brunch and Job & Resource Fair at Maestro's located at 1703 Bronxdale Avenue. The veteran's Brunch will be at 10 AM with the Job and Resource Fair beginning at Noon.
On Thursday November 19th Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. will be hosting his celebration of Puerto Rican Heritage Month at SALSA Con Fuego located at 2297 Cedar Avenue (between West Fordham Road and Landing Road next to the Deegan Highway) from 12 - 3 PM. You can check this blog archive listing for October and November for more details on each upcoming event and more as they come in.
I hope to be back in print in a few short weeks in a major new newspaper, but If you have any political information that you want to share or have checked out, any comments about this column, or would like to have an event listed or covered in this column or on my blog you can e-mail us at 100percentbronxnews@gmail.com or call 718-644-4199 Mr. Robert Press.
Friday, November 6, 2015
North Bronx Democratic Club Holiday Party
You are cordially invited to the
North Bronx Democratic Club
1st Annual Holiday Dinner
with NYS Senator Jeff Klein &
NYS Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj
Tuesday, December 1st, 2015
6:00pm- 9:00pm
Maestro's Caterers
1703 Bronxdale Avenue
Bronx, NY 10461
|
Guest of Honor
Hon. Carl E. Heastie
Honorees
Norman Seabrook
President, NYC Correction Officers Benevolent Association
Beatrice Castiglia Catullo
Founder, RAIN Inc.
Joseph Kelleher
President, Metro Properties & Chairman, Bronx Chamber of Commerce
Meisha Ross-Porter
Superintendent, NYC DOE School District 11
|
For more information and to purchase tickets and/or journal ad, please call (347) 256-8719, or email northbronxdems@gmail.com
(link)
|
John Doyle: My Plans for the Future
Dear Friends,
As many of you know, over the past year I’ve strongly considered running for City Council in 2017. I deeply appreciate the kind words, encouragement and excitement that so many of you have shown towards this possibility. As I have weighed this decision, I have been attending meetings throughout our area on a weekly basis to pinpoint the greatest needs of our Community and in the process,I have seen how much pride residents have in their communities and also how much resolve they have to make their communities stronger.
At the same time, I've noticed that people’s confidence in government is badly shaken; some believe there's nothing they can do to change things at City Hall. Many feel that decisions and changes that affect the future of their own neighborhoods are kept secret, and that transparency in government seems like a foreign concept. Concerns about the well-being of the community are raised, and are sometimes ignored by those in a position of power to help. Often, the whole truth comes out only after something regrettable occurs
It’s incumbent upon all of us to take a stand and do our best to change the trajectory we’re on. It is with this overarching issue in mind that I’ve formed an exploratory committee to run for City Council. I‘ll champion efforts to improve public participation, town-hall style democracy, transparency in government and most of all - be accountable to you, the voter. We’ve seen in the past few years that when you aren’t given choices, our whole system of government suffers. The people of our neighborhood deserve an open debate and discussion before making their decision at the polls in two years. It’s my intention to provide voters with that discussion. I believe my experience fighting for residents against wasteful bureaucracy for five years as a staff member of the New York Senate and my four years advocating for meaningful changes to our neighborhoods as a community activist gives me a unique insight into the challenges we face. Indeed, I believe these experiences make me the most qualified candidate to seek the office of Council Member at this time.
It is with this in mind that I wanted to invite you to my first fundraiser on Friday Nov. 13th at the D.A. Beach Club in Throggs Neck from 7-10pm at 665 Shore Drive (at the corner of Randall and Clarence Avenues), Bronx NY 10465. I plan to run in the NYC Public Finance System which matches individual donations 6-to-1, this means your money has more power to my campaign, and that together we can stand up to the interests that have no positive interest in our community.
While I can't promise to be able to change everything in this political system, I can promise that I will work tirelessly to hear and champion your concerns, large or small, in our neighborhoods and in City Hall. However, I cannot do this without your help. I ask for your support to improve our communities in the East Bronx.
Thank you,
John
--
Thursday, November 5, 2015
State Senators Klein & Savino call for letter grades for day care facilities in New York City
Release alarming investigation on day care centers across New York City
Report features day care centers with dangerous, persistent health code violations — that lie to parents about their records
State Senator Jeff Klein and State Senator Diane Savino today released an investigative report, “The Hidden Dangers in Day Care,” revealing the worst and most persistent violators in the city. The legislators called for a letter-grading system, similar to the popular restaurant A, B, C’s, to communicate clearly to parents a day care facility’s health and safety record.
“A parent cannot always tell by glancing at the colorful class projects at a day care center that there are hidden dangers lurking inside. They trust that providers are qualified and tell the truth about their records. But our report reveals that many day cares across this city rack up chronic violations and some even lie when asked about their records. We want parents to know that the places where they leave their children all day are safe, clean and licensed. Letter-grading on restaurants communicates to the public in a very clear manner the track record of an eatery. We wouldn’t eat at a restaurant with a poor-letter grade, would we leave a child in a place with a bad grade? It’ll undoubtedly lead to day care facilities cleaning up their acts,” said State Senator Jeff Klein.
“When it comes to the safety and sanitation of day care centers, New York City parents are truly left in the dark. While many locations have repeat critical violations, it has become increasingly difficult for parents to track down information about the security, staffing, and cleanliness of the center to which they are entrusting their most precious family members. Parents and guardians need an easy-to-understand, accessible system to let them know that their child’s day care is clean and safe, just as the restaurant letter-grading system lets diners know that a restaurant is clean and safe. In regards to the health and safety of their child, parents should never have to cross their fingers and hope for the best, and with the proposal of this day care letter-grading system, they will no longer have to,” said State Senator Diane Savino.
The Independent Democratic Conference’s alarming report found that a total 18,102 violations were issued to 2,271 group day care centers throughout the city between 2013 and 2015. Since 2013, New York City group day care centers have accumulated an average of nearly eight violations per provider. The worst offenders were in Brooklyn, where day care providers averaged 11 violations each, and a total of 9,565 violations in just two and a half short years.
Common violations throughout the city included a failure to designate a qualified education director to oversee the program, a failure to provide adequate hand wash stations, and obstructed and impassable hallways, among other critical violations. The combination of these violations indicate unsafe and unsanitary child care conditions.
Top Violators: 2013-2015
Rank
|
Name of Facility
|
Permit #
|
# of Violations
(2013-2015)
|
# of Public Health
Hazards (2013-2015)
|
1
|
Brightside Academy –
Bronx
|
7482
|
77
|
11
|
2
|
Magic Kingdom –
Brooklyn
|
14118
|
67
|
21
|
3
|
196 Albany Avenue
Day Care –
Brooklyn
|
4003
|
62
|
4
|
4
|
All My Children Day
Care and Nursery School (2 to 5 yrs)– Brooklyn |
24658
|
60
|
11
|
5
|
All My Children Day
Care And Nursery 11 – Brooklyn |
24878
|
57
|
11
|
6
|
Friends of Crown Heights Educational Centers –
Manhattan |
25817
|
54
|
9
|
7
|
Northeast Bronx Day
Care Center, Inc. – Bronx |
23617
|
52
|
5
|
8
|
Children of the Future
Day Care, Inc. #2 –
Brooklyn
|
16437
|
47
|
25
|
9
|
Mabel Barrett Fitzgerald
Day Care Center –
Manhattan
|
1345
|
43
|
13
|
10
|
Friends of Crown Heights Educational Center #4
Preschool – Brooklyn |
7892
|
41
|
15
|
Source: IDC Analysis of DOHMH data located at https://a816-healthpsi.nyc.
Even after being cited, many day care centers do not learn their lessons. Startlingly, 236 day cares continue to operate within the five boroughs even though they fail their annual inspections year after year. Of those, 88 are persistently slapped with the same violations.
Top Violators: Persistent, Chronic Violators
Rank
|
Name of Facility
|
Permit #
|
Consecutive Inspections w/
Violations
|
Violations (Total)
|
Public Health Hazards (Total)
|
Examples of Violations
|
1
|
Northeast Bronx Day Care Center, Inc. – Bronx
|
23617
|
8
|
52
|
5
|
Childcare service failed to arrange/conduct criminal/SCR background checks or to re-clear required individuals (5x)
|
2
|
Nuestros Ninos Day Care Center – Brooklyn
|
4135
|
18
|
50
|
3
|
Inside temperature of 68-72 °F not maintained when outside temperature is below 55 °F (5x)
|
3
|
Kiddies Learning Center – Brooklyn
|
8118
|
14
|
46
|
7
|
Child care providing service without a staff member trained in First Aid/CPR on site (6x); Child care not free of pests or maintains pest harborage conditions (6x)
|
4
|
The Rat’s Playhouse Workshop, Inc. – Brooklyn
|
5152
|
12
|
43
|
6
|
Child care providing service without a staff member trained in First Aid/CPR on site (5x)
|
5
|
Sunset Park Early Childhood Development Center – Brooklyn
|
19137
|
15
|
42
|
7
|
Child care service failed to provide appropriate guards on designated structures/equipment to protect children from potential injury (5x); Childcare service/camp obstructed DOHMH staff at time of inspection (2x)
|
6
|
Tender Years Childcare, Inc. (2-5 Years) – Bronx
|
6367
|
14
|
38
|
10
|
Childcare service failed to designate/identify a qualified Education Director (7x)
|
7
|
Tender Years Childcare, Inc. (0-2 Years) – Bronx
|
7231
|
14
|
37
|
12
|
Childcare service failed to arrange/conduct criminal/SCR background checks or to re-clear required individuals (3x)
|
8
|
Step By Step Early Childhood Center, Inc. – Brooklyn
|
6826
|
12
|
35
|
9
|
Childcare service failed to maintain required staff to child supervision ratios at time of inspection (3x)
|
9
|
Amy’s Academy – Brooklyn
|
7955
|
12
|
33
|
14
|
Required food protection procedures were not implemented at time of inspection (4x)
|
10
|
New York Kids Club DBA PNW Enterprises, LTD. – Brooklyn
|
19557
|
10
|
28
|
10
|
At time of inspection floors/walls/ceilings were observed not maintained, in disrepair, or covered in a toxic finish (5x)
|
Chronic violators often lie about their track records when asked directly about violations. When day care facilities with 100 percent failure rates were called by undercover investigators, 56 percent denied having a history of violations or current violations.
During undercover visits to top violators, undercover investigators were told that centers had no open violations even though Department of Health records indicated otherwise. Despite having been cited in 18 consecutive inspections, at Nuestros Ninos Day Care Center in Brooklyn— the second worst persistent violator—a director claimed that the site had never received a single violation in more than 35 years of operation. Kiddie’s Learning Center in Brooklyn— the third worst persistent violator— stated only that they had previous problems with their fire alarms and that they were being repaired. However, according to their inspection history, they were cited during 14 consecutive inspections for violations having nothing to do with fire alarms, such as failure to provide properly trained staff on site or harboring pests.
These inspection records are difficult for parents to find. Violations are posted a few clicks into the City’s Health Department website and many parents are unaware day care health inspections are readily available.
Like any responsible parents, Lee Towndrow and Amber Scorah toured SoHo Childcare and asked questions. The owner told them she and her staff were CPR certified. So in July they decided to leave their three-month-old son Karl to the care of SoHo Childcare.
Tragically, Karl died hours after being dropped off on his first day of day care.
Unbeknownst to the loving parents the day care was unlicensed and over-capacity. The owner incorrectly performed CPR and as it turned out she, nor anyone else on her staff, was actually trained in lifesaving procedures.
“When working parents have no choice but to put their weeks-old infant into childcare because our system doesn't provide parental leave, it is of the utmost importance that we as a society, at the very least, guarantee the safety of children in these childcare settings. This law is essential. Parents should be given the tools to assess whether their child is in a safe setting, and childcare centers should be held accountable in an open, public way so that they live up to the responsibility of looking after our precious children,” said Lee Towndrow and Amber Scorah.
“When parents leave their children at child care centers, it is critical for them to feel confident that their children are in a safe place. We appreciate the efforts of Jeff Klein and the IDC to identify where programs are falling short on safety, and hope that this work leads not only to more transparency, so parents can make the best choices for their children, but also to greater technical assistance to help centers provide safe, high quality services,” said Stephanie Gendell, Citizen's Committee for Children of NY.
“The problems identified in the IDC’s report demonstrate the need for the State to invest in high quality early childhood education for all New York’s children. New York’s children deserve facilities that are clean, safe, developmentally appropriate and inviting and a staff that this well-trained and fairly compensated,” said Gregory Brender, co-director of policy and advocacy, United Neighborhood Houses.
The IDC will also advocate for up to $20 million in funding for the QualitystarsNY program to provide strategic direction and improvements to the approximately 330 centers, family-home providers and public schools that the program serves.
“The New York Early Childhood Professional Development Institute applauds Senator Klein and the IDC’s efforts to ensure that all of New York City’s youngest residents and their parents have access to safe, secure early childhood care and education programs. NYC’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene provides a vital service in inspecting and evaluating early childhood centers, but much remains to be done to convey the results of their work to parents and the general public. The Institute supports efforts to improve the current system, especially through the expansion of QUALITYstarsNYC, as a tool to help parents understand what good quality early childhood education should look like, from best practices and teacher education standards to enriching classrooms and play spaces. An increase in funding would make these resources available to hundreds of programs and many thousands of young children. The Institute acknowledges the complementary efforts of the proposed ratings system to inform parents about the sanitary conditions of their child’s day care center. Combined with the QUALITYstarsNYC rating system for program quality, parents will have two powerful tools to ensure their children are receiving the highest quality early education experience,” said Dona Anderson, Deputy Director of the New York Early Childhood Professional Development Institute.