STATEMENTS RE: Gov. Cuomo's 'State of the State'

STATEMENT FROM BOROUGH PRESIDENT DIAZ

RE: Gov. Cuomo’s 2016 ‘State of the State’ Address

“Great things are happening in The Bronx, and Governor Cuomo’s remarks today confirm that we are setting the bar for the entire state. Crime rates are dropping, businesses are growing and, thanks to the creation of the Bronx Employment Strike Force in 2014 and our efforts through the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation, we are putting people to work.

“The governor’s commitment of $55 million towards expanded workforce training for at-risk youth, as well as new tax cuts for small businesses, will only help our job creation efforts grow. We are grateful for that continued support.

“In his ‘State of the State’ today, Governor Cuomo outlined an ambitious agenda on multiple issues that concern our borough, our city and our state. From increasing our state’s minimum wage, or expanding paid family leave, the governor has made a clear pitch to help strengthen families. With increased funding for CUNY and SUNY, a new tax credit for teachers and an $800 million increase in universal pre-K programs, the governor is clearly focused on our public school system.

“No issue has captivated our city more than housing and homelessness, and the announcement of $20 billion in new funding for permanent and supportive housing is certainly welcome. I look forward to working with officials at all levels to identify sites and projects that could benefit from this funding while creating much needed new units.

“Finally, I am encouraged by the governor’s proposal to allow automatic voter registration at the DMV. Voter participation is the key component of civic health, and I have always supported initiatives that allow more New Yorkers to participate in our electoral process. If we do not participate, our voices are not heard,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

NYC Council Transportation Chair Ydanis Rodriguez issued the following statement on NY Governor Andrew Cuomo's State of the State Address: 

"The proposals outlined in the Governor's State of the State address today are ambitious and have the potential to modernize our city's subways in buses in numerous ways. His vision for technology and capital upgrades in stations can provide a much needed face lift to our transit system. Yet most of all, the Governor's recognition that public transit is key to the continued economic growth here in New York is paramount to building a sustainable future for New York. These forward-thinking initiatives set forth a strong framework in which we can grow and thrive for the coming decades."

SENATOR ESPAILLAT: GOVERNOR CUOMO PROPOSES HISTORIC INVESTMENT TO COMBAT HOMELESSNESS 

"New Yorkers are losing their homes and this historic investment in affordable and supportive housing holds the potential to turn the tide. Over 40% of New York City renters are 'rent burdened', hundreds of thousands are on a wait list for public housing, and over 59,000 are homeless; many of them children. This is unacceptable. 

We must undertake a monumental effort to ensure working class and middle class New Yorkers have a home in our city. The Governor's proposal to invest $20 billion over five years in affordable and supportive housing plots a course in that direction. I will work with the Governor to tirelessly advocate for the housing funding he proposed today."

Assemblymember Michael Blake State of The District - Jan. 23rd at 4pm

Greetings, 

 

Assemblymember Michael Blake cordially invites you to his first State of the District as he outlines the progress of and the path forward for the 79th assembly district to achieve our "3, 2, 1" vision of Economic Development, Education, and Equality for All.  

 

Assemblymember Blake's State of The District will be on Saturday January 23rd, 2016 at 4pm at DreamYard, 1085 Washington Avenue, Bronx, NY 10451.

 

A reception will follow the event.

 

Join us as we are transforming the South Bronx into the urban metropolis of the world.

 
RSVP link below:

https://act.myngp.com/Forms/-6440420854953867520

Statement Of U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara Relating To Moreland Commission Investigation

  “After a thorough investigation of interference with the operation of the Moreland Commission and its premature closing, this Office has concluded that, absent any additional proof that may develop, there is insufficient evidence to prove a federal crime.  We continue to have active investigations related to substantive inquiries that were being conducted by the Moreland Commission at the time of its closure.”

   With that being said by the U.S. Attorney it looks like Governor Andrew Cuomo is not going to be prosecuted on this matter. Could it be as I said months ago that Governor Cuomo shut down the Mooreland Commission so that the U.S. Attorney's office could continue to root out corruption in Albany such as was done with Former New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, and former New York State Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos who were both convicted of corruption in office. The only question that remains is - 'Who is next on the U.S. Attorney's Hit List'.

Upcoming January Events at JASA Van Cortlandt Senior Center

  On Thurs. Jan. 21st, Hagit Avnon, an Israeli born actor/singer will present “Women of the Bible.” Using costumes and narration, Hagit engages with the audience.

A nutritious kosher lunch of soup, baked fillet of sole or chicken salad, spinach noodle pudding, vegetables and fruit will be served at 12:15 PM followed by dramatic musical

program at 1:00 PM. Refreshments will be served.

Recommended Senior Meal Contribution: $2.50 and $1.00 for event

Non-senior Meal Fee: $5.00 and Event Fee: $2.00

Contact JASA Van Cortlandt Senior Center office at 718-549-4700 for meal reservations by Tues. Jan. 20th. 

Celebrate Tu B’Shvat (Israeli Arbor Day) on Thurs. Jan. 28th with a special meal and lively entertainment by Suki Rae, Flutist and Steve Bloom, Guitar. They will perform Hebrew, Yiddish, classical, Latin and jazz music.

A festive lunch of soup, baked salmon or turkey breast, brown rice w/mushrooms, steamed carrots and fruit will be served at 12:15 PM followed by the musical program at 1:00 PM. Holiday refreshments will be served.

Recommended senior meal contribution: $2.50 and $2.00 for event.

Non-senior meal Fee: $5.00 and Event Fee: $2.00

Contact JASA Van Cortlandt Senior Center office at 718-549-4700 for meal reservations by Tues. Jan. 26th.

All meals at JASA Van Cortlandt Senior Center are catered by Mauzone (kosher) Meal Service. We offer a daily alternate choice of main dish. Call senior center office to request the alternative meal option on day of event.  Refreshments are served at all special events.

We are located in the Van Cortlandt Jewish Center at 3880 Sedgwick Ave. (on the first floor). Take the Bronx #1, 2 or 10 bus to the intersection of Sedgwick Ave. and Van Cortlandt Ave. West. For more information, please call the center office at 718-549-4700.

JASA Van Cortlandt Senior Center is funded by NYC Dept. for the Aging, UJA- Federation of NY and by special grants from Council Member Andrew Cohen and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. 

JASA Van Cortlandt Senior Center

3880 Sedgwick Ave., First Floor 

Bronx, NY 10463

Phone: 718-549-4700

ENGEL Welcomes Mexico Firearms Trafficking Report

  Engel: "Congress has a responsibility to do much more to stop the illegal flow of guns across the U.S.–Mexico border."

WASHINGTON—Representative Eliot L. Engel, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, today welcomed the release of a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report he commissioned on U.S. efforts to halt illegal firearms trafficking to Mexico. Representative Engel requested the report in May 2014.

                                                                                                             

“With at least 70 percent of firearms recovered at Mexican crime scenes coming from the United States, our Congress has a responsibility to do much more to stop the illegal flow of guns across the U.S.—Mexico border. Unfortunately, House Republicans continue to be much more concerned with loosening already lax gun regulations than protecting citizens in both of our countries from gun violence,” said Rep. Engel.

“GAO’s report found that law enforcement in both the United States and Mexico have been increasingly concerned with the transport of weapons parts from the U.S. to Mexico where they are assembled into finished firearms.  Fortunately, this is an issue that can be easily addressed.  To stop this dangerous trend, I urge the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to use their discretion in defining what constitutes a gun ‘receiver.’ Far too often, unfinished gun receivers are minimally modified to avoid regulation.  Existing law defines ‘receivers’ as firearms and gives ATF discretion in defining what constitutes a receiver.  The transport of firearms parts into Mexico continues to contribute to the dangerous scourge of drug-related violence in the country.

“In response to a GAO report I commissioned on the same topic in 2009, ATF and Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) put in place a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to better coordinate their joint efforts to stop firearms trafficking.  Unfortunately, GAO found gaps in information sharing and misunderstandings over who does what.  I support GAO’s recommendation that the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security more formally monitor implementation of the MOU.”

The report makes several findings, including the following:

·         Of the firearms seized in Mexico and traced from 2009 to 2014, 70 percent originated in the United States.  An additional 13 percent have an undetermined country of origin while the remaining 17 percent are of non-U.S. origin.  According to ATF data, most were purchased legally in gun shops and at gun shows in the United States and then trafficked illegally to Mexico.  Often, so-called “straw purchasers” will illegally purchase firearms at gun shops on behalf of individuals who are prohibited from buying firearms.

·         High caliber firearms—the weapons of choice for drug traffickers—make up half of all firearms seized in Mexico and traced.

·         The transport of weapons parts from the U.S. to Mexico to be assembled into finished firearms is complicating bilateral efforts to combat illegal firearms trafficking as it allows these parts to discretely flow into Mexico with little detection. 

·         ATF’s Implementation of Demand Letter 3—which requires licensed dealers and pawnbrokers in Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas to report multiple sales of certain rifles—has made it more difficult for firearms traffickers to acquire long guns.  ATF reported that this information has allowed them to identify arms traffickers in a timelier manner.

·         As ATF and ICE work to stop firearms trafficking from the U.S. to Mexico, gaps in information sharing and continued misunderstandings between the two agencies can be addressed through better monitoring of their existing MOU.

Council Member King to Host Funding Workshop for FY17

New York City Council Member Andy King will hold a workshop on Thursday, Jan. 21, for community-based organizations that would like to apply for discretionary funding from his office.

The applications for Council Discretionary Member Item funding, which is awarded each year by council members to non-profits and other eligible groups in their districts, must be completed online. But the workshop will help to make sure those applying for funding to fully understand the process.

Those organizations applying for funding from Council Member King are strongly urged to attend the workshop on Jan. 21, 6-8 p.m., at the Williamsbridge NAACP ECE Center, 680 East 219th St., Bronx.

Applications are currently available on the city council website – http://council.nyc.gov (click pull down button `Budget’).

For more information call (718) 684-5509.

Suleika's Retirement, Final Appearance at Three Kings Fund Raiser, Fri. Jan 15, 2016

  The founder of the Institute for the Puerto Rican Hispanic Elderly,  Inc. Ms. Suleika Cabrera Drinane will retire  when she joins more than 1,000 people at the 50th annual Three Kings fund raiser event sponsored by the Institute, to take place Friday January 15, 2016 at Saint Vartan's Armenian Church on East 34th Street beginning at 10AM to 4PM.

Ms.Cabrera Drinane, the hard working trail blazer who created IPRHE from a one- telephone, one-room start up, to a large influential social services agency advocating for seniors in New York state, and nationally, will make her final appearance as the Founder and President of IPRHE during the Three Kings Festivities.

Ms. Cabrera Drinane was a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom in the 1990s, and has made thousands of friends during her 50 years as an advocate for senior citizens, hopes many of those long time friends will join her this Friday January 15, 2016 as she bids farewell to the Agency.

Long time friends, and dignitaries have been invited to join more than 1,000 celebrants in saying, "Thank you, and good luck"... to Suleika at this final event.     "It will be a sentimental day for me as I say, 'Hasta Luego' ",   said Suleika.      Friends are invited to call Suleika at her private line, to confirm if they will be in attendance, even if for a few minutes.

For information of the event, call Ms. Suleika Cabrera Drinane, at Tel 212-677-4181.

DOB LAUNCHES CITYWIDE SIDEWALK SHED SAFETY SWEEP

    Buildings Dept. is Inspecting 300 Miles of Sidewalk Sheds at 7,700 properties 

   Today, Buildings Commissioner Rick Chandler announced that the Department will be inspecting all permitted sidewalk sheds throughout the City, with 7,700 properties in the sweep, including 600 NYCHA buildings. More than 300 miles of sheds will be inspected during the sweep. 

  “This is about proactive enforcement, preventing problems before they happen and improving people’s quality of life,” said Commissioner Chandler. “Our inspectors are looking for safety problems and common eyesores, such as sheds that haven’t been painted in years or are covered with graffiti, inadequate lighting, or missing boards or structural supports. This is all part of the Mayor’s ongoing effort to take on and solve problems that New Yorkers encounter in their daily lives.”

  Sidewalk sheds are required for public safety at thousands of buildings throughout the City, normally where there is ongoing construction work or façade repairs. The inspection sweep is intended to encourage building maintenance and ensure that sheds are safe, well-lighted, and not a blight on neighborhood streets. 

   So far, DOB has inspected 2,800 sheds and issued 128 violations. The citywide inspection sweep is expected to be completed by the end of the month.for Quality of Life Violations.