Assemblymember Michael Blake - Why I’m running for Vice-Chair of the DNC

#LeadershipForTomorrow

BUILD OUR BENCH. STRENGTHEN OUR PARTY. EMBRACE OUR FUTURE

www.michaelblakefordnc.com

Dear DNC Members, 

 

My name is Michael Blake, and, I am running to be a Vice-Chair of the Democratic National Committee. As a Vice-Chair, I will focus on recruiting and winning local elections for Democrats, strengthening our party's training efforts at the county, state and national levels and embracing our diversity with a continual focus on constituency vote programs, especially among communities of color, millennials, and women. 

 

As Democrats, we have an urgent need to Build Our Bench, Strengthen Our Party and Embrace Our Future. 

 

Build Our Bench: 

As a DNC Vice-Chair, I will work to identify, cultivate, and build a bench of dynamic candidates for local offices. Our party needs a strong bench partnered with a mentorship-based candidate support program, and we must enlist our top strategists in the DNC efforts to win the bench.

 

Strengthen Our Party: 

I will work to instill the same community-based organizing tactics that I used in Michigan in 2006 to win three state house races, on the 2008 Presidential campaign for President Obama in eight states and in 2012, as the National Deputy Director of Operation VOTE for President Obama’s campaign to build constituency vote programs. We will train DNC team members on how to identify and engage community leaders and institute a metrics-driven approach to constituency organizing in all 50 states.  I will also advocate for programs that build permanent, meaningful relationships between core Democratic constituencies and a re-energized DNC. 

 

Embrace Our Future: 

We know our values are shared by a majority of Americans, but we must be better at delivering the message and program of those values in a sustainable way through both grasstops and grassroots of the DNC. I’ll work to convene quarterly messaging workshops with party strategists and officials. We’ll also ensure that we are using cutting edge digital platforms to amplify our message and bring millennials into the conversation. 

 

We have lofty goals and much to do, but just like you, I’m ready to get to work and to help unite a re-energized Democratic Party.  

 

I was one of ten young leaders in 2006 selected to the inaugural “Yes We Can” program launched by then-U.S. Senator Barack Obama to train millennials of color how to manage and win local campaigns. I took that training to Michigan where I successfully managed and won three races to help flip the State House into a Democratic majority. 

 

In 2008, I joined President Obama’s campaign as the Iowa Caucus Deputy Political and Constituency Outreach Director where I successfully brought together coalitions of color, women, youth, veterans, LGBT, faith and rural leaders to caucus for Senator Obama. After the historic 2008 Election, I worked in President Obama’s administration as the deputy associate director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement coordinating African-American, Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprises and state and local elected official outreach.  In 2012, our team oversaw successful constituency vote programs that helped win nine out of ten battleground states.  But, I decided it was time to go back home and help my local hometown more directly.

 

In 2014, our team built a winning campaign from the ground up, won a six way primary by 13 points and was elected to the New York State Assembly with 80 percent of the vote. In office, we’ve passed legislation to help small, minority-owned, and women-owned businesses get paid faster, helped spearhead the creation of a $20 million My Brother’s Keeper Pilot Program and secured historic funding for housing and Criminal Justice reform.

 

It is critical for Democrats to win local races and create transformational impact in communities. We must have a seat at the table to stand up for our values and face critical policy fights in an era of Trump – like the redrawing of legislative district lines in 2020 – head-on. 

 

We need to hear and listen to the everyday needs of everyone, and we must embrace and defend progressive Democratic policies. We must continue to fight for economic justice, quality access to health care for seniors and young adults, equality for all communities and protect collective bargaining rights to create opportunities for everyone. 

The DNC must be a place where all Democrats can call home. My goal as a DNC Vice-Chair is that Democrats across the country are heard, supported, and provided the necessary resources and training to win.

 

I hope to have your support in the coming weeks, and I look forward to continuing to work together to rebuild the Democratic Party and continuing to fight for the values we share. Join our movement at www.michaelblakefordnc.com.

 

It is time for #LeadershipForTomorrow 

 

Thank you, 

 

Michael  

STATEMENT FROM MAYOR DE BLASIO ON PROGRESS UNDER NYC’S NEW MANDATORY INCLUSIONARY HOUSING LAW

  “Since adopting the nation's most progressive affordable housing law last spring, the City has already approved developments with 4,500 affordable homes. Today’s vote for 550 Washington, a project that includes important funding for Pier 40’s Hudson River Park, is a huge win for the community and New York City. I congratulate Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, Council Member Corey Johnson and all those who worked so hard to ensure that any new development serves the needs of their community.”

Bronx Borough President - Have a Happy Hanukkah

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

Pre- Chanukah Celebration & Menorah Lighting Ceremony   Thursday, December 22, 2016 12:30 PM Riverdale YM-YWHA 5625 Arlington Ave Bronx, NY 10463 Traditional Holiday Foods will be served.

RSVP : jlaufer@bronxbp.nyc.gov 718-590-6116

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW By Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz

Governor Cuomo Calling A Special Session to Kill New York City’s Taxi Industry

You should know that Governor Andrew Cuomo is planning to call us legislators back to Albany for a Special Session next week.

You should also know that in my opinion, it is ridiculous to call us to Albany at the very end of the year just to vote to remove any responsibility from Uber to get approval from local authorities, and do whatever they want. This will kill all of New York City’s livery bases, destroy our local taxi industry, and effectively cut the throats of our taxi drivers.

On the other hand, these State regulations they would like to ram through would not apply in Nassau and Suffolk Counties.

Ladies and gentlemen, you should also know that I am only one vote, and my vote may not really count because I am sure that Governor Andrew Cuomo has already made a deal with the Assembly Speaker and the Senate Leader to have enough votes for him to do whatever he wants to do.

But for right now, this Black guy from Bayamon, Puerto Rico, with the kinky hair and the broken English is not planning to go back to Albany until January 4, 2017.

So, for all of those Uber followers and supporters who want to kill New York City’s local taxi industry, I am afraid you will have to do it without my vote and in my absence.

I am not planning to go to negotiate my salary increase so that Uber and the Governor can get away with killing New York City’s taxi industry.

I am Senator Ruben Diaz and this is what you should know.

A.G. Schneiderman Indictments Of 13 Current And Former City Fire And Police Department Employees In Half Million Dollar Insurance Fraud Scams

  Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman, New York City Department of Investigation Commissioner Mark G. Peters and New York State Department of Financial Services Superintendent Maria T. Vullo today announced the indictments of 13 public employees in Queens and Brooklyn, including New York City Police Department Traffic Agents and FDNY EMT’s, Lieutenants, and Paramedics for allegedly committing insurance fraud against the American Family Life Assurance Company (“AFLAC”). It is alleged that these city employees signed up for disability insurance through AFLAC, and manipulated the system by forging physician’s or supervisor’s signatures to file false insurance claims. This group of defendants allegedly collectively stole over half a million dollars. Each defendant stands accused of one count of grand larceny and one count of insurance fraud for thefts that ranged from over $3,000 to over $100,000 per defendant.

“Public employees are entrusted to adhere to the highest code of conduct. Yet these defendants undermined the public trust in government and the integrity of our insurance system by perpetrating this alleged scheme,” said Attorney General Schneiderman. “Cracking down on public corruption is a top priority for my office, and we will continue our relentless work with our partners in law enforcement to root out fraud and waste wherever we find it.”  

DOI Commissioner Mark G. Peters said, “Today’s arrests result from a lengthy DOI investigation into dozens of City workers, including fire and police department employees. We depend on honesty and integrity from all our public servants and these workers failed us. Our independent investigation will continue to root out this corrupt behavior with more arrests expected to follow.”

Financial Services Superintendent Maria T. Vullo said, “The individuals accused of these crimes had sworn to serve and protect the public, but instead they betrayed the public to serve their own selfish greed. The Department of Financial Services appreciates the opportunity to have worked on this case and commends Attorney General Schneiderman and Commissioner Peters for their efforts in bringing these defendants to justice.” The following defendants were arrested this morning on charges of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree and Insurance Fraud in the Second Degree, both class C felonies. Grand Larceny in the Second Degree is charged when the value of the stolen property exceeds $50,000. Upon conviction, a class C felony is punishable by up to fifteen years in prison:

• MARC MASTROS, 37, of Queens, N.Y., a former FDNY EMT, began working for the agency in September 1999 and resigned from the FDNY in March 2014. He is charged with defrauding AFLAC of approximately $118,630 and was arraigned in Queens County Supreme Court.

• DEVON GRAHAM, 46, of Queens, N.Y., has been employed as an FDNY EMT since May 2005. He is charged with defrauding AFLAC of approximately $71,310 and was arraigned in Queens County Supreme Court.

• KENNETH LAMBERT, 35, of Hasbrook Heights, N.J., has been employed as an FDNY EMT since February 2004. He is charged with defrauding AFLAC of approximately $91,056 and was arraigned in Queens County Supreme Court.

The following defendants were arrested this morning on charges of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree and Insurance Fraud in the Third Degree, both class D felonies. Grand Larceny in the Third Degree is charged when the value of the stolen property exceeds $3,000. Upon conviction, a class D felony is punishable by up to seven years in prison:

• JUAN MASTROS, 28, of Queens, N.Y., has been employed as an FDNY Paramedic since May 2009 and resigned December 9, 2016. He is charged with defrauding AFLAC of approximately $34,176 and was arraigned in Queens County Supreme Court.

• SUSAN JAMES, 58, of Queens, N.Y., a former FDNY EMS Lieutenant, began working for the agency in March 1996 and retired from the FDNY in October 2013. She is charged with defrauding AFLAC of approximately $9,950 and was arraigned in Queens County Supreme Court.

• CALEB LAUES, 41, of Queens, N.Y., has been employed as an FDNY Paramedic since February 2004. He is charged with defrauding AFLAC of approximately $41,590 and was arraigned in Queens County Supreme Court.

• JOSE SOLIS, 34, of Valley Stream, N.Y., has been employed as an FDNY Paramedic since April 2008. He is charged with defrauding AFLAC of approximately $27,229 and was arraigned in Queens County Supreme Court.

• MOURAD TOUATI, 48, of Queens, N.Y., a former FDNY EMT and current Department of Correction (“DOC”) Officer, began working for FDNY in January 2008 and left in 2014. He joined DOC in May 2014. He is charged with defrauding AFLAC of approximately $31,146 and was arraigned in Queens County Supreme Court.

• RANDOLPH LOWE, 57, of Brooklyn, N.Y., has been employed as an NYPD Traffic Enforcement Agent since March 2008. He is charged with defrauding AFLAC of approximately $4,753 and was arraigned in Kings County Supreme Court.

• ANTHONY MIRANDA, 58, of Brooklyn, N.Y., has been employed as an FDNY EMS Lieutenant since March 1996. He is charged with defrauding AFLAC of approximately $22,550 and was arraigned in Kings County Supreme Court.

• MELISSA OVALLE, 35, of Brooklyn, N.Y., has been employed as FDNY EMS Lieutenant since January 2005. She is charged with defrauding AFLAC approximately $20,670 and was arraigned in Kings County Supreme Court.

• YOLANDA POWELL, 47, of Brooklyn, N.Y., a former NYPD Traffic Enforcement Agent, began working for NYPD in October 2003 and resigned from the NYPD in December 2015.  She is charged with defrauding AFLAC of approximately $9,505 and was arraigned in Kings County Supreme Court.

• VALERIY YEDVABSKIY, 58, of Brooklyn, N.Y., has been employed as an NYPD Traffic Enforcement Agency since May 2009. She is charged with defrauding AFLAC of approximately $27,010 and was arraigned in Kings County Supreme Court.

The Attorney General would like to thank the New York State Department of Financial services for the referral in this matter. The Attorney General would also like to thank the New York City Department of Investigation for partnering with the OAG on this investigation.

With offices around the state, and a jurisdiction that is not limited by county, the OAG is uniquely positioned to simultaneously prosecute defendants in multiple venues in cases like this one.

The Attorney General’s investigation into this matter remains ongoing.

Prosecuting the case are Assistant Attorney General Kevin B. Frankel and Special Counsel Brian P. Weinberg of the Attorney General’s Public Integrity Bureau, under the supervision of Bureau Chief Daniel Cort and Deputy Bureau Chief Stacy Aronowitz. The investigation was handled by Investigator Angel Laporte of the Attorney General’s Investigations Bureau, under the supervision of Deputy Chief Investigator John McManus. The Investigations bureau is led by Chief Dominick Zarrella. Forensic Auditor Kristina Kojamanian assisted in the investigation under the supervision of Forensic Audit Section Deputy Chief Auditor Sandy Bizzarro.  The Forensic Audit Section is led by Chief Auditor Edward J. Keegan, Jr. Legal Support Analyst Katharine Litka of the Public Integrity Bureau also assisted in the investigation. 

Handling the case for NYC DOI is Assistant Inspector General Sara Levinson, Data Analyst Nicholas Devine, all under the supervision of Inspector General Frank J. Carine, Assistant Commissioner Michael Healy, Deputy Commissioner/Chief of Investigations Michael Carroll and First Deputy Commissioner Lesley Brovner. The investigation also received assistance from DOI’s Office of the Inspector General for NYPD. Cindy Licata, Senior Criminal Investigator, handled the case for the Department of Financial Services.

Bronx Democratic County Holiday Party

  The Bronx democratic County organization held their annual holiday party last night, and below are a few photos of the event with captions. Thanks go out to Anthony Perez the Executive Director of the BDCC, and his mother who cooked the delicious food. I left before Mayor Bill de Blasio arrived.

Above - Bronx Democratic County Leader Assemblyman Marcos Crespo chats with City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito.

Below - The County Leader has on his ugly sweater a few minutes later as he poses with the speaker.

Above - County Leader Crespo also pit on a moose hat complete with musical moving antlers. 

Below - Assembly Speaker (and former county leader) Carl Heastie with Assemblyman (and former BDCC Chair) Jeffrey Dinowitz. 

Above - State Senator Jeff Klein with Assemblyman Victor Pichardo.

Below - Bronx BP Ruben Diaz Jr. with Senator Klein.

Above - Executive Director of the BDCC Mr. Anthony Perez reads off the long list of names of elected officials from the Bronx and others who are in attendance.

Below - County Leader Marcos Crespo speaks to the packed room, however his antler hat had to be turned off as it also was making music as the antlers were moving.

Riverdale Avenue Holiday Lights

  The official Holiday lights on the South Riverdale Avenue merchants corridor from West 236th to West 238th Streets were turned on yesterday by State Senator Jeff Klein, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, and Councilman Andrew Cohen. The three local elected officials were helped out by KRVC and several youngsters who caroled along the route from the KRVC office to the front of the popular Yo Burger restaurant where Senator Klein turned on the holiday lights.

Above - The group Began at the KRVC office located on West 236th Street and Riverdale Avenue. 

Below - The group led by Senator Klein greeted people and merchants such as John from Botany Bay Florists along the way to the holiday lighting

Above - The young carolers march to Yo Burger where they will sing several songs before Senator Klein throws the switch to light the holiday lights on Riverdale Avenue.

Below - Senator Klein and his staff have reached their destination Yo Burger.

Above - The carolers sing several songs before Senator Klein turns on the holiday lights.

Below - They pose with the elected officials 

Above - Councilman Cohen says a few words as he stands with Senator Klein and Assemblyman Dinowitz. To the councilman's right is the owner of Yo Burger Mario. 

Below - Senator Klein turns on the holiday lights.

The elected officials pose with some merchants and Ms. Tracy Shelton (with the Christmas hat on) Executive Director of KRVC who help make the holiday lights happen.

STATEMENT FROM MAYOR DE BLASIO ON ACS REPORT INTO THE DEATH OF ZYMERE PERKINS

  “This report uncovered a troubling series of lapses and missed opportunities in ACS’s failed effort to protect Zymere Perkins. Procedures were not followed, common sense was not exercised, and due diligence was lacking up and down the chain of command responsible for Zymere. I will not accept excuses for this failure and I will not accept the notion that every single one of these tragedies cannot be prevented. The buck stops with me. As a result of this investigation, we’ve ordered the firings of three employees directly involved in Zymere’s care. We’ve moved to suspend and demote another six employees who should have shown better judgment in carrying out one of the most important and difficult missions of City government. As we transition the agency to new leadership, we will continue to embrace bold reforms capable of meeting our mandate: the protection of every child who needs our care. I will accept nothing less.”