DE BLASIO ADMINISTRATION UNVEILS PLAN TO IMPROVE CAPITAL PROJECT DELIVERY AT THE DEPARTMENT OF DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION

  The de Blasio Administration announced a comprehensive plan to improve capital project delivery at the Department of Design and Construction, the City’s leading construction management agency. This plan will decrease construction costs and project timelines to deliver projects faster and within budget, making more efficient use of City resources and delivering essential public works projects faster for New Yorkers in neighborhoods across the city.

“We are overhauling operations in order to deliver City capital projects more efficiently and within budget. This plan will ensure critical infrastructure projects are finished faster and with less disruption to our neighborhoods,” said Mayor de Blasio.

“In just 100 days, the DDC team was able to lay out a comprehensive plan to address challenges and prepare for future projects. Lorraine’s experience at the School Construction Authority was invaluable in guiding this blueprint for action,” said Deputy Mayor Laura Anglin.  “This bold interagency plan will streamline processes so that municipal projects can be built faster and better for all New Yorkers.”

“DDC is an essential part of the City, adding new infrastructure and public buildings in every neighborhood, and it plays an important role in addressing the challenges posed by growth and climate change,” said DDC Commissioner Lorraine Grillo. “The vast majority of DDC’s projects are completed on time and on budget, but delays are too common and we can address them. Our Strategic Blueprint gives us the tools to be better project planners and managers, to get more out of the outside services we pay for and better negotiate the City’s highly structured capital budget process and regulatory environment.”

A Strategic Blueprint for Construction Excellence addresses issues in early project stages that can undermine a project’s success and provides flexibility to work around the most common causes of project delays. The plan provides more incentives for contractors to meet ambitious construction schedules while also allowing for better evaluation of contractor performance. It also invests in DDC staff, giving project managers the tools and decision-making capability to be more nimble and responsive.

Strategies outlined in the plan include:

Modernize Procurement – The procurement of services can take more than nine months, and some projects go through multiple procurement cycles. DDC will work with the Mayor’s Office of Contract Services to delegate more independent authority to DDC, propose rule changes to the Procurement Policy Board, and expand the efficient use of contractor pre-qualified lists. DDC will also create a new Business Development Unit to create more opportunities for M/WBE firms.

Use Innovative Project Delivery Methods – The agency will continue to advocate for the expanded use of  effective tools like the Design-Build method of contracting, while exploring alternative project delivery methods such as CM-Build, CM-at-Risk and insurance reforms with the State Legislature.

Streamline Change Order Approval and Payment – Change orders, project modifications that occur during construction from changed conditions, can delay projects for months while payment for the changes is processed. The City will streamline processing by creating allowances in project budgets for common project delays to give DDC the ability to pay contractors as soon as change order work starts, a benefit that will reduce project costs and particularly aid smaller and M/WBE contractors who work with the city.

Get Projects Approved and Started Faster – DDC will improve its internal business process to move projects through preliminary review more quickly, and coordinate with OMB to advance project review and shorten the time to get a Certificate to Proceed, the critical approval that allows work to start on a project.

Plan Projects Better and Minimize Mid-Stream Scope Changes – More than half of DDC’s projects are delayed by late-stage modifications. DDC will enhance its innovative Front End Planning units and work with sponsor agencies to establish realistic project scopes and budgets before work begins.

Work With Utilities More Effectively – Interference with utilities under City streets is a leading cause of delays to infrastructure projects. DDC is working to establish early, regular coordination with utility companies so that schedules are clear and delays avoided. DDC will expand the use of joint bidding when utility work and City work can be performed simultaneously, eliminating months of potential disruptions and saving valuable time.

Empower DDC Project Managers – DDC project managers have extensive responsibilities to ensure projects are built on time and on budget. DDC will provide managers with better training and more support to ensure professional development around the most innovative project delivery and management methods.

Become More Active Community Partners – DDC will take a more proactive approach to community outreach and communication with project stakeholders, and expand the use of borough-specific liaisons to better manage public concerns.

Transform Information Technology – DDC will upgrade aging systems and create new tools to better manage projects including new mobile technology that gives staff access to project management information in the field. DDC will work with MOCS to integrate new systems with its PASSport payment system – ensuring speedy electronic payments to vendors.

The 27 page Strategic Blueprint for Construction Excellence can be viewed and downloaded here. 

The plan was created in conjunction with the Office of Deputy Mayor for Operations Laura Anglin, and includes input from elected officials, construction industry groups, sponsor agencies, local utilities and entities charged with oversight of DDC and the City capital budget, including the Office of Management and Budget, the Mayor’s Office of Contract Services and the Office of the Comptroller.

DDC is organized around two main construction divisions. Its Infrastructure Division works mostly with the NYC Department of Transportation and NYC Department of Environmental Protection to upgrade and expand streets and water and sewer systems. The Infrastructure Division also builds public plazas and oversees the City’s large coastal protection programs such as East Side Coastal Resiliency. The Public Buildings Division works with agencies and non-profits funded by the City to renovate and create structures such as firehouses, police precincts, marine transfer stations, community health centers, courthouses, libraries, homeless shelters, museums and theaters.

The agency employs over 1,300 people, and since it was created in 1996 has completed more than 4,000 capital projects valued at over $20 billion. DDC’s capital commitments have more than doubled in the last ten years as its responsibilities have grown, to more than $2 billion in Fiscal Year 2018.

Upcoming Events from the New Bronx Chamber of Commerce

Wave Hill events February 7-14

Sat, February 9

Family Art Project: Love for Seals

As we look ahead to Valentine’s Day, let’s spread the love like a herd of seals! Pick your pinniped—a harp, harbor or Weddell seal—and show your love for these playful, fin-footed creatures. Hear touching tales, and capture the unique characteristics of your species of choice as you make a stuffed seal sock puppet. Give your seal puppet as a heartwarming valentine gift, or keep it to remind you of our wonderfully fine, furred friends. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon.

Wave Hill House, 10AM–1PM

Sun, February 10

Winter Birding

The Hudson River Valley hosts an impressive diversity of bird species during the winter months. Explore Wave Hill’s tranquil gardens and woodlands with naturalist Gabriel Willow to observe birds in their winter habitats. Birders of all levels welcome. Ages 10 and older welcome with an adult. Severe weather cancels. Free with admission to the grounds; NYC Audubon members enjoy two-for-one admission to the grounds.

Meet at Perkins Visitor Center, 9:30AM

Sun, February 10

Family Art Project: Love for Seals

As we look ahead to Valentine’s Day, let’s spread the love like a herd of seals! Pick your pinniped—a harp, harbor or Weddell seal—and show your love for these playful, fin-footed creatures. Hear touching tales, and capture the unique characteristics of your species of choice as you make a stuffed seal sock puppet. Give your seal puppet as a heartwarming valentine gift, or keep it to remind you of our wonderfully fine, furred friends. Free with admission to the grounds.

Wave Hill House, 10AM–1PM

Sun, February 10

Winter Workspace Drop-In Sunday

Artists in the Winter Workspace program share their studio practice with visitors on this Drop-In Sunday. Shervone Neckles, Christopher K. Ho and Melissa Calderón will be present. Free with admission to the grounds.

Glyndor Gallery, 1–3PM

Sun, February 10

Garden and Conservatory Highlights Walk

Join a Wave Hill Garden Guide for an hour-long tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free with admission to the grounds.

Meet at Perkins Visitor Center, 2PM

Mon, February 11

Closed to the public.

A 28-acre public garden and cultural center overlooking the Hudson River  and Palisades, Wave Hill’s mission is to celebrate the artistry and legacy of its gardens and landscape, to preserve its magnificent views, and to explore human connections to the natural world through programs in horticulture, education and the arts.

HOURS – Open all year, Tuesday through Sunday and many major holidays: 9AM–4:30PM,  November 1–March 14. Closes 5:30PM, starting March 15.

ADMISSION – $10 adults, $6 students and seniors 65+, $4 children 6–18. Free Saturday and Tuesday mornings until noon. Free to Wave Hill Members and children under 6.

PROGRAM FEES – Programs are free with admission to the grounds unless otherwise noted.

Visitors to Wave Hill can take advantage of Metro-North’s one-day getaway offer. Purchase a discount round-trip rail far and discount admission to the gardens. More at http://mta.info/mnr/html/getaways/outbound_wavehill.htm

  

DIRECTIONS – Getting here is easy! Located only 30 minutes from midtown Manhattan, Wave Hill’s free shuttle van transports you to and from our front gate and Metro-North’s Riverdale station, as well as the W. 242nd Street stop on the #1 subway line. Limited onsite parking is available for $8 per vehicle. Free offsite parking is available nearby with continuous, complimentary shuttle service to and from the offsite lot and our front gate. Complete directions and shuttle bus schedule at www.wavehill.org/visit/.

Information at 718.549.3200. On the web at www.wavehill.org.

MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES NYPD CRACKDOWN ON ILLEGAL PARKING TO SPEED UP BUSES

Fulfilling State of the City pledge, seven NYPD tow truck teams will tow vehicles that block dedicated bus lanes in every borough

  Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today that the City was fulfilling one of its State of the City pledges -- to speed up buses Citywide with dedicated NYPD teams towing cars parked in bus lanes. He rallied one of the Police teams headed out to enforce the law and tow cars parked along bus routes with dedicated bus lanes around Manhattan. The seven new NYPD tow teams will operate in all five boroughs. The City has set an ambitious goal to increase bus speeds by 25% by 2020, using increased enforcement and street redesign.

“It shouldn’t be so hard to get around the greatest city in the world,” said Mayor de Blasio. “Buses are a critical link in our public transportation system, but too often they are painfully slow. I hope all New Yorkers get the message that we have to keep bus lanes clear to get people moving and to work on time.”

"The NYPD recognizes the important role that safe, on-time bus performance plays in New York City's transportation network,” said NYPD Chief of Transportation Thomas Chan. "The NYPD is collaborating with our colleagues from the Department of Transportation and the MTA to keep bus routes across all five boroughs clear of illegally parked vehicles. As Mayor de Blasio mentioned in his State of the City address, the NYPD now has a dedicated team of tow trucks and enforcement agents that patrol bus lanes and bus routes across this City with the goal of increasing bus speeds.”

“As part of his State of the City, the Mayor made a bold pledge to increase bus speeds by 25% by 2020, really an incredibly ambitious goal,” said DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg. “We thank our partners at NYPD for starting their aggressive work today on a critical routes in Midtown and around the City– as they make sure that bus riders can make it where they need to go.”

As part of his State of the City Address, the Mayor noted that on average buses only move at 7.4 mph and in busy commercial districts, the average speed is less than 4 mph. Bus ridership is down across the City as riders avoid trips and choose faster, more reliable modes of transportation. The City and the MTA are committed to working together to improve bus service citywide. Mayor de Blasio, the Department of Transportation (DOT), and the New York City Police Department (NYPD) are building on past efforts to get New Yorkers moving. The City has the power to redesign streets, install new bus lanes, and remove more vehicles blocking bus lanes. The MTA and State may control the buses, but the City has the tools to help reverse downward ridership trends and increase average bus speeds 25% by the end of 2020.

In addition to the efforts to increase NYPD enforcement, as part of “Better Buses for All,” the Mayor announced the following:

Redesigned Bus Networks

· Work with the MTA to optimize the bus network in every borough, work that began last year in Staten Island and will expand to the Bronx in 2019, and pursue street redesigns to improve bus movement and maximize the effectiveness of the new networks

· Press the MTA to restart the SBS program and continue adding SBS routes every year, allowing NYC to fulfill our October 2017 commitment to add 20 SBS routes citywide, doubling the current number of routes

Streets for Buses

· Perform street projects across the city to benefit 600,000 daily riders citywide in 2019

· Install bus lanes at an average of 10-15 miles per year, up from current pace of 7 miles per year

· Upgrade 5 miles of existing citywide bus lanes per year with extended hours, restricted turning, and piloting up to 2 miles of physically separated lanes in 2019

Give Buses Green Lights

· Add traffic-signal priority at 300 intersections per year, doubling the number of intersections where buses get green lights.

· Better Boarding and Rider Experience

· Improve rider experience by pressing for all-door boarding and off-board fare collection, and making bus stop improvements

· Advocate for expanded camera enforcement

Democratic Socialist Nomiki Konst, on NYC Public Advocate Ballot on ‘Pay Folks More’ Party Line, Champions $30 Minimum Wage for NYC

Nomiki Konst for Public Advocate

The policy would go into effect for city workers and businesses of 75 or more

Today, Democratic Socialist activist Nomiki Konst qualified as a candidate for New York City Public Advocate on the Pay Folks More Party line and immediately announced her official support for a $30 minimum wage. Konst proposed an immediate implementation of the policy for municipal employees, for businesses with 75 or more employees and for businesses who have government contracts with New York City. “As the city with the worst income disparity in the country, New York will not turn that around by following the lead of other parts of the country where the cost of living is much lower. It has to lead, and a $30 minimum wage is the way to do it,” said Konst. “While $15/hour was a great success, it’s frankly not enough for any family to pay their rent anywhere in the US. We need to have bolder economic solutions to solve our affordability crisis in NYC.”   Konst continued, “For too long we’ve been fed the lie that we are powerless to make our city more livable and affordable. But at the core of Democratic Socialism is the idea that the ability to shape our living conditions is in our hands. Paying working people more is one of the most obvious ways we can achieve that, and as one of the richest cities in the world, we’re more than capable of leading the way.”   Konst’s campaign for Public Advocate makes the case for a $30 minimum wage as part of a broader Democratic Socialist agenda to make New York more livable for working people. EDITOR'S NOTE:  While we may not agree with candidate Konst's agenda it is news which we feel the public needs to know.

Congress Members Engel, Reed, Clarke, Carter, Pallone, Walden Reintroduce Palliative Care & Hospice Education and Training Act

   Congress Members Eliot L. Engel (D-NY), Tom Reed (R-NY), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Buddy Carter (R-GA), Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ), and Greg Walden (R-OR), have reintroduced the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act (PCHETA). 

This bill would expand opportunities for training in palliative and hospice care and offer incentives to attract and retain providers. In addition, through existing programs, the bill would create a national campaign to educate patients, families and health professionals about the benefits of palliative care. The legislation would also expand vital research on palliative care at the National Institutes of Health.

Palliative care complements efforts to treat or cure illness by focusing on patients’ quality of life. It is appropriate for patients with serious illnesses starting at the point of diagnosis, through treatment, and onward through hospice and the end of life. Palliative care entails communication with patients and their families to coordinate care, determine patient preferences, and assist with medical decision-making.

Despite the benefits of palliative care, many Americans aren’t aware of the supports available to them. There is also a shortage of educated providers who can offer quality palliative care. The Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act aims to address these issues.

PCHETA passed the House last Congress, but it did not get a vote in the Senate.

“Every one of us has been touched by serious illness,” Rep. Engel said. “Whether we have been affected personally, or stood by a loved one, we all know how trying those situations can be for all involved. Last Congress, the House passed the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act but it never received a vote in the Senate. My hope is that we can pass this bill again and get the Senate to act so that we will move one step closer to relieving the stresses of illness and tremendously improving patients’ quality of life.”

“I witnessed the benefits of hospice and palliative when caring for my Mother, and it is an issue that strikes close to my heart,” Rep. Reed said. “This bill will ensure that our aging loved ones have access to the proper and comfortable care they deserve as they reach those crucial final days with their family. Not only will quality of life be improved, but hospice care lowers health care cost making this legislation a win-win we should all support.”

“As family members, there are tough choices we must make for end-of-life care for our loved ones. The Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act is forward-thinking legislation that aids in educating patients, families, and caregivers and provides insight into how they can provide better quality of life for individuals with serious, painful medical illnesses. I look forward to working with my fellow colleagues to ensure we pass sound policy that places the necessary systems of support in place for patients and their families,” said Rep. Clarke.

“As a pharmacist for more than 30 years, I served as a pharmacy consultant for hospice care,” said Rep. Carter. “I saw firsthand the important impact that proper palliative care can have on patients and families going through incredibly difficult end of life decisions. This legislation ensures that there is a well-trained palliative care workforce available and ready for those individuals with serious illnesses. I am glad to again join this bipartisan group to reintroduce this important legislation.”

“This bipartisan bill will improve education, training, and research into palliative and hospice care,” Energy and Commerce Chairman Pallone said. “This important legislation will help ensure that we have the workforce to meet the growing need for quality end-of-life care. I commend my colleagues for their ongoing commitment to improving support and medical care for patients at the end of life.”  

“This is a cause that’s near and dear to my heart, and I’m proud to be reintroducing this bill in the new Congress,” said Energy and Commerce Republican Leader Greg Walden. “The Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act will have a real impact on patients’ lives. I’ve heard about the importance of this bill from a broad coalition of supporters in my district, from palliative care specialists to patient advocates. The House passed this bill in the last Congress, and I will work with my colleagues this year to get it across the finish line and signed into law.”

STATEMENT FROM MAYOR DE BLASIO ON THE PASSAGE OF THE SENATOR JOSE PERALTA NEW YORK STATE DREAM ACT

  “No student should have to forgo a college education because they can’t get financial aid. For far too long, undocumented students who are New Yorkers have faced this unjust barrier to realizing their dreams. With the passage of the Senator Jose Peralta New York State DREAM Act, I’m so glad to say that we’re finally tearing this wall down. Equal access to education is a human right and the only way we’ll meet the needs of a 21st century economy is to unleash the talents of all New Yorkers. I thank the late Senator Jose Peralta, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, Senator Luis Sepulveda, Assembly Member Carmen de la Rosa and the rest of the legislature for standing together with our immigrant communities.”

ASSEMBLYMAN JEFFREY DINOWITZ STATEMENT ON PASSAGE OF JOSE PERALTA NYS DREAM ACT

“New York has long been home to New Americans, from the days of Ellis Island to the vibrant diversity of cultural backgrounds that shapes New York City neighborhoods today. Our tradition of inclusivity towards immigrants is a huge part of what makes New York City great. I am proud that my colleagues in the Assembly and state Senate were finally able to continue this great tradition by passing the Jose Peralta New York State DREAM Act, named in honor of the late state Senator Jose Peralta who was a leader in advocating for DREAMers and whose legacy will live on through the thousands of students finally able to afford a college education.

“Education is an investment. Historically, New York State has invested in the education of all children regardless of citizenship status from Kindergarten through 12th Grade. As our economy becomes more dynamic, it has become increasingly clear that K-12 education is no longer sufficient to ensure dividends on our academic investment. The DREAM Act makes it easier for non-citizens to attend college - allowing New York to recuperate our investment in their education by better preparing them to participate in our economy.

“I am proud that after six consecutive years of the Assembly passing this bill, and one defeat in the state Senate in 2014, that we are able to finally send this bill to the Governor’s desk for his signature. The Assembly will continue to lead the way on progressive policies – including expanding college access and allowing the DMV to issue driver licenses to undocumented New Yorkers.”