Which Democrat will Replace Congressman Jose Serrano?

First published in the Bronx Chronicle.

 With the announcement that he will not seek another term in congress, several people have announced their intentions to replace Congressman Jose Serrano. Since the last elected Republican was former State Senator Guy Vellela, the Democratic Primary is the real election in the Bronx that you have to win. 

 Most involved agree that Councilman Ruben Diaz Sr. is the person to beat. Diaz Sr. has conservative minded views and one such comment cost him the Chairmanship of the City Council For Hire Committee. Among voters Diaz Sr. has always done better with fewer candidates in the race. His toughest race was against four opponents for City Council in 2017. This should be Ruben Diaz Sr’s race to win or lose.

 Councilman Ritchie Torres tried to be Speaker of the council in 2017 seeking the support of the Bronx Democratic County organization which included Councilman Ruben Diaz Sr. Although a deal was made to have Cory Johnson elected Speaker, Ritchie Torres was elevated to a higher position in the council, and considered to be a rising star in NYC politics. It seemed that with his elevation in the City Council there were those who said Torres’s goal was that of Public Advocate in 2021. So why didn’t Ritchie Torres run in the special election for Public Advocate this year? 

 I was told about an arrangement that was made between Bronx Councilman Ritchie Torres and Bronx Assemblyman Michael Blake to have only one Bronx elected official run in the special election for Public Advocate. Councilman Torres would support Assemblyman Blake for Public Advocate, and Assemblyman Blake would support Councilman Torres for the 15th Congressional District race. When I questioned Assemblyman Blake on the deal his answer was that only two people knew of that deal. He asked me how I found out, and wanted to know. When I continued with my questions, Assemblyman Blake still wanted to know how I found out about the deal.

When I questioned Councilman Torres about not running in the special election he said that he never had an interest in running for Public Advocate, it’s an office that is powerless. When I told him what Assemblyman Blake had said about their deal to support each other Councilman Torres seemed to get mad at Assemblyman Blake, and would not speak on the record. Councilman Torres and I had a very interesting conversation off the record since Assemblyman Blake was now running for the 15th Congressional District against him.  

 As a DNC Vice-Chair a congressional seat would be a feather in Blake’s hat. Assemblyman Blake may be trying to capitalize on his Bronx performance in the special election for Public Advocate for the 15th Congressional race. However in the special election there was only one Bronx elected official running.

 Others who had announced their intentions early to run for the open 15th Congressional seat are Johnathan Ortiz a Director at the non-profit Phipps Neighborhood company, and Thomas Ramos a program director at the Bronx River Houses Community Center. Ramos is also affiliated with Justice Democrats, and should be the choice of Justice Democrats in the 15th Congressional race.

Last year I met former City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito on the campaign trail for Cynthia Nixon. I asked her if she was going to run for Jose Serrano’s congressional seat, and her answer was no. When I asked if her goal would be Public Advocate in 2021 her answer was yes. That was before there was any mention of Letitia James running for State Attorney General or of a special election for Public Advocate which MMV ran in and lost. I spoke to Ms. Marlene Cintron (President of the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation) over a month ago who said she was exploring a run for the 15th Congressional seat, and most recently announced that she has entered the race for the 15th Congressional District.

In July I also spoke with South Bronx Community Activist Julio Pabon, and he said that he also was exploring a run for the 15th congressional district. In a conversation Sunday night Julio Pabon told me that he is looking for a place and time to announce that he is running for the 15th Congressional District. 

Two people I interviewed who announced they were running for the 15th congressional seat have already dropped out of the race. State Senator Gustavo Rivera shortly after our interview decided that he wants to stay in the State Senate. Former Assemblyman Eric Stevenson who announced that he was running in the 15th congressional race, after being told that he can run for his old seat in the assembly has told me he is dropping out of the congressional race to run for his old assembly seat, currently held by Assemblyman Michael Blake.

Currently there are eight people running for the 15th Congressional District. It is still over eight months away from the June 2020 Democratic primary, and I expect at least one or more people announcing they are going to run, while I do expect one or more people to drop out of the 15th Congressional race. It’s to early to predict the winner, that should come when we know who is on the ballot.

Update:

 Former Bronx Assemblyman Eric Steveson has rejoined the race for the 15th congressional race, after telling us that he was going to run for his old Bronx assembly seat. We can only think that Eric Stevenson is looking to regain name recognition for a city council race in 2021.

Update Fatal Traffic Death - 43rd Precinct Officer Sullivan

UPDATE:

  It is official that the police officer killed in a fatal car accident on Sedgwick Avenue was off duty from the 43rd Precinct by the name of Shane Sullivan which we reported earlier today. Police officer Sullivan was twenty-seven years old and on the force for four years.

It is suspected that Officer Sullivan had a medical emergency similar to a heart attack which caused his car to strike a tree causing his death. There were no reports of any other injuries, and Black Bunting now covers the entrance to the 43rd Precinct.

43rd Precinct Police Officer Shane Sullivan Dies in Car Crash

Black Bunting was placed over the entrance of the 43rd Precinct, as it was learned that one of the precincts officers died in a car crash on Sedwick Avenue.

While Downtown NYPD would only say that it was a twenty-seven year officer of the 43rd Precinct I was told that the name of the officer was P.O. Shane Sullivan a Vision Zero Officer.

More as details unfold with a possible announcement at 3 PM at the 43rd Precinct.

MAYOR DE BLASIO AND CHANCELLOR CARRANZA CELEBRATE GAINS FOR NYC STUDENTS ON STATE EXAMS

Pre-K for All closing achievement gap and improving test scores

Mayor Bill de Blasio and Schools Chancellor Richard A. Carranza today announced New York City students’ gains on State English and math exams. In 2019, 47.4 percent of students met proficiency standards in English, a 0.7 point increase from 46.7 percent last year. City students outperformed their New York State peers on State English exams for the fourth year in a row. 45.6 percent of students met the standards in math, a 2.9 point increase from 42.7 percent last year. New York City students’ proficiency in both subjects improved across all ethnic groups. Additionally, the White-Black and White-Hispanic achievement gaps were narrower for students who attended Pre-K for All compared to those who did not, illustrating the long term benefit of the program.

“Test scores are in and the students who enrolled in Pre-K for All are still seeing the benefits years later. Our first class of Pre-K students are closing the opportunity gap and improving scores across the board,” said Mayor de Blasio. “Coupled with higher graduation rates and increased college readiness, we are moving in the right direction. There is still lots of work ahead, but the future is brighter than ever for students and their families.”

“Today we celebrate the hard work of New York City children, families and educators,” said Schools Chancellor Richard A. Carranza. “This progress, along with record-high graduation and college enrollment rates, is further evidence that our Equity and Excellence for All agenda is working, and for the first time, we’re seeing promising signs from our Pre-K for All initiative reflected in State test scores. We are more determined than ever to advance equity now and ensure all New York City public school students have access to the high-quality education they deserve.”

Pre-K for All had its first major expansion in 2014-15, providing a free, full-day high-quality pre-K seat for approximately 53,000 children, and 2018-19 was first year that students benefiting from Pre-K for All were in 3^rd grade. 3^rd-grade students who attended Pre-K for All outperformed students who did not attend Pre-K for All. The White-Black and White-Hispanic gaps were narrower for students who attended Pre-K for All compared to the gaps among students who did not attend Pre-K for All. While 3^rd-grade test scores are only one measure and research has found that greater impact of full-day, high-quality pre-K may be found in middle-school test scores and later in life, this year’s results represent an encouraging sign of the impact of Pre-K for All. 

The White-Black Gap was 5.3 percentage points narrower in ELA and 6.8 percentage points narrower in math for Pre-K for All students compared to the gap among students who did not attend Pre-K for All. The White Hispanic Gap was 6.0 percentage points narrower in ELA and 6.5 percentage points narrower in math for Pre-K for All students compared to the gap among students who did not attend Pre-K for All.

Grade 3 test takers had the highest proficiency of any grade in ELA and Math in New York City and their gains outpaced their New York State peers. A large and growing body of research has demonstrated that children enrolled in full-day, high-quality pre-K are better prepared to learn and be successful in later grades, and New York City parents with children enrolled save an average of $10,000 in childcare costs.

For the first time under this administration, every community school district improved its math scores. New York City students outperformed New York State on English, with 47.4 percent of students meeting proficiency standards, compared to the State’s 45.4 percent. This is the fourth year in a row that New York City students have outperformed their State peers on English, with the difference increasing each time. This year, the difference increased from 1.5 percentage points to 2.0 percentage points. New York City students continued to close the gap with New York State on the State math exams, from 1.8 percentage points to 1.2 percentage points. 

New York City schools are the strongest they’ve ever been across multiple measures, including: 

• The highest-ever graduation rate – 75.9 percent of the Class of 2018. 
• The lowest-ever dropout rate – 7.5 percent of the Class of 2018.
• The highest-ever postsecondary enrollment rate – 59 percent of the Class of 2017. 5,000 more students are attending college than at the beginning of this administration.
• The highest-ever number of New York City students taking and passing Advanced Placement exams and the SAT exam.

New York City students’ performance on State exams goes hand-in-hand with these gains, and reflects investments in the Mayor and Chancellor’s Equity and Excellence for All agenda.

Overall Results by Grade:

English					Math
Grade	2019 # Tested	2019 % L3+4	2018 % L3+4	Pct Point Diff.	Grade	2019 # Tested	2019 % L3+4	2018 % L3+4	Pct Point Diff.
3	64,710	53.3	50.6	+2.7	3	66,091	53.2	52.2	+1.0
4	66,772	49.6	49.4	+0.3	4	68,046	49.4	46.4	+3.0
5	66,207	39.8	38.0	+1.8	5	67,387	46.1	41.7	+4.4
6	66,150	48.4	49.0	-0.6	6	66,908	43.9	39.9	+4.1
7	64,952	42.7	42.7	+0.1	7	65,437	42.1	39.8	+2.3
8	63,669	50.6	50.8	-0.2	8	49,366	36.0	33.2	+2.8
All	392,460	47.4	46.7	+0.7	All	383,235	45.6	42.7	+2.9

Note: Numbers include Districts 1-32 and 75. Differences are based on unrounded numbers.

Overall Results by Demographic:

English					Math
Demographic Subgroup	2019 # Tested	2019 % L3+4	2018 % L3+4	Pct Point Diff.	Demographic Subgroup	2019 # Tested	2019 % L3+4	2018 % L3+4	Pct Point Diff.
Asian	72,318	67.9	67.2	+0.7	Asian	69,872	74.4	72.2	+2.2
Black	84,425	35.0	34.0	+1.0	Black	81,782	28.3	25.4	+2.9
Hispanic	162,808	36.5	36.0	+0.6	Hispanic	161,411	33.2	30.3	+2.9
White	63,873	66.6	66.5	+0.1	White	61,517	66.6	63.6	+3.0
Current ELL	49,509	9.3	9.9	-0.6	Current ELL	56,451	18.9	18.0	+0.9
SWD	86,248	16.1	15.8	+0.4	SWD	83,819	17.5	15.4	+2.1

  

3.3 percent of New York City students didn’t take English exams and 3.6 percent didn’t take math. A total of 18,048 students, or 4.2 percent refused either exam, down from 4.4 percent of students that refused either exam in 2018. Statewide, 16 percent of students refused to test in 2019.

DE BLASIO ADMINISTRATION MAKES IT EASIER TO QUALIFY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING

New Yorkers applying for affordable apartments now have the choice to avoid credit checks

  The Department of Housing Preservation and Development and the Housing Development Corporation announced today major changes to HPD’s affordable housing lottery application that will further increase access for a wide range of New Yorkers to qualify for affordable housing. The expanded guidelines will have an immediate impact for some of the most vulnerable New Yorkers, offering the option to show positive rental history instead of submitting to credit checks, or provide their own credit checks, and allowing for additional occupants per unit.

“For too long, families without access to credit have faced barriers to the affordable housing they need.  By allowing New Yorkers to submit rental history instead of credit checks, we are creating a fairer system for all New Yorkers,” said Mayor de Blasio.

“We will continue to challenge the practices that have perpetuated inequality and injustice for decades. These new changes, paired with the grassroots work we’re doing with the Where We Live NYC initiative, are moving the needle toward our goal to make New York the fairest big city in the country,” said HPD Commissioner Louise Carroll.

The new policies reduce the chances of a tenant being denied a unit due to poor credit history, with the introduction of the option for applicants to provide 12 months of positive rent payment history rather than a landlord-initiated credit check. This change also paves the way for applicants to apply for affordable housing without the need to provide a Social Security Number or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number for every adult in the household. The policy updates also lower credit check fees to sync with the new State rent laws, which limit credit check fees to $20 per application, and lets applicants avoid fees altogether by providing a recent credit check to the landlord.

Assemblywoman Fernandez Presents $10,000 Checks to Three Community Organizations

  Tuesday morning several members of three community organizations in the 80th Assembly District gathered at Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez's office to receive checks of ten thousand dollars for their organizations.

The community organisations that received the checks were the Pelham Parkway Neighborhood Association, Mosholu Parkway Community Association, and the Allerton Avenue Homeowners Association.

PPNA President Edith Blitzer thanks Assemblywoman Fernandez for her association's check.

Ms. Barbara Stronzer of the Bedford-Mosholu Community Association thanks Assemblywoman Fernandez for her association's check.

Mr. Frank Tirabasso of the Allerton Avenue Homeowners Association thanks Assemblywoman Fernandez for her check for his association.

Vacation Time For Me Finally

  To all my faithful followers I am taking my first vacation since I began this blog.

I am still working on a few stories for the Bronx Chronicle and Parkchester Times, but I will still be carefully watching what is going on in politics, especially the 15th Congressional race.

There may be items put up during my vacation, so check back often.

Fourth Manhattan Doctor Pleads Guilty To Accepting Bribes And Kickbacks From Pharmaceutical Company In Exchange For Prescribing Fentanyl Drug

  Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that JEFFREY GOLDSTEIN, a doctor who practiced in Manhattan, pled guilty today to conspiracy to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute, in connection with a scheme to prescribe Subsys, a potent fentanyl-based spray, in exchange for bribes and kickbacks from Subsys’s manufacturer, Insys Therapeutics.  GOLDSTEIN pled guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Henry B. Pitman.  The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Kimba M. Wood.

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “As he admitted today, Jeffrey Goldstein, a Manhattan doctor who owned a private medical office on the Upper East Side, prescribed his patients Subsys, a powerful fentanyl drug, in exchange for nearly $200,000 in bribes and kickbacks from the drug’s manufacturer, Insys, as well as various other items of value, including all-expenses paid visits to a Manhattan strip club.  Goldstein is the fourth doctor to plead guilty in this case and his admission of guilt once again demonstrates that this Office will hold any physician accountable when that physician’s medical judgment is compromised by the corrupting influence of money.  That is particularly so when the drug that is being prescribed is a dangerous opioid like fentanyl.  This case should stand as a warning to the New York medical community that if you take bribes from pharmaceutical companies in exchange for prescribing – whether in the form of Speaker Program fees or otherwise – this Office will hold you to account for placing your own interests above those of your patients.”

According to the allegations contained in the Indictment against GOLDSTEIN and filings in related proceedings:

The Insys Speakers Bureau

Subsys, which is manufactured by Insys, is a powerful painkiller approximately 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine.  The FDA approved Subsys only for the management of breakthrough pain in cancer patients.  Prescriptions of Subsys typically cost thousands of dollars each month, and Medicare and Medicaid, as well as commercial insurers, reimbursed prescriptions written by GOLDSTEIN.

In or about August 2012, Insys launched a “Speakers Bureau,” a roster of doctors who would conduct programs (“Speaker Programs”) purportedly aimed at educating other practitioners about Subsys.  In reality, Insys used its Speakers Bureau to induce the doctors who served as speakers to prescribe large volumes of Subsys by paying them Speaker Program fees.  Speakers were supposed to conduct an educational slide presentation for other health care practitioners at each Speaker Program.  In reality, many of the Speaker Programs were predominantly social affairs where no educational presentation about Subsys occurred.  Attendance sign-in sheets for the Speaker Programs were frequently forged by adding the names and signatures of health care practitioners who had not actually been present.

GOLDSTEIN’s Participation in the Scheme

GOLDSTEIN was a doctor of osteopathic medicine who owned a private medical office on the Upper East Side.  GOLDSTEIN received approximately $196,000 in Speaker Program fees from Insys in exchange for prescribing large volumes of Subsys.  After GOLDSTEIN began prescribing a competitor painkiller, Insys pressured him to stop doing so and switch patients to Subsys, which GOLDSTEIN did. 

GOLDSTEIN also received other items of value from Insys in order to induce him to prescribe.  For example, Insys employees took GOLDSTEIN and Todd Schlifstein, who co-owned a private medical office with GOLDSTEIN, to a Manhattan strip club where Insys spent approximately $4,100 on a private room, alcoholic drinks, and “lap dances” for GOLDSTEIN and Schlifstein.  GOLDSTEIN also arranged for Insys to pay for the annual holiday party for his private medical office.

In 2014, GOLDSTEIN was approximately the fifth-highest-paid Insys Speaker nationally. He was the sixth-highest prescriber of Subsys in the last quarter of 2014, accounting for approximately $809,275 in overall net sales of Subsys in that quarter.

GOLDSTEIN, 49, of New Rochelle, New York, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.  The maximum potential sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.  GOLDSTEIN is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Wood on January 22, 2020 at 2:00 p.m.

Mr. Berman praised the investigative work of the FBI, and thanked the Department of Health and Human Service’s Office of Inspector General for its participation in the investigation.