Pelham Parkway Neighborhood Association Meeting

 

Members of the group Bronx Animal Rights Electors, Ann Jaffa, Roxanne Delgado, Mary Lozada, and Mary Fayet wait for Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark to arrive at Bronx House to try to find out why 'Not One Day in Jail' was the deal DA Clark made with animal abuser Loro Gjonaj. 

DA Clark was intrduced by PPNA President Edith Blitzer. DA Clark spoke of an earlier case winding up in the sentencing of a high school student to fourteen years in jail. Her voice seemed a little rattled after that as she went into her history as a judge for sixteen years. After talking about changing how the DA’s office handles cases, doing case reviews of past convictions, five people in jail for up to twenty-five years have been exonerated, working with local police precincts, DA Clark said the newest priority is the opioid crisis. DA Clark said that in the Bronx the average age of an opioid addict is forty-six years old. However Fentanyl is is the newest addicted drug.

DA Clark then took questions, with PPNA President Edith Blitzer asking how the protesters outside know what the outcome of the trial of the dog abuser is. DA Clark said that the sentencing is up to the judge in the case, justice is different in every case, and that because the case is still open she could not comment. 

Ms. Roxanne Delgado asks DA Clark about the no jail decision in the Justice for Cleo case, that DA Clark made with animal abuser Loro Gjonaj.

In the elected officials reports representatives of Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez, Assemblywoman Fernandez, Councilman Torres, and State Senator Biaggi gave reports. PPNA President Blitzer gave State Senator Biaggi’s rep a hard time, saying that former Senator Klein was very involved with the PPNA appearing many times at meetings. She said that she had invited Senator Biaggi several times, but Senator Biaggi has not responded. Ms. Blitzer also wanted to know where the local Bronx office off Pelham Parkway was. The answer by the senator’s rep Emily was that Senator Biaggi has a new office on Riverdale Avenue, with a mobile office visiting other parts of the district. 

DA Clark speaking to the people in the audience.

UPDATE:

It has been reported in the Daily News that Loro Gjonaj is releated to Councilman Mark Gjonaj. Both DA Clark and Councilman Mark Gjonaj have denied any favoritism was used for the plea of no jail time.

DE BLASIO ADMINSTRATION SUES CHIPOTLE FOR VIOLATING CITY’S FAIR WORKWEEK MAW

 First lawsuit against corporately-owned fast food chain under City’s Fair Workweek Law

  Mayor de Blasio and Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) Commissioner Lorelei Salas today announced a lawsuit against Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (Chipotle) for widespread violations of the City’s Fair Workweek Law, which requires predictable schedules in the fast food and retail industries and a pathway to stable, full-time employment for fast food workers.

“In New York City, predictable schedules for fast food and retail workers are a right, not a privilege,” said Mayor de Blasio. “No corporation can get away with blatantly violating the rights of New York City workers without consequences. Chipotle must immediately stop their unfair labor practices and put their employees above profit.”

“It is disappointing that numerous Chipotle locations are ignoring the City’s Fair Workweek Law and continuing to take advantage of their workers,” said DCWP Commissioner Lorelei Salas. “This case exemplifies the abusive practices that this law is intended to end, and Chipotle must come into compliance. I encourage all fast food workers to come forward if their right to a predictable schedule or new shift is being violated.”

"I used to work at the 185 Montague Street Chipotle. I started out as a takeout specialist and I became a service manager. In my time at this Chipotle store, I saw the company violate not one, but all the tenets of the Fair Workweek Law," said Steve Vidal, former Chipotle worker.

The lawsuit, which has been filed at the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH), alleges that Chipotle violated nearly every aspect of the City’s Fair Workweek Law, including failing to provide good faith estimates of work schedules and schedules two weeks in advance, failing to get consent and pay premiums for last minute schedule changes and for working “clopenings,” and failing to offer newly available shifts to current employees. DCWP also found that Chipotle had an illegal sick leave policy. More than 30 workers from five different Chipotle locations in Brooklyn filed complaints with DCWP about ongoing violations of the Fair Workweek Law.

The Department of Consumer and Worker Protection is seeking at least $1 million in restitution for workers plus civil penalties and future compliance with the requirements of the Fair Workweek Law. DCWP has also launched an investigation into 11 Chipotle locations in Manhattan for similar alleged violations under the Fair Workweek Law.

Under the Fair Workweek Law, fast food employers in New York City must give workers good faith estimates of when and how much they will work, predictable work schedules, and the opportunity to work newly available shifts before hiring new workers. Fast food employers also cannot schedule workers to work a clopening unless workers consent in writing and are paid a $100 premium to work the shift. Under the Law, retail employers must also give workers advanced notice of work schedules and may not schedule workers for on-call shifts or change workers’ schedules with inadequate notice. The required You Have a Right to a Predictable Work Schedule must be posted in any language that is the primary language of at least five percent of the workers at the workplace if available on DCWP’s website. Since the law went into effect, DCWP has received more than 250 complaints about Fair Workweek, closed more than 100 investigations, and obtained resolutions requiring more than $1 million combined fines and restitution for more than 2,600 workers. Workers can file a complaint online at nyc.gov/workers or by calling 311. Complaints can be filed anonymously.

DCWP’s lawsuit is being handled by Agency Attorney Hillary Scrivani supervised by Senior Enforcement Counsel Haeya Yim and Director of Litigation Claudia Henriquez, of the Office of Labor Policy & Standards (OLPS). The investigation was conducted by OLPS Investigator Tat Chun Lau supervised by Supervising Investigator Juana Abreu and Director of Investigations Elizabeth Wagoner.  OLPS is led by Deputy Commissioner Benjamin Holt.

FIXING SIDEWALKS, BREAKING BUREAUCRACY: MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES CITY TO STOP ISSUING VIOLATIONS ON HOMEOWNERS FOR DAMAGE CAUSED BY STREET TREES

Mayor de blasio goes over a listing of NYC trees in CB 12 with Speaker Heastie and State Senator Bailey.

  Mayor de Blasio and Speaker Heastie announced today the City will no longer issue violations to homeowners for sidewalk damage caused by City trees. The City will also ramp up sidewalk repairs under the Trees & Sidewalks program to address 5,500 priority sites over the next three years.

“We’re not just fixing broken sidewalks – we’re fixing a broken system,” said Mayor de Blasio. “We tripled funding for tree related sidewalk repair, but homeowners were still on the hook for problems they didn’t create. As a homeowner, I know how frustrating that is. Now, if a street tree causes damage, we’re taking care of it.”

“This has been a huge quality of life concern for my constituents who have invested their savings in purchasing a home, only to be hit with this liability through no fault of their own. The problems associated with these trees became very apparent as I have been knocking on doors and visiting with constituents,” said Carl E. Heastie, Speaker of the New York State Assembly. “I am glad that the Mayor de Blasio has recognized this issue and together we have developed a solution to take the burden off these homeowners.”

The City will stop imposing liens on one, two and three family properties that have sidewalk damage caused solely by City trees. DOT and the Parks Department will still inspect for dangerous sidewalk conditions, but the City, not the homeowner, will be responsible for fixing them if they are exclusively tree related.

DOT will review the 50,000 existing notices of violation to determine which were caused exclusively by street trees and cancel the lien for any that meets the criteria. If the homeowner of the qualifying property is selling or refinancing their home, the City will expedite this re- evaluation.

“Our more than 650,000 street trees are a tremendous resource to the city, but over the decades root growth has caused conflicts on our city’s sidewalks,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP. “Our plan to repair all backlogged sites over the next three years, combined with new policies around sidewalk violations, will ensure that trees remain a boon to New Yorkers and not a burden. We’re thankful for the support from Mayor de Blasio and our partnership with NYC DOT to find a path forward on this issue.”

Above- Community Board 12 District Manager George Torres speaks about the problem of tree roots breaking sidewalks before introducing Mayor de Blasio.

Below - Mayor de Blasio Announces that the city will no longer issue violations to homeowners for broken sidewalks if a city owned tree causes the sidewalk to be broken. This is for One, Two, and Three family home only.

Times Square Elmo Arrested For Groping 14 Year Old GirlGirlt

 

  A man identified as Inocente Andrade-Pacheco who dressed up as the Sesame Strwet chatacter Sesame Street character  Elmo was arrested Sunday for groping an unidentified 14 year old girl in Times Square Sunday.

The girl went up to the Elmo character for a photo with him. It appears that the man dressed as Elmo may have thought he was the past Christmas toy 'Tickle me Elmo' as it is alleged that he grabbed the 14 year olds buttocks. He was arrested Sunday evening for the alleged groping with Forcible Toching, and acting in a manner injurious to a minor.

A bail of $7,500 was requested by the Manhattan District Attorney's office, but Andrade-Pacheco was released on his own recognizance. 

Friends of Pelham Parkway Clean Up, Weed, Mulch, and Plant Flowers

  It was a beautiful Saturday morning as twenty-five volunteers showed up to clean, remove weeds, mulch, and plant flowers at the Wallace Avenue walkway of North Pelham Parkway. The event was hosted by the Friends of Pelham Parkway. 

 Residents showed they care about the area where they live. Police Officer Andino brought two Explorers from the 49th Precinct to help, and they joined the other volunteers. People broke up into groups that picked up papers and trash, those who pulled out weeds, others who filled buckets with mulch to place around the trees, and some who planted flowers.

Above - Police Officer Andino with two of the 49th Precinct Explores pull out weeds in this area.

Below - Volunteers gather to fill buckets with mulch to place around the trees.

Above - These volunteers went into the garden to plant some flowers.

Below - The garden with new plants, and without any weeds.

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.