DINOWITZ CALLS ON CABRERA, COUNCIL TO APPROVE ICE CENTER AT KINGSBRIDGE ARMORY

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz

                                                                3107 Kingsbridge Avenue

                                         Bronx, New York 10463

                                                (718) 796-5345

                                                dinowitzj@assembly.state.ny.us

  Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz has called upon the New York City Council to approve the Kingsbridge National Ice Center proposed for the Kingsbridge Armory and urged Councilman Fernando Cabrera to vote for it.

“We have a once-in-a lifetime opportunity to bring an amazing and positive project into our community,” Dinowitz said. “KNIC will be a unique facility that will provide recreational and educational opportunities for thousands and thousands of people from the Bronx and beyond. It can spawn new businesses along Kingsbridge Road. It will provide hundreds of living wage jobs. And the community benefits agreement is a major plus as well.

‘While the armory is actually across the street from my district, the people who are most directly affected by the facility are in the Kingsbridge Heights section of my district. I look forward to this project becoming a reality and to the positive impact it will have on the surrounding community.” 

 

 

What's Up Fernando?

  Councilman Fernando Cabrera who was the lone holdout on the Kingsbridge National Ice Center Proposal for the Kingsbridge Armory before the Bronx Borough Board vote of November 21st where Councilman Cabrera said that he was voting yes on the KNIC proposal and going to encourage his fellow council members to vote yes when the matter comes before the City Council for a vote.

  Apparently that was then, because Crain's New York has reported that during the meeting of the City Council’s Zoning and Franchises Subcommittee today Councilman Fernando Cabrera was strongly critical of the KNIC proposal, and asked his council colleagues to vote against the proposal when it comes before the City Council Land Use Committee for a full council vote. 

  Cabrera with his on again off again support of the KNIC proposal for the Kingsbridge Armory started when Mayor Bloomberg introduced the KNIC proposal. Councilman Cabrera was all in favor of the project, but then as the Community Benefits Agreement package with KNIC was being formatted it is said that Cabrera made several demands for the CBA. The CBA was changed to add more members at Councilman Cabrera's request, but then it was announced that $100,000.00 a year (for the 99 year life of the CBA) was being requested to go to a non-profit organization reportedly under Cabrera's control. KNIC went public with the information, and Councilman Cabrera has been under scrutiny ever since the announcement.

  It was at the Bronx Borough Board vote that Cabrera had apparently ended his opposition by voting yes on the KNIC proposal, and said that he will encourage all of his colleagues in the council to vote yes on the proposal. Cabrera apparently has done another about face on the KNIC proposal at today's Sub committee meeting. It will be interesting to see which Fernando Cabrera shows up to the City Council Land Use meeting, and how Councilman Cabrera votes.

  

 Crain's writes that the Drama Still Continues for the Kingsbridge Armory.  The full Crain's article can be found here.

 

 

Croton FMC Meeting & Agenda Thursday, December 12,

   The Croton Facility Monitoring Committee will next meet on Thursday, December 12, 2013 at 7pm in the DEP Office at 3660 Jerome Ave. The agenda is listed below.

 

Agenda

Croton Facility Monitoring Committee Meeting

Thursday, December 12, 2013 – 7:00 PM

DEP Office – 3660 Jerome Avenue, Bronx NY 10467 - (718) 231-8470

I  Welcome & Brief Report of CFMC Chair        Bob Fanuzzi, Chair

II Consider, Adopt December CFMC Agenda    

                                                                     CFMC Representatives

III Public Questions & Comments (15 minutes)

IV Consider, Adopt 9/12/13 Meeting Minutes    

                                                                      CFMC Representatives

V Comments about 12/9/13 Tour of JPR        CFMC Representatives

    And JPR Public Access Pilots

V Findings of NYC Comptroller’s Audit    Tina Kim, Jonathan Rubin

    on  Croton-Funded Parks                          Comptroller’s Office;

                                               DPR      David Cerone, Andrew Penzi

VI Status of Jogging Path Construction                        Andrew Penzi

VII JPR Tree replacement costs,     Andrew Penzi; Shane Ojar, DEP

       and schedule

VIII Form CFMC Advocacy for Pedestrian Bridge     

                                                                   CFMC Representatives   

IX Croton Construction Update & Croton         Bernard Daly, DEP

    Costs Report

X Elect CFMC Chair for 2014                   CFMC Representatives

XI CFMC Discussion &.Set Date              CFMC Representatives

for March 2014 CFMC Meeting

XII Adjourn

2013 MOST PRODUCTIVE YEAR ON RECORD FOR NYC PENSION FUNDS’ SHAREHOLDER ACTIVISM

  City Comptroller John C. Liu today announced that the $144 billion NYC Pension Funds achieved new levels of success in 2013 toward improving the environmental, social, and governance practices of the corporations in their investment portfolio.  The details of the 2013 proxy season are available in the NYC Pension Funds’ annual report.  The report also includes summary information on the Funds’ proxy voting.

 

“We have a duty to City workers and retirees to ensure our portfolio companies focus on creating sustainable shareowner value,” Comptroller Liu said. “Over the past year we helped strengthen employees’ workplace rights, shed light on employee diversity, and negotiated policies to help claw back pay from misbehaving executives.  The NYC Funds have a proud tradition of active ownership to protect and create long-term shareowner value, and we have worked to intensify these efforts over the past four years. 

 

Shareowner Proposals

The Comptroller’s Office negotiated agreements on 27 of the 55 shareholder proposals it submitted to corporations — a record rate of adoption for its requests.  Among the highlights of the agreements Comptroller Liu’s office achieved on behalf of the Funds:

 

•         Capital One (NYSE: COF), Citigroup (NYSE: C), Encore Capital (NASDAQ: ECPG), and Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC) — and three pharmaceutical firms — Boston Scientific (NYSE: BSX), Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ), and Merck (NYSE: MRK) — enacted policies empowering the board to claw back pay from senior executives responsible for improper conduct or excessive risk taking.

 

•         Chesapeake Energy (NYSE: CHK) agreed to propose a bylaw amendment to grant shareowners access to the corporate proxy to nominate directors as part of a major overhaul of its board and governance. Since the Funds led a successful director “vote no” campaign in 2012, the company has reconstituted its board, named an independent chairman and hired a new CEO, and its share price has outperformed its peers.

 

•         Health insurer Wellpoint (NYSE: WLP) agreed to name an independent chairman upon the April 2013 retirement of its existing chair, and to maintain the position for at least two years.

 

•         EMC (NYSE: EMC), Gap (NYSE: GPS), NIKE (NYSE: NKE), Target (NYSE: TGT), and Texas Instruments (NASDAQ: TXN) agreed to promote greater transparency of their suppliers’ compliance with internationally recognized standards on workplace safety and human and worker rights by encouraging key suppliers to prepare sustainability reports using Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) protocols.

 

•         AIG (NYSE: AIG), Bank of NY Mellon (NYSE: BK), and U.S. Bancorp (NYSE: USB) agreed to disclose the breakdown of their workforce by race and gender for major job categories, including senior management.

 

•         Anadarko Petroleum (NYSE: APC), Domino’s Pizza (NYSE: DPZ), Philip Morris (NYSE: PM), and Ralph Lauren (NYSE: RL) expanded their EEO policies to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity.

 

•         Lowe’s Companies (NYSE: LOW) and WellCare Health Plans (NYSE: WCG) agreed to disclose all direct and indirect political spending.

 

•         Avalon Bay (NYSE: AVB), Kimco Realty (NYSE: KIM), and SL Green Realty (NYSE: SLG) agreed to prepare annual sustainability reports based on the GRI and specifically addressing greenhouse-gas emissions, water conservation, waste minimization and energy efficiency. All three are residential REITs with significant property holdings in New York City.

Director “Vote No” Inititiatives

Cablevision (NYSE: CV)

The Funds led a “vote no” campaign against five Cablevision directors, three of whom had failed to receive majority shareowner support in 2010 and 2012. In a letter to Cablevision shareowners and filed with the SEC, Comptroller Liu cited Cablevision’s fundamental lack of board accountability, poor performance, excessive executive pay, and pervasive conflicts of interest involving the Dolan family, which controls 73 percent of the voting power despite owning less than one quarter of the company.  The five directors were each opposed by at least 39 percent of votes cast, including two directors who failed to receive majority support.  The board reseated all five directors.

Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ)

The Funds opposed two Hewlett-Packard directors who failed to protect investors from a series of ill-advised acquisitions (Autonomy, EDS and Palm) and boardroom fiascos that destroyed tens of billions of dollars in shareowner value.  The Comptroller’s Office detailed the Funds’ concerns with the directors in a press release that was also filed with the SEC.  Shareowners subsequently cast 45 percent and 46 percent, respectively, against the directors’ election.  In a major victory for shareowners, both directors resigned two weeks later.

Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT)

The Funds opposed nine Wal-Mart directors due to the board’s poor oversight of compliance, lack of independence and unresponsiveness to investor concerns, as detailed in a Comptroller’s Office press release filed with the SEC.  Four of the directors — including the Chairman, CEO, former CEO and audit committee chairman — received particularly high opposition votes: excluding the Walton family, which controls approximately 50 percent of the company’s shares, unaffiliated shareowners cast about 21 percent to 30 percent of their votes against their election.  It was the second consecutive year the four directors received strong opposition.  Since last year’s no confidence vote, which was driven by reports that executives attempted to cover up alleged bribery in Mexico, Wal-Mart’s board has become less independent, even as it has reportedly expanded its investigation into possible bribery to additional countries.

Kingsbridge Armory KNIC Proposal at the Finish Line

  The City Council’s Zoning and Franchises Committee heard testimony from Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. today as to why the City Council should vote in favor of the Kingsbridge National Ice Center peoposal for the Kingsbridge Armory. Below is BP Diaz's testimony.

  Good morning, Chairperson Weprin and the members of the City Council’s Zoning and Franchises Subcommittee, I am Ruben Diaz Jr., Borough President of the Bronx. 

I am here today to offer my enthusiastic support for the Kingsbridge National Ice Center and the four ULURP applications, which when approved will facilitate construction of one of the most outstanding ice sports arenas in the world.  This project transforms an iconic yet vacant, landmark into a destination for thousands, and by so doing it will also revitalize an entire community and offer permanent living wage employment for Bronx residents. 

The key to the anticipated success of this project is that it represents the culmination of a comprehensive participatory process that included all those who have an interest in the future of the Kingsbridge Armory.  These parties include representatives of the surrounding community, the borough’s elected officials, the Mayor’s Office and the city’s Economic Development Corporation, as well as those associated with the Kingsbridge National Ice Center’s development team.   

I am pleased to highlight some supporting figures that substantiate my endorsement, such as an approximate $300 million dollar investment to restore and preserve an historic Bronx landmark, which entails the reconstruction of the entire drill hall floor;

The project will also pay its employees a living wage of $11.75 per hour without benefits, $10.00 per hour with benefits; which represents a great victory for this site, given where we started from. The redevelopment of the Kingsbridge Armory will create 170 full time equivalent permanent positions at the Armory, as well as 885 construction related jobs on site. In addition, the project is expected to create an additional 2,700 off-site jobs as a consequence of its development.

KNIC will generate 580,000 annual visits to the Armory, which in turn will generate new economic activity approximating $42 million annually.

My enthusiasm for this proposal and what it will offer the Bronx and our city is only surpassed by my support for the Community Benefits Agreement that has been achieved.  This agreement is historic, as it sets to paper benefits I believe establish a gold standard for all future projects that rely on the disposition and use of public sector assets.  Key components of this agreement include assurances that 51 percent of those working at the Armory will be Bronx residents, and that employers shall award 25 percent of the funds spent on employees performing construction, to Minority and Women/Owned Bronx businesses.

Beyond these stipulations, the developer has also pledged to provide an initial monetary contribution of $8 million, to be used towards developing and building out the 50,000 square feet of community facility space for an annual rent of $1.

In addition, $1 million dollars of ice time will be provided annually to local schools and community organizations. KNIC will also provide $250,000 for capital improvements of properties and local businesses,

I am also especially proud to note that this entire project will be environmentally sound, as a LEED Silver designation is being sought.

My administration is very proud of what the entire proposal represents.  It is a project that broadens the profile of the Bronx as a place where new ideas can become reality, where new approaches can bring about better results. 

So many people have worked so hard to bring this project to fruition. From elected officials, to the community board, to local organizations, to our non-profits, to the developer and everyone in between—what we are discussing today is the culmination of years, if not decades, of advocacy and effort to revitalize this magnificent structure. A vote in opposition to this project would be reprehensible.

In closing, I recommend approval of these applications and by so doing endorse the redevelopment of the Kingsbridge Armory by the Kingsbridge National Ice Center.

  

Bill Bratton to Be Next Police Commissioner

  Mayor Elect Bill deBlasio has chosen Bill Bratton to be the next New York City Police Commissioner. Bratton is the former NYC Police Commissioner who was appointed by Mayor Rudy Giuliani in 1994 when Giuliani won the mayoral election in 1993. Bratton introduced the CompStat system of tracking crimes, which proved successful in reducing crime in New York City which is still being used by the police department today.

  Bratton resigned as police commissioner in 1996 under a cloud of a book deal. He became police commissioner of Los Angles in 2002, and his latest employment was as a consultant for the city of Oakland in early 2013.

Borough's Official Hanukkah Celebration

  Tuesday Dec. 2rd. Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. along with Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer, Rabbi Israel Greenberg, Rabbi Michael S, Miller, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda, Councilman Elect Andrew Cohen, and many others celebrated the official Bronx Chanukah Menorah lighting. 

  Dr. Ruth (as she is known) said that she was 85 years old, and that she brought her daughter who still lives in the Bronx with her for this Chanukah Menorah lighting. Students from the Kinnert Day School sang the traditional national anthem, and then Hatikvah the national anthem of Israel. After a few short speeches Rabbi Greenberg, the elected officials, and Dr Ruth went over to light the Bronx Menorah which became a Bronx tradition under BP Diaz after he took office in 2009. 

 

Left - Dr Ruth at age 85 speaks next to the podium so everyone would be able to see her. 

Right -  Students from the Kinnert Day School perform.

 

Left - Elected official line the first row, with several judges sitting in the second row.

Right - Rabbi Greenberg tells the story of Chanukah.

Left - BP Diaz lights one of the Chanukah candles.

Right - Councilman Elect Cohen lights another Chanukah candle.

 

Left - Parkchester Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda lights a Chanukah candle.

Right - After all the candles are lit, BP Diaz dances with Dr. Ruth as Rabbi Greenberg sings a Chanukah song.