Reaction to Mayor de Blasio's 'State of the City' Address

STATEMENT FROM BP DIAZ:

  “I congratulate Mayor de Blasio on his first ‘State of the City’ Address. I am particularly pleased to hear that the mayor has committed his administration to drop the ongoing lawsuit opposing the ‘Fair Wages for New Yorkers’ Act, and will direct his administration to begin the full implementation of this important law. The fight for ‘living wages’ remains a fight for income equality, and I am proud to count Mayor de Blasio among our allies in that fight. My office will work with the mayor and the City Council to expand this law to cover more New Yorkers.

“Mayor de Blasio’s call for municipal identification cards is also a welcome initiative. My office handles thousands of constituent cases each year, and many of those come from undocumented immigrants and their families. These individuals are often reluctant to go to the police government for help for fear of reprisal, and this proposal will bring them out of the shadows. Municipal identification cards will make it easier for undocumented immigrants to receive essential city services and cooperate with police, leading to a safer city for all.

“I also echo Mayor de Blasio’s call for increased STEM education options within our CUNY system. In my ‘State of the Borough’ address last year I called for the creation of a STEM high school in the Bronx, one based on the successful P-TECH school in Brooklyn. “This is a top priority for my administration, and I will continue to work with the Department of Education to continue to make this happen.” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

 

STATEMENT FROM STATE SENATORS ESPAILLAT AND PERALTA ON NYC MUNICIPAL ID CARD FOR UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS 

“For immigrant families in New York City whose undocumented status leaves them vulnerable to abuse and exploitation by unethical employers, landlords and scam artists, Mayor de Blasio’s municipal ID card will change lives for the better. Under our current system, immigrants’ inability to obtain a government ID excludes them from services most people take for granted, and makes it harder for them to provide for their children.

But with incredible momentum in Albany and across the country, we can’t let up the fight to accomplish what 11 states and the District of Columbia have already done – passing legislation giving immigrants the opportunity to earn legal driving privileges. When we look across the country and see our neighbors in Connecticut, big states with major cities like Illinois and California, and a deep red state like Utah all taking this sensible step forward, there is no reason why the issue remains unaddressed in New York.

As comprehensive reform remains stalled in Washington, we applaud Mayor de Blasio’s commitment to helping vulnerable immigrant communities. Once in place, this initiative will help dispel the baseless and xenophobic arguments opponents have used to block this needed reform for too long.

By the same token, it is unacceptable that hardworking immigrants are made to break the law in order to commute to work or take their kids to school. Providing undocumented immigrants the opportunity to obtain drivers licenses will ensure that all New York drivers are properly credentialed, educated and operating registered, inspected and insured vehicles, making our roads safer and benefiting all New Yorkers.”

 

Bronx Republican Party Lincoln Brunch

  There was no Donald Trump as I had hoped, but it appears that the Bronx Republican Party may be back on its feet after its Lincoln Brunch today. After taking control of a county organization that was so far down after its former county leader plead guilty to public corruption new Bronx Republican Party Leader Mr. John Greaney had his first major event. 

  Headlining the event was probable Republican Gubernatorial candidate Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, probable candidate for Attorney General of New York former U. S. Attorney Michael Garcia, and former New York City mayoral candidate Joe Lhota. Also on hand was New York State Republican Chairman Ed Cox, and upstate Senator Cathy Young Chair of the Senate Republican Campaign Committee.

  The program opened with a few words from Bronx Republican County Leader Greaney, then the salute to the flag, and the singing of the national anthem by Artist Sheimyrah Mighty. There was a special tribute of "Celebrating the Life of Nelson Mandela" by Revernd Raymond Mickens, John Burnett, and Fred Brown. 

  Then came the introduction of Westchester County Executive (and presumed Republican candidate for governor) Rob Astorino. Astorino spoke about how he was victorious in a county that is democratic by 2 to 1. He said that he attended Fordham University, and it is great to know that the Bronx Republican Party is alive and well. Astorino went on to talk on how he feels the current governor does not understand what is going on by a policy of increased gambling, increased spending, and legalizing pot. He went on to say that he has cut government spending in his county, and that its unemployment is 5.5% compared to the rest of the state. Former U.S. Attorney Garcia, Joe Lhota, and State Republican Party Leader Ed Cox also spoke.Below are a few photos of the event.

 

Left - Former NYC Mayoral candidate Joe Lhota and Bronx Republican Party official Anthony Ribustello.

Right - Bronx Republican Party Leader John Greaney speaks to the attendees.

Left - Artist Sheimyrah Mighty ssings the national anthem.

Right - The tribute to Nelson Mandella.

 

Left - Some of the crowd, and that is Rob Astorino in the center of the table listening to the speaker.

Right - Astorino addresses the crowd.

STOP TAKING PICTURES OF YOUR GENITALS

This comes from the Facebook Page of Sen. Diane Savino came after the chair of the Orange County Republican Party, Robert Krahulik, was forced to take a leave of absence after feasting up to sending "provocative" photos of himself over social media.
  The photos have been described as very similar to those sent by a former congressman. 
 

  "In light of the fact that this is Valentine's Week, when our minds turn to the pursuit of Amore, i see it is time for me to remind everyone of what i have warned in the past, if you are in public life, or hell, an anonymous existence, listen up. STOP TAKING PICTURES OF YOUR GENITALS! JUST STOP IT! first of all, men, no one wants to see your penis pop up in a text message, no one! and ladies, really, leave a little to the imagination. if you ask me, i would much rather you send me a picture of your estate in the Hamptons, that might get my blood racing, and would keep you off the front page".

  the Facebook posting, and comments to it can be found here. 

  

Funds Dedicated for Highway & Bridge Capital Projects Continue to be Diverted for Operating and Debt Costs

  New York State Comptroller Tom Dinapoli has issued a report that says -

Money in the Dedicated Highway and Bridge Trust Fund continues to be diverted for non-capital purposes, leaving critical highway and bridge projects at increased risk as the state faces fiscal challenges and shrinking debt capacity, according to a report issued today by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. 

"Taxpayers have paid billions in taxes and fees into a fund that was created to keep our roads and bridges in good repair. Now, more than three-quarters of this money is siphoned off to pay for borrowing and operating costs of state agencies, leaving fewer dollars for improving our infrastructure,”DiNapoli said. “While the state is making progress with its capital planning, New York needs a reliable source for investment in its transportation infrastructure and should restore the use of this fund for capital purposes.”

Created in 1991, the fund was initially intended to provide dedicated funding to reconstruct, replace and preserve the state’s highways and bridges. Funding comes from dedicated taxes and fees, including a gas tax, petroleum business tax, vehicle licensing fees and rental car tax. By 2002, debt payments had surpassed capital projects. Just 22.2 percent of its $3.8 billion disbursements were spent on capital construction in state fiscal year (SFY) 2012-13, according to DiNapoli’s report.

State operations costs also consume the greatest share of the fund: nearly $1.6 billion in the last fiscal year, including the costs of snow and ice removal by the Department of Transportation and day-to-day staff expenses at the Department of Motor Vehicles. Typically, staff expenses and snow and ice removal costs are regarded as ongoing costs of state operations and maintenance, not capital expenses.

The proposed Executive Budget for SFY 2014-15 projects capital disbursements to account for 23.5 percent of all trust fund disbursements, a slight increase from the current year. Meanwhile, combined debt service and operations spending is projected to remain at more than three-quarters of all fund spending.

The decline in cash support for New York’s highway and bridge program has continued since the Comptroller’s 2009 report, which found that the fund had shifted from support for the capital highway and bridge program to a broader transportation program. 

A useful measure of the health of the fund is called pay-as-you-go, or PAYGO, which gauges the amount of cash in the fund that the state dedicates to pay for capital and operational expenses. PAYGO is an alternative to debt, which must be repaid over time with interest. PAYGO levels have declined steadily over the years, dropping to just over 28 percent in SFY 2012-13 and expected to fall to about 23 percent by SFY 2018-19. 

While some debt is appropriate for the state’s capital program, debt becomes a burden when the payment of debt service becomes such a large use of the fund.  When this happens New York’s ability to fund highway and bridge capital projects is constrained, DiNapoli’s report concludes.

The report also found:

• In state fiscal year 2012-13, debt service accounted for 40.7 percent of all fund disbursements;
• Since the creation of the fund through SFY 2012-13, capital disbursements have totaled $14.5 billion, or just 30.6 percent of all disbursements; and
• The fund’s reliance on increasingly large transfers from the state’s general fund and federal funds shows no signs of reversing. The general fund subsidy is expected to climb to $849.6 million by state fiscal year 2018-19.

He called for a long-term plan to restore the fund to its core mission and increase pay-as-you-go financing for road and bridge capital purposes. The report includes revenues and spending for the past 20 years.

For a copy of the report, visit:  http://www.osc.state.ny.us/reports/trans/dhbtf020413.pdf

For a copy of the 2009 report, visit: http://osc.state.ny.us/reports/trans/dhbtf102809.pdf 

Bronx Elected Officials & RWDSU Announce New Living Wage Bill

 

Bronx Elected Officials Unite to Introduce New City Council Bill that will Promote Labor Harmony at Future Living Wage Retail Developments 

***Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., Annabel Palma, Ritchie Torres, and Stuart Appelbaum Jointly Announce New Living Wage Bill Today***

  The historic campaign for living wage jobs that grew out of the Bronx is re-emerging with a coalition of Bronx elected officials and the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), UFCW announcing today the framework of a new City Council bill.

  Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., Councilwoman Annabel Palma, Councilman Ritchie Torres, and  RWDSU President Stuart Appelbaum are jointly announcing legislation that would include a labor harmony requirement for all future living wage retail developments subsidized with $1 million or more in city taxpayer money.

Councilwoman Annabel Palma will be the lead sponsor of the new bill, with Councilman Ritchie Torres serving as co-sponsor. The legislation will be introduced with the full support of RWDSU President Stuart Appelbaum and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

Labor harmony promotes respectful relationships between workers and employers, and protects taxpayers by removing conflict from development projects and the tenant businesses that anchor them. Under the framework of the new bill, labor harmony would apply to all retail tenants of development projects subsidized at $1 million or more.

Labor harmony agreements for economic development are well-established in New York and around the country. They benefit taxpayers, workers and businesses. Employers maintain neutrality when it comes to workers’ efforts to join unions. And in return, unions agree not to engage in picketing and other disruptions in the operation and flow of commerce at tenant businesses in development projects.

“Under my administration, the Bronx has come a long way toward improving the quality of life of the hard working people of my borough.  Unfortunately, we still have far too many people struggling to make ends meet in every corner of this great city.  By strengthening our current living wage with a labor harmony requirement, we can do more to provide good jobs to the people of this city. As the Chief Executive Officer of the Bronx, I am proud to be working with the RWDSU and my colleagues in the City Council to introduce this powerful and necessary bill.  It’s a top priority for everyone involved in this coalition, and I look forward to the day that this bill is signed into law,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., a leader of the recent living wage campaign that grew out of the Bronx.

“When it comes to economic justice and workers’ rights, the Bronx is united.  We led the fight to pass the Living Wage Law and establish an essential linkage between public dollars, private development, and good-paying jobs. Now, through the use of labor harmony agreements, we intend to strengthen this link and more fully realize what we envisioned four years ago when we began this fight. There is a growing economic crisis in our communities, and this new living wage legislation will help us tackle it. I am committed to working with this coalition and my colleagues in government to get this done,” said Bronx Councilwoman Annabel Palma, who was a lead sponsor of the living wage legislation passed in 2012 and will now be the lead sponsor of this new living wage legislation.

“I grew up very poor in public housing in the Bronx, so the fight for living wage jobs has always been personal for me, my family, and my community. My brother has worked in many low-wage retail jobs. It's fitting that the fight for living wage jobs in our city is being driven by the Bronx, the borough with the lowest average wage for retail workers and where 1 in 3 residents lives in poverty. I am proud to stand with such a strong and unified coalition to support the very fundamental right of workers to earn a paycheck that can sustain a family. We are going to do everything in our power to ensure that this legislation is passed as soon as possible,” said Bronx Councilman Ritchie Torres, a Deputy Leader in the City Council, who will co-sponsor the new living wage legislation with Councilwoman Annabel Palma.

“The campaign for living wage jobs began in the Bronx at the Kingsbridge Armory, and I’m thrilled that several prominent Bronx leaders want to finish what was started there. The new bill will ensure that future taxpayer-subsidized living wage retail developments promote labor harmony. Greater unionization in retail, one of the fastest growing low-wage sectors of our economy, will help lift more New Yorkers out of poverty. A union contract is still the greatest anti-poverty program in our country’s history. We look forward to working with Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and Mayor Bill de Blasio in this effort,” said Stuart Appelbaum, President of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) UFCW, which led the campaign that passed the existing living wage legislation covering economic development in the City Council in 2012.

 

How Much has the City Spent on Snow Removal in 2014 and is Mayor de Blasio Cutting Back Already

How Much Has Snow Removal Cost the City in Recent Years?

• The amount the city budgets each year for snow removal is set by a formula in the City Charter. The formula is the average of spending on snow removal in the five prior years—so the budget for 2014 is based on the actual amounts spent in fiscal years 2008–2012.

• In some years the formula provides more funding than is needed while in other years, such as 2011 when the city had an extraordinary amount of snow, the formula-driven budget fell $87 million short of need. The formula budgeted $13 million more in 2012 than the city needed for snow removal and $19 million more in 2013.
• If there is unused funding in the snow budget, that money is reallocated or becomes part of the city’s end of year budget surplus. Conversely, if the budgeted amount is short of what is needed, funds are drawn from other parts of the city budget to cover the expense.

Print version available here.

New York City By The Numbers

IBO Homepage

De Blasio Taps Transition Co-Chair as City Planning Commissioner

  This comes from the City & State website and begins -

Either Carl Weisbrod was the best and only man for the job, or he was the last man for the job. The mayor went to great lengths to make it clear that Weisbrod, the co-chair of his transition committee, was indisputably the right choice for a permanent job, drawing on his managerial experience and his history as a former executive director of the Department of City Planning. This was said at a Friday press conference announcing Weisbrod who will be working with Alicia Glen, the deputy mayor for housing and economic development.

  “We need someone who not only understands the neighborhoods and communities we’re fighting for, but knows every tool that we have to get the job done. Because of his experience, Carl knows where those tools are,” de Blasio said writes City & State. “We see the City Planning Commission as a central piece of a strategy to change this city’s reality,” de Blasio said. “This is about getting all of the different agencies that have to interconnect in this process to work towards a common goal. That has not been the government that we’ve had here for a number of years.”“The housing authority [NYCHA] was fairly independent from what HPD and HDC was trying to accomplish; it had its own goals, and was moving in its own direction,” the source said. “It would be great if the new administration could bring them closer into the fold.”

  C&S goes on to say Weisbrod worked under both former mayor David Dinkins and Bloomberg, and later served as the head of the real estate division of Trinity Church. However, there are some who feel that de Blasio made an uninspired pick by not bringing in new blood. Harvey Robins, Dinkins’ former director of the Mayor’s Office of Operations, called the selection “very disappointing.” Robins said that Weisbrod’s real estate past and Glen’s previous stint at finance giant Goldman Sachs contrasted with the mayor’s efforts to strike a progressive tone in developing the city’s economy.

  C&S ends with this - both Carl’s appointment and [Glen] if you put those together, it appears to be more of a continuation of Bloomberg.”