Castle Hill Family Day

   Hundreds of people came to today's 'Family Day in Castle Hill' provided by State Senator Jeff Klein and Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda. Also on hand were Congressman Jose Serrano, Female District Leader Julia Rodriguez, and many others. There was free hot dogs, hamburgers, popcorn, cotton candy, ices, snacks, juice, and water, along with other attractions such as a face painter, balloon clown, and many informative community tables set up as you will see in the photos below.

Above - Congressman Jose Serrano, Female District Leader Julia Rodriguez, Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda, and Female State Committeewoman Barbara Brown.

Below Assemblyman Sepulveda holds his son who wants to have some fun in the bouncy castle that was set up.

Above - Two representatives of Homebase explain some of the services offered which include Eviction Prevention Services, Paralegal and Financial Counseling, Case Management and Housing Placement/Retention Services, Job Training and Placement, and several other Advocacy services offered by Homebase which is located at 2155 Blackrock Avenue phone number 718-414-1050.

Below - Nick of A1 Food Distributors mans the grill as there were plenty of hamburgers and hot dogs given out. 

Above and Below - The Balloon clown at the Well Care table was fantastic, as he made different items out of balloons for the children. 

Free Fitness Class - by Seton Falls Park Coalition

As you see in the photo above there were a crowd of lovely ladies on hand for this mornings 'Free Fitness Class' at Seton Falls Park that was run by 'Tony the Trainer of 'Magic Fitness' These fitness classes will occur every Saturday morning there is good weather. Check in time is 9:45 AM, and the class runs for about one hour of fun, stretching, and exercise. Ms. Renee Paterson is the President of the Seton Falls Park Preservation Coalition, and can be reached at 917-544-8859 for more information about the fitness classes in Seton Falls Park located on Crawford Avenue just behind MS 142 in the Baychester section of the Bronx.

Another happy Fitness Class member with Tony the Trainer at the Seton Falls Park summer fitness classes on Saturday mornings.

8th Annual Allerton Food Festival Saturday, July 18th

	We hope you can join us! Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj, Allerton Avenue Homeowners & Tenants  Association, and The Bronx Chamber of Commerce present the 8th  Annual International Food Show happening on Saturday, July 18th from  12 - 5 PM on Allerton Ave from Boston Road. This event will feature signature cuisines from all around the world. Free food sampling will be from 12 - 1 PM  Attendees are welcome to enjoy free salsa lessons, balloon art,   GIVEAWAYS and more!  Bring your family and friends and enjoy this tasteful event

CM COHEN TO HOST ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION REGARDING CITY COUNCIL BUDGET

  Council Member Cohen will host a round table discussion regarding the City Council Budget for Fiscal Year 2016

   On Thursday, July 16th at 1:00 p.m. Council Member Andrew Cohen will host a round table discussion regarding the allocation of funds in the City Council Budget for fiscal year 2016 at the Kingsbridge Public Library.

The budget is the centerpiece of policy making in government. It is the single most important municipal document that affects the lives on New Yorkers. Members of the media in attendance will have the opportunity to discuss the budget and how it will affect New York City, as well as how it will impact the residents of District 11.

WHO:     Council Member Andrew Cohen

WHEN:   Thursday, July 16, 2015 at 1:00 p.m.

WHERE: Kingsbridge Public Library

              291 West 231st Street, Bronx, NY 10463

DiNapoli: Dormitory Authority Overstated MWBE Contract Participation

DiNapoli: Dormitory Authority Overstated MWBE Contract Participation

The state Dormitory Authority (DASNY) for the past four years overstated the amount of business it did with minority- and women-owned business contractors (MWBE) and could not show how it determined the authority’s overall MWBE participation goals or industry-specific goals, according to a report released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

“Ensuring MWBE opportunities with the state isn’t about being politically correct, it’s smart business. It’s about creating a more diverse, vibrant, and ultimately, more successful New York,” DiNapoli said. “My auditors found DASNY officials have not properly set annual participation goals for minority- and women-owned businesses and need to improve the accuracy of reporting program results.”

State law requires state agencies and public authorities to promote the participation of minority- and women-owned business enterprises in their contracts. The agencies and authorities are supposed to establish annual goals for MWBE, make a good faith effort to achieve those goals, and report quarterly on their MWBE participation to the Department of Economic Development (DED).

The law sets the state’s MWBE participation target at 28.92 percent. DASNY set an annual goal in each of the four fiscal years 2011-12 through 2014-15, ranging from 20 percent to 26 percent. While authorities may submit MWBE plans with participation goals that are less than the statewide goal; they must also include explanations as to why. DASNY did not do so.

DASNY officials told DiNapoli’s auditors that the goal of 28.92 percent participation was not achievable, due to certain unique circumstances faced by the authority. However, they provided no formal analysis to support that claim and could not demonstrate how they determined the authority’s overall MWBE participation goals.

According to DASNY:

• For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012, it paid MWBEs $200.3 million out of $864.9 million in total contract payments, for a MWBE participation rate of 23.2 percent. 
• For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013, it paid MWBEs $181.8 million out of $839.3 million in total contract payments, for a participation rate of 21.7 percent; and
• For the nine months ended Dec. 31, 2013, it paid $166.2 million to MWBEs out of $591.4 million, for a participation rate of 28.1 percent.

DiNapoli’s auditors, however, determined that DASNY overstated these numbers. Auditors found that a sample of payments to prime contractors totaling $37.8 million was overstated by $9.2 million (24 percent), and a sample of payments to subcontractors totaling $25.9 million was overstated by $4 million (15 percent).

The law allows payments from MWBE prime contractors to MWBE subcontractors to be counted towards MWBE participation goals. However, in preparing reports to DED, DASNY did not make adjustments for such payments. 

For example, one prime contractor was paid $3,877,310. Out of that, sub-contractors were paid $1,103,868. DASNY, however, reported a total of $4,981,178 being paid to MWBEs.

DASNY also reported MWBE participation for two payments made to non-MWBE prime contractors. The payments of $1.5 million were sent to the prime contractor’s address, with a notation that they were “in care of” the MWBE vendor. However, there was no evidence that the MWBE vendor actually had any role in the procurements.

DiNapoli’s recommendations to DASNY include:

• Develop and implement formal processes to properly establish annual MWBE participation goals.
• Develop ways to assure data entered into the authority’s automated MWBE participation reporting system is correct; and
• Develop processes to correct data-entry errors, including providing revised amounts and participation rates to DED and other stakeholders.

DASNY officials generally disagreed with the auditors’ observations and conclusions. However, officials also indicated the report provided useful observations about data management and they will formalize the authority’s process to establish annual MWBE participation goals.

See the report Contract Participation of Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises, or go to:http://osc.state.ny.us/audits/allaudits/093015/14s7.pdf

BP DIAZ ANNOUNCES 2015 BRONX CONCERT SERIES SCHEDULE

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. has announced the slate of performers that will take part in the 2015 Bronx Summer Concert Series at Orchard Beach.

“The Bronx has been nurturing ground for the development of a lot of types of musical genres, and we want to keep that musical tradition alive,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. “Whether it’s Hip Hop or Salsa, music is as much a part of our identity as Yankee Stadium or the Bronx Zoo. Our concert series helps add to that longstanding legacy of great music that comes out of our borough.”

The Bronx Summer Concert Series at Orchard Beach kicks off this Sunday, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., with Salsa legend Domingo Quinones.

The concert series is sponsored this year by Optimum, Macy’s, BronxCare, Latino Sports Ventures, the National Jazz Museum in Harlem, the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation, The Bronx Tourism Council and NYC Parks.

This year’s concert series lineup, who will perform next to the Orchard Beach boardwalk at the main stage by Section 9, will feature acts such as:

·         Sunday, July 19: Conjunto Imagen & The Karl 

                                      Browne Band

·         Sunday, July 26: Julian Vazquez "El Diamanté de la 

                                      Salsa" & Music with a Message

·         Sunday, August 2: Tipica 73

·         Sunday, August 9: Nelson Gonzalez

·         Sunday, August 16: The Mambo Legends Orchestra

·         Sunday, August 23: CharanSalsa

·         Sunday, August 30: Luis Damon

“The summer season is a great time to celebrate the musical heritage of the borough,” said Olga Luz Tirado, Executive Director of The Bronx Tourism Council. “Not only are we the birthplace of Hip-Hop and Doo-Wop, but the borough was home to many Jazz greats and played a pivotal role in the global phenomenon we know as Salsa.”

Senator Jeff Klein Hosts 2 Events Thursday - Free Backpacks for Kids - New Peepholes for Seniors

  Klein secured $60,000 state grant to fund summer backpack giveaway for Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club and HELP Bronx homeless shelter

Local kids swing into summer with brand-new backpacks filled with books, jump ropes, sidewalk chalk and more

Above - The backpacks to be given out to the boys and girls at Kips Bay are lined up on the stage behind Senator Klein and Kips Bay Executive Director Daniel Quintero, who is speaking.

Below - Several children stand in front of Senator Klein, Kips Bay Executive Director Quintero, and Ed Doty of the Youth Services Opportunity Project.

State Senator Jeff Klein and the Youth Service Opportunities Project (YSOP) donated summer backpacks to nearly 300 Bronx children from  the Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club and the HELP Bronx Morris Avenue homeless shelter on Thursday.

“Today’s children are tomorrow’s leaders and ensuring that all students – regardless of background – have the tools they need to succeed is critically important. By providing Bronx children with summer backpacks filled with educational, fun and engaging activities, we are not only expanding their horizons, but equipping them for the future. I’m proud to have secured $60,000 in state funding for the Youth Service Opportunities Project and I look forward to working together for many years to come,” said Senator Klein.

“We are proud to partner with Senator Jeff Klein for this Kids Share Project.  Students from Prospect Hill Elementary School in Pelham were concerned about nearby children who might not have everything they need to enjoy their vacation.  By extending the simple but powerful act of sharing, hundreds of new students will be able to enjoy their summer through outdoor activities, fun games and at least one new book. We applaud Senator Klein for supporting this project and providing this vital funding to the Youth Service Opportunities Project,” said Ed Doty, Executive Director of Youth Service Opportunities Project.

“I want to thank Senator Klein for understanding the importance of lifting up our children. Unfortunately, all over the city, there are young people who don't receive the resources or attention they deserve. Today’s act of generosity and kindness for the children of the Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club is an example all public officials should follow,” said Daniel Quintero, Executive Director of the Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club.

The Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club has more than 10,000 members and works to improve the quality of life for children ages 6 - 18 who come from disadvantaged or underserved neighborhoods. HELP Bronx Morris Avenue is home to more than 200 families and provides transitional housing, health services, and early childhood education.

Shortly afterwards - Senator Klein was off to Evergreen Avenue.

SENATOR KLEIN & NEIGHBORHOOD INITIATIVES DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION INSTALL NEW & IMPROVED PEEPHOLES FOR BRONX SENIORS

Installations funded through $180,000 grant secured by Klein

New peepholes provide panoramic views of the outside; Improve access and functionality; Significantly boost safety & security for seniors and individuals with disabilities

“By improving safety and security in our neighborhoods, we are ensuring that our most vulnerable populations will continue to live both safely and comfortably in their homes for years to come. I’m proud to have secured $180,000 in state funding to boost crime prevention in our communities and I commend the Neighborhood Initiatives Development Corporation for their efforts to lift up and protect all residents of the 34th Senate District. I look forward to our continued partnership as we fight to build stronger, more resilient communities in the northeast Bronx and beyond,” said Senator Jeff Klein.

More than 150 households have already received new peepholes and an additional 75 will be installed this month. The peephole installation project is designed for seniors and disabled tenants who do not currently have a peephole, or whose current peephole does not meet their needs. The new and improved peepholes provide panoramic views of the outside, are installed directly at eye level and significantly improve functionality and visibility for residents.

“Seniors represent one of our most vulnerable populations. Keeping them safe in their homes is our main priority and the peephole initiative was created for that purpose. By installing peepholes at a more appropriate viewing level and with a better look at who is standing outside their door, residents have a better chance of not becoming victims of push-in robberies or assaults. We also provide our seniors with crime prevention information on safeguarding their homes, their cars and themselves. Thank you to Senator Klein for providing this essential funding and we look forward to working together now and into the future,” said Hazel Muira, Director of Housing and Community Development at NIDC.

The initiative is part of a larger effort by Senator Klein to boost safety and security in his district through partnerships like the Northeast Bronx Crime Prevention Project. In the last two years, Senator Klein has secured nearly $200,000 in state funding to keep Bronx neighborhoods safe and build cohesive communities that work together to enhance public safety.

Above - A worker is installing the new lower and better viewing peephole.

Below - The finished product is a more panoramic view for the tenant which is a safer view. 

Senator Klein in front of 950 Evergreen Avenue being interviewed as to why he is so involved in the communities that he represents.

Abrazo Dominicano 2015 Friday, July 24th 7:00 PM - 12:00 AM at Maestro's Caterers