Wednesday, October 14, 2015

SENATOR KLEIN ANNOUNCES $1.5M IN STATE FUNDING FOR THE NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN EDIBLE ACADEMY



  $1.5M state grant to support construction of new facility and program aimed at addressing childhood obesity and teaching healthy eating practices to NYC families

      
BRONX, NY  - State Senator Jeff Klein, joined by Gregory Long, Chief Executive Officer and The William C. Steere Sr. President of The New York Botanical Garden (NYBG), announced Wednesday that he has secured a $1.5 million state grant which will go toward the construction of a new Edible Academy campus at The NYBG aimed at addressing childhood obesity and teaching healthy eating habits to New York City students and their families. The announcement was made as dozens of P.S. 24 students visiting the Family Garden were harvesting fall vegetables in anticipation of the first frost in coming weeks.

Senator Jeff Klein said: “By investing in our children’s health and wellness from an early age, we are providing a solid foundation for the future and improving health outcomes for generations of New Yorkers. Throughout my career, I have made combating childhood obesity and encouraging a healthy lifestyle a top priority including advocating for funding for physical fitness programs and introducing legislation to improve access to fruits and vegetables in underserved communities. I’m proud to have secured $1.5 million in state funding for the new, state-of-the-art Edible Academy and look forward to working with The New York Botanical Garden to provide students and their families with the tools they need to connect with nature, and lead long, healthy and happy lives.”
Gregory Long, Chief Executive Officer & The William C. Steere Sr. President of the New York Botanical Garden, said: “The New York Botanical Garden is proud to be a leader in garden-based education for teachers and children from The Bronx and throughout the New York metro region. To address childhood obesity and other health issues caused by poor nutrition, and with the help of funding secured by State Senator Jeffrey D. Klein, the Garden is expanding its edible gardening education to a larger-scale program, The Edible Academy.  This state-of-art complex will allow the Garden to increase the number of people served annually by its edible educational programs from 50,000 to more than 100,000, and expand to year-round instruction. We thank all the funders of this project and deeply appreciate that New York State, through the leadership of Senator Jeff Klein, chose to invest in this important project that will improve lives and the health of Bronx schoolchildren and their families.”

The Edible Academy, a leading garden-based education platform, provides hands-on activities, and interactive programs that help children, their families, and their teachers learn more about growing and preparing vegetables, fruits, and herbs while helping them gain a lifelong interest in gardening and healthy living.

The Edible Academy project will allow The NYBG to expand existing programs through the winter months by constructing a cutting-edge, environmentally friendly facility with ample classroom space. The new facility will offer year-round edible gardening programs and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) activities related to cooking and growing.

The $1.5 million state grant secured by Klein will help support City funds already allocated for the construction of the new facility effectively doubling NYBG capacity and incorporating new opportunities for nutrition education and cooking activities to over 100,000 individuals a year.

The project will also include the construction of an innovative green roof, teaching greenhouse, 300-seat amphitheater, solar pavilion and sprawling meadow garden.

The NYBG is expected to break ground on The Edible Academy in the fall of 2016, with the facility’s expected completion date slated for the spring of 2018 just in time for planting season.

Sunday, October 11, 2015

National Women's Political Caucus Bronx Chapter Meeting on October 13



National Women's Political Caucus
Save the Date
Bronx Chapter Meeting
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Mercy College 
1200 Waters Place, Bronx, NY
10461
RSVP by Friday October 9th at
Agenda
  1. Call to Order  -  Varahn Chamblee
  2. Greetings  -  Lenny Caro, Mercy College
  3. Welcome to the Bronx - Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj
  4. About NWPC - NYC - Sharon Nelson
  5. State Senator Ruth Hassell Thompson
  6. About the Membership to NWPC - Paul Wilson
  7. Questions/Acknowledgement


Amazon Gift Card - Email

Bronx Chamber of Commerce October 14th - Rambling House and Upcoming Events




Please join the 
Bronx Chamber of Commerce 
for our 
upcoming events 

SPACES ARE FILLING UP
Don't Miss Out
 Reserve Your Spot Today  

 
Country Bank Dinner Network
FREE FOR MEMBERS!
 6:00PM
Wednesday Oct.14th
 
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Members Exclusive Business Breakfast 
 8:00AM
Wednesday, Oct. 21st
 
 
Goldman Sachs 10K Small Business Workshop
5:30PM
Monday, Oct.26th
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For More Information Please Email:


Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman - Fighting Designer Drugs, Working To End Online Sex Trafficking & Investigating DraftKings and Fanduel



THIS WEEK IN THE NEWS

October 5  to October 9, 2015

TOP HEADLINES 

Cracking Down On Synthetic Marijuana And Designer Drugs

The Attorney General announced his office filed lawsuits against two businesses for allegedly selling and shipping synthetic marijuana and other designer drugs. The shops, located in Erie and Rockland counties, are charged with labeling dangerous products with names like “Green Giant” and “Psycho,” and in new formats like psychoactive eliquids and candies, then promoting and marketing them as “legal highs.” Some products allegedly had practically no label information and most lacked comprehensive ingredient lists, warnings, and directions for use. The proliferation of illegal designer drugs is a national health crisis that is hurting families and communities, and the Attorney General is stepping in to protect New Yorkers. 

Partnering With Facebook To End Online Sex Trafficking

This week the Attorney General announced he is forming a new partnership with Facebook to use innovative data and analytical methods to crack down on human trafficking. The partnership will leverage technology to identify victims of sex trafficking in online advertisements for commercial sex, and pursue the traffickers that engage in this practice of modern day slavery. The initiative will focus, in particular, on identifying child victims of sex trafficking, including those who are reported as missing. This is the most recent example of Facebook’s collaboration with the Attorney General’s office; they previously joined together to send AMBER alerts to news feeds on Facebook and to curb illegal firearms sales online.

Ending On Call Scheduling At Urban Outfitters

Urban Outfitters has now become the fifth major retailer to the end use of on-call shifts since the Attorney General launched an inquiry into the scheduling practice earlier this year. The retailer will begin to phase in the change starting in November for employees at all of its New York stores. Workers deserve basic protections, including a reliable work schedule that allows them to budget living expenses, arrange for childcare needs, and plan their days, and Urban Outfitters is taking an important step to ensure that their employees have schedules that are more predictable.

Improving Hospital Services For Those With Limited Language Ability

Two hospitals in Binghamton have agreed to bolster their language assistance and financial aid services in an effort to better serve their increasingly diverse communities. Our Lady of Lourdes Memorial Hospital and Auburn Community Hospital will provide training for personnel on communicating with LEP individuals, translate important documents, and promote effective communication between clinical personnel and patients and families, among other measures. Overcoming language barriers in the medical setting is key to protecting the health and well-being of all New Yorkers, and these agreements exemplify steps that healthcare providers can take to provide everyone a meaningful opportunity to obtain quality medical care.

Ensuring The Integrity of Nursing Home Facilities

The Attorney General announced the indictment of two Orange County individuals for allegedly falsifying credentials for nursing instructors in order to have a planned nursing assistant training institute approved. The defendants, who together operated Major Staffing LLC, a nurse staffing agency, are alleged to have knowingly submitted nine different falsified documents to the Bureau of Proprietary School Supervision in an effort to push through the licensing of their school, where they planned to train Certified Nursing Assistants for the chronically ill and elderly. Nursing home staff must have the highest level of training and experience—New Yorkers should expect nothing less.

Guaranteeing Health Care Benefits For Employees

The Attorney General is teaming up with the U.S. Department of Labor to address violations of the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act and New York State laws covering health insurance plans. This agreement will allow for greater collaboration on enforcement efforts involving New York insurance companies violating state or federal law. Since 2010, the New York Attorney General’s Health Care Bureau has reached more than a dozen agreements with health insurance companies enforcing laws related to a wide variety of health care issues, and the Attorney General will continue to ensure that all types of health plans comply with our vital federal and state consumer protection laws.

Stopping Theft From Medicaid 

The Attorney General announced the arrest of two operators of a transportation company for allegedly bilking Medicaid out of more than $1 million. Yellow Medi-Van and Taxi received payments from Medicaid for transporting beneficiaries to medical appointments, but it is alleged that the duo who opened the company failed to follow proper transportation regulations, including not having workers’ compensation insurance. During the time the company was allegedly operated unlawfully, the owners received more than $1 million in Medicaid payments. 


In Other News... 

After reports of employees at fantasy sports websites potentially using inside information to gain an advantage on other sites, the Attorney General opened an inquiry into DraftKings and FanDuel.         
                        

Upcoming Event

Attorney General Schneiderman and THe Center for New York City Neighborhoods present a Mortgage Scam & Foreclosure Prevention Workshop this week. See the flyer below for details.
BP Event

In Other News...

Following the T-Mobile data breach, the Attorney General offered tips to consumers to protect their personal information moving forward.
The Attorney General is encouraging those who believe they were duped by Internet Order LLC into paying high costs for online language courses to file a complaint with the office in order to potentially receive restitution.                                             

Upcoming Event

Attorney General Schneiderman and the League of Women Voters will host a discussion on Restoring Public Trust and Confidence in Albany at Mamaroneck High School this week. See flyer below for details.
League of Women Voters

In Other News...

                                                       
The Attorney General is leading a coalition of a dozen states urging the U.S. Supreme Court to review a case concerning restrictions limiting access to abortion services.
With the New York City Campaign Finance Board, the Attorney General’s office reached a settlement with the Advance Groupover improper campaign coordination in the 2013 election cycle.                                                     

Did You Know...

You could request a presentation from the Attorney General's Office by submitting an online request? Check out our online Presentation Request Form.
Your family, friends, and colleagues could sign up for this newsletterhere?
You could file a complaint using our online forms?

Contact Us

Have a question, comment, or complaint? Click here. You can also learn more about the various initiatives of the Attorney General's office by visiting our website atag.ny.gov


Saturday, October 10, 2015

STATE SENATOR JEFF KLEIN CELEBRATES HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH IN THE BRONX



  Klein honors distinguished Hispanic members of The Bronx community for outstanding service and dedication - with special Guest Christine Chavez

State Senator Jeff Klein honored distinguished members of the Bronx community at his annual Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration at the Havana Cafe located at 3151 East Tremont Avenue. 
The awards luncheon featured renowned labor leader Christine Chavez, who has continued her grandfather’s fight for equal rights through her work with the Cesar Chavez Foundation. Senator Klein will present awards to distinguished members of the Hispanic community in The Bronx who embody the spirit of service in their communities.
The honorees were -
Hon. Luis M. Diaz, Bronx County Clerk
Hon. Julia Rodriguez, Democratic District Leader
Hon. Ritchie Torres, New York City Council Member

Ms. Claudia Granados, New York State Director for the Northeast Charter School Network. Photos of the event are below.



Above and Below - State Senator Jeff Klein with Christine Chavez, and presenting her with a proclamation from the state for her work in labor.



Above Senator Klein with honoree Hon. Luis Diaz, Bronx County Clerk.
Below - Senator Klein with Honoree Claudia Granadosof NESSN.





Above - Senator Klein with Honoree Female District Leader 87th A.D. Julia Rodriguez. 
Below - Honoree Councilman Ritchie Torres acknowledges new Bronx District Attorney Democratic candidate Darcel Clark.




Above - Bronx District Attorney Democratic candidate Darcel Clark gave thanks for being selected as the candidate to replace retiring Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson. I was able to ask Bronx DA candidate Clark if she would do something retiring Bronx DA did not, and that was prosecute corrupt Bronx elected officials. Candidate Clark said that without any hesitation that she would go after any elected official who was corrupt.
Below - Bronx Democratic County Leader Marcos Crespo was on hand as one of the rising Hispanic stars of the Bronx. 




A group photo of the honorees, Christine Chavez, and Senator Jeff Klein.




Bronx Democratic County Committee - Upcoming Events



U P C O M I N G   E V E N T S
 Dear Bronx Democrat,
Below is a list of upcoming events. Attached you will find flyers for each event.
 
Presidential Debate Watch Party
When: Tues. 10/13/15 @ 8pm
Where: 1640 Eastchester Rd., BX, NY 
The Bronx Democratic County Committee (BDCC) invites you to attend our Democratic Presidential Candidate Debate Watch Party. Food and Refreshments will be served.

To RSVP, please contact us at info@bronxdems.org or call us at 347-281-9759
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Liberty Dem. Assoc. 8th Annual Awards Dinner
When: Thurs. 10/15/15 @ 6p - 10p
Where: Maestro's Caterers - 1703 Bronxdale Ave., BX, NY 

The Liberty Democratic Association invites you to the 8th Annual Awards Dinner honoring BDCC County Leader Marcos Crespo and others. 
 
Please contact Joseph A. McManus at 718-644-1841 or mcmanus638@aol.com to RSVP.

*** THIS IS A TICKETED EVENT, CLICK HERE FOR CONTRIBUTION INSTRUCTIONS ***
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Clergy Breakfast with Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie
When: Fri. 10/16/15 @ 9a - 11a
Where: Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church - 350 E. 165th St., BX, NY 

Members of the Bronx Clergy welcome Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie and Assemblywoman Latoya Joyner over breakfast. Guest Speakers include Rev. James D. Morrison, Rev. Calvin Butts, and Rev. Raymond Rivera.

RSVP with Wilbert T. Lawton at 646-463-9917 or Abby Taylor at ataylor0210@gmail.com.
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2nd Annual College & Career Fair
When: Wed. 10/21/15 @ 11a - 4p
Where: Sotomayor Community Center - 
1000 Rosedale Ave, BX, NY 

Councilmember Annabel Palma presents the 2nd Annual College & Career Fair. The event is open to all high school students and is co-sponsored by Phipps Neighborhoods.

For more information, please contact 718-792-1140.
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Bronx Leadership Dinner
When: Thurs. 10/22/15 @ 6p - 10p
Where: Maestro's Caterers - 1703 Bronxdale Ave, BX, NY

The Jackson Democratic Club cordially invites you join them at the Bronx Leadership Dinner honoring NYS Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie and others. 

For more information or to RSVP, please contact Cynthia Cox at 917-450-5192

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In solidarity,
 
Hon. Marcos A. Crespo, Chair
The Bronx Democratic County Committee
1640 Eastchester Rd.