Monday, November 30, 2015

Those Who Make Money Out of the Suffering of the Poor and the Homeless


WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
By Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz
District 32 Bronx County, New York


You should know that there are many people who are making a lot of money out of the suffering of the poor and the homeless.
It is important for you to know that as the homeless population in the City of New York nears 60,000 and everyone talks about ways we can help the homeless – and even though the City and State spend exorbitant amounts of taxpayer dollars on homeless families, the money doesn’t really go to the homeless. It goes to people who are taking advantage of the situation, who will go broke themselves if the homeless problem gets solved once and for all.
Some individuals who are exploiting the homeless situation are landlords, who raise the rents higher and higher until they push their tenants out onto the streets. This way, their empty apartments can be converted to “cluster sites” or shelter units.
Whereas in the past, a landlord may have been charging $1,000 per month for an apartment for a lease-holding tenant, under these new circumstances, that same landlord can get $109 per night, in some cases up to $3,400 per month to use these same apartments as municipal shelters.
Those landlords have many friends in high places, and they are protected by powerful people.
You should also know that throughout the City of New York, they are building more and more self-storage facilities than housing units. There are places where every two blocks you will find a self-storage facility being built. These storage facilities are a growth industry that feed off the homeless situation.
The owners of these storage facilities don’t have to employ too many people, pay workers insurance, health insurance and unemployment benefits, because the homeless people who use the facility have to do all of the manual labor themselves to store their furniture and belongings.
As you can see, my dear friend, the self-storage facilities not only feed off of the homeless but also use them to do work for them.
While families are being displaced from their apartments and are being thrown into the streets, the City of New York will place them in cluster site shelters and at the same time, the City will pay the storage costs for the families’ furniture and belongings.


Saturday, November 28, 2015

100 PERCENT Saturday November 28, 2015



100 PERCENT

By Robert Press

Why Should We Be Thankful?

     Another Thanksgiving has passed, and one has to ask the question 'Why Should We Be Thankful This Year?' There may be a few good reasons why, but it seems that there are many more reasons why not. The two former state legislative house leaders are probably going to jail, and one has to wonder who is going to be next? The city is no better off today than it was one year ago, as the homeless situation has reared its ugly head, The public school system is in its worse shape in years, our beloved mayor is trying to push a one size fits all affordable housing plan for everywhere in the city but Manhattan above 14th and below 125th Streets to name a few reasons. Then there is the possibility of war in the Middle East region as a Russian plane was shot down by Turkey during the civil war in Syria.  
  I thought the Sheldon Silver trial would be over before Thanksgiving so we could give thanks that at least another perceived crooked elected official would be headed for jail, but we will have to wait now until the beginning of December for the verdict. As for the case against Dean Skelos it looks like an open and shut case as both the former State Senate leader and his son Adam should be joining others in Club Fed. Once the Silver and Skelos trials are over 'Which elected official is going to be Next' to be charged by the U.S. Attorney. 
   Bronx City Councilwoman Maria Del Carmen Arroyo announced recently that she will be stepping down as of the end of this year giving no explaination except for family reasons. Could it be that her mother long time Assemblywoman Carmen Arroyo will not be seeking re-election next year also? This means that there will be at a special election to fill Councilwoman Arroyo's seat, and the winner of that race will be able to fill out the remainder of Arroyo's term and go for two full terms in the city council. 
   My spies are telling me that there might be another Bronx elected official leaving before his or her term is up this year, and we will have to wait to see if that is true. I could hint at the name, but I do not want to give out any information that has not been confirmed as of yet. 
   There will be a Blood Drive on Monday November 30th at 2018 Williamsbridge Road with Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj. The hours to give blood are 2:30 - 7:00 PM. 
   The North Bronx Democratic Club will be hosting its first Holiday Party with State Senator Jeff Klein and Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj on Tuesday December 1st, at Maestro's Caterers located at 1703 Bronxdale Avenue beginning at 6 PM and running through 9 PM. The Guest of Honor is Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie. Honorees include Norman Seabrook (Correction Officers Union President), Beatrice Castiglia Catullo (Founder of RAIN Inc,), Joseph Kelleher (President Metro Properties and Chairman of the Bronx Chamber of Commerce), and Meisha Ross Porter (Superintendent Bronx School District 11). You can call 347-256-8719 or email northbronxdems@gmail.com to purchase tickets or for more information.
    The Committee of 100 Democrats will be hosting their first Holiday Party on Tuesday December 15th, which will also be the release date of the new Bronx County News. More on both in next weeks column. This column and its sister column the Riverdale Report will be featured in the Bronx County News. 
      If you have any political information that you want to share or have checked out, any comments about this column, or would like to have an event listed or covered in this column or on my blog you can e-mail us at 100percentbronxnews@gmail.com or call 718-644-4199 Mr. Robert Press.

Blood Drive on November 30th!



Save A Life and Give Blood
Blood Drive
Please donate at the blood drive with Assemblymember Mark Gjonaj
and the New York Blood Center!
2018 Williamsbridge Road
Bronx, NY 10461
Monday, November 30, 2015
2:30 P.M. - 7:00 P.M.
Mobile Bus - Walk-ins Welcome!
Appointments Appreciated!

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

2015 Bronx Thanksgiving Community Meals



2015 Bronx Thanksgiving Community Meals

Thursday, November 26, 2015

Friendly Baptist Church 
962 Ogden Avenue Bronx, NY 10452 12 p.m.-3 p.m.

Christ Church 
United Church of Christ
860 Forest Avenue Bronx, NY 10456 
12 p.m.-3 p.m.

Harvest Hands, Westchester Square BID & 
The Owen Dolen Recreation Center 

Host a Dinner Celebration
Owen Dolen Recreation Center
2551 Westchester Avenue Bronx, NY 10461 
11 a.m.-3 p.m.

The Rock of Salvation 
Christian Church 1179 Hoe Avenue Bronx, NY 10459 
12-3 p.m.

Ramah Christian Center 
J.P. Hall
3428 a Boston Road (bet. Fish Ave. & Seymour Avenue) 
11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Green Pasture Baptist Church 
1115 Ward Avenue Bronx, NY 10472 
12 p.m.-3 p.m.

Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church 
771 Fairmount Place (c/s Prospect Avenue) Bronx, NY 10460 
Service: 10 a.m.
Dinner Served: 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Thessalonia Baptist Church 
951 Rev. James A. Polite Avenue Bronx, NY 10459 
12-3 p.m.

New Season Christian Center 
788 Southern Boulevard Bronx, NY 10458
11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

United Christian Baptist Church and The Black Spades 

713 East 222nd Street Bronx, NY 10467
11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

Real Life Church @ The Point
940 Garrison Ave. 
11-4p with free clothes and free toiletries. 

Have a Happy Thanksgiving.


BRONX COMMUNITY BOARD #8’s: Affordable Housing Forum



JOIN BRONX COMMUNITY BOARD #8’s

PUBLIC DISCUSSION:

Affordable Housing Forum

Come learn about the fundamentals -

How is affordable housing defined, conceived, 

financed and constructed/preserved?

Hear from the organizations 

that make it possible.

______________________________________________________________________________

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

7:00 PM

William E. Irwin, Jr. American Legion Post 774

3035-37 Corlear Avenue

(Between West 230

th and West 231st Streets)

Panel will feature:

Kimberly Darga and Ted Weinstein,

NYC Housing Preservation and Development

Josue Sanchez, L&M Development Partners

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Bronx Community Board No. 8

Telephone: 718-884-3959 • Email: bx08@cb.nyc.gov • Website: www.nyc.gov/bronxcb8


Bronx Families Receive Must Needed Assistance (and Turkeys) From Council Member Andy King




    New York City Council Member Andy King offered the residents of the 12th Council District an abundance of constituent services on Tuesday (Nov. 24), ranging from free immigration assistance to free health-care insurance enrollment to free civic legal consultation.

As a bonus, Council Member King was able to spread holiday cheer with an impromptu turkey giveaway at his district office at 940 East Gun Hill Road., Bronx.

Before the turkey giveaway, Council Member King held a news conference with Victor Bell, associate executive director of marketing at MetroPlus, Andrea Walters, Associate Secretary Treasurer at Local 371, and several constituents, to urge New Yorkers who do not have health insurance, or need to renew their plan through the NYS Marketplace, to do so beforeDecember 31st.

"The Open Enrollment Period is going on now through January 31, 2016. Existing 2014/2015 plans expire on December 31, 2015. In order to avoid any gaps in coverage, it is highly recommended you sign-up by December 15, 2015," said Council Member King. "If you enroll by December 15, your coverage begins on January 1, 2016. However, if you are even a day late, you would have to wait until February 1, 2016 for your coverage to begin."

Bell noted that health-care insurance plans are more affordable as they become more competitive. MetroPlus has launched the new Essential Plan, which is the lowest cost health plan now offered through NY State of Health at $0 to $20 monthly premiums and the MetroPlus Gold Plan, which is the health plan for all NYC employees.

Ms. Walters commended MetroPlus for launching the new initiatives and working to bring affordable healthcare insurance to New York City employees.

Following the press conference, Council Member King and Bell surprised many of the constituents with free turkeys for the holidays.

Throughout the day, MetroPlus navigators assisted Bronx residents who wanted to sign-up for health-care insurance, the New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) provided free legal consultation, a CUNY Citizenship Now! attorney helped residents with questions on citizenship and the WBLS mobile team provided music and games.



Above - Councilman Andy King tells of the importance of having health care coverage, as he is about to introduce Mr. David Bell of MetroPlus.
Below - David Bell of Metroplus informs that while MetroPlus has covered members of the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation that MertoPlus will now be the prime coverage of all New York City workers, but that they can continue with their current medical coverage.



Above - Councilman King then gave out turkeys to his constituents so they could enjoy a happy Thanksgiving.
Below - Several recipients hold up their turkeys as they thank Councilman Andy King for his generosity.




Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Statement from Assemblyman Dinowitz Regarding MTA’s Decision to Allow Vulgar and Offensive Advertising





  "In the aftermath of the MTA's recent decision to allow vulgar and offensive advertisements for Amazon's new show, "The Man in the High Castle," which depict insignia's representing Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan laid over the American flag, I am mortified. While we are all used to bad decisions by the MTA, this goes beyond anything we have come to expect from them. The MTA could have allowed this show to be advertised without using such offensive insignias. As a Jew I am offended, and as a New Yorker I am embarrassed. The MTA should be ashamed of themselves and this ignorant advertising campaign, as it is offensive not just to the Jewish community, but to all Americans. I demand that these ads be pulled immediately, and that the MTA issue a public apology."

Editor's Note:
Mayor Bill deBlasio joined with Assemblyman Dinowitz to decry the ads for the new show. 
Assemblyman Dinowitz and Mayor deBlasio's cries have been heard by the MTA and the MTA has agreed to pull the ads.


Senator Klein, Assemblyman Blake host free IT workforce development workshop in latest Bronx H.I.R.E. On-the-Go training



State Senator Jeff Klein and the Bronx Chamber of Commerce, joined by Assemblyman Michael Blake hosted the latest Bronx H.I.R.E On-the-Go session at the SUNY Bronx Educational Opportunity Center on Monday.

Bronx H.I.R.E. On-the-Go is a mobile employment program connecting unemployed or underemployed Bronxites to good-paying jobs. On this stop in the 79th Assembly District in Claremont, participants signed up for the Bronx H.I.R.E program and learned about free certification opportunities for IT technician courses, personal training courses and security licenses. These certifications are often expensive obstacles faced by unemployed residents who want to get back into the workforce. Job seekers also built valuable resume writing and interview skills at the workshop.

“The technology industry in New York has seen a boom in recent years, and this growth is only expected to continue. I am proud that, in order to ensure that our communities stay competitive in this, and other growing fields, Bronx H.I.R.E. On-the-Go is bringing opportunity to all areas of The Bronx. By partnering with Assemblyman Blake and The Bronx Chamber of Commerce, through these workshops we can bring first-rate training, resume and interview skills, and educational opportunities to those communities most in need,” said Senator Jeff Klein.

"One of our top priorities is to ensure economic opportunity for all. It is imperative that we help Bronxites get back on their feet, and to make sure that they stay standing with stable and sustainable job opportunities. Our partnership with Bronx H.I.R.E. and the introduction of their new "On-The-Go" initiative will aid in our efforts to address the issue of unemployment by giving Bronx residents the tools that will better prepare them to join the workforce. Bronx residents will learn how to get free IT Certifications as well as certifications in personal training and security.  Bronx H.I.R.E.'s one-on-one personalized  guidance on securing jobs and interviews with bronx employers continues our effort of turning the South Bronx into the urban metropolis of the world," said Assemblyman Blake.

Bronx H.I.R.E. On-the-Go has traveled to Pelham Parkway, Riverdale, Soundview and Hunts Point.