Friday, February 26, 2016

13TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT CANDIDATES FORUM - SUNDAY



  13TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT CANDIDATES FORUM HOSTED BY BARACK OBAMA DEMOCRATIC CLUB OF UPPER MANHATTAN & PEOPLE'S THEATRE PROJECT

 On Sunday, February 28th, The Barack Obama Democratic Club of Upper Manhattan and the People's Theatre Project will co-host a congressional candidates forum for the 13th District of New York. This historic seat, occupied by U.S. Congressman Charles Rangel for over 4 decades, will be open for the first time in over half a century. The historic race for this seat now features nearly a dozen candidates all seeking to appeal to uptown and Bronx residents over the coming months before the June 28 primary. 

Each candidate will have the opportunity to connect with voters in a live forum on Sunday, February 28th at 3 PM at the Alianza Dominicana Cultural Center at 530 West 166th Street. 

What: 13th Congressional District Candidates Forum

Who: Barack Obama Democratic Club of Upper Manhattan & People's Theatre Project

Candidates:
Senator Adriano Espaillat
Assembly Member Keith Wright
Senator Bill Perkins
Assembly Member Guillermo Linares
Ambassador Suzan Johnson Cook
Former Assembly Member Adam Clayton Powell IV
Clyde Williams
Mike Gallagher

When: Sunday, February 28th, 3:00 PM

Where: Alianza Dominicana Cultural Center, 530 West 166th Street, Manhattan, NY

Thursday, February 25, 2016

BP DIAZ CRITICIZES NEW YORK YANKEES ON NEW TICKET POLICIES & ELITIST COMMENTS



  In comments to media last week, Mr. Trost COO of the New York Yankees indicated that New York Yankee fans that paid full price for a premium ticket likely could not bear to sit near another fan who bought their own ticket at a discount.

“The problem below market at a certain point is that if you buy a ticket in a very premium location and pay a substantial amount of money. It’s not that we don’t want that fan to sell it, but that fan is sitting there having paid a substantial amount of money for a ticket and [another] fan picks it up for a buck-and-a-half and sits there, and it’s frustrating to the purchaser of the full amount,” said Mr. Trost.

“And quite frankly,” Mr. Trost added, “the fan may be someone who has never sat in a premium location. So that’s a frustration to our existing fan base.”

“Yankee fans have always been the best in baseball. We root for our team harder than anyone, we live and die with every single loss. The idea that some of us would recoil in horror because the person sitting next to them paid less than face value for their seat is absurd, and represents the very definition of elitism,” said Borough President Diaz.

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. has issued a letter to Randy Levine, President of the New York Yankees, critical of the team’s new anti-fan policies on the resale of tickets. In addition, Borough President Diaz also chastised the organization for the elitist, out-of-touch comments made recently by team COO Lonn Trost, which implied that less affluent fans do not belong in more expensive seats as their mere presence might offend the more prosperous.

“I have been a Yankee fan my entire life. Without the everyday, working class fans who make up the vast majority of their fan base, the New York Yankees would not be the successful franchise they are today,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. “The Yankee organization should not be making it more difficult and more expensive for their fans, especially fans who might be visiting our great borough for the first time, to occasionally enjoy a ball game in The Bronx.”

Read the complete letter here: http://on.nyc.gov/1LaBcA0.


KZA to Represent Co-o City's Riverbay Corp.



  KZA Realty Inc. has been chosen by Riverbay Corporation to attract and retain commercial tenants at market rent prices.  Riverbay is the property management company that manages Co-op City and also manages the Bartow Shopping Center and a 10,000-square-foot Bingo Hall at 8021 Bartow Avenue in the Bronx.

Riverbay's Board of Directors recently approved a 15 year lease extension of the Rite Aid Pharmacy for their 8,045 square foot space at the Bartow Shopping Center.   

Peter Merola, Riverbay’s Director of Finance, said Riverbay’s current management is focused on increasing commercial tenant rates because the properties command a higher value as retail development continues to increase in the surrounding areas.

KZA is currently studying tenants at the nearby Peartree Center and Bay Plaza to determine how to best recruit retailers that will fit in well with the surrounding businesses and add to the diversity of services offered in the area. 





Health and Wellness Fair! by Councilman Cohen and Assemblyman Dinowitz






State Senator Gustavo Rivera and Assemblyman Victor Pichardo Endorse Adriano Espaillat for Congress



   State Senator Gustavo Rivera and Assemblyman Victor Pichardo, endorsed Adriano Espaillat for Congress today near the iconic Kingsbridge Armory in the Bronx. These endorsements are some of the first by Bronx elected officials. During the event, Adriano Espaillat pledged to bring a new focus to the Borough and committed to opening up a Bronx office on day one.

“I am proud to have the support of two lawmakers I work closely with in Albany to fight for tenants, improve healthcare and combat income inequality. We all believe strongly that lifting up working New Yorkers must be a priority and a new focus must be brought to the Bronx. When I am elected to Congress, I will open up an office in the Bronx on day one,” said Adriano Espaillat. “I look forward to continuing to work with Senator Rivera and Assemblyman Pichardo to make the Bronx a better place to live, work and raise a family.”

"When it comes to fighting for tenant’s rights no one has a stronger track record than Adriano Espaillat," said Senator Gustavo Rivera. "In Albany, he has shown tremendous leadership and we need his kind of energy in Washington so tenants have a strong voice who will fight to stop displacement and bring more affordable housing to our communities."

“Adriano Espaillat worked tirelessly to ensure that 2.5 million tenants could remain in their homes by leading the effort in the Senate to extend and expand rent laws,” said Assemblyman Victor Pichardo. “I was proud to join him in that fight and I am proud to endorse him for Congress. Adriano understands the issues that impact hardworking families, and I know he will fight to make a difference in the lives of my neighbors and help Bronx residents."


Above - With rain falling outside, State Senator Adriano Espaillat is joined by State Senator Gustavo Rivera and assemblyman Victor Pichardo as both electeds endorse Espaillat in his third bid fir the congressional seat of now retiring Congressman Charlie Rangel.
Below - The trio went outside with the Kingsbridge Armory as a backdrop to let the people passing by know of the endorsement of State Senator Espaillat for Congress. 







Cuomo's 'Fight for Fifteen' Stops in the Bronx.



   On Tuesday Governor Andrew Cuomo's statewide tour started in Manhattan, and the second stop was the Madison Boys and Girls Club in the Bronx. Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. was the host for the event, and the photos below will tell the rest of the story.


Above - Governor Andrew Cuomo departs from his bus at the second stop of his statewide tour to get the Fifteen Dollar Minimum Wage the Madison Boys and Girs club on East 189th Street in the Bronx.
Below Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj brough Miss New York State with him, as Bronx democratic County Leader Assemblyman Marcos Crespo gets charged up before his big election win later in the night. State Senator Gustavo Rivera is preparing for his big endorsement in the 15th Congressional District a few hours later in the day. Yes that is the new Community Board #7 District Manager Andrew Sandler one row behind Miss New York State.




Above - Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. opened the event, with several words about how the Bronx has grown.
Below - Governor Andrew Cuomo had only words of praise for BP Diaz Jr. as he went into why he was for a fifteen dollar minimum wage.





  The front row was filled with elected officials such as New York State Attorney General Eric Schniderman, City Comptroller Scott Stringer, Congressman Charlie Rangel, and heads of the many unions.







Bronx Democratic County Organization Wins 17th City Council Special Election



  It was a joyous victory celebration as the Bronx Democratic County Organization came in with under 40 percent of the vote to win Tuesday's Special Election in the 17th City Council District. However the vote would show that over 60 percent of those who came out in the cold rainy day rejected the Bronx Democratic County organization. 

  Under 3,300 people voted, and the Bronx Democratic County garnered less than 1300 of them, leaving over 2,000 votes going to non Bronx Democratic County candidates. Then there will be the final cost per vote, and which candidate got the most 'Bang for their Buck'.  Also one has to wonder just how much was not reported. King Stanley Schlein does not come cheap. It seems that the old charge was $5,000.00 to challenge a candidate by King Stanley. Since 10 challengers were challenged just who paid the $50,000.00 fee to King Stanley. He may be a nice guy, but he does not work for free, and even then there would be the fair market value of his service charged to the campaign. With all the favors that were called in that could be many, all the money that was spent, and Red Horses (the consultant) that were mounted, not even 40 percent. All it means is that the Bronx Democratic County organization is slipping. In the past there would have been a two to one victory not a one to two victory. 
  
  As for our prediction, one loves to say the Yankees will go all the way every year, but I like to find the longshot that will win the race. You can't win them all, and congrats anyway to whomever the new councilman really is. I would bet it will be one of State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr.'s people even though the name on the ballot said Rafael Salamanca. 


Monday, February 22, 2016

Bronx CB #2 Answer About My FOIL Letter Dated Jan. 19, 2016.



  First I will repeat what happened on January 19th when I went into look at some papers that should have been in the Bronx Community Board #2 office. 

 To Dr. Ian S. Amritt Chair of Bronx Community Board # 2, January 19. 2016.

Having been unable to view the following requested documents that are or should be in the possession of the Community Board # 2 office I file the this Freedom of Information Letter requesting to view (and/or have copies made available at the New York City standard price).
These documents are required by the Open Meetings Law to be available to any member of the public to view.

  1. Minutes of the full board meetings dating back January 2011.
  2. Minutes of the Executive Board meetings dating back to January 2011.
  3. Minutes of the District Service Cabinet meetings dating back to January 2011.
  4. Time sheets for Community Board staff dating from July 1, 2015 to January 15, 2016.
  5. Any communication from the district manager Rafael Salamanca as to when he decided to run for elected office in 2015 or 2016.
  6. Any discretionary funding spent by Bronx Community Board # 2 dating back to January 2011.
I hope this can be cleared up before the Special election your current District Manager Mr. Salamanca is involved in, as there are several questions that have come to light on response to his candidacy for public office and his being a Community Board District Manager.

Thank You,
Robert Press
You can reach me at my e-mail 100percentbronxnews@gmail.com.
Dated January 19, 2016.

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The response I received from Dr, Amritt Chair of BXCB 2 was the following - 

January 25, 2016
I am writing as the Chairman of Bronx Community Board #2, with respect to the New York State FOI Law (Public Officers Law, Article 6, S.84 et. seq., referred to herein as the “FOIL”), Community Board #2 has received your FOIL request.  

As per the FOIL, we will contact you within the next 20 business days to let you know which documents we are in possession of that are responsive to your request, how to access those documents and whether access has been denied to any documents. 

Sincerely,


Dr, Ian Amritt
Chairman

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I have just received the following from Dr. Amritt Chair of BXCB # 2 -

Dear Mr. Press

We have prepared a production in response to your FOIL request dated January 19, 2016  It is ready to be picked up at the Bronx Community Board #2 office. This package contains a total of 390 pages; consistent with FOIL procedures, a charge of 25 cents per page has been assessed. Please advise me of the time and date when you will be picking up these materials.  Lastly, please provide a money order in the amount of $97.50, made payable to NYC Department of Finance.

The Community Board #2 office is not in possession of the time sheets for the individuals referenced in the request.

Yours truly

Dr. Ian S Amritt
Chair

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My response to Dr. Amritt is the following,

  At 10 meetings a year the full board meetings, executive board meetings, and District Service cabinet meetings would amount to 30 meetings a year. Since I have requested to see those minutes back to 2011 that would make 150 meetings not counting any public hearings the board is scheduled to have such as the MIH and ZQA public hearings conducted at the end of 2015. There are also Budget Priority Public Hearings for the 5 years, so I can not believe that this amounts to only 390 pages. By the way I have asked first to view what should have been in the board office. Lastly I would like to know exactly what minutes are on file, and which minutes are not in the possession of CB #2 at this time. 
  I also asked to view the time sheets which a copy should be kept in the board office, and would show the time your District Manager worked on what days, which you say the board does not have possession of. How then is the public to know if the District Manager Mr. Salamanca was working at all then? 
  You do not answer when your District Manager Mr. Salamanca told BXCB #2 when he had decided to run for public office, or it seems that BXCB #2 has no record of any city monies that it may have spent. Were receipts not kept with an explanation?
  I find this very disturbing and have already been in contact with the Mayors office, and will have to contact the Manhattan District Attorney's office since the Bronx DA may have a conflict of interest in the matter. 
Robert Press. 

Editors Note:
I would now suggest to candidate Rafael Salamanca that he withdraw from the 17th City Council Special Election.