PRESIDENT Signs ENGEL Bill to Stop ISIS from Looting Antiquities

New Law Cracks Down on Funding Source for ISIS While Protecting Syria’s Cultural Heritage

    Representative Eliot L. Engel, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, today welcomed the President’s signature into law of Rep. Engel’s legislation to crack down on the sale of artifacts looted by ISIS from cultural sites in Syria.  The Protect and Preserve International Cultural Property Act would contribute to the comprehensive policy of degrading and destroying ISIS without risking American lives or costing American taxpayers.

The new law imposes tough new import restrictions on antiquities that are trafficked out of Syria, bringing U.S. policy in line with a UN Security Council Resolution that called on governments to deny funding to ISIS by preventing trade in Iraqi and Syrian cultural property.

“As part of America’s effort to degrade and destroy ISIS, we need to do all we can to cut off resources for this terrorist group.  Today, we’re putting a new tool to use.  My legislation will crack down on the trafficking of looted Syrian artifacts, which has put millions of dollars in the hands of ISIS extremists,” said Rep. Engel.  “This legislation has earned support from lawmakers of both parties and in both Houses, as well as numerous cultural heritage preservation groups.  I want to thank the President for signaling his support as well, and for signing this bill into law.”

On June 1, 2015, Representative Engel’s legislation unanimously passed the House.  The Senate approved a slightly modified version of the legislation on April 13, which the House passed by voice vote on April 26.

The law imposes new import restrictions on cultural artifacts removed from Syria. Similar restrictions were enacted in 2004 with respect to Iraqi antiquities.  The law provides exceptions to allow artifacts to enter the United States for temporary protection and restoration.  Restrictions will remain in effect until the crisis in Syria is resolved and America is able to work with a future Syrian government to protect cultural property from trafficking under a bilateral agreement, in accordance with America’s national interests.

Additionally, the law expresses support for a new interagency coordinating body to enhance cooperation among the government agencies, including the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security, already working on cultural preservation issues.  It also takes steps to enhance Congressional oversight of this issue.

Representative Engel introduced the Protect and Preserve International Cultural Property Act along with Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs; Rep. William R. Keating (D-MA), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade; and Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ), Chair of the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations.

Cultural Events at JASA Van Cortlandt Senior Center in late May and early June

I.     Celebrate May/June Birthdays on Wed. May 25^th, 2016 with the Meetles, a classic rock tribute band, at JASA Van Cortlandt Senior Center at 1:00 PM. They will perform music of the 60’s and 70’s by the Beetles, Simon & Garfunkel and more. The Meetles have been playing in the New York City subway systems under the MUNY: Music Under New York-MTA Arts for Transit program. Comprised of musicians who've spent years mastering the music of The Beatles and Classic Rock songs from the 1960s and 1970s, and performing in various bands over the years, the MEETLES feature Eric on drums, Naomi on bass and vocal, Rob on rhythm guitar, keys and vocal, Maggie on rhythm guitar and vocal, Eric on rhythm/lead guitar & vocal and Barry on rhythm/lead guitar and harmonica. 

Lunch served at 12:15 PM: Beef & vegetable stew or turkey salad, yellow rice, zucchini w/onions, orange and dessert.

Recommended Senior Meal Contribution: $2.25 and Senior Event Donation: $1.00      Non-senior Meal Fee: $5.00 and Event Fee: $2.00

Contact JASA Van Cortlandt Senior Center office at 718-549-4700 for advancemeal reservations.

II.   Iyov and Shlomit Jindo will present about the Makuya, a Japanese Zionist Christian group, on Friday, May 27^th at 1:00 PM in belated celebration of Yom Ha’Atzmaut, Israel Independence Day. Iyov is a Bible scholar whose grandfather Prof. Abraham Ikuro Teshima founded the Makuya movement in 1948. He established excellent relations with many Israeli leaders which led to the building of the Makuya Center in Jerusalem in 1988. Shlomit will sing classic Israeli songs followed by a brief lecture and film presentation.  Lunch served at 12:15 PM:Spanish style roast chicken or gefilte fish loaf, brown rice w/beans, broccoli soufflé, pear and refreshments. Recommended Senior Meal Contribution: $2.25 and Senior Event Donation: $1.00 Non-senior Meal Fee: $5.00 and Event Fee: $2.00

Contact JASA Van Cortlandt Senior Center office at 718-549-4700 for advance meal reservations by Wed. May 25th.                        

III.  “A Time to Dance,” a sparkling one-woman show written and performed by Libby Skala on Sunday, June 5^th at JASA Van Cortlandt Senior Center at 2:15 PM. Libby Skala interweaves storytelling, music and dance to portray the dazzling 100 years of her great aunt Elizabeth "Lisl" Polk who transcends poverty, artistic repression and the rise of Hitler through the love of dance to become a renowned dance therapy pioneer. Arriving in 1902 Vienna, Lisl survives a premature birth, two world wars, immigration to New York, 9/11, and dances the Macarena on her hundredth birthday. She survives by never allowing severe disappointments to cloud the vibrancy and beauty of life. “Funny.  Captivating.  Charming.” –

The New York Times

Lunch Menu: salmon w/dill sauce or chicken breast, fusili pasta w/parsley, zucchini Provencal, French bread, fruit. Lunch served at 1:15 PM. Refreshments will be served.   Recommended senior meal contribution: $2.50 & event donation: $2.00   Non-Senior meal fee: $5.00, event fee: $3.00    Call the senior center office at 718-549-4700 by Wed. 6/1 for advance meal reservations.                                                                                                  

All meals at JASA Van Cortlandt Senior Center are catered by Mauzone(kosher) Meal Service. We offer a daily alternate choice of main dish. Call the senior center office to request the alternative meal option from 9:30 – 10:30 AM. Refreshments are served at all special events.

New York City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce - Effective Business Communication and Advertising Seminar

Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman - Spearheading Reforms in the Ticket Industry, and more

Spearheading Reforms in the Ticket Industry

As part of an ongoing investigation into ticket reselling, the Attorney General sent letters to StubHub, Ticketmaster, Vivid Seats, and TicketNetwork urging them to adopt more consumer friendly practices. He called on the companies to do more to curb the use of illegal "bots" and take steps to discourage speculative ticket sales, as well as other measures. Read the CNN Money article here. 

Art Collectors Failing to Pay Taxes

The Attorney General reached a settlement with NYC art collector Aby Rosen for failing to pay sales and use taxes on $80 million worth of artwork he bought or commissioned since 2002. Rosen will pay $7 million following the Attorney General’s investigation into the use of resale certificates. Read the NYT story on it here.

His office also reached an agreement with art sales executive Victoria Gelfand for failing to pay New York sales and use tax on more than 30 works of art purchased by her companies. Her companies will pay $210,000 in both sales and use tax to New York State. 

Recovering Funds for New York

A joint settlement was announced with the  federal government and a coalition of states and the Olympus Corporation of America for paying illegal kickbacks to healthcare providers. Olympus will pay $306 million, with the New York Medicaid Program receiving over $7.7 million in damages. Read the Times Union piece here. 

Tracking Data Breaches Across New York

The Attorney General’s office reported an over 40% increase in data breach notifications involving New Yorkers this year in comparison to 2015. His office has now provided companies with the ability to file notice electronically via this web submission form to meet the increased volume and provide efficiency in reporting. Read the Crain’s New York Business article here. 

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. You can also call our General Hotline: 800-771-7755. 

Bronx Democratic County Committee - Upcoming Events

Dear Bronx Democrat, Below is a list of upcoming events. Attached you will find flyers for each event.

Chippewa Democratic Club's 118th Annual Dinner Dance When: Thurs. 5/5/16 from 6:30 - 10:30p Where: Villa Barone Manor - 737 Throggs Neck Expressway) You are cordially invited to attend the Chippewa Democratic Club's 118th Annual Dinner Dance. For additional information, please contact(347) 878-2026. Click to Enlarge

FDNY Open House When: Sat. 5/14/16 from 11a - 1p and 1 - 3p Where: Visit link below to find local participating firehouse or EMS station Visit your neighborhood firehouse or EMS station. Meet the firefighters, paramedics, and EMTs who help keep your community safe every day! Find your local Firehouse or EMS Station Open House at nyc.gov/fdny. Click to Enlarge

Reception in Support of Letitia "Tish" James When: Wed. 5/18/16 from 6:30 - 8:30p Where: Sam's Soul Food Restaurant Bar & Lounge - 598 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY Please join the 79th Assembly District Leader Cynthia Cox and Wilbert "Tee" Lawton as they host a reception in support of Letitia "Tish" James for NYC Public Advocate. RSVP by email to honcc1districtleader79ad@gmail.com, by phone at (917) 450-5192, or online at tiny.cc/ljsams. Click to Enlarge

Benjamin Franklin Reform Democratic Club's 56th Annual Dinner When: Thurs. 5/19/16 from 6 - 9:30p Where: Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel of Riverdale - 475 West 250th Street on Henry Hudson Parkway East, Bronx, NY You are invited join the Benjamin Franklin Reform Democratic Club at their 56th annual dinner. For additional information, contact (718) 796-6177. Click to Enlarge

Spring 2016 Community Tennis Programs at Crotona Park When:  Mon. through Fri. from 3 - 6p Where:    Crotona Park - 1700 Crotona Blvd., Bronx, NY The New York Junior Tennis & Learning program, funded by New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, Council Member Vanessa Gibson, and Council Member Rafael Salamanca, Jr., provides free community tennis lessons for children ages 5 to 18.  For more information and a complete list of NYJTL Community Tennis Programs emailtc@nyjtl.org, visit www.nyjtl.org, or call (347) 417-8125/8153. Click to Enlarge

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

HRWG, BCEQ, NYSDEC Power Plan 4:30-8pm on Wed 5/11

REMINDER

TIME:             Wednesday May 11, 2016 from 4:30 pm to 8 pm

 

TOPICS:          Future Plans for Harlem River Working Group

BCEQ Board Meeting

Conversation NYS Clean Power Plan 

PLACE: Bronx Museum of the Arts

1040 Grand Concourse at 165th Street. Bronx NY in the Conference Room

Directions:  http://www.bronxmuseum.org/visit

4:30 pm  - The Harlem River Working Group will discuss updates 

on the Harlem River and plans for the year. 

6 pm - BCEQ will hold a brief Board meeting to discuss Educational and Environmental Awards. 

6:15 pm - A conversation with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation on the State's Clean Power Plan

  

These meetings are open to the public, but a reservation is necessary.  

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/meetings-harlem-river-working-group-bceq-nysdec-clean-power-plan-registration-24946108482

Harlem River Working Group (HRWG)

The HRWG will be meeting to discuss our successes, updates, and future plans.  

• Fall Festivals (Roberto Clemente and VCP) and Wilderness Inquiry Canoemobile
• Workshops on the Harlem River Long Term Control Plan
• What's next along the Harlem River Greenway
• Tibbetts Brook Daylighting
• BCEQ's Step 2 of the Harlem River Brownfield Opportunity Area Program
• City of Water Day Activities

A Conversation on the State's Clean Power Plan

The Clean Power Plan is a new rule set by President Obama and the U.S. EnvironmentalProtection Agency (EPA) to cut carbon pollution from large power plants – the biggest source of carbon pollution in the United States. The Clean Power Plan will reduce the pollution causing climate change and its impacts on New York. 

The New York Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) needs to develop a state plan to meet the goal that EPA has set for New York and would like your input. New York is better situated than most states to comply with the Clean Power Plan because it has reduced emissions substantially over the past decade.  Governor Cuomo’s clean energy programs will reduce these emissions even more. 

New York is working to develop strategies to provide broad benefits to communities - particularly low-income and communities of color – by reducing carbon pollution from power plants and doing so in a way that focuses on cleaner energy.  

They are looking to you to provide the vision for these strategies. 

NYS has the flexibility on how to meet the goals of the Clean Power Plan.  Help the state choose among various approaches, while also hearing about how the Clean Power Plan works with other air pollution and clean energy programs.

Link to the DEC website

Look for an invite to a discussion for the NY-NJ Harbor Estuary Program Workshops the second week in July before the City of Water Day.  We are planning to hold the Proposed 2-Hour Workshop at Manhattan College Lower Campus during the day.

 

We also plan a 30 minute brief presentation in the evening at another location.

SENATOR JEFF KLEIN HOSTS ANNUAL SPRING CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL AT ST. THERESA’S SCHOOL

   State Senator Jeff Klein hosted his annual spring children’s festival at St. Theresa’s School on Saturday, May 7 at 12:30 p.m.   Over 200 families enjoyed the festivities that featured face-painting, a bouncy house, arts and crafts, music, and lunch.

Above - State Senator Jeff Klein stands in front of the Bouncy House with only a few of the children who attended his spring festival at St. Theresa's School.

Below - Mike is getting his face painted as his mother looks on.

Above - Hot dogs and snacks were on the menu.

Below - Among all her many other duties Michelle Dolgow Cristofaro helped out at the cotton candy table.