Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Statement from Senator Adriano Espaillat on Ballot Count


   
  "I am very proud that over 43,000 voters from the 13th Congressional District voted to select the Democratic nominee for Congress in 2016. As an immigrant who was once undocumented in our country, I cannot express the pride I felt last night when the election results showed that we had received the most votes in the primary. 
 
As the only candidate in this race who has ran in the last three primaries, and who in the last two campaigns lost by as few as 1,000 votes, I have a real understanding of how crucial it is that every single voter's constitutional right be upheld and that every vote is counted.  And, I will not rest until every absentee and affidavit ballot is counted.  I am confident that when all the votes are counted I will be the Democratic nominee.
 
To my supporters I say:  we have traveled a long road to get here. Let's make sure that as we travel the short road ahead, we conduct ourselves with dignity and respect for the rights of all. 
 
I know - first-hand - how tough it is to come up short in a hard fought election. 
 
To those who voted for one of my worthy opponents - I pledge to work my heart out to represent you, knowing that our district is not a Latino or black or Asian district. It's a district that belongs to all of us, and we simply cannot succeed unless all of us are moving forward together."


Tuesday, June 28, 2016

A.G. Schneiderman Announces Partial Multistate And Federal Settlements Of Up To $15 Billion With Volkswagen, Audi And Porsche, Including Unprecedented Relief For Defrauded New Yorkers



   Partial Settlement Enables Over 21,500 New York Car Owners To Sell Their Cars Back To Companies At Pre-Scandal, Fair Market Value, Plus Receive A Cash Payment Of At Least $5,100 

Settlements Will Also Provide New York With Over $115 Million For Environmental Projects To Improve New York’s Air Quality; And Over $30 Million In Additional Monetary Recoveries To New York State
Schneiderman: These Settlements Are An Unprecedented Win For New York Consumers, But The Investigation Into The Full Scope Of All Three Companies’ Misconduct Will Continue And My Office Will Press For Substantial Environmental Penalties
    Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced New York State’s participation in an interrelated series of partial settlements with Volkswagen AG and its Audi and Porsche affiliates arising from Volkswagen’s violations of emissions standards and state consumer protection laws.
As part of the settlements, some of which are still subject to court approval, all owners of 2.0 liter, 4-cylinder engine VW and Audi diesel cars in New York will be entitled to be paid full, pre-scandal fair market value for their vehicle, in addition to a cash payment of at least $5,100. Under the deal, car owners may also choose to keep their vehicle and wait to see if VW and Audi develop acceptable emissions fixes; car owners who exercise this option will also receive a cash payment of at least $5,100.
The settlements will also direct to New York over $115 million for environmental projects to improve New York’s air quality, as well as over $30 million in additional monetary recoveries for the state’s general fund.
New York State will continue its investigation into the scope of Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche’s illegal conduct and their liability for environmental penalties.
“The evidence reviewed so far concerning Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche points to a culture of corporate arrogance and conscious disregard for the rule of law and the rights of consumers,”Attorney General Schneiderman said. “These partial settlements announced today exact a stiff price from Volkswagen for its deception of consumers and the environmental damage it has caused in New York and across the country.  But make no mistake:  we will continue to investigate and pursue Volkswagen for its violation of our environmental laws, and we will seek the imposition of additional penalties in amounts sufficient to ensure that Volkswagen and any other car manufacturer complies with the standards required of them.”
“These partial settlements are a positive step towards addressing Volkswagen’s deliberate so-called ‘clean diesel’ fraud of consumers, and state and federal regulators,” said Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos. “New York will continue to hold Volkswagen accountable for its violations of our state’s environmentally protective vehicle emissions regulations.”
Today’s sweeping agreements are unprecedented. The principal components of the settlements include:
  • Volkswagen is required to repurchase or modify all of the more than 487,000 2.0 liter engine diesel vehicles that Volkswagen and Audi falsely marketed in the United States as compliant with federal and state emissions standards, when in fact they emitted harmful NOx pollutants at rates many times higher than the law permitted. As part of the settlement, a VW and Audi 2.0 liter engine diesel car owner can sell the car back to VW at the pre-scandal fair market value, or wait to see if VW and Audi develop acceptable emissions fixes; whether cars are sold back to Volkswagen or fixed, the car owner will also receive a cash payment of at least $5,100 over and above the market value of the car. Under this agreement, which is subject to the approval of the federal court presiding over the class action litigation and the FTC and EPA’s lawsuits, Volkswagen is to set aside up to $10 billion to address car owner claims.  The current settlement does not address the relief to be received by owners of the 6-cylinder, 3.0 liter engine diesel SUVs and luxury sedans sold in the U.S. by VW, Audi and Porsche; the resolution of those claims awaits further engineering studies and negotiations with Volkswagen.
  • Volkswagen will pay about $1,100 per car directly to the states for the companies’ repeated violations of the states’ and other jurisdictions’ laws prohibiting unfair and deceptive marketing and trade practices. This agreement, which Attorney General Schneiderman’s office secured together with the attorneys general of five other states on behalf of a coalition in which over 40 states participated, will generate over $500 million in nationwide payments by Volkswagen, including over $30 million in penalties going to the State of New York.
  • Volkswagen will fund of a $2.7 billion Mitigation Fund. This Fund, which also is subject to court approval, is to be used by all states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to address the harm caused to the environment by Volkswagen’s unlawful diesel vehicles.  States will be able to spend money from the Mitigation Fund to pay for diesel engine replacement and retrofit projects and other measures that will reduce NOx and other harmful emissions from numerous different sources.  Approximately $117 million of these monies will be administered by New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation for air quality improvement programs in New York.
  • Volkswagen’s commitment to invest $2 billion in the United States over the next 10 years for the development of Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV, that is, electric) and supporting infrastructure.  $800 million of these monies are to be spent in California and the balance, or $1.2 billion, for ZEVs and ZEV infrastructure in the rest of the country.
  • Volkswagen also will pay $20 million to the states for their costs in investigating this matter and to establish a fund that state attorneys general can draw from in future consumer fraud investigations, including of possible violations by automobile manufacturers.
Significantly, this broad settlement does not waive or limit the ability of state and federal authorities to seek additional penalties from Volkswagen for its violations of environmental laws and regulations. 
The settlements are embodied in separate agreements, some of which are subject to court approval, among Volkswagen, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Justice (DOJ), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), car owners in private class action suits, and over 40 states who have joined together in a coalition headed by six state Attorneys General, in which Attorney General Schneiderman’s office played a leading role.
The New York Attorney General’s office is continuing its investigation and, working with the Department of Environmental Conservation and its partners in other states and the federal government, intends to hold Volkswagen and its affiliated companies to account for those violations and ensure that willful violations of New York’s environmental laws are appropriately punished.
This investigation is being handled by Senior Enforcement Counsel David Nachman; Assistant Attorney General Noah Popp of the Consumer Protection Bureau; Deputy Bureau Chief Lisa Burianek, Affirmative Litigation Section Chief Michael Myers and Assistant Attorneys General John Turrettini, and Brian Lusignan of the Environmental Protection Bureau; and Senior Trial Counsel David Ellenhorn, with the assistance of Laura Sarli of the Attorney General’s Investor Protection Bureau.  The Consumer Protection Bureau is led by Bureau Chief Jane Azia and the Environmental Protection Bureau is led by Bureau Chief Lemuel Srolovic. Manisha Sheth heads the Attorney General’s Division of Economic Justice and Alvin Bragg the Division of Social Justice.
For additional information on the settlement, please visit www.VWCourtSettlement.com.

Assemblymembers Dinowitz and Pichardo React to Rent Guidelines Board Decision


Assemblyman Dinowitz Statement on Citywide Rent Freeze

   “I am extraordinarily pleased that last night, the NYC Rent Guidelines Board voted to freeze rents on one year leases in rent-stabilized apartments, in addition to approving a 2% increase on two year leases. The board’s decision to continue the rent freeze it voted on last year is very welcome news to the 1.6 million New Yorkers who call rent-regulated apartments home. While I have personally advocated strongly on the necessity for a rent rollback after decades of costly increases, it’s about time New Yorkers got some relief. I applaud the board for hearing the concerns of the 1.6 million New Yorkers who can breathe a little easier this year.”

Assemblymember Pichardo commends RGB for much-needed rent freeze

          “I applaud the Rent Guidelines Board (RGB) for providing some relief to my neighbors by freezing rent for certain rent-stabilized apartments over the next year. All tenants deserve the chance to catch up to the rising costs of living, and this decision will give some of our most vulnerable renters a little room to breathe.
       “While freezing rent is a strong step in the right direction, more must be done to create a stable housing environment and help families prosper here in the Bronx. I’ll keep fighting to spur housing development and job creation so more New Yorkers can afford to stay in the communities they’ve worked so hard to build.”

Manhole Covers Fly - Fire in one Manhole on West 256th Street




   Monday evening this was the scene at Riverdale Avenue and West 256th Street. Fire engines were blocking access to West 256th Street and firemen were pouring water into one manhole which had been on fire after what neighbors said sounded like an explosion. further up West 256th Street another Manhole cover was off and resting near the open manhole as it also blew up, but there was no fire at this site. Firemen and Con Edison crews were seen to be checking other manhole covers for several blocks in the area. The exact reason for the explosion was not known, but one could smell an arid odor of sulfur near the manhole which was on fire. 


Above - Smoke can be seen coming from this open manhole on West 256th Street.
Below - Firemen send water into the manhole to put out the fire.




Above - At the corner of Netherland Avenue and West 256th Street a second manhole flew up into the air, but there was no fire at this site.
Below - Firemen and Con Edison workers check other manholes in the area for any damage. 






Join Mayor DeBlasio For Bronx Fundraiser Monday July 11th












































Monday, June 27, 2016

A.G. Schneiderman Announces Election Day Hotline To Ensure Access For Voters During The June Primary



Attorney General’s Hotline Troubleshoots A Range of Election Day Issues
  Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced that his office has created a Hotline to help troubleshoot and resolve a range of issues and barriers encountered by voters at the polls for the primary on Tuesday, June 28.  The Attorney General urges voters experiencing problems or issues at the polls to call the office’s hotline at 800-771-7755 or email civil.rights@ag.ny.gov at any time on Tuesday between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. The hotline will be staffed by attorneys and staff in the office's Civil Rights Bureau.  
“My office is deeply committed to ensuring that all eligible voters have the ability to cast an effective ballot on Election Day,” Attorney General Schneiderman said. “I urge all New Yorkers to immediately contact my office if they face any barriers at the polls. We will investigate and follow up on any complaints regarding any alleged improprieties at the voting booth.”
New Yorkers should be aware that not all counties in the state are hosting a contested primary. To determine if your polling place will be open, contact your county Board of Elections here.  
In New York City and the counties of Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Orange and Putnam where contested elections will occur, primary polls open at 6 AM and close at 9 PM.
In all other counties with contested elections, polls open at 12 noon and close at 9 PM.
The Attorney General’s Office has operated the Hotline since November 2012.  During previous efforts the office fielded hundreds of complaints from voters across the state and worked with local election officials and others to promptly address issues encountered by voters at the polls. The Election Day hotline is part of Attorney General Schneiderman's ongoing statewide initiative to ensure that voters do not encounter language barriers on Election Day. 
During the April 19th Presidential Primary, the Attorney General’s office received over 1,000 complaints about voter irregularities at the polls. In response, the office announced an investigation into alleged improprieties in primary voting by the New York City Board of Elections. On Thursday, June 23rd, the office sent a letter asking NYC BOE to implement the legally required affidavit ballot process and remind poll workers of the correct practices for the primary on Tuesday. A similar letter was sent to all other county Board of Elections where a contested primary is occurring on Tuesday.
In addition, the Attorney General's Office will focus on barriers impacting voters with disabilities, voter intimidation reports, and other issues faced by minority voters. Registered voters have the right to accessible elections.  This means that voters with disabilities or language access issues have the right to request assistance from any person of their choice.  In addition, all registered voters have the right to vote free from coercion or intimidation, whether by election officials or any other person.
The office will receive and respond to election-related complaints relating to any of the statutes that the office enforces.
New Yorkers should be aware that New York has a closed primary system. In order to vote in a party’s primary election, a voter must be affiliated with that party. The deadline to register was June 3.
The Attorney General’s Election Day Hotline is being led by Assistant Attorneys General Ajay Saini and Diane Lucas, and Volunteer Assistant Attorney General Joseph Abboud of the Civil Rights Bureau, led by Bureau Chief Lourdes Rosado.  The Social Justice Division is led by Executive Deputy Attorney General Alvin Bragg.

Bronx Council for Environmental Quality - Meetings on our Harbor Condition: July 12th and 13th



  

Dear Friend,

Happy Summer!


You are invited to join the Bronx Council for Environmental Quality and the New York - New Jersey Harbor Estuary Program Workshops on July 12 in the evening or July 13 during the day.  Please follow the links below to register or rsvp to either one.

What would you like to see in your waterfront area? What are you waterfront concerns? 
Describe how your neighborhood accesses your waterfront? What is your major concern? Explain your choice:  Water Quality, Habitat Restoration, Public Access, Sediment and Ports, or Public Education.  Please come and tell us what is important to you.

Below you can find information on each workshop.

Karen and Dart

Tuesday's Evening Meeting - At Owen Dolan Recreation Center  

The Bronx Council for Environmental Quality’s East Bronx Coastal Working Group and the New York City Parks Department invite the public to attend a workshop and conversation with NY-NJ Harbor Estuary Program, and invited speakers from the Long Island Sound Study, the NYC Parks Department Natural Areas Conservancy at the

Owen Dolen Recreation Center
1398 Lane Ave, Bronx, NY 10461 at 
E. Tremont and Westchester Avenues

Directions via Google Maps
Mass Transit: Exit IRT #6 at Westchester Sq/E. Tremont Exit
Bus: Exit Bx 31
Car: East Tremont at Lane and Westchester Avenues

Tuesday, July 12th @ 6:30pm-8:30pm
BCEQ’s East Bronx Costal Working Group meeting



Wednesday's Daytime Meeting - Manhattan College Kelly Student Commons

The Bronx Council for Environmental Quality and Manhattan College Department of Environmental Studies invite the public to attend a workshop and conversation about the Harlem and Hudson Rivers with the NY-NJ Harbor Estuary Program at the

Manhattan College Raymond Kelly Student Commons
4th floor rooms A & B
3830 Waldo Avenue, Bronx 10463 at Manhattan College Parkway & W 240th Street

Directions via Google Maps
Mass Transit: Exit IRT #1 at 238th Street
Bus: Exit Bx 9 at West 238th Street under #1 Train.
Car: 240th Street, Waldo Avenue and Manhattan College Parkway

Wednesday, July 13th @12:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Bronx Council for Environmental Quality meeting

Link to our website For registration and flyers

Our Next KRVC Festival