Tuesday, August 30, 2016
Task Force on Access to the Jerome Park Reservoir Meeting Tuesday September 6
Task Force on Access to the Jerome Park Reservoir
A Subcommittee Of The
Croton Facility Monitoring Committee
Tuesday, September 6, 2016 – 5:30 PM
St. Patrick’s Home for the Aged – St. Joseph’s Hall – 2 nd Floor
66 Van Cortlandt Avenue, Bronx NY 10463
I Welcome, Meeting Call to Order
by CFMC Chair Dan Padernacht
II Nominations and Election of Subcommittee Chair
III Consider, Adopt Agenda
IV Discussion of DEP Proposal for Jerome Park Reservoir Access
Weekend in October 2016
V Old Business
VI New Business
CITY REPORT REVEALS MAJOR INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF TENANTS IN HOUSING COURT WHO HAVE LEGAL REPRESENTATION
Three years ago just 1 in 100 tenants in housing court had representation. Today, more than 1 in 4 have representation
Office of Civil Justice report shows number of tenants in eviction proceedings with legal representation in court has increased to 27 percent from 1 percent in 2013
City funding for free or low-cost legal assistance will exceed $100 million in Fiscal Year 2017
Mayor Bill de Blasio today released the findings of the Office of Civil Justice’s first annual report, which show that 27 percent of tenants in Housing Court for eviction proceedings have legal representation – up from 1 percent in 2013. As a result of annual investments totaling over $100 million in civil legal services of all types under Mayor de Blasio, evictions have fallen 24 percent in the last two years according to the report.
The report details the various legal needs common among low-income New Yorkers, and the effect of providing free and low-cost legal services to meet those needs, with a special focus on legal services for tenants facing evictions, harassment and other housing-related problems.
“As we face one of the most serious affordable housing crises in our city’s history, we have made an unprecedented commitment to provide legal assistance for low-income New Yorkers, and we are beginning to see the results of these efforts,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “The Office of Civil Justice’s first annual report documents the progress we have made in providing New Yorkers in need with access to quality legal representation, particularly to prevent evictions and harassment by unscrupulous landlords.”
“The New York City Council is committed to ensuring better access to justice in civil legal matters for our residents,” said Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito. “Our creation of the Office of Civil Justice was an important first step and this initial report is a promising indication that the work we’re doing is making a difference for our most vulnerable citizens. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with the Office and the administration as we plan for even more robust access to justice for low-income New Yorkers, and we remain committed to continuing to bring equity and justice to New Yorkers in every borough. I would like to thank Council Members Mark Levine and Vanessa Gibson for their leadership on this issue.”
“Under Mayor de Blasio’s administration, New York City has become a national leader in the provision of legal services for low-income families and individuals,” said Department of Social Services Commissioner Steven Banks. “Based at the Human Resources Administration, the Office of Civil Justice offers critical assistance that can truly make a difference in the lives of tens of thousands of New Yorkers in need who otherwise would not be able to afford legal representation. This report provides a clear picture of who those New Yorkers are and what we need to do to support them.”
For Fiscal Year 2017, City funding for legal services addressing the needs of low-income New Yorkers will total $110 million; including $82 million from mayoral initiatives, and nearly $28 million from City Council discretionary funds. Through the Human Resource Administration’s (HRA) Tenant Support Unit (TSU), mayoral funding for legal services for tenants facing eviction or harassment has increased to approximately $62 million, 10 times the investment made by the previous administration. The TSU proactively engages with New Yorkers through door-to-door outreach, connecting them with vital services and case managing their issues to resolution.
During FY17, this additional investment is expected to provide housing-related legal services to 33,000 low-income households, including a total of 113,000 New Yorkers. As these expanded tenant legal services – including anti-eviction and anti-harassment legal programs funded through HRA – are being fully-implemented, the increase in funding over the last two years is already yielding positive results. In 2015, there were 21,988 marshals’ evictions, compared to 26,857 in 2014 and 28,849 in 2013 – a significant two-year decline of 24 percent.
Other key findings of the report are:
- More than half of the legal representation for tenants who appear in Housing Court for eviction cases is provided by non-profit legal services organizations serving low income New Yorkers.
- The average anti-eviction legal service client is 43 years old and resides in a household of three.
- 99 percent of landlords in eviction proceedings in court have legal representation.
See a copy of the report here.
“New York City has made an investment in civil legal services larger than any other municipality, and this first Annual Report is the Administration’s latest step towards ensuring that low-income New Yorkers have access to a fair and equitable civil justice system” said Jordan Dressler, Civil Justice Coordinator. “The findings in this Report will establish a solid foundation for discussions about the future of civil legal assistance for low-income people in New York City.”
Pursuant to legislation sponsored by Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and Council Member Mark Levine, the Office of Civil Justice (OCJ) was formally created in June 2015 when Mayor de Blasio signed Local Law 61 into law and placed the office under HRA, the agency in charge of addressing poverty, income inequality and reducing homelessness. Its main focus is to provide coordination, planning, and oversight of city resources and programs to meet the civil legal needs of low-income New Yorkers.
OCJ is required to prepare an annual report and to develop a five-year plan based on the information provided in these reports. In addition, it makes budget recommendations on funding, and provides outreach and education about the legal services programs.
As part of its effort to consolidate and enhance civil legal services in New York City, the Administration has also increased mayoral funding in the Fiscal Year 2017 adopted budget for legal assistance for low-income immigrant New Yorkers, including: $7.9 million for legal services and community outreach as part of the ActionNYC program; and $8.5 million in funding for the Immigrant Opportunity Initiative legal services programs.
“Given the lack of affordable, quality housing opportunities in the city, many bad-acting landlords continue to take advantage of our City’s most vulnerable residents. This is why, as Chair of the Committee on Housing and Buildings, we’ve held numerous hearings and passed a number of bills aimed at helping keep people in their homes, and preventing illegal, unlawful activities aimed at pressuring them out. I’m pleased that the administration, and the council, is continuing its efforts to protect those who need it most,” said Council Member Jumaane D. Williams, Chair of the Housing and Buildings Committee.
"Without representation, tenants facing eviction find themselves on an uneven playing field that far too often leaves them without a place to live," said State Senator Adriano Espaillat. "This report shows that we are starting to move in the right direction, providing more tenants with the legal aid they need to keep their homes. I commend Mayor de Blasio for his commitment to evening the playing field for our city's tenants in housing court."
Council Member Andrew Cohen - Participatory Budgeting
The first Participatory Budget Neighborhood Assembly will be Thursday, September 8th, 2016 at 7 p.m. at the Bedford Park Senior Center, located on 243 E 204th St, Bronx, NY 10458.
As a friendly reminder, we need volunteers to help facilitate the voting process, and we need District Committee members to help organize and formulate the ideas and working groups. If you would like to take part in either, please email me Joshua Stephenson jstephenson@council.nyc.gov or Aoliveras@council.nyc.gov
Do you have an idea for Participatory Budgeting but can’t make it to any of the neighborhood assemblies? Visit our PB Idea Map at: http://ideas.pbnyc.org/page/
Participatory Budgeting is a process where community members get together and vote on how to spend $1,000,000 of Council Member Andrew Cohen’s capital funds. In order to do this, we need everybody’s help. Thank you for your support. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us.
Joshua Stephenson, Constituent Services
Council Member Andrew Cohen
277 West 231st Street Bronx, NY 10463
P: 718-549-7300
Please Save the Date: Nov. 19, 2016 - College Access Fair and Workshops At Fordham University
Please see the information below regarding a College Access Fair and Workshop provided by Fordham University taking place on Saturday, November 19th from11:00am-3:30 pm. Thank you.
Andrew Sandler District Manager
Bronx Community Board 7
229-A East 204th Street Bronx, NY 10458
P: 718-933-5650/51 F: 718-933-1829
Email: ansandler@cb.nyc.gov Web: www.bronxcb7.info
Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities (cIcu), is pleased to announce the date for the 9th annual College Fair and Workshops!
College Access Fair for African-American/Black and Latino/Hispanic Students and their Families
Date: Saturday, November 19, 2016
Location: Fordham University Rose Hill Campus All students and families are welcome!
In collaboration with Fordham University and with funding from Bloomberg Philanthropies, the College Access Fair on Saturday, November 19, 2016, builds on our eight successful years of organizing a Latino College Fair.
This November’s program for students who have been historically underrepresented in higher education will include a college fair with representatives from our private, not-for-profit colleges and universities as well as several great workshops focused on planning and paying for college.
A PREVIEW OF THE November 19, 2016 EVENT SCHEDULE (preliminary):
• 11:00 - 12:20pm: Pre-Fair One2One Session for African-American/Black Male Youth – Small group Q&A about college choices, campus life, and careers with black college alumni, professionals and current students. Please NOTE: As
there is limited seating for this session, a separate registration will be required for this Pre-Fair session.
The registration link for the One2One Workshop will be available in September.) • 12:30 – 2:40pm: College Access
Fair with 50+ private (not-for-profit) colleges and universities represented and “Ask the Financial Aid Experts” tables (both English and Spanish speakers) • 1:10 – 3:30pm: Concurrent Workshop Sessions (Preliminary list; final list will be released in September.) • FAFSA Completion (receive hands-on help completing online FAFSA form – separate registration required) 1:10 - 3:30pm • How to Pay for College (in English) 1:10 - 1:50pm • Cómo pagar la universidad (en español) 1:10 - 1:50pm • Prep for College Success 2:00 - 2:40pm • Preparing Parents for the College Process 2:00 - 2:40pm •
College Admission: Understanding What Colleges Look for & What You Should Look for in a College 2:50 - 3:30pm • Undocumented Students and the College Process 2:50 - 3:30pm
More information, including event registration is available at:
http://bit.ly/2016CAF. The page will be regularly updated throughout the fall as colleges confirm participation and the event schedule and workshop offerings are finalized. Please check back often. We will send out flyers and posters early in the upcoming school year for display and distribution.
If you have questions and/or would like to order a quantity of flyers to post or distribute, please call Rebecca Barger at 518-436-4781 or email rebecca@cicu.org. We look forward to seeing you and your students at Fordham University on November 19!
cicu Outreach Programs
Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities (cIcu)
17 Elk Street, Suite 1
Albany, NY 12207
Fax: 518-433-8825
Monday, August 29, 2016
“YGz” Gang Member Pleads Guilty To Attempted Murders In Connection With Racketeering Conspiracy
Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that MICHAEL BROWN, a/k/a “Mighty,” pled guilty late last Friday to engaging in a racketeering conspiracy that involved his participation in two attempted murders in connection with his membership in a racketeering enterprise known as the “Young Gunnaz” (“YGz”), a violent street gang that operated in and around several housing developments in the South Bronx. As part of his guilty plea, BROWN admitted to participating in: (a) an attempted murder of a member of the rival “Murda Moore Gangstas” gang (“MMG”) in which a lower-ranking YGz member shot and seriously injured a rival MMG member at the direction of BROWN, and (b) an attempted murder of members of the rival Lyman Place gang (“LPG”) in which BROWN fired gunshots that struck and injured at least two bystanders. BROWN faces a maximum term of 20 years in prison, and will be sentenced before United States District Judge Valerie E. Caproni on November 28, 2016.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said: “The YGz gang turned the Bronx neighborhoods in which it operated into a war zone – terrorizing residents and innocent bystanders with violence stemming from its feuds with rivals, and flooding the streets with drugs. Michael Brown’s guilty plea shows that law enforcement won’t give up until the perpetrators of gang violence are brought to justice.”
According to the controlling Indictment and other documents filed in the case, as well as statements made during the plea proceedings:
BROWN was a member of the Bronx-based street gang known as the YGz, a leading member of a set of the YGz based in the Mitchell Houses in the Bronx, and committed acts of violence with other gang members to further the interests of the gang. From at least 2005 to June 2016, members and associates of the YGz enriched themselves by selling drugs, such as “crack” cocaine, heroin, and marijuana, and committed acts of violence, including murder and attempted murder, against various people, including rival gang members, rival drug traffickers, and innocent bystanders. As part of this enterprise, members and associates of the YGz killed and attempted to kill other individuals.
As part of his involvement in the YGz gang, BROWN participated in at least two attempted murders of members of rival gangs. First, in or about 2008, BROWN himself fired gunshots at and attempted to murder rival LPG gang members and ended up hitting and injuring two bystanders in the vicinity of Lyman Place in the Bronx. Second, on or about November 15, 2011, at the direction of BROWN, a lower-ranking member of the Millbrook set of the YGz shot and seriously injured a rival MMG gang member near the Moore Houses in the Bronx in an attempt to kill the victim of this shooting.
Mr. Bharara praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the New York City Police Department. He also thanked the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office for their support in this case.
Calling on the Administration for Children’s Services to Investigate Anthony Weiner’s and Huma Abedin’s Household
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
By Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz
Calling on the Administration for Children’s Services to Investigate Anthony Weiner’s and Huma Abedin’s Household
You should know that the Monday, August 29, 2016 cover of the New York Post shows a photo of former New York Congressman Anthony Weiner in his bed alongside his toddler, while doing things that no child should see on camera in Anthony Weiner’s sexual exchange with a woman.
The photo and story worry me as a Senator, a Minister, a parent, and a grandfather, because I believe that the disregard for any boundaries of sexual activity with a child present is incredibly inappropriate, and could have a harmful impact on the child.
I urge the City of New York’s Administration for Children’s Services to investigate this case carefully and thoroughly.
I am always worried when I hear about possible cases of child abuse, and I have no doubt in my mind that the City of New York’s Administration for Children’s Services should at the very least investigate the household of Anthony Weiner and Huma Abedin and their child.
I am sure that the Administration for Children’s Services will consider how Anthony Weiner’s continued perverted activity that we have all seen over the years in his texting or Twittering is a harbinger of possible future child abuse or neglect, especially when he does this with his child next to him in his bed.
Ladies and gentlemen, I am pretty sure that if this kind of information was shared with the public and if the adult in the photo with a toddler was Black or Hispanic, the City of New York’s Administration for Children’s Services would have been knocking on the door to investigate possible child abuse to remove the child.
This is a very sad situation, and my prayer is that both parents in the story acknowledge the harmful effect of this continue activity on their young child, and they will address it with professional help before their child is further victimized by it.
I also pray that the Administration for Children’s Services will do their job.
This is Senator Reverend Rubén Díaz, and this is what you should know.
EDITOR'S NOTE:
Let us not only blame Anthony Weiner for this continued perverted activity, as Senator Diaz Sr. says. Where was the child's mother Huma Abedin?
Who is the city going to leave the child with?
Someone who Senator Diaz Sr. mentions is a person of continued perverted activity, or the woman who married such a person, and then left the child with him.
One would have to hope that the Administration for Children’s Services looks at other men who have been around the child's mother who have developed similar actions.
No Senator Diaz. Let us pray only for the child. That is what you should be saying. Ask the mother why she left her child with such a person, and not be critical of a city agency when you have announced that you are running for city council next year along possibly with your son who might be running for mayor.
That is what the people should know.