Bronx Chamber of Commerce Hispanic Heritage Luncheon

 The Bronx Chamber of Commerce held its Annual Hispanic Heritage Luncheon yesterday with a packed room for the six honorees, and a surprise for all who were in attendance. 

  First the six BCC honorees were Mr. Carmelo Alvarado VP Relationship Mgr. T D Bank, Police Officer Norkiss Andino of the 49th Precinct, Ms. Nydia Edgecome Alumni Relations Director for Hostos Community College, Mr. Joe Ithier, Consultant Red Apple Group, Ms. Dulce Maria Nunez Licensed Mortgage Loan Originator A.S.A.P. Mortgage Corp., and Principal Luis Eladio Torres Community School 55 School District 9. 

   Before the awards were handed out, BCC President Nunzio Del Greco told the audience that membership in the Bronx Chamber of Commerce was up twenty-five percent this year over last year. While Assembly members Mark Gjonaj and Jose Rivera were in attendance, Republican Mayoral candidate Nicole Malliotakis was also on hand to help her friend Mr. Joe Ithier celebrate his receiving a BCC award. 

  As each of the honorees had people speak as to why each person deserved the BCC award Mayoral candidate Malliotakis was one of two speakers who spoke on behalf of Mr. Ithier, whom she had known from the administration of former governor George Pataki. The other speaker Mr. Joe Ramos a former commissioner and someone who has held several other key city positions went on for almost ten minutes about his good friend Mr. Joe Ithier and all the great work Mr. Ithier did for the Bronx including a stint as Chief of Staff to former Bronx Borough President Fernando Ferrer. 

Above - The six honorees (l - r) Principal Luis Torres, Ms. Nydia Edgecombe, Police Officer Norkiss Andino, BCC Chairman Joseph Kelleher, BCC President Nunzio Del Greco, Mr. Joe Ithier, Mr. Carmelo Alvarado, and Ms. Dulce Maria Nunez. 

Below - BCC President Nunzio Del Greco and BCC Chairman Joseph Kelleher stand with Mayoral Candidate Nicole Malliotakis in front of the Bronx Chamber of Commerce Coat of Arms.   

Above - Captain Alsp of the 49th Precinct was on hand with his executive officer to see one of their police officers receive the BCC award. also in the photo is Mayoral candidate Nicole Malliotakis, Mr. Joe Ramos.

Below - After an almost ten minute introduction, Honoree Mr. Joe Ithier says to Mr. Joe Ramos you may have left out a few things.

Above - A group photo of the supporters of Mr. Joe Ithier which included family and friends, both Bronx Assembly members Mark Gjonaj and Jose Rivera, and Mayoral candidate Nicole Malliotakis.

Below - A group photo of the Honorees, family members, and friends.

Engel: GOP Has Wasted Time, Jeopardized Vital Programs

Funding for children’s health, college affordability programs not extended due to GOP inaction

  Congressman Eliot L. Engel, a top member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following statement on Republican inaction in Congress:

“Congressional Republicans have spent nine months on their tired vendetta against the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Now, just days before the fiscal year ends, they’ve proven only that they were willing to put critical programs on the backburner for a shot at fulfilling their misguided political promises.

“Federal funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) expires on September 30^th. This program, known in New York as ‘Child Health Plus,’ provides health insurance to more than 600,000 New York children and about 9 million children nationwide. Thankfully, New York has sufficient funds to keep our CHIP program operational past this deadline – but other states face a grimmer reality. 10 states are projected to deplete their CHIP funds by the end of this year, meaning they will soon need to begin the process of shutting their programs down – making the threat of disrupted health coverage very real.

“Also expiring September 30^th is funding for community health centers. Community health centers, funded by the federal government, serve one-in-thirteen people nationwide. Americans who are uninsured or don’t have a ‘regular doctor’ can turn to community health centers in times of need, rather than the emergency room. This allows patients to avoid unnecessary ER bills and, in turn, saves our health care system billions of dollars. By allowing this deadline to pass, Republicans are putting these centers and their patients in jeopardy. Some will need to end weekend and evening hours, roll back services, or freeze hiring to cope with the funding cliff.

“For months, I have urged the Majority to act on these programs. I highlighted the need to extend CHIP and community health center funding during an Energy and Commerce Committee hearing in June. I again pressed the issue in a letter to House Leadership earlier this month. In addition, I am a cosponsor of H.R. 3770, the Community Health Investment, Modernization and Excellence Act to extend community health center funding. I sincerely hope that Republicans won’t waste any more time before extending these lifelines for our constituents.

“Also expiring September 30^th is the Perkins Loan Program. Perkins Loans are federal loans provided to low income students to make higher education more affordable. Students throughout this country rely on these funds to pursue their dreams of higher education. Unfortunately, beginning October 1, no new Perkins Loans will be disbursed and billions of dollars in student aid will be eliminated from schools’ revolving funds. This jeopardizes the future of the 50,000 New York students who have already begun their fall semesters.

“The Perkins Loan Program is too important to New Yorkers to let lapse. I am a cosponsor of H.R. 2482, the Perkins Loan Extension Act and this week I called on House leadership to reauthorize this critical program. Sadly, those in leadership have failed to act.

“These are programs that protect Americans, improve affordability, and expand access to critical, life-saving care. It is shameful that, just days before the end of the fiscal year, Republicans have put so many people in jeopardy.”

MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES FINAL DESIGN OF PROJECT TO FILL EAST SIDE GREENWAY GAP WILL COMMENCE NEXT WEEK

$100 million initiative comes as part of administration-wide push to complete a contiguous 32-mile waterfront pedestrian promenade and bikeway around Manhattan

  As part of City Hall in your Borough week in Manhattan, Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced that the formal design process for a new section of the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway between East 61^st Street and East 53^rd Street will officially kick off next week. The Mayor was joined by local officials to tour a portion of the existing greenway and discussing plans for its expansion. Construction of the new segment will commence in 2019, with completion expected in 2022.

“The Manhattan Greenway stands out as open space that connects communities to one another and also to New York’s expansive and beautiful waterfront. Closing this gap will vastly improve quality of life for New Yorkers, and for East Siders who’ve advocated for decades to get this done,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio.  

For more renderings of the project, click here.

“For years East Side residents have looked at the Hudson River Park and wondered why they didn’t have that same type of world class greenway all along the East River,” said NYCEDC President James Patchett. “Today we take a major step towards changing that reality, and delivering on Mayor de Blasio’s vision for a fully connected Manhattan greenway. Creating this kind of waterfront access is central to EDC’s mission of creating strong neighborhoods and building an even more vibrant city.”

“Parks looks forward to furthering the work we are doing with EDC, CDOT and the community to realize the City’s efforts to connecting communities and creating scenic destinations by designing a seamless greenway along the East River,” NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP.

In April of this year, the Mayor dedicated $100 million in City capital to significantly narrow the Greenway’s largest gap as part of an administration-wide push to complete a contiguous 32-mile waterfront pedestrian promenade and bicycling path around the whole of Manhattan. The Mayor’s announcement came as a response to a longstanding effort by local elected officials and community advocates to fund and build a continuous esplanade to close the gap.

The project has received initial approval from the US Coast Guard, Army Corps of Engineers, and State Department of Environmental Conservation. The structure will be based on plans previously developed in consultation with a board composed of Mayoral representatives and local officials.

“Today’s investment will help bring recreational open space to East Midtown, where it is sorely needed,” said Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer. “With Mayor de Blasio’s help, we are closing the gap from 53rd Street to 61st Street, and are that much closer to encircling all of Manhattan’s 32 miles of waterfront with biking, jogging, and open space for residents and tourists alike to enjoy.”

Local elected officials and civic organizations, including Borough President Gale Brewer, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, State Senator Liz Krueger, Assembly Members Dan Quart and Brian Kavanagh, Council Members Ben Kallos and Dan Garodnick, have pushed for a complete East River Greenway for decades, resulting in continuous progress at critical links along the route.

Since its inception in 1993 under Mayor David Dinkins, each administration has contributed to Manhattan Waterfront Greenway. The last major section of the Greenway to open was a 10-block pile-supported Riverwalk built in Riverside Park on the West Side between West 81st and West 91st streets, completing a contiguous 11-mile Hudson River Greenway from the Battery to the George Washington Bridge. With more than 7,000 daily cyclists, it is the busiest bike path in the United States.

The Mayor’s Executive Budget also dedicated $5 million for a multi-agency study to be completed this year of the remaining gaps in the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway. The study will identify solutions necessary to upgrade existing pinch points and complete gaps, as the basis for additional funding in the next update of the City’s capital plan.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

  Now that Manhattan has been finished Mr. Mayor, it is time to cross the Harlem and Hudson Rivers, and start on the Bronx portion of the Hudson River Greenway. 

MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES $750,000 INVESTMENT TO TACKLE RAT HOT SPOTS ON THE UPPER WEST SIDE

  Mayor Bill de Blasio announced a $750,000 investment dedicated to tackling rat hot spots on the Upper West Side. This interagency effort will reduce rat activity in targeted playgrounds, parks and schools by implementing better waste containers, more pest control efforts and increased enforcement of food disposal violations.  

This integrated pest management approach will build on the success of the City’s current rat abatement programs by using similar strategies of targeted removal of available food sources and habitats on the Upper West Side. Previous efforts have led to an 80 to 90 percent drop in rat activity and similar results are expected from this initiative. 

“Parents should never have to worry about rats infesting parks, playgrounds or schools,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio.“This new investment will make these areas less hospitable to rats and more livable for families in the neighborhood.”

“Kids deserve safe, clean parks and playgrounds with a minimum of rodent contamination. We are grateful that the Mayor is assisting the Upper West Side in its fight with these rats at the source, by funding the deployment of enhanced waste containers and trash collection in area rat hot spots,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP.

“We are dedicated to providing all students with a great education and that starts with safe and clean learning environments,” said Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña.“This funding will help us build on our ongoing work and we thank our partners across City agencies for their support to address facilities concerns in this area head-on.”

“The physical environment is an essential component of neighborhood health,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett. “We are pleased to build upon our collaboration with the New York City Parks Department and the Department of Education to intensify our efforts in the parks and schools located in the two rat reservoir areas in Community District 7. We are optimistic that by redoubling our efforts and working in partnership with the community, we’ll successfully reduce rat activity in this area.”

To reduce the rat population at parks, playgrounds and schools on the Upper West Side, the de Blasio Administration will implement the following new efforts in targeted Upper West Side parks and schools:

• New waste containers: The City will install 29 solar compactors and four solid steel cans to replace wire baskets at eight playgrounds and parks. Solar compactors restrict access to trash with a “mailbox” opening and have resulted in 90 percent rat reductions when fully deployed in concentrated areas. The City will also purchase roll-on/roll-off compacting dumpsters to allow waste to be stored off the sidewalk at schools.

• Ramped-up enforcement of rat-related violations: The Parks Department will issue summonses to park vendors who are not following regulations designed to mitigate food management issues. Parks Enforcement Patrol and Urban Park Rangers will deploy daily through November 30 in the selected Upper West Side parks and playgrounds. Parks Department staff will also educate residents and vendors on how littering and feeding pigeons helps to grow and sustain the rat population.

• Increase baiting efforts: Parks and Health Department staff will work to place bait stations, plug burrows and prune greenery so as to not provide rats shelter in parks. This concentrated effort to harass rat burrows throughout the fall will help increase natural population declines seen in the winter.

• More pest-control staff: The Parks Department will hire an exterminator and three parks workers will be dedicated to Upper West Side parks.

This plan will target the following 12 playgrounds, parks, and schools on the Upper West Side where there have been significant rat issues:

Parks

• Henry Neufeld Playground
• River Run Playground
• Hippo Playground
• Dinosaur Playground
• Joan of Arc Memorial
• Theodore Roosevelt Park
• Diana Ross Playground
• Booker T. Washington Playground

Schools

• P.S. 75 Emily Dickinson
• P.S. 165 Robert E. Simon
• M.S. 54 Booker T. Washington
• P.S. 811 Mickey Mantle

This plan builds on the Administration’s previous efforts to manage rodent populations across the City. In 2014, the Health Department piloted the Rat Reservoir program in six sites, including one in the Upper West Side. The Rat Reservoir program is a data driven approach that identifies and targets rat colonies and conditions conducive to rats in sidewalks, catch basins, tree pits, and parks, in addition to buildings. In the first year of the pilot program, the Department’s efforts in the areas resulted in an 80 to 90 percent drop in active rat signs.

In 2015, Mayor de Blasio increased funding by $2.9 million to expand the City’s Rat Reservoir Program. The investment expanded the pilot program from the original six sites to 45 areas around the city, including the Upper West Side.  Department of Health case managers now work closely with neighborhoods to identify problematic properties and design targeted rat management plans.  These new resources for the Upper West Side build on this targeted approach. The Department of Health will continue to monitor neighborhoods to evaluate the success of the program.

"It doesn't make headlines or win awards, but rat reduction is one of the most important things city government can do to improve quality of life, safeguard public health, and reclaim public spaces," said Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer. "I am pleased that the mayor has made rat reduction a priority and look forward to seeing these investments in action."

"Eliminating rats from our public spaces is an absolute public health and safety priority. We are attacking this problem from several angles, especially the rapid removal and sealed containment of all trash in our playgrounds, plazas and other areas so that food sources are eliminated. I want to thank the de Blasio administration and the Department of Health in particular for their ongoing partnership and focus on this urgent issue. We will not rest until the problem is fully addressed," said Council Member Helen Rosenthal.

“The rats plaguing our streets are by far one of the most persistent quality of life issues facing our community. Implementing new solid steel cans, in addition to hiring three new parks workers and an exterminator is a vital step towards attacking the root of this problem. I’m incredibly grateful to the Mayor for his commitment to improving the quality of life here Northern Manhattan,” said Council Member Mark Levine.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

  It is nice to see the city spend almost One Million Dollars to reduce the West Side of Manhattan of the Rat infestation in the parks, playgrounds, and schools in the above council members districts.

  NOW HOW ABOUT DOING THIS IN THE REST OF THE CITY, STARTING WITH THE BRONX, MR. MAYOR?

City Council Passes Legislation Aimed at Curbing Congestion in Lower Manhattan, Downtown Brooklyn

  The New York City Council voted to pass Council Member Mark Levine’s legislation, Intro 1031, requiring the City Department of Transportation (DOT) to conduct a study of traffic congestion resulting from truck deliveries in Manhattan below 59th Street and in Downtown Brooklyn as well as provide an analysis of how shifting deliveries to off hours would impact traffic.

Travel speeds in Manhattan south of 60th Street slowed by 10 percent between 2010 and 2014, according to a recent DOT study, exacerbating the already untenable congestion crisis. Further driving New York’s congestion issues is the City’s reliance on trucks to transport more than 90 percent of its goods. Truck deliveries during busy hours are often responsible for causing congestion, double parking, noise and air pollution, while also posing serious safety hazards for pedestrians and cyclists.

The implementation of overnight truck deliveries instead of during daytime and peak hours would help combat congestion and could be achieved through a variety of incentives and programs that would benefit both the City and business community. In 2013, the DOT encouraged nearly 400 business to shift to off-hour delivers through a federally funded incentive program. The result was less congestion, pollution, wasted time, lost revenue, missed deliveries, and parking tickets.

Under Intro 1031, DOT will begin a six month study of congestion caused by truck deliveries in Manhattan below 59th Street and in Downtown Brooklyn and present an analysis on shifting those deliveries to between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m., including the various types of incentives that could be used.

Council Member Mark Levine said, “Our city is facing a serious congestion crisis that is hurting our economy, threatening the safety of pedestrians and cyclists, and hurting the environment. This legislation is an important first step towards addressing that crisis; however, we must continue to explore additional ways to mitigate traffic and pollution, including congestion pricing, and advancing the Move NY plan."

EDITOR'S NOTE:

  Can Councilman Levine give an answer to why then is the city looking to have Amazon Inc. base its operations out of Manhattan, and not the Bronx then?

BP Ruben Diaz Jr. Presents The Festival of Lights

Join our Bronx Borough President, Ruben Diaz Jr., in collaboration with the NYC Commission on Human Rights and members of the Hindu Community, invite you to their annual celebration of The Festival of Lights.

Fri. 10/13/17, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Sotomayer Center, 1000 Rosadale Avenue

 

For more information on this event or to RSVP please call (718) 590 -2651.

Town Hall With Mayor Bill de Blasio

To RSVP by October 2nd, or for more information in regards to this event, please call (212) 788 - 6732 or email townhallrsvp@cityhall.nyc.gov. 

Top ten most dangerous buses operating in New York City revealed in new report

After fatal Queens bus crash IDC report details the most dangerous companies; proposes heightened safety record transparency & tougher penalties for bad actors

Senators Jeff Klein, Jesse Hamilton, Jose Peralta, Marisol Alcantara, and Tony Avella, joined by advocates, on Thursday released a new report, “Violations by the Busload: An Investigation Into the Most Unsafe Bus Companies Operating in New York,” listing the top ten bus companies operating in New York City with the worst track records.

Following a fatal bus crash in Queens on September 18 involving a bus operated by the Dahlia Group, the IDC initiated an investigation into the safety records of bus companies that operate within the city. The Dahlia Group made the list, but six companies stood out with even worse safety records.

The members of the Independent Democratic Conference proposed heightened transparency to help riders learn about a company’s safety record online or at a company’s ticket counter. The legislators also proposed tougher penalties to crackdown on companies that fail to disclose hires to the DMV.

“The tragic accident in Queens shed light on the safety violations many companies in this city have, but unfortunately these records are hard to track down. As these unsafe buses continue to roll on our city streets, the public is in the dark about these violations. We want to change that by requiring that they post these records online or at the site of ticket purchase. We also need to put the brakes on bad actors in this business by increasing fines for failure to disclose hires who might have histories of violations like drunk driving to the DMV,” said Senator Klein.

“Bus safety is part of public safety. The measures we bring forward today serve to ensure the unsafe practices that contributed to the tragic deaths on September 18th are not repeated. Bus companies need to know the importance of further transparency and full compliance with DMV disclosure rules. That's why I am proud to advance these measures with my colleagues and reassure New Yorkers that their safety is our top priority,” said Senator Hamilton.

“The horrific accident that occurred in Flushing highlighted the urgent need to regulate charter bus companies. As elected officials, it is our duty to implement all the necessary safety measures to make sure our roads are safe. The findings in this report are shocking, and this is why we must ensure charter buses don’t operate irresponsibly throughout our state. I want to thank the IDC staff and Senator Klein for putting this report together and formulating proposals that will increase safety on the streets,” said Senator Peralta.

“The tragic crash last week, which led to the deaths of three people, underscores the urgent need for accountability in our intercity bus service. Passengers and the general population should be able to trust that convicted drunk drivers will not be driving commercial buses on crowded streets. The legislation proposed by the IDC to tighten requirements for bus companies will go a long way toward making sure that our buses are safe and that our bus drivers are well-qualified,” said Senator Alcantara.

“There is no question that any person operating a passenger bus should be held to the highest safety standards possible. When people board a bus they do so assuming that their safety is a priority and that they will get to their destination safely. Companies that fail to disclose safety information, especially that of a driver who has a history of unsafe driving, are purposely putting their customers, and everyone who they share the road with, in serious danger. Strengthening the penalties for this dereliction of duty is a good start to ensuring the safety of New Yorkers who put their lives in the hands of bus companies,” said Senator Avella.

The report examined 249 companies with inspection data operating in New York with a focus on ten with the worst inspection results, all of which were found to be in the bottom 30 percent of companies nationwide for safety records.

Federal studies show a high correlation between unsafe driving behavior and a higher incidence of crashes. Using data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) the report found 121 companies with points for unsafe driving violations, 51 of which had received sufficient violations to receive an unsafe percentage value from the agency.

Number of Bus Companies	Unsafe Driving Percentage Level
16	At or below 10%
8	11% to 20%
4	21% to 30%
2	31% to 40%
5	41% to 49%
4	50% to 60%
2	61% to 70%
10	Over 71%

The ten worst companies all had an unsafe driving percentage level greater than 70, with Dahlia Group, the company involved in the fatal Queens crash in the 83rd percentile, or seventh on the top ten list.

Name of Bus Company	Company Address	USDOT #	Unsafe Driving Percentile	Fleet Size Vehicles/ Drivers	Total Violations/ Unsafe Driving Violations	Does it exceed any of the FMCSA Intervention Thresholds?
SAGBUS INC	6006 168TH ST FLUSHING, NY 11365	2839930	99%	1/1	18/4	Unsafe Driving, Hours-of-Service Compliance
YEP TOUR INC	12 HARVARD STREET WORCESTER, MA 01609	2429791	98%	10/28	212/34	Unsafe Driving, Hours-of-Service Compliance, Driver Fitness
NO 1 BUS TOUR INC	21 ALLEN STREET NEW YORK, NY 10002	1955237	97%	2/5	24/9	Unsafe Driving
SAFARI TOUR INC	2960 AVENUE T BROOKLYN, NY 11229	2780311	92%	2/2	4/3	Unsafe Driving
SOE TOUR INC	800 HINGHAM STREET SUIT 202S  ROCKLAND, MA 02370	2410389	85%	10/17	50/11	Unsafe Driving, Hours-of-Service Compliance, Vehicle Maintenance
K LINE TOURS LLC DBA: FUNAWAY TOURS	840 NEPPERHAN AVE  YONKERS, NY 10703	1202229	84%	6/4	33/5	Unsafe Driving, Hours-of-Service Compliance
DAHLIA GROUP INC	127-27 34TH AVENUE FLUSHING, NY 11354	1788395	83%	5/6	11/7	Unsafe Driving
EASTERN COACH INC	99 DERBY STREET SUITE 200  HINGHAM, MA 02043	1923882	77%	18/29	25/15	Unsafe Driving
VICTORIA'S TRANSPORTATION CO INC DBA: VICTORIA'S TOUR & CO	5 DIVISION STREET 2RD FLOOR NEW YORK, NY 10002	1684849	73%	15/23	41/12	Unsafe Driving
JET TOURS USA INC DBA: SIGHT SEEING TOURS	299 MURRAY HILL PARKWAY EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ 07073	519856	71%	12/19	32/4	Unsafe Driving, Driver Fitness

The worst operator, Sagbus Inc., received 18 violations over the period examined despite only having one recorded bus and driver. Violations included two violations for failing to obey traffic control devices and two for speeding, one of which was for exceeding the speed limit by more than 15 miles per hour.

During the 24-month period that the report examined, the second worst offender, Yep Tours, received 212 violations, including 34 for unsafe driving. This included five instances of drivers caught speeding more than 15 miles over the limit and one instance of a driver using a hand-held phone while driving.

The Independent Democratic Conference has proposed a number of legislative solution to ensure that the buses New Yorkers ride on are safe. Proposals include strengthening fines against companies that fail to disclose safety information to the DMV and requiring bus companies to post their driving inspection record on the company’s website.

Currently the DMV can impose of fine of between $500 and $2,500 for the first violation with the second and subsequent violations resulting in fines between $1,000 and $10,000. Under the proposal, those penalties would double if a company failed to disclose the hire of a driver with a drunk driving conviction. Penalties would triple if a company failed to disclose a hire to the DMV and that driver is subsequently involved in an accident that kills or injures a person.

The second proposal would require bus companies to post driving safety records on their website or at its point of sale if the company does not have a website. Information required includes the company’s U.S. Department of Transportation identification number, on road performance percentile, summary of safety activities, inspection history and violation summary.

Riders must navigate a complex internet search to track down bus company records, and in many cases need a company’s US DOT number, making the vital violation information even harder to find. The proposal would provide heightened, easy to access information online and at bus company counters where riders could buy tickets.