New York State Department of Labor Career Center - Operating Engineers Recruit Apprentices

 

  The Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee for Operating Engineers, Local Union #30, will conduct a recruitment from January 25, 2021 through February 5, 2021 for 25 Stationary Engineer apprentices, the New York State Department of Labor announced today.

Applications can be obtained at Operating Engineers, Local Union #30, 16-16 Whitestone Expressway, Whitestone, NY between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays, during the recruitment period. Applications must be returned via U.S. Postal Service certified mail and postmarked no later than March 1, 2021.

Candidates will be scheduled to take a Comprehensive Math exam and must score at least 85% out of 100% on the exam.

The Committee requires that applicants:

• Must be at least 18 years old.
• Must have a high school diploma or a high school equivalency diploma (such as TASC or GED). Proof will be required after selection and prior to enrollment in apprenticeship.
• Must be legally able to work in the United States.
• Must sign a statement indicating that they are physically able to perform the work of a Stationary Engineer. This trade often includes work environments that are dangerous. The work itself may require a Stationary Engineer to be able to perform work under physically challenging and difficult conditions. Duties include but are not limited to:
• Willing to work rotating shifts including weekends and holidays.
• Climbing stairs, ladders and other means to access boiler room equipment, sometimes in confined spaces (e.g. accessing steam drums and fire boxes) or heating and ventilating rooms (e.g. air handlers and plenums) which may be dusty and dark with varying degrees of extreme temperatures.
• Standing upright for extended periods of time.
• Using vision to read small numbers and/or markings on gauges and equipment.
• Using vision and hearing to avoid injury from overhead piping and rotating machinery.
• Communicating orally in noisy working conditions.
• Working in areas containing gases from the combustion process and strong odors from grease, lubricants or solvents.
• Lifting heavy metal objects.
• Working with alkaline and acidic chemicals used in boiler water treatment and handling chemicals.
• Walking over wet and slippery surfaces.
• Working around hazardous materials, such as asbestos and infectious waste.
• Wearing personal protective equipment including but not limited to respirators, face shield and hearing protection.
• Must provide DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, if applicable, after selection and prior to enrollment.
• Must have a valid driver’s license to operate company vehicles.
• Must have reliable means of transportation to and from various job sites and required classes at the approved school.

For further information, applicants should contact Local Union 30 at (718) 847-8484. Additional job search assistance can be obtained at your local New York State Department of Labor Career Center (see: https://www.labor.ny.gov/career-center-locator/location-list-all.php).

Apprentice programs registered with the Department of Labor must meet standards established by the Commissioner. Under state law, sponsors of programs cannot discriminate against applicants because of race, creed, color, national origin, age, sex, disability, or marital status. Women and minorities are encouraged to submit applications for apprenticeship programs. Sponsors of programs are required to adopt affirmative action plans for the recruitment of women and minorities.

Bronx Progressives December Virtual General Meeting

 

Join Fellow Progressives for our December Virtual General Meeting!

When: Wednesday, December 30th at 7pm 

Where: Zoom

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85292040537

Meeting ID: 852 9204 0537

Greetings Bronx Progressives Members!

As we prepare to say final farewells to a painful and tumultuous year, that brought enormous challenges to every one of us, combined with pain and loss. We are pleased to share some great news with the membership about our accomplishments and vision for 2021. After months of long deliberation, Bronx Progressives is ready to present to the membership our new bylaws. They are included on this email. We encourage you to review them carefully, as we will be holding constructive discussions, and ultimately, voting on them in the upcoming weeks into the new year.  

Link to bylaws:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dupzQcNBbEhBbSAZBe5GF24vAIeMMBEdYHLcTwvE_gA/edit?usp=sharing

We will also be joined by Jamell Henderson, Lead Organizer for #NewDealforCUNY who will join us to discuss a push to make undergrad education free, more pay for college adjuncts, the hiring of more professors, and more. 

Immediately following the meeting, we will be hosting a virtual holiday party. We encourage you to stick around for some holiday fun, games, and maybe some music. Drinks are optional. 

Join us Wednesday, December 30 at 7pm, to our December General Virtual Meeting. Link below:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85292040537

Meeting ID: 852 9204 0537

Again, we urge to come to help us discuss, review, and vote to approve the bylaws. We will open a discussion on next steps. 

Agenda:

• Greetings and Welcomes (2 Mins.)

• Quick review of the agenda (3 Mins.)

• House Rules (3 Mins.)

• Introducing Jamell Henderson (3 Mins) 

• Jamell Henderson speaks (20 Mins.)

• Q&A (10 Mins.)

• EC official announcement of new bylaws (20 Mins.)
       1) A summary of what was accomplish in the past several months with the new bylaws
       2) An overview of what will be expected from the members
       3) A brief highlight of the EC's responsibility and its officers, and informing membership of upcoming elections to fill those positions  
       4) Question and answer
  Adjourn
  
  
  Upon adjournment of meeting, we will host a virtual holiday party. We are planning a night of fun, games, and hopefully some music. 

When: Wednesday, December 30th at 7pm 

Where: Zoom

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85292040537

Meeting ID: 852 9204 0537

EDITOR'S NOTE:

We do hope that this club meeting goes better than the Ben Franklin Democratic Club December meeting went.

Attorney General James Helps Secure $2.4 Million from Sabre After Data Breach

 

New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced a $2.4 million multistate agreement with Sabre Corporation that resolves an investigation into the 2017 data breach of Sabre Hospitality Solutions’ hotel booking system. The breach exposed the data of approximately 1.3 million credit cards. In addition to the $2.4 million payment — $111,783.19 of which will go to the state of New York — Sabre will be required to make numerous changes to its security and notification protocols.

“Companies need to do a better job of notifying New Yorkers when their personal information has been breached,” said Attorney General James. “Sabre first failed its customers with a susceptible security system, then failed them when it came to provide proper notifications. Today’s agreement not only imposes a hefty fine on Sabre but will ensure that the company has the appropriate security and incident response plan in place so that its failure does not take place again.”

Sabre Hospitality Solutions, a business segment of Sabre, operates the SynXis Central Reservation system, which facilitates the booking of hotel reservations. SynXis connects business travel coordinators, travel agencies, and online travel booking companies on one end to Sabre’s hotel customers on the other. On June 6, 2017, Sabre informed its hotel clients of a data breach that had occurred between August 2016 and March 2017, which the business had disclosed in a 10-Q filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) the month before. Notice to the affected consumers was provided by the hotel-clients, resulting in some notices being issued as late as 2018, and some consumers receiving multiple notices stemming from the same breach.

Today’s agreement requires Sabre to include language in future contracts that specifies the roles and responsibilities of both parties in the event of a breach. It also requires Sabre to try to determine whether its clients have provided notice to consumers, and to provide the attorneys general a list of all the customers that it has notified. Finally, the agreement requires Sabre to implement and maintain a comprehensive information security program, implement a written incident response and data breach notification plan, implement specific security requirements, and undergo a third-party security assessment.

Joining Attorney General James in announcing today’s agreement are the attorneys general of Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington.  

Governor Cuomo Announces 89,000 New Yorkers Have Received First COVID-19 Vaccine Dose - and COVID-19 Indicators DECEMBER 23, 2020

 

22,000 Doses Administered in 90 Nursing Home Facilities So Far as Part of Federal Program

DOH Authorizes Use of Extra Moderna Vaccine Doses; Guidance Available Here

6,864 Patient Hospitalizations Statewide

1,166 Patients in the ICU; 633 Intubated

Statewide Positivity Rate is 5.84%

164 COVID-19 Deaths in New York State Yesterday

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that 89,000 New Yorkers have received the first COVID-19 vaccine dose to date. 22,000 New Yorkers have received the first dose in 90 nursing home facilities as part of a federal-private partnership program. 

The Governor also announced that the New York State Department of Health has authorized the use of extra doses that have been found in Moderna vaccine vials. The vials were previously believed to contain 10 doses, but may now contain up to 11 doses. DOH guidance on administering the extra doses is available here and a letter from Commissioner Howard Zucker is available here. 

"I have one message for New Yorkers this holiday season - celebrating smart stops shutdowns," Governor Cuomo said. "We did not have that same post-Thanksgiving spike we saw elsewhere because we were more cautioned and more intelligent about it. The question is what happens through Christmas, Kwanzaa and New Year's. Do we stay as diligent? I don't believe we are destined for a shutdown and I want to do everything we can to avoid one, but as I have been saying, that will be determined by our actions and the next 10 days are going to be key for us. We have already been working with hospitals to ensure they have sufficient capacity and to date, none have reported that they are close to being overwhelmed. Now it's on the rest of us to stay smart. If we all stay united and wear masks, socially distance and wash our hands, we will reach the light at the end of the tunnel."

Today's data is summarized briefly below: 

• Test Results Reported - 204,361
• Tested Positive - 11,937
• Percent Positive - 5.84%
• Patient Hospitalization - 6,864 (+203)
• Patients Newly Admitted - 1008 
• Hospital Counties - 55
• Number ICU - 1,166 (+40)
• Number ICU with Intubation - 633 (+19)
• Total Discharges - 96,857 (+672)
• Deaths - 164
• Total Deaths - 29,016

NEW: B&B URBAN & L+M DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS SECURE FINANCING & BREAK GROUND ATWILLIAMSBRIDGE GARDENS IN THE NORTHEAST BRONX

 

$53.8 million project will feature 170 residences for low and moderate-income families, including 85 for the formerly homeless

B&B Urban and L+M Development Partners have secured financing and broken ground at Williamsbridge Gardens, a fully affordable rental building in the Northeast Bronx. The building will include 170 units of affordable housing for low and moderate-income families, including 85 homes for the formerly homeless with support services provided by the Center for Urban Community Services (CUCS). Construction is anticipated to take two years.

Williamsbridge Gardens is being financed with $53.8 million in tax exempt bonds being issued by New York State Homes and Community Renewal’s (HCR) Housing Finance Agency. Citi Community Capital is providing the bond credit enhancement during the construction period. HCR’s Supportive Housing Opportunity Program provided an additional $11.75 million in funding, the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development’s Supportive Housing Loan Program funded $11.75 million and the Bronx Borough President $750,000. Raymond James is investing approximately $40 million in low-income housing tax credit equity.

 

“Williamsbridge Gardens directly addresses NYC’s most urgent needs with 100% new affordable housing, including 50% of the units set aside for formerly homeless families, in two buildings at a location offering immediate subway access and an array of vital retail services” said Alan Bell, Principal of developer B&B Urban. “Along with our partners, we at B&B extend our deepest appreciation to the staff and leadership at the NYS HCR and the NYC HPD for extending themselves during this most difficult time to get us over the goal line.”

 

“Williamsbridge Gardens will bring much-needed affordable homes to the Northeast Bronx, and we are thrilled to have worked with our partners to make this development a reality,” said Spencer Orkus, Managing Director at L+M Development Partners. ““This pandemic has underscored the importance of providing affordable homes and supportive services to the most vulnerable New Yorkers, and we're looking forward to welcoming our new neighbors home to Williamsbridge Gardens.”

 

“More than ever, we are focused on serving the most vulnerable New Yorkers and making sure they have the housing and resources they need to thrive,” said HPD Commissioner Louise Carroll. “Williamsbridge Gardens will provide 170 families, including 85 formerly homeless New Yorkers with not only safe, secure, and affordable homes, but also supportive services in a development that promotes the health of residents as well as the environment.”

“Williamsbridge Gardens is a concrete example of Governor Cuomo’s commitment to providing affordable and supportive housing opportunities while reducing homelessness,” said HCR Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas. “The challenges of the pandemic have made our work all the more urgent and we are proud to partner with B&B Urban and L+M Development to see this project begin the construction phase. Future residents will live in 170 beautiful, energy-efficient apartments that will add to the vitality to the Williamsbridge community. Supportive services provided by CUCS will enable those who experienced homelessness live independently in a transit-friendly development with convenient access to shopping and health care providers. I look forward to the day this will be a place to call home.” 

 

“Planning, financing and developing affordable housing has been particularly challenging since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Richard Gerwitz, Co-Head of Citi Community Capital.  “That is why it is even more rewarding than usual to be able to work with such a terrific team of developers and governmental agencies to help increase the supply of much needed housing to those most severely impacted by the crisis.”

 

“Raymond James Tax Credit Funds is thrilled to once again partner with B&B Urban, L+M Development Partners, and The Center for Urban Community Services in the development of Williamsbridge Gardens,” said Darryl Seavey, Managing Director of Raymond James Tax Credit Funds. “Williamsbridge Gardens is a meticulously designed 170-unit affordable residence that will provide high-quality, clean, and safe homes, as well as supportive services to deserving residents.  We are greatly looking forward to visiting the completed apartments, touring the amenities, and meeting the new residents.”

 

Williamsbridge Gardens will comprise two eight-story buildings along East 211th and East 212th Streets, which together will frame a large common landscaped rear courtyard. The buildings will offer 30 studio, 55 one‐bedroom, 57 two‐bedroom and 27 three‐bedroom apartments, along with a live‐in superintendent unit. 

 

CUCS, one of the leading agencies serving homeless and formerly homeless New Yorkers, will provide on-site support for formerly homeless residents. The organization specializes in programing that links housing, health and social services for low-income individuals and families across the city. 

 

“CUCS is proud to be partnering with B&B Urban and L+M Development Partners on this critical affordable housing project. As the largest provider of social services in supportive housing settings in New York City, CUCS has helped individuals and families to rise from poverty, exit homelessness, and be healthy since 1983. We are thrilled to be able to provide the 85 homeless households who will call Williamsbridge Gardens home the individualized case management, medical and mental healthcare they need to leave homelessness behind for good.” Joe DeGenova, CUCS CEO and President.

 

Williamsbridge Gardens is designed by MHG Architects and will include amenities such as 24/7 front desk security, a large landscaped interior courtyard, community room with kitchenette, computer lab and children’s library, exercise room, laundry room in each building, and green components, including a rooftop photovoltaic solar installation and energy-efficient appliances. 

 

Williamsbridge Gardens has excellent access to transit, sitting just a block away from the Gun Hill Road 2 and 5 subway lines and near both the Williamsbridge Metro-North Station and local and express/SBS bus service along White Plains Road and Gun Hill Road. It is also a short walk from nearby grocery stores, neighborhood retail, healthcare and other essential services.

 

Congressman-Elect Ritchie Torres - BIG NEWS: I’ve been appointed to the House Finance Committee!

 

I have some big news, and I couldn’t wait to share it with you: When I’m sworn into Congress, I’ll be joining the House Committee on Financial Services -- a powerful committee which, among other things, oversees public housing. I ran for office to help South Bronx families and marginalized communities get ahead, get on strong financial footing, and foster an equal, just economy that doesn’t leave anyone behind. I'm proud to be joining a committee that has the power to help Bronx families. Being appointed to the House Committee on Financial Services is huge for our movement. It’s a chance to make real, lasting change for the community I grew up in. Ritchie Torres.

Andy King and The Bronx Youth Empowerment Program - SHARING IS CARING

 

TOYS AND MEAL GIVEAWAY 

TO U.S. ARMED FORCES SERVICE MEN and THEIR FAMILIES RETURNING TO THE BRONX FOR THE HOLIDAYS and NEIGHBORHOOD FAMILIES 

 

12 Noon - JP HALL - 3428 Boston Road

Contact BRONX YEP at 917.690.2217 for more information

DE BLASIO ADMINISTRATION PROVIDES GIFTS TO OVER 3,700 NYC CHILDREN AND YOUTH THROUGH SECRET SNOWFLAKE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

 

The holiday initiative led by NYC Service, in collaboration with other City agencies, leverages City government volunteers and private sector partnerships to distribute gifts citywide

 Mayor Bill de Blasio and NYC Chief Service Officer Anusha Venkataraman announced today that holiday wishes from more than 3,700 New York City children and youth were fulfilled by more than 2,000 volunteers from City government, including the Mayor and First Lady McCray, and the private sector through the seventh annual Secret Snowflake gift-giving initiative.

 

“The holidays can be really apprehensive for many children and youth in our city, but New Yorkers have shown once again how powerful we are when we work together to help those that need us," said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “Especially this year, I want to thank every volunteer who took time to make someone’s holiday wish come true and all of our private sector partners that donated gifts to youth and children that need them the most.”

 

“Secret Snowflake is a wonderful example of the giving spirit and generosity of New Yorkers. So many people have stepped up to support their communities and neighbors,” said First Lady Chirlane McCray. “I appreciate the tremendous effort of all the volunteers, City agencies and businesses to bring comfort and cheer to thousands of New York City children and youth during this holiday season.”

 

Secret Snowflake mobilizes City and private sector employees as volunteers to answer letters from children and youth referred by City agencies. Since 2014, Secret Snowflake has answered the holiday wishes of more than 19,000 New York City children and youth, ranging in age from one month to 18 years old. The holiday season can be an especially difficult time for New York’s vulnerable youth and their families, and this year, NYC Service adapted the drive to ensure it could happen safely despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

“This year has been marked by unique challenges brought on by the pandemic – from the loss and sickness of loved ones to remote learning and economic hardships – and our city’s youth have had to overcome a lot of obstacles. Secret Snowflake is an opportunity for City and private sector employees to help New York City families and youth feel connected to a community that cares during the holiday season,” said NYC Chief Service Officer Anusha Venkataraman. “We are so grateful for the continued partnership of our fellow City employees and the corporate sector.”

 

NYC Service partnered with the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS), the Department for the Aging (DFTA), the Department of Education (DOE), the Department of Homeless Services (DHS), the Human Resources Administration (HRA), and the Mayor’s Office to End Gender-Based Violence (ENDGBV) to collect letters from children and youth served by their agencies before the holiday season. Secret Snowflake letters typically request necessities, such as clothing, shoes, or a warm coat to get through the winter, as well as toys, books, and other game-based activities. NYC Service also partnered with the Department of Veterans’ Services (DVS) to provide a donation of over 300 books to veterans and their families.  

 

“The holidays are a time for giving and helping grant wishes for children and families in need across the City,” said Administration for Children’s Services Commissioner David Hansell. “We are grateful to NYC Service, the volunteers, and New Yorkers from across the City, for ensuring the holidays are filled with joy and happiness to make the season special for the many children served by ACS.”

 

“The Secret Snowflake initiative embodies the compassion of our City during the holidays, bringing communities together to support children and families in need,” said HRA Administrator Gary Jenkins. “We are proud to once again join NYC Service, our sister City agencies, and private partners in supporting a program that provides a much-needed moment of joy to nearly 500 children in HRA facilities during this unusual holiday season.”    

 

“Now more than ever, we look to every New Yorker to help uplift their neighbours in need every which way they can,” said Department of Homeless Services Administrator Joslyn Carter. “We are grateful for the Secret Snowflake initiative which will brighten up the holidays for over 1,000 children experiencing homelessness through a variety of gifts, helping us make this the best possible Christmas it can be for the families we serve during these exceptionally challenging times. This NYC Service initiative continues to remind us of the important role communities and private partners play in helping New Yorkers in need get back on their feet, during the holidays and beyond." 

 

The Mayor’s Office for International Affairs also engages the diplomatic community in Secret Snowflake. This year’s participants included the Permanent Missions of Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, and Norway.

 

“This year, Secret Snowflake has been an especially meaningful chance for the City to work with the world’s largest diplomatic community to help bring some much-needed joy to vulnerable New Yorkers as we all continue to deal with COVID-19,” said Mayor’s Office for International Affairs Commissioner Penny Abeywardena. “We are so grateful to Missions to the United Nations, our Consulates, and the United Nations for providing gifts and showing love for hundreds of children and families this holiday season."

 

New York City’s private sector is a major contributor to Secret Snowflake. This year, employees from 17 NYC businesses responded to Secret Snowflake letters. NYC Service supplemented their gifts with donations from small and large businesses across the city, valued at nearly $17,000.

 

2020 Secret Snowflake Business Volunteers

A&E Television Networks        Neuberger Berman                                         

AXIS Capital                             NYC Football Club                     Brookfield Properties                 Prevail Therapeutics                       Chanel                                        Revlon                 

Deutsche Bank                           SL Green Realty Corp                  

Filthy Rich Barbershop              Synpulse USA     

Future PLC                                 The New York Times

J.Crew                                         Turner Construction

Macy’s                                               

 

2020 Secret Snowflake In-Kind Partners

Greenlight Bookstore                      

Miller Druck                   

HarperCollins Publishers               

Mollon Law Firm

Macy’s                                            

Oracle

Sony Corporation of America

“After participating for the first time this year, Deutsche Bank is grateful for the ability to benefit youth experiencing homelessness through this initiative. Our employees were able to fulfill 1,000 letters and were especially eager to bring deserving children happiness during this challenging holiday season,” said Alessandra DiGiusto, Executive Director of Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation and Head of CSR Americas at Deutsche Bank.

 

“We at Miller Druck believe deeply in Secret Snowflake’s mission to spread holiday cheer to the most vulnerable families in our city. It was our privilege to turn our facility, usually filled only with marble and stone, into a distribution center for gifts that will bring joy, and also necessities, to children in need. Especially during this direst of years, we were grateful for an opportunity to provide much needed help,” said Barbara Cohen, President at Miller Druck.

 

“In a year of extraordinary challenges and great need, Neuberger Berman is honored to play a small role in partnership with NYC Service to brighten children’s holidays,” said Maria Angelov, President, The Neuberger Berman Foundation, and Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility at Neuberger Berman.

 

“New York City Football Club is proud to participate in NYC Service’s Secret Snowflake for the fifth year in a row. We have more staff volunteer each year which is a testament to how much our Club cares about our community. But, importantly, none of this could be done without the leadership of NYC Service. We appreciate all of the hard work and organizing required to make this initiative happen and we are proud to team up with NYC Service and partners to provide a bit of joy to the children in New York City’s foster care and shelters during the holiday season” said Paul Jeffries, Executive Director of New York City Football Club’s City in the Community Foundation.

 

“SL Green is a home-grown company and is committed to meeting the needs of our fellow New Yorkers. The events over the past few months have been a reminder of just how fortunate we are, as we see thousands of our neighbors without jobs and too often without access to essential resources. We are proud to do our part by partnering with NYC Service for the third consecutive year to give back to our community during the holiday season,” said Lynne-Courtney Hodges, Vice President of Human Resources at SL Green.

 

“Sony is honored to support the Secret Snowflake initiative,” said Karen Kelso, Senior Director, Corporate Social Responsibility at Sony Corporation of America. “The holidays are about giving back to those less fortunate and we are grateful to have the opportunity to do so. Thank you, NYC Service and the Mayor’s Office, for continuing such a worthwhile endeavor, especially in 2020.”

 

“This is our third year in a row participating in Secret Snowflake, and it’s something that we always look forward to at the end of the year. The opportunity to bring others joy and happiness during the holidays is a special and welcomed tradition at Synpulse USA. We particularly appreciate the opportunity to do so this year as COVID-19 continues to impact us and our communities. We’re grateful for NYC Service and the Mayor’s Office for organizing this opportunity and giving us the chance to embrace the true spirit of the season of giving and to help those most in need in our city,” said Kara Funk, Human Resources Business Partner at Synpulse USA.

 

About NYC Service

NYC Service is a division of the Mayor’s Office that builds partnerships to deepen and expand civic engagement through volunteer and service programs, creating sustainable change for our city's greatest needs. We unite New Yorkers in service to advance lifelong civic engagement for a more equitable and inclusive city. To learn more about NYC Service and connect to volunteer opportunities, visit nyc.gov/service.