Friday, April 1, 2022

MAYOR ADAMS ANNOUNCES NYC WILL SERVE UP HEALTHIER MEALS WITH ENHANCED FOOD STANDARDS

 

Updated Food Standards Aim to Support Health of More Than 1 Million New Yorkers, Including Schoolchildren, Older Adults, and H+H Patients Accessing Meals or Snacks From City Agencies

 

For First Time Ever, Food Standards Will Now Limit Added Sugars in Meals Served and Add Requirement for Whole or Minimally Processed Plant-Proteins

  New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced that the city will begin serving healthier meals to New Yorkers with the release of its enhanced “New York City Food Standards, Meals/Snacks Purchased and Served and the “New York City Food Standards, Beverage Vending Machines,” guidelines affecting hundreds of millions of meals and snacks served annually across 11 city agencies. Starting July 1, 2023, these standards — which have been compiled by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) — aim to support the health of more than 1 million New Yorkers, including schoolchildren, older adults, NYC Health + Hospitals patients, and others accessing meals or snacks from city agencies.

 

“I have long said that our agencies should not literally be feeding our ongoing health care crisis, by serving foods that contribute to chronic diet-related diseases,” said Mayor Adams. “These new food standards will help minimize the consumption of processed foods and sugary drinks, while encouraging whole and plant-based food options. This is a transformational step toward aligning our agencies’ missions and, more importantly, helping New Yorkers, including our most vulnerable, lead healthier, happier lives.”

 

“Every New Yorker deserves access to healthy and nutritious foods that tastes good,” said DOHMH Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan. “While it’s often said that ‘you are what you eat,’ for the city, we are what we serve, to millions of New Yorkers every day, including our precious schoolchildren, who are establishing eating habits now, for a lifetime. These standards illustrate our commitment to health and nutrition, and to the sustainability of their futures and the future of our planet.”

 

“The new food standards ensure that the food we serve our residents is delicious, nutritious, and helps reduce adverse diet-related health outcomes for New Yorkers,” said Mayor’s Office of Food Policy Executive Director Kate MacKenzie. “Under the leadership of Mayor Adams, New York City is a national leader in the shift towards a healthier, more culturally sensitive and sustainable food system.”

 

As part of these new food standards, individuals accessing meals and/or snacks served at city agencies will have food with less added sugars, lower sodium, a reduced number of beef options, and more opportunities to have a plant-based protein. Additionally, sugary drinks will be removed from city vending machines. The standards being put in place follow evidenced-based nutrition criteria that all city agencies and their sub-contractors must apply to the meals and snacks they serve.

 

Major updates to the food standards include:

  • A new added sugar limit, requiring less than 10 percent of calories served come from added sugars,
  • A lower daily sodium limit for youth,
  • A new requirement for half of all grains served to be whole grain,
  • A new requirement for offering whole or minimally processed plant-proteins, such as beans,
  • A new limit for beef and processed meats,
  • A new requirement for agencies to solicit client feedback regarding cultural preferences, taste, and food quality,
  • A new restriction to eliminate sugary drinks in vending machines, as well as the creation of a new limit of two slots for 100 percent juice per vending machine, and
  • Integration of nutrition and sustainability standards to simultaneously address and strengthen individual and planetary health and better align the standards with the “Good Food Purchasing Framework.”

 

Structural inequities make healthy eating challenging, and goals of the updated food standards include increasing emphasis on eating whole and unprocessed plant-based foods, as well as reducing the risk of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease by improving dietary intake, which is strongly impacted by such inequities. The updated food standards also aim to keep the planet healthy by reducing beef and processed meats as meal options.

 

City agencies have been mandated to follow the food standards for foods and beverages served since they were first established by an executive order in 2008, with updates made in 2011, 2014, and 2017. Executive Order 8 — signed on February 10, 2022 by Mayor Adams — mandates that DOHMH and the Mayor’s Office of Food Policy revise the city agency food standards every three years. Eleven city agencies are affected by this executive order, including the:

  • New York City Administration for Children’s Services,
  • New York City Department for the Aging,
  • New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services
  • New York City Department of Correction,
  • New York City Department of Education,
  • New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene,
  • New York City Department of Homeless Services,
  • New York City Department of Parks and Recreation,
  • New York City Department of Youth and Community Development,
  • New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, and
  • New York City Human Resources Administration.

 

More information about the food standards can be found on the DOHMH’s website and searching “nutrition at work.”

 

DOHMH has additional food initiatives, including:

 

Nutrition Incentive Programs:

 

  • Health Bucks are farmers markets coupons available to recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and through community organizations.
  • Half Off Food Box provides opportunity for New Yorkers who participate in SNAP to purchase a box of locally and regionally grown farm fresh fruits and vegetables for half of the full-box price at participating sites.
  • Get the Good Stuff provides opportunity for New Yorkers who participate in SNAP to get free fruits, vegetables, and beans at certain New York City supermarkets.

 

Nutrition Education Programs:

 

  • Stellar Farmers Markets provides free nutrition education workshops and cooking demonstrations at select farmers markets through New York City from July to November and through virtual platforms.
  • Eat Well Play Hard in Child Care Settings supports staff and families associated with group childcare centers across New York City in implementing healthy eating policies and practices through nutrition workshops to adults and children and technical assistance to childcare center staff.

 

Food Retail Support:

 

  • Shop Healthy NYC works to increase access to high-quality, affordable, healthier food options in neighborhoods facing food insecurity; an abundance of unhealthy food and higher rates of obesity, diabetes, and other diet-related diseases; and the oversaturation of predatory marketing.

“It is important for us to create opportunities for all families, regardless of their zip code, to have access to fresh, healthy, high-quality nutritious food and live healthier lifestyles,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. “Today’s announcement is an important step forward towards improving the overall health and wellness of our city and its residents. I applaud Mayor Adams for his commitment to making food equity and food justice a priority for his administration, and I look forward to our continued work together in dismantling structural barriers that have, for far too long, prevented many of our Bronx residents from having equal access to healthy food options.”

 

“This is something to applaud and admire. Thank you, Mayor Adams, for such an important and inspiring announcement,” said New York State Senator Luis Sepúlveda. “For years, I have been committed to eating healthy, and whenever I can, I encourage others and tell them about the health benefits of good nutrition. For the city to announce that our students and people who receive food from city agencies will receive meals that are low in fat, lower in sugars, and place limits on things like sodium and processed meats is inspiring. Not only will we see results in the improved health of those impacted, but it also allows for proper education in the nutritional sense early on. We will eventually become promoters of this knowledge in our homes, thus starting a chain reaction of wellness and health for our communities. It is even brilliant to put these measures in vending machines, as it is innovative and very practical. Congratulations, we are on the right track.”

 

“Access to healthy food and drink options is essential in our efforts to improve health outcomes in the Bronx and throughout the city,” said New York State Assembly member Jeffrey Dinowitz. “I applaud Mayor Adams and Commissioner Vasan for giving this issue the attention it needs, and I look forward to a continued effort to ensure that all New Yorkers have easy and affordable access to healthy food through our school system and public meals programs.”

 

“The New York City Food Standards have long served as a national model for how cities can use their food purchasing power to improve the health of vulnerable populations including, children, seniors, hospital patients, and jail inmates,” said Nicholas Freudenberg, distinguished professor of public health, City University of New York School of Public Health and Health Policy. “With the newly revised standards, New York City has taken another step forward in using its resources to tackle diet-related diseases, food insecurity and limited access to healthy affordable food.”

 

“We applaud Mayor Adams for making a strong commitment to reducing diet-related diseases,” said Dr. Charles Platkin, executive director, Hunter College New York city Food Policy Center. “Whether or not a poor diet can cause damage to the body should no longer be debated — there is clear evidence that supports the causal relationships between dietary factors and diet-related diseases. We must continue to create strategies to eliminate hunger, food insecurity, and diet-related disease and give people the basic human right to healthy food for every meal — these updated food standards are one step closer to achieving that goal.”

 

“New York City’s new food standards should help schools and city agencies serve meals that better promote health and sustainability as well as meeting nutritional needs,” said Dr. Marion Nestle, professor of nutrition, food studies, and public health, emerita, New York University. “They emphasize whole foods and those that are minimally processed — the cutting edge of nutrition advice these days. Once again, New York leads the way toward health equity and food justice.”

 

“The updated NYC Food Standards for Meals and Snacks Purchased and Served and the NYC Food Standards for Beverage Vending Machines represent a significant step in the direction of creating an environment that will support the healthy growth and development of the city’s schoolchildren,” said Dr. Sara E. Abiola, executive director, Tisch Food Center. “Eliminating access to sugary drinks in vending machines and limiting the amount of added sugar in meals served to young people will undoubtedly promote the consumption of healthier food and beverage options in many settings and diminish the burden of chronic diet-related diseases in years to come.”

 

“It’s exciting to see New York City once again leading the way to catalyze healthier food for all, with strong, science-based standards to improve nutrition and well-being for kids and adults in schools, hospitals, and offices across the city,” said Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, dean and Jean Mayer professor of nutrition, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University.


2022 GrowNYC Seed Giveaway and Spring Plant Sale

 

School Gardens Seed Giveaway

We received a donation of seeds (thanks to our partner City Growers), and can distribute them to DOE K-12 public schools in NYC! Please note that some seeds are expired, as they were intended for the 2019-2021 growing seasons. However, they are still good quality and should germinate well--we suggest sowing extra seeds in case the germination rate isn't as high as usual. Each school can get 15 packets of seeds (potentially more depending on demand).

Eligibility
  • You must be a DOE K-12 public or charter school in NYC
  • You must have an up-to-date school registration with GrowNYC
  • Register here on our website
  • Email schoolgardens@grownyc.org for help with registration.

Order Deadline
  • Monday, April 25th

SPRING PLANT SALE


Every year since 1986, GrowNYC holds an Annual Spring Plant Sale in order to provide community groups with perennial and annual flowering plants, herbs, and vegetables from Greenmarket farmers at wholesale prices. Plants are for neighborhood open space projects only (e.g. community gardens, schools, block associations, churches, etc.) and may be sold to raise other funds. 

Pickup locations:
  • Domino Park (parking lot)
  • River St & South 1st Street, Brooklyn, NY 11249
  • Thursday April 28th - 12pm to 4pm
  • Friday April 29th - 12pm to 4pm
  • Saturday April 30th - 12pm to 4pm

  • Oak Point Property LLC
  • 1 Oak Point Ave, The Bronx, NY 10474
  • Friday May 6th - 12pm to 4pm
  • Saturday May 7th - 12pm to 4pm

Order Deadline
  • Friday, April 8th

Please read this instruction sheet first.


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NYC Comptroller and Pension Fund Trustees Announce Agreements With 11 Companies to Disclose Annual Workforce Diversity Data

 

11 Companies Have Committed to Publishing Their EEO-1 Reports Annually. The Number of S&P 100 Companies Disclosing EEO-1s Has Risen from 14 to 85 since 2020.

 New York City Comptroller Brad Lander and trustees of the New York City Employees’ Retirement System, the New York City Fire Pension Fund, the New York City Teachers’ Retirement System, and the custodian of the New York City Board of Education Retirement System, announced that they have reached agreements with the boards of 11 companies to disclose annual workforce diversity data following successful shareowner engagements.

The following companies have agreed to the annual disclosure of their Consolidated EEO-1 Report:  American Express, Anthem, Honeywell International, Illumina, Intuitive Surgical, Raytheon Technologies, Simon Property Group, Texas Instruments, The PNC Financial Services Group, T-Mobile, and Zoetis.

“Transparency and data are necessary for investors to hold companies accountable for their public statements and commitments to equity and racial justice. In response to advocacy by New York City’s pension funds and allies over the past two years, corporate resistance to disclosure of EEO-1 data has given way, and now the vast majority of S&P 100 companies will disclose comparable data,” said New York City Comptroller Brad Lander. 

Since the July 2020 launch of the Diversity Disclosure Initiative, 78 large companies have agreed to disclose their EEO-1 Report in response to engagement by the New York City Retirement Systems. As a result, at least 85 S&P 100 companies now disclose, or have committed to disclose, their EEO-1 Report, up from about 14 in July 2020.

The Consolidated EEO-1 report is a comprehensive breakdown of a company’s workforce by race, ethnicity, and gender annually to the U.S Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The report is broken into 10 employment categories, including senior management. These reports are an important tool for measuring a company’s progress on representation of employees of color and women at various levels of the corporation.

Transparency around workforce diversity is a concrete step companies can take to follow through on commitments to racial equity and diversity inside and outside of the workplace. With access to EEO-1 reports, investors can assess how much progress a company is making in their commitment to increase representation at all levels of the company.

Disclosure of the report will provide investors with critical information, including:

  • Standardized, quantitative, and reliable data that is comparable across companies and industries, enabling investors to assess the representation of Black employees, other employees of color, and women at various levels of the corporation;
  • Specific data on senior management diversity; and
  • Particularized data that allows investors to assess the representation of specific racial and ethnic groups by gender, such as Black female employees, in a job category – and to make meaningful, year‐over‐year comparisons.

The agreement to disclose EEO-1 reports was reached after successful engagement with the Comptroller’s office on behalf of the New York City Retirement Systems, resulting in the withdrawal of shareowner proposals.

The New York City Retirement Systems are composed of the New York City Employees’ Retirement System, Teachers’ Retirement System, New York City Police Pension Fund, and New York City Fire Department Pension Fund. Four of the five funds participate in the Diversity Disclosure Initiative.

Trustees of the relevant systems include:

New York City Employees’ Retirement System (NYCERS): New York City Comptroller Brad Lander; Mayor Eric Adams’ Representative Preston Niblack; New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams; Borough Presidents: Mark Levine (Manhattan), Donovan Richards (Queens), Antonio Reynoso (Brooklyn), Vito Fossella (Staten Island), and Vanessa L. Gibson (Bronx); Henry Garrido, Executive Director, District Council 37, AFSCME; Tony Utano, President Transport Workers Union Local 100; and Gregory Floyd, President, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local 237.

Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS): New York City Comptroller Brad Lander; Mayor Eric Adams’ Appointee Philip Dukes; Chancellor’s Representative, Lindsey Oates, New York City Department of Education; and Debra Penny (Chair), Thomas Brown and David Kazansky, all of the United Federation of Teachers.

New York City Fire Pension Fund (Fire): New York City Comptroller Brad Lander; Mayor Eric Adams’ Representative Philip Dukes; Acting New York City Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh (Chair); New York City Finance Commissioner Preston Niblack; Andrew Ansbro, President, Robert Eustace, Vice President, Edward Brown, Treasurer, and Eric Bischoff, Staten Island Representative and Chair, Uniformed Firefighters Association of Greater New York; Liam Guilfoyle, Captains’ Rep.; Paul Mannix, Chiefs’ Rep., and Christopher Jensen, Lieutenants’ Rep., Uniformed Fire Officers Association; and Peter Devita, Marine Engineers Association.

Board of Education Retirement System (BERS): Schools Chancellor David C. Banks, Represented by Lindsey Oates; Mayoral: Tom Allon, Vasthi Acosta, Gregory Faulkner, Dr. Angela Green, Anthony Lopez, Alan Ong, Gladys Ward, Karina Tavera; Thomas Sheppard (CEC); Geneal Chacon (Bronx), Tazin Azad (Brooklyn), Kaliris Salas-Ramirez (Manhattan), Jaclyn Tacoronte (Staten Island), and Deborah Dillingham (Queens); and employee members John Maderich of the IUOE Local 891 and Donald Nesbit of District Council 37, Local 372.

Poughkeepsie Narcotics Dealer Arrested In Connection With Multiple Overdose Deaths From Fentanyl-Laced Heroin

 

Allen Peloquin Arrested for Causing Overdose Deaths of Two Individuals and Participating in a Narcotics Conspiracy Responsible for Two Additional Overdose Deaths

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Tim Foley, the Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), and Kirk Imperati, the Acting Sheriff of the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office, announced the unsealing of a criminal complaint in White Plains federal court charging ALLEN PELOQUIN, a/k/a “Ace,” with distributing fentanyl-laced heroin that resulted in the death of a woman in Carmel, New York (“Victim-2”) on or about February 12, 2020 and a man in Poughkeepsie, New York (“Victim-4”) on or about May 10, 2020.  The complaint also charges PELOQUIN with participating in a narcotics conspiracy that distributed fentanyl-laced heroin that resulted in the deaths of Victims-2 and -4 as well as in the death of a man in Poughquag, New York (“Victim-1”) on or about January 2, 2020 and the death of a woman in Poughkeepsie, New York (“Victim-3”) on or about May 4, 2020.  PELOQUIN was arrested this morning in Poughkeepsie, New York, and was presented this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, the defendant and others distributed heroin laced with the deadly synthetic opioid fentanyl and caused the death of four victims.  The defendant is now in custody and facing serious federal charges.  Working with our state, county, and local law enforcement partners, we will continue to hold accountable the dealers who push this lethal poison, exploit addiction, and further the devastating impact of the opioid crisis in our communities.”

DEA Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Tim Foley said: “With a daily rate of nearly 300 drug overdose deaths, it has never been more important to warn the public of the dangers of today’s illegal drugs.  Synthetic drugs like fentanyl are mixed intentionally with other street drugs causing two thirds of overdose deaths.  I applaud the diligent work by all of our law enforcement partners throughout this investigation which has led to Peloquin’s arrest.”

Acting Dutchess County Sheriff Kirk Imperati said: “The prosecution of Mr. Peloquin in connection with these tragic deaths comes as the result of the partnership between various law enforcement agencies and their strong commitment to holding those who sell drugs in our communities responsible.  Distributing illegal narcotics that take lives, and ruin others, will not be tolerated and the prosecution of Mr. Peloquin sends a strong message that law enforcement will stop at nothing to hold those who engage in this activity accountable.”

As alleged in the Complaint:[1]

From at least in or about January 2020 up to and including at least in or about May 2020, PELOQUIN and others distributed and sold fentanyl-laced heroin throughout Dutchess County in glassine bags stamped with distinctive red images and wording and were responsible for the overdose deaths of at least four individuals:  Victims-1, -2, -3 and -4.  After the deaths of Victims-1 and -2, the wording and image of the red stamp changed in an apparent effort to evade law enforcement while continuing to distribute the same lethal narcotics.  Upon further investigation by law enforcement—including several undercover purchases of fentanyl-laced heroin from PELOQUIN and certain of his co-conspirators in which the stamps on the bags purchased matched those on the bags found with Victims-1 and -2—PELOQUIN was identified as the particular dealer who sold fold fentanyl-laced heroin to Victims-2 and -4, which resulted in their deaths.

ALLEN PELOQUIN, a/k/a “Ace,” 34, of Poughkeepsie, New York is charged with two counts of narcotics distribution resulting in the deaths of Victim-2 and Victim-4.  PELOQUIN is also charged with one count of conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and heroin resulting in the deaths of Victims-1, -2, -3, and -4.  Each the foregoing counts carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison.  The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the DEA, the Dutchess County Drug Task Force (“DCDTF”), the Dutchess County District Attorney’s Office, the New York State Police, the Town of Kent Police Department, the City of Poughkeepsie Police Department, the Dutchess County Probation Department, and the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office.  DCDTF includes agents and officers of the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office, the City of Beacon Police Department, the Town of Hyde Park Police Department, and the Town of East Fishkill Police Department.  Mr. Williams also thanked the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office, the Town of Lloyd Police, and the Ulster County Regional Gang Enforcement Narcotics Team (“URGENT”) for their invaluable assistance in this case.  URGENT includes agents and officers of the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office, Town of Lloyd Police, Town of Plattekill Police, Town of Woodstock Police, Town of Shandaken Police, Town of New Paltz Police, Village of Ellenville Police, Town of Marlborough Police, the Ulster County District Attorney, and Ulster County Probation.  Mr. Williams noted that the investigation is ongoing.

The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint, and the description of the Complaint set forth herein, constitutes only allegations, and every fact described therein should be treated as an allegation.

VCJC News & Notes 4/1/22

 

Van Cortlandt Jewish Center
News and Notes


Here's this week's edition of the VCJC News and Notes email. We hope you enjoy it and find it useful!

Reminders

  1. Shabbos

    Shabbos information is, as always, available on our website, both in the information sidebar and the events calendar.
    Here are the times you need:  
    Shabbos Candles Friday 4/1/22 @ 7:02 pm
    Shabbos morning services at 8:45 am.  Please join the services if you can do so safely. 
    Shabbos Ends Saturday 4/2/22 @ 8:06 pm
     
  2. We will be getting the OU Kosher Passover Guide very shortly. It will be available in the office
Van Cortlandt Jewish Center
3880 Sedgwick Ave
Bronx, NY 10463

Permits Filed For 1395 Bristow Street In Crotona Park East, The Bronx

 


Permits have been filed for a four-story residential building at 1395 Bristow Street in Crotona Park East, The Bronx. Located between Jennings Street and East 170th Street, the lot is near the Freeman Street subway station, serviced by the 2 and 5 trains. Charles Schwartz of CNC Developers is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 54-foot-tall development will yield 17,243 square feet designated for residential space. The building will have 29 residences, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 594 square feet. The masonry-based structure will also have a cellar and nine open parking spaces.

Boaz M. Golani Architect is listed as the architect of record.

Demolition permits have not been filed yet. An estimated completion date has not been announced.

Statement from Governor Kathy Hochul on FY 2023 Budget

Governor Hochul announces job creation in Western New York.


 "This is a critical time in New York's economic recovery, and I am committed to ensuring that our state budget reflects New Yorkers' priorities and tackles the top issues we are facing. From improving public safety to supporting small businesses, these are important and complex issues, and we need to get them right.

"I am continuing to have productive conversations with Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins and Speaker Heastie and I appreciate their collaboration and good faith approach to these negotiations. We are getting closer to agreement, with consensus on major policy items.  

"New Yorkers should know that progress is being made and that we will put in the time it takes to reach an agreement that delivers for them and moves our state forward."

Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson Attends Wednesday's Morris Park Community Association Meeting


The special guest at Wednesday's MPCA meeting was Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson. BP Gibson spoke of her first three months in office. Going from a staff of five people as a city council member to a staff of eighty-five people as borough president. She  mentioned the toll of the Twin Parks fire shortly after she  took office, and how things were progressing for those who survived the fire, and the families of those that didn't. BP Gibson rattled off many of her goals as  borough president such as full scholarships to Brown and Yale Universities for two Bronx high school seniors, but that is not enough for her. Starting a Bronx Veterans Council, BP Task Force on people with Disabilities, Girls Empowerment group, reinstating a Bronx Youth Council, a new unit on Bronx Public Safety working with all aspects of the judicial process, and much more.


BP Gibson added that she will be making community board and CEC appointments, then spoke about the new East Side Metro North stations, Hip Hop Museum, rejuvenation of the Spofford Youth Detention House, restarting from scratch the future of the Kingsbridge Armory, and the upgrading of the Hunts Point Market to which Mayor Adam has dedicated one-hundred million of the six-hundred million dollars that is needed. 


BP Gibson then took questions from the audience which ranged from the now abandoned homeless shelter at 2028 White Plains Road, which she said could come up again somewhere else in the future at another location if the community is not vigilant. To a question on Bail Reform the answer was that judges do have some discretion, but are not using it. She did not expect the state budget to be on time, and joked that she was glad to be out of the state assembly where she served in, over eight years ago. When asked about the adding more cops, the answer was that those doing civilian jobs would be placed back on patrol. She also said that there are no extra police officers being hired, just those who are replacing police officers who are leaving the force for retirement or other reasons. More questions included the use of guns, which BP Gibson called Coward Culture, and BP Gibson gave a detailed explanation of how the 4.3 million dollars is being spent, and just how much is left 3.5 million dollars. 


Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson speaks about her three months in office, her goals for the borough, and what has to be done in the future. L - R, in the mask and glasses is Elio Morales MPCA Treasurer, BP Gibson, Yahay Obeid Vice-President MPCA, and Lefty Negron head of the MPCA Safety Patrol. 


After speaking BP Gibson sat down to take several questions.


BP Gibson stayed to hear the area NCO police report on the new Neighborhood Safety Team of one Sergeant and five officers.