Governor Hochul and the National Hurricane Center Announce Hurricane Preparedness Week in New York State

 

Annual Campaign Designed to Educate and Prepare New Yorkers for Impacts of Hurricanes and Tropical Storms

New Yorkers Encouraged to Sign Up for NY-Alert to Receive Real-Time Weather Alerts and Notifications Ahead of Hurricane Season

 Governor Kathy Hochul and the National Hurricane Center today announced Hurricane Preparedness Week will run April 30 through May 6, and encouraged New Yorkers to review their personal emergency preparedness plans ahead of the upcoming 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. Hurricanes and tropical storms are destructive weather systems that can cause death and catastrophic damage, leaving communities reeling from its effects weeks, months and even years afterward. The annual campaign, in partnership with the National Hurricane Center, is designed to educate New Yorkers about the threat of tropical storms, how to prepare for and stay safe during a hurricane and what to consider when cleaning up after a storm.

“My administration will continue to work with our partners across all levels of government to best protect New York State against the impacts of catastrophic storms such as hurricanes,” Governor Hochul said. “During my first month in office, when Hurricane Ida ripped through the state, New Yorkers saw firsthand the devastating effects that hurricanes can have on our communities, and I encourage all New Yorkers to review their hurricane preparedness plans this Hurricane Awareness Week.”

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Hurricane Center (NHC), there were 14 named hurricanes in 2022 in the Atlantic. With the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season now only a month away, Governor Hochul urged New Yorkers to prepare in advance.

In 2022, Governor Hochul announced an Action Plan by the Governor's Office of Resilient Homes and Communities to strengthen the resiliency of communities in future storm events. The proposed plan included $41.2 million in federal funding to support initiatives that will help residents adapt to the effects of climate change while prioritizing historically underserved communities. Programs are open to counties outside New York City with a presidential disaster declaration for individual assistance, including Dutchess, Nassau, Orange, Rockland, Suffolk, and Westchester Counties. The Governor’s Office also continues to maintain a web page for those affected by Ida, including links to relief and resources for clean-up and restoration efforts.

Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Jackie Bray said, “New Yorkers in coastal communities are well aware of the impacts of heavy rains, destructive winds, and flooding caused by tropical storms and hurricanes each summer. Unfortunately, we have begun to feel these impacts in other parts of the state, sometimes hundreds of miles from the coast in upstate regions. It is critical that every New Yorker takes time this week and throughout the month to prioritize hurricane preparedness: know your risk, stay informed, and have a plan.”

National Hurricane Center Director Michael Brennan said, "I encourage all New Yorkers to prepare for the upcoming hurricane season. The first step is knowing your risk. If you live near the coast, find out if you live in a storm surge evacuation zone and have your evacuation plan ready if you're asked to leave your home ahead of a storm. Flooding from heavy rainfall can affect you even if you live well inland, hundreds of miles from the coast. As we saw with Ida in 2021 in New York, rainfall flooding has been the deadliest hazard from tropical storms and hurricanes in the past 10 years."

Hurricane Safety

All New Yorkers should know how to track tropical storms and receive timely alerts that let them know what they need to do to stay safe, including evacuation. The best way to receive timely weather alerts is by signing up for NY-Alert, a free service that provides weather and other emergency-related alerts.

Take the following steps to ensure you and your loved ones are protected:

• Develop a household disaster plan and know how to contact family members at all times. Identify an out-of-town friend or family member to be the “emergency family contact” and make certain all family members have the contact info.
• Designate an emergency meeting spot – a familiar location where family can meet if the residence cannot be accessed.
• Know hurricane and storm risks in your community.
• If you live near coastal areas, learn about your area’s storm surge history and your community’s warning signals and evacuation plans, including safe routes inland and the location of official shelters.
• Know where to relocate pets during a storm – most shelters will not allow pets.

Keep the following supplies on-hand:

• Enough non-perishable food and water supplies for 10 days.
• Battery-operated radios and flashlights and an ample supply of batteries.
• A first aid with supply of medicines.
• Important documents: Insurance policies, medical records, bank account numbers, Social Security card, etc. in a waterproof container.
• Cash, checkbook, credit cards and ATM cards.
• An emergency contact list of people and organizations who may need to be called: schools, doctors, providers, and insurance contacts.

Take the following preventative measures:

• Obtain and store materials, such as plywood, necessary to properly secure your home.
• Repair loose and clear clogged rain gutters and down spouts.
• Secure or bring inside lawn furniture and other loose, lightweight objects such as garbage cans and garden tools that could become projectiles in high winds. Also keep trees and shrubbery trimmed of dead wood.
• Review insurance policies to determine extent of coverage before a storm strikes.
• Determine where to move boats in an emergency.
• Be aware of local weather conditions by listening to National Weather Service broadcasts on NOAA Weather Radio and reports from local television and radio stations.
• Know how to turn off the power, heat and water at home.

For more information, visit the DHSES Safety and Prevention page at dhses.ny.gov/safety.

MAYOR ADAMS’ STATEMENT ON GOVERNOR ABBOTT’S DECISION TO RESUME BUSING OF ASYLUM SEEKERS TO FIVE DEMOCRATIC CITIES WITH BLACK MAYORS

 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today released the following statement after it was reported that Texas Governor Greg Abbott would resume the uncoordinated and involuntary bussing of asylum seekers to New York, Chicago, and Washington, D.C., as well as begin bussing migrants to Los Angeles and Denver — five cities run by Black Democrats:

 

“This weekend, we learned that Governor Abbott is once again deciding to play politics with people's lives by resuming the busing of asylum seekers to New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Denver, and Washington, D.C. Not only is this behavior morally bankrupt and devoid of any concern for the well-being of asylum seekers, but it is also impossible to ignore the fact that Abbott is now targeting five cities run by Black mayors. Put plainly, Abbott is using this crisis to hurt Black-run cities. 

 

“Last year, Abbott bussed migrants to New York against their will, reportedly had security guards hold them hostage on busses when they tried to get off in other cities, shipped them off while sick and COVID positive, and tagged individuals with barcodes.

 

“Despite Abbott’s inhumane actions, New York City will continue to do all it can to handle this influx, but this crisis is more than one city can handle. With a vacuum of leadership from border states, we need the federal government to step in and provide us with support and to prevent this cruelty from continuing.”

MAYOR ADAMS EXTENDS SUCCESSFUL WATER BILL DEBT FORGIVENESS PROGRAM THAT SAVED NEW YORKERS $12 MILLION ALREADY, BROUGHT NYC MORE THAN $80 MILLION

 

Program Helped 86,000 Customers Save Money; Low-Income Homeowners Saved $4.2 Million in Credits

 

DEP Begins Initiating Enforcement Actions, Including Possible Shutoffs

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Chief Climate Officer and New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala today announced New York City is extending the successful water bill amnesty program announced in January for an additional month — through May 31, 2023 — to help New Yorkers save money while also clearing debt. The limited-time program — initially scheduled to last just 90 days — has already brought in more than $80 million from delinquent accounts and has helped New York customers clear their debts, saving them $12 million in interest so far. Of the nearly 200,000 customers with a late water bill, approximately 86,000 — more than 40 percent — participated and saved money. To date, DEP has also granted low-income homeowners a total of $4.2 million in billing credits as part of the program.

 

Money recouped through this program is used to invest in making the city’s water system more resilient, maintain and upgrade critical infrastructure, and keep water rates low. Customers that do not pay delinquent bills or enter payment plans will face enforcement measures, including water service shutoffs.

 

“Water is one of our most precious resources, and New York City has the best municipal drinking water supply on the planet. Now, we’re asking New Yorkers to do their part to help us maintain that water supply by paying their unpaid water bills,” said Mayor Adams. “By extending our water bill amnesty program by an extra month, more New Yorkers will be able to pay off their debts and save on paying interest, leaving more money in working people’s pockets. The funds we receive help us maintain our critical water infrastructure and keep costs low for everyone, which is why those who refuse to pay will have their water shut off. If all New Yorkers pay the cost of their water usage, we can keep our water costs low and keep being the city with the greatest drinking water in the world.”

 

“Our water amnesty program has already saved New Yorkers more than $12 million in interest and brought in $80 million in principal payments, and we’re excited to give New Yorkers one more month to take advantage of this opportunity,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. “But for those who can pay yet choose to let their thousands of dollars in water bills continue to go unpaid, consider this your last warning.”

 

“DEP is thrilled with how successful the amnesty program has been and is excited to continue it for another month to allow even more customers an opportunity to save money while reducing their debt,” said Chief Climate Officer and DEP Commissioner Aggarwala. “However, for those with chronically delinquent accounts who are continuing to withhold payment, consider this your final warning — there will be serious consequences for failure to pay your bills. Starting this month, we will begin enforcement actions against non-payers that may include water service shutoffs. Delinquent customers are forcing other customers to pay higher rates, and that must stop. The money recovered in this program is helping to keep our rates low.”

DEP supplies more than 1 billion gallons of high-quality drinking water and treats 1.3 billion gallons of wastewater for more than 9 million New Yorkers every day. The water system’s expenses — including maintenance, repairs, and capital upgrades — are directly funded by revenue collected from water bills. Customers pay about $0.01 per gallon in both water and sewer charges, and the average New York City household uses about 70,000 gallons of water per year.

 

The water bill amnesty program has generated the first sustained reduction in DEP’s delinquent accounts balance since the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the many beneficiaries of the successful program is the Shorehaven community located on the Clason Point peninsula in the Bronx. Residents of the development, composed of condominiums and two-family homes, will save more than $400,000 and reduce their burden of unpaid water bills.

 

To maximize program exposure, the city conducted extensive outreach efforts that included engaging with elected officials, community boards, business improvement districts, real estate companies, and property managers; promoted the program via social media, traditional press, ethnic media, Taxi TV, and 311; and notified eligible customers through robocalls, billing inserts, direct mail, and email. Promotional materials were also posted at all of DEP’s customer service borough offices. 

 

During the pandemic, DEP saw a significant increase in the receivable balance of delinquent accounts — there were $1.2 billion in delinquent payments before the amnesty program started — which threatens the operations and capital needs of a service the city could not survive without. Data shows that 85 percent of customers who set up a payment plan stay on it and successfully clear their debt. Increased enforcement, including possible water service shutoffs, will be the key to driving long-term delinquencies down even further.

 

For customers with a seriously delinquent balance of more than $1,000 for more than a year, the amnesty program offers three options:

 

• If 100 percent of the principal bill is paid, 100 percent of interest will be forgiven;
• If 50 percent of the principal bill is paid, 75 percent of interest will be forgiven; or
• If 25 percent of the principal bill is paid, 50 percent of interest will be forgiven.

 

Customers who owe less than $1,000 are still eligible to receive amnesty on 100 percent of their interest if they pay their total bill. All customers who participate in the water amnesty program and leave a remaining outstanding balance will be required to enter into a payment agreement with DEP.  To receive amnesty and confirm eligibility, or for more information, customers should visit DEP’s water amnesty website, call (718) 595-7000, or visit a borough office.   

 

To help low-income customers who already participate in New York State’s Low Income Homeowner Water Assistance Program, DEP is offering up to an additional $30 million to assist these homeowners with forgiveness of up to $5,000 of their remaining delinquent balances.

 

News, updates and more from NYC Council Member Rafael Salamanca, Jr.

Council Member Rafael Salamanca, Jr. was pleased to attend the opening of Phase II of the Starlight Park expansion project!

New Yorkers will now have greater accessibility to clean and safe green spaces that will help improve community building and drive economic stimulation into the Bronx.

***** 
¡El Concejal Rafael Salamanca, Jr. tuvo el agrado de asistir a la inauguración de la Fase II del proyecto de expansión de Starlight Park!

Los neoyorquinos ahora tendrán mayor accesibilidad a espacios verdes limpios y seguros que ayudarán a mejorar la construcción de la comunidad e impulsarán la economía en el Bronx.

INTRO - 891 Is Now Law!

Council Member Salamanca is proud to announce that his bill, Intro 891 - which would allow sports venues in New York City to host 50/50 raffles - was adopted by the New York City Council.

By bringing these fan raffles to NYC sporting venues, we have paved the way for sports teams to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for charities each season.

The Future of Real Estate Development With REBNY

Thank you to the Real Estate Board of New York for inviting me to participate in a panel discussion - ‘Viewpoints on Development’ - during REBNY Fellows Day.

I had a great time speaking to the next generation of developers on the importance of being community-minded developers.

Email Council Member Salamanca

Visit our District Office at:  1070 Southern Boulevard Bronx, New York 10459 (718) 402-6130 salamanca@council.nyc.gov

Attorney General James Announces 70 Guns Turned in at Bronx Gun Buyback and More Than 3,000 Guns Turned In Throughout New York State

 

Historic Gun Buyback Effort Includes Nine Separate Buyback Events Throughout New York State

Including Today’s Landmark Event, AG James Has Taken More Than 7,000 Firearms Out of New York Communities Since 2019

New York Attorney General Letitia James announced that 70 firearms were turned in at a community gun buyback event hosted by her office and the New York City Police Department (NYPD). This event was part of Attorney General James’ historic effort to hold nine simultaneous gun buyback events on the same day in communities throughout the state. Including the guns turned in at the Bronx event, Attorney General James secured more than 3,000 guns alone from across the state. To date, Attorney General James has removed more than 7,000 guns from New York communities since taking office in 2019.

“Gun violence has caused so many avoidable tragedies and robbed us of so many innocent New Yorkers,” said Attorney General James. “Through our partnership with local law enforcement and public officials, we were able to organize this historic, single-day gun buyback event in nine locations throughout New York state. Every gun that we removed out of Bronx homes and off the streets is a potential tragedy averted and another step in protecting communities throughout New York state.”

Guns recovered from Bronx Gun Buyback on Statewide Gun Buyback Day

This statewide gun buyback resulted in the collection of more than 3,000 guns, including 185 assault rifles, 1,656 handguns, and 823 long guns. These figures include the 70 guns collected from the Bronx event, which included five assault rifles, 43 handguns, and nine long guns. Altogether, Attorney General James has removed more than 7,000 from New York communities since taking office in 2019. 

“The NYPD is proud to partner with the New York State Attorney General's Office in an effort to make our communities safer through this comprehensive gun buyback in both the Bronx and Brooklyn,” said NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Community Affairs Mark Stewart. “Gun violence continues to be a pressing issue in our city. Lives are often lost to senseless gun-related incidents, and it is our shared responsibility to take action to prevent further tragedies. The gun buybacks are just one of the many steps we are taking to promote public safety and prevent guns from falling into the wrong hands.”

“Gun violence is an all too familiar issue for many residents and families in our borough, which is why we need partners like Attorney General James who are committed to ending the proliferation of guns in our communities,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. “Every New Yorker has a fundamental right to feel safe in their neighborhood and initiatives like this gun buyback are essential in removing illegal guns off our streets. I want to thank Attorney General James for her leadership and commitment to making our state safe.”

Governor Hochul and Mayor Adams Launch New $15 Million Effort to Build All-Electric, Affordable Homes in NYC

 

Future Housing Initiative Will Speed Up Creation of 3,000 New, Carbon-Neutral, Affordable Homes

Supports Shared Climate Goals of Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 85 Percent by 2050, Delivering More Than 35 Percent of Benefits of Clean Energy Investments to Disadvantaged Communities

 Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams today launched the Future Housing Initiative, a new partnership investing $15 million to fast-track the creation of 3,000 energy-efficient and all-electric affordable homes in New York City. The new effort is a significant step toward goals outlined in the state Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act — including reducing greenhouse gas emissions 85 percent by 2050 and delivering 35-40 percent of the benefits of clean energy investments to disadvantaged communities — as well as the city's green building goals under Local Law 97.

"With the Future Housing Initiative, we're taking a major step forward in our commitment to ensure a more sustainable, affordable, and equitable future for New Yorkers," Governor Hochul said. "I'm proud to partner with Mayor Adams on this critical effort, which will help us reach our nation-leading climate goals, improve access to affordable housing in our communities, and build a healthier, greener New York for all."

Mayor Eric Adams said, "Since day one, our administration's north star has been connecting New Yorkers to safe, high-quality, affordable homes. This new partnership will do all of that and give us the tools to do it even more quickly. In New York, we are tackling the climate crisis head-on, and I want to thank Governor Hochul for working with us to deliver the greener, cleaner, more prosperous future New Yorkers deserve."

Formally titled the New Construction Future Housing Initiative, this effort is the result of an expanded memorandum of understanding between the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD). The initiative aims to streamline the delivery of development financing and grants to affordable housing projects currently in HPD's new construction pipeline. Funding will cover the incremental costs of implementing high-performance, all-electric Future Homes standards, such as electrification of hot water and heating systems in design and construction to provide energy savings, resiliency, and improved air quality for future residents.

Funded through NYSERDA's $6 billion Clean Energy Fund, the Future Housing Initiative offers building owners and developers up to $10,000 per unit and up to $1.5 million per project to fund the construction of high-performance, all-electric multifamily buildings that will achieve "Passive House" certification, the gold standard for sustainable construction, with drastically reduced energy use and carbon emissions. Development teams will also receive technical assistance support to facilitate the necessary design work. The program will support up to 30 projects that encompass approximately 3,000 dwelling units.

Applications for round one of Future Housing Initiative funding with $7.5 million available open today through HPD and will be accepted through June 1, 2023. A second round will follow in 2024.

Buildings are one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions in New York City, making up two-thirds of all greenhouse gas emissions generated within the five boroughs. Integrating energy efficiency and electrification in affordable housing developments reduces carbon emissions and results in more sustainable, healthy, and comfortable homes.

The initiative builds upon an earlier partnership to advance electrification in HPD's preservation pipeline by financing retrofits in existing multifamily buildings. Announced in 2021, the original agreement between NYSERDA and HPD provided deep incentives through the HPD Retrofit Electrification Pilot to support building electrification and energy efficiency retrofits in multifamily buildings in HPD's preservation pipeline with poorly performing systems where electrification is a big win. This pilot is expected to upgrade approximately 1,200 affordable homes. The partnership combines NYSERDA's clean energy and technical expertise and HPD's affordable housing financing and development expertise with a focus on driving the design, construction, and operation of clean and resilient carbon neutral buildings in support of Governor Hochul's goal to achieve two million climate friendly homes by 2030.

The Future Housing Initiative also delivers on Mayor Adams' commitments in PlaNYC: Getting Sustainability Done and Housing Our Neighbors: A Blueprint for Housing and Homelessness to improve the health and safety of New Yorkers through housing, including by promoting electrification and sustainability standards for newly constructed, affordable housing. Together, this work will bring the city's affordable housing creation efforts more closely in line with decarbonization goals and benefit residents through lower energy costs, healthier living conditions, and more sustainable homes.

Great May News from Riverdale Main Streets Alliance

~ Save The Date ~ RMSA Block Party 2023 June 11th - Noon to 5p

Plans are shaping up for June 11th with music, games, food, doggie parade, Zumba, salsa lessons, and more surprises. We're so proud of our local businesses & their support! To be a sponsor, vendor or volunteer, please email NoRi.blockparty22@gmail.com

 

Mayor Adams Announces 500 free Apple Air Tags to Kia and Hyundai Owners in the 43rd Precinct

Mayor Adams Announces 500 free Apple Air Tags to Kia and Hyundai Owners in the 43rd Precinct

By Robert Press

Mayor Eric Adams came to the Castle Hill Library in the 43rd Precinct to announce that the Association for a Better New York  is paying for five hundred Apple Air Tags to be given out to owners of Kia and Hyundai cars that are featured in a Tic-Tock video on how to steal those cars to use them in other crimes. 

In the Bronx, Grand Larceny Auto better known as GLA is up by 23.7% or 290 autos January 1, 2023 to April 16, 2023, over the same period ending April 16, 2022. For the Week ending April 16, 2023 Bronx precincts are up in GLA 173.5% with the 42nd Precinct where GLA up 1,200%. Only the 44th Precinct showed a decrease in GLA of 33.3% for the week ending April 16, 2023. This is for reported cars stolen, as it is unknown if any stolen cars have not been reported.

Mayor Adams along with Chief of Patrol John Chell, Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey, 43rd Precinct commanding officer Deputy Inspector Carlos Peralta, and Steven Rubenstein Chairman of ABNY stood next to a table that was set up with five-hundred Apple Air Tags on it. Mayor Adams picked up one box and explained that with the Air Tag hidden in a car your Apple phone gets a notice whenever the car is moved. If it is being stolen you can report it to the police department so they can mark the car as stolen and track where it goes. 

Mayor Adams said that one such Air Tag was placed in a car that was being driven away from the library. He took out his IPhone clicked on the Air Tag app and showed that the car was moving. Mayor Adams said that smart leaders do not wait for big spikes in crime, but want to stop bumps in crime before they get larger, thanking Mr. Rubenstein of ABNY for donating to the city the 500 Apple Air Tags. 

Here is a photo of an Apple Air Tag Package with the size of the Air Tag on the package.

Mayor Adams holds the package of an Apple Air Tag which fits in the palm of his hand. With Mayor Adams are (R - L) Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey, Chief of Patrol John Chell, and Steven Rubenstein of ABNY.

Mayor Adams holds the Air Tag between two of his fingers to how how small the Air Tag is. The commanding officer of the 43rd Precinct Deputy Inspector Carlos Peralta is also in the photo. The five-hundred Apple Air Tags are lined up on the table.

Mayor Adams shows on his IPhone how the Air Tag app is showing the car where the Air Tag was placed is now moving.

Deputy Inspector Peralta of the 43rd Precinct tells that GLA has doubled in the latest twenty-eight day period, and more than tripled in the week ending April 16, 2023 in his precinct.