VCJC News & Notes 12/15/23

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!

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Van Cortlandt Jewish Center

3880 Sedgwick Ave

Bronx, NY 10463

Governor Hochul Announces New Adult-Use Cannabis Dispensaries Opening Before End of Year

 Nearly 40 Adult-Use Dispensaries Will Have Opened in 2023, Including 12 Black-Owned Operations

Nationally, Less Than 0.2 Percent of Dispensaries Are Majority Black-Owned but In New York State, Over 20 Percent of Adult-Use Dispensaries Are Majority Black-Owned

Brooklyn, SoHo, Upper East Side, Westchester, Rochester, Troy, Amsterdam to Welcome Their First Adult-Use Dispensaries

Governor Kathy Hochul announced the opening of a dozen new adult-use dispensaries from Brooklyn to Buffalo as the State continues to expand the legal adult-use cannabis market and welcome new operators. By the end of December, New York State currently anticipates having at least 37 adult-use dispensaries open for business. At these legal adult-use dispensaries, New Yorkers will be able to access safer, licensed cannabis products produced, grown, and tested to meet the state’s rigorous safety standards, right here in the Empire State.

“As New York expands the most equitable cannabis market in the nation, my administration remains committed to building a safe industry for all New Yorkers that will grow our small business community,” Governor Hochul said. “These new dispensaries continue our mission of strengthening our legal market while at the same time helping to push out the bad actors who skirt our laws and undermine all we are trying to accomplish.”

Among these dispensaries, eight are majority Black-owned, five are Hispanic-owned, and nine are women-owned, highlighting New York's commitment to fostering a representative and inclusive cannabis market. According to recent industry research, fewer than 20 out of the 10,000 medical and adult-use cannabis retail shops across the country are majority Black-owned. Meaning less than 0.2 percent of all national dispensaries are Black-owned, while in New York over 20 percent of adult-use dispensaries are majority Black-owned.

New York State accomplished this, despite two different court-ordered injunctions slowing down the Empire State’s rollout. New York is not alone in experiencing legal challenges to cannabis social equity programs, but despite these challenges New York entrepreneurs have persevered, overcome obstacles, and are showing the benefits of equity in this industry.

New York State Office of Cannabis Management Executive Director Chris Alexander said, "This is going to be a busy and exciting month for New York cannabis as over a dozen licensees finally get the chance to open their doors for business. What's particularly heartening is not just seeing these stores open, but seeing who is operating them. Before the end of the year, we will have 12 Black-owned dispensaries operating and 5 Hispanic-Owned dispensaries. Considering the national landscape, where Black and brown ownership in cannabis is exceedingly rare, I am incredibly proud of this result. This isn't just about numbers; it's a clear indication of our dedication to creating a more equitable and inclusive cannabis industry.”

In May, Governor Hochul passed legislation intended to curtail storefronts selling cannabis without a license. Since June, enforcement officers from the Office of Cannabis Management and Department of Taxation and Finance have been inspecting shops, seizing products, and padlocking unlicensed stores. In total, the combined effort has inspected 350 locations, 88 of which have been re-inspected, yielding over 11,000 pounds of seized illicit cannabis worth more than $54 million. OCM and DTF investigators will continue inspections each and every week across the State.

Below is a list of locations who have either recently opened their doors or are set to open for business in the next few weeks. Reminder, these are independent businesses who are determining their own opening dates, any dates listed below may be subject to change.

Recent & Upcoming Openings:

New York City:

The Bronx:

• Hush – 2460 Williamsbridge Road Fl 1, Bronx 10469, (Opened on Thursday, December 14, 2023)

Brooklyn:

• Grow Together – 2370 Coney Island Ave., Brooklyn 11223, (Opening Tuesday, December 19, 2023), the first adult-use dispensary in Brooklyn, Black-Owned

Manhattan:

• Dagmar Cannabis – 412 W Broadway, NY 10012, (Opening on Friday, Dec 15, 2023), the first adult-use dispensary in SoHo, woman-owned
• THC Herbal Care – 1412 Lexington Ave., New York 10128, (Tentative opening, January 4, 2024), the first adult-use dispensary in Upper East Side

North Country:

• The Highest Peak – Village of Potsdam, 5 Market St., Potsdam 13676, (Opened on Thursday, December 7, 2023), the first adult-use dispensary in Potsdam, woman-owned
• The Firehaus – 7479 US Highway 11, Potsdam 13676, (Opened Wednesday, December 13, 2023)

Capital Region:

• 420 Bliss – 740 Hoosick St., Brunswick 12180, (Opened on Thursday, December 7, 2023), the first adult-use dispensary in Brunswick, Black-owned
• Capital District Wellness – 997 Central Ave Suite 200, Albany 12205, (Opened on Friday, December 8, 2023)
• Amsterdam Cannabis – 1451 State Highway 5S, Amsterdam 12010, (Opened on Friday, December 9, 2023), the first adult-use dispensary in Amsterdam

Western New York:

• Premier Earth Corp – 1297 Hertel Ave, Buffalo 14216, (Opened on Wednesday, December 13, 2023)

Finger Lakes:

• MJ Dispensary – 900 Jefferson Rd Ste 902, Rochester 14623, (Opened on Tuesday, December 12, 2023), the first adult-use dispensary in Rochester

Mid-Hudson Region:

• Elevate – 127 S Terrace Ave, Mt Vernon 10550, (Opened on Monday, December 11, 2023), the first adult-use dispensary in Westchester County and Mid-Hudson Region

Long Island:

• Happy Days – 105 Route 109, Farmingdale 11735, (Tentative Opening on Saturday, December 23, 2023)

New York offers easy ways to identify legal cannabis dispensaries. Simply use the New York Cannabis Dispensary Location finder online or look for the verification sticker tool found on legal dispensary windows. New Yorkers are able to report unlicensed shops in their communities by using the New York Cannabis Incident Reporting portal. Follow the Office of Cannabis Management on social media at @nys_cannabis.

Housing Lottery Launches For 2072 Anthony Avenue In Tremont, The Bronx

The affordable housing lottery has launched for 2072 Anthony Avenue, a 12-story residential building in Tremont, The Bronx. Designed by Badaly Architects, and developed by Arben Mitaj under the 2072 Anthony LLC, the structure yields 111 residences. Available on NYC Housing Connect are 110 units for residents at 130 percent of the area median income (AMI), ranging in eligible income from $101,109 to $198,250.

Amenities include garage with assigned parking spaces and electric vehicle charging stations, bike storage lockers, a shared laundry room, package lockers, common area Wi-Fi, and a recreation room. Residences come with hardwood floors, air conditioning, and name-brand kitchen appliances, countertops, and finishes.

At 130 percent of the AMI, there are 29 studios with a monthly rent of $2,949 for incomes ranging from $101,109 to $146,900; 59 one-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $3,155 for incomes ranging from $108,172 to $165,230; and 22 two-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $3,773 for incomes ranging from $129,360 to $198,250.

Prospective renters must meet income and household size requirements to apply for these apartments. Applications must be postmarked or submitted online no later than February 12, 2024.

MAYOR ADAMS, SPEAKER ADAMS, DSS COMMISSIONER PARK ANNOUNCE $20 MILLION INVESTMENT, ELIGIBILITY EXPANSION TO HELP MAKE MORE NEW YORKERS ELIGIBLE FOR FAIR FARES TRANSIT DISCOUNT

 

Influx of Funds Announced With First Eligibility Expansion in Program’s History   

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, and New York City Department of Social Services (DSS) Commissioner Molly Wasow Park today announced a substantial investment and an expansion of eligibility to the Fair Fares transit discount to help make the program more accessible to more New Yorkers. The Fair Fares program gives eligible New Yorkers with low incomes a 50 percent discount on buses and trains.  

 

“New York City has recovered all of the nearly 1 million jobs lost during the pandemic, and public transit is a key component of building on that momentum and ensuring that our recovery continues to be inclusive for working families,” said Mayor Adams. “The $20 million we are investing — in partnership with the City Council — coupled with the program expansion will ensure even more New Yorkers can keep more money in their pockets while making the Fair Fares program — and our city’s public transportation system — more accessible, so additional New Yorkers can utilize this critical discount to commute to work, visit friends and family, access medical care, get to class, and enjoy all our great city has to offer. I encourage all eligible New Yorkers to go online and apply to join.”  

 

“Expanding access to our city’s public transit system is vital to helping New Yorkers access opportunities and meet their basic obligations,” said Speaker Adams. “The expansion of Fair Fares eligibility to more riders is an important step that the council advocated for and secured in the budget together with Mayor Adams’ administration. With so many New Yorkers struggling to make ends meet amidst an affordability crisis, we encourage all eligible New Yorkers take advantage of the Fair Fares program. The city must continue pursuing expanded eligibility to truly ensure this critical benefit reaches people in need of affordable transit access, who can benefit from the opportunities the program helps unlock. I look forward to working with my colleagues, advocates, and all stakeholders to continue our efforts to make public transit more affordable and accessible to all." 

  

“We all swipe our metro cards or tap our phones to enter the subway or take a bus ride. The expansion of Fair Fares helps offset that cost for more New Yorkers so they can move about the city with more ease and continue to build toward a stronger financial future for themselves and their families,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. 

  

“Hundreds of thousands of low-income New Yorkers are already saving on transit costs through DSS’s Fair Fares program, and as a result of this expansion of the program’s income eligibility standards, many more will soon be spending less on transit costs and saving more for themselves,” said DSS Commissioner Park. “Our public transit system is one of the greatest benefits New York City has to offer, and it is crucial that access to this benefit is fair and equitable so every New Yorker can get to where they need to go. The Fair Fares program helps our low-income neighbors do just that, and we look forward to helping newly eligible New Yorkers enroll in the program.”  

  

“Mobility is a critical piece of equity. When New Yorkers can navigate our city more easily and affordably, that means they have better access to jobs, health care, friends and family, and cultural enrichment,” said New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “We thank Mayor Adams, Commissioner Park, and DSS, as well as our numerous sister agencies for their support of working-class New Yorkers through this important expansion of the Fair Fares program.”  

  

“Fair Fares is crucial for providing affordable access to New Yorkers who depend on transit to get to move around the city,” said Metropolitan Transportation Authority Acting Chief Customer Officer Shanifah Rieara. “Increasing the program's eligibility rate is a win for the city, the transit system, and the countless customers who will now benefit."  

   

The city is investing an additional $20 million into the program to expand eligibility to more New Yorkers, on top of the $75 million the Adams administration and City Council already baselined for Fair Fares in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 budget. Additionally, the administration, as part of its budget agreement with the City Council, has implemented a rule change increasing the program’s income eligibility standard for the first time — raising it to 120 percent of the federal poverty level, a 20 percent increase over the prior standard. Previously, the Fair Fares discount was available only to New Yorkers between 18 and 64 years old with incomes at or below 100 percent of the federal poverty level. 

    

The expansion brings the total baseline funding of Fair Fares to $95 million annually beginning in FY24. This additional funding will ensure that DSS can effectively and efficiently connect newly eligible New Yorkers to Fair Fares, while continuing to provide discounted fares to existing clients. Currently, more than 300,000 New Yorkers are enrolled in the Fair Fares program. Due to the new expansion, many additional low-income New Yorkers will now qualify for the program’s 50 percent discount on subway and eligible bus fares or MTA Access-A-Ride paratransit trips.   

 

 

New Fair Fares income limits per household size.

 

DSS continues to work with other city agencies, elected officials, and community-based organizations to promote the Fair Fares program and connect eligible New Yorkers to discounted fares through extensive outreach and education efforts. The Fair Fares transit discount is available to all New Yorkers who meet the eligibility criteria, including non-citizens. New Yorkers can visit the Fair Fares website to learn more and apply online.   

 

“Fair Fares is a vital public benefit for several hundred thousand New Yorkers and its growth is essential to economic security for working families," said Danna Dennis, senior organizer, Riders Alliance. “The city's additional investment of $20 million in a tight budget is a testament to the commitment of Speaker Adams, Council Transportation Chair Brooks-Powers, and Mayor Adams. Having seen how transformative the program has already proven, riders look forward to its continued robust expansion in the near future.” 

  

“The Fair Fares transit discount program is a critical lifeline to education, employment, medical care and other basic necessities for low-income New Yorkers,” said David R. Jones, president and CEO, Community Service Society of New York. “With that in mind, Mayor Adams and the City Council, under the leadership of Speaker Adams, included an additional $20 million for the program in the FY24 adopted city budget while expanding income eligibility for the program from 100 to 120 percent of the FPL. By doing so, the mayor and speaker made it possible for more low-income New Yorkers to take advantage of the program. The next step should be to make Fair Fares available to those with incomes under 200 percent of the FPL – a large swath of whom are working class New Yorkers who rely on the transit system to get to work, school, medical appointments and economic opportunities.” 

 

Bronx's Second Cannabis Dispensary Opens On Williamsbridge Road

 

HUSH aka Cannabis Emporium located at 2460 Williamsbridge Road opened Thursday to a rush of customers which included several people from the Office of Cannabis Management. The first customer was Hal Ozkurt,  the father of the owner of HUSH, Dennis Ozkurt. HUSH is the second legal cannabis dispensary in the Bronx, but several more applications have gone before Bronx community boards within the past few months. 

The application for HUSH to Community Board 11 for review was dated April 24, 2023 with thirty days for the community board to comment. The matter came before the Economic Committee of the board on May 17, 2023, which sent a resolution to the full board against the cannabis license application due to the location being directly across the street from the play yard of PS 89. The cannabis dispensary was however beyond the five-hundred foot rule from the entrance to the school. At the May 23, 2023, CB 11 full board meeting the resolution failed by a vote of eight in favor, twelve against, and one recusal.   

The CB 11 Economic Committee again discussed the matter of the cannabis dispensary at its June 21, 2023, meeting, and again sent a resolution to the full board opposing the location. At the June 22, 2023, CB 11 full board meeting the resolution passed this time with only one abstention. Another motion was passed to the OCM requesting a thirty day extension for CB 11 to submit its recommendation for 2460 Williamsbridge Road, which passed unanimously. CB 11 took 59 days to pass a resolution on 2460 Williamsbridge Road.  

Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson was on hand for the opening and said that she hopes this cannabis dispensary is successful because it will provide jobs to the community as unemployment in the Bronx is 6.5%. She added that there are rules to owning a cannabis dispensary and the owner has followed the rules. Dasheeda Dawson of Cannabis NYC said there are new stores opening up, and two hundred registrants are in training. Chris Alexander, the Executive Director of OCM said OCM is making sure that New Yorkers have access to legal cannabis, and encouraged people to support this business. Dennis Ozkurt the owner of HUSH said he was glad this day came so he could do business. His father Hal was the dispensary's first customer. There is a 9% state tax and 4% local tax on all legal cannabis products. 

It was the ribbon cutting for HUSH, the second legal cannabis dispensary in the Bronx. Owner Dennis Ozkurt is in the middle.

Chris Alexander, Executive Director of the Office of Cannabis Management asked people to patronize this legal cannabis store rather than the illegal ones because of the quality of legal cannabis.

Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson spoke of the 6.5% unemployment rate in the Bronx, and that this store is employing local residents. 

Dasheeda Dawson of Cannabis NYC was there to help HUSH open.

The first customer, the owner's father, shows off what he purchased.

Empty packages of various cannabis merchandise are in display cases throughout the dispensary.

Other items on display included HUSH hats and t-shirts.

Another display area which is empty packages with no cannabis inside.

There was time to celebrate, and yes that is a cannabis roll being smoked.

Directly across the street from HUSH are the Waring Avenue NYCHA Houses on the left, and PS 89 and it play yard on the right.      

Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson - YOU ARE INVITED: Bronx Gospel Concert for Seniors

  

RSVP Here

MAYOR ADAMS, DSNY COMMISSIONER TISCH ANNOUNCE NEXT-GENERATION TECHNOLOGY TO ENHANCE SNOW OPERATIONS IN PREPARATION FOR WINTER SEASON

 

Bladerunner 2.0 Technology Will Better Deploy, Track Snowplows, Salt Spreaders,  and Brining Vehicles to Help City Clear More Streets More Efficiently 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) Commissioner Jessica Tisch today unveiled new technology to modernize and enhance DSNY’s snow cleanup operations in preparation for the upcoming winter season. The state-of-the art system, known as BladeRunner 2.0, centralizes the deployment and real-time tracking of snowplows, salt spreaders, and brining vehicles, and replaces outdated technology first launched in 2015. Bladerunner 2.0 has been deployed ahead of this year’s snow season, which forecasters predict will be heavier than last year’s. The system will also be used to track DSNY collection and cleaning operations year-round. 

  

“With forecasters predicting a snowy winter, we’re revolutionizing how we track our snow operations and using new technology to keep New Yorkers safe,” said Mayor Adams. “We’ve never been more ready for snow season, thanks to our new Bladerunner 2.0 software that will allow us to better track and support our fleet of approximately 5,000 vehicles across all five boroughs. And we’re doing this in a way that is fair and equitable, so that there is no longer a system of first-, second-, and third-tier streets with different communities receiving different levels of service. Now, every street in all five boroughs is on a plow and salt route. And to help support our efforts, the best thing New Yorkers can do to help us get the roads clear when there is a storm is to stay off them — use mass transit if you must travel, so our plows, salters, and briners, now powered by Bladerunner 2.0, can do their jobs. We’re ready, New York.” 

  

“New York is good to snow,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. “With new investments in our snow management technology, we are ensuring that New York is second to none in winter storm preparedness. We’re readying ourselves for whatever the season throws our way.” 

  

“New York City is ready for whatever winter weather comes our way,” said Chief of Staff Camille Joseph Varlack. “DSNY, and agencies across the administration, have been hard at work drilling and preparing for the snow season. We won’t let snow stop the city that never sleeps.” 

  

“There’s no business like snow business — and there’s no city that can come close to New York when it comes to preparing for snow season,” said DSNY Commissioner Tisch. “As the city’s former chief information officer, I know firsthand the transformative impact that smart, innovative, technology can have on government. BladeRunner 2.0 is a state-of-the art system that reflects this administration’s commitment to using technology to better serve this city, and I’m proud of DSNY’s continuous efforts to enhance and streamline snow cleanup operations.” 

  

“I’m ‘snow’ excited about the rollout of BladeRunner 2.0,” said New York City Emergency Management (NYCEM) Commissioner Zach Iscol. “BladeRunner 2.0 ensures that every corner of our city receives timely and efficient snow removal services — reflecting this administration’s commitment to keeping New York City safe and operational, regardless of the weather. As winter gets underway, I encourage New Yorkers to stay informed through Notify NYC, the city’s verified emergency alert system — the coolest way to keep up and stay ahead of winter weather.” 

  

“Whether the forecast calls for a few flurries or a blizzard, New York City never flakes on winter weather responses,” said Chief Technology Officer Matthew Fraser. “The deployment of BladeRunner 2.0 is yet another example of this administration using real-time data to improve city government operations and benefit the lives of New Yorkers.”   

  

BladeRunner 2.0 features significant technology enhancements to better support snowplow, salting, cleaning, and collection operations, including:  

  

•    Enhanced GPS tracking data for broader time windows, multiple vehicles, and extended history; 
•    Google map integration to provide a modern view — with satellite and street view access — for vehicles and facilities; 
•    Real-time brine progress data; 
•    New visual layer data with brine coverage locations, snow preposition points, and protected bike lane information; 
•    Ability to locate vehicles of interest through proximity features and advanced time frame and location search capabilities; 
•    Significantly enhanced search capabilities; and 
•    New cloud-based system to allow for more concurrent users and faster response times. 

  

Ahead of any predicted snowfall, DSNY will activate its snow command center, where Bladerunner 2.0 is housed, to track operations around the city. Each of the thousands of DSNY superintendents have been trained to use the system, which will be available in all 59 DSNY garages. New Yorkers will still be able to utilize PlowNYC to track snowplowing progress in their neighborhoods. 

  

In addition to this new technology, DSNY is also heading into snow season with its highest headcount in 20 years. This, in addition to a nearly $500 million investment in new trucks in the past two years, means DSNY is better equipped than ever to clear snow on the city’s 19,000 lane-miles of roadway. 

  

As a result of this investment and other operational changes, streets will no longer be categorized as “primary, secondary, and tertiary,” a system where different communities received different levels of service. Every street in New York City is on a plow and salt route, and every route will be dispatched when conditions warrant. This includes real-time service of bike lanes as well. 

  

New Yorkers can follow NYCEM’s Notify NYC page on social media for the latest updates on weather operations as they develop and subscribe to Notify NYC to receive e-mail and text updates.