Thursday, September 26, 2013

LIU ON CALIFORNIA’S MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE

,
   City Comptroller John C. Liu stated the following on the signing of AB 10, which will increase California’s minimum wage to $10.00 per hour:
“We applaud California’s leaders for reaching an agreement to raise their state’s minimum wage to $10.00 per hour. As pay continues to lag behind the cost of living and corporate profits, increases in state and local minimum wages are an ever more important way to help struggling families make ends meet. In New York City — the nation’s most expensive major city — we continue to call for a minimum wage of $11.50 per hour, which would lift roughly 200,000 New Yorkers out of poverty and put $2.4 billion into the pockets of workers who need it most. We look forward to continuing to work with our colleagues in Albany to realize these changes in the weeks and months to come.”
Background
 
Liu statement on New York State minimum wage legislation – March 19, 2013: http://comptroller.nyc.gov/press/2013_releases/pr13-03-042.shtm
 
Liu applauds President Obama’s federal minimum wage proposal – February 13, 2013: http://www.comptroller.nyc.gov/press/2013_releases/pr13-02-030.shtm
 
Liu applauds Governor Cuomo’s minimum wage proposal – January 9, 2013: http://www.comptroller.nyc.gov/press/2013_releases/pr13-01-005.shtm
 
Liu proposes an $11.50 per hour minimum wage during his State of the City address – December 20, 2012: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeZIUGDaSzA&feature=youtu.be
 

 

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

STATEMENT FROM LHOTA CAMPAIGN ON DE BLASIO UNIFORMED FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION ENDORSEMENT

 
September 25, 2013 
 
While accepting the endorsement today of the Uniformed Firefighters Association union, he fondly--and in considerable detail--recounted his 2003 fight to keep firehouses Engine 204 from closing and claimed to have prevented future firehouse closures. What Mr. de Blasio failed to mention in his remarks today was his position four years later, where he called the closure of the very same firehouse and the closing of another Brooklyn firehouse “fair and balanced.”
 
“Mr. de Blasio’s revisionist history is becoming a pattern in this campaign. The inconsistencies of his positions and remarks are increasingly troubling and raising serious issues about what voters can trust.” --Jessica Proud, campaign spokeswoman  
 
Bill de Blasio today: “Starting with the fight in 2003 to save the firehouse in the district I represent down in the city council… Engine 204 in Cobble Hill.  That fight to me just for the point of reference, that was the first time I was arrested on a municipal issue in this city.  That fight for me really was crucial because we stood up, gave our residents and the men and women who do the work, all of us stood shoulder to shoulder. You know that year we lost a few firehouses, but we didn’t lose them again after that.  And I think its no small measure due to the incredible fight that people put up in neighborhoods that were affected all over the city.  And then when the cuts were proposed year in and year out we kept coming back stronger every year.”
 
But, on May 16, 2007, a Daily News headline read: FIREHOUSE ACCORD STRUCK. Engine 204 to be leased, Engine 212 sold; 'Fair and balanced outcome,' de Blasio sez
"This is a fair and balanced outcome," Councilman Bill de Blasio said at City Hall.

Wave Hill Events October 11–October 18


  It’s hardly fair that raptors will overshadow everything happening this week, but it cannot be helped! Indeed, what with getting up close to these captivating creatures, hearing stories about them, dissecting their pellets, making art inspired by them and hearing music and dance dedicated to them, well, it will be a glorious Columbus Day.

Possibly you are interested in some other aspect of the world of nature and their points of intersection. Almost any day this week will satisfy, with guided garden and gallery tours, yoga, tai chi, meditation and a family art project. Glorious autumn provides the perfect setting for all these opportunities! The next-to-last image I have attached, by the way, is of one of the pieces in Tandem Pursuits, the show that opened recently in Glyndor Gallery. A wonderfully diverse, imaginative group of artworks!


SAT, OCTOBER 12    TAI CHI CHUAN
Quiet like a mountain, moving like a river, Tai Chi is a sequence of gentle movements based on images found in nature. In this beginner-level class, Irving Yee, a member of the William CC Chen Tai Chi School, introduces students to the internal martial arts and promotes an awareness of its benefits. Sessions are held outdoors only and are weather dependent. Call 718.549.3200 x245 by 8AM on the day of the class for program updates. Session fee: $23/Wave Hill Member $15. Registration opens onsite at 9:30AM.
MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 10‒11AM

SAT, OCTOBER 12    FAMILY ART PROJECT: BUILDINGS ON THE LAND
With the Family Art Project back in its original home in Wave Hill House, consider the varied structures at Wave Hill. Then create your own homey structure using clay, cardboard and natural and recycled materials. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon.
WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM‒1PM          

SAT, OCTOBER 12   GALLERY TOUR
Join a curatorial fellow for a tour of Wave Hill’s fall exhibition, Tandem Pursuits: Armor & Ichthyology, which celebrates the interests of former Wave Hill House resident Bashford Dean. Dean was Curator of Arms and Armor at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Curator of Fish at the American Museum of Natural History. The intersection of his interest in both fish and armor provides the opportunity to bring together a remarkable group of contemporary art that explores concepts of adaptation, pattern, and protection. The tour also includes Sunroom Project Space installations by Van Lier Visual Artist Fellows Onyedika Chuke and Francisco Donoso. Tours take place Tuesdays and Saturdays at 2PM. Free with admission to the grounds.
GLYNDOR GALLERY, 2PM

SUN, OCTOBER 13    BIRDING WALK
Naturalist Gabriel Willow contributes his extensive knowledge of bird species and their behaviors on these captivating walks. Wave Hill’s garden setting overlooking the Hudson River flyway provides the perfect habitat for native and migrating birds. Ages 10 and older welcome with an adult. Birders of all levels welcome! Severe weather cancels. For weather-related updates call 718.549.3200 x 245 by 8AM the day of the walk. Free with admission to the grounds. (NYC Audubon Members enjoy two-for-one admission.) Registration recommended, online at www.wavehill.org, by calling 718.549.3200 x305 or at the Perkins Visitor Center.
MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 9:30AM

SUN, OCTOBER 13    FAMILY ART PROJECT: BUILDINGS ON THE LAND
With the Family Art Project back in its original home in Wave Hill House, consider the varied structures at Wave Hill. Then create your own homey structure using clay, cardboard and natural and recycled materials. Free with admission to the grounds.
WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM‒1PM

SUN, OCTOBER 13    HATHA YOGA
Find refuge from city life by practicing seasonal yoga. Decrease stress and increase your energy by focusing on your posture, your breath and your mind/body/spirit. Classes are led by Neem Dewji, certified in Hatha and Therapeutic Yoga from The Yoga for Health Foundation, England, and The Integral Yoga Institute, NYC. All levels welcome. Sessions are held outdoors only and are weather dependent. Call 718.549.3200 x245 by 8AM on the day of the class for program updates. Session fee: $23/Wave Hill Member $15. Registration opens onsite at 9:30AM.
MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 10‒11:15AM

SUN, OCTOBER 13    MEDITATION
This fall, take a moment to release stress and reconnect with your inner self while practicing meditation. Each session includes instruction in simple techniques followed by 20 to 30 minutes of meditation. Led by Yoga for Bliss director Neem Dewji and other qualified instructors. All levels welcome. Session fee: $23/Wave Hill Member $15. Registration opens onsite at 9:30AM..
MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 11:30AM
12:45PM

SUN, OCTOBER 13    GARDEN HIGHLIGHTS WALK
Join us for an hour-long tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free with admission to the grounds.
MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 2PM

MON, OCTOBER 14    COLUMBUS DAY           
Wave Hill is open.

MON, OCTOBER 14    RAPTOR DAY
Wave Hill takes flight as we celebrate birds of prey! This day-long event features live raptor shows, bird walks, discovery tables, owl pellet dissections and more. Overlooking the Hudson River, Wave Hill is the perfect place to spot hawks, eagles, kites, ospreys, and falcons. Free with admission to the grounds.
ON THE GROUNDS, 9:30AM–4PM

MON, OCTOBER 14    RAPTOR DAY BIRDING WALK
Join a NYC Audubon naturalist on a walk to spot birds in the gardens and woodlands as well as the skies above Wave Hill. Ages 10 and older welcome with an adult. Severe weather cancels. For weather-related updates, call 718.549.3200 x245 by 8AM the day of the walk. Free with admissions to the grounds. (NYC Audubon Members enjoy two-for-one admission.)
MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 9:30AM

MON, OCTOBER 14    RAPTOR DAY DROP-IN STORYTELLING
During the morning, Family Art Project’s Rama Mandel regales families with tales and songs of raptors large and small. Free with admission to the grounds.
SHADE BORDER, 9:30AM–NOON

MON, OCTOBER 14    RAPTOR DAY FAMILY GALLERY TOUR
Wave Hill educators lead fun and educational family tours of our current exhibition, Tandem Pursuits: Armor and Ichthyology, making connections with art, birds and nature. Free with admission to the grounds.
GLYNDOR GALLERY, 10AM & 1PM

MON, OCTOBER 14    RAPTOR DAY FAMILY BIRDING WALK
Join a NYC Audubon naturalist on a family-friendly walk to spot birds in the gardens and woodlands as well as the skies above Wave Hill. Hill. Ages 5 and older welcome with an adult. Severe weather cancels. For weather-related updates, call 718.549.3200 x245 by 8AM the day of the walk. Free with admissions to the grounds. (NYC Audubon Members enjoy two-for-one admission.)
MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 10:30AM

MON, OCTOBER 14    RAPTOR DAY LIVE RAPTOR SHOW
For over 30 years, Volunteers for Wildlife has been promoting the conservation and preservation of Long Island’s wildlife and natural habitat through education programs and wildlife rehabilitation. In this program, Educator Coordinator Lauren Schultz and a clinic assistant introduce live hawks, owls and falcons. Learn about the many adaptations that make these animals some of the most skilled hunters of the planet. Between programs check out the skulls, feathers and other artifacts Volunteer for Wildlife will have on hand for a close-up look at these raptors. Two shows will take place, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Free with admission to the grounds.
SHADE BORDER, 11–11:45AM & 1:30–2:15PM

MON, OCTOBER 14    FAMILY READING AREA
Want to take a respite from the day’s activities? Stop by the family reading area in the Sarah and Geoffrey Gund Theater and enjoy some books, puppets and other fun and educational materials related to birds of prey. Free with admission to t he grounds.
WAVE HILL HOUSE, NOON–4PM

MON, OCTOBER 14    RAPTOR DAY PERFORMANCE: LEAF ARROW STORYTELLERS
Leaf Arrow Storytellers Donna Couteu Cross and Joe Cross, members of the Sac and Fox and Caddo Indian Nations of Oklahoma, will present Native American tales, including coyote and bird tales, creation stories and historic folklore filled with tribal family value. They use story, song and dance to celebrate the relationship of Native American people with the natural environment while dressed in Native American regalia. Stories are: Gift of Music, Spring Bird and Coyote, Princess Te Ata’s Corn Planting Ceremony, and How North America Came to Be Known as the Great Turtle Island. Free with admission to the grounds.
WAVE HILL HOUSE, 12:15–1PM

MON, OCTOBER 14    RAPTORS IN MOTION: BIRDS OF PREY SHADOW-PUPPET WORKSHOP
Join us in the Sarah and Geoffrey Gund Theater for a session creating dynamic shadow puppets of raptors in motion with artist Toto Feldman. Using colorful and textural collage materials, invent new and imaginary birds of prey with moveable parts for your own personal puppet show. Free with admission to the grounds.
WAVE HILL HOUSE, 1–4PM

MON, OCTOBER 14    RAPTOR DAY OWL PELLET DISSECTION
In this exploratory workshop, gain firsthand knowledge of the diet of the owl by examining owl pellets. Large owls typically hunt small mammals, birds, and reptiles, and like most birds, usually swallow their prey whole since they cannot chew their food. The owl’s digestive system compresses its prey’s bones, teeth, hair, feathers, and so on, into tight pellets which it then regurgitates near where it perches. Free with admission to the grounds.
SHADE BORDER, 2–4PM

TUE, OCTOBER 15    GARDEN HIGHLIGHTS WALK
Join us for an hour-long tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon.
MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 11AM

TUE, OCTOBER 15    GALLERY TOUR
Join a curatorial fellow for a tour of Wave Hill’s fall exhibition, Tandem Pursuits: Armor & Ichthyology, which celebrates the interests of former Wave Hill House resident Bashford Dean. Dean was Curator of Arms and Armor at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Curator of Fish at the American Museum of Natural History. The intersection of his interest in both fish and armor provides the opportunity to bring together a remarkable group of contemporary art that explores concepts of adaptation, pattern, and protection. The tour also includes Sunroom Project Space installations by Van Lier Visual Artist Fellows Onyedika Chuke and Francisco Donoso. Tours take place Tuesdays and Saturdays at 2PM. Free with admission to the grounds.
GLYNDOR GALLERY, 2PM

A 28-acre public garden and cultural center overlooking the Hudson River  and Palisades, Wave Hill’s mission is to celebrate the artistry and legacy of its gardens and landscape, to preserve its magnificent views, and to explore human connections to the natural world through programs in horticulture, education and the arts.

HOURS  Open all year, Tuesday through Sunday and many major holidays: 9AM—5:30PM. Closes 4:30PM, November 1—March 14.  
ADMISSION  $8 adults, $4 students and seniors 65+, $2 children 6—18. Free Saturday mornings until noon. Free until noon on Tuesdays in October. Free to Wave Hill Members and children under 6.

PROGRAM FEES  Programs are free with admission to the grounds unless otherwise noted.

Visitors to Wave Hill can take advantage of Metro-North’s one-day getaway offer. Purchase a discount round-trip rail far and discount admission to the gardens. More at http://mta.info/mnr/html/getaways/outbound_wavehill.htm

DIRECTIONS – Getting here is easy! Located only 3o minutes from midtown Manhattan, Wave Hill’s free shuttle van transports you to and from our front gate and Metro-North’s Riverdale station, as well as the 242nd Street stop on the #1 subway line. Limited onsite parking is available for $8 per vehicle. Free offsite parking is available nearby with continuous, complimentary shuttle service to and from the offsite lot and our front gate. Complete directions and shuttle bus schedule at www.wavehill.org/visit/.

Information at 718.549.3200. On the web at www.wavehill.org.

Kingsbridge Armory UPDATE


This came in from Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. on the City’s Landmarks Preservation Commission vote on the land marked Kingsbridge Armory.

 
STATEMENT FROM BOROUGH PRESIDENT DIAZ
RE: LPC Vote on Kingsbridge Armory

“I am thrilled that the City’s Landmarks Preservation Commission yesterday pushed the development of the Kingsbridge Armory another step forward, issuing a ‘binding report’ that will allow the construction of the Kingsbridge National Ice Center to occur in this landmarked structure.

“As I have said numerous times, this project is going to have a tremendous positive impact on not just the Northwest Bronx but the entire borough, and I reiterate my support for the Kingsbridge National Ice Center,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

Borough President Diaz’s complete ULURP recommendations on the project, which were released yesterday, can be read at the following link: http://on.nyc.gov/18njPny.

The Kingsbridge National Ice Center project was announced as the City’s official choice for the Kingsbridge Armory at a press conference in April 2013, which was attended by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Borough President Diaz, City Council Member Fernando Cabrera, KNIC Partners LLC Founder Kevin Parker, New York Rangers hockey legend Mark Messier, Olympic Figure Skating Gold Medalist Sarah Hughes, then New York City Economic Development Corporation President Seth W. Pinsky and then Community Board #7 Chairman Paul Foster.

The original press release announcing the project can be read here: http://on.nyc.gov/ZGheD1. Full video of that event can be watched here: http://on.nyc.gov/18pwSTg.

Veteran's Forum



Tuesday, September 24, 2013

BOROUGH PRESIDENT DIAZ ISSUES KINGSBRIDGE ARMORY ULURP


  As expected Bronx borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. has made his recommendation positive, of the Kingsbridge National Ice Center proposal for the Kingsbridge Armory. Diaz came out early in support of the KNIC proposal, and all that had to be done was work out a community benefits agreement that was acceptable by all sides. 
 
Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. today issued his office’s recommendations concerning the future of the Kingsbridge Armory. The recommendations come as part of the borough president’s charter mandated responsibilities in the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP).

In his recommendations, Borough President Diaz reiterated his support for the project, noting that the Kingsbridge National Ice Center proposal will completely transform the unused structure into a hub of commercial and civic activity. The recommendations come on the heels of a public hearing on the project, which took place on Friday, September 20, and was hosted by Borough President Diaz as part of the ULURP process.

“The Kingsbridge National Ice Center is clearly the right choice for the Bronx. At every opportunity this proposal has been met with near unanimous support, and not one individual or group spoke against the project at my office’s public hearing. Support for the KNIC proposal is strong not just in the Northwest Bronx but in every corner of our borough, and I look forward to this project’s swift approval,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

In April, Kingsbridge National Ice Center Partners (KNIC) and the Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment Alliance (KARA) signed a historic community benefits agreement (CBA) to redevelop the Kingsbridge Armory into a facility committed to serving Bronx residents. That CBA represents a multi-million dollar benefit package for the local community.  

For the first time in the history of New York City, a developer has agreed to wall-to-wall living wage jobs for local workers, more than 50,000 square feet of community space, targeted local hiring, opportunities for minority- and women-owned businesses, free ice time for local schools, local procurement, sustainable green development and operation, and a business incubator to facilitate wealth creation for local residents. KNIC also plans to create a foundation to establish free after-school ice sports and academic tutoring programs for disadvantaged youth. The program will be modeled after the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation in Philadelphia, which has seen considerable academic and athletic success with those students who participate.

The Community Benefits Agreement has been signed by dozens of neighborhood organizations and community partners representing thousands of residents in the Northwest Bronx that support the project.

Borough President Diaz’s complete ULURP recommendations can be at the following link: http://on.nyc.gov/18njPny.

The Kingsbridge National Ice Center project was announced as the City’s official choice for the Kingsbridge Armory at a press conference in April 2013, which was attended by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Borough President Diaz, City Council Member Fernando Cabrera, KNIC Partners LLC Founder Kevin Parker, New York Rangers hockey legend Mark Messier, Olympic Figure Skating Gold Medalist Sarah Hughes, then New York City Economic Development Corporation President Seth W. Pinsky and then Community Board #7 Chairman Paul Foster.

The original press release announcing the project can be read here: http://on.nyc.gov/ZGheD1. Full video of that event can be watched here: http://on.nyc.gov/18pwSTg.

Bronx Elected Officials to Host an Affordable Care Act and State Health Exchange Forum


 
  Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr, Congressman Jose Serrano, and State Senator Gustavo Rivera will host an Affordable Care Act (ACA) and State Health Exchange Forum on Friday, September 27, 2013 to help inform and prepare Bronx residents, health providers, employers and employees of the changes underway to New York's health care system .

With the enrollment of New York State Health Exchange officially opening on October 1, 2013 - and the final elements of the ACA going into effect on January 1, 2014 - it is imperative for Bronxities to be well informed of the importance of enrolling in the New York State Health Exchange, the benefits of the program and the resources available to them in the Bronx.

The forum will offer attendees access to government agencies, community based organizations and local healthcare providers who will showcase how the program works for individuals and businesses and will highlight the many local resources available to help inform and guide the enrollment process.

WHAT:           Affordable Care Act & State Health Exchange Forum   

WHO:           Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.
                         Congressman Jose Serrano
                         State Senator Gustavo Rivera
                       

WHEN:          Friday, September 27, 2013
                           10:00 am - 12:00 pm  

WHERE:        St. Barnabas Hospital Auditorium, 1st Floor
                            4422 Third Ave. (Enter at 182nd Street)
                            Bronx, NY 10457