Mayors Office Accepting Applications for Various Internship Programs

The Mayor's Office is accepting applications to various government related internships. For more information on the opportunity to help your community, gain experience or possible make carrier connections, please do see the information taken from the Mayors office web site. To apply for an internship please log onto the web address provided below. If you know anyone who might benefit from the experience please do forward this e-mail.

Gregory
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Mayor's Office Internship Program

Do you have an interest in public policy? In government? In public service? If so, an internship with the City of New York might be just right for you, and the Office of the Mayor is now accepting applications. From the Community Affairs Unit to the Office of Immigrant Affairs, the New York City Commission for the United Nations to the Mayor's Office of Special Projects and Events, and many more in between, the Office of the Mayor offers internships that help support the City of New York. Whether you're looking to see policy made first-hand, give back to your community, or get the tools you need to succeed in any office, there is a department within the Mayor's Office sure to capture your interest while furthering your professional development. Our internships are aimed at college and graduate students, can be semester or year-long commitments, and are non-salaried.

http://www.nyc.gov/html/om/html/intern_form.html

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr’s, Comments on the Hunts Point Produce Markets Decision to Stay in its Historic Home in the Bronx

For those who have not heard the Bronx Produce Market has agreed to stay in its historic, home right here in the Bronx. As stated on their web site sales exceed two billion dollars annually. The market is considered the largest produce market in the world supplying much of the supermarkets and eateries on the east coast. Their decision to stay for at least another three years was reached even though New Jersey has been aggressively courting them. Please do see our Bronx Borough Presidents statement below on their decision to stay and what organizations and leaders helped convince the market that they would be best served right here in the Boogiedown.

Gregory
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Statement by Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.;

“After months of negotiation, I am thrilled to see that the City and the merchants of the Hunts Point Produce Market have reached a deal that will keep the co-op in the Bronx, where it belongs, for at least the next three years. During the coming months, we will continue to work with this administration and the merchants of the co-op on a long-term deal that will ensure that this tremendous hub of economic activity, one that provides jobs to thousands of Bronxites, remains in the Bronx for decades to come. I am confident that such a deal will happen and that the market will remain in Hunts Point for the foreseeable future.

“I would like to thank not only the Bloomberg administration but the New York City Economic Development Corporation, Governor Andrew Cuomo and the Empire State Development Corporation, Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, our Congressional, City Council, State Senate and Assembly delegations; as well as the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation for their hard work on this issue. Bronxites owe them all a debt of gratitude for their efforts,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr."

Bronx Residents, Political Figures and Private Firms Unite to Provide Relief to Missouri Tornado and Flood Victims

For those interested in helping recent flood and tornado victims in Missouri, please see information below related to a relief effort organized in our community by Councilman Vacca, his Volunteer Corp, Patricia Madsen and other community minded individuals and organization. Baldor Specialty Foods, through an arrangement with the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation, will supply a tractor-trailer to deliver the needed assistance to Missouri residents in need. The least we can do is help get the word out about Baldor Specialty Foods Inc, the local Hunts Point corporation helping in the effort. Here is a link to their web site; http://www.baldorfood.com/


Gregory
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Vacca Announces Expanded Relief Effort to Aid Victims of Recent Tornadoes and Floods

Three drop-off locations will accept clothing, household items through the end of June

BRONX, NY ― Council Member James Vacca today announced that the Vacca Volunteer Corps and City Islander Patricia Madsen are expanding flood and tornado relief efforts to include victims of the recent tornado in Joplin, Missouri. Collections of clothing, household items, and nonperishable food will take place at three locations through the end of June, and donations will be transported over this period to Joplin and still-recovering communities in Alabama and the Mississippi Valley.

“The devastation we have seen over the past two months simply defies imagination,” Vacca said. “But it has also been inspirational to hear so many people in the community ask what they can do to help. Between Patricia Madsen’s efforts and the Volunteer Corps’ efforts, the people of the Bronx can make a big difference in the lives of Americans in need of our help.”

The three locations where residents can make donations (and the contacts and times for each location) are:

· Home of Patricia Madsen, 321 King Avenue, City Island – (917) 971-9945, anytime
· Home of Dolores Gartner, 1011 Pierce Avenue (bottom bell), Morris Park – dodi111g@aol.com, e-mail to arrange drop-off
· Mercy College Office of Career Services, 1200 Waters Place, Room 2286 – (718) 678-8852, Monday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Vacca Volunteer effort is an outgrowth of an independent campaign initiated by Madsen in the aftermath of the Huntsville, Alabama, tornado. After calling into a local radio program and offering help, Madsen partnered with a Southern trucking company to send two tractor-trailers full of clothing and other supplies to victims. That company will continue supplying trucks to the South. Baldor Specialty Foods of Hunts Point, through an arrangement with the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation, will supply a tractor-trailer to deliver donations to Missouri.

Anyone with question or anyone interested in helping pick up, drop off, sort, or load donations should contact Vacca’s office at vaccasvolunteers@gmail.com or (718) 931-1721.

NYC Comptroller John C. Liu puts Pressure on Wal-Mart to Insure Compliance with International Human and Worker Rights

I find it interesting that as of June 2, 2011, $305,023,745 of NYC pension funds are invested in Wal-Mart. Kudos to our controller for using our leverage as a shareholder to help assure Wal-Mart and its suppliers abide by international human and workers' rights. Please see more from the press release sent by the Comptrollers office on the topic.

Gregory

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NEW YORK, NY – New York City Comptroller John C. Liu issued the following statement in response to questions concerning the NYC Pension Funds’ presentation at Wal-Mart’s annual meeting in Fayetteville, Arkansas today.

“Low prices are good, but it is Wal-Mart’s responsibility to ensure that it is not passing to its customers savings bought with abusive labor practices,” Comptroller Liu said. “Wal-Mart can and should do much more to hold its suppliers accountable for protecting human and workers’ rights. Wal-Mart can’t claim to be that bright yellow smiley face that we see around the world if its global suppliers don’t protect their workers from abuse or intimidation.”

The NYC Pension Funds’ shareholder proposal calls on Wal-Mart’s board to require that the company’s suppliers publish reports on their compliance with internationally recognized standards of human and workers’ rights. Kalpona Akter, a labor rights leader in Bangladesh and former garment worker, presented the proposal to Wal-Mart’s board of directors at the invitation of Comptroller Liu and the Funds.

The NYC Pension Funds hold 5,696,055 shares of Wal-Mart, Inc. valued at $305,023,745.25 million as of 6/2/2011.

The Kingsbridge Height Community Center Celebrates it's 20th Anniversary with their Annual "A Night of Recognition" Honoring Local College Bound Youth

Here is good news related to a Bronx not-for profit that has joined forces with Con Edison and secured scholarships for college bound youth. Judos to KHCC, Con Edison’s Scholarship program and all the students who will be honored at the event.

For more information on KHCC here is the link to their web site;
http://www.khcc-nyc.org/

Gregory
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20 Years of College Directions
KHCC Program Celebrates a Milestone
plus SCHOLASTIC SUCCESS
Recognizing Bronx Teens Admitted to College
Con Ed Scholarships Awarded, Wednesday June 8, 6 to 8 PM

The Kingsbridge Heights Community Center’s College Directions Program celebrates its 20th Anniversary at our annual event, “A Night of Recognition.” Each year the event acknowledges the accomplishments of our local high school seniors “graduating” from the program this year as they have reached their goal of being accepted to college. This year the Center also celebrates the accomplishments of the College Directions Program itself. This free program gives extra support to low-income Bronx students as they reach for the dream of going to college. College Direction is the 2nd oldest such program in the city. The celebration will take place on Wednesday, June 8th, 6-8 PM. It will be held in the Center’s main building at 3101 Kingsbridge Terrace, near Perot Street.
This year the College Directions Program has provided college counseling through workshops and individual counseling to hundreds of middle and high school students in the Bronx including over 95 high school seniors entering college in the fall. The majority are first generation college students from low-income families. Most of these students have overcome various personal, academic and financial obstacles in pursuit of their goals.
The annual Recognition Dinner invites students, their families, supporters, and the community to join together for an evening of formal recognition, presentation of awards, and farewells. This year’s event will focus on the program’s 20-year history, and will feature former students who have graduated. Photos from earlier years will be displayed in a slideshow. We expect over 100 current and former students to attend.
We are also very pleased, and honored to award several students a scholarship from the Con Edison Scholars program. Awards will range from $250 to $1000 and will be presented to these students by Evelyn Oliver, Con Edison Manager of Public Affairs for the Bronx, during the dinner.

Scholarships will be awarded to the following Bronx students:


Sandy Trinidad- International Leadership Charter School
Con Edison STEM Scholarship-Engineering

Joseph Caccia- Monsignor Scanlan High School
Con Edison STEM Scholarship -Biology

Luis Tejada- Monsignor Scanlan High School
Con Edison STEM Scholarship -Biology

Schron Peele- International Leadership Charter School
Con Edison Scholarship

Mercedes Brockington- High School of Fashion Industries
Con Edison Scholarship

Chelsea Valoy-Sanchez- International Leadership Charter School
Con Edison Scholarship

Wilfredo Ortiz- Mount Saint Michaels High School
Con Edison Scholarship

Francheska Bravo- Academy of Mount Saint Ursula
Con Edison Scholarship

Daniela Bulos- High School of Fashion Industries
Con Edison Scholarship

Devin Duran- High School of Art & Design
Con Edison Scholarship

Asha Hines- Academy of Mount Saint Ursula
Con Edison Scholarship

Shanice Scantlebury- High School of American Studies
Con Edison Scholarship

Regine Bass- Academy of Mount Saint Ursula
Con Edison Scholarship

Erlyn Nunez- Academy of Mount Saint Ursula
Con Edison Scholarship

Anderson Bridgemohan- In-Tech Academy
Rose Shayne Scholarship


For more information please call Deanna Peralta, Director of the College Directions Program, at 718-884-0700, extension 169.

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Kingsbridge Heights Community Center is a non-profit agency serving the Northwest Bronx. The Center was founded in 1974 by a group of community residents concerned about deteriorating quality of life in the neighborhood, and opened in 1975. After celebrating our 35th Annniversary of Service in 2010, KHCC continues to offer programs for all ages, including Early Childhood, Youth, Families, and Adults & Seniors. Our Child Sexual Abuse Treatment and Prevention Program serves the entire borough with the only free, long-term treatment available outside a hospital setting. Our mission is to strengthen residents’ ability to effect positive change in the quality of their own lives and those of their families and their community.

Assemblyman Dinowitz and State Senator Klein Introduce Bill to Help Stop Theft of Car Wheels

Here is a bill presented by Assemblyman Dinowitz and State Senator Klein that seems like a common sense solution to preventing wheel theft.

Gregory
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Assemblyman Dinowitz and State Senator Klein introduce bill to help stop theft of car wheels
Vehicle Identification Numbers would aid law enforcement in tracking stolen wheels

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz (D-Bronx) and State Senator Jeff Klein (D-Bronx/ Westchester) have introduced new legislation that would finally give law enforcement a tool to track down vehicle wheel thieves. The measure would require that vehicle identification numbers be engraved on the wheels of all motor vehicles sold in New York.

This measure would help deter the theft of alloy wheels, which account for more than 20 percent of all felony thefts in some police precincts in New York City. Current law offers law enforcement no tools to track this type of crime, as vehicle wheels have no identification. Valued anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000 for a set of wheels from even a modestly priced vehicle, wheels are the most valuable item that can be removed from a vehicle with relatively little effort. By design, these wheels are easy to quickly remove with standard tools.

Similar measures have been implemented to prevent airbag and stereo theft and have proven widely successful, leaving wheels as the last frontier of accessory theft. This measure would allow citizens to report their wheels stolen and subsequently enable law enforcement to return the stolen goods to their owners. Currently, this is nearly impossible, due to the lack of identification on vehicle wheels. This bill will correct this problem and was crafted in direct consultation with the New York City Police Department to ensure it will accomplish its goals.

“This legislation will give law enforcement another weapon in its arsenal of crime fighting laws and will help make a major dent in one of the most common crimes in New York. It will save money and grief for thousands of people, and the only ones who will pay are the thieves,” said Assemblyman Dinowitz. “This legislation lets the people of the Bronx, New York City, and New York State as a whole know they can rest assured law enforcement has the tools they need to protect our citizens from would-be criminals.”

“This wave of criminal activity cannot be dismissed as petty thefts,” said State Senator Klein. “This legislation will make it tougher for thieves to profit from their crimes, as well as protect residents from having their property taken from them.”

The bills, A.7646 and S.5414, have been referred to the Transportation Committee in both houses. “We hope to see action before the end of this legislative session,” Assemblyman Dinowitz added

BoogieDowner Open House: Large One and Two Bedroom Art-deco Co-ops Available at 55 E 190th Street

OPEN HOUSE

Saturday June 4th
12 noon to 2pm

55 E. 190th Street
Bronx, NY 10453
Unit #'s 25, 28 and 32
(Corner of E. 190th St and Morris Avenue. Fordham/Grand Concourse Section of the Bronx.)

I am conducting an OPEN HOUSE tomorrow in a pre-war elevator building on the Grand Concourse that I love selling co-ops in. Owner occupancy is high and the building is in excellent condition with strong financials. I have three co-op units available which I posted information and photos for below. All are well priced with very reasonable maintenances in an environment were qualified buyers are securing mortgages with interest rates in the low to mid 4% range.

Besides having a great marble lobby entrance,with mural, period accents include high ceilings, sunken living rooms and hardwood floors make the building and each apartment a joy to walk into and call home. All three of the units offered are in great condition with recent remodeling completed in each, including new hardwood kitchen cabinets, stainless steel appliances and renovated bathrooms. Both two bedroom two bath units are vacant sponsor units with no board approval requirement. In addition, the proximity to the B, D and 4 subway lines provide quick access to Manhattan if/when needed. A Parking garage is located one block east of the building and the recently renovated St. James Park is just around the corner as well as major shopping along both Fordham and Jerome Avenue. This property truly is a gem and has a lot to offer.

All three units are ripe to be sold with very reasonable asking prices. Feel free to contact me anytime at (845) 304-5745 if you have any additional questions or concerns. Please do note however that the building is not pet friendly. I look forward to seeing everyone interested at the open house.

Sincerely,
Gregory Tsougranis
NYS Licensed Associate Broker
Century 21 Metro-Star
2017 Williamsbridge Road
Bronx, NY 10461





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55 E. 190th Street #28
2 Bedroom 2 bath (Sponsor Unit)
$189,000
Maintenance $791
1,321 sq. feet





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55 E. 190th Street #32
2 Bedroom 2 bath (Sponsor Unit)
$169,000
Maintenance $730
1,135 Sq. feet





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55 E. 190th Street #25
1 Bedroom 1 bath
$139,900
Maintenance $594
1,040 sq. feet