By Joseph Leo

With President Donald Trump’s most recent State of the Union address as a background – with its open hostility to Latin immigrants – Make the Road New York (MRNY) is helping New York showcase its immigrant residents, both documented and undocumented.

On Thursday, reporters, board members, and donors huddled in small white tents to break ground on a new community center in Jackson Heights. “We are enormously proud that, in the face of the continuing, egregious anti-immigrant actions of the current administration, we are standing firm and stronger than ever,” said Make the Road New York Co-Executive Director Javier Valdés. “This landmark community center will enable a dramatic expansion of our programs and services to better meet the needs of our communities. It will be a welcoming space signifying the value of every person who enters our doors, a beacon of hope, safety, and dignity for all immigrants and working-class people of color.”

Credit: Joseph Leo

MRNY’s Media Specialist Yatzir Tovar said, “We need it more than ever. We need a place where immigrants can come where New Yorkers can come and get these types of services.”

The new 24,000-square-foot community center will offer housing, English classes, and legal advice. Senator John Liu said in a statement: “Honored to stand shoulder to shoulder with Make the Road New York for the construction of their extraordinary new community center. Since its inception, Make the Road New York has led the charge in uniting immigrant communities across NYC and this organizational center is not only the culmination of their dynamic effort but a symbol of the power people fighting for justice hold.”

The Democratic Activist group, started in 1997, and now based in Queens, reaches out to

immigrants in all five boroughs of New York City.

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By María Venegas

Make the Road NY, a non-profit organization that provides services to the immigrant community in Queens, is putting up a new building, at 104-19 Roosevelt Ave.

Vicente Mayorga, an activist organizer at Make the Road NY for 20 years, said that the population has expanded, and the need for a larger facility was great.

Credit: María Venegas

“It has been a process of several years to get this project approved and now it’s a reality,” he said. “We are proud of this achievement, and the community will, for sure, benefit from it.”

Mayorga said that at the current office of Make the Road NY, located about 15 blocks away from new site, is not big enough for the larger community the group is servicing.

“We have had three lawyers working in one small room at a time,” he said. “The new building will allow us to have more office space, and the services will improve considerably.”

This is a milestone for Make the Road NY, which was founded in 1997 in Bushwick, Brooklyn, and opened its Queens location in 2007. The center offers English classes, Know Your Rights and Civics classes, college access programs for youth, immigration lawyers, among other services for the community.

Twelve years later, the success of the organization has created the need for more space. The new three-story building is going to open in about two years.

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By Zainab Iqbal

Governor Andrew Cuomo spoke about state and local taxes, the importance of taking charge of the MTA – and not pointing accusing fingers – at an Association for a Better New York gathering at the Hilton Hotel on Thursday.

“This is a very difficult time for this state,” Cuomo said. “I’ve been in the state government, I’ve been in local government, I’ve been in the federal government for more years than I care to remember . . . But I’ve never seen the confluence of events that we’re dealing with now.”

A critical issue the state is dealing with today, he said, is mass transit and congestion. “Navigating New York is becoming unbearable,” he said.

Credit: Zainab Iqbal.

The first step to fixing everything? Someone needs to be in charge. “There must be a name and a face who can be held accountable and it must be an elected official,” he said.

“Bureaucracies do not manage themselves. They grow and they fester and the path of least resistance becomes the path most often taken,” Cuomo said. “So what do we do about the MTA? Someone has to be in charge. Nobody is in charge now. It’s all about finger-pointing.”

The big concern always, of course, is where the money will come from. How will the state pay?

Cuomo gave a few options, and among them were: President Trump will pay as “he has a lot of money, he’s nasty to NY, he should pay;” the rich should pay a lot; MTA rider fares should be raised 30 percent, the marijuana tax; tolls on out-of-state drivers; congestion pricing.

“We are at a point of crisis. And I’m not going to diminish the issue or camouflage it or sidestep it. It’s not who I am, it’s not who you elected, it’s not why I’m in this job,” he said. He then included some football analogies and said: “We can’t punt.”

“For decades, we punted this problem administration after administration. I am not going to be one those people who punted the problem,” he said. “When we are forced to punt, it is a clear sign of failure. And my friends, failure is not an option.”

Cuomo also spoke about was SALT, which refers to the State and Local Taxes. He said SALT can decimate the economy.

According to Cuomo, SALT is forcing people to leave the state. “You have political turmoil, you have political extremism on both sides of the aisle, and you have quality of life issues in NYC which are aggravating this already complex situation.”

Cuomo then touted his accomplishments: taxes are an all-time low since 1947; there are 8.2 million jobs; 3.9 percent unemployment, and a diversified economy.

“Amazon coming to Queens with 25,000 great jobs is a major economic plus for this state; the largest economic development program in the history of the state of NY,” he said. “That’s what Amazon is.”

He received a lot of applause by people who seemed to be huge fans of his and fans of Amazon taking over Long Island City.

“At this demanding time with this anxious public,” he said, “it’s not about what we did yesterday that matters. It’s today that counts.”

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By Carolann Lowe

Steve Tannenbaum, 65, considers May 6, 2009 as the date of his rebirth.

Sandy Tannenbaum, left; Steve Tannenbaum, center, Melinda Murray, right. Credit; Robin Vitale

“In three weeks I will be turning 66 years old, but my real birthday is actually 2009. So I’m just about to be 10 years old.” He laughed.

The day he referenced was the day he was given another chance at life. Tannenbaum had been a victim of a cardiac arrest attack on a softball field in a New York City park. His life was spared when the police arrived with AEDs (automated external defibrillators).

If it had not been for the immediate assistance that time, Tannenbaum would not have been around to give testimony Thursday at the New York City Council hearing for on the city’s Parks and Recreation programs.

Testimony was about availability of AEDs in parks, pools, and other sports facilities. He said he “hopes kids can have a  second chance at life and many more happy re-birthdays.”

Advocating also for an increase in accessibility to AEDS was Melinda Murray, who lost her son Dominic Murray to sudden cardiac arrest. His death could have been prevented if there had been immediate access to AEDs.

“His tragedy, my reality, is another example of how we should try to protect victims when they’re playing organized sports or unorganized sports,” Murray said.

“In the last nine years since Dominic’s sudden death, thousands of children have died and many of them could have been saved.”

Murray added, “October 5th it will be ten years since Dominic has been gone, but it feels more like ten seconds ago.”

At the New York City Council Committee on Parks and Recreation hearing, councilmembers discussed bills they plan to implement. These bills include Intro 0161-2018, which involves reporting on capital expenditures for parks. Then there’s Bill 1009-2018, which requires that there be defibrillators and trained employees at every New York City pool. Bill 1042-2018 provides automated external defibrillators for youth baseball, softball to other sports venues.

There are a total of 165 pools in the city’s parks program. In terms of the distribution of defibrillators, 34 pools have been covered. Legislators said there will be efforts also to assure every city sports facility employee receives training in the use of AEDs, as well as the ability to perform CPR.

Robin Vitale, Vice President of Health Strategies and American Heart Association, sat alongside Murray and Tannenbaum as they gave their testimonies. According to Vitale, the Heart Association encourages that AEDs be available at all times.

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By Austin Santiago

On Thursday, Mayor Bill de Blasio unveiled the city’s budget for the next fiscal year.

The mayor made clear his uncertainty in the current economy, as for the first time in his mayoralty, he is requiring city agencies to cut their budgets.

“We well may have to limit some of our investments or slow down some of our investments or in fact cut some programs and some investments outright,” he said.

“We have some choices up ahead.”

Mayor de Blasio at Thursday’s press conference.

Despite the tough choices awaiting the city in the future, the budget has risen to $92.2 billion from last year’s $89 billion budget.

De Blasio made it clear that despite cuts coming to city programs, some will remain untouched, most notably public safety. “We are the safest big city in America,” he said.

Perhaps the most notable change in the budget will come in the form of $2.7 million being dedicated to the city’s buses.

“Buses are a critical link in our public transportation system, and we’re doubling down on improvements to help get New Yorkers moving.”

The plan is to coordinate traffic lights at 300 different intersections with the intention of making the city’s buses move 25 percent faster than they are currently.

However, despite the hoped-for progress of the city’s buses, it appears that the subways may not change as quickly. When asked if the new budget will increase funding for the MTA, the mayor answered simply, “No.” In a time of economic uncertainty, de Blasio and his team will be

forced to finally decide what is most important for New York City.

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By Tywanna Webb

The National Audubon Society held its annual fundraising gala Thursday at the famous Plaza Hotel.

The National Audubon Society is a nonprofit organization that protects birds and their habitats by conserving and restoring natural ecosystems throughout the Americas. The group’s work includes science, advocacy, education and conservation.

“Healthy ecosystems contribute to healthy bird populations and healthy communities alike,” the National Audubon Society said in a recent press release.

Photo: Creative Commons

Each year two awards are given to recognize leadership in the conservation of birds. This year the Audubon Medal, one of the highest honors in conservation, was awarded to Johnny Morris and his family. Morris is the founder and CEO of the retail chain Bass Pro Shops.

J.Drew Lanham, Ph.D, a distinguished Professor of Wildlife Ecology, was the recipient of the Dan W. Lufkin Prize for Environmental Leadership. The Lufkin Prize is awarded to those who have years of outstanding dedication to the environment and on-the-ground conservation. Lanham, a Certified Wildlife Biologist and author, has researched the impact of forest management on wildlife for over twenty years.

Last week, the Audubon Society released a statement of opposition to the border wall proposed by the Trump administration.

“As the voice of birds and as a community-builder for 114 years, Audubon opposes the construction of structures along the border that would sever connections between communities and natural resources,” the Society wrote.

The National Butterfly Sanctuary in Mission, Texas, will be largely affected by the building of a wall, as it will require the clearing of natural vegetation along the 38-mile proposed fence.  The border wall also threatens to close the Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park in Texas, home to over 500 bird species.

“Audubon believes that conservation doesn’t have a party and that bird issues can bring us together,” the Society stated. “At a time when America needs solutions and understanding, Audubon remains committed to creating more common ground for birds and communities.”

In addition to national advocacy, local New Yorkers can get involved at the New York City chapter, known as the New York City Audubon.  New York City Audubon is a grassroots community chapter that focuses on the protection of wild birds and habitats in the five boroughs. There is also a youth chapter, Audubon Adventures, for young nature lovers.

Thursday’s lavish event began with cocktails at 6:30 pm, followed by dinner and the presentation of awards.  Monetary contributions for the Society at $500 and all proceeds go to the conservations of bird and ecosystems.

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By Austin Santiago and Milette Millington

State legislators and activists made an appearance at Brooklyn Law School on Thursday to announce their support of the “Community Supervision Revocation reform Act.”

The act focuses on parole reform for incarcerated New Yorkers, upon their release. The bill was introduced by New York State Assemblyman Walter Mosley, who emphasized the importance of more lenient parole protocols when dealing with inmates looking to re-enter society.

“By incentivizing good behavior, preventing re-incarceration for technical violations, and creating a higher threshold for less serious offenses, our state can save money and reform our criminal justice system,”  Mosley said.

Speakers at the ‘Less is More’ gathering held by legislators and others seeking parole system reform. Credit: Milette Millington.

The new legislation would reform the state’s parole system by shortening parole terms, allowing people to earn accelerated discharges, and requiring hearings before a judicial officer before jailing someone accused of a technical violation.

The new bill has gained support from various officials as well as former inmates. Mosley stressed the importance of that support at the press conference, saying: “Legislators are here to bring about social change, which leads to progress, with the intent to change lives.”

The bill would be an overhaul of the current New York State parole system.State Senator Brian Benjamin said the bill was an effort to “end mass incarceration in New York.” He added, “Those who are already out on parole are not safe because anything is being done to put them back in.”

Also present at the conference was Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, who said the current state parole system lacked resources. “When you have 35,000 people under supervision here in New York State, with very limited resources,” he said, “it is clear that it is easier to send those people back to prison than to send them back to our communities to make sure that they succeed.”

Regardless of the reason for the social failures of the current system, many feel it is time for the parole system in New York to get a much needed change. State Senator Jamal Bailey said, “The justice system is supposed to be about fairness.”

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By Charlene Carlies

On Thursday, New York City Councilmembers held a public hearing on a proposal to approve the construction of a new, approximately 676-seat primary school facility on property located in Brooklyn. The neighborhood is Dyker Heights.

Four members of the New York City Council were present: Adrienne Adams, Mark Treyger, Peter A. Koo, and I. Daneek Miller. They are members of the Subcommittee on Landmarks, Public Siting, and Maritime Uses, of which Adams is the chair.

Credit: Councilmember Adams’ website.

The hearing was held to vote on the selection of the above site. Adams read a statement from council member Carlos Menchaca, who represents that district (which includes the Gowanus neighborhood). In his statement, Menchaca said that many the schools in the district are overcrowded. This new school would improve access to good education for the community’s young residents, proponents maintained.

However, there were some concerns raised by the local Community Board, number 10. Community Boards have a say in the zoning and building proposals affecting their respective areas. Community Board 10 said it is concerned that:

1. Regarding bus congestion, there are many traffic issues for those living in the community, specifically overnight bus parking in existing schools;
2. There should be a driveway to be included into the school design, to alleviate congestion during school drop-offs and pick-ups.
3. The proposed school sits on a site adjacent to the historic Angel Guardian home, which is considered by many residents of Dyker Heights to be an “architectural gem.”
4. There should be adequate open space as part of the design for the school.

The Angel Guardian Home in Dyker Heights. Credit: Credit: Mercyfirst, Creative Commons, BY-SA 4.0

Council member Kreyger said, regarding the school, that it “is a very much needed school project,” because of the issue of overcrowding of schools in the district. “It is my understanding that the need for seats in district 20 exceeds over 10,000,” he said.

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By Edward King and Maya Dower-Johnson

Amid the frozen tundra sweeping New York City, the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Secretary Ben Carson and New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio had warm news. The pair held a joint press conference early Thursday afternoon, finalizing a legal settlement between HUD, the city, and the Southern District of New York federal court, after U.S. Judge William H. Pauley III effectively voided a previous settlement agreement this past November.

“I’m very excited for what we have agreed to here because it sets a great precedent for what can be done in other places around the country,” said HUD Secretary Ben Carson. “Public housing, assisted housing – these are things we need to be concerned about, affordable housing, especially we need to be concerned about because the cost of rents are going up 20 percent faster than the cost of inflation and other things.”

The new settlement serves as the conclusion to a seven-month skirmish involving HUD, the New York City and Southern District, following ongoing reports of mismanagement, lead poisoning, vermin infestation, security risks, mold, and a host of other issues that have plagued the beleaguered city agency for nearly decades.

“This has been going on for many weeks and it’s taken a lot of work, a lot of focus,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “The Secretary and I have met in person several times here and in Washington. We’ve spoken constantly on the phone, and the secretary has shown me a level of focus and concern that I deeply appreciate. Most importantly, the nearly 400,000 New Yorkers that live in public housing I know will appreciate because we were able to get to a cooperative constructive outcome.”

Part of the new agreement outlines that the city must initially invest $1 billion in its public housing and contribute an additional $ 200 million a year to its public housing agency. The city must also work with HUD and the Southern District to appoint a new chair of NYCHA (The New York City Housing Authority), in addition to an approved outside monitor that will oversee the day-to-day activities of the agency. The monitor will make quarterly reports that will be available to the public, in addition to the appropriate governing bodies. During the meeting, Secretary Carson stressed, “We are not going to try to micromanage what is going on here in New York City.”

The appointment of a new NYCHA boss comes in the wake of current Interim boss Stanley Brezenoff’s comments, saying, “I’ve been trying to get out of this job for months.”

Credit: Maya Dower-Johnson

For both the city and its NYCHA residents, the conclusion to the saga is long overdue, especially for longtime residents like Carl King of the Farragut Houses in downtown Brooklyn.

“Let me tell you something,” King said. “For three, four years now, the kitchen floor is mess up. In the bedroom, the floor mess up from the steam. I had to get my grandson to come and look at it to fix. Nobody else is gonna come and do it. Right now, there’s a line across the bottom of the wall. We had to get tile and break them in half in order to patch it up.”

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By Alexander Parisel, Tywanna Webb and Austin Santiago

“If you don’t believe the cooperators who testified, then you can’t convict Mr. Guzman,” said Defense Attorney Jeffrey Lichtman in his closing arguments Thursday morning. Lichtman represents Joaquín Guzmán Loera, also known as El Chapo, in  the United States of America vs. Joaquín Guzmán Loera, a trial that is taking place in the federal courthouse in Brooklyn.

Guzmán was charged in a 17-count indictment alleging that between January of 1989 and December of 2014 he led a criminal enterprise responsible for importing and distributing massive amounts of illegal narcotics into the United States, as well as conspiring to murder persons who posed threats to Loera’s alleged cartel.

According to the indictment and other court filings, El Chapo and Ismael Zambada García are said to have been the leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel, which is named after the Sinaloa region in Mexico and is suspected of having imported more than 200 metric tons of cocaine into the United States. Moreover, as one of the alleged leaders of the cartel, Guzmán is alleged to have overseen the cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and marijuana smuggling activities by the enterprise to wholesale distributors in New York, Chicago, Miami, Atlanta, Los Angeles, as well as various locations in Arizona and elsewhere.

Lichtman argued in his closing speech that Zambada Garcia is the actual leader of the Sinaloa Cartel and not his client. In addition, the defense attorney made the point that Guzmán is simply the fall guy and that Zambada had bribed Mexican officials and thus was not targeted by law enforcement.

“Remember how the witnesses lied on the stand, remember how they’ve lied their entire lives,” said Lichtman, addressing the jury in his closing arguments.  Moreover, the defense attorney argued that most of the 56 witnesses, brought in by the federal prosecution, are cooperating with law enforcement in order to receive lesser sentences for crimes they committed.

Lichtman went as far as to refer to the various testimonies that seem to incriminate his client as “a bunch of bull,” “garbage,” and “pathetic.”

If Guzmán is convicted, he might receive a life sentence in a maximum-security prison.

Daniel Marquardt is a young man who has been following the trial. When asked if he felt El Chapo warranted the attention he has been receiving, he said, “It is natural he’s receiving attention, but his conviction doesn’t affect the drug trade. He’s one fish in a big sea.”

Based on the evidence presented by the U.S. prosecution, represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Goldbarg, Guzmán is the biggest fish in the sea. But Marquardt might still be right in his assertion that El Chapo’s conviction will not affect drug trade.

As for its effect on U.S.-Mexican relations, one observer said the trial will have little to none. “I do not see any impact of the case on the U.S and Mexican relation,” said Professor Howard Abadinski, who is a Criminal Justice professor at St. John’s University. “Sure, it is a big case but in the end it is just a case.”

Early next week, the jury is expected to begin deliberations.

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