Dear Neighbor,
Happy Fall Season. I hope this email finds you and your family doing well. As the Fall season is upon us and we will soon celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, we remain thankful for the opportunity to serve the residents of Claremont, Claremont Village, Concourse, Concourse Village, Highbridge, Mount Eden, Morris Heights and Morrisania. I am proud of our partnerships together and our ongoing work to improve the lives of all residents and families who live, work and raise their children in District 16. Although great progress has been made, we have much work left to do.
We send our thoughts and prayers to the family of 7 year old Kingston Spencer, who took a fatal fall from his apartment window in the Bronx a few weeks ago. Kingston was a student at P.S. 186X in our community and we pray for his family, friends and school community. On behalf of our district, I attended a Candlelight Vigil in Kingston’s honor and paid respect at the Home going Celebration.
This past General Election was the first time NYS implemented early voting and we are thankful for all the voters who took advantage of this new law. As a result, voters have an opportunity to vote nine days in advance of an Election at selected polling sites. We congratulate our Bronx District Attorney, Darcel Clark, for her overwhelming re-election and our NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, for His overwhelming re-election.
This month’s newsletter contains information on upcoming events, City Hall updates, the Jerome Neighborhood Rezoning and monthly resources available in our office. We look forward to our continued partnership.
All the best to you and your family during the Thanksgiving Season!
In Partnership,
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Hon. Vanessa L. Gibson
Council Member, 16th District, Bronx County
Deputy Leader
Chair, Subcommittee on Capital Budget
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After the threat of being excluded from a new merchandise agreement in 2020, I was proud to work with the small businesses of the 161 Street BID, Dr. Cary Goodman, and local elected officials to request an appeal to their new contract.
I am proud to announce a new teammate to the 161st Street Business Improvement District. That teammate is Nike. We are thrilled that Nike heard our recent concerns regarding a potential new merchandise agreement that would have excluded local merchants from selling official Yankee merchandise starting in early 2020. We are happy to announce today that Nike will restore these businesses within the new contract agreement, as premium distributors!
With the help of Council Member Diana Ayala, Dr. Cary Goodman, Commissioner Greg Bishop of the NYC Department of Small Business Services, the New York Yankees, elected officials and the advocacy of our local merchants, we quickly mobilized and advocated for an amendment to their new contract proposal. Within a matter of weeks, Nike demonstrated that they were receptive to our concerns and began negotiations with MLB to restore these businesses to their licensed business development strategy.
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We thank Nike for understanding the importance of the contributions these businesses make to the character and fabric of the 161 St. corridor. Together, we were able to save an invaluable part of our local commerce and preserve the economic prosperity of these businesses for many years to come. These legacy businesses have employed over 100 Bronx residents to date and have remained in business for decades in the Bronx. They are important and contribute significantly to our local economy.
Thank You to the Bronx Borough President, Ruben Diaz, Jr, Comptroller Scott Stringer, Congressman Jose E. Serrano, Senator Jose M. Serrano, and Council Member Mark Gjonaj for supporting our Bronx small businesses. I especially want to thank my Chief of Staff, Wendy Gallegos for spearheading this effort.
We look forward to our continued partnership together on behalf of our Bronx businesses.
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Joint oversight hearing by the committees on Parks, the Subcommittee on Capital, and the Committee on Contracts on Improving the Efficiency of Parks Department Capital Projects
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Council Member Gibson joined housing advocates, legal services providers and tenants at the Annual Public Hearing on the Universal Access Law before the Office of Civil Justice.
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Stabilize Commercial Rent
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Council Member Gibson is proud to join Council Member Levin to create a Commercial Rent Guidelines Board. This bill will help stabilize commercial rents and create new protections for our small business owners.
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For a calendar of this months' hearings, please click
HERE
.
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The New York City Council
Women's Caucus has launched their official website! Visit
NYCWomensCaucus.org to learn about what the mighty 12 women of the New York City Council are doing to advocate for women, transgenders, and gender non-conforming people across the city.
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Jerome Rezoning Update
To read the progress that has been made 1 year later, click
HERE
.
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We thank everyone who attended the second Jerome Public Health Task Force Town Hall. We heard from many residents about health concerns and priorities they would like to see implemented along Jerome Avenue. The final report will be released in early 2020. Stay tuned!
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The New York City Council passed the
FY20 Budget for the City of New York, equaling $92.8B.
This budget includes significant investments in our schools, parks, libraries, reserves, and the 2020 Census. Read the Council's Press Release
HERE
and our press release with Bronx budget wins
HERE
.
If you would like to receive updates and important notices regarding the New York City Council Budget Process, including Discretionary Capital and Expense funding, please email Justin Cortes at jcortes@council.nyc.gov.
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Participatory Budgeting (PB)
You can submit your idea on how to spend $1 million in your community
HERE.
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Council Member Gibson was proud to join BronxConnect to unveil Mobile Trauma Units which will respond to incidents of Gun Violence by providing trauma response, counseling, de-escalation, meditation services, and much more.
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Council Member Gibson was proud to join Council Member Diana Ayala, Fresh Direct, East Side House and Hermetic Friends, along with Brooklyn Nets Star Kyrie Irving and Rapper/Actor Common, to distribute turkeys and Thanksgiving essentials to hundreds of Bronx families. We are proud to partner with community organizations who are committed to serving others and are thankful to join together during the Thanksgiving season. Special thanks to Kyrie Irving, who was raised in Mitchel Houses, for returning to the Bronx to celebrate the holidays with residents and families.
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Council Member Vanessa L. Gibson attends:
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NMIC 40th Anniversary Gala.
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The Bronx Museum of the Arts first Annual Fall Ball.
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Bronx Children's Museum Pop-Up Art Making Festival.
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PSA 7 Breast Cancer Walk.
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first Annual Breast Cancer Awareness Walk in Crotona Park.
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National Coming Out day Press Conference.
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Pastoral Anniversary for Bishop
Earl McKay
and First Lady Ella McKay.
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Beauty Against Cancer event hosted by NYPD Housing Bureau.
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Housing Link program celebration of 100th client placement.
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Annual Freedom Fund Awards Dinner hosted by the Bronx NAACP.
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Annual Making Strides Against Cancer Walk.
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Grand Opening for New Gymnasium for SEBNC.
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Garden of Learning & Discovery Pre-Kindergarten Center public safety meeting.
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Second Annual Hoops for Junior Basketball Game.
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SBS networking session for the BE NYC program to support and empower Black Entrepreneurs in NYC.
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CUNY Citizenship NOW Application Assistance and Consultation Event.
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Grand Opening of the PSS Highbridge Gardens Senior Center.
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Thanksgiving Meal and Healthy Cooking Demonstration with Healthcare experts hosted by Amida Care.
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Gethsemane Baptist Church food pantry.
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US Census 2020 Hiring Event hosted by SUNY EOC.
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Woodycrest Church of God 85th Anniversary
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Annual School Safety Recognition Ceremony hosted by Youth Leaders on the Move.
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44th Precinct Community Council Meeting.
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Small Business & Entrepreneurs Resource Fair.
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Bronx Community Board 5 Meeting.
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HPD Housing Resource fair for Tenants, Owners and Renters.
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Bronx Community Health Network Mobile Healthcare Unit unveiling.
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Graduation Ceremony for the Association of Community Employment Programs for the Homeless.
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44th Precinct Clergy Council Meeting.
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Site visit to Gay Men's Health Crisis Center.
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Grand Opening of new Center for Employment Opportunities office.
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Turkey Celebration at the Sheridan Academy for Young Leaders.
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Musical Concert at PSS Highbridge Senior Center.
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Wildcat FedCap Cleaning Services.
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Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration hosted by NYC Dept. of Probation.
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Second Chance Warrant Amnesty event hosted by District Attorney Darcel Clark.
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Trinity Rev. James Residence ceremony for formerly incarcerated men and seniors.
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1515 Selwyn Avenue Press Conference with CASA and Bronx Legal Services. Council Member Gibson continues to stand with residents to demand the restoration of cooking gas for residents, who have not had gas for 14 months. The Mayor’s office and HPD are involved and will be pursuing litigation due to the overall conditions of this building.
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District 16 Fall Educational Tour
Council Member Gibson was proud to begin a tour of all of the schools she represents. She was proud to visit the following schools over this past month:
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FDA III with Principal Carlos.
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P.S. 63 with Principal Diaz.
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High School for
Violin and Dance with Principal Sims.
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Validus Prep with Principal Hibbert.
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Bathgate Educational Complex with Principals and their Assistant Principals.
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Eximius College Preparatory Academy with Principal Daly.
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P.S. 88 with Principal Hyer.
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Grant Avenue Elementary School with Principal Erat.
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Mott Hall III with Principal Stupart
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I.S. 313 and I.S 339 Playground Renovation Groundbreaking.
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Morris Academy for Collaborative Studies with Principal Mazzaroppi.
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P.S. 132 with Principal Reilly.
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Grand Opening of the Grand Concourse Academy Charter School.
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P.S. 126 with SCA President Lorraine Grillo.
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PLEASE NOTE ALL MONTHLY MEETINGS ARE SUSPENDED FOR THE SUMMER AND WILL RESUME IN SEPTEMBER.*
- CB3: second Tuesday of the month at 6PM. 718-378-8054
- CB4: fourth Tuesday of every month at 6PM. 718-299-0800
- CB5: fourth Wednesday of every month at 6PM. 718-364-2030
Find your local
Police Precinct
and attend a monthly Precinct Community Council meeting:
- 42nd Precinct Community Council: Every fourth Thursday of the month in the 42nd Precinct Sitting Room at 7:00 P.M.
- 44th Precinct Community Council: Every second Wednesday of the month at different locations at 6:30P.M.
- 46th Precinct Community Council: Every third Tuesday of the month at 2120 Ryer Avenue, at 7:00 P.M.
- PSA 7 Community Council: Every second Thursday of the month at 737 Melrose Avenue at 6:30 P.M
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