Pervs can live near Pre-K programs

Guess Jared from Subway Can Move to Bronx

Borough Becoming Haven for Sex Offenders

Pervs Can Live Near Pre-K Programs

BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX NEWS)- State Senator Jeff Klein announced that a registered sex offender, Mark Mercado, released from Gowanda Correctional Facility in western New York has relocated to The Bronx – directly violating state law and moving a mere 449-feet from a special needs elementary school.

What’s more shocking than the speed at which this convicted felon found a new home next to the Biondi Elementary School, is a dangerous loophole in state law that does not place residency restrictions on stand-alone Universal Pre-Kindergarten programs. The sex offender also resides within 950-feet of a stand-alone UPK at the Westchester Tremont Day Care Center, serving 100 local children.



Senator Klein said: “Across New York, we’ve found sex offenders violating their parole, living dangerously close to traditional schools, and more egregiously, right next to our most vulnerable children attending pre-K programs. This is absolutely unacceptable. The legal definition of ‘school’ does not currently prevent registered sex offenders from residing with in 1,000 feet of pre-K programs – posing a deadly threat to the safety and security of New York’s families. It’s our duty to protect our children from pedophiles and I strongly urge the State Assembly to pass this important legislation and close this loophole immediately.”

In 2014, Senator Klein introduced legislation (S.1520) that would update New York State Penal Law to prohibit Level 2 and 3 sex offenders from knowingly being within 1,000 feet of a facility where pre-kindergarten or kindergarten instruction is provided. The bill overwhelmingly passed the State Senate in 2014 and 2015. The bill was never moved to the floor for a vote in the Assembly.

Six months ago, the Independent Democratic Conference released a bombshell investigative report “Keeping Our Children Safe From Sex Offenders” which uncovered startling violations of residency restrictions and numerous sex offenders living dangerously close to both traditional and stand-alone UPK programs in New York.

Two of the sexual predators found in that investigation – Michael Nieves and Damon Ford – are already back in prison. Ford violated his parole after police found him purchasing synthetic marijuana. Nieves also violated parole conditions when police were called to his home for a domestic dispute.


In 2009, Senator Klein introduced legislation that created a sex offender email notification system that later became Chapter 478 of New York State Law. The system allows local residents to receive instant email alerts any time a sex offender moves into a selected zip code. The legislation has been hailed by community groups and advocates.

Edith Blitzer, a Bronx resident and member of Community Board #11, said: “As a mother, grandmother, and community activist, finding a registered sex offender just released from prison living so close to our children is deeply troubling. It is our duty to ensure the safety of our kids, and by allowing these type of predators to circumvent the law, we are endangering their safety. Thank you Senator Klein for leading the way in protecting our neighborhoods and I look forward to working together for many years to come.”


Al D’Angelo, First Vice Chair of Community Board #11, said: “Our children are our most prized possessions. Their safety should be our prime concern. Preventing dangerous sexual predators from knocking at the doors of our schools is critical in building safe, strong communities. Allowing pedophiles to flout the law is simply unacceptable and I commend Senator Klein for leading the way in protecting our most vulnerable population.”

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Let #PuertoRico File for Bankruptcy- BP, Pols Say

Let #PuertoRico File for Bankruptcy- BP, Pols Say 

BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX NEWS)- Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. has issued a letter, in conjunction with over 100 elected officials from across the nation, demanding immediate action from Congress to enact legislation that will allow the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to enter bankruptcy.

The letter can be read here:http://on.nyc.gov/1Wh8Vdz.

“The interests of the Puerto Rican community, whether they are in Puerto Rico, New York, New Jersey, California, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Florida or anywhere else are American interests. Congress has an obligation to act and pass legislation that seeks to amend the Federal bankruptcy code and provide Puerto Rico, and its related power authorities and municipalities, access to Chapter Nine Bankruptcy protections,” states the letter.

The magnitude of debt owed by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and its associated debt issuing authorities is at a critical juncture. Congress’ failure to address this crisis presents a substantial threat not only to the economy of Puerto Rico, but the United States economy as a whole.

“I am appreciative that so many elected officials from across the United States understand the need for federal action to address Puerto Rico’s ongoing debt crisis and were willing to join forces with my office to push Congress on this issue,” said Borough President Diaz. “I will continue to work with my colleagues to advocate for a remedy to the crushing fiscal crisis facing the commonwealth.”

List of elected officials signing the letter:

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

NYS Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie

NYS Senator Jeffrey Klein

NYC Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito

NYC Council Majority Leader Jimmy Van Bramer

Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams

Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer

Queens Borough President Melinda Katz

Hudson County NJ Board of Chosen Freeholders Chairman E. Junior Maldonado Chairman

Mayor of Hartford, CT Pedro E. Segarra

Mayor of Yonkers, NY Mike Spano

Mayor of New London, CT Justin Finizio

Mayor of Paterson, NJ Jose ‘Joey’ Torres

NYS Senator Tony Avella

NYS Senator David Carlucci

NYS Senator Leroy Comrie

NYS Senator Rev. Ruben Diaz

NYS Senator Martin Dilan

NYS Senator Adriano Espaillat

NYS Senator Michael Gianaris

NYS Senator Jesse Hamilton

NYS Senator Ruth Hassell-Thompson

NYS Senator Brad Hoylman

NYS Senator Liz Krueger

NYS Senator Velmanette Montgomery

NYS Senator Kevin Parker

NYS Senator Jose Peralta

NYS Senator Bill Perkins

NYS Senator Gustavo Rivera

NYS Senator Diane Savino

NYS Senator Jose M. Serrano

NYS Senator Toby Stavisky

NJS Senator Nilsa Cruz-Perez

NJS Senator Nellie Pou

NJS Senator M. Teresa Ruiz

Florida State Senator Darren Soto

NYS Assembly Member Thomas J. Abinanti

NYS Assembly Member Carmen Arroyo

NYS Assembly Member Michael Blake

NYS Assembly Member Michael Benedetto

NYS Assembly Member Marcos Crespo

NYS Assembly Member Maritza Davilla

NYS Assembly Member Michael DenDekker

NYS Assembly Member Erik Dilan

NYS Assembly Member Jeffrey Dinowitz

NYS Assembly Member Herman D. Farrell

NYS Assembly Member Mark Gjonaj

NYS Assembly Member Deborah Glick

NYS Assembly Member Richard Gottfried

NYS Assembly Member Latoya Joyner

NYS Assembly Member Brian Kavanagh

NYS Assembly Member Charles Lavine

NYS Assembly Member Guillermo Linares

NYS Assembly Member Shelley Mayer

NYS Assembly Member Walter T. Mosley

NYS Assembly Member Francisco Moya

NYS Assembly Member Felix Ortiz

NYS Assembly Member Amy Paulin

NYS Assembly Member Victor Pichardo

NYS Assembly Member Diana Richardson

NYS Assembly Member Jose Rivera

NYS Assembly Member Annette Robinson

NYS Assembly Member Robert Rodriguez

NYS Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal

NYS Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright

NYS Assembly Member Luis Sepulveda

NYS Assembly Member Michael Simanowitz

NYS Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon

NYS Assembly Member Aravella Simotas

NYS Assembly Member Michaelle C. Solages

NYS Assembly Member Matthew Titone

NYS Assembly Member David Weprin

NYS Assembly Member Keith Wright

Connecticut Representative Angel Arce

Connecticut Representative Juan Candelaria

Connecticut Representative Matt Lesser

Connecticut Representative Jason Rojas

Connecticut Representative Christopher Rosario

Connecticut Representative Edwin Vargas

NJ Assembly Member Carmelo Garcia

NJ Assembly Member Annette Quijano

NYC Council Member Maria del Carmen Arroyo

NYC Council Member Fernando Cabrera

NYC Council Member Andrew Cohen

NYC Council Member Costa Constantinides

NYC Council Member Laurie Cumbo

NYC Council Member Inez Dickens

NYC Council Member Daniel Dromm

NYC Council Member Rafael Espinal

NYC Council Member Julissa Ferreras-Copeland

NYC Council Member Dan Garodnick

NYC Council Member Vanessa Gibson

NYC Council Member Corey Johnson

NYC Council Member Andrew King

NYC Council Member Karen Koslowitz

NYC Council Member Rory Lancman

NYC Council Member Brad Lander

NYC Council Member Stephen Levin

NYC Council Member Mark Levine

NYC Council Member Alan Maisel

NYC Council Member Carlos Menchaca

NYC Council Member Rosie Mendez

NYC Council Member I. Daneek Miller

NYC Council Member Annabel Palma

NYC Council Member Antonio Reynoso

NYC Council Member Donovan Richards

NYC Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez

NYC Council Member Helen Rosenthal

NYC Council Member Ritchie Torres

NYC Council Member James Vacca

NYC Council Member Jumaane Williams

Detroit City Council Member Raquel Castaneda-Lopez

Philadelphia Council Member Maria Quinones Sanchez

Philadelphia Council Member Blondell Reynolds Brown

Massachusetts State Representative Marcos Devers

#PuertoRico #Bankruptcy

Throggs Neck News: Haiti Immigration Crisis Comes to the Bronx

Throggs Neck News: Haiti Immigration Crisis Comes to the Bronx: Haiti Immigration Crisis Comes to the Bronx Angry Demonstrators Protest Visit by Dominican Republic Foreign Minister By David Green...

Haiti Immigration Crisis Comes to the Bronx

Haiti Immigration Crisis Comes to the Bronx

Angry Demonstrators Protest Visit by Dominican Republic Foreign Minister

By David Greene

A pair of very vocal and infuriated demonstrators protesting the Dominican Republic's new and controversial policy towards migrant workers of Haiti, came to the Bronx to heckle the Dominican Republic's Foreign Minister, who was invited to speak at breakfast hosted by a local group in Morris Park.

Dahoud Andre of Brooklyn and Bronxite Vilcere Romulus stood on the sidewalk outside of Meastro's catering hall on Bronxdale Avenue on August 7, to protest the visit by Andres Navarro Garcia, who spoke at the breakfast hosted by the New York Hispanic Clergy Organization (NYHCO.)

In a brief statement announcing the breakfast, Senator Ruben Diaz, Sr., a Reverend and President of the NYHCO, explained, "It is a great opportunity for us Hispanic ministers, evangelists and missionaries to hear directly from the Foreign Minister of the Dominican Republic and about the new plan of immigration affecting the Haitian community and other communities that have been established by the administration of President Danilo Medina.

With Haitian flags draped across their shoulders, Andre and Romulus each held up signs, one read, "Boycott Tourism in the Dominican Republic," another demanded, "Full citizenship for Dominicans of Haitian descent," as they chanted slogans about racism to guests as they arrived.

Calling the new policy of the Dominican government, a form of ethnic cleansing, Andre, a host of a local Haitian radio program and a member of the International Campaign to End Apartheid in the Dominican Republic claimed, "It's a very serious issue. It's very sad that you have black politicians in New York who we believe are taking money from the Dominican government to be given this platform to spew lies." 

"From it's inception," Andre continued, "The Dominican Republic has sought to distance itself from it's neighbor in Haiti and blackness."

Andres claims the revolt began when the new legislation was passed, legislation that they claim will affect hundreds of thousands of migrant workers from Haiti and the unrest has escalated after several incidents including the revocation of Citizenship of a Haitian-born Dominican who had been practicing law in the Dominican Republic for 30-years, and the February lynching of a Haitian man in Santiago, the Dominican Republic's second largest city.

Pointing out similarities with the current atmosphere in the United States, Andre explained, "It's the same reality that Dominicans are taking rickety boats to Puerto Rico to eventually get to the U.S., you would have a policy where the children of undocumented immigrants would be thrown out, the Dominican community here would rise up against this."

Asked what he would say to the NYHCO, Ardre added, "As Hispanics they understand the reality of undocumented migrants, like Hispanic migrants in this country and the same way that they would like to see undocumented migrants from the Dominican Republic treated in the United States, is the same way we would like them to treat Haitian immigrants in the Dominican Republic."

Senator Ruben Diaz declined to make a statement on the event or the protest, but his Chief of Staff Ann Noonan stated, "I'm not sure about that... I would just say in regard to the protesters is that everybody has a right to freedom of speech and everyone has a right to do that."

Attempts to reach the Manhattan office of the Consulate of the Dominican Republic were unsuccessful.    

#Haiti #DominicanRepublic #Immigration #VillaBarrone