Bloomberg's State of the City address

Bloomberg at the State of the City.

Below is the full text of Mayor Bloomberg's State of the City address, given today at Morris High School in the Bronx.

Before that, here is some of what he said about the Bronx:

"Here in the Bronx, the first wave of 2,000 construction workers will break ground on New York's next great shopping destination: Eastchester's $270 million Mall at Bay Plaza. In Port Morris, Smith Electric Vehicles will open its first East Coast plant and more than 100 New Yorkers will go to work assembling zero-emission trucks and vans. 

"A new supermarket, stores, offices and a new charter school will bring 200 new jobs to along-vacant spot at the Bronx Hub on 149th Street. We'll begin renovation work on the Bronx River Art Center, creating a new media center, photography studio and gallery. 

"We'll begin re-zoning East Fordham Road to allow for more private sector investment and explore economic development possibilities on Webster Avenue. To do that, we're working with a group of neighbors we call the Bronx Quad: the New York Botanical Garden, the Bronx Zoo, Montefiore Medical Center and of course, the emerging basketball powerhouse, Fordham University. (Brendan's note: Manhattan College is better than Fordham. Much better.) 

"We're also stepping up efforts to keep some 3,600 good-paying jobs where they belong, at the Hunts Point produce market. New Jersey is making a big pitch to lure the market away, butwe¶re fully committed to modernizing the market and keeping those jobs here. 

"So today, in partnership with Council Speaker Christine Quinn, we're adding another $25 million to what will now be the City's $87 million commitment to re-building the market. And that's not the only big news here in the Bronx. 

"We're also launching a new effort to bring jobs to the most talked-about empty building in the Bronx: The Kingsbridge Armory. 

"In collaboration with Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr., today, we are releasing a Request for Proposals for a new operator of the Armory. We're putting aside our differences to do what's best for the city. That's what leadership is about. It's not about a series of running arguments--it'sabout getting things done. 

"We've heard from a variety of interested parties, including those who want to develop itinto recreational space. And we're hopeful that the Kingsbridge Armory, vacant for some 15 years,will soon be transformed into a place that benefits the community and employs communitymembers. 

"In every borough in 2012, we'll bring new jobs on line and make investments that willattract more visitors."

The full text:

Mayor Bloomberg Delivers 2012 State of the City Address

Bronx pols rejoice after new livery bill is signed

The illegal, yet mostly ignored, practice of hailing livery cabs on the street has finally been legalized, after Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a bill that will increase outer borough service and also bring more handicapped-accessible taxis to the city.

It also calls for the city to sell 2,000 yellow cab medallions, which is expected to generate more $1 billion in new revenue, the New York Daily News reports:

The deal requires that the first 20% of 6,000 new street-hail livery licenses be made available in the first year to drivers with wheelchair-accessible vehicles.

Another 6,000 licenses will be made available in each of the next two years, with determinations to be made about the percentages that will be assigned to drivers with wheelchair-accessible rides.

In addition, all 2,000 new yellow cab medallions must be for wheelchair-accessible vehicles.

Cuomo has ready to veto the bill if he did not get promises from the state Legislature that they would amend it to increase service to the physically disabled.

The Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) will be authorized to issue up to 18,000 of these new licenses (livery street hails) and will be required to provide grants of up to $15,000 to retrofit vehicles to accommodate the disabled or to purchase accessible vehicles.

"By working together and finding common ground, I am pleased that we have been able to reach a deal that will extend taxi and livery service to the outer boroughs and upper Manhattan, while ensuring full access for the disabled," Cuomo said. "The bill as originally passed failed to address the needs of individuals with disabilities and did not provide any incentive for the livery industry to ensure disabled New Yorkers had full access to the taxicab system."

For Bronx leaders, this bill was long overdue.

“I am pleased that after months of negotiations over the details of this legislation, an agreement has been reached that will improve the quality of life of my constituents in the Northwest Bronx and will provide livery cab drivers, so many of whom live in the 33rd Senate District, with the much-needed ability to pick up legal street hails,” said state Senator Gustavo Rivera. “This plan is a victory for Bronxites and for all New Yorkers in the outer boroughs and upper Manhattan. I would like to congratulate the livery cab drivers for their relentless advocacy that played a critical role in ensuring that this legislation was passed and that it will be signed into law as well as Governor Cuomo for negotiating an agreement that all New Yorkers should consider a victory.”

“I am pleased that, following months of negotiation, Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the State Legislature have reached an agreement on a plan that will increase outer borough livery service in our City while also bringing more handicapped-accessible taxis to our City’s streets," Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. said.

“This plan will raise much-needed new revenue for our City through the sale of new yellow taxi medallions while also bringing livery cab drivers out of the shadows, offering them considerable legal protection," Diaz added. "At the same time, Bronxites and residents in all of the outer boroughs will have the ability to hail a legal livery cab, while our disabled community will see their travel options increase significantly.

“This plan is a victory for commuters, and I congratulate both Governor Cuomo and the State Legislature for making it a reality. I also thank Mayor Bloomberg and his administration for their efforts on this important issue."

City pulls plug on Bronx skating rink

Here's a story from this week's Riverdale Review and Bronx Press.

By Brendan McHugh 

There will be no ice-skating in the Bronx this winter. 

After months of delays, the Department of Parks and Recreation says the electrical upgrade needed to operate a skating rink will not be completed in time to operate this season.

This puts a black eye on Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the Van Cortlandt Park Conservancy, who partnered together to bring a full-size rink to the Bronx, Bloomberg said in his 2011 State of the City address at the beginning of this year. 

"Parks has explored every possible means of bringing ice skating to the Bronx this winter. The engineering and capital construction issues involved with bringing the power needed for a skating rink make it necessary to forgo, for this season, what we had hoped would be a fun activity for all,” Bronx Parks Commissioner Hector Aponte.

The electrical hookup, needed for a rink of any size, will require the installation of an underground vault that will not be ready this winter.

Jump below for the full story.

Public Advocate Bill de Blasio pushes living wage bill (UPDATE)

The center of the Living Wage battle: The Kingsbridge Armory

In a letter sent yesterday to Mayor Bloomberg and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio has announced his support for a living wage bill.

The bill, which is currently in limbo in the City Council, would require certain companies receiving city subsidies to pay employees $10 an hour with benefits or $11.50 without. De Blasio is expected to face Quinn in the Democratic primary for mayor, and the debate over a living wage will be a hot topic.

This is going to be a difficult issue for Quinn; she receives major contributions from the business community, which is firmly opposed to it. Bloomberg is also strongly against the bill.

In his letter (below), de Blasio says the prolonged economic crisis has battered the middle class. "Underlying these problems is a rising income inequality that threatens our social fabric and economic future," he writes. 

But de Blasio is calling for one change to the bill, which is to protect smaller businesses by increasing the amount of annual revenue that a business must earn to require offering a living wage to $5 million.

The bill, introduced by City Council members G. Oliver Koppell and Annabel Palma on the behest of Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., has been sitting in the City Council for months now, and has gone through much debate, both in public and in the Council. Quinn has yet to decide whether or not she will bring it to a vote.

De Blasio goes after the bill's detractors, defending the stoppage of the Kingsbridge Armory shopping center.

"Some have claimed that a Living Wage bill would inhibit future development, citing the City's experience with the Kingsbridge Armory as an example," he wrote. "I am the first to say that it was a tragedy negotiations were not able to yield a project at the Kingsbridge Armory. I do not subscribe to the notion that no projects are better than imperfect projects. But what killed the Kingsbridge Armory project was brinksmanship in the negotiating process—not the principle of a Living Wage."

UPDATE: Here is a statement from Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. It should be noted that de Blasio was at the Benjamin Franklin Reform Democratic Club's holiday party last week, where Diaz spoke about the living wage. The BFRDC is also home to Koppell.

“As a leader in the fight to bring a ‘living wage’ law to New York City, I enthusiastically welcome Public Advocate Bill de Blasio’s support for the ‘Fair Wages for New Yorkers’ Act," Diaz said. "Public Advocate de Blasio has displayed a strong record of fighting for the rights of those underserved and often ignored residents of this City, and his support for this historic legislation is another great example of his commitment to justice and fairness for New Yorkers.

“For months, the public advocate met with individuals and organizations on all sides of this legislation as he engaged in a thoughtful, deliberative examination of the merits of this bill. After meeting with me personally last week, I am thrilled that he has joined the majority of our City in support of the ‘Fair Wages for New Yorkers’ Act. This further demonstrates that we are gaining momentum in our efforts to pass this important legislation.

“The ‘Fair Wages for New Yorkers’ Act will ensure that our taxpayer dollars are spent not only to enrich major developers, but also to provide a way forward out of poverty for their employees. Bill de Blasio understands that, and I welcome his support for this bill and look forward to working with him on making it law."

Living Wage

Walmart has the second largest active army in the world

Mayor Bloomberg said last week, incorrectly, that his army-the NYPD-is the seventh largest in the world. That wasn't correct, seeing as the NYPD only has about 33,000 people.

Walmart, however, has 2.1 million people, so if they all decided to buy a gun from the superstore (then walk out to their car, put the gun away, walk back in and buy bullets--and yes, that's a rumor I heard that I can not confirm about not being able to buy guns and ammo at the same time in some states), they'd be the second biggest active army in the world, trailing only China.

That's just one statistic out of many in this nice little infographic about Walmart.

Other tidbits include that 96% of Americans live within 20 miles of a Walmart, and that if you lined up every one of Walmart's warehouses, they would cover the entire island of Manhattan.

Check it out after the jump.

Macy's will open new store in Bay Plaza shopping center

A story from this week's Bronx Press.

By Brendan McHugh 

Another chain store is finding the Bronx is open for business. 

Macy’s will anchor The Mall at Bay Plaza, a new $270 million, 780,000-square-foot enclosed fashion mall that will be combined with an existing JC Penney. 

The three-level, state-of-the-art mall will be located on a corner parcel at Prestige’s thriving Bay Plaza Shopping Center in the Bronx, already the largest shopping center in New York City. 

Macy’s is leased for 160,000 square feet and will have three levels. 

Last week, the Bronx Press reported that chain stores were beginning to flock to the Bronx, with 3.8 percent more stores in the borough than 2010. The total amount of chain stores in Manhattan dropped 2.1 percent and the city average was only 1.6 percent.

Jump below for the full story.

Koppell calls for 100% wheelchair accessible taxi fleet

City Councilman G. Oliver Koppell hasn't fallen into a rut in his final term. In fact, he may be getting more attention and taking more risks than ever before. He's been fighting Bloomberg, Quinn and the city's biggest developers on the living wage issue for the past year, and more recently he's been battling Bloomberg over a taxi design for the disabled.

Earlier this week, Koppell held a press conference on the steps of City Hall to advocate for people with disabilities for a taxi fleet in New York City that is 100% wheelchair accessible.

Koppell, Chair of the Committee on Mental Health, Mental Retardation, Alcoholism, Drug Abuse and Disability Services, joined colleagues and advocates for people with disabilities Wednesday, calling for Mayor Michael Bloomberg to stop ignoring federal regulations that call for every city cab to be wheelchair accessible.

According to the Daily News editorial on Oct. 16, “of the 13,237 yellow cabs in New York City, only 231 can accommodate a wheelchair. That‘s 1.7%, making the chance of hailing one almost impossible."

“This is wholly unacceptable,” Koppell said. “Also unacceptable is the fact that the Mayor and the Taxi and Limousine Commission have chosen an inaccessible Nissan model to be the so-called 'Taxi of Tomorrow' that  will be the exclusive design for New York City taxicabs for at least the next decade.”

Jump below for the full story.

Groundbreaking ceremonies are an necessary evil

Before I begin, let me just say that this is my opinion only, which as you'll find out in about four sentences, probably doesn't count for much.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg doesn't like groundbreaking ceremonies. Reporters at a groundbreaking in Brooklyn overheard him saying, "I can't wait for the last one. You have no idea." Well, Mike, I don't think most people like the ceremonies either. To put it simply: they're awkward.

Now, I only have 14 months of professional journalism experience, but I've covered a fair share of groundbreakings in the Bronx. Most recently, the groundbreaking of Owen Dolen Park in Westchester Square.

Look at this picture. Notice how nobody is looking at the same camera. Half the people are looking at the ground or a different camera. I took over twenty pictures during the five times they threw the dirt. This was the best one. The Daily News has a slightly better picture, with about half the people looking at their camera.

Groundbreakings, ribbon cuttings, plaque unveilings, they're all the same. Speaker after speaker after speaking thanking one another, until the main speaker does a final round of thank yous and then transitions to the posed action shot.

So why do this? It gets everyone "important" in one picture without being totally posed. (As in, everyone just standing together smiling, still not looking at the same camera.) Every newspaper on the planet hates using photos like that. Also, it's awkward to abruptly end an event. Most of the people speaking aren't professional speakers, so events tend to just...stop: "And, uh, that's it. Thanks for coming."

The best way to end an event without awkwardness is to take questions because you can say, "One last question," take the question, answer it, then say, "Thank you, that is all," and walk off the stage. Everyone knows the end is coming, so it's not awkward.

But in small ceremonies, there usually aren't too many questions to ask, if any, about the event. It'll be two Bronx reporters, News 12 and maybe one or two others from the citywide press, so there usually isn't a formal Q&A session. We're all there to cover the event only, and we have direct access to the local officials after the event. Reporters can speak with the local officials in private if they want to get a quote about another story they're working on. At the Owen Dolen event, I spent a few minutes talking with someone about the Westchester BID. That's not an appropriate question to ask in public because it wastes a lot of other people's time.

Bloomberg takes questions publicly because he has an entire press corps following him around 24/7, so they have to do the Q&A portion out in the open. And after that, Bloomberg runs into his car and disappears. He doesn't stick around. If you have a question to ask, you better ask it there.

So how should an event end? People really should just learn how to wrap up an event effectively, but the easiest out will always be to hold a contrived, cheesy ritual that very few actually enjoy.

Living wage proposal scaled back

Another story from this week's paper. Enjoy!

By Brendan McHugh

Bronx City Council members G. Oliver Koppell and Annabel Palma have cut back on demands of the dubious ‘living wage’ bill, hoping to quiet critics. 

The bill has the support of 30 of the 51 members of the Council, but Mayor Michael Bloomberg and high-powered business leaders in the city oppose it heavily. 

City Council speaker Christine Quinn has thus far neglected to take a position on the bill and allow for a vote, would require employees working in city-subsidized projects to be paid $10 an hour with benefits, or $11.50 without. Minimum wage is $7.25 an hour. 

“We made a whole series of concessions to try and satisfy the objections that we didn’t see going to the heart of the proposal,” Koppell said. “They do narrow the focus of the proposal.”

Jump below for the full story.

Diaz slams City's 'living wage' study, again -- UPDATE: Liu jumps in the criticism

Even since the Kingsbridge Armory
developer backed out of creating
a shopping mall due to a living wage
mandate two years ago, the issue has
been a hot topic for high profile
elected officials.

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. is one of the leading supporters of implementing a living wage mandate on projects that receive subsidies from the city, so when the New York City Economic Development Corp. released their final report damning the living wage, Diaz shot back, calling the study "nothing more than a ruse" to support Mayor Bloomberg, who is staunchly opposes the proposed mandate.

Diaz slammed the study earlier this year when the EDC (the city's economic development arm) release early reports of the study.

Here's the story from the New York Post on the study.

Jump below for the full statement, and expect a story from this week's Riverdale Review on the living wage to be posted on this blog tomorrow morning. City Councilman G. Oliver Koppell, one of the sponsors of the bill that would require the living wage, recently made some alterations to the bill in hopes of gaining more support and appeasing the opponents.

Diaz's statement:

"Supporters of the ‘Fair Wages for New Yorkers’ Act have known since the announcement of  NYCEDC’s study of living wage laws  that  it would be nothing more than a ruse designed to provide cover for Mayor Bloomberg’s clearly stated opposition to living wage mandates. The mayor made it clear from the beginning that he does not support this bill, and the City then hired consultants to conduct the study that have long and extensive records of bias against not only living wage laws, but minimum wage laws as well."

Jump below for the full statement as well as City Comptroller John Liu's statement (I'd jump. Liu's statement is fierce).

Cabrera to deliver petitions to Bloomberg concerning prayer at 9/11 10th Anniversary Ceremony

They're praying to pray at the 9/11 ceremony.

At the steps of City Hall Wednesday, City Councilman Fernando Cabrera will join community leaders and clergy members in presenting Mayor Bloomberg a petition with over 60,000 names on it in hopes of allowing prayer at this year's 10th anniversary ceremony.

“During 9/11, the faith community served as pillars for many New Yorker’s coping with the tragedy. As a pastor during the tumultuous aftermath, I know firsthand that it was a time where people were searching for meaning and things bigger than themselves,” Cabrera said. “People’s Faith helped fill this void and continue to serve as spiritual and emotional support.”

“While many of the voices in this effort have divergent views on a wide-range of issues, I believe that we can put our differences aside to call for the uniting force of prayer,” said Councilman Cabrera. “I sincerely hope that the Mayor will allow prayer in this year’s ceremony as we remember and honor the victims of a tragedy that is still being felt today.”

Bloomberg has declined to have any religious representation at the ceremony. A mayoral spokesperson told CNN last week:

The ceremony was designed in coordination with 9/11 families with a mixture of readings that are spiritual, historical and personal in nature. It has been widely supported for the past 10 years and rather than have disagreements over which religious leaders participate we would like to keep the focus of our commemoration ceremony on the family members of those who died.

Speeders beware, Bloomy wants traffic cams everywhere

I eluded to this two posts ago, but it deserves its own post.

NYCDriving.com has put together a Google Map of known locations of red-light cameras throughout the city. You'll see 27 locations in the Bronx, none of which appear to be confirmed (I'll drive around Riverdale tonight, check them out and get back to you tomorrow). Actually, one that I can confirm, but isn't on the map (so make it 28), is the intersection of Jerome Ave. and Gun Hill Road. There is a sign, similar to the photo here, that points out a camera.

According to the Daily News, more than $52 million was collected in fines last year from motorists who blew through red lights while the cameras were rolling. Over 1 million fines were given.

There are now 150 red-light cameras scattered throughout the city, and Mayor Bloomberg has put the pressure on Albany to add 40 new overhead contraptions that are also capable of measuring a driver's speed. The electronic info is then used to issue tickets - all without a cop. Bloomberg has also said he would be willing to have a camera on every intersection in the city if it could save lives and raise money at the same time.

Each red-light summons sets you back $50, and what's worse is that it's mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle, along with a photo of the license plate and snapshots of the car as it passes through the intersection. So you make the violation, and then days later your day is ruined. However, no points are put on a driver's license; it's the same as if you got a parking ticket.

Even though studies show that red light cameras save lives, many people oppose them, saying that they represent a Big Brother invasion of privacy and that the motivation behind them is driven by revenue, not safety concerns.

In order to add more cameras--ones that will give drivers a violation for running a light--a law would have to be passed in the State Legislature. From what I've been told, the biggest obstacle is Rochester Assemblyman David Gantt, who is the chair of the transportation committee.

Bronx Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, however, thinks they would be a good thing for the city. 

"I’m not opposed to increasing the number of red light cameras; it’s likely to have a positive impact on people’s lives," Dinowitz said, but added that he isn't sure if putting them at every intersection would be a good thing. "It’s pretty hard to argue against red light cameras."

He also said he'd be willing to support them more if the Department of Transportation would speed up the process of putting a traffic signal where the community requests one.

"They’ve been requested and it’s a roundabout bureaucracy," he said. "Bloomberg gets something at the snap of a finger, but the community gets a long, drawn out process." DOT can typically take weeks to study an area, and then the community must wait at least 18 months before the same area can be studied again.

Jump below for a transcript of Bloomberg's back and forth with reporters during a press conference the other day.

MTA Chairman Jay Walder resigns [UPDATE]

Jay H. Walder today informed Governor Cuomo of his intention to resign his position as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority effective as of the close of business on October 21st, 2011. Walder will be joining the MTR Corporation in Hong Kong as Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors. The MTR is a publicly-traded company that operates rail services in Asia and Europe, and is involved in a wide range of business activities, including consulting and property development.

“I want to thank Governors Cuomo and former Governor Paterson for the honor of serving the people of New York State,” Walder said.  “The MTA’s transportation system is the foundation of the metropolitan region and we are fortunate to have thousands of dedicated men and women who work so hard to provide these critically important transportation services to millions of people each and every day.  I believe that we have accomplished quite a lot in a short period, with the support of two Governors, the Mayor, a hard-working Board and many others.”

Here's the reaction from City Councilman James Vacca, the chairman of the transportation committee:

“This resignation comes at a crucial time. A year after the worst service cuts in the MTA’s history and yet another fare and toll increase, the most serious challenges for straphangers may still lie ahead. While Chairman Walder deserves credit for taking on many structural issues that previous MTA leaders had delayed for a tomorrow that never came, the MTA continues to face a $250 million operating gap and a capital budget that runs out January 1. It’s getting harder and harder to do more with less, and the MTA needs someone at the helm not only who understands the role mass transit plays in the lives of everyday New Yorkers but who is prepared to get to work on day one.”

And a statement from Kate Slevin, Tri-State Transportation Campaign Executive Director:

"MTA Chairman and CEO Jay Walder has been an effective, innovative leader. He helped restore the agency's credibility and changed the way it does business, finding billions of dollars in savings during his tenure. But his departure comes at an inopportune time. New York's regional transit system faces a capital funding gap that could be as large as $9 billion, and which needs to be addressed in the coming months. Straphangers are at risk. Governor Cuomo must quickly fill this vacancy with an effective leader who has a deep understanding of the transit system."

We'll post more reactions as they come in. [UPDATE] Check below for posts from Gov. Cuomo, Mayor Bloomberg and more.