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[Pages:24]JANUARY 04 - JANUARY 10, 2017 ? VOLUME 8 - No. 1

TheBRONX

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The Community's Bilingual Newspaper El Peri?dico Biling?e de la Comunidad

Fellows in Focus

p13

Photos by EN FOCO

Enfocarse p13

Science p7

Office p3

Drive p3

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JANUARY 04, 2017 ? THE BRONX FREE PRESS ?

Trove of Toys

Story and photos by Gregg McQueen

This time, the second-hand was first-rate.

The holidays arrived on the express line for hundreds of Bronx children who received free playthings at a toy drive held at the Mount Hope Community Center last month.

On December 12, more than 300 toys were handed out to local youngsters, who were each allowed to pick one item from a trove of gently used plastic toys provided by Second Chance Toys.

The nonprofit's Operation Toy Drive NYC partnership brought donated toys to children in low-income neighborhoods throughout the city that day.

Through the partnership, toys were collected at Kidville, a children's event and play space, and from Uber riders, while trucks from 1-800-GOT-JUNK? helped transport the items to giveaway events throughout the city, including Mount Hope Community Center.

"This is what it's all about," remarked City Councilmember Fernando Cabrera as he watched wide-eyed children eagerly select their toys. "This is very significant, because I have many kids in my district who probably would not receive Christmas toys if it wasn't for this type of event. I'm very grateful."

"Especially for struggling parents who

"We are donating our 250,000th toy this holiday season," said Chief Executive Officer Bronna Lipton.

have difficulty providing for their families, to be able to get a free toy for their children is really important," added City Councilmember Vanessa Gibson.

Second Chance Toys Chief Executive Officer Bronna Lipton said the idea for her company was hatched ten years ago while she was driving in the New Jersey suburbs on a garbage collection day with her daughter, who noticed numerous nearly-brand-new plastic toys sticking

Community members, together with Councilmember Vanessa Gibson (center), visited the center.

out of people's trash bins. "She said, `Mom, this is terrible, we need

to do something about it,'" Lipton recalled. The two retrieved the toys, brought them home to clean up and donated them to charitable organizations. "That idea just exploded, and here we are ten years later," remarked Lipton. "We are donating our 250,000th toy this holiday season." "It's a sheer privilege to be a part

of this," said Kidville Founder and Chief Executive Officer Rammy Harwood. "These are the kids who deserve toys."

Harwood said that Kidville collected over 1,000 toys in a week's time at six Manhattan locations, cleaned them up and got them ready for new and appreciative owners.

"These toys are in impeccable condition," he said. "Many of them would be getting thrown out otherwise. Rather than end up in a landfill somewhere, why not put it in the hand of a deserving child?"

See TROVE p21

M?s de 300 juguetes fueron entregados.

Tesoro de Juguetes

Historia y fotos por Gregg McQueen

Esta vez, la segunda mano fue de primera categor?a.

Los d?as de fiesta llegaron en l?nea r?pida para cientos de ni?os del Bronx Quienes recibieron juguetes gratis en una campa?a de juguetes celebrada en el Centro Comunitario de las Viviendas Mount Hope el 12 de diciembre.

M?s de 300 juguetes fueron entregados a ni?os locales, a quienes se les permiti? elegir un art?culo de un tesoro de juguetes de pl?stico poco usados de Juguetes de Segunda Oportunidad.

La organizaci?n no lucrativa Campa?a Operaci?n Juguete NYC trajo consigo juguetes donados para ni?os en barrios de bajos ingresos de toda la ciudad ese d?a.

A trav?s de la asociaci?n, los juguetes fueron recolectados en Kidville, un evento infantil y espacio de juego, y por operadores de Uber, mientras que camiones de 1-800-GOT-JUNK? ayudaron a transportar los juguetes a los eventos de entrega en toda la ciudad, incluyendo el Centro Comunitario Mount Hope.

"De esto se trata", se?al? el concejal de la ciudad Fernando Cabrera, mientras ve?a a los

Vea TESORO p21

"Moving in to my new office in Washington DC," wrote Espaillat on Monday on Twitter.

Heart of History

?Es pa'lla que vamos!

The rallying cry ("It is where we are going!" in English) was chanted often by supporters of Adriano Espaillat on the campaign trail, leaning heavily on how closely the words echoed the candidate's surname.

And now they are going. Hundreds of attendees, many of them on buses leaving in the early morning from Northern Manhattan and the Bronx, will flock to the nation's capital this week to witness history. Espaillat will be sworn in as the new representative of the 31st Congressional district ? as the first member of Congress of Dominican heritage. Please visit as we cover events directly from Broadway to the Beltway.

Es oficial.

En el centro de la historia

?Es pa'lla que vamos! El grito del mitin ("It is where we are going!" en ingl?s) fue cantado a menudo por los seguidores de Adriano Espaillat en la campa?a electoral, apoy?ndose en gran medida en lo mucho que se asemejan las palabras al apellido del candidato.

Y ahorra ellos van hacia all?. Cientos de asistentes, muchos de ellos saliendo en autobuses temprano por la ma?ana desde el Norte de Manhattan y el Bronx, acudir?n a la capital de la naci?n esta semana para ser testigos de la historia. Espaillat ser? juramentado como nuevo representante del 31? distrito del congreso, como el primer miembro del Congreso de herencia dominicana. Por favor visite thebronxfreepress. com para nuestra cobertura de los eventos, directamente desde Broadway hasta Beltway.

JANUARY 04, 2017 ? THE BRONX FREE PRESS ?

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JANUARY 04, 2017 ? THE BRONX FREE PRESS ?

Grade A for Section 8

NYCHA applauded for voucher program performance

It's the largest housing choice voucher program in the country, providing housing assistance to over 200,000 New Yorkers.

And now The New York City Housing

Authority (NYCHA) has received the highest

designation from the U.S. Department of

Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for

its performance in administering the Section 8

Housing Choice Voucher program.

HUD gave NYCHA a score of 93 percent

on the federal agency's annual assessment of

public housing agencies nationwide, earning

NYCHA a "High Performer"

rating, according to a press

release.

The assessment tool, known

as Section Eight Management

Assessment

Program

(SEMAP), is used by HUD

to measure the effectiveness

of agencies in handing the

voucher system.

NYCHA's

"High

Performer" rating was

for program management

during 2015, and marks

an improvement from the prior SEMAP

assessment, indicating improved customer

service for both Section 8 residents and

landlords. NYCHA received a "Standard"

rating the previous year.

"Running the largest Section 8 program

in the nation's tightest rental market is no

easy task," said Holly Leicht, HUD Regional

Administrator for New York and New Jersey.

"The major improvements that won NYCHA

a `High Performer' designation this year are a

testament to the vision, competence and hard

work of Chair Shola Olatoye and Executive

Vice President for Leased Housing Cathy

Pennington and her team."

Each year, HUD assigns

each public housing agency

a rating of "High Performer,"

"Standard," or "Troubled.

The latest rating is

NYCHA's first "High

Performer" designation since

2004.

"This

designation

demonstrates how we are

succeeding in fundamentally

changing how we do business

and becoming more efficient,"

said NYCHA Chair and CEO

Shola Olatoye. "NYCHA's

It's the largest housing choice voucher program in the country.

Section 8 program provides housing and opportunity for hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers who otherwise could not afford to call this city home. By effectively administering this program, we can better serve families who rely on this invaluable resource."

The SEMAP tool measures performance in 14 key areas, including proper selection of applicants from waiting list, performing quality-control inspections, budget utilization, accuracy of income and rent calculations, and ensuring that all available housing vouchers are used.

In 2015, NYCHA completed more than 55,000 Housing Quality Standard inspections,

recertified 79,000 households on the program and approved 35,217 increases in rent to owners, according to a press release.

NYCHA also incorporated greater use of technology for providing customer service to voucher-holders and landlords, through the introduction of an Online Self-Service Portal.

The portal allows tenants to access residency information, schedule inspections and complete recertification, and lets landlords submit lease renewals and inspection repair certifications, and review rent-related tenant information and service requests.

For more information, please visit .

El programa proporciona asistencia de vivienda a m?s de 200,000 neoyorquinos.

Calificaci?n de A para la Secci?n 8

NYCHA aplaudida por el desempe?o

del programa

Es el programa m?s grande de Vales de Elecci?n de Vivienda en el pa?s, proporcionando asistencia de vivienda a m?s de 200,000 neoyorquinos.

Y ahora la Autoridad de Vivienda de la Ciudad de Nueva York (NYCHA, por sus siglas en ingl?s) ha recibido la denominaci?n m?s alta del Departamento de Vivienda y Desarrollo Urbano

de los Estados Unidos (HUD, por sus siglas en ingl?s) por su desempe?o en la administraci?n del programa de la Secci?n 8 de Vales de Elecci?n de Vivienda.

HUD otorg? a NYCHA una puntuaci?n de 93 por ciento en la evaluaci?n anual de la agencia federal de las agencias de vivienda p?blica de todo el pa?s, adjudic?ndole a NYCHA una calificaci?n de "alto desempe?o", seg?n un comunicado de prensa.

La herramienta de evaluaci?n, conocida como el Programa de Evaluaci?n de la Administraci?n de la Secci?n Ocho (SEMAP, por sus siglas en ingl?s), es utilizada por el HUD para medir la efectividad de las agencias en la entrega del

Vea SECCI?N 8 p17

JANUARY 04, 2017 ? THE BRONX FREE PRESS ?

5

En efecto: aumento salarial

In e

Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the bill

into law in April.

ect: Wage Hike

Workers had an early reason to revel.

As of December 31st, 2016, the first minimum wage increase in New York State officially went into effect, affecting more than 2 million New Yorkers who will now see an increase in their paychecks.

The phased-in hike, signed into law in April, is detailed below.

$15 Minimum Wage Phase-in Schedule

The $15 minimum wage legislation was passed as part of the 2016-17 state budget. The phase-in schedule on a regional basis is as follows:

? For workers in New York City employed by large businesses (those with at least 11 employees), the minimum wage will rise to $11 at the end of 2016, then another $2 each year after, reaching $15 on 2/31/2018.

? For workers in New York City employed by small businesses (those with 10 employees or fewer), the minimum wage will rise to $10.50 by the end of 2016, then another $1.50 each year after, reaching $15 on 12/31/2019.

? For workers in Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester Counties, the minimum wage will increase to $10 at the end of 2016, then $1 each year after, reaching $15 on 12/31/2021.

? For workers in the rest of the state, the minimum wage will increase to $9.70 at the end of 2016, then another .70 each year after until reaching $12.50 on 12/31/2020 ? after which the minimum wage will continue to increase to $15 on an indexed schedule to be set by the Director of the Division of Budget in consultation with the Department of Labor.

Any worker who does not receive a raise is encouraged to call the Department of Labor Hotline at 888.4.NYSDOL to ensure that they are paid the wages they are due.

For more information, please visit or call 888.468.7365.

Number of Employees/Type New York State Minimum Wage

11 or more

$11.00 per hour

10 or less

$10.50 per hour

Fast Food

$12.00 per hour

M?s de 2 millones de neoyorquinos ver?n un aumento en sus cheques de pago.

Los trabajadores tuvieron una raz?n temprana para deleitarse.

El 31 de diciembre de 2016, el primer aumento del salario m?nimo en el estado de Nueva York entr? en vigor oficialmente, afectando a m?s de 2 millones de neoyorquinos que ahora ver?n un aumento en sus cheques de pago.

La subida gradual, promulgada como ley en abril, se detalla a continuaci?n.

Calendario de introducci?n del salario m?nimo de $15 d?lares

La legislaci?n del salario m?nimo de $15 d?lares fue aprobada como parte del presupuesto estatal 2016-2017. El calendario de introducci?n a nivel regional es el siguiente:

? Para los trabajadores de la ciudad de Nueva York empleados por negocios grandes (aquellos con al menos 11 empleados), el salario m?nimo subir? a $11 d?lares a fines de 2016, luego aumentar? $2 d?lares cada a?o posterior, llegando a $15 d?lares el 31/12/2018.

? Para los trabajadores de la Ciudad de Nueva York empleados por peque?os negocios (aquellos con 10 empleados o menos), el salario m?nimo subir? a $10.50 d?lares para

fines de 2016, aumentando $1.50 d?lares cada a?o posterior, llegando a $15 d?lares el 31/12/2019. ? Para los trabajadores de los condados de Nassau, Suffolk y Westchester, el salario m?nimo aumentar? a $10 d?lares a fines de 2016, incrementando $1 d?lar cada a?o posterior, alcanzando $15 d?lares el 31/12/2021. ? Para los trabajadores en el resto del estado,

el salario m?nimo aumentar? a $9.70 d?lares al final de 2016, incrementando $.70 de d?lar cada a?o posterior hasta alcanzar $12.50 el 31/12/2020, despu?s de lo cual el salario m?nimo continuar? aumentando hasta los $15 d?lares en un calendario indexado a ser establecido por el director de la Divisi?n de Presupuesto en consulta con el Departamento de Trabajo. Cualquier trabajador que no reciba un aumento de sueldo es alentado a llamar a la L?nea Directa del Departamento del Trabajo al 888.4.NYSDOL para asegurarse de que reciban el salario que se les debe.

Para obtener m?s informaci?n, por favor visite o llame al 888.468.7365.

N?mero de empleados/Tipo

11 o m?s 10 o menos Comida r?pida

Salario m?nimo del estado de Nueva York

$11.00 d?lares por hora

$10.50 d?lares por hora

$12.00 d?lares por hora

BRONXFREE PRESS The

the community's bilingual newspaper el peri?dico biling?e de la comunidad

editor@

FOUNDERS/ PUBLISHERS

Roberto Ram?rez Sr.

Lu?s A. Miranda Jr.

EDITOR Debralee Santos

EDITORIAL STAFF Gregg McQueen Luis Puntiel

PRODUCTION Ramon Peralta Erik Febrillet

OFFICE MANAGER Jennifer Salda?a

TRANSLATORS Yamilla Miranda Ver?nica Cruz

DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Landa M. Towns

6

JANUARY 04, 2017 ? THE BRONX FREE PRESS ?

5030 Broadway, Suite 801 New York, NY 10034

T: 212-569-5800 F: 212-544-9545

MEMBER:

Express yourself.

We're Talking the Bronx

p.m. Youths will observe microscopic life such as bacteria and plant and animal cells. Peer into the microscope and see the organelles of the cell and compare and contrast the different structures. This event is intended for children aged 5 ? 12 years. The library is located at 285 East 205th Street.

For more information, please call 718.882.8239 or visit .

Diversi?n microsc?pica Aprenda de qu? est? compuesta toda la vida en la Tierra en la Biblioteca Mosholu el martes 17 de enero a las 3:30 p.m. Los j?venes observar?n la vida microsc?pica, como bacterias y c?lulas vegetales y animales. Mire por el microscopio los org?nulos de la c?lula y compare y contraste las diferentes estructuras. Este evento est? dirigido a ni?os de 5 a 12 a?os de edad. La biblioteca est?

See TALKING p17

Expr?sate.

Freedom at the Hill Celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday early at Wave Hill on Sat., Jan. 14thfrom 10:00 a.m. ? 1:00 p.m. Be inspired by King's message of justice and freedom by creating art that coveys his message. Trace hands onto fabric to cut out and layer onto muslin. Use markers and sprays to write messages on your art. Materials will be provided by Wave Hill. The garden is located at West 249th Street and Independence Avenue. For more information, please call 718.549.3200 or visit .

Libertad en the Hill Celebre el antes el cumplea?os del Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. en Wave Hill el s?bado 14 de enero de 10:00 a.m. ? 1:00 p.m. Insp?rese en el mensaje de justicia y libertad de King creando arte que recoge su mensaje. Trace manos sobre la tela para cortar y col?quela sobre muselina. Use marcadores y sprays para escribir mensajes en su arte. Los materiales ser?n suministrados por Wave Hill. El jard?n est? situado en la Calle 249 Oeste y la Avenida Independencia. Para obtener m?s informaci?n, por favor llame al 718.549.3200 o visite wavehill. org.

Learn to Survive Will you be the next Survivor? Learn essential survival skills used by our ancestors at Van Cortlandt Park on Sat., Jan.

21st from 1:00 p.m. ? 2:30 p.m. Guests will learn how to construct tools and shelters, learn basic knots and how to use their new skills to build simple useful things at home or in the woods. Participants are chosen by lottery here: h ttp://on.2fkB1ar. Registration will open on Wed., Jan. 11th. For directions to the meeting place, please visit . ly/2hCYk14.

For more information, please call 718.548.0912 or visitnycgovparks. org.

Aprenda a sobrevivir ?Ser? usted el pr?ximo sobreviviente? Aprenda habilidades esenciales de supervivencia usadas por nuestros antepasados en Van Cortlandt Park el s?bado 21 de enero de 1:00 p.m. a 2:30 p.m. Los participantes aprender?n a construir herramientas, refugios, nudos b?sicos y c?mo usar sus nuevas habilidades para construir cosas ?tiles sencillas en el hogar o en el bosque. Los participantes son elegidos por sorteo aqu?: http:// on.2fkB1ar. La inscripci?n se abrir? el mi?rcoles 11 de enero. Para indicaciones al lugar de encuentro, por favor visite . ly/2hCYk14. Para obtener m?s informaci?n, por favor llame al 718.548.0912 o visite .

Microscopic Fun Learn what makes up all life on earth at Mosholu Library on Tues., Jan. 17th at 3:30

See what you're made of.

Learn some new skills.

Vea de qu? est?s hecho.

Aprenda algunas nuevas habilidades.

JANUARY 04, 2017 ? THE BRONX FREE PRESS ?

7

Raise the age, save in spades

Story and photos by Gregg McQueen

Lywan Reed spent three years incarcerated.

Advocates are seeking to raise the state's age of criminal responsibility to 18.

"I was terrified." He was 16 when first jailed, first at Rikers for four months and then at the Greene Correctional Facility. Now 20, Reed described his time in prison as nightmarish. "The place was crazy,' he recalled. "The brutality was crazy, too." Reed, advocates and New York lawmakers are seeking to raise the state's age of criminal responsibility to 18, insisting that, among other benefits, it would save New York nearly $153 million per year. State Senator Jeff Klein and other members

of the Independent Democratic Conference (IDC) have released a report stating that sending teens to family court instead of criminal court would dramatically slash costs to the state's criminal justice system.

As the average

"I was terrified," said Lywan Reed.

cost of jailing a 16- or 17-year-old is $89 per day, raising the age of criminal responsibility would save the state $32 million in jail costs annually, said the report. The state could realize a total savings of $117.1 million on costs for prisoner transfer, parole and probation supervision and other prison costs, the report said.

"This is an issue that has such a detrimental impact on our young people," said Klein. "This also has tremendous economic

ramifications for both the state, our economy, and for the individuals."

Klein released the results of the report at a December 29 press conference, where he was joined by other IDC members and criminal justice advocates.

New York is one of two U.S. states that hold 16- and 17-year-olds accountable to criminal court, said Klein. The other state is North Carolina.

"This age of criminal responsibility was

established in New York State over a hundred years ago," said State Senator Diane Savino. "But a hundred years ago, a 16-year-old was really an adult. You were embarking on your life. Many of them were getting married, having children, they were working."

Teens who are incarcerated in adult facilities are frequently victims of sexual abuse, Klein said, which costs the state around $21 million on counseling costs.

See RAISE p16

Aumentar la edad, ahorrar en palas

Historia y fotos por Gregg McQueen

Lywan Reed pas? tres a?os en prisi?n.

"Estaba aterrorizado." Ten?a 16 a?os cuando fue encarcelado por

8

primera vez, primero en Rikers durante cuatro meses y luego en la Correccional Greene.

Ahora con 20 a?os, Reed describi? su tiempo en prisi?n como de pesadilla.

"El lugar era una locura", record?. "La brutalidad tambi?n era terrible."

Reed y legisladores de Nueva York est?n abogando por elevar la edad de responsabilidad penal del estado a 18 a?os, insistiendo en que, entre otros beneficios, ahorrar?a a Nueva York casi $153 millones de d?lares anuales.

El senador estatal Jeff Klein y otros miembros de la Conferencia Democr?tica Independiente (IDC, por sus siglas en ingl?s) han publicado un informe que indica que enviar a los adolescentes a un tribunal de familia en vez de a un tribunal penal reducir?a dr?sticamente los costos del sistema de justicia penal del estado.

Dado que el costo promedio de encarcelar a un adolescente de 16 o 17 a?os es de 89 d?lares por d?a, aumentar la edad de responsabilidad penal ahorrar?a al estado 32 millones de d?lares en costos de c?rcel anualmente, dice el informe. El estado podr?a lograr un ahorro total de $117.1 millones de d?lares en costos de transferencia de prisioneros, libertad condicional, supervisi?n de libertad condicional y otros costos penitenciarios, seg?n el informe.

"Este es un tema que tiene un impacto tan negativo en nuestros j?venes", dijo Klein. "Esto tambi?n tiene enormes consecuencias econ?micas para el estado, nuestra econom?a y los individuos".

Klein dio a conocer los resultados del

El senador estatal Jeff Klein dijo que el proyecto de ley era "una prioridad".

informe en una conferencia de prensa del 29 de diciembre, en la que se uni? a otros miembros de IDC y defensores de la justicia penal.

Nueva York es uno de los dos estados de Estados Unidos que hacen responsables a los j?venes de 16 y 17 a?os ante un tribunal penal, dijo Klein. El otro estado es Carolina del Norte.

"Esta edad de responsabilidad penal se estableci? en el estado de Nueva York hace m?s de cien a?os", dijo la senadora estatal Diane Savino. "Pero hace cien a?os, un joven de 16 a?os era realmente un adulto, estaba embarcando en su vida. Muchos de ellos se

JANUARY 04, 2017 ? THE BRONX FREE PRESS ?

La senadora estatal electa Marisol Alc?ntara.

casaban, ten?an hijos y ya estaban trabajando". Los adolescentes que est?n encarcelados

en establecimientos para adultos son v?ctimas frecuentes de abuso sexual, dijo Klein, lo que cuesta al estado alrededor de $21 millones de d?lares en orientaci?n.

Los legisladores tambi?n dijeron que los adolescentes encarcelados no obtienen su diploma de escuela secundaria, cost?ndoles encontrar un trabajo m?s adelante. Las tasas de suicidio y reincidencia tambi?n son altas entre los

Vea AUMENTAR p16

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