Category: News Articles

BronxTimes | Op-Ed: Swimming resources are essential for our BIPOC communities

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Photo via Getty Images

This summer, BIPOC Communities took tremendous losses in New York City because of the lack of knowledge in our community when it comes to swimming. Six New Yorkers have lost their lives due to drowning incidents this summer alone. Particularly, the West African community in New York City took several losses. In Assembly District 77, we have lost two members of our community to drowning. It is a shared duty to make sure that all communities are getting equal access to resources that allow them to learn how to swim.

Research based on CDC data reveals a disproportionate number of adults from the BIPOC community that lack knowledge when it comes to swimming and water safety. While 15% of adults nationwide report not knowing how to swim, 37% of Black adults face this challenge. Additionally, 55% of all adults have never taken a swimming lesson, with the numbers rising to 60% for Black adults and 72% for Hispanic adults. This disparity highlights the urgent need for affordable and accessible swimming and water safety resources in our communities.

The solution to bridging this gap to the lack of water competency is to bring our communities more affordable resources when it comes to swimming and water safety. The term water competency is used by researchers and non-profits to describes the ability to apply knowledge of water safety and survive in common situations to avoid drowning. The lack of water competency in BIPOC communities is what makes this a State of Emergency, not just nationally but particularly in New York City, especially in the Bronx.

In response to the statistics highlighting water competency issues in Assembly District 77 and the Bronx, I have made significant investments in programs aimed at increasing water safety and skills within our community. BronxWorks is a key organization providing affordable wraparound services, including swimming lessons for children, youth and adults. They offer both group sessions for kids and private lessons for adults, making water safety accessible to all. New Settlement is another invaluable resource, offering affordable swimming classes and lifeguard certification programs. Additionally, Roberto Clemente Park in the Bronx provides swimming lessons and is currently seeking lifeguards. These initiatives not only promote water competency, but also enhance employment opportunities within our community.

By expanding access to these resources, we can prevent further tragedies and ensure that every New Yorker, regardless of background, has the skills needed to stay safe in and around water. This is not just a matter of public safety; it is a matter of equity. We must continue to invest in and advocate for programs that bring water competency to our communities. Only then can we close the gap and protect the lives of our neighbors and loved ones.

Assemblymember Landon Dais represents New York’s 77th Assembly District, which is comprised of parts of Claremont, Concourse, Highbridge, Morris Heights and Mount Eden.

Originally published on August 26, 2024 by Assemblymember Landon Dais | BronxTimes

Highbridge tenants renew years-long fight with landlord

Posted on by Kim Guzman

Highbridge tenants renew years-long fight with landlord.
Tenants at two Highbridge apartment buildings are once again calling for accountability from Emerald Equity Group, who they say has neglected to make needed repairs to their apartments for years.
Tenants allowed News 12 cameras a look at the conditions they live in at the apartment buildings located on Woodycrest and Anderson avenues in Highbridge where crews saw roaches, bugs, mold and broken appliances.
Lawyers for the tenants say they’ve filed a motion in hopes of forcing landlords to act, they’re due back in court Sept. 25.
News 12 has attempted to contact Emerald Equity Group for comment, but has gotten no response.
Originally published on Aug. 14, 2024 via News12

Bronx Tenants Demand Repairs and accountability for ongoing building issues

Posted on by Kim Guzman

THE BRONX, N.Y. (PIX11) — An overflowing sink, an infestation of flies and other pests, multiple fire department rescues at a stalled elevator – these are just some of the many issues tenants at 1187 Anderson Avenue in the Bronx say they’ve been living with for far too long. 

Rumaisha and her neighbors detailed these and other issues for PIX11 News Wednesday, including an unreliable stove, and a serious roach infestation.

“They just give us a date or sometimes tell us they’ll fix it but they don’t show up,” said Rumaisha.

PIX11 News has been following this ordeal for years.

In fact, last year the landlord settled with the tenants that included nearly a half million dollars in rent credits…and the completion of certain mandated repairs. 

The Tenants Association says those repairs were never made, and the landlord instead allegedly duped uninformed tenants into unwittingly signing an affidavit falsely confirming the work was done. 

The tenants returned to Bronx Housing Court Wednesday, in their ongoing effort to try to hold accountable that landlord, identified in court documents as Gary Kassirer.

He and his family, along with multiple associated corporate entities own several older buildings in the neighborhood – which are noticeably absent on the company’s listing of featured properties. 

Bronx Legal Services attorney Cynthia Ramos represents the tenants in court.” Their repairs are not done and if they are done, it’s done as a patchwork job,” said Ramos.

Frustrated tenant Mercedes Escoto added, “You are paying lawyers all of this money. Why don’t you save all that money and repair the apartment?”

PIX11 News reached out to the landlord, requesting comment in time for this report but has not received a response.

Originally published on Aug. 14, 2024 via Pix11

 

Gothamist | Low-income Bronx Families to Get Free Child Care for Young Children at 6 New Centers

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Rigaud Noel - Executive Director, Robert Cordero - CEO of Grand Street Settlement, Vanessa L. Gibson - Bronx Borough President, Ritchie Torres - Congressman, holding up a sign commemorating Head Start/Grand Street Settlement/New Settlement collaboration.
Rigaud Noel - Executive Director, Robert Cordero - CEO of Grand Street Settlement, Vanessa L. Gibson - Bronx Borough President, Ritchie Torres - Congressman, holding up a sign commemorating Head Start/Grand Street Settlement/New Settlement collaboration.

Low-income Bronx families will soon have more child care options for their young children.

Six new Head Start centers will launch in the borough, with some facilities opening as early as this year, offering families with children up to the age of 5 free, year-round care.

Grand Street Settlement, a social services provider, told Gothamist it received $18.4 million from the federal government to expand its early childhood services in child care deserts around the city. The six new Head Start sites will open in the Bronx and another in Sunset Park to serve 583 children whose families fall below certain income levels.

“When the city catches a cold, the Bronx gets pneumonia, because of the lack of resources, because of the concentration of poverty,” said Robert Cordero, CEO of Grand Street Settlement. “Our strategy is, we should take our high quality childcare services to where they are needed and to build programs that address the needs of the whole family.”

Grand Street Settlement already runs Head Start programs in the Lower East Side and Brooklyn. Cordero said families in the Bronx have five times less access to a Head Start program than families in the Lower East Side.

Head Start is a federally-funded program and offers comprehensive services for children, but also for their families, including health, mental health care, assistance with housing, employment or education.

“When we engage with families like that on the upfront, it changes the entire trajectory of their life and their family’s life,” Cordero added.

Most New Yorkers can’t afford to pay for child care despite the city’s free programs for 3- and 4-year-olds. And child care costs are among the major factors driving young families out of the city. But the problem is more acute in the Bronx, where households in Mott Haven and Hunts Point spend as much as 63% of their income on infant and toddler care, according to the Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York.

The nonprofit child advocacy group also found only 1% or less of families in those Bronx neighborhoods — where median annual income ranges from $30,000 to $43,000 — and others like Highbridge, East Tremont and Morrisania can afford to pay for infant and toddler care, based on federal affordability standards. Federal guidelines say families shouldn’t pay more than 7% of their household income to care for one child.

Rigaud Noel speaking at Head Start conference at New Settlement Community Center
Rigaud Noel speaking at Head Start conference at the New Settlement Community Center

“Now families really don’t have to choose between daycare and food or daycare and paying their rent. This is really going to be a game changer for families that are really struggling,” said Rigaud Noel, executive director of New Settlement, a social services provider in the Bronx that will house one of the new Head Start programs run by Grand Street Settlement in its existing community center.

“Families really don’t get a break. And so this is really a moment of relief for them,” Noel said.

Early Head Start and Head Start is offered to children from birth up to 5 years old, with the goal of preparing them for kindergarten. Programs can be based in a center or can involve an educator visiting a child or a pregnant person’s home to work with a parent and provide services.

To qualify for Head Start, families need to earn below certain incomes. In New York City that means a two-person household earning $20,440 or less a year and a family of four earning $31,200 or less are eligible.

Willing Chin-Ma, chief operating officer for Grand Street Settlement, said while they ramp up to open all six Bronx sites, they will also partner with about two dozen existing providers that run programs in their homes or at locations and for children that would otherwise be eligible for Head Start.

That includes providing training for staff, bringing in mental health staff workers to conduct screenings, paying for teachers to go back to school and helping families apply for the services they need.

“Head Start is helping families stay in their communities, and boost with all this comprehensive wraparound service,” Chin-Ma said. “We’re targeting the areas where there are not enough child care centers.”

Chin-Ma expects all sites will be running by 2026. Families interested in applying for the new sites can reach out to Grand Street Settlement.

Originally published on July. 16, 2024 via Gothamist 

The Bronx Daily | Assemblymember Grants YAOI $150,000

Posted on by Leigh Reid

The image shows three men standing in front of a banner that reads "Young Adult Opportunity Initiative." They are holding an oversized check from New York State for $150,000 made out to "New Settlement." The date on the check is June 17, 2024. The memo line notes the assistance of Assemblyman Landon C. Dais. The man in the middle is holding the check, while the two men on either side are smiling at the camera.

Originally published on June 20, 2024 by Jonas Bronck | The Bronx Daily

*Edits made to correct factual inaccuracies.

Assemblymember Dais granted New Settlement, a non-profit organization within Assembly District 77, $150,000. The check presentation took place at the building of their YAOI program (Young Adult Opportunity Initiative) which helps youth from 16-24 with career readiness, workforce development, and job placement. This grant will expand and support the various programs that this organization offers to the community, including YAOI. This is an impactful investment not only for New Settlement, but also for the community that New Settlement serves.

“New Settlement has demonstrated that it is a true anchor in the community. They impact throughout every community in the 77th District and in the South Bronx in general. I do recognize that New Settlement is an organization that changes lives, and they’re changing lives in a positive direction. I will always support any organization that is changing lives in my community. They all have my moral support, my spiritual support, and when I can my financial support as their Assemblymember. They are a safe place for our children which is why I want to expand their reach and expand their ability. In doing so, that shows my commitment, not just to New Settlement, but to the children of our community.” said Assembly Member Landon Dais.

Founded in 1989, New Settlement has been a cornerstone of the community and has only expanded since then. The organization has various sites on Mount Eden, Jerome Avenue, and Townsend Avenue in the Bronx. In addition to YAOI, New Settlement offers the community afterschool programs, housing advocacy support, and health and wellness resources such as swimming and fitness classes. Their community center is located on 1501 Jerome Avenue where many of these resources are available. This funding will allow for New Settlement to expand its reach and continue to fulfill its mission which is building equitable futures by providing resources and wrap around services in education, employment, housing, wellness, and creative expression for the community.

“This is making it possible for us to change lives, impact the young people of our community, and move their futures forward. Without [Assemblymember Landon Dais’] support, that would not be possible, so I truly appreciate it personally and professionally.” said Javiel Vega, Director of Young Adult Opportunity Initiative & Workforce Development of New Settlement.

“Having an Assemblymember invest so much into the community is rare and it is great that Landon found New Settlement important enough to invest 150,000 dollars into our young people. It is very significant, and I am really thankful that we get to work together” said Rigaud Noel, Executive Director of New Settlement.

News 12 | Community organization holds town hall to address uptick in gun violence

Posted on by Leigh Reid

Originally published by News 12 – The Bronx, May 15, 2024

 

A community town hall was held on Wednesday in Mount Eden in response to the escalating issue of gun violence in the neighborhood.

Local leaders, law enforcement representatives from the 44th Precinct and community members came together to discuss how to address the uptick in shootings.

New Settlement, a community-led organization hosted the event.

“Our students, our young people and their families have experienced this type of trauma, we want to really speak to our elected officials and give community members access so that they can ask the important questions about what they are doing to combat gun violence,” Rigaud Noel, New Settlement executive director.

The organization says its youth centers were on lockdown twice this year because of shootings in the neighborhood.

“We have young people that are scared to take the train home. So, we actually started to send some of our young people home in cabs so that they feel safer. And so it really impacts our ability to provide critical services to the community,” said Noel.

In April, a 29-year-old man was shot and killed, and three other men were injured when gunmen on scooters opened fire. It happened on East Mount Eden Avenue and Townsend Avenue at 6:15 p.m.

Two months prior, on Feb. 12, six people were shot on a subway platform at the Mount Eden Avenue station. The victims ranged from 14 to 71 years old. A 35-year-old man died.

“Regarding resources, we are down 50 police officers compared to last year,” said NYPD Capt. Yoel Hidalgo, of the 44th Precinct. “But if we get more resources, we can move mountains”

Shootings are up 35% in the 44th Precinct compared to this time last year, with 19 shootings so far this year from 14 at this same time in 2023, according to NYPD crime stats.

Hidalgo says policy changes could make a difference in their policing efforts.

“We are handcuffed the way we have been policing, there are people who have been arrested and they’re out the next day,“ said Hidaglo.

Black History Month event at Bronx Borough Hall honors 14 individuals, Bronx Times

Posted on by Leigh Reid

Originally published on Feb. 26, 2024 via BronxTimes.com

On Feb. 22, “The Renaissance: A Celebration of Black History ” event was held at Bronx Borough Hall, where attendees enjoyed community, music, food and more.

The event was held in partnership with the Bronx Community Justice Center, Assemblymember Chantel Jackson, City Council Member Althea Stevens, U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres, Sen. Luis Sepulveda, Sen. Jose Serrano and Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson.

Honorees were Shaheim Harrison, creative director for the VIP School Empowerment Coalition and founder of Surplus NYC; Tanya Pedler, president of Morrisania Air Rights Tenant Association; Marisol Rivera, hospital responder coordinator community liaison program manager of community relations; Nicole Perkins, PS 294; Dwayne Brown, Phipps Neighborhood; Jimi Orekoya, New Settlement Community Center; Billy Filmore, Y Men; Ronald Laurent, PS 146 Edward Collins Principle; Kadiatu Sow, Dr. Richard Izquierdo Health and Science Charter School; Marlon Gamboa, Samara Community School; Ali Siba, District 16 Youth Advisory Board member; Darien Holloman, SOS; Isaiah Hunter, SOS; and Sherlisely Vining, SOS.