Bronx Political Buzz — Ex-council candidate Alvarez arrested

Ex-Council Candidate Arrested

Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli and Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced the arrest of former New York City Council candidate Albert Alvarez for allegedly accepting straw donations and stealing thousands of dollars in New York City public matching funds during Alvarez’s unsuccessful 2013 run for Council. The felony complaint filed in New York County Supreme Court charges Alvarez with offering a false instrument for filing in the first degree, a class E felony, and grand larceny in the third degree, a class D felony. Alvarez was also chief of staff to ex-Council Majority Leader Joel Rivera.

Third Parties Settle on Special Election Picks

Ms. Pamela Stewart-Martinez is the candidate of the Reform Party in the 32nd S.D. special election. Neither the Conservative Party nor the Independence Party appear to be fielding candidates in the 32SD. Ms. Stewart-Martinez will face Democrat Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda and Republican Patrick Delices in April.

The Conservative Party and the Reform Party have endorsed community activist Gene DeFrancis, the Republican candidate, in the 80th Assembly District contest. The Independence Party has thrown its support behind Nathalia Fernandez, the Democratic party candidate in the 80th AD. The special elections in the two Bronx districts will be on April 24. Polls will be open 6AM-9PM.

Blake Hosts Living Legends Black History Month Event

Tomorrow, Assemblyman Michael Blake hosts “Living Legends: An Evening with the Tuskegee Airmen and the Harlem Hell Fighters — the 369th Infantry Regiment” from 6pm — 7pm at The Renaissance Youth Center. RSVP here.

NYC Bd Of Elections Roundup

This year, Bronx Democratic Elections commissioner Rosanna Vargas presides over the NYC Board of Elections. The Board notes that Special Elections will be held in three city Assembly Districts: 39th (Queens), 74th (Manhattan), and 80th (Bronx), and in the 32nd State Senate District (BX). The BOE may decide to combine some election districts. “We don’t close poll sites,” said executive director Michael Ryan. Regarding felons removed, Ryan said that between 2012 and 2017 6,294 felons citywide were removed from the rolls. Mr. Ryan also said that individuals no longer on parole can re-register to vote. Mr. Ryan noted that felons on probation do NOT lose their right to vote. A felon who goes to state prison, however, does lose the right to vote. He also said that for BOE purposes a person is considered to be on parole if they are on “post-release supervision (aka community-based supervision).” The Bronx has the largest number of felon removals. The BOE holds its weekly Commissioners’ meeting every Tuesday at 1:30 PM at 32 Broadway, 7th Floor in Manhattan. The next scheduled meeting will be February 27th.

Tenants File Lawsuit Against NYCHA

On Tuesday, the Citywide Council of Presidents (CCOP), the governing body for the tenant community of the New York City Housing Authority, announces the filing of a landmark lawsuit exercising its constituency’s legal rights to safe, secure, dignified housing and legally-mandated economic opportunities. After years of neglect to their health and safety, and misappropriation of public funds by NYCHA, tenants demanded legal recourse for the public housing agency’s failure to uphold its mandate and for its pattern of violating both federal and local law. For the first time in its history, the CCOP filed a lawsuit against NYCHA, demanding that the Court impose an independent monitor over NYCHA to ensure future compliance with the law. The Mayor’s office and NYCHA have yet to comment on today’s filing.

Team Serrano Honors Black Sheroes

On Monday, Congressman José E. Serrano and State Senator José M. Serrano celebrated Black History Month in the Bronx by honoring Marricka Scott-McFadden, Deputy Bronx Borough President; Hon. Latoya Joyner,Assembly Member, 77th Assembly District; Linda Kemp, Founder of Bringing the Peace and Building the Community; and Kathleen Saunders, Community Board 4 Chair. The U.S. Congressional & NYS Senate Life Time Achievement Award went to the Hon. Aurelia Greene, a former Bronx Deputy Borough President and Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore. The event was held at Hostos Community College.

Where In The World Is Michael Blake

The peripatetic Morrisania assemblyman and DNC vice-chairman delivered remarks at Wyoming Democratic Party’s 2018 Nelle Taylor Ross Gala in Cheyenne, Wyoming last Saturday and was in Camden, NJ on Sunday addressing the New Leaders Council there.

Where The Pols Are

Wednesday, February 28, 2018

11:30 AM — Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. brings remarks at City & State’s “NYC Power 100” Luncheon.Battery Gardens Restaurant. 1 Battery Park. Manhattan.

7:00 PM — Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. attends State Senator Jose Peralta’s Dominican Heritage Celebration. La Boom – 56-15 Northern Blvd. Queens.

Robert Press contributed to this report.

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