Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Monday that, in addition to previously publicized bids, the city also received proposals from India-based Amity University and a consortium led by the New York Genome Center.
By Daniel Massey
Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced that the city received seven
qualifying responses from 17 institutions before last Friday's deadline
for proposals to build a tech campus in the city and that there were “no
immediate frontrunners” in the competition.
In addition to
previously publicized bids from Carnegie Mellon University, Columbia
University, Cornell University/Technion-Israel Institute of Technology,
New York University and Stanford University, the city received proposals
from India-based Amity University and a consortium led by the New York
Genome Center.
Amity put in a proposal for Governor's Island,
while the Genome Center, which partnered with Mount Sinai School of
Medicine, Rockefeller University and SUNY Stony Brook, submitted a
proposal for an undisclosed site in midtown Manhattan.
“The
proposals are all attractive,” Mr. Bloomberg said at a press conference
at the offices of Next Jump, a tech company that moved to the city in
1999. “This has the potential to be a game changer for our city.”
Monday, October 31, 2011
City receives 7 proposals for local tech campus
Sunday, October 30, 2011
NYC Carpenters Rat Ruling Regime
The giant, snarling, inflatable rat has been widely employed by unions in labor disputes with employers and non-union contractors in recent years, but on the lower west side of Manhattan this past August, the iconic species of rodent bared its teeth at an unusual target: The headquarters of the New York City District Council of Carpenters (NYCDC).
Saturday, October 29, 2011
New York City District Council of Carpenters Delegate Body
Below is a list of all Local Union Delegates to The New York City District Council of Carpenters.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Court Denies Application to Restore Disqualified Candidates
United States District Judge Richard M. Berman issued a Decision & Order denying the eight candidates application to reverse the decision by Review Officer Dennis Walsh (RO) to disqualify them.
The Court upheld the RO's authority over a candidate seeking to run for a position as an Officer of the District Council which is clearly defined in the Stipulation and Order paragraph 5.k.iv:
"Any candidate seeking to run for a position as an Officer of the District Council during the Review's Officer's tenure must first be approved by the Review Officer, who will determine whether in light of the terms and objectives of the Consent Decree the candidate is qualified to run for office and represent the union membership. Any such decision by the Review Officer will be final and non-reviewable."
The RO used his authority and disqualified 16 of the 34 candidates at the nomination meeting on Wednesday October 12.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Reply Memorandum of Law in Support of Preliminary Injunction
On Wednesday October 12, Review Officer Dennis Walsh (RO) turned a routine nomination meeting on it's
head by disqualifying 16 of the 34 candidates who were expecting to
be nominated in the District Council Election.
After hearing about the action, I spoke to Walter Kane and Larry Cary,
of the law firm of Cary Kane LLP, (the attorneys representing the Carpenters Committee for Democracy and
Workers Rights) they said the firm is willing to help the disqualified
candidates make an appeal.
Eight of the sixteen candidates responded to the offer and met with the law firm for a consultation and deposition.
Last Monday, Cary, filed an Order to Show Cause for Preliminary Injunction,
before United States District Judge Richard M. Berman, ordering the RO to show cause in writing why an order
should not be issued reversing the RO's decision to disqualify the eight candidates.
The complaint filed by Cary, argues that the candidates were disqualified for various "arbitrary and capricious" reasons and that the RO exceeded his authority under the June 3, Stipulation and Order and is "reviewable by the court."
On Friday the RO submitted a response and argues that he "properly exercised his authority
under paragraph 5.k.iv of the Stipulation and Order and his decisions
not to approve the eight candidates should be upheld by the court."
Below is Cary's Reply Memorandum of Law to the RO's response.
Certification of the Election Results by the Review Officer
Per the Election Rules,
prepared and promulgated by Review Officer Dennis Walsh (RO), after the election process is completed in a accordance with the Rules,
and where no timely objections to the election are raised, or upon
completion of the protest and appeal procedure, or upon the conclusion
of any investigation the Election Officer or RO may undertake with
respect to the election, the RO shall certify the election results.
Upon information and belief the following are potential election offenses reported to the RO for investigation:
Carpenters Alliance Slate:
We reported that National Acoustics (employer) is supporting the slate by distributing campaign material/ letter in sealed employee pay checks to every National employee and Martin Costello (slate member) is cold calling members urging them to vote.
The Carpenters United NYC Slate:
We reported that the campaign ran a fundraiser and collected money from "friends and family" in support of running for Delegates to the New York City District Council of Carpenters by selling raffle tickets to "union members and non-union members.
We reported that a Skanska shop steward who has connections to slate had the employer include their campaign material in all employees pay checks.
Remedies
Per Section Six of the Election Rules: The RO may bring disciplinary charges "if as a result of any protest filed with the Election Officer, or as a result of any investigation undertaken by the Election Officer or the RO either in response to a protest or on their own initiative, the Election Officer or the RO determines that the Rules or any law have been violated or that any other conduct has occurred that may prevent or has prevented a fair, honest and open election, the Election Officer or the RO may take what ever remedial action is appropriate (see page 12)."
Election Update: Members Voice Win Majority of Delegates
- There were 150 candidates on the ballot.
- There were 8900 eligible voters.
- Approximately 1905 members voted, you needed at least 465 votes to win.
- Only 1103 members voted for the executive committee members
- No Independent candidates won.
- The independent vote ranged from a low of 67 to a high of 195, received by Charles Egan.
- The slate vote ranged from a low of 292 to a high of 575, received by Bill Walsh.
- Members Voice had 26 Delegates elected.
- Carpenters Alliance had 21 Delegates elected.
- Carpenters United had 1 Delegate elected.
Chris Grogan, George La Montagne, John “Terror” Carty, Sean Doonan, John Daly, Greg Kelty, John Moloney, Don Foley, Steve Spinelli, Kevin Egan, Levi Messenetti, Sean Firth, Kevin Corrigan, Mike Donnelly, Mike Berlingo, Turlough “Sam” Noone, Patrick Nee, Tommy McGonigle, Vincent Spinelli, John Gaffney, Kevin McCabe, John Musumeci, Peter Corrigan, Danny Dore, Billy McKenna and Bill Walsh.
The Carpenters Alliance Slate winners are: Danny Demorato for executive committee member, delegate winners are:
Louis Norelli, Eamonn Carey, Joseph Faith, Bill Lacey, Gerry Brue, Joe Nina, Vincent DeLessio, Graham McHugh, John Sheehy, Paul Capurso, Mitch Sonntag, Steve McInnis, John McCarthy, Guy Collins, Eddie McWilliams, Martin Lydon, Martin Maguire, Cory Kennedy, Elly Spicer, Glenn Hatcher and Joseph Connolly.
The Carpenters United Slate winner in Mike Bilello.
Monday, October 24, 2011
A MESSAGE FROM THE MEMBERS VOICE SLATE
- RATIFICATION OF CONTRACTS BY THE MEMBERSHIP
- REDESIGNED THE DISTRICT COUNCIL WEBSITE AND CREATE A VOICE FOR THE MEMBERSHIP
- ELIMINATE ASSESSMENTS ON P.L.A. JOBS
- REVIEW ALL ASSESSMENTS AND PUT THAT MONEY TO A MORE PRODUCTIVE USE THAT BENEFITS THE MEMBERSHIP
- FULL TRANSPARENCY OF ALL COUNCIL FINANCIAL REPORTS
- OVERHAUL THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM
- OVERHAUL THE OUT-OF-WORK-LIST RULES
- NEGOTIATE A FAIR CONTRACT THAT PROTECTS THE MEMBERSHIP
Sunday, October 23, 2011
A Message From Local 157 President Patrick Nee
Reminder to Vote on Monday, October 24!
Dear Brothers and Sisters:
Monday is Election Day, and I sincerely hope that everyone reading this will exercise the right to vote. Some of us may have our minds made up, while others are still undecided. Some people may know exactly what issues matter to them, while others may still be unsure of where the candidates stand.
The important thing is to Get Out and Vote!
I am asking for and need your support once again and help elect the Members Voice Slate as Delegates to the New York City District Council of Carpenters.
This is a very important election, the issues and
challenges we face today are real and crucial to
both your future, your families future and the future of this union.
Local 157 is the largest local in the UBC with over 10400 members and you will be electing (48) Delegates and
one (1) Executive Committee member to represent you.
The Delegates you elect will have an enormous responsibility to address the issues and find solutions to the
problems of rising health care cost, underfunded pensions, over
assessed membership, making sure our contracts are fair and being enforced,
hold cheating contractors accountable, improve communications and transparency and find
ways to increase man-hours and better job opportunities for all our members.
We are counting on
members and friends like you to come to the District Council tomorrow and Vote The Bottom
Line—Vote The Members Voice Slate and Lets Take Back Our District
Council!
God bless you and God bless
our Union.
Patrick Nee
President Local 157
Memoranum of the Review Officer in Response to the Courts Order to Show Cause for Preliminary Injunction
On Monday October 18, Larry Cary, of the law firm of Cary Kane LLP, filed an Order to Show Cause for Preliminary Injunction,
before United States District Judge Richard M. Berman, ordering that
Review Officer Dennis Walsh (RO), show cause in writing why an order should not be issued reversing the RO's decision to disqualify Michael Ciechorski, Kevin Corrigan, John
DeFalco, Shawn Eichorn, George LaMontagne, Charles Lucas, Tommy McGonnigle and Bill Walsh, from their candidacy for office and restoring their names to the ballot in the upcoming December 15, 2011 District Council election.
The complaint filed by Cary, argues that the candidates were vetoed for various "arbitrary and capricious" reasons and that the RO exceeded his authority under the June 3, Stipulation and Order and is "reviewable by the court."
In the RO's response he argues that he properly exercised his authority under paragraph 5.k.iv of the Stipulation and Order and his decisions not to approve the above named candidates should be upheld by the court.
Below is the RO's response to the Courts Order.
Feds, HPD eye projects in Brooklyn, the Bronx after workers claim illegal labor
Illegal labor is the foundation of the city's affordable housing industry, construction workers and union leaders claim.
Mayor Bloomberg has vowed to build and preserve 165,000 units of affordable housing by 2015. But Hizzoner's push is coming under scrutiny, with a top contractor headed to trial for wage infractions at an East Harlem project and a housing agency bigwig arrested Oct. 6 for corruption.
Now the U.S. Labor Department and the city Department of Housing Preservation and Development are probing underpayment and kickbacks at affordable housing projects in the Bronx and Brooklyn, the Daily News has learned. At the Bronx site - 780 Prospect Ave. - workers are due $575,000.
"The problems at HPD are systemic," said Robert Bonanza, business manager of the Mason Tenders District Council. "For years, workers have been coming forward with stories about being forced to pay kickbacks, being paid in cash and working under unsafe conditions."
Saturday, October 22, 2011
A Message From Local 157 President Patrick Nee
Dear Brothers and Sisters:
The primary purpose of the Members Voice Slate is to bring about fundamental changes that will bring our union into the future. Through your support we were elected to office and we are working very hard to achieve these goals. The entire executive board thanks you and we need your continued support.
We, the Local 157 elected officials have assembled a group of dedicated men and women who are committed to achieving the changes our union desperately need.
Working together both the delegate body and executive board will be able to make the needed changes.
This new delegate body will be responsible to you. We hear your demand for change, now we ask you to empower us to make these changes. That is our commitment to you.
It’s important to remember that your vote wasn’t just a vote for my candidacy— it was a vote towards a vision for the future of our union. It was a vote to build a better union we can all be proud of. It was a vote to finally
put us on a path where we can protect the interests and rights of our member's above all else.
Once again, I am asking for your support and help elect the Members Voice Slate as Delegates to the New York City District Council of Carpenters.
A MESSAGE FROM THE MEMBERS VOICE SLATE
On Monday Local 157 will conduct an election for (48) Delegates to the NYC District Council and
one (1) Executive Committee member.
Elections will be held at the New York City District Council of Carpenters Labor Technical College, 395 Hudson Street, from 6:00 a.m through 7:00 p.m, and a regular scheduled meeting will follow.
There are six independent candidates and three slates of candidates running in the election.
We
are counting on members and friends like you to give our candidates all
your support and we urge you to come out and vote on
Election Day!
Your vote is your voice—The voice of this union.
We are
asking you to use your voice once again to support your elected executive board and vote for the
Members Voice Slate as Delegates to the New York City District Council
of Carpenters.
We have a brand new opportunity for our District Council and the Members Voice Slate is the best opportunity to get it right!
Serious problems need serious people to solve them. Your vote for the Members Voice Slate will put people of
experience, integrity and honesty into elected office to represent you,
promote opportunity, advocate union democracy, and protect your rights
by solving the issues and challenges which confront our union today.
For your convenience below is a sample ballot showing how the candidates will appear on the voting machine.
Remember on Election Day, October 24, 2011—Let your voices be heard and— Vote The Members Voice Slate and become part of the change we need!
Friday, October 21, 2011
Page Six
We hear...THAT a Skanska shop steward who has connections to a candidate on the Carpenters United NYC Slate had the employer include their campaign material in all employees pay checks.
A MESSAGE FROM THE MEMBERS VOICE SLATE
As Delegates to the New York City District Council of Carpenters, the Members Voice Slate shall bring to the Delegate Floor the following propositions, each to be given full and open debate, each to be given a clear and fair vote and each to be immediately available for membership inspection and scrutiny.
- RATIFICATION OF CONTRACTS BY THE MEMBERSHIP
- REDESIGNED THE DISTRICT COUNCIL WEBSITE AND CREATE A VOICE FOR THE MEMBERSHIP
- ELIMINATE ASSESSMENTS ON P.L.A. JOBS
- REVIEW ALL ASSESSMENTS AND PUT THAT MONEY TO A MORE PRODUCTIVE USE THAT BENEFITS THE MEMBERSHIP
- FULL TRANSPARENCY OF ALL COUNCIL FINANCIAL REPORTS
- OVERHAUL THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM
- OVERHAUL THE OUT-OF-WORK-LIST RULES
- NEGOTIATE A FAIR CONTRACT THAT PROTECTS THE MEMBERSHIP
Page Six
We hear...THAT things are clearly getting desperate for the Carpenters Alliance Slate. Members are reporting that National Acoustics is supporting the slate by distributing their campaign material in employee pay checks and Martin Costello (slate member) is cold calling members urging them to vote for the Carpenters Alliance Slate.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Candidates Accused of Running Illegal Raffle
 |
| I didn't know raffles are illegal- Pat Brennan. |
 |
| Illegal $5.00 Raffle Ticket |
The Carpenters United NYC Slate is trying to raise money to pay for their campaign and could be visited by New York State’s Inspector General Ellen N. Biben, for allegedly running an illegal raffle.
The campaign is running a $5.00 per ticket raffle, with the grand prize being a “Large Flat Screen TV," a "Tablet" for the second prize and a "Basket of Cheer" for third prize. New York State law specifically outlaws games of chance for political fundraising.
The October 13, fundraiser collected money from "friends and family" in support of running for Delegates to the New York City District Council of Carpenters by selling raffle tickets to "union members and non-union members" a source said.
It is illegal under the New York State Racing and Wagering Board to run a raffle for personal benefit.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Delegate Election Update
Local 20
- no election, delegates chosen
- Delegates are Glenn Arnold, Larry Cirillo and Peter Malandro
- Executive Committee Member Christopher Wallace
- Date: October 25th, 2011
- Time: 6AM -5PM
- Location: 51 Roosevelt Ave Valley Stream, NY
- no election, delegates chosen
- Delegates Dan Walcott and John Ippoloto
- Executive Committee member is Mike Cavanaugh
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Cary Kane Law Firm Files Order To Show Cause
Yesterday Larry Cary, of the law firm of Cary Kane LLP, filed an Order to Show Cause for Preliminary Injunction, before United States District Judge Richard M. Berman, ordering that Review Officer Dennis Walsh (RO), show cause in writing on or before Friday October 21, 2011 (5:00pm) why an order should not be issued pursuant to Rule 65 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (1) reversing the Review Officer's decision to disqualify Michael Ciechorski, Kevin Corrigan, John
DeFalco, Shawn Eichorn, George LaMontagne, Charles Lucas, Tommy McGonnigle and Bill Walsh, from their candidacy for office with the New York City District Council of Carpenters and (2) restoring these applicants names to the ballot in the upcoming December 15, 2011 Council election.
Last Wednesday the RO turned a routine nomination meeting on it's
head by vetoing 16 of the 34 candidates who were expecting to
be nominated. After hearing about the veto, I spoke to Walter Kane and Larry Cary, (the attorneys representing the Carpenters Committee for Democracy and Workers Rights) they said the firm is willing to help vetoed
candidates make an appeal.
Eight of the sixteen candidates responded to the offer and met with the law firm last Thursday for a consultation and deposition.
The complaint filed by Cary, argues that the candidates were vetoed for various "arbitrary and capricious" reasons and that the RO exceeded his authority under the June 3, Stipulation and Order and is "reviewable by the court."
The RO's authority over a candidate for Council Officer is very broad
and final. The Stipulation and Order paragraph 5.k.iv (page 13) states:
"Any candidate seeking to run for a position as an Officer of the
District Council during the Review's Officer's tenure must first be
approved by the Review Officer, who will determine whether in light of
the terms and objectives of the Consent Decree the candidate is
qualified to run for office and represent the union membership. Any such
decision by the Review Officer will be final and non-reviewable."
Below is the Memorandum of Law in Support of an Order to Show Cause and links to exhibits and affidavits of the canadidates.
Monday, October 17, 2011
A MESSAGE FROM THE MEMBERS VOICE SLATE
 |
| The Members Voice Slate —Let Your Voices Be Heard! |
We are asking you to use your voice once again to support and vote for the Members Voice Slate as Delegates to the New York City District Council of Carpenters.
ItĘĽs important to remember that your vote is toward a vision for the future. It is a vote to build a better union we can all be proud of. It is a vote to finally put us on a path where we can protect the interests and rights of our member's above all else.
We have a brand new opportunity for our District Council and the Members Voice Slate is the best opportunity to get it right!
