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Listings
151 Woodwsard Avenue Ridgewood NY 11385
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DOHMH Contract Hearing
ONE DHMH NOTICE FOR CONTRACT PUBLIC HEARING
6/29/2018
Glossary
Mayor's Office of Contract Services
The shelter is not conveniently located.
Councilman Robert Holden stated that the proposed shelter wasn't being built in the ideal location in his district. It is not conveniently located and cannot generate the most public interest, foot traffic and adoptions.
"The location they're selecting doesn't make sense," said Phyllis Taiano, who has run an animal rescue for at least 15 years. "It's just not a convenient location for people."
Queens Community Board 5 officially approves the Ridgewood Queens Shelter.
"...members asked Animal Care Centers for two conditions. First, the board asked that they coordinate adequate acoustical design into the interior to ensure barking cannot be heard outside the building and second, that they install street trees outside the property."
Ridgewood Post
The Queens Shelter was slated to open in the Summer of 2022, but as of July 2023 it has not opened. It will house 100 cats and 70 dogs, and will have parking for 50 cars.
A poorly vetted 34-year, $1.5 billion dollar animal control contract.
The land purchased for the Queens Shelter was used as the excuse for the 34-year contract.
Justin Brannan finagled the ACC's 34-year contract with minimal citizen input, on behalf of Bill de Blasio.
The public had no say.
ACC contract was pushed through without public input.
ACC contracts are normally subject to review, and the NYC Council Contracts Committee has legal authority to do this.
Although they don't have the power to authorize contracts, the City Council, through their oversight, can criticize unreasonable contracts that can influence what the Administration does. City Council members always have input over administration decisions even if it's using the bully pulpit. It's a cop-out to claim they don't have any influence.
In order to ensure the ACC will not abscond with the property, the city administration locked them in long term in spite of their record, with a poorly vetted 34-year contract - awarded with a shameful lack of transparency and minimal public input and review - and without competitive, open bids.
Mayor Bill de Blasio and Councilmember Justin Brannan pushed this contract through with no chance for taxpayers to provide real input on its terms and conditions. This is unheard of and without precedence in New York City. Normally, citizens are invited to submit comments and suggestions regarding contract terms, but Brannan paid no attention to public outcry before he got this contract to pass behind closed doors.
Why did Bill de Blasio and Justin Brannan allow a contract of unprecedented length with minimal citizen input to pass?
The contract should be opened for honest citizen comment and review.
Although he is no longer the chair of the City Council Contracts Committee, Brannan can spearhead a review by this committee which has legal authority to review it.
And ACC contracts will normally include provisions for periodic review.
ACC Contract with the City of New York
"The contract with the City of New York is subject to audit by the City.
As of June 30, 2018, the Organization has accumulated cost for construction in progress (See Note 4) of $771,620. These costs are associated with building a new animal care facility. The Organization will purchase the property from a private landowner with a loan to ACC guaranteed by the City of New York. The City of New York is working closely with the Organization in regards to logistics, funding and support. However, as of the date of the financial statements, the purchase has not been made and ownership has not been transferred to the Organization. If the property purchase were not to occur, these costs would be expensed and have an impact on supporting service. Management is confident that the property closing will occur as scheduled in spring of 2019.
Local 1102 (the "Union") demanded arbitration over unpaid wages and, based upon their audit, alleges that the amount due current and non-current employees is $180,616. Although management believes the amount due the Union is less than $180,616 and intends to vigorously fight the case in arbitration, a provision has been made to the financial statements for the full-alleged amount.
Certain grants and contracts may be subject to audit by funding sources. Such audits may result in disallowance of costs submitted for reimbursement. Management is of the opinion that such cost disallowances, if any, will not have a material effect on the accompanying financial statements. Accordingly, no amounts have been provided in the accompanying financial statements for such potential claims."
Negotiated Acquisition
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This purchase was used as the excuse to do the contract deal without competitive bidding, used to justify a Negotiated Acquisition which shut out the public from meaningful participation.
"The proposed Contractor has been selected by Negotiated Acquisition, pursuant to Section 3-04 of the Procurement Policy Board Rules."
There are no real regulations or common sense oversight mandates in the ACC contract. The contract that got signed actually took away the few protections the animals had.
On the zoning, there may be no long drawn out public review, and chance for a Community Board or a council member to try to stop it, as happened with the Bronx. Link pic pic
"Contract Comm chairman have and should get involved in these types of contracts despite Justin saying it isn't his job. Why didn't he help bring transparency? Why did he allow a special provision to be used to FORCE the deal through? The #ValloneLobbying firm knows." Twitter
"Brannan used a rare provision to skip oversight. Specifically, he used a provision allowing for expedited procedures in the event of majority opportunity (in this case a land purchase). Turns out the land was a toxic salvage yard, needed tons of money to clean it up, and worst yet the city had already spent $750K on plans for this land the year before the contract was approved. (Can we say the fix was in.) There were better properties nearby, and it was purchased at 10x its value. Nothing suspicious." Twitter Twitter
A shady land purchase drove the 34-year ACC contract.
"In 2018, the @NYCACC had accumulated over $770,000 in costs
related to the #ToxicSalvageYard. And we wonder why the 34 Yr Contract
buying the Yard was voted in a year later in the dead of night under the watch
of #JustinBrannan. #RescindTheDeal #Make Arrests"
Twitter
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It was a swindle. "..a big part of the swindle is the City said - since we are buying this fabulous one-of-a-kind toxic salvage yard for so much money and building on it, then we need to be assured somebody will run the place for a long-time: 34 yrs." Someone made TONS of money on the backs of New York City's shelter animals.
How can we trust that the cleanup of this highly toxic property will make for a safe place for homeless pets?
The toxic salvage yard is just about the worst site available.
This toxic salvage yard was purchased for 13 times the assessed value. Land valued at $946K was bought 6 months later for 13.2 million dollars. A lot of money spent on an out-of-the-way contaminated lot.
State DEC will fund and begin site brownfield cleanup.
The toxic dump afforded investors a profitable real estate deal.
"However, before 151 Woodward Avenue can become a temporary home for animals, it must be cleaned from years of environmental pollution. It currently houses a scrap yard and auto shop and the land is contaminated with toxins that seeped into the soil over the years. The [state] is funding a clean up of this contaminated site. ...Basically for 70 years, it’s been an auto-wrecking place and it’s quite contaminated. Since 1962, the site was used as an auto junkyard and as a result, metal and petroleum contaminants seeped into the land. According to the State Department of Environmental Conservation, arsenic, barium and mercury are among a long list of hazardous compounds found at 151 Woodward Ave. The land will be cleaned through the state’s Brownfield Cleanup Program before it becomes a shelter." Ridgewood Post
“Yes they are a long way off from building the #ToxicSalvageYard Animal Center. First they have to try to get the toxins out of the ground. It is also is costing tens and tens of millions to build. A total money maker for special interests. #NYCACC corruption.” Twitter pic
Who owned the land?
"You ask the question of the ages. We have not been able to
identify the owner. However, most "interesting" real-estate deals involve the man featured in this article:"
The City
Twitter
"Add this to the sweet 34 year 1.5 billoon dollar contract for FAILED "non profit" running AC&C w/ #Vallone's name all over a new "shelter" atop toxic waste site & Fester's ? for illegal alien wife beaters and his FAT salary, and yep #JustinBrannan has finally made it."
It was not Justin, it was Jennifer Philbe (Not spelled correctly) The ACC's lawyer was on the ACC’s leadership page as legal counsel, and was the legal negotiator. She’s no longer listed.
The City has never had any contract with anyone beyond 5 years for a multi-year contract. Nor was it ever let as a RFP - Request for Proposal. It was never opened.
Stringer's office stated that there was no other animal welfare organization that had the capability. That should’ve been investigated - especially when the ACC was to own the properties provided by the city. There should have been an open bid process and the assets provided as a level bidding process. But NYC has its own nefarious system. It was ridiculous that there was no clause for failure to fulfill a defined performance with the ability to null and void the contract for cause. If a contract was let, it should’ve been a far lesser span of time. And should’ve included a performance clause which included malpractice and/or inhumane policies. But the City Council all bought off on it too. Animals were screwed over."
Keith Olbermann tweets "It is time to terminate New York City's contract with NYCACC. They are, to be polite, terrible at this and the bureaucracy overwhelms even those volunteers and staffers who genuinely care for the animals in their care. Dogs and cats die unnecessarily at their hands. Enough." Twitter pic
False Promises: The ACC took years to finally follow through on their promise of a new Manhattan adoption center or area. The plan was to convert the Manhattan ACC garage to an adoption area.
In June 2021, after about 6 years (before the elections and before the ACC board meeting), the groundbreaking ceremony was held.
"The City will partner with AC&C to design and construct a building dedicated to the adoption of dogs, cats and rabbits on the site of an unused garage adjacent to the Manhattan Care Center".
The Vallone Lobbying Firm
represents toxic waste companies. And is a major Justin Brannan donor.
This may very well be the reason why Justin Brannan did such a poor job vetting the 34-year ACC contract which was finagled behind closed doors.
"Justin Brannan helped his lobbyist friends sell some real garbage to New York City on the backs of animals, including the toxic salvage yard which will be the new Queens shelter."
A fine example of pay to play in New York City.
Paul Vallone gets kickbacks for the Queens shelter.
The Vallones have New York City's Democratic, Republican and Conservative parties in their pockets - through money, fear, and ignorance.
Regarding Paul Vallone -
"Glad to hear Paul is against puppy mills. I wonder which shelter he got that Bichon Frise' from...
As for environmentalism, Paul's CB7 record includes voting yes on a variance for a hotel in the middle of a river, not showing up to vote on the USTA expansion (which includes a power plant), and being part of a lobbying firm that represented a toxic soil dumping developer. Rumor has it that his buddies are eyeing the old Whitestone CYO site for development as well, where the community wants a park.
Kind of perplexing why NYCLASS would pick Vallone considering all this. Oh....wait! I forgot something from the NYCLASS website." Twitter pic
Articles and Lnks:
DOHMH Contract Hearing
ONE DHMH NOTICE FOR CONTRACT PUBLIC HEARING
6/29/2018
The Riverdale Press
Bronx eyed for new animal shelter
Twitter
Keith Olbermann calls fortermination of ACC's contract.
Politics NY
De Blasio Allocates $27 Million For Brooklyn Animal Shelter
The City
The Secret Lobbying Behind Why NYC Schools Paid $25 Million for a Former Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Location
Exciting News for NYC Animals!
aka false promises (or delayed fulfillment of promises)
Click on press release in link above and you won't find it.
Mayor's Office
Mayor de Blasio Announces $10 Million in Capital Funding for Two New Animal Shelters in Bronx and Queens
AMNY
Mayor Bill de Blasio allocates $10 million for new animal shelters in Queens, Bronx
Dear Mayor
and
City Council
9-15-18
Letter
regarding
animal care deficits
and a
34-year contract passed without public input.
from
Nathan Winograd
The No Kill Advocacy Center
NY Post
January 10, 2019
NYC signs 34-year mega-contract with controversial Animal Care Centers
NY Post
July 12, 2018
City Considering Long-term Deal with Controversial Pet Center<
NY Post
10-30-20
Neglect, filthy cages and no water:
Inside the embattled Animal Care Centers of NYC
Daily News
1-22-2015
Animal Care and Control of NYC plans new adoption center in Manhatta
Ridgewood Post
New Shelter in Ridgewood Gets Community Board Approval — but it’s for Animals, not People
AMNY
Ridgewood site to get full-service animal shelter
broken link
Queens Examiner
QNS
Paul Vallone announces new animal shelter for Queens.
Gothamist
PAC Tied To Real Estate Lobbying Firm Spreads Campaign Contributions Across 2021 Candidates
Queen of the Click
Did Lobbyists Stop Angel Guardian’s Landmarking?
Queens Crap Blog
Ridgewood junkyard proposed as site of Queens ACC
Read the comments.
Queens Crap Blog
Paul Vallone and Pay to Play
Calemdar Foil
Paul Vallone
(from a comment in the articleabove)
Keith Olbermann
calls for
termination
of NYC's contract
with NYCACC.
9-25-19
Twitter
pic
Gothamist
Queen of the Click
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Justin Brannan ignored public outcry about the proposed 34-year contract.
Animal Care and Control of NYC
Paul Vallone got a deal through to build a pound on a toxic site.
Justin Brannan was bought.
CityPitties c
These are massive red flags for a pay-to-play city.
Shelter Reform Action Committee
(SRAC)
Please work to transform New York City into a humane, No Kill city.
Not true,Justin.
PAC Tied To Real Estate Lobbying Firm Spreads Campaign Contributions Across 2021 Candidates
Did Lobbyists Stop Angel Guardian’s Landmarking?
'I turn a blind eye to #spayneuterkill and sign up for 34 more years of it.'
Manhattan Adoption Center
No accountability
Plans for new adoption center in Manhattan
Daily News Article from 1-22-2015:
The ACC responds. (Katy Hansen)
Cartoon about Peter Vallone
Follow the money
from Brannan to the Vallones.
Shelter Reform Action Committee (SRAC)
Email:
info@srac.org
Main/NYCACC.
Please review the ACC 34-year contract, and
find a better location than the proposed Ridgewood junkyard as the site for the Queens shelter.
Last modified July 2023
