Cong. Ocasio-Cortez adds a ‘no’ to Miracle City plan
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (l) meets with Egidio Sementelli (c) and other community stakeholders
regarding Miracle City. Courtesy of Egidio Sementilli
Continued on page 45
Landing a state-licensed drug treatment
program for 2800 Bruckner Boulevard
would jettison its real estate value,
according to those in commercial
property management.
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, A BTR UGUST 23-29, 2019 3
BY ALEX MITCHELL
Congresswoman Alexandria
Ocasio-Cortez joined the
ranks of her fellow elected offi
cials representing Throggs
Neck when she added her
name to those that are expressing
disapproval of the
drug treatment facility that
Miracle City plans to open at
2800 Bruckner Boulevard.
She penned a letter to the
New York State Offi ce of Alcohol
and Substance Abuse
Services commissioner, Arlene
González-Sánchez on
Thursday, August 15, stating
her grievances with the 822
program that would provide
counseling services to clients
affl icted with drug addictions
at that location.
“We do not believe Miracle
City is equipped to provide
such services,” said the
congresswoman, in a sharp
rebuke aimed at the facility’s
inexperienced operators.
Ocasio-Cortez continued,
expressing her disdain for
the project while mentioning
that “the lack of in patient
services, proximity to in-patient
care provider or even
adequate mental health services
at Miracle City’s cur-
rent location is troubling and
not in the best interest of the
community.”
“Our offi ce has been inundated
with messages from
community members in clear
opposition to the proposed facility
for a multitude of reasons,”
the letter continued.
Ocasio-Cortez previously
met with the local stakeholders
that opposed and even
protested Miracle City’s formation
in Throggs Neck earlier
in July. At that meeting
was Pelham Bay activist Egidio
Sementelli, who has been
leading the charge against
Miracle City’s latest stab at
trying to run a successful
drug treatment center.
“These are nefarious people
that lack sincerity in
their intentions,” he said,
noting two other unsuccessful
attempts Miracle City had
made at facilities it opened
on Long Island and in Connecticut.
“What they are doing is a
marketing scheme,” Sementelli
continued.
That sentiment was reiterated
by AOC when she wrote,
“Miracle City’s primary commitment
is to its profi t margin.”
“Ocasio-Cortez realized
that these people haven’t
been involved in a corporation
like this before and is
clearly concerned for the
community because of that,”
Sementelli said.
For him and others in the
area, there is concern regarding
what he called a lack of
transparency with the ownership
of 2800 Bruckner Boulevard
and Miracle City.
The property was previously
owned by convicted
ponzi schemer Michael
D’Alessio, who was recently
found guilty of ripping off $58
million from investors.
According to information