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Riders Upset About Changes Related to New Select Bus Route
July 24, 2008
By Stephen Baron
Hundreds of west Bronx bus riders are calling for the city to make traveling from Fordham Road to Manhattan easier by restoring local service to Manhattan and restoring a bus stop that was eliminated with the debut of the new, supposedly faster Select Bus Service.
Embattled Gonzalez Up Against Familiar Faces
July 24, 2008
By Alex Kratz
At a public hearing at Lehman College last week, State Senator Efrain Gonzalez walked in late and took a seat up front among a panel of other elected officials facing the rest of the audience. Sitting not five feet away from him in that audience was Pedro Espada, Jr., who recently ended months of speculation by announcing (by way of a flier) he was indeed running against Gonzalez as Democrat in the Bronx’s 33rd District.
With Richard Soto also declaring as a Democratic candidate in the 33rd, the race to unseat Gonzalez, who is facing trial in October on federal corruption and fraud charges (Gonzalez pleaded not guilty), could be one of the most hotly contested races in the Bronx this fall.
Last fall, Espada moved to the Bedford Park area, sparking all kinds of rumors about which office (Joel Rivera’s City Council seat? Borough president?) in the area he would run for. And with Gonzalez’s uncertain legal status, many predicted Espada would go after the incumbent’s Senate seat.
A month ago, Espada told the New York Times, “There is a huge vacuum of leadership in this area and there is no time to lose. And I’m positioned to offer them the leadership that this area deserves.” He added, “These people [in the area] kept telling me that there should be an alternative to the present incumbent, Senator Gonzalez.”
Both were at the hearing to echo residents’ concerns about a city plan to use explosives for a construction project at a nearby reservoir (see page 5). They were also there to raise their public profiles as the Sept. 9 Democratic primary draws near.
“I said ‘Hi’ to him,” Gonzalez said about his encounter with Espada. “It was cordial.”
Gonzalez said he wasn’t too worried about Espada, who has previously been a state senator and a city councilman and also ran for borough president in 2001, narrowly losing the primary to Adolfo Carrion. In 2002, Espada drew the ire of fellow Bronx Democrats by saying he might switch to the other side of the aisle and become a Republican. He never did switch, but Bronx Democrats still remember.
Espada can also identify with Gonzalez’s legal woes. In 2002, he was acquitted of charges that he used money from the South Bronx health center he runs to pay back debt from a previous campaign. Despite his legal troubles at that time, Espada won his race for state Senate against incumbent David Rosado. He was defeated in a subsequent election by Ruben Diaz, Sr.
Despite not holding office, Espada has raised $45,300 since the beginning of 2007, according to the State Board of Elections. That’s nearly $14,000 more than Gonzalez, who has raised $31,583.99. Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith has chosen sides already, contributing $5,000 to Gonzalez’s campaign earlier this year. The Riverdale-based Benjamin Franklin Reform Democratic Club even endorsed Gonzalez a couple of months ago.
Soto, who operates a real estate company and was once chief of staff for former Bronx councilman Israel Ruiz, has previously run (and lost) for City Council in the 14th District. For this Senate race, he has raised $42,670 since the beginning of 2007, according to state records.
Out & About
July 24, 2008
By Judy Noy
Onstage
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On Wednesday, Aug. 6 at 6 p.m.in Williamsbridge Oval Park, the Norwood News presents a Pregones Theater Production of “MIGRANTS!,” a bilingual play with music celebrating the Puerto Rican men and women who toiled to establish a thriving and diverse Latino community in New York and throughout the eastern United States. A collective creation of Pregones Theater, “MIGRANTS!” Draws from written and oral histories, lore and legend. Following the performance will be live music by the Ibrahim Gonzalez Quintet, presented by the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz and the BLOOMS Initiative. The performances will take place inside the northern entrance of the park, right across from the Keeper’s House on Reservoir Oval between Putnam Place and Reservoir Place.
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Barefoot Dancing is back again this year with free dance instruction and live music at the Van Cortlandt Park House Museum’s Lawn. Mamadou Dahoue and Ivory Coast Drumming perform on July 30 from 6:30 to 8 p.m., including Living Museum, an exploration of Cote D’Ivoire dance, mask, and culture at 5:30 p.m. Najib Shaheen and Friends, Arabic Music and Belly Dance, and Middle Eastern food is scheduled for Aug. 6 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Bring your own chair or blanket to Broadway at West 246th Street. For more information, call (718) 430-1890.
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The Bronx Library Center hosts Burdetsky Family Circus, for the entire family, July 26 at 2:30 p.m.; and West African Music and Dance, Aug. 9 at 2:30 p.m. The Center is located at 310 E. Kingsbridge Rd. off Fordham Road. For a detailed schedule, call (718) 579-4244/46 or visit www.nypl.org.
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As part of its free first Friday events, the Bronx Museum of the Arts presents Africanismo! including short films and live performances. Afrokinetic, a variety of Afro-rhythms featuring DJ Chris Annnibell, and Magbana Drum and Dance NYC, 14 performers of West African pieces, will be held on Aug. 1 from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Andrew Freedman Home at 1125 Grand Concourse at McClellan Street, across the street from the museum, all followed by film screenings from 7:30 to 9 p.m. If it rains, the event will be held at the museum at 1040 Grand Concourse at 165th Street. For more information, call (718) 681-6000 ext. 120.
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Wave Hill, located at 675 W. 252nd St., hosts Midday Music, a free lunchtime series. The Brasil Guitar Duo performs a South American program on July 30 at 12:30 p.m. in the Wave Hill House. For more information, call (718) 549-3200.
Events
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Wave Hill offers up several family art projects, Spray a Watercolor Garden, to make a blooming vision, July 26 and 27; T-Shirt Wings, to sketch flying insects, then decorate a T-shirt with your designs, Aug. 2 and 3; Up at the Sky, Down to the Ground, to sketch clouds, then create colorful mixed-media collages, Aug. 9 and 10; and A Roomful of Nature, to furnish a room with natural materials and nature imagery, Aug. 16 and 17. All are in the Kerlin Learning Center from 1 to 4 p.m. Families can also attend Story, Movement and Song, to hear nature stories and participate in children’s activities for ages 4 to 10 on July 29, Aug. 5, 12 and 19, from 11 a.m. to noon in the Perkins Visitor Center. Wave Hill is located at 675 W. 252nd St. For more information, call (718) 549-3200.
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The New York Botanical Garden’s Tulip Tree Allee hosts its Farmers Market, Wednesdays through Oct. 29, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It offers seasonal produce, home-baked goods and natural products from New York State farmers and merchants. There will be free demonstrations and educational and fun programs from noon to 2 p.m. on the first and last Wednesday of each month. The Garden is located at Bronx River Parkway and Fordham Road. For more information, call (718) 817-8700.
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The Bronx Culture Trolley, a replica of a 20th-century trolley, transports visitors on the first Wednesday of every month (except January and September), to Bronx hot spots. A reception is held at the Hostos Art Gallery, 450 Grand Concourse (at 149th St.) at 5 p.m., followed by three trolley departures at 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. New attractions are added monthly. Trolley ride and all events are free. Riders can get on and off at any scheduled stop and spend as much time as they wish at any or all of the featured venues. Venues and activities vary each month. The next trip is on Aug. 6, and features Alvin Ailey American Dance Company at the Hostos Center at 7:30 p.m. (call for limited tickets to (718) 518-4455, first-come, first served). For more information call (718) 931-9500 ext. 33 or log on to www.bronxarts.org to confirm.
Exhibits
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The Bronx Library Center hosts an exhibit of photographs by Arlette Landestoy called Visitors to Inwood Park, presented by En Foco, through Oct. 18. There will be a Meet the Artists Reception Wednesday, Aug. 6 from 6 to 8 p.m. The Center is located at 310 E. Kingsbridge Rd. off Fordham Road. For more information, call (718) 579-4244/46 or visit www.nypl.org.
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Darcy Dahl’s installation piece Insula has the gallery glowing in light and color, through Sept. 13 at the Bronx Museum’s Project Space. It takes drawings, paintings and projections and transforms the space, inspired by the insula, or part of the brain which translates objective physiological states into subjective emotional experiences. It’s at 11 Bruckner Blvd. at the corner of Lincoln Avenue, Saturdays 1 to 5 p.m. or by appointment at (718) 681-6000.
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Take a peek into the story of Freedomland – New York City’s Disneyland, through Oct. 19, at the Valentine-Varian House or Museum of Bronx History. The exhibition tells the story of the American History-themed amusement park opened in 1960 on the 205-acre site now home to Bay Plaza and Co-op City. The museum is located at 3266 Bainbridge Ave. at East 208th Street. For more information, call (718) 881-8900.
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Inspired by the Feminist Movement, the Bronx Museum of the Arts explores women artists working collectively in new ways in Making It Together: Women’s Collaborative Art and Community through Aug. 4. Also on view at the museum is Teen Council Presents: Jamel Shabazz through July 27 in the North Wing. The museum is located at 1040 Grand Concourse at 165th Street and is open Thursday through Monday from noon to 6 p.m. and Friday to 8 p.m. For more information, call (718) 681-6000.
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The Bronx Museum of the Arts features How Soon Is Now? with artwork by participants in Artist in the Marketplace through Aug. 18. (Closing reception on Aug. 15 runs from 6 to 8 p.m.) The museum is located at 1040 Grand Concourse at 165th Street and is open Thursday through Monday from noon to 6 p.m. and Friday to 8 p.m. For more information, call (718) 681-6000.
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The New York Botanical Garden presents Moore in America, featuring approximately 20 pieces of installation pieces by Henry Moore, through Nov. 2, running concurrently with “The Art of Henry Moore,” documentary film Fridays to Sundays at noon and 2 p.m. in the Arthur and Janet Ross Lecture Hall. Children can create works of art, including a collage and clay sculptures, in the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden, Tuesdays through Fridays from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. For more information, call (718) 817-8700.
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Live and Active, a group exhibition exploring friction between states, psychologies and ideologies, will be held at the Bronx River Art Center at 1087 E. Tremont Ave. through Aug. 23. The exhibit includes the work of artists Tom Bogaert, Hasan Elahi, Jessica Feldman and John Movius. Summer gallery hours are 2 to 5:30 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays; 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays; and noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays. For more information, call (718) 589-5819 or visit www.bronxriverart.org.
Learning
The Bronx Library Center has events for all ages:
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For children and preschoolers, there is Family Time, Aug. 9 at 11 a.m.; films, July 30, Aug. 6, 13 and 20 at 2 p.m.; Scavenger Hunt for Bugs, Aug.12 at noon; Insect-O-Mania, Aug. 18 at 3 p.m.; and Big Jeff Music, Aug. 22 at noon.
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Also, for school-aged children, there is Don’t Bug Me: I’m Reading, July 30, Aug. 6, 13 and 20 at 4 p.m.; Bee-utiful or Bugly: Make an Insect, July 24 at 3 p.m.; The Caterpillar Hunter, July 26 at 2 p.m.; Katcha and the Devil and Other Czechoslovak Tales, July 28 at 3 p.m.; Door Hanger Making, July 31 at 3 p.m.; Backyard Surprise: Bug Mad-Lib, Aug. 4 at 3 p.m.; Up, Up and Away!, Aug. 5 at 3 p.m.; Butterfly Mobile, Aug. 7 at 3 p.m.; Make Insect Visors, Aug. 14 at 3 p.m.; and Friendly Critter Magnets, Aug. 21 at 3 p.m.
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Young adults can attend Fierce and Fabulous: Fashion Design, July 24, 31, Aug. 7, 14 and 21 at 4 p.m.
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For adults, there are two Book Discussions: “Like Water for Chocolate,” Aug. 6 at 3 p.m. and “Love in the Time of Cholera,” Aug. 20 at 3 p.m.; and Chapter One Reading Series, presented by the Bronx Writers Center, July 26 at noon.
The Center is located at 310 E. Kingsbridge Rd. off Fordham Road. For a detailed schedule, call (718) 579-4244/46 or visit www.nypl.org. This branch will be closed Tuesday, July 29.
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The Mosholu Library presents Summer Fun Days, July 30, Aug. 6, 13 and 20 at 2:30 p.m.; Toddler Time, July 24 and Aug. 7 at 10:30 a.m.; and Tales for the Teeny Tiny, Aug. 21 at 10:30 a.m., all for young children. Also there’s A Day With Clay, Aug. 6 at 3 p.m. for young adults. The library is located at 285 E. 205th St. For more information, call (718) 882-8239.
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The Jerome Park Library at 118 Eames Place, hosts Arts and Crafts, July 28 and Aug. 11 at 3 p.m.; How the Elephant Got Its Trunk, Aug. 5 at 4 p.m.; Once Upon a Storytime, Aug. 12 at 4 p.m.; Code Breakers, Aug. 19 at 3 p.m.; and Presley and Melody, Aug. 21 at 3 p.m. For more information, call (718) 549-5200.
NOTE: The Norwood News will be on hiatus through Aug. 20. Items for consideration should be received in our office by Aug. 11 for the next publication date of Aug. 21.
Neighborhood Notes
July 24, 2008
By Norwood News
Banking Fair
The Northwest Bronx Banking Fair, hosted by the University Neighborhood Housing Program, will offer a chance to compare accounts and products and speak directly with representatives from banks and credit unions in the community along with other tips on saving money. Dinner, A/C and childcare will be provided. The dinner will be held on Thursday July 31 at 6 p.m. at Our Lady of Refuge Parish Center, 290 E. 196th Street, between Bainbridge and Briggs Avenues. The program begins at 6:30 p.m. For reservations, call (718) 935-2539 by July 29.
Kids Weekend Festival
Lehman College’s Summerworx performing arts festival presents The Kids Rule Weekend with games, magic, music, pony rides and performances by the Children’s Theatre Company at Lehman for kids of all ages, Friday, August 8 through Sunday August 10 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. For more information call the Lehman Stages hotline at (718) 960-8025 or visit www.lehmanstages.org.
Flea Market
Saint Ann’s Church at 3519 Bainbridge Ave. holds flea markets, Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through August. For more information, call (718) 547-9350.
Free Art Classes
The Bronx River Art Center offers free art classes, 10 a.m. to noon and 2 to 4 p.m., through Aug. 15, for ages 5 to 21. Fee-based classes for adults, school groups and community-based organizations are also available from 6 to 8 p.m. The Center is located at 1087 E. Tremont Ave. For more information, call (718) 589-5819 ext. 15.
Free Computer Tutoring
Mosholu Preservation Corporation (MPC) is offering free computer tutorials for anyone interested. Lessons will cover topics ranging from basic computer skills to Internet navigation. Lessons are offered Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. MPC is located at 3400 Reservoir Oval East. For an appointment, call Brenda Lucio or Jennifer Mitchell at (718) 324-4461.
Summer Reading for Adults
The Mosholu Branch of the New York Public Library, located at 285 East 205th St., is offering a free summer reading program for adults, with recommended summer reading booklists, through August. To sign up, visit www.summerreading.org or visit the adult information desk at the library. For more information, call (718)-882-8239.
Adult ESL and Computer Classes
PS 94 will offer ESL Level 1 and 2 and Computer Skills classes beginning in September through June 2009. Both classes meet Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Computer classes will be taught in English and will include lessons on keyboarding, Microsoft Word and other programs. Registration is first come first served. For more information call Parent Coordinator, Ms. Seminario at (347) 563-4772 or (718) 405-6345.
Summer Program for Out of School Youth
The New Options Program and Young Adult Internship Program are registering young adults ages 16-21 who are no longer attending school in programs that offer two levels of General Equivalency Diplomas. The programs also offer job-training skills, plus full placements with paid stipends. It takes place at the Educational Counseling Center at 3512 Dekalb Ave. To make an appointment, call 718-652-0282.
Tetanus Vaccine for Middle Schoolers
MS 80 has announced that all students entering 6th or 7th grade in the 2008-09 school year and who are 11 years or older must receive the tetanus booster (“Tdap”) vaccine. For more information, please read a letter to parents on the Office of School Health’s website at http://schools.nyc.gov/Offices/Health/ImmunizationInfo/default.htm, or call Miriam Alejandro at 646-359-9873.
Summer EcoCrafts
Kids of all ages are invited to join Friends of Van Cortlandt Park to make EcoCrafts: flowerpots, frames, collages, animal crafts and more, using natural and recycled materials. Summer EcoCrafts runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., through August 21. EcoCrafts takes place in Van Cortlandt Park on Mondays at Sachkerah Playground (Gun Hill Road and Jerome Avenue). Children under 12 must have adult supervision. For more information, call 718-601-1553 or visit www.vancortlandt.org.
Bedford Park Church Lawn Party
The Bedford Park Congregational Church, located at the corner of 201st Street and Bainbridge Avenue, will host a Lawn Party on Sunday, August 10th, 2008, at 1 p.m. All are invited for food, raffles, fun and fellowship. Admission is $10 for adults and $3 for children. For more information, contact Reverend Christopher Ponnuraj at (718) 367-8996.
Housing Assistance Program
Community Board 7 and the West Bronx Housing and Neighborhood Resource Center are offering housing counseling services, every third Tuesday of the month, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., through September. For more information call (718) 933-5650.
Social Security Assistance
Representatives from the Social Security Administration will be answering questions and concerns about Social Security at Congressman Eliot Engel’s Bronx office, 3655 Johnson Ave., on Wednesday, July 30. To make an appointment, call Richard Fedderman at (718) 769-9700.
Emergency Responder Training
Community Board 7 is recruiting residents to become part of the NYC Office of Emergency Management Community Response Team. Members receive training in fire safety, light search and rescue, terrorism awareness, disaster medical operations and mental health education. To apply or for more information, call (718) 933-5650.
Farmer’s Market
The North Central Bronx Hospital and Harvest Home Farmer’s Market, Inc. are opening a new farmer’s market on the east side of the park below the Moshulu Parkway Station on the #4 line. The market will operate every Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., from July 9 through mid-November. Vendors will feature fresh produce from regional farmers, as well as baked goods and specialty items. For more information, call Mike Heller at (718) 918-3826.
Prenatal Care Assistance Program
The Prenatal Care Assistance Program (PCAP) is now available for pregnant Bronx women and teens who meet income guidelines. The program, offered by the Montefiore Medical Center and the State Department of Health, provides medical care during pregnancy, delivery, and for at least two months after delivery. The program is available at the Family Health Center (FHC). 360 E. 193rd St.; Comprehensive Health Care Center (CHCC), 305 E. 161st St.; and Comprehensive Family Care Center (CFCC), 1621 Eastchester Rd. For more information, call (718) 933-2400, (718) 579-2500, or (718) 405-8040.
Teen Trailways Day Camp
Teen Trailways at Mosholu Monefiore Community Center, the largest teen camp in the Bronx, still has a number of openings available for this summer. Teens entering 7th through 10th grades in September 2008 are eligible. Teen Trailways offers day trips to beaches, state parks, lakes, sporting events, deep sea fishing, Broadway shows, water parks, and more. The camp runs through August 27. Four week sessions are available. For more information and to register call 718-882-4000 ext. 0 or visit www.mmcc.org.
Youth Tennis Program
The New York Junior Tennis League’s free annual summer youth program continues for children and teenagers aged 6 to 18. All children are welcome, and tennis rackets and balls will be provided. The Program is held Monday through Friday, (through August 22) at Crotona Park, East 173rd Street and Crotona Avenue, Co-op City Youth Tennis Center (Donizetti Place, near MS 181) and Kennedy High School, 99 Terrace View Ave., from 9 a.m. to noon. The program will also be held at the Bronx International Youth Tennis Center, 754 Thieriot Ave. from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit www.nyjtl.org, or call (347) 417-8157.
Couples Needed for Research
The Albert Einstein College of Medicine is looking for healthy, monogamous couples of at least six months to participate in a research study in preventing sexually transmitted infections. Males will have three visits, females on hormonal contraception will have four visits; there will be monetary reimbursement. For more information, call Julie at (718) 430-3253.
Research Patients Needed
The Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center are looking for women ages 18 to 50 with a vaginal herpes blister or sore to undergo a gynecologic exam for a research study. A free, confidential screening will determine eligibility. Participants need to attend 3 visits in 2 weeks, and monetary reimbursement will be given for each visit. For more information, contact Julie at (718) 430-3253, or Tara at (718) 430-3061 or e-mail Microbicide@aecom.yu.edu.
English, Civics and Computer Classes
Mosholu Montefiore Community Center offers free English as a Second Language classes (ESL), and civics and computer classes Monday through Saturdays. To apply, visit the Center at 3450 DeKalb Ave. (corner of Gun Hill Road). For more information, call (718) 882-4000, ext. 216.
Summer Camps at Community Center
The Mosholu Montefiore Community Center is offering summer sports day camps. The City Sports Camp teaches skills in baseball, soccer, field hockey, volleyball, kickball, flag football. Boys and girls entering 3rd through 8th grades in September can sign up for a 2-week session, a 4-week session, or a 6-week session. Karate Camp, taught by Luis Morales, head Sensei at the Center, takes place on Mondays through Wednesdays and Fridays from 12 to 5 p.m. for boys and girls entering 1st through 8th grades. For more information and free brochures, call the Mosholu Montefiore Community Center at (718) 882-4000. Swim Camp for youth ages 5 to 16 takes place at Fordham University on Monday through Thursday mornings. For more information, call Fordham’s head swim coach Steve Plotsklan at (718) 817-4256.
Pre-K and Kindergarten Registration
Registration for Pre-K and kindergarten at PS/MS 20 is currently underway. To pick up an application for Pre-K or to register for kindergarten, go to the school’s main office from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Mondays through Thursdays. For more information and a list of kindergarten registration requirements, call Mrs. Ryan in the main office at (718) 515-9370.
Foster Parents Urgently Needed
The Foster Care Network urgently needs adults who want to become foster parents for the hundreds of area children who need a home. For more information, call (800) 454-3727 ext. 110.
ESL and GED Classes
Fordham Manor Reformed Church is offering free ESL and GED classes at its building on 2705 Reservoir Ave. The ESL classes will be held on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. GED classes are on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The ESL class requires a 15-minute test for enrollment. A longer three-hour test is necessary to take part in the GED class. For more information, call (718) 796-4980 ext. 16.
Free GED and Computer Classes
The State University of New York’s North Bronx Career Center located off of Eastchester Road is offering free day and evening classes for the GED and Business Office Technology to prepare for the GED exam or to learn basic to advanced skills in Windows XO, Vista, Word, Excel, and Power Point. Job readiness training is also available. All students must meet state income and academic guidelines. For more information, call (718) 547-1001.
GED Program for Out of School Youth
The New Options Program and Young Adult Internship Program are offering General Equivalency Diploma classes to 16-21-year-olds who are working and no longer in school. The program also offers vocational job training and full placements with stipends.
The program takes place at the Educational Counseling Center, 3512 DeKalb Ave. For more information, call (718) 652-0282.
Housing and Job Help
National Student Partnerships provides free help with job searches, housing searches, education, job training, resume-writing, childcare and legal services. There are no eligibility requirements. NSP is located at 2715 Bainbridge Ave. at East 196th Street. Call (718) 733-3897 to set up an appointment. You do not need to be a student to obtain services. Se habla espanol.
Foreign Exchange Students Need Hosts
The Pacific Intercultural Exchange is seeking host families for foreign high school students who are arriving soon. Prospective host families can review student applications and select the perfect match. Interested parties should contact the program immediately. Call toll-free, (866) 546-1402.
AFS, the leading international high school student exchange program, also needs local families to host high school students for an academic year or six months. Students arrive in August. AFS is also looking for volunteer liaisons to work locally with families and their hosted students. Anyone interested in hosting or volunteering should visit www.afs.org/usa/hostfamily or call 1-800-AFS-INFO.
FTC Materials Available
The Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) has Federal Trade Commission (FTC) materials on credit acquisition and protection available to the public or for groups. To obtain copies of any of these materials, call Mr. Kathryn Speller at (718) 365-0910, ext. 133. Materials may be picked up at the CAB office, 2054 Morris Ave., Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call to schedule a pick-up. Materials may also be sent by mail upon request. For more information, visit www.cabny.org, or call (718) 365-0910 ext. 122.
Alzheimer’s Caregiver Support Group
The Alzheimer’s Association’s New York City chapter provides a support group for Spanish and English speaking caregivers who have relatives with Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia in Norwood. The support group meets the first and third Wednesdays of the month from 5 to 6:15 p.m. For exact location or more information, call Mark Goodwin at (718) 920- 7377.
Free Programs for Cancer Patients
The Albert Einstein Cancer Center is offering two free research programs for patients with cancer. The Yoga-Based Cancer Rehabilitation Program includes 12 weeks of yoga classes as part of a research study to see if yoga can help patients with breast, lung and colorectal cancer. The Mind-Body Cancer Program includes eight weeks of mind-body groups as a part of a research study for patients with most types of cancer. Some restrictions may apply and both programs are taking place in the Bronx. For more information or to find out if you are eligible, call (718)-430-2380.
Food Drive
The Riverdale-Yonkers Society for Ethical Culture is seeking canned food donations to benefit the Kingsbridge-Riverdale-Marble Hill Food and Hunger Project, Inc. Please leave only non-perishable food donations at the Society, 4450 Fieldston Road, Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. For more information, call (718) 548-4445.
Red Cross Classes
The American Red Cross in Greater New York is offering CPR and AED (Automated External defibrillator) classes, held in the Bronx at 2082 White Plains Road. Adult CPR/AED classes will be held on Friday, August 8th from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturday, August 23rd from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Adult with CPR for Child/Infant classes will be held on Thursday, August 14th from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Infant CPR classes will be held on Friday, August 22nd. Class prices range from $65 to $95. For more information and to register, call 1-800-514-5103, or visit www.nyredcross.org.
Kids Summer Program at Lehman College
Lehman College is offering a summer program called “Kidz at Lehman College” for kids ages 6 to 15. Activities include learning computer skills, drawing, painting, martial arts, and swimming. July Morning and Afternoon Programs run until July 31st, Mon.-Thurs. The new August Afternoon Programs run from Aug. 4 to Aug. 14, Mon.-Thurs. Tuition ranges from $185 to $415. You receive significant savings when you register for a program package. For more information and to register, call 718-960-8512, or visit www.lehman.edu/ce.
Presentation on the Natural Healing Arts
Dr. Salomon Reuben, Psychologist, is giving a presentation on the natural healing arts and how to balance your body-mind-spirit in times of stress. The presentation will take place on July 28th at 6:30 p.m. at the Methodist Home on 4499 Manhattan College Parkway, Bronx, NY. Free parking will be available for guests. Reservations are a must. Call 718-548-5100Ext.231.
Christian Poetry Contest
A $1000 grand prize is being offered in a poetry contest sponsored by Golden Poets Guild, free to everyone. There are 50 prizes in all, totaling $5,000. To enter, send one poem of 21 lines or less to Free Poetry Contest, 601 16th St. # C-115 Golden, CO 80401. Or enter online at www.freecontest.com. The deadline for entering is July 26th, 2008. Poems may be on any subject and in any style. Include your name and address on the page with your poem. If you wish a winner’s list please enclose a return envelope.
Free Computer Classes by BCC Displaced Homemaker Program
Bronx Community College’s Displaced Homemaker Program offers Computer classes in Microsoft Word and Internet Applications at the basic/intermediate level to all eligible persons. Classes are held at Bronx Community College of CUNY, West 181st Street and University Avenue. Classes are free and scheduled to run from July 28, 2008 to August 14, 2008 Tuesday—Thursday, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Registration will be on Thursday July 24th, 2008 at 10 a.m. Students must speak fluent English and provide a passport or birth certificate, social security card and proof of income. Registration is required. For more information, directions, and to register, call 718-289-5828, the Displaced Homemaker Program.
Childcare Centers Accepting Registration
The Mosholu Montefiore Community Center is accepting registration for its two childcare centers in Co-op City. Registration for 1, 2, 3, and 4 ½ year olds for Day Care will take place at 100A Aldrich Street, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Additional hours are available from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The Community Center also offers an after-school program for Kindergarten to 6th graders for children from PS 178, PS 160 and MS 180, and from private schools in the area. The after-school program meets from the end of the school day until pick-up at 6 p.m. or 6:30 p.m. For more information or to visit, call 718-320-2332. The center’s Hutchinson River Parkway Branch, in Section 5, has child care for 2, 3, and 4 ½ year olds from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. For more information call 718-320-3222.
Monte Program Promotes Healthy Marriages
July 24, 2008
By Stephen Baron
Two years ago, Bronx married couple Ana Clemente-Green and Michael Green argued over little things and some very big things. She was angry because he had committed some “infidelities.”
“She forgave me, but just she and I talking was not enough,” Michael said.
Then Ana was given fliers about a pilot program called University Behavioral Associates Supporting Healthy Marriages at Montefiore Medical Center.
Michael, a 53-year-old school bus driver, set up an appointment. Soon after, Laura Frame, a psychologist with the program, interviewed the couple.
“If this didn’t work, our marriage was done,” said Ana, a 44-year-old social worker.
Supporting Healthy Marriages is a federally-funded program that is studying, for the first time, the effects of marriage education and counseling on a large scale, according to program organizers.
The Bronx is one of eight locations nationwide where selected couples receive group counseling and may receive referrals for individual counseling. The Bronx program is staffed by one licensed social worker, one master’s-level counselor and four psychologists. The result is that many Bronx marriages are being strengthened and saved now and valuable research is being done with the goal of benefiting lower-income couples in the future.
“Most studies on the benefits of marriage education have used mainly Caucasian, middle-class couples,” Frame said.
In the Bronx, less than a third of Bronx families are married couples, according to the most recent Census data. Bronx married couples are overwhelmingly people of color and one in nine live below the poverty line, Census data shows.
Participants must be at least 18 years old, have or are expecting at least one child, and make less than $50,000. Participating couples range from first-time parents in their early 20s to middle-aged couples with grandchildren.
Half of the couples interviewed are randomly chosen to receive counseling. The program begins with weekly group sessions among 10 to 12 couples for 10 weeks. Couples then graduate to monthly sessions over the next nine months.
Shortly after the program began, program organizers realized they had to give couples money to pay for babysitters and transportation as well as scheduling sessions at night so couples could eat dinner together.
“Couples often need and receive [our] support with removing life barriers, such as assistance with job placement and money management,” said Sam Fasulo, a psychologist with the program.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is funding the program for five years, after which researchers will analyze the data and information. Organizers are hoping the program will continue to be funded after the trial period. The Bronx site has already interviewed 300 couples, with 150 receiving counseling. Organizers hope to interview 500 more couples.
Inside the modern, sun-lit office on East 149th Street, with new chairs and a small kitchen, couples participate in ice breakers, games and role playing to identify the areas that need improvement, which tend to center around communication issues.
“Parents who know how to communicate with each other are physically healthier and more stable,” Frame said. “Kids who have married parents have fewer behavioral problems, and better academic and health outcomes. Kids learn from the parental model.”
For Ana and Michael the program has worked wonders.
“She’s a strong woman, but I took her for granted,” Michael said. “She’s more sensitive than I had thought, and I had to struggle with my male ego. Though we’ve weathered some storms together, we learned that we do have a soulful connection.”
Ed. note: For more information or to apply for the program, call (718) 401-5050.
Select’ Bus Has Kinks
July 24, 2008
By None
After reading “Rapid Bus Line Premieres on Fordham Road” in your July 10-23 issue, it left me with more questions than answers. I don’t doubt that many riders using the new Select Bus Service Bx12 bus on Fordham Road will be confused. The article mentions that most riders “did not know they had to ask the bus driver for a transfer.” It’s not clear why any transfer would be required when, upon using a MetroCard, a free transfer is already automatically established on the card. The only time a paper transfer would be needed would be if original payment is not made by MetroCard. The machines at the Bx12 Select Bus Service stops accept payment prior to boarding via MetroCard as well as coins. Transfers are handled through those machines.
In addition, for those passengers whose destination is not an express stop, boarding an express bus would be of no help in speeding their ride. They would still need to take a local bus unless they didn’t mind walking from an express stop to their destination when exiting. Another inconvenience with this new SBS is the elimination of the Bx12 local service going into Manhattan. Local bus riders would have to transfer to the express service, and then be obliged to pay a second fare to board a subway in Manhattan.
In establishing this “speedier” and “more convenient” service, I wonder if the MTA thought everything through. Certainly more advance planning would be wise before attempting similar services on other bus routes.
The article also mentions that “transit workers at the stops will give assistance until July 13.” If a rider who doesn’t know the new rules travels this route for the first time on July 14 or thereafter, and there is no other rider boarding at that stop, he will not be able to get any assistance. Even if there is another rider at the stop who knows the rules, that other rider may not have enough time for explanations if he’s hurrying to board.
Wouldn’t the $10 million spent for this “speedier” service have been better used for anything else that can help prevent an upcoming fare increase? I for one wouldn’t mind a trip taking an extra few minutes and have the fare remain without an increase. Can riders have a say in this matter?
-Judy Noy
KARA and CB7 Working Together
July 24, 2008
By None
I am writing in response to the editorial in your July 10-23 issue, “Circular Firing Line at Armory?” I was puzzled by your characterization that the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition is trying to shut out Community Board 7.
We agree that the Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment Alliance (KARA) and CB7 must work in common purpose or risk being divided and conquered by the Armory developer. KARA, made up of over a dozen community stakeholders including churches, unions and community groups shares with CB7 a common vision for responsible development at the Armory calling for living-wage union jobs and community space, among other things. We think that both of the “paths” you lay out for working together make sense. We have been and continue to be ready to work with CB7 in either fashion. We have had a number of meetings with CB7 Chair Greg Faulkner and District Manager Fernando Tirado to figure out how to do just that.
KARA has two principles regarding the type of business we want to see in the Armory. First, the Armory businesses should complement local businesses on Kingsbridge Road, not duplicate and compete with them (for example a bookstore would be good because we don’t have one for miles in any direction). And second, we do not want businesses which require massive parking as many big-box stores do. There has been talk about wanting a big-box food store in the Armory. This would kill the Associated supermarket on Kingsbridge Road, which provides good union jobs for hundreds of people in our neighborhood, not just at their two Bronx stores but also at their 10 locations in Manhattan. They do all of their hiring at their Kingsbridge store. A big-box food store requires people to drive so they can transport bulk items. In a community with high asthma rates like ours, we do not need more traffic and pollution.
Solidarity between KARA and CB7 will afford us the best chance to win a development at the Armory that meets our community’s needs.
Ronn Jordan
The writer is vice president of the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition and a member of the Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment Alliance.
In your editorial, “Circular Firing Line at Armory?” I am puzzled by your assertion that the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition has rejected a request by Community Board 7 and its chair, Greg Faulkner, to work together in negotiating a Community Benefits Agreement with the developer of the Kingsbridge Armory.
In a meeting on July 8, community leaders from KARA (the Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment Alliance) met with Mr. Faulkner to discuss how to work together formally. Mr. Faulkner withdrew his request to fill half the seats on the KARA negotiation team.
KARA and other community groups have worked for over a decade to make sure the Armory is developed and further to make sure the community receives the greatest benefit from this vision. This vision includes preferred hiring of local residents in an area where unemployment rates are amazingly high, living wage jobs, union neutrality, and businesses that will enhance the community, not put mom-and-pop stores out of business.
KARA is the community and is working, tirelessly and with full transparency, to create a binding, enforceable Community Benefits Agreement.
Greg Faulkner and Community Board 7 have walked with us in this process.
While Community Board 7 has decided not to join with KARA, I see no reason why our organizations cannot work together for the benefit of our community.
-Rev. Dr. Katrina D. Foster
The writer is pastor of Fordham Evangelical Lutheran Church and Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion’s community representative to the Kingsbridge Armory Task Force
A Summer Break
July 24, 2008
By Editorial
With this issue, the Norwood News takes a brief summer hiatus. We skip one issue and return to publication on Aug. 21.
During that time we will still be hard at work providing you with daily news updates on our West Bronx Blog – westbronxnews.blogspot.com.
The blog has become one-stop shopping for news and information for the entire West Bronx. Reporters and editors from the Norwood News, the Mount Hope Monitor and the Highbridge Horizon post to the blog about a variety of issues, as do guest bloggers with a variety of expertise. The best part of it is that you can comment on the blog and take part in the conversation.
Check it out, and if you like what you see, tell your friends!
20 Candles for Norwood News
July 24, 2008
By Editorial
It’s hard to believe, but this coming October marks the 20th anniversary of the Norwood News. Mosholu Preservation Corporation, a not-for-profit support corporation of Montefiore Medical Center, launched the paper as a monthly in 1988 so that neighborhood residents and organizations could communicate, raise issues and have a source of information for the news that matters most – local news!
Despite a zillion cable channels and four daily newspapers, most city neighborhoods are starved for local news they can use. Just take a gander at the newspaper in your hands from front to back. Imagine there were a farmers market in a part of the neighborhood that you don’t usually frequent and nobody told you about it. Or what if there was a hearing about blasting at the reservoir and there was nowhere to find out that it was even happening? Ditto a hearing about the fate of a massive vacant landmark like the Kingsbridge Armory. And speaking of the Armory, the Norwood News has been covering the Armory relentlessly since it was vacated by the National Guard in 1993. Think a developer would have ever been selected if a newspaper hadn’t held the city’s feet to the fire all that time?
We think all neighborhoods — not just the ones that can afford it — deserve hyper-local news that greases the wheels of civic engagement and amplifies community improvement efforts. That’s why we started the Mount Hope Monitor almost two years ago with the help of the Mount Hope Housing Company and formed the West Bronx News Network which links our two papers with the Highbridge Horizon, another nonprofit Bronx newspaper. We also are looking forward to our growing collaboration with yet another nonprofit paper (notice a trend here?) — the Hunts Point Express, published by Bernard Stein and his Hunter College journalism students. You heard it here first: The Bronx is a hotbed of local media experimentation!
We’re going to use the Norwood News’ anniversary not just to celebrate the paper’s accomplishments, but also to continue to raise awareness of and build support for all these efforts and new related projects. We’ll keep you updated in the coming weeks on the blog (see editorial above) and the newspaper.
In the meantime, we’d like to thank our advertisers — without whom this paper would not exist — and, of course, our devoted readers.
And we salute all the staff, interns, and freelancers who have produced the paper over the last two decades.
Have a great summer, everybody. See you on the blog!
Dirt Patch Now Garden, Thanks to Teens
July 24, 2008
By Carey Dunne
In the midst of the bustle on Gun Hill Road has emerged an urban oasis — a new garden, right in front of the main entrance of the Mosholu Montefiore Community Center (MMCC). Teens in the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) have revamped what one participant called a “dirty, disgusting” plot into a thriving patch of greenery.
Employing 14 to 21 year olds, the Summer Youth Employment Program is a project of the city’s Department of Youth and Community Development. MMCC administers the program in this area.
SYEP members Xavier Johnson, 14, and Peter Jackson, 18, have been working on the garden since June for eight hours a day, four days a week. “I feel like this is my second home,” Xavier said. “We’re planting herbs, vegetables, a couple flowers. It’s hard work,” Jackson said.
The garden, which project overseer Leslie Alpert of the MMCC said was once “completely overgrown,” now has tomatoes, peppers, daisies, basil, arugula, and sage.
“We even have a butterfly that’s started to visit,” Alpert said. “This is an urban oasis.” Alpert expects it will take the better part of a year to finish the garden, since certain plants cannot grow in summer heat.
The community is generally thrilled with the garden, but Jackson says it will only stay beautiful with their help. “People have to stop littering so we can keep it clean,” he said.
“I hope people will respect that we’ve done all this work this summer and come by and look,” Xavier added.
Teen Brigade Blazing Trails in VC Park
July 24, 2008
By Emma Jacobs
In the trees behind the Shandler Recreation Area at the southeast corner of Van Cortlandt Park, 20 Bronx teens with gloves and shovels work around a growing circle of cleared brush.
Laboring to the sounds from a boom box propped in a wheel barrow, these teens make up the first line of defense in the park against the shrubs that close over trails and choke out fragile, newly planted trees.
The Friends of Van Cortlandt Park have brought more than 600 teens to work in the park since 1992, when the nonprofit organization first hired eight young people to clear trash over the summer.
This year, thanks to additional financial help, the summer hires will be joined by six of the Friends’ academic-year interns.
“Teens definitely play a critical role in trail maintenance, especially in the summer because they’re here so much,” says Christina Taylor, executive director of the Friends of Van Cortlandt Park.
Students work four days a week, eight hours a day for TK weeks during the summer
In addition to year-round interns, 14 of this year’s students come from New York’s Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP). Chosen by lottery, 5,000 Bronx teens in SYEP work all over the borough, many of them in parks.
Assistance from the Louis and Anne Abrons Foundation, St. James’ Church and the Mosholu Preservation Corporation (publisher of the Norwood News) has allowed the group of academic year youth interns to continue working this summer. The interns, who mostly follow an educational program during the year, provide a dedicated core to the group of summer teens.
Every day, the team meets their supervisors, Katherine Lockey and Enyiekere Enyiema at the park’s southern edge, where they pick up shovels and wheelbarrows and trek out to one of their work sites in the park.
Working in the park isn’t for everyone. To weed out the faint of heart, the program’s staff start the first day of summer work with a long, rigorous hike. Most of the teens choose to stay on. Taylor says only one or two have quit this summer.
“We’ve cleared the Nature Center, the Van Cortlandt House Museum, and the Muir Trail,” says Andrew Brown, a 14-year-old student from Norwood who joined the Friends’ Junior Naturalist Program four years ago because of his interest in science.
On a recent Tuesday afternoon, Kino Browne, an SYEP participant, explains how the teens uproot mugwort, poison ivy and jewel weed. This summer has been Kino’s first in the SYEP program and in Van Cortlandt Park. He says he’ll probably be back for more next year.
Browne and his colleagues will also have other options. As part of the Summer Teen Program, these students have also had job training from the Riverdale Neighborhood House to help them find work later on. We also have a “lot of lessons in common sense,” says Taylor, coming back from a lesson with a student on how to manage a shovel.
Jessica Pena, a 15-year-old student at the High School for Math, Science and Engineering, says she appreciates the chance to work in her own neighborhood.
“I live around here. It’s stuff you see every day,” Pena says. “I think it’s good to get involved, especially in your own neighborhood.”
The teens also find other benefits to working in the park. Among the plants the students uproot, Andrew says, they also pull up wineberries. “We like to eat those first.”
Filter Foes: City Not Permitted to Build Plant
July 24, 2008
By Emma Jacobs
While local activists rev up their arguments for a potential lawsuit to stop the city from blasting at the Jerome Park Reservoir, they also are considering suing the city for not having a buildings permit to construct the water filtration plant in Van Cortlandt Park.
Activists and Bronx elected officials recently pointed out that the city’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) does not have a building permit for the eight-story underground facility.
The Department of Buildings (DOB) deemed the permit unnecessary on a technicality on July 15. The agency ruled that the plant constituted an attached component of a pipe (the Croton Aqueduct) which is exempt from the requirement of a building permit under the City Charter.
“It’s kind of like saying that your body is attached to your arm,” said Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, who demanded a reexamination of the decision in a July 18 letter to Mayor Bloomberg and other city officials. Dinowitz said the idea that the city does not need a building permit for such a large project is “ludicrous.”
The city has no zoning for a water filtration facility, a fact that cannot be ignored, argues Karen Argenti, a veteran plant opponent who is also a member of the Bronx Council for Environmental Quality. The zoning code, Argenti believes, must itself be revised to create a zoning category for such a facility, a time consuming process that must go through every community board in the city.
“They can’t do what they’re trying to do,” Argenti said.
A judge may determine whether or not she’s right.
Lawsuit Sought to Block Blasting at Reservoir
July 24, 2008
By Alex Kratz
Local residents and politicians are locking horns as the city’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) pushes ahead on a controversial and widely disparaged new plan to use explosives for a looming construction project at the Jerome Park Reservoir.
At a public hearing last week, community members and elected officials railed against the plan (part of the DEP’s troubled water filtration plant project in Van Cortlandt Park) to blast rock near the reservoir, as well as the plan to truck debris directly from the site, which is directly across the street from Bronx High School of Science. It is also near several other schools and a densely-populated community.
The DEP is building a connector shaft at the reservoir that will re-direct water to the filtration plant in Van Cortlandt Park. The original environmental impact statement (EIS) said there would be no blasting at the reservoir site and that debris would be trucked through the water tunnel, which would exit at the Van Cortlandt Park site.
Many at the meeting said they felt duped by the DEP, which sold the project partly on the basis that there would be no blasting and no debris removal through neighborhoods near the reservoir.
“This is a sneak attack,” said Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz.
The DEP said it only recently adjusted the plan because it would mean less inconvenience — blasting would take less time (three weeks, instead of six) and be less noisy for local residents — though it didn’t back up that claim with evidence. Just last month, however, the DEP said blasting would shave 10 total weeks off the job.
Several speakers at the hearing said the DEP simply could not be trusted. “If the DEP says it’s sunny outside, I’m going to grab my coat and umbrella,” said Ed Yaker, a resident and former president of the nearby Amalgamated Houses.
Without an official study of the environmental impact of the blasting and removal plan, residents and politicians said they would move to stop the project. Blasting would not begin until September, according to project manager Bernard Daly.
State Senator Efrain Gonzalez and his challenger in the upcoming Democratic primary, former councilman Pedro Espada, Jr., both denounced the plan at the meeting. Espada, Jr., who runs a string of Bronx health centers, said it was disgraceful that with all borough’s asthma problems, “[The DEP] is inviting our children to a blasting party” without telling the community how it will be affected.
Activist Karen Argenti said community leaders would need to see some kind of environmental impact statement, or a plan for it, in the next 15 days or she would push for legal action. All the elected officials, including Councilman Oliver Koppell and Dinowitz said they would support legal action.
The removal plan also drew jeers from residents when DEP deputy commissioner Anne Canty said trucks leaving the site would travel down Bedford Park Boulevard to Jerome Avenue and then turn onto Fordham Road to reach the Major Deegan in an effort to avoid the Amalgamated Houses. (The Amalgamated Housing Corporation submitted a letter supporting the blasting plan.)
“Why is it that the poorer neighborhoods have to absorb all the impact?” said Community Board 7 Chair Greg Faulkner.
Canty said the DEP believes it doesn’t need to do a supplemental EIS, but said she would take the community’s concerns to the agency’s commissioner, Emily Lloyd, who would make a final decision.
Farmers Rake in Customers at New Norwood Market
July 24, 2008
By Carey Dunne
Gooseberries, Japanese turnips, baby dandelion, and red Russian kale all made their debut at the opening of the Norwood Farmers Market two weeks ago.
The first day of the market, which will be open every Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., on Jerome Avenue and West Mosholu Parkway North, appeared to be a success, with a steady stream of customers, sunny weather, and friendly vendors.
The market bustled with Bronxites stocking up on radishes, beets, parsley, spinach, corn, cherries, zucchini, and squash. “It’s been excellent for the first day,” said Marshall Collins, the market’s manager. “There are no kinks to work out. Everything’s beautiful.”
The prices for the fresh goods were described by customer Orlando Rodriguez as “so-so” — Japanese turnips went for $2 a bunch, apricots for $5 a pound — but many customers used coupons from the federal Women, Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition program, the city Health Department’s Health Bucks Program, and the NY State Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program. WIC recently expanded its program to include monthly subsidies for fruits and vegetables.
Vendors from three upstate New York farms — Migliorelli Farm of Tivoli, Glebocki Farm of Goshen, and Red Jacket Orchards of Geneva— sold from sidewalk stands under the 4 train. Bread Alone, a Catskills bakery, also joined the vendors the second week to sell organic bread and pies.
Farmers made a point of explaining their environmentally conscious practices to their customers.
The Red Jacket Orchards stand offered a pamphlet explaining their use of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), a system that uses natural, gentler pest-control methods instead of synthetic pesticides.
Most people passing by at least paused for a look at the market, and customers agreed that the market will positively affect the community. “You can come by every week because you know where the market’s at,” said Rodriguez, while buying corn at the Migliorelli stand.
Vendor John Glebocki, a fifth generation farmer, also loved the location. “It’s a great spot,” he said. “People going to and from the 4 train automatically see the market and check out what’s going on.”
Collins stressed the market’s role in community health: “People need fresh vegetables,” he said. “They need fresh food. The more fresh vegetables they eat, the less high blood pressure they’ll have.”
Even kids seem to be getting the message. “All the food here tastes better than it usually does at other places because it’s more fresh,” said 10-year-old Elaine Ordonez, who was shopping with her mother.
Montefiore Expands With OLM Acquisition
July 24, 2008
By Stephen Baron
On Wednesday morning, at 12:01 a.m., Montefiore Medical Center officially acquired the bankrupt Our Lady of Mercy Medical Center in the Wakefield section of the Bronx. It will be renamed the Montefiore North Division.
Later that day, Montefiore officials held a ceremony for media and its new employees, many of whom said they thought the change would be positive.
"it’s good," said long-time OLM staffer Catherine McVicar. "I think it will be an asset."
There will be no immediate changes in service or patient care for Montefiore’s nearly 180,000 health plan members and two million Bronx and Westchester County residents, according to a Montefiore statement.
Montefiore had been in the process of acquiring Our Lady of Mercy for the past four years, said Steven Safyer, MD, Montefiore’s president, in a statement. Had the Medical Center closed, 150,000 neighborhood residents would have been stranded without a nearby healthcare institution, he added.
With the acquisition, Montefiore adds seven operating rooms, 369 inpatient beds, more than 500 physicians and 2,500 employees. It also expands Montefiore’s community-based care and adds experts to its centers of excellence and in fields such as geriatrics, cancer, psychiatry, maternal and child health.
“We plan on spending at least $100 million over the next five years to stabilize and modernize the institution,” Safyer said. “The North Division will be an integral part of Montefiore’s regional, full-service healthcare and delivery system.”
Safyer said they were no plans to downsize the hospitals staff. "I’m confident we can turn this thing around," he said.
Congressman Eliot Engel said he worked closely with U.S. Senator Charles Schumer and Congressman Charles Rangel to keep the hospital open.
“With Montefiore, the people of the Bronx and lower Westchester will continue to get medical care of the highest order,” Engel said in a statement.
The North Division is located on East 233rd Street in the Wakefield and Williamsbridge sections of the Bronx.
Ed. note: This story was updated from the print version with additional reporting by Alex Kratz. Mosholu Preservation Corporation, the publisher of the Norwood News, is a not-for-profit support corporation of Montefiore Medical Center.
Axelbank to Launch Radio Program
July 24, 2008
By Emma Jacobs
Bronx TV personality Gary Axelbank will be adding a radio beat to his schedule this August.
Axelbank, host of BronxTalk PrimeTime on BRONXNET for more than 13 years, will debut on WVOX 1460 AM with “GAX in the Bronx.”
The weekly call-in radio program, which Axelbank is producing himself, will air on four consecutive Wednesdays, beginning Aug. 13. In September, he will decide whether to make the show permanent.
Axelbank considers the program a legacy of his cable show BronxTalk AM, which ended in 2005. Since that time, he says, “I think of things every day I want to talk about.” Axelbanks is promising to “take the gloves off.”
Castro to Replace Luis Diaz
July 24, 2008
By Graham Kates
With just under a month to go before the Aug. 15 deadline to declare candidacy for this September’s State Assembly primary election, Assemblyman Luis Diaz (86th District) has resigned from his post to work for Gov. David Paterson as his downstate government and community affairs person.
Diaz had indicated he wanted Hector Ramirez, the current male district leader, to take his place. But his vacancy committee with the Bronx Democratic Party ended up choosing Nelson Castro, a former staffer of Assemblyman Adriano Espaillat. Ramirez and Castro, a former Republican, were both expected to run for Maria Baez’s Council seat when her term runs out in 2009, according to the Daily News.
Local Races Shape Up
July 24, 2008
By Graham Kates
In the state’s 80th Assembly District, Irene Rukaj, an Independent candidate, is challenging Democratic incumbent Naomi Rivera.
In the 81st District, Riverdale resident Jeffrey Klapper, a registered Democrat, told the Norwood News he was running as a Republican against Jeffrey Dinowitz, the Democratic incumbent, though he had yet to start campaigning and admitted it was more of a symbolic gesture because he believes Dinowitz is too liberal.
New York’s 17th Congressional District election pits Democratic incumbent Rep. Eliot Engel against Republican challenger Robert Goodman. While that race won’t be decided until the general election on Nov. 4, the race for the 16th Congressional District may be over after the Sept. 9 Democratic primary. Incumbent Jose E. Serrano and challenger Curtis Brooks are both Democrats, and so far, no Republicans or Independents have entered the fray.
Jobs Rally at All-Star Game
July 24, 2008
By Stephen Baron
Bronx youth rallied outside Yankee Stadium hours before the All-Star Game on July 15, calling for more and better jobs, and emphasizing the stark contrast between the largely publicly-funded new Yankee Stadium and the daily lives of many poor Bronxites.
More than 30 youth from the Sistas and Brothas United, the youth affiliate of the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition (NWBCCC) were joined by speakers from the Urban Justice Center, the Retailers Union and the Fordham Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Media outlets and local politicians have been saying the “Bronx is Booming” over the past year. Indeed, there is significantly more development and less crime in the nation’s poorest urban county than 31 years ago, when the Yankees last hosted the All-Star Game.
But the resurgence — including large developments at the Kingsbridge Armory, the Gateway Center at the Bronx Terminal Market and the new Yankee Stadium – has not provided living-wage jobs ($10 an hour plus benefits as defined by the City Council) to the northwest Bronxites, according to the report “Boom for Whom?” published by the Urban Justice Center and the NWBCCC.
The report, based on Census data and a survey of 351 residents, found that in the northwest Bronx a third of adults are not employed, three-quarters of teenagers are looking for work and nearly 80 percent of unemployed people have been out of work for at least six months.
“A great deal of the new jobs that have been created in our district in recent years have kept families at or near the poverty line,” Bronx Congressman Jose E. Serrano said in a statement. “[W]e must ensure that there are quality jobs for Bronx residents.”
The report also found that residents did not know about job centers, thought there should be more job training in high school and more job centers, and better connection to union jobs.
“We want jobs and need them,” said Stephanie Ventura, an 18-year-old from Fordham. “A lot of 14- and 15-year-olds need to help their parents in the house and pay the rent.”
Street Vendors Seek Legitimacy
July 24, 2008
By Stephen Baron
Berta, a 54-year-old Mexican single mother, has sold coquitos y paletas (ices and fruit popsicles) from a cart on the corner of Fordham Road and Webster Avenue for the past 10 years.
“My dream is to get enough money to move back to Mexico and buy a house there,” says Berta, who did not want to give her real name, in Spanish.
This year, Berta secured a vending permit with help from VAMOS Unidos (Street Vendors Mobilizing and Organizing in Solidarity), a year-old Fordham-based advocacy group that helps 230 vendors, most of whom sell food.
VAMOS Unidos’ main goal is to increase the available vending permits, which the city has updated by only 1,000 in nearly 30 years. There are an estimated 5,000 to 15,000 street vendors in the city who operate without a permit.
Merchandise vendors, except veterans and art vendors, need only a license, but they are capped at 853. Food vendors need both licenses, which are unlimited, and permits, which are capped at 4,100. Both have waiting lists in the thousands. Green Cart permits, for whole fruits and vegetables, are capped at 1,000 over the next two years.
Before this year, Berta vended illegally, and says police harassed, ticketed and arrested her (though the Bronx district attorney’s office could not find any criminal complaints against her). On average, a legal vendor receives five tickets per year, while illegal ones receive 10 to 20 per year, according to VAMOS Unidos Director Rafael Samanez.
“If more vendors had carts, then they could sell more merchandise and it would be more sanitary,” Samanez says. “Plus the city would collect more money from permits.”
‘No jobs’
Along the bustling shopping district of Fordham Road, dozens of street vendors hawking items ranging from kebab and fruit to clothes and toys line the sidewalks.
“These vendors live in the neighborhood,” Samanez says. “But there are no jobs, so this is the only way they can make a living.” The average food vendor makes only $30 to $50 per day while working 12 to 14 hours per day, he says.
Many businesses do not mind the street vendors, but some do.
“Businesses draw people, but street vendors draw people away from businesses,” says Ozzie Martinez, manager at Best Italian Pizza. “It becomes an annoyance. The vendors are too close to businesses, block sidewalks and are not as clean as they should be.”
To complain, Martinez calls the Fordham Road Business Improvement District (BID), which calls the police to move the vendors. The 46th, 48th and 52nd precincts patrol Fordham Road daily, in addition to surprise sweeps every couple of months, according to Lt. Charles Hammer of the 52nd Precinct.
The police and the Health Department are the main city agencies that ticket street vendors for the more than 20 different violations, which are heard at the Environmental Control Board (ECB). For repeat offenders, these violations can cost up to $1,000 each.
In fiscal year 2007, the ECB heard 25,828 vending violations, and in fiscal year 2008 it heard 21,388, according to statistics provided by ECB. Common violations include not displaying a permit, being in a bus stop, and being within 10 feet of a driveway, subway or crosswalk.
Vendors can be charged with less costly misdemeanors, which are settled in criminal court. The city can also confiscate vendors’ merchandise and carts, which takes a long time to retrieve, Hammer and Samanez agree.
Police can arrest illegal vendors for having an outstanding warrant — often for not showing up to criminal court — or for not having identification, Hammer says. Police arrest five to 15 of VAMOS Unidos’ members every week, Samanez says.
Complaints of Harassment
And in fact, while Berta scooped lemon ice one day in May, a police patrol wagon rolled past Berta’s stand with four street vendors inside. Vendors also complain about police harassment, such as racial slurs and physical force, though Hammer says, “There is no such thing.”
The BID tolerates street vendors – up to a point. “Businesses don’t really complain about the vendors,” says Wilma Alonso, the BID’s executive director. “As long as they’re not blocking an entrance or have a lot of smoke, everything is fine.”
Alonso wants organizations to train street vendors to become small business owners, so they can pay rents, salaries and taxes like BID members.
Samanez counters that street vendors do pay taxes. Most vendors do not want to become small business owners since many are single mothers who like the flexible schedule and have had difficulty finding another job because they do not speak English, he says.
“There are a lot of positives being a street vendor,” Samanez says. “Some were vendors in Africa or Latin America. And some vendors make a little bit more than they would working minimum wage jobs.”
Legislative Limbo
The vendors’ biggest problem is that the City Council has not increased merchandise license caps since 1981 and not since 1979 for food permits.
Street vendors have only 15 to 20 allies in City Council, according to Brooklyn Council Member Charles Barron, who sponsored successful legislation making it illegal for the Department of Consumer Affairs to ask the immigration status of vendors applying for merchandise licenses.
“Licenses [and permits] have not been increased due to racism, xenophobia and big businesses,” Barron said in a phone interview, echoing statements of street vendor organizers. “Many vendors are people of color and immigrants who do not give big amounts of money to campaigns.”
However, street vendor legislation is picking up steam. Manhattan Council Member Alan Gerson is proposing legislation to clarify where street vendors can sell, but also doubles the penalties while increasing permits by a minimum of 20 percent.
Samanez and Barron are against Gerson’s bill because they say penalties are already high and the bill does not adequately increase the number of permits. VAMOS Unidos and Barron are separately working on legislation that would significantly increase license and permit caps.
But until legislation addresses their needs, many street vendors remain vulnerable.
Maria (not her real name), a Mexican single mother with two kids, who makes $30 a day selling sliced fruit, has a license but not a permit.
“I became a vendor as a last resort,” Maria says in Spanish. “I have to pay the rent and put food on the table, but I would prefer to be vending with a permit.”
-Jessica Glazer contributed additional reporting to this story.
Community Wants More Than Retail at Armory
July 24, 2008
By Alex Kratz
Ideas for a revamped Kingsbridge Armory gushed from the minds and mouths of local stakeholders at a public brainstorming session last week and included everything from a youth center to a community auditorium.
The Armory, which will be redeveloped by mega-firm The Related Companies, is being called a destination retail center, but nearly 150 local residents and stakeholders agreed it should be much more than that. They broke into groups and created wish lists.
“They were really concerned about it becoming just another big mall with big stores,” said Nicole Acevedo, who helped facilitate some of the group discussion for Community Board 7, which put together the meeting and will be weighing in on the project during the city’s land review process. “People wanted to see more community space and recreational space,” she added.
Several Related representatives, including lawyer Jesse Masyr, looked on as the community listed its wishes and concerns. But afterward, Masyr was vague about what he took away from the meeting and what Related could provide. “I think you heard a lot of really good intent on this,” he said. He did say Related would take a hard look at providing affordable recreational opportunities.
Related’s general vision calls for a mix of larger and smaller retail stores, several restaurants and about 15,000 square feet of community programming space. (More, if you count an outdoor park that will double as a seasonal farmers market and also an area blocked off for a gym that Related says it would be willing to turn into affordable recreational space. Many local residents said they would like to see a YMCA in that space.)
Other ideas for the community space included, among other things, youth and senior activity centers, a rentable auditorium for local performances, a spiritual center, a social services hub and a computer lab for training and community use.
As for commercial stores, people most wanted to see a bookstore and healthy food options. There appeared to be a split on whether there should be a “Big Box” store like a Costco or Sam’s Club. Nearly everyone agreed that space should be reserved for local small businesses and that it should not compete with existing businesses. One group said emphatically, “No 99-cent stores.”
As far as securing additional community benefits from Related, stakeholders agreed that the project should be an engine of economic development and a source of good jobs. Some groups specifically called for employers at the Armory to pay “living wages” of $12 an hour, plus benefits, something the Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment Alliance (KARA) has pushed hard for. (Several KARA supporters were sprinkled in amongst the groups and its leaders were on hand as well.)
Nearly every group advocated for some type of binding community benefits agreement that would force Related to deliver on some of the community’s wishes. KARA wants to be the voice that negotiates that agreement and the community board has also said it wants to hold Related accountable and provide more benefits to local residents.
Masyr bristled when asked if Related would enter into a binding community benefits agreement, saying it was “premature to discuss that at this time.” He added that he was interested in continuing dialogue with all community stakeholders involved.
Everyone at the meeting said building schools at the Armory, something KARA has long advocated for, was a top priority. However, the Department of Education took new public schools off the table last year after the city included schools in its original request for proposals (RFP) for the Armory.
Just two and a half years ago, KARA held a similar meeting to discuss a community vision for the Armory. But KARA members said this was an opportunity for even more voices to be heard.
“It was great,” said KARA member Aldis Humte. “There were a lot of ideas and issues that we never dealt with at those [previous] meetings.”
Myra Goggins, a KARA member, also thought the meeting was beneficial and called the ideas “variations on a theme.”
Anthony Springer, a new member of Community Board 7 and also one of the group facilitators, said people came up with “a lot of good ideas.” His group, he said, wanted to make sure the inside of the Armory reflected the historic look of the outside of the building. “We don’t want it to look like Jetsons.”
Tracey Shooting Sparks Anger at Police
July 24, 2008
By Rob Sgobbo
An Independence Day shooting at Tracey Towers, a Mosholu Parkway high-rise with a history of problems and violence, left a young man critically injured and tenants searching for answers from police who failed to show up after a 911 call was placed two hours before the incident.
Police said dispatchers “erroneously” classified the 911 call as “disorderly conduct,” making it a lower priority for patrolmen who were busy attending to higher priority calls. The explanation did little to quell residents’ feelings of neglect.
The incident built slowly to its ugly climax. On July 4, an unauthorized holiday barbecue in the playground on the buildings’ back lot began at 5 p.m. As the night wore on, the party grew into a large mix of young residents and nonresidents, according to the Tracey Towers Tenant Organization and police.
Tracey security made a 911 call to police to report disorderly conduct at 11 p.m., but no one showed up to investigate. (Police said they responded to three earlier calls for disorderly conduct, but after driving by the serene front of the building, officers decided not to investigate further.)
At 12:58 a.m., shots were fired, critically injuring a young tenant named Mark Coles, 20, who was parking his car in the garage next to the playground.
According to witness Sheila Reinhardt, a Tracey resident, the shots were fired by a youth who could not be identified. Coles was hit in the stomach and remains in critical condition after undergoing at least three surgeries, police said.
At a town hall meeting organized by the tenants association, last week, tenants were joined by police from the 52nd Precinct and a handful of local politicians to discuss the poor police response.
Reinhardt, who couldn’t attend, said in a statement, “This community continues to have an increase in gun activity and a decrease in quality of life.” For residents, the meeting may have felt a little like deja vu, as many recalled when four Ghanaian youth were shot last year outside of Tracey Towers.
Felix Gibson, the vice-president of the tenants association said, “This is a break in the system. We demand elected officials look into it and fix it.”
Gibson and others expressed resentment, saying they felt like victims of racial inequality. “Because of the composition of the residents here, this is why we have a delayed response,” Gibson said. “We pay the same tax money as anyone in New York City. If you know the history of Tracey Towers, with shootings and with disorderly conduct, why were we not prioritized?”
Gibson’s emotional plea was met with nods and shouts of agreement from tenants.
Council Member Oliver Koppell, who represents Tracey, said Gibson and others were “out of line” for linking the delayed police response to the issue of race. “Everyone demands more police attention,” Koppell said. “I know for a fact the NYPD does not respond to any community differently.”
Captain Orlando Rivera, second in command at the 52nd Precinct, also said holiday festivities overburdened the precinct. “Despite the extra personnel, we received 260 911-calls that day, which is about 50 calls per car. When 18 calls per car is the usual busy day, it’s obvious we were running around trying to attend to these requests.”
Rivera said preventing violent incidents is a two-way street. “We should have gotten a call when the unauthorized barbecue began at 5 p.m.,” he said. “Not all of the tenants are helping out. There is a sense of ambivalence out there.”
Brenda Caldwell, a Tracey tenant and president of the 52nd Precinct Community Council, agreed. “It is important that everyone has to speak up,” Caldwell said. “The other neighborhoods get the police attention because they show they care. It’s not about color, it’s [about] presence.”
While there were many who saw the issue of race or the issue of community ambivalence as the main conflict between tenants and the police, everyone in the room ultimately sought to find a common plan of action. “This is the beginning of something to get a result,” Rivera said.
“This is only the start,” said tenant association president Sam Gillian, ending the meeting. “We have a long way to go.”
Role of Private Equity Worries Tenant Advocates
July 10, 2008
By Chloe Tribich
Ed. note: This article has been corrected. In the original version we erroneously reported that the Pinnacle Group had purchased 10 Bronx buildings in 2008. The buildings were purchased by several limited liability corporations (LLCs) through Chestnut Holdings. The Norwood News regrets the error.
In 2005, when the Pinnacle Group first roused the ire of tenants for aggressive tactics in housing court, landlords funded by unregulated capital were an anomaly. More common were the likes of Nicholas Haros and Frank Palazzolo, owners reviled for their determination to squeeze rental income from deteriorating buildings.
Pinnacle is backed by the Praedium Group, which is in turn controlled by the Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec, one of the top 10 real estate pension fund managers in the world. No longer just the province of local landlords, rent regulated Bronx real estate has whetted the appetite of international finance.
Pinnacle has been joined in the northwest Bronx by Ocelot, backed by the Israeli-owned Eldan Tech Ltd.; SG2, backed by Blackrock, of which Merrill Lynch owns 50 percent; Urban American Management, created by the Ramius Capital Group; and Normandy Investment Partners, which is funded primarily by international investment and corporate and state pensions. These firms have purchased portfolios of properties from New York-based landlords such as Nicholas Haros, the Palazzolo Investment Group, Jacob Selechnik and the Bodak family. The University Neighborhood Housing Program estimates that over 14,000 apartment units in the Bronx are owned by private-equity-backed landlords.
The management style of these firms – including level of commitment to repairs and aggressiveness in housing court – varies. But they share the basic perspective that rents in regulated buildings can be increased significantly through “value enhancement” and “aggressive management” – catchphrases that reflect a strategy of capitalizing on vacancies to increase rents and carrying out Major Capital Improvements.
From the landlords’ perspective, gentrifying neighborhoods, where regulated rents are far below market, are the most fertile grounds for this strategy. In Urban American’s Sunnyside, Queens properties, for example, new renters are paying upwards of $1600 for two bedrooms, most of which underwent improvements or repairs during vacancy. Some apartments have even surpassed the $2000 rent deregulation mark.
Gentrification on Kingsbridge?
But gentrification feels a long way off from 131 W. Kingsbridge Rd. According to city public records, this building was purchased by SG2 for just over $100,000 per apartment in February 2007. There are 384 violations in this 31 unit building, 239 of them documented since May 2007.
Gladys Cardona has lived at 131 W. Kingsbridge Rd. for 10 years. When her bathroom ceiling fell, exposing wooden slats and pipes from the apartment above, SG2 didn’t respond to her phone calls. Only when HPD threatened to deploy its emergency repair unit did the landlord order the ceiling patched, she said.
“I’m tired of this,” said Gladys, who is 60 and still battles vermin infestation and lack of hot water. “But the costs of moving are very high.”
Miguel Jimenez, Gladys’ neighbor, shares her concerns. He says he called SG2’s Walton Avenue office four times last month about the hole in his bedroom ceiling and didn’t receive a call back. Finally he visited the office in person and secured a commitment from manager Evelyn DeJesus to address the problem. Jimenez never heard from her again and DeJesus did not return two voicemail messages or an e-mail from the Norwood News.
Jimenez’s rent is $922, but Section 8 pays the majority. Like Cardona, he would like to move, but cites fees for credit checks, moving costs and security deposits as expenses he can’t afford. For now, the two are staying where they are, hoping that organizing assistance from the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition will help to force repairs.
Cardona and Jimenez are not alone. Their neighborhood, Kingsbridge Heights, is one of the poorest neighborhoods in the poorest borough in the City. According to the Furman Center, 59 percent of households in this community district make less than $35,752 a year; 31 percent make less than $16,556. Though rents here are low by city standards, the median proportion of income tenants pay for rent – stands at 37.8 percent. Thirty percent is considered acceptable by HUD.
Further east, at the SG2-owned 750-760 Pelham Parkway South, tenant association president Ray Ruiz lists broken front door locks, malfunctioning boilers and rent overcharges as persistent problems. This building has nearly 140 units and 768 housing maintenance code violations, 687 documented in the past year alone. “We thought Michael Goldberg [the previous landlord] was bad, but at least they answered the phone,” says Ruiz, who has lived in his apartment since 1997. “SG2 people just have voicemail that they never check.”
Some improvements
In some SG2 buildings, however, tenants have seen improvement. Charles Long, a fire safety inspector and 10-year resident of 1212 Grand Concourse, joined with members of Community Action for Safer Apartments (CASA) to meet with SG2 manager John Sutherland. Long was mostly pleased – management responded quickly to concerns about inadequate outdoor lighting and elevator breakage.
“In some ways SG2 is a saint compared to the previous landlord [Jacob Selechnik],” said Long. “But they’re in business, and they wouldn’t be curing these violations if they didn’t expect to get their capital improvement increases.”
Long counts on continued maintenance improvements and hopes that noise pollution and late-night partying will come under control as well. But he is ambivalent about what these changes will mean for the poorest tenants – those on public assistance and Section 8 – who he is certain will be pushed out. “I have never seen such an army of workers sent to renovate vacant apartments,” Long says.. He has not met any new tenants yet, but believes they will pay significantly more.
These observations have not escaped community groups and local leaders. Fernando Tirado, district manager for Community Board 7, held a meeting with SG2 managers in February 2008. “We wanted to meet with them because we were concerned about the number of properties they had purchased – 23 in our Community Board alone and 75 in the whole Bronx– but we got a good response. They assured us that they were not there to push people out, that they were there to improve the properties and that this was an investment that they cared about.” Tirado reports that they have not heard complaints from tenants of SG2 buildings in recent months.
In 2005, the University Neighborhood Housing Program noted that purchase prices of Bronx buildings were increasing disproportionate to rental income, sometimes to as much as $67,000 per unit. UNHP worried that landlords’ inability to make mortgage payments on overleveraged properties would lead to another wave of disinvestment and property deterioration.
According to City records, in 2007, SG2 paid $6,632,467 for 1212 Grand Concourse — $108,729 per apartment. There is little in the data, it seems, to justify SG2’s enthusiasm. According to the Rent Guidelines Board, Bronx landlords’ net operating income increased only 3% from 1990 to 2006, far less than the other boroughs.
And unlike poor renters in Washington Heights or Sunnyside, Bronx tenants live far from Starbucks and other markers of middle class desirability. It is unclear where – if tenants like Cardona and Jimenez were to leave — their higher-paying successors would come from.
“The prices being paid for Bronx apartment buildings are out of step with the buildings’ actual profitability,” said Greg Jost of UNHP. “Landlords’ expenses are increasing faster than rent income, but these sales seem to assume that either the building can be flipped for a higher amount, or that rents can be driven way up, or both. But residents’ incomes here are among the lowest in the city and I don’t see any higher income folks moving to our area.”
Chloe Tribich is a free-lance writer who also works for Housing Here and Now, a Brooklyn-based tenant advocacy organization.
Neighborhood Notes
July 10, 2008
By Norwood News
Social Security Assistance
Representatives from the Social Security Administration will be answering questions and concerns about Social Security at Congressman Eliot Engel’s Bronx office, 3655 Johnson Ave., on Wednesday, July 30. To make an appointment, call Richard Fedderman at (718) 769-9700.
Banking Fair
The Northwest Bronx Banking Fair, hosted by the University Neighborhood Housing Program, will offer a chance to compare accounts and products and speak directly with representatives from banks and credit unions in the community along with other tips on saving money. Dinner, A/C and childcare will be provided. The dinner will be held on Thursday July 31 at 6 p.m. at Our Lady of Refuge Parish Center, 290 E. 196th Street, between Bainbridge and Briggs Avenues. The program begins at 6:30 p.m. Space is limited. For reservations, call (718) 935-2539 by July 29.
Housing Assistance Program
Community Board 7 and the West Bronx Housing and Neighborhood Resource Center are offering housing counseling services, every third Tuesday of the month, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., through September. For more information call (718) 933-5650.
Free Computer Tutoring
Mosholu Preservation Corporation (MPC) is offering free computer tutorials for anyone interested. Lessons will cover topics ranging from basic computer skills to Internet navigation. Lessons are offered Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. MPC is located at 3400 Reservoir Oval East. For an appointment, call Brenda Lucio or Jennifer Mitchell at (718) 324-4461.
Bronx Green Party Convention
The Bronx County Green Party Convention and Summer Festival will take place on Sunday, July 13. Festival activities open to the community will begin at noon on the grounds of the Bronx Greens/Bronx County Green Party Offices, 286 Reservoir Place, near the corner of Perry Ave. and East Gun Hill Road. The Party’s inaugural meeting and first annual convention, open to enrolled Green Party members will begin at 3 p.m. For more information, visit www.bronx-greens.org or call the Bronx Greens office at (718) 652-2110.
MetroCard Bus/Van Coming
MetroCard buses will be making stops in the west Bronx during July. Senior citizens and persons with disabilities may apply for the Reduced Fare MetroCard. Senior citizens must present valid photo I.D. proving that they are at least 65 years old, and persons with disabilities must present a U.S. Medicare Card and valid photo I.D. The buses will be at Fordham Road and the Grand Concourse on Friday, July 11 and Friday, July 25, from noon to 2 p.m.; at Scott Towers at 3400 Paul Ave. on Monday, July 28 from 1 to 3 p.m.; and at Van Cortlandt Village at 3880 Sedgwick Ave., on Friday, June 27, from 9:30 to 11 a.m. For more information, call (212) METROCARD.
Emergency Responder Training
Community Board 7 is recruiting residents to become part of the NYC Office of Emergency Management Community Response Team. Members receive training in fire safety, light search and rescue, terrorism awareness, disaster medical operations and mental health education. To apply or for more information, call (718) 933-5650.
Blood Donor Shortage
The New York Blood Center has recently experienced a shortage and is seeking blood donors. To schedule an appointment at any of the New York Blood Center locations in the Bronx and Hudson Valley visit www.nybloodcenter.org, or call (800) 933-BLOOD (2566).
Farmer’s Market
The North Central Bronx Hospital and Harvest Home Farmer’s Market, Inc. are opening a new farmer’s market on the east side of the park below the Moshulu Parkway Station on the #4 line. The market will operate every Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., from July 9 through mid-November. Vendors will feature fresh produce from regional farmers, as well as baked goods and specialty items. For more information, call Mike Heller at (718) 918-3826.
Prenatal Care Assistance Program
The Prenatal Care Assistance Program (PCAP) is now available for pregnant Bronx women and teens who meet income guidelines. The program, offered by the Montefiore Medical Center and the State Department of Health, provides medical care during pregnancy, delivery, and for at least two months after delivery. The program is available at the Family Health Center (FHC). 360 E. 193rd St.; Comprehensive Health Care Center (CHCC), 305 E. 161st St.; and Comprehensive Family Care Center (CFCC), 1621 Eastchester Rd. For more information, call (718) 933-2400, (718) 579-2500, or (718) 405-8040.
Youth Tennis Program
The New York Junior Tennis League’s free annual summer youth program continues for children and teenagers aged 6 to 18. All children are welcome, and tennis rackets and balls will be provided. The Program is held Monday through Friday, (through August 22) at Crotona Park, East 173rd Street and Crotona Avenue, Co-op City Youth Tennis Center (Donizetti Place, near MS 181) and Kennedy High School, 99 Terrace View Ave., from 9 a.m. to noon. The program will also be held at the Bronx International Youth Tennis Center, 754 Thieriot Ave. from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit www.nyjtl.org, or call (347) 417-8157.
Bedford Park Church Lawn Party
The Bedford Park Congregational Church, located at the corner of 201st Street and Bainbridge Avenue, will host a Lawn Party on Sunday, August 10th, 2008, at 1 p.m. All are invited for food, raffles, fun and fellowship. Admission is $10 for adults and $3 for children. For more information, contact Reverend Christopher Ponnuraj at (718) 367-8996.
Fresh Air Camps Registration
The Fresh Air Fund is registering inner-city children ages 6 to 12 from low-income communities a chance to experience the country at one of five Fresh Air camps or with a volunteer host family. For a referral to a participating agency or for more information about the program, call (212) 897-8900 or (800) 367-0003, or visit www.freshair.org.
Safety and Preparedness Classes
The American Red Cross in Greater New York will offer classes in CPR and the use of AED. Three sessions will meet in August: Adult, on Friday August 8 from 1 to 6 p.m. and Saturday, August 23 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., $65 online registration. Adult with CPR for Child/Infant, on Thursday, August 14 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., $90 registration online. Child and CPR – Infant, on Friday August 22, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., $75 online registration.
Couples Needed for Research
The Albert Einstein College of Medicine is looking for healthy, monogamous couples of at least six months to participate in a research study in preventing sexually transmitted infections. Males will have three visits, females on hormonal contraception will have four visits; there will be monetary reimbursement. For more information, call Julie at (718) 430-3253.
Research Patients Needed
The Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center are looking for women ages 18 to 50 with a vaginal herpes blister or sore to undergo a gynecologic exam for a research study. A free, confidential screening will determine eligibility. Participants need to attend 3 visits in 2 weeks, and monetary reimbursement will be given for each visit. For more information, contact Julie at (718) 430-3253, or Tara at (718) 430-3061 or e-mail Microbicide@aecom.yu.edu.
English, Civics and Computer Classes
Mosholu Montefiore Community Center offers free English as a Second Language classes (ESL), and civics and computer classes Monday through Saturdays. To apply, visit the Center at 3450 DeKalb Ave. (corner of Gun Hill Road). For more information, call (718) 882-4000, ext. 216.
Summer Camps at Community Center
The Mosholu Montefiore Community Center is offering summer sports day camps. The City Sports Camp teaches skills in baseball, soccer, field hockey, volleyball, kickball, flag football. Boys and girls entering 3rd through 8th grades in September can sign up for a 2-week session, a 4-week session, or a 6-week session. Karate Camp, taught by Luis Morales, head Sensei at the Center, takes place on Mondays through Wednesdays and Fridays from 12 to 5 p.m. for boys and girls entering 1st through 8th grades. For more information and free brochures, call the Mosholu Montefiore Community Center at (718) 882-4000. Swim Camp for youth ages 5 to 16 takes place at Fordham University on Monday through Thursday mornings. For more information, call Fordham’s head swim coach Steve Plotsklan at (718) 817-4256.
Pre-K and Kindergarten Registration
Registration for Pre-K and kindergarten at PS/MS 20 is currently underway. To pick up an application for Pre-K or to register for kindergarten, go to the school’s main office from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Mondays through Thursdays. For more information and a list of kindergarten registration requirements, call Mrs. Ryan in the main office at (718) 515-9370.
Foster Parents Urgently Needed
The Foster Care Network urgently needs adults who want to become foster parents for the hundreds of area children who need a home. For more information, call (800) 454-3727 ext. 110.
ESL and GED Classes
Fordham Manor Reformed Church is offering free ESL and GED classes at its building on 2705 Reservoir Ave. The ESL classes will be held on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. GED classes are on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The ESL class requires a 15-minute test for enrollment. A longer three-hour test is necessary to take part in the GED class. For more information, call (718) 796-4980 ext. 16.
Free GED and Computer Classes
The State University of New York’s North Bronx Career Center located off of Eastchester Road is offering free day and evening classes for the GED and Business Office Technology to prepare for the GED exam or to learn basic to advanced skills in Windows XO, Vista, Word, Excel, and Power Point. Job readiness training is also available. All students must meet state income and academic guidelines. For more information, call (718) 547-1001.
GED Program for Out of School Youth
The New Options Program and Young Adult Internship Program are offering General Equivalency Diploma classes to 16-21-year-olds who are working and no longer in school. The program also offers vocational job training and full placements with stipends.
The program takes place at the Educational Counseling Center, 3512 DeKalb Ave. For more information, call (718) 652-0282.
Housing and Job Help
National Student Partnerships provides free help with job searches, housing searches, education, job training, resume-writing, childcare and legal services. There are no eligibility requirements. NSP is located at 2715 Bainbridge Ave. at East 196th Street. Call (718) 733-3897 to set up an appointment. You do not need to be a student to obtain services. Se habla espanol.
Foreign Exchange Students Need Hosts
The Pacific Intercultural Exchange is seeking host families for foreign high school students who are arriving soon. Prospective host families can review student applications and select the perfect match. Interested parties should contact the program immediately. Call toll-free, (866) 546-1402.
AFS, the leading international high school student exchange program, also needs local families to host high school students for an academic year or six months. Students arrive in August. AFS is also looking for volunteer liaisons to work locally with families and their hosted students. Anyone interested in hosting or volunteering should visit www.afs.org/usa/hostfamily or call 1-800-AFS-INFO.
FTC Materials Available
The Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) has Federal Trade Commission (FTC) materials on credit acquisition and protection available to the public or for groups. To obtain copies of any of these materials, call Mr. Kathryn Speller at (718) 365-0910, ext. 133. Materials may be picked up at the CAB office, 2054 Morris Ave., Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call to schedule a pick-up. Materials may also be sent by mail upon request. For more information, visit www.cabny.org, or call (718) 365-0910 ext. 122.
Alzheimer’s Caregiver Support Group
The Alzheimer’s Association’s New York City chapter provides a support group for Spanish and English speaking caregivers who have relatives with Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia in Norwood. The support group meets the first and third Wednesdays of the month from 5 to 6:15 p.m. For exact location or more information, call Mark Goodwin at (718) 920- 7377.
Free Programs for Cancer Patients
The Albert Einstein Cancer Center is offering two free research programs for patients with cancer. The Yoga-Based Cancer Rehabilitation Program includes 12 weeks of yoga classes as part of a research study to see if yoga can help patients with breast, lung and colorectal cancer. The Mind-Body Cancer Program includes eight weeks of mind-body groups as a part of a research study for patients with most types of cancer. Some restrictions may apply and both programs are taking place in the Bronx. For more information or to find out if you are eligible, call (718)-430-2380.
Food Drive
The Riverdale-Yonkers Society for Ethical Culture is seeking canned food donations to benefit the Kingsbridge-Riverdale-Marble Hill Food and Hunger Project, Inc. Please leave only non-perishable food donations at the Society, 4450 Fieldston Road, Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. For more information, call (718) 548-4445.
Red Cross Classes
The American Red Cross in Greater New York is offering CPR and AED (Automated External defibrillator) classes, held in the Bronx at 2082 White Plains Road. Adult CPR/AED classes will be held on Friday, August 8th from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturday, August 23rd from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Adult with CPR for Child/Infant classes will be held on Thursday, August 14th from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Infant CPR classes will be held on Friday, August 22nd. Class prices range from $65 to $95. For more information and to register, call 1-800-514-5103, or visit www.nyredcross.org.
Out & About
July 10, 2008
By Judy Noy
Onstage
- Lehman College’s Center for the Performing Arts hosts A Night of International Salsa! featuring Grupo Niche, Ismael Miranda and Jose Alberto “El Canario,” July 12 at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $40 to $55. The Center is located at 250 Bedford Park Blvd. W. For more information, call (718) 960-8833.
- The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation is back again this year with Barefoot Dancing 2008, free dance instruction and live music at the Van Cortlandt Park House Museum’s Lawn, Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Ramon Ponce’s Mariachi Real de Mexico performs accompanied by Mexican food from Santa Fe Grill on July 23 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Bring your own chair or blanket to Broadway at West 246th Street. For more information, call (718) 430-1890.
- The Bronx Library Center hosts Afro-Puerto Rican Music and Dance featuring BombaBoricua, July 12 at 2:30 p.m. and Ivo Tirado, Jr. and the Latin Jazz Element Sextet featuring rhythms from Latin America, Africa, and American classical jazz, July 19 at 2:30 p.m. The Center is located at 310 E. Kingsbridge Rd. off Fordham Road. For a detailed schedule, call (718) 579-4244/46 or visit www.nypl.org.
- As part of its free first Friday events, the Bronx Museum of the Arts at 1040 Grand Concourse at 165th Street presents Harlem on My Mind: A Celebration of Jazz, Swing, and Tap Jams. On July 11, from 6 to 10 p.m. in the Museum’s South Wing Lower Gallery, enjoy the 17-piece Ray Abrams Big Swing Band and tap and swing dancers of Hoofers House. For more information, call (718) 681-6000 ext. 120.
- Wave Hill, located at 675 W. 252nd St., hosts Midday Music, a free lunchtime series. Krista Bennion Feeney performs Bach’s D minor Partita for solo violin on July 16, and pianist Assaf Weisman performs works of Brahms and Debussy on July 23. Both are at 12:30 p.m. in the Wave Hill House. For more information, call (718) 549-3200.
Events
- Saint Ann’s Church at 3519 Bainbridge Ave. holds flea markets, Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during July and August, starting July 11. For more information, call (718) 547-9350.
- Wave Hill offers up two family art projects, Rainbow Feathers of Clay, to sketch and model a clay relief of birds on July 12 and 13; and Fishy Fun, to enjoy the Aquatic Garden goldfish and make 3-D fish on July 19 and 20. Both are in the Kerlin Learning Center from 1 to 4 p.m. Families can also attend Story, Movement and Song, to hear nature stories and participate in children’s activities for ages 4 to 10 on July 15 and 22 from 11 a.m. to noon in the Perkins Visitor Center. Wave Hill is located at 675 W. 252nd St. For more information, call (718) 549-3200.
- The Bronx River Art Center offers free art classes, 10 a.m. to noon and 2 to 4 p.m., July 7 to Aug. 15, for ages 5 to 21. Fee-based classes for adults, school groups and community-based organizations are also available from 6 to 8 p.m. The Center is located at 1087 E. Tremont Ave. For more information, call (718) 589-5819 ext. 15.
- The New York Botanical Garden’s Tulip Tree Allee hosts its Farmers Market, Wednesdays through Oct. 29, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It offers seasonal produce, home-baked goods and natural products from New York State farmers and merchants. There will be free demonstrations and educational and fun programs from noon to 2 p.m. on the first and last Wednesday of each month. The Garden is located at Bronx River Parkway and Fordham Road. For more information, call (718) 817-8700.
Exhibits
- Take a peek into the story of Freedomland – New York City’s Disneyland, through Oct. 19, at the Valentine-Varian House or Museum of Bronx History. The exhibition tells the story of the American History-themed amusement park opened in 1960 on the 205-acre site now home to Bay Plaza and Co-op City. The museum is located at 3266 Bainbridge Ave. at East 208th Street. For more information, call (718) 881-8900.
- Inspired by the Feminist Movement, the Bronx Museum of the Arts explores women artists working collectively in new ways in Making It Together: Women’s Collaborative Art and Community through Aug. 4. Also on view at the museum is Teen Council Presents: Jamel Shabazz through July 27 in the North Wing. The museum is located at 1040 Grand Concourse at 165th Street and is open Thursday through Monday from noon to 6 p.m. and Friday to 8 p.m. For more information, call (718) 681-6000.
- The Bronx Museum of the Arts features How Soon Is Now? with artwork by participants in Artist in the Marketplace through Aug. 18. (Closing reception on Aug. 15 runs from 6 to 8 p.m.) Accompanying the exhibition is AIM28 Talk, with Claire Barliant on the ways in which artists have successfully used the art market to promote awareness of issues and critique society, on July 13 from 1 to 3 p.m. in the North Wing, 2nd floor, free with museum admission. The museum is located at 1040 Grand Concourse at 165th Street and is open Thursday through Monday from noon to 6 p.m. and Friday to 8 p.m. For more information, call (718) 681-6000.
- The New York Botanical Garden presents “Moore in America,” featuring approximately 20 pieces of installation pieces by Henry Moore, through Nov. 2. Children can create works of art, including a collage and clay sculptures, in the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden, Tuesdays through Fridays from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. For more information, call (718) 817-8700.
Learning
The Bronx Library Center has events for all ages:
- For children and preschoolers, there is Family Time, July 12 at 11 a.m.; Minibeast Costume Party, July 12 at 3 p.m.; Summer Reading Club Meetings, July 14 and 21 at noon; films, July 16 and 23 at 2 p.m.; and Once Upon a Storytime, July 22 at 3 p.m.
- Also, for school-aged children, there is Bookmark Buddies, July 10 at 3 p.m.; On Top of Spaghetti, July 14 at 3 p.m.; Don’t Bug Me: I’m Reading, July 16 and 23 at 4 p.m.; Bug Scientists, July 15 at 3 p.m.; Breeze Catcher Craft, July 17 at 3 p.m.; Bee-utiful or Bugly: Make an Insect, July 24 at 3 p.m.; Favorites From the Treasure Chest: Storytelling and Puppets, July 19 at 2 p.m.; and Diary of a …, July 21 at 3 p.m.
- Young adults can attend Game On: Madden ’08 Tournament, July 14 and 21 at 3 p.m.; and Fierce & Fabulous: Fashion Design, July 10, 17 and 24 at 4 p.m.
- For adults, there is Adult Book Discussion: Their Eyes Were Watching G-d, July 16 at 3 p.m.; and Chapter One Reading Series, presented by the Bronx Writers Center, July 19 and 26 at noon.
The Center is located at 310 E. Kingsbridge Rd. off Fordham Road. For a detailed schedule, call (718) 579-4244/46 or visit www.nypl.org. This branch will be closed Tuesday, July 29.
- The Mosholu Library presents Summer Fun Days, July 16 and 23 at 2:30 p.m.; Toddler Time, July 10 and 24 at 10:30 a.m.; and Scorpions, July 22 at 3 p.m. The library is located at 285 E. 205th St. For more information, call (718) 882-8239.
- The Jerome Park Library at 118 Eames Place, hosts Katcha and the Devil and Other Czechoslovak Tales, July 15 at 3 p.m.; and Little Red Riding Hood, July 22 at 4 p.m., both for children; and Summer Reading: Metamorphosis, July 10, 17 and 24 at 4 p.m. for young adults. For more information, call (718) 549-5200.
NOTE: Items for consideration should be received in our office by July 14 for the next publication date of July 24.
New Housing Project Assures School’s Future
July 10, 2008
By Alex Kratz
The Ursuline Sisters of Bedford Park are once again using land to fuel their mission of service.
Back in 1892, the Sisters acquired a plot of farmland in northwest Bronx County, an area now known as Bedford Park. They kept some of the crops on the land and sold them to provide for the all-girls high school they had started, The Academy at Mt. St. Ursula.
Now the Sisters are using their underutilized land for another purpose that will subsidize the Academy: the creation of a 240-unit affordable senior housing complex called Serviam Gardens. “Serviam” is the motto of Ursuline-led schools worldwide. It means “I will serve” in Latin.
The money from leasing the property will go directly back into the school, helping keep tuition affordable for local students in the future.
“Essentially, this is a huge piece of property in the Bronx,” said Sister Superior Pascal Conforti. “And as the neighborhood changed [becoming more low-income], we realized we needed to do this in order to subsidize tuition for our students.” It was either that, she said, or raise tuition and possibly price out prospective Bronx students.
The Academy predates the Sisters’ move to Bedford Park and boasts that 98 percent of its graduates go on to higher education.
Last week, on a beautiful Wednesday morning, the Sisters, along with their development partners and new tenants, the nonprofit group Fordham Bedford Housing Corporation, which will lease and manage the new building with financial help from several government programs, held a belated groundbreaking ceremony for the project that amounted to more of a victory celebration.
“We’re not going to try and fool you into thinking this a groundbreaking,” said Fordham Bedford Executive Director John Reilly, pointing to the giant hole already in the ground where the new building will soon be constructed.
But Reilly and others did unveil one of the cornerstones for Serviam Gardens and several stakeholders spoke about the importance and “groundbreaking” nature of the project.
The $65.6-million project is one of three in the entire country to use a complex public and private financing package that included money from both federal and city housing programs. One of the others is a new outpatient building for Morris Heights Health Center (the other is a project in Seattle).
Initially, Fordham Bedford used money from the New York City Acquisition Fund, a program set up in 2006 to help nonprofit groups buy private land to preserve affordable housing, to lease the land from the Ursuline Sisters. (The acquisition fund is managed by the city’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development [HPD] and was funded partly by Enterprise, a national nonprofit with a heavy focus on creating and preserving affordable housing.) To supplement the city funds, Fordham Bedford used federal tax credits from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) low-income senior housing program.
The Bronx borough president’s office also contributed $2 million for the project.
Getting both city and federal agencies to work together was a victory in and of itself, said HPD Commissioner Shaun Donovan. “Each institution has different rules and regulations and they often don’t jibe,” he said. “It’s a real challenge, but I think we found the sweet spot,” meaning the right combination of available land, affordable housing programs and federal tax credits.
In his remarks, Donovan quoted both Howard Cossell and Martin Luther King, Jr. in talking about how important projects like Serviam Gardens are to the city and the Bronx specifically. He called the Ursuline Sisters’ efforts “miraculous” and spoke about the “blessed” nature of the project. Donovan said the city is halfway to Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s 2003 pledge to create 165,000 new units of affordable housing in New York City.
Like all of Fordham Bedford’s new developments, Serviam Gardens will be built with the environment in mind. Some of the eco-friendly elements include a “green” roof, energy efficient electronics and appliances, insulated windows and bamboo flooring.
Low-income senior tenants for the building will be chosen from an upcoming lottery. Serviam Gardens should be completed and open for tenants by October 2009.
In an interview following the ceremony, Sister Conforti summed up the Ursuline thinking behind the project, saying, “The idea [for leasing the land] was not a mission to make money, but to use money for the mission.”
Thanks for My Bronx
July 10, 2008
By None
In the Bronx
the sky is much wider
and one can always see the stars
or watch the sun go down
bedaubed in copper and saffron.
In the Bronx
a sleepy lump of isle
breathes the brine of the bay
into your lungs, and lulls
your being with the sights
and the sounds
of a New England town.
In the Bronx,
against all odds,
a primeval forest stands
eternal
and a resurrected river
cleanses
its muddy banks
for the March of Kayaks
and Canoes
and yellow water-ribbons.
-by Carmen D. Lucca
The Case for Small Businesses in Tough Times
July 10, 2008
By None
By Peter Mintz
Believe it or not, a recession, slowdown, downturn, or whatever you want to call our sluggish economy, can be a blessing in disguise for a well-managed small business. Though no one would prefer the present economic climate, weathering the current storm may be the best thing that can happen to many small companies because it can give them an opportunity to test the value of their products and services, and the effectiveness and resilience of the strategies they have developed at a time when they are forced by the oppressive market economy to be flexible.
Among the biggest ongoing challenges for small business is competition with larger organizations that generally have access to more resources. While this competition may seem formidable during good times, when economic times are hard, large companies also have to deal with reduced demand, higher fuel prices and the need to cut costs in order to maintain profits, or at least survive. In addition, larger companies usually have much more difficult labor situations, including union pressures, employment contracts and other social and community pressures that prohibit them from maneuvering as they might prefer to keep costs and the residual sagging profits in line. In many cases, these are issues that small companies don’t necessarily have to deal with, or at least not to the same degree. Without a doubt, innovative small business owners have greater flexibility to make alterations in their employment structures and economic underpinnings to keep their ship afloat.
Well-managed small companies may also be able to offer out-of-the-box thinking and solutions to specific tough-times issues. For instance, in this less robust economy, one of my clients who manufactures machines that fill small bottles could not get an equipment order from the manufacturer of over-the-counter pharmaceutical products because of a tightened capital budget. Instead, we came up with the concept of having the filler company set up a filling operation on its own premises. This solution helped both companies streamline their operations, establish new business relationships, and ultimately a stronger contract between the two companies. The result of this new-found process is a new business and profit center for the filler, and a cost-effective secondary source for the pharmaceutical company.
Consider that if two large companies had attempted a merger of this sort, the nightmare of extensive feasibility studies and complex procedural approval policies, not to mention the myriad union obligations to be addressed, would probably have short-circuited the entire concept very quickly.
Despite exaggerated media focus on the conglomerates, it is the resilience of small companies and their ability to adapt and potentially place themselves in an even stronger position for future growth that provides a strong counter-measure for our ailing economy.
The key point is that in this economy, small businesses needn’t hide under the covers or worse, close up shop. They should recognize that well-run small companies have the ability to change and adapt more quickly and despite smaller resources, have more options than many of their larger competitors. In difficult times, when all companies, large and small, may need to make crucial decisions which can often be unpleasant, the ingenious application of the little guy’s versatility may be the difference between surviving or not.
Peter Mintz is a management professor in the Monroe College MBA program with a specialty in Finance. He is also the founder and president of Fleetwood Research, which provides investment research and analysis for small companies.
Circular Firing Line at Armory?
July 10, 2008
By Editorial
Fourteen years after the National Guard handed the city its keys to the Kingsbridge Armory, we are finally at a point where something positive may happen there.
A developer has been selected, the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition is tenaciously fighting to make sure that its priorities are realized in the final plan, and a newly invigorated Community Board 7 is taking seriously the advisory role given it by the City Charter.
This is great news. But we hope these two community entities can maintain a united front despite apparent tensions.
The Coalition wants the Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment Alliance (KARA), an umbrella group it formed, to negotiate a solid community benefits agreement with the developer, The Related Companies. Community Board 7 chair Greg Faulkner has requested that there be Board participation on KARA’s negotiating team. The Coalition has rejected that request and has generally not shown interest in working with the Board.
We understand why the Coalition would want to forge ahead on its own. It has invested probably hundreds of thousands of dollars (from hard-to-raise foundation grants) in its decade-long community organizing campaign to develop a community-focused blueprint for the Armory, not to mention the sweat equity of organizing meetings, rallies, and visioning sessions. It’s only because of the Coalition that the city ever considered putting two schools behind the facility.
But shutting the door on CB7 is counter-productive. The Board has already met with Related and is scheduled to look at initial drawings next week. And Related, a seasoned player in city development politics, will exploit any split to get the best deal for itself, which won’t be the best deal for the community. (Just see the kind of weak “community benefits” agreement Related negotiated at the Gateway Center project in the south Bronx.)
So, we see two possible paths ahead:
One is that the Coalition and the Community Board agree to tag-team. The Coalition and KARA can push hard for its priorities with Related and strike the best deal they can. Then Community Board 7 can further shape and improve Related’s proposal when the land use review known as ULURP kicks in. CB7 will be the first stop for ULURP before it heads to the City Council. Their approval is not required but it won’t look good for Related if CB7 opposes the plan. In other words, this is a critical role in and of itself.
The other possibility is that CB7 and the Coalition agree on priorities and present a united front. The only sticking point may be around a potential supermarket at the armory. Faulkner and others on the Board want one. KARA opposes a new supermarket because the retail workers union, which fears a large armory market won’t be unionized, is a member of KARA, as is the owner of the Associated Supermarket across the street. But CB7 and KARA seem to agree on everything else like the need for good jobs with good pay and community space.
Related would like to work only with the Community Board because they know how to do that and because they aren’t required to consult with community organizations.
The Coalition can cut off Related’s path of least resistance and have the best chance at the best deal, by involving the Board in their efforts or just by coordinating efforts with them.
The Coalition and the Community Board are different. One is a grassroots organization and the latter is a government entity appointed by elected officials. So obviously their approaches will be different.
But their members all live in and care about the same community, they both have legitimate roles to play, and, most importantly, they seem to share most priorities.
So, for the good of all, we hope they stop jockeying for control and start playing on the same team.
Crime Down, But Drugs, Graffiti Persist
July 10, 2008
By Alex Kratz
At a recent meeting of the 52nd Precinct Community Council, Deputy Inspector James Alles, the Precinct’s commanding officer, announced that, unlike the rest of New York City, crime is down in the Five-Two in the first half of 2008.
Compared to last year, murder is down 57 percent (three this year, down from seven last year), rape 23.5 percent (13, down from 17 last year), and car thefts 25.4 percent (114, down from 153). Grand larceny, the theft of more than $250 in property, is the only crime category on the rise (up to 324 this year, from 312 last year).
By comparison, murders are up 23.2 percent boroughwide (69 murders this year, up from 56 last year) and 8.2 percent citywide (250 murders this year, up from 231 last year).
It’s a complete turnaround from last year, when Alles, then just months into his new post at the 52nd Precinct, was grappling with a sharp uptick in violent crime, including several shooting incidents.
Still, residents at the meeting complained that graffiti and open drug dealing remain huge problems in certain neighborhoods. Alles said the 52nd Precinct leads the Bronx in both graffiti and drug busts, but that it’s impossible for them to completely stop either practice.
“We are not going to eliminate drugs, but what we will do is try to minimize it,” Alles said.
He also warned that, with summer coming, crime traditionally picks up along with the heat. The Five-Two will gain 24 new cops from the most recent class of Police Academy graduates, but may lose a big chunk of its current crop of 70 rookies who were patrolling the Precinct’s Impact Zones. —Alex Kratz
Rapid Bus Line Premieres on Fordham Road
July 10, 2008
By Stephen Baron
The new Select Bus Service Bx12 bus with the blue flashing lights, teal wave and polka dot seats pulled into Nadine Evans’ bus stop on Pelham Parkway.
A transit worker showed her how to dip her MetroCard in a fare collecting machine at the bus stop, and she boarded with the receipt. After getting off on Fordham Road at the Grand Concourse, the 25-year-old Pelham Bay resident argued with her friends over the new “bus rapid transit” line.
For Evans, the ride took the same amount of time as the local Bx12 since the bus had to wait for people to pay the fare. “It’s not worth it if it doesn’t cut down on travel time,” Evans said.
The express-style Select Bus Service Bx12 line began on June 29. It replaces the Bx12 Limited and will complement the local Bx12 along a popular seven-mile stretch that travels from the Bay Plaza Shopping Center in Co-Op City (and Orchard Beach in the summer) to 207th and Broadway in Manhattan.
Transit officials expect the new bus line to be a surface version of an express subway route at a fraction of the cost, thanks to a number of boarding and travel innovations. The $10 million line is funded between Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) and the city and state Departments of Transportation.
Transit officials expect the new bus line to cut travel time by 20 percent.
To speed up boarding time, riders pay the $2 fare beforehand by either dipping a MetroCard or by paying with coins (bills are not accepted) using machines at each bus stop. As part of an honor system, riders will take their fare receipt on board. Randomly placed inspectors will give a $100 penalty for riders who don’t produce a receipt upon request.
To speed up travel time, buses are equipped with radio signals that make green lights turn earlier or last longer. There are also 40 percent fewer stops and bus-only traffic lanes.
Transit officials are heralding the new bus line as an innovative way to reduce traffic congestion, air pollution and subway congestion.
“Our bus system is something like a sleeping giant,” said Elliot G. Sander, the MTA’s CEO at a press conference on June 30. “For so many years it has been in the shadows. Well, no more.”
Fordham Road is the first route to get the Select Bus Service. The MTA expects to start similar lines in other boroughs in the near future, according to its Web site.
Most riders at the Fordham Plaza stop were confused about the new fare collection system and did not know they had to ask the bus driver for a transfer. Transit workers at the stops will give assistance until July 13, said James Anyansi, a spokesman for New York City Transit.
Public and Community Meetings
July 10, 2008
By None
• A public hearing on resident concerns about blasting at Jerome Park Reservoir will be held on Tuesday, July 15 from 6:30 to 8: 30 p.m. at Lehman College, 250 Bedford Park Blvd West. For more information, call (718) 933-5650.
• Community Board 7 will hold a Community Stakeholders meeting to discuss plans for the New Kingsbridge Armory on Wednesday, July 16 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Lehman College, 250 Bedford Park Blvd. West. For more information, call (718) 933-5650.
• Community Education Council District 10 will meet at 6:15 p.m. on Tuesday, July 15 at PS 37, 260 W. 230th St. The topic will be state test results for English and Math. For more information, call (718) 741-5836.
• The Bronx County Green Party Convention and Summer Festival will take place Sunday, July 13, starting at noon. For more information, call (718) 652-2110.
• The Croton Facility Monitoring Committee will not meet until August at the earliest. For more information, call (718) 231-8470.
Kennedy Star Dies Playing Game He Loved
July 10, 2008
By Tony Richards
Andre Davidson, Jr., a former basketball star at John F. Kennedy High School, died Saturday doing what he loved.
Davidson, known to loved ones as “Pop,” collapsed during a basketball game at St. Mary’s Recreation Center in the Mott Haven section of the south Bronx. He was only 18 years old, and had graduated from Kennedy High only days earlier.
The cause of death is unknown at this time. Davidson’s family is in the process of planning funeral services, expected to take place later this week.
“He was a very free spirited young man who was always trying to help somebody,” said Davidson’s mother, Nicole Givens.
“Me and him was the best of friends,” said Brandon Givens, Davidson’s brother as he sat on the steps outside the Highbridge-area home where he and Davidson lived with their great grandmother, Rhoda Lewis. “We loved each other. We were close together, closer than anybody.”
Brandon, who just completed junior high school at IS 229 in Morris Heights, will attend Kennedy High School next fall. Like his brother, he plans to excel on the school’s basketball squad. And, also like his brother, he plans to wear number 23. —Tony Richards
Additional reporting by David Greene.
City Restores School Funding
July 10, 2008
By Graham Kates
Despite economic worries, every New York City school will start the 2008-2009 school year with at least as much funding as last year.
The city’s Capital Budget for Fiscal Year 2009 became a source of controversy when Mayor Michael Bloomberg proposed a plan that included cuts of up to 6 percent from some of the city’s top performing schools. That would have included two schools in the Norwood News coverage area, Bronx High School of Science and High School of American Studies at Lehman College.
After negotiations between members of the City Council and the mayor’s office, legislators salvaged a budget that will preserve education and library funding. “The City Council made a promise to restore as much funding to our classrooms as we possibly could,” said Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn, adding, “We lived up to that promise, eliminating $129 million in cuts that would have been devastating for teachers and students around the city.”
The new budget included a new $12 million Middle School grant initiative, in which 200 of the city’s highest need middle schools will be able to receive funding to implement one or more of the Department of Education’s recommendations for improvement.
In addition, $7 million was allocated for funding English Language Learner (ELL) programs in schools with the highest rates of ELL students.
“I am pleased that the Council vigorously opposed cuts to education, and was successful in protecting our classrooms,” said Council Member Oliver Koppell.
Koppell also announced that his office received $4 million in Capital discretionary funds, which he plans to give to various local schools and parks for upgrades and beautification.
Pols Question Yankee Stadium Financing
July 10, 2008
By Stephen Baron
State lawmakers and fiscal watchdog groups booed the lack of transparency in the New York Yankees’ recent request for nearly half a billion dollars in additional public funding for the construction of the new Yankee Stadium.
At a hearing on July 2, Assemblyman Richard Brodsky (D-Westchester), grilled the city on how the Yankees have spent the first billion dollars granted to them and why the Yankees want more money. He came away with few answers.
With the Yankees threatening to relocate in 2006, the city’s Economic Development Corporation (EDC) granted the Yankees $942 million in tax-exempt bonds for the $1.3 billion stadium. Elected officials did not vote on the financing.
Now the Yankees — who did not testify at the hearing — are in the process of requesting another $350 to $400 million in tax-exempt bonds, but did not say why.
“Nobody knows enough information yet on where the money would go,” Brodsky said in a phone interview. “I don’t know if I would support it or not.”
This was the first time that details of how the Yankees spent the first billion dollars were made public, and they were not pretty. According to Brodsky and other assemblymen, EDC President Seth Pinsky said the Yankees plan on creating only 15 new full-time jobs at the new stadium, down significantly from what the team initially predicted. And less than 10 percent of construction contracts have gone to Bronx companies.
The EDC could not provide details on why the Yankees requested the additional funding.
However, Yankees COO Lonn Trost told the Associated Press in February that the additional financing would pay for a six-story-high scoreboard and expanded concessions.
“I’m not convinced of the greater public benefit,” Assemblyman Ruben Diaz, Jr. (D-Bronx) said in a phone interview. “The Bronx has not gotten what it bargained for, with less than 10 percent of contracts going to Bronx companies. Job creation has fallen [below] expectations.”
Brodsky and Diaz, Jr. hope to hold future hearings on the issue. Assemblyman Brian Kavanagh (D-Manhattan) has proposed a bill that would require affordable seats in any new publicly-funded professional sports stadium in the state.
Farmers Market Debuts in Norwood
July 10, 2008
By Emma Jacobs
Two years in the making, a new farmers market opened in Norwood on July 9.
Pedestrians and commuters will find fresh produce and baked goods every Wednesday at the southwest corner of West Mosholu Parkway North and Jerome Avenue through mid-November.
Maritza Owens, owner and operator of Harvest Home Farmers Market, Inc., which will run the market, said she “wanted to start small” in Norwood, but hopes the market will grow.
Harvest Home operates six markets in the Bronx, including one in partnership with Jacobi Medical Center. Michael Heller of the North Bronx Healthcare Network said the Jacobi market’s success produced “a clamor to bring a farmers market to the central Bronx.”
Owens found a space in Norwood with help from Hannah Nelson and Barbara Rosado of the healthcare network, and Dart Westphal of Mosholu Preservation Corporation. MPC, publisher of the Norwood News, is a not-for-profit support corporation of Montefiore Medical Center, which has long advocated for a local market.
Owens’ newest farmers market joins others she help set up in Poe Park and at The New York Botanical Garden.
The market will offer fresh vegetables from Migliorelli Farms in Rhinebeck and fruit and juices from Red Jacket Orchards in Geneva. Later this month, Bread Alone will begin offering a variety of organic breads. A fourth producer may be recruited later this summer.
Heller said he hopes the market will serve the hospital and the community. “The Jacobi and North Central Bronx hospitals are strongly in favor of healthy eating,” he said, adding that the market is “a part of their health information mission.”
The city’s Health Department has reported limited access to fresh produce in low-income neighborhoods and has thrown its support behind farmers markets to help make up the nutrition gap.
Coupons from the city’s Health Bucks program and the New York State Farmers Market Nutrition Program will be accepted at the new market, making healthy choices for locals easier.
Owens downplayed fears the market will compete with local businesses. In her experience, farmers markets have helped neighborhood businesses and she said local retailers often end up buying wholesale from her markets’ farmers. “I think it’s going to have a great impact on the neighborhood,” she said.
“I hope it will help the farmers, the customers and the businesses on Jerome Avenue,” Westphal said.
Ed. note: The Norwood farmers market will operate Wednesdays, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the southwest corner of Mosholu Parkway North and Jerome Avenue. The Botanical Garden Market operates Wednesdays, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Mosholu Parkway and Kazimiroff Boulevard.
Vandalism Shuts Oval Rec Center
July 10, 2008
By Alex Kratz
On a recent Sunday morning, the Williamsbridge Oval Park Recreation Center looked like the victim of a hurricane spewing brightly-colored paint. The previous night, someone, or some people, had broken into the Center and completely trashed the place.
And they weren’t done. The next night, they, or someone else (a copycat criminal, perhaps), broke in again and threw paint all over the Center’s computer room.
The vandalism, which happened between Saturday night, June 28 and Monday morning, June 30, completely shut down the Center, a social and recreational hub for local youth and adults, for three days while the Parks Department worked to clean up the mess.
Drawers and shelves inside the Center were ransacked. A concrete stairway to the side of the building and even some of the surrounding flower beds were covered with paint. For a while, it was uncertain if the computers would function after being splattered with paint.
Fortunately, the damage turned out to be mostly superficial and by Monday there was little trace of the vandalism. (Though sticky with paint residue, the computers were up and running on Monday.) Still, the incident angered local residents.
“It’s heartbreaking,” said Annette Melendez, an area resident for 25 years. “[My three kids] haven’t even gone to the park since it happened. That’s not what you want your kids to see when they go to the park.”
Melendez said her neighbors heard raucous activity going on in the park until 4 a.m. Sunday morning the night the center was vandalized.
A couple of park staffers who spoke to the Norwood News on the condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to speak to the press, said whoever did the damage on the first night, entered through a second floor door, which was left open and is easily accessible from the Oval’s upper track level. On the second night, the vandals broke in by prying off a metal window guard near the computer room.
There were some graffiti tags on the windows that read: “NOS.” One park staffer was told by local youth that NOS meant “New Old School,” but they didn’t know who did it.
The Parks Department is nearly “powerless” to stop vandals from gaining access to the Center, said one park staffer, unless a fence is put up around the balcony area. The staffer said vandalism in general is “demoralizing” to park employees, but hurts the countless local residents who rely on the Center.
“We are fully cooperating with NYPD to heighten security presence in this area,” said Parks spokesperson Jesslyn Tiao in an e-mail. “We have installed a new security system, secured gates with additional chains and locks, and increased Parks Enforcement Patrol on site.” She added that the Parks Department needed local residents to report suspicious behavior at parks to either 311 or 911.
By press time, the Police Department did not respond to requests for more information about the incident.
Students Secure ‘Pathways’ to Future
July 10, 2008
By Stephen Baron
Students and teachers at an East Tremont program for high school dropouts rejoiced on the last day of classes after learning their school, slated to close after graduation, would stay open for another year.
The Department of Education (DOE) sent out a notice on June 25 that the Individual Pathways program, which allows dropouts from Walton High School in Kingsbridge Heights to earn their diploma or GED, will stay open through June 2009.
“It’s a mixed feeling,” said Francisco de los Santos, a history teacher at Individual Pathways. “I’m happy because we fought hard to stay open, but we lost some students who dropped out since they thought it was going to close.”
Administrators were notified on Jan.15 that the DOE was going to close the program along with Walton, which stopped accepting students four years ago and has been slowly transforming its campus into five smaller, specialized schools. Individual Pathways students said they were “devastated” after the announcement. Dozens who needed more than one semester to graduate dropped out.
In response, teachers banded together with a core of four students: Geraldine Blanco, Jasmin Capellan, Jasmin Paulino and Francis Peralta. The group contacted the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition, who trained them in calling and sending letters to the DOE and elected officials. They also rallied four times at school district headquarters and City Hall, and participated in the Coalition’s Shared Fate Action Forum at St. Nicholas of Tolentine Church on May 31.
Students met with Council Member Oliver Koppell, a former school board member, who met with the DOE about keeping the program open. Students also met with Council Member Joel Rivera and the United Federation of Teachers. After a series of meetings, the DOE told Walton Principal John Tornifolio the good news on the day before graduation.
Capellan, a 20-year-old from Mount Eden, graduated from the program this year. “It’s a wonderful program that has helped many students,” she said. “I’m glad it will stay open so other students can graduate.”
Individual Pathways operates in trimesters so students of different grades can earn credits quicker than in the normal two-semester system. The program, which began in the 2003-2004 school year, also has Saturday classes and partners with more than 20 community-based organizations for after-school programs.
Individual Pathways, unlike transfer schools, is not a separate high school, as it falls under Walton’s budget and administration. It’s unclear at this point how the program will be administered next year, but it will be run out of the Walton campus.
Individual Pathways had a peak of about 150 students this year, which included transfers from Theodore Roosevelt High School after it closed in 2006. This year, 52 students graduated from Individual Pathways and another 50 are expected to graduate during the next school year.
Baez Silent Amid Sea of Controversy
July 10, 2008
By Graham Kates
In her penultimate year as a member of the New York City Council, Maria Baez has found herself the subject of media scrutiny. News stories regarding poor attendance at Council meetings, enormous cell phone bills and a check to a non-existent organization, have left Baez with a tarnished public image.
With over a dozen phone calls throughout May and June, and even a list of questions both faxed and hand-delivered to her office, the Norwood News sought Baez’s side of the story. But the councilwoman and her press secretary, Chris Riley, refused interview requests. Baez, 50, who has been a fixture of the Bronx Democratic Party for nearly three decades, serving as chief of staff for then-Council Member Jose Rivera before her election to City Council, would only state through a spokesman that her “constituents know what she has done for the community.”
Baez who represents District 14, which includes parts of Kingsbridge Heights, Fordham, Morris Heights, and Mount Hope, began getting negative press earlier this year with a New York Times report on the attendance records of City Council members. She was highlighted as the member with the single worst record. The leader of the Council’s Bronx delegation and chair of the State and Federal Legislation Committee, Baez was marked present at only 66.1 percent of all Council meetings from 2004 through 2007.
As her tenure as council member draws closer to its end — all members who were elected in 2001 are barred by term limits from running again in 2009 — Baez has become less likely to attend Council meetings. For the first quarter of the current calendar year, Baez’s attendance dropped to about 50 percent, according to records obtained by the Norwood News through a Freedom of Information Law request from the City Council.
Through April 15, Baez was absent from 26 out of 53 Council meetings, with just one absence listed as officially “excused.”
In another recent news report, the Daily News found Baez atop the Council’s list of big spenders.
For the 2007 fiscal year, Baez’s office racked up cell phone expenses of $17,765. Meanwhile, Bronx Council Member Joel Rivera, who is the Council’s majority leader and has a larger staff, had a cell phone tab of $10,501 for the same period.
The New York Post reported in late April that Baez withdrew $668.35 from “Baez for the Future,” her reelection campaign, to pay for gasoline during the second half of 2007 even though she hasn’t needed to campaign since 2005, when she was elected for her second, and final, term as a Council member.
The Post’s David Seifman also reported that, in 2005, when Baez had no Democratic primary opponent (winning the primary is tantamount to winning the election in Baez’s overwhelmingly Democratic district), her campaign managed to chug through 1,100 gallons of gas. Baez’s office didn’t comment for the News and Times articles.
Member item controversy
Since the City Council’s “slush fund” scandal erupted earlier this year when it was discovered that some Council money was going to nonexistent organizations, discretionary funding — better known as member items — is drawing intense scrutiny.
The same New York Post article that detailed Baez’s gas expenses, revealed that she had allocated $7,500 of her budget for this year for a group called the 2401 Davidson Ave. Tenants Association, which was disbanded four years ago, a year before Baez moved out of the building. Her old apartment currently belongs to Nilda Velazquez, treasurer of “Friends of Maria Baez,” and current Baez staff member. “Friends of Maria Baez” lists its address as Apt. 1 of 2401 Davidson Ave., although there is no such address.
When questioned by the Post about the allocation, Baez responded, but did not offer an explanation, saying only that she earmarks money for “good organizations,” and that she “will not allow anyone to assassinate [her] character as a Latina woman.”
The payment to 2401 Davidson Ave. Tenants Association was halted as part of the City Council’s new and improved vetting process, during which Council auditors verify the authenticity of organizations that money is earmarked for.
Baez’s publicity issues date back to before this year, in July, 2007, when allegations surfaced that Baez’s daughter, Carmen, who oversees the Bronx Marriage Bureau’s office, was closing up shop 45 minutes early every day. A New York Times report on the flap included allegations that the elder Baez regularly picked up her daughter early from work, while dejected couples met an unexpectedly shuttered altar.
In December of last year, a City Council bill sponsored by Baez and co-sponsored by Joel Rivera, prompted protests outside Baez’s Mount Hope office. The bill, an alternative to the Tenant Protection Act, which had majority support in the Council, drew accusations that Baez and Rivera were capitulating to New York’s powerful landlord lobby. Both Baez and Rivera eventually withdrew support for the legislation and supported the Tenant Protection Act.
‘Tried her best’
Despite the bad press, some Bronx officials defend Baez fervently. Both Joel Rivera and his father, Jose, the Bronx Democratic chairman, say that Baez is a committed public servant. The elder Rivera credits Baez with “keeping the Bronx delegation [at the City Council] united.”
Baez is “more of a behind the scenes player,” says Joel Rivera, adding that she “fights to get capital dollars for the Bronx.”
Baez did secure just over $4 million in the capital budget for rehab projects at schools and community centers in her district. (This does not include allocations she secured together with other Bronx Council members.) Rivera, the majority leader and the neighboring Council member, secured $5,800,000 for his district. Council Member Oliver Koppell, also representing a neighboring district, secured an almost identical amount to Baez — $3,896,000.
Fernando Cabrera, pastor of New Life Ministries Church on Morris Avenue and a possible contender for Baez’s seat in 2009, believes Baez deserves credit for helping to orchestrate the Kingsbridge Armory redevelopment deal.
Cabrera said that “overall, Maria Baez tried her best,” and that being a Council member, can at times “be a thankless job.”
However, Cabrera also said that he is “ready for a new day” in the 14th District.
Emma Jacobs contributed reporting for this article.
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