Bronx elected officials teamed up in various groups to co-host a number of Halloween celebrations for youngsters across the borough last weekend, ahead of Election Day.

 

In Pelham Bay Park in the Northeast Bronx, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio–Cortez (NY-14) and State Sen. Alessandra Biaggi (S.D 34) co-hosted a Halloween celebration for families in the area, which included face painting, mask decorating, candy, and socially distanced, family-friendly games.

 

Others contributing to the festivities included City Councilman Kevin Riley (C.D. 12) and, as reported, projected winner of the District 13 City Council race, Democratic candidate, Marjorie Velázquez, as well as community organizations, Friends of Pelham Bay Park, Loving the Bronx, Start Lighthouse, Friends of Pelham Parkway, Feed Forward, and the BELL Organization. Amid the festive fun, they passed out information and free gifts that helped make the event a success.

Taking some time out in her constituency from the ongoing negotiations in Washington D.C. on the Biden administration’s proposed infrastructure bill, the congresswoman arrived at the event dressed in a “Ghostbusters” jumpsuit (a nod perhaps to the myth-busting abilities she has acquired over time while questioning various corporate invitees who have testified before Congress).

 

As later reported by The New York Times, six Democrats who are part of the progressive wing of the Democratic Party known as “The Squad” – Rep. Jamaal Bowman (NY-16), Rep. Cori Bush of Missouri, Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Rep. Ayanna S. Pressley of Massachusetts and Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan – all voted against Biden’s $550 billion infrastructure plan late Friday, Nov. 5, amid general concerns that proposals in the broader package of Build Back Better bills relating to social security and climate change would not finally be honored by their Democratic colleagues in Congress.

According to The Associated Press, the bill passed The House of Representatives on Friday by a vote of 228-206, with 13 Republicans crossing the aisle to support it and the six aforementioned Democrats opposing. Progressives had called for the bills to be voted on at the same time but to date, only the infrastructure bill has been voted on.

 

For his part, Bowman wrote as part of an official statement on Saturday, Nov. 6, “Our country is experiencing multiple and layered crises on top of historical harm. Transformative investment and courageous action is needed to meet this moment, and we have the power to do it.”

Yes. BIF+BBB are not written as 2 distinct bills, but interlocking policy. BIF’s climate benefits only unlock if BBB passes.

If BBB gutted/dies, we may have just locked in US emissions &thrown away our biggest chance to combat climate change. Stakes are now higher on BBB passing https://t.co/nZUgX5yYsh

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) November 7, 2021

 

He continued, “Roads and bridges are important. We must absolutely invest in our physical infrastructure. It is a positive development to see the infrastructure bill pass, but it is also not lost upon me that 90% of jobs in physical infrastructure go to men; yet, women account for four times the job loss to men during the pandemic. Families and children are in need of help with childcare, paid leave, housing, prescription drug costs and so much more. The climate crisis remains looming. The physical infrastructure bill alone does not hold the policies to address any of these issues.”

 

Meanwhile, Ocasio-Cortez wrote on Twitter, on Sunday, Nov. 7, “Yes, BIF [bi-partisan infrastructure bill] and BBB [Build Back Better] are not written as two distinct bills, but interlocking policy. BIF’s climate benefits only unlock if BBB passes.” She added, “If BBB [is] gutted/dies, we may have just locked in U.S. [carbon] emissions and thrown away out biggest chance to combat climate change. Stakes are now higher on BBB passing.”

 

What’s in the #BuildBackBetter Act?

🏡Affordable housing
🗽Immigration reform
👶Free & universal pre-K
💵Monthly child allowance
👵Expanded care for seniors
💊Lower drug costs
🩺Medicare expansion
🌎Bold climate action
⚡️Millions of clean energy jobs

Let’s get it done.

— Adriano Espaillat (@RepEspaillat) November 6, 2021

Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), meanwhile, described the passage of the bill, on Friday, as the single greatest investment in the nation’s infrastructure ever. “It’s on the way to the President’s desk,” he said. “This is a monumental day for America, and a brand new day for New York City.”  He added a further tweet the same day, listing what the Build Back Better Act includes.

 

The passage of the infrastructure bill was also welcomed by acting MTA chair and CEO, Janno Lieber. “We are grateful to Sen. Schumer and the entire New York delegation for their work to deliver an infrastructure bill that will bring billions of dollars to the MTA,” he said. “The more than $10 billion we are expected to receive as part of this game-changing legislation will go toward vital capital projects and accelerate efforts to modernize mass transit in the region.”

 

Back in the Bronx, Halloween event co-sponsor, State Sen. Alessandra Biaggi (S.D. 34) was unable to attend the Pelham Bay event as she remained in quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19, as reported.

Tonight, we just made the single greatest investment in our nation’s infrastructure ever – and it’s on the way to the President’s desk.

This is a monumental day for America, and a brand new day for New York City.

— Adriano Espaillat (@RepEspaillat) November 6, 2021

 

Several dozen children and their parents arrived for the event during which Ocasio-Cortez and others interacted with some of the children, before taking questions from the media.

 

Maria Santis of Mott Haven watched over her son, Alejandro, 11, as he got busy making a Halloween face mask. Santis explained how they had stumbled upon the event by accident, telling the Norwood News, “We’re always coming here to Pelham Bay Park, we saw a lot of people so we came over to enjoy this Halloween celebration.”

 

Santis added, “We’re having a great time,” explaining that the event was their first public event / gathering since the coronavirus outbreak 19 months earlier. “We haven’t been going out, and we’ve been in the house and he’s been learning remotely. It was so hard and I was not meant to be a teacher,” she said. “It’s not easy.”

 

On Sunday, Oct. 31, State Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernández and District 13 City Councilman Mark Gjonaj, together with Big Deal Food Market and Morris Park Community Association held a “Safe Streets and Safe Treats” Halloween event at Big Deal Food Market, located at 1018 Morris Park Avenue, in the Morris Park neighborhood.

 

The day is finally here! Come watch the Horror Land team bring A Haunted Pirates Adventure to the Co-op City community. Bring your chairs and blankets for the show and enjoy a family Halloween in #The12th District. pic.twitter.com/t3zYQ0GSZm

— Council Member Kevin C. Riley (@CMKevinCRiley) October 31, 2021

On Friday, Oct. 29, District 16 City Councilwoman and, as reported, the projected Democratic winner of the Bronx borough president’s race, following the Nov. 2 general election, Vanessa Gibson, hosted a Halloween Silent Disco in Joyce Kilmer Park in the South Bronx together with Council Member Diana Ayala (C.D. 8), Assemblywoman Laytoya Joyner (A.D. 77), Assembly Member Chantal Jackson (A.D. 79) and Assembly Member Amanda Septimo (A.D. 84).

 

Also on Saturday, Assembly Member Karina Reyes hosted the 2nd Annual Trunk or Treat party for Halloween at 1315 Olmstead Avenue in Parkchester in conjunction with Gibson, Bronx Community Board 9, and projected winner of the District 18 City Council race in Nov. 2 general election, Democratic community leader, Amanda Farías.

 

 

Meanwhile, State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (A.D. 83) tweeted photos of himself on Oct. 30, in costume, dressed as music legend, Prince, along with State Sen. Jamaal Bailey, who unintentionally, it seems, was dressed as rapper, Drake, at, seemingly, another Halloween event for Bronx kids.

 

On top of attending the Pelham Bay event, Riley was also involved in hosting an additional Halloween event held in Co-op City on Oct. 31. “The day is finally here! Come watch the Horror Land team bring A Haunted Pirates Adventure to the Co-op City community,” he tweeted. “Bring your chairs and blankets for the show and enjoy a family Halloween in #The12th District together with Senator Jamaal T. Bailey and Co-op City – Riverbay Corporation,” he added.

Gibson was also pictured at the show, which can be viewed on the Facebook page of Co-op City Riverbay Corporation.

 

As reported, the various kid-themed, Halloween events took place a few days before the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced, on Nov. 2, that kids aged 5 through 11 can be vaccinated against COVID-19.

I just thought I was wearing a sweatsuit with some J’s today, but unbeknownst to me, I was dressed as Drake 🤷🏽‍♂️. So Happy Halloween from Kola Champagne Papi aka Mallard. 🦆 Enjoy some champagne poetry this Halloween. #halloween2021

And that Prince/Drake Verzuz is coming! pic.twitter.com/GrlnBwx0sd

— Jamaal T. Bailey (@jamaaltbailey) October 30, 2021

 

Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Nov. 3 that kids in that age group can get vaccinated at any City vaccine center and are also eligible to receive $100, once vaccinated.

 

As reported, a first group of children was already vaccinated at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore in Norwood the same day.

 

*Síle Moloney contributed to this story.