Members of Northwest Bronx Democrats 4 Change were out in force to participate in a park clean up and census outreach event at Poe Park in the Fordham Manor section of the Bronx on Saturday, Sept. 12.

 

The event was sponsored by Northwest Bronx Democrats 4 Change, the organization’s president, Rachel Bradshaw Miller, Board member and candidate for District 15 City Council seat, Oswald Feliz, Congressman Adriano Espaillat, the City’s Parks’ department, North West Bronx Democrats, and the NYC Census 2020 office.

 

Also in attendance were State Sen. Gustavo Rivera, City Parks’ employees and a number of other residents, officials and volunteers.

 

Clean up supplies, water and face masks were provided.

 

Miller Bradshaw said she was pleased with the turn out on the day. “Northwest Bronx Democrats 4 Change find it’s urgent to participate in the maintenance of the parks within our community,” she said. “The City is bankrupt and there is no money for NYC Parks.”

She added, “With that being said, we all know that even more so exasperates the underfunding for green space in poorer areas like the Northwest Bronx. During this COVID era we are living in, our parks are one of the only places where residents can enjoy outside time and still social distance.

 

We hope that our presence in Poe Park and [later] in Devoe Park sparks more participation from the neighborhood residents to clean their parks”

 

The group said they will be busy organizing a number of different events in the local area in the next few weeks. “Our next clean up will be in Devoe Park on Sept. 26,” said Miller Bradshaw.

 

Another reason for the event was to promote and encourage participation by residents in the 2020 census, ahead of the Sept. 30 deadline. The census response rate for the Bronx as of Sept. 20 was 60.7 percent, lower than the final census response rate in 2010 of 64 percent.

 

The census does not ask about immigration, citizenship, criminal history, or income. By law, all census responses are completely confidential and cannot be shared with anyone, including any immigration authorities, tax authorities, any law enforcement authorities, or even landlords.

 

The penalties for breaking this law are up to five years in prison, and $250,000 in fines. This law has not been broken since it was passed in 1953.

Northwest Bronx Democrats 4 Change Board members include Rachel Miller Bradshaw (president), Oswald Feliz, Lewis Guillard, José Castillo, Theona Reets, George Cooke, Tammy North and Rafael Matos.

 

Later that day, the organization posted a thank you message on their Facebook page, saying, “Our club was honored to spend the day cleaning up Poe Park – every community deserves clean and safe parks! Thank you Congressman Espaillat, Senator Rivera, City Council candidate Oswald Feliz, and all volunteers and community leaders who participated! #NWBDC.”