Despite the consistent flow of customers on warm summer days, most Bronx store owners and managers, such as Ibrahim Faye, the manager of Porta Bella Men’s Wear on Jerome Avenue, will admit, "business is a little bit slow compared to last year." Though problems remain, there are hopeful signs for the future of local businesses.
Since 1994, Gary Axelbank and his top-notch cable TV show, BronxTalk, have elevated the borough’s civic dialogue.
BronxTalk, on the public access station BRONXNET, celebrated 15 years on the air Monday night and many of his frequent guests – politicians, activists, journalists, and artists – filled the studio for an on-air tribute.
Axelbank’s love for his home borough, where he attended DeWitt Clinton High and Lehman College and still lives, comes through in every one of the 707 episodes of BronxTalk, whether he’s interviewing a politician or a salsa musician.
The Bronx, despite a population of 1.4 million, does not have the civic amenities of cities a fraction of its size. We don’t have a daily newspaper or network news channels. And our mayor is also the mayor of about 7 million other people.
BronxTalk, expertly produced by Jane Folloro, has helped bring the mainland borough the attention it deserves. Mayors, Council members, comptrollers and city commissioners have all visited the BRONXNET’s basement studio at Lehman College for a sit-down with Axelbank. Some, like Rudy Giuliani, bristled at Axelbank’s tough questioning and never returned. But most were delighted to have a welcoming forum to publicize the work they did in the borough we all love. And it was often an education for the guests themselves. Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. told viewers last night that Axelbank was the first person who ever interviewed him, when he was running for assemblyman in 1996.
BronxTalk, on the public access station BRONXNET, celebrated 15 years on the air Monday night and many of his frequent guests – politicians, activists, journalists, and artists – filled the studio for an on-air tribute.
Axelbank’s love for his home borough, where he attended DeWitt Clinton High and Lehman College and still lives, comes through in every one of the 707 episodes of BronxTalk, whether he’s interviewing a politician or a salsa musician.
The Bronx, despite a population of 1.4 million, does not have the civic amenities of cities a fraction of its size. We don’t have a daily newspaper or network news channels. And our mayor is also the mayor of about 7 million other people.
BronxTalk, expertly produced by Jane Folloro, has helped bring the mainland borough the attention it deserves. Mayors, Council members, comptrollers and city commissioners have all visited the BRONXNET’s basement studio at Lehman College for a sit-down with Axelbank. Some, like Rudy Giuliani, bristled at Axelbank’s tough questioning and never returned. But most were delighted to have a welcoming forum to publicize the work they did in the borough we all love. And it was often an education for the guests themselves. Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. told viewers last night that Axelbank was the first person who ever interviewed him, when he was running for assemblyman in 1996.
Beloved old Yankee Stadium, scene of 86 years of beauty and drama, sits alone across the street from its popular young replacement, awaiting execution. It won’t be long until the familiar silhouette begins to shrink, then disappears, and the trucks take it away as rubble. But there’s still time to save a little piece of it-and we’ll never stop regretting it if we don’t.
Residents Bemoan Drop In Quality of Life
In June, every single speaker at the Community Board 7 general meeting lamented about some problem in their neighborhood that was diminishing their quality of life. All summer long, calls flooded into the board office with complaints about everything from excessive noise to blatant prostitution. Sensing the growing unease, Board 7 leaders decided to call a hearing, to be held Oct. 13.