The most heated City Council race in the Bronx is burning several degrees hotter after key endorsements went to a rising but relatively unknown political rookie, Dr. Fernando Cabrera. The endorsements represent a boost for Cabrera and a blow for embattled incumbent Maria Baez.

On May 28, the ballroom at the Jewish Home Lifecare’s Adult Day Care program on Kingsbridge Road was filled with over 100 people, toe-tapping music, strobe lights and a panel of four judges to create a Bronx-style senior adaptation of the ABC hit show, “Dancing with the Stars.”

On May 26, 2009 President Barack Obama made history once again by nominating Bronxite Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court.

If confirmed – and Bronx elected officials are pressing hard for a swift and pain-free confirmation process – she would not only be the first Hispanic Supreme Court Justice, but she would also be the first Bronx-native and just the third female in Supreme Court history.

A listing of public and community meetings, mostly in Community District 7, for our readers in the Bronx.

Last Thursday, the city’s Department of Transportation (DOT) extended the northbound bike lane up the Grand Concourse all the way to Mosholu Parkway.

Many Bronx commuters along the 4-train line looking to shorten their morning commute will be pleased with the announcement of a new express route pilot program that began on June 8. The 4-train will run express for an hour each weekday during the downtown morning rush.

Despite the looming dark clouds above the steps of City Hall in Manhattan, a tough crowd braved the weather on Tuesday, June 9, to show support for New York City’s local community boards. The 59 community boards throughout New York City are in crisis. In Mayor Bloomberg’s proposed budget for the new fiscal year, community boards will have their budgets cut by $35,000.

The DEP recently conducted a drill to test emergency procedures in the case of a chlorine leak at the Jerome Park Reservoir Gatehouse #5 on Paul Avenue in Bedford Park, but it wasn’t without incident.

It would be nice if we had a powerful and principled state senator representing all of our communities. But it seems we only have the former.

Pedro Espada, Jr., who has been in office representing the 33rd Senate District for only five months, has already managed to catapult himself to leadership positions on both sides of the aisle of the state Senate by capitalizing on the razor-thin majority Democrats gained for the first time in 40 years.

On Monday, he abandoned the Democrats for the Republicans, and in so doing, shook up city and state politics in a way that makes Eliot Spitzer’s resignation look like a minor gossip-page item in comparison.

Now that Espada has essentially thrown power in the Senate to the GOP, thus bringing New Yorkers divided government once again, every single issue the state legislature was moving toward resolving this session is in jeopardy – gay marriage, mayoral control of the city’s school system, rent laws, ethics reform, etc.

Aside from the chaos, putting Espada in the driver’s seat of state government (and next in line to succeed Governor Paterson should he be incapacitated) is sending shudders through the body politic.

Espada has never been convicted of a crime, but a litany of ethical transgressions defines his life in public service.

Though his actions tell us he’s not much interested in hearing from his constituents, we all must hold Senator Espada accountable any way we can in the meantime. The phone number for his Albany office is (518) 455-3395 and we’ll get you the address for his district office – if he ever opens one.