Presentation, as evidenced by the décor and obvious pride with which the food is prepared and served, is important at La Familia Mexican Restaurant and Bar in Norwood.

In the mid-1990s at a meeting about the fate of the then recently abandoned Kingsbridge Armory, we were chatting with School District 10 official Bruce Irushalmi about the new councilman for the area, Adolfo Carrión. "He could be governor some day!" an impressed Irushalmi said.

You don’t hear that much anymore. Carrión is still ambitious and may still be headed for the political stratosphere, but it’s been a long time since Bronxites talked like that or rooted for him to be governor or mayor or anything else.

That’s largely because he has promoted large, unpopular development projects by running over community opposition.

Only three of 18 community groups signed on to the Gateway Mall Community Benefits Agreement because the rest considered the process a sham.

And he kept his stadium opponents out in the cold (literally, on the occasion of one critical public hearing where supporters were bused in) and then threw those who didn’t do his bidding off the community board.

This brand of leadership is not the kind practiced by Carrión’s prospective new boss, President Barack Obama.

A listing of arts and entertainment events for our readers in the northwest Bronx.

A listing of programs, events and services for our readers in the northwest Bronx and beyond.

Sitting in his office at Soundview Health Center, one of four Bronx health centers he’s created, Pedro Espada, Jr. looks like a success. Twice, the people of two different Bronx state senate districts have voted him into office and his health centers have employed hundreds of people and provided care for thousands.

So, why is it, he wants to know, that the media and his political rivals always focus on the negative aspects of his political career?

Bedford Park residents are livid about a new homeless shelter that began operating in December without notifying anyone about it. The shelter will remain, city officials said, unless it can be proven that the building’s owners forced out previous tenants through harassment.

The Community District 10 Education Council unanimously approved a Department of Education proposal that would rezone seven local schools, an effort the agency hopes will help alleviate overcrowding problems in the district.

On Jan. 15, with nine months to go until the 2009 citywide elections, candidates for office were required to file campaign finance reports. Based on the reported figures, some local races are beginning to take shape, while others remain unsettled.

The Bronx County Green Party, newly established in July 2008, declared its intention to wade into Bronx politics, but is facing an uphill battle.