Google has compiled a timelapse of satellite images of our planet spanning from 1984 through 2016 and the results are beautiful and alarming as you can clearly see evidence of climate change.
We decided to take a look at The Bronx (no surprise there) and what we found is pretty amazing. You can see the rebuilding of the South Bronx with empty lots being filled in with new construction, Throggs Neck’s Ferry Point Park, Bay Plaza in Co-op City appearing out of nowhere, the Jerome Reservoir being drained and then filled again, the new Yankee Stadium going up and then the old coming down.
You can even see how narrow Orchard Beach gets before being expanded again!
If you grew up in The Bronx or have lived here a long time, chances are that you know someone who was a “bookie” that took bets or a “runner” who was the go between to the bookie from others.
In Spanish, it’s called “la bolita” or “los números”—the little ball or the numbers—and although the illegal gambling went mainstream with the advent of Off Track Betting, aka OTB, the illegal counterpart of it still remains.
For many it was a way to possibly strike it big and make a better life from the winnings.
To others, just a little fun.
Imagine my surprise when I posted an image of someone’s numbers sheet and racing form and a reader shared their mother’s tale of being a runner in 1934!
Ronnie Smith Bromm writes:
It was 1934, in the midst of the Depression, when I committed my first crime. I was 5 years old and Aunt Carrie was my Fagin. Sure, times were hard for everybody, then. Nevertheless, Aunt Carrie and Uncle Gus never lost hope of someday “hitting it big.” Almost daily, Aunt Carrie spent a nickel playing a number in the illegal numbers game that was so popular in the Bronx at that time. The game is legal now and is controlled by the state. The system is conducted in neighborhood betting parlors and is called OTB, or Off Track Betting. The game is played by betting on a three-digit number that is decided by the results of the pay-off amounts of the daily horse racing results at various race tracks. The pay-off amounts are printed in the next day’s newspapers.
In 1934, when the game was still illegal, bettors had to be very inventive to hide their activities from the Vice Squad. They also had to protect their identity and location of the person who booked the bets, known as “bookies.” Aunt Carrie’s “bookie” was the proprietor of the little candy/soda/newspaper store around the corner. His name was Deafy, for obvious reasons.
Her method of skirting the law was to use me as her runner, or carrier, of her bets. She thought she was very clever in using me because who would suspect a little freckle-faced 5-year-old girl of being a numbers “runner”? She would write her number on a small piece of paper, wrap the paper around a nickel, fold and refold it until it was the smallest possible lump, then place the lump in my palm, and fold my fingers over it to form a tiny fist. Then I was given my instructions.
“Skip down to the candy store,” she’d whisper, “and make sure there ain’t any customers hangin’ around outside or inside the store, and when the coast is clear, run in fast, reach up and slide the lump across the marble soda fountain counter to Deafy, then run out of the store as though you lost your candy money somewhere along the way.” If a customer came in before I could place the bet, I would pretend to be deciding which penny candy I wanted by pressing my face against the glass candy case. Then I was to linger there, “deciding,” until the customer left. Oh, how I loved this dangerous game! I was very much aware of the consequences if we were found out. Deafy and Aunt Carrie would go to jail, and I would be sent to an orphanage! If a policeman ever came into the store while I was there to place a bet, I would take the nickel out of the paper, pop the paper in my mouth, chew and swallow it, and buy some candy to chew and swallow on top of the paper. They’d never find the evidence on me! Aunt Carrie didn’t teach me that trick. I learned it by watching all those 1930s gangster movies at the Saturday matinees.
Now, my job as a “runner” was not over by a long shot. At 6 PM that evening, I was sent back to Deafy’s to find out if we’d hit the number. The 7 Star Final edition of the New York Journal-American printed the race results of that day. All the editions of the daily newspapers were laid out on the wooden newsstand outside the store. The Journal-American very conveniently printed the race results on the front page of its final edition, so I only had to lean against the stand, glance at the race results, and memorize the three significant digits in the totals. Then I would run back home and announce the day’s winning number. Aunt Carrie was seldom a winner, but none of us ever got arrested, and I always felt proud of my performance.
July 16, 2003
About Ronnie Smith Bromm:
Ronnie Smith Bromm was born at Fordham Hospital in 1929, and was raised in the Bronx by her aunt and uncle after the death of her mother in 1930. She graduated from Walton High School in 1947, and played softball with the Alpine Girls in the 1940s. Her future husband, Johnny Bromm, was the team coach. In 1973, she umpired an exhibition game at Yankee Stadium between Mickey Mantle’s All Stars and George Plimpton’s All Stars. She currently lives in Rahway, New Jersey.
Ronnie Smith Bromm
Sure enough, we got more comments after posting that image of the man with his racing form on the subway.
Here are just some recollections shared:
“Big Red Lottery!” My grandmother was what you call a “bolitera.” She ran a number joint on 162nd street and Prospect Ave. It was a “candy store” in the front and numbers in the back. Next door, there was a barbershop, two doors down a Botanica and across the street were two bars. She didn’t have to go too far for her clientele. She also had a “card game” every Friday night. Little did I know she would be my influence in getting an Economics degree. Who knew? LOL.—Herbert R.
“The local number runner in my neighborhood made his rounds daily to the ladies: the seniors, the stay at home moms. They made tea and served refreshments. Sometimes they gathered together in small groups in somebody’s living room and had a grand time. I was at a block association meeting one time when he made his appearance. Meeting was adjourned for 15 minutes so folks could take care of business. Out came the refreshments.” —Lisa From The Bronx
What memories do you have about the old numbers’ game? Or any other Bronx memories? Share away!
New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito along with Council Member Dan Garodnick have started to petition demanding that the federal government pay the over $1 million a day it will cost NYC taxpayers to secure Trump Tower for president elect Donald J Trump and his wife Melania and son Barron who will remain behind in NYC.
Trump has stated he will split his time between Washington and NYC creating not just gridlock chaos in the city but deplete our funds as each month will cost us over $350 million to do so.
The following is the full text of the petition, please distribute widely!
At an estimated $1 million per day, protecting you, your family and your home at Trump Tower will total over one billion dollars during your four-year term. This represents an extraordinary financial burden for New York City taxpayers.
We the undersigned, including the Speaker of the New York City Council, Melissa Mark Viverito; your local City Council Member, Dan Garodnick; and the many, many ordinary New Yorkers whose taxes contribute to New York’s budget, strongly believe that the provision of security services for Presidents-elect must be the obligation of the federal government.And accordingly, we believe that the cost of that obligation must be borne by the federal government, not the City of New York.
We already stretch our municipal budget to provide basic services— like police, sanitation, and the education of 1.1 million public school students. These services would suffer if we must divert funds to police protection.
Further, should you or your family members choose to reside in Trump Tower for any length of time following your inauguration, the cost of security for that time also should be borne by the federal government. While NYPD is both equipped and able to participate in ensuring your and your family’s protection, we must not allow this cost to blow a massive hole in New York City’s budget.
Let’s end the suspense: We ask you to commit the necessary federal funds to reimburse New York for all costs of protecting you and your family— both before and after your inauguration as President of the United States of America.
As a lifelong New Yorker, you understand the importance of a vibrant local economy, and one that has the resources to operate. Make it clear today that New York City is not going to get stuck with the bill.
Because developing the Special Harlem River Waterfront District along with Somerset’s planned 6 towers in Port Morris isn’t enough, New York State Empire State Development released a request for expressions of interest to deck almost 13 acres of our waterfront to see developer interest—with the full blessings of Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.
In Crain’s New York, Diaz says,”New deck construction has the potential to bring transformative development projects to many Bronx neighborhoods,” Diaz said in a statement. “I look forward to examining the level of interest this [request] brings to the Harlem River Yards and how that interest could inform future opportunities for platform projects.”
Rents and property values in the immediate area are skyrocketing—a neighborhood dominated by New York City Housing Authority where more and more businesses continue to open their doors yet out of the reach of the majority’s pockets.
It’s becoming more apparent that the neighborhood is turning into a literal tale of two cities; a neighborhood where luxury is found on one side of the highway and a few blocks over, thousands of residents live in poverty at NYCHA’s Mill Brook and Mitchel Houses.
Rather than focusing on the Bronx Borough President’s gentrification agenda, New York State needs to invest in our residents to help lift them from poverty.
Our schools are still performing terribly, our kids have practically no access to after school sports programs compared to kids in affluent areas of the city.
Our adults are either unemployed or underemployed as opportunities for decent living wage jobs are scarce.
New York State and our borough president need to refocus their properties rather than trying to turn our borough into the “New Bronx” or the next Brooklyn.
What started as a small neighborhood block cleanup in Parkchester years ago by Bronxite Nilka Martell, eventually turned into a community of service to many of our borough’s green spaces—literally an army of grassroots activists.
From 11AM to 2PM, volunteers will be raking leaves and planting daffodil bulbs at Virginia Park and Hugh Grant Circle right next to the Parkchester 6 Line station.
Even though I personally know Nilka, I can’t thank her enough for all the work she does to make our borough even more beautiful and better than it already is.
She is the embodiment of what it means to be from The Bronx not relying on our city to get things done and isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty to do so.
Oh, and in the greenest borough of NYC with the most parkland of any borough, she’s also the fiercest, and strongest parks ambassador and ally we have and this is why (one of many reasons) we’re so excited to see what’s in store next.
So join G.I.V.E this Sunday, December 4th from 11AM to 2PM for a fun day of service!
While scrolling through Bronx related news today, I was surprised to see Welcome2TheBronx and myself mentioned and quoted in E!News on a story about Jennifer Lopez aka JLo or simply, Jenny.
E!News writes:
“Yes, J. Lo donates millions to charities, particularly dealing with women and children’s issues but what about the Bronx? Sure it’s her money and yes she can decide what to do with it but at some point isn’t it almost a responsibility to give something back to the community who’s [sic] name you invoke all the time and essentially use?” Ed García Conde wrote in July 2013 on Welcome2TheBronx.com in response to Lopez’sW spread.”This is a topic that has been on Bronxites minds for quite some time. If Jenny from the block is reading this, I’d love to sit down and chit chat with her, invite her back home and talk about the issues that ail her fans at her home base and what we can do to partner up.”Conde didn’t have to wait that long, at least for Jenny to come home. Less than a year later, news that Lopez would be doing her first show in the Bronx effectively made any bad blood so much water under the Triborough Bridge.
353 to 391 East 149th Street, north side, east from Courtlandt to Melrose Aves. The 12-story building is No. 367-369. 1930. General Photographic Co., Inc
Ever since The New York Public Library published their Digital Collections of thousands of old photographs of NYC, I’ve been constantly searching the archives which provide a window into our past and needless to say it’s full of amazing pictures of The Bronx.
While 1930s Melrose has packed with the same office buildings along 149th Street that stand today, Throggs Neck is filled with pastoral scenes of empty fields and barely recognizable today.
Click the image to give it a try! All you have to do is click on any dot on the map and voila, old pics will pop up!
Here are just a couple of images you will see on your journey but be warned: Make sure you have the spare time because this is HIGHLY ADDICTING!
Bronx: Grand Concourse – 149th Street 1941 P.L. Sperr, photographer
Throggs Neck: Hollywood Avenue, east side, from Schurz to Harding Avenues, showing the St. Frances De Chantal Roman Catholic Church. August 15, 1940 Views 1,2 P. L. Sperr
4761 Delafield Avenue is for sale for just $2,575,000./all images via Halstead
When million dollar listings pop up in The Bronx it’s ok to be a bit skeptical despite the speculative feeding frenzy of the gentrifying South Bronx.
Except if it’s located in Riverdale but more specifically, Fieldston.
If you’re familiar with Riverdale, then you already know that by geography and design, it’s a rather isolated community up on bluff overlooking the Hudson River and Jersey Palisades.
And nestled within Riverdale is the picturesque area called Fieldston with roughly 250 landmarked homes with oversized lot sizes exceeding the typical 25ft by 100ft throughout the city by more than double in many instances.
This beautiful home at 4671 Delafield Avenue is a huge 4,600 square foot single family with 6 bedrooms and 5.5 bathrooms.
Take a look and if you have $2.6 million it can all be yours.
Mr Nembhard, a librarian who’s been the manager of the Morrisania branch of the New York Public Library for 25 years, has been on a mission to making literacy a constant in their wandering and ever changing lives.
The New York Times reports:
“It’s a pleasure to come in here,” Mr. Nembhard began on that Wednesday, never removing his jacket during a presentation that was just short of a Mr. Rogers routine.
He began to sing, “Good morning to you,” and followed with “Wheels on the Bus.” The children joined in with a chorus of “round and round, round and round.”
Toddlers, fidgeting in their chairs or in their mothers’ arms, suddenly became fixated. They could not wait to flip open “Dear Zoo,” by Rod Campbell, a lift-a-flap book, to discover an elephant, a giraffe, a lion and other animals.
Then came Mr. Nembhard’s magical blue glove — magical thanks to Velcro and the five monkeys attached to it — and later he brought out finger puppets. Avani Blair, 2, and Taniyah Blair, 1, stared in amazement.
“I like it, too. I feel like a big kid,” Aaliyah Blair, 24, their mother, said. She said they had become homeless about two months ago after an eviction.
Mr. Nembhard knew most of the children by name. “You build relationships with them so that when you see them they feel comfortable,” he said.
And thanks to Mr Colbert Nembhard, this model he started at the Crotona Inn homeless shelter is now at 30 shelters.
Mr Nembhard’s selflessness is an inspiration for many to be the change they seek in our communities
This coming Tuesday, November 29th from 6:30PM-8:30PM at BronxWorks Betances Community Center at 547 E 146th Street (across from St Mary’s Park), New York City Parks Department wants to hear from YOU on your ideas for making St Mary’s a better place for all.
Spanish language translators will be available as well as refreshments and children’s activities so please bring your entire family as well as friends and neighbors. This is the perfect opportunity to have your voices heard on what the community needs in terms of park improvements.
21 year old Bronxite, Sophia Wilansky, was severely injured by a concussion grenade and rubber bullets law enforcement agents at Standing Rock in North Dakota decided to attack over 400 protesters who have been camping out against the Dakota Access Pipeline
A 21 year old Bronx woman went to North Dakota to join hundreds of protesters and Native Americans fighting to save their land from environmental disaster as greed is pushing to build the Dakota Access Pipeline.
Sophia Wilansky was hit with a concussion grenade and rubber bullets when law enforcement agents decided to attack over 400 protesters with water cannons in freezing temperatures claiming they were starting fires and throwing fuel canisters.
Donna Hushka, a spokeswoman for the sheriff’s department, confirmed to journalist Jenni Monet that law enforcement had used water as “crowd control” against the protesters, who had also started multiple fires around the barricade. Fire trucks at the scene doused those fires and the land around them to prevent them from spreading, she wrote.
Jade Begay, a spokeswoman for the Indigenous Environmental Network, told The Guardian that two bonfires were lit by activists for warmth and cooking, but that any others were started by weapons from law enforcement.
Her father, Wayne Wilansky, told the Daily News, “In America. She’s hit with a grenade. She’s not in Iraq or Afghanistan … And they’re trying to kill her.”
A medical Gofundme campaign was opened yesterday for Sophia and in 21 hours has raised over $225,000.
Chanel International and Ti’Ara Chanel, two Bronx transwomen are part of a mini-documentary by Viceland called Balls Deep: T-Girls in which they are followed around on their daily lives in The Bronx and throughout the city. (You can watch the full video below)
For decades, being a trans individual meant you were pretty obscure and out of the mainstream limelight of the LGBTQ community. During the past few years, that has changed as transwomen like Caitlyn Jenner and Laverne Cox of Orange is The New Black have become household names.
But in no way do those two women represent the average trans Jane who are trying to just survive in a world that is often hostile to who they are and are even met with death.
In a world where it is still difficult for many to come out as either gay, lesbian, or bisexual, the trans community has an exponentially more difficult experience in coming out to be true to themselves.
Even losing their homes as family will rather kick their own LGBTQ children onto the streets.
40% of homeless youth identify as LGBT and homelessness for trans individuals is even more dangerous for they may be forced to use a shelter based on the gender on their birth certificate and not the gender which they identify as.
In the video, Chanel International’s grandmother said something very touching about her granddaughter, “You were more my son than my grandson. I couldn’t oppose his wishes.”
Chanel lucked out as so many others aren’t as accepting.
