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Sonia Sotomayor Brings Salsa, Trouble to the Supreme Court – US News

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Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor is not as reserved as her fellow justices, a biographer says. / US News & World Report
Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor is not as reserved as her fellow justices, a biographer says. / US News & World Report

From US News & World Report:

America may have its first celebrity Supreme Court justice, author Joan Biskupic says.

It was fairly early in the writing process when author Joan Biskupic, the biographer of Supreme Court Justices Sandra Day O’Connor and Antonin Scalia, heard about Justice Sonia Sotomayor and “the salsa incident.”

As the story goes, it was June 2010 and the Supreme Court justices and their law clerks were celebrating the end of term with the clerks performing skits for their bosses. For Sotomayor, who had joined the high court in August 2009, it was the first of such occasions. “Here’s what you should know: By tradition, the clerks perform, the justices watch,” Biskupic explains to Whispers.

[READ: Sonia Sotomayor Spent the Summer Reading Up on Antonin Scalia]

But that year, after the law clerks were done with their skits, Sotomayor “sprang from her chair, turned to the law clerks and declared that although their musical numbers were all fine enough, they lacked a certain something,” Biskupic writes.

 She then demonstrated what they missed. “She cues the salsa music – at first she grabs a few of her law clerks who clearly had been in on it with her,” Biskupic says. She eventually got Chief Justice John Roberts on his feet, signaling this was socially acceptable to the remaining, seated justices. “[Roberts] was a good sport. He was an anxious sport, but he was a good sport, and then she gets the others to go,” Biskupic says.

The whole incident led to Scalia (the life of a party in his own right, according to Biskupic) joking, “I knew she’d be trouble,” as people passed him near the door.

READ the rest about this Bronx Hero at: Sonia Sotomayor Brings Salsa, Trouble to the Supreme Court – US News.

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Candidate for NYS Attorney General Files Complaint With JCOPE About FreshDirect Lobbying

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©welcome2thebronx.com
©welcome2thebronx.com
For Immediate Release October 10, 2014
Candidate for NYS Attorney General Files Complaint With JCOPE About FreshDirect Lobbying
Contact Ramon J. Jimenez 917 517 1320   Also Available for Spanish Language Interviews
Complaint focuses on failure to disclose lobbying by firm paid tens of thousands of dollars
In response to the recent revelations about The Parkside Group apparent lobbying of the NYC Mayor’s office on behalf of trucking company Fresh Direct, Green Party candidate for NYS Attorney General Ramon J. Jimenez today filed a complaint with the New York State Joint Commission on Public Ethics.
As demonstrated in the complaint, The Parkside Group has apparently engaged in lobbying activity in New York State on behalf of an effort to obtain tax subsidies, cash grants and living wage law provisions for the trucking company Fresh Direct, but the lobbying firm seems not to have disclosed the full extent of its activity as required by the Lobbying Act.
In 2012, without any open discussion, Fresh Direct was offered a controversial package of public subsidies that include cash grants, tax breaks and asset acquisition for the potential relocation to publicly owned land on New York State Department of Transportation property that amounts to over $140 million at this point, without a current environment impact statement.
“While on the campaign trail DeBlasio used the Bloomberg era FreshDirect subsidy proposal as an example of what his Administration would NOT do.  Over nine months in office and he has yet to kill this rotten deal.  Leaked emails between Parkside and the Deputy Mayor show communications about millions of dollars in potential cash grants and tax break subsidies have not been reported in the mandated bimonthly JCOPE disclosure forms. The public deserves to have the legally mandated information to understand what pressure is brought to bear on our elected officials and inform open debate.  As Attorney General I will vigorously investigate and prosecute ethics violations and bring more transparency to our government.” says Ramon J. Jimenez.
Fresh Direct has so far evaded having to comply with the Fair Wages for New Yorkers Act and the recent Mayoral Executive Order that further mandates employers that are considered for $1 million or more in public subsidies to pay a Living Wage.  Fresh Direct is under consideration for nearly $90 million in City support and the Living Wage mandate has not been publicly affirmed despite hundreds of their workers making less than $9 an hour.    “As Attorney General of the State of New York I will work to hold companies accountable to all City and State Living Wage legislation and procurement rules and no lobbyist will be able to secretly negotiate deals to avoid it.”  added Ramon J. Jimenez.
“The environmental impact of thousands of diesel truck trips in the South Bronx an area with one of the highest rates of asthma in the nation would be catastrophic.  It is unconscionable that a proposal of this magnitude was not required to have a current and accurate Environmental Impact Statement. We do not know what role any backroom lobbyists played in that decision either.  There needs to be a reset on this whole proposal and the South Bronx community must be included in future planning for the waterfront, which is owned by the State of New York and has for too long served as the dumping ground for the polluting facilities that benefit the rest of NYC.”  Ramon J. Jimenez added.
https://www.scribd.com/doc/242316535/JCOPE-COMPLAINT-PARKSIDE-FRESHDIRECT
About Ramon J. Jimenez
Ramon Jimenez is a longtime Bronx based lawyer, community activist and writer. For more than 30 years, he’s represented low income families, injured workers and community groups in the poorest Congressional District in the U.S.
He earned his law degree from Harvard School of Law in 1974. As a professor at Hostos Community College in the Bronx in 1976, Ramon led students, faculty members and others in a demonstration and occupation of the college in protest of plans to shut the school or merge it with another college. The protest was successful and Hostos saved.  In the ’80s, Ramon served as an administrative law judge for the State Workers Compensation Board.
More about him here: http://ramonjjimenez.wordpress.com
https://www.scribd.com/doc/242316535/JCOPE-COMPLAINT-PARKSIDE-FRESHDIRECT

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New York State Proposes Prioritization of Mott Haven-Port Morris Waterfront Plan!

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This is an amazing big step forward for the residents of the South Bronx as never before has this area received such a priority designation by the State of New York.  The waterfront plan as described below is a direct result of what the residents envision their waterfront to look like after the announcement over 2 1/2 years ago that FreshDirect intended to plop down on the last, largest remaining parcel of open land in the area.

Together, our voices can make an impact and be heard.

Please submit your public comments and make your voices heard even louder!

See below from South Bronx Unite, an organization which Welcome2TheBronx is a proud member of.

NEW YORK STATE PROPOSES PRIORITIZATION OF MOTT HAVEN-PORT MORRIS WATERFRONT PLAN!

PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE NOW BEING ACCEPTED. Submit your comments today by clicking here, or if the link does not work, see below for email address and draft text to send.
A: Bronx Kill Waterfront Park – site of Native American settlement and burial ground; last significant open green space on the Mott Haven-Port Morris waterfront; lines the Bronx Kill waterway; directly connects to theRandall’s Island Connector”
B: Park Avenue Boat Launch and Waterfront Park  already green space; one of the few areas with actual water access not blocked by Oak Point Link rail; already being used as an ad hoc fishing and boat launch site
C: Lincoln Avenue Waterfront Park – easily accessible by pedestrians; already being used as an ad hoc fishing site; provides direct access to the waterfront; renderings have already been prepared by local architects; MIT produced a plan for this site in 2011
D: Alexander Avenue Extension of Lincoln Avenue Waterfront Park– easily accessible by pedestrians; vacant and unused site; community blocked by fence and guard; directly connected to Mott Haven antique district
E: East 132nd Street Pier – previously a pier here (and even a floating pool in 1902); in the 1980s, a ConEd explosion destroyed the pier, and the company never replaced it; currently residents crawling through holes in the fence to fish along the banks of the shore
F: Historic Port Morris Gantries -stands as a reminder of NYC’s rich nautical heritage; in 1902, the gantries fostered the development of a market, hotels and restaurants; recognized by the Historic Districts Council during its “Six to Celebrate” program on the basis of architectural and historic merit of the area; full reviatlization renderings have already been completed
G: Mott Haven-Port Morris Waterfront Connecting Path– connecting West to East – Melrose to Hunts Point – the waterfront connecting path would weave through and around existing uses on the waterfront to connect the six interrelated projects, and also connecting to the “Randall’s Island Connector” near completion now
The Mott Haven-Port Morris Waterfront Plan was voted by overwhelming majority for inclusion on the draft list of priority projects of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Open Space Plan! Never before has our community had a priority project in the plan! The Open Space Plan serves as a blueprint for the state’s land conservation efforts, identifying priority open space projects for protection and guiding State Environmental Protection Fund investments. From now through December 17th, the public is being asked to provide comments on the plan via email. On October 22, a public hearing will also be held from 2:30-4:30 and from 7:00-9:00 at 47-40 21st Street, Long Island City.  After the public comment period is closed, DEC will review all comments on the proposed plan and issue a final plan of priority projects.
PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE NOW BEING ACCEPTED. Submit your comments today by clicking here, or if the link does not work, see below for email address and draft text to send.
CLICK HERE TO RSVP FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING
IF THE LINKS DO NOT WORK, SEND YOUR COMMENTS THIS WAY:
TO: LF.OpenSpacePlan@dec.ny.gov
CC: southbronxunite@gmail.com
SUBJECT: I support the Mott Haven-Port Morris Waterfront Plan as a Priority Project for Region 2!
MESSAGE (draft): To Whom It May Concern:
I support inclusion of the Mott Haven-Port Morris Waterfront Plan as a priority project for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Open Space Plan.  This community-developed plan would provide underserved residents access to a public waterfront that, for decades, has been inaccessible. The plan is consistent with three rezonings on adjacent land, provides a logical solution to climate change effects on significant maritime industrial areas (SMIAs) and gives the community open space to counteract severe health consequences caused by an oversaturation of highways and truck-intensive businesses in the South Bronx. These vacant coastal sites are located within a flood zone, and if properly designated as protected open space, could significantly mitigate dangerous effects on the community of storm surge flooding of existing power plants and waste transfer stations along the South Bronx waterfront.  Each site has also been included as an area of significance in the Vision 2020 NYC Comprehensive Waterfront Plan, and several sites are currently proposed for elimination from SMIA designation.  These sites, all of which are government owned, are easily accessible by pedestrians, have recognized historical significance, are already being used as ad hoc fishing and canoeing sites and connect to bigger capital projects already funded and under development (like the Randall’s Island Connector).
Sincerely,
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Welcome2TheBronx dedicates this posting to the late Morgan Powell, a Bronx Hero who was an environmentalist, activist, historian and champion for the people of The Bronx.  Earlier today we found out of his untimely passing.

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RIP Morgan Powell; Beloved Bronx Activist, Environmentalist Found Dead

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Photo of Morgan Powell via his Facebook Page / Photo By Charles Vasser
Photo of Morgan Powell via his Facebook Page / Photo By Charles Vasser

The Bronx Chronicle has just reported that beloved Bronx activist and environmentalist, Morgan Powell was found dead in Brooklyn (the circumstances of which have yet to be provided). Powell, founder of the Bronx River Sankofa which “celebrates the 350+ years journey of African Americans with an emphasis on ecological culture & history along the Bronx River”, was a powerful force for change in The Bronx and how we viewed our own history through his walking tours. (Make sure to check out his last tour: A Hunts Point Walk)

The loss to our borough is incalculable.  The knowledge that Powell not only possessed but made sure to SHARE with the community made him one of the most important historians of our beautiful borough.

I first met Morgan back in April 2011 when Landmarks Commission began the discussion to create the Grand Concourse Historic District.  Since then we always remained in touch and our paths would cross many times through the course of our activism, including contributing to Welcome2TheBronx.

Mark Naison, PhD, Professor of African American Studies and History at Fordham University had this to say to Welcome2TheBronx on Powell’s passing:

“When we started the Bronx African American History Project in the Spring of 2003, one of its most enthusiastic supporters was a young man named Morgan Powell who was a professional gardener and had a passionate feeling about Bronx communities and the people who lived in them. Not only did he feel that the contributions of Black people in the Bronx had been neglected, he was committed to making the great network of waterways that ran through and surrounded the Bronx more accessible to its residents. Morgan not only helped us recruit interviews for our project, he began doing pioneering research on his own on the history of the Bronx River and its impact on adjoining communities, particularly residents of color. His research took him back into colonial times and before long, Morgan had actually developed a series of walking tours that had the twin purpose of teaching people about this history and turning them into advocates for conservation of waterways and green spaces. His tours and lectures became among the most sought after events publicizing Black History in the Bronx. But what was so amazing is how he did this incredible research without grants, and offered his tours free of charge. It is hard to think of another person who gave so much to our communities with such brilliance and generosity of spirit. Not only that, but Morgan donated all of his research materials to the Bronx African American History Project so future generations of scholars, as well as current researchers would have access to them. What he did for our project, and for the people of the Bronx is wonderful, awe-inspiring and quite frankly history making.

I cannot put in words how devastated I am by his death. Morgan was warm, funny, generous, ironic, entertaining. He lit up any room he was in. He set an example of passion for knowledge and generosity of spirit that, in my lifetime, I have rarely seen equaled and and rarely surpassed. RIP My Brother. I Love You. And will miss you terribly”

Many of us who knew him, for whatever length of time, know Dr. Naison’s words to be true.

On one of his last postings on Facebook, Morgan said, “For anyone wondering why I post so little on Facebook, know that I am committed to enjoying sunshine! If I’ve neglected our friendship or you need me somehow, just e-mail me and let’s get together in the real (opposed to the digital) world. Concourse.vision@gmail.com is our portal to good times. “Sunshine almost always makes me high…”

IF YOU KNOW OF ANY LIVING RELATIVES OF MORGAN POWELL, PLEASE CONTACT IMMEDIATELY AT info@welcome2thebronx.com

RIP, Morgan, know that you were a true, Bronx Hero and we lost a little bit of our light.  This one’s for you:

Morgan in the media:

Environmentalist Digs Up Bronx History – Voices of NY, May 30, 2014

Environmentalist Reveals Little Known History – Hunts Point Express, May 30, 2014

Morgan Powell Discusses Upcoming Walking Tour – BronxNet TV

Tour will provide tales of African-American history along parts of the Bronx River Greenway – NY Daily News, February 20, 2011

Revealing The Buried Afro-American History Of The Bronx River – Norwood News, November 9, 2011

River of Hope in The Bronx – New York Times, July 19, 2012
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Video: Bronx Artist Wants To Live The ‘Good Life’

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Still from Christopher Estrada's video, 'Goodlife"
Still from Christopher Estrada’s video, ‘Goodlife”

You may remember earlier this year when we interviewed Bronx born and raised artist Christopher Estrada when he launched his first single and video.  Well almost 9 months later, he’s getting ready to launch his first album titled ‘1414’ (available for pre-sale on iTunes and comes out 10/14/14 – see what he did there?)

In anticipation of the album, he’s launched the video for his song, ‘Goodlife’ and it’s definitely a keeper.  Filmed entirely in The Bronx — in Co-op City to be exact — the video is a fun, upbeat, and playful montage of Estrada just being himself and having fun.

One of my favorite lines from the song is when he sings (and the last line is true for many Bronxites!):

“And throughout the day, remember your lonely nights, remember your darkness… Remember it all your life. Don’t ever forget where you come from.”

So what are you waiting for, check out the video and share it with your friends, family and networks and help support this local Bronx artist!

Don’t forget to read the interview we did back in January!

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City Planning Wants Bronx Residents & Community Involvement in Cromwell-Jerome Study Area

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New York City Department of City Planning recently made headlines with the announcement of the Cromwell-Jerome Study Area that straddles the Bronx neighborhoods of Highbridge, University Heights, Morris Heights, Mount Hope, and the Concourse.  The study encompasses a massive 57 block corridor with Jerome Avenue as its spine.

According to an update from City Planning:

“The first Cromwell-Jerome Planning Group meeting was held on September 30, 2014, at Bronx-Lebanon Hospital.  More than thirty residents, stakeholders, local elected officials and community-based organizations brainstormed on the Cromwell-Jerome Neighborhood study, key topics that should be addressed, roles for City agencies, and best ways to engage the broader community.

Upcoming Events:
DCP invites the public to join Community Walking Tours of the study area. The first tour is scheduled for Saturday, October 18th from 11AM-12PM and will provide a general overview of the study area. The second tour is scheduled for Saturday, October 25th from 11AM-12PM and will focus on transportation and parks in and around the study area. The tours will begin at the NW corner of the Grand Concourse and East 167th Street in front of the High Life Deli and Grocery.

Please check the webpage regularly for updates on the study and upcoming events.

For more information on the Cromwell-Jerome Neighborhood study, contact the Bronx Office of the Department of City Planning at 718.220.8500.”

That being said, it is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT for residents of the neighborhood to participate in these meetings and walking tours so that the community can voice what they want to happen (or not happen) in the very neighborhoods they live in.

Below is the Cromwell-Jerome Neighborhood Study in its entirety thus far.  You can view it directly by visiting the Department of City Planning Website.

Cromwell-Jerome Neighborhood Study Copyright 2014 The City of New York

Introduction

Cromwell-Jerome Land Use and Zoning Map
Cromwell-Jerome Land Use and Zoning Map
PDF Document View a larger image.

In support of Mayor de Blasio’s Housing New York Plan, the Department of City Planning (DCP) proposes to lead a ground-up neighborhood planning study to revitalize the area surrounding Cromwell and Jerome avenues in the Bronx. DCP and sister agencies will engage residents, businesses, and other stakeholders to strengthen established residential neighborhoods, promote new housing opportunities for residents at all income levels, and increase economic opportunity through the creation of a community-driven neighborhood plan centered on affordable housing in Community District 4 and Community District 5 in the Bronx. The 73-block Cromwell-Jerome area is strategically located adjacent to the Cross Bronx Expressway, west of the Grand Concourse, and spans Jerome Avenue from East 184th Street in the north to McClellan St/East 167th Street to the south. The area is surrounded by the strong residential communities of Highbridge, Mount Eden, Concourse, Mount Hope, and Morris Heights.Many community stakeholders have suggested that the Cromwell-Jerome area should be revitalized to meet existing area needs and plan for the future. Through the planning process, City Planning will seek to address the needs of local residents, businesses, and institutions. It will evaluate and identify opportunities to promote a range of elements to support community vitality: affordable housing, job growth and training, economic development, cultural activities, pedestrian safety, parks, schools and daycare, retail and services. The study will promote coordinated investments in infrastructure and services to shape a resilient, sustainable community. The study will result in a plan for land use and zoning changes, including the application of a mandatory Inclusionary Housing program within the area.

Neighborhood Profile
The neighborhood study provides a tremendous opportunity to build on the area’s many assets to support the needs of residents and businesses and develop strategies to address its challenges. The study area is well served by mass transit with six stations on the elevated 4 train; the B/D train runs along the Grand Concourse three blocks to the east, and several bus lines that provide connections to other parts of the Bronx and Manhattan. Parts of the area experience congestion and lack pedestrian amenities such as adequate sidewalks, street trees, and benches.

Step street at E. 176 Street and Jerome Avenue
Step street at E. 176 Street and Jerome Avenue

The study area is developed primarily with low-scale commercial, industrial, and auto-related uses, but it also includes more than 5,000 residential units. Almost a hundred years ago, the heart of the Cromwell-Jerome area was developed as a service district to provide parking and other services to the dense residential communities that surround the area, and today includes a high number of parking facilities and auto-related uses. In most of the study area, existing zoning allows heavy commercial and light industrial uses and does not permit residential development. The Cromwell-Jerome area disconnects the residential neighborhood of Highbridge to the west from local services/retail and transit access to the east.

East 167th Street, East 170th Street, Mount Eden Ave, Edward L. Grant Highway, Tremont Avenue, and Burnside Avenue are vibrant local retail corridors in the area. More than 80% of the housing stock in the surrounding area was constructed prior to 1950 and is comprised mostly of 6-8 story apartment buildings. Vacancy rates in the area are significantly lower than the Bronx and NYC as a whole.

The 44th Police Precinct is located at E. 168th Street and Jerome Avenue. New schools recently developed in the area include the New Settlement Community Campus and the Morris Heights Educational Complex. Two charter schools are located in the area. The Cromwell-Jerome area has several small pocket parks and playgrounds that are well utilized; Mullaly Park, located to the south of the study area, is the largest park within walking distance. Bronx Museum of the Arts, Bronx Lebanon Hospital, and Bronx Community College are located just outside the study area.

 

Jerome Avenue - low-scale industrial and auto-related uses
Jerome Avenue – low-scale industrial and auto-related uses
Elevated view at 175th Street
Elevated view at 175th Street
E Clark Pl and Jerome Avenue
E. Clark Place and Jerome Avenue
Open Parking at 170 Street
Open Parking at 170 Street
New School and Community Facility on Goble Place
New School and Community Facility on Goble Place
Keltch Park at Jerome Avenue and E. 170 Street
Keltch Park at Jerome Avenue and E. 170 Street
Jerome Avenue and E. 170 Street
Jerome Avenue and E. 170 Street

Coordinated Planning
As part of the city’s commitment to coordinated neighborhood planning, DCP and numerous City agencies will work collaboratively with the community to identify neighborhood needs and opportunities for investments that will support the long-term growth and sustainability of the area. There will be a concerted effort to align capital investments with the goals and objectives set forth as part of the neighborhood planning process. Among the City agencies DCP will partner with on the neighborhood plan are the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), Department of Small Business Services (SBS), Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), School Construction Authority (SCA), NYC Economic Development Corporation (EDC), and the Mayor’s Office of Environmental Remediation (MOER). In addition, as part of the neighborhood study, DCP’s Transportation Division and Bronx Office have initiated a transportation study of the area. The purpose of this study is to identify existing problematic locations in terms of traffic and transportation, and identify circulation, mobility, safety and access improvements for all roadway users, with an emphasis on pedestrian safety and walkability. Recommendations for improvements will be intended to serve the existing community as well as future needs. The transportation recommendations will be developed in consultation with local stakeholders, and in partnership with the New York City Department of Transportation (CDOT).

Walking Tour Flyer
PDF Document View Walking Tour Flyer

Community Engagement
Community engagement will play a pivotal role in the creation and implementation of the neighborhood study. DCP intends for the neighborhood study to reflect the community’s vision for the neighborhood, and the agency will strive for local ownership of the study’s goals and vision in partnership with city agencies.With assistance from the Cromwell-Jerome Planning Group (CJPG), established for the purpose of advising the agencies on the study, DCP will lead a wide range of events and activities throughout the process to facilitate public participation and engage the community in the visioning process including: walking tours, visioning sessions, surveys, small group discussions, and focus groups. The Planning Group includes Community Board 4, Community Board 5, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr., CM Vanessa Gibson, CM Fernando Cabrera, WHEDCO, New Settlement Houses, Highbridge Community Development Corporation, Mount Hope Housing, Bronx-Lebanon Hospital, and others.  The Planning Group was launched in September 2014.Update:
The first Cromwell-Jerome Planning Group meeting was held on September 30, 2014, at Bronx-Lebanon Hospital.  More than thirty residents, stakeholders, local elected officials and community-based organizations brainstormed on the Cromwell-Jerome Neighborhood study, key topics that should be addressed, roles for City agencies, and best ways to engage the broader community.

Member of the Cromwell-Jerome Planning Group review the group’s mission and discuss ground rules.
Member of the Cromwell-Jerome Planning Group review the group’s mission and discuss ground rules.
Planning group member Tom Herrera discusses assets and challenges related to transportation in the study area.
Planning group member Tom Herrera discusses assets and challenges related to transportation in the study area.

Upcoming Events:
DCP invites the public to join Community Walking Tours of the study area. The first tour is scheduled for Saturday, October 18th from 11AM-12PM and will provide a general overview of the study area. The second tour is scheduled for Saturday, October 25th from 11AM-12PM and will focus on transportation and parks in and around the study area. The tours will begin at the NW corner of the Grand Concourse and East 167th Street in front of the High Life Deli and Grocery.

Please check the webpage regularly for updates on the study and upcoming events.

For more information on the Cromwell-Jerome Neighborhood study, contact the Bronx Office of the Department of City Planning at 718.220.8500.


PDF Document Items accompanied by this symbol require the free Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Copyright 2014 The City of New York

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The Bronx Artist Documentary Project Needs Your Help!

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From our friends at The Bronx Artist Documentary Project:

Artist King Bee photographed for the Bronx Artist Documentary Project by Brian Nobili
Artist King Bee photographed for the Bronx Artist Documentary Project by Brian Nobili

Imagine a book
filled with beautiful photographs
taken by Bronx photographers
depicting Bronx artists
at work — right now — right here
in the Bronx!

The Bronx Artist Documentary Project exhibition (100 photographs on view now at the Andrew Freedman Home) deserves to  live on for eternity in a beautiful, hardcover, full-color, coffee-table book — a testament to the creative cauldron that is The Bronx today!

YOU CAN HELP MAKE HISTORY!
Donate to our KICKSTARTER CAMPAIGN so that this book becomes a reality!
Pre-order your copy (what a great gift)!  Tell your friends– Tweet it –Post it!

This is an entirely Bronx-based project —  show us the love and support the arts and artists of the Bronx! 

We’ve raised 33% of our goal, with only days left of the Campaign.  You can make a difference — pledges start at just $1.00.  Everyone who donates will receive acknowledgment in the book, plus there are many other unique rewards.

Thank you for your support!

The BxADP Team

Bronx Artist Documentary Project
#bxadp
@bxadp

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Hostos Community College: Its Unique History and Place in the South Bronx Community

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Hostos Community College on the Grand Concourse and 149th Street.
Hostos Community College on the Grand Concourse and 149th Street.

Tomorrow, Tuesday October 7th, Bronx resident William Casari, Assistant Professor (and College Archivist and Instruction Librarian) at Hostos Community College will be presenting on Hostos Community College and its history in the South Bronx.  The event is FREE and open to the public, just make sure to RSVP.

Details are as follows:

Tuesday, October 7, 2014
4 p.m. – 6 p.m.
NYC Department of Records and Information Services
1st Floor Lobby
31 Chambers Street, New York, NY 10007

Please join us for an interesting and informative presentation Hostos Community College: Its Unique History and Place in the South Bronx Community since 1968 by William Casari, Asst. Professor at Hostos Community College of the City University of New York. Professor Casari, a dynamic speaker, also serves as the College Archivist and Instruction Librarian. This interesting and informative event is in celebration of our latest exhibit The Last County: The Bronx, 1914-2014 and NYC Archives Week.

Please feel free to pass the invitation along to family, friends and colleagues.

We hope to see you there!

Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge

 

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Sponsored Ad:

Sponsored Ad: New School In Mott Haven has seats available for Kindergarten and 1st Grade Students!

 

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Yay or Nay on Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown Bronx Episode?

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Why not order an alcapuria?  Photo: Hugh Merwin via Chris Crowley's article, 'What To Order at 188 Cuchifritos' at Grubstreet
Why not order an alcapuria?
Photo: Hugh Merwin via Chris Crowley’s article, ‘What To Order at 188 Cuchifritos’ at Grubstreet

So finally we got to see The Bronx on CNN for Anthony Bourdain’s popular Parts Unknown series.  The show focused on some expected cultures and cuisines and lacked in others that represents the borough.  Overall, based on twitter feedback and social media, many folks liked the show but others absolutely hated the portrayal of our Bronx in the episode. Personally, I loved the episode despite its flaws and it was a fun journey to parts KNOWN to this and many other Bronxites.

Watching our legendary Bronx Borough historian, Lloyd Ultan, aka the Professor, wax nostalgic about the birth of hip hop and various other Bronx Facts was a delight as well as watching our culinary ambassador, Baron Ambrosia join forces with Bourdain.

We would love to know what YOU thought of the show which aired last night.  Did you enjoy it? Did you cringe? Did you feel nostalgic and wanting to come back home if you now live elsewhere?  Tell us your thoughts, don’t hold back, we really want to know.

In the meantime, if you’re interested in the places that were featured in last night’s Parts Unknown The Bronx episode, check out Helen Cho’s list (she’s described as Anthony Bourdain’s consigliere and works behind the scenes with him and on social media).

Also, Chris Crowley lets us know what to order from 188 Cuchifritos that Bourdain and Baron Ambrosia chowed down at in the beginning of the episode.

If you want to learn more about the event where Baron Ambrosia was introduced at the party where Anthony Bourdain said, “…and he throws parties where he serves creatures that would make Andrew Zimmern turn gray and slump unconscious on the floor…”, just go here: Insects & Small Game On The Menu Make For A Big, Unforgettable Experience in The Bronx.

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Sponsored Ad:

Sponsored Ad: New School In Mott Haven has seats available for Kindergarten and 1st Grade Students!
Sponsored Ad: New School In Mott Haven has seats available for Kindergarten and 1st Grade Students! Click Image for details!

 

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Seats Still Available at New School in Mott Haven

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Sponsored Ad:

Slide1

Family Life Academy Charter Schools III is a new school located at 296 East 140th Street in the Lower Concourse area of Mott Haven.  The school currently has two (2) open seats for Kindergarten children and twenty (20) seats for First Graders.

The school offers rigorous curriculum by certified teachers and features iPads in every classroom for student educational uses.  Dance programs as well as health and wellness programs are available for all grades as well as balanced and nutritious meals.

For more information, contact Ms Jeanette Iglesias at 718-665-2805 Mon- Fri from 8:30AM – 4:30PM

Children at FLACS III in Mott Haven
Children at FLACS III in Mott Haven

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Life And Death On The Avocado Trail – A Story Of A Bronx Mom & Pop Shop

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Denisse Chavez, owner of Mott Haven's El Atoradero / Photo by Jessica Bal for Narritively
Denisse Chavez, owner of Mott Haven’s El Atoradero / Photo by Jessica Bal for Narritively

You’ve probably read some of Chris Crowley’s reviews on Bronx restaurants over at Serious Eats but this is one story you’ll want to sit down, relax and read.  It’s about the lengths that the owners of the Mexican restaurant, El Atoradero, go through to bring its patrons just the home style cooking that they’re seeking.

Crowley writes:

“In December of 2013, Denisse Chavez and her husband were stopped by two unmarked white cars while driving north on the highway out of Reynosa in the Tamaulipas state of Mexico. The vehicles had been tailing her own car, a worn-out 2002 model that her mechanic’s tools permanently called home, for four or five miles. It was a scene she had witnessed many times before.

A small-time importer and business owner in the Mott Haven neighborhood of the Bronx, Chavez, forty-nine, had been traveling by car from New York to Puebla, driving over 5,000 miles each trip, for almost six years. Along the route she’d seen gunfights break out before her eyes, as well as robberies and kidnappings. But she always escaped unscathed. Typically, she made the trip to stock her Bronx bodega, El Atoradero. This time, she had gone to Monterrey to purchase equipment for her then-forthcoming restaurant.

The risk implicit in the journey was not lost on her. She knew the price of traveling through an unforgiving desert engulfed in a violent drug war. Her son routinely begged her not to go. But Chavez was willing to traverse a distance one-third the length of the North American continent, despite the violence in northern Mexico, because of her profound love for her culture. She did it for the minty taste of the dried avocado criollo leaves from her sister’s farm; because she was unwilling to suffer the muted flavor of chilies masquerading as Mexican.

“When I go to Mexico, I always leave a letter for my children, because on the highway you never know what’s going to happen. I’m not scared, because, as I tell my husband, ‘I already leave what I’m supposed to leave,’” Chavez says without hesitation, rubbing her palms together as if to say, I am finished here. “So I tell my children, ‘When something happens to me in Mexico, please, don’t send anything, don’t answer the phone, you don’t know me. Leave me. Just leave me.’”

Head over to Narritively and read this amazing story of perseverance and business owners unwilling to compromise the taste buds of their patrons.

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Anthony Bourdain Tells WNYC: ‘The Bronx Is a Magical Place’

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Lloyd Ultan, speaking on The Bronx being the birthplace of Hip Hop on Anthony Bourdain's Parts Unknown
Lloyd Ultan, speaking on The Bronx being the birthplace of Hip Hop on Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown

Anthony Bourdain was intereviewed by WNYC just in time for Sunday’s premier of his Parts Unknown Bronx Episode.  He told WNYC that about The Bronx that, “…for no reason at all I know so little about it…I was and still am largely ignorant of this awesome space filled with good stuff.

Listen to his interview as he talks about eating Garifuna delights and watch yet another new sneak peek of Sunday’s episode featuring our official Bronx Borough Historian, Lloyd Ultan:

WNYC Interview:

Sneak Peak Video:

When Bourdain first mentioned The Bronx last December in an interview with The Gothamist, Welcome2TheBronx was the FIRST and only ones to write that if he indeed came up here, he HAD to team up with Baron Ambrosia for a tour of our borough’s culinary delights!

Watch the first sneak peek video here.

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