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amNY Spotlights Bedford Park

News

Ed García Conde

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July 23, 2013

Photo credit: A mural near the intersection of E 198th Street at Bainbridge Ave.
Photo by: Anthony Lanzilote

Bedford Park up North is one of the many wonderful communities that make up our rich borough. What do you like about the neighborhood?! What do you dislike?!

Via amNY:

Friendly community in Bedford Park: Rich in history, greenery and good schools

by LISA FRASER, amny.com
July 17th 2013

If you’re in the market for a 24-hour, bustling neighborhood with restaurants that line streets, sibilant sounds of outdoor diners and a hotbed of nightlife activity, Bedford Park won’t do.

But for those seeking a relatively quiet neighborhood known for its schools, greenery and history, it is perfect.

The enclave, nestled among the Kingsbridge, Fordham and Norwood neighborhoods, is home to some of the Bronx’s oldest buildings.

The Bedford Park Congregational Church, the oldest church in the neighborhood, dating back to 1882, sits at the corner of Bainbridge Avenue and East 201st Street. It was given landmark status by the Landmarks Preservation Commission in 2000.

The neighborhood is also highly regarded for its educational institutions — including Herbert H. Lehman College of the City University of New York on Goulden Avenue and Academy of Mount St. Ursula High School, an all-girls prep school that is the oldest Catholic high school for girls in New York State.

Bedford Park also is home to two specialized high schools: the Bronx High School of Science and the High School of American Studies at Lehman College.

According to Bronx Community Board 7, Winston Churchill’s grandfather Leonard Jerome owned much of Bedford Park in the mid-19th century.

Jerome built a racecourse there in 1866 that was later converted into the Jerome Park Reservoir.

Once heavily populated by Irish and Jewish residents who worked on the construction of the reservoir, Bedford Park’s demographics have changed radically in recent years. Now, blacks and Hispanics, including Mexicans and Dominicans, live alongside Koreans, Chinese, Vietnamese and a Caribbean community.

“The neighborhood is always changing,” said Michael Prendergast Jr., the owner of the Jolly Tinker bar. “But that’s the interesting part of the pulse of the Bronx: The vibe is always changing.”

Bronx borough historian Lloyd Ultan says Bedford Park has an unusual combination of advantages, ranging from accessibility to cultural institutions and history.
“You have the D train, The New York Botanical Garden and Lehman College’s Center for Performing Arts as well as their art gallery,” he said, while also noting the area’s historical houses of worship and well-known schools.

“It’s relatively quiet. You don’t have the raucous sounds of midtown, but you do have all the advantages of midtown, and you can get there if you wanted to in 15 minutes,” he said.

Bedford Park boasts a mix of architecture, most of it harking back to the old days. Five- and six-story Art Deco-style buildings line two of its main corridors, the Grand Concourse and Mosholu Parkway.

And though mostly full of low- and mid-rise buildings, it’s also home to a prominent development: the 41-story Tracey Towers on Mosholu Parkway, which looms high, dwarfing surrounding buildings.

Nestled on side streets, many Victorian homes stand out, some of them painted in bright colors. On corridors such as Bedford Park Boulevard and 198th Street, the old-style houses are juxtaposed with walk-ups and modern architectural styles.

This part of the Bronx also boasts some greenery, as it is bordered on the east by The New York Botanical Garden. The Mosholu Parkway Greenway, a green space that divides Mosholu Parkway South and Mosholu Parkway North, is a recreational area for families to gather and enjoy an afternoon. Local playgrounds are also available for kids.

Outside of its boundaries, the Bronx Zoo is just minutes away, as is the Mosholu Golf Course and massive Van Cortland Park.

***

FIND IT
Bedford Park is bounded on the west by Goulden Avenue/ Lehman College and on the east by Webster Avenue/New York Botanical Garden. It runs north to south from Mosholu Parkway to 194th Street/West Kingsbridge Road.

***

THE BASICS

TRANSPORTATION
The area is relatively accessible, with bus and train service shuttling passengers to other parts of the Bronx and Manhattan in less than an hour.

Trains
4 train to Bedford Park Boulevard station, Mosholu Parkway station and Kingsbridge Road. Metro-North trains at the Botanical Garden station.
D train to Bedford Park Boulevard and Kingsbridge Road stations; B during designated hours.

Buses
— Bx1
— Bx2
— Bx10
— Bx22
— Bx26
— Bx28
— Bx32
— Bx34
— BxM4

LIBRARY
The New York Public Library’s Bronx Library Center is a little past Bedford Park’s southern boundary at 310 E. Kingsbridge Rd. 718-579-4244.

POST OFFICE
USPS, 2549 Jerome Ave. 718-364-8432.

***

CRIME
The 52nd Precinct, whose station is at 3016 Webster Ave., covers Bedford Park. Though relatively safe on the whole, the area experienced some violence recently. A 20-year-old man was shot at the corner of Bedford Park Boulevard and Webster Avenue on June 2, according to the local Norwood News newspaper. He is expected to live. So far, for 2013, the precinct has had four murders, according to its NYPD CompStat report. Historically, murders decreased here from 43 in 1993 to six in 2012. There were 545 robberies, 413 burglaries and 630 grand larcenies in 2012.

***

TO EAT
Bedford Café Restaurant, 1 E. Bedford Park Blvd. At this well-known Bedford Park spot, breakfast is served all day, along with gourmet sandwiches and wraps as well as steak and seafood entrees. It is open 24 hours a day. 718-365-3446.

Com Tam Ninh Kieu, 2641 Jerome Ave. This spot serves up traditional Vietnamese dishes such as bun rieu, a soup loaded with chunks of fish and vermicelli noodles, and pho, the popular Vietnamese street food. 718-365-2680.

Webster Café, 2873 Webster Ave. Located right on the outskirts of The New York Botanical Garden, Webster Café offers convenience for visitors and locals, not to mention inexpensive dining. The unbeatable jumbo burgers are a hit, as well as their anytime omelet choices. 718-733-9634.

TO PARTY
Bedford Park isn’t the most popping nighttime spot, but the area has its share of bars and a few restaurants which stay open into the later hours:

Jolly Tinker, 2875 Webster Ave. A favorite haunt for many local college students, it’s known for affordable drink specials (Tinker Tuesdays), karaoke Fridays and pool in the back room. But it’s still worth a visit for postcollegiate would-be patrons, since it is one of the oldest bars in the Bronx. 718-364-8789.

Madden’s Bedford Pub, 27 Bedford Park Blvd. This small watering hole is another late-night spot that offers a friendly community atmosphere. 718-364-9877.

Karina Restaurant and Bar, 2776 Webster Ave. Conveniently located next to The New York Botanical Garden, residents can grab a bite to eat here and drink into the morning on weekends. 718-562-3030.

TO SHOP
Bedford Park only offers a handful of stores where residents can shop. However, a short walk just outside its boundaries to the Fordham Shopping Center outdoor mall on Fordham Road, the businesses along Kingsbridge Road or to Jerome Avenue just beyond Moshulu Parkway make up for any lack of retail.

Porta Bella, 3449 Jerome Ave. Steps away from the Mosholu Parkway boundary, this discount store specializes in menswear and offers everything from formal to casual clothing. 718-231-4736.

The Children’s Place, 2511 Grand Concourse. Part of the Fordham Shopping Center, the children’s clothing chain is known for its trendy selection of apparel and accessories for newborns and kids. 718-563-5591.

Easy Pickins, 15 East Fordham Rd. Known for affordable women’s fashions, Easy Pickins offers some of the latest styles for affordable prices. The store also sells shoes and accessories. 718-562-2695.

TO DO
The New York Botanical Garden, 2900 Southern Blvd. Bedford Park is located right beside the 240-acre New York Botanical Garden, which provides a quick, convenient escape for residents of the area. An exhibition on healing plants from around the world is on view until Sept. 18. 718-817-8700.

Lehman Center for the Performing Arts, 250 Bedford Park Blvd. This local cultural center is a prime spot offering affordable fine art performances, from plays to musical acts. The next season starts Aug. 17 with salsa singer Ismael Miranda. 718-960-8833.

Mosholu Playground and Mosholu Parkway Greenway
On the weekend, residents of Bedford Park and nearby areas gather and relax on the green space that divides Mosholu Parkway South and Mosholu Parkway North. The Mosholu Playground, located on the parkway’s southern road between Briggs and Bainbridge avenues, is also a good place for families with children to enjoy the outdoors.

***

THE BUZZ
According to the Department of City Planning, Webster Avenue and parts of Bedford Park were approved in 2011 by the City Planning Commission and the New York City Council for rezoning.

The rezoning aimed to allow mid-density housing, promote retail and residential projects on Webster Avenue and preserve the low-density character of the adjacent residential areas in Bedford Park and neighboring Norwood.

The city aims to make Webster Avenue more inviting and walkable with the new residential and commercial developments.

In most of the new residential buildings, commercial development is required for the ground floor.

On a concerning note, PS 51 The Bronx New School in Bedford Park was shuttered in 2011 due to contamination by the toxic chemical trichloroethylene, or TCE.
According to a report issued in July by the state Department of Health, an investigation in 2011 found that TCE levels were 10 times the state’s legal limit.

The report also stated that students and teachers in the building at 3220 Jerome Ave. were placed at an increased but “low” risk of developing cancer and other ailments.

Students and teachers were relocated to another building, but according to the local Norwood News newspaper, parents are still concerned about the long-term effects of the chemical on their children’s health.

***

Q & A with Michael Prendergast, owner of The Jolly Tinker

Michael Prendergast Jr. owns the Jolly Tinker, a well-known Bedford Park bar that his father, Michael Prendergast Sr., first opened in 1968.

Michael Jr. worked at the bar during his college years and was always primed to take over. The bar’s building had been a speakeasy before Prendergast Sr. opened the Jolly Tinker.

Describe Bedford Park. What have you witnessed in the time you’ve been here?
The vibe is always changing. In the ’70s and ’80s, it was very Irish, and now it’s changed dramatically. It’s a mixed melting pot, and you see it in the bar. We’ve been right here on this strip for 45 years and seen businesses come and go. It’s interesting to live through and see the change of the neighborhood.

What kinds of new developments and changes do you see now around the neighborhood?
There are new apartment buildings being built on Webster Avenue. Recently, a big parking structure was built for the Botanical Gardens across the street from us, so that eases the parking burden of people coming in. Some of the roads have also been repaved and sectioned off for bus lanes, and I see they’re planting trees on the sidewalks. It keeps changing, and I’m not exactly sure where it’ll be in the next few years, but we’ll still be here to talk about it.

Are there any drawbacks to living here?
We are a bit underserved. The post office here closes too early. There’s no place to get fresh vegetables and food, and there’s no banks within walking distance. I would like to see a bookstore and less fast food places. I think it would attract more people.

Murders and Shootings Continue To Dramatically Plunge In The Bronx

News

Ed García Conde

-

July 22, 2013

0

Murders and Shootings Continue To Dramatically Plunge In The Bronx

During the first half of the year there were 36 murders in the Bronx over 3x LESS than Philadelphia during the same period which has a similar size population.

23 years ago in 1990, the Bronx had approximately 603 murders in the entire year so as you can see, this is great news for the Bronx. This perception that the Bronx is unsafe and a violent place is a relic from the 90s.

Read the rest from the Daily News:

Mayor Bloomberg used his weekly radio show to tout deep reductions in shootings and murders so far this year.

Murders and shootings are both down 29% so far this year, Mayor Bloomberg said Sunday.

There were 168 murders through July 14 — down from 235 over the same period last year. And shootings fell from 763 to 545.

“That great news isn’t isolated to a few neighborhoods – every borough has gotten far safer,” said Mayor Bloomberg, who touted the results in his weekly radio address.

Overall crime dropped more modestly, by 2.2%.

Bloomberg said the Bronx, where murders have dropped 36%, is on pace to have fewer than 100 killings this year “for the first time since 1966, when Mickey Mantle was in centerfield at Yankee Stadium.”

He boasted that the Bronx and Brooklyn are now safer than whole cities with similar populations; the Bronx, for example, has about the same number of people as Philadelphia, but had 36 murders in the first half of the year, compared 116 in the City of Brotherly Love.

RELATED: EX-NYC MAYOR DINKINS TOLD: YOU LOST ON MERITS, NOT RACE

And Brooklyn had 71 homicides — fewer than half the 188 total for Chicago, which has roughly the same population, he said.

Bloomberg has aggressively defended the NYPD’s use of the controversial stop and frisk tactic as a key to the big drop in violent crime, though opponents disagree. The city had a record low 419 murders in 2012.

“We won’t stop working to keep guns off the streets and out of the hands of criminals,” he said.

But mayoral hopeful John Liu, who wants to end stop-and-frisk, disagreed with the mayor’s methods. “We can keep people in this city safe and keep crime low without having to humiliate hundreds of thousands of people, almost all of whom have done nothing wrong,” Liu said at a mayoral forum Sunday night.

Thousands Of Fraudulent Signatures, Including Derek Jeter’s, Found On Councilwoman Maria del Carmen Arroyo’s Petitions

News

Ed García Conde

-

July 19, 2013

0

Thousands Of Fraudulent Signatures, Including Derek Jeter’s, Found On Councilwoman Maria del Carmen Arroyo’s Petitions

Bryan Smith for New York Daily News

Maria del Carmen Arroyo (right) is greeted by Council Member Diana Reyna.

First of all in the interest of full disclosure, I am a volunteer with the Julio Pabón campaign for City Council District 17 which is currently controlled by Maria del Carmen Arroyo.

Like every single other volunteer on the Pabón campaign we are UNPAID by choice for we believe Julio Pabón will bring the exact leadership our district sorely needs as well as bring back integrity to the Bronx.

I have known Julio for about 5 years or so and have watched how he gives back to the community. He does not only simply becomes a voice for the people and the voiceless but he provides those very folks and organizations with his knowledge and experience and equips them to learn to have their voices heard as well as how to successfully organize.

During those same years, I’ve watched my district stay stagnant in terms of progress for the residents. Unemployment is still at all time highs. Our community lacks basic access to services and educational programs that will help them advance in life instead of remaining stuck in a rut of perpetual public assistance.

Then there is the never ending scandals of corruption tied to her and her mother Carmen Arroyo – a political dynasty that over and over has stuffed the coffers of their own nonprofits so that they can live lavish lives as the community suffers.

Yesterday, Denis Slattery of the New York Daily News released an exclusive which we at the campaign already knew about: Her corruption extended to thousands of fraudulent signatures collected during the petition process of the reelection campaign. Including that of Derek Jeter!

Signatures her campaign paid thousands of dollars to volunteers to collect.

With all the articles in the media I’ve presented to the community on her dirty politics, how can we allow her to continue representing us?

Read the exclusive below!

EXCLUSIVE: Derek Jeter’s signature shows up on Councilwoman Maria del Carmen Arroyo’s petitions
by Denis Slattery, m.nydailynews.com
July 18th 2013 7:39 PM

Signatures from Maria del Carmen Arroyo’s petitions include many apparent forgeries, including “Derek Jeter Jr.”

Future Hall of Famer Derek Jeter, New York Giant defensive tackle Rocky Bernard and top sportscaster Joe Buck all live at a rundown, six-floor walkup at Lafayette Ave. in the South Bronx.

That is, if you believe petition signatures submitted by ethically challenged City Councilwoman Maria del Carmen Arroyo.

Arroyo’s team gathered 3,863 signatures — far more than the 450 she needs to make the ballot for her re-election bid — but her challenger is disputing 3,437 of the signatures.

And two pages in particular are Exhibit A and B in the challenge.

One page is filled with signatures that appear to be forgeries, including those of Jeter, Bernard, and Buck — though it is unclear if the Buck signature is meant to be the sportscaster or the fictional character at the center of iconic New York film, “Midnight Cowboy.”

Another page of signatures collected by a different campaign staffer features identical handwriting on every line.

Residents of the Hunts Point think the petitions are blatant forgeries.

“I’ve never seen Jeter here,” said resident Juanita Velasquez. “Only on my wall.”

The 46-year-old independent voter was appalled that Arroyo would allow the apparently bogus names be submitted.

“It’s outrageous,” Velazquez said.

The volunteers that flagged the names work for Julio Pabon, the upstart candidate hoping to unseat Arroyo.

If all the flagged signatures are tossed, Arroyo will fail to make the ballot by about 25 ballots, a nearly unpredecented development since the number of required signatures was decreased in 2010.

Pabone and Arroyo are running to represent the 17th District, covering parts of Hunts Point, Morrisania, and Highbridge. Pabon said the allegedly faulty autographs show a contempt for the system.

“It’s almost like they are playing with a marked deck and that is not fair,” Pabon said. “If she had been doing her job, responding to the needs of the community, there would be no need to have Derek Jeter or Tom Jones on these forms.”

Betty Julien, the paid witness who collected Jeter’s script, says she never met the star, or entered the Lafayette Ave. building. But she defended the signature on the petition.

“We stand on the street and ask people if they can vote,” Julien said of the collection process. “We write down the address of the building they came out of and ask them to sign.”

Julien was paid $640 to collect signatures for Arroyo over four days last month, city records show.

“It must have been people joking around,” she said of the names.Perhaps, but someone apparently added the suffix “Jr.” to the Derek Jeter “signature,” perhaps realizing the star’s name would draw attention. Jeter does not, in fact, have a son.

Arroyo denied blame, saying she never personally checks her petitions, leaving it up to campaign staffers. But even she was surprised that the Yankee captain is on her team.

“Come on, that doesn’t say Derek Jeter. Really? Really?” Arroyo asked when confronted about the names.

The eight-year incumbent is countering the claims by challenging the 2,500 signatures Pabon collected.

“It’s part of the process,” Arroyo said.The Board of Elections will rule on the signatures as soon as next week.

The ballot controversy is just the latest ethical charge against Arroyo. Both she and her mom, Assemblywoman Carmen Arroyo have long been accused of nefarious dealings in the past, including funneling money to family-run nonprofits. And Arroyo’s nephew was convicted of embezzling $115,000 from a nonprofit founded by the assemblywoman.

Author: Denis Slattery

URGENT NEWS: Metro North Hudson Line Temporarily Suspended Due To Derailment

News

Ed García Conde

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July 19, 2013

0

Notification issued 7/19/13 at 2:30 AM. Per MTA, Metro-North Hudson Line Service will remain suspended until further notice due to a freight train derailment in the vicinity of Spuyten Duyvil station.

For the remainder of the evening, bus service will operate between Marble Hill and Ludlow Stations, where customers will be able to connect with shuttle train service.

For Friday morning peak service, customers are urged to make alternate service plans.

Please listen for announcements at your station and continue to check news media and http://new.mta.info/mnr for updates.

The sender provided the following contact information.
Sender’s Name: Notify NYC
Sender’s Email: notifynyc@oem.nyc.gov
Sender’s Contact Phone: 212-639-9675

Hey Bronx! How Do YOU Cool Off During This Heatwave?!

News

Ed García Conde

-

July 18, 2013

0

Hey Bronx! How Do YOU Cool Off During This Heatwave?!

How do you beat the heat? Cold fresh fruit? Walk around with an umbrella? How about a coquito? Or maybe Mr Softee?

Yes it may be stating the obvious but it is too hot out on these Bronx streets! Sure it’s summer but this heatwave we have going on has been a bit excessive and looking at the forecast there is no end until Sunday with the 90°+ temps!

How do you like to cool off and what ever happened to piraguas?!

Oh and don’t forget to check out this alert from the New York City Office of Emergency Management:

Whatever happened to piraguas? Growing up in the South Bronx in the 70s and 80s you couldn't walk a few blocks in the summer without running into the piragua.

Excessive heat and humidity through the end of the week.

Heat Advisory now in effect until midnight EDT tonight.

Excessive Heat Warning in effect from 11 am to 8 pm EDT Friday.

The National Weather Service in New York has issued an Excessive Heat Warning, which is in effect from 11 am to 8 pm EDT Friday.

Locations: the five boroughs of New York City.
Hazards: combination of high levels of heat and humidity.
Heat Index values: up to 102 this evening, and then up to 106 on Friday.
Timing: Highest heat index values will occur during the afternoon and early evening hours.
Impacts: If no protective action is taken, initial impacts include fatigue. Sunstroke, muscle cramps, and/or heat exhaustion are also possible.
Recommended actions
A Heat Advisory is issued for New York City when high humidity is expected to combine with hot temperatures to make it feel like it is at least 95 degrees for two consecutive days or 100 to 104 degrees for any length of time. Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an Air-conditioned room, stay out of the Sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors.
An Excessive Heat Warning is issued when the combination of heat and humidity is expected to make it feel like it is 105 degrees or greater. Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When possible, reschedule Strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Wear light weight and loose fitting clothing when possible and drink plenty of water.
New York City residents should call 3-1-1 or visit http://www.nyc.gov/oem to identify cooling center locations and to obtain Beat the Heat Safety Tips.
To Reduce Risk during outdoor work the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded Location. Heat Stroke is an emergency, call 9 1 1.

Heat Index (HI) values forecast to meet or exceed locally defined warning criteria for at least two days (Typical values: 1) Maximum daytime HI>=105°F north to110°F south and 2) Minimum nighttime lows >=75°F). Note: The Excessive Heat Warning/Heat Advisory criteria is highly variable in different parts of the country due to climate variability and the effect of excessive heat on the local population. Source: nws.noaa.gov

Race and Ethnic Relations In The Bronx – New Video By ProjectBronx

News

Ed García Conde

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July 18, 2013

0

Race and Ethnic Relations In The Bronx – New Video By ProjectBronx

Since the founding of our borough, the Bronx has been home to many races and ethnicities from across the globe.

As the centuries progressed and changed, so did the locations across the world that sent their huddled masses to us. We are one of the most ethnically diverse counties in the city and ProjectBronx is here today with a newly released video discussing race and ethnic relations amongst Bronxites.

You’ll hear very interesting insights and responses from our residents and some rather comedic ones as well.

Can you tell where someone’s from? How about identifying an Albanian vs Italian? Jamaican vs Trinidadian? Puerto Rican and Dominican?

See how our own rainbow tapestry of residents answer these questions and more!

Via ProjectBronx:

Click above or watch it here.

Published on Jul 17, 2013
We have many misconceptions about race or ethnicity and often times we are too afraid to even bring it up in public! However, a healthy conversation about race and ethnicity can actually teach us that we are all very similar and share the same dreams, struggles and ambitions!

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Twitter: @ProjectBronx @JuneBabyPro
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JuneBabyProd..

Yankee Stadium Parking Default A Painful Lesson When Sweetheart Deals Go Bad

News

Ed García Conde

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July 18, 2013

0

Yankee Stadium Parking Default A Painful Lesson When Sweetheart Deals Go Bad

Back in 2008 members of Congress slammed the tax funded Yankee Stadium deal as fraudulent tainted by gross misrepresentation of data including but not limited to parking lot attendance records.

Now, after the Yankee Stadium parking garage has defaulted on its bond payments this past April, the IRS is taking matters into its own hands by opening up an investigation into the details of the $237.6 million default – one of the largest defaults in New York City history in decades.

With such fiascos led by the NYCIDA (New York City Industrial Development Agency) we must ask ourselves why would our borough’s leadership accept another sweetheart deal, this time FreshDirect, by the IDA that would once again create a mess in the Bronx?

In 2011, Juan González of the Daily News said,

“No one should forget that this boondoggle came about because the Yankees – who have no involvement in the garages – put a gun to the city’s head. They demanded a 9,000-space parking system from the city and the state as part of agreeing to build a new stadium.

Now, those garages have become a financial swamp for taxpayers.

And right next door, Yankee Stadium raked in $396 million in its first year of operation in 2009 – just from the sale of tickets and luxury suites.

That’s more than double the old stadium’s revenues in 2007. And it’s $140 million more than the Yankees projected.

Yankees Win! City Loses! Again.

FreshDirect put the proverbial gun to the city’s head when they claimed they were going to move to New Jersey – a plan that clearly was not going to happen because of simply the added cost of bridge crossings and extra fuel it would take to deliver to their base in New York City, Westchester and Connecticut.

But back to the Yankees.

Instead of the multitude of empty parking spaces, we could have gotten a world class park for that kind of money or anything that would actually benefit the community and not burden it.

Crime having dropped dramatically in the Bronx as well as a reputation that our borough is going through a rebirth has shown that Yankee fans are no longer afraid to walk the streets of the South Bronx and are coming in record numbers via mass transit.

Let’s not forget that as part of the deal, the Yankees got a Metro North station at 153rd St opening up the stadium to thousands of fans by rail. Combined with 3 subway lines and express buses, the need for so many parking lots was irresponsible and disrespectful to the neighborhood that the Yankees share with the community.

Check out the following Via Reuters:

Hundreds Gather In Throgs Neck To Protest At Annual Bronx Democratic Party Fundraiser

News

Ed García Conde

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July 17, 2013

1

Hundreds Gather In Throgs Neck To Protest At Annual Bronx Democratic Party Fundraiser

According to both protestors and attendees of the costly fundraiser dinner event for the Bronx Democratic Party at Marina del Rey in Throgs Neck, never had they witnessed such a gathering of frustrated Bronxites at the annual event.

Today we witnessed an historic event of unprecedented proportions where Bronx residents came out to say no more to the corruption, the nepotism, the cronyism that plagues our borough.

Police officers from the 45th precinct were not prepared for the multitude of people and had to call for more officers as well as barricades to cordon off the rally.

For quite some time now we’ve been letting you know how Bronxites are waking up, fed up with the Bronx political machine. Today was proof of what we’ve been saying all along.

When I arrived with a neighbor to both document and support the protest there were perhaps a dozen folks. Several minutes later someone shouted, “Here comes backup!” and when I turned and looked down East Tremont Avenue I saw dozens of men and women marching in single file towards us chanting loudly.

As I got closer to the marchers, it became apparent that there was well over a hundred, proudly walking with their signs as they chanted, “What do we want? Jobs! When do we want it? NOW!” repeatedly over and over.

Once they got to the end of East Tremont, they gathered at either end of the entrance into Marina del Rey and the chants went on for almost two hours and getting louder as cars ferrying the Democratic elite or attendees walked in.

Local residents of the quiet and close knit community of Throgs Neck began looking from their homes on their balconies or just simply walked over in curiosity. Protestors answered questions, letting them know why we were there.

NYS Senator Serrano asked me as he came in what was the issue and if it was just one issue and I told him it was a multitude of issues. People were tired. He looked onto the crowd and proceeded into the catering hall.

Many of the union workers held signs criticizing Community Benefit Agreements – the nonbinding “promises” developers and corporations give our communities and elected officials in exchange for millions in grants and subsidies. They claim that these agreements result in no jobs for Bronxites such as the new Yankee Stadium deal that resulted in stiffing residents in the promised job creations.

Speaking of sweetheart deals filled with broken promises, the ring leader of the Yankee Stadium deal, former borough president Adolfo Carrion walked in as a candidate for mayor with his press entourage.

Carrion, rather than truly listen to the voices of the people, just pretended to listen to our demands and posed for photo ops which I’m sure will be spun to favor him somehow.

The protests continued with chants against FreshDirect’s sweetheart deal, stop and frisk, budget cuts made to needed programs yet how money always appears for these dirty deals.

When the flow of traffic into Marina del Rey died down and the revelers were inside dining and drinking at the $300 per person event, Ramon Jimenez, attorney and one of the founders of the Freedom Party as well as one of the organizers of today’s protest asked for a moment to speak.

Everyone quieted down and Jimenez thanked all who came out to fight against corruption. He said that today was an historic event for never in the history of the fundraiser has there been so many people uprising against the political machine.

He promised this to be the first of many and that the conversation must continue.

It seems that Bronxites have awoken and politicians should be scared. The undying loyalty that has been given to them is coming to an end and perhaps finally they will learn that they work for us and not the other way around.

Why The Arroyos Are A Cancer In The Bronx

News

Ed García Conde

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July 17, 2013

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Why The Arroyos Are A Cancer In The Bronx

The Arroyo ~~mafia~~ political dynasty has a penchant for making the news but rarely is it for something good. In some ways they remind me of the late mobster John Gotti who was infamously known as “the Teflon Don” because of the many charges that failed to stick before he was finally found guilty and sentenced.

Assemblywoman Carmen Arroyo and her daughter, Councilwoman Maria del Carmen Arroyo who is up for reelection in the 17 city council district have had their fair share of investigations on their corrupt dealings only to have had the elder’s grandson take the fall for their siphoning of money to their family non profit.

Like a cancerous tumor they slowly help destroy the very communities they are elected to serve. With all the monies flowing into their districts why are we still the poorest congressional district in the nation? Where are the much needed programs for our communities?

I often hear people say they support this government official or that one because they supported a bill that they felt was important to their cause yet they KNOWINGLY turn a blind eye to the irrefutable corruption before their eyes.

Here are two pieces on just how corrupt they both are.

Via NY Daily News:

Ethically tainted Bronx Assemblywoman Carmen Arroyo claims she won $28K — at a casino
After filing that she had no outside income, suddenly Arroyo reports $28,000. She claims ‘casino gambling’ as the source.

ASSEMBLYWOMAN Carmen Arroyo is either the luckiest woman in the Bronx or a very poor liar.

The legislator is claiming to have won almost $30,000 “casino gambling,” according to paperwork she filed with the State Joint Commission on Public Ethics.
Arroyo (D-Mott Haven) declared no outside earnings in 2012 when she handed in her annual statement of financial disclosures on May 15 — but a month later she sent in an amended form claiming a staggering $28,467 in earnings that she asserts came from gambling.

The lucky legislator will have to show receipts for the surprise windfall if the commission decides to investigate further.
It’s not impossible, given the finances of the Puerto Rican-born pol and her family have been questioned in the past.
Arroyo’s grandson, and former chief-of-staff, Ricardo Izquierdo Arroyo, spent 10 months in prison for embezzling $115,000 from a nonprofit that the pol founded and funded with taxpayer money.

City Councilwoman Maria del Carmen Arroyo, the assemblywoman’s daughter, has been investigated, but never formally charged, for ushering city funds into the South Bronx Community Corporation, a non-profit that employs her relatives.

She was also exposed for paying her husband as a “consultant” on her campaign payroll last year. He received more than $20,000 in privately donated funds.

Although not illegal, it “just doesn’t smell right,” Dick Dadey, of government watchdog group Citizens Union, told the News. “It smacks of inappropriate nepotism.”

The elder Arroyo had plenty of time to hit the slots this year, having only sponsored two bills in Albany since June of 2011.
“(The casino win) is very unusual, and the authorities will want to know why she filed late,” Democratic strategist Hank Scheinkopf said. “But if you go to gamble, you may want to have her with you.”

State legislators were also required to list affiliations with political groups in the financial disclosure forms.

But Arroyo failed to mention that she is a member of the Bronx Democratic County Committee and the New Horizons Democratic Club.

New Horizons was listed as as one of the top 20 political clubs in the city with unreported finances, according to Citizens Union.

Arroyo did not respond to requests for comment about her luck at the tables.

dslattery@nydailynews.com

Via City&State:

Council Watch: Nonprofiteers

We each have a favorite charity, one that reflects the causes or beliefs most dear to us. But politicians have come up with all sorts of off-label uses for nonprofit groups. They can be used to gussy up a thin résumé, as a machine for gaining and maintaining political power, or even as a source of funds when personal bank accounts run low.If you happen to be the Speaker of the City Council, shadow nonprofits can also be a great instrument to stow away millions of dollars for later distribution to favored groups.

The list of local politicians who have gone to prison because they looted or exploited nonprofit groups (a.k.a. “community based organizations”) is only a subset of New York’s roster of corrupt officials. Larry Seabrook, Miguel Martinez, Hiram Monserrate, Shirley Huntley, Pedro Espada (père et fils) … and that’s just off the top of my head. The aforementioned list also doesn’t include the many relatives and staff members of electeds who were involved in shady nonprofits, who may have taken a tumble in their boss’s stead.

In this first City Council Watch column for City & State, we examine some of the relationships between nonprofits and the New York City Council members and candidates whose political fortunes are entwined with them.

Bronx Councilwoman Maria del Carmen Arroyo has a long tangled history with the South Bronx Community Corporation, which her mother, Carmen Arroyo, ran, started in 1978. Over the years the SBCC received millions of dollars in grants to provide social services, and later became a developer of housing units for elderly and lower-income people using federal housing grants. It also became a base of operations and a source of local power for the Arroyo family: Carmen Arroyo was elected to the Assembly in 1994, and Maria del Carmen Arroyo, who under her married name, Maria Aguirre, took over the directorship of the organization from her mother, was elected to the Council in 2005. Oddly, the councilwoman cites her time as executive director of SBCC as a “volunteer” position on her official Council Web page, though IRS documents clearly show she was salaried.

Keeping the nonprofit in the family, Carmen Arroyo’s grandson Richard Izquierdo took over the SBCC as president and ended up draining more than $100,000 from its coffers, spending the money on lavish dinners, clothes and plane tickets for his councilwoman aunt and assemblywoman grandmother. He and SBCC Executive Director Margarita Villegas, a friend and campaign treasurer for del Carmen Arroyo, subsequently pleaded guilty to embezzlement charges and went to prison in 2010. Izquierdo’s elected relatives managed to avoid prosecution.

After his release from prison, Izquierdo was hired by another Bronx nonprofit, the Neighborhood Association for Inter-Cultural Affairs, headed by longtime family associate Eduardo LaGuerre, to which Councilwoman Arroyo had previously tried, albeit unsuccessfully, to steer a juicy housing contract.

In April 2013, 15 employees of the Puerto Rican Family Institute, which receives discretionary funding from Arroyo, made small contributions to her. Two PRFI employees independently confirmed to this columnist that they made these contributions at a “lunch meeting” at their Bronx office. One of them believed that Arroyo had been at the meeting; the other one wasn’t sure. By law, campaign fundraising cannot take place at nonprofits receiving city funding, and no intermediaries have filed on the councilwoman’s behalf.

Read the rest: http://www.cityandstateny.com/council-watch-candidates-campaigns-york-city-council/

For more articles on Maria del Carmen Arroyo check out an earlier entry we made:

WHY WE NEED A NEW LEADER FOR CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 17 IN THE SOUTH BRONX

http://www.welcome2thebronx.com/wordpress/2013/04/12/why-we-need-a-new-leader-for-city-council-district-17-in-the-south-bronx/

Bronx-based black-owned company to install tanks at the World Trade Center – NY Daily News

News

Ed García Conde

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July 17, 2013

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Bronx-based black-owned company to install tanks at the World Trade Center – NY Daily News

Workers from A.L. Eastmond and Sons put the finishing touches on a diesel tank bound for the World Trade Center site.

NY Daily News

VIA NY DAILY NEWS:

One of the oldest black-owned businesses in the Bronx will be at the heart of New York’s most important new building.

A.L. Eastmond and Sons, which has been in Hunts Point for nearly 90 years, landed a six-figure contract to build and install diesel tanks in three office and retail buildings at the new World Trade Center.

“It’s an honor,” said company President Arlington Leon Eastmond. “I am so proud to be a part of the rebuilding of this skyline as well as part of the healing process of the greatest city in the world.”

The last of the diesel tanks were delivered to the Ground Zero site last week, and Eastmond’s grandson, Tyren Eastmond, 29, the company’s vice president, said he still can’t believe the venerable firm is now part of the World Trade Center’s lore.

“It shows you what you’re working for has a purpose and meaning,” the grandson said. “You’re doing something that has more of an effect than just coming into the office everyday.”

The company is the only black-owned boiler and tank maker in New York City. At a time when manufacturing is dying in the city, Eastmond, 86, employes nearly 100 people.

And he’s not going anywhere.

“I wouldn’t think of it,” he said. “We have a good reputation, and we manufacture a quality product. We’re known as the boiler of choice in New York City.”

jcunningham@nydailynews.com

Legendary Dance Music Diva Martha Wash Coming To The Bronx This Friday

News

Ed García Conde

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July 16, 2013

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Legendary Dance Music Diva Martha Wash Coming To The Bronx This Friday

Via Ebony:

With over 30 years in the music business dance music diva Martha Wash refuses to let age slow her down. But she isn’t opposed to letting life’s maturation process teach her a few financial lessons. On Friday July 19, Wash will appear at the Bronx Library Center for the Fame and Fortune series to share how getting older has made her more aware of the need to secure a sound financial future. It is a theme relevant for many maturing singers and musicians who were often financially exploited by record labels.

“I worry about the retirement part of it,” she reveals. “I have a pension plan with the union, SAG-AFTRA but outside of that I don’t have anything else,” she reveals. “That’s the hard part—the older you get and later you put into retirement, the longer it will take you to save up. I haven’t done it and that’s the bad part on me.”

Wash hopes that her story will inspire others in and outside of the music business to take care of their finances. Meanwhile, she knows that a limited retirement fund means that she will have to continue to record and tour for the foreseeable future. “A lot of people are putting off retirement and continuing to work past 65. It seems like I probably will too. But for some people it keeps them going and moving. So I think that’s great.”

Still this time around Wash is doing it all her way by remaining an independent artist in control of her future. Her latest release, Something Good is now available here.

Read more at EBONY http://www.ebony.com/entertainment-culture/martha-wash-on-aging-in-the-music-business-304#ixzz2ZDuhNGnv
Follow us: @EbonyMag on Twitter | EbonyMag on Facebook

Fame and Fortune: Meet Martha Wash
Friday, July 19, 2013, 6 p.m.
PROGRAM LOCATIONS:
Bronx Library Center (Map and directions)
310 East Kingsbridge Road
Bronx, NY 10458
(718) 579-4244

City Island’s ‘Johnny’s Famous Reef’ Listed As One of The Country’s Best Waterfront Restaurants

News

Ed García Conde

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July 16, 2013

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City Island’s ‘Johnny’s Famous Reef’ Listed As One of The Country’s Best Waterfront Restaurants

Yesterday the Huffington Post printed a handy list from Budget Travel on America’s Best Waterfront Restaurants and I’m happy to say that Johnny’s Famous Reef in City Island is not only reppin’ Boogie Down but the entire city!

Heading to City Island during the summer for some of the area’s best seafood is as big of a summer Bronx tradition as is opening up a firehydrant and jumping into the water to cool down.

The smell of fried fish, of butter soaked lobster, and tartar sauce just clinging to jumbo shrimps stir up cravings that Bronxites know all too well. Luckily we have the cure right in our home borough to satiate said cravings.

Robert Firpo-Carpiello of Budget Travel had this to say:

“Here, to get the beach ball boppin’, my highly subjective, by-no-means-scientific short list of fabulous American seafood joints by the water. Yeah, two of my picks are in Maine and one is in the Bronx — you got a problem with that?

Johnny’s Famous Reef Restaurant. Look, I grew up in the Bronx and there’s no way I can leave the amazing City Island (the “Nantucket of the Bronx”) off this list and still hold my head high. Johnny’s is at the tip of the island with views of Long Island Sound and knockout fried lobster tails, chowder, and even frogs’ legs (2 City Island Ave., Bronx, N.Y., fried lobster tails $27).”

What’s your favorite Johnny’s menu item or if Johnny’s isn’t your top pick on City Island then which one? We’d love to know!

Head on over to the Huffington Post and check out the other restaurants that made the list.