Welcome2TheBronx

Citi Bike Is Hiring as Bronx Expansion Rapidly Continues

News

Ed García Conde

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June 10, 2020

Citi Bike Is Hiring as Bronx Expansion Rapidly Continues

As Citi Bike continues its expansion into The Bronx and Upper Manhattan, the company is now hiring for a number of different jobs.

There are currently 60 seasonal positions, paid hourly, open across four categories of employment within the Motivate division which operates Citi Bike under Lyft.

A recent Citi Bike installation on Melrose Avenue at The Hub

You can apply by following the links below to each job but hurry as they’re looking to fill these positions by June 22nd.

Bike Mechanic – 13 Positions- Seasonal Motivate is looking for an experienced Bike Mechanic to assist with all aspects of bike assembly, maintenance, and repair. This is a unique opportunity to join a bike fleet team that focuses on maintaining a bike share system while also putting an emphasis on exceeding the highest standard for service and safety. Training on technical and unique aspects of bike share bikes will be provided.

Battery Swapper – 14 Positions-Seasonal Motivate is looking to hire a battery swapper to join the growing eBike team. They will play a crucial role on the team as they travel throughout the city providing maintenance to Electric Bikes (eBikes) in the bikeshare system. This role will report to the Operations Management team and will require a driver’s license and someone who is comfortable/excited about working outdoors in all weather conditions.

Valets – 23 Positions- Seasonal As a Station Valet Attendant, you will take part in these innovative non-motorized operations and improve the usability of the Citi Bike systems. You will not only play an essential role for Citi Bike operations, but also be our customers’ “knight-in-shining armor” – helping them to check-out a bike to begin a trip, find an available dock to end their trip and provide personal greeting for customers enjoying the Citi Bike experience. Station Valets will be positioned at key high-demand areas, initially, across Manhattan. You will also have the opportunity to act as “the face” of Citi Bike, helping customers when issues arise and answering questions when necessary.

Assembly & Deployment – 10 Positions- Seasonal Motivate is looking for an Assembly Technician to play an essential role in the deployment of new stations and bikes in the New York market. You will be primarily responsible for loading and unloading station materials, assembling stations, and completing other tasks within the expansion team. As part of this position, you will receive basic training on station operations and may provide as needed support to the overall operation. The Assembly Tech will report to the Assembly and Deployment Operations Manager.

25 stations have so far been installed in The Bronx

To date, Citi Bike has installed 25 docking stations so far across Port Morris, Mott Haven, and Melrose in Community Board 1 which and they’re far from over. Once installation is complete in CB1 they’ll head on over to CB4 covering Highbridge and the Concourse.

Amazon to Open Second Warehouse in The Bronx

Ed García Conde

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June 9, 2020

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Amazon to Open Second Warehouse in The Bronx

SOUNDVIEW—Amazon has leased a 200,000 warehouse along the Bronx River owned by Prologis which was briefly occupied by Wal-Mart’s defunct online delivery service Jet.

Located just at Bruckner Boulevard along the river, this is the massive online shopping behemoth’s second Bronx warehouse after snagging 1300 Viele Avenue in Hunts Point early last year.

Business Insider reports:

“The space is the latest addition to the network of last mile and distribution facilities that Amazon has been amassing in and around the city for its e-commerce grocery and consumer goods businesses.

The Prologis warehouse at 1055 Bronx River Avenue as seen from Concrete Plant Park.

“The $1.2 trillion tech giant recently reported that its e-commerce operations experienced a “major surge” beginning in March as more shoppers migrated online while lockdowns were imposed across the country to combat the coronavirus pandemic.”

This latest Bronx acquisition will more than likely be yet another last-mile facility fulfillment center to continue to be able to make deliveries as quickly as possible including same-day deliveries.

The Bronx is becoming a hotbed of such last-mile warehouses with two massive facilities currently under construction.

At the old Whitestone Cinemas site, a first-of-its-kind 700,000 square foot warehouse is currently being constructed across two levels and up until recently was considered to be one is the largest of its kind being built. That was until another monster was announced in February of this year.

The proposed Bronx Logistics Center in Oakpoint.

Over in Oakpoint on 149th Street, a 1.24 million square foot warehouse spread across four levels was announced making it the largest in the region and the only one with direct rail access, which for the South Bronx is of critical importance to get as many trucks off the road.

Frankly we can’t continue to make the trade-off between jobs and clean air given our chronic asthma situation which is one of the causes of The Bronx having one of the highest rates of asthma.

Can we afford what will ultimately be more truck traffic through our streets?

Plans Filed for New 12-Story Residential Building in Melrose

Ed García Conde

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June 9, 2020

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Plans Filed for New 12-Story Residential Building in Melrose

Plans have been filed with the Department of Buildings for a new, 12-story residential development at 299 E 161st Street in Melrose just half a block from Morris Avenue and Bronx County Hall of Justice.

The site is currently occupied by several vacant homes, actually, the last houses left on 161st Street in that neighborhood and will be replaced with 154 apartments across 146,000 square feet.

No other information has been made available as to what type of development but more than likely it will be affordable housing given the area. There will also be retail space on the ground floor.

The new development will rise at the site of the houses to the right.

The site is also adjacent to Montefiore’s clinic and is just a two block walk to the Melrose Metro North Station.

No details on when the development will break ground.

Bus Lanes Coming to 149th Street in The Bronx to Improve Service

Transportation

Ed García Conde

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June 8, 2020

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Bus Lanes Coming to 149th Street in The Bronx to Improve Service

Things are looking bright for the slowest bus route in The Bronx.

While it’s not the busway lie 14th Street in Manhattan which we advocated for here in The Bronx earlier this year, it’s a start: The Bronx will be getting new dedicated bus lanes along 2.7 miles of 149th Street.

City Hall announced today that work will begin this month to reconfigure 149th Street to accommodate bus lanes in either direction which will help speed up bus services especially for essential workers to get to their destinations quickly and safely.

The bus lanes will stretch from River Avenue at the foot of the 145th Street Bridge and stretch across to Southern Boulevard covering most of the street which is one of the busiest east/west corridors in the South Bronx.

Last year the 19 bus, which travels across 149th Street, was yet again named the slowest bus in The Bronx

149th Street carries 55,000 passengers a day along four bus routes and connects to major intersections like The Hub and the 2/5 trains at 3rd Avenue and 149th Street as well as 149th Street and Grand Concourse on the 2/4/5, Hostos Community College, and Lincoln Hospital.

“As New York City emerges from the difficult days of COVID-19, our commitment to faster and more reliable bus service has never been more important, as buses serve a critical role — both in communities hit hard from the pandemic and by essential front-line workers,” said DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg.

“We are proud to undertake transformational work on some of the busiest bus corridors in the city, including 149th Street in the Bronx and on 14th Street in Manhattan, where the busway has been such a tremendous success. We look forward to working with our partners at the MTA to get these transformational changes finished this year.”

We sincerely hope that this is a beginning step towards converting 149th Street into a full car-free busway like 14th Street.

SEE IT: Bronx Businesses Struggling to Survive Ignore Phase 1 Reopening Guidelines

Ed García Conde

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June 8, 2020

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SEE IT: Bronx Businesses Struggling to Survive Ignore Phase 1 Reopening Guidelines

As New York City businesses that are allowed to reopen under Phase 1 as per New York State guidelines opened their doors, many at The Hub in The Bronx are simply ignoring the guidance provided to safely do so.

Some of these businesses even continued to operate during the shutdown despite the threats of fines.

Some businesses along Third Avenue have been open all along with the gate raised halfway just to give the illusion that they are closed.

Conversations with several of these owners who do not wish to be identified simply revealed that most were frustrated with government response to the coronavirus pandemic and lack of assistance to small businesses. Businesses in The Bronx were particularly neglected during the first round of disbursement of $8 million relief loans which of which 66% went to Manhattan business and less than 1% went to Bronx businesses—a paltry $80,000.

This left many business owners ignoring social distancing and shut down regulations in order to make ends meet.

Others have been adhering to strict curbside pick up only.

It was either that or lose their businesses entirely. Either way it was another indication that whatever systems were supposed to be in place to project everyone was either simply not working or didn’t exist.

Now on the first day of Phase 1 reopening in New York City after almost 3 months of shutting down all but essential businesses and services due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many businesses that are supposed to be providing ONLY curbside pick-ups are simply ignoring the guidance and allowing people to come inside and shop around.

A customer waiting for his purchase at Gamestop on Westchester Avenue at The Hub.

Some are doing so by practicing social distancing guidelines limiting the number capacity by restricting entrance to anywhere from 2 to 5 people depending on the size of the stores while others are just letting people in like pre-coronavirus days.

But where do we place the blame?

Can’t really fault them for struggling to survive given that they still have to pay rents on their storefronts, feed their families, pay rents or mortgages where they live.

This is what happens when we let capitalism and corporate greed elect our politicians and write out laws: The 99% gets shafted.

It’s not that they want to work during a deadly pandemic is that they have no choice with zero protections and functional healthcare system to lean back on.

Hopefully in two weeks we won’t see increases in hospitalization rates due to the coronavirus.

At least most were wearing their masks inside stores.

Others offered mixed-messages of curbside only but you can only come in with a mask…

WATCH: Hundreds of Protesters Take Over the Grand Concourse in a March Against Police Brutality

NYPD

Ed García Conde

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June 8, 2020

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WATCH: Hundreds of Protesters Take Over the Grand Concourse in a March Against Police Brutality

On Sunday, June 7, hundreds of protesters gathered at Fordham Road and the Grand Concourse and marched down the famed boulevard towards the Bronx County Courthouse at 161st Street as protests continued for almost two weeks now throughout the city and the country.

This march came at the heels of more police brutality: Thursday night’s kettling of peaceful protesters in Mott Haven 15 minutes before the 8PM curfew not allowing them to leave and then proceeding to beat the protesters and pepper spray them.

It was an utterly unprovoked attack that left a number of people brutally injured due to the gang of thugs known as the NYPD.

Yesterday’s march continued to Harlem after a pit-stop at the courthouse gathering more people along the way.

Watch the videos below from PIX11 News and News12 The Bronx:

Yesterday We Said Goodbye to A Beloved Bronx Dog—Our Mascot

News

Ed García Conde

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June 7, 2020

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Yesterday We Said Goodbye to A Beloved Bronx Dog—Our Mascot

After almost 14 years filled with love, I had to say goodbye to my beloved dog and princess and the unofficial mascot of Welcome2TheBronx, Kanela.

Kanela, a red-headed Siberian Husky, was as Bronx as they got. She would always walk the beat around with me in our South Bronx neighborhood of Melrose and surrounding areas as I’d scope the latest happenings and potential newsworthy items.

Or, when simply going to the bodega or supermarket.

Kanela looking out at me while I was on the fire escape…how Bronx.

Most of our days began with those long, almost 2 mile walks whenever the weather permitted.

At home, she lived with several other cats throughout the years, a few who I’d rescue off the street on our block as kittens and she’d quickly adopt them.

This big wolf-like dog with giant paws would gently lick these babies clean and play mother to them.

She was my perfect partner in providing a new home to our cats.

But as most big dogs do when they age, their mobility suffers and they begin to slow down.

About two years ago she could no longer go on our long walks so they started shortening. And shortening.

Until finally, we rarely left a 4 block area as it was too much for her.

Kanela with Elton, her best friend and a cat I rescued on Elton Avenue when he was a kitten.

But still she was playful and a fighter.

Last year she was diagnosed with pancreatitis and her prognosis wasn’t looking good plus her hip displasia was really starting to hurt her.

But still she forged ahead. The vet said she wasn’t ready yet.

By January of this year she could only go back and forth on our block. She could and would play with locals and the other dogs but not for long.

For a year now I was carrying her up and down 5 steps to the lobby because she could no longer climb or go down them at all.

Ten days ago she got worse and was in severe pain. I took her to the vet at Bronx Veterinary Center and after several tests it was revealed that her condition had gotten worse plus several other unexpected complications were revealed.

With her other best friend, Tux, a cat I rescued outside out building.

He said it was a decline from here but to take her home with pain meds and assess the situation.

But she wasn’t improving.

Yesterday, surrounded by love, my friend, the cats and my dad, she passed away peacefully thanks to At Home Veterinary’s Dr Jonathan Leshanski, who performed the ultimate act of kindness for my baby.

It is the most painful decision we make as caretakers of our pets. It’s not one that’s made easily but when we take a pet, it’s part of that unspoken contract between us and nature: Give them a good life and when the time comes, help ease their transition.

Yesterday morning we shared our last sunrise together. For a brief second when I took this pic, she looked happy and pain free. But it was only a brief second.

But the contract comes with the ultimate price: We take away their suffering by transferring that pain into our hearts when we say goodbye.

Goodbye my sweet princess, my darling girl. You made me a better person and made everyone who saw you in The Bronx smile and laugh.

SEE IT: Images From Last Night’s NYPD Disgraceful Attack on Protesters in the South Bronx

News

Ed García Conde

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June 5, 2020

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SEE IT: Images From Last Night’s NYPD Disgraceful Attack on Protesters in the South Bronx

I am not mincing words for anyone: What happened last night in Mott Haven was an assault on our community at the hands of the dysfunctional New York City Police Department.

It was a disgusting act of cowardice by the gang otherwise known as the NYPD when they corralled protesters at 7:45PM at E 136th Street and Brook Avenue just fifteen minutes before curfew.

The protesters kept shouting to be let go all the while being told by the NYPD that they had to be home by the 8pm.

According to multiple accounts as well as several livestream videos the real thugs, otherwise known as the NYPD, started dangerously pushing the demonstrators against each other. People began screaming for help.

They were simply there as the aggressors and to antagonize.

And then that’s when the batons came out, pepper spray, and, according to some Facebook live feeds.

This is inexcusable and this is why the people continue to fight. We cannot continue to let Black and brown folks be slaughtered by these tax funded thugs in uniforms.

See the gallery below and watch the videos here:

Note about these images: These images were made possible by readers like you who have donated to our GoFundMe campaign which is helping journalists and photographers of color tell our stories. Consider making a donation here. No amount is too small.

BREAKING: NYPD Assaults Hundreds of Peaceful Protesters in The Bronx

News

Ed García Conde

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June 4, 2020

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BREAKING: NYPD Assaults Hundreds of Peaceful Protesters in The Bronx

Update: Sources retracted that tear gas was used but said pepper spray was used. In the panic, people thought it was tear gas as well.

We have received confirmation from several credible sources that the NYPD in the South Bronx entrapped hundreds of protesters before the 8pm curfew in Mott Haven blocking them from leaving and being able to comply.

We have live stream footage below as well as sources confirming violent assault by the NYPD on civilians they entrapped to harass and beat.

Hundreds of officers were at the ready in The Hub for today’s protest.

This is a violent assault on our people and what’s supposed to be our constitutional rights.

By all accounts this was a peaceful protest and the only violence came from the NYPD.

We were there at the rally earlier and it was without incident except hundreds of officers ready to intimidate.

Watch the full account as it unfolds below:

WATCH: Hundreds of Bronx Residents Unite to Clean Up Fordham After a Night of Chaos Destroyed Several Businesses

News

Ed García Conde

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June 3, 2020

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WATCH: Hundreds of Bronx Residents Unite to Clean Up Fordham After a Night of Chaos Destroyed Several Businesses

This is how we take care of our own in The Bronx.

After a night of chaos and mayhem in The Bronx on Monday night as hundreds of people looted and destroyed businesses along Fordham Road, an equal number of not larger of residents arrived yesterday morning to clean up the area.

They were from all walks of life coming together in the true sprit of Bronx unity and solidarity.

But if you’re from The Bronx or are familiar with our borough, then you know that this isn’t a surprise because it’s what we’ve done for decades.

Our communities rebuilt themselves and they can help rebuild these businesses.

But one thing that can’t be rebuilt are all the Black lives lost. Prioritize what you’re upset about.

Watch the PIX11 News video below:

The Hub Prepared for the Worst Last Night But it Never Came

Ed García Conde

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June 3, 2020

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The Hub Prepared for the Worst Last Night But it Never Came

Melrose—by 5pm yesterday, the air was thick with unease at The Hub, The Bronx’s oldest shopping district and the heart of the South Bronx.

After the looting and destruction of businesses on Fordham Road and Burnside Avenue the night before, small businesses, residents, and the Third Avenue Business Improvement District decided to make sure that the same wouldn’t happen here or at least help minimize the effort.

The businesses that could afford to board up their storefronts, did.

All trash cans were removed as to avoid them being either set on fire or used to break into stores.

As stores along Third Avenue boarded up their windows and bolted down their gates, signs were placed at local businesses urging to respect their community. Some signs indicated which were Black, Hispanic, or immigrant owned to perhaps thwart looting.

Several gates were reinforced with bolts to the ground.

But the rage that dominated Fordham and Burnside in The Bronx and Manhattan’s midtown 34th Street and Times Square districts didn’t materialize.

While I witnessed individuals that had been circling the The Hub with crowbars and bats clearly casing the stores, things never escalated as the NYPD seemed prepared this time.

By the time 8pm arrived and along with it, the second night with curfew in effect the tension in the air was even higher.

I walked by several crowds of people talking out load about going over to Third but the heavy police presence deterred them. Several ambulances were parked at either end of Third Avenue between 153rd Street and Westchester Avenue and dozens of police vehicles moving up and down the avenue with at least half a dozen more parked at various intersections.

As I walked up and down Third Avenue surveying the scene, more than 3 dozen cops had passed by me but never told me to go home.

It wasn’t until 9:30pm that a “white shirt”, an NYPD sergeant, yelled at me to get going home before he arrested me. I left to avoid any conflict and confrontation.

The rest of the night lacked the constant buzz of helicopters and police sirens of the previous night.

When curfew ended at 5am, I biked through The Hub to see if anything had happened but not a thing appeared to be out of place.

Preparations were made for the worst but the worst never came to The Hub.

It seems that like most cities across the country, the protests remained peaceful for whatever that’s worth.

I’m sure everyone will continue to be on edge for some time but think about how Black folks and people of color feel who live in constant state of alert because the color of their skin makes them walking targets by society and law enforcement.

Gallery

BREAKING NEWS: Mayor de Blasio Has Announced 8pm Curfew For Remainder of the Week

News

Ed García Conde

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June 2, 2020

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BREAKING NEWS: Mayor de Blasio Has Announced 8pm Curfew For Remainder of the Week

After the violent turn of events last night in The Bronx and Manhattan as protesters took their anger to the streets, Mayor Bill de Blasio has extended the curfew for the remainder of the week.

The curfew will also start earlier at 8pm lasting until 5AM. The order will remain in effect until June 7.

During the night’s chaos, police officers were hurt as one was hit by an SUV speeding through a street. Protesters were also reported to have been injured as well.

We will keep you posted as more news develops on this issue.