Weekend Street Festivals

  There were many competing street festivals around the Bronx today, and I visited two of them in the Northwest Bronx. The Kingsbridge Heights Neighborhood Association had a Health Fair on Reservoir Avenue, while the Jerome Gun Hill BID had Jerome Avenue closed from Gun Hill Road to East 208th Street. Below are a few photos of each event.

Left - Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz and soon to be Councilman Andrew Cohen stopped by the Kingsbridge Heights Health Fair being held on Reservoir.

Right - Cohen, Dinowitz, and KHNIA members pose for this photo in front of the giant inflatable exercise ball used at the Health Fair. 

It was a different story on Jerome Avenue as you see in both photos. Vendors lined both sides of Jerome Avenue with almost anything you wanted.

 

  

Left - There was a roving clown who made animals out of balloons for the kids.

Right - Roberto Garcia (far left) of Montefiore Hospital stands next to outgoing 15th Councilman Joel Rivera, 80th Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj, 81st Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, soon to be 11th City Councilman Andrew Cohen, 14th Councilman Fernando Cabrera as they pose in front of a Montefiore Hospital ambulance. Montefiore Hospital was a main sponsor of the event.

Ice Palace at Kingsbridge Armory Skates Through First Two Parts of the Land Use Process

  Tuesday night there was a public hearing, and then a vote by the members of Community Board 7 which approved the proposal to build 9 separate ice skating rinks on two levels inside the Kingsbridge Armory. Kingsbridge National Ice Center (KNIC) is the name of the corporation that will run the largest Ice sports Arena with 9 ice skating rinks and a seating area of 5,000 seats. New York Ranger great Mark Messier has been named CEO of KNIC and was at the presentation to CB 7 that took place at the Lovinger Theater inside Lehman Collage. 

  All the local elected officials or their representatives were in attendance, that was except for Councilman Fernando Cabrera. The Northwest Bronx Church and Clergy coalition and several other neighborhood groups from CB 7 that helped grind out a Community Benefits Agreement worth 1.7 Billion dollars all gleefully asked the CB 7 members to approve this first step of the ULURP process. The vote of CB 7 was overwhelmingly in favor of the KNIC proposal with only 5 members voting against the proposal. 

  The next step was on Friday where Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. (a proponent of this proposal) held a public hearing in the Bronx County Courthouse. From here the proposal goes to the City Planning Commission which has up to 60 days to decide on the proposal, then if approved it would be off to a City Council vote within 45 days of the CPC approval. It is hoped that this process can be finished this year under the current City Council and current Mayor, and not have to continue into the next administration and new City Council.

Left - you can see New York ranger great Mark Messier sitting and waiting for his turn to speak in favor of the KNIC proposal for the Kingsbridge Armory.

Right - Messier address the crowd inside the Bronx Courthouse Rotunda as to why the KNIC proposal should be accepted.

Left - Members of Community Board 7 during the public hearing at  Lehman College.

Right - CB 7 Chair Adaline Walker-Santiago reports on the overwhelming vote of approval from CB 7 for the KNIC proposal.

 

 The agreement between the Kingsbridge National Ice Center with the Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment Alliance better know as the Community Benefits Agreement.

NYC 2013: Shaken Or Stirred?

  This comes from the Daily News blog about a New York City Tavern offering two very distinct and different drinks. One is a deBlasio while the other is a Lhota. The entire posting can be found here.

Surprise at Bronx Judicial Convention

  In what is normally a hum-ho boring event where delegates rise to nominate and then second candidates for different available judge positions to be on the Democratic line in the November general election a big surprise happened before the convention. Democratic Mayoral candidate Bill deBlasio was inside the Eastwood Manor where the Judicial Convention was being held an hour before rallying the troops in his bid for mayor. This was closed to the press as reporters from several newspapers and cameras from several television stations waited outside for deBlasio and members of the Bronx County Democratic organization to come out. 

  When the group came out deBlasio thanked State Senator Ruth Hassel-Thompson for being the first Bronx elected official to endorse him early in the campaign. With deblasio were Bronx elected officials (you will see in photos below) from all over the Bronx, of different ethnic backgrounds, those who supported other candidates for mayor in the Democratic primary, but were now a "United Bronx front for Bill deBlasio for Mayor". 

   DeBlasio said that the road to City Hall goes through the Bronx. "All boroughs are created equal, and it is time for City Hall to act that way". DeBlasio ended his speech saying that he feels very good about his support and the unity in the Bronx. When I asked about former Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion stealing away many Bronx votes in his bid for mayor on the Independence Party line, current Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. almost knocked over County Leader Carl Heastie in his haste to get to the podium. Diaz Jr. said "The reality is that Adolfo Carrion has abandoned the Democratic Party, and there is no way he can put together an operation in the Bronx". County Leader Heastie added that the Bronx County organization will work as a unit to elect Bill daBlasio Mayor.

  As for the Judicial convention Justice Laura Douglas, Judge Norma Ruiz, Judge Larry Schachner, and Judge Julia Rodriguez were all nominated to fill the four upcoming vacancies which they currently occupy.

Left - The Bronx Democratic County troops assemble outside after a rally inside with Mayoral candidate Bill deBlasio.

Right - Mayoral candidate Bill deBlasio thanks the Bronx Democratic organization for their support in the upcoming mayors race.

 

Left - Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. rushed to the podium to answer my question on Independence Party candidate & former Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion. 

Right - Bronx Democratic County Leader Carl Heastie speaking of the unity in the Bronx to support Bill deBlasio for Mayor.

 

Left - Bronx Democratic County Leader Carl Heastie speaking at the Judicial Convention.

Right - Acting Supreme Court Judge Larry Schachner accepts the nomination for Supreme Court Judge.

Bill and Hillary Clinton back Bill de Blasio for NYC Mayor

 

After keeping mum during the Democratic primary, Bill and Hillary Clinton are signaling they are rooting for Bill de Blasio to be the next mayor of New York City.

The former president and former secretary of State gave de Blasio their blessing in a statement issued by their respective spokesmen, Matt McKenna and Nick Merrill.

"Bill de Blasio has been a friend to both President Clinton and Secretary Clinton for many years," the statement says. "They were proud to see him run a thoughtful, creative campaign about the issues, and they are behind him as he moves on to the general election as the Democratic nominee."

Update on the new Bronx LGBTQ Center on its One-Year Birthday

    The new Bronx LGBTQ Center (the “Center”) is pleased to provide an update today, which marks the one-year anniversary of its birth as a New York State Not-For-Profit corporation.

“One year ago today, we incorporated our new Bronx LGBTQ Center with nothing more than a small handful of individuals and a dream. On our one-year birthday, I'm so happy to announce that we have initiated programs to help our LGBTQ brothers and sisters, are making progress on raising the funds necessary to build a new Center, and are working on bringing event more programs and services to LGBTQ and supportive individuals in the Bronx and surrounding areas,” exclaimed Tym Moss, the Center's president.

The Bronx LGBTQ Pride & Health Fair was a success. On July 20^th, nearly 50 organizations interacted with nearly 2,000 participants over a six-hour time frame – a strong showing that the Bronx LGBTQ community has individuals and organizations who care about them and will provide services. The event received support from prominent elected officials, including attendance by Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr., NYC Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn, NYS Senator Jose M. Serrano and his father, Congressman Jose E. Serrano, and NYS Assemblywoman Carmen Arroyo and her daughter, NYC Councilwoman Maria del Carmen Arroyo.

On August 20^th, nearly 20 of the 60 candidates running for office in the September 10^th primary election who were invited appeared at the Center's Candidates Forum on LGBTQ Issues at the Bronx Library Center, where the candidates answered questions on topics such as hate crimes, safety, homelessness, government services, and even revealing something personal about themselves, such as coming out about something. The forum can be viewed on YouTube in its entirety at http://youtu.be/V_rxmWaPyjY

“We are so fortunate to have a number of organizations who have come forward to work with us in providing services to our LGBTQ communities. We thank each and every one of them, because without their tremendous support and assistance, we would not have made the progress we did or be in the position we are in now to begin offering the services and programs that are planned to launch in the coming months,” Mr. Moss stated.

September was a particularly busy month for the new Center. On the 3^rd, it brought LGBTQ culture to the Bronx with an Open Mic at The Clock Bar. A packed house enjoyed poetry readings, spoken word performances, and musical interludes. On the 6th, the Center partnered with One Sandwich At A Time and St. Barnabas Hospital to make 500 sandwiches, which were then donated to help feed homeless LGBTQ youth through the Ali Forney Center and Sylvia's Place, two wonderful non-profit organizations dedicated to serving our LGBTQ youth populations, among others.

A Free Legal Clinic began operating on September 17^th. A collaboration between the Center, the LeGaL Foundation, and Union Community Health Center, the legal clinic will offer guidance and referrals to individuals on a range of matters. It operates on the 1^st and 3^rd Tuesday of each month, from 6-8 pm at Union's main offices at 260 East 188^th Street, Bronx, NY. Full details can be found at http://le-gal.org/bronx-legal-clinic/

“We will soon be launching a number of additional programs, services, and events that we have been working on bringing to the Bronx,” Peter C. Frank, the Center's secretary and lead organizer, advised. “In the coming months, you can expect to see a weekly LGBTQ Youth Group, weekly women's and men's educational and informational groups, more community outreach walks (next scheduled on October 11^th for NCOD), a peer support services network that will provide weekly support groups, a “12 Steps to the Rainbow” recovery initiative, legal and financial services workshops, and more social programming—including a Halloween Costume Ball on October 29^th, as well as a pot-luck Thanksgiving dinner as part of our Family Holidays program,” he added. A new web site is also in the works.

For more information about the Center and its upcoming programs and events, visit http://bronxlgbtqcenter.org

Contact Peter C. Frank with questions: e-mail secretary@bronxlgbtqcenter.org or call 914-417-9579.

Fordham Fever Fridays

 

Fordham BID Invites You To The

Fordham Fever Fridays International Day Fair!

     The Fordham Road Business Improvement District (BID) culminates its Fordham Fever Fridays series with a The International Day Fair, presented in partnership with 1199 Future of America Learning Center on Friday, October 4^th, from 11AM-4PM at Muller Park & Plaza (East Fordham Road & Creston Avenue).

    Join us for a unique day of culturally diverse, fun-filled activities, giving shoppers & families a pleasant experience while visiting one of the busiest shopping districts in the Bronx. Shoppers can take a break from bargain hunting and bring the family for fun kid’s activities, continental cuisines, artifact displays, a bouncy house, fun bus, and much more!

First Mayoral Poll Has Bill deBlasio with a Big Lead

In the photo is 87th A.D. Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda  put everything on the line to endorse Bill deBlasio for Mayor while the Bronx Democratic County organization backed Bill Thompson for Mayor in the primary.

  In the first poll of the post primary election Democrat Bill deBlasio leads Republican Joe Lhota by 42 points. the numbers are 65% for deBlasio, 22% for Lhota, 3% for Independence Party candidate Adolfo Carrion, and between 9 and 10 % undecided. This was a Wall Street Journal-NBC 4 New York-Marist poll that was released Tuesday. 

  Among voting segments: 

  deBlasio leads among Black voters 86% to Lhota at 3% with 11% undecided. 

  deBlasio leads among Latino voters 74% to Lhota at 11% with 15% undecided.

  deBlasio leads among White voters 50% to Lhota at 37% with 13% undecided. 

  Both men and women have deblasio ahead big with 68% of women and 61% of men for deblasio to 18% of women and 26% of men favoring Lhota. The only sub group that Lhota leads is White Catholics where Lhota has a slim lead of 45% to 40% for deblasio. 

 It looks like New York City will have its first Democratic Mayor in 20 years. 8 years of Rudy Giuliani and then 12 years of Michael Bloomberg, both Republican candidates. The big question is how large will the margin of victory be for Bill deBlasio, but then again this is only the first poll and deBlasio trailed in the first Democratic primary poll.

 

Wave Hill Events October 4–October 11

   Gallery and garden intersect this week in two kinds of walks. One is led by dapper Englishman Charlie Day, also our Horticultural Interpreter, who has crafted a walk that looks at the natural protection displayed by some plants. This relates directly, of course, to the exhibition that has opened in Glyndor Gallery, showcasing work by 16 artists inspired by both armor or fish, twin interests of Bashford Dean, a former resident of Wave Hill House. (And that’s all part of a series we’ve started honoring the legacy of former, illustrious residents of Wave Hill. More about that soon.)  Simone Leigh’s “Blue Torso”, for instance―it’s captured in one of the images I have attached―used porcelain, cobalt, epoxy, terracotta and graphite to create this female torso covered in roses, each made individually by hand; roses are “typically associated with feminine delicacy, but here,” as the show catalogue explains, “they become a protective covering.”  The guided tour our curatorial fellow Anna Robinson-Sweet gives of the exhibition makes for an interesting companion to Charlie’s walk.

Also happening this week is a workshop using mixed-media, stained-glass collage. It will be led by Francisco Donoso, a Wave Hill Van Lier Fellow who currently has an installation in the Sunroom Project Space. Register soon―space is limited!  For a chance to meet and talk with Donoso, stop by Sunday afternoon when he and fellow Van Lier artist Onyedika Chuke are on hand for a meet-the-artist.

SAT, OCTOBER 5    TAI CHI CHUAN

Quiet like a mountain, moving like a river, Tai Chi is a sequence of gentle movements based on images found in nature. In this beginner-level class, Irving Yee, a member of the William CC Chen Tai Chi School, introduces students to the internal martial arts and promotes an awareness of its benefits. Sessions are held outdoors only and are weather dependent. Call 718.549.3200 x245 by 8AM on the day of the class for program updates. Session fee: $23/$15 Wave Hill Member. Registration opens onsite at 9:30AM.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 10‒11AM

SAT, OCTOBER 5    FAMILY ART PROJECT— HANDMADE PAPER IN AUTUMN COLOR

Join papermaker extraordinaire Randy Brozen to make paper out of rich colors of pulp in red, orange and yellow. Using an easy process, make your paper in a leaf-shape mold or add a found leaf for fancy decoration. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon.

WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM‒1PM

SAT, OCTOBER 5    CREATIVE ACTIONS: MIXED-MEDIA STAINED GLASS COLLAGE
Engage in a creative dialogue with your surroundings guided by professional artists working in various media. In this session, Van Lier Fellow and painter Francisco Donoso explores color, light and image-making in his exhibition on view in the Sunroom Project Space. Experiment with drawing and painting materials to create collages inspired by the natural light and architectural elements in a space. All levels welcome. Materials provided. $30/$20 Wave Hill Member. Reservations required, online at www.wavehill.org, by calling 718.549.3200 x305 or at the Perkins Visitor Center. Drop-ins accommodated as space permits.

MEET AT THE ECOLOGY BUILDING, 10AM−1PM

SAT, OCTOBER 5   GALLERY TOUR

Join a curatorial fellow for a tour of Wave Hill’s fall exhibition, Tandem Pursuits: Armor & Ichthyology, which celebrates the interests of former Wave Hill House resident Bashford Dean. Dean was Curator of Arms and Armor at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Curator of Fish at the American Museum of Natural History. The intersection of his interest in both fish and armor provides the opportunity to bring together a remarkable group of contemporary art that explores concepts of adaptation, pattern, and protection. The tour also includes Sunroom Project Space installations by Van Lier Visual Artist Fellows Onyedika Chuke and Francisco Donoso. Tours take place Tuesdays and Saturdays at 2PM. Free with admission to the grounds.

GLYNDOR GALLERY, 2PM

SAT, OCTOBER 5    GARDEN WALK: ARMORED PLANTS

Many plants, like the prickly pear cactus (Opuntia sp.) and Dioscorea elephantipes (elephant’s foot) are naturally protected with weapon-worthy spines or a thick coating of armor. Others, such as Sagittaria, have names that allude to armor-like aspects of their anatomy. Wave Hill Horticultural Interpreter  Charles Day leads a tour of these denizens of the garden, all relevant to Bashford Dean, whose interest in both arms and ichthyology is the subject of the fall exhibition in Glyndor Gallery. This walk repeats October 10. Free with admission to the grounds.

MEET AT THE PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 2PM

SUN, OCTOBER 6    FAMILY ART PROJECT— HANDMADE PAPER IN AUTUMN COLOR

Join papermaker extraordinaire Randy Brozen to make paper out of rich colors of pulp in red, orange and yellow. Using an easy process, make your paper in a leaf-shape mold or add a found leaf for fancy decoration. Free with admission to the grounds.

WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM‒1PM

SUN, OCTOBER 6    HATHA YOGA

Find refuge from city life by practicing seasonal yoga. Decrease stress and increase your energy by focusing on your posture, your breath and your mind/body/spirit. Classes are led by Neem Dewji, certified in Hatha and Therapeutic Yoga from The Yoga for Health Foundation, England, and The Integral Yoga Institute, NYC. All levels welcome. Sessions are held outdoors only and are weather dependent. Call 718.549.3200 x245 by 8AM on the day of the class for program updates. Session fee: $23/Wave Hill Member $15. Registration opens onsite at 9:30AM.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 10‒11:15AM

SUN, OCTOBER 6    MEDITATION

This fall, take a moment to release stress and reconnect with your inner self while practicing meditation. Each session includes instruction in simple techniques followed by 20 to 30 minutes of meditation. Led by Yoga for Bliss director Neem Dewji and other qualified instructors. All levels welcome. Session fee: $23/Wave Hill Member $15. Registration opens onsite at 9:30AM..
MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 11:30AM‒12:45PM

SUN, OCTOBER 6    MEET THE ARTISTS: ONYEDIKA CHUKE AND FRANCISCO DONOSO

Meet artists Onyedika Chuke and Francisco Donoso, the two 2013 Van Lier Visual Artist Fellows at Wave Hill.  This one-year fellowship supports young artists and promotes cultural diversity in the arts.  At this event, the artists discuss their processes and the concepts behind their work.  Chuke’s sculptural installation in the Sun Porch investigates the relationship between the body, nature and architecture. He uses natural and artificial building materials, as well as art objects to highlight historical and contemporary manifestations of these interactions. In Donoso’s Sunroom Project, the artist explores his cultural identity in five large paintings that combine self-portraiture with motifs from Spanish religious painting, patterning found in Latin American textiles, as well as imagery from popular culture and pre-Colombian mythology.  Both installations are on view from September 15 to October 20, 2013. Free with admission to the grounds.

GLYNDOR GALLERY, 1:30PM

SUN, OCTOBER 6    GARDEN HIGHLIGHTS WALK

Join us for an hour-long tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free with admission to the grounds.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 2PM

MON, OCTOBER 7

Closed to the public.

TUE, OCTOBER 8    GARDEN HIGHLIGHTS WALK

Join us for an hour-long tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 11AM

TUE, OCTOBER 8   GALLERY TOUR

Join a curatorial fellow for a tour of Wave Hill’s fall exhibition, Tandem Pursuits: Armor & Ichthyology, which celebrates the interests of former Wave Hill House resident Bashford Dean. Dean was Curator of Arms and Armor at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Curator of Fish at the American Museum of Natural History. The intersection of his interest in both fish and armor provides the opportunity to bring together a remarkable group of contemporary art that explores concepts of adaptation, pattern, and protection. The tour also includes Sunroom Project Space installations by Van Lier Visual Artist Fellows Onyedika Chuke and Francisco Donoso. Tours take place Tuesdays and Saturdays at 2PM. Free with admission to the grounds.

GLYNDOR GALLERY, 2PM

THU, OCTOBER 10    EARLY MORNING MEMBERS’ GARDEN WALK

Just for members! Enjoy special access to the grounds on a quiet autumn morning before we open to the public. Horticultural Interpreter Charles Day or Assistant Director of Public Programs Laurel Rimmer leads this early-morning garden walk. Seniors welcome! Although this event is free for Wave Hill Members, registration is required, online at www.wavehill.org, by calling 718.549.3200 x305 or at the Perkins Visitor Center.

MEET AT WAVE HILL FRONT GATE, 8AM

THU, OCTOBER 10    GARDEN WALK: ARMORED PLANTS

Many plants, like the prickly pear cactus (Opuntia sp.) and Dioscorea elephantipes (elephant’s foot) are naturally protected with weapon-worthy spines or a thick coating of armor. Others, such as Sagittaria, have names that allude to armor-like aspects of their anatomy. Wave Hill Horticultural Interpreter  Charles Day leads a tour of these denizens of the garden, all relevant to Bashford Dean, whose interest in both arms and ichthyology is the subject of the fall exhibition in Glyndor Gallery. Free with admission to the grounds.

MEET AT THE PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 2PM

A 28-acre public garden and cultural center overlooking the Hudson River  and Palisades, Wave Hill’s mission is to celebrate the artistry and legacy of its gardens and landscape, to preserve its magnificent views, and to explore human connections to the natural world through programs in horticulture, education and the arts.

HOURS  Open all year, Tuesday through Sunday and many major holidays: 9AM—5:30PM. Closes 4:30PM, November 1—March 14.  

ADMISSION  $8 adults, $4 students and seniors 65+, $2 children 6—18. Free Saturday mornings until noon. Free until noon on Tuesdays in October. Free to Wave Hill Members and children under 6.

PROGRAM FEES  Programs are free with admission to the grounds unless otherwise noted.

Visitors to Wave Hill can take advantage of Metro-North’s one-day getaway offer. Purchase a discount round-trip rail far and discount admission to the gardens. More at http://mta.info/mnr/html/getaways/outbound_wavehill.htm

DIRECTIONS – Getting here is easy! Located only 3o minutes from midtown Manhattan, Wave Hill’s free shuttle van transports you to and from our front gate and Metro-North’s Riverdale station, as well as the 242^nd Street stop on the #1 subway line. Limited onsite parking is available for $8 per vehicle. Free offsite parking is available nearby with continuous, complimentary shuttle service to and from the offsite lot and our front gate. Complete directions and shuttle bus schedule at www.wavehill.org/visit/.

Information at 718.549.3200. On the web at www.wavehill.org.

 

 

LIU ON JUDGE’S REJECTION OF STAY OF OVERHAUL OF STOP AND FRISK

  City Comptroller John C. Liu made the following statement in response to U.S. District Judge Shira Scheindlin’s ruling on Tuesday that New York City cannot delay the court-ordered overhaul of its police department's unconstitutional stop-and-frisk policy:

 

“Judge Shira Scheindlin is right not to let City Hall delay the overhaul of the NYPD’s unconstitutional stop and frisk policy.  We look forward to the day when this harassment of minorities is abolished entirely.”

Background

Liu on stop-and-frisk appeal

http://comptroller.nyc.gov/newsroom/liu-on-stop-and-frisk-appeal/

Liu on stop-and-frisk ruling

http://comptroller.nyc.gov/newsroom/liu-on-stop-and-frisk-ruling/

Liu: purge of stop-and-frisk databank is step in right direction

http://comptroller.nyc.gov/newsroom/liu-purge-of-stop-and-frisk-databank-is-step-in-right-direction/

Tomorrow Night - CELEBRITY BARTENDER

Mark Messier Named CEO of KNIC

 

STATEMENT FROM BOROUGH PRESIDENT DIAZ

RE: Mark Messier Named CEO of KNIC

“I am thrilled that hockey legend and hall of famer Mark Messier has been named Chief Executive Officer of the Kingsbridge National Ice Center, and that he will lead the transformation of the Kingsbridge Armory into the world’s largest ice sports facility.

“Since day one, Mr. Messier has proven to be a great friend of the Bronx with his unwavering support of the KNIC project. He understands the importance of responsible development in the Bronx and knows that this project will create living wage jobs and economic activity, will support important community and educational initiatives, and will provide New Yorkers with unprecedented access to a variety of spectacular ice sports.

“I am excited that Mark Messier will take the lead in the redevelopment of our beloved Kingsbridge Armory and I look forward to working with him as we transform the Kingsbridge Armory into a source of pride for the Bronx and the City for generations to come,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

LEADING ELECTED OFFICIALS ENDORSE BILL DE BLASIO

 

A group of six elected officials from across the city today announced their support for Bill de Blasio, the Democratic nominee for Mayor, and urged all New Yorkers to join them in their support in the November general election.

 

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., Congress members Nydia Velazquez and Hakeem Jeffries, State Senator Eric Adams, Democratic nominee for Brooklyn Borough President; and State Senators Adriano Espaillat and Jose Peralta each announced their endorsement of Bill de Blasio for mayor today. These officials represent four borough’s of the city, and each has an ethnically and economically diverse constituency. The endorsement follows a meeting Bill de Blasio had with the officials on Sunday night, during which they discussed de Blasio’s vision for the future of the city and the November general election. “Bill de Blasio’s plan to fight inequality has resonated across all five boroughs, but especially in the Bronx. Bill de Blasio understands the need for a new day in our city, and will continue to fight for a living wage, for safer streets, for stronger schools and for the expansion of the middle class. As our next mayor Bill de Blasio will be a fighter for the people of this city, and I urge all Democrats, and in fact all New Yorkers, to join us in support of his candidacy for mayor,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

“After 20 years of Republican rule, the hard working people of this City are in crisis. The one percenters of New York are wealthier than ever, while working families and the most vulnerable continue to suffer income inequality and are being priced out of the City they love. Bill de Blasio represents a new vision for New Yorkers of all background. His vision to create an economic path that will create good paying jobs, affordable housing and an education system that integrates parents, children and teachers in the decision making process is key. His vision to provide ladders of opportunities for families to climb into the middle class is what this city needs today. I stand with Bill, whose message of a more inclusive New York resonates across the city. We must work together to get him elected,” said Rep. Nydia Velazquez of Brooklyn and Manhattan.

 

Thompson Concedes Mayors race to deBlasio

  Mayoral candidate Bill Thompson pictured above with Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., when Diaz Jr. endorsed Thompson for Mayor has conceded the mayor's race to current Public Advocate Bill deBlasio. With deBlasio hovering just over the 40% mark needed to avoid a run off election Thompson was hesitant to concede until today as more and more of his supporters including Bronx BP Ruben Diaz Jr. decided it was best for the Democratic Party that Thompson concedes as some have already pledged their support to the deBlasio campaign in the race against Joe Lhota. 

  Thompson was also endorsed by the Bronx Democratic County organization actually did not win the Bronx, and in some areas came in third behind deBlasio and Quinn. It had been expected that of the close to 70,000 votes to be counted for mayor, that deBlasio would maintain if not increase his margin of victory.