Pelham Parkway Neighborhood Association November Meeting

 

Pelham Parkway Neighborhood Association November Meeting 

By Robert Press

Since the second Tuesday was election day the Pelham Parkway Neighborhood Association held their meeting on the third Tuesday with the new elected officials to the PPNA area. Newly redistricted State Senator Gustavo Rivera, State Senator elect Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez, and Assemblyman elect John Zaccaro Jr. were on hand. A  representative of Councilwoman Marjorie Velazquez and a representative of outgoing State Senator Biaggi stood in for their respective bosses. 

First to speak was State Senator Gustavo Rivera who had won a hard fought primary in August and had no opposition running on the Democratic and Working Families Lines with only a possibility of a write in against him. He gave a brief description of hi new State Senate District running from Riverdale in the West Bronx to Williamsbridge Road in the East Bronx, and down to half of what his old District went to. He is keeping his district office on the Grand Concourse off Fordham Road and wants to get to know the new parts of his district. 

When questions came in they were mostly about the proposed 'Just Home' proposal for Jacobi Hospital. Senator Rivera first answered that Jacobi Hospital was not in his district, and then said he did not know much of the proposal, but wanted to learn what exactly it is, who it would service, who would be running it. 

Senator elect Nathalia Fernandez was next to speak, saying she would no longer have the PPNA in her new district, and would have t find a new district office since the old 34th senate district office was in Riverdale. While still the assembly member until the end of the year she promised to give twenty-five turkeys towards the PPNA turkey giveaway this coming Sunday on Holland Avenue. When asked about the 'Just Home' proposal at Jacobi Hospital Senator elect Fernandez said Yes she is opposed to the current plan.

Assemblyman elect John Zaccaro Jr. spoke next about his many years in government. He said that he wants to tour the district schools new and old to see where problems are with putting WiFi into any old buildings, and how to solve that. He added that he is opposed to the 'Just Home' proposal at Jacobi Hospital, and wants to go to Albany to work on the bail reform issues that need to be adjusted. 

A representative of Councilwoman Marjorie Velazquez said the councilwoman was home sick, that the next two weeks there are a lot of committee meetings, and when asked where the councilwoman stands on the 'Just Home' proposal at Jacobi Hospital she replied that the councilwoman is against it. Sharlene Jackon-Mendez Vice-President of the Van Nest Neighborhood Alliance was concerned that the councilwoman was not in attendance, and that the councilwoman was not in attendance at the previous VNNA meeting she was scheduled to attend. M. Jackson-Mendez said she does not trust the elected officials because crime  is a huge problem. 

State Senator Biaggi also sent a representative who spoke about an event by Senator Biaggi at the Huntington Library in Westchester Square this coming Saturday. She gave Steve Glosser twenty vouchers for the PPNA turkey giveaway this coming Sunday.  

State Senator Gustavo Rivera introduces himself to a new community after redistricting changed his district to Williamsbridge Road.

Assemblyman elect John Zaccaro Jr. introduces himself to the audience. 

State Senator elect Nathalia Fernandez says her good-bye to the PPNA as her new district does not include the PPNA. 

The pro 'Just Home' people were out with the video camera taping the anti 'Just Home' people who asked where the new elected officials stand on the 'Just Home at Jacobi Hospital.