Congressman Ritchie Torres Attends PPNA February Meeting

 

The February Pelham Parkway Neighborhood Association meeting was all about Congressman Ritchie Torres who is new to the Pelham Parkway area, and his district stretches from Riverdale to across the street from Jacobi Hospital after redistricting at the beginning of 2023. Congressman Torres was eager to hear from his new constituents, but opened attacking Republicans in congress who he said are trying to cut programs such as Medicare and Social Security. That was met later by some of the Republicans in the audience who said some of the Democratic waste needs to be cut. 

Congressman Torres also spoke of a bill he introduced calling for honesty by candidates when running for office specifically mentioning current Congressman George Santos while discussing this item. He added that he is against the current forms of congestion pricing that would put more cars and diesel fueled trucks on to the Cross Bronx Expressway rather than going into Manhattan, and as to the problem with the mail in the Bronx he would try to arrange a meeting with the Bronx Postmaster to see what the problem is.

Upon taking questions Congressman Torres was questioned by more than one person on the U.S. support of the Ukraine. He answered that Russia attacked a sovereign nation, and it was the duty of the United States to give aid to the country being attacked. He agreed that the federal government should do more for New York City about the current immigration issue saying that most of the aid that cities are getting for that will go to New York City. 

Congressman Torres was asked why he caved on a bill when he was in the city council about the NYPD. His answer was that there are four levels of interrogation by the police, 1- Question, 2 - Aggressive Questioning, 3 - Stop and Frisk, and 4 - Search and Power to Arrest. He continued that there was push back from the mayor, NYPD, and other legislators so he took part of the solution rather than getting nothing. 

Also in attendance was Councilwoman Marjorie Velazquez who did not say anything, because Congressman Torres spoke the entire evening with the except for the few words of introduction by PPNA President Steve Gloser who added that the next meeting of the PPNA will be on Tuesday March 14th where an agent from the FBI will be the guest.

The PPNA Executive Board with Congressman Ritchie Torres and Councilwoman Marjorie Velazquez.

Congressman Torres listening to a question on affordable housing. 

A woman in the audience reads from a paper as she condemns the congressman for supporting a war in the Ukraine which she and two others who spoke said will lead to nuclear war.