New York City Council Member
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ERIC DINOWITZ
Proudly serving the neighborhoods of Bedford Park, Kingsbridge, Riverdale, Norwood, Van Cortlandt Village, Spuyten Duyvil, Wakefield, and Woodlawn in Council District 11.
11th Council District, Bronx · 277 West 231st, Bronx, NY 10463 · Tel: (718) 549 - 7300
Dear Neighbor:
It has been a heavy stretch for our community. After ICE agents shot a man in Marble Hill with his 5-year-old son in the car, I stood with neighbors and fellow elected leaders, and we are demanding an independent investigation. You will find below how my team is helping neighbors know their rights, along with the Attorney General’s guidance on voting safely as early voting begins October 24.
We also came together to honor Sallie E. Caldwell, who spent more than 30 years pitching in for Norwood and Tracey Towers, and her name now marks the corner outside the towers. This edition of The Dispatch also includes Local Law 97 support for our co-op and condo boards, the future of White Plains Road, the Indigenous and Italian American history in Van Cortlandt Park, and a Bronx music podcast released at An Beal Bocht Cafe. From Marble Hill to Wakefield, our neighbors keep showing up for one another, and I am grateful to serve you.
Kids Should Take Tests on Paper, Not Computers
More than half of the City Council signed my letter urging the state to give New York City schools a paper-and-pencil option for state tests.
I'm encouraged that the State Education Department is considering our request.
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Remembering Sallie E. Caldwell
We gathered outside Tracey Towers to co-name Mosholu Parkway and Jerome Avenue as Sallie E. Caldwell Way. Sallie was a giant in the community, and I was honored to co-name this intersection in her honor. Her family, including Brenda Caldwell-Parris, led off with beautiful words and prayer. So many community members and elected officials showed up, demonstrating her deep impact on the Bronx.
Sallie made her home in Norwood for more than 30 years. Neighbors called her the “Mayor of Tracey Towers” for her steadfast advocacy on behalf of tenants, and “Mother Caldwell” for the way she protected and nurtured the community. She served as First Vice Chair of Bronx Community Board 7, held positions with the 52nd Precinct Community Council, and sat on the board of the Jerome Gun Hill BID. In 2012, the Bronx Times named her one of the 25 Most Influential Women in the Bronx.
Sallie was one of the first people to reach out to my office after I was elected, and she got down to business right away. The fish odor and trash from the farmer’s market had become a blight on the community, and she expected action. We worked with the Parks Department to resolve it, guided by her persistence and fighting spirit. I will remember her as someone who held her representatives accountable and challenged all of us to work diligently for community improvements.
She came to the Bronx from South Carolina and lived by the lesson she was taught: “Wherever you are, you pitch in and try to help.” Today we are making sure nobody forgets her by carrying on the legacy of “pitching in and trying to help.” Thank you, Sallie. You were a community legend.
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Local Law 97 workshop
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I sponsored a Local Law 97 workshop right here in District 11. Many buildings in our district are run by volunteer co-op and condo boards, and the 2030 compliance deadline is fast-approaching. These boards need the tools and guidance to understand the requirements, reduce emissions, and access resources to support compliance.
Local Law 97 applies across the city, and the lessons from this session are useful for boards in every borough. Boards with questions can contact my office.
Free Flu and COVID Vaccines
My office co-sponsored, with Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz's office, a free COVID and flu vaccination event, and I was glad to see so many neighbors come out. Getting vaccinated protects you and the people around you, including older adults, young children, and neighbors with chronic conditions. Thank you to our partners, the staff and volunteers, and everyone who took time to protect their health.
I even got vaccinated myself!
Know Your Rights
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My constituent advocates, Moises Lopez and Caleb Auerbach, hit the streets across the district to hand out know your rights flyers. They stopped to talk with neighbors and small business owners about what to do if federal immigration agents approach you at home, on the street, or at work.
Early voting for the November 3 general election runs from October 24 through November 1, and polls on Election Day are open from 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM. October 24 is also the last day for the Board of Elections to receive a voter registration application. Any registered voter can request an early mail ballot. Your early voting site may differ from your Election Day site, so look up yours before you go.
Attorney General Letitia James has issued guidance reminding voters that state and federal law protect their right to vote free from intimidation, harassment, or interference from anyone, including government officials and armed federal agents. Her office also released new guidance on language assistance and sent a letter to local boards of elections and law enforcement agencies reminding them to stop voter intimidation.
If you run into a problem while voting, call the Attorney General’s Election Protection Hotline at (866) 390-2992 or file a complaint online. The hotline will be available from October 24 through November 4. Neighbors with questions can also reach our office. I encourage every eligible neighbor to make a voting plan and use it.
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White Plains Road
Council Member Riley and I have been working diligently for many months to engage community members in Wakefield for a community-led rezoning project. White Plains Road needs more investment, and I want its future shaped by the neighbors who use it every day. The study area runs from Adee Avenue to the Mount Vernon border, with portions of East Gun Hill Road and East 233rd Street.
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Community Board 8
Moises from our office attended the Bronx Community Board 8 regular meeting at Amalgamated Vladeck Hall to hear recent community conserns from the neighborhood and share updates from my office!
Join us Sunday, November 1 at noon at the Memorial Grove in Van Cortlandt Park to celebrate our veterans. In the Council, I wrote and enacted legislation that better assists the Department of Veterans Services in connecting our heroes to resources and social services by equipping the agency with better tools to identify veterans.
Join us THIS SUNDAY for our popular shredding event right outside the Riverdale Farmers Market.
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Boo Bash 2026 - Get Your Tickets Now!
PS 24’s annual Boo Bash!
Join us on Saturday, October 24 from 4:00–7:00 PM for one of our biggest family events of the year, filled with Halloween fun for children from preschool through Grade 5.
This year’s Boo Bash will feature:
- Our first-ever Trunk or Treat
- Halloween Zumba & Monster Mash with Female Fight Club
- Music & Dancing with DJ Serg & DJ Lorenzo
- Card Tricks & More with Matthew Martin
- Bouncy House & Obstacle Course with Ninja Gymnastics
- Taekwondo & Block Breaking with Powerspeed Taekwondo
- Interactive Math Games with Mathnasium
- Face Painting & Glitter Tattoos
- Arts & Crafts
- Local food and shopping vendors
- Exciting raffle prizes
- And more Halloween fun throughout the evening!
Date & Time: Saturday, October 24, 4:00–7:00 PM
Rain Date: Sunday, October 25, 4:00–7:00 PM
Location: PS 24 Upper Yard
Entrance: W 235th Street Upper Yard Stair Entrance, across from Spuyten Duyvil Library
Tickets
Advance Admission: $10 per child or adult
Children 3 and under are free
Ticket prices will increase at the door, so we strongly encourage families to purchase in advance.
Online ticket sales close Friday, October 23 at 8:00 PM.
Admission includes entry to Boo Bash and all activities and games.
Food and raffle tickets will be available for separate purchase.
After purchasing your tickets, you will receive a confirmation email that will serve as your RSVP. Wristbands will be distributed at check-in.
https://my.cheddarup.com/c/
Sincerely, |
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Council Member Eric Dinowitz |
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