100 PERCENT
By Robert Press
78th A.D. Race Shapes Up
Before I get into the 78th A.D. race, yesterday was the taping for the Monday night Bronxtalk 17th City Council Special Election Debate. It was an interesting hour, but I have to wait until after the show airs to report on it. You do however want to watch the show as there is more insight into the six remaining candidates that currently are on the ballot. Host Gary Axelbank was excellent in the way he moderated the debate, but I can tell you no one pulled out a rubber hatchet as was the case in the infamous Espada/Rosado debate many years ago. The 17th City Council Special Election debate will air Monday night at 9 PM on channel 67 for Cablevision viewers, and on channel 33 for Fios customers. You can also go to Bronxnet.org on Tuesday to see a replay of the show.
Host Gary Axelbank on the left, candidates Rafael Salamanca, Julio
Pabon, George Alvarez, Marlon Molina, Loren Russell, and Joann Otero.
On to the 78th Assembly District. The former Executive Director of the Bronx Democratic County organization Ms. Ischia Bravo has just announced (after rumors had been circulating) that she intends to be a candidate for the position of Assembly member of the 78th A.D. Ms. Bravo in a press release says that women voters outnumber male voters six to one. She claims that the women of the 78th Assembly District need a women who can speak for women's rights and other issues that are important to women, and to all the voters of the district.
This will not be an easy battle for Ms. Bravo who knows that the Bronx Democratic County organization will be endorsing all incumbents including her opponent the current assemblyman. There is however a rumor that the current assemblyman's daughter the former 80th A.D. Assemblywoman who was defeated four years ago of being a replacement candidate after petitions are circulated for her father who would withdraw before the deadline. If that was to be the case then there would be no incumbent and Ms. Bravo could receive the endorsement of the Bronx Democratic County organization. One would have to guess now that I have exposed that scenario, it looks like Assemblyman Jose Rivera is going to have to go through another election, which many hope will be his last.
Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. will be giving his 'State of the Bronx Address' on Thursday Feb. 18th at the Cardinal Hayes High School starting at 11:30 AM. The school is located at 650 Grand Concourse, and seating is limited so call 718-590-6116 to reserve your seat.
The Independent Democratic Conference led by State Senator Jeff Klein has outlined a proposal calling for a $765 million dollar investment in after school programing, Community Learning Schools, and full day Kindergarten. Check this blog archive on the left for the Report: IDC Proposes 50 Hour Learning Week to read more.
Finally, this Wednesday State Senator Gustavo Rivera is hosting a Kingsbridge Armory Community Meeting from 6:30 - 8 PM at Monroe College King Hall located at 2501 Jerome Avenue.
If you have any political information that you want to share or have checked out, any comments about this column or would like to have an event listed or covered in this column or on this blog, you can e-mail us at 100percentbronxnews@gmail.com or call 718-644-4199 Mr. Robert Press.
