100 PERCENT SATURDAY APRIL 2, 2016

100 PERCENT

By Robert Press

Who's Minding the City?

    One of the biggest stories this year is how a non-profit was able to sell a once Aids clinic for around 100 Million dollars (give or take a few million or so). This was a building that was classified as a clinic from a non-profit in an area where the value was a tremendous amount as we see by the so called allowance of the sale by the city.  Do we lay blame on the owner of the property given the special change in zoning, the Mayor's new ZQA plan, the Mayor himself, or the Deputy Mayor in charge of the program. Any way you look at it the city got dumped on for tens of millions of dollars, and right after the Mayor pushed, and the City Council approved the new ZQA zoning. 

     I only wonder if it was one of those now much higher salaried City Council members who benefited from the sale of the building, or was it one of Mayor de Blasio's rich donors. Remember Mayor de Blasio you are up for re-election next year, and the indicators are that Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. is going to be your challenger. I wonder who Stanley Schlein will be representing, as it was Bill de Blasio in 2013. 

     I was able to sit down with former State Senator Efrain Gonzalez Jr. to go over some old times, and what the future has in store for him. While he was convicted, former State Senator Gonzalez still maintains his innocence, and that he will vindicate his good name as he is in the process of his appeal of the case. No more can be said, but one has to wonder why this appeal seems to keep getting stalled as Senator Gonzalez tells it. 

     The state budget is or was finally passed, as all the bills and other materials are being printed. My favorite question to many elected state officials is - how much of the budget did you really read? There will be comments from the various Bronx elected officials as they come out with their statements on the state budget, and I hope to interview a few for a future column. 

     As usual check the archive section (you will have to back to March) to see the upcoming events such as the Rain Barrel Giveaway by Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj and State Senator Jeff Klein, The many upcoming Bronx Chamber of Commerce events, More on the 15th Congressional race, and both the Democratic and Republican New York State Presidential Primaries which for the first time in many many years is playing a key role in the selection process, and next week my predictions for the New York State Presidential Primary on both sides. Will New York 'Feel the Bern', or will C&K get Trumped in New York. 

     Lastly, Mayoral control of the public schools is up in June of this year it is not renewed by the state legislature. I would hope that after three disastrous terms of former Mayor Bloomberg, and now two more years of not working under Mayor de Blasio that the state legislature would put an end to this idea that has failed like the schools it was intended to improve. No I still say failing school even if the Mayor, Chancellor, and state legislature want to call it a struggling school. A failure is still a failure no matter what you call it, and mayoral control should be ended. There needs to be accountability where there has been none the past fourteen years. 

        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. 

Bronx Chamber of Commerce - Next "Next Level Bronx" Class begin April 27, 2016

Application Period Now Open!      

 

 

About the Program:

NYCEDC is launching the Next Level Bronx program to give small business owners the tools, training, and networks to turn growth plans into action. We provide customized training for business owners who have been in business for at least three years, have an annual revenue of at least $250,000, and have at least one employee besides the owner. This is a seven-month program that helps participants emerge with successful, growth-oriented business strategies.

 

This program is brought to you by NYCEDC with curriculum provided by Interise and is supported by Citi Community Development. The Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation, the Bronx Chamber of Commerce, Assemblyman Blake, have partnered to help launch this major initiative. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact Lucy Christensen at 212-312-4242.

 

Program Details:

This program will run over the course of seven months and will be held at the Bronx Borough Hall twice a month. By participating in this program you and your business could receive:

 

¨ Access to our Private Sector Network (PSN), network of volunteer professionals, and mentors.

¨ A customized Strategic Growth Plan outlining the action steps required to achieve business goals.

¨ Customized training to learn about business and development strategies, strategic planning, financial management, human resources, accessing capital, and government contracts.

 

This program is being offered free of charge. Apply today to reserve your spot for Next Level Bronx!

 

APPLY TODAY

 

Key Dates:

¨ April 1 - Application Deadline

¨ April 27 - First Session

¨ November 2016 - Program Completion

Phil Cardone

 Grants & Events Director

 Bronx Chamber of Commerce

"The Network For Business Success"
1200 Waters Place, Suite 106
Bronx, NY 10461
718-828-3900
 Phil@bronxchamber.org 

100 PERCENT March 26, 2016

100 PERCENT

By Robert Press

Budget Time in Albany

     With less than a week until the April 1st deadline for a state budget, there seems to be a feeling that this year the budget may be late rather than on time. The State Assembly and State Senate are busy passing their one house bills, and some of the local elected officials are sending out press releases that their bills have been passed, but it is only by the one house they are a member of. To become law a bill must pass both the State Assembly and the State Senate, and then be signed into law by the governor. A lot of things can happen after these one house bills leave their one house. The other house can amend or modify the other houses bill, the bill can be changed entirely or just by one word, and the governor can sign, veto, or also ask to have said bill amended or changed to his likings. There is also what is known as 'Horse Trading' that can go on, which is I will vote for your bill if you vote for my bill, or any of the many ways that bills can be adopted or changed to get them passed into law. That is why you so often hear from elected officials that they really didn't want to vote for something, but there was more good than harm in the bill. Another explanation is that 'sometimes you have to compromise' to get things done or bills passed. Whatever happens I am sure we will hear all of those answers and probably a few new ones as the state budget finally gets passed. 

       Passing the state budget and on time is very important to New York City as the fiscal year for the city begins on July 1st. The city is dependent on state funding as well as federal funding for a good part of its budget or the city has to cutback on either services or staff. We shall see how Ambassador Bill de Blasio does in Albany this year compared to past years. It is not looking good for the city as there are big cuts in state funding proposed to CUNY, and Medicaid, as well as the continued lack of proper funding to New York City schools. Will Democrat Bill de Blasio anger State Senate Republicans again this year as he has done in the previous election year, or will the pressure of a shrinking majority (if any) put the pressure on State Senate Republicans. One thing that is up is Mayoral Control of the public schools, and I for one hope that it is not renewed. 10 years of Mayoral Control has not made the city public schools any better, and there is no accountability at all.

      Moving to the race to replace Charlie Rangel in Congress, Manhattan Democratic County Leader Assemblyman Keith Wright (and leading candidate) continues to rack up the endorsements. He has several unions already and the Bronx Democratic County organization endorsing him. However is there dissent among the Bronx Democratic County organization as State Senator Gustavo Rivera, Assemblyman Victor Pichardo, and now City Councilman Ritchie Torres have endorsed State Senator Adriano Espaillat for the congressional seat. Then there is Assemblyman Jose Rivera who has endorsed his friend Adam Clayton Powell in the same race. Candidate Powell has not been without controversy after a story appeared in the City and State on line report that one of his Bronx political operatives was offering five dollars an hour for canvassing which set off a fury of Facebook comments about the PO and candidate Powell. Candidate Powell completely denied paying the PO anything even for his endorsement, which appears on this blog in a previous post. 

       Finally, Mayor Bill de Blasio is taking victory laps after getting his MIH and ZQA text amendments passed. It may have been watered down a bit (and just a bit at that as you can still taste the real flavor), but next is to see if de Blasio can get some kind of replacement for the disbanded 421A program so developers can afford to build affordable housing. Then there are the possible court challenges to MIH and ZQA that may be looming ahead.  

      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.   

The Bronx Chamber of Commerce - Annual Gala April 13, 2016

100 PERCENT SATURDAY MARCH 19, 2016

100 PERCENT

By Robert Press

March Madness

     The Ides of March have passed, and March Madness is upon us. I would suggest that you check your brackets to see if you are still in the hunt to pick the winner of the NCAA Tournament. 

     It seems that Chancellor Carmen Farina and Mayor Bill de Blasio are turning public school lunchrooms into what looks like Sports bars by putting in as many as six wide screen televisions.  In a recent visit to MS 80 for an event I found six wide screen televisions mounted on the walls, and one even had the Iowa - Temple NCAA game on complete with all the commercials. Is that any way to run a school Chancellor Farina or Mayor de Blasio. No wonder this is a failing school, or should we be state legislative correct and call it a struggling school. Any way you look at this it is a school where the children are failing and not struggling. This has gone on for much to long, and I hope to let the parents and community know that the mayor and his chancellor would rather have your children watching television complete with commercials rather than trying to teach them. I can only wonder if these young children are watching beer and other adult commercials that may come on at any time of the day. 

     On to local politics - With the endorsement of the Bronx Democratic County organization is that the final piece of the puzzle to a victory for current Assemblyman Keith Wright to replace Charlie Rangel in congress. The field is looking like the Republican Presidential race with candidates in the congressional race expected to drop like those in the Republican Presidential race. Who will be next to drop out of the race to replace Charlie Rangel? The other question is will State Senator Adriano Espaillat become a three time loser in this district. 

     Speaking of losers we should soon know just how much time in jail that former New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and former State Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos will be serving as both are to be sentenced in early April. 

     As for the Democratic Presidential race - pack it in Bernie she already has the delegates to win, all you are doing is distracting her from who her real challenger is going to be. You were trumped when you entered the race. 

     Don't forget to check the archive section on the left of this blog for items such as the Community Board 6 - 26th observance of the Happy Land Social Club fire, Irish Heritage or Women of Distinction events by Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. or the Bronx Chamber of Commerce to name only a few, and then there are the upcoming events by both and other such as the Bronx Jewish Project HOPE Passover Package Delivery on Sunday morning April 10th. There are also press releases by most of your local elected officials telling you of the job they are doing in office. 

     Lastly, I have been told by only one person that I picked on Assemblyman Jose Rivera last week. I thought I was going after someone else who I really didn't want to waste a whole column on, but I am being told that Assemblyman Jose Rivera's daughter the former Assemblywoman from the 80th A.D. has been making the rounds in the 78th A.D. where she is registered to vote. I guess I will have to find those old photos of her from her last election should she choose to run. Red seems to be Naomi's favorite color, right Anthony?

       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.   

The Bronx Chamber of Commerce - Women of Distinction Luncheon Friday March 18, 2016

Reserve today to attend the upcoming 

Business & Networking Mixer!

Nunzio Del Greco
President and CEO
Bronx Chamber of Commerce

"The Network For Business Success"
1200 Waters Place, Suite 106
Bronx, NY 10461
718-828-3900
Nunzio@bronxchamber.org

100 PERCENT SATURDAY MARCH 12, 2016

100 PERCENT

By Robert Press

78th Assembly Race

   Before I get into the 78th A.D. race, it seems that there is equal drama in the race to succeed Charlie Rangel as in the Republican Presidential Primary. There is a little man whom we shall call Mr. Rube who is on the payroll of a congressional candidate in much the same spot at Florida Senator Rubio. Mr. Rube is attacking both front runners in this congressional race, but then again he is getting paid for it. I wonder if the candidate paying Mr. Rube has spoken to another candidate in this congressional race who paid Mr. Rube in a past congressional race? 

   On to the 78th Assembly Race and this little man comers up again. It seems that people have told me that this little man can dish it out on facebook, but dare come back to him and reply to one of his rants he will delete your reply as if it was never written. This man is of course Anthony Rivieccio who is currently no longer the top dog with Assemblyman Jose Rivera now that Rivera has other people he can trust. 

   Mr. Michael Benjamin of the Bronx Chronicle reported that Mr. Rivieccio was a candidate for the 36th State Senate District to which Mr. Rivieccio will not confirm or deny. That was what one of my facebook call outs to Mr. Rivieccio was, and my reply on his post was deleted. Well Mr. Rivieccio people know you to well, and while you may block me from your facebook page you can not block me from this blog and my facebook page. 

   Anthony Rivieccio is now trying to get back into favor with Assemblyman Rivera, and has put on his facebook page that Mr. Ricky Martinez is going to run for the 78th assembly seat when in fact that is false. Being the Vice-Chair of the Committee of 100 Democrats, I can say that The Committee of 100 Democrats and Mr. Ricky Martinez will be supporting Ms. Ischia Bravo for the 78th Assembly seat against a person who has had a long career in politics, which many have said has been to long and he should retire. Over the course of the primary election Ms. Bravo will show the voters of the 78th A.D. why she is the best candidate, and why she cares for the district that the current assembly member has taken the voters for granted. I also expect to see the tricks and chicanery that goes on against those who challenge incumbents, and it would do the Bronx Democratic County organization best not to endorse a candidate in the 78th A.D. then to say we are endorsing all incumbents no matter who they are or how out of touch with their constituents they are. 

    I fully expect to see on his facebook page rants about me from Mr. Rivieccio, and Assemblyman Rivera the more Mr. Rivieccio does it the harder I will help Ms. Bravo defeat you. I know that you will not appear at debates as it runs in the Rivera family (sorry Joel), and I will expose any phoney forum that Mr. Rivieccio tries to arrange as some have said he tried in the past 11th City Council race. My advice to you Jose is listen to what you said in the last election about Mr. Anthony Rivieccio, or I might just have to print it. Go ahead Anthony ask him what he said about you, if he remembers I certainly do.

    Check this blog archive on the left for events that took place this past week and check out the many photos. I am sorry I had to waste this column on someone who is not worth it.

    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.   

100 PERCENT SATURDAY MARCH 5, 2016

100 PERCENT

By Robert Press

Trump - Kasich

    After today's results from the Republican primaries and caucuses the call for Rubio and Kasich to drop out has come from both Donald Trump and Ted Cruz the two front runners in the Republican Presidential race. However the anybody but Trump or Cruz Republican establishment may have to settle for Trump or Cruz as the candidate for president. What the Republican establishment however can get would be the Vice-President candidate along with several key cabinet positions in a deal with either Trump or Cruz. That could be the reason that Rubio and Kasich are still in the race to make sure that neither Trump or Cruz can get to the magic number of 1,237 delegates needed to be automatically nominated. 1,612 delegates are available, and currently Trump has 382, Cruz has 300, Rubio has 128, and Kasich has 35, with about 736 delegates left to gather. However those delegates who were chosen to a candidate who is no longer in the race are also available to those candidates left in the race. That would mean that only Trump or Cruz would have any chance of making it on the first ballot, thus a Trump - Kasich ticket would be the best case scenario for almost all in the Republican Party. 

   In local races, the Bronx Democratic County organization has come out with an endorsement of Keith Wright one day after Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie had endorsed candidate Wright to replace Charlie Rangel in Congress. It was the worse kept secret as everyone knew that Heastie was going to endorse Wright for Wright's support in becoming the new Speaker of the State Assembly. Score two now for not so new Assembly Speaker Heastie, with the first one being the nomination and easy victory of New Bronx DA Darcel Clark. 

  Bronx State Senator Gustavo Rivera and Bronx Assemblyman Victor Pichardo endorsed State Senator Adriano Espaillat last week, while Bronx Assemblyman Jose Rivera has endorsed Adam Powell to replace Rangel in congress. So much for party unity in the Bronx, and it looks like there may be more defection from the Bronx Democratic County organization in endorsements from others in the Northwest Bronx in this congressional race. 

    This is a big week for events as two are scheduled for Wednesday. The Bronx Chamber of Commerce holds its Irish Heritage Luncheon from 12 - 4 PM at the Rambling House located at 4292 Katonah Avenue in Woodlawn. RSVP to the BCC at 718-828-3900. Wednesday evening Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. hosts his Greek Heritage Celebration from 6 - 8 PM at St. Peter the Apostle Greek Orthodox Church located at 3245 Kingsbridge Avenue. RSVP to the BP's office at 718-590-3989. Thursday March 10th Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. celebrates Women's History Month at Scavello's on the Island located at 101 City Island Avenue with special guest speaker Ms. Coline Jenkins. Breakfast is being served from 11 AM - 12:30 PM as the program begins at 12:45 PM. RSVP to the BP's office at 718-590-3522. Friday March 11th is the TEAM DIAZ Annual Abrozo Garifuna being held at Maestro's Caterers located at 1703 Bronxdale Avenue from 7PM - 12 AM. This is an invitation only event and you can call the district offices of State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. at 718-991-3161, Assembly members Michael Blake at 718-538-3829, Marcos Crespo at 718-893-0202, or Luis Sepulveda at 718-931-2620 for an invitation. Saturday March 12th Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj is hosting a Women of Distinction Breakfast at the Pelham Bay Diner located at 1920 E. Gun Hill Road. from 9:30 - 11:30 AM. The honorees include Marissa Soto ESQ., Ms. Diane Cerino, Ms. Andrea Siegel, Ms. Avril Francis, and Ms. Barbara Stronzer. RSVP to Assemblyman Gjonaj's office at 718-409-0109. Please note that the seating is limited at all the events listed so please call the phone numbers listed and make reservations if you plan to attend any of them. 

     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.   

Croton Filter Project - Croton FMC Meeting on Tuesday, March 22, 2016

   The Croton FMC will next meet on Tuesday, March 22nd at 7pm at the DEP Croton office, 3660 Jerome Ave, Bronx 10467.  An agenda will be forwarded when it is available.

  Special Note: The meetings of the CFMC are normally held on Thursday night, but Thursday March 24th falls on Holy Thursday. In order to allow for more participation the date was changed to Tuesday March 22nd. 

100 PERCENT Saturday February 27, 2016

100 PERCENT

By Robert Press

Time to Unite

   For those who say that it was business as usual in this past Tuesday's special election they must be in the less than 40 percent that the Bronx Democratic County organization received as a winning percentage. As the John Lennon song 'Imagine That' goes, imagine that the Bronx Democratic County organization had been rejected by the voters in the special election. In reality over 60 percent of the voters rejected the Bronx Democratic organization, and it is now time to join together and put that majority to the test. There can be no more division among the ranks, but unity to win and keep on winning. The only way the Bronx Democratic County organization got away with a win in the special election was that you saw elected officials like Congressman Jose Serrano out at train stops doing for county what he does not even do for himself, campaigning. Congressman Serrano should be the first example to have a united single challenger. No more of this four or five people seeking to get on the ballot, only to split the majority of the vote and have everyone loose. there must be one united candidate against Congressman Jose Serrano, and then the Bronx Democratic County organization will get the message. After that the assembly districts can be picked away from county one by one. Next year the City Council districts, and maybe a whole new county organization. This mat be a dream for now, but it can become a reality in just a few short years if there is unity.

   State Senators Ruben Diaz Sr., and Gustavo Rivera, several assembly districts like the 78th, 82nd, 83rd (if he is not indicted, as NY 1 political commentator Curtis Swilia says Assemblyman Heastie will be), 84th, and maybe one or two others including the 85th currently held by the Bronx Democratic County Leader Assemblyman Marcos Crespo are also vulnerable. Next year there will be a few city council seats up such as Jimmy Vacca's, Anabele Palma's, and maybe one or more if current Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. decides to run for mayor, plus the possibility of a couple more weak incumbents. So my insurgent friends do not fear, there will be many opportunities to run. The only way to do this however is to unite together, otherwise you are only going to help the Bronx Democratic County organization. Remember 2008 and the Rainbow Rebellion. It was a united effort put up to overthrow the Bronx Democratic County Leader that worked, and it can be done again. The only question is when?

    The Bronx Chamber of Commerce has many upcoming events, and you can check the archive section on the left of this blog for them. Also check for upcoming March events that Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj will be hosting. It looks like KAZ Realty will be handling the business end of the Coop-City Riverbay Board leasing of the malls in Coop-City, and the Riverbay Board has made a fine choice in Bronx based KAZ Reality. 

    Moving to the race to replace Charlie Rangel there are now eight announced candidates, and tomorrow afternoon the Barack Obama Democratic Club of Upper Manhattan and the People's Theatre Project will be co-hosting a congressional candidates forum for the 13th district of New York. the eight candidates are Current State Senator Adriano Espaillat, State Senator Bill Perkins, Assemblyman Keith Wright, Assemblyman Guillermo Linares, former Assemblyman Adan Clayton Powell, Ambassador Suzan Johnson Cook, Mr. Mike Gallagher, and Mr. Clyde Williams. the forum is to be held at the Alianza Dominicana Cultural Center located at 530 West 166th Street Manhattan, starting at 3 PM. Let's hope that the eight candidates remember that while the majority of the 13th Congressional District lies in Manhattan that there is still a substantial part of the district that lies in the Bronx.   

    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.  

The Bronx Chamber of Commerce - Irish Heritage Luncheon March 9, 2016

Attend the next Business & Networking Mixer!

Take advantage of the 

Early Reservation and Member Discounts!

We look forward to seeing you at our excellent 

business networking events!

March 18, 2016       

Women of Distinction Luncheon

Villa Barone Manor 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm

April 13, 2016          

Annual Gala

Marina del Rey Caterers 5:30 pm - 10:30 pm

May 3, 2016           

Annual Golf Outing

Trump Links 11:30 am - 8:00 pm

June 16, 2016          

Annual Business Expo

The Mall at Bay Plaza 11:00 am - 5:00 pm

Nunzio Del Greco

President and CEO
Bronx Chamber of Commerce

"The Network For Business Success"
1200 Waters Place, Suite 106
Bronx, NY 10461
718-828-3900
Nunzio@bronxchamber.org

Bronx Chamber of Commerce - Women of Distinction Luncheon March 18, 2016

Attend the upcoming 

Business & Networking Mixer!

Take advantage of the 

Early Reservation and Member Discounts!

We look forward to seeing you at this excellent business networking event!

100 PERCENT Saturday Feb. 6, 2016

100 PERCENT

By Robert Press

State of The City 

     Before I get into the State of The City speech by Mayor Bill de Blasio, we should find out just who will be running in the 17th City Council Special Election on Tuesday morning starting at 10 AM. That is when the Board of Elections will begin hearing arguments as to why or why not any of the 10 candidates that were challenged will remain on the ballot. As I said last week I expect no more than five candidates to remain on the ballot. It seems that unlike in past elections (the 2009 14th City Council race to be specific) the campaign manager of candidate Fernando Cabrera keep on the ballot candidate Yudelka Tapia who then took enough votes away from the incumbent Councilwoman Maria Baez to give candidate Fernando Cabrera the victory. In the 17th City Council Special Election it seems that the same Campaign Manager in this race for the Bronx Democratic County organization candidate Rafael Salamanca wants to knock off the ballot a certain candidate who could be the Yudelka Tapia in this race in 2016. Then again the campaign manager has gotten older, and lost a few elections since 2009. That was the reason I have called candidate Julio Pabon and not the Bronx Democratic County organization candidate the favorite to win the 17th City Council Special Election.  

   Speaking of the City Council they voted themselves a 38 percent pay raise yesterday, and while you may say that is to big a pay raise it has been ten years since the last pay raise for the council members. It is to bad that every other city employee did not get the same 38 percent pay raise over the last ten years, just ask any police officer. 

   As for the State of The City Speech by Mayor Bill deBlasio, was it just the luck of the Bronx that the mayor gave it at Lehman College, or was the mayor trying to send a message to Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. who has been named as a potential primary challenger to the mayor in 2017. I did not attend Mayor deBlasio's  State of The City Speech, as I was doing my duty as a member of Bronx Community Board #8 by attending a very important Land Use Committee meeting. By the way the Land Use Committee of CB 8 voted to reiterate its rejection of both the MIH and ZQA proposals submitted to the City Council, and urged the members of the city council to also reject both. There was discussion that the public and community boards do not have enough time to hold public hearing (such as before), and why the City Council which has fifty days to hold hearings is rushing the process in just one week. 

  As a member of Bronx Community Board #8 I am up for reappointment this year (my sixth year on BXCB 8), and have been told by two different supporters of 17th City Council candidate Rafael Salamanca who are members of the Bronx Democratic County organization that I had better watch what I write about the Bronx Democratic County organization candidate in the 17th City Council Special Election since I am up for reappointment to BXCB 8. 

   Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. will be giving his State of The Borough Address on Thursday Feb. 18, 2016 starting at 11:30 AM, at Cardinal Hayes High School located at 650 Grand Concourse. You can call 718-590-6116 to reserve your seat as space is very limited.

   Lastly I dusted off my crystal ball for a Super Bowl prediction. My crystal ball had a victory by Carolina 27 - 13 over Denver.  

    If you have any political information (especially about the 17th City Council special election) 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. 

    

100 PERCENT Saturday January 30, 2016

100 PERCENT

By Robert Press

 The Next 17th Councilman

   Before I tell you who the next city councilman for the 17th City Council will be, Monday is Iowa Caucus Day (or evening). Iowa residents most of whom are independent voters not enrolled in either the Democratic or Republican Party are still able to register in either party to select their candidate for the state Caucus. The front runner Donald Trump is expecting thousands of new people to sign up for the Republican Caucus to select him as their choice. In the Democratic side Bernie Sanders is hoping for the same thing. So why does Iowa and the next primary stare New Hampshire mean so much to the candidates? 

    It is always good news when you are out trying to raise the much needed campaign funds or trying to get more people to vote for you if you have already proven that you are a better choice than the other candidates. You are already a winner, and if there is a large field of candidates they start to drop out because things are starting to get tough, and look bleak for them. That is the true spirit of the primary, let the people decide. To bad that dies not happen in the Bronx, and especially in the current 17th City Council Special Election. 

   Why am I so cynical about the 17th City Council Special Election especially when there was a forum that ten of the eleven candidates took part in. I expect that after the petition hearings are held on February 8th to see less than half of the field of candidates left. Will they be the best candidates or will they be the political hacks, one issue candidate, or just plain lucky to not get thrown off the ballot by the Bronx Democratic County organization expert election lawyer "KING STANLEY SCHLEIN". KING STANLEY is the man credited with knowing more than the Board of Elections when it comes to election law, after all it is said that he wrote the book on election law, or corrected it. 

   Here is who I predict will remain on the ballot, and just who will win and why. Of course Rafael Salamanca the candidate of the Bronx Democratic County organization will be on the ballot since no one challenged his petition, and the petition of the other ten candidates were challenged by the Bronx Democratic County organization as said at the candidates forum by soon to be former candidate Elliot Quinones. Other candidates who will make it past the Board of Elections challenge phase will be Julio Pabon, Loren Russell, and maybe one more candidate for a total of four from the original eleven candidates. 

   One would think with only three or four candidates in the race the Bronx Democratic County organization candidate would win, but one would be wrong as has happened in recent elections such as the 79th Assembly District. Then there is the factor of the campaign manager Mr. Benny Catalia, who seems to be slipping in recent elections, and most recently as the campaign manager of the Ruth Hassel-Thompson campaign for Mayor of Mount Vernon. It seems that State Senator Thompson should have won the election easily especially with the Bronx Democratic County organization ace campaign manager as her campaign manager Mr. Benny Catalia. So what happen to Senator Thompson in the Mount Vernon Mayor's race, she came in third. Was it bad campaign managing or something else? Word is that State Senator Thompson will be seeking re-election after saying that she would be retiring from office. Could the way she lost have anything to do with the decision?

   Getting back to the 17th City Council Special Election with only three or four candidates I would have to say that candidate Julio Pabon would be the favorite to win, and he should need less votes this election than he received in the last election for this seat in 2013. The Bronx Democratic County organization candidate Rafael Salamanca seems to be very weak, especially since it appears that he was not doing his job as District Manager of Bronx Community Board #2. I say that because there were no minutes of Community Board #2 full board meetings, executive board meetings, or District Service Cabinet meetings on file when I requested to see them at the Community Board #2 District office on January 19, 2016. I also asked to see the time sheets for the Community Board #2 District Manager, any communication between the district manager Mr. Salamanca and the board as to when Mr. Salamanca decided to run for office, and any discretionary spending by Bronx Community Board #2 while Mr. Salamanca has been the district manager. I have had to give Bronx Community Board #2 Chairman Dr. Ian Amritt a Freedom of Information letter for the above six items, and in an e-mail to me dated January 25, 2016 from Dr. Amritt he states that the board has received my FOIL letter and will respond in twenty business days of which documents are in the possession of Community Board #2, how I can obtain them, and which items I will be denied. Since Bronx Community Board #2 is a public body of the City of New York all six items should be in the possession of the board office and available for viewing at any time. By the way the twenty business days just happens to be after the Special Election that Community Board #2 District Manager Rafael Salamanca is a candidate. 

   I have also viewed the first Campaign Finance Board filing of 17th City Council candidate Rafael Salamanca (all nine pages) which is accessible on the CFB website, and it seems that candidate Salamanca received campaign donations as far back as early December 2015, throughout November 2015, on October 26, 2015, and even as far back as September 11, 2015. The question is, how many of the contributors had anything to do with Bronx Community Board #2, and was District Manager Rafael Salamanca on the payroll of Bronx Community Board #2 when any of the contributions to his campaign for City Council of a seat that covers Bronx Community Board #2 came in? by the way I was sitting next to a person who said they were a member of Bronx Community Board #2 at the candidates forum. More in upcoming columns.

   If you have any political information (especially about the 17th City Council special election) 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.     

   

Winter Storm Update Monday January 25, 2016

   The city received 26.8 inches of snow in Central Park--the second largest total since 1869. The Mayor urged New Yorkers to refrain from travel except when necessary in order to allow plows to continue clearing our streets. 

"While the storm is over, there is still work to be done. We urge all New Yorkers not to travel on our roads except when necessary, and to be extremely careful when driving. Our tireless sanitation workers are out in full force and we must give them space to clear the roads. If you go outside, use caution and stay alert for ice and cold temperatures," said Mayor Bill de Blasio. 

Schools

NYC Public Schools are open.

NYPD

· A total of 25 summonses were issued in relation to the Mayor's Executive Order.

· Assisted in 367 tows across the City.

Department of Sanitation

· DSNY has plowed all streets at least once. Focusing on secondary and tertiary streets today.

· DSNY has more than 2,300 pieces of snow clearing equipment out.

· Sanitation workers remain on two 12-hour shifts, with 2,300 workers per shift.

DOT

· Alternate Side Parking rules suspended through Friday 1/29. Meters remain in effect.

· DOT has deployed more than 350 workers and 240 trucks and pieces of equipment to assist in snow removal.

· JC Decaux has cleared several hundred bus shelters across the City.

NYC Emergency Management

· NYCEM Emergency Operations Center remains activated.

· NYCEM has deployed Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) volunteers citywide to assist with clearing fire hydrants of snow, and is working with NYC Service to provide help to those who may need assistance shoveling. Anyone needing assistance should call 311.

FDNY

· Maintaining approximately 300 additional fire and EMS personnel on duty through 6 PM hours today to staff additional ambulances plus extra firefighter on all engine companies.

· Hydrant clearing operations underway today - there are approximately 110,000 hydrants throughout the city. FDNY will survey and clear as necessary, and is asking the public to help clear hydrants.

· Fire and EMS personnel responded to 6,000 emergency calls during the storm, including nearly 4,000 medical calls.

Homeless Services

Code Blue protocols are in effect. No one seeking shelter in New York City will be denied. Anyone who sees a homeless individual or family out in the cold should call 311 immediately and an outreach team will be dispatched to assist them.

Heat and Hot Water

Any tenant lacking heat and hot water should immediately call 311. The Department of Housing Preservation and Development has crews responding.

NYC Transit and MTA Bus Service

Subway service has been restored to portions of the above ground network hit hardest by this weekend's record snowfall. Service will be limited and most express service is suspended. Service on NYC Transit and MTA bus has resumed on a modified Sunday schedule. Limited buses are making all local stops. Access-A-Ride service has resumed scheduled trips.

Ferry Services

Staten Island Ferry in service and running on normal schedule. Seastreak service is suspended.

Further Notifications

For information and updates related to weather and travel conditions, visit sign up for Notify NYC, the City's free emergency notification system. Through Notify NYC, New Yorkers can receive phone calls, text messages and/or emails alerts about traffic and transit disruptions and other emergencies. To sign up for Notify NYC, call 311, visitNYC.gov/notifynyc, or follow @NotifyNYC on Twitter.   

Travel Safety Tips

New Yorkers are urged to staff off the roads unless travel is necessary so that the Sanitation department can continue to clean streets throughout the day:

· Use mass transportation whenever possible. If you must drive, drive slowly and use major streets or highways for travel whenever possible.

· If you're walking outdoors, be careful as sidewalks may be snowy and icy.

· Have heightened awareness of cars, particularly when approaching or crossing intersections.

Snow Removal Safety Tips

· Stretch before you go out.

· Cover your mouth. Protect your lungs from extremely cold air by covering your mouth when outdoors.

· Avoid overexertion. Take frequent rest breaks, and drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.

· Keep dry. Change wet clothes frequently to prevent a loss of body heat.

· Do not cover fire hydrants with snow when clearing sidewalks and driveways. Do not shovel snow into manholes and catch basins.

· Offer to help individuals who require special assistance, including seniors and people with disabilities and access and functional needs.

· Promptly remove ice and snow from tree limbs, your roof, and other structures. If snow/ice accumulates, remove it using a snow rake with a long extension arm so you can remove it safely while standing on the ground, or hire a snow removal contractor.

· Clear tree branches or limbs that could potentially fall on your home or power lines.

· Clear leaves and other debris from gutters.

We hope this information proves helpful and that you take precaution when traveling. Please call 311 for any issues you may be experiencing in relation to the snow. For any emergencies, please call 911.

Thanks go out to Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez for this information.

100 PERCENT SATURDAY JAN. 16,2016

100 PERCENT

By Robert Press

IT'S OFFICIAL 

    The headline refers to New Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark who had her Inauguration this afternoon at the Lehman College Lovinger Theatre. The moderate size Lovinger Theatre holds close to 600 people, and there was not an empty seat in the house. In fact there had to be an overflow room set up in one of the Faculty Dining Room to accommodate the almost 400 extra people who came to see new Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark sworn in.   

  There is more on the Inauguration in the previous posting, complete with many photos of the city and state elected officials, as well as a photo of His Eminence Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan who gave the Invocation. Those who spoke included all three citywide elected officials, Mayor Bill de Blasio, City Comptroller Scott Stringer, and Public Advocate Letitia James. Also on had to congratulate new Bronx DA Clark were U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer, New York State Comptroller Tom Dinapoli, New York Assembly Speaker Bronx Assemblyman carl Heastie, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., Bronx Democratic County Leader Assemblyman Marcos Crespo, City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, and Justice Darcel Clark's former boss now retired Presiding Justice of the Appellate Division First Department Hon. Luis Gonzalez. Bronx DA Clark was sworn in by Associate Judge of the NYS Court of Appeals Hon. Shelia Abdus-Salaam. 

   In other political news the 17th City Council Special Election there seems to be definition as to just how many candidates that may submit petitions as Tuesday January 19th is the deadline to file petitions. As of now there are nine candidates that have filed petitions, and I expect to see two or three more candidates file petitions before the deadline. Then the Board of Election and court challenges start, or should I say have started already. Let's see if we get to see King Stanley, that is Stanley K. Schlein Esq. who rewrote the book on Election Law. 

   It looks like the Bronx Democratic County organization has invested heavily in the candidacy of their candidate Rafael Salamanca the current District Manager of Community Board #2 who may have some road blocks in his attempt to replace former 17th Council District Councilwoman Maria Del Carmen Arroyo. More on candidate Salamanca in upcoming columns, however there are some areas where Community Board District Managers have conflict of interests in, and we may just have to see how many Community Board #2 District Manager Rafael Salamanca may have. As I said more in upcoming columns, and if you may know some that I don't send me an e-mail at the address at the end of this column. 

    If you have any political information (especially about the 17th City Council special election) 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.  

Suleika's Retirement, Final Appearance at Three Kings Fund Raiser, Fri. Jan 15, 2016

  The founder of the Institute for the Puerto Rican Hispanic Elderly,  Inc. Ms. Suleika Cabrera Drinane will retire  when she joins more than 1,000 people at the 50th annual Three Kings fund raiser event sponsored by the Institute, to take place Friday January 15, 2016 at Saint Vartan's Armenian Church on East 34th Street beginning at 10AM to 4PM.

Ms.Cabrera Drinane, the hard working trail blazer who created IPRHE from a one- telephone, one-room start up, to a large influential social services agency advocating for seniors in New York state, and nationally, will make her final appearance as the Founder and President of IPRHE during the Three Kings Festivities.

Ms. Cabrera Drinane was a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom in the 1990s, and has made thousands of friends during her 50 years as an advocate for senior citizens, hopes many of those long time friends will join her this Friday January 15, 2016 as she bids farewell to the Agency.

Long time friends, and dignitaries have been invited to join more than 1,000 celebrants in saying, "Thank you, and good luck"... to Suleika at this final event.     "It will be a sentimental day for me as I say, 'Hasta Luego' ",   said Suleika.      Friends are invited to call Suleika at her private line, to confirm if they will be in attendance, even if for a few minutes.

For information of the event, call Ms. Suleika Cabrera Drinane, at Tel 212-677-4181.

100 PERCENT Saturday January 9,, 2016

100 PERCENT

By Robert Press

Jeffrey Dinowitz in the South Bronx?

   I was hoping to have been back in print by now, but due to circumstances beyond my control there has been another delay. The target date now is early in March, as many of you have been asking when the new Bronx County News would be coming out. All I can write is please have patience, and you will not be disappointed. 

   BJ's newest club store located at 184 West 237th Street (off Broadway) in the Kingsbridge section of the Bronx had its preview showing, and is now open for business. You can check this blog archive for photos of the new BJ's

  Sunday is 'NO PANTS DAY', and if you are riding the subway you probably will see many people with and without their pants. If one really wants to see someone with their pants down, all one has to look is no further than City Hall. Mayor Bill de Blasio seems to be caught with his pants down on the issue of homelessness. The mayor now says that it was the problem of the previous mayor, but Bill de Blasio is now entering his third year as mayor. Also wasn't Bill de Blasio the previous Public Advocate before being elected mayor? He must be having memory lapses from that incident with the box truck in Brooklyn. Maybe Mayor Bill de Blasio should spend a night or two in a homeless shelter just to find out the conditions like Public Advocate Bill de Blasio did at a NYCHA housing project. Come to think of it things have not gotten much better at NYCHA under Mayor Bill de Blasio either.  

   While on the subject of politics, the more things change in Albany the more they stay the same. With a new Speaker of the Assembly and a new State Senate Majority Leader due to their former colleagues being convicted of corruption in office just when will there be reforms. How many more state legislatures will have to be indicted and convicted, and how soon will it take to get the much needed reforms in Albany. 

   Today was the 'Three Kings Day in the Bronx' by State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. It is the posting right before this one, and the photos will tell you the whole story. The only person missing in this event from Senator Diaz's previous event was New York State Republican Party Chairman Ed Cox. It would have been nice for him to be on stage with Bronx Democratic County Leader Assemblyman Marcos Crespo. However the Republican Party Chairman's name did appear on the flyer for the event along with that of Bronx Democratic County Leader Marcos Crespo's name. 

   Another constant of both events was that Bronx Community Board #2 District Manager Rafael Salamanca was listed as a community leader in another political event for him in a public school as a candidate for the upcoming 17th City Council Special Election. I hear that troops from Riverdale had to be called out to help Salamanca in getting signatures in the South Bronx, and I wonder how late they stayed 'Out in the Hood'. More people that Salamanca will be beholding to, and I will have more on the record of Bronx Community Board #2 District Manager Rafael Salamanca in upcoming columns, with special postings of his probable conflicts of interest that the Conflict of Interest Board and Campaign Finance Board may want to know about. I don't expect candidate Salamanca to make it to the finish line. 

   If you have any political information (especially about the 17th City Council special election) 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.   

     

    

22ND ANNUAL BRONX PARKS SPEAK UP Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016

22^ND ANNUAL BRONX PARKS SPEAK UP

Date/Time: Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016

Description: The Bronx Parks Speak Up is an annual community networking conference for park and environmental stakeholders. Organized by the Bronx Coalition for Parks and Green Spaces (BCPGS), this day-long event draws over 250 Bronx residents, elected officials and agency personnel. It gives its attendees the chance to learn about government and non-government resources and participate in face-to-face discussions with city and local elected and appointed officials.

Location: Lehman College

RSVP: Registration is not yet live; please save the date and look out for more info to come!