While State Senator Gustavo Rivera is shown above talking to newly reappointed Community Board 7 member Iashia Bravo, that was only the beginning of what would turn out to be a big surprise later in the evening. Yes that is a 'Diet Snapple' in the hand of State Senator Gustavo Rivera who said that he had to many 'Happy Meals' when he was a little boy.
Above - State Senator Gustavo Rivera would later address the crowded audience at the CB 7 September full board meeting.
Below - Councilman Fernando Cabrera was the next elected official to address the audience.
Above - Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz tells the audience many things, as you can see more than one sheet of paper that he was reading from.
Below - Assemblyman Victor Pichardo who also covers CB 7 speaks to the audience.
Not withstanding the reappearance of Ms. Iashia Bravo (who was the Housing Chair of CB 7 very briefly before she resigned from CB 7) there was speculation about her reappointment to CB7. Ms. Bravo said that she might be seeking to run for the 78th Assembly District seat next year, but there could be another position she may be going for now that she was replaced by the Assemblyman Marcos Crespo the new Bronx Democratic County Leader as Executive Director of the BDCC that opened up as the meeting went on.
Community Board 7 District Manager Dustin Engelken announced during the District Manager's report that he will be leaving his position as District manager as of October 10th, thus giving CB 7 three weeks notice. Engelken would only say it was personal reasons. He said that his wife has accepted a job offer in Germany, and that he would be moving there with her. Engelken was chosen as the new DM of CB 7 at the May 2014 board meeting. He now becomes the third District Manager in as many years to leave CB 7. Tom Lucania of Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz's office will assume the duties of the District Manager until the board finds a replacement once again. There is speculation that Ms. Iashia Bravo may become the next District Manager of CB 7.
