Jerome-Gunhill BID Fall Festival 9/17/16 11am-6pm @ Jerome Ave btw E Gunhill Rd-Mosholu Pkwy

The Jerome-Gunhill BID Fall Festival will be taking place this Saturday from 11am-6pm on Jerome Avenue between East Gunhill Road and Mosholu Parkway. 

The BID will be celebrating it's 20 year anniversary. The festival will be a family oriented event focused on health and wellness.

There will be musical entertainment, food stands, chess and domino's tournaments, free health screening, kiddie rides and over 100 vendors. This event is one of if not the biggest event in the Board with over 30,000 festival goers.

“Don Guillo” Was Left Without The Rope and the Goat

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
By Senator Rev. Ruben Diaz

  You should know that in the Barrio La Cuchilla Hato Tejas Bayamon, Puerto Rico where I was born, there was a saying about a person whose ambition let him reach out so far that he would not only miss getting what he was going after, but in that process, he would lose everything he already had. We say, “Se quedó sin la soga y sin la cabra” which means: "He was left without the rope and without the goat.” 

Apparently, this is the case of Assemblyman Guillermo Linares, who, while he was running for US Congress this past June, appeared to be working to prevent Senator Adriano Espaillat from being the first Dominican elected to Congress. Senator Espaillat had the support of the Dominican Community. He was the people’s choice, and had already run for this Congressional seat. 

Guillermo Linares knew that the people preferred Senator Adriano Espaillat. Guillermo Linares knew he was the Dominican leadership supported Espaillat. Guillermo Linares knew that if he ran, he would split Dominican and the Hispanic vote, and the chances of a Dominican getting the elected would be minimized. 

You should know that on two separate occasions in Albany, I personally met with Assemblyman Guillermo Linares to explain to him why he should not run for Congress, and why he should publicly endorse Senator Espaillat. 

I explained to “Don Guillo” that he should consider everything. 

For example, I suggested that he might want to show his public support for Espaillat, and then, if Espaillat won, he might give his support to Linares for the Senate seat that would be vacant. 

I also suggested the possibility of how Espaillat might turn to him to recommend a person of his liking to fill the vacancy in the Assembly, if he won the Senate seat. 

My dear reader, could you imagine if Linares would have joined Espaillat? The Dominican community would look at him as someone who made a sacrifice to throw his personal ambitions aside in favor of joining the Dominican community and electing Espaillat as the first Dominican to serve in the United States Congress. 

You should know that if Guillermo Linares would have done this, Adriano Espaillat would have to had felt morally obliged to support Linares. The Dominican community would have been greatly united, giving Espaillat an even greater victory that he got in June. Instead, Linares listened to the advice of others and thought that he would win primary for US Congress, even when the Dominican leaders and community were not with him. 

You should know that I was not the only one who advised Linares. 

One afternoon while I was watching an interview by Mr. Ramon Anibal from Television Dominicana, I saw him advise Linares not to run against Espaillat because it would seem divisive. 

I could see how very angry Guillermo Linares was as he stepped away from the microphone that Mr. Ramon Anibal held, and I also observed the expression on the face of Ramon Anibal. 

You should know that Ramon Anibal and I were probably not the only ones to advise Linares not to run against Espaillat, but many other people and community leaders must have done so as well. 

In this past Primary, Adriano Espaillat threw his support for a women, Carmen De La Rosa to run for Assembly against Guillermo Linares. De la Rosa won, costing Linares not only his dream of being elected to Congress, but his seat in the Assembly. He was rejected by the Dominican community of Upper Manhattan. 

What will the future of Guillermo Linares be? Who knows? After November’s General Election, Adriano Espaillat will be a Member of the United States Congress and two women Espaillat supported in the Primary will serve as elected officials in the New York State Legislature. Marisol Alcantara will occupy the seat Espaillat vacated in the Senate, and Carmen de la Rosa will take over the seat Linares once held seat in the Assembly. 

Ladies and gentlemen, I can only think of the old expression: "He who does not listen to advice does not get old” and this is how we can see that “Don Guillo se quedó sin la soga y sin la cabra” – he was left without the rope and the goat. 

I am Senator Rev. Ruben Diaz and this is what you should know.

NCB’s 22nd Annual Breast Health Day

NCB’s 22nd Annual Breast Health Day

Saturday, October 1, 2016

10 am – 2 pm

Radiology Department, 2nd Floor s 2G

3424 Kossuth Avenue

·        Learn how to perform a potentially life-saving Self-Breast Examination

·        Receive a Clinical Breast Examination

·        Receive women’s health information materials

·        Receive Domestic Violence information

·        Assessment for same day Screening Mammograms at no cost for eligible women

Women 40 or older and women with a strong family history (mother/sister with breast cancer) are strongly encouraged to take advantage of this offer.

For more information please call the Radiology Department at (718) 519-3086 or the Volunteer Office at (718) 519-4840.

Sponsored by the Friends of North Central Bronx Hospital

Jerome-Gunhill BID Fall Festival

STATEMENTS FROM COUNSEL TO THE MAYOR AND DOITT COMMISSIONER ON VERIZON NOTICE OF DEFAULT

The Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications yesterday issued a notice of default to Verizon for failure to meet its franchise obligations. 

Statement from Counsel to the Mayor Brittny Saunders:

“Verizon has failed to fulfill its contractual obligation to install a complete, citywide FiOS network available to all city residents and, most concerning, the company lacks a plan for how to complete it. That’s unacceptable.”

Statement from DoITT Commissioner Anne Roest:

“Over a year ago, the Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications completed an audit of Verizon’s progress in meeting its citywide commitment to provide the FiOS network to all New Yorkers, regardless of zip code. In that year span, there has been little progress made in completing its commitment, and no viable plan for how to complete it. With very little getting accomplished through discussions, we have been given no choice but to send Verizon a notice of default under several provisions of the franchise agreement. We expect Verizon to take this notice seriously in order to fulfill its promise to fully serve all five boroughs.”

Assemblyman Dinowitz Announces October Free Flu Shot Date

Assemblyman Dinowitz announced today that he is once again sponsoring free flu shots for members of the community in the 81^st Assembly District. Flu shots will be administered on Friday, October 7^th, at St. Gabriel’s Church on 3250 Arlington Avenue between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. This free service is also sponsored by New York Presbyterian Ambulatory Care Network, RiverSpring Health, Congressman Eliot Engel, State Senator Jeff Klein, and Council Member Andrew Cohen.

“I am very pleased to continue this great partnership with New York Presbyterian and RiverSpring Health to offer this important service to the community,” said Assemblyman Dinowitz. “The flu is a serious health matter, and getting a flu shot protects not just yourself but also your friends, family, and neighbors. I encourage everyone to contact my office about getting a free flu shot.”

Please note that members of the community must be 18 years of age or older to participate, and cannot be allergic to eggs. Residents MUST contact Assemblyman Dinowitz’s office at (718) 796-5345 to guarantee a flu shot.

Bronx Annual “Day of Remembrance” to commemorate the families, friends and neighbors who perished in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

This was the view from the Grand concourse as twin ladder trucks hold the Giant flag used as a remembrance of the 'Twin Towers Attack on 9/11'.

Above - Bronx BP Ruben stands with judges, the Bronx DA, Bronx Borough Police commander, and several members of the clergy before the event began.

Below - Marvin Scott of Pix News is the master of Ceremonies.

Above - Bronx Bp Diaz is joined by Deputy BP Greene, Judge McKeon, Bronx DA Clark, and Assemblyman Marcos Crespo.

Below - As the ceremony begins the Color Guard of the NYPD, FDNY, and NYS Court Officers bring the flags forward.

Above - The Color Guard is in place before the hanging flag in the background.

Below - All stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

Above - Officer Dubois stands on the sidewalk saluting the flag as the pledge of Allegiance is said.

Below - BP Diaz  addresses the audience on how the tragedy effected the Bronx. 

A solemn Diaz Jr. listens as the names of the people of the Bronx who were lost on September 11, 2001 at the World Trade Center. 

There were musical performances by The Bronx Global Learning Institute for Girls.

PRIMARY DAY 2016 - How Did I Do?

  Most elected will say that it is not important how much you win by, but that you won the election. Two years ago Victor Pichardo won the 86th A.D. by almost the narrowest of margin, but Victor Pichardo won. In 2016 Victor Pichardo won again against the same opponent, and by a much larger margin of victory. Is Victor Pichardo safe, we will have to wait for two years to see.

  In the 33rd State Senate District Gustavo Rivera won two years ago by a very wide margin. In 2016 Gustavo won against the same opponent, but by a smaller margin of victory. Is Gustavo Rivera safe, again we will have to wait for two years to see.

   In the 78th A.D. Jose Rivera won two years ago by a huge margin over his opponent. In 2016 Jose won against a different opponent (which I said would win), but by a smaller margin of victory.

   The reason I mention these three races is because most of the 33rd State Senate district covers the 78th and 86th A.D.'s. It looks like the smaller margin of victory by Jose Rivera in the 78th A.D. may of had something to do with the smaller margin of victory by Gustavo Rivera. 

   Kudos to the new State Senator from the 36th District Jamaal Bailey, and it was a smashing victory as soon to be Senator Bailey won with well over 50 percent of the vote in a five person race. 

   In other races Bronx Democratic County Leader Marcos Crespo won with 75 percent of the vote. Not bad, but not good since 15 percent of the drop off vote from Senator Diaz went elsewhere. 

    In the 87th A.D. Luis Sepulveda also could only garner 75 percent of the vote, which means he also lost 15 percent of the drop off vote from Senator Diaz Sr. 

   It may be time for Granny Arroyo to hang it up getting less than 65 percent of the vote which as the Assembly woman's age goes up her vote total goes down.

    As for Jose Rivera's win I say to his opponent build now for the next two years. It may come sooner than you think. To Aldo Perez and Naomi Rivera thank you for those kind words, and I will use the advise you both gave me. 

   I did pretty good on my predictions, only missing on the Jose Rivera race. I was wrong in 2012, got it right in 2014, wrong in 2016, and should be right in 2018. Heck, I get it right every other primary in the 78th A.D.