Thursday, August 25, 2016
STATE SENATOR GUSTAVO RIVERA AND ASSEMBLYMEMBER VICTOR M. PICHARDO TO HOST ANNUAL BACK TO SCHOOL CELEBRATION AT ST. JAMES PARK
State Senator Gustavo Rivera will host the last of three Back to School events on Friday, August 26th from 2:00PM to 5:00PM at St. James Park. This event is co-sponsored by Assembly Member Victor M. Pichardo.
This event, which is part of Senator Rivera's Bronx CAN Health Initiative, will have a backpack giveaway, fun activities and free health screenings in an effort to help celebrate a healthy start to the upcoming school year. A limited number of backpacks will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Children between 5 and 13 years old need to be accompanied by an adult while youths between 14 and 18, do not need a parent present.
What: Back To School Event
Who: State Senator Gustavo Rivera and Assembly Member Victor M. Pichardo
When: Friday, August 26, 2016
Where: St. James Park (entrance on Jerome Avenue and W 192nd Street)
**This event is free and open to the public.
STATEMENT FROM MAYOR BILL DE BLASIO ON PROPOSED FEDERAL REGULATION REGARDING RETIREMENT SECURITY PLANS
“In February, we announced our plan to create a retirement savings program for private sector employees. Today, the United States Department of Labor’s proposed regulation expands the “safe harbor” to certain cities, which is an important preliminary step. We will continue to engage with the DOL, as we have in recent months, to ensure that the requirements set forth in the final regulation enable the City to move forward with a workable retirement savings program that promotes the success of families and in turn, the success of our city. Just 43% of working New Yorkers have access to a retirement savings plan, with low-income, immigrant, minority and female New Yorkers disproportionately affected. Successful implementation of the City’s plan will help right this wrong and set people up on a path to succeed long after they’ve stopped working.”
CM Torres NYPD Security Cameras Installed at These Locations
Community Board 7 has been notified that the NYPD security cameras funded by Council Member Ritchie Torres have been installed. The following are the locations of the cameras:
E 198 Street & Valentine Ave
E 194 Street & Valentine Ave
E 194 Street & Briggs Ave
E 194 Street Between Marion & Decatur Ave
We all hope these cameras address the quality of life and public safety concerns the community cares about and which we as a Board have received complaints about for a long time. Please see the attached photo of what one of the cameras looks like. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you.
Andrew Sandler District Manager
Bronx Community Board 7
229-A East 204th Street Bronx, NY 10458
P: 718-933-5650/51
100 PERCENT Thursday August 25, 2016
100 PERCENT
By Robert Press
Dirty Tactics in Politics
First, with the Bronx Voice on vacation this week I did not want you the reader to miss this column as the Bronx Democratic primary draws near. A few key races are heating up, and you need to know more about them.
First up is the 33rd State Senate race. Here incumbent Gustavo Rivera is facing the toughest challenge of his short political tenure. Now he beat his opponent two years ago, but this is a different Fernando Cabrera from two years ago. The big difference is that candidate Fernando Cabrera is being funded by a pro Charter School PAC to the tune of up to Two-Hundred Thousand dollars according to Candidate Gustavo Rivera. So why would this worry the incumbent if he defeated his opponent before?
When Gustavo defeated the incumbent years ago he had a PAC give him Two-Hundred Fifty Thousand dollars, and he knows that money talks and BS walks. I am not saying that Senator Rivera is not a good elected official, but just look at his district. Has the district improved since he took office, and how? Also remember that his opponent is the city councilman who covers a good part of the state senate district, and that while there are no more state discretionary funds, a city councilman gets Five Million New York City dollars in Discretionary funding to dole out.
Senator Rivera is trying hard for his constituents, but when you have an informational session on SNAP (the old food stamp program) with fellow State Senator Liz Krueger, do it in your district in the Bronx (where your constituents need it), and not in the posh Manhattan district of your mentor. To be fair, there was the Kingsbridge Armory story about Councilman Cabrera holding out his endorsement, but it appears that the Ice Center proposal is all but dead.
On to the 78th Assembly District race. This race is getting nasty now, as incumbent Jose Rivera's minions are now not only going after his opponent, but also me. Comments have gone up on facebook by two of his supporters that I am on the payroll of candidate Ischia Bravo, that I am a crook, that I am a racist, and that I hold power over elected officials. I showed these comments to Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. last night at the Chubby Checker Concert, and he said to ignore them. He added that he pays no attention to facebook chatter.
Well Assemblyman Jose Rivera we have known each other for over twenty years, and it is you who is trying to be bully here as you have in the past. I will let everyone know the reasons why you should not be re-elected. Be a man Assemblyman Jose Rivera, since you have no record to run on just hang it up. I expect more of what has been going on from you towards me, and keep doing what you are so you can lose the election.
Jeff Klein's Riverdale Concert Has Audience Twisting With Chubby Checker
Last night at the Jeff Klein Summer Concert Series the crowd of over 500 people got a surprise twist from the Chubby Checker Concert in Seton Park. Instead of just staying on the stage famous recording star Chubby Checker came off the stage to say hello, and twist among the people. The photos below will show the rest of the story.
Above - Before the concert State Senator Jeff Klein, Bronx BP Ruben Diaz Jr., and Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz make sure they, Chubby Checker, and the audience will be well protected as the elected officials join with 50th Precinct Commanding officer Deputy Inspector Terrance O'Toole who had several officers on patrol.
Below - Rock and Roll legend Chubby Checker. Checker who is 74 years old and real name is Ernest Evans tries to get the three elected officials to do the Twist.
Above - Councilman Cohen, BP Diaz, Senator Klein, Assemblyman Dinowitz, Dinowitz's son Eric, Chief of Staff Randi Martos, and Congressman Eliot Engel's Chief of Staff Bill Weitz all pose with Chubby Checker before the concert.
Below - It's time for the concert to begin, and Chubby Checker is introduced by State Senator Jeff Klein.
Above and Below - Chubby Checker performing. That is the Whitehall building across the street from Seton Park in the background.
Above and Below - Chubby Checker went into the audience to say hello and do the twist.
Above and Below - Chubby Checker does the Twist with some members of the audience.
