BOROUGH PRESIDENT DIAZ ENCOURAGES SAFE SWIMMING

   Following the deaths of David Luccioni and Crystal Reyes, two teenagers who drowned in an off-limits area of the Bronx River on Sunday, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. is urging Bronx families to use caution this summer and swim in pools and beaches operated by the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation.

   “Everyone wants to cool off in the heat, but the tragic deaths of David and Crystal should remind us that we have to be safe. The Bronx River is beautiful, but it is a natural area with uncertain depths and no lifeguards on duty, making it too dangerous for swimming. We are fortunate to have numerous options for safe swimming in the Bronx, most of which are free, and I encourage Bronxites to take advantage of them,” said Borough President Diaz.

   Borough President Diaz’s office is making available a list of beaches and pools that offer safer swimming options in the Bronx, a copy of which is attached. Information on water safety and other summer swimming programs can be found at the Parks Department’s website, http://www.nycgovparks.org/facilities/pools.

 

Ben Franklin Club Endorses in 33rd State Senate District

   Last night members of the Ben Franklin Democratic Club held an endorsement meeting for the 33rd State Senate District that was put off from the previous endorsement meeting in late May. Three of the four candidates were present, and gave short presentations as to why the Ben Franklin Club members should cast a ballot for them over the other candidates. Incumbent 33rd State Senator Pedro Espada Jr. was a no show, and Councilman G. Oliver Koppell was adamant in saying that Pedro Espada Jr. must be defeated in this years  election.
   Candidate Dan Padernacht was up first, and said that he was a product of the local schools, he is a lawyer, is a member of Community Board #8 where he now chairs the Traffic and Transportation Committee. When asked he said that he gave in 4,672 signatures and has raised $20,000.00 so far with none of it coming from any unions, and had the endorsement of his mother.

   Candidate Gustave Rivera was second, saying that the 33rd district is ill served by the current senator, Pedro Espada Jr.  Rivera said that jobs, economic development, rent stabilized apartments (of which he said he lives in one), and health care are his priorities, and that he would have voted for increasing the cap on charter schools. Mr. Rivera said that he handed in 6,200 signatures, and has raised $63,000.00. He rattled off several supporters, but when asked about a former employer State Senator Andrea Cousins Mr. Rivera said that he would not expect her to endorse against a fellow sitting State Senator. 

   Candidate Fernando Tirado was third and last to speak. Tirado said that he was asked by the community to run, has a grass roots organization, is a man of integrity that looks at the needs of the people, and that he belives in democracy.

   There was a fifth option open to the Ben Franklin Club members, that being to check off the No Endorsement line on the ballot. 

When  the  53 voting  members  present  cast  their  ballots  the  results  were- Pedro Espada-0, Dan Padernacht-8, Gustave Rivera-43, Fernando Tirado-0, and No Endorsement-2.

   While this was a club endorsement, it must be noted that over 90 percent of the 53 members who voted do not reside in the 33rd State Senate District. 

   Also on hand was Bill Samuels of the New Roosevelt Initiative (which has endorsed candidate Gustave Rivera) who said that "If we don't beat Pedro Espada it will send a bad message to the voters". Samuels added that the three items on the NRI agenda is 1- to build the best state party, 2- to have the best legislature, 3- to have the best state constitution, all while saying that the Cuomo agenda is right on the target. 

  It looks like Mr. Gustavo Rivera will be standing side by side with Andrew Cuomo in the campaign to oust Pedro Espada from the 33rd State Senate seat, and maybe the Democratic Party?

STATEMENT FROM BOROUGH PRESIDENT RUBEN DIAZ JR. RE: New York State Education Testing Analysis

   “Today’s statements from both State Education Commissioner David Steiner and Daniel Koretz, a testing expert and professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, all point to the reality that previous data used by the City’s Department of Education showing record improvement in our public schools is, in many cases, unreliable. While the City will point to these rising test scores as evidence that the system is working, the results of the National Assessment of Education Progress indicate that achievement in our schools is stagnant at best, and that our State scores are skewed too high".

   “Today’s findings show that the State’s assessment test, as it is currently constituted, is a poor measure of the achievement of our students. This is a very important first step in truly realizing where our students really are academically, and how we can best prepare them to compete in today’s global economy".

   “Also, as we raise the standards for our students let us as at the same time raise the level of support as well.  As standards are raised more students will need additional academic interventions, and we must as a State and City provide those resources to our schools and students.  Raising standards is not in itself the sole answer, we must also give our schools the needed resources, options and supports to give our students the world class education that they deserve,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr"

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Dinowitz Sets up Meeting to Talk Padernacht Into Dropping out

    Our friend Bob Kappstatter (of the Daily News) reports today in his column that Riverdale Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz set up a meeting between 33rd State Senate candidate Dan Padernacht, State Democratic Committee Executive Director Charlie King, 1199SEIU Political Director Kevin Finnegan, and Public Advocate Bill DeBlassio to try to talk Padernacht into dropping out of the 33rd State Senate race to rally behind candidate Gustavo Rivera.

   I asked 33rd State Senate candidate Dan Padernacht about the meeting, and he said that he was not dropping out of the senate race, and that there were three different challenges to his petition. Fernando Tirado the fourth candidate that is in the 33rd State Senate race has had his petitions challenged also. 

   The appearance of heavy handed tactics to have other candidates drop out can come back to haunt candidate Gustavo Rivera, who has put out a campaign literature suggesting that since 60 percent of the 33rd State Senate district has an assembly member named Rivera (Jose in the 78th A.D., and Naomi in the 80th A.D.) so the voters should also vote for him since his name is Rivera. There is speculation that Gustavo Rivera is connected to a Bronx blogger that reported a story on the fifth candidate so damaging that the candidate  not submit petitions

   By the way Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz is also the Bronx Democratic County Committee Chairman, who has been asked by the State Democratic Committee to expel current 33rd State Senator Pedro Espada Jr.

Committee of 100 Democrats Free Comunity Barbecue was a big success

   Hundreds of people came from throughout the borough of the Bronx, but most were from the 33rd State Senate District. The Committee of 100 Democrats honored State Senate Deputy Majority Leader Jeff Klein and Assemblyman Jose Rivera, both long time friends of the Committee of 100 Democrats and very hard workers for their constituents and the people of the Bronx. 

   State Senator Pedro Espada Jr. (33rd district)  scheduled to appear missed an opportunity to mingle with the many voters of the 33rd State Senate District, but all three opponents (as of now) Mr. Dan Padernacht, Mr. Gustavo Rivera, and Mr. Fernando Tirado were on hand to meet and greet those voters of the 33rd district that were enjoying the festivities.

   As usual at a Committee of 100 Democrats barbecue there were Brazilian Dancers, several different live musical bands, lots of free food, and a good time for all.

Senator Jeff Klein and Assemblyman Jose Rivera practice their musical skills with the one of the musical groups that performed at The Committee of 100 Democrats Free Community Barbecue Saturday July 17th.

Bronx Borough President, Ruben Diaz Jr. and the Woodlawn Cemetery Introduce English and Spanish Audio Tours of the Historic Cemetery on Seventh Anniversary of Death of Queen of Salsa Celia Cruz

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and The Friends of The Woodlawn Cemetery introduced English and Spanish audio tours of the historic Woodlawn Cemetery, so that visitors can enjoy self guided tours of the historic 147 year old Bronx cemetery.  The audio tour was unveiled as part of a commemoration of the seventh anniversary of the passing of "La Guarachera de Cuba” the “Queen of Salsa”, Cuban Born salsa singer, Celia Cruz who recorded twenty-three gold albums.

“Woodlawn Cemetery is one of our most important cultural institutions and is a rich source of information on people who helped shape our city and country,” said Borough President Diaz.  “This audio tour will make it more inviting and manageable for tourists, as well as locals, to fully appreciate the historical treasure it represents.” 

The audio tour which will cost five dollars will also highlight the architectural works of acclaimed architects Charles McKim, William Rutherford Mead, Stanford White, John Merven Carrère, Thomas Hastings and John Russell Pope who designed some of Woodlawn’s 1700  significant monuments and mausoleums. The Woodlawn Cemetery features 400 acres of rolling hills, spectacular trees and shrubbery, mausoleums and memorials of historic and artistic significance and a natural fauna/flora sanctuary.  

 Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. showing the map and the device visitors will receive to enjoy the Woodlawn Cemetery tour.  

Hector Ramirez Fund Raiser

   Last night Hector Ramirez currently Male District Leader from the 86th Assembly District held another very successful fund raiser for his bid to win the 86th assembly seat away from incumbent Nelson Castro.

   The support for the Ramirez campaign goes from grass roots all the way to the Bronx Borough President. Bronx BP Ruben Diaz Jr. was "in the house", and presented candidate (and friend) Hector Ramirez not only his support, but also a check for one thousand dollars saying "I am with you Hector one thousand percent".

   Other elected officials on hand were City Councilman Fernando Cabrera and Assemblywoman Vanessa Gibson. Candidate Ramirez has the endorsement of the Bronx Democratic County Organization, Congressman Jose Serrano, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, State Senators Ruben Diaz Sr. and Jose M. Serrano, Councilwoman Annabel Palma, and the Working Families Party as of now with more to come..

Bronx County Dinner Huge Success

   Bronx Democratic County Committee Chairman Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz estimates the crowd at the Bronx County Dinner to be close to one thousand people, in what is now being called the largest and strongest show of support for any Bronx County organization. 

   Every Bronx elected official (minus one or two for one reason or another) were in attendance as this was a dinner of unity. The program went well with the with the combination of honorees and short speeches by elected officials. Bronx County Democratic Leader Assemblyman Carl E. Heastie and his assorted district leaders moved the pace of the evening smoothly and quickly.

   Among those in attendance were New York State Governor David Paterson, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Senate Conference Leader John Sampson, State Comptroller Tom Di Napoli, City Comptroller John Liu, former City Comptroller Bill Thompson, Public Advocate Bill deBlasio, Council Speaker Quinn, as well as current and former elected officials and county leaders from other boroughs to support the Bronx County organization.

   Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer told me that he will soon be gearing up for what could be a very crowded field of candidates in the 2013 mayors race, as did mayoral candidate (2009) Bill Thompson. Former Queens Councilwoman and Comptroller candidate in 2009 Melinda Katz said that she is working on other campaigns this year, and would not rule out a run for her old council seat or other position in 2013. We would like to see Ms. Katz run for Queens Borough President in 2013, a position that would fit her talents best.

   Even with the three state legislative leaders in the house there is still no final state budget, and I asked Governor Paterson what the consequences to local governments could be. The governor said that the state has enough money on hand for day to day operations for only about a month, that the legislature ignored his three budget proposals, and that he would have to call a special session in about a week or two to complete the budget process one way or another.

   The exact amount of money that was raised won't be known for a while, but by the crowd of support we saw this was a record breaker.

 Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, and City Comptroller John Liu.

Is Governor Paterson trying to win over Senator Ruth Hassel-Thompson for his budget plan?