Borough President Diaz celebrated the 34^th Anniversary of Italian American Heritage and Culture Month 2010

    The 34th Italian Heritage and Culture Month was a salute to Italian American women, honoring Dr. Maria Montessori an Internationally renowned educator and physician who lived from 1870-1952. 

    In 1976 the tradition was started with Italian Culture Week, and has grown to the month long celebration that it is today. This year Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. presented a Proclamation paying tribute to the Italian-American community and the culture, political, and scientific contributions Italian-Americans have made to our great borough, city, and country. BP Diaz proclaimed October 2010 as "Italian Heritage and Culture Month in The Bronx".

    Judge John Barone of the Supreme Court of New York was the master of ceremonies, and  the invocation was given by Megr. John A. Ruvo the former pastor of Our Lady Mt. Carmel Church. The American and Italian national anthems were played, and the invited guests were treated to a wonderful musical selection by 

Soprano singer Maria Fraccola with Dina Pruzhansky accompanying  her on the piano. 

    The event was held at the Bronx Zoo in what was formally known as the lion house, now vacated by the lions to their new outdoor home. One marveled at the fine marble columns and walls that were built in 1903 by Italian immigrants, and it was pointed out that The Bronx Botanical gardens and Fordham University were among other architectural wonders in the Bronx that were also built by Italians. 

    After a greeting by Francesco Maria Talo, Consul General of Italy in New York, and an Introduction by Mr. John Calvelli (Executive Vice President of Public Affairs for the Wildlife Conservation Society that runs the Bronx Zoo) BP Diaz brought up the honorees one by one.

    Rosemary Deluca (the Wildlife Conservation Society Assistant Director of City and State Affairs), Donna M. Rapaccioli Ph.D. (Professor and Dean of Business Faculty at Fordham University). and Geri Scortino (Owner of Bronx Design Group) were the 2010 Honorees. 

    Unbeknown to BP Diaz his elementary school principal Carol Russo (and a first generation Italian American) presented Diaz with a special presentation. Russo was the principal of PS 31 where young Ruben Diaz Jr. attended. She had nothing but praise for him, and BP Diaz told the audience of an experience that he had as a fifth grade student that got him on television for the first time. Diaz added that he was in the gifted program at PS 31 then, and that he wanted to see more gifted programs in the Bronx like the one he took. 

    Also in attendance were City Councilman Jimmy Vacca and 82nd Assemblyman Mike Benedetto who could only stay a short time due to other commitments. The program ended with BP Diaz saying "We should always celebrate our diversity",  and the delicious Italian food (from Auther Avenue) on hand was served.

    

KLEIN HOLDS 16^TH ANNUAL SENIOR APPRECIATION DAY

    Deputy Majority Leader State Senator Jeff Klein (D-Bronx/Westchester) celebrated his 16^th annual Senior Appreciation Days on Wednesday, October 13^th and Thursday, October 14^th.

   Klein treated nearly 1,000 Bronx and Westchester senior citizens to a three-course meal and a popular musical at the Westchester Broadway Theatre. This year’s performance was the Tony Award Nominated Musical Jekyll & Hyde, based on the novel The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson.

   This is the sixteenth year in a row that Klein has taken hundreds of senior citizens who reside in the 34th Senate District out for a gourmet lunch and Broadway show as a sign of appreciation for their contribution to the community.

    “Our Seniors are the pillars of our community and I can’t thank them enough for their endless support and dedication. To show my appreciation, I’m delighted to treat them to an all expenses paid afternoon where they can enjoy good food, good company and a great show,” said State Senator Jeff Klein (D-Bronx/Westchester).

    “Senior Appreciation Day is a much anticipated yearly event for our seniors. Our seniors would never be able to see a show of that caliber on their own.  We are very grateful for the generosity of Senator Klein, he is very warm and caring to our senior community,” said Silvia Ponce of the Northeast Bronx Senior Citizen Center. 

VERNUCCIO FOR STATE SENATE
34th District   Republican Conservative 
October 15, 2010
New Water Rate Increase Inexcusable 
    

    The already overburdened tax and rate payers of New Rochelle are again being subjected to unaffordable and inexcusably high water rate increases.  Considering the extraordinarily high property, income and other taxes paid by residents, the question may legitimately be asked: what are all those other taxes and fees being used for if a   

commodity as basic as water comes with such a high price tag?  

Frank V. Vernuccio, Jr.

 WWW.VERNUCCIO4SENATE.COM    VERNUCCIO4SENATE@GMAIL.COM    

 

KINGSBRIDGE ARMORY TASK FORCE ANNOUNCES NYU CAPSTONE PROGRAM TO STUDY THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE KINGSBRIDGE ARMORY

    In an open letter to the public, the Kingsbridge Armory Task Force has announced that New York University’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service has selected the Kingsbridge Armory for study through its highly competitive Capstone Program.

Under NYU’s Capstone Program, a team of faculty and students from the university will identify alternative uses for the armory through a year-long planning study that will advise the Kingsbridge Armory Task Force. The project will include research, design, and analysis of a sustainable and socially-beneficial model for the reuse of the Kingsbridge Armory.

    “The NYU Capstone Program is a highly selective, highly competitive program, and we are thrilled that they have chosen to focus their efforts on the redevelopment and reuse of the Kingsbridge Armory this year. Working together with NYU, it is our hope that this study will not only identify new uses for the Kingsbridge Armory, but will lead to the creation of a new RFP for this historic structure,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

    “The task force has taken on the challenge of identifying how the Bronx can attract the jobs of the future and prepare its residents to fill them. This is not simply about reuse of a public building. It is about how this building might contribute to a larger community and borough agenda for economic growth,” said Kathryn Wylde, President & CEO of the Partnership for New York City.

    “We are bringing in highly skilled individuals to ensure that the Kingsbridge Armory will be transformed into a space that benefits our borough without downsides.  The NYU’s Capstone Program will offer us the vision of young and talented professionals, and we are ready to work with them to find the best plan for the Kingsbridge Armory,” said Marlene Cintron, President of the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation (BOEDC).

    “I welcome the news that the NYU Capstone Program will participate in the process of redeveloping the Kingsbridge Armory, and I am confident that the seeds for a wonderful new community resource within the walls of this historic structure will be planted,” said City Council Member Fernando Cabrera.

    The Kingsbridge Armory Task Force consists of Borough President Diaz, Council Member Cabrera, Ms. Cintron, Ms. Wylde, Majora Carter, environmental consultant; Paul Foster, chairman of Bronx Community Board #7; Jack Kittle, political director of District Council 9; Steven McInnis, political director for the New York City District Council of Carpenters; Desiree Pilgrim-Hunter, a board member of the Northwest Bronx Community & Clergy Coalition; Ned Regan, former state comptroller; Jack Rosen, Chief Executive of Rosen Partners LLC; and Steven M. Safyer, MD, President and CEO of Montefiore Medical Center.

     

PRESIDENT DIAZ AND THE BRONX DEFENDERS HOST A CLINIC TO PROCESS "CERTIFICATES OF GOOD CONDUCT" FOR BRONXITES

   

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and The Bronx Defenders will sponsor a re-entry clinic to assist ex-offenders to obtain Certificates of Relief from Disabilities and Certificates of Good Conduct.  These documents will help ex-offenders who have traditionally faced barriers to employment and housing because of a criminal record.

Certificates of Relief from Disability and Certificate of Good Conduct are crucial tools created by the legislature.  They facilitate successful reintegration after a conviction by helping people overcome legal barriers to employment, housing, and civic participation.  Unfortunately, they are vastly underutilized and only a small fraction of the people who could benefit from the certificates applies and receives them each year. 

The clinic will help hundreds of Bronxites to apply for the certificates and to spread to word about its benefits.  

Thursday, October 14                                  11:00 am
Bronx Supreme Court Building- 851 Grand Concourse - 1^st floor- Rotunda  

 

Carl Palidino- "Crazy, Nuts, Homophobic, or Just Plain Stupid"

    The more Republican, Conservative, and Tea Party candidate for New York State governor Carl Palidino opens up his mouth the more he sticks his foot into it. First it was the baseball bat approach to cleaning up Albany, then it was saying that his opponent had extra-marital affairs, then it was a blow-out threat to Fred Dicker of the New York Post, and now it is candidate Palidino's anti gay comments that were or were not said by him. 

    Now even his running mates for New York State Comptroller and Attorney General are trying to distance themselves from Carl Palidino's comments. Even Former Conservative Party candidate Rick Lazio who dropped out to allow Carl Palidino to obtain the Conservative Party line has called his remarks an embarrassment.

    Stay tuned for just what will happen next to "Crazy, Nutty, Homophobic, or Just Plain Stupid Carl Palidino".

STATEMENT FROM BOROUGH PRESIDENT DIAZ  
RE: Hate Crimes Against Gay Men In the Bronx

    Bronx Borough President has made the following statement about the recent rash of hate crimes against gay men in the Bronx 

    

“The news of these hate crimes sadden us all, and I am grateful that the NYPD has moved so quickly against those responsible for these homophobic attacks. Bronxites will not tolerate any form of bigotry in our borough, and we stand together as 1.4 million residents to condemn these actions and to oppose hatred in all its forms,” said Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

McLaughlin Responds to Dinowitz's Puzzling Comments About His Campaign

    We received this e-mail from the Joe Mclaughlin campaign, and we have several questions about some of the claims by the Mclaughlin campaign. We must also disclose that I (Robert Press) ran against Assemblyman Dinowitz in the 1996 general election.

    We are very concerned that the Mclaughlin campaign was for building an outdated oversized water filtration plant in Van Cortlandt Park, blaming Assemblyman Dinowitz for things that Mayor Bloomberg has done, while Assemblyman Dinowitz opposed those projects. Fails to know the name of the current State Senate Majority leader Pedro Espada Jr. calling him Jose Espada. Thinks that Ed Koch who was the only person in his administration as mayor of the City of New York that could not be bought (as per FBI tapes) is the person to end corruption in Albany. Finally while attacking Assemblyman Dinowitz for allowing New Jersey trade unions at the NYC DEP Water Filtration Plant in Van Cortlandt Park, The Mclaughlin campaign uses New Jersey as a base of operations by its 201-320-7850 phone number.

 

Yesterday, the Norwood News printed a story on Joe McLaughlin’s assembly campaign in the 81^st district of the Bronx.  Joe is running a grassroots campaign throughout the district to give voters a choice for real reform this November against Jeffrey Dinowitz.

Dinowitz was also interviewed for the story and had a few puzzling statements we would like to address.

You can read the article here: http://www.norwoodnews.org/story/?id=2092

Dinowitz: "[Voters] know I work hard for the neighborhood."

His record says otherwise.

- He voted against a water filtration plant that has provided jobs in construction and plumbing.  

- Dinowitz allowed NJ trade unions to lock out Woodlawn plumbers when 80% of the jobs to build the plant were designated to be filled by neighborhood laborers and tradesmen.

- Allowed the Firehouse to close in Woodlawn

- Hit seniors on a fixed income with taxes on clothing and footwear

- Did nothing while lifeline buses the BX34 and BX 1 were put on reduced schedules while fattening pensions for MTA employees

- Siphoned money from a payroll tax designed to fund the MTA.  

- Killed student MetroCards 

- Voted to get rid of 10 of the 30 insurance companies that insure seniors in NY

- Allowed Mayor Bloomberg to shove every drug center and homeless shelter in Wakefield

- All while NYPD reduced about 100 officers from local precincts  

- Voted against giving New Yorkers temporary relief from gas taxes, at a time when gas was $4

- Voted against nearly $2 billion in property tax relief

- Voted to kill a bill that excluded Social Security income when determining eligibility for real property tax exemptions on property owned by senior citizens

- Said he wanted to "slightly increase" corporate taxes, have no cap on property tax hikes and institute even more fees and sales taxes.

- While NY went broke, Dinowitz demanded a pay raise for himself.  Last year he made $95,000

- Decided against ousting Jose Espada from the Democratic Party before the Sept 14 primary

While the people of the 81st district are looking for a leader, Dinowitz has continued to play Albany partisan politics.  Dinowitz has cast blame on anyone but himself and Speaker Silver when the Democrats have had total control of the Senate, Assembly and Governor’s mansion for 2 years.

On his statement against Mayor Koch (“Who died and made Ed Koch an expert on reform?”) –

Joe is appalled that he would attack one of the greatest Jewish Politicians of our time who is advocating for real reform against corruption.  Koch has pushed for reform as early as the 1963 when he took on party boss Carmine Desapio.  To get further information from Mayor Koch please contact Adam Riff at 212-616-5815.

Jeffrey Dinowitz: “I’m sure I’ll get at least 75 percent of the votes. I don’t want to be cocky” –

We are not shocked by this comment.  Joe has known for a long time that Jeffrey Dinowitz is out of touch with the people of the 81st district.

Joe has been through every neighborhood in the district.  He knows the people are fed up with business as usual. They are looking for common sense reform to get the Bronx and New York back on track.

Joe may be the underdog in this race but he is not alone when he says "we cannot trust those who helped create the mess in Albany to go back this November and fix it."

For more information or to speak with Joe please contact me anytime at bmurphy@joemclaughlinforassembly.com or 201-320-7850.

Thanks,

Bill Murphy