Borough President Diaz Speaks at Rally to Oppose Post Office Closures

 

On Wednesday, July 27, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. joined with members of the New York Metro Area Postal Union, APWU, AFL-CIO, on the steps of the Bronx GPO on East 149^th Street and the Grand Concourse to protest the proposed closure of 17 borough Post Offices and the removal of processing services from the Bronx GPO.

STATEMENT FROM BOROUGH PRESIDENT DIAZ

RE: Appointment of Jesse Mojica as Executive Director

For Family and Community Engagement at the Department of Education

 

“For the past two years, Jesse Mojica has served my administration as Director of Education & Youth Services with distinction, and my entire staff and I are sorry to see him go. Jesse has been a tireless advocate for the educational well-being of the Bronx and its children, first as a parent, then as this office’s appointment to the Panel for Educational Policy and finally as our education director, a position through which he has distinguished himself as one of the foremost education policy experts in the City.

“His passion will be missed, and our loss is the Department of Education’s, and in fact the entire City’s, considerable gain. I join my entire staff and the people of the Bronx in wishing him the best of luck in this new endeavor,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As the writer of this blog and a former member of the Chancellor's Parent Advisory Council I must add the following-

I can only say that having been in the mix of it when Chancellor Joel Klein came in nine years ago, things at the DOE (Tweed) went from bad to worse, and the revolving door policy began. I knew many parents who were bought off by receiving positions from parent coordinator, to the couple of parents who have had the position Mr. Mojica has been appointed to. In the end most of those parent leaders are now gone from the education system, just bought off with a short lived position. The smart ones like Joel Klein and Eva Moskowitz have gone on to where the real money is, that being charter schools. 

I was offered a position of Parent Team Leader at the Region level, which I refused so that I would not sell out and become part of the problem. As you see today I continue to be an advocate for the city's public school children, and can only wish that Mr. Mojica has a longer tenure in the position than those before him. I know exactly what is in store for him.

 

 

Croton Facility Monitoring Committee Agenda

Agenda

Croton Facility Monitoring Committee Meeting

Thursday, July 28, 2011 – 7:00 PM

DEP Community Office – 3660 Jerome Avenue, Bronx NY 10467 - (718) 231-8470

I  Welcome                        Father Richard Gorman, Chair

II Consider, Adopt 6/30/11 Meeting Minutes    CFMC Representatives

III Jerome Park Reservoir (JPR)
       
    Update on DPR Jogging/Walking Path    Frank McCue, DPR

    Comments about Borough President’s tour CFMC Representatives  

    On July 19th

DEP Comments about Shifting Force     Mark Lanaghan, DEP Main Funding to JPR improvements, etc

IV Presentation about Federal, State Mandates    Mark Lanaghan, DEP

V Construction Update, Schedule & Costs        Bernard Daly, P.E., DEP
    Status of CRO 312,OS, 313, 334, FM
   

Items from 6-30-11 Agenda:

    $18,600,000in CRO 311 for DEP/DPR MOU
    & Status of Permits: CSO at SMC
   

Construction in Goulden Ave & Detour

   

VI Current Report - Croton Jobs    Mark Lanaghan, DEP       

VII CFMC Discussion, Set Next Meeting        CFMC Representatives


VIII Adjourn

STATEMENT FROM BOROUGH PRESIDENT DIAZ

RE: Potential Post Office Closures in the Bronx

  “I am extremely concerned that 17 postal locations in the Bronx are being studied for potential closure. The Bronx cannot afford such a considerable loss of both jobs and commercial activity, and the federal government must seriously reconsider enacting any post office closure plan that would have a serious negative impact on Bronx communities. My office will continue to follow this process to ensure that the collective voice of our borough is heard on this important matter,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

Letter from Assemblyman Dinowitz to BOEDC Regarding Kingsbridge Armory

                                                                                                July 25, 2011

Marlene Cintron, President

Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation

851 Grand Concourse, Room 123

Bronx, New York 10451

Dear Ms. Cintron:

            I am pleased to learn that sports facilities, including those for ice skating and hockey, are among the possible uses being contemplated for the Kingsbridge Armory.  Having grown up within a few blocks of the Armory and having lived there for nearly half my life, I have always been extremely interested in there being a top-notch plan for the site.

            I opposed the proposal to construct a shopping mall in the Armory that would have received tens of millions of dollars of taxpayer subsidies.  Such a mall would undoubtedly have decimated the Fordham Road and Kingsbridge Road shopping districts and cost countless jobs.  Some Manhattan-based editorial board writers that strongly supported the heavily-subsidized mall probably spend little or no time in the Bronx and undoubtedly had no concept of the impact of such a mall on the surrounding community.   I am certain that Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. took the correct position for the Bronx on this matter and, as a result, we now have a golden opportunity to do something really special for the Bronx.

            I have long believed that the Kingsbridge Armory should be used for the people of the Bronx.  I have seen the superb facility that has been developed at the armory at West 168^th Street and Fort Washington Avenue in Manhattan.  The Bronx deserves a great facility as well.  The possibilities are endless, including real ice skating rinks for the entire Bronx to enjoy, ice hockey, basketball, running tracks, community facilities, and finally giving the community what it has long demanded: new public schools outside the armory.

            So, I would like to applaud the work of both BOEDC and the Borough President.  We’ve waited a long time for the right development of the Armory site.  We dodged a bullet when we avoided the heavily-subsidized, job-killing shopping mall.  Now we must redouble our efforts to develop the site for the best interests of Kingsbridge Heights and the entire Bronx.  I look forward to working with you and being helpful in any way that I am able.

                                                                                                Sincerely,

                                                                                               
Jeffrey Dinowitz

                                                                                                Member of Assembly

 

 

Bronx Museum of the Arts:  
First Fridays!: FILM NIGHT

Friday August 5, 2011, 7:00-10:00pm

Joyce Kilmer Park (outdoor event!)
Grand Concourse Bet E 161 St and E 164 St
Rain location: Bronx Museum

Free Admission


MUSIC-  7-8:30pm
Music by HIP HOP AXÉ (Afro-Brazilian Hip Hop

FILM-  8:30-10:00pm
BESOURO
Joao Daniel Tikhomiroff, Brazil, 2004, 95min

Besouro is the emotional true story of the legendary capoeira fighter from Bahia, who was rumored to fly and leads an uprising of agricultural workers against an exploitative landowner

For almost twenty years, AFF has bridged the divide between post-colonial Africa and the American public through the medium of film. www.africanfilmny.org

For more information: media@bronxmuseum.org or visit www.bronxmuseum.org
Bronx Museum of the Arts | 1040 Grand Concourse at 165th St | Bronx NY 10456

Brooklyn BP Marty Markowitz Fined $20,000 by Conflict of Interest Board

  Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz has been fined $20,000 by the NYC Conflicts of Interest Board for bringing his wife Jamie along on 3 foreign Government sponsored trips. Th CIB ruled that Markowitz used his position as a public servant for private and personal advantage. 

  A story in the New York Post goes on to say that in 2007 Markowitz was warned when Cunard Lines launched the Queen Mary II in Brooklyn, and invited Markowitz and his wife for the ride. The CIB said that it would be all right for Markowitz to go, but that his wife would have to pay her own way. The Post says that Markowitz was flabbergasted by the decision, and quotes him as saying "some people get into trouble when they don't bring their wives - I'm getting into trouble because I took my wife".

  As for the $20,000 fine the post reports that Markowitz will pay "the goddamn fine, and ask the City Council to address this and set it right". 

  In February Markowitz was fined $2,000 by the CIB for using his chief of staff as a lawyer in his home closing.

 

Tony Orlando to Headline Senator Jeff Klein's Summer Concert Series

Senator Jeffrey D. Klein, (D-Bronx/Westchester), announced today that singer Tony Orlando will be the headliner for his 2011 Summertime Symphonies.

These free concerts, which will be held from Aug. 2 to August 30, have become a summertime tradition to Bronx and Westchester residents.

“I am proud to have Tony Orlando, as well as the other great performers, take part in this year's Summertime Symphonies,” Senator Klein said. “If you're in the area, come on down and join us for these great, family friendly, events.”

The Bronx Council of the Arts and Arts Westchester are also co-sponsoring the concert series.

Tony Orlando, the winner of three American Music Awards and a People's Choice Award, will be playing the Aug. 30 show at Loreto Park in Morris Park. He is best known for his hits, “Knock Three Times,” “Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree” and “Sweet Gypsy Rose.”

For more information, call Senator Klein's Office at 1-800-718-2039. For the latest information including the latest updates, and when a concert is moved to a rain location, visit www.senatorklein.com, “friend” Senator Klein on Facebook and follow @JeffKlein34 on Twitter.

Remember to bring folding chairs and blankets to the shows!!

A full concert schedule is below:

Monday, August 2^nd- 7:00pm

JUST NUTS

49^th Precinct Night Out Against Crime

Pelham Parkway North & Wallace Avenue

Wednesday, August 3^rd- 7:00pm

STRAWBERRY FIELDS

Veterans Memorial Park, Throggs Neck Expressway, between Ellsworth & Schley Avenues, Throggs Neck

(Rain Location: P.S. 14, 3041 Bruckner Blvd., Bronx)

Thursday, August 4^th-7:00pm

STREETS OF THE BRONX BAND

Loreto Park, between Haight & Tomlinson Avenue, Morris Park

(Rain Location: P.S. 105 725 Brady Avenue, Bronx)

Monday, August 8^th-7:30pm

THE BOOKENDS BAND

Pelham Gazebo, 20 5^th Avenue, Pelham

(Rain Location: Daronco Town House, 20 5^th Avenue, Pelham)

Wednesday, August 10^th-7:00pm

RISKY BUSINESS

Eastchester Town Hall, 40 Mill Road, Eastchester

(Rain Location: Tuckahoe Community Center, 71 Columbus Avenue, Tuckahoe)

Monday, August 15^th- 7:30pm

WESTCHESTER SWING BAND

Pelham Gazebo, 20 5^th Avenue, Pelham

(Rain Location: Daronco Town House, 20 5^th Avenue, Pelham)

Wednesday, August 17^th- 7:00pm

STRAWBERRY FIELDS

One Depot Square in front of Generoso Pope Building, Tuckahoe

Rain Location: Tuckahoe Community Center, 71 Columbus Avenue, Tuckahoe)

Thursday, August 18^th-7:00pm

LARRY CHANCE & THE EARLS

Bufano Park, Edison Avenue between Waterbury & LaSalle Avenues, Pelham Bay

(Rain Location: P.S. 14, 3041 Bruckner Blvd., Bronx)

Wednesday, August 24^th- 7:00pm

ALIVE N KICKIN

Gramatan Ave & Broad Street, Mount Vernon

(Rain Location: Mount Vernon Armory 144 North Fifth Ave, Mount Vernon)

Thursday, August 25^th-7:00pm

CELTIC CROSS

Van Cortlandt Park East, between 238^th & 240^th St., Woodlawn

(Rain Location: St. Barnabas Elementary School, 413 E. 241 St., Woodlawn)

Monday, August 29^th- 7:00pm

ALIVE N KICKIN

Ambrosini Field, Winters & Centre Street, City Island

(Rain Date: August 31^st, Ambrosini Field, Winters & Centre Street, City Island)

Tuesday, August 30^th- 7:00pm

TONY ORLANDO

Loreto Park, between Haight & Tomlinson Avenues, Morris Park

(Rain Location: P.S. 105 725 Brady Avenue, Bronx)