Thursday, September 12, 2013

Voting Machines to be Recanvassed Friday Morning


  Friday morning all lever voting machines are expected to be at the borough offices of the Board of Elections to be opened once again after being sealed after the tally was taken election night to verify the results. Many lever voting machines are still in poll sites, and the voting machines which have been sealed with nothing more than a plastic Ziplock strip have been left unguarded in most cases awaiting pick up. 
  I called the Board of Elections to find out that every lever voting machine is expected to be back at the borough offices by Thursday night at the latest. When I asked about the plastic Ziplock strip securing the machine I was told that procedures are in place if the tag is broken. When I asked "what procedures are in place" I was told "procedures". 
  The reason for the recount is that mistakes can be made in reading the small dials on the lever voting machines by Board of Election poll workers after 15 hours of working the poll site. I have seen this first hand when 300 votes for one candidate were missed when the poll worker did not see the very small #3 in the hundreds roll of the lever voting machine. It was an honest mistake, but mistakes have happened to often on the old lever voting machines.
 
In the photo above taken Wednesday night only the small plastic Ziplock strip is in the way of tampering with this voting machine or the other to the right of it as both wait to be picked up for delivery back to the Board of Elections.


Rally for Dignity!

FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHTS!

 
Rally against the abuses of Democratic County Boss and the Board of Elections

Despite all obstacles by the corrupt political machine, on September 10th voters rejected their handpicked candidate in Assembly District 86th. On top of all irregularities affecting the other candidates in favor of the candidate of the corrupt establishment, the board stopped counting the votes and arbitrarily sequestered the machines and paper ballots.  We will not accept a fraudulent verdict by a corrupt Board of Elections managed from the office of the Party Boss.

Rally against the abuses of Democratic County Boss and the Board of Elections

FRIDAY – September 13, 10:30
In front of the Bronx Board of Elections Office
Address: 1780 Grand Concourse (175th St. and Grand Concourse) Bronx NY 10453

For more information:
Call: 347-922-0510                                                                                            
¡A Luchar por sus derechos!

Protesta contra los abusos del jefe Demócrata del Condado y la Junta Electoral

A pesar de todos los obstáculos de la maquinaria política corrupta, el 10 de septiembre los votantes rechazaron su candidato elegido a dedo para el Distrito 86 de la Asamblea. Además de todas las irregularidades que afectaron a los otros candidatos en favor del candidato de la maquinaria corrupta, la Junta dejó de contar los votos y arbitrariamente secuestro las máquinas y las boletas de papel sin contar. No vamos a aceptar un veredicto fraudulento por una Junta de Elección corrupta que funciona como un apéndice de la oficina del jefe del partido.

BASTA de los abusos del jefe Demócrata del Condado y la Junta Electoral

Viernes - 13 de Septiembre, 10:30 a.m.
En frente de la Junta de Elecciones del Bronx
Dirección: 1780 Grand Concourse (175th y Grand Concourse) Bronx NY 10453

Para más información:
Llamar al: 347-922-0510
 
 

Wave Hill Events September 27–October 4


   Honey Weekend! Come for the day―Saturday or Sunday―and take in a host of opportunities to admire the industry of our bee friends, then let their buzziness inspire some glorious stretches during a session of Tai Chi or Yoga, and a curated tour of the new exhibition in Glyndor Gallery. How sweet it is!


THU, SEPTEMBER 26    GARDEN WALK: ARMORED PLANTS
Many plants, like the prickly pear cactus (Opuntia sp.) and Dioscorea elephantipes (elephant’s foot) are
naturally protected with weapon-worthy spines or a thick coating of armor. Others, such as Sagittaria, have names that allude to armor-like aspects of their anatomy. Wave Hill Horticultural Interpreter  Charles Day leads a tour of these denizens of the garden, all relevant to Bashford Dean, whose interest in both arms and ichthyology is the subject of the fall exhibition in Glyndor Gallery. This walk repeats October 5 and 10. Free with admission to the grounds.
MEET AT THE PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 2PM

SAT & SUN, SEPTEMBER 28 & 29    HONEY WEEKEND
Honey Weekend is a highlight this fall, with a sweet menu of activities for all ages. Most Honey Weekend events take place both Saturday and Sunday and are free with admission to the grounds.

SAT, SEPTEMBER 28    FAMILY ART PROJECT—BE A BEE
Live the life of a bee! Outfit yourself with wings, antennae, a pollen cup and a kazoo to buzz with. Buzz around in a hive of six-sided cells and forage in the flowers. Join in a bee parade and dance in a cardboard hive at 12:30PM, weather permitting. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon. Honey Weekend event.
WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM–1PM

SAT, SEPTEMBER 28    TAI CHI CHUAN
Quiet like a mountain, moving like a river, Tai Chi is a sequence of gentle movements based on images found in nature. In this beginner-level class, Irving Yee, a member of the William CC Chen Tai Chi School, introduces students to the internal martial arts and promotes an awareness of its benefits. Sessions are held outdoors only and are weather dependent. Call 718.549.3200 x245 by 8AM on the day of the class for program updates. Session fee: $23/Wave Hill Member $15. Registration opens onsite at 9:30AM.
MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 10‒11AM

SAT, SEPTEMBER 28    HONEY TASTING
Sample honey at The Shop at Wave Hill. You’ll be amazed at the complex flavors of different varieties! Purchase your favorite to take home. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon. Honey Weekend event.
PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 11AM−4PM

SAT, SEPTEMBER 28    HONEY EXTRACTION DEMONSTRATION
How do bees make honey? How do we collect it? Help us extract and bottle honey from our resident honeybees and sample honey straight from the hive. Free with admission to the grounds. Honey Weekend event.
ECOLOGY BUILDING, 12:30PM, 1:30PM, 2:30PM

SAT, SEPTEMBER 28    HIVES & HONEY INFORMATION STATION
Try on beekeeping gear, peek inside an empty hive and learn fascinating facts about honeybees. Free with admission to the grounds. Honey Weekend event.
PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 1−3PM

SAT, SEPTEMBER 28   GALLERY TOUR
Join a curatorial fellow for a tour of Wave Hill’s fall exhibition, Tandem Pursuits: Armor & Ichthyology, which celebrates the interests of former Wave Hill House resident Bashford Dean. Dean was Curator of Arms and Armor at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Curator of Fish at the American Museum of Natural History. The intersection of his interest in both fish and armor provides the opportunity to bring together a remarkable group of contemporary art that explores concepts of adaptation, pattern, and protection. The tour also includes Sunroom Project Space installations by Van Lier Visual Artist Fellows Onyedika Chuke and Francisco Donoso. Tours take place Tuesdays and Saturdays at 2PM. Free with admission to the grounds.
GLYNDOR GALLERY, 2PM

SUN, SEPTEMBER 29    FAMILY ART PROJECT—BE A BEE
Live the life of a bee! Outfit yourself with wings, antennae, a pollen cup and a kazoo to buzz with. Buzz around in a hive of six-sided cells and forage in the flowers. Join in a bee parade and dance in a cardboard hive at 12:30PM, weather permitting. Free with admission to the grounds. Honey Weekend event.
WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM–1PM

SUN, SEPTEMBER 29    HATHA YOGA
Find refuge from city life by practicing seasonal yoga. Decrease stress and increase your energy by focusing on your posture, your breath and your mind/body/spirit. Classes are led by Neem Dewji, certified in Hatha and Therapeutic Yoga from The Yoga for Health Foundation, England, and The Integral Yoga Institute, NYC. All levels welcome. Sessions are held outdoors only and are weather dependent. Call 718.549.3200 x245 by 8AM on the day of the class for program updates. Session fee: $23/Wave Hill Member $15. Registration opens onsite at 9:30AM.
MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 10‒11:15AM

SUN, SEPTEMBER 29    HONEY TASTING
Sample honey at The Shop at Wave Hill. You’ll be amazed at the complex flavors of different varieties! Purchase your favorite to take home. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon. Honey Weekend event.
PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 11AM−4PM

SUN, SEPTEMBER 29    CANDLE MAKING DROP-IN PROGRAM
A natural wax produced in the hive by young worker bees, beeswax has been used for centuries in religious ceremonies, for timekeeping and for illumination. Try your hand at creating an assortment of beeswax candles to take home and enjoy. Materials fee: $10 Member/$18 Non-member per kit. Registration not required. First come, first served while supplies last. Free with admission to the grounds, but there is a materials fee of $10 Member/$18 Non-member per kit, which includes enough to make several candles.
WAVE HILL HOUSE, 11AM–2PM

SUN, SEPTEMBER 29    MEDITATION
This fall, take a moment to release stress and reconnect with your inner self while practicing meditation. Each session includes instruction in simple techniques followed by 20 to 30 minutes of meditation. Led by Yoga for Bliss director Neem Dewji and other qualified instructors. All levels welcome. Session fee: $23/Wave Hill Member $15. Registration opens onsite at 9:30AM..
MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 11:30AM‒12:45PM

SUN, SEPTEMBER 29    HONEY EXTRACTION DEMONSTRATION
How do bees make honey? How do we collect it? Help us extract and bottle honey from our resident honeybees and sample honey straight from the hive. Free with admission to the grounds. Honey Weekend event.
ECOLOGY BUILDING, 12:30PM, 1:30PM, 2:30PM

SUN, SEPTEMBER 29    HIVES & HONEY INFORMATION STATION
Try on beekeeping gear, peek inside an empty hive and learn fascinating facts about honeybees. Free with admission to the grounds. Honey Weekend event.
PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 1−3PM

SUN, SEPTEMBER 29    GARDEN HIGHLIGHTS WALK
Join us for an hour-long tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free with admission to the grounds.
MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 2PM

MON, SEPTEMBER 30
Closed to the public.

TUE, OCTOBER 1    GARDEN HIGHLIGHTS WALK
Join us for an hour-long tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon.
MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 11AM

TUE, OCTOBER 1    GALLERY TOUR
Join a curatorial fellow for a tour of Wave Hill’s fall exhibition, Tandem Pursuits: Armor & Ichthyology, which celebrates the interests of former Wave Hill House resident Bashford Dean. Dean was Curator of Arms and Armor at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Curator of Fish at the American Museum of Natural History. The intersection of his interest in both fish and armor provides the opportunity to bring together a remarkable group of contemporary art that explores concepts of adaptation, pattern, and protection. The tour also includes Sunroom Project Space installations by Van Lier Visual Artist Fellows Onyedika Chuke and Francisco Donoso. Tours take place Tuesdays and Saturdays at 2PM. Free with admission to the grounds.
GLYNDOR GALLERY, 2PM

A 28-acre public garden and cultural center overlooking the Hudson River  and Palisades, Wave Hill’s mission is to celebrate the artistry and legacy of its gardens and landscape, to preserve its magnificent views, and to explore human connections to the natural world through programs in horticulture, education and the arts.

HOURS  Open all year, Tuesday through Sunday and many major holidays: 9AM—5:30PM. Closes 4:30PM, November 1—March 14.  
ADMISSION  $8 adults, $4 students and seniors 65+, $2 children 6—18. Free Saturday mornings until noon. Free until noon on Tuesdays in September and October. Free to Wave Hill Members and children under 6.

PROGRAM FEES  Programs are free with admission to the grounds unless otherwise noted.

Visitors to Wave Hill can take advantage of Metro-North’s one-day getaway offer. Purchase a discount round-trip rail far and discount admission to the gardens. More at http://mta.info/mnr/html/getaways/outbound_wavehill.htm

DIRECTIONS – Getting here is easy! Located only 3o minutes from midtown Manhattan, Wave Hill’s free shuttle van transports you to and from our front gate and Metro-North’s Riverdale station, as well as the 242nd Street stop on the #1 subway line. Limited onsite parking is available for $8 per vehicle. Free offsite parking is available nearby with continuous, complimentary shuttle service to and from the offsite lot and our front gate. Complete directions and shuttle bus schedule at www.wavehill.org/visit/.

Information at 718.549.3200. On the web at www.wavehill.org.


Wednesday, September 11, 2013

86th A.D. Results UPDATE


  With 100% of the vote cast on the lever voting machines in the 86th A.D. the results are the following.
  Any absentee or paper ballots done at a poll site will be counted starting on Friday.
 

 Victor Pichardo leads by 72 votes.

Candidate  Votes  Pct.
Victor Pichardo              1,195               22.7%
Hector Ramirez 1,123 21.3
Yudelka Tapia 1,000 19.0
Haile Rivera 885 16.8
Melanie Johnson 469 8.9
Elizabeth Ortiz 400 7.6
Keny Nunez 193 3.7



Primary Day 2013 - The Bronx Results?


  In what was a light turnout the results of yesterday's primary races are in, but will not be official for at least three weeks. For Democratic Mayor Bill DeBlasio ended the night slightly over the magical 40% line to win without having to go into a run off election, but there are still to many absentee and paper ballots that have to be counted which could place DeBlasio below that magical 40% line. If DeBlasio falls below 40% by even one vote he would be forced into a run off with Bill Thompson who finished second.
  On the Republican side for Mayor Joe Lhota won, and should DeBlasio win on the Democratic side we might be seeing  "No Holds Barred"  in a Giuliani - Dinkins III rematch. 
  There will be a run off election for Public Advocate in three weeks on October 1st as none of the 5 candidates went over the magical (citywide only) 40% mark between Brooklyn State Senator Dan Squadron and Brooklyn Councilwoman Letitia James. 
  For City Comptroller Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer narrowly defeated former New York State Governor Eliot Spitzer.
  Here in the Bronx, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. was an easy winner coming in with 84% of the vote. Incumbent Bronx City Council members in the 8th, 12th, 14th, 17th, & 18th districts all won, and 13th Councilman Jimmy Vacca did not have a primary. In the open Bronx council seats- 11th Andrew Cohen won by a better than 2 - 1 margin, 15th Ritchie Torres won with a little over 1/3 of the vote, and in the 16th 77th A.D. Assemblywoman Vanessa Gibson won with over 40% of the vote. 
  In the special election to fill the vacant 86th A.D. Victor Pachardo won with 22% of the vote, but by less than 65 votes (64 to be exact). It is expected (by me at least) that the winner of this race may not be determined by Thanksgiving or Christmas. 

Here are past 11th City Councilwoman June Eisland, current 11th City Councilman Oliver Koppell, and in the middle the next 11th City Councilman Andrew Cohen.












Left - 11th council district primary winner Andrew Cohen goes over the long list of names he thanked in his win.
Right - One time 11th council district Democratic candidate Cheryl Keeling (right) stopped by to congratulate Cohen on his victory, poses with soon to be Councilman Andrew Cohen's wife Heather Erhard-Cohen. Keeling was knocked off the ballot by Cliff Stanton who ran against Cohen.

Lastly - A photo to remember if you are 87th A.D. Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda who went against the Bronx Democratic County organization to be the first Bronx elected official to publicly endorse Bill DeBlasio for Mayor. Sepulveda worked tirelessly for the Deblasio campaign turning his Parkchester political club into the Bronx Campaign headquarters for DeBlasio. Could we be seeing Assemblyman Sepulveda joining the DeBlasio administration?


Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Primary Day 2013 Halfway Point


  Today is Primary day 2013 for Democrats and Republicans. While republicans are only choosing between three candidates for Mayor it is a different story for Democrats. Democrats have a choice of 6 candidates for Mayor 2 for City Comptroller, 5 for Public Advocate, 2 for Bronx Borough President, and from 0 - 6 candidates for various city council races. There is an added bonus election this year with the stepping down of former 86th A.D. Assemblyman Nelson Castro where 7 candidates are running. 

  The early turn out is from light to very light, and at minutes before noon time I found one Election District that had no votes cast. There seem to be little problems in using the old Lever Voting machines, unless you happen to be Joe Lhota who had to cast a paper ballot due to a Lever Voting machine breakdown. Paper ballots are on hand at all poll sites just in case any machine becomes inoperative. 

   As for my own exit polling- here in the Bronx (11th and 15th Council Districts) the two Bills are receiving the most votes for Mayor. Outside of the poll workers it was almost impossible to find any Republican voters in the 11th & 15th Council Districts. Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. is out and campaigning hard all over the Bronx, while I could only see signs of his opponent. The 11th Council District seems to be going the way I called it "Big for Cohen", and the 15th Council District has all 6 candidates working their strengths as you will see in the photos below. 

That's 80th A.D. Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj at the wheel of this Thompson for Mayor vehicle on the road in the 80th A.D.

 













Left - That's 15th Council District candidate Cynthia Thompkins talking to 15th Council District Raquel Batista who is driving around the district. This photo is taken outside the PS 46 poll site, a strong hold for both of these candidates.
Right - Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. stopped by the Riverdale/Kingsbridge Academy (one of the largest polling sites in the Bronx), and poses with his choice for the 11th Council District Andrew Cohen.

 













 Left - One sign of Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.'s opponent has fallen to the bottom of the pole it is on one block from the Riverdale/Kingsbridge Academy.
Right - A sign of 11th Council Candidate Andrew Cohen's opponent.


Monday, September 9, 2013

Bronx Democratic County Barbecue


  Saturday September 7th was the Annual Bronx County Barbecue. Bronx Democratic County Leader Assemblyman Carl Heastie was joined by many elected officials from the Bronx and beyond. 2 candidates for Mayor showed up Bill Thompson and John Liu. Letitia James the Bronx County organization backed candidate for Public Advocate, Congressman Charlie Rangel (who now has a little part of the Bronx), and Manhattan Democratic County Leader Keith Wright were among those from outside the Bronx. 
   Willie Colon who is best known as a great Salsa singer and band leader, but who also ran for congress in 1994 gave a mini concert in favor of his candidate for Mayor Bill Thompson. Bronx County Leader Heastie said that he was going to keep the political speeches to a minimum, and kept his word as only he, BP Diaz, Bill Thompson, Letitia James, and co-host Assemblyman Marcos Crespo had the microphone other than Willie Colon. 
   Barbecue banter- On the subject of a vibrant looking Congressman Charles Rangel there was no comment by either Manhattan County leader Keith Wright or Rangel himself as to another term in Washington. Willie Colon- I crashed this party for my friend Bill Thompson. Public Advocate Letitia James- "We need to change the direction of the city". To my question of her what then has the city council been doing for the past 4 - 8 years there was no answer by Ms. James (a current councilwoman from Brooklyn), or any of the three other Bronx Council members I asked the same question. Bill Thompson- Under previous Bronx County Leadership there was fragmentation. Bronx BP Ruben Diaz Jr.- I do have a primary. Senator Jeff Klein- Didn't Oliver Koppell endorse Republican candidate for Mayor Michael Bloomberg? Carl Heastie- I am endorsing Jeff Klein for re-election.












Left - The Bronx Democratic County headquarters on the corner of Blondell Avenue and Eastchester Road.
Right - On the left Mr. John Zaccaro Jr. President of the Bronx Young Democrats (and Councilman Fernando Cabrera's office was in charge of the grill this year.

 













Left - Two old opponents, now friends say hello to each other.
Right - Famous Salsa singer and band leader Willie Colon listens to a woman as Bronx Democratic County Executive Director Ischia Bravo looks on.

 













Left - Mayoral candidate Bill Thompson greets some of his supporters.
Right - Mayoral candidate John Liu says hello to Bronx County Leader Heastie and others.

 













Left - Bronx County leader Heastie with Bronx County backed Mayoral candidate Bill Thompson, Bronx BP Ruben Diaz Jr., Willie Colon, and Co-host Assemblyman Marcos Crespo.
Right - Willie Colon As he sings one of his hit songs.

 













Left - Senator Jeff Klein talking to Bronx County Leader Heastie, who later said that he was endorsing Senator Klein for re-election.
Right - Congressman Rangel talking to Bronx County Leader Heastie. Could this be for Heastie's endorsement for another term in Washington?


Movie in The Park


   This past Saturday Senator Jeff Klein sponsored the movie "UP" that was shown on a large inflatable movie screen in Seton Park in the Riverdale section of his district. Almost 500 people gathered on the infield and short outfield area to view the movie, and listen to a musical interlude by Alma and Rale Micic.
   Since this event was taking place 2 days before Primary day 2013 the candidates were out in force. Public Advocate candidate Brooklyn State Senator Dan Squadron, and both 11th City Council candidates Andrew Cohen and Cliff Stanton got their campaigning in. Andrew Cohen with Senator Klein and Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz while Cliff Stanton gave out Popsicles for votes. 

 













Left - Public Advocate candidate Senator Dan Squadron with 11th City Council candidate Andrew Cohen.
Right - Two Cliff Stanton people give out Popsicles. 

 













Left - A clip from the movie "UP" being shown on a large inflatable screen in Seton Park.
Right - Where some Popsicle wrappers and sticks wound up in the park.