DDC Hearing on Putnam Trail

  Administrative Law Judge Richard Sherman of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation was the host of a public hearing at Lehman College yesterday to listen to all sides on the  NYC Parks Department proposal for the Putnam Trail. Below are a few photos of the hearing.  

Left - Judge Sherman reads from the proposal by the Parks Department for the Putnam Trail.

Right - Photos of the current condition of the Putnam Trail.

 

Left - Ms. Jennifer Greenfield of the Parks Department goes over the proposal for the Putnam Trail.

Right - Mr. Andrew Sandler of Councilman Oliver Koppells office reads from a statement of support for the Parks Department proposal by Councilman Koppell.

NYS DEC Putnam Trail Hearing Tonight

Public Notice

Notice of Legislative Public Hearing

Location: New York City Department of Parks and Recreation
Lehman College's Lovinger Theater (In The Music Building)
250 Bedford Park Boulevard West, Bronx, New York 10468

Applicant: New York City Department of Parks and Recreation
Olmstead Center
Flushing Meadows Corona Park
Flushing, New York 11368

Application Number: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) Application ID # 2-6001-00014/00008

Project Description and Location: Applicant New York City Department of Parks and Recreation (NYS DPR) has applied to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) for a Freshwater Wetlands Permit to change the surface and width of the Putnam Rail Trail, which runs for approximately 1.5 miles on the Old Putnam Railroad track in Van Cortlandt Park from Van Cortlandt Park South to the New York City's boundary line with Westchester County in the north. The proposed project would remove creosote treated rail ties; add approximately 4 ½ inches of pavement on top of the existing rail ballast to create a ten foot (10') wide asphalt path with an adjacent three foot (3') wide earthen-jogging path on one side and an adjacent two foot (2') wide seeded buffer on the other side of the asphalt path; improve drainage on and beneath the trail by filling existing depressions and cleaning or, where necessary, replacing culverts; remove portions of a chain link fence; install a wooden split rail fence in some areas; install benches and path markers; clean and adapt historic artifacts; restore a train platform; remove trees under six inch caliper within the fence line of the corridor and eight to twenty trees larger than six inch caliper; remove invasive plant species; and install landscape plantings. Sections of the proposed work will take place in areas that are subject to the jurisdiction of the NYS DEC under the Freshwater Wetlands Act. Specifically, some of the modifications will take place in the area adjacent to freshwater wetland YO-1 and in two areas, where the trail traverses Van Cortlandt Lake, the project will take place above that wetland.

SEQRA Status: The project is an "unlisted action" as defined in 6 NYCRR 617.2(ak) that was subject to a coordinated review. NYS DPR served as lead agency and issued a negative declaration on June 8, 2011, based upon its determination that the project will cause no significant adverse environmental impacts. 6 NYCRR 617.2(y), 617.7.

Notice of Complete Application: NYS DEC Staff issued a notice of complete application on April 26, 2013.

Weekend Street Festivals

  There were many competing street festivals around the Bronx today, and I visited two of them in the Northwest Bronx. The Kingsbridge Heights Neighborhood Association had a Health Fair on Reservoir Avenue, while the Jerome Gun Hill BID had Jerome Avenue closed from Gun Hill Road to East 208th Street. Below are a few photos of each event.

Left - Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz and soon to be Councilman Andrew Cohen stopped by the Kingsbridge Heights Health Fair being held on Reservoir.

Right - Cohen, Dinowitz, and KHNIA members pose for this photo in front of the giant inflatable exercise ball used at the Health Fair. 

It was a different story on Jerome Avenue as you see in both photos. Vendors lined both sides of Jerome Avenue with almost anything you wanted.

 

  

Left - There was a roving clown who made animals out of balloons for the kids.

Right - Roberto Garcia (far left) of Montefiore Hospital stands next to outgoing 15th Councilman Joel Rivera, 80th Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj, 81st Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, soon to be 11th City Councilman Andrew Cohen, 14th Councilman Fernando Cabrera as they pose in front of a Montefiore Hospital ambulance. Montefiore Hospital was a main sponsor of the event.

Ice Palace at Kingsbridge Armory Skates Through First Two Parts of the Land Use Process

  Tuesday night there was a public hearing, and then a vote by the members of Community Board 7 which approved the proposal to build 9 separate ice skating rinks on two levels inside the Kingsbridge Armory. Kingsbridge National Ice Center (KNIC) is the name of the corporation that will run the largest Ice sports Arena with 9 ice skating rinks and a seating area of 5,000 seats. New York Ranger great Mark Messier has been named CEO of KNIC and was at the presentation to CB 7 that took place at the Lovinger Theater inside Lehman Collage. 

  All the local elected officials or their representatives were in attendance, that was except for Councilman Fernando Cabrera. The Northwest Bronx Church and Clergy coalition and several other neighborhood groups from CB 7 that helped grind out a Community Benefits Agreement worth 1.7 Billion dollars all gleefully asked the CB 7 members to approve this first step of the ULURP process. The vote of CB 7 was overwhelmingly in favor of the KNIC proposal with only 5 members voting against the proposal. 

  The next step was on Friday where Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. (a proponent of this proposal) held a public hearing in the Bronx County Courthouse. From here the proposal goes to the City Planning Commission which has up to 60 days to decide on the proposal, then if approved it would be off to a City Council vote within 45 days of the CPC approval. It is hoped that this process can be finished this year under the current City Council and current Mayor, and not have to continue into the next administration and new City Council.

Left - you can see New York ranger great Mark Messier sitting and waiting for his turn to speak in favor of the KNIC proposal for the Kingsbridge Armory.

Right - Messier address the crowd inside the Bronx Courthouse Rotunda as to why the KNIC proposal should be accepted.

Left - Members of Community Board 7 during the public hearing at  Lehman College.

Right - CB 7 Chair Adaline Walker-Santiago reports on the overwhelming vote of approval from CB 7 for the KNIC proposal.

 

 The agreement between the Kingsbridge National Ice Center with the Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment Alliance better know as the Community Benefits Agreement.

NYC 2013: Shaken Or Stirred?

  This comes from the Daily News blog about a New York City Tavern offering two very distinct and different drinks. One is a deBlasio while the other is a Lhota. The entire posting can be found here.

Surprise at Bronx Judicial Convention

  In what is normally a hum-ho boring event where delegates rise to nominate and then second candidates for different available judge positions to be on the Democratic line in the November general election a big surprise happened before the convention. Democratic Mayoral candidate Bill deBlasio was inside the Eastwood Manor where the Judicial Convention was being held an hour before rallying the troops in his bid for mayor. This was closed to the press as reporters from several newspapers and cameras from several television stations waited outside for deBlasio and members of the Bronx County Democratic organization to come out. 

  When the group came out deBlasio thanked State Senator Ruth Hassel-Thompson for being the first Bronx elected official to endorse him early in the campaign. With deblasio were Bronx elected officials (you will see in photos below) from all over the Bronx, of different ethnic backgrounds, those who supported other candidates for mayor in the Democratic primary, but were now a "United Bronx front for Bill deBlasio for Mayor". 

   DeBlasio said that the road to City Hall goes through the Bronx. "All boroughs are created equal, and it is time for City Hall to act that way". DeBlasio ended his speech saying that he feels very good about his support and the unity in the Bronx. When I asked about former Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion stealing away many Bronx votes in his bid for mayor on the Independence Party line, current Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. almost knocked over County Leader Carl Heastie in his haste to get to the podium. Diaz Jr. said "The reality is that Adolfo Carrion has abandoned the Democratic Party, and there is no way he can put together an operation in the Bronx". County Leader Heastie added that the Bronx County organization will work as a unit to elect Bill daBlasio Mayor.

  As for the Judicial convention Justice Laura Douglas, Judge Norma Ruiz, Judge Larry Schachner, and Judge Julia Rodriguez were all nominated to fill the four upcoming vacancies which they currently occupy.

Left - The Bronx Democratic County troops assemble outside after a rally inside with Mayoral candidate Bill deBlasio.

Right - Mayoral candidate Bill deBlasio thanks the Bronx Democratic organization for their support in the upcoming mayors race.

 

Left - Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. rushed to the podium to answer my question on Independence Party candidate & former Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion. 

Right - Bronx Democratic County Leader Carl Heastie speaking of the unity in the Bronx to support Bill deBlasio for Mayor.

 

Left - Bronx Democratic County Leader Carl Heastie speaking at the Judicial Convention.

Right - Acting Supreme Court Judge Larry Schachner accepts the nomination for Supreme Court Judge.

Bill and Hillary Clinton back Bill de Blasio for NYC Mayor

 

After keeping mum during the Democratic primary, Bill and Hillary Clinton are signaling they are rooting for Bill de Blasio to be the next mayor of New York City.

The former president and former secretary of State gave de Blasio their blessing in a statement issued by their respective spokesmen, Matt McKenna and Nick Merrill.

"Bill de Blasio has been a friend to both President Clinton and Secretary Clinton for many years," the statement says. "They were proud to see him run a thoughtful, creative campaign about the issues, and they are behind him as he moves on to the general election as the Democratic nominee."

Update on the new Bronx LGBTQ Center on its One-Year Birthday

    The new Bronx LGBTQ Center (the “Center”) is pleased to provide an update today, which marks the one-year anniversary of its birth as a New York State Not-For-Profit corporation.

“One year ago today, we incorporated our new Bronx LGBTQ Center with nothing more than a small handful of individuals and a dream. On our one-year birthday, I'm so happy to announce that we have initiated programs to help our LGBTQ brothers and sisters, are making progress on raising the funds necessary to build a new Center, and are working on bringing event more programs and services to LGBTQ and supportive individuals in the Bronx and surrounding areas,” exclaimed Tym Moss, the Center's president.

The Bronx LGBTQ Pride & Health Fair was a success. On July 20^th, nearly 50 organizations interacted with nearly 2,000 participants over a six-hour time frame – a strong showing that the Bronx LGBTQ community has individuals and organizations who care about them and will provide services. The event received support from prominent elected officials, including attendance by Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr., NYC Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn, NYS Senator Jose M. Serrano and his father, Congressman Jose E. Serrano, and NYS Assemblywoman Carmen Arroyo and her daughter, NYC Councilwoman Maria del Carmen Arroyo.

On August 20^th, nearly 20 of the 60 candidates running for office in the September 10^th primary election who were invited appeared at the Center's Candidates Forum on LGBTQ Issues at the Bronx Library Center, where the candidates answered questions on topics such as hate crimes, safety, homelessness, government services, and even revealing something personal about themselves, such as coming out about something. The forum can be viewed on YouTube in its entirety at http://youtu.be/V_rxmWaPyjY

“We are so fortunate to have a number of organizations who have come forward to work with us in providing services to our LGBTQ communities. We thank each and every one of them, because without their tremendous support and assistance, we would not have made the progress we did or be in the position we are in now to begin offering the services and programs that are planned to launch in the coming months,” Mr. Moss stated.

September was a particularly busy month for the new Center. On the 3^rd, it brought LGBTQ culture to the Bronx with an Open Mic at The Clock Bar. A packed house enjoyed poetry readings, spoken word performances, and musical interludes. On the 6th, the Center partnered with One Sandwich At A Time and St. Barnabas Hospital to make 500 sandwiches, which were then donated to help feed homeless LGBTQ youth through the Ali Forney Center and Sylvia's Place, two wonderful non-profit organizations dedicated to serving our LGBTQ youth populations, among others.

A Free Legal Clinic began operating on September 17^th. A collaboration between the Center, the LeGaL Foundation, and Union Community Health Center, the legal clinic will offer guidance and referrals to individuals on a range of matters. It operates on the 1^st and 3^rd Tuesday of each month, from 6-8 pm at Union's main offices at 260 East 188^th Street, Bronx, NY. Full details can be found at http://le-gal.org/bronx-legal-clinic/

“We will soon be launching a number of additional programs, services, and events that we have been working on bringing to the Bronx,” Peter C. Frank, the Center's secretary and lead organizer, advised. “In the coming months, you can expect to see a weekly LGBTQ Youth Group, weekly women's and men's educational and informational groups, more community outreach walks (next scheduled on October 11^th for NCOD), a peer support services network that will provide weekly support groups, a “12 Steps to the Rainbow” recovery initiative, legal and financial services workshops, and more social programming—including a Halloween Costume Ball on October 29^th, as well as a pot-luck Thanksgiving dinner as part of our Family Holidays program,” he added. A new web site is also in the works.

For more information about the Center and its upcoming programs and events, visit http://bronxlgbtqcenter.org

Contact Peter C. Frank with questions: e-mail secretary@bronxlgbtqcenter.org or call 914-417-9579.