BOROUGH PRESIDENT DIAZ ISSUES KINGSBRIDGE ARMORY ULURP

  As expected Bronx borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. has made his recommendation positive, of the Kingsbridge National Ice Center proposal for the Kingsbridge Armory. Diaz came out early in support of the KNIC proposal, and all that had to be done was work out a community benefits agreement that was acceptable by all sides. 

 

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. today issued his office’s recommendations concerning the future of the Kingsbridge Armory. The recommendations come as part of the borough president’s charter mandated responsibilities in the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP).

In his recommendations, Borough President Diaz reiterated his support for the project, noting that the Kingsbridge National Ice Center proposal will completely transform the unused structure into a hub of commercial and civic activity. The recommendations come on the heels of a public hearing on the project, which took place on Friday, September 20, and was hosted by Borough President Diaz as part of the ULURP process.

“The Kingsbridge National Ice Center is clearly the right choice for the Bronx. At every opportunity this proposal has been met with near unanimous support, and not one individual or group spoke against the project at my office’s public hearing. Support for the KNIC proposal is strong not just in the Northwest Bronx but in every corner of our borough, and I look forward to this project’s swift approval,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

In April, Kingsbridge National Ice Center Partners (KNIC) and the Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment Alliance (KARA) signed a historic community benefits agreement (CBA) to redevelop the Kingsbridge Armory into a facility committed to serving Bronx residents. That CBA represents a multi-million dollar benefit package for the local community.  

For the first time in the history of New York City, a developer has agreed to wall-to-wall living wage jobs for local workers, more than 50,000 square feet of community space, targeted local hiring, opportunities for minority- and women-owned businesses, free ice time for local schools, local procurement, sustainable green development and operation, and a business incubator to facilitate wealth creation for local residents. KNIC also plans to create a foundation to establish free after-school ice sports and academic tutoring programs for disadvantaged youth. The program will be modeled after the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation in Philadelphia, which has seen considerable academic and athletic success with those students who participate.

The Community Benefits Agreement has been signed by dozens of neighborhood organizations and community partners representing thousands of residents in the Northwest Bronx that support the project.

Borough President Diaz’s complete ULURP recommendations can be at the following link: http://on.nyc.gov/18njPny.

The Kingsbridge National Ice Center project was announced as the City’s official choice for the Kingsbridge Armory at a press conference in April 2013, which was attended by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Borough President Diaz, City Council Member Fernando Cabrera, KNIC Partners LLC Founder Kevin Parker, New York Rangers hockey legend Mark Messier, Olympic Figure Skating Gold Medalist Sarah Hughes, then New York City Economic Development Corporation President Seth W. Pinsky and then Community Board #7 Chairman Paul Foster.

The original press release announcing the project can be read here: http://on.nyc.gov/ZGheD1. Full video of that event can be watched here: http://on.nyc.gov/18pwSTg.

Bronx Elected Officials to Host an Affordable Care Act and State Health Exchange Forum

 

  Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr, Congressman Jose Serrano, and State Senator Gustavo Rivera will host an Affordable Care Act (ACA) and State Health Exchange Forum on Friday, September 27, 2013 to help inform and prepare Bronx residents, health providers, employers and employees of the changes underway to New York's health care system .

With the enrollment of New York State Health Exchange officially opening on October 1, 2013 - and the final elements of the ACA going into effect on January 1, 2014 - it is imperative for Bronxities to be well informed of the importance of enrolling in the New York State Health Exchange, the benefits of the program and the resources available to them in the Bronx.

The forum will offer attendees access to government agencies, community based organizations and local healthcare providers who will showcase how the program works for individuals and businesses and will highlight the many local resources available to help inform and guide the enrollment process.

WHAT:           Affordable Care Act & State Health Exchange Forum   

WHO:           Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

                         Congressman Jose Serrano

                         State Senator Gustavo Rivera

                       

WHEN:          Friday, September 27, 2013

                           10:00 am - 12:00 pm  

WHERE:        St. Barnabas Hospital Auditorium, 1st Floor

                            4422 Third Ave. (Enter at 182nd Street)

                            Bronx, NY 10457

Affordable Care Act Forum Saturday Sept. 28

 

Affordable Care Act (Obamacare)Forum

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2013, 1:00pm

Tibbett Towers Community Room- 1^st Floor

3130 Irwin Avenue (Bet W. 231^st & W. 232^nd Street)

Do You Have Healthcare Coverage?

If You Don’t, This Meeting Could—

1. Protect Your Health
2. Save You Money
3. Maybe Even Save Your Life

Find Out How The Affordable Care Act (Obamacare)   Can Help You, Your Friends and Family Members

And How You Can Apply For Coverage (Starting 10/1/13)

Special Guest Speaker: Timothy Foley-Greater NYC For Change

Inquiries--nwbx4change@gmail.com

Paid Internships for High School Students

 Held in partnership with the Riverdale Neighborhood House, our High School Environmental Internship exposes teens to different areas of environmental studies. Our mission for this program is to give the youth from the Bronx and surrounding communities an opportunity to learn about their local environment, as well as the chance to gain valuable job skills. Teens will learn about improving and conserving their environment, specifically Van Cortlandt Park. This includes learning about forest ecology, trail maintenance, and tree identification. The teens will learn about different careers and basic job skills while gaining writing and speaking skills that will help them become strong leaders.

FVCP’s Environmental Internship Program will run from November to June. Teens accepted in the program are required to work every Friday from 4:30 to 6:00 and alternating Saturdays from 9:30 to 2:30. Please contact Tina at tina@vancortlandt.org for an application or download one from our website at www.vancortlandt.org. Applications are due October 9th.  RNH also offers an Educational and Health Internship along with several semester long internship.  More information is available about all of these internships on the application- http://vancortlandt.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/YIP-2013-2014-Application-new-applicants.pdf 

Senator Klein Hosts First Annual Clam Chowder Festival on City Island

  Senator Jeff Klein hosted the first annual City Island Clam Chowder Festival during the annual City Island Chamber of Commerce Arts & Crafts Fall Fair this Sunday by Hawkins Park. Fair goers had an opportunity to try samples of sixteen different chowders from fourteen participating restaurants, having the opportunity to vote for their favorite.

 

Three awards were given. The Lobster House won the People’s Choice Chowder, Sammy’s won for the best Manhattan Clam Chowder and the Sea Shore won for the best New England Clam Chowder. Senator Klein, Assemblyman Benedetto, Food Network Star and City Island Native Michael Proietti and City Island Current Fleet Captain Chris Cullen judged the competition.

 Senator Klein and Assemblyman Benedetto sampling some of the chowder.

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.