Bronxtalk 78th A.D. Debate Was Lackluster

   The scheduled Bronxtalk 78th A.D. Debate between incumbent Assemblyman Jose Rivera and challenger Fernando Tirado became a one man show when Assemblyman Rivera did not show. Bronxtalk host Gary Axelbank blasted Assemblyman Rivera for not showing saying that it is the responsibility of elected officials to show up and debate. Axelbank went on to say that this was not the first time Jose Rivera has not showed up to debate in Rivera's more than decade run as an elected official. The show went on with only 78th A.D. candidate Fernando Tirado, and an empty chair as you can see in the above photo to represent Assemblyman Jose Rivera.  

  Candidate Tirado who was given the entire half hour did not go over Jose Rivera's tenure as assemblyman, saying instead that people know who he is and what he has done in the district. Axelbank quickly asked about Assemblyman Rivera asking for political favors when Tirado was the District Manager at Community Board 7. Tirado talked it down like he did on many of Axelbank's questions saying that there was no meeting in his 5 year tenure as the District Manager of CB 7. Axelbank's asked why should people vote for you over Assemblyman Rivera as there have been others who were just like you in the past? A vague answer that he was better than Rivera was given. To a question as to just why he was let go as the District Manager of CB 7 Tirado answered that none of the accusations that were made are true. Tirado said that he quit when his name was being slandered and he had enough.

  Answers to other questions on the Kingsbridge National Ice Center coming to the Armory, Education, Kingsbridge Road Merchants, and more were answered in the normal way a challenger would by saying that he would try to improve or help without any real solid answers. 

  After the show I asked candidate Tirado about 33rd State Senate candidate Jose Padilla Jr. he had on his petition who was knocked of the ballot, and Padilla's claim that one of Tirado's paid consultants was also getting paid by 33rd state senate candidate Fernando Cabrera. Tirado just shrugged it off as he walked away.   

  The next Bronxtalk debate is for the 34th State Senate District seat, and Axelbank said that both incumbent Jeff Klein and challenger Oliver Koppell said they will show up. Bronxtalk is seen on Cable channell 67 or 33 (depending on your cable provider) on Monday night at 9 PM. The show is repeated several times during the week, and available at www.Bronxnet.org. 

New Center Yellow Line For Riverdale Avenue, So Where Are the Crosswalks?

  A nice new double yellow center line has been painted from West 231st Street up the Riverdale Avenue hill. The old yellow line had worn out as is the case on many roadways where the lane markings are wearing out much quicker than they use to. In the photo above while it may look like trick photography it is the street that is very rough and bumpy at this intersection of Riverdale Avenue South and West 235th Street. Something else of note is missing as there are no crosswalks in the photo at the corner of a dangerous street where many accidents have occurred.

  

  This photo is of the West 238th Street crosswalk which is marred by cuts, patches, and trenches from Con Edison gas pipeline work months ago. Again there is no crosswalk, and this is an accident waiting to happen for a pedestrian to trip or fall at. The popular Salvatore's of Soho restaurant on Riverdale Avenue is in the background.

Is Liz Kruger Trying to Undermine the Senate Dem/IDC Deal?

   
    She said that the check got lost in the mail when one for $3,500.00 arrived at 34th State Senate District candidate Oliver Koppell's campaign after a truce was declared between the State Senate Democratic Conference and the Independent Democratic Conference led by Koppell's opponent incumbent 34th State Senator Jeff Klein. 

  Now Democratic State Senator Liz Kruger has given $2,000.00 to former City Comptroller John Liu's campaign to unseat IDC member Queens State Senator Tony Avella. When the Koppell check was found I asked Senator Klein for a comment, and the comment was "Maybe Senator Liz Kruger is trying to undermine the deal that Governor Andrew Cuomo, I, and other Democrats have achieved to get done."

  Time will only tell if Liz Kruger has put the final straw on the back of the IDC.  Will  she break the deal of the IDC pairing up with the Senate Democratic Conference because of her tenacity, and will the IDC wind up staying with the current deal with the Republican Senate Conference because of State Senator Liz Kruger?

Senator Rivera Kicks off Fourth Year of Bronx CAN

State Senator Gustavo Rivera and Bronx CAN Partners to Distribute 2,000 Backpacks and Provide Health Screenings for Children and Parents

   State Senator Gustavo Rivera and Bronx CAN partners including, Kars for Kids, Union Community Health Center, Montefiore Medical Center and other community health partners, have joined together to host three events throughout the 33^rd Senate Districts with free health screenings and over 2,000 free backpacks for kids in kindergarten through 8^th grade.

This year, Bronx CAN, a health initiative that was launched by Senator Gustavo Rivera in 2011 in response to the Bronx being repeatedly designated the unhealthiest county in New York State, will bring together elected officials, community leaders and Bronxites for three events starting on Wednesday, August 20^th to Friday, August 22^nd to help prepare kids and their parents for the beginning of a new school year.

2014 Bronx CAN Back to School Events:

1.    Bronx CAN at Slattery Park

Date: Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Time: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Location: Slattery Park (Valentine Ave. & E. 183^rd Street)

Event Partners: Union Community Health Center and the Department of Education

Event Description: 500 backpacks will be available for distribution for children in kindergarten through 8^th grade. Children and Parents will have access to medical and dental screenings, speech therapist, physical therapist, behavioral therapist and UPK enrollment information.

*Rain Date: August 27, 2014

2.    Bronx CAN at St. James Park

Date: Thursday, August 21, 2014

           Time: 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Location: St. James Park (Jerome Avenue & E. 192^nd Street)

Event Partners: Montefiore, Morris Heights Health Center, RESPIRAR, Essen  Medical Center and Department of Education

Event Description: 500 backpacks will be available for distribution for children in kindergarten through 8^th grade. Children and parents will have access to blood pressure and glucose screenings, WIC representative, UPK enrollment information and much more.

*Rain Date: August 28, 2014

3.    Bronx CAN at Crotona Park

Date: Friday, August 22, 2014

Time: 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Location: Crotona Park (E. 173 Street & Fulton Ave.)  

Event Partners: Kars for Kids, Morris Heights Health Center, Essen Medical Center, Food Bank of New York, Bronx Economic Development Center, St. Barnabas, New York Public Library, Department of Education and Department of Sanitation

Event Description: 1000 backpacks will be available for distribution in children in kindergarten through 8^th grade. Children and parents will have access to blood pressure and glucose screenings, WIC representative, healthy snacks, dental screenings, health information, UPK enrollment information and much more.

*Rain Date: August 29, 2014 

"The West Farms Renaissance,” Town Hall Meeting

BRONX COMMUNITY BOARD 6
1932 Arthur Avenue, Room 709, Bronx, NY 10457

"The West Farms Renaissance,” a dialogue on major construction and development is a town hall meeting that will highlight major construction and developments projects that are planned for the West Farms section of the Bronx. The town hall will be part of the community board’s inaugural meeting for its 2014/2015 session that will be held on 

Wednesday, September 10, 2014 at 6:30 p.m. at The Lorraine Hansberry Academy (Public School/Middle School 214), which is located at 1970 West Farms Road, Bronx New York. 

The West Farms Renaissance town hall meeting will consist of brief presentations by representatives of city agencies, and non-profit and private developers who are undertaking major housings, commercial development, infrastructure improvements, and cultural enrichment projects that will soon change the total appearance of West Farms; impacting everything from its housing stock to its skyline and streetscape and its traffic patterns and its economic development. 

The presentations will be followed by a question and answer session.

The specific projects that will be discussed are  Projects planned for the West Farms section of the Bronx.

 The NYC Department of Design and Construction’s plan to reconstruct and re-align East 177th Street and Devoe Avenue; and upgrade water mains, storm sewers, traffic lights and signals to improve vehicular traffic and pedestrian safety.

 The Bronx River Art Center’s soon-to-open renovated art gallery located at 1087 East Tremont Avenue.

 Phipps Houses’ construction of three 8 to 10 story buildings, totaling 141 apartments, at 1160 Lebanon  Street, 1175 East Tremont Avenue, and 1172 East Tremont Ave.

 Plans by Signature Urban Properties to construct 393 units of housing in Bronx community boards 3 and 6, with 14,625 square feet of neighborhood retail space and 30,580 square feet of parking; and,

 The Bronx Zoo’s proposed “Transportation Facility Project.”

“Bronx Community Board #6 is encouraging all residents, business owners and other stakeholders in the West Farms community to turn out for this town hall meeting in great numbers” said the community board’s district manager, Ivine Galarza. “This is an opportunity for the community to learn firsthand how these major housing, commercial, trafficand cultural projects will affect their daily commute and day-to-day activities for years to come.”

Additional information about “The West Farms Renaissance” town hall may be obtained by telephoning the community board’s district office at (718) 579-6990 or by email at Brxcb6@Optonline.net. 

Honorable Ritchie Torres, City Council Member, 15th Council District 

Honorable Maria del Carmen Arroyo, City Council Member, 17th Council District

STREET CO-NAMING CEREMONY FOR LEGENDARY RUNNER, TED CORBITT

  Dozens gathered outside the Marble Hill Houses as the sign for Ted Corbitt Way was unveiled on 228th street and Broadway. The co-naming, made possible through legislation passed by Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez, drew friends and family of the late Ted Corbitt, known as the "Father of long distance running." Guests of honor told anecdotes about the illustrious career of Mr. Corbitt and the many ways he touched peoples lives both inside and outside of the world of running.

  Mr. Corbitt, who passed away in 2007, was a resident of the Marble Hill Houses for much of his life. His career in distance running was one that will rarely be duplicated, if ever. Aside from competing in the Olympics for the marathon, Mr. Corbitt was a major figure in the world of Ultramarathons, a term he coined meaning a race double the length of the standard marathon. Following his professional running career, Mr. Corbitt worked as a physical therapist at NYU, helping people to recover range of motion and movement after serious injuries. Friends relayed stories of how Mr. Corbitt helped them regain the ability to run again after they were incapacitated by injuries. Others told how he ran to work 20 miles each day and then ran home the same distance each evening.

Two Major Unions Release September Primary Endorsements

Two major unions have released their endorsements for the September Democratic Primary.

DC 37 the largest municipal New York City Union has endorsed the following Bronx candidates.

Bronx State Assembly   * denotes incumbent

77th A.D.           Latoya Joyner 

78th A.D.         *Jose Rivera

79th A.D.           Marsha Michael

86th A.D.         *Victor Pichardo

Bronx State Senate   * denotes incumbent

33rd S.D.        *Gustavo Rivera

34th S.D.         *Jeff Klein

36th S.D.         *Ruth Hassel-Thompson    

The Public Employees Federation New York State's 2nd largest public employees union made the following two endorsements.

Governor           Zepher Teachout

34th S.D.            Oliver Koppell

Fernando Cabrera Ruled On the Ballot for 33rd State Senate District

  Judge John Carter has ruled in the challenge to candidate Fernando Cabrera for the 33rd State Senate District. In his five page ruling Judge Carter has ruled that the challenger to the Cabrera petition has failed to meet the burden of proof. The application to disqualify candidate Fernando Cabrera has been ruled against and dismissed, leaving candidate Fernando Cabrera on the ballot for the 33rd State Senate.

  GUSTAVO RIVERA CAMPAIGN RESPONDS TO DECISION IN CABRERA BALLOT FRAUD CASE

 Weeks after Senator Gustavo Rivera’s campaign challenged the legitimacy of opponent Fernando Cabrera’s ballot petition signatures, a State judge removed several names from Mr. Cabrera’s petition on account of fraud, but ruled to keep him on the ballot for technical reasons. The judge wrote that a key perpetrator of the petition fraud was “not properly served with a subpoena,” and refused to consider a key piece of information about her fraudulent activity because it was presented too late in court proceedings.

In response, Gustavo Rivera campaign spokesman Karthik Ganapathy issued the following statement:

“While the judge refused to consider a number of our objections on technical grounds, this much is certain: Fernando Cabrera’s campaign repeatedly forged petition signatures from voters who testified that they had never signed; and callously signed under the names of deceased people. This fraud, like Mr. Cabrera’s decision to illegally transfer taxpayer money into his campaign account, show just how little actual support he has for this race, and it's yet another reason he will fail to win this seat for the Republicans on Primary Day.”