Bronx District Attorney Johnson Investigating Election Fraud in 86th A.D. primary

  That is the headline of a New York Post story. While I reported that DA Johnson should investigate the entire election in the 86th Assembly District the Post says that he has subpoenaed Board of Election records relating to people who submitted absentee ballots. The Post also says that investigators also visited the homes of some voters, some of whom are Dominican immigrants.   

  This political columnist who asked Bronx DA Johnson about the 86th A.D. election does not believe that the Bronx District Attorney's office has any jurisdiction over absentee ballots since they are mailed to voters. This would be Mail Fraud, which comes under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Attorney's office. The Bronx DA may not even have jurisdiction over the Board of Elections since it is a citywide agency. I also believe that Assemblyman Victor Pichardo is not under investigation, but it is his opponent Hector Ramirez who had some absentee ballots challenged.  

MARRIOTT TO OPEN ITS FIRST HOTEL IN THE BRONX, KLEIN HOSTS FIRST JOB FAIR FOR WELL-KNOWN CHAIN

Well-known international hotel chain invests in Bronx County, expected to provide hundreds of good jobs for Bronxites in the process

                   

State Senator Jeff Klein joined by Bronx Chamber of Commerce members and Residence Inn by Marriott hotel representatives hosted the first job fair for the new Residence Inn by Marriott Bronx at Metro Center Atrium, expected to open in early 2015. The new hotel will be located at the Hutchinson Metro Center Atrium, 1776 Eastchester Road, Bronx, NY 10461.  The job fair was held in conjunction with Bronx H.I.R.E. - an innovative and targeted jobs program developed by the Office of Senator Klein and the Bronx Chamber of Commerce.

“With this investment from Residence Inn by Marriott we see clearly that the Bronx is open for business. With their international reputation for high-quality hospitality and stellar service, we are delighted to welcome Residence Inn by Marriott to the Bronx and know they will be not only be the first choice for travelers and guests in the area but a strong economic partner for years to come,” said State Senator Jeff Klein.

“All the Bronx residents and business people that I have met express great enthusiasm over the upcoming opening of The Residence Inn by Marriott Bronx at Metro Center Atrium.  The community has clearly voiced the need for the services of a new first class hotel in the borough.  We are excited to interview candidates from our local neighborhoods and build a team of friendly hospitality professionals who share our pride in The Bronx,”  said Clement Carey, General Manager, Residence Inn by Marriott Bronx at Metro Center Atrium.

“The Bronx Chamber of Commerce plays an active role in the economic development of the Bronx and creating jobs.  With the Throggs Neck Shopping Center, Marriott Hotel, the Outlet Mall, a new Macys, and Trump Golf Course moving in to the Bronx, we will work with these companies to promote Bronx job fairs for placement in these new businesses,”  said Lenny Caro, President & CEO, Bronx Chamber of Commerce

“We are thankful for Senator Jeff Klein’s funding, which invests in the Bronx workforce.  Through Bronx H.I.R.E., we can properly match Bronx job seekers with quality positions at new developments, such as Residence Inn by Marriott.  The Bronx Chamber of Commerce encourages job seekers to contact our office for more employment opportunities, support for certifications, help with resumes, interviews, applications, and further assistance,” said Michelle Dolgow Cristofaro, H.I.R.E. Administrator and Bronx Chamber of Commerce Chief-of-Staff.

“The hotel is an example of the economic growth that we are witnessing across the borough. New businesses and developments are choosing to invest in our great borough, which produces more jobs and benefits the Bronx economy.” said Joseph Kelleher, President and COO Hutchinson Metro Center and Chairman of Bronx Chamber of Commerce.

Bronx H.I.R.E (Help Identify Real Employment) is a unique jobs program aimed at connecting Bronx workers with real jobs through a comprehensive, direct approach developed by Senator Klein’s office and the Bronx Chamber of Commerce. The Bronx H.I.R.E. program, announced in July, is made possible through a $200,000 grant secured by Senator Klein in this year's state budget.

The program consist of two parts - one that will make sure that the new and existing Bronx businesses and institutions are employing Bronx residents and the other that will establish a hands- on worker development program. The second part of this program, known as the “Opening Doors Initiative” will give Bronx workers an opportunity to receive support for additional certifications, help with resumes, interviews, applications and assistance with follow-up for positions to which H.I.R.E. participants have applied. The program will be facilitated by the Bronx Chamber of Commerce.

 

For more information and to enroll in the Bronx H.I.R.E program visit: http://www.bronxchamber.org or contact the Bronx Chamber of Commerce at (718) 828-3900.

Broadway/West 231st Street Mall Ribbon Cutting

  With three stores still vacant and work going on in the old gas station next to it, the ribbon was cut for the Broadway/West 231st Street mall. On hand were Congressman Eliot Engel, Councilman Andrew Cohen, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, State Senator Gustavo Rivera, Community Board 8 Chair Dan Padernacht, and BOEDC head Marlene Cintron to join Kyle Kimball of the NYCEDC and Michael Brookfield of Equity One. 

  Each elected official was cordial in their remarks, thanking the NYCEDC and Equity One for the new mall. Currently Sports Authority, T.J.Maxx, and Party City fully occupy the top floor, with Aldi Markets the only tenant on the main floor. There is also one floor for parking. Construction is going on for a Starbuck's Coffee shop and fitness center in the old gas station next to the mall which was said to be separate from the mall.

Left - Congressman Engel says a few words about the new mall.
Right - Councilman Andrew Cohen speaks.

 Left - Assemblyman Dinowitz speaks.
Right - Community Board 8 Chair Dan Padernacht.

The ribbon cutting.

 Work goes on where the old gas station once stood, to bring a new Starbuck's and a fitness center adjacent to the new mall.

REPO MAN? Comes to Riverdale

  In a police looking undercover Chevy Impala complete with flashing lights, it appears that the REPO MAN visited Riverdale this afternoon. That is a car hauler that is used to transport cars from one place to another. This car hauler was spotted on West 235th Street unable to make a turn onto the service road of the Henry Hudson Parkway. Of the two cars on the transporter the one on the back is a Lexus SUV that you would see on the streets of Riverdale, that is unless it was repossessed.  I asked the man and woman who were with the driver of the transporter if they were police officers and the answer was no. I later went to the 50th Police Precinct to see if the car was a NYPD vehicle, and the pair were officers. The answer I got was that the car was that the car was not a NYPD vehicle, and the pair in the photos I showed are not police officers. The conclusion was that the pair were part of either the City Marshal, Sheriffs Department, or indeed a repo operation.

Left - One of the two people direct cars to turn right off West 235th Street.

Right - The transport is backed down West 235th Street, even through the light is red.

Left - Two people cross without warning as the truck is backing up.
Right - Again the light is red, but the truck keeps backing up.

Left - The truck was backed down from the Parkway 4 blocks to Oxford Avenue not allowing traffic to go through on West 235th Street for almost an hour.
Right - The truck is able to turn onto Johnson Avenue then onto West 236th Street to get to Riverdale Avenue.

Watch out if you did not pay your car bill this month, it looks like the REPO MAN is in town.

THE COVE’S 25TH ANNIVERSARY COCKTAIL RECEPTION

Event to be held at the following time, date, and location:

Thursday, November 6, 2014   7:00 PM to 9:00 PM (PST) Montefiore Hospital's  Grand Ballroom  107 East Gun Hill Road Bronx, NY 10467 View Map

Yes No Maybe

Event registration is by invitation only. Register with your email address to attend this event. $15 to attend. RSVP  to COVEbxdevelopment@gmail.com   Donations can be made on the website directly www.COVEbx.org

Please join us in celebrating The COVE's 25th Anniversary as we honor three outstanding supporters of  the Knox Gates Neighborhood Association  for their unwavering commitment to our Media Arts & Literacy program Our honorees include:  Anne Lawrence Program Officer The Robert Bowne Foundation Charlie Shayne Retired Executive Director Kingsbridge Heights Community Center G. Oliver Koppell Former NYC Councilman, District 11    Thursday, November 6, 2014 Montefiore Hospital's Grand Ballroom 107 East Gun Hill Road, Bronx, NY 10467 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. $15 to attend. RSVP  to COVEbxdevelopment@gmail.com   Donations can be made on the website directly www.COVEbx.org PLEASE BE SURE TO PRINT OUT YOUR TICKET! This event is By Invitation Only!    The Knox Gates Neighborhood Association (KGNA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization,  supported by private foundations, corporations, and individuals who value the power and  promise of our youth and the difference that The COVE is making in our community. All  contributions made to the Knox Gates Neighborhood Association/The COVE are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law and will be acknowledged in writing.

What You Should Know

Editors Note: 

I do not agree or disagree with the following statement by State Senator Rev. Ruben Diaz Sr. I will say that this campaign for Governor should have been a hands down victory in the Democratic Primary for Governor Andrew Cuomo, but the entire campaign has turned into a Walt Disney cartoon. Use your own imagination of which Disney character plays the real people.

What You Should Know
By Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz
32nd Senatorial District

Why Rob Astorino is My Candidate

You should know that on Tuesday, November 4th from 6AM – 9PM there will be a General Election in the State of New York.  You will have the chance to elect Members of the State Legislature, and a new Governor for the State of New York.  You should also know that I am supporting and voting for Rob Astorino, the Republican Candidate for Governor for the State of New York.

There are various reasons that compel me to ask you to support and vote for Rob Astorino for Governor – and not to support nor vote for Governor Andrew Cuomo.

You should know that I am supporting Rob Astorino for Governor because of his outstanding and firm position on life. I do not understand how there could be any minister or preacher of the Gospel or ANY Christian believer who would support Governor Andrew Cuomo when he publicly tells all how he is pushing for an agenda to promote abortion up to the 9th month - and open the door for partial-birth abortion.

Rob Astorino is a God-fearing person who has proven his ability to stand firm for life and protecting the unborn.  Rob Astorino is a strong supporter of family values and traditional marriage. Rob Astorino won’t compromise these principles to attract votes.

  

In Rob Astorino, we will have a Governor who will be open to all New Yorkers: Women, Men, Black, White, Hispanic, Asian, Gay, Straight, Religious, Atheists, Conservative, and Liberal.  He will never tell anyone they are not welcome in the State of New York.

Those are some of the reasons why I am supporting and voting for Rob Astorino for Governor.

For those of you who question me as a Democrat for crossing party lines at election time – especially when we as Democrats have been fighting for years to pass the DREAM Act, you should know that  Governor Andrew Cuomo is trying to have it both ways and wants to blame the Republicans for not passing the DREAM Act.

My dear reader, I would like to remind you that in 2012 Governor Andrew Cuomo supported two Senate Republican candidates to keep the Republicans in control.  It was also Governor Andrew Cuomo who managed to create the Senate Independent Democratic Conference to keep the Republicans in control.  And this year, Governor Andrew Cuomo is supporting Republican Senator Mark Grisanti instead of his Democratic opponent to keep the Republicans in control.

Ladies and gentlemen, please join me on November 4th to send the greatest message we can by voting for Rob Astorino for Governor of the State of New York.

This is Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz, and this is what you should know. 

Bronx Community Board 7 Public Hearing

Community Board 7 will be having a Public Hearing regarding the ULURP Application for Library Lane, City Map Change (Application #: C 140282 MMX)

The details are as follows:

Who:   BRONX COMMUNITY BOARD #7
When: Wednesday, November 5th, 2014

Time:  6:30 P.M
Where: Community Board #7 Office
229-A East 204th Street
Bronx, NY 10458

Should you have additional questions regarding this email, feel free to contact us at the number below.

Thank you.

Maria F. Baez

Community Associate

Community Board # 7

229-A East 204th Street

Bronx, New York 10458

Tel:          (718) 933-5650

Fax:         (718) 933-1829

e-mail:     mbaez@cb.nyc.gov

CASTLE HILL RESIDENTS TAKE ON PROPOSED “HOT SHEET MOTEL”

  Mr. Fernando Pinata of the Castle Hill Neighborhood Betterment Association leads a protest rally against a proposed Days Inn motel that the organization and elected official believe will turn into a 'Hot Sheet Motel'. Over 100 local residents, State Senator Jeff Klein, Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda, and Community Board 9 Chair William Rivera joined the protest. 

Above - State Senator Jeff Klein talks about a new bill that he and Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda have introduced for any new development of a hotel/motel in the Bronx to be required to go through a community review process before the community and local community board.

Right - Assemblyman Sepulveda adds to what Senator Klein said, and congratulates his neighbors and constituents for coming to the rally.

Left - Community activist Mr. Fernando Pinata thanks the elected officials for their help in getting a "Stop Work Order' on the site of a proposed Days Inn the community says will become a 'Hot Sheet Motel'. 

Below - Senator Klein and Assemblyman Sepulveda joined in on the march in front of the site.

Above - The Jet Set Hotel alleged to be a 'Hot Sheet Motel' was said to be owned by the developer of the Days Inn Motel on Bruckner Blvd.

Right - St. Barnabas Hospital is within two blocks of the Jet Set Hotel located on 3rd Avenue in the middle of many auto shops.