SCRIE/DRIE/EPIC TOWN HALLS

BP DIAZ & BRONX JEWISH HISTORICAL INITIATIVE LAUNCH NEW WEBSITE & HALL OF FAME

  On Tuesday, June 2, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and the Bronx Jewish Historical Initiative co-hosted an event launching the initiative’s new website and celebrating the induction of the inaugural class of the “Bronx Jewish Hall of Fame.”

Inductees included former Bronx Borough President and New York State Attorney General Robert Abrams, activist and author Blu Greenberg, comedian and author Robert Klein, author Cynthia Ozick and Daniel Reingold, President and CEO of the Hebrew Home at Riverdale by RiverSpring Health. The event’s emcee was Mike Woods of FOX 5’s “Good Day New York.” The event was sponsored in part by the Hebrew Home at Riverdale by RiverSpring Health, MacQuesten Development and Riverside Memorial Chapel.

“The Jewish community has a long and proud history in The Bronx, and we would not be where we are today without their significant contributions,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. “This new website will help document the stories of our borough’s Jewish experience for future generations, and the ‘Bronx Jewish Hall of Fame’ will help us honor some of the legends from this community who have made an impact not only in The Bronx, but across the world.”

Tomorrow Night: Town Hall for Immigrant Businesses

Dear Friend, Tomorrow night I will be hosting a town hall for immigrant businesses in the Bronx.  It will take place at PS36 Unionport, located at 1070 Castle Hill Avenue from 6:30pm-8:00pm.   Please see the flyer below for more details. I hope to see you there. Your Assemblyman, Luis R. Sepúlveda

Celebrate National Running Day at St Mary's Park with a Free 5K Run TOMORROW Wednesday June 3, 2015 - 6PM

Just Who Else is in the Sights of the U.S. Attorney

  According to The Daily News Blog Daily Politics there are four major political insiders that are (as the blog states) in the Feds Crosshairs. 

  1 - Anthony Bonomo, who is mentioned as having friends on both sides of the isle in Albany, including the governor who recently named Bonomo the new chair of NYRA. 

 2 - Steve Pigeon, a familiar name to many is again under investigation according to the News blog.

 3 - Charles Dorego, of Glenwood Management is reported to be cooperating with federal agents.

 4 - Brian Meara, a so called influential lobbyist with ties to the former Assembly Speaker.

The Daily News ends the story with a quote that if anybody knows about the governor, his office, or anyone else in Albany the four do. Read the entire Daily News Blog article at the highlighted link at the top.

Senator Klein Celebrate Israel in the Bronx Part Two - Pelham Parkway

     As part t of Jewish Heritage Month, on Sunday State Senator Jeff Klein held his First Annual 'Celebrate Israel in the Bronx' event. This event occur ed in two parts with part Two being held at The Bronx House to honor three very special Pelham Parkway residents. Jewish American Heritage Month is a national month of recognition of the more than 350-year history of Jewish contributions to American society and culture. 

Senator Klein honored important leaders in the community who are making a difference. Senator Klein repeated the story about his grandmother from part one of this two part celebration of Israel in the Bronx, because it is very special to Senator Klein who wanted the people here to hear the story also. The three honorees at Bronx House were 

• Edith Blitzer was born in the South Bronx and grew up on East Tremont Avenue. Ms. Blitzer has served as President of P.S. 100’s PTA, President of the Beth Jacob/Beth Miriam Yeshiva and as Chair of the Pelham Parkway Neighborhood Association. Most recently, Ms. Blitzer was appointed to serve on Community Board #11 by Councilman James Vacca.
• Andrea Seigel is a founding member of the Pelham Parkway Neighborhood Association and currently serves as Vice President. Additionally, Ms. Seigel is a member of Community Board #11, the Liberty Democratic Association, the Age-Friendly Neighborhood Initiative Advisory Committee and Bronx Women United. Ms. Seigel resides in the Pelham Parkway section of The Bronx where she also serves as an 80th Assembly District Leader.
• Barbara Davis Gelnick is the Board Chair of the Jewish Community Council of Pelham Parkway and sits on the board of the Bronx Jewish Council Home Attendant Services. In 2008, Ms. Davis Gelnick won the Tom Twyman Citizen of the Year Award for her work on the Jewish Community Council at the 49th precinct community breakfast.

Israeli music was provided by the rest of the group Metropolitan Klezmere (from the part one event).. A special guest (and good friend of Senator Klein) Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda arrived after marching in the Puerto Rican Day Parade to announce that his roots go back to his Great grandmother who was Jewish.

Above - Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda tells all that his roots are not just Puerto Rican, but go back to his Great grandmother who was Jewish.

Below - Howard Martin CEo of Bronx House welcomed everyone, and introduces Senator Klein. 

Above - Community Activist Edith Blitzer was first to be honored by Senator Klein.

Below - Andrea Siegel stands with Senator Klein as she holds her proclamation given to her by Senator Klein.

Above - Barbara Gelnick thanks senator Klein who holds her Proclamation.

Below - The three honorees with Senator Klein and Rabbi Ben Newman of the Young Israel of Pelham Parkway. 

The Bronx House was packed as you can see for Senator Klein's 1st Annual Celebration of Jewish American Heritage Month.

Senator Klein Celebrate Israel in the Bronx Part One - Riverdale

   As part t of Jewish Heritage Month, on Sunday State Senator Jeff Klein held his First Annual 'Celebrate Israel in the Bronx' event. This event occur ed in two parts with part one being held at the Riverdale Y to honor three very special Riverdalians. Jewish American Heritage Month is a national month of recognition of the more than 350-year history of Jewish contributions to American society and culture. 

Senator Klein honored important leaders in the community who are making a difference. The three honorees in Riverdale were. 

• Charles Moerdler, a partner at Stroock & Stroock & Lavan, has been an active public servant for years. For more than a decade, he has held an array of high-level positions serving the state of New York including as a member of the New York City Housing Development Corp., the New York City Board of Collective Bargaining, and most recently, as Vice Chairman of the Committee on Character and Fitness of Applicants to the Bar of the State of New York. Mr. Moerdler is also a trustee of St. Barnabas Hospital, member of the advisory board to the School of International Affairs at Columbia University and Chair of Bronx Community Board #8’s Land Use Committee.

• Mark Friedlander, who retired last week, served as a justice for The Bronx County Supreme Court for more than a decade. Previously, Mr. Friedlander was commissioner and president of the New York City Tax Appeals Tribunal and as a Captain Judge for the United States Air Force. Mark’s civic activities have included his service as President of the Riverdale Jewish Community Council, Chairman of Bronx Community Board #8, Vice President of Young Israel of Riverdale and more. 
• Farrah Rubin grew up in Riverdale and attended Riverdale Country Day School. Ms. Rubin currently serves as Development Director for the Kingsbridge-Riverdale-Van Cortlandt Development Corporation and as parents’ association co-president at P.S. 24. In 2012, Ms. Rubin lead the effort to provide teaching assistants in every kindergarten classroom and has also implemented the school’s first sustainable recycling program.

   
    Senator Klein told the story of his grand parents and how they met. He also mentioned that as a little boy he asked his grandmother why she had no other relatives. It was later on in life that he would learn the reason why, that being because of the Holocaust where the entire town and all its people (with some exceptions such as his grandmother who had left one year before the Holocaust) who were exterminated by Nazi Germany. 

Above - The proclamation each honoree was given by Senator Klein.

Below - Three members of Metropolitan Kiezmer who provided live Israeli music.

Above - Senator Klein tells of the story he had asked of his grandmother one Passover Seder night as a young boy. Klein also spoke of his trip to Israel, and of seeing the 'Terror Tunnels' that were used to kidnap and kill innocent Israeli citizens.

Below - Charles Moerdler holds up his proclamation with Senator Klein.

Above -  Mr. Moerdler has only kind words for Senator Klein, calling Klein one of the hardest working, most honest elected officials

Below - Former Judge Mark Friedlander shakes hands with Senator Klein, also thanking the senator for the proclamation given to him.

Outgoing PS 24 P.A. President Farah Rubin listens as Senator Klein tells of her hard work at PS 24 on behalf of all the children who attend the school.

All who attended were treated to a buffet of Glatt Kosher sandwiches, sides, soda, cookies, and Kosher pickles.

-BP DIAZ ISSUES LETTER ON BRONX TAXI INCIDENT

  Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. has issued a letter to Taxi & Limousine Commission Chairperson Meera Joshi in response to reports that Carmen Yulin Cruz, the Mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico, was denied taxi service to The Bronx during her recent visit to New York City.

In his letter Borough President Diaz, himself a former employee of the Taxi & Limousine Commission, notes that such refusal is illegal, and calls for Commissioner Joshi to investigate not only Mayor Cruz’s complaints but the attitudes of yellow taxi drivers towards The Bronx, as well.

“If yellow taxi drivers are refusing service to The Bronx, or only providing that service begrudgingly, how many potential tourists is my borough losing because of this?,” wrote Borough President Diaz. “The Bronx has seen significant transformation in recent years, and we cannot effectively tell that story if yellow taxi drivers are refusing to bring passengers here.”

Read the full letter here: http://on.nyc.gov/1HSDX6k.