Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. Halloween Eve Party

  I crashed Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.'s Private Halloween Eve Party Thursday night, for the above photo. BP Diaz Jr,'s costume was Terrifier from the Stephen King movie below. Hilda Diaz his wife and childhood sweetheart is to the far right with Devilish horns above her head. I left quickly after taking the photo remembering the movie, and looking at BP Diaz Jr's smile. I did not get the names of the other two lovely ladies in the photo or know of their fate afterwards. You can see the remarkable resemblance of BP Diaz Jr. to the character in the movie.

STATEMENT FROM MAYOR BILL DE BLASIO ON PASSAGE OF COMMERCIAL WASTE ZONE LEGISLATION

 “I’m excited to see the Council’s passage of commercial waste zoning legislation today, and I’d like to thank Council Member Antonio Reynoso and Speaker Corey Johnson for their hard work to get this bill passed. This victory would not have been possible without their visionary leadership and the support of labor and advocacy groups.

“The historic vote today has been years in the making. Back in 2015 when I joined this process as part of the OneNYC plan, I wanted to completely reform this industry by making it safer for New Yorkers, cleaner for the environment, and more fair for workers. This plan achieves all these goals. Intro 1574-A will cut more than 18 million truck miles per year from our streets, while also preserving customer choice and keeping costs down.

“With the passage of this legislation, we've all but realized these once-ambitious goals and made an impact on two major priorities: It’ll help us in our pursuit of Vision Zero, getting dangerous trucks off the street and reducing incentives to ignore traffic laws and endanger pedestrians. And it shows how we can tackle climate change and drastically reduce carbon emissions among commercial carters while protecting jobs with fair wages and strong labor standards. I’m excited to sign this bill into law and implement a new system that will make such a difference in the lives of New Yorkers.”

STATEMENT FROM MAYOR DE BLASIO ON COUNCIL PASSAGE OF SAFE STREETS MASTER PLAN LEGISLATION

 “Congratulations to the Council on passage of this legislation, which will continue the City’s progress on Vision Zero, helping to make New York City’s streets even safer in the years and decades to come. Since the start of my administration, the City has built four times as many miles of on-street protected bike lanes as under every other mayor combined, and together with the Council we will continue to build infrastructure that will carry on the work that has brought down fatalities for the last five years.

“That work has recently continued under the ambitious commitments made this year in our Better Buses and Green Wave cycling plans, and we look forward to continuing work with elected officials and communities on creating new bus lanes and protected bike lanes in their districts even before this new Master Plan takes effect. I’m confident the City will continue to lay the critical groundwork that will firmly cement New York City’s reputation as the nation’s leader on street safety.”

BUSINESSES NEAR YANKEE STADIUM THREATENED BY NEW MERCHANDISING DEAL

A new contract between Nike and Major League Baseball has the potential to destroy the business district outside of Yankee Stadium

BP Diaz has written to MLB, Nike & the New York Yankees, urging them to protect Bronx businesses & allow local merchants to continue selling official merchandise

  Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. is calling on Nike, Major League baseball and the New York Yankees to reverse a potentially ruinous decision that prevents merchants surrounding Yankee Stadium from selling official Yankee merchandise.

A new merchandising agreement between Major League Baseball and Nike set to go into effect in 2020 will prevent most official league merchandise—including New York Yankees merchandise—from being sold at locations that are not considered “premium distribution points” by Nike.

This decision means that eight family-owned Bronx businesses—Ballpark Sports, D & J Variety, Home Plate, Pinstripe Collectibles, Sammy’s, S & A Sports, Stadium Souvenirs and Stan’s Sports World—will no longer be able to sell official Yankees merchandise. Since Yankees merchandise represents between 70 and 80 percent of each store’s total business, these merchants would be forced to close. These businesses employ 100 people and represent millions of dollars in economic activity each year.

“If these eight businesses can no longer sell official Yankees merchandise they will be forced to close, and the area surrounding the stadium will be a ghost town,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. “These eight businesses have been selling official merchandise for decades, and are the core of the business district surrounding the stadium. Preventing them from continuing to do just that devastate the economy in the area surrounding the stadium and put 100 people out of work. This is totally unacceptable.”

The full letter can be read at https://on.nyc.gov/2q4IvWb.

Borough President Diaz also noted that roughly $1.2 billion in taxpayer funding was used to construct the new Yankee Stadium, and that a key argument supporting that construction was the economic development that the stadium would spur in the surrounding area. Borough President Diaz called on the Yankees to stay true to this promise and intervene on behalf of these eight businesses.

“Taxpayers spent a great deal of money building the Yankees their new stadium. It is incumbent on the team to intervene on behalf of these eight businesses and get them grandfathered in to this new agreement, given their long history of selling official merchandise,” said Borough President Diaz. “It is time for the New York Yankees to step up to the plate and be a good neighbor. Failing to do so will cloud the team’s relationship with the surrounding community for decades to come.”

STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO PASSAGE OF INTRO. 1574 SMALL BUSINESS COMMERCIAL CARTING BILL

The Third Avenue Business Improvement District echos the message of disappointment from our small business colleagues on the New York City Council's passage of Intro. 1574 on small business commercial carting and trash removal. The City Council has ignored the concerns of small business owners by hastily passing a commercial waste zone plan that limits competition and restricts consumer choice with the intention  to harm the small businesses that drive New York City's economy.  This plan puts politics above constituents.  

This policy has failed when implemented elsewhere, and it is especially disheartening and shortsighted to see it implemented  in New York City when evidenced based alternatives are available. The Council should work with experts, community stakeholders, and businesses alike to strike a reasonable balance and achieve a smart, workable solution, not rush through a poorly-thought-out policy like this.  This policy was crafted by special interest and will lead to more garbage on our streets, shutter our largely immigrant owned businesses, and join a slew of other City policies that are passed on the backs of mom and pop shops.

"Our small business community has organized for over 2 years around what we thought was a fair bill that balanced small business choice with important safeguards that protect employee and public safety, and the environment" said Michael Brady, Executive Director of the Third Avenue BID, Southern Boulevard BID, and Bruckner Boulevard Commercial Corridor, "A balance that would not price gouge or price fix a major service industry in New York City or add new costs to have garbage removed.  It seems now that the New York City Council was swayed by special interest and forgot about the work we had been doing together for over two years.  This is very unfortunate and will have severe repercussions."

The business improvement districts will continue to work with local businesses to mitigate the damage of this legislation and will hold accountable those members of the Council that voted against their constituents. 

Wave Hill events Nov 14‒Nov 21

Thu, November 14

Garden Highlights Walk

Join a Wave Hill Garden Guide for a public tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free with admission to the grounds.

Meet at Perkins Visitor Center, 1PM

Fri, November 15

Garden Highlights Walk

Join a Wave Hill Garden Guide for a public tour of seasonal garden highlights. This is the last weekday Garden Highlights Walk until next spring. Sunday afternoon walks continue year-round. Free with admission to the grounds.

Meet at Perkins Visitor Center, 1PM

Sat, November 16

Family Art Project: Three Sisters Companion Planting 

Honor the indigenous wisdom of companion planting by sampling in crafts that use corn husks, winter squash, and climbing beans. Take time to better understand the history of Seneca women’s relationship to companion planting and imagine how you can use the wisdom of Three Sisters companion planting to forge a new relationship with harvest time. 

Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon.

Wave Hill House, 10AM–1PM

Sat, November 16

Gallery Tour

Tour Glyndor Gallery with Wave Hill’s Curatorial Assistant or Gallery Greeter to get an insider’s view of current exhibitions. A flower’s life cycle of budding, blooming and pollinating, as well as its process of decay, strongly echoes the human condition. The exhibition Figuring the Floral features artists who apply this symbolism to their work—touching on race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexual orientation, aging and other facets of identity. Participating artists are Derrick Adams, Nicole Awai, Bahar Behbahani, Christian Ruiz Berman, Sanford Biggers, Cecile Chong, Max Colby, Abigail DeVille, Valerie Hegarty, Christopher K. Ho and Kevin Zucker, Diana Lozano, Natalia Nakazawa, Ebony G. Patterson, Bundith Phunsombatlert, Lina Puerta, Simonette Quamina, David Rios Ferreira, Alexandria Smith, Katherine Toukhy, Lina Iris Viktor, William Villalongo and Saya Woolfalk. Free with admission to the grounds.

Glyndor Gallery, 2PM

Sun, November 17

Family Art Project: Three Sisters Companion Planting 

Honor the indigenous wisdom of companion planting by sampling in crafts that use corn husks, winter squash, and climbing beans. Take time to better understand the history of Seneca women’s relationship to companion planting and imagine how you can use the wisdom of Three Sisters companion planting to forge a new relationship with harvest time. 

Free with admission to the grounds.

Wave Hill House, 10AM–1PM

Sun, November 17

Garden Highlights Walk

Join a Wave Hill Garden Guide for a public tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free with admission to the grounds.

Meet at Perkins Visitor Center, 2PM

Sun, November 17

Concert: The Alonso Brothers

Virtuoso pianists and Cuban brothers Orlay Alonso and Orlando Alonso return to perform a program scored expressly for two pianos. Their program brings to life Cuba’s rich musical heritage, with mambo, cha cha, salsa, bolero, son, donzón, congo and more. Concerts begin at 2PM and last approximately one hour without intermission. Tickets: Adults: $28 (includes admission to the grounds). Wave Hill Members save 10%. $12 children ages 8 to 18, unless otherwise noted. Purchase tickets online at wavehill.org or onsite at the Perkins Visitor Center. To learn more, call 718.549.3200 x251.

Wave Hill House, 2PM

Mon, November 18

Wave Hill is closed.

Tue, November 19

Gallery Tour

Tour Glyndor Gallery with Wave Hill’s Curatorial Assistant or Gallery Greeter to get an insider’s view of current exhibitions. A flower’s life cycle of budding, blooming and pollinating, as well as its process of decay, strongly echoes the human condition. The exhibition Figuring the Floral features artists who apply this symbolism to their work—touching on race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexual orientation, aging and other facets of identity. Participating artists are Derrick Adams, Nicole Awai, Bahar Behbahani, Christian Ruiz Berman, Sanford Biggers, Cecile Chong, Max Colby, Abigail DeVille, Valerie Hegarty, Christopher K. Ho and Kevin Zucker, Diana Lozano, Natalia Nakazawa, Ebony G. Patterson, Bundith Phunsombatlert, Lina Puerta, Simonette Quamina, David Rios Ferreira, Alexandria Smith, Katherine Toukhy, Lina Iris Viktor, William Villalongo and Saya Woolfalk. Free with admission to the grounds.

Glyndor Gallery, 2PM

                         

A 28-acre public garden and cultural center overlooking the Hudson River  and Palisades, Wave Hill’s mission is to celebrate the artistry and legacy of its gardens and landscape, to preserve its magnificent views, and to explore human connections to the natural world through programs in horticulture, education and the arts.

HOURS – Open all year, Tuesday through Sunday and many major holidays: 9AM–5:30PM, March 15–October 31. Closes 4:30PM, starting November 1.

ADMISSION – $10 adults, $6 students and seniors 65+, $4 children 6–18. Free Saturday and Tuesday mornings until noon. Free to Wave Hill Members and children under 6.

PROGRAM FEES – Programs are free with admission to the grounds unless otherwise noted.

Visitors to Wave Hill can take advantage of Metro-North’s one-day getaway offer. Purchase a discount round-trip rail far and discount admission to the gardens. More at http://mta.info/mnr/html/getaways/outbound_wavehill.htm

  

DIRECTIONS – Getting here is easy! Located only 30 minutes from midtown Manhattan, Wave Hill’s free shuttle van transports you to and from our front gate and Metro-North’s Riverdale station, as well as the W. 242nd Street stop on the #1 subway line. Free offsite parking is available nearby with continuous, complimentary shuttle service to and from the offsite lot and our front gate. Complete directions and shuttle bus schedule at www.wavehill.org/visit/.

Information at 718.549.3200. On the web at www.wavehill.org.

Read Along with Speaker Heastie and Senator Bailey

 The Eastchester Library on Gun Hill Road Wednesday morning was the place to be if you wanted to read a book with New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and State Senator Jamaal Bailey. Speaker Heastie read from the book Undefeated, While Senator Jamaal Bailey read from the book Crown. 

Both elected officials talked softly and slow to the children (a break from the normal Albany Chatter), while keeping the children interested in the books being read. This was a usual read-along that takes place on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, but there were special guests to read to the children Jean Pomphile (Executive Director for the East Bronx Network)  said. He added  that about once a month or so a special guest may drop in to read to the children.

Above - Speaker Heastie reading from his book Undefeated.

Below - Senator Jamaal Bailey reading from his book Crown.  

The staff of the Eastchester Library with Speaker Hestie and Senator Bailey

Groundbreaking of the I.S.339 and I.S. 313 Community Playground.

Tuesday was the groundbreaking for a new Community Playground in the huge play area next to IS 339 and IS 313. The re is currently a play area for the students of both schools,but is in need of many repairs. 

In comes the the partnership of the Trust for Public Land,NYC Department of Education, NYC Department of Environmental Protection, NYC School Construction authority, and the New York Road Runners along with Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and City Councilwoman Vanessa Gibson to provide the funding needed to renovate this dilapidated playground into a Community Playground of the future. Councilwoman Vanessa Gibson and state Senator Gustavo River were scheduled to appear, but had city and state business they could not get out of.

Above - A drawing of the finished Community Playground.

Below - Eighth Grade student Salyrah tells of her role on the Design Committee 

 Assemblyman Michael Blake in a race against members of the New York Road Runners comes in third as they cross the finish line.