Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson - Community Resources & Updates

Dear Neighbor,

I am excited to invite you to my 2025 State of the Borough Address on Thursday, March 20th, at Lehman College. 

This year’s theme, "Securing the Bronx: Protecting Our Future," reflects our shared commitment to building a safer, stronger, and more prosperous borough for all. We will be unveiling bold plans and major investments that will shape the future of the Bronx.

Join me as we celebrate our progress, discuss key initiatives, and outline the vision for the year ahead. I look forward to seeing you there!

 Lehman College, 250 Bedford Park Blvd W, Bronx, NY 10468

 Thursday, March 20th

 Doors Open at 5:00 PM

Let’s continue securing the Bronx and protecting our future—together! Click here to register. 

As always, if you need support from our office, you can call 718-590-3500 or email us at webmail@bronxbp.nyc.gov.

In partnership,

Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson

IN THE COMMUNITY

Had an amazing time celebrating at the Throggs Neck St. Patrick’s Day Parade this weekend! A huge thank you to the organizers, participants, and everyone who came out to keep this tradition alive. The Bronx’s Irish pride was on full display! 

Honoring the rich history, culture, and contributions of the Irish community in the Bronx! Congratulations to this year’s incredible honorees—your dedication and impact inspire us all. Thank you to everyone who joined us in celebrating Irish heritage and unity!

Education opens doors, and our Higher Education College Fair was a huge success in connecting Bronx scholars with the resources they need to elevate their futures. A huge thanks to our Bronx Higher Education Task Force for their partnership in expanding opportunities for our students.

Our Deputy Borough President represented the Bronx at the NYC Emergency Management event recognizing SAGE Center Bronx as the Older Adult Center of the Year. SAGE provides vital services, advocacy, and a welcoming space for our LGBTQIA+ elders, ensuring they receive the care and respect they deserve. Congratulations to SAGE Bronx on this well-earned recognition!

We are proud to celebrate the incredible achievements of women who are making a profound impact on our community and beyond. The women we honored—Denise Abney, Linda Collazo, Melissa Cebollero, Lissette Rivera, Michelle Santiago, Alyssa Tucker, and our NYCHA Tenant Association Presidents—embody the strength, resilience, and leadership that define the Bronx. As we celebrate Women’s History Month, let us continue to uplift and support women who are breaking barriers and paving the way for future generations.  Thank you to emcee Elly Moriilo & our Keynote Speaker Arva Rice.

UPCOMING EVENTS

 

DEC Announces 17th Year of the Amphibian Migrations and Road Crossings Project in the Hudson Valley

 

Volunteers Advised to Put Safety First While Helping Amphibians Cross the Road

Photos of Recent Migration of Vernal Pool Amphibians in Albany County Available Here

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced that warmer temperatures and rain have spurred the start of annual migrations of vernal pool breeding amphibians line frogs and salamanders. Throughout the Hudson Valley, Amphibian Migrations and Road Crossings (AM&RC) Project volunteers are surveying roads to safeguard the continued movement of frogs and salamanders and reduce amphibian road mortality.

“Every year, DEC’s Amphibian Migrations and Road Crossings Project draws hundreds of volunteers to help protect salamanders and frogs on the move in the Hudson Valley, migrating from forests to vernal pools,” said DEC Acting Commissioner Amanda Lefton. “I thank the volunteers who come out to support this great program and encourage anyone traveling roads this time of year to be on the lookout for these vulnerable amphibians to help keep them safe.”

DEC's Hudson River Estuary Program and Cornell University initiated the AM&RC Project to raise awareness about critical amphibian habitat, engage volunteers to help collect data on the annual migration, and decrease amphibian road mortality. More than 1,000 volunteers have participated in the effort since 2009, helping to move an estimated 48,000 salamanders, frogs, and toads safely across roads. DEC supports programs like the AM&RC Project to connect New Yorkers to nature, educate people about the importance of wetlands and healthy, connected forests, and encourage proactive conservation planning to prevent habitat fragmentation. The program is critical for maintaining the state's rich diversity of plants and animals, and especially the vernal pool-breeding amphibians of conservation concern throughout the Northeast range.

In late winter and early spring, amphibian species like wood frog (Lithobates sylvatica), spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum), and Jefferson-blue spotted salamander complex (Ambystoma jeffersonianum x laterale) emerge from underground shelters in the forest and head to vernal pools for breeding. Vernal pools are small, temporary wetlands that serve as critical breeding habitat for these amphibians. The pools hold water until summer, so the adult amphibians must gather, breed, and deposit eggs early enough to ensure their aquatic young can hatch, grow, and leave the pools before they dry up. Due to their importance, vernal pools were added to DEC’s recently expanded freshwater wetlands protections.

The timing of migration is weather-dependent, with concentrated activity on the first rainy nights of the season when the ground is thawed and night air temperatures remain above 40 degrees Fahrenheit. The timing of migration varies throughout the Hudson River estuary watershed, but when weather conditions are just right, there can be explosive "big night" migrations with hundreds of amphibians on the move. On their journeys between forest habitat and breeding pools, these amphibians often need to cross roads, where mortality can be high even when traffic is low.

This year, the first pulse of migration was observed by AM&RC volunteers on March 5, a rainy night with an average evening temperature of 49 degrees. Volunteers surveyed roads from the Lower Hudson Valley to the Capital District and counted 1,600 amphibians, most of which were wood frogs and spring peepers. While volunteers were able to assist 800 amphibians safely across roads, more than 40 percent were found dead. On the next warm, rainy nights, DEC expects more salamander and frog species will be migrating.

AM&RC volunteers document road locations where they observe migrations in the Hudson Valley, record weather and traffic conditions, and identify and count amphibians on the move. Volunteers also carefully help the amphibians safely cross roads. Since the project started, volunteers have documented 20 species and counted more than 58,000 live amphibians and 24,000 migrating amphibians killed by passing vehicles. Species reported most frequently during migration nights include spotted salamander, wood frog, and spring peeper (Pseudacris crucifer). To a lesser degree, volunteers also observe Jefferson-blue spotted salamander complex and four-toed salamander (Hemidactylium scutatum), two species of conservation concern in New York.

Safety is paramount, and project volunteers are advised to take all necessary precautions. Volunteers are strongly encouraged to wear reflective safety vests and headlamps to increase visibility on dark roads and not interfere with passing vehicles. Amphibian safety is also important, and frogs and salamanders should be handled carefully with clean, wet hands, free of hand sanitizer, lotion, and other substances that can be toxic to amphibians' porous skin.

With such a large geographic area to cover, the AM&RC Project benefits greatly from the support of local partners who assist with coordinating volunteers in their communities. This year, partners include Climate Smart Rhinebeck, Columbia Land Conservancy, Hudson Highlands Land Trust, Hudson Taconic Lands, Saw Kill Watershed Community, Teatown Lake Reservation, Town of Ancram Conservation Advisory Council, Town of Bedford Conservation Board, Town of Gallatin Conservation Advisory Council, Town of Lloyd Environmental Conservation Council, Town of Pound Ridge Conservation Board, Vassar College, and Wallkill Valley Land Trust.

For more information, including a short video about amphibian migrations, visit DEC's website. DEC held in-person and virtual trainings for volunteers in February with 164 participants. New Yorkers interested in volunteering to participate in this annual event are encouraged to watch a series of training videos on YouTube and read the Volunteer Handbook (PDF). In addition, potential volunteers can access a recording of the training and use materials available on the project website to learn more. Anyone interested in receiving project updates and news about the migration can subscribe to the project e-newsletter through DEC Delivers.

Project volunteers are encouraged to use the hashtag #amphibianmigrationhv in social media posts.

MAYOR ADAMS ANNOUNCES NEW EXHIBIT ON HISTORY OF REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS IN NEW YORK CITY

Led by Department of Records and Information Services, Exhibit Starts in 1828 with Prohibition of Abortion in New York City to Present Day, Highlighting City’s Current Reputation as National Leader in Reproductive Rights 

  

Announcement Comes as Adams Administration Commemorates 400th Anniversary of New York City and Women’s History Month  

New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced a new exhibit led by the New York City Department of Records and Information Services (DORIS) on the history of reproductive rights in New York City. Starting in 1828, when abortion first became illegal in New York City, the exhibit traces the history of reproductive rights to present day, highlighting the city’s current reputation as a national leader in the fight. The exhibit comes as the city celebrates Women’s History Month and all the contributions women have made to New York City, as well as the city’s 400th anniversary this year. 

  

“For too long, women in need of reproductive health care were forced into the shadows, turning to dangerous alternatives to receive the support they needed. In New York City, we’re proud to be a beacon of light for all women seeking reproductive care and services,” said Mayor Adams. “Thanks to this exhibit, New Yorkers can trace and understand our history of reproductive rights — from the early, dark days of criminality to our status today as a national role model. This month, during Women’s History Month, and every month, our city stands with protecting, empowering, and leading on women’s health care.” 

  

“Outlawing abortion doesn’t stop it. Banning birth control doesn’t end its use. Criminalizing reproductive health care does not improve health or safety. Instead, women use underground resources, many of which are risky,” DORIS Commissioner Pauline Toole. “NYPD photographs showing sites where illegal abortions were provided clearly show that safe health care was not the focus. This exhibit uses city government’s historical records to document the impact of criminalization and legalization on women’s health care. Today, women from around the country rely on New York City for the health care they need.”  

  

The new exhibit uses historical documents dating back to 1828 — including court records, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) charts, and photos of locations where illegal abortions were performed — to tell the full evolution of the city’s stance on abortion from criminality to full access. Additionally, the exhibit illustrates how increasing penalties for providing or receiving abortions or birth control drastically affected women’s health, the impact of the New York state’s 1970 law decriminalizing abortion on both a national and city level, and the Adams administration’s February 2024 Sexual and Reproductive Bill of Rights, which further enshrined New York City’s commitment to protecting reproductive rights. The exhibit is free to the public and will open on March 18 and run until April 30, 2025, at 31 Chambers, Room 103, New York, NY 10007 between 9 AM to 12 PM and 1 PM to 4 PM, Monday through Friday. 

  

The Adams administration has championed and advocated for policies to make New York City a leader in gender equity. In January 2025, Mayor Adams announced progress and new efforts to secure New York City’s position as a national leader in accessible abortion care in wake of the 2022 Dobbs decision by the U.S. Supreme Court that effectively overturned Roe v. Wade — on what would have been the legal decision’s 52nd anniversary. Following the high court’s decision, DOHMH launched the "Abortion Access Hub,” a hotline that connects callers to licensed abortion care providers in New York City in an effort to ensure a pathway towards safe, accessible abortion care, amidst national restrictions and misinformation. Since its launch in November 2022, the Hub has served more than 9,000 individuals — 25 percent being from a state where abortion has been banned or restricted. Of those out-of-state callers, 75 percent are from Texas, Florida, or Georgia — all states with outright bans or severe restrictions. 

  

In January 2023, New York City became the first city in the nation to offer medication abortion, free-of-charge, at the city’s public health clinics, ensuring that abortion care was integrated into health care services it provides. In October 2023, New York City’s public hospital system became the first in the nation to offer telehealth medication abortions to ensure that New Yorkers who cannot physically make it to a clinic or don’t feel safe doing so can still access a medication abortion.   

  

Last year, Mayor Adams unveiled “Women Forward NYC: An Action Plan for Gender Equity,” a more than $43 million investment aimed at making New York City a national leader on gender equity, including for transgender and gender expansive New Yorkers, with the ambitious goal of becoming the most women-forward city in the United States. New Yorkers can visit the re-launched women.nyc, a one-stop shop website, to learn more about the action plan and access city services to support women and families.  

  

In December 2024, Mayor Adams announced “Founded By NYC,” a year-long inclusive, comprehensive acknowledgement of the 400th anniversary of New York City. In partnership with NYC Tourism + Conventions, Founded By NYC will celebrate how New York City has made history, and continues to do so — highlighting the achievements driven by the creativity and resilience of the five boroughs and its people, including the perspectives of marginalized audiences, like those of the Indigenous community, women, and people of color.  

NYC Comptroller Report: MTA Falls Short of Obligations to Express Bus Riders with Disabilities

 

A new report from New York City Comptroller Brad Lander finds that the MTA’s express bus service routinely leaves riders with disabilities without reliable, safe, respectful, or on-time service, despite being designed to fill a critical gap for New York communities in public ‘transit deserts’—areas with limited or no access to inter-borough rail service. The report was based on a survey of express bus riders and field observations by teams that included auditors from the Comptroller’s Audit Bureau and New Yorkers with disabilities. 

“All New Yorkers deserve accessible, equitable and timely service,” said Comptroller Brad Lander. “MTA express bus service is often the only public transit option for outer borough communities, yet our report found it is not a viable option for many wheelchair users. The MTA must provide drivers with adequate training, equipment, oversight, and proper staffing to deliver reliable and equitable service to all.”  

Unlike low-floor local and Select Bus Services vehicles with accessible front door ramps, high-floor express buses require external wheelchair lifts to provide full accessibility. Since 2018, the MTA piloted only one potentially viable ramp-equipped express bus design across the transit system. As riders with disabilities and accessibility advocates highlighted in roundtables with the Office of the Comptroller—improving design is a critical step in making Express Buses more accessible. 

In 2023 and 2024, the Comptroller’s Office gathered insights and testimonials from advocates within the disabled community through roundtables, which informed the project’s scope and its recommendations. In August 2024, the Audit Bureau distributed surveys to 458 riders at express bus stops across all five boroughs to assess rider satisfaction with express bus accessibility, performance, and communication. 81.5 percent of respondents reported riding MTA express buses three or more days per week. A staggering number of riders with disabilities reported experiencing inappropriate, rude, hostile, or threatening behavior from drivers and/or other passengers when using or attempting to ride MTA express buses accessibly.  

The key findings of the survey identified:  

• Of the 11 respondents who used or attempted to use wheelchair lifts: 
• 5 reported frequent driver difficulties operating lifts. 
• 3 stated drivers never deployed lifts. 
• 5 experienced hostile behavior from drivers or passengers during boarding.  
• More than a third of all respondents (34.5%) reported that buses fail to operate according to schedule during weekday rush hour. Similarly, 28.4% of respondents stated that buses do not adhere to the schedule outside of rush hour. 
• Nearly 70% of respondents reported that service cancelations impacted them, with 7.6% of those affected reporting they had to wait more than an hour for the next bus.  
• According to MTA statistics from January through September 2024, The MTA canceled 16,516 trips. The MTA canceled these trips because no bus operator was present (12,803 trips, 77.5%), a road call or mechanical failure occurred (2,949 trips, 17.9%), no buses were available (501 trips, 3%), and/or other reasons arose (263 trips, 1.6%).” 
• 85.4% of respondents reported using the BusTime website in the last year, while 53.7% said they used the MTA app. A significant number of respondents expressed dissatisfaction with both platforms, but more so with the MTA app.  
• BusTime users reported dissatisfaction or strong dissatisfaction with the accuracy (29.4%), timeliness (25.6%) of service alerts, and accuracy of real-time bus locations (23.8%).  
• Similarly, MTA app users expressed dissatisfaction or strong dissatisfaction with the accuracy (36.6%) and timeliness (32.5%) of service alerts and the accuracy of bus locations. 

Together with the rider survey results, the Office of the Comptroller partnered with community across the city, in a first-of-its-kind set of joint field observations that paired auditors from the Comptroller’s Audit Bureau with express bus riders with disabilities, in order to gather insights on how MTA express buses perform in real conditions for wheelchair users who rely on proper MTA training and oversight to board safely.  

Audit Bureau teams observed 25 sample MTA express buses. Auditors found that nearly 1-in-4 wheelchair users could not board express buses due to wheelchair lift issues or, even worse, drivers did not stop for wheelchair users waiting at designated stops. The report found that many MTA drivers lack proper training and guidance on MTA express Bus lift operation, ADA requirements, and the MTA’s own standards for service accessibility. Among the 19 observed instances of riders using wheelchairs who successfully boarded express Buses, nine (47%) experienced delays. In one case, boarding took over 20 minutes for a rider. In 16 of the 19 (84.2%) instances, wheelchair users were not safely positioned onto lifts or secured inside the bus. These chronic delays highlight a clear gap in the MTA’s training protocols and oversight for wheelchair lift operations. 

Officials found that Staten Islanders wheelchair users were disparately impacted by poor express bus service. Citywide, wheelchair users were unable to board in nearly 25% of all observed express Buses, whereas 50% of the Staten Island riders who use wheelchairs were unable to board. Anecdotally, one rider described routinely waiting for multiple buses to travel from Staten Island to Manhattan, highlighting systemic failures in the MTA’s ADA-compliant training for drivers. Auditors were paired with volunteers and observed their experiences boarding or attempting to board express Buses.  

To address these alarming issues with express Bus service citywide and improve transportation accessibility, the Comptroller’s Office offered the following recommendations: 

1. Immediately conduct refresher trainings on wheelchair lift operation, as well as ADA and MTA requirements for providing service to people with disabilities. This includes immediately informing Bus Command Center (BCC) of lift issues, safely boarding customers, securing wheelchairs, making bus stop announcements as required, and appropriate etiquette.
2. Ensure that all express bus drivers receive annual hands-on training in operating wheelchair lifts and provide express bus drivers with field instructions for operating wheelchair lifts. 
3. Separately report MTA express bus wheelchair lift deployments, including the number of failed and successful deployments. 
4. Pilot additional low-floor entry buses or other accessible bus designs and consider implementing those buses when the MTA retires older vehicles. 
5. Make meaningful efforts to engage the accessibility community on new bus designs, including designs that provide ramp entry. Those efforts should include, but not be limited to, selecting buses to pilot, accessibility features and bus design, and revenue service pilots. When piloting new bus designs, ensure the MTA equips demonstration buses with the accessibility features it proposes to implement and engages a diverse and large enough sample of people with disabilities so their feedback can reflect the broader needs of riders with disabilities.   
6. Compare MTA express bus scheduled pick-up and drop-off times to actual times and revise bus schedules as necessary to ensure they are realistic and as accurate as possible. 
7. Address bus driver shortages and mechanical failures to minimize the impact of service cancelations. If shortages cannot be addressed, revise schedules to reduce cancelations
8. Improve MTA communication applications to ensure that they provide customers with accurate and timely information on service alerts, bus locations, and estimated bus arrival times. 

The Comptroller’s Office urges the MTA, City officials, and key stakeholders to prioritize these recommendations and work together to create a transit system that truly serves all New Yorkers. 

Read the Comptroller’s report at https://comptroller.nyc.gov/reports/metropolitan-transportation-authoritys-express-bus-accessibility-and-user-satisfaction/ 

DEC Announces Winners of New York's 2025 National Archery in the Schools Tournament

 

More than 550 Students from 39 Schools across New York State Competed at the Event

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced the results of the 15^th annual New York National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP®) State Tournament. DEC hosted 558 students from 39 schools during the tournament at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse on March 14.

“We’re thrilled to see more and more schools participating in this tournament, which is great opportunity to help students put down their phones and tablets, learn a new skill, and get outside,” said DEC Acting Commissioner Amanda Lefton. “Congratulations to all who participated in this State Tournament and best of luck to those archers heading to Kentucky for Nationals.”

Students and schools competed in one of three divisions: High School, grades 9-12; Middle School, grades 6-8; and Elementary School, grades 4-5. Sofia Parrotta from St. Joseph by the Sea was the overall top female archer in the tournament with a score of 288. Jacob Dowdall from Norwich High School was the overall top male archer with a score of 289. Sofia and Jacob each received a trophy and a New York Champion Genesis bow with case and arrows.

St. Joseph by the Sea High School took first place in the High School division; Canaseraga won the Middle School division; and Arkport won the Elementary School division.

Top-placing results for individual archers are listed below. Awards were also given out in each of the three divisions for first through tenth places. Students who place in the top 10 in each of the three divisions qualify to compete and represent New York State at the National NASP® Tournament in Louisville, Kentucky, each May.

Rank, Archer, Score, School Name, and Location 

1st Place High School, female, Sofia Parrotta, 288, St. Joseph by the Sea, Staten Island, Richmond County 

1st Place High School, male, Jacob Dowdall, 289, Norwich High School, Norwich, Chenango County 

1st Place Middle School, female, Alexandria Mucciariello, 271, Our Lady Queen of Peace, Staten Island, Richmond County 

1st Place Middle School, male, Braylen Heitman, 279, Genesee Valley Central School, Amity, Allegany County 

1st Place Elementary School, female, Eliana Kropp, 268, Avoca Central School, Avoca, Steuben County 

1st Place Elementary School, male, Easton Beach, 275, Waverly Central School, Waverly, Tioga County

For the full list of student and school results, visit the tournament website.

The New York State NASP® Tournament is offered only to students who participated in the NASP® archery program during in-school classes taught by certified NASP® teachers. For more information on how schools can become involved in NASP® visit the National Archery in the Schools Program’s webpage.