SENATOR KLEIN HOLDS ANNUAL TURKEY RAFFLE FOR SENIORS

     Deputy Majority Leader and State Senator Jeff Klein (D-Bronx/Westchester) visited multiple Senior Centers across the 34th Senate District during the past two weeks, raffling off turkeys just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday.

       “Thanksgiving is all about the turkey and I am so pleased to be able to provide so many of them to our seniors, so that they may enjoy a bountiful holiday feast this year. This annual raffle is one small way for me to say thank you to the great residents of the 34th Senate district, who are truly a wonderful community to represent,” said State Senator Jeff Klein.

      More than two hundred 14-pound plus turkeys were raffled off to seniors throughout the Bronx and Westchester during the month of November.  

BP Diaz and Speaker Quinn Host GED Fair

    On Monday, November 15, as part of the New York City Council’s efforts to help New Yorkers get good jobs, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn  hosted an adult education fair to get more New Yorkers to sign up for the GED and for free education courses.

    According to city reports, 1.6 million New Yorkers over the age of 16 don’t have their high school diploma and are more than twice as likely to be unemployed as someone with a college degree.

Open Letter from Senator Rev Ruben Diaz to Archbishop Timothy Dolan

Dear Archbishop Dolan:

    Please accept my heartfelt congratulations on your recent selection as President of the US Catholic Conference of Bishops.  I just read about this in the news, and I am overjoyed!

    During your brief tenure in New York, we have been blessed with your great compassion, your approachability, and your clear commitment to the core principles of faith – all shown in your own characteristically cheerful and loving way.

    We will certainly miss you if you move to DC, but we know that the nation as a whole will gain as you remain at the forefront carrying the message and the mission of respecting the lives of all of God’s children and strengthening the role of the family.

I will continue to value our friendship, and hope and pray that our friendship will continue to grow forever.

Respectfully,

    Senator Reverend Ruben Diaz.

 

Senator Klein Honors Hundreds of Bronx & Westchester Veterans at 4th Annual Breakfast

    On Sunday, November 14th, Deputy Majority Leader and State Senator Jeff Klein (D-Bronx/Westchester) hosted his fourth annual Veterans Day Breakfast at Villa Barone Manor, honoring hundreds of veterans from the Bronx and Westchester. 

    Every year, Klein holds the complimentary breakfast before the Throggs Neck Veterans Day Parade to pay tribute to local veterans and their families.

    “This is the fourth year that I've hosted hundreds of veterans with a warm and hearty breakfast at Villa Barone Manor before the Throggs Neck Veterans Day Parade. It is truly my honor to welcome the veterans and their families from throughout the 34th Senate District, to celebrate their deep commitment to our nation and to thank them for their honorable service," said State Senator Jeff Klein.

    Veterans and their families enjoyed a breakfast spread of eggs, bacon, toast, orange juice and coffee. At the breakfast the four Grand Marshals of the Throggs Neck Veterans Day Parade - Tom Costello, Robert W. Booth, Russ Schaller and Bob Branizza - were honored with distinguished service awards. Philip Wise, who served as a Corporal in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War, was also honored.  

That's Assemblyman Benedetto (second from the right) also on hand, next to Senator Klein (third from the right).

    

Borough President Diaz Hosted Forum on the Small Business Survival Act

    On Friday, November 12, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation (BOEDC) hosted a special “Legal Review Forum” on the Small Business Survival Act, City Council Int. 0154-2010, to evaluate the legal arguments and the supportive case law dealing with the constitutionality of the proposed law. 

    If passed, the Small Business Survival Act would create a process of arbitration in commercial lease negotiations in New York City, creating rights for small business owners in the lease process that do not currently exist. The forum participants discussed if the Small Business Survival Act is fully constitutional and legally sound to withstand likely court challenges, and recommended changes that would make it stronger to endure those possible court challenges.  

Statement from Borough President Diaz
RE: Appointment to Governor-elect Cuomo’s Transition Team

   “I am proud to serve Governor-elect Andrew Cuomo as a member of his transition team. Challenging times are ahead for New York State, and this transition team will work to put together the best and brightest minds to serve our new governor’s administration and build a talented and diverse new state government. I am honored that my friend Andrew Cuomo has chosen me to be a part of this process,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

Bronx BP Diaz Named to Cuomo Transition Team

   

    The two teams announced by Gov.-elect Andrew Cuomo yesterday are exquisitely balanced exercises in political correctness -- and the conflicting racial, social and economic interests they represent are so profound that the panels would be hard-pressed to agree on the day of the week.

   

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. is a member of Cuomo's economic-development advisory team.

SoBRO CELEBRATES 38 YEARS OF BUILDING A BETTER BRONX 38^TH ANNIVERSARY GALA TO BE HELD AT THE GRAND HYATT IN NYC 

    On Tuesday December 7^th, 2010, the South Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation (SoBRO) will hold its 38^th Anniversary Gala at the Grand Hyatt in New York City, located at 109 East 42^nd Street at Grand Central Terminal. The theme for this year’s gala, “Retrain, Renew, Revitalize” embodies SoBRO’s commitment to positively transform the South Bronx through diverse educational and economic development programs. The theme also reflects the honorees’ accomplishments as they share in SoBRO’s mission of “Building a Better Bronx”.

    The SoBRO gala is one of the largest, most festive and highly visible events held by any Bronx organization. It attracts over 500 guests from the business, political and public sectors and members of the press.  The event provides a platform for celebrating the progress SoBRO has made in helping to invigorate the South Bronx economy and gives us the opportunity to shine a light on our honorees, who are the finest examples of what can be achieved through hard work and determination. Every year, the SoBRO gala recognizes outstanding individuals affiliated with the Bronx including Al Pacino, Garry Marshall, Colin F. Powell, Regis Philbin, basketball legend Walt Frazier and the late Tito Puente, among others.

    The honorees this year include: Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery & Grill (Community Leadership Award), Jackson Development Group (Developer of the Year Award), Best Buy (Corporate Leadership Award) and Chairman of the New Yankees Stadium Community Benefits Fund, Serafin Mariel (Spirit of the Bronx Award). SoBRO will also give special recognition to Brian Gold of Sultana Distribution Services, Inc. who created the Bernie Gold & Anthony Pellicano Scholarship Fund which supports high school graduates in SoBRO’s Youth Program in pursuing a college education.

    After the cocktail hour, the festivities will kick-off with a special performance by American Idol Finalist, Ian Holmes, followed by a dinner, auction, Text-to-Pledge™ and dancing with live music. The Master of Ceremonies will be DeMarco Morgan, Anchor/Reporter, WNBC4 New York. 

     38^th Anniversary Gala    

      South Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation     (SoBRO) 

      December 7, 2010 - Cocktail Reception: 6pm, Dinner, Auction, Text-to Pledge & Dancing: 7pm

        The Grand Hyatt in New York City / 109 East 42^nd Street at Grand Central Terminal     

        CONTACT: Linda Yantz, Development Associate (718)732-7522, lyantz@sobro.org

   

About SoBRO SoBRO is a not-for-profit community development corporation that has been serving the South Bronx since 1972.  SoBRO’s programs include adult education and workforce training, real estate and community development, technical and financial assistance for businesses, and an array of programs for youth. For additional information about SoBRO, please contact us at: (718) 7292-3113 or visit www.sobro.org.