Weiner Visits Riverdale Senior Services

  Candidate for mayor Anthony Weiner came back to Riverdale once again to talk with seniors at the Riverdale Senior Services Center located on Netherland Avenue. He brought with him his story of Grandma Weiner when she lived on Waldo Avenue. The WG stood for Grandma Weiner and not Waldo Gardens he said Grandma Weiner told him.  

  After the ice breaker candidate Weiner spoke of Obama Care and his role in helping pass it. Weiner went into several other items  that were geared for the mainly senior citizen audience he was standing in front of. After finishing speaking Weiner took some questions from the audience. When asked who he might vote for if not running, Weiner said someone who is a supporter of the middle class like himself, has a history of fighting for seniors, and was a nice guy. 

  When it came to funding for seniors that seems to be decreasing each year under Mayor Bloomberg (he was told) Weiner said that he would fight for more funding for senior centers, and "keep the money coming from the Department For The Aging" (DFTA). Weiner then mentioned that all the democratic candidates spent a night in public housing, decrying the New York City Housing Authority management, and calling for the unemployed laborers to help fix up the NYCHA housing.

  Weiner lambasted the Rent Guidelines Board when asked about rent stabilized housing saying that unless something is done in 2013/2014 that in 2015 people from outside the city will determine the rent increases again. Weiner also said that the Erstead Law need to be revised since times have changed since that law went into effect. Weiner then took individual questions from the seniors gathered, and toured the Riverdale Senior Services Center with Executive Director Julia Schwartz Leeper.

 

Left and Right - Mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner uses his arms to help get his point across to the audience gathered to hear him at the Riverdale Senior Services Center.

Weiner also spoke to many individual people after he finished his talk to the group .

Mark Gjonaj Fundraiser

  Next year recently elected Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj will be up for re-election. To run a successful campaign like he did last year Assemblyman Gjonaj has already started to raise funds for next years campaign as you see below. Just the right border is cut off to enlarge the print.

FREE mammography screenings this Monday

  This came in from Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda.

In the interest of helping to stir conversation and awareness concerning women's health, next week, there will be FREE mammography screenings for uninsured or under insured females 40 and over.

Date: Monday, July 22, 2013

Time: 9:00am-1:30pm

Location: E. 180th Street (Between E. Tremont and Van Nest Avenue)

Appointments necessary. Please call 718-931-2620 to reserve your spot now.

Bronx Democratic County Committee Dinner

  Wednesday night July 17th was the annual Bronx Democratic County Dinner. Before you entered the driveway however were protesters (from the Freedom Party) who were complaining about political corruption. Public Advocate candidate Lettita James (endorsed by the BDCC) greeted you at the door. In the main ballroom there was not an open space to be had as tables and chairs were set up to the max. I was told that over 1,000 people were expected during the course of the night, and that being with the Bronx Democratic County organization already having endorsed candidates in what seems to be a large field in almost every race. 

  BDCC Chairman Carl Heastie had lots of help from 77th A.D. Male District Leader Venancio "BENNY" Catala, BDCC Executive Director Ischia Bravo, and all of those who participated in the preparation of the dinner. There were lots of politicians in the house as Bronx BP Ruben Diaz might say. Citywide only Democratic candidate for mayor Bill Thompson (endorsed by the BDCC) was on hand, as well as current Manhattan Borough President and candidate for City Comptroller (endorsed by the BDCC) Scott Stringer, and  current Brooklyn Councilwoman and candidate for Public Advocate (endorsed by the BDCC) Lettita James.

   Statewide Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Attorney General Eric Schniderman, and Comptroller Tom Dinapoli were in attendance. Almost every Bronx current City Council member and State Assembly member also attended. I did not see however any of the four members of Congress in attendance, but did see reps of a couple. It was good to see Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj at this years dinner after being shut out of last year because he ran against a BDCC backed candidate. I won't go into what we both said, but we had a good laugh.

  I almost forgot to mention the Honorees at the dinner. Mr. Mitchell Draizin of Longview Capital Partners, Ms. Sandra Erickson of Sandra Erickson Real Estate inc., SEIU BJ32 President Hector Figueroa, Mr. Kenneth Knuckles of the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone, Mr. Michael Mcguire of the Mason Tenders District Council, and Mr. George Miranda President of Teamsters Joint Council 16.

 

Left - Father Richard Gorman Chair of Community Board 12 gives the invocation as 77A.D. Male District Leader Venancio "BENNY" Catala and BDCC Executive Director Ischia Bravo stand with BDCC Chairman Heastie.

Right - BDCC Chairman Assemblyman Carl Heastie welcomes everyone.

 

Left - Could New York State Attorney General Eric Schniderman and Comptroller Tom Dinapoli be giving Manhattan Borough President and candidate for City Comptroller some advice in his race now against former Governor Elliot Spitzer, or just fixing Stringers tie.

Right - Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver addressing the audience.

Left - Bronx BP Ruben Diaz Jr. poses with Deputy BP Greene.

Right - Bronx BP Diaz with his good friend Mayoral candidate Bill Thompson.

DeBlasio Headquarters Opens in the Bronx

  The Roselyn Johnson Democratic Club of the 87th A.D. located at 1512 Castle Hill Avenue has become the Bronx Headquarters for Mayoral candidate Bill DeBlasio. The official opening was Thursday July 18th, and due to to him being in Queens protesting the closing of a much needed hospital Bill DeBlasio's wife had to stand in for him at the grand opening of his Bronx office as you will see below.

87th A.D. Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda rallies his troops for the grand opening of the Bill DeBlasio for mayor Bronx headquarters in the Roselyn Johnson Democratic Club located at 1512 Castle Hill Avenue.

While he was protesting the closing of a much needed hospital in another borough, the wife of Bill DeBlasio  stands in for her husband.

Foxy Family 2nd Annual Reunion at Orchard Beach - July 27

The Foxy Family Inc. Announces the

Foxy Family 2nd Annual Reunion at Orchard Beach

 

  The Foxy Family Inc. organization along with the South Bronx Network and Puerto Rico Sun Communications will hold their 2nd Annual Reunion on Saturday, July 27, 2013 from 7am to 4pm.

The event will be held at Orchard Beach in Section 4. This is a great opportunity to meet new friends and spend quality time with friends and family.

During the event everyone can participate in volleyball, dominoes, steal the bacon and other childhood games.

There will be music, dancing and special guests.

Admission is free. Everyone should bring a dish to share with everyone.

It is a great opportunity for everyone to Network and meet new friends.

The Foxy Family is a Non-Profit Organization that is rebuilding families by uniting them during hard times.

BP Diaz to Celebrate Ramadan

Evening Honorees 

Hamud Al-Silwi, Ph.D.

Director of Islamic American University, New York Branch

 Ramatu Ahmed

Community Organizer & Activist

New Settlement Apartments

Senators Klein, Carlucci and Assemblywoman Galef Announce Boat Safety Laws to Prevent Boating Tragedies; Urge Gov. Cuomo to Sign it in to Law

  26-year-old Bryan Johnson drowned just over a year ago in Long Island Sound off of City Island during a midnight swim with friends off a motorboat.

  Monday, less than one year after that and several tragic boating-related deaths in New York’s waterways, Senator Jeff Klein, Senator David Carlucci and Assemblywoman Sandy Galef called upon Governor Cuomo to sign legislation making boat safety training a crucial part of the every young New Yorker’s annual motorboat licensing application. The legislation, (A.3471-A/S.1639-A), was championed by all three lawmakers in the recent legislative session. Joined by the mother and grandmother of Bryan Johnson, a victim of a fatal boating incident off of City Island, Senator Klein underlined his support for boating education requirements, citing evidence showing that the Bronx has among the highest rates of boating accidents in the state.

Senator Klein said: “It’s clear that boating safety education is a critical part of reducing the number of tragic incidents that happen every year on New York’s waterways. Here in the Bronx, we have the third highest rate of boating accidents in the state. That’s unacceptable, and it demonstrates why we have a duty to do more. That’s why I supported legislation that will increase boating safety education, bring our standards in line with neighboring states and, most importantly, save lives. I urge Governor Cuomo to sign this common sense legislation into law for the safety of all New Yorkers who enjoy spending time on the water.”

Senator Carlucci was the prime sponsor in the Senate and Assemblywoman Galef was the prime sponsor in the Assembly. The legislators were joined Vice-Commodore of the City Island Yacht Club, David Schulman and Boating Education Officer Franz Alvarez of the City Island Sail and Power Authority,

This legislation would require everyone – beginning with those who are 18 years and younger – to pass a certified boating safety course before operating motorboats.

The legislation includes a variety of key safety provisions intended to prevent future accidents from taking place:

·       Require that no person born on or after May 1, 1996 may operate a mechanically propelled vessel on the navigable waters of the state, unless they hold a boating safety certificate.  

·       Boating safety certificates are to be issued by the Commissioner of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the U.S. Power Squadrons or the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.  The Commissioner also has existing authority, through regulation, to designate others who are authorized to issue such certificates. 

·       The bill preserves the existing law ability of someone who is at least ten years old to operate a mechanically propelled vessel unaccompanied, provided they hold a certificate.  

·       A person who is younger than 18 years of age may operate a mechanically propelled vessel without a boating safety certificate, provided they are accompanied by at least one person at least 18 years of age who is either the holder of a boating safety certificate or is not required to hold a boating safety certificate.

·       The bill provides a grace period of 120 days for people who purchase a vessel, and are otherwise required to hold a boating safety certificate, to operate such a vessel without a certificate. 

In addition, specific exemptions exist from needing to obtain a boating safety certificate for anyone born before April 30, 1996, including a host of certified boating safety instructors, members of the U.S. Power Squadrons, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and holders of public vessel licenses.  It also pertains to law enforcement (police) officers, fire personnel and peace officers.

The new system will also provide that the Commissioner shall develop and implement a method for approving internet-based boating safety courses, a new initiative that makes it easier to gain access to these certificates.

To view the legislation in its entirety, please visit the link here.

 

 Left - Senator David Carlucci Senate sponsor of this boating safety training law speaks about the dangers of boating especially to inexperienced young people who go out on the waters.  Senator Klein and Assemblywoman Galef flank Senator Carlucci as Bryan Johnson's mother and grandmother stand behind him.

Right - The mother of Bryan Johnson who was a victim of a boating accident tells of the sorrow that she has gone through, and the need for this legislation that she helped fight for.