Bronx Chamber of Commerce

Hispanic Heritage Leadership Luncheon

    The Bronx Chamber of Commerce held their Hispanic Heritage Leadership Luncheon today. Leadership award recipients included Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., New York Assembly members Felix Ortiz and Jose Rivera, former Bronx Democratic County Leader Roberto Ramirez, Asst. Chief NYPD Edward Delatorre, with a special closing by New York Yankee closer for 2012 Rafael Soriano # 29.

    The only problem was last night's Yankee game was rained out, and a special day night doubleheader was scheduled for today, so Yankee ace closer Rafael Soriano had to be at the stadium in case he was needed to come in the game.  In the 8th inning with two outs Soriano came in to close out the 4 - 2 victory for the Yankees over the Toronto Blue Jays. 

     BCC president & CEO Lenny Caro did a fine job of moving the luncheon along even though his closer was not available, so the next best thing was done with the introduction of Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. Diaz Jr. the 13th and youngest Bronx Borough President reflected on the struggles of past Hispanics that made it possible for him to attain the position he has now. He then went  on to bring out the growth of new Bronx Businesses including a second Macy and BJ's coming to the Bronx, Fresh Direct with borough wide service and new jobs at a new warehouse to be built in the Bronx to buy new trucks built in the Bronx by the new Smith Electric plant. 

    Ray Negron author of a book called "Yankee Miracles" "Life with the Boss & the Bronx Bombers", which Negron was signing for attendees said that it is easy to say that Arod or Jeter was the star of the Yankees. He said though that "this year it was Rafael Soriano who was the star this season". He added that it is also Soriano's commitment to community outreach like no other player in baseball. Below are a few photos of the event.

Left - Group photo of Assemblyman Jose Rivera, former Councilwoman June Eisland, BP Diaz, and former County Leader Roberto Ramirez.

   

 Left - BP Diaz addresses the attendees.

 Left - Group photo of Honorees.

Left - Ray Negron signs his book for Ms. Maria Kuhry.

 

 

 

 

Castle Hill Fair on Saturday, September 22nd

    

              Castle Hill Fair

 

       This Saturday, the 22nd, from 11AM to 5PM.

                                         

       In the  Holy Family School Yard  3269 Blackrock 

       Avenue at the corner if Castle Hill Avenue.

 

      Admission is FREE     All are Welcome.

     Meet your new Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda.

 

Doe Fund George McDoanald For Mayor

   Could Doe Fund founder George McDonald (pictured above right) who has changed his voter registration from Democrat to Republican be Mayor Mike Bloomberg's (left) choice to replace him as mayor. Or could Bloomberg hope that City Council Speaker Christine Quinn wins the Democratic primary for mayor next year for a no loose situation for Bloomberg in the mayor's race.

   The Doe Fund has been hailed for its work with formerly homeless, incarcerated, and people recovering from addiction. McDonald and his family have also been criticized in the past for collecting giant sized  salaries and perks from the non-profit's operations. Most recently the Doe Fund was given a contract by Mayor Bloomberg for a 200 bed housing unit in the old Muller Army Center in the Wakefield section of the Bronx. That housing unit is in addition to two other large similar housing units with in a two block radius, and has come under fire from the local community and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. 

   After graduating from college McDonald begin a successful career in the clothing trade. He is quoted in an article as saying "There were great days, there was wine, women and song, and I had a lot of fun". The article continues that McDonald was stepping over homeless people in the doorway of the restaurant one evening just after he and his friends had spent $200 on dinner.  

    McDonald started the Doe Fund in 1985, and by 2010, the group had generated over $650 million in revenues. McDonald believes that helping the homeless may be a simple matter, but the causes of homelessness are complex. The persistence of racism is a key factor, he believes, and it is a fact that blacks are incarcerated at a rate far exceeding whites. When they are released from prison, they often become homeless, and commit desperate crimes that land them back in jail. 

   

Andy King Campaign Kicks Off

   There will be a special election on the regular election day in November to fill the vacant 12th city council seat with the removal of former City Councilman Larry Seabrook. As you can see by the packed room Andy King supporters are awaiting the official Andy King for 12th City Council announcement even before the real politicians arrive. City Comptroller John Liu, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., Coop-City Congressman Eliot Engel, and Bronx Democratic County Leader Carl Heastie were among the elected officials to show up and give their support to 12th Council District candidate Andy King. Members of unions such as 1199 and 32BJ were in the crowd as they are only two of the many unions that support king also. 

   King was very humble in his short speech, and went on to say that his election is on the same day as President Obama's, and it is of far greater importance that President Obama get reelected. Andy thanked those elected officials that came to his announcement and who are among the many supporters that he has. 

   As we said this will be a special election for the 12th district of the city council taking place on the date of the general election. The 12th council district covers mainly Baychester, Coop-City, and Wakefield that are  parts if the 80th, 81st, 82nd, 83rd Assembly Districts, and 34th  and 36th State Senate districts. 

   City Comptroller John Liu was the first of elected officials to arrive and give his support to Andy King.

 

In a group photo are Congressman Engel, Andy King, BP Diaz, Dem. County leader Heastie, local clergy leaders, and a union leader.

Wave Hill Events September 28–October 5

SAT, SEPTEMBER 29   FAMILY ART PROJECT—CLIFFS ON STILTS

Cliffs on Stilts/Montañas en zancos

Artist Isidro Blasco, currently exhibiting in Glyndor Gallery, leads us in this multi-media sculptural project that reflects his own work. We’ll use a mixture of clay, wood, sticks and photos to invent a 3-D interpretation of the natural rock formations of the Palisades. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon.

ECOLOGY BUILDING, 10AM‒1PM

SAT, SEPTEMBER 29    TAI CHI CHUAN

Quiet like a mountain, moving like a river, Tai Chi is a sequence of gentle movements based on images found in nature. Short and long form classes are led by Irving Yee, an active member of the William CC Chen Tai Chi School. Sessions are held outdoors only and are weather dependent. Call 718.549.3200 x245 by 8AM on the day of the class for weather updates. Session fee: $15 Member/$23 Non-member. Registration opens onsite at 9:30AM.

ON THE GROUNDS, 10AM Beginners, 11AM Intermediates

SAT, SEPTEMBER 29    GALLERY TOUR

Join an exhibition interpreter for one of our regularly scheduled tours of Wave Hill’s fall exhibition Foregrounding the Palisades, sculptural installations by artists Isidro Blasco, Blane de St. Croix and Paula Winokur that focus on the cliffs across the Hudson River, a quintessential feature of Wave Hill’s vista—and history.  In the Sunroom, Crystal Z. Campbell and Yeon Ji Yoo fill the space with site-specific works inspired by local social and natural history. Tours take place Tuesdays and Saturdays at 2PM. Free with admission to the grounds.

GLYNDOR GALLERY, 2PM

SUN, SEPTEMBER 30    FAMILY ART PROJECT—CLIFFS ON STILTS

Cliffs on Stilts/Montañas en zancos

Artist Isidro Blasco, currently exhibiting in Glyndor Gallery, leads us in this multi-media sculptural project that reflects his own work. We’ll use a mixture of clay, wood, sticks and photos to invent a 3-D interpretation of the natural rock formations of the Palisades. Free with admission to the grounds.

ECOLOGY BUILDING, 10AM‒1PM

SUN, SEPTEMBER 30   HATHA YOGA

Release stress and find refuge from city life by practicing seasonal yoga, surrounded by the beauty of Wave Hill. Hatha Yoga involves the use of physical postures, breath control and meditation to create a supple, strong and relaxed body-mind. Classes are led by Neem Dewji, certified in Hatha and Therapeutic Yoga from The Yoga for Health Foundation in Bedfordshire, England, and The Integral Yoga Institute in NYC. Participants should bring a mat, dress in loosely fitting clothing and come to class with breakfast well digested. All levels welcomed. Sessions are held outdoors only and are weather dependent. Call 718.549.3200 x245 by 8AM on the day of the class for weather updates. Session fee: $15 Member/$23 Non-member. Registration opens onsite at 9:30AM.

ON THE GROUNDS, 10–11:15AM

SUN, SEPTEMBER 30    GARDEN HIGHLIGHTS WALK

Join us for an hour-long tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free with admission to the grounds.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 2PM

TUE, OCTOBER 2    GARDEN HIGHLIGHTS WALK

Join us for an hour-long tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 11AM

TUE, OCTOBER 2   GALLERY TOUR

Join an exhibition interpreter for one of our regularly scheduled tours of Wave Hill’s fall exhibition Foregrounding the Palisades, sculptural installations by artists Isidro Blasco, Blane de St. Croix and Paula Winokur that focus on the cliffs across the Hudson River, a quintessential feature of Wave Hill’s vista—and history.  In the Sunroom, Crystal Z. Campbell and Yeon Ji Yoo fill the space with site-specific works inspired by local social and natural history. Tours take place Tuesdays and Saturdays at 2PM. 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—4:30PM. Closes 5:30PM, March 15—October 31.  

ADMISSION  $8 adults, $4 students and seniors 65+, $2 children 6—18. Free Saturday mornings until noon. Free until noon September and October Tuesdays.  Free to Wave Hill Members and children under 6.

PROGRAM FEES  Program s 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 3o 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 242^nd Street stop on the #1 subway line. Limited onsite parking is available for $8 per vehicle. 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.

 

THE BRONX CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

 

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

By Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz
32nd Senatorial District, Bronx County, New York

 Two Out of Three Is Not Bad

As you know, the results for Democratic Primary in the City of New York are in, and we all know who are the winners and losers.

It is important for you to know that I personally and directly got involved in three Democratic primaries that were held in Bronx County.

I supported and worked with attorney Luis Sepulveda in his Assembly race for the 87th Assembly District.  I was the first – and I believe the only elected official – who supported Mark Gjonaj against Assemblywoman Naomi Rivera for the race in the 80th Assembly District.  You should also, know that my support for Mark Gjonaj began way before any accusations came out against Assemblywoman Naomi Rivera’s possible misuse of taxpayer money.  I supported him because I believed in him when everyone else thought he had no chance.   I also supported Manny Tavarez, a virtual political unknown, who campaigned against Senator Gustavo Rivera in the 33rd Senatorial District.

In those primaries that I got involved in with my people and my ministers, Luis Sepulvda won 75.6 percent of the vote, while his opponent, Danny Figueroa got 24.4 percent of the vote.  Mark Gjonaj received 51.7 percent of the vote defeating Naomi Rivera and two other contestants.   Manny Tavarez lost his race against Gustavo Rivera, receiving 30 percent of the vote to Gustavo’s 70 percent.

It is not bad to win 2 out of 3.  However, I am not considering that Manny Tavarez lost, because what he did is what you can call the making of a new leader in a district that needs a diversity of philosophy.  I believe that if Manny Tavarez continues to build his name and reputation during the next year, he will be a strong and very formidable candidate for City Council or any of  the upcoming races for office during the next year or two.

So ladies and gentlemen, I thank all of you who joined me to support Luis Sepulveda and Mark Gjonaj so they could each achieve victory in New York’s 2012 Democratic Primary.  I also thank everyone who helped Manny Tavarez to get 30 percent of the vote.

I want you to always remember that all things are possible, if we put our minds to it.  We have proven something with these Primary results by showing that the will of the people will not be ignored, and with this energy, we will continue to build and grow.

I am state Senator Reverend Rubén Díaz and this is what you should know.

Tracy Towers Decides the 80th A.D. Race

New 80th A.D. Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj thanking the crowd of supporters, as running mate Incumbent 80 A.D. State Committeewoman Diane Cerino (in white blouse) looks on.

    It was not until after 12:30 AM that the 80^th A.D. race was over, and Mark Gjonaj declared the winner. Early returns had challenger Mark Gjonaj ahead by almost 20 points, and at 10 PM incumbent Naomi Rivera was already on television thanking those who had worked on her campaign. A rousing roar came from the large crowd that had gathered at the Gjonaj party (where I was at) thinking it was a concession speech, but it was going to be a long night. As more results came in the lead narrowed, and the 20 point lead shrunk to a single digit lead at one point. 

 

    The same problem that occurred in the June congressional election happened in this election as voters found that their name did not appear in the registration books. So any win in the 80^th A.D. had to be greater than the amount of any outstanding affidavit ballots or it could take weeks to get a winner. At 11PM Mark Gjonaj's lead was down to about 150 votes which was not large enough to declare victory yet. People were wondering why it was taking so long to get the full results in, and where was the Tracy Towers vote that was thought Gjonaj had won big. Tracy Tower residents had a big problem on their hands with a huge rent increase looming, and when it was said that Naomi Rivera could not help, Mark Gjonaj hired a lawyer to help the tenants stop the rent increase. 

 

    By 11:30 PM the Gjonaj lead started to grow again not to a safe margin of victory yet, but one could tell it would be a Gjonaj victory. A short time after midnight his lead had grown to over 500 votes (52 - 41 percent) clearly enough to declare victory as 99 percent of the vote was in. It was said that the Tracy Towers poll site (which has been historically late in getting in results) had just come in, and provided the winning margin of victory. Mark then arrived, congratulated everyone in the room, thanked everyone who was a part of his winning campaign, gave a brief speech, and then went around the room to shake everyone's hand. 

 

   With his victory decided some time before, the Democratic primary winner in the 87^th A.D. Mr. Luis Sepulveda came in to the ballroom at Maestro's to congratulate Mark Gjonaj on his victory. I suspect that Mr. Gjonaj has received by now several phone calls also congratulating him by many other Bronx elected officials, but by whom I do not know.

87 A.D. primary winner Luis Sepulveda poses for photo with 80 A.D. primary winner Mark Gjonaj. Both winners have their wives standing next to them.

    Finally let me say I do not know how the poll workers were able to endure a 16 hour workday, with many putting in even more time. I traveled through-out the 80^th A.D. yesterday stopping by almost everyone of the polling sites, and I tried to talk to as many people as I could which included the poll workers. City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and the City Council who are fighting for other workers rights to fair pay need to look into this as the $200.00 pay if overtime after 8 hours of work is factored in comes out to only $10.00 dollars an hour, without benefits is lower than the recent living wage bill passed by the city council.