12th Annual Jerome–Gun Hill BID Fall Festival!

  The Jerome-Gun Hill Business Improvement District (BID) announces the 12^th Annual Jerome-Gun Hill BID Fall Festival, being held on Saturday, September 21^st, 2013, from 11am to 6pm, on Jerome Avenue between East Gun Hill Road and Mosholu Parkway, and on E. 208th Street between Dekalb and Jerome Avenue in the Norwood section of the Bronx.

This year the Jerome-Gun Hill Business Improvement District celebrates the 12^th anniversary of the area’s biggest annual event, the Jerome-Gun Hill BID ANNUAL FALL FESTIVAL! Attendees, as well as sponsors, will have access to over 30,000 festivalgoers, including 250 BID merchants. The day will consist of an all day concert series produced by Al Pizarro, hosted by well-known personalities, and featuring yesterday and today’s most popular artists! There will be food stands, and over 100 vendors who will showcase, and sell, their goods and services to Bronxites, and fellow New Yorkers.

Last year was a great success and we hope that this year, marking our 12^th Year Anniversary Celebration, will be even greater! We hope you will join us at this fantastic, fun-filled, FREE, annual community event. 

For more information, call (718) 324-4946 or visit www.jeromegunhillbid.org.

Event: Jerome–Gun Hill BID Festival

Date: Saturday, September 21^st, 2013

Time: 11am – 6pm

Location: Jerome Ave. btwn E. Gun Hill Rd & Mosholu Pkwy., and E. 208^th St. btwn Dekalb & Jerome Ave

Admission: Free

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About The Jerome-Gun Hill Business Improvement District (BID)

Managed by Mosholu Preservation Corporation (MPC), the Jerome-Gun Hill Business Improvement District (BID) gives support to over 200 businesses within its catchment area, which runs along Jerome Avenue between Mosholu Parkway and East Gun Hill Road and East Gun Hill Road between Jerome and Webster avenues. Small family-run operations and national chain stores alike rely on the BID for updates on regulations and guidance in dealing with borough and citywide agencies. The BID also collaborates with owners of vacant property, suggesting new businesses that would offer a needed service or product currently absent from the neighborhood, thus enriching the area’s retail mix.

Allerton Avenue Festival Huge Hit

  Sunday's Allerton Avenue Festival presented this year by Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj was the best yet. it was almost like a sold out rock concert as people were lined sidewalk to sidewalk viewing and eating the many different foods and other attractions this year. Assemblyman Gjonaj brought out the horse ride from last year that was a big hit on Halloween, and this time there was no hay. The 49th Pct. was there with the sky high rock climb wall. there was a stage where people went just nuts for Vic and his band "Just Nuts". There were of course the elected officials and those who are candidates especially from the 15th City Council District where the event was taking place in. 

 Left & Right - You can see some of the entertainment that was on hand.

Left - There were samples of homemade cakes.
Right - Assemblyman Gjonaj handing out one of his whistles for children and seniors. 

Left - The giant rock climbing wall exhibit from the NYPD.
Right - the stage where the music came from, and also the politicians spoke from, as you see 82nd A.D. Assemblyman Michael Bennedetto speaking to the crowd.

John Liu Opens Bronx Campaign Office

  Mayoral candidate John Liu is the first and only candidate to have a free standing campaign office in the Bronx. The location of the new John Liu for Mayor campaign office is 2435 Jerome Avenue by Fordham Road and across the street from P.S. 33. Many people attended the ribbon cutting ceremony yesterday, and current Comptroller John Liu has invested much time and resources in courting the Bronx vote that came out strong for him 4 years ago.The phone number for the Bronx John Liu for Mayor campaign offie is 347-813-8829, or you can go to www.JohnLiu2013.comFOLLOW @JohnLiu2013 | LIKE facebook.com/Liu.NYC

 

Left - People were waiting for Mayoral candidate John Liu to show up and officially open his new Bronx campaign office at 2435 Jerome Avenue.

Right - Mayoral candidate John Liu thanks one of his supporters while Committee of 100 Democrats Chairman Ricky Martinez stands in the foreground.

 

Left - The blessing is given to the new office, as Mayoral candidate John Liu gets ready to cut the ribbon.

Right - The ribbon is cut, and Mayoral candidate John Liu's New Bronx campaign Headquarters is now open at 2435 Jerome Avenue.

VALLONE & DIAZ ANNOUNCE INTRODUCTION OF GUN OFFENDER REGISTRY LEGISLATION

        Council Member , Chair of the Public Safety Committee, and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. hosted a press conference announcing legislation – which will be introduced at the Stated Meeting on August 22^nd – making the City’s existing gun offender registry open to the public online and calling on the State to create a statewide registry.

Vallone and Diaz were joined at the press conference by Senate Co-Leader Jeff Klein, Assembly Member Carl Heastie, Assembly Member Brian Kavanagh and Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito.

The city’s gun offender registry – which was created in 2006 by Council Member Vallone and Mayor Michael Bloomberg as the first of its kind in the nation, subsequently copied in Baltimore, Chicago and Washington, DC and other locations – is currently only available to the NYPD. However, Vallone’s bill would make the registry accessible to the public online, allowing residents to be aware of dangerous gun offenders in their communities.

Borough President Diaz proposed a statewide registry in his 2013 “State of the Borough” address, and this resolution represents the first step toward this goal.

In accordance with the registries, defendants convicted of certain gun crimes must register their addresses with the police, verify them in person every six months and promptly notify the police if they change addresses for four years after their release from prison. Some dangerous felons have gone back to prison for failing to comply with these guidelines, with 11 arrests in 2012 alone for not registering.

Statistics show that 30 percent of all shootings in New York City have been committed by a small group of offenders — mostly members of youth gangs – and the registries will keep their whereabouts known to both law enforcement and the public. Numerous studies have also shown that illegal gun possession has a very high risk of recidivism, and New York City statistics have indicated that those convicted of felony gun possession were more likely to be rearrested when compared to other felons. Forty-two percent of those re-arrests were likely to be on violent charges, compared to 25 percent for those not convicted of gun crimes, and gun offenders were also four times more likely to be arrested for homicide. As of December 2012, there were 595 eligible gun offenders in New York City, 302 of whom are currently back in jail.

“New York City’s gun offender registry has kept the spotlight of the law on the most dangerous criminals among us – and it is time for the entire State to follow in our footsteps and utilize this effective crime-fighting tool which helped the NYPD and Commissioner Raymond Kelly make New York the safest big city in America. We cannot allow these violent offenders to slip through the cracks upon their release from prison, and these bills will keep residents and law enforcement officers across the state well aware of their locations,” said Council Member Vallone.

“A safer New York State, and a safer nation, demands that we shine a light on those individuals who would commit gun crimes in our neighborhoods. An easily-accessible gun crime registry will serve as an excellent tool not only to keep neighborhoods informed about crime, but to serve as a deterrent from such acts,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

Senator Klein said: “When it comes to preventing gun violence, New Yorkers deserve to have every effective tool at their disposal. New York City's gun offender registry has helped make our city one of the safest in the nation. That's because it shines a spotlight on the types of criminals who too often use a gun to commit a crime. That's why I will continue to push--and introduce--legislation to expand the gun offender registry statewide. By providing law enforcement and everyday New Yorkers with more information about potential threats, we can and will prevent more gun crimes in communities across New York.”

4th Term for Bloomberg or 3rd for Giuliani?

  The New York Post today endorsed City Council Speaker Christine Quinn for Mayor in the Democratic primary, and Joe Lhota for Mayor in the Republican primary. With both endorsements it was not long until Mike Bloomberg's and Rudy Giuliani's names were mentioned. 

  The Post compared Bloomberg and Giuliani to a Batman & Robin team that cleaned up New York City, and that the city "Could become like Detroit faster than you could say David Dinkins." Thugs could take over the streets, and business pack up for the suburbs the article continued. 

  The Post writes Quinn has the common sense needed to be mayor, while going into a much more detailed description of why Joe Lhota is the best chance for an "accountable and effective government". Right there the New York Post has said that City Council Speaker Christine Quinn has not been accountable or effective in her role as Speaker of the City Council. One has to wonder if Quinn has a chance of getting the Post endorsement should it wind up Lhota vs Quinn in November.

  The Post in its endorsement says "As speaker, Quinn often showed courage and responsibility by siding with Mayor Bloomberg, as well as by opposing the dangerous proposals of her far more radical council members". For holding up an ill-advised mandatory paid sick-leave bill, wanting to keep Ray Kelly as Police commissioner while, and pushing for an Inspector General of the NYPD.  The Post also does not miss the opportunity to bash the UFT (United Federation of Teachers), their candidate Bill Thompson, and quoting Mayor Bloomberg “If the UFT wants it, it ain’t good.”

  The Post concludes their endorsement of Christine Quinn by saying that free from election year pressures Quinn would revert back to her more moderate and sensible positions. 

  As for Joe Lhota the Post writes that Lhota was a Deputy Mayor and head of the MTA. Lhota's opponent the post writes is a self made businessman, but there is a difference between running a business and running a government. However the Post is disappointed that Lhota has fallen short in articulating a compelling and passionate message about what is at stake.

  To read the entire New York Post endorsements of Quinn and Lhota just click this link.

Committee of 100 Democrats Barbecue Big Success

Above Mayoral candidate John Liu stopped by the Committee of 100 Democrats 9th Annual Free Community Barbecue, and was among the 500 people who visited during the day. State Senator Jeff Klein, Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj. Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, City Council 11th District candidates Andrew Cohen and Cliff Stanton also were on hand.

 

Left - Face painting was done.

Right Ms. Puerto Rico poses with Andrew Sandler of current Councilman Oliver Koppell's office.

 

Left - Mayoral candidate John Liu poses with some of the ladies that helped make this barbecue a success.

Right - 11th council district candidate Cliff Stanton's political consultant puts down his sign and talks things over with Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz who has endorsed Andrew Cohen as his choice for the 11th City Council district.

KOPPELL-SPONORED BILL PLACING AUXILIARY POWER UNITS IN AMBULANCES PASSED BY COUNCIL

This came in from Councilman Oliver Koppells office.
 

   At its meeting on August 22, 2013, the City Council passed a package of legislation to make city vehicles cleaner and greener by reducing harmful emissions. One bill, sponsored by Council Member Oliver Koppell, authorizes a pilot program that would place auxiliary power units in ambulances to supply cooling, heating and electrical power while the vehicle’s engine is turned off.

“Every day, the city parks more than 300 ambulances on city streets while they wait for emergency calls.  All these vehicles keep their engines running to cool or heat the attendants or to cool medical supplies.  The diesel exhaust emitted from these idling vehicles is a significant contributor to the city’s air pollution,” Koppell said.    

 The adverse health effects of breathing polluted air have been well documented.  These include respiratory diseases, changes in lung function and asthma attacks, resulting in increased mortality, hospitalizations and lost days from school or work. Everyone is harmed by poor air quality, but children and the elderly are the most adversely affected.

“This pilot program will demonstrate the value of providing auxiliary power to waiting ambulances by eliminating the need for idling and will pave the way for equipping the entire ambulance fleet with this technology, which will have a positive impact on air quality in the city,”  Koppell stated.

Editors Note:  It would have been better for the 51 members of the city council led by Speaker Christine Quinn to have pushed for a pilot program of "Electric Powered Ambulances", which could be built in the Bronx by Smith Electric.

 

John Liu Visits Tracy Towers

  Mayoral candidate John Liu visited Tracy Towers to speak with the residents. 80th A.D. Male District Leader Kenny Agosto introduced the current comptroller, and like the appearance of Mayoral candidate Bill Thompson last week it took a little time for residents to come down after a long day of hard work. District Leader Agosto made his endorsement of John Liu for Mayor official. Agosto added that this mayors race is the most under polled and under estimated race. That was said last week by mayoral candidate Bill Thompson.

  Mayoral candidate John Liu spoke of his work as City Comptroller, and how he has saved the city millions of dollars in his audits of many different agencies and contracts. Liu added that he is proud to be the most investigated person himself, because when you do what he has done you make enemies who want you out of office. Liu continued with the issues such as Stop N Frisk, education, housing, transportation, and others ending by saying that "Change is needed to get the city back in the hands of the people".Liu then took several questions from the audience. 

  A question about summer youth work was answered that this year was the highest number of applications, but the lowest number of positions. On NYCHA housing Liu said where was Mayor Bloomberg his first 11 years, and now he wants to sell off parts of NYCHA. To a question of negotiating city worker contracts Liu said that the city budget went up 10 billion dollars last year, but rather than settle union contracts Mayor Bloomberg spent the money elsewhere. Liu finished by saying that Bloomberg has been a failure when it comes to education. All that Bloomberg has done was play the old shell game with the students in closing schools, and that he was proud of his record as city comptroller. 

Left - 80 A.D. Male District Leader Kenny Agosto introducing Mayoral candidate John Liu to the Tracy Towers audience.

Right - Liu and Agosto pose for this photo.

Left - Early on you can see the sparse crowd that grew as Mayoral candidate John Liu spoke. 

Right - A photo op with members of the Tracy Towers Tenants Association, Kenny Agosto, and Mayor al candidate John Liu.