Saturday, November 16, 2013

Con Edison - "Dig They Must"


  On Wednesday November 13th Con Edison started construction on a high pressure gas line to replace a 100+ years old gas line on West 238th Street in Riverdale. What should have been a three day construction project ending on Friday (as I was told) has lasted into the weekend and will not be done for at least another 4 or 5 days. Of course Con Edison has hired a contractor since it would be to costly to Con Ed to have their own workers do the work. 

  Having been on the scene several days and taking many photos of what has gone on I can not believe the lack of concern on Con Edison's part. The contractor for Con Ed has closed the street to any metered parking on both sides of West 238th Street between Riverdale Avenue and Greystone Avenue. West 238th Street has been closed during the day to southbound traffic from Riverdale Avenue. As you will see in the photos below huge gas piping is strewn on the side of the road, on the sidewalk, and even resting on the city street light poles. Northbound West 238th Street finally was closed at Greystone Avenue after the contractor was detouring vehicles  into Fieldston Road (a one way street) against traffic.

  Dozens of vital parking spots to the merchants on Riverdale Avenue, and nighttime parking spaces to the community, not to mention the dollars that are being lost to the city as these metered spaces can not be used. The roadbed will also have to be repaved as the patchwork done by Con Ed will soon become loose causing potholes and exposing the heads of the gas mains to the plows of the sanitation trucks. All this and no notification to the residents and merchants of the area affected by this construction work as to when it would start, how long it would last, and when it would end. This matter will be taken up at the Community Board 8 Joint Traffic & Transportation/ Environment & Sanitation committees meeting on Tuesday Night - 7:30 PM at the Riverdale Y located on at 5625 Arlington Avenue off West 256th Street.
Click on any photo to enlarge it.

 













Left - This is what greeted you as you tried to make a left turn onto West 238th Street from Riverdale Avenue.
Right - The trench dug by Con Ed on West 238th Street.

 













Left - In the daylight.
Right - In the dark at night.

 













Left - More piping and other equipment.
Right - The roadbed will never be the same as chunks of the upper base are now missing to be filled in by tar that will leave potholes in a few months.
 













Left - A view from across the street.
Right - A view looking down the street showing the piping on the sidewalk. I don't remember those cracks in the sidewalk at the base of the street light.
 













Left - High pressure gas line with main, but why was this section marked Valentine Avenue put on Riverdale Avenue?
Right - Work done by Con Edison on West 238th Street and Waldo Avenue 6 - 8 months ago for a high pressure gas conversion at the Manhattan College Dorm there. Is this what the entire streech of West 238th Street from Riverdale Avenue to Waldo Avenue will look like?

Senator Klein Graffiti Clean up in 45th Pct.



Jeffrey D. Klein

 State Senator Jeff Klein & 45th Pct. Commander Capt. James R. McGeown in their regular attire.

  However as you will see in the photos below both were dressed in jeans along with the Chairman & District Manager of Community Board 10, and many others volunteers who helped rid the 45th Pct. of some of its graffiti. 

  Gallons of paint, cans of graffiti remover, boxes of gloves, dozens of paint brushes and rollers, greeted the volunteers at the 45th Pct. when they met and Senator Klein addressed the problem . Klein said that as soon as graffiti is put up photos must be taken for evidence to ID the person who did it. The next step is to get rid of the graffiti, and go to the District Attorney for prosecution of the offender. Sen. Klein added that his court monitoring program then sits in on cases to let the judge know that the community wants more than just a slap on the wrist to the offender, they want that person off the streets in jail.

  Senator Klein presented citations to Mr. John Rebetto and Mr. Sidney Flores for their excellent work in helping to rid the community of graffiti. 


  













 Left - Senator Jeff Klein stresses the importance of wiping out graffiti as soon as it appears.
Right - Senator Klein, 45th Pct. Captain James R. McGeown with Mr. Flores and Mr. Rebetto.

 













Left - the paint and supplies that greeted the clean up volunteers - Right.

 













Left - Senator Klein mans the wall roller as he paints over some recent graffiti on an underpass of the Cross Bronx Expressway.
Right - CB 10 District Manager Kenneth Kearns puts the roller to the wall.

 













Left - CB 10 Chairman John Marano climbs up along the highway to paint over this graffiti.
Right - What the wall now looks like after being painted over.









Bronx LGBTQ Center Wants to Talk to Cardinal Spellman High School


  This comes from the New Bronx LGBTQ Center who are expressing their desire to engage in dialogue with Cardinal Spellman High School regarding its intention to have a speaker from an organization that advocates "treating" LGBTQ individuals to "cure" their "gay addiction" using principles of 12-step programs address the school.

  The new Bronx LGBTQ Center is deeply concerned after learning that Cardinal Spellman High School has invited Father Donald Timone to speak at its school about LGBTQ issues.
While we respect freedom of speech, we do not respect bullying and hate speech, especially when it negatively impacts the lives of at-risk teenagers. Fr. Timone's misinformed and unenlightened rhetoric adds to the toxic environment that drives so many LGBTQ youth to despair—and beyond.
"No educational institution should be so irresponsible as to invite someone whose entire approach to LGBTQ individuals is based on bad science. Exodus International, a Christian ministry that formerly advocated attempts to 'pray away the gay' (i.e. conversion therapy), recently disbanded after admitting that a person's sexual orientation cannot be changed and that reparative therapy is in fact harmful," Peter C. Frank, the Center's secretary stated.
Fr. Timone is affiliated with COURAGE, an organization that treats gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people as addicts curable by participation in a 12-step program, instead of accepting and respecting them as the loving individuals they are. Courage's "free speech" promotes self-loathing among LGBTQ individuals and encourages others to hate LGBTQ people simply for being who they are, thus putting them at a greater risk of being bullied.
We strongly condemn the notion that being LGBTQ can be "treated" with 12-step programs or by any other method. Mr. Frank added, "Cardinal Spellman High School should instead, like Pope Francis's recent statements, be sending a message of love, inclusion, and acceptance.”

We join with LGBTQ spiritual leaders in calling for dialogue with Fr. Timone and the Archdiocese of New York, as these types of belief systems lead to violence and homelessness.
Rev. Carmen Hernandez
We at the Bronx LGBTQ Center want all youth to know that you are fine just as you are. There is absolutely nothing wrong with you, whether you're straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or questioning. We accept and celebrate you for who you are," Rev. Carmen Hernandez, a board member of the Center, said.
"The Bronx LGBTQ Center is a safe space for all who are struggling with issues of sexual orientation or gender identity. Our Youth Group meets at 4pm every Friday at Union Community Health Center, 260 East 188th Street, 5th Floor, the Bronx," Mr. Frank noted.
 
  

Bronx Democratic County Holiday Celebration




SEASONS
GREETINGS
 
Chairman Carl E. Heastie,
Bronx Democratic County Committee
& Bronx Young Democrats
 
Cordially invite you to our
2013 BDCC 
Holiday Celebration
 
When: December 9th, 2013
Where: UFT Bronx Headquarters
2500 Halsey Street
Bronx, NY 10461
Time: 6:00PM – 9:00PM
 
 
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS
PLEASE CALL 718 - 679 -9000 OR ibravo@bronxdems.org
The BDCC Holiday Party is a free event and open to Bronx Residents.
 
 

Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj Job Fair



Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj
 
Proudly Presents the For those looking for Employment, Networking Opportunities, or a Change of Career
This is the place for you!
 
Please join us for a Community Resource Fair!
Take your career into a new direction and unite ability with opportunity
Tuesday December 3, 2013
4:30pm - 8:30pm
Bronx House
990 Pelham Parkway South
 
Our Partners:
Companies participating will be looking for full - time, part - time, and internship positions.
Please attend in professional attire and bring at least 25 resumes with you.
 
For Sponsorship/Participation Information:
(718) 828 - 8228
Info@masmarketingny.com
For Additional Information:
(718) 409 - 0109
Assemblymangjonajevents@gmail.com
Open to all ages and experience levels.
2013 Job Fair
 

Friday, November 15, 2013

COUNCIL APPROVES LEGISLATION SPONSORED BY KOPPELL RENAMING A QUEENS THOROUGHFARE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN WAY


 
   At its Stated Meeting on Thursday, November 14, 2013, the Council approved a bill, co-sponsored by Council Member Oliver Koppell, to permanently change the name of “South Road,” between Merrick Boulevard and Remington Street in Queens, to Tuskegee Airmen Way and to amend the New York City Map accordingly.
The Tuskegee Airmen were African-American pilots who fought in World War 11 and were the first African-American military aviators in the United States Armed Forces.  In total, 996 pilots were trained at Tuskegee Army Air Field in Tuskegee, Alabama from 1941 to 1945 with approximately 445 men deployed overseas.
The Tuskegee Airmen, who were known as Red Tails because of the distinctive red paint predominately applied on the tail section of their aircrafts, had an impressive combat record. They were credited with 15,533 combat sorties and 1478 missions flown. 150 Tuskegee Airmen, including 66 pilots, lost their lives in accidents or combat, and 32 fell into captivity as prisoners of war. They received numerous awards and decorations for valor and performance, including the Congressional Gold Medal in 2007.
Koppell said, “Not only have the Tuskegee Airmen been recognized for their bravery, they have  also been recognized for helping spur the desegregation of the United States Military and their contributions during the Civil Rights movement.”
Surviving members still take part in educating and inspiring youth at the Queens Library Center in Jamaica and at York College.  In 2009, York College opened an exhibition consisting of photographs, a replica of the Congressional Gold medal, a replica of the P-51 Mustang with its distinctive “Red Tail” and a life-sized statue of a Tuskegee Airman.   
“I feel privileged to have as a constituent Dr. Roscoe C. Brown, a Tuskegee Airman and former President of Bronx Community College. He is someone of whom I have always been very proud and I am pleased that the Council has voted to acknowledge his service and that of his fellow airmen by naming a street in their honor,” Koppell said.
 
 

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Obama Takes Hit For Poor Roll-Out of the Affordable Health Care Act


  In a press conference today President Obama admitted that he thought the Affordable Health Care Act would be rolled out with only minor glitches. The President said that a fix of having Americans continue with their current coverage, "even if the coverage does not meet the standards of the AHCA" for one year. He spoke for over one hour answering the many questions that were asked of him. 

  The President however opened the meeting by discussing the tragedy that had occurred in the Philippines, and what the United States was doing to help the people of the Philippines.

  It is believed that continued pressure from Democrats who were beginning to hear from their constitutes that their health care was being or had been cancelled due to the roll-out of Obama Care. Calls also were that it was very hard for people to get thru so they could enroll for the new Affordable Health Care. One new problem with this new fix is how are Insurance companies going to undo cancellations that were already done?

  Here is a link to a story in the Washington Post with the full transcript of the news conference by President Obama.


 

RAIN INC TO HONOR LENNY CARO NOV 21ST



Bronx Chamber Logo 
  
 
President & CEO of the Bronx Chamber of Commerce
Lenny Caro, Ph.D
to be honored by
RAIN, Inc
on Thursday, November 21st
at the Marina del Rey
  
  
  

   
With any questions, please contact