-BP DIAZ ISSUES LETTER ON BRONX TAXI INCIDENT

  Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. has issued a letter to Taxi & Limousine Commission Chairperson Meera Joshi in response to reports that Carmen Yulin Cruz, the Mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico, was denied taxi service to The Bronx during her recent visit to New York City.

In his letter Borough President Diaz, himself a former employee of the Taxi & Limousine Commission, notes that such refusal is illegal, and calls for Commissioner Joshi to investigate not only Mayor Cruz’s complaints but the attitudes of yellow taxi drivers towards The Bronx, as well.

“If yellow taxi drivers are refusing service to The Bronx, or only providing that service begrudgingly, how many potential tourists is my borough losing because of this?,” wrote Borough President Diaz. “The Bronx has seen significant transformation in recent years, and we cannot effectively tell that story if yellow taxi drivers are refusing to bring passengers here.”

Read the full letter here: http://on.nyc.gov/1HSDX6k.

Bronx Day in Albany is June 15!

**NEW DATE**

BRONX DAY IN ALBANY 2015

* JUNE 15, 2015 *

Bronx Day in Albany is on Monday, June 15th!

Honoring NYS Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie

~

Solidify your place as one of the BEST OF THE BRONX at the Bronx Day in Albany event! Network with other businesses, legislators, and major New York State Associations! Promote your products or services while showcasing your Bronx Pride to potential clients and strategic partners. 

• Over 100 businesses will participate
• Hundreds of Bronx residents expected to attend
• A plethora of Bronx based food to sample & products to buy
• Information distributed by several health, law & finance industries

Enjoy a day of informational sessions, entertainment and unlimited food tasting as we honor our new Speaker,

 Carl E. Heastie!

For more information please contact Lilyanna Pekic or Nathalia Fernandez at (718) 409-0109.

Does DEP really need two fences around the Jerome Park Reservoir?

  One of the biggest issues to the community in the Northwest Bronx, especially those who jog around the Jerome Park Reservoir is - Why are there two fences around the reservoir? In all the MTA subway yards in the area there is only one fence around the train yards. Even the prize of the Bronx Yankee Stadium does not a fence around it, but metal bollards that prevent vehicles from going into any part of Yankee Stadium. By the way in the photos below you will see that on the Goulden Avenue side of the Jerome Park Reservoir the DEP has such barriers in place, so just what is the need for 2 fences if they can not stop vehicles from going through them needed? 

Above - It seems that the DEP is already using Bollards similar to those around Yankee Stadium in its security plan here at the entrance driveway to Gate House 5.

Below - Here also in front of Gate House 5 the DEP has installed Bollards to keep out any unwanted vehicles, so why are there 2 fences that do not stop vehicles 

Above - The outer security fence will not stop any vehicle that wants to go through, but as you see Below - it is the metal barrier that is raised that will stop any vehicle and not the outer fence. The barrier lowers to allow cars to enter here.

Above and Below - you see workers finishing the landscape in front of the 4 foot wall that will also keep out any vehicle, and not the outer fence behind the wall. The same is for a;most any other surrounding part of the reservoir. It is not the outer fence that will keep out any vehicles, but the walls and barriers that will. 

East 152nd Street Cultural Festival

  It stretched for blocks across East 152nd Street from Jackson Avenue, had dozens and dozens of booths and vendors (of all types), and non stop live music all leading up to tomorrow's Puerto Rican Day Parade. The photos below will tell the rest of the story, and the people I spoke to loved the festival, and wanted it more than just once a year.

Above - One of the games to play.
Below - A Bouncy Castle for the little ones.

Above - Pony rides were also available for the little ones.

Below - One of the many food vendors at the festival.

Above - Pay-O-Matic was giving out goodies to those who stopped at their booth.

Below - a woman sitting in front of her booth.

Above - Ruben the Ices Man serves a customer.
Below - There was free 'Sugar Free' soda from Coca Cola.

SENATOR JEFF KLEIN ANNOUNCES GRAMMY-AWARD WINNING GROUP BLOOD SWEAT & TEARS TO HEADLINE RIVERFEST

RiverFest 2015 to Feature Beloved American Music Group, Local Artists, Scenic Boat Rides, Children’s Entertainment, Waterfront Activities & More

Klein, Bronx Elected Officials, KRVC and College of Mount Saint Vincent Come Together to Celebrate the Beauty of the Hudson River and Unity of the Riverdale Community

State Senator Jeff Klein, together with Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, Councilman Andrew Cohen, Executive Director of the Kingsbridge-Riverdale-Van Cortlandt Development Corporation (KRVC) Tracey McCabe Shelton, KRVC Greenway Director Cliff Stanton, and representatives from the College of Mount Saint Vincent, today announced celebrated American music group Blood Sweat & Tears will headline RiverFest. The announcement came at the 2105 kick-off event on Riverdale Avenue featuring music, family fun and a sneak preview of this year’s coming attractions.

“Riverdale’s annual celebration of the beauty of the Hudson River and unity of the local community is back and better than ever this year. I’m proud to announce that I will be co-sponsoring RiverFest 2015 and was able to secure Grammy award-winning group Blood Sweat & Tears to headline this special event,” said Senator Klein. “I applaud KRVC for their efforts in putting together this exciting summer concert, and I look forward to celebrating with everyone in just two short weeks. Hope to see you there!”

Multi-platinum music group Blood Sweat & Tears is best known for its chart topping hits like “Spinning Wheel,” “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy” and “Hi-De-Ho.” In 1968, Blood Sweat & Tears released its first self-titled album which went on to sell more than four million copies and was later awarded album of the year. The band has since performed sold out shows across the U.S. and abroad, and is widely regarded as one of the most beloved music groups of all time.

“I am thrilled about the addition of the very talented Blood Sweat & Tears to RiverFest 2015! RiverFest gets better and better every year, and I always look forward to it,” said Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz. “There is no better way to spend a beautiful summer day than having fun together with your community while listening to great live music. June 14th can’t come soon enough!”

"RiverFest 2015 is going to be the event of the summer! It is set to be even more exciting with Blood Sweat & Tears providing the entertainment. Thank you, Senator Klein, for bringing this much anticipated family event to Riverdale," said Council Member Andrew Cohen.

RiverFest 2015 will feature local musicians and entertainers like Rob Taube, Steve Oates, Rob Schiffmann and more. Families and children will have the chance to enjoy scenic boat rides, sample some delicious food, learn more about Riverdale’s waterfront community and take in a variety of fun-filled games and activities.

"Senator Klein has once again demonstrated that he fundamentally understands what makes a community vibrant and strong. Through his consistent support for KRVC and by bringing Blood Sweat & Tears to RiverFest, the Senator has moved the vision of a Hudson River Greenway in the Bronx closer to a reality. We applaud Senator Klein's leadership on this issue and commitment to support his work and the work of other community leaders in the days and years to come,” said Cliff Stanton, Greenway Director, KRVC.

"We are thrilled to have this fabulous addition to our RiverFest. It will truly enhance an already special community event. Bringing more people out to our festival with this great concert will allow us to reach more people with our message of how spectacular an all-riverfront Greenway will be for our community. We are very grateful to Senator Klein for making this all possible. We look forward to supporting and working with the Senator and our community leaders through all the steps we need to take to make the Hudson River Greenway a reality for the Bronx,” said Tracy McCabe Shelton, Executive Director, KRVC.

RiverFest 2015 will be held at the College of Mt. St. Vincent on Sunday, June 14th from noon to 6:00 p.m.

Above - The announcement for Riverfest 2015 came in front of the famous Yo Burger Restaurant located on Riverdale Avenue by West 238th Street.

Below - State Senator Klein announces that the music group Blood Sweat and Tears (of Woodstock fame from 1969) will be appearing at this years Riverfest 2015.

 

Above - KRVS Executive Director Tracy Shelton Thanks Senator Klein as she stands between Councilman Andrew Cohen and Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz. Senator Klein is hidden by Ms. Shelton.

Below - is a group photo of Ms. Shelton and Mr. Clifford Stanton of KRVC, with Senator Jeff Klein, and Mr. Mario Curaj the owner of the famous Yo Burger restaurant.

Some of the guests at the announcement of Riverfest 2015.

Council Member Andrew Cohen Co-Names West 205th Street between Goulden and Paul Avenues “Bronx Science Boulevard”

   Council Member Andrew Cohen was joined by Council Member Ben Kallos, Assembly Members Jeff Dinowitz and Keith Wright, Congressman Charlie Rangel, Congressman Eliot Engel's Chief of Staff (Class of 1987), and Bronx Science Alumni going back to Mr. Robert Rubenstein (Class of 1949), while he announced the co-naming of West 205th Street as “Bronx Science Boulevard.”

The Bronx High School of Science “Bronx Science” was founded in 1938. Since its founding, Bronx Science’s admission standards and student achievement have consistently ranked as one of the top high schools in New York City. As a Specialized High School, admission is based solely on a competitive written examination and is open for all prospective eighth and ninth grade student residents of New York City.

Co-naming West 205th Street as “Bronx Science Boulevard” honors a New York City organization of particular importance to the NYC Department of Education as one of its premier educational institutions and one that has cultivated its students into notable alumni, who have gone on to do exemplary acts and achievements in almost all spheres of society. Perhaps most importantly, Bronx Science has become known as an organization which has given many current students, alumni, and staff an enduring sense of school pride.

Bronx Science’s mission is: “To provide educational and social opportunities that are unique for gifted and talented students so as to prepare them for meaningful and useful roles in science and society.” Graduates have exemplified this mission and gone on to achieve success in almost every field: science; mathematics; politics; atomic physics; medicine; engineering; music and entertainment careers. Notable alumni include: eight Nobel Laureates; six Pulitzer Prize winners; and eight National Medal of Science winners.

“The Bronx High School of Science is a premier institution that has become a prominent landmark in our borough. It is important to acknowledge the quality education this elite school delivers and the dedication they have to preparing its students for a successful future. It is for these reasons that we are here today to recognize this commitment in the co-naming of West 205th Street ‘Bronx Science Boulevard,” said Council Member Andrew Cohen.

“As a graduate of the Bronx High School of Science I am absolutely thrilled that the City has decided to rename the neighboring section of West 205th Street in its honor. Bronx Science is not only the best school in the city, but perhaps in the country. Re-naming West 205th Street celebrates the school’s long tradition of academic excellence and relationship with the community, and I thank Council Member Cohen for making this possible,” said Assembly Member Jeffrey Dinowitz, Bronx Science Class of ‘71.

"Bronx Science Boulevard represents not just an institution but the learning and growth of generations of young people. Bronx Science shaped me into the person I am, as it does for so many students. The Boulevard, like Bronx Science, is here to stay," said Council Member Ben Kallos, Bronx Science Class of ‘98.

Above - Councilman Cohen explains why he is renaming the street in front of the Bronx Science High School Bronx Science Boulevard.

Below - Minnie Mangafas Class of 2015 told what it means to be a student at Bronx Science High School. She will be going to Vanderbilt University to study Nero Science. She may pursue politics later on in her life she said.

Above - Councilman is about to uncover the new sign.

Below - The new sign reveals 'Bronx Science Boulevard'.

Above - Congressman Charles Rangel arrived just as the sign was to be uncovered.

Below - Despite what you may have heard about Congressman Rangel attending Adam Clayton Powell Jr.'s 53rd birthday party the night before, Congressman Rangel said that he would be endorsing Manhattan Assemblyman Keith Wright to take over his congressional seat when the 40+ year legislator Rangel retires next year.

The elected officials are joined by Principal Donahue of Bronx Science High School as they hold up a duplicate street sign that was given to the school.

Sharing the message to #ActNowAlbany

  It is the opinion of the writer of this blog that Mayoral Control should and must be ended. Mayoral Control has led to an even worse situation of the public school system then before Mayoral Control was instituted. Mayoral Control has resulted in less education and s less rounded education for public school students. The standards that were to be in place when Mayoral Control was first instituted have been pushed back by 10 years, and public school students have lost those ten years of educational advances. State exam scores have plummeted during Mayoral Control, and the best answer one District Superintendent could give me as a reason was "The Test is Much Harder Now'. To that unnamed superintendent, Schools Chancellor Carmen Farina, and to Mayor Bill deBlasio I say that statement 'the test is much harder now' only proves that standards over the past 10 years have gone up while the quality of a New York City public education has gone down. The State Senate must not give in on this issue.

Here is the statement from Mayor Bill deBlasio to the public. 

Our state legislature is deciding the future of mayoral control of our city's schools right now -- and our students could feel the effects of that decision as early as July 1st. It's imperative that we let Albany know that mayoral control must be made permanent. 

Before mayoral control, the city's school system was fragmented. There was little accountability, and we saw far too many instances of waste, mismanagement, and corruption. 

In the more than ten years since mayoral control passed, we've seen improved attendance and graduation rates, safer schools, and more kids given the chance to succeed. We've increased parental engagement with teachers and are making parents and communities partners in shaping successful schools. But all that progress could halt if we don't make sure mayoral control is here to stay. 

Join me in calling on Albany to make mayoral control permanent -- add your name to our petition. 

So much of what we've accomplished together wouldn't have been possible without mayoral control. 

We're bringing free, full-day, high-quality pre-K to more than 70,000 children this September. Our Renewal Schools program is turning struggling schools around by providing them with the support and resources they need. These and other new programs are bringing innovation, collaboration, and comprehensive services into our schools. 

We've come too far to turn back now. Sign our petition asking Albany to make mayoral control permanent: 

nyc.gov/mayoralcontrol 

Thank you, 

Bill de Blasio
Mayor