City Councilman Oliver Koppell will endorse Mayor Michael Bloomberg's re-election bid, he said during a phone conversation late this morning.
Mr. Koppell is endorsing Mr. Bloomberg because he feels the mayor has been an effective administrator, he said.
But he later added he's also endorsing Mr. Bloomberg in part based on the belief that the mayor — who many say has a fondness for innovation that comes with a resistance to criticism — would be more receptive to Mr. Koppell's views if he made the endorsement.
"The implication was that I would be viewed more as part of the team," Mr. Koppell said, if he issued an endorsement. However, he said, the Bloomberg campaign made "no specific promise" that reaching across party lines would get him a better seat at the table.
The Bloomberg campaign was not immediately available for comment.
The councilman's reasons were mainly based in the mayor's record, he said.
"I’m doing it because I believe he’s been a very good manager of the city," said Mr. Koppell. "He, with the Council, have put us in a position where notwithstanding the deep recession on Wall Street the city’s in an even keel financially, better than most."
He also cited improvements in education and the administration's willingness to work with local residents to tighten height restrictions in Riverdale/Kingsbridge-area zoning law.
Mr. Koppell, a Democrat who won his party's primary by an overwhelming margin thanks in part to the backing of a local political club, is bucking both his party and his closest political allies by making this endorsement.
"It’s very disappointing that Oliver has endorsed a Republican candidate," said Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, second in command of the Bronx's Democratic apparatus and one of Mr. Koppell's closest friends and political allies. "It’s inexplicable, but he’s certainly free to do whatever he wants, including endorsing the Republican."
The Benjamin Franklin Reform Democratic Club, a local political power center in Democratic politics, backed Mr. Koppell's re-election bid — but not before a healthy spate of hand-wringing after the last time the independent-minded councilman bucked his supporters. In 2008, the longtime legislator backed the established leader of the Bronx Democratic party although the BFRDC, and Mr. Dinowitz, were a major force in the insurgency that later deposed him. Mr. Koppell also angered his base by supporting Mr. Bloomberg's push for the legalization of a third term for council and mayor.
"Everyone, I guess ultimately has the right to make their own decisions, even bad decisions. And I put this one in that category," said Bruce Feld, a longtime leader in the Ben Franklin club. "What the consequences are, are we going to change the locks on the club? There will be people who are unhappy, just as I am unhappy."
Monday, October 26, 2009
Friday, October 2, 2009
Fewer trains, but you'll know when they come?
Here are a couple of things people in the Riverdale/Kingsbridge area might like to know this morning:
- The MTA announced a couple of weeks ago that there would be fewer No. 1 trains running in Upper Manhattan and the Bronx; now it appears that at least, you will know when it's going to get to your station.
- Bar-on-every-block Broadway in Riverdale/Kingsbridge will see the effects of a recently released report on the State Liquor Authority. The Albany Times-Union reports:
Even if only partially implemented, the commission's recommendations would result in the most profound changes to the way the SLA operates since its creation after the 1933 repeal of Prohibition. The public would see streamlined regulation of an industry with $9 billion in direct annual economic impact in the state, including faster license approvals and enhanced enforcement. Practical changes like expanded hours for alcohol sales and wine and spirits sales in stores currently limited to beer sales are also possible.
- Bronx-born Rep. Alan Grayson has stirred debate for his use of the word "holocaust" in a recent statement — and the Riverdale/Kingsbridge area's Rep. Eliot Engel is among those to weigh in. Among the questions: Is there a difference between a "holocaust" and "the Holocaust?"
“To me, there’s only one Holocaust, and I think excessive use of that word has the effect of trivializing the Holocaust,” said Rep. Eliot Engel, 62, who represents the Bronx neighborhood where Grayson grew up. “I know that wasn’t Congressman Grayson’s intention at all. I wish he would not use that word.”
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Here's your ticket. Have a great day!
City residents complained all summer that seeing orange so often — in the form of parking tickets — now has them seeing red. Maulleigh // flickr photo (Creative Commons)If you're one of the Riverdale/Kingsbridge area residents who feels particularly beset upon by traffic enforcement agents that many say are becoming more aggressive, here's some good news: The New York Times reports that Mayor Michael Bloomberg has announced that the city's meter-minders will go through sensitivity training.
Local media like The Riverdale Press throughout the city have been pointing out that, at the very least, residents of New York feel that the men and women of the NYPD's traffic bureau have become more aggressive, to the point where they prevent people who are momentarily double-parked from driving away (they used to just pull up behind a driver and blast their sirens once to get the driver to move along).
It was a constant refrain all summer. Local merchants in Kingsbridge say they're starting to feel the economic consequences. Mr. Bloomberg, who is now in the heat of a campaign to win four more years governing the ungovernable city, announced the sensitivity training as part of a plan to make it easier to park in the city.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Bronx pols: WFP potent, but no powerhouse
All this talk about the insurgent power of the Working Families Party seems frustrating to Assemblyman Carl Heastie, leader of the Bronx's Democratic establishment.
After all, he didn't just sit on his hands. He says he's the reason a major player in Bronx politics came to public advocate candidate Bill de Blasio's rescue in July when the Brooklyn city councilman was about to get knocked off the ballot.
The WFP played a prominent — and in one case controversial, thanks to an arm of its organization that provides campaign services to its chosen candidates — role in the runoff victories yesterday of Bill de Blasio and John Liu, who were seeking the Democratic nomination for public advocate and city comptroller, respectively.
But Bronx pols say it's too early to write the political machines out of the script and crown the WFP a new Tammany Hall — the legendary kingmakers of city Democratic politics who kept an iron grip on the levers of power. Tammany politicians, as they controlled the strings, dispensed patronage plums without shame and turned graft — only what they'd call "honest graft," mind you, seeing their opportunities and taking 'em — into a science. WFP leaders profess a more policy-minded agenda.
"People need to look at everything that was done to help a candidate," said Mr. Heastie, who also backed John Liu in the runoff election he won yesterday and Bill de Blasio in the race for the Democratic nod to become public advocate, "not just who scored the last touchdown."
For example, said Mr. Heastie, when Mr. de Blasio was in danger of being thrown off the ballot over the summer, the Bronx boss loaned the Brooklyn councilman one of the county's most powerful assets: power broker and election lawyer Stanley K. Schlein.
"When this happened, I said to Stanley, 'I’m with Bill de Blasio and I need you to do whatever you need to do to get him back on the ballot,'" Mr. Heastie explained.
(The Village Voice's Tom Robbins has pointed out that the controversial Mr. Schlein had a busy election year.)
"The Working Families Party has demonstrated that it is top-notch at organizing and helping to bring out votes," said Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, who was a supporter of Mr. Yassky's and who counts Plunkitt of Tammany Hall among his favorite books.
It's not yet clear if the WFP actually sent anyone Mr. Dinowitz's assembly district to pull for Mr. Liu yesterday, during what will likely go on record as an abysmally low-turnout election.
"I think most of what they stand for —" with the help of another Riverdale lawmaker, state Sen. Eric Schneiderman, they were chiefly behind the push this summer for tax increases for the wealthy, for example — "I stand for," he continued. "So I’m not displeased about that. I think that it’s important for every individual and organization to be involved in these elections, and in many areas of the city the political clubs are not what they used to be. They haven’t been for a long time. But I don’t think its fair to say that political clubs are nothing."
After all, he didn't just sit on his hands. He says he's the reason a major player in Bronx politics came to public advocate candidate Bill de Blasio's rescue in July when the Brooklyn city councilman was about to get knocked off the ballot.
The WFP played a prominent — and in one case controversial, thanks to an arm of its organization that provides campaign services to its chosen candidates — role in the runoff victories yesterday of Bill de Blasio and John Liu, who were seeking the Democratic nomination for public advocate and city comptroller, respectively.
But Bronx pols say it's too early to write the political machines out of the script and crown the WFP a new Tammany Hall — the legendary kingmakers of city Democratic politics who kept an iron grip on the levers of power. Tammany politicians, as they controlled the strings, dispensed patronage plums without shame and turned graft — only what they'd call "honest graft," mind you, seeing their opportunities and taking 'em — into a science. WFP leaders profess a more policy-minded agenda.
"People need to look at everything that was done to help a candidate," said Mr. Heastie, who also backed John Liu in the runoff election he won yesterday and Bill de Blasio in the race for the Democratic nod to become public advocate, "not just who scored the last touchdown."
For example, said Mr. Heastie, when Mr. de Blasio was in danger of being thrown off the ballot over the summer, the Bronx boss loaned the Brooklyn councilman one of the county's most powerful assets: power broker and election lawyer Stanley K. Schlein.
"When this happened, I said to Stanley, 'I’m with Bill de Blasio and I need you to do whatever you need to do to get him back on the ballot,'" Mr. Heastie explained.
(The Village Voice's Tom Robbins has pointed out that the controversial Mr. Schlein had a busy election year.)
"The Working Families Party has demonstrated that it is top-notch at organizing and helping to bring out votes," said Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, who was a supporter of Mr. Yassky's and who counts Plunkitt of Tammany Hall among his favorite books.
It's not yet clear if the WFP actually sent anyone Mr. Dinowitz's assembly district to pull for Mr. Liu yesterday, during what will likely go on record as an abysmally low-turnout election.
"I think most of what they stand for —" with the help of another Riverdale lawmaker, state Sen. Eric Schneiderman, they were chiefly behind the push this summer for tax increases for the wealthy, for example — "I stand for," he continued. "So I’m not displeased about that. I think that it’s important for every individual and organization to be involved in these elections, and in many areas of the city the political clubs are not what they used to be. They haven’t been for a long time. But I don’t think its fair to say that political clubs are nothing."
Stomped
Yesterday, City Councilman David Yassky lost to fellow city lawmaker John Liu in the runoff for the Democratic nomination to become city comptroller by a ratio of two-to-one through most of the Bronx, and a more respectable but still decisive margin citywide.
Except in Riverdale.
While few people I met on the street yesterday knew what a Yassky was, much less wanted to vote for him, the Brooklyn Heights lawmaker won in the 81st Assembly District, which has Riverdale, Spuyten Duyvil, Norwood and Woodlawn for corners.
Mr. Liu was the chosen candidate of the Bronx County organization; Mr. Yassky had the support of the Riverdale establishment.
Bill de Blasio also defeated former Public Advocate Mark Green for the Democratic nod to take Mr. Green's old job.
Both are virtually assured to assume their posts in January after a November general election.
Except in Riverdale.
While few people I met on the street yesterday knew what a Yassky was, much less wanted to vote for him, the Brooklyn Heights lawmaker won in the 81st Assembly District, which has Riverdale, Spuyten Duyvil, Norwood and Woodlawn for corners.
Mr. Liu was the chosen candidate of the Bronx County organization; Mr. Yassky had the support of the Riverdale establishment.
Bill de Blasio also defeated former Public Advocate Mark Green for the Democratic nod to take Mr. Green's old job.
Both are virtually assured to assume their posts in January after a November general election.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Riverdale Dems go against the machine
Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, the Bronx Democratic county organization's second-in-command, confirmed to me this morning that he supports City Councilman David Yassky — not the county pick, City Councilman John Liu — in the upcoming runoff primary election for the Democratic nomination to become city comptroller.
Mr. Yassky's spokesman, Danny Kanner, told me this morning that the Benjamin Franklin Reform Democratic Club endorsed Mr. Yassky last week.
With these endorsements, the Riverdale political establishment has chosen to compete locally against the Bronx Democratic County Committee. Mr. Dinowitz cautioned against reading into the decision.
"There are no implications with respect to my relationship with County whatsoever," he said.
The club had gone for decades as an uneasy fellow Democratic traveler with the county organization until last year, when a coup ousted the former leader and put Mr. Dinowitz and County Leader Carl Heastie, also an assemblyman, in the top two spots.
The club had a meeting planned for the day after last Tuesday's primary elections because it anticipated the runoff elections it now faces, and at that meeting, chose Mr. Yassky, Mr. Dinowitz said. The county organization met Thursday and announced its decision Friday.
"I have tremendous respect for John Liu and I think he would be a superb comptroller," Mr. Dinowitz said. "I just happen to think David Yassky would be a more superb comptroller."
The county organization announced before the primary that it backed Bill de Blasio for public advocate. The vote at Ben Franklin was too close to pick a winner, so the club will stay on the sidelines. Mr. Dinowitz is a fan of Mark Green, who previously served as public advocate.
Most politically minded folks in the city expect the turnout in the runoff elections, which were triggered because no candidate for public advocate or comptroller captured 40 percent of the vote, to be even worse than the trickle of voters in last Tuesday's primaries.
Mr. Yassky's spokesman, Danny Kanner, told me this morning that the Benjamin Franklin Reform Democratic Club endorsed Mr. Yassky last week.
With these endorsements, the Riverdale political establishment has chosen to compete locally against the Bronx Democratic County Committee. Mr. Dinowitz cautioned against reading into the decision.
"There are no implications with respect to my relationship with County whatsoever," he said.
The club had gone for decades as an uneasy fellow Democratic traveler with the county organization until last year, when a coup ousted the former leader and put Mr. Dinowitz and County Leader Carl Heastie, also an assemblyman, in the top two spots.
The club had a meeting planned for the day after last Tuesday's primary elections because it anticipated the runoff elections it now faces, and at that meeting, chose Mr. Yassky, Mr. Dinowitz said. The county organization met Thursday and announced its decision Friday.
"I have tremendous respect for John Liu and I think he would be a superb comptroller," Mr. Dinowitz said. "I just happen to think David Yassky would be a more superb comptroller."
The county organization announced before the primary that it backed Bill de Blasio for public advocate. The vote at Ben Franklin was too close to pick a winner, so the club will stay on the sidelines. Mr. Dinowitz is a fan of Mark Green, who previously served as public advocate.
Most politically minded folks in the city expect the turnout in the runoff elections, which were triggered because no candidate for public advocate or comptroller captured 40 percent of the vote, to be even worse than the trickle of voters in last Tuesday's primaries.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Bronx Dems pick comptroller candidate
UPDATED
The Bronx County Democratic Committee has chosen John Liu as its candidate in the upcoming runoff election that will determine who gets the Democratic nomination to be city comptroller.
It's highly unlikely that anyone other than the Democratic nominee will win in the general election in November.
The committee — and the local Benjamin Franklin Reform Democratic Club — backed Melinda Katz in Tuesday's primary, but she didn't qualify for the runoff. Ms. Katz announced her support for David Yassky, Brooklyn Heights' city councilman, Friday morning.
Mr. Liu was the first comptroller candidate to visit our newspaper.
"John Liu has been a consistent voice for communities across the City,
especially underrepresented communities like ours in the Bronx,”
said the Bronx Democratic organization's leader, Carl Heastie. “On top of his advocacy on the issues that matter most to middle-class families, John’s fiscal expertise is the kind of leadership we need for the 21st Century global economy.
Mr. Liu formerly worked as a financial consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers. Mr. Yassky, a former law professor, was a corporate lawyer and a budget analyst at the city Office of Management and Budget prior to joining the council.
In an interview with The Press before the primary, Mr. Yassky emphasized his successes in working to ensure Brooklyn waterfront rezoning would include affordable housing and fighting tax breaks for developers.
He also pointed out that he twice clashed with Mayor Michael Bloomberg's administration over proposed changes to the Red Hook Container Port, one of the last bastions of shipping in New York City. Mr. Bloomberg had proposed to close the port and replace it with residential development and attendant, residential-friendly uses. That fight ended last year when the Port Authority and the company that runs the port, American Stevedoring, signed a new lease.
Among the city comptroller's duties is the responsibility to act as the mayor's auditor. (The comptroller also signs off on all the city's checks, authorizes procurement, and manages the city's pension fund.)
Unless current Comptroller William Thompson Jr. pulls off an unexpected miracle in the general election against Mr. Bloomberg, an ability to stand up to the famously independent-minded mayor will be a critical part of the job.
This post has been updated. It initially said that Ms. Katz endorsed Mr. Liu.
The Bronx County Democratic Committee has chosen John Liu as its candidate in the upcoming runoff election that will determine who gets the Democratic nomination to be city comptroller.
It's highly unlikely that anyone other than the Democratic nominee will win in the general election in November.
The committee — and the local Benjamin Franklin Reform Democratic Club — backed Melinda Katz in Tuesday's primary, but she didn't qualify for the runoff. Ms. Katz announced her support for David Yassky, Brooklyn Heights' city councilman, Friday morning.
Mr. Liu was the first comptroller candidate to visit our newspaper.
"John Liu has been a consistent voice for communities across the City,
especially underrepresented communities like ours in the Bronx,”
said the Bronx Democratic organization's leader, Carl Heastie. “On top of his advocacy on the issues that matter most to middle-class families, John’s fiscal expertise is the kind of leadership we need for the 21st Century global economy.
Mr. Liu formerly worked as a financial consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers. Mr. Yassky, a former law professor, was a corporate lawyer and a budget analyst at the city Office of Management and Budget prior to joining the council.
In an interview with The Press before the primary, Mr. Yassky emphasized his successes in working to ensure Brooklyn waterfront rezoning would include affordable housing and fighting tax breaks for developers.
He also pointed out that he twice clashed with Mayor Michael Bloomberg's administration over proposed changes to the Red Hook Container Port, one of the last bastions of shipping in New York City. Mr. Bloomberg had proposed to close the port and replace it with residential development and attendant, residential-friendly uses. That fight ended last year when the Port Authority and the company that runs the port, American Stevedoring, signed a new lease.
Among the city comptroller's duties is the responsibility to act as the mayor's auditor. (The comptroller also signs off on all the city's checks, authorizes procurement, and manages the city's pension fund.)
Unless current Comptroller William Thompson Jr. pulls off an unexpected miracle in the general election against Mr. Bloomberg, an ability to stand up to the famously independent-minded mayor will be a critical part of the job.
This post has been updated. It initially said that Ms. Katz endorsed Mr. Liu.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Bronx Dems will pick a runoff candidate
The Bronx Democratic County Committee just announced that they will meet tomorrow with City Councilmen David Yassky and John Liu, the two candidates in a runoff election for the Democratic nomination to be city comptroller, and make their endorsement in the race on Friday.
The Bronx Democratic machine endorsed City Councilwoman Melinda Katz in yesterday's primary.
The Bronx Democratic machine endorsed City Councilwoman Melinda Katz in yesterday's primary.
City Council race draws attention
The Democratic City Council primary got as much voter attention in the Riverdale/Kingsbridge area as the primary campaigns for public advocate and city comptroller, according to preliminary election results.
Others citywide are noting this "reverse drop-off" effect — where voters show up to the polls and vote in a City Council or public advocate race, the so-called bottom of the ticket, but not the mayoral primary at the top.
In Riverdale's 81st Assembly District, preliminary Board of Elections figures show that about 6,500 people voted in the City Council race — compared with only 5,726 votes in the Democratic mayoral primary, in which William Thompson Jr. scored a resounding victory over Tony Avella.
That's competitive with 6,678 votes cast in the public advocate's race and 6,915 in the comptroller's race, both of which were so close citywide that there will be runoffs.
Mark Green will face off with Bill de Blasio in a runoff for public advocate, and David Yassky and John Liu will square against one another to seek the Democratic nod for city comptroller, in about two weeks. Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, an veteran political campaigner and a leader in the local Benjamin Franklin Reform Democratic Club, says the runoff will be a difficult one to campaign for because holidays will interfere. Yom Kippur will be observed, for example, on Sunday, Sept. 27, and Monday, Sept. 28.
Turnout will probably be worse than it was yesterday.
Others citywide are noting this "reverse drop-off" effect — where voters show up to the polls and vote in a City Council or public advocate race, the so-called bottom of the ticket, but not the mayoral primary at the top.
In Riverdale's 81st Assembly District, preliminary Board of Elections figures show that about 6,500 people voted in the City Council race — compared with only 5,726 votes in the Democratic mayoral primary, in which William Thompson Jr. scored a resounding victory over Tony Avella.
That's competitive with 6,678 votes cast in the public advocate's race and 6,915 in the comptroller's race, both of which were so close citywide that there will be runoffs.
Mark Green will face off with Bill de Blasio in a runoff for public advocate, and David Yassky and John Liu will square against one another to seek the Democratic nod for city comptroller, in about two weeks. Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, an veteran political campaigner and a leader in the local Benjamin Franklin Reform Democratic Club, says the runoff will be a difficult one to campaign for because holidays will interfere. Yom Kippur will be observed, for example, on Sunday, Sept. 27, and Monday, Sept. 28.
Turnout will probably be worse than it was yesterday.
Election post-mortem
City Councilman Oliver Koppell delivers a victory speech to supporters after Tuesday night's Democratic primary election. Karsten Moran // Riverdale Press photo
Turns out Oliver Koppell might be an exception to a rule.
Several City Council incumbents who fought for the chance to seek a third term were denied that chance by voters yesterday, the Daily News reports. But not Mr. Koppell; he took 5,036 votes to former Community Board 8 Chairman Tony Perez Cassino's 2,836, according to tentative figures compiled by the Board of Elections.
Mr. Koppell's supporters seemed pleasantly surprised to win among voters who pulled the levers at Mosholu Montefiore Community Center, across the street from one of Mr. Cassino's campaign offices. But some voters who live near PS 81 were less pleased with Mr. Koppell; he won in the area but lost among a subset of about 230 Democrats there.
Mr. Cassino, incidentally, also appears to have won in the election district that includes the real estate office of his friend and political supporter Brad Trebach.
But those were the exceptions to the rule, and Mr. Koppell seems to be an exception, too.
In the nearby 14th City Council District, which includes Kingsbridge Heights, Maria Baez may not be another exception. The incumbent Ms. Baez is currently trailing Bronx County Democratic Committee candidate Fernando Cabrera, a preacher and professor, by about 90 votes. Supporters figure there's little chance that absentee or paper ballots will upset the preacher's apparent victory over the incumbent.
Friday, September 4, 2009
UPDATED No to Related's Armory Deal: Diaz
Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. announced that the current deal for the sale of the long-defunct Kingsbridge Armory, pictured above during a tour for a reporter, doesn't meet with his approval as it now stands. Karsten Moran // Riverdale Press photo
Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. announced earlier this morning that he has formally told the City Planning Commission he thinks the sale of the Kingsbridge Armory to the Related Companies should not happen.
Mr. Diaz said he could not recommend approval of the sale of the Kingsbridge Armory to the Related Companies unless the developer signs a community benefits agreement. Related seeks to turn the 600,000-square-foot, long-vacant, historic armory into a mall. The developer would build a multi-story structure inside the Armory shell to create a grand total of about 800,000 square feet of available space, including a movie theater and a parking garage. The city has offered Related a low sale price — $5 million — and about $20 million in tax breaks. Related says the whole project would cost about $324 million to complete.
"We’re hopeful that they will come to the table, but as of now we’re not satisfied," said Mr. Diaz's spokesman, John DeSio. "We don’t have a CBA yet, we want to have a CBA before we approve this."
In a statement, Related spokeswoman Joanna Rose said the company is unwilling to consider commitments that would make the project non-viable. Related believes a living wage provision — which would, one way or another, compel tenants at the Armory to pay employees at least $10 with benefits or $11.50 without — is such a commitment.
"While the Armory's redevelopment will, in fact, generate significant benefits for the community - a point underscored by Community Board 7's overwhelming approval - the fact of the matter is that several of the proposed 'CBA principles' would render this project completely unbuildable and unfinanceable for Related or any other developer," the Related statement read. "While we recognize that many of these requests may come from sincere and good motives, they lack any comprehension of the realities of development within the current economic climate and would directly impact the project's viability and jeopardize its 1,000 new union construction jobs and 1,200 permanent jobs in The Bronx."
Neighborhood activists point out those permanent jobs are called "full-time equivalent" — which they take to mean, in essence, part-time.
Mr. Diaz's recommendation comes after a Monday meeting between his bargaining team, representatives of the Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment Alliance — comprising neighborhood activists and the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union — Community Board 7 and Related, Mr. DeSio said. He would not provide details about the substance of the meeting.
Mr. DeSio indicated that Mr. Diaz could change his tune — if Related does first. The City Planning Commission will hold its hearing on the project on Sept. 9 and the City Council will then consider it. Mr. DeSio said more meetings with Related are expected.
In his written recommendation to the City Planning Commission, Mr. Diaz said, among other things:
- There was no viable market study of the project — including what the city-subsidized Armory project would do to River Plaza, the mall in Marble Hill anchored by a Target, or to local businesses around the Armory;
- He was concerned about traffic impact on Van Cortlandt Park South and the Bx1 and Bx2 bus lines, which connect Kingsbridge to the Grand Concourse;
- The Department of Education, which, like the city Economic Development Corporation spearheading the deal, is controlled by the mayor, has not given assurances that there would be at least two schools located as part of the Armory deal;
- The city has not earmarked the $5 million sale price, which Mr. Diaz believes should go towards development and maintenance of an Armory community facility rather than to the city's coffers;
- The city has made no mention of a non-Dept. of Ed educational facility in the Armory, such as acknowledging Lehman College's quiet but oft-repeated request for a satellite facility there, or rehearsal and performance space;
- He disliked certain design elements, including no apparent provision of available street lighting.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Recognition for Kingsbridge Little League
We've been keeping people up to date on the many accomplishments of Kingsbridge's Little League travel teams all summer, and now they're getting even wider article in The New York Times.
It's great that a team from Staten Island played in the World Series in Williamsport, Pa. and they deserve all the credit in the world. But it's worth noting when an accomplishment such as the Knight's going even further in a rival Little League World Series, in Massachusetts, doesn't get noted at all.
It's great that a team from Staten Island played in the World Series in Williamsport, Pa. and they deserve all the credit in the world. But it's worth noting when an accomplishment such as the Knight's going even further in a rival Little League World Series, in Massachusetts, doesn't get noted at all.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Health care "tele-town hall"
Rep. Eliot Engel will host a "tele-town hall" on health care tomorrow, Wednesday, Aug. 19, at 7:15 p.m.
It'll be a teleconference. Mr. Engel says there will be the opportunity to ask questions. The only way to participate is to either answer a robocall from his office this evening or to contact his office via e-mail to get on the list.
The e-mail address to send a message to in order to be included in the teleconference is engelhealth@mail.house.gov, and the message must be sent before 10 p.m. tonight.
Mr. Engel first announced tomorrow night's town hall in a press release this afternoon sent as I was speaking with him by phone.
We're somewhat scooping ourselves by posting this now. However, with his announcement going out to his constituent e-mail list only minutes ago, anyone who reads this in our newspaper will have already missed the chance to participate.
The event will be available for listening on Mr. Engel's Web site, www.engel.house.gov, beginning Friday.
It'll be a teleconference. Mr. Engel says there will be the opportunity to ask questions. The only way to participate is to either answer a robocall from his office this evening or to contact his office via e-mail to get on the list.
The e-mail address to send a message to in order to be included in the teleconference is engelhealth@mail.house.gov, and the message must be sent before 10 p.m. tonight.
Mr. Engel first announced tomorrow night's town hall in a press release this afternoon sent as I was speaking with him by phone.
We're somewhat scooping ourselves by posting this now. However, with his announcement going out to his constituent e-mail list only minutes ago, anyone who reads this in our newspaper will have already missed the chance to participate.
The event will be available for listening on Mr. Engel's Web site, www.engel.house.gov, beginning Friday.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Big stink in Riverdale
We've been getting complaints and inquiries all week about the reek coming from Van Cortlandt Park between the 240s and 250s. The Parks Department's been working to completely remake the Parade Grounds for quite a while. Eventually there will be ballfields and lots of grass to lay around on.
But right now, the only thing that anyone around here cares about is the smell of compost that's strangling the neighborhood. Sometimes it smells like horse manure. Sometimes it smells worse than that. People have called to say they're keeping their windows closed and huddling around the air conditioner even on cool nights just to keep the smell out.
We're investigating to find out when we can expect the stench to blow over, so to speak, and we'll post more details as we have them.
Did anyone go to the Philharmonic concert in the park last night? It started off OK, but ended up stinky. We'd love to hear your experiences.
You can also share with us on Twitter. We've tagged the stink #riverstale.
But right now, the only thing that anyone around here cares about is the smell of compost that's strangling the neighborhood. Sometimes it smells like horse manure. Sometimes it smells worse than that. People have called to say they're keeping their windows closed and huddling around the air conditioner even on cool nights just to keep the smell out.
We're investigating to find out when we can expect the stench to blow over, so to speak, and we'll post more details as we have them.
Did anyone go to the Philharmonic concert in the park last night? It started off OK, but ended up stinky. We'd love to hear your experiences.
You can also share with us on Twitter. We've tagged the stink #riverstale.
Bike racks in the Bronx
BoogieDowner noticed recently there aren't any bike racks in Marble Hill. Riverdale doesn't have any either.
The borough president's office — when Adolfo Carrión was running it — released a study identifying all the bike rack locations in the Bronx. I mapped the locations using Google Maps to help me while I was writing a story about this a couple of months ago. If you're looking for a place to park your bike, here's where they are, according to the beep's office:
If the friendly bloggers from Bedford Park noticed this problem, we figure maybe other folks have noticed too. So here's some information on the dearth of bike racks throughout Riverdale, which we've written about twice before.
The borough president's office — when Adolfo Carrión was running it — released a study identifying all the bike rack locations in the Bronx. I mapped the locations using Google Maps to help me while I was writing a story about this a couple of months ago. If you're looking for a place to park your bike, here's where they are, according to the beep's office:
If the friendly bloggers from Bedford Park noticed this problem, we figure maybe other folks have noticed too. So here's some information on the dearth of bike racks throughout Riverdale, which we've written about twice before.
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