Talk Bronx New York

Bronx Residents’ Crime, Safety Concerns Lead Quality of Life Survey

A citywide survey has everyone raving about their ‘hoods, but Bronxites are apparently not so happy in theirs - when it comes to crime and safety.

The quality of life survey by the Citizens Committee for New York City found issues Bronx residents also rated as most important - but of the lowest quality - were clean sidewalks, streets and open spaces; clean air; public officials’ responsiveness to neighborhood needs; quiet neighborhoods and good public schools.

They were most satisfied with proximity to public transportation as well as shops, restaurants, parks and playgrounds. They were also happy with the borough’s diversity and having neighbors they get along with.

The survey questioned 340 Bronxites. While statistically a low sample, the Citizens Committee said it sought a broad range of respondents - in parks, on street corners, outside the Bronx Public Library and on the Grand Concourse.

“I think it is significant that everywhere else in the city beside the Bronx considers their neighborhoods relatively safe,” said Jemilah Magnusson, spokeswoman for the Citizens Committee, a nonprofit group that promotes civic engagement. “Even if it is just perception.”

John Robert, district manager of Community Board 2 in Hunts Point-Longwood, said he thinks the results are representative.

“All of the outer boroughs suffer from the stepchild thing, but we’re maybe the third stepchild,” he said. “The Bronx is on the back burner.”

Residents elsewhere gave their boroughs a fair-to-excellent rating on safety. Bronxites gave the borough’s safety a lower rating of poor to good. Read more..

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Bronx Zoo Director Jim Breheny has ‘Animal Magnetism’

When Jim Breheny talks about the 13-foot Nile crocodile in the exhibit on Madagascar opening next month at the Bronx Zoo, it’s easy to picture the teen who began working there 35 years ago.

“Can you imagine the kids? They’re going to flip!” Breheny exults, describing the 2-inch Plexiglas window that’ll bring the crocodiles nose-to-nose with visitors.

At age 14, Breheny took a summer job leading camel and pony rides at the zoo. Two years ago, he became vice president of the Wildlife Conservation Society and director of the Bronx Zoo.

“I keep waiting for the real guy to show up,” Breheny joked. “I never would have believed I’d be in this position. It’s just amazing.”

Though surprised to find himself in the top post, Breheny knew he wanted to make a career at the zoo from the moment he started working there.

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Is Jose the Bronx Beaver Still Around?

Jose, the Bronx River beaver.

Bite marks like these give hope that Jose is still alive.

Fans of Jose, the famous Bronx River beaver, are hoping he isn’t resting in peace.

The bucktoothed, broad-tailed furry symbol of the once badly polluted river’s slow rebirth is hopefully still alive and well, gnawing away on tree branches for his riverbank lodge inside the protective grounds of the New York Botanical Garden.

His fans and river supporters became concerned last month when scuba and harbor unit cops patrolling the East River near the United Nations for the Pope’s visit rescued a beaver floundering in the water there.

Named after Rep. Jose Serrano (D-Bronx), who has pumped federal money into cleaning up the river, Jose had not been spotted for some time, and his fans fear the nocturnal furry guy might have been drawn downriver, attracted by the bright lights of the big city.

Cops said the animal they spotted midday in the East River on April 18 was tilted unnaturally and showed labored breathing.

They lassoed the struggling 40-pound, 4-foot-long male with a safety noose and hauled it aboard the harbor patrol boat.

Unfortunately, the animal later died as it was being transported to an upstate animal clinic.

Stephen Sautner, assistant director of conservation communications at the Wildlife Conservation Society at the Bronx Zoo, said it has been awhile since anyone has actually seen Jose.

“The last I heard of a confirmed sighting on the Bronx River property was in August last year during some of the herring surveys along the river,” he said. “Someone even clicked a photo. Nothing confirmed since then.”

But Sautner offered some hope Jose is alive and well.

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