East Bronx City Councilman Jimmy Vacca may be stepping up in that august body.
He is now chairman of the Council’s committee on fire and criminal justice services, but our City Hall consigliere Frank Lombardi tells us the powers that be are pushing to give the hardworking Jimmy the plum job of chairman of the transportation committee.
After finance and land use, it’s the third most powerful committee, drawing heavy media attention.
John Liu leveraged his chairmanship of it to help propel him into the controller’s seat.
Giving Jimmy the committee would give him a chance to take on the MTA, add muscle to the Bronx delegation and help position him for possible higher office - maybe borough president, should Ruben Diaz Jr. decide to step down to run for some citywide office (mayor?) in 2013 when Jimmy’s term expires.
First, Mayor Bloomberg got his finger nipped in the groundhog’s den.
Now, he’s finding something else getting nipped in a lion’s den, dealing with Bronx Republican Party Chairman Jay Savino and the other GOP county leaders.
Savino is digging his heels in over endorsing the Man Who Would Buy King, saying Bloomberg’s not likely at the moment to win the legally required support of at least three county leaders to put him on the Republican ticket for a third term.
Bloomberg’s history as a swinger - from registered Dem to Republican to independent - has left all five county leaders unhappy.
“But it’s more about a couple of issues - extending term limits, congestion pricing and the tax hikes,” said Savino, who is a strong supporter of Rudy Giuliani - who’s a strong supporter of Bloomberg. But it hasn’t swayed Savino.
In fact, the Bronx party is throwing a spring reception, honoring, among others, billionaire bizman and potential GOP mayoral candidate John Catsimatidis. Read more..
NYC DOT and NYC Transit have begun presenting at Bronx community boards to help promote the June 29 launch of NYC’s first bus rapid transit route along Pelham Parkway and Fordham Road in the Bronx. The new service, known as Select Bus Service, has distinct features that will make riding the bus a new experience for transit riders along the corridor.
As MTR wrote earlier, Select Bus fares will be paid under a “proof of payment” system where riders would pay at stations and show a receipt if asked by on-board fare collectors. This will shorten delay caused as passengers pay one by one at the head of the bus.
Famed Arthur Ave., the ‘Little Italy of the Bronx,’ would be spruced up under BID plans.
Little Italy Gets ‘BID Guys’ To Take Care Of The Neighborhood
The “Little Italy of the Bronx” may soon have its own little Renaissance.
Efforts are underway to create a Business Improvement District in Belmont that would include popular shopping and restaurant stretches like famed Arthur Ave.
“There are so many positive things taking place in this neighborhood,” said Community Board 6 District Manager Ivine Galarza. “This BID would really enhance the whole area.”
The effort, which is being led by the Belmont Small Business Association, has been in the works for two years.
The community board will hold a special hearing on the proposal at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 13, at the Belmont Library, 610 E. 186th St., to get local business and community input. The board meeting also will include an update on the redesign of the Fordham Mall Plaza.
The Belmont BID plan, which needs approval from the community board, City Council and Mayor Bloomberg, would allow for additional sanitation, security and marketing services.
Merchants, business owners and commercial property landlords would be charged various fees expected to total $340,000 annually.
The BID would be home to more than 300 businesses spread across 37 blocks bounded by Fordham Road to the north, E. 183rd St. to the south, Lorillard Place to the west and Southern Blvd. to the east.
More than 50 similar BIDs exist throughout the city.
“Every single one of them has brought increased shopping, increased foot traffic, and safer and cleaner conditions for everyone,” said Frank Franz of the Belmont Small Business Association.
One major proposal under the BID would be to expand parking in three popular shopping districts: on Arthur Ave., 187th St. near Beaumont Ave., and Fordham Road near Southern Blvd.
Other possible projects include steam-cleaning sidewalks, video surveillance, facade improvements and promotional events such as street fairs and boccie tournaments. “There are a lot of opportunities here,” Franz said.
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