Talk Bronx New York

A Rift Among Bronx Democrats at Annual Dinner

In many ways, Thursday night’s Bronx Democratic County dinner at the Marina Del Rey waterfront catering hall was typical. The powerful figures of Albany — Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo — were there to honor the party chairman, Assemblyman Jose Rivera. Various aspirants for citywide office were there, too.

But the dinner was as notable for who didn’t attend as for who did — exposing a deep rift in the Bronx party.

Among those who declined to appear were State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. and his son, Assemblyman Ruben Diaz Jr. Also absent were Assemblymen Carl Heastie and Michael Benjamin as well as City Councilwoman Helen Foster.

Many dissidents fault the leadership of the 72-year-old Mr. Rivera, explaining that they are upset he chose to endorse Maria Matos for a Civil Court judgeship, selecting her over their choice, Elizabeth Taylor. Another point of tension is Assemblyman Diaz’s plan to run for Bronx borough president next year — with his strongest competitor being Mr. Rivera’s son, City Councilman Joel Rivera.

Read more..

(No Ratings Yet)
 Loading ...
 Email This Post

Eleven schools in Bronx will have new play spaces for September 

When students at 11 Bronx schools return in September, ready to buckle down to work, they’ll also have a place to play for the first time.

The nonprofit Out2Play is building playgrounds this summer at elementary schools that have dilapidated play spaces or lack playgrounds altogether.

Andrea Wenner, the group’s founder and director, said a recess period without a playground can lead to trouble.

“They’re not being physically active,” she said. “They’re getting into fights and not interacting in a constructive way.”

A lack of exercise coupled with overeating is a serious problem in the Bronx, where the obesity rate is 42% - the highest in the city - according to a report by Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrión’s office.

The three-year-old organization has already put up 15 city playgrounds, but Wenner said there are still more than 120 elementary schools, including 25 in the Bronx, lacking a place for kids to play.

At Public School 55, a playground has meant fewer fights and falls, fewer scraped knees and fewer bloody noses, said Principal Luis Torres.

Read more..

(No Ratings Yet)
 Loading ...
 Email This Post

Yankee Stadium Bonds Request Defended as Good for the Bronx

The Bloomberg administration is defending its decision to seek additional tax-exempt bonds for the new Yankee Stadium, pointing to the new jobs, increased revenue, and parkland the project will bring to the Bronx.

The new Yankee Stadium, scheduled to be ready for Opening Day 2009, has already received $942 million in tax-exempt financing, but the Yankees are seeking additional tax-exempt bonds that would primarily fund “scope improvements” such as a scoreboard, concession stands, and other stadium amenities.

Since the Tax Reform Act was enacted in 1986, private developers have faced more restrictions when trying to get tax-exempt bonds for stadiums. In 2006, the Yankees, with the support of the Bloomberg administration, avoided such restrictions by having the city and state pay off the bond debt with money received from the Yankees, also known as payment in lieu of taxes.

The IRS is in the process of closing this loophole, but city officials are requesting that they not.

Read more..

(No Ratings Yet)
 Loading ...
 Email This Post