Talk Bronx New York

The once-burning Bronx is now booming, relatively speaking. It was the only borough in the city to record an increase in employment in the first quarter of the year compared to the year earlier, growing 1.1%, or by roughly 2,200 jobs, according to data released Friday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The borough’s employment growth was surpassed by only three other counties in the country, BLS reported, as the recession battered local economies from coast to coast. It was driven largely by a 5,000-job increase in the education and health care sector, which accounts for about a third of the borough’s jobs. The report did not take into account the 1,773 jobs created by the opening of the Gateway Center in the South Bronx, as the mall didn’t open its doors until the second quarter.

“So much of the employment in the Bronx is insulated from the downturn,” said James Parrott, chief economist at the Fiscal Policy Institute, citing the borough’s reliance on the health and education sector, one of the only areas of the city economy that has grown during the recession.

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Rubén Díaz Sr., a New York state senator, has argued that a bill legalizing gay marriage should not be allowed to come to the floor

 Every Sunday morning, the deep, melodious voice of State Senator Rubén Díaz Sr. rumbles across the congregation at his Bronx church. On weekdays, it echoes across the Senate chamber as he rails against Medicaid cuts or abortion. Earlier this year, it enthralled thousands at a boisterous rally against same-sex marriage.

Rubén Díaz Sr., a state senator and Pentecostal minister.

But ask him about the gay people in his own life, and Mr. Díaz’s voice grows quiet. His smile vanishes.

Two of his brothers are gay, he murmurs, one of them recently deceased. So is a granddaughter. There is an old friend who works for him in the Senate. And a former campaign aide.

“I love them. I love them,” says Mr. Díaz, who grew up one of 17 children in Puerto Rico. “But I don’t believe in what they are doing. They are my brothers. They are my family.”

His voice rises again. “So how could I be a homophobe?”

For those fighting to expand gay rights, Mr. Díaz, a Pentecostal minister, represents the most outspoken and unpredictable of foes. He was forced to resign from the city’s Civilian Complaint Review Board years ago for suggesting that the Gay Games would encourage homosexuality and spread H.I.V. In 2003, he sued the city to shut down a high school for gay and transgender students.

As advocates push for a vote on same-sex marriage in the State Senate on Tuesday, Mr. Díaz is again speaking out, arguing that last week’s election results show that the tide has turned against allowing gay people to wed.

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Hundreds of Soundview residents demanded change at P.S. 47 on Tuesday, November 3 and mayoral candidate Bill Thompson won the Bronx in a landslide but incumbent Michael Bloomberg eked out a third term.

The independent mayor, listed as a Republican on the ballot, beat Thompson, a Democrat and the city’s comptroller, 51 percent to 46 percent. Bloomberg spent more than $100 million on his campaign. Thompson spent less than $10 million.

Turnout at P.S. 47 on Beach Avenue was down compared to 2005, when Bloomberg defeated Democrat Freddy Ferrer, a poll worker reported. Turnout also decreased citywide: 200,000 less votes were cast in 2009. Bloomberg won only two Assembly Districts: the 80th District (Morris Park, Pelham Parkway, Allerton, Norwood) and the 81st District (Riverdale, Kingsbridge, Woodlawn).

Soundview belongs to the 18th Council District and was supposed to be a battleground between incumbent Democrat Annabel Palma, a former 1199 SEIU healthcare worker, and Green Party candidate Walter Nestler, a parks expert from Clason Point who raised an unexpected $14,389 and $38,700 in public funds.

But Palma crushed Nestler and 88 percent to three percent. Republican candidate Leopold Paul took eight percent and Conservative Party candidate Arqui Sanders took one percent.

Soundview resident Hector Lopez voted for the first time since 2006 and chose Thompson. Lopez is no fan of politics; he concentrates on his own work, he said.

“Somewhere down the line, all the elected officials screw us, Republican or Democrat,” Lopez sighed.

Noberto Perez voted for “the Democrat” because he wanted to property and utility tax increases curbed. The self-described “blue dog” Democrat thought the mayoral campaign was all “anger and spin.” Perez voted for Sanders. He hopes Palma will Soundview curb street crime and graffiti but won’t hold his breath.

“The City Council candidates don’t even need to campaign,” he said. “Nobody challenges them.” Read more..

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We’ve been covering Pedro Espada for more than 15 years now - although he stopped returning our calls when we slapped The Wascally Wabbit moniker on him (We’re told he WEALLY hates it).

Over that time, we’ve seen him play fast and loose, be it in politics (even secretly taping fellow pols), business, with campaign finance boards or the IRS - and get away with it.

But while he’s managed to squirm and brazen his way out of a bunch of jams, he’s REALLY outdone himself in the chutzpah department over the past few months, rising to state Senate majority leader by committing multiple counts of felony politics.

Just ask Albany Republicans and Democrats who’ve made handshake deals with him and wound up shy a few fingers.

He may be evil, he may be perverse (then again, he IS a politician), but the man is a genius.

Pedro’s parlayed his slippery loyalty, street-thug smarts, double-crossing reputation and don’t-give-a-damn attitude into not only becoming a major power in Albany, but the newest Bronx icon.

Type “Sen. Pedro Espada Bronx” on Google and he gets 236,000 hits - and counting. Jeesh!

El Diario’s Gerson Borrero quoted Pedro last week as telling reporters camped outside his Soundview health clinic: “Do you truly understand that I don’t give a s— about what you write?” Read more..

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                                                              Olga Mendez

Former State Sen. Olga Mendez, the first Puerto Rican-born woman in the nation to be elected to a state legislature, died Wednesday. She was 82.

Mendez passed away in her East Harlem apartment after a long battle with cancer.

The pioneering ex-senator represented East Harlem and the South Bronx for 26 years, developing a reputation as one of the city’s most prominent powerbrokers.

“Olga’s election to the state Senate as its first Puerto Rican woman was a tremendous symbol of hope for a community that now had a seat at the table,” Mayor Bloomberg said.

“Olga’s life was an inspiration to countless others, because the doors she bravely pushed opened stayed open for everyone else.”

Elected to the Senate in 1978, Mendez is credited with paving the way for the slew of Puerto Rican politicos to follow her.

“She opened doors for all who came after her, myself included,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. “She was a tireless advocate for the concerns of her constituents, and she will be sorely missed.”

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