Talk Bronx New York

Batesheba Baskin picking up her daughter Paris from Girls Prep charter school in the Bronx. The school is sharing space with a middle school

 New York City public school students don’t head back to class until next Wednesday. But some charter schools have already opened, including a new one in the Bronx just for girls. As WNYC’s Beth Fertig reports, Girls Prep Bronx is part of a movement to expand single sex education.

JENKINS: OK, every team go ahead pick a book

The 19 first graders in teacher Lois Jenkins’s class are all sharply dressed for the first day of school. Their hair is neatly pulled into pony tails, or braided with beads. Their school uniforms are fresh navy jumpers with clean white shirts, no wrinkles.

Jenkins is teaching the girls to use the classroom library. She also teaches them how to encourage each other.

JENKINS: Turn to the girl next to you and tell her “you did a good job.” GIRLS: You did a good job!

CARBONE: One of our core values is sisterhood.

Josie Carbone is the principal of Girls Prep Bronx, which opened yesterday in Hunts Point.

CARBONE: And so what we’re trying to foster is this idea that we all get better by supporting one another. And that it’s not about a competition but about lifting every one up.

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Some of the fiercest opposition to Governor Paterson’s same-sex marriage bill is coming from a fellow Democrat. Bronx State Senator Ruben Diaz is also an evangelical minister. WNYC’s Elaine Rivera has more.

REPORTER: Diaz says Paterson insulted all people of faith by introducing the bill so close to major holidays and the installation of a new catholic archbishop. Diaz is planning a rally next month when he’ll call for Paterson’s ouster:

DIAZ: You could put it down, during the month of May, we will bring out thousands and thousands of Hispanic evangelical christians in the city of New York to ask Governor Paterson to step aside.

REPORTER: Diaz is predicting the bill won’t make it past the state senate, but Paterson and bill supporters say they believe they can find the votes. For WNYC, I’m Elaine Rivera. Read more..

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NEW YORK, NY February 26, 2009 —The crisis that started on Wall Street is now hitting main streets everywhere. WNYC has started a new project called Main Street NYC to track the changes on five streets. Last month we took you to Smith street in Brooklyn. In the Bronx we’re going to 161 st Street just in the shadow of the new Yankee Stadium.

Visit Main Street NYC for more photos

Urban planners and developers have begun the process of converting this commercial strip into a global marketplace. A massive proposed rezoning has many long time Bronx residents watching this street closely. WNYC Elaine Rivera has the story.

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