1040 Grand Concourse at 165 St  Bronx, New York 10456  718.681.6000 | www.bronxmuseum.org 

First Fridays!: FILM NIGHT

In collaboration with the African Film Festival

July 15, 2011, 7:00-10:00pm

Music 7:00-8:30pm, Iboru (Afro-Cuban, Yoruba, Rumba)

Screening: 8:30-9:15pm

Joyce Kilmer Park (outdoor event!)

Grand Concourse Bet E 161 St and E 164 St

Rain location: Bronx Museum

Free Admission

FILMS

BONGO BARBERSHOP
Charlie Ahearn, USA, 2005, 8mins
An East African MC, Balozi Dola, wanders into a Bronx barbershop on his pilgrimage to find “the real hip hop.” Stubeling upon the pioneers of the New York hip hop scene, including Grandmaster Flash’s original partner DJ Eazy Mike, Balozi enters the scene rhyming with Grandmaster Caz.

ALL I WANNA DO
Michelle Medina, Morocco, 2010, 59mins
Forty-eight year-old Simohamed, who works as a parking guard, and his 17-year-old son Ayoub, get the opportunity to pursue their dreams of being hip hop artists.

Next First Fridays! FILM NIGHT
August 15, 2011, 7:00-10:00pm

For almost twenty years, AFF has bridged the divide between post-colonial Africa and the American public through the medium of film. www.africanfilmny.org

For more information: media@bronxmuseum.org or visit www.bronxmuseum.org
Bronx Museum of the Arts × 1040 Grand Concourse at 165^th St × Bronx NY 10456

 

Jeter Meter Update

  In Cleveland last night Derek Jeter got a single and a double in six at bats. This brings his hit total to 2,996, and only four hits short of 3,000 hits with five games left before the all star break.

  The Yankees conclude a three game series in Cleveland tonight. The Tampa Bay Rays then come into Yankee Stadium for four games before the all star break.

Joel Rivera Selling Real Estate in Throggs Neck?

   Joel Rivera, the City Council's majority leader is going to work for RE/MAX Results, a Bronx real estate broker based in Throgs Neck our friends at the Bronx News Network report here.

   BNN goes on to quote Joel Rivera, who talks about his commitment to public service, but also remarks that the Council Majority Leader will be term limited out of office and not able to run for his current City Council seat in 2013. BNN then speculates that current Assemblyman Jose Rivera (Joel's father) will retire when his son is term limited out of the council, so his son could then replace him in a special election.

   We will add that we were waiting for redistricting to happen, as we thought that brother Joel and sister Naomi would be trading offices, with Assemblywoman Naomi Rivera running for the 15th City Council seat that her brother had occupied for all these years. Then there was the possibility of a new East Bronx Congressional seat after redistricting which Councilman Rivera would have nothing to loose going after since he would still be in the City Council until Jan. 2014. Also to run after redistricting or in a special election a candidate does not have to live in the district, but must move in with in thirty days after winning the election. What's your take on all of this?

 

Jeter Meter Update

   Now that Derek Jeter has returned to the starting line up of the New York Yankees after rehab for an injury that sidelined him for over two weeks hie quest for hit number 3,000 continues. The Jeter Meter has been stuck at 2,994, but was turned on again last night when Jeter lead off against the Cleveland Indians. While there were fire works in Cleveland Jeter went 0 - 4 reaching on an error that does not count as a hit. 

  There are six games left before the All Star break, two in Cleveland, and then Tampa Bay comes to Yankee Stadium for four games right before the All Star Game. Jeter will appear in the All Star game as he was voted in as the starting shortstop. Can Jeter get hit 3,000 before the All Star  break?

NYC PENSION FUNDS EARN 20 PERCENT RETURN

New York City Comptroller John C. Liu today announced that preliminary numbers indicate the New York City Pension Funds recorded investment returns of more than 20 percent in Fiscal Year 2011, which ended June 30. This is the first time in 13 years the Funds have achieved this mark. The preliminary data indicates the Funds values at approximately $119 billion as of June 30, 2011, which exceeds the $115 billion pre 2008 crash peak, and the June 30, 2010 value of $97.8 billion.

The estimated returns for FY 2011, the first full fiscal year under Comptroller Liu who took office on Jan. 1, 2010, follow gains of 14 percent in FY 2010, and reflect stock and bond market recoveries, as well as new actions taken by the Comptroller’s Office and the Trustees of the Pension Boards.

“While the markets remain volatile, we have vigorously pursued a diversification strategy to enhance our returns while lowering pension costs to the City. This will protect pensioners and taxpayers alike in the long run,” said Comptroller Liu. “It has been gratifying to work closely with our dedicated Trustees to achieve these results.”

Together with the Trustees of the five Pension Boards, the Comptroller’s Bureau of Asset Management (BAM) has implemented a number of changes over the past 18 months in order to enhance the team managing the $119 billion NYC Funds.  BAM has added more than 150 years of investment experience to its ranks by hiring seasoned professionals to target asset classes such as public equities, hedge funds, fixed income, private equity and real estate.

In addition BAM, working with the Boards of Trustees, is completing asset allocation reviews of each of the Funds’ portfolios to more aggressively capitalize on market opportunities and diversify the mix of investments to mitigate against market fluctuations.

Comptroller Liu credited Deputy Comptroller for Asset Management / Chief Investment Officer Lawrence Schloss and the Bureau of Asset Management for helping the Funds attain these results.

Audited numbers for FY 2011 will be available in the coming weeks, and once compiled, a full fund by fund breakdown will be published on Comptroller Liu’s Pension NYC website
http://comptroller.nyc.gov/mymoneynyc/pensionnyc/.

 

             
           Bronx Democratic County Committee
                        Assemblyman Carl E. Heastie, Chairman

                           2011 Annual Dinner

                              To be held at Marina del Rey
                         1 Marina Drive, Bronx, NY 10465

                               Thursday, July 14, 2011
              Cocktails—6:00pm, Dinner and Program—7:00pm

 Join BDCC as they recognize these great honorees for their     commitment to the Bronx

            Stuart Appelbaum                                    April Horton
 President   Retail, Wholesale,                Director of Government &
 and Department Store Union                External  Affairs for Verizon

  Dr. Amarilis Jacobo, D.D.S.                           Stephen W. Nislick
  Executive Board Member                         Chief Executive Officer
 Bronx County Dental Society                   Edison Properties, LLC

    Jose Perez                                    Dr. Louis C. Rose, M.D.
      Founder                                Chief, Dept. of Orthopaedic Surgery
  Mastermind, Ltd.                  Westchester Square Medical Center

                                          G. L. Tyler
                                         Political Director
                                       District Council 1707

  For more information, call (718) 704-7039, or email qrosa@distinctivepa.com

MULLER LRA PROCESS ABANDONED

Bloomberg Administration hosts Hearing to Solicit Public Comment, Despite Having Made a Decision on the Reuse of the Muller Facility in November

 

Today, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. blasted the Bloomberg Administration for its refusal to follow through on a vote of the Muller Local Redevelopment Authority regarding a proposal to locate a 200-bed men’s shelter at the Muller Army Reserve Center, located at 555 Nereid Avenue, on the border of the Wakefield and Woodlawn neighborhoods.

Instead, the Bloomberg administration is claiming that a vote was held in November 2010, despite having hosted a public hearing on June 22, 2011, to solicit public input on the reuse of the facility in advance of a vote.

“It is crystal clear that the mayor’s office had no intention of ever really listening to the Bronx community on this issue. Despite close to 350 attendees of last week’s hearing—all of whom voiced their opposition to the plan—the Bloomberg administration is ignoring the clear will of the public and pretending that a vote took place last year,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

Diaz continued, “If a vote took place in November 2010, why did they bother having a public hearing last week? This bizarre decision shows an utter contempt for the people of Woodlawn, Wakefield and Kingsbridge Heights, if not the entire Bronx.”

Pursuant to the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process, the LRA is required to solicit community input in developing recommendations for the federal government on the reuse of surplus military facilities.

The failure of the Bloomberg administration to both consider this public input and to disregard the BRAC process has led the borough president’s office to seriously consider legal recourse.

“Everyone, with the exception of the Bloomberg administration, believes that the Muller facility should be used to house the National Guard units at the Kingsbridge Armory, freeing up their current home for public school construction. That the administration has not only ignored this recommendation, but is inventing meetings and votes to justify their position, is both an act of delusional desperation and a slap in the face to the Bronx,” said Borough President Diaz.