The Bronx Chamber of Commerce Upcoming Events

Tuesday February 2, 2016 10 AM - 11AM

FREE Event  Advance Reservations Required Limited Space!

  Friday, February 5, 2016, 6 PM - 8 PM

Assemblymember Pichardo - Bronx residents are encouraged to install smoke detectors

  Will be providing free alarms at his Jerome Avenue office

Assemblymember Victor Pichardo (D-Bronx) announced that free smoke/carbon monoxide alarms will be available today at his Bronx office.

  “Installing these safety devices is a simple thing to do and can protect families in the event of a fire or emergency,” said Assemblymember Pichardo. “It could mean the difference between life and death.”

  Two recent incidents have highlighted the need for better home safety, Pichardo noted. On Dec. 11, there was a six-alarm fire on Valentine Avenue and on Jan. 12, a three-alarm fire occurred on the Grand Concourse. Assemblymember Pichardo has worked closely with community leaders and organizations to make sure that everyone affected by the fires received immediate assistance and housing.

  

  To ensure Bronx families have much-needed smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, Pichardo has partnered with State Senator Gustavo Rivera and New York City Councilmember Ritchie Torres, who will also be offering alarms in February and March at their offices. The events are co-sponsored by the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) and the American Red Cross.

   Residents can obtain an alarm by going to Pichardo’s office at 2175 Jerome Ave., Suite C, Bronx, NY, between 2 and 5 p.m. today. The distribution is on a first come, first served basis, but everyone who attends will receive an alarm; either in person at the event, or on a later date which includes free installation by the FDNY. For more information, call 718-933-6909.

TRUMP to Skip Tonight's Iowa Debate - Will SALAMANCA Do The Same in tonight's 17th City Council Debate Tonight?

  Donald Trump has announced that he will be skipping tonight's last Republican Iowa debate being held on Fox, and moderated by Megan Kelly. Trump instead will be holding his own event which he says will be better than the debate.

 With pressure mounting for accountability from Bronx Community Board #2 District Manager Rafael Salamanca there are now questions if Mr. Salamanca who is a candidate for the 17th City Council special election will show up to tonight's 17th City Council Special Election debate hosted by We Stay/Nos Quedamos.

    As each day passes new information about Bronx Community Board #2, its District Manager (and candidate in the 17th Special Election) Rafael Salamanca, The Bronx Democratic County organization, and the relationship between Bronx Democratic County Leader Assemblyman Marcos Crespo and Bronx Community Board #2 District Manager (and candidate for City Council) Rafael Salamanca. 

   

NYC City Council District 17 Candidates Forum Wed. January 27.

As of December 31, 2015 our local City Councilwoman, Maria del Carmen Arroyo has resigned from her seat and there will be a special election for Arroyo’s replacement on 2/23/16.  

Due to the short time from Arroyo's resignation announcement and quick turnaround which will no doubt limit our community's participation as voters, we are coordinating this forum to ensure the community is aware of this special election, and ultimately able to fully participate both in hearing from the candidates and demonstrate that our local residents care by voting in significant numbers.

SIMULTANEOUS TRANSLATION WILL BE PROVIDED IN SPANISH

WHEN

Wednesday, January 27, 2016 from 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM (EST) - 

WHERE

Pregones Theater - 575 Walton Avenue. 1. Bronx, NY 10451 -

United War Veterans Council Enlists Public to Show Love to Vets/Active Duty Personnel this Valentines Day

  The United War Veterans Council (UWVC) invites the public to show their love for those who serve or have served our country by sending Valentines cards and gifts, which UWVC will deliver to veterans and active duty military personnel at Veterans Administration facilities, other veterans service centers and military facilities in all five boroughs of New York City.

            The public is asked to send Valentines cards, small gifts and packaged candy, including sugarless candy to:

Valentines for Vets & Service Members

C/o Soldiers', Sailors', Marines', Coast Guard and Airmen’s' Club

283 Lexington Ave.

New York, NY 10035

Please send your cards and gifts by Friday, February 5.

            “Let’s show the love to our veterans and those still in service on Valentine’s Day and every day,” said UWVC incoming President Dan McSweeney.  “We see it every year when we deliver these cards and gifts, how this small gesture on your part means so much to the men and women who receive these expressions of your love, respect and gratitude.”

New York City firefighters who also are veterans have volunteered to help the UWVC deliver the cards and gifts to locations such as the Manhattan and Brooklyn VA hospitals, Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn and the U.S. Coast Guard base at Fort Wadsworth on Staten Island. 

The U.S. Coast Guard is the featured service for the 2016 Veterans Day Parade, November 11, marking the fifteenth anniversary of 9/11 and dedicated especially to veterans who have served since 9/11 and to first responders, including the Coast Guard.

About United War Veterans Council

The United War Veterans Council, Inc. (UWVC) is a 501-(c) (19) non-profit organization that is dedicated to mobilizing the public to honor, support and serve America’s veterans through a wide range of activities and initiatives. We produce America’s Parade (the NYC Veterans Day Parade), the largest celebration of service in the nation.  Since our inception, the UWVC has been a non-political, non-partisan organization, with no agenda or purpose other than serving our veterans. We represent the mosaic of the veterans’ community, encompassing veterans of all eras and backgrounds. www.uwvc.org / FB / Twitter.

Council Member Andy King To Offer Free Healthcare Enrollment & Referral Assistance on Thursday to Bronx Residents

  The Office of Council Member Andy King, in cooperation with MetroPlus and LiveOn New York, will be hosting free health-care enrollment and benefits referral service on Thursday, Jan. 28th, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the district office of Council Member Andy King, 940 East Gun Hill Road, Bronx.

Representatives from MetroPlus Health Plan will be available to assist New Yorkers who need to renew or sign-up for healthcare insurance.  MetroPlus Health Plan is part of the NY State of Health, The Official Health Plan Marketplace.

And, LiveOn New York will provide assistance with Medicare Benefits, SNAP, SCRIE and other referral services.   

In addition, guest DJs from WBLS radio station will be on-site to provide music. The event is free and open to the public.

For more information, please call the Office of Council Member Andy King at (718) 684-5509.

Response to Freedom of Information Request From Bronx Community Board #2 Chair Dr. Ian Amritt

January 25, 2016

I am writing as the Chairman of Bronx Community Board #2, with respect to the New York State FOI Law (Public Officers Law, Article 6, S.84 et. seq., referred to herein as the “FOIL”), Community Board #2 has received your FOIL request.  

As per the FOIL, we will contact you within the next 20 business days to let you know which documents we are in possession of that are responsive to your request, how to access those documents and whether access has been denied to any documents. 

Sincerely,

Dr, Ian Amritt

Chairman

EDITORS NOTE:

As I suspected the 20 business days would be after the Special Election that the current District Manager of Community Board #2 is involved in. As for which documents the community board is in possession of, should be all six items that were requested for viewing and/or coping were. 

1- Minutes of Community Board #2 full board meetings dated back to January 2011.

2- Minutes of Community Board #2 Executive Board  meetings dated back to January 2011.

3 - Minutes of the Community Board #2 District Service Cabinet Meetings dated back to January 2011

4 - Time Sheets for Community Board #2 staff dating from July 1, 2015 to January 15, 2016.

5 - Any communication from the District Manager Rafael Salamanca as to when he decided to run for elected office in 2015 or 2016.

6 - Any discretionary funding spent by Bronx Community Board #2 dating back to January 2011. 

The above six items should be on hand in a community board office. It is the job of the community board district manager to maintain community board files and records in both paper and electronic forms. The district manager works with the officers of the Board on its internal budget and payment processing. The District Manager presides over monthly District Service Cabinet meetings, which includes establishing the agenda and creating and preparing reports to the Board. The District Manager takes minutes of selected monthly meetings  

I can not understand why these documents that have been requested to see are not available when they should be. The only answers I can then conclude is that the documents requested do not exist, or are being hidden from the public as not to implicate the Community Board #2 District Manager Mr. Rafael Salamanca, other Community Community Board #2 members, and or any elected official involved with Bronx Community Board #2 in any way.