Tuesday, May 23, 2017
STATEMENT BY THE NATIONAL PUERTO RICAN DAY PARADE - RE: Parades' Decisions Cause Controversy
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Statement
RE: Parades' Decisions Cause Controversy
5/22/2017
The NYPD Patrolmen's Benevolent Association's (PBA) issued a statement deciding not to participate in the largest celebration of Puerto Rican diversity in its 60th Anniversary because we are honoring Oscar López Rivera. This statement was confusing and incomprehensible, since they have not joined the Parade as a contingent ever. NYPD has and we urge them to do so this year.
Over the years, several New York City parades have honored leaders who elicit mixed reaction. We all remember the St. Patrick's Day Parade of 1983, when IRA leader, Michael Flannery of Queens, was chosen as Grand Marshal of the event. Although public opinion was divided, New York went ahead and celebrated Irish heritage. We all worked through the LGBT controversy of 1990, and the differences that arose with the Fire Department of New York in 2007. During these crucial times, the Big Apple's Irish American community, organized advocacy groups, public figures, and parade organizers, addressed their differences. In the end, unity prevailed and a great celebration of culture and pride took place each time.
This upcoming June 11, on New York's iconic Fifth Avenue, the National Puerto Rican Day Parade will display a celebration full of cultural diversity and pride. The Parade will continue to serve as educational platform, as it works alongside the community in a productive and positive manner. It will celebrate 100 outstanding young people who will receive the Parade's scholarships. And yes, it will create awareness on issues, even if controversial, that affect us as a Puerto Rican community like the commutation of Oscar López Rivera's sentence after 35 years in jail, a journey we began in 2014 with an awareness and solidarity campaign for his cause.
PBA's decision belongs to them; Goya's corporate decision belongs to them. We understand that others may not be able to be with us. However, we will continue to represent all voices, with an aim to spark dialogue and find common ground, so that we can help advance our community and build cultural legacy.
The Board of Directors of the National Puerto Rican Day Parade
Monday, May 22, 2017
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Sunday, May 21, 2017
BRONX WEEK PARADE ACROSS MOSHOLU PARKWAY
Today was the 'GRAND FINALE OF BRONX WEEK' with the Volunteer Recognition Breakfast, Bronx Walk of Fame Induction Ceremony where this year's Honorees were Latin music superstar Prince Royce, Hip-Hop pioneer Funkmaster Flex, Orange is the New Black star Selenis Leyva and medical inventor Dr. Manny Villafaña.
A parade down Mosholu Parkway with hundreds of students from Bronx schools and youth organizations, and then on the other side of Mosholu Parkway was the Music and Food Festival where Hip-Hop legends Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick, Latin Freestyle stars TKA and Salseros Los Adolescentes performed. Below are many photos of the Bronx Week Parade. Click on a photo to make it larger.
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Saturday, May 20, 2017
BJCC Breakfast for Champions 2017
This event serves as an important fundraiser for BJCC. It allows us to continue doing the work we do in our community. Tickets and journal ads can be purchased at our NY Charities Page. We look forward to seeing you on June 14!
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DE BLASIO ADMINISTRATION AND CITIZENS COMMITTEE CELEBRATE THE 2017 LOVE YOUR BLOCK SEASON WITH THE COLLEGE AVENUE BLOCK ASSOCIATION
Love Your Block, a grant program offered by NYC Service in partnership with Citizens Committee for New York City, awards 25 $1,000 cash grants to resident-led community groups in all five boroughs and links them to City Services to transform a public space in their neighborhood; 2017 grant recipients were announced in December 2016
The de Blasio Administration and Citizens Committee of NYC are celebrating the 2017 Love Your Block season in the Bronx today, highlighting first-time Love Your BlockAwardee, College Avenue Block Association as they revitalize a transformed garden lot adjacent to 487 College Avenue.
Today’s event is one of 25 resident-led volunteer projects in 20 communities across the five boroughs taking place this spring and summer. Through the support of the 2017 Love Your Block grant award – which includes a $1,000 cash grant, project planning assistance, and City services from the Departments of Parks, Transportation, Environmental Protection, and Sanitation – these 25 community-led groups are empowered to enhance and beautify public spaces in their neighborhoods.
“I want to recognize the College Avenue Block Association in the Bronx as well as all of the recipients of the 2017 Love Your Block awards and thank them for engaging residents to create change in our communities,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “We are beautifying our City while deepening our relationships with communities across the five boroughs and empowering residents with the tools to organize and engage others in their neighborhood to revitalize public spaces. I want to thank NYC Service, Citizens Committee for New York City, and our City agencies for partnering with residents to encourage civic engagement and make City services more accessible to all New Yorkers.”
“Love Your Block is about connecting NYC residents to resources as they work together to strengthen our City at the neighborhood level,” said New York City Chief Service Officer Paula Gavin. “We are thrilled to catalyze a spirit of volunteerism throughout the City by partnering with residents to improve our communities one block at a time and we are proud to recognize and support College Avenue Block Association for their leadership. We thank Citizens Committee and our City agency partners for their continued partnership as well as Citi and the New York Community Trust for their support of this important community initiative.”
“Block associations just like the College Avenue Block Association here in Melrose as well as so many others across the country are the building blocks of good neighborhoods, turning neighbors into friends and bringing people of every kind together,” said Peter H. Kostmayer,CEO of Citizen’s Committee for NYC. “College Avenue Block Association and the great Bronxites who have brought us together today have our thanks and congratulations.”
“There are so many reasons to be proud of being a New Yorker,” said Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie. “Today’s recipients of the Love Your Block Award embody that pride with their passion and commitment to improving our neighborhoods. The Assembly proudly supports these individuals and their efforts to improve our communities, which is why we have dedicated $375,000 to help continue this mission. Together with NYC Service and Citizens Committee, these recipients are giving New Yorkers yet another reason to be proud to call New York City home.”
College Avenue Block Association works to increase neighborhood green spaces by transforming abandoned lots and community spaces into gardens in an effort to improve the quality of life for neighborhood residents. Today’s project includes reseeding the lawn, organizing donated compost, painting garden beds, and planting flowers.
College Avenue Block Association joins more than 270 resident-led community groups across the City awarded Love Your Block grants over the last nine years. Since 2009, $295,000 in cash grants have been awarded, over 900 City services provided, and nearly 10,000 community volunteers have been engaged in beautification projects across all five boroughs.
“Within the past year, the once empty lot on College Ave has been transformed into the beautiful College Ave Garden of Hope that it is today,” said Wanda Swinney, President of College Avenue Block Association. “The garden is not just about planting seeds in the ground, it’s about the relationships and connections created in the community. The beauty is about bringing people together through educational programs and job training in the new College Ave Garden of Hope. It’s also to develop awareness, motivation, and encouragement because it takes a community to raise a child. This spring, everyone in the community will take part of the Love Your Block Day. We are truly grateful to Citizens Committee of New York City and NYC Service for awarding the College Ave Block Association its first-ever Love Your Block grant.”
Love Your Block follows the model of a national program offered by Cities of Service and is made possible through the generous support of Citi and the New York Community Trust. The goal of Love Your Block is to engage communities in neighborhood revitalization efforts benefiting low-income areas. Approximately 84 percent of the 2017 Love Your Block award recipients (21 out of 25) are based in neighborhoods below NYC’s median household income of $55,752.
In addition to financial support and connection to City services, grantees participate in workshops detailing the basics of community organizing, navigating City government, grassroots fundraising, and media tools. As a result, these organizations are more sustainable and better equipped to access City resources moving forward.
About NYC Service
NYC Service, a division of the Office of the Mayor, promotes volunteerism, engages New Yorkers in service, builds volunteer capacity and mobilizes the power of volunteers and national service members to impact New York City's greatest needs. To learn more about NYC Service and connect to volunteer opportunities across New York City, visit nyc.gov/service.
About Citizens Committee for New York City
Citizens Committee for New York City’s mission is simple: to help New Yorkers – especially those in low-income areas – come together and improve the quality of life in their neighborhoods. Residents are uniquely situated to define and act on the issues affecting their communities. When provided with modest support, neighborhood and school groups can effectively mobilize community resources to improve quality of life. Citizens Committee for New York City supports these grassroots efforts by offering grants, skills-building workshops and further technical support in the form of project planning assistance and an equipment share library. In 2016, we provided 421 projects with $1.6 million in grants and services, and our staff facilitated 30 workshops to over 500 social entrepreneurs. Since 1975, we have promoted the spirit of volunteerism, local engagement and social justice that drives our work. Visit us online at citizensnyc.org.
BP DIAZ HOSTS BRONX WEEK HEALTH DAY & STICKBALL CHALLENGE
As part of Bronx Week 2017 Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. hosted the annual #not62 Bronx Week Health Day, a day of celebrating physical activity and wellness. #NOT62is a Campaign for a Healthier Bronx. The event took place at Joyce Kilmer Park 161st Street opposite the Bronc County Building
There was also a non-partisan test of skill in the ancient New York City art of stickball. This took place on the service road of the Grand Concourse, and elected officials from other boroughs invited, photos are below.
Above - A dance contest went on with Grand Master Ruben doing the rapping.
Below - BP Diaz talks to the finalist of the dance contest, all of whom were winners.
Above and Below - After the dance contest it was Yoda class as BP Diaz showed off his ability to keep up with Bronx kids.
There was jump rope above, and then it was on to the stickball competition between the elected officials.
Councilman and City Council Parks Chair Mark Levine gets ready to hit the ball.
Above - State Senator Jamaal Bailey forgot he was in the shadows of Yankee Stadium as you see that he is wearing a Mets hat.
Below - Some of the elected officials provided a nice breeze as they whiffed on their swings. You can see Assemblyman Victor Pichardo swings, and looks where the ball went only to find out it is still in front of him.
Above - Bronx Democratic County Leader Assemblyman Marcos Crespo looks to be in trouble by his swing. Nope he did not hit the broadside of the #2 bus going by in the background.
Below - Mr. John Desio of the BP's staff warms up the plate as he watches one of his hits go far down the Concourse.
Above - Up to this point Assemblyman Robert Rodriguez had the longest hit as 225 feet. BP Diaz sends this ball 230 feet for the longest hit of the day.
Below - There were several women hitting the ball, but Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark (under the watch of her security detail) sent one for 100 feet.
REVISED CB 8 Traffic & Transportation agenda Thursday, May 25
Please note that this is a revised Traffic & Transportation Committee agenda. Agenda items number 2 and 3 have been added.
REVISED*
NOTICE OF MEETING
TRAFFIC & TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
DATE: Thursday, May 25, 2017 (Please Note Day)
TIME: 7:30 PM
PLACE: Park Gardens
6585 Broadway - First Floor - One floor up from the Lobby level
PUBLIC HEARING
7:30PM
NYCDOT proposal to narrow the width of Broadway along Van Cortlandt Park to create a
two-way protected bike lane with bus boarding islands from West 246th Street to the city line. In addition, DOT proposes changes to the intersection at Broadway and Mosholu Avenue and changes to Broadway at West 242nd Street to install a 100 Foot bus bulb and narrow the entrance of the service lane at West 242nd Street and Broadway.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK MAY SIGN UP
by calling the Board Office at 718-884-3959 or emailing bx08@cb.nyc.gov
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Committee meeting following the Public Hearing
AGENDA
1. NYCDOT Proposal for the Broadway Corridor pursuant to the Public Hearing
2. *Discussion among committee members to ask DOT to install sidewalks on West 254 Street between Riverdale Avenue and Palisade Avenue
3. *Reconstruction of sidewalk at West 235th Street and Independence Avenue.
4. Cayuga Avenue Block Party with full street closure on June 24, 2017, to be held on Cayuga Avenue between West 246th Street and dead end. This event has been held previously.
5. Safety Awareness Day - Block Party - with full street closure on October 22, 2017, to be held on West 237 Street between Independence Avenue and Henry Hudson Parkway. This event has been held previously.
6. Truffa Pizzeria application for an unenclosed sidewalk café – 3535 Riverdale Avenue
7. Review of Minutes
8. Old and New Business
Bronx Community Board No. 8
5676 Riverdale Avenue, Suite 100
Bronx, NY 10471-2194
Tel: 718-884-3959 Fax: 718-796-2763
Email: bx08@cb.nyc.gov
Visit us on the web: www.nyc.gov/bronxcb8