Westchester Square News: Celebrate the Bronx

Westchester Square News: Celebrate the Bronx: Celebrate the Bronx BP kicks off Bronx Week 2015 BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 8- Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. officially launched Bron...

Celebrate the Bronx

Celebrate the Bronx

BP kicks off Bronx Week 2015

BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 8- Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. officially launched Bronx Week 2015 on Sunday, hosting a celebration of the “Best of the Bronx” with a street festival at the Bronx General Post Office on Grand Concourse and East 149th Street.

“I always look forward to this time of the year, when we celebrate everything that is great about The Bronx,” said Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. “We kick things off with this great street fair on Sunday, holding 10 days’ worth of amazing and fun events for the whole family throughout the borough, all culminating with the Walk of Fame inductions and parade.”

A full calendar of events is available at www.ilovethebronx.com.

“Bronx Week is the opportunity to showcase the Best of The Bronx,” said Bronx Tourism Council Executive Director Olga Luz Tirado. “There is a lot to celebrate -- tourism, overall, is up in the borough. Our attractions are reporting a substantial increase in visitors. We are enjoying increased positive coverage from media. It's a great time to be in The Bronx right now.”

“Bronx Week is a time to celebrate our businesses, big and small, that provide much needed jobs to our community as well as a time to honor veterans, seniors, youth, volunteers and our hometown greats,” said Marlene Cintron, president of The Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation.

“As a new member to the community, we are excited to be a part of our first Bronx Week and to host the first event with Borough President Ruben Diaz at this iconic site,” said Christine Nebiar, marketing director for Youngwoo & Associates, LLC, who is sponsoring the kick-off event alongside The Bristol Group. “The Bronx has so much to celebrate and we are thrilled to invite New Yorkers to experience the borough at its best. The historic Bronx Post office will transform into a center of culture, community, and commerce and we hope to feature the great talents in food, art, music, and business.”

This year, four new individuals will be inducted to the Bronx Walk of Fame. They are actor and activist Malik Yoba; National Basketball Association (NBA) Hall of Famer Dolph Schayes; and actress, author and television commentator Stacey Dash. Longtime borough business leader, philanthropist and the founder of Delicioso Coco Helado, Alfredo Thiebaud will also be posthumously inducted in to the Bronx Walk of Fame.

Bronx Week 2015 is made possible thanks to the support of the Montefiore Medical Center, the principal sponsors of this year’s events.

"Montefiore is proud to support Bronx Week,” said Steven M. Safyer, M.D., president and CEO of Montefiore Health System. “Bronx Week is an opportunity for us to celebrate our strengths and the progress we are making to improve our communities. It’s a chance to highlight how healthcare providers like Montefiore, community based organizations and elected officials are joining forces to ensure Bronx residents have the tools and access they need for optimal health and wellness. Working together, the future of our borough is bright.”

Other Bronx Week 2015 sponsors include Care Connect, United HealthCare Community Plan, Healthfirst, HealthPlus Amerigroup, CenterLight Healthcare, conEdison, Lehman College, Bronx Community College, Hostos Community College, Cablevision, WellCare, Affinity Health Plan, AT&T, News 12, Domino’s, Bronxnet, Delicioso Coco Helado, Bronx Design Group, Emblem, Jewish Home LifeCare, Millennium Medical Staffing, and VNSNY.

#BronxWeek #BronxBoroughPresident #Malik Yoba #Stacey Dash #Bronxnews

Westchester Square News: Rivera to step down?

Westchester Square News: Rivera to step down?: Rivera to step down?  Bx. pol putting pressure in Mt. Vernon race? 100 PERCENT By Robert Press BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY ...

Rivera to step down?

Rivera to step down? 
Bx. pol putting pressure in Mt. Vernon race?

100 PERCENT

By Robert Press

BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 7- There are rumors that have been confirmed by several elected officials that Assemblyman Jose Rivera is going to step down right after the current session is over. I have been told that the reason is health related, and I hope only the best for a man I consider a friend Jose Rivera.

It appears to be a foregone conclusion that current State Senator Ruth Hassel-Thompson (36^th Senate District Bronx and Mount Vernon) will be elected Mayor of Mount Vernon later this year. In speaking with a high level representative from the powerful union 1199, I was told that the union 1199 has been told not to field a candidate for the open 36^th State Senate District by now Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie whose district overlaps with the 36^th State Senate District. I was also told that Speaker Heastie is urging 1199 to endorse his chosen candidate Mr. Jamal Bailey of Assemblyman Heastie's Bronx office staff, and was also told that Speaker Heastie now controls the money. I asked what exactly that meant, and was told that I know what it means.

I attempted to reach Mr. Bailey at Assemblyman Heastie's office and was told that he was unavailable. It appeared that I was being pushed to the press office by the person to whom I was transferred to. Assemblyman Heastie has been in the news lately on a variety of items, and it appears that I may have an item not for Bronx DA Robert Johnson, but for the U.S. Attorney's office if Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie is allegedly trying to intimidate a large powerful union into not running a candidate, and endorsing his chosen candidate for a State Senate Seat that covers the Bronx and parts of Westchester County. More on this in the coming weeks, and Mr. Bharara are you listening?

Bronx BP Ruben Diaz Jr. kicked off of Bronx Week 2015 this past Sunday outside the old East 149^th Street Bronx Grand Post Office. President Obama's visit to Lehman College the next day was just a coincidence, and not part of Bronx Week 2015. The presidential event is covered elsewhere in this paper.

Back to Bronx Week 2015. Thursday, May 7th the first Bronx Week 2015 event begins with the Centenarian Celebration of those Bronxites who have reached the age of 100 or more. This celebration seems to be getting larger every year now that more Bronxites are living longer lives. You can go to my blog at www.100percentbronx.blogspot.com to see the Bronx Week 2015 kick off, and yes there are plenty of photos of the event. For the full listing of Bronx Week 2015 events from May 7th running through Sunday May 17th you can visit ilovethebronx,com website or just check my blog for any of the events that I am covering.

The serious problem of New York City dumping dangerous criminal homeless people here in the Bronx came to a head last week after the director the Project Renewal Shelter Ms. Ana Charlie was killed by one of the men at the shelter. State Senators Jeff Klein (Bronx) and George Latimer (Westchester County), along with Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, City Council members Andrew Cohen and Andy King, CB 12 Chairman Father Richard Gorman (who had just been released from the hospital where he had surgery on his leg), and many local community residents are up in arms that about 60 percent of the resident of Project Renewal are formerly incarcerated felons, with arrest records that include felonies, murder, rape, and criminal possession of a weapon. In addition, many have serious substance abuse issues. There are also up to 40 convicted sex offenders at the site. The reason for such a high concentration was explained that there is no other facility capable of handling those special needs services.

State Senator Jeff Klein said The Bronx should not have to bear the brunt of the city’s entire homeless population, and that he has proposed legislation in the state senate that would prevent this type of aggressive, concentrated placement of shelters and establish a stronger community review process moving forward. Senator Klein mentioned that Bronx Assemblyman Michael Benedetto is the sponsor of this legislation in the State Assembly. City Council members Cohen and King have demanded answers from the city's Commissioner of Homeless Services. It appears that after the death of the shelter's director security guards have been placed at the Wakefield Project Renewal Homeless Mens Shelter. You can go to my blog archive on the left April listings to find more details, and why the elected officials had to hold their press conference in the street rather than in front of the project renewal building where over 100 homeless advocates were standing on the sidewalk in front of Project Renewal, along with many photos of the event. It seems odd that no residents according to the elected officials, and only one of the Homeless advocates came forward to say they were from the community. As for the Bronx it was said there may be a few residents of Project Renewal from the entire borough of the Bronx, and again when I asked the over 100 homeless advocates only one person raised their hand that they were from the Bronx.

The over 100 homeless advocates were from Homeless Services United headquartered at 446 West 33^rd Street 6^th Floor Manhattan which was at the top of the letter explaining the position of HSU of the death of the director of the homeless shelter in the Wakefield section of the Bronx. By the way the letter began - To Concerned New Yorkers. That alone showed me and many members of the Wakefield community that HSU does not give a damn about the community, only their image. In the blog posting of this event is the entire letter to Concerned New Yorkers from HSU.

The Hutch Metro Tech Center just keeps growing, and with the new 911 call center almost complete, State Senator Jeff Klein and the NYCDOT have joined to do a study of the area with a possible new exit/entrance ramp from the Hutchinson Parkway to go right into the Metro Tech Center to alleviate local street traffic crowding.

5 Guys Burgers and Fries opened up last week in the new Throggs Neck Shopping Center. As one of my duties as the newspapers new Food Critic I went to the grand opening with many members of the Bronx Chamber of Commerce. Again go to my blog archive under 5 Guys to see the many photos of the ribbon cutting, Menu Board complete with prices and calorie count of each item, bags of specially chosen for 5 guys fresh potatoes, how your burger is prepared, and the newest choose your own flavors of soda, diet soda, and fruit sodas. My favorite was the french fries that reminded me of the number one tasting French Fry in New York, that being Nathans Famous French Fries. 5 Guys has come a close second to Nathans to me in the french fry. Prices are a little high, but the quality of the food is there especially in the French Fries.

More late breaking deadline news – It appears that I was correct in my April 17^th blog posting that State Senate Republican Majority Leader Dean Skelos and his son Adam were being investigated by U.S. Attorney Pheet Bharara for the awarding of contracts to outside companies. The following two sentences headed a press release by U.S. Attorney Prett Bharara - “New York State Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and Son Arrested on Corruption Charges” . “Dean Skelos Allegedly Used Official Position to Cause More Than $200,000 in Payments to Son.”

If you have any political information that you want to share or have checked out, any comments about this column, or would like to have an event listed or covered in this column or on my blog you can e-mail us at 100percentbronxnews@gmail.com or call 718-644-4199 Mr. Robert Press.

#Politics #JoseRivera #CarlHeastie #Bronxnews

Dreamers Protest Obama’s Visit to Bronx

Dreamers Protest Obama’s Visit to Bronx

By David Greene

BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 6- Nearly 50 students of Herbert H. Lehman College gathered on school grounds to demonstrate against President Barack Obama's historic visit to the Bedford Park school.

Members of the Lehman College "Dream Team" hastily organized the protest to coincide with Obama's little-publicized visit to the school on Monday, May 4.

Many of the student demonstrators chanted slogans like, "Obama, Obama what do you say, how many kids have you deported today," upset that the current administration has not worked out a deal with Congress on immigration.

Christian Beruerio, a member of the Lehman College Dream Team which boasts 50 members at CUNY school's around the state, told the crowd, "I supported Obama thinking that Obama was going to represent the interests of people here in the Bronx" Beruerio continued, "I quickly found out that Obama was no better than Bush. The conditions in which I lived in were no different. I was still unemployed, there was no access to jobs and I'm still struggling to go to school in 2008 and I'm still struggling now working seven-days a week and I still can't go to school."

Fellow Dream Team member Tafadar Sourov fumed, "Obama dishes out billions of dollars to Israel to fuel that settler-colonial genocide state, meanwhile people in Detroit can't even get water."

"People continue to be killed," Sourov continued, "throughout the U.S by police. Black people continue to be killed every 28 hours and what's the best Obama can do? Stay silent on it until people start to riot and then he has to talk about it and the best he can come up with is, 'I'm going to give federal funds for body cameras.' Eric Garner died on camera, what did that accomplish?"

Listening to demonstrators, Lehman student Lincoln Lewis remarked, "Everyone is entitled to their position and opinions and it's good to see them speaking out. I'm not in agreement with some things, but they should speak out."

Asked if he believed if he agreed with some of the demonstrators that President Obama was guilty of war crimes, Lewis replied, "It depends on your definition of war crimes. He could be, but then you'd be opening up Pandora's Box for every president" who could be implicated.

Despite the protest student Stephanie Ramnauth was excited about the visit, "I didn't know until I got to class and they told me the president was here. I wanted to see him because I go here and it's nice to know that the president came to the school.”

#President #Obama #LehmanCollege #Dreamers #Immigration #Bronxnews

Westchester Square News: NYCFC Winless

Westchester Square News: NYCFC Winless: NYCFC Winless Drought Extends to Seven Matches By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 4- After a Sunday night loss to the Seattl...

NYCFC Winless

NYCFC Winless Drought Extends to Seven Matches

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 4- After a Sunday night loss to the Seattle Sounders (5‐2‐1), 3‐1, at Yankee Stadium, NYCFC (1‐5‐3) continues to languish in the group below the playoff contenders. 

Their six points are only above one club, the Montreal Impact, in the Eastern Conference. NYC’s winless match streak grew to seven after the match on Sunday. For the Sounders, on a hot streak, the win was their third straight and their fourth in the last five matches.

The first goal of the match was scored in the 23rd minute. Obafemi Martins scored his fifth goal of the season, which tied him for first place in the MLS. The native of Nigeria has played the last 12 seasons against top competition in Europe. The striker has played

on clubs in Italy, England, Germany, Russia and Spain. Martins also had 38 caps and scored 18 goals in international competition while a member of his national team. The assist was from Marco Parra, another international who has 30 caps on the Guatemalan National Team.

That was the only goal of the first half. Mehdi Ballouchy knotted the score at 1 with his second goal of the season at the 54th minute mark. He was assisted by Patrick Mullins, a collegiate standout at the University of Maryland.

Four minutes later, the contest took a dark turn for NYCFC as the USMNT captain Clint Dempsey’s goal returned the lead to the Sounders. The United States football legend with 112 caps for the national team has scored goal or assist in each of the six matches in which he participated this season. Like Martins, earlier in the game, Dempsey’s fifth goal added his name to the top scorers in the league. He was also assisted by Parra and by Martins.

Ten minutes later, Martins the single season goal and points record holder for Seattle, cored his second goal of the evening. His sixth goal now game him the league lead. In a reversal of the previous goal, Dempsey assisted. The assist, his fifth of the 2015 season, tied him for second in the MLS.

After the match, Martins spoke of the high scoring duo of him and Dempsey, “We did our part. We made it work.” NYCFC coach Jason Kreis said of the Seattle strikers, “We came up against two of the greatest strikers in the league.”

The winningest coach in MLS history, Sigi Schmid of the Sounders, discussed his daily game plan for his club, “It’s about getting points, as many as you can, as fast as you can.”

The three points the Sounders received for the victory raised their season total to 16, which brought them to the top of the western Conference standings.

NYCFC coach Jason Kreis, who in the past had great success as an MLS coach, is finding it difficult to accept his club’s losing record, “I didn’t realize it would be this difficult. [I’m having] a lot of sleepless nights. I have little patience.”

The match most looked forward to by residents of the New York metropolitan area will take place next Sunday night as the NYCFC travels to Harrison, New Jersey to play the Red Bulls.

#Soccer #NYCFC #Sounders #YankeeStadium #Bronxnews