Local Pols, Union Members Rally for Good Jobs

32BJ SEIU member Alba Vazquez at Monday's town hall meeting (Photos courtesy of 32BJ)

Alba Vazquez emigrated to America in 1977 from her native Uruguay, where a military dictatorship had seized power a few years prior. She settled in the Bronx with the hopes of building a safer, more prosperous life for her and her young family.

It wasn’t easy. Vazquez and her husband went their separate ways and she was stuck raising four children on her own. To make ends meet, she juggled three low-paying jobs. “It was awful, 18 hour days, no weekends, no vacation,” she said.

Ten years ago, however, Vazquez’s fortunes changed for the better when she landed a cleaning job at Madison Square Garden and became a member of 32BJ Service Employees International Union (SEIU). With a decent wage and benefits, she was able to provide for her loved ones.

“When I started to work at the Garden our lives changed completely,” said Vazquez, a softly spoken 53-year-old who lives on Hull Avenue near 204th Street.

Vasquez was speaking at a town hall meeting on Monday night at the Amalgamated Houses, a housing complex just south of Van Cortlandt Park. About 70 32BJ members had gathered to show their support for a City Council bill which would guarantee decent wages and benefits to cleaners, security guards, and other building service workers at new commercial and residential developments financed by city tax-dollars, and at buildings the city leases in the future.

Bronx Council Members & Committee Assignments

[Updated, Jan. 29, 10:10 a.m.]

City Council members were appointed to their respective committees and chairmanships last week and we thought we would give you an idea of what issues the Bronx delegation will be focusing on and in which areas they will hold some sway.

Click "Read more" at the bottom of this post for a listing of all your Bronx Council Members and their assigned committees and chairmanships.

A few quick notables:

Oliver Koppell of District 11 kept his position as chair of the Mental Health Committee, continuing a streak that dates back to 2006. Also, newly-appointed District 14 council member Fernando Cabrera has become chair of the Drug Abuse Sub-committee. (Drug Abuse is a sub-committee of the Mental Health Committee; it's one-person subcommittee formerly chaired by Annabel Palma.).  Meanwhile, Larry Seabrook (District 12) has maintained his place as chair of the Civil Rights Committee.

Each Council Member receives an additional stipend for those expenses related to the committees which they chair, and yet another if they hold office (although, in the Bronx's case, the only applicable member is Joel Rivera of District 15, who is also Majority Leader).

Bronx News Roundup, August 4

Construction on a new, large-scale housing development on Eagle Avenue in the South Bronx starts today. The development will be called St. Ann's Terrace and it will have eight buildings with 640 affordable housing units.

As Bronx BP Ruben Diaz approaches his decision on whether to support The Related Companies' plan for the Kingsbridge Armory, Bronx residents hope he will improve the Community Benefits Agreement (CBA). Diaz hopes to include stronger enforcement mechanisms for the CBA.

Today, the United States Senate will begin to debate Judge Sonia Sotomayor's appointment to the Supreme Court. The vote for Sotomayor is expected to be confirmed by the end of this week.

The New York Daily News suspects that Bronx Assemblywoman Carmen Arroyo and her daughter, City Councilwoman Maria del Carmen Arroyo will soon be arrested for benefiting from their relatives stealing $20,000 from a nonprofit organization.

Riverdale Avenue between 254th and 260th Streets has a variety of affordable shops and restaurants recently profiled in the New York Daily News.

Bronx News Roundup for July 17th

Just a day after Manhattan City Councilman Miguel Martinez admitted to using taxpayers' money improperly through slush funds, Councilwoman Maria del Carmen Arroyo of the Bronx is suspected of funneling money through a nonprofit to pay for trips to Puerto Rico for her and her mother.

After the chaos that was the New York State Senate for almost five weeks, $85 million in grants was approved last Thursday and has been divided amongst the parties, with $77 million going to New York State Senate Democrats and just $8 million to Republicans. Bronx State Senator Pedro Espada received $2 million, of which $1.5 million is going to the Bronx Chamber of Commerce.

A strain of West Nile Virus has been detected in mosquitoes at Ferry Point Park in the Bronx, but no cases of infection have been reported yet.

A wild motorist that raged down Gun Hill Road on Sunday, killing one man and injuring nine people, was identified yesterday and is being held at a hospital until he can attend trial.

Smokeless tobacco is becoming increasingly popular for teenage athletes in the Bronx even though medical statistics disprove what might be a common myth that using snuff or chew is less harmful than smoking cigarettes (Data shows chewing tobacco has three times as much nicotine, and is therefore three times more addictive than cigarettes).

A bill to make texting-while-driving illegal is expected to be signed into law soon. If broken, it can wield fines anywhere up to $150. This is one step by the Senate to try and diminish crash statistics that show younger drivers are up to five times more likely to be in a car accident than an 18-year-old driver.

Bronx News Roundup, June 11

Another day, another political scandal. Actually, two political scandals.

An organization created by Councilman Larry Seabrook has left the "lightest of footprints" since it was founded 10 years ago, according to The Times. But that hasn't stopped it raking big bucks, by subleasing space at inflated rates to other groups associated with Seabrook - money that was later reimbursed by the city.

Allegations of financial impropriety have dogged Seabrook since the 1990s. For a quick sampling see here, here, here, here, here, and here.

Also in today's papers: Assemblywoman Carmen Arroyo's grandson, who serves as her chief-of-staff, has been charged with stealing $200,000 from a non-profit. Some of the money was allegedly spent on flights to Puerto Rico for Arroyo and her daughter, Councilwoman Maria del Carmen Arroyo.

Assemblyman Jose Rivera is proud of Espada, whose defection means the Democrats no longer hold the Senate. On a sidenote, very few Bronx pols (to my knowledge) have openly criticized Espada since this whole thing kicked off, despite the effect his actions will likely have on many of their legislative agendas.

Espada once wore a wire to secretly record conversations with the Rev. Al Sharpton, Seabrook, and others.

Espada is playing down an apparent burglary at his co-op in Bedford Park. BoogieDowner, did you hear about this?

Still on Espada, a quick look at who he could face in next year's Democratic primary.

A Daily News columnist bashes the Bronx DA's office for failing to prosecute anyone for the murder of toddler Khamerin Antwine two years ago. In the Mount Hope Monitor, recently, we wrote about another Bronx toddler whose murderer has yet to be caught

On a happier note, Green Carts are gaining a foothold in the Bronx and other parts of the city where fresh produce is hard to come by.

A new 5,000-square-foot museum is opening tomorrow in the Hebrew Home at Riverdale, on Palliside Avenue.

Bronx pols head (another) worst offenders list

In today's NY Post there's a list of state lawmakers who owe the city fines for campaign-finance violations. Five of the top seven worst offenders are from the Bronx. Assemblywoman Carmen Arroyo heads the list with $33,648 in unpaid fines (going back over 15 years). Also up there are State Senators Pedro Espada Jr. and Ruth Hassell-Thompson, and Assemblymen Jose Rivera and Michael Benjamin.

"I guess these guys view these fines as kind of like parking tickets," one government reform advocate told the Post. " People feel they can violate the law with impunity."

More here.

In other political news, the Bronx GOP chairman Jay Savino has decided to endorse Mayor Michael Bloomberg for relection, after weeks of playing hard to get. Savino's support means three of the city's five GOP county chairman are backing Bloomberg, which will allow him to run as a Republican.

Word of Savino's about face doesn't seemed to have reached the Bronx County Young Republican Club, however. As of this morning, the group (who call themselves "a small herd of pachyderms amongst a mass of jackasses") is still hawking Term-Limit Mike Bloomberg buttons on their Web site.

6 of 7 Bronx Council Members Vote for For Bloomberg As Term Limits Extenstion Passes

The headline pretty much says it all. The City Council, with strong support from the Bronx delegates, essentially voted to keep Mayor Michael Bloomberg in office for another four years. (Of course, there will be the whole formality of an actual election next year, but let's be honest here.)

Annabel Palma was the one voice of opposition from the borough. James Vacca, who earlier joined Palma as a "no" vote, flipped sometime in the last 48 hours. And fence-sitters Helen Foster and Maria del Carmen Arroyo sided with Bloomberg in the end. Larry Seabrook, Maria Baez, Joel Rivera and Oliver Koppell all voted for the opportunity to keep their jobs for another four years as well.

It will be interesting to see the fallout from this. Bloomberg, who will spend whatever it takes to win re-election, will almost undoubtedly remain in power (though his image as a reformer and non-traditional political outsider will take a big hit). But what about the Council members who sided with him.

Joel Rivera is probably challenge-proof. (Not sure about Vacca, Seabrook, Arroyo and Foster)

But Maria Baez, who's been under fire all year for everything from her terrible attendance record to extravagant cell phone bills, will face one if not two or three tough challengers.

And Oliver Koppell, who didnt' do himself any favors by siding with Jose Rivera (and not the Ben Franklin Club) in the Bronx Democratic Party battle, steps back into a race featuring a handful of well-funded challengers. (Although the number of challengers just dropped by one as Jamin Sewell, his counsel for the past four years and a candidate for his boss' formerly term-limited job, just sent out a press release saying he would drop his campaign in deference to Koppell.)

In any case, stay close because this will take a while to sort out.

Latest on Term Limits from the Bromx

Happy Term Limits Vote Day! We'll continue to follow all the action today as it unfolds down at City Hall, but here's a couple of quick updates.

This morning the City Council's Government Operation Committee voted 6-0 to approve Mayor Bloomberg's plan to extend term limits to include a third four-year term. Interestingly, the one Bronx member of the committee, Larry Seabrook, who had indicated earlier that he supported the term limits extension, abstained from voting.

According to the latest tally on NY1, Seabrook is still one of 19 "yes" votes on the proposal. Meanwhile, 22 Council members are against the legislation.

The opponents apparently lost an ally sometime between yesterday and today as east Bronx Council member James Vacca, who came out early against the plan, has flip-flopped and is now sitting on the fence. Annabel Palma is the only Bronx delegate who is now openly opposed to the plan, while term-limited Council members, Joel Rivera, Maria Baez and Oliver Koppell support the extension.

Meanwhile, constituents of Bronx member Maria del Carmen Arroyo, who says she's undecided after initially expressing her support for Bloomberg's plan, want her to make a decision. Helen Foster joins Arroyo and Vacca on the fence.

The full council vote is scheduled for around 2 p.m. today. The legislation needs 26 votes to pass. Stay tuned to see how this plays out and how the Bronx votes.

WFP Targets Foster on Term Limits

The Working Families Party (WFP), which is supported by labor unions and grassroots groups and gives its ballot line to candidates it supports in New York State, opposes Mayor Bloomberg's gambit to extend term limits to three terms.

In the Bronx, Council Members Helen Foster and Maria del Carmen Arroyo, are feeling the heat from the WFP as both have not yet come to a decision on whether they are going to extend the term limits law. On our way down to the Tour de Bronx starting line at the Courthouse on Sunday, we came across this placard at a subway station along the No. 4 line on Jerome Avenue. (It says, "We voted twice for term limits. Call Helen Foster at 718-588-7500 and tell her that should count for something.")

The Working Families Party supported Foster in her last election bid (Arroyo didn't get the WFP nod, however), according to Dan Levitan, a WFP spokesman.

Will candidates who don't vote their way on term limits get the WFP endorsement again?

"It's not going to be the only thing we base our endorsements on, but it's still a pretty big issue for us," Levitan said.

The WFP has a new Web site devoted to this issue and a page that has a rundown on which Council members stand where on the issue.

Bronx News Roundup Oct. 16

Several Bronx cops were honored yesterday for outstanding service, at an awards ceremony in Morris Park.

The first of two public hearings on Mayor Bloomberg's bid to extend term limits is being held today. The Times says the City Hall hearings are the most eagerly anticipated in years. Big crowds are expected. In other news, Bronx Councilwoman Maria del Carmen Arroyo now says she's "undecided" on whether she'd vote for an extension. Previously she was in favor. In the Bronx, then, four council members want an extension, two don't, and two are undecided. More here.

Federal investigators say the city may have inflated the estimated cost of the new Yankee Stadium and then lied to the IRS. On the back of these costs, the Yankees were able to secure $942 million in tax-exempt bonds, in the process saving themselves millions of dollars.

A man has been charged with the murder of his baby son in a West Farms homeless shelter earlier this week. Police say John Rodriguez punched 8-month-old Elijah because he wouldn't stop crying.

On Tuesday night a man was murdered inside his Mount Eden apartment, police say.

Monroe College is 75-years-old. The first in a series of celebratory events will be held next Wednesday.

Sustainable South Bronx has co-authored a study calling on city policymakers to implement an "Urban Heat Island mitigation plan." The study says "vegetated and highly reflective surfaces" would help combat global warming, reduce pollution, improve public health, and even strengthen the economy.

The Bronx picked up several awards in the Village Voice's annual Best of NYC readers poll, including best public tennis courts, best Jamaican food, best Latin music store, and, er, best strip club. Boogiedowner has more details.

Last but not least, Freddy, a beloved Fly River turtle who lives at the Bronx Zoo, recently turned 50. He's the oldest known turtle of his kind.

Bronx News Links: Arroyo in trouble, Bronx Aerospace under fire, Supermarkets dwindle

Here's a few Bronx stories from last week that we didn't get around to posting until today:

Arroyo Under Investigation
Bronx City Councilwoman Maria del Carmen Arroyo is under criminal investigation for allegedly funneling more than $80,000 to a nonprofit with family connections.

Daily News reports: "City officials confirmed the probe Wednesday, a month after the Daily News disclosed that Arroyo directed $82,500 in 2007 to the South Bronx Community Corp., where her sister was the fiscal officer and her nephew was executive director."

Bronx Aerospace Under Fire
The extremely successful Bronx Aerospace H.S. may be closed by the Air Force at the end of next year unless school administrators can account for $66,000 and address possible rule violations, the Daily News reports.

The Air Force officially placed the school on probation for possibly mishandling ROTC funds, and parents and teachers have complained about certain school rules, including one student promoting his girlfriend.

The principal, Barbara Kirkweg, known around school as Captain Kirk, says the problem surrounds ROTC funds, which are separate from general school funds and she expects situation to be resolved soon.

In 2006, we reported that the aviation-themed Academy graduated more than 93 percent of its class in 2005, making it the most successful small school at the time. Last year's graduation rate was 90 percent, according to InsideSchools.org. Students said they are judged based on their performance and leadership skills rather than students' clothing. The high school also provides a refuge from the streets, as students often stayed late in the night.

Supermarket Scarcity
Soundview residnts held a town hall meeting last night to discuss the possible closure of the area's largest supermarket Key Foods, in the face of rent hikes and dwindling supermarkets.

Daily News reports: "In a borough where few people own cars and public transit coverage is less than ideal, closing a major grocery store could mean a difficult trek to the next-nearest supermarket, or force the least mobile to rely on higher-priced local grocery stores."

-Compiled by Stephen Baron

Bronx Council Member Spends Big…On Sister’s Org…With Tax Payer’s $

The Daily News reported today on yet another example of nepotism in the Bronx. City Council member Maria del Carmen Arroyo funneled $82,500 from her discretionary funds last year to the non-profit organization, South Bronx Community Corp, which employs Arroyo’s sister and nephew.

In 2001 and 2002, before being elected to the Council, Arroyo made between $33,000 and $45,000 a year working at the organization.

According to the Daily News, “Arroyo's sister, Iris, was ‘fiscal officer’ for the South Bronx Community Corp., where a former employee accused her of incompetence that led to thousands of dollars of federal liens filed against the group.” In addition, the group listed Iris Arroyo’s son, Richard Izquierdo, as an executive at the agency. The Daily News added that he “claims he’s not paid” though.

Discretionary funds are the set amount of money that each Council member is given every year for spending throughout their district, at their discretion.

Also yesterday, two employees of Council member Kendall Stewart (Brooklyn) were charged in federal court with embezzling $145,000 of discretionary funds through a nonprofit which they were associated with.

And the Department of Investigation is still looking into some $4 million in discretionary funds that the council has given to phantom non-profits each for the past seven or eight years. They said they used the phantom non-profits to hold the money for later legitimate use, but it's unclear where that money has gone.

In response, Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn pledged to overhaul budget practices, and bring more transparency to discretionary spending.

-By Graham Kates

Armory Bidder's Political Muscle on Display?

According to the New York Post, the Atlantic Development Group, one of the three bidders for the Kingsbridge Armory redevelopment project, got a Bronx councilwoman, Marial del Carmen Arroyo, to press city housing officials to withdraw their decision to award a housing redevelopment project to developer Gerald Migdol so Atlantic itself could get the job. Atlantic is not named in the lawsuit brought by Migdol against the city, but the Post said Migdol fingered Atlantic as the culprit.
Atlantic, owned by Peter Fine, has a controversial record of developing low-income housing around the city. The Norwood News profiled Fine, who has close ties to Bronx Democrats, and Atlantic last summer in this article.