The Wall Street Journal reviews a new book about the history of the Grand Concourse, which is 100-year-old this year. Boulevard of Dreams, by Constance Rosenblum, a Times editor, will be published later this month.
Another Bronx-based book, Random Family, was recently chosen by Newsweek as one of their "Fifty Books for Our Times." It tells the true-story of a flawed (but hugely likable) extended family living in the Mount Hope area in the 1980s and 90s, and their struggles to get by in what was a pretty bleak neighborhood at that time. You can read it online here.
In Mott Haven, the city has begun draining a mile-long "swamp." We had a post about this yesterday.
Fernando Ferrer, the former Bronx borough president, is supporting Brooklyn Councilman Bill de Blasio for public advocate.
Bob Kappstatter on Pedro Espada: "He may be evil, he may be perverse (then again, he IS a politician), but the man is a genius." Kappstatter admires (if that's the right word) Espada's ability to wriggle free from scandal and better his own situation, with scant regard to whom he steps on in the process.
The Bronx's fourth annual gay pride event will be held in Hunts Points this Saturday.
Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. and entire Bronx delegation are against plans to bring a big-box supermarket to the Kingsbridge Armory. They fear it will force other local supermarkets to close. Council member Maria Baez held a press conference/campaign rally on this issue last week.
A Bronx man is suing the city for $2 million, after cops shot dead his pit-bull puppy during a drugs raid in 2007.
Service on the 1 Train won't return to normal for several days following Sunday's ceiling collapse at the 181st Street stop in Washington Heights.
