Bronx News Roundup, August 12

Yesterday, the 14-year old accomplice of Cheyenne Cherry, a 17-year old who trashed the Bronx apartment and killed the cat of a former friend, pleaded guilty to charges of burglary and animal cruelty. The accomplice, identified as Whitney B., received a sentence of 18 months in juvenile jail.

In news that concerns all of New York City, yesterday Governor Paterson renewed mayoral control of the city's public school system until 2015.

More on that plumb Senate job Pedro Espada's on has landed.

The BoogieDowner blog and the Bedford Mosholu Community Organization are trying to save the post office near the Botanical Garden and Webster Avenue from elimination. Visit BoogieDowner to sign the petition to object to the closing of the post office. For more news on post office closures around New York City, the New York Times reports that seven Bronx postal branches are in danger of closing.

In other BoogieDowner news, the blog posted a glowing review of the newly named Pho Mien Tay, formerly known as the World of Taste Seafood. Pho Mien Tay is a Vietnamese restaurant located on Jerome Avenue near the Kingsbridge Armory.

Bronx News Roundup, July 24

Happy Friday! Here's a few stories to chew on.

Former Bronx B.P. Freddy Ferrer, who recently announced his support for Council Member Maria Baez (who's facing a slew of challengers), was recently fined for campaign finance violations during his unsuccessful run for mayor in 2005.
The Daily News takes a look at a new documentary about the trials and tribulations of the Bronx Center for Science and Mathematic, a high school in the South Bronx. The film is called "Whatever It Takes."

Three borough presidents, including the Bronx's Ruben Diaz, Jr., want more oversight in place over the city's schools, while mayoral control is in limbo. Speaking of mayoral control, Senate Dems may have cut a deal with the Bloomberg administration on new rules for continuation of the control structure.

A marketing firm has a new slogan for promoting Bronx real estate: "If you think you know about the Bronx -- Think again." Kind of vague, I think, but it's better than "The Bronx is Burning."

Enjoy the weekend. Check back here on Monday for more politics and more Kingsbridge Armory coverage. Bronx B.P. Ruben Diaz, Jr. is holding a hearing on the Armory proposal on Monday at Lehman College at 6 p.m.

Diaz Appoints Fernandez to BOARD OF EDUCATION (!)

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. appointed former Hostos Community College president Dolores Fernandez to the Board of Education yesterday. This is NOT a typo. The law authorizing mayoral control expired at midnight last night, so the city must revert to the old system, a Board of Education (appointed by the 5 borough presidents and the mayor) and more than 30 local community school boards. The resurrection of the latter is probably unlikely anytime soon, because local school board members are/were elected and elections were in May. The old system also had much more powerful district superintendents than the ones currently in place under the centralized system. So, who knows how that would work? The mayor is holding a meeting at Tweed (which is the symbol of the new system) with the five borough presidents to reconstitute the old Board of Ed.

Anyway, the bottom line is that the utter and complete gridlock in the Capitol is no joke. Inaction has serious consequences, this probably being the most significant.

Here's the Diaz press release in its entirety.

Today, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr., announced the appointment of Dr. Dolores Fernandez as the Bronx representative on the newly reconstituted Board of Education, effective following the sunset of mayoral control on July 1.

A resident of City Island, Dr. Fernandez had served as the president of Hostos Community College from 1998 until her retirement this year. She currently serves as a professor of urban education at the City University of New York’s Graduate Center in Manhattan.

“Though I am a supporter of some form of mayoral control, and I am disappointed that the current law was allowed to expire, the business of our children is too important to wait for Albany to act. Dr. Fernandez is a highly qualified, well respected educator with a long resume of accomplishments, and she will be a strong voice for the over one million public school children of the City. I am proud to appoint Dr. Fernandez to the Board of Education, and I look forward to working closely with her to craft an ambitious education agenda for the students of The Bronx and all five boroughs,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr.

“For me, it is an honor to be thought of by Borough President Diaz to represent The Bronx on the Board of Education. I look forward to serving our borough, and its children, in an admirable and professional way,” said Dr. Fernandez.

In addition to her work at Hostos Community College, Dr. Fernandez served as deputy chancellor for instruction and development for the Board of Education under Chancellor Richard R. Green from 1988-1990. Dr. Fernandez also served as director of education and deputy commissioner for program services for the New York State Division for Youth under Governor Mario Cuomo. An educator since 1978, Dr. Fernandez has also served as a teacher in Queens District 29, as well as the Long Island communities of Long Beach and Hempstead, during her career.

Dr. Fernandez graduated cum laude from Nassau Community College, earned a B.S. in Education from The State University of New York (SUNY) at Old Westbury, and received a Master's in Education, as well as a professional Diploma in Educational Administration, from Long Island University (LIU) - C.W. Post College. She then earned her Professional Diploma in Reading and her Ph.D., in Language and Cognition from Hofstra University.

Mayoral control set to expire tonight

BRONXTALK/MONDAY, JUNE 22, 2009

Mayoral control of the city's public schools is set to expire at midnight tonight, unless the State Senate acts. GothamSchools has the latest, including the news that Bronx BP Ruben Diaz Jr. has appointed someone to the serve on a hypothetical Board of Education.

While a return to the old way of doing things is unlikely, a number outcomes are still possible. The Times has a good overview on this.

Above is a recent episode of BronxTalk featuring Joyce Johnson from Learn-NY, a pro-mayoral control group, and Vincent Wojsnis, a teacher at MS 399, who believes "mayoral control is out of control." Wojsnis has previously written about this issue for the Mount Hope Monitor.

New from the Norwood News

The latest action-packed edition of the Norwood News is out on streets and online now. We've got a great lineup of compelling stories for your reading enjoyment. Here's a quick preview:

We profile a father and Stella D'oro cookie factory worker who's struggling to provide for his family as the workers' strike stretches into its ninth month.

The Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment Alliance and Community Board 7 are going to work with new borough president Ruben Diaz, Jr. to negotiate a Community Benefits Agreement for the Armory mall project. It would be an unprecedented government-community partnership for city development projects.

The Health Department says its willing to open up a portion of the vacant old Fordham Library for community space. The agency is also willing to look at cheaper alternatives to installing a full-service animal shelter in the building, like a low-cost spay and neuter clinic, which pet advocates say would go farther toward ending pet homelessness. But first the City Council must change its law that mandates full-service shelters in all five boroughs.

The Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition looked within to find its new co-executive directors and found two women of color -- the first time women of color are heading the 35-year-old organization.

Our special Real Estate section examines the buyer's market in the Bronx.

A story on the swearing-in of new borough president Ruben Diaz, Jr. Our editorial says Diaz, Jr. could excel in his new role, but he must avoid the the borough's minefield of political pitfalls.

Cops bust a suspect who they say sexually assaulted two teenage girls in the span of 8 days in the same location.

Don't forget to check our Out & About arts, recreation and entertainment calendar, our extensive online Neighborhood Notes guide to neighborhood programs, events and services.

Finally, our Inquiring Photographer asks residents about their thoughts on mayoral control of public schools, which is up for renewal on June. 30.

Renew mayoral control says Bronx principal

Vincent Wojsnis, a teacher at MS 399 on 184th Street, wrote an op-ed in the last issue of the Mount Hope Monitor entitled Public Education at a Crossroads. In it, he criticized mayoral control of the city's public schools, which is up for review next month. (State legislators will vote to continue it, amend it, or end it.)

In response to Wojsnis' article, Learn NY, a pro-mayoral control group, e-mailed us this piece by Jason Levy, principal of IS 339, a school on Webster Avenue near the Cross Bronx Expressway.

Levy writes:

Under mayoral control, the DOE has been more effective and efficient. Principals have been given unique autonomy in exchange for accountability. The quality of our educational system has greatly improved - in large part because of the innovative structures and central governance. And for the first time in our great city, we’re aspiring to a culture of educational excellence.

More here.

May's Mount Hope Monitor

The May edition of the Monitor is now online. This month, stories include:

In Mount Hope, a Nonprofit Collaboration
Several Bronx-based community development organizations have begun holding monthly meeting at Mount Hope Housing Company’s offices on Morris Avenue, to discuss ways they can join forces and survive the economic downturn.

'No Hitting Zone’ at St. Barnabas
At St. Barnabas Hospital’s Child Advocacy Center, the “No Hitting Zone” is not only an area where parents are asked not to swat their kids, but a larger initiative to create healthy family relationships.

Murdered Toddler Remembered
In Mott Haven, recently, 32 children lay down on a sidewalk and played dead. The “lie in,” on 141st Street at Beekman Avenue was held on April 16 to mark the second anniversary of the Virginia Tech massacre in which 32 people were killed, as well as the third anniversary of a Bronx tragedy: the murder of two-year-old David Pacheco.

Roberto Clemente’s Pools Won’t Open This Summer
In summers past, when the mercury climbed to blistering highs, west Bronx residents could cool off in Roberto Clemente State Park’s Olympic-size swimming pool, beside River Park Towers at the edge of the Harlem River. From late June through Labor Day, it attracts hundreds of visitors a day. But not this year: the pool will be closed for renovations.

Opinion: Public Education at a Crossroads
Vincent Wojsnis, a Bronx middle school teacher and a UFT chapter leader, believes mayorol control of the city's public schools - which is up for review in June - has been a disaster.

Man Tried to Hire 'Hit man'
A Davidson Avenue man, languishing on Rikers Islands on a rape charge, attempted to have the woman he’s accused of raping murdered, police say.

Bomb-Threat Teacher Welcomed at Education Meeting

Francisco Garabitos received a hero's welcome at last night's Community Education Council 9 meeting at CIS 166 on East 164th Street.

That's the same Francisco Garabitos who barricaded himself inside a classroom at MS 328 in Morrisania last Friday, and allegedly threatened to blow up the school.

"Francisco, thank you for coming," said John Moncrief, a CEC 9 council member. "It's an honor to be here with you."

A furious Garabitos, who says he's facing 3-6 month in prison, spoke for 10 minutes or so about his ordeal, why he did what he did, why he's now being unfairly treated, and what needs to be done differently at the school. You can get the gist of his position by reading the press release below, which was handed out at the meeting. (For the record, he denies making any reference to a bomb.)

Garabito (pictured) was warmly received by the Council because his protest was directed at the school's principal, and in essense at the city's Department of Education itself.

Indeed, the three-hour meeting was essentially one long tirade - delivered by CEC council members, parents and advocates - against the DOE and mayoral control of schools, which comes up for review in June.

See here and here for opposing views as to whether or not mayoral control has been a success.

Garabitos' press release. Click to enlarge.