Bronx 'Renaissance Man’ and Activist Ozzie Brown Remembered

Ozzie Brown (left) and Paul Foster share a laugh at last month's Community Board 7 meeting. (Photo courtesy CB7)

By Alex Kratz

Ozzie Brown, a colorful, loquacious and dedicated member of Community Board 7 who was also active in the civil rights movement and an advocate for diabetes awareness, died last week after a battle with cancer. He was 67 years old.

Locally, Brown was best known for the active role he took as a member of the community board. But Brown was much more than that, a “true Renaissance Man,” said former Bronx Borough President Adolf Carrion, one of Brown’s best friends.

“Ozzie was a worldly person,” Carrion said. “He brought a mix of experiences that many people would be surprised to hear about. He was a musician, a promoter of music, a philosopher, a lover of the arts.”

Memorial Services for Ozzie Brown to be Held Today

Ozzie Brown, a colorful, loquacious and dedicated member of the Bronx's Community Board 7 who was also active in the civil rights movement and an advocate for diabetes awareness, died last week after a battle with cancer. He was 67 years old.

Services are being held today for Brown at John J. Fox funeral home at 203 E. 201st St. (at the corner of E. 201st Street and Grand Concourse) from 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.

Former Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion, who said Brown was "one of his best friends," will speak at the night service.

In an interview this morning, Carrion called Brown a "true Renaissance Man."

“Ozzie was a worldly person,” Carrion said. “He brought a mix of experiences that many people would be surprised to hear about. He was a musician, a promoter of music, a philosopher, a lover of the arts.”

We'll have more on Brown's life and legacy tomorrow and in the next edition of the Norwood News, which hits streets tomorrow.

Webster Rezoning Okayed, Setting Up Makeover

(Editor's Note: this article was first published in the Norwood News, out now)

A plan to rezone Webster Avenue between East Gun Hill and Fordham roads was officially approved by the City Council at the end of March, the culmination of years of planning by local leaders and elected officials to help transform the 1.75-mile corridor.

“We worked very diligently over a five-year period to craft this proposal,” said Community Board 7 member Ozzie Brown, who said the plan lays the groundwork for a more vibrant and pedestrian-friendly Webster Avenue.

“We were able to set the context for what might happen in this region for the next 10, 15 years or so,” Brown said.

Kingsbridge Armory Update, Part 1

Two big pieces of Kingsbridge Armory-related news to get to this afternoon.

The first is that Community Board 7 is holding it's hearing on the Related Companies' redevelopment proposal next Wednesday night, June 24 at the Lehman College faculty dining room. The college is located at 250 Bedford Park Blvd, right off of the 4 Train.

Board members are bracing for a huge turnout of residents, community groups, unions and elected officials and encouraging people who want to speak to call the board office to register. The number is (718) 933-5650.

The hearing will begin at 6:30 p.m. People have until 7 p.m. to sign up to speak. At 7, Related will give a 15-minute presentation about its vision for a revamped Armory. That will be followed by what promises to be a steady stream of speakers until the hearing comes to an end at 9:45 p.m.

Following the hearing, the Community Board 7 Land Use Committee will meet on July 7 at the board offices to discuss their recommendation to the full board, which will meet on July 14 and take a final vote on whether or not to approve of the project as it stands. (Remember: the board's vote is advisory, but will carry weight as the project moves on to the borough president's office and then to the City Council for final approval.)

To recap: The Community Board 7 Kingsbridge Armory redevelopment meeting is set for Wednesday, June 24 at the Lehman College faculty dining room at 6:30. p.m.

At the Board 7 meeting last night, members were promising all kinds of fireworks and special guest appearances. Land Use Chairman Ozzie Brown said good friend Peter Yarrow (of Peter, Paul and Mary fame) would be showing up to lend his support for the community and the board and Brown's vision for the Armory as a "Social/Cultural/Educational-Venture Mall." (Yarrow, by the way, is working on an anti-bullying campaign called Operation Respect.)

Brown said Related has been very receptive and responsive to the Board's ideas and that they were still working hard -- along with the Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment Alliance (KARA) and the borough president's office -- toward the signing of a binding and enforceable Community Benefits Agreement.