32BJ Endorses Assembly Candidate Hector Ramirez

Hector Ramirez (center), pictured here talking with local residents in a Mount Hope bodega yesterday, has picked up several important endorsements

Here's a mini-exclusive: 32BJ SEIU, the largest private-sector union in the state, has endorsed Hector Ramirez in his race against Nelson Castro, the incumbent assemblyman in the 86th Assembly District.

In a statement, the union said the endorsement "follows an extensive membership-screening process, in which Ramirez received overwhelming support from members for his commitment to affordable housing, creating good jobs and economic development."

Mike Fishman, 32BJ's president, said in the same release: “Through his work in the community, Hector Ramirez has shown a strong commitment to working people. 32BJ is proud to get behind candidates like Ramirez who will make New York a state that works for working people.”

The union represents security officers, doormen, porters, maintenance workers, bus drivers, window cleaners and food service workers, among others.

Ramirez has also received endorsements from the Bronx Democratic Party, Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr., the Working Families Party and others.

Another powerful union, 1199 SEIU, is also expected to back him.

We've been following this race closely and will have more in the coming days.

Eva Moskowitz's Organization to Open Two Charter Schools in the Bronx

The Success Charter Network (SCN), the organization behind four high-performing charter schools in Harlem, is coming to the Bronx.

Bronx Success Academy 1 (located in Mott Haven at 510 E. 141st St.) and Bronx Success Academy 2 (in Morrisania at 968 Cauldwell Ave.) will open on Wednesday, Aug. 25. To begin with, each will have 188 students, all in kindergarten and first grade.

"For years we've had requests from families in the Bronx to bring this successful model to their neighborhoods," said Jenny Sedlis, SCN's director of external affairs, in a telephone interview. "We're really very excited."

Bobby Sanabria's Big Band Plays 52 Park

One thing we forgot to include in the previous "What's Going On" post (OK, now it's in there) is the free concert at 52 Park/El Teatro Miranda (Kelly Street, between Avenue St. John and Legett Avenue) at 7:30 tonight. Bronx Walk of Fame member and salsa percussionist legend Bobby Sanabria's Big Band is a must see.

It's part of Lincoln Center's "LC in the BX" (or "Lincoln Center Celebrates the Bronx") campaign. Click here for more information.

What's Going On

Editor's note: What did we miss? Send details to bronxnewsnetwork[at]gmail.com.

Bronx News Roundup, Aug. 18

The Village Voice's Tom Robbins continues to shed light on the dealings of State Senator Pedro Espada Jr. with a story about how a Manhattan tailor is suing Espada for failing to pay for $7,200 worth of custom-tailored suits.In a sworn statement, Espada said he returned the suits for being "defective," but the tailor says he's seen Espada on television wearing his suits.

Robbins also writes about Gustavo Rivera's efforts to unseat Espada (no mention of fellow challenger Dan Padernacht) and again points out Espada's numerous connections to the real estate and landlord lobby, including how his part-time spokesman, Steve Mangione, was paid $270,000 to produce radio ads for the Rent Stabilization Association, the city's largest landlord group.

The Bronx Zoo is shipping 100 rare Kihansi spray toads to Tanzania where the species is near extinction.

The Bronx detective who solved the Happy Land fire case, Kevin Moroney, retired yesterday after 42 years on the job.

The NY Times has used the word "hipster" in stories more than 250 times in the past year. They used it in connection with the Bronx "only a handful" of times, but they used it in connection with Brooklyn 96 times, Manhattan 87 times, Queens 33 times, and Staten Island, just twice. Thought you needed to know this.

Gustavo Rivera's Roll Call of Supportive Elected Officials

33rd Senate District challenger Gustavo Rivera just unleashed an onslaught of support from what he describes as "progressive leaders."

Here's the list: Borough President Scott Stringer, Senator Liz Krueger, Assembly Member Daniel O'Donnell and Council Members Margaret Chin, Daniel Dromm, Daniel Garodnick, Brad Lander, Jessica Lappin and Jumaane Williams.

After the jump, you can read all their quotes about Rivera: 

Stretch of 197th Street to be Shut Down

Heads up, Fordham and Bedford Parkers. Starting on Thursday, the city has authorized the closure of East 197th Street, between Decatur and Marion avenues, for the next three months as John Civetta & Sons Inc. reconstructs a retaining wall. The construction company says the road will be closed from Aug. 19 to Nov. 18.

Thanks to Community Board 7 for spreading the word.

Padernacht-Diaz Meeting To Be Rescheduled

Dan Padernacht, the underdog Democratic challenger who is taking on incumbent Pedro Espada Jr. and Democratic establishment that wants to see him go aways in the 33rd Senate District race, says his meeting with Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., scheduled for today has been postponed. He's currently working out a new meeting time with Diaz's scheduler.

Diaz met with Padernacht's fellow challenger, Gustavo Rivera, last week. He didn't commit to supporting Rivera, but said he wanted to see Espada defeated. (In an odd twist, Diaz Jr.'s father, State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. is supporting Espada.)

Padernacht (pictured), a lawyer and member of Community Board 8, and Rivera, a longtime Democratic operative and adjunct college professor, are both on the ballot after weathering petition challenges.

Yesterday, the New Roosevelt Institute, which has endorsed Rivera and is adamantly anti-Espada, released a poll it commissioned that said Espada would prevail in a three-way race that included Padernacht, but that Rivera and Espada were virtually in a dead heat if the two matched up one-one-one.

The message from the Insitute, Padernacht said earlier today, is simple: move out of the way and let Rivera and Espada go head-to-head. It's a message Padernacht is not listening to. 

"I'm not giving [the poll results] any credence," Padernacht said. "It's all intimidation. All they're doing is turning voters against the democratic process."

33rd SD Candidates Invited to Debate

In an email sent earlier today, the three candidates in the race for the Democratic Primary in the Bronx' 33rd S.D. district (Pedro Espada, Jr., Gustavo Rivera, and Dan Padernacht) have been formally invited to a live, televised debate on BronxTalk, the borough's flagship TV talk show.

Moderated by host Gary Axelbank, the program will be seen on August 30 at 9:00pm on Bronxnet's channel 67.  It will also be streamed live at www.bronxnet.org.

Bronx News Roundup, Aug. 17

A Bronx cop-turned-pest exterminator claims many exterminators tell homeowners they have bedbugs when they don't. A single bedbug treatment can cost thousands of dollars. According to a new poll, one in ten New Yorkers has had a run-in with the bloodsuckers.

U.S. News and World Report has released its annual list of the nation’s best colleges and universities. Fordham came in 56th.

The father of a Bronx teen shot dead in Williamsbridge at the weekend believes his son's death may have been the result of a gang initiation.

Police in Yonkers are hunting for three men who stabbed and beat a Bronx man last Friday.

The Bronx Zoo has been leading an effort to save an almost extinct species of toad.

With help from The Fortune Society, an organization that assists the formerly incarcerated, a one-time crack addict has landed an apartment in Norwood, a job, and is heading back to school.

The Bronx Democrats have seized control of the city Board of Elections, according to the Daily News' Bob Kappstatter in his weekly column.

Parents and students angry at a falloff in text scores disrupted a Panel for Educational Policy meeting in Manhattan last night. At one stage, an 11-year-old boy from the Bronx climbed onto the stage and had to be escorted off by security.

From last week's City Limits, the city's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is expanding its efforts to clean up the East River and Long Island Sound.

State Senator Pedro Espada, Jr., who has long history of flouting campaign finance laws, neglected to report contributions and expenditures for a committee formed on his behalf last year.

From a couple of weeks ago: a 13-year-old girl from the Bronx has her eyes on the 2016 and 2020 Olympics. With a personal best of 12.01 seconds in the 100 meters, Lauren Lyons is the fastest athlete in the country among girls her age. Oh, and she excels academically, too.

New Poll: Espada Vulnerable But Crowded Race Benefits Him

Despite low name recognition, Gustavo Rivera is currently tied with State Senator Pedro Espada, Jr. in a head-to-head matchup, according to a recent poll conducted by Red Horse Strategies on behalf of the New Roosevelt Initiative, a political committee which has endorsed Rivera.

When Daniel Padernacht, the third candidate in the race, is added to the equation, however, Espada jumps into a healthy lead. (Concerned about the “Ralph Nader” effect, Rivera and the New Roosevelt Initiative have been urging Padernacht to end his campaign - so far without success.)

There's more analysis from the poll below.

In related news, State Senator Ruben Diaz, Sr. officially endorsed Espada today at a church in Kingsbridge, according to Riverdale Ramblings. His son, Bronx BP Ruben Diaz, Jr., is considering backing Rivera.

New Roosevelt Initiative Poll

Espada Let's It Rain on Housing Protesters

A couple of weeks ago (I know, we're a little late), State Senator Pedro Espada, Jr. angrily responded to protesters in Albany by throwing money at them like a rap star at a strip club. They were there to protest against Espada, who is head of the housing committee, for refusing to move on a host of pro-tenant bills.

The normally cool Espada may be feeling the heat as he enters the final stretch before what could be a very competitive Democratic primary on Sept. 14.