A minute and a half into the above clip, you'll see a passionate and touching performance of the Puerto Rican national anthem turned in by Bronx State Senator Gustavo Rivera at last weekend's Somos El Futuro conference in Albany. Seriously. Not bad, right? Next stop: Albany Idol.
According to Rivera's communications director Conchita Cruz, the new state senator in the 33rd District is an avid singer who won an award for his killer karaoke work over the weekend. (He was also honored for pushing transparency legislation this year, Cruz said. And no, he still does not have a district office yet, almost four months into his term, but there's been progress, Cruz said. A lease has been signed and is now awaiting approval from the Comptroller and Attorney General. Cruz said she was forbidden from going into details about the procurement process, but said basically it's just a sad case of Albany bureaucracy grinding slowly.)
In any case, Rivera's passion for music led him to recently pass a senate resolution, his first since taking office in January, praising and congratulating the Celia Cruz Bronx High School of Music choir for being named "Best Choir in New York City" at the Sing! for Wildlife competition a few months ago. "These kids are an inspiration," Rivera said in introducing the resolution.
He added: "It is a testament to the importance of Arts education in our schools. The way they became a tight choral organization, how they used the arts to not only learn how to perform, but to perform better at school."
He'll be presenting the resolution to the choir tomorrow morning at 11:30 a.m. at Lehman College, where the choir rehearses. Who knows? Rivera might even make a cameo at their next concert.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Talented Mr. Rivera Honors Bronx's Celia Cruz Singers
Bronx Elders Rally to Raise Funds for Japan Relief Efforts
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| The team spearheading relief efforts at Kittay House. |
"It's in the core of my life," Nelkin said about her passion for helping others. "How can you close your heart to something like that, when people are in distress? How can you not be there?"
No Room For Pork in Cuomo's Budget
It's a political practice as well-established as candidates kissing babies: a local legislator shows up at a senior center or an elementary school, giant check in hand, to announce that he'll be funding a daily meals program or buying new uniforms for the spring soccer team.
There's a photo-op and everyone leaves feeling good--the politician gets to be the hero, and the local organization gets some much-needed money.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo's bare-bones budget for this fiscal year, approved March 31, contains no funding for new member items--the public money given to state senators and assembly members that allows them to hand out all those big checks in their respective districts. These discretionary funds, or "pork," have often been criticized as wasteful spending, and for a few politicians, have been a source of scandal.
But local legislators say the loss of member item money will, ultimately, only hurt their communities; that the ones taking the hit are the local organizations and services that rely on support from elected officials to stay afloat.
"Local legislators know the needs of their districts better than faceless bureaucrats in Albany," said Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, in an e-mail. "The groups I fund -- youth programs, senior centers, arts and music groups and others -- all play a valuable role in our community and its quality of life."
Bronx News Roundup, Wednesday, April 6
Weather: It looks and feels beautiful out this morning -- bright and cool, but not cold -- but apparently there's a 20 percent chance of rain later on.
To the news!
Story of the Day: 'Wild Style' Filmmaker Back in the Bronx
Filmmaker Charlie Ahearn, who put a spotlight on the Bronx hip-hop and graffiti scene with his seminal documentary, "Wild Style," is returning to the Boogie Down with his new short film, "Bongo Barbershop." The new film, which is showing this week during the New York African Film Festival, is set in University Heights, near the cross section of Jerome Avenue and 183rd Street, close to the unofficial birth-place of hip-hop -- Kool Herc's basement in a Sedgwick Avenue building. It focuses on the story of a young MC from Tanzania in search of the "real hip hop" who meets a Bronx legend -- Grandmaster Caz, who starred in "Wild Style" -- in a barbershop. In the video below from the Daily News, Ahearn talks about his new film.
Quick Hits:
After rejecting a plea deal, Bronx health clinic founder and ex-State Senator Pedro Espada Jr. and his son pleaded not guilty to embezzlement and fraud charges in Brooklyn yesterday. The trial is scheduled to begin Sept. 12.
Students at St. Ignatius, a privately-funded Jesuit middle school in Hunts Point, are thriving.
Two entrepreneurs, a Yonkers rapper and his Trinidadian mixologist colleague, are trying to cash in on the fruit smoothie craze. They recently opened up a new juice bar, Juices for Life, on Castle Hill Avenue in Castle Hill.
Bronx-bred college hoops star Kemba Walker played for the Bronx-based New York Gauchos team growing up.
The NYPD is conducting "dirty bomb" training exercises that may tie you up in traffic on your way to and from the Bronx over the next few days.
Bronx-born actress Kerry Washington talks about how the arts kept her out of trouble early in life.
Formerly-homeless tenants at Bronx buildings are facing eviction and life back on the streets with the city's Advantage program set to expire on May 1 due to state budget cuts.
A Bronx man faces three years in jail for downloading a bootleg copy of the movie "X-Men Origins: Wolverine." No word yet on what he regrets more: breaking the law or watching "X-Men Origins: Wolverine."
23-year-old Bronx rapper D Bless wants to be the Bronx's next hip hop hero.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
BP Diaz' Gambling Ways
The story, of course, delves into the Kingsbridge Armory battle and the uncertain future of the still-vacant building, which Diaz said lies ultimately in the hands of Bloomberg, his political enemy number one.
"The decision on whether or not something's going to be developed there is going to come from City Hall," Diaz told the paper. A final proposal for the Armory will be made this spring or summer, the story says, and then will be at Bloomberg's disposal.
The article goes on to discuss Diaz Jr.'s relationship with his controversial father, State Sen. Ruben Diaz, Sr., and says that the Rev. could be the BP's "biggest liability of all" if he does make a run for Mayor.
You can read the whole piece here. Share your thoughts in the comments section.
Bronx Bands in the Battle of the Boroughs
Last week, a number of musical acts from the Bronx performed at WNYC's Greene Space as part of the organization's Battle of the Boroughs competition. Three groups were chosen that night as the best performers, and you can vote for your favorite online until April 10. The winner will move on to the next round, to battle it out against acts from the other four boroughs in June.
Who do you think should move on to represent the Boogie Down? Here are clips from the three Bronx groups that are still in the running.
Finotee:
Just A Lil Bit:
The Steven Oquendo Latin Jazz Orchestra:
Bronx News Roundup, Tuesday, April 5
Speed roundup today as we're going to press with the latest edition of the Norwood News, which will hit streets in Fordham, University Heights, Bedford Park and Norwood tomorrow.
First, the weather: Rainy, with temperatures falling into the high 40s and winds gusting up to 36 miles an hour.
To the news!
Story of the Day: Bronx Boy Leads UConn to National Hoops Title
Soundview's own Kemba Walker, who attended IS 174 before heading to Rice in Manhattan to play his high school ball, was named the NCAA Tournament's Most Outstanding Player in leading the University Connecticut men's basketball team to its third national championship. They beat Butler University, a relatively tiny Indiana school, 53-41. Jason Fisher, who apparently played with Walker back in the day, said he was proud to see his fellow Bronxite make it on the big stage. "It's spirit and hard work," he told the Daily News. "It's something we all dreamed about when we were playing way back in the third grade. It's a dream that came through for Kemba, and I'm really happy for him." Here's how they celebrated on the UConn campus (skip it if you don't want to see college kids deliriously happy):
Quick Hits:
More than 33,000 people wrote in suggestions to name the Bronx Zoo's most famous reptile -- the Egyptian cobra who was on the loose for a week -- and the finalists have been revealed: Agnes, Amaunet, Cleopatra, Subira Egyptian, Mia. Click here for more on the names and to vote for your favorite of the top five.
JPMorgan Chase donated an old Washington Mutual building, on East Tremont in Westchester Square, to the Bronx Council on the Arts.
HBO ran a documentary last night about Hollywood super producer Jerry Weintraub, who's a Bronx boy.
Watch and then vote for the winner of WNYC's Bronx Battle of the Boroughs music contest. The winner moves on to represent the Bronx in the citywide Battle of the Boroughs showcase in June.
A major rehab is beginning at the old Bronx County Courthouse.
Public Advocate Bill de Blasio showed up at a Bedford Park building the other day to tout his new plan to hold shady landlords more accountable. The plan will include a link on craigslist that would lead apartment seekers to de Blasio's list of the city's worst landlords.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Opinion: Money for Neighborhoods, Not for War and Bailouts
Editor's Note: This Op-Ed originally ran in last month's issue of the Tremont Tribune. The author, Heidi Hynes, is executive director of the Mary Mitchell Family and Youth Center in Crotona.
By HEIDI HYNES
In September, the City of New York demanded that the Mary Mitchell Family and Youth Center start paying the Department of Education rent for use of our building on Mapes Avenue. It turns out that the city which is home to Wall Street and an Education Department with a budget larger than some towns, needs the children living in the poorest urban Congressional district in the country to forgo services so that we can pay the City $30,000 per year.
Since that time I have spoken to a priest about the cuts to senior programs at his parish. I’ve been contacted to join an emergency committee of after-school program providers to stop the proposed cut of 17,000 child care vouchers for families on public assistance. I was asked to travel to Albany to testify at a public hearing in opposition to proposed cuts to Medicaid. I was provided a list of elected officials to call in response to cuts proposed for the Health Department. A coworker approached me to find out how she could get involved in any effort to save Head Start. The director of a non-profit housing company predicted that the number of apartment buildings that will go into foreclosure is going to skyrocket. And, like every other public school parent, I’m just waiting to find out how a system that is already struggling is going to handle deep budget cuts.
With all this worry and organizing to stop the cuts, it is easy to think that we are in a budget crisis. There is not enough money to provide social services, we all need to tighten our belts, the trouble is grandma’s pension or public school teachers getting paid to sit in the “rubber room.” That is one load of manure.
Bronx News Roundup, April 4
Weather: Keep your umbrellas on hand. It's gray and dreary in the Bronx today, with rain expected later tonight and continuing for the next few days.
Story Of The Day: Hometown Boy Makes Good
Bronx native Kemba Walker, the 20-year-old basketball superstar that's led the UConn Huskies to the NCAA championships, graces the cover of today's New York Daily News. Walker is an inspiration to those in the Soundview neighborhood where he grew up, the story says. He'll take the court tonight with the rest of the Huskies to face off against the Butler University Bull Dogs. More here.
Quick Hits:
A class at the Clason's Point Library is teaching adults the ins and outs of using Facebook.
The National Transportation Safety Board is launching a six-month investigation into the discount bus industry, largely in response to last month's horrific Bronx bus crash that killed 15 passengers.
The Egyptian cobra that went missing from the Bronx Zoo last week was finally found, and now you can help name it. The zoo and the Daily News are taking submissions from the public, and you can vote online until 1 p.m. today.
A business group in midtown Manhattan known as the 34th Street Partnership doled out funds for the proposed ice skating rink in Van Cortlandt Park, a move that's irked some midtown merchants.
Adrian Rodriguez, the Bronx teen who was struck by a moving 5 train last week in Union Square, has died, NY1 reports.
A 32-year-old Bronx man who survived a shooting years ago was shot to death by a group of men Sunday morning in Melrose.
A third-grader from Morrisania is suing the NYPD. Public School 132 student Sofia Bautista says she was handcuffed by police officers last spring after she got into a classroom fight with another student.
Friday, April 1, 2011
Earthquakes, not-for-profits, and more on BronxTalk
This Monday night BronxTalk will feature an expert from the Fordham University Seismic Station. Beginning at 9:00pm Benjamin Crooker, Ph.D. will talk with host Gary Axelbank about the earthquakes in Japan and subsequent tsunami, fault lines in the Bronx and the NY metro area, the potential for disaster at Indian Point, and more.
Viewers who want to phone in with questions or comments should call 718-960-7241 during the program.
This past Monday night, not-for profit organizations talked about their prospects in light of shrinking budgets. BronxTalk - March 28, 2011
Other recent shows include the Bronx borough president's education representatives talking about the city's schools and Patrice O'Shaughnessy, the newly-apointed Bronx bureau chief of the Daily News.
BronxTalk - March 7, 2011 (education)
BronxTalk - March 14, 2011 (Daily News)
One of New York City's longest running TV talk shows now in its 17th year, BronxTalk is seen each Monday night at 9:00pm on Bronxnet's Cablevision channel 67. It's also on Verizon Fios channel 33 and streamed live at www.bronxnet.org. Hosted by Gary Axelbank and produced by Jane Folloro, BronxTalk is repeated each day at 9:30am, 3:30pm, and 9:00pm. Archives are available here: BronxTalk archives
Bronx Foodie: Kitchen Spring Cleaning
It's officially spring and that means it's time for some spring cleaning. I'm not a huge fan of cleaning overall, but since I'm such as avid cook, I actually do like cleaning the kitchen. I could spend a whole day scrubbing down the refrigerator or re-organizing all of the cabinets. It's okay if you can't devote a whole day to cleaning, even small cleaning projects can make a difference. Here are five easy steps to sprucing up the kitchen. Try them this weekend.
Easy Kitchen Spring Cleaning
1)Throw out anything that has expired and donate anything that you don't use. (A good example is the can of pumpkin pie mix I still have in my kitchen. I don't even like pumpkin pie.)
2)Re-organize all of your cabinets so that all of your cooking utensils and spices are within reach. You can also try putting like items together. I have a section for spices, grains, beans, cans, and baking. This makes it easier to cook after a long day at work.
3)Before your next trip for groceries, take whatever is left in the fridge and put it on the counter. Then wipe all of the surfaces of the inside before putting everything back in. This is much easier to do with an almost empty fridge.
4)Stack all of your tupperware and food containers together to make it easier to find them, and throw out or recycle containers with missing lids.
5)Check your freezer to see if anything has been there for a while. It might be time to throw out those leftovers that have been sitting quietly in the back of the freezer.
Bronx News Roundup, April 1
Weather: Sping has sprung! Sunny, in the high 70s today. Welcome Spring! .... April Fool's. Cruel, I know, but without humor we'd be going a little nuts waiting for Mother Nature to do the right thing. But it really is supposed to be sunnier and warmer this weekend, in the 50s. Honest.
Story of the Day: Another Filtration Contractor Pays Fines in Deal with Feds
Skanska, the contractor handling the almost $3 billion filtration plant project in Van Cortlandt Park, agreed to pay almost $20 million in fines to avoid criminal charges in a case involving a subcontractor that allegedly set up a front operation to avoid government contract requirements that companies "hire a certain percentage of minority- or women-owned contractors or those certified by government agencies as disadvantaged," according to the New York Times. The deal was critical for Skanska as it bids on the Second Avenue subway project.
Experiencing some deja vu? Well, there's a good reason for that. As we reported in December, a subcontractor at the plant, Schiavone Construction, admitted to fraud and paid the federal government $20 million in fines for evading the same requirements.
On a related note, last night, at a meeting of the Croton Facility Monitoring Committee, the advisory body that meets regularly to go over the lastest developments in the massive filtration plant project under way at Van Cortlandt Park and the Jerome Park Reservoir, officials discussed the ongoing lack of sufficient representation of Bronxites in the project's workforce. We'll have more on this and other issues raised at the meeting up on the blog on Monday or Tuesday.
Quick hits:
Some brave Bronx bystanders stopped a man suspected of shooting a livery cab driver from getting away yesterday, witnesses reported.
Some cool photos, mostly just outside Yankee Stadium, from Opening Day.
Some more details on the Census jump in the boogiedown. Most of the new residents have settled in the south Bronx nabes of Morrisania, Melrose and Mott Haven.
Former Norwood News intern, Graham Kates, now a reporter at the Riverdale Press (congrats, Graham!) has the details on a massive police search for two dead bodies in Riverdale. They found one and are still searching for the other.
Bridges Juvenile Center in the south Bronx, known to most as Spofford, was shuttered with a giant ceremonial padlock Wednesday, the Hunts Point Express reports, finally succumbing to decades of demands that the notoriously troubled facility close. "Until last month, the vermin-infested detention center on Spofford Ave. held about 100 youth in dark cells with no air conditioning," the Daily News reported.
We can all sleep easier now. The Bronx Zoo cobra was found alive.
We botched the link yesterday, so here again is the Times story about the 3 parks connected to the Yankee Stadium project that are way behind schedule.
