Happy Friday afternoon everyone. Holiday housekeeping prevented us from getting this up earlier, but here's a brief Bronx news roundup, just in time for the Friday evening commute. Please, don't read and drive.
The state health department ignored warnings that Pedro Espada Jr.'s network of nonprofit health care clinics was running afoul of regulations and a recommendation that Espada should give up control of the clinics, according to the Wall Street Journal. Espada and his son were indicted on Tuesday for allegedly using the clinics as their "personal piggy bank." They pleaded not guilty in court on Wednesday.
The Daily News focuses on the Kingsbridge Armory angle in sizing up Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr.'s showdown with the mayor over the fate of the vacant Muller Army Reserve Center in Wakefield. We reported (in a BxNN exclusive, I might add) on Wednesday that Diaz was boycotting a meeting to prevent the mayor from voting to turn Muller into a homeless shelter. But what I didn't mention was that Diaz has an alternative plan: moving the National Guard units, currently housed in the Armory's annex buildings, to Muller to make way for new schools.
The Mindful Chef is from the Bronx.
The real estate company of Ex-Red Sox star Mo Vaughn, who makes a brief cameo in our New Yorker-esque story about Councilman Fernando Cabrera, is pledging $30 million to fix up two dilapidated Bronx apartment buildings.
The Fiscal Policy Institute issued a report today on the widening gap between New York's rich and poor, pointing out fun facts like: "Wall Street, with its stratospheric profits and bonuses, sits within 15 miles of the Bronx -- the nation's poorest county." Here's the report itself.
Eater.com's Manhattan/Brooklyn-centric "Who goes there?" feature takes a look at Arthur Avenue's 89-year-old Mario's Italian restaurant.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Bronx News Roundup, Dec. 17
Bronx River Art Center Open House & Other Events This Weekend
The center's main location on East Tremont Avenue is currently being renovated.
For details of other events and goings on this weekend, check out the calendar below.
Bronx Foodie: Cookies That Won't Break Santa's Diet
Cookies top the list of my favorite holiday desserts. They're easy to bake and there are so many ways to make them. The only thing I don't like is that a lot of cookies are made of mostly butter, flour and lots of sugar, i.e. not too good for your health or waist line.
If you're looking for a healthier option, try these oatmeal cookies. They aren't exactly fat-free -- no cookie should be completely fat-free. But they are a bit healthier and filling because of the oatmeal and the maple syrup. Let us know what you'll be baking and cooking in the comments section. And stop by next week and we'll post some tips for healthy holiday eating.
Raisin and Walnut Oatmeal Cookies
adapted from The Kind Diet
1 cup of quick-cooking rolled oats
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/3 cup real maple syrup
1/2 cup canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon molasses
1/4 cup finely chopped walnuts
1/4 cup raisins or other dried fruit
Preheat oven to 350 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Combine the oats, flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, combine the syrup, oil, vanilla extract, and molasses. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, and stir to combine. Fold in the raisins and nuts.
If the mixture is too wet, add some more flour. Then chill in the freezer for about 20-30 minutes. This will prevent the cooking from spreading too much. My first batch came out like crisps instead of cookies. Be careful not to let the dough freeze.
Using your hands, roll tablespoon-size scoops of dough into balls. Place the balls onto the prepared baking sheet, and press down slightly on the balls to flatten the top. Bake for 10-20 minutes or until lightly browned. Transfer cookies to a baking rack to cool completely.
Enjoy!
The Education of a Councilman: Bronx's Cabrera Makes Strides in First Year
 |
| Councilman Fernando Cabrera (second from left) at a finance committee meeting. He says he’s learned a lot from veteran Council members, such as Joel Rivera (middle). (Photo by A. Kratz) |
Councilman Fernando Cabrera’s office on the 17th floor of 250 Broadway, a large municipal building across the street from City Hall in downtown Manhattan, is spartan — the walls a blank canvas, the desk tops free of clutter. There are photos on and behind his desk: of a baby smiling, a close-up of a flower, a beautiful landscape. They are not his photos. They came with the frames.
The scene is fitting. As Cabrera enters the final weeks of his first year representing the 14th District, which includes Kingsbridge, University Heights, Morris Heights and Mt. Hope, two things have become clear: he has been busy and he is still moving in.
“Greg [Faulkner] is the best chief of staff in the world,” Cabrera says, smiling, “but he’s not much of a decorator.” Besides, Faulkner, the former chairman of Community Board 7, has enough on his plate helping Cabrera navigate the complex machinery of the New York City Council.
“There’s always something new,” Cabrera says. “Always something to learn. This is the biggest city government, the biggest city budget.”
So Far, So Good
“I think he’s been an exceptional council member,” said Patrick Jenkins, a political consultant who worked on Cabrera’s campaign and continues to work for the Bronx County Democratic Committee. “He’s earned the respect of his colleagues. People find him approachable and dependable. He has a tremendous work ethic.”
Make no mistake, Cabrera remains low on the Council totem pole. City Hall, a newspaper that covers city politics, ranked him 47th out of 51 Council members in terms of influence and the money he is allocated for his district is relatively low compared to, say, Joel Rivera, who represents the district next door.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Bronx Borough President to Appear on NY1 Tonight
Ruben Diaz, Jr., the Bronx borough president, will be appearing on NY1’s “Inside City Hall” this evening.
The show airs at 7 p.m. and again at 10 p.m. Topics for discussion include the Muller Army Reserve Center and the Kingsbridge Armory.
UNHP Awarded Neighborhood Grant
Congratulations to the University Neighborhood Housing Program, which was just awarded a $40,000 Neighborhood Revitalization grant to expand its housing and homeowners assistance programs, foreclosure prevention databases, free tax-preparation services and financial literacy workshops. The money is part of $520,000 in grants given out by the the New York Community Trust; UNHP is the only Bronx group to receive one of the awards.
Check out their website for more information, and a number of housing-related resources.
Espada Pleads Not Guilty, Predicts 'Complete Vindication'
 |
| Pedro Espada, pictured above with his wife, leaving a federal courthouse in Brooklyn yesterday (photo by J. Evelly) |
Judge Steven Gold said the Espadas are charged with "extremely serious crimes," that would put them in jail for "a very long time," if convicted.
Just how long of a time that might be is yet to be seen--the United States Attorney's Office said that, if convicted, the Espadas would face a maximum of 55 years, though experts predict an actual sentence would be much less.
Both men face five counts of embezzlement and one count of conspiracy for allegedly looting their network of taxpayer-funded nonprofit health care clinics, money they used to buy lavish gifts and meals for themselves and their families. You can read more details on their indictment here.
For Bronx residents in the 33rd State Senate District, the Espada debacle has a serious tinge of déjà vu--Espada's predecessor, Efrain Gonzalez, was indicted on very similar charges in 2006. At the time, Gonzalez could have faced a maximum of 30 years in prison. He was sentenced to seven years this June.
Walmart: Bronxites Love Us!
Retail megastore Walmart is once again eyeing the big apple for the site of a new store, and this time they've got research under their belt to fight off opponents. The company commissioned its own poll that surveyed 1,000 New Yorkers--the majority of which, the company says, would welcome a Walmart somewhere in the city.
According to the poll, Bronx residents want a Walmart more than folks in any other borough: 80 percent of those asked say they would support the retailer coming to the city, according to a press release.
Opposition against Walmart setting up shop has been fierce in the past, as critics often question the company's labor practices and argue that the retailer would hurt the city's small business community.
But Walmart polled them, too: according to the survey, 62 percent of small business owners asked said they favor the store based on the idea that it would help create jobs.
A few years back, a coalition of Walmart opponents teamed up with a number of Bronx community groups to fight the possibility of the box store coming into the neighborhood.
City Council Speaker Christine Quinn had planned to hold a hearing this week to discuss the impact a Walmart could have, though the retailer says it has no announced project in the city yet. The hearing has been postponed until next month.
So what do we think? Does the Bronx want a Walmart?
$1 Million Restoration Brings Poe Cottage Into the Future
 |
| Angel Hernandez of the Bronx Historical Society looks out from the porch of Poe Cottage, which is undergoing a million dollar facelift. (Photo by Rochana Rapkins) |
When British journalist Mary Grove visited Edgar Allen Poe’s cottage outside the village of Fordham, she described it as cozy and neat, with “floors as white as wheat.” The cottage was situated on a hill, and surrounded by creeks, rivers and farmland.
Today the 198-year-old cottage still stands -- although it’s now a few hundred yards away from its original location -- at the intersection of Kingsbridge Road and the Grand Concourse. What was once Millbrook Creek is now Webster Avenue. A stone’s throw away, children play on playground equipment and residents sit on benches in what is now Poe Park.
Ironically, when the Bronx County Historical Society kicked off a million-dollar restoration of the 198-year-old building this year, some local kids literally threw rocks to see if they could shatter the windows.
“You can still see some of the rocks up on the roof,” said Eric Stalzer, vice president of Apple Restoration, the company hired to do the job. “It was a shame.”
 |
| (Photo by Rochana Rapkins) |
Bronx News Roundup, Dec. 16
Patients at Espada's Soundview Health Clinics told the Post that they wouldn't mind seeing the network's CEO behind bars. "He belongs in jail," said 70-year-old Rosalind Rahamon. Espada and his son pleaded not guilty yesterday at a federal court in Brooklyn; we'll have more on that in a bit.
A spokeswoman from the Health Department told WNYC that the agency supports Espada's removal from his CEO position at Soundview.
Outgoing Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, who first brought civil charges against Espada this spring, said of the senator's indictment: "I couldn't leave on a better note."
Mets player Carlos Beltran handed out food to Bronx residents with anti-hunger group City Harvest.
The body of a 38-year-old Bronx man was discovered in a wooded area of Clifton, N.J. yesterday.
Bronx resident George Castro, 48, is accused of stealing $5.7 million from Columbia University. He allegedly diverted funds from the prestigious school's accounts after accessing private financial information, and had more than $200,000 in cash on him when he was arrested by police last month.
Loyal customers at a Carvel store in Wakefield won't let this week's freezing temperatures stop them from enjoying an ice cream cone.
The Mayor says legislators taking advantage of a loophole that lets them collect pension checks while still in office are pulling the "ultimate scam." Bronx Assemblyman Jose Rivera is among the accused.
Four Loko, the controversial booze-and-caffeine beverage that's supposedly been banned from stores, is still available for purchase online, according to Sen. Jeff Klein's office.
Incoming Schools Chancellor Cathie Black, responding to critics that she's out of touch with inner-city students: "I've been to the South Bronx, and that's about as realistic as you can get." Witty commentary at the source.
Today's issue of amNY profiles Concourse Village, and the neighborhood art scene there.
A Bronx-based nonprofit health group is looking update the borough's medical care. Bronx Regional Health Information Organization is partnering with the borough's hospitals to create electronic patients' records--a staple of President Obama's reform plan.
Plans to officially form a Business Improvement District for Westchester Square are coming together.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Fate of Muller Center Goes Federal as Bronx Boro Prez and Mayor Lock Horns
In order to block the Bloomberg administration's plan to turn the Muller Army Reserve Center into a homeless shelter, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. once again decided to boycott a scheduled meeting of the three member authority that controls the Muller Center's fate.
The Muller Redevelopment Authority (LRA) -- made up of Diaz, Deputy Mayor Linda Gibbs and Tokumbo Shobowale, the chief of staff for Deputy Mayor Robert Steel and managed by the city's quasi-governmental Economic Development Corporation -- needs all three members to vote on a recommendation for the vacant army reserve center. So, no Diaz, no vote. This is the second time, Diaz has missed an authority meeting in protest.
That means the Muller Center's fate will fall back into the hands of the Department of Defense and the federal government. It could become a test of who has more support in Congress: Bloomberg or Diaz.
"We have a lot of friends in Congress," said Diaz spokesman John DeSio, who pointed to Representative Eliot Engel's opposition to the mayor's homeless shelter plan. Engel represents the Wakefield area where the Muller Center sits.
The deputy mayors have made it clear the mayor's office wants to make Muller a homeless shelter and have not been interested in negotiating the matter. "They aren't budging," DeSio said.
The mayor's office simply is not listening to the voices, or paying attention to the needs, of the community, DeSio said.
Those voices will be represented tomorrow, DeSio said, at a press conference on the steps of City Hall at 1 p.m. In addition to Diaz, he said Bronx elected officials, including Councilman Oliver Koppell, State Senator Jeff Klein and Assemblyman Jeff Dinowitz, as well as Community Board 12 Chairman Richard Gorman and activists with the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition and other Wakefield residents will be on hand to let the mayor know they're united against the shelter plans.
Under BRAC guidelines, which the LRA must follow, the authority is required to consider using vacant military buildings like Muller as homeless shelters. But that only means homeless assistance should considered. It doesn't mean it must become a homeless shelter.
Opponents of the shelter plan say the Wakefield area is already saturated with them.
Is it too early to say the Muller Center is this year's Kingsbridge Armory?
BronxTalk: Music for the holidays... and the Vacca show...
One of New York City's longest running TV talk shows now in its 17th year, BronxTalk is seen live each Monday night at 9:00pm on Bronxnet's Cablevision channel 67. It's also on Verizon Fios channel 33 and streamed live at 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
