Bronx News Network

Espada's Town Hall Meeting Rescheduled

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[Ed. note: this post has been updated from its original version.] The town hall-style meeting at Church of the Mediator featuring State Senator Pedro Espada, Jr., which had drawn the attention of pro-tenant housing advocates who were planning to hold a protest outside of the meeting, has been rescheduled because of safety concerns, said Diego Delgado-Miller, the head pastor of the Kingsbridge area church.A new date has not yet been determined, Delgado-Miller said. When asked why the church had decided to reschedule the meeting, Delgado-Miller offered a short chuckle as if he was amused by all the attention the meeting was receiving. “We wanted to make sure it was more secure, more peaceful,” he said. “We wanted people to feel safe.”Activists from the Real Rent Reform campaign, which includes several pro-tenant housing groups, including the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition and Housing Here and Now, had planned to protest outside of the church because the meeting was limited to an invite-only crowd and they wanted to highlight Espada’s inaction on several key pieces of pro-tenant housing legislation.Delgado-Miller said he had invited Espada to speak at his church, “Because I wanted to people to know him and what he is doing.”Michael McKee of Housing Here and Now also wanted people to know what Espada is doing, or not doing, as Chairman of the Senate’s housing committee.

Bronx News Network

BxNN Presents: The 33rd Senate District Candidates On the Issues (Part 3)

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Two weeks ago, the Bronx News Network asked candidates in 33rd District senate race to answer, in writing, a number of questions which we hope will shed light on where they stand politically, their position on key issues in the community, and what they would do if elected. In the coming days we’re going to post their unedited answers on this blog, a few at a time. Part 1 was published Tuesday. We published Part 2 yesterday. For Part 3, we asked them how they would balance the state budget as well as their position on sin taxes.

Bronx News Network

What's Going On?

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As we near another warm weekend, here are some events to check out across the Bronx!Editor’s note: What did we miss? Send details to bronxnewsnetwork[at]gmail.com. And don’t forget to keep an eye on our “What’s Going On?” calendar for the latest happenings.

Bronx News Network

Claims of Racism Haunt Woodlawn Cemetery

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Last Friday, 30 demonstrators – mostly minority workers just getting off work, still dressed in hard hats and construction boots – joined community leaders outside of the northeastern gates of Woodlawn Cemetery to protest what they describe as a culture of racism and favoritism among cemetery administrators.Cemetery employees were not actually in attendance because they feared retribution by their superiors.The employees, all of whom spoke on condition of anonymity, claim to work in a culture dominated by fear. Fear to stand up for themselves and speak against the bigotry they say they encounter. Because when they do, they say it leads to even further harassment by their bosses. Employees who have spoken up or complained in the past say they’ve been punished by being assigned more laborious jobs or have been isolated to work alone.In response to the charges, Woodlawn Cemetery released a statement provide by their spokesman, Gary Lewi, via email: “We take seriously the allegations that have been presented as evidenced by our decision to underwrite an independent review. As the solemn custodian of sacred ground we believe we have more than just a legal obligation but an ethical one to maintain the highest standards of employment, one that embraces diversity, respects the employee and encourages promotion and career advancement regardless of race, color, creed or gender.”Details about the cemetery’s independent review remain murky.Cemetery administrators responded to the allegations by prompting an “independent review” conducted by the offices of Salvador Collazo.

Bronx News Network

Bronx News Roundup, July 22

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Sherr-una Booker says she’ll refile charges against David Johnson, the former top aide to Gov. Paterson. Booker filed a police report last fall saying Johnson assaulted her in their Bronx apartment, but the case was dismissed when she missed a court appearance the day after getting a phone call from the governor.Sam Suzuki, the slumlord who got prison time for ignoring court orders to repair his crumbling apartment building on E. 172nd Street, was released from jail this week but could be sent back by the courts as early as next week.Funeral services were held yesterday for the two teens who drowned in the Bronx River last weekend. (See here for more on the incident, and its aftermath in the community).A kitten named Motz was rescued from a sewer by city workers yesterday in Morris Park.A new documentary called “The Lottery,” tracks students from the Bronx and Harlem as they compete for a seat at the very competitive Success Academy charter school in the Harlem (Success Academy will open two schools in the Bronx this fall).Roses at the Bronx Botanical Garden are being bred to resist

Bronx News Network

Friends of the Oval Meeting- Thurs. July 22 at 7pm

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Friends of the Oval, a volunteer group of community residents that advocate for services and projects to maintain and enhance the Williamsbridge Oval, is meeting the evening of Thursday, July 22 in the park. You’ll find folks gathering at 7pm at one of the picnic tables in the picnic grove near the north side of the park (closer to E. Gun Hill Road). The group will discuss the successful request for portable toilets while the Recreation Center is under construction, devise strategies to cut down on litter, and consider how to ensure the renovation work is completed on schedule. Friends encourages attendees to bring their concerns and passion for our neighborhood park and join in the conversation. All are welcome.