3.3.22 — Almost 30 years after first writing about the Kingsbridge Armory’s potential redevelopment, I went at it again thanks to failure of the crew that got city approval to build nine ice-hockey rinks there. That was in 2012. Zilch has happened since. Read more in my City Limits piece below.
With only 3 weeks (+ a day) to go before the critical primary vote on Thurs., Sept. 13 for staten senator, in the 34th Senate District (and others all over the city), the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition is hosting a Town Hall tonight at 6:30 p.m. at Monroe College, 2501 Jerome Ave. (near Fordham Road) for Senate candidates interested in representing a few northwest Bronx districts. Alessandra Biaggi will be there. I heard that her opponent, incumbent Jeff Klein has not RSVP’d. Anyone interested in learning where candidates stand on many critical issues — health care, housing, schools, jobs, etc. — are welcome to attend.
Crossing Ft. Independence Street in Kingsbridge Heights is dangerous for everyone — kids, adults, and drivers. There are no crosswalks in 2 essential areas. Time for the city act. If you live, work, or go to school in the area – or just plain care – sign this petition and share link with others. We want the city’s Department of Transportation to act ASAP. Thanks!
City Limits reports (includes a video): Tenants and organizers of the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition gathered at the Bronx Housing Court last Thursday to protest what they say is a growing crisis: landlords harassing tenants by bringing them to housing court in hopes of pushing them out and raising rents.
(My wife, Margaret Groarke, long involved with the Coalition, is interviewed in this article and video. She cares a lot about housing in the borough as do I.)
Tonight’s BronxTalk will feature the proposal to rezone and rebuild 75 blocks on and around Jerome Avenue from 165th to 184th streets. It’s the third edition of the program in the past five weeks that will be dedicated to this important and controversial project. Several groups have begun organizing to make sure the neighborhoods surrounding Jerome Avenue play a role in determining what zoning changes, if any, are eventually made by the city. CASA, Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition, Latino Pastoral Action Center and United Auto Merchants are among them. Tonight’s show will feature the district managers of Bronx Community Board’s 4 and 5. Hosted by Gary Axelbank, BronxTalk is seen live Monday nights at 9 p.m on BronxNet’s channel 67 and Fios 33.
Many 85 Strong Street tenants haven’t been able to cook for over a month. Photo by Jordan Moss
Tenants, with the help of the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition, are battling the month-long lack of cooking gas in many of their apartments at 85 Strong Street, which is close to Lehman College. CBS-NY had this story. Tenants formed this Facebook page. The Coalition had a meeting with the tenants last Wednesday and by Friday 80 percent of the building got its gas back. There are 72 units in the building and there are currently 96 code violations, according to the city’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development on its website.
350.org estimates that 310,000 people took part in the People’s Climate March on Sunday to push desperately needed worldwide climate change action. Bronxites supplied a significant contingent. A reported 100 people from Riverdale’s Manhattan College took part, as did members of New Day Church in Bedford Park, La Finca del Sur, and South Bronx Unite, a coalition firmly focused on preventing Fresh Direct from moving its truck-heavy HQ to Mott Haven. (I’d love to know of any other Bronx groups, organizations, schools, clubs, etc. that took part in the Climate March. If you can send that info and a good photo to bronxmatters@gmail.com, I’ll do my best to get them up here. Thanks!)
My family took part with Bronx pals and their kids (from left my daughter Devin, and her friends Shoshana, Frieda and Bronwyn; my wife Margaret Groarke, active in the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition stands behind them).
I met these cool guys, artists from Marble Hill, Bronx (Richard Grunn) and nearby Inwood demonstrating melting ice. They attracted a ton of shots from marchers.
Photos by Jordan Moss
Again, if you know of any other Bronx groups that took part, send info and pic to bronxmatters@gmail.com. Thanks!
Occupy Sunset Park is reaching out to residents in several languages. Photo: Zach Campbell/City Limits
This spring the Occupy movement is going local and if you need any more evidence that there is no central authority dictating what offshoot groups should do, look no further than the differing missions of efforts in Brooklyn and the Bronx.
As the Brooklyn Bureau (published by City Limits) reported today, a diverse group of community residents in Sunset Park are beginning to gather to strategize on local issues — such as school closures, loss of a Head Start program, etc. Organizers are translating materials into several languages to reach that neighborhood’s incredibly diverse population.
Here in the Bronx, three grassroots organizations have bigger corporate and government targets in mind, a strategy more in tune with demonstrators in Zuccotti Park and those who occupied similar public spaces in cities around the country last fall. Mothers on the Move, the Mary Mitchell Family and Youth Center, and the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition — all of which already focus on local projects — are gearing up for a day-long training session this Saturday, April 14, at St. Simon Stock Church. Below is a letter from event organizers with details.
Bronx Matters 