BY ALEJANDRA O’CONNELLDOMENECH
AND JASON COHEN
U.S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman,
a Democrat, introduced a
piece of legislation on July 15
aimed at fi ghting the climate
crisis by upgrading public
school infrastructure and addressing
historical inequities.
Bowman spoke outside
of John Philip Sousa Junior
High School in Baychester
to rally support for the bill,
dubbed the Green New Deal
for Public Schools Act, which
proposes investing $1.43 trillion
in federal funds over the
next 10 years to update school
infrastructure to be able to
deal with and help repair the
climate crisis.
“We see rising sea levels
and we see the fl ooding and
damaging of property, ” said
Bowman, who is a lifelong educator
and former principal.
“We see record number temperatures
out west where you
have places like Utah reaching
peaks that they never seen
before … climate change is
real, it’s here and we need to
do something about it.”
the “heartbeat” of communities
climate change solutions and
be epicenters for clean, green,
renewable energy not just for
themselves but for their larger
surrounding communities.
One of the primary goals of
the ambitious investment is to
allow schools to end their dependency
transform them into renewable
“oasis” of energy.
22 co-sponsors — the legislation
per year and reduce the country’s
78 million metric tons, roughly
the same as taking 17 million
cars off the road, according
to Bowman, whose legislative
district encompasses portions
of the Bronx and Westchester
County.
mold, asbestos, outdated technology
With locations already
in Fordham and the Bronx
Terminal, the multinational
consumer electronics retailer
Best Buy has expanded
its footprint in the borough.
On July 23, it opened a
new 15,000-square-foot store
at 171 W. 230th St., Suite 103,
in Riverdale.
Store General Manager
Katherine Brito is excited to
work in the new Bronx location.
Brito, 33, who grew up
10 minutes away in Manhattan,
has been with the company
for 14 years.
In 2006, she landed a
job as a sales associate and
never looked back. It was a
career she never envisioned,
yet wouldn’t trade places
with anyone.
“What I like to do is help
people,” she said. “I’m doing
what I love, and I’m fortunate
to be in the position I’m
in.”
While she has worked at
various Best Buy locations
in Manhattan and Brooklyn,
this is her first role as
Schools, Bowman added, as
need to be at the center of
on fossil fuels and
If passed — the bill was introduced
to the House of Representatives
and currently has
would fund 1.3 million jobs
annual CO2 emissions by
As schools are fi lled with
and lead, it is time for
general manager.
The new store has about
schools to adapt to society,
Bowman said.
public schools were built 100
years ago during the Industrial
kids to work on the assembly
line. Now, they must teach children
to deal with 21st century problems
politics and more.
public schools is about a new
vision and about acknowledging
changing the physical institute,
actually learning.”
Democrat, praised Bowman
for the legislation and described
for public schools as a” transformative
as it will affect education for
decades.
important day,” de Blasio said.
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, J 6 ULY 30-AUG. 5, 2021 BTR
According to Bowman,
Revolution and prepared
about technology and how
like science, math, technology,
engineering, robotics,
“The Green New Deal for
that our kids learn different,”
Bowman said. “It’s about
but also changing the environment
where our kids are
Mayor Bill de Blasio, a
the Green New Deal
moment” in history
“Everybody, this is a very
40 employees, many of whom
live in the community and
Julian Ortiz, a high school student from Yonkers, praises u.s rep. Jamaal
Bowman for the Green New Deal for schools. Photo Jason Cohen
“It really is, because if we’re
going to get it right for our
kids, we have to be bold, we
have to do things very, very
differently.
“When we have schools
that are ready to truly serve
our children, our families,
because they’re modern, because
they’re clean and green,
doors are going to open. When
we have a curriculum that is
of, and for, and by every child,
doors open. So, this is what
we’ve dreamed of, but now it’s
actually here.”
Julian Ortiz, a high school
student from Yonkers, which
is part of Bowman’s district,
thanked Bowman for introducing
the legislation. Ortiz
are bilingual to help serve
the customers.
It offers a strong selection
of home theater products, as
well as smart home, mobile,
computing and other tech,
and it has dedicated spaces
for Microsoft, Apple and
other products. Additionally,
the Geek Squad is there
to offer customers technical
support, including device
setup, installation and repairs.
For those whose who
want to shop quickly, Best
Buy has new store pickup
lockers at the location, so
grabbing orders is easy and
customers can get their tech
in a way that works best for
them. Shoppers can place
an order online and they’ll
receive an email with a barcode
to open their locker and
pick up their product.
“We’re really excited to
be expanding our presence
here in the Bronx,” she said.
“We love this community
and look forward to helping
even more customers enrich
their lives through technology.”
BUS INES S , B RONX S T Y LE
Best Buy opens in Riverdale
told the attendees that his
school has poor water quality,
mold, two guidance counselors
for 300 kids in his grade, 30
kids per class and ultimately, a
school that is not conducive for
learning.
According to Ortiz, there’s
no way for guidance counselors
or teachers to build meaningful
relationships with that many
kids.
“How are we supposed to
learn when there’s not clean
water?” he said. “How are we
supposed to focus when we
can’t breathe air safely. I’m
looking forward to this the
Green New Deal. I would really
love to see these improvements.”
Bowman unveils Green New
Deal for public schools