Message from Councilman Mark Gjonaj
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, AUGUST 3 54 0-SEPTEMBER 5, 2019 BTR
COUNCILMAN MARK GJONAJ
BY GENE DEFRANCIS
A landlord is required to
do everything possible (within
reason) to keep their tenant
safe. It is reasonable to insist
that landlords protect their
tenants from crime and other
illegal activities.
It is reasonable that the
landlord provide information
and call the authorities when
illegal activities are occurring
on your property.
It is reasonable to evict tenants
that are creating a dangerous
environment.
It is reasonable to insist that
the property management not
not aid and assist in such illegal
activities. It is reasonable
to insist that management does
not hire known drug dealers.
This is reasonable.
For too many years one
property has obstructed police
activity to keep the community
safe.
Members of their custodial
staff are known drug dealers
assisting and working with
tenants who are conducting
business in and around the
property.
There have been many 911
calls and very little assistance
from management. “It’s like
pulling teeth to get them to cooperate,”
said one police offi -
cer. They have even threatened
to sue the police department for
“harassment”.
They know the illegal activity
is happening. The police
know. The residents know. So
what is getting done about it?
Tenants are prisoners in their
own home because they are
cautious about going outside.
Three weeks ago an arrest
was made and one of the arresting
offi cers had a Patron
bottle thrown at his head. He is
still not back on duty suffering
from a concussion and other injuries.
This will change. We are fi ling
a lawsuit against this property
for their gross neglect for
the safety and well being of
their tenant and surrounding
community as well as the economic
damage it has caused to
the business corridor. We will
not tolerate it any longer.
If you suspect your property
to be involved in such activity
we will address that as well.
And as the paperwork is fi nalized,
we will be bringing the
play by play updates to your attention.
But we will not stand
for it any longer. We will fi ght
and we will win. We thank the
community at large for their
understanding and support. If
things change at these properties
we will be sure to let you
know immediately.
As for our upcoming events:
Tuesday, September 3 is our
next executive meeting open to
the public at 815 Allerton Avenue
the Sanz Banquet Hall.
Doors will open at 7 p.m.
Saturday, September 14 our
Annual Back to School Clean
Up returns. We hope everyone
is able to join us and lend a
hand beautifying our home.
And don’t forget Movie
Nights and Halloween is fast
approaching. So join our Facebook
page Allerton International
Merchants Association
Inc to get the latest information
and updates.
Your community is your business.
BY MARY JANE MUSANO
As reported in our previous
column, our association
has been working hard to get
our electeds to demand a swift
change to the anti-police climate
that exists in our city. We
have joined with other civic associations,
contacted every local
elected and visited our precinct
to speak to the offi cers
and show our support and appreciation.
This is just the beginning
of our plan for the Blue
New Deal.
In a previous column, we
printed a letter that was sent
to every local elected and we
promised to report back on
their responses. That letter
asked for public support for our
offi cers, denunciation of the
mayor’s anti-police policies and
new legislation that makes it a
felony to assault a police offi cer
even if that assault does not result
in harm to the offi cer.
We received a very timely
response from Councilmember
Mark Gjonaj’s offi ce. He sent
an article written by Richard
Khavkine of The Chief who reported
that fi ve members of the
City Council gathered for a conference
where they denounced
the city’s anti-police climate
and the mayor who helped to
create it. Those city council
members are Mark Gjonaj,
Kalman Yeger, Paul Vallone,
Eric Ulrich and Robert Holden.
This is a great start and we appreciate
that our councilman
was one of the fi rst local elected
to publicly speak out against
anti-police rhetoric and speak
up publicly for our police.
Unfortunately, we have not
heard back from the others as
of yet. I promise you that if we
do not hear back a visit will be
our next step. As our representatives
they are paid to represent
us and in order to do that
they must be open to dialog. It
is our right and their responsibility
and we will hold them to
it.
Often with problems as
complex as this we tend to take
the fi rst steps and then we forget
to follow through. The way
we see it is that the fi rst steps
are for our electeds to publicly
denounce the anti-police climate
that the mayor and others
have created. It does not matter
whether or not the problem
is happening here. We must
be proactive so that it does not
happen here. We must also
help those in areas where this
is happening.
While speaking out is important,
words without actions
will never solve this problem.
We must demand legislation,
roll back laws and regulations
that tie the hands of our offi -
cers, demand enough offi cers
in each area so that we have
appropriate police presence,
teach our children to respect
authority, etc.
Right now, it seems our community
is losing police through
attrition and if that happens expect
more crime in our community.
This is a lethal mix that
puts us all in danger. So, I ask
you again, please do not just
talk over the garden gate, instead
get out there and do something
to make it better. Speak
out loudly to every elected that
will listen and if they are not
listening then use your vote to
change things.
Support and respect our police.
Summer is almost over and it is
Back to School for so many students
in District 13. I have had the pleasure
to co-sponsor so many family events
over the summer from our Summer
Concert Series to the annual Senior
Trip, National Night Out and others
,which has given me and my offi ce the
amazing opportunity to meet and hear
from so many of you. I have also partnered
with multiple organizations for
Back to School Events. Our Annual
Back to School event will take place on
Wednesday, September 4 at noon at our
district offi ce at 1478 Williamsbridge
Road. Stop by with your children to
pick up books bags or supplies while
they last.
I fi rmly believe that education
is key to a successful future for our
children. To achieve this, we need
well-funded schools and adequate resources.
Our children deserve the best
education possible. A large part of that
includes technological resources and
adequate infrastructure. Advanced
resources in our schools will provide
our children the tools to prosper and
enhance our communities. I have
proudly designated over $6 million for
school capital improvements, as well
as additional funding for educational
initiatives and programing.
The work our teachers, guidance
counselors, aides, and all school personnel
provide is invaluable. Investing
in education, investing in our
youth and building stronger communities
will always remain my priorities.
Our students will go on to be the
future infl uential leaders in all walks
of life. In the words of Abraham Lincoln
the best way to create a brighter
future is to help create it. I want to extend
all the students and their families
a warm Welcome Back to School and
much success in the upcoming school
year. Please do not hesitate to call our
district offi ce at (718) 931-1721 with any
concerns, follow us on social media
and sign-up to our newsletter for the
latest information by e-mailing us at
mgjonaj@council.nyc.gov.
Saturday, September 7 we
will be having our Labor Day
BBQ, $25 a head gets you the
usual fare and we are working
on live music. Repairs
are ongoing throughout the
post, as we have said before,
you don’t have to be a tradesman
to lend a hand, cleaning
up is just as important
to getting the place in shape.
Meetings will be starting
up again in September for
Legion, Sons and Boosters,
make sure you know when
your meeting is and make it
a point to attend, good things
going on. Now that the American
Legion has changed its admittance
policy as part of the
Legion Act we should be out
there and recruiting members.
We had countless veterans that
had to be turned down because
of the old regulations,
hope they will still consider
joining and helping their
fellow veterans. In October,
5th and 6th we will remember
our name sake Samuel
Young, commemorating
the 100th year anniversary.
I know it is early just keep
it in mind, more details to
follow regarding the event.
That’s all for now. We are
stronger as one, let’s work
together.
God bless America.
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