Message from
Councilman Mark Gjonaj
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, S 50 EPTEMBER 6-12, 2019 BTR
COUNCILMAN MARK GJONAJ
BY GEORGE HAVRANEK
All of us at the Spencer Estate
Civic association hope
everyone had a most enjoyable
summer. Monthly meetings
resume on Wednesday,
September 18, 7:30 p.m. at the
Knights of Columbus. Items
on our current agenda include:
Loss of Police Offi cers
The attrition-based loss of
police offi cers in our 45th Precinct
has increased to nine.
The term attrition based indicates
City Hall believes our
community has too many offi
cers and therefore this action
comes without replacement
plans. The questionable
variables related to statistics
showing a decrease in crime
contrasts the public perception
of a severe decline in
quality of life and a dire need
for more police offi cers. Petitions
have been circulated
and disapproval letters sent
to our elected offi cials. This
multiple community battle
must be won.
MTA Redesign
Many communities
staunchly oppose the MTA redesign.
Multiple letters and
petitions of opposition have
been given to our elected offi
cials and the MTA’s hierarchy.
The situation is currently
in the capable hands
of Assemblyman Mike Benedetto
and Councilman Mark
Gjonaj. Thank you Mike
Benedetto and Mark Gjonaj
for your anticipated efforts to
prevent this unwarranted action
from a poorly run State
agency. The offi ce of Congresswoman
Ocasio-Cortez
has also been notifi ed of the
MTA’s action and blind eye
fare evasion policies that cost
multiple millions of dollars.
After her careful analysis,
we hope our congresswoman
calls for an investigation and
severe oversight on this Most
Troubled Agency.
Cease and Desist
Many homeowners are
victims of assertive and
unwanted real-estate solicitations.
Technological
advancements have made documentation
of these events a
near impossible task. Due to
this changing dynamic all homeowners
should have the opportunity
to enroll in a Cease
and Desist program.
Moratoriums Warranted
The rampant overdevelopment
in our community has
created a conundrum of congestion
that affects every aspect
of our infrastructure,
human, health, and essential
services. It is time to place a
temporary hold on As of Right
buildings. The good intentions
of AOR have brought too many
unintended consequences that
negatively affect our quality of
life.
Substance Abuse
Treatment
Substance Abuse Treatment
facilities in residential
areas are more than simple
cases of placing proper things
in proper places. The approximately
80% failure rate of
these facilities is excessively
high. This egregious failure
rate does not warrant subjecting
homeowners to projected
6%-17% declines in home
valuations in addition to potential
devaluations to their
quality of life. A paradigm
shift in the area of substance
abuse is drastically needed. In
the interim, our community
is grateful that Community
Board 10, Councilman Gjonaj,
Assemblyman Benedetto, Senator
Alessandra Biaggi and
Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez
have publicly sided with
the community and written
letters of opposition to state
agencies in response to the
Miracle City operation at 2800
Bruckner Boulevard.
Protecting Our Perimeters
A Revolutionary War, ‘One
if by land two if by sea’ scenario
is in place.
The lengthy ongoing battle
against the illegal weekend/
days-long storage of tractor
trailers along the Bruckner
Boulevard corridor has been
well chronicled in this periodical
and social media. This
past year, the lack of consistent
law enforcement in this
area has led to numerous incidences
of illegal dumping
that was culminated by the
embarrassment of having two
abandoned boats dumped on
the door steps of our quaint
neighborhood. This situation
clearly calls for a zero tolerance
policy.
The waters of Eastchester
Bay and the industrial areas
surrounding our community
have become sources
of loud music throughout all
hours of the day and night.
This diffi cult nuisance situation
has a negative affect on
quality of life and requires
a long-term proactive plan.
Thankfully our friends in waterfront
communities, most
notably the City Island Civic
Association, are using their
resources to help combat this
ongoing seasonal issue.
Community Footnotes
Thanks to Councilman
Gjonaj and the Bronx Wildcats
for the cleanup of the
utility triangle at the Middletown
Road/Ampere Avenue
convergence. Ongoing infrastructure
projects in the vicinity
have stalled community
plans for much-needed
beautifi cation of this drab
area.
Councilman Gjonaj secured
one million dollars
in funding for ten ARGUS
(crime) cameras throughout
the district footprint. Two
cameras have been placed
at the Pelham Bay Park/Pelham
Bay Station vicinity.
Our association’s requests
for cameras near the vicinity
of Bruckner Boulevard,
McDonough Place, Dwight
Place and Country Club Road
remain on the list. The NYPD
determines the placements
of these extremely expensive
law enforcement supplements.
As summer concludes
smoke alarm reminders are
warranted. Please contact the
offi ce of Councilman Gjonaj
at (718) 931-1721 for information
about the free “Smoke
Alarm” installation program.
From Community Board 10
In partnership with CVS,
free fl u shots will be administered,
Tuesday, September 10,
11a.m. to 3 p.m. at Community
Board 10, 3165 E. Tremont Avenue.
Please bring proper ID
and insurance cards, for additional
information call (718)
892-1161.
Importantly, please join
Bronx residents as we honor
those lost on September 11,
2001 and those who continue
to fi ght for our freedom. Memorial
Ceremony, Wednesday,
September 11, 7 p.m. at
FDNY ENGINE 72, 3929 E.
Tremont Avenue, near the
Cross Bronx Expressway.
Political leaders to gauge
a community’s strength use
the attendances at local civic
association meetings. Large
turnouts by our community
showed our elected offi cials
that we have the fortitude and
resolve needed to confront adversity.
The next meeting of
the Spencer Estate Civic Association
is Wednesday, September
18, 7:30 p.m., at Knights of
Columbus (corner of Ampere
and Research avenues).Our
valued friend, Councilman
Mark Gjonaj is the scheduled
keynote speaker for our second
half kick-off. Any area
homeowner or renter interested
in membership to the
all inclusive Spencer Estate
Civic Association in box
George Havranek on Facebook
or send e-mail with subject
matter Spencer Estate to
gghh55@aol.com.
My priority has always been
on Safer-Cleaner-Better Neighborhoods.
I am proud to have supported
and voted for a package of NYC Council
bills to crack down illegal dumping,
a crisis that has plagued the
fi ve boroughs of New York City, and
in particular the Bronx. Apart from
the hefty (illegal dumping) fi nes, the
NYC Department of Sanitation has
also launched an illegal dumping reward
program to enforce the current
law on illegal dumping. This program
incentivizes members of the community
to fi le civilian complaints with
the Sanitation Police to keep their
neighborhood clean. Individuals who
choose to fi le a complaint that leads
to a guilty verdict, can receive up to
half of the collected fi ne violation.
The fi nes for illegal dumping range
from $1,500 to $40,000 depending on
several factors. For more information,
please visit: http://www.nyc.
gov/dsny or reach out to our district
offi ce at (718) 799-7375.
It is evident that city agencies
are extremely overwhelmed with
the amount of complaints that are
being issued on a daily basis. As
such, there is a huge lag time and
lack of resources to investigate illegal
dumping cases. By keeping one
another accountable, in conjunction
with the DOS, illegal dumping can
be addressed and resolved by a more
proactive approach. To achieve a better
and cleaner neighborhood everyone
must be involved and willing to
be part of the solution.
As I gear up for the next legislative
session, I pledge to continue fi ghting
to improve the quality of life for all of
my constituents, whether that may be
illegal dumping, crime and safety, or
housing to name a few. It is my hope
that you and your families have had
a wonderful, relaxing, and safe summer.
To all of our student, good luck
on the new school year.
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