CIVIC CENTER
Spencer Estate Civic
Association
BY GEORGE HAVRANEK
If we want to keep and reap the
blessings of our fi ne quality of life, we
must endure the fatigue of supporting
it. This maxim strikes a chord
that resonates loudly throughout various
locales. With 35 of 51 City Council
seats up for grabs uncertainty is at the
core of our local political climate.
The New York City Council functions
as New York City’s congressional
body serving as a check in the
mayor-council dynamic. The City
Council is a powerful, infl uential
body that crafts legislation and can
override mayoral veto with a 2/3 majority
vote. This government body collectively
infl uences land usage and
zoning, property taxes, public safety,
health and human services, essential
services and other elements related to
our quality of life.
Council member policy can swiftly
alter communities. In matters of land
use and zoning changes, the City
Council generally observes the practice
of member deference by following
preferences of the affected areas’ district
council member. When initiated,
member deference directly connects
politicians to constituents impacted
by policy and severs the cord on motivated
monetizing developers and lobbyists.
Council member deference creates
strong ballot box accountabilities
especially during shortened two-year
council terms; 2021 and 2023 are shortened
two-year terms, standard fouryear
council terms return in 2025.
In upzone and land review situations,
indifference to deference by
a council member or orchestrated
blockade would place low-density
communities under blankets of uncertainty.
It is our responsibility; civic
duties to ensure our communities are
not adversely affected by candidate
ideologies.
Sentiments among residents in
low-density communities strongly
suggest quality of life is on a downward
spiral. Nuisance issues, once
promptly addressed, have become
low priority 311 complaints; too frequently
placed on the backburner to
smolder out. It is abundantly clear, in
our current state, low-density communities
will not meet the criteria to warrant
additional police presence. To
offset manpower shortages, perhaps
it is time to bring technology into lowdensity
communities. Installations of
NYPD crime cameras at strategic locations
could benefi t low-density areas
in their earnest efforts to combat
nuisance and criminal behaviors.
Community Footnotes:
Upzoning: If permitted, the Bruckner
upzone project will create longterm
amusement parks for investor
developers and eventually place
low-density communities on life support.
Bronx Coalition Against Up-
Zoning: RALLY- Saturday, Oct. 16
at Bufano Park. Come out to support
preservation of long fought, highly
sought low-density zonings. More information
at www.StopUpZoning.
com.
It is back!! Department of Sanitation
Orchard Beach SAFE Disposal
Event – Saturday, Oct. 23 10 a.m.-4
p.m. Properly dispose of electronics,
household products, automotive products,
etc. Registration is required at
www.1.nyc.gov or call 311 for more information.
Our next meeting is schedule for
Wednesday, Oct. 20 at 7:30 p.m., at
Knights of Columbus. Please spread
the word, voices must be heard. Our
community has traditionally exhibited
a “We are Family attitude.” Now
is the time to let it shine. Communicate;
make that phone call, text message
or email. Please check on family,
friends and neighbors especially
the elderly and vulnerable. Any area
homeowner or renter interested in
the Spencer Estate Civic Association
attend a meeting or send an email to
spencerestatecivic@gmail.com.
Remember: Community=Common-
Unity and Inclusion brings Solutions.
New York City Hall sangaku
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, O 74 CT. 15-21, 2021 BTR
Assemblyman Benedetto (l) will join ghosts and ghouls of every age in celebrating Halloween.
File Photo
It’s Back: The Throggs Neck
Halloween parade returns
The most anticipated event of the
year returns after being cancelled by
COVID-19 last year. The Throggs Neck
Halloween Parade and Costume Party
has been an annual Throggs Neck tradition
for decades.
The parade and costume party is
scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 30, from
noon to 4 p.m.The community event, fi rst
held in the 1980s, kicks off with a parade
that starts at noon, with marchers —
parents and children alike — in place on
Harding Avenue in front of St. Frances
de Chantal School before a quick march
through the community. The goblins
and witches will march to East Tremont
Avenue, then to Sampson Avenue and
over to the Cross Bronx service road and
back to Throgs Neck Boulevard.
Throgs Neck Boulevard between Schurz
and Harding avenues will be closed
off for a party adjacent to the Throgs
Neck Little League fi eld. There will be
amusement park rides, spin art, games,
face-painting courtesy of the Westchester
Square Zerega Improvement Organization,
music, popcorn, food, free raffl
es and the ever popular Build-A-Bear.
The event is hosted by state Assemblyman
Michael Benedetto, City Councilman
Mark Gjonaj and the Throggs Neck
Business Improvement Association. After
the parade and during the festivities,
there will be a costume contest with
fi rst, second and third places for a number
of different age categories. Winners
will take home cash prizes. A committee
of three independent judges will choose
the best costumes.
“The event is about one word: fun,”
Benedetto said. “We want everyone just
to have a fun day.”
The parade every year is a true community
effort, said Benedetto, with the
assemblyman recalling that his oldest
daughter once took home a prize in the
costume contest years ago. The assemblyman
said the effort receives help from
a large cohort of volunteers that includes
individuals, schools and community organizations.
Other prime sponsors include
Schuyler Hill Funeral Home, Ensign
Engineering and Con Edison.
-Bronx Times
Memorial Mass
A memorial Mass, in honor of Lynne Greco, will be held on Sunday, November
6, 11 a.m., at Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
Lynn was a teacher at Mount Carmel School and P.S. 83.
1st Annual Anthony J. Ribustello Cocktail Reception
Mary F. Clancy Charities announces its 1st Annual Anthony J. Ribustello
Cocktail Reception and Auction on Monday, November 8, 7 to 11 p.m., at the
Marina Del Rey.
Special performances by Vinny Pastore of The Sopranos; Gene DiNapoli,
‘Mr. Entertainment;’ Louise ‘LuLu’ DeLucia; and Tara Cannistraci.
Tickets are $150 and include music, entertainment, 3-course buffet, and an
open bar.
For tickets, sponsorships, donations, or further information, call (917) 608-
8630 or visit https://secure.givelively.org/event/mary-f-clancy-charities-inc/
anthony-j-ribustello-memorial-night-of-entertainment.
/www.StopUpZoning
/www.1.nyc.gov
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/www.StopUpZoning
/www.1.nyc.gov
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