Message from Councilman Mark Gjonaj
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BRONX TIMES REPORTER,42 JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 6, 2020 BTR
COUNCILMAN MARK GJONAJ
Valentine’s Day at
The Waterfront NYC
Book your reservation for Valentine’s
Day at The Waterfront
NYC.
Join in for a romantic evening
with live music, champagne upon
arrival, and a four-course prefi
xe menu with wine pairing.
For reservations and menu
details visit www.thewater-
frontnyc.com or call (718) 414-
1577.
The Waterfront NYC is located
at Trump Golf Links at
Ferry Point; 500 Hutchinson
River Parkway.
Follow The Waterfront NYC
on social media at thewaterfrontnyc.
BY GEORGE HAVRANEK
Preparations are underway
for the Spencer Estate Civic
Association’s 2020 campaign.
Invitations, to address our
community, were sent to local
elected offi cials and prominent
municipal agencies. Positive
responses have been received
from the offi ces of Senator
Alessandra Biaggi, Assemblyman
Michael Benedetto, Congresswoman
Alexandria Ocasio
Cortez, Councilman Mark
Gjonaj, 45th Precinct Captain
Thomas Fraser, Community
Board 10, ‘The Bronx Taxman’
John Cerini and Bronx District
Attorney Darcel Clark. We are
diligently working with schedulers
to fi nalize details.
Membership drive 2020 will
begin in mid February. All previously
registered members
will receive personal notifi cations.
In addition, membership
fl yers will be distributed
throughout the Spencer Estate
footprint. In accordance with
our axiom ‘Inclusion brings
solutions’ the Spencer Estate
Civic Association welcomes all
area homeowners and renters.
Please spread the word, bring
your neighbors, and bring
your friends. “If we want to
keep and reap the blessings of
our fi ne quality of life we must
endure the fatigue of supporting
it.”
Thank yous to:
• Cerini for putting our association
on the path to non-profi t
certifi cation. John is an exemplary
community steward
whose dedication and efforts
often fl y beneath the radar.
• The Water Safety Committee
of the City Island Civic Association
for spearheading the
effort to get a year round Harbor
Unit dedicated to the Bronx.
Problematic nuisance issues
originating on nearby waters
are well documented and affect
many communities. This well
supported multiple community
effort has gained the attention
of NYPD hierarchy, and councilmembers
Mark Gjonaj and
Fernando Cabrera.
Save the Dates
Thursday, January 30, 7
p.m. - 45th Precinct Sector B
Build the Block Event at the
Greek American Institute, 3573
Bruckner Boulevard.
Thursday, February 6, 7
p.m. - 45th Precinct Community
Council Meeting at 45th
Precinct, 2877 Barkley Avenue.
It is essential that we act as
proactive stewards of our community
by supporting local
civic associations, attending
local precinct sponsored ‘Build
the Block’ events and Precinct
Community Council meetings.
Large numbers garner attention…
the united voices of a
community choir resonate…in
many circumstances initiating
change requires a bottom –up
approach. Large attendances
at these events will show our
willingness to put forth the efforts
required to restore and
maintain our quality of life.
Remember: “Inclusion
brings solutions.”
Animals, whether they be our pets
or not, contribute to the vibrancy and
vitality of communities, including our
own. For many families and individuals,
their bonds with their beloved pets
are sacred and can be deeply enriching
relationships. Our community must do
its best to protect our animals. Current
fi nancial and civil penalties for animal
abuse are insuffi ciently severe, lacking
the ability to deter would-be abusers.
In the interest of deterring animal
abuse and ensuring justice is served, I
have introduced legislation seeking to
increase its fi nancial and civil penalties.
This legislation increases the penalties
for not merely general animal
abuse, but more specifi cally for the restraint
of animals outside for a period of
time exceeding three continuous hours.
For both actions (general abuse and prolonged
outside restraint), which are already
criminalized, the fi rst offense receives
a heightened penalty of $500, the
second offense receives $750, and any
subsequent offense can receive up to
$1000 in civil penalties.
I believe in the inherent innocence of
animals, and that no such animal be deserving
of any sort of abuse or torture. I
know that I am not alone in this belief,
and it is my hope that this legislation
I have introduced, is not just successful
in deterring abuse, but also applies
a penalty commiserate with the crime
committed.
Animal cruelty is a horrible practice
that harms our communities in surprisingly
varied ways. If you are witness to
an act of animal abuse, please call 311,
or 911 if it is a crime in progress. As always,
please feel free and encouraged
to contact my district offi ce at (718) 931-
1721 with additional concerns or comments.
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