From Councilman
Mark Gjonaj
Surprise Breakfast for the 49
On Wednesday, May 12, the Van Nest Neighborhood Alliance supported the 49th Precinct with a surprise
breakfast for National Police Week.
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, M BTR AY 21-27, 2021 41
BY GEORGE HAVRANEK
The current politicalclimatereinforces
the importance of
unifi ed civic associations. Unpopular
occurrences in nearby
communities serve asreminders
that seemingly resolved
issues may resurface. Overdevelopment,
road diets and
unwanted “service” facilities
continue to irritateneighboring
communities. Past inter- community
unifi cation accompanied
by political supporthelped
the Spencer Estate community
fend off potential degradations.
The following items arereminders
of oldand present-day community
issues.
*Park Gate Access Project
This unsuccessful 2010 venture
called for gate access tothe
wooded regionsof Pelham Bay
Park beside Watt Avenue with
bench and table congregation
areas in the vicinity of Watt
and Bayshore avenues.In summer
2020 and recent weeks surveying
has occurred along our
parkland perimeters onWatt
Avenue- Bayshore Avenue. Immediate
inquiries revealed neither
Department of Parks nor
Cb10 wereaware of any scheduled
activities within our footprint.
Fast- forward May2021:
Department of Transportation
presented phase one of
New York City’s E-Scooter pilot
programs toBronx Community
Board 10. The initialphase
includesMorris Park, Co-op
City, Westchester Square, Pelham
Bay, Pelham Bay Park,
and Spencer Estate. E- Scooter
pick-up and drop off sites, aka
corrals, have not been given to
Department of Parks or Community
Board 10. We have requested
specifi c details from-
Bronx DOT Commissioner
Lopez to assess potential impact
on Spencer Estate and surrounding
communities.
*Liquor Store– Numerous
attempts in 2010-2012 to opena
liquor storeon Ampere Avenue
with hours of operation that
confl icted with the neighborhood
characteristic and lifestyle
were met with multiple
community opposition. The
involvements of then Councilman
Vacca, Assemblyman
Benedetto Senator Klein and
Congressman Crowley were essential
in preventing these efforts.
Fast-forward May 2021: A
pizzeria -restaurant is slated to
open at 3284 Ampere Avenue.
An application for an on premise
State Liquor License has
been fi led. Currently, the scope
of this license application remains
unknown. Limited dialogue
with business owner
Ed Kelley suggests there is respect
and recognition for the
neighborhood’s low-densitycharacteristic;
the business operations
extremely close proximity
to family residences, and
importance of being a quality
neighbor. Mr. Kelley will soon
present his business plan to
Community Board 10 for advisory
approval.
*Rezoning-Up-zonings
willaltercommunity landscapes,
increase density
and devalue quality of life
through unimpeded “As of
Right”development. The issue
of up-zoning low density designated
areas is inclined to become
deeply rooted in national,
state, and city politics. Words
of wisdom from the late Michael
Demarco who served as
our NYC councilman for 27
years, “Lose your zoning say
goodbye to your community”.
It’s that time of the season:
Nice weather, relaxed
CV-19 mandates and the June
22nd primaries will have candidates
and staffers engaging
indoor-to-door solicitations. It
is imperative that residents in
low-density communities ask
all candidates theirpositions
on zoning and quality of life
issues. Zoning designations
remain a community’s best
defense against unwanted overdevelopment.
In today’s political
climate a community needs
reassurance from current and
future political leadership.
Communities must have confi
dence that their elected offi -
cials can be relied uponin their
quests to stave off the unwanted
and procure the needed.
Political leaders to gauge a
community’s interest and fortitude
use attendances at local
civic meetings. Large attendances
transmit clear messages
to political offi cials and public
servants. The Spencer Estate
Civic Association takes pride
in building bridges of friendship
linking community with
our elected offi cials and public
servants. Our next meeting is
Wednesday, June 16th 7:30PM
@ Knights of Columbus. “If
we want to reap and keep the
blessings of our fi ne quality of
life we must endure the fatigue
of supporting it.” “Inclusion
brings solutions”. Any area homeowner
or renter interested
in membership to Spencer Estate
Civic Association attend a
meeting or send-email tospencerestatecvic@
gmail.com
CIVIC CENTER
Spencer Estate
Civic Association
AFC Rapid Youth
Soccer Registration
2021 SOCCER SEASON
The AFC Rapid Youth
Soccer League will be holding
an in-person registration
on the fi eld–
Saturday, May 22nd and
Sunday, May 23rd from
10am to 12pm.
Online registration BEGINS
May 1st, so check out
our website for more info
at www.AFCRAPID.com.
Boys and Girls born
from 2006-2016 are eligible
to play for the 2021 outdoor
season.
New registrations must
bring a COPY of their birth
certifi cate and a headshot/
picture for us to keep.
Also, see our website for
fees to be paid upon registration.
PEEWEE DIVISION: Coed born 2016
BANTAM DIVISION: Coed born 2014-2015
MINORS DIVISION:
Coed- Boys born 2012-2013, Girls born 2011-2013
BOYS INTERMEDIATES DIVISION: Born 2010-2011
BOYS MAJORS DIVISION: Born 2006-2009
GIRLS MAJORS DIVISION: Born 2006-20
Mid-May’s constituent services
events have been a great
success, offering members of
New York City Council District
13 an array of resources and opportunities.
Our fi rst shredding
event of the month and spring
was held at Keane Square Park.
There district members could
come, completely free of charge
(and socially-distanced of
course) to dispose of their confi
dential documents. As mentioned
in last week’s column,
there will be three more shredding
events, running until June
26th.
The second shred day will be
from 1p to 4p on May 22nd at Loreto
Park, the third will also be
from 1p to 4p but this time at the
NYCHA Throggs Neck Houses
on June 5th, and the fourth and
fi nal shred day will be on June
26th at the same time window
on June 26th at the Edgewater
Park Firehouse.
I am also proud to announce
the revival of my annual summer
concert series, unfortunately
suspended last year for
COVID. Beginning June 4th at
7pm at Bufano Park, residents
can see (for free) local act Just-
Nuts, followed again by a performance
from them on the
12th at 7pm at Pelham Parkway.
The remaining three acts of the
summer series will also include
Twin Gold on August 7th at 7pm
at the Ice House at Hammond
Cove Marina, FDR Drive on August
13th at 7pm at the Throngs
Neck Expressway between Ellsworth
and Schley Avenues, and
Alive & Kickin’ on August 20th
at 6pm at Ambrosini Field. All
concert events will abide by
COVID mask and social distancing
protocol, and are helped
made possible by the gracious
cooperation of Brush the Bronx
and the Kingsbridge Riverdale
Van Cortlandt (KRVC) Development
Corporation.
For more information about
constituent services and events
please contact my district offi ce
by phone at (718) 931-1721 or by
email at MGjonaj@council.nyc.
gov. Thank you and continue to
stay safe.
On Wednesday, May 12, the Van Nest Neighborhood Alliance supported the 49th Precinct with a surprise
breakfast for National Police Week. (L to R) P.O. Luz Avila; P.O. James Graham; Sharlene Jackson-Mendez,
VNNA vice president.; John Messenger, VNNA treasurer; P.O. Benjamin Bayan; P.O. Juan Sanchez; Bernadette
Ferrara, VNNA president; Marion Manfredi, VNNA secretary. Photo courtesy of VNNA
link
link
/www.AFCRAPID.com
link
/gmail.com
/www.AFCRAPID.com
link