The tenth annual East Bronx History Forum Antique Road Show drew a large crowd
on Wednesday, June 19.
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, J BTR UNE 28-JULY 4, 2019 77
Annual July 4th fi reworks on the
beach saved; music series snuffed
From page 3
community and state by passing progressive
legislation and ensuring that
our taxpaying dollars are allocated to
important district programs.”
She stated that aside from a legislative
record that included 17 passed
bills, she secured $795,000 for her district.
The senator recently sponsored the
Summer Solstice and Wellness Celebration
at the New York Botanical
Garden, which featured live music,
gardening activities, cooking demonstrations
and yoga.
“It is my hope and intention that
my offi ce will have the privilege and
resources to do additional events like
this in the future,” she stated.
BP Diaz conducts stakeholders’
hearing on Mott Haven jail plan
From page 3 Housing, which will surround the jail
other six-story apartment structures.
“Is this going to be our skyline?” he
questioned.
He countered that placing a facility
on East 161st Street, even one that exceeds
24 stories, would blend in better
with the already existing 20 plus story
structures near Grand Concourse.
Diaz and the mayor’s offi ce were
not the only two entities offering testimony
at the public hearing.
Both opponents and supporters for
the borough-based jail spoke deep into
the night, many sharing personal experiences
with what they called ‘horrors
of Rikers Island.’
Reverend Wendy Calderon-Payne
and her supporters from the non-profi t
Bronx Connect argued that they don’t
necessarily agree that Mott Haven is
the optimal placement of a facility, but
could be the only opportunity to see
Rikers Island closed down.
“There’s no guarantee (to close Rikers)
from a new mayoral administration,”
she said.
Leading the opposition was Alrine
parks, CEO of Diego Beekman Mutual
when built.
She and Beekman had a plan to purchase
the tow pound land from the city
and create mixed income housing to
help revitalize Mott Haven.
“We are losing middle class families.
We are a community of low-income
people and we are again being
punished,” Parks said, indicating disastrous
years of the 1990s when that
portion of Mott Haven was overrun by
drug dealers and serious crime.
“We need those two billion dollars
to fi x our schools and make the
Cypress Avenue station safer and
so much more, but instead it will be
used to punish our community,” she
said.
Both sides collectively agreed on
one thing: that closing Rikers Island
and the Vernon C. Bain jail barge in
Hunts Point are the right thing to do.
Kaplan said that her offi ce “does not
believe that the barge meets reform
goals,” while Diaz called Rikers “a
stain on the soul of New York City.”
The NYC Council is expected to
vote on the entire city jail plan in the
fall.
GJONAJ AT ALBANIAN PARADE CELEBRATION
Councilman Mark Gjonaj attended by the Albanian Parade Celebration as part of the
34th International Cultures Immigrant Parade in NYC.
Photo courtesy of Councilman Mark Gjonaj’s offi ce
HISTORY FORUM ANTIQUE ROAD SHOW
(Above) Principle Celestin, EBHF’s youngest member, won a toy Hersey Metal Truck
in the 50/50 raffl e. Photo by Ethel Brown
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