P.S. 89 parents protest intrusive methadone clinic
BY JASON COHEN
For the second time in
less than a week residents
held a rally to protest the
planned methadone clinic in
Pelham Parkway North.
On Saturday, March 7,
activists Irene Estrada and
Roxanne Delgado held a
rally at 2500 Williamsbridge
Road, the site for the clinic
and then on Tuesday, March
10, a second rally was held.
“The mommies, the
daddies, the grandmas, the
children and the residents in
the community - we are everyone’s
worst nightmare,”
Estrada said to the Bronx
Times.
The clinic that was
stopped last year by Councilman
Mark Gjonaj and Assemblywoman
Nathalia Fernandez
appears to have used
deception to circumvent the
community’s efforts to halt
the facility from establishing
roots in Pelham Parkway
North.
In November 2019, Gjonaj,
Fernandez and Community
Board 11 held a raucous
town hall where nearly 1,000
people expressed displeasure
with a methadone clinic
coming to the community,
specifi cally because of its
close proximity to P.S. 89.
However, on Monday,
February 17, Carnegie Hill
Institute, posing as CHI LLC,
purchased the brick onestory
property for $925,000
from Florence Klapper, a
Manhattan resident, $75,000
less than the original asking
price.
Parents and children expressed
displeasure with the
planned clinic.
“I don’t want it here because
fi rst of all the school
is right in front of where
they’re going to put the clinic
and if the kids see it they’re
going to start wanting to do
things that they’re not supposed
to do,” said Yaeielis, a
fi fth grade student.
Judy Angeles, whose
daughter is scheduled to begin
kindergarten at P.S. 89 in
the fall, said she was shocked
when she heard the recent
news. She noted she might
have to reconsider if she will
send her kid to school there.
“When it comes down to
children we have to think
about them fi rst,” Angeles
said. “We don’t need that
around children.”
Spira Gianfrancesco, who
lives nearby, attended the
town hall in November and
felt confi dent that the clinic
was not coming to the neighborhood.
When the property
owner sold the building to
CHI she felt betrayed
Gianfrancesco explained
she has no problem with people
going to methadone clinics,
but stressed they should
not be near schools.
“It doesn’t take a genius
to understand that,” she exclaimed.
Wendy Martinez a
teacher at P.S. 89, fears for
her students and her daughter,
Stephanie, who is a seventh
grader at St. Lucy’s
School at 830 Mace Avenue.
“It’s a really stupid decision,”
Stephanie said.
“These people should think
about our students and basically
everyone who is going
to school there, the people in
the park, the people learning
in the school, the teachers
and the police offi cers.”
Martinez told the Bronx
Times she and her colleagues
are concerned about the incoming
clinic. Some teachers
might even consider leaving
the school.
“I’m worried because a
lot of our students walk to
school by themselves,” Martinez
said. “Why put so many
children at risk.”
3 BRONX WEEKLY March 15, 2020 www.BXTimes.com
TOP $ PAID
FOR JUDAICA
COLLECTIBLES
HOUSE
CALLS
SAME SAME DAY
DAY
SERVICE
SERVICE
AVAILABLE
AVAILABLE
HOUSE
CALLS
SERVING BRONX
AND THE ENTIRE
TRI-STATE AREA
ANTIQUES AND ESTATE BUYERS
WE PAY $ CASH $ FOR
ALL GOLD, GOLD & STERLING SILVER
COSTUME JEWELRY, ALL COINS, PAPER
MONEY & STAMP COLLECTIONS
ALL GOLD...BROKEN OR NOT
PRE- 1960 FURNITURE, CLOCKS & WATCHES
(WORKING OR NOT) TIFFANY,
BACCARAT, LALIQUE
The List is Endless
YERS
SEE OUR AD IN THE SUNDAY POST
ASK FOR CHRISTOPHER
www.AntiqueAndEstateBuyers.com
for Antique
Q
ES
MILITARY
Collections Wanted
Swords, Knives,
Helmets, etc.
ANTIQUES AND ESTATE BUYERS
We buy anything old. One piece or house full.
WILL TRAVEL. WE MAKE HOUSE CALLS.
FREE
Estimate
WILL TRAVEL
ENTIRE TRI-STATE
(Above and below) Residents
attend a rally protesting the
methadone clinic on March 10.
Schneps Media Jason Cohen
Wendy Martinez, a teacher at P.S. 89, and her duahgter, Stephanie,
at the rally.
/www.AntiqueAndEstateBuyers.com
/www.BXTimes.com
/www.BXTimes.com
/www.BXTimes.com
/www.BXTimes.com
/www.AntiqueAndEstateBuyers.com