www.BXTimes.com BRONX WEEKLY July 5, 2020 4
Orchard Beach midday on Wednesday, July 1. Photo by Alex Mitchell
BY ALEX MITCHELL
Beachgoers at the Bronx Riviera
have set a proper example of
social distancing as the waters of
the Long Island Sound reopened
to the public on July 1.
There’s well over six to ten feet
between just about each chair and
towel set up on the shore while
NYC Parks Department employees
are offering masks to those
who are without — though many
have come prepared on this fi rst
day back in the city’s waters.
While Orchard Beach remains
more on the empty side at
the moment, likely due to an incoming
storm system, there are
some brave enough to plunge into
the sound as many others simply
soaked up some sun while it’s
lasting.
One senior couple, Dimitri and
Valentini Golvin of Co-op City,
left plenty of room between themselves
and fellow beach dwellers
during the sunnier part of the afternoon.
They came out to enjoy the fi rst
chance to plunge into the city’s
public water, Dimitri said.
“It’s a nice day, not really hot,”
he said.
Usually, the Golvins have been
staying home throughout the
pandemic they said, but simply
wanted to get out and enjoy a nice
day safely.
“You have to go out,” Dimitri
said about every day tasks, “It’s
better than California,” he added,
mentioning other states that have
kept beaches closed through the
weeks that COVID-19 has spread
throughout the country.
Paths at Orchard Beach remained
mostly clear during the
early afternoon while a few lawn
chairs and picnickers were seen
on grass opposite to the beach.
One eager young man was
practicing his layups on the park’s
basketball courts, despite its hoop
having been removed by the Parks
Department some time ago.
One snack bar was operational
at Orchard Beach while another
was being stocked earlier today
— some ate their food at nearby tables
while others walked along the
crescent-shaped boardwalk.
Overall, Orchard Beach was
relatively still upon its reopening.
Both Governor Andrew Cuomo
and Mayor Bill de Blasio would be
delighted to see the amounts of social
distancing that a vast majority
of beach dwellers displayed on
the fi rst beach day of the summer.
Bowman, community:
Cancel rent
BY JASON COHEN
As eviction moratoriums
expire in a growing number of
states, landlords are gearing
up to evict tenants whose jobs
and incomes were destroyed by
COVID-19.
On June 30, Jamaal Bowman,
the likely next congressman representing
NY-16 and community
groups held a Zoom call where
they announced a national eviction
blockade to protect Black
and brown tenants at risk of losing
their homes because they
can’t afford to pay rent.
“How the heck are people
supposed to pay their rent when
they don’t have income coming
in,” Bowman said. “It’s inhumane,
it’s racist and that’s why
I’m proud to stand and fi ght with
you.”
People on the Zoom call included
progressive leaders, tenant
leaders from New York, California
and across the country,
members of New York Communities
for Change (NYCC), Alliance
of Californians for Community
Empowerment (ACCE),
Action Center on Race and the
Economy (ACRE) and other organizations.
According to Bowman, 31
percent of his district was rent
burdened before COVID-19 and
now he can’t even imagine how
high the numbers are.
He questioned why the government
bailed out airlines
and cruise companies, yet not
the working class and where
thr second stimulus payments
were.
Bowman called on the federal
and state government to
cancel rent and utilities and
give people $2,000 a month until
the pandemic ends.
“What the hell else are people
supposed to do,” Bowman
exclaimed.
Peggy Perkins, a resident
of Long Island, is a member of
NYCC. Perkins has been struggling
the past few months.
She owns a beauty store and
is closed until Phase 3. Additionally,
she has three kids, one of
which has special needs. Making
her problems worse, Perkins
did not receive any fi nancial
assistance from the federal
government for her business.
Perkins is not sure how she
will pay rent. She lives in Section
8 housing, yet her property
manager still had the audacity
to send a letter saying rent is
due July 1 and he would be accepting
credit or debit card as
payment.
“These landlords don’t care,”
she said. “These judges don’t
care. How can anyone who’s on
Section 8 have a debit or credit
card to pay for an apartment
that costs $1,300.”
Perkins noted that it is not
fair that the wealthy are still
making money during the pandemic,
while those who normally
struggle are hurting even
more.
She said that Governor Andrew
Cuomo is supposed to look
out for the people.
“He Cuomo is making sure
that his pockets are fi lled up,”
she said. “No one can afford
rent at this time.”
Jasmine Johnson, a tenant
leader in North Carolina and a
member of Action North Carolina
was also on the call. She
was despondent and stressed
that rent must be canceled.
Johnson has struggled during
COVID-19. She lost her job
in March and has dealt with a
slumlord for two years. She recently
began receiving unemployment,
which should ease
her fi nancial burden a bit.
“Now that COVID-19 happened
people are in our shoes,”
she said. “I feel like canceling
rent is very important. It’s not
fair to just evict people. The government
needs to get off its tail
and help us.”
Orchard Beach reopens
Beachgoers maintain proper social distancing
General Phone: (718) 260-4595
By Mail: Bronx Times Reporter
3604 B E. Tremont Avenue
Bronx, NY 10465
NEWS
Fax: (718) 518–0038
E-Mail: bronxtimes@schnepsmedia.com
DISPLAY ADVERTISING
Phone: (718) 260-4593
Fax: (718) 518–0038
E-Mail: lguerriero@schnepsmedia.com
CLASSIFIED
Phone: (718) 260–2555
Fax: (718) 260–2549
E-Mail: classified@schnepsmedia.com
MEMBER:
This newspaper is not responsible for typographical errors in ads beyond the cost of the space occupied by the error. All rights reserved. Copyright © 2020 by Bronx Times Reporter, Inc., a sub sidiary of
News Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. The content of this newspaper is protected by Federal copyright law. This newspaper, its advertisements, articles and photographs may not be reproduced,
either in whole or part, without permission in writing from the publisher except brief portions for purposes of review or commentary consistent with the law. Postmaster, send address changes to Bronx
Times Reporter, 3604 B E. Tremont Avenue, Bronx, NY 10465
PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHER:
Victoria Schneps-Yunis
CEO AND CO-PUBLISHER:
Joshua Schneps
link
/www.BXTimes.com
/www.BXTimes.com
link
link
/www.BXTimes.com
/www.BXTimes.com
link
link
link