BY RACHEL SHERMAN
FREELANCER
Starting January 1, cash bail
will be eliminated for misdemeanor
and non-violent felony offenses
in New York state.
According to Sgt. Franklin Bonilla
of the 48th Precinct, the 2020
bail reform means, “You might
be able to break into somebody’s
house and you’ll be out of the precinct
(house) within a few hours.”
Bonilla said that the legislation
was signed into law by Governor
Cuomo to reduce the prison population,
but that it makes the job for
police offi cers more complicated.
“If you see me arrest someone and
then see them out on the streets,
don’t get mad at me,” Bonilla, the
evening’s speaker, said Wednesday
at a Community Board 6 meeting.
“(When) the law changes and I
have to let them go.”
Residents that attended the public
meeting, held on the third-fl oor
room at the Belmont Library, a
cramped space with the heat blasting,
did not receive the news of the
bail reform well. As many sweated
through their clothes, they became
agitated at the thought of
criminals being released back into
the neighborhood the same day of
their arrest.
Tensions escalated as members
of the board demanded to know
who was responsible for the reform.
“So, it’s our state assemblymen
who are screwing our entire
state?” said Frank Franz, a board
member and lifelong Belmont resident.
“I think we should know
what our elected offi cials are doing
in our name.”
The room erupted into panicked
commotion as Bronx residents
shared their safety concerns
with one another.
Bonilla added that with the
ringing in of the New Year, a defendant
must be allowed the opportunity
to revisit the crime scene before
a case can be made.
Every speaker who represented
an elected offi cial was questioned,
including Nicholas Peter, representing
Assemblyman Victor Pichardo,
and Israel Sanchez representing
Councilman Ritchie Torres.
Sanchez gave an update without
political comment and said
that thanks to Councilman Torres’
work with the Offi ce of Emergency
Management, it is now mandatory
for the agency to respond within
six hours to complaints of homes
without heat.
John Sanchez, CB 6 district
manager, announced that the
board will host a new series of
Bronx organizing and civic engagement
workshops. The fi rst,
‘Learn What Your Elected Offi -
cials Do,’ was held Saturday, November
16. The second session,
‘Voting, the Census and Organizing
to be Heard,’ will take place on
Saturday, November 23. All workshops
will be held at 1932 Arthur
Avenue, Room 403-A.
Wilfredo Mercado, representing
community affairs at
the Bronx district attorney’s offi
ce, announced that District
Attorney Darcel Clark has been
elected for a second term. “She
will continue the work that she
has already laid the foundation
for,” he said.
One attendee asked how the
district attorney responded to the
new bail reform. Mercado asked
that all questions be directed to
the DA’s policy department.
Evonne Capers, board chairperson
for CB 6, twirled her fi nger
in the air, pointing to the entire
room, and said, “I suggest
you call. Use your voice.”
BRONX WEEKLY N www.BXTimes.com ovember 24, 2019 12
CB 6 gets heated during 2020 bail reform talk
Community Board 6 members listen to Sgt. Franklin Bonilla speal on the anticipated effects of the 2020 bail reform law
Photo by Rachel Sherman
BY KYLE VUILLE
The largest park in the
south Bronx, St. Mary’s Park,
has now entered the second
phase of its $19.6 million facelift
as of Thursday, November
7.
Those in attendance for
the ground breaking of phase
two included NYC Parks
Commissioner Mitchell Silver,
Community Board 1 district
manager Cedric Loftin
and third-graders from the
Heketi Community Charter
School.
The second portion of improvements
to the 35-acre
park involves the landscape
between St. Anns Avenue
and East 143rd Street, and
includes a renovation of the
amphitheater as well as the
street plaza and its seating
accommodations.
Additional improvements
will be made throughout the
park such as reconfi guring
walkways, adding security
lighting, increasing handicap
accessibility and planting
various vegetation.
Plans and funding for the
park’s revitalization stemmed
from the Anchor Parks Initiative
approved by Mayor de
Blasio in 2016. St Mary’s Park
is one of fi ve parks in NYC
allotted $150 million for improvements.
“With phase one already
underway, we are very excited
to break ground on phase two
of the Anchor Parks project
at St. Mary’s Park, bringing
even more upgrades to this
much loved neighborhood
park,” said Commissioner
Silver.
“Thanks to over $19 million
from Mayor de Blasio
for the second phase of the
project, the renovated St.
Mary’s Park will truly have
something for everyone from
a performance area and dog
run, to wheelchair accessible
paths and turf fi elds, and
more.” he added.
Cause For Concern
While renovations are
underway, some residents
like Logan Powell are not
so pleased with the timeline
of the process. Powell asked
how could the city start on
phase two if phase one is not
complete yet.
“Lots of people have dogs
around here and now most
of the park is closed,” Powell
said, who is a dog owner himself
. Powell also said he understands
the need for revamping
the park, but it is not
solving the problem of people
using drugs in the park.
Another local resident,
57-year-old Evelon Chevere,
said she’s been coming to St.
Mary’s Park since she was a
child and even brought her
kids to the park as they were
growing up.
Chevere shared similar
concerns as Powell about
rampant drug use in the park,
but thinks the changes to the
park will alleviate the issue.
Chevere added she has a
seen a more frequent police
presence around the park as
well as park offi cials making
rounds to pick up syringes
and expects those cleanup efforts
to continue.
She remained optimistic
about the improvements, specifi
cally pointing out how the
park’s landscaping continues
to look better and better as
well as the new playground.
“In the summertime, it’ll
be a nice place to lay out a
blanket and enjoy the park,”
Chevere said. “The playgrounds
are great too because
they’re safe and clean now.”
The park’s renovation is
projected to be completed by
September 2021.
However, local residents
and law enforcement will
have to handle the ever-present
issue of drug users in the
park.
Phase II of St. Mary’s
Park renovations
NYC Parks commissioner Mitchell J. Silver (c) along with local elected offi cials, community members
and children from the Heketi Community Charter School, break ground in preparation for a long overdue
renovation of St. Mary’s Park. Photo by Silvio Pacifi co
/www.BXTimes.com