Cool Plan for Kingsbridge Armory

BRONX, NEW YORK, August 23- In front of the Kingsbridge Armory, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and a host of elected officials joined with New York Rangers’ legend Mark Messier and Olympic Gold Medalist Sarah Hughes to announce their support for the Kingsbridge National Ice Center proposal for the historic armory.

The Kingsbridge National Ice Center (KNIC) would bring a total of nine regulation hockey rinks to the Kingsbridge Armory, featuring a 5,000 seat showplace area as its anchor, making it one of the largest ice sports centers in the world.

The developers behind the Kingsbridge National Ice Center proposal have made assurances that all jobs created by the development will pay a “living wage,” that local hiring will be handled through the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation, that more than 50,000 square feet of community space will be made available to area organizations and that an education program modeled after the successful Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation program in Philadelphia will be incorporated as part of the project. This LEED Gold, sustainable development is anticipated to bring $250 million in private investment to the northwest Bronx.

“Our borough is home to the greatest baseball team, and will see a top-flight golf course and state of the art tennis center take shape in our borough over the next few years. With the development of perhaps the greatest ice sports center in the United States right here at the Kingsbridge Armory, the Bronx will stand at the forefront of athletics for the entire region,” said Diaz. “Given the developers commitment to ‘living wage’ jobs, local hiring and community programming, it is clear that the Kingsbridge National Ice Center project is the right fit for our borough.”

“Winning the Stanley Cup with the Rangers was a tremendous moment in the history of New York hockey,” said Mark Messier. “But when the doors open for the first time at the Kingsbridge National Ice Center, it will literally change the sport, as well as New York, forever. With the world’s greatest ice sports facility right here in the Bronx, New York City is destined to be the proud home of countless NHL champions and Olympic gold medalists to come.” 

“Becoming a champion figure skater has long been one of the few dreams you have to leave New York City to achieve,” said Sarah Hughes, 2002 Olympic Gold Medalist in Women’s Figure Skating and a partner in the KNIC development. “The Kingsbridge National Ice Center will mean a world of new possibilities for boys and girls in the Bronx and throughout the five boroughs. More than just skating rinks, this facility will offer incredible educational and fitness initiatives that will shape future generations in this community.”

“The Kingsbridge National Ice Center will transform this incredible piece of history into an awe-inspiring international destination and a source of pride for the Bronx and all of New York City,” said Kevin Parker, the founder of KNIC and partner in the project. “This project will create jobs and economic activity in the Bronx, support important community and educational initiatives, and provide New Yorkers with unprecedented access to a variety of spectacular ice sports.”

“Today's proposal proves that you can have responsible development in the Bronx which provides living wage jobs for New Yorkers and builds stronger communities. We are proud to have worked with the Borough President and the community to help pave the way for a Kingsbridge Armory redevelopment that will bring decent jobs to the area.  It shows that when we work together there are real solutions to the challenges of building in this city in a way that benefits everyone,” said Stuart Appelbaum, president of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union.

"The Kingsbridge Armory has the potential to be an important economic engine for the surrounding Kingsbridge community as well as the rest of the Bronx. As a member of the community and a representative for the area, my major concern has been that regardless of the project, Bronxites and neighbors feel that the Armory is used by the community and that it brings good, well-paying jobs to local residents. I am excited to begin the next step in making our dreams for the Kingsbridge Armory a reality,” said State Senator Gustavo Rivera.

"Once transformed, the Kingsbridge Armory will again be a vibrant center in the Bronx," said Jonathan Richter, a KNIC partner. "Through a diverse array of community programming, KNIC will help lead the way in improving academic performance and incentivizing active and healthy living among young people in the Bronx, serving as a model for childhood education and fitness."

“The creation of a world class ice-skating facility that will provide athletic opportunities to everyone from local residents to Olympic champions would realize a dream that arose out of my daughters’ figure skating training at the Olympic facility in Lake Placid,” said City Council Member G. Oliver Koppell.

“By all measures, the transformation of the Kingsbridge Armory into the Kingsbridge National Ice Center would have a profound, positive economic impact on the Bronx and the entire city,” said Carl Weisbrod, KNIC consultant and partner at HR&A Advisors and the founding President of the New York City Economic Development Corporation. “KNIC would be a true economic engine that would create hundreds of permanent and construction-related living wage jobs, and support hundreds more. This global destination would also bolster neighborhood businesses and generate significant new spending and tax revenue for New York City by bringing in millions of visitors to the Bronx, not only from the surrounding area, but from across the country and around the world."

“In 1996, the Bronx City Council delegation and I allocated $27 million in order to secure the re-development of the Kingsbridge Armory.  It has always been my position to develop the Armory and help create jobs in order for our Bronx community to completely benefit from this project.  I stand with my colleagues in elected office, including Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr., who has provided strong leadership in getting this project off the ground.  I stand with them in support of the re-development of the Kingsbridge Armory,” said Assemblyman Jose Rivera.

KNIC is estimated to generate approximately 885 construction-related jobs in the Bronx, as well as 170 full-time equivalent permanent positions at the facility. The operations of the facility will ultimately support a total of 380 permanent jobs in the borough, and net new economic activity of more than $42 million annually. With the development of the North Parcel, an additional 520 jobs are expected for the Bronx through both construction and ongoing operations. KNIC has agreed in writing that each of these jobs will pay a “living wage.”

In addition to the creation of “living wage” jobs, KNIC has agreed to handle its local hiring process through the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation (BOEDC). The BOEDC has run successful hiring programs for a number of borough businesses, including those retail stores at the Gateway Mall and FreshDirect.

“The Kingsbridge National Ice Center will provide the local businesses with a much needed economic shot in the arm.  The thousands of spectators as well as those participating in events will now be able to use the Kingsbridge business corridor to eat at the exceptional restaurants in the area, as well as the stores surrounding this historic structure.  The ice center will create jobs and produce millions in revenue for the City and the Bronx as the world’s largest ice arena becomes yet another exceptional sports destination here in the Bronx,” said Marlene Cintron, president of the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation.

“The addition of the Kingsbridge National Ice Center to the already diverse Bronx destinations would be a positive step in attracting more visitors to our borough.  This project will enhance the visibility of this neighborhood to national as well as international travelers” said Olga Luz Tirado, executive director of the Bronx Tourism Council.

The KNIC will also feature an education program modeled after the wildly successful Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation in Philadelphia. In addition to providing inner-city youth with an opportunity to play hockey, the program includes a strong education component that has created new and positive opportunities for at-risk youth in Philadelphia. Statistics show that this program has been a success, as participating students have seen an increase in their matriculation rate from 46 percent to 97 percent, school attendance increased by 70 percent and academic performance increased by 62 percent. In addition, unsatisfactory behavior has decreased by 54 percent.

The KNIC proposal will also feature more than 50,000 square feet of community space, which will be made available to neighborhood organizations. In total, the project is expected to bring tens of thousands of individuals to the Bronx from other areas each year, opening up the boroughs restaurants, businesses and other attractions to an entirely new audience.

“This education program, combined with this expansive community space, will be a real amenity to the people of not only the northwest Bronx, but the entire borough. The KNIC will generate commerce, new tourism and education opportunities for the Bronx as well,” said Borough President Diaz.

The New York City Economic Development Corporation, which will eventually choose the future tenant of the Kingsbridge Armory, is expected to make their decision before the end of 2012.

“We stand together today to send our message to the City in one voice: the Kingsbridge National Ice Center is the right choice for the Bronx. We urge the City to show their faith in this proposal and give this developer the opportunity to create an innovative, unique and complimentary project in the historic Kingsbridge Armory,” said Diaz.

News Photog Captures Vicious Pitbull Attack

(Photos by David Greene)

BRONX, NEW YORK, August 22- Dozens of Concourse residents watched in horror as a dog was brutally attacked by a pit bull. Two police officers stayed back at a safe distance, one holding a billy club as a half dozen residents separated the two dogs. The critically injured dog was taken by cab to a local animal hospital, its condition was not known. The alleged owners of the pit bull were allowed to take the dog back inside an apartment building and no report was taken or summons issued by police.

Investigate Cougar Gate!

Naomi Rivera’s Opponent Calls on DA, Attorney General to Probe Alleged Misuse of Tax Payer $

By Robert Press

UPDATE...

BRONX, NEW YORK, August 20- Follow the money, is what Naomi Rivera’s opponent is saying to investigators in regards to affairs the assemblywoman had with younger men whom she put on staff at her office and at a not-for-profit. The political challenger is calling on the Bronx DA and state Attorney General to investigate alleged misuse of tax payer dollars.

Mark Gjonaj candidate for the 80^th assembly district sent the following statement: “The Post story shows a clear misuse of public tax payer dollars, which only serves to further voters’ lack of confidence in their elected officials. These allegations necessitate an immediate investigation by the Bronx District Attorney and the NY state Attorney General. I am sure on election day, the voters will make their voices clear that this behavior is no longer acceptable by their public officials.” 

Another opponent of Assemblywoman Rivera Adam Bermudez said, "I believe that no voters who have heard the well reported facts regarding misappropriation of tax dollars will vote for the incumbent Assemblywoman. 

In what has become the second of a series of stories the New York Post last Sunday had a front page story about Assemblywoman Naomi Rivera titled “SUGAR MAMA.” 

This was a tell all story by “BOY TOY” #1 Vincent “Vinny” Pinela on how he got a job as executive director of a non profit The Bronx Council for Economic Development. In the Post article Pinela claims that he had no experience in non profits, but was hired at a salary of $60,000 at the urging of Assemblywoman Rivera after the two started to see each other. The Post article goes on to say that Pinela and Rivera shared an address for parts of 2008 and 2009, that the non profit received over $300,000 in grants from the state, and that Assemblywoman Rivera herself steered just under half of the monies to the non profit herself.

As for where the state monies went, the Post says that romantic dinners, a payment of over $40,000 to a production company owned by one of the assemblywoman’s family members for work done in 2007, and political expenses and donations, (which the Post says were not allowed by a non profit) were among other items. 

"The allegations made by Mr. Pinela against me are untrue and are made intentionally and maliciously to defame my character, and to question my integrity. Friends, and constituents who know me, know that these are baseless accusations. I will not let myself be distracted from the work that needs to be done in my district," said Assemblywoman Naomi Rivera.

As to why the article brings in her father Assemblyman Jose Rivera who was the Bronx Democratic County Leader from 2002 until 2008, I spoke with Mr. Mike Nieves (her father’s campaign manager), who said “Jose Rivera's daughters private life has nothing to do with her father.” 

I spoke to several other people which included Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. who asked me to make sure that I mentioned that He was the first elected official to endorse Mark Gjonaj for the 80^th Assembly seat, not Naomi Rivera. Political Strategist Patrick Jenkins spokesman for the Bronx Democratic County Organization said, “The Bronx Democratic County Organization stands behind Assemblyman Naomi Rivera and continues to support her, and will not change their position.” Again there were some supporters of Assemblywoman Rivera who did not want to comment.

You can go to my blog at www.100percentbronx.blogspot.com and check the archive section on the left for the links to both Sunday's and Monday's New York Post stories.

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Yanks are Sitting Pretty

Beat Boston to Continue Command of First

(Photo by Gary Quintal)

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, August 20- More than 330,000 fans came to Yankee Stadium during the most recent seven game homestand of the Yankees. Many fans took advantage of summer vacations to spend some time at the great ballpark in the Bronx.

The first four games were contests between the Texas Rangers, leaders of the American League West, and the Yanks, leaders of the American League East. Fans could have been witnessing a preview of the ALCS. The battle between the two American League powerhouses was centered upon which of the two clubs would finish the 2012 season with the best record in the league, thus capturing home field advantage in the American League Championship Series.

The two clubs entered the series with identical won/loss marks, 67-47. The Yanks clinched the four-game series by winning the first three contests while holding the Rangers to a total of four runs. Yankees starters David Phelps, Hiroki Kuroda and Freddy Garcia each won one contest.

The Texas offense came to life in the final game on Thursday by scoring 10 runs on 16 hits. The 10-6 victory allowed the Rangers to leave the Bronx without having been swept.

Although the Yanks gave up 10 runs on Thursday, manager Joe Girardi reflected on the team’s fine work, “We pitched pretty well. We swung the bats pretty well. We played pretty good baseball. We’re in the race for the best record.”

After the Rangers limped out of town on Thursday night, the Boston Red Sox began their second three-day visit within a month. The three sell-out crowds were treated to some interesting baseball between the arch-rivals in the American League East.

The Yanks, more than any other club in the majors, have lived and died by the home run. On Friday, their season high of five homers provided them with a 6-4 victory over the Red Sox. On Saturday, the only run scored by New York was by a solo home run by Curtis Granderson. The single run was not sufficient as Boston won by a score of 4-1.

The multi-homer hitter for the Yankees on Sunday night was not the usual suspect. Icharo Suzuki homered in consecutive at bats to the delight of the full house. He followed the two four baggers with an infield single. Much less surprising was that Derek Jeter hit safely in his first three at bats. The three hits raised his career total to 3,251, one below Napoleon Lajoie, who is in 12^th place. The four Yankee runs were scored by the two future Hall of Famers, Jeter and Suzuki. Each crossed the plate twice during the game.

Hiroki Kuroda held Boston scoreless for 6.1 innings before surrendering a solo home run to Adrian Gonzalez. That homer was the only run given up By Kuroda in his eight innings on the mound. The 4-1 win was the ninth in his last 11 decisions.

The Yanks are still leading the race in the A.L. East, but the final outcome has not been decided. Tampa, in second place, has won 11 of its last 13 and Baltimore, in the third place, has won 11 of 15. The Yanks will face the Rays in six additional games and will play Baltimore on seven more occasions. The Yankees have kept pace with their challengers, winning 9 of their last 12 contests. The home games were not only a financial success, but were beneficial to the pennant race for New York as the Yanks won five of the seven games played.

The ability of the Yankees to win on the road as effectively as they do at Yankee Stadium will also be a factor in the race for the American East title as 16 of the club’s next 22 games will be played on the road.

The answer to where the Yankees will place as the regular season concludes may be a little clearer to discern on August 27 when the Yanks return to the Bronx after a six game road trip.

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Riverdale News: Will DOT Plan Cause a Headache for Riverdale?

Riverdale News: Will DOT Plan Cause a Headache for Riverdale?: Riverdale Report By Robert Press BRONX, NEW YORK, August 20- On Tuesday night August 14th There was a special meeting of the Traffic & T...

Will DOT Plan Cause a Headache for Riverdale?

Riverdale Report

By Robert Press

BRONX, NEW YORK, August 20- On Tuesday night August 14th There was a special meeting of the Traffic & Transportation Committee of Community Board 8 to see a proposal by the DOT on how they were going to make the Broadway corridor safer from West 242nd Street to the city line with Yonkers. 

The proposal was sent to the Community Board by DOT for the members of the committee to view and then have comments ready at the meeting. Being a member of the committee I received the proposal on August 7th from the community board office, and in order not to create a conflict of interest I could not mention it to anyone outside of the committee. I could therefore not do any reporting on the proposal by DOT until after the August 14th meeting, which is what I am doing. I was surprised to see in the Thursday August 9th edition of the Riverdale Press a story about the DOT proposal, saying that it was obtained by The Press, and giving some exact details that were in the proposal. I received a call from a newspaper reporter for the Riverdale Review asking me to see the proposal, and asking how the competing local newspaper got the report, also saying that DOT told her they only gave the proposal to the community board. I said that I could not show or talk about the DOT proposal until the August 14th meeting, that I did not know how the competing newspaper obtained the report, and that she should ask the Community Board 8 chairperson Mr. Robert Fanuzzi how the paper obtained the DOT proposal since he has announced in the past that the media should only go through him for any requests for community board information or for answers to questions about the board.

As for the DOT proposal, the main theme is to narrow the travel lanes and to make the curb parking lane wider. This according to DOT will slow traffic and make Broadway safer as they have done to other streets around the city. I had several questions including that it looked like DOT was leaving room for a bicycle lane to be put in at a future time (not that I am against bike lanes), where as DOT Bronx Commissioner Connie Moran said that there is no plan to put any bike lane there. I said that the proposal does nothing at West 242^nd Street to stop the deadheading of Westchester buses in the city bus stop forcing the city bus to load and unload in the one (middle) northbound lane while the other lane is for left turns only as shown by an illustration in the proposal. I also had concerns about vehicles crossing over the narrow yellow lane as they went around double parked buses by the sports fields or curves in the road, and was told that it would not happen. Another concern was that the dangerous corner of Broadway and Mosholu Avenue was not addressed by the proposal, and again was told that narrowing the lanes would take care of that. When the vote came to approve the DOT proposal, I abstained because I believe that the DOT proposal does not address all the issues.

You can go to my blog at www.100percentbronx.blogspot.com to see this weeks list of events that will be going on at Wave Hill. Wave Hill is a 28-acre public garden and cultural center overlooking the Hudson River and Palisades.

Tuesday night August 28^th is the date for a “Free Summer Concert In Seton Park” by hit singer Gloria Gayner. The concert is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. (you may want to bring a chair or blanket) and is being sponsored by Senator Jeff Klein as one of his many Summer Concerts being held throughout his district. Seton Park is located at Independence Avenue and West 232^nd street, and the repaving of Independence Avenue has been completed. You can call 800-718-2039 for more information on this or other Summer Concerts by Senator Klein.

If you have any comments about this column or would like to have an event listed or covered in this column or on my blog you can e-mail us at 100percentbronxnews@gmail.com or call 718-644-4199 Mr. Robert Press.

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Free Community Barbecue

100 PERCENT

By Robert Press

BRONX, NEW YORK, August 20- On this Saturday August 25th from 1 – 6 p.m. The Committee of 100 Democrats will be hosting our 8th Annual Free Community Barbecue. This year our Free Community Barbecue will take place on East 204th Street between the Grand Concourse and Mosholu Parkway. We will be honoring Congressman Eliot Engel for his distinguished record as an elected official, and Community Board #7 District Manager Fernando Tirado for his outstanding work in the local community. There will be food, lots of different entertainment, and of course speeches by your elected officials or those who may want their jobs.

I thought I could be able to get away from politics for an evening of of exciting Salsa music from an old friend Mr. Willie Colon, but while the concert was a smash hit as usual I could not get away from politics. I was sitting with my good friend and 78th A.D. State Committeeman Richardo “Ricky” Martinez but we were sitting a few rows behind Mr. Martinez's September Primary opponent Assemblyman Jose Rivera. Ricky and I were a part of the Willie Colon for Congress campaign while Rivera was with Willie Colon’s opponent.

Enough politics, as the concert was fantastic, and Willie Colon interjected old stories (even one about the Congressional campaign), and a few jokes during the evening. The highlight of the night however for Mr. Martinez and I was that after the show we were able to go backstage to see our old friend Willie Colon. There were also a couple of other friends from the campaign backstage, and you can go to my blog at www.100percentbronx.blogspot.com to see my complete review of the sold out Willie Colon concert at the Lehman College Center for the Performing Arts last Saturday August 18th.

Back to politics, you can go to my blog archive section (under links) for the link to the Board of Elections site where there is a daily update of just who the candidates are for what office or party position in the upcoming September Primary which will tale place on Thursday September 13th this year. We check the site daily as the one or two of the names can change as there are still a few court cases that may have been appealed. In the 77th A.D. there is now only one challenger to incumbent Vanessa Gibson, and in the 80th A.D. Mr. Adam Bermudez was not listed for one day.

Speaking of the 80th A.D. another old friend Ms. Candice Giove now a Crackerjack reporter with the New York Post had a front page story “Sugar Mama” about another Boy Toy of 80th Assemblywoman Naomi Rivera and a non for profit organization that I have a separate article on elsewhere in this paper.

Lastly, as of our deadline WPIX T.V. Channel 11 and Antenna T.V. Channel 114 were still off the air from the Cablevision line up of channels Cablevision is substituting another channel it carries on Channel 11, and has a message (on the other channel) asking viewers to call the Tribune Corporation to get the channels back. We only wonder since it seems Cablevision is seeking more money from the Tribune Corporation will their viewers get a refund (even if it is only pennies) for the time the channels are not being carried. By the way, how come we can not choose from any cable provider (not just satellite or Fios) like we can for telephone or internet service?

If you have any comments about this column or would like to have an event listed or covered in this column or on my blog you can e-mail us at 100percentbronxnews@gmail.com or call 718-644-4199 Mr. Robert Press.

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