Riverdale News: SHE WILL SURVIVE

Riverdale Report

By Robert Press

BRONX, NEW YORK, September 6- The headline refers to a wonderful free concert in Seton Park last week by POP singing star Gloria Gaynor that over 600 people attended. Songs such as “I Will Survive”, "Never Can Say Goodbye", Going Out of My Head", others, and a special tribute song to her late friend Donna Summer were belted out by the 63 year old singer who started out in the mid 1960's. I asked some people if they were Gloria Gaynor fans and the answers ranged from I wasn’t born yet but I love her songs to why do you think I am here. The concert was one of a month long of free concerts that State Senator Jeff Klein put together as his “August Summer Concert Series” throughout his district.

You can go to my blog at www.100percentbronx.blogspot.com to read more about the concert, and see photos of the concert. The local elected officials (and those who want to be next year) were out in force at the concert. There is one photo of current Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz speaking on behalf of Civil Court Judge candidate Eddie McShan he supports with possible 2013 city council candidate Andrew Cohen in the photo.

Speaking of Senator Jeff Klein, on Friday he was joined by City Council Traffic & Transportation Chair Jimmy Vacca, Assembly members Mike Benedetto and Marcos Crespo, and local community leaders and business owners to blast the New York City Department of Finance. It seems that two years ago the fine for overnight truck parking on residential city streets was increased from $65 to $250 and $500 fines for repeat offenders. All the Department of Finance has to do is revise its summonses to include this violation which it has not done. Senator Klein said that the reason it has not been done is that there is room on the summons for the traffic agent or police officer to write the violation in, which is not happening. Klein added that the city is loosing over $3.5 million a year in his district alone, which citywide adds up to about $8.83 million. We have seen tractor trailer trucks parked overnight on the service road of the Henry Hudson Parkway as well as many other places in the Bronx. Klein added that it is cheaper to pay a $65.00 fine than to have to find off street parking and lodging, and that was why the fine was increased to deter that.

With less than 16 months left in his city council term Councilman G. Oliver Koppell is cleaning up streets in his district. Koppell has gotten additional litter baskets for some street corners, and has had the Department of Sanitation clear debris from a major step street in his district. Go to my blog for more details on this, the latest list of events for Wave Hill, and other information. Just look at the archive section on the left and click on a month to see news or events that happened in that month.

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