Serving Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights NORWOOD NEWS Vol. 25, No. 17 ■ PUBLISHED BY MOSHOLU PRESERVATION CORPORATION ■ September 6 –19, 2012 SLIDING INTO NEW SCHOOL YEAR Bronx’s Hottest Political Race Takes Tabloid Detour By ALEX KRATZ Despite her lateness — attendance problems in Albany have plagued Rivera In early August, the Bronx’s most throughout her eight years in office — intense primary race made a stop outside the incumbent wasn’t quite ready to give of Tracey Towers, the high-rise apart - up her seat. In her remarks, she laid into ment complex on Mosholu Parkway unscrupulous landlords and took a swipe where tenants are fighting to stave off an at her opponent. (Gjonaj is well-connect - enormous rent hike. ed in the Bronx real estate world. He says Tracey lies within the 80th Assembly he’s only a property manager who owns District, which, following redistricting, some vacant land, but his family owns winds through Norwood on its way to several Bronx apartment buildings. Gjon - Morris Park and Pelham Bay. On this par - aj wouldn’t say how much of his cam - ticular Saturday, tenants held a rally to paign is funded by real estate money, but protest the rent increase and invited any - several real estate companies are listed one who would listen and support them. as contributors, according to campaign Representatives from several elected offi - finance records.) cials showed up and sat at a table in front The scene fit the narrative of the race of the crowd. up until it took a tabloid turn the very Half an hour into the rally, however, next day. 80th Assemblywoman Naomi Rivera was In its Sunday edition, the New York Photo by Adi Talwar nowhere to be found. That’s when Mark Post unveiled an “exclusive” story about STUDENTS FROM PS/MS 20 on Webster Avenue in Norwood celebrate the arrival Gjonaj, the well-heeled realtor who has a Facebook page Rivera used to post pic - of a completely revamped playground area on Friday, Aug. 31, just a week before launched a relentless campaign to unseat tures of her getting cozy with a political school starts on Sept. 6. The playground was dedicated to the school’s longtime and Rivera, was asked to sit at the front table. hopeful from Brooklyn, Tommy Torres, beloved parent coordinator, Haydee Criscenti, who passed away last October. More He obliged. Then 15 minutes later, he got who she hired to be a part-time commu - photos from the dedication ceremony can be found online at norwoodnews.org. up as Rivera made her way to the table. (continued on p. 5) Diaz Says Ice Center Is Best for Kingsbridge Armory By ALEX KRATZ ty space. It would also feature an affordable The other group in the running is youth program based on a successful Young Woo & Associates, which wants to Two weeks ago, in front of the Armory model implemented in Philadelphia. turn the Armory into a creative market on Kingsbridge Road, Bronx Borough Diaz said the group assembled — for local artisans and entrepreneurs. The President Ruben Diaz Jr., flanked by a including State Senator Gustavo Rivera project would also include recreational hockey team worth of political support - (who can see the Armory from his apart - facilities, some mid-sized retail, a gym, the ers, said he was throwing his weight ment, he likes to say), Councilman Oliver world’s largest indoor climbing rock and behind a plan that would make better use Koppell (who reminded everyone it was the country’s first 4-D movie theater. of the Armory by turning it into the his dream to have ice sports at the According to the Daily News, Young Woo world’s largest ice sports center. Armory 15 years ago), and Assemblyman responded, saying it was “very surprised The project, known as the Kingsbridge Nelson Castro — was speaking as a uni - and obviously disappointed” by the bor - National Ice Center, is backed by a group fied voice to the mayor’s office and the ough president’s endorsement and defend - of Long Island businessmen, and sup - city’s Economic Development Corpora - ed their plan, called Mercado Mirabo, as ported by two big names stars of the ice tion, which will decide on a developer for the option that would “offer the most sig - — New York Rangers hockey legend the Armory sometime in September. nificant benefits to the surrounding com - Mark Messier and Olympic gold medal- (Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz also munity and all the residents of the winning figure skater Sarah Hughes. At a came out in support of the ice center.) Bronx.” (Young Woo announced last week cost of $275 million, the final product Notably not present, however, was that the National Hip Hop Museum will be would create nearly 1,000 temporary con - Bronx Councilman Fernando Cabrera, part of the overall development plan for struction jobs and 270 permanent so- whose district includes the Armory. Mercado Mirabo.) called “living wage jobs” ($11.50 an hour). Although Cabrera wasn’t available to Diaz said the ice project would pump “Given the developer’s commitment to attend the press conference due to a con - more money into the local economy and ‘living wage’ jobs, local hiring and com - flicting meeting with the police commis - wouldn’t compete with the area’s small Photo by David Greene munity programming, it is clear that the sioner, his chief of staff, Greg Faulkner, businesses. AT A PRESS conference in front of the Kingsbridge National Ice Center project is said Cabrera has not taken a public posi - Asked by BronxTalk host Gary Axel - Kingsbridge Armory, (left to right) the right fit for our borough,” Diaz said. tion on which developer he prefers. A few bank if Bronxites would actually use the Rangers legend Mark Messier, State The center would feature nine Olympic- months ago, Cabrera was said to be down ice rinks, Diaz said: “There’s an old Senator Gustavo Rivera, figure skater sized ice rinks, including a 5,000-seat on the ice center plan because it didn’t adage, Gary. If you build it, they will Sarah Hughes and Borough President arena, and 50,000 square-feet of communi - offer enough community benefits. come.” Ruben Diaz Jr. hold up a Bronx quilt. ■ Meet the 80th AD Underdogs, p. 2 ■ SUVs Go Window Shopping, p. 7 ■ Retail for Bainbridge Fire Lot, p. 12 www.norwoodnews.org 2 ■ September 6 –19, 2012 ■ Norwood News In The Public Interest Vol. 25, No. 17 The 80th Assembly cal history with Rivera – Estrada-Rukaj times are young adults and their par - has been removed from the ballot twice ents, who are saddled with helping their Norwood News is published District Underdogs before, including in 2004, when Rivera adult children,” said Bermudez. bi-weekly on Thursdays by would go on to be elected to the Assem - Prior to announcing his candidacy, Mosholu Preservation Corporation Irene Estrada-Rukaj bly. She, however, continues to pursue Bermudez was working with another her political aspirations. campaign. He is now unemployed, and 3400 Reservoir Oval East Irene E strada-Rukaj, an ordained “We’re taking the district back,” said says he has a history of being underem - Bronx, New York 10467 minister and community activist, is Estrada-Rukaj. “It would be a privilege ployed. He cited Jose Rivera – his oppo - challenging incumbent Naomi Rivera to to be in the Assembly.” nent’s father and the patriarch of the Phone: 718 324 4998 represent the 80th Assembly District in Bronx political clan – as inspiration Fax: 718 324 2917 Albany. Estrada-Rukaj is one of four can - E-mail: [email protected] since he ran for State Assembly while didates whose names are appearing on Adam Bermudez Web: www.norwoodnews.org collecting unemployment in the early the ballot on Primary Day, Sept. 13. The youngest candidate in a crowded 1980s. Originally from Midland, Texas, field for the 80th Assembly District pri - Having only recently crossed the Estrada-Rukaj mary, Adam Bermudez, 29, worked as a $1,000 mark in fund-raising, Bermudez is came to the reporter for the Bronx Times and as a Publisher CEO, Mosholu running his cam - Bronx as a 20- freelance public affairs consultant for Mosholu Preservation Preservation paign on a small year-old with other campaigns before deciding to run Corporation Corporation scale, especially her two young for office himself. Editor-in-Chief Roberto S. Garcia compared to daughters in A self-described “progressive Democ - Alex Kratz Rivera and fellow 1982 to get rat,” Bermudez decided to get involved challenger Mark involved with in the race because he was not pleased Gjonaj. Classified Advertising ministry work. with the current state of the district. “Bottom line Dawn McEvoy Since then, the “I realized that I was unsatisfied with is I had not start - Mexican-Ameri - the current incumbent [Assembly - Accounts Receivable ed fund-raising can has become woman Naomi Rivera],” Bermudez said. Dawn McEvoy IRENE ESTRADA- early on,” said a New York State “I choose to run because I feel I could Proofreader RUKAJ Bermudez. “I chaplain and is offer our community what we deserve.” ADAM BERMUDEZ Judy Noy wanted this to be heavily involved in community work. Bermudez was born and raised in the Production a real grassroots campaign. I’m hoping “This is my district,” Estrada-Rukaj Pelham Gardens neighborhood of the Neil deMause to raise a few thousands of dollars to said. “I’ve been living here for 30 years Bronx, and attended Regis High School have a serious race.” Regular Contributors and have been very active for the last 30 on the Upper East Side before earning a David Greene, Adi Talwar, Ronald Chavez Besides promoting job training to years.” bachelor’s degree at Wesleyan Universi - curb unemployment, Bermudez also Interns Now 52 years old and a grandmother of ty in Connecticut.