Honors bestowed on Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj

L-R Councilman Jimmy Vacca, Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, Congressman Eliot Engel, Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj

On October 28, 2014 Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj, 80th Assembly District, was honored at an event at Don Coqui on City Island. Over 350 people attended. Those who attended came from the various communities he represents: Morris Park, Allerton, Bedford Park, Pelham Parkway, Norwood, Mosholu, Pelham Gardens, Van Nest and beyond. Since his election to the New York State Assembly in 2012 Mark has brought new vitality and vigor to the communities he represents. He has sponsored events for many groups and causes the community supports. He has sponsored an Albanian Independence Day celebration, an Easter egg roll celebration, an Israeli Independence Day celebration, Christmas lights on Pelham Parkway, Menorah lighting celebration, Black history month poster contest, an international music festival and many other events for the communities he serves so well. His events has brought out people from his district and from the far reaches of this great borough and beyond. All of these events were through the Gjonaj CARES ( Community, Accountability, Responsibility, Encouragement, Service) program which he initiated. This initiative promotes community participation to improve neighborhood and keep them viable. He is succeeding!! Present were the leaders and members from The Morris Park Community Association, The Pelham Parkway Community Association, The Allerton Avenue Homeowners and Tenants Association as well as other community goups and leaders from Community Boards 11 and 10.

Mark serves on important New York State Assembly committees. His dedication and commitment to progressive legislation has earned him the respect of the leadership of the New York State Assembly. He serves on Banks, Local Government, Real property Taxation, Small Business, Tourism, Parks, Art and Sports Development and on the Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task force.

Among the many elected officials who attended were Congressman Eliot Engel, New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer,

New York State Senator Jeff Klein, Assemblyman Mike Benedetto, Democratic candidate for the New York State Assembly Latoya Joyner, Councilmember Jimmy Vacca, Vanessa Gibson and Andrew Cohen. All elected officials praised Mark for his leadership and for being part of a team fighhting for all of the residents of The Bronx.