Bronx Political Round-Up for September 4: Healthier Happy Meals, Online Ban on K2 Sales, Carmen Rosa Way ceremony, Kingsbridge-Broadway Business Corridor Report, and Puerto Rico Bankruptcy Protection.Senator Gustavo Rivera praises ‘scientific’ study that supports healthier “Happy Meals” legislation.
“Not only does this study confirm that children will pick a healthier meal that is accompanied by toy when given the option, but it also highlights the nutritional shortfalls of the fast food our children are consuming,” said Rivera earlier this week. The scientific study highlights how the “Healthy Happy Meal” bills proposed by Councilmember Kallos and Rivera has the potential to make these fast food meals that are targeted to kids healthier.
Speaker Mark-Viverito and Mayor de Blasio Host Pro-Tenant Billing Signing at Borinquen Court Houses
This week, Mayor Bill de Blasio signed into law legislation sponsored by Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito that makes it illegal for landlords to harass tenants into accepting a buyout offer. The law has financial penalties for landlords who violate its provisions. The city has also allocated $50 million dollars annually to fund anti-eviction legal services for tenants.
Lawmakers Call For Online Ban of K2
State Jeff Klein, Speaker Mark-Viverito and other Bronx lawmakers unveiled an alarming investigative report, “The Online Smoke Shop,” that detailed the unregulated cyber market for K2. On Thursday, they demanded that major sites: eBay, Craigslist and Backpage, remove all K2 and K2 paraphernalia from their sites. By Thursday evening, Craigslist responded that it would remove K2 and K2 paraphernalia from its site. Klein, Mark-Viverito and other electeds thanked Craigslist for immediately responding to their request to remove classifieds from their website that advertised the drug, K2.
Nearly 200 new Troopers graduate from across New York State
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo congratulated 199 new members of the State Police on their graduation from the 203rd session of the New York State Police Academy’s Basic School. Two graduates, Noel Hernandez and Carlyle Hunte, hail from the Bronx. Both will be assigned to Troop K in Poughkeepsie, NY.
“Carmen Rosa Way” Street Renaming Ceremony Set For September 12
Members of Bronx Community Board 12 (CB 12), elected officials, friends and family members will gather on Saturday, September 12 at 11 a.m. at the corner of East 229th Street and White Plains Road, Bronx, to rename the intersection “Carmen Rosa Way” in memory of the longtime district manager of CB 12, who passed away earlier this year.
Elected Officials Issue Report on Kingsbridge/Broadway Business Corridor
On Wednesday, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., Council Member Andrew Cohen, Assembly Member Jeffrey Dinowitz, State Senator Gustavo Rivera, Bronx Community Board #8 and the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation issued a joint report examining the Kingsbridge/Broadway retail corridor, running along Broadway between West 230th Street and West 238th Street, including connecting side streets, in the northwest Bronx. Video of the news conference may be viewed here.
Serrano, Velázquez Urge Senate Judiciary Committee to Pass Puerto Rico Chapter 9 Legislation
US Congressmembers José E. Serrano and Nydia Velázquez sent a letter this week to the House and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairmen and Ranking members urging them to mark up and pass H.R. 870/S.1774, the Puerto Rico Chapter 9 Uniformity Act (ie, extending federal bankruptcy protections).
“We simply ask that they be given the same tools that every state has to address these problems. Without these tools, Puerto Rico, and its public corporations, will continue to engage in a complicated, multi-sided negotiations process without a clear set of guidelines or the guarantee of an unbiased arbiter- both hallmarks of the federal bankruptcy process,” wrote the lawmakers.
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