Bronx Park East Community Association story for The Bronx Chronicle
BRONX PARK EAST COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
Serving Allerton, Bronxdale, Eastchester, Pelham Parkway Neighborhoods of Community Board 11
By Kenny Agosto
DISCOVERY FOR JUSTICE!
The newest neighborhood group partners up with important issue. The Bronx Park East Community Association [B-PECA] held special meeting recently. Our special guests were Bronx Supreme Court Justice Fernando Tapia & former NYPD Detective Carlton “Chucky” Berkley who came to passionately discuss “Discovery For Justice” the hottest grassroots movement in our state, begining right here in our home town, a wise person said: “The road to Albany goes through The Bronx!”
The men and women of Discovery For Justice are requesting the New York Legislature replace CPL 240[Criminal Procedure Law 240] with legislation that would grant defense counsel early, open, and automatic access to evidence against their clients at arraignment. This current arcane law has too often discriminated against poor, and in many cases, people of color from equal access to see the evidence being presented against them. Indeed, this has also affected people of all backgrounds and economic stations. “You simply cannot adequately defend yourself in a court of law with this unfair advantage of the prosecution.” – said fmr. Detective Berkley, president of Discovery for Justice.
Because of our extremely overcrowded judicial system, especially in The Bronx, many accused defendants languish in Riker’s Island indefinitely awaiting trial. Many times, desperate mothers and relatives force their incarcerated relatives [who insist on their innocence] into taking a definite guilty plea, in lieu of gambling on a trial with the very real possibility of a guilty verdict yielding a much harsher jail sentence. Even after the plea deal, these possibly innocent people have to endure the scarlet letters of CF [Convicted Felon] on their chests for the rest of their lives, depriving them of housing, financial aid for college, professional licenses, and genuine employment opportunities. Currently, New York is lagging behind more than 13 states that have changed their laws including such states as: New Jersey, Illinois, Michigan, as well as conservative states such as Texas, and Arizona.
Our guests passionately, eloquently, and effectively demonstrated that Open, Early, and Automatic Discovery will free our overburdened courts with unnecessary motions and continuances. Those who have money for defense attorneys many times deplete their funds before they can mount an effective defense. Conversely, those who have court appointed public defenders have massive case loads virtually no time to zealously defend their clients. With the proposed legislation, the right to a full defense and a speedy trial is enshrined in our American Constitution. The right to face your accuser who produces the full body of evidence against you gives you a fair chance in court. That’s justice! Amending this discriminatory law will help prevent a vicious cycle of ruined lives with a legacy of lost perpetually poor children growing up in the system without their parents.
At this juncture, this proposed legislation has the support of public defenders, law enforcement, as well as the early support of our local state legislators; Senator Ruth Hassell-Thompson, Senator Jeffrey Klein, and Assemblyman Gjonaj who all sat down with a large diverse community of leaders eager to see this law changed swiftly. At the end of this riveting discourse many had questions to ask Detective Berkley and Judge Tapia. They happily obliged. Our profound gratitude goes out to Chucky, Judge Fernando, and the great folks at “D4J” for informing our community of this essential proposed legislation. B-PECA will be joining the fight to help organize for Justice in our Neighborhoods! For more information and/or sign their online petition, go to: www.DiscoveryForJustice.Org
BEAUTIFICATION & ANTI-ILLEGAL GRAFFITI PROJECTS
In the past two weekends, members of B-PECA and the Eastchester Gardens Houses Advisory Board headed by our own Patricia Charles painted over illegal graffiti and built wooden tree guards to beautify the surrounding NYCHA complex. In addition, Norma Lopez and the Cruger-Mace Block Association joined forces with B-PECA to clean up Bissel Gardens and the surrounding blockes near the 241st Street station. At the end of two beautiful days, the children helped clean a beautiful community garden as well as reclaimed their neighborhood and trees by putting their name on their work and adopting their trees. Thanks Ms. Pat, Ms. Deb, Ms. Fran Ruh and the Eastchester kids. Way to Go Team! ;-D
B-PECA COMMUNITY CALENDAR
1ST Wednesdays – Parks Committee of Community Board 11, Voice your concerns about preserving our precious Bronx Park East & Pelham Parkway parkland and green spaces. Meets the first Wednesday of each month at 7pm at the CB11 office, 1741 Colden Avenue off of Morris Park Avenue.
2nd Thursdays – Transportation Alternatives, Advocate for Vision Zero Pedestrian Safety, bike lanes, and safer slower streets. Meets the second Wednesday of each month at 6:30pm at the Bronx Museum of the Arts, 1040 Grand Concourse.
2nd Thursdays – The Bronx Park East Community Association, B-PECA, your monthly opportunity to make a difference meets the second Thursday of the month at CenterLight [Wallenstein Ctr.] 2401 White Plains Road on the corner of Waring Avenue across from the Walgreens. As always we meet at 6:30pm SHARP!
3rd Wednesdays – East Bronx History Forum, Delve into the History & HerStory of our beloved hometown borough, meets the third Wednesday of each month at 7pm at the Huntington Free Library at 9 Westchester Square.
4th Mondays – Real Rent Reform Coalition, Fight for Stronger Tenant’s Laws Protecting NYC Residents who Rent. We meet on the fourth Monday of the month at 7pm at Goddard Community Center, 593 Columbus Avenue and W.88th Street in Manhattan. You can take the #1 IRT or the B and C BMT trains to W. 86th Street.
4th Thursdays – Community Board 11 Full Board Meeting, Participate in your most local level of Government usually meets the fourth Thursday of the month at 7pm inside Einstein Hospital’s Lubin Hall, 1200 Van Nest Avenue call 718.892.6262 to confirm time and place.
Last Tuesdays – NYPD 49th Precinct Community Council, Meet your local police officers who patrol our Neighborhoods, we meet the final Tuesday of each month at 7:30pm; location rotates please call 718.918.2025 for more information. Remember if you SEE something, please SAY something!!!
AND FINALLY LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING!
As always, if you need more information on any of these exciting community activities,
Please don’t hesitate to call or text us at: 347.654.7044 or email us at: BxParkEast@gmail.com or even still, you can follow us on facebook at: www.facebook.com/groups/BxParkEast to see our community updates and happenings!
And finally, The Executive Board of B-PECA would like to thank all of our new friends, allies, and neighbors who have taken the time and initiative to take back their neighborhoods and improve our community one block at a time. Until next time, smile at someone when you pass them on the street.
Say “please” and “thank you”, tip your friendly service provider, and love and keep your neighborhood brothers and sisters. B-PECA “For’evah”!!!!! ;-D ;-D
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