Bronx Voice - December 8, 2021

BRONX VOICE

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SHOT DEAD ON PARK BENCH 5th Year, No. 12

December 8 - 14, 2021

Photo by David Greene

A detective collects evidence along Aqueduct Walk where a 62-year-old man was shot in the head as he sat on that bench on December 5, 2021.

Biker bashed Health center to host toy in the head giveaway Page with brick 2

Police are searching for this man in connection with a mugging in which a bike rider was knocked unconscious with a brick to the back of the head.

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Biker bashed in the head with a brick

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By Dan Gesslein A bike rider was bashed upside the head with a brick during a brutal robbery in the Bronx.

The attack took place at around 2:10 pm on November 27 inside the Forest Houses in the Foxhurst section of the Bronx.

The NYPD released the disturbing video from inside the lobby of the building at 770 East 165 Street. A man was pushing his bicycle toward the eleva-

tor when another man comes up from behind and hits him in the back of the head with a brick. As the bike rider fell to the floor, the attacker and another man pounce.

The accomplice kicks the victim in the face while the brick wielding attacker rummages through the man’s pants looking for cash.

All the while a tenant is seen cowering in the corner by the elevator shocked at witnessing the attack.

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As the victim lay unconscious, the brick basher is seen on video tearing the man’s pants apart as he tries to remove the victim’s cell phone and wallet. Then both men are seen casually walking away leaving the victim on the floor. He was later treated at Lincoln Hospital and is listed in stable condition.

Anyone with information is urged to call CRIMESTOPPERS at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls are confidential.

Police are searching for this man in connection with a mugging in which a bike rider was knocked unconscious with a brick to the back of the head.

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Man shot dead while sitting on park bench

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By David Greene As crowds of holiday shoppers and commuters strolled along West Fordham Road, a 62-yearold man was shot and killed as he sat on a park bench a mere 50 yards away along Aqueduct Walk in Fordham Manor.

Police officials say that at 3 p.m. on December 5, police were called to the scene for a reported "male shot" and found the victim on a park bench, he had been shot in the head.

The man was rushed to St. Barnabas Hospital where he died.

The site of the killing, Aqueduct Walk is a public park that runs parallel to Aqueduct Avenue, which ends at West 184 Street, but the park continues to West Fordham Road.

As a pair of police officers guarded the cordoned off crime scene,

the unidentified son of the victim told a woman, "I'm going. I'm going!" As the man pushed past the woman, he ducked under the crime scene tape and into the arms of the two uniformed officers, as he cried out, "Where's my father! Where's my (expletive) father!" The officers appeared hesitant to respond, when one replied, "He's not here."

Police later identified the victim as Robert Brown, 62, of nearby Grand Avenue.

One resident of the building who had not heard about the shooting, was told of Brown's

Photo by David Greene

The unidentified son of the victim pushes past a woman and into the arms of police officers after 62 -year-old Robert Brown was shot and killed on December 5, 2021.

death, when he said, "Dang. That's crazy." Asked if he knew Brown, he replied, "Nah, I only know him from downstairs, I just see him and say what's up and go on my way.”

Police were working on determining the motive of the killing.

According to police transmissions moments after the shooting, police were looking for two men who fled south on Aqueduct Walk towards West 184 Street.

Police declined to comment on a motive, despite several news outlets citing "police sources" stating that the shooting took place during a robbery.

A little more than seven hours later and a little more than a mile away, police at the 44th Precinct responded to another shooting at East 171 Street and Townsend Avenue where police discovered a man behind the wheel of a BMW, he too had been shot in the head and died at the scene.

Police identified that victim as 21 year-old Sergio Jimenez of Belmont.

As of December 7, police reported no arrests in either killing. Anyone with any information on either case is urged to call Crime Stoppers at 1 (800) 577-TIPS, all calls remain confidential.

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Teen’s Killer Caught, DA says 20-year-old Bronx cold case cracked with new DNA test The brutal murder of a Bronx girl 20 years ago has finally been solved with the help of new DNA technology, investigators said.

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark and New York City Police Commissioner Dermot Shea announced that a Westchester man has been indicted on Mur-

der charges in the 1999 killing of a Bronx teen after investigators used familial DNA, the first time the technology is used in New York City to solve a case.

Investigators said a new DNA test led to the arrest of suspect in the cold case murder of 13-year-old Minerliz Soriano.

Clark said, “The defendant allegedly killed 13-year-old Minerliz Soriano and then took her bound body in a garbage bag and left it in a dumpster in Co-op City near where a mall now stands. This beautiful little girl was treated as less than human.

“It has been 22 years since her life was cruelly taken, but detectives never gave up on finding justice for her and her family, and neither did my ADAs,” Clark said.

The defendant, Joseph Martinez, AKA

Jupiter Joe, 49, of New Rochelle, N.Y., was arraigned on two counts of second-degree Murder, Felony and Intentional, before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Efrain Alvarado. The defendant was remanded and is due back in court on March 7, 2022.

According to the investigation, on February 24, 1999, Minerliz Soriano walked home from school. The victim’s body was found wrapped in a trash bag in a dumpster behind a video store in Co-op CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

20-year-old Bronx cold case cracked with new DNA test

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City on February 28, 1999. The victim had been sexually abused, and her neck was compressed, causing her death.

Martinez was arrested on November 29, 2021 after the NYPD and the Bronx District Attorney’s Office in April 2019 submitted a joint application to get results from the familial DNA system.

DNA sample,

which was obtained from a semen stain on the victim’s sweatshirt, was submitted to the New York State convicted offender DNA database for male relatives that matched the specimen, which led to Martinez’s father, who is deceased.

Investigators then obtained a DNA sample from the defendant, which matched the DNA found on the victim’s sweatshirt. This is the first case in New

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York City that has been solved using familial DNA. “The DNA science and technology advanced over the years, and familial DNA was instrumental in linking the defendant, Joseph Martinez, AKA Jupiter Joe, to the murder,” Clark said.

“But while the technology was vital, it really was the humanity, dedication and compassion of the investigators and their relentless drive

to get justice in this case. That is why we do this work. I hope today’s indictment brings some consolation to the victim’s family.”

NYPD Commissioner Shea said, “Today’s indictment reflects the commitment of NYPD detectives to be the voice of victims who can no longer speak for themselves. In this case they used the science of familial DNA searching, combined with

dogged investigative work, to achieve a measure of closure for all who knew and loved 13-yearold Minerliz Soriano. Detectives, both active and retired, along with our forensic experts and partners in the Bronx District Attorney’s office never gave up in their work to ensure justice for this innocent child.”

An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.

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Hard hats, pols help needy families have a special Thanksgiving

The New York City & Vicinity District Council of Carpenters and the Carpenter Contractor Alliance of Metropolitan New York brought hope to families in the Bronx by delivering warm Thanksgiving meals and turkeys to communities in need.

These Thanksgiving activities were done in partnership New York State Senator Jamaal Bailey, Assembly Members Carl Heastie, Karines Reyes, Kenny Burgos, Council Members Diana Ayala and Kevin CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

Assembly Member Kenny Burgos donating turkeys with union carpenters.

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Hard hats, pols help families have a special Thanksgiving CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

Riley.

The union participated in 19 events throughout New York City, including 6 in the Bronx.

In total, union carpenters and contractors donated approximately 2,400 turkeys and warm meals this Thanksgiving.

Union carpenters and contractors began their volunteer efforts with Council Member Diana Ayala at the Moore Houses, then went to The Bronx River Houses and Monroe Houses with Assembly Member Kenny Burgos, then worked alongside Senator Jamaal Bailey at his

district office, they continued donations at Stevenson Commons with Assembly Member Karines Reyes, Co-op City with Council Member Kevin Riley, and finished their efforts with Speaker Carl Heastie at his district office.

“Giving back to the communities in which we live and work has always been a guiding value of union carpenters,” stated New York City District Council of Carpenters Executive Secretary-Treasurer Joseph Geiger. “Union carpenters are devoted not only to building a state-of-the-art skyline,

but building New Yorkers up, especially during times they need it most.

I am proud of the countless union volunteers that showed up for their communities to ensure that their neighbors and fellow New Yorkers did not go home hungry. Our union is grateful to have strong partnerships with Carpenter Contractor Alliance of Metropolitan New York and elected officials like Senator Jamaal Bailey and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie who have all helped make these Thanksgiving turkey drives possible.”

“The NYC Carpenters

Council Member Diana Ayala donating turkeys with union carpenters.

Union has been a tremendous partner in the work to combat food insecurity and hunger in our communities. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to their members for stepping up to make the holidays a little brighter for our families throughout the district, especially our neighbors struggling with hunger this holiday season.

Thanks to their generosity and dedicated efforts, countless families will have turkeys for Thanksgiving,” said Senator Jamaal Bailey.

“I am always humbled to work alongside the resilient and charitable members of the New York City & Vicinity District Council of Carpenters and the Carpenter Contractor Alliance of Metropolitan New York,” said Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie. “These workers have seen first-hand how difficult the pandemic has been for communities in the Bronx. I’m honored to partner with union carpenters and contractors to do our part and give back to New Yorkers this Thanksgiving.”

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Bx goes green with city’s planting of trees

The Mayor’s Office of Environmental Remediation announced that for the first time the City has made its own topsoil rather than buy it from a vendor.

To assist the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation, the Mayor's Office of Environmental Remediation (OER) combined clean native soil from the NYC Clean Soil Bank and compost from the NYC Department of Sanitation’s (DSNY) Fresh Kills facility in Staten Island at an undeveloped portion of Bridge Park in the Bronx.

Using its stockpile contractor, OER made 2,100 cubic yards of topsoil in September and October for

NYC Parks, which will use the topsoil to plant street trees in the Bronx over the next two years.

“OER is thrilled to partner with Sanitation to make topsoil for the Parks Department,” said Mark McIntyre, director of the Mayor’s Office of Environmental Remediation.

“Because we didn’t have to pay for trucking, we could make a high-quality topsoil more cheaply than if Parks bought it from a contractor. We plan to make more topsoil for other City agencies when we can partner with our sister agencies with spare trucking capacity.”

“As we work to ensure safe, clean streets

across the five boroughs, the Department of Sanitation is also focused on lowering the city’s carbon footprint with an increasing number of sustainability initiatives.

As part of that work, we are pleased to provide compost to support tree planting right here in New York City.

Composting organic material here to nourish our parks and gardens keeps food waste out of landfills while reducing the release of harmful methane into our atmosphere,” said Edward Grayson, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Sanitation.

“Sustainability and resiliency is at the core of our mission at NYC Parks, and we are thrilled to be using City-made topsoil towards greening in the Bronx,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Gabrielle Fialkoff.

“With the combination of soil from the NYC Clean Soil Bank and the compost from DSNY, these plantings will be done in a more environmentally-friendly way, using our City’s valuable resources wisely.”

NYC Parks partnered with OER earlier this year to convert an existing stockpile of clean soil at Bridge

Park into topsoil. In 2019, OER had arranged for 2,000 cubic yards of this soil from a construction site in New Rochelle to be delivered to Bridge Park through its Clean Soil Bank Program.

Tests of the soil showed it was pristine, native material but low in organic content so by itself not a good growing medium.

To raise its organic content, this soil needed to be mixed with compost. The only significant supply of City compost was 35 miles away at Fresh Kills on Staten Island. DSNY makes compost at the CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

Soil From NYC Clean Soil Bank at Bridge Park, before screening.Screened NYC Clean Soil Bank soil, ready for mixing with DSNY compost. Finished topsoil, ready to plant street trees in the Bronx.

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Bx goes green with city’s planting of trees CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

it out in a pile. Over the next three weeks, Sanitation made 24 additional truck trips to the Bronx, delivering 500 yards of compost, with which AARCO made 2,060 cubic yards of topsoil. A test of the topsoil showed it met

former landfill from yard waste dropped off

by Staten Island landscapers.

OER runs the NYC clean soil stockpile in East New York, a non-profit facility that receives clean soil from construction sites without disposal fees and distributes it at no cost to City and private construction projects as well as to community and school gardens.

The challenge was to move 500 cubic yards of compost from Fresh Kills to Bridge Park. OER partnered with Sanitation to donate this compost and deliver it to Bridge Park.

With Sanitation delivering compost to the Bronx, OER was able to make topsoil 25% cheaper than the $60 per cubic yard that Parks would had paid if it bought topsoil from one of its vendors.

OER deployed its stockpile subcontractor, AARCO Environmental, to the Bronx in late September.

With a screen and a front loader, AARCO began screening soil, separating cobbles and rocks greater than 1 inch in diameter from the sandy loam soil.

Several days later, the first Sanitation truck arrived with compost.

AARCO mixed it with screened soil and set

NYC Parks’ spec for street tree topsoil.

NYC Parks manages the planting and care of all street trees on the public right-of-way and plants new street trees as part of a citywide initiative to green the sidewalks of New York City.

East New York Farms! has opened New York City’s first stockpile of clean soil in Spring Creek, Brooklyn.

Holiday celebrations return after COVID

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By David Greene

Photo by David Greene

Leandra Feliz (Left) places an ornament on a Christmas tree dedicated to her son and murder victim Lesandro Guzman-Feliz with Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark on December 4, 2021.

Large public gatherings have resumed across the borough as Bronxites are once again celebrating the holidays at public events across the borough for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic broke out 21 months ago.

The festivities began at the Crotona Park Family Practice-Phipps on Fulton Avenue on November 24, with a Thanksgiving dinner presented by American Grill, Phipps Neighborhoods and the New York State Troopers Marine Corps Association.

Meanwhile, the Bronx' own Fat Joe, C-Town, Power 105.1 and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr.,

held a series of events across the borough.

Another gathering was held on Thanksgiving, November 25, at the Christ Church Mission for Helping Hand on Forest Avenue, but the Our Lady of Refuge Church in Fordham Manor played host to a holiday meal that was donated by the Church of the Resurrection in Rye, N.Y., and served by young parishioners and volunteers from Part Of The Solution (POTS) where they served 600 turkey dinner meals.

On November 28, Councilwoman-elect Marjorie Velazquez (13 C.D.) joined Rabbi Saadia Pewzner at the Bronx Jewish Center in Morris Park for their 8th annual menorah lighting, where a meal and light entertainment was provided by Bobby Doowah. Velazquez lit a menorah stationed atop donated cans of food that would soon be delivered to those in need.

On December 4, Bronx District Attorney Darcell Clark hosted the annual, "Angels Tree Lighting" at the office of Community Board 12.

The event culminates with the powerfully moving, decorating of the Christmas tree, where families of murder victims place there own decorated ornaments on the tree, dedicated to specific loved ones.

Identifying, managing Alzheimer’s Disease

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By Jessica L. Zwerling, MD, Director of the Montefiore Center of Excellence for Alzheimer’s Disease As we get older, it’s natural to forget things from time to time: the name of the actor in your favorite television show, the title of a movie you are seeing with friends, or where you put your house keys when you came home. Eventually the answers will come to you, even if it is in the middle of the night. It could be that you are worrying too much, or you might have a medical condition you are not aware of, like a vitamin deficiency.

But if you or a family member think your forget-

fulness is getting worse, or--more important--getting in the way of daily life, it could be the beginning of Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia. Signs can include getting lost in a familiar place or having difficulty with tasks like paying bills or preparing meals.

The symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease progress over time and, while there is no known cure for the disease, there are many options to help manage symptoms.

Getting a diagnosis earlier means more time to learn about lifestyle changes and more time to plan for future healthcare and other needs.

Support services can help you and your caregivers

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learn skills and strategies to manage everyday challenges. Research about Alzheimer’s disease is ongoing, and you may be able to join a clinical trial to slow the progression of the disease.

Start by talking to your doctor - they can review your medical record and your family’s medical history, which might help determine your risk factors for Alzheimer’s. Your physician may do a short and simple cognitive (memory) exam to see if you should have further testing. Often there is a complete physical exam, which helps to find any other conditions.

For a deeper look at memory problems, your doctor may refer you to a

specialty center like Montefiore’s Center of Excellence for Alzheimer’s Disease (CEAD). Specialty centers have doctors, and other staff who focus on supporting older adults with Alzheimer’s and other dementias.

Joining support groups, accessing educational resources, and learning about advance planning can help you and your family.

It is important for everyone to have healthcare that makes sense for them. Our providers consider cultural backgrounds and offer evaluations and support in multiple languages. We see patients and caregivers as a dyad, a single team with two parts; our goal is to help families manage stress and

schedules so that everyone can have the best outcomes.

Specialty centers like our CEAD can help connect you with other doctors you might need, for example a cardiologist or diabetes specialist, for your overall health. And we’ll help you get connected to support services that can help you and follow-up with you, to see how you’re doing.

Getting the right diagnosis early on can help you learn about the best care options and take practical steps like engaging support services for you and your loved ones.

There is strength in learning and finding resources; together with the right team you can feel empowered on your Alzheimer’s journey.

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Studying link between chronic pain and opioid abuse

Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Health System have been awarded a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant to establish a multidisciplinary research center focused on treatments for people with both chronic pain and opioid use disorder (OUD).

The Integrative Management of Chronic Pain and OUD for Whole Recovery Research Center at Montefiore Einstein (IMPOWR-ME) will receive $5.1 million for its first two years; additional funding at the same level is expected for the following three years. The grant is part of the NIH's Helping to End Addiction Long-term Initiative, or HEAL Initiative, which aims to accelerate the pace of scientific solutions to stem the national opioid public health crisis.

In the 12-month period ending in April 2021, more than 75,000 people died in the U.S. from a drug overdose involving an opioid, an increase of 28.5% from the same time last year. During this same time, approximately 600 Bronx residents died from an opioid overdose, signifying the highest overdose death rate in New York City. People with chronic pain and individuals with mental health disorders or who live in poverty are especially vulnerable for opioid overdose deaths.

"People who live with chronic pain are often undiagnosed and untreated for opioid use disorder.

At the same time, those with opioid use disorder often have difficulty accessing care for their chronic pain," said Joan-

na Starrels, M.D., M.S., the IMPOWR-ME director and principal investigator, associate professor of medicine at Einstein, and an internist and addiction medicine physician at Montefiore. "We need a cohesive approach to find evidence-based treatments that work for people with both conditions. The center will treat the whole person using new approaches to save lives and reduce the devastating impact on our communities.”

Improved Care Access and Integrated Treatment

IMPOWR-ME, one of just four centers in the US, will initially enroll people with OUD to begin three clinical trials at Montefiore and Einstein. In the first study, which will take place at methadone clinics, researchers will evaluate newly available on-site yoga and physical therapy treatments for back pain.

The project's leaders are Dr. Starrels and Shadi Nahvi, M.D., M.S., associate professor of medicine and of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Einstein, and an internist and addiction medicine physician at Montefiore.

Another study will enroll participants in buprenorphine primary care clinics.

Researchers will test the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), with and without

the Valera smartphone app in addition to existing treatment. ACT promotes mindfulness, acceptance of emotions, and commitment to behavior change while the Valera app provides enhanced care-management and psychological education focusing on self-care, depression, anxiety, pain, and other topics. Vilma Gabbay, M.D., M.S., co-primary investigator on the grant and director of the Psychiatry Research Institute at Montefiore Einstein (PRIME), and Brianna Norton, D.O., M.P.H., associate professor of medicine at Einstein and an internist at Montefiore, will lead this project.

For the third study, physicians seek to help people with chronic pain and OUD start buprenorphine treatment, which is effective for both conditions, while they are hospitalized. Investigators will test a novel strategy for starting buprenorphine treatment that is designed to minimize opioid withdrawal symptoms. Aaron Fox, M.D., M.S., associate professor of medicine at Einstein and a primary care physician at Monte-

fiore, will lead this project.

Engaging the Community, Advancing Health Equity, and Training New Researchers

A distinctive value of the IMPOWR-ME center is its commitment to listen to and respect the experiences of people who have been affected by OUD and chronic pain.

Individuals with OUD and chronic pain have faced stigma in healthcare settings and systemic barriers to accessing care. For people of color with OUD and chronic pain, these issues are compounded by racial and ethnic discrimination. Through research, IMPOWR-ME aims to understand and dismantle these hurdles to care.

"We must make sure people affected by chronic pain and OUD are part of the conversation," said Julia Arnsten, M.D., M.P.H., co-primary investigator on the grant and chief of the

division of general internal medicine at Einstein and Montefiore. "Bronx community members and people with chronic pain and OUD will help guide IMPOWR-ME research.

They will help develop additional pilot research projects for the center, which will be led by our early-stage investigators.”

The grant, titled "Integrated Care for Chronic Pain and Opioid Use Disorder: The IMPOWR Research Center at Montefiore/Einstein (IMPOWR-ME)," is funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, part of the NIH (RM1DA055437).

The HEAL Initiative, Iaunched in April 2018, is focused on improving prevention and treatment strategies for opioid misuse and addiction, and enhancing pain management.

For more information, visit: https://heal.nih.gov.

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Morris Heights Health Center to host toy giveaway

By India Dansby It’s the most wonderful time of the year.” The holiday season is officially upon us, and Morris Heights Health Center (MHHC) is spreading holiday cheers.

MHHC is hosting their annual “Toy Giveaway” across several of their sites and two community- based locations. This initiative is an extension of the organization’s “The Sharing Place” campaign which was developed out of a need to combat social and health inequalities that plague many Bronx communities.

Every year, MHHC partners with local organizations and community leaders to donate gifts during this time of the year to children in the community.

This special gift giving initiative will commence on December 9, 2021 and conclude January 6, 2022, just in time for the Three Kings Day celebration.

Thanks to this year’s generous donors, MHHC is looking to create a memorable holiday season for nearly 1,500 families.

“The holiday season is a time of togetherness and gratitude,” expressed President & CEO Mari G. Millet “Our annual holiday events are a way for us to show our appreciation to those who

MHHC staff member distributing bags of non-perishable food items to community members. have entrusted MHHC with their care and give back to the communities in which we serve.”

Keeping up with their annual traditions, the health center host-

MHHC's Chief Operating Officier Rawle Mitchell, distributing bags of non-perishable food items to community members.

ed its Thanksgiving giveaway last month where staff distributed turkey vouchers and bags of non-perishable food items to community members. The weeklong event served more than 1200 families.

In addition to their toy giveaway, other yearly initiatives from “The Sharing Place” campaign includes: • a back-to-school supply giveaway • a pajamas and books giveaway, and • a Thanksgiving turkey voucher and pantry giveaway.

Through the charitable holiday events, MHHC aims to assist families that may not otherwise have the

means. However, the health centers’ true mission is to provide families with a community of support that will outlast the holiday season.

To learn more about MHHC and their annual events, scan the QR code below: MHHC staff distributing toys to the community at their 2020 toy giveaway event.

MHHC staff member distributing bags of non-perishable food items to community members.

MHHC staff at the Thanksgiving Giveaway event held on Wednesday, November 24th at the 85 W. Burnside Avenue location.

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Your Hustle by Tom Greenbaum

Will corporate culture be thing of past?

Can not survive with extensive remote work policies

When people think about esprit de corps (“spirit of the body” - feeling of pride, fellowship and common loyalty shared by members of an organization) the first thought would likely be attributed to military organizations such as the U.S. Marines, the Army Corps of Cadets or maybe even Green Berets.

Many years ago people felt that IBM had achieved this with the early sales organization, and there is little question that Procter & Gamble created this feeling in both their sales organization and their brand management group.

In the current business environment one is hard pressed to come up with any company that really stands out has having a loyal, stable and committed workforce with a real sense of loyalty and commitment to the organization. Many experts have attributed this to the increasing number of very independent millennials who have joined the workforce in recent years, as this group tends to be less committed to the place they work than their older counterparts, and they are more willing to shop-around for new jobs to improve their lifestyle, even it it comes with a somewhat lower compensation package.

According to a CNN report on November 12 of this year, “a record number of Americans quit their jobs in September.” They quoted 4.4 million people quitting their jobs during the month.

While it is easy to attribute this phenomenon as being related to the increased number of millennials in the workforce, the emergence from the Covid crisis or maybe even the large supply of jobs available which provides more opportunities for advancement.

It is very difficult to argue with any of these points, but in my opinion a factor

that has not been considered seriously enough is the remote work culture that has emerged out of necessity due to the Covid crisis. This remote work culture shows few signs of dramatically declining, and there is definitely a sense that it will continue in some form for the immediate future. While many companies have announced their return to work in the office dates, it is evident that they feel a great risk to the workforce, as so many people have become accustomed to working from home on their own schedule in their jeans, rather than going to the office in business casual and conforming to “office hours” standards. In my opinion the remote work culture / trend is very dangerous to business, unless it is managed very carefully, which I feel would be a split schedule with more time in the office than working remote.

Remote Working – What is The Problem

There are very definite benefits to remote working, such as reduced commuting time, thus theoretically resulting in more work time at home, reduced need to purchase clothing to wear the office , or the financial savings that can be generated by downsizing offices which will reduce rents.

However, it has long been my opinion (published my first article on this in 1998) that the policy toward remote working should be limited to no more than one or two days a week. I believe strongly that full time remote workforces are a recipe for medium to long term corporate disaster.

While some employees say they are more productive when working remotely (a position I strongly challenge), there are some very important reasons that support the dangers of significant commitments to remote working. They are: The difficulty in creating a

bond between the individual and the company which is a key part of building espirt de corps among the workforce.

Simply being in a common workspace with others who are working to achieve the same overall goal contributes to a feeling of belonging to something with others like yourself. The relationship betters the organization and the individual is reinforced every day the employees come to the office. It is virtually impossible to achieve this over a Zoom conference.

• The extremely difficult environment for training and development that is inherent in a remote work situation. While it is possible to provide some supervision to subordinates via Zoom calls, there is a completely different type of relationship between two people talking through a computer screen vs being in the same room faceto-face. As a result I strongly believe the effectiveness of the supervision is dramatically less in the remote environment.

• The ability to competently on-board new employees is significantly easier in an office vs a remote situation. There are many stories we have all heard about new employee being hired to work remotely, working for the company for a year or more, and then leaving the company having never met anyone in the company in person. This person very likely never created a bond with his/her employer, and as a result had no problem leaving for another situation. An individual entering a new company should experience a very fertile environment in which to work, both in terms of having resources that may be available in the office but are difficult to get ( or unavailable) on line, and the immediate availability of peers to whom this new employee can access in order to seek answers to questions or

File photo

to get help solving specific work-related problems.

• Despite all the influx of group on-line coordination software, it is quicker and easier to gather a few people in a conference room to jointly solve a problem or develop a plan of action, as opposed to setting up a Zoom call with a group for some time in the future. The “out of sight, out of mind” argument definitely is relevant when a person is working on a project remotely, as the access to others takes more effort than it would in an office environment.

• There is a social aspect of working in an office that is extremely important to most people. This does not imply that workers spend lots of time around the water cooler, or talking with colleagues about the weekend football games in another person’s office. However, there is little question that having colleagues around you to interact, if only for a minute or two, does improve the quality of life for most people with virtually no impact on the levels of productivity.

• Finally, when working in an office, an employee does not have the distractions that are part of everyday life when working out of home. The chances are that in the office there is not a full referigerator waiting to be opened, a television that can be turned on at any time, a significant

other that just wants to ask a quick question, or a bicycle sitting in the garage just waiting to be ridden to work up a sweat.

Where Do We Go From Here?

In view of the generally positive feelings of many, if not most people about working remotely during the pandemic, for most businesses to achieve their medium and long term objectives (increased profitability produced by a better, more effectively trained workforce) the amount of work employees are permitted to do remotely must be controlled.

During the pandemic, many companies experienced great success and some even have decided that a remote environment can work very well for them. However, I am confident that in the medium to long term the prognosis will not be very positive. While the millennial group probably will object to any meaningful commitment to working in the office, it is the challenge of senior management to explain the benefits to them and the company of their making a significant commitment (at least 3 days per week) to working in the office. If this is not accomplished, I am confident that the employee turnover reported this past September will continue, and the ultimate loser will be both the employees and America’s corporations.

BRONX VOICE• December 8 - 14, 2021• 19

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Culinary Road

By Morris Gut

Where to celebrate the holidays

Whether you’ve been naughty or nice, it’s time to make plans with friends and family. If you are dining out, restaurants have been trying their best to adhere to Covid protocols.

Take-out & delivery from your favorite eatery is a fine option, too. Here are some festive suggestions for every palate, each offering a good dose of Holiday cheer.

Seasoned Greetings!

HOLIDAY DINING WITH A VEW AT VISTAMAR, CITY ISLAND!

Seafood and sea views on City Island. Vistamar Restaurant & Lounge took over the sprawling space that previously operated as Don Coqui and the views are breathtaking. Evenings you can see Manhattan lights in the distance while enjoying ‘Cucina Latina’ prepared with style. Check out the menu for such house specialties as: Seafood Tower, Mofongo, Chuleta, Rabo, King Crab Legs, and Lobster in a variety of styles.

Weekly happy hours and nightlife schedule.

Reservations are suggested. Ample parking.

Vistamar Restaurant, 565 City Island Ave., Bronx. 718709-0888 www.vistamarcityisland.com SHOWSTOPPING CHEER AT GIGANTE

Mulino’s at Lake Isle, the state-of-the-art catering facility at Lake Isle Country Club in Eastchester, sports a fine a la carte

restaurant. Beautifully decorated for the Holidays, Gigante Restaurant serves an Italian/modern American menu in a dramatic contemporary setting. Picture windows overlook al fresco patios and swimming pools. We often enjoy cocktails at the sparkling bar along with delicious Fried Calamari, Soshito Peppers, Shortrib Brisket Roadhouse Burger, or Organic Chicken Milanese.

Tasty pizzas, too. Restaurateurs Louis Gigante of Mulino’s of Westchester in White Plains, and his son Louis Gigante, Jr. oversee the day-to-day operation.

Gigante, 660 White Plains Road, Eastchester 914961-1001 www.giganterestaurant.com PRIME STEAKS AT MACELLERIA

This high-end Italian steakhouse is a Michelin award winner serving classic cuts of prime beef and chops along with a hearty helping of Italian/American specialties. Tony Lala and his crew will take good care of you.

Be seated in the handsomely renovated dining room or bar/lounge and peruse the menu over a good glass of wine. Diver Scallops, Steak Tartare, slabs of Canadian Bacon, Spaghetti Carbonara, Pappardelle with Short Rib Ragu, Zuppa di Pesce, even a Classic Burger. Carnivores should consider the Lamb Chops, Veal Chop, New York Strip Steak, or Porterhouse for two. Open 7 days for lunch

and dinner. Locations in Armonk and Byram, CT. Macelleria, 142 Fifth Ave., Pelham. 914-3652561 www.macelleriaitaliansteakhouse.com MULLED SPIRITS AT THE 808 BISTRO, SCARSDALE!

This eclectic Italian and American eatery in Scarsdale Scarsdale, glows nightly in a rainbow of alternating colors. Glistening ceramic and metal tiles highlight the 50-seat dining room and ceiling.

There are modern artworks and lighting, silver metal chairs softened by stressed leather seats for comfort. It’s a Manhattan vibe and it’s all kept properly casual. Chef/owner Sal Cucullo Jr. is a C.I.A. graduate who practically grew up in restaurants. He knows how to cook Italian, but for as long as I have known him his creativity has never been bound by culinary borders. He can knock out a delicious version of Grandma’s Gnocchi in a basil-pomodoro sauce one moment, and in another prepare a decadent Baked Macaroni and Cheese with chunks of lobster and shrimp, infused with truffle oil, that will propel you to foodie heaven.

The 808 Bistro, 808 Scarsdale Ave., Scarsdale.

914-722-0808 www.the808bistro.com TRADITIONAL WITH PIZZAZZ AT ARTIE’S, CITY ISLAND!

Owner

Spiros

Cha-

Caramelized sea scallops at the 808 Bistro.

gares puts a lot of Holiday spirit into the traditional and contemporary dishes served here. Sit back in one of several dining areas and enjoy such changing specialties as: hearty Seafood Chowders; Oysters Rockefeller; Smoked Salmon Roll-Ups; Wood Grilled Jumbo Shrimp and Scallops; hunks of tender Short Rib; a massive Zuppa Di Pesce; tender Oven Roasted Rack of Lamb; Chardonnay Poached Salmon with seafood; and fresh Lobster prepared in a variety of styles. Big combo platters.

There’s a loaded Lobster Salad Roll at lunch, and a big Deluxe Burger. A variety of craft beers are on hand. Check out the bar/ lounge most evenings for good networking. Private party facilities. Open 7 days. Free parking. Artie’s Steak & Seafood, 394 City Island Ave., Bronx.

718-885-9885 www.artiescityisland. com DINE WITH CHEF ANGELO AT MAGNO’S GRILL

Chef/owner Angelo Magno had put his tal-

ents to work at such lauded kitchens at Tango Grill, Milonga and Gaucho Grill. He has joined forces with his family at his own 60-seat spot featuring fine versions of Italian and Argentinean classics. Look for such house specialties as: fresh Empanadas, Chicken or Veal Parmigiana, hearty Paella, hefty Pork Osso Buco, and Argentinean Parrillada, hearty mixed grill with chimichurri sauce.

Cocktail bar. Open daily for lunch and dinner.

Municipal parking nearby. Magno’s Grill, 108 Centre Ave., New Rochelle. 914-235-0008 www.magnosgrill.com (Morris Gut is a restau-

rant marketing consultant and former restaurant trade magazine editor. He has been tracking and writing about the food & dining scene in the Bronx and Westchester for 30 years. He may be contacted at: 914235-6591. Email: gutreactions@optonline.net)

20• BRONX VOICE• December 8 - 14_, 2021

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