Winner of Vol. 72, No. 1
What’s inside?
Thursday, February 11, 2021
n New York Health Act has new life thanks to Joe Biden taking over the White House estarkmiller@riverdalepress.com
PS 24 parents say they like the idea of adding bike lanes along Independence. Page A3
$1.00
Universal health care finally on horizon? By ETHAN STARK-MILLER
A yea for bicycles?
the Pulitzer Prize
There have been more than 120,000 confirmed coronavirus cases in the Bronx, leading to 5,500 deaths. Those who live through COVID-19 could face months, if not years, of lingering effects, burdening already strained budgets. But what if cost wasn’t an issue? What if every single person living in the Bronx — and across the rest of New York — were guaranteed health coverage without paying a cent out of pocket. Some believe the pandemic’s effects would have been much different in that
scenario. Maybe fewer infections — maybe even fewer deaths. Certainly less suffering. There is no better time for finally passing the long-stalled New York Health Act, say some of its most ardent supporters, a bill in the state legislature that aims to aLeSSandra replace employer-based bIaggI private health insurance with guaranteed state-run coverage for everyone. And 2021 might be its year, not just because of COVID-19, but also because of who voters put in the White House. “If there ever was a moment to make sure that people had access to health care, it would be during a global pandemic,” said state Sen. Alessandra Biaggi, one of the bill’s co-sponsors. “And I think that CO-
VID has really proven to all of us how dangerous — and also damaging — our patchwork system of health insurance is.” Low-income communities of color in the Bronx have been hit especially hard by the virus, says state Sen. Gustavo RiguSTaVo vera, the health act’s lead sponsor, because many rIVera of them have pre-existing health issues that formed before the pandemic. Conditions like diabetes and asthma which in many cases, according to Rivera, could’ve been prevented with access to proper health care. “Many of us believe that they will be a friendlier administration than the regime that existed before,” Rivera said, making passing reference to the now-departed
That empty feeling
Seniors face roadblocks in efforts to vaccinate n Registering online, regular cancellations make process harder for the over-65 crowd
Working together Jessica Haller teams up with Mino Lora as they tackle a whole new way to vote for city council. Page A7
By ROSE BRENNAN rbrennan@riverdalepress.com
HIraM aLeJandro durÁn
Holding multiple smaller services on Shabbat instead of one large service is one way The Hebrew Institute of riverdale has kept members safe during the pandemic. richard Langer, the synagogue’s executive director, says smaller groups means more congregants can attend in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
Saying a little prayer to end COVID n Houses of worship find Perfect ways to grow their home art new pandemic congregations You don’t have to stay home and watch TV. There’s plenty of art available right at your fingertips, thanks to some local creators. Page A6
Trump administration. Although the New York Health Act is a state-level action, Donald Trump still found a way to block its path. The health act only works if the federal government grants New York a Medicaid waiver to fund the bill, Biaggi said. That’s something Trump never considered doing. But Trump is gone, replaced by President Joe Biden. Yet, Biden didn’t campaign on universal health care. Instead, his push was to strengthen Obamacare on the federal level, which still heavily depends on private insurance companies. However, Biden’s choice to lead the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, supports Medicare For All, the federal equivalent of the New York Health Act proposed by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. “I look forward to (Becerra) getting HEALTH CARE, page A4
By ETHAN STARK-MILLER estarkmiller@riverdalepress.com
What will life be like after the coronavirus? That’s a question on the minds of many seeking pre-pandemic normalcy inside a society that may have been permanently changed. It was certainly a question on the minds of Richard Langer and Oren Hiller during a recent conference with other Jewish leaders. Langer runs the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale. Hiller, the Riverdale Jewish Center. And both networked with their counterparts from 400
other Orthodox Union synagogues from across the country wondering aloud what 5781 — or 2021 for most everyone else — will bring. Yet, while some might expect this to be a long dialogue of “troubling times,” Langer instead trumpeted one silver lining in the dark COVID-19 cloud: Allowing synagogues like his to evolve in meaningful ways. “It’s an opportunity, as we restart, to question things that might have been done by habit before,” Langer said. “However we organize services, however we organize youth activities, however we organize lifecycle celebrations, there’s an opportunity here for a more purposeful examination as we head back.” More recently, with synagogue doors allowed to reopen again, The Bayit on Henry Hudson Parkway adapted to
‘There’s something different and nice about seeing people who might not have connected otherwise with the community because they don’t live here.’
— Richard Langer
Hebrew Institute of Riverdale multiple smaller services, Langer said, instead of one larger one. Each service is able to put together a minyan — a minimum of 10 Jewish men that is traditionally required for prayer among many COVID PRAYER, page A4
The world has been a scary place for many over the past year, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. But people like Judith Green and Bernice Harris had much more to fear not just because of the virus’ high mortality rate, but also because they’re senior citizens. More than 340,000 people older than 65 have died from complications related to COVID-19 in the United States since the pandemic started, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That represents nearly 80 percent of the country’s total death toll. The disease presented a profound risk to the elderly, leading many to SeLIna sigh in relief when seng niors became eligible for the coronavirus vaccine last month. But in addition to vaccine shortages, it’s proving more difficult than expected to vaccinate the city’s older population numbering more than 1.2 million. Selina Ng gets phone calls every day from seniors asking for help to register for the vaccine. A shortage of vaccine supplies isn’t helping, and the RSS-Riverdale Senior Services social worker says her clients are finding it difficult to even find an opening to get their first dose — whether they’re registering online or over the phone. “It’s very, very hard to navigate, wait for hours and hours, and they keep on saying, ‘Please log back in and check again,’” Ng said. “I had somebody waiting (on the phone) for six hours. And then they wind up saying VACCINATE, page A4
Post Road construction rocks neighbors with noise and dust n Stagg Group says it’s committed to addressing any complaints that might crop up over 7-story building By MICHAEL HINMAN mhinman@riverdalepress.com
There’s a lot of history along Post Road — from visits by iconic generals to its significance in keeping early New York connected with the rest of the country. So it might be easy then to almost dismiss the rock excavation at 5278 Post Road almost as an archeological dig. But it’s not. Instead, Stagg Group is building a seven-story residential building on the site, and all that rock is just in the way.
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“We have to level off the rock,” Jay Martino, Stagg’s senior construction vice president, told Community Board 8’s land use committee at a recent meeting. “We have to sort of take the top of that knob off to get to a point to see what’s going to come next.” The rock chipping has been the source of some complaints by neighbors — but more because of claims it was being done off-hours, rather than a normal working day. And the geography on this part of Post Road, not far from where Broadway meets the Henry Hudson Parkway, is much different from Fort Independence Street near Kingsbridge Heights, where construction work a few years ago ricocheted loud jackhammering sounds all throughout the neighborhood. So far, however, the Post Road rock chipping is POST ROAD, page A4
HIraM aLeJandro durÁn
rock chipping is expected to continue for some weeks at 5278 Post road, where Stagg group is erecting a seven-story residential building. Yet, for the most part, neighbors have offered few complaints.
A2 - THE RIVERDALE PRESS - Thursday, February 11, 2021
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HIRAM ALEJANDRO DURÁN
Feeling hot, cold toward the MTA It was not a good week to be a bus driver in the 5-0. The first unlucky Metropolitan Transportation Authority employee was attacked with hot water, which police said was thrown in his face Feb. 1, when his bus was stopped near the 5600 block of Riverdale Avenue around midnight. He suffered burns on his face, and unfortunately was not able to see his attacker, according to a report. While many might say one assaulted bus driver is one too many, that just wasn’t in the cards. Another bus driver was attacked two days later, this time with an ice ball to the face. This attack happened mid-afternoon while the bus was stopped near Sedgwick Avenue and Giles Place, police said. The driver suffered pain and redness on his face, according to the report. And once again, the attacker got away. The detective squad is investigating both — which could be pursued as potential felonies — and hope bus camera footage might give them some leads.
Don’t pick up strangers
An unlucky good Samaritan offered a ride to a hitchhiker at the southeast corner of Henry Hudson and Mosholu parkways, only to have his passenger pull out a gun and demand money.
Left with no choice, the victim drove to one of the Chase Banks on Riverdale Avenue in the early afternoon of Jan. 26, withdrawing $1,400, according to the report. Once the rider had the money in hand, he took off in another vehicle the victim couldn’t describe. The police are not without any leads, as they have a description of the man they’re looking for: Asian, 5-foot-5, bald, wearing blue jeans and black loafers.
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Nothing attracts robbers like gleaming expensive jewelry. Unfortunately, that was the case for one fashion icon when he was robbed in the late-night hours of Feb. 5. The man was walking home to his apartment, according to police, when two others walked up to him near the 100 block of West 238th Street, flashing a gun. They took his Cuban link chain, bracelet and money, which police valued at $8,650. The two robbers hopped into a gray sedan northbound on West 238th. But they haven’t completely escaped police scrutiny. Authorities say they are looking for two men. The first is white, approximately 5-foot10, weighing 175 pounds. The second is described as a white Hispanic, 5-foot-5, weighing 150 pounds. Detectives are investigating.
corrections and clarifications It is the policy of The Riverdale Press to correct errors of substance and clarify misleading stories promptly. Typically, corrections and clarifications from previous is-
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sues can be found on A2. To bring errors to the attention of The Press, contact editor Michael Hinman at mhinman@ riverdalepress.com, or at (718) 543-6065, Ext. 374.
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THE RIVERDALE PRESS - Thursday, February 11, 2021 - A3
Bike lanes proving less than popular — or are they? n Many at P.S. 24 like the idea, but synagogues, Moerdler remain opposed By ROSE BRENNAN rbrennan@riverdalepress.com
It’s rare so much controversy surrounds one street in a neighborhood. But one in particular has many in the community up in arms about traffic safety and enforcement. Much of the discussion lately surrounding Independence Avenue has been around curbing reckless driving. And one of the proposals to potentially cut down on it includes narrowing the streets in a variety of ways — among them, adding bicycle lanes. From the uproar at last month’s Community Board 8 traffic and transportation committee meeting, it might seem bike lanes were a less-than-popular idea. Jeffrey Moerdler, chair of the nearby Whitehall Tenants Corp., was one of the proposal’s strongest critics, advocating for others to attend that meeting to voice their displeasure. “We all believe very strongly that bike lanes are a great thing, but Independence Avenue is the wrong place for it,” Moerdler told the CB8 committee last month. “A five block-long protected bike lane that connects to nothing and just forces people back onto the streets or the sidewalk adds nothing to what we have now, and will create a traffic nightmare in the area.” Moerdler said his voice represented some 1,000 people who live and work in the area. But it certainly isn’t everyone. His sentiments were, however, echoed by the Riverdale Jewish Center, a synagogue along Independence. Caroline Berman represented what she said was the synagogue’s disapproval of the proposed changes. “We don’t believe that this proposed traffic plan will yield any positive benefits in the immediate area surrounding the synagogue,” Berman said. “We don’t believe that there’s been sufficient study of the impact of
HIRAM ALEJANDRO DURÁN
Many attending a Community Board 8 traffic and transportation committee meeting last month seemed opposed to installing bicycle lanes in an attempt to narrow Independence Avenue. But some like the idea, especially among those in the P.S. 24 Spuyten Duyvil parent association. the proposed traffic plan. And we respectfully request further research into this topic.” For Riverdale/Kingsbridge Academy, school isn’t currently in session — at least in-person. As of right now, it isn’t adding to school pick-up and drop-off traffic along Independence. But that could change as soon as school is back in-person again, something that could happen in just weeks. With that, a few of RKA’s teachers aren’t looking forward to potential problems some of the proposed design changes might create. Among them is Robyn Rabinowe, a social studies teacher who’s particularly worried about the parking problems street narrowing could indirectly cause. “I leave my house at 6:30 already just to have a parking spot,” Rabinowe shared at the meeting. “And it’s already a nightmare. I’m terrified of what would happen if more spots are reduced. I don’t know how we would go to work.”
But the ideas to change Independence’s design weren’t universally pooh-poohed. Morgan Evers, a member of P.S. 24 Spuyten Duyvil’s parent association, said most of her colleagues were largely supportive of installing bike lanes on Independence — one of a number of suggestions made by a traffic committee working group. While some of Evers’ fellow members liked the idea of a bike lane, some still had concerns about safety when it came to high-traffic pick-up and dropoff times. But Evers thinks that could be an easy fix, potentially by restricting the times the bike lanes could be used. This wasn’t without pushback, however. At one recent parent association meeting, members watched a presentation from traffic and transportation committee chair Dan Padernacht and Michael Amabile, who was part of the committee’s working group, and a P.S. 24 parent himself.
Amabile noted making streets safer might require compromises. “When communities have to discuss these kinds of design proposals (for) roadways … there certainly are trade-offs, and no one should be under the illusion that you get to have your cake and eat it, too,” Amabile told The Riverdale Press. “But I would say, in my opinion, nine times out of 10, I would take the deal — that is, safer streets, bike lanes, more space for pedestrians, (and) shorter crossing distances.” But while the parents themselves didn’t express outright opposition to some of the proposed design changes, Moerdler did. He attended the same parent association meeting to provide a counterpoint to Padernacht and Amabile. Evers described his presence as a courtesy, since Moerdler doesn’t have a child attending P.S. 24. “He was very much against it,” Evers said. “He was very forceful in his opposition to it, which was after Michael and Dan Padernacht’s presenta-
tion. And then after that, other parents … didn’t really express any opinion.” Moerdler felt his presence at both the committee meeting and the parent association meeting exemplified “democracy in action.” And while Evers believes he might have had an opposing view to many there, Moerdler says it’s important his opinion was nevertheless represented. “Somebody mentioned (the parent association meeting) to me, and suggested maybe both sides of the issue ought to be presented, so that the parent’s association would hear not just one perspective, but both perspectives,” Moerdler said. But Evers thinks some of Moerdler’s points are misinformed. Moerdler says drag racing wasn’t really a problem on Independence anymore, and there hadn’t been any recent reports of the practice. Yet even on that point, there is some disagreement. “Other parents have said they still heard cars speeding in the night,” Evers said. “A few Sundays ago, there were motorcycles going up and down Independence Avenue. I think at one point, one of them drove up on the sidewalk and almost hit a baby carriage. So I’ve seen this.” And we can’t forget that winter is here, and so roads aren’t exactly in the right condition for such reckless behavior. It’s something traffic committee member David Gellman notes could pick up again when the weather warms up. In fact, at last month’s meeting, he suggested tabling most of the discussion about the design changes until summer weather returns, that way his hypothesis could be tested. Gellman got his way, but Evers remains generally supportive of the working group’s recommendations — provided some modifications are made to ensure the safety of drivers, cyclists and pedestrians alike. “I feel like a bike lane on Independence Avenue would only be kind of a positive for our community,” Evers said. “I think it could be a good improvement for some of the people who live there.”
PRESS POINTS Foundation offers grants to precincts The New York City Police Foundation says it’s offering $1 million in total grants to local precincts, allowing each of them to consider new programs that promote wellness, honor fallen officers, and meet other
By Michael hinMan
needs at the community level. Known as 50 Grants for 50 Precincts, each award could receive as much as $20,000. Precincts can submit proposals beginning in March, and will be evaluated by a committee that includes members of the New York Police Department, and members of both the
I
police foundations board of directors and its employees.
Stay away from the coyotes Have you seen a coyote lately? They’ve shown up from time to time in and around this part of the Bronx. But the state’s
environmental conservation department suggests if you do see one, stay far away. “Coyotes may become territorial during the breeding and pup-rearing seasons,” said DEC commissioner Basil Seggos, in a release. That season is going on now, and lasts through March.
“While coyotes are an important part of New York’s ecosystem, New Yorkers are encouraged to be aware of the increased risks for conflicts and follow DEC’s guidance to prevent coyote encounters,” Seggos added. Among those guidelines include not feeding coyotes — in-
cluding leaving food of any kind outside. Even pets should be fed inside through March. If you encounter an aggressive coyote, stand tall and hold your arms up or out to look as large as possible. If the coyote lingers, make loud noises, wave your arms, and throw sticks and stones.
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A4 - THE RIVERDALE PRESS - Thursday, February 11, 2021
Building project is loud, but developer listening
Could 2021 be the year for universal health care? HEALTH CARE from page A1 confirmed,” Rivera said. “I look forward to initiating conversations with them about what a waiver potentially would look like.”
Exploring effects at grassroots level
Rivera hopes to reintroduce the New York Health Act before the end of the month, as soon as some necessary amendments are completed. While Rivera doesn’t know when his bill could face a vote in front of a Democratic-led upper chamber, his goal is to move it out of committee and build momentum for it among everyday people. People like Barbara Estrin. “People have lost their jobs, and with that, they’ve lost their insurance,” she said. “So more people need the New York Health Act than ever before.” A common misconception that could hurt the bill’s chances of passing, however, is that it’s potentially tied to the state budget process, Estrin said. That is a problem not only because Gov. Andrew Cuomo — who has not taken the most solid position on the measure — controls that process, but because the optics might be bad to try and pass what is expected to be expensive legislation in the middle of a state budget crisis caused by the pandemic. However, the bill’s financing structure actually exists outside of the state budget process, Estrin said. So at least from her perspective as a longtime advocate of the bill, it shouldn’t be a part of this year’s budget negotiations. Also, Rivera himself made it clear that he would be very resistant to Cuomo trying to include the bill as part of the budget process. The sheer cost of the New York Health Act is an issue Cuomo and the bill’s other critics often raise. Financing it ultimately depends on raising taxes on the wealthy. A new health care system could save $55 billion, Rivera said. That would come from administrative costs cuts, negotiating down drug prices, and guaranteeing primary care that could help catch many
HIRAM ALEJANDRO DURÁN
Barbara Estrin says the New York Health Act she fiercely advocates would create 200,000 jobs — especially important in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Universal health care may have new life in New York, says state Sen. Gustavo Rivera, its lead sponsor, as the Biden administration may direct the federal funding it needs to be viable. conditions before they spiral out of control. The system that is currently in place, Rivera added, where health coverage is tied to employment, is far more expensive than the one the New York Health Act would establish. “There are people who are losing their homes … have gone into bankruptcy because of medical issues,” Rivera said. “Not because they went to a casino and they played more money than they should have. Or not because they gave all their money away.” Another obstacle for passing single-payer health care, both in New York and nationally, is the perception people will be forced to give up private insurance they may like for something they might consider lower quality.
Is there enough support?
On the contrary, Estrin said. The New York Health Act would cover all areas of necessary care — everything from primary and specialty care, to vision, dental and hearing. People also would get to choose their doctors without having to worry about who’s in their insurers’ network. Bea Grause, president of the Healthcare Associa-
tion of New York State advocacy group, told the senate in 2019 that single-payer health care could hurt our medical infrastructure, not help it. “Implementing the New York Health Act without first understanding the reasons for health care spending growth, and second having sound strategies to manage costs, would be a grave mistake,” Grause testified at the time. “Rather than a quick fix, consumers and taxpayers would benefit from a bipartisan, long-term approach that manages cost growth over time, takes advantage of technology and innovation, and strives to continuously find more effective and efficient ways to deliver high-quality care to all who need it.” There’s always going to be people opposed to the bill, Rivera said, but his committee is trying to win the support of others by potentially making changes addressing their specific concerns. One change made already was the inclusion of long-term care. And Rivera is open to doing more. “This is a complicated bill, both politically and technically,” the senator said. “We want to fundamentally change the way that health care is delivered in the state of New York. That is not a small thing. It is a necessary thing, but it is not a small thing.”
Churches, synagogues find silver lining COVID PRAYER from page A1 Jewish congregations, especially Orthodox ones. Yet, that does mean a lot of empty seats in a space that typically holds up to 500 people, Langer said. Now, the Hebrew Institute can welcome only 50 at a time. But even that has a positive note, Langer said. Smaller services make it much harder to hide in a large crowd. That means it’s far easier to become more active in a service. Both synagogues hold in-person services with a remote option, except on Shabbat, while the rest of their programs are exclusively remote. This has allowed the Jewish Center to expand its reach geographically because the internet provides no physical limitations, as long as someone has a way to sign on. “We had a whole series of classes that we did, it was three Wednesdays in a row. We had over 100 people on that,” Hiller said. “But they were not only from Riverdale. They were from all over the country, and even from Israel and some other places.” The Hebrew Institute also has witnessed a rise in participation from people outside of the community thanks to virtual programming. “There’s something different and something nice about seeing people who might not have connected otherwise with the community because they didn’t live here,” Langer said. A lot of this increased engagement is coming from word-of-mouth, Langer said, and from those who used to live in the neighborhood and belong to the temple but have since moved away. It’s not thousands of people — but it is a significant number. However, Langer said it’s still an open question whether this growth from outside the community will continue after the pandemic ends.
‘There was a whole series of classes that we did. We have over 100 people on that. But they were not only from Riverdale. They were from all over the country, and even from Israel and some other places.’ — Oren Hiller
Riverdale Jewish Center HIRAM ALEJANDRO DURÁN
One way members stay safe from the coronavirus during services at the Riverdale Jewish Center is by not sharing prayer books, says Oren Hiller, the synagogue’s executive director. In addition to holding multiple spaced-out prayer sessions, both synagogues have taken a number of other steps to ensure congregants can pray in safety. One requires attendees to register for specific prayer times in advance to ensure the Jewish Center doesn’t go over capacity. And there’s also the outdoor rooftop playground area, Hiller said, which is the perfect place to pray for those not comfortable enough with going inside. “I have to give a lot of credit to the people that still … want to daven (pray) with everybody together, but they don’t feel comfortable coming inside,” Hiller said. “And they show that commitment by still being outside davening in full winter coats and hats and gloves. You know it’s 15 or 20 degrees outside, but they’re still there.” And then there are the holidays like
Purim coming up in a couple weeks, which outside of a pandemic would have attracted significant crowds. The Jewish center will close off West 237th Street between Independence Avenue and the Henry Hudson to host a larger open-air outdoor celebration. But that won’t be so easy when the High Holy Days like Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur roll around in the early fall. Hiller hopes enough people will be vaccinated by that time, allowing larger services to return inside the synagogue. Synagogues aren’t the only houses of worship contending with the “new normal” and life after the pandemic. Riverdale Community Church, a Spanish-speaking non-denominational congregation on Albany Crescent, has dealt with many of these same questions. The church holds two services on Sundays instead of one, Pastor Gonza-
lo Rodriguez said, and those wanting to travel to the Kingsbridge church need to call ahead and ensure there’s enough socially distanced space in the sanctuary. For those who don’t feel comfortable praying inside, there are online offerings through both the videoconferencing app Zoom and on Facebook. While the adjustments at Hebrew Institute of Riverdale have been working, Langer believes nothing can replace the energy that comes from bringing a large group together to pray in a physical space. It’s almost like a theatrical performance, where every congregant has an important role to play. Similarly, physical contact is an important part of prayer for Rodriguez’s congregation — something he’d like to bring back the moment public health officials give a thumbs up. “That’s really the goal,” the pastor said. “We have to go back to where there’s contact and when you pray, you can lay hands on (other congregants). That’s how we believe. So, those are the types of things that we would love to see.”
Trying to make COVID vaccination easier VACCINATE from page A1 that they don’t have any availability.” Even when vaccine appointments are available — and more could be in the borough, thanks to a mass vaccination site opening at Yankee Stadium — the online process is proving difficult for many seniors to navigate. Seniors might not be as technologically adept as younger generations, and the process to register for a coronavirus vaccine is largely online. According to Eric Dinowitz, chair of Community Board 8’s aging committee, the decision to make vaccine registration an online endeavor puts some seniors at more of a disadvantage than others. “If you’re an older adult with a kid or a grandkid who can help make an appointment for you, you’re in a better position than those without children,” he said. “There are so many seniors for whom it is challenging to make an appointment. The online system is a mess.” But even when the vaccine appointments are available and the city’s se-
nior citizens successfully register for them, things can still go wrong. Appointments can get canceled, whether due to supply shortages or inclement weather, meaning they’ll have to go through the registration process all over again. Green was ultimately successful in registering for her first dose of the vaccine at the Jacob K. Javits Center in Hell’s Kitchen. But before that, she’d registered at a branch of Mount Sinai Hospital — which had to cancel vaccine appointments due to low supply. Green was frustrated because when her original vaccine appointment was canceled, no one called her back to reschedule. But she thinks her ordeal registering for the vaccine paled in comparison to other seniors. “I was getting very anxious trying to find appointments,” Green said. “I’ve heard that there were people who were going on, continually trying to get appointments — seniors who have very little experience with computers and websites. It’s really terrible that we all have to go through this.”
For Harris, however, traveling to another borough to get the vaccine just isn’t an option. She’s disabled, and thinks there should be more local vaccination sites to accommodate seniors like her who can’t get very far from her home. “How could they leave our whole area with like no resources to get a shot?” Harris asked. According to the city’s online database, there are only two local vaccination sites: Montefiore Marble Hill Family Practice on Broadway and Rite Aid on Knolls Crescent. There are no vaccination sites listed within the 10471 ZIP code. But there might be another way to get seniors vaccinated. At the beginning of the pandemic, the city dispatched local senior centers like RSS and The Riverdale Y to make emergency food deliveries to seniors. Both Dinowitz and Ng think something similar can be done with vaccine outreach. “I think it would be great if there was … a dedicated hotline to senior centers, that we could just call them
directly and say, ‘We’re calling from the senior center, we’re representing people in the community, and here’s a person who needs (the vaccine). Can you put them on the list?” Ng said. “Or even like this system … where the senior center could schedule the appointments, so we have a little more control over knowing how to navigate it.” Dinowitz joined others from CB8 in a letter to Mayor Bill de Blasio asking him to utilize local senior centers in the effort to get older residents vaccinated. And to him, the infrastructure already exists in the emergency food delivery program — which leaves only a few steps to weave the senior centers into the vaccination process. “I think the senior centers can play a vital role in ensuring our older adults get vaccinated,” Dinowitz said. “The city allowed senior centers to set up meal deliveries shortly into the pandemic, which made getting food much easier for our seniors who desperately needed these meal deliveries. And there’s no reason why they can’t set up a similar system for vaccinations.”
POST ROAD from page A1 wrapping up faster than expected. “There are a lot of fissures in the rock,” Martino said. “The rock is breaking very easily right now. I don’t want to say something that may come back and bite me later on, but the rock is moving rapidly. We just know from our Fort Independence days that the rock formations at the surface vary from what we’re going to find 20 to 30 feet below grade as the rock hardens.” Unlike significant rock formations up the hill toward the Hudson River, there are no laws on the books that would prevent any developer from removing rock from a construction site, according to land use chair Charles Moerdler. “This is not part of a special natural area, and therefore, rock removal is not necessarily protected,” Moerdler said. “Unless there are other circumstances, such as jeopardy to adjacent buildings and the like.” Stagg has insurance just in case any neighboring buildings are indeed impacted by the excavation work. But the development company has gone even further than that. “We have seismic monitors and optical monitors on the adjacent buildings,” Martino said. “We’ve also done pre-construction surveys. But everything is monitored, and reports go directly to our engineer on a regular basis.” This particular lot has been targeted for development for a number of years. Originally, a pair of developers — Petra Broadway and Destem Realty — had plans to construct a nine-story building on the site, and was hoping the existence of the rock there would earn them some sympathy from the city’s standards and appeals board to earn them a variance. Board executive director Carlo Constanza — with the backing of a Moerdler-led community board — said no. Petra and Destem then sold the property to a limited liability corporation controlled by Stagg for $7.9 million. Soon after, Stagg unveiled plans to build a seven-story structure on the site — well within what the property was zoned for. The as-of-right construction meant less red tape, and work began just a few months later. Most of the complaints now seem to be centered around rock debris. Not the large chunks Stagg is hauling away on a regular basis, but instead particles small enough to float in the air. “We have a lot of dust debris, like fine particles, that seems it’s all over our cars, and all over our backyard,” neighbor Scott Brewster said. “We’ve been having more allergy impact lately than normal. So my concern is that there is fine debris from this rock removal that is impacting our health and other things around us.” By the time the land use committee met this month, snow had started to fall, so the rock dust hasn’t been much of an issue, Brewster said. But with chipping expected to carry on for some weeks — it’s possible it could be in the air once again. The best way to solve that, Martino said, would be to spray down the dust with water when the air is drier. “We’ll get that going,” he said. “I need to pull the hydrant permit so that we can use water from the hydrant. But we’ll pull that starting tomorrow. We’ll apply for that, and we’ll get it going immediately.” Stagg also has erected some additional netting on top of the sidewalk shed along Broadway at the back of the property, which should allow the company to remove rock closer to the sidewalk. “I’m not concerned of the danger. We’ve done this many, many times before, most recently in your community board at Fort Independence,” Martino said. “We think that we have taken the necessary precautions.” In the meantime, Martino is encouraging any neighbors with issues about ongoing construction to reach out to Stagg directly, by emailing info@5278ptrd.com. The community board, however, still encourages problems to be reported to both 311, and to the board itself at (718) 884-7895.
HIRAM ALEJANDRO DURÁN
Rocks are piled up along the entrance of the work site to 5278 Post Road, where tons of material almost like it is being chipped away nearby.
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A6 - THE RIVERDALE PRESS - Thursday, February 11, 2021
Windows, viruses, rooms with a view: Dealing with quarantine n Galleries are open again, but Riverdale Art Association stays online By KIRSTYN BRENDLEN Special to The Riverdale Press
I
t’s been several months now since many museums and art galleries began welcoming visitors once again. Many are selling limited tickets, blocking out periods of time for visitors to peruse the galleries and glean what insights they can before shuffling out to make room for the next block. But the Riverdale Art Association doesn’t have a set physical space. No gallery or museum dedicated to their exhibitions. They popped up in available spaces around town — the halls of the Riverdale-Yonkers Society for Ethical Culture and The Riverdale Y. Even the lobby of an urgent care, an unexpectedly on-the-nose location. Some of their works are still hanging in the district office of state Sen. Alessandra Biaggi, even after the show was canceled because of the coronavirus. Without their own home to set up in, the artists’ group has taken on a new way to exhibit their work — online. For their second online-only show, the artists focused on one topic: “Art in a Time of Quarantine.” It meant different things for different people. Some, like Joan O’Brien, focused on what they were seeing every day. The inside of their homes, their pets, and the people they were spending their days with. Myra Joyce, an artist and vice president of the art association, used her computer to take a new look at the windows she had been staring out of every day. “Fractal art is art that is gener-
ated from mathematical equations,” she said. “I don’t do the equations. The software does the equations, and then it generates an image. I take that image in the computer and add or change parameters and colors and the way the light appears to fall on the image. I basically change what was spit out as an equation into something I consider art.” It’s how she made the piece “on display” in the show, making a pattern out of a shot of her window and manipulating the shape and color. A former neuroscientist, Joyce said some of her fractal work was influenced by her work, watching cells through her microscope and even imagining neurons, the cells that transmit messages and signals in the brain, on canvas. “Sometimes I think my work is kind of depressing,” she said. “Like, I think that the walls thing was kind of depressing. So I don’t know if I see things through that lens of experience through sadness. And I’m really trying not to, which is why I’m taking my photos and combining them with the fractal images and trying to create more positive pictures.” Joyce is also producing the video for each show, something she hadn’t had to worry about when they were exhibiting out in physical space. “Finding the music, that’s the hard part,” she said. “And then the second hardest part is lining up the pictures with the music.” It’s all fun, she said, but timeconsuming. And it’s not quite the same experience as heading out to a physical gallery, said another artist, Thomas Maceranka. “I don’t look at the videos. To me, it’s like a tease,” he said. “I’m loving online, and computer graphics, and I do digital stuff as well. I’m all for that, but there’s a fine line. I’d rather go to a show. It’s not the same thing.”
Courtesy of Jaclyn Spitzer
‘Pandemic Stress,’ from Jaclyn Spitzer, is one of several pieces included in the online exhibition ‘Art in a Time of Quarantine’ from the Riverdale Art Association. Maceranka’s piece, “Hostile Takeover,” took the pandemic on a little more closely — at a micro-level. He decided to represent the virus itself, the microscopic cause of all the chaos. “It just happened,” he said. “I
didn’t decide. When they came up with the show, I was already in the middle of doing this. Most of the stuff I usually do is abstract, and space, and planets. And this really came together on its own.”
WHAT’S IN / WHAT’S ON Orchid show scales down a bit The New York Botanical Garden, 2900 Southern Blvd., is not giving up on its annual orchid show — it’s just going to be a little smaller. Unusual orchids and other plants from the garden’s permanent collection will be on display at the Haupt Conservatory between Feb. 20 and April 4. Limited visitors will have a chance to enjoy intimate displays of orchids in brilliant
NYBG.org.
white and striking colors, set against the foliage of aroids, ferns and bromeliads — planted as they might be found in nature, and blending gracefully with their surroundings. The show will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with tickets sold in advance. On top of that, complimentary admission to Bronx health care workers from the borough’s eight public and private hospitals will continue through Feb. 28. For more information, visit
CB8 set to meet throughout February Community Board 8 continues to meet via the Zoom online videoconferencing app. For links or how to access those meetings, visit NYC.org/ CB8. Upcoming meetings include: • Special committee on racial equity on Thursday, Feb. 11 at 7 p.m.
• Public safety committee on Tuesday, Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. • Environment and sanitation committee on Wednesday, Feb. 17 at 7:30 p.m. • Traffic and transportation committee on Thursday, Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. • Housing committee on Monday, Feb. 22 at 7:30 p.m. • Education, libraries and cultural affairs committee on Tuesday, Feb. 23 at 7:30 p.m. • Parks and recreation committee on Wednesday, Feb. 24 at 7 p.m.
A former carpenter, Maceranka often uses three-dimensional elements in his pieces. “Building stuff, taking things and putting it together and slapping it on canvas,” he said. “So I take art and I take junk, and I put it together, basically.” When he decided to depict the coronavirus, Maceranka went online to see what it looked like. He saw the now-ubiquitous image: A little ball covered with spines. “I knew it looked like one of those massagers for your feet,” he said. Maceranka ordered some of those little rollers online, cut them in half, and painted them. He prepared his canvas with a layer of plaster for texture, then set about gluing the rollers down and painting everything. The virus isn’t the only thing on the canvas. Maceranka also added some white dots and leftover home insulation from his job — little white fibers representing the white blood cells staging an attack on the virus. “I have a second one coming,” he said. “This one here is ‘Hostile Takeover,’ but I’m going to do one called ‘Divide and Conquer,’ so the white blood cells will be kicking the virus’ (behind). So maybe at the end of this year, if we get a vaccine, I’ll come out with that one.” “Art in a Time of Quarantine” will remain online for art-lovers to peruse, and already has been joined by more: “Moving Forward.” Both can be found by visiting RiverdaleArtAssociation. org. “We’re all in this state of mind lately, that it’s very hard to think about things moving forward, especially between COVID and the elections,” Joyce said. “Even I had a lot of problems coming up with art for this ‘Moving Forward’ theme, and it seems like a lot of us are in the same boat.”
whatson@riverdalepress.com Family arts available Neighborhood House in these trying times comes to your door Artist Nina Velazquez presents “Come Draw With Me,” a daily drawing activity via her Facebook page. Families can sit down together and create their own versions of Velazquez’s drawings, and are encouraged to post their new versions when complete. For more information on the event, visit tinyurl.com/CommunityDraws.
The Riverdale Neighborhood House is now providing remote programs and classes to keep what has become a quarantined community engaged and prepared. • An after-school program for families with children 10 and younger • Remote support for families transitioning to online courses and activities Visit RiverdaleOnline.org.
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THE RIVERDALE PRESS - Thursday, February 11, 2021 - A7
Haller, Lora join forces to box out council opponents n It’s a new political strategy for a new way to vote in New York City
Dinowitz leaves classroom
By MICHAEL HINMAN mhinman@riverdalepress.com
Ranked-choice voting has been promoted as a fresh coat of paint in New York City’s election process — but it’s paint that has yet to dry. Still, that’s opening doors for new ways to campaign. And at least two candidates in the upcoming March 23 special election race to replace Andrew Cohen on the city council are poised to take advantage. Jessica Haller and Mino Lora — the special election’s only two women candidates — announced Sunday they are teaming up in a sort-of unity ticket. Their hope is that voters will make them their first and second choice. And if they do, it could all but ensure one of them would come out as the winner. “Miss Lora and I are working on a ranked-choice voting strategy backed by multiple organizations that have already come out and endorsed this,” Haller told moderator Sue Ellen Dodell at Sunday’s Northwest Bronx Indivisible candidate forum. Haller, an environmental activist and entrepreneur in Fieldston, didn’t share much else about that strategy. And neither did Lora, a Spuyten Duyvil non-profit leader. “I am excited about ranked-choice,” Lora said. “I look forward to building partnerships and engaging with other women in the race.” Creating partnerships among candidates has been one potential political strategy campaigns have considered to try and make the best of the new voting system. It’s designed for races exactly like this special election, where there are six candidates on the ballot, and chances are none will win an outright majority. In some races, that would mean a costly run-off. For special election races like this, it results in someone being elected that might have the backing of a smaller part of the electorate. Through this new system, voters rank their top five choices, with their No. 1 vote being the first that’s counted. If none of the candidates achieve at least 50 percent of the vote, the ballots are recounted, eliminating the worstperforming candidate, and redistributing their votes to reflect their second choice. That process continues until one candidate emerges with 50 percent.
Eric Dinowitz has talked a lot about his job as a public school teacher, and balancing that life with his political ambitions. But at least for the rest of this special election race to fill Andrew Cohen’s final year on the city council, Dinowitz won’t have to worry about stepping into a virtual classroom. Dinowitz has stepped down from his teaching role at the Celia Cruz Bronx High School of Music on the Walton campus. He revealed his move to The Forward, later confirming it with The Riverdale Press. “With less than six weeks left until early voting, I have transitioned to campaigning full-time,” Dinowitz said, in a statement. “I am proud of my almost 14 years of service as a special education teacher in our public schools, and look forward to continuing to advocate for my students and our community’s future in the city council.” Dinowitz refused to answer follow-up questions, including why he made the decision to leave his class mid-semester, and if he would still be a member of the United Federation of Teachers, which endorsed his candidacy early on. Alison Gendar, a spokeswoman for UFT, says Dinowitz’s decision to step down won’t affect her organization’s support. “Eric Dinowitz received the UFT endorsement because of his experience in education,” she said, “not because of his union status.” While she wouldn’t comment on what exactly Dinowitz’s current status is with the union, she did confirm that anyone who leaves a teaching position would also have to leave the union. — Michael Hinman
MICHAEL HINMAN / File
Mino Lora chats with then congressional candidate Jamaal Bowman outside of IN-Tech Academy during early voting last year. Lora, who wants to replace Andrew Cohen on the city council, has joined forces with fellow candidate Jessica Haller in hopes they can win on a ranked-choice ballot March 23. In this special election, candidates are all fighting to be that No. 1 pick. But if they aren’t, they are fighting for No. 2. That way, if someone’s No. 1 was eliminated in a first round of recounts, that No. 2 will now be that particular voter’s primary choice. Yet, finding who to partner with isn’t exactly easy. And for some, it could be outright impossible. It could be one reason why both Eric Dinowitz and Dan Padernacht both told the candidates forum they were going it alone. “I’m running because I believe that I have the most relevant experience and can be the best choice, making sure that our community has a voice,” Dinowitz said. “So right now, I have no plans to partner with anyone.” Padernacht, however, says he’s at least leaving the option on the table. “I have not partnered with anyone to date,” he said. “I would partner with somebody in the future if we did come to terms with what that means.” Sunday’s forum also allowed candidates to do something they’re not promoted to do often: Ask each other questions. Dinowitz directed his inquiry at Carlton Berkley, the only special election candidate who lives on the
east side of the Jerome Park Reservoir. Citing something he said during The Riverdale Press/BronxNet candidate debate the week before, the former teacher wanted to know what Berkley meant when he said both Riverdale and Woodlawn should serve as models for the rest of the council district. “Living over here in Wakefield, I travel through the district,” Berkley said. “And when I pass those neighborhoods, I’m proud of those neighborhoods. The streets are very clean. I really don’t see any crime around there. Very seldom do I see the police.” That’s a bit of a contrast to other parts of the district, however, Berkley added. But it’s not something to be ashamed of. “I don’t hold that against Riverdale. I don’t hold that against Woodlawn,” he said. “It’s just that I would like to make the other parts of the district just beautiful and safe as those two.” Haller directed her question at Dinowitz, pulling out several newsletters published by his father, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, that features pictures of the younger Dinowitz leading up to and during his city council run.
“Since 2017, about half of these newsletters contain your picture,” Haller said. “It costs taxpayers $100,000. It’s illegal to use taxpayer funds for political purposes. Would you ask Assemblyman Dinowitz’s office as well as the rest of the political machine to stop using taxpayer dollars for these purposes?” The younger Dinowitz, however, countered that he’s not the only candidate in the race to appear in his father’s taxpayer-funded newsletters. He might appear more often in them, he said, because “I am the one with the most experience attending community events.” “And so it is no wonder that I am going to appear in community photos,” Dinowitz said. “I appear in all sorts of other Community Board 8 photos because of my work with Community Board 8. I’ve appeared in all sorts of newspapers because of my advocacy in the community.” This particular special election race is getting a lot of broader attention in the city. After debates and forums hosted by The Press, a Brust Park advocacy group and Northwest Bronx Indivisible, the candidates have been
invited to more gatherings in the coming weeks, including a Valentine’s day gathering hosted by NYCD-16 Indivisible and City Limits, and a town hall Feb. 17 hosted by SAR High School’s Election, Politics and Governance Club. The winner of this seat will fill out Cohen’s final year on the council. The winner will have to run again in the June primary if they want to continue on in the role past Dec. 31.
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A8 - THE RIVERDALE PRESS - Thursday, February 11, 2021
Opinion
The Riverdale Press maintains an open submission policy. Opinions expressed in this section do not necessarily represent those of this publication. Submissions can be made to letters@riverdalepress.com.
Editorial
Stop playing these games
G
ov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio are snipping at each other again? It must be a day ending in a “Y.” Few can recall the last time these two actually got along, and at least before the coronavirus pandemic, it was somewhat entertaining — if it wasn’t just bad not only for our city, but for our state. Yet, the governor and mayor have a new carrot to squabble over: Who can out-Trump Donald Trump when it completely fumbling the vaccine rollout? It’s a battle of ego, but not with each other. No, it’s a fight with their own public health teams. Apparently both believe because they come out most days and lecture all of us through our television screens, they suddenly know more than the people who have devoted their entire lives to get us out of the very crisis we are all in. “When I say ‘experts’ in air quotes, it sounds like I’m saying I don’t really trust the experts,” Cuomo told all of us recently. “Because I don’t. Because I don’t.” It’s almost hard to believe this is the same governor who was praised in this very space months ago for how he was handling the pandemic. For preaching the importance of listening to those who know what they are talking about, and checking our egos at the door.
Apparently that was easier to do when Trump was still in charge, sucking all the oxygen out of the room. Now that he’s been exiled to Florida, both our governor and mayor have turned into skeptics. And while they are free to believe whatever strange idea they want, both Cuomo and de Blasio have a responsibility to ensure these life-saving, society-rebuilding vaccines get into the arms of every single person. We do that not by ignoring our public health experts, but from actually listening to them. Last week, Cuomo spent a good 20 minutes blaming the terribly low vaccination rates in our poorer communities on “hesitancy.” To him, our Black, Latinx and Asian communities have a reluctance to get inoculated. It has nothing to do with the fact that Cuomo has made access to vaccines almost impossible for many who don’t have a fleet of vehicles waiting to whisk them away to anywhere they want to go. Neither Cuomo nor de Blasio want the virus to surge again here. No one does. But only the governor and mayor have the power to protect as many of their constituents here as possible. But it’s never going to happen if they keep playing games. There isn’t time for this nonsense. Both need to start doing their job, listen to those who know what they’re talking about, and make us safe.
Point of view
Joe Biden, please be our everpresent chief communicator
By MIRIAM LEVINE HELBOK
“A
genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus, but a molder of consensus,” Martin Luther King Jr., once observed. According to Winston Churchill, “The difference between mere management and leadership is communication.” President Joe Biden already has demonstrated his impressive leadership skills as a sixterm U.S. Senator and two-term vice president. Becoming a molder of consensus will require highly effective communication — that is, it will require Mr. Biden, as president, to speak regularly and often to the whole nation to convince people of the rightness of the goals, domestic and international policies, proposed legislation, plans, and everything else his administration deems necessary to keep us safe, improve our lives, make progress toward economic and social justice for all people, and protect our planet. He must speak to us regularly — and often — to inspire us, and to appeal to our better angels, as President Lincoln did in his first inaugural address. Joe Biden’s press conferences during his first week as president-elect — in which he talked about setting up a coronavirus task force, among other matters — and those held since then to introduce his nominees for his cabinet, struck me as an excellent first step in keeping us informed and up-to-the-minute about his plans and actions. How often should the president address the nation? No rules or guidelines exist in the Constitution or anywhere else. Presidents since Calvin Coolidge have varied considerably in how often they held news conferences. Although Coolidge became famous for his taciturnity, he gave an average of 72.9 press conferences per year — a higher average than any of the next 14 presidents. Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s yearly average is virtually the same. The lowest annual average is Ronald Reagan’s at 5.75. Those figures appear in a chart posted online by the University of California-Santa Barbara’s American Presidency Project, launched in 1999 to serve as an “authoritative, nonpartisan online source for presidential public documents.” Of course, press conferences are not necessarily useful or informative. That became thumpingly obvious most recently from the daily press conferences of Donald Trump held after he could no longer ignore the toll the coronavirus was taking. The public learned very little of value from them, and heard much misinformation. Eventually, those appearances served only as substitutes for Trump-style campaign rallies.
We must hope that such behavior will remain an anomaly for as long as our republic exists. Barack Obama’s speech at the Democratic National Convention in 2004, when he was still an Illinois state senator, demonstrated his ability to electrify audiences. But he kept his oratorical skills mostly hidden after he won election to the presidency in 2008. During his eight years in the White House, President Obama gave on average only 1.71 news conferences per month, or 20.5 per year. I feel that he spoke to the nation publicly far too infrequently. The result was his failure to build on the tremendous grassroots support that had enabled him to secure the presidency, his failure to remind everyone of what he hoped to accomplish as the nation’s leader, his failure to remind us of all the things that still cried out to be done, and his failure to cast a spotlight on everything the Republicans in Congress were doing to thwart his agenda. In my opinion, those failures were not only a grave disservice to the citizenry, but also undermined his presidency to an incalculably huge extent — most egregiously when Mitch McConnell blocked the confirmation hearings for his nominee to the Supreme Court, Merrick Garland. I believe that to an unknowable degree, President Obama’s deficiencies as communicator-in-chief made possible the ascension of his successor in the White House. The nature of human beings makes necessary hearing repeatedly about what we must do to treat everybody fairly, and about the injustices that still exist. With a few notable exceptions, Roosevelt’s famous so-called fireside chats accomplished that, and much more. In addition to apprising his constituents about his programs and policies and plans — and, after we entered World War II, the situation on the battlefields — he quelled rumors, strived to ease people’s fears, and fostered optimism and hope. His messages served not only to strengthen people’s resolve, but to strengthen our democracy. I urge Joe Biden to do all he can to restore trust in government, begin to mend our deep divisions, and in every other possible way, strengthen our democracy by making his voice — and those of his surrogates — heard as often as possible in news conferences and speeches all around the country. Especially in light of the possibility that the Republicans in Congress may label his proposals “socialism,” and in other ways try to derail his agenda, his messages as our ever-present communicator-in-chief will be essential. The survival of our democracy may depend on them.
Letters to the editor
Why did we bother attending? To the editor: I just wanted to share my frustration at the meeting held on Jan. 21 by Dan Padernacht, the chair of Community Board 8’s traffic and transportation committee. Not only was he curt and rude to many who wanted to share their feelings, but he purposely saved the pressing issues on Independence Avenue as the last item on the agenda. The purpose of the meeting was not to see a PowerPoint presentation on the differences in street lighting or handicap crossings. But I would like to add that a cutout is desperately needed by the Independence Avenue exit from The Whitehall — maybe it could be placed near the fire hydrant. Many elderly people have difficulty getting off the uneven curbs, and are fearful of falling. But I couldn’t even voice that, and was uncomfortable with Dan’s condescending tone to too many, or cutting people off when they tried to voice their concerns. The purpose of this meeting was to mostly discuss the narrowing of Independence, and installing bicycle lanes. And I believe these awful changes wouldn’t even affect him since I believe he does not live, work or frequent Seton Park, which is teeming with soccer, baseball and tennis players, not to mention school children during the warm weather, and folks going for a stroll in a green space. And where is one supposed to park then? Yet this topic wasn’t addressed when more than 225 people were attending. When it was finally brought up — and not fully discussed — there were less than 100 people in attendance because the meeting didn’t end until approximately 11:15 p.m. More than four hours, and the main agenda was put off. Totally outrageous and unacceptable. How is this going to alleviate the situation of those disrespectful drivers doing wheelies at the intersections of West 239th and West 237th streets at all hours of the night? How are UPS and Amazon and FedEx supposed to deliver? And what about the ambulances and the parents who
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EDITOR’S NOTE: Discussion of brainstorming suggestions by a working group exploring reckless driving along the Independence Avenue corridor was actually the fourth of a nine-item agenda, not the last. It was a regular monthly meeting of the committee, which typically includes a number of different topics. Independence was discussed for more than three hours, beginning when the meeting was still near its peak attendance.
Be wary of bad postal service To the editor: I just returned from mailing a book to a colleague. I went to the nearest post office to my home on Broadway near West 230th Street. The sign out front asked that the number of people be limited to 10, but there must have been at least 20 people waiting in line. Two window clerks were serving the line. Sometimes one or both window clerks would disappear for several minutes. The line got longer. By the time I got to the head of the line, there were 25 to 30 people waiting for service. Just as I got to the head of the line, both clerks stepped away. I yelled, “Where are the window clerks? There is no one serving
this long line.” Suddenly, both clerks appeared. We in ZIP code 10463 have a COVID-positive test rate of about 9 percent. That means that every one of the people in the line represents a 9 percent probability of carrying the SARS-CoV-2 virus. If only 10 people were present in the line, each would have an approximately 60 percent chance of being exposed to the virus under the 9 percent positive test rate. With 20 people, that probability gets very large. This post office could very well be a super-spreader site. It is a lifeline for the many low-income people living
around it. Lots of money orders are sold there because many people don’t have bank accounts. So something has to be done that ensures service without imposing extraordinary health risk. I seriously doubt the city’s health department even considers this problem. The local post office management surely sees what is happening, but takes no responsibility. I stayed to see what was happening. Now I would surely not repeat the experience, but most of the people have no idea of the risk intensity. This building could be the site of many tragedies. deBorah WallaCe
Padernacht is here for all of us To the editor:
(re: “Haller now out-raising Dinowitz in city council race,” Jan. 21)
A Weekly Newspaper Published Every Thursday Founded 1950 by David and Celia Stein Winner of the Pulitzer Prize
drop off their children at P.S. 24 and Riverdale/ Kingsbridge Academy? And where are the neighborhood residents supposed to park? Parking is at a premium in Riverdale, as we have lost many spaces over the years. Now a bike lane and narrowing the street? How ridiculous. Many people have reported the donut driving situation — and even taken videos — yet nothing is being done. Why can’t some security cameras be installed at these locations? What about a neighborhood watch schedule? I’m sure some good neighbors would volunteer. And why can’t we get a direct number to the 50th Precinct just dealing with this issue? And when once this is reported, the police could be there within a matter of a few minutes. This has been going on much too long now. People are being awoken at odd hours by these loud noises and the souped-up cars drag racing in the area as well. Narrowing that street will cause many more headaches and doesn’t solve the existing problems. It will only make matters there much worse. You also can voice your concerns with our Assemblyman, Jeffrey Dinowitz. If you call his office, someone will get back to you and then you can share your thoughts and ideas. We need to work together to help improve our neighborhood, repaving West 246th Street riddled with potholes, fix the broken curbs and sidewalks, remove the graffiti, and repaint the peeling overpass by The Whitehall. And we all should work together as a community, not as factions splitting off in different directions. Carol STriCker
I am not at all surprised that Dan Padernacht remained local in his expenditures, and spent more money in our community than any of the other candidates combined. As a former member of the P.S. 81 parent association — and a former fundraiser for our amazing elementary school — I am simply not at all surprised Mr. Padernacht kept to his local roots. At our functions, he was ever-present. He not only responded swiftly to any invitation I extended to him personally, but often had been the only community leader who had shown up (and stayed the evening, instead of a handshake and a smile for the camera). Believe me, it was not for a lack of trying either — Mr. Dinowitz never, ever responded to any invitation I extended myself. Other leaders not running currently for this coveted seat were also no-shows. Non-responsive.
Only Dan Padernacht would arrive, and with a genuine interest in speaking with all of us in the room. Additionally, when we had an ongoing and heated issue with the corner crossing and the West 256th Street hub next to our school, Mr. Padernacht not just hosted the Community Board 8’s traffic and transportation committee’s meeting — a board at which he is extremely active and approachable — at our P.S. 81, but he showed up to our parent association committee meetings prior to the meeting. (Never any cameras for those meetings, by the way.) I am writing with anecdotes here, of course. However, his local stewardship matters to me. Mr. Padernacht always will have my vote, and I urge anyone locally to vote for him as well. You will be heard, respected and addressed by him, because I know from my own experience in living locally as a parent, this man genuinely takes the time to be “there” — and well, more importantly, “here” — in Riverdale. BeTSy Friedman
THE RIVERDALE PRESS - Thursday, February 11, 2021 - A9
Op-Ed Point of view
Good riddance, 2020 — A great big hello to 2021
By JOSE FIGUEROA & BETTY FIGUEROA
W
e know that, like us, millions more are happy to say goodbye to 2020, and welcome to 2021. We wish everyone a healthy and prosperous new year. We have certainly earned it. To borrow the words of another momentous time in our history, 2020 will be a year “which will live infamy.” That partial quote belongs to President Franklin D. Roosevelt following the Japanese surprise attack on the U.S. Navy port of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on Dec. 7, 1941. That surprise attack pulled us into World War II. In 2020, the combination of destructive events — including the spread of the coronavirus, and the incompetency and cruelty of the political administration in Washington — was every bit as much of an attack on the nation as the one against Pearl Harbor. However, there was a difference. We saw this new attack coming, but it didn’t matter. And many of us now agree that the damage it inflicted was much worse than what happened at Pearl Harbor. A total of 2,403 American servicemen died at Pearl Harbor, and 1,178 were wounded. In 2020, approximately 350,000 civilian men, women and children perished in America, due in large measure to the foolishness and cruelty of an aspiring dictator and his cowardly enablers. Never would any rational, thinking person in America have imagined that, in the span of just
one year, the callousness, cruelty and corruption of autocratic, regressive mentalities could so intensely concentrate evil, to perpetrate such a devastating attack against our country. It’s a lesson like no other. As we move forward in this new year — with new leadership and new hope — let’s make sure that the history and lessons of 2020 are not lost or forgotten. It must be shared forward, especially with our youth. We must explain to them what can happen — even in a democratic republic — when an infection of socio-political divisions is allowed to fester, and the cult of worshipping an individual suffocates the value of human empathy and reason. It leaves the nation vulnerable to an insidious disease that no one wants to talk about. What has been slithering around America for the last four years is a disease known as “fascism” — and it cannot be contained by wearing masks or social distancing. There is no possibility of an effective vaccine for it. Donald J. Trump is both a symptom and a carrier of this insidious disease — and the fact that so many Americans are willing to support someone like him signals how contagious this other kind of “pandemic” can be in an environment pumped with ignorance, selfishness and hate. Like a lethal biological virus, fascism seeks out the weakness that opens the door for it to enter and begin its destructive and deadly mission in the body politic. Only the strength of courage, dignity and truth can counter it.
This old disease has not taken hold in America, but with the emergence of “Trumpism,” it has a foot in the door, and a taste of power. We have all witnessed that, in a relatively short span of time (although it feels like centuries), it has caused significant damage on several levels. We are convinced the nation is extremely lucky to have escaped its grip in the last election. But fascism never goes away quietly. It will try anything to maintain its chokehold. And when pushed away, remains in the shadows and crevices of regressive, authoritarian minds, waiting for the next opportunity to strike. It respects no law and no democracy. The most drastic casualty of fascism is truth, which with the advent of Trumpism, has been under direct assault. It now struggles to stay ahead of the avalanche of lies — and an “alternate reality” — that intentionally confuses and misdirects our people. Recently, this planned assault against truth was described in a reported statement by one of the assault’s lieutenants, Steve Bannon, who basically admitted that the tactic of deliberate misinformation required inundating the media with a lot of “BS,” and that this maneuver was more important than any effort to debate Democrats. Judging by the troop of “rightist” politicians who have recently joined the Trump effort to overturn election results — using bogus claims of fraud — Steve Bannon’s sentiment seems to be more than just political posturing. It appears to be the calculations of a movement, which
Letters to the editor
Plan needed for COVID vaccine rollout To the editor: It has been a long and difficult 10 months for New Yorkers, and for the world. As the coronavirus continues to ravage our city, we finally have some hope on the horizon, thanks to the vaccine. But so far, New York has lagged behind in administering the vaccine, and that has dire consequences as hundreds of New Yorkers continue to lose loved ones every day. The city’s goal to vaccinate 1 million is critical, but we are far from achieving it with more than 7 million more to come. New Yorkers need immediate and aggressive action to accelerate administration, clear and comprehensive guidance for vaccine distribution from our leaders, and a strong public education campaign to combat misinformation. Many ZIP codes in the northwest Bronx are priorities for the city’s vaccine program, and getting it right here is vital. In addition to important steps recently taken to add 24/7 vaccine centers and expanding the number of people eligible to be vaccinated, we must immediately increase access to vaccination in ways that ensure equity and combat disinformation. We need to ensure scheduling vaccine appointments is easy for everyone. The implementation of the online portal and the 24/7 scheduling hotline are positive developments to create options for eligible New Yorkers to sign up. We need to provide ways, through outreach and constituent services, to help inform New Yorkers of their options, address any language and technological barriers,
and help those confused by the process. This would replicate our city’s robust census outreach program. Additionally, the city and state must coordinate their scheduling efforts by consolidating their hotlines, provide reasonable wait times, and offer support in languages beyond English and Spanish. We need to ensure vaccine sites are in accessible locations. It is imperative that we bring vaccines to people where they are. There should be at least one vaccination site in every community board district. In addition to medical institutions and clinics, vaccination sites should be in places our communities know and trust — like senior citizen centers, community centers, empty middle and high schools, and houses of worship. We need to use mobile vaccination sites and big building visits to target concentrations of seniors and essential workers. Naturally occurring retirement communities here in the Bronx, with a large concentration of residents older than 65, should have a scheduled visit day. Mobile sites can help increase access to those essential workers at their work places — including schools, supermarkets, police precincts and firehouses. We need to provide free transportation options to vaccine sites. Getting to a site should not be a hurdle. Until we have more sites that are flexible, we should provide transportation options for those who need it, and ensure that option is free. We need to increase language and immigration status outreach. Guidance
should also be made available in multiple languages so that non-English speakers are not excluded, and immigration status should not bar anyone from being vaccinated. Vaccine distribution must be done equitably, and our seniors and essential workers must have easy access to a vaccine. As part of our campaign, I am committed to sharing information and guidance as it becomes available. Concerningly, there also is significant misinformation that is causing distrust in the vaccine, and could discourage people from getting it. Our own community has been targeted by those who peddle antiscience falsehoods and sow distrust, and our community members have been met with disinformation regarding vaccines in the past. Our city must invest in and run a strong public education and awareness campaign so that our communities know that the vaccine is safe and effective. Local validators must amplify these messages. Lives will be saved. There is light at the end of the tunnel of this dark and difficult chapter for our city, state and nation. We are committed to coming back better, and to become stronger — together. I will be your voice to stand up to those in city bureaucracy to innovate, uplift equality, and demand better for our community so that we recover quickly. And smartly. Eric DinowiTz cil.
The author is a candidate for city coun-
History has lot to tell us about animals To the editor: The statues dotted around a city show us whose lives people considered important, and whose were ignored. New statues — like the Central Park sculpture of Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Sojourner Truth — remind us that society has progressed. Once, people laughed at the idea of women’s suffrage.
We lament how long it took our forbearers to see the light. Which historical perspectives do people scoff at today? Which currently accepted norms might make our descendants shake their heads in dismay? Will we look back at speciesism — the misguided belief that some animals are more important, or more deserving of kindness, than
others — with the same horror that we view racism, sexism or homophobia? As president of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, Ingrid Newkirk has stated, “Discrimination is discrimination, and it’s wrong whether you’re a woman or a chicken.” We simply do not need to imprison and kill feeling, thinking animals for our
food, clothing, cosmetics or entertainment. Let’s embrace values that spare animals from suffering, help our environment, and improve human health. Kindness will always stand the test of time. JESSica BEllamy The author represents the PETA Foundation.
Make right people pay for what we need To the editor:
(re: “Fare hikes delayed, yet help coming for the MTA,” Jan. 28)
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced it would delay increasing transit fares for “several” months. According to MTA chair Pat Foye, this decision was made because “people are suffering and cannot shoulder even a modest fare increase right now.” Of course, Foye is correct — those who rely on the subway, or on the MTA’s buses and Access-A-Ride, cannot afford an increase in their daily expenses. With hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers still out of work — and with economic insecurity at its highest levels in recent memory — now is not the time to ask those who depend on public transportation to pay more. But “several months” from now also won’t be the time. Later this year, New Yorkers will still be struggling, as they were long before the COVID-19 pandemic. We should not be asking New York families, and those on fixed incomes, to shore up the MTA’s finances when there are more practical and more equitable ways to do so. Instead, the federal government must continue to provide additional funding for
the MTA, and our state’s ultra-wealthy must pay their fair share. Elections have consequences, and thankfully, New York’s future looks a little bit more hopeful than it did before November. One of the reasons countless New Yorkers campaigned so hard for Democrats to gain control of the White House and U.S. Senate was to make sure the federal government would invest in the things we care about, like public transportation. One of the reasons our party worked so hard to gain a supermajority in the New York state senate was to make sure we could enact progressive legislation at the state level. Now that Congress has allocated billions to help the MTA address its fiscal challenges — and will likely allocate more — the ball is now in the state legislature’s court. If the Assembly and state senate can ensure the MTA has the funding it needs, the MTA can take fare increases off the table — this year, and into the future. Here are the facts: New York City has more billionaires than any other city in the world, and more than almost every country in the world. The reason New York attracts so many extremely wealthy
people is because New York works so well for them. During the pandemic, for instance, New York City billionaires saw their net wealth increase by more than $80 billion — nearly five times the annual operating budget of the MTA. Despite fears last year that the wealthy would permanently abandon New York, there has been no exodus, despite COVID-19. By contrast, this pandemic has laid bare how difficult life can be for those who live paycheck-to-paycheck, and who are one life catastrophe from financial ruin. The thousands of New Yorkers who work in hospitality, in the arts, and in other industries hit particularly hard by COVID-19 need all the assistance New York can give them as we claw our way back. As the unemployed and underemployed struggle to get back on their feet, we need to find every avenue to give them a helping hand, and not penalize them for the state’s financial woes. Like all of us, the wealthiest New Yorkers want their city to bounce back. This is their opportunity to make it happen. aBigail marTin The author is a candidate for city council, poised to run in the June primary.
thrives in the calamity of confusion and chaos. This is the classic scenario of fascism. Most ominously, fascism is now being peddled to the American people by a growing troop of Republican scoundrels, using a variety of marketing and distribution tactics, including deceptive appeals to patriotism and faith. They actively demonstrate their willingness to play this game of deception at the peril of our democratic republic. Because of the danger he represents, we celebrate the defeat of Donald J. Trump. But we caution that it must be followed by some serious reform to our democratic mechanisms, including campaign financing, vetting of candidates, and election processes. We also believe that criminals — white and blue collar, or red cap and tie — must be held accountable to the rule of law. In our humble opinion, if this disease of fascism overwhelms its GOP host, then the challenge to make reforms and progress in America compounds, and becomes just the beginning of an indefinite and divisive battle. As we look forward to 2021 with renewed hope and a sense of grateful relief, we must also remain vigilant and prepared to protect and defend the hope that America stands for. This hope is our most precious treasure, but we are reminded that it is not guaranteed. To keep it requires sustained work and commitment to democracy. Our current history of pandemics has warned us.
Universal health care now, please To the editor: This is an open letter to Gov. Cuomo. We were encouraged by your State of the State address, with your rallying cry that New Yorkers can make the impossible possible through focused determination. “Time and again, we have heard the voices of doubt and defeat.” “We can’t, only if we believe we can’t.” This gives us great hope for passing the New York Health Act. Now that we have a Democratic federal government, we should be able to get the Medicaid waiver needed to make the program financially viable, which it can be, according to sources like the 2019 Rand Corp., study. During COVID-19, we are seeing amplified dangers of “two Americas” in our health care system, the many New Yorkers who cannot afford to access health care, and the many who lost their access to health care when they lost their jobs. New York state can be a model for universal health care for the rest of the nation, just as we have been with gun safety and marriage equality — and as we plan to be with our environmental policies. Gov. Cuomo, please help us make this the year that New York sets the model for universal health care for the country. Help us to make the New York Health Act a reality! JuDy FlETchEr Kami SEligman The authors are health care committee co-chairs for NYCD16-Indivisible.
No praise for Trump To the editor:
(re: “Thank Trump,” Jan. 28)
you,
President
I would like to take a minute to thank you, too, former president Trump. Thank you for using the worst, most violent language I’ve heard from a politician in all my life. Thank you for mocking and bullying women and Black people, and people you disagreed with. Thank you for terrorizing the citizens of this nation, simply because you could. Thank you for holding constant hate rallies that only amplified your message of division and partisan politics. Thank you for making the world less safe for my 16-yearold son. Thank you for showing the rest of the world why we truly cannot be great until we reckon with the underlying issues of racism in this country. Thank you for doing nothing to prevent the raging pandemic that has held us hostage in this country for almost a year.
Thank you for inviting a violent racist mob attack on the Capitol. Thank you for being the worst example of an elected official that I have ever seen. Thank you for giving those of us who love justice and equality an easy way to tell if someone is opposed to those things — all we do is ask if they support you. But mostly, thank you, former president Trump, for losing the election. I hope it means we never have to thank you for anything else ever again. With warmest regards, and sincere thanks. BriDgET KElSo anThony
Lora breath of fresh air To the editor: I would like to suggest to the readers that they give consideration to one of the less wellknown candidates in the city council race. Mino Lora is a progressive activist, educator, immigrant, artist, and above all, an activist with a great heart. I met Mino in her capacity as director of the People’s Theatre Project a couple years ago. I was struck by her warmth, sincerity and vision for the Bronx. I imagine that most Riverdale Press readers might gravitate toward some of the candidates whose names have been in your paper more often. But a new voice who would represent all of the neighborhoods in our council district just might be a breath of fresh air, and I urge folks to check her out. ira colEmanPalanSKy
It’s their own fault To the editor:
(re: “Building the world we all want,” Feb. 4)
As a member of the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale, I have known Rabbi Avi Weiss for more than 40 years. Rabbi Weiss has always stood for treating every human being as an image of God. He has supported equal rights for the Black community in America, and for bringing home the girls who were kidnapped in Africa. He has sponsored a Martin Luther King Jr., annual concert at the Hebrew Institute with a Black church from Brooklyn. Israel gives vaccines to all of its people from all ethnicities — Jew, Christian or Muslim — including terrorists in Israeli prisons, and people from Muslim countries seeking healing in Israeli hospitals. The responsibility for vaccine distribution in Palestiniancontrolled West Bank lies with the Palestinian Authority. They have failed their own citizens, even turning down vaccines from the United Arab Emirates for political reasons. DaniEl langEr
A10 - THE RIVERDALE PRESS - Thursday, February 11, 2021
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Legal Notice Notice is hereby given that an Order entered by the Civil Court, Bronx County on 7-12020, bearing Index Number NC-000155-20/BX, a copy of which may be examined at the Office of the Clerk, located at 851 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY 10451, grants me the right to assume the name of (First) Steven (Middle) Gabriel (Last) Alvarez Ortez. My present name is (First) Stebyn (Middle) Gabryel (Last) Alvarez Ortez (infant) . The city and state of my present address are Bronx, NY. My place of birth is Bronx, NY. The month and year of my birth are September 2017. 3427
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Legal Notice Notice is hereby given that an Order entered by the Civil Court, Bronx County on 12-10-2020, bearing Index Number NC-000282-20/ BX, a copy of which may be examined at the Office of the Clerk, located at 851 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY 10451, grants me the right to assume the name of (First) Naomi (Middle) F (Last) Gardinet. My present name is
Legal Notice NOTICE OF FORMATION OF DM Legacies Restoration LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 12/30/2020. Office location: Bronx County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served. The Post Office address to which the SSNY shall mail a copy of any process against the LLC served upon him/her
is 938 Neill Avenue, Bronx, NY 10462 The principal business address of the LLC is 938 Neill Avenue, Bronx, NY 10462. Purpose: any lawful act or activity. 3430 Legal Notice Notice is hereby given that an Order entered by the Civil Court, Bronx County on 1-2821, bearing Index Number NC-000296-20/BX, a copy of which may be examined at the Office of the Clerk, located at 851 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY 10451, grants me the right to assume the name of (First) Amelia (Middle) Brie (Last) Estrada Ali. My present name is (First) Amelia (Middle) Brie (Last) Estrada (infant). The city and state of my present address are New York, NY. My place of birth is Manhattan, NY. The month and year of my birth are August 2011. 3431 Legal Notice Notice is hereby given that an Order entered by the Civil Court, Bronx County on 1-192021, bearing Index Number NC-000298-20/BX, a copy of which may be examined at the Office of the Clerk, located at 851 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY 10451, grants me the right to assume the name of (First) Sajeela (Last) Khan. My present name is (First) Sajeela (Last) Unknown AKA Sajeela no name given. The city and state of my present address are Bronx, NY. My place of birth is Miingora, Pakistan. The month and year of my birth are April 1974. 3432
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has been designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served. The Post Office address to which the SSNY shall mail a copy of any process against the LLC served upon him/her is 99 Wall Street Suite 1513, NY, NY 10005. The principal business address of the LLC is 99 Wall Street Suite 1513, NY, NY 10005. Purpose: any lawful act or activity. 3425
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Legal Notices Legal Notice NOTICE OF FORMATION OF Residential Equity Income and Appreciaton LLC, DBA: REINA.Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) On 11/30/2020. Office location: BX County. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process may be served and shall mail copy of process against LLC to PO Box 953, Bx, NY 10465. R/A: Anthony Mendez, 3240 E Tremont Ave, BX, NY 10461. Purpose: any lawful act or activity. 3416
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Brown Harris Stevens...........................718.878.1700 Brown Harris Stevens, ..........................212.317.7746 Tobias B. Schapiro...........................917.846.9846 Douglas Elliman...................................718.884.5815 Fieldston Properties.............................718.601.1000 Foxworth Realty, Eugenia Foxworth ...212.368.4902 HSC Management Corporation...........718.543.2800 or....................................................914.237.1600 Hudsoncreast Properties Inc, Gil Perez...................... 718.796.5022 ext. 215......www.GmcRealty.com McDonagh Properties, Inc....................718.548.2828
THE RIVERDALE PRESS - Thursday, February 11, 2021 - A11
Turn What You Love Into Where You Live
355 West 246th Street $2,595,000 | 5 BR, 3 BA | Web# 4802074
3104 Netherland Avenue $2,498,000 | 6 BR, 5 BA | Web# 4432135
Mary Phelan-Kavanagh: M 718.877.2686 O 718.884.5815 Ari Susswein: M 914.450.9665 O 718.884.5815
Zoita Zonea: M 917.684.8061 O 718.884.5815
5435 Arlington Avenue $1,399,000 | 4 BR, 3 BA | Web# 3737393
3115 Netherland Avenue $1,198,000 | 5 BR, 3.5 BA | Web# 4767087
Barbara Jurist: M 917.841.1245 O 718.884.5815 Marilyn Tosk: M 646.670.6635 O 718.884.5815
Zoita Zonea: M 917.684.8061 O 718.884.5815
6038 Fieldston Road $890,000 | 4 BR, 2.5 BA | Web# 4447839
3141 Tibbett Avenue $725,000 | 3 BR, 1.5 BA | Web# 4759995
Terhi Edwards: M 646.541.8072 O 718.884.5815
Charles Brophy: M 646.295.6296 O 718.884.5815
6130 Spencer Avenue $695,000 | 3 BR, 1.5 BA | Web# 4345985
750 Kappock Street, 207 $495,000 | 2 BR, 2 BA | Web# 4842203
Charles Brophy: M 646.295.6296 O 718.884.5815
Maria Capotorto: M 917.566.7731 O 718.884.5815
750 Kappock Street, 108 $270,000 | 1 BR, 1 BA | Web# H6092598
5550 Fieldston Road, 9J $265,000 | 2 BR, 1 BA | Web# 4799560
Terhi Edwards: M 646.541.8072 O 718.884.5815
Mary Phelan-Kavanagh: M 718.877.2686 O 718.884.5815
elliman.com 575 MADISON AVENUE, NY, NY 10022. 212.891.7000 © 2021 DOUGLAS ELLIMAN REAL ESTATE. ALL MATERIAL PRESENTED HEREIN IS INTENDED FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY. WHILE, THIS INFORMATION IS BELIEVED TO BE CORRECT, IT IS REPRESENTED SUBJECT TO ERRORS, OMISSIONS, CHANGES OR WITHDRAWAL WITHOUT NOTICE. ALL PROPERTY INFORMATION, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO SQUARE FOOTAGE, ROOM COUNT, NUMBER OF BEDROOMS AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN PROPERTY LISTINGS SHOULD BE VERIFIED BY YOUR OWN ATTORNEY, ARCHITECT OR ZONING EXPERT. EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY.
A12 - THE RIVERDALE PRESS - Thursday, February 11, 2021
Home of the Week RoseAnn Hermann of Brown Harris Stevens
Looking for a home away from the crowds
Note: Each week’s featured home is chosen at random from among houses and apartments offered by Riverdale Press advertisers. The opinions expressed are those of the advertiser and not The Riverdale Press news department. For further information, write to advertising@riverdalepress.com.
W
elcome to 10 Belmont Place, the most captivating home on a quiet cul de sac in the sought-after historic estate area of Yonkers. A century ago, when the New York City subway was being built, an engineer on that monumental project joined 10 Belmont’s original owner to construct this lovingly maintained solid house. From the moment you enter into the center hall, you’re struck by the size and beauty that envelopes you. The light streaming from the original Palladian window. The glow of the original wood floors. The details of the coffered ceiling. And the gorgeous stairs that lead up to two unique and spacious landings. There are other original details, too, like, the original kitchen cabinets in the updated 21st century cook’s kitchen. The south- and west-facing kitchen has stainless steel appliances, Carrera marble counters, and an island and breakfast bar. The butler’s pantry has a full-sized, up-
right deep freezer — the perfect companion to the kitchen’s full-size refrigerator. No expense was spared when the two full bathrooms upstairs and the powder room downstairs were redesigned, perfectly in keeping with the style of the home. Attention to detail is apparent everywhere in the house. Four very large bedrooms can accommodate king-sized suites of furniture, and two of them have French doors to an outside balcony overlooking the garden and carriage house. There is abundant space in the attic, basement and studio above the carriage house, waiting to be transformed into whatever your heart desires. Head outside to enjoy lawns, flower beds, sitting areas, a patio for dining, and a lap pool and spa. It’s just minutes from the Metro-North station, and all the stores in and near Ridge Hill Shopping Plaza. Find a home away from it all for $980,000.
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THE RIVERDALE PRESS - Thursday, February 11, 2021 - A13
See Riverdale's Best Properties
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5 1. Sprawling 3BR with a Private Balcony Riverdale. 3BR. 2 Bath. $575K. Web# 20583792. Fran Kaback 212-381-2366 Elizabeth Alicea 212-381-2671 2. New to Market with a Private Balcony North Riverdale. 1BR. 1 Bath. $270K. Web# 20615677. Maria-Stella Fountoulakis 718-878-1725
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3. Partial River Views with a Private Terrace Riverdale. 1BR. 1 Bath. $260K. Web# 20364681. Vicki Green 718-878-1919 4. Chic Village Margarita Fieldston. 6BR. 5.5 Bath. $3M. Web# 20305955. Sandhya “Sanjya” Tidke 212-381-2485 Adinah Kranzler 718-878-1714 5. Newly Renovated with a Terrace Riverdale. 3BR. 3 Bath. $1.195M. Web# 20549994. Lee Moskof 718-878-1921 Deena Spindler 718-878-1925 6. Unique Tudor House Spuyten Duyvil. 5BR. 2 Bath. $1.15M. Web# 20320382. Sandhya “Sanjya” Tidke 212-381-2485 Scott Kriger 718-878-1715 7. Completely Renovated with High End Details Riverdale. 3BR. 2.5 Bath. $880K. Web# 20544100. Lee Moskof 718-878-1921
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8. Estate Area – 2 Homes Riverdale. 6BR. 5.5 Bath. $3.5M. Web# 20235198. Sandhya “Sanjya” Tidke 212-381-2485 Scott Kriger 718-878-1715 9. Airy, Large, and Renovated Riverdale. 2BR. 2 Bath. $410K. Web# 20528776. Julia Gran 718-878-1716 Nanette Gran 917-604-9954
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10. Luxury, Light, and Location Spuyten Duyvil. 2BR. 2 Bath. $392,500. Web# 20460036. Vicki Green 718-878-1919
All information is from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, prior sale or withdrawal without notice. All rights to content, photographs and graphics reserved to Broker. Equal Housing Opportunity Broker.
A14 - THE RIVERDALE PRESS - Thursday, February 11, 2021
TrebachRealty.com
718.543.7174
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fieldston Web #885 Stately, secluded georgian revival stone 6-bdrm, 6-full, 2-half bath residence situated on nearly three quarters of an acre. Completely renovated with wide front terrace, large living room with WBFP and french doors to four-season sunroom. $4,900,000
West of pArKWAy Web #893 Prime renovation opportunity: Completely gutted, sprawling 7,000-Sq. Ft. 5-bdrm, 6-bath stucco and stone house with pool, multi-level patios and spacious yard on double lot. Great room w/ 21-ft high ceilings, fireplace and oversized windows. $3,450,000
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neW exclusiVe West of pArKWAy Web #895 Sylish and light filled 4-bdrm, 4.5-bath brick and stone house with impressive grounds & private association pool on leafy cul-de-sac. Marble center hall, elegant living room, formal dining room, large kitchen and stone gas fireplace om family rm. $2,595,000
exclusiVe West of pArKWAy Web #846 Spacious 3-bdrm, 2.5-bath house features a living room with bay windows and marble WBF, dining room with sliding glass doors to large level backyard, eat-in kitchen, MBR suite & den with a wet bar. 2-car garage plus plenty of off street parking. $1,549,000
neW exclusiVe fieldston Web #900 6-bdrm, 5.5-bath, stucco Tudor with gracious historic interior, fireplace, rear decks and level backyard. $2,295,000
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centrAl riVerdAle Web #859 4-bdrm, 3-bath detached brick house with high ceilings, living room with brick WBFP & formal dining room. $890,000
centrAl riVerdAle Web #896 Brand-new legal 3-family townhouse with stone accents has laundry in each apt and a 2-car driveway. $1,395,000
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fieldston Web #894 Pristine, modern and light filled 6-bdrm, 5.5-bath stucco house with patios and grassy yard. Huge room with white-oak flooring, 2 waterfall-edged islands in kitchen, living room with windows overlooking the backyard and family room. $2,775,000
centrAl riVerdAle Web #903 Lovely & spacious 2-bdrm, 1.5-bath brck charmer with porch, patio, backyard and WBFP on private Cul-de-Sac. $985,000
exclusiVe soutH riVerdAle Web #871 Spacious 4-bdrm, 2.5-bath with foyer, living rm w/ brick WBFP, formal dining room and lrg eat-in kitchen. $1,595,000
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neW exclusiVe VAn cortlAndt crest Web #899 Spacious 6-bdrm, 3-full & 2-half baths, WBF in LR, dining rm & mstr bdrm. Eatin kitchen, porches & patio. $1,295,000
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neW exclusiVe West of pArKWAy Web #882 Vacant site of approx 0.37 acres is a rare opportunity to build a home with commanding views of river. $1,495,000
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neW exclusiVe nortH riVerdAle Web #837 Legal 2-family semi-attached townhouse. Spacious side & rear yards. Two 3-bdrms, 2-baths plus 1-bdrm suite. $1,295,000
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West of pArKWAy Web #755 3-bdrm, 2.5-bath center hall colonial. WBFP in living rm, open plan kitchen & dining & finished basement. $1,420,000
neW exclusiVe West of pArKWAy Web #897 Renovated 5-bdrm, 5.5-bath Tudor-style house with gracious grounds on cul-de-sac. Living room with fireplace and french doors opening a sunroom, formal dining room, center island kitchen, large flagstone terrace and finished basement. $2,495,000
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fieldston Web #839 Bright 4-bdrm, 3-bath solar modern home with patio & garden. Living rm with WBFP & eat-in kitchen. $1,695,000
neW exclusiVe fieldston Web #898 Exceptional, elegant mansion overlooking Idyllic Pond. 8-bdrms, 8-full & 2-half bths, living rm with marble wood burning fireplace, formal dining rm with French doors to a side patio, spacious kitchen, breakfast room & expansive family room. $4,590,000
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exclusiVe VAn cortlAndt crest Web #902 4-bdrm, 3-bath stone and brick colonial with lawns and patio. Prestine hardwood flrs & wood burning fireplace $870,000
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exclusiVe nortH riVerdAle Web #892 Two-family, semi-attached brick house with wide entry terrace & backyard with a deck & patio on Cul-de-Sac. $899,000
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West of pArKWAy Web #880 Grand bucolic beauty and open space classic 6-bdrm, 5.5-bath mansion with wraparound porch on over one acre with grassy lawns. Large center hall, living room with WBF, formal dining room with fireplace and eat-in kitchen. $4,325,000
nortH riVerdAle Web #889 Renovated 3-bdrm, 2-bath house with side and back yards, patio and garden. Living room with fireplace. $1,095,000
soutH riVerdAle Web #884 Renov 6-bdrm, 2-full and 2-half bath brick house. Tiled entry foyer, formal dining rm & renov kitchen. $1,395,000
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3800 blAcKstone AVe Web #cc651 Contemporary 2-bdrm, 2-bath condo w/ modern kitchen, balcony, laundry in unit and indoor parking. $678,000
3614 JoHnson AVe Web #cc646 Contemporary 2-bdrm, 2-bath with open plan living, & dining area w/ glass sliding doors to balcony. $425,000
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2727 pAlisAde AVe Web #cc656 Bright 2-bdrm, 2-bath with balcony, 24-hr DM & parking avail. Master BR suite & remodeled kitchen. $579,000
3935 blAcKstone AVe Web #cc648 Spacious, light filled, low floor 3-bdrm w/ balcony & 24-hr D/M. Extra lrg foyer & dining rm with built-ins. $649,000
750 KAppocK street Web #cc659 Spacious and bright top-floor 2-bdrm, 2-bath with enclosed sunrise balcony, parking, & 24-hr doormen. $549,000
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3800 blAcKston AVe cc630 Contemporary 2-bdrm. 2-bath duplex penthouse w/ private roof terraces. $675K
3935 blAcKstone cc646 Spacious 2-bdrm, 2-bath with open plan living, dining area and balcony. $415K
West of pArKWAy - Large and luxurious 2-bdrm conv. 3, 2-bth with great closet space, balcony, doorman, healthclub and pool. 3 months free rent $4,095/mo West of pArKWAy - Large and luxurious 2-bdrm conv. 3, 2-bth with great closet space, balcony, doorman, healthclub and pool. 3 months free rent $3,895/mo West of pArKWAy - Large & bright 2-bdrm w/ balcony. D/M, exclusiVe fitness room, tennis couts & pool . 2 months free rent $2,995/mo West of pArKWAy - Large and luxurious 1-bdrm 3001 HH pArKWAy cc853 with great closet space, balcony, doorman, health- Spacious 3-bdrm, 2-bth, PT club and pool 3 months free rent $2,525/mo DM. Entry foyer, large entral foyer & sunken LR. $625K
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601 KAppocK st cc649 Mint condition, beautifully renovated 2-bdrm with doorman and pool. $284K
3601 JoHnson AVe. cc587 Walk-in level doctor’s office with seperate entrance and reception area. $295K
3600 fieldston rd cc855 2-bdrm, 2-bath conv 3, 2-bath w/ balcony, updated kitchen and DM. Parking avail. $415K
neW exclusiVe 290 W 232nd st cc657 Updated 2-bdrm post war co-op with balcony. Entry foyer & eat-in kitch. $339K
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no boArd ApproVAl West of pArKWAy - 3-bdrm, 2-bath, w/ balcony, L-shaped LR/DR area, DM, fitness room, private playground and childrens recreation room. Dogs OK. Indoor parking available. $525K West of pArKWAy - 3-bdrm, 2-bath, w/ balcony, L-shaped LR/DR area, DM, fitness room, private playground and childrens recreation room. Dogs OK. Indoor parking available. $515K West of pArKWAy - Top floor JR-4 with stunning sunset view, DM, fitness room, private playground and childrens recreation room. Dogs OK. Indoor parking available. $305K West of pArKWAy - 1-bdrm with L-shaped LR/DR area, DM, fitness room, private playground and childrens recreation room. Dogs OK. Indoor parking available. $290K
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neW exclusiVe 3935 blAcKstone AVe Web #cc652 Spacious and Bright 3-bdrm, 2-bath with sunset balcony, majestic river views and 24-hr doorman. $795,000
exclusiVe 3616 HH pArKWAy cc642 Spacious and bright 2-bdrm with balcony, and doorman. Indr parking avail. $398.5K
House for rent
fieldston Vic. rr642 6-bdrm, 3.5-bath, 7,500 sq. ft. house w/ Expansive wraparound porch & pool. $19,500/mo
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fieldston Vic. rr871 Picturesque 1920s 3-bdrm, 2-full & 2-half baths with WBFP & grassy yards. $6,500/mo
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5715 mosHolu AVe cc635 3755 HH pKWAy - tHe imperiAl - Walk-in level doctor’s Bright L-shaped 2-bdrm office with reception area and 2 exam rooms. $360K postwar co-op. Hrdwd flrs, nortH riVerdAle - Office Space Available. $1,500/mo South & West expos. $208K
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centrAl riVerdAle - Contemporary 2-bdrm, 2-bath condo with balcony, laundry in unit and indoor parking. $3,950/mo Greystone AVenue - 3-bdrm, 1.5-bath with dining area and yard in multi-family house. $2,800/mo rented - West of pArKWAy - Spacious 2-bdrm, 2-bath, balcony, partial river views, DM & fitness rm. Dogs ok. $2,450/mo West of pArKWAy - Rent stabilized 1-bdrm, parquet floors, $1,880/mo balcony, DM and fitness room. Dogs OK.
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290 West 232nd st cc626 2-bdrm with entry foyer, living room, kitchen, dining area and balcony. $305K
3816 WAldo AVe cc643 Contemporary Condo with balcony, modern kitch, lndry in unit, DM & prkg. $640K
condo exclusiVe 445 West 240tH st cc637 Postwar 2-bdrm condo with large entry foyer, living rm & windowed kitchen. $375K
exclusiVe
3515 HH pArKWAy cc638 Spacious & bright 3-bdrm, 2-bath corner unit. Entry foyer, living rm & renov kitch. $618K
Trebach Realty, Inc. • 3801 Greystone Avenue, Riverdale Open 7 Days • www.TrebachRealty.com
exclusiVe
611 West 239tH st cc645 Spacious split-design, 2-bdrm, 2-bath co-op w/ indoor parking, balcony and doorman. $425K