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Winner of Vol. 72, No. 6

the Pulitzer Prize

Thursday, March 18, 2021

$1.00

All that campaigning comes down to this Early Voting

Through March 21

Special Election

Tuesday, March 23

What’s inside?

Budget crunch Dark clouds of controversy may hang over Cuomo’s head, but he might still get his way negotiating the budget. Page A3

n Candidates educate voters about new ranked-choice system in election final days By ETHAN STARK-MILLER estarkmiller@riverdalepress.com

It’s the ultimate countdown. There’s just five days until the March 23 special election to replace Andrew Cohen on the city council. Early voting is under way now, and after months of running during a pandemic, the end is faintly in sight for the six candidates — environmental activist Jessica Haller, former teacher Eric Dinowitz, real estate attorney Dan Padernacht, arts non-profit executive Mino Lora, retired New York Police Department detective Carlton Berkley, and independent filmmaker Kevin Pazmino. This special election, along with another to MINO replace now-U.S. Rep. LORA Ritchie Torres in a neighboring district, will be only the third test case of ranked-choice voting in the city. The new system — where voters choose their top five candidates in order of preference — has so far only been tested out in a pair of Queens special elections, where just one of them required DAN pADERNACHt additional rounds of counting. The ranked-choice outcome will affect the election’s timeline. If one candidate gets more than 50 percent of first-choice votes on election night, they’re automatically the winner. If no one gets 50 percent, the worst performing candidate is eliminated and their second-choice voters are redistributed to the other candidates. This process continues until there are just two candidates remaining.

HIRAM ALEJANDRO DURÁN / Illustration

After nearly three years of running to replace Andrew Cohen on the city council, former teacher Eric Dinowitz says he and his volunteers are excited for election day. Dinowitz is one of six competing in the March 23 special election. If this election requires these elimination rounds, it could be April before we find out a winner. The final weeks of campaigning have been eventful. State Sen. Alessandra Biaggi endorsed Lora and Haller last week while also sharply criticizing Dinowitz. She tied the son of Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz to the local Democratic Party machine she says supported her 2018 opponent Jeff Klein, who as a state senator, led the Independent Democratic Conference, a group of breakaway Democrats who backed Re-

publicans, and gave them majority control. Additionally, Padernacht and Berkley said they were following a route already established by Haller and Lora, pairing up to encourage voters to make them their top two choices. And they’re encouraging voters to do the same. “My second choice is Carlton, he’s an extremely sincere and good person,” Padernacht said during a forum last week hosted by Common Cause New York and The Riverdale Y. “If I don’t become the councilmember, I would love to see someone as

good as Carlton be our councilmember.” Tuesday’s finish line was a long way coming for the candidates, but even longer for both Padernacht and Dinowitz. Both launched their campaigns to run for Cohen’s seat within days of each other in Summer 2018, when the idea of the councilman being lured away with a job as a judge was nothing more than a poorly kept secret. “There’s a lot of excitement on the ground for the campaign,” Dinowitz said. CAMPAIGNING, page A4

Year after closing, public schools reopen for all Endorse, of course State Sen. Alessandra Biaggi makes no secret who she supports in next week’s city council race — and who she doesn’t. Page A6

PLUS:

the history of a three-year campaign. Page A4

n High schoolers are last to return in wake of COVID pandemic

‘I’m just really excited that I’ll be getting my student MetroCard back. That’s the big deal for me.’

By ROSE BRENNAN rbrennan@riverdalepress.com

It’s a gruesome anniversary. One year ago, New York City was overcome by the coronavirus pandemic. And the public school system — once infamous for never closing — was no exception as 1.1 million students took their lessons home and abandoned physical campuses. For the better part of a year, remote learning was the way. While students did return to campus for a short time in October, bringing students together and fighting the coronavirus were just two things that couldn’t come together. But there’s a beacon of hope. High school students return to their physical classrooms on Monday — the last group to do so — marking the beginning, once again, of nearly fully opened campuses part of the week. Teachers are already back in school now, ensuring all preparations for their

— Raphy Jacobson

HIRAM ALEJANDRO DURÁN / File

Raphy Jacobson’s senior year at the High School of American Studies isn’t shaping up the way he expected, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. He and his classmates will return to the building next week. But at this point, Jacobson has his sights set on college. students’ return are fulfilled and everything else is squared away. High school students last stepped on campus before Thanksgiving. Preschools, elementary schools and specialized District 75 schools reopened in

December, and middle schools followed suit only last month. But older students — who didn’t require parents to stay home with them — were held back from returning as long as possible. That’s because Mayor Bill de

Blasio wanted to ensure younger students and those with higher learning needs returned to campuses first. But four months after the entire system locked down a second time, the mayor now thinks it’s safe for this final group

of students to move back into the classroom. Together. “We have all the pieces we need to bring high school back and bring it back strong — and, of course, to bring it back safely,” the mayor said during a recent daily press briefing. “Why do we know this? Because we set the gold standard for the nation, and our rules became the blueprint for the Centers for Disease Control(‘s) … own plan for bringing back schools.” English teacher Christine Vaccaro says her school, Riverdale/ Kingsbridge Academy, was in a bit of a unique position when it came to reopening since RKA teaches both middle and high school grades. When the West 237th Street school reopened in REOPENING, page A4

It’s back to the drawing board for Independence n Recommendations are upended after anonymous flyer posted in neighborhood By ROSE BRENNAN rbrennan@riverdalepress.com

A stretch of Independence Avenue has been the subject of special attention from Community Board 8’s traffic and transportation committee over the last six months. And now, thanks to a faceless neighbor with access to a copy machine, that attention will continue for at least a while longer. As reckless driving plagued Indepen-

dence late last year, a working group from the traffic committee developed several suggestions they hoped the city’s transportation department might want to take up. Some of those suggestions, however, were targeted by some neighbors including Whitehall co-op president Jeffrey Moerdler, even before the committee could consider them, like bicycle lanes that some believe could slow down traffic, as it would narrow vehicle lanes. Ultimately, only a few of the working group’s suggestions made it out of the transportation committee and in front of the full community board. Suggestions like adding speed bumps, truffle paint and flexiINDEPENDENCE, page A4

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It looked as though Community Board 8’s traffic and transportation committee was finally getting somewhere developing recommendations to curb reckless driving along Independence Avenue. But random flyers anonymously posted in the neighborhood criticizing details of the process has forced the committee to start back almost at square one.

A2 - THE RIVERDALE PRESS - Thursday, March 18, 2021

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ing the amount to $15,300 and cashing it. In a similar — but not necessarily related — incident, another woman dropped a check into the mailbox in front of 3601 Johnson Ave., last September. Someone held onto that $1,700 piece of paper until March 10, when it was finally cashed by that person, who was not the intended payee, police said. The forger — or forgers — continue to allude authorities. But investigators from the 5-0 are working on it.

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CORRECTIONS & 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 issues 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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PRESS NOTIFICATION The Riverdale Press is proud to provide the best local news for our community, but bringing you that coverage has become a little more expensive. Because of that, The Press home delivery rates will increase nominally, which we’ll roll out to subscribers over the next several months. Periodic rate increases are required to maintain the highest quality standards — and Riverdale Press subscribers should expect nothing less. All of us at The Press thank you and your fellow readers for your continued support. The Riverdale Press 5676 Riverdale Avenue Bronx, NY 10471 718-543-6065 ext. 5

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THE RIVERDALE PRESS - Thursday, March 18, 2021 - A3

New York needs money — will the wealthy have to pay? n Lawmakers want to raise income, capital gains, corporate taxes By ETHAN STARK-MILLER estarkmiller@riverdalepress.com

The coronavirus pandemic has left states across the country in economic ruin. And New York is no exception, with a budget deficit hole topping $15 billion. President Joe Biden signed the American Rescue Plan into law last week, funneling $12.6 billion to New York. But that won’t be enough. Some observers argue that while these funds might address the current budget crisis, the state needs a long-term and reliable source of revenue. And state lawmakers have a simple fix they’ve offered many times before: Tax the rich. How will they do it? Through a sixbill package they’ve called the Invest in Our New York Act. Champions of the package argue it would ensure the rich are paying their fair share while raising much needed revenue for the state when it needs it the most. “We have asked poor and workingclass people in this state to sacrifice during the entire pandemic, while wealthy people have just gotten wealthier,” said state Sen. Gustavo Rivera, a sponsor of one of the Invest in Our New York bills intended to increase the capital gains tax. “And we need equity. So, it’s about getting money from these taxes so that we can stabilize (our) education system, our infrastructure, transportation, health care. That’s what the goal of this is.” The legislation aims to install a progressive tax on income as well as taxes on capital gains, inheritance, on billionaires, corporations and even on Wall Street transactions. Proponents of the package say all of the combined taxes could raise some $50 billion in new revenue each year. Now lawmakers are trying to make

JULIUS CONSTANTINE MOTAL / File

State Sen. Gustavo Rivera sponsored a bill intended to raise the tax on capital gains — the profit on the sale of an asset. It’s part of the Invest in Our New York Act legislation package, and was included in lawmakers’ budget proposals — passed by each legislative chamber this past week. at least parts of the package a reality, incorporating these tax hikes into state budget negotiations. “The bills aren’t passing,” Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz told a forum last week hosted by Northwest Bronx Indivisible. “We don’t pass separate tax bills. It’s all part of the budget. There won’t be six separate bills to do any of those things. “It’s a matter of it being part of the discussion in terms of crafting the budget.” And at least as of Monday, it now is. A progressive income tax would raise the top rate by 1 percent for single filers earning between $1 million and $5 million. Joint filers would see a similar 1 percent increase, but at a different income level. Legislators believe this tax alone would raise $4 billion over the next

year, higher than the $1.5 billion Gov. Andrew Cuomo is expected to get from his proposed billionaires tax. This kind of tax could correct major inequities in the state’s tax code that have gone unaddressed for years, said Sue Dodell. She’s a member of Bend the Arc Riverdale, one of the organizations that have banded together to push forward the Invest in Our New York Act. The tax codes “have really become completely unfair,” Dodell said. “Because they were based on a time when people did not make the multi-billion dollars that they make now. When you look at the current tax code, it really does not tax people equitably.” Rivera’s proposal to increase capital gains taxes also made it into budget talks. Capital gains are the profits made off selling investments like

stocks, bonds and art. Those making investments and turning them around for profit are typically wealthy, the senator said. The problem, however, is that capital gains are not taxed at the same rate as income, Rivera said. That creates yet another disparity between how much average and wealthy taxpayers dole out to the government. “We can fix that by adding a tax to that investment income that basically equals the percentage that you get taxed from your income,” Rivera said. The senator hopes the new state budget will add a 1 percent surcharge for taxpayers earning more than $1 million a year. Opponents of the budget proposals argue the package is now unnecessary because the federal government has stepped in to help. Kathryn Wylde,

chief executive of the pro-business New York City Partnership, told the New York Post what Biden and Congress provided the state in its latest coronavirus relief package was more than enough to fill the state’s budget gap. Proponents, however, concede federal dollars will plug the current budget hole, but argue tax increases are necessary to fix ongoing problems the state has with generating revenue predating the pandemic. State Sen. Alessandra Biaggi said Cuomo’s response to budget shortfalls in years past has been austerity — quite simply, pulling funds from state social programs, hurting everyday people. Normally, this time of year is filled with negations between lawmakers and the governor, who has proposed his own taxes on the wealthy some say simply don’t go far enough. Existing laws give the governor a lot of power in these negotiations, but they are currently in a precarious state because Cuomo is facing calls to resign in the wake of multiple scandals ranging from sexual harassment to allegedly covering up nursing home deaths at the height of the pandemic. Cuomo refuses to step down, and the Assembly has opened an impeachment investigation. Impeachment in New York is much different than what many witnessed — twice — at the federal level involving President Donald Trump. Here, once the Assembly votes to impeach, Cuomo is temporarily removed from office until his senate trial is concluded. Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul would replace him during the trial, Rivera said, who would then take over any ongoing budget negotiations. But whether Cuomo resigns or is removed, Rivera says his days are numbered. “He’s going to hang on for as long as he possibly can,” the senator said. “But we are not going to allow him to remain in office. We’re going to push him out, because his presence is no longer necessary. “We’re here to govern. We can’t do it with him.”

PRESS POINTS Synagogues mourn passing of John Brown Passover is a little more than a week away, but this year’s observance will move forward without a man many local synagogues depended on during this time of year — and he wasn’t even Jewish. John Brown died last month

By Michael hinMan

at 88. A real estate agent who moved from Riverdale to the upstate community of Minerva after he retired, Brown would buy up as much chametz leading up to the holiday as he could, according to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Chametz is food containing leavening ingredients like yeast or baking powder. Possess-

ing chametz during Passover violates Jewish law, but households don’t want to simply throw away bread and pasta. Instead, they could sell it to a non-Jew for a small fee, and then buy it back once the holiday is over. Brown has been that agent since 1977 when he helped close the property sale where

Young Israel of Riverdale now sits on Henry Hudson Parkway East. He was recruited as the synagogue’s chametz buyer by Rabbi Mordechai Willig because the religious leader believed Brown’s understanding of complex real estate law would help in what could be complicated deals to temporarily take ownership not only

of leavened bread, but even of pets — who generally eat leavened food — and even businesses that sold chametz over Passover. Brown continued brokering these deals until last year, JTA reported, when the coronavirus pandemic shut such operations down. All of the transactions were

symbolic, of course. The most Brown would get is a good word-of-mouth recommendation when he was working, and sometimes a nice single-malt scotch. Brown was a Korean War veteran who worked at Mary Walsh Real Estate and Robert E. Hill, according to his published obituary.

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A4 - THE RIVERDALE PRESS - Thursday, March 18, 2021

Six left in final days of election, ELECTION TIMELINE JULY 2018 but only one can win the seat Citing the very open secret that Andrew Cohen could be offered black robes as a Bronx Supreme Court judge, Kingsbridge Heights real estate lawyer and former Community Board 8 chair Dan Padernacht announces his bid to succeed Cohen on the city council.

CAMPAIGNING from page A1 “There’s a lot of excitement with my volunteers. We’ve had over 250 volunteers making phone calls and out on the streets for our campaign.” All the campaigns are focused on getting out the vote. Lora and her volunteers are using text, phone banking and in-person interactions to let voters know who she is and how people can support her. She said she’s making sure her campaign is covering every part of the district. “That’s why my days are like 15hour days,” Lora said. “Because we are hitting at least three of the neighborhoods every single day, alternating, and just really going all over.” Lora has educated voters in the rankedchoice system not just in English, but Spanish as well. She’s handing out printed carlton materials showing berkley what the ballot looks like inside the voting booth. “We’ve been intentional about showing what it’ll be like and explaining the different columns,” Lora said. Haller’s campaign also is focused on education. She even kevin made an explainer pazMino video for her campaign’s website starring her kids. “We’re using a large portion of our budget to teach people what they need to do,” Haller told Riverdale Press editor Michael Hinman and BronxNet reporter Sonyi Lopez during the Common Cause forum. “So, we made a video and it’s available. Our advertising, our printed materials, all have examples with a whole explanation on ‘this is how to do it.’” Berkley has spent his final weeks focused on Wakefield, where he lives,

Within days, Padernacht draws his first challenger — school teacher Eric Dinowitz, son of Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz.

SEPTEMBER 2018 As Alessandra Biaggi topples Jeffrey Klein from his state senate seat, chatter about whether Andrew Cohen would finally become a judge escalates as some begin to whisper Klein could be offered the bench instead. However, just as quickly as the gossip starts, it disappears, thanks to political pressure. Bronx Democrats not only drop Klein from consideration, but Cohen too.

MAY 2019 It was a bit too early to start announcing endorsements, yet Eric Dinowitz claims he already had one from the United Federation of Teachers union. The problem? He hadn’t. Although they would ultimately back him in February 2020 despite the online snafu. hiraM aleJanDro DurÁn / illustration

environmental activist Jessica haller says she’s spent a significant portion of her campaign budget on educating voters about the new rankedchoice system — even making an explainer video starring her kids. because he doesn’t believe he’ll be as competitive on the Riverdale side of the district. Stiil, he tells voters what his personal ballot will look like, showing how ranked-choice works. He also tells them not only will he vote Padernacht second, but Haller is his third choice. The last two slots for him belong to Dinowitz and Lora, but he has yet to decide which order. Still, Berkley says he’s finding many who don’t understand how the new system works — especially senior citizens. Even worse, there are many others who don’t even know an election is coming up, local political activist and public school parent association leader Morgan Ever says. “I’m just wondering who’s going to show up,” she said. “Because when I speak to a lot of other parents in the neighborhood, they’re like, ‘What do you mean, March 23?’” But Evers is showing up to vote, choosing Lora first, although she says she also likes Padernacht. Lora will look out for public school kids who’ll need more support than ever in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. With no campaign organization and

almost no financial war chest, Pazmino said he’s spending his final days personally walking around all of the district’s neighborhoods and talking to voters. The only conservative in the race, Pazmino says he’s telling voters they don’t have to pick five candidates if they don’t want to. While March 23 might be the end for the special election race, it’s just the beginning more long-term on who will represent this area on the city council. Many if not all the candidates also are out collecting petition signatures so their name is on the ballot for the June Democratic primary. That will help decide who is filling the seat come next January, and for the next two years after that. Although Haller’s petitioning for the primary ballot, she’s not yet committed to running again. “I’m not a politician by blood, and if the community speaks up and it looks like I’m not there, then I’m not going to continue,” Haller said. “If someone doesn’t break through in a special election, the chances of breaking through in a primary three months later are slim.”

Anonymous flyers virtually restart Independence Avenue discussions INDEPENDENCE from page A1 ble delineators to intersections at West 235th, West 236th and West 239th streets. But that vote never happened, and the traffic committee is right back almost to where it started. Why? Earlier this month, someone posted flyers along Independence challenging what they claimed were “approved” changes coming to the street. Like plans to “limit or block” areas in front of certain buildings and entrances to parking lots, as well as adding “unwanted” bicycle lanes along the street. The community board’s role in such matters is ultimately an advisory one. Even if CB8 had approved those changes to Independence, DOT would look at it as nothing more than a recommendation that it could follow, change, or even ignore. In fact, there are times when DOT doesn’t even consult the community board, as was the case for four speed humps installed in recent months along Palisade Avenue. Some parts of the flyer were accurate, or at least on the right track of being accurate, but other parts were not, traffic committee chair Dan Padernacht said. Bike lanes, for example, had been explored by his committee, but was indefinitely tabled last January and not part of the overall recommendation package to the full board. The committee’s proposal would add flexible delineators at certain locations on the street in an effort to slow

traffic, which some could misconstrue as blocking or limiting areas in front of buildings, Padernacht said. But that’s about where the flyer’s accuracy ends. “The entry to our parking lots (claim), I don’t think that’s accurate, because we’re not blocking the entrance to the parking lots,” Padernacht said. “And then … adding unwanted bike lanes along Independence Avenue, we didn’t recommend that.” But CB8 chair Laura Spalter doesn’t necessarily think the flyers’ claims came out of left field. She laura said indefinitely taspalter bling a proposal is not the same as voting that proposal down. And even if the traffic and transportation committee isn’t actively discussing installing bike lanes, the idea remains alive — even if on ice. Bike lanes weren’t the only potential recommendations tabled by the committee, however. Other concepts like making West 235th one-way traveling westbound and adding parking spaces to it also were indefinitely tabled in January. But that idea hasn’t met with the same level of controversy as bike lanes. Spalter believes the flyers were a way for the neighborhood to express ongoing disapproval of the working group’s ideas for Independence.

“The community was clearly upset by that four-hour meeting and the hundreds of letters and calls that the community board has received against the plan,” Spalter said, referring to a traffic committee meeting last January when another seemingly inaccurate flyer — this time distributed by Moerdler — drew a large audience. “People are still concerned.” So what happens now? Well, the traffic and transportation committee isn’t exactly back to square one, but it’s essentially back to where it was last January. Once again, Padernacht says he’ll invite community input on its working group’s proposals for Independence. While that could mean another marathon committee meeting, Spalter thinks when it comes to issues like this, one just can’t have enough community input. “The community board represents the community,” she said. “The full board, when we take a vote, weighs very heavily the community input. As we should.” While the recent setbacks might be frustrating for the traffic and transportation committee, Padernacht admits it’s simply the job volunteers like him on the community board sign up for. “It’s not frustrating. It’s just part of government,” Padernacht said. “I would much rather be transparent and give the public a meaningful opportunity to comment on an issue. For me, it’s just part of the process.”

High schools are last to reopen as life looks to begin post-pandemic REOPENING from page A1 February, it was only for a select student population. But now high school students are returning. And the enthusiasm is palpable. “I’m very excited to get back into a classroom,” Vaccaro said. “I know every other teacher I’ve talked to is as well. And that’s where we want to be.” Some teachers had concerns about the pandemic when campuses first tried to reopen last fall. Those concerns were realized as cases be- christine gan to rise, ultimately vaccaro shutting down campuses once again in November. But Vaccaro is a little less concerned about contracting the virus that causes COVID-19 this time around because she’s been vaccinated. Still, following coronavirus guidelines like wearing masks and maintaining social distance remains necessary,

especially with spring break approaching. “Many of us have been vaccinated, and we’re going in feeling a certain degree of safety that we didn’t have before,” Vaccaro said. “Obviously, there’s still a concern of new variants, and making sure everyone is safe. My students are not vaccinated, and I want them to be safe. But I know my school has done a really excellent job of setting up protocols. So I think it’s the right time.” Raphy Jacobson, however, is a little less enthused. The High School of American Studies senior actually adjusted well to remote learning, finding it easier to balance schoolwork with his personal pursuit of spending time behind the scenes on political campaigns. Still, Jacobson is excited about seeing his friends in-person again. But what he’s most looking forward to actually doesn’t have much to do with the classroom at all. “I don’t think it’ll be a major change in my schedule,” Jacobson said. “I’m just really excited that I’ll be getting

my student MetroCard back. That’s the big deal for me.” During a year when the entire public school system was rife with uncertainty, some things did remain the same. In Jacobson’s case, it was the “senior slide” — the tendency of seniors to coast through the final months of their high school careers. Jacobson says he’s not necessarily neglecting his studies, but he’s already got his sights set on college: The University of Wisconsin-Madison. Jacobson hopes that in a few months’ time, he’ll set foot on its physical campus, and it will be a much different world from the hybrid school landscape he’s come to expect. But for now, Jacobson’s happy he’ll get to see his classmates again before that happens. “I think we’re all just excited to see each other and to have the social opportunity,” Jacobson said. “I don’t think any of us really miss in-person learning. We’re all just like, ‘OK, let’s move on to college.’ We’re happy that we’ll probably be vaccinated by the time we get to college.”

JULY 2019 Museum docent and one-time Riverdale Press intern Dionel Then enters the race, saying he wants to be a voice for younger people.

AUGUST 2019 Another year, another missed opportunity for Andrew Cohen. Bronx Democrats didn’t offer him a judgeship yet again, meaning the race to replace him would be delayed for yet another year. But Cohen starts some ripples of his own, openly considering running for Bronx borough president.

JANUARY 2020 Jessica Haller, an environmental activist from Fieldston, enters the race hoping to ensure the next person who represents this part of the Bronx will make every decision with sustainability on the mind.

MARCH 2020 The coronavirus pandemic shuts down New York City (and the rest of the country) bringing many campaign activities to a halt. Jessica Haller, forced into quarantine because her children were potentially exposed to the earliest cases of the virus, takes to online videoconferencing through apps like Zoom to help get her message out.

AUGUST 2020 Dionel Then drops out and backs Dan Padernacht. At the same time, Marcos Sierra — a Democratic district leader in Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez’s territory, steps into the race, hoping to provide some representation from the Norwood area. Also joining the race is Abigail Martin, a social worker and adjunct professor at Columbia University. She hopes to focus on families struggling in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic. Andrew Cohen finally gets his judgeship from the Bronx Democrats, with plans to resign from his seat at the end of 2020. Some candidates take issue with a questionnaire being passed around by the Democratic Socialists of America quizzing those seeking council seats if they would accept an all-expenses paid junket to Israel. Claiming the question is anti-Semitic, all the candidates say they would accept the junket — except Martin, who said any travel is at the back of her mind while the pandemic rages on.

SEPTEMBER 2020 Mino Lora, who runs a theatre non-profit in Washington Heights, joins the race in a campaign she says is focused on inclusion — especially when it comes to immigrants like her. Lora’s family originated from the Dominican Republic.

NOVEMBER 2020 Carlton Berkley, a former New York Police Department detective who has run for city council from other districts in the past, jumps into this race from his Wakefield home. He said he wants to give more of a voice to the east side of the council district, something only Marcos Sierra had been doing up to that point.

DECEMBER 2020 Lawmakers had little sympathy for city council candidates asking for mercy when it came to collecting petition signatures to get on the ballot. The fear was high they could spread or even contract the virus that causes COVID-19. While Gov. Andrew Cuomo ultimately reduced the number of signatures required to get on the ballot, it was nowhere near the same level he cut that requirement in 2020. The Benjamin Franklin Reform Democratic Club makes a controversial move to suspend officer elections indefinitely while still pushing through its inevitable endorsement of Eric Dinowitz. Other candidates seeking the endorsement later banded together in what The Riverdale Press calls the “No, Thank You Six.” They ultimately told the Ben Franklin Club “no, thank you,” to its endorsement.

JANUARY 2021 Mayor Bill de Blasio sets the city council special election race for March 23. It would be one of two special election races in the Bronx that day, the other to replace newly minted U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres, who was elected to Congress the previous November. Abigail Martin and Marcos Sierra almost immediately drop out of the special election race, saying they plan to focus on the June primary instead. Both cited concerns about collecting petition signatures just as a new wave of coronavirus infections plague the city. Kevin Pazmino becomes the sixth candidate filing to appear on the special election ballot, also becoming the race’s lone conservative voice. The North Riverdale resident built a career as a filmmaker, and tells The Riverdale Press his candidacy is in response to what he described as a societal push “toward socialism.” Mino Lora tests positive for the virus that causes COVID-19, but continues to campaign, even remotely from isolation.

FEBRUARY 2021 Jessica Haller reveals she’s tested positive for the coronavirus within minutes of mayoral candidate — and one-time presidential hopeful — Andrew Yang did the same thing. Mino Lora takes some heat for past tweets on social media where she not only called to defund the New York Police Department, but to outright abolish the current system of law enforcement — at one point even using an expletive. Lora described the tweets as coming during a very emotional time for many in the wake of George Floyd’s death at the hands of Minneapolis police. Lora isn’t the only one facing questions about her social media presence. Kevin Pazmino defends retweets found in his suspended account, many pushing conspiracy theories related to Donald Trump’s debunked election fraud claims, and QAnon. He says sharing those tweets was a way to give voice to those who don’t get much attention, while also helping him bookmark topics he might want to explore in the future. Jessica Haller and Mino Lora announce they are cross-endorsing each other for the second slot on the ranked-choice ballot. They say as the only two women in the special election, voters should select them as their first and second choice — giving them the best chance of putting the first woman in office from this area since June Eisland retired in 2001.

MARCH 2021 State Sen. Alessandra Biaggi takes aim at the Bronx Democratic Party machine, blasting Eric Dinowitz and his connection to that machine, while backing both Jessica Haller and Mino Lora. State Sen. Gustavo Rivera makes a similar endorsement, bypassing Dan Padernacht. The former Community Board 8 chair had stepped aside from running for the state senate in 2010, paving the way for Rivera to win the seat. Final fundraising numbers before the start of early voting shows the top-four candidates spending $220,000 in the space of just a month. Yet only 18 percent of it — $39,000 — stayed in the Bronx. Lora had the best record of spending locally in that time, keeping more than 60 percent of the $28,000 she doled out here at home. Dinowitz, however, kept no money in the borough, instead writing $94,000 in checks to businesses and people anywhere except the Bronx. Instead, the former teacher spent $80,000 on his Brooklyn-based campaign consulting firm, Red Horse Strategies, bringing its total to $125,000 since the campaign’s start. Padernacht and Carlton Berkley decide to cross-endorse each other, hoping voters will choose them as their first and second choices. They made the announcement during a candidate forum hosted by Common Cause New York, The Riverdale Y, and The Riverdale Press.

THE RIVERDALE PRESS - Thursday, March 18, 2021 - A5

VOTE ERIC DINOWITZ For City Council Supported By Leaders We Trust

Congressmember

Ritchie Torres

Congressmember

Adriano Espaillat

Bronx Borough President

State Senator

Councilmember

Jamaal Bailey

Kevin Riley

Councilmember

Mark Treyger

Ruben Diaz Jr.

Daniel Dromm

Assemblymember

Chantel Jackson

Trusted By Our Community

United Federation of Teachers

32BJ SEIU

New York City Central Labor Council

Hotel Trades Council

Bronx Democratic Party

RWDSU

DC37

Uniformed Firefighters Association

Stonewall Democrats

Local 2507

Ben Franklin Reform Democratic Club

Paid for by Voters of NYC, Inc., Jeffrey Leb - Treasurer. Top three donors: WLZ Properties, LLC., Ancel Holding Group, Inc., Rosewood Realty Group, Inc. Not expressly or otherwise authorized or requested by any candidate or the candidate’s committee or agent. More information at nyc.gov/FollowTheMoney

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A6 - THE RIVERDALE PRESS - Thursday, March 18, 2021

Candidates spend $220,000 last month, but not in Bronx n Lora, Padernacht stay local — but both Haller, Dinowitz don’t By MICHAEL HINMAN mhinman@riverdalepress.com

Among the four top-spending candidates fighting for votes in the March 23 city council special election race, Mino Lora has shelled out the least amount of money. But when she does spend it, she’s the best at making sure it stays right here in the Bronx. Candidates filed their last financial reports with the city’s campaign finance board on Fri-

day ahead of early voting, showing minimal fundraising, but a lot of spending. All of that was led by former schoolteacher Eric Dinowitz, who wrote checks for more than $94,000 since Valentine’s Day. The vast majority of that — just under $80,000 — has gone to his Brooklyn-based campaign consulting group, Red Horse Strategies, which has now made more than $125,000 so far from Dinowitz. Yet, Dinowitz didn’t spend a single penny of that money in the Bronx — at least based on the expenditures he publicly disclosed. His campaign maintains there has been some local spending in the past month, in-

cluding the purchase of digital ads with The Riverdale Press. However, Red Horse chose not to provide an itemized bill they charged the son of Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz this past month. In fact, of the $176,000 spent by his campaign overall, Dinowitz has paid out just $10,000 — or 5 percent — in his home borough. It was a much different story for Lora, the Spuyten Duyvilbased non-profit executive director. She spent more than $28,000 in the past month, with more than 62 percent of it — $17,500 to be exact — staying in the Bronx. Lora has now paid out more than $62,000 since the

start of her campaign, yet more than half — $32,000 — has remained in the Bronx. Unlike Dinowitz and Fieldston environmental activist Jessica Haller, Lora has eschewed outside political consulting groups for the most part, and has tried to hire campaign staff from within the council district. That includes salary of more than $11,000 to Meghan Wasserman, and another $2,300 to Jose Galarza. Kingsbridge Heights real estate attorney Dan Padernacht also has tried to keep his campaign staff local, depending primarily on manager Jennifer Firestone. The $17,600 he paid her over the past month

accounts for all the money Padernacht has spent in the Bronx. Still, that has accounted for 59 percent local spending. Overall, Padernacht has spent 40 percent of his campaign money in the Bronx, a sharp contrast to Haller, who has spent just $12,000 locally since the start of her campaign. That’s just 8 percent of the nearly $160,000 total she has paid out. Instead, Haller has preferred to hire outside political consulting companies like Brooklynbased Raven Strategies. She paid the group $21,000 this past month, and nearly $65,000 overall. She also hired The Sexton Group to do some work, pay-

ing the Chicago company more than $9,000 in the past month. Kevin Pazmino has not reported any spending for his campaign, while Carlton Berkley paid out just a few hundred dollars this past month, almost all of it in the Bronx. The four larger-spending candidates combined to pay out more than $220,000 since Feb. 16. However, just $39,000 — or 18 percent of it — remained in the Bronx. Lora still has more than $100,000 uncommitted for the final weeks of the campaign, while Padernacht is boasting a balance of nearly $80,000. Dinowitz and Haller have about $35,000 each remaining.

Biaggi backs Lora, Haller; blasts Dinowitz n Says Dinowitz backed senator who supported GOP, not Democrats By MICHAEL HINMAN mhinman@riverdalepress.com

With just two weeks to go before voters were set to decide a city council special election race, state Sen. Alessandra Biaggi publicly backed a candidate. In fact, two. And neither of them are Eric Dinowitz. “Eric Dinowitz is a younger, slightly savvier version of the same cynical machine politicos, who for some reason still haven’t learned their lessons about lying and misrepresentation, despite their mounting losses in recent years,” Biaggi shared on Twitter last week. “If Eric Dinowitz wins the special, I will give the second place candidate my full energy and resources to make sure he doesn’t win the primary in June.” Biaggi added the council district “deserves honest representation,” and has backed Mino Lora and Jessica Haller in the race instead. The unplanned announcement apparently was a response to a statement Dinowitz’s campaign made to the Norwood News last week, that the former teacher “supported efforts to elect a Democratic majority in the state senate, and make Andrea Stewart-Cousins the majority leader.” Biaggi wasn’t accepting that at all, tweeting Dinowitz’s statement was “a

JULIIUS CONSTANTINE MOTAL / File

Alessandra Biaggi sits on the panel of forum hosted by the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition in 2018 after then-state Sen. Jeffrey Klein was a no-show. Biaggi backs Mino Lora and Jessica Haller in a city council race against Eric Dinowitz, who she says backed Klein and his support of senate Republicans. blatant lie.” He “supported Jeff Klein, who was keeping (Stewart-Cousins) from being majority leader.” Those claims were echoed by Rachel McCullough, political director of The Jewish Vote political organization, that also backed Lora and Haller. She lashed out not just at Eric Dinowitz, but also his father, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz. “Dinowitz the father, Dinowitz the son and Andrew Cohen all supported former Sen. Jeff Klein, the IDC and Republicans in the state legislature,” McCullough said. “And (they) are again working against the people of

the Bronx during a deadly crisis.” Klein led a group of Democratic state senators that broke away from their party and instead caucused with Republicans to help them retain power in the upper chamber. Biaggi defeated Klein in a primary upset in 2018, despite not having the backing of the Bronx Democratic political machine, which instead supported Klein. Once this Independent Democratic Conference was voted out, Democrats — led by Biaggi — retook the majority, elevating Stewart-Cousins to majority leader. “My campaign’s statement referred

to my work proudly volunteering as a Democratic district leader, and with the United Federation of Teachers to support Democrats,” Dinowitz told The Riverdale Press in a statement. He cited his work supporting a number of state senators ranging from Gustavo Rivera in 2010, to other candidates like Shelley Mayer and Todd Kaminsky in special elections, as well as James Skoufis and Anna Kaplan in 2018. “This is unequivocally how I invested my passion and energy in 2018, and I embrace the new voices that emerged that year,” Dinowitz said. “I am proud of the broad progressive

coalition of support my campaign has built, and I’m laser-focused on the northwest Bronx’s recovery.” Biaggi’s endorsements are similar to the nods offered by state Sen. Gustavo Rivera earlier in the week. He backed a ticket with Lora as his first choice and Haller as second. He didn’t back Kingsbridge Heights real estate attorney Dan Padernacht, who dropped out of the state senate race in 2010 that allowed Rivera to ultimately win the seat. Padernacht’s exit came at the time with heavy praise from Bronx politicos, including Jeffrey Dinowitz, borough president Ruben Diaz Jr., and Rivera himself. “Sen. Alessandra Biaggi shows us what it looks like to take on the biggest fights in New York — and win,” Lora posted on Twitter in response to the senator’s endorsement. Just before that, however, she attacked Dinowitz’s claims, saying “we’ve had enough of this behavior.” “Imagine working against the people of the Bronx by actively supporting the IDC,” Lora said, “and then lying about it two weeks before the election.” Lora, Haller, Dinowitz and Padernacht are just four of the six candidates seeking to fill out the final year of Cohen’s term on the city council. Other candidates include former New York Police Department detective Carlton Berkley, and independent filmmaker Kevin Pazmino. Early voting is now underway through this weekend, with regular special election day balloting on March 23.

THETAHESSOCIATION OF RIVERDALE COOPERATIVES & CONDOMINIUMS (ARC) ASSOCIATION OF RIVERDALE COOPERATIVES & CONDOMINIUMS (ARC) ARC has been supporting and advocating for the ARC has been supporting and advocating for the co-op shareholders and condominium owners in Riverdale and throughout the Bronx for more co-op shareholders and condominium owners in Riverdale and throughout the Bronx for more than 37 years. than 37 years.

Recently, ARC redesigned its website, arc-riverdale.com to provide important information Recently, ARC redesigned its website, arc-riverdale.com to provide important information that you may not find elsewhere. You truly owe it to yourself to become familiar with all that that you may not find elsewhere. You truly owe it to yourself to become familiar with all that is going on in your neighborhood and in your respective buildings. ARC communicates is going on in your neighborhood and in your respective buildings. ARC communicates regularly with the Board of Directors President of each member building, but individually you regularly with the Board of Directors President of each member building, but individually you too can become and remain informed in a timely manner by visiting arc-riverdale.com too can become and remain informed in a timely manner by visiting arc-riverdale.com Also, you should know that ARC Also, you should know that ARC • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Has provided up-to-date information andcondos condosthroughout throughout COVID-19 • Has provided up-to-date informationfor for co-ops co-ops and thethe COVID-19 era era Convinced ConCon Edison to to bring toRiverdale Riverdale • Convinced Edison bringnatural naturalgas gas lines lines to Represented all co-ops and condos forlabor laborcontracts contracts with Local 32BJ • Represented all co-ops and condosininnegotiations negotiations for with Local 32BJ Lobbyed for for NYS Property co-opand andcondo condo owners • Lobbyed NYS PropertyTax TaxAbatement Abatement for for co-op owners Presented Conflict Mediation andShareholders Shareholders • Presented Conflict MediationTechniques Techniques for for Boards Boards and Explained Fiscal Management Responsibility co-op boards • Explained Fiscal Managementand andthe theFiduciary Fiduciary Responsibility ofof co-op boards Introduced Verizon FIOS totoRiverdale optiontoto Cablevision • Introduced Verizon FIOS Riverdaleas as an an alternative alternative option Cablevision Advocated for for thethe New York Programininour ourarea’s area’s buildings • Advocated New YorkCity CityClean Clean Heat Heat Program buildings Has worked continuously with co-opboard boardautonomy autonomy • Has worked continuously withlegislators legislators to to retain retain co-op Advised on How to Negotiate Contracts • Advised on How to NegotiateNew NewManagement Management Contracts Sought FEMA funding from afterHurricane Hurricane Sandy • Sought FEMA funding fromCongress Congressfor for co-ops co-ops after Sandy Modeled a Fair Admissions of Directors Directors • Modeled a Fair AdmissionsPolicy Policyfor forBoards Boards of Updates members annually ononLegal CurrentRulings Rulings from Courts • Updates members annually LegalIssues Issues and and Current from thethe Courts

The ARC webpage is all about our neighborhood neighborhood – and nothing The ARC webpage is all aboutco-ops, co-ops,condos condos and and our – and nothing else!else! It is It is also also an easy wayway to contact ARC answerstotoyour yourpersonal personal questions. an easy to contact ARCdirectly directly and and get get answers questions. OnceOnce again, go to, again, go to, STEPHEN J. BJ.UDIHAS , P,RESIDENT ; ;JEAN , SECRETARY; DEENA SPINDLER, TREASURER; STEPHEN BUDIHAS PRESIDENT JEANDDANIELS ANIELS, SECRETARY; DEENA SPINDLER, TREASURER; SHELLEY B AKER; MICHAEL HELLER, POLITICAL LIAISON; TED PROCAS, CHAIRMAN; ED YAKER; MARC LUXEMBURG, GENERAL COUNSEL SHELLEY BAKER; MICHAEL HELLER, POLITICAL LIAISON; TED PROCAS, CHAIRMAN; ED YAKER; MARC LUXEMBURG, GENERAL COUNSEL

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arc-riverdale.com arc-riverdale.com

THE RIVERDALE PRESS - Thursday, March 18, 2021 - A7

VOTE ERIC DINOWITZ For City Council The Leadership and Experience We Need on the City Council.

IF YOU DON’T VOTE, THE COMMUNITY LOSES! ENDORSED BY OUR COMMUNITY LEADERS Congressmember Ritchie Torres Congressmember Adriano Espaillat Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. State Senator Jamaal Bailey Councilmember Kevin Riley Councilmember Daniel Dromm Councilmember Mark Treyger Assemblymember Chantel Jackson

Can’t make it on election day? VOTE EARLY from March 13-21 Eric Dinowitz Your Bronx Voice

Eric Dinowitz

Council Member Choice Vote for 2 of one 5

Council Member Choice Vote for 3 of one 5

Council Member Choice Vote for 4 of one 5

Council Member Choice Vote for 5 of one 5

YourEric Bronx Dinowitz Voice

Your Bronx Voice J N

H d ll hi

1st Choice

Daniel Padernacht Community First

Daniel Padernacht

Kevin Pazmino Patriot

Daniel Community Padernacht First

Community First

2nd Choice

EARLY VOTING HOURS SAT • 3/13 • 10AM-4PM SUN • 3/14 • 10AM-4PM MON • 3/15 • 7AM-3PM TUES • 3/16 • 12PM-8PM WED • 3/17 • 12PM-8PM

THUR • 3/18 • 10AM-6PM FRI • 3/19 • 7AM-3PM SAT • 3/20 • 10AM-4PM SUN • 3/21 • 10AM-4PM

EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS The Riverdale Y

5625 Arlington Avenue

IN-Tech Academy 2975 Tibbett Avenue

Bronx High School of Science 75 West 205th Street

St. Anthony’s Church 4505 Richardson Avenue

Go to: https://findmypollsite.vote.nyc/

to find out which early voting site you should vote at, or vote at your regular voting site on Tuesday, March 23.

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VOTE – SPECIAL ELECTION ON TUESDAY, MARCH 23. PLEASE BE SURE TO VOTE ERIC DINOWITZ FOR CITY COUNCIL.

A8 - THE RIVERDALE PRESS - Thursday, March 18, 2021

Opinion EDITORIAL

It’s simple: Just vote T

he poet Charles Bukowski once quipped that “the difference between a democracy and a dictatorship is that in a democracy, you vote first and take orders later. In a dictatorship, you don’t have to waste your time voting.” Bukowski never had the most positive view on government — even the FBI kept a file on him — but he may have had a point when it comes to how much importance would-be voters put on becoming actual voters. Spoiler alert: It’s not a lot. Next week, voters in this part of the Bronx are set to choose their next representative on the city council. In fact, early voting is under way as you read this, seeing who will fill out the last year of Andrew Cohen’s last term. There has been a lot of attention paid to this particular special election race, and the six candidates that make up the field. But don’t be surprised if that interest doesn’t translate into halfway decent turnout. In fact, if recent special elections in Queens are any indicator, there won’t be a lot of ballots to count when polls finally close on Tuesday evening. James Gennaro, for example, needed just 4,000 votes to reclaim his old city council seat representing the greater Fresh Meadows neighborhood. With ranked-choice voting now the law of New York City, certainly we would have to wait for more rounds of counting. But we didn’t. Because just 6,800 votes were cast — out of 90,000. That’s not even 10 percent. That’s not even 8 percent. Another Queens race a month later does require extra rounds, as no one achieved a clear majority. But once again, barely 7,000 people cast a bal-

lot, while 83,000 others felt it was just a waste of time. That doesn’t bode well for Tuesday’s special election, in a district already known for dismal turnouts. When Cohen first ran in 2013, he beat primary challenger Cliff Stanton by 36 points. Turnout, however, was only 13 percent. Turnout did double for the November general election, but by then, any challenger to Cohen in a heavily Democratic district was token at best, and he already had his drapes measured. Low turnout is the dream of political machines like the Bronx Democrats. If people aren’t bothering to come out to vote, then securing enough of their own voters to ensure their choice gets elected is easy-peasy. If we are not going to exercise that right to vote, then maybe living in a dictatorship is exactly what we deserve? As everyday people, we might not feel too powerful. But we have all the power we ever need. We choose who leads us, and we make that choice by casting a ballot. Those leaders could bark orders, as Bukowski warned, but at least it’s the orders we want them barking. We all love where we live, even if we recognize there’s room for improvement. But our community’s core begins with who represents us on city council. This person will make more decisions that affect us every day than anyone else, and we must take this role seriously. We do that by casting a vote. Whether it’s today at an early voting site, or on Tuesday at your primary voting site. Or even absentee. This isn’t a dictatorship. But if you think voting is a waste of time and don’t even bother, would you even notice?

POINT OF VIEW

Open government is the key to honest government

By KEN PAULSON

hen government fails, it’s the rare public official who says, “Oops. My fault.” That’s human nature, particularly for officials in the public eye who may have to run for office again. No one wants to be held directly responsible for letting the public down. Case in point is the recent catastrophe in Texas, when unexpected winter storms left 4 million homes without power, ruptured pipes, and tainted the water supply for many. Texas’ energy grid essentially collapsed. While Gov. Greg Abbott was quick to blame frozen wind turbines, the cause was much more complex than that. To truly understand how things went so terribly wrong will require time, study and research. So, too, with the coronavirus vaccine distribution. In Tennessee and other states, residents are frustrated with the slow rollout of vaccines. Is it poor distribution? Politics? A flawed strategy? These are literally matters of life and death. But how do you get to the truth when public officials so rarely step up to take direct responsibility for failures? The answer is public records. And public meetings. And access to the information that taxpayers deserve. States throughout the country have laws that guarantee access to government records and meetings. But the details vary widely, and there are many statutory exceptions. New challenges to access emerge every year in virtually every state. The need to fight for government transparency is reaffirmed each year during Sunshine Week, a national awareness event overseen by the News Leaders Association and keyed to the March 16 birthday of James Madison. The fourth President of the United States drafted the Bill of Rights — including the guarantee of a free press — in 1791. That journalism connection reflects the role news media play in the free flow of information. But it unfortunately can also leave the public

with a sense that Sunshine Week reflects the concern of a single industry. To the contrary. Access to government information is critical to every American who cares about the quality of his or her community, state or nation. It’s important to see government employees — including elected officials — as the people we hire through our tax dollars to do a good job for all of us. If you run a business or hire a contractor, you wouldn’t hesitate to demand a full understanding of how something went wrong. That should be exactly our relationship with government. Getting that information, though, requires public meetings where residents can ask questions. It also means access to the documents that led to a poor decision. Words on paper can be much more forthright than the dissembling of politicians. It’s critical that we hold government accountable, for better or worse. (It’s also important to acknowledge when government leaders are doing a good job.) How can you help? I have two suggestions. First, keep doing exactly what you’re doing at this moment. Read and support your local newspaper. Local journalists, more than anyone else, will stand up for your right to information. Facebook will not be going toe-to-toe with your mayor. Second, when you believe government isn’t doing its job, demand an explanation. Ask to see the documents. Attend public meetings. And, above all, support legislative efforts to make government more transparent. It’s too easy for officials who have failed us to point fingers, blame the media, and wait for their side of the partisan fence, to rally to their defense. We deserve better. We all pay taxes to support the work of government. We should get our money’s worth. The author is the director of the Free Speech Center at Middle Tennessee State University, a lawyer, and a former editor-in-chief of USA Today.

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Don’t go down the wrong path To the editor:

(re: “Building the world we all want,” Feb. 4)

There are two main points in Maayan Seligsohn’s recent letter. The first questions why anyone — and particularly Rabbi Avi Weiss — could question the goals of the progressives. The second is the assumption that anti-Zionism is an honest position and not an underhanded restatement of anti-Semitism. Progressivism is the naïve assumption that all of society’s ills come from racial oppression coupled with the notion that everyone’s needs should be fulfilled as-of-right. In addition, they believe that the remedy is at hand if everyone acts based on the common good. This last year of COVID-19 protests and antivaxxer campaigns, together with disregard for reasonable health precautions in the public domain, should disabuse us of simple solutions to complex problems. Any serious thought about human condition recognizes the need for work. It is a way for people to measure their selfworth and their achievements, and to organize their time. “Boredom is truly the devil’s workshop!” Communism, the sister of socialism, has not proven a successful answer to humanity’s problems. Notice that this movement saw society’s problem as oppression of workers by entrepreneurs. Are you aware of the millions who died bringing communism to Russia? Are you aware of the further millions who died during the various purges? Do you know that many of those purged were Jewish communists who believed that, finally, they would be judged by their efforts, and not by their ethnicity? Today, it is fashionable to believe that some aspects of socialism can be useful, but not notice they are not emigrating to Russia, to China, or even to Vietnam. Always pay attention to what people do, not what they say. And another knee-jerk position for progressives is the need to bash Israel. After two generations of Israel bashing on campuses all over the

United States, progressives — as demonstrated by U.S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman — have to lash out, no matter the excuse. Just a few weeks ago, Bowman needed to demonstrate his progressive credentials by attacking Israel. The excuse was the non-existence of a Palestinian vaccine campaign. The fact that this was the fault of the Palestinian Authority who agreed under the Oslo Accords to be in charge of health care in their territories was considered irrelevant. Israel is always at fault. This leads me into the “anti-Zionism is not antiSemitism” argument. These specious arguments are rhetorical, not logical, but they leave people of good will tongue-tied because of their artful construction. I am willing to believe that not everything in Israel is perfect. However, beginning with trickles in the late 1800s, Jews have been returning to their ancestral homeland. (Remember when people studied the Bible and knew that Jews have lived in Israel for thousands of years?) These pioneers literally made the desert bloom and established a First World democracy in a degraded landscape that was the legacy of generations of uncaring conquerors. The world should be lining up to find out their secret. Instead, all they can do is condemn them. The U.N. Commission of Human Rights only knows how to condemn Israel. What is this, if not outright anti-Semitism? Just imagine if Israel did not exist. Would all these other problems disappear? Diversity is today’s clarion call. If diversity were such a powerful solution, why has there been, at least, 2,000 years of anti-Semitism when Jews were generally the only diverse populations in the lands where they resided? More recently, why has the role of the Jewish community in the civil rights movement been erased? Maayan, your heart may be in the right place, but your understanding of power politics, guilt and manipulation, demagogues, and sheer evil means that you are easy prey. Do not let your good heart take us all down with you. Sura JeSelSohn

Not even hiding the party boss To the editor: (re: “Taxpayers fund campaigns, but little remains in Bronx,” March 4) In its interesting analysis of how little of the money raised by the city council candidates is actually spent inside the Bronx, where that money is spent is also instructive. Thus, it is reported that of the modest fraction of the total funds raised by Eric Dinowitz which are actually spent in the Bronx, $8,000 of the $9,500 spent go to one man: Stanley Schlein. Schlein, it will be recalled, is the go-to man for those interested in a judgeship. While Dinowitz “the younger” purports to run a campaign independent of his father, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, he has repeatedly expressed comfort with Boss Schlein’s singular

control of the judicial selection, to which he is a judicial delegate. Assemblyman Dinowitz is a major player in the patronage-driven judicial selection process, serving as an enabler of the Schlein cabal. Surely it is no coincidence that of the thousands of attorneys living or working in the Bronx, that Dinowitz “the younger” has chosen to fund directly Schlein, the dominant figure in this destructive practice. In resigning from his important service as a special education teacher — and replacing it as a go-along protector of party’s patronage embrace — Eric Dinowitz merits being listed as the least worthy of the candidates of the weighted voting ballot. eric Seiff

To the editor: I am so happy to have made it through a year of confinement. I am vaccinated, but am awaiting vaccinations for my family. I am not sure that I am ready to travel to see them, California and Florida. I am hopeful it will happen. So what to do? It is perplexing, and I waver in the possibilities. We had a friend to dinner the other evening. Maybe we are going for St. Patrick’s Day to friends. Maybe we are having a small Seder. These today are “allowed.” Tomorrow? Who can ever say much about any tomorrow anyway? We can just hope. I am so perplexed why the world is not jumping on vaccines. I remember polio. I waited with my family for hours to get the shot. We would not have questioned it. What’s different? It scares me. It threatens me. What will happen to the Zooms as we get more and more freedom? I made friends on that venue. I

might not see them again, those who live far away. I learned to paint better. To write more. To read different kinds of books. To get involved in British television. I bird-watched and walked the Riverdale neighborhoods, all the nooks and crannies. Soon I’ll get in my hardly ever used car and venture further and further. I will miss what has become my “new normal.” I will have to dress differently. I might put on makeup again. I will put on jewelry. I confess I did not miss those things, but those are so much a part of our lives again. I will continue to write to the paper, maybe not anymore about the COVID-19 conundrum. But there’s a world to write about. And so, I leave you with the questions. I’m confused about it. But again, we’ll all help each other get over it. Thanks for being there. All of you. JudiTh Veder

Pre-post-pandemic predicament

No pass just for being a woman To the editor:

(re: “Emotional? Just human,” March 4)

Granted, The Riverdale Press is just a neighborhood newspaper, and not The New York Times or Wall Street Journal. But one would expect its editors to know enough not to engage in straw man arguments. Yet, in responding to readers’ criticism of Mino Lora’s changing rhetoric about the police, The Press’ March 4 editorial is full of straw. Elected officials often must respond to highly charged is-

sues. According to The Press’ reporting, Lora says she responded impulsively to an issue in a way she now regrets. Voters would be justified to question the judgment — and, consequently, the fitness for office — of a candidate who responds impulsively. More likely, however, Lora is walking back her previous response out of political expediency. In this case, too, voters would be justified in questioning the integrity of a candidate who changes their position for political expediency.

All politicians should be judged by the same standards regardless of their gender identity. It is true women are often judged more harshly than men, but that does not mean they should be exempt from any standards. There are plenty of women who demonstrate both good judgment and integrity, just as there are many men who lack these qualities. Lora should not get a pass just because she identifies as female. ron WegSman

THE RIVERDALE PRESS - Thursday, March 18, 2021 - A9

Op-Ed

Continues on Page A10 All six candidates filed to run in the March 23 city council special election race were invited to submit Point of View pieces that would be published this week. Neither Carlton Berkley nor Kevin Pazmino provided a submission. The other four are printed below, in random order.

POINT OF VIEW

My turn to serve this council district? It’s right now

By JESSICA HALLER

y name is Jessica Haller, and I’m a working mother of four, a technology entrepreneur, and a climate activist trained by Al Gore. I am running to represent the wonderful, diverse neighborhoods of District 11 on the New York City Council because I know that the world is on fire. I often ask myself how my four children will survive as we undergo such drastic change — environmentally, technologically and economically. Looking around at our neighborhoods, I see that the Bronx is last among New York state counties in health outcomes, and lags the country in terms of economic opportunity. How will all our children thrive if schools are failing, our housing system is broken, and the very air they

breathe is making them sick? The only way forward is if we stand up to the political machine that got us into our predicament. For decades, this area has been under the thumb of a “reform” Democratic club that financed and helped re-elect a state senator who created and led the Independent Democratic Conference. This group kept legislation that would have advanced women’s rights, expanded health care for all, and would have helped the environment of our neighborhoods from becoming law in New York. After thus standing in the way of progress, this club is now seeking to establish a political dynasty by anointing the son of our 30-year Assemblyman its candidate for the city council. This is not progress, it is nepotism. The “old boys’ club” told me that I should “wait my turn” before running for office.

But our world is on fire now. The ”heat islands” that make many of our streets unbearable in the summer, the polluted air that gives the Bronx some of the nation’s highest asthma rates — and that contributed so much to our high COVID-19 deaths — are happening now. We do not have time to wait. I launched this campaign in January 2020 on a platform of equity, resilience and sustainability because the solutions to the challenges we face are all connected. With leadership experience in the private sector as an entrepreneur creating jobs, in the non-profit sector leading the largest faith-based environmental organization in the United States, and in government, building tools to connect government to the people, I have a track record of creating effective solutions that solve multiple problems at once.

We need people in office who understand that everything is connected: resilience and housing, sustainability and transportation, and equity and jobs. Locally, I was a co-op board president, securing financial stability for the building. I was chair of the committee that launched our beloved Riverdale Sunday Market. During COVID-19, I created a way to ensure older adults received kosher food when the city was not yet providing, while supporting local businesses at the same time. I am proud of the endorsements the campaign has received: our former councilman, Oliver Koppell; state Sen. Alessandra Biaggi; former council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito; No IDC NY, 21 in ’21; Bronx Climate Justice North; the League of Conservation Voters; and more. There is much work to be done

to address the climate crisis, reform the criminal justice system, make our neighborhoods safer, battle systemic racism, provide quality public education to all of our children regardless of which neighborhood they live in, ensure that our senior citizens have what they need, and that our postpandemic world is rebuilt fairly. We must all participate. We have learned over the past five years that we cannot sit idly by and expect that our political leaders will know and do what’s best for us. We must create the world we want to live in. Please vote in the special election on March 23. I humbly ask that you make me, Jessica Haller, your first choice. Thank you. The author is a candidate for city council in the March 23 special election.

Spending a lifetime preparing to represent all of you By ERIC DINOWITZ

his corner of the Bronx has given so much to me and my family. I was born and raised here, and it’s where my wife and I are now raising our twin boys. Right after college, I became a special education teacher at the John F. Kennedy campus, right in the very neighborhood in which I was raised. For nearly 14 years, I taught in our public schools — including through the pandemic — and every day, I saw that the needs of my students extended far beyond the walls of my classroom. And while I helped my students who struggled with homelessness, hunger, mental health needs and more, what they also needed was a city that supported them inside and outside the classroom.

Our city’s government and its faceless bureaucracy overlooks the northwest Bronx — not just our schools, but also our small businesses, public transit and affordable housing. I am running for city council to be an advocate for all of us, and will fight as tirelessly for you as I did in the classroom for each and every one of my students. Throughout my career, I have seen problems and sought to address them. Time and again, I saw friends and neighbors work hard in the city they love, but in return not be provided with what they needed to thrive. It became clear to me that the struggles our teachers face are the same struggles faced by working families across our city — fighting for fair treatment and livable wages. I joined Community Board 8 and looked out for the interests of our senior citizens by chairing the aging

committee, and saw a city not doing enough to address their needs so that they can remain safe and independent. As your elected Democratic district leader, I fought cuts for our bus service and supported people with disabilities by forming a coalition to bring transportation access to one of our local train stations. I worked to make voting easier and accessible to all New Yorkers. And I continually stood up to extremists like Donald Trump on behalf of our shared progressive values. My work, rooted in our community, has been to ensure that your voice is heard. And I have delivered results. These experiences have prepared me to fight for systemic changes to address issues facing our students, seniors, working families, and people with disabilities, and stand up for the quality of life we deserve from our city.

I will fight for a fair recovery for the northwest Bronx. That includes ensuring that the vaccine gets to our community and is distributed in a fair way that adequately reaches our seniors and communities of color. I will be a champion for our small businesses that have been ravaged by the pandemic and are struggling to survive. I have a plan to rein in rents, lower fines, and bring dedicated city liaisons to our small business community. I will empower our students by moving away from high-stakes testing and incorporating social-emotional learning into our schools. I will address these systemic issues while improving our quality of life. I have dedicated my life to serving our community, and will never stop fighting to ensure we have livable and thriving neighborhoods that every person in this district can be proud

to call home. I am running to be a fighter, to make your voice heard in city hall. I am so proud to have earned the endorsements from unions representing hundreds of thousands of essential workers, including the United Federation of Teachers, 32BJ and DC37. Also from U.S. Reps. Adriano Espaillat and Ritchie Torres, Bronx borough president Ruben Diaz Jr., state Sen. Jamaal Bailey, and dozens of progressive leaders and elected officials. Through my work, I have put you first. And now I humbly ask that you rank me first in this election on March 23. And visit my website at EricDinowitz.com. The author is a candidate for city council in the March 23 special election.

Growing up in the Bronx, and ready to do my part By DAN PADERNACHT

he decisions our city makes in the next year will shape the next decade. That makes the selection of our District 11 city council member on March 23 so important. That person will be thrust into the middle of critical budget negotiations and various legislative bills that affect our quality of life. One such bill is Intro. 2186 which, among other things, seeks to upzone low-density districts while limiting community input. We need a sharp person who understands our district, knows the law, has worked with city agencies, and can make difficult decisions. I grew up on West 238th Street and Sedgwick Avenue — across the street

from Pigeon Park. I’m part of the third generation of my family to live in the working-class neighborhood of Kingsbridge. I attended P.S. 95, J.H.S. 143 and Fordham Prep. For better and worse, I grew up in the Bronx of the 1980s. With more than 2,000 murders per year, we were aware of the dangers of the city. Navigating our surroundings made us tougher than most, and my experience shaped who I am today. Growing up here instilled in me my sharp instincts, common sense, and a never-quit mindset. I have a bachelor’s degree in economics and a juris doctor. During law school, I represented the United States in the International Negotiation Competition in Singapore. I’m a local

attorney who works for neighbors in the purchase and sale of their homes. I often provide free legal services and information to tenants who have housing disputes. I teach mock trial to seventh graders back at P.S. 95. As an attorney, I regularly interpret laws and draft documents based on those laws — a skill set that is essential for a city council member. For 12 years, I have served on Community Board 8 — three as board chair, eight as chair of the traffic and transportation committee, and four as vice chair of the land use committee. I’ve stood in front of our schools at 7:30 a.m., to watch traffic patterns, held phone conferences at 10 p.m., and attended four-hour meetings to advocate for our community with

many folks reading this Point of View. I’ve run nearly a thousand community meetings to work on local issues in collaboration with city agencies, elected officials, community groups, local businesses and our residents. A well-led government has the ability to help those in need and make life better for people in our area. My first priority is to establish a responsive and efficient office to address constituent services. I will fight to keep families in their homes, create new models of affordable housing, implement communitybased planning measures, stimulate the local economy, work with school administrators and teachers to address pandemic-related educational deficiencies, monitor proper implementation of environmental laws,

advocate for low-income New Yorkers, and ensure that senior citizens and people with disabilities have a voice in city hall. My background uniquely qualifies me to represent the northwest Bronx. I understand the pulse and needs of our neighborhoods, and the values that bind us. On March 23, I ask that you elect me to city council to effectively serve your needs. I am grateful for those who have endorsed me in this race, including Assemblyman Michael Blake, Bill Samuels, Dionel Then and the Northwest Bronx Democrats. The author is a candidate for city council in the March 23 special election.

Someone who knows how to get everything done By MINO LORA

n the race for Council District 11, I’m the only candidate who built and runs a non-profit with a million-dollar operating budget and 32 employees. People’s Theatre Project delivers free programs to 1,000 Bronx and Upper Manhattan students annually. During this pandemic, I kept my staff members employed, and when the Summer Youth Employment Program was cut from the budget, I brought together 14 non-profits to create a free camp for more than 200 children, and secured the funding to operate it. In my role on the leadership council of the New York Immigration Coalition, I brought my students to Albany to fight for school and adult literacy funding, met with U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer to successfully advocate for the inclusion of immigrants in COVID relief, and partnered with the gov-

ernor’s office to ensure vaccinations didn’t include U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement invasions. When the Bronx became a national epicenter for the pandemic — disproportionately impacting low-income, working class and people of color in District 11 — I raised money, connected neighborhoods to relief, and organized marches to demand more from our government. As we work to build a more resilient and humane city, we’ll need the people most affected to be empowered in decision-making processes that work toward justice. Failing to engage tenants, immigrants, small business owners, students, frontline and essential workers — at minimum — would be a dereliction of duty by every elected official in New York City. As councilwoman, I will listen carefully to district residents as we fight like hell for: • Fully funded and equitable pub-

lic schools. I will claw back the $707 million cut away from the education department’s fiscal budget, and fight for the $168 million in Foundation Aid owed to the Bronx. The next fiscal budget must provide adequate resources for equitable universal broadband and multi-lingual learners in District 11, as well as arts and culturally responsive education in all public schools, and adequately compensate teachers who also reflect the diversity of our classrooms. • Small business relief and recovery. Small businesses are the heart of our communities, and a primary source of jobs. I’ll work to pass the five bills that will provide relief and support for small business owners, and reduce the number of vacant storefronts. • Housing that is affordable. Too many Bronx residents pay too much of their income for rent, and many others are homeless or sharing overcrowded apartments. The city must

build and preserve more housing that the people of the Bronx can actually afford. But it also has to be built in a way that builds communities, and that includes schools, playgrounds, and other amenities for the neighborhood. The first and most important job of whoever wins the March 23 special election will be working on the city budget this summer. I will not accept an austerity budget — that is, a budget full of cuts for essential services. I will work with state legislators to fight for fair taxes for the super-rich, who made billions of dollars during the pandemic, while tens of thousands of New Yorkers lost their lives and jobs. Austerity is not how we build New York City back. I’m running to represent a district that is majority working class and people of color. Half of us are Latino, and a third of us are immigrants. I understand many of the challenges district residents face because I’ve

lived them. I’m an immigrant from the Dominican Republic who built a new life here. I’ve worked minimum wage jobs, spent a decade without health insurance, and recently survived COVID-19. So far, I’ve been endorsed by the Working Families Party, Communications Workers of America-District 1, Unite Here! Local 100, New York Immigration Coalition Action, The Jewish Vote, Citizen Action of NY, No IDC NY, Run for Something, Downtown Women for Change, Progressive Women of NY, and deputy leader and Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer. As your councilwoman, I will always put people first. Election day is March 23. To learn more, visit MinoForTheBronx.com, or email info@minoforthebronx.com. The author is a candidate for city council in the March 23 special election.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Tool to bright future, your community newspaper, is in your hands To the editor: Americans learned a lot about government — especially that once-obscure process of impeachment — in the past year. But over time, we’ve lost ground when it comes to understanding and embracing our democracy’s basic values. That loss goes a long way to explaining our political division, brutal lack of civility in public discourse, and erosion of trust in our basic institutions. Many people know basic events and process of U.S. history. We remember, from our

school days, the three branches of government, the concept of separation of powers, and how a bill becomes a law. But Americans themselves are increasingly saying they aren’t living up to the democratic ideals and principles on which our country was founded. And fewer people see some principles, such as the freedom to peacefully protest, as very important at all. The fundamental value of our democracy, for example, is self-government. Yet just 62 percent of citizens voted in the

2020 presidential election — turnout considered high compared to previous elections. The findings are part of the Pew Research Center’s American Trends Panel 2020 study of U.S. democracy. While large majorities of Americans agree on the importance of a number of democratic principles, the survey found clear disagreement about how well the country is doing living up to those principles. Take the freedom to protest, for example. The share of Americans who say the phrase

“people are free to protest” describes the United States very or somewhat well, fell from 73 percent in 2018 to 60 percent in 2019, according to the survey. The concept of free speech is easy to love until you hear something especially distasteful. That’s why understanding the reasons free speech is important is necessary to give life to the concept. Government transparency seems like a good idea until you’re a public school teacher with your salary posted for all to see. Learning how a bill becomes

a law is fairly simple. Understanding the value of hearing all sides of the debate on that bill is more difficult. Wading through a torrent of misinformation, spin and hyperbole is enough to make most people walk away in frustration. Certainly, there’s a need for re-energizing civics education for our schoolchildren. That work has been neglected for far too long. But adults, too, need to work harder at understanding the past, the present, and the future of our democratic system. For them, the best

learning tool may be the newspaper on their doorstep. Solid reporting offers clarity. Attention to detail and truth creates trust. The focus on community generates mutual respect. Being a watchdog underscores the value of good government. By listening, we promote dialogue. And by doing all of this edition by edition, they slowly fortify our democracy. Judy PaTrick The author is vice president for editorial development at the New York Press Association.

A10 - THE RIVERDALE PRESS - Thursday, March 18, 2021

Opinion LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Yes to Haller, no to nepotism, party machine To the editor: As the former councilman from the 11th Council District, I am committed to assuring the district is represented by a capable, independent representative who will bring new ideas and fresh energy to our community. That leader is Jessica Haller, who is by far the best candidate in the race. I have endorsed her, and my wife Lorraine Coyle Koppell and I have made the maximum allowable contribution to her campaign. Jessica may be new to politics, but she has ample experience in business and public advocacy, having trained as an environmentalist with Al Gore, and having worked closely with him on climate change initiatives. As a wife and mother of four, she well understands the needs of the families in the district, and believes passionately that the city must provide public services equitably

to all district communities. She has a fierce commitment to ensuring that our children gain a quality education in the public schools, and in the private and religious institutions that serve them. Also important is her political independence: She stands against the party organization that has made deals with Republicans and operates as a boss-controlled organization. Jessica’s main opponent is Eric Dinowitz, son of Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, who unfortunately has betrayed the political reform principles that he formerly supported. Eric, as district leader, is no more than his father’s spokesman and puppet. Do we really want nepotism and dynastic politics in the district? We are not North Korea, where authority passes from father to son. Do we really want one family to speak for us both in Albany and City Hall? Eric,

unfortunately, has no independent accomplishments. I cannot forget that as Democratic district leader, Eric Dinowitz supported state Sen. Jeffrey Klein, the leader of the Independent Democratic Conference, which kept Republicans in power in the state senate. Klein aggrandized his own power and thwarted progressive legislation until he was defeated by Alessandra Biaggi. The anti-IDC organization, No IDC NY, that supported Biaggi supports Jessica. She also enjoys support from such important local groups as Citizens for Change, the League of Conservation Voters, Bronx Climate Justice North, and others. I know that we can count on Jessica to be an independent councilwoman who will reflect the needs of our communities. I will be proud to have her represent the communities I served for 35 years. G. Oliver KOppell

Our top choice on the special election ballot To the editor: City council candidate Eric Dinowitz shades the truth when he claims he “supported efforts to elect a Democratic majority in the state senate, and make Andrea Stewart-Cousins the majority leader.” In fact, he worked to return Independent Democratic Conference kingpin Jeff Klein to the senate, where he and his cohorts would have continued siding with Republicans to thwart progressive legislation. Dinowitz also wants us to

gamesmanship. We are excited to support a candidate whose thoughtful progressive policies are grounded in her lived experience as an immigrant woman of color who started a thriving nonprofit theatre school that became a center of community activism. No wonder The Jewish Vote, the Working Families Party, Unite Here! Local 100, the Communications Workers of America, and others are all supporting her.

overlook that he is running as the Bronx establishment candidate, the scion with a recognizable name, loyal to the business-as-usual machine, which too often stands in the way of our progressive values. As District 11 residents, we need a city council member who will speak the whole truth to us, and to power. We want someone who relies on her ideas, her relationships with communities throughout the district, and her passion to persuade people. Not

Just like state Sens. Gustavo Rivera — who ranked her first — and Alessandra Biaggi, who endorsed her as one of two candidates, we will put Mino Lora first on our ballots in the special election. ellen ChapniCK elizabeTh WilsOn JaCK MarTh The authors represent a group including Kathy Solomon, Bill Schleicher, Annemarie Golden, Dale Wolf, Andrew Mutnick and Rebecca Lish.

Times change, and working from ‘bad faith’ To the editor: As a “liberal-Democrat,” I have tried to gain as much knowledge about the “conservative” political point of view as possible since 1980. I have come to some very disappointing conclusions, which I want to share with you. First, the conservatives of 2020 — especially the ones who are members of the U.S. Congress — are overall significantly more conservative than the ones I knew when I was growing up in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. When compared with today’s conservatives, Dwight Eisenhower and Richard Nixon, for example, seem to be almost “crazy

socialists” and of the “radical left.” Eisenhower wrote a letter to his brother saying any Republican who wants to abolish Social Security is “stupid.” Ike signed Social Security disability into existence. Nixon signed supplemental security income into existence. He also advocated in favor of a minimum guaranteed annual income federal government social program for every American. But what I find to be the most disappointing is what 12-time award-winning and prize-winning journalist Jane Mayer points out in her award-winning book “Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right.” She

finds that many of today’s conservatives believe that their “ends” — including winning national elections — justify their use of any and all immoral and unethical “means.” To my knowledge, nothing in her book has ever been successfully refuted by anyone. This is why I have yet to see anyone challenge anything in her book. I have mentioned her book in many of my letters, and no one has ever criticized it. Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman makes the same overall point that she does by saying that many conservatives operate out of “bad faith.” sTeWarT epsTein

Someone with spark To the editor: Daniel Padernacht has earned my first-choice vote for the March 23 city council special election. I also work on his campaign. “If you’re a feminist,” I’ve been asked, “then why aren’t you supporting a woman for city council?” This is an excellent question with an easy answer. Dan’s enormous competence will best serve the women, men and children of the Northwest Bronx. His legal, economic and regional expertise are second-to-none. Dan knows the court system and the current challenges that befall women who seek protection from damaging familial scenarios. I have seen him in housing court, where he acts like a social worker arriving at humane solutions. Dan will fight for equal pay for women and residents of minority and immigrant status. Dan understands the nuances of economic disparity and economic development. He is developing new models of affordable housing. He will advocate for the growth and development of schools, as well as the children and teachers who inhabit them. He knows that our senior citizens need free legal counsel and reliable centers for meals and social engagement. He will craft environmental legislation with lasting impact. There is actually a long line of female advisors and volunteers on Dan’s campaign. Beginning with the ardent champion who is his mom, this list includes schoolmates, college buddies, neighborhood activists, community board colleagues, and neighbors diverse in age and background. These women all know Dan’s earnestness and his particular dedication to the principles of public service. They have witnessed his aptitude for problem-solving.

Dan believes in governmental integrity. He appreciates feats of engineering, but knows that political machines are cynical, self-serving entities. That political dynasties devolve communities. Why is Dan’s local community board leadership meaningful? It means that he already has managed a city agency and its budget. It means that there is not another city agency with which he has not navigated on behalf of our neighborhoods and neighbors. It means that he knows the process behind progress. To effectively recover from this pandemic and to partner in innovation beyond it, the women and men of the Northwest Bronx would do well to elect the candidate who is already ready to serve them in city council. Jennifer firesTOne The author is the manager for Dan Padernacht’s city council campaign.

Fighting for buses To the editor: We’re having a special election March 23 to replace our city councilman. Of the candidates, the one who stands out is Eric Dinowitz. Our little corner of the Bronx is not well connected to the rest of the city, and we desperately need the express and regular bus service, as well as the Metro-North Railroad. When the express bus threatened to cut down service, Eric Dinowitz advocated for Riverdale. He supports keeping bus routes in our neighborhood accessible. Eric has several good ideas in other areas. He has promised to advocate for expanding access to the COVID-19 vaccine, and supports small businesses. We need someone like him on the council. Terry Graves

Professional Ser vices Director y inDex Accountant Attorneys Audiology Dentists Physical Medicine

Physical Therapists Podiatrists Psychotherapy Tutoring

Attorneys Divorcing? with Julie Hyman, p.c. www.JulieHyman.com specializes in: •Child Custody, Support, Equitable Distribution •Post-divorce Modification & Enforcement •Prenuptial & Separation Agreements Solaria Riverdale, 640 W.237 St.,

AccountAnt Laura McGirr CPA, PC

formerly Chestnut Financial LLC Tax and accounting Services for Businesses & Individuals

• Bookkeeping • Payroll • Consulting Serving the Riverdale and Westchester communities for 30 years. 5601 Riverdale Ave., Suite 1D Tel: 718.601.8770 Fax: 718.601.8757 LMCPA-PC.com

Tel: 347.449.6398

DAN PADERNACHT, esq.

Real Estate - Purchase, Sell and Refinance Co-ops - Condos - Single Family - Commercial Business Formation and Lease Drafting 3605 Sedgwick Avenue (at West 238th Street) Tel: 718-543-3500 email: dan@padernachtlaw.com

AuDiology Attorneys Lawrence Cooper,

esq.

165 West 231 Street 718.548.2100 Estate Planning, Wills, Probate Purchase or Sale of Real Estate, Co-ops Powers of Attorney, Guardianships, Article 81 Proceedings Incorporations, Bankruptcy, Personal Injury

LORRAINE COYLE, esq • • • •

Wills, Trust, Estate Planning - Probate Medicaid Planning & Guardianships Real Esate - Buying & Selling Member Nat’l Academy of Elder Attorneys 5911 Riverdale Avenue 718.543.2200

Susan M. Dunn, esq. (Lic. NY & FL)

•Real Estate/Co-ops: Buy, Sell & Refinance •Wills, Trusts, Probate & Estate Admin. • Incorporation, Contracts & Leases • Divorce & Separation Agreements 3600 Fieldston Road 718.796.0837

Christopher L. Esposito, esq. Accidents, Bankruptcy, Divorce, Foreclosure, Immigration, Criminal, Real Estate, Family Court & Medical Malpractice. Se Habla Español 269 West 231st Street, Bronx, NY 10463 Tel: 718.796.6454 Fax: 718.796.4412 3-14 29th Street, Fair Lawn, NJ 07410 Tel: 201.797.0100 Espositolaw@verizon.net

Dentists Gabriel Shalmi,

dds

Family Dentistry. All phases of modern dentistry. Implants, braces for adults & children. Evenings. Most Insurances accepted. NEW PATIENT SPECIAL — $89.00 — includes initial exam, x-rays (full mouth) and hygienist cleaning. 444 W. 259th Street #200. 718.601.0900

PhysicAl meDicine PM&R, Physical Medicine & Rehab Center

Comprehensive Spine, Sports & Occupational Center DONALD LISS, M.D. PHIL TASCA, M.D. REBECCA BROWN, M.D. Pain Management • Physical Therapy Occupational & Certified Hand Therapy 6132 Riverdale Avenue (718) 884-1200 www.Rehabmed.net

PoDiAtrists Michael L. Merenstein, dpm Board Certified - American Board of Podiatric Orthopedics. Surgical, geriatric, diabetic shoes. Pediatric, whirlpool & orthotic treatments. Medicare, Oxford, HIP & most insurance. Day & evening appts. HOuSE CALLS AVAILABLE 3636 Fieldston Rd. (W. 236 St.) 718.548.6732

Cambridge Podiatry Center Dr. Donald Spector Board Certified, Diplomate in ABPOPPM Practicing over 30 years Podiatric Medicine & Surgery Laser treatments available Medicare/Most Insurances Accepted 259 W. 231st Street, Bronx, NY 10463 718.548.3080

Advanced Care Audiology Meagan Ruth aud, ccc-a

Hearing Evaluations, Treatment of Hearing Loss, Wax Removal, Treatment of Tinnitus, Hearing Aids. 3533 Riverdale Ave., Bronx, NY 10463 718.980.7700 www.advancedcareaudiology.com

Dentists TALLER DENTAL

PhysicAl therAPists Judith Kahn, md, pc Board Certified Physiatrist • Pain Management • Sports Injuries • EMG’s Holistic Management of Musculuskeletal Conditions 545 West 236th Street, Suite C, 718.884.8115 30 W. 60 Street Suite 1C, between Broadway & Columbus Ave. Website: www.judithkahn.com

Samuel H. Taller, ms, dmd, fagd

ExpEriEncE and innovation ALL SAFETY PROTOCOLS FOLLOWED • ModErn FacilitiEs • cosMEtic dEntistry • iMplants • lasEr trEatMEnts • tooth WhitEning • nitrous oxidE Emergencies Welcome 3601 Waldo Avenue 718.543.3704 www.DrTallerDental.com

Riverdale Dental

Multispecialty dental clinic utilizing Latest Safety Protocols Led by NYu College of Denistry active faculty, specializing in: * Implant Dentistry * Cosmetic Dentistry * Geriatric Dentistry * Periodontics (Gum Disease) * Full Mouth Rehabilitation Broken Teeth? uncomfortable Dentures? Call us today, we can help Financing options available 611 West 239th Street - #1B

718-548-3353

www.riverdaleoralhealth.com

PM&R, Physical Medicine & Rehab Center

Comprehensive Spine, Sports & Occupational Center JOE LEIBOWITz, MSPT MADELEINE LAxAMANA, PT, DPT BRYAN DAGARAGA, PT, DPT LALAINE YAP, PTA KATIE RICHTERI, M.S. OTR/L Pain Management • Physical Therapy Occupational & Certified Hand Therapy 6132 Riverdale Avenue (718) 884-1200 www.Rehabmed.net

PLACE YOuR AD HERE

PsychotherAPy Tara Fitzgerald Quimby, lcsw-r Teens - Adults - Couples M. 917.273.6995 A. 3600 Fieldston Road, Suite 2G Riverdale, NY 10463 E. TaraQuimbyLCSW@gmail.com Evening and weekend hours available

tutoring Professional Home Tutor Tutoring available in all general subject areas. Grade Levels K-12 VIRTUAL TUTORING AVAILABLE

Riverdale Sports Physical Therapy

• Certified NYS Teacher in Childhood Education

ALExANDER SHERMAN, P.T. •Orthopedic Injuries • Post Surgical Rehab •Arthritis • Pain Management • Sports Injuries THE PROFESSIONAL BuILDING 531 W. 235th Street, 718.432.1323

(General Education and Special Education, 1-6) • MS in Childhood Education (1-6) • Dual Certification in General Education and students with Disabilities Call zach 917.667.7185 zNilva1@gmail.com

THE RIVERDALE PRESS - Thursday, March 18, 2021 - A11

WHAT’S IN / WHAT’S ON Early voting is now under way

The special election to select who will fill the final year of Andrew Cohen’s city council term is Tuesday, March 23. But there’s no reason you can’t head to the polls early. Polling sites are available at: • The Riverdale Y, 5625 Arlington Ave. • Bronx Science, 75 W. 205th St. • IN-Tech Academy, 2975 Tibbett Ave. Polling locations are specific to each voter. To find out which one you should travel to, visit FindMyPollSite.vote.nyc. Early polling hours through Sunday, March 21 are Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and weekends from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Dixon leads virtual display in Harlem

This year’s Harlem Fine Arts Show features work by Bronx native David K. Dixon. The show itself is completely virtual, with more information available at HFAS.org. A military retiree, Dixon concentrates on oil and acrylics creating both figurative and abstract pieces, and showcases his love for music.

Bronx Toastmasters meet again

The Bronx Toastmasters Club of Riverdale hosts its regular meeting Wednesday, March 24 at 7:30 p.m., through the Zoom online videoconferencing app. To RSVP, or to find out more information, email bronxtoastmastersclub@gmail.com.

CB8 meets continue into March

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: • Traffic and transportation committee on Thursday, March 18 at 7 p.m. • Housing committee on Monday, March 22 at 7 p.m. • Education, libraries and cultural affairs committee on Tuesday, March 23 at 7:30 p.m. • Parks and recreation committee on Wednesday, March 24 at 7 p.m. • Economic development committee on Thursday, March 25 at 7 p.m.

Art association ‘Moving Forward’

The Riverdale Art Association hosts an online show, “Moving Forward.” It’s curated by Diana Catz and produced by Myra Joyce featuring artist work reflecting what are hopefully better times ahead with light at the end of a dark year. Media include acrylic, watercolor, collage, photography, fractal art, colored pencil, and pen and ink. Visit RiverdaleArtAssociation.org.

Family arts available in trying times

Artist Nina Velazquez presents “Come Draw

whatson@riverdalepress.com

With Me,” a daily drawing activity via her Facebook page. Visit tinyurl.com/CommunityDraws.

Neighborhood House comes to your door

The Riverdale Neighborhood House is now providing remote programs and classes to keep what has become a quarantined community engaged and prepared. Classes include: • An after-school program for families with children 10 and younger • Remote support for families transitioning to online courses and activities The neighborhood house also is offering academic support to high school students with an emphasis on math (like algebra and geometry). This includes 1-on-1 tutoring with Manhattan College students and test prep support. This service is available Tuesday through Friday from 3 to 6 p.m., virtually. For more information on tutoring, call (718) 549-8100, Ext. 159, or email oacevado@riverdaleonline.org. Visit RiverdaleOnline.org.

SHSAT strategy sessions begin

Prep and strategy sessions for eighth- and ninth-graders expecting to take the Specialized High School Admissions Test have begun at Riverdale Neighborhood House. Led by community classes coordinator Rob Adelman, the sessions focus on realistic practice and targeted content review, including a mock exam, time management strategies, and the review of skills and formulas in approaching the test. For more information, email radelman@riverdaleonline.org.

Learn to photograph birds in action Photographer Tom Warren presents a Zoom discussion about bird photography Wednesday, March 24, at 7:30 p.m. He is expected to share how to optimize camera settings in creating a simplified approach to capturing birds in action. For more information, email hrasbirder@ gmail.com.

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Become a piano phenom

Learning to the play the piano is one thing. Finding a way to challenge yourself on the ivories is a much different story altogether. Riverdale Neighborhood House and Riverdale Community Center offers a 10-week intermediate piano course through April 13 designed for those who have played for at least a year, and who can read music. It’s a chance to learn syncopation, jazzy chords and progressions, as well as scales, wrist motion, staccato and legato touches. Each session is expected to run 90 minutes, and costs $175. For more information, email radelman@riverdaleonline.org.

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indEx Cardiology ENT - Adult & Pediatric Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatric Medicine Internal Medicine Obstetrics & Gynecology

Ophthalmologists Pediatricians Pediatric Subspecialty Care Pulmonary Medicine Psychiatry Rheumatology

CaRdiOlOgy ColumbiaDoctors gerald neuberg, md, fAcc

For appointments, please call: 646.317.0130

Kung-Ming Jan, md

For appointments, please call: 718.601.4800

EndOCRinOlOgy ColumbiaDoctors Sophia hu, md Sees general endocrinology; specializes in thyroid disease including thyroid cancer, diabetes, weight management, women’s health, osteoporosis, adrenal disease, and pituitary disease/tumors. Speaks conversational Spanish and fluent in Mandarin Chinese. 3050 Corlear Avenue, Suite 204 Bronx, NY 10463 Now accepting new patients For appointments, please call: 646.317.0129 Affiliated with NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital and NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center

david i. Sahar, md

For appointments, please call: 718.601.3700 3050 Corlear Avenue, Suite 204 Bronx, NY 10463 Affiliated with NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital

EaR, nOSE and thROat adult & PEdiatRiC ColumbiaDoctors Justin golub, md

• Otology, Neurotology, Skull base Surgery • Adult and Pediatric

gaStROEntEROlOgy ColumbiaDoctors ava B. anklesaria, mbbs Jennifer Caceres, md david S. lee, md

3050 Corlear Avenue, Suite 204 Bronx, NY 10463 For appointments, please call: 212.932.4534 Affiliated with NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital

Susannah hills, md

• Adult and Pediatric Otolaryngology

Carolina Mora, np

• Adult and Pediatric Otolaryngology

Flora holderbaum, Aud

• Audiology (hearing aids, hearing testing, evaluation and rehabilitation) • Adult and Pediatric 3050 Corlear Avenue, Suite 202 Bronx, NY 10463 For appointments, please call: 212.305.8555 Affiliated with NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center

The deadline for any additions, changes or cancellations for the April Directory is Wednesday, March 24th at 2pm.

Call 718.543.6065 ext. 3 or email advertising@riverdalepress.com to get in touch with our marketing team who can help you reach out to your clients.

gERiatRiC MEdiCinE ColumbiaDoctors Bindhu thomas, md xiaoshuang yin, md nana Makalatia, md deborah Smyth, gnp NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital 5141 Broadway @ 220th Street Suite 3-159 New York, NY 10034 For appointments, please call: 212.932.6036 or 212.932.4080

nana Makalatia, md

Now also at a convenient Riverdale Location The Century, 2600 Netherland Avenue, Suite 125 Bronx, NY 10463 For appointments, please call: 718.543.3031 Now accepting new patients. All clinical staff are Board Certified in Geriatric Medicine Medicare and most major insurance plans accepted. Affiliated with NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital

TALS

PEdiatRiCianS

ColumbiaDoctors nydia E. Providence, md

Riverdale Pediatrics

NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital 5141 Broadway @ 220th Street Suite 3-152 New York, NY 10034 For appointments, please call: 212.932.4564 Affiliated with NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital

Affiliated with NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital. The Century, 2600 Netherland Ave., Suite 120 By App’t, 718.796.3580

The Century, 2600 Netherland Avenue, Suite 125 Bronx, NY 10463 For appointments, please call: 718.601.7505

Stuart R. Framm, md

• Travel Vaccines NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital 5141 Broadway @ 220th Street Suite 3-152 New York, NY 10034 For appointments, please call: 212.932.5190 Affiliated with NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital

Sherry R. Kohn, np NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital 5141 Broadway @ 220th Street Suite 3-152 New York, NY 10034 For appointments, please call: 212.932.5190 Affiliated with NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital

aaron Manson, md The Century, 2600 Netherland Avenue, Suite 125 Bronx, NY 10463 For appointments, please call: 212.305.3804 Affiliated with NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital

OBStEtRiCS & gynECOlOgy

• Pediatric Otolaryngology

Elliot Regenbogen, md

intERnal MEdiCinE

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SO t. 14F ky, Ap on Pw , Apt. 10G Huds ky Henr y on Pw .2045 4705 Huds 917.379 Henr y // 01 49 LETT BART ALISON WIND

ColumbiaDoctors anita holman, md doreen Kramer, cnm Reyna E. Payero, md, fAcog tali Sarig-Meth, md • Board Certified Physicians • Comprehensive Gynecologic, prenatal and obstetric care 270 West 231st Street, 1st floor, Suite 101A Bronx, NY 10463 Now accepting new patients For appointments, please call: 212.305.9779 www.columbiaobgyn.org Affiliated with NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital

OPhthalMOlOgiStS Jonathan d. Boniuk, md, pc Comprehensive Ophthalmology, Eye MD •Catering to all ages & eye problems including eye surgery, routine and preventive eye care. • Board Certified • El Medico Habla Español The Riverstone, 3220 Arlington Avenue, Suite 7 Call 718.432.2299 Fax 718.432.2069 Office Hours: Monday - Friday, including eves.

BaRBaRa E. StRaSSBERg, M.D., F.A.A.P. CaRlyn a. OPPEdiSanO, M.D., F.A.A.P. MaRtin ROdRiguEz-EMa, M.D., F.A.A.P. Pediatric & adolescent medicine.

PEdiatRiC SuBSPECialty CaRE ColumbiaDoctors andrei Constantinescu, md, phd Pulmonary Medicine

Catherine Kavanagh, md Nephrology

anu Mallapaty, md

Allergy and Immunology (through Adult)

Patricia M. Vuguin, md Camila Pereira-Eshraghi, md Endocrinology

ali Mencin, md Gastroenterology

270 West 231st Street Bronx, NY 10463 For appointments, please call: 855.550.KIDS Affiliated with NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital

PulMOnaRy MEdiCinE ColumbiaDoctors Manuel R. Cabrera, md

For appointments, please call: 646.317.0127 3050 Corlear Avenue, Suite 204 Bronx, NY 10463 Affiliated with NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital

RhEuMatOlOgy ColumbiaDoctors teja M. Kapoor, md Specializing in Lupus, sees general rheumatology patients & performs musculoskeletal joint injections. 3050 Corlear Avenue, Suite 204 Bronx, NY 10463 Now accepting new patients For appointments, please call: 212.3054308 Affiliated with NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital and NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center

A12 - THE RIVERDALE PRESS - Thursday, March 18, 2021

Pesach 2021/5781 Pesach 2021/5781 Everything you Everything you need for Passover! need forGroceries, Passover! Meat, Chicken, Matzos and PreparedMatzos Food and Meat,Deliciously Chicken, Groceries, Glatt Kosher UnderPrepared the Va’ad of Food Riverdale Deliciously

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Soups

Chicken Soup ........................................ $9.99 qt. Chicken soup (Low Salt) ......................$9.99 qt. Soups VegetableSoup Soup .....................................$9.99 Chicken ........................................ $9.99 qt. qt. Potato Soup qt. Chicken soup...........................................$9.99 (Low Salt) ......................$9.99 qt. Matzah Balls (4 pc) ..................................... $9.99 Vegetable Soup .....................................$9.99 qt. NoodleSoup container ...................................... $3.50 Potato ...........................................$9.99 qt.

Kugels Soufflés 514 Matzah Balls (4 pc)& ..................................... $9.99 545 Kugel ............................. $8.99 lb. 515 Apple NoodleNoodle container ...................................... $3.50 543 Broccoli Soufflé..................................... $8.99 lb. Kugels & Soufflés 547 Cauliflower Soufflé ............................... $8.99 lb. 545 Apple Noodle Kugel ............................. $8.99 lb. 541 Potato Kugel .......................................... $8.99 lb. 543 Broccoli Soufflé..................................... $8.99 lb. 546 Spinach Soufflé ..................................... $8.99 lb. 547 Cauliflower Soufflé ............................... $8.99 lb. 580 Lokshen Kugel ...................................... $8.99 lb. 541 Potato Kugel .......................................... $8.99 lb. 542 Zucchini Soufflé .................................... $8.99 lb. 546 Spinach Soufflé ..................................... $8.99 lb. 544 Sweet Potato Soufflé ............................ $8.99 lb. 580 Lokshen Kugel ...................................... $8.99 lb. Salads Side Dishes $8.99 lb. 542 Zucchini Soufflé& .................................... 524 544 Israeli Sweet Salad Potato............................................ Soufflé ............................ $9.99 $8.99 lb. lb. 532 Broccoli Salad .................................... $11.99 lb. Salads & Side Dishes 527 Carrot Tzimmes.................................... $9.99 lb. 524 Salad ............................................$7.99 $9.99 lb. 528 Israeli Cole Slaw .............................................. lb. 532 $11.99 529 Broccoli Cole SlawSalad Diet .................................... ....................................... $7.99 lb. lb. 527 Tzimmes ....................................$8.99 $9.99 lb. 530 Carrot Cucumber ............................................. lb. 528 Slaw .............................................. 531 Cole Cucumber Diet ......................................$7.99 $8.99 lb. lb. 529 Slaw Diet ....................................... $7.99 lb. 526 Cole Grilled Vegetables / Steamed ........... $16.99 lb. 530 ............................................. 535 Cucumber Health Salad ...........................................$8.99 $9.99 lb. lb. 531 Diet ...................................... 576 Cucumber Matzah Farfel Stuffing .......................... $8.99 $9.99 lb. lb. 526 / Steamed ........... $16.99 525 Grilled MashedVegetables Potato..................................... $10.99 lb. lb. 535 ........................................... $9.99 lb. 539 Health RoastedSalad Potatoes ............................... $10.99 576 Farfel Stuffing .......................... 575 Matzah Tempura Broccoli / Cauliflower ........ $9.99 lb. 525 Potato ..................................... $10.99 537 Mashed Potato Salad .......................................... $7.99 lb. 539 ............................... 588 Roasted PassoverPotatoes Mushroom Barley ................$10.99 $9.99 lb. 575 Broccoli / Cauliflower ........$14.99 $9.99 lb. 540 Tempura Ziti with Meat ....................................... 537 Salad.......................................... $7.99 lb. 538 Potato Yams/ Sweet Potatoes ........................ $10.99 588 Barley ................ $9.99 lb. 534 Passover Beets andMushroom Onions.................................. 555 Ziti Eggplant Rolitini Spinach/Broccoli .. $14.99 $13.99 lb. 540 with Meat ....................................... 594 Red Cabbage Salad ............................... $9.99 lb. 538 Yams/ Sweet Potatoes ........................ $10.99 534 Beets and Onions.................................. $9.99 lb. 555 Eggplant Rolitini Spinach/Broccoli .. $13.99 lb. 594 Red Cabbage Salad ............................... $9.99 lb.

553 562 583 553 552 562 551 583 561 552 550 551 587 561 584 550 567 587 548 584 560 567 548 509 560 556

509 563 556 566 563 585 566 578 568 585 570 578 565 568 570 574 565 520 574 519 521 520 522 516 519 517 521 523 522 518 516 517 523 518

Meat Department

Appetizing & Fish Glatt Kosher Under the506Va’ad Riverdale Choppedof Liver ..................................... $15.99 lb.

Bar-BQ Beef Short Ribs ...................... $26.99 lb. Chicken Meat MarsalaDepartment .................................. $19.99 lb. Oriental Chicken $9.99 lb. Bar-BQ Beef Short.................................. Ribs ...................... $26.99 lb. Brisket ofMarsala Beef ..................................... $26.99 lb. lb. Chicken .................................. $19.99 Chicken Cutlet Fried .......................... $19.99 lb. Oriental Chicken .................................. $9.99 lb. ChickenofNuggets ................................. $26.99 $20.99 lb. lb. Brisket Beef ..................................... Herbal Cutlets/ (559) Paprika Cutlets .. $19.99 lb. Chicken Cutlet Fried .......................... $19.99 lb. Sweet & Sour Chicken ....................... $19.99 lb. Chicken Nuggets ................................. $20.99 lb. Lemon Grilled Chicken........................ $9.99 lb. Herbal Cutlets/ (559) Paprika Cutlets .. $19.99 lb. Pepper Steak........................................ $19.99 lb. Sweet & Sour Chicken ....................... $19.99 lb. Rotisserie Whole Chicken .................. $8.99 lb. Lemon Grilled Chicken........................ $9.99 lb. Skinless Southern Pepper Steak........................................ $19.99 lb. Fried Chicken (549) Baked Chicken ... $9.99 lb. Rotisserie Whole Chicken .................. $8.99 lb. Stuffed Cabbage ................................. $15.99 lb. Skinless Sweet & Southern Sour Meatballs/ (557) Fried Chicken (549) Baked Chicken ...$16.99 $9.99 lb. Turkey Meatballs ................................. lb. Stuffed Cabbage ................................. $15.99 lb. Turkey drumstick / Sweet Sour (carving Meatballs/ (557) Whole & turkey $20) ............... $11.99 lb. Turkey ................................. $16.99 lb. Turkey Meatballs Loaf/(554)Veal Loaf / Turkey drumstick / (569) Beef Loaf ..................................... $16.99 lb. Whole turkey (carving $20) ............... $11.99 lb. Hawaiian Chicken ................................... $9.99lb Turkey Loaf/(554)Veal Loaf / Veal Roast ............................................ $26.99 lb. (569) BeefFrancais Loaf ..................................... Chicken ................................ $16.99 $19.99 lb. lb. Hawaiian Chicken ................................... $9.99lb Stuffed Cornish Hen ........................... $16.00 pc Veal Roast ............................................ $26.99 lb. Hungarian Beef Goulash / Chicken ................................ $19.99 $19.99 lb. lb. (586) BeefFrancais Stew .................................... Stuffed....................................................$8.99 Cornish Hen ........................... $16.00Qt. pc Gravy Hungarian Beef Goulash / Delicatessen (586) Beef .................................... $26.99 $19.99 lb. lb. Corn Beef Stew ............................................. Gravy ....................................................$8.99 Pastrami ............................................... $26.99Qt. lb

Delicatessen Salami ................................................... $12.99 lb. Corn Beef ............................................. $26.99 Bologna ................................................ $12.99 lb. Smoked Turkey Breast ....................... $19.99 Pastrami ............................................... $26.99lb. lb Turkey ................................................... Breast ....................................... $12.99 $19.99 lb. Salami Homemade Roast Beef ...................... $12.99 $26.99 lb. Bologna ................................................ Turkey Pastrami ................................... $19.99lb. lb Smoked Turkey Breast ....................... $19.99 DUCK Breast and TONGUE by special order Turkey ....................................... $19.99 lb. Homemade Roast Beef ...................... $26.99 lb. Turkey Pastrami ................................... $19.99 lb DUCK and TONGUE by special order

501 504 506 507 501 502 504

Gefilte Fish ........................................... Appetizing & Fish $15.99 lb. Karp ....................................................... Chopped Liver..................................... $16.99 $15.99 lb. lb. Malkis Liver .......................................... $15.99 $16.99 lb. lb. Gefilte Fish ........................................... Salmon Grilled or (#503 Poached) Karp....................................................... $16.99 lb. or (#577Liver Baked) .................................... $16.99 $22.99 lb. lb. 507 Malkis .......................................... 508 Vegetarian Liver .................................. $15.99 lb. 502 Salmon Grilled or (#503 Poached) 505 White Fish............................................. $15.99 lb. or (#577 Baked).................................... $22.99 lb. Tuna ...................................................... $15.99 lb. 508 Vegetarian Liver .................................. $15.99 lb. Egg Salad .............................................. $10.99 lb. 505 White Fish............................................. $15.99 lb. Tuna ...................................................... $15.99 lb. COMPLETE DINNER MENU Egg Salad .............................................. $10.99 lb.

Enter the amount of Guests you

COMPLETE DINNER MENU would like to order for from the Which includes; Gefilte fish with Enter the amount of Guests you carrots and to Horseradish, Chicken would like order for from the soup withincludes; large Matzah balls, Which Gefilte fishPotato with Kugel, Carrot Garden Salad carrots and Tzimmes, Horseradish, Chicken Seder Plate, Macaroons and Potato Cake. soup with large Matzah balls, MAIN COURSE SELECTIONGarden Per Person Kugel, Carrot Tzimmes, Salad 1 Seder Roasted Chicken .................................$36.00 Plate, Macaroons and Cake. 2 Chicken Marsala..................................$36.00 MAIN COURSE SELECTION Per Person 3 Roasted Turkey ...................................$36.00 14 Roasted .................................$36.00 Brisket ofChicken Beef......................................$38.00 25 Chicken Marsala Francais..................................$36.00 ................................$36.00 3 Roasted Turkey ...................................$36.00 SPECIALTY PASSOVER ITEMS 4 Brisket of..........................................$12.99 Beef......................................$38.00 571 Charoset lb. 5 Neck Chicken Francais ................................$36.00 564 Bones ................................... $2.00 each SPECIALTY PASSOVER ITEMS 572 Seder Plate ...........................................$26.99 571 Charoset ..........................................$12.99 573 Horseradish Root ...........................$12.00 lb. 564 Neck Bones................................... $2.00 each LAST DAY FOR ORDERS: 572 Seder Plate ...........................................$26.99 March 18 • 6:00 PMlb. 573Thursday, Horseradish Root ...........................$12.00

Minimum to reserve LAST DAY FOR ORDERS: an order is $150.00 Thursday, March 18 • 6:00 PM Minimum to reserve an order is $150.00

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Chag Kasher V’Sameach Chag Kasher Come say hello and V’Sameach pick up your Passover menu! Glatt Shopand pick up your Second Helping Come say hello Passover menu! 3540 Johnson Ave. Riverdale, NY 3532b Johnson Ave. Riverdale, NY Glatt Fax: Shop Second Helping Ph: 718-548-4855 718-548-4859 Ph: 718-548-1818 3540 Johnson Ave. Riverdale, NY Ph: 718-548-4855 Fax: 718-548-4859

3532b Johnson Ave. Riverdale, NY Ph: 718-548-1818 T:11"

LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

By Michael hinMan

Making open records a bit more open New York is not exactly known for transparency when it comes to public records. But Assemblywoman Amy Paulin hopes to take the first steps to change that. Paulin, who represents the greater Scarsdale and Pelham Manor communities in Westchester County, introduced a pair of bills she says removes a loophole that kept many records from being available, and potentially reduced the cost to obtain others. A.1228 removes the phrase “to the extent practicable” from New York open records laws — that applied to when government agencies would have to supply any documents discussed at upcoming meetings. The vague phrasing allowed too many agencies to simply not supply the records when asked, according to an Assembly staff analysis of the bill. A survey by the New York Coalition for Open Government found that of 41 local governments observed, 15 percent did not post meeting documents. “COVID-19 has made it apparent that there is technology readily available for agencies to use in an effort to be more transparent,” according to the staff analysis. “Meetings are only taking place virtually, and individuals are at an immense disadvantage because there is no in-person opportunity to request a hard copy of any documents at the meeting. Therefore, it is even more important that agencies utilize the technology available to post documents online where the public can effectively access them.” Another bill Paulin has introduced is A.4677 which is intended to remove a government agency’s ability to charge for a document more than once. Under the current law, any gency that fulfills a public records request and creates an electronic copy can charge a nominal fee for those efforts. But if someone else were to request the same document, the agency would be allowed to bill that person the same fee, even though no one had to do any additional work. Paulin’s bill, if signed into law, would endeavor to limit

such billing to just one time only. Both Assembly bills already have companions in the upper chamber, both sponsored by Long Island state Sen. Anna Kaplan.

Universal health care back on the table Now that there’s a supermajority of Democrats in both Albany chambers, state Sen. Gustavo Rivera has reintroduced the New York Health Act, declaring that there is no better time than now to implement universal health care in the state. “What the COVID-19 public health crisis has made abundantly clear is that the New York Health Act must be considered as an integral component of our state’s post-pandemic recovery,” Rivera said, in a release. “As we reintroduce this bill, I am incredibly proud that the majority of members in both the Assembly and the senate co-sponsor and support this legislation. This is a testament to the willingness of New Yorkers to fundamentally change the way health care is delivered in our state, which will help us attain health equity, and address the deep health disparities further unearthed by this crisis.” The bills have been introduced as S.5474 And A.6058, with the Assembly version sponsored by Richard Gottfried. The legislation, if passed into law, would put New York on the map as the first state to move to a single-payer health care system. It has stalled over the years, first from a Republican-controlled senate, and later because of President Trump. But with Democrats firmly in control of both chambers, and Joe Biden in the White House, supporters feel more confident than ever this can become law. “New York state should be a model for universal health care for the rest of the nation,” Judy Fletcher of NYCD-16 Indivisible said, in a release. “With a Democratic supermajority in our state legislature, and a Democratic federal government to grant the needed Medicaid waiver, now is the time to pass the New York Health Act.”

RiverWalk Senior Community.

Protected and vaccinated! JACQUELINE KIMMELSTIEL T:10.5"

RiverWalk Resident

At RiverWalk, we continue to set the highest safety standards for our community. It’s why our staﬀ and residents have already received the COVID-19 vaccination to protect both themselves and their neighbors. To learn more about joining our community, take a virtual tour at riverspringliving.org/riverwalk23 CALL 929-203-2034 TO SPEAK WITH A SENIOR LIVING ADVISOR

LEADING THE WAY SAFELY

Senior Apartments

BY RIVERSPRING LIVING ™

THE RIVERDALE PRESS - Thursday, March 18, 2021 - A13

1119790

RANKED-CHOICE VOTING

RANK YOUR CHOICES NYC

1 1 2 2 3 3 445 5 6 1

Now rank up to 5 candidates

In 2021, the city of New York will use Ranked-Choice Voting for all NYC primaries and special elections. UPCOMING SPECIAL ELECTION March 23, 2021 – Bronx City Council Districts 11 & 15 Early Voting – March 13-21

Visit VOTE.NYC or call 1-866-VOTE-NYC to ﬁnd your poll site, early voting hours and learn more about Ranked-Choice Voting

HERE’S HOW IT WORKS

You can rank up to 5 candidates in order of preference.

NYC RANKED CHOICE VOTING

Pick your first-choice candidate and fill in the oval next to their name under the 1st column If you have a second-choice candidate, fill in the oval next to their name under the 2nd column You can choose to rank up to 5 candidates • You can still vote for just one candidate and leave the other columns blank • You can only choose one candidate for each column • You cannot rank the same candidate more than once

NYC NYC RANKED RANKED CHOICE CHOICE VOTING VOTING NYC RANKED CHOICE VOTING

A14 - THE RIVERDALE PRESS - Thursday, March 18, 2021

BUSINESS BRIEFS Work force numbers promising, but worrisome Jobs are slowly returning to New York, but still, they’re returning at a pace that’s out-clipping the rest of the nation. More than 29,400 jobs were added to the private sector in January compared to the month before, increasing the state total by 0.4 percent to 7.3 million. That’s better than the country’s 0.1 percent growth over the same time. Year-over-year, however, it’s a much different story. The unemployment rate in New York City is 12.6 percent — worse than what it was in December — and nearly four times the rate it was a year ago. Statewide, unemployment is up to 8.8 percent, compared to 3.8

By Michael hinMan

percent before the pandemic. New York City has lost 626,400 jobs compared to a year ago, a drop of more than 15 percent. That’s a huge chunk of the overall 1 million jobs lost in the state over the same period, accounting for a 12 percent fall. Most of those losses remain in the leisure and hospitality industry, where nearly 365,000 jobs were erased statewide. Also taking significant hits are transportation and utilities, and educational and health services, according to the state’s labor department. New York City might lead the state in job losses, but the Watertown-Fort Drum area next to Lake Ontario boasted the most promising numbers where just 1,100 jobs were lost, representing 4 percent of its work force.

Tax collections worse than the Great Recession New York’s tax collectors had far less money to count last year as a 10 percent decline in revenue equalled a $1.8 billion hit to the bottom line compared to 2019. “This report shows how deeply the COVID-19 pandemic cut into municipal finances,” state comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said, in a release. “Local governments depend heavily on sales taxes as a major source of revenue, but as New Yorkers stayed home and bought less in their communities during the pandemic, it created significant shortfalls.” Before everything shut down in March 2020, tax collections were ac-

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the year before. Although the city did have some better months after that, losses around 40 percent in both September and December cost the five boroughs billions in the end.

Co-op owners have new website to use The Association of Riverdale Cooperatives & Condominiums has a new website: ARC-Riverdale.com. The enhanced online presence boasts a streamlined look, and includes a helpful search function for many of the materials the advocacy group creates, organizers said. That’s become especially important with changes caused by the pandemic.

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tally up near 5 percent. The shutdown, however, caused those numbers to plummet more than 27 percent, only to rebound in the fall as many businesses deemed “non-essential” were slowly allowed to reopen to some capacity. But even while money was scarce in some sectors — like restaurants and other eateries — revenue did climb in other areas like beer, wine and liquor stores. New York City revenues dropped nearly 19 percent in 2020, from $8.2 billion to $6.7 billion. Tax revenue was up nearly 11 percent in January, and continued to climb the next month by 7.5 percent. However, city collections dropped by 12 percent in March, and peaked at a 46 percent loss in June compared to

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THE RIVERDALE PRESS - Thursday, March 18, 2021 - A15

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A16 - THE RIVERDALE PRESS - Thursday, March 18, 2021

Phone/fax ads in: ☎ 718-543-6200 ☎ 718-548-4038 E-mail: ø classified@riverdalepress.com Our address is:   5676 Riverdale Ave, Ste 311, Bronx, NY 10471

Real Estate Apartments for rent

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1 bdrm unit on ground level of private house on 234th St off Tibbett Ave. Large bath, liv rm and full kitchen. 812sf with separate private courtyard. $1650/mo. Separate utilities. Bkr 718.549.7636

1BR bsmt unit on Saxon Ave off Sedgwick Ave. Ideal for a single person isolated from others for separation purposes. LR open to kitchen(20x11), BR (17x10) w/2 closets, full bath. 430/SF. Entirely ceramic tiled. Access to rear courtyard. Laundry available & separate storage rm. $1575/mo includes all utilities. No smoking/No pets. Owner 718.549.7636

231/Riverdale Ave. Beaut, gut renov 2BR, hrdwd flrs. Everything new, S/S appls, granite counters. $2200. Good credit a must. Bkr 646-345-0347

2bdrm apartment for rent with new bath and dishwasher. $2000 per month. Call 914-413-4801

Spacious 3 bdrm, 1.5 bth apt with lndry room. Waldo ave vicinity. $2750/mo utils incl. Call owner 917-837-9394

3BR/2BTH in pvt hse, $3200. Newly renov, hrdwd flrs, appls & w/d incl. Huge backyard & porch. Nr bus, train, highway, shopping cntr & gd schls. Pets ok. No fees. Studio also avail. $1250. Call 917-407-8545

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Real Estate Brokers, Agents and Management Companies Brown Harris Stevens...........................718.878.1700 McDonagh Properties, Inc....................718.548.2828 Brown Harris Stevens, ..........................212.317.7746 New Bedford Management Corp.........646.453.5279 Tobias B. Schapiro...........................917.846.9846 John Edwards Real Estate....................929.474.6900 Douglas Elliman...................................718.884.5815 OOAKB&F Inc......................................347.686.0825 Fieldston Properties.............................718.601.1000 Robert E. Hill, Inc ................................718.884.2200 Foxworth Realty, Eugenia Foxworth ...212.368.4902 Trebach Realty ....................................718.543.7174 HSC Management Corporation...........718.543.2800 or....................................................914.237.1600 Veritas Property Management, LLC.......................... Carl Borenstein...............................212.799.2365 Hudsoncreast Properties Inc, Gil Perez...................... 718.796.5022 ext. 215......www.GmcRealty.com Vivian J. Oleen ....................................917.538.9639 Realtors: To purchase a space in this listing, please call Cheryl Ortiz at 718.543.6200 ext. 379

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FREE IN-HOME DESIGN CONSULTATION CALL TODAY *Offer valid only while supplies last. Limit one per household. Must be first time purchase. Minimum spend amount applies. Financing subject to third party credit approval. Some financing options cannot be combined with other offers and may require minimum monthly payments. All offers subject to change prior to purchase. See AmericanStandardShowers.com for other restrictions and for licensing, warranty, and company information. CSLB B982796; Suffolk NY: 55431H;NYC:HIC 2022748-DCA. Safety Tubs Co. LLC does not sell in Nassau NY, Westchester NY, Putnam NY, Rockland NY.

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Help wanted $18.50 NYC, $16 L.I. & up to $13.50 UPSTATE NY! If you need care from your relative, friend or neighbor and you have Medicaid, they may be eligible to start taking care of you as a personal assistant under NYS Medicaid CDPA Program. No Certificates needed. Call 347-713-3553

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PART TIME positions available for CERTIFIED PILATES INSTRUCTORS. Riverdale Pilates LLC is a neighborhood Pilates studio in a luxury building in Riverdale, NY 10463. To be considered, you would need to be certified in mat and reformer pilates instruction. Pilates instructors teach private sessions for clients of all ages and abilities. Video sessions as well as body conditioning group classes, will be available within studio projector and screen. For consideration please email cover letter, and resume to: info@riverdalepilates.net

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Legal Notices Legal Notice NOTICE OF FORMATION OF Lovemexessories LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY are Articles of organization (DOM. LLC) (SSNY) on November 12, 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 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 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 OF FORMATION OF Mister Frosteee LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 08/04/2020. 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 655 E. 233rd Street, Suite C12, Bronx, NY 10466. The principal business address of the LLC is 655 E. 233rd Street, Suite C12, Bronx, NY 10466. Purpose: any lawful act or activity. 3433 Legal Notice NOTICE OF FORMATION OF 1126 Boynton LLC Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 02/08/2021. 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 72 Hudson Ave, Haverstraw, NY 10927. The principal business address of the LLC is 1126 Boynton Ave, Bronx, NY, 10472. Purpose: any lawful act or activity. 3437 Legal Notice NOTICE OF FORMATION OF DOS DIMENSIONS, LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 11/12/2020. 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 530 W 163RD St.. The principal business address of the LLC is 530 W 163RD St. Purpose: any lawful act or activity. 3439 Legal Notice Notice is hereby given that

an Order entered by the Civil Court, Bronx County on 12-10-2020, bearing Index Number NC-000273-20/ 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) Hirra (Last) Anwar. My present name is (First) Sophia (Middle) Amelia (Last) Omar AKA Hirra Anwar, AKA Sophia Omar. The city and state of my present address are Bronx, NY. My place of birth is Gandaf, Pakistan. The month and year of my birth are July 1996. 3454 Legal Notice Notice is hereby given that an Order entered by the Civil Court, Bronx County on March 4, 2021, bearing Index Number NC-00033720/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) Charles (Last) Kraus. My present name is (First) Chaim (Last) Kraus. The city and state of my present address

are Brooklyn, NY. My place of birth is Brooklyn, NY. The month and year of my birth are July 1981. 3455 Legal Notice Notice is hereby given that an Order entered by the Civil Court, Bronx County on 2/25/21, bearing Index Number NC-000332-20/ 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) Kelidia (Middle) Yesenia (Last) Ariasalcibiades. My present name is (First) Kenia (Middle) Isabel (Last) Arias AKA Kenia Isabel Torres, AKA Kenia I Arias-Butt. The city and state of my present address are New York, NY. My place of birth is Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The month and year of my birth are October 1968. 3456 Legal Notice Notice is hereby given that an Order entered by the Civil Court, Bronx County on March 4, 2021, bearing

Index Number NC-00034120/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) Nico (Middle) La’Marco (Last) Uviera. My present name is (First) Nicola (Middle) Margarita (Last) Uviera. The city and state of my present address are Bronx, NY. My place of birth is Manhattan, NY. The month and year of my birth are January 1972. 3457 Legal Notice Notice is hereby given that an Order entered by the Civil Court, Bronx County on March 11, 2021, bearing Index Number NC-00002721/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) Camren (Middle) Jaqwonn (Last) Birch. My present name is (First) Camren (Middle) Isaiah (Last) Yakubu (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 October 2012. 3458 Legal Notice Notice is hereby given that an Order entered by the Civil Court, Bronx County on 3/5/21, bearing Index Number NC-000328-20/ 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) Aida (Last) Rosado. My present name is (First) Aide (Last) Perez AKA Aida Rosado. 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 1961. 3459 Legal Notice Notice is hereby given that an Order entered by the Civil Court, Bronx County on January 19, 2021, bearing Index Number NC-00015420/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) Jasmine (Middle) Annellar (Last) Hilton. My present name is (First) Annellar (Middle) Jasmin (Last) Hilton AKA Jasmine Annellar Hilton, AKA Jasmine A Hilton, AKA Jasmine Hilton. The city and state of my present address are Bronx, NY. My place of birth is St. Johns Antigua. The month and year of my birth are August 1968. 3460 Legal Notice Notice is hereby given that an Order entered by the Civil Court, Bronx County on 2/18/2021, bearing Index Number NC-000321-20/ 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) Carmelo (Middle) Junito (Last) Quinones-Reyes (Seniority) Jr. My present name is (First) Carmelo (Last) Quinones (Seniority) Jr. The city and state of my present address are Bronx, NY. My place of birth is Trenton, NJ. The month and year of my birth are January 1989. 3461

THE RIVERDALE PRESS - Thursday, March 18, 2021 - A17

Home of the Week Sean Trebach of Trebach Realty

Best treasures are always hidden ones

estled on a hillside in the heart of Fieldston, this three-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom stucco, stone and clapboard Tudor Revival-style house was built during a great time for construction like this: the mid-1930s. Quietly hidden at 350 W. 246th St., enjoy a large and secluded two-level patio, a rock garden, and a grassy lawn. The grounds are nearly a quarter-acre in total, and extend back from West 246th to the Greystone Avenue cul-de sac, where it has access to a private driveway. Standout features include a welcoming recessed front porch, entry hall, handsome sunken living room with ceiling beams,

stone wood-burning fireplace, French doors leading to a patio, formal dining room, and a home office with built-in bookcases. The kitchen features a double sink, two wall ovens, Chambers cooktop, and custom oak cabinetry. The master bedroom suite is complete with a limestone master bathroom with soaking tub and separate shower. There’s also a walk-out basement with a recreation room, wood-burning fireplace, laundry room and French doors, leaning to a stone-columned back porch. It’s the perfect Fieldston home for you, and is ready for you to move in at $1.7 million.

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.

The homes of

VillanoVa heighTs* AvAilAble for 1 yeAr leAse 5030 Goodridge Avenue

8 bedrooms/ 7 full baths/ 1 half bath/ Elevator/ Pool

5040 Goodridge Avenue

Too busy To clean? leT us do iT for you! Professional maid service with a difference: • Dusting • Vacuuming • Linen Change • Mopping • Waxing Floors • Bathrooms • Ironing • Towel Change • Laundry • Refrigerator Cleaning Also... • Home Health Aide, live-in/live-out • Interior Painting, Installing & Removing Floor & Wall Tiles, etc.

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HeAltH A ide A vAilAble foR HiRe

///////////////compAnion

9 bedrooms/ 8 full baths/ 1 half bath/ Elevator/ Pool

John e. fiTzgerald • 914.841.9206

(Brokers ProTecTed)

VisiT our weBsiTe for floor Plans and PhoTos of all homes

call us or your Broker for aVailaBiliTy of homes and renTal raTes

live in/live out Licensed, Professional, Reliable

718-670-3214

RefeRences AvAilAble

w w w .V i lla n oVa h ei g h t s . co m

*Villanova Heights is a rental community of fine homes on 25,000 Sq. Ft. lots. We periodically feature all of our homes in these ads, whether or not currently available.

Call for rental prices and dates of availability.

A18 - THE RIVERDALE PRESS - Thursday, March 18, 2021

TrebachRealty.com

718.543.7174

Family Owned & Operated Since 1972

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

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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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

VAn cortlAndt crest WeB #899 Spacious 6-bdrm, 3-full & 2-half baths, WBF in LR, dining rm & mstr bdrm. Eatin kitchen, porches & patio. $1,195,000

neW exclusiVe

West of tHe pArKWAy WeB #897 Renovated 5-bdrm, 5.5-bath Tudor-style house with spacious grounds on cul-desac. Living room with frplc. $2,495,000

fieldston WeB #905 Bright 3-bdrm, 2.5-bath Tudor-Style house w/ sunken living room with ceiling beams, WBFP and patios.. $1,700,000

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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. $1,595,000

exclusiVe

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

exclusiVe

neW 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

fieldston WeB #904 Spacious 4-bdrm, 5.5-bath stucco house with patio and level grassy yard. Center hall, gas fireplace and FDR. $2,350,000

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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

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exclusiVe

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

fieldston WeB #900 6-bdrm, 5.5-bath, stucco Tudor with gracious historic interior, fireplace, rear decks and level backyard. $2,295,000

exclusiVe

neW exclusiVe

exclusiVe

neW exclusiVe

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

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

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

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

exclusiVe

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 #892 Two-family, semi-attached brick house with wide entry terrace & backyard with a deck & patio on Cul-de-Sac. $899,000

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

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

co-ops, condos and REntals

neW exclusiVe

neW exclusiVe condo

neW exclusiVe

exclusiVe

neW exclusiVe

condo 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

3536 cAmBridge AVe WeB #cc660 Contemporary 3-bdrm, 2-bath condo w/ bright open views & laundry in unit. Indoor parking availability. $639,000

2727 pAlisAde AVe WeB #cc656 Bright 2-bdrm, 2-bath with balcony, 24-hr DM & parking avail. Master BR suite & remodeled kitchen. $559,000

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

3800 BlAcKstone AVe WeB #cc651 Contemporary 3-bdrm, 2-bath condo w/ modern kitchen, balcony, laundry in unit and indoor parking. $678,000

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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 Junior-4 with stunning river and sunset views, doorman, fitness room, private playground and childrens recreation room. Dogs OK. in contrAct $305K West of pArKWAy - 1-bdrm with L-shaped living/dining room area, doorman, fitness room, private playground $290K and childrens recreation room. Dogs OK.

condo excl 3800 BlAcKston AVe cc630 Contemporary 2-bdrm. 2-bath duplex penthouse w/ private roof terraces. $675K

exclusiVe

3614 JoHnson AVe cc646 2-bdrm, 2-bth with open plan living and dining area with glass sliding doors to balcony. $425K

neW exclusiVe

3600 fieldston rd cc855 2-bdrm, 2-bath conv 3, 2-bath w/ balcony, updated kitchen and DM. Parking avail. $399K

exclusiVe

290 West 232nd st cc626 2-bdrm with entry foyer, dining area and balcony. Storage area and bicycle rm in bldg. $305K

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

professionAl & office spAce 3755 HH pKWAy - tHe imperiAl - Walk-in level doctor’s office with reception area and 2 exam rooms. $360K nortH riVerdAle - Office Space Available. $1,500/mo

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House for rent fieldston Vic. rr880 Spacious 6-bdrm, 4.5-bth center-hall Colonial w/ patio & yard on cul-de-sac. $7,900

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exclusiVe 4525 HH pArKWAy cc650 Bright & renov Jr-4 convt to 2 with open sunset views and 24-hr doorman. $329K

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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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exclusiVe 5715 mosHolu AVe cc635 Bright L-shaped 2-bdrm postwar co-op. Hrdwd flrs, South & West expos. $208K

exclusiVe 3601 JoHnson AVe. cc587 Walk-in level doctor’s office with seperate entrance and reception area. $295K

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exclusiVe 3935 BlAcKstone cc646 Spacious 2-bdrm, 2-bath with open plan living, dining area and balcony. $415K

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exclusiVe 3001 HH pArKWAy cc853 Spacious 3-bdrm, 2-bth, PT DM. Entry foyer, large entral foyer & sunken LR. $625K

pet-friendly rentAls centrAl riVerdAle - Contemporary 3-bdrm, 2-bath condo with balcony, laundry in unit and indoor parking. $3,950/mo West of pArKWAy - Spacious 3-bdrm, 2-bath, sunrise balcony, partial river views, DM & fitness rm. Dogs ok. $3,325/mo West of pArKWAy - 2-bdrm, 2-bath, balcony, partial river views, DM & fitness rm. Dogs ok. rented $2,550/mo West of pArKWAy - Rent stabilized 1-bdrm, parquet floors, balcony, DM & fitness rm. Dogs ok. rented $1,880/mo

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no fee rentAls 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 convertible to 3, 2-bath 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, fitness room, tennis couts & pool . 2 months free rent $3,495/mo West of pArKWAy - Large and luxurious Junior-4 with great closet space, balcony, doorman, healthclub and pool. 3 months free rent $2,695/mo

exclusiVe 601 KAppocK st cc649 Mint condition, beautifully renovated 2-bdrm with doorman and pool. $284K

condo excl

condo exclusiVe

3816 WAldo AVe cc643 Contemporary Condo with balcony, modern kitch, lndry in unit, DM & prkg. $640K

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