Winner of
the Pulitzer Prize
Thursday, June 17, 2021
Vol. 72, No. 19
What’s inside?
PRIMARY ELECTION COVERAGE INSIDE
Opponents say Dinowitz mailer could be illegal n Campaign finance board cleared the taxpayer-funded postcard as early voting starts
‘Are you campaigning? Are you here as a councilman? It’s a blurry line.’
By MICHAEL HINMAN mhinman@riverdalepress.com
A Yang thang Mayor profile series concludes with a former presidential candidate with eye-catching ideas. Page B3
$1.00
On a morning when temperatures were a bit unseasonably cool, many visited their mailbox and likely found it crammed with election material from races ranging from city council to city comptroller to mayor. It makes sense. Friday was the start of early voting in New York City, leading up to Tuesday’s primary election. If this isn’t the time to get bombarded with campaign literature, then when? But many may have noticed one postcard that wasn’t exactly like the others. It had “ERIC DINOWITZ” in huge bold letters, dominating both sides, and even included an equally large picture of the councilman. But this wasn’t a card asking voters to cast their ballot in Dinowitz’s favor at the polls — this was a mailing directly from his council office, sharing the fact he’s here, and he’s ready to serve. Any other time, such correspondence might be welcome to many. But here? Just a couple weeks before voters would decide
ABIGAIL MARTIN city council candidate
HIRAM ALEJANDRO DURÁN
Dan Padernacht and Abigail Martin, both candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for the local city council seat, said they were surprised — and appalled — to see Councilman Eric Dinowitz use taxpayer money to send out what they say looks a lot like a political mailer. if he’ll keep that seat past December? Dinowitz abused his office, at least two of his primary challengers claim, and he charged taxpayers to do it. “There’s no doubt in my mind that this was meant to campaign,” said Dan Pader-
nacht, who has been running for this city council seat slightly longer than Dinowitz, dating back to 2018. “Races like this are all about name recognition. And if somebody sees your name a certain amount of time, then they are more likely going to choose
MAKING TRANSIT ACCESSIBLE
Hero honors It might just be a day at the office, but for us, Lt. Cabanas really makes a difference. Page A5
you when they go to vote.” Dinowitz already has significant name recognition in his council district, primarily because of his father, longtime Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz. Adding the mailer can only help, not hurt. But there is one small problem with what the councilman did over the weekend. At least according to city elections law, Dinowitz is not supposed to use any taxpayer money this close to an election that could essentially be construed as campaign material. Even if he’s not openly campaigning in the material. The law bans any sitting councilman or elected official to distribute mass literature within 90 days of an election they are competing in. Dinowitz sent out his mailer just 12 days before polls close — and right at MAILER, page A4
Bailey Ave bar tackles noise, car complaints n CB8 gives Tililá a reprieve after owner promises to fix issues plaguing neighbors By ETHAN STARK-MILLER estarkmiller@riverdalepress.com
HIRAM ALEJANDRO DURÁN
One last debate Candidates finally get to chat in-person, but primary election day is just next week. How will it all end? Page B1
As of right now, the West 231st Street subway station is the only handicap-accessible station on the Bronx stretch of the 1 train line — and one of only 14 in all of the Bronx. But more stations could get elevators and other accessibility improvements sooner than expected, if the Metropolitan Transportation Authority receives the funding it and other transit groups are asking for.
Small price to ‘transform transit’ n Should MTA get $20B in federal aid, accessibility may happen a lot sooner By ROSE BRENNAN rbrennan@riverdalepress.com
It’s no mean feat to recover from being $12 billion in the hole. But as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s operations slowly return to normal, some already have their sights set on improve-
ments the organization could make. The MTA’s revenue was hit particularly hard during the coronavirus pandemic as ridership on buses, subways and commuter trains plummeted due to stay-at-home orders. For many months, bus riders didn’t need to pay a fare. And it was just last month the city’s subway system returned to round-the-clock service after shutting down overnights on a regular basis for the first time in more than a century. But even with the MTA’s immediate financial needs — some of which were
addressed when President Joe Biden signed the American Rescue Plan into law — some believe the city’s public transit system needs some long-overdue changes. And one of those people represents this area of the Bronx on the national stage. That man, of course, is U.S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman. He’s had a busy few months as a freshman congressman, caucusing with a group of progressive lawmakers in a group known as “The Squad.” But as Capitol Hill turns its atTRANSFORM TRANSIT, page A4
American Studies killed a state bar ‘mock’ingbird n Bronx school wins state top honors in mock trial tourney after COVID put it on hold last year By ROSE BRENNAN rbrennan@riverdalepress.com
For Yonah Rosenfield, winning the New York State High School Mock Trial Tournament was a long time coming. And it was the perfect way to close out his senior year at the High School of American Studies. Just two years ago, American Studies couldn’t
make it out of the earlier rounds. In Rosenfield’s junior year, however, the tournament — and the world — was put on hold indefinitely due to the coronavirus pandemic. But this year, Rosenfield and his team came to win. And win they did. “This year kind of felt like a redemption year and an opportunity to avenge those losses,” Rosenfield said. “And it just felt so gratifying to win, especially as I’m a senior this year, so (it’s) my last year with the team. It felt great to just win with everyone.” American Studies faced off against Augustine Classical Academy from Saratoga County and 2019’s reigning champion, Fayetteville-Manlius High MOCK TRIAL, page A4
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It’s strange to think every time someone sips on a cocktail or a beer in this corner of the Bronx, that drink was approved by Community Board 8. Well in a sense, anyway. That’s because part of the responsibility for granting and renewing restaurant liquor licenses falls on CB8 and all other community boards around the city. Each month, CB8’s public safety committee meets to review liquor licenses up for renewal, typically giving them a thumb’s up. Or in some cases, like Tililá Casa Publica y Cocina, it almost was a thumb’s down. That’s because Tililá — a Dominican restaurant at 3648 Bailey Ave. — found itself in some hot water with CB8 over a series of noise complaints. Although the full board did eventually approve Tililá’s license at last week’s full board meeting, the restaurant was indeed in real danger of losing a primary revenue source. “We’ll see what happens, we’re hoping that this doesn’t burn us,” said Ed Green, the public safety committee chair, who originally abstained from voting for the renewal. “But we’re going to continue to BAILEY BAR, page A4
tention to — and pu should re lawmaker Bowm and other believe ar nance spe this mont him there alliance’s the organ “The m to all of (t a new con HIRAM ALEJANDRO DURÁN made man The High School of American Studies is home to several acco- yet, he sto lades, including its recently claimed first-place title at the New listened to York State High School Mock Trial Tournament. across the federal inv Like R tation was years to i asked for For sta way acces accessibil subway st as well. M lic transit especially transit to g “Congr cans who