The Riverdale Press 09-17-2020

Winner of Vol. 71, No. 32

the Pulitzer Prize

Thursday, September 17, 2020

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What’s inside?

Replace Cabrera? Andrew Cohen isn’t the only councilman moving on. Who’ll succeed Fernando Cabrera? Page A5

Set to become history? HIRAM ALEJANDRO DURÁN

For the first time in decades, the Moller Mansion at 3029 Godwin Terrace has changed hands. But its new owner — who paid a hefty $1.5 million for the property — is likely more interested in the land than the home, meaning its days are almost assuredly numbered.

Musical Zoom Can’t put your singers on a stage? Invite them to get together virtually. Page A3

Stringer in race City comptroller Scott Stringer is off and running to become New York City’s next mayor. But will his strategy work in crowded field? Page A8

Moller Mansion on brink of extinction By MICHAEL HINMAN mhinman@riverdalepress.com

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uthor H.G. Wells once said that “human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe” — a common theme shared through the ages about not learning from what came before us. While history is likely best recorded in words and pictures, there’s something special about having access to tangible remnants of history like the Wright Brother’s first airplane, or Apollo 11’s lunar module. The historical impact of the three-story mansion at 3029 Godwin Terrace is much quieter than mankind’s ascent into the skies and the heavens, but it has influence nonetheless. It seems almost out of place in its Kingsbridge neighborhood, facing P.S. 207 and surrounded by apartment buildings. But that wasn’t always the view from

Courtesy of Kingsbridge Historical Society Collection

This is likely what the view would have been in front of the Moller Mansion in the early 1870s, with heavy oystering on Spuyten Duyvil Creek, and even early telegraph lines. the front porch of what local historians refer to as the Moller Mansion. In fact, when sugar magnate George Moller moved his family into the home after it

was completed in 1870, the surroundings were described as “in perfect keeping” as center of its own estate, with “delightful views of the Harlem River,” according to

the Yonkers Statesman. Yet, one of the few remaining connections between this neighborhood and its time before it was part of the Bronx could become history itself. For the better part of a century, this historic home remained in the hands of the Roman Catholic Church. That changed, however, last month when the Archdiocese of New York let go of the Moller Mansion for $1.5 million. The home itself has seen better days, but neighbor speculation suggests the high price tag is not for the house — but for the land it sits on. Progress may have finally arrived at 3029 Godwin Terrace, and it will likely come through the sacrifice of the Moller Mansion. “I would be very sad to see it go,” said Nick Dembowski, president of the Kingsbridge Historical Society. “It was a gem when it was built, and it is even rarer now.” MOLLER MANSION, page A4

Return of indoor dining too little, too late

Schools taking a deep breath By ROSE BRENNAN rbrennan@riverdalepress.com

By KIRSTYN BRENDLEN & ROSE BRENNAN of The Riverdale Press

There are few industries more synonymous with New York City than restaurants. From hole-in-the-wall food stalls, to lavish fine dining, to kitschy chains and everything in between, the city has so many eateries that if one endeavored to eat at all of them, for all three meals every day, it would take nearly 26 years. But those numbers could be dwindling. The New York State Restaurant Association says as many as two-thirds of the state’s dining establishments could close by the end of the year if there’s no financial rescue. After months of relying on takeout, curbside pickup and eventually outdoor dining, Gov. Andrew Cuomo finally opened the doors — literally — to eating inside New York City restaurants by the end of the month. It’s not

HIRAM ALEJANDRO DURÁN

The weather is starting to cool, but some restaurants like Yukka in North Riverdale depend on those willing to sit and eat outside. Gov. Andrew Cuomo has finally allowed New York City to open some indoor dining, more than two months later than originally planned. without restrictions, however, as restaurants will only be able to fill a quarter of its tables. Restaurants statewide need financial assistance, restaurant association president Meredith Fleischut said — even ones that already have reopened indoor dining. Even with outdoor dining and takeout, many restaurateurs are running low on cash. “What they were really saying was that they felt they needed more financial assistance from the federal government,” Fleischut said. “So, more (Paycheck Protection Program),

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a designated restaurant relief fund, or Economic Injury Disaster Loans funding, grant programs — something at the federal level coming before the end of the year.” For a typical restaurant, breaking even financially means mixing takeout, delivery, and an indoor dining room half-full, Fleischut said. But breaking even is not the same as actually making money.

Flexing gym muscle

The city is the final New York region to bring indoor din-

ing back after restaurants were forced to shut down in midMarch. Cuomo opened the door for indoor dining in the city Sept. 9, nearly two weeks after a $2 billion class action lawsuit was filed against the governor and Mayor Bill de Blasio for delaying indoor dining. The legal action was led by Il Bacco Ristorante, an Italian eatery on the far eastern edge of Queens which, according to Forbes, is just 500 feet from Long Island’s Nassau County. A restaurant there could have allowed INDOOR DINING, page A4

Whether waiting for a bus, an appointment or otherwise, delays are not easy to deal with. But when the delay involves vital safety information, it can become anxiety-inducing, in addition to just frustrating. This was the case for the city’s public school teachers last week. With their return to school for professional development Sept. 8, many eyes were on ventilation reports. Once a seemingly obscure subject, how air circulates in classrooms has become a hot button issue, especially considering its role in preventing the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19. The city’s education department took on the gargantuan task of testing the ventilation in every room in every public school building, with the results expected by Sept. 4. That, according to school chancellor BREATH, page A4

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By KiRStyn BRenDLen

Overdraft fees? Not biggest issue Mailing checks and packages has been a hassle throughout the coronavirus pandemic. Mail delivery has been slow as funding has been reduced and employees became sick, but those aren’t the only problems when dropping a check in the mail. A woman dropped her rent check — written out for just over $300 — in the mailbox in front of the Kappock Street post office on Aug. 29, according to police. A few days later, she checked her Bank of America account to find it had been overdrawn — by more than $7,000. Someone had pulled her check from the mailbox, police said, wiped the name and amount, and given themselves a nice bonus.

One car, a dozen seats

It’s common knowledge to take your purses and wallets with you when you park your car on the street, but some things aren’t so easy to take with you. One family had parked their blue Honda Odyssey on the 3700 block of Hudson Manor Terrace on Aug. 28, finding it gone when they returned for a

ride Aug. 30. As if the missing vehicle wasn’t enough, it had been fully decked out to drive around kids — three Greco car seats worth $250, and a Costco car seat worth $50. All were in the car when it was stolen, police said, as were a selection of DVDs to keep the kids entertained on drives.

beer run takes a turn

One man was just trying to get home with some drinks, but his walk didn’t quite go to plan. He was near 131 W. Kingsbridge Road on the evening of Sept. 6 carrying two six-packs, police said, when a young woman walked up to him, punching him in the face and knocking him to the ground. Before he had a chance to recover, the woman took $10 in cash and an LG cell phone, which police valued at $300, from his pockets before running away. The victim called the police, who searched the area while he was treated at Allen Hospital on Broadway with a laceration on his forehead.

ObiTUaRieS

family and friends. His wake was Sept. 15 at Williams Funeral Home, 5628 Broadway, while a requiem Mass was held Sept. 16 at 9:45 a.m., at St. Margaret of Cortona Church, 6000 Riverdale Ave. Family flowers only. Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to the American Liver Foundation and Calvary Hospital.

• The Northwest Bronx Food Justice Project is working on creating a partnership with cable channel BronxNet, but such a partnership has yet to be formalized. A story in the Sept. 3 edition provided a different status for a potential partnership. 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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corrections and clarifications It is the policy of The Riverdale Press to correct errors of substance and clarify misleading stories promptly. Typically, corrections and clarifications from previous issues can be found on A2. • The home located at 3029 Godwin Terrace that recently sold for $1.5 million was built in 1870. A Business Brief item in the Sept. 10 edition provided an incorrect year for when it was built.

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THE RIVERDALE PRESS - Thursday, September 17, 2020 - A3

Pushed off campus, Lehman assembles online for musical By KIRSTYN BRENDLEN

Where to watch

kbrendlen@riverdalepress.com

Penny Price, a professor at Lehman College, has produced and directed musicals at the school for years. She’s written songs, worked with composers, and blocked out where actors would stand on stage. But for the first time this spring, Price did all that without ever seeing her students’ faces. They had just started work on their musical, “The Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet,” in March when the coronavirus pandemic shut everything down, scattering the cast and creative team across the country. If you’re thinking that was the end of “The Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet,” think again. Price convinced her students to rehearse the play — based on the 1954 children’s science-fiction novel by Eleanor Cameron — virtually, with hopes of reconvening in-person over the summer. Yet, as months passed, it became clear that meeting in-person on stage wasn’t going to happen. So their focus shifted — rather than just rehearsing virtually, the cast recorded themselves like they were on stage, and the creative team started the arduous process of stitching them together into the full musical, ready to be released online as the academic year started. “It’s very, very hard,” Price said. “You can’t really synchronize music on Zoom. It’s almost impossible. When two people are singing at the same time, there’s a time lag. I had to have separate sessions with every person.” Price met with her cast one-on-one a few hours every week to go over their songs and discuss their characters. It was more than she would be able to do in a normal year, where everyone would have been working together during in-person rehearsals. It also allowed her to bring togeth-

Stream the virtual production live Sept. 22 at 6:30 p.m., at tinyurl.com/LehmanPlanet

Courtesy of Robert Ellsworth Feng

Robert Ellsworth Feng, a former student of Lehman professor Penny Price, plays the Great Ta in Lehman’s virtual production of ‘The Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet.’ Feng attended rehearsals and performed from his home in Hawaii. er a dream cast. Some of her students had dropped out of the production when the pandemic started — their schedules conflicted, or they didn’t have space at home, or they were just dealing with too much. But there were others who suddenly had more flexibility in their schedules and were able to participate remotely. One student was staying with family in North Carolina, and she even got Robert Ellsworth Feng — who she had previously worked on musicals with — to beam in from Hawaii to star as the planet’s king, the Great Ta. All that rehearsal, filming and editing was new for a production — but not

for composer and producer Eduardo Reséndiz Gómez. A Lehman graduate, it’s not uncommon for Gómez to work on a show. But this year, Price asked him to come on as technical producer and to make magic happen — digitally. “I was like, I know we’ve never done this before, but I think this could be a precedent not only for Lehman College but also for your play, because we will be moving into digital productions,” Gómez said. He had to figure out how to make it seem like all the characters were in the same “universe” without being together on stage. Syncing songs was one thing, but drawing the audience

in? That’s another. Goméz took stock of everyone’s recording equipment, and headphones and adapters were shipped out for cast members in need. Costumes were done the same way. “Mushroom Planet” tells the story of two young boys who travel to Basidium-X — the mushroom planet — with a hen, Mrs. Pennyfeather, as a mascot. Cast members bought some of their own materials or were mailed what they needed to construct Toadesque mushroom cap hats, almost looking like they were starring in a Super Mario Bros. game instead. The chicken, however, was far

more challenging to include. A singer was cast to perform Mrs. Pennyfeather’s songs, but she was missing in action when they needed her videos. Price asked another actress to step in, but she would have needed to go out and buy a chicken costume — not the easiest trick to pull off on short notice, in the middle of a pandemic. To fill in some of the story, the team had already brought on a Lehman graduate to animate some sequences of space travel and the like. While they scrambled to figure out the chicken situation, the team had an idea. “Why don’t we use an animated chicken?” Price said. “So, I said, ‘that’s brilliant!’” They still had audio recordings of the first actress singing Mrs. Pennyfeather’s songs, and Price recorded herself making, well, chicken noises. Overlapped with animations of the little farm bird, they had filled the role in a way that wouldn’t even have been possible on a live stage. Working on the show was exciting for Goméz, and he thinks it’s the beginning of a new era of theatre, even when patrons can start filing in to watch shows in-person again. Digital theatre — or even outdoor theatre in amphitheaters and outdoor venues like the Delacourte, famous for hosting the annual Shakespeare in the Park festival — might become more popular. “I do think it’s going to be the new normal, I do think it’s going to be the evolution of theatre,” Goméz said. “I think we’re going to be talking about it in 100 years, saying how theatre changed in history.”

PRESS POINTS Stiller missed out on Ethical Culture The famous names who have passed through the doors of Ethical Culture Fieldston School are vast with the likes of Stephen Sondheim, Jeffrey Katzenberg and Barbara Walters. But it seems the school was very close to adding one more famous name to that list, if only he passed the test. Comedian Ben Stiller re-

By Michael hinMan

vealed the missed opportunity during “Stars in the House,” the online video series created in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic to raise money for The Actors Fund, which provides health care and other support to those working in the entertainment industry. Stiller was on the program last week with host Seth Rudetsky and husband James Wesley as part of a virtual reunion for the cast and crew of

the 2006 film “Night at the Museum,” a comedy fantasy based inside the American Museum of Natural History. The group was talking about the Texas schools Wesley and actor Owen Wilson attended, and as an aside, Rudetsky joked Stiller — who grew up as part of a showbusiness family — went to Ethical Culture. But the “Zoolander” actor had to correct the host. “I didn’t get into Ethical Cul-

ture when I was 6,” Stiller said. “I failed the test. I wasn’t smart enough.” Stiller ultimately attended The Cathedral School of St. John the Divine in Manhattan’s Morningside Heights, which boasts its own list of alums like actor Burgess Meredith. Yet everything turned out OK for Stiller, who is rumored to be reprising his role as the lion Alex in the animated “Madagascar 4.”

Janny starts Press internship Pete Janny has joined The Riverdale Press newsroom as its fall intern. He’s in his junior year at Manhattan College, majoring in business analytics with a minor in communication. He’s also a reporter with the campus newspaper, The Quadrangle, where he’s both the sports editor and the managing

editor. When he’s not busy with school — or with reporting — he’s most likely tweeting or talking about the latest shenanigans in the sports world, with special consideration given to the classic indiscretions of the New York teams. “My knack for storytelling and unadulterated desire for the greater good of society has led me to the exhilarating field of journalism,” Janny said.

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A4 - THE RIVERDALE PRESS - Thursday, September 17, 2020

Development could claim 150-year-old house MOLLER MANSION from page A1 The home was purchased by Galaxy General Contracting, which maintains a base of operations just a couple blocks away on Albany Crescent. The Moller Mansion was more than a century old when Steve Zervoudis founded the company in 1981, according to its website. And many of its touted projects are apartment buildings in different parts of the city, although Galaxy has taken on other projects, like building Saint Peter the Apostle Greek Orthodox Church on Kingsbridge Avenue. None of its touted projects are historic home restorations, and the company didn’t return respond to requests from The Riverdale Press seeking their plans for the lot. No permits have been filed at this point, but Dembowski doesn’t have high hopes on the home’s future. And there is much for him to stand on if Galaxy decides to indeed demolish the house. “There is no point in ‘opposing’ this from happening as there is no law against tearing down old buildings and putting up new ones,” Dembowski said. “If there was, there would be very few people living here. But that does not change the fact that this is a beautiful old building that would be lost, and a powerful reminder of the neighborhood’s past. “Generations of neighborhood kids grew up admiring that house. Many of those kids are old folks now, and have written to me that it would be a shame to lose it.”

Kingsbridge was so different

George Moller was married to Emma Godwin, whose family owned a mansion just around the corner — the namesake of Godwin Terrace, Dembowski said. Both families were quite wealthy, and were major financial supporters of what is now the Episcopal Church of the Mediator. “Kingsbridge was more of a small town back then, although it was really a section of Yonkers until 1873, when it became an independent town for a year before becoming part of New York City,” Dembowski said. “The landscape was completely different. West 230th Street was not a street at all. It was the Spuyten Duyvil Creek, which separated Manhattan from the Bronx.” In fact, many of what are now streets were waterways back then — like Tibbett Avenue actually being Tibbett’s Brook. Many of the homes and businesses served these waterways. “Along the Spuyten Duyvil Creek, there

HIRAM ALEJANDRO DURÁN

A man walks past 3029 Godwin Terrace with a pair of pizzas in hand, creating a much different streetscape than what the Moller family saw when they first moved in back in 1870. was a small business section where West 230th is today, with a blacksmith shop, a grocer, an oyster shack, a place to buy feed for your horses and coal for your stove,” Dembowski said. “And then, of course, there was the King’s Bridge — the first bridge to Manhattan ever built. It crossed the Spuyten Duyvil Creek at West 230th and Kingsbridge Avenue. It is still there, buried under the street.” Over the years, the Mollers said goodbye to the home, and it became incorporated with the church that was growing around it, the “independent” St. John’s Parish, beginning in the late 1880s. The home was one heated by four separate fire places — its chimneys incorporated into the mansion’s unique roof structure. A porch wrapped all the way around the house as well — features that would disappear over time, especially after the structure was moved 100 feet to make room for the expanding St. John’s. “We’re not really sure how much the house

has changed over the years,” said Pete Ostrander, Dembowski’s predecessor at the historical society. “It looks the same, but what they did inside, I have no idea.”

A preservation warning system?

The mansion has served primarily as a home for members of the clergy — a role it played almost up to its sale last month. Few outside the church have even been inside, so what’s still original within its walls is anyone’s guess. Preserving buildings with historic significance is something Stephanie Coggins has been dedicating herself to since her unsuccessful attempt to save the Villa Rosa Bonheur apartment building in Spuyten Duyvil. Neighbors just had no warning that the structure was going to be razed, she said, all so that new apartment buildings can be constructed on top of their ruins. “All I can say is that developers are intent on filling every available inch of space with

the cheapest, ugliest cement and glass rental buildings to turn a profit,” Coggins said. “The streetscapes in the northwest Bronx face imminent extinction for no good reason.” But it doesn’t have to be that way. Coggins has begun a recent push to create a new subcommittee with Community Board 8 that would focus on historic preservation — something the neighborhood activist says is ingrained in the city’s 197-a development plan intended to better regulate new construction in the city. One committee that such a group could be a part of is CB8’s land use committee, run by Charles Moerdler, who says this part of the city is now experiencing the kind of “locust-like invasion of speculative hit-and-run developers” that plagued Williamsburg and other parts of Brooklyn several years ago. “This trend is why I have urged that it is high time for a new 197-a plan,” Moerdler said, “one that provides preservation, and at the same time targets specific affordable housing opportunities.” As far as a subcommittee goes, Moerdler says that would require more thought. “There are only so many people who can work on the extensive research and preservation required for landmarks designations,” he said. “By addressing select issue on a site-by-site or issue-by-issue basis, we have been been able to involve interested board and non-board members interested in particular projects.”

Keeping links to the past

Such a committee could identify older buildings that might be vulnerable to new development, like the Edgehill Church in Spuyten Duyvil, or the 18th century Hadley house on Post Road that Dembowski says has fallen into some disrepair. “History is important to our community as it answers the question of why we are all here,” he said. “This house is a link to the past. Within one block, the native Munsee people and their ancestors fished for oysters for centuries. British and American soldiers clashed. Enslaved Africans worked and were sold. George Washington, John Adams, Edgar Allan Poe all visited. “I could not tell you the story of that block without talking about buried skeletons, decapitated statues, Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton. Having links to the past causes us to ponder and learn about our history. And ignorance of history contributes to many serious problems.”

Teachers want to keep air moving in classrooms BREATH from page A1 Richard Carranza, was plenty of time to review those results, especially over a long holiday weekend leading up to their return to the classroom. Alas, Sept. 4 arrived, but the ventilation reports did not. They didn’t come Sept. 5, or Sept. 6.. In fact, it was the evening of Sept. 7 — just hours before teachers were expected to return to their classrooms — when the reports were finally released. Because of the holiday, many teachers weren’t getting a chance to see that report until they were already heading back to school, said Israel Soto, a social studies teacher at Crotona International High School in Belmont. “We didn’t know the conditions of the buildings, because we just were mandated to come in,” Soto said. “We came in, but we didn’t know if those reports were here or not.” Soto’s school is located on the Grace Dodge campus not far from Little Italy, which is home to two other schools. The building is old and does not have a heating, ventilation and airconditioning system. And because of the delay receiving the reports, the campus has been the site of daily demonstrations by the teachers who think the school’s conditions aren’t safe for pandemic-era teaching. That’s despite both the education department and United Federation of Teachers union — which conducted its own safety report — saying they are. “We believe that we should be 100 percent remote until we know that buildings are 100 percent safe,” Soto said. “I looked at the UFT report, and I

HIRAM ALEJANDRO DURÁN

He’s been a public school teacher for 34 years, but Michael Flanagan has never seen a return to school like this before in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. And he has new concerns for his students this year, especially when it comes to what he says is inadequate ventilation that he believes could create an outbreak risk. kind of did my own walkthrough of the building, and some of the answers that were either ‘yes’ or ‘no,’ they were not accurate answers.” More than 95 percent of the rooms surveyed throughout the city met adequate ventilation requirements, according to the education department. The reports looked for the presence and function of four items in each room: windows, supply fans, exhaust fans and unit ventilators. The presence and function of any of the four would

mean the room passed the ventilation check. Still, 10 public school buildings were shut down as a result of these reports: Two in Brooklyn, two in Queens, and six in Manhattan. But even with the OK from the education department, some schools just aren’t taking the risk. According to Monique Dols, a math teacher at Bronx Community Charter School, ventilation was one of several factors in her school’s decision to start the ac-

ademic year remotely. And while noncharter public schools might not have the ability to do that, she believes the option should be available. “We pressed to start the school year remotely, and the leadership of our school agreed to that,” Dols said. “I think that if principals of DOE schools were given a choice, a lot of them — being aware of the conditions in their school — would likely opt for the same.” Even though all of the Bronx’s public schools are safe according to the education department’s reports, some teachers remain skeptical. Michael Flanagan, a social studies teacher at Riverdale/Kingsbridge Academy, believes the reports aren’t telling the whole story, as they don’t take air filtration into account. Air filters are classified through the MERV system — minimum efficiency reporting value — and ranked on a scale of up to 16. The higher the reporting value, the smaller the particles it can filter. To pass UFT’s safety checklist, a building would need filters of at least MERV 13. But at RKA, the filters are only MERV 8, Flanagan said. And simply replacing the current filters isn’t possible by the time students return on Monday. “Even if they got the MERV 13 filters delivered today, you would need to completely upgrade the entire system,” Flanagan said. “You would need to install more powerful fans, because those filters are so thick that the fans that we have would be like blowing into a brick wall.”

Air exchange is another concern for Flanagan. While the windows in many classrooms across the city can open, they might not open all the way. They’re purposefully engineered this way to prevent anyone from falling through open windows. But not having a window open all the way can limit its potential air exchange. And because air exchange through a window relies on weather, as opposed to a motor, it’s possible windows could be excellent ventilators one day, and not do much the next. That’s exactly what Flanagan said happened to him just the other day. “I had every single window open, but the flag right next to the window wasn’t moving,” he said. “Just because you have a window open does not mean the air is exchanging.” Soto’s school doesn’t have an HVAC system, meaning it’s only relying on windows for ventilation. And the unpredictability of weather is something that worries him, especially as winter approaches. “Are we going to cancel school when it’s snowing or when it’s raining?” Soto asked. “We know that the answer is no, (but) that is a question that nobody has given us an answer to.” RKA might be worlds ahead of Grace Dodge and other Bronx public schools when it comes to ventilation worries, but simply being better equipped doesn’t reassure Flanagan. “My school, we’re in better shape than a lot of other schools in the city,” the veteran teacher said. “But we’re not a safe environment for children and staff.”

Restaurateurs hopeful for some return to normalcy INDOOR DINING from page A1 indoor dining as early as June, making 500 feet ultimately feel more like 500 miles. The lawsuit follows a path similar to what some of New York’s gym owners took forcing the governor’s hand to create a reopening plan for them late last month. That should be no surprise since both actions have the same lawyer — James Mermigis, a business law attorney out of Syosset, near Long Island’s Oyster Bay. As of Sept. 3, more than 300 other restaurants have joined Il Bacco in the class action, likely made moot now that Cuomo flinched again. But what isn’t moot is the effect indoor dining’s return might have on local restaurants and cafes. The Bronx Alehouse on West 238th Street has been a community staple for more than a decade. Although it adopted takeout and outdoor dining models to adapt to the coronavirus pandemic, owner James Langstine is itching to get back to a seemingly normal indoor restaurant experience. “I’m definitely looking forward to a step in the right direction and getting back to the business that we’ve all been in and the business that we love to run, slowly but surely,” Langstine said. The Alehouse shut down for nearly six weeks while the eatery transitioned to a takeout model at the height of the coronavirus pandemic. The eventual return of outdoor dining was a relief for the Alehouse, even though it still limited the number of customers they could serve. The weeks-long delay to return indoor dining to New York is something Langstine is a little less thrilled about. It wasn’t enough to get him

Indoor dining’s final frontier The return of indoor dining has been a long time coming. But even though the governors of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut were largely in-sync with how they handled coronavirus-related protocol during the pandemic, indoor dining was one issue where they diverged. Connecticut, which consistently had one of the lowest positive test rates in the country, allowed indoor dining to resume at reduced capacity as early as May 20. Within a month, Connecticut restaurants were allowed to fill half their tables. New Jersey took a bit longer to re-introduce indoor dining, but waited just a few weeks to allow a to sign on to Mermigis’ lawsuit, but it doesn’t mean Langstine hasn’t expressed a few of the same grievances, especially as positive test rates in the city are lower than most other parts of the country. “If you look at the testing numbers for the city and the Bronx compared to the rest of the state, it’s not significantly different,” Langstine said. “We seem to have been treated differently than the rest of the state, especially when you consider that we’re only a mile down the road or something from places that have been open.”

A little empathy

The city’s dense population, as well as Cuo-

quarter capacity in restaurants. That was enough to fire up some restaurant owners in New York City, leading to a class-action lawsuit filed against Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio for delaying a return to indoor dining here. It’s not that the state was skittish as a whole — most everywhere outside the city allowed some sort of indoor dining since at least June, as part of the state’s third phase of its economic reopening. When New York City finally reached Phase III on July 6, indoor dining did not come with it. — Rose Brennan mo’s doubts over whether social distancing guidelines could be enforced, were two major factors in the delay to return indoor dining. Cuomo had suggested potentially re-allocating some 4,000 police officers to a coronavirus task force, who could be stationed at city restaurants to enforce mask-wearing and physical distancing. That idea, however, met some opposition, including from Democratic congressional nominee Jamaal Bowman, who shared his views on Twitter that same day. In a reply to a tweet paraphrasing Cuomo’s suggestion to introduce a New York Police Department presence at restaurants with indoor dining, Bowman simply wrote, “no.” Even with the green light from the state, not

every local eatery is jumping on board the indoor dining train. Emily Weisberg, owner and manager of Moss Cafe, has opted out. Her restaurant closed March 17, and remained closed for regular business until late August. For the last few weeks, Moss has opened for pickup service and next-day delivery, with a few tables on the sidewalk for outdoor dining. And that’s how it’s going to stay. “We have pivoted our model and invested in redoing so much, we did it in a way that would continue to be, in theory, successful regardless of indoor dining,” Weisberg said. “I think it’s very unstable and risky. This isn’t an art museum or a clothing store where you can walk around with your mask on the whole time. When people come inside a restaurant, they take their mask off. And for the entire time.” Weisberg isn’t afraid to call the police when a customer refuses to comply with safety measures, but still, she worries about the possibility of being sued for discrimination by customers who don’t want to wear masks. As far as rent goes, Moss Café’s landlord has been cooperative — something Weisberg knows isn’t true for everybody. Moss Cafe at 25 percent capacity would only open three tables — not enough to justify risking the health of customers and her small staff. But for many other restaurants, opening for indoor dining could be their last chance at surviving the pandemic. “I have heard from vendors and other restaurant owners and neighbors alike that they’re desperate to see indoor dining come back,” Weisberg said. “And I really empathize with that.”

THE RIVERDALE PRESS - Thursday, September 17, 2020 - A5

Candidates start lining up to replace Fernando Cabrera By KIRSTYN BRENDLEN kbrendlen@riverdalepress.com

A lot of local political attention has been focused on the race to succeed Andrew Cohen on the city council as he prepares to take the bench in the Bronx supreme court. But even though he’s leaving earlier than many of his colleagues, Cohen isn’t the only one facing term limits in the next year. Fernando Cabrera — who represents Kingsbridge, Morris Heights, University Heights, and Fordham — already is eyeing his own post-council plans with a run for Bronx borough president now that his attempt to upend U.S. Rep. Alexandria OcasioCortez’s for her seat in Congress has failed. Ten years has been more than enough time for a crop of eager candidates to pile into the race. So far, five people have announced their runs — Adolfo Abreu, Pierina Sanchez, Haile Rivera, Fernando Aquino and Yudelka Tapia. All have long histories in the district. Rivera and Tapia have both run for office before, Rivera in a contested Assembly race in 2003, and Tapia for the very same seat she’s seeking now. Abreu is a longtime member of the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition and former staffer in the campaigns of state Sens. Gustavo Rivera and Alessandra Biaggi. “I was raised by a single mother in the Bronx who had to navigate a lot of bureaucracy in order to make sure we were able to survive in the Bronx,” Abreu said. “By the age of 13, I was in four different apartment buildings, and that was because of affordability is-

FERNANDO AQUINO

ADOlFO AbREU

hAIlE RIvERA

sues. I attended P.S. 86 and I didn’t get to see the main school until the second grade because of overcrowding. I had to be bused to another school.” Abreu has enjoyed applying pressure on elected officials from the outside, he said, but thinks it’s time for leadership to come directly within to make effective change. It’s something Abreu describes as “co-governance” — keeping the community involved in how and why they want to be governed while maintaining strong connections within neighborhoods rather than becoming disconnected once elected. Sanchez feels similarly. Her work has taken her from Washington to Chicago to city hall, but she’s typically focused on absorbing new ideas, and redirecting those ideas back to the Bronx. “You know, I’m always just trying

to get back, always trying to take the learnings that I was having in my career, and bringing those back into the community,” Sanchez said. “And sort of weaponizing them to bring more resources and to fight.” Born in University Heights, Sanchez says her family was pushed out of their first apartment by a landlord who she says wasn’t kind to tenants. Housing is one of the central tenets of her campaign — the district has a high percentage of severely rent-burdened tenants, who pay more than 30 percent of their income to stay in their homes. “With respect to housing insecurity, I think that one thing I will center is, yes, today we have to figure out rent relief, we have to figure out, operationally, ‘cancel rent,’” Sanchez said. “But, in the longer term, we really need to approach the housing crisis with a lens

that, the causal factor is not supply and demand. The causal factor is inequality.” For Rivera, the usual talking points don’t quite hit home. He’s been involved in politics and social justice since he was in high school, and feels some politicians jump in just because it’s in the news. On a recent evening, Rivera said, he walked outside his apartment after police were called because someone standing on his corner had a gun. Just a few blocks away, he came upon some teenagers trying to steal a motorized scooter. “Those issues are consequences from the lack of programs and support for our community,” he said. “I’m speaking about a lot of issues. But when I talk about hunger, and domestic violence, and college — give those issues priority.”

Rivera wants to use his legislative and funding powers to attack longterm issues at the root, rather than treating the symptoms. “With so much funding going around and I look at the Schedule C discretionary funding of my councilmember every year,” he said. “And not to undermine or put any of those down, but some of these programs are just for the moment. And like, can you create a program that will last a lifetime, that will change lives down the road?” Aquino says he has a unique perspective on government. A former reporter at Dominican papers, and a press secretary at both the state senate and the state attorney general’s office, he’s analyzed elected officials from inside and out. “A lot of people may be elected, but they’re not necessarily representing,” Aquino said. “They’re not going the distance to represent their communities.” Many work 40 hours or more each week and still can’t afford housing and other necessities, Aquino said. Finding real solutions — including raising minimum wage — would address that at the core, creating a ripple effect on other inequalities. “Also, I’ll try to be aggressive in bringing new ideas, basically from the perspective of the working family. And, obviously, access to quality education. And that has to do with addressing segregation, for example, and providing opportunities for disadvantaged communities and kids who don’t have the same privileges as other kids have in New York City — which is a rich city.”

SCHOOL DESK He says he was skeptical schools truly would be ready to start Sept. 10. But now that the beginning of the academic year has been delayed until Sept. 21, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz feels the city made the right call to do so. Dinowitz was an early proponent of delaying school reopening. He also supported creative solutions to allow for more “classroom” time, like utilizing unused mass gathering buildings — such as churches and community centers — as sites for in-person classes when classrooms weren’t available. He even turned to his constitu-

ents for other ideas, suggesting they also share those ideas with the School Construction Authority. But while the city may have bought itself some time, Dinowitz still isn’t completely sold on beginning in-person classes later this month. He thinks there are a few areas that still need to be addressed before public schools are truly ready to reopen. “In particular, I am worried about inadequate ventilation in classrooms, as well as potential shortcomings in the city’s testing protocol,” Dinowitz said, in a release. “I am hopeful that we can resume in-person instruction safely and effectively, but there are a lot of problems that

need to be addressed before the city can do that.”

Bowman releases reopening guidelines

While the city’s education department made the decision to push the return to school to later this month, there are still some varying opinions about policies and procedures that should be implemented once those doors physically reopen. Democratic congressional nominee Jamaal Bowman, a former public middle school administrator himself, used some of his educational expertise to release a proposed reopening plan of his own. He urged the implementation of five public

policy overhauls, including centralizing the production of personal protective equipment, and investing in school renovations that would make buildings safer until there’s a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. “We must take every precaution to ensure the well-being of children, parents, educators and support staff,” Bowman said, in a release. “That is why my plan is not just a cookiecutter guide to reopen schools, but instead, is a comprehensive plan that allows for the local context of a school to be taken into account.” Delaying in-person classes also is popular in nearby towns. Both Yonkers and New Rochelle began their academic

years completely remotely, and in-person classes there won’t begin until at least October.

It’s never too late to return to school

The city’s public schools aren’t the only ones looking to open this fall. Classes are in session at the Bronxville Adult School, a continuing education non-profit just north of Riverdale. It’s offering more than 100 in-person and remote classes including a business and money matters course providing an introduction to e-commerce in small businesses, as well as classes dealing with retirement income planning and preserving family

assets. For those looking to brush up on their home office skills, the school offers basic courses in both Microsoft Word and Excel. And for aspiring coders, there’s a Python programming and tech solutions class. Not all of the classes are purely academic, however. Some of them involve a little more physical exertion, like Zumba, belly dancing and yoga. The school also offers in-person sports like golf, tennis and pickleball, which will take place at the Lake Isle Country Club in Eastchester. The fall semester runs through October. Register at BronxvilleAdultSchool.org or by calling (914) 315-0516.

Hours: Mon-Sat 8 to 8, Sun 8 to 5

1101241

Dinowitz praises school start delay

By rose Brennan

A6 - THE RIVERDALE PRESS - Thursday, September 17, 2020

Insell brings creative prowess to Bronx Arts Ensemble Of course, something of a speed bump — or perhaps, a pothole — occurred in March. “It was going all along really well,” Insell said. “And then the pandemic hit. We’ve tried to keep it up with our online classes, and I think we’ve been pretty successful with that. We were able to put together a summer series that is very much in line with those ideals.” Through recorded and live sessions, BAE kicked off a summer arts series featuring general music education, African drumming and dance, yoga and meditation classes, and capoeira classes — all of which are taught and performed by professional Bronx-based artists. After a complete overhaul of BAE’s curriculum. After a pandemic forced everyone to consult the virtual world for artistic guidance and learning. And after succeeding at both of those major endeavors, one more request was made of Insell. “And then, all of a sudden, I was asked if I would step up and be the artistic director,” Insell said. “Which means being in charge of the creative vision for the organization. That would mean having that reach across (the) arts and education division, and also the concert programming division. I’ve worked both sides of it, so it’s not that hard of a stretch for me.” From school to school, and organization to organization, Insell has kept her home borough in mind. In returning — both as an administrator and as a musician in her own right — she considers her penultimate goal to be focused on a very important fact: The Bronx is a vast, diverse and vibrant musical community that deserves a little more than it’s received. “The community in the Bronx never gets enough respect,” Insell said. “I’m forever trying to get the Bronx the highest quality art. It is deserving.

By RAPHAEL LASSAUZE Special to The Riverdale Press

Step aside, Stephane Grappelli — There’s a new jazz string musician in town. And she also happens to be the new artistic director for the Bronx Arts Ensemble. Bronx native and professional jazz violist Judith Insell has reached a new administrative height in a long history of organizational leadership. From the Harlem School of Arts to the School for the Performing Arts Bronx House, Insell has overseen music programs and artistic curation for years. “I felt it was very important to go to HSA and do the work because I’m a person that’s very much about community building,” Insell said. “I realized there was a need for a lot of support of young developing musicians to have the opportunity to train and become the professionals that they wanted to be.” Insell was once that sort of artist, just starting out in what she described as the average professional musician’s training. She attended prestigious institutions like Juilliard School and Manhattan School of Music. Later, she performed with renowned jazz bassist Joe Fonda for her album “Dark Wood Explorations,” which she released in 2008. “I was trained classically, but started an interest in jazz during college,” Insell said. “I believe that my position as a performer has certainly informed how I work over the years. I know how long it takes to learn and perform a piece. If I didn’t, I think my administrative skills would suffer.” In time, Insell got involved with non-profit arts programs and organizations, and eventually arrived at Bronx Arts Ensemble, beginning a long-lasting career with the organization, beginning as its music programs director.

‘I thought, since the Bronx is a very diverse place, it would be appropriate for Bronx Arts Ensemble to be more conscious of the different cultures that live in the Bronx.’

— Judith Insell

artistic director, BAE

“That was primarily about concerts, as in programming and executing the concerts,” Insell said. “Bronx Arts Ensemble does, normally — pre-pandemic — a lot of concerts. (Like) 60 to 70 concerts a year.” Insell began an initiative in 2016 called “Music Through a Global Lens,” placing the everchanging cultural geography of the Bronx itself at the forefront of the ensemble’s arts and education programming. “I thought, since the Bronx is a very diverse place, it would be appropriate for Bronx Arts Ensemble to be more conscious of the different cultures that live in the Bronx,” Insell said. “We started to look at different populations of the Bronx, and since then there’s been a focus on Mexico, Puerto Rico, Indian music and more.” Insell became Bronx House’s performing arts director just outside of Morris Park a year before being called back by BAE’s executive director, David Nussenbaum, to do what some might refer to as a tall task. “I was asked to fully revamp the curriculum,” Insell said. “That happened last summer. I came back with the goal to expand the initiative to be culturally responsive,

Courtesy of the Bronx Arts Ensemble

Judith Insell, the Bronx Arts Ensemble’s new artistic director, worked with the organization to create its online summer arts series, which featured music education, African drumming, yoga and meditation, and capoeira classes. to look at social justice practices, to look at diversity and equity inclusion, and social and emotional learning that would be focused in our arts education school partnerships — which there are a lot.”

The ensemble has partnered with 45 public schools throughout the Bronx, working with teaching artists and providing a curriculum based on ideals like cultural responsiveness and social justice.

WHAT’S IN / WHAT’S ON Past, present, future of Wave Hill

Wave Hill can’t invite large crowds to its West 252nd Street attraction, but when it comes to the virtual world, there is seemingly no limits. Wave Hill celebrates the past, present and future of its gardens with a virtual party Thursday, Sept. 24, at 6 p.m. It includes a conversation with Marco Polo Stufano, the founding director of horticulture, and a live Q&A moderated by Stephen Orr, the editor-in-chief of Better Homes & Gardens. The party is part of Wave Hill’s annual fundraiser raising money for the gardens and landscape. Registration is required to participate, which must be done before Sept. 21 at 2 p.m. For more information, visit WaveHill.org.

Phase II reopening begins at NYBG

The New York Botanical Garden, 2900 Southern Blvd., begins the second phase of its post-coronavirus pandemic reopening, with limited indoor access to the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, beginning Tuesday, Sept. 22. The new, limited timed-

whatson@riverdalepress.com

entry ticketing system allows the botanical garden to stagger visitor arrivals, promote social distancing, and is designed to mitigate the risk of crowding in high-traffic areas. Advanced purchase of tickets are required, and will be confirmed by email. On top of that, complimentary admission to Bronx health care workers from the borough’s eight public and private hospitals will continue through Feb. 28. For more information, visit NYBG.org.

Boo at the Zoo returns

The Bronx Zoo is not abandoning Halloween just yet. The 2300 Southern Blvd., attraction brings back Boo at the Zoo Thursdays through Sundays from Oct. 1 to Nov. 1, including a special opening Monday, Oct. 12. Activities include daily magic and mind-reading shows, professional pumpkin carving demonstrations and displays, and the extinct animal graveyard. All guests older than 3 are required to socially distance and have proper face coverings. All tickets are date-specific, and must be purchased in advance

online. For more information, visit BronxZoo.com.

com, or visit BronxToastmastersClub.org.

The garden beyond the screen

Riverdale native in Ballet Under the Stars online production The Connecticut Ballet performs “Ballet Under the Stars,” on Saturday, Sept. 19 at 5:30 p.m., at Untermyer Park, 945 N. Broadway, in Yonkers. The series includes solos and duets, as well as one piece for five company women. Several of the pieces were choreographed using online videoconferencing, the work of dance leaders like Julia Bengtsson, Elena Comendador, Carlyn Hudson, Iddi Saaka and Lauren Lovette. Admission is free, but the audience is limited to just 50 people, meaning reservations are required. All audience members must wear masks at all times they are in the park, and will need to bring their own chairs. To reserve a spot, call (914) 375-3435.

Toastmasters return

The Bronx Toastmasters Club of Riverdale meets Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 7:30 p.m., via the Zoom online videoconferencing app. To RSVP, send an email to bronxtoastmastersclub@gmail.

tinyurl.com/CommunityDraws.

Judy Rosenblatt, an actress who grew up in Riverdale, appears in “Collected Stories” with Annemarie Hagenaars at the 2020 Virtual Fringe in Rochester. Rosenblatt plays Professor Ruth Steiner, an aging but established short story writer living in a “cosily messy” apartment in Greenwich Village, who agrees to take on a young graduate student, Lisa Morrison, played by Hagenaars. Performances will be hosted online beginning through Thursday, Sept. 24. Tickets are $5, and are available at RochesterFringe.com.

Family arts available in trying times

Artist Nina Velazquez presents “Come Draw With Me,” a daily drawing activity via her Facebook page. Families can sit down together and create their own versions of Velazquez’s drawings, and are encouraged to post their new versions when complete. For more information, visit

The New York Botanical Garden opens its virtual gates with “The Garden at Home,” a project where the entire garden — from its programs to tours of the spring landscape — are available online. Events include: • A spring walk among the garden’s recently bloomed daffodils. • A virtual tour of the orchid show: Jeff Leatham’s “Kaleidoscope,” hosted by senior orchid curator Marc Hachadourian. For more information, visit NYBG.org.

Wave Hill brings back yoga, meditation

Wave Hill, 4900 Independence Ave., has reopened for special restricted hours Thursday through Sunday from noon to 5:30 p.m. Admission requires advance ticket purchase at WaveHill.org. Classes and activities include: • Virtual yoga classes with Susie Caramanica every Sunday at 9:30 a.m., via the Zoom online videoconferencing app. • Meditation in the Garden

virtually with outdoor guide Cindy Olsen or “dosha healer” Sara Hart, Sundays through Nov. 8, beginning at 9:30 a.m. For more information, visit WaveHill.org.

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 For more information, visit RiverdaleOnline.org.

CB8 in September

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: • The traffic and transportation committee Thursday, Sept. 17, at 7 p.m. • The youth committee Monday, Sept. 21, at 7:30 p.m.

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ooler weather keeps many people indoors. Although this may cause a bit of cabin fever, time spent inside gives people a chance to tackle some much-needed organization projects without the distractions of outdoor activities.

• Know what you have. It’s easier to determine what you can keep and what you can donate or discard when you have an idea of what’s in your closet. Take all of your clothes out of closets and drawers and place them on the bed or floor. • Clean closets thoroughly. Closet organization companies suggests a yearly and thorough cleaning of closets. This includes dusting shelving and

Courtesy of Metro

Unruly closets need periodic cleaning and sorting. The beginning of the fall season is as good a time as any to take on such organizational tasks.

vacuuming the floor of the closet. You can do the same with armoires and dresser drawers. • Take inventory of clothing. Create three main sorting piles. Label one “keep,” another “donate” and the third one “sell.” As you look at your clothing, keep only those items that fit you well and suit both your tastes and your lifestyle. If a piece is high-quality and worth the cost of repair, bring it to a tailor or make the modifications yourself. Let go of

items you never wear or those you bought on a whim because you wanted to try something trendy. In addition, figure out which type of clothing best suits your lifestyle. If you have 10 pairs of yoga pants but never hit the gym, you can thin out that collection. • Immediately bag donation items. Move items you will be donating out of the room. Place them by the front door and make a plan to drop them off at a thrift

• Don’t overlook sales opportunities. An easy way to make a little extra money is to sell used belongings at consignment stores. Such stores are popular in towns all across the country as more people attempt to conserve and cut back on their spending. Consignment shops typically do most of the work, including marketing the items, which can be less hectic and safer than selling things on your own. Only bring in items that are clean and in good condition. Opt to have clothing donated after the consignment period is over if items haven’t sold so they don’t end up back in your closet. • Group remaining “keep” clothes in the closet by categor y. Organize the clothing you keep by color or style (i.e., casual, formal, exercise, etc.). Arrange the clothes in a way that makes most sense to you. •Consider moving off-season clothes. Sturdy storage containers and bags can be used to keep off-season clothing out of the closet until it’s needed. This frees up more space. — Metro

omeowners often take steps to winterize the interior of their homes in the weeks before winter’s arrival, but such efforts should extend to the outside of a home as well. Decks make for great gathering places when the weather permits. Decks are where many people spend their free time and eat their meals come spring and summer, when the temperatures climb and the sun sets well into the evening. But as summer turns to fall, homeowners must take measures to protect their decks from potentially harsh winter weather. • Inspect the deck for problems. Decks tend to be used more often in summer than any other time of year. That makes fall and early winter an ideal time to inspect for wear and tear and any additional issues that may have cropped up throughout the summer. Damaged boards and loose handrails should be fixed before winter arrives, especially for homeowners who plan to use their decks in winter. Fixing such issues in winter and even into spring may be difficult thanks to harsh conditions, so make good use of the relatively calm autumn weather to fix any issues on the deck. • Clear deck of potted plants. Even homeowners who intend

to use their decks in winter should remove potted plants from the deck in the fall. Moisture can get trapped between deck boards and plastic, wood or ceramic containers in cold weather, and that can contribute to mildew, discoloration or decay.

•Store unnecessar y furniture. Homeowners who like to sit on their decks in winter will no doubt want to leave some furniture out over the winter. But those with lots of furniture for entertaining guests can likely move the majority of that furniture into a garage or shed for the winter. Doing so will prevent the potential formation of blemishes on the deck that can result from inconsistent weathering. •Remove snow. Prolonged contact with snow and ice can damage a deck. As a result, homeowners should clear snow from their decks when accumulation is significant. Use a snow blower on the deck to avoid scarring. If a shovel must be used, push snow with the planks to reduce the risk of damaging the deck. Homeowners who take steps to protect their decks throughout the winter months can ensure these popular areas are ready once entertaining season returns in the spring — Metro

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One task to tackle as fall settles in is sorting through wardrobes and making room for new clothes, as extra clothing can quickly take over a home. In fact, according to the National Association of Professional Organizers, too much clutter, general disorganization and difficulty determining what to keep and/or discard are the primary reasons individuals reach out to professional organizers. If clearing away closet clutter is on the top of your winter to-do list, consider the following tips.

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A8 - THE RIVERDALE PRESS - Thursday, September 17, 2020

City’s top accountant steps into mayoral race

POLITICAL ARENA

Scott Stringer kicks off campaign touring Riverdale with Sen. Alessandra Biaggi

By MICHAEL HINMAN Dems battle for Engel’s chairmanship

By KIRSTYN BRENDLEN kbrendlen@riverdalepress.com

The elections this November may be getting a lot of attention, but some of the biggest decisions facing voters at the city level won’t happen until next year when nearly every elected position within city hall is up for grabs. That includes a majority of city council seats, most of the borough president slots, and even public advocate and comptroller. It will be a wide-open race for the top accountant job not only because of term limits, but also because the current comptroller — Scott Stringer — is eyeing his next job: Mayor of New York City. A former Assemblyman and Manhattan borough president, Stringer jumps into a race that is expected to have a rather crowded field as the city decides who will follow Bill de Blasio downtown. His move wasn’t a surprise to those keepSCoTT STRINgER ing track of city politics. Rumors swirled for months, and Stringer’s name came up in mayoral hopeful conversations more than once. Standing near his childhood Washington Heights home, the comptroller last week made his candidacy official, flanked by some of the most progressive electeds in state government: Assemblywoman Yuh-Line Niou, state Sen. Julia Salazar, and Bronx representative and close political ally state Sen. Alessandra Biaggi. As comptroller, Stringer has controlled the city’s purse strings since 2013, reviewing city budgets, overseeing its pension funds, and often working to hold city government accountable — at least from a financial standpoint. He’s also used his platform to champion progressive causes, building a foundation for what has ultimately become his mayoral run, most recently his fight to bring federal relief dollars to small businesses suffering through the coronavirus pandemic. Any candidate elected this year — and perhaps for the next several years — will likely guide their constituents out of the fallout of the pandemic. Some have

KIRSTYN BRENDLEN

City comptroller Scott Stringer, second from right, and Alessandra Biaggi take on Johnson Avenue earlier this month following Stringer’s announcement he wants to become New York City’s next mayor. cited what they say is a failure in leadership during the crisis that prompted them to run — some including Stringer. “I do not presume to know what it was like to live through this pandemic in a place where it hit the hardest,” Stringer said during his announcement speech last week. “And I do recognize that Elyse and I have a level of privilege that is shared by a relative few in this city, and that our challenges do not compare to the trauma experienced by so many.” Stringer’s mother, Arlene StringerCuevas — a Riverdale resident and former councilwoman herself — died from complications of the virus last April. Stringer told the doctor treating his mother at the time he knew people’s parents and grandparents were dying all over the city. The doctor stopped Stringer there, telling him it wasn’t just older people getting sick. “That’s not what’s happening in the Bronx. In the Bronx, Black people are dying, of all ages. Young Latino people are dying. People with asthma and obesity and Type 2 diabetes are dying because we set up a health care system that manages these problems, but never solves them, never actually changes out-

comes,” Stringer said. “It’s not just older people that are dying, the doctor said. The community is dying.” While it seemed every political observer was confident about Stringer’s run, the comptroller told The Riverdale Press his final decision wasn’t made until he had a chance to discuss his political run at length with his wife and family. “I really want to use the financial experience I have, the management experience I have, the belief, the vision I’ve offered to the city,” Stringer said. “I really want to use this to be mayor of New York at a time when New Yorkers are struggling, when it doesn’t seem very optimistic.” After his announcement, Stringer embarked on a tour of the city — starting in Riverdale, Biaggi at his side. Strolling through the neighborhood’s busiest business districts, the two introduced each other to passersby — sometimes surprised people shopping or eating outside recognized them. “When are you running for mayor?” one woman standing outside a restaurant on Riverdale Avenue asked Stringer. “Today!” he responded. Biaggi’s political alliance and friend-

ship with Stringer started after he endorsed her early in her 2018 primary campaign to unseat Jeff Klein, who was well-entrenched in his senate seat. “It’s not just a paper endorsement,” she told The Press. Stringer joined her in Riverdale multiple times a week, campaigning at train stations, on the street, and at house parties — even at one hosted by his mother. “Riverdale wasn’t a sure thing,” Biaggi said. “I had to work for every single vote, and still work for every single vote and support every day. And having his support just because of who he is, and how much this neighborhood loved him — and loves him — was such a big deal.” Stringer’s guidance has helped Biaggi through tough political fights, she said, giving her not just support, but real feedback about whether she was doing the right thing for her constituents. “I want people to know today as I announce that I love this city,” Stringer said. “This city is strong, and the people are strong. And we need a leader now who is going to be decisive in bringing the city back to life, and bringing it back to life in a different way, perhaps.”

U.S. Rep. Eliot Engel hasn’t left Washington quite yet, but some Democrats are scrambling to try and take control of the powerful House Foreign Affairs Committee he chairs. One of the leading contenders is U.S. Rep. Brad Sherman of California, telling lobbying group Democratic Majority for Israel that he would be a perfect successor to because he would “defend Israel with the same zeal that Engel has,” according to Mondoweiss. “You went to bat for Eliot Engel in a huge way, and demonstrated that you understood how important that chairmanship is,” Sherman reportedly told members of the lobbying group. “Eliot Engel was a Plan A. I strongly supported him. But now I’m going to try to ask you to go with Plan B. And I won’t compare myself to my good friend Eliot Engel, except to say that when it comes to having one’s heart in the right place, Eliot and I are in the exact same place.” The chairmanship is expected to open at the beginning of next year after Engel was upset in the Democratic primary by former public school administrator Jamaal Bowman. If he wins the general election in November, as expected, Bowman won’t expect to win any major committee chairs since he’s brand new, and wasn’t exactly House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s first choice. Sherman hails from the greater Los Angeles area, first elected to Congress in 1997. He already serves with Engel on the Foreign Affairs Committee. But if he wants Bronx congressman’s chairmanship, he may have to outlast challenges from Queens congressman Gregory Meeks and Texas representative Joaquin Castro, according to Mondoweiss. Castro, whose twin brother Julian ran for president last year, is considered the most progressive of the three, believing the United States should provide military aid to Israel, but not unconditionally.

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THE RIVERDALE PRESS - Thursday, September 17, 2020 - A9

HEALTH NOTES The National Institutes of Health have awarded the physicians at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and the Montefiore Health System a grant for $4.3 million to support research into convalescent plasma. The plasma is a substance distilled from the blood of recovered COVID-19 patients which may contain antibodies, and could lead to treatments for the coronavirus. Dr. Liise-anne Pirofski, Montefiore’s infectious diseases chief — and member of the leadership board heading the COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma Project — cites the storied past of plasma as proof of its powers. “Convalescent plasma has a long history of improving symptoms and decreasing mortality associated with pandemic diseases, dating back to meningitis at the beginning of the 20th century,” Pirofski said, in a release. “Historically, studies of convalescent plasma for pandemic diseases have been small and results anecdotal — we are hopeful that our randomized, controlled trial with provide a definite answer on its efficacy for COVID-19.” Dr. Mila Ortigoza, a co-lead investigator for the trial, cites the necessities of an academically practicing medical establishment like Montefiore, as well as the need of the recently awarded grant to research possible treatments. “We are tremendously excit-

ed to receive the NIH support for our urgent attempt to determine whether plasma from patients that have recovered from COVID-19 can save lives,” Ortigoza said, in a release. “Vaccines may not be available for some time, and plasma therapy may provide an important option in the meantime.”

New HIV treatment kit now available The city’s health department has launched an educational campaign centering on HIV antiretroviral treatments, believed to create significant reductions in the spread of the virus that causes AIDS. City health commissioner Dr. Dave Chokshi aims to educate health care providers using specialized treatment kits. “Providing treatment for New Yorkers living with HIV on Day One of their diagnosis enables them to live their lives to the fullest,” Chokshi said, in a release. “Ending the HIV epidemic remains a priority, and we must continue to do all we can to give New Yorkers the treatments they need to thrive.” The kit and other virtual educational resources are intended to support annual HIV testing, and instituting antiretroviral treatment immediately. Queens councilman Daniel Dromm — who chairs the legislative body’s LGBT caucus — considers the initiatives a major

push toward helping as many people as possible in the state. “The health department’s initiative will connect a greater number of New Yorkers living with HIV to immediate antiretroviral therapy,” Dromm said, in a release. “In 2020, everyone should have access to such lifesaving care. By helping health care providers deliver antiretroviral therapy in a timely manner, this campaign helps make that a reality.”

Stainless steel horse

Wear a mask on the bus, or face $50 fine Gov. Andrew Cuomo is worried commuters might be too scared to board subways and buses out of fear they may contract the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. However, the governor is a major proponent in how effective masks are in slowing the spread of the virus, and is now putting some teeth into an already existing law requiring travelers wear masks on mass transit. On Monday, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority said it will start targeting straphangers not wearing a face covering with a $50 fine. “While mask compliance in the MTA system remains very high, we want to make sure that people feel comfortable coming back to public transportation,” Cuomo said, in a release. — Michael Hinman

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976426

Montefiore presents: convalescent plasma

By RAPHAEL LASSAUZE

A10 - THE RIVERDALE PRESS - Thursday, September 17, 2020

Opinion

The Riverdale Press maintains an open submission policy. Opinions expressed in this section do not necessarily represent those of this publication. Submissions can be made to letters@riverdalepress.com.

Editorial

Save our restaurants R

estaurants are big business in this country. At least $900 billion, according to the National Restaurant Association — bigger than grocery stores, and even hospitals, by some estimates. The nation’s economy depends on restaurants to survive. New York City — with 27,000 such establishments employing upward of 315,000 people — absolutely depends on restaurants. Yet, the city’s food services industry has been decimated over the last several months. And while Mayor Bill de Blasio — and ultimately Gov. Andrew Cuomo — pin that blame on the coronavirus pandemic, fingers instead should be pointed directly at them. There are no real-time statistics on how many restaurants have closed permanently since the public health crisis began in March, but this is something we can see for ourselves without the need for data. Go up and down Johnson Avenue, Riverdale Avenue, West 231st Street, West 238th Street, Broadway — you can clearly see who has survived and who likely won’t. A lot was said about Land & Sea on Broadway a few weeks back permanently closing its doors. But it’s hardly alone — even in its own neighborhood. Pay for those working in food and beverages might be some of the lowest in terms of industry, but those paychecks alone pump nearly $10 billion into the city’s economy each year. Not this year, however. New York City restaurants can start allowing indoor diners beginning Sept. 30, but only at 25 percent. Everywhere else, the capacity maximum is 50

percent — still a tough sell for most restaurants, but better than 25 percent, and certainly better than nothing. de Blasio and Cuomo have very difficult jobs right now balancing the need to restore the economy with keeping everyone save in the wake of COVID-19. But when it comes to New York City, there is no balance. There’s only overreaction and unnecessary anxiety. No one here has forgotten what life was like with a virus spreading out of control in our neighborhoods. Even with infection and hospital rates at their lowest since the pandemic’s start, people are still wearing their masks. They are still maintaining social distance. They are still limiting their gatherings. Sure, there are those who continue to resist such necessary measures. But no one wants to live like they did over the spring and the beginning of summer ever again. During the worst of the pandemic, the New York Police Department monitored thousands of businesses, and did a fantastic job on ensuring there was compliance across the board. Why would that change now? Why couldn’t the NYPD work with other city agencies to ensure restaurants are following the “new normal”? New York City should not be treated any differently than the rest of the state — as long as our numbers are strong. And they are indeed strong. Cuomo talked about not just returning to what we had before the pandemic, but making it better. We can’t return at all, however, as long as we continue to treat our restaurants as second-class citizens.

Point of view

Housing and health care: Looming crises in the Bronx

By BARBARA ESTRIN

I

n the midst of an unprecedented health crisis and an upcoming election that may test the strength of our democracy, Northwest Bronx Indivisible affirms two interconnected principles that are essential to our borough: • Safe and stable housing is one cornerstone of protecting health. • Universal access to affordable, high-quality, comprehensive health care is, as the World Health Organization wrote in 2018, fundamental to health security. Recently enacted emergency legislation protecting New Yorkers from eviction and supported by our local legislators makes a good start on a newly visible housing catastrophe. Too many of our Bronx neighbors face deeply entrenched housing inequity: Scarcity of affordable housing makes rents unaffordable, and forces overcrowding into substandard buildings. Our legislators — and we — must do more, especially because housing courts reopen Oct. 1. They will begin rulings on pre-pandemic cases, and may spur a rise in evictions and homelessness in our neighborhood, and in our borough. The New York Health Act — supported by local representatives like Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz and state Sen. Alessandra Biaggi, and by Northwest Bronx Indivisible — would bring us affordable, comprehensive, universal health coverage. It would allow physicians to treat everyone according to their medical training, rather than what will be profitable for insurers. Many public health experts acknowledge that had New York Health been in place, we in the Bronx — and all of New York state — would have suffered less under COVID-19. We congratulate The Riverdale Press for its well-deserved statewide recognition. (re: “Press

captures best news stories, general excellence at awards,” Aug. 27) The New York Press Association select-

ed editor Michael Hinman — along with Kirstyn Brendlen and Heather J. Smith — for their deep dive into the New York Health Act and local health disparities for first prize for local news. Enacting this legislation will save money for 90 percent of New Yorkers — and New York state — as well as dramatically improving public health across the state.

Readers who are not yet familiar with it should review The Press’ years of superb coverage. Why do we prioritize housing and health amidst so many other pressing issues? • The Bronx has the highest rates of coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and deaths in the city — one of the highest in the world. Our Black and Latinx neighbors die at three to five times the rate of white New Yorkers. Our fellow Bronxites have lost more loved ones, lost more jobs, and continue to work at more low-paid frontline jobs per capita than other boroughs, and most of the rest of the United States. CNN reports that a COVID-19 vaccine may be delayed because trials have failed to include racial and ethnic minorities. • Nearly one-in-six city workers who lost their jobs due to the pandemic was undocumented, making Bronx neighborhoods even poorer. These workers and families have been excluded from stimulus checks, the unemployment insurance system, and pandemic unemployment assistance. Hunger and struggle have become starvation and homelessness. • Even before COVID-19, the Bronx ranked last among New York state’s 62 counties in an annual survey of health indicators. Before COVID-19, 50 percent of the Bronx population was on Medicaid, often receiving separate and unequal health care, while another 22 percent of Bronx residents had not health care insurance at all. Job loss under employer-based insurance means that now fewer than 25 percent have insurance. All of us should support housing and health care equity now. If you are distressed about these — and so many other issues — talk to your neighbors. Call your local and state representatives. Consider joining Northwest Bronx Indivisible. We mobilize because effective advocacy can create real change in the Bronx, in New York state, and across the country. The time is now. The author is a member of Northwest Bronx Indivisible.

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Point of view

Don’t forget our heroes By LORELEI SALAS (re: “Union workers want jobs back at Key Food,” July 30)

F

rancisco Montes went to work every day when most of us in New York City stayed safely at home in an effort to flatten the COVID-19 curve. Francisco was one of hundreds of essential workers who continued to toil for long hours during the worst of the pandemic. They risked their health and that of their families, serving community members as they stockpiled toilet paper and basic food staples to hunker down. Francisco was employed at a Key Food supermarket in North Riverdale for 28 years, until it was sold in July, and the owner fired 21 dedicated workers. Since 2016, the city’s Grocery Worker Retention Act has made it illegal to fire grocery store workers for 90 days after a change in ownership. The law is meant to attenuate the volatility that retail workers experience by creating a reasonable transition period during which the new employer can evaluate its business needs, and employees can search for other employment, if needed. While this law was in place pre-pandemic, it serves the same goals as many current and state legislative proposals. Just cause, whistleblower protections and hazard pay, for instance, are being considered by local and state legislative bodies, and can go a long way in restoring respect and dignity for workers — especially those who are essential every day, and especially during the COVID-19 crisis. Francisco’s employers are not representative of so many New York City businesses that have dutifully complied with state health guidelines, paid sick leave laws, and other important worker protection laws that have long been in place. But the heartless dismissal of these Key Food workers needs to be called out as unacceptable, and as an embarrassment to our city. Law or not, New York City businesses are better than this. During the height of the pandemic, we cheered our city’s essential workers on a daily basis. During Labor Day weekend, we recognized how far the labor movement has come. But we must continue to honor and highlight the contributions and sacrifices workers are making day after day to help our economy restart and recover.

Now, more than ever, we need to invest in strong worker protections and responsive enforcement. While we wait for the federal government to make the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines mandatory — or to begin enforcing the new federal paid sick leave law — New York City can continue to lead by centering workers’ lives in our recovery plans. We must especially remember the immigrant workers who are overrepresented as essential workers in our grocery stores and restaurants, and who have been left out of the traditional safety nets because of their immigration status. As they return to work, these workers might endure non-compliant workplaces because their rent is due, they need to feed their families — and they have no savings to rely on. My office, the city’s consumer and worker protection department, operates a hotline for workers with questions about the city’s reopening and, after receiving more than 5,000 calls, we continue to hear that workers are reluctant to report violations because they cannot afford to lose their jobs again. After getting illegally fired, Francisco and his co-workers — represented by the Retail, Wholesale, Department Store Union, Local 338 — bravely filed complaints with our office. But many other workers might not even realize they are covered by the law, or may be afraid to come forward. The Grocery Worker Retention Act gives some stability to workers by giving them notice that their employer is about to change, and a chance to show their skills for the jobs they already do. This benefits employers who inherit a trained work force, and it is also good public policy that leads to lower unemployment numbers, and less financial hardship for those who can least weather it. Francisco’s new employer should rehire all 21 workers immediately, and not because they face litigation by my office, but because it is the decent way to treat our New York City heroes. And as we rebuild, worker protections like this need to be part of our foundation so all of our communities — the heart of our city — can prosper. The author is the commissioner of the city’s consumer and worker protection department, which houses the city’s labor policy and standards office.

Letters to the editor

Some problems with the mail To the editor:

(re: “Biaggi fights Trump’s post office changes,” Aug. 27)

I am writing about the current state of the U.S. Postal Service. I live in a 299-family co-operative in Riverdale. In the past two weeks, our usual letter carrier has been on vacation. Two glaring issues have arisen: • There were bags and boxes of unattended mail that accu-

mulated in our lobby from Aug. 29 until late in the day Aug. 31, when a USPS carrier finally appeared to distribute three days of accumulated mail into our individual mailboxes. • On Tuesday, Sept. 1, there was no mail delivery at all. The letter carrier who came to pick up the newly deposited mail told the doorman there were no staff members available to bring the mail to the building,

or to distribute it. I wanted to be sure to document how tampering with the USPS operations is affecting U.S. citizens. I will continue to document this and to bring it to your attention for what I hope will be investigation and restoration of the USPS to its former condition. I hope you agree this is unacceptable. Adele SchwArTz

You haven’t changed my mind To the editor:

(re: “Message is simply anti-racist,” July 16)

There is an old saying, “Don’t judge a book by its cover” — a variation of which would be, “Don’t judge a person’s intelligence by his prestigious job title.” I give you as today’s example Mr. Norman Wechsler, who (as your paper noted) “is a former principal at DeWitt Clinton High School and a former superintendent for Bronx high schools with the city’s education department.” On July 2, The Riverdale Press published my Point of View, “It happened in Germany, it can happen here, too,” which dealt negatively with the Black Lives Matter movement. On July 16, the paper published Mr. Wechsler’s virulent response, in which he described my letter as a “mash-up of untruths, distortions and exaggerations,” and attacked me personally as a “racist spreading poison.” This is the usual response of these intellectually deficient leftist fools who have no adequate responses to the truth. Before I go further, for the editor Michael Hinman, I would suggest these two letters placed side-by-side would be a perfect “point, counterpoint” presentation. In my letter, I made two basic points that Mr. Wechsler vehemently took issue with: That to the Black Lives Matter organization, “only Black

lives matter,” and “only certain Black lives matter” specifically only those of the relatively few unarmed Black people (over a period of many years) killed by white police. Regarding the first point, Mr. Wechsler made a big deal out of the fact that Black Lives Matter supporters never specifically uttered the statement “only Black lives matter.” To this point, he is absolutely correct. But they didn’t have to. Their “actions spoke louder than words,” as illustrated by the indisputable fact that many innocent people (who believed in freedom of speech) and who spoke the “verboten” phrase “all lives matter” were hounded and persecuted by these fascist Black Lives Matter supporters, who forced their fearful employers to fire them. Black Lives Matter certainly seems to think it has a monopoly on whose lives matter based on skin color. That is racism! Is that too hard for you to understand, Mr. Wechsler? I suggest Mr. Wechsler stick to writing letters about innocuous subjects such as “puny Christmas trees” or “the difference between the words ‘principle’ and ‘principal.’” Mr. Wechsler embarrasses himself with his rambling, irrational critique of my letter. Alvin Gordon

THE RIVERDALE PRESS - Thursday, September 17, 2020 - A11

Op-Ed

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Give minority-owned biz better access to capital

By KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND

F

rom the moment it rolled out, it was clear the Paycheck Protection Program was not working for everyone. As time went on, it became clear exactly who it wasn’t working for. This pandemic has put a magnifying glass on the inadequacies that lay at the heart of our economy. We give too much emphasis and public investment to big corporations, Wall Street, and individuals with the wealth and connections to make the system work for them. From the big business paid leave loophole, to tax breaks for the very wealthy in a relief package, to the PPP, the government’s COVID-19 response has failed to put first those who need help most. We need to reverse generations of underinvestment and outright discrimination in minority communities, and we should start with the core of those communities and the engine of our economy: small businesses. We should direct future PPP funding primarily through community-oriented lending institutions. We should set aside more funding for direct lending, giving these businesses additional rounds of help. And we should hold accountable not only the big banks and corporations, but the whole system of federal contracts, relationships, and technical expertise investments. For many small businesses, especially minority-owned businesses, getting relief through the PPP hasn’t been an option. Minority business owners often didn’t have the so-called “right” relationships with the so-called “right” banks, and were left out — and left behind.

W

e made some progress in the interim relief package, which included more money and new rules to reach underserved communities, but we must do much more. Even before the pandemic, it was incredibly difficult for minority business owners and entrepreneurs to access capital. The Federal Reserve reported that although Black-owned firms were the most likely to have applied for bank financing, less than 47 percent of their applications were fully funded. Another study from the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research found that white business owners were seven times more likely to get a bank loan during their first year of business than Black business owners. The way the PPP was structured only further magnified the issues endemic to our financial sector, and widened the gap in access to capital. The New York Times reported that during the first phase of PPP, when competition for aid was at its peak, 75 percent of the loans went to businesses in areas where the majority of residents were white. In May, a survey of Black and Latino business owners who applied for PPP loans found that just 12 percent had received what they asked for, and nearly half predicted that they would be forced to close their doors for good in the near future. Additionally, a recent study that sent Black and white “mystery shoppers” to apply for PPP loans at branches of 17 banks found that Black borrowers were routinely offered different products and treated worse than the white borrowers, even though the Black borrowers had slightly better financial profiles than their white counterparts. In New York City, Black people make up 22 percent of the population, but just 2.1 percent of businesses are Black-owned. And the number of Hispanic-owned busi-

nesses in the city was declining even before the pandemic. We cannot afford for minority-owned businesses to become a casualty of COVID-19. This pandemic has hit communities of color extremely hard. Compared to white residents, Latino and Black residents of the United States have been three times as likely to contract COVID-19, and twice as likely to die from the virus. It will take a long time for these communities to recover and to start supporting local businesses again. But those businesses may not be able to wait that long.

W

e must address the issues of capital access for minority-owned businesses, especially with regard to bank lending from the PPP or other follow-on programs. One way we can do that is by providing capital and support through community-focused lenders, who facilitate more lending to small businesses in communities of color. Those lenders have largely been left out of PPP. Less than 10 percent of community development financial institutions were able to participate. That’s why I joined my colleagues in sending a letter to Sen. Chuck Schumer and Sen. Mitch McConnell calling for additional funding for CDFIs to be included in the next relief package. I also recently pushed for a $2 billion CDFI crisis fund, which would automatically provide funding to heavily impacted communities during a natural disaster or economic crisis, including a pandemic. I support Sen. Schumer’s plan to provide $20 billion of capital and support for small and minority-owned businesses. It would invest in those community-focused lenders, and permanently authorize and expand programs offered by the Minority Business Development Agency and the Small Business Administration, including the 7(a) Community Advance and Prime programs. It would also address the capital gap by providing tax incentives to new small businesses to help offset some of the costs of launching a company. I’m also supporting policies like the Restart Act, which would provide aid to businesses like restaurants, theaters and live event spaces that can’t operate at full capacity, and the Saving Our Streets Act, which would establish a $125 billion fund to aid our smallest businesses, especially historically under-represented businesses, including minority- and women-owned businesses. Finally, we should make sure the vast technical resources of the federal government — and the financial system at large — are easily accessible. This includes strengthening the Community Reinvestment Act, and leveraging the Federal Reserve’s branch system to provide technical help to lenders and businesses in minority communities. I also recently introduced new legislation with Sen. Elizabeth Warren to require the Federal Reserve to use its existing authorities to close racial employment and wage gaps, and report on how those gaps change over time. Minority-owned businesses are an important part of our communities and our economy, and we must take action to make sure they survive this pandemic. The author is a U.S. Senator representing New York. A version of this submission originally appeared in Medium.

Letters to the editor

Speaking for all the oppressed To the editor:

(re: “Is it a fair question? Or is it just hate?” Sept. 3)

As a humanistic Jew, I have been appalled by the increases in anti-Semitic activity. These include murderous attacks on synagogues, and the march of neo-Nazis with torches chanting, “Jews will not replace us” in Charlottesville. But the criticism — even condemnation — of Israeli policies by the Democratic Socialists of America or others is not anti-Semitic. Israel is not a “democracy.” Its state rules over a large number of Palestinian Arabs throughout the “occupied territories” who have no say in the Israeli government. If the United States were to declare itself a “white Christian” state, as Israel is a “Jewish state,” would we regard it as a democracy? It is in response to Israel’s undemocratic and repressive domination of the occupied territories that the boycott-divestment-sanction movement was founded. In itself, it does not reject the continuation of Israel as part of a two-state solution. However, many have noted that Israel’s expansion into the West Bank has been extreme, with more and more settlements, roads, military checkpoints and so on, to such an extent that a two-state solution may have become impossible. A single, democratic state — the home of two

national communities — may have become the only solution by now, due to Israel’s own actions. Although I’m a libertarian-democratic ecosocialist, I am not a member of the DSA, and certainly not of the Democratic Party. The questionnaire they wrote to candidates for the city council was clumsy. It read as if they were opposed to the right of people to travel to Israel at all. Actually they meant to oppose the paid-for pro-Israel junkets for politicians to travel to Israel. This is hardly anti-Semitic. U.S. Jews have an unduly romantic view of Israel. Many use the horrors of the Holocaust to justify a mostly European population taking over the land of a “Third World” people. Israel has been praised for its major support to the United States in its region. Given the nature of U.S. policies in the area, this is not really a compliment. The Democratic Party has, by and large, been a fierce defender of Israel, no matter its mistreatment of the Palestinians. It is not surprising that Democratic politicians such as Ms. Jessica Haller would cover themselves in pro-Israel boilerplate. But the universalistic tradition of the Hebrew prophets teaches us to oppose all injustice, and to speak up for all the oppressed. Wayne Price

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Move all our voting to the mailbox To the editor: Voting by mail should replace voting at all the polls in its entirety. The two institutions that can definitely be trusted are the county elections board and the U.S. Postal Service. The money saved by eliminating the need for poll workers could be used to offer free postage on the envelopes used to

vote by mail. The person voting would also have more time to consider what they are voting for, and would not be confined to the hours of the voting place. It would also prevent unwanted entry to schools and churches from anyone trying to harm someone. In addition, the voter would not be harassed by someone trying to place unso-

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5-9 WEEKS: $3.85 per line, per week 10-25 WEEKS: $3.30 per line, per week 26+ WEEKS: $3.05 per line, per week Minimum order is 5 lines for one week.

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Computer services COMPUTER PC, MAC EXPERT Repairs, Upgrade, Installations & Set-ups Slow computer, Virus removal, Data recovery

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by former Manhattan College Instructor. 27 Years experience. Local references available. Best Rate. Riverdale Border 914-473-3344

Help wanted

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Miscellaneous

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JOB OPPORTUNITY $18.50 P/H NYC $16 P/H LI $13.50 P/H UPSTATE NY CDPAP Caregiver Hourly Pay Rate! Under NYS CDPAP Medicaid program you can hire your family or friends for your care. Phone: 347-713-3553

Annie Williams Skilled and experienced home care provider. Available full or part time. Available for interview or trial shift. Reference letters on request. Licensed driver with vehicle. Excellent cook. Riverdale resident. awilliams.homecare@gmail. com 917-847-5548

Recently Diagnosed w/Lung Cancer or Mesothelioma? Exposed to Asbestos Pre-1980 at Work or Navy? You May Be Entitled to a Significant Cash Award! Smoking History Okay! 888-912-3150

Boy Scout Compensation Fund Anyone that was inappropriately touched by a Scout leader deserves justice and financial compensation. Victims may be eligible for a significant cash settlement. Time to file is limited. 844-587-2494

COMPUTER & IT TRAINING PROGRAM! Train ONLINE to get the skills to become a Computer & Help Desk Professional now! Now offering a $10,000 scholarship for qualified applicants. Call CTI for details! (844) 947-0192

DRIVE OUT BREAST Cancer: Donate a care today! The benefits of donating your car or boat: Fast Free Pickup - 24hr Response Tax Deduction - Easy To Do! 855-905-4755

Computer Repair, Upgrade & Troubleshooting Call James 646-281-4475 or 718-324-4332

VIAGRA & CIALIS! 60 pills for $99. 100 pills for $150 FREE shipping. Money back guaranteed! Call Today: 800-404-0244

KMA TECH. The solution to technology confusion. We come to you. Riverdale based. Prompt service. All Windows and Apple products. Call today 646-734-1996

TRAIN AT HOME TO DO MEDICAL BILLING! Become a Medical Office Professional online at CTI! Get Trained, Certified & ready to work in months! Call 855-543-6440. (M-F 8am-6pm ET)

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Miscellaneous Home Improvement

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Lorence NY Contracting Corp. We specialize in Kitchen & bath renovs. NYC 646-407-3913 Lic. #2091374-DCA.

New Heights Construction, LLC Siding, Roofing, Painting, Basements, Decks and more. NYC Lic. #1191201 Call 800-525-5102 or 718-767-0044

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Quality jewelry, watch batteries and bands. Expert repairs. 5690 Riverdale Avenue 718-549-2730

Miscellaneous Window Cleaning Mario's Window Cleaning Service

Available anytime. Free ests. Riverdale references. Call 347-671-4040

Legal Notices Legal Notice

1102729

Call/email Adam Schneider - eXp Realty, NYC at 888-276-0630 x156 • adam.schneider@exprealty.com to schedule a private tour.

Home improvement

B.K. Waterproofing and Roofing Brickpointing, concrete work, roofing, windows, retaining walls, painting, sheetrock, powerwashing & gutter work. Free estimates & consultation Call 917-566-8147 Ask for Bobby www.bkwaterproofing.com

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Spacious, serene and beautifully renovated 2 bedroom residence (convertible to 3 bedrooms) in Riverdale’s premier condo, Hayden-On-Hudson. A 50-foot terrace affords airy living in total privacy, with lovely sunsets and full west views of the Hudson River from every room. $918,000

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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

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3220 Fairfield Ave Indoor parking $195 plus tax 212-721-3144

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Parking space available

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF AMIVA Management Services LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on July 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 AMIVA Management Services LLC, 3424 Kingsbridge Ave, STE 1H, Bronx, NY 10463. The principal business address of the LLC is AMIVA Management Services LLC, 3424 Kingsbridge Ave, STE 1H, Bronx, NY 10463. Purpose: any lawful act or activity. 3301

Legal Notice

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. NAME: LA JOYA COSMETICS LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on July 09, 2020. Office location: Bronx County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to the LLC, LA JOYA COSMETICS LLC, 7014 13th Avenue, Suite 202 Brooklyn NY 11228. Purpose: For any lawful purpose. 3310

Legal Notice

Notice is hereby given that an Order entered by the Civil Court, Bronx County on 06/30/20, bearing Index Number NC-000136-20/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) Jessica (Middle) Jelitza (Last) Rodriguez. My present name is (First) Jessica (Middle) Jelitza (Last) Rodriguez Morell AKA Jessica J Rodriguez Morell AKA Jessica Rodriguez. 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 February 1995. 3317

Legal Notice

Notice is hereby given that an Order entered by the Civil Court, Bronx County on 8/27/2020, bearing Index Number NC-000205-20/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) Enoma (Middle) Osamudiamen (Last) Ewansiha. My present name is (First) Ofure (Middle) Enoma (Last) Ewansiha (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 March 2020. 3318

Legal Notice

Notice is hereby given that an Order entered by the Civil Court, Bronx County on 8/31/2020, bearing Index Number NC-000210-20/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) Saikou Yaya (Last) Fadiga. My present name is (First) Sarkouyaya (Last) Fadiga. The city and state of my present address are Bronx, NY. My place of birth is Brooklyn, NY. The month and year of my birth are December 1996. 3319

Legal Notice

Notice is hereby given that an Order entered by the Civil Court, Bronx County on Sept. 3, 2020, bearing Index Number NC-000214-20/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) Ryan Samir (Middle) Palingwende (Last) Ouedraogo. My present name is (First) Palingwende (Middle)

Rayan Samir (Last) Ouedraogo (infant). The city and state of my present address are Bronx, NY. My place of birth is Bronx, New York. The month and year of my birth are April 2020. 3320

Legal Notice

Notice is hereby given that an Order entered by the Civil Court, Bronx County on 8/27/2020, bearing Index Number NC-000203-20/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) Cynthia (Middle) Akosua (Last) Darkoah. My present name is (First) Cynthia (Middle) Esi (Last) Essien (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 June 2017. 3321

Legal Notice

Notice is hereby given that an Order entered by the Civil Court, Bronx County on 8/31/2020, bearing Index Number NC-000212-20/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) Baron (Middle) Adolphus (Last) Reid. My present name is (First) Baron (Middle) Adolphus (Last) Dinkins AKA Baron Reid, AKA Baron Adolphus Reid, AKA Baron Adolphus Dinkins. The city and state of my present address are Bronx, NY. My place of birth is Poughkeepsie, NY. The month and year of my birth are November 1956. 3322

Legal Notice

Notice is hereby given that an Order entered by the Civil Court, Bronx County on 03/16/2020, bearing Index Number NC-000091-20/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) Anne (Middle) Marie (Last) Saint Cilien. My present name is (First) Marie (Middle) Noemie (Last) Saint Cilien. The city and state of my present address are Bronx, NY. My place of birth is Port au Prince, Haiti. The month and year of my birth are October 1937. 3323

Legal Notice

Notice is hereby given that an Order entered by the Civil Court, Bronx County on July 14, 2020, bearing Index Number NC-000326-18/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) Jorge (Middle) William (Last) Rodriguez. My present name is (First) George (Middle) William (Last) Rodriguez AKA Jorge William Rodriguez, AKA Jorge W. Rodriguez, AKA Jorge Rodriguez. 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 December 1964. 3324

Legal Notice

Notice is hereby given that an Order entered by the Civil Court, Bronx County on Sep. 10, 2020, bearing Index Number NC-000123-20/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) Tyree (Middle) Karl (Last) Losey. My present name is (First) Tyree (Middle) Karl (Last) Rice AKA Tyree K Losey. The city and state of my present address are Bronx, NY. My place of birth is Manhattan, New York. The month and year of my birth are August 1989. 3325

THE RIVERDALE PRESS - Thursday, September 17, 2020 - A13

Home of the Week Pamela Trebach of Trebach Realty

Everything you ever need in this great co-op

P 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.

lenty of space. A friendly doorman to greet you every evening. And parking all ready for you just across the street? That can’t be real, can it? It is at The Algiers, and there’s a twobedroom, two-bathroom unit waiting for you right now at 3616 Henry Hudson Parkway. This post-war co-op building was renovated in 2005, and you notice that the moment you step inside your home. It’s spacious and bright, and comes with a private balcony facing the south. Features include an entry foyer, a living room with picture window, stylist passthrough kitchen (with polished counter tops), and a professionally soundproofed music studio complete with built-in desk and bookcases.

You’ll fall in love with the Jerusalem stone bathroom with a glass-enclosed shower. And, of course, you’ll find finished hardwood floors throughout the sixth-floor unit. The building itself comes with a private children’s playground, a fitness room, community room, storage, newly renovated lobby and laundry rooms, and landscaped grounds complete with a garden. There’s also indoor parking available for rent at the Atria Riverdale just across the street. One thing to keep in mind is that there are no dogs allowed. This great co-op is available for $417,000, with a monthly maintenance fee of just over $1,100.

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ny, 10463 3717bronx, Riverdale Ave, phone 347-275-8056 Bronx, NY929-243-3100 10463 fax PHONE 347-275-8056 KaiFanCuisine.com FAX KaiFanCuisine@gmail.com 929-243-3100

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A14 - THE RIVERDALE PRESS - Thursday, September 17, 2020

TrebachRealty.com

718.543.7174

Family Owned & Operated Since 1972

NeW exclusive

NeW exclusive

FieldstoN Web #877 Renovated bright and airy 6-bdrm, 5.5-bath house with spacious grounds. Features entry hall, living room with fireplace, spacious and inviting eat-in kitchen, formal dining room, sunroom with radiant-heat floors and finished basement. $3,450,000

FieldstoN Web #881 Classic and Spacious 6-bdrm, 3-full and 2-half bath Craftsman-Sytle house with sunroom, patio and garden. Entry hall flows to a spacious living room with WBFP, formal dining room adjacent to spacious kitchen with a breakfast nook. $2,175,000

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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

NeW exclusive

FieldstoN Web #839 Bright 4-bdrm, 3-bath solar modern home with patio & garden. Living rm with WBFP & eat-in kitchen. $1,750,000

West oF the parKWay Web #886 Charming and renovated 3-bdrm, 2-bath with center hall, living rm with WBFP, dining area and eat-in kitch. $1,350,000

exclusive

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

West oF parKWay Web #891 Lavish newly built 8-bdrm, 7.5-bath on 0.29-acres features 2-story center hall with curved staircase, double height great room with gas fireplace, glass doors to wraparound porch, den with wet bar, formal dining room and center island kitchen. $4,888,000

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exclusive

exclusive

NeW exclusive North riverdale Web #892 Two-family, semi-attached brick house with wide entry terrace & backyard with a deck & patio on Cul-de-Sac. $945,000

NeW exclusive

NeW exclusive

NeW 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. $4,475,000

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

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

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ceNtral riverdale Web #859 4-bdrm, 3-bath detached brick house with high ceilings, living room with brick WBFP & formal dining room. $890,000

NeW exclusive West oF parKWay Web #883 Renovated and countrified 4-bdrm, 3-bath house with patio and level grassy backyard. Features an entry hall, living room, formal dining room with WBFP, skylighted eat-in kitchen and family room. Central a/c, tool shed and driveways. $1,950,000

NeW exclusive

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

south riverdale Web #871 Spacious 4-bdrm, 2.5-bath house with living room with WBFP, formal dining room and eat-in kitchen. $1,595,000

exclusive West oF parKWay Web #873 4-bdrm, 3-bath Tudor-Style house on double lot with grassy yard and river views on private cul-de-sac. $1,575,000

exclusive North riverdale Web #887 Secluded single level side by side twofamily house with porch, deck and grassy front yard on Cul-de-Sac. $850,000

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North riverdale Web #888 Sunny and spacious 3-bdrm, 3.5-bath with sunken living room, dining room with bay windows and deck. $969,000

exclusive south riverdale Web #872 Three vacant lots with R2 Zoning and Single-family 4-bdrm, 2.5-bath, stucco, Tudor-style house. $3,000,000

ct

exclusive

exclusive

NeW exclusive

FieldstoN Web #844 Classic & Elegant 4-bdrm, 3.5-bath with abundant French doors leading out to expansive front terrace, a stone patio, an open, shady side porch and a level grassy yard. Living room with WBFP, formal dining room and eat-in kitchen. $1,895,000

West oF the parKWay Web #856 Classic 3-bdrm, 2.5-bath house features a center hall, living rm with WBF, formal dining rm and eat-in kitchen. $995,000

NeW exclusive 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

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co-ops, condos and REntals

NeW coNdo exclusive

NeW exclusive

3800 blacKstoNe ave Web #cc630 Contemporary 2-bdrm, 2-bath duplex penthouse with private roof terraces, laundry & indoor parking. $699,000

3935 blacKstoNe ave Web #cc646 Spacious 2-bdrm, 2-bath Co-op with balcony and doorman. Features entry foyer, updated kitchen. $449,000

NeW exclusive

NeW exclusive

3935 blacKstoNe aveNue Web #cc648 Spacious, light-filled, low floor 3-bdrm with balcony and 24-hr doorman. Features include an extra large central foyer, living room, dining area with custom built-ins and glass door to 14-ft long balcony, eat-in kitchen and master bdrm suite. $695,000

3616 heNry hudsoN parKWay Web #cc642 Spacious and Bright 2-bdrm, 2-bath co-op with balcony and doorman. Entry foyer, living room with picture window, stylish pass-through kitchen, professionally soundproofed music room, refinished hardwood floors and near all. $417,000

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. $515K West oF parKWay - 2-bdrm, 1.5-bath, w/ balcony, L-shaped LR/DR area, DM, fitness room, private playground and childrens recreation room. Dogs OK. Indoor parking available. $420K sold - North riverdale - Renov Jr-4 with entry foyer living rm, dining rm and windowed eat-in kitchen. $299K sold - ceNtral riverdale - Newly renov studio with hrdwd flrs, seperate kitchen and sleeping area. $185K

NeW exclusive

exclusive

exclusive

601 KappocK st cc647 Bright, low flr Junior 4 (converted to 2), 1.5-bath Co-op with drmn and pool. $335K

290 West 232Nd st cc626 2-bdrm with entry foyer, living room, kitchen, dining area and balcony. $305K

3875 Waldo ave cc640 Charming & updated Jr4 with large dining foyer and sunken living room. $229K

West oF parKWay - Luxury 2-bdrm, 2-bath with balcony, doorman, tennis courts and fitness room. $3,595/mo West oF parKWay - Luxury 2-bdrm, 2-bath, 24-hr doorman, pool & tennis courts. 1 month free rent $2,795/mo West oF parKWay - Luxury 1-bdrm with balcony, doorman, tennis courts and fitness room. 1 month free rent $2,295/mo West oF parKWay - Luxury studio in 24-hr doorman building NeW exclusive with pool and tennis courts. 1 month free rent $1,850/mo 555 KappocK st cc605 Bright 1-bdrm with dining pet-FrieNdly reNtals area, C/A/C, Hudson River West oF parKWay - Spacious and bright 3-bdrm, 2-bath, view and 24-hr DM. $179K

coNdo exclusive

exclusive

NeW coNdo excl

445 West 240th st cc637 Postwar 2-bdrm condo with large entry foyer, living rm & windowed kitchen. $375K

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

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

house For reNt FieldstoN vic. rr880 Spacious 6-bdrm, 4.5-bth center-hall Colonial w/ patio & yard on cul-de-sac. $8,800

house For reNt

FieldstoN vic. rr871 Picturesque 1920s 3-bdrm, 2-full & 2-half baths with WBFP & grassy yards. $6,500/mo

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

exclusive

5715 mosholu ave cc635 3755 hh pKWay - the imperial - Walk-in level doctor’s Bright L-shaped 2-bdrm office with reception area and 2 exam rooms. $360K postwar co-op. Hrdwd flrs, North riverdale - Office Space Available. $1,500/mo South & West expos. $208K

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exclusive 3530 hh parKWay cc628 Huge 3-bdrm conv 4, 2-bath at Parkway House. Low floor, high ceilings. $649K

exclusive

3875 Waldo ave cc639 Spacious and charming Jr4 corner unit w/ lrg dining foyer and widowed dining area. $249K

reNtal - pets oK West oF parKWay rr879 Friendly 3-bdrm, 2-bath, dining area, sunset balcony, drmn & fitness rm. $3,195

NeW exclusive

611 West 239th st cc645 Spacious split-design, 2-bdrm, 2-bath co-op w/ indoor parking, balcony and doorman. $425K

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exclusive

exclusive

3515 hh parKWay cc638 5355 hh parKWay cc629 Spacious & bright 3-bdrm, Renovated Jr-4, living room, 2-bath corner unit. Entry foyer, dining room & eat-in kitch. living rm & renov kitch. $618K No board approval. $299K

Trebach Realty, Inc. • 3801 Greystone Avenue, Riverdale Open 7 Days • www.TrebachRealty.com

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NeW exclusive 3850 hudsoN m.t. cc644 Low floor 3-bdrm, 2-bath w/ picture window in LR, updated kitch & DM. $449K

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sunset balcony, D/M, fitness. Dogs ok. $3,195/mo GreystoNe aveNue - 3-bdrm, 1.5-bath with dining area and yard in multi-family house. $2,800/mo south riverdale - 2-bdrm, 1.5-bath with large kitchen and hardwood floors in multi-family house. $2,450/mo reNted - West oF parKWay - 2-bdrm, 2-bath, sunset $2,400/mo balcony, doorman & fitness room. Dogs OK.

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No Fee reNtals