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Volume XX • Number 8 • February 21 - 27, 2013 •

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Hebrew Home presents expansion plan details By PAULETTE SCHNEIDER According to Hebrew Home at Riverdale CEO Daniel Reingold, an amenity-filled continuing care retirement community on the home’s spectacular 32-acre campus will be just what the doctor ordered when Riverdalians and Manhattanites of a certain age decide it’s time to sell their houses or co-ops and settle into a more supportive lifestyle. But homeowners within eyeshot of the riverfront campus claim that the proposed development of a CCRC—with its 300-unit residential complex spread across several multi-story buildings—can’t avoid ruining the neighborhood they cherish for its open space, scenic views and very low-density zoning. Earlier this month, locals aired their thoughts on the $200 million-plus project at the second of two community meetings held at the Hebrew Home in a room festooned with plan schematics and photos of a thriving senior community—like the one proposed—built by project developer Perkins Eastman. Experts on zoning, site-specific architecture, vehicular traffic and environmental issues were available for questions and discussion. Several of the 14 neighbors who attended voiced objections to the current plan, with its trio of buildings at eight, six and four stories high. Suggestions have included additional structures on the home’s original lot and fewer on the adjacent 14-acre lot, purchased in 2011 for $16 million from the Passionist Fathers of Riverdale. The existing plan also calls for the conversion of 150 beds now in the home’s skilled nursing care facility into 75 studio apartments designed for assisted living. Reingold said it’s definitely “worth looking into” a combination of additional construction on what’s now called the north campus and possibly more than three lower-rise buildings on the south campus. He discounted the idea of a single 20-story building because such a tower would never meet with neighborhood approval, though it would be advantageous—for the seniors, in that it would call for less walking from apartments to common areas; for the site, in that it would allow the most open space; and for the Hebrew Home, in that it would cost far less to build. But a viable plan will likely call for a change in zoning on the south campus from its present low-density R1-1 designa-

Architect’s model of the proposed Hebrew Home expansion. On the right is the existing campus, on the left is the recently-acquired property and proposed new construction. tion to a higher-density R-4 status, like the north campus. Community pressure recently got Community Board 8 to downgrade the 14-acre parcel from R1-2 to the more restrictive R1-1. Against this backdrop, the proposed zoning upgrade and its attendant reduction in required open space remains the “number-one issue” for plan opponents, Reingold acknowledged.

Among these opponents is the recently formed Riverdale Community Coalition, led by Jennifer Klein. “RCC‘s position is that any development of the former Passionist Retreat property should, among other considerations, conform to the existing R1-1 zoning and Special Natural Area District regulations” Klein wrote in an email. “We Continued on Page 9

Diaz’ State of Borough speech predicts new ‘age of success’ for The Bronx

By MIAWLING LAM The Bronx is ushering in a new age of success and prosperity, advancing the idea of a New Bronx and changing the public’s perceptions of the borough. Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. delivered the bold statement during his fourth State of the Borough address last Tuesday. Speaking in front of nearly 1,000 people at James Monroe High School in Soundview, Diaz said the borough was witnessing tremendous change and creating a so-called New Bronx. “The New Bronx is a place where crime continues to drop to record lows,” he said. “The New Bronx is a place with stellar infrastructure, and a willing workforce.

“The New Bronx is a place that saw almost $1.5 billion of new investment last year, and more than $4.5 billion since 2009. The New Bronx is a place where we have helped to create or retain thousands of new jobs, and will create thousands more.” During his 4,500-word speech, Diaz addressed the key issues of economic development, environment, health, education and tourism. He even proposed the creation of a new online gun crime registry, which would require perpetrators of gun violence to inform the police of their living and employment arrangements. The registry would impose reporting requirements similar to convicted sex offenders. “Law-abiding citizens ought to

know who among us is responsible for gun violence, and this initiative will do just that,” he said. On the economic development front, Diaz said The Bronx has built on its previous successes, and last year secured a total of 18 projects, totaling $550 million. He claimed the projects would help retain and or create more than 5,000 permanent jobs and thousands of construction jobs. Among the major projects currently underway is Monteﬁore Medical Center’s $230 million ofﬁce tower in the Hutchinson Metro Center, the $270 million expansion of the Bay Plaza shopping center in Eastchester, the development of two separate shopping malls in Kingsbridge and the long-awaited development at the

Kingsbridge Armory. Although Diaz made scant reference to the Armory during the speech, political insiders said an announcement on the issue was imminent. Ofﬁcials from the city’s Economic Development Corporation are currently tossing up between the Kingsbridge National Ice Center proposal, which would offer nine regulation-size hockey rinks and a 5,000-seat arena, and a $100 million, Chelsea Market-style retail development featuring a 4D cinema complex and the world’s tallest rock climbing wall. Retail and wholesale food businesses were also beginning to take notice of The Bronx, Diaz said. In addition to attracting online grocer FreshDirect to relocate from Long Island City to the Harlem Riv-

er Yards, The Bronx recently lured six other food companies to the borough—Krinos Food, Foodfest Depot, R Best Produce, a FineFair supermarket, Big Farm Corporation and a new Fairway bakery. “And when the Hunts Point Produce Market renovation is ﬁnally underway, the Bronx food industry will continue its undisputed role as the bread basket of the tri-state area and a super-generator of jobs,” Diaz said. In order to entice domestic and international visitors to The Bronx, the elected ofﬁcial vowed to expand the borough’s existing tourism programs, as well as introduce new ones. In the coming weeks, he said he would also announce the formation of Continued on Page 5

Thursday, February 21, 2013 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

Co-ops ask Feds to close loophole

By MIAWLING LAM Local co-op and condo owners are calling on the Federal Emergency Management Agency to close a little-known loophole that rules them ineligible for disaster aid relief. Under the Stafford Act—which explicitly dictates who is eligible for FEMA aid—co-op and condominium owners are barred from receiving federal grants because FEMA classiﬁes their properties as businesses rather than residences. Due to the technicality, the Association of Riverdale Cooperatives and Condominiums said millions of superstorm Sandy-stricken homeowners across the country were being left in a lurch in the recovery effort. In an email to supporters last week, ARC president Stephen Budihas described the interpretation of the Stafford Act as grossly inequitable. He said although homeowners in The Bronx emerged from superstorm Sandy relatively unscathed, others elsewhere weren’t so fortunate. Citing Cryder Point, a co-op in northern Queens that suffered more than $1 million in storm damage, Budihas said homeowners in the worst-hit areas faced a painful and costly recovery. “Terrible storms should prudently be expected to recur, and virtually all government agencies are currently taking appropriate steps to limit future damage and to protect life and property,” he wrote. “Now is the time for Congress to be proactive and include co-op and condominium owners in the wording of Stafford and in the policies of all relief agencies so that there is no inequity among homeowners, in any category.” Congressman Eliot Engel, who is a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, urged the federal agency to revise the policy and close the loophole. After ARC alerted him to the situation, Engel began working with FEMA to resolve the issue. “Under FEMA rules, if you own a house and a storm tore your roof off, you could apply for funds to rebuild your home. However, if you own a co-op or a condominium and a storm tore off your roof, you’re out of luck,” he said. “This is patently unfair—co-ops and condominiums are just as much a home for millions of families as a house is a home for millions more. “Thankfully, my district was mostly spared from the worst damages from superstorm Sandy, but other co-ops and condominiums in New York and other states were not so fortunate. The next storm which strikes could hit closer to home, literally, for us, and we need to

act now to prevent others from suffering from the loss of their homes.” As of press time, multiple calls and emails to FEMA were not returned. Engel said FEMA indicated that Congress needed to approve the legislative change—a claim he disputed. “I encourage FEMA to further review their authority to make this change in policy,” he said. “This issue comes down to a matter of fairness and pure logic—the men, women and children living in co-ops and condominiums are not living in ofﬁce space. These are homes, plain and simple, and need to be treated as such.” If co-op and condo owners fail to receive monetary assistance, shareholders will likely face higher maintenance charges and skyrocketing assessments.

By MIAWLING LAM Political hopeful Andrew Cohen has picked up another endorsement in his run for the open City Council District 11 seat. Manhattan borough president, New York City comptroller candidate and defacto Riverdale resident Scott Stringer is the latest elected official to throw his support behind the prominent Community Board 8 member, who is hoping to succeed term-limited incumbent Councilman G. Oliver Koppell. Standing in front of the Riverdale YM-YWHA last Friday, Stringer said he was inspired to endorse Cohen because of his qualifications and advocacy work and that going forward, these were crucial considerations. “We need experienced community leaders who understand the connection between government and representing a neighborhood, and I believe that his background as an activist, advocate and member of the community board makes him uniquely qualified to represent this community,” he said. “There really is a struggle to protect and ensure the middle class has representation. We have real economic challenges, and we need thoughtful members of the City Council to tackle complex budget issues as we form this new government in January 2014.” Unlike the other citywide elected officials who have already endorsed Cohen, Stringer said he was in a unique position, as he had a vested interest in the local Council race—his parents live on Kappock Street. “It’s very important to me to make sure that my mother and stepfather have excellent representation at City Hall,”

the attorney would serve constituents beyond his district’s borders. “I think we need somebody who is going to think about the larger issues facing the city and this neighborhood,” Stringer said, citing waterfront development in the post superstorm Sandy era as a key concern. “The fact that we can talk about developing the waterfront, not just in Manhattan but here, is another example of somebody who is going to be thinking about the bigger picture.” Cohen said he was honored to receive the Manhattan borough president’s endorsement and that he was looking forward to working with Stringer, if and when he is elected. “His long record of accomplishment, from his days as a state assemblyman to

his distinguished time as borough president, makes this endorsement particularly meaningful,” Cohen said. Following the endorsement, Stringer and Cohen toured the facility, introduced themselves to seniors who were enjoying lunch and spoke with Riverdale Y senior center director Sharon Asherman. Cohen has already picked up endorsements from the Benjamin Franklin Reform Democratic Club, Congressman Eliot Engel, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, state Sen. Jeffrey Klein, City Council members Koppell and James Vacca, City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn and Public Advocate Bill de Blasio. Koppell is currently serving his third and ﬁnal term and must leave ofﬁce due to term limit rules.

he said. “I care about what’s going to happen to them in this community. I think if Mr. Cohen here is successful, we’re going to get somebody who is a progressive, who is a reformer, who understands the big economic development issues and who cares very much about the community.” There are currently two other registered Democratic candidates in the race: Fieldston School track coach and businesswoman Cheryl “Shelley” Keeling and the leader of a boycott against the Riverdale Review, Cliff Stanton. Stringer said although he has not “connected” with either candidate—he wasn’t even aware of Stanton’s boycott—he remained adamant that Cohen was the best person for the job and was certain

A Healthy Heart Starts with You In honor of American Heart Month, Montefiore Einstein Center for Heart & Vascular Care is offering free educational lectures and workshops, and free blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol screenings. Protect your heart from disease, and learn how to take better care of yourself. Heart Health Educational Talk

Monday, February 25 | 2:00 pm Montefiore Medical Group – Comprehensive Health Care Center 305 East 161st Street, Bronx, New York 10451

Heart Health Education Workshops

Tuesday, February 26 | 10:30 am - Noon Montefiore Medical Group – Comprehensive Family Care Center 1621 Eastchester Road, Bronx, New York 10461

Heart Health Class

Tuesday, February 26 | 11:00 am – Noon Montefiore Medical Group – Cross County 1010 Central Park Avenue, Yonkers, New York 10704

Health Screening

Wednesday, February 27 | 9:00 am – 3:00 pm Wakefield Hospital 600 East 233rd Street, Bronx, New York 10466

Glucose Screening

Heart Healthy Food Demonstration

Thursday, February 28 | 10:30 am – Noon Montefiore Medical Group – Comprehensive Family Care Center 1621 Eastchester Road, Bronx, New York 10461

Wednesday, February 27 | 9:00 am – Noon P.S. 103 Parents’ Group 4125 Carpenter Avenue, Bronx, New York 10466 Wednesday, February 27 | 10:30 am - Noon Montefiore Medical Group – Comprehensive Family Care Center 1621 Eastchester Road, Bronx, New York 10461

If you are interested in attending a Heart Month event, simply show up on the day at the correct time. You do not need to register beforehand unless it is otherwise specified.

www.montefiore.org/heartmonth

Montefiore Einstein Center for Heart & Vascular Care

3 The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, February 21, 2013

Candidate Cohen wins support of Manhattan boro prez Stringer

Thursday, February 21, 2013 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

Around the schools... Riverdale Country School

Rachel Lloyd has been selected for this year’s Jolli Humanitarian Award in recognition of her efforts to end human trafﬁcking. Lloyd was instrumental in the passage of the state’s 2008 Safe Harbor Act for Sexually Exploited Youth. The Jolli award was established by the school to introduce students to a different “hero” each year—someone who has made a substantial difference in the world and inspires leadership and courage in others. Each year, tenth-graders submit nomination proposals for a “person of merit.” Winners’ names are placed on the front and side porticos of the 9/10 building, renaming the building for the year. Lloyd’s photo and a brief biography will be displayed in the building’s lobby, along with the winning nomination essay by Katherine Shifke (‘14). A plaque listing all previous winners and the students responsible for nominating them is displayed there as well. Lloyd recently spoke to students at a special assembly. She was originally scheduled to visit last October, but the event was postponed due to superstorm Sandy.

Horace Mann School

Seventh-graders, winners of this year’s Souper Bowl Contest to beneﬁt the Yorkville Food Pantry in Manhattan, collected 1,094 cans of soup. Eighth-graders came in second with 1,018 cans, followed by sixthgraders, with 1,028 cans. In the Souper Bowl competition, New York schools compete to donate the most canned soup. In HM’s concurrent internal competition, the donated cans are ranked in terms of a point system that values more nutritious soups and larger cans.

Manhattan College

The community is invited to attend a reading by award-winning author Josh Weil on Thursday, February 28, at 7:30 p.m. in Hayden Hall, Room 100. Weil wrote the novella “The New Valley,” winner of the American Academy of Arts and Letters Sue Kaufman Prize and named Editors’ Choice by The New York Times Sunday Book Review. The National Book Foundation called Weil “among the best of a new generation of writers” and selected him for a “5-Under-35” designation. Weil was a writing instructor at the college during the 2005-2006 academic year. The reading is the college’s first Major Authors Reading Series (M.A.R.S.) event of the semester. The M.A.R.S. program aims to expose students to modern literature by bringing celebrated writers to the campus for readings and book signings. Since its launch in 2010, the program has featured Pulitzer Prize winners, a National Book Award finalist and other noted authors. For more information about M.A.R.S., contact David Eye (718-862-7921 or david.eye@manhattan. edu) or Adam Koehler (718-862-7546 or adam.koehler@manhattan.edu). Economics and finance professor Dr. Charles Geisst, a financial historian, will soon release his new book, “Beggar Thy Neighbor: A History of Usury and Debt,” an analysis of how leverage and debt were behind financial market crashes from the Renaissance to the present day. “The book demonstrates how usury prohibitions, as part of the natural law tradition in Western and Islamic societies, continue to play a key role in banking regulation despite modern advances in finance,” Geisst said. A former title, the best-seller “Wall Street: A History,” was released in a new edition last October. Geisst, on the faculty for more than 25 years, has been a

contributor to major news outlets including The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg News, NPR and the Washington Post. His other titles include “Collateral Damaged: The Marketing of Consumer Debt to America (2009),” “Deals of the Century: Wall Street, Mergers, and The Making of Modern America (2003),” “Wheels of Fortune: The History of Speculation from Scandal to Respectability (2002),” “The Last Partnerships: Inside the Great Wall Street Money Dynasties (2001),” and others. He received his B.A. from the University of Richmond, his M.A. from The New School and his Ph.D. from the London School of Economics.

Local Scholars

The State University of New York at New Paltz in New Paltz, New York, has announced that the following students were named to the dean’s list for the fall 2012 semester: Sabrina Berfas, a communications studies major; Justin Blau Edelstein, a digital media production major; Meghan Healy, a journalism major; Matthew Joseph, who has not yet declared a major; Samuel Kim, a visual arts major; and Nicole Whyne, an art history major. To qualify, students must earn a semester GPA of at least 3.3 while carrying a full-time course load. New Paltz enrolls nearly 8,000 students and offers 100 undergraduate and 50 graduate programs in its College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, School of Business, School of Education, School of Fine and Performing Arts, School of Science and Engineering, and Graduate Division. Located on 275 acres in a Hudson River Valley college town, it is halfway between New York City and Albany. New Paltz is highly selective and is one of the most well-regarded public colleges in the nation, with NCAA Division III athletics and nationally recognized ﬁne and performing arts programs.

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By KIMBERLEY HYATT Local merchants fear their businesses will take a financial hit if the city approves a plan to ban the use of Styrofoam containers in restaurants and stores. Business owners and industry organizations raised their concerns after Mayor Michael Bloomberg proposed the environmental mandate during his final State of the City address in Brooklyn last Thursday. Under Bloomberg’s ambitious plan, stores and restaurants would be prohibited from using Styrofoam food packaging. According to officials, the 20,000-ton load of Styrofoam found in the city’s waste stream every year increases the cost of recycling by as much as $20 a ton because it has to be removed. During his address, Bloomberg said the Styrofoam ban was necessary because the material is destroying the environment. “One product that is virtually impossible to recycle and never biodegrades is Styrofoam—something that we know is environmentally destructive and that may be hazardous to our health, that is costing taxpayers money and that we can easily

do without, and is something that should go the way of lead paint,” he said. “With Speaker (Christine) Quinn and the City Council, we will work to adopt a law banning Styrofoam food packaging from our stores and restaurants. And don’t worry: The doggie bag and the coffee cup will survive just fine.” Riverdale Bagels partner and manager Enzo Ferranti said while he respected Bloomberg’s good intentions, the announcement failed to offer answers. “The key is to find a solution first—an alternative that makes sense,” he said. Ferranti said he currently uses Styrofoam containers because they are convenient and they trap the heat inside, keeping his customers’ food warm. However, he admitted he was considering phasing out the containers regardless of Bloomberg’s proposal because they take up a lot of space in the small bagel shop. “If there was a solution, I would have switched yesterday.” The proposed mandate follows a similar ban enacted by Bloomberg on the sale of super-sized sweetened drinks, earmarked

to take effect next month. Since taking ofﬁce more than a decade ago, the controversial mayor has made an issue of trying to improve the health of New Yorkers. In addition to eliminating trans fats in restaurant food, he has introduced higher taxes on cigarette packets and banned smoking in city parks, beaches, sport stadiums and pedestrian plazas. “They are dictating how people should live,” Ferranti said. “Cutting back by mandate is not a solution. They should be enlightening and educating people.” The New York Restaurant Association is worried about the ﬁnancial toll of a mandatory switch from Styrofoam. Spokesman Andrew Moesel said, “As this proposal moves forward, we hope that the concerns of the small businesses it affects— like cost increases—will factor in at least as

State of the Borough address

Continued from Page 1 a commission that would help plan events and celebrations leading up to 2014, which will mark the 100th anniversary of Bronx County. Meanwhile, on the environment front, Diaz proposed the creation of a fund that would leverage the borough’s capital dollars with existing programs at the federal, state and city level so that more buildings can be retroﬁtted. “We have to be smarter with how we spend vital tax dollars so we can create more sustainable housing, so that everyone can recoup the remarkable savings that come over time,” he said.

Another key priority going forward, Diaz said, is realizing a plan to expand Metro-North service to the East Bronx to serve communities in Hunts Point, Parkchester, Morris Park and Co-op City. “We spent many years, many decades, building our borough,” he concluded. ”The seeds we planted so many decades ago are bearing fruit. And it doesn’t stop there. We have to keep going. We must persevere. We must push forward. “During the next four years, we will—together as One Bronx—as a New Bronx, bring about meaningful change to our borough.”

For more information, visit

www. ChabadRiverdale.org or call 718-549-1100 Ext. 10.

5 The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, February 21, 2013

Merchants fear cost of Bloomberg styrofoam ban

heavily as environmental concerns.” However, Sachin Shah, who owns the Dunkin’ Donuts franchise located in North Riverdale, said he was less concerned about the mandate. Shah revealed that the parent company issued a memo earlier last week stating they are aware of the new ban and would keep the individual owners posted about alternatives. “I’ll do the regulations,” he said. “I’m part of a franchise. The franchise will pay for it.” As of press time, Shah did not know what alternatives would be offered in Dunkin’ Donuts shops. It is understood that the mayor will need the approval of the City Council before the ban takes effect. The mandate follows a similar ban already in place in major cities including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Portland and Seattle. Meanwhile, City Council candidate Andrew Cohen weighed in on the issue within two hours of Bloomberg’s speech and sent out a statement supporting the ban.

Thursday, February 21, 2013 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

RNH to sponsor ice skating

The Riverdale Neighborhood House invites the public to a special evening on skates on Monday, February 25, from 6:15 p.m. to 8:15 p.m., at Van Cortlandt Park Ice Skating Rink, 242nd Street and Broadway. Shake off those winter blues. Join families, friends and supporters for the ﬁrst Annual RNH Glide-a-thon to support the Teen Internship Program. Cost is $50 per family ($55 at the door), $25 per individual ($30 at the door). Skate rentals and refreshments are included. To reserve your spot, visit riverdaleonline.org or call 718-549-8100 ext. 123.

Ballroom dance and belly dance classes at RCC

The Riverdale Community Center at the Riverdale Kingsbridge Academy (M.S./H.S. 141) will offer Ballroom Dance and Belly Dancing Classes on Tuesday evenings this spring beginning on March 5th . Ballroom Dance for beginners will be held from 7:30 -8:30 PM, FEE: $170 + $15 registration fee. Learn all the steps to the most popular dances. Partners preferred, but not necessary. For the more advanced students, join us from 8:30 - 9:30 PM for a potpourri of ballroom dancing styles. Partners only (singles admitted with audition). These courses are taught by a professional dance team. Our Belly Dancing Classes from 7:00-8:00 pm, FEE: $140 + $15 registration fee, are taught by professional dancer, Noora E-Shams. Learn this popular Middle Eastern dance - includes isolations, undulations, travel steps and

stretching. Introducing our new Salsa, Tango, Swing and More for Teens Only offered on Saturday mornings 9:30-10:30 AM/ Be a social success, learn steps to the most popular dances, including Salsa, Swing and Tango. FEE: $170 + $15 registration fee. To register for any of these dance classes, or for more information, contact the Center at 718-796-4724 or visit our website at www.riverdalecommunitycenter.org.

Riverdale Soccer Club accepting registration

The Riverdale Soccer Club is now accepting registrations by mail only for the Spring 2013 season. You can print out a registration form to mail in at www.riverdalesoccerclub.org/registration.pdf, or by calling 718-601-8639 to have a form mailed to you. Registrations will be accepted through February 28th, with enrollment subject to availability after that date. There will be two programs this spring, running for nine consecutive Sundays, beginning on April 7. Both programs will take place at the Ethical Culture Fieldston School, located at Fieldston Road and Manhattan College Parkway. The fee for either program is $75 per player. The programs are: Peewee Instructional Program: This is the introductory program for boys and girls born in 2005 and 2006 (generally 1st and 2nd graders). The program will take place on Sunday mornings, most likely from 9 AM to 10:30 AM. Riverdale Soccer League (Girls Divi-

sion): This league is open to girls only, born between 1998 and 2004. Players will most likely be divided into three age groups, and games will take place on Sunday mornings and afternoons, with the younger divisions playing ﬁrst. There is no program in the spring for boys born before 2005. The Riverdale Soccer League Boys Division plays only in the fall season at Seton Park. Registration for the fall season begins in June.

RMHA to host 4th annual 5K run/walk

Runners, walkers and hardcore ﬁtness enthusiasts are being encouraged to register for Riverdale Mental Health Association’s annual Healthy Minds/ Healthy Bodies 5K run/walk. The fun run will be held at 11 a.m. on Sunday, March 10 at Van Cortlandt Park, with the course meandering around the picturesque grounds. Shorter fun runs will be available for children and toddlers. Acclaimed ESPN broadcaster Jeremy Schaap will be the event’s honorary celebrity starter and will kick off proceedings at Van Cortlandt Park’s stadium. Entry fees are $20 for adults and $15 for those under 18, and include refreshments and commemorative t-shirts. RMHA will award prizes to those who raise the most through sponsors’ pledges. All proceeds will beneﬁt RMHA’s programs and services. Interested participants can pre-register at active.com/running/bronx-ny/rmhahealthy-minds-healthy-bodies-5k-runwalk-2013. For more information, please contact Emily Ross at 718-796-5300 ext. 106 or via email at eross@rmha.org

Social Security Assistance at Engel ofﬁce

Representatives of the Social Security Administration will be at Congressman Eliot Engel’s Bronx office on Wednesday, February 27, to assist people with questions or problems concerning this program. This service, at 3655 Johnson Avenue, is available only by appointment, which may be made by calling Richard Fedderman of the Congressman’s office at 718 796-9700. Rep. Engel said, ‘Social Security is an issue directly affecting many people in my district. Consequently, I have these experts from the Social Security Administration come to my office on a monthly basis to help constituents with any problems they may have with the program.’ The Congressman said the Social Security website (www.ssa.gov) offers a wide array of on-line services including filing for retirement, survivors and disability benefits, change of address, replacing lost Medicare cards, and keeping up to date on Social Security matters.

WCS to hold 5th annual Run for the Wild

The Wildlife Conservation Society is celebrating the ﬁfth anniversary of the WCS Run for the Wild - this year dedicated to elephants. Wildlife supporters, runners, and walkers are all invited to participate in the annual 5k run and family fun run at the Bronx Zoo. This year, WCS is introducing WCS Run for the Wild: World - allowing people who cannot be in New York for the Bronx Zoo event to participate and fundraise from anywhere in the world. The ﬁfth annual 5k-run/walk takes place on Saturday, April 27, 2013 at the Bronx Zoo and is dedicated to saving el-

ephants, their habitat, and other wildlife. Since its inception in 2009, more than 23,000 people have participated and $2.6M has been raised through donations, registration, and sponsorship. ‘Each year we dedicate the WCS Run for the Wild to a different animal species in need of conservation, said John Calvelli, WCS Executive Vice President of Public Affairs. ‘The decision to dedicate this year’s event to elephants was made out of necessity. The illegal wildlife trade is now a multi-billion dollar industry that threatens thousands of species around the world. Elephants have been particularly hard hit with 2011 considered the worst year since 1989 for the illegal poaching of elephants for their ivory.’ WCS’s Run for the Wild registration is now open at www.wcsrunforthewild.org. Registration for the run is $35 for adults, $25 for children (3-15), and $25 for seniors (65+). Participants are encouraged to seek individual sponsors for their run, and all adult (and senior) participants are required to raise a minimum of at least $30 in order to participate. Registration includes parking and general admission to the Bronx Zoo following the event. Participants can choose from two different events. The 5k run for individual runners will begin at 8:00 a.m.; casual runners and walkers can take part in the Family Fun Run/Walk at 8:45 a.m. After the run, participants are invited to stay and enjoy the zoo and its animal residents for the rest of the day. Everyone is encouraged to visit the Bronx Zoo’s famous Wild Asia Monorail where they can see Asian elephants, tigers, rhinos, and many other Asian species. There are many other exhibits to visit including Tiger Mountain, Madagascar!, Congo Gorilla Forest, and JungleWorld. Prizes will be awarded to those who meet various fundraising goals. For $30 in pledges, runners will earn a WCS Run for the Wild T-shirt; $60 earns a Dr. Seuss Horton Hears a Who pop-up book; $125 earns a plush elephant; $275 earns a Jackrabbit Sports gift card ($20); $600 earns an elephant-themed tote bag; $1,500 earns a VIP breakfast and a guided ride on the Bronx Zoo’s Wild Asia Monorail; $3,000 earns a special Bronx Zoo animal experience. Each incentive level achieved includes all prizes from the levels below. The new WCS Run for the Wild: World engages wildlife enthusiasts from around the globe and allows them to make tracks for elephants from wherever they are. ‘Vitrual’ participants can run on their own, start their own team, support teams or participants at the WCS Run for the Wild event at the Bronx Zoo, or even create their own fundraising event to contribute to WCS’s work to save this iconic species. Those who are unable to attend the 5k run/walk at the Bronx Zoo can visit www.crowdrise.com/WCSRunfortheWild to start a team, organize a local run or another fundraising event, or donate to help WCS save elephants.

Restorative Yoga class offered

Restorative Yoga Class will be held on Sunday, Feb. 24, 5:30-7 p.m., at Sotheby’s Realty (Lower Level), 3732 Riverdale Avenue. Cost: $20. Restorative Yoga is a gentle style of yoga in which the body is supported with props in yoga poses, allowing the poses to be held longer and the muscles and organs to release deeply. This practice balances the nervous system, promotes healing, and cultivates profound relaxation. It is a great practice for beginners and experienced yogis alike. Advanced registration is necessary for this class. Contact DannaDurga@aol.com to register. F o r m o r e i n f o : w w w. g r o u n d edgrowthyoga.com

The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, February 21, 2013

Thursday, February 21, 2013 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

Thursday, February 21 Van Cortlandt

COMPUTER TRAINING COURSE 9 a.m. Van Cortlandt Branch Library 3874 Sedgwick Avenue The Van Cortlandt Branch Library is now offering basic computer classes for the patrons in our community. All classes require registration. All classes Offered are free. All classes will begin promptly at 9:00am. If there are any questions, please contact Mr. John Sattaur of the Van Cortlandt Library at 718-543-5150.

Kingsbridge

BABY LAPSIT 10:30 a.m. Kingsbridge Branch Library 291 West 231st Street Stories, songs, puppets, ﬁngerplays, ﬂannelboard stories for babies and toddlers birth to 18 months for parents/caregivers. For more information, call 718-548-5656.

Spuyten Duyvil

TODDLER STORY TIME 10:30 a.m. Spuyten Duyvil Branch Library 650 West 235th Street Toddler story time at the Spuyten Duyvil Branch for 18 to 39 month olds in the company of a caregiver/and/or parent. The program is done on a ticketing basis (ﬁrst come/ﬁrst serve) and it lasts 30 -35 minutes. Activites include reading, music, dance, scarves and shakers. For more information, call 718-796-1202.

Kingsbridge

ANIMAL ODYSSEY 4 p.m. Kingsbridge Branch Library 291 West 231st Street Come join naturalists from the New Canaan Nature Center for an awesome after school animal adventure! This six-week odyssey will take participants on a hands-on journey throughout the animal kingdom. For more information, call 718-548-5656.

Friday, February 22 Riverdale

The Purim Show for Preschoolers will feature a Mishloach Manot (Purim basket) exchange, children’s Book of Esther Reading, and a spectacular performance by Macaroni the Clown. Book of Esther readings will be all day long: 9:30 am, 11:30 am, 1:30 pm, 3:30 pm, 4:30 pm. For more information, visit www.chabadriverdale.org.

Monday, February 25 Spuyten Duyvil

TECH BOOT CAMP 9:30 a.m. Spuyten Duyvil Branch Library 650 West 235th Street Continue your technology training with our free class on getting and using an email account. We will use GMail for this. Participants in the keyboard and mouse classes are strongly encouraged to attend. For more information, call 718-796-1202.

Spuyten Duyvil

BOOK TALK 11 a.m. Spuyten Duyvil Branch Library 650 West 235th Street Each participant brieﬂy describes & shares thoughts about a book recently read. Discussion and recommendations are the happy result of this sharing. For more information, call 718-796-1202.

Riverdale

KNITTING CIRCLE 2 p.m. Riverdale Branch Library 5540 Mosholu Avenue Gather with other knitters, and perhaps pick up a few tips and tricks as you work on your own creations. For more information, call 718-549-1212.

Kingsbridge

RETRO GAMES 2 p.m. Kingsbridge Branch Library 291 West 231st Street It’s back to the good old days: join your friends and roll the dice instead of clicking a mouse! Come by for some old fashioned board game fun. We’ve got scrabble, chess, checkers, and more! For more information, call 718-548-5656.

GENTLE YOGA 10 a.m. Riverdale Branch Library 5540 Mosholu Avenue Gentle Yoga is designed for students who have special needs and/or limitations. This class is a variation of basic level I yoga format, moving more slowly and includes attention to the special needs of the individual. For more information, call 718-549-1212.

Kingsbridge

Van Cortlandt

STAY WELL EXERCISE 10 a.m. Kingsbridge Branch Library 291 West 231st Street Stay Well volunteers certiﬁed by the NYC’s Department for the Aging will lead participants in a well-balanced series of exercises for seniors of all ability levels. Please wear loose comfortable clothing. Exercise equipment will be provided. Those participating in the exercises must sign an activity release form. For more information, call 718-548-5656.

Riverdale

FUN SCIENCE 3:30 p.m. Riverdale Branch Library 5540 Mosholu Avenue Children are welcome to come to the Riverdale Branch and learn more about the scientiﬁc process. They will conduct experiments and have fun while learning how the world around them operates. For ages 5 to 12 years. For more information, call 718-549-1212.

PAJAMA NIGHT 5 p.m. Kingsbridge Branch Library 291 West 231st Street Pajama Night for children 5-12 years old stories, craft and light refreshments. For more information, call 718-5485656. ICE SKATING FUNDRAISER 6:15 p.m. Van Cortlandt Park Skating Rink 242nd Street and Broadway Shake off those winter blues. Join families, friends and supporters for the ﬁrst Annual RNH Glide-a-thon to support the Teen Internship Program. To reserve your spot, visit riverdaleonline.org or call 718-549-8100 ext. 123.

Tuesday, February 26 Kingsbridge

COMPUTER BASICS 10 a.m. Kingsbridge Branch Library 291 West 231st Street Learn about the various types and components of computers, including basic computer terminology, an overview of operating systems, and popular software applications. For more information, call 718-548-5656.

Riverdale

SATURDAY CINEMA 2 p.m. Spuyten Duyvil Branch Library 650 West 235th Street Featuring the movie Scent of a Woman (1992). Starring Al Pacino and Chris O’Donnell. For more information, call 718-796-1202.

e-READER HELP 11 a.m. Riverdale Branch Library 5540 Mosholu Avenue Learn how to download free e-books from the New York Public Library. Get help on using your iPad, Kindle or other e-reader. First come, ﬁrst served. Tuesdays @ 11:00 a.m. (some exceptions, please check the online calendar or branch calendar) Wednesdays between 2 and 4 p.m. by appointment only. Please call Lynda at 718-549-1212 to make an appointment.

Riverdale

Saturday, February 23 Spuyten Duyvil

PURIMANIA 6:40 p.m. Chabad of Riverdale 535 W. 246th Street Purimania, featuring a Masquerade, Book of Esther Reading, and an incredible magic show by the famous Philip and Henry Magic. The adult schedule is as follows: Evening prayers – 6:30 pm, Book of Esther Reading – 6:40 pm, Additional reading – 7:40 pm. For more information, visit www. chabadriverdale.org.

Sunday, February 24 Riverdale

PURIM FOR PRESCHOOLERS 10:15 A.M. CHABAD OF RIVERDALE 535 W. 246th Street

SCRABBLE 2 p.m. Riverdale Branch Library 5540 Mosholu Avenue If words work you up and crossword puzzles keep you going, come to Riverdale and share your passion with friends every Tuesday afternoon for a lively game of Scrabble. Pre-registration required. For more information, call 718-549-1212.

Wednesday, February 27 Kingsbridge Hts.

CB8 MEETING 1 p.m. Kingsbridge Hts. Community Center 3101 Kingsbridge Terrace Meeting of the Youth Committee of Community Board 8. For more information, call 718-884-3959.

Op Ed: Senator Schumer puts partisanship ﬁrst

Hebrew Home Continued from Page 1

would welcome the opportunity to review and comment on such plans.” The group sent a letter this month to New York City Planning Commission Chair Amanda Burden. “The Riverdale Community Coalition strongly opposes this plan,” the letter states. “To begin with, having struggled long and hard with many other Riverdale residents to secure the R1-1 zoning and the designation of 35 blocks of northwest Riverdale as a Special Natural Area District, we are not prepared to see these protections rolled back. They were adopted to preserve the special character of our community; and as this case shows, they stand as our principal defense against incompatible development. Under no circumstances should there be any modification of these regulations.” The group is also concerned that a zoning change to allow denser development would set a bad precedent for the area’s remaining R1-1 properties, which would then “have an equal claim to such incompatible development.” Regardless of configuration, the development will be the first of its kind in New York City, though communities throughout the nation are built on the CCRC model: Residents pay an up-front investment—around $500,000 in this case—plus a monthly maintenance fee for a senior-friendly apartment with housekeeping services, common dining options and age-appropriate recreational and cultural activities. Resident seniors are then free to “age in place”— for the same contractually set monthly charge, they can transition smoothly from the more independent community to an on-campus assisted-living area where health- and personal-care services are provided. Later on, if needed, they can move directly into the facility’s skilled nursing care area, still for the same monthly charge. When residents finally move into the world to come, a portion of the initial investment is returned to their estates. Regarding concerns about increased traffic to an enlarged facility, Reingold said that while “paving would be nice” on the notoriously pitted Palisade Avenue, he had no intention of asking the city to widen the street. In fact, he explained, because the conversion of nursing home beds to assisted living accommodations will eventually mean a net loss of 125 employees who drive to the home on a daily basis, the plan would actually bring fewer cars into the property. “Nursing homes are very staff-intensive,” Reingold said. A 24/7 nursing home calls for 1.5 full-time equivalent staff members per resident, compared to a roster of 12 employees currently serving the 135 units at River Walk, the facility’s existing independent-living component. Its 150 residents drive a total of seven cars—an indication that many CCRC residents would forego car ownership as well. Another community-friendly promise has been the Hebrew Home’s involvement in creating Riverdale’s section of the Hudson River Greenway, a continuous mixeduse path connecting Upper Manhattan to Westchester and beyond. Reingold stressed the value of the CCRC model for “baby boomers who will wake up one day” and realize that they need it and that this would be a good place for it. He continues to solicit input for what he called “a work in progress.”

in our vast array of national interests. This was pointed out in a column by John Podhoretz that was issued Friday in the New York Post. It casts in sharp relief the fact that the senator crumpled in the case of Mr. Hagel. Crumpling is a pattern with Mr. Schumer. We remember watching him in the mid-1990s, when he was in the House and the issue of Jerusalem came to a head. There came a moment when the Congress was going to mark the point by insisting that the American embassy in Israel, situated at Tel Aviv, be moved to Israel’s capital city. It was a favorite issue of Senator Moynihan, who once visited the ofﬁces of the Jewish Forward newspaper voicing indignation over a State Department telephone directory that had a listing for Jerusalem as not being in Israel.

The Democrats were being put on the spot by the Republicans, who had swept to power in both houses of Congress and were, at the prodding of Senator Dole, agitating to make an issue of Jerusalem. Mr. Schumer was among those boasting that the Democrats and the Clinton administration were finally going to fix the situation. At the 11th hour, however, the Democrats watered down the Jerusalem Embassy Act, proposing an escape hatch in the form of a waiver by which the president could evade the requirement to move the embassy. It was, as we recall it, Dianne Feinstein who first advanced this dodge, which was promptly used by President Clinton. Senator Schumer stood silent. It wasn’t a party problem. President George W. Bush and President Obama also used the waiver, and Mr. Schumer stood silent then,

9 The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, February 21, 2013

Editorial of The New York Sun Reprinted with Permission – nysun.com It’s too soon to say whether Senator Hagel will ultimately be conﬁrmed when the Senate gets back from its vacation. It’s not too soon to suggest that the big loser in this affair looks increasingly likely to be Senator Schumer. He has long cast himself as a guardian on the Jewish front

too. The result is that although the act of 1995 set a goal of moving the embassy by 1999, we are coming up on a generation since the law was passed and the embassy hasn’t been moved. What reason is there to think that Mr. Schumer might have gone to the mat this time? Mr. Schumer started cheering on the Republican opposition when Mr. Hagel was ﬁrst advanced as a potential defense nominee. The minute we heard of Mr. Schumer’s bravado, we made a bet that he would reverse himself. It’s not a bet on which we got rich, and we’d have rather lost it. The fact, in any event, is that Mr. Schumer has been put to shame on his own boast by such stronger senators as Lindsey Graham and James Inhofe. New York’s senior senator could regain his reputation in a fell swoop were he to stand up on what he knows in his heart to be a tragic error by Mr. Obama. It’s unlikely, though we’d be happy to be proven wrong.

Thursday, February 21, 2013 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW 10

The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, February 21, 2013

Thursday, February 21, 2013 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW 12

Children need positive role models. Come to learn more about being a mentor (must be 21 years or older). An open house will be held on Sunday, February 24, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at St. Gabriel’s Church (Walsh Hall), 3250 Arlington Avenue, Bronx, NY 10463. RSVP: Abby Lerner (212-632-4689).

Einstein orchestra to perform in concert

The Albert Einstein Symphony Orchestra, under conductor/music director Stephen Moshman, will present a concert. The program will consist of Dvorak’s Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104 and Symphony No. 9 in E minor. Guest cellist is Steven Flanders. The performance will be held on Sunday, March 10 at 2 p.m. at Robbins Auditorium, Forchheimer Building, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue. Contributions suggested.

RNH & KHCC receive grant to help Bronx youth

Riverdale Neighborhood House (RNH) and the Kingsbridge Heights Community Center (KHCC) have received a $100,000 grant from the Pinkerton Foundation for a collaboration that will provide new services to Bronx youth seeking higher education and employment opportunities. By providing initial funding for the

College Career Collaboration of the Northwest Bronx (CCC), the Pinkerton Foundation will enable the two settlement houses to combine their signature endeavors -- RNH’s Youth Internship Program (YIP) and KHCC’s College Directions Programs (CDP) – and expand their reach by establishing two satellite locations with new curriculum and services. “This unique approach to collaboration adds a new dimension to our efforts to work with teens in the northern Bronx who want meaningful experiences with gentle guidance to plan their futures,” said Daniel Eudene, RNH’s Executive Director. Added Giselle Melendez-Susca, KHCC Executive Director “for almost all of our teens, they are the ﬁrst in their families to pursue a college degree. By working together we can help them make the best decision possible.” RNH will establish a new YIP site in Kingsbridge, enabling young people aged 14-18 to participate in its signature career guidance and experiential learning program. At RNH, KHCC College Direction staff will establish a base to work with high school students to increase their awareness about the beneﬁts of a college education and to help them qualify for better careers. This new endeavor builds on work both agencies have done together over the decades, and the cross-pollination will make effective use of staff, facilities and community contacts in the agencies’ two Northern Bronx neighborhoods. RNH, the only non-sectarian multi-service agency

in its community, offers a wide range of programs and services to children, youth, families and seniors. KHCC, as its mission, seeks to build on the strengths of residents in its diverse community, enabling them to effect change and improve the quality of their own lives and those of their families and their community. The Pinkerton Foundation, which has

funded youth development programs at both agencies over the years, supports community-based programs for children, youth and families in economically disadvantaged areas in New York City, with the goal of helping young people reach their full potential. Please visit our website @ riverdaleonline.org for more details.

Former BP tries to make his wife a judge

By MIAWLING LAM New York City mayoral hopeful and former Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion Jr. lobbied the Democratic Party to give his wife a coveted judgeship before he abandoned the party to seek the Republican line in the 2013 citywide elections. According to a report in the New York Post, Carrion approached several key Bronx Democrats earlier last year to solicit a Civil Court nomination for his attorney wife, Linda Baldwin, 49. However, he was rebuffed by Democratic Party leaders and in November, switched party allegiances. “Just because he was borough president doesn’t mean we should support her,” a Bronx Democratic Party insider reportedly told the Post. It is understood that Carrion kept his Bronx Democrat colleagues in the dark and never disclosed his plans to become a member of the Independence Party. The switch means Carrion can now run on the Independence and Republican lines

in the 2013 mayoral race. However, a Carrion campaign representative discounted the allegations and labeled the claims as “petty, pointless, political gossip that you would expect as Mr. Carrion’s groundbreaking independent candidacy for mayor continues to gain broad support.” Carrion, a Bronx resident, served as borough president between 2002 and 2009 before leaving the office to join President Barack Obama’s administration as director of the Office of Urban Affairs. During his time as Bronx borough president, Carrion was under investigation and was later fined $10,000 by the Conflict of Interest Board for admittedly accepting free work on his City Island home from an architect whose public projects required Carrion’s approval. The Bronx Democratic County Committee ultimately nominated Eddie McShan for the Civil Court seat. According to the Board of Elections, McShan eventually prevailed over Juana Valentin, 8,828 votes to 5,869.

The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, February 21, 2013

Volunteer to be a mentor to children

Thursday, February 21, 2013 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW

To build or not to build

To the last loyalists of the corrupt Carrion political machine, these must be desperate times. Their patron saint, who empowered them in the Riverdale community, is now the all-but-official candidate for mayor of the uber-corrupt Independence Party. This is the political organization led by the cultish wackazoid Lenora Fulani, whose disgusting anti-Semitic remarks over the years have been well documented. So too has the astounding corruption surrounding the group, a subject which was recently featured in a series of scathing articles in the New York Daily News. That Adolfo Carrion has thrown his lot in with this band of scoundrels should come as no surprise. We’ve been documenting his exploits for years. Let’s start with the hot sheet motel scandal, make a quick stop for a mint julep on the porch of the fancy Carrion home on City Island (which resulted in a $10,000 fine for a conflict of interest, and many feel should have resulted in a prison term) and now to the revelations in last Sunday’s New York Post that Adolfo tried to secure a judgeship for his wife, Linda Baldwin. Mrs. Carrion is no political neophyte herself. She was implicated neck-deep in the aforementioned hot-sheet motel scandal. As an attorney working for the law firm of then Bronx Democratic county leader Roberto Ramirez, she represented the interests of property owners eager to maintain the extremely liberal zoning that permitted the Boston Road corridor in Community Board 12 to become the borough’s Hot Sheet Motel capital. It is well-documented how she “organized” an ersatz merchant group to advocate to prevent the down-zoning that the residents of the community demanded and Mayor Rudolph Giuliani was prepared to deliver. The coup de grace came at the Borough Board meeting where her husband, then City Councilman Adolfo Carrion carried the ball for the phony anti-rezoning group and was rewarded with generous campaign contributions. The Carrions were making money on both ends – Mr. Carrion ringing up campaign donations and Mrs. Carrion legal fees. And Boston Road is still suffering from the plague of the hot sheet motels and the crime they bring. Bearing witness to all this is a crusading community leader, a woman named Mary Lauro. Hopefully as this campaign progresses, we’ll be seeing a lot of her so that folks all over the city can hear her story of how government can be corrupted by greedy and overly ambitious politicos. That Adolfo was ready and willing to try to secure a judgeship for his wife, implicated as she was in this awful affair, shows just how low he will sink. But then again, he is willing to accept the endorsement of someone like Lenora Fulani. To his credit, Adolfo’s scam to nab a judgeship for his wife was rejected by the current Bronx County Democratic leader, Assemblyman Carl Heastie. At Borough Hall, we see a similar wave of honesty and reform as compromised and compromising community board members are being jettisoned in favor of more independent spirits. It shows you can fix government through honest politics. Which brings us to the current controversy in Riverdale. The Hebrew Home at Riverdale, one of the most respected leaders in the field of taking care of our aging population, recently acquired the property next door from the Catholic Church. They would like to set up a unique housing type that would allow well-to-do seniors to purchase what will be very desirable apartments, in a project that would be set up to allow them to expand the services they would receive as they age and their needs change. The project appears to be quite reasonable to us, but the usual “build nothing new” crowd is making a full court press to thwart the project. Prominent among the naysayers are remnants of the Carrion machine here in Riverdale, allies of former Community Board 8 chair Anthony Perez Cassino. Cassino himself, crushed in defeat in the last Council election, is wisely taking a pass but his fawning ally, Clifford Stanton, is running instead – on a platform of fear-mongering and censorship – and trying to stop the Hebrew Home development. He and his allies allege that one of his opponents, Andrew Cohen, is compromised because he accepted a $250 contribution from Daniel Reingold, the CEO of the Hebrew Home. We haven’t been shy about our lack of enthusiasm for Cohen but to suggest that he is somehow being bought for $250 is preposterous. Look back into history and you will find just how steep the price is to buy a local candidate. After all, Adolfo Carrion asked tens of thousands from local folks involved in all sorts of projects, collected for him by his campaign treasurer, Mr. Cassino, then an unknown fellow that Carrion plucked from obscurity and manipulated into the chairmanship of the local community board. And they’re worried about $250?

Teachers under siege by the DoE

To The Editor: First, let me congratulate you for your steady, intelligent --- and often unappreciated --advocacy on education issues over the years. In an era when so many untested, trendy and/or just plain dumb ideas are being substituted for sound education policy it’s perhaps time to focus on the dumbest of the dumb. That would be the dubious notion that urban schools are in trouble today because their teaching force is incompetent , lazy or corrupt. There’s no evidence whatsoever that any this is true of teachers as a class, and plenty of evidence that it is a lie. Nonetheless, the idea, stoked for their own agendas by politicians , corporate school “reformers” “education entrepreneurs”, billionaire media moguls, etc., persists and has been marketed to the general population with some degree of success. But there’s “gold to be found in them there hills.” (literally true, it would appear.) A teaching force that is perceived to be in need of “reform” is a teaching force that must be “managed”. In order to “manage” teachers, the system must ﬁrst get them

to be quiet. The unavoidable consequence: the suppression of free thought and free speech that is now pandemic throughout the NYC system. Ironically, the danger here is less to teachers than it is to the community as a whole. Parents and other citizens should ask themselves: “With teachers neutralized, who’s going to advocate for our kids inside the school?” The short answer is … as everyone familiar with public school culture knows… “no one”. Only teachers are in a position to challenge bad administrative policy effectively. Why? Because only teachers are in a position to know about it. They are in the classroom everyday and they see how money is spent and how it is not spent. They see which kids are being given mandated services and which kids are not. A qualiﬁed, secure and professional teaching staff , given an atmosphere where educational issues can be discussed freely and openly, acts as a natural “check and balance” to all sorts of administrative mismanagement, dysfunction and malfeasance. Alas. A siege mentality prevails now throughout the system. In schools across the city,

ANDREW WOLF, Editor and Publisher

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usually in hushed tones, teachers talk about their contractual rights, earned over many years of service: tenure; fair, objective and honest performance evaluations; the freedom to openly discuss educational issues without fear of retaliation. They worry that these rights are being usurped, corrupted, gradually eroded or simply given away. A silent, compliant teaching force is both the goal and increasingly, the reality. But after 11 years of attacks from a relentlessly hostile, anti-union, and anti-teacher Department of Education, some educators have at long last decided to confront this mentality head-on. Next Saturday, Feb 23rd,at 3 pm-5pm, teachers and others from the UFT caucus known as MORE ( Movement of Rank and File Educators) will gather at the CUNY Grad School ( 365 5th Avenue @34th Street; Room 5414) to convene a public forum on the topic of “Blowing the Whistle on A Culture of Fear and Corruption.” A panel of teachers with first hand experience in challenging the DOE directly on this issue will present, followed by discussion and Q and A with the audience. All parents, teachers and tax-payers are invited and *encouraged* to attend. Admission is free; please bring a picture ID. Further information re. the event can be found at www.morecaucusnyc.org. ; Teachers can and will fight the Orwellian educational dystopia that our current political and economic rulers wish to impose. We cannot, however, do so successfully by fighting alone. Paul V Hogan UFT - Retired

Mistakes cost Amalgamated co-operators not require a rent increase. However, by seeking a 15-year rather than a 30-year loan, it appears that the Amalgamated Board is making an expensive mistake. This mistake will be passed on to cooperators who are already struggling with several recent carrying charges increases. As a state supervised cooperative, Amalgamated is restricted to low and moderate income tenants. The proposed increases will impose hardship on many families living here. Will the Amalgamated Board or the HCR acknowledge this mistake? Will the HCR reject the 15-year mortgage request that will be so costly to the Amalgamated cooperators? This question will be one of the issues on March 6 when the HCR holds a public hearing at Amalgamated on the proposed carrying charge increase. Jay Hauben Amalgamated Cooperator

The RIVERDALE REVIEW • Thursday, February 21, 2013

To the Editor: In most co-ops, if the Board approves a maintenance fee or carrying charge increase, the cooperators have to pay it. Income restricted co-ops regulated by NY State such as the Amalgamated have one more step, approval by the NYS Homes and Community Renewal (HCR). In 2009, the HCR granted the Amalgamated a $20/room/month permanent carrying charge increase. That was to pay for a two-year heating fuel contact. Because it was a carrying charge increase rather than a utility cost pass through, the Amalgamated operated with significant surpluses of $510,921 in 2011 and $315,323 in 2012. These surpluses resulted from lower heating fuel costs whose benefit is likely to continue in 2013 and 2014. Despite these surpluses, the Amalgamated Board is now asking the HCR to approve a $14/room/month rent increase. The Board claims it needs $20,000,000 to make emergency repairs as part of a $100,000,000 maintenance program recommended by an architectural firm which submitted this proposal without input from cooperators. To this end, the Board has proposed taking a 15-year, 30 million dollar refinancing loan. Normally, refinancing is done to save money. Because interest rates are historically low, other cooperatives are also refinancing. To get the full benefit of low interest rates, the norm is to lock-in for a longer term rather than a shorter period of time. If Amalgamated’s new loan were for the usual 30 years, the annual debt service would be almost the same as that of the current mortgages and so would

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Thursday, February 21, 2013 • The RIVERDALE REVIEW 16