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Volume XVIII • Number 47 • November 17 - 23, 2011 •
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Mayor stunned by delays in ‘Dinky Rink’ By MIAWLING LAM The proposed ice-skating rink in Van Cortlandt Park remains snowed under. Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who first announced the plan during his State of the City address earlier this year, admitted he was puzzled over the cause of the lengthy delays. Speaking at an unrelated press conference in The Bronx last week, Bloomberg appeared out of the loop on the project and said he was stumped by the hold-up. “I have absolutely no idea, but if you call us later, we'll find out,” he said. “I just do not know why.” The mayor's stunning admission emerged as Community Board 8 pressed ahead with plans to schedule yet another public hearing. At last Wednesday's general board meeting, members passed a resolution to hold a public hearing on Tuesday, December 6—a mere six days before the next Franchise and Concessions Review Committee gathering. It is the fifth hearing that CB8 has scheduled in four months in anticipation of the project's inclusion on the FCRC agenda. However, because the parks department has failed to announce a winning bid, CB8 has been forced to cancel each meeting. Despite the merry-go-round process, parks depart-
ment spokesman Zachary Feder said the city was pushing ahead with the rink and denied claims the project was delayed. Feder said the agency was currently in talks with another party but refused to confirm whether it was with Ice Rink Events—the only known company to be in the running for the project—or whether discussions were being conducted with multiple firms. “After the RFP, there’s usually a negotiating process,” he said. “There are some details that are still being worked out. I would not call it delayed. It’s still something that’s being discussed. “We still expect to have this great amenity available shortly.” However, CB8 parks committee chair Bob Bender conceded that details of the rink may never make it to the FCRC table as the proposal has yet to be certified, “They don't have to hear this issue, and they may never hear this issue,” he said. “For all we know, this proposal may never come before them. That's one possibility.” The FCRC was supposed to vote on the controversial project during their August—then September, then October and then November—meeting, but the parks department stalled on releasing the project details, forcing
them to push the vote back at least another month. The uncertainty has bothered many CB8 members, including Sergio Villaverde, whose patience appears to be wearing thin. “This is a ridiculous situation that we find ourselves in,” he said. “We shouldn't have to do this every month.” Under city guidelines, the FCRC must finalize their agenda and release it to the public at least 15 days prior to their meeting, while community boards only need to provide 10 days notice. However, Bender said the string of last-minute cancellations has raised serious questions about whether the city's 15-day timeframe is sufficient. “One of the things that I want to address whenever this is all over, if we all live long enough, is question the 15 days,” he said. “I frankly think that for a major concession, the community ought to be given 30 days' notice. When these concessions are renewed, 15 days might be sufficient. But having lived through this month after month, I think the 15 days is insufficient. “One of the things that I do want to do is propose that we ask the city to look at these regulations and give Continued on Page 19
Will this be the last Veterans Day that our heroes are made to wait for memorial? By BRENDAN McHUGH This past Sunday, about 100 people showed up on a brisk November afternoon to honor Riverdale’s veterans at the Van Cortlandt Park Memorial Grove. Herb Barret and Don Tannen, the leaders of the Memorial Grove Restoration Group and veterans themselves, have held the ceremony for the past five years, not only for the veterans in the area but also to highlight the need to restore the war memorial. "We were hoping that a good part of the grove would be completed," Barret said at the ceremony. "We’d just like to see it finished." The grove is set for completion this January, mainly because Barret and Tannen have been relentless in getting the Department of Parks and Recreation to move more quickly. The grove was created to honor 37 deceased war heroes—including two Medal of Honor recipients—with 37 trees and as many plaques, but a number of trees are missing, and many of the plaques have disappeared over the years. Many of those honored in the grove are from World War II, though a small number honor those who fought in World War I or the Korean War. Since the city began restoring the grove, five trees have been planted, and the plaques should be coming soon. Continued on Page 19
ROTC students from several Bronx colleges participated in ceremonies to mark Veterans Day in Van Cortlandt Park.