This has been an ongoing hot topic in Melrose for quite some time: One of the most underestimated retail destinations is the HUB in Melrose.
The area has a long and vast history as not only one of the oldest shopping districts in the Bronx that was once filled with boutiques and department stores but movie palaces, movie studios, vaudeville theatres and an opera house!
The area is anchored by 3rd Avenue / 149th Street on the 2 and 5 express trains – the 2nd busiest subway station in the Bronx and almost a dozen bus lines intersecting the area. Not to mention that the HUB is 2 stops away from Harlem (less than 5 minutes on the 2 train) and draws folks from all of the Bronx and northern Manhattan as well.
Thousands of Bronxites get off their buses to transfer to the subway and viceversa as they make their daily commute. Let’s not also forget that the HUB is located in the fastest growing neighborhood in the Bronx according to the last census in 2010. Since then, literally thousands of apartments have been added with thousands more on the way serving middle income families as well as low income working families: all within walking distance of this vibrant shopping district.
H&M, the Gap and many other retailers are insane not to join the growing number of stores in the neighborhood as rents are still low and would give these companies an excellent profit margins. The HUB or La Tercera as the latino community calls it is a place that everyone knows how to get to since it’s been a part of our culture for over a hundred years. Such longevity is nothing to sneeze at.
Just recently, developers were asked to think BIG on several remaining parcels of land in the area which are some of the largest available lots in the Bronx.
Finally some good news in Bronx politics – Pedro Espada Jr is going to do time for his crimes. No amount of good deeds will cover the fact that he stole hundreds of thousands of dollars
Bob Abbott, chair of Community Board 8’s Libraries and Cultural Affairs Committee, has not been reappointed to the board, an apparent punishment for a vote he made two years ago.
Councilman Oliver Koppell asked the borough president’s office not to reappoint Mr. Abbott. Community board appointments, all for two-year terms, are made by the borough president’s office, though local elected officials often give their input.
In an interview Tuesday morning, Mr. Koppell would not comment specifically on why he did not nominate Mr. Abbott, but he said he was unhappy with Mr. Abbott for a vote he made in 2011.
Bronx politicians play dirty, disgusting tactics and our Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr is no exception as he’s proven to be just another politician from yet another Bronx political dynasty who pretends to be on our side.
Last week, as A. Mychal Johnson was told by the BP that he was not being reappointed to Community Board 1, Diaz bestowed the honor to Desiree Joy Frias, daughter of the executive director of the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation, Marlene Cintron. Cintron’s office has already granted $3.5 million to FreshDirect along with $1 million by Ruben Diaz, Jr’s office. Does anyone else smell something rotten here?
But it doesn’t end there.
The once beloved BoogieDowner blog is now owned by Desiree Joy Frias as well. When the blog was started by former Bronxites Erin and Lou Cicalese (affectionately known as ErLou in their postings) it was a great voice of the community with a lot of locals engaging in debate on the various issues that affect our borough. A lot of us met through connections on that website but after the Cicaleses transfered the site to Gregory Tsougranis, the quality of the blog took a downward spiral overnight.
Not only did the quality suffer but Tsougranis quickly went on a censoring campaign by deleting comments left and right whenever they weren’t in line with his views – something I have never done on welcome2thebronx.com or welcome2melrose.com nor I intend to ever do. Almost immediately, folks stopped commenting on the blog and it quickly faded into obscurity as Tsougranis loyalty to the BP’s office became more and more clear.
Because of that loyalty, Ruben Diaz, Jr once again waved his wand and began endorsing Gregory Tsougranis to be a film scout for the Bronx. You see, in the Bronx, when you kiss politicians’ asses suck up to politicians, doors open up for you. Now, it appears that the BoogieDowner will essentially be a voice for Diaz’s office.
Already the hypocrisy can be easily seen in two of Desiree’s pieces. In one entry she’s heaping praises over the Kingsbridge Armory deal and how, “… the rights and consent of the community must always come first.”
The Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment Alliance (KARA), includes more than 30 community groups. This project has been their passion for months now and to come to an agreement is satisfying.
The community agreement also sets a precendent for future projects. Although economic development is always welcome in The Bronx, the rights and consent of the community must always come first.
But when she writes about FreshDirect, Frias makes absolutely no mention that over 35 Bronx organizations are AGAINST the FreshDirect sweetheart deal and just says:
Judgement was passed today on the lawsuit against FreshDirect’s move to Harlem River Yards. The dismissal came to the satisfaction of Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., FreshDirect CEO Jason Ackerman and Marlene Cintron, president of the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation; as well as Bronx foodies and busy families across the borough. The
FreshDirect move was a contested one, however many feel that the business will bring much needed economic benefits to the Bronx.
There is also no mention that NYC Comptroller, John C. Liu is against the deal as well but she does mention that the lawsuit was dismissed much to the satisfaction of her mother, Marlene Cintron.
So folks, those are two critical two items you heard here first. Never forget that YOU, each and every Bronxite will ALWAYS come first here and never a politician.
Now what are we going to do about the community boards that are supposed to be filled with our neighbors and colleagues but instead are filled by puppets with strings tied to the Borough President’s office?
Oh and one more thing. BoogieDowner, let’s set the record straight: Erin and Lou Cicalese created a wonderful opportunity for Bronxites to communicate and Gregory Tsougranis destroyed that opportunity almost overnight. It was no longer unbiased. You have an opportunity to be another voice for the Bronx – one without strings to any politician, specifically your mother’s boss.
ProjectBronxis the brainchild of Bronxite Adam Levine-Pereswho, like myself and many others, became fed up with the negative narratives about our beloved Bronx. Check out the video below as Adam asks Bronxites why they love our borough.
Also, please remember: I have created the hashtags #ilovethebronx and #thebronxisbeautiful so please feel free to use them on flickr, twitter, instagram and any other social media that accepts them or join The Bronx Is Beautiful on Flickr! Show your Bronx Pride!
The image that everyone thinks of immediately is always of that Bronx from the past that we try so hard to shake yet the rest of the world continues to try to put this square peg into a round hole. Winnie Hu 0f the New York Times, writes:
The Bronx has been trying to remove the scorch marks from its name since the 1970s, when arson fires, rampant crime and poverty pushed residents out in droves; made the borough a national symbol of urban decay; and saddled it with the apocalyptic phrase, “the Bronx is burning.” [read the rest at the NYTimes]
Since the old adage, a picture is worth a thousand words, is the very one which has shaped the perception of the Bronx, I decided to launch a campaign if you will to counter the old images. Let’s face it:
For decades, mainstream media has controlled our narrative which has burned such a negative image of The Bronx into the minds of the rest of the city, region the world and even in our own collective consciousness as a borough.
I am starting this group on Flickr as a photographic journey of the raw beauty of our beautiful borough to the North. Use your judgement in adding photos to this group. I don’t believe in censorship just keep to the theme of the group which is simply: The Bronx Is Beautiful. Beauty, as we all know, can be found in anything. Also, I have created the hashtag on instagram as well as on flickr #thebronxisbeautiful so feel free to use it as well as #ilovethebronx so that we can show the world, through our eyes, the beauty that is The Bronx.
I look forward to experiencing The Beautiful Bronx through your eyes.
Oh and don’t forget to check out Angel Franco’s (1 of the 6 from Seis Del Sur) slide show in the New York Times that takes us through those not so glorious days.
A. Mychal Johnson, one of our strongest voices in our community.
In what is perhaps one of the most DISGUSTING moves from Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr, A. Mychal Johnson was told by Diaz that he is no longer a member of Community Board 1. As you all know, Mychal has been a strong opponent and vocal ally against the sweetheart deal for FreshDirect to overtake our waterfront in the Bronx along with $127 million in tax subsidies. Mychal Johnson has served on our community board for 7 years and is one of the FEW on that board who takes his position seriously and works with the community to make sure that we are heard.
We are not asking Ruben Diaz, Jr but we DEMANDthat he be reinstated as our voice in our community. We have been fighting a clean fight since this dirty FreshDirect deal was announced from day one but borough hall, FreshDirect and all involved have been working hard at trying to silence us. We will NOT be silenced, Ruben Diaz, Jr. We are a strong group of over 35 organizations OPPOSED to this dirty deal while you only have 6 organizations backing you up. The interests of the Bronx MUST come over any corporate interest. You have proven yourself to not be for the people but only for corporate interests. Since you continue to play dirty with your crew, we will work hard to make sure you never get elected in representing the folks of the Bronx.
YOU CANNOT SILENCE THE TRUTH! LEARN FROM HISTORY FOR YOU ARE REPEATING ALL THE MISTAKES PEOPLE HAVE IN THE PAST!
Removal Follows Rigorous Opposition to FreshDirect’s Relocation to the South Bronx and Competing Visions for the Future of the Waterfront
One of the most outspoken opponents to Ruben Diaz’ plan to bring truck-laden FreshDirect to the South Bronx, A. Mychal Johnson, was notified by the Bronx Borough President today that he is no longer a member of Community Board 1. Mychal had served on the board for seven years, but it was his vocal opposition to the $127 million-subsidized FreshDirect deal that drew fire from the Borough President, who announced the deal as final before the sole public hearing on the matter. The news of Mychal’s removal came as Public Advocate Bill de Blasio released a report citing subsidies to FreshDirect as wasteful and unwise economic development policy.
Over the last year and a half, Mychal and a broad-based coalition of residents under the banner South Bronx Unite have successfully stopped the project by bringing visibility to the company’s intent to add upwards of 1,000 diesel truck trips every day through the community already facing asthma rates eight times the national average and its reliance on a 20-year-old environmental impact assessment.Early on, the Bronx Borough President tried to meet privately with Mychal to discuss the deal, but Mychal rejected the offer.
“For too long, the South Bronx has been run by backroom deals that have been perpetuating poverty and environmental degradation in this district,” said Mychal.“The seeds of change grow from the ground up, not from the top down. We need to work together, and we need to ensure broad public participation in decisions about the future of the community.”
Most recently, as an appointee to the Open Space Conservation Plan Regional Advisory Committee (administered by the State of New York Department of Environmental Conservation and State of New York Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation), Mychal helped usher in a landslide vote in favor of recommending priority status for the Mott Haven-Port Morris Waterfront Plan. The plan is a dynamic blueprint of seven interconnected sites on state-owned land that would permit and preserve public access to the waterfront and encourage diversified economic development in an area currently occupied by waste transfer stations and fossil fuel power plants in the direct line of climate change coastal impact.The sole objection to the Mott Haven-Port Morris Waterfront Plan was lodged by the Bronx Borough President’s office.
MCNY Tours is now listed on the Bronx Tourism Council’s website along with other quality tours. We wish Alexandra Maruri and MCNY Tours much success and thanks to Olga Luz Tirado, executive director of BTC for her hard work in promoting our wonderful borough.
This is proof that when we work together we are all winners. Now if only the folks at “Real” Bronx Tours would come and take all these wonderful tours then perhaps they can learn a thing or two before using the Bronx for ghetto tours – or any other locale for that matter.
As you already read here and probably elsewhere, this past weekend, The New York Post published an article on Real Bronx Tours that was offering a “ghetto” tour of our borough to mostly Australian and European tourists at $45 bucks a pop.
As of Monday, the company has since stopped its Bronx tours as pressure mounted by angry Bronxites and folks all around the internet who were upset at how we were not only being portrayed but also treated as if we were some sort of zoological exhibit.
There’s even a silver lining to all of this.
After conversations with the Bronx Borough President’s office as well as with Olga Luz Tirado, who in June of last year was named as executive director of the Bronx Tourism Council, I was able to encourage them to check out MCNY Tours which not only provides quality, historical tours of the Bronx but most importantly, it is run by Bronxite Alexandra Maruri and is a Bronx based company – one of our very own.
Olga Luz Tirado agreed that it is important to utilize our best resources – our residents – whenever available and that her office is and will continue to do so whenever the opportunity arrises. It was a pleasant discussion on our love and passion for the Bronx and Olga’s dedication to promoting our great borough to the North we know that literally the rest of the world is missing out on.
(Watch Olga Luz Tirado and Alexandra Maruri being interviewed by PIX11’s Joe Mauceri)
Many lessons have come out of this negative fiasco. What happened with this disgusting tour company is the very reason I launched Welcome2Melrose and Welcome2TheBronx over 3 years ago for I was tired of the one sided stories filled with negative imagery of our community being published.
These last several days since the story was first reported by the New York Post proved to me once more about the power of our voices. It has been a wonderful community building exercise that brought together people on a very grassroots level and provided a platform for the citizens to interact with our government. It also proves to me once more that the squeaky wheel gets the grease. We must NEVER stop speaking up.
This is a big win for our borough for it shows that we will not tolerate the exploitation of our fellow Bronxites let alone let some outsiders control our narrative. We pull together, make our rounds of calls to other concerned citizens and get things done. Consider this a fair warning to any entity who thinks that they will come into our borough and do such things and think they won’t be exposed.
Don’t forget to check out MCNY Tours and also thank Olga for her tough job of promoting our borough’s image. As the executive director of the Bronx Tourism Council, in many ways she is one of our top ambassadors and has to battle decades of negative media abuse of our hometown that is still seared into the psyche of the rest of the world.
Lynn Battaglia – Currently the Most Hated Woman of The Bronx – Angel Chevrestt/NY Post
I’m not sure which is worse – the tour operator perpetuating to be a “real” Bronx Tour company and profiting like any other poverty pimp on the economically disadvantaged or the tourists who shell out $45 dollars to get a taste of an “authentic New York City ghetto”.
Over this past weekend, The New York Post (I promise I do NOT read this “newspaper”) published an article on Real Bronx Tours which has apparently been bringing mostly Australian and European tourists to the Bronx so that they can get a taste of a “real” New York City ghetto. The Post goes on to say that they promise walks through “Pickpocket Park” and even see folks lining up at food pantries. What the fuck? ! Does this individual not know that we’re actually safer than most places of its size and population across the country including Boston?!
And it’s not just me who is a little furious over this but friends, colleagues and total strangers (including NYC Mayoral Candidate Joe Lhota, the former MTA Chairman who was raised in the Bronx). Here is just a few of the comments that folks have been tweeting about this:
(Don’t forget to sign the PETITIONagainst this tour operator!)
People are literally in DISBELIEF that this is actually a real thing, so much so that when they tweet about it they preface it with the hashtag #NotTheOnion. Then you have people like Johanna M. of the Parkchester neighborhood of the Bronx who has this to say when she posted the article on Facebook:
I hate New York. I think it is the biggest hellhole on earth. Entering the subways is like entering the very intestines of the Devil, and he has diarrhea But I love the Bronx. Why? Partly because it does not pretend it is anything it is not, but mostly because there are people here actually working to change things in a more grassroots manner than any other place I have known, people who throw everything to jam the gears of a machinery built to ignore the borough and its people, and when they have nothing else, they throw themselves in. And in the oddest, strangest patches, you find a beauty wilder than manicured Manhattan and planned hipster Brooklyn can ever manifest. THAT is my Bronx, so fuck you, tourists.
Now I know Johanna so for her to speak like this you really have to push her buttons and she’s definitely not alone in her sentiments.
It’s crap like this that has been going on for years why we began to take over our own story and not let others handle our narrative. If it were up to the rest of the world, we would have been written off a long time ago. It gets emotionally exhausting not only trying to deal with the realities in our borough that need to be addressed but to also have to deal with this when we can be dedicating our time and efforts to real world solutions to what does ail us. For years I’ve wanted to give the world tours of the REAL BRONX and show them that we are not what the media portrays us to be. It is one of the very reasons why I began welcome2melrose.com and subsequently welcome2thebronx.com – because I was sick and tired of the abysmal portrayal of our borough. If you want to provide tours on our borough then why not tell the tale of our resilience and how we turned around the Bronx from the decay that our own politicians left us to rot in? How the Bronx is home to the ONLY “green” neighborhood in all of New York State?
There are over 1 million tales to tell on the Bronx and what Real Bronx Tours does is not one of them.
