Bronx News Network

Bronx Building Workers Authorize Potential Strike

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To followup on yesterday’s post, the 32BJ SEIU chapter that represents thousands of building workers across the Bronx voted last night in favor of a potential strike if contract negotiations with the Bronx Realty Advisory Board, which represents Bronx building owners, are not resolved over the next few weeks. “Nobody wants a strike, but we’re committed to do what it takes to get workers what they need,” said Union Vice President Kyle Bragg, in a statement. “Working families need wages that keep pace with the city’s high cost of living.”32BJ SEIU represents superintendents, janitors, handypersons, porters, firepersons, doormen, elevator operators and garbage handlers. The workers already rejected a contract proposal which they say stripped them of health care and retirement benefits. A press release said that a strike could take place if a contract is not approved by March 15.

Bronx News Network

Bronx Events: Conspirare in Concert at Jacobi

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Conspirare, a five time Grammy-nominated choral group, will preform tonight at Jacobi Medical Center Rotunda at 7 p.m. Tickets are free but should be reserved ahead of time. See the flier below for more information.Conspirare Other Bronx events are posted below, in our community calendar. Editor’s note: What did we miss? Send details to bronxnewsnetwork[at]gmail.com.

Bronx News Network

Rev. Diaz Sr. Links Abortion to Genocide

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The always vocal State Sen. Rev. Ruben Diaz, Sr., is adding more fuel to the ongoing abortion debate, firing off a press release yesterday that called abortion a form of racial genocide.”The UN’s definition of genocide includes ‘measures intended to prevent births within the group,'” Diaz wrote, in the statement he titled “The Truth About Genocide.”The Rev. cited a recent report from the Dept. of Health which puts the city’s abortion rate at 41 percent of pregnancies, with numbers higher in black and Hispanic communities. “These statistics are staggering,” Diaz continued. “It is nothing less than responsible to use the term genocide to define what is happening to our children’s lives.”It’s not the first time the Senator’s used that strong and controversial term-usually reserved to reference the systematic killing of a racial or ethnic group, i.e. the Holocaust or Rwanda-while voicing his pro-life platform. He made similar comments earlier this month, sparking a New York Times opinion column that called his remarks “nutty.”

Bronx News Network

Bronx News Roundup, Feb. 24

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A quick reminder that we will be Tweeting live from Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr.’s State of the Borough speech today, starting at 11:30 a.m. Check back here for the Twitter feed on the right side of this page or you can follow us through my Twitter account: @norwoodnews. This morning, in preparation for the speech,