Bronx News Network

City Comes to Budget Deal; Albany Fight Still On

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While lawmakers in Albany have yet to come to an agreement on a state budget for the next fiscal year—despite being nearly three months past deadline—the New York City Council and Mayor Michael Bloomberg agreed on a $63 billion city budget on June 24, and the Council voted to approve the budget today.In a statement, Bloomberg and the Council announced that the budget was balanced, ahead of its July 1st deadline and doesn’t raise taxes. Still, belt-tightening measures will be taken at every city agency to close a recession-fueled budget gap, the Mayor said in a radio address this weekend.A number of cuts that city politicians fought against for months were spared. Public pools will stay open this summer, and funding to many childcare services were restored. None of the city’s firehouses will close—including Ladder 53 on City Island, which was one of 20 houses on the chopping block. City Councilman Joel Rivera, whose district covers Fordham, Belmont and East Tremont, said he was mostly happy with how the budget agreement turned out.

Bronx News Network

Friends of the Williamsbridge Oval to meet on Thursday, July 1

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Friends of the Williamsbridge Oval will be meeting on Thursday, July 1 at 7pm at 3274 Hull Avenue. Like other “Friends” groups connected to parks throughout New York City, the Friends of the Oval harness the energy, ideas, and power of community residents to help the NYC Parks Department improve the park.The group is open to anyone and everyone who uses and wants to improve the Oval. Issues that group works on are driven by the interests and needs of members. In past summers, the group has organized summer fairs and events at the Oval.Friends of the Oval have a full agenda for the meeting, including updates on the construction in the park, planning for a meeting with the new Parks Dept. staff person in charge of the Oval, and discussing ways for the group to better collaborate with Mosholu Preservation Corporation, the local police precinct, and the Parks Dept.

Bronx News Network

Body Found in River Near Roberto Clemente State Park; Identified as Bronx Woman

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Police officers and a helicopter survey the water near Roberto Clemente State Park.[UPDATED: Wednesday, June 30, 11:55 AM]The body of a young Bronx woman was found in the Harlem River on Tuesday near Roberto Clemente State Park in Morris Heights, according to police. She has been identified as 20-year-old Anjelina Wills, of Webb Avenue near Devoe Park.Roberto Clemente State Park was swarming with police cars around 5 p.m. on Tuesday. An NYPD helicopter circled above the park and rescue boats were out on the river.Several residents reported seeing the body.

Bronx News Network

Two Economic Development Events Tomorrow

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From noon to 2 p.m., the Hunts Point Chamber of Commerce is talking energy savings strategies at a workshop called, “Government Incentives and New Technologies to Help Your Business Improve its Bottom Line” at the Hunts Point Cooperative Market, 355 Food Center Drive. It’s $15 for Chamber member, $25 for non-members.Later in the afternoon, from 4 to 7 p.m., the merchants on Kingsbridge Road are holding a summer kickoff event, featuring clowns, magicians, discounts, coupons and free gifts, on the stretch of the Kingsbridge Road commercial corridor between Jerome and Creston avenues. It’s a free event.

Bronx News Network

Bronx News Roundup, June 29

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A group of Ghanaian immigrants now living in the Bronx are bringing a new musical sound to the borough with “hiplife”-a mix of hip hop and African music.A group of students from the Ghetto Film School in Mott Haven are travelled to Belfast, Ireland

Health and Environment

Taking Attendance In Bloomberg Bid To Cut Truancy

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In the wake of Mayor Bloomberg’s announcement earlier this month that his office had launched a citywide campaign to combat chronic school absenteeism and truancy, some parents and education advocates are waiting to learn details of the city’s plan.The task force driving the initiative doesn’t contain parents, religious leaders or other grassroots community members, noted Victoria Bousquet, a parent leader with Coalition for Educational Justice.”At what point do you intend to involve the community?” she asked during an interview with City Limits. “Is it going to be once the horse is out of the barn? Are you going to have any town hall meetings? How are these decisions going to be made?”She and others said they fear the initiative might rely too heavily on interventions that are punitive, such as arresting students and launching child welfare investigations that could ultimately lead to the termination of parental rights.

News

Most Oil Heaters Will Get Cleaner, But Dirtiest Won't

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Buildings in most of New York state and the city burn number two home heating fuel, which a new state law is going to sharply restrict. Photo by: Versageek

Gov. Paterson is expected to sign a law that will reduce the sulfur content in oil used to heat most homes. But other, dirtier heating fuels are exempted from the measure. By: Chris Giblin

Last week, the state Assembly passed a bill that would reduce sulfur emissions in home heating oil. The bill, which the State Senate passed on June 17th and which Gov. Paterson is expected to sign into law shortly, was backed by an unusual alliance of businesses and environmentalists.