Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'Dream' speech

Here is the famous 'I have a dream' speech by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., given Aug. 28, 1963. Below are some statements from various officials and a video of mayoral candidate Bill Thompson.



Also, here is Thompson speaking at the Trinity Baptist Church today. Introduction by Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

New Year's Resolutions

We collected New Year's resolutions from as many state and local officials as we could. If you'd like yours added to this list, email us!

Some gave us personal ones, some professional, and some both. Enjoy.

Rep. Eliot Engel: “My New Year’s Resolution is to have the Democrats return to the House majority, this way we could pass a real jobs bill and protect the middle class.”

Mayoral hopeful Tom Allon: “My New Year's resolution is to be an even better father to my three teenagers and a better media CEO, all while I am communicating my message of job growth ideas and real education reform to the voters in NYC. If I can accomplish all three of these in 2012, I will consider it a successful year, personally and professionally.”

City Comptroller John Liu: “For 2012, I resolve to uncover more waste to help the difficult budget outlook, to reform the way the City pension investments are made, to ease up a bit with my third base coaching of my son’s little league, and to check out the Corner Café in its new location.”

State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli's New Year's Resolution: Use stairs more and elevators less.

State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Joe Martens: To do all that I can to protect New York's precious natural resources, consume less energy and promote sustainable communities and  jobs, both personally and professionally.

Yankees broadcaster Suszyn Waldman: "To be a little kinder to myself."

Jean Cruz, the Bronxite who found Saddam Hussein: To move out of New York City, to a quieter place, like Ohio, to raise his four young children.

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.: Learn how to cook dinner (Latin and Italian). Also, to help bring more jobs to the borough.

Bronx Chamber of Commerce President Lenny Caro: Would like to create jobs for the borough, and to make it one of the best boroughs to live and work in.

Bronx Historian Lloyd Ultan: "I never give New Year’s resolutions. I give old years resolutions, I’m a historian!"

50th Precinct Commanding Officer Captain Kevin Burke: To reduce crime and improve the quality of life for the residents of the 50 Precinct.

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz: "Unlike some of my colleagues in government, I won’t be making a resolution regarding any political issue, other than continuing to work hard for our neighborhood, resolving constituent complaints, passing good legislation in 2012 and fighting hard to re-elect President Obama and defeating the Tea Party Republicans. Rather, my resolution is more personal. December 31, 2010 was the last day I ate cake, cookies, ice cream or candy. I haven’t had these yummy sweets all year – and I intend to continue not to have any. Resolution made. Resolution carried out. This year my resolution is going to be just as tough for me. For 2012 I intend to do something that I have never done in my entire life: eat one or more vegetable each and every day. What an amazing feat that would be!"

City Councilman Fernando Cabrera: Personal: Go back to the gym and pay more attention to his health. In Government, to strike a deal by Feb. 12 that will legislate guaranteed access for churches at New York City public schools.

City Councilman G. Oliver Koppell: to lost weight and do more exercise. Professionally, to get the living wage bill passed.

City Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez: "Once the weather warms up, I think we're going to see a huge surge in activity from the Occupy Wall Street movement. My prediction is that by working together with elected officials, OWS will influence the budget process. Organizing with thousands of city residents, the movement will stop the Mayor's pattern of balancing the budget on the backs of working and middle class New Yorkers. Apart from Occupy Wall Street, I also predict that State Senator Adriano Espaillat will soon be changing his title to Congressman Adriano Espaillat, taking his long history of great work for Northern Manhattan and the Bronx to Washington, D.C."

City Councilman Jumanne Williams: "My personal resolution is to take a few off the waistline. In fact, I'm getting a jump-start on that this week. My professional resolution is to continue to shine a spotlight on the issues of gun violence and police accountability. These should be discussed in tandem in the overall consideration of creating a safe place for our young people to learn and grow. Remember, it's never too early to get started on your goals!"

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz: “I have to commit in 2012 to lose weight. I easily went up one size and in order to fit into my shirts and suits again, I need to really ‘lighten up, Brooklyn!’”

State Senator Gustavo Rivera said he thinks about it right before the New Year; takes a few minutes to sit down and consider the last year and the upcoming year. He did point out that it was a good year and hopes for more of the same.

State Senator Rev. Ruben Diaz Sr.: “As the end of the year approaches, I praise and thank the Lord for so many blessings that I received in 2011. I thank the Lord for my family, my health, my constituents, my faith community, my colleagues, and for all of my achievements this past year.  It was a great year! As we prepare for the New Year to begin, I pray especially that the Lord will bless all of my friends and all of my foes. I will continue to place my trust in His mercy and love, and I will continue to pray that the Lord will use me at all times to serve His will.”

State Senator Tony Avella: He would like to stop hydrofracking in New York State.

Happy Holidays, from Adriano Espaillat

Check out this Holiday mailer that's been landing in the mailboxes of state Senator's Adriano Espaillat's constituents (myself included, actually).

"What's more, I look forward to returning to Albany after the holidays to fight for our common goals--like creating more good paying jobs, improving access to health care for all families, strengthening our education system, and enhancing support for seniors..." Espaillat writes.

Espaillat Holiday Mailer Riverdale

Manhattan BP helps light Riverdale menorah

Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer came up to Riverdale last night to help light the menorah in Bell Tower Park.

The menorah, at over 30-feet-high and over 600 lbs, is the largest menorah in the Bronx.

Stringer, lighting the menorah, for the second day of Chanukah.

Stringer, lighting the menorah.

PS 24 student Dylan also got to light one of the candles.

Stringer, a potential mayoral candidate, joined students from PS 24 and local Jewish leaders.

He seemed to enjoy himself during the ceremony. As he was in the crane, he joked to the crowd, "12 days ago my wife gave birth...she asked what I'd be doing in the Bronx...I told her I was only lighting a menorah...if only she could see me now!"

He quickly got back on track, playing to the Jewish crowd: "It's great to be in Riverdale--a wonderful, vibrant Jewish community."

Diaz Jr.'s Winter Wonderland

Here's another holiday video from Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. This one's of the Winter Wonderland celebration at Yankee Stadium.

Holiday greetings from Diaz Jr.

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. with a holiday message for everyone:



If you notice, it looks like he's brought back his Che Guevara 'stache.

A short photo essay of my night yesterday

For those of who have noticed a slight decline in posts the past week or so, it's been because our other reporter, Miawling, has been on vacation in her homeland of Australia (It's summertime there, by the way). Anyways, it's caused me to pick up the other half of the newspaper, leaving me less time to blog.

Here's some of what I was up to yesterday afternoon.

5 p.m.: Driving down Riverdale Ave, I ran into these two cars near W. 238th St.,
which ran into each other. No one was injured.

6:45 p.m.: On my way to the 50th Precinct for a Community Board 8
public safety committee meeting, I hit two of the most decorated houses
in the Riverdale Kingsbridge area, right behind the Riverdale Diner.
If you've decked your house out, email us a photo!

To cap off the night, I dropped by the Ben Franklin Reform Democratic Club's
holiday party. Among the guests were Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.,
Public Advocate Bill DeBlasio, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz,
and state Sens. Gustavo Rivera and Jeff Klein.

Koppell launches toy drive for children in need

Koppell with students of PS 8.

City Councilman G. Oliver Koppell launched his toy drive this holiday season by distributing over 100 toys on Dec. 8, 2011 to children at the Little Angels Head Start Program on Hull Avenue in the Bedford Park/Norwood section of his district. These toys were among the 300 donated to Koppell by the Bronx Chamber of Commerce and Bronx Toys, a toy manufacturer, to give to children in need in his district.

Koppell also selected Mosholu-Montefiore, Marble Hill and Kingsbridge Heights Community Centers to be the recipient of toys because many of the families the centers serve are suffering during these harsh economic times and cannot afford to give their children a holiday present.

A number of children who attend PS 8 live in the nearby homeless shelter and Koppell provided the school with toys to give to these children, who are among the neediest in his district.

 

“I am grateful to the Bronx Chamber of Commerce and Bronx Toys for their generous donation of toys to brighten the holiday season for children in my district, many of whom would go without gifts because of the economic hardship their families are experiencing," Koppell said.

 

You can contribute to Koppell’s toy drive by dropping off a new, unwrapped toy at his Riverdale district office, 3636 Waldo Avenue.

Diaz lights Bronx Christmas tree

On Thursday, Dec. 8, 2011, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. lit the Bronx’s official Christmas tree for 2011 in front of the Bronx County Building on the Grand Concourse. The annual tree lighting ceremony featured Christmas carols by Cardinal Spellman High School’s ‘Gospel Sensations’ and the M.S. 390 chorus. 

Diaz celebrated the tree lighting along with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

MTA Service for Thanksgiving Weekend

If you manage to get through the possible school bus strike next week, expect to be rewarded with increased MTA service for Black Friday and the weekend.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) services will operate on special schedules on Wednesday, Nov. 23, through Sunday, Nov. 27, in honor of the Thanksgiving weekend.

New York City Subways and Buses

MTA buses and subways will operate on a Sunday schedule on Thanksgiving Day. On Black Friday, service will operate on a weekday schedule with some exceptions.  The closest subway stations to the start of the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade are the 1 at 79th Street and the B, C, at 81st Street. Selected north and southbound A and D trains will operate as locals and extra trains will be made available as needed. There will be additional service on the 42nd Street S shuttle as well as increased early morning service on the 1 line. A number of bus routes will be impacted by the parade.

Long Island Rail Road 

The LIRR will operate additional trains on Wednesday, Nov. 23, and on Thanksgiving. Off-peak fares will be in effect for the entire four-day holiday weekend. On Black Friday, Nov. 25, traditionally one of the busiest shopping days of the year, the LIRR will run a full weekday train schedule even though off-peak fares will be in effect all day. 

Metro-North Railroad 

MTA Metro-North Railroad will operate extra trains on Wednesday, Nov. 23, departing Grand Central beginning at 1 p.m. On Thanksgiving Day, Metro-North will operate a holiday schedule with extra AM inbound service for those going to see the Macy’s Parade, and extra late morning and early afternoon outbound service. And for the first time this year, Metro-North is providing train service to a popular annual five-mile road race in Southport, Conn., on Thanksgiving morning.

On Black Friday, Metro-North will operate a Saturday schedule with a lot of extra service during the AM and PM peaks. Metro-North is also operating weekend Shoppers’ Specials service on the New Haven Line and Hudson Line from Nov. 19 to Dec. 17.

West of the Hudson River, bus service has replaced Port Jervis Line trains between Suffern and Harriman. Shoppers’ traffic jams around the Woodbury Common outlet center mean Metro-North is allowing more time in the Port Jervis Line bus schedule to ensure that buses make their train connections in Ramsey/Route 17.

Off-peak fares will be in effect for the entire four-day holiday weekend.

Staten Island Railway 

Staten Island customers looking to get a head start on their holiday weekend will be able to catch earlier afternoon express train service on Wednesday, Nov. 23, with extra SIR trains added earlier in the afternoon beginning at 2:31 p.m. from the St. George Ferry Terminal. There will be one express train and one local train awaiting every boat until 7:50 p.m.

On Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 24, SIR will operate a Sunday schedule, while on Friday, Nov. 25, trains will run on a regular weekday schedule.

MTA Bridges and Tunnels

To ease travel for its customers this Thanksgiving, routine maintenance and temporary construction work at all MTA Bridges and Tunnels crossings will be suspended beginning Noon on Wednesday, Nov. 23, until early Monday morning, Nov. 28.

Diaz Sr. planning surprise visits to senior centers with Thanksgiving gifts

State senator Rev. Ruben Diaz Sr. will be making surprise visits to 23 senior citizen centers between Nov. 14 and Nov. 23 to distribute 1,500 Thanksgiving gift cards worth $10 each to senior citizens at the centers when he arrives. These gift cards have been sponsored by Diaz and Access Health Care.

 

"During the next two weeks, I will visit 23 senior citizen centers unannounced and all seniors who are present will receive a gift card to help them purchase their Thanksgiving meals," Diaz said. "At Thanksgiving we count all of our blessings, and our senior citizens who are our parents, our aunts, our uncles, our neighbors and our friends are at the top of the list to thank God for being part of our lives."

Jump below for the list of centers he is visiting.