Three local pols discuss environment issues at town hall meeting

Here's a story that didn't make this week's Riverdale Review.

By Brendan McHugh 

Dinowitz (center) speaks to constituents as
Espaillat (left) listens and Koppell (right) takes notes.

In a special environmentally focused town hall meeting, Riverdale residents had the chance to quiz elected officials about hydrofracking, Indian Point, tree safety and other issues.

Around 50 people showed up to the Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel of Riverdale for the third of four recent town hall meetings in the area, this one including Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, state Senator Adriano Espaillat and City Councilman G. Oliver Koppell. 

“We wanted to have a meeting with the community…to hear what issues you’re concerned about, get input and give people an opportunity to speak out,” Dinowitz said as he opened the meeting. 

Dinowitz and Espaillat, both who scored at the top of the legislature with their voting record by the EPL/Environmental Advocates’ scorecard, said Democrats and Republicans are on opposite sides of many topics and it’s up to Gov. Andrew Cuomo to be a decisive factor when dealing with certain issues.

Jump below for the full story.

Electeds meet their constituents in West Bronx town meeting

Here's a story from this week's Bronx Press.

By Brendan McHugh 

Engel courts future voters at the town hall meeting Sunday.

Stray cats, street repairs, the millionaires’ tax and much more were brought up in during a ‘meet and greet’ with local elected officials last week at Vladek Hall.

In the first of four town hall meetings, residents were able to spend some one-on-one time with their local elected officials, a change from the typical town halls where residents fire off questions publicly and the officials respond in an open forum.

Rep. Eliot Engel, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, state Senator Gustavo Rivera and City Councilman G. Oliver Koppell spoke with their constituents on a variety of issues Sunday afternoon in one of the Amalgamated Houses.

“People brought up a lot of local issues,” Dinowitz said after the gathering. “Some people talk to us about more national issues. They’re very pro-Democrat and want Obama to be stronger in his fight to get bills passed, his fight with Republicans. We got a lot of that: Obama needs to be tougher with Republicans.”

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Four town hall meetings coming to the northwest Bronx

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, Rep. Eliot Engel, City Councilman Oliver Koppell, state Senators Gustavo Rivera, Jeffrey Klein and Adriano Espaillat are hosting several town hall meetings to answer constituents’ questions and hear their concerns.

The first is a lighthearted meet and great, and will be the only one that Engel attends. The third, on Tuesday, Oct. 25, will be focused around environmental issues, including Indian Point and hydrofracking. The other two, I assume, are free for alls.

Sunday, October 23 • 1:30pm	Monday, October 24 • 7:30pm
Vladeck Hall	St. Barnabas High School
74 Van Cortlandt Park South	425 East 240th Street
Meet and Greet Your Elected Officials	Town Hall Meeting
Sponsored by the Amalgamated Housing Cooperative	Sponsored by the Woodlawn Heights Taxpayers and Community Association
With Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, Congressman Eliot Engel, Council Member Oliver Koppell, and State Senator Gustavo Rivera	With Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, Council Member Oliver Koppell, and State Senator Jeffrey Klein
Tuesday, October 25 • 7:30pm	Wednesday, November 2 • 7:30pm
Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel of Riverdale	Mosholu Montefiore Community Center
475 W. 250 St. (on Henry Hudson Pkwy. E.)	3450 Dekalb Avenue
Special Forum on Environmental Issues	Town Hall Meeting
With Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, Council Member Oliver Koppell, and State Senator Adriano Espaillat	Sponsored by the Mosholu Montefiore Community Center
	With Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, Council Member Oliver Koppell, and State Senator Gustavo Rivera