Community Clubs For Community Success: Forgive Us-Now Celebrate With Us

Ricky Martinez, receiving DIRECT CAMPAIGN asssistance from Northwest Bronx Democrats
wins State Committeeman for 78th Assembly District with over 70% of the vote in 2010

We apologize!!!

As some of you might know, we have just spent most of our resources doing some great community work in our North Bronx Neighborhoods-but more to that in a moment.

Let me outline that we now celebrate, as a 527 Organization, a 10 year place of history in our Northern Section of the Borough; Where Ursula Morgan & Bronxites for Parks have done a specatular job in assisting with the maintance upkeep of Mosholu Parkway. In the last 12 months, BFP along with 20 year Parks organization, Norwood Against Graffitti.has sucessfully fought for: Street Lighting on Mosholu's WW1 Monument (lobbied by us, appoved by Councilman Koppell). Working with The Bedford Mosholu Community Organization we have been able to STOP THE PUSH for a HOT SHEERT hotel on Webster Ave, first proposed by then, Borough President Carrion (Read Story)

In the last 12 months, The Children's Collective spent most of its time, you can say, working underground. Working with social service neighborhood organizations like; First Step Woman's Support Group, The Collective has been advocating to Sungle Mothers the importance of getting assistance when needed In 2010, at PS85, A Health Fair assisted over 100 people.

Economic Development-REVIVAL!.

Proudness is seriously more like it. As Norwood celebrats the Re-birth of The 204th St/Bainbridge Ave Merchant Association, we take great pride in seeing our dream in 2004 finally be attained: To have Mosholu Development Corporation handle all financing. Sinc e 1956, it has been an independent merchant association. It died in 1994. In 2004, under our community leadership, the Association had a re-birth. After lobbying MPC officals since then, ALL PARTIES HAVE COME TO A TENATIVE AGREEMENT.

Learn about our fun with this historic association. From its first re-birth in 2002 (Read Story) to our thoughts on The building of The Water Filtration Plant or a Radio Tower (Read Here) in Norwood (Read Here)to THE GREAT FIRES of 2009, (Read Here)its final REVIVAL

(or re-rebirth (Read Here) and upcoming summer street fairs (Read Here)

Political Action-

This time we do not think he is celebrating!!!

From our FIRST Campaign in 1991, as Councilman to 2010
& The Race for Congress

Ricky Martinez, Robert Press Jose Rivera supporting
State Senator Pedro Espada Re-election. North Bronx Thinktank lobbied and got Mr Robert Press the local support he needed to become a Rep of Community Board 8 (Riverdale) after a record 10 unsuccessful attempts by Mr. Press himself (on right of Assemblyman Rivera on microphone)

Yes, what a year. Totally worth it though. Remember, we consider our Northern Western Boundries for example to Start around 183rd/Fordham Road and to go as way up as Riverdale.Well , in 2009 under the leadership of Northwest Bronx Democrats, we had our man Councilman Oliver Koppell, the Main sponser of NYC Living Wage Bill re-elected (Just shows you what a good man will do in office after re-election). In 2010, as most might know, we also pushed our successful way into the re-election of Assemblyman Jose Rivera. More importanyt, after receiving that last minute call from The Bronx County Bronx Democrats & The Working Families Party, we took our infamous "troop strength" to elevate a NEW State Senator into office. AS WE PROMISED, Pedro Esxpada is NOW GONE, Gustavo Rivera is now IN.Most of The Local Clubs also assisted Gustavo but sadly local club president of The Committee for 100 Democrats, Ricardo Martinez supported Pedro Espada. Even sadder on electon day Vice President of 100 Democrats , Robert Press, supported Espada to polling site after polling site (I guess it was to give him that BAD advice).

State Senator Pedro Espada voting in 2010 and

Organizer and Supporter Robert Press (background to left)

overseeing process

In 2010, we DID NOT MAKE UP with our stumbling bumbling "leaders" of our former club The Committee of 100 Democrats, but we do support the concept of having local insiders have pull, so on that note, we assisted and won in the Elecion of Ricky Martinez, State Committeeman of The 78th District with 70% of The Vote. And after 10 previous tries since 1990, Robert Press finally received "appointment" appoval from his local councilman & Borough President to be a member of Community Board 8. TRUST US IT WAS NOT EASY. we were finally able to get him in after Councilman Koppell had a last minute opening. Rumor has it he failed his first roiund interview, thus once again, denied entry.

Councilman Koppell & Director of North Bronx Thinktank
in local Community Meeting in Bedford Park.

But maybe our masterpiece was in 2010, when we received a phone call from Bronx Partner, Bronx For Change (who received a phone call from Cuomo's office) that he wanted to build community by community support for the just passed "same sex" marriage bill.

Our Job, here in The Bronx was two fold: Advocate and Build Advocacy and to hopefully convince State Sen Ruben Diaz that his position was wrong on his position.For One of our own Bronx Leaders, The "Dancing District Leader of The 80th Assembly District Mr Kenneth Agosto, now you can say, hes Dancing to another tune ("Im Coming Out "maybe???) (in upper back)

But in the end State Sen Karl Kruger, yes the OUTGOING STATE AMIAGO voted FOR the bill and its passage. An Example of the fight is covered right here in The Riverdale Press (click here).