Dear Neighbor,

Thank you for joining us for another week in review.

As promised, our first-ever digital Community Board application is live and available in both English and Spanish. We wanted to make our application easy and accessible to our community by eliminating the barriers that could keep our neighbors from joining. We encourage everyone to apply - our community boards should reflect the diversity of our great Borough. We also encourage our youth (16 years or older) to join us! We want to hear from you. Help us build the Borough you want to see! The application deadline is March 3rd, 2023. Click here to apply. 

Yesterday, Mayor Eric Adams joined with Small Business Services (SBS) Commissioner Kevin D. Kim to announce the creation of the $75 million NYC Small Business Opportunity Fund, the largest public-private loan fund directed at small businesses in the city’s history. For more information on the groundbreaking initiative, click here.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact our office at 718-590-3500 or email us at [email protected].

In partnership,

Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson

Last week, we were reminded of our nation's desperate need for gun control legislation. Two teens were shot, one of them fatally, outside of the Police Athletic League; a school safety agent discovered weapons in a 13-year-old’s backpack; and on Sunday, a gunman carried out a mass shooting at a Lunar Year celebration in Monterrey, California, leaving 11 people fatally injured. The time for gun control is now. We cannot afford to wait. 

IN THE COMMUNITY

💐Our Deputy Borough President, Janet Peguero, gave us a tour of a Bronx gem, The Hunts Point Flower Market!

💐Located in what was once a parking garage, this botanical oasis has been breathing life into our Borough for the last 20 years!

Congratulations to Stop & Shop on a successful re-opening!

The updates are part of Stop & Shop’s larger $140 million capital investment in its New York City stores.

Stop & Shop has been a local grocer for more than 100 years! They have served our community with love and dedication by providing healthy, culturally competent, quality food.

Stop & Shop is also a partner in the fight to end food insecurity. They presented PS 5 with $10,000 in gift cards to continue its support of the in-school pantry through the Stop & Shop School Food Pantry Program.

We are happy to see their return to the West Bronx.

We hosted a Fire Safety Workshop, in partnership with the FDNY, at Riverdale Senior Services. This is the first in a series of workshops that will be held across the Bronx as part of my safety plan in response to the Twin Parks fire.

ICYMI

📈Thank you to the legendary Gary Axelbank for inviting our BOEDC Interim President, Rob Walsh, our Executive Director of BIC, Rafael Rogers and myself to BronxTalk to talk about our vision for the future of the Bronx. We discussed the growing cannabis industry, tourism, housing and much more. Tune in!

📈There are so many opportunities in our Borough. We are working around the clock to ensure that our residents, local business owners and mom-and-pop shops reap the benefits of our Borough’s economic growth.

📈Click here for the full video!

Join the Team!

Become an NYC Parks lifeguard.

January lifeguard qualifying tests have been added for the summer 2023 season!

Make summer happen for NYC! Work outdoors in some of New York City's most iconic locations and become part of a team and meet people who share your interests.

The first step to becoming a lifeguard is to pass our qualifying test. Tests start Friday, December 2 and continue into January at sites across the city.

Register now for a test to enter our 16-week training program to be beach or pool-ready for next summer. If you successfully complete the training program, you may be offered a full-time job for the summer working at a beach or pool in one of the best cities in the world!

Registration for test slots is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

HOW TO JOIN

All potential lifeguards must pass the Lifeguard Qualifying Test, a vision and swim exam. To qualify, you must:

• Be at least 16 years of age by the start of employment.
• Have at least 20/30 vision in one eye and 20/40 in the other - without corrective lenses. Glasses and contact lenses may not be worn during the eye exam.
• Be able to swim 50 yards in 45 seconds or less, with proper form.

Sign up today at nyc.gov/parks/lifeguards.