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April 3, 2024

I had a great time at the Easter egg hunt at Sid Augarten field with Council Member Eric Dinowitz and community leaders Johanna Edmondson, Ben Jackson, and Emily Hausman. Thank you to KRVC and Laura Levine-Pinedo for setting up the event, along with all of the sponsors. Happy Easter.

Top picture (from left to right): Community leader Johanna Edmondson, community leader Emily Hausman, two volunteers from Amazon, Council Member Eric Dinowitz, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, community leader Ben Jackson, Founder and Director of the 4Bronx Project Laura Levine-Pinedo, and two more volunteers from Amazon.

Bottom Picture: Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz addressing the Easter egg hunt attendees at Sid Augarten Field in Riverdale.

I met with the families whose relatives and friends have been held hostage by Hamas terrorists for 180 days. Six months for this atrocity to continue has been far too long. I demand the release of all of the hostages. NOW!

The Climate Change Superfund Act (A.3351A/S.2129A) should be included in the State budget. It’s time for those who caused the climate crisis to take responsibility for their actions. Let’s hold fossil fuel companies accountable and make them clean up their mess.

New York faces immediate and severe threats from climate change caused by fossil fuel combustion. This includes rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and other consequences. To address this, a Climate Change Adaptation Cost Recovery Program is proposed, holding fossil fuel companies financially accountable for their historic contributions to greenhouse gas emissions. This program operates under strict liability, requiring companies to pay into a fund for infrastructure investments necessary to adapt to climate change impacts. The fossil fuel industry's tactics, akin to those of the tobacco industry, have concealed the truth about climate change, resulting in immense profits while taxpayers bear the costs. The program seeks compensation for past damages and funding infrastructure projects such as wetlands restoration and stormwater drainage upgrades, focusing on benefiting disadvantaged communities.

I debated my bill, A.2188, which would ensure families have the info they need when choosing nursing homes for themselves or their loved ones. With more transparent ratings on inspections, staffing, and quality measures, we empower families to make informed decisions in challenging times.

Families often struggle to care for elderly loved ones and may turn to professional nursing facilities for help. However, choosing a suitable facility is challenging due to varying levels of care and difficulty in comparing options. A congressional report revealed widespread violations in nursing homes, highlighting the need for accessible information. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services implemented a five-star rating system, but accessing these ratings can be difficult during crises. My bill aims to make nursing home ratings available to help families make informed decisions. New York law requires nursing homes to post overall CMS ratings and ratings for health inspections, staffing, and quality measures for better consumer information.

Statement from Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz on The Passing of Former United States Senator Joe Lieberman

I mourn the passing of Senator Joe Lieberman, a towering figure in American politics whose legacy will endure for generations. Senator Lieberman, a Riverdale resident and the first Jewish vice-presidential nominee of a major party, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 82 due to complications from a fall. He was surrounded by his beloved wife, Hadassah, and his family members.

Senator Lieberman's remarkable career epitomized integrity, dedication, and a steadfast commitment to public service. From his tenure as the first Orthodox Jewish person elected to the U.S. Senate to his groundbreaking vice-presidential candidacy alongside Al Gore in 2000, Senator Lieberman blazed trails and shattered barriers, leaving an indelible mark on our nation's history.

Senator Lieberman's unwavering principles and independent spirit made him a formidable force in Washington. He championed bipartisan cooperation and sought to bridge the divides that too often separate us, recognizing that progress requires principled compromise and unity of purpose.

As I reflect on Senator Lieberman's extraordinary life and legacy, I will remember his tireless advocacy for the American people, his unwavering commitment to his faith, and his enduring belief in the power of democracy to uplift and unite us all. His loss leaves a void in our political discourse, but his example will continue to inspire future leaders to pursue the common good above all else.

My thoughts are with Hadassah, his family, and those touched by Senator Lieberman's remarkable life. May his memory be a blessing, and we honor his legacy by striving daily to build a more just, compassionate, and united nation.

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BRONX, NY – ASSEMBLYMAN DINOWITZ HENRY HUDSON BRIDGE TOLL REBATE NOW IN EFFECT FOR BRONXITES

My Henry Hudson Bridge Toll Rebate Program for Bronxites successfully took effect on February 3rd, 2024. I negotiated this program into the state budget in 2019. It was scheduled to take effect in 2020 but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The program will be funded through the Outer Borough Transportation Account, established in 2018, to enhance transportation resources in the outer boroughs. Under the program, Bronxites with passenger cars registered in the Bronx and a funded E-ZPass account will get an instant rebate every time they cross the Henry Hudson Bridge. The bridge is one of the shortest bridges in the city. Hence, the toll on the bridge has always irked people. It used to be known as the "10-cent bridge" years ago. Currently, the toll on the bridge is $8.25 one way without an E-ZPass and $3.18 one way with an E-ZPass. Under this program, your account will be charged and instantly credited for the same amount (in essence, free) for Bronxites.

I worked hard during the budget negotiations to make this available for all Bronxites. It is only fair that residents of the Bronx are not subjected to an extra toll when crossing this particular bridge into Manhattan. Especially given that every other bridge providing access to Manhattan from the Bronx is toll-free. Currently, many people avoid this toll and drive into Kingsbridge and Marble Hill, causing additional congestion and pollution in these neighborhoods. Once this program takes effect, some people will save hundreds, even thousands of dollars annually. I am very proud that I could get this in the state budget, and I am thankful to Governor Hochul and the MTA for implementing this fantastic idea.

MTA Has Every Way for Fans to Get to Yankees Opening Day

Metro-North Yankee Clippers Offer Direct Service to Yankee Stadium on Hudson, Harlem, and New Haven Lines; All Hudson Line Trains Make Additional Stop at Yankee Stadium During Game Days

New York Transit Museum to Run Annual IRT Lo-V Nostalgia Train and Train of Many Colors from Grand Central to Yankee Stadium

Long Islanders Can Take Train to Grand Central, Connecting with Direct Service to Yankee Stadium via Metro-North or the Subway

Subways, Buses, and Paratransit Provide Convenient Service to All Yankee Home Games

Following a West Coast trip to open the season, the New York Yankees are back in the Bronx for their home opener against the Toronto Blue Jays. Fans looking to get to the stadium, regardless of where they are coming from, can take any MTA service to Yankee Stadium ahead of the 1:05 p.m. start time on Friday, April 5.

Metro-North's Yankee Clippers

Metro-North Railroad’s “Yankee Clipper” trains are special game-day trains that provide one-seat rides from the Harlem and New Haven lines to Yankees-E 153 St station for all evening and weekend home games.  In addition to the Yankee Clipper trains, Metro-North operates shuttle trains for all games, including weekday day games, between Grand Central Terminal, Harlem-125th Street, and Yankees-E 153rd Street stations for fans departing from Manhattan, who are transferring at Grand Central from the LIRR or who are transferring at Harlem-125th Street station from Harlem and New Haven line trains. For all games, Metro-North also adds a stop at Yankees-E 153rd Street station to many Hudson Line express and local trains to provide more options for fans traveling to and from the game.

New York City Subway

For the April 5 home opener, customers can take the train to the 161 St-Yankee Stadium station. The subway’s 161 St-Yankee Stadium station, with service on the lines, is right in front of the stadium at the corner of 161st St and River Ave. Local and express trains stop at 161 St-Yankee Stadium at all times. They stop at 161 St-Yankee Stadium during rush hour only. Rush hour express trains will also stop at 161 St-Yankee Stadium before weeknight games.

Take LIRR to Grand Central

The opening of Grand Central Madison makes it easier than ever for Yankees fans on Long Island to get to the game. Before the terminal’s opening, a Yankees fan going to the Stadium from Long Island would have taken a longer subway ride from Atlantic Av-Barclays Ctr, or transferred twice on the subway, or left Penn Station and walked to Herald Square to connect to a train. An LIRR customer can take a one-seat ride into Grand Central and finish their trip on a Metro-North shuttle or the train. Either option can take a customer to the stadium less than 30 minutes from Grand Central.

New York City Buses

The Bx6, Bx6 SBS, and Bx13 stop near E. 161 St and River Ave (near the stadium). In addition, the Bx1 and Bx2 both stop at E. 161 St and the Grand Concourse, a three-block walk east to the stadium. Customers can use the real-time bus arrival tracking feature on the MYmta app before boarding.

Access-A-Ride

Access-A-Ride has a designated stop in front of Yankee Stadium. To book a trip to the stadium, customers can call (877)-337-2017 or (718)-393-4999 and press prompt #2.

New York Transit Museum’s Nostalgia Train is Back. The New York Transit Museum offers fans a once-in-a-season way to show off their pinstripe pride and ride to Yankee Stadium in style aboard a 1917 IRT Lo-V train and the Train of Many Colors nostalgia trains.

The IRT Lo-V Nostalgia Train and Train of Many Colors will run from Grand Central to Yankee Stadium for one day. The IRT Lo-V Nostalgia Train is scheduled to leave the uptown train platform at 42 St-Grand Central by approximately 11:00 a.m. and travel non-stop on the Lexington Avenue Line, arriving at 161 St-Yankee Stadium in about 25 minutes. Immediately following the IRT Lo-V cars, the New York Transit Museum’s beloved Train of Many Colors will arrive to carry more riders to the stadium. The ride to the Bronx takes fans to the stadium gates with plenty of time before the first pitch at 1:05 p.m.

Initially operated by the Interborough Rapid Transit (IRT) system, The IRT Lo-V began service in 1917. The vintage train cars and hundreds of similar cars served subway customers a few years before the first pitch was thrown at the original Yankee Stadium. With rattan seats, ceiling fans, and drop sash windows, the train hearkens back to an earlier age of subway travel and provides a photogenic counterpoint to the new home of the New York Yankees.

The Train of Many Colors includes a selection of cars manufactured in the 1960s: the R-33, R-33WF, and R-36 cars. With “Tartar Red” and “Gunn Red” redbirds, Kale Green "Green Machines", blue-and-silver "Platinum Mist" and the striking two-tone robin's egg blue and cream “Bluebird” paint schemes, the train represents several different eras in New York City subway history.

Each week, we provide new streets and their histories, all reprinted from John McNamara's "History in Asphalt," which gives in-depth origins of how current and former Bronx Streets got their name! I picked the two streets for this week from Van Cortlandt Village: Gale Place and Stevenson Place.

Gale Place: Henry D. Gale purchased 190 acres in 1835 in what was called South Yonkers. In 1853, Loring Galewas was listed as a small landholder in the same area. The Place was opened in 1937.

Stevenson Place: It is laid out over the original Van Cortlandt patent, which overlooked - in the 1860s - the famed Jerome Park racetrack. Orloff Park was a real estate venture incorporating the name of Oloff Stevenson Van Cortlandt, Burgomeister of Nieuw Amsterdam, from 1654 to 1664. It was the John Dickinson property of the early 1900's.

The Riverdale Press, March 31st, 2024 — Are electric buses coming soon to school near you?

A recent survey conducted by Marquette Law School indicates that most Americans do not support granting immunity to former President Donald Trump. The poll revealed that 56% of respondents endorsed the Supreme Court's decision to allow Trump to remain on the ballot despite accusations of violating the "insurrectionist ban" outlined in the 14th Amendment. However, 62% of those surveyed opposed granting immunity to former presidents. This survey coincides with the upcoming Supreme Court hearings regarding whether Trump can claim immunity in a significant case involving special counsel Jack Smith's investigation into election subversion.

Last week, I asked, "Do you agree with the decision to ban social media for minors under fourteen?"

Yes — 77%

No — 18%

Other / No opinion — 5%

» MTA Mobile Sales Van Bus Schedule — Monthly

Need to refill your Metro card? The Metro Card Bus is coming near you! Every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month, the MTA will bring the Metro Card Bus to the following locations to assist you in refilling your card *Schedules are subject to change*. Note: Mobile Sales are Cash Only. You can still buy a MetroCard using cash or transfer value from a Reduced-Fare MetroCard.

1st Wednesday

• Riverdale at 235th Street and Johnson Avenue
• 9 AM – 11 AM

3rd Wednesday

• Riverdale at Skyview Shopping Center (Riverdale Ave between 256 St & 259 St)
• 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM

2nd & 4th Friday

• Knolls Crescent Mall (11-21 Knolls Crescent)
• 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

• Get help with a Reduced-Fare Application

• Transfer MetroCard balances (Full fare and Reduced-Fare)

• Exchange a damaged Reduced-Fare MetroCard for a temporary replacement

• Report a lost/stolen Reduced-Fare MetroCard

• Ask about any MetroCard-related issues

• Sign up for OMNY

» Van Cortlandt Park Alliance — Events in April 2024

Woodlawn Wednesdays

Wednesdays, April 10, 17, and 24 - Meet at 9 am

Together, we’ll pull unwanted plants and prepare the ground for the spring planting season.

RSVP Now

Meet at Woodlawn Playground.

Forest Restoration Fridays

Fridays, April 5 + 19 - Meet at 9 am

Dive into spring by helping us remove invasive species like multi-flora rose and garlic mustard. Gear up for hands-on conservation work and learn about the forest’s ecosystem.

RSVP Now

Meet at VCPA Garden & Compost Site.

Birding with NYC Audubon

Saturdays, April 6 + 13 - Meet at 9 am

Explore Van Cortlandt Park’s ecologically diverse grounds and celebrate the park's long birding tradition. A New York City Audubon guide will lead each walk.

RSVP Now

Meet at the Nature Center.

Spring Garden Tune-Up Tuesdays

Tuesdays, April 9 + 23 - Meet from 10 am to 1 pm

Turnip to volunteer! Volunteers will learn to care for the garden, maintain compost bins, weed, water, and harvest produce.

RSVP Now

Meet at VCPA Garden & Compost Site.

Poetry Reading: Talking to the Bones

Tuesday, April 16 at 6:30 pm

VCPA presents a poetry reading by poet David Mills, who will read from his poetry collection, Boneyarn, the first-ever book of poems about slavery in New York City and winner of the 2022 North American Book Award. 

RSVP Required

Van Cortlandt House Museum

Family Fun Day in Woodlawn

Saturday, April 20 - 1 pm to 4 pm

An afternoon of family fun featuring face painting, the NY Road Runners Mobile Van, woodland family walks, nature crafts, bocce, games, and more!

Check out our event page for more details.

VCP Biobilitz: City Nature Challenge 2024

Saturday, April 27 - 10 am to 1 pm

Join us at the VCPA Garden and Compost Site for an exciting event as part of the global City Nature Challenge! We’re participating in the Greenspace Race, aiming to be the first NYC park to hit 5,000 recorded observations. Your contribution can help demonstrate why Van Cortlandt Park stands out among the city’s green spaces.

RSVP Now

VCPA Garden & Compost Site

Kids Programs - RSVP NOW! 

The Garden Crew Afterschool Program for 6th to 12th graders starts Wednesday, May 1st. FREE!

Super Seedlings is a drop-in gardening program for kids ages 3 to 7 and their caregivers starting Saturday, May 4. FREE!

Growing Gardeners is a 6-week drop-off program for 2nd to 5th graders, starting Saturday, May 4. Low-cost!

Mark Your Calendar!

Saturday, May 4 - Noon to 4 pm

It’s Pinkster time! Our second annual Pinkster Festival celebrates African culture dating back to the 1700s. The Pinkster Players perform throughout the day to share the unique history of this important but little-known holiday. 

Live Music • African Food Vendor • Crafts • Storytelling

Presented in partnership with Van Cortlandt House Museum. 

Van Cortlandt House Museum Grounds 

Summer Internships!

Urban Ecology Teens (UET) Internship

UET Crew Leaders

Part-Time • Seasonal

Crew Leaders (2) will work alongside VCPA staff in leading the summer Urban Ecology Teen Internship program (Eco-Teens). Through special projects and enrichment activities, Crew Leaders will teach basic plant identification and lead basic forest, aquatic, and trail restoration work.

Apply Now!

UET Interns

Part-Time • July 1 to August 16, 2024

Urban Ecology Teen Internship (Urban Eco-Teens) is a paid internship for high school students that prepares them for college, stewardship, and natural resource management professions. Interns learn about local flora and fauna, go on nature-focused field trips, and explore green career opportunities with natural resource professionals.

Applications close on April 19, 2024.

Garden 2 Market (G2M) Internship

G2M Crew Leader

Part-Time • Seasonal

The Crew Leader (1) will work alongside VCPA staff in leading the summer Garden 2 Market Internship. The Crew Leader will be responsible for supporting 6 high school G2M interns as they learn how to maintain a garden, run a farm stand, and explore issues of the local food system.

Apply Now!

G2M Interns

Part-Time • July 1 to August 21, 2024

Garden 2 Market (G2M) is a paid internship for high school students where they spend their summer exploring the local food system and building community at VCPA’s garden and market. When we understand where our food comes from and where it goes, we can make better decisions about what we buy and eat!

Applications close on April 12, 2024.

» NYC Parks — Hiring for the Summer!

• Help keep the Bronx's green spaces beautiful and safe!

• If you have a driver's license, we are looking for City Park Workers at a salary of $20.89 an hour. We also have City Seasonal Aide positions available for non-drivers at $18.00 an hour.

• For quick application to these positions, scan the code on the flyer or to the right or visit bit.ly/parks24bx

» NYC Parks — Orchard Beach Pavilion Reconstruction, Construction Career and Resource Fair, April 4th

• This event is taking place on Thursday, April 4th, 2024, at the Greek American Institute (3573 Bruckner Boulevard, Bronx, NY 10461)

• Meet contractor representatives and learn about available opportunities and apprenticeships

• Attend for Connecting with programs that provide training, apprenticeships, and access to careers in skilled construction trades; meet general contractors who are performing work at Orchard Beach and around New York City; Engage with union representatives and construction trade partners restoring the facility and obtain assistance with resume building.

• Register in advance for a quicker check-in by scanning the QR code (either on the flyer or in the text box). For any questions related to the event, please email contact [email protected]

» Woodlawn Conservancy — Woodlawn's Stained Glass Stroll, April 7th

• Sunday, April 7th at 11:00 AM and 1:30 PM

• Join members of the Woodlawn Stained Glass Survey team, including conservator Brianne Van Vorst, Neustadt Collection of Tiffany Glass Curator Lindsy Parrott, and Research Associate Sophia Kamps for a highlights tour of Woodlawn’s stained–glass windows in mausoleums. As featured in the New York Times, Woodlawn is currently surveying its collection of over 1,200 windows made between 1878 and today. This tour will discuss the survey project and show visitors a selection of essential windows, including the works of Louis C. Tiffany and Helen Maitland Armstrong. Art historian Sophia Kamps will give an overview of the Woodlawn Stained Glass Survey project and discuss research methods and archival discoveries.

This is a part Trolley and part walking tour.

For Tickets to the 11 AM tour, please click here.

For Tickets to the 1:30 PM tour, please click here.

» Woodlawn Conservancy — Gilded Age Art and Architecture Walking Tour, April 7th

• Sunday, April 7th at 1:00 PM

• Spend an hour with Woodlawn’s Architectural Historian, Anthony Pellino, exploring the bold personalities, cultural forces, and wonderful artistry behind some of Woodlawn’s funerary masterpieces as we walk through the cemetery. The talk will focus on different aspects of artistry and design and explain how patrons, designers, and artists made the decisions that went into a finished work.

• Landscape Design

During the Gilded Age, landscape design emerged as a distinct discipline often practiced by women. Woodlawn has a particularly rich history of designed landscapes that memorialize the dead. This walk will take visitors through the circumstances that drew some women to become landscape designers and the themes they used in the works they executed for their cemetery patrons.

For tickets, please click here.

» Kingsbridge Library LINC— Stepping Stones, Why Our Toddlers Talk and How to Respond

• The event will be held on April 10th, 12th, 17th, and 19th at Kingsbridge Library Center, 310 E Kingsbridge Rd, Bronx, NY 10458.

• This session gives caregivers insight into four types of toddler communication and how to respond. It gives caregivers tools to detect what a toddler is engaging in and what is the best way to respond to develop their language. Caregiver workshops designed for 2-3 year olds.

• For more information, contact Araceli Farciert at [email protected], visit bit.ly/kltalk24 , or scan the QR Code on the flyer or in this text box

» NYPD 50th Precinct Crime Prevention Division — Coffee with a Crime Prevention Officer (CPO), April 17th

• The event will be held on Wednesday, April 17th, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at the Sheza Coffee House (Located at 6050 Riverdale Ave, Bronx, NY 10471)

• Connecting with the community one coffee at a time. Free Coffee!

• For more information, contact Crime Prevention Officer Jamsheer at (929) 375-6048

» 9/11 Memorial & Museum — Spring 2024 Field Trips, FREE for New York City Schools, Started January 16th

• Reservations are now open for Spring 2024 field trips at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. Beginning January 16, we'll offer interactive on-site and virtual programs that help students understand what happened on 9/11 and its ongoing relevance today.

•Thanks to public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, on-site and virtual field trips are FREE for New York City schools. Proof of eligibility will be determined using a school’s zip code and confirmed by Museum staff.  

•Fill out a booking request form to plan your on-site student field trip to the Museum. To schedule a virtual field trip, visit our Virtual Field Trips page. Space is limited for all programs, and requests will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Programs are appropriate for students in grades 3 through 12. We look forward to welcoming you!

» KRVC — Community Karaoke at KRVC, February 2024

• Fridays from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM at Gallery 505 (505 W 236th St, Bronx, NY).

• All ages and all languages are welcome. Bring your snacks and support your local food spots.

• For more information, contact [email protected] or visit KRVC

» NYC Parks — The BE BOLD Afterschool Dance Program, February 12th - May 1st, 2024

• Mondays and Wednesdays from 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM at the Willliamsbridge Oval Recreation Center (3225 Reservoir Oval East, Bronx, NY).

• NYC Parks, in partnership with the Misty Copeland Foundation, invites children ages 6 - 13 years to enroll in the BE BOLD afterschool Dance program, which is a fun introductory ballet class with live music. The BE BOLD program offers a new approach to afterschool dance education, and our core values are Leadership, Curiosity, Kindness, Knowledge, Persistence, and an Appreciation of Dance and Music. Please register with [email protected] or call (718) 543-8672.

• Participants must have an NYC Parks Recreation Center Membership. Membership is free for youth and young adults 24 years and under.

• For more information, call (718) 543-8672, [email protected], or visit nyc.gov/parks. Contact [email protected] or (212) 360-1430 for more information regarding accessibility.

» Van Cortlandt Park Alliance — Springtime Shingdig! May 16th

Save the Date: Springtime Shindig is on Thursday, May 16!

Join us!

Cocktails • Lite Bites • Dessert

Music • Picturesque Setting • Raffle

HONOREES

Betty Campbell-Adams Park Angel Award:

Nina Habib Spencer

Carol J. Samol

Cultivating the Bronx Award:

Daylighting Tibbetts Brook Team

NYC Parks, Natural Resources Group

Department of Environmental Protection

Hazen and Sawyer

Starr Whitehouse Landscape Architects & Planners

Bronx Council for Environmental Quality 

Tickets: $300

Sponsorship from $1,000

Journal ads from $250

Proceeds from the Springtime Shindig support Van Cortlandt Park Alliance’s Education programs for Bronx kids and teens, ecological restoration and research, and community stewardship programs in Van Cortlandt Park.

The painting above is part of the “Daylighting Tibbetts en Plein Air” by Noel Hefele.

» E-ZPass NY — 24/7 E-ZPass NY Account Access!

• Preparing for a trip or already on the road? Forget to add that new license plate before your vacation? Want to check your balance? Is your account balance low? No worries! Use our Tolls NY Mobile App.

• Real-time payments and account updates are made without speaking to a representative.

• Scan the QR code or click the link below to easily download the app from the App Store or Google Play today!

Please visit our YouTube channel to learn more by clicking here.

Stay updated through X, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube!

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz

3107 Kingsbridge Avenue

Bronx, New York 10463

Phone: 718-796-5345 | E-Mail: [email protected]