Curtis Sliwa to join rally at Overlook Manor about asylum seeker housing

Led by former New York city mayoral candidate, radio talk show host and head of the Guardian Angels Curtis Sliwa, members of the Waldo Gardens board of directors will hold a rally outside Overlook Manor Sunday.

The rally, which will start at 2 p.m., is objecting to the lack of transparency surrounding the future of the former Manhattan College dorm, which was sold to Stagg Group for $18 million earlier this year. The building is at 435 W. 238th St. near Waldo Avenue, which abuts Waldo Gardens.

The sale of the building caught the attention of Waldo Gardens residents since Stagg Group said it had discussions with the city department of homeless services about using the building to house migrants.

During a recent Community Board 8 meeting, a Stagg Group representative said nothing is definitive about the plans for the building.

In a flyer announcing the rally, Waldo’s board said, “We will not be lied to any longer and our voices will be heard!”

‘Buckets for the Bronx’ video now live

The inaugural 3v3 “Buckets for the Bronx” basketball tournament hosted by Kingsbridge Unidos and Cash Cow NYC is the subject of a short documentary now available on YouTube.

Over the course of about seven minutes, viewers will get to go behind the scenes of the first ever Bronx 3v3 basketball tournament, which includes boys and girls. The film was directed and produced by Rachel Kessler, a Brooklyn-based director, screenwriter and producer with more than a decade of experience in TV and film. She worked with Polina Buchak, a city-based Ukrainian filmmaker, director and producer.

The tournament’s co-organizers were Jessica Altagracia Woolford, Kingsbridge Unidos founder, and Haramrijot Singh, Cash Cow NYC founder. Kingsbridge Unidos is a mutual aid group that distributes fresh produce to families in the northwest Bronx. Cash Cow is a lifestyle and clothing brand dedicated to the Bronx.

The video can be viewed at youtu.be/SCvTR4s_YAY

Flu shots available
at pair of sites

Flu shots will be available at the RSS Center for Ageless Living and St. Gabriel Church over the next three weeks.

The first flu shot clinic will be Friday starting at 10 a.m. at the RSS Center, 2600 Netherland Ave. . The shots will be administered by Riverdale Specialty Pharmacy. Any senior looking for a shot should bring their Medicare, or other insurance, card. Appointments are necessary.

Call (718) 884-5900 to set up a time.

The second clinic will be Oct. 5 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Walsh rectory of St. Gabriel Church, 3250 Arlington Ave. Since there is a limited supply of vaccines, advanced registration is encouraged. Face masks are highly encouraged. The line for the vaccinations will form outside the building while flu shots will be administered inside.

This clinic is offered by Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, Councilman Eric Dinowitz in collaboration with U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres.

To register, go to Dinowitz.us/flu or call Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz’s office at (718) 796-5345.

Rapid emergency
response center bill

Councilman Eric Dinowitz and Councilman Kevin Riley have paired up to introduce legislation that would require the city Department of Emergency Management to designate facilities within each community district as rapid emergency response centers.

“After an apartment building fire in Wakefield displaced 61 people earlier this year, New Yorkers were reminded of the destabilizing impact of displacement by disaster,” Councilman Dinowitz said Sept. 14.

“Luckily, in this case, a local school was able to provide shelter in the aftermath of the fire and luckily, local elected officials provided clothing, but we cannot rely on luck to provide for New Yorkers. With this bill, the city will have New Yorkers’ backs in times of emergency and that they will get the help that they need to get back on their feet.”

The proposed legislation would require each designated center to be stocked with supplies for residents who have been displaced by a natural-human caused disaster.

Councilman Riley said it is vital the city be proactive in securing the necessary resources in providing essential relief promptly, also citing the building fire in Wakefield as a reason why.

The residential fire the council members referred to occurred earlier this year on Jan. 26 and left four people injured. The Bronx Times reported the fire started on the top floor between the ceiling and roof, and quickly spread to the adjoining building. The fire was dangerous enough that it required 200 firefighters and EMS to be deployed.

At the time two of the injuries were considered life-threatening, but thankfully they were reduced to non-life threatening, FDNY press secretary Amanda Farinacci Gonzalez told the Bronx Times back in January.

The proposed centers would make it so communities can receive both efficient and effective aid, Riley said.

“Because once these disasters occur, relief efforts can’t afford to be delayed or difficult to navigate,” he said. “As a result of this legislation, there will be space for greater efficiency citywide in providing New Yorkers with food, water, medical supplies and shelter during emergencies.”