COUNCILMAN GJONAJ SUPPORTS VETERANS Condolences to the
Councilman Mark Gjonaj (l) stood in solidarity with veterans and their families to oppose
budget cuts for our nation’s former service members.
Photo courtesy of Councilman Mark Gjonaj’s Offi ce
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, A BTR PRIL 5-11, 2019 75
family of Edwin Esplinade,
our Booster
president, on the passing
of his young niece.
Please offer your
thoughts and prayers to
him and his family during
this diffi cult time.
Things looking a little more like
spring these days, which means
spring cleaning, lots to do and the
more hands the better.
We have given out the last of boots
and blankets that had been donated
to us, in the case we get more I will
let you know.
Thanks to the donor, sure the vets
that received them really appreciated
it.
The Post dart team is in the playoffs
currently and are looking good,
they hope to bring a back a trophy
to add to the past collection in our
newly renovated game lounge.
Summer dart league
will be coming up soon
and we are looking for
players, Fran Sampson
is the team captain.
Anyone interested
should stop by any time
for further information.
County meetings are now on a rotational
location between the county
posts, in order to spread news out
further and to give everyone the opportunity
to visit our other posts.
Will let you know where the next
one is being held as we know.
The Marine Corps League is always
looking for a few good Marines,
any of you jarheads out there come
on down and check it out.
Meetings held the second Wednesday
of every month, 1900hrs. Thats
all for now.
We are stronger as one lets work together.
God bless America!
BY GENE DEFRANCIS
Veronica and I had the pleasure
of attending the Jewish Community
Council of Pelham Parkway breakfast
this past weekend. We congratulate
all of the honorees especially
our dear friend Laura Guerriero editor
of this beloved local newspaper
The Bronx Times Reporter. Recognition
well deserved as we too appreciate
her work and allowing us to get
our message out to our members and
neighbors.
Once upon a time Allerton was
predominantly Jewish. Our local
landmark, the Allerton Coops, was
founded by Jewish textile workers.
Built in 1926, it was founded by the
United Workers Association to provide
housing for working class families
that shared in the management
and ownership of the property. In
1991, it was designated a National
Landmark.
The contributions and memories
the Jewish community brought to Allerton
is invaluable and will always
be appreciated.
We are thankful to our friends
and neighbors who continue to call
Allerton home.
Along with the Italians that resided
in this neighborhood, the Jewish
Residents knew what hard work
meant, what family meant, and what
discrimination looked like. But as
our education system
continued to fall below
satisfactory and
our classrooms became
overcrowded,
many families left.
As taxes increased
and other quality of
life issues were not
addressed and resolved, more working
class residents left.
Allerton became more diverse and
today it is unquestionably the most
diverse community in the Bronx.
The Jewish and Italian neighbors
that stayed were always open and
welcoming to this fact and willing to
share their neighborhood on one condition
... you take care of it and love it
as much as they do.
Respect for each other is key to a
healthy and safe neighborhood. Here
at the Allerton International Merchants
Association we recognize that
what makes our community a great
place to live is our tolerance and honesty.
That is the foundation set by the
Jewish community in Allerton.
The more you know your history,
the more you fi ght to protect your
home and prevent negative reoccurrences.
That is also why we must protect
the Allerton Coops from the blatant
disregard for the tenants there. Our
landmark must be respected and we
FREE
Information Kit
won’t wait and longer.
The hundredth
anniversary of the
coops is coming in 7
years but this is the
year we will remove
all drug activity
from this location,
remove the scaffolding
from this location, and restore
the community room and other amenities
that were designed for this local
treasure.
We want to express our support
for the Morris Park community and
their position against the road diet.
Whether they are on the wrong side
or right side of the argument it’s
their community. They live there. If
they feel safe crossing the street. If
they are comfortable with the traffi c
fl ow then let them be. They are the
ones who live there and have to deal
with it.
Years ago Allerton was proposed
for a similar road diet. It was rejected
on the west side of Boston Road but
we received the single lane and bike
lane on the east side.
Traffi c is not as heavy on the east
side of Boston Road. Even though
they are now proposing more buildings
even trying to rezone a section
to build a 7-story building, which we
also do not support.
Zero bicycles use this lane. Instead
they ride on the sidewalk and
don’t follow basic traffi c rules... like
one way signs and traffi c lights.
Cars have blocked the box waiting
for the light.
And it’s even worse when our beloved
Farenga Brothers Funeral
Home (which has been in our community
for generations) has a procession
lining up. Morris Park has two
funeral homes within the proposed
diet.
The new traffi c study has come in
and stats suggest the road was safer
in 2018. Finally, the residents who
have been in the community for 40 or
more years don’t want it. They don’t
feel less safe.
Here in Allerton, we have serious
concerns about the Boston Road intersection
which divides the neighborhood
and creates a barrier. Upgrades
to this location are in process
to make the street safer for both cars
and pedestrians. It’s been an issue
for a long time and we are committed
to resolving it immediately.
Also, Olinville Avenue has been
a location of many accidents. Cars
making dangerous turns onto the
avenue hitting pedestrians is the result
of drivers who should not have
a license. They are reckless and a
hazard to the community. There is
no other road plan that can fi x this
travesty but fortunately it has been
a while since there has been an incident
here.
Finally, we want resolution to the
on ramp and off ramp to the Bronx
River Parkway. Residents should not
have to wait 30 minutes to an hour to
get in and out of the community during
rush hour.
We insist every elected offi cial
puts this on their agenda and we sit
and discuss possible solutions.
Our anniversary will be here before
we know it. Get your journal ad
and tickets now. Your support to this
organization will allow us to do more
to protect and uplift our community.
Saturday, May 18 is the date. The
Sanz at 815 Allerton is the place. We
are honoring Steve Costas the Acting
Commissioner for DOSNY.
Our Holiday Light Design is in
and we are currently raising the
funds for 2019. We are also collecting
to repveseveral locations in Allerton
with paver stones. You can have you
family name or business engraved in
the stone to be commemorated.
For more information on this and
anything else relating to Allerton,
email us at AllertonMerchants@
gmail.com and join our Facebook
family Allerton International Merchants
Association Inc.
Your community is your business.
/gmail.com