Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. to Amtrak:
Get on board; Bronx, Westchester offi cials demand clear tracks
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Diaz, Latimer (l), and Councilmark Mark Gjonaj air gripes over Amtrak. Offi ce of Ruben Diaz, Jr.
Runaway youth shelter a concern: Councilman Mark Gjonaj
The community meeting with Covenant House. Councilman Mark Gjonaj’s offi ce
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, DECEMBER 28 BTR -JANIARY 3, 2019 67
neighbors and residents was the site’s
location.
Youth crime statistics in the immediate
vicinity of the shelter were high
according to the 45th Precinct, leaving
many puzzled by the Convenant House
decision.
It will also sit in close proximity to
The Pearly Gates Park on Tratman Avenue
which has been a noted trouble
spot.
In addition to relatively minor
youth crime, that park has also been
subject to frequent vandalism, dangerous
gang activity and shootings, added
community representatives.
With that stated, Covenant House
personnel at the meeting responded
that the organization has enough
youth programming to address the
community’s concerns regarding its
clients general safety.
Some of those programs include an
onsite federally-qualifi ed health clinic;
full-time psychiatric and psychological
services; a day treatment program;
employment and education services
including onsite GED and vocational
classes; legal services; an anti-human
traffi cking unit to provide expert support
to affected youth; and a wide array
of youth development activities including
onsite recreational and fi tness
programming and offsite trips.
The eye-opening number of programming
stated by Convenant House
rattled Cruz even more. He cited there
are numerous public works and homeless
programing already operating in
the immediate area surrounding the
new facility, such as those run by Montefi
ore and other agencies, to create a
‘cluster of programs’, a situation he opposed
.
“Covenant House would be within a
stone’s throw of another existing fam-
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ily shelter,” Cruz said.
CB 10 plans to hold a public town
hall-style meeting for community residents
to express their concerns. A City
Hall representative will also be asked
to attend the meeting.
While the date for the meeting has
not been fi nalized, Gjonaj vowed to
continue to fi ght on the community’s
behalf.
Anticipated to open in mid-February,
the three fl oor, recently rehabilitated
building on the corner of Glebe
Avenue, will become the temporary
home to 30 males and 10 females between
the ages 16 to 24, most of whom
originally hailed from the Bronx, but
have most recently lived in Covenant
House’s 120-bed homeless shelter, according
to spokesperson representing
the sponsor.
Year Capital Plan, which expires after
2019.
Diaz and other electeds believe that
Amtrak is trying to run out the clock,
forcing the MTA and city to re-allocate
the necessary funds in the 2020 to 2025
capital plan.
“We’ve seen this move before,”
Diaz said, mentioning how he remains
confi dent that the project will break
ground before a re-budgeting would be
necessary.
Meanwhile, Latimer, the elected offi
cial in charge of the Bronx’s northern
neighbor, acknowledged the changes
that the borough has undergone in
recent years necessitates the need for
improved commuter rail service.
He went on to explain not only how
many Bronxites reverse commute to
Westchester and even Stamford, CT,
but how this project would get his suburban
commuters directly into Penn
Station for the fi rst time as well.
“We have a common interest here,”
Latimer said.
In addition to a now transit-united
Bronx and Westchester, Latimer also
said that he highly anticipates Connecticut’s
new members of government
to also ‘hop on board’ once they
take offi ce in January.
While the government municipalities
opposed to Amtrak’s delay strategies
continue to solidify, the company
stands by its statement by spokesman
Jason Abrams: “Amtrak has been cooperating
with MTA’s planning efforts
regarding the proposed expansion
of Metro-North train service…
Amtrak and MTA executives have met
frequently in recent months to try to
reach agreement on a number of key
issues regarding design, construction
and ultimate train operation of this
project.”
Also supporting the borough president
were Senator Luis Sepulveda,
Assmbly Members Michael Benedetto,
Nathalia Fernandez and Karines
Reyes, Councilman Mark Gjonaj,
Bronx Chamber of Commerce representatives
Joe Kelleher, chairman and
Lisa Sorin, president, and Timothy L.
Hall, president of Mercy College.