“When these laws were
put in effect years and
years ago it wasn’t a big
problem, there were no
email addresses,” Gjonaj
said, adding his sentiment
on how outdated
legislation in general is
harming small mom and
pop shops throughout the
Bronx.
There’s another issue
with the policy that concerns
Gjonaj as well.
He asked, why would a
restaurant like The Black
Whale, which opened over
50 years ago, suddenly be
busted for its handmade
sign for the fi rst time in
2018?
Using 311, business
competitors and sign
makers have been reporting
shops that aren’t in
compliance, according to
the councilman.
“A sign maker will go
into a store and say “This
sign doesn’t comply with
the city’s code but I can
fi x it for you at a price. If
the owner says ‘no’, then
suddenly that store is reported
to the city,” Gjonaj
said, calling it a mobsterlike
shakedown tactic.
As a matter of fact,
citywide 311 complains
over signage have risen
1,533% since 2011.
“No small business
can take a $20,000 hit
like that. If that’s not extortion
then I don’t know
what is,” Gjonaj added.
His legislation, which
has passed through committee
would reinstate
Bloomberg’s moratorium
immediately, rolling
back all subsequent fi nes
issued to businesses from
2006 onward, until a new
task force is set up to determine
a more reasonable
code for the millions
of signs across the city.
“This is about putting
tens of thousands of dollars
back into the hands of
small businesses,” Gjonaj
said to The Black Whale’s
owner, Richard DePierro.
As of press time the
City Council passed the
aptly named ‘Black Whale
Bill’. Gjonaj is confi dent
that it will become law
even if the mayor vetoes
the bill.
The four-year-old Soundview
native was taken to a
specialist who discovered
that he was suffering from
a cancerous brain tumor.
Joshua was diagnosed
with stage four medulloblastoma.
According to St. Jude
Children’s Research Hospital,
medulloblastoma, also
known as cerebellar primitive
neuroectodermal tumor,
is a cancerous tumor
which starts in the region
of the brain at the base of
the skull called the posterior
fossa.
These tumors can spread
to other parts of the brain
and to the spinal cord.
Medulloblastoma is the
most common malignant
childhood brain tumor accounting
for approximately
20% of all childhood brain
tumors.
Between 250 and 500
children younger than
16-years-old are found to
have medulloblastoma annually
in the United States.
The disease is slightly
more common in boys than
in girls.
Symptoms often include
headaches, morning nausea
or vomiting which gradually
worsens, clumsiness,
problems with handwriting
and vision problems.
Should the tumor spread
to the spinal cord, symptoms
may include back
pain, trouble walking and
problems controlling bladder
and bowels movements.
Joshua received immediate
surgery at the Children’s
Hospital at Montefi
ore to remove a majority
of the tumor, however a portion
remains due to the risk
of its removal causing permanent
brain damage.
Rivera visited Joshua
and Yesenia at the hospital
and presented him with
several gifts for the holiday
season.
Following surgery,
Joshua is undergoing six
weeks of radiation and 45
weeks of chemotherapy
treatments.
He has been using a
walker to assist with his
mobility.
Despite what he’s experienced,
Joshua remains
a vibrant and happy child
who enjoys riding his bike,
painting, sports, dancing
and listening to music.
“He’s doing much better
now, he’s talking more
and even trying to walk on
his own and ride his bike,”
expressed Yesenia. “I’m
very happy and appreciate
everything Ms. Rivera has
done to help my son.”
Rivera spearheaded a
collection with the support
of some of her colleagues,
friends and Joshua’s classmates’
parents.
They raised $1,480 that
was presented to Joshua
and Yesenia for Christmas
which they celebrated at
home.
An additional $1,880 was
raised through the efforts
of Rivera and the P.S. 93
community, but has yet to
been distributed.
The additional funds
will be used for Joshua’s
medical treatments.
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MEMBER:
from Page 1
from Page 1
Pre-K teach saves a life; instructor
keenly detects pupil’s brain tumor
Kathryn Rivera (c) presented $1,480 to Joshua’s grandmother Maria Felix (l) and his mother Yesenia
Aponte for Christmas. Photo courtesy of Kathryn Rivera
Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj gets
‘Black Whale Sign’ bill approved
The Black Whale. Schneps Community News Group/ Alex Mitchell
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