Update on 130 families with no gas at 103-105 Hawkstone Street

After nearly a month a half without gas, there was some good news for the tenants of 103-105 Hawkstone. On Friday, they found these posts on the hallway informing them that they gas will be turned on on Tuesday, August 21st.  

I must also thank the Office of the Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. who upon being informed of this situation, immediately placed calls to different agencies to make sure that the situation was fixed as soon as possible.

Kingsbridge Skating Rink Update

FINALLY an update on the Kinsgbridge Armory

By now we all know how this project came to life. Since the very beginning, I stood against this project. I did not agree with our local elected officials who pushed to convert the armory into an ice skating rink. 

We all know that this is not a sports played by those who live in this community. Baseball, basketball, soccer but a skating rink? How many Latinos/African-Americans play hockey? Latinos there are 6: Scott Gomez (Mexican & Colombian), Bill Guerin (Nicaraguan & Irish), Auston Matthews American & Mexican), Al Montoya (Cuban), Max Pacioretty American & Mexican) and Rafi Torres (Mexican & Peruvian). 

As far as I was able to find, there are only 72 African-American hockey players. This is less than 1% of players in the National Hockey League. 

As I knew it would happened, the small businesses along Kingsbridge Road and surrounding area are all either on yearly contracts or in some cases, no contracts at all. These businesses, barbershops, restaurants, hardware store, supermarket are all going to be pushed out as the new development is built. 

Do you think those coming to the new venue are going to eat arroz, habichuela y pollo at one of the local restaurants? Or getting their cut at one of the local barbershops? Or but from the local supermarkets or hardware store? Of course not. We all know it. 

I have many friends and family who live within the Armory and I can tell you that everyone knows that they will need to find where to move because the rents are going up very fast. Those that have businesses already have begun to look for alternative locations to move. This project will definitely change the entire Kingsbridge neighborhood. 

Trust me, I hope to be wrong on this, truly I do. Let's just say that today I'm cautiously optimistic. 

130 Families at 103-105 Hawkstone Street Have No Gas --- who will help?

103-105 Hawkstone Street

Bronx, N.Y. -- A few weeks ago, Mayor Bill deBlasio held an event/press conference in the Bronx, highlighting the Administration's initiative on affordable housing. The streets were closed off as the event was on the corner of Walton Ave and Hawkstone Street. 

Ironically, what the Mayor and his staffers were not aware of was that the residents of 103 and 105 Hawkstone have been without gas since mid-July. The landlord has said that it could take up to six months or longer and for tenants to buy electric stoves. Now imagine a family with 2, 3 or 4 children. How many hours will it take to prepare the food on those electric stoves? 

I have family and friends who live there so I took it upon myself to report it to the Buildings Department via its Twitter page. I also included local elected officials, the Bronx Borough President and Councilman Fernando Cabrera. However, the Buildings Dept were the only ones to reply. Their response was the following: 

Now, we are waiting for a response from NYC HPD and see what they actually do for the 130 families who are living as if we were living in a remote place of a third world country. 

UPDATE (Saturday, August 18, 2018): After nearly a month a half without gas, there was some good news for the tenants of 103-105 Hawkstone. On Friday, they found these posts on the hallway informing them that they gas will be turned on on Tuesday, August 21st.  

I must also thank the Office of the Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. who upon being informed of this situation, immediately placed calls to different agencies to make sure that the situation was fixed as soon as possible.