Norwood News

 

Ramirez Indicted
Hector Ramirez, a cyclical candidate for the 86th Assembly District seat in the West Bronx, can’t seem to catch a break. He lost in the latest race against party favorite, Assemblyman Victor Pichardo, for a second straight time. Now he’s got an indictment on his hands for allegedly trying to rig it.

His alleged infractions in cooking up absentee ballots and electioneering in last year’s September Primary caught up with him after the Bronx District Attorney’s Office nailed him and his campaign manager with a whopping 242-count indictment. Seven counts apparently correspond to one absentee ballot Ramirez is suspected of soliciting.

Of course, the rumor mill busted after many suspected Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, who was the Bronx Democratic County Committee chair at the time, had a hand in sealing Ramirez’s indictment by talking Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson into doing it. Perhaps fueled by a City & State report suggesting that Johnson’s palling around with those he’s supposed to watch over, many critics suggested Johnson lacks the chutzpah to go after the borough’s inner circle of legislators. A spokesperson defended Johnson’s decision (and rightful one) to go after Ramirez, saying the office acted on a tip from the Board of Elections.

“There was no communication with Carl Heastie or anyone who was not involved in the investigation,” said Terry Raskyn, the Bronx DA spokesperson. “Our investigation led to the indictment, which will be reviewed by the Court.”

City & State
City & State published an interesting magazine detailing the highs and lows of the borough (mostly highs), with musings from politicos on how the borough can reach another echelon. The same things were raised–affordable housing and jobs. The talking points were the same, though Councilman Andy King had probably the best one: participation.

“I like to think of the Bronx as a team, and in order for it to be a winning team, the teammates must participate,” wrote King in his submission to City & State, capping it with his signature phrase, “People pay attention to people who participate.”

Sort of refreshing given how few politicians explicitly prefer input from the masses.

Vacca’s Successor
Even though Councilman James Vacca’s 13th Council District seat isn’t vacant until 2017, a list of names has begun to pop up in the two-year quest to succeed the friendly, neighborhood oriented Vacca. One political source ran a number of names, including former Community Board 10 Chairman John Marano (long shot), community activist and former Sen. Jeff Klein, operative John Doyle, and Vacca’s chief of staff Michael Rivadeneyra.

The district is certainly activist heavy, although once you’re in as Council Member, and at least show up to events, your competition is nil. Vacca first ran in 2005 in a somewhat crowded race to replace term-limited Madeline Provenzano, so it’s likely this race will be a repeat in the number of candidates…maybe even more.

(Side Note: We ventured to Wikipedia to get a look at Vacca’s political background–his page is by far the most detailed of the other Bronx Council Delegation. Look it up.) 

Bronx Week
The stars came out for the culmination of Bronx Week, with its gala filled with glad handing, awkward dancing, and some sliver of hope. Above all, the talking point was the same–the Bronx is strong. But once again, there was recurring talk of Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. angling a run for office. This time it came from Pix 11 News and mistress of ceremonies Sukanya Krishnan cryptically saying, “The Bronx is only the beginning.”

Diaz has long deflected any hint he’d seek higher office, making it one of the worst kept secrets. He refocuses his attention, as it has now become apparent, to his grand chess piece–Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie. “While Brooklyn may have the Mayor (Bill de Blasio), we have the Speaker,” said Diaz before a crowd of hundreds.

Doesn’t this put Heastie in a tough spot involving matters with de Blasio? De Blasio has publicly put in a good word for Heastie for months on a variety of topics (funding for NYCHA roof repairs, mayoral control of schools). Should the day of reckoning come, who will Heastie side with?

(Another Side Note: Any good reporter, when attending an event, is always working. The person to whom this is addressed knows to what I’m referring.)

Heroin in the Bronx
As the Norwood News reported months ago in a three-part series, heroin in the Bronx remains a constant, and yet few politicians have responded to this outbreak that’s killed more people in the Bronx than the rest of the four boroughs. It’s undoubtedly ruined thousands of lives.

A tip of the hat to Assemblyman Jeff Dinowitz, however, for introducing a bill that increases access to naloxone, a drug that reverses overdoses. He and Governor Andrew Cuomo are some of the few to go on the record sounding the alarm over the epidemic.

Shouldn’t it set alarms that the biggest heroin bust in the northeast happened in the quietest of places in the Bronx?—an apartment in Fieldston. And it’s not staying in that apartment, but seeping into the homes of someone you know. If that doesn’t raise anyone’s shackles, then this issue will continue happening.  This apathetic look at heroin in the Bronx is arguably one reason why it’s exploded in recent years.