[URIS id=20221]
In his third State of the City address, that once again captured the tenor of inequality, Mayor Bill de Blasio offered a synopsis of citywide initiatives while unveiling a short list of goals specific to the Norwood and Mott Haven sections of the Bronx.
Presenting his evening address at Lehman Center for the Performing Arts in the Bronx, the first for de Blasio, Mr. de Blasio summarized policies that he points have raised quality of life for New Yorkers, particularly the city’s downtrodden. Without the help of a teleprompter, Mr. de Blasio’s speech seemed to be refresher on accomplishments his administration achieved. More cops. Reduced crime. Pre-K expansion. More affordable housing.
His list of goals aligned with an overall vision of better equality, though Mr. de Blasio placed a heavier emphasis on outer boroughs. A check by the Norwood News showed the Bronx was mentioned by name seven times, Brooklyn with nine, Queens with eight, Staten Island with six, and Manhattan with five.
In Norwood, the Graffiti-Free NYC will widen its services along the Jerome-Gun Hill Business Improvement District, an L-shaped commercial corridor that’s home to some 200 businesses, offering power washing services aimed to wipe out gunk from sidewalks, along with private and public structures.
Of the more ambitious projects for the Bronx was expanded healthcare to poverty-stricken New Yorkers in the Mott Haven section of the Bronx. There, Mr. de Blasio announced a new health clinic that would make it easier for Bronx residents “to walk into their new community clinic in Mott Haven to see a doctor, a dentist, or a mental health professional.”
“All patients there, and at all our other healthcare facilities, will get high-quality care regardless of immigration status or ability to pay,” said Mr. de Blasio, in prepared remarks.
But specific projects for the Bronx stopped there.
“I don’t discount the Mayor’s efforts and how it’s impacting the city. But, I be honest, no, I can’t describe his ideas for the Bronx as groundbreaking,” said Assemblyman Marcos Crespo, who doubles as the Bronx Democratic County Committee chair. “His administration has been instrumental in some good things, but I can’t say I was blown away by the two Bronx mentions.”
If one were to put an emphasis on dollar amounts, his most expensive project would happen along the shoreline of Brooklyn and Queens. There, a $2.5 billion project would create the Brooklyn Queens Connector, a tramway system that would run along the East River in the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens.
For Far Rockaway, Queens the Mayor talked of a $91 million facelift project for the peninsula’s downtown section, which includes its library.
The timing of Mr. de Blasio’s speech happened as two housing cops patrolling Melrose Houses in Mott Haven were shot, forcing Mr. de Blasio to forego obligatory handshakes as he rushed out the Lehman Center building.
“This puts into context, I think, that we still have a lot of work to do,” said Crespo.