Gun license costs to be lowered as train fares go up?

Say what? The city is actually considering lowering gun license renewals fees. Yet, residents are being asked to pay more to ride trains or drive their own cars. The City Council must reject this bill. Bronx Latin agrees with Bronx BP Ruben Diaz Jr. on this one.

Here's a statement from the Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr:

“The proposal to lower the cost of a gun license renewal goes against everything we are doing in the Bronx. It is particularly odd that, in a time of fiscal crisis, we would seek to lower the cost of a gun license, especially when we ask City residents to pay more for so many other services—from the rising costs of fees at the Business Integrity Commission to the ever present MTA fare hikes that affect all New Yorkers. Gun violence is a public health issue, and this administration should treat it the same way it treats other public health issues: fighting fiercely for what it believes and offering no quarter to its critics. It should be harder to license a firearm, not easier, and I urge the members of the City Council to strongly reject this bill.”

NO to lowering the gun license costs. You want a gun, pay for it just like New Yorkers will soon have to pay more to ride the trains and drive our cars in the city.

Welcome to the Village of Melrose: A Call to End LGBT Bigotry and Hate Crimes in the Bronx

Here's a commentary by Melrose blogger Ed Garcia Conde on the rally this evening on the steps of the Bronx County building on the Grand Concourse.

Welcome to the Village of Melrose: A Call to End LGBT Bigotry and Hate Crimes in the Bronx

For more information about the rally, go to
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=121372271252505&ref=mf

The 15th annual Tour De Bronx is Oct. 24th

15th Annual Tour De Bronx is Sunday morning, October 24 (Rain date October 25). This year there is only one starting location: The Grand Concourse & E. 161 Street.

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and Transportation Alternatives, together with Montefiore Medical Center, St. Barnabas Hospital and Bronx Lebanon Hospital, invite all the residents to be part of New York State’s largest free cycling event

Over 6,000 riders from throughout the TRI-STATE area will cover over 65-miles of Bronx historic landmarks, waterfronts, new developments, new bike paths, greenways, parks and beaches, and will even ride through a portion of the Sheridan Expressway which is exclusively closed for this ride.


Cyclists will ride a 25-mile or 40-mile route. Both routes include attractions like St. Ann’s, the borough’s oldest church once owned by the Morris family, Yankee Stadium, the historic Longwood section celebrated for its stately Victorian-era townhouses and various other Bronx attractions. Following the ride, cyclists are invited to the Tour de Bronx Festival at Botanical Gardens featuring live entertainment and refreshments.


The registration deadline is: Thursday, October 21st.

For more information, call 718.590.3518 or visit www.tourdebronx.org.

source: Bronx BP's office

Celebrating Latino & African-American Dads

Guest blogger Kelly Starling Lyons visits the Bronx as part of her "Million Men March and Me" virtual tour. Bronx Latino is one of Kelly's stops on her virtual tour across the country.
Kelly is on her blog tour in celebration of the Million Man March's 15th anniversary and her children's book "One Million Men and Me."
For Bronx Latino, Kelly focuses on picture books she recommends on the important role of Latino and African-American dads. As a community service, Kelly's recommendations have been added to the Bronx Latino aStore. Click on the product links if you want more information on any of the books mentioned. The links will take you to the Bronx Latino aStore. Shopping at the Bronx Latino aStore is a way of supporting this blog as well as supporting authors. Enjoy Kelly's blog entry.



By Kelly Starling Lyons

I wrote my picture book, One Million Men and Me, to celebrate the Million Man March and a special relationship between an African-American father and daughter. I love stories that salute multicultural and family connections. It’s so important for all kids to see themselves and their lives reflected in books.

We don’t have to wait until Father’s Day to read stories about the important role Latino and African-American fathers and father-figures play. They are heroes, comforters, teachers, friends. And they’re all around us. From the playground to the barbershop, from the kitchen to the workplace, the journeys they take kids on inspire them in so many ways.

Let’s celebrate their special contributions every day by sharing picture books like these:

Latino Fathers and Father-Figures:

Baseball on Mars/Béisbol en Marte (Arte Publico Press), a wonderful Bronx-set story about a boy who helps his father rediscover the magic of imagination, by Rafael Rivera Jr. and Tim Hoppey, illustrated by Christina Rodriguez.




Papá and Me (Harper Collins/Rayo), a lovely tale of a day in the life of a father and son, by Arthur Dorros, illustrated by Rudy Gutierrez.




Goodnight, Papito Dios/Buenas noches, Papito Dios (Pinata Books), a tender story of a father soothing his son by carrying on a family tradition of singing a special lullaby, by Victor Villasenor, illustrated by Jose Ramirez.



My Tata’s Guitar/La guitarra de mi tata (Pinata Books), a musical celebration of a grandfather sharing his guitar and memories with his grandson, by Ethriam Cash Brammer, illustrated by Daniel Lechόn.




African-American Fathers and Father-Figures:
 
Daddy Goes to Work (Little, Brown Young Readers), a sweet tale of a girl accompanying her father to his job and getting a peek at his working world, written by Jabari Asim, illustrated by Aaron Boyd.



 
Bippity Bop Barbershop (Little, Brown Young Readers), a touching trip with a boy who braves his first haircut by having his daddy at his side, written by Natasha Tarpley, illustrated by E.B. Lewis.



 
In Daddy's Arms I Am Tall (Lee & Low), a collection of poems saluting black fathers, by Javaka Steptoe. In this moving volume, rising and renowned children’s book authors such as Carole Boston Weatherford and Angela Johnson share the many ways fathers touch our lives.


  
My Pop Pop and Me (Little, Brown Young Readers), a fun story about a boy making lemon cake with his grand-dad, written by Irene Smalls, illustrated by Cathy Ann Johnson.



To follow Kelly's virtual "Million Men March and Me" tour, visit her blog at http://kuumba.wordpress.com/

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Thanks.