Don Mattingly Returns to Yankee Stadium

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, JUNE 19- Former Yankee icon Don Mattingly returned to Yankee Stadium on June 18, as skipper of the L.A. Dodgers. Although the Yankees and Dodgers had met for a MLB record 11 times in World Series play Tuesday’s scheduled game was the first time the two teams were to meet in a regular season contest at the legendary ballpark in the Bronx.

The beleaguered manager, whose club is in last place in the National League West, spoke of his current situation, “It’s not fun. It’s not something you want to go through.”

The manager, subject of many rumors that he will soon be fired, talked of his desire to continue in his present position, “I want to do a great job for this organization. I like where I’m at.” He also expressed his desire to keep managing regardless of what the future holds, “Honestly, I feel I can manage anywhere. I like the challenge.”

On a more upbeat note, Mattingly discussed his great, young players, Yasiel Puig, Hyun-Jin Ryu and Clayton Kershw, “That’s like looking into the future.”

The Dodger field chieftain remarked upon his 2008 opportunity to manage the team in the Bronx that he had played on for 14 seasons and coached for an additional four years, “I felt like it [not obtaining the managerial position] was a blessing. It would have been really hard to do the job [with the family problems]. It brought me to L.A. [as a coach with Joe Torre]. The experience was really great to me.”

In his lengthy talk with reporters, Mattingly reminisced about his debut at Yankee Stadium, “My fondest memory was the first day I was called up.”

His relationship began several years before that day in 1982. Mattingly was drafted in the 19^th round of the 1979 MLB First Year Player Draft. After nearly three years in the minors, he was called up in late 1982. The first sacker played outstandingly for 14 seasons in pinstripes until he retired because of back problems after the 1995 season.

During his career, the small-town, soft spoken man with a laid back personality became a special fan favorite. That circumstance is still something Mattingly doesn’t fully grasp, “I don’t quite understand the relationship. I only just played and they [the fans] seemed to appreciate it,”

Mattingly and the fans were disappointed that the long-awaited contest was postponed by rain. The two games will be played in a day/night doubleheader on Wednesday at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Faithful Flock to Feast

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Faithful Flock to Feast: Photos by Gary Quintal The faithful came out on Father’s Day to celebrate the procession during the Feast of St. Anthony. Believers walked ...

Faithful Flock to Feast

Photos by Gary Quintal

The faithful came out on Father’s Day to celebrate the procession during the Feast of St. Anthony. Believers walked the parade route of Arthur Avenue.

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Slow Down Near Schools

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Slow Down Near Schools: Pol Sets up Speed Cameras BRONX, NEW YORK, JUNE 17- Senator Jeff Klein joined New York City Department of Transportation Commissio...

Slow Down Near Schools

Pol Sets up Speed Cameras

BRONX, NEW YORK, JUNE 17- Senator Jeff Klein joined New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan and PS 81 parents to release new statistics demonstrating a pattern of dangerous speeding near PS 81, an elementary school in Riverdale. 

To combat the danger posed by this consistent speeding, Senator Klein has introduced legislation in the Senate that would authorize the use of speed cameras in New York City school zones where dangerous speeding is most prevalent. The legislation, S.4459A/A.4327A, is being considered in both the Assembly and the Senate in the final weeks of this year’s legislative session.

Senate Majority Coalition Leader Jeff Klein said, "The results are clear: speeding on Riverdale Avenue is a real threat to the safety of students, teachers and members of the Riverdale community. But that doesn’t need to continue. Research shows that when people know they might be caught, they slow down. That’s critically important in school zones, where even five miles per hour can make the difference between life and death for a child. I’m pleased to stand here with Commissioner Sadik-Khan today so that we can encourage my legislative colleagues to approve the use of these speed cameras right away.”

“There is no passing grade for people speeding near our schools and putting our children’s lives in danger,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan. “We need to bring the rampant speeding that occurs near our schools every day to a screeching halt, and I join Senator Klein and call on his colleagues in Albany to move full speed ahead on this life-saving legislation."

New York City’s Department of Transportation released a traffic safety report in March, detailing speeding rates in school zones across New York City. Results indicated that PS 81 in Riverdale experienced the most speeding in the Bronx with 96 percent of vehicles driving above the speed limit. With this information, Senator Klein commissioned follow-up testing at PS 81.

PS 81 PA Co-President, Amy Moore, said, “I am thankful to Senator Klein for bringing attention to speeding around our school – an issue of deep concern to many of the parents here. The statistics are shocking. On any given day, more than 50 percent of vehicles passing our school are moving at very dangerous speeds. Anything that we can do to reduce car speeds around our schools – where children are frequently coming and going – must be considered, and I applaud Senator Klein for bringing this concern to our community and to Albany."

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Breaking Ground on New Mall

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Breaking Ground on New Mall: BRONX, NEW YORK, JUNE 17- New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. announced...

Breaking Ground on New Mall

BRONX, NEW YORK, JUNE 17- New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. announced the groundbreaking of the 133,000 square foot retail development at Broadway Plaza in the Bronx, which will activate an approximately 80,000 square foot site located along the Broadway retail corridor.  The developer, Equity One, plans to invest approximately $54 million to construct the two-story, multi-tenant retail development and approximately 130 covered parking spaces that will make up the site, which is located on 230th Street between Broadway and the Major Deegan Expressway.  The project is expected to create over 250 new full and part-time jobs and approximately 500 construction jobs.

“Broadway Plaza will add hundreds of jobs to the Riverdale/Kingsbridge community and provide this neighborhood with newer and even more retail options,” said NYCEDC COO Zachary Smith. “This development will help ensure that the Broadway corridor here in the Bronx will continue to thrive into the future.”

"This project will serve as a major new hub of activity for the entire Kingsbridge community, bringing new traffic -- and new customers -- to this important commercial district," said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. "I am pleased that, after so many years of inactivity, this site is well on its way to fulfilling its promise as a generator of commerce and customers for the northwest Bronx."

“We are thrilled to be under construction on our Broadway Plaza project,” said Equity One CEO Jeffrey Olson.  “When it is completed, it will be a wonderful addition to this community both as a generator for economic development and as a shopping destination and amenity for the residents.  We are so appreciative of the efforts of all of the elected officials and the New York City Economic Development Corporation, who helped to make this project a reality.”

Equity One is currently in the process of leasing the development and is in negotiations with several prominent national retailers. The developer purchased the site from the City in June 2012 and expects the center to open in the fall of 2014.  Equity One was selected to redevelop the site based on its response to a Request for Proposals issued in August 2011.  The development intends to be LEED certified.

“This development is further proof that the Bronx, and especially the Northwest Bronx, is back and better than ever," said Congressman Eliot Engel. "The construction will bring immediate jobs, and when completed, the stores will bring more jobs and an economic blooming. We are lighting up the neighborhood and now everyone will see that the Northwest Bronx has more to offer.”

"This groundbreaking is the culmination of years of hard work by many people," said Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz. "I first started advocating for the construction of a shopping mall at this site back in 2001 and have worked since then to make this dream a reality. Broadway Plaza will not only bring hundreds of new jobs to our community, it will also be a key component of the continuing revitalization of the Broadway corridor running from West 225th Street to West 238th Street. This revitalization not only benefits the Kingsbridge and Marble Hill communities, but all of the surrounding neighborhoods and the entire Bronx. I prefer shopping in the Bronx instead of going to Westchester or Manhattan. The new stores at Broadway Plaza will keep more shoppers right here in the Bronx. It's a great day for the Bronx."

“The Broadway Plaza will give a major boost to the 231st Street shopping area," said Council Member Oliver Koppell.  "I have been working for over 10 years to see this development realized. Today is a great day for Kingsbridge.”

"Community Board 8 is proud to have played a role in making this exciting retail complex a reality,” said Robert Fanuzzi, Chair of Community Board 8. “Equity One is already a part of our community, and we look forward to working with them to bring great stores and local jobs to our area."

In addition to creating hundreds of new permanent construction jobs, as part of its development, Equity One has committed to use New York City Economic Development Corporation’s HireNYC program to create a targeted local hiring plan to fill the jobs generated by the project. HireNYC is a free City program that connects the City's workforce development services to economic development projects.

Equity One is making significant efforts to ensure that both minority and women owned firms, as well as Bronx-based firms, are part of the construction team. They also plan to work with tenants to facilitate the hiring of Bronx residents for the permanent jobs that the project will create, ensuring that the development will provide the area with an economic boost that will assist residents and attract visitors.