Tenant Advocates Criticize Espada Bill, Say Landlords Will Benefit

Espada said his bill would provide relief to rent-stabilized households that make less than $45,000 a year and spend at least a third of their annual income on rent. But many housing advocates say the bill could actually work against tenants and is typical of Espada, who serves as Senate housing chairman but has earned a reputation for being cozy with landlords.

“It does not surprise us that Senator Espada is holding water for the landlords,” said Michael McKee, executive director of Housing Here and Now.

More here.

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EVENTS & ANNOUCEMENTS

Community Board 6 Meeting

Community Board 6’s next monthly meeting is on March 10 and is tentatively scheduled to be held at the Belmont Boulevard Apartments, located at 780 E. 185th St. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. and will include a public hearing on the mayor’s preliminary budget. Contact CB 6 at (718) 579-6990 or brxcb6@optonline.net.

Police Meeting

The 48th Precinct’s Community Council will hold its next meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 23, at 2263 Crotona Avenue at 7 p.m. These meetings, which fall on the last Tuesday of every month, give residents a chance to meet local police officers, ask questions, and air concerns. All are welcome. For more information, call (718) 299-4522.

Free Tax Prep Program

University Neighborhood Housing Program (UNHP) and Ariva will offer FREE Income Tax Preparation Services to low and moderate income residents. Returns are e-filed, which means clients who opt for direct deposit will receive returns in as little as 10 days, without having to pay Rapid Anticipation Loans (RAL), Pay Stub Loan and/or costly tax preparation fees. Service is available for individuals and families whose gross income in 2009 was $56,000 or less. The program is held at Refuge House, 2751 Bainbridge Ave. For times and to schedule an appointment, call (718) 933-2539.

Children’s Program at Botanical Garden

The New York Botanical Garden presents Chocolate and Vanilla Adventures, an educational children’s program which complements the upcoming Orchid Show scheduled to begin on Feb. 27. The kiddy program started earlier this month and runs through April 11 in the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden. Children learn the plant origins of these two sweet treats, as well as participating in hands-on activities and tastings. For more information and schedules, call (718) 817-8700 or visit www.nybg.org.

Art in Westchester Square

The Bronx River Art Center, together with the NYC Department of Transportation, present an abstract wooden art sculpture, the 14-foot-tall Aurora, to be on view for 11 months until June at the center of West Farms Square Plaza located at the base of the West Farms Square/East Tremont Avenue subway station on the corner of East Tremont Avenue and Boston Road, one block away from BRAC which is located at 1087 E. Tremont Ave. For more information, visit www.nyc.gov/urbanart.

Community Meeting to Address Violence in Crotona

The Mary Mitchell Center will host a meeting to address violence in Crotona on Saturday, March 6 from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The center is located at 2007 Mapes Ave., at the corner of 178th Street. A healthy lunch will be provided at the end of the meeting for those who want to stay. RSVP to Meredith Bethune at (718) 583-1765 or mmbethune@gmail.com.

Annual Benefit

The Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition will hold its annual benefit and tribute to founder Anne Devenney on Thursday, March 18 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at the McGinley Ballroom on the Rose Hill Campus of Fordham University, 441 E. Fordham Rd. Individual tickets are $125, member tickets are $65 and low-income member tickets cost $35. Please RSVP by March 6 to Lenina Nadal at (718) 584-0515, ext. 214 or benefit@northwestbronx.org.