First New Yorker back on Broadway | Manhattan Times
Story and photos by Robin Elisabeth Kilmer Four score and three hundred and twenty years ago, a man came to this country and settled on the northern tip of Manhattan. Only it wasn’t a country yet, or even a city. What is notable, however, is the fact that his 1613 arrival makes Juan Rodríguez the [...]
In Washington Heights, 4 Mayoral Candidates Woo Hispanics | NY Times
By KATE TAYLOR Bill de Blasio, the public advocate, ventured a few sentences of Spanish. Christine C. Quinn, the City Council speaker, called on Congress to pass immigration legislation. William C. Thompson Jr., a former comptroller, reminded the audience that his grandparents immigrated from the Caribbean. Adolfo Carrión Jr., a former Bronx borough president, simply [...]
UPinion: No Taxation Without Representation for NYC’s Immigrants
New York City has always been, and always will be, a city of immigrants. As our city brims with anticipation for the passing of the Comprehensive Immigration Reform bill currently before the U.S. Senate, millions are mobilizing to voice their thoughts on this crucial piece of legislation. This spurring of civic-engagement models what we expect [...]
Honors set for Juan Rodriguez, who became the first non-native immigrant to New York City when he arrived from what is now the Dominican Republic in 1613 | NY Daily News
Upper Manhattan sets series of events to turn May 15 into ‘a carnival, a festival, and a celebration of a man who came here many, many years ago, and gave the Dominicans a claim on this great city at the very beginning of its history’. By Douglas Feiden / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Juan Rodriguez [...]
Ydanis Speaks – The 2013 State of Northern Manhattan Address: The Future of Northern Manhattan
What follows is the full 2013 State of Northern Manhattan Address by Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez. Good Afternoon, how are we doing today? A big thank you to our Borough President Scott Stringer Rt that great introduction! Before we begin, I would like to ask everyone to please stand for a moment of silence for the [...]
The man with the 30-year plan | Manhattan Times
But first, re-election for Councilmember Ydanis Rodríguez Story and videos by Sherry Mazzocchi This coming Sun., Apr. 21st, Councilmember Ydanis Rodríguez will give a State of Northern Manhattan address at 2:30 pm at Yeshiva University. The Manhattan Times spoke to Rodríguez ahead of the event. Councilmember Rodríguez said education, economic development and housing are the [...]
Washington Heights Artist Weaves a Welcome to Mexico With New Exhibit | DNAinfo
By Nigel Chiwaya, DNAinfo Reporter/Producer WASHINGTON HEIGHTS — A new exhibit at the office of City Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez showcases two decades of artwork from a Washington Heights professor and activist. Hecho En Mexico, which opened on Thursday, showcases 16 woven works by Elizabeth Starcevic, a former professor at City College of New York. The [...]
Taxi and Limousine Commission should not implement e-hail program without City Council approval | NY Daily News
By Ydanis Rodriguez / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS For a year and a half, I drove Livery cab #112 for Bailey Car Service in my home neighborhood of Washington Heights. I did so at a time when I was new to this country, its culture and its people. But through this work, I managed to [...]
Junot Diaz Spreads A Little Literary Love Uptown
BY Led Black (@Led_Black) Pulitzer Prize winning Author, Junot Diaz, was in the neighborhood yesterday to spread a little literary love. Junot Diaz teamed up with the office of Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez and Dr. Eduardo Pignanelli of the Amsterdam Medical Practice for the book signing and giveaway of 200 copies of his work. The [...]
City Breaks Ground on $61 Million High Bridge Renovation | DNAinfo
By Nigel Chiwaya, DNAinfo Reporter/Producer HIGHBRIDGE — Manhattan and The Bronx will soon be closer than ever. Renovations started Friday to repair the High Bridge, which connects Washington Heights to The Bronx but has been shuttered for decades. Mayor Michael Bloomberg joined other city officials in front of a packed crowd of students at Highbridge [...]
Gabriela Rosa Sworn in as Uptown Assemblywoman | DNAinfo
By Nigel Chiwaya, DNAinfo Reporter/Producer WASHINGTON HEIGHTS — Gabriela Rosa was sworn into the state legislature Sunday, becoming the first Dominican-American member of the Assembly — and uptown’s first female Assembly rep. Flanked by her mother Leonor Garcia, her husband Victor Estrella and her son Victor Gabriel, the Democrat took the oath of office to [...]
Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School now has room for students to excel | NY Daily News
By Michael J. Feeney / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS College planning has always been the main focus at this Washington Heights high school, but for years the students had no place to do it. In the past, students at Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School were forced to meet their college counselors in the corridors. Other [...]
Ydanis Speaks: Parents Are the Cornerstones of a Child’s Education
If you are a parent with a child in a district 6 elementary or middle school, you are likely already aware of the recent conversation around eliminating zones for schools so that children are no longer guaranteed slots in their local school. Needless to say, this proposal created an uproar from parents, some for and [...]
Ydanis Speaks: To help our city after Hurricane Sandy, support small and local businesses
Hello everyone, I apologize for the long time it has been since I last posted; we at city government have had a great deal on our plates with the Hurricane Sandy and all that has followed in the way of recovery. I know that this devastating storm only brought minimal damage to northern Manhattan but [...]
Dyckman Street Feels Pinch From Growth | WSJ
By KAYA LATERMAN With few dining and night-life options, residents of Inwood have long wished for new eating and drinking establishments to open up in their neighborhood. Their wish is starting to come true, bringing some headaches in the process. Although headlines about the northern tip of Manhattan used to be most often about motorcycle [...]
Ydanis Speaks: Why Your Vote Matters
Many of you may have seen a similar post on my Facebook page last Friday, this is an updated and revised post with several additions, please enjoy and engage in conversation… Recently, I had the honor of speaking at the College of Staten Island to students and faculty that take part in the Black Male [...]
CUNY in the Heights Has A State of the Art New Home
This past Saturday, NYC Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez, NYS Senator Adriano Espaillat, NYS Assembly Woman Elect Gabriela Rosa and CUNY celebrated the opening of the brand new, state of the art building, set to house the CUNY in the Heights program. This program is a resource for students looking to continue their education, acquire professional [...]
Washington Heights Childcare Center to shutter, barring late lifeline | NY Daily News
Sept. 28 closure, which would leave 75 pre-schoolers without daycare; Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez, state Sen. Adriano Espillat are pulled in to find a fix By Douglas Feiden / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS The Washington Heights Childcare Center was fighting for its life on Thursday night. The popular daycare center on W. 175th St. could [...]
Ydanis Speaks: The Importance of Diversity in Higher Education Leadership
Hola mi gente! I hope you all enjoyed the first post of my new blog, Ydanis Speaks, and got to know a little bit about me. If you would like to get in contact with me feel free to friend me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter or contact my office. I am always open [...]
Introducing Ydanis Speaks: The Inaugural Column From Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez
Hello Uptown Collective, My name is Ydanis Rodriguez and I am the New York City Council Member representing Washington Heights, Inwood and Marble Hill. This is the first entry of my new blog on Uptown Collective and I’d like to thank Led Black for giving me the opportunity to use this space to discuss issues [...]
Mujeres al Desnudo (Naked) Comes To NYC
Thursday, September 13 @ 8PM (Spanish) Friday, September 14 @ 8PM (English) Saturday, September 15 @ 8PM (Spanish) Sunday, September 16 @ 5PM (Spanish – Followed by a panel on the topic of domestic violence) Aaron Davis Hall, Theater B City College of New York Campus 160 Convent Avenue (between 135th and 137th) Award-winning writer [...]
Espaillat Says Race With Rangel Too Close to Call, May Ask for A Do-Over | DNAinfo
By Jill Colvin, DNAinfo Reporter/Producer NEW YORK STATE SUPREME COURT — State Sen. Adriano Espaillat all but revoked his concession to Rep. Charlie Rangel Monday, saying his contentious race to unseat the long-time Congressman is now too close to call. Hours later, his lawyers opened the door to a possible do-over primary if evidence of [...]
Espaillat Will Beat Rangel Once All Votes Are Counted, Councilman Says | DNAinfo
By Jill Colvin, DNAinfo Reporter/Producer HARLEM — Could it be another Bush v. Gore? Thousands of votes for State Sen. Adriano Espaillat have yet to be counted in his bid to unseat longtime Rep. Charlie Rangel, according to Upper Manhattan City Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez, who said that once they are counted, Espaillat will emerge the [...]
Uptown Politics: Q&A With Clyde Williams
BY Dominican Pie (@DominicanPie) Today is June 26, 2012 and the day for the Democratic Primary for the Congressional race of the newly formed 13th District, which stretches from El Barrio to West Harlem, to Washington Heights, Inwood, and the northwest Bronx. The race has been a heated one, with every candidate dedicating a lot [...]
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