Results tagged “adolfocarrion”

Bronx prosecutors are investigating a renovation project at the home of former Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion Jr. after the Daily News revealed he approved a big city project designed by the same architect. Carrion, now White House urban policy director, admitted to the News that he didn't pay architect Hugo Subotovsky for designing a porch and balcony on his City Island home, claiming that he's waiting for Subotovsky to complete a final survey of the long-completed project (Carrion told the Times it was his fault he hadn't requested the survey). The White House said they expected the survey would be done soon and that the bill—$3,627.50 for 51 hours of work—would be paid shortly. The project Subotovsky was involved with was Boricua Village, "one of the largest and most ambitious development initiatives in the South Bronx." The Times points out, "Mr. Carrión’s support of the zoning change for the housing project was not vital — borough presidents offer only advisory opinions and cannot kill proposals. But officials further down the review process, including the City Planning Commission and the City Council, take into account the views of borough presidents in making their decisions."

As former Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion leaves his old borough behind and begins his new post as director of the White House Office on Urban Policy, some controversy brews at his old office. The Daily News reported that he "pocketed thousands of dollars in campaign cash from city developers whose projects he approved or funded with taxpayers' money." While other pols such as former Bronx BP Fernando Ferrer and State Senator Israel Ruiz have defended him, neither Carrion nor anyone else in the Obama administration responded to the allegations. His most vocal critic city planner Richard Lipsky told the News, "Carrion's acted in such a perverse manner to really go out of his way to thwart community and small-business concern." A Times profile summarized his administration by saying, "The results of many of his initiatives and commissions are mixed, with some achieving their goals, some still in the planning stages and others fading away."

While much of the attention is still focused on Hillary Clinton and the increasing possibility that she will become the next secretary of state, another local politician has entered the fold as a potential cabinet member in the upcoming Obama administration. Sources say Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion Jr. is being considered for secretary of housing and urban development. Carrion's name had also been one of many thrown around as a possible senate replacement if Clinton chooses to leave her seat. As of right now, his political horizon is focused on the race for City Controller, which he decided to run for before Mayor Bloomberg and the City Council extended the term limits law that would have forced him out as borough president next year. And when not focused on his political future, Carrion is taking some time to welcome in the latest celebrity baby named after his home borough.

Upon hearing that Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz named their baby "Bronx" (Bronx Mowgli Wentz, to be exact), we asked Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrión, Jr. what he thought. He told us: “It’s great to hear that Pete Wentz and Ashlee Simpson named their son after such a great place. I hope baby Bronx gets the opportunity to see what a beautiful and eclectic borough he was named after.” But just what are the chances of these three taking a family trip to the borough? At the very least, the MTA really should start making onesies so they can make him look all legit.

Back in 2006, an agreement signed the day construction started for the new Yankee Stadium promised the team would pay $1.2 million a year in cash and in kind to a fund benefiting Bronx residents for 40 years. It was a gesture to make up for the inconvenience during construction and loss of parkland the new stadium was costing the neighborhood. After a year and half, none of the money has been distributed - and it's unclear who will be distributing it, if ever.