Showdown in the Seven-Nine

By Lennin Reyes

The Bronx Journal Reporter

In the Bronx’s 79th Assembly District, a freshman legislator will face his first true challenge in November since winning the seat in 2010.

One-term incumbent Eric Stevenson (D-Morrisania) faces a challenge from former male district leader Jose Padilla, a man who defeated the current assemblyman for the district leader position back in 2006. Padilla says he is running because of the lack of progress in the district, even though his East Tremont home was redistricted out of the 79th AD. “This inaction prevents the community from moving forward,” Padilla said. “This November, voters will have a choice,” he said, referring to how Stevenson won the seat unopposed after predecessor Michael Benjamin chose not to seek re-election.

Stevenson, on the other hand, hopes voters will keep his track record in mind. “My platform, my work, my bills, and fight for the community speaks for itself,” he said, in his Morrisania campaign office.

One of the biggest issues in the 79th, which includes the neighborhoods of Morrisania, Melrose, Concourse Village, Claremont, East Tremont and Crotona Park, is the controversial stop-and-frisk practice by police. “Those charged with stop and frisk clog up the caseload, preventing serious cases [like serial murder] from being heard at courts,” said the assemblyman, who favors a reformation of the practice.

Padilla, on the other hand, completely opposes it. “All stop-and-frisk does is fill quotas, not stop someone on reasonable suspicion,” he said. “Officers need to analyze and observe an individual who might be a law-abiding citizen.”

Another plan both men want overhauled is the proposal to implement Select Bus Service on the Bx41 bus, which runs along Webster Avenue between Williamsbridge and the Hub. “Traffic and parking will be a nightmare because, unlike the Bx12 [which mostly runs through a commercial corridor], it runs through a residential area,” Padilla said. “Each block has room to park a good five to ten cars. If parking is removed [in favor of the bus-only lane], where will these cars go?”

Stevenson takes issue with some of the proposed stops for the Bx41 SBS, specifically in the vicinity of East Tremont, as the current limited stop at East 180th Street will move three blocks north to East 183rd Street. “We need to keep both 180th and 183rd,” Stevenson said. “Some folks walk to Webster as it is. It’s going to add four to five blocks more, which would make a big difference, especially in the blistering cold.”

The district also features a high number of charter schools, along with a high number of underachieving public schools. “The mayor talks about how great these schools are, but public schools are failing and are in ruins,” the assemblyman said. “I would consider bringing back the old school boards that were killed years ago.”

Padilla hopes the public schools in the 79th will adopt some of the characteristics of their charter counterparts. “We need public schools to have proactive parent and student participation, along with the discipline and curriculum found there,” Padilla said. “Without this, kids are not getting to specialized high schools.” Padilla adds that he is a graduate of one of them, the now-defunct Music and Art High School.

The district also features one of the highest concentrations of NYCHA properties in the city. While Padilla favors revamping the NYCHA board, Stevenson favors removing one particular member of the board. “I call for the removal of chairman [John] Rhea for not acting on the poor conditions found in NYCHA,” he said. “Plaster’s falling, elevators are getting broken, and many are focused on privatizing NYCHA instead of improving things.”

While district-wide issues take precedence, individual ones also play a pivotal role here, specifically per diem spending while in Albany. The Daily News reports that Assemblyman Stevenson has used the highest amount of per diems — money given to state legislators for items such as food, gasoline, and room and board — with $31,351.

Padilla says that the spending could be better used for district amenities. “I would put part of those per diems for schools and other youth-related activities,” Padilla said. The incumbent, however, says his challenger needs to do the math on everyday travel between the Bronx and Albany. “I pay $80 daily in gas, $20 in tolls, $50 in meals, and at least $70 in clean lodging,” the assemblyman said. “I could be #1 on that list for the next 10 years. But if that’s what it takes to serve the people of my district, I’ll do it.”

Both men only hope for individual victory in this race. But, despite their differences, they share the desire for another election outcome. “I hope people come out to vote for President Barack Obama,” Stevenson said. “Everyone can’t stay home and watch their novelas on [November] the 6th,” Padilla added.