CONCOURSE — The longtime leader of Bronx Community Board 4 announced at Tuesday's board meeting that he will soon step down.
"It’s nothing in the negative," said Jose Rodriguez, who has been district manager of the community board for roughly seven years. "I have total support from our board chair. I have total support from our borough president, and it’s just something that was just time."
Rodriguez stepped into the office at a time when the neighborhood was dealing with controversy over the new Yankee Stadium, and his tenure encompassed several other hot button issues as well.
These included struggles to maintain plant beds and public staircases in the district, as well as an ongoing plan by the city to create a new neighborhood along Jerome Avenue called Cromwell-Jerome that many residents fear could lead to gentrification and displacement.
Rodriguez used his last address before the board as district manager to focus on the city's plans regarding the Jerome Avenue corridor, as he saw them as having the potential to help greatly improve the neighborhood.
"This is a real opportunity to create innovative housing policy that will induce developers to include and protect low-income residents in their plans," he said.
Rodriguez said his last day will likely be sometime in mid-November. He has kept quiet about his plans going forward apart from saying that he will continue to work in The Bronx.
Tom Lucania, director of community boards at the Bronx Borough President's office, will serve as the board's acting district manager until the board votes on a permanent replacement for Rodriguez.
John Howard Algarin, chair of the community board's parks committee, praised Rodriguez as an intelligent leader who would be difficult to replace.
"I think that we’re losing a great resource in the district and a man who is thoroughly dedicated to the constituency he serves," he said.
Rodriguez described himself as a "five [foot] two [inch] Puerto Rican with a questionable temper" during his final address to the board and thanked people for putting up with him during his time in office.
"All of my professional life, I’ve worked not only on behalf of the residents of The Bronx, but I’ve worked on behalf of the folks in the South Bronx," he said.
"So while I may walk around sometimes in a suit ... don’t let it fool you," he said. "I’m a kid from The Bronx, and that's all I can say."
