Senate Resolution No. 1680
BY: Senator FERNANDEZ
COMMEMORATING the Inaugural Bronx Day on March 10,
2026
WHEREAS, It is the intent of this Legislative Body to commemorate
events of historical significance, most notably during important moments
such as the 400th Anniversary of the founding of New York City and the
250th Anniversary of the United States, that enrich the cultural
diversity, heritage, and quality of life within the communities of the
State of New York, and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commemorate the Inaugural Bronx Day on March 10, 2026; and
WHEREAS, On March 10, 2026, the best of the Borough of the Bronx
will be on display at the Capitol in Albany, New York; this event will
put the spotlight on the Bronx and include an evening reception
featuring foods and beverages as well as a display of some of the
favorite dining establishments in the Bronx; and
WHEREAS, The Borough of the Bronx derives its name from the Bronx
River-New York City's only freshwater river-named for Jonas Bronck, a
17th-century Swedish merchant associated with the Dutch West India
Company; and
WHEREAS, Long before European colonization, the Bronx was part of
Lenapehoking, the ancestral homeland of the Lenape people, encompassing
what is now known as the metropolitan Tri-State area; and
WHEREAS, The Bronx was the site of significant engagements during
the American Revolution, helping to shape the emerging nation; this
legacy is preserved at historic locations including Van Cortlandt Park
and Mansion, the Morris family burial crypt at St. Ann's Church, and the
Stockbridge-Mohican Memorial; and
WHEREAS, The Bronx bears the history of African enslavement and, as
New York City's only mainland borough, also served as a corridor to
freedom, with documented Underground Railroad routes along present-day
Third Avenue, Boston Road, and the Bronx River; and
WHEREAS, The area now known as the Bronx was formerly part of New
York County until achieving independent county status in 1914, becoming
the 62nd and most recent county established in New York State; and
WHEREAS, The official seal of the Bronx, featuring an eagle atop a
globe above a shield depicting a rising sun over a calm sea and bearing
the Latin motto "Ne Cede Malis" ("Yield Not to Evil"), is derived from
the Bronck family crest; and
WHEREAS, The Bronx's development has been shaped by generations of
immigrants-both forced and voluntary-including enslaved Africans who
labored on its early roads, Irish immigrants who constructed the Croton
Aqueduct and High Bridge, Italian immigrants who built the Jerome Park
Reservoir, the New York Botanical Garden, and the Bronx Zoo, and the
many diverse communities who continue to contribute to the borough's
civic, cultural, and economic life; and
WHEREAS, The Bronx is home to renowned landmarks including Yankee
Stadium, the Bronx Zoo, the New York Botanical Garden, Pelham Bay Park,
Van Cortlandt Park, the Edgar Allan Poe Cottage, and the High Bridge;
and
WHEREAS, The Bronx is internationally recognized as the birthplace
of hip-hop, a cultural movement that emerged in the 1970s and has become
a global force in music, art, fashion, and social expression; and
WHEREAS, The Bronx serves as a center of education and culture, with
institutions such as Fordham University, CUNY Lehman College, and Monroe
College awarding thousands of degrees annually, and cultural
institutions including the Bronx Museum of the Arts and the Hostos
Center for the Arts & Culture enriching community life; and
WHEREAS, With a population approaching 1.4 million residents, the
Bronx is one of the nation's most diverse urban communities, shaped by
deep African American, Caribbean, Latino, and immigrant histories; and
WHEREAS, The Bronx supports a diverse economy employing
approximately 575,000 individuals, with health care and social
assistance, retail trade, and educational services representing leading
employment sectors; and
WHEREAS, The Bronx is home to several long-standing institutions and
employers that have shaped the Borough's economy for generations,
including Montefiore Health System, NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi,
BronxCare Health System, and Yankee Stadium, which together provide
thousands of jobs and serve as economic anchors for the community; and
WHEREAS, Public transportation is integral to daily life in the
Bronx, where a majority of workers rely on buses, subways, and regional
transit systems; and
WHEREAS, The Borough of the Bronx stands as a testament to
resilience, cultural vitality, historic significance, and enduring
community spirit, and continues to shape the identity and future of the
State of New York through its contributions in art, education, commerce,
public service, and civic leadership; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the Inaugural Bronx Day on March 10, 2026; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the Office of the Bronx Borough President and the Bronx
Chamber of Commerce.
