That’s weak.
Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson is getting a Bronx cheer for abruptly canceling the 54th annual “Bronx Week,” citing budget woes.
In a press release Wednesday, Gibson said her office was shifting its focus away from the long-running annual festival “in response to a significant budget deficit and the broader fiscal challenges facing New York City.”
“This is not the end of Bronx Week; it is a pause,” Gibson insisted, as she apparently referenced the multi-billion-dollar deficit that Mayor Zohran Mamdani has said the city is facing.
But outraged Bronxites slammed Gibson for scraping the festivities — which run through the month of May and promote the borough’s institutions and residents.
Events usually include neighborhood walks, jazz and gospel concerts, food festivals, block parties, health and job fairs, and breakfasts and lunches honoring military veterans and other residents, as well as the Bronx Ball honoring borough hall of fame inductees.
“She canceled Bronx Week? This shows poor leadership,” said the Rev. Ruben Diaz, a former Bronx state senator and city councilman, who heads the Bronx-based Hispanic Clergy Organization.
“This is catastrophic.” Bronx Week is the big activity in the borough,” he said.
Diaz’s son, former Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., promoted Bronx Week when he was in office.
The anticipated event is so popular that the Bronx Tourism Council has a “Countdown to Bronx Week” ticker on its website, ilovethebronx.com
Last year, dozens of sponsors — including Chick-fil-A, Chase, Bally’s, AT&T, Optimum, and DoorDash—participated.
“The sudden and unexpected suspension of Bronx Week hurts deeply for me personally, and it reverberates from block to block throughout our borough for the generations of families who have grown up celebrating this tradition together each year,” local City Council Member Justin Sanchez said in a statement.
One Bronx source familiar with the planning and history of the festival said it was stunning that Gibson canceled it because private funds, not taxpayer dollars, bankrolled the events.
The borough president’s office and the borough economic development corporation solicit funds from the private sector to showcase the events, and therefore it was not a drain on the budget, the insider said.
“It’s shocking,” the source, who requested anonymity, said. “The borough president is supposed to be the cheerleader for the borough and she canceled the largest program showcasing The Bronx.”
“Disappointed people all over the Bronx are texting each other about it.”
The source speculated that Gibson may have staffing issues.
Gibson’s release provided a statement from business leaders that sought to provide her cover for the cancelation, critics said.
“I applaud our Borough President for keeping Bronxites front and center during these challenging times. Her difficult decision reflects a commitment to responsible leadership and being a good steward of the public trust. While Bronx Week is a cherished tradition that celebrates the pride and culture of our borough, we understand the incredible importance of making fiscally responsible decisions,” said Bronx Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Lisa Sorin.
Trey Jenkins, executive director of the 161st Street Business Improvement District, said, “Bronx Week has always been an important moment for our borough to come together and celebrate the culture, businesses, and community spirit that make the Bronx so special. While we will certainly miss the celebration this year, I support Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson’s decision to pause the event in light of the current fiscal climate.”
Gibson, in her statement, said she planned on bringing back Bronx Week in the future.
“During the start of our next chapter, this moment gives us the opportunity to reimagine what Bronx Week can and should look like for the future. We want it to return stronger, more inclusive, more impactful, and reflective of the full spirit and pride of our Borough.”