Pelham Bay, Bronx

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Pelham Bay

Pelham Bay is a neighborhood in the borough of the Bronx, in New York City. It is probably named for Pelham Bay Park, New York City's largest park which lies on the neighborhood's eastern border. The area covered by this neighborhood was never actually part of the historical Town of Pelham, which consisted of the modern-day town of Pelham in Westchester County as well as the entirety of Pelham Bay Park and City Island. The latter two areas were annexed by the City of New York in 1895. Similarly, the Bronx's Pelham Parkway was never part of Pelham either as it was named as such simply because it leads to Pelham Bay Park (and is actually a contraction of "Bronx and Pelham Parkway", with Bronx Park and Pelham Bay Park being the parks at each end of the parkway.) The neighborhood is part of Bronx Community Board 10.

Though the Bronx (and New York City in general) is known for its political liberalism, these four neighborhoods are the exception to the rule, as their residents tend to politically lean somewhat to the right, much like the central and southern areas of Staten Island. This brand of conservatism found in New York City, however, is not the Christian right conservatism of the American South but more in the mold of politics formerly described as "Rockefeller Republican."

During the 2005 mayoral race, the Fernando Ferrer camp visited Pelham Bay in hopes of finding people on the street who wanted to criticize Ferrer's opponent, incumbent mayor Michael Bloomberg, on camera and be included in a TV ad. However, the only people interested in criticizing the mayor, according to the New York Post, were people coming out of the local bar that morning.

Pelham Bay itself is bounded by Pelham Parkway to the north, the New England Thruway to the east, Waterbury Avenue to the south, and the Hutchinson River Parkway to the west. Pelham Bay still retains a large Italian community.

A variety of stores and eateries line the streets of this neighborhood, including Crosby Avenue, Westchester Avenue, Buhre Avenue and Middletown Road. Pelham Bay Park is the last stop on the 6 train of the New York City Subway system. The neighborhood has two other stops as well, those include the Buhre Avenue and Middletown Road stops on the 6 train.

Pelham Bay was the site of the December 2005 slaying of off-duty police officer, Daniel Enchautegui, by actor Lillo Brancato and an accomplice. The shooting took place on Arnow Place, a small street between Westchester Avenue and the New England Thruway (I-95). In 2006, the street was renamed Daniel Enchautegui Way, in honor of the fallen policeman.^[1]