Bloomberg-era DEP Chief to Re-run Agency

By DAVID CRUZ Amid a decade of delays for the Croton Water Filtration Plant project, Mayor Bill de Blasio has re-hired the city Department of Environmental Protection commissioner largely criticized for turning the plant project into the city’s costliest endeavor. Emily Lloyd was once again tapped to run the DEP, replacing outgoing chief Carter Strickland. She was DEP boss from 2005 to 2008 under Mayor Michael Bloomberg, charged with overseeing construction of the plant. But the project gradually spiraled out of control, resulting in federal fines for slow work, federal probes into the project’s mob-connected construction firms, and audits

by David Cruz When Norma Jean Scully peered outside her window on Feb. 20, she quickly grabbed her camera phone. Scully had finally discovered the man boldly dumping an oversized bag of garbage along the sidewalk of East Mosholu Parkway in broad daylight. She let her phone roll. Turns out it was a neighbor, fishing out mounds of refuse from the trunk of his booted car only to plop it inside a steel trashcan belonging to the city Parks Department. He later schlepped back to his apartment building at 375 E. Mosholu Pkwy, a six-story pre-war with plenty of

Sen. Gustavo Rivera to Endorse Espaillat

State Sen. Gustavo Rivera is expected to endorse state Sen. Adriano Espaillat for the 13th Congressional District, adding to a list of electeds piling on the endorsements for Espaillat. After persistent speculation on whether he would run, Espaillat declared his candidacy for the 13th CD this week. The seat is currently held by longtime Congressman Charles Rangel, the 22-term Congressman who defeated Espaillat in a very close race. But his campaign has hit some snags in after City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito announced she’ll back Espaillat. With Rivera in tow, Espaillat is expected to touch base with business owners along

Bronx News Roundup: New Political Club on the Block on Cusp of Election Season

News still abounds in the hot borough of the Bronx as the latest edition of Bronx News Roundup highlights some juicy stories from our Bronx journalism brethren. First up is some intriguing news out from our pal Bob “Kappy” Kappstatter at The Bronx Times Reporter. Kappy reports that Senate Co-Leader Sen. Jeff Klein and Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj have partnered to start a political club that could rival already established clubs within Klein/Gjonaj’s district, which include the Liberty Democratic Association. In Norwood, the Northwest Bronx Liberty Democrats could also be impacted. Gjonaj assured Kappy his district is big enough for groups

Benjamin Franklin Reform Democrats Holds Off on Endorsement of Congressional Candidate

By David Cruz Election 2014 is still in the early stages, and with an unusual year in politics shaping in the Bronx, the Benjamin Franklin Reform Democrats held off on an early endorsement for candidates in the 13th Congressional District held by longtime incumbent, Congressman Charles Rangel. Members voted unanimously to postpone their endorsement during their Feb. 24 gathering shortly after Assemblyman Jeff Dinowitz, whose district falls within the political club, spoke in favor of delaying the vote.

Inquiring Photographer – Thinking About The Snow

With mid-winter upon us, we asked readers how they’ve been coping with the marathon of snowstorms hitting the Bronx this season. For me, I’m an adult and it’s been lousy. I fell down once heading to church. The snow prevents you from going out and moving around and it makes things harder for everybody, but the young kids love it. –Leon Tapia I’ve enjoyed playing in the snow and throwing snowballs at cars and stuff. My school took me on a skiing trip and I went snowboarding, and from that day on,

‘Hair’ it is at Lehman Center

By Justin McCallum The Lehman Center welcomed a special performance of the Tony Award-winning musical, “Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical,” featuring a freshly adapted screenplay for its 2014 tour. “If you’re here for love, sex, drugs and rock and roll then you’re in the right theater,” welcomed Eva Bornstein, executive director of the Lehman Center. Hair, regarded as the emblematic rock musical for the 1960s hippie movement, has showcased the laid-back lifestyle of counter-cultural movement. However, Lehman’s concert hall was abuzz with excitement and some nerves as the audience, actors and director learned the show’s original co-writer James Rado

By DAVID CRUZ The eagle has landed at the Bronx’s biggest business improvement district. Shoppers at the Fordham Road Business Improvement District, where an estimated 80,000 people bypass the corridor daily, recently noticed the soft opening of American Eagle Outfitters. The high-end clothing retail store opened its doors with little fanfare, settling just across the street from another mega-clothing retail store, The GAP. The store is known for its chic graphic-Ts, low-cut jeans and Henley shirts, catering mostly to the age 15 to 25 demographic. The apparel store’s pick of Fordham is fitting, given Fordham University is just blocks away.