A fight was going to happen. Somebody brought a gun. Police say this scenario played out to nearly tragic consequences in Norwood two weeks ago, when four young men were shot, two critically, outside of Tracey Towers.

Disagreements among tenant leaders and a management agency bogged down by a constant demand for repairs have caused some Tracey Tower residents to look to the courts for help. The officers of the Tracey Towers Tenant Association gathered signatures on 122 notarized HP (Housing Part) Action forms and sent them to the city’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), prompting building inspections. The forms allow the association to represent tenants, a welcome solution for those unwilling to go to court themselves. “Most people are afraid or don’t have time to go to court,” said Vilasario Rojas, a well-know fixture

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Kids Health Fair Mosholu Montefiore Community Center is sponsoring the Children’s Health Fair 2007 on Sunday, May 20, from noon to 3 p.m. There will be health screenings and education, as well as giveaways, refreshments and entertainment. Admission is free and open to children ages 12 and under when accompanied by an adult. Come rain or shine to the corner of Gun Hill Road, one block east of Jerome Avenue. For more information, call (718) 882-4000 ext. 0. Children’s Safety At MS 80, on Thursday, May 17 from 4 to 9 p.m., the Children’s Collective presents a Community Night Out

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Lessons of Imus
School Policy Threatens Safety
Open Letter to the Community
Tax Would Focus Country on War

Congressman Jose Serrano, a vocal opponent of the U.S. war in Iraq, saw a silver lining in the defeat of a resolution that called for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq. The measure lost 171 to 255 but Serrano said the effort made an important statement nonetheless.

On the surface, this latest incident is like any other violent scenario involving urban minorities. Assailant and victim are collapsed into one impression, the bottom line being: it’s tragic but they were bad kids and had it coming. This is the message we repeatedly get from the 11 o’clock news and the tabloid treatment of these stories.

With a pair of thrashings last Wednesday, the Dewitt Clinton Governor’s baseball and softball teams sent a message to the rest of their New York City competition: we will be a force to be reckoned with come playoff time.

After a nearly two-and-a-half month delay, the Kingsbridge Armory redevelopment project is back on track and the city is moving quickly toward choosing a developer.

Just about three weeks after we featured the grafitti on this building at the corner of Briggs Avenue and East 201st Street as the Mess of the Month, men armed with power washers erased the mess. We thank the property owner and hope the vigilance continues.