Mayor Eric Adams Designates Juneteenth a Paid New York City Holiday

By SÍLE MOLONEY

New York City Mayor Eric Adams released the following statement on Monday, April 11, after officially designating Juneteenth a paid city holiday for the first time in New York City history. The mayor, who announced he had contracted COVID-19 on Sunday, April 10, said, “As the second Black mayor of New York City, I know that I stand on the shoulders of countless heroes and sheroes who put their lives on the line to secure a more perfect union. Now is the time for me to do a small part and recognize one of our nation’s greatest wrongs.”

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Building applications have been filed with New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) for a new, six-story, mixed-use building located at 3831 Carpenter Avenue in the Williamsbridge section of The Bronx, as reported by YIMBY. Located between East 220th and East 221st Streets, the lot is one block from the 219th Street subway station, serviced by the 2 and 5 trains. Alban Haxhari of KGCJ Development Corp. is listed as the owner behind the applications. The proposed 56-foot-tall development will yield 17,776 square feet, with 17,560 square feet designated for residential space and 216 square feet for community

By DAVID GREENE

Despite the frigid temperatures, a host of City, State and congressional elected officials showed up for a 3-hour inauguration ceremony for Pierina Sanchez as she was officially sworn in as the duly elected city councilwoman for the 14th City Council District, her first term in office. The ceremony was held outside the North Hall and Library of Bronx Community College, located at 200 Hall of Fame Terrace in the University Heights section of The Bronx on Sunday, March 20. The event had been postponed due to the college having been shut because of COVID-19. However, when it finally came

By JULIAN NAZAR

Editor’s Note: The following is an updated version of the story that appears in our latest print edition. Bronx Buccaneers presented their case for getting kids more involved in sport during the March meeting of Bronx Community Board 7 (CB7) Education, Youth & Libraries committee. The local sports group are of the view that sports ultimately help students advance along their educational path and do all they can to support kids on that journey. Keith Spivey Jr., president of the Bronx Buccaneers Youth Football Program, spoke at length about the group’s football program. He thanked the committee for

By DAVID GREENE

Editor’s Note: The following is an updated version of the story that appears in our latest print edition. Surrounded by family and close friends, as well as a large contingent of local elected officials, former District 16 city councilwoman, Vanessa Gibson, was officially sworn in as the 14th Bronx borough president during a ceremony at her alma mater, Lehman College, in Bedford Park on Sunday, March 27. She is the first woman and the first member of the Black community to hold the position. Gibson also previously served as assemblywoman for the 77th assembly district. Deputy Bronx Borough

By SÍLE MOLONEY

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has tested positive for COVID-19 two days after attending the Yankees season reopening home game against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, and on the mayor’s 100th day in office. The news follows the mayor’s recent, controversial decision to lift a ban to allow “elite” New York State athletes to play home games despite not being vaccinated. According to the CDC, a person with COVID-19 is considered infectious starting two days before they develop symptoms, or two days before the date of their positive test, if they do not have symptoms.

By JULIAN NAZAR

Maybe you’ve sometimes exited the Kingsbridge Road subway station on Jerome Avenue and looked across the street in awe at a mural that highlights the best of The Bronx? Or perhaps you’ve passed by Walton Avenue and East Burnside Avenue in the Mt. Hope section of the borough, and taken a moment to read the messages on the comic, book-esque mural that deals with gentrification? Walking around The Bronx, chances are you’ve seen one of the murals by Alfredo Bennett, aka, Royal Kingbee. The muralist completed his latest work, Invasion of the Colorful Honeycombs, in March. It’s on

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The NYPD is asking for the public’s help, identifying the person seen in the attached photos who is sought in connection to a citywide commercial robbery pattern which has been traced to the 50th precinct, the 26th precinct, and the 33rd precinct. The 50th precinct in The Bronx, covers Kingsbridge, Marble Hill, Riverdale, Fieldston, Spuyten Duyvil and Van Cortlandt Park. The 26th precinct covers the Upper West Side of Manhattan, including Morningside Heights, Manhattanville, Columbia University, Riverside Park, Morningside Park, and the General Grant National Memorial. The 33rd precinct covers Washington Heights in northern Manhattan, which encompasses

By JULIAN NAZAR & SÍLE MOLONEY

Editor’s Note: The following is an updated version of the story that appears in our latest print edition. On a chilly Tuesday morning, on March 24, Bronx City Councilman Oswald Feliz (C.D. 15) held a press conference at City Hall Park in Manhattan, alongside members of the Twin Parks citywide taskforce to, once again, highlight the importance of fire safety and prevention, amid the introduction by Feliz of a new draft bill, Intro 0105-2022. The taskforce was created by the speaker of the council, Adrienne Adams, and Feliz and others had previously held a number of press conferences in