Police Commissioner Issues Statement on New NYPD Recruits

By Síle Moloney

Police Commissioner Dermot Shea released the following statement on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 regarding new recruits within the NYPD. “Next week, the NYPD will send out offers to the 2020 November Academy class. Before the new class starts, the NYPD uniform headcount will be approximately 34,200,” he said. “The new class will be 900 recruits, bringing the uniform head count closer to the level expected in the adopted [city] budget. Due to budget cuts, as well as attrition, this is lower than the approximately 36,900 uniform members of service at this point last year. With the new class, the

By DAVID GREENE

Ahead of Election Day 2020 on Nov. 3., long lines of patient voters, some with kids in toe and pushing baby strollers, were seen at a number of voting centers across the Bronx during the first few days of early voting in New York State, which kicked off on Saturday, Oct. 24. On Sunday morning, Oct. 25, the wait time to vote at a temporary Parkchester polling center, a former Boltons store, located at 1380 Parkchester Road, was about two and a half hours, while the outside temperature was in the low fifties. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez joined about

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The 19th Annual Fall Festival took place in Norwood on a beautiful, bright, sunny day on Saturday, Oct. 17, hosted by the Jerome Gun Hill BID team, Mosholu Preservation Corporation, Montefiore Medical Center, the Bronx Board of Elections and Walgreens. The fair, which took place between noon and 3 p.m. was located by Mosholu 4 subway station, on the corner of Jerome Avenue and East Mosholu Parkway, catching the attention of passing commuters, park goers and locals. Residents were treated to a selection of goodies, including free masks and hand sanitizers, tote bags, candy, pumpkins, patties and empanadas from

By Eliot Schiaparelli & Síle Moloney

Norwood News, in partnership with WFUV radio and BronxNet Television, presents a five-part series on national issues affecting voters in the lead up to the 2020 presidential election, seen through the local lens of Bronx neighborhood communities. Part three looks at health. Health and healthcare were always going to be pivotal to the 2020 presidential election, even before the COVID-19 pandemic catapulted them to the top of the political agenda. According to a recent Pew research poll, 68 percent of voters said healthcare was a “very important” issue to them, second only to the economy. People are rightfully

By DAVID GREENE

For our latest print edition, we asked readers for their thoughts on the U.S. Supreme Court justice nomination process. “I believe the Supreme Court should be expanded, especially if we get too many conservatives on the Supreme Court and not enough moderates. I think there needs to be a balance. Even though justices swear to be neutral, I believe people are swayed by their opinions, how they are raised. You have Catholic judges who’ve had strict Catholic upbringings as being pro-life and that’s a big worry for women, that they will repeal Roe vs. Wade. It shouldn’t even

By Síle Moloney

The NYPD is asking the public’s assistance in identifying the man shown in the attached photos in connection to a robbery that occurred in the 52nd precinct. On Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, at approximately 8:30 p.m., a 32-year-old man was walking in the vicinity of Aqueduct Avenue Extension and West Fordham Road when he was approached by an unidentified man who pushed him to the ground and demanded his property. The man forcibly removed the victim’s personal property which consisted of articles of clothing and jewelry and fled on foot in an unknown direction. The

By DAVID GREENE

A month after a series of hate crimes against the LGBTQ community were reported in Norwood, police are likely looking for a burly, shadowy figure caught on surveillance video as a suspect. Meanwhile, at least one of the remaining hateful messages is still visible on the front of a Decatur Avenue building. In response to an enquiry by Norwood News, on Friday, Oct. 16, NYPD detective and spokeswoman Sergeant Jessica McRorie said, “There are four anti-sexual incidents involving graffiti that occurred along 204th Street, reported on Sept. 18, that are currently being investigated as possible hate crimes.” McRorie

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The grand opening of long-awaited ADA compliant elevators at Bedford Park Boulevard subway station took place on the Grand Concourse on Thursday, Oct. 15. MTA Construction & Development President, Janno Lieber, launched the opening alongside a group of MTA colleagues, and was also joined by elected officials, Congressman Adriano Espaillat and State Assemblyman José Rivera. Speaking at the launch, Espaillat said, “There are three elevators, one up here [street level], and two downstairs [at subway level], and they were built at a cost of $38.2 million,” he said, adding that it was an extraordinary project. He then

By AUGUSTINA KWAFO-BAIDOO

October is National Dental Hygiene Month, a perfect time to remember to take care of our oral health. When people think about a healthy lifestyle, eating more fruits and vegetables, increasing physical activity, limiting alcohol, getting more sleep and making time for self-care often top the list. But, taking care of our oral health is also an important part of a healthy lifestyle, and the health of our mouth, teeth and gums affects the way we talk, smile, eat and present ourselves to the world. Just like the rest of our body, the mouth is full of good