Audit of Tracey Towers Repairs Warranted, Say Residents

By DAVID CRUZ

Over the last four years, Tracey Towers underwent a $40 million renovation by its building management firm following an incremental 62.5 percent rent hike imposed on its residents. It was considered the largest investment for a Mitchell-Lama residence such as Tracey Towers, home to some 3,000 residents. Upgrades went towards electrical circuit boxes, kitchens, intercoms, bathrooms, carbon monoxide and smoke detectors. But complaints still persist, which compelled 80th Assembly district committeeman Kenneth Agosto to directly ask New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer to conduct a detailed financial review of the tower through a forensic audit. Stringer had scheduled a

By DAVID CRUZ

There wasn’t quite much talk on bias incidents aimed at a forum for the Bangladeshi community. Instead, the meeting morphed into an information session with a message in mind: the community at large is here to help. The gathering was the brainchild of Aldo Perez, a community activist, who sought to bring representatives from the NYPD, Bronx District Attorney’s office, local Community Board 7, Public Advocate’s office, and the state Assembly Speaker’s office to introduce themselves and the powers each office brings. Two-dozen guests from the Bangladeshi community were at the meeting hearing from representatives. Norwood has seen an ever-growing

By DAVID CRUZ

Manhattan Assemblyman Keith Wright gave a “guarantee” that the Bronx will see a legislative office should he win in the heavily crowded race for the 13th Congressional District long held by Congressman Charles Rangel, who is retiring. “We’re actually looking to open a Bronx campaign office as well as Bronx congressional office after we win,” said Wright, standing beside Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., who endorsed him for Congress before the steps of Borough Hall April 21. Roughly 20 percent of the district, gerrymandered a few years back, is in the west Bronx, which includes Norwood. A long-held bone

By DAVID GREENE

Hundreds of workers with Verizon held a demonstration along the Grand Concourse at East Fordham Road on April 20. Nearly 40,000 workers walked off the job over a week ago after executives declined to negotiate a new contract with retail workers and technicians. Verizon execs also tried to implement a waiver in the new contracts that stated Verizon can change any stipulations in the contract at any time. For Faith Griffith, a three-year Verizon employee living in nearby Tracey Towers for the last five years, the strike signified her “last paycheck” from Verizon the week of April 18. Griffith, a single

By DAVID CRUZ

Developers of the Kingsbridge National Ice Center (KNIC) have shot down a deal with the city allowing them access to the vacant Kingsbridge Armory while their lease remains in escrow, among other things. The development came roughly a week after the city reached out to local and state elected leaders to support its new compromise that remains on the table. In a two-page letter emailed to the media before KNIC saw it, New York City Deputy Mayor Alicia Glen offered developers entry into the armory, with the lease still in escrow, so it can begin some major asbestos removal work. Glen,

By VIVIAN CARTER

For the past month, a group of six Bronx students, ages 13 to 18, have been digging up the history of Woodlawn Heights, a neighborhood they call home. Not with shovels, but with laptops and visual observation. Dubbed the “Student Historian Community Ambassador Class,” the group meets on Saturday mornings at the Woodlawn Heights branch of New York Public Library on Katonah Avenue. Although participants are not being compensated for their work, they are eligible to receive community service credits from their schools for time devoted to the program. They are also rewarded with a free pizza lunch after each

By DANIELA BEASLEY

Commuters in Norwood can expect transit and pedestrian safety improvements along the Webster Avenue Bx41 Select Bus Service route now that the city green-lit a contractor to complete the project. The project is building on already completed upgrades that include one lane dedicated to buses and pockets of pedestrian islands that pepper the thoroughfare. Services included in the renovations are real-time bus arrival information and additional shelters and seating. Construction will take place between East 205th Street in Norwood and East 165rd Street in Claremont Village with a sidewalk extension on the East side of Webster Avenue between East 194th

By VIVIAN CARTER

Angela Velez is back home again, and she can thank a compassionate Norwood nursing home for that. Velez, who turned 26 in April, was admitted to a local hospital in May 2015 with gallstones and acute pancreatitis. After most of her pancreas was removed, she was told by doctors that she had 24 hours to live, say her parents, Juana and Luis Velez. But Angela endured for months in the hospital, aided by a ventilator and feeding tubes. By the end of September, she had completed her course of hospital treatment, and was ready to be released for rehabilitation

Small businesses are booming in the Bronx, according to a small sample survey. The analysis, conducted by TD Bank, asked 495 New York businesses about their prospects for the coming year. Some 100 participatory businesses are located in the Bronx. The survey detailed citywide optimism for the year, with 86 percent of Bronx small business owners expecting higher revenue, the strongest mark of any borough. Additionally, 93 percent of those Bronx small business owners surveyed are optimistic or excited about 2016, making it the most optimistic borough in the city. Some indicators for a positive outlook included cost of office