City Council Votes to Advance Access to Child Care Services in New York City

By SÍLE MOLONEY

New York City Council voted on Wednesday, Oct. 12, on new legislation which addresses systemic issues with child care, establishing a provider directory, a pilot grant program, and planning processes to advance access to child care across the City. The council said child care is essential for families to ensure their children receive quality care and so that working parents can succeed in the workforce. “Child care is one of the biggest challenges for working women, who experienced some of the greatest job losses from COVID,” the council members wrote in a press statement. “Nationally, there are approximately 225,000

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The Jerome Gun Hill BID’s 21st Annual Fall Festival will be held on Saturday, Oct. 22, from noon to 5 p.m. on Jerome Avenue between East Mosholu Parkway North and East Gun Hill Road in the Norwood section of The Bronx. Come celebrate Fall in the Jerome Gun Hill BID and enjoy food, three musical performances, shopping, games, arts & crafts, pet adoption and a pumpkin giveaway! To get involved as a sponsor, volunteer, vendor, or community organization, you can call the BID at (718) 324-4946 or click here for more information. According to the organizing team, the

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Damian Williams, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Keechant L. Sewell, Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”) announced on Thursday, Oct. 13, the unsealing of documents charging Justis Colon, 25, and Ariel Martinez, 23, with racketeering conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, murder with a firearm, attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon in aid of racketeering, and other firearms offenses relating to their participation in the murder of Joshua Garcia and the non-fatal shooting of two other victims on April 23, in The Bronx. They were taken into federal custody from

By MIRIAM QUIÑONES

Nonprofit, Berry Awesome Blossom Empowered Sisters (“BABES”) held a back-to-school giveaway and “Stop the Violence” event at Cauldwell Avenue between 161st and 163rd Street, southwest of Forest Houses housing development, in Morrisania on Sept. 10. According to B.A.B.E.S., the group came together to make a difference in the lives of those who need help, adding that they were there to help those in need and for those who don’t know where else to turn to when they need something. They said they did just that at the recent Back-to-School event, adding that the area is underserved because there is “no

By SÍLE MOLONEY

A 15-year-old boy was robbed at gunpoint at Gun Hill Road subway station, serving the number 5 subway line in the East Bronx. Officers from the 49th Precinct are asking for the public’s help locating three people seen in the attached photos who are sought for questioning in connection to the incident which occurred in the Laconia section of The Bronx, northwest of Pelham Gardens. A police spokesperson said, “On Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022, at approximately 15.40 hours [3.40 p.m.], the victim, a 15-year-old male, was aboard the southbound 5 subway at the Sexton Place and East

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The NYPD is asking the public’s assistance identifying the person seen in the attached photo who is sought for questioning in connection to a commercial burglary that occurred in Fordham Manor. Officers from the 52nd Precinct said, “On Tuesday, Oct. 4, at approximately 2.40 [a.m.], an unknown male individual entered through the unlocked front door of a restaurant, located at 305 East Fordham Road [and] entered the back of the store.” They said, once inside, the person removed two speakers and a sweatshirt, before fleeing the location. A photo of the man, taken from the incident location,

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The NYPD is seeking the public’s help locating a 14-year-old girl from Fordham Manor who was reported missing on Friday, Oct. 6. It was reported to the police at the 52nd Precinct that Qulaya Daniels, 14, of 2681 Marion Avenue was last seen on Thursday, Oct. 6, at around 8.30 a.m., leaving her home. She is described as being 5 feet, 6 inches tall, weighs 120 pounds, is Black, has a thin build, brown eyes and black hair. She was last seen wearing black jeans, a white t-shirt, white Nike sneakers and black jacket/sweater. Anyone with information

By MIRIAM QUIÑONES

The Annual Bronx Native American Festival was held at Pelham Bay Park in the Northeast Bronx on Sunday, Sept. 25, and was hosted by Bobby Gonzales. It comprised music; colorful, costumed dancers; food and face-painting, and brought broad smiles to the faces of those in attendance. Gonzales said The Bronx is Native American country. “There will always be a celebration of native cultures of the Americas here, north, south, central and the Caribbean,” he said. The Thunderbird American Indian Dancers, Tchin, and Grupo Higuayagua (Taino) took part in “The Eagle Dance.” According to the dancers, this is a dance ritual practiced by some American

By SÍLE MOLONEY

A 26-year-old man is in critical condition, following a road collision in Mt. Hope, police said. On Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022, at around 7.30 p.m., officers from the 46th Precinct responded to a 911 call regarding a pedestrian who had been struck at the intersection of East 183rd Street and Creston Avenue. An NYPD spokesperson said, “A preliminary investigation determined that an unidentified male pedestrian, approximately 26-years-old, was attempting to cross Creston Avenue from east to west at East 183 Street, when he was struck by a 2018 Mercedes Benz C43 being operated by a 25-year-old male, which