Jerome Park: FDNY Investigate Fire on 21st Floor of Tracey Towers

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Video courtesy of Citizen The FDNY is investigating a fire that broke out at Tracey Towers in Jerome Park on Friday, July 23. According to a video posted by Citizen’s App users, smoke was seen billowing seemingly from two sides of one of the towers at a certain point. Jean Hill, president of the Tracy Towers Tenants’ Organization, which had just held its last meeting before the summer break at the Mitchell Lama housing complex the previous evening, told the Norwood News on Friday that the fire had broken out on the 21st floor and had been extinguished.

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Police responded to a 911 call of a single motor vehicle collision on Thursday, July 22, at around 4.58 a.m., at the intersection of Watson Avenue and Morrison Avenue, in the 43rd precinct. Upon arrival, officers discovered a 32-year-old man inside the vehicle, unconscious and unresponsive, with severe body trauma. EMS responded to the location and transported the victim to NYC Health + Hospital/Jacobi where he was pronounced deceased. Further investigation by the NYPD highway district’s collision investigation squad determined the man was operating a Nissan Quest, traveling southbound on Morrison Avenue, apparently at high speed, when he

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Police have confirmed they are searching for an 11-year-old boy in Van Nest, reported missing at 9.15 a.m. from 1975 Birchall Avenue on Friday, July 23 in the 43rd precinct. The cross street is Sagamore Street. Ervin Williams, 11, was last seen wearing a blue shirt, gray sweatpants, and white sneakers. He was carrying a blue suitcase. He is described as an 11-year-old boy, Black, 5 feet, 6 inches tall, weighs 120 pounds, and has black hair and brown eyes. No photo is available. An alert was also posted on the Citizen’s App on Friday morning about

By SÍLE MOLONEY & DAVID GREENE

Police confirmed on Wednesday, July 28, that a 21-year-old woman who had been reported missing on Thursday had been found in good health and condition. Norwood News received initial unconfirmed reports on Thursday, July 22, that police were searching for a 21-year-old woman in Norwood. The woman in question was reported missing at around 7.25 p.m., according to posts on the Citizen’s App and on social media. The NYPD later confirmed the missing person’s report on Friday morning. Citizen’s App users initially reported on Thursday that police were searching for the girl and that the incident had been

By SHANIA DEGROOT

A new public space and seating area, “Street Seat” was formally opened for residents along Jerome Avenue and East Gun Hill Road on Wednesday, July 14. It was organized by the Jerome Gun Hill Business Improvement District (BID) and New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) and will function as a social center for local residents. The space has been dedicated to the local medical community for the work they have done throughout the pandemic. Part of DOT’s revitalization of the intersection as part of its Public Space Unit and Art Program, the new space builds on Mayor Bill

By SÍLE MOLONEY

An affordable housing lottery has opened for units at The Arches, a housing complex which comprises two 25-story, residential towers located at 228 East 135th Street in Mott Haven, as reported by YMBY. Designed by Fischer & Makooi Architect and developed by The Chess Builders, the structure yields 430 individual residential units. Available on New York City’s Department of Housing Preservation & Development (HPD) platform, NYC Housing Connect, are 60 units for residents at 130 percent of the area median income (AMI), ranging in eligible income from $72,000 to $167,570, in accordance with the City’s affordable housing program.

By SÍLE MOLONEY

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and Schools Chancellor Meisha Porter announced, on July 8, their academic recovery vision for New York City’s public schools and students in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, describing the new “Academic Recovery Plan” as a bold, rigorous framework that will guide school communities and support students during the 2021-22 school year and beyond. According to the New York City Department of Education (DOE), there are six critical areas of focus under the new framework: early literacy for all, developing students as digital citizens, preparing students to be college and career-ready,

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The New York City Board of Elections certified the results of the June primary elections on Tuesday, July 20. The results are attached below for the main citywide and Bronx Democratic and Republican primary races, as applicable. The Commissioners of the Board of the Elections in the City of New York have certified the June 22, 2021 Primary Election. Council Districts 9 and 50 require a manual hand count and are not included in the report https://t.co/QiGQqMOlou — NYC Board of Elections (@BOENYC) July 20, 2021 Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams won the Democratic mayoral primary race with 404,513

By SÍLE MOLONEY & DAWN CLANCY

Bronx Community College (BCC) announced a new collaboration on July 8 with Building Skills New York (BSNY), an organization which helps New Yorkers in underserved communities find construction jobs. BCC and BSNY will work together to provide skills development and pathways to professional advancement for workers in the construction industry. The goal of the Construction Career Accelerator (CCA) program, made possible by a grant from the New York State Department of Labor, is twofold: to help BSNY participants who are already placed on construction job sites across the five boroughs to gain the necessary skills to advance their careers,