52nd Precinct Tries New Tactic to Curb Gun Violence in Fordham Manor

By DAVID GREENE & SÍLE MOLONEY

As part of a new, holistic approach aimed at combatting the culture of gun violence, concentrated in a few specific blocks of the Fordham Manor section of the Bronx, the NYPD’s 52nd precinct has launched a multi-agency, community collaboration to tackle the issue. Announced by Deputy Inspector Thomas J. Alps during the Bronx Community Board 7 executive meeting on March 18, part of the initiative involves giving the area a type of physical make-over, while also partnering with City agencies and community-based organizations to address unemployment and quality of life issues that plague the neighborhood. As a first

COVID-19 Vaccinations Appointments are required to receive a vaccination. To determine your eligibility, access a list of nearby providers, and schedule your vaccination appointment, use New York State’s Am I Eligible app. Prior to receiving your scheduled vaccination, you must complete the New York State COVID-19 Vaccine Form. Please be patient and continue to monitor these links frequently for available vaccine appointments: New York City: https://vaccinefinder.nyc.gov/ or 877-VAX-4NYC (877-829-4692) New York State: https://am-i-eligible.covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/ or call 1-833-NYS-4-VAX (1-833-697-4829) VaccineTogetherNY: https://vaccinetogetherny.org/Pages/default.aspx or call 646-697-VACC To schedule an appointment, go to: https://vax4nyc.nyc.gov/patient/s/. To find a vaccination site, go to: https://vaccinefinder.nyc.gov/locations. Your physician or local

By DAVID GREENE

This week, we asked readers for their thoughts on the recent District 11 and District 15 City Council special elections which took place on March 23, and the use of the new Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) system. “I didn’t know about the special election and now, it’s too late. I wish I would have known because I would have voted in this City Council race. I just thank God that the coronavirus in New York is getting better. I heard about Ranked Choice Voting and I think it’s better to have more choices today.” Delphine Sanders, Norwood “Ranked

By DAVID GREENE

One day after burying her 20-year-old daughter in Woodlawn cemetery, a Norwood mother said she has been threatened by gang members, has fled her home of ten years, along with her family, and has gone into hiding at a Bronx hotel. Cynthia Duffy, mother of Delila Vásquez, 20, confirmed her daughter died at Jacobi Medical Center just before midnight on Wednesday, March 17. As reported by Norwood News, she was discovered with a gunshot wound to her head inside a third-floor apartment at 3339 Hull Avenue, near East 209th Street in Norwood at 10:09 p.m. the same night.

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Alexis Rose, a 35-year-old Bronx man, was arraigned Wednesday, March 31, in Westchester County Court for the murder, on March 5, of Shaun Hutchinson at the home of Rose’s ex-girlfriend on Warburton Avenue in Yonkers. Rose’s presence at his ex-girlfriend’s home was in violation of an order of protection issued by Yonkers City Court. He fled after shooting Hutchinson but was arrested approximately two hours later, following collaborative efforts between the Yonkers, Mount Vernon and New York Police Departments. He is charged with second degree murder, and is being held at the Westchester County Jail. Hutchinson, 41, a

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The Northwest Bronx Community & Clergy Coalition (NWBCCC), one of 17 Bronx-wide sponsoring organizations, is inviting the public to join an All Bronx Virtual Town Hall on April 11 at 6 p.m. for a discussion on the proposed New York Health Act (A6058, S5474). The event will feature NYS Sen. Gustavo Rivera, chair of the New York State senate health committee, and NYS Assembly Member, Richard Gottfried, chair of the New York State assembly health committee. Rivera, who represents the 33rd senatorial district in the Bronx, and Gottfried, who represents the 75th assembly district in Manhattan, will explain how

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The NYPD is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying a man wanted in connection with an assault that occurred in the 52nd precinct. As previously reported by Norwood News, on March 27, 2021, at approximately 2.29 a.m., the suspect approached a 38-year-old male victim as he stood in the door of Lexa Bar, located at 357 East 204th Street. The individual proceeded to display a knife, which he used to stab the victim multiple times in his back and head. EMS responded, and transported the victim to an area hospital in stable condition. Video is attached. Pursuant

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Republican candidates for the role of mayor of New York City, Fernando Mateo and Curtis Sliwa, squared-off in the first Republican mayoral primary debate hosted by 77 WABC radio on Wednesday, March 31, at 4 p.m, at the Studio 77 event center, located at 800 Third Avenue in Manhattan. According to sources, it was the first time that the two Republican-endorsed candidates for office went head-to-head on issues of crime, police, New York City’s COVID-19 recovery, and the economy. Republican elected officials and party leaders were expected to be in attendance. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfSFjAyP2vM Mateo, the second Latino to

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Renderings from Node Architecture, Engineering, Consulting reveal a proposed four-story residential building at 557 East 161st Street in Melrose, The Bronx, as reported by YIMBY, the architecture, construction, and real estate website on Saturday, March 27. The structure will eventually comprise 8,500 square feet and yield nine rental units. The mix of apartments includes nine studios, a single one-bedroom unit, and a trio of two-bedroom homes. According to YIMBY, Node’s design team successfully leveraged area zoning and strategic circulation planning to deliver three units per floor, plus one extra studio unit on the roof level. Additional scope of development includes