City Launches Plan to Help Low and Medium-Income Tenants with Security Deposits

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Last month, on Dec. 30, the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC) announced they were soliciting submissions from companies which could come up with alternative ways of helping renters in City and HDC-sponsored affordable housing to pay their required security deposits when signing a lease. The Security Deposit Alternatives RFEI program identifies eligible companies that could potentially offer alternate solutions to the traditional, lump-sum deposit requirement which plagues many low and medium-income renters. The program is part of the City’s broader plan to create alternate ways

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The New York City Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in ascertaining the whereabouts of the unidentified man seen in the attached photo and video, who is sought in connection with an assault in Transit in the 52nd precinct/ Transit District 11. On Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021 at 11.20 a.m., inside Kingsbridge Road subway station (D Line) in The Bronx, a 74-year-old man was attempting to swipe his MetroCard to gain entry to the subway when the suspect, who was exiting at the adjacent turnstile, punched the victim in the face. The suspect subsequently fled the

By SÍLE MOLONEY

On Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021 at a minute past midnight, an off-duty New York City employee was arrested and charged in the 42nd precinct, in the Morrisania section of the Bronx. Michael Mercurio, 36, an NYPD police officer was charged with aggravated harassment by telephone.

Congressman Jamaal Bowman Safe Following Attack on Capitol, Joins Calls for President’s Removal

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Newly elected Bronx congressman in the 16th congressional district, Jamaal Bowman, issued a statement on Wednesday, Jan. 6, to confirm that he was safe and secure following the breach of the Capitol by white supremacist extremists incited by President Donald Trump earlier that day. It has been reported that four people have been killed. Bowman joined Congressman Cori Bush (D-MO) in calling for the impeachment of the president and the expulsion of the Republican members of Congress who he said allegedly incited the attack on the Capitol. He also described the president’s remarks to protestors as “open sedition.” “Thank

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The New York City Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance identifying the male individual seen in the attached surveillance photos and video who is wanted for questioning in connection to an assault (non-fatal shooting) that occurred in the 52nd precinct. On Monday Dec. 28, 2020 at approximately 4.55 a.m., the unidentified individual fired one gunshot toward another individual while in front of 1 West Fordham Road, after a verbal dispute. A 28-year-old male victim was struck in the lower torso during the incident. The suspect fled on foot, northbound on Jerome Avenue. The victim was removed

By DAVID GREENE

At least two elderly women pushing shopping carts or strollers were injured in two separate hit and run incidents in the Bronx in December. A third female senior said she, too, was the victim of a hit and run incident, and that it was allegedly an FDNY EMS ambulance that left her lying on the ground in pain. In the latest incident, cops are still looking for a driver who knocked an unidentified, 92-year-old woman to the ground at 1.08 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 30, at the corner of East Tremont Avenue and Daily Avenue in the West

By DAVID GREENE

Two fires reported at two different local restaurants, within days of each other, have resulted in one being shut temporarily and one being closed indefinitely. On Thursday, Dec. 17, at 7.14 p.m., the FDNY responded to a call for “all hands” in relation to a fire reported at El Buen Ambiente, a restaurant and bar, located at 108 East 198th Street in Bedford Park. According to officials, the fire began on the roof of the one-story, commercial building located between Creston Avenue and the Grand Concourse. Sixty firefighters from 12 units brought the fire under control at 7.48

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT

Standing on Fordham Road across the street from the military recruiting center where he signed up for the United States Navy more than three decades ago, Sammy Ravelo announced his candidacy for the Bronx borough presidency on Dec. 30. Before a small crowd at the busy intersection of Grand Concourse, Ravelo addressed the mostly, Spanish-language media covering the event. In reference to the building where the Bronx borough president’s office is located, speaking in Spanish, Ravelo said, “The time is now for a person who has served his community for more than 25 years, like I did in the

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Mino Lora, candidate for City Council in the 11th District in The Bronx, and previously profiled by the Norwood News, issued a statement on Thursday, Jan. 7, confirming that she has contracted the coronavirus. “I tested positive for COVID-19, and am quarantining with my husband and our two children,” she said. “My symptoms are mild so far.” As reported by Norwood News, on Monday, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio set the date for the Special Election for District 11 and District 15 as March 23, and encouraged “all the folks out there in those two districts who want