Statement From Mayor De Blasio on Law Department Report on NYPD Response to BLM Protests

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio released a video response and written statement on Wednesday, Dec. 30, supporting the findings and recommendations of Corporation Counsel James Johnson’s report on the NYPD’s response to the George Floyd protests in New York City, as reported by Norwood News.    “There are clear lessons to be learned from the protests this year and a necessary drive to bring about real, transformative changes,” said de Blasio. “We must make improvements immediately, and the reports from the Department of Investigation ((DoI) and the Law Department will help guide the way forward. In addition to the


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Update: Murder Investigation Opens after Man Found Shot Dead in Van Cortlandt Village Apartment

  The NYPD is currently examining security camera footage to assist with their investigation into a homicide after a man was discovered shot to death inside a Van Cortlandt Village apartment.   According to an official police update received Tuesday night, Dec. 29, officers from the 50th precinct were called to ‘The Van Cortlandt Gardens,” located at 3951 Gouverneur Avenue, between Sedgwick Avenue and Van Cortlandt Park South earlier that morning at 10.50 a.m.   According to the statement, officers responded to a 911 call of an aided male inside apartment 1-J. The statement read, “Upon arrival, officers observed a


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Open Storefronts Program Extended through September 2021

As reported by Norwood News, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio signed Emergency Executive Order 157, which created the Open Storefronts program on October 28, 2020. Open Storefronts is a free program that allows existing ground-floor storefront businesses to use a portion of the sidewalk and roadways to display merchandise, sell goods and complete transactions, and provide areas for customers to line up from October 30 to December 31, 2020.   On Tuesday, Dec. 29, the City announced that the Open Storefronts program would be extended through Sept. 30, 2021. Businesses may also use the curbside lane to conduct


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Update: Man Arrested on Murder Charges in University Heights Shooting in December

Police have arrested a man on murder charges in connection with a shooting that occurred in University Heights on Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2020.   On the date in question, at 8.50 p.m., police responded to a 911 call regarding an assault in progress in the vicinity of West 184th Street and Aqueduct Avenue in the University Heights section of the Bronx, in the 52nd precinct.   Upon arrival, officers discovered a 26-year-old man lying on the ground with gunshot wounds to his chest and neck. EMS responded and transported the man to St. Barnabas Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.


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Cuomo: Updated Quarantine Guidelines, Extended Unemployment Benefit & Activation of Paid Sick Leave

Gov. Andrew Cuomo confirmed on Tuesday, Dec. 29, that New York has updated its quarantine guidelines to align with the CDC’s recommendations. Individuals exposed to COVID-19 can now end their quarantine after ten days without a testing requirement, as long as they report no symptoms during the quarantine period.   After day 10, individuals must continue monitoring for symptoms through day 14 and if any develop, those individuals should immediately self-isolate, and contact their local health department or their health care provider to report the changes and determine if they should get tested.   “Unemployed New Yorkers will begin receiving


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Short Film Shot in Woodlawn Cemetery with Local Talent available to View for Free through Jan. 12

  “Brooklyn Burial” is a new short film, shot in Woodlawn Cemetery, which co-stars and is written and directed by Christine Sloan Stoddard, who plays opposite Disnie Sebastien.  The film follows two friends, Cammy and Victrice, during an exchange which takes place in a cemetery after Cammy’s broken engagement. The film asks how Victrice will react to Cammy invoking a poetry spell to address her heartache.   Following a successful Facebook fundraiser, and shot in November 2020 using New York City talent from the Bronx and Brooklyn, the film is now available to watch, password-free, here through Jan. 12.   After


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Padernacht Calls on City & State to Halt Special Election Petitioning Process amid Pandemic

On Tuesday, Dec. 29, District 11 City Council candidate, Dan Padernacht, announced that he and some of the other City Council candidates in the District 11 race will be holding a press conference on Dec. 29 to call on Governor Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio to immediately waive the signature requirements for two NYC Council special elections that are to be called on or about Jan. 1, 2021, due to what Padernacht described as the inherent dangers associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.   To qualify for the ballot, each candidate in these special elections [in Districts 11 and


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NYS Division of Consumer Protection Warns New Yorkers against COVID-19 Vaccination Scams

On Tuesday, Dec. 29, the New York State Division of Consumer Protection (DCP) issued a notice alerting consumers about scammers who are taking advantage of COVID-19 vaccinations to steal personal information. Scammers are using techniques that typically arise with a major global event, such as falsely claiming to be online sellers of the vaccination, sending fake emails and texts that contain harmful links designed to steal your personal information, and using robocalls to pitch vaccination information. People should be on the lookout for scammers looking to take advantage of public interest surrounding vaccinations.   “The arrival of the COVID-19 vaccination


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Clason Point: Search for Missing 16-Year-Old Girl

The NYPD is seeking the public’s assistance in locating Saniya Williams, 16, of 1689 Randall Avenue in the Clason Point section of the Bronx, who was reported missing in the 43rd precinct.   Saniya was last seen on Thursday, Dec. 24, at her home, at around 4.20 in the afternoon. She is described as female, Black, 5 feet, 9 inches tall, weighs 220 pounds, has brown eyes and black hair, and was last seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, a royal blue coat, black jeans, and black/gold sneakers.   Anyone with information in regard to this missing person is asked


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