Torres To Represent Freshmen Congressional Class at Weekly Leadership Meetings in D.C.

By SÍLE MOLONEY

On Nov. 19, Congressman-elect, Ritchie Torres, was elected by his freshmen, House of Representatives colleagues to a new leadership role for the 117th Congress, as their representative in “the Crescendo”. In this position, Torres will represent newly-elected, Democratic members in weekly crescendo meetings with House of Representatives Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, and House caucus chairs. Torres, the first openly-LGBTQ, Afro-Latino member of Congress, will be the first freshman in this position, and as such, will have the opportunity to discuss the freshman class’s high-priority items directly with the speaker on a weekly basis. The crescendo meetings include one representative

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Members and volunteers from Bronx Committee for Transportation Alternatives have been holding their monthly “Complete the Concourse,” protest bike rides that aim to raise awareness of the risks to both pedestrians and cyclists of traveling on the Grand Concourse. Transportation Alternative’s mission is to reclaim New York City’s streets from the automobile, and advocate for better cycling, walking, and public transit for all New Yorkers. During an Oct. 24 ride, Streetmemorials.org representatives and members of Five Boro Bike Club, joined Bronx Transportation Alternatives for the installation of a “Ghost Bike” memorial on the corner of Grand Concourse and

By SÍLE MOLONEY

On Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020 at around 8.12 p.m., police responded to a 911 call regarding a wellness check at 2173 Clinton Avenue in the Belmont section of the Bronx, in the 48th precinct. Upon arrival, the FDNY was asked to remove the door. An unconscious and unresponsive 59-year-old female, aided, laying at the bottom of the stairs, was found inside the residence. EMS responded and pronounced the female deceased at the scene. The medical examiner is to determine the cause of death. On Tuesday, Dec. 1, police reported that the incident has been deemed a homicide.

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The NYPD is seeking the public’s assistance in locating Melissa Chicas Villatoro, 16, who was reported missing in the 42nd precinct. Melissa was last seen on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, at around 8 a.m. inside her home at 1493 Hoe Avenue near to the Charlotte Gardens section of the Bronx. She is described as female, Hispanic, 5 feet, 1 inch tall, weighs 135 pounds, and was last seen wearing all dark clothing. Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Eric Dinowitz, a special education public school teacher and candidate for City Council in the 11th District, has been endorsed by Congressman Adriano Espaillat. Espaillat is a New York City progressive, and was both the first formerly undocumented immigrant and first Dominican elected to Congress. Dinowitz had previously been endorsed by the United Federation of Teachers. “I am excited to endorse Eric Dinowitz for City Council. As a special education public school teacher and community activist, Eric has devoted his life to bettering our neighborhoods and empowering others,” said Espaillat via a press release. “He has been a consistent

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The Hudson Gateway Association of REALTORS® (HGAR) and the Bronx YMCA are working together again to bring joy to the Holiday season for families living in the Bronx, through their annual “Operation REALTORS® Kids” Toy Drive. This is the ninth year that the REALTOR® Association has operated the toy drive, and will it run from December 7 through 18. REALTORS® and members of the public are being asked to drop off unwrapped toys at HGAR’s Bronx location, 1867 Williamsbridge Road or White Plains location, One Maple Avenue, during the drive period between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm. Toys may also be dropped

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The NYPD is asking for the public’s assistance in ascertaining the whereabouts of an unidentified man seen in the attached photos and video, who is sought in connection with a robbery which took place in the 52nd precinct. On Friday, Nov. 20, 2020 at 12.30 in the afternoon, in front of 2500 Webb Avenue in the Fordham Manor section of the Bronx, the man approached a 39-year-old female victim from behind and forcibly removed her bag from her hand. He fled on foot with the bag, which contained $1,100, an ID card and bank cards. The victim was not

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Magistrate Judge Peggy Kuo of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York (EDNY) has approved a class action settlement in C.W. v. The City of New York – litigation brought by The Legal Aid Society and Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP, which expands access to essential, life-saving youth programs and services for runaway and homeless youth ages 16 to 20 in New York City. Under the settlement, the City will implement procedural changes regarding how city agencies manage homeless youth, improving the system for all young people ages 16 to 20 that will enter it going forward. “We are

By SÍLE MOLONEY

On Monday, Nov. 30, the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) released its October 2020 enforcement bulletin, which provides highlights of the agency’s actions to sanction and deter bad actors in the construction industry through the enforcement of safety laws and codes of conduct for construction professionals. The bulletin includes summaries of DOB-imposed disciplinary actions, including penalties and license suspensions and revocations. The actions below represent a portion of DOB’s overall work to enforce the City’s building codes and safety laws, in addition to the thousands of inspections conducted and violations issued by the agency each month for illegal