New York City Employee Arrested on DUI Charge

On Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020 at 2.31 a.m., an off-duty New York City employee was arrested and charged in the 49th precinct in the Bronx.   Hector Martinez, 39, an NYPD police officer, was charged with driving while intoxicated and driving with impaired ability from alcohol intake.  

South Bronx: Police Seek Public’s Help to Locate Missing 65-Year-Old Man

The NYPD is seeking the public’s assistance in locating Michael Thomas, 65, of 345 East 146th Street, who was reported missing on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020 in the 40th precinct.   Thomas was last seen at his home in the South Bronx on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020 at 7.40 p.m. He is described as 5 feet, 8 inches tall, weighs 200 pounds, and was last seen wearing dark clothing.   Anyone with information with regard 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 public can also submit


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South Bronx: Police Seek Public’s Help to Locate Missing 41-Year-Old Woman

The NYPD is seeking the public’s assistance in locating Gabriella Gabrielsen, 41, of 345 East 146th Street in the South Bronx, in the 40th precinct.   It was reported to police that Gabrielsen was last seen on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020 at approximately 2 p.m., inside her home in the South Bronx.   Gabrielsen is described as female, White, 5 feet, 6 inches, weighs 100 pounds, and was last seen wearing all dark clothing.   Anyone with information with regard 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).


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Census Director Julie Menin Departs De Blasio Administration

Census 2020 director, Julie Menin, announced her resignation from the de Blasio administration on Nov. 10, weeks after overcoming the initial phase of the pandemic, a fiscal crisis, and hostility from the Trump administration to achieve record census response rates in New York City.   Menin leaves city government after years of service in both the Bloomberg and de Blasio administrations, including commissioner of the department of consumer affairs, commissioner of media & entertainment, executive assistant corporation counsel and redistricting commissioner.   New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio paid tribute to Menin, saying, “Julie Menin has an extraordinary record


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DoorDash is Providing $5,000 Grants to Small Businesses in Select Cities

As temperatures drop and the days get shorter, restaurants are facing an entirely new set of challenges. In response, DoorDash is providing $5,000 grants to small businesses selected through an application process in select cities across the US.   The grants are part of DoorDash’s Main Street Strong initiative to help restaurants recover and succeed amidst COVID-19 related challenges.   The $5,000 in grants will also help offset the costs for outdoor heating.   Eligibility Requirements: Must have 3 stores or fewer currently operating Must have $3 million or less in 2019 annual revenue per store Must employ 50 people or fewer per store   Full details for DoorDash’s Local Restaurant Grants Program can


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Simpler PPP Forgiveness for Loans of $50,000 or Less Announced, Deadline Nov. 30

  The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), in consultation with the U.S. Treasury Department, has released a simpler loan forgiveness application process for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans of $50,000 or less.   The agency said the action streamlines the PPP forgiveness process to provide financial and administrative relief to America’s smallest businesses, while also ensuring sound stewardship of taxpayer dollars.   The SBA and Treasury departments said the move eases the burden on PPP lenders, allowing them to process forgiveness applications more swiftly. The SBA began approving PPP forgiveness applications, and remitting forgiveness payments to PPP lenders in favor


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New York Forward Loan Fund Now Open for Applications from Small Businesses

  The New York Forward Loan Fund (NYFLF) is a new economic recovery loan program aimed at supporting New York State small businesses, nonprofits and small landlords as they reopen after the COVID-19 outbreak and NYS on PAUSE.   NYFLF targets the state’s small businesses with 20 or fewer full-time equivalent (FTE) employees (90 percent of all businesses), nonprofits and small residential landlords that have seen a loss of rental income.   NYFLF is providing working capital loans so that small businesses, nonprofits and small residential landlords have access to credit as they reopen. These loans are available to small businesses


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Norwood: Bank ATM Damaged in Burglary Attempt on Jerome Avenue

  The NYPD is looking for the person, or persons, responsible for an attempted burglary of a Bank of America Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) on Jerome Avenue in Norwood.   According to police spokesman, Sergeant Edward Riley, officers from the 52nd precinct were called to the Bank of America bank branch, located at 3424 Jerome Avenue, just before noon on Friday, Nov. 6. The bank’s two ATM machines were closed to customers the entire day, as police and a security remained at the scene until after 11 p.m., when an armored car arrived and members of the NYPD’s Crime Scene


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Update: Further Arrest Made in Nyla Bond Case in Mount Eden

On Monday, Nov. 2, 2020 at around 6.45 p.m., police responded to a 911 call regarding an assault which occurred inside 1460 Macombs Road in the Mount Eden section of the Bronx, in the 44th precinct. Upon arrival, officers observed a 20-year-old woman with a stab wound to her chest.   EMS transported the victim to Bronx Lebanon Hospital Center, where she was pronounced deceased. She was identified as Nyla Bond, 20, of East 168th Street in The Bronx.   Two individuals were subsequently arrested and charged in relation to her death. On Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2020 at noon, a


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