Election 2021: Abigail Martin on Housing, Schools & A Living Wage

By Síle Moloney

An educator and social worker, Abigail Martin, candidate for City Council in the 11th District points to equality in education as being key to breaking the cycle of generational poverty. As a student advisor and adjunct professor at Columbia University’s school of social work, she helps train the City’s next generation of social workers. “I mentor them throughout their first year of social work school, and work with them in their placements,” she said. “All my students are usually placed in the Bronx so, I’ve been in a lot of public schools in the Bronx, meeting with my students

By Síle Moloney

As record numbers of New Yorkers vote by absentee ballot in the upcoming Nov. 3 election, many have been dismayed to learn that they need to pay for postage in order to return their ballot. Legislators and advocates gathered virtually on Thursday, Oct. 22, to criticize what they call another de facto poll tax on voters. The discussion was led by State Senator James Sanders Jr., Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, and Dr. Hazel N. Dukes from the NAACP NYS Conference. Prior to the passage of the 24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, citizens in some states had to pay a

By Síle Moloney

Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez received the endorsement of former presidential candidate and United States Senator Elizabeth Warren in her re-election bid for the New York State Assembly, it was announced Thursday, October 22nd. “I am proud to endorse Nathalia Fernandez for re-election to the New York State Assembly. She is the fighter The Bronx needs in Albany,” said Senator Elizabeth Warren. “Since taking office, she has been a powerful voice for progressive values, and I know she will continue to build on the work she has done in her next term.” “This endorsement is very close to my heart,” said

By Síle Moloney

Jessica Haller, Democratic candidate for New York City’s 11th Council District, announced a further endorsement of her candidacy for the June 2021 primary election on Wednesday, Oct. 21. The grassroots organization, 21 in ‘21, founded in 2017 which is working to elect at least twenty-one women to the New York City Council by 2021 has thrown its support behind Haller. The Board of 21 in ‘21, and membership comprises a diverse range of women and allies. Among others, these include Amelia Adams, president of Adams Advisors LLC and former political director to New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio,

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Black Lives Matter Greater NY released a statement on Oct. 19 following a separate recent announcement by the NYPD regarding the launch of a policing commission in conjunction with the Robin Hood Foundation and the NY Urban League. The title of the press release was,”New York State Exemplifies Why Activists and Young Black Don’t Trust Democrats.” “In the wake of the George Floyd murder, while the country was experiencing an uprising, Black Lives Matter Greater NY negotiated with Governor Cuomo’s office to have elements of our legislative package included in his ‘Say Their Names Act’,” the statement read. “In

By David Greene

Members of the NYPD were at a Webster Avenue motel in the Norwood section of the Bronx for most of Tuesday, Oct. 20, after a 33-year-old woman was found dead in a 5th floor room. According to a source at the FDNY, officials were called at 10:12 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 20, to the Roadway Motel, located at 3070 Webster Avenue, between East 202nd and East 203rd Street, “for reports of a person in cardiac arrest.” The source added, “One patient was pronounced on scene by EMS.” The woman’s unidentified husband was observed being questioned by an official

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Council Members Vanessa L. Gibson and Fernando Cabrera appeared on BronxNet television on Monday, Oct. 19, to endorse Neighborhood Health Plan recommendations put forth by the Jerome Avenue Public Health Task Force. These recommendations were drafted after 18 months of meetings with both Council Members, the Bronx Neighborhood Health Action Center of the NYC Health Department, and various community stakeholders after the passage of the Jerome Avenue Neighborhood Plan. The recommendations are organized into six overarching domains of education, public outdoor spaces, healthcare quality and access, food environment, housing and local economic development to improve the health of the

Redefining American Greatness, Courtesy of Bronx Community College

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced on Oct. 16 actions aimed at reducing food insecurity among community college students, older adults and disabled New Yorkers. These actions include expanding Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility to up to nearly 75,000 low-income college students enrolled in career or technical education course work and shortening the SNAP application for those on fixed incomes in an effort to encourage greater enrollment among eligible older adults and disabled individuals. “From the community college student seeking to advance their career to the senior living on a fixed income, food insecurity and hunger are a reality

By SÍLE MOLONEY

On Monday, Oct. 19, 2020 at around 7 a.m., police responded to a 911 call regarding three people who had been shot inside the Mix-Tec Club, located at 2647 Jerome Avenue, in the 52nd precinct, in the Fordham Manor section of the Bronx. Upon arrival, police discovered three victims, the first of which was a 19-year-old woman who had a gunshot wound to the torso, the second was a 28-year-old man with a gunshot wound to the right arm, and the third was a 30-year-old man with three gunshot wounds to the body. EMS responded to the