NYPD Release BodyCam Footage of Death of Person While in Police Custody

By SÍLE MOLONEY

On Aug. 11, the NYPD released body-worn camera footage from an incident dated June 21, 2020 which occurred in the confines of the 109th precinct in Brooklyn, during which a person died while in police custody. The video includes available evidence leading up to, as well as during the incident. The NYPD wrote that the agency was releasing the video for clear viewing of the totality of the incident. All NYPD patrol officers are equipped with body-worn cameras. The agency wrote that the benefits of cameras are clear: transparency into police activity, de-escalation of police encounters, and

By SÍLE MOLONEY

New York Attorney General Letitia James today filed a lawsuit against Hillandale Farms, one of the country’s largest producers and wholesale distributors of eggs, for illegally gouging the prices of eggs during the coronavirus pandemic. In March and April 2020, Hillandale allegedly gouged the prices of more than four million cartons of eggs sold to major grocery store chains, U.S. military facilities, and wholesale food distributors throughout the state, charging New York customers up to four times the pre-pandemic price for one carton of eggs. During those two months, at the height of the pandemic in New York, Hillandale

By SÍLE MOLONEY

On Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2020 at approximately 6.52 a.m., police responded to a 911 call about a motor vehicle collision in the vicinity of White Plains Road and Bartholdi Street, in the confines of the 47th precinct in the Gun Hill Houses section of the Bronx. Upon arrival, police discovered an unconscious and unresponsive 29-year-old man lying on the roadway. EMS arrived and pronounced the man deceased at the scene. A preliminary investigation revealed that the occupants of a 1997 Black Nissan Maxima and a 2019 Honda motorcycle were both traveling northbound on White Plains Road when the driver of

By JASON GONZALEZ & SÍLE MOLONEY

On Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020 at approximately 10.19 p.m., police responded to a 911 call regarding a motor vehicle collision in the vicinity of Boston Road and Waring Avenue in the confines of the 49th precinct in the Allerton section of the Bronx. Upon arrival, police discovered an unconscious and unresponsive male lying on the roadway with trauma to the head. EMS responded and pronounced the victim deceased at the scene. A preliminary investigation revealed that a 27-year-old operator of a 2019 International dump truck was traveling southbound on Boston Road making a left turn onto eastbound Waring

By PROFESSOR ANTHONY RIVIECCIO, MBA PFA

Well, we knew that Congress had been at a stalemate – even way before this pandemic – some would even say, even before Trump was president. We have been living with a divided government for several years now. Democracy is supposed to allow the will of the people to speak, so what happens when too many people speak, and have different opinions, to the point where nothing gets done? Enter congressional COVID stalemate, which means nothing gets done – no help for unemployment insurance, no more help for small businesses, no help for state governments, no help for eviction

By SÍLE MOLONEY

On Monday, Aug. 10, U.S. Senator Charles Schumer highlighted what he called some of the glaring deficiencies in President Donald Trump’s announced ‘Executive Orders’ that he said are cause for serious concern amid the public health and economic crisis caused by the coronavirus. Schumer said President Trump’s actions yesterday “totally” leave out money for state and local governments—from New York City, to Long Island and beyond. He also said the orders totally exclude money for schools to reopen safely, a New York priority. Finally, Schumer warned the orders leave out testing, tracing and treatment of the coronavirus itself. Schumer

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The New York City Emergency Management Department and the Health Department advised New Yorkers on Monday, Aug. 10 to take precautions to beat the heat. The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory in effect for New York City from 12 p.m. Monday through 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12. High heat and humidity are in the forecast each day, with heat index values in the mid to upper 90s. Cooling centers will open beginning Monday Aug. 10. Attendees must wear face coverings inside all cooling centers and adhere to social distancing guidelines. To find your nearest cooling center

By DAVID GREENE

Con Edison is slowly restoring power to the 21,655 customers in the Bronx who were left without it after Tropical Storm Isaias passed through the area on Tuesday, Aug. 4. The National Weather Service reported sustained winds in the area of 30 to 40 miles per hour, which brought down large trees on top of parked vehicles, houses and power lines. Power outages were reported in Morris Park, Pelham Parkway, Bay Plaza, Kingsbridge, Williamsbridge and Riverdale. One resident of Williamsbridge reported that the lights went out Tuesday, briefly came back on Thursday night August 6, went off again

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The New York City Health Department detected mosquitoes with West Nile virus in New York City in mid-July. The infected Culex mosquitoes were collected in the Bronx and on Staten Island. No human cases have been reported to date. Mosquito season in New York City typically spans from April through September. The Health Department is increasing mosquito surveillance in the surrounding area by installing additional mosquito monitoring traps. There are currently over 53 surveillance sites citywide. The Department uses an integrated management approach to control mosquitos which can transmit West Nile virus and will spray pesticide to target mosquitoes