Ongoing “Black Out” Week-Long Boycott, as NYPD “Blue Flu” Expected on July 4th

By David Greene

A flyer circulating on social media under the title National Economic Withdrawal Boycott has called for a week-long boycott of large box-store chains, fast-food restaurants, and online retailers from Sunday, Jun. 21 through Saturday, Jun. 27. The week-long call to action appears to have grown out of other social media campaigns that aim to empower Black people through the control of economics, and to highlight the fight against racism in America through the power of the Black Dollar. A number of social media campaigns supporting the Black Lives Matter movement have existed since the group was founded. However, as

By Síle Moloney

Poe Park Greenmarket is opening for the summer season on Tuesday, June 30th, with Emil Alummootil, the market manager, saying, “It will be a great opportunity for community members to shop for the freshest, locally grown produce in their own neighborhood”. Community members will be able to use their SNAP/EBT benefits at the market, including the new P-EBT program, at the market. For every $5 spent using an EBT card, the person will receive an extra $2 Health Bucks coupon to spend on more fruits and vegetables. Greenmarkets are one of many programs falling under the GrowNYC

By David Greene

A video which was briefly uploaded to social media but later removed, showed an emotionally disturbed man brawling with half a dozen people along a busy East Fordham Road, close to Jerome Avenue on Jun. 1, a few hours before dozens of looters destroyed stores and removed property from the popular shopping district. According to NYPD, the video was shot on the afternoon of Jun. 1 and began with the man, dressed only in a pair of white socks, crossing East Fordham Road. Another man in a red and black jacket walked up behind him and struck him in

By Síle Moloney

The New York City Police Department is asking the public’s assistance identifying the individual shown in the attached video who is wanted for questioning in connection with a commercial burglary that occurred within the confines of the 52nd precinct. On Monday, Jun. 22, 2020 at approximately 8:00 p.m., inside 62 West Fordham Road (telecommunications store), an unidentified male gained entry through the roof of the building. Once inside, the man removed $1,500 and approximately $25,000 worth of cell phones and accessories before fleeing in unknown direction. Anyone with information with regard to the identity of this

By Síle Moloney

On Jul. 25, three survivors of solitary confinement, along with members of the Coalition for Women Prisoners, other survivors, family members and allies will hold demonstrations across New York State to demand an end to what survivors call the racist and deadly torture of solitary confinement. Kevin Mays, campaigner for #HALTsolitary, Leonard Thomas of VOCAL-NY and Lady Kathryn Williams-Julien, along with their supporters and activists will be calling on Governor Andrew Cuomo, Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, and Speaker Carl E. Heastie to enact the HALT Solitary Confinement Act, with immediate effect. Activists say that solitary confinement has killed

By Síle Moloney

On Wednesday, Jun. 24, Police Commissioner Dermot Shea announced a series of personnel changes at the New York City Police Department. In the statement, the announcements were described as key to positioning the agency for 21st century policing, by strengthening the bonds between officers and residents. Chief Jeffrey B. Maddrey, the longtime chief of the NYPD’s Patrol Borough Brooklyn North, is being promoted to the position of chief of community affairs at a moment of historic importance in police-community relations. At the same time, Shea announced that Chief Nilda Irizarry Hofmann would be designated chief of transportation, to

By David Greene

Eighteen days after rioters burned and looted dozens of stores in the Fordham Heights and Kingsbridge sections of the Bronx, police say three men have been charged with the daylight burglary of Modell’s Sporting Goods on East Fordham Road, a store that had closed due to bankruptcy on Apr. 15 following a period of poor sales, and the statewide PAUSE order which went into effect in March. According to NYPD spokeswoman, Detective Sophia Mason, the burglary was reported at 9:22 a.m. on Friday, Jun. 19. “Officers responded to a burglary at 270 East Fordham Road in the confines of

By Síle Moloney

Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and RecruitMilitary will host the Washington, D.C./New York Areas Virtual Career Fair for Veterans on Thursday, June 25th from 11am to 3pm EST to facilitate employment efforts for both job seekers and employers. The free, online event is open to all members of the military community, past and present, as well as military spouses and dependents. RecruitMilitary’s virtual events are technologically enhanced to provide personal interaction among job candidates and employers in large groups, small groups and one-to-one formats. According to DAV and RecruitMilitary, national unemployment claims have surpassed historic measures and veteran unemployment

By Síle Moloney

Silver Fern Farms, New Zealand’s largest red meat producer and exporter for 30 years to the Bronx, announced on Jun. 23 that it has donated 1,500 pounds of premium pasture-raised beef to ReThink Food NYC for their Restaurant Response Program, benefiting a number of Bronx-based entities. The Restaurant Response Program provides healthy meals for various communities in the Bronx, including Jacobi hospital, Cedar Tremont House, Macombs public housing, and Bronx Connect, a community and faith-based program that offers alternative-justice, cure violence, and re-entry programs to help communities build from within. The donation will be used to facilitate the