CEC Meeting Doubles as JHS/MS 80 Pep Rally

By DAVID CRUZ and NIALL RIDGLEY

They came prepared with signs defending the school’s reputation. And they were very vocal about praising it. Despite reports by the New York Post portraying a school in turmoil, students and parents of JHS/MS 80 rallied behind the school. They came together at the recent Community Education Council (CEC) meeting on Jan. 18, packing the school’s auditorium. Signs held aloft by a group of students displayed the hashtag “#IstandwithMS80” superimposed on images of children holding hands in a hallway, while another student raised a hand-drawn sign reading “We R Staying.” Among the guests was Antonio Ramos, an online celebrity regularly seen on MTV’s

GUSTAVO VEGA with the El Colegio de México (COLMEX) (l) shares a moment with Lehman College President Dr. José Luis Cruz (r) at a symbolic signing between Vega’s and Cruz’s academic institutions aimed at strengthening cooperation and promoting mutual understanding. These agreements between Lehman College and eight other schools are intended to lead student and faculty collaboration. The event happened at the Bedford Park-based college on Jan. 18. Photo by Miriam Quinones

Bronx Teen Shot in Gang-Related Shooting at Oval Park

Neighborhood Notes: Free Immigration Service

By REGGIE FRANCOIS

Police at the 52nd Precinct are “aggressively looking” for a video that may help them find a suspect involved in the shooting of a 16-year-old near Williamsbridge Oval Park the night of Jan. 24. The video may contain footage of the car from which shots were fired from and clothing the suspect was wearing. Inspector Peter Fiorillo told an audience at the latest 52nd Precinct Community Council meeting on Jan. 25 that officers had reason to believe the shooting was gang-related spawned by a turf war. Fiorillo said the gang known as the Crips was coming down to the Kingsbridge

Five-Two Inspector Responds to Precinct Probe

By REGGIE FRANCOIS

Following pending investigations by the Bronx District Attorney’s Office, 52nd Precinct Deputy Inspector Peter Fiorillo contested allegations that officers were using illegal methods to up their 2017 gun arrests at the precinct’s monthly council meeting Jan. 25. The investigation was first reported by the New York Daily News. Fiorillo described the article as “horrible,” affirming that officers at the precinct targeted specific individuals rather than running through the streets trying to confront people spontaneously. Peter Jones of the Legal Aid Society said in the Daily News article that the non-profit noticed patterns of complaints of officers falsifying consent and illegally

By DAVID CRUZ

After 15 rounds and a suspenseful 90 minutes, 10-year-old Mazeen Chawdhury emerged champion of PS 94 King College School’s annual Spelling Bee, which drew plenty of oohs, aahs, and aha moments. Separating Raisa Alam, the runner up, from first place: serviceable. Raisa fell short in spelling the word, but Mazeen did, of course. A first place ribbon soon followed. The two, along with third place winner David Marcos, took on 22 others in an edge-of-your-seat competition that ranks as one of the more anticipated events at the Norwood grade school. The group of competitors were already some of the

A Kingsbridge Native Ascends to High NYPD Ranks

By DAVID CRUZ

About 17 miles from Norwood, in Manhattan’s Battery Park, a familiar face in the neighborhood was awarded a gold star. For Nilda Hofmann, the former commanding officer of the 52nd Precinct who was formally promoted to Chief of Community Affairs on Jan. 18, the gold star symbolizes an expansion to familiar territory—managing the fraught bond between the NYPD and communities. Just how to keep that bond between communities and the Police Department stands at the heart of her objective. “You have to reach out to people that are not comfortable talking to the police,” Hofmann said at a news conference

By DAVID CRUZ

Finally! Two children’s librarians are officially on the job at the Mosholu Public Library, library officials confirmed. Nicole Figueroa and Katie Loucks started on Dec. 26 and Jan. 8 respectively. Both are full-time librarians, according to the New York Public Library. Officials plan to hold a community meet-and-greet on Feb. 12 from 3 to 6 p.m. at the library, 285 E. 205th St.

Financial Focus: Humans vs. Software Tax Preparers

As a 25-year financial advisor, I am obviously a big fan of tax preparation and planning to be a human process of actually a bigger project called financial planning. Today’s technology allows us to handle many wonderful tasks that outside human professionalism is today. Today, many believe tax prep software and Internet services can provide a do-it-yourself approach to getting your taxes done in 15 minutes and getting a huge tax refund. Such nonsense talk! That’s like saying technology allows for major surgery to happen in the morning and then we can go back to work in the afternoon. Yes, today’s technology

By DEBORAH CRUZ

After two years of its proposal, a supportive/affordable housing residence in Norwood will be opening its doors later this year after unexpected delays. But the committee that heard the latest development is worried over whether they’re guaranteed spots for current neighborhood residents. At the Community Board 7 Housing/Land Use Meeting on Jan. 9, John McDonald, the COO of The Doe Fund, a non-profit group that’s nearly built the $29.5 million affordable housing unit at 3100 Webster Ave., outlined the project. He was joined by Amanda Septimo, a community outreach consultant for the Villa Avenue project, who explained the issues surrounding