City Expands Legal Help for Immigrant Communities

Neighborhood Notes: Free Immigration Service

The city announced its launched a $1.3 million expansion in legal assistance and training for the city’s immigrant communities, doubling down its commitment to protecting immigrants regardless of status. Beginning this summer, ActionNYC, which has been kicking up immigration services following an aggressive enforcement stance from the federal government, will have a new legal screening site at NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln in the South Bronx opened. ActionNYC will also grant 20 fellowships for legal and outreach training and technical assistance to community-based organizations across the city. “We are committed to expanding services for our fellow New Yorkers, especially in the face of

By JOLIE MILSTEIN

From the Mill Brook Houses to Lafayette Boynton, families in the Bronx have always been on the front line of fighting for affordable housing. That fight has only taken on greater importance as the borough gets less and less affordable for low- and middle-income families who are struggling to make ends meet. Thankfully, the borough of the Bronx – and all of New York – has taken a huge step forward in combating our state’s dire housing crisis, as the Governor and State Legislature recently approved $2.5 billion for affordable and supportive housing. With over 88,000 New Yorkers still homeless

"Villa Gardens" to Bring 52 Affordable Units to 204th Street and Villa Avenue

By WENDY JOAN BIDDLECOMBE

Excavation is under way to bring 52 units of affordable housing to Bedford Park by mid-2018, continuing the trend of more neighborhood development. Ground broke on the complex at 16 E. 204th St., at the corner of Villa Avenue, just east of Jerome Avenue, earlier this year. Galaxy General Contracting Corp., which develops properties throughout the five boroughs, is planning to call the mixed-income rental building “Villa Gardens.” As standard practice, those hoping for an apartment will need to enter a lottery through the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development. Richard Sica, Galaxy’s vice president, said the

By DAVID GREENE

With the recent closings of several popular stores in Norwood, we asked residents what types of stores the community needs. I think the neighborhood could use a gym and some more clothing stores. I just moved out here, maybe a movie rental store. Millie Sanchez Norwood Of course I noticed the stores closing. The butcher shop is not the same as they used to be. I don’t think the quality of the products is there because they no longer have the clientele of the community, so there’s not as much traffic to the store. So there’s less business.

Feds Charge Seven in Norwood for Drug Crimes

By DAVID CRUZ

The arrests stem from a yearlong investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration.

After Three Years, Oval Skate Park Project Yet to Start

By DYLAN CROLL and DAVID CRUZ

When it comes to a skate park project that hasn’t begun, the progress, or lack thereof, particularly miffs the Norwood Council Member who earmarked funds to build it more than three years ago. “If I could build it myself, I would,” Councilman Andrew Cohen, who allocated $750,000 in capital funds to the New York City Department of Parks to build the skate park, told the Norwood News. The proposal to build the skate park was hailed by neighborhood skaters who’ve longed for an appropriate space to perfect their skating skills. Indeed, a vision for the skate park stretches back to

Power Walk at NYBG Mosholu Montefiore Community Center, Children’s Hospital at Montefiore and J Train Wellness invite the public to join the B’N Fit Annual Power Walk to Wellness at the New York Botanical Garden on May 6 at 9 a.m. rain or shine ($10 p/p; raise $50 and walk free). Event helps educate the community about how to promote a healthy lifestyle and prevent the adverse effects of obesity. Registration is at 8:30 a.m. Whoever raises the most in donations receives $100 gift card and a B’N Fit trophy. Meet at Everett Garden Gate school group entrance. For more

By ADELINE HANSSEN

Covered in student artwork and colorful murals, a renovated basement located between Knox and Gates Places in Norwood serves as the center for Community Organized with a Vision of Excellence (COVE), a local nonprofit that will be home to Dare to Revitalize Education through Arts and Mediation (DREAM!) when the two nonprofits merge this summer. “The combination just makes us a more powerful unit,” said Aisha Norris, who doubles as co-founder of DREAM! and program director of The COVE. The merger of the two nonprofits is somewhat of a no-brainer. The COVE was founded by the Knox Gates Neighborhood Association

The First Lady of New York City, Chirlane McCray, ratcheted up her efforts to bring resources for sufferers of mental illness at her first-ever community discussion on mental illness. “Every single one of us has been touched either directly or through someone that we love and care about,” said McCray. Roughly 20 percent of adult New Yorkers is impacted by mental illness, according to health statistics. With reforms in treating the mentally ill a signature agenda item, McCray helped usher ThriveNYC, which helps individuals cope with mental illness and HealingNYC that fights against the crisis of opioid use. According to