Opinion: Turning the Tide on Homelessness

By Dr. HERMINIA PALACIO

As a doctor, I learned to be relentless when treating my patients. So, I am proud of the relentless effort the de Blasio administration has put into taking on the homelessness crisis. As a New Yorker, I share the frustration of many that we haven’t made enough progress. We have already stopped the decades-long rise of people coming into shelters with an aggressive set of programs, including rental assistance, street outreach, affordable housing, and expanded legal services for those facing eviction. But we must do more. Now, we will create a more rational and effective shelter system that responds to homelessness borough

By DAVID CRUZ

A Bronx tenant’s advocacy group claims landlords may be skirting the rules by not showing rent-stabilized tenants rent registration forms. They’re also claiming the state agency tasked to track these rent histories fails to thoroughly double check whether a landlord’s rent increase on a tenant is justifiable. West Bronx Housing, headquartered in Bedford Park, has since been collecting these statements to pick up patterns while enlisting the help of elected officials. The group has now zeroed in on an apartment building in Riverdale, where rent histories are suspect. They’re now requesting these forms to tenants living in Norwood and Bedford

Onstage The Bronx Library Center, 310 E. Kingsbridge Rd., presents Chamber Music Concert, featuring the Celia Cruz Bronx High School of Music’s Chamber Orchestra and more, March 11 at 2:30 p.m. For more information, call (718) 579-4244/46/57 or visit www.nypl.org. Lehman College’s Center for the Performing Arts, 250 Bedford Pk. Blvd. W., presents the following performances: The Habana Boys, featuring four tenors performing arias and popular songs, March 11 at 8 p.m. (tickets: $25 to $40); and The Russian National Ballet, performing “Romeo & Juliet,” and “Carmen,” March 12 at 4 p.m. (tickets: $25 to $45) ($75/all VIP tickets, and

Neighborhood Notes: Free Immigration Service

By DAVID CRUZ

An elevator is coming to the Bedford Park train station. The MTA revealed those plans at a Community Board 7 Transportation Committee meeting on March 9. They told members the lift will be installed at the center median of the Grand Concourse near Bedford Park Boulevard after re-configuring the intersection with help from the city Department of Transportation. The plan requires no approvals from the board, though transportation chair Lowell Green supports backs the project, telling the Norwood News, “the more elevators we get the better off we are.” Ridership on the B/D line has remained steady in recent years

NORWOOD AND BEDFORD Park residents took time to browse through knickknacks at the annual flea market sponsored by the Bedford Mosholu Community Association. Books, homewares, and other items were on display at the market held on March 4 at Saint Mary’s Orthodox Church of India. Barbara Stronczer, president of BMCA, characterized the daylong bonanza as a success. Funds from the flea market go towards the group’s operational expenses each year.

Immigration Attorneys Visit Norwood to Offer Advice to Foreign Born

By DEBORAH CRUZ

With fears of deportation engulfing immigrant communities, an information session addressing those concerns was organized, with a veteran immigration lawyer telling a Norwood crowd to get organized. Sharron Williams, a former Norwood resident who now runs the California-based JINA Immigration Legal Services, led the Feb. 23 workshop at Williamsbridge Oval Recreation Center. She reiterated the uptick in raids launched by agents from Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE), which have rattled communities comprised of the foreign-born. For immigrants to get ahead of this, Williams ran through some of the many visas that the government offers, as well as some that might

By By ANTHONY RIEVIECCIO, MBA, PFA

During income tax season, as a financial adviser, I’m asked many questions. Some of them are great! Some of them are ” lulus.” Let me educate you to the madness called income tax season and some of the questions people ask when looking for ways to either avoid income taxation or not realizing to protect themselves from fraudent Tax preparers and possible identity theft. Should I open an account in Switzerland? Answer: In short, You could. However, since the Obama Administration started looking at “offshore accounts,” an inquiry priority, I wouldn’t risk it. I want to protest Donald Trump? Answer:

This week we asked readers if incidents like the man who died when he came in contact with a rat are being under reported or is this a growing epidemic? I think it’s been under reported. I think a lot of times incidents happen. Even if you’re not bitten, the rats are there and it’s been a problem for New York City, especially here in the Bronx. We need more politicians to bring this issue to Albany for funding. I didn’t know that rat droppings could kill you. I know that people do have allergies and they can get very

Dear Fellow Readers, The latest edition of the Norwood News, publishing Bronx community news you can use, is out at 300 stands across the northwest Bronx. We begin, as usual, with page one and a proposal to downzone Mosholu Parkway, the green pasture that doubles as a roadway. Read what Mayor Bill de Blasio had to say about development in the borough, and get a full picture of his recent town hall powwow from reporter Wendy Joan Biddlecombe. Inside the cover you’ll find stories on Norwood’s CVS pharmacy primed to closed, according to the big chain pharmacy, an investigation into