Blog
Council Passes Street Vending Bill Package, Adams Vetoes Bills
Though the street vendor movement made history on Thursday, Dec. 18, with a supermajority (39/51) of the City Council voting “aye” to pass bills 431-B, 408, and 1251 after years of advocacy and with what was described as a broad coalition of support, former Mayor Eric Adams vetoed the bills, along with around 16 others, on the last day of his term on Dec. 31.
Julie Menin Elected as First Jewish Speaker of City Council, Hires Miguelina Camilo as Chief of Staff
The New York City Council voted Jan. 7 during its 2026 charter meeting to elect Manhattan City Councilwoman Julie Menin (C.D. 5) as speaker for the next four years. She is the first Jewish speaker to lead the City’s legislative body, according to City Council officials. Menin represents Manhattan’s Upper East Side, including Lenox Hill, Yorkville, and Carnegie Hill, along with Roosevelt Island, and she will lead the city council during what city officials said is a pivotal moment, when the council will address the affordability crisis, an affordable housing shortage, and other key issues.
Inquiring Photographer: Thoughts on Death of Bangladesh’s First Female Prime Minister, Khaleda Zia
This week, given Norwood and Parkchester are home to large Bengali communities, we asked residents for their thoughts on the life and recent death of Bangladesh’s first female prime minister, Khaleda Zia, who, according to various sources cited by Wikipedia, served from 1991-1996, and from 2001-2006. Zia died on Dec. 30, 2025, at the age of 80.
Obituary: Joseph Anthony Castro
Mr. Joseph Anthony Castro, a resident of New York since 1947, died Tuesday Dec. 30, 2025, at his home in The Bronx. He was born Oct 18, 1947, in New York, NY to Octavio and Julia (Torres) Castro. He is survived by a niece, Jamie Castro, living in Battle Creek, Michigan. Joseph will be laid to rest in Michigan, beside his brother, Fillip O. Castro, and other family at Battle Creek Memorial Park.
FDNY EMS Local 2507 Launches Ad Urging Mayor to honor 2021 Campaign Promise of Wage Equity
FDNY EMS Local 2507, which represents more than 4,000 emergency medical technicians (EMTs), paramedics and fire inspectors in New York City, recently launched a video ad campaign to urge New York City Mayor Eric Adams to fulfill a commitment from his 2021 mayoral campaign to grant FDNY EMS wage equity with other New York City, front-line first responders i.e. the NYPD and the FDNY.
UPDATE Norwood: Family of Allan Feliz Holds Rally outside NYPD HQ Calling for Justice
Family and friends of Allan Feliz, who was shot and killed during a traffic stop near Woodlawn Cemetery in the Norwood section of The Bronx on Oct. 17, 2019 by a police sergeant, held a rally outside NYPD headquarters in Lower Manhattan on July 8, to urge Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch to change course after she announced on July 3 that she decided not to fire the involved sergeant, now an NYPD lieutenant, Jonathan Rivera. Tisch took the decision not to fire Rivera despite the recommendation of NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Trials Rosemarie Maldonado.
Inquiring Photographer: Thoughts on Impending Cuts to Health Care
This week, we asked readers if they were concerned about the impact on their families and themselves of the impending cuts to health care. As reported, in November, amid the recent federal government shutdown, according to CBS News, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a funding package, extending funding for most agencies until Jan. 30, which includes three full-year funding bills for parts of the government.
Elected Officials Appear in Court for Civil Disobedience Case in Defense of Immigrants
State Sen. Gustavo Rivera (S.D. 33) and City Comptroller Brad Lander, appeared in federal court on Nov. 18 in relation to their arrests on Sept. 18, along with several other elected officials, inside or near 26 Federal Plaza courthouse in Lower Manhattan for their respective acts of civil disobedience against immigration agents. As reported, the group had been protesting the treatment of immigrants during their court appearances by immigration agents. An anti-ICE [U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement] protest had also taken place near 26 Federal Plaza the same day [Sept. 18].
