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Bronxites Mark Gun Violence Awareness Month as May Sees 271% increase in Shooting Victims

By DAVID GREENE
June marks Gun Violence Awareness Month across the country. In the Bronx, lawmakers pushed for more stringent gun reform laws, increased federal funding for local cure violence programs, an anti-gun violence rally took place along Valentine Avenue, and other rallies are planned throughout the remainder of the month, all in efforts to address what has long been categorized as a gun violence epidemic.   Bronx shooting incidents were up 190 percent in May, compared to May 2020, while the number of shooting victims in the borough over the month increased by 271 percent, compared to the same period last year.


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Update: AOC Backs Wiley for Mayor, Abreu in CD14, Velázquez in CD13; PAC Backs Lora in CD11 & Sanchez in CD14

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT
  District 14 City Council candidate and tenants’ advocate, Adolfo Abreu, picked up his most high-profile endorsement to date when Bronx Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) personally endorsed him during an event held just a few steps from Manhattan’s City Hall on Saturday, June 5. During the event, the congresswoman also announced her much coveted seal of approval of mayoral candidate, Maya Wiley, while District Leader in A.D. 82, Majorie Velázquez, also received a personal endorsement from the congresswoman in the District 13 City Council race.   Meanwhile, in the District 11 race, candidate, Mino Lora, founder and executive director of


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Super PACs Spend $18.6 M on NYC Candidates so far, including Abreu, Bravo & Pierina Sanchez

By SÍLE MOLONEY
The New York City Campaign Finance Board (CFB) announced that “independent expenditure committees,” sometimes referred to as IEs or Super PACs, reported a new collective spending total in the 2021 New York City elections of over $18.6 million, as of Friday, June 11. This was mostly spent on mayoral candidates but also includes cumulative spending on other candidates like District 14 City Council candidates, Adolfo Abreu and Pierina Sanchez, and District 15 City Council candidate and Bronx Community Board 7 District Manager, Ischia Bravo.   A Super PAC is a political campaign that advocates for the election or defeat of


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Fernández Secures $10,000 for each of Four Local Libraries, including Mosholu in Norwood

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Assemblywoman and candidate for Bronx borough president, Nathalia Fernández (A.D. 80) announced the allocation of $10,000 in funding to each of four local libraries in the 80th Assembly District, on Thursday, June 10, during a press conference held outside Pelham Parkway-Van Nest Library, located at 2147 Barnes Avenue in The Bronx. The other three beneficiaries are Morris Park Library, Allerton Library, and Mosholu Library, located at East 205th Street in Norwood.   Speaking at the event, Fernández said libraries were the cornerstones of healthy communities. “They are safe havens for so many people, and provide many valuable resources beyond just


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BronxWorks Employee from Bedford Park Sentenced for Stealing Electronics

By SÍLE MOLONEY
A former BronxWorks employee from the Bedford Park area of the borough was ordered by a judge to pay restitution after he stole more than $140,000 from the charity group, it was announced by Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark on May 27.   According to the investigation, Adam Castillo, 42, who was purchasing manager at BronxWorks, a non-profit group that provides cell phones to homeless people, stole 514 electronic devices between Jan. 18, 2017 and July 30, 2018. The defendant, who was responsible for ordering cell phones and tablets, used his login credentials to access BronxWorks’ Verizon account and


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Off Duty Female School Safety Agent Arrested in The Bronx

By SÍLE MOLONEY
An off-duty New York City employee was arrested in Morrisania, in the 42nd precinct, which covers Claremont, Crotona Park East, and Crotona Park.   On Thursday, May 27, at 9.20 p.m., Eboni Coleman, 36, a female NYPD school safety agent, was arrested and charged with criminal mischief.   Coleman is not listed in the NYPD public records database.   A person arrested and accused of a crime is innocent unless and until convicted in a court of law.    

Fordham Heights: 16-Year-Old Bronxite Arrested on Murder & Other Charges

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Police have arrested a 16-year-old male on murder, manslaughter and other charges following a shooting incident in Fordham Heights last month.   On Sunday, May 16, at approximately 00.31 a.m., police responded to a 911 call regarding a man who had been shot in front of 340 East 184th Street, in the 46th precinct. A preliminary investigation revealed that a 34-year-old man had been shot in the abdomen during a dispute at the location.   The victim was transported by private means to Saint Barnabas Hospital, where he succumbed to his injury. There were no  initial arrests and the investigation


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June 14 Bronx Public Hearing on 10 Preliminary Recommendations re Property Tax Reform

By SÍLE MOLONEY
A public hearing for Bronxites on property tax reform will take place on Monday June 14.   In 2018, Mayor Bill de Blasio and City Council Speaker Corey Johnson established an advisory commission to develop recommendations to make the City’s property tax system simpler, clearer, and fairer. City officials said they did so while ensuring there was no reduction in the revenue used to fund essential City services. In early 2020, the Commission released a preliminary report, which included ten initial recommendations for property tax reform.   The preliminary report also included a brief history of New York City’s property


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Residents Say Loud Music is Public Enemy Number One

  Unacceptable levels of noise, noise and more noise have been the bane of many a Bronxite’s existence over several years, and never more so than during the hot summer months when residents are also contending with fumes from illegal barbecues, insufficient AC in their homes in some cases, and other quality of life issues.   This year, complaints appear to be on steroids as the worst of the noise-related incidents have already begun, and now include noise from illegal dirt bikes, scooters, and self-amplified speaker systems.   On Tuesday, June 4, one resident of the Knox Place / Gates Place


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