Update: Safety Bollards Designed to Protect Pedestrians Becoming a Nightmare for Drivers

By DAVID GREENE

It’s perhaps still too early to tell if a New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) bollard pilot program designed to protect pedestrians from moving traffic will be successful in the long-term, but initial findings show that it’s creating a nightmare for some drivers, and appears to be causing a number of vehicle accidents. The installation of bollards – two-foot high, cylindrical-shaped barricades placed along streets and traffic islands around the city – has become a hot topic of debate online among Bronx drivers. The bollard program was launched by DOT at the end of 2019. Among some of

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced on Friday, March 26, that changes to the D line are planned in April due to inspection of the Manhattan Bridge by the New York State Department of Transportation, as well as track maintenance work by NYC Transit personnel. The works will require the complete closure of the tracks used by the B and D trains between Brooklyn and Manhattan, and changes to Bronx and Manhattan subway services over two weekends in April. On the weekends of April 16-19, and April 23-26, beginning at 11:30 p.m. Friday until 2 a.m. Monday, D

By SÍLE MOLONEY

On Thursday March 25, 2021, at approximately 11 a.m., Franco Johnson, a 42-year-old, off-duty, NYPD detective, was arrested and charged in the 52nd precinct with six counts of sexual abuse, two counts of “course of sexual conduct against a child” and two counts of acting in a manner injurious to a child. According to the NYPD Online system which now tracks police misconduct records, there are no complaints on file for Johnson. We found just one listing for a detective under the name Franco A. Johnson. The Twitter user group “placard corruption” which tweets regularly about alleged illegal

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Tonight, March 25, DC 37 Executive Director Henry Garrido, 32BJ President Kyle Bragg, Department of Health & Mental Hygiene Deputy Commissioner Dr. Torian Easterling and AdvantageCare Physicians President and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Navarra Rodriguez will host a discussion about the COVID-19 vaccine. They will be answering questions from DC 37 and 32BJ members and sharing resources to help members make an appointment to get vaccinated. Earlier this month, Garrido and Bragg received the first dose of the vaccine. They will get their second dose on Friday, March 26. WHAT: Facebook Live to answer questions on the COVID-19

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The New York City Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in locating Clifton James, 30, of 1395 Nelson Avenue, who has been reported missing and who lives in the 44th precinct. It was reported to police that James was last seen Wednesday, March 24, 2021 at 4 p.m., walking southbound on Nelson Avenue towards the Edward L. Grant Highway. He is described as being approximately 5 feet, 5 inches tall, weighs 135 pounds, has a thin build, light complexion, brown eyes and black hair, and was last observed walking barefoot. Anyone with information with regard to this missing person

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Council Member Fernando Cabrera, who represents the 14th City Council District, issued the following statement on Thursday, March 25, in remembrance of the victims of the 1990 Happy Land Social Club Fire, in which the lives of 87 members of the Honduran and Garifuna community were tragically lost. As reported by The New York Times, the victims died when a jealous lover set a fire at the Happy Land Social Club in the West Farms section of the Bronx. “On this day in 1990, 87 Bronx lives were tragically lost, mostly members of the Honduran and Garifuna community. The

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The New York City Police Department announced on Wednesday, March 24, a new online system the public can use to report certain, low-level police complaints. The new NYPD On-Line Reporting Service system is operational on the department’s website— NYPDonline.org – for acceptance of complaints relating to lost property, petit larceny, misdemeanor criminal mischief and graffiti. Department officials said it is the latest in a series of innovations designed to deepen the digital links between New Yorkers and their police. The agency confirmed that it has recently placed career and discipline information about all 35,000 officers online, has published a

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The New York City Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the vehicle and individuals seen in the attached video and photographs in connection to a reckless endangerment incident that occurred in the 47th precinct. It was reported to police that on Friday, March 12, 2021, at approximately 5.36 p.m., at Magenta Playground (Olinville Avenue and Rosewood Street) in the Olinville section of the Bronx, near Gun Hill Houses, an individual discharged several rounds from a firearm into a crowd inside of the playground. The individual fled southbound on Olinville Road on a scooter operated by

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The New York City Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in ascertaining the whereabouts of the unidentified man seen in the attached video who is sought in connection with an assault (non-fatal shooting) in the 47th precinct. It was reported to police that on March 21, 2021 at 10.08 p.m., at 3454 Fenton Avenue in the Williamsbridge section of the Bronx, the victim, a 30-year-old man, was hanging out in front of the location when he was approached by the suspect who produced a firearm and discharged multiple rounds. The suspect then fled on foot, westbound