Bronx CB7 Residents Discuss Vaccination Shortages as Borough Sees Highest 7-Day Average Rate

By DAWN CLANCY

On Jan. 31, as reported by Norwood News, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and the City’s taskforce on racial inclusion and equity announced a plan to prioritize vaccine availability to an expanded list of 33 neighborhoods hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. The initial list of priority neighborhoods already included parts of the Northwest Bronx like Fordham Heights, Fordham Manor, University Heights, Kingsbridge, and Kingsbridge Heights. The expanded list now includes the Bronx neighborhoods of Williamsbridge, Baychester and Edenwald. Also previously included were Mott Haven and Melrose, Belmont and East Tremont, Parkchester and Soundview, Highbridge and Concourse,

By DAVID GREENE

This week, we asked readers for their thoughts on “de-platforming” conspiracy theorists who have spread misinformation on conventional social media sites like Twitter and Facebook. We asked readers if such people then congregate on alternative social media platforms like Parler, will this just ultimately create silos of people with opposing views operating in their own echo chambers. “The Bible talks about a time when right will be called wrong and wrong will be called right. We are in that time. Twitter allows child porn, but anything from conservatives, Donald Trump or others is banned. Of course, Trump and

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Bronx Community Board 7 (CB7) confirmed on Thursday, Feb. 4 that the Yankee Stadium COVID-19 vaccination site will open Feb. 5. Appointment slots are available now at the link below for Bronx residents only. CB 7 said it is expected the vaccination doses will go quickly. The use of the stadium is a joint effort between New York State, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, The Yankees, Somos Community Care, and the New York National Guard, and it is hoped the site will help expedite vaccine distribution and alleviate the borough’s sustained battle against the spread of

By DAVID GREENE

At least one resident of a Dekalb Avenue building in Norwood had a close call after he said his kitchen exploded for no apparent reason, prompting a substantial response from police, firefighters and paramedics. According to the FDNY, the incident was reported at 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 23. In an initial call from an NYPD dispatcher that was rebroadcast over the Citizens App, the dispatcher reported, “52 precinct, unconfirmed 59-explosion, 3521 Dekalb Avenue.” The dispatcher added, “Explosion in the kitchen; cabinets have been blown out.” Video from the Citizens App showed several fire trucks and an NYPD

By DAVID GREENE & SÍLE MOLONEY

When members of the Bedford Mosholu Community Association (BMCA) held their usual, virtual, monthly meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 6, concerns were raised over the impact of New York Botanical Garden’s (NYBG) plans for two new housing developments at East Bedford Park Boulevard and Webster Avenue, which form part of a 2011 re-zoning plan to revitalize 88 blocks of Webster Avenue. According to Barbara Stronczer, president of BMCA, and as reported by the Norwood News, the $93 million housing and retail project was due to incorporate 188 reduced-income apartments for seniors at 2856 Webster Avenue in 2020. This was to

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Mino Lora, candidate for City Council in the 11th District in The Bronx, and previously profiled by the Norwood News, picked up the endorsement of City Councilman and Deputy Leader Jimmy Van Bramer on Jan. 26. Lora is running in the March 23rd special election in the district. Van Bramer is chair of the City Council Committee on Cultural Affairs and Libraries, co-founder of the Council’s progressive caucus, co-chair of the Council’s budget negotiating team and a candidate for Queens Borough President. Lora is an educator and the executive director of the People’s Theatre Project. Van Bramer said that

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The New York City Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in ascertaining the whereabouts of Jazelle Phifer, 16, of 2970 Bainbridge Avenue, who was reported missing on Monday, Feb 1, in Bedford Park, in the 52nd precinct. Jazelle was last seen at her home at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021. She is described as female, Black, 5 feet, 5 inches tall, weighs 180 pounds and was last seen wearing all dark clothing. Anyone with information with regard to this missing person is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Jessica Haller, candidate in the District 11 City Council race, for which a special election is set for March 23, announced on Feb. 2 that she has contracted the coronavirus. Saying that, normally, she wouldn’t share information about her health, Haller, nonetheless, said she felt like it was important to let residents know what was going on with her family. “Even having adhered rigorously to mask-wearing and other guidelines, I have contracted COVID,” she wrote in a written press release. “I may have been exposed during a medical appointment. At the same time, coincidentally, my daughter, who is studying

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The Board of Trustees of The City University of New York (CUNY) voted on Monday, Feb. 1, to appoint Dr. Fernando Delgado, executive vice chancellor for Academic Affairs at the University of Minnesota Duluth, as the next president of Lehman College. Dr. Delgado’s appointment will be effective July 1. Reacting to the announcement, Delgado said he was honored to be selected for the role and fully embraces the college’s mission of access and student success. “As the child of immigrants and a first-generation college graduate, I relate very personally to the values of Lehman and CUNY, what they offer