Blog

Op Ed: Financial Focus – How to Clean Up Your Credit Report in Three Steps

By ANTHONY RIVIECCIO
Normally, when I have clients that want to discuss their credit score, I first let them know that there are many credit agencies out there, and each one rates you differently.   But, of course the same principle applies at each of them. Your credit score will be good or bad, depending on the interpretation of the people and institutions rating your financial situation. Of course you want your score to be high.   How do we do that? In simple terms, we get a copy of your credit report and clean it up! But, it gets much deeper. I


Read More

“Open Streets: Restaurants” Initiative Expands from Weekends to Weekdays

By SÍLE MOLONEY
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Sept. 16 the first weekday expansion of the “Open Streets: Restaurants” initiative. In the meantime, restaurant partner organizations have been organizing temporary street closures across the City to facilitate additional, weekday outdoor dining along select corridors.   Earlier this month, the administration invited BIDs, community-based organizations, and groups of restaurants to submit applications to expand the existing “Open Streets: Restaurants” initiative that combines the existing “Open Streets” and “Open Restaurants” programs. Previously, car-free hours on streets had been limited to weekends.   Expanded “Open Streets: Restaurants” locations in the Bronx which


Read More

Fee Increase for Immigration and Naturalization Services Takes Effect on October 2

By SÍLE MOLONEY
On July 31, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a final rule (PDF) that increases fees for certain “immigration and naturalization benefit requests” to ensure that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), a service which falls under DHS, recovers the cost of the services it provides. The increases become effective Oct. 2, 2020.   According to DHS, unlike most government agencies, USCIS is fee funded. Fees collected and deposited into the Immigration Examinations Fee Account fund nearly 97 percent of its budget.   As required by federal law, USCIS conducted a comprehensive biennial fee review and determined that the


Read More

Fernandez, Other Elected Officials to Hold Rally Denouncing Hate in Community, after Mural Defacing

By SÍLE MOLONEY
On Friday Sept. 18, a mural, located at 296 East 204th Street in the Norwood section of the Bronx, painted to support Black trans lives, was found defaced with hate speech against the LGBTQ+ community. The attached photo has been cropped to exclude expletives.   This #BlackTransLivesMatter mural was created by us earlier this summer we made it with love + joy among all the hate so this all hurts we are mourning + surviving continued violence against our communities, we won't be erased, we keep us safe not the nypd #blacktransloveiswealth — BlackTransMedia (@BlackTransMedia) September 19, 2020   Assemblywoman


Read More

Espaillat, Bailey, Dinowitz & Cohen join Montefiore Health System for Community Flu Shot Event

By SÍLE MOLONEY
On Sept. 18, Congress Member Adriano Espaillat, Senator Jamaal Bailey, Assembly Member Jeffrey Dinowitz and Council Member Andy Cohen joined Montefiore Health System for a community flu shot event at Mosholu Montefiore Community Center.   Congressman Adriano Espaillat received his shot on-site. Montefiore, Duane Reade and Walgreens are working together to keep Bronxites healthy this flu season by offering low to no-cost flu shots where community members live, work, and play.   According to Montefiore Heath System, the following are the top concerns Bronx residents have shared about getting a seasonal flu (influenza) vaccination, as well as the facts on


Read More

Alternate Side Parking Reforms to Continue Until Further Notice

By SÍLE MOLONEY
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Sept. 18 that reforms to Alternate Side Parking (ASP) would be in place until further notice. The City first unveiled the reform in June, announcing that non-metered side streets with multiple ASP days would be cleaned once per week, the most dramatic change to ASP in decades.   Amended rules pertain to non-metered residential “side streets” and not to commercial areas. Streets with multiple ASP days would be cleaned on the last day of the week, as posted on each street’s currently posted sign. For example, a street with ASP regulations posted


Read More

Lehman College Hosts Virtual Screening of PBS Documentary “College Behind Bars”

By SÍLE MOLONEY
A Lehman College program (Reentry@Lehman) that serves students who have been affected by the criminal justice system, hosts the fourth and final screening of the PBS award-winning documentary, “College Behind Bars”on Thursday, Sept. 17 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.   The 55-minute screening will be followed by a panel discussion with film producer, Salimah El-Amin, Lehman College President Daniel Lemons, and Reentry@Lehman members. The documentary is a four-part PBS film series by Lynn Novick that follows incarcerated people through rigorous college programming while exploring how education transforms lives and impacts criminal justice.   “The four-hour series, distilled from nearly


Read More

Former New York City Schools Official Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Charge

By SÍLE MOLONEY
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger of the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on September 15, 2020, David A. Hay, 40, most recently of Brooklyn, New York, entered a guilty plea to a charge of receiving child pornography. Most recently, Hay served as Deputy Chief of Staff to the New York City Chancellor of Schools.   According to court filings, in May of 2010, while living and employed in the Eastern District of Wisconsin, David A. Hay exchanged emails with a 15-year-old child. During the course of these communications, the defendant received sexually explicit digital images and videos from


Read More