Op-Ed, Financial Focus: You Have a New Job – The Unemployment Telephone Line

By PROFESSOR ANTHONY RIVIECCIO, MBA PFA

When people got laid off in an earlier time, you would never see any lines at the unemployment exchange. They were in cyberspace. States would process unemployment claims by telephone and via the internet. While success varied from state to state, I’m sure many would say, except for some minor glitches, people would start to receive assistance within three weeks of applying. Welcome to Coronavirus 2020 – where now it might take you three weeks – just to apply. The phone lines are jammed. You might get disconnected. Even worse, when completing the application online, you may find

By Síle Moloney

Born on Sep. 4, 1928, Muriel, “Mickey” Axelbank, beloved mother to the always upbeat, and popular BronxNet TV host, Gary Axelbank, died early on Saturday, Apr. 4. A stalwart figure in her local community, Mrs Axelbank, 91, was active in the Kingsbridge Riverdale Van Cortlandt Development Corporation, leading events at the Van Cortlandt Jewish Center, and on the Joint Community Activities Council at Amalgamated Housing Cooperative, where she helped serve holiday meals and lead a games program for senior citizens. Under normal circumstances, Axelbank, along with his brothers Arthur and Jeffrey, would have envisaged a large gathering at his

Muriel “Mickey” Axelbank, 91, who was beloved by her devoted family and the broader community and well-respected as an early childhood educator, died early Saturday, Apr. 4, 2020. Mickey led a stellar life of more than nine decades and was widely revered as an exceptional woman with a big heart that touched everyone around her. Mickey’s mother immigrated to America alone on a boat at the age of 16. Mickey’s father died when she was just two, and she was raised with her older sister in a building across the street from the George Washington Bridge by her mother and

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT

As a steady stream of customers enters Craft Empanadas on East Gun Hill Road, the blue tape on the floor reminds them to stay six feet apart. “We are an essential business and I’m happy we can stay open,” said Ricky Rodriguez. Along with his wife, Shary, the couple prepare 188 different flavors of empanadas at the Norwood location that opened in June 2018. Although happy to stay open for business, Rodriguez acknowledges that the restrictions associated with the coronavirus have severely reduced his daily sales. “Before, we used to average about 400 empanadas a day, but now

By Síle Moloney

An assailant wearing a mask punched an unsuspecting police officer, while his partner attempted to arrest another man wanted for robbery in University Heights on Tuesday. A separate altercation ensued shortly afterwards between a female member of the public and a police officer at the same location. Some of the fracas has been captured on video and is circulating on social media. The news comes as NYPD’s resources continue to be stretched due to absences tied to the coronavirus, as well as additional obligations relating to social distancing enforcement during the COVID-19 crisis. Police said that at approximately

From Wednesday, Apr. 1 to Wednesday, Apr. 15, the BX1, BX2 bus stop located at the west side of Grand Concourse and Clifford Place going southbound, will be temporarily relocated 100 feet south on Grand Concourse and Cross Bronx Bridge Expressway. Signage will be posted by the contractor advising customers of the relocation. This restriction is beginning at 7:00 a.m., and will be effective 24 hours around the clock (Weekends included). This restriction is necessary in order to facilitate the installation of the Bus Pad. The relocation is needed while the City’s department of design and construction work on

By David Greene

Despite non-stop news coverage, an unprecedented public awareness campaign, and the enormous public health threat caused by the coronavirus pandemic, some Bronxites are still finding it difficult to get tested, locate a testing site, or even get someone on the phone to answer questions. Wakefield carpenter Bruce Bennett, 56, said he’s been calling the City’s health department and 311 for so long, he now believes that if he had the infection, it has probably gone away already. He also called an out-of-state number he had seen on TV. During a telephone interview on Wednesday, Apr. 8, Bennett said, “I’ve

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Wednesday, April 8, during his daily COVID-19 briefing that all New Yorkers would be able to apply for an absentee ballot for the June 23 primary and special elections. The governor’s still-pending executive order is expected to codify the third and final component of legislation circulated by Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz (A.D. 81), which called for expanding absentee ballot eligibility to include registered voters who are, “unable or averse to appear personally at polling places due to imminent, impending or urgent disease outbreak, including but not limited to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).” Dinowitz

Councilman Fernando Cabrera Looks to Unseat AOC

On Wednesday, Apr. 8, Council Member Fernando Cabrera issued the following statement on racial disparities in COVID-19 fatalities, with hispanic deaths highest. “The numbers released tell a disgraceful story. What we in low-income communities of color have suspected all along is finally out in the open. There is a tremendous racial disparity in the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic in New York City and throughout the United States. In New York City, Hispanics are 34% of COVID-19 fatalities but only 29% of the population. African-Americans are 28% of fatalities but only 22% of the population. Compared to whites