15th Congressional District Race Updates: Torres Lands First Endorsement

By DAVID CRUZ

It’ll be roughly a year from now when voters in the 15th Congressional District will decide who to send to Washington D.C. to represent them in the House of Representatives. Not even a year out, and the race is already crowed, with nine declared candidates (or least opening committees with the Federal Election Commission) laying the groundwork for what’s likely to be a very contentious race. Torres Notches First Endorsement Councilman Ritchie Torres, whose 15th Council District somewhat overlaps with the, landed the race’s first endorsement, locking in the backing of the Equality Caucus’ political agent, the Equality PAC. The

By MICHAEL TURAY

Empty Amstel Light beer cans and used cigar wraps still lie scattered across the front porch of a multi-family home at 306 E. 206th St. between Bainbridge and Perry Avenues, despite the home ordered to be vacant. But there are tiny signs of improvement for a house that has been an eyesore in the Norwood neighborhood. The front door is barricaded by a large piece of wood as three garbage bags filled with trash sit on the porch. Empty buckets for plaster are assembled, mismatched pieces of wood rest against the house, and a disconnected pipe lies on the lawn.

CB7 Sees Mix of New and Veteran Members to Executive Dais

By DAVID CRUZ and SÍLE MOLONEY

Community Board 7 saw a shift in civic power, as Jean Hill, who presided as chair of the northwest Bronx board, was voted out in favor of 31-year-old Norwood resident Emmanuel Martinez, a relative newcomer to the board. Several familiar faces have stayed on the executive dais, likely adding a mix of fresh ideas and institutional knowledge. Martinez currently serves as chair of CB7’s Veterans’ Committee, having recently hosted the annual Veterans’ Day Brunch, now in its third year. It’s unclear what the vote tally was as CB7 continues to ensure the proper vote count was met but 33 board

By DAVID GREENE

This week we asked readers their thoughts on the sweeping new rent laws passed last week in Albany, and if these new laws will affect and protect local residents. The new rent laws are very good; I mean, rent is too exorbitant now. It’s a serious problem. You need two people, [each with a job], just to pay the rent, otherwise you can’t survive. The new laws will protect people from being thrown out by a landlord, so it’s good that the new laws protect us. Teddy Equal Norwood I have been looking for an apartment and I’ve got

Why the CFB’s New Program Could Disrupt Purported 11th CD Race

By DAVID CRUZ

Next year will likely be an election season for the ages. And the New York City Campaign Finance Board (CFB) is preparing so. With 35 New York City Council seats up for grabs, five of which are in the Bronx, more candidates will be on hand (CFB expects 500 candidates), especially those new to politics. Meantime, all five borough presidents, including Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., will have vacancies. Running campaigns is not cheap, leaving many candidates who believe they can make a difference to not even consider the thought. But CFB is looking to undo that by reminding

Merchants falling in the Jerome Gun Hill Business Improvement District (JGHBID), and supporters were on hand for the first-ever Small Business Recognition Barbecue hosted by the BID on June 21. The event honored longstanding or active merchants of the BID. Check out these fantastic shots by Síle Moloney

Bronx Tenants to New NYCHA Chair: Deliver

By CHRISTY RAE AMMONS AND SHA-NIA ALSTON

New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) recently hired Gregory Russ as the new chairman with a salary of over $400,000. Tenants in public housing and city officials are concerned. Russ has managed housing before, but never anything the size of NYCHA. In Minneapolis, he managed 6,300 units, and in Cambridge, Massachusetts, he managed 2,700. NYCHA has 400,000 New Yorkers living in 170,000 apartments, which is a difference of 163,700 units from where Russ started. “He managed a quarter of what NYCHA has,” said Linda Bailey, a tenant in Gun Hill Houses. “How are you going to manage this? What can

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Within moments of Leandra Feliz emerging from a vigil held at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Belmont, on the evening of June 20, ahead of a planned procession to mark the first anniversary of the murder of her 15-year-old son, Lesandro “Junior” Guzman-Feliz, the heavens suddenly burst open. Feliz’s face broke into a broad smile, amid applause from onlookers, as she raised her eyes and arms skyward in an apparent secret moment of connection with her deceased son. Dressed in jeans, boots and a t-shirt depicting an image of Junior, she faced off against the media

The Buzz of a New Mural, Courtesy of UNHP

By MICHAEL TURAY

Alfredo Bennett, commonly known as the Royal KingBee, led the ceremonial ribbon cutting that unveiled his eye-catching mural on a brickwall at 45-57 W. Tremont Ave., a 51-unit apartment complex near Kingsland Plaza in Tremont, on June 19. A round of applause and loud cheers followed as the Bronx native grinned proudly. The mural–a kaleidoscopic honeycomb that includes KingBee’s signature metallic-style bee–included with phrases such as “Reclaim” and “Save our Swarm” spray painted. In a way the mural captures the story of the apartment building, which, in the 1990s, had been completely rundown. This new display is a far cry