13th Congressional Forum in Norwood Puts Focus on Muslim Demographic

Candidates in the race for the 13th Congressional District seat, sprinting to secure votes ahead of the June primary, gathered to address community concerns in a debate framed as a town hall forum. Organized by the Muslim community, the forum featured two hours of outbursts, gang-ups, and comings and goings. The crowded field of candidates, including Mike Gallagher, Clyde Williams, ambassador-at-large Suzan Johnson Cook, state Senator Adriano Espaillat, Sam Sloan, Adam Clayton Powell IV, state Assemblyman Keith Wright, and Yohanny Caceres, converged at the Sanctuary Grand Hall at 2773 Webster Ave. in Norwood to plead their stances at the event

By NOAH BERMAN

Oh baby! In a combined initiative by the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx (NCB) has been deemed “baby friendly.” “The ‘Baby Friendly’ designation demonstrates that North Central Bronx provides the highest levels of care to both mothers and babies,” acting hospital chief executive officer Maureen Pode said. “Patients are in the best hands from the moment they walk through our doors as we set the standard in supporting and maintaining excellence in maternity and neonatal care,” she said. The label was designed to recognize hospitals that demonstrate

By DAVID GREENE

In light of a major gang bust in the Bronx, this week we asked readers their thoughts on street gangs in the Bronx and how to fix this major issue. I had a problem with gangs and I had to move in 1986 from my place on Westchester Avenue and Jackson Avenue. It’s different now; it’s much better now. Everyone does everything now quiet, but there are more gangs today. You don’t see it like you did in the 1980s. I don’t see any gang movement today, but we have a lot of drugs in the area. Rafael Ojeda Bedford

By DAVID CRUZ

A pair of rallies, held on different days, focused on the Kingsbridge National Ice Center (KNIC). But while one called for the city to finally hand over the keys to the ice center developers, another once again urged the public to know the consequences should it be built. People Power Movement, a progressive grassroots group, staged a rally on May 1, a date corresponding with the yearly May Day, also known as International Workers Day. A group of people (picture left) stood in front of the Kingsbridge Armory, the purported site of the impending Kingsbridge National Ice Center, calling on

By JASMINE GOMEZ

Residents of 11th Council District should expect new district-wide improvements including bus count-down clocks and security cameras, thanks to Councilman Andrew Cohen’s participatory budgeting process. Cohen gathered with volunteers and community organizers at the Rambling House bar/restaurant in Woodlawn to announce the results of the process in which local residents vote on what community improvement projects to spend a portion of his 2017 fiscal year budget on. In a yearlong process, residents of Council District 11 were able to discuss and propose ideas that would appear on the final ballot after a review by volunteers and city agencies. After the

By DAVID GREENE

Police are looking for a clumsy troublemaker who allegedly attempted to set fire to a local tavern this past Mother’s Day, but accidentally set his cohort ablaze, say witnesses. NYPD units from the 52nd Precinct and members of FDNY’s Battalion 15 responded to a report of a fire at the Woodlawn Café at 3700 Bainbridge Ave., by the Woodlawn Cemetery train stop at 9 p.m. on May 8. NYPD spokeswoman Arlene Muñoz said police were looking for the “unknown person who started a fire intentionally to an occupied building… and the case is being investigated by the Fire Marshal.” Witnesses, who

By DAVID CRUZ

POLICE ARE SEARCHING for this masked thief wanted for the brazen bank robbery at the Chase Bank at 3408 Jerome Ave. on May 7 just after 9 a.m. Police say the thief, wearing a mask, waited 10 minutes inside the bank before approaching a teller, brandishing a black gun from his waistband and demanding cash. After getting the money, the thief fled. Police describe the suspect as approximately 30 years old, medium complexion and weighing 180 pounds. He was last seen wearing a red hoodie, blue jeans and black sneakers. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Crime Stoppers

By DAVID CRUZ

On his third day as the newest commanding officer of the 52nd Precinct, Deputy Inspector Peter Fiorillo emphasized the relationship between community and police can only strengthen and “better the community.” “It’ll also probably make the officers’ work a little bit easier and more efficient,” said Fiorillo, addressing residents at the latest 52nd Precinct Community Council meeting, a public forum where residents voice crime-related concerns with the precinct’s top officers. At the meeting, Fiorillo got a taste of everyday issues happening in the Five-Two, a stationhouse covering Norwood, Bedford Park, Kingsbridge, University Heights and parts of Fordham. Crime has

It seems ages that I’ve been cooped up in this small dark wet space. I don’t even know how I got here in the first place. But the longer I’m here, the less room I seem to have. I can hardly get around. I used to be able to stretch out, move around, punch, kick, do whatever I felt like, but I can’t anymore. I used to like it here, no one bothered me. I ate and slept whenever I wanted. I had no one to answer to. I could hear light pleasant sounds even though I couldn’t see very