Wave of Construction Picks Up Norwood & Bedford Park

By DAVID CRUZ and ALONDRA VASQUEZ

Along the neighborhoods of Norwood and Bedford Park, jackhammers can be heard repeatedly jutting concrete. It’s the sound many have heard before, though in the last few months, as warmer temperatures climb, it’s become the norm. Yes, Norwood and Bedford Park are undergoing another wave of construction. And it’s not just multi-story projects that have swept the neighborhoods, but smaller-scale projects that have either knocked out spots, forced residents to walk in the street, or pose the question, “What is happening?” The projects add to the 1,020 residential construction or infrastructure projects changing the overall landscape of Norwood and Bedford

At Rally for Blake, Supporters Outline 15th Congressional District's Issues

By DAVID CRUZ

At the epicenter of a district partially on the mend, Assemblyman Michael Blake, who officially declared a run for Congress for the 15th Congressional District, told supporters he sought to remove the label that the district is the country’s poorest. “I’m not proud of that,” said Blake, standing before supporters on a stage erected on East 134th Street between Alexander Avenue and Bruckner Boulevard. Serving as the nation’s most impoverished district has prevailed since the current seat-holder, Congressman Jose Serrano–who announced he’ll retire after his current 15th term is up–took office in 1990. While the quality of life within the

Neighborhood Notes: Free Immigration Service

By PROF. ANTHONY RIVIECCIO, MBA PFA

An IPO, or an Initial Public Offering, is when a private company decides to go public. Why would a company do this? Many reasons, but two are 1) to show fundamental success and 2) a needed increase of cash flow by selling of their securities Uber, the car-sharing company just became public. It is a company that many say is reinventing the taxi space. It is a new, cute and revolutionary business model. Hire independent drivers, set up appointments via your cell phone through phone apps and the Internet, and voila! Your ride is waiting outside. The private money world

By DAVID CRUZ

Dear Fellow Readers, The year’s tenth edition of the Norwood News is out with plenty of great community news stories to dive into. There’s never a dull moment in the Bronx, and we’ve captured a good chunk of it. And as usual, we’ll start with page one! Our front-page story looks at the results of the annual Participatory Budgeting process that’s become a staple for Councilman Andrew Cohen. The results were unveiled on May 6, with some surprising results. Read the story by Emily Suzanne Lever and myself. Inside the cover you’ll find a piece on Assemblyman Michael Blake, who has ties

The $1 Million in Participatory Budgeting Results Are...

By EMILY SUZANNE LEVER and DAVID CRUZ

Norwood Councilman Andrew Cohen announced on May 6 that he’ll be contributing funds for bus countdown clocks, pothole repairs, and technology upgrades for public libraries as per the public through Participatory Budgeting initiative. The projects add up to $600,000, part of the $1 million the public has a direct say in spending through the initiative. The lion’s share, about $400,000, will go towards safety upgrades at Woodlawn Playground, with no specific projects for Norwood, unlike years before, which saw improvements to the Mosholu Public Library. “No projects specific to Norwood were available to vote on,” said Cohen, at a news

The Bronx Develops: South Bronx Waterfront Projects Spark Fears of Gentrification

By DAVID CRUZ

If the Democratic candidates vying for the seat in the 15th Congressional District intend to secure votes in that district, they may want to take a look at figures that can help mold their strategies in the early days of this race. The Norwood News broke down those figures contenders might want to take a look at that could influence their strategy in the early days of this race: Formal Candidates: Four candidates have formally declared in the order in which they declared: community organizer Jonathan Ortiz, Councilman Ruben Diaz Sr. of the 18th Council District, mentor Tomas Ramos, and

By DAVID CRUZ

Dear Fellow Readers, The year’s ninth edition of the Norwood News is out with plenty of community news you can use. There’s 20 pages full of great stories impacting the Bronx. And as usual, we’ll start with page one! Our front-page story has Mosholu Preservation Corporation (publisher of the Norwood News), asking a question: what are Norwood’s consumer needs? Norwood residents and stakeholders offered their take at a workshop that happened April16. But read about the needs from those who didn’t attend the workshop. We’ve picked up patterns. Inside the cover you’ll find a piece on Norwood Councilman Andrew Cohen

By DAVID CRUZ

The race for the 15th Congressional District seat may be more than a year away, but it’s already the hottest political ticket, with another politico jumping into the race. Assemblyman Michael Blake, the 79th Assembly District representative for the West Bronx and the vice chair of the Democratic National Committee, announced a run for the seat, which will be left vacant by the long-time officeholder, Congressman Jose Serrano. Serrano, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, announced last month that he will not seek re-election. Blake’s rollout of his announcement veered away from standard rollouts. It was made via email while

How Residents and Merchants Are Defining Norwood's Consumer Needs

By DAVID CRUZ

By many accounts, Norwood’s commercial corridors represent a vibrant mix of mom and pop shops that largely comprise the makeup of the northwest Bronx neighborhood. And its commercial ranges are wide. There’s Hillside Meat Market, a staple in Norwood for more than 30 years, abutting La Mexicana Grocery, which caters to Norwood’s Hispanic population. But it doesn’t mean the corridor cannot do without add-ons or more stores. The question of what’s Norwood’s next big idea stood as the key question posed to residents by Mosholu Preservation Corporation (MPC), the 38-year nonprofit support corporation of Montefiore Health System (and publisher of