Four Families Displaced in Bedford Park Fire

By DAVID GREENE

FDNY Fire Marshal’s continues to investigate a fire that quickly ripped through a Bedford Park building, displacing at least four families. Firefighters were called to the three-story building at 3160 Villa Avenue at 11:40 a.m. on Wednesday, February 28. The fire quickly spread to the third-floor, prompting a second alarm response with more than 100 firefighters. The fire was brought under control within 30 minutes and no injuries were reported. The inside of the second and third floors appears gutted and the rest of the building suffered extensive water damage, including a business on the ground floor called Weston United / Bronx S.T.A.R, who’s pledge is,

By DAVID CRUZ

The fifth edition of the Norwood News, primarily covering the northwest Bronx, is out with plenty of community news. We have 16 pages full of news for you to share with your friends, family, and make you the smartest person in the room! We begin with page one and a quality of life inconvenience that is being addressed: loud parties and spurts of violence at Devoe Park in University Heights. Reporter Niall Ridgley reports that it’s the off season now, and Councilman Fernando Cabrera has ordered gates to be installed at nine of the park’s entrances. Hear what residents have

By DAVID CRUZ

Whether in grueling heat-filled days or frigid temperatures, a cadre of activists has been fighting for their communities’ soul. Their communities lie in the heart of Jerome Avenue between 184th and 167th streets. It’s there where the city looks to rezone 92 blocks, the largest rezoning for the Bronx in years. For the last three years, the valley-like neighborhoods—from Mt. Hope to the Grand Concourse—have been studied by the city. They’re home to a largely low-income Hispanic bloc and a concentration of auto mechanics that do business below the rumbling 4 subway line. Hispanics from all backgrounds make up more

At State of the Borough BP Highlights Fixes and the Needs (Web Picture)

By MARY MELLON

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. delivered his ninth State of the Bronx address before an audience of supporters, well-wishers, and fellow elected officials. For nearly 45 minutes, Diaz stood composed as he delivered a speech that largely underscored the borough’s positives while lambasting the city’s shortcomings. But read between the lines, Diaz’s speech also showed his sights set on higher office. “Look at how different things are in this borough today than just a decade ago,” Diaz said. “We have set the bar for the entire nation on transformative urban renewal and development. We are the new standard

By PROF. ANTHONY RIVIECCIO, MBA, PFA

So, now everyone thinks they are a do-it-yourself tax preparer. That’s wonderful! I’m curious: does the box you bought your software in tell you the following: Tax refunds may face additional examination before you receive them. Yes, welcome to Income “Tax Hell Oops” Season 2018-2017 Taxes. While “the loss of deductibility effect” on the new tax laws actually take place for 2018 taxes, President Donald Trump says many are skirting the IRS system now and for this year’s taxes. He says he’s going to do something about it. You’ll need a Social Security number in order to claim certain tax

By DAVID GREENE

Ahead of Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.’s State of the Borough speech on Feb. 22, this week we asked readers what they think is the current state of the Bronx. I haven’t really seen too much improvement, to be honest with you. Maybe it’s a little better, they’ve opened more businesses in the area and that brings more jobs. Housing is still a big problem too, you have two families living in a two-bedroom apartment, which causes overcrowding. When they distribute the funds, we get what trickles down and the Bronx doesn’t get much–it don’t. I believe they’re cutting

By DAVID CRUZ

Dear Fellow Readers, The latest edition of the Norwood News, covering the Bronx, is out with plenty of community news you can use. We’ve published 16 pages worth of great information for the borough’s residents, so let’s get into it. We begin, of course, with page one and an interesting development regarding a homeless shelter plan for Norwood. It seems the New York City Department of Homeless Services responded to pressure from the community by relocating a planned shelter to a different part of Norwood. But now concerns have surfaced over the new location of the shelter, which isn’t exactly near

By DAVID CRUZ

Nathalia Fernandez, a the former chief of staff to former Norwood Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj, has officially announced she’s running for her old boss’s seat in a special election slated for April 24. “I really take my credit to my experience working in the Assembly District,” Fernandez, a Democrat, said in a phone interview with the Norwood News shortly after her campaign staff released a statement announcing her run. Fernandez’s start in politics began in 2012, when she began working on Gjonaj’s campaign for Assembly. In early 2017, Fernandez took a job serving as the Bronx Regional Representative for Governor Andrew Cuomo, a

By DAVID CRUZ

When it came to the more than 15,000 complaints logged to 311 in the Norwood section of the Bronx, tenants at 3525 Decatur Ave. had the most contact with the data-gathering system in 2017, with the bulk of complaints caused by noise. Those were some of the findings determined in an analysis by the Norwood News which reviewed 311 calls filed in Norwood last year. Some questions answered included how long it took a 311 complaint to close, the top 10 buildings with the most 311 complaints in Norwood, what days were most popular to open and close a 311 complaint, and