After Violations, Tequilaz in Norwood Closes

History of Violence and Health Violations Force Closure of Tequilaz

By YARA PALIN

A popular go-to spot in Norwood permanently closed after a number of infractions were reported including selling alcohol to minors and numerous health violations. Tequilaz at 3489 Jerome Ave. had closed days before it lost their liquor license on Nov. 8. This followed three reports of illegal activities, says the New York State Liquor Authority (SLA). The NYPD reported that a large fight broke out inside the restaurant that spilled onto Jerome Avenue during an inspection on Oct. 22. This is in violation of The Alcoholic Beverage Control Law which bars licensees from allowing their premises to become disorderly. Prior

Latest Edition of the Norwood News is Out!

By DAVID CRUZ

Dear Fellow Readers, The 22nd edition of the Norwood News , covering the Norwood section of the Bronx and its surrounding neighborhoods, is out! You can find them at 300 locations across the borough. We begin, of course, with page one and the election of now Councilman-elect Mark Gjonaj. Gjonaj, the Democratic nominee in the race for the 13th Council District, won his seat after spending $1 million. That number is significant since Council races ever get to that threshold. Find out who are some possible contenders for the soon-to-be vacant Assembly seat covering Norwood. Other inside the cover stories include Bronx

Neighborhood Notes: Free Immigration Service

By DAVID GREENE

This week we asked readers exiting voting sites about their general experience on this Election Day. It was good because I came out early today, so I was in and out. They were very helpful. They had me in the back, and I’m all done. I’m not sure about the voter turnout today, and I don’t like the mayor. Jacqueline Alvarez Pelham Bay They were very helpful and had no lines. It was very organized, and the process was equally distributed in terms of workload so it was very efficient. No, I didn’t see any Russians. I don’t know

By WENDY JOAN BIDDLECOMBE

All that cash ultimately paid off. Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj, who set a new record for City Council spending, was elected to represent the 13th Council District on Election Night, securing 49 percent of the vote, and effectively opening his Norwood Assembly seat. Gjonaj, an Albanian American from Morris Park, defeated Republican challenger John Cerini, an accountant and community leader from Throggs Neck, as well as Marjorie Velazquez, the 82nd Assembly District Female Leader and Community Board 10 treasurer who ran on the Working Families Party ticket. Velazquez was backed by the current holder of the seat, the term-limited Councilman Jimmy

Garbage Truck Slams into Pedestrian in Norwood, Killing Him

By DAVID CRUZ

Detectives from the NYPD’s Collision Investigation Squad are still putting together the events leading up to an early morning truck accident that took the life of the still-unidentified man. Police say the victim was struck and killed by a dump truck, at 5:06 a.m. on Nov. 7, at the intersection of Jerome Avenue and East Gun Hill Road in Norwood. He was pronounced dead at the scene. After a preliminary investigation, investigators determined, “a 33 year-old male was operating a 2010 Peterbilt dump truck when the unidentified male mounted the front step (of the truck) and attempted to hold onto the right

Getting Into Nitty Gritty of Kingsbridge Ice Project Loan

By AARON MAYORGA

State officials are in the midst of finalizing a $138 million capital loan to the developers of the Kingsbridge National Ice Center (KNIC) after a five-member board approved the measure during their latest meeting. During its Oct. 18 meeting, the Public Authorities Control Board (PACB), which supervises the activities of New York’s numerous public benefit corporations, unanimously approved the general project plan outlined by the state’s Empire State Development (ESD) agency. In addition to the $138 million loan commitment, the ESD plan also includes $26.4 million in historic tax credits and an additional $20.7 million in “other preferred equity.” All

Editorial: Who Will You Hire This Election Year?

Nov. 7 will be the day you exercise your right to vote. In the Bronx there are 11 contests (not counting citywide), most of which have already been won, thanks to the power the September primary has on the Bronx. The general election simply formalizes those victories. The race for Mayor is largely along the same line. In the August 31-September 13 edition of the Norwood News, we wrote that the incumbent, Mayor Bill de Blasio, is likely going to win the general election namely since the two challengers, Republican Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis, and Independent Richard “Bo” Dietl, carry very

City Steps in to Aid Troubled Kingsbridge Hts. Building

By YARA PALIN

The city has aggressively stepped in to help tenants of a troubled Kingsbridge Heights apartment building who were reportedly forced to share a single bathroom for weeks. The superintendent for 60 E. 196th St., Cristian Rico, says that conditions first reported by the New York Post were exaggerated. He insists that The Morgan Group, which own the building, has only been renovating after the city ordered them to fix faulty. There are still two official stop work orders posted on the front door, however. He also says that the stop work order was given because “tenants were using one bathroom

Bronx Car Dealer Aids Puerto Rico’s Hurricane Victims

By STEPHANIE LUCIANO

LaSorsa Chevrolet Dealership announced their collection efforts for victims of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico were successful. The auto group on the corner of East Gun Hill Road and Webster Avenue in Norwod collected hurricane donations for the past two months through Oct. 27 with a portion of donations coming from the recent Hurricane Relief Concert held at East 204th Street and Webster Avenue. With the help of local residents, they’ve received an abundance of water, clothing and nonperishable goods. Satisfied with the amount of donations received, John A. LaSorsa, CEO of the dealership, told the Norwood News he was