Budget Woes Will Cut Deep Into Youth Jobs

New York State’s budget woes are going to take a huge chunk out of the city’s Summer Youth Employment Program, which allows thousands of young people to get their first job experience. The program received a drastic cut in their budget, meaning fewer jobs for kids and increased competition for the jobs available.

Living Wage Campaign Heats Up

The campaign that would require developers of retail projects receiving taxpayer subsidies to pay a living wage — $10 with benefits and $11.50 without — is heating up as advocates press for an April City Council hearing. Council Speaker Christine Quinn has said she would allow hearings on the bill, which has 29 supporters, including every member of the City Council except for James Vacca of the east Bronx.

Local Teens Master Their Trades

A group of teenagers at The COVE (Community Organized with a Vision of Excellence) after-school program started their own businesses projects this year, and showcased the fruits of their labor to family and neighbors earlier this month.

Webster Ave. Rezone Now in Hands of Council

The rezoning of a long, auto shop-strewn stretch of Webster Avenue between Fordham Road and Gun Hill Road is now moving into its final stage — scrutiny from the City Council, which must sign off on the plan.

Norwood Home to ‘Weekend Walks’ This Summer

This summer, East 204th Street, from Bainbridge Avenue to Hull Avenue, will be closed to cars for three consecutive Sundays as the area will host Weekend Walks, a program co-sponsored by Community Board 7 and the Department of Transportation.

New, Improved Foodtown Rises From Ashes

Norwood’s popular Foodtown supermarket which was razed in a suspected incident of arson at the end of 2009 is back in business. The store, now 50 percent larger with many more offerings, has taken up two neighboring storefronts that were home to a diner and a dental office that were also destroyed in the blaze.

Owners: Public Health Grades Good for Business

Sal Calce, owner of Sal’s Pizzeria on Bainbridge Avenue in Norwood, beamed as he talked about how his restaurant, which has called this neighborhood home for the past 31 years, earned an “A” grade during its last inspection by the Health Department. According to a new policy put in place last summer, all city restaurants are required to post their health inspection grades on their storefronts.

Imperiled Cemetery Workers Say They Have Tapes

Woodlawn workers and supporters rallied to save their jobs two years ago after several cemetery employees accused management of racial discrimination. Now four workers have filed a lawsuit against the cemetery.. (Photo by David Greene)

Defiant Woodlawn Cemetery workers and their supporters recently held a boisterous rally to protest the outsourcing of 23 of the cemetery’s 38 caretaker jobs. Cemetery officials say the outsourcing is a necessary cost-cutting move, but workers claim it’s payback for publicizing their concerns about discriminatory practices among supervisors. Now, in an attempt to save their jobs, workers are exploring all options, including legal action and the possible airing of tapes that they say expose discriminatory practices among cemetery supervisors.

Botanical Garden’s New Webster Ave. Parking Garage Coming Along

The Botanical Garden is making progress on its long-delayed new parking garage at Webster Avenue and Bedford Park Boulevard. When open, the garage, next to the Metro-North Botanical Garden station, on the west side of the tracks, will accommodate 800 cars. It will be open to Garden visitors, but also local residents and commuters who use Metro-North.