Inquiring Photographer: Thoughts on How to Spend “The People’s Money”

By DAVID GREENE

As the Adams administration launches the “The People’s Money” initiative, as reported, whereby mayoral officials are seeking citywide input from all New Yorkers on how to spend funding of $5 million in funding made available by the Mayor’s office, we asked readers how these funds could best be spent on programs, events and services for the community. “Oh, well, I believe there should be more youth programs in the area, and also self-defense programs for the youth and for women, so they’re able to defend themselves, a community center, and you could have retired NYPD officers or FDNY

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT

When Sonya Ferguson started to do the math on how much it was costing her to fill up her pre-paid debit card, she wondered if there was a better way. Her main method of banking consisted of check cashing outlets and pawn shops. Recalling a recent experience, she said, “I asked for a pre-pay card, and they said ‘$10.’ I said ‘Ok, I want to put $100 on it.’ They said ‘$5, you have to pay to put $100 on your pre-pay card.’ I said, ‘But it’s my card!’” Ferguson said she realized she didn’t have enough money for

By SÍLE MOLONEY

New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced the launch, on Sept. 14, of The People’s Money initiative, a citywide participatory budgeting process, whereby New Yorkers decide how to spend allotted funds to improve their local communities. Now, the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA), NYC Civic Engagement Commission (CEC) are highlighting an upcoming series of boroughwide, idea generation sessions on “The People’s Money.” At these five borough-based, idea generation sessions, CEC and local partners will invite residents to represent their neighborhood in the participatory budgeting (PB) process and decide how to spend specific mayoral expense funding of $5 million

By DAVID GREENE

An unarmed Bronx bank robber who police say was captured earlier this month shortly after a heist on East Fordham Road in Fordham Manor, when a dye pack hidden in some stolen cash exploded and splashed distinctive red ink on the robber’s body and clothes, has now been charged in four similar crimes. As reported, officers from the 52nd Precinct were called to the Capital One Bank, located at 151 East Fordham Road and East 190th Street at 1:15 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 14, for a report of a bank robbery. According to police radio transmission at the time

By SÍLE MOLONEY

NYC Department of Housing, Preservation & Development (HPD) has launched a new affordable housing lottery for units at 740 Brook Avenue, a 9-story, mixed-use building in the Woodstock neighborhood of the South Bronx as reported by YIMBY . Brook Avenue Apartments is offering 42 newly constructed studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom affordable units. As previously reported, housing is considered “affordable” if it costs about one-third or less of what the people living in that area earn. Both income eligibility and rent for City-financed affordable housing projects are based on a measure called Area Median Income (AMI). The AMI

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The NYPD is asking for the public’s help identifying the person seen in the attached video and photos who is being sought in connection to an assault on an on-duty MTA employee that occurred in Kingsbridge Heights. An NYPD spokesperson said that on Friday, Sept. 23, at 10.48 a.m. in the vicinity of West 195th Street and Reservoir Avenue, an unidentified woman who was with a young child approached an MTA bus driver while on the BX32 bus to ask a question. A verbal dispute ensued and resulted in the woman allegedly spraying the bus driver with an

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Building applications have been filed with NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) for a new, 7-story, residential building at 1827 Waterloo Place in the Crotona section of The Bronx, as reported by YIMBY. Located between East 175th and East 176th Streets, the lot is closest to the 174th Street subway station, serviced by the 2 and 5 trains. Elena Borokhovich of Affordable Living NY is listed as the owner behind the applications, according to YIMBY. The proposed 65-foot-tall development will yield 14,570 square feet designated for residential space. The building will have 23 residences, most likely rentals based on

By SÍLE MOLONEY

NYC Department of Buildings After Hours Do you have questions about a building project? Drop by NYC Department of Buildings After Hours event to chat one-on-one with DOB experts for solutions and guidance on your project every Tuesday night! When you need straight answers to your buildings-related questions, sometimes it is better to talk with the experts face to face. That’s why DOB introduced “Buildings After Hours,” a weekly event offering in-person advice and services to New Yorkers every Tuesday at each of its borough offices. Learn more at https://on.nyc.gov/3tm0BAB. A Kingsbridge Armory Visioning Workshop will be held on Nov.

By JULIAN ROBERTS-GRMELA

Ahead of Election Day, Nov. 8, and in a bid perhaps to win over his future constituents in New York’s redrawn 15th Congressional District, Rep. Ritchie Torres has said one of his highest priorities is to provide small businesses with access to capital. The Democratic congressman was speaking at a virtual forum held on Thursday, Oct. 13, hosted by Biz2Credit, an NYC-based lending company for small businesses. Torres appeared as a guest alongside Long Island Republican, Rep. Andrew Garbarino. “One of my strongest priorities is to ensure that we are doing everything we can in Congress to support the