Crime

Fair Chance For Housing Act Divides New Yorkers as Mayor Hails PACT Program in Addressing Needed NYCHA Upgrades

By ARIEL PACHECO
The following is an extended version of the story that appears in our latest print edition.   Protestors from across the five boroughs gathered on the steps of City Hall on Dec. 7 to rally against Intro. 632, a bill that, if passed, would prohibit some building owners and landlords from conducting background checks on prospective tenants at any point during the rental process. The bill has been named the “Fair Chance for Housing Act,” and its supporters say it is needed in order to give the formerly incarcerated who have served their time the opportunity to find housing, as


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Off-Duty NYC Department of Homeless Services Employee Arrested for Menacing

By SÍLE MOLONEY
An off-duty City employee was arrested in The Bronx on Monday, police said.   According to the NYPD, Tonya Simmons, 47, an off-duty employee with NYC Department of Homeless Services was arrested on Monday, Jan.  9, at 9.24 p.m. within the boundaries of the 48th Precinct, which covers the neighborhoods of Belmont, East Tremont, and West Farms, while Fordham University’s Bronx campus is nestled in the precinct’s northern corner.   Simmons was charged with menacing and criminal possession of a weapon. A person arrested and charged with a crime is deemed innocent unless and until convicted in a court of law.


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Meta, formerly Facebook, Required to Change Ads to Prevent Violation of Fair Housing Act

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Following the settlement of a discrimination case regarding the delivery of housing ads last year, Meta Platforms, Inc., formerly known as Facebook, Inc., is required to change its ad delivery system to prevent discriminatory advertising in violation of the Fair Housing Act (“FHA”).   Damian Williams, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, along with Kristen Clarke, assistant attorney general for the U.S. Justice Department’s civil rights division, announced that the department reached a key milestone in its settlement agreement with Meta Platforms, Inc. (“Meta”), formerly known as Facebook, Inc. (“Facebook”) on Jan. 9.   As required


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On-Duty NYCHA Employee Arrested in The Bronx on Assault Charges

By SÍLE MOLONEY
  A 28-year-old city employee was arrested following an incident that took place in The Bronx, police said.   An NYPD spokesperson said that following The Bronx incident on Saturday, Jan. 7, an on-duty New York City employee was arrested at around 10.01 p.m. in the 47th Precinct which covers the neighborhoods of Woodlawn, Wakefield, Williamsbridge, Baychester, Edenwald, Olinville and Fishbay, as well as Woodlawn Cemetery.   Police said Malik Fogg, a NYCHA employee, was charged with assault. No further details were provided about the incident and the location of the incident was not detailed either.   There is a


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Crotona: Two Dead, Three Injured following Two Separate Shooting Incidents

By DAVID GREENE
Five people were reported shot in two separate incidents in Crotona in late December, police said. Two have died.   As reported, an NYPD spokesperson said that on Monday, Dec. 26, 2022, at approximately 4.05 a.m., at East Tremont Avenue and Marmion Avenue, officers were alerted to an incident regarding a man who had been shot.   Upon arrival at the scene, police observed a 26-year-old man unconscious and unresponsive with multiple gunshot wounds to his chest. EMS responded and transported the man to St. Barnabas Hospital where he was pronounced deceased. There are no arrests and the investigation is


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Crotona: Man, 19, Arrested on Murder Charges in Fatal Shooting of Carlos Gonzalez, 26

By SÍLE MOLONEY
  The NYPD has released a photo and a video of a fatal shooting that occurred on Monday, Dec. 26, 2022, and are asking for the public’s assistance obtaining any useful information regarding the incident. Video courtesy of the NYPD The NYPD has made an arrest in the homicide investigation following the fatal shooting of 26-year-old Carlos Gonzalez in Crotona in late December, police said.   On Monday, Dec. 26, at around 4.05 a.m. at East Tremont Avenue and Marmion Avenue, police said they received a pick-up regarding a man who was shot in the area. “Police observed a 26-year-old


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DEA: Enough Lethal Fentanyl Seized in NY in 2022 to Kill New York State Population X 3

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Officials from the New York division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and NYC’s Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor announced on Thursday, Jan. 5, that record amounts of fentanyl-laced, fake prescription pills and fentanyl powder were seized in New York during 2022, including in the Kingsbridge section of The Bronx.   Special narcotics prosecutor (SNP), Bridget G. Brennan, said “thousands of New Yorkers” were mourning precious lives claimed by deadly fentanyl last year. “Fentanyl saturates the illegal drug supply in New York City and is a factor in roughly 80 percent of overdose deaths,” Brennan said. “Even casual or occasional


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Open Letter from Dexia Billingslea to Her Late Son, Prince Shabazz, 14

By DEXIA BILLINGSLEA
Dear Prince, When a child is born, it is the mother’s instinct to protect her baby; a mother is not supposed to bury her children.   My baby, it’s been one month since you transitioned. I sit on your bed often. I smell your pillows and look at notebooks in your bookbag just to see your handwriting. I look at your texts, I look at your pictures every day. I can’t believe you’re gone; my heart is bleeding for you every day.   Wednesday, Nov. 30, I woke up. It was a normal day. We sat in the kitchen together


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University Heights: Man, 19, Arrested in Ongoing Investigation into Fatal Shooting of Johnny Gaston

By SÍLE MOLONEY
  POLICE RESPOND TO a shooting at 189 Burnside Avenue in University Heights on Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022. Video courtesy of the Citizens’ App. The NYPD has arrested a 19-year-old man following the fatal shooting of Johnny Gaston in University Heights on Dec. 15.   Pursuant to an ongoing investigation, Gibran Guerrero, 19, from Mt. Hope was arrested on Tuesday, Jan. 3, at 7 p.m. at the 46th Precinct. He has been charged with murder, attempted murder, manslaughter, assault, robbery, and criminal possession of a weapon (a loaded gun).   As reported, the NYPD had been asking for the public’s


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