Cuomo: Possible COVID-19 Vaccine Fraud, Eviction Moratorium to be Extended

Bronx Teen First Vaping-Related Death in New York State

By SÍLE MOLONEY

As efforts continue to distribute the COVID-19 vaccine throughout New York State, Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Monday, Dec. 28, that a new issue has come to light —possible vaccine fraud by a health care provider. The State Department of Health was made aware of reports that an Orange County health provider may have fraudulently obtained COVID-19 vaccines and diverted them to members of the public, contrary to the State’s guidance to first administer the vaccine to frontline health care workers, as well as nursing home residents and staff. The State Department of Health is assisting the State Police in

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The following feature story is an extended version of the one which appeared in our recent print edition. Growing up at 2746 197th Street and Decatur Avenue in the Bronx, Nilda Irizarry Hofmann said she had no connections with the NYPD nor any inkling that, one day, she would end up as one of the highest-ranking women in the largest police department in America. Following her retirement at the end of October, marking 30 years of service, the former chief told the Norwood News one thing she knew she never wanted to do when she grew up was

By SÍLE MOLONEY

On Saturday Dec. 26, 2020, at approximately 9.26 p.m., police responded to a 911 call regarding a man who was shot behind 365 East 183rd Street in the Fordham Heights section of the Bronx, in the 46th precinct. Upon arrival, officers discovered a man with a gunshot wound to the back of the head. EMS responded to the scene and pronounced the man deceased. There are no arrests and the investigation is ongoing. The identity of the deceased is pending family notification. Anyone with information with regard to this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Although, there was no official Holiday Tree lighting event on Mosholu Parkway this year to reduce the risk of COVID-19, the tree lighting company made a low-key visit in mid-December to install the lights on the big blue spruce on Bainbridge Avenue and Mosholu Parkway, providing some sense of normalcy in what has otherwise been a wholly abnormal year. Before the snow fell, our photographer, Miriam Quinoñes, snapped these shots of the tree and adjacent holiday display which was sponsored by Bronx Community Board 7, and organized by Friends of Mosholu Parkland (FOMP), delighting young and old alike.

By SÍLE MOLONEY

On Wednesday Dec. 23, 2020, at around 12.02 p.m., police responded to a 911 call regarding an assault in progress in front of 1097 Boston Road in Morrisania, in the 42nd precinct. Upon arrival, officers encountered a 16-year-old male with a gunshot wound to the neck. EMS also responded to the scene and transported the teen to NYC Health and Hospitals/Lincoln where he was pronounced deceased. There are no arrests and the investigation is ongoing. The deceased was identified as James Solano of 1020 Trinity Avenue in the Bronx. On Monday, Dec. 28, Marquis Beckford, 22, of East

By SÍLE MOLONEY

On Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020 at around 8.17 p.m., police responded to a 911 call regarding a man who had been shot in front of 915 Prospect Place in the William McKinley Houses section of the Bronx, located in the 42nd precinct. Upon arrival, officers observed a 29-year-old man with gunshot wounds to the left arm and head. EMS responded to the location, and transported the victim to NYC Health & Hospitals/Lincoln, where he was pronounced deceased on Thursday, Sept. 17. There were no arrests and the investigation remained ongoing. The deceased was identified as Jaguar Housey, 29, of

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark and New York City Police Commissioner Dermot Shea announced on Dec. 23 that nine alleged Bloods gang members have been indicted on various charges of sex trafficking of a child, sex trafficking and promoting prostitution, as well as additional charges for running a sex trafficking ring out of multiple Bronx motels and other hotels around the city. The defendants are Angel Cano, 22, Bronx, Luis Cano aka Lou, 23, Bronx, Brandon Diaz aka Billz, 27, Bronx, Elvis Dominguez aka LV, 24, Bronx, Ashley Garcia, 19, Bronx, Andrew Garcia aka Drew, 23, Bronx, Shaquille

By SÍLE MOLONEY & JOSÉ A. GIRALT

As the holidays reach peak season, the NYPD has also been stepping up its ongoing outreach efforts with local communities, organizing a number of kid-friendly, holiday events across the borough. Meanwhile, the report by the City’s Department of Investigation into the NYPD’s handling of the Black Lives Matter demonstrations this year was released on Friday, Dec. 18, amid some scathing criticism from legal groups. On Friday, Dec. 11, the Police Athletic League (PAL) hosted a bunch of children at PAL’s new South Bronx Center to kick off the holiday season with an outdoor tree lighting ceremony. Organized by PAL

By SÍLE MOLONEY

According to the latest NYPD crime statistics for the 52nd precinct covering Bedford Park, Fordham, Kingsbridge, Norwood, Bronx Park, and University Heights, grand theft auto (motor vehicle theft) crimes were up by 128.6 percent in the 28 days prior to Dec.13, compared to the same period last year. Norwood News reached out to the 52nd precinct to see if police could provide any insight or identify any patterns as to why this was the case. Officer José Fernandez said, “As of now, a lot has to do with people double-parking their vehicles to go into the store, or to