History of Crime in Grand Concourse Building Coming From Within

By David Cruz They poured into Community Board 7’s headquarters on April 3, frustrated and searching for answers. But they’ve only arrived at one conclusion—the crime and disrepair at 2922 Grand Concourse is deliberate, and it’s okay with management.

Cars Found Smashed Along Stretch of Norwood

by David Cruz Norwood residents woke up early this morning to find several cars smashed on Parkside Place, a quiet street running parallel from Webster Avenue. The vandalism, first reported by News 12 the Bronx, happened during the overnight hours. Neighbors found front bumpers torn, glass on the floor and in one case tires slashed. Debris was found strewn about the hilly street. Car vandalism is commonplace in Norwood, according to neighbors. Police are investigating.

Arroyo Staffers Arrested On Forgery Charges

by David Cruz Three staffers for Councilwoman Maria del Carmen Arroyo have been arrested on charges of forging signatures during last year’s petition gathering . The story, first appearing in the New York Daily News, comes nearly a year after it was discovered the trio of staffers–Betty Julien, Elbin Lopez and Luis Vargas–allegedly wrote mock signatures that included known public figures Derek Jeter and Kate Moss. Arroyo, distancing herself from her accused staffers, denied having known about the collusion at a Board of Elections hearing last year. The three stand to face upwards to seven years in prison if convicted.

19-year-old Norwood resident charged in October shooting of teen

by David Cruz Police in the 52nd Precinct have closed the case on a four-month-old fatal shooting of a 17-year-old in Bedford Park. Cops have charged 19-year-old Hector Bueno of Norwood in the fatal shooting Michael Beltre, shot in the face while running errands. Beltre had arrived from the Dominican Republic two years prior with his family, settling in the Tremont neighborhood with his family. He was killed in front of 2622 Jerome Avenue, just several blocks from the Kingsbridge Armory and across the street from St. James Park. The area, a mix of stores and residential apartment buildings, is

By JUSTIN MCCALLUM To curb major crime and increase community engagement, the 52nd Precinct is ushering in new reinforcements—the public. Inspector Nilda Hofmann, commanding officer of the Five-Two, recently announced the formation of a local block watch association, intended for the community to “be the eyes and ears for the police department.” But the program somewhat deviates from normal block associations, which often involve residents physically patrolling the area. Instead, residents will undergo a NYPD-sponsored training session, learning how to properly report a crime. Hofmann explained that the program is designed to make citizens more aware of their surroundings and

Bronx Reacts to Stop-and-Frisk Settlement

by David Cruz Mayor Bill de Blasio promised, and now he’s delivered. In what was a major campaign pledge during de Blasio’s road to Gracie Mansion, the city will now settle two class-action lawsuits over the constitutionality of stop-and-frisk, a decision that sends ripples through a public that grew distant from the police. The controversial practice had for years eroded relationships between police and minority communities, with Bronxites claiming it was an intentional form of racial profiling. The lawsuits— Floyd v. City of New York and Ligon v. City of New York—

Crime File: City Settles Stop-Question-And-Frisk Case

by David Cruz, Editor-in-Chief Stop, Question and Frisk Appeal Dropped Mayor Bill deBlasio promised, and now he’s delivered. In what was a major campaign promise during deBlasio’s road to Gracie Mansion, the city has now dropped its appeal in two-class action lawsuits over the constitutionality of stop-question-and-frisk, preferring to settle the case entirely. The controversial policy, which for years created a divide between the police and Bronx minority men and women, will now be overseen by a court-appointed monitor, under the terms settled between the city and several Bronx plaintiffs who were stopped, questioned and frisked by police. Mayor deBlasio

Police survey the latest crash on the Grand Concourse this past Christmas Eve. Photo by David Greene by David Greene For the second time in less than 24-hours a person getting ready for Christmas was struck by a vehicle along the Grand Concourse. In the latest incident an unidentified woman was crossing the lengthy thoroughfare at E. 196 Street just before 8pm on Christmas Eve when one SUV slammed into another at the intersection, causing the second car to ram the victim. She was rushed to St. Barnabas Hospital and was expected to recover. Both drivers stuck around as accident