Cohen Intends to Swap Council Role for Judgeship, Sources

By DAVID CRUZ

For more than four years, Councilman Andrew Cohen has represented Norwood at the ready, overseeing a robust constituent services department, regularly appearing at community meetings across the 11th Council District, and carrying himself wholesome and scandal-free. But despite his popularity among constituents, political rumblings originating in Riverdale indicate Cohen is considering a judgeship nomination that’s guaranteed, triggering a vacancy, according to several sources who spoke to the Norwood News. Cohen, a Democrat in his second term, was upfront about the rumors, telling the Norwood News he is mulling the prospect of serving on the bench. “If it comes this year

A Refuge for Vets and LGBTQ Youth Opens in the Bronx

By SOPHIA EBANKS

Several homeless military veterans and LGBTQ youth now have a place to call home with the opening of a new supportive housing residence in the University Heights section of the Bronx. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to celebrate the opening on July 17. Walton House, located between Walton Avenue and East Burnside Avenue, holds 89 affordable housing apartments that have been leased to 56 military veterans and 33 young adults, 40 percent of whom identify as LGBTQ. The property is the third residence for veterans managed by the Jericho Project, a non-profit that provides housing and services for the homeless

After One Bike Share Company Backs Out of the Bronx, Two Step it Up

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT

Five days after the bike-sharing company ofo backpedaled on a pilot program providing dockless bikes in the Bronx, Citi Bike and JUMP Bikes have stepped up to double the number of pedal-assist bicycles in the borough. These e-bikes will officially become available by July 28 and mid-August, according to the city Transportation Department (DOT). City Bike and JUMP Bikes will now provide 200 pedal-assist bikes respectively. Ofo was originally chosen to make 200 regular pedal bikes available in the Bronx by the end of July, mostly around the Fordham University area. However, on July 19 DOT announced that ofo was

City Health Department to Spray Pesticide in Norwood

By DAVID CRUZ

Helicopters are expected to fly over Norwood the night of July 24 as the city Health Department plans to spray a mosquito killer at the north Bronx neighborhood to prevent the spread of West Nile Virus. The choppers will come around the overnight hours of 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., according to a press release. The Health Department will spray over a large swath of the Bronx, from the I-95 in Baychester to Riverdale. Health officials say low concentrations of Anvil 10 + 10 will be used. Even though the pesticide used to spay insects is not harmful to residents, the

Months After Jerome Avenue Rezoning an Aggressive Eviction

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT

When Francisco Moran, owner of American Tires at 1331 Jerome Ave. in Mt. Eden, received notice that he had a new landlord, he had no idea he would be asked to close his business at the location by August so the property can be redeveloped. The new property owner sees Moran as an impediment to his plans for a new 15-story building at the location. Peter Fine of Atlantic Development Group bought the property in May for $11.1 million and is the first developer to take advantage of the City Council’s rezoning laws for the neighborhood designating the properties as

Editor’s Pick Free Annual District BBQ Senator Jamaal T. Bailey presents free Annual District BBQ, July 21 from 1 to 5 p.m. at 959 E. 233rd St. Events include games, constituent services, food, musical entertainment, health screenings, and more. For more information and to RSVP by July 20, call (718) 547-8854 or email ngaray@nysenate.gov. Onstage The Bronx Arts Ensemble presents two free concerts at 2 p.m.: July 22 – featuring Beethoven serenades, at Fordham University’s McGinley Center; and July 29 – Mary Ann McSweeney’s Urban Fado ensemble performing Urban Fado, a mix of contemporary jazz and Portuguese folk music, at

Latest Edition of the Norwood News is Out!

By DAVID CRUZ

Dear Fellow Readers, The latest edition of the Norwood News, covering the Bronx, is out and loaded with 20 pages of original news content covering the Bronx. In keeping with tradition we begin with page one! This one focuses on the re-opening of Whalen Park, which unlike other park projects has opened in record time (see headline). Find out how what prompted this park to open so quickly. Also, you can hear from what parents think of the revamped park. On page 3 you’ll find a great feel-good story of Bobby Gonzalez, a Norwood man who will be honored for his

By DAVID GREENE

This week we asked readers about the latest NYPD statistics that show overall crime is down, but homicides, shootings and rapes are all up substantially. I think it’s worse than ever. I’m going to be honest with you, I was telling people it seems like we’re going back to the ‘90s a little bit, when something was always happening in every neighborhood. It wasn’t just pinpointed in one area, it’s just everywhere now. They need to have more cops patrolling on foot, not driving by. They need to walk through neighborhoods that they know violence is happening and drugs being

By CHRISTY RAE AMMONS and ANGEL MINDANAO

Whalen Park quietly re-opened to the public in June with a colorful, brand new playground that features two slides, monkey bars, and toddler-friendly climbing blocks. To the delight of parents, the area previously known as the “sitting park” was revamped into a more traditional playground. Though the project was first proposed seven years ago, building the Norwood park took less than a year, an unusual time frame given the city Parks Department’s poor track record in completing projects promptly. In 2017, there had been seven projects delayed since 2009, including a bathroom for Ferry Point Park that had been in