Op-Ed: How the Senate Will Decide the Fate of Local News

By STEVE WALDMAN

The Senate is now deciding the fate of local news. As part of the Build Back Better Act, the Senate is, in the next few days, considering an important proposal: providing a payroll tax credit to local news organizations to retain or hire local journalists. Why? Local news is in a deep crisis. The Internet has fundamentally broken the business model of local newspapers. The number of reporters has dropped by more than half since 2000. There are at least 1,800 total “news deserts,” with no local newspapers at all, and thousands more have “ghost newspapers” that

By JASON GONZALEZ & SÍLE MOLONEY

For Pierina Sanchez, the Democratic nominee for the District 14 City Council seat in the upcoming general election, it’s all about the love. Sanchez is all in for the “Boogie Down,” saying passion for the community is a major driving force behind her campaign. With early voting already underway and only one day remaining before the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 2, Sanchez is transparent and says a vote for her on Nov. 2 will benefit the borough. “It’s about the love,” Sanchez said during a campaign rally held outside the Kingsbridge Armory in the Kingsbridge Heights section

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Friday, Oct. 22, that construction has begun on a $64.4 million project to replace the bridge carrying the Bronx River Parkway over the Metro-North Railroad in the Wakefield and Woodlawn Heights sections of the Bronx. According to the governor’s office, the project will replace a 72-year-old bridge with a modern, multi-girder steel structure that will improve travel and enhance safety along this vital artery for commuters in the metropolitan area. Hochul said investments in infrastructure are one of the surest ways to super charge New York’s economy and at the same time create a

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Bedford Park residents have been getting more and more vocal about the unsightly, overflowing trash situation on Mosholu Parkway during their regular Bedford Mosholu Community Association (BMCA) meetings, as reported, but another issue which has also raised concern is the growing number of make-shift tents erected by homeless people along the parkway in recent weeks. As one resident, who went by the Twitter username, @maminature30, tweeted on Monday, Oct. 18, “@EricDinowitzNYC, @norwoodnews, @NYCDHS, @NYPD52Pct How long before the encampment at Moshulu Parkway becomes a tent city? It already doubled in size since last week. Somebody needs to intervene.”

By DAVID GREENE

This week, we asked readers their thoughts on what the Democrats should cut from the $3.5 trillion infrastructure bill to get it over the line to satisfy Republicans. “Oh! Is that what they’re doing? No, I don’t think they should try and appease the Republicans. Well, they shouldn’t cut healthcare and they shouldn’t cut education. That’s a very hard decision. I know they have to vote on something. Kids need education because it’s bad out here. They need all the education they can get. Oh gosh, maybe the added healthcare for seniors is, maybe, the least important now.” Pamela

Local People Reported Missing in the last Two Weeks A 16-year-old mother and a three-month-old baby have been reported missing in Fordham Heights. Click here for more details. A 15-year-old boy was reported missing (for the 3rd time in three weeks) in Williamsbridge. Click here for more information. A 23-year-old man from Olinville was reported missing in Williamsbridge. Click here for more information. An 8-year-old girl from Norwood who had been reported missing in Norwood has since been found. More details are available here. Stop the Violence Rally A Stop the Violence rally will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 13,

By SARAH HUFFMAN

In April 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, The New York Times and other media outlets reported that Dr. Lorna M. Breen, medical director of the emergency department at NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital, died by suicide in Charlottesville, Va., where she had been staying with family, as confirmed by her father and police. She had, reportedly, been treating many coronavirus patients prior to her death. According to a pre-pandemic, 2014 Work/Life Profile of Today’s Physician, most doctors work between 40 and 60 hours per week, but nearly one-quarter work between 61 and 80 hours per week. Meanwhile,

By SARAH HUFFMAN

Ridgewood Savings Bank held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept. 14 to mark the opening of its newest branch in the Norwood section of the Bronx, at 320 East 204th Street. It replaces the former Norwood branch located at 3445 Jerome Avenue. On May 24, a representative from Ridgewood told the Norwood News, “We are moving the Jerome Avenue branch because it is largely outdated and inefficient in terms of its size.” The representative added, “We are moving to a more modern facility [..] to better serve our customers and the needs of our community.” The opening ceremony was

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Cannabis, Photo courtesy of Elsa Olofsson via Flickr The New York State Cannabis Control Board held its first public meeting On Tuesday, Oct. 5. Board officials said members of the public were welcome to attend virtually via videoconference. On Sept. 22, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the final appointments to the five-member, Cannabis Control Board, which is charged with approving a comprehensive regulatory framework for New York’s cannabis industry. The board will oversee licensing of cannabis businesses and the approval of various actions taken by the Office of Cannabis Management. The members are Tremaine Wright, Cannabis Control Board