Environment

UPDATE 2nd Incident of Hateful Graffiti Displayed in Northwest Bronx Playground

By SÍLE MOLONEY
After anti-Black and vulgar graffiti was photographed in the Spuyten Duyvil Playground on Saturday, Feb 12, a number of elected officials, city agencies and others issued public statements condemning the incident, and took various actions on the matter.   In the meantime, for the second consecutive weekend, a park in the Northwest Bronx was discovered to have been targeted with more anti-Black graffiti. Elected officials are now planning to join together for a formal press conference on Tuesday, Feb. 22, to stand firm against the hateful incidents, and to continue to call for a thorough investigation into both incidents.  


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No Trash, Curbside Composting, or Recycling Collection on Presidents Day, Monday, Feb. 21

By SÍLE MOLONEY
New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) has announced that in observance of Presidents’ Day, there will be no trash, curbside composting or recycling collection on Monday, Feb. 21.   Residents who normally receive Monday trash or curbside composting collection may place their material at the curb between 4 p.m. and midnight Monday evening, for collection beginning Tuesday. However, DSNY officials said delays are to be expected, as is common after holidays and winter storms. They added that they appreciate the patience of New Yorkers as they work to collect the backlog of material. Residents who normally receive Monday recycling collection should place their material


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City’s Emergency Management Team Urges New Yorkers to Avoid Travel Amid Latest Snow Advisory

By SÍLE MOLONEY
  New York City Emergency Management Department issued a travel advisory for Sunday,  Feb. 13, amid a forecast for light snow expected to last through Sunday afternoon. City officials said a total of 2 inches to 3 inches of snow was expected with higher amounts possible in some local areas.   Following several days of unseasonably warm weather, City officials said a cold air mass will move in on Sunday, and periods of light to moderate snow may produce a coating of up to three inches in some areas. Given the high ground temperatures, it is possible that this will


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Out & About: Black History Month, Mid-Winter Fun at the Oval, Bronx Night Market Returns & More!

Editor’s Pick As reported, NYC Parks announced on Monday, Feb. 7, that is is proud to present the Poe Park Visitor Center’s virtual exhibition as part of the agency’s Black History Month celebration. The online show is in addition to “The NYC Parks Renaming Project: Celebrating Black Leaders,” at the Arsenal Gallery in Central Park, as well as other events and tours taking place this month. Both shows are free and will be available to view through February 28, 2022. EVENTS The New York Botanical Garden’s Grow More Vegetables Certificate Series is an edible gardening course designed to equip community


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Adams Appoints Bronx Parks Commissioner Iris Rodriguez-Rosa as NYC Parks Deputy Commissioner

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Bronx Council for Environmental Quality (BCEQ) officials congratulated Mayor Eric Adams on Tuesday, Feb. 8, on appointing who they referred to as two highly qualified executives, who are also women, to NYC Department of Parks and Recreation: Commissioner Susan M. Donoghue, and as her first deputy commissioner, Iris Rodriguez-Rosa. Donoghue is the president and parks administrator of Prospect Park Alliance in Brooklyn; and Rodriguez-Rosa is the “beloved” Bronx parks commissioner, according to BCEQ.   In a press release issued Tuesday, Chauncy Young, BCEQ board member, congratulated both Donoghue and Rodriguez-Rosa, saying, “We look forward to working with your leadership team


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EMS Issues Travel Advisory Amid Expected Freezing Rain & Sleet Through Saturday

By SÍLE MOLONEY
The New York City Emergency Management Department (EMS) has issued a travel advisory for Friday, Feb. 4 into Saturday, Feb. 5, as the National Weather Service (NWS) issued a winter weather advisory for New York City, which is in effect from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday. According to the latest forecast, a low-pressure system and its associated cold front, will bring freezing rain and sleet to the area beginning early Friday morning, before tapering off in the evening.   In addition, weather experts say periods of moderate rain are likely Thursday afternoon and overnight, producing 1.5 to 2 inches


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Biden, Adams, Sewell, Hochul, James Discuss Future Resources to Tackle City’s Gun Violence Crisis

By SÍLE MOLONEY
New York City Mayor Eric Adams was joined by U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday, Feb. 3, to announce a series of new initiatives and a major commitment of federal resources dedicated to tackling the gun violence crisis plaguing New York City and other communities across the country. During the meeting, Biden committed that the federal government would focus law enforcement resources on cutting off gun trafficking and the “Iron Pipeline,” while scaling up innovative models pioneered in New York City to get guns off the street to stop violent crime.   The president’s visit comes just days after police


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No Visit to Rikers by Biden as WITNESS launches Hats & Gloves Campaign

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Chair of the New York City Council criminal justice committee, Manhattan City Council Member Carlina Rivera, tweeted on Wednesday that she had written a letter to U.S. President Joe Biden, inviting him to take a tour of Rikers Island during his upcoming visit to New York on Thursday, Feb. 3. However, a visit by the president to the controversial City jail was not on the cards in the end, as confirmed by the White House. The president’s visit was instead taken up with various discussions with Mayor Eric Adams and other gun violence prevention expert groups on immediate strategies to


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New York State Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program Offers Help with Water Bills

By SÍLE MOLONEY
During Bronx Community Board 7 (CB7)’s Sanitation committee meeting on Thursday, Feb. 3, Eleftheria “Effie” Ardizzone from NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) shared that New York State is offering a low-income household water assistance program (LIHWAP), through which eligible homeowners could receive up to $5,000, to resolve overdue water bills.   The New York State Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) is offering eligible homeowners a one-time payment of up to $5,000 to resolve overdue water bills. The State is now accepting applications. To learn more, or to apply, visit: https://otda.ny.gov/programs/water-assistance/.   Ardizzone said that unlike the City’s


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