Health

“Ghost Bike” Memorials Continue in the Bronx in Tribute to Deceased Bike Riders

By SÍLE MOLONEY
  Members and volunteers from Bronx Committee for Transportation Alternatives have been holding their monthly “Complete the Concourse,” protest bike rides that aim to raise awareness of the risks to both pedestrians and cyclists of traveling on the Grand Concourse. Transportation Alternative’s mission is to reclaim New York City’s streets from the automobile, and advocate for better cycling, walking, and public transit for all New Yorkers.   During an Oct. 24 ride, Streetmemorials.org representatives and members of Five Boro Bike Club, joined Bronx Transportation Alternatives for the installation of a “Ghost Bike” memorial on the corner of Grand Concourse and


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Norwood: Residents Live in Fear of Rat Infestation 

By MIRIAM QUINONES & SÍLE MOLONEY
A number of residents who live at and adjacent to 3440 Gates Place in Norwood are living in fear of rats which they said are frequenting the alleyway where the garbage is stored, adjacent to the building. At least one rat has entered the basement of an adjacent home, and though the residents have allegedly complained to the super at 3440 Gates Place, to the landlord, 3440 Holdings LLC, and to a number of city agencies, they have yet to receive a satisfactory response. One resident said the situation is already a health hazard.   The residents, who wish to


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As Bronx COVID Cases Trend Upwards, Hotels Offered to Those Who Cannot Quarantine at Home

By SÍLE MOLONEY
During the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic in the spring, it became quickly apparent that many residents of the Bronx, particularly those living in high-rise apartments, could not easily practice social distancing nor easily quarantine. This was especially true for multi-generational families living in the same dwelling.   Various studies, reviews and hearings on how the City handled the first wave of the crisis showed this to be a major point of concern, along with the increased risk of domestic violence, among other factors. Now that COVID-19 cases are once more on the rise, the City has sought to


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Highbridge: Bus and Bike Lanes Added to Bronx Corridor – Hub for Cyclist Injuries

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Bronx cyclists and bus commuters were given a boost on Friday, Nov. 20, when officials from the de Blasio administration announced that the City’s Department of Transportation (DOT) completed a major transformation of the Edward L. Grant Highway in the Highbridge section of the Bronx.   Administration officials, elected officials and advocates cut the ribbon on signature transit and bicycle safety improvements to the corridor, including a combined 2.4 miles of dedicated red, center bus lanes and green protected bike lanes (PBL). Both lane types will run in both directions and the center bus lanes will serve 56,000 riders every


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Search for 61-Year-Old Man, Last Seen Nov. 21

By SÍLE MOLONEY
The New York City Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in locating Edwin Fontanez, 61, who was reported missing in the 42nd precinct.    It was reported to police that Fontanez was last seen inside his home at 917 Home Street, Bronx, NY 10459 on Saturday Nov. 21, 2020 at 9.30 a.m. He is described as male, Hispanic, 5 feet, 8 inches tall, weighs 150 pounds, has brown eyes, gray hair and was last seen wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt, gray sweatpants and black sneakers.   Anyone with information in regard to this incident is asked to call the


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South Bronx: 38-Year-Old Man Stabbed, Dies as 41-Year-Old Woman is Injured & Hospitalized

By SÍLE MOLONEY
On Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2020 at approximately 4.09 p.m., police responded to a 911 call regarding an assault in front of 310 East 149th Street in the South Bronx, in the 40th precinct.   Upon arrival, officers observed a 41-year-old woman with a slash wound to her left forearm and a 38-year-old man with multiple stab wounds to the torso.   EMS transported both victims to NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln, where the man was subsequently pronounced deceased. The woman is in stable condition. There have been no arrests at this time and the investigation is ongoing.   The identity of


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AOC Campaign Seeks Volunteers for Virtual Homework Helpers Program

By SÍLE MOLONEY
  The Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for Congress Campaign formally launched a virtual Homework Helpers Program on Tuesday, Nov. 24, after a four-week pilot program helped approximately 100 Throggs Neck students. The program is made possible by a community of educators and volunteers from around the country who provide NY-14 students with one hour of free virtual homework help per week.   “COVID-19 has meant parents are struggling to juggle work, childcare, and remote schooling. Last week, NYC shut down our public schools, and as we brace for yet another wave of rising COVID-19 cases, folks need our support more than ever”,


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NYC Sheriff Shuts Down Bronx Super Spreader “Fight Club” event in Hunts Point

By DAVID GREENE
Members of the New York City Sheriff’s Department shut down an illegal “fight club” type event last week in the Hunts Point section of the Bronx, where a crowd of over 200 had jammed into a private warehouse. A video from the event showed many guests not wearing masks and the gathering may have been a ‘super spreader’ type event for the coronavirus.   The sheriff’s office reported that deputy sheriffs discovered the event, billed as the “Rumble in the Bronx,” taking place at 347 – 351 Coster Street at 11.15 p.m., on Saturday, Nov. 14. Video of the broadcast


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De Blasio Outlines Quarantine Enforcement, Pays Tribute to Former NYC Mayor David Dinkins

By SÍLE MOLONEY
As the number of hospitalizations due to COVID-19 continues to rise across New York City, during a press conference on Tuesday, Nov. 24, the De Blasio administration outlined the steps that will be taken in the coming months to address the increase in the context of the upcoming holidays, including the consequences for those who do not comply with quarantine restrictions if traveling.   Health Commissioner Dr. Dave A. Chokshi paid tribute to front line workers, asking New Yorkers to remember that those same front line workers will be working through the holiday period and will not be able to


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