Mayor Releases Preliminary Budget for Fiscal Year 2022 of $92.28 billion

Mayor's Coming to the Bronx, and He's Bringing City Hall With Him

By SÍLE MOLONEY

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio presented the City’s preliminary budget for fiscal year 2022 (FY22), on Thursday, Jan. 14. The preliminary budget is $92.28 billion and the mayor said after the one of the most painful years in the City’s history, it charts a path to recovery while making responsible choices in light of steep revenue losses due to COVID-19. “President-elect Biden will help our recovery by increasing FEMA reimbursement,” the mayor said. “And new Democratic majorities in Congress must move us forward with a federal COVID relief package that includes direct local aid.” Officials from

By DAVID GREENE

New York Congressman, Adriano Espaillat, who represents parts of the Bronx and Manhattan, announced on Twitter that he has tested positive for the coronavirus and is now under quarantine. In the first of three tweets, Espaillat posted at approximately 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, January 14, writing, “I am following the guidance from my physician and quarantining at home after having tested positive for COVID-19.” As reported by Norwood News, the congressman was first vaccinated with the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at the United States Capitol on Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020. On Jan. 14, Espaillat added to his first tweet, writing, “I

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The New York City Department of Sanitation announced that, in observance of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, there will be no trash or recycling collection, nor street cleaning on Monday, Jan. 18, 2021. Residents who normally receive Monday trash collection may place their material at the curb between 4 p.m. and midnight Monday evening. However, residents should anticipate some collection delays, as is common after holidays. The department said it appreciates the patience of residents as sanitation workers work to collect the backlog of material. Residents who normally receive Monday recycling collection should place their material curbside between 4

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The New York City Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in locating Jaymir Lee, 15, who lives in the 43rd precinct at 877 Taylor Avenue in the Soundview section of the Bronx, and who was reported missing on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021. Jaymir was last seen Friday, Jan. 1, 2021 at East 176th Street and Jerome Avenue. He is described as being approximately 5 feet, 7 inches tall, with a thin build, weighing 120 pounds, has a medium complexion, brown eyes and black hair. He was last seen wearing a navy blue hoodie, black jeans and black sneakers.

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The New York City Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in locating José Andujar, 69, of 950 Union Avenue in the vicinity of Forest Houses in the Bronx, who was reported missing on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021 in the 42nd precinct. Andujar was last seen on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021 at around noon leaving his home. He is described as being 5 feet, 5 inches tall, weighing 140 pounds, has a medium build, a light complexion, gray hair and a gray beard. He was last seen wearing a gray hat, a dark blue jacket, dark blue pants, and black

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The following story is an extended version of the one published in our latest print edition. Marcos Sierra’s lived experience is unique compared to his fellow candidates in the 11th City Council District race. As a front-line healthcare worker, a survivor of gun violence, and a dad guiding his daughter through the trials and tribulations of remote learning, he said all these factors have helped shape his political outlook. If elected to the now, vacant 11th District seat, following the resignation of former Councilman Andrew Cohen on Dec. 31 to take up a Supreme Court judgeship in

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Mino Lora, candidate for City Council in the 11th District in The Bronx, and previously profiled by the Norwood News, issued a statement on Thursday, Jan. 7, confirming that she has contracted the coronavirus. “I tested positive for COVID-19, and am quarantining with my husband and our two children,” she said. “My symptoms are mild so far.” As reported by Norwood News, on Monday, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio set the date for the Special Election for District 11 and District 15 as March 23, and encouraged “all the folks out there in those two districts who want

By SÍLE MOLONEY

As eligible individuals prepare for the second round of Economic Impact Payments (also known as stimulus payments), which the IRS said will be made effective as of Jan. 4, 2020, Capital One bank said on Jan. 4 they want to advise customers of some factors for consideration to ensure their customers can access their payments, once received. “We know the Economic Impact Payments can be a lifeline for many during these unprecedented times, and we want to ensure that individuals have full access to this money.” The bank said the following: Capital One customers whose accounts are overdrawn

By SÍLE MOLONEY

On Monday, Jan. 4, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio set March 23 as the Special Election date for the 11th and 15th City Council races in the Bronx. Announcing the date, the mayor did not comment in the press release on recent calls to both the mayor and the governor, as reported by Norwood News, to waive the 450 minimum signatures needed by candidates from residents to get their names on the ballot. Some candidates have said such a waiver would reduce mass person-to-person contact during a time of rising COVID-19 cases across the city. “I am