Health

Norwood Neighbors for Racial Justice Pen Open Letter to City Officials Calling to Defund NYPD

By Síle Moloney
Following a historic week of legislative reform aimed at addressing racial injustice and inequality at both City and State level, a group of about 50 local residents gathered peacefully at Williamsbridge Oval Park in Norwood on Friday Jun. 19 for a kid-friendly Juneteenth celebration in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.   Norwood Neighbors for Racial Justice and allies is an unofficial, local group recently formed and spearheaded by four local, multiracial women, Miriam Neptune, Jatnna Ramirez, Carissa Smith and Pam Sporn.   In addition to organizing the Juneteenth event, the first of its kind in Norwood, the group


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17 Officers Charged, Four Suspended without Pay following Investigation into Layleen Polanco’s Death  

By Síle Moloney
  Following the conclusion of an internal investigation, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Jun. 26 that 17 uniformed Department of Correction staff will be charged for their conduct surrounding the death of 27-year-old trans woman, Layleen Polanco, at Rikers Island in June 2019.   As reported recently by Norwood News, Polanco, according to earlier reports, was arrested for allegedly assaulting a cab driver and for possession of a controlled substance, and was being held at Rikers Island on a $500 bail. She died on Jun. 7, 2019 following an epileptic seizure, according to a medical examiner. She had been


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Ongoing “Black Out” Week-Long Boycott, as NYPD “Blue Flu” Expected on July 4th

By David Greene
A flyer circulating on social media under the title National Economic Withdrawal Boycott has called for a week-long boycott of large box-store chains, fast-food restaurants, and online retailers from Sunday, Jun. 21 through Saturday, Jun. 27. The week-long call to action appears to have grown out of other social media campaigns that aim to empower Black people through the control of economics, and to highlight the fight against racism in America through the power of the Black Dollar.   A number of social media campaigns supporting the Black Lives Matter movement have existed since the group was founded. However, as


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Poe Park Greenmarket Opening June 30th As Part of GrowNYC Initiative

By Síle Moloney
  Poe Park Greenmarket is opening for the summer season on Tuesday, June 30th, with Emil Alummootil, the market manager, saying, “It will be a great opportunity for community members to shop for the freshest, locally grown produce in their own neighborhood”.   Community members will be able to use their SNAP/EBT benefits at the market, including the new P-EBT program, at the market. For every $5 spent using an EBT card, the person will receive an extra $2 Health Bucks coupon to spend on more fruits and vegetables.   Greenmarkets are one of many programs falling under the GrowNYC


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Mentally Unstable Naked Man Brawls With Fordham Road Shoppers Before Being Taken to Hospital

By David Greene
A video which was briefly uploaded to social media but later removed, showed an emotionally disturbed man brawling with half a dozen people along a busy East Fordham Road, close to Jerome Avenue on Jun. 1, a few hours before dozens of looters destroyed stores and removed property from the popular shopping district.   According to NYPD, the video was shot on the afternoon of Jun. 1 and began with the man, dressed only in a pair of white socks, crossing East Fordham Road. Another man in a red and black jacket walked up behind him and struck him in


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Virtual Career Fair for Veterans on June 25th

By Síle Moloney
Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and RecruitMilitary will host the Washington, D.C./New York Areas Virtual Career Fair for Veterans on Thursday, June 25th from 11am to 3pm EST to facilitate employment efforts for both job seekers and employers. The free, online event is open to all members of the military community, past and present, as well as military spouses and dependents.   RecruitMilitary’s virtual events are technologically enhanced to provide personal interaction among job candidates and employers in large groups, small groups and one-to-one formats.   According to DAV and RecruitMilitary, national unemployment claims have surpassed historic measures and veteran unemployment


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Meat Producer Donates 1,500 Pounds of Beef Benefiting Various Bronx Entities

By Síle Moloney
Silver Fern Farms, New Zealand’s largest red meat producer and exporter for 30 years to the Bronx, announced on Jun. 23 that it has donated 1,500 pounds of premium pasture-raised beef to ReThink Food NYC for their Restaurant Response Program, benefiting a number of Bronx-based entities.   The Restaurant Response Program provides healthy meals for various communities in the Bronx, including Jacobi hospital, Cedar Tremont House, Macombs public housing, and Bronx Connect, a community and faith-based program that offers alternative-justice, cure violence, and re-entry programs to help communities build from within.   The donation will be used to facilitate the


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Olinville: Joyous Juneteenth Celebration Held Following More Law Reform Announcements

By Síle Moloney & Miriam Quinones
  New York State Assembly Speaker Carl. E. Heastie organized a Juneteenth rally and march in Olinville for Bronx Community Board 12 residents on Friday, Jun. 19. He was joined by approximately 100 people who marched from 213th Street to the junction of Gun Hill Road and White Plains Road, along with New York City Public Advocate Jumanne Williams, City Councilman Andy King, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., and Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark.   The rally was held in honor of the annual, unofficial Juneteenth holiday, the oldest nationally-celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United


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AG James Warns of Unemployment Benefit Scams

By Síle Moloney
  The Office of the New York Attorney General has received a number of calls from New Yorkers reporting unemployment insurance benefits fraud. On Jun. 24, 2020, Attorney General Letitia James issued a press release warning people about new, recently reported scams using New Yorkers’ personal information to file fraudulent claims for unemployment benefits.   “We must remain vigilant about potential scams and ensure residents remain alert,” James said. “During these uncertain times, unemployment benefits are a safety net for many individuals and families who have lost their jobs. To exploit the use of these funds and overload a system


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