Latest Edition of the Norwood News is Out!

By DAVID CRUZ

Dear Fellow Readers, The year’s fifth edition of the Norwood News with plenty of community news you can use. We’ve packed 20 pages full of useful information. As usual, we’ll begin with page one! Our front-page story brings you to Norwood and the temporary, though inconvenient, closure of the local post office. This is the third time the Van Cott Station closed, forcing residents to utilize other post offices. David Greene hears from the the United States Postal Service and residents, who fear a stinky situation has brewed. Inside the cover you’ll find a recap of the latest State of the

By JOSEPH KONIG

Brooklyn City Councilman Jumaane Williams is the new Public Advocate for New York City, winning Tuesday’s special election with 33 percent of the vote in one of the more crowded political races in recent memory, according to unofficial tallies provided by the city’s Board of Elections. Queens City Councilman Eric Ulrich finished in second with 19 percent of the vote. Williams ran in the special election for public advocate after falling short in the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor in September, losing to incumbent Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul 53.3 percent to 46.7 percent. “This campaign has been relatively short, but

Securing Kingsbridge Ice Center Funding a Waiting Game

Much of the talk across the city has been focused on its failed attempt to keep Amazon locked into a deal that would have brought a state-of-the-art campus to Long Island City, Queens. Critics wanted more than the estimated 25,000 jobs it promised to bring. The outright resentment over how the deal was rushed through with very little input from the existing residents who live in New York City, according to reports, riled progressive Democrats to organize. Hindsight being 20-20, perhaps Amazon’s stakeholders could’ve headed the northernmost borough in the city to find how communities are won over by massive

By DAVID GREENE

This week we asked readers their thoughts on Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.’s State of the Borough address and their thoughts on the borough’s state. The speech was good, but life in the borough could be better because in this borough there still are numerous train stations that still aren’t wheelchair-accessible. There are some railroad stations that are wheelchair-accessible. He mentioned bringing the Metro-North New Haven Line to this borough. No. That should be a subway train line, not a railroad train line, because that means we will have to pay a premium fare. He also needs to advertise

State of the Borough Pores Over Decade of Change for the Bronx

By JOSEPH KONIG

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. gave his tenth “State of the Borough” speech on Thursday taking credit for nearly a decade of crime reduction and increased economic investment, while acknowledging the borough’s housing and transit challenges. He also indirectly addressed comments made recently by his father, that caused a greater political divide between the two. “The Bronx is thriving,” Diaz Jr. said. “Almost ten years ago, I gave my first ever State of the Borough address. I spoke about the need for better paying jobs, to fight crime in our streets, encouraging new development of all types, and the

This week we asked readers living in New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) developments in the Bronx about the recent decision for Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to oversee NYCHA, and the city’s $2.2 billion commitment for NYCHA repairs over the next decade. I’m all for that because right now we don’t even have heat in the building, no heat at all. We have running hot water, but no heat. We’ve had no heat since yesterday. It comes on and off. They keep saying they’re repairing it. The elevator keeps breaking down. Sometimes we have to go up and down

By DAVID CRUZ

Dear Fellow Readers, The year’s fourth edition of the Norwood News with plenty of community news you can use. We’ve packed 20 pages full of useful information. As usual, we’ll begin with page one! Our front-page story takes you to Bedford Park where locals are reeling over news the local Rite Aid has closed. This is troubling news for seniors living at Serviam Heights and Serviam Gardens, which serve senior citizens. Reporter Alondra Vasquez talks to a whole horde of residents over what this means for them and access to their prescriptions. Inside the cover you’ll find a two-page informative piece

Snow Postpones Stagg Meeting at Community Board 7

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT

Snow and ice caused the cancellation of Community Board 7’s Housing, Land Use & Zoning committee meeting of Feb. 12, in which residents from 2985, 2987, and 2999 Webster Ave., owned by the Stagg Group, were prepared for a heated confrontation with the landlord’s representatives. As previously reported in the Norwood News, residents of the three buildings have intensified their complaints over repairs not being tended to, security cameras not working, dirty hallways not being regularly cleaned, and just the overall difficulty of getting the management team to respond. Led by Zxavier Simpson, from 2985 Webster Ave., residents are joining

Rite Aid Closure Stuns Bedford Pk. Locals

By ALONDRA VASQUEZ

Gloria Murray, 70, a resident at the Serviam Gardens senior home in Bedford Park, will no longer be able to pick up her prescriptions at her local Rite Aid. The sign taped to the pharmacy’s front door at 239 E. 198th St., just two blocks from the affordable housing complex, said it all: “Hello Rite Aid Customers. We are closing at 7 p.m. today. Thanks for choosing us as your favorite store. Sorry for the inconvenience.” The sign was posted Feb. 5, the date the store permanently closed. The closure adds a greater layer of inconvenience for residents at Serviam