Homeless Services Wants Volunteers for Annual HOPE Count

Neighborhood Notes: Free Immigration Service

By PHONZ L. REYES

With record number of homelessness still an issue across the city, the Department of Homeless Services (DHS) is once again requesting New Yorkers volunteer to help the agency’s annual Homeless Outreach Population Estimate (HOPE) Survey happening at the end of the month. The overnight HOPE Survey on Jan. 28 provides the agency a chance to collect data that will aid outreach teams in year-round efforts to address street homelessness while providing accurate estimates of un-sheltered homeless individuals in the city, particularly during the year’s coldest of nights when temperatures drop below 30 degrees. “Thanks to increased investment, enhanced coordination, and

By DAVID CRUZ and JOSEPH KONIG

Residents of three fairly new buildings on Webster Avenue that are owned and operated by The Stagg Group have gotten the ear of Community Board 7, which plans to hear from residents at its next Housing, Zoning & Land Use Committee meeting in February. The Stagg Group, a construction and development company with multiple ongoing projects in Bedford Park and Norwood, told the Norwood News they will be sending a representative to the meeting to hear out the tenants’ concerns. The news is the latest in a fight waged by tenants over conditions at the buildings at 2985, 2987, and 2999 Webster

Bronx Projects Take Center Stage in State of the City

By DAVID CRUZ

Mayor Bill de Blasio’s fifth State of the City address saw the immediate creation of a Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants, a plan for increased worker protections, expanded 3K program, while also promoting a plan for guaranteed healthcare and a paid two-week vacation proposal for employees. Surprisingly, there were some specifics for the Bronx, a point that was not lost on Democratic colleagues like Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., who’s expressed interest in running for mayor in 2021. Still, Diaz criticized de Blasio’s proposal to take buildings away from landlords with a history of harassment and poor building management.

By DAVID CRUZ

Dear Fellow Readers! The Norwood News is out with its latest edition covering the Bronx. In our last edition of the year, we bring you the latest! The front page story looks at 2018 with our traditional Year in Review, highlighting several major stories that happened throughout the year. We spent several days narrowing down the list. We hope you agree. With the new year here, we give you a briefing of all the new laws you have to comply with now. Meantime, hear what Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. wants from Amtrak when it comes to the stalled

By DAVID CRUZ

The Top Stories This Norwood News’ Year in Review saw continued development in the Bronx, political newcomers combatting giants, and a troubling violent crime trend for the local precinct. The paper pored through all 25 editions of 2018 that graced the stands, stores, and other locations in the Bronx, sifting through repeat stories that had, from an editorial standpoint, the greatest impact. Here are the highlights: Homicides in Norwood The Norwood News was there to report on the rise in homicides happening in Norwood and the surrounding areas that comprise the 52nd Precinct. The body count went from a total

Free Oven Safe Knob Covers The Office of Councilman Ritchie Torres is giving away free safe oven knob covers to prevent accidental fires in apartments. Free knob covers can be picked up at 2546 Hoffman St., Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. while supplies last. For more information, call the office at (718) 842-8100. Nonprofit Grants Now Available Resident-led groups in low-income communities and Title I public schools can apply for a Neighborhood Grant of up to $3,000. A workshop in how to fill out the application correctly takes place on Jan. 8 at 6 p.m. at

Mayor Bill de Blasio’s plan to expand the Discovery program as a way of increasing enrollment of black and Latino students in the city’s elite specialized high schools has drawn the ire of Pacific Legal Foundation. The group is now suing the city in federal court, relying on an argument similar to an affirmative action case it has against Harvard University: Discovery essentially discriminates against Asian students who overwhelmingly represent the specialized high school student population. Expanding the Discovery program—essentially offering rigorous summer classes for students who missed the cutoff in passing the specialized high school test—takes effect in 2020,

By DAVID CRUZ

Dear Fellow Readers! The Norwood News is out with its latest edition covering the Bronx. In our last edition of the year, we bring you the latest! The front page story looks at Community Board 7 demanding concessions on a major project coming to Bedford Park. Ischia Bravo, CB7’s District Manager, is offering an interesting take on the building boom happening in the neighborhood. She has a fix she hopes the Bronx Council Delegation would consider. David Greene reports on the tragic death of a 17-year-old who died after allegedly being pushed onto oncoming traffic. Police now say the suspects are

By JOSEPH KONIG, DAVID CRUZ, and CHRISTY RAE AMMONS

A non-profit housing developer is open to reducing the size of planned projects on long-contested lots on East 202nd and East 203rd streets after pushback from Community Board 7, according to a revised proposal draft obtained by the Norwood News. The new proposal would shorten the building on East 202nd Street from 11 stories to 9 stories, shrinking the number of units from 164 to 139. In the original proposal, the East 203rd Street building was planned to be 8 stories with 164 units. It is unclear if the revised proposal will reduce the size of the 8-story building, but