Eviction Moratorium Extended to September 4, Bronx Affordable Housing Application Deadline Aug. 14

By Síle Moloney

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that the moratorium on evictions in New York State has been extended to Sept. 4. The moratorium was first put in place in March to protect residential and commercial tenants facing financial hardship due to the pandemic. “As long as we are in the middle of the pandemic, there will be no evictions,” he wrote on Aug. 7. On May 7, amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the governor announced that the state’s moratorium on COVID-related residential or commercial evictions would be extended for an additional 60 days until Aug. 20. He also announced, at that

By Síle Moloney

The NYS COVID Rent Relief Program is designed to support low-income households experiencing an increased rent burden due to a loss of income during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Rent Relief Program provides a one-time payment to cover the difference between their rent burden on March 1, 2020 and the increase in rent burden during the months for which the household is applying for assistance (up to four months, from April through July 2020). Program funding has been capped at $100 million. All applications received by the deadline of July 30, 2020 will be considered. New Yorkers already in

By SÍLE MOLONEY

On July 24, Representative Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), who serves as Whip of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), called on the Leadership of Congress to urge formal action be taken to condemn Congressman Ted Yoho (FL-03) for what he called Yoho’s unacceptable conduct directed at Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) while on the steps of the United States Capitol on Tuesday, as reported by The Hill. Espaillat and CHC members have called for the censure of Rep. Yoho to allow all House members to formally vote on a resolution disapproving of Rep. Yoho’s reprehensible behavior. Yoho said he regretted and attempted

By SÍLE MOLONEY

As COVID-19 surges around the United States, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz has been pushing for legislation that would expand New York voters’ ability to vote by mail in upcoming elections. Building on efforts to authorize absentee voting following the latest primary elections on June 23, it appears that legislation from Dinowitz will be passed in a flurry of Albany activity this week. The legislation would temporarily alter the definition of illness with respect to absentee voting eligibility to include “risk of contracting or spreading a disease that may cause illness to the voter or to other members of the public”.

By SÍLE MOLONEY

On Thursday, July 9, the Archdiocese of New York announced that 20 Catholic schools, including six in the Bronx, would be unable to reopen in September due to lack of finances in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The affected Bronx schools are St. John’s School in Kingsbridge, St. Luke’s School in Motthaven, St. Thomas Aquinas School in West Farms, the Nativity of Our Blessed Lady School in Eastchester, Our Lady of the Assumption School in Pelham Bay, and Sts. Philip & James School in the East Bronx. Meanwhile, three Catholic schools in the State will merge. The archdiocese confirmed

By DAVID GREENE & SÍLE MOLONEY

The residents of a 200-bed men’s homeless shelter in the Woodlawn section of the Bronx were quietly moved and are currently being housed at a four-star hotel in Manhattan due to concerns over coronavirus transmission. Some residents and workers from the area couldn’t be happier. On Saturday, May 16, as New York City started to see the flattening of the COVID-19 curve, the City’s Department of Homeless Services (DHS) transferred 200 homeless men, many with mental illness, out of the Jerome Avenue Men’s Shelter (JAMS), located at 3600 Jerome Avenue. According to DHS, the shelter residents are currently

By Síle Moloney

Congressman Eliot Engel released the following statement following news of his defeat to Jamaal Bowman on July 17, 2020 in the 16th Congressional District race, as reported by The New York Times, with Bowman winning 55.5% of the vote to Engel’s 40.4%. Christopher Fink won 2% of the vote. “The numbers are clear, and I will not be the Democratic nominee for the 16th Congressional District seat in the fall election. Serving the people of the Bronx and Westchester in Congress has been the greatest privilege of my life, and what a remarkable 32 years it has been. We

By Síle Moloney

The New York State Department of Labor announced on Jul. 10 that the United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers, and Allied Workers, Local Union #8 will conduct a recruitment drive from Aug. 12, 2020 through Aug. 21, 2020 for 25 roofer apprentices. Please note the 25 openings listed for roofer apprentices represent the total for two recruitment regions – the Hudson Valley and New York City regions of the state. Applications may be completed and submitted online only, starting at 8:00 a.m. on Aug. 12, 2020 at www.roofers8.org. This is a limited-application recruitment. Only 250 applications will be accepted, on

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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Housing

Eviction Moratorium Extended to September 4, Bronx Affordable Housing Application Deadline Aug. 14

July 30 Deadline Approaching for NYS COVID Rent Relief Program

Espaillat Calls on Hispanic Caucus to Condemn Yoho’s Verbal Attack on AOC

Dinowitz: Vote By Mail Legislation Gathering Pace This Week, as Presidential Election Beckons

Six Bronx Catholic Schools Abruptly Close

Engel Wishes Bowman Well Following his Defeat in the 16th Congressional District race

Roofers Recruit Apprentices – 25 Openings

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