Be Healthy! Wednesdays: Bronx Advocates Condemn Proposed Tabacco Control Cuts

Editor’s Note: Every Wednesday, Breaking Bronx features a health-related story, event or tidbit as part of an online expansion of our Be Healthy! column. Anti-smoking groups in the Bronx and across the state are deriding a proposed budget plan that would slash tobacco control funding by $5 million this year, a cut they say could reverse the strides New York has made in getting residents to quit the habit and could lead to more young people taking up smoking. “While we have seen a decrease in smoking rates, we still have over 850,000 smokers, many of whom are the most

Clement Gardner, the financial officer for a charity founded by Bronx State Sen. Ruben Diaz, Sr., was arrested yesterday for stealing $75,000 from the organization, according to Attorney General Eric Schneiderman– funds that were intended for programs to serve Bronx children and seniors. Diaz, Sr., founded the organization, the Christian Community Benevolent Association, in 1977 and served as the executive director for the nonprofit until 2002, and directed nearly $500,000 in public member item money to the group in 2006 and 2007, according to the New York Times. Diaz told the paper he was “shocked” by the news. In a

Fordham University students took to the streets last week to demand change in how the Bronx Jesuit school approaches multiculturalism and how it handles acts of racism and bias.

Bronx Links, Wednesday

Good morning! Welcome back to Breaking Bronx. We’re in for another beautiful day of spring weather today, with plenty of sunshine and a high of 68. Enjoy it. Here are the local news stories we’re following this Wednesday: Local leaders and politicians are once again looking for ways to battle the ongoing problem of dog poop on sidewalks here in the Bronx. Raising fines and increasing funding for enforcement of the city’s pooper-scooper law are among the suggestions, according to the Daily News. Opening arguments being today in the corruption trial of former Bronx State Sen. Pedro Espada. Espada and

Bronx Redistricting Update

Some updates in the ongoing redistricting saga. The federal judge in charge of redrawing New York’s Congressional districts–since lawmakers in Albany couldn’t come to an agreement of their own–released a second draft of maps yesterday. The new versions make some tweaks in Brooklyn and a few districts upstate but leave the proposed Bronx lines the same as those proposed last week (read our story on this here), potentially merging Kingsbridge and Norwood with a district in northern Manhattan currently represented by Charlies Rangel–which State Sen. Adriano Espaillat is now saying he might make a run for. Meanwhile, lawmakers are still

With the threat of more Bronx post office closures looming, State Sen. Gustavo Rivera is asking residents to fill out a survey about how often they use their local post office locations.

Bronx Notes: Community Board 7 Economic Development Meeting Tonight

Bronx Community Board 7 will hold its Economic Development Committee meeting tonight, Tuesday, March 13 at 6:30 p.m. at the Community Board office, 229A E. 204th St.

Bronx Irish Heritage Month Celebration at Rambling House

Last Thursday, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. hosted an Irish Heritage Month Celebration at the Rambling House in Woodlawn. Thanks to the BP’s office for putting together this video. As spokesman John DeSio would say: production value!

Bronx Notes: Community Board 7 Youth Services Meeting Tonight

Community Board 7’s Youth Services Committee will meet tonight, Monday, March 12 at 6:30 p.m. at the Community Board office, 229A E. 204th St. For more information, call (718) 933-5650 or visit www.bronxcb7.info. Ed. note: Every weekday, we highlight Bronx programs, announcements, services, opportunities, public meetings/hearings or community events. Find a full listing on our Neighborhood Notes page. Send your neighborhood notes to us at norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org.