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Off-Duty NYPD Sergeant Arrested for Assault in The Bronx

By SÍLE MOLONEY
An off-duty, NYPD sergeant has been arrested in the Bronx’s 45th precinct. On Tuesday, June 28, at 6.58 a.m., Gregory Smith, 42, was charged with strangulation, assault, and harassment.   Smith is assigned to the 41st precinct in The Bronx which serves Hunts Point and Longwood. According to his file, he became a police officer in 2011 and was promoted to sergeant in November 2020.   Under disciplinary history, a note in his file reads, “This officer does not have any applicable entries.”   A person arrested and charged with a crime is deemed innocent unless and until convicted in a court


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UPDATE Norwood Daycare Center Owner Formally Charged with Alleged Child Sexual Assault & Child Pornography Possession

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced on Monday, June 27, that a 32-year-old Norwood man, who was the owner of a Norwood daycare center, has been charged with alleged predatory sexual assault against a child, as well as other charges for allegedly sexually assaulting a boy, and for allegedly possessing child pornography.   According to the investigation by the NYPD and the prosecution’s case, on May 3, authorities with the U.S. Secret Service and the NYPD conducted a search inside Lina’s Garden Daycare, located at 3525 Decatur Avenue in Norwood, which was owned by the defendant, Silfredo Castillo Martinez,


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UPDATE Court Overrules Decision to Allow Non-Citizens the Right to a Path to Vote in Municipal Elections

By SÍLE MOLONEY
A court has overruled a New York City Council vote taken in December 2021, which would allow non U.S. citizens the right to a path to vote in municipal elections in New York City. As reported in April, LatinoJustice PRLDEF, community partners, and pro-bono counsel, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, collectively filed a motion to challenge a lawsuit which sought to reverse the recently approved municipal voting rights bill in New York City, which extended the right to vote to eligible non-citizens in municipal elections.   In the case of Fosella v. Adams, a group of Republican voters and elected


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UPDATE Elections 2022: Dinowitz, Altagracia Woolford Tussle over Housing, Public Safety, Campaign Financing & More

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz (A.D. 81) and challenger and mutual aid organizer, Jessica Altagracia Woolford, who was recovering from a recent bout of COVID-19, discussed their positions on the priorities for voters in Assembly District 81 on Tuesday, June 21, during a debate aired on BronxNet, hosted by Gary Axelbank, and co-sponsored by Norwood News, the League of Women Voters, City Limits and The Bronx Times. Both candidates will be on the ballot in the upcoming Democratic Primary on Tuesday, June 28.   On the question of candidate experience, Dinowitz, who has represented the district since 1994, spoke to the fact that


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UPDATE Concourse Village: 15-Year-Old Girl Reported Missing Has Been Found

By SÍLE MOLONEY
The NYPD said on June 29 that a 15-year-old girl reported missing from the Concourse Village section of the borough has been found.   Prior to being located, Kyara Villa of Grand Concourse had last been seen on Thursday, June 23, at around 8.46 a.m. in the vicinity of 225 West 24th Street in Manhattan. She was described as female, Hispanic, is 5 feet tall, weighs about 99 pounds, has brown eyes and brown hair. Prior to being located, she had last been seen “wearing a beige sweatshirt, pink sweatpants, black Jordan sneakers, and a black book bag,” police officials


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Norwood: Search for 58-Year-Old Missing Man

By SÍLE MOLONEY
The NYPD is asking for the public’s help locating a 58-year-old man from Norwood, reported missing on Sunday, June 26.   Jerome Hooks, 3569 Dekalb Avenue from the Norwood section of the borough was last seen on Friday, June, 3, at around 10.15 a.m. inside of his home. He is described as male, 5 feet, 5 inches tall, weighs 155 pounds, has a dark complexion and a stocky build, black hair and brown eyes. His clothing description is unknown.   Anyone with information regarding this missing person is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or


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UPDATE Elections 2022: Jessica Altagracia Woolford Says Politics is not Binary

By SÍLE MOLONEY
  Editor’s Note: In a previous version of this story, it was stated incorrectly that a donation of $405 to the campaign for Jessica Altagracia Woolford came from Ivet Contreras, spokesperson for Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14). In fact, the donation was from Ivan Contreras from Brooklyn, unaffiliated with the congresswoman. We apologize sincerely for this error.    Jessica Altagracia Woolford is running for office in Assembly District 81 in the June 28 primaries. Growing up in Kingsbridge, she is a community organizer who has previously worked for the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand’s office, and has


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UPDATE State Prompts School Silent Alarm Proposal as Federal Gun Laws & School Camera Debate Continue

By EDWIN J. VIERA, New York News Connection & SÍLE MOLONEY
Gov. Kathy Hochul approved a new law requiring schools to consider installing a silent, panic-alarm system on Thursday, June 23. Approval of what’s known as “Alyssa’s Law” comes in the wake of several mass shootings, which have made many elected officials consider more strict gun safety and school safety laws.   Andy Pallotta, president of New York State United Teachers, believes the new provision in school safety plans will quell some of the anxiety students and teachers feel about whether they can be safe in the classroom. “Well, I think that we are in a position where we support anything


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Bridge and Street Closures in The Bronx (& Manhattan for Pride etc) from June 24 to August 31

By SÍLE MOLONEY
The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) has advised of the following street and bridge closures in The Bronx and Manhattan from June  to Aug. 31.   Bruckner Boulevard between 3 Avenue and Lincoln Avenue: This street will be closed Fridays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. through June 29 to facilitate crane operation.   East 139th Street between Alexander Avenue and Willis Avenue: This street will be closed Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. through June 26 to facilitate crane operation.   East 146th Street between Brook Avenue and


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