UPDATE Mott Haven: Actor, Malik Yoba, Discusses Real Estate Documentary Series with Students

By SARAH HUFFMAN

The Urban Assembly Bronx Academy of Letters welcomed actor, Malik Yoba, to their school on March 28 to present his documentary film series, “The Real Estate Mix Tape Vol. 1,” which also features Majora Carter, real estate developer and founder of Hunts Point’s Boogie Down Grind Café. Though Yoba is not a former student of the school, we were informed, “he was born in the old Lincoln Hospital down the road.” According to various sources, including IMDb, Yoba is an actor, filmmaker and writer, known for his starring role as NYPD Detective J. C. Williams on “New York

By JULIAN NAZAR

Lisa Watkins, a retired Bronx schoolteacher, recalled seeing a story on the news about a Charlie Hewitt, a Maine-based artist, who had a huge “Hopeful” sign displayed on billboards in New Jersey. Considering the collective trauma of COVID-19 endured by so many Bronxites in such a relatively short space of time, she remembered thinking at the time that it would be a great word to have projected across the borough. “We had the two years of the pandemic,” Watkins said. “Just when we thought we were coming out of the pandemic around Christmas time, we had the resurgence

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Building permit applications have been filed with NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) for a new, four-story, residential building at 950 Ogden Avenue in the Highbridge section of The Bronx, as reported by YIMBY. Located at the intersection of West 162nd Street and Ogden Avenue, the lot is close to the 161st Street-Yankee Stadium subway station, serviced by the B, D, and 4 trains. The proposed 54-foot-tall development will yield 9,124 square feet designated for residential space. The building will have 13 residential units, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 701 square feet. The steel-based

By JULIAN NAZAR

To mark Black Maternal Health Week, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson joined a host of mothers and advocates fighting for access to safe childbirth support on the steps of Bronx County Courthouse on Wednesday, April 13. The group were gathered to demand policy changes at State level to combat the high rates of maternal mortality and morbidity seen in the borough. According to data published by Fatoumata Diallo, city research scientist for the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, The Bronx had the highest severe maternal morbidity (SMM) rate among all five boroughs as of

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Olivia and Liam remain America’s most popular baby names, based on newly released 2021 data from the U.S. Social Security Administration. Liam has been the top choice for new parents for five years in a row, while Olivia has topped the list for three years. During what was described by the agency as an unprecedented time, parents chose to stick with familiar names. Out of both Top 10 lists combined, only one name changed, with Theodore replacing Alexander in popularity. The name Theodore joins the Top 10 list for the first time. “Welcome to the club Teddy!” agency representatives

By DAVID GREENE & SÍLE MOLONEY

The following story is an extended and updated version of the one that appears in our latest print edition. District 11 Council Member Eric Dinowitz and Assemblyman Jeffery Dinowitz (A.D. 81) visited Webster Avenue with the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP), the Department of Sanitation (DSNY), and members of the 47th Precinct on Friday, April 29, to observe firsthand what was described as an escalating situation regarding the increased presence of mobile car washes along the avenue, as first reported by Norwood News in 2016. The council member and assemblyman discussed with agency representatives how

By DR. AMANDA ZAYDE and DR. OLIVIA DERELLA

Parents have been asked to carry a heavy load – balancing work demands, childcare, changes in school format, and worries about COVID-19. Many people have noticed changes in how they feel and respond to others. Stress can affect mood, leading to irritability, anxiety, or withdrawing from close relationships. When your mind is crowded with many different priorities and worries, and your body is drained from poor sleep or limited self-care time, parenting can feel more challenging. Stress can lead you to a “reactive” mode where frustration takes over. When overwhelmed, it’s hard to tune in to what children need

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Among a record number of healthcare entities which participated in the compilation of the 15th Human Rights Campaign health equality index (HEI), Montefiore Health System scored a perfect 100, and earned the designation of “LGBTQ+ healthcare equality leader.” The HEI serves as the gold standard in benchmarking healthcare institutions on policies and practices dedicated to the equitable treatment and inclusion of their LGBTQ+ patients, visitors, and employees. Montefiore has received this top designation now for eight years in a row. The 2022 HEI scorecard evaluated healthcare institutions on criteria related to four key areas, and Montefiore received the top score in each one:

By DAVID GREENE

This week, we asked readers their thoughts on the apparent increase in the various curbside car washers who have sprung up across the city since the pandemic and who are using city fire hydrants for their businesses. “I’m aware of them. I usually see them where I live in Soundview, and I see them in Fordham and in different areas. I think if it could be a hazard to the firemen or a hazard for the community, then yes, they must take them out. They can’t be allowed if it brings down the pressure of the water and it’s hampering