New York State Mayors Push for “Critical Gun Sense Legislation” Before Summer Break

By SÍLE MOLONEY

As the Bronx and New York State as a whole continues to see a marked increase in both shootings and shooting victims both year to date, and week on week, a diverse coalition of mayors representing cities and villages throughout the state have sent a joint letter, urging the state legislature to pass what the mayors see as critical gun sense legislation before ending the legislative session ahead of the summer recess. The mayors say the letter dated Tuesday, June 1, comes amidst a statewide surge of deadly gun violence this year in local communities. In the Bronx, according

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Applications are now being accepted, as of June 1, for the New York State Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP). According to government sources, the program will provide significant economic relief to help low and moderate-income households at risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability by providing rental arrears, temporary rental assistance and utility arrears assistance. There are no immigration status requirements to qualify for the program. New York residents are eligible for ERAP if they meet all of the following criteria: Household gross income is at or below 80 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI). These income limits differ

By SÍLE MOLONEY

A fire that broke out in a 6-story multiple dwelling in University Heights was brought under control in the early hours of Monday, May 31, 2021. Images from the Citizen’s App show a number of firefighters and fire trucks at the scene. An FDNY tweet at 3.28 a.m. indicated that “All Hands” were responding to the incident. Bronx All Hands Box 3385, 2707 SEDGWICK AVE, Multiple Dwelling 'A' Fire, APT 5C — FDNYalerts (@FDNYAlerts) May 31, 2021 An update by a user of the Citizen’s App posted at 3.38 a.m. indicated that firefighters had reported that nobody had

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Rep. Jamaal Bowman has endorsed founder and executive director of the People’s Theater Project in the District 11 City Council race. Images via Twitter Congressman Jamaal Bowman, who represents parts of the Bronx and Westchester counties, has endorsed executive director and founder of the People’s Theater Project, Mino Lora in the upcoming June 22 District 11 City Council primary election. Bowman referred to Lora as a proven leader, educator and a 20-year advocate for the community. “We have a very important election coming up on June 22nd,” Bowman said in a May 27th Twitter post. “It is primary season

By DAVID GREENE & SÍLE MOLONEY

Having qualified to be on the ballot in the upcoming June 22 primary election, Latchmi Gopal, a community organizer, former staffer for U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, and candidate in the District 15 City Council race, suspended her campaign, announcing her decision via an Instagram live post, last month. Gopal thanked her supporters and said running for City Council in the recent March 23 special election in District 15, in the heart of the Bronx, her home, had been one of the greatest honors of her life. “I couldn’t have done it without you all, everything from door knocking, food

By DAVID GREENE

An unidentified cyclist was struck by an SUV on the Norwood-Bedford Park border, with both the driver and the biker blaming each other for the collision. According to NYPD spokesperson, Sergeant Edward Riley, the incident was reported at 1:16 p.m. on Saturday, May 22, at the intersection of East Mosholu Parkway South and Bainbridge Avenue. Riley wrote in an email, “Vehicle 1 stated he was going straight when a bicycle was going at a high rate of speed and tried making a left turn, and collided with Vehicle 1.” He added, “Bicyclist states he was going straight, and

By SÍLE MOLONEY

A woman has been found dead on Jerome Avenue in University Heights. On Saturday, May 29, at around 6.27 a.m., police were alerted to a report of an unconscious female, lying in front of 2301 Jerome Avenue, in the 52nd precinct. Upon arrival, officers observed an unconscious, unresponsive female with no obvious signs of trauma. EMS also responded and pronounced the female deceased. The medical examiner will determine the cause of death and the investigation is ongoing. The identity of the deceased is pending family notification. Anyone with information with regard to this incident is asked

By SÍLE MOLONEY

District 11 Council Member Eric Dinowitz cast his vote to ban single use plastic straws at a recent City Council meeting. The legislation Int. 936-A was brought up through the Council Committee on Consumer Affairs and Business Licensing. The bill would ban food service establishments from providing plastic straws unless an individual specifically asks for one. There are also provisions directing the Department of Sanitation to provide education on the use and concerns of single use plastic straws. “Single use straws very often wind up not in the trash but scattered around our streets and in our waterways,” said

By SÍLE MOLONEY

A building permit application has been filed for a nine-story, mixed-use building at 2069 Bruckner Boulevard in Unionport, as reported by YIMBY. Located between Pugsley Avenue and Olmstead Avenue, the interior lot is near the Parkchester subway station, serviced by the 6 train. Guido Subotovsky, under the Bruckner Affordable Owner LLC, is listed as the owner behind the applications. The proposed 95-foot tall development will yield 280,731 total square feet, with 262,718 square feet designated for residential space and 18,013 square feet for commercial space. The building will have 265 residences, most likely condos, based on the average