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SBA Provides Series of Virtual Briefings on Relief for Restaurants & Small Businesses

The U.S. Small Business Association (SBA), in conjunction with SoBRO, is hosting a briefing on Wednesday, April 28, 2021 at 10 a.m., via ZOOM, on the Restaurant Revitization Fund (RRF) application process, the Payment Protection Program (PPP) application changes, PPP forgiveness, and updated information on the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) increase and EIDL advance.   The briefing will focus on the following: Eligibility Calculation of Funding Amount Eligible Uses of Funds Timeframe for Using Funds How to Apply Documentation Requirements   SoBRO was founded in 1972 by a group of business executives and community leaders with the mission of reversing the


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Melrose: Construction Application Filed for 8-Story Building at 414 East 152nd Street

By SÍLE MOLONEY
A building application has been filed with New York City Department of Buildings, for the construction of an eight-story, mixed-use building at 414 East 152nd Street in the Melrose section of The Bronx, according to YIMBY, the architecture, construction, and real estate website on Friday, April 23.   Located between Melrose Avenue and 3rd Avenue, the lot is a short walk to the 3rd Avenue-149 Street subway station, serviced by the 2 and 5 trains. Shaya Seidenfeld of MZS Realty Corp. is listed as the owner behind the applications.   The proposed 75-foot-tall development will yield 43,272 square feet, with


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Bowman Leads Call to Reopen Tamir Rice Fatal Shooting Case

By SÍLE MOLONEY
  In the wake of the conviction earlier this week of Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd in Minnesota in May 2020, on Friday, April 23, 2021, Congressman Jamaal Bowman led 40 of his Democratic congressional colleagues in a letter to President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Attorney General Merrick Garland and Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta in which they urge the U.S. Department of Justice to reopen its civil rights investigation into the death of Tamir Rice.   Tamir Rice, a Black, 12-year-old boy, was shot and killed by police in November 2014 while playing with


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Parkchester: Fatal Shooting of 35-Year-Old Man

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Police responded to a ShotSpotter activation (gun shot detection technology) opposite 1535 Taylor Avenue in the Parkchester section of The Bronx, on Friday, April 23, at approximately 11.42 p.m. Upon arrival, officers observed a 35-year-old man, unconscious and unresponsive, with gunshot wounds to the head and torso.   EMS responded to the location and transported the victim to NYC Health & Hospitals/Jacobi, where he was pronounced deceased. There are no arrests and the investigation remains ongoing. The incident occurred in the 43rd precinct.   The identity of the deceased is pending proper family notification.   Anyone with information in regard


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SBA Simplifies Process for Arts Organizations & Venues to Apply for Economic Relief

The U.S. Small Business Association (SBA) has enhanced the process of applying for economic relief for operators of live venues, live performing arts organizations, museums and movie theaters, as well as live venue promoters, theatrical producers and talent representatives. The agency is relaunching its Shuttered Venue Operators Grant application portal (SVOG) on Saturday, April 24, at 12.30 p.m. following the resolution of some technical issues encountered during its initial launch on April 8.   Barb Carson is deputy associate administrator of SBA’s Office of Disaster Assistance and said the agency recognizes the urgency and need to get the program up


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More Details on Lehman College’s Vaccination Site as CDC Recommends Lifting J&J Pause

  The closure of the Bronx High School of Science mass vaccination site, effective April 15, was a blow to local seniors in the Bronx Community Board 7 district and beyond, as reported last week by Norwood News. A new COVID-19 vaccination site opened at Lehman College on Wednesday, April 14, though details of the new site had initially been scant. Happily, further information has since become available.   On Saturday, April 17, Bronx BP Ruben Diaz Jr. confirmed that the following Bronx sites, including Lehman College, would be vaccinating New Yorkers aged 50 and older, without an appointment: Bronx Co-Op


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SBA Launches Supplemental Loan Program for Small Businesses Hardest Hit by COVID-19

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced on Thursday, April 22, that it will provide $5 billion in additional Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) assistance to one million small businesses and nonprofit organizations that have been most severely impacted by the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The additional loans fall under the Supplemental Targeted Advance loan program, the latest SBA relief program to launch as part of the American Rescue Plan Act on March 11, 2021.   SBA Administrator, Isabella Casillas Guzman, said many of the nation’s small businesses are still struggling to recover from the economic impact of the


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Norwood: Attempted Robbery at Dunkin Donuts

By SÍLE MOLONEY
  The New York City Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance identifying the man seen in the attached surveillance video and photo regarding a burglary that occurred in the 50th precinct.   On Tuesday, April 13, 2021 at approximately 5.28 a.m., at the Dunkin Donuts located at 47 East Gun Hill Road in Norwood, an unidentified individual tossed a brick at the glass front door, breaking the glass. The man entered the establishment and attempted to remove the cash register but was unable to. He then fled the location on foot to parts unknown. There was no property removed.


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Op-Ed: We Can Reduce Our Carbon Footprint on Earth Day and Beyond

By NILES NEUSBAUM
Today, April 22nd, marks Earth Day. We have reduced our carbon footprint by curtailing travel and our thermostat. We recycle. But, we can do so much more by cutting our consumption of animal meat and milk products. Yes, that..   A recent article in The Guardian argues that animal agriculture is a major driver of climate change, as well as air and water pollution, depletion of soil and water resources, and destruction of wildlife habitats. Oxford University’s prestigious Food Climate Research Network reports that solving the global warming catastrophe requires massive shift to plant-based eating. The Netflix feature, Seaspiracy, documents


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