BP Diaz Launches COVID-19 Virtual Memorial

By Síle Moloney

On Friday, June 12, 2020, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. launched a virtual tribute to remember and celebrate the lives of Bronxites lost during the coronavirus pandemic. The virtual memorial went live on the Bronx Borough President’s website bronxboropres.nyc.gov/covidmemorial and honors borough residents who lost loved ones to the COVID-19 pandemic. Those wishing to submit the name of a Bronxite to be included on the page can do so at bit.ly/bxcovidmemorial. “The COVID-19 pandemic hit our borough very hard, affecting us all as a community,” said Diaz Jr. “This virtual memorial allows us the opportunity to mourn

By Síle Moloney

An informal discussion on the recent package of policing reforms, including the repeal of Civil Rights Law Section 50-a (which was used to block the disclosure of disciplinary records), as well as the next steps to be taken going forward with regard to this topic will be held on Thursday, Jun. 18, 2020 from 6:30pm to 7:30pm. Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz and State Sen. Jamaal T. Bailey, Chair of the State Senate Codes Committee, author of the CRL 50-a Repeal Bill, and leading advocate in the legislature on policing and criminal justice reforms will be available to answer questions from

By David Greene

One man is recovering from a vicious knife attack carried out in broad daylight as police release a surveillance photo of the suspect wanted in connection with the crime. According to NYPD detective and spokeswoman, Sophia Mason, the incident was reported at 12:07 p.m. on Saturday, Jun. 6 outside of the E.D. Parking located at 1840 East Tremont Avenue on the Parkchester – Van Nest border. According to one witness, the as-yet-unidentified 29-year-old victim first sought help at the New Hong Kong Restaurant at the corner of East Tremont and Thieriot Avenue. However, staff declined to get

Bronx Community Board 7 in conjunction with MAS Productions held a Mask, Gloves and Hand Sanitizer Giveaway at Poe Park on Saturday, Jun. 13, 2020. In addition to receiving a goodie bag filled with these items, there was also fresh produce available from NYBG’s Edible Garden. Bronx CB 7 District Manager Ischia Bravo, Jacqueline Acevedo-Villanueva from MAS Production, Shanequa Charles, Executive Director at Miss Abbie’s Kids Inc. and other volunteers spent the afternoon handing out goodie bags at the event which kicked off at 2:00 p.m. As reported previously by Norwood News, Jacqueline Acevedo-Villanueva made a special

New St. Philip Neri Principal a Familiar Face in Norwood

By Síle Moloney

Practice Makes Perfect (PMP), a benefit corporation, in partnership with the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation and The Heckscher Foundation for Children, has created a free, virtual summer academic program for up to 5,000 NYC public school students who are completing Grades 3 – 8. Through a $1.4 million dollar grant, the program is open to students attending both district and charter schools, and aims to address the impact of Covid-19 and mitigate summer learning loss. Practice Makes Perfect (PMP) partners with K-12 schools to operate high-impact programs before, during, and after school hours. Since 2010,

By Síle Moloney

The New York City Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the individual in the attached photographs and video surveillance wanted for questioning in regard to a theft that occurred within the confines of the 52nd precinct on May 24, 2020. It was reported to police that on Sunday, May 24, 2020 at approximately 3:45 p.m. outside of 42 West Fordham Road, a 45-year-old male victim left his e-bike unattended when he made a food delivery. When he returned, he saw the unidentified person on the e-bike riding southbound on Grand Avenue. The

By JASON GONZALEZ

Renowned author and Pulitzer Prize winner, William Faulkner, once said, “Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed. If people all over the world…would do this, it would change the earth.” The murder on Memorial Day in Minneapolis, Minnesota of George Floyd, a 46-year-old unarmed Black man, has given rise to worldwide outcry. The uproar has manifested into protests that have spanned the globe, and has civilians from all races, religions, and sexual orientations calling for police reform and the termination of systemic racism. As unrest permeates

By SÍLE MOLONEY

A solidarity event in support of the Black Lives Matter movement took place at Jacobi Medical Center on Jun. 9, 2020. About 35 hospital staff members stood outside the hospital displaying signs of support. Others spoke about the racial inequities that exist within the health care system and decried budget cuts to health care while the City pays out millions in law settlements relating to police misconduct. Kelly Cabrera, a registered nurse working in emergency medicine addressed those gathered saying, “Racism is a public health emergency. We’re here as health care workers in one of the areas that

By Síle Moloney

Impassioned and resolute, Bronx City Councilman Andy King laid out the implications of being Black in America from a physical, emotional and economic standpoint when he addressed a crowd at a Unity and Solidarity food and face mask distribution event on Jun. 9, 2020. Joined by former NYPD officer and Brooklyn Borough President, Eric Adams, and 32 BJ Union President Kyle Bragg, King appealed to Black elected leaders to seize the moment and stand in solidarity with Black Lives Matter protestors to effect lasting change. The event was held outside King’s District 12 office on East Gun Hill