Financial Focus: Bronx Gentrification, Reverse Gentrification or Revitalization?

Thirty years ago SoHo was created. Dumbo was created 15 years ago. Is Mott Haven in the Bronx next? Was it gentrification? Was it revitalization? Many people do not seem to understand the difference. According to Wikipedia, gentrification is a process of renovating deteriorated urban neighborhoods by means of the influx of more affluent residents. This is a common and controversial topic in politics and in urban planning. Many say this is the process of renovating and improving a house or district so that it conforms to middle-class taste. Or, as summed-up by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


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More New York City Students Passing State Test, But Bronx Still Lags

Test scores for New York City students from third through eighth grade have gone up this year, but the Bronx still lags. Scores released by the state Department of Education show 46.7 percent of all New York City public students met proficiency standards in the English test, according to city officials. They also saw 42.7 percent of students pass the math test. A borough breakdown shows 32.3 percent of Bronx students from third to eighth grade passed their English test, according to raw data by the state Education Department. This year represents a “reset moment” as Mayor Bill de Blasio


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Latest Edition of the Norwood News is Out!

Dear Fellow Readers, The latest edition of the Norwood News is out with plenty of community news you can use. We have 20 pages of news and lots to cover. Our front page cover story focuses on the continuing trend of real estate speculation in Bedford Park. A Norwood News analysis shows an increase of transactions within the tiny section. We also give some brief history of what’s been happening over the last year. The Norwood News is also excited to announce our 30th anniversary celebration. Save the date for Thursday, November 1. More details are here including our honorees Sally Dunford, Mosholu Montefiore Community


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Health Check Exercise: Don’t Give Up, Keep It Up! 

Being healthy is a group effort that starts with you! Eating well is an important part of feeling well and being healthy.  Another way to improve health is to increase how often you move your body, also known as exercising. Of course, it is recommended to have a conversation with your healthcare professional to ensure you are safe to begin an exercise program. There are different types of exercises that help reach certain health goals. Cardiovascular exercises help increase your heart rate to decrease body fat. Body building exercises help to build muscle and define your body shape. Endurance training helps


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Editorial: Takeaways from the Sept. 13 Primary

The Sept. 13 primary in the Bronx is one for the ages. It’s usually a tough one for challengers, but in the year when the reckoning on establishment Democrats reached its peak, no one was safe. Not even the state’s most powerful senator, Jeff Klein, ousted as the Democratic representative for the 34th Senate District by Alessandra Biaggi, a candidate with a Democratic platform that translates to a complete condemnation against President Donald Trump. The people made their voices heard in a race that should be seen as an example of what happens when there’s a more engaged voting bloc


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Big Bands and Business Flair: JGHBID to Host 17th Annual Fall Festival

The Jerome Gun Hill Business Improvement District is gearing up for its 17th annual Fall Festival, slated for Saturday, Oct. 13. Join the BID for the annual event where Jerome Avenue between Mosholu Parkway and East Gun Hill Road is closed to traffic and full of people shopping, dancing, and celebrating the fall season. “The goal of the festival is twofold,” said Jennifer Tausig, the BID’s executive director. “We want to celebrate the neighborhood and say thank you to all the loyal local shoppers as well as attract new shoppers to the variety of quality goods and services offered in


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The Real Estate Hustle in Bedford Park

“Right now, the Bronx is prime real estate. Prime, prime real estate.” Those are the words of Joseph Governali, a Norwood resident and realty investor who said he recently entered into contract to purchase four homes in Bedford Park. Governali and his Brooklyn-based partner, Emmanuel Marshall, are part of a larger movement of investors and developers buying up Bronx homes, and tearing them down to replace them with tall buildings, exploiting existing zoning laws. The section of Bedford Park–bordered by Grand Concourse, Mosholu Parkway, East 198th Street and Webster Avenue–saw 28 properties sold between January and August of 2018 (see


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“Joker” Film Shoot Spotted in Bedford Park

Bedford Park Boulevard has gone Hollywood, shooting the upcoming “Joker” film! An Instagram post by fromtheBronx, crediting TMZ, shows extras at the Bedford Park Boulevard B/D station awaiting a subway to pull in. Suddenly extras flee as a purple-suit clad Joker, played by Oscar-winner Joaquin Phoenix, emerges from subway, walking towards the film crew.       View this post on Instagram   The new Joker movie starting Joaquin Phoenix filming at the Bedford Park Boulevard station. The Bronx, USA. VIDEO: @tmz_tv via @splashnews . . . #regram #thebronx #bronx #fromthebronx #thebronxdoesitbetter #nycgo #seeyourcity #howibronx #nycneighborhoods #thebronxnyc #thebronxusa #thisisnewyorkcity #trueyorkcity


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Surprises, But Not at Bronx Judicial Convention

The Bronx Democrats held a judicial convention and an organizational meeting of the county committee on Sept. 20, nominating judges to the eight county Supreme Court positions and filling party committee positions. Hundreds of Democrats turned out to represent their communities at the gathering held at Eastwood Manor. Two Bronx Supreme Court judges, Robert Torres and Mary Ann Briganti, were re-elected to their posts as criminal term judges. Eddy McShan and Julio Rodriguez III, both acting criminal term judges, were nominated to compete for their positions. Four civil court judges — Ben Barbato, Llinet Rosado, Marsha Michael and Elizabeth Taylor —


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