Cuomo: Keep Affordable Care Act

By ADELINE HANSSEN

At a rally with shades of presidential ambitions, Governor Andrew Cuomo declared that Democrats are not going to let Republicans win when it comes to doing away with the Affordable Care Act. Cuomo, rumored to make a run for the White House in 2020, addressed the powerful 1199 SEIU at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Pelham Parkway/Morris Park on Feb. 22, rallying rank and file union members. He used his platform to criticize the Republicans’ position, taking a definitive stance on health care policy. According to Cuomo, New York faces a $3.7 billion loss to the Medicaid program should

CONGRESSMAN ADRIANO ESPAILLAT (r) talks with a guest at an open house for his new office at 2530 Grand Concourse in Fordham on Feb. 22. Espaillat, who won the seat in the 13th Congressional District, follows through on a campaign promise to build an office within the Bronx portion of the district. Voters say the congressional district previously had little representation in the Bronx. The office number is (718) 450-8241. Photo by Miriam Quinones/Caption by Christine Owusu-Ampaw

Bronx Barriers: Low Voter Turnout

By ANTHONY ALI

The Norwood News and WFUV continue their five-part series profiling different types of challenges impacting the Bronx. Voter turnout remains a challenge during New York City elections. In the Bronx, that problem is amplified, consistently lagging when it comes to voter turnout, according to figures. And with a mayoral election coming up later this year, it begs the question: Why aren’t more Bronx voters heading to the polls? Multiple Challenges It’s a question city Councilman Ritchie Torres of the 15th Council District had posed back in 2014. His answer: low civic engagement, with Bronx residents

A grassroots effort to limit height restrictions for new buildings along Mosholu Parkway crossed another hurdle as city officials agreed to consider examining downzoning efforts along the parkway next year. The move comes amid Community Board 7’s independent zoning study of two neighborhoods within its borders as a way to preserve its character while stemming further development. The group won a victory at the latest CB7 Land Use/Housing Committee meeting on Feb. 15 when the New York City Department of City Planning (DCP), charged with determining the character of neighborhoods across the five boroughs, assured the community it will assess

By WENDY JOAN BIDDLECOMBE

Although Mayor Bill de Blasio’s town hall meeting was held in the Kingsbridge neighborhood of the Bronx, the mayor heard from Norwood residents, who brought issues of parking and overcrowding to his attention. Throughout the event, held at In Tech Academy on Tibbett Avenue and moderated by Councilman Andrew Cohen, the mayor addressed Bronxites’ questions on national issues as well as local concerns, including immigration, healthcare and education. “This is a city where we’re passionate people. When you look at the tabloids, you look at the news, there’s a lot of feeling, a lot of emotion. And I think we

By DAVID CRUZ

Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. once again lightly dabbled with the prospect of becoming mayor of New York City in his latest annual State of the Borough Address. Discussing citywide issues, he took aim at both Mayor Bill de Blasio and President Donald Trump. Diaz’s eighth annual speech, delivered at JFK High School in Marble Hill, drew 89 rounds of applause during his 47-minute delivery, as he summed up a number of the borough’s achievements, while it was light on new, lofty initiatives. Diaz was short on new proposals, while adding to previously announced proposals, which had included installing a deck atop a 13-acre train yard

By DAVID CRUZ

Customers at a CVS store in Norwood were shocked to learn one the pharmacy on East Gun Hill Road will close its doors. Stephanie Cunha, a spokesperson for CVS, confirmed the store at 310 E. Gun Hill Rd. near Perry Avenue will close on March 4. citing “a business decision.” “Customers will not experience any disruption in service,” Cunha said in a statement, adding the CVS Pharmacy at 732 Allerton Ave. will continue to “provide convenient pharmacy services to our customers.” There the pharmacy can “quickly and easily transfer their prescriptions to any other CVS location.” Outside the pharmacy, Hilda Nieves,

Neighborhood Notes: Free Immigration Service

Flea Market Donations Sought Donations are needed for the Bedford Mosholu Community Association flea market scheduled to be held on March 4. Bring new and used items (except clothing) to the BMCA office at 400 E. Mosholu Pkwy. So., apt. B1 (lobby floor) on Feb. 22 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., Feb. 25 from 1:30 to 4 p.m., and March 1 from 7:30 to 9 p.m. For more information, call (718) 367-2230 or email bedfordmosholu@verizon.net. State Job Exam Exams that qualify you for a state job in the fields of health and human services, environmental conservation, human resources, administrative analysis, and transportation will

By DAVID GREENE

Owners of vehicles stored at a public indoor parking garage in Bedford Park have been anxiously awaiting news if their vehicles were destroyed following the collapse of the facility. Police, fire and paramedics were dispatched to Dr. Parking, located at 3000 Jerome Ave. near Bedford Park Boulevard at just after 6 a.m. on Feb. 19. Officials say there were no injuries, with workers managing to escape. Investigators from the Office of Emergency Management and the Department of Building’s (DOB) were investigating. Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority reported Number 4 Trains were running at a reduced speed past the area to