Editorial: Making Sense of the Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.’s Announcement

The Bronx political landscape was thrown into a tailspin when Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. announced out of nowhere that he would not be running for mayor of New York City. For anyone following Diaz Jr.’s career such as this publication, one would know that rumors of a mayoral run began more than a decade ago. Then Diaz Jr., then in his 30s and with a receding hairline, represented the energy the Bronx needed at the moment. He brought a charisma that sought mega projects arrive to the Bronx, though some remain pending. Even so, he had the makings of

The Push to Expand Right to Counsel, Diaz Jr. to Retire: Latest Edition of the Norwood News is Out!

By DAVID CRUZ

Dear Fellow Readers, The year’s third edition of the Norwood News for 2020 is out with plenty of community stories to read and share. We have packed 28 pages full of news from this corner of the Bronx, so let’s start with page one! Our top story focuses on a bill being championed by Councilman Andrew Cohen and housing advocacy groups that expands Right to Counsel. The act–which provides free legal counsel to those facing eviction–covers those considered extreme low income. New legislation looks to expand the income eligibility standards. Jose A. Giralt breaks it all down for us. Inside the

By PROF. ANTHONY RIVIECCIO, MBA, PFA

If you have been keeping track of our income tax deduction series, you should have learned much already on our first two subjects: children and itemized deductions. Please go to our prior issues to look up these subject matter specifically, this issue will be special, geared toward the world of small business and self employment. Whether you own a storefront or provide goods or services in your home for other income, entrepreneurship, over the last 30 years, has helped to spur economic growth. And in the last two years, the federal government has lowered business tax rates, significantly even more,

Inquiring Photographer: New Legislative Season Begins

By DAVID GREENE

With state lawmakers from the Bronx back to work for the new legislative session, we asked readers what are some of the current issues our local politicians should be addressing? Well, believe it or not, there is still a lot of racism here still. And it’s not just white people, it’s Africans and Dominicans; so it’s not a white thing. It’s all the races. And they’re (the NYPD) are doing the stop and search again that they were ordered not to do. Yes, they’re starting it again. You can thank [President] Trump for all of this and half the people

Neighborhood Notes: Free Immigration Service

While the majority of Americans probably may not be eligible to itemize, I encourage you to give yourself what I call the “Itemized Deductions” test: Add up all the sections below and if that number is higher than your standard deduction then itemize, itemize, itemize, with Form Schedule A. First, understand all taxpayers, based on filing status, get a no-questions-nor-receipts asked, automatic standard deduction. According to the IRS, “for tax year 2019, the standard deduction amounts will increase to $12,200 for individuals, $18,350 for heads of household, and $24,400 for married couples filing jointly and surviving spouses. For 2019, the additional standard deduction amount for

By DAVID CRUZ

Farewells are never easy. At least not for me. There’s this propensity to think that the people in your life, be personally or professionally, will somehow be in your life forever when in truth they’re like a rotating cast of a television series. I was struck by that when I heard a few months ago that Sally Dunford, the executive director of West Bronx Housing, was retiring after 28 years of service leading the agency. Running a nonprofit with the kind of demand needed for such a service—the group helps with landlord-tenant disputes, Section 8, SCRIE/DRIE applications, and navigating the

Dear Fellow Readers, The year’s second edition of the Norwood News for 2020 is out with plenty of community stories to read and share. We have packed 20 pages full of news from this corner of the Bronx, so let’s start with page one! Our top story looks back at the professional life of Sally Dunford, the West Bronx Housing executive director who retired in early January. Dunford leaves behind a legacy of helping thousands of renters who faced unscrupulous landlords over the years. Read what exactly she wanted to do with her life and her philosophical outlook on empowerment. Inside the

By PROFESSOR ANTHONY RIVIECCIO, MBA PFA

Most people mistakenly think that tax preparation is tax planning time. But by thinking this way, they think they could “erase” or “add” things that happened in 2019 when it is now 2020. So in short, if you did not plan in advance, that’s why it’s called tax planning, folks! Your refund for 2019 is now complete! But what about your refund for January 2021? After all, it’s the first week in January; don’t you think you should start planning now? Well, if you’re smart enough to plan now for a higher tax refund in 2021 (for this year’s taxes

By MARTIKA ORNELLA and DAVID CRUZ

The Bronx witnessed so much transformative change we’d be remiss not to mention how the borough fared this past decade. The paper pored over the last ten years to recap some of the more high-profile stories that have left a lasting impact on the Bronx. Development Within the last 10 years the Bronx has seen an enumerable population growth, coinciding with a historic development boom with lingering questions on housing security and affordability. Between 2010 and 2017, the Bronx became the fastest growing county in New York State, with over 86,000 new residents, bringing the estimated population to around 1.5

Norwood News

Serving Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights

Opinion

Editorial: Making Sense of the Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.’s Announcement

The Push to Expand Right to Counsel, Diaz Jr. to Retire: Latest Edition of the Norwood News is Out!

Financial Focus: The Path to a Bigger Tax Refund for 2021 – Business & Self-Employment (Part 4 of 7)

Inquiring Photographer: New Legislative Season Begins

Financial Focus: The Path to a Bigger Tax Refund for 2021 – Itemized Deductions (Part 3 of 7)

Opinion: A Happy Retirement to Sally Dunford

Celebrating the Work of a Housing Advocate, Electeds Respond to State of the State: Latest Edition of the Norwood News is Out!

Financial Focus: The Path to a Bigger Tax Refund for 2021 (Part 1 of 7)

Norwood News Looks Back on The Bronx This Past Decade