Out and About

Northwest Bronx Elected Officials Call for Investigation Into Nooses Found in Van Cortlandt Park

By Síle Moloney
The offices of City Councilman Andrew Cohen, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, and Congressman Eliot Engel released a statement on Monday, Jun. 22 at around 5:00 p.m. to address recent media reports, including one from Norwood News, about nooses found hanging from trees in Van Cortlandt Park on the eve of Juneteenth. They called for a full investigation into the incident.   The statement was issued on Monday afternoon following an earlier 1:00 p.m. press conference in Van Cortlandt Park where New York State Senator Alessandra Biaggi (SD-34) and first-time congressional challenger in the 16th congressional district race, Jamaal Bowman, were joined


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Dinowitz Urges Voters Who Have Not Received Absentee Ballot To Plan to Vote In Person

By Síle Moloney
On Monday, Jun. 22, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz issued a press release on voting procedures in relation to Tuesday’s primary and special elections further to the receipt of several reports from voters that they had not received their absentee ballots, despite having applied for them weeks ago.   Dinowitz said that following the various alerts he received from constituents, he got in frequent contact with the Board of Elections, and the Board said that ballots had indeed been mailed to eligible voters. Dinowitz said he had also been in contact with the United States Postal Service and representatives from the organization


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New York City Phase II Reopening Guidelines and Updates

By Síle Moloney
The City entered Phase Two of the State’s Reopening Plan on Monday, June 22, 2020. During this phase, the following industries were allowed to resume:   Commercial Building Management Hair Salons & Barbershops Outdoor and Take-Out/Delivery Food Services Offices Real Estate Services In-Store Retail Vehicle Sales Retail Rental, Repair & Cleaning   Businesses which fall under these industry sectors must affirm to have read and understood the State-issued guidelines relating to reopening. Businesses that are unclear about reopening during Phase Two can use this tool to check. The guidelines and requirements may change, so businesses are asked to check the


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15th Congressional Race: Samelys López on Class Warfare, Progressiveness, Sanders & Serrano

By Síle Moloney
In a still-crowded 15th congressional district race, Samelys López has a clarity of vision for the Bronx that is rooted in continuity, inspired by personal experience, and imbued with a sense of urgency for social justice. A former intern of the incumbent, Congressman José Serrano, who is soon-to-retire after 30 years of service, López said she wants to continue Serrano’s legacy, while also recognizing the timely need for class warfare, and a true reckoning with what it really means to be a “progressive”.   It is this latter point that is central to López’s campaign and she is eager to


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Nooses Found in Van Cortlandt Park, NYPD Determine No Hate Crime, Advocates Call for Investigation

By Síle Moloney
Police said that on Thursday night, Jun. 18, 2020, the Commanding Officer of the 50th precinct responded to a report from the grove part of Van Cortland Park further to the discovery of what was believed to have been one or more nooses hanging from trees in the park, prompting fears of a hate crime. The NYPD said that upon arrival, the Commanding Officer observed a nylon string that is often used to hang piñatas hanging from a tree branch. Upon further investigation, it was determined that there had been a party at the location earlier and the incident was


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NYC Parents & Teachers Conference June 20: Sharing Ideas & Solutions for Reopening Schools

By Síle Moloney
NYC parents and educators will convene and present ideas for re-opening schools tomorrow Saturday, Jun. 20, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at a conference entitled, Sharing Ideas & Solutions for Reopening Schools: The Path Forward. The event will be held remotely, co-sponsored by Class Size Matters, NYC Kids PAC, and Community Education Councils from Districts 4, 8 (Bronx), 14, 17 and 32.   During this conference, NYC parents, guardians, teachers and concerned New Yorkers will discuss and develop proposals around the reopening of schools in the fall and present them to invited decision-makers. If schools are to reopen, it


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Mayor: Juneteenth To Become New York City & School Holiday

By Síle Moloney
  Today, Jun. 19, as the country celebrates Juneteenth, the oldest nationally-celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that Juneteenth would become an official City and school holiday.   The mayor also announced additional steps the City is taking to address disparities and structural racism that have been exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, including the creation of a new commission to understand the effects of structural and institutional racism in New York City.   The Racial Justice and Reconciliation Commission (RRC) will be established to promote social learning,


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Black Lives Matter Protests Continue as Legislation Passes and NYPD Disbands Anti-Crime Unit

By David Greene
As the Black Lives Matter movement continues with protests entering a fourth week in cities across America in response to the May 25th death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, individual cities are looking into their own practices and policies regarding the use of force, and are coming to grips with racial disparities within their own units.   On Friday, Jun. 5, 2020, nearly 300 demonstrators gathered at Poe Park in Kingsbridge and marched to the Bronx County Courthouse where several speakers described what they said was a peaceful protest the previous night along Third Avenue in the South Bronx.  


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FDNY Firefighter Arrested on Assault Charges in 43rd Precinct

By Síle Moloney
On Thursday, June 18, 2020 at 5:45 p.m., Jeremy Rivera, 38, an off-duty FDNY firefighter was arrested and charged with assault within the confines of the 43rd precinct.   No further information about the arrest location is known.   The 43rd precinct covers four primary commercial strips – Westchester Avenue, Castle Hill Avenue, White Plains Road and Parkchester.