Politics

Update: Northwest Bronx Democrats’ 2021 Endorsements & Non-Endorsements of West Side Candidates

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Local community and political organization, the Northwest Bronx Democrats (NWBx Dems) announced their endorsements and non-endorsements of various west side candidates running for City Council Districts 11, 14 and 15 in the upcoming primaries on Friday, June 11. They also announced their picks for Bronx civil court judge and Bronx borough president.   Saying, this year, the NWBx Dems’ endorsement process was dictated by a combination of hope and alleged broken promises by candidates, Anthony Rivieccio, the organization’s founder, confirmed that in the District 14 race, the group endorsed Pierina Sanchez and Yudelka Tapia. In the Bronx borough president race,


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State Comptroller Releases Economic Report on The Bronx

By SÍLE MOLONEY
The COVID-19 pandemic hit the Bronx harder than any other borough by several measures, according to an economic analysis released on June 8 by the New York State comptroller, Thomas P. DiNapoli, with one finding showing that only 61.3 percent of households had reliable internet, compared to a range of 69.5 to 78 percent across the city, as previously reported by Norwood News.    To address this, the comptroller’s office reported that as part of a recent deal, the City expects fiber-optic infrastructure to reach 500,000 new households citywide (no deadline was specified), including households in Norwood, Fordham, University Heights, Bedford


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Eric Dinowitz Calls for Voting Access to any Poll Site in County following Kingsbridge Incident

By SÍLE MOLONEY
District 11 Council Member Eric Dinowitz released a statement on June 8 in which he renewed his call to the New York City Board of Elections (BOE) to allow voters to cast their ballot at any poll site within the county in which they live. The statement comes on the heels of a confusing situation regarding a poll site change in the Kingsbridge neighborhood of the Bronx.   Kingsbridge residents previously voted at In-Tech Academy but were moved to the Bronx High School of Science, a location a good distance away from their homes. The BOE has since updated their


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Mayor & Bronx BP Races: Kathryn Garcia & Nathalia Fernández Cross Endorse Each Other

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernández (A.D. 80), candidate for Bronx borough president, endorsed Kathryn Garcia as her number two choice for New York City mayor on Friday, June 11, while Garcia, the City’s former Sanitation commissioner and food czar, endorsed Fernández as her number one pick for Bronx borough president.   Fernández credited Garcia’s dedication as a lifelong public servant, her extensive career fighting climate change, and her steady hand shepherding New York City through some of its biggest crises, as the deciding factors in ranking Garcia her number two choice for mayor. On May 12, the assemblywoman announced her endorsement of


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Dinowitz Bill Allowing Seniors in Co-Ops Access to Home Equity Loans Passed by Legislature

By SÍLE MOLONEY
The State Assembly and State Senate have passed legislation (A1508) to allow seniors living in cooperative apartment buildings to apply for “reverse mortgages,” a type of loan currently available to homeowners that transfers built-up home equity into cash. Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz (A.D. 81), who was one of the legislators to introduce the bill, announced the news on Friday, June 11, as the Legislature broke for the summer recess.   According to bankrate.com, a home equity loan is a lump-sum loan that’s secured by home equity. Quickloans.com defines equity as the difference between what a person owes on their mortgage and


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Bronx BP Race: United Probation Officers Endorse Vanessa Gibson

By SÍLE MOLONEY
The United Probation Officers Association announced their support on Sunday, June 13, for District 16 City Councilwoman Vanessa Gibson in her bid to win the Bronx borough presidency.   Dalvanie K Powell is president of the association and said The Bronx needs elected officials who understand the role that probation officers play in turning lives around in New York City and that Gibson “certainly” does that. “She has proven herself, time and again, that she is committed to the future of the Bronx and to New York City, and we proudly endorse her for borough president of the Bronx. We


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Update: Jamaal Bowman Issues Statement on Eric Adams’ Education Remarks on Virtual Learning

By SÍLE MOLONEY
In response to remarks about remote learning made by Brooklyn borough president and New York City mayoral candidate, Eric Adams, during a Citizen’s Budget Commission forum in February 2021, which were posted to Twitter on June 11, U.S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman (NY-16), himself, a former teacher, released a statement on Saturday, June 12, condemning the borough president’s remarks.   The tweet was posted under the Twitter handle for The Matt Skidmore Show. Under the YouTube channel for the The Matt Skidmore Show, it states that “Matt creates a video explaining why voters should consider 2020 Democratic Presidential candidate and former


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Wiley Outlines New Universal Health Care Plan at Montefiore, Backs Fernández for Bronx BP

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Human rights lawyer and candidate for mayor, Maya Wiley was back in The Bronx on Tuesday, June 8, for a visit to Montefiore Medical Center, where she held a press conference to announce details of her plan for universal health coverage in the City. She was joined by members of 1199 SEIU and New York State Nurses Association. Wiley said the plan would transform health coverage in New York City and extend care to hundreds of thousands of residents, including the undocumented.   About 600,000 New Yorkers are uninsured according to Wiley, and half of those are undocumented. Meanwhile, a


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Bronx CB7 May General Meeting Sees New Officer Nominations & Veterans Fare Discounts

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT
  A jam-packed agenda extended the May Bronx Community Board 7 (CB7) general board meeting to just under two hours. Much of the meeting, held on May 25, was spent going over the nominations for incoming officer positions for the upcoming year, including chairperson, first vice chair, second vice chair, third vice chair, treasurer, and secretary. Several motions were also passed, including those relating to requested letters of support from the board to different city agencies and elected officials.   Each year, during the general board’s May meeting, nominations are made for new officer positions, and the final vote is


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