Politics

District 15 City Council Race: Altagracia Soldevilla on Fighting for Her Neighbors & Being the Anti-Establishment Candidate

By MICHAEL HOROWITZ
Altagracia Soldevilla is proud to be labeled an anti-establishment candidate in the upcoming District 15 City Council special election. She stresses that her only allegiance is to the people in the largely Latino district. “If I am elected to the City Council on March 23, I will be fighting for my neighbors and others in the district, many of whom are struggling to survive, especially in the midst of the pandemic,” Soldevilla said, in a telephone interview with the Norwood News.   Soldevilla, who works as an adjunct at the Borough of Manhattan Community College, traces her political philosophy to


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UPDATE: Northwest Bronx Democrats Endorse Fernando Cabrera for Bronx Borough President 

By SÍLE MOLONEY
The following is an extended version of the story that appears in our latest print edition in which Norwood News takes a closer look at some of the candidates endorsed by the Northwest Bronx Democrats over the years, including one who attended a Proud Boys rally.   Local political organization, the Northwest Bronx Democrats (NWBx Dems), announced on March 16 that they have chosen their candidate for the position of Bronx borough president, and have thrown their support behind the city councilman for the 14th District, Fernando Cabrera.   Anthony Rivieccio is the founder of the organization which has approximately


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Update: District 15 City Council Race: Bernadette Ferrara on Housing, Policing & Economic Development

By SÍLE MOLONEY
A lifelong resident of Van Nest, founder of the Van Nest Neighborhood Alliance, and a Bronx Community Board 11 (CB 11) board member since 2011, Bernadette Ferrara is one of ten candidates in the District 15 City Council District race, aiming to fill the seat vacated by former councilman and now Congressman Ritchie Torres.   Though Norwood News requested an interview with Ferrara, time did not allow for this finally, and so, here, we present a profile of Ferrara’s candidacy based on her campaign platform, and on her public comments during recent interviews and debates on three areas: housing, policing,


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Home Care Workers Demand Fair Pay

By DAVID GREENE
  A few dozen home care workers held a rally in the Bronx on Friday, March 12, to push for the passage of the “Fair Pay for Home Care Act,” which aims to guarantee workers better conditions. Low wages and poor conditions have been causing a mass exodus from the profession, affecting both elderly and disabled people, who are usually cared for in their homes by such workers. However, due to the shortage, seniors and people with disabilities are increasingly being forced to enter already overburdened nursing homes.   The Fair Pay for Home Care Act (S-5374) was introduced on


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Students Join Faculty Members & Continue to Rally over CUNY Lay-offs & Cuts

By DAVID GREENE
Employees and students at the City University of New York (CUNY) held a noisy, caravan-style protest on Jan. 30, in opposition to ongoing cuts and lay-offs which have affected both students and faculty alike. The group taped signs to their cars, hung out their windows, honked their horns and generally shattered the usual, peaceful tranquility known to some residents of the Northwest Bronx.   The estimated 20-vehicle, caravan rally formed outside Herbert H. Lehman College on West Bedford Park Boulevard, between Paul Avenue and Goulden Avenue in Bedford Park, and later deliberately drove past the homes of Bronx Community College


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Bowman to Join Students & Tenants Breaking Down Relief from Federal Stimulus Package

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Congressman Jamaal Bowman (NY-16) will join a teach-in on March 15 for all New York residents on how the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill passed last week will translate to emergency relief for tenants, homeless individuals, and students and families across New York. Bowman’s representatives said that over the weekend, the New York State Assembly and Senate released their one-house budget proposals, which included some reversal of tax breaks for the rich to raise $7 billion in progressive tax revenue. They said the “Invest in Our New York” campaign — a coalition of over 170 organizations and dozens of legislators


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District 15 City Council Race: “Our City” Endorses Crespo, Plans to Spend Five-Figure Amounts in Ads

By SÍLE MOLONEY
As candidates step up the pace in the final weeks ahead of the District 15 City Council special election, which takes place on March 23, Elisa Crespo, an education liaison to the Bronx borough president, received another boost to her campaign with news that the progressive group, Our City, is backing her as their first choice candidate in the race.   According to the group’s website, Our City is a project to win a progressive governing vision for New York City in 2021, centered around the agendas and voices of citywide grassroots movements. “Leading up to the June 22 Democratic


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Update: District 11 City Council Race, State Sen. Alessandra Biaggi Backs Jessica Haller & Mino Lora

By SÍLE MOLONEY
New York State Sen. Alessandra Biaggi has endorsed both tech entrepreneur and environmentalist, Jessica Haller, and Mino Lora, founder and executive director of the People’s Theater Project, in the District 11 City Council race, for which a special election is being held on March 23rd.   In the context of the announcement, Biaggi said Haller would be a dedicated, passionate advocate for the people of the 11th District. “Her vision for the Bronx is one that I share,” she said. “We need a more equitable, resilient and sustainable Bronx and I look forward to partnering with Jessica as she takes


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Update: District 11 City Council Race: Dan Padernacht Endorsed by Ironworkers Union

By SÍLE MOLONEY
City Council candidate Daniel Padernacht, lawyer and chair of Bronx Community Board 8’s Traffic & Transportation committee, has been endorsed by Local 46 of the Metallic Lathers Union and Reinforcing Ironworkers in his bid to win the District 11 City Council seat in the Northwest Bronx, for which a special election is taking place on March 23.   Union representatives said Padernacht will be an elected official that will understand his district’s needs and concerns and will do his best to address them. “Dan understands that good-paying jobs are the means to lift a community,” the statement read.   Reacting


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