Update: Sports Arenas & Stadiums to Reopen Feb. 23 with Limited Spectators, Senators Urge Curbing Use of Executive Orders

Bronx Teen First Vaping-Related Death in New York State

By SÍLE MOLONEY

A week after Yankee Stadium opened as a large-scale vaccination site in The Bronx, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Wednesday, Feb. 10, that stadiums and arenas will be allowed reopen for sports and other events with limited spectators starting Feb. 23. The governor said that following the success of the Buffalo Bills testing program, sports and entertainment events in major stadiums with a capacity of 10,000 or more will be allowed to reopen with limited attendance. He said that venues and events must follow State guidelines on capacity limitations, testing requirements, mandatory face coverings, social distancing and more. Norwood

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT

The following is an extended version of a story that was recently published in our print edition. Two of the newest assembly members representing the Bronx have endorsed Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernández in her bid for the Bronx borough presidency. Chantel Jackson and Kenny Burgos were both elected to the State Assembly last November, and on Wednesday, Jan. 27, all three assembly members showed up at Starlight Park, close to Crotona Park East, to make the endorsement public. “I’ve known the assemblywoman for a few years now,” Burgos said. “I’ve worked with her in different capacities. I know she’s

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT

The challenge of representing multiple diverse communities across District 11 was evident during the televised debate between the five candidates running in the March 23rd District 11 special election, which aired on BronxNet on Feb. 2. Each is seeking to replace former Councilman Andrew Cohen, who was elected as a judge to the Bronx Supreme Court in November 2020 and resigned as a council member on Dec. 31, cutting short his final year in office. The 90-minute debate was co-moderated by Michael Hinman, editor of The Riverdale Press, and Sonyi Lopez, BronxNet producer, host and reporter, with a few,

By DAWN CLANCY

On Jan. 31, as reported by Norwood News, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and the City’s taskforce on racial inclusion and equity announced a plan to prioritize vaccine availability to an expanded list of 33 neighborhoods hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. The initial list of priority neighborhoods already included parts of the Northwest Bronx like Fordham Heights, Fordham Manor, University Heights, Kingsbridge, and Kingsbridge Heights. The expanded list now includes the Bronx neighborhoods of Williamsbridge, Baychester and Edenwald. Also previously included were Mott Haven and Melrose, Belmont and East Tremont, Parkchester and Soundview, Highbridge and Concourse,

By DAVID GREENE

This week, we asked readers for their thoughts on “de-platforming” conspiracy theorists who have spread misinformation on conventional social media sites like Twitter and Facebook. We asked readers if such people then congregate on alternative social media platforms like Parler, will this just ultimately create silos of people with opposing views operating in their own echo chambers. “The Bible talks about a time when right will be called wrong and wrong will be called right. We are in that time. Twitter allows child porn, but anything from conservatives, Donald Trump or others is banned. Of course, Trump and

By DAVID GREENE

At least one resident of a Dekalb Avenue building in Norwood had a close call after he said his kitchen exploded for no apparent reason, prompting a substantial response from police, firefighters and paramedics. According to the FDNY, the incident was reported at 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 23. In an initial call from an NYPD dispatcher that was rebroadcast over the Citizens App, the dispatcher reported, “52 precinct, unconfirmed 59-explosion, 3521 Dekalb Avenue.” The dispatcher added, “Explosion in the kitchen; cabinets have been blown out.” Video from the Citizens App showed several fire trucks and an NYPD

By DAVID GREENE & SÍLE MOLONEY

When members of the Bedford Mosholu Community Association (BMCA) held their usual, virtual, monthly meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 6, concerns were raised over the impact of New York Botanical Garden’s (NYBG) plans for two new housing developments at East Bedford Park Boulevard and Webster Avenue, which form part of a 2011 re-zoning plan to revitalize 88 blocks of Webster Avenue. According to Barbara Stronczer, president of BMCA, and as reported by the Norwood News, the $93 million housing and retail project was due to incorporate 188 reduced-income apartments for seniors at 2856 Webster Avenue in 2020. This was to

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Mino Lora, candidate for City Council in the 11th District in The Bronx, and previously profiled by the Norwood News, picked up the endorsement of City Councilman and Deputy Leader Jimmy Van Bramer on Jan. 26. Lora is running in the March 23rd special election in the district. Van Bramer is chair of the City Council Committee on Cultural Affairs and Libraries, co-founder of the Council’s progressive caucus, co-chair of the Council’s budget negotiating team and a candidate for Queens Borough President. Lora is an educator and the executive director of the People’s Theatre Project. Van Bramer said that

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Jessica Haller, candidate in the District 11 City Council race, for which a special election is set for March 23, announced on Feb. 2 that she has contracted the coronavirus. Saying that, normally, she wouldn’t share information about her health, Haller, nonetheless, said she felt like it was important to let residents know what was going on with her family. “Even having adhered rigorously to mask-wearing and other guidelines, I have contracted COVID,” she wrote in a written press release. “I may have been exposed during a medical appointment. At the same time, coincidentally, my daughter, who is studying