Former Manhattan BP Endorses Jessica Haller in 11th City Council District Race

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Former Manhattan borough president and New York City councilwoman, Ruth Messinger, announced her endorsement on Thursday, Dec. 10, of Jessica Haller, Democratic candidate for New York City’s 11th Council District. “I know firsthand what it takes to succeed in the New York City Council, and can’t think of anyone better suited to represent the people of the 11th Council District than Jessica Haller,” said Messinger via a press release. “Jessica has the experience, passion, and knowledge to get things done for our city. She is someone we can rely on to prioritize social and climate justice and have our

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Mayor Bill de Blasio, Governor Andrew Cuomo, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and New York labor leaders sent a letter to the New York congressional delegation on Wednesday, Dec. 9, outlining the critical need for state and local funding in any stimulus bill in order to prevent massive damage to the State of New York. The letter was addressed to U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer, Kirstin Gillibrand and members of the New York congressional delegation. In it, officials talked about the desperate circumstances New York suffered at the outset of the COVID-19 crisis that continue today.

By SÍLE MOLONEY

District manager for Bronx Community District 7, Ischia Bravo, received a boost, on Dec. 8, to her campaign to replace Councilman, and now Congressman-elect, Ritchie Torres, in the District 15 City Council race, following the endorsement of New York State Senators, Jessica Ramos and Alessandra Biaggi. Both Ramos and Biaggi assumed office in 2019 after defeating long time incumbents, and members of the Independent Democratic Conference, a group of senate Democrats who caucused with Republicans to give the GOP a majority in the chamber. Both senators represent the new era of Democratic activism in the State Senate, ushering

By DAVID GREENE

A pair of local, elected officials joined housing advocates and attorneys in taking a bow during a recent virtual discussion, following the passage of “Jashawn’s Law,” which establishes deadlines for landlords to make court-ordered repairs to buildings. State Sen. Robert Jackson joined Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz in a Zoom conference call on Monday, Nov. 16, along with officials from the Legal Aid Society and housing advocacy groups, Take Root Justice and the Fordham-Bedford Housing Corporation. The bill was put forward by Dinowitz in 2003 in response to the Aug. 6, 2002 blaze at 3569 DeKalb Avenue in Norwood that

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT

In her campaign to replace incumbent councilman and congressman-elect, Ritchie Torres, on the City Council, Elisa Crespo wants to focus on the issues affecting the residents of the 15th District more than on her candidacy. Among the most pressing issues, she finds, is the high rate of unemployment. “We are at Great Depression level [un]employment rates in the Bronx,” Crespo told the Norwood News in a phone interview. “In some parts of this council district, there’s a 30 percent unemployment rate.” Together with her mom and siblings, Crespo, 30, experienced job and housing insecurity growing up in Brooklyn,

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT

In the lead up to Thanksgiving, on Nov. 19, Lehman College partnered with the Foodbank of New York and Montefiore Health System for an annual food produce distribution event. About a dozen folding tables were set up inside the students’ parking lot at Lehman College, where volunteers filled up paper grocery bags with several thousand pounds of fresh fruit and vegetables, including apples, bananas, corn, cucumbers, sweet potatoes, onions, carrots, and zucchinis. The produce was delivered directly from the Hunts Point Market that same morning and the bountiful grocery bags were later delivered to 20 different community groups

By DAVID GREENE

This week, we asked readers if they agree that presidential pardons should be given when a president leaves office. Is it right and just? “That’s a good question. I believe that if you have a lot of proof, proof like they have on this person, Michael Flynn, there’s so much proof that this guy didn’t do anything wrong, so yeah, I believe in the pardons, even if the president is leaving office. Hey, he still has the ability. He’s still the president, yeah.” Dawn Marie, Indian Village “That’s a very interesting question. I don’t know if it’s

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT

The race to replace Councilman Andrew Cohen in the 11th City Council District has widened in recent months with Mino Lora making her announcement to run on Oct. 9. Lora said her platform is focused on justice for all: racial justice, justice for immigrants, health, economic, housing, education and cultural justice, as well as criminal justice reform. Announcing her candidacy via a press release, Lora said in October, “We are a community of dreamers and doers who make the Bronx home, and keep this city running.” She added, “This campaign is fueled by our joy, our pain, and our passion.”

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Eric Dinowitz, a special education public school teacher and candidate for City Council in the 11th District, has been endorsed by Congressman Adriano Espaillat. Espaillat is a New York City progressive, and was both the first formerly undocumented immigrant and first Dominican elected to Congress. Dinowitz had previously been endorsed by the United Federation of Teachers. “I am excited to endorse Eric Dinowitz for City Council. As a special education public school teacher and community activist, Eric has devoted his life to bettering our neighborhoods and empowering others,” said Espaillat via a press release. “He has been a consistent