Politics

Update: City Council Candidate, Mino Lora, Has COVID-19, Governor Reduces Signature Requirements

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Mino Lora, candidate for City Council in the 11th District in The Bronx, and previously profiled by the Norwood News, issued a statement on Thursday, Jan. 7, confirming that she has contracted the coronavirus. “I tested positive for COVID-19, and am quarantining with my husband and our two children,” she said. “My symptoms are mild so far.” As reported by Norwood News, on Monday, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio set the date for the Special Election for District 11 and District 15 as March 23, and encouraged “all the folks out there in those two districts who want


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Mayor Sets March 23 Special Election Date for 11th & 15th City Council Races

By SÍLE MOLONEY
On Monday, Jan. 4, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio set March 23 as the Special Election date for the 11th and 15th City Council races in the Bronx. Announcing the date, the mayor did not comment in the press release on recent calls to both the mayor and the governor, as reported by Norwood News, to waive the 450 minimum signatures needed by candidates from residents to get their names on the ballot. Some candidates have said such a waiver would reduce mass person-to-person contact during a time of rising COVID-19 cases across the city.   “I am


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Calls Grow Louder for Special Election Rule Changes Amid Rising COVID Cases

By SÍLE MOLONEY
District 11 City Council candidate, Dan Padernacht, and a number of other City Council candidates held a press conference on Tuesday, Dec. 29, where they discussed different proposals to mitigate against the health risks associated with campaigning in the Northwest Bronx in the era of COVID-19, as reported by Norwood News.    The candidates called on Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio to waive the minimum 450-signature requirement to qualify to place their names on the ballots in the District 11 and District 15 special elections, which are expected to be announced on or about Jan. 1, 2021


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Biaggi’s Healthy Terminals Act Honors Baggage Handler who Died of COVID-19

By SÍLE MOLONEY
On Dec. 31, 2020, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo signed State Sen. Alessandra Biaggi’s bill S6266D into law. The bill will allow thousands of essential airport workers at John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia International Airport access to a supplemental wage benefit to acquire healthcare.   The senator who represents parts of the Bronx and Westchester, issued a statement following the signing of the bill.   “This is a victory for all New Yorkers as we take an integral step to protect some of our most vulnerable workers in the wake of the global pandemic. Long before COVID, mostly Black,


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First Baby of 2021 at Montefiore Delights Mom & Dad, Brings Hope for a Brighter New Year

By SÍLE MOLONEY
As many around the borough were welcoming in a, hopefully, happier, healthier and more hopeful new year, with quiet family get-togethers, perhaps tuning in to watch the low-key celebrations unfold at Times Square, where foot traffic was very much reduced to a select few frontline workers for a special New Year’s Eve show featuring The Bronx’s own, Jennifer Lopez, proud parents Gissel Vargas and Jehovell Garcia had a very different reason to celebrate the arrival of 2021. A Happy New Year was certainly in order for the pair as their newborn son, Nathan Garcia, the first baby to be born


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Statement From Mayor De Blasio on Law Department Report on NYPD Response to BLM Protests

By SÍLE MOLONEY
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio released a video response and written statement on Wednesday, Dec. 30, supporting the findings and recommendations of Corporation Counsel James Johnson’s report on the NYPD’s response to the George Floyd protests in New York City, as reported by Norwood News.    “There are clear lessons to be learned from the protests this year and a necessary drive to bring about real, transformative changes,” said de Blasio. “We must make improvements immediately, and the reports from the Department of Investigation ((DoI) and the Law Department will help guide the way forward. In addition to the


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Update: Murder Investigation Opens after Man Found Shot Dead in Van Cortlandt Village Apartment

By DAVID GREENE
  The NYPD is currently examining security camera footage to assist with their investigation into a homicide after a man was discovered shot to death inside a Van Cortlandt Village apartment.   According to an official police update received Tuesday night, Dec. 29, officers from the 50th precinct were called to ‘The Van Cortlandt Gardens,” located at 3951 Gouverneur Avenue, between Sedgwick Avenue and Van Cortlandt Park South earlier that morning at 10.50 a.m.   According to the statement, officers responded to a 911 call of an aided male inside apartment 1-J. The statement read, “Upon arrival, officers observed a


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Padernacht Calls on City & State to Halt Special Election Petitioning Process amid Pandemic

By SÍLE MOLONEY
On Tuesday, Dec. 29, District 11 City Council candidate, Dan Padernacht, announced that he and some of the other City Council candidates in the District 11 race will be holding a press conference on Dec. 29 to call on Governor Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio to immediately waive the signature requirements for two NYC Council special elections that are to be called on or about Jan. 1, 2021, due to what Padernacht described as the inherent dangers associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.   To qualify for the ballot, each candidate in these special elections [in Districts 11 and


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Elections 2021: Adolfo Abreu on Housing, Co-Governance & Policing  

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Facebook Live has been the tool of choice for many candidates running for elected office this year. For Adolfo Abreu, in his bid to win the District 14 City Council race and replace incumbent councilman, Fernando Cabrera, who is term limited, it has also proven to be a fruitful means of cultivating community conversations on each of the six specific strands of his campaign platform.   Focusing his attention on a homes’ guarantee and community control of housing, just and quality education, participatory democracy and co-governance, community health and wellness, safety and dignity in communities, and economic development, Abreu has


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