Norwood Census Response Rate Worse than 2010 as Final 30 Day Countdown Approaches

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Monday, Aug. 31, marks 30 days before the end of the 2020 census. Without a complete census count, New York City is set to potentially lose billions for COVID-19 relief and up to two seats in Congress and the electoral college, which decides the presidency. In Norwood, the response rate was 60.5 percent (census tract 423) as of Aug. 31. The final 2010 response rate for the neighborhood was 63.2 percent, and the target was to beat that response rate in 2020. NYC Census Director Julie Menin and Executive Assistant Corporation Counsel, NYC Law Department released the following statement

By JASON GONZALEZ

Data analysis by both State and City health departments shows that the COVID-19 virus disproportionately impacted Bronxites for a whole host of reasons, one of which was lack of access to healthcare, especially in low-income communities. On Friday, July 31, City Councilwoman for District 16, Vanessa Gibson, took a step towards addressing that disparity in the Morris Heights section of the Bronx. “We are here at River Park Towers unveiling a new mobile health care clinic facility in partnership with Morris Heights Health Center, following a disturbing article that we read about in June that talked about the unconfirmed COVID cases here at the towers,” Gibson

By SÍLE MOLONEY

It was a case of third time lucky for City Councilman Andrew Cohen when, along with Bronx civil court judges, the Hon. Kim Wilson and the Hon. Blanka Perez, he was finally nominated for a Bronx Supreme Court judgeship at the Bronx democratic party judicial convention on Aug. 10. All three candidates go forward to compete in a general election on Nov. 3 and are expected to win in all three races in the predominantly democratic borough. If Cohen wins a seat, it will most likely trigger a special election to find his replacement in the 11th City Council

By SÍLE MOLONEY

With the announcement of Councilman Andrew Cohen’s nomination to the Bronx Supreme Court on Aug. 10, the race to fill his District 11 City Council seat just got a whole lot more urgent. Currently, there are six candidates vying to replace Cohen, with five having formally declared their intent with the City’s Campaign Finance Board. Jessica Haller, a tech entrepreneur, environmentalist and mother of four, announced her candidacy in late January, expecting at that point to spend much of her time in one of her favorite places – outside – knocking on doors. When the coronavirus pandemic hit

By SÍLE MOLONEY

A small but spirited protest was held on Saturday morning, Aug. 22, to save Jerome Station Post Office, located at 2540 Jerome Avenue in Kingsbridge Heights, from potential closure. Local resident, Pereta Rodriguez Ph.d., who said she relies on the post office for essential mail, initially asked three people to join her in saving her local branch, in solidarity with others around the country as part of a national day of protest to save the United States Postal Service. “I wanted to make sure that everyone knew what was at stake,” Rodriguez said. “It’s not just the ballots,

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The New York Public Library is hosting outdoor tabling events at several branches throughout the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island, staffed with Census representatives to help New Yorkers complete the 2020 Census before the extended census deadline of Sept. 30. The events are designed to encourage and support response rates in New York City, which currently stands at 56.5 percent. Federal funding is determined by Census response rates and Census information is used to determine New York City’s fair share of $675 billion in federal funds for public education, public housing, infrastructure, and more each year—as well as the

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Public Prep, the nation’s first non-profit network that exclusively develops exceptional, tuition-free PreK and single-sex elementary and middle public schools, is launching the new school year and welcoming students back to virtual classrooms with an annual tradition – a Male Heroes Walk on their first day at Boys Prep Bronx located in the Concourse Village section of the Bronx. This event began seven years ago as a way for scholars to interact with their heroes whether they are family members, professionals, or school staff. They give out high-fives on their way to class as they kick off the school

By DAVID GREENE

With the current pandemic, economic halt, and growing food shortage foremost in everyone’s mind, members of The Love Legacy Chapel, based at Westchester Square in the Bronx, recently embarked on an ambitious, “Feed a Thousand” campaign, whereby they hope to eventually feed 1,000 hungry Bronxites each week. According to Pastor Christopher Garcia, the church, located at 2500 St. Raymond’s Avenue, began the program in early July with a half dozen volunteers who handed out some 200 meals consisting of chicken and rice, potato salad, as well as fruits and vegetables. The church purchases food through donations, and food

By SÍLE MOLONEY

City Council Speaker Corey Johnson released a statement on Saturday, Aug. 22 about a letter circulating on social media that purports to be from his office, is apparently signed by Johnson, Finance Chair Danny Dromm, and Bronx City Councilwoman and Subcommittee on Capital Budget Chair Vanessa Gibson. The letter purports to identify city agency cuts through layoffs. Johnson said the letter is fake. “A letter is being circulated that purports to be from my office and signed by me, Finance Chair Danny Dromm and Subcommittee on Capital Budget Chair Vanessa Gibson identifying city agency cuts through layoffs. This letter