Politics

NYC COVID-19 Response & Impact Fund Issued over $110 Million to City’s Non-Profits

By Síle Moloney
The NYC COVID-19 Response & Impact Fund announced on July 29 that more than $110 million in emergency support has been distributed to 768 New York City-based social services and arts and cultural nonprofits affected by the coronavirus public health crisis. More than $73 million in grant funding was managed by the New York Community Trust and over $37 million was managed by Nonprofit Finance Fund for no-interest loans.   Small to mid-sized nonprofits across New York’s five boroughs applied for grants or interest-free loans to ensure the continuity of their daily operations and to help counteract lost revenue that


Read More

July 30 Deadline Approaching for NYS COVID Rent Relief Program

By Síle Moloney
  The NYS COVID Rent Relief Program is designed to support low-income households experiencing an increased rent burden due to a loss of income during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Rent Relief Program provides a one-time payment to cover the difference between their rent burden on March 1, 2020 and the increase in rent burden during the months for which the household is applying for assistance (up to four months, from April through July 2020).   Program funding has been capped at $100 million. All applications received by the deadline of July 30, 2020 will be considered. New Yorkers already in


Read More

Espaillat Calls on Hispanic Caucus to Condemn Yoho’s Verbal Attack on AOC

By SÍLE MOLONEY
On July 24, Representative Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), who serves as Whip of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), called on the Leadership of Congress to urge formal action be taken to condemn Congressman Ted Yoho (FL-03) for what he called Yoho’s unacceptable conduct directed at Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) while on the steps of the United States Capitol on Tuesday, as reported by The Hill.   Espaillat and CHC members have called for the censure of Rep. Yoho to allow all House members to formally vote on a resolution disapproving of Rep. Yoho’s reprehensible behavior. Yoho said he regretted and attempted


Read More

Dinowitz: Vote By Mail Legislation Gathering Pace This Week, as Presidential Election Beckons

By SÍLE MOLONEY
As COVID-19 surges around the United States, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz has been pushing for legislation that would expand New York voters’ ability to vote by mail in upcoming elections. Building on efforts to authorize absentee voting following the latest primary elections on June 23, it appears that legislation from Dinowitz will be passed in a flurry of Albany activity this week.   The legislation would temporarily alter the definition of illness with respect to absentee voting eligibility to include “risk of contracting or spreading a disease that may cause illness to the voter or to other members of the public”.


Read More

Six Bronx Catholic Schools Abruptly Close  

By SÍLE MOLONEY
On Thursday, July 9, the Archdiocese of New York announced that 20 Catholic schools, including six in the Bronx, would be unable to reopen in September due to lack of finances in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.   The affected Bronx schools are St. John’s School in Kingsbridge, St. Luke’s School in Motthaven, St. Thomas Aquinas School in West Farms, the Nativity of Our Blessed Lady School in Eastchester, Our Lady of the Assumption School in Pelham Bay, and Sts. Philip & James School in the East Bronx. Meanwhile, three Catholic schools in the State will merge.   The archdiocese confirmed


Read More

Jerome Avenue Men’s Shelter Residents Quietly Move to Four-Star Manhattan Hotel Amid Pandemic

By DAVID GREENE & SÍLE MOLONEY
The residents of a 200-bed men’s homeless shelter in the Woodlawn section of the Bronx were quietly moved and are currently being housed at a four-star hotel in Manhattan due to concerns over coronavirus transmission. Some residents and workers from the area couldn’t be happier.   On Saturday, May 16, as New York City started to see the flattening of the COVID-19 curve, the City’s Department of Homeless Services (DHS) transferred 200 homeless men, many with mental illness, out of the Jerome Avenue Men’s Shelter (JAMS), located at 3600 Jerome Avenue.   According to DHS, the shelter residents are currently


Read More

Engel Wishes Bowman Well Following his Defeat in the 16th Congressional District race

By Síle Moloney
Congressman Eliot Engel released the following statement following news of his defeat to Jamaal Bowman on July 17, 2020 in the 16th Congressional District race, as reported by The New York Times, with Bowman winning 55.5% of the vote to Engel’s 40.4%. Christopher Fink won 2% of the vote.   “The numbers are clear, and I will not be the Democratic nominee for the 16th Congressional District seat in the fall election. Serving the people of the Bronx and Westchester in Congress has been the greatest privilege of my life, and what a remarkable 32 years it has been. We


Read More

More Overdose Deaths in Bronx Than In Any Other County; Substance Use Treatment Programs In Danger

By Nickolaus Hayes
What Happens when Substance Use Treatment Programs Can No Longer Stay Afloat? Emergency funding could be needed to keep substance use treatment programs in operation as some governments continue to shut down their communities. The Trump administration has repeatedly cited the possible rise of overdoses and suicides when calling for states and businesses to re-open. However, only a hundredth of one percent of the nearly $2.5 trillion was dedicated to mental health and substance use treatment.   Many treatment centers, drug courts, and recovery programs have been forced to close, or they had to scale back during the shutdown. Many


Read More