Olinville: Joyous Juneteenth Celebration Held Following More Law Reform Announcements

By Síle Moloney & Miriam Quinones

New York State Assembly Speaker Carl. E. Heastie organized a Juneteenth rally and march in Olinville for Bronx Community Board 12 residents on Friday, Jun. 19. He was joined by approximately 100 people who marched from 213th Street to the junction of Gun Hill Road and White Plains Road, along with New York City Public Advocate Jumanne Williams, City Councilman Andy King, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., and Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark. The rally was held in honor of the annual, unofficial Juneteenth holiday, the oldest nationally-celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United

By Síle Moloney

The Office of the New York Attorney General has received a number of calls from New Yorkers reporting unemployment insurance benefits fraud. On Jun. 24, 2020, Attorney General Letitia James issued a press release warning people about new, recently reported scams using New Yorkers’ personal information to file fraudulent claims for unemployment benefits. “We must remain vigilant about potential scams and ensure residents remain alert,” James said. “During these uncertain times, unemployment benefits are a safety net for many individuals and families who have lost their jobs. To exploit the use of these funds and overload a system

By Síle Moloney

The offices of City Councilman Andrew Cohen, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, and Congressman Eliot Engel released a statement on Monday, Jun. 22 at around 5:00 p.m. to address recent media reports, including one from Norwood News, about nooses found hanging from trees in Van Cortlandt Park on the eve of Juneteenth. They called for a full investigation into the incident. The statement was issued on Monday afternoon following an earlier 1:00 p.m. press conference in Van Cortlandt Park where New York State Senator Alessandra Biaggi (SD-34) and first-time congressional challenger in the 16th congressional district race, Jamaal Bowman, were joined

By Síle Moloney

On Monday, Jun. 22, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz issued a press release on voting procedures in relation to Tuesday’s primary and special elections further to the receipt of several reports from voters that they had not received their absentee ballots, despite having applied for them weeks ago. Dinowitz said that following the various alerts he received from constituents, he got in frequent contact with the Board of Elections, and the Board said that ballots had indeed been mailed to eligible voters. Dinowitz said he had also been in contact with the United States Postal Service and representatives from the organization

By Síle Moloney

In a still-crowded 15th congressional district race, Samelys López has a clarity of vision for the Bronx that is rooted in continuity, inspired by personal experience, and imbued with a sense of urgency for social justice. A former intern of the incumbent, Congressman José Serrano, who is soon-to-retire after 30 years of service, López said she wants to continue Serrano’s legacy, while also recognizing the timely need for class warfare, and a true reckoning with what it really means to be a “progressive”. It is this latter point that is central to López’s campaign and she is eager to

By Síle Moloney

NYC parents and educators will convene and present ideas for re-opening schools tomorrow Saturday, Jun. 20, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at a conference entitled, Sharing Ideas & Solutions for Reopening Schools: The Path Forward. The event will be held remotely, co-sponsored by Class Size Matters, NYC Kids PAC, and Community Education Councils from Districts 4, 8 (Bronx), 14, 17 and 32. During this conference, NYC parents, guardians, teachers and concerned New Yorkers will discuss and develop proposals around the reopening of schools in the fall and present them to invited decision-makers. If schools are to reopen, it

By Síle Moloney

Today, Jun. 19, as the country celebrates Juneteenth, the oldest nationally-celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that Juneteenth would become an official City and school holiday. The mayor also announced additional steps the City is taking to address disparities and structural racism that have been exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, including the creation of a new commission to understand the effects of structural and institutional racism in New York City. The Racial Justice and Reconciliation Commission (RRC) will be established to promote social learning,

By DAVID GREENE & SÍLE MOLONEY

On Sunday June 7, 2020, police reported that a Mount Vernon man had been arrested for criminal possession of an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle and criminal possession of a loaded firearm on Tuesday, June 2, at 11 p.m. in front of Behan’s Public House at 4299 Katonah Avenue in the Woodlawn Heights section of The Bronx. The location, in the 47th precinct, is a few blocks away from Van Cortlandt Park. The NYPD named the man as Nicholas Marc Bingman, 31, of 218 North High Street, Mount Vernon, NY, and in their statement, they said that Bingman’s motive for possession

By Síle Moloney

Spurred by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City, eight esteemed arts organizations with deep roots in local communities of color have announced the formation of the Latinx / POC Arts Legacy Consortium. Partners seek to pool experiences, resources, and shared history in order to better prepare diverse populations for reopening, as well as to ideate new ways of overcoming historic undercapitalization well past the pandemic. The organizations are Bronx Academy of Arts & Dance, Bronx Documentary Center, Caribbean Cultural Center and African Diaspora Institute, El Museo del Barrio, Pregones / Puerto Rican Traveling Theater,

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Politics

Olinville: Joyous Juneteenth Celebration Held Following More Law Reform Announcements

AG James Warns of Unemployment Benefit Scams

Northwest Bronx Elected Officials Call for Investigation Into Nooses Found in Van Cortlandt Park

Dinowitz Urges Voters Who Have Not Received Absentee Ballot To Plan to Vote In Person

15th Congressional Race: Samelys López on Class Warfare, Progressiveness, Sanders & Serrano

Mayor: Juneteenth To Become New York City & School Holiday

Woodlawn Heights: Man Arrested with Assault Rifle & “Disturbing Text” on Phone

Bronx Arts & Culture Groups Unite to Form Latinx / POC Arts Legacy Consortium