Politics

Statewide Demonstrations Demanding End to Solitary Confinement on July 25th

By Síle Moloney
On Jul. 25, three survivors of solitary confinement, along with members of the Coalition for Women Prisoners, other survivors, family members and allies will hold demonstrations across New York State to demand an end to what survivors call the racist and deadly torture of solitary confinement.   Kevin Mays, campaigner for #HALTsolitary, Leonard Thomas of VOCAL-NY and Lady Kathryn Williams-Julien, along with their supporters and activists will be calling on Governor Andrew Cuomo, Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, and Speaker Carl E. Heastie  to enact the HALT Solitary Confinement Act, with immediate effect.   Activists say that solitary confinement has killed


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Police Commissioner Dermot Shea Announces Personnel Appointments

By Síle Moloney
  On Wednesday, Jun. 24, Police Commissioner Dermot Shea announced a series of personnel changes at the New York City Police Department. In the statement, the announcements were described as key to positioning the agency for 21st century policing, by strengthening the bonds between officers and residents.   Chief Jeffrey B. Maddrey, the longtime chief of the NYPD’s Patrol Borough Brooklyn North, is being promoted to the position of chief of community affairs at a moment of historic importance in police-community relations. At the same time, Shea announced that Chief Nilda Irizarry Hofmann would be designated chief of transportation, to


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Virtual Career Fair for Veterans on June 25th

By Síle Moloney
Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and RecruitMilitary will host the Washington, D.C./New York Areas Virtual Career Fair for Veterans on Thursday, June 25th from 11am to 3pm EST to facilitate employment efforts for both job seekers and employers. The free, online event is open to all members of the military community, past and present, as well as military spouses and dependents.   RecruitMilitary’s virtual events are technologically enhanced to provide personal interaction among job candidates and employers in large groups, small groups and one-to-one formats.   According to DAV and RecruitMilitary, national unemployment claims have surpassed historic measures and veteran unemployment


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Dinowitz Calls for Use of Ballot Tracking Technology Following Voting Confusion

By Síle Moloney
Following a state primary marred by unprecedented confusion among voters seeking to use the state’s vote-by-mail or absentee ballot system, State Senator Leroy Comrie and Assembly Member Jeffrey Dinowitz called on the State legislature to pass legislation that will mandate the future use of ballot tracking technology for absentee ballots, as is already the case in some other states.   The bill would require the New York City Board of Elections and the various county boards of elections to provide a user-friendly website for voters who request and submit absentee ballots, to track their ballots through the entire absentee voting


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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


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AG James Warns of Unemployment Benefit Scams

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


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

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


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

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


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

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


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