North Central Bronx: Will COVID-19 Shape the Hospital’s Future?

By Síle Moloney

Just over a quarter million New Yorkers have tested positive for COVID-19 as of Apr. 20 and it’s not over yet. 14,828 have died. Make no mistake. This is a tragedy. Aside from the loss of life, this crisis will forever leave a legacy – the trauma carried by all those who were unable to say goodbye, the horror of discovering bodies in the homes of those who died alone. How can we make sense of it? Some positives may be salvageable. Not only did the pandemic give rise to a statewide centralized care plan, involving both public

Andrew Saul, the U.S. social security commissioner, launched an appeal on Apr. 21 to social security beneficiaries who have dependents, and who do not file tax returns to take action in order to receive an additional payment of $500 per child, in addition to the automatic $1,200 individual payment. “Social Security beneficiaries and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients who don’t file tax returns will start receiving their automatic Economic Impact Payments directly from the Treasury Department soon,” Saul said via a press release. “People receiving benefits who did not file 2018 or 2019 taxes, and have qualifying children under

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT

Beyond addressing the immediate public health concerns brought on by the spread of COVID-19, NYC agencies are also reaching out, through virtual town hall meetings, to inform workers across the City that their rights have not been suspended, even if they are undocumented immigrants. In a town hall meeting streamed on Zoom and Facebook Live on Tuesday, Apr. 14, officials from four City agencies outlined the resources available to immigrant communities while the statewide PAUSE order is in effect. In addition to answering employment-related questions from workers, City representatives provided information on the public charge rule, NYC

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Just like her neighbors, 74-year-old Norwood resident, Silvya Parodi relies on the leafy surroundings of Mosholu Park for her physical and mental well being. Prior to the enactment of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s statewide PAUSE order, the vast, tree-lined, green zone served as a welcome sanctuary from the City’s daily hustle and bustle. When the shelter-in-place restrictions came into effect in March, that lifeline to nature became even more vital to Parodi, and a local community craving some semblance of normalcy amid the COVID-19 pandemic. “Sometimes I go sit in the park and talk to some old person that is

By Síle Moloney

The City’s business community and their partners have called on New York’s elected leaders to implement an economic relief package called The Blueprint to Save Small Business to help small businesses cope with the unexpected economic pressure resulting from the coronavirus pandemic. It outlines four key policies which the group hopes will help resuscitate the thousands of ailing small businesses that make up the economic and social fabric of New York City, and help revamp the economy. In a letter dated Apr. 13, 2020, the business community outlined the proposed measures and presented them to Gov. Andrew Cuomo,

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT

As a steady stream of customers enters Craft Empanadas on East Gun Hill Road, the blue tape on the floor reminds them to stay six feet apart. “We are an essential business and I’m happy we can stay open,” said Ricky Rodriguez. Along with his wife, Shary, the couple prepare 188 different flavors of empanadas at the Norwood location that opened in June 2018. Although happy to stay open for business, Rodriguez acknowledges that the restrictions associated with the coronavirus have severely reduced his daily sales. “Before, we used to average about 400 empanadas a day, but now

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Wednesday, April 8, during his daily COVID-19 briefing that all New Yorkers would be able to apply for an absentee ballot for the June 23 primary and special elections. The governor’s still-pending executive order is expected to codify the third and final component of legislation circulated by Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz (A.D. 81), which called for expanding absentee ballot eligibility to include registered voters who are, “unable or averse to appear personally at polling places due to imminent, impending or urgent disease outbreak, including but not limited to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).” Dinowitz

By Síle Moloney

New York State retains its status as the epicenter of the coronavirus in the United States. During his daily press briefing on April 2, Gov. Andrew Cuomo confirmed the latest number of COVID-19 positive cases in New York State as 92,381. As of April 2, the City had lost 1,562 New Yorkers from the virus. The Bronx still has the third highest number of positive cases per borough after Queens and Brooklyn, with 9,343 recorded cases, representing 19 percent of the City’s total case numbers. Meanwhile the citywide count of positive cases stood at 49,707 as of April 2, according

An unnamed female committee chair on Bronx Community Board 7 has tested positive for COVID-19 and is currently in quarantine. The news was confirmed during a virtual board meeting on March 24. One meeting participant requested confirmation of whether all people who had been in recent contact with the affected board member had been notified. The question was noted for follow-up action by the board. With all Community Board 7 voting currently on hold, the primary purpose of the virtual meeting was to inform those in attendance about the various federal, state, city and community responses to the unfolding