Torres: Home Seizure Program Has Sights on Black and Hispanic Homeowners

By DAVID CRUZ and MICHAEL TURAY

A city program that takes away distressed homes from owners is doing more harm than good, robbing its owners of its home valued at millions of dollars in market assets, according to an investigation by the New York City Council. And their findings have found the Bronx is among those hardest hit. “Our investigation found that out of 420 properties, 210 of them had no financial distress. The legal standard for financial distress is a 15 percent lien-to-value ratio, those 210 properties on average had a 3 percent lien-to-value ratio,” said Councilman Ritchie Torres at a news conference outlining his findings

By DAVID CRUZ

For candidates in the impending 11th Council District race, Eric Dinowitz still leads when it comes to fundraising, building an $80,990 war chest compared to main rival Dan Padernacht, who raised $28,026, according to the latest campaign finance figures. Dinowitz, a school teacher, district leader, and the son of Assembly Jeffrey Dinowitz, also has 50 percent of his donors coming directly from the 11th Council District, which covers Norwood, parts of Bedford Park, Kingsbridge, Riverdale, Fieldston, and Woodlawn. But Padernacht, an attorney, isn’t far behind. Of the 113 donors coming from the Bronx, 84 percent of them live in the

Anti-Vaxxers Follow Jeffrey Dinowitz to the Bronx for Town Hall Protest

By JOSEPH KONIG

When Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz’s bill eliminating the religious exemption for childhood vaccinations passed the Assembly in June, angry anti-vaxxers shouted and cursed at him from the viewing gallery above the assembly floor. “We’ll be back Jeffrey,” they promised. Over 100 anti-vaxxers delivered on that promise with their protest outside the Riverdale YM-YWHA on July 16. Inside the building, Dinowitz and state Sen. Alessandra Biaggi were hosting a town hall on the achievements of the recent legislative session, including Dinowitz’s vaccine bill signed into law by Gov. Andrew Cuomo last month. “My kids, my choice,” the protestors chanted. At least two

Diaz Sr. (Yes, Diaz Sr.) Allocates $11,000 to LGBTQ-Supporting Groups

By CHRISTY RAE AMMONS

Councilman Rev. Ruben Diaz Sr., a candidate for the 15th Congressional District who’s been routinely chastised for making anti-gay remarks, surprisingly contributed a total of $11,000 to LGBTQ-supported groups, according to a review of the recently enacted Fiscal Year budget. Diaz Sr., a self-proclaimed social conservative Democrat and pentecostal minister, doesn’t see this as a form of contrition. “Why did I give money to these groups? Because they need it,” Diaz Sr. plainly told the Norwood News in a phone interview. Diaz Sr. has allocated $6,000 to Pride Not Prejudice, an organization that uses art to present current issues, such

Latest Edition of the Norwood News is Out!

By DAVID CRUZ

Dear Fellow Readers, The year’s fifteenth edition of the Norwood News is out with plenty of great community news stories to dive into and share. We’ve packed 24 pages of news from this corner of the Bronx, capturing a good chunk of it. And as usual, we’ll start with page one! Our front-page story looks at the possible implications behind the Bronx Bus Network Redesign Plan, that could knock out several bus routes cutting through Norwood. Read what residents have to say about the news, and what can be done about it. Inside the cover you’ll find a piece on the

Neighborhood Notes: Free Immigration Service

By DAVID CRUZ

Councilman Ritchie Torres has four times more money than his rivals in his run for the 15th Congressional District race, with $522,494 from 1,100, putting him ahead of his opponents by $400,000, according to campaign finance records. This puts him at the top when it comes to fundraising, a move that could afford him building a greater campaign apparatus than his rivals. But when it comes to the number of donors hailing from the Bronx, the bulk of those donors went to fund the campaign of Councilman Rev. Ruben Diaz Sr., according to an analysis of the figures. Torres’ total

Diaz Sr. Favors Keeping Rikers Island Open, Will Vote Against Neighborhood Jail Plan

By DAVID CRUZ

The city’s plan to build a borough-based jail in the Mott Haven section of the Bronx finds itself emblematic of a growing criminal justice reform movement that began in the Bronx. And, as expected, it’s found itself intertwined with the crowded 15th Congressional District race, where Congressman Jose Serrano announced he will not seek re-election. The entanglement, and subsequent intrigue, stems largely from Ritchie Torres and Ruben Diaz Sr., congressional candidates on the other side of the Democratic spectrum who double as Council Members. The two legislators will need to vote to approve or reject the plan. Their positions could

By DAVID CRUZ and CHRISTY RAE AMMONS

Councilman Ritchie Torres, who’s dropped hints he’ll be pursuing a run for Congress for the last few months, finally made it official, launching his campaign in the form of a video he released. It’s narrated in a sobering tone by Torres, who explains how he overcame the odds and plans to continue to make changes that will support low-income and marginalized residents. “I’m running for Congress because the Bronx needs a fighter in Washington D.C. The primary presents a stark choice between a progressive new guard and a reactionary old guard. Between an LGBT fundraiser and a vicious homophobe. Between

A Bengali Womens’ Empowerment Group Walks A Tightrope in Norwood

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Sanjana Khan and Ayesha Akhtar grew up just a block apart in Norwood. Both their families hail from the city of Sylhet in eastern Bangladesh on the Surma River. Yet, it took a Bronx Narratives event last August at the Bronx Museum of the Arts for the two to finally meet. A month later, they founded LAAL, a non-profit group supporting Bengali women in Norwood live healthy, engaged, joyful lives. The two women spent June 23 “womanning” the group’s table stand at the “Bangla Bazzar Street Fair”, which took place at Decatur Avenue and East 204th Street in Norwood. Together, with