By the Numbers: The 15th Congressional District Race So Far

The Bronx Develops: South Bronx Waterfront Projects Spark Fears of Gentrification

By DAVID CRUZ

If the Democratic candidates vying for the seat in the 15th Congressional District intend to secure votes in that district, they may want to take a look at figures that can help mold their strategies in the early days of this race. The Norwood News broke down those figures contenders might want to take a look at that could influence their strategy in the early days of this race: Formal Candidates: Four candidates have formally declared in the order in which they declared: community organizer Jonathan Ortiz, Councilman Ruben Diaz Sr. of the 18th Council District, mentor Tomas Ramos, and

By DAVID CRUZ

Dear Fellow Readers, The year’s ninth edition of the Norwood News is out with plenty of community news you can use. There’s 20 pages full of great stories impacting the Bronx. And as usual, we’ll start with page one! Our front-page story has Mosholu Preservation Corporation (publisher of the Norwood News), asking a question: what are Norwood’s consumer needs? Norwood residents and stakeholders offered their take at a workshop that happened April16. But read about the needs from those who didn’t attend the workshop. We’ve picked up patterns. Inside the cover you’ll find a piece on Norwood Councilman Andrew Cohen

By DAVID CRUZ

The race for the 15th Congressional District seat may be more than a year away, but it’s already the hottest political ticket, with another politico jumping into the race. Assemblyman Michael Blake, the 79th Assembly District representative for the West Bronx and the vice chair of the Democratic National Committee, announced a run for the seat, which will be left vacant by the long-time officeholder, Congressman Jose Serrano. Serrano, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, announced last month that he will not seek re-election. Blake’s rollout of his announcement veered away from standard rollouts. It was made via email while

Neighborhood Notes: Free Immigration Service

By DAVID GREENE

This week we asked readers their thoughts on Mayor Bill de Blasio’s possible bid to run for President of the United States. I wouldn’t let him walk my dog, and I don’t even own a dog. He shouldn’t even be running the city of New York because he’s a complete imbecile. Edward Burroughs Norwood Maybe, I think he’s trying to do a good job, but it would be better for him to be in the White House, so he could do the right thing for people. But he has to deliver for the city first and then he

By DAVID CRUZ

Norwood’s Councilman is exploring a run for Bronx Borough President, adding to a list of potential suitors for the borough’s top executive post. Councilman Andrew Cohen, the 11th Council District representative covering Norwood, Bedford Park, Woodlawn, Wakefield, Riverdale, Fieldston, Kingsbridge, and Marble Hill, told the Norwood News he’s weighing considering whether to enter a race that’ll open in 2021. He’s laying the ground work in some ways, crisscrossing different parts of the Bronx as a way of understanding its nuances and putting his name out there. “I’m not shy about it. I’m thinking about it,” said Cohen. “We’re approaching the

By DAVID GREENE

This week we asked readers where the money collected through Congestion Pricing tolls should go to improve the buses and subways. Well, they need to accommodate women with carriages on buses; so I think they need to install more wheelchair snaps in so we would be able to snap in baby strollers in the same blue chair accessible spots. Right now, we’re not allowed to do that so they need to put some money into that, because their excuse is they are unable to accommodate so many mothers. Money should also be spent so that there’s elevators at every train station and create

Diaz Sr. Formally Declares Run for Congress

By DAVID CRUZ and DAVID GREENE

Councilman Ruben Diaz Sr., the socially conservative Democrat representing the Bronx’s 18th Council District, formally declared a run for the 15th Congressional District long held by Congressman Jose Serrano who opted not to seek re-election after nearly 30 years in office. Diaz is the second candidate to formally declare a run in a contest that’ll likely be one of the more closely watched and hotly contested. The first candidate to file was by political newcomer Jonathan Ortiz, according to federal campaign filings. “I could do a lot there in Washington,” said Diaz, in a phone interview with the Norwood News.

By EMILY SUZANNE LEVER

Only five percent of Norwood residents commute by car into Manhattan below 60th Street and so would be affected by an impending congestion pricing toll, according to an analysis of census data by the Tri-State Transportation Commission (TSTC), a nonprofit focused on public transit. In other parts of the northwest Bronx, that number is closer to three percent, the report said. But some residents told the Norwood News they were against the measure even if it would not affect them personally, saying it amounted to squeezing poor people. “It’s an abuse. They need to stop raising the prices on everything,”

Norwood Okays Projects With a Stroke of a Pen Thanks to PB

By DAVID CRUZ

Inside tower one at Tracey Towers, volunteers man a small table inside the lobby. It’s the day before Participatory Budgeting—an initiative that allows residents within a Council District to decide how $1 million in capital funds should be used—and some tenants stop to make their voices heard on paper. It’s the afternoon of April 4, and Delores Edwards and Evelyn McDonald, lure some familiar faces to complete ballots featuring the list of Participatory Budget projects residents spent months hammering out. The projects would impact the neighborhood, part of the 11th Council District that’s represented by Councilman Andrew Cohen. For the