State Legislature Passes Rent Reform Laws. How Will This Impact The Bronx?

State Legislature Passes Rent Reform Laws. How Will This Impact Bronx?

By DAVID CRUZ

New layer of protections to safeguard about 1 million rent stabilized apartments in the city, with a majority of them in the Bronx, have now been hammered out after the State Legislature announced reforms to the state’s existing rent laws. The measure is now headed to Governor Andrew Cuomo’s desk, who announced he will “sign it.” The measures aim to prevent de-regulation of rent stabilized apartments, which are much more affordably priced than market rate apartments priced beyond $2700. Deregulation has long been blamed for aggressive displacement of low-income tenants, a problem that’s very familiar for the Bronx, which is

$7M Drug Takedown Linked to University Heights and Kingsbridge Heights Dealer

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The Bronx District Attorney’s Office indicted 16 men and two women–with at least two suspects connected to Kingsbridge Heights and University Heights–on charges of dealing heroin and enough fentanyl to “kill the population of New York” in the South Bronx following a drug seizure on May 28 worth $7 million. The arrests come as portions of the Bronx continue to grapple with a deadly heroin epidemic. Those charged have ties to the world’s most powerful drug organization, the Sinaloa Cartel, formerly headed by Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán until his arrest. Fifty pounds (23 kilos) of fentanyl, a semi-automatic rifle, and

The Long Fight: Advocates Push Long-Sought Rent Reform Package

By SILE MOLONEY, DAVID CRUZ, and EMILY SUZANNE LEVER

In the cramped venue of The Sanz in Allerton on May 30, a feeling of optimism and empowerment infused the room. Passionate residents waved protest signs and chanted refrains of, “Fight, Fight, Fight! Housing Justice is a Right!” as they urged Norwood Assemblywoman, Nathalia Fernandez, and State Sens. Jamaal Bailey and Alessandra Biaggi, to pass all nine proposed bills on universal rent control when the state’s rent stabilization laws expire on June 15. The event was hosted by Bronx Park East Community Association, which also drew Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to offer her take on housing issues. Housing activists, including Northwest

By DAVID CRUZ

Dear Fellow Readers, The year’s twelfth edition of the Norwood News is out with plenty of great community news stories to dive into. There’s almost something happening in this corner of the Bronx, and we’ve captured a good chunk of it. And as usual, we’ll start with page one! Our front-page story captures the conclusion to the New York City Department of Education’s plan to co-locate another school at the DeWitt Clinton Campus. Read the story by Jose A. Giralt. Read what Schools Chancellor Richard A. Carranza said about the hard fought, yet unsuccessful, campaign by the opposition. Inside the cover

Fisher House, a Home Away From Home, Opens at Bronx VA

By DAVID GREENE

Officials with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, which included a personal visit from the federal agency’s Secretary, Robert Wilkie, were on hand for a ribbon cutting for two new homes that will house families of wounded or ailing service members at the James J. Peters Veterans Affairs in Kingsbridge. A ribbon cutting for the new homes was held on Wednesday, May 22, the homes will temporarily house 32 families free of charge, allowing family members to be close to their loved ones as they seek medical care at the hospital. The Fisher Houses at the James J. Peters

When students show up for the start of the new school year in September at DeWitt Clinton High School, they can expect to find their building split up yet again. By a unanimous vote of 9 to 0, the Panel for Educational Policy (PEP) voted on May 29 to use some of the space deemed underutilized at DeWitt Clinton Campus (DWCC) to co-locate the District 75 school known as PS X721 Stephen McSweeney within its walls. The new school will move into the building already shared by Clinton, Bronx Collaborative H.S., World View H.S., and PS X168—serving students in grades

By DAVID CRUZ

State Sen. Gustavo Rivera, a hard-line progressive Democrat representing a large swath of the Bronx, has formed a campaign committee for the 15th Congressional District seat, an indication that he will run for office. Federal filing show Rivera, who represents the 33rd Senate District since 2009, opened a campaign committee dubbed “Gustavo for the Bronx” on May 24. Rivera is now the sixth candidate who has declared or expressed interest in the seat long held by Congressman Jose Serrano, who announced in March he will not be seeking a 16th term. “I am considering running for that seat, and I’m

Blake, Congressional Candidate, Backs One Fair Wage At Edge of District

By DAVID CRUZ

Assemblyman Michael Blake is backing a state bill that would mandate the restaurant industry establish a living wage for restaurant workers that predominantly rely on customer tips to make ends meet. The bill has stalled in the Albany Legislature despite a pledge from Governor Andrew Cuomo to see look into it. A portion of Blake’s announcement saw him work as a waiter for an hour at Bronx Draft House on May 28, a move intended to underscore the difficulties of the serving trade. “There will be some impact to your bottom line,” said Blake should the bill pass. While the

Skateboard Project Hits Another Snag, Delayed for Several More Months

By DAVID CRUZ

Just as crews were at the tail end of the long-anticipated skateboard park inside Williamsbridge Oval Park, the project hit a snag, delaying the project for several more months. News of the delay “We thought the skate park in the Oval was completed, however we found out that the surface, whatever they put down, cracked, and it all has to be ripped up again and redone,” said Barbara Stronczer, chair of Community Board 7’s Parks Committee, shared the news to a surprised audience at the latest Community Board 7 general board meeting. The delay, which was updated on the New