Editorial: Takeaways from the Sept. 13 Primary

Neighborhood Notes: Free Immigration Service

The Sept. 13 primary in the Bronx is one for the ages. It’s usually a tough one for challengers, but in the year when the reckoning on establishment Democrats reached its peak, no one was safe. Not even the state’s most powerful senator, Jeff Klein, ousted as the Democratic representative for the 34th Senate District by Alessandra Biaggi, a candidate with a Democratic platform that translates to a complete condemnation against President Donald Trump. The people made their voices heard in a race that should be seen as an example of what happens when there’s a more engaged voting bloc

By JOSEPH KONIG

The Bronx Democrats held a judicial convention and an organizational meeting of the county committee on Sept. 20, nominating judges to the eight county Supreme Court positions and filling party committee positions. Hundreds of Democrats turned out to represent their communities at the gathering held at Eastwood Manor. Two Bronx Supreme Court judges, Robert Torres and Mary Ann Briganti, were re-elected to their posts as criminal term judges. Eddy McShan and Julio Rodriguez III, both acting criminal term judges, were nominated to compete for their positions. Four civil court judges — Ben Barbato, Llinet Rosado, Marsha Michael and Elizabeth Taylor —

By FERNANDO CABRERA

Not since Hurricane Katrina have we seen the U.S. government fail so miserably in addressing a domestic humanitarian crisis as it has in the U.S. Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. A full six months after Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico on Sept. 20, 2017, ravaging the island, our federal government continued dragging its feet in providing relief to rebuild Puerto Rico’s most basic infrastructure functioning and reliable electricity, healthcare, operational schools, bridges, roads and reliable communications. These aren’t luxuries; they are basic necessities for any community to jumpstart its own economy, generate and maintain jobs, and restore a sense of

Senator Jeff Klein, Bronx Political Heavyweight, Loses to Alessandria Biaggi

By DAVID CRUZ and JONATHAN CUSTODIO

The Democratic Party establishment, running parallel with the rest of the City, was hit with a blue tsunami on primary day as state Sen. Jeff Klein, a long term political fixture in the Bronx and former leader of the Independent Democratic Conference (IDC) lost to newcomer Alessandra Biaggi, along with four former IDC members. Klein, who had spent $2 million weeks before the Sept. 13 primary, did not appear to address supporters at Maestro’s Caterers in Morris Park, with many holding out until midnight before leaving. Unofficial tallies showed Biaggi had more than 53 percent of the vote over Klein’s

By CHRISTY RAE AMMONS and DAVID CRUZ

On Election Day for this year’s primaries, the Norwood News took to the streets to see who the polls were favoring— state Sen. Jeff Klein of the 34th Senate District and once the co-leader of the Independent Democratic Conference who’s been in office since 2005, or Alessandra Biaggi, the new progressive Democrat. In Morris Park, a stronghold for Klein, campaign signs for Klein were abundant with some homes displaying several in their yards, but not one was spotted for Biaggi. Of the eleven people that the Norwood News spoke to in Morris Park, three expressed their devotion to Klein. One

By DAVID CRUZ

Dear Fellow Readers, The latest edition of the Norwood News is out with plenty of community news you can use. With 20 pages of news, we have a lot to cover. Our front page cover story focuses on the street co-naming of “Mary Vallati Way” in memory of the late community activist who died at the age of 102. Read what the street co-naming means to those who knew Vallati and the impact her endearing legacy can have on Bedford Park and Norwood. Also, read up on the editorial praising the value her stewardship left on the neighborhood. The Norwood

As Cuomo Supporters Meet at Tracey Towers, Nixon Meets Community Media

By JOSEPH KONIG

The Sept. 13 New York gubernatorial primary is fast approaching and Democratic politicians are making a last-minute push to encourage New York City voters to choose either incumbent Governor Andrew Cuomo or his challenger, Cynthia Nixon. A week before the primary, Nixon sat down with ethnic and community news outlets in an hour-long conversation on issues that intimately affect New York City neighborhoods. The Sept. 6. discussion was hosted by the Manhattan Neighborhood Network, a public access news channel, at their East 104th Street studio. Moderated by campaign surrogate and former New York City council speaker, Melissa Mark-Viverito, the candidate

The September Primary is right around the corner, and that means crunch time for anyone on the ballot vying to keep or secure public office. You will see volunteers handing out literature of smiley politicos attempting to get you on their side. They’ll appear at festivals, street corners, or your social media feed. They will do everything they can to get you to vote. But as the years go on, drawing voters to the polls has become a tough sell. Apathy mixed with busy schedules and bad experience at prior elections are enough to keep the regular public from performing

By DAVID CRUZ

North Central Bronx Hospital (NCBH) has found its new CEO in one of ITS own, a week after officials with NYC Health + Hospitals initially snubbed her for the post. Cristina Contreras has been kicked upstairs to run the hospital after service as the city-funded hospital’s chief operating officer. Contreras succeeds outgoing NCBH head Maureen Pode, who announced her retirement. “We are lucky to have Cristina Contreras take on this new senior administrative post,” said NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Mitchell Katz, MD, in a statement. “Her leadership and commitment to the hospital staff, patients, and the community