Bronx Borough Board Approves Jerome Ave. Rezoning

By DAVID CRUZ

The Jerome Avenue Rezoning proposal came one step closer to reality as the Bronx Borough Board voted in favor of the massive project. But some strings came attached to the massive plan, which looks to rezone 92 blocks of Jerome Avenue in hopes of ushering more affordable housing. The Board, made up of the chairs and district managers of each Bronx community board along with New York City Council members serving the Bronx, voted in favor of the proposal at its monthly meeting Nov. 27. The plan covers a two-mile stretch within the west Bronx community boards 4, 5 and

The Latest Edition of the Norwood News is Out!

The 23rd edition of the Norwood News, covering the Norwood section of the Bronx, is out. We begin with page one and the worst landlords in Norwood. Public Advocate Letitia James released the annual list of 100 worst landlords in New York City and Narsinh Desai came in at number 70, making him the worst landlord in Norwood. This edition also features the Kingsbridge National Ice Center, for which a state loan has been approved, a crime file about a wanted serial robber who has attacked at least eight women in Norwood and surrounding neighborhoods, and a movement by Community

Vote on Jerome Avenue Rezoning Delayed Until Nov. 27

By DAVID CRUZ

The next leg of the public review process for the complex Jerome Avenue Rezoning plan has been pushed until Nov. 27, eleven days after its original date. The Bronx Borough Board, a panel made up of all Bronx community board chairs and their district managers, was expected to convene on Nov. 16 to discuss the plan. The large panel, headed by Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., is part of the southwest Bronx proposal’s public review process. The board was to hear a presentation by the New York City Department of City Planning, the mastermind agency behind the proposal. The

Latest Edition of the Norwood News is Out!

By DAVID CRUZ

Dear Fellow Readers, The 22nd edition of the Norwood News , covering the Norwood section of the Bronx and its surrounding neighborhoods, is out! You can find them at 300 locations across the borough. We begin, of course, with page one and the election of now Councilman-elect Mark Gjonaj. Gjonaj, the Democratic nominee in the race for the 13th Council District, won his seat after spending $1 million. That number is significant since Council races ever get to that threshold. Find out who are some possible contenders for the soon-to-be vacant Assembly seat covering Norwood. Other inside the cover stories include Bronx

Neighborhood Notes: Free Immigration Service

By DAVID GREENE

This week we asked readers exiting voting sites about their general experience on this Election Day. It was good because I came out early today, so I was in and out. They were very helpful. They had me in the back, and I’m all done. I’m not sure about the voter turnout today, and I don’t like the mayor. Jacqueline Alvarez Pelham Bay They were very helpful and had no lines. It was very organized, and the process was equally distributed in terms of workload so it was very efficient. No, I didn’t see any Russians. I don’t know

By WENDY JOAN BIDDLECOMBE

All that cash ultimately paid off. Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj, who set a new record for City Council spending, was elected to represent the 13th Council District on Election Night, securing 49 percent of the vote, and effectively opening his Norwood Assembly seat. Gjonaj, an Albanian American from Morris Park, defeated Republican challenger John Cerini, an accountant and community leader from Throggs Neck, as well as Marjorie Velazquez, the 82nd Assembly District Female Leader and Community Board 10 treasurer who ran on the Working Families Party ticket. Velazquez was backed by the current holder of the seat, the term-limited Councilman Jimmy

Getting Into Nitty Gritty of Kingsbridge Ice Project Loan

By AARON MAYORGA

State officials are in the midst of finalizing a $138 million capital loan to the developers of the Kingsbridge National Ice Center (KNIC) after a five-member board approved the measure during their latest meeting. During its Oct. 18 meeting, the Public Authorities Control Board (PACB), which supervises the activities of New York’s numerous public benefit corporations, unanimously approved the general project plan outlined by the state’s Empire State Development (ESD) agency. In addition to the $138 million loan commitment, the ESD plan also includes $26.4 million in historic tax credits and an additional $20.7 million in “other preferred equity.” All

Editorial: Who Will You Hire This Election Year?

Nov. 7 will be the day you exercise your right to vote. In the Bronx there are 11 contests (not counting citywide), most of which have already been won, thanks to the power the September primary has on the Bronx. The general election simply formalizes those victories. The race for Mayor is largely along the same line. In the August 31-September 13 edition of the Norwood News, we wrote that the incumbent, Mayor Bill de Blasio, is likely going to win the general election namely since the two challengers, Republican Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis, and Independent Richard “Bo” Dietl, carry very

Fordham Landing Shelter/Affordable Housing Site Here to Stay

By REGGIE FRANCOIS

Despite numerous attempts to rid a homeless shelter/affordable housing site in Fordham, hundreds of residents at a nearby cooperative will have to get used to the site and its occupants, whether they like it or not. Still, residents at Fordham Hill Owners Corporation expressed continued outraged for Fordham Landing, the homeless shelter and affordable housing site slated to open in December. An Oct. 25 town hall meeting took place between the corporation’s community engagement community and representatives from the New York City Department of Homeless Services and Bowery Residents Committee (BRC), with executive director Muzzy Rosenblatt on hand. “We’re here