Latest Edition of the Norwood News is Out!

By DAVID CRUZ

Dear Fellow Readers! The latest edition of the Norwood News, covering the northwest Bronx, is out with its latest edition for 2018. We welcome you to check out plenty of stories featured in this year’s sixth edition. We begin, of course, with page one and a story involving a back-and-forth battle between a Norwood resident and a developer building right next door to his house. Hear this ping-pong of a story and why both sides remain at an impasse. Inside the cover you’ll find the latest on the Kingsbridge National Ice Center, where the founder of the mega-project stopped to

By DAVID CRUZ

Just what would become of a plan to rezone a large chunk of Jerome Avenue remains to be seen. The New York City Council’s Land Use Committee voted to approve the rezoning on March 6. The rezoning paves the way for developers to build as much as 4,000 units of affordable housing by changing zoning rules between 184th and 167th streets, allowing for buildings as high as 19 stories. It’s now cleared to go to the full New York City Council, which could approve or reject the rezoning come March 21. If it goes through, city policy dictates that the

Illegal Parking Takes a Back Seat Following Crackdown (Picture)

By DAVID CRUZ

Van Cortlandt Village residents are getting their spots back! After months of illegal parking on Goulden Avenue by commercial vehicles for a litany of reasons, a major crackdown by the 52nd Precinct at the behest of electeds saw plenty of those vehicles not come back. The stretch on Goulden Avenue between West 197th Street and Sedgwick Avenue is close to Van Cortlandt Village’s heavy residential population, making those spots a premium. When a major, monthslong Con Edison project on Sedgwick Avenue saw a number of spots reserved exclusively for work trucks, it squeezed parking even more. “Parking is one of

KNIC Founder Reaffirms Commitment to Build Project (Thumbnail)

By DAVID CRUZ

Kevin Parker, founder of the Kingsbridge National Ice Center project, told community stakeholders at a closed-door meeting today that the massive project is under way despite being stalled for four years. The meeting, held at Concourse House just blocks from the Kingsbridge Armory, the expected home of the center, was organized by State Sen. Gustavo Rivera. “I felt confident going into the meeting and I feel much more confident after I left the meeting that the project is going forward,” Rivera told the Norwood News several hours after the meeting wrapped up. “Is the [project] happening tomorrow? Sadly, no.” Much of the

By DAVID CRUZ

The fifth edition of the Norwood News, primarily covering the northwest Bronx, is out with plenty of community news. We have 16 pages full of news for you to share with your friends, family, and make you the smartest person in the room! We begin with page one and a quality of life inconvenience that is being addressed: loud parties and spurts of violence at Devoe Park in University Heights. Reporter Niall Ridgley reports that it’s the off season now, and Councilman Fernando Cabrera has ordered gates to be installed at nine of the park’s entrances. Hear what residents have

Norwood Man Charged with Aiding ISIS Terror Network (Picture)

By DAVID CRUZ

A Knox Place man has admitted to a federal judge that he attempted to fly to the Middle East so he can train with and join the terrorist group known as ISIS, among the many admissions made. Sajmir Alimehmeti, known as Abdul Qawii, faces numerous charges including one count of attempting to provide material to ISIS, making a false statement in an application for a US passport with intent to support ISIS, and attempting to join ISIS. He faces a maximum sentence of 45 years. “Sajmir Alimehmeti took steps to travel overseas to support ISIS’s terror campaign. He also bought

At State of the Borough BP Highlights Fixes and the Needs (Web Picture)

By MARY MELLON

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. delivered his ninth State of the Bronx address before an audience of supporters, well-wishers, and fellow elected officials. For nearly 45 minutes, Diaz stood composed as he delivered a speech that largely underscored the borough’s positives while lambasting the city’s shortcomings. But read between the lines, Diaz’s speech also showed his sights set on higher office. “Look at how different things are in this borough today than just a decade ago,” Diaz said. “We have set the bar for the entire nation on transformative urban renewal and development. We are the new standard

Securing Kingsbridge Ice Center Funding a Waiting Game

By DAVID CRUZ

The founder of the Kingsbridge National Ice Center (KNIC) is expected to appear at a closed-door meeting with community stakeholders March 2 to discuss the long delayed project. Kevin Parker, founder of KNIC, has been a mere no-show at community meetings since the city announced his project would be housed in the cavernous Kingsbridge Armory, which has been vacant since the 1990s. Mark Messier, the NHL legend and face of the project, serves as president of the KNIC and has made the rounds since the project was approved nearly five years ago. His appearance was confirmed by Senator Gustavo Rivera’s office,

Nathalia Fernandez Gets on Special Election Ballot (Web Picture)

By DAVID CRUZ

Nathalia Fernandez, the former chief of staff to then Assemblyman turned Councilman Mark Gjonaj, won support from her fellow committee members, securing a nomination for a special election for the 80th Assembly District slated for April 24. Her name on the Democratic ticket all but secures her place as the next interim Assembly member before the September Primary. Committee members from the Bronx Democratic County Committee’s of the 80th Assembly District unanimously voted in favor of Fernandez. The vote was quick with no other challengers coming forward. “The community will be seeing me at community meetings, I got a lot