Politics

UPDATE City Council Votes “Yes” on Latest Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment “The Kingsbridge Center”

By SÍLE MOLONEY
In the most hopeful sign yet for residents of Kingsbridge Heights, who have long awaited real momentum behind the redevelopment of the long-vacant, City-owned Kingsbridge Armory, the New York City Council voted “yes” on the latest redevelopment project, “The Kingsbridge Center (El Centro Kingsbridge),” on Wednesday, Oct. 29. The happy news follows dozens of envisioning meetings, surveys, outreach, workshops,, various hearings, set-backs, drama and more drama along the way.

UPDATE Funding Boost Helps Food Pantry Continue the Work of Lifting Others Up

By SÍLE MOLONEY
A simple sculpture of three people that sits in an upstairs office at Part of the Solution Inc. (POTS) food pantry in the Bedford Park section of The Bronx probably best illustrates the everyday work the nonprofit organization has carried out over 40 years to help countless Bronxites and other New Yorkers. It depicts two people on an elevated surface holding a rope. Further down the side of the sculpture, another person is seen hanging onto the rope and being hoisted to the top by the first two people.

Part of The Solution Steps Up as Federal Shutdown Threatens Access to Food and Health Care

By SÍLE MOLONEY
As the federal government shutdown continues, on Monday, Oct. 27, officials from Part of the Solution (POTS), which serves thousands of New Yorkers every month through its food pantry, community dining room, and case management services, announced the nonprofit is taking decisive action to protect Bronx residents and other vulnerable New Yorkers from what they said are the devastating impacts of halted federal aid.

UPDATE Amid Federal Shutdown Hochul Announces $30M in Emergency Food Assistance Funds

By SÍLE MOLONEY
New York Gov. Hochul held a rally on Monday, Oct. 27, with New Yorkers impacted by what were described as Washington Republicans’ devastating cuts to health care, food assistance and other critical programs. State officials said with nearly three million New Yorkers at risk of losing the food assistance they usually receive through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) starting Nov. 1 due to the GOP’s federal government shutdown, the governor announced the same day that she is also fast-tracking $30 million in State funds to support over 16 million meals.

Member of Norwood-based Running Group “Bronx Nomads” Detained by ICE

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Sebastian Flores, a member of Norwood-based running group, Bronx Nomads, who frequently meet and start their runs at the Williamsbridge Oval park, was unexpectedly detained by border patrol at an airport on Oct. 13 while traveling for work from New York to El Paso, Texas, and is now being held in ICE custody, according to his cousins. A gofundme page has since been set-up to help with his legal expenses as he fights his case and has been shared by Bronx Sole, an affiliate group of Bronx Nomads.  

UPDATE Mamdani Asks Voters to Reject Islamophobia & See Him as Candidate “Fighting for Every Single New Yorker”

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Democratic mayoral nominee and still the frontrunner according to the latest polls, Queens Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani (A.D. 36) was back in The Bronx on Friday, Oct. 24, for another press conference, this time, held outside the Islamic Cultural Center of The Bronx, located at 371 E 166th Street, north of the Melrose section of The Bronx, as he asked voters to reject tired Islamophobic tropes and reiterated that he aims to be a mayor “fighting for every single New Yorker.” Members of the press corps included international media outlets from the UK (BBC), France and Germany.