Politics

Churches Can Stay in Schools for 10 More Days, Judge Says

A city policy banning worship in public school buildings during non-school hours was put on hold today, after a federal judge issued a temporary injunction this morning that will allow churches and other religious groups to continue holding services in schools, at least for the next 10 days. The ban was supposed to go into effect Sunday, Feb. 12, following a federal court’s decision last spring that the Department of Education could legally evict the religious groups on the grounds of separation of church and state. Bronx Household of Faith, a small University Heights-based church that has held services in


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BP Diaz, Bronx Business Leaders Defend Fresh Direct Funding

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr., is looking to appease critics of online grocer FreshDirect, which was granted $127.8 million from the city last week in exchange for staying in New York. The company had been considering another lucrative offer to relocate to New Jersey, prompting the Bloomberg administration to counter with an even bigger package of tax breaks and subsidies to convince it to move its headquarters to the Bronx’s Harlem River Yards instead. FreshDirect is currently based in Long Island City, Queens. Some have lashed out against the deal as too generous to a company that pays 38% of


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City Rejects Judge’s Request for Delay in School Church Evictions

The city has denied a federal judge’s request to delay the evictions of dozens of faith-based groups that hold worship services in public schools, saying the enforcement of the policy has already been pushed back twice, according to a letter sent by the city’s Law Department. Yesterday, Judge Loretta Preska asked the city to allow churches and other groups that rent public school space on weekends to continue to use the facilities while she deliberates on the issue. The Department of Education policy banning religious groups from worshiping in school buildings, citing the separation of church and state, was supposed


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Court to Hear Appeal on Worship in Schools Ban

On Sunday, dozens of religious groups across the city that rent auditorium and cafeteria space in public schools held their (possibly) last services there, as a city policy banning worship in schools went into effect Feb. 12. Breaking Bronx reached out to a few local pastors to see what the plan was for their congregations after getting evicted, and we’re hearing from several sources that the groups could possibly be getting a reprieve.

Bronx Breakdown: Ridiculous Redistricting

The Bronx Breakdown is back this week with perplexing and much less violent (at least compared to last week) news this Friday — the curious redistricting lines drawn between the borough’s 33rd and 34th senate districts. Let’s break it on down.

Bronxites Blast State Redistricting Proposal

A plan devised by a group of state lawmakers to redraw the boundaries of New York’s legislative districts is drawing fire from a number of Bronx residents and groups that are worried the new maps could divide the political power of certain neighborhoods.

Fresh Direct Will Move Headquarters to the Bronx

The Boogie Down comes out ahead–again!–in the latest business battle with New Jersey, with the news that grocery delivery company Fresh Direct will be relocating to the Bronx from their current headquarters in Queens.