Tales from the Occupy Protests: Fordham Road

At the intersection of Grand Concourse and Fordham Road two weeks ago, about two dozen people showing their support and affiliation with the Occupy Wall Street movement were joined by Bronx State Senator Gustavo Rivera. “Six months ago, we were not having the conversations that we are having today about economic inequality,” said Rivera

Local News & Links

Happy Wednesday, readers! The latest print issue of the Norwood News is hitting the streets today, and it’s chock full of good stuff: an update on the living wage debate, a look at the end of Clinton’s football season, a farewell to Sal of Sal’s Pizza fame (he’s retiring this week) and more. Pick up a copy today, but until then, here are some other noteworthy news stories to keep you in-the-know. The latest twist in Bronx Councilman Larry Seabrook’s corruption trial: his former mistress, and the prosecution’s star witness, says she has early onset dementia. This is after she

Live From Council Living Wage Hearing

Norwood News reporter Jeanmarie Evelly is Tweeting live from the City Council’s contentious hearing on legislation that would require businesses to pay living wages ($10 an hour plus benefits) to workers if their development deal include significant government tax breaks and subsidies. We’ll capture all the action here.

Living Wage Supporters Rally; City Council Hearing Today

Backers of a controversial living wage bill that’s scheduled for a debate in the City Council this afternoon held a spirited rally last night at Harlem’s Riverside Church, where elected officials, union workers and leaders from faith institutions across the city demanded action on the legislation, which has been lingering in the Council for over a year. Supporters of the bill–which would require development projects that receive substantial taxpayer-funded subsidies to pay workers $10 an hour with benefits, or $11.50 without–packed the pews of the enormous church, the rally lasting over two hours. Speakers likened the living wage campaign to other movements

Living Wage Hearing Scheduled for Tomorrow

Parties on both sides of the contentious living wage debate are gearing up for another fight tomorrow, as the City Council is scheduled to hold its second hearing on the bill–this time to consider recent revisions made to the legislation to appease critics and make it more business-friendly.

Bronx’s Rivera and Other Latino Leaders Push for Community Engagement

After Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez was arrested early Wednesday morning at Zuccotti Park for participating in the Occupy Wall Street movement, Latino political and organizational leaders, including northwest Bronx State Senator Gustavo Rivera, are standing in support of Rodriguez and urging community participation during tomorrow’s National Day of Action for the 99%.

Wall Street Protesters ‘Occupy Woodlawn’

A group of protestors from downtown Manhattan’s Occupy Wall Street encampment came to the Bronx this weekend, in a show of support for Woodlawn Cemetery workers campaigning against what they say are unfair labor practices at the landmark cemetery. About 75 Wall Street demonstrators and members from several labor unions showed up on Saturday to rally with the cemetery workers, who for the last couple of years have tried unsuccessfully to address what they said were acts of overt racism by Woodlawn supervisors. “We’re going to be there to support them, because their struggle is our struggle,” said Occupy Wall

Bronx Community Leaders and Officials Brainstorm Solutions to Recent Violence (Video)

In reaction to a recent spike in violent crime, including the shooting of a 4-year-old in University Heights on Tuesday night, Bronx Councilman Fernando Cabrera and Council Speaker Christine Quinn held a public brainstorming session among community leaders. The goal was to solicit solutions, both immediate and long-term, for curbing the recent rise in violence.

An Anticlimactic Bronx Election Day

Yes, it’s Election Day in New York, in case you were wondering why the kids have off from school. Bronxites eager to fulfill their civic duty, however, will be disappointed to learn that there’s no actual race going on in the Boogie Down.