Politics

Robert Jackson Sworn in as Senator of Redrawn District 31

By ARIEL PACHECO
  State Sen. Robert Jackson carefully chose In-Tech Academy middle and high school campus in The Bronx’s Marble Hill neighborhood as the site for his latest inauguration as a veteran senator on Feb. 4, following his November 2022 reelection in redrawn District 31.   In addition to a large swath of Manhattan, the district also includes the Bronx neighborhoods of Marble Hill, where the school is located at 2975 Tibbett Avenue, Kingsbridge, Kingsbridge Heights, Van Cortlandt Village, and parts of Fordham Manor, Jerome Park, University Heights, and Morris Heights.   Education has always been one of Jackson’s central policy issues.


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UPDATE Applications Open for Fourth Annual Brandon Hendricks Scholarship

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Applications for the fourth annual Oyate Group  Brandon Hendricks Scholarship have officially opened, with an award of $20,000 going to each of two applicants for the first time in the scholarship’s history, organizers announced on March 2.   Previously, as reported, the organization offered $5,000 in total in scholarship funds. Founded in honor of Brandon Hendricks, a 17-year-old, rising basketball star, who, as reported was fatally shot in crossfire at 1726 Davidson Avenue in the Morris Heights section of The Bronx on June 28, 2020, the scholarship, according to Oyate Group officials, provides graduating seniors the opportunity Brandon never received,


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The Bronx Fights Rats: DSNY to Collect Compostable Material from All Bronx Public Schools

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Coming quickly on the heels of last month’s announcement of the roadmap for citywide curbside composting service, NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY) announced on Monday, March 6, that all NYC Department of Education (DOE) schools in The Bronx will receive five-nights-per-week collection of compostable material. This means less rat food out in the black bags each night, cleaner streets, and cleaner air – led by students. “Just like with recycling decades ago, young people are our best ambassadors for composting,” said DSNY commissioner, Jessica Tisch. “They see the difference it makes to compost at school, and they tell their parents


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CM Amanda Farías Allocates $25,000 to Jacobi Medical Center’s Stand Up to Violence Program

By SÍLE MOLONEY
District 18 City Council Member Amanda Farías presented a check of $25,000 to support Jacobi’s Stand Up to Violence (SUV) program in early February. The SUV program is the first hospital-run, cure violence-based program in the nation. During a February press conference held to announce the funding, Jacobi’s SUV unit reported it had seen a 59 percent decrease in the likelihood of violent re-injury in SUV patients, and also a 59 percent decrease in gunshot wound victims within the borders of the precincts which the SUV unit serves.   Hospital officials said the council member committed funds to assist with


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Ritchie Torres and Mike Lawler Introduce Bill Establishing Special Envoy for the Abraham Accords

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Congressman Ritchie Torres (NY-15) recently announced he is partnering with U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler (NY-17), a Republican, to introduce bipartisan legislation establishing a new special envoy position within the U.S. Department of State dedicated to advancing the Abraham Accords – the landmark 2020 U.S.-brokered normalization agreements between Israel and Arab countries in the Middle East.

Montefiore Einstein Announces $100 Million Contribution to Albert Einstein College of Medicine 

By SÍLE MOLONEY
  Montefiore Einstein announced on Thursday, March 2, that an anonymous donor is making a $100 million contribution to Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Representatives from Montefiore-Einstein say the gift, one of the largest in Einstein’s history, will support biomedical research that includes basic, clinical, and translational research programs serving the nation and the world. They added that it will also provide direct financial support to students, ensuring greater access to what was described as “the vibrant and innovative learning environment that Einstein provides.”   Reacting to the news, Philip Ozuah, MD, PhD, president and CEO of Montefiore Medicine, the


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Montefiore Residents & Fellows Vote to Re-Unionize after Four Decades

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Resident doctors at Montefiore Medical Center, one of the largest teaching hospitals in New York City, have successfully won union representation with a supermajority of 82 percent, voting in favor of joining the Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR/SEIU), the union announced on Feb. 23. The move will re-establish a union presence at Montefiore more than four decades after their original union, one of the first nationwide, was removed, union officials said. The union’s re-establishment is the result of recent organizing efforts by residents and fellows, as reported.   Resident-led organizing efforts began early in the pandemic, when, according to


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The Bronx Celebrates Dominican Heritage Month; Borough Leaders Honored in Santa Domingo

By SÍLE MOLONEY
  Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson held her annual Dominican Heritage Month celebration on Thursday, Feb. 16, at Grand Slam Banquet Hall, 478 East Tremont Avenue in Tremont, with live entertainment by Folkloric Dance Group/Folklorico and DJ Lex, with special greetings by consulate general of the Dominican Republic, Eligio Jaquez.   Gibson honored various community leaders, including president of the New York State Latino Restaurant Bar & Lounge Association and owner of Mon Amour Coffee & Wine, Jeffrey Garcia; winner of the Best Animated Short Film at Bridge Fest and children’s book author, Luz Maria Mack; president of Dominicanos USA, Eddie Cuesta.   The recipient of the youth


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