Politics

UPDATE Neighborhood Notes: DV Awareness Month, High School Admissions Test, Heat Season & More!

By SÍLE MOLONEY
  GoFundMe Page for Bedford Congregational Church Residents are being kindly asked to donate to support the upgrading of the heating system at Bedford Congregational Church, located at 309 East 201st Street in Bedford Park. Founded in 1889 and a designated landmark since 2000, the church is a 501c3 charity and provides space for local support groups battling addictions, as well as other congregations. A replacement oil tank is needed before the water pipes freeze and burst. To donate, visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/warm-hearts-cold-church.   Alternate Side Parking Alternate Side Parking regulations will be suspended Monday-Tuesday, October 17-18 in observance of  Shemini Atzereth and Simchas Torah.


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UPDATE Communities Clash over Orchard Beach Shelter, Rivera Asks Mayor to Reconsider Randall’s Island Site

By DAVID GREENE
The following is an updated and expanded version of the story that appears in our latest print edition.   A contentious battle pitting neighbor against neighbor has apparently been averted, as the temporary shelter that was being built to house 1,000 male asylum seekers at Orchard Beach parking lot has been halted. As reported, Mayor Eric Adams did an about-face on Monday, Oct. 3 and is now moving the controversial shelter to Randall’s Island.   Workers had begun erecting several massive tents on Monday, Sept. 26, but three demonstrations were since organized opposing the site by local Republican Party candidates, Tina


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NWBCCC Pushes for Local Input on Kingsbridge Armory’s Next Phase

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT
This following is an extended version of the story that appears in our latest print edition.   Members of the Northwest Bronx Community & Clergy Coalition (NWBCCC) were back organizing, yet again, to ensure residents living in the shadow of the majestic Kingsbridge Armory have a say in how the iconic, city-owned structure will finally be used, following news that the latest proposal has reportedly been shelved. Community members came from all over The Bronx for a recent rally, though most were from the Armory’s surrounding area.   As reported at length previously, developers behind the most recent proposal, the


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Research by Albert Einstein College of Medicine Physicians May Help Detect Risk of Alzheimers

By SÍLE MOLONEY
In a study involving more than 1,000 cognitively normal adults aged 60 and older, Joe Verghese, M.B.B.S., M.S., Emmeline Ayers, M.P.H., Nigel Kravatz, and colleagues at The Bronx’s Albert Einstein College of Medicine (Einstein) found that older adults who have difficulty identifying odors are likely to transition soon from normal cognition to motoric cognitive risk syndrome (MCR).   This syndrome, characterized by cognitive complaints and slow gait [manner of walking], is often a prelude to Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. The study participants were given the “brief smell identification test,” which assesses sense of smell. Over a period of about


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Adams Applauds President Biden on Latest Marijuana-Related Announcement

By SÍLE MOLONEY
New York City Mayor Eric Adams applauded an announcement made on Thursday, Oct. 6, from U.S. President Joe Biden regarding new measures taken in relation to the so-called “War on Drugs” and specifically in relation to the incarceration of individuals for cannabis-related offenses.   The president provided a recap of his announcement later on Thursday on social media, saying, “As I’ve said before, no one should be in jail just for using or possessing marijuana. Today, I’m taking steps to end our failed approach. Allow me to lay them out.”   He continued, “First, I’m pardoning all prior federal offenses


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Inquiring Photographer: Thoughts on Housing Asylum Seekers at Orchard Beach Temporary Shelter

By DAVID GREENE
This week, we asked readers their thoughts on the plan to house asylum seekers at a temporary shelter that was being built on the Orchard Beach parking lot in the Northeast Bronx, but which has, in the meantime, been moved to Randall’s Island.   “I think it’s completely irresponsible for anybody to be putting something over there based on the fact that it’s in a flood zone, based on the fact that there’s no form of transportation for these people, which is pretty much inhumane. Why do they always consider The Bronx the dumping ground for society’s problems? They started


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UPDATE Mayor: Orchard Beach Asylum Seeker Relief Center to be Moved to Randall’s Island

By SÍLE MOLONEY
New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced on Monday evening, Oct. 3, that the Orchard Beach relief center which was targeted to house up to a thousand asylum seekers will be moved to Randall’s Island in Manhattan. The announcement comes after a weekend of both protests and flooding at Orchard Beach, located in the Northeast Bronx, and further to the mayor’s earlier announcement on Sept. 22 of the construction of the Orchard Beach site, as reported.   “New York City has, on its own, safely and efficiently provided shelter, health care, education, and a host of other services to more


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UPDATE NYC Districting Commission Approved Latest Redrawn City Council Maps on Oct. 6

By SÍLE MOLONEY
NYC Districting Commission, the entity tasked with redrawing the 51 New York City Council maps following the 2020 census results, voted 13-1 to approve and submit to the City Council the latest newly redrawn maps, during a public meeting held on Thursday, Oct. 6.   These maps were revised from both the preliminary plan published by the Commission in July and a proposed revised plan submitted in September that was not approved by the Commission during a meeting on Sept. 22. The maps represent a response to over 12,500 submissions offered by New Yorkers in person or via Zoom during


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Mayor, NYC Parks, NYCHA to Build New Open Spaces, Playgrounds at NYCHA Housing Developments

By SÍLE MOLONEY
New York City Mayor Eric Adams, the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation (NYC Parks), and the NYC Housing Authority (NYCHA) announced, on Sept. 14, a pilot program to re-imagine and invest in nearly three acres of NYCHA open space, including playgrounds, at two developments in the Soundview section of The Bronx, three in Queens, and one in Brooklyn.   The announcement was held at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new open space at Pomonok Houses in Queens, which has been fully reconstructed under the pilot program and now includes fitness equipment, sensory play equipment, seating, and new landscaping.  


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