Espaillat Delivers State of the District Address for NY-13

By ARIEL PACHECO

Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) hosted his annual State of the District address on Jan. 29 at The Forum at Columbia University in front of a packed auditorium with many more waiting outside. As usual, the event was an occasion to highlight the congressman’s legislative victories and present his legislative agenda for the 118th Congress. During his address, Espaillat, a Democrat, committed to increasing funding for public safety, community and cultural programs, infrastructure development, and educational initiatives. “We created and passed legislation to create jobs, to help small businesses, to address climate change, to lower the cost of healthcare,

By MIRIAM QUIÑONES & SÍLE MOLONEY

The envisioning process to decide on the future use of the Kingsbridge Armory, located at Jerome Avenue in Kingsbridge Heights, is continuing, and follows previous updates on the project. Envisioning workshops took place on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, and again on Saturday, Jan. 21, but those involved with the “Together for Kingsbridge” working group as still anxious to hear from more community members about their ideas. District 14 City Council Member Pierina Sanchez gave an overview of the project during Bronx Community Board 7 (CB7)’s general board meeting on Jan. 24, adding that at the Jan. 21 workshop, several

By DAVID GREENE & SÍLE MOLONEY

Police said a man is in stable condition after he was found with a gunshot would to the head in the Wakefield section of The Bronx. Some media outlets are reporting the man is a police officer. An NYPD spokesperson said that on Tuesday, Feb. 7, at around 11.11 a.m., police responded to a 911 call regarding shots fired inside 4111 Laconia Avenue, which is the address for the 47th Precinct. “Upon arrival, officers observed an adult male, unconscious and unresponsive with a gunshot wound to the head,” the spokesperson said, adding that EMS responded and transported the

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The NYPD is asking for the public’s help locating a 12-year-old boy from the Pelham Parkway section of The Bronx who was reported missing on Tuesday, Feb. 7. It was reported to police that Damare Chaplin-Rivers of 2175 Muliner Avenue in Pelham Parkway was last seen on Tuesday, Feb. 7, at approximately 3.25 p.m. when he was leaving his school, located at 2441 Wallace Avenue in Allerton. Police said, “It has been confirmed that he did attend school, but did not return home.” They added that Damare is described as 5 feet, 2 inches tall, is Black, weighs

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced on Friday, Feb. 3, that a Florida man has been sentenced to 20 years to life in prison for the strangulation murder of a Bronx woman in a Van Nest apartment in 2000. The cold case was solved in 2017 when DNA and a fingerprint from the crime scene were matched to him. In the context of the announcement, Clark said, “The defendant killed a 19-year-old woman in December 2000 and her lifeless body was discovered by her mother. The defendant moved on and started a new life in Florida, but justice

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Pursuant to an ongoing investigation, on Feb. 3, 2023, police shared an additional surveillance video of an assault incident that occurred at 679 Allerton Avenue in the Allerton section of The Bronx on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023 at around 6 a.m. Video courtesy of the NYPD. The NYPD has released additional video of an assault that occurred in Allerton in late January and is asking for the public’s help identifying the people seen in the video who are sought for questioning in connection to the incident. As reported, police said that on Saturday, Jan. 28, at around 6

By SÍLE MOLONEY

An off-duty firefighter has been arrested in The Bronx for driving while intoxicated police said. An NYPD spokesperson said that on Friday, Feb. 3, at 9.44 p.m. José Valdez, 37, an FDNY firefighter was arrested in the 45th Precinct which covers the neighborhoods of Co-op City and City Island in the Northeast Bronx. Valdez was charged with driving while intoxicated, leaving a scene with property damage as a driver, driving while impaired by alcohol, and refusing to take a breath test. A person arrested and charged with a crime is deemed innocent unless and until convicted in

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The NYPD said on Tuesday, Jan. 7, that a 23-year-old man from Norwood who had been reported missing has been located. Prior to being located, it had been reported to police that Lino Cruz Ballinas Jr. of Webster Avenue had last been seen on Monday, Jan. 30, at around 11.34 a.m., inside St. Barnabas Hospital. He was described as being around 5 feet, 10 inches tall, weighing 190 pounds, with a light skin complexion, brown eyes, black hair and a beard. Prior to being located, he had last been seen wearing a red jacket, gray jeans, neon

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The New York City area may experience severe weather including freezing temperatures from an arctic cold front and potential wind gusts of up to 40 mph, starting Friday, Feb. 3, and continuing into Saturday, Feb. 4, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). Accordingly, NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) is reminding all builders, contractors, crane operators, and property owners to secure their construction sites, buildings, and equipment. Department officials said DOB will be performing random spot-check inspections of construction sites around the City, and if sites are not secured, DOB officials will take immediate enforcement action, issuing violations and