NY-13 Vote Count Update: 2,000 Absentee Ballots Still to Go as Espaillat Goes to Court

Lots going on today in the 13th Congressional District primary that is now heading into its ninth day without a clear result. Here’s where we are now: After completing its vote count of all the precincts (several precincts, mostly in the Bronx and upper Manhattan, were initially recorded as casting zero votes), the Board of Elections says State Senator Adriano Espaillat trails incumbent Congressman Charlie Rangel by 802 votes (or about 2%). There are still about 2,000 absentee and affidavit ballots that need to be counted. The tallying for those votes began this morning in downtown Manhattan with observers from both camps looking on.

Kingsbridge Armory Bidders Selling Separate Visions

The future of the Kingsbridge Armory has turned into a duel between two bidders, each offering a separate vision to re-shape and re-invigorate the famously long-vacant building. Both groups recently sweetened their deals in hopes of swaying the community and the city into their corner.

Oval Park Rec Center Remains Closed as Summer Starts

Although the Parks Department claims renovations are nearly complete, the Williamsbridge Oval Park rec center wil remain closd through the fourth consecutive summer. (Photo by Sarah Ramirez)
Yet another deadline for completion of the Williamsbridge Oval Park Recreation Center has come and gone and it’s now unclear when it will be open to park goers. The Norwood park’s rec center has been closed for renovations since April 2010.

Charlie Rangel Wins Bronx/Manhattan House Primary

It’s official. Charlie Rangel is the newest representative of the Bronx. Obviously, we’ll have more on this in the coming days, weeks, months, years. But for now, we need to put this week’s paper to night night as my daughter would say. Thanks for tuning in. Hope you enjoyed and were informed by our dispatches from the field today. Special shout out to our crack team of hard-working young reporters Sarah Ramirez, Jaleesa Baulkman and Chloe Rickert. You guys rock. Night night.

Primary Dispatches from the Bronx: Norwood

Reactions to the voter turnout in Norwood range from “just all right” to “pretty good” to “amazing” for today’s primary elections. The neighborhood is just one of several in the northwest Bronx that are now included in the new 13th Congressional district. (Northern Manhattan makes up the majority of the district; Rep. Charlie Rangel is running for re-election.) The scene at MS 80 on Moshulo Parkway, where about 90 Bronxites had voted as of 5:45 p.m., was quiet. While not remarkable numbers, one poll worker commented that the turnout was “amazing” compared to previous elections she had worked. According to a poll watcher, the


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Primary Dispatches from the Bronx: University Heights

Earlier this morning, we stopped by two polling sites in University Heights. The coordinators at PS 15 and PS 33 said that they are not sure what the voter turnout will be because of the new congressional redistricting lines and an unusually early primary date.