In Last Fall’s Primary, New Voting Machines Lost 1,500 Bronx Votes

By Jeanmarie Evelly Remember those fancy new voting machines the state rolled out last September? Instead of heading into a booth and pulling a lever, voters on Election Day last year filled out paper ballots by hand and feed them into an optical scanning machine (pictured above). The change was made to ensure an accurate vote count–states were required by federal law to update their voting machines, a response to the 2000 presidential election fiasco. But a report released this week found that flaws with the new method resulted in 50,000 to 60,000 votes across the state going uncounted because


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Bronx Church’s Petition to Worship in Public Schools Denied by Supreme Court

The Bronx Household of Faith, a small congregation in University Heights, and dozens of other churches throughout New York City will become homeless on Jan. 1 after the Supreme Court decided today not to review an appeals court ruling in June that upheld the city’s policy of excluding churches from using public schools for worship services.

Got An Old Winter Coat? Donate to Keep the Bronx Warm

Got an old winter coat hanging in your closet that you never wear? Have the kids outgrown theirs from last year? Earn some good karma points by donating them to Keep the Bronx Warm, the borough-wide annual coat drive sponsored by the Bronx Borough President, New York Cares and Healthplus. Through the rest of December, dozens of Bronx locations will be serving as donation drop-off sites, including local NYPD Precinct stations and even the Bronx Zoo (where your donation can earn you a free entrance ticket!) We all can truly make a difference in the lives of many families in


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The Bronx Breakdown: Sitting Down with Sal, Bronx Corruption Updates, A Church Hopes for Supreme Court Help and More

The Bronx Breakdown is a re-imagined and re-invigorated version of what we once called “Friday News & Notes,” which was lacking in both an interesting title and consistency. We’ll be experimenting a little in this space, but for the most part, the weekly Breakdown, which will appear Friday afternoons, will consist of (1) a subjective breakdown of the week’s biggest and most intriguing news stories, (2) tidbits and newsbits we’ve come across and thought you should know about (3) a youtube clip, probably from Bronx Assemblyman and amateur Scorsese, Jose Rivera and (4) recommendations for things to do in the Bronx this weekend. So settle in, grab a cup of coffee or a Bronx Brewery Pale Ale and enjoy the Breakdown.

Sparkle Your Heart Tonight on Fordham Road

The Fordham Road Business Improvement District is kicking off the area’s holiday shopping season tonight with its “Sparkling the Heart of Fordham Tree Lighting Event” in Bryan Park (corner of East Fordham Road and East Kingsbridge Road) from 6 to 8 p.m.