Milestones at MMCC

At Mosholu Montefiore Community Center’s annual dinner on Nov. 11, several people celebrated milestones with the organization.
The Mirdita family, owners of the Bainbridge Bakery, a popular local establishment that burned down along with nine other businesses in a horrific Halloween morning fire, is upset and angry. Despite hearing lots of promises, the family says they are receiving no help from city agencies. They are just one of several businesses struggling to find a path forward after the fire.
Family, friends and local residents continue to search for reasons why 13-year-old Judah Agyemang jumped to his death from his family’s apartment on the 21st floor of Tracey Towers, a high-rise residential complex on Mosholu Parkway.
While tenants scramble to relocate and survive, the landlord of the fire-gutted commercial building on Bainbridge Avenue is taking her time deciding what to do with the property.
Requiring developers of city property to guarantee a living wage for retail employees may have seemed far-fetched to some observers six months ago. Not anymore.

At the City Council’s hearing on the Related Companies’ proposal to turn the Kingsbridge Armory into a giant shopping mall, virtually the entire Zoning and Franchising Subcommittee, grilled company representatives on the living wage issue.
Phyllis Reed, 66, passed away quietly on Aug. 31 at the Jewish Home and Hospital on Kingsbridge Road, just blocks from the Kingsbridge Armory, the vacant palace Reed believed could transform the community. In recent years, Reed worked tirelessly to beautify the green spaces surrounding the facility.
Two weeks ago, Mayor Bloomberg narrowly secured his third term in office, no thanks to Bronx voters.

Unofficial election results show the majority of Bronx electoral districts voted overwhelmingly in favor of Bloomberg’s Democratic challenger, Bill Thompson. Now, as Bloomberg begins his third term as mayor, he faces a divided city and a discontented Bronx.