Neighborhood Notes

A listing of local programs, services and events for our readers in the northwest Bronx.

Out & About

A listing of arts and entertainment events and exhibitions in the northwest Bronx.

Tracey Shooting Sparks Anger at Police

An Independence Day shooting at Tracey Towers, a Mosholu Parkway high-rise with a history of problems and violence, left a young man critically injured and tenants searching for answers from police who failed to show up after a 911 call was placed two hours before the incident.

Community Wants More Than Retail at Armory

Ideas for a revamped Kingsbridge Armory gushed from the minds and mouths of local stakeholders at a public brainstorming session last week and included everything from a youth center to a community auditorium.

Street Vendors Seek Legitimacy

Berta, a 54-year-old Mexican single mother, has sold coquitos y paletas (ices and fruit popsicles) from a cart on the corner of Fordham Road for the past 10 years. This year, Berta secured a vending permit with help from VAMOS Unidos, a street vendor advocacy group.

VAMOS Unidos’ main goal is to increase the available vending permits, which the city has updated by only 1,000 in nearly 30 years. There are an estimated 5,000 to 15,000 street vendors in the city who operate without a permit.

Jobs Rally at All-Star Game

Bronx youth rallied outside Yankee Stadium hours before the All-Star Game on July 15, calling for more and better jobs, and emphasizing the stark contrast between the largely publicly-funded new Yankee Stadium and the daily lives of many poor Bronxites.

Local Races Shape Up

In the state’s 80th Assembly District, Irene Rukaj, an Independent candidate, is challenging Democratic incumbent Naomi Rivera. In the 81st District, Riverdale resident Jeffrey Klapper, a registered Democrat, told the Norwood News he was running as a Republican against Jeffrey Dinowitz

Castro to Replace Luis Diaz

With just under a month to go before the Aug. 15 deadline to declare candidacy for this September’s State Assembly primary election, Assemblyman Luis Diaz (86th District) has resigned from his post to work for Gov. David Paterson as his downstate government and community affairs person.