UPDATE Dinowitz/Skoufis Bill to Prohibit Misuse of “Independence” in State Party Names Signed into Law

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Voters across the State of New York have long expressed confusion over registering as independent voters, but soon that confusion will be eliminated. A new bill (A1819A) sponsored by Northwest Bronx Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz (A.D. 81) and Hudson Valley State Sen. James Skoufis (S.D. 39), which is now law, will prohibit the words “independence” and “independent” from being used in the names of political parties in New York. New York has an existing list of words that are prohibited from usage by political parties, including “American,” “United States,” “National,”, “New York State,” and “Empire State.” Representatives for Dinowitz and

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Building applications have been filed with NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) for a new, 11-story, mixed-use building with affordable housing at 3041 Webster Avenue in the Norwood section of The Bronx, as reported by YIMBY. Located between East 204th Street and East Mosholu Parkway North, the lot is near the Norwood-205th Street subway station, serviced by the D train. Peter Fine is listed as the owner behind the applications. The proposed 114-foot-tall development will yield 83,982 square feet, with 44,032 square feet designated for residential space, according to YIMBY, and 39,950 square feet for community facility space. The

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The NYPD said on Wednesday, Jan. 11, that a 39-year-old woman who had been reported missing from Fordham Manor has been found. Prior to being located, it was reported on Friday, Dec. 16 to police that Esmeralda Tejada, 39, of Briggs Avenue had last been seen on Thursday, Dec. 15, at approximately 8 a.m. inside her home. She was described at the time as female, around 5 feet, 4 inches tall, Hispanic, weighing around 180 pounds with a heavy build. Prior to being located, she had last been seen wearing a red sweater, gray skirt and black sneakers.

By DAVID GREENE

As New York City Mayor Eric Adams approaches the end of his first year in office, this week we asked readers to grade the mayor on his performance so far. “Grade?… No, he doesn’t get an A. I give him a D, that’s right. He just talks a lot and does nothing. I’d like to see him stop the crime. Get the community and pull people together and let us build a bigger and brighter city. Stop all this smoking [of weed] wherever you go…in the park, I know it’s the law! Yeah, in the hallways and buildings, man.

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The NYPD is asking for the public’s help identifying the person seen in the attached photos who is sought in connection to a burglary that occurred in the Mt. Hope section of The Bronx. It was reported to police that on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, at approximately 4.40 p.m., an unidentified man entered a residential building located at 270 East Burnside Avenue and removed around 10 garbage bags containing miscellaneous items from the vestibule area. “The male individual then fled on foot eastbound on East Burnside Avenue towards Valentine Avenue,” a police spokesperson said. “There were no injuries

By DAVID GREENE & SÍLE MOLONEY

The following is an extended version of the story that appears in our latest print edition. As the year draws to a close, we are sharing some of the stories we were unable to get to earlier this year. Local elected officials, invited guests, residents, and members of the Board of Directors of the Fordham Hill Owners Corporation gathered in October to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the latter as a cooperative. Located in the southwestern edge of the Fordham Manor section of The Bronx, at 1 Fordham Hill Oval, the housing complex sits on seven acres of property

By SÍLE MOLONEY

A 30-year-old man was shot in the Fordham Heights section of The Bronx on Friday afternoon, Dec. 16, police said. A police spokesperson told Norwood News the incident took place at about 2.30 p.m. on Friday, at 2314 Valentine Avenue. “We have a male shot in the chest and he was taken to St. Barnabas (Hospital),” the police spokesperson said. “The medical staff have determined that the victim had sustained a gunshot wound. Initially, they said it was a BB gun but now it’s a gunshot wound.” Asked about the victim’s condition, if known, the spokesperson replied

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The MTA, New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), NYC Department of Transportation (DOT), the NYPD and other entities have advised of the following transportation updates, including street and bridge closures in The Bronx through 2026, as of Friday, Dec. 23. Robert F. Kennedy Bridge (RFK Bridge), through June 1, 2023 Single-lane traffic in each direction will be closed Monday to Friday from 10.30 p.m. to 5 a.m. next morning, Saturdays from 12 a.m. to 6.30 a.m., and Sundays from midnight to 11 a.m. on the FDR Drive/Harlem River Drive (HRD) in the vicinity of RFK Bridge. Also, Willis Avenue ramp from

By DAVID GREENE

According to a New Rochelle police captain, multiple law enforcement agencies are looking for a New Rochelle man and longtime janitor employed at DeWitt Clinton High School, located in the Jerome Park section of The Bronx, who disappeared without a trace nearly one month ago. According to two fliers circulated by the man’s family and the New Rochelle Police Department, Christopher Corcoran, 61, left his home on Shore Road in New Rochelle, N.Y., at 12:15 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 16, and has not been seen since. Corcoran is 5 feet, 5 inches tall, weighs 115 pounds, has blue eyes