Wiley Outlines New Universal Health Care Plan at Montefiore, Backs Fernández for Bronx BP

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Human rights lawyer and candidate for mayor, Maya Wiley was back in The Bronx on Tuesday, June 8, for a visit to Montefiore Medical Center, where she held a press conference to announce details of her plan for universal health coverage in the City. She was joined by members of 1199 SEIU and New York State Nurses Association. Wiley said the plan would transform health coverage in New York City and extend care to hundreds of thousands of residents, including the undocumented.   About 600,000 New Yorkers are uninsured according to Wiley, and half of those are undocumented. Meanwhile, a


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Assembly Passes Bill Mandating Ongoing Training of Forensic Evaluators of Child Abuse Cases

By SÍLE MOLONEY
A landmark bill (A2375B) which creates new standards for those working in a profession that often holds significant influence in the outcomes of custody and visitation hearings has been passed in New York State Assembly, as confirmed by Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz (A.D. 81) on Friday, June 11.    The legislation adds new requirements for child custody forensic evaluators. Under the bill, such evaluators must be New York State-licensed psychologists, social workers, or psychiatrists who have undergone biennial domestic violence-related training. The legislation also tasks the Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence to work with the New York State Coalition


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Olinville: Search for Missing 15-Year-Old Girl

By SÍLE MOLONEY
The New York City Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in locating a missing 15-year-old from Olinville. Mariyah Roman of 3764 Bronx Boulevard was reported missing on Sunday, June 6, in the 47th precinct.   Mariyah was last seen by her mother on Sunday, June 6, at around 5 a.m., inside her home. It was further reported that she was later observed by a third party on Monday, June 7, at approximately 5 a.m. at the corner of White Plains Road and Burke Avenue, located in the area between the Parkside Housing Project and Gun Hill Houses.   She


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Bronx CB7 May General Meeting Sees New Officer Nominations & Veterans Fare Discounts

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT
  A jam-packed agenda extended the May Bronx Community Board 7 (CB7) general board meeting to just under two hours. Much of the meeting, held on May 25, was spent going over the nominations for incoming officer positions for the upcoming year, including chairperson, first vice chair, second vice chair, third vice chair, treasurer, and secretary. Several motions were also passed, including those relating to requested letters of support from the board to different city agencies and elected officials.   Each year, during the general board’s May meeting, nominations are made for new officer positions, and the final vote is


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Bronxites Mark Gun Violence Awareness Month as May Sees 271% increase in Shooting Victims

By DAVID GREENE
June marks Gun Violence Awareness Month across the country. In the Bronx, lawmakers pushed for more stringent gun reform laws, increased federal funding for local cure violence programs, an anti-gun violence rally took place along Valentine Avenue, and other rallies are planned throughout the remainder of the month, all in efforts to address what has long been categorized as a gun violence epidemic.   Bronx shooting incidents were up 190 percent in May, compared to May 2020, while the number of shooting victims in the borough over the month increased by 271 percent, compared to the same period last year.


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Update: AOC Backs Wiley for Mayor, Abreu in CD14, Velázquez in CD13; PAC Backs Lora in CD11 & Sanchez in CD14

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT
  District 14 City Council candidate and tenants’ advocate, Adolfo Abreu, picked up his most high-profile endorsement to date when Bronx Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) personally endorsed him during an event held just a few steps from Manhattan’s City Hall on Saturday, June 5. During the event, the congresswoman also announced her much coveted seal of approval of mayoral candidate, Maya Wiley, while District Leader in A.D. 82, Majorie Velázquez, also received a personal endorsement from the congresswoman in the District 13 City Council race.   Meanwhile, in the District 11 race, candidate, Mino Lora, founder and executive director of


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Super PACs Spend $18.6 M on NYC Candidates so far, including Abreu, Bravo & Pierina Sanchez

By SÍLE MOLONEY
The New York City Campaign Finance Board (CFB) announced that “independent expenditure committees,” sometimes referred to as IEs or Super PACs, reported a new collective spending total in the 2021 New York City elections of over $18.6 million, as of Friday, June 11. This was mostly spent on mayoral candidates but also includes cumulative spending on other candidates like District 14 City Council candidates, Adolfo Abreu and Pierina Sanchez, and District 15 City Council candidate and Bronx Community Board 7 District Manager, Ischia Bravo.   A Super PAC is a political campaign that advocates for the election or defeat of


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Fernández Secures $10,000 for each of Four Local Libraries, including Mosholu in Norwood

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Assemblywoman and candidate for Bronx borough president, Nathalia Fernández (A.D. 80) announced the allocation of $10,000 in funding to each of four local libraries in the 80th Assembly District, on Thursday, June 10, during a press conference held outside Pelham Parkway-Van Nest Library, located at 2147 Barnes Avenue in The Bronx. The other three beneficiaries are Morris Park Library, Allerton Library, and Mosholu Library, located at East 205th Street in Norwood.   Speaking at the event, Fernández said libraries were the cornerstones of healthy communities. “They are safe havens for so many people, and provide many valuable resources beyond just


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BronxWorks Employee from Bedford Park Sentenced for Stealing Electronics

By SÍLE MOLONEY
A former BronxWorks employee from the Bedford Park area of the borough was ordered by a judge to pay restitution after he stole more than $140,000 from the charity group, it was announced by Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark on May 27.   According to the investigation, Adam Castillo, 42, who was purchasing manager at BronxWorks, a non-profit group that provides cell phones to homeless people, stole 514 electronic devices between Jan. 18, 2017 and July 30, 2018. The defendant, who was responsible for ordering cell phones and tablets, used his login credentials to access BronxWorks’ Verizon account and


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