DOB Pledges Zero Tolerance, Announces Sweep of Construction Sites for Safety Violations

By SÍLE MOLONEY

NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) Commissioner Melanie E. La Rocca announced on Tuesday, June 1, that teams of DOB enforcement inspectors will be deployed across the five boroughs to perform safety sweeps on “the city’s larger and more complex construction sites,” to ensure they are safe for both workers and the public. DOB officials said that when performing these “zero tolerance” sweeps, DOB inspectors will issue enforcement actions if they observe any safety violations, and will shut down sites if they find serious safety lapses. “Our inspectors and community engagement teams will also be distributing “Worker Alert” safety information

By SÍLE MOLONEY

An off-duty New York City employee was arrested and charged with assault in the 49th precinct, which covers Allerton, Morris Park, Van Nest, Pelham Parkway, Eastchester Gardens, and Pelham Gardens. Ashley Samuels-Johnson, 33, an NYPD school safety agent, was charged on Tuesday, June 1, at approximately 6.13 p.m. Samuels-Johnson’s name does not appear in the NYPD’s public records database. A person arrested and accused of a crime is innocent unless and until convicted in a court of law.

Bronx Parents Can Ask Questions of NYC Schools Chancellor During Live Broadcast

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Health and safety, fall 2021 reopening, and the allocation of government funds for education in New York City are some of the current topics of focus for the New York City Department of Education (DOE). BronxNet viewers will have the opportunity to hear directly from New York City Schools Chancellor Meisha Porter as well as their own Bronx neighbors, about ideas, needs and plans concerning these and other educational issues during an upcoming DOE special forum to be broadcast live on BronxNet. The Bronx-specific forum, part of the DOE’s five-borough conversation series, will be broadcast live on June 9,

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The NYPD is seeking the public’s assistance identifying the individuals seen in the attached video who are wanted for questioning in connection with a shooting that occurred in the 52nd precinct, categorized as a reckless endangerment incident. On June 1, at approximately 4.08 a.m., the individuals in question displayed a firearm and discharged it three times in the vicinity of East 194th Street and Briggs Avenue in Fordham Manor. No victims were located. Video is attached. Anyone with information with regard to this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish,

By SÍLE MOLONEY

As the Bronx and New York State as a whole continues to see a marked increase in both shootings and shooting victims both year to date, and week on week, a diverse coalition of mayors representing cities and villages throughout the state have sent a joint letter, urging the state legislature to pass what the mayors see as critical gun sense legislation before ending the legislative session ahead of the summer recess. The mayors say the letter dated Tuesday, June 1, comes amidst a statewide surge of deadly gun violence this year in local communities. In the Bronx, according

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Applications are now being accepted, as of June 1, for the New York State Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP). According to government sources, the program will provide significant economic relief to help low and moderate-income households at risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability by providing rental arrears, temporary rental assistance and utility arrears assistance. There are no immigration status requirements to qualify for the program. New York residents are eligible for ERAP if they meet all of the following criteria: Household gross income is at or below 80 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI). These income limits differ

By SÍLE MOLONEY

A fire that broke out in a 6-story multiple dwelling in University Heights was brought under control in the early hours of Monday, May 31, 2021. Images from the Citizen’s App show a number of firefighters and fire trucks at the scene. An FDNY tweet at 3.28 a.m. indicated that “All Hands” were responding to the incident. Bronx All Hands Box 3385, 2707 SEDGWICK AVE, Multiple Dwelling 'A' Fire, APT 5C — FDNYalerts (@FDNYAlerts) May 31, 2021 An update by a user of the Citizen’s App posted at 3.38 a.m. indicated that firefighters had reported that nobody had

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Rep. Jamaal Bowman has endorsed founder and executive director of the People’s Theater Project in the District 11 City Council race. Images via Twitter Congressman Jamaal Bowman, who represents parts of the Bronx and Westchester counties, has endorsed executive director and founder of the People’s Theater Project, Mino Lora in the upcoming June 22 District 11 City Council primary election. Bowman referred to Lora as a proven leader, educator and a 20-year advocate for the community. “We have a very important election coming up on June 22nd,” Bowman said in a May 27th Twitter post. “It is primary season

By DAVID GREENE & SÍLE MOLONEY

Having qualified to be on the ballot in the upcoming June 22 primary election, Latchmi Gopal, a community organizer, former staffer for U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, and candidate in the District 15 City Council race, suspended her campaign, announcing her decision via an Instagram live post, last month. Gopal thanked her supporters and said running for City Council in the recent March 23 special election in District 15, in the heart of the Bronx, her home, had been one of the greatest honors of her life. “I couldn’t have done it without you all, everything from door knocking, food