Update: District 15 City Council Race: Ischia Bravo Receives Endorsement of Several Labor Unions

By SÍLE MOLONEY
  District manager for Bronx Community District 7 (CB7) and Democratic candidate in the 15th City Council District race, Ischia Bravo, has secured the support of several major labor unions with just weeks before the special election is due to be held on March 23. Bravo is running to fill the seat of former Councilman and now Congressman, Ritchie Torres, who was elected to Congress in November 2020.   Bravo has secured the support of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA), the Laundry, Distribution and Food Service Joint Board, Workers United, SEIU;


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Update: District 15 City Council Race, John Sanchez Endorsed by State Environmental Group

By SÍLE MOLONEY
  John Sanchez, candidate for City Council District 15, announced, Feb. 12, that he received the endorsement from the New York League of Conservation Voters, a non-partisan, statewide environmental organization in New York that fights for clean water, clean air, renewable energy, and open space through political action.   Julie Tighe, president of the conservation group, said Sanchez was committed to protecting the environment and supports improvements to mobility and better mass transit. “Reducing emissions from the transportation sector, the leading contributor of climate change, is one of our top priorities,” she said. “That’s why we are proud to endorse


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City Issues ‘Winter Operations Advisory’ for Saturday, Feb. 13 at 1 p.m.

By SÍLE MOLONEY
The National Weather Service issued a Winter Weather Advisory for New York City which will be in effect from 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, through 10 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 14. Due to the chance of more forecasted snowfall, the New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) issued a Winter Operations Advisory for Saturday, Feb. 13, starting at 1 p.m. also.   Snowfall is expected beginning Saturday afternoon and may continue in the form of snow or freezing rain through as late as Sunday mid-day. The department began pre-treating roadways with salt and brine early Saturday morning, and salt spreaders will


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NYPD Officer from 52nd Precinct Charged with Assaulting a Child

By SÍLE MOLONEY
On Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021 at 5 p.m., an off-duty New York City employee was arrested and charged in the 52nd precinct.   Freddy Difo, 29, an NYPD police officer was charged with assault and acting in a manner injurious to a child.    

Update: Sports Arenas & Stadiums to Reopen Feb. 23 with Limited Spectators, Senators Urge Curbing Use of Executive Orders

Bronx Teen First Vaping-Related Death in New York State
By SÍLE MOLONEY
A week after Yankee Stadium opened as a large-scale vaccination site in The Bronx, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Wednesday, Feb. 10, that stadiums and arenas will be allowed reopen for sports and other events with limited spectators starting Feb. 23. The governor said that following the success of the Buffalo Bills testing program, sports and entertainment events in major stadiums with a capacity of 10,000 or more will be allowed to reopen with limited attendance.   He said that venues and events must follow State guidelines on capacity limitations, testing requirements, mandatory face coverings, social distancing and more. Norwood


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Grandma’s New Rap To Children: Wash Your Hands, Yo!

By DAVID GREENE
  A North Bronx grandmother, frustrated that parents aren’t explaining to children why they are being told to wear masks and to wash their hands more frequently, has written a poem/rap and has been distributing copies of it to folks at different sites across the borough in an effort to enhance health education among kids and help them understand why it is important to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.   Long-time activist and Community Board 12 member, Barbara Gibson, 81, recalled, “As a teacher, I noticed society was not approaching the children and explaining to them what the virus


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Empire BlueCross BlueShield & Montefiore New Agreement Focuses on Improving Community Health

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Empire BlueCross BlueShield and Montefiore Health System announced a new agreement on Feb. 9 on improving access to quality healthcare for people throughout New York City, Westchester and the Hudson Valley. According to a press release, this latest multi-year agreement continues the longstanding relationship between the two organizations, and features several new community outreach initiatives including health events, a partnership to support nutrition services for at-risk populations, and a mobile health unit to deliver essential testing and screening focused on improving the health of the community.   Alan Murray, president of Empire BlueCross BlueShield said the group is on a


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Bronxites Push Forward Through Snow Storm Despite Pandemic, as More Snowfall is Promised on Feb. 10

By DAVID GREENE
  As much as six inches of fresh snow fell across the borough, but that didn’t stop Bronxites from continuing with their daily routine of biking, shopping or getting their COVID-19 inoculations amid the ongoing pandemic, as the second major winter snow storm of the season battered the Northeast of the country for most of the day on Sunday, Feb. 7.   As reported by Norwood News, on Saturday, Feb. 5, the New York City Emergency Management Department (EMD) issued a hazardous travel advisory for Sunday, Feb. 7, and the National Weather Service issued a Winter Storm Warning for New York


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CCRB Approves New Rules to Investigate Alleged NYPD Sexual Misconduct, False Statements

By SÍLE MOLONEY
The New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) chair, Fred Davie, issued the following statement after the Board voted to adopt new rules allowing the agency to investigate sexual misconduct committed by NYPD officers and false official statements made against civilians on official police paperwork or in official proceedings.   “Sexual misconduct and false official statements represent some of the worst kinds of abuse of police authority. The Board’s vote today to empower the agency to investigate this misconduct is an important victory for civilian oversight of the NYPD,” he said. “I believe the CCRB is well-equipped to investigate


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