UPDATE New York State Primary Elections: The Saga Continues

By José A. Giralt & Síle Moloney

On Apr. 27, citing concerns over the probable spread of the coronavirus, the New York State Board of Elections announced the cancellation of the State’s presidential primary. The Sanders campaign released a statement the same day, describing the decision as an “outrage”. “What the [NYS] Board of Elections is ignoring, is that the primary process not only leads to a nominee, but also the selection of delegates, which helps to determine the platform and rules of the Democratic Party,” the statement read. Bizarrely, the Board chose not to cancel the congressional, state and other special primary elections

By José A. Giralt & Síle Moloney

Over the past few months, most New Yorkers have focused their attention on the public health aspects of the coronavirus. Now that all indicators show a downward trend, and the spread of the virus is relatively controlled, elected officials and community leaders are facing hard decisions on budgets for public services. From Albany to City Hall to all 59 City community boards, officials are being asked to slash previously agreed budgets due to reduced revenue sources like sales taxes. Locally, Bronx Community Board 7 (CB7) is assessing what adjustments may need to be made to its budget. In

By Síle Moloney

The New York Public Library kicked off its virtual, six-week, summer camp program on Monday, Jun. 29, and will continue until Aug. 7. Every week, kids and students of all ages, and their families, can find a new batch of fun, hands-on activities that promote learning, reading, and creativity, all of which can be done from home. The link to the website is here. It is nypl.org/summerreading. Activities will be posted five days a week and will also be accessible on weekends.

Occupy City Hall: Protestors Change Tack

By David Greene & Síle Moloney

The “Occupy City Hall” movement gathered further steam over the last week as the City Council vote on the City budget on Jun. 30 drew nearer. Protestors consolidated pressure on elected officials, calling for specific changes to the budget process, with the defunding of police at the top of the agenda. The Occupy City Hall movement appeared to morph out of a month of sustained Black Lives Matter protests across New York City, following the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police on March 25, 2020. Despite a series of recently passed State and City

By Síle Moloney

People who rely on an antenna to access free, over-the-air TV (approximately a third of TV viewers) will need to rescan their TV to continue to receive local TV programming and emergency alerts. TV rescans are free and simple, requiring just a few steps with the TV remote. The Media Advisory below from the National Association of Broadcasters provides additional information. TV Rescan Required for Antenna TV Viewers in New York, NY What: A TV Rescan Alert has been issued, July 3, 2020, for New York, NY. TV viewers who receive free, over-the-air local TV will need to rescan

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT

The following article is a two-part feature story on the Black Lives Matter protests. Part I The following stories are all too familiar in the Bronx. On a summer afternoon in July 2016, a man saw a tense situation unfolding between NYPD officers and three people at Morris Houses in Claremont Village. One woman was cuffed, and the arguing escalated. The man thought he could help diffuse the situation, but in an instant, he was thrown against a gate by an officer who later defended his action by saying he felt the sergeant at the scene needed to

By Síle Moloney

The New York City Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance identifying individuals wanted for questioning in connection to a burglary which took place within the confines of the 52nd precinct. It was reported to police that on Jul. 1, 2020 multiple individuals entered 263 East Fordham Road (Footaction) and removed approximately $26K worth of merchandise. Photos are attached of the various people wanted for questioning. 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, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips

By Síle Moloney

A week after Woodrow Wilson was sworn in as the 28th President of the United States, Julia Bizzarri was born in the Bronx on Mar. 13, 1913. In a curious twist of fate, in the same year that now, 107-year-old Bizzarri has astonishingly shown COVID-19 who’s boss, Wilson’s name is to be removed from Princeton University buildings, one of a number of moves by age-old institutions to address the legacy of racism in the country. At 107, Bizzarri has lived through not only one civil rights movement, but what many are calling a second. Like others of her generation,

By Síle Moloney

Dear Readers, I hope you’re all well! I don’t say that lightly. Thank you for your patience, and for sticking with us during what we know, you know, has been a pretty crazy, and unprecedented time for everyone. After two and half months on hiatus due to circumstances related to the pandemic, this year’s seventh edition of the Norwood News is out now. Indeed, that is a story in itself (but for another day). We’re happy to be back, and to share plenty of interesting community news with you, so let’s get to it! After months of lockdown