LGBTQ Issues in Focus at Latest 15th Congressional District Forum

By JOSE A. GIRALT and DAVID CRUZ

In a crowded race seeking to replace Congressman José Serrano, candidates made their pitches on why they’re the best candidate to succeed Serrano at a Tuesday night forum in the South Bronx. The forum, organized by the Bronx’s LGBT Center Destination Tomorrow, presented the candidates with three different questions of special concern to their community in addition to opening and closing remarks. At a forum largely focusing on the LGBTQ community, Councilman Ritchie Torres, who’s garnered the most donations than any other candidate, reminded the audience of his journey in becoming the first openly gay elected official from the Bronx.

Exposing Veteran/MWBE Business Owners to Emerging Tech, Courtesy of Lehman

By DAVID CRUZ

Kimberly Kendall, workforce education director for Lehman College’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies, will be the first to express her fondness over what technology of the future can do for small businesses. There’s artificial intelligence capable of replicating a customer service rep over the phone (techies call it a “chatbot”), updating one’s supply list in real time, or virtual technology that allows real estate agents to take their clients on a virtual tour of a home without having to step foot in it. “What we have to do is expose small business owners to emerging technologies, not in a

By DAVID GREENE

Officers from the 52nd Precinct had to multi-task as they responded to a call of a robbery and at the same time, a woman fainting at the Chase Bank next door on Jerome Avenue. Police were called to Galaxy, a jewelry and electronics store located at 3412 Jerome Ave., at 1:45 p.m on Jan. 5. It’s believed the two suspects, a man and woman, fled the store with a ring. Police were looking for a black female who fled on foot southbound on Jerome Avenue, she was wearing all dark clothing. The man apparently fled in a tan suburban vehicle,

Neighborhood Notes: Free Immigration Service

By DAVID CRUZ

The Democratic candidates for the 15th Congressional District race will be showing up to a forum tomorrow night to explain their positions. The Bronx’s LGBT Center Destination Tomorrow extended invitations to all the candidates, with Samelys Lopez, Melissa Mark-Viverito, Frangell Basora, Assemblyman Michael Blake, David Philip Franks Jr., Councilman Ritchie Torres, Jonathan Ortiz, and Chivona Newsome, despite not yet filing paperwork to run for the seat, are confirmed. “We hope to focus on…poverty, homelessness, survival sex work, immigration, and police interaction in LGBT communities,” said Redemption L’Ouverture, the forum organizer, who began organizing the discussion back in September. The group,

By DAVID CRUZ

The killing of Edgar Perez in August has finally produced a person of interest. Police at the 52nd Precinct are now tracking the whereabouts of 20-year-old Alexis Flores (pictured left), wanted in the shooting death of Perez during the overnight hours of Aug. 25. Perez had been shot while outside a baptism party for his granddaughter being held at the Church of the Holy Nativity on Bainbridge Avenue between Rochambeau Avenue and East 204th Street. The new lead comes three months after Perez’s son, Edgar Jr., said the police have given him little in the way of an update. Edgar

Tracey Towers Residents Wonder How Their Complex Became Little Ghana

By DAVID CRUZ

Tracey Towers is known for its robust representation of Ghanaian Americans new to the country or second or third generation. And their ample presence—complete with their own tenants association and yearly events highlighting the colorful culture of the West African country—has earned it a cute name among residents: “Little Ghana.” The fun fact has extended beyond the looming towers and to published works, where one book, African & American: West Africans in Post-Civil Rights America, mentions Tracey Towers as being home to “literally hundreds of Ghanaians and became the basis for the development of the most recognizable physical enclave of this

Blood Drive A blood drive will take place on Jan. 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the 52nd Precinct station house at 3016 Webster Ave. For more information, call (718) 220-5824. Social Security Expanded Office Hrs. Social Security offices in the Bronx will be remain open to the public until 4 p.m. on Wednesdays, beginning Jan. 8. The nearest Social Security offices from Norwood is located at 2501 Grand Concourse. For more information, call (800) 772-1213. Comment on Bus Reroute Plan The MTA is currently accepting comments for its plan to update the Bronx’s bus route network, which

By PROFESSOR ANTHONY RIVIECCIO, MBA PFA

Most people mistakenly think that tax preparation is tax planning time. But by thinking this way, they think they could “erase” or “add” things that happened in 2019 when it is now 2020. So in short, if you did not plan in advance, that’s why it’s called tax planning, folks! Your refund for 2019 is now complete! But what about your refund for January 2021? After all, it’s the first week in January; don’t you think you should start planning now? Well, if you’re smart enough to plan now for a higher tax refund in 2021 (for this year’s taxes

How The Jerome Gun Hill BID Fared in 2019 (Picture 4)

By JEROME GUN HILL BID

In 2019, the Jerome Gun Hill BID focused our efforts and resources to continue our work in supporting local businesses and community through advocacy and education, district marketing and beautification, and community events. We are working tirelessly to better connect the people who live and work in the neighborhood to the goods and services offered here at our partner merchants. With a focus on safety, cleanliness, and business development, the Jerome Gun Hill BID is dedicated to helping our member businesses and the BID community to grow and thrive. In 2019, we celebrated 25 of our legacy businesses that have