Latest Edition of the Norwood News is Out!

By DAVID CRUZ

Dear Fellow Readers, The year’s eleventh edition of the Norwood News is out with plenty of great community news stories to dive into. There’s almost something happening in this corner of the Bronx, and we’ve captured a good chunk of it. And as usual, we’ll start with page one! Our front-page story analyzes the ongoing construction happening in Norwood and Bedford Park. It’s part of a larger trend of construction happening in the city. Read the story by me and Alondra Vasquez. Also, you maybe want to check out our map outlining some projects. Inside the cover you’ll find a piece

The genesis of this edition’s cover story came about after editor David Cruz and reporter Alondra Vasquez drove around Norwood and Bedford Park, taking stock of the myriad of hard hats, construction equipment, and the oft rerouted traffic patterns that comprise typical ordinary construction. Yep, Norwood and Bedford Park have entered another wave of construction, the first happening after 2012, a year after the city authorized a massive rezoning effort along Webster Avenue. This new wave of construction was evident in the intricate grid in Norwood, where crews clad in orange vests were spotted in front of the Capital Bank

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT

The goal of guaranteeing healthcare for all New Yorkers advanced on May 7. Mayor Bill de Blasio announced at Lincoln Hospital the initial offering of the NYC Care card, guaranteeing all New Yorkers access to healthcare. “Healthcare is a human right. It’s as simple as that. . . . It’s a universal right. And we need, in this city, to prove that things can be done differently,” de Blasio said, at a news conference on May 8. The city estimates that 600,000 New Yorkers do not have insurance to receive healthcare, half of those are thought to be undocumented. As

The 46th annual Bronx Week celebration featured numerous activities and ended in Norwood with a parade that capped an 11-day extravaganza which answered why the Bronx is a special place to many. Before the parade, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. honored an accomplished boxer, musician, and planetary scientist for their contributions to their field and link to the borough.

Bx10 Could See Massive Changes Under Bus Route Revamp Plan

By DAVID CRUZ

Of all the bus complaints Assemblyman Jeff Dinowitz’s office receives, the ire is usually directed at the oft unreliable Bx10, which snakes virtually around Dinowitz’s 80th Assembly District, ending and beginning in Norwood. The Norwood Assemblyman hears the usual about the beleaguered bus route: there are long waits, it’s overcrowded, and the idea of “bus bunching,” where two Bx10 buses arrive simultaneously, is the norm. “It’s such a long, convoluted route that has to be looked at,” said Dinowitz, joining advocates from the Riders Alliance, a transit advocacy group, in calling for greater resources to the bus route. Their calls

By DAVID CRUZ and ALONDRA VASQUEZ

Along the neighborhoods of Norwood and Bedford Park, jackhammers can be heard repeatedly jutting concrete. It’s the sound many have heard before, though in the last few months, as warmer temperatures climb, it’s become the norm. Yes, Norwood and Bedford Park are undergoing another wave of construction. And it’s not just multi-story projects that have swept the neighborhoods, but smaller-scale projects that have either knocked out spots, forced residents to walk in the street, or pose the question, “What is happening?” The projects add to the 1,020 residential construction or infrastructure projects changing the overall landscape of Norwood and Bedford

At Rally for Blake, Supporters Outline 15th Congressional District's Issues

By DAVID CRUZ

At the epicenter of a district partially on the mend, Assemblyman Michael Blake, who officially declared a run for Congress for the 15th Congressional District, told supporters he sought to remove the label that the district is the country’s poorest. “I’m not proud of that,” said Blake, standing before supporters on a stage erected on East 134th Street between Alexander Avenue and Bruckner Boulevard. Serving as the nation’s most impoverished district has prevailed since the current seat-holder, Congressman Jose Serrano–who announced he’ll retire after his current 15th term is up–took office in 1990. While the quality of life within the

By SHA-NIA ALSTON

As part of Bronx Week, Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. joined business owners and students in announcing a new organization that aims to reduce the Bronx’s stubbornly high unemployment rate, which stands at six percent for the Bronx. The Bronx Private Industry Council (PIC) is leading the fight. Founded by HERE TO HERE, a Bronx non-profit that helps with economic development issues, PIC looks to create a pipeline between high school students and potential employers. It differs from the ordinary summer-youth employment program, according to PIC executive director Eddie Summers. “They get special development opportunities throughout their experience, whether its

19-Year-Old Charged In February Fordham Killing

By DAVID CRUZ

Police have made an another arrest in the stabbing death of a teen that happened in February. Police have charged 19-year-old Justin Flores with the murder of 17-year-old Pernell “Blizz” Pompey, which happened on Feb. 13 near the area of East 193rd Street and Decatur Avenue, a known gang and narcotics sales area. “Great job by all involved,” wrote the Five-Two’s official Twitter page of the arrest. Officers found the victim with stab wounds to the body. EMS rushed the victim to St. Barnabas Hospital where he was pronounced dead. His name has not been released until the family gets