Inquiring Photographer: NYCHA’s $2B Pledge

This week we asked readers living in New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) developments in the Bronx about the recent decision for Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to oversee NYCHA, and the city’s $2.2 billion commitment for NYCHA repairs over the next decade. I’m all for that because right now we don’t even have heat in the building, no heat at all. We have running hot water, but no heat. We’ve had no heat since yesterday. It comes on and off. They keep saying they’re repairing it. The elevator keeps breaking down. Sometimes we have to go up and down

Editor’s Pick Seniors Should Socialize JASA Van Cortlandt Senior Center, 3880 Sedgwick Ave. presents the following February events: (call (718) 549-4700 for more information): Feb. 14 -Informal Valentine’s Day party with music and special refreshments following lunch. Feb. 15 – Trip to City Island to dine out. Meet at the center at 10:30 a.m. and return by 2:30 p.m. Pre-register with Cindy. Feb. 21 – Classical concert at 1 p.m. Feb. 28 – Belated Valentine’s Day/Birthday party, featuring music, at 1 p.m. Onstage Lehman College’s Center for the Performing Arts, 250 Bedford Pk. Blvd., W., presents Hector Acosta “El Torito,”

By BOB KAPPSTATTER and DAVID CRUZ

Police investigating the stabbing death of a Fordham teenager by a group of other youths were focusing on revenge as the motive, police sources said. The attackers have been identified and arrests are expected shortly, said one police source. Seventeen-year-old Pompey Pernell became the 52nd Precinct’s first homicide victim of the year after he was attacked by three young males around 7 p.m. Wednesday near East 193rd Street and Decatur Avenue, a known gang and narcotics sales area in the precinct. Detectives believe the stabbing involved revenge against the victim, who was arrested in December for slashing another member of the

Neighborhood Notes: Free Immigration Service

By PROF. ANTHONY RIVIECCIO, MBA PFA

Do you live with someone or are married? Oops, you’ve lost your household tax deduction! Had job expenses? Oops, you lost those too? You paid alimony? Congratulations, to the other spouse–that is now tax free to them–no more tax deduction for you. Have a home-based business and want to write off the deductions? Oh no! When you received your $25 bi-weekly tax cut were you smart enough to plan a W-4 readjustment at work, to put you in your correct tax bracket- for both 2018 and 2019? Well, now you know just a part of the answer! Welcome to tax season 2018–the year

By DAVID CRUZ

Dear Fellow Readers, The year’s fourth edition of the Norwood News with plenty of community news you can use. We’ve packed 20 pages full of useful information. As usual, we’ll begin with page one! Our front-page story takes you to Bedford Park where locals are reeling over news the local Rite Aid has closed. This is troubling news for seniors living at Serviam Heights and Serviam Gardens, which serve senior citizens. Reporter Alondra Vasquez talks to a whole horde of residents over what this means for them and access to their prescriptions. Inside the cover you’ll find a two-page informative piece

Bailey Forms Criminal Justice Reform Council, Gauges Input

By SHA-NIA ALSTON

State Sen. Jamaal Bailey, representing Norwood and chair of the Senate Committee on Codes, recently announced the creation of a Criminal Justice Reform Council, attracting advocates from the district to help reshape the state’s criminal justice system. The council is comprised of several advocates on criminal justice reform that hail from the Bronx, and Westchester County. Members on the council are representatives from an array of organizations that include the Legal Aid Society, Vocal-NY, CUNY Law School, Discovery for Justice, B.R.A.G., Not On My Watch, RAPP Campaign, and 100 Suits for 100 Men. Bailey felt it was imperative to develop

By DAVID CRUZ

An unidentified teen was stabbed to death in Fordham, marking the first homicide for the 52nd Precinct. Details are sparse, but police say the killing was reported at around 7 p.m. on Feb. 13 as officers responded to an assault of a 17-year-old boy near East 193rd Street and Decatur Avenue, a known gang area in the Five-Two. Officers found the victim with stab woulds 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 the news first. The 17-year-old was killed two blocks

Snow Postpones Stagg Meeting at Community Board 7

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT

Snow and ice caused the cancellation of Community Board 7’s Housing, Land Use & Zoning committee meeting of Feb. 12, in which residents from 2985, 2987, and 2999 Webster Ave., owned by the Stagg Group, were prepared for a heated confrontation with the landlord’s representatives. As previously reported in the Norwood News, residents of the three buildings have intensified their complaints over repairs not being tended to, security cameras not working, dirty hallways not being regularly cleaned, and just the overall difficulty of getting the management team to respond. Led by Zxavier Simpson, from 2985 Webster Ave., residents are joining

Rite Aid Closure Stuns Bedford Pk. Locals

By ALONDRA VASQUEZ

Gloria Murray, 70, a resident at the Serviam Gardens senior home in Bedford Park, will no longer be able to pick up her prescriptions at her local Rite Aid. The sign taped to the pharmacy’s front door at 239 E. 198th St., just two blocks from the affordable housing complex, said it all: “Hello Rite Aid Customers. We are closing at 7 p.m. today. Thanks for choosing us as your favorite store. Sorry for the inconvenience.” The sign was posted Feb. 5, the date the store permanently closed. The closure adds a greater layer of inconvenience for residents at Serviam