Ischia Bravo

CM Rafael Salamanca Jr.  Endorses John Sanchez in the 15th District City Council Race

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Rafael Salamanca Jr, three-term City Councilman for the 17th District and chair of the City Council committee on land use, has endorsed district manager for Community Board 6, John Sanchez, in the District 15 City Council race set for March 23rd, it was announced on Friday, Jan. 15.   Councilman Rafael Salamanca Jr. said, “I am proud to endorse John Sanchez for New York City Council in the 15th District. For the past four years, John has served as District Manager for Community Board 6 where he has earned a reputation for going above and beyond for the community.”  


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Salazar, Mark-Viverito Endorse Elisa Crespo in 15th City Council District Race

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Both State Sen. Julia Salazar and former City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito announced on Monday, Dec. 14, that they are endorsing Elisa Crespo for the 15th District City Council seat, currently held by newly elected congressman, Ritchie Torres.   In a video shared on Twitter, Mark-Viverito said, “We need a candidate who will create pathways for unemployed workers, particularly those stigmatized by race, gender identity, or former incarceration status. We must seize upon this moment to make history, and elect bold leaders who are prepared to tackle the fights ahead. That’s why I’m proud to endorse mi hermana, a fellow Latina,


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Ischia Bravo Endorsed by NYS Senators Alessandria Biaggi & Jessica Ramos for City Council

By SÍLE MOLONEY
  District manager for Bronx Community District 7, Ischia Bravo, received a boost, on Dec. 8, to her campaign to replace Councilman, and now Congressman-elect, Ritchie Torres, in the District 15 City Council race, following the endorsement of New York State Senators, Jessica Ramos and Alessandra Biaggi.   Both Ramos and Biaggi assumed office in 2019 after defeating long time incumbents, and members of the Independent Democratic Conference, a group of senate Democrats who caucused with Republicans to give the GOP a majority in the chamber. Both senators represent the new era of Democratic activism in the State Senate, ushering


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Elections 2021: Elisa Crespo on the Economy, Housing & Criminal Justice

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT
In her campaign to replace incumbent councilman and congressman-elect, Ritchie Torres, on the City Council, Elisa Crespo wants to focus on the issues affecting the residents of the 15th District more than on her candidacy.  Among the most pressing issues, she finds, is the high rate of unemployment.   “We are at Great Depression level [un]employment rates in the Bronx,” Crespo told the Norwood News in a phone interview. “In some parts of this council district, there’s a 30 percent unemployment rate.”   Together with her mom and siblings, Crespo, 30, experienced job and housing insecurity growing up in Brooklyn,


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Julian Sepulveda Suspends Campaign in 15th City Council race, Endorses Elisa Crespo

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Julian Sepulveda announced on Friday, Nov. 13, that he will be suspending his campaign for the 15th District City Council seat and has endorsed Elisa Crespo.   In a video shared to Twitter, Sepulveda said, “Supporting Elisa was an easy decision. She is a Bronxite and a Latina, who was raised by a working-class mother. Her lived experience is rooted in the complex struggles that many in our community live day-to-day.”   Sepulveda continued, “Her campaign is an opportunity to make history by building a movement that empowers the Latinx community while building LGBTQ power in the Bronx. I know


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Kenny Agosto Announces Run for 15th City Council District, Holds Rally Sunday, Sept. 27

By SÍLE MOLONEY
  Kenny Agosto, district director to New York State Senator Jamaal T. Bailey, announced that he is running for the 15th city council district seat in the Bronx. Though not yet formally listed as a candidate on the City’s campaign finance board website, Agosto announced that he is joining the race in which there are already six candidates who have officially filed to run.   They are Ischia Bravo, Elisa Crespo, Oswald Feliz, Latchmi D. Gopal, John E. Sanchez, and Julian S. Sepulveda. One of the candidates will replace the incumbent, Councilman Ritchie Torres, who it is assumed will win


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Hate Has No Place in Norwood

By ISAIAH MATHEWSON, MIRIAM QUINOÑES & SÍLE MOLONEY  
Following reports on Sept. 18 of the defacing of a mural painted in support of Black trans lives on 204th Street and Perry Avenue in the Norwood section of the Bronx, reaction from allies and various public officials was swift. Their message? Hate has no place in Norwood.   The following day, a rally was organized at the mural location by Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez, who was joined by a group of about 30, comprising members of the Black trans community, allies, and local leaders for the purpose of “denouncing hate and the defacing of a mural supporting Black trans lives.”


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Bronx CB7 Prepares for Budget Cuts

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


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Bronx CB7 Mask, Gloves, Hand Sanitizer & Food Giveaway

  Bronx Community Board 7 in conjunction with MAS Productions held a Mask, Gloves and Hand Sanitizer Giveaway at Poe Park on Saturday, Jun. 13, 2020.   In addition to receiving a goodie bag filled with these items, there was also fresh produce available from NYBG’s Edible Garden. Bronx CB 7 District Manager Ischia Bravo, Jacqueline Acevedo-Villanueva from MAS Production, Shanequa Charles, Executive Director at Miss Abbie’s Kids Inc. and other volunteers spent the afternoon handing out goodie bags at the event which kicked off at 2:00 p.m.   As reported previously by Norwood News, Jacqueline Acevedo-Villanueva made a special


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