"I'm a Democrat. I'm going to support a Democrat. But not Malcolm Smith," says Pedro Espada, State Senator-elect in the 33rd District.

Espada Bucks Fellow Dems

Pedro Espada, Jr. emerged victorious in the general election last week to be the area's state senator on the heels of a bloody primary battle with incumbent Efrain Gonzalez, who was heavily backed by the state's Democratic leadership. Now, for Espada, it's payback time. | Read More

The old Fordham Library building on Bainbridge Avenue off Fordham Road is now in the hands of the Department of Health, which wants to turn it into an animal shelter.

Library To Be Animal Shelter; Leaders Outraged

For two years, local leaders and residents have demanded the vacant old Fordham Library building be turned into something that benefits the underserved and densely populated community. But recently, the city quietly gave control of the 27,400-square-foot structure over to the Health Department for use as an animal shelter. | Read More

Will Scarce Bronx Banks Become Scarcer?

With 3,443 households per bank branch, the Bronx is the most under-banked borough in New York City. Many worry this bad situation will worsen along with the economy. | Read More

Inside a temporarily converted funeral home in Bedford Park on Sunday, Oct. 19, the Rev. Doug Cunningham addresses the assembled congregation at the first ever worship service of New Day Church. Cunningham is looking to attract open-minded people who aren't attending other churches.

Preaching Change, 'New Day' Seeks Active Flock

On a Sunday last month, in a temporarily converted funeral home in Bedford Park, the Rev. Doug Cunningham preached about change. This was the first ever worship service of New Day United Methodist Church, a small but passionate group of Christians in search of a permanent home, an open-minded congregation and every opportunity to bring their justice-based message to the north Bronx. | Read More

Out of Touch

The city's ridiculous decision to put an animal shelter in a former library near bustling Kingsbridge Road and the borough's state-of-the art library is depressing and heartening at the same time.

Depressing because it just shows that the Bloomberg administration is hopelessly out of touch with the dire needs of its constituents in this area. There is so little space available in our community for new schools, youth recreation and other critical social services and they turn over a centrally located prime piece of public real estate to the animals. A worthy endeavor, but obviously not one that trumps the needs of local humans.

But it is also heartening that several sectors of this community are united in their opposition to this plan and support returning the building to community use. This is a reassuring sign of resurgent civic health - a community able to define and collectively advocate for its needs. | Read More