civil rights

Documentary Film “1.5 Million” Deals with Illiteracy in The Bronx

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT
There was outrage in The Bronx when the last general-interest bookstore, Barnes & Noble, shut down permanently in 2017. Many Bronxites saw it as evidence that the borough is not viewed in a positive light and is forgotten when it comes to its intellectual curiosity. For filmmaker Gregory Hernandez, the turmoil gave him an idea to tell a story about illiteracy in the borough. The result is the film “1.5 Million: A Bronx Documentary” which, as preadvised, screened at the Pelham Parkway-Van Nest branch of the New York Public Library (NYPL) on Aug. 28.

Inquiring Photographer: Thoughts on New Tiered Policing Approach to Spontaneous Protests

By DAVID GREENE
This week, following the settlement, as reported, of various legal cases in relation to the NYPD’s handling of the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests, and the announcement of a new tiered, policing approach to the handling of future spontaneous protests in New York City, we asked readers if they had faith that the new approach, which has been agreed with the protestors’ defense attorneys and which is subject to review, will work.

Op-Ed: Support Needed for Alzheimer’s and Dementia Efforts

By DALMA RIQUELME
There are presently 426,000 New Yorkers diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and Dementia. That number may be higher as there may be others who have yet to be diagnosed or experiencing early-stage symptoms that may yet to be realized. 

City Announces Opening of New Humanitarian Emergency Response & Relief Center in Long Island City

By SÍLE MOLONEY
New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced on Wednesday, Sept. 6, the transition of an emergency respite site into a new humanitarian emergency response and relief center at Austell Place in Long Island City. The news comes as, according to City officials, the number of asylum seekers currently in the city’s care approaches 60,000, and following the arrival of more than 110,000 asylum seekers in New York City since last spring.

UPDATE Fordham Manor: Attorney General Opens Investigation into Civilian Death of Eric Duprey

By DAVID GREENE & SÍLE MOLONEY
The New York Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigation (OSI) opened an investigation into the death of Eric Duprey, who died on Wednesday, Aug. 23, following what was described as “an encounter with members of the New York City Police Department (NYPD)” in the Fordham Manor section of The Bronx. The announcement was made regarding the investigation on Thursday, Aug. 24. 

UPDATE City Reaches Settlement with 2020 BLM Protesters, Announces New Approach to Handling of Protests

By SÍLE MOLONEY & DAVID GREENE
New York City Mayor Eric Adams joined New York City Corporation Counsel Sylvia Hinds-Radix, and Police Commissioner Edward Caban on Tuesday, Sept. 5, to announce that the City had reached a settlement relating to the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests and that the NYPD has implemented new practices to keep New Yorkers safe, and to respect every person’s first amendment rights to free speech, to better address what were described as the unique challenges they say arise during spontaneous protests.

CM Dinowitz Breaks Down Highlights of $107 Billion City Budget & $30 Million for C.D. 11

By SÍLE MOLONEY
City Councilman Eric Dinowitz (C.D. 11) gave a budget presentation to district residents on Wednesday, Aug. 2, highlighting some of the local initiatives that will benefit from funding, following the adoption of the City’s $107 billion budget for the 2024 fiscal year. The councilman went over the city budget process, discussed the major highlights from the latest adopted city budget, and broke down some of the $30 million plus in discretionary funding for capital projects and other funding secured for C.D. 11, in conjunction with Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson.

Allerton Coops Art Exhibit Shows African American Histories of Early Bronx Interracial Housing Complex

By SÍLE MOLONEY
In celebration of “Black August,” and as the first offering of a multi-year, research project at The Bronx County Historical Society, the Museum of Bronx History opened “The Allerton Coops, In Living Color” exhibit on Saturday, Aug. 12. According to representatives of the museum, the exhibit recovers the histories of African American and multiracial residents of the Allerton Coops, located at 2700 Bronx Park East, one of the earliest interracial housing complexes in The Bronx.