Elections 2023: Irene Estrada Lays Out her Case for her City Council Run in District 13

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Former Democratic female district leader for the 80th assembly district and Democratic candidate for city council in District 13, Irene Estrada, briefly broke down why she is running for the seat against incumbent, City Councilwoman Marjorie Velázquez when we spoke to her at the 25th Throggs Neck St. Patrick’s Day parade on March 12. Estrada, whose two daughters serve with the NYPD, and who is on the clergy council of the 49th Precinct, said, “Our streets are a mess with crime.” She added, “We also need to bring back the school safety task force. They took it away after COVID.

By SÍLE MOLONEY

A group of eight State lawmakers held a press conference at the entrance to Rikers Island jail on Thursday, April 6, amid, they said, reports of “continued unsafe and inhumane conditions,” at the jail. The visit was scheduled as legislators awaited updates from three-way budget negotiations, and in the context of those negotiations, they allege Gov. Kathy Hochul was “pushing civil rights rollbacks that would result in many more people being held at Rikers without being convicted of a crime.” Among the group were State Sen. Nathalia Fernandez (S.D. 34) who represents parts of The Bronx, State Sen.

By DAVID GREENE

This week, we asked readers their thoughts on the possibility of banning assault weapons, and what is driving the opposition by some to banning the use by civilians of weapons of war. “Assault weapons or machine guns shouldn’t be in the hands of regular citizens; they should only be used by the military, but all citizens should be able to own handguns and rifles. No one should be dying. Lawmakers should just take some action. They should just make the right choice. My thinking is if you know the history of how the police first began, they were

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark and New York City Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell announced on Thursday, April 6, that six men, three alleged pimps, and the manager, front desk clerk, and security guard at a Bronx hotel, have been charged with a host of offenses, including enterprise corruption, sex trafficking of a child, and promoting prostitution, and two of the alleged pimps were also charged with rape. Clark said the defendants, Akeem Lee, 34; Marvin Flint, 32; Anthony Reyes, 31; Golam Rabbani, 27; Robert Olaguibel, 45; and Patrick Walker, 51, were variously charged in an 80-count indictment

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The following is an extended version of the story that appears in our latest print edition. Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark made history in 2016 when she was elected as the first African American woman to ascend to the role of district attorney in the State of New York, as well as the first woman to hold the position of Bronx district attorney. As she runs for reelection for the third time in June 2023, we take a look back at her career to date, and her mission “to lead with empathy and compassion” while balancing safety

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced on Wednesday, April 5, that a Bronx man has been charged with manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide in the death of his 15-year-old stepson, as reported. In the context of the announcement, Clark said, “The defendant allegedly got into a dispute with his stepson, and restrained him by grabbing his neck, causing a lack of oxygen which led to the boy’s death. It is horrific that his life was taken at such a young age.” She said the defendant, Tyresse Minter, 28, was arraigned on Wednesday on charges of second-degree manslaughter

By SÍLE MOLONEY & DAVID GREENE

The NYPD said the department has made an arrest in the fatal shooting in Fordham Manor of 26-year-old Norwood resident, Angel “Pookie” Cuasant, on Dec. 18, 2022. An NYPD spokesperson said on Wednesday, April 5, that Andres Latorre, 37, from East 158th Street in the Melrose section of The Bronx was arrested, and charged with murder, manslaughter and criminal possession of a weapon. As reported, police said officers responded to a 911 call regarding a male who had been shot inside 2650 Briggs Avenue in Fordham Manor on Sunday, Dec. 18, at 11.13 a.m. “Upon arrival, they discovered

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The NYPD has released an additional photo of a suspect sought in connection to a house robbery that occurred in March in Fordham Heights. As reported, police had been asking for the public’s help identifying and locating the people seen in the attached photos who department officials said are sought in connection with the incident. They said it was reported to them that on Monday, March 13, at around 6.48 a.m., a 32-year-old woman was inside her residence when two unidentified people entered her home, located near the vicinity of East 182nd Street and Grand Concourse. “The male

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Nine people were charged following a long-term, wiretap investigation into the manufacturing and interstate trafficking of counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl, stemming from drug-related activity that allegedly took place in The Bronx, Manhattan, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island, the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor (SNP) in Manhattan Supreme Court announced on March 29. The investigation resulted in the seizure of over 26,000 pills containing fentanyl; 2 kilograms of powdered fentanyl; nearly 50,000 pills, weighing about 41 pounds, containing methamphetamine; and 3 kilograms of powdered cocaine. The estimated street value of the drugs seized is approximately $2.5 million. Bridget

Norwood News

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Criminal Justice

Elections 2023: Irene Estrada Lays Out her Case for her City Council Run in District 13

Group of Elected Officials Visit Rikers Island, Alleging Hochul is “Pushing to Roll Back Bail Reform”

Inquiring Photographer: Thoughts on Why People Oppose Banning Assault Weapons

UPDATE Alleged Pimps, Former Hotel Employees Charged in Child Sex Trafficking Ring

UPDATE Elections 2023: Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark on Safety & Criminal Justice

Westchester Square: Bronx Man Charged in Killing of 15-Year-Old Stepson

Fordham Manor: Arrest Made in Fatal Shooting of Norwood Resident, Angel “Pookie” Cuasant

Fordham Heights: Additional Photo Released of Suspect Sought in Armed House Burglary

Nine Charged in $2.5M Drug Operation in The Bronx, Manhattan, Rhode Island & Pennsylvania