Sanchez Chairs Council Committee on Housing & Buildings, as Women Comprise Council Majority

By SÍLE MOLONEY

On Thursday, Jan. 20, the New York City Council appointed recently elected, Bronx, District 14 City Council Member, Pierina Sanchez, as chair of the council’s powerful housing & buildings committee, which has jurisdiction over New York City’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and the Department of Buildings (DOB), as well as rent regulation policies and practices. HPD is responsible for promoting the quality and affordability of the city’s housing by developing new, affordable housing, enforcing the housing maintenance code, and engaging neighborhoods in planning. DOB is the primary regulator of the construction and real estate industries in

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Democrats, District 11 City Council Member Eric Dinowitz, District 13 City Council Member Marjorie Velázquez, both representing parts of the Bronx, and Assemblywoman Nily Rozic, representing parts of Queens, announced on Thursday, Jan. 27, Holocaust Remembrance Day, that a New York City Council resolution in support of Rozic’s bill A472A will be introduced in the City Council. The bill directs the commissioner of State education to audit Holocaust education in New York. In the context of the announcement, Velázquez said the increase in antisemitic attacks across the globe, and specifically in New York City was a reminder that the

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Lionsgate Studios has officially opened a 500,000 sq ft film and television, production studio in downtown Yonkers, located just 5.8 miles from Norwood, The Bronx, as reported by YIMBY. The property is located on the shores of the Hudson River and is the latest component of an expanding production campus that will soon be the largest of its kind in the Northeast region, according to YIMBY. The builder and manager of the $500 million campus is Great Point Studios, an investment and development group led by Hallmark Channel founder, Robert Halmi, and media investment banker, Fehmi Zeko. Today,

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Video courtesy of the New York Education Department and Office of General Services The New York State Education Department (NYSED) and Office of General Services (OGS) announced on Friday, Jan. 14, a record-breaking number of students have participated in the 2022 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Fine Arts and Essay Exhibition, with one Bedford Park public school singled out for its creative project. Department officials said Dr. King’s commitment to nonviolent advocacy served as the inspiration for 2,700 students from more than 90 public and private schools across the State to submit their creations. Overall, the submissions mark the

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Bronx CB7 Mourns Passing of Former Members Bronx CB7 extends its most sincere condolences to the families of both Carmen Miranda, former CB7 Education Committee chair, and Jeffrey Hunter, former member of the Veterans Committee, on their recent passing. “We are heartbroken over the loss of two of our board members,” the board said in a joint statement. “The community has lost dedicated advocates and true community leaders. Carmen Miranda was a mother and activist who was invested in making sure the youth in our community had a voice; and Jeffrey Hunter was not only a Veteran but someone who continuously gave back to our community, and [was] a staunch

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Woodlawn Cemetery & Conservancy is calling all young people aged 18 to 24 who are looking for a meaningful career in construction, historical preservation, and skilled trades and who would love to work with their hands to apply by Jan. 28, to be paid interns and receive specialized hands-on training in masonry and restoration. Each spring, the Woodlawn Bridges to Crafts Careers Preservation Training Program selects 20 interns to receive specialized hands-on training in masonry and restoration under the guidance of a resident craftsman. The program includes a 10-week, paid, career training and job placement workforce development program which

By SARAH HUFFMAN

Friends of Devoe Park (FODP) hosted the group’s annual tree-lighting event on Saturday, Dec. 11, in Devoe Park, located in the Fordham Manor section of the Bronx. Attendees at the event were treated to hot chocolate, munchkins, and sugared cookies provided by FODP. The group also handed out Christmas-themed masks, candy canes, and jingle bells to community members. Assemblyman José Rivera (A.D. 78) was also in attendance. Rachel Miller-Bradshaw, founding member of FODP, said the group wanted to host the event because there wasn’t really any such event marking the holiday season in their local neighborhood.

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Editor’s Note: The following is an extended version of the story that appears in our latest print edition. Elected officials from across New York State gathered inside the Lovinger Theatre at Lehman College for the formal inauguration of Democrat, Eric Dinowitz, as the city councilman of District 11 on Sunday, Dec. 5. The Bedford Park ceremony was attended by a crowd of over 300 and was streamed live on BronxNet TV. The councilman has been serving in the role since April 2021, having won the District 11 seat in a special election in March. As reported, he went on

By SÍLE MOLONEY

There was plenty of holiday cheer to be had on Mosholu Parkway and Bainbridge Avenue on Tuesday, Dec. 7, as the annual, holiday, tree-lighting event, organized by Bronx Community Board 7 (CB7) and Friends of Mosholu Parkland (FOMP), made a welcome return. Amid the ongoing pandemic, and prior to the COVID-19 vaccination roll-out, last year’s tree-lighting event was carried out discreetly, with no formal gathering. This year, the event which took place on the Bedford Park/Norwood border, where masks were required, saw about 200 people gather in front of a large stage set-up specifically for the occasion. They

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Sanchez Chairs Council Committee on Housing & Buildings, as Women Comprise Council Majority

Velázquez Introduces City Council Bill to Audit Holocaust Education in Schools, Dinowitz Supports

Lionsgate Studios Debuts 500,000 Sq Ft Production Facility in Downtown Yonkers

Bedford Park School Project Among Highlights of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Fine Arts & Essay Exhibition

UPDATE Neighborhood Notes: Bronx CB7 Mourns Past Members, How to Help Bronx Fire Victims & More

Applications Open for Woodlawn Cemetery Bridge to Craft Careers Preservation Training Program

UPDATE Friends of Devoe Park Celebrate the Holidays at Tree-Lighting Event

UPDATE Eric Dinowitz Joined by Wide-Ranging Elected Officials for Inauguration at Lehman College

Bronx CB7 & Friends of Mosholu Parkland Tree-Lighting Event Brings Back Holiday Cheer