diversity & inclusion

Applications Remain Open for the City’s Summer Rising Program Among Others

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Applications remain open to apply for the City’s Summer Rising program, as well as a number of other programs. Commissioner Manuel Castro of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) and Commissioner Keith S Howard of NYC Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) are encouraging applications to various summer programs from the City’s youth such as the Summer Youth Employment Program, Summer Rising and Saturday Night Lights, along with adult literacy programs.  

Torres Co-Leads Bipartisan Bill to Address Childcare Affordability

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Rep. Ritchie Torres (NY-15) co-led the introduction on Wednesday, Feb. 28, of legislation described by his office as groundbreaking, to tackle the pressing issue of childcare affordability faced by families across the nation. Officials from to the Bronx congressman’s office said the bipartisan measure, known as the Combatting High Inflation Limiting Daycare Act, or the “CHILD Act,” seeks to provide much-needed relief to American families struggling to meet the rising costs of childcare by doubling the annual contribution limit for tax-advantaged Dependent Care Flexible Savings Accounts (DCFSAs).

Espaillat, Ocasio-Cortez Introduce Temporary Protected Status for Ecuador Act

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Bronx Congressional Reps. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), along with nine other original cosponsors, introduced the Temporary Protected Status for Ecuador Act (H.R. 7371) to the U.S. House of Representatives on Monday, Feb. 26. The bill, if passed, would grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to over 300,000 Ecuadorians in the U.S. who have fled the current mass outbreak of gang-related violence in Ecuador to seek safety for their families.

Health Care Expands March 5 to All Vets Exposed to Toxins during Military Service at Home or Abroad

By SÍLE MOLONEY
The U.S. Department of Veterans Services announced on Monday, Feb. 26, that all veterans who were exposed to toxins and other hazards while serving in the military, at home or abroad, will be eligible to enroll directly in VA health care beginning March 5. VA officials said this means all veterans who served in the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, the Global War on Terror, or any other combat zone after 9/11 will be eligible to enroll directly in VA health care without first applying for VA benefits.

Love in The Bronx

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Love is in the air and on Feb. 14, across the globe, millions celebrated Valentine’s Day. At one Norwood store, we were told flower sales were up by a whopping 70 percent. So, is it just another opportunity to make a quick buck or is there merit in reminding people of love? To find out, we are grateful to those Bronxites who were brave enough to talk to us about their own love stories.

Op-Ed: Preserving Woodlawn: A Stand Against Overdevelopment 

By WILLIAM MURRAY
On Monday, Feb. 12, the Woodlawn Heights Taxpayers and Community Association gathered at the Rambling House for a critical meeting. The focus of the discussion revolved around the alarming proposal by The City of Yes for Housing Opportunity initiative, developed by NYC Department of City Planning, which lays out potential changes throughout the city that will be significant and could have detrimental effects on the cherished neighborhood of Woodlawn.