Adams Reforms Process for Small Business Violations & DSNY Pilots New “Smart Bins”

  New York City Mayor Eric Adams signed a “Small Business Forward” executive order on Tuesday, Jan. 4, to reform existing business regulations, with the aim of helping local businesses face fewer and what was described as “needless” fines and penalties.   The executive order builds upon Local Law 80, and calls on the City’s Department of Buildings (DOB), Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Department of Sanitation (DSNY), Fire Department (FDNY), Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (CWP), and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) to review business regulations with the goal of reducing fine schedules, and allowing


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De Blasio, Detective’s Endowment Association Reach Tentative Contract Agreement

There are those who say the response by outgoing Mayor Bill de Blasio to the Black Lives Matter protests of June 2020 defined his time in office. In attempting to meet the moment, while he refused then President Donald Trump’s proposal to send in the National Guard to quash the protests, he was criticized by some for not reigning in the NYPD when, in some instances, officers responded to the protests with violence. On the other hand, he was also criticized by others within the agency who believed he did not always have their backs.   On Thursday, Dec. 30,


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NYS Office of General Services Announces Upcoming Construction Opportunities

The New York State Office of General Services (OGS) announced bidding on Dec. 24 for four construction contracts listed below by county.   Firms interested in receiving additional information or in acquiring bid documents should visit the OGS website at www.ogs.ny.gov and click on the Design & Construction link or call 518-474-0203.   ALBANY COUNTY CONSTRUCTION WORK: Contract No. 46057-C Description Remove & Replace Roof, Building 21 Location State OB Campus – Albany, NY Bid Date 1/26/2022 2:00:00 PM Estimate $1,000,000 – $2,000,000   ALBANY COUNTY HVAC WORK: Contract No. 46057-H Description Remove & Replace Roof, Building 21 Location State


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

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


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UPDATE Out & About: Plena Libre at the Lehman Center, Holiday Tree Lighting, Art Classes & More!

Editor’s Pick Bronx Community Board 7’s Holiday Tree Lighting event will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 7, at 6 p.m. at Mosholu Parkway Lawn at the intersection of Mosholu Parkway and Bainbridge Avenue. Come and enjoy this year’s Winter Wonderland where there will apple cider, hot chocolate, holiday activities & entertainment and of course, the tree lighting.   EVENTS  Van Cortlandt House Museum is hosting a Cozy Community Campfire on Sunday, Dec. 5, between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Gather together outdoors for a festive campfire, complete with free marshmallows and warm, mulled cider while supplies last. There will also be DIY s’mores kits


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Bronx DA Hosts Resource Fair for Formerly Incarcerated as Bailey’s Bill to Assist with Job Opportunities Passes

  Bronx District Attorney (DA) Darcel D. Clark, together with officials from her office, hosted a fourth Bronx reentry, resource fair on Nov. 6, for individuals reentering the community after having served time in jail or prison. The event was held at Bronx Community Board 12 (CB12)’s office in the Wakefield section of the borough.   During the fair, Clark spoke to the crowd, thanking her office staff and various partner organizations for putting the work in to help the community. “I could not get this work done without the community-based organizations that believe in this work as well,” she


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Fordham Landing Developer Discusses $2 Billion Mega-Development in University Heights

The following article is an updated version of the story that appears in our latest print edition. Since we went to press, we had the opportunity to speak further with Brad Zackson, director of development at Dynamic Star LLC, the developer behind the Fordham Landing project.     Steps for the planned, billion-dollar “Fordham Landing” mixed use, real estate development in the University Heights neighborhood advanced further last week amid news that developer, Dynamic Star LLC, had filed construction applications with New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) for a 17-story, mixed-use building at 320 West Fordham Road, a site


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Op-Ed: How the Senate Will Decide the Fate of Local News

The Senate is now deciding the fate of local news.   As part of the Build Back Better Act, the Senate is, in the next few days, considering an important proposal: providing a payroll tax credit to local news organizations to retain or hire local journalists.   Why? Local news is in a deep crisis. The Internet has fundamentally broken the business model of local newspapers. The number of reporters has dropped by more than half since 2000.   There are at least 1,800 total “news deserts,” with no local newspapers at all, and thousands more have “ghost newspapers” that


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UPDATE: District 14 City Council Race: For Pierina Sanchez, It’s About the Love

  For Pierina Sanchez, the Democratic nominee for the District 14 City Council seat in the upcoming general election, it’s all about the love. Sanchez is all in for the “Boogie Down,” saying passion for the community is a major driving force behind her campaign. With early voting already underway and only one day remaining before the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 2, Sanchez is transparent and says a vote for her on Nov. 2 will benefit the borough.   “It’s about the love,” Sanchez said during a campaign rally held outside the Kingsbridge Armory in the Kingsbridge Heights section


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