Financial Focus: The Path to a Bigger Tax Refund for 2021 (Part 1 of 7)

Neighborhood Notes: Free Immigration Service

By PROFESSOR ANTHONY RIVIECCIO, MBA PFA

Most people mistakenly think that tax preparation is tax planning time. But by thinking this way, they think they could “erase” or “add” things that happened in 2019 when it is now 2020. So in short, if you did not plan in advance, that’s why it’s called tax planning, folks! Your refund for 2019 is now complete! But what about your refund for January 2021? After all, it’s the first week in January; don’t you think you should start planning now? Well, if you’re smart enough to plan now for a higher tax refund in 2021 (for this year’s taxes

By MARTIKA ORNELLA and DAVID CRUZ

The Bronx witnessed so much transformative change we’d be remiss not to mention how the borough fared this past decade. The paper pored over the last ten years to recap some of the more high-profile stories that have left a lasting impact on the Bronx. Development Within the last 10 years the Bronx has seen an enumerable population growth, coinciding with a historic development boom with lingering questions on housing security and affordability. Between 2010 and 2017, the Bronx became the fastest growing county in New York State, with over 86,000 new residents, bringing the estimated population to around 1.5

Norwood News Year in Review (Development)

By DAVID CRUZ

What a year in 2019 for the Bronx! In keeping with tradition, the Norwood News paused to look back on 2019 with a highlight of several ongoing stories we’ve followed this past year. Development Large-scale development became the operative word in 2019, with a flood of projects happening simultaneously in Norwood and Bedford Park, prompting a story recapping readers on those projects on the Vol. 32 No. 11 edition and an in-depth piece entitled “The Vanishing Homeowner” in the Vol. 32 No. 23 edition. The common denominator was simple: the Bronx has become such an attractive place for developers that it’s

By JOSE Á. GIRALT

This week we asked families across the Bronx how they will be spending the holiday season. I’m having family over and I’m doing the cooking for the first time. I’m the big mom hosting. Family from Jamaica is coming, some family from Guyana is coming. And whoever else are nearby. And we’re just going to celebrate that way. Shauna Lee Morris Park Be with my family. Spend time with them and get a bunch of presents for my son. I got a newborn. “Snackz” Norwood I’ll probably be spending time with a few close friends and staying

By PROF. ANTHONY RIVIECCIO, MBA PFA

Twenty five years ago, we woke up to the phrase rapid refund! And many of the big income tax preparations companies advertised this misleading phrase–and the people ran there–to find out it was not a refund but a loan instead. New York State lawmakers declared in 2002 that so long as customers were made fully aware of what it is and sign disclosures then it was perfectly legal. And now in 2019, the tax loan/refund process has gone in full gear. You would think you’re doing your taxes with the big tax preparation companies, but sometimes I wonder if those

By DAVID CRUZ

Dear Fellow Readers, The year’s final edition of the Norwood News is out with plenty of community stories to read and share. We’ve crammed plenty of news into this 28-page paper, so let’s begin with page one! Our top story focuses on improving safety at DeWitt Clinton Campus in the aftermath of a stabbing that happened on Nov. 20. Hear what the commanding officer has to say on the plan to keep students secure. Inside the cover we update you on the 15th Congressional District race, and a much-needed endorsement for candidate Samelys Lopez. Read up on why the New York City

A Solemn Goodbye to a Community Activist, MTA Reroute Bus Plan, and More: Latest Edition of the Norwood News is Out!

By NORWOOD NEWS

Dear Fellow Readers, The year’s twenty-fourth edition of the Norwood News is out with plenty of community stories to read and share. We have 28 pages packed full of news from this corner of the Bronx, so let’s start with page one! Our top story focuses on the death of well-known community activist Heidi Marie Schloegel Hynes. Hynes lost her battle with cancer at 51 years old on Nov. 24. Though she may have passed, her legacy will continue to inspire many activists across the Bronx, according to her supporters. Inside the cover you’ll read a piece on the MTA’s proposed bus route revamp

By PROF. ANTHONY RIVIECCIO, MBA, PFA

So what is the purpose of work? To take care of yourself? To take care of family? To build a career? Is having a job the same as a career? And does it provide you the same satisfaction? While you think I might be talking about today’s gig economy, I was actually thinking about the entrepreneurship wave that took place in the 1980s and 1990s. From former President Ronald Reagan’s supply-side presidency, to former President Bill Clinton’s workers throughout the nation were getting hired, albeit with low wages, watching the new technology of the 1980s and 1990s slowly start to

By DAVID GREENE

This week we asked readers if former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has a chance at securing the Democratic nomination for President of the United States. Yes, I do think he’ll get the nomination because he’s a billionaire and he knows politics; he’s been involved; he was a good mayor. But the stop and frisk policy for the NYPD was very questionable. The only thing he’s good at is being a businessman, which would help with jobs and help developers. There wouldn’t be much difference between him and [President] Donald Trump. Shirley Velasquez Mount Eden I think he can win