Out and About

Dinowitz Calls for Use of Ballot Tracking Technology Following Voting Confusion

By Síle Moloney
Following a state primary marred by unprecedented confusion among voters seeking to use the state’s vote-by-mail or absentee ballot system, State Senator Leroy Comrie and Assembly Member Jeffrey Dinowitz called on the State legislature to pass legislation that will mandate the future use of ballot tracking technology for absentee ballots, as is already the case in some other states.   The bill would require the New York City Board of Elections and the various county boards of elections to provide a user-friendly website for voters who request and submit absentee ballots, to track their ballots through the entire absentee voting


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Olinville: Joyous Juneteenth Celebration Held Following More Law Reform Announcements

By Síle Moloney & Miriam Quinones
  New York State Assembly Speaker Carl. E. Heastie organized a Juneteenth rally and march in Olinville for Bronx Community Board 12 residents on Friday, Jun. 19. He was joined by approximately 100 people who marched from 213th Street to the junction of Gun Hill Road and White Plains Road, along with New York City Public Advocate Jumanne Williams, City Councilman Andy King, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., and Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark.   The rally was held in honor of the annual, unofficial Juneteenth holiday, the oldest nationally-celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United


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Kingsbridge Heights: Father Pleads Guilty in Hot Car Deaths of One-Year-Old Twins

Twin Children Die After Left in Car for Hours, Father Taken Into Custody
By Síle Moloney & David Greene
Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced on Jun. 23 that Juan Rodriguez of Rockland County has been sentenced to a one-year Conditional Discharge after pleading guilty to second-degree Reckless Endangerment charges in the deaths of his one-year-old twins.   According to the investigation, on the morning of July 26, 2019, Rodriguez drove to 130 West Kingsbridge Road while his one-year-old twins, Luna Rodriguez and Phoenix Rodriguez, sat in their car seats in the backseat row of his Honda sedan. Rodriguez arrived at his job at the James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center at 8:22 A.M. and


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Kingsbridge Heights: Police Appeal in Relation to Grand Larceny Incident

By Síle Moloney
The New York City Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance identifying the male individual shown in the attached photo and video who is wanted for questioning in connection to a grand larceny incident that occurred within the confines of the 52nd precinct.   On Wednesday, Jun. 17, 2020 at approximately 11:00 p.m., inside of 80 West Kingsbridge Road (cell phone store), an unidentified man entered the location and removed three Apple watches from a display stand. The male fled the location eastbound towards Aqueduct Avenue. Anyone with information with regard to the identity of the male is asked


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Northwest Bronx Elected Officials Call for Investigation Into Nooses Found in Van Cortlandt Park

By Síle Moloney
The offices of City Councilman Andrew Cohen, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, and Congressman Eliot Engel released a statement on Monday, Jun. 22 at around 5:00 p.m. to address recent media reports, including one from Norwood News, about nooses found hanging from trees in Van Cortlandt Park on the eve of Juneteenth. They called for a full investigation into the incident.   The statement was issued on Monday afternoon following an earlier 1:00 p.m. press conference in Van Cortlandt Park where New York State Senator Alessandra Biaggi (SD-34) and first-time congressional challenger in the 16th congressional district race, Jamaal Bowman, were joined


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Dinowitz Urges Voters Who Have Not Received Absentee Ballot To Plan to Vote In Person

By Síle Moloney
On Monday, Jun. 22, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz issued a press release on voting procedures in relation to Tuesday’s primary and special elections further to the receipt of several reports from voters that they had not received their absentee ballots, despite having applied for them weeks ago.   Dinowitz said that following the various alerts he received from constituents, he got in frequent contact with the Board of Elections, and the Board said that ballots had indeed been mailed to eligible voters. Dinowitz said he had also been in contact with the United States Postal Service and representatives from the organization


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New York City Phase II Reopening Guidelines and Updates

By Síle Moloney
The City entered Phase Two of the State’s Reopening Plan on Monday, June 22, 2020. During this phase, the following industries were allowed to resume:   Commercial Building Management Hair Salons & Barbershops Outdoor and Take-Out/Delivery Food Services Offices Real Estate Services In-Store Retail Vehicle Sales Retail Rental, Repair & Cleaning   Businesses which fall under these industry sectors must affirm to have read and understood the State-issued guidelines relating to reopening. Businesses that are unclear about reopening during Phase Two can use this tool to check. The guidelines and requirements may change, so businesses are asked to check the


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15th Congressional Race: Samelys López on Class Warfare, Progressiveness, Sanders & Serrano

By Síle Moloney
In a still-crowded 15th congressional district race, Samelys López has a clarity of vision for the Bronx that is rooted in continuity, inspired by personal experience, and imbued with a sense of urgency for social justice. A former intern of the incumbent, Congressman José Serrano, who is soon-to-retire after 30 years of service, López said she wants to continue Serrano’s legacy, while also recognizing the timely need for class warfare, and a true reckoning with what it really means to be a “progressive”.   It is this latter point that is central to López’s campaign and she is eager to


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Nooses Found in Van Cortlandt Park, NYPD Determine No Hate Crime, Advocates Call for Investigation

By Síle Moloney
Police said that on Thursday night, Jun. 18, 2020, the Commanding Officer of the 50th precinct responded to a report from the grove part of Van Cortland Park further to the discovery of what was believed to have been one or more nooses hanging from trees in the park, prompting fears of a hate crime. The NYPD said that upon arrival, the Commanding Officer observed a nylon string that is often used to hang piñatas hanging from a tree branch. Upon further investigation, it was determined that there had been a party at the location earlier and the incident was


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