Salamanca Secures Spot on Democratic Ballot for Election as Bronx BP

City Council Member Rafael Salamanca Jr. (C.D. 17) announced on Wednesday, April 2, that he has submitted over 11,000 petition signatures to NYC Board of Elections to officially qualify for the ballot in the upcoming Democratic primary race for Bronx borough president which takes place in June 2025.

Op-Ed: Why I Oppose Gov. Hochul’s Proposed Mask Restrictions

Regarding Gov. Hochul’s proposed mask ban, which she seeks to bundle into New York’s upcoming state budget (due to be finalized by March 31), I oppose the ban. As a disabled Jewish woman who engages in activism, I find the possible codification of this measure to be a horrific violation of human and civil rights, in multiple ways:

UPDATE Op-Ed: In Celebration of the Life & Legacy of Lydia Sadler, Church of the Mediator Vestry Senior Member

Early last month, I received a direct message from a friend of mine, alerting me that Lydia Sadler had suffered a traumatic asthma attack, resulting in complications that put her on life support in the NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital in Manhattan. Several days later on Feb. 12, the follow-up message relayed the catastrophic news: Lydia had died, selflessly donating her organs for the furtherance of someone else’s life.

UPDATE Danielle Guggenheim Petitions to Run in Council District 11

Petitioning is underway for those seeking to get on the electoral ballot to become candidates in the upcoming June primaries in New York City, and Danielle Herbert Guggenheim, a self-described, single mother, Black and Caribbean American who has served 25 years with the City’s Board of Education, and has tutored children with special needs, is among them.

Op-Ed: The Impact of DOGE on Catholic Relief Services

The Catholic News Agency reported on Jan. 31 that U.S. bishops have asked Catholics to reach out to their members of Congress and request the resumption of foreign aid programs following the Trump-Vance administration’s decision to temporarily pause funding for many programs, including those provided by Catholic Relief Services, pending review.