Op-Ed: The Fair Chance Housing Act Will Only Lead To More Discrimination

By BLANDON CASENAVE

New York City Council is now considering passing a bill, The Fair Chance Housing Act, which would not allow most landlords or management companies to perform criminal background checks on prospective tenants. One of the bill’s supporters, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, has argued that criminal background checks are a loophole that “consigns people with conviction histories to continued cycles of poverty, homelessness, and potential recidivism”. Once again, New Yorkers are caught between politicians on both sides of the aisle that lazily rely on the law to find solutions to economic problems that they are neither creative nor astute enough

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The NYPD said on Tuesday, Dec. 13, that a 14-year-old boy who had been reported missing from Wakefield has been found and is safe. Prior to being located, police said Nazir Iqbal of East 231st Street in the Wakefield section of The Bronx had last been seen Sunday, Dec. 11, at 7.30 p.m., inside his home. He was described as male, Hispanic, approximately 5 feet, 8 inches tall, weighing 180 pounds, with a medium complexion, a medium build, brown eyes and dark hair. Prior to being located, he had last been seen wearing a black ‘Guess’ bubble

By SÍLE MOLONEY

A 28-year-old man has died after being fatally shot in the Fordham Heights section of The Bronx, police said. On Tuesday, Dec. 13, at around 00.28 a.m., police said officers responded to a ShotSpotter activation [technology that monitors the sound of gunshots] in the vicinity of 2171 Grand Concourse, located within the 46th Precinct. A police spokesperson said, “Upon arrival, officers observed a 28-year-old male, unconscious and unresponsive, with a gunshot wound to the head in front of 2155 Grand Concourse.” The spokesperson added, “EMS responded to the location and transported the victim to St. Barnabas Hospital,

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The Lehman College and Community Band celebrates the holiday season with the “Holiday Cheer 2022 Winter Concert!” a musical performance featuring a mix of holiday selections and classics for wind bands. Free and open to the public, the concert will take place on Sunday, Dec. 18, at 2 p.m. in the Lovinger Theatre music building, Lehman College, located at 250 Bedford Park Blvd. Bronx, NY 10468. Led by Professor Alan Hollander of the college’s music program, the ensemble will perform a wide range of works, including perennial holiday favorites, “Christmas Festival” and “Sleigh Ride” by Leroy Anderson; another sleigh

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The NYPD is asking for the public’s help locating a 21-year-old man reported missing from the Morris Heights section of The Bronx. Police said Jayson Cortez of 1551 University Avenue was last seen at around 10.55 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 11, leaving his home. He is described as being around 5 feet tall, weighs around 100 pounds, has a thin build, a light complexion, black hair and brown eyes. He has tattoos on both arms and was last seen wearing a black winter hat, a black hooded sweatshirt, dark blue jeans, and black boots. Anyone with information

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The NYPD said on Monday, Dec. 12, that two brothers from the Tremont section of The Bronx who had been reported missing have been found and are “in good condition.” Prior to being located, Jessiah Campell, 15, of East Tremont Avenue, Bronx, NY, and his 12-year-old brother, Justice Campbell, of the same address had last been seen on Friday, Dec. 9, at 8 a.m., leaving their home. Jessiah was described as male, around 5 feet, 11 inches tall, Black, weighing 130 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair in an Afro style, and prior to being located, had last

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The NYPD Bomb Squad has deemed a grenade found in the Edenwald section of The Bronx inert. The incident occurred on Friday, Dec. 9, at around 4 p.m. at 3917 Wilder Avenue. A police spokesperson told Norwood News, “The device was deemed inert and removed to Rodman’s Neck for disposal.” The southern part of Rodman’s Neck is a piece of land and an NYPD designated shooting range, located in the borough, that juts out into Long Island Sound. Asked if the grenade was a toy, as was found to be the case a few days earlier when, as

By SÍLE MOLONEY

A murder investigation is underway by the NYPD after a 41-year-old man died following a fatal shooting in Edenwald, police said. On Thursday, Dec. 8, at around 8.09 p.m., police responded to a 911 call regarding an aided, unconscious man inside 1851 Schieffelin Place, Baychester Houses NYCHA complex. The residence falls under Police Service Area 8’s Edenwald satellite base, located at 1165 East 229th Street, which serves New York City Housing Authority developments. “Upon arrival, officers observed a 41-year-old male, unconscious and unresponsive with a sustained gunshot wound to the chest, within the 3rd floor hallway,” a police spokesperson

By SÍLE MOLONEY

A fire broke out at Fordham Hill Oval Housing Co-op in the University Heights section of the Bronx on Thursday evening, Dec. 8, FDNY officials said. There were no injuries, they added. According to the FDNY, the alarm was raised at 8.19 p.m. regarding the fire which reportedly broke out in Apt. 12A on the 12th floor of a 15-story building at the multiple dwelling located at 1 Fordham Hill Oval. It was brought under control at 8.53 p.m. It was classified as a 10-77 meaning a high-rise, multiple dwelling fire. Fire department officials said 20 units comprising 78