UPDATE Bronx CB7 Looks Forward to Subway Upgrades & More in 2023

By ARIEL PACHECO

Bronx Community Board 7 (CB7) held their final board meeting of 2022 on Dec. 13, following a successful annual tree-lighting event in Bedford Park on Dec. 8. The meeting was attended by around two dozen people, updates were shared by the different CB7 committee chairs and concerns of some community members were also heard. The meeting was the first to be presided over by recently elected Bronx CB7 chair, Yajaira Arias, following her election to the position on Nov. 15. As reported, Arias, the incumbent CB7 secretary, succeeds Emmanuel Martinez, who stepped down as chair in the summer of 2022.

By DAVID GREENE

This week, we asked readers their thoughts on 2022 and their hopes for the New Year. “I did not feel safe in 2022 and I couldn’t enjoy my summer. A few people dear to me passed away. Despite the few accomplishments that we had, 2022 was filled with disappointments, empty promises, and uncertainty. I hope that in 2023 we can put an end to the reckless motorcycle and motorized bike riding on the sidewalk and the senseless loud noise coming from passenger cars and SUVs. My hopes are to raise awareness to the needs of our folks with disabilities,

By SÍLE MOLONEY

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand announced on Friday, Dec. 23, that over $256 million in federal funding was secured to upgrade the New York City Subway and Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) systems, improving accessibility to meet or exceed new Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) construction standards. Representatives for the Democratic senators said the two grants will provide more than a quarter of a billion dollars for accessibility improvements through the Federal Transit Administration’s All Stations Accessibility Program (ASAP), created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed last year and supported by both Schumer

By DAVID GREENE

As the year draws to a close, we are continuing to publish some of the stories we couldn’t get to earlier this year [due to staff shortages]. An 18-wheel tractor-trailer knocked over a street sign on the border of Fordham Manor and University Heights after its rear wheels got caught on a relatively new pair of street bollards, two-foot-high plastic barricades designed to protect pedestrians on a traffic island and slow down city traffic. The NYPD reported the incident was the second such crash to have occurred at that particular location in less than 8 hours. An unnamed

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Health Commissioner Issues Advisory NYC health commissioner, Dr. Ashwin Vasan, issued a new advisory on Dec. 9 as NYC faces high levels of a triple onslaught of COVID-19, flu, and RSV cases. New Yorkers are strongly urged to wear masks in public, indoor settings, and crowded outdoor settings, to get vaccinated, test regularly, wash hands regularly and stay home, if sick. For more information, visit here. He said this is especially important for people who are – or are meeting – those who are at increased risk for complications from COVID-19, RSV, or the flu, such as those age 65

By ARIEL PACHECO

The following is an extended version of the story that appears in our latest print edition. Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson hosted an event to mark World AIDS Day on Fordham Plaza on Thursday, Dec. 1 to spread awareness about AIDS, a life-threatening condition caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that attacks the immune system of the patient. The event also served to offer helpful resources to the Bronx community. Gibson was accompanied on the day by numerous organizations and non-profits, including Black Health, Amida Care, Latino Commission on AIDS, Essen Health Care, Osborne Association, Boom!

By DAVID GREENE

As New York City Mayor Eric Adams approaches the end of his first year in office, this week we asked readers to grade the mayor on his performance so far. “Grade?… No, he doesn’t get an A. I give him a D, that’s right. He just talks a lot and does nothing. I’d like to see him stop the crime. Get the community and pull people together and let us build a bigger and brighter city. Stop all this smoking [of weed] wherever you go…in the park, I know it’s the law! Yeah, in the hallways and buildings, man.

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The MTA, New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), NYC Department of Transportation (DOT), the NYPD and other entities have advised of the following transportation updates, including street and bridge closures in The Bronx through 2026, as of Friday, Dec. 23. Robert F. Kennedy Bridge (RFK Bridge), through June 1, 2023 Single-lane traffic in each direction will be closed Monday to Friday from 10.30 p.m. to 5 a.m. next morning, Saturdays from 12 a.m. to 6.30 a.m., and Sundays from midnight to 11 a.m. on the FDR Drive/Harlem River Drive (HRD) in the vicinity of RFK Bridge. Also, Willis Avenue ramp from

Pols: Elevator Needs at Mosholu Pkwy. Station

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Plans to install the long-awaited elevator at Mosholu Parkway subway station, which serves the 4 line, and which is located at the border of Jerome Park and Norwood, are finally taking shape according to The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). Replacement elevators are also set to be installed at three existing accessible Bronx subway stations as part of two new, public-private partnerships, the agency announced on Nov. 30. Given the proximity of Mosholu Parkway station, located at the intersection of Mosholu Parkway and Jerome Avenue, to a number of local hospitals and healthcare facilities, including Norwood’s Montefiore Medical Center, located