The New Year is often marked with questions. For the Norwood News, our key question is this–what will the state of the northwest Bronx be on Dec. 31, 2015? To answer that, the Norwood News is turning to the past, examining last year’s stories to predict some of this year’s hot topics for the northwest Bronx:

A Meaningful Project Through Participatory Budgeting: The topic turned into a neighborhood buzzword for 2014, with curious residents engaged on the process championed by New York City Councilmembers Andrew Cohen and Ritchie Torres. Participatory budgeting gives direct power to the public how $1 million, or 20 percent of a Councilmember’s capital funds, should be spent. Monies are mandated to go to a lasting project following a lengthy, albeit bureaucratic, process. At the heart of this story is the winning project. Benches for Mosholu Parkway? A playground at a barren section of Decatur Avenue? Tree-lined streets along Webster Avenue? The other is whether participatory budgeting even works.

An Active Friends of the Williamsbridge Oval (FOTWO): The group that pushed for the re-opening of the Williamsbridge Oval Recreation Center, traffic calming measures and an impending skateboard park was suddenly thrown a wrench following the departure of FOTWO’s tenacious leader, Elisabeth von Uhl. These days, the park now sits without a vanguard. Who will step up for the volunteer post? So far, there haven’t been any takers.

Renewing Rent Laws: In Albany, a battle brews over a package of rent laws set to expire on June 15 if the State Legislature allows it. Should the laws expire, it could spell disaster for hundreds of thousands of Bronxites who rely on them to keep rents from skyrocketing.  It could also derail Mayor Bill de Blasio’s efforts to make New York City affordable to the working poor. And some Bronx lawmakers, all Democrats, have already been lobbying to keep the existing rent laws on the books, and strengthening them. Advocates have also mobilized, pressuring lawmakers to repeal the vacancy deregulation law, which lets landlords jack up rent for an empty unit, shrinking the affordable housing stock. But a Republican-controlled Senate could be their greatest adversary, who will likely side with desperate landlords looking to chip away at these protections.

A KNIC Groundbreaking: In an online editorial, we touched on what exactly is keeping developers for the Kingsbridge National Ice Center (KNIC) from having a groundbreaking. The lawsuits and internal conflict did slow things down, sure, but a symbolic groundbreaking can put everyone at ease. After all, it’s now been 22 years since the historic castle has sat vacant, save for a sliver of weekend gatherings that showcase the potential for the building as an awesome venue. Now if the developers can get a handle on traffic…

 

Are there any we missed? If so, send your letters to dcruz@norwoodnews.org.