Dear Fellow Readers,

The latest edition of the Norwood News, covering the northwest section of the Bronx, is out with plenty of community news you can use. There are 16 pages filled with a lot of useful information intended to make your aware of where you live. We begin, of course, with page one.

In one of the more hotly controversial stories of the year (we’re only the second edition of 2018) teachers and staffers of JHS/MS 80 came in the defense of its principal, Emmanuel Polanco. The five-year principal and the school are under investigation for covering up a fight that was never reported. Meantime, its principal and the New York City Department of Education are facing a $2 million lawsuit in a separate case altogether. Read what both sides have to say about the school, and read our editorial on where the paper stands. Coverage of the school continues into pages two and three. Definitely worth a read. We also bring the question of problem schools to our Inquiring Photographer feature by David Greene.

The final months of construction are coming to an end for a building owned and managed by the Doe Fund. The property at the corner of Webster Avenue and East 204th Street will soon be home to an affordable/supportive housing site. Read what residents are drawing concerns on. The Norwood News also breaks down how the 52nd Precinct’s major crime statistics for 2017. It was a good year, but now the precinct has a scandal on its hands. Check out the story confirmed by the NYPD.

Turning to other stories; the powerful state Sen. Jeff Klein is under investigation for allegedly forcing a kiss onto a former female staffer in 2015. Read what Klein’s accuser, Erica Vladimer, has to say about the incident and the powerful Bronx senator. Klein vehemently denies the charge and welcomes an investigation.

Of course, the Norwood News has its regulars–Inquiring Photographer, Neighborhood Notes, Out & About, and Health Check–all intended to make you the smartest Bronx resident in the room.

So check out the latest edition of the Norwood News. Also, send thoughts to me at dcruz@norwoodnews.org. Would love to hear your comments!

Until next time!

David Cruz
Editor, Norwood News