UPDATE Gustavo Rivera Laments Assembly Did Not Pass “Coverage for All” Health Care Bill

By SÍLE MOLONEY

State Sen. Gustavo Rivera (S.D. 33), chair of the State senate health committee, has shared his disappointment that his “Coverage for All” health care bill did not pass the State assembly, despite having recently passed the State senate, an advancement which had marked a major milestone in his long-term and ultimate goal of passing the NY Health Act. “I am incredibly disappointed that Coverage for All did not pass the assembly despite the herculean efforts of Assembly Member Gonzalez-Rojas and our group of dedicated advocates,” Rivera said in a June 22nd press release. “Together, we had to fight

By SÍLE MOLONEY

There were emotional scenes in Albany late Friday night as State elected officials who supported the passage of the Clean Slate Act saw the new bill move one step closer to becoming law as it passed the New York State legislature in both houses. It now awaits signature by New York State Gov. Kathy Hochul. The Clean Slate Act establishes the automatic sealing of certain conviction records after a specific period of time for individuals who have completed their sentences and meet eligibility requirements, according to State officials. They said the Act will help prevent discrimination against formerly incarcerated New

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Bronx Assembly Member Karines Reyes, R.N. (A.D. 87) and Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris (S.D. 12) announced on Friday, June 9, that the State Assembly passed their new legislation (S.7394/A.7632) to expand early voting options to include an early vote by mail choice for all New Yorkers. The legislation passed the State Senate earlier this week and now heads to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s desk for approval. “We have seen how important it is to have access to mail-in voting,” said Reyes, who broadly represents the Bronx neighborhoods of Castle Hill, Unionport, Parkchester, West Farms and Little Yemen. “This critical

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Police have launched a murder inquiry following the death of a 42-year-old man in Morris Heights in the early hours of Saturday morning. Police said that officers from the 46th Precinct responded to a 911 call on Saturday, June 10, at around 4.46 a.m. regarding a man who had been shot in front of 1538 University Avenue. “Upon arrival, officers observed a 42-year-old male with gunshot wounds to the right arm and torso,” a police spokesperson said. “EMS responded to the location and transported the victim to NYC Health & Hospitals/Lincoln, where he was pronounced deceased. There are

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The discovery of the semi-decomposed body of a woman at the end of a quiet residential block in the Wakefield section of The Bronx has alarmed local residents and launched a police inquiry. An NYPD spokesperson said that on Friday, June 9, at around 12.16 p.m., police from the 47th Precinct responded to a 911 call of “an aided” [person] at the rear of 4438 Edson Avenue. “Upon arrival, officers observed an unconscious and unresponsive female, semi-decomposed inside a plastic bin,” the spokesperson said. “EMS responded and pronounced the female deceased at the scene. The City’s medical examiner

By SÍLE MOLONEY

An NYPD attempted traffic stop and subsequent vehicle pursuit apparently resulted in the pursued driver attempting an illegal U-turn in the Norwood section of The Bronx which, in turn, resulted in a multiple-car collision on Saturday night. An NYPD spokesperson said that on [Saturday] June 3, at 10.35 p.m. in the vicinity of 2177 Webster Avenue, police officers driving a police vehicle with lights and siren on heading southbound on Webster Avenue were attempting to conduct a traffic stop after seeing a speeding motorist, when a 2012 Scion made an illegal U-turn from the southbound lane bus stop to

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Another e-bike battery fire, this time inside an e-bike store in the Norwood section of The Bronx, resulted in no injuries the FDNY said. As reported, federal officials recently recalled certain Chinese-manufactured, lithium-ion batteries as a safety measure, while New York City Mayor Eric Adams and other elected officials recently devised a new plan in attempts to curb e-bike fires caused by lithium-ion batteries. Such fires across the City and country have become a regular occurrence in recent years. Department officials said they were alerted to a report of smoke at Electric Transporters e-bike store, located at 275 East

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The Mayor’s Office of Community Affairs provided New Yorkers with an update on Thursday on the unprecedented event the city is facing as a result of smoke coming from Canadian wildfires. At 5 p.m. on Wednesday, June 8, the Air Quality Index hit 484, meaning “hazardous” the highest level for health concern on the index level, City officials said, adding that there was potential for conditions to significantly improve on Thursday. “We are encouraging New Yorkers to stay home and indoors today, whenever possible,” a City representative said on Thursday. “All New Yorkers should limit outdoor activity to the

By SÍLE MOLONEY & DAVID GREENE

A construction worker fell 30 feet from the 4th floor of a construction site in the Wakefield section of The Bronx and has been hospitalized, according to NYC Department of Buildings (DOB). Department officials added that safety violations were identified at the site run by BE Bronx Builders LLC, which is owned by the Stagg Group. The latter, along with Mark Stagg and BE Bronx Builders LLC, was hit with a lawsuit last week by three construction workers burned in a separate Bronx construction accident on May 15 in Williamsbridge. DOB officials said the latest accident in Wakefield occurred

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Serving Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights

UPDATE Gustavo Rivera Laments Assembly Did Not Pass “Coverage for All” Health Care Bill

Clean Slate Act Awaits Signature by Governor to Become Law

UPDATE “Early Vote by Mail Act” to Enable New Yorkers to Use Mail-In Ballots for Early Voting

UPDATE Morris Heights: NYPD Launch Homicide Investigation after Man 42 is Fatally Shot

Wakefield: Police Investigate Discovery of Semi-Decomposed Body of Woman Found in Wooded Area

Norwood: Police Chase Ends with Illegal U-Turn Causing Multiple-Vehicle Crash

Norwood: E-Bike Battery Fire Closes E-Bike Store Temporarily, Results in No Injuries

UPDATE Air Quality Advisory Remains in Effect Through Friday due to Canadian Wild Fires

UPDATE Wakefield: Worker Falls 30 Ft, DOB Issues Violations to Entity Already Sued by Burned Bronx Workers