Cohen: Prospective Five-Two Annex No More

By MICHAEL TURAY

The proposal to convert the old Sam’s Carpeting on Webster Avenue into an annex for the local 52nd Precinct has been scrapped, with speculation the property will be converted to some type of housing. The news comes after Councilman Andrew Cohen committed $40 million to repair the 52nd Precinct and have the NYPD possibly lease the former carpet store that lies diagonally across from the precinct to serve as an annex. The three-story precinct currently houses over 200 police officers, and is overcapacity. At the latest Community Board 7 meeting on Sep. 25, Cohen confirmed that the annex idea will

Bainbridge Avenue Sewer Project on Hold For Several More Weeks

By DAVID CRUZ

Those living or traveling through Norwood will once again have to brace for another round of patience-challenging congestion and temporary bus route changes as the city will finally resume . completion of a massive sewer replacement project in the neighborhood. It was supposed to start this week, but the city has put it off for another few weeks. The project would’ve been completed a lot sooner, with the city placing the holdup on the state’s largest utility, while also pointing to the contractors’ ongoing talks with the MTA over the temporary bus stops. The epicenter of the project will once

The BEDFORD MOSHOLU COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION meets Oct. 2 at 400 E. Mosholu Pkwy. S., Apt. B1, at 8 p.m. For more information, email bedfordmosholu@verizon.net. COMMUNITY BOARD 7 committee meetings are held on the following dates at 6:30 p.m. at 229A E. 204th St. unless otherwise noted: Environment & Sanitation Committee meets on Oct. 1; Education, Youth & Libraries meets on Oct. 2; Traffic & Transportation Committee meets on Oct. 3; Parks, Recreation & Cultural Affairs Committee meets on Oct. 9; and Public Safety & Quality of Life Committee meets on Oct. 10. For more information, call (718) 933-5650.

Vagrancy in Whalen Park Raises Concerns

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT

In July 2018, Whalen Park was reopened amid fanfare with family members of the park’s namesake present. At a cost of $1.8 million, Councilman Andrew Cohen said at the time, “Today we have a park that’s as good as any park in the city.” Now, some residents are worrying over activities inside the park that go beyond just “hanging out,” with some fears the playground may revert back to the days when vagrancy was such a normal occurrence. Indeed, the park had been such an eyesore that it left then-Deputy Borough President Aurelia Greene to declare it was once “plagued

A Bengali Womens’ Empowerment Group Walks A Tightrope in Norwood

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Sanjana Khan and Ayesha Akhtar grew up just a block apart in Norwood. Both their families hail from the city of Sylhet in eastern Bangladesh on the Surma River. Yet, it took a Bronx Narratives event last August at the Bronx Museum of the Arts for the two to finally meet. A month later, they founded LAAL, a non-profit group supporting Bengali women in Norwood live healthy, engaged, joyful lives. The two women spent June 23 “womanning” the group’s table stand at the “Bangla Bazzar Street Fair”, which took place at Decatur Avenue and East 204th Street in Norwood. Together, with

In Aftermath of Unsanctioned July 4th Parties- Trash, Lots of It

By CHRISTY RAE AMMONS

Despite signs banning open flames at certain green spaces across the Bronx, every year on the July 4th, for at least five years, ashes, bottles, and leftover trash are found along Mosholu Parkway the day after the holiday. The grassy strip that’s lined with benches on either side is home to several dozen trees, which the Parks Department is mandated to protect from fires. Yet despite several community meetings, and a history of complaints from Community Board 7 urging the Parks Department and NYPD to step up its ‘no barbecue’ enforcement ahead of the agency’s busiest time of the year,

CB7 Backs Proposed Bike-Friendly Changes to Southern Boulevard

By CHRISTY RAE AMMONS

Community Board 7 voted to support a plan by the city Department of Transportation (DOT) that would overhaul traffic patterns on the northbound lanes of Southern Boulevard. As part of its last pieces of business before going on its summer break, the board voted to send a letter to the DOT backing the project. The plan dubbed Southern Boulevard Traffic Calming and Protected Bike Lanes Safety Project looks to narrow the northbound roadway, and add a two-way protected bike lane. The hope is to discourage speeding and make the road safer for pedestrians and cyclists. News of the board’s backing

CB7 Sees Mix of New and Veteran Members to Executive Dais

By DAVID CRUZ and SÍLE MOLONEY

Community Board 7 saw a shift in civic power, as Jean Hill, who presided as chair of the northwest Bronx board, was voted out in favor of 31-year-old Norwood resident Emmanuel Martinez, a relative newcomer to the board. Several familiar faces have stayed on the executive dais, likely adding a mix of fresh ideas and institutional knowledge. Martinez currently serves as chair of CB7’s Veterans’ Committee, having recently hosted the annual Veterans’ Day Brunch, now in its third year. It’s unclear what the vote tally was as CB7 continues to ensure the proper vote count was met but 33 board

Following Through on a Promise, Norwood Shelter to Get Peace Officers

By JOSE A. GIRALT

Last July, the Jerome Avenue Men’s Shelter (JAMS), managed by BronxWorks, opened at 3600 Jerome Ave. a block from the Woodlawn station of the 4 train. The location was chosen after Norwood parents, local officials, and Community Board 7 (CB7) protested the original site on Webster Avenue across from PS/MS 20, a K-8 school on the other side of Norwood. At the latest meeting of Community Board 7’s Housing, Land Use & Zoning Committee, members learned of the addition of a permanent clinic within the one-year-old facility. News of the expansion drew concerns, even surprising the committee, given how no