Cohen Reiterates Message to Prepare for Further Restrictions in December, Lists Available Help

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Councilman Andy Cohen has reiterated recent messages by the mayor and the governor that tighter restrictions may be imposed in December to curb the spread of the coronavirus. “This is a difficult and challenging time for our educators, students, and families as the City is dealing with the unfortunate reality of having to close our public school’s to in-person learning once again,” Cohen said via a newsletter on Friday, Nov. 20. “As families transition into full-time remote learning, please know there are resources available. Please reach out to my office if you need help accessing meals, learning devices, or connecting

By DAVID GREENE

A number of different events are scheduled throughout November to honor and assist America’s veterans, ranging from health seminars to legal discussions covering veterans’ rights. Last week, local, elected officials gathered at Woodlawn Cemetery for the annual, wreath-laying ceremony at the monument dedicated to those who served and died in World War I, the so-called “war to end all wars.” Unlike years past, this year, the 25 or so attendees at the event wore face masks, had plenty of hand sanitizer available, and remained socially distant during the proceedings, hyper-aware of the rising coronavirus cases reported across the

By David Greene

For approximately one year, Kossuth Playground, located at East Mosholu Parkway North, between Kossuth Avenue and Steuben Avenue, has been closed for renovations. Norwood residents had said the park was in dire need of an overhaul. On Friday, Nov. 6, further to the completion of a $3.8 million renovation project, local officials held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark its reopening. New York City parks commissioner, Mitchell Silver, and Bronx parks commissioner, Iris Rodriguez, were joined, for the occasion, by Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., State assembly members, Nathalia Fernandez and Jeffrey Dinowitz, Councilman and recently elected Bronx supreme

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The following is an overview of some of the more pertinent, local election results released so far in the Northwest Bronx general election races (as well as a few others) held on Election Day, Nov. 3, 2020. Bronx Judicial Election Updates Wanda Negron won with 54.5 percent of the vote in the general election for New York City Civil Court Bronx 2nd Municipal Court District. There was no incumbent. She previously defeated Linda Poust Lopez in the primary.The count for other Bronx judicial races, including three seats in the Supreme Court 12th Judicial District race has not yet been finalized.

By SÍLE MOLONEY

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio signed into law a package of bills on Monday, Sept. 28, that will expand protections for workers, consumers, and commercial tenants. The first bill, which was sponsored by local Councilman Andrew Cohen, extends and expands the City’s paid safe and sick leave law to reach more workers. The other two bills reinforce and extend protections for commercial tenants, and protect the jobs of hotel workers. “Today is about justice for hard working New Yorkers,” said the mayor. “From expanding paid sick leave, to protecting our commercial tenants and hotel workers, these bills

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Dionel Then has withdrawn from the 11th City Council District race in the Northwest Bronx and is endorsing candidate, Dan Padernacht, for the position, it was announced on Aug. 31. The 11th district comprises the neighborhoods of Bedford Park, Kingsbridge, Norwood, Riverdale, Van Cortlandt Village, Wakefield, and Woodlawn, and the seat is currently held by Councilman Andrew Cohen. The news means there are now five remaining candidates in the race, as reported recently by Norwood News. Marcos Sierra officially filed last month to join Eric Dinowitz, Jessica Haller, Padernacht and Abigail Martin. In a press release coinciding with

By SÍLE MOLONEY

With the announcement of Councilman Andrew Cohen’s nomination to the Bronx Supreme Court on Aug. 10, the race to fill his District 11 City Council seat just got a whole lot more urgent. Currently, there are six candidates vying to replace Cohen, with five having formally declared their intent with the City’s Campaign Finance Board. Jessica Haller, a tech entrepreneur, environmentalist and mother of four, announced her candidacy in late January, expecting at that point to spend much of her time in one of her favorite places – outside – knocking on doors. When the coronavirus pandemic hit

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT

The line of people with rolling carts and hand trucks waiting to receive boxes of food filled the sidewalk of Hull Avenue. It started at the intersection of East 204th Street, and on its southern tip ended just short of East Mosholu Parkway North. Although the food event was scheduled to last an hour, the boxes were gone in less than 30 minutes. Promoted as a Food Box Giveaway and spearheaded by Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez, the outdoor event highlighted an ongoing worrisome issue in Norwood: food insecurity. “The turnout today was great,” Fernandez said. “A lot of people

By SÍLE MOLONEY

It was not the high-profile nature of Ghislaine Maxwell’s arrest for various, alleged sex trafficking crimes on July 2 that shocked the world. After all, we’d grown accustomed to seeing various photo evidence, interviews with her accusers, and documentaries purporting to describe her relationship with the late Jeffrey Epstein. More unsettling to some people, perhaps, was realizing just how ordinary the former girlfriend and alleged co-conspirator was. She is described invariably as funny, intelligent and charming. She may well be all of those things, and of course Maxwell denies all charges against her, but some would say that therein