Latest Edition of the Norwood News is Out!

By DAVID CRUZ

Dear Fellow Readers, The year’s tenth edition of the Norwood News is out with plenty of great community news stories to dive into. There’s never a dull moment in the Bronx, and we’ve captured a good chunk of it. And as usual, we’ll start with page one! Our front-page story looks at the results of the annual Participatory Budgeting process that’s become a staple for Councilman Andrew Cohen. The results were unveiled on May 6, with some surprising results. Read the story by Emily Suzanne Lever and myself. Inside the cover you’ll find a piece on Assemblyman Michael Blake, who has ties

The $1 Million in Participatory Budgeting Results Are...

By EMILY SUZANNE LEVER and DAVID CRUZ

Norwood Councilman Andrew Cohen announced on May 6 that he’ll be contributing funds for bus countdown clocks, pothole repairs, and technology upgrades for public libraries as per the public through Participatory Budgeting initiative. The projects add up to $600,000, part of the $1 million the public has a direct say in spending through the initiative. The lion’s share, about $400,000, will go towards safety upgrades at Woodlawn Playground, with no specific projects for Norwood, unlike years before, which saw improvements to the Mosholu Public Library. “No projects specific to Norwood were available to vote on,” said Cohen, at a news

NYPD Probes 52nd Pct. Over Claims of Semen Found in a Water Bottle

By By ALONDRA VASQUEZ

Councilman Andrew Cohen is one step closer to achieving his goal in seeing an annex for the 52nd Precinct. The New York City Council’s preliminary budget report recently released states that it looks to allocate $40.9 million for renovations for the Five-Two. Although it has not been signed off yet by Mayor Bill de Blasio, Cohen is hopeful that funding will be able to go through. On his Twitter account Cohen tweeted, “I’m thrilled that today’s preliminary budget report hearing announced considerations for $40.9 million on this project.” He also thanked Council Speaker Corey Johnson for honoring his request. Cohen

By DAVID CRUZ

Norwood’s Councilman is exploring a run for Bronx Borough President, adding to a list of potential suitors for the borough’s top executive post. Councilman Andrew Cohen, the 11th Council District representative covering Norwood, Bedford Park, Woodlawn, Wakefield, Riverdale, Fieldston, Kingsbridge, and Marble Hill, told the Norwood News he’s weighing considering whether to enter a race that’ll open in 2021. He’s laying the ground work in some ways, crisscrossing different parts of the Bronx as a way of understanding its nuances and putting his name out there. “I’m not shy about it. I’m thinking about it,” said Cohen. “We’re approaching the

Norwood Okays Projects With a Stroke of a Pen Thanks to PB

By DAVID CRUZ

Inside tower one at Tracey Towers, volunteers man a small table inside the lobby. It’s the day before Participatory Budgeting—an initiative that allows residents within a Council District to decide how $1 million in capital funds should be used—and some tenants stop to make their voices heard on paper. It’s the afternoon of April 4, and Delores Edwards and Evelyn McDonald, lure some familiar faces to complete ballots featuring the list of Participatory Budget projects residents spent months hammering out. The projects would impact the neighborhood, part of the 11th Council District that’s represented by Councilman Andrew Cohen. For the

Campaign for More Norwood Spots Results in Progress

By DAVID CRUZ, SHA-NIA ALSTON, and ALONDRA VASQUEZ

Parking remains a challenge for Norwood residents and employees who work in the neighborhood. But a campaign led by Councilman Andrew Cohen was able to chip away at one of the top issues that have long plagued the north Bronx community. “I gave them a list, and they made good on it.” Cohen said, to the city Department of Transportation, which moved ahead with the traffic regulation change. It’s at the quiet section on Putnam Place between East Gun Hill Road and Reservoir Oval East where the DOT removed a “No Parking Monday/Friday 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.” restriction, replacing

A Cramped Five-Two Needs an Annex, Says Cohen

By DAVID CRUZ

Space at the 52nd Precinct is busting out at the seams. Sandwiched between both sides of Mosholu Parkway and Webster Avenue, the North Bronx stationhouse has become increasingly tight given the number of police officers assigned there. It’s also evident in the number of cars frequently seen parked along Mosholu Parkway North, drawing ire from residents. The need for extra digs for one of the city’s busiest precincts has been batted around for years. But now Councilman Andrew Cohen, whose district covers the precinct, is attempting to convince NYPD Commissioner James O’Neil to purchase or at the very least lease

By MARTIKA ORNELLA

The Bronx Buccaneers youth football team has regained rights to practice on Saturdays this spring at Williamsbridge Oval Park. An official permit was issued in the Bucs’ name by the city Parks Department’s Bronx office. For the Bucs and the community supporting them, the permit is a welcomed end to their months-long battle to stay at the Oval. In December, the Buccaneers’ coach, Keith Spivey Jr., shared an online petition detailing the Bucs’ removal from the Oval by their former vice president, Richard Hernandez, current commissioner to the Corsairs Football League, the long-time permit holder. The Bucs were to be

Snow Postpones Stagg Meeting at Community Board 7

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT

Snow and ice caused the cancellation of Community Board 7’s Housing, Land Use & Zoning committee meeting of Feb. 12, in which residents from 2985, 2987, and 2999 Webster Ave., owned by the Stagg Group, were prepared for a heated confrontation with the landlord’s representatives. As previously reported in the Norwood News, residents of the three buildings have intensified their complaints over repairs not being tended to, security cameras not working, dirty hallways not being regularly cleaned, and just the overall difficulty of getting the management team to respond. Led by Zxavier Simpson, from 2985 Webster Ave., residents are joining