David Cruz

Is Cabrera Blurring Legislative Commitment With Campaigning?

CM Fernando Cabrera
By DAVID CRUZ
It’s something of an open secret: political incumbency serving as an entryway for incumbents to poke into matters happening within the district they seek to represent in the near future. And it’s a controversial tact that Councilman Fernando Cabrera, the 14th Council District representative, appears to have adopted, with one questionable trick in his employ. Cabrera is now seeking the 14th Congressional District seat occupied by Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez who, given her massive campaign war chest and national popularity with uber-left Democrats (Ocasio-Cortez is now in Iowa to campaign with Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders), gives her a well-defined competitive


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Body Cam Videos Reveal Moment That Lead to Fatal 52nd Precinct Shooting in October

Body Cam Videos Reveal Moment That Lead to Fatal 52nd Precinct Shooting in October
By DAVID CRUZ
Three months after a sergeant from the 52nd Precinct fatally shot a Yonkers man following a traffic stop, the NYPD released body cam footage of the incident leading to the moments that went from jovial to chaotic in a matter of seconds. The videos, released on Jan. 24 and posted onto YouTube, shows three angles recorded by the body cameras worn by the sergeant, identified as Sgt. Jonathan Rivera, and two officers, Edward Barrett and Michelle Almanzar, on Oct. 17, 2019 just before 3 p.m. The three had pulled over Allen Feliz, who police say was driving his 2018 Volkswagen


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In Stunner, Bronx BP Ruben Diaz Jr. Withdraws From Mayor’s Race

Bronx Projects Take Center Stage in State of the City
By DAVID CRUZ
The chances of the Bronx seeing one of its own run City Hall–and being the city’s first Latino mayor–have come to an end. Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. announced he is withdrawing his run for Mayor of New York City and not seeking any other elected title when his current tenure ends in 2021, an unexpected move as many believed his entire career was built for a mayoral run. The news, first reported by The New York Times, sent shockwaves throughout the Bronx political landscape. Diaz Jr. cited his need for spending more time with his family as a


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As Blake Gets Backing from 1199SEIU and 32BJ, Mark-Viverito Endorsed By Former Employer

As Blake Gets Backing from 1199SEIU and 32BJ, Mark-Viverito Endorsed By Former Employer
In his quest for the 15th Congressional District race, Assemblyman Michael Blake picked up the endorsement of the city’s biggest labor unions. Meantime, his rival, former Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito received the endorsement from a political action committee where she once served as interim president. The two unions, 1199SEIU and 32Bj, endorsed Blake for the South Bronx seat, with 1199SEIU president George Gresham telling the New York Daily News him an “advocate for healthcare, jobs, wages, social justice, and equity for Bronxites.” The union has heavy influence in New York City politics as it has 19,000 members in the district Blake looks


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Andy Byford, NYC Subway Chief Who Championed Bronx Bus Redesign, Resigns

Andy Byford, NYC Subway Chief Who Championed Bronx Bus Redesign, Resigns
By DAVID CRUZ
Andy Byford, the New York City Transit Authority chief credited for helping to turn around the subway system while overseeing a plan to revamp the Bronx bus network, has resigned today. His resignation comes two years after he signed on. Byford’s resignation was first reported by Politico. At today’s MTA Board meeting, Byford said a few words of thanks. “I’d like to say a big thank you to Governor [Andrew] Cuomo for giving me this opportunity, but also Governor Cuomo and the legislature for having the courage to pass congestion pricing, but also get the funds that I know will


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New West Bronx Housing Executive Director Looks to Build Legacy Started by Predecessor

New West Bronx Housing Executive Director Looks to Build Legacy Started by Predecessor
By DAVID CRUZ
As Sally Dunford was preparing for retirement as executive director of West Bronx Housing, a job she’s held on to for 28 years, there was already someone she had in mind to succeed her. It didn’t require any sifting of resumes or recommendations, but an understanding of who already demonstrated the capability in doing the work. It came from Joshua Stephenson, the former constituent services director for Councilman Andrew Cohen, who had worked with Dunford over the last two years to settle housing grievances for tenants living within Cohen’s 11th Council District. The work was already familiar to him, and


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Inquiring Photographer: New Legislative Season Begins

Inquiring Photographer: New Legislative Season Begins
By DAVID GREENE
With state lawmakers from the Bronx back to work for the new legislative session, we asked readers what are some of the current issues our local politicians should be addressing? Well, believe it or not, there is still a lot of racism here still. And it’s not just white people, it’s Africans and Dominicans; so it’s not a white thing. It’s all the races. And they’re (the NYPD) are doing the stop and search again that they were ordered not to do. Yes, they’re starting it again. You can thank [President] Trump for all of this and half the people


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Police: Suspect Shoots Victim in the Back in Bedford Park For Refusing to be Robbed

Police: Robbery Suspect Shoots Victim in the Back For Refusing to be Robbed
By DAVID CRUZ
The NYPD needs help tracking a suspect they say shot a 25-year-old man in the back after the victim refused to be a robbed. The incident happened on Jan. 18 at the corner of Grand Concourse and East 202nd Street just before 10 p.m. in Bedford Park, according to police. The victim was in that area when he was approached by a man demanding what police calls “his property.” When the victim refused and walked off, the suspected perpetrator shot him, according to police. The 52nd Precinct is now investigating the shooting, which sent the victim to St. Barnabas Hospital


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