Expansion of New York City’s Red Light Speed Camera Program Signed into Law

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The Office of Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz (A.D. 81) recently announced that Gov. Kathy Hochul has signed the assemblyman’s bill (A.5259A) to expand New York City’s red light camera program significantly. According to the assemblyman, the new legislation, described as a crucial step towards reducing traffic and pedestrian fatalities and increasing road safety, will expand the number of authorized intersections for red light cameras from 150 to 600 across the city.

Manhattan College Holds Town Hall to Push for Closure of “Voluntary Intoxication Exclusion”

By ARIEL PACHECO

Lawmakers and activists gathered together with students and other groups at Manhattan College on April 11 for a town hall to discuss longstanding pending legislation aimed at protecting rape victims who may be voluntarily intoxicated at the time of the rape. The law aims to close a legal loophole in State law that currently helps protect those accused of rape from prosecution in situations where the victim is voluntarily intoxicated.

UPDATE Eric Dinowitz Urges DOE to Provide COVID-19 Testing for All in Schools, City Announces New Measures

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT

Days before New York City public school kids were dismissed for their winter recess, a few council members requested New York City Department of Education (DOE) and New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) to make more COVID-19 testing available at public schools. At a press conference on Dec. 20, originally scheduled to take place in City Hall Park but which was switched to an online event due to the latest surge of the COVID-19 Omicron variant, District 11 city councilman, Eric Dinowitz, pointed to past instances of rising numbers of infections following holidays as a

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT

July 1, 2022, will mark the start of another fiscal year for New York City government, designated as FY 2023 (FY23). Although still seven months away, community boards across the city have started the process of submitting their annual Capital and Expense Budget Requests which inform the borough president, city council, and mayor about the priorities in each community district. Officially known as the Statement of Community Needs and Community Board Budget Requests Fiscal Year 2023, the 37-page document identifies the most pressing concerns in each local community. On Nov. 30, Bronx Community Board 7 (CB7) voted on, and

By SÍLE MOLONEY

There was plenty of holiday cheer to be had on Mosholu Parkway and Bainbridge Avenue on Tuesday, Dec. 7, as the annual, holiday, tree-lighting event, organized by Bronx Community Board 7 (CB7) and Friends of Mosholu Parkland (FOMP), made a welcome return. Amid the ongoing pandemic, and prior to the COVID-19 vaccination roll-out, last year’s tree-lighting event was carried out discreetly, with no formal gathering. This year, the event which took place on the Bedford Park/Norwood border, where masks were required, saw about 200 people gather in front of a large stage set-up specifically for the occasion. They

By DAWN CLANCY

Six years ago, Tina Padilla, 53, had to learn how to walk again after emergency back surgery left her with a metal rod implanted along her spine, but all traces of her painful past were seemingly gone as the fifth-grade teacher danced with a swarm of students to celebrate the return to in-person learning at P.S. 94’s “Welcome Back” bash held on Saturday, Oct. 16, in Norwood. The outdoor event, held on the school’s grounds, located at 3530 Kings College Place, attracted over 150 parents, students, and teachers, all eager to celebrate the school’s reopening after COVID-19 forced

By DAVID GREENE

Proclaiming that New York City was back open, after an almost 18-month long shutdown amid the coronavirus pandemic, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Monday, Sept. 13, that recreation centers across the city were once again open. However, at least one center in the Bronx has remained closed to the public as of Friday, Oct. 1. Speaking at the Sept. 13 press conference, De Blasio told New Yorkers, “We’re coming back, and we’re coming back in so many ways, and it’s not just about work.” He added, “It’s about the ways we have fun, and the ways that

By DAVID GREENE

Having been canceled last year due to prevailing restrictions on large gatherings amid the coronavirus outbreak, the Bronx Columbus Day Parade returned for the 44th time, taking place along Morris Park Avenue in the Morris Park section of the Bronx on Sunday, Oct. 10. Participating in his last parade as Mayor of New York City, Bill de Blasio joined Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark, Assemblyman Michael Benedetto (A.D. 82), Councilman Mark Gjonaj (C.D. 13), and Councilwoman Vanessa Gibson (C.D. 16), Democratic nominee for Bronx borough president and Democratic Female District Leader Irene Estrada (A.D. 80) as they made their

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced on Monday, Sept. 13, that security cameras have been installed at all 472 subway stations across New York City. Cameras were deployed on Sept. 11 at the 472nd station, Broadway station, on the G line, and officials said thousands of cameras have since been deployed systemwide. The initiative to expand security camera coverage was accelerated last year by interim president of New York City Transit, Sarah Feinberg, who identified a new class of camera that could be deployed more quickly, and at much lower cost than traditional cameras. As a result, officials said