Even before Andrew Sandler was to officially become the new district manager for Community Board 7, his schedule was beset with meetings focusing on issues impacting the neighborhoods CB7 covers.

“I’m meeting, reading, and going to meetings,” said Sandler, 29, who begins his first day as DM on Feb. 8. He represents the fourth district manager at the Board since 2012.

It’s been a non-stop lead up to the job essentially tied to keeping the pulse of the Board’s coverage area, namely Norwood, Bedford Park, Kingsbridge Heights, Fordham and University Heights. He’s been doing his homework so far, even reading the City Charter to get a full understanding of his role. “I would think it would be a natural thing to do,” said Sandler. “I want to know that I’m doing it right.”

He was unanimously elected as the new DM at the Board’s Jan. 19 general board meeting following two interviews. Since then, Sandler has put in time to meet with members and the Board’s chair, Adaline Walker-Santiago. “We’ve been working together already and he hasn’t been on payroll,” said Walker-Santiago.

A Bronx-bred native, Sandler grew up in Riverdale. He graduated from Manhattan College with a degree in political science after flirting with the idea of working as a comedian or working in film.

He interned at Congressman Eliot Engel’s office, and later with former Councilman Oliver Koppell shortly after working on his campaign. Appointed director of community affairs, Sandler spent his time at Koppell’s office haranguing city agencies on behalf of residents within Koppell’s 11th Council District.

Sandler later worked for Koppell’s successor, Councilman Andrew Cohen, working as the district’s director of community affairs and constituent services, fielding calls and bringing community complaints to city agencies. His position bore some similarities to that of a district manager, paid city administrators that often serve as go-betweens for the city and community members.

“I don’t really feel like I’m moving on to a far off, distant land. It’s pretty much in my wheelhouse already,” said Sandler, who admits some aspects to his job will be a learning experience. He has laid out some priorities, which include an equitable spread of affordable housing across the board and pushing for the development of the Kingsbridge National Ice Center.

Sandler replaces Dustin Engelken, who resigned from the position after his wife received a job opportunity overseas. Many members claimed the timing of Engelken’s resignation came as he developed a fractious relationship with current CB7 chair Walker-Santiago. Engelken had replaced Socrates Caba, who also resigned amid Board procedures he called “unsatisfactory.” Engelken and Caba were on the job for more than a year before leaving.

But Sandler isn’t dwelling on the Board’s past. “I just want to move into the future,” he said.

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Welcome to the Norwood News, a bi-weekly community newspaper that primarily serves the northwest Bronx communities of Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights. Through our Breaking Bronx blog, we focus on news and information for those neighborhoods, but aim to cover as much Bronx-related news as possible. Founded in 1988 by Mosholu Preservation Corporation, a not-for-profit affiliate of Montefiore Medical Center, the Norwood News began as a monthly and grew to a bi-weekly in 1994. In September 2003 the paper expanded to cover University Heights and now covers all the neighborhoods of Community District 7. The Norwood News exists to foster communication among citizens and organizations and to be a tool for neighborhood development efforts. The Norwood News runs the Bronx Youth Journalism Heard, a journalism training program for Bronx high school students. As you navigate this website, please let us know if you discover any glitches or if you have any suggestions. We’d love to hear from you. You can send e-mails to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org or call us anytime (718) 324-4998.