Bronx News Roundup, Aug. 25

Weather: First an earthquake, now Irene. The category 3 hurricane that's currently dumping rain on the Bahamas is headed towards the northeastern U.S., though exactly where and when it will hit is still up in the air (though most are predicting it'll be in New York sometime Sunday). For those interested: WNYC has this city map of flood zones, the New York Times has a live hurricane tracker feature, and the city has released a brochure on storm-preparedness.

As for the current weather, expect rain and thunderstorms most of the afternoon.

Story of the Day: Fordham Prof Turns Hip-Hop
A history professor at Fordham University raps--yes, raps--to get his students' attention on lessons about gentrification and affordable rents. Mark Naison, aka "Notorious PhD" (cute!) says he is worried the Bronx will eventually turn into an expensive hipster-haven like Brooklyn and parts of Harlem.

Watch the video below. Naison's rap starts around the 2:20 mark, complete with a beatboxer accompaniment. Awesome.


Quick Hits:
Now that the criminal case against Dominique Strauss-Kahn has been dropped, accuser Nafissatou Diallo's lawyers are focusing their efforts on the case they've filed against the former IMF chief in Bronx Civil Court.

The Bronx's Dominican population has jumped 81 percent over the last decade.

A judge has given the Soundview Healthcare Network, the clinic owned and run by indicted former Sen. Pedro Espada Jr., an extended deadline--Soundview was ordered banned from the State's Medicaid program starting Sept. 12, but were just granted a stay until at least the next court date on the 19th.

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz is demanding the DOE release all environmental testing reports and other data related to PS 51, or the Bronx New School in Bedford Park, which was found to be contaminated with high levels of a hazardous chemical. 

What a great reward for being studious: Bronx Little Leaguers with good attendance records and at least a B school grade average will get to compete in the Borough President's Cup at Yankee Stadium.

Bronx cops are still waiting--anxiously--for indictments to drop from the District Attorney's office in the much talked about ticket-fixing probe.

Low-income neighborhoods are home to more soda drinkers than affluent ones, a new report finds. In the South Bronx, almost have of residents report drinking at least one soda a day (earlier this year, Bloomberg proposed banning the use of food stamps to buy soda and other sugary beverages, a plan that was met with much debate).

Congrats to Riverdale Press reporter and former Norwood News intern Graham Kates, who tied the knot last weekend.

Bronx Weekend News Roundup, July 25

Weather: Finally, some heat wave relief. It's a breezy 79 degrees right now, with a chance of thunderstorms predicted for later. Temperatures will climb back up again tomorrow but won't be as brutal as this weekend's.

Story of the Day: Bronx is Booming
The cover story on this week's issue of Crain's New York Business takes a look at the number of positive economic indicators happening in the Bronx right now, and argues the borough is in better shape than it's been in years. Booms in job growth, wage increases, an influx of new immigrants and affordable housing are all marking a shift in the Bronx, Crain's Daniel Massey writes.

“There was a time when people were running away from this borough,” local developer Radame Perez told the paper. “But that's an old story.”

Quick Hits:
Same-sex marriages officially became legal in New York yesterday. We'll have an on-the-scene account of weddings at the Bronx County Courthouse for you shortly.

Charles Himple, a chef who works at Red Lobster's Bronx location in Co-Op City, will star in a commercial as part of the seafood chain's new marketing campaign that features actual employees.

Bronx News Roundup, July 19

Weather: keep the sunblock handy and the AC cranked on--another hot and sunny one today, with temperatures in the low-90s. The heat will continue through the rest of the week, hitting a peak on Friday.

Story of the Day: Former Council Speaker Turns Bronx Builder
Today's Wall Street Journal takes a closer look at Gifford Miller, a former City Council speaker and one-time mayoral hopeful who, according to the story, "has no interest in ever returning to politics." His new career path--real estate--has brought him to the Bronx, where his firm is attempting to rezone a swath of land  in West Farms/Crotona Park to build a massive affordable housing complex.

We wrote about the $400 million project, which will consist of 10 high-rise buildings around the Cross Bronx and Sheridan Expressways, in the June issue of the Tremont Tribune, and some readers seemed wary of the plan. Read more here. 

Quick Hits:
The family of a 13-year-old Bronx girl say they will sue the Department of Education, claiming the girl was repeatedly raped by a computer repairman employed at her Harlem school.

Bronx Events: Conference for Parents of English Language Learners

The Department of Education is hosting a conference tomorrow aimed at the parents of English Language Learners students that will focus on preparing for college. "College and Career Readiness: The 21st Century Includes You," will run from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Fordham University's Keating Hall.

From the DOE: "Today's young people need to become 21st century thinkers, able to recognize and understand the challenges and opportunities they will encounter and the complex environment in which they will arise. Encourage the families of your students to attend this conference to learn what they can do to help prepare their children for post-secondary education and careers in the exciting but challenging world they will face."

Translation services and complimentary breakfast and lunch will be provided. For more info, call the DOE's Division of Students with Disabilities and ELLs at 212-374-6072.

For other Bronx events taking place this week, check out our community calendar, below.

Editor's note: What did we miss? Send details to bronxnewsnetwork[at]gmail.com.

Bronx News Roundup, Dec. 9

Fordham University's basketball team beat out Manhattan College last night in the "Battle of the Bronx."

As BxNN reporter James Fergusson pointed out yesterday, Sen. Pedro Espada told supporters via Facebook in September that he'll "continue being a senator through December 31st," though he's been MIA in Albany the past few weeks (see here and here.)

A woman was convicted yesterday for killing a 91-year-old woman during a robbery in the Bronx in 2003. Nadine Panton, 34, also of the Bronx, faces 25 years to life in prison in a sentencing later this month.

A 48-year-old Bronx man was arrested and charged with carjacking and stealing $100,000 worth of merchandise from a jewelry store in Pelham Manor.

The city is trying to shut down a crackhouse on Hunts Point Avenue by suing under the public nuisance law. Neighbors and police say the building, near the Bruckner Expressway in Hunts Point, has been a problem drug spot for years.

Village Voice reporter Elizabeth Dwoskin eloquently recalls the worst bathroom she's ever seen in her years on the housing beat--one in a neglected apartment building on Lorillard Place.

More outrage over the DOE's plans to close 10 Bronx schools next fall.

Bronx residents, and those across the city, are having a cold winter--over the past two months there have been 71,000 complaint calls to 311 from tenants who have no heat in their buildings.

A Bronx driver accused of killing a pregnant woman when he lost control of his van in Manhattan last year will face jail time.

The Riverdale Press takes a closer look at Londell Byrd, the 18-year-old Riverdale teen who was shot and killed in Soundview this past weekend. Byrd was "well-liked" in the community and was going to Pace University in the fall.

Ed. note: Start a discussion about any of these stories, or anything else you want to talk about in our forum. Highlight problems in your neighborhood with our SeeClickFix feature. And find out what's happening in our constantly-updated events calendar.

Bronx Weekend News Roundup, Dec. 6

Just saw a snow flurry outside of our window here across from Williamsbridge Oval Park. It appears the Bronx is unlikely to get more than that today.

Tragedy struck this weekend on Saturday afternoon when Londell Byrd, 18, a Mt. St. Michael Academy student who was planning on attending Pace University next year, was shot and killed in Soundview. Police and family say they identified a suspect in the case, 18-year-old Jimmy Delgado, who they say got into a fight with Byrd on Friday. Delgado allegedly came up to Byrd offering peace before opening fire and shooting Byrd in the torso.

In other Bronx-related crime news, police say a man who might be responsible for the so-called "ice-pick muggings" in Co-op City and Manhattan may be in custody in New Jersey.

One of the five suspects charged in the Morris Heights anti-gay hate crime attacks  pleaded not guilty on Friday, saying he was home after work when the attacks took place.

Residents were forced to evacuate a Highbridge-area apartment building after the fire department discovered it only had one working exit.

Bronxite Mariangela Patrone, whose family owns a gift shop on Arthur Avenue, won a Rockefeller Center gift-wrapping contest, earning a $10,000 prize. The Daily News has video of Patrone in creative action:

A Bronx teacher searches for a place to buy.

Photos of world-renowned guitarist Jose Feliciano's performance at the Bronx's Lehman Center on Saturday.

Former Fordham University quarterback John Skelton, a rookie with the Arizona Cardinals, threw his first passes in the National Football League yesterday. Skelton, the first Fordham player drafted into the NFL since 1968, looked decent in his debut and may become floundering Cardinals new starter.

In other Bronx-related sports news, Syracuse will play Kansas St. in the inaugural Pinstripes Bowl at Yankee Stadium on Dec. 30.

A wake service was held for Juan Marte, 46, who died in a fire that engulfed a Mt. Eden apartment building on Nov. 27.

A Bronx woman was sentenced to three years for stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars in gold and other valuables in Virginia. 


Ed. note: Start a discussion about any of these stories, or anything else you want to talk about in our reader's forum. Highlight problems in your neighborhood with our SeeClickFix feature. And find out what's happening in our constantly-updated events calendar.

Talk and Watch Football in the Bronx on Monday Nights

Looking for a place to watch Monday Night Football in the Bronx? Well, the Applebee's in Fordham Plaza is now hosting a weekly Quarterback Coaches Show every Monday night at 7:30 p.m.

The show, a joint venture between WFUV radio, the Fordham Athletic Department and Applebee's, will feature an interview with Fordham head football coach Tom Massella and a couple of Rams players. They'll discuss the previous week's game (on Saturday Fordham, 2-5 on the year, lost to Yale, 7-6) and talk about upcoming contests.

You can also listen to the show on WFUV.

Bronx (Weekend) News Roundup, Sept. 27

I thought this would be a more appropriate title to our Monday roundups, where we try to corral everything from Friday afternoon to this morning. As always, if we miss something, let us know in the comments section or send us an e-mail at bronxnewsnetwork@gmail.com. Enjoy. 

A gigantic steel piece by renowned sculpture artist Richard Serra sits in a south Bronx crane yard. The piece, which could be worth millions, is essentially just sitting there rusting. Some intrepid art geeks have made trips to see it over the past few years, while Henry Bubbins, a die-hard advocate for waterfront access in the Bronx, wants it to be part of a sculpture garden near where it now sits, in Port Morris.

On Friday afternoon, dozens of students went home late after police locked down a school bus yard to look for a suspect who had allegedly robbed and shot a man in Hunts Point. 

Massive service changes over the weekend, including the shutdown of the 1 Train, led to mass confusion throughout the city.

An assistant teacher at the Bronx's PS 70 has been very candid about her former life as a stripper and prostitute, publishing accounts of her exploits online. The teacher, Melissa Petro, was put on administrative duties pending an investigation by the DOE.

Police are now saying the bloody death of a Nicaraguan diplomat, Cesar Mercado, who was found in his Mt. Hope apartment with bloody stab wounds to his throat and torso, may have been a suicide. Gawker first reported the hints of suicide -- Mercado recently found out he was HIV positive and he had pin-prick-sized (testing type) punctures in his neck -- on Saturday.

Connecticut investor Mario Gabelli donated $25 million to Fordham University. It's the largest gift in the Bronx school's 169-year history and the undergraduate business college will be renamed in his honor.

Newscaster Tom Brokaw says he sees eerie similarities between the crash he was involved in last year and the crash that claimed the life a stranded motorist on Bruckner Expressway  on Friday. In both cases, the crash led to someone being pitched over the edge of the expressway, a drop of some 75 feet.

The Bronx Science boys soccer squad destroyed Lehman H.S. 4-0 and remains undefeated this season. Meanwhile, Bronx Science's equally un-vanquished girls soccer team beat JFK 9-0.

Fordham Students Help Green Reservoir Oval Park

About 20 incoming Fordham University Freshman labored on a hill in Reservoir Oval Park on Friday afternoon. The students are among 160 incoming Freshman volunteers who are participating in Urban Plunge, a three day, pre-orientation community service program aimed at introducing students to the community outside of campus.

The students, helped by Mosholu Preservation Corporation (MPC)park employees, planted grass seedlings along a hillside on the north side of the park after they raked an irrigation system meant to prevent grass and mud erosion during rain storms.

The students volunteered earlier in the day at the NYC Food Bank before coming out to the park to plant grass and pull out overgrown weeds from around the Oval. The Urban Plunge Program and MPC have a long standing relationship and annually have incoming Fordham students volunteering throughout the park.

Bronx News Roundup, Aug. 17

A Bronx cop-turned-pest exterminator claims many exterminators tell homeowners they have bedbugs when they don't. A single bedbug treatment can cost thousands of dollars. According to a new poll, one in ten New Yorkers has had a run-in with the bloodsuckers.

U.S. News and World Report has released its annual list of the nation’s best colleges and universities. Fordham came in 56th.

The father of a Bronx teen shot dead in Williamsbridge at the weekend believes his son's death may have been the result of a gang initiation.

Police in Yonkers are hunting for three men who stabbed and beat a Bronx man last Friday.

The Bronx Zoo has been leading an effort to save an almost extinct species of toad.

With help from The Fortune Society, an organization that assists the formerly incarcerated, a one-time crack addict has landed an apartment in Norwood, a job, and is heading back to school.

The Bronx Democrats have seized control of the city Board of Elections, according to the Daily News' Bob Kappstatter in his weekly column.

Parents and students angry at a falloff in text scores disrupted a Panel for Educational Policy meeting in Manhattan last night. At one stage, an 11-year-old boy from the Bronx climbed onto the stage and had to be escorted off by security.

From last week's City Limits, the city's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is expanding its efforts to clean up the East River and Long Island Sound.

State Senator Pedro Espada, Jr., who has long history of flouting campaign finance laws, neglected to report contributions and expenditures for a committee formed on his behalf last year.

From a couple of weeks ago: a 13-year-old girl from the Bronx has her eyes on the 2016 and 2020 Olympics. With a personal best of 12.01 seconds in the 100 meters, Lauren Lyons is the fastest athlete in the country among girls her age. Oh, and she excels academically, too.

Bronx News Roundup, July 20

A 15-year-old Bronx boy was shot and killed in a shooting Monday morning in Brooklyn.

In the wake of this weekend's drownings, the Times takes a closer look at the Bronx River and its re-emergence in the public eye in recent years.

The part of the river where the two teens drowned--near the Bronx Zoo, in West Farms--is a popular swimming spot, according to the Daily News.

Police are looking for a man who raped and assaulted a 79-year-old woman in the elevator of her Westchester Square apartment building. State Senator Ruben Diaz, Sr. is holding a press conference today at 1 p.m., at Benson Street and East Tremont Avenue, to rally for the community's involvement in catching the assailant, according to press release sent this morning.

Dan Cantor, Executive Director of the Working Families Party, writes that the best way to change Albany is to vote Pedro Espada out of office. His party has already endorsed challenger Gustavo Rivera.

The Daily News Bob Kappstatter has more on this race in his weekly column. We'll be posting more details on some of the candidates today, so check back here for updates.

Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter is the most marketable player in baseball, pulling in more money for sponsors than any other player, according to a recent survey. 

A gas station attendant came upon a five-foot long snake in Melrose. Police were called to catch the animal and take it to Animal Control. 

A blood drive and baseball game fundraiser are being planned for beloved Throgs Neck little league coach Joe O'Grady, who is battling cancer.

Speaking of noteworthy coaches: Bob Hawthorn, who coached men's tennis and squash at Fordham University for 54 years, retired yesterday.

Bronx News Roundup, May 6

The city is stepping in and trying to prevent foreclosures of the 10 buildings that were bought by an LA based real estate investment company, who instead of improving the buildings has neglected major responsibilities due to their high mortgage.

Bronx teenager, Elias Peguero, was shot to death at an Inwood grocery store last night.

Members of Rosalie Hall, a Bronx social service agency that is geared towards helping pregnant teenagers, rallied yesterday at City Hall, protesting against ACS budget cuts that will force the agency to shut down.

Hundreds of people are expected at the "Million Mom March" in Mott Haven this Saturday that will be held in honor of gun violence victims .

MTA workers who were scheduled to lose their jobs beginning today, get to put in a couple of more hours thanks to a judge's order for a hearing with lawyers from the authority and the Transit Workers Union.

For the first time ever students applying to CUNY schools might end up on a waiting list if their applications aren't received before Friday.

Police are seeking help in finding Maxsime Cagan, the man responsible for a series of Bronx robberies. Aside from stealing money and merchandise, he is also know for stealing viagra.

The city has spent nearly $305 million over the past ten years settling claims of false arrests. According to the daily news, if this continues, plaintiffs suing in the Bronx will get the most out of it.

Fordham University students learn that their skills can help Bronx organizations that are geared towards increasing employment rates.

Only 43% of Bronx felony cases last year were found guilty, the lowest conviction rate in the city for the past 22 years.

Bronx News Roundup, March 25

A suspected serial killer has been charged with the 1981 murder of a Bronx woman. Jesus Aguilera is already serving life in prison for two similar crimes.  Here's a look at the homicide detective who worked the case.

Today is the 20th anniversary of the Happy Land fire. This evening, a mass will be held St. Thomas Aquinas Parish (1900 Southern Blvd). Afterwards, a remembrance service will take place at the Happy Land memorial site, across the street from where the fire occurred. More here.

A detailed look at the impact (some say lack of impact) federal stimulus money has had on creating jobs for Bronxites.

More than 20 percent of teachers in the South Bronx could lose their jobs if budgets cuts in Albany go through, according to Schools Chancellor Joel Klein.   

Fordham University have hired a new basketball coach.  Tom Pecora, formerly of Hofstra, is expected to earn a cool $705,000 a year.

State Senator Jeff Klein is embroiled in a "pay for play" scandal, after offering to sell union bosses "chairmanships" at $50,000 a pop on the newly created Senate Labor Advisory Council. Here's a Daily News editorial on the continued failure of Senate Democrats to clean up Albany.

In the Bronx, only two percent of Census questionnaires have so far been returned, the lowest rate of any borough. 

From a couple of days ago: When it comes to same-sex marriages, Bronx BP Ruben Diaz, Jr. and his father, State Senator Ruben Diaz, Sr., are on the same page, according to a gay rights advocate. "Bigotry is a family trait" says a flyer Allen Roskoff and his suppoerters have circulated.

On his radio show, Roberto Perez interviewed Luis Sepulveda, an attorney who is gunning for Assemblyman Peter Rivera's seat.

World Series Trophy Heading to Fordham Campus

One event we left out in our previous post: the Hall of Fame brunch on Saturday at Fordham University's Rose Hill (Bronx) campus where the Yankees' winning hardware from last fall's 27th championship run will be on display.

The showing, which will coincide with the Fordham Athletic Department's Hall of Fame induction ceremony (and brunch), was orchestrated by a handful of Fordham alums working for both the university and the Bronx Bombers. Yankees announcer Michael Kay (Fordham, class of '82) will emcee the ceremony. The brunch starts at 11:30 a.m. and goes until 4 p.m. It's $50 for adults, $25 for students.

If that seems a little steep for brunch, the Fordham men's basketball squad takes on Temple later that day: $10 for adults, $5 for kids.

Bronx News Roundup, March 31

Nick Berger, an associate of former state senator Efrain Gonzalez, has pled guilty to helping Gonzalez squirrel away taxpayer money for personal use. He faces a year in jail. Gonzalez himself faces more serious charges; his much-delayed trial will start on May. 4. Here's some background reading.

Bronxites are excited about the Yankees new ballpark. Here's what they'll be paying if they decide to attend a game.

Still on the Yankees, the chairman of the much-lampooned New Yankee Stadium Community Benefits Fund, is being sued over alleged conflicts of interest.

Daily News columnist Patrice O'Shaughnnessy questions the integrity of Adolfo Carrion and Eliot Engel.

Students at the Bronx Engineering and Technology Academy, a high school in Marble Hill, are proud of their school's A grade.

Fordham University has launched an ambitious funding-raising campaign. According to the school's Web site, the school is seeking "$500 million to support new facilities, more student scholarships, more endowed faculty chairs and more funding for academic endeavors throughout Fordham’s colleges and schools."

Kemba Walker, a freshman guard from the Bronx with plenty of moxie, is one of the main reasons UConn find themselves in the Final Four. Another Bronx player, Corey Fisher, is also still in the tournament, following Villanova's defeat of Pittsburg. Anyone know where these boys grew up?

"Uno, Dos, Tres... Catorce???"

Sorry for the slight delay in getting these pictures up here, but yesterday was a very silly day on the campus of Fordham University.

For many students, the silliness began far before dawn as the crowds started forming as early as 1:45 am for the opportunity to see U2, widely regarded as one of the biggest bands in the world, perform a free show as part of a promotional pit-stop for their new album, No Line On The Horizon, on the ABC morning-show Good Morning, America.

The "little outfit from the north side of Dublin" played 6 songs (including crowd pleasers "Beautiful Day" and the non-sequential "Vertigo") in front of several thousand fans assembled on the main lawn of the University. Supposedly open only to Fordham students and faculty, U2 took the stage a little after 8 am in a show that stretched on for the better part of an hour and included an on-stage interview with the GMA cast as well as a cooking segment with celebrity chef Mario Batali.

Broadcast live on ABC's "Good Morning, America," which traditionally runs second to NBC's Today in the ratings, University President Fr. McShane said the performance would introduce "Fordham to the nation."

Lucky for me, and with my school finally having found its place "on the map," Bono et al. put the quiet of the Rose Hill campus behind them just in time for me to make my 10 o'clock class....

Below are some pictures from the event:

Also at Fordham yesterday, Times reporter Corey Kilgannon covered the event, and even managed to sneak his way on campus along with a few out-of-state fans. And for those interested, an MTV interview with the band is available here.

Plans from the Four Bronx Institutions Alliance

A few years back, four large Bronx institutions came together to plan ways they could jointly push for improvements, mainly to roadways, in the area. Details from the plan put forth by Montefiore, Fordham University, the Botanical Gardens and the Bronx Zoo are available in the latest issue of Inside Fordham, a publication of the University. These include $11 million dollars already secured to improve East Fordham Road and Mosholu Parkway:

East Fordham Road and Mosholu Parkway will see the first changes:

Traveling north from the Rose Hill campus along Mosholu Parkway will be easier. The parkway’s intersections with Gun Hill Road and Sedgwick Avenue would be reconfigured to eliminate bottlenecks that create northbound traffic backups.

The parkway, meanwhile, would get new plantings to replenish its trees, along with rebuilt curbs and drainage improvements to alleviate flooding.

The FBIA also seeks to remove the Jersey barriers along East Fordham Road east of the campus, from Southern Boulevard to the Bronx River Parkway. The barriers would be replaced by an elevated median with space for greenery.

Those two projects have funding set aside in the city’s capital budget—design funds for both, and construction money for the East Fordham Road improvements.

Many other changes still in the conceptual phase are listed in the article.

Bronx News Roundup: Tuesday, Nov. 18

[See update at the bottom of this post]
It's getting chilly on Bronx streets in more ways than just the temperature.

Early Monday morning in Bedford Park, police discovered a man, described as being in his 30s, shot in the stomach. Medics took him to St. Barnabas, but he was pronounced Dead on Arrival. Police say the investigation is ongoing. The Post has a small blurb about it in its Daily Blotter.

A man has been arrested in connection with a shooting on Morris Avenue (near the Cross Bronx Expressway) that left a 17-year-old girl dead and two other teenagers wounded. Late Sunday night, Brandin Santiago was arrested and charged with murder, attempted murder and criminal possession of a weapon.

The Daily News picked up the Norwood News' story about how the city's Dept. of Health is going to turn the old Fordham Library into an animal shelter. Here's the Norwood News story about it.

Speaking of the Health Dept., the agency has created a Web site where residents can track rat infestations and how they're being dealt with. Here's the Web site: https://gis.nyc.gov/doh/rip/.
Enjoy.

The city says it was all a big understanding that led them to build a new school on a contaminated site in Mott Haven.

Speaking of Mott Haven contamination, residents in that area are complaining that a toxic sludge is mucking up an abandoned railway.

Fordham University and Albert Einstein Medical School are teaming up to help strengthen their science and medical programs.

And for dessert, Daily New Borough Chief Bob Kappstatter's political gossip column. He says Assemblyman Jose Rivera has the Bronx Democratic party running a budget deficit; District Leader Hector Ramirez, Luis Diaz's hand-picked successor in the 86th Assembly District, says he was betrayed by two lawyers associated with Rivera's County leadership. (Rivera's man, Nelson Castro, ended up winning the seat.) And he gives Councilman Jimmy Vacca a pass for voting in favor of a term limits extension (after he initially opposed it) because he says Vacca received some concessions for his district from the mayor.

[Update, 3:32 p.m. Thanks to Mr. Kappstatter for clearing up this last tidbit, which I misinterpretted earlier. It wasn't that Vacca received any concessions from Mayor Bloomberg for voting in favor of the term limits extension. But he could have lost some valuable goodies for his district if he didn't support the measure. It's a subtle, but substanative difference. The question remains: was it a smart move and what exactly did he protect? I think we'll see how some of this plays out during the fight over the mayor's plan to consolidate neighborhood senior centers. Vacca and others in the Bronx (like Oliver Koppell) who voted for the term limits extension have voiced their opposition to the plan. Will Bloomberg back off or roll right over them?]

Bronx News Round-up

Here's a bundle of recent Bronx news stories, courtesy of one of our talented young reporters, Stephen Baron.

Bronx HIV Testing Push
The city health department wants every Bronx adult to get a free HIV test over the next three years, officials announced today.

To tie in with National HIV Testing Day, the city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is launching the largest HIV testing initiative in the city’s history. The campaign, called “The Bronx Knows,” also hopes to reach the 250,000 Bronx adults who have never been tested.

Though the Bronx beats the other boroughs in testing rate, Bronxites count for nearly a quarter of the city’s HIV infections and a third of AIDS deaths each year. Among Bronx residents who tested positive in 2006, more than a quarter were already sick with AIDS.

The Norwood News has previously reported on Montefiore’s Adolescent AIDS Program and Bronx AIDS Services.

Bronxites can visit any of one of 40 testing locations in the borough for a free, confidential HIV test. Visit here for a listing of locations.

Pathways Saved
The Bronx alternative high school Individual Pathways at Walton High School will be open for at least one more year, which comes as a relief to neighborhood residents, the Daily News reports.

School Funding Restored
City Council restored $129 million to stave off school budget cuts in the approved budget last night, though the school funding came at the expense of money usually given to “library services, cultural affairs, legal aid, seniors and government services,” the Daily News reports.

Fordham and Botanical Garden
Fordham University announced with the New York Botanical Garden a new graduate degree program to receive a master’s degree or doctorate in environmental science, the Daily News reports.

Lehman College Student Raped
Police are on the hunt for a rapist who attacked a Lehman College student in her Washington Heights apartment, the Daily News reports. Police have not released the name of the 19-year-old student.

Fordham Security Officers Rally for Better Conditions

Earlier today, security workers at Fordham University, along with clergy leaders, student activists and local labor unions rallied for better conditions.

The security workers want better wages, improved benefits and increased training.

Last week, they testified in front of a Worker's Rights Board about their displeasure with the current conditions. This afternoon they planned to deliver that testimony to Fordham President Father Joseph McShane and ask him to remedy the situation.

The Norwood News would have a more detailed report from the rally, but our reporter, despite several valiant attempts, was denied access onto the university's campus. We'll continue to follow this story as it develops.