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 April 14

The Gotham Gazette takes a look at the borough president's race, and concludes front-runner Ruben Diaz Jr. "practically has a set of keys to borough hall already." The real race, says reporter Courtney Gross, occured months back when the so-called Rainbow Rebels ousted then-Party Chairman Jose Rivera. The 2000-word story also touches on what could be two fascinating City Council races this fall involving incumbents Maria Baez (14th District) and Joel Rivera (District 15).

A five-year-old boy was reunited with his worried mother after hopping on the No. 1 train at the 225th Street and ending up in South Ferry. This story was also picked up in the UK.

Phil Spector, the Bronx-born music producer and songwriter, was found guilty of murder yesterday.

A Bronx nun has been chosen to do a scripture reading at tomorrow's installation mass for incoming Archbishop Timothy Dolan.

Still on nuns, the movie "Doubt," which is set in a Catholic school in the Bronx in the 1960s, came out on DVD last week. Watching it bought back memories (mostly good ones) for Daily News columnist Patrice O'Shaughnessy who went to St. Raymonds.

Affordable housing advocates are having a hard time wooing State Senator Pedro Espada, the Senate's housing committee chairman, as they push for a vote to repeal vacancy decontrol.

Curtis Silwa of Guardian Angels fame has started giving free tours of the Bronx.

Toxic waste in Bronx schools has parents up in arms - and suing the city.

Bob Kappstatter looks at who might replace Assemblymembers Ruben Diaz Jr. and Aurelia Greene should they become borough president and deputy borough president respectively.

The BBC interviews a family who became homeless last summer and now live in a Bronx homeless shelter.