If you click on nothing else in this roundup today, click on this. It's a fascinating interview in SchoolBook with PS 86 principal Sheldon Benardo, whose school has received an A in the last five school report cards. What's particularly interesting is how candid Benardo is about being a "beneficiary of a corrupt system." When he became assistant principal and then a principal at PS 7 it was a direct result of political connections through his brother. He was barely interviewed for the principal job at a school of 2,300 kids. Benardo talks about how his outlook changed and what he believes is responsible for his success of PS 86, which is right behind the Kingsbridge Armory. And as we mentioned in a recent roundup, the school is sending a group of fifth graders to Paris.
In the Times' Lens blog, David Gonzalez tells the story of a Dutch photographer who has made University Heights her home and has loving chronicled the lives of her neighbors. Take a look.
Barely missing a beat, former Daily News Bronxologist Bob Kappstatter reports from the annual Somos El Futuro confab in Puerto Rico -- on The Capitol website.
Bronx Pride, the borough's largest gay rights group is very ironically moving into new headquarters in a building named for gay-rights foe State Senator Ruben Diaz.
Norwood News' Breaking Bronx blog interviews the attorney for the family of Bimal Chanda, the Bangladeshi man killed in the street near his house just as he was planning to move his family to Parkchester.
Community and political leaders gathered to discuss the alarming uptick in area violence. City Council Speaker Christine Quinn facilitated the session. Norwood News has the story.
Battling obesity in Highbridge.
Riverdale Press probes the increase in school suspensions.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Bronx News Roundup, Nov. 14
Friday, November 11, 2011
Bronx News Roundup, Nov. 11
Happy Veterans' Day.
Four shootings and three murders in the northwest Bronx in the last two weeks have the community on edge.
Twenty fifth and sixth graders from PS 86 (the school right behind the Kingsbridge Armory) are headed to Paris -- really.
Macy's, opening its first store in the five boroughs in 15 years, is coming to Bay Plaza.
A beloved three-year-old restaurant in Melrose is closing its doors.
The latest in the Seabrook corruption trial. More here.
Not a Bronx story, but a gorgeous, must-read Jim Dwyer column about a couple, both with cerebral palsy, who jumped societal hurdles and showed that love provides a lot of fuel for a good life whatever the struggles.
One of the Times' neediest cases: A Morrisania vet who fell on hard times is fighting his way back to well-being.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Kappstatter on BronxTalk tonight
Gary Axelbank will be interviewing veteran reporter Bob Kappstatter, who is leaving the Daily News after 43 years, on BronxTalk tonight at 9 p.m. on Cablevision channel 67.
Bronx News Roundup, Nov. 7
A Kingsbridge resident, Buzunesh Deba, who hails from Ethiopia came in second in yesterday's NYC Marathon, missing a win by only 4 seconds, the closest women's finish in marathon history. Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. praised the local athlete who is sure to get many thumbs-up as she continues her training in the neighborhood. Mohammed Ademo of Bronx Ink profiles Ethiopian runners, including Fikadu Lemma, who is also from Kingsbridge. Flip Bondy of the Daily News also highlights the Bronx angle of the marathon.
Councilman Larry Seabrook may have the worst attendance record of that legislative body but there's little doubt he'll be showing up in federal court today as jury selection begins in his long-awaited federal corruption trial. City Hall runs down the likely contenders for Seabrook's seat should he be convicted and immediately removed from his position. For a PDF of the details of the indictment, click here.
More details on the life and tragic death of Bimal Chanda, the Bangladeshi resident in Fordham who was killed just as he was planning to move his family to Parkchester because of crime in the neighborhood.
A Bronx teacher protesting at Occupy Wall Street was arrested allegedly for knocking a policeman off a scooter.
State Senator Jeff Klein makes his national debut on CBS News discussing legislation to require banks to maintain their foreclosed properties (starts around 1:10 in video below).
Friday, November 4, 2011
Say It Ain't So!
The Daily News lays off Bob Kappstatter, a 43-year veteran of the paper, whose weekly column on the borough is a must-read.
Bronx News Roundup, Nov. 4
Crazy. The city Board of Elections is spending millions of dollars to fully staff Election Day in the Bronx next Tuesday, even though the only person on the ballot is District Attorney Robert Johnson, who is running unopposed.
In what tenant advocates say is the highest settlement in a case involving a landlord who overcharged a tenant, a Norwood woman should receive $33,0000 from Urban American Management.
In Kappstatter's column this week: The ticket-fixing scandal he's prosecuting might have Bronx D.A. Bob Johnson in a big bind, but as mentioned above he's running unopposed in Tuesday's election and is the only person on the Bronx election ballot. Joel Rivera sells his first chunk of property in his moonlighting gig as a real estate agent. And Assemblyman Nelson Castro and District Leader Yudelka Tapia aren't getting along so well.
Juan Gonzalez reports on the copious records of student illness at the former location of PS 51/The Bronx News School.
A Bangladeshi resident of East 190th Street was murdered by two men who made of with $15. Police have video of the suspects. The man, Bimal Chanda, was on the verge of moving his family to Parkchester.
Three men have been charged in a heroin ring that used retail stores in Marble Hill and Kingsbridge as its base.
The Benjamin Franklin Reform Democratic Club has voted to support the Occupy Wall Street movement.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Halloween in Norwood, the Bronx
A school night with homework deadline did not deter hundreds of children from coming out for Halloween trick-or-treating on Monday. I took these photos on Bainbridge Avenue and East 204th Street. Click here for a slide show .
The pirate's expression in the image below is exactly how I felt while making photographs on Halloween.
Rawlat.com/adi
aditalwar.blogspot.com
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Group Announces Project to Target Bane of Borough -- Cross Bronx Expressway
Two community leaders announced a long-term initiative to fix the Cross Bronx Expressway on BronxTalk on Monday night. Just click play to hear the whole story.
Bronx News Roundup, Nov. 2
Is the creation of small specialized high schools siphoning off good students from the few still-remaining large schools like DeWitt Clinton, which just received an F on its progress report? That's the question posed by this article in the Daily News today.
The Bronx added 3.8 percent more chain stores this year -- much more than the 1.6% citywide -- the Wall Street Journal reports following the release of a report from the Center for an Urban Future.
The old Fordham Library will not become an animal shelter as originally planned.
A bailout for the company behind those failed Yankee parking garages? This NY Post columnist believes that's a lousy idea.
The governor's jobs hotline is getting a ton of hits. We're mentioning it in case you need it and haven't hit it yet.
One of the alleged ticket fixers may have covered up a beating by a paint store manager pal, according to a suit filed by the victim.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Bronx News Roundup, Nov. 1
The head of Skanska USA, the multi-national general contractor overseeing the troubled filtration plant project in Van Cortlandt Park took some questions from The New York Times and acknowledged there was a federal investigation into the use of disadvantaged business enterprises as subcontractors in public works projects and vowed it wouldn't happen again. He said: "It had to do with the use of disadvantaged business enterprises as subcontractors. We wound up settling with the Department of Justice for around $19 million. Believe me, we’ll never have that issue ever again!"
Two Bronxites have launched an effort to make the Cross Bronx Expressway less crowded, polluted and dangerous. (We'll put up the video of last night's BronxTalk, where the initiative was announced, as soon as it's available).
Savor the Bronx, the borough's Restaurant Week, which actually goes through Nov. 13, starts today. Check out some of the participating restaurants.
A construction worker in Soundview was killed when the building he was working in collapsed.
NAACP chief Ben Jealous announces his support for living wage legislation in the City Council that resulted from the defeat of the city's mall plan for the Kingsbridge Armory. He will attend a rally for the bill, which the mayor opposed and Council Speaker Christine Quinn is undecided on, at Riverside Church on Nov. 21.
High school students in the Bronx Youth Journalism Initiative interviewed Norwood merchants and residents about what they'd like to see take root in the large Bainbridge Avenue lot leveled by fire two years ago. (Includes video.)
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Cross Bronx Exclusive on BronxTalk
Tomorrow night BronxTalk will present your first look at the "Cross Bronx Expressway Initiative," a movement by some forward-thinking Bronxites to try to address the nation's worst highway and a virtual killer in the Bronx. Bronxnet's channel 67. 9 p.m. Monday night.
One of New York City's longest running TV talk shows now in its 18th year, BronxTalk is seen each Monday night at 9:00pm on Bronxnet's Cablevision channel 67. It's also on Verizon Fios channel 33 and streamed live at www.bronxnet.org. Hosted by Gary Axelbank and produced by Jane Folloro, BronxTalk is repeated each day at 9:30am, 3:30pm, and 9:00pm. Archives are available here: BronxTalk archives
