Bronx

Bronx News Roundup, April 27

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Weather: Warm temperatures again today-though not as balmy as yesterday-with highs around 70. Skies will be mostly cloudy.Story of the Day: Crackdown After Deadly Belmont Blaze Mayor Bloomberg and chorus of other elected officials are calling for stricter regulation and punishments for building owners who oversee illegal apartments, after a fire early Monday killed a Bronx family of three in Belmont. The apartment where the victims lived was illegally subdivided, faultily wired and a haven for squatters, neighbors said.It’s unclear who should be held accountable for conditions at the Prospect Avenue building, which has no clear owner-according to the Post, the original landlord lost the property to foreclosure years ago, and that the building has since been part of a Texas private-equity firm’s multibillion-dollar portfolio of subprime mortgages. The Times reports that some tenants were paying rent to another squatter who was living there illegally. The Bronx District Attorney’s office also announced it will be conducting an investigation into the fire.Quick Hits:

Bronx News Network

Devastated Milbank Buildings Finally Sold

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Speaker Christine Quinn, Mayor Bloomberg, Borough President Ruben Diaz, Sen. Gustavo Rivera and tenants celebrate the sale of the Milbank portfolio at a press conference yesterday. By JORDAN MOSS and JEANMARIE EVELLYIt was a rare scene for the transfer of a residential apartment building: Tenants, a new landlord and a variety of city elected officials, from the mayor on down, gathered Tuesday for a press conference that turned out to be a celebration.The now-infamous Bronx Milbank buildings, including one at 2264 Grand Avenue, were finally sold last week to a new landlord after months of local organizing and city involvement. Tenants, advocates and elected officials had fought to wrest the portfolio of 10 deeply troubled properties from irresponsible bankers and owners to a responsible party who could afford to make them livable again. Over 100 people showed up for the announcement of the sale at 3018 Heath Ave., where the building had brand new windows – the first of what tenants hope will be many improvements to come at this and the other Milbank properties.”We now have someone to communicate with – someone to hold accountable,” said one tenant, Twyla Rashid, who described conditions at her building as “devastating.”The one to hold accountable now is Steven Finkelstein, a Scarsdale-based landlord who purchased the mortgage and the deeds to the properties in a $28 million deal last week, and faces a mountain of some 4,000 housing code violations.As part of the deal, Finkelstein promised to start making serious and immediate repairs and will have to report back regularly to the Department of Housing Preservation and Development about the work he’s done. “Accountability, I have no problem with,” Finkelstein said, as he stood surrounded by reporters with notepads and cameras.

Bronx News Network

Follow-Up on Mayor's Armory Comments

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The city’s Economic Development Corporation, which is in charge administering and figuring out what to with the Kingsbridge Armory, sent us an unsolicited follow-up statement to what the mayor told us yesterday at a press conference in Kingsbridge. Here’s what they had to say:”We’re interested in hearing feasible proposals that don’t cost the city more money than we can spend and that have private sector investment that isn’t completely backstopped by city dollars.”

Bronx News Network

Bronx News Roundup, Tuesday, April 26

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Weather: Bronxites will be burning (or at least sweating a little) today as temperatures soar into the high 70s! Small chance of showers later on. Similar mix of warmth and rain potential tomorrow. Story of the Day: Cute Kid Battles Cancer, Runs for Cute PenguinsWe’ll lead with this heart-warmer about a penguin-loving six-year-old boy from Long Island who is coming to the Bronx on Saturday to participate in the Bronx Zoo’s annual Run for the Wild fundraiser. Last fall, after doctors diagnosed young Aghelos Kouvaras with a rare form of cancer, he was forced to drop out of school and has spent his life in and out of hospitals ever since.

Bronx News Network

WNYC Maps Stop-And-Frisks, Marijuana Arrests

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WNYC published this map today that shows the number of stop-and-frisk incidents and marijuana arrests by NYPD Precinct.Reporter Alisa Chang investigated the controversial practice, which is supposed to be used as a tactic by police to crack down on street guns. Many stop-and-frisks, she says, instead often lead to arrests for low-level marijuana possession, predominantly in neighborhoods of color.Technically, marijuana that’s concealed on a person and found during a stop-and-frisk should warrant only a violation-a ticket and a fine. New York State Law says that possessing a small amount of pot is a misdemeanor only when it is smoked or displayed “open to public view.”Per the map above, nine of the 12 precincts here in the Bronx are among those with the highest number of marijuana arrests in the city, while Precincts 41 and 42 in the South Bronx have some of the highest of stop-and-frisk numbers.Police say cracking down on small offenses like marijuana possession is effective in bringing down rates of more serious and violent crimes.Have you ever been stopped and searched by the police in your neighborhood? Share your stories in the comments section.

Bronx News Network

48 Precinct Community Meeting Moved

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Just a quick programming note: the NYPD 48 Precinct’s Community Council meeting, happening tonight at 7 p.m., has changed locations. It will now be held at Phipps West Farm Technology and Career Center, 1071-A East Tremont Avenue, near Boston Road (next to Twin Donuts). Call the precinct’s community affairs office at (718) 299-4522 for more information.

Bronx News Network

On Armory, Bloomberg Says: 'We're Open to Every Good Idea'

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At a press conference today earlier in Kingsbridge, I asked Mayor Bloomberg if his administration was willing to consider new plans for the Kingsbridge Armory, since Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. is expected to release, in the next several weeks, a report drafted by the NYU Wagner School of Public Policy with recommendations for redeveloping the vacant landmark . “We’re open to every good idea,” the mayor said, exhibiting none of the bitterness some have attributed to him for having his preferred plan for the facility – a mall developed by The Related Companies – killed by Diaz and

Bronx News Network

Bronx Weekend News Roundup, April 25

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Welcome back to the program, ladies and gentleman of the Bronx and beyond. Without further adieu, let’s get down to business. Weather: Warm, in the high 60s, today with potential for thunderstorms after noon. Supposed to be even warmer tomorrow. Story of the Day: Prospect Avenue Fire Kills 3

Bronx News Network

It's Organ Donor Month

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April is Donate Life Month-check out the flier below for more info on how you can register to be an organ donor.(function() { var scribd = document.createElement(“script”); scribd.type = “text/javascript”; scribd.async = true; scribd.src = “http://www.scribd.com/javascripts/embed_code/inject.js”; var s = document.getElementsByTagName(“script”)[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(scribd, s); })();