Bronx

Bronx Crime Watch: Williamsbridge Drug Gang Indicted

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A Bronx grand jury indicted 40 supposed drug dealers last week in connection to a massive cocaine-selling scheme in Williamsbridge, according to the Bronx District Attorney’s office.Police had been watching the group for over two years, in an investigation that sounds like something straight out of “The Wire,” complete with undercover drug buys and taped telephone conversations.The dozens charged stand accused of selling seven kilograms (that’s over 15 pounds, or $250,000 worth) of crack cocaine a week, setting up shop along White Plains Road, between 211th and 241st Streets. Two men believed to be the masterminds behind the enterprise-Sean “Showboy” Nelson, 31, and Jason Weir, 27, both of the Bronx-face the most serious offense of the group and a mandatory life prison sentence if convicted.

Bronx

City Officials Mark Affordable Housing 'Milestone' in the Bronx

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This affordable housing development in West Farms Square is one of thousands that was financed this year by the city. (Photo: Jeanmarie Evelly)Bloomberg administration officials gathered in the courtyard of a West Farms apartment complex this morning to celebrate what they say has been a landmark year for the city’s affordable housing stock.Officials announced that the city is ahead of schedule in Mayor Bloomberg’s New Housing Marketplace Plan, which aims to “create and preserve 165,000 units of affordable housing by the end of 2014.”The number of units financed in the last fiscal year, which ended June 30, puts the city three-quarters of the way towards hitting that goal number, a fact hailed by officials as a major accomplishment in light of the recession and the budget restraints of the last few years.”This is an amazing feat,” HPD Commissioner Mathew Wambua said of the 15,827 affordable housing units the city funded last year.Among those are a set of eight high-rise apartment buildings along E. 178th Street in West Farms-known as the West Farms Square Plaza Apartments-which received millions of dollars in refinancing funds, in a deal between the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, city’s HDC and HPD as well as two local housing developers,

Bronx

Bronx News Roundup, Tuesday, July 12

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Speed roundup today, folks.Weather: Brutal today in the Bronx and most of the rest of the country. Stay inside and drink lots of water. High in the upper 90s with extreme humidity.Quick Hits:Bronx State Senator Ruben Diaz, Sr. continues to enjoy support from staunch opponents of legal gay marriage, including the Unification Church (aka the Moonies) and a notorious anti-gay state representative from Oklahoma.Two Bronx cops from the 46th Precinct were arrested on Monday for allegedly beating a man who apparently was heckling the officers after being arrested in February.A broken Bronx marriage and a broken car.

Bronx

Albany Bill Would Let Check-Cashers Provide Loans

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The Senate and Assembly banking committees have both approved a bill to permit check-cashing outlets to provide short-term loans. Backers say it offers financing to those whom regular banks don’t serve. Critics say it would permit exploitative “payday” lending.