Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani made a surprise visit to the Bronx borough’s holiday tree lighting ceremony at Lou Gehrig Plaza of the Grand Concourse on December 5th.

Before the tree lighting which was sponsored by television station Univision, Bronx Borough President Vanesa Gibson introduced Mamdani to begin the ceremony. 

Mamdani expressed his appreciation for the borough and made promises to make the Bronx an affordable and safer place for locals.

“We are going to make sure that no longer The Bronx is the forgotten borough of the city,” said Mamdani.

Mamdani answered questions as to why the Bronx is considered a forgotten city. He explained that in many budget decisions the Bronx is not included. 

“This is going to be the borough where we deliver our fast and free buses, the borough where we deliver on rent freeze, the borough where we deliver universal child care,” said Mamdani.

As the Mayor-elect delivered his speech the crowd applauded and cheered.

“I was not aware that the Bronx was a forgotten borough but I hope Mamdani does keep his word,” said daycare worker Maria Cerano who was at the event. 

Gibson took the stage and informed the crowd of Univision’s annual toy giveaway for those hundreds of people who attended the ceremony.

As the night was filled with music and joy Santa arrived with bags of toys to hand out to the kids  one by one.

“I have brought my two kids to the toy giveaway and yet to be disappointed, many beautiful gifts that the kids enjoy”, said local Miranda Gomez.

Univision has partnered with past and current Bronx Borough presidents for their annual tree lighting at Lou Gehrig Plaza for many years. The ceremony has featured elected officials, high school choirs, NYPD bands, local musicians, and a Univision toy drive. 

Many people approach Mamdani asking questions on his future plans for the borough and suggestions on their unique situations.

“I know too many Bronx sites that are having to look at if they can even stay in this city any longer”, said Mamdani. “We are going to transform the most expensive city in this state”.

Bronxworks Produce Market, a community non-profit, continues to keep the food farm stand affordable as the worldwide prices of goods rise.

This will be the farm stand’s eighth season in the Bronx. The stand, located on the  Grand Concourse near Yankee Stadium, is open every Thursday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m from July to Thanksgiving. 

 The Bronxworks provides seasonal fresh regional produce, including yams, spinach, pumpkin, beets, apples, and more. The market keeps a price range between one to three dollars for each item of produce or by pound. The produce market accepts cash, EBT cash or food cards; they also provide health incentive coupons from four to ten dollars to customers who participate in their nutrition education workshops.

“The food market produce is more fresh than the produce at the supermarket, and is cheaper as well,” said local shopper Maria Soto. “I’m always here to buy what I can while it lasts.”

As farm stands attempt to maintain a low price on their produce, experts estimated that the overall imported food prices could rise by around 2.6% to 3.4% after President Trump’s tariffs rise. About 40,000 products in the supermarkets will be affected, whether it is the produce or ingredients that contain produce, according to Tax Foundation, a nonpartisan tax policy nonprofit.

“Tariffs affect imported products. Our produce is regional, tariffs do not affect local farm stands so we keep the prices as affordable as we can,” said program specialist Raymond Schwabacher.

The price of an imported apple in chain supermarkets such as Walmart is a dollar to two dollars each, compared to the farm stand, where you can get two apples for three dollars. Also, a bag of organic carrots costs three dollars in Walmart, whereas the market sells them for two dollars a bunch. 

“The farm stand focuses on health, with how the prices of food are going up people might forget the importance of eating healthy, keeping the prices low on fresh food, we help the community stay healthy,” said worker Micheal Williams. 

The Bronxworks Produce Market does not throw away its unsold produce. “If the produce doesn’t sell, we give it to the kitchen or if it’s good for another week we resell it,” said worker Davis. 

For some New York City residents, new murals popping up are simply fresh new pieces of art to brighten a neighborhood, but to others, they represent a deeper, troubling trend, gentrification. High-income neighborhoods like Cobble Hill, Dumbo, and Williamsburg all have rent prices higher than median rent prices in Brooklyn, and New York City as a whole, according to 2023 data from the Furman Center. And The New York City Parks Department Public Art Map shows that these neighborhoods have higher concentrations of public art, including murals, statues, temporary and permanent installations,  than their more affordable counterparts, like East Brooklyn and Canarsie. 

Meres Ones, a graffiti artist born in the South Bronx and raised in Queens is no stranger to how the street art and graffiti scenes in New York have evolved. “ I started in ‘87 as a graffiti artist, which is pretty much all the lettering,” Meres shared. “There really wasn’t a street art movement back then.” 

Meres went on to found and curate 5 Pointz, a collection of graffiti projects created by different artists along the exterior walls of an abandoned factory on Jackson Avenue in Long Island City, Queens. Despite 5 Pointz’s notoriety in the art world, it was demolished In 2013 amidst the rapid gentrification and industrialization of Long Island City. Now, a high-rise luxury apartment building sits in its place. 

“There have been cases where real estate people, or people that have buildings, didn’t necessarily care and would give legal permission to have artists do lettering. It was easy to get walls at the time.” Meres continued, “In real estate now they’re realizing that you can hire artists to paint, and then those walls that were available to us are now taken away for ads.” 

But graffiti artists aren’t the only ones to notice the link between a rise in corporate street art and changing neighborhoods. In recent years, Bushwick has become prime real estate for artists, but their presence has had negative impacts on longtime residents. According to rental market trends, rent prices in Bushwick have increased by 5% in the last month. 

Among those noticing this trend is Wendy Martinez, a lifelong Bushwick resident, who can still recall a Bushwick before the murals, galleries, and cafes. “The walls that were once covered in graffiti, or were blank, are now covered by “acceptable” graffiti and artwork.”  She noted how Black and Latinx community members were persecuted for graffiti. “I remember police chases happening at night when I was younger because of teens and adults tagging on walls in the neighborhood or spray painting artwork on vacant walls.” 

Now, Martinez says the art that surrounds her neighborhood reflects, and draws, a different crowd, “it was mostly young, white, affluent people that were moving in.” According to Martinez, landlords in the area have taken advantage of these shifting demographics. Her own rent has increased by 58% in the last three years. 

“To see my own community being forced out of their homes while local organizations fight to keep generational families from leaving is really disheartening,” Martinez said. 

For Meres, preventing street art from becoming a force of gentrification is all about creating a balanced relationship between artists and the real estate industry. “You know you want to paint the murals, you want to try to get paid and balance it. But you also don’t want to overly gentrify a neighborhood where coffees are like 12 bucks.” 

Midwife-led care improves maternal health outcomes. Yet midwives at Jacobi Medical Center and North Central Bronx Hospital claim they are undervalued by their employers. Midwives at both Bronx hospitals have been working without a contract since June 30, 2023. At a December 3 press conference outside Jacobi, midwives demanded that their facilities address understaffing issues and increase pay for midwives.

“For more than a year now, our hardworking midwives have been in negotiation for an agreement to reconcile salary disparities and deal with serious understaffing issues,” New York State Assembly Member John Zaccero Jr. said at the press conference.  

The New York State Nurses Association NYSNA, which represents midwives at both hospitals, reported that midwives at Jacobi and North Central Bronx handle nearly all vaginal births and assist during cesarean sections at the facilities. 

“While I do what I can to treat our patients with respect, our employer does not,” Valerie Nelson, licensed midwife who’s worked for 12 years at Jacobi, told the rally. “Our employer believes that they can get by with the bare minimum, squeezing as much out of us as possible. Perhaps because we work for the marginalized population, no one will notice.”

According to The Chief, midwives at the two hospitals earn 14% less than other midwives in the region.  Midwives who spoke at the event maintained that the lack of a fair contract has contributed to increasing burnout and turnover among midwives, further exacerbating the staffing shortages.

Speakers at the rally highlighted the diversity of the midwifery staff at the two hospitals, which includes many women of color. “More than half of us are bilingual, and while less than 7% of midwives nationally are Black, at Jacobi 35% of our midwives are Black or Brown,” said Kinikia Reid, a midwife at Jacobi for the last five years. 

For Reid, being a midwife is deeply personal, she felt called to the profession to help those who look like her. 

 “I see my own sister and my childhood best friends in the faces of the women I care for,” Reid said. “I know that part of coming into this work as a melanated woman is meant to be about healing some of the generational trauma experienced by our communities in medical spaces and hoping to create a new narrative of empowerment, voice, and agency for the next generation of birthed people in the Bronx.”

Research has consistently demonstrated that midwife-led care reduces maternal mortality, which in New York City disproportionately affects Black birthing people. Black people are six times more likely to die of childbirth-related causes than White birthing people. 

According to the CommonWealth Fund, a private foundation promoting equitable healthcare, the use of midwives is associated with “fewer cesarean sections, lower preterm birth rates, lower episiotomy rates, higher breastfeeding rates, and a greater sense of respect and autonomy for the patient.”

“The numbers we see in the Bronx are horrific. The numbers of maternal mortality, infant mortality is a hundred percent preventable,” New York State Senator Natalia Fernandez said at the press conference. “Every successful birth in this hospital is thanks to a midwife.” 

There is a beauty of nature in the Bronx, but sometimes, over policing and silencing the ones who speak out against environmental racism is unfortunate.

This was where the CUNY Graduate Center stepped in, collaborating with the Futures Initiative for their recent event – Why can’t we breathe? Fighting environmental racism in the Bronx, which explored environmentalism and intersectionality.

The event on May 3 was hosted by the Futures Initiative founder Cathy Davidson of the CUNY Graduate Center.

The panel acknowledged how striving to better the scenery for the Bronx has come with extreme backlash from authorities of these marginalized groups. Panelists shared how environmental alternatives can better residents’ lives in the Bronx. 

This sentiment was echoed by Odalys Burgoa, member of Bronx Land Trust, who spoke on the panel about how environmental racism has affected various communities in the Bronx. 

“There is an activeness in creating these changes in Hunts Point, Bronx from the people of self gentrifiers,” said Burgoa. “I analyzed the situation between self-gentrifiers of Hunts Point  and the people that have to breathe the after effects of their actions, with the more companies that come in the less amount of alternatives can be served to the underprivileged.”

Guests were excited to see this part of the meeting to hear from leaders actively working on the nature side to help their community to combat the wrongdoings of environmental racism.

“Seeing amazing people like Odalys Burgoa, someone who’s father worked for truck federation finally speaking out against the atrocities that affect her neighborhood is spectacular,” said Everett Davidson, an event attendee. “ Having people like her on the forefront of  these concerns can give hope for a better future.

Panelists shared the narrative of pollution and how it affects marginalized communities. “The most powerful predictor of where the most industrial pollution is – race is the most potent predictor,” echoed panelists. 

According to TeachforAmerica,org, The South Bronx has some of the nation’s worst levels of air pollution. Asthma is routine for students of  Fannie Lou Hamer Freedom High School, designated area in the south Bronx 

 “In the Bronx, everyone knows people who have asthma and it should not be that way at all,” writes Jasmine Pena in the article.

The concept of environmental racism and community members’ non profits in the Bronx being aware of pollution and infrastructure issues to marginalized communities was confirmed by  Cathy Davidson

“As us as the inhibitors of the earth, we as its subjects must be able to help the other inhibitors of the earth as well and make sure they have the means to survive especially in this impoverished community,” said Cathy Davidson.

At the end of the meeting, Burgoa acknowledged the beauty of community meetings like these.

“Being a guest speaker at this event is a beautiful thing to see and be a part of,” said Burgoa.

Davidson echoed a similar message.

“Community matters, we can’t do it alone,” she said.

New York City FC  fans gathered at Yankee Stadium for the second home game of the season on Saturday, March 18. The home team hosted D.C. United in a game that ultimately led to NYCFC’s triumph, with a 3-2 finish. 

Both teams came into the match with a 1-1-1 record hoping to improve their spot on the table and gain three points. NYCFC entered the match with 0 injured players and a full squad available to play. 

Within the first 11 minutes of the game, D.C. had committed three fouls that led to an eventual yellow card for D.C. United midfielder Russell Canouse. NYCFC created many chances, and forward Talles Magno was able to find the back of the net in the 17th minute, with an assist from Braian Cufré. 

First ruled offside, Magno’s disallowed goal call was overturned after a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) check that confirmed he was onside, giving NYCFC the early lead.

D.C. United’s defense kept NYCFC at bay until the 37th minute when Santiago Rodríguez took the ball from a fast break, assisted by Gabriel Pereira, and opened up his tally with a right-footed shot to the bottom left corner. 

The first half closed with D.C. United leading NYCFC in fouls, 6-3, and trailing in score 2-0. 

The clean sheet didn’t stick for long, as D.C.’s head coach Wayne Rooney even admitted, “I don’t think I can repeat the language I used,” when asked about his halftime locker room talk.  

Within the first 40 seconds of the second half, D.C. United forward Christian Benteke opened his tab with a header after a cross from Mateusz Klich, which would bring the team’s hopes alive of a comeback. 

D.C. United’s Victor Pálsson received the team’s second yellow card shortly after for a bad foul and the match intensified as D.C. trailed in the second by one. The first yellow card to go to NYCFC on the night was shown to Rodriguez for shoving Klich on the sidelines after a tackle in the 53rd.

The NYCFC super fan crowd cheers became more intense each time D.C. United attempted to approach the net, which Head Coach Nick Cushing said played an important role in the win. 

“We have a real responsibility and expectation to win in front of our fans whether it’s here or Citi Field, because the atmosphere is so good, again I can’t praise our fans enough,” Cushing said.

Thiago Andrade was subbed in for NYCFC in the 80th minute, and eight minutes later, put the team up by two goals with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner assisted by Santiago Rodríguez. 

D.C. United tried to respond by scoring a late goal by Steve Birnbaum assisted by Klich from a corner and had opportunities to tie the game with nine additional minutes added, but were unsuccessful. 

The NYCFC side played consistently in the first half with a few weak points in the second but ultimately came out victorious. Man of the match, Talles Magno, credited that to the team’s chemistry and spoke about how the match was special for him as he scored his first goal of the season. 

“I’m very happy, my family is here so I’m happy to score in front of them and happy to score my first goal of the season,” Magno shared post-match in the locker room. 

NYCFC look to improve their record on the road against Houston on March 25, and keep the momentum from this match’s win. 

“We have to go on the road and win football games if we want to be a winning team,”Cushing said, emphasizing the importance of the team’s push in away games and how crucially they affect the season. 

On Feb. 14., borough commissioners, council members, and concerned New Yorkers filled City Council chambers to discuss the increase in pedestrian deaths in New York City.

The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure conducted a meeting to find solutions to the ongoing trend of the increase in pedestrian fatalities.

Many community members raised concerns in particular about roadways not accommodating cyclists. Council member Amanda Farías, council member representing the 18th district, shared alarming statistics that show the increase of Black, Latinx, and immigrant communities having less safety infrastructure and modes of transportation compared to white neighborhoods.

“More Bronx bikers have been killed in 2020, 2021, and 2022 combined than the past 11 years prior to 2020,” said Farìas.

There’s been an exponential increase in bike and micro-mobility since COVID; however,  roadway space has not increased. According to the Cycling in City Report, a 4.3% increase or approximately 70,000 more New Yorkers rode a bike at least once in 2020 compared to 2019.

“We suffered as many deaths from gun violence last year as traffic violence these are preventable deaths,” said council member Lincoln Rester. 

Although council members say the budget they’re working on will solve this ongoing trend, many council members and residents just aren’t convinced until they see this pattern reversed. 

Records show that last year was the first time Vision Zero reports hadn’t been submitted, along with annual cycling in the city, greenway, and quarterly reports that have been either missing or late. The NYC Bike maps show protected bike lanes are more accessible in wealthy white communities, as compared to Black communities.

The main question that was asked throughout the meeting was how can the DOT improve safety and reverse this ongoing trend in specific communities that have a lack of safety and infrastructure.

“I know what it is to fight for equity,” said DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “This is about action. We have to redesign these intersections.” 

CUNY faculty, staff, and students called on the Bronx State Assembly and State Senate delegation to support an increase of $500 million in CUNY funding ahead of the final state budget at a loud rally at Lehman College on March 30.

Students and faculty rallied alongside Councilmember Eric Dinowitz and Ruth Wangerin, Lehman chapter chair of Professional Staff Congress, calling on the NY Senate, Assembly leadership, Bronx assembly members and state senators to support raising CUNY’s funding by $500 million. Governor Hochul’s proposed budget increases funding to CUNY and SUNY by $150 million each. They argue that CUNY has been underfunded for years.

Everyone in attendance chanted “a New Deal for CUNY” as they held signs that stated, “CUNY is about racial and economic justice” and “Invest in CUNY, Invest in New York.”

Declan O’Boy, a Macaulay Honors student at Lehman College studying history and political science, found it ridiculous how legislators have to think twice about funding CUNY.

“This New Deal program will give us the necessary funding to hopefully reduce tuition and help more low-income students. I go to class with people who are parents taking care of their children while getting their degree, on top of that having to work too,” said O’Boy.

According to a 2021 University Faculty Senate study, colleges that serve predominantly Black and Hispanic students had the lowest full-time faculty to student ratios.

The study found that since the early 1990s, per-student state funding for CUNY senior colleges has fallen 38% and has contributed to the university’s current staffing crisis. More than 75% of CUNY students are people of color.

“More than half of our students come from families with incomes less than $30,000,” said Councilmember Dinowitz during the rally.

“CUNY has provided them an incredible opportunity to do better for themselves and their families. And it’s time our state budget reflects that, with $500 million extra dollars for our students, professors, counselors, and everything our students need to succeed,” said Dinowitz

The New Deal for CUNY would require 65 full time faculty and one mental health counselor per every 1000 students, plus one academic advisor for every 250 students.

According to Inside Higher ED, in 2008, CUNY senior colleges had 41 full-time faculty per 1,000 full-time equivalent students; in 2019, there were only 34 full-time faculty per 1000.

The top concern for the PSC, the faculty union for CUNY, and the CUNY Rising Alliance, is getting an increase of $500 million to fund faculty lines, advisors and mental health counselors, adjunct parity, and make CUNY free for students, said PSC spokesperson Fran Clark.

Part-time counselors were hired with time-limited stimulus funding, CUNY has a mental health counselor ratio of 1:1,876, far less than the 1;1000 ratio called for by the New Deal for CUNY, which the International Accreditation of Counseling Services describes as a minimum to serve students’ needs.

English and Journalism professor, Jennifer Mackenzie, a full-time faculty member at Lehman College is outraged by the conditions that faculty members and students have to work.

“New York City has made millions and billions of dollars off this pandemic and the burden of not knowing how they’re going to eat, how they’re going to pay rent and where they’re going to sleep is being born by the students here,” said Mackenzie.

“What this state and city could do to relieve just a little bit of that burden and that’s unfairly being born by the students who are having to pay for something that used to be free,” she added.

During these last days of the budget negotiations, the challenge is that other worthy and not-so-worthy expenses are on the budget negotiating table and legislators are deciding final priorities.

Ruth Wangerin, adjunct faculty member and PSC Lehman College Chapter Chair, underscored that there are outstanding students in CUNY.

“Tell the Governor that we have talent here in the Bronx just waiting for a fair chance to shine. They deserve the best and their teachers want the best for them. Now let the state government in Albany do its best for them,” said Wangerin.

NYC Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodríguez announced in Times Square that this year’s Car-Free Earth Day will expand across the five boroughs for the first time ever.

Saturday April 23 will also be the largest Car-Free Earth Day ever with 150 participating partners.

Car-Free Earth Day is an international event that encourages pedestrians to travel without using their cars for a day.

It urges people to use other forms of transportation such as bikes, scooters, or walking to their destination in order to reduce the carbon emissions within NYC’s atmosphere.

During the event, selected streets will be closed off and turned into plazas for people to walk, as well as do other various activities.

The activities include art, cultural activities, dancing, music performances, educational workshops, and bike programs.

“Earth Day is when we can all commit to protecting our earth; and one way we can do that is by repurposing our roadways,” said the DOT Commissioner. “Car-Free Earth Day is a growing tradition that allows New York City’s car-free streets to come alive.”

This year’s event will expand to over 100 open streets, 22 plazas, as well as over 1000 miles of NYC’s bike networks throughout the five boroughs.

The list of neighborhoods for each borough are as follows:

• Bronx, Roberto Clemente Plaza, 3rd Avenue, 148th Street to 149th Street
• Bronx, Southbound Mosholu Parkway, Van Cortlandt Avenue East to Bainbridge Avenue
• Brooklyn, Tompkins Avenue, Gates Avenue to Halsey Street
• Manhattan, Avenue B, East 6th Street to East 14th Street
• Manhattan, Broadway, East 17th Street to West 42nd Street
• Manhattan, St. Nicholas Avenue, 181st Street to 190th Street
• Queens, 34th Avenue, 69th Street to 94th Street
• Staten Island, Minthorne Street, Bay Street to Victory Boulevard

The event is held the day after Earth Day, which has been held world-wide since 1970 to educate people about the importance of fighting for a clean and green environment and to combat climate change.

Car-Free Earth Day started in NYC in 2016, however, was discontinued for two years because of COVID-19.

“This is Earth Day and I encourage New Yorkers to join us in making the world a greener place by going car-free and taking alternative transportation,” said State Senator Brad Hoylman. “Our streets are one of the largest public spaces in the city. Together, we can create a better future and more equitable use of this public space for all to enjoy.”

Rodríguez wants to use this day to reimagine the city’s streets with fewer cars and more pathways for pedestrians and cyclists.

When asked how this may affect minority neighborhoods in the long run, he explained that this can be a good thing because plazas can bring together people, and they bring a sense of community.

He also said he hopes the day educates people on how important it is to reduce carbon emissions.

“I applaud the New York City Department of Transportation’s commitment to a greener and more sustainable city with Car-Free Day,” said Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney. “New York City must be a leader in the global fight to combat climate change, and this important event can act as the template for a more sustainable future.”

A couple of people shared their thoughts on this day and the future implications of the event if it was to become a permanent initiative.

“That is a good idea,” said 29-year-old Ricardo Manuel. “For less cars, there’s less fuel emissions.”

A couple sitting near him shared the same sentiment.

“I think it’s a great idea because it’s less of a negative impact on the environment,” said 24-year-old Darrell Elliot.

His girlfriend, Nicole Blake, agreed with his statement.

“I think that this is going to impede on people’s ability to park their cars,” the 22-year-old said. “But it’s for the betterment of the environment.”

However, one man disagreed.

“I think it’s a bad idea because it will cause more traffic,” Brandon Kennedy said. “It doesn’t solve the issue. It will make things worse as more cars will be stuck in one area, causing more toxic fuels to be in the air.”

NEW YORK, N.Y. – Democratic Representative Adriano Espaillat delivered his annual State of the District Address last night, February 3rd, 2022, via a virtual Facebook Livestream.

“Our district has faced great challenges but we are resilient and we continue to move forward, and I can tell you today that district 13 is strong,” said Espaillat., who represents Washington Heights, Harlem, East Harlem and the West Bronx.

At the virtual event, Rep. Espaillat highlighted his legislative accomplishments and presented an overview of his legislative priorities in 2022 for the district.

During the 117th Congress, Rep. Espaillat worked to pass funding for infrastructure projects, stimulus checks for many of his constituents, unemployment assistance, relief to keep small businesses afloat, and funding to help schools reopen safely.

“Expanding the child tax credit was most critical,” said Espaillat. “We delivered 77,000 payments to families across the district, totaling more than $31.4 million and reaching over 123,000 quantified children and keeping families in their home safe.”

Among his legislative priorities, Rep. Espaillat has further included combating climate and environmental injustice, improving foreign affairs, immigration reform, transportation and infrastructure, voting rights and criminal justice, access to affordable housing, and education and childcare.

“During the first session of the 117th congress, I introduced or co-sponsored a total of 531 pieces of legislation,” said Espaillat. “I led 32 of those bills in the house, reintroducing 20 of them and introducing 12 new pieces of legislations.”

Rep. Espaillat has also introduced many resolutions including resolution 28, which addressed the unlawful insurrection on the US capital on January 6th of last year as well as HR 585, the fight against black slavery in the America’s resolution, which recognizes the week of December 26, 2021, as the week of the quincenntanial fight against black slavery in the America’s.

House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, and Senate Majority Leader, Chuck Schumer, also made special appearances, praising Rep. Espaillat for his dedication to the 13th district

“The people of New York’s 13th district are fortunate to have a devoted champion in Congressman Espaillat,” said Pelosi. “Since day one he has been a valued leader on behalf working families and now on the Powerful Appropriations committee.”

Rep. Espaillat is the first Dominican American to serve in the U.S House of Representatives and the first formerly undocumented immigrant to ever serve in Congress.

Rep. Espaillat is an advocate of a fair living wage, immediate and effective investments in affordable housing, meaningful criminal justice reform, infrastructure improvements, expanded youth programs, and better educational opportunities.

“2021 was an unprecedented year, but we are New Yorkers and we are resilient,” said Espaillat as he signed off from the livestream.” “I am truly grateful for your support and remain committed to delivering on the promises that I made to help our community build back from the pandemic.”

Mayor Bill de Blasio placed hip hop back on the streets of New York on Thursday, signing a bill that will co-name Sedgwick Ave in the Bronx “Hip Hop Boulevard”.

The announcement comes almost 45 years after the music genre’s origination and literally puts it on the map. De Blasio started the ceremony by calling the new name, “a personal favorite of mine,” to a packed house at 31 Chambers Street.

The crowd cheered as advocates and city officials spoke about the importance of solidifying a place for Hip Hop in the area where it all began. It was a special and timely event for the people of the Bronx as they also celebrated others who had dedicated so much of their lives to the community.

“Hip hop has contributed so much to our culture and diversity, and to the fabric of this great city,” said Bronx Councilwoman Vanessa Gibson, “We are no longer defined by statistics but by our success stories and using Hip Hop as a catalyst and movement for social change is our way and opportunity and access.”

Bronx natives and siblings, Clive “DJ Kool Herc” Campbell and Cindy Campbell, started the movement by hosting the first parties at the community center, in the 1970s, at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue. Gibson, born and raised in the Bronx, credits it as the official birthplace of the style, while citing DJ Kool Herc as the founding father and Cindy Campbell, “the first lady of hip hop.”

“We can give the kids something to do and look forward to, it was a we thing,” said DJ Kool Herc. The founding father, in true fashion, proceeded to drape beads around the necks of Mayor de Blasio and Councilwoman Gibson as a token of appreciation.

“It has had an undeniable influence on popular culture and has cultivated a movement of so many young entrepreneurs and musicians,” added Gibson.

“We love that hip hop is worldwide and strong and that it will probably keep going and going,” said Campbell.

“It all started here” said de Blasio, sparking a friendly inter-borough dispute.

“Brooklyn raised it,” insisted Brooklyn City Councilman Jumaane Williams.

“Queens runs it, ask Russell Simmons,”chimed in Queens Councilman Donavan Richards, prompting more cheers and laughter from the crowd.

But Gibson had the last word: “Through the street co-naming Hip Hop Boulevard we are beginning a process in which we can recognize hip hop as our own hip hop museum right in the Bronx,” she said.

Moziah Sterling reports.

A City Council committee voted Tuesday to increase the annual budget of the Fordham Road Business Improvement District in the Bronx by $45,000.

The vote — raising annual funds from $625 to $670,000 — would allow expanding the Fordham Road BID from Third Avenue to Washington Avenue, attracting many high-end retail stores to the ground floor of One Fordham Road Plaza.

The BID, now sited between Community Boards 5,6 and 7, would  place two additional tax lots into the remainder of Community Board 6. One of the lots would serve as a public plaza and MTA transportation site and  the other lot will would provide the shopping center that was expected to  cater to the 80,000 daily visitors, committee members said.

The action was taken by the Committee on Finance.

Bronx Councilman Ritchie Torres voiced his support saying that “the expansion will be good for the Bronx and it is a culminating movement in reviving Fordham Road.”

The expansion of the BID was said to be beneficial to local business owners in the area as the influx of visitors will increase, supporters added.

However, the legislation for the budget increase would not go  into effect until after a 30-day objection period that allows property owneres to object the bill.

Manuel Ramos says he voted twice for Adolfo Carrión, Jr., for Bronx borough president when he ran as a Democrat, but he’s not ready to support him for mayor on the Independence Party line.

“He was fantastic, but my loyalty lies with my party, not an individual person,” said Ramos, 48.

Ramos, who has lived in the Bronx his entire life, said he was “disappointed to find out that Carrión had jumped ship” when he decided to run for New York City mayor as the Independence Party candidate.

“It just doesn’t make any sense to me. Moving from one party to the next gives me the assumption that you no longer agree with [Democratic] views and that is a problem,” Ramos added.

Ramos isn’t the only person who has expressed dismay over Carrión’s decision. Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. has also chimed in. At an endorsement event for Democratic mayoral candidate Bill de Blasio, Diaz said of Carrión: “To abandon us for his own political and personal gain is something we won’t forget and we’re going to make him pay for it at the ballot box.”

Diaz said that much of Carrión’s success — he held positions as City Council member, borough president, and director of the White House Office of Urban Affairs policy — was made possible by the Democratic Party.

Not too long ago, Carrión was in Diaz’s shoes, however, winning landslide victories for Bronx borough president — holding office from 2002 to 2009. Now, the mayoral candidate trails far behind de Blasio and Republican candidate Joe Lhota with perhaps his path to independence to blame.

A Wall Street Journal-NBC 4 NY Marist Poll released on Oct. 11 gave Carrión just 2 percent of the vote  — a dismal showing for a candidate who might at least have had a claim on Bronx votes.

Though running on the Independence ballot might have hindered any chances Carrión had to be a serious contender for  mayor, the candidate continues to view his decision to switch parties as “an act of political honor.”

In response to Diaz’s remarks, Carrion said in a press release that the party he chooses to run under is not what is important during this election. Rather, he said, he’ll concentrate on bringing the issues he is passionate about to the forefront. These issues include more policing on city streets and an education reform that will lengthen school days and add more academic resources.

Carrión has also been making efforts to change the conversation by focusing on the Hispanic community. In the 2009 general elections, only 20 percent of registered Hispanics voted. As someone of Puerto Rican descent, Carrión argues that Hispanics have been far too passive in politics and argues it’s necessary for them to become more involved.

His presence in the Bronx has faded, according to Ramos.  “People that know Carrion, know him as a Democrat and people that don’t, won’t ever know him because no one talks about the Independent candidate,” Ramos said.

Carrion seems to be aware of this and makes appearances in the borough quite often. The candidate walked proudly with supporters through Morris Park Avenue for the Columbus Day Parade on Oct. 13. Still, many were unfamiliar with him.

“I don’t hear about him on television as much as de Blasio so I can’t vote for someone I don’t know,” said Bronx resident Marcella Lopez.

Alan Aja, a Brooklyn College professor of Puerto Rican and Latino Studies, said Carrion’s decision to switch parties was a primary reason for his lackluster campaign. He said Carrión would have been a likelier contender had he remained with the Democratic Party, benefiting from “Quinn’s decline and Weiner’s outlandish behavior,” referring to the failed campaigns of  Council Speaker Christine Quinn and former Rep. Anthony Weiner.

Aja said that Carrión has strongly underestimated the Hispanic voters. “Carrion made the false assumption that Latinos would simply back him because he is Latino,” he said. “We are not a monolithic group. While Latinos are among the fastest growing potential voting blocs in New York City, our potential as a demographic is limited by immigration status, income, wealth and other structural barriers.”

The Hispanic vote, which polls say belongs to de Blasio, isn’t all Carrión would need to change his luck around, but it could provide a base of support. However, after an exclusion from the final mayoral debates because of low poll numbers, garnering attention from the public has been quite difficult for Carrión.

Carrión portrays himself as unfazed by these obstacles, however, and said in an interview that he will have enough funds for a cable television commercial that targets Latinos and the Bronx community.

Regardless of the outcome for Carrión, and whether naysayers blame the candidate’s party as his downfall, the mayoral candidate shows no regret. In the NY1 mayoral debate with Lhota, Carrión made it clear: “I’m proud to embrace the Independence Party.”