Lukewarm Welcome for Tracey Mailboxes Bronx Reacts to Stop-And
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Proudly Serving Bronx Communities Since 1988 • FREE lebratin e g C25 Years ORWOODn nEWS NVol. 27, No. 3 PUBLISHED BY MOSHOLU PRESERVATION COR PORATIONN February 6–19, 2014 WHODUNIT IN VAN CORTLANDT VILLAGE Bronx Reacts to Stop-and- Frisk Deal By DAVID CRUZ Fallout in Mayor Bill de Blasio promised, and now he’s de- livered. Speaker Race, In what was a major campaign pledge during de Blasio’s road to Gracie Mansion, the city will now p. 3 settle two class-action lawsuits over the constitu- tionality of stop-and-frisk, a decision that sends ripples through a public that grew distant from the police. The controversial practice had for years eroded Photo by Adi Talwar relationships between police and minority commu- BRINGING SOME razzle dazzle to a homicide, The Murder Mystery Company invited nities, with Bronxites claiming it was an intentional audience members to join actors in solving a faux investigation at Vladeck Hall in Van form of racial profiling. The lawsuits— Floyd v. City Cortlandt Village on Jan. 26. The show, “Of Sound Mind and Dead Body,” showcased of New York and Ligon v. City of New York—were raffles, a buffet dinner and magic show with proceeds benefiting the Van Cortlandt largely different, yet at its core examined the con- Jewish Center. stitutionality of the tactic. While the first claimed (continued on page 3) Business Beat Lukewarm Welcome for Tracey Mailboxes Is Back! By SHAYLA LOVE p. 8 Amid ongoing renovations at Tracey Tow- ers, a series of new mailbox banks can now be found in the building lobbies, and it’s caus- ing plenty of stir and controversy for tenants. That’s because the mailboxes are blocking the Be Healthy view of the lobbies, infringing on what used to be empty space, according to Jean Hill, Be Healthy: president of the Tenants Association. As it stands, the existing mailboxes - which Benefits of residents are still using for now - are affixed Obamacare, to the lobby walls. This design was initially thought to remain during renovations, but p. 10 was ultimately nixed, according to Hill. “The first plan was to rebuild the mailboxes in the original space, but it was eventually decided that they had to reconstruct the whole thing,” Photo by Shayla Love she said. “I knew the tenants wouldn’t be hap- THESE NEW larger-sized mailboxes will now be a fixture at Tracey Towers and it’s been met py about it because they were complaining in with mixed support. my ear. It was such a startling change.” At a meeting with Melvin Tuner, the onsite USPS Justifies the Switch parcel lockers intended for oversized packag- manager for the Norwood high-rises, Hill was Since American mail use had changed es delivered by a letter carrier. By enforcing told the mailbox change was mandated by drastically since the last rules were written the regulation, the USPS said it will stream- the United States Postal Service (USPS), but in 1975, USPS determined it needed to get line services, part of a larger effort to save wasn’t given specifics. The Norwood News did with the times. In the decade that followed, millions of dollars for the cash-strapped agen- find that the mailbox change complied with flat size mail deliveries steadily increased by cy. USPS, however, maintains it will “improve USPS regulations, specifically STD 4-C, im- 47 percent while package mail has increased access to the mailboxes by carriers and avoid Let There Be posed in 2006 for all new buildings with more by 42 percent, said mailbox producer Bommer the return of bulky, voluminous mail to the than four units. In 2004, the USPS rewrote the Industries. Post Office.” Light (Again), regulations for commercial and residential STD 4-C also calls for 20 percent larger But the USPS has been lenient in terms of mailboxes. mailboxes, improved lock mechanisms and (continued on page 6) p. 12 Picture your ad here! Advertise in the Norwood News, your local community paper. Call 718-324-4998 for rates. www.norwoodnews.org 2 n February 6–19, 2014 n Norwood News In The Public Interest Vol. 27, No. 3 Who’s Gained and Lost in the New Progressive Council Despite the Bronx political machine opportunity for the relatively unknown LEFT IN THE LurCH Norwood News is published delaying their support of one of their Cohen to shine, though the committee is Andy King: Coun- bi-weekly on Thursdays by own, City Council Speaker Melissa Mark often viewed as less important compared cilman Andy King Mosholu Preservation Corporation Viverito (D-8th CD) still extended a hand to other committees, such as the ever-cov- enters his first 3400 Reservoir Oval East of solidarity to several of her fellow eted Land Use Committee. official tenure as Bronx, New York 10467 Bronx political brethren by offering key councilman with- roles in the City Council while leaving Maria del Carmen out holding court Phone: 718 324 4998 some in the lurch. We broke down a list Arroyo: Arroyo over any committee Fax: 718 324 2917 of the borough’s political haves and have- (D-17th CD) comes chair posts. King, a for- E-mail: [email protected] nots: out of the polit- mer union organizer for 1199 SEIU, did not Web: www.norwoodnews.org ical fallout of back Viverito, whose background has been WHO REALLY GAINED the Viverito af- with the unions. On “Bronx Talk With Ritchie Torres: termath relatively Gary Axelbank,” King explained that his Publisher CEO, Mosholu Councilman unscathed, given unwillingness to initially support Viveri- Mosholu Preservation Preservation Ritchie Torres her support for Brooklyn councilman to was largely due to other Bronx council Corporation Corporation (D-15th CD) has Dan Garodnick, moving from Health to members seeking the Speaker seat, name- Roberto S. Garcia Editor-in-Chief gained the most, Community Development Committee. ly councilmembers Annabel Palma and David Cruz thanks to his ear- Arroyo’s re-appointment better suits Jimmy Vacca. Still, King doesn’t appear ly support of Vi- her, given the nature of the committee to be bitter over being cast aside as he told Classified Advertising verito. He’s the only that explores ways to reduce poverty in Axelbank he’s a “team player.” Dawn McEvoy freshman councilmember to be includ- low-income neighborhoods. Arroyo can Accounts Receivable ed as a member of Viverito’s leadership lend first-hand experience to the com- Annabel Palma: Dawn McEvoy team, having accepted the prominent mittee, since neighbors residing in her Coming out of the- position of Deputy Leader for Public district fall largely below the poverty Proofreader Viverito/deBlasio Judy Noy Housing. He also became chair of the line. transition limping Public Housing Committee, an import- is Councilwoman Production ant panel he sought given his back- Vanessa Gibson: Palma (D-18th CD) Neil deMause ground as former Housing Director for Having switched who lost the spot- Regular Contributors East Bronx Councilman Jimmy Vacca, from the state light as Chair of the David Greene, Adi Talwar his mentor. Torres’ well calculated and to the city level, General Welfare Committee after a futile Interns cordial snub of Vacca for Council Speak- newcomer Gibson race for Speaker against Viverito. She Shayla Love, Paolo Mossetti, and Justin er and resistance with party bosses was (D-16th CD) is now starts the year empty-handed, relatively McCallum a gamble that Torres won, clearing his Public Safety Com- powerless, and seemingly bitter, telling path as a rising star within the new lib- mittee Chair, holding Capital New York her committee chair For display advertising, call (718) 324-4998. eral class of council members. So on top the power to hold the NYPD’s feet to the strip was “retribution.” of his six-figure salary, Torres will earn fire on issues related to Stop-and-Frisk. Support Your another $23,000 carrying the extra re- The level-headed Gibson is walking a fine WHY THIS MATTERS Community Newspaper! sponsibilities, where he could very well line since the current top cop was picked Chairperson assignments can often be seen The Norwood News is a not-for-profit pub- hold hearings addressing NYCHA’s his- by her boss, Mayor Bill de Blasio, which as the reward for throwing support to a par- lication and relies upon the support of its torically poor performance record. could likely give her less room to criticize ticular Council Speaker. The assignments advertisers and readers to produce a quality the department. also support the vision crafted by the new community newspaper. To support your paper, Jimmy Vacca: become a member and receive a subscription Speaker, who can serve as a behind-the- for one year. Though he chal- Fernando Cabrera: scenes power player. In the end, chairper- lenged Viverito Cabrera (D-14th sons can review intros, hold hearings and Simply mail check or money order for $40 in her quest for CD) walks away decide whether to kill a bill. Chairperson to: Norwood News, 3400 Reservoir Oval East, Speaker by run- from the Technol- posts raises one’s profile, and can help steer Bronx, NY 10467. ning himself, ogy Committee monies towards a given portion of the bud- Vacca (D-13th CD) and transitions to get, particularly if it serves their district’s Norwood News is not responsible for typo- managed to land a Juvenile Justice, a interests. In a more nuanced manner, chair- graphical errors. Opinions expressed in signed spot as a member of Viverito’s leadership spot he sought (his persons can view the post as a political letters and bylined columns represent the sole team. On top of serving as Deputy Leader other preference was Higher Education gravy train, where special interest groups opinion of the author and are not necessarily for Technology, Vacca will also chair the Committee Chair).