Proudly Serving Bronx Communities Since 1988 • FREE lebratin e g C25 NORWOOD NEWS Years Vol. 27, No. 2 n PUBLISHED BY MOSHOLU PRESERVATION CORPORATION n January 23–February 5, 2014 CELEBRATING MARTIN LUTHER KING Questions Raised Over Armory Assemblyman Found Guilty Of CBA Corruption, By DAVID CRUZ p. 3 Though the Kingsbridge Armory Community Benefits Agreement had been endorsed and approved by 26 signatories, questions have arisen over whether the signatories behind the CBA are a true representation of Bronx Youth Photo by David Greene the community. PARISHIONERS PACKED the pews at Trinity Baptist Church in Edenwald celebrate the legacy It’s an inquiry Fernando Tirado Heard, of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Jan. 20. This year marks 50 years since King is leading. The former Community p. 8 convinced President Lyndon Johnson to help pass the Civil Rights Bill, pushing for better equal- Board 7 district manager went to bat ity across America. for the Kingsbridge Road Merchants (continued on page 6) CB7 Holds Line on Webster Avenue Be Healthy By HAYLEY CAMACHO Be Healthy: Despite rezoning along the 1.5 mile stretch of Webster Avenue as Crunch Gym a way to encourage market rate housing and new businesses, Com- munity Board 7 members remain angry over the city Department Eyeing Webster of Buildings’ lax enforcement of the new zoning laws and loopholes Ave., p. 12 that have led to widespread supportive housing ventures. In what’s become a hot topic within CB7’s borders, the members pored over the issue and possible solutions at the board’s Economic Development Committee meeting held on Jan. 8. Meetings have be- Photo by Hayley Camacho come at times contentious ever since the rezoning went into effect, WEBSTER AvENUE is ripe with plenty of construction thanks to re- amending construction laws on Webster Avenue running from East zoning, though these days Community Board 7 is tightening its grip Gun Hill Road to Fordham Road. on any Letter of Support to supportive housing developers. The community board for the Norwood, Kingsbridge, Bedford Park, Fordham, Mosholu and University Heights areas has played with the board’s Housing Committee over these issues. hardball mainly with the Stagg Group, a development and construc- A big obstacle in the revitalization of the Webster Avenue cor- tion company which is building sites at 2977-89 and 2997 Webster ridor are incentives provided by the Department of Housing Pres- Ave., to finally include the required first floor commercial space ervation and Development that allow developers to obtain a range after complaints to the DOB that resulted in a second review of of special loan financing and tax credits to build supportive and Stagg’s plan. low-income housing. The agency offers loans to non-profits that Board members are skeptical in how rigorous the DOB is in en- provide on-site social services that eliminate the repayment of forcing new zoning requirements for projects. “You can influence but the principal or interest as long as the borrower agrees that the you can’t mandate except for the zoning, and the zoning is being cir- property be used for low income homeless tenants for 30 years. Tree Stump cumvented,” said CB7’s Economic Development chair Ellie Lundeen. HPD also awards tax credits for housing projects that reserve These days, economic development has intertwined with hous- at least 20 percent of apartments for low-income households. Once Finally Removed, ing since new buildings must include commercial space on the first tax credits are allocated, the developer typically sells the credits to p. 11 floor, as per requirements from the new zoning laws. It’s a reason corporate investors who supply private equity to cover a portion of why CB7’s Economic Development Committee has collaborated (continued on page 7) Picture your ad here! Advertise in the Norwood News, your local community paper. Call 718-324-4998 for rates. www.norwoodnews.org 2 n January 23–February 5, 2014 n Norwood News In The Public Interest Liberty Dems Seek New Leaders Vol. 27, No. 2 PICHARDO With Ritchie Torres ascending to the my Vacca. Norwood News is published role of Councilmember for the 15th Coun- The club’s influence has certainly in- SWORN IN bi-weekly on Thursdays by cil District, the Liberty Democratic As- creased now that Torres was elected as Mosholu Preservation Corporation sociation (or Liberty Dems for short) is Councilman, beating a crowd of contend- 3400 Reservoir Oval East without a leader. The powers that be are ers with help from the Bronx political ma- Bronx, New York 10467 now seeking a candidate to fill Torres’ chine, unions, and Torres’ own grassroots shoes following his departure, with elec- involvement in tackling housing issues. Phone: 718 324 4998 tions slated for Sunday, Jan. 26. It’s part of “He’s an honest kid and you want those Fax: 718 324 2917 the club’s belated New Year’s Party, cost- people in politics,” said McManus. “And I E-mail: [email protected] ing $10 to partake. would say we make sure that you’re repre- Web: www.norwoodnews.org Members will also fill the vacancy for sented by people who are at least halfway treasurer, a post held for several years by decent.” longtime civic activist Ray Unger, who An overall plan of incorporating new Publisher CEO, Mosholu passed away last June. members akin to Torres’ energy is still Mosholu Preservation Preservation As far as Joe McManus sees it, the role on the club’s minds with older members Corporation Corporation of the club ensures “good people are in- still outranking younger blood. McMa- Roberto S. Garcia Editor-in-Chief volved in politics and make(s) sure good nus hopes the new president would be Photo courtesy Assemblyman David Cruz people are elected.” Of course, candidates able to up the ante when it comes to re- Victor Pichardo’s Office seeking endorsements from the club must cruitment. BRONX COUNty Civil Court Judge Classified Advertising fall on the Democratic ticket. McManus Guests will gather at Janel Towers’ Beltré-Rosado (l) administers the oath Dawn McEvoy serves as the 80th Assembly District’s community room at 801 Neill Ave. in the of office to Assemblyman Victor Pich- Accounts Receivable State Committeeman. From a grassroots neighborhood of Morris Park beginning ardo (center), now representing the Dawn McEvoy level, the club helped orchestrate a big 2 p.m. and wrapping up at 5 p.m. Neigh- 86th Assembly District, a seat once victory for the relatively inexperienced bors can RSVP to Joe McManus at (718) Proofreader held by disgraced Assemblyman Judy Noy Torres, whose credentials include serving 644-1841 or Monica Major at (917) 208-3886. Nelson Castro. Pichardo stands with as Housing Director for Councilman Jim- —DAVID CRUZ mom Luisa Duran. Production Neil deMause Regular Contributors Cuomo Backs Bronx Metro-North Plan David Greene, Adi Talwar Contributor By DAVID CRUZ hattan’s Penn Station. Hayley Camacho Locals in Co-op City, Morris Park, It’s all but a reality. Parkchester and Hunt’s Point are slated For display advertising, call (718) 324-4998. With Governor Andrew Cuomo public- to see a station in their neighborhood. ly announcing his support for more Met- The respective neighborhoods were cho- Support Your ro-North service to the Bronx in his State sen given their dense populations, with Community Newspaper! of the State address, the borough’s state Co-op City housing the largest coopera- The Norwood News is a not-for-profit pub- lawmakers are giddy on when they can tive in the city with some 50,000 residents lication and relies upon the support of its actually vote on earmarking the proposed living there. advertisers and readers to produce a quality project estimated to cost over $1 billion. Both State Legislatures have publicly community newspaper. To support your paper, They’ll get their chance this coming supported the project. In the Senate, In- become a member and receive a subscription March when the MTA’s five-year capi- dependent Democratic Conference presi- for one year. tal budget plan will be voted on by both dent, Sen. Jeff Klein, vowed to make sure houses of the State Legislature, highlight- the project passes Senate, calling the plan Simply mail check or money order for $40 ing the agency’s projects in the pipeline his “top priority.” to: Norwood News, 3400 Reservoir Oval East, and the economy are clear,” said Klein. through 2019. The Metro-North project Last spring, Klein and Borough Pres- Bronx, NY 10467. But the building of these stations is will expand service to the east Bronx, iso- ident Ruben Diaz Jr. released a report contingent on whether the Long Island Norwood News is not responsible for typo- lated transit areas that often require com- detailing the economic gravy train the ex- Railroad will release track space for the graphical errors. Opinions expressed in signed muters to take a bus and subway to get to pansion would produce, with over $1 bil- impending Metro-North trains. The likeli- letters and bylined columns represent the sole work in Manhattan. Four train stations lion in benefits projected as a result of the hood of that happening is strong since the opinion of the author and are not necessarily along the borough’s east end will be built expansion. On top of property rates, the MTA is currently building the East Side those of Mosholu Preservation Corporations along the existing Hell’s Gate line, the Metro-North expansion plan would create Access construction project, which will or Montefiore Medical Center. Editorials rep- main line that takes Amtrak’s passengers 5400 jobs, according to the report.