Bronx Voice - April 5, 2023

7-Eleven workers terrorized for $1,000 worth of smokes

By Dan Gesslein

Workers at a Pelham Bay 7-Eleven were held hostage and robbed by three gunmen for a carton of cigarettes. Police released surveillance video of the suspects in the early morning armed robbery.

At around 3:30 am on March 20, three men dressed in black and masks burst into the 7-Eleven at 1590 Hutchinson River Parkway. The masked men pointed guns at the employees and forced two of the three workers into a bathroom inside the store.

The gunmen then forced a third worker to the front of the store to go behind the counter and open the cash registers. The robbers removed $700 in cash and over $1,000 worth of cigarettes.

The gunmen then ran out of the store without inci-

dent. It is unclear if they escaped in a nearby car or on foot.

Once robbers were gone the clerk freed his fellow coworkers and called police.

Police released surveillance video from inside the store that shows two of the three men displaying handguns while wearing white gloves. Two of the suspects wore black hoodies and black balaclavas with black sneakers. A third suspect wore a dark winter coat with a fur collar hood. He was also seen wearing a green surgical mask as well as dark pants and black sneakers.

Anyone with information in regard to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at https:// crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/ or on Twitter @ NYPDTips.

All calls are strictly confidential.

Police are searching for three men in connection with the armed robbery of a Pelham Bay 7-Eleven.

DEA smashes fentanyl ring near Yankee Stadium

By David Greene

Seven men and one woman are facing conspiracy and drug possession charges, while an eighth man is facing weapons possession charges, after officials announced they smashed an interstate Fentanyl ring based in Highbridge near Yankee Stadium.

On March 29, Bridget Brenan from the Special Narcotics Prosecutor for the City of New York announced the arrests after a nearly 2-year investigation that involved reviewed wiretaps approved by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, Jr.

Officials say eight of the individuals were manufacturing counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl and operating in Manhattan, the Bronx, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. Members of the DEA, working in conjunction with the NYPD's Narcotics unit, seized over

26,000 pills containing fentanyl, 2 kilograms of powdered fentanyl, nearly 50,000 pills containing methamphetamine as well as 3 kilograms of powdered cocaine.

The seized drugs had an estimated street value of $2.5 million, a majority of the pills were recovered in an Feb. 16th raid of a boiler-room in a residential building at 901 Woodycrest Avenue.

Offi cials say it was a family business as they charged Edwin Cabrera, 39, his brother Elvis Cabrera, 35, their sister Jennifer Duran, 44, all of Manhattan, as well as an Uncle Miguel Castillo, 44, of Providence, RI.

Also charged were Frankie Rosario, 24, of Reading, P.A.; Juan DeJesus, 52, of Manhattan; Erick Sanchez, age unknown, of Manhattan; and Ruben Burgos, 38, also of Manhattan.

All seven face charges of conspiracy, criminal sale of a controlled substance, criminal possession of a controlled substance, weapons possession, and criminal facilitation.

Offi cials say that based on intercepted phone calls from the wiretap, Castillo was behind the wheel of a Kia Sorento on an undisclosed street in the Bronx when he was stopped by a New York State Trooper on January 9. The trooper used a narcotics-detection K-9 German Shepard named "Jet" who discovered a kilogram of cocaine inside the vehicle.

Officials pointed out that Elvis Cabrera is currently incarcerated on two separate sets of charges in Bronx County, including allegations that he was manufacturing counterfeit pills with a pill-pressing machine.

In a separate indictment,

Jose Rodriguez was charged with criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a firearm.

Special Agent Tarantino said, "This investigation underscores the dangers lurking on our streets in the form of fake fentanyl pills.

Fentanyl and methamphetamine are being pressed into pills by local dealers like the Cabrera brothers." He added, "There is no difference between a pill mill in Mexico and a boiler-room in the Bronx, they both produce death.”

Officials say that The New York State Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Rhode Island Safe Streets Task Force and the Bronx District Attorney all assisted in the investigation.

Charges against all of the defendants are merely accusations until proven guilty in a court of law.

Law enforcement officials confiscated one handgun recovered during the course of the nearly 2-year investigation into an interstate counterfeit pill operation.

Narcotics-detection K-9 German Shepherd "Jet" poses for a photo with the confiscated pills, most recovered in a boiler-room of a building on Woodycrest Avenue in the Highbridge section of the Bronx.

Photos courtesy of the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor for the City of New York

Help to find housing thru health providers

NYC Health + Hospitals announced that approximately 600 patients per year will receive one-on-one support applying for housing, doubling the number of patients who currently access housing navigation support in the health system.

Eligible patients will be referred to a housing navigator who will help them find housing opportunities they qualify for, assemble application materials, accompany them on apartment viewings, and provide support to settle into their new home.

The housing navigation team will employ a whatever

A client of The Bridge, one of the housing partners of Coordinated Behavioral Care, in his new home.

Justice reforms not expected to make it out of Albany budget talks

By Reuven Blau, The City

This article was originally published on Mar 31 by THE CITY

A series of criminal justice reform bills — on record sealing, elder parole, and additional legal protections during police juvenile interrogations — will not be included in the upcoming state budget, according to multiple legislative insiders.

After giving Gov. Kathy Hochul space to fend off a threat from the right during last fall’s election, progressive activists could not land her support on any of their criminal justice causes as part of the budget, despite a Democratic supermajority in the State legislature.

“Elder parole would have saved the state hundreds of millions of dollars a year,” said Jose Saldana, director of the nonprofit Release Aging People in Prison, who noted it’s been a years-long fight for the bill and it costs at least $200,000 a year per each elder person behind bars. “We are always disappointed,” he added, “but especially with the budget.”

Criminal justice reformers now plan to push their legislative wish list after the budget is passed during the remainder of the Albany session, which ends in June.

They hope the added time will bring more attention, and conversation with state legislators, for their wishlist.

“As a general matter, it’s more ideal for policy to be debated and negotiated through the typical legislative process, especially when there’s no funding attached,” said Jullian Harris-Calvin, director of the Greater Justice New York program at the Vera Institute of Justice, a nonprofit supporting a raft of reforms.

Maggie Halley, a Hochul spokesperson, said the executive budget makes “transformative investments to make New York more affordable, more livable and safer.”

Bailing Out

If anything, Hochul wants to roll back some earlier reforms.

The state budget negotiations are reportedly being held up by Hochul’s push to

further water down bail regulations initially changed in 2019. Hochul wants to give judges more leeway to keep people locked up by lifting a requirement that they use only the “least restrictive means” to ensure a defendant shows up to trial.

Criminal justice reformers have strenuously pushed back, arguing that any changes will result in more Black and brown people disproportionately being locked up in dangerous jails for months, and sometimes, even years.

“Judges already have wide discretion to set bail or remand, and eliminating the ‘least restrictive’ standard in existing statute erodes the purpose of bail and would only condemn more of our

Black and Latinx clients to suffer pretrial incarceration at Rikers Island,” said a statement from the Legal Aid Society, the city’s largest public defender organization.

No New Hope

Some of the other proposed changes to the criminal justice system have been banging around Albany for several years.

That includes the so-called Elder Parole measure, which would automatically make anyone 55 or older who has served at least 15 years in prison eligible for a parole hearing.

A version of the bill was first introduced in May 2018. Meanwhile, the share of people in state prison who are at least 50 years old was

24% of the entire population behind bars as of March 2021, according to a report by state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli. By contrast, that population was just 12% in 2008, the report said.

State prison “return-to-custody” data has shown that older prisoners are much less likely to commit new crimes. Looking at the period from 1985 to 2015, the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision found younger people in prison were much more likely to return, according to the state data.

“Over half, 54%, of the individuals released in 2015 who were under 21 years old returned, while 42% of the

Home invaders make off with $160K

By David Greene

managing agent Genesis Realty Group, LLC., located on Third Avenue, but was unsuccessful.

Officers from the 42nd Precinct responded to the armed home invasion inside the 5-story building at 547 East 168th Street at 10 p.m. on March 23.

One police source stated, "Two unidentified individuals forcibly entered an apartment. One of the individuals displayed a firearm. The other individual displayed a cutting instrument and stabbed the 30-year-old female victim in the left arm causing a laceration. The individuals then removed a cellphone and a safe containing approximately $160,000 dollars

before fleeing in an unknown direction.”

The unidentified victim was transported to St. Barnabas Hospital and at the time was reported in "stable" condition

One resident of the building told the Bronx Voice, "I mean I did hear about it, but it's not my business." The resident added she believed the female victim lived on the first floor. The resident was then asked if the woman was injured, she replied, "I don't know, that's her business.”

An attempt was made to reach the building's

The NYPD released several photos of what appeared to be two male suspects. One appeared to be a dark-skinned male wearing an orange baseball cap and a blue or black sweater with white lettering and sneakers. The second suspect appeared to be a male, dressed in all black, wearing jeans, a sweatshirt and ski-mask and sneakers.

This suspect's sweatshirt also had white markings on the front and ironically, had "A Kodak Moment" written in orange on the back.

Anyone with any information regarding this incident is urged to call the Crime Stoppers at 1 (800) 577-TIPS or by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at www.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.com, all calls remain confidential.

Some folks no longer trust banks, but one woman in Morrisania must be wishing she had-- as police are looking to identify two individuals who forced their way into an apartment brandishing weapons and walking out with a safe containing $160,000.

A photo of one of the two suspects caught on surveillance camera.

Community Op Ed

Thinking outside the box on affordable housing

By Mayor Eric Adams

Last year, we declared that New York City would lead the way on housing in America. Our city must remain a place where everyday New Yorkers can find and afford a place to live. We have set a moonshot goal of building 500,000 new homes for New Yorkers over the next decade—and to achieve this goal we must fight for new housing, new zoning, and innovation.

People say New York City doesn’t have enough space for new housing—but there’s space everywhere if you look hard enough. Since the pandemic, we’ve seen office buildings lying empty or entire floors that are vacant. We can convert those existing spaces into homes that New Yorkers earning a wide range of incomes can afford.

Converting vacant offices into apartments will bring life back to our business districts and allow people to live close to where they work. The “New” New York Action plan, which Governor Hochul and I introduced last

year, calls for office conversions to revitalize our downtowns and keep our city vibrant.

Additionally, we have made affordable housing a central part of our working people's agenda.

We released our Housing Our Neighbors plan to get New Yorkers into safe and stable homes more quickly. And we launched our Get Stuff Built plan to speed up construction of new housing in all five boroughs.

But we've said from the beginning that we cannot solve this problem without help from New York State. That's

why we are so grateful for the partnership of Governor Hochul. She has included a number of key investments and policies in her proposed budget that will help us address the housing crisis. These investments and policies need to be included in the final budget that will be passed by the state in the coming weeks.

As state lawmakers consider the budget, we will continue to make our case for Albany to eliminate rules that make office conversions

nearly impossible, and remove the state cap that prevents us from building more housing in midtown Manhattan. We will also be pushing for an incentive to help property owners make much needed repairs in exchange for keeping homes affordable far into the future.

We have already been talking to our partners in the State legislature in Albany. Without their assistance, we simply will not be able to build affordable housing at the rate we need. But if we

work together, we can get critical support for NYCHA residents, create a pathway to safety for dangerous basement and cellar apartments, and make a number of other important changes and investments in the affordability of our city.

During the 1920s, we built 750,000 new homes—more than three times the number of homes built over the past 10 years. We can do it again. We must do it again for the sake New York City and of all New Yorkers.

Help to find housing thru health providers

it takes approach to meet patients where they are and support them through the housing process.

The new $14 million, multiyear contract with Coordinated Behavioral Care was approved by the health sytem’s Board of Directors.

Last year, NYC Health + Hospitals provided care for 49,800 patients experiencing homelessness. Housing navigation is a key part of Housing for Health, NYC Health + Hospital’s initiative to connect patients experiencing homelessness to stable, affordable housing and a strategy outlined in Mayor Eric Adams’ housing plan, “Housing Our Neighbors: A Blueprint for Housing and Homelessness.”

“Housing is health care and these new housing navigators, part of our ‘Housing for Health’ initiative, will play a key role in helping low income New Yorkers find and apply for a place to live,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “It will take all of us to tackle the housing crisis and I want to thank NYC Health + Hospitals for stepping up to help connect our brothers and sisters experiencing homelessness to a home.”

“Stable housing is critical to helping our unhoused patients manage their health,” said NYC Health + Hospitals Assistant Vice President of Housing and Real Estate Leora Jontef. “Today, NYC Health + Hospitals is making it easier for our patients to navigate the housing process in New York City and find a home.”

“Those who face housing instability are more likely to

experience poor health. People must have proper, affordable housing that provides comfort and safety to live their best lives. Our Housing Taskforce has seen firsthand how a support system throughout the housing process makes the experience of finding and moving into new homes easier for patients,” said Dr. Talya Schwartz, President and CEO at MetroPlusHealth. “We know our members will continue to benefit from NYC Health + Hospitals’ commitment to Housing for Health and this new vital contract.”

“As we promised in the Housing Our Neighbors Blueprint, this administration is laser-focused on moving New Yorkers into housing more quickly and seamlessly. Health and housing are inextricably linked, especially for those experiencing homelessness, so we applaud our partners at NYC Health + Hospitals for expanding support services for patients in need of a home,” said New York City Housing Preservation and Development Commissioner Adolfo Carrión Jr. “Permanent, affordable housing is essential to putting our neighbors on a path to wellness and stable living.”

“The Housing for Health plan recognizes that strengthening access to both affordable housing and quality healthcare is critical to helping New Yorkers experiencing homelessness truly stabilize their lives,” said Department of Social Services Acting Commissioner Molly Wasow Park. “We are incredibly grateful to our partners at NYC Health + Hospitals for this significant expansion of key housing navigation

supports for some of our most vulnerable New Yorkers in the health care system.”

“We are honored to partner with NYC Health + Hospitals to advance health equity through housing. CBC’s commitment to transforming community care has long prioritized addressing social determinants of health. We are intensely focused on improving outcomes, valuing housing, and effective transitions of care,” said Pamela Mattel, Coordinated Behavioral Care’s CEO.

“Woodhull hospital has been great for me. They took me out of the shelter and put me in the greatest apartment that I only dreamed of. I love you guys. Thanks again,” said Vincent, a patient at NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull who found housing through NYC Health + Hospitals’ Housing for Health initiative.

NYC Health + Hospitals will offer the following housing navigation services through the contract with Coordinated Behavioral Care:

Find and Match Patients to Permanent Housing Opportunities.

Identify housing opportunities, including supportive, affordable and private market housing.

Support Patients Through the Housing Placement Process. Conduct assessments of housing opportunities in the field.

Complete housing applications and collect of supporting materials, including identification and income documents.

Escort patients to apartment viewings.

Support a Successful Transition to Permanent Housing.

Provide patients with furniture and supplies for their apartment, as needed.

Coordinate with patients and owners to support successful transition to permanent housing.

Coordinated Behavioral Care was selected for the contract due to its long history offering behavioral health, housing, and social services to people at various stages of housing insecurity including homelessness. Its housing consortium includes Catholic Charities, Services for the Underserved, and The Bridge. The Coordinated Behavioral Care network operates over 12,000 housing units representing the full housing continuum and provides comprehensive care to more than 150,000 people annually.

“We’re excited to participate in this project with NYC Health + Hospitals and Coordinated Behavioral Care,” said Monsignor Alfred P. LoPinto, President and Chief Executive Officer, Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens and Affiliate Agencies. “CCNS has provided affordable quality housing for over 30 years to those living with emotional health issues, HIV/AIDS, the formerly homeless and seniors. Our staff has a vast knowledge and experience in assisting individuals in navigating the complex process of obtaining housing. We look forward to assisting vulnerable New Yorkers as they seek housing and social services support to continue to manage their health.

“S:US is proud to partner with NYC Health + Hospitals and CBC on this essential project to remove barriers to housing for New Yorkers. So

much of healing hinges on a safe and comfortable place to lay your head at night. At S:US our goal is to make sure every New Yorker has access to safe and dignified housing as part of their health plan. We are honored to work with agencies who uphold the same mission,” said Dr. Rebecca Linn-Walton, Chief Clinical Officer, Services for the UnderServed.

“The Bridge looks forward to participating in this important initiative. We have a deep commitment to providing services and housing to people living with a serious mental illness, and will bring this experience to our work with NYC Health + Hospitals, CBC and our partner organizations,” said Susan Wiviott, CEO of The Bridge.

Adults experiencing homelessness have three times more hospital and emergency department visits than the general population. In addition to improving participants’ lives by finding them housing, the program is expected to save costs by reducing hospitalizations and emergency room visits.

Housing for Health is NYC Health + Hospitals’ comprehensive initiative to facilitate housing opportunities and supports for patients experiencing homelessness. Recognizing that the chronic health issues of unhoused individuals cannot be treated without stable housing, this initiative seeks to improve their health and wellbeing of New Yorkers by focusing on four strategic areas: navigation services, medical respite beds, affordable housing on hospital property, and social service support for patients in permanent housing.

Health Matters Recovering from cancer physically, mentally, socially & emotionally

By Dr. Iliana Sanchez Franco, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Montefiore Health System

Cancer is a complex and devastating disease that affects millions of people worldwide.

It not only affects the physical health of patients, but it also takes a toll on their mental and emotional well-

being. Montefiore Einstein Cancer Center offers a specialized Cancer Rehabilitation Program that aims to help patients recover from the physical, emotional, and social impact of cancer and its treatment.

What is Cancer Rehabilitation?

Cancer rehabilitation is a comprehensive program that

includes a range of services designed to improve the quality of life of cancer patients. It can help patients manage the physical and emotional side effects of cancer and its treatment. The goal of cancer rehabilitation is to help patients regain their strength, mobility, and independence so that they can return to their daily activities as soon as possible.

Cancer rehabilitation may include the following services:

1. Physical Therapy: Physical therapy is an essential component of cancer rehabilitation. It can help patients improve their strength, mobility, and endurance. Physical therapists can design exercise programs that are tailored to the patient's specific needs and abilities.

2. Occupational Therapy: Occupational therapy can help cancer patients regain their independence in daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and cooking. Occupational therapists can provide training in adaptive techniques and recommend assistive devices to help patients with their daily activities.

3. Speech Therapy: Can-

cer patients may experience speech and swallowing difficulties due to the location of the tumor or the effects of radiation therapy. Speech therapists can work with patients to improve their communication skills and swallowing function.

4. Psychological Counseling: Cancer patients may experience anxiety, depression, or other emotional problems during and after treatment. Psychological counseling can help patients cope with the emotional stress of cancer and improve their quality of life.

5. Nutritional Counseling: Cancer patients may experience changes in appetite, taste, and weight during treatment. Nutritional counseling can help patients maintain a healthy diet and manage their symptoms.

Our team does its best to understand the unique needs, social circumstances, and perspectives of our diverse patient population. We recognize that accessing services can be difficult for some of our patients, for example lack of access to transportation or unstable housing can be barriers to care.

By addressing underlying factors, it is hoped that overall health outcomes can be improved and disparities in cancer rehabilitation can be reduced. We are also focused on enhancing our communication skills and cultural competence, so we can tailor our care specifically to our patients’ needs.

Cancer rehabilitation has many benefits for patients and is a critical component of cancer care. As well as helping patients recover from the physical, emotional, and social impact of cancer and its treatment, cancer rehabilitation can reduce the need for hospitalizations, emergency room visits, and other medical interventions. If you or someone you know is a cancer patient, talk to your healthcare provider about cancer rehabilitation and how it can help.

Iliana L. Sanchez Franco, MD, specializes in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and Hospice & Palliative Medicine at Montefiore Health System. She is also a member of the Montefiore Einstein Cancer Center.

Morris Heights Health is the healthy destination

By Kayla Mercedes Lee

Every Wednesday from 10am-2pm, on the corner of Burnside Ave and University Ave, you will find the Morris Heights Farmstand, a community-based joint initiative between MHHC and GrowNYC. The farmstand provides fresh, locally grown produce and accepts WIC, Cash, SNAP/EBT, Debit/Credit, Healthfirst OTC Plus and Humana Healthy Options insurance members (select plans), WIC & Senior FMNP coupons, and Greenmarket Bucks.

GrowNYC is a non-profit organization that has been around for over 50 years. Part of its mission is to improve the city’s quality of life through its programs and initiatives. One of the organization’s programs is greenmarkets, which brings fresh, locally grown produce to neighborhoods throughout the city.

MHHC has been around for over 40 years. It is known as the “healthy destination” of the Bronx, a staple for health and wellness in the community. Not only does MHHC provide high-quality healthcare services and access to medical coverage for all, but also makes sure that the members of the community have the tools necessary to live healthy lives. Every year, MHHC’S 200+ events bring health and wellness related resources to patients and members of the community. These resources include educational work-

shops on topics such as nutrition, CPR, and maternal care, informational material on various MHHC programs, such as school-based health and WIC, and item giveaways such as nutritious food and produce, diapers and baby formula, household sanitizing products, school supplies, books, and toys.

Located steps away from MHHC’s 85 W Burnside Ave location, the farmstand offers a variety of fruits and vegetables, including leafy greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, and more, sourced from local farms in the Hudson Valley region. The produce is sold at affordable prices, making it accessible to everyone.

Although the spring season has officially begun, during the months of April and May, the farmstand will still have a lot of winter veggies available.

The majority of GrowNYC’s

farmers are based in upstate NY and though the weather does not permit outdoor growing for certain crops, root vegetables that the farmers have harvested in the fall and kept in cold storage, will be available. The farmstand also features farmers who grow leafy green veggies in a greenhouse during the winter, which provides more accessibility to leafy greens for the community during the off season. Some of the other produce available in early spring are apples, potatoes, carrots, beets, turnips, onions, radishes, cabbage, parsnips, celery root, sweet potatoes, and winter squash.

In addition to providing fresh produce, the Morris Heights Farmstand also offers nutrition education and cooking demonstrations to help residents learn how to prepare healthy meals using the produce they purchase. The initiative aims to promote healthy eating habits and improve access to nutritious food in a community that faces significant challenges with food insecurity.

Food insecurity refers to a lack of consistent access to nutritious and affordable food, which can lead to health issues and other negative outcomes.

According to a report by one of MHHC’s partners, the Food Bank for New York City, in 2019, 28% of households in the Bronx experienced food

insecurity, compared to 11% citywide. In addition, many residents live in "food deserts," areas where there are few grocery stores or other sources of fresh, healthy food.

The Morris Heights Farmstand, supported by MHHC, is one example of a community-led effort to address food insecurity and promote health and wellness in the Bronx. It demonstrates the importance of collaboration between organizations and community members in creating sustainable solutions to complex social and environmental challenges.

Like GrowNYC, the Food Bank for New York City supports a healthier Bronx through its partnership with MHHC. The Food Bank for New York City operates several programs in the area, including community kitchens that provide free meals, and food pantries that distribute groceries to those in need.

This spring, MHHC will be introducing “Wellness Wednesdays”, which will take place one Wednesday of the month at the farm stand. “Wellness Wednesdays” will raise awareness and inform the community about different health observance days during the month. The goal is to inspire the members of the community to build healthy habits for themselves and their families. Diseases and conditions

such as diabetes, obesity, and hypertension are prevalent in the Bronx—but they are preventable. MHHC offers exercise classes for all ages, nutrition demonstrations, and educational workshops to make health and wellness a more accessible and achievable option.

Also located in the Bronx is the Hunts Point Produce Market, another partner of MHHC, which is known for its role as a wholesale supplier of fresh fruits and vegetables to supermarkets, restaurants, and other businesses. In recent years, the market and its vendors have played an important role in addressing food insecurity in the region. Through its partnerships and collaborations with local organizations, such as MHHC, Hunts Point Produce Market prioritizes social responsibility through providing fresh, healthy options to underserved communities. Partnerships and collaborations with organizations that share the same goals as MHHC further support the mission to provide the opportunity for health and wellness in the community. The support and resources that MHHC’s partners provide helps the entire community thrive and creates hope for a healthier Bronx. Follow mhhc_inc on Instagram to learn more about MHHC in the community and upcoming events

Grant will advance translational science and health equity

Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Health System have received a seven-year, $30 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to continue support for the Harold and Muriel Block Institute for Clinical and Translational Research at Einstein and Montefiore (ICTR). The latest Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) will ensure the ICTR will further its vision to improve health in the Bronx, Westchester, and lower Hudson Valley by accelerating the translation of scientific discoveries into effective and equitable prevention and treatment approaches.

“Since establishing the ICTR in 2008, our goal has been to reduce barriers that researchers face in making new discoveries and to speed the rate that scientific findings are incorporated into clinical practice,” said Marla Keller, M.D., principal investigator of the CTSA grant, director of the ICTR, and professor and vice chair of medicine at Einstein and Montefiore. “And while we have always prioritized addressing health disparities, we are launching new resources to catalyze and support re-

search that will significantly advance health equity.”

The new CTSA award will also focus on advancing translational science, a new field of investigation dedicated to enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of all translational research. “Over the coming years, our ICTR will introduce innovations in critical areas such as community engagement, health informatics, and data science that will facilitate research across a range of diseases and conditions,” said Mimi Kim, Sc.D., co-principal investigator of the CTSA grant, associate director of the ICTR, and professor and head of the division of biostatistics in the department of epidemiology & population health at Einstein and Montefiore.

Over the past 15 years, the ICTR has supported approximately 1,000 projects each year, many to address diseases that are disproportionately prevalent in the Bronx, including diabetes, opioid use disorder, HIV, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and asthma.

The ICTR played a leading role in Montefiore and Einstein’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including participation in 15

multicenter clinical trials, publication of “real-world” studies on people with both COVID-19 and another disease or condition, identification of immune responses in children, and assistance in developing national treatment guidelines.

The ICTR will also continue to innovate approaches to research around structural racism and its impact on health. The institute has previously supported initiatives that directly advance health equity, such as Montefiore’s roll-out of social needs screenings to better understand the challenges patients face at both the individual and population levels. The new grant will expand these efforts, assisting investigators to integrate social needs into study design, use new tools and algorithms to evaluate overlapping social needs, and understand systems-level bias and discrimination.

“At the core of Einstein and Montefiore has always been a commitment to equitable access to healthcare, education, and research for all people in our communities,” said Paul Marantz, M.D., M.P.H., associate dean for clinical

research education at Einstein, associate director of the ICTR, and professor of epidemiology and population health and of medicine at Einstein and Montefiore.

Consistent with the ICTR’s theme of “Building Bridges in the Bronx and Beyond,” an expanded ICTR community and stakeholder engagement core co-directed by Carmen Isasi, M.D., Ph.D., and Earle Chambers, Ph.D., M.P.H., will develop new models of community engagement to foster deeper connections with members of the Bronx, Westchester, and lower Hudson Valley communities so their perspectives can better inform

research topics and priorities. The ICTR will expand its partnerships with community-based organizations to generate and disseminate study results and evidence-based health information to local residents.

The grant, titled “Einstein-Montefiore Clinical and Translational Science Award Hub,” was provided by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), part of the NIH (1UM1TR004400). The ICTR at Einstein and Montefiore is one of more than 60 institutions supported by the CTSA Program at NCATS.

Justice reforms not expected to make it out

individuals 21 years of age or older returned,” according to the report.

“There’s no real legitimate argument that releasing older New Yorkers, many of whom are in dire medical straits, is bad for public safety,” said Harris-Calvin from the Vera Institute.

One state Assembly member, Jeffery Dinowitz (D-The Bronx), last year said he was worried the measure would set free serious offenders.

“The fact is that anyone who receives a prison sentence long enough to qualify for elder parole has been convicted of an extremely serious crime,” he told the Riverdale Press. “Many of my colleagues — including myself — have very serious concerns that the elder parole bill does not address the type of crime in any way.”

Supporters of the legislation point out that the incarcerated people would need to be approved by a parole board, which is unlikely to release people convicted of multiple killings or other high-profile crimes — or if the person shows no signs of remorse and rehabilitation.

Last year, Republicans were joined in their opposition to elder parole by

some moderate Democrats, whose party controlled both houses of the state Legislature with a veto-proof supermajority.

Try, and Try Again

Some pending criminal justice bills don’t have much bearing on the budget and will have to wait regardless. That’s the case with a proposal to ban cops from interrogating minors without counsel, first introduced in 2020.

While police must read everyone their Miranda rights — letting a detainee know they can remain silent, ask for a lawyer and not incriminate themselves — many young people can’t understand what that actually means, according to defense lawyers who represent juvenile clients.

Marty Feinman, who until recently ran the Legal Aid Society’s juvenile practice, handled scores of cases involving underage confessions and is still working with the nonprofit public defender organization on what he considers an urgent push.

“My understanding is that something like our bill would not necessarily be included in these budget discussions,” he said, noting the projected cost of between $1 million to $3 million would not be a high enough amount to require a

budget adjustment.

“The Fifth Amendment for kids under 18 is being rendered an absolute myth,” Feinman said. “Their rights are being deprived and it’s a horrible miscarriage of justice.”

That money would go towards the court system making sure that a lawyer is available to any underage child picked up by the cops — perhaps through a 24/7 hotline staffed by lawyers in remote areas, according to Feinman.

Another bill that remains in limbo is the Clean Slate Act to “make record sealing much more accessible by automating the process,” according to the Brennan Center for Justice, which supports the legislation.

It would seal past criminal records up to 1.4 million people, according to one estimate by the Paper Prisons Initiative of Santa Clara University. That could give renewed access to more job and housing opportunities for anyone affected.

“A criminal record should not mean a lifetime of blocked opportunity,” said Eli Northrup, policy director in the Criminal Defense Practice at The Bronx Defenders. “Clean Slate cannot wait.”

Holding the Line

The likely budget is not

all bad news for criminal justice reformers.

They are pleased the proposal currently being discussed doesn’t not include any rollback to the discovery reform legislation passed in 2019.

“We don’t think she’s gonna make any changes to discovery just because the issue is so esoteric and complicated,” said one official who works for a public defender organization who asked to speak anonymously because the budget has not been finalized. “Even if they made changes it would be tough for regular New Yorkers to understand the impact.”

The proposed budget also does not involve any changes to the Raise the Age measure, which boosted the age of criminal responsibility from 16 to 18.

Mayor Eric Adams has repeatedly called for changing that law, passed in 2018.

“I want us to look at keeping violent juveniles in criminal court,” he told reporters last summer.

Supporters of the measure note that minors’ brains are still developing and thus it is unfair, and damaging in the long term, to treat them as adults. New York State was one of the last in the country to change the law on how it treats 16- and 17-year-olds.

As for the “discovery” reforms, Albany lawmakers required prosecutors starting in 2020 to share all case information and evidence with defense teams well before a trial begins.

Public defenders and progressive lawmakers had pushed for those legal changes to combat an often-used prosecutorial practice of holding back on disclosures until the eve of trial, forcing defendants to quickly weigh whether they should fight their cases or take plea deals in the dark.

Some prosecutors had complained the requirements are overbroad and unwieldy.

But disappointment remains widespread among advocates that Hochul herself did not include any criminal justice reforms in her budget proposal, which is typically used as a roadmap for the fi nal budget.

“What’s clear about the governor’s budget is that she is more interested in jailing Black, brown, and immigrant New Yorkers than she is making investments that will create true community safety,” said Northrup.

THE CITY is an independent, nonprofit news outlet dedicated to hard-hitting reporting that serves the people of New York.

Foodies paradise blooms this spring Culinary Road

The culinary landscape in the Bronx and Westchester is blossoming again! Like planting seeds in the garden, restaurants are sprouting, spreading their wings. Expansions and new openings are on the hot burner. Here is some of the latest grapevine…

NOSHING AT YANKEE STADIUM 2023!

The Major League Baseball season is underway. If you’re planning to eat while visiting Yankee Stadium, the food service throughout the park has been revamped for 2023 featuring some old and some new.

For example: Bronx-born celebrity chef Christian Petroni, a regular on the Food Network, has brought his ‘Cheesy Garlic Bread’ for the fans. Mac Truck will be offering their unique take on Mac n’ Cheese with a variety of toppings. Also, noted Chef/restaurateur David Chang has brought Fuku, his fried chicken concept.

Returning concessionaires include: Lobel Meat Market for tasty beef sandwiches and platters; Streetbird by Chef Marcus Samuelsson, Bobby Flay’s ‘Bobby’s Burgers’, Mighty Quinn’s BBQ, Chick & Pete’s, City Winery, The Halal Guys, Sumo Dog, and Benihana, Oatly, and Wings of New York. There are also gluten-free, vegetarian & vegan options. You can also check out the Yankee Stadium Tower Garden. For more info: www.mlb.com/yankees/ballpark/food

TORCELLO OPENS IN LARCHMONT!

Imer Rraci and his veteran team have reimagined the former La Riserva, a lovely setting for the Italian classics. Named after an island off the coast of Venice, Chef Avni turns out such winning dishes as: colorful Mozzarella Caprice; Eggplant Rollatini; Rigatoni Bolognese in a meat sauce; Risotto Di Funghi with porcini; Veal Martini; classic Rack of Lamb; and delicious Pollo Torcello, topped with applewood bacon and melted fresh mozzarella in a light bourbon mushroom sauce. Rraci has spent years working for the former Giambelli in Manhattan, and Valbella in Old Greenwich, CT. Open 7 days for dinner starting at 4 p.m. Bar/cocktails. Free parking. Torchello Ristorante, 2382 Boston Post Road, Larchmont. 914-833-1118 www.torcellolarchmont.com

ONE RARE STEAKHOUSE OPENS IN SCARSDALE!

Veteran restaurateur Harry Sinanaj of Ben & Jack’s Steakhouse in Manhattan has opened Westchester’s newest upscale bastion of beef at the former Zachy’s Wine Shop space right in the Village of Scarsdale. A stellar ribbon cutting ceremony was held on February 7th.

The team at this handsomely designed 120-seat restaurant with sparkling bar will lavish you. From Chef Admir’s kitchen come such specialties as: a daily selection of East or West Coast Oysters, Wedge Salad, Pappardelle with short ribs, classic Surf & Turf, Porterhouse for 2 or more, and Tomahawk Steak. The bar is already a hotspot. Opens at 4 p.m. One

Rare Italian Steakhouse, 16 East Parkway, Scarsdale. 914330-8488 www.oneraresteakhouse.com

THE WICKED WOLF NORTH OPENS IN YONKERS!

The renovation to this landmark Westchester property, formerly The Old Stone Mill, has finally been completed and Wicked Wolf North is open for business. Proprietor Seamus Carey and his management team are ready to serve you a special menu of traditional Irish/American tavern specialties. From Executive Chef Jack Ginty’s kitchen: Irish Beef Stew, Shepherd’s Pie, Donegal Fish n Chips, Braised Lamb Shank, Steaks and Prime Rib. Plenty of brews. Bar/lounge. Live entertainment. Private party facilities. Free parking. The Wicked Wolf North, 2 Scarsdale Ave., Yonkers/Tuckahoe. 914-771-7661 https://thewolfnorth.com

CAFÉ DEUX OPENS IN HARRISON!

Sisters with a decidedly French flair, Carrie and Charlotte Denoyer, have opened Café Deux on Halstead Ave. in Harrison, across from the new Avalon complex and Metro-North. Café Deux is an all-day café and restaurant that will highlight classic French delights and bistro fair: fresh pastries, sandwiches, entrees, and sweets including their signature ‘cupped desserts’ as complement their daily selection of curated coffees and teas.

By Morris Gut

There is plenty of culinary pedigree at work here. Jean Denoyer, their father, a noted restaurateur, opened the original La Goulue in Manhattan some 51 years ago. The chef is Alex Aparicio who spent time at Pub Street and Village Social in Westchester. The pastry chef is Jessica Craig who had worked for Michelin-starred celebrity Chef Missy Robbins.

Café Deux is located at 307 Halstead Ave., Harrison. The café will be open 7 days a week. 914-920-4110 www.

cafedeuxny.com

JACK’S TO OPEN JILL’S IN MAMARONECK!

Shane Clifford, proprietor of popular Jack’s Bar & Kitchen, a modern Irish American tavern in Eastchester, has a new restaurant in the works in Mamaroneck. Shane and his team are currently renovating the former

Baby Dukes space (some may recall it as Lum Yen). It will be called Jill’s. If Jack’s is any indication, Jill’s will be serving up a winning combination of gastropub specialties with pizzazz, along with a good dose of hospitality.

Jill’s is located at 100 W. Boston Post Road, Mamaroneck, off the corner of Mamaroneck Ave. It is across from Harbor Island Park. Jill’s website is currently under construction. www.jackseastchester.com More on this as it evolves.

(Morris Gut is a restaurant marketing consultant and former restaurant trade magazine editor. He has been tracking and writing about the food and dining scene in the Bronx and Westchester for 30 years. He may be reached at: 914-2356591. Email: gutreactions@ optonline.net)

Colorful mozzarella caprese at Torcello.