Bronx Voice - September 8, 2021

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5th Year, No. 10

IDA’S FALLOUT A photo believed to be a New Jersey homeowner posted to social media by Carlos Sierra-Gonzalez

TEACHERS MAKE COVID HOUSECALLS

Drying out, picking up the pieces from Looking massive to see if kids storm will head Leidy Rodriguez, a special education teacher at P.S. 150 the Charles James Fox School in the South Bronx, canvassed the neighborhood to talk with parents about returning to school amid COVID.

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September 8 - 14, 2021

Photo Christina Veiga / Chalkbeat

Back to School

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Residents seek help after Ida hammers the Bronx

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By David Greene In what could be described as rain of biblical proportions that inundated portions of the borough as the National Weather Service (NWS) issued it's first-ever flash-flood warning for New York City for Tropical Storm Ida- the first time that warning has been issued since record keeping began in 1870.

Cars left abandoned in the flood waters along the Major Deegan Expressway the night before in a Facebook photo posted by Mikkellerbeer.

The NWS reported a record 3.15 inches of rain fell in just one hour in Central Park on Wednesday, September 1, and more than eight-inches fell before it ended the following day, breaking another all-time record.

The storm, which made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane in Louisiana on August 29, the 16th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, left a path of death and destruction that caused downed trees and power lines and flooded homes and businesses in at least half a dozen states.

On September 4, the city opened the Bronx office of the New York Public Engagement Unit at P.S. / M.S. 194, located at 2365 Waterbury Avenue in the Zerega section where officials

from the NYC Human Resources Administration, the Department of Buildings and the American Red Cross spent the weekend interviewing residents to determine their individual needs.

The resource center also had COVID-19 testing and vaccines.

Fred Valentin of Throgs Neck Boulevard said before going inside for assistance, "I'm thankful they got some help over here, ya know? If we get it. But if we do, it's a big help, because I got flooded in my basement and I had my son down there and he lost the computer, the bed, everything.”

Asked how much water flooded his apartment, Valentin replied, "About two feet. Even my boiler and hot water CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

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Son shot dead, father in custody after shootout with police

By David Greene A 24-year-old man is dead and his father is in custody after a street corner dispute among a group of young men led to a shootout with a pair of off-duty police officers, leaving the young man mortally wounded and his 45-year-old father in handcuffs.

According to police officials, the dispute began at 4:15 a.m. outside of the Los Polmaritos Deli & Grocery, located at 2080 Valentine Avenue, at the corner of East 180 Street in the Fordham Heights section on Sunday, August 29.

At a press conference later that same morning and posted to Twitter, Juanita Holmes, the NYPD's Chief of Patrol, said, "A 24-year-old male and a 45-year-old male were involved in a dispute with a group of people. This dispute then turned physical, during the dispute the 24-yearold male brandished a firearm and fired several times" into the crowd of mostly young men.

Chief Holmes continued, "During this dispute, two off-duty

police officers who just finished their shift with the 46 Precinct were leaving, they observed shots being fired and engaged the suspects."

She added, "The 24-year-old male pointed his gun and fired several times at officers," as officers returned fire, fatally striking him in the chest.

Holmes concluded, "The 45-year-old male then picked up the injured suspect's gun and fired rounds at the officers," before being taken into custody.

Holmes noted that moments after the shooting, responding officers attempted to render aid to the man who died a short time later at St. Barnabas Hospital.

The dead man was identified by police as Mike Rosado, 24,

Photo by David Greene

Investigators were still on scene late Sunday morning after a police-involved shooting killed a 24-year-old man who fired at police on August 29, 2021.

of East 150 Street.

Police say his father Rafael Rosado, 44, of Garfield Street in the Van Nest section, has been charged with attempted murder, criminal posession of a weapon, criminal use of a firearm and reckless endangerment.

A store surveillance video obtained by the Daily News shows the incident begins with one woman dancing and a man smoking a hookah pipe and ends with the elder Rosado hold-

ing the weapon and two women laying the younger Rosado on the ground as officers arrive.

The two still-unidentified off-duty officers were transported to Jacobi Hospital for observation after complaints of ringing in the ears. The Force Investigation Division and the NYPD's Detective Bureau continue to investigate.

A protest of the shooting was organized by residents of the community and was held on Monday, August 30 outside of the 46th Precinct.

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13 HOMICIDES IN 2 WEEKS

Killings skyrocket with end of summer violence

By David Greene With an unprecedented number of shootings and homicides this year, summer is going out with a bang as the NYPD has reported no less than 13 homicides across the borough since August 18, with just two arrests reported in those cases.

In the most recent case reported at 3:22 p.m. on Sunday, September 5, a 39-year-old male was shot in the torso at 4404 White Plains Road. The victim, who has not yet been identified, died enroute to Montefiore Hospital.

At 11 p.m. on September 4, police were called to 1386 Ogden Avenue, where a still-unidentified 68-year-old man was found lying on the sidewalk. Police say he was stabbed twice in the back of his left leg and died at the scene.

At just before 3 a.m. on September 4, officers from the 47th Precinct were called to 3831 Boston Road, where a 55 -yearold male was discovered shot in the chest and right leg. The victim was rushed to Jacobi Hospital, where he also died. That man has also not yet been identified.

On September 3, officers were called to a shooting at just after 8:30 p.m. outside of 1137 East 229 Drive South, outside

of the Edenwald Houses.

Police say a 28-year-old male suffered a gunshot wound to the chest. The victim, identified by police as Dennis Neal of nearby Nereid Avenue, was pronounced deceased a short time later at Montefiore Hospital.

Officers in the 43rd Precinct were called at just after 7 p.m. on September 3, to 1430 Unionport Road where a 37-year-old male was shot in the chest and a 27-year-old man was hit in the right leg and both were transported to Jacobi Hospital. The 27-year-old victim, who was later identified as Leshaun Whitefield of Manhattan, died a short time later. Later the same day police release a photo of a Jeep Cherokee observed fleeing the scene of that shooting.

On September 1, police were called to a "ShotSpotter" activation at 3:16 a.m.outside of 4001 De Reimer Avenue, where officers discovered an adult male, "Lying on

the ground with a gunshot wound to the head."

The man, later identified as Wayne Heslop, 27, of Furman Avenue, was pronounced deceased at Jacobi Hospital. The NYPD later released a video from that incident.

At 7:20 p.m. on August 31, police reported two men shot in front of 805 Taylor Avenue, outside of the Monroe Houses. Police say two men, a 24-yearold man and a 22-year-old man were both shot in the head and were transported to Jacobi Hospital. The 24 year-old, identified as Price Tunstall who lived at the location of the shooting, died a short time later.

The following day police arrested Kai Johnson, of 1965 Lafayette Avenue.

Johnson was charged with murder, attempted murder, manslaughter, two counts of assault, four counts of criminal posession of a loaded firearm and two counts of criminal posession of a firearm.

Officers in the 44th Precinct were called to 1476 Walton Avenue at 4:29 a.m., where a male was located on the ground outside of the location by members of EMS. The victim was shot once in the chest and rushed to BronxCare Health System where he died. The man was later identified by police as Elvys Familia, 28, of Walton Avenue.

On August 30 at 9:15 p.m., police in the 42nd Precinct reported a man shot "multiple times" in the torso outside of 1693 Vyse Avenue. The victim expired at St. Barnabas Hospital. The following day the dead man was identified as 26-year-old Luis Giovanni of Allentown, Pennsylvania.

On August 24, police were called to an apartment inside of 1419 Jessup Avenue in the confines of the 44th Precinct, where a still-unidentified male was found "unresponsive." The Office of the City's Medical Examiner will determine the cause of death.

On August 18, officers were called to a shooting at East 149 Street and Concord Avenue, where a 24-year-old man was discovered with a gunshot wound to the back and arm. The man was rushed to Lincoln Hospital where he died. That victim was later identified as Dandre Johnson, 24, of Beekman Avenue.

On August 29, police arrested Tyrek Williams, 20, of Macon Street, Brooklyn and charged him with murder, manslaughter and criminal use of a firearm in Johnson's death.

On August 28, at 7:54 p.m., police were called to Webster Avenue and East Fordham Road, where a 35-year-old male had been

shot. The victim was shot two times in the chest and later died at St. Barnabas Hospital. The victim's identity has not yet been released pending notification of family members.

On August 27, police were alerted to a gunshot victim at Lincoln Hospital.

Officials later determined that the victim was shot multiple times in the chest at the intersection of East 137 Street and St. Ann's Avenue, within the patrol area of the 40th Precinct.

The victim was driven to Lincoln in a private vehicle, but died a short time later. Police identified the victim as Demetry Arisole, 29, of East 174 Street.

There were no arrests and the investigation remains "active and ongoing.”

In the latest statistics provided by the NYPD, from January 1 thru September 5, there were 105 reported homicides compared with 75 for the same time period in 2020, a 40% increase. There have also been 427 shooting victims compared with 320 for the same time period last year. There have also been 360 incidents of shootings compared with 264 a year earlier.

Anyone with information regarding any of these incidents are urged to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1 (800) 577-TIPS, all calls remain confidential.

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NY extends eviction moratorium Offering new chance for landlords to push back

The following story was originally published in The City.

By Allison Dikanovic and Josefa Velasquez State lawmakers voted last week to extend a COVID-19 emergency eviction moratorium until Jan. 15, in a rare off-season meeting of the Senate and Assembly.

Members descended by newly instated Gov. onto the state Capitol in Kathy Hochul to vote on a special session called the eviction pause and

Photo by Darren McGee/Office of the Governor

Governor Kathy Hochul ordering a special session of the state legislature to extend an expiring eviction moratorium.

other pressing business, the first time they had convened in full force since the pandemic began in March 2020.

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As COVID threatens another school year, NYC teachers head door-to-door to build confidence with parents

Photo Christina Veiga / Chalkbeat

This story was originally published by ChalkBeat NYC

By Christina Veiga A muffled “hello?” came through the crackling intercom of a lowslung apartment building in the Hunts Point neighborhood of the South Bronx. Leidy Rodriguez, standing at the doorstep outside, perked up.

“Hi!” she projected through her bright yellow bumblebee mask.

“I’m a special education teacher at the elementary school up the block, and I was wondering if you have a few minutes to speak to me?”

A pause on the other side. Then, a skeptical-sounding voice said she’d be down.

Rodriguez scrunched up her shoulders and let out a little excited squeal.

Rodriguez would knock on dozens of other doors over the course of a few hours on a blazing Tues-

day afternoon. Only a handful would answer. And of those, only two would have school age-children and be up for a chat about what to expect during a third school year menaced by the COVID pandemic.

Across the country, teachers like her are going door-to-door to encourage parents to send their children into public schools this year. Class starts on Sept. 13 in New York City, where 25 teachers are canvassing neighborhoods to answer questions from weary parents, con-

Leidy Rodriguez, a special education teacher at P.S. 150 the Charles James Fox School in the South Bronx, has been canvassing the surrounding neighborhood to survey how parents feel about sending their children back to school. The state teachers union is supporting similar efforts across New York. (Above) Rodriguez checks a map on her phone with a list of registered voters to speak with.

nect with families who may not have stepped foot in school buildings for more than a year, and enlist caregivers in a fight for smaller class sizes.

The American Federation of Teachers, or AFT, has dedicated $5 million to these door-knocking efforts, which has been filtered down through grants to their local unions in 30 states. In New York, teachers are fanning out across New York City, Yonkers, Rochester, Buffalo,

Syracuse, and Albany. It’s part of a coordinated, union-led campaign for a return to classrooms that also includes TV and digital ads airing across the state touting the benefits of in-person learning.

The union’s messages are up against another school year of uncertainty as the more infectious delta variant spreads. New York City is marching full-speed into the year with little clarity on what its safety

policies will be, and Mayor Bill de Blasio is standing steadfast against the city offering an option to learn remotely. Last year, a majority of the city’s 1 million students learned exclusively online.

“When the city said it was going to be fully in-person, we knew parents were going to have a lot of questions,” said Alison Gendar, a spokesperson for the United Federation of TeachCONTINUED ON PAGE 11

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Teachers make Covid housecalls

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ers, or UFT, which represents teachers in New York City. “So [we’re] getting people out to answer what they could, or at least giving first-person accounts of what their school is like. It’s also a chance to get parents connected to information, so we can share what we have, and be an advocate for them if they maybe don’t have one.”

Teachers in New York City, the nation’s largest school district, receive a day of training on how to use an app pre-loaded

with a map of registered voters to visit.

They’re given a script with survey questions and highlights to hit in conversation. Paid $25 an hour, then they have 10 shifts, each four hours long, over six weeks.

As of Monday, UFT members reported knocking on more than 2,900 doors and making 1,100 contacts. Teachers file notes from the field, which the union says show that the leading concern that parents have shared are over COVID safety rules (57%) and other

safety issues (21%).

Learning loss and a lack of remote instruction are in a distant third and fourth place, with 13% and 2% of parents concerned, respectively, about those issues.

The door-knockers report that 49% of families feel confident sending their children back into classrooms, while 40% are only “somewhat” confident, and 9% are opposed.

Kim Alonzo, who came outside to talk with Rodriguez as she canvassed earlier this week, could be filed

into the category of those concerned about the lack of a remote option. She came to the door wearing a snug black mask and stayed behind the threshold, keeping a healthy distance.

Alonzo’s two high school children learned online last year, she told Rodriguez. Without a remote option, she worried about how her children would keep receiving instruction if schools shuttered once again, and confessed that she didn’t know much about safety protocols or

even when the school year started.

“They don’t have much information on the department of education website about what’s going to happen. That would help,” Alonzo said.

“I want to know if the remote learning is going to stay in place because if they don’t have remote learning and numbers go back up, then children are going to have to miss out on school work. It makes no sense.”

Rodriguez got contact information and promised to keep CONTINUED ON PAGE 17

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Health Matters Back to School in the age of Covid

By Delaney Gracy, MD, MPH, pediatrician, and Naydine Johney, PsyD, child psychologist, Montefiore School Health Program It’s back to school in the Bronx! With COVID-19. Again. Most of us had high hopes that the pandemic would be over by now, and life would be back to normal. Are we just back in the same place as this time last year? Thankfully, no. While it may feel like it, we do have many reasons for optimism.

This year we have a very effective vaccine against Covid-19.

This is really the game changer for our community. While none of the vaccines are 100% effective in preventing the infection, we know without question that vaccinated people who become ill are way less sick (if sick at all), and unlikely to be hospitalized.

Unvaccinated people are at much higher risk of becoming seri-

ously ill from COVID than of having a dangerous side effect from the vaccine. Almost everyone over 12 years old is eligible, so if you haven’t gotten it yet—now is the time! The COVID-19 vaccine helps protect you, which helps protect younger kids who are too young to be vaccinated against COVID right now. The vaccine is absolutely the best chance we have to stop the spread of COVID-19 and get things back to the ‘normal’ we really want.

We learned a lot last year about infection prevention at schools.

Now we know how to do daily screening questions to make sure our kids are not sick and can go to school. Teachers learned how to manage social distancing in hallways and classrooms.

Our children learned how to wear masks at school and the importance of frequent hand washing. We learned how to isolate and quarantine when necessary.

All these things are essential for a safe and successful school year.

We recognized the importance of in-person learning: Over the last 18 months, we saw how important in-person learning is, when we can safely offer it.

It is important for kids’ social and emotional development at all ages.

It is better for engagement, and in general for academics. When consistent, it is also

better for most parents.

However, we also made incredible strides in being able to do remote learning when needed.

Teachers and parents did an amazing job last year in making this happen. Now, we have the ability to be flexible if needed.

As a community, we are more aware than ever of the importance of mental health and support—for our kids and for ourselves.

All students are likely to have experienced some level of distress during the pandemic and feelings of uncertainty about returning to in-person learning are normal and expected.

It will take time for students to adapt to being back in the classroom and those with preexisting mental health concerns, learning disabilities, and other students disproportionately affected by the pandemic may require greater assistance in ad-

Children coming to Montefiore Medical Group sites were able to pick up back packs and school supplies during their doctor’s appointment on September 1.

justing.

While some students might be excited to return to the classroom with peers, others may feel overwhelmed by worries after extended exposure to illness and death, social isolation, and academic disruptions. Some students may also struggle adjusting to new routines and changes in school environments—such as wearing masks and physical distancing. But teachers and medical staff in schools can look for warning signs and connect students to support to help them settle back into the school environment.

So—back to school in the Bronx. Can we do it? Absolutely. We have work to do, but we know what to do and we can pull together as a community.

We can push forward and also to adapt to any changes that come at us in the future. We have reason for hope and optimism, and this in itself is really important for our resilience and mental health. Let’s be sure we are taking care of our own mental health needs, in addition to those of our children and community. And let’s work together to make sure everyone gets vaccinated!

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Morris Heights Health honored for supporting breastfeeding moms

Morris Heights Health Center’s WIC program was among seven local WIC agencies and clinics in NYS to receive the Gold Breastfeeding Award of Excellence from the U.S. Department of Agriculture

(USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS).

MHHC’s WIC program is a 2x recipient of this award, receiving their first recognition in 2016. The award is given at three levels of performance that build on one

MHHC WIC staff celebrating National Breastfeeding Week 2021.

another: Gold, Premier and Elite. This year’s winners were announced, in support of National Breastfeeding Week, celebrated from August 1st - 7th.

Every year the USDA recognizes local WIC agencies that demonstrate best practices in support of breastfeeding mothers. The Special Supplemental Nutrition program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is one of the nation’s largest federally funded programs serving more than 6 million families. The program supports the short and longterm health of low-income pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, infants, children up to five years of age and caretakers including fathers.

The WIC program at MHHC has played a pivotal role in Bronx communities, providing families access to healthy and affordable food choices for over 20 years.

The program has five locations throughout the borough: each site offering benefits for nutritious food, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, access to breast pumps, peer counseling, farmers market health bucks, a culinary institute for children and referrals for medical and social services. To date, the WIC program supports 9,000 families in NYC. “Our WIC team has done an exceptional job responding to the changing needs of families

throughout the Bronx during these unprecedented times,” expressed Jaimini Raval, WIC Program Director. “Their passion and dedication are what makes receiving this recognition more rewarding.

Since the start of the pandemic local WIC agencies across the country have been forced to find innovative ways to deliver services to the communities they serve. Morris Heights Health Center is currently offering in-person and remote services for new enrollment, recertification, and WIC benefits.

To learn more about the WIC services and resources at MHHC, visit www. mhhc.org or call 718-7164400.

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Hope, help available for those struggling with Depression

By Chandra Wilson National Suicide Prevention Week begins Sept. 5 and sadly, suicide has climbed into the Top 10 leading causes of death in the United States in recent years. The CDC reports the number of Americans struggling with depression has increased over the past 18 months, which included COVID pandemic, lockdown-related layoffs, social injustice and fears of an uncertain future.

There is hope, however, and Deirdre DeLeo, Associate Director with Community Mental Health Services at the Visiting Nurse Service of New York is encouraging those in need to reach out.

“We’re still in the midst of a public health crisis and suicide is another public health crisis,” DeLeo said. “We really do need to be looking out for each other and we need to have a brave moment where we either say that we need help or say to somebody else ‘I’m worried about you. How can I help?’”

DeLeo said the anxiety and stress of living through the pandemic is understandable, but it is important to remember that this shared experience can also help us build stronger bonds amongst each other.

“We are all experiencing the same stress and we’re all in this together,” she said.

There are both verbal and

non-verbal warning signs to look out for: Making statements like “People are better off without me.”

Hopelessness and statements like “Things are never going to get better.”

Tendency to withdraw – especially if they had been outgoing previously.

Giving away possessions they once held dear.

Change in sleeping or eating habits.

High-risk or reckless behavior.

The three most important steps one should follow if they fear someone they know is considering suicide are: Ask, Listen and Get Help.

“If you’re talking with a loved one either in person or on the phone and you have any questions that they may be thinking of killing themselves, you should ask them in whatever way you feel most comfortable,” DeLeo said. “Then you need to listen. It’s very difficult and it’s scary to ask that question and hear that person say ‘Yes, I’m having those thoughts,’ but let that person talk. That’s their experience.

Don’t try to tell them it’s going to get better, don’t try to minimize it for them. Just simply listen. They’re taking a big risk and they’re probably very relieved someone’s asking them, since they’ve been living with these

thoughts.”

The last step is to get them help and that could be a three-way call with NYC WELL, a 24/7 hotline. DeLeo recommends remaining on the phone with your loved one as they make that call because while they may be willing to open up to someone they know and trust, it will not be as easy for them when speaking to a counselor they’ve never met.

VNSNY’s mobile crisis teams work to connect those who are struggling with resources. They are dispatched through NYC Well and available by calling 1-888-6929355.

For more information visit www.vnsny.org.

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Teachers make Covid housecalls CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

Alonzo up to date.

But in reality, there wasn’t much information for Rodriguez to share. Less than three weeks before the school year is slated to start, de Blasio has yet to detail how — or whether — students will receive instruction while in quarantine, what COVID testing protocols will be, or the rules for shutting down classrooms or buildings when positive cases arise.

While those crucial details get sorted out, Rodriguez hopes

that hearing directly from teachers who are ready to get back in the classroom will give parents a jolt of confidence.

“As a parent myself, if my kid’s teacher is telling me that, then I know that it’s OK. Because they’re there, really seeing it and really in it. And there’s no reason for them to lie to me, so I would trust that more coming from my kid’s actual teacher than the department of education or the mayor, you know?”

Rodriguez said. “It’s more per-

sonal.”

Rodriguez asked to canvas in the neighborhood surrounding her school, P.S. 150 Charles James Fox, where she is a 16-year veteran. She commutes almost two hours from Connecticut where she lives.

Though Rodriguez grew up in the South Bronx, walking the neighborhood where her students live has opened her eyes like never before, she said, to what they are up against even before walking into school.

On a recent day of

door-knocking, she met a family living in a basement apartment with no sunlight, saw rotting banana peels and other garbage strewn in hallways, and walked gingerly past people struggling with addiction as they swayed, zombie-like, in front of a bodega.

“Some of these conditions are really, really bad. And just to think this is what our kids see every day, it gives me goosebumps. Because sometimes, people are not compassionate to that,” she said. “This is what they go home

to. So when they’re in my class, I need to make sure that they’re safe and they’re happy and I’m being as compassionate and understanding as possible.”

She expects her new students will be nervous when they come to school. But she also thinks they’re ready to come back. After knocking on so many doors, she thinks parents are mostly ready, too “I just hope that we can do as many in-person days as possible without having any outbreaks,” she said.

Opioid epidemic grows during Covid pandemic

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1,400+ lives lost in 2020 alone

By Andrea U. Jakubowski, MD International Overdose Awareness Day was August 31, a day we think of the people we’ve lost and a time to reflect on how we can prevent future deaths. In New York City, someone dies of an overdose every five hours. The Bronx has been the center of the opioid epidemic in New York City where fentanyl—a potent illicitly manufactured opioid—has been driving opioid overdose deaths.

Even a tiny amount of fentanyl can result in death. Testing is needed to identify fentanyl: it can't be detected by smell or taste. It hides in heroin, cocaine, methamphetamines, and other drugs. With fentanyl on the streets, it is more important than ever to protect people from overdose.

As a primary care and addiction medicine physician, I have treated many people with opioid use disorder (OUD), a medical problem where someone loses control over their opioid use despite continued harm. We have lifesaving medication treatments like methadone and buprenorphine (Su-

boxone®), which have been shown to reduce opioid use and overdose risk. Methadone is available in specialized opioid treatment programs, while buprenorphine can be prescribed by many primary care physicians.

At Montefiore, we support patients starting out in treatment and over the following months and years. Most people continue to take these medications daily, the same way others stick with treatments for chronic illnesses like high blood pressure.

To prevent overdose, we also have naloxone, a quick acting emergency treatment which blocks opioids in the

brain. It’s administered as a nasal spray and will help someone who has overdosed; yet won’t harm someone who has passed out for another reason. You can get free naloxone and training through your Montefiore primary care doctor or through many programs in the city.

Some people with OUD aren't ready to stop using opioids completely. If you or a friend feel this way, a good approach is connecting with a harm reduction organization like BronxWorks, Boom!

Health and NYHRE. They provide resources to make using opioids

safer including: clean syringes, naloxone and strips that help you test for fentanyl. These organizations teach safer ways to use opioids like avoiding using alone or mixing opioids with other substances. They also offer testing for HIV and Hepatitis C which can be contracted from needles.

There are many paths for people with OUD; some begin with harm reduction, others begin with medications.

There’s no wrong way to start. We must remember the importance of supporting people with OUD and know that life-saving medi-

cations can make a big difference in our community.

Resources Montefiore Treatment Programs for Opioid Use Disorder: •Methadone programs •Primary Care-based buprenorphine treatment •Additional treatment options in NYC Harm reduction programs: Boom! Health, BronxWorks, NYHRE, St. Anne’s Corner of Harm Reduction Naloxone Access: Call 1-888-NYC-WELL or visit nyc.gov/nycwell to find more information about overdose prevention resources in New York City.

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New York extends eviction moratorium to early 2022 Offering new chance for landlords to push back CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

In addition to extending the eviction moratorium until mid-January, legislators moved to add an additional $300 million in federal funds to the state’s troubled rental relief program, tweaked New York’s Open Meetings Law to allow local governments to hold meetings virtually, and approved appointments to a board overseeing marijuana legalization.

“We are trying to keep people in their homes,” said Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins. “We understand the pandemic is still very much part of what we are living with.”

The Senate passed the anti-eviction measure 38-19, followed by the Assembly, 80-60.

The new anti-eviction law became urgent business following a pair of August rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court nullifying federal and New York eviction moratoriums, just before the state law expired last Tuesday. In New York’s high court case, brought by state property owners, the justices found that landlords were denied an opportunity to challenge tenants’ claims of economic hardship.

The new law, like the old one, enables tenants to head off eviction actions simply by filling out a form stating that they’ve lost income due

to the pandemic or could face a health risk from moving.

But now, landlords will be able to go to court to seek a review of a tenant’s claims — giving judges broad discretion over whether to move an eviction case forward.

Hochul’s first legislative venture as governor still requires tenants to fill out a socalled hardship declaration, but it will now offer landlords a chance to challenge tenants’ claims in court.

The stakes for tenants and landlords alike have escalated with the dysfunctional roll-out of a $2.7 billion emergency rental relief program, known as ERAP, that has failed to meaningfully distribute money to ailing renters and landlords, with just a fraction of the funds distributed so far.

“Between an anti-tenant Supreme Court decision and an emergency rent relief program badly administered by the previous governor, our eviction moratorium needed to be extended to give more time for tenants and landlords alike to be made whole,” said State Sen. Michael Gianaris (D-Queens), the deputy majority leader.

Recurring Legal Threats State lawmakers expressed confidence that the changes would pass legal muster and conform to the Supreme Court’s ruling. But a landlord

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group that was among the plaintiffs that successfully contested the New York moratorium said in a statement that it’s moving forward with a legal challenge.

“This is blatant contempt of SCOTUS’ order. The Legislature can’t act as the Judiciary. Albany lawmakers can’t decide which part of the Supreme Court order they follow and which part they ignore, or which parts they determine are valid and which they can disregard” said Joseph Strasburg, president of the Rent Stabilization Association.

“The Supreme Court recognized the importance of landlords’ property and due process rights, and ruled that the harm to landlords is so great that they must be protected from the law,” Strasburg added.

In a news conference with reporters last week, Stewart-Cousins said lawmakers “took pains to address the area that was struck down by the Supreme Court in terms of making sure that landlords have the opportunity to at least have their say.”

The main concern the Supreme Court had with New York’s previous eviction

moratorium was that it didn’t give landlords a chance to counter their tenants’ claims of hardship, essentially halting almost all eviction cases based solely on a tenant filling out a hardship declaration form.

Under the new law, a landlord would have to file a motion in court for either a pending eviction case or a new case challenging their tenant’s hardship claim.

Then, both sides would have to appear for a hearing where a judge would determine if the tenant is experiencing financial difficulties.

If the court finds that the tenant is experiencing hardship, the case will be paused and the judge will direct both the tenant and landlord to the state’s rent relief program. If the court finds that the tenant is not experiencing a hardship, the eviction case will move forward.

“It’s not as strong as the one that we had,” said Cea Weaver, an organizer with the statewide tenant coalition Housing Justice for All. “But I think that this bill is so much better than I thought we were going to get, so I’m pretty relieved.”

Weaver noted that tenants

are still presumed to be eligible for protection from eviction, and landlords need to take action in court to assert otherwise.

Landlords will also be able to start eviction proceedings if a tenant is a “nuisance” or “intentionally causes significant damage” to a property, under the new law.

Slow Relief Republicans, who are in the minority in both houses, argued that extending the eviction moratorium is “kicking the can down the road,” said minority leader State Sen. Rob Ortt, (R-North Tonawanda).

“No one is going to apply to ERAP funds as long as there is no reason. They can stay in their apartments rent free, as is,” Ortt said at a news conference, arguing that evictions provide an “incentive” for renters to apply for financial assistance.

As part of the new eviction moratorium, lawmakers also approved extending the window of protection under a pandemic-prompted law, the Tenant Safe Harbor Act. That measure prevents eviction for nonpayment of rent if a tenant can show loss of income between March 2020 and June 2021. That window extends to January 2022 too.

As with the prior eviction moratorium, protections will CONTINUED ON PAGE 21

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New York extends eviction moratorium to early 2022

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remain in place for home owners and small businesses too, with mortgage and tax foreclosures, lien sales and small business commercial evictions all on hold until the new year.

Hochul, who became governor two weeks ago following the resignation of longtime governor Andrew Cuomo, inherited the problematic ERAP rent relief program from her predecessor, vowing on day one to expedite the distribution of rent relief funds and to iron out ongoing kinks in the ap-

plication process. Already she’s ordered the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance to spend an additional $1 million in marketing and outreach efforts to raise awareness for the program.

Jay Martin, the executive director of the Community Housing Improvement Program, a group that represents mostly small and mid-sized landlords, stressed the importance of getting the relief funding out.

The new law “simply does the bare minimum to alter the existing law in an attempt to comply with the Supreme

Court’s recent ruling,” Martin said in a statement.

“Starting today and continuing for the next four and a half months, the government needs to be singularly focused on reaching every single tenant in arrears and getting them to apply for ERAP. Only then will we know the size of the problem, which we estimate to be as much as twice the

amount of money currently allocated,” he added.

Just over one-quarter of the 176,000 households that applied for rent relief have been approved by the state as of last week, with just over $200 million of payments going out to ailing renters. On top of that, an additional $605 million has been approved but not paid out yet, bringing the total to just over 20% of

the $2.7 billion slotted for the program.

By the end of the month, New York needs to approve at least 25% of the funds or risk returning the unused funds to the federal government.

“All over the nation choices like this one are being made, choices that come down to lives versus profits,” State Sen. Jabari Brisport (D-Brooklyn) said during the vote. “Following a year of record deaths and of record profits for some, this is a moment in history for us to stand up and say ‘no more.’”

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Picking up pieces after Ida hammers the Bronx CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

tank, I couldn't even start it. Yeah, it went out." He recalled calling a boiler repair company who told him appointments were at least a week away. Valentin then asked, "Imagine something like this happens in the winter, what's going to happen?”

Asked about the two other recent storms that produced seven-plus inches of rain, Valentin said they both produced just an inch or two of flooding, but Ida, Valentin recalled, "This time it was in my backyard and the water came through the back door and I thought it was Niagara Falls back there. It was coming through the side of the door and the wall... water was gushing out of the walls.”

Schuylerville resident Randy Au recalled a foot of water in his basement, the waterline coming up to his knees. Now moments before his situation would be evaluated by the New York Public Engagement Unit, he recalled the damage, "The basement flooded, so the water heater, a bunch of walls, it took a lot of stuff.”

"Imagine your apartment," Au continued, "and add two-feet of water from the bottom. So it rained a ton, water was just bub-

bling out of the sewer line, essentially." He added that a "giant pool" was sitting in the center of Coddington Avenue and many of the homes of his neighbors were also flooded.

Asked if he was flooded during the two other major storms this summer, Au replied, "No, but it got close a couple of times, but this was the first time that it finally like, went over and got in.”

Asked if he thought a 7-inch rainfall is the new "normal" for the five boroughs, Au concluded, "Probably, it's going to happen more and more, that's what I'm guessing.”

A third Bronxite, a resident of Starling Avenue in Castle Hill who declined to use her name, believed her building failed to clean the sewer line. Asked where did the flooding come from, she explained, "It came out from the toilet, the bathtub. I have so many bad videos, it's depressing.”

Those Bronxites seeking assistance can show up at the New York Public Engagement Unit at 2365 Waterbury Avenue or log onto: https:// www1.nyc.gov/site/em/ resources/ida.page or call 311 to report damage or (212) 639-9675.

(Above) A Facebook photo of a damage fence outside of Our Lady of Assumption posted by Vinny Ritchie. The railing to the church’s front staircase collapsed during the storm. (Below) Another photo of the flooded Major Deegan Expressway posted to Facebook by Richard Powers.

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Culinary Road

By Morris Gut

Foodies can now shop like restaurants do

It was a beautiful late summer day for a drive up 684 from our southern Westchester haunts. Our destination, Ace Endico Marketplace in Brewster.

Ace Endico, founded some 4 decades ago by William Endico and Murray Hertzberg, has become a major wholesale food supplier and distributor to the foodservice/hospitality industry in the tri-state area. You may have noticed their colorful trucks over the years delivering their goods throughout the region. What originally started out of a shop in the Bronx has grown. Earlier this year, Ace announced the acquisition of Sassone Wholesale Grocers, a Bronx-based restaurant and pizzeria supplier since 1946.

I enjoy alternative shopping experiences, and this was another opportunity. Ace Endico Marketplace is open to the public, so on this day we decided: let’s go shop like the restaurants do. We had been hearing about it in the grapevine.

Pulling up to their giant 200,000 sq. ft. main distribution warehouse on International Blvd. was awesome.

Trucks were busy loading up with supplies for delivery.

The retail marketplace is off on the side of the huge facility and offers plenty of free parking. We got a rolling cart and once inside starting combing in the aisles. They were well stocked with assorted merchandise: fruit and produce, meats and seafood, frozen foods, gourmet items and olive oils, pastas, imported goods, paper goods,

and more. Shoppers would be hard pressed to find some of the products and merchandise anywhere else. You can find many of these items listed on their website.

While many products were packaged in larger quantities for wholesale buyers, there were also plenty of goods sold in smaller sizes. You could pick your own fruits and vegetables, for example.

You might consider forming a shopping group with friends and family and share.

The best part, many products were reasonably priced compared to mainstream markets.

The staff were very helpful with our questions, too.

By the time we got to checkout, we had filled our cart with more than anticipated, and that was ok. We have since been enjoying the larder.

Ace Endico Marketplace, 80 International Blvd., Brewster. Open daily. Curb side pick-up.

1-845-230-9886 www.aceendico.com

BIG SLICES AT ADDEO’S OF MORRIS PARK! Took a walk down Morris Park Ave. and wandered into Addeo’s Restaurant & Pizzeria. Had not visited before, and I knew they were related to the Addeo Bakery family on Hughes Ave., just off Arthur Ave., and another pizza restaurant, Addeo’s Pizzeria, Riverdale. On Morris Park, the front room houses the pizza ovens and there is a casual dining room in the rear.

One table I noticed had two giant slices of pizza on their table, big elephant ears. One of these oversized

slices would make a feast.

Vowed to return soon for a try. Meanwhile, they also offer a more comprehensive menu of Italian/American specialties: Fried Calamari, Mussels Marinara or Fra Diavolo, Caesar Salad, Fennel & Kale Salad, Spaghetti with Meatballs, Rigatoni Bolognese, Chicken Francese, Marsala, or Scarpariello, and such seafood and Branzino and Shrimp Scampi.

The friendly waitress told me there was a fixed-price daily lunch special served Monday-Friday from noon to 3 p.m. that included soup or salad, choice of main course, coffee or tea. Desserts are half price. Cost is: $15. Sounds like a good deal. Will report back after a full meal there. Addeo Restaurant & Pizzeria, 1056 Morris Park Ave., Bronx.

718-824-5036 www.addeosofthebronx.com Addeo Pizzeria, 5654 Riverdale Ave., Bronx. 718-549-4750 Addeo & Sons Bakery, 2372 Hughes Ave., Bronx.

718-367-8316 www.addeobakers.com BRONX NIGHT MARKET BRINGS BACK THE NIGHT! The popular Bronx Night Market has brought back its original night hours: 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. every Saturday thru Nov. 13th. Tickets for a one-hour spot are free but must be reserved in advance thru the website. There are more than 20 Bronx-based vendors including Crabmeat Mike, Empanada Papa, Fried Lasagna Mama,

Hungarian Hotspot, Mixto Tacos, and Island Love Cake all selling food, drink, and all sorts of merchandise. It all takes place at: Fordham Plaza, East Fordham Road and Webster Ave. Belmont, The Bronx. For more info: www. thebronxnightmarket.com RESTOS ADDING PROCESSING FEES TO YOUR BILL? Have you double checked your dining out bill lately?

Some restaurants have been adding what they call a ‘processing fee’ or, ‘convenience fee’ to the final charge. It is not a large amount, but what is it for? Some owners say it goes towards helping the staff, while others say it is

meant to defray part of their credit card fees and rising costs. While I fully empathize with all the difficulties the restaurant industry continues to go thru, I must ask: should this be the diner’s problem? Can a patron dispute the charge and refuse to pay? Can’t always carry a big load of cash around. Credit card companies should cut them some slack, too. What do you think?

(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)

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