Winner of Vol. 71, No. 51
What’s inside?
Thursday, January 28, 2021
$1.00
No last-minute reprieve for Buunni Coffee n Owners had hoped for more rent reduction, but landlord said no, thank you By MICHAEL HINMAN mhinman@riverdalepress.com
Feeling safe?
the Pulitzer Prize
Barbara Nahmias was thirsty for a coffee shop her neighborhood could call its own. She would walk by the papered windows of 3702 Riverdale Ave., waiting for some sign of life. The newspaper told her this would soon be the site of a Buunni Coffee
location — and the sign above the large display windows confirmed it. But as the days turned to weeks, the weeks turned to months, Nahmias was afraid it may never happen. “I was waiting, waiting, waiting, until they came to Riverdale, because I SariNa had gotten to them in prabaSi Washington Heights,” Nahmias said. “I think they had just one other location at the time, and I just felt like Riverdale really needed another cof-
Crime is up, but not by as much as many feared. Still, what should you be on the lookout for? Page A3
fee shop with excellent coffee and a place where community could get together.” Finally, in Spring 2018, Elias Gurmu and Sarina Prabasi officially opened the doors to their second Buunni location. Sales were brisk, and the two-story gathering area became a hotspot for kids after school, activist groups trying to make a difference, and even politicians getting to know voters for the first time. Prabasi even opened two more locations — at the George Washington Bridge Terminal and in Inwood. As the calendar flipped to 2020, life couldn’t be better for the growing coffee shop chain. That is, until the coronavirus invaded.
Last Saturday, with every last option exhausted, Prabasi stood in front of their proud Riverdale Avenue coffee shop to share the bad news: The doors were closing for good. “Many of you have asked us, ‘What’s next?’” Prabasi told the small crowd that gathered in front of Buunni on that chilly day. “We don’t know, honestly.” Like many retail outlets, Buunni was hit hard when the state shut down nearly all businesses that rely on people sitting down and socializing indoors. Many customers would come and pick up their favorite coffee — even sample some of the Ethiopian BUUNNI CLOSED, page A4
Just trying to slow it down
Issues resolved New owners of Key Food store make peace with union, city by rehiring old workers and paying back others. Page A6
HiraM aLEJaNDrO DUrÁN
Deb Travis has spent the past several months leading a working group brainstorming ideas that could possibly solve reckless driving along the independence avenue corridor. While only suggestions, some of the ideas — like installing bicycle lanes to narrow the street — proved less than popular at a Community board 8 traffic and transportation committee meeting last week.
Real fiction Marty Kleinman likes to tell a good story, but it doesn’t mean there isn’t some truth left over. Page A10
CB8 still far away from solving Independence Ave n Locals not enthusiastic about street narrowing, or even protected bicycle lanes By ROSE BRENNAN rbrennan@riverdalepress.com
A community board meeting probably isn’t the hottest place to be on a Thursday evening. But when there’s a possibility something might impact parking, it’s an entirely different story. More than 200 people initially attended this month’s Community Board 8 traffic and transportation committee meeting, although that number gradually dwindled
over its four-hour run time. Their input was sought on proposed design changes in and around the intersection of Independence Avenue and West 232nd Street, where there have been complaints aplenty about reckless driving. The proposals were initial brainstorming ideas developed by a working group led by committee vice chair Deb Travis. Among the thoughts offered were parking-protected bicycle lanes to narrow the street, converting West 235th Street into a westbound one-way while adding parking there, improving crosswalks, and installing a traffic signal at West 237th Street. Some of the working group’s ideas were more popular than others. For instance, those who attended the meeting
were largely supportive of improving and installing Americans with Disabilities Actaccessible crosswalks and ramps where needed along the avenue — although Bronx transportation department commissioner Nivardo Lopez said those would be coming no matter what the community board ultimately proposed. Becca Lish, one of the neighbors attending the meeting, believed installing such ramps was an easy layup. For her, that installation should be slated ahead of many of the other concerns raised later in the meeting. “I hope that we will always prioritize accessibility over parking,” Lish said. “It seems to me that making our city and neighborhoods safe for people who are
visually impaired or otherwise in need of mobility assistance or any other accommodation, that we will comply with federal law rather than deferring to the dominance of desire for parking.”
Circles aren’t just for crops anymore
Those attending also were largely supportive of installing leading pedestrian intervals — a signal to cross the street that would occur seven to 10 seconds ahead of a traffic signal turning green. These intervals already exist at the West 235th and West 236th Street intersections, Travis said, and would only need to be implementINDEPENDENCE, page A4
Fare hikes delayed, yet help coming for the MTA n All eyes turn to leaders in Washington to rescue beleaguered state agency By ROSE BRENNAN rbrennan@riverdalepress.com
A quarter can make all the difference for those who rely on public transportation to get around. And that was the price looming over the heads of many of those commuters only this past week. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority was scheduled to vote on hiking subway and bus fares to $3, but instead decided to postpone the vote
until at least the summer. That allowed many across the city to breathe a sigh of relief. The MTA has not been spared throughout the coronavirus pandemic, losing billions of dollars from months of free service, reduced ridership, and stringent cleaning protocols. While fare increases are never popular among those needing the subway or bus to get around town, they were especially less so this time around. Many who ride subways or buses daily are “essential” workers, low-income — or both, said Danny Pearlstein, communications director for the Riders Alliance, an advocacy group that pushes FAIR HIKES, page A4
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HiraM aLEJaNDrO DUrÁN
Fare increases were on the table for the city’s subways and buses last week, but the Metropolitan Transportation authority ultimately postponed the vote until summer. Many city and state lawmakers believe a fare hike would place undue burden on commuters — many of whom are ‘essential’ workers, low-income, or both.