Issuu

What’s inside?

Shooting suspects indicted

Police increase presence Page A3

Arrest made at church

Cannabis products seized Page A3

Second grader sets pace

Joah Henry is running champion Page A5

Leaders push for senior transit funds

Michelle Mullen mmullen@riverdalepress.com

Community Board 8 is once again urging the city to fund wheelchair-accessible buses for senior centers in the district, elevating the need to one of its top capital priorities in the preliminary fiscal year 2027 budget.

The board ranked senior transportation needs third this year, up from fifth last year, reflecting what members describe as a widening gap between a rapidly aging population and the services needed to support it. In its response, the

New York City Department for the Aging said it supports the request but cannot fund it in the capital budget.

On the ground, providers say the consequences have long been visible and have taken on new urgency following last year’s closure of the Key Food supermarket in North Riverdale, which had served as a reliable, walkable source of groceries for many seniors in the area.

Just around the corner from the site of the former supermarket is the Riverdale Y’s older adult center, New Beginnings. Reserved for those 60 and up, it provides a wide range of offerings, from programs

like Mah Jongg for socialization to mental health resources available on site.

But New Beginnings’ director, Sharon Asherman, said older residents are increasingly dependent on the center’s free meal programs and organized shopping trips, all of which require transportation to access.

“Some people who live in this neighborhood have no way of getting food,” Asherman said. “There’s more of a need for shopping trips, because there’s no local source of food.” The center’s transportation fleet consists of two older vans, one from 2012 and

Literacy in Community celebrates immigrants and working families

By Michelle Mullen mmullen@riverdalepress.com

At the Kingsbridge Library this month, young readers are setting off on a literary journey. For some, it’s a chance to embrace their own stories. For others, it’s a chance to discover someone else’s.

It’s part of this year’s Diversity in Literacy campaign, an annual initiative by the nonprofit Literacy in Community, or LINC, which uses children’s books to introduce young readers and their families to stories that reflect the many languages, traditions and backgrounds that make up the five boroughs.

This year’s theme, “A Love Letter to NYC Immigrants & Working Families,” aims to create space for children from immigrant and working families to recognize themselves in the stories they read, while

allowing others to learn about cultures beyond their own. The program is designed for families with children up to age five, a stage when early exposure to books can shape how children approach reading for years to come.

Launched in partnership with Fidelis Care, the campaign will run through April 4 with eight literacy events scheduled across New York City.

For organizers like Riverdale resident and LINC’s chief program officer, Laura Walsh, the goal extends beyond teaching young children to read. It is also about helping them see themselves reflected in the stories they encounter.

“In order to ensure that our goal is met, that every child is reading, we need to make sure that the literature that our families and our children are exposed to are reflective of who they are,” she said. “We’re

Cruising for Christ with the Least of Saints

By Michelle Mullen mmullen@riverdalepress.com

The roar of motorcycle engines can carry a certain reputation. Leather vests, stitched patches and tightly organized riding groups often conjure images of outlaw biker culture. But members of the Least of Saints Motorcycle Club, like Riverdale resident David Ramos, said their mission points in a different direction.

“We’re Christ-centric,” Ramos, a 62-year-old pastor who serves as the club’s national chaplain, said. “We’re about the Kingdom of God.”

The Least of Saints Motorcycle Club is a Christian riding organization that blends the traditions of motorcycle club culture with faith and service. Members wear the

familiar leather “cuts,” follow the same protocols that govern many motorcycle clubs and ride together with chapters around the country. But the group’s central purpose, Ramos said, is ministry.

Founded by three brothers and their father, the club takes its name from a passage in the book of Ephesians in which the apostle Paul refers to himself as “less than the least of all saints.” The founders were searching for a name when one of their sons came across the verse while reading the Bible.

The phrase captured the humility the group hoped to embody.

Today the club operates within the broader traditions of what riders call Motorcycle Club, or MC, culture, a system

really passionate about getting books in the hands of children, but we’re also really passionate about literacy as a vessel for storytelling, for advocacy.”

Walsh described this idea through “mirrors and windows.” The concept is that books can serve as mirrors when children see aspects of their own lives reflected in stories where their languages, families or traditions appear on the page.

“That window piece is really powerful,” she said. “Because it helps children understand and appreciate cultures that might be outside of their own.”

The Kingsbridge event will feature a visit from children’s author Ashley Woodfolk, whose picture book “Beach Hair,” illustrated by Nina Mata, explores identity through the experience of a multiracial child learning to embrace her natural hair.

another from 2015, that are frequently in need of repair after years of heavy use on Riverdale’s notoriously hilly streets. “They’re in the shop more than they’re out on the streets,” Asherman said.

Without additional funding, replacing or expanding transportation fleets is largely out of reach. NYC Aging estimated a new mini-bus would cost about $75,000. For New Beginnings, which needs two new vehicles, staff are left to rely on aging vans or turn away participants who cannot get there on their own.

Continued on page A4

By Michelle Mullen

mmullen@riverdalepress.com

A growing number of streetlights across greater Riverdale have remained dark for months, prompting residents to turn to Community Board 8 with mounting frustrations and pleas to urge the city to address the issue.

CB8 officials say outages span numerous streets and corridors throughout the district, including large swaths of the heavily-used Henry Hudson Parkway service roads. Many of the outages have been reported to the city through the 311 system, but despite the repeated complaints, the New York City Department of Transportation, who is responsible for streetlights, have yet to bring timely repairs.

“We provided the DOT with a list of all the lights that are out,” said Debbie Allen, chair of CB8’s Traffic and Transportation Committee. “They wanted more information. We provided them with all the 311 calls that people in the area have provided us and forwarded.”

When a resident reports a broken streetlight through 311, the request is logged and routed to the DOT, the agency told The Press, which then sends the report to a repair contractor responsible for inspecting the problem and carrying out the necessary work. The contractor has 10 days to inspect the site and determine the type of repair needed. Some outages, officials said, require more complex infrastructure repairs and cannot be fixed immediately during the initial inspection.

But that process can stretch on for months when outages pile up.

“It’s disheartening, and it’s frustrating dealing with DOT,” Allen said. “I really feel they haven’t been responsive.”

Among the list of outages the board shared with city officials are lights reported to be out to the DOT since the summer of 2025. They include the strip along West 238th Street between Greystone Avenue and Fieldston Avenue near MacLaughlin Park, along the Henry Hudson Parkway service roads between West 239th and West 250th streets and near the Bell Tower Memorial in the Riverdale Monument area.

Additional complaints have been filed for lighting near Ewen Park and along Palisade Avenue between West 254th

Michelle Mullen

Literacy in Community held this year’s first “Diversity in Literacy” event at the Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art & Storytelling in the Bronx March 14.

GARY JEAN-JUSTE

David Ramos, now 62, purchased his first motorcycle at 58.

POLITICAL ARENA

Rep. Jeffries endorses Rep. Torres in re-election run

U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres announced March 16 that House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries endorsed him in his bid for re-election to represent New York’s 15th Congressional District.

Jeffries lauded Torres’ leadership of the large portion of the Bronx the district covers, saying he is “an extraordinary fighter” for the borough and for “everyday New Yorkers.”

“He shows up, delivers and never backs down from a tough fight,” Jeffries said.

“The Bronx deserves a representative with Ritchie’s tenacity, track record and commitment to getting real results for working families. I’m proud to stand with him and urge voters in NY-15 to send Ritchie Torres back to Washington.”

Torres will face multiple competitors in the Democratic primary, including Jon LaTona, Jose Vega, public defender Dalourny Nemorin and former Assembly member Michael Blake. As he prepares to face his competition, Torres said he is honored to earn Jef-

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ANDREW MCCARTHY, DIRECTOR, ACTOR, AND AWARD-WINNING TRAVEL WRITER

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fries’ endorsement.

Also running for the seat are Gonzalo Duran of the Conservative Party and independent candidate Andre Easton, who is a member of the Party for Socialism and Liberation.

“As Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans drive up the cost of living for working families and slash federal funding for the programs that keep communities like the Bronx afloat, leader Jeffries has been on the front lines standing up for our borough and our nation,” Torres said. “This November, Democrats will win back the House, and when we do, Hakeem Jeffries will make history as the first African American Speaker of the House. I am committed to doing my part to make that happen.”

Torres has already earned endorsements from political figures such as New York City Council members Pierina Sanchez and Eric Dinowitz, Assembly member Jeffrey Dinowitz, U.S. Rep. Adriano Espaillat, and Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson.

Two suspects sought in assault

The New York City Police Department is seeking two individuals in connection with an assault that took place March 1 in the 52nd Precinct. They are requesting aid from the public in identifying the suspects. Police received a report that at approximately 5:42 p.m., four individuals approached a 69-year-old man in front of 2685 Grand Concourse. One of the four individuals then displayed a machete while two of them punched and kicked the man several times, injuring his left eye and left pinky finger. While the victim sustained minor injuries, he was not hospitalized.

The suspects fled the scene on foot, traveling south along Grand Concourse, police said. In a video available from NYPD Crime Stoppers, the four individuals can be seen running away on foot.

Anyone with information about the 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 Crime Stoppers website at https:// crimestoppers.nypdonline. org/, or on X @NYPDTips. All calls are strictly confidential.

Missing person found

The woman had been reported missing after being last seen at her residence on March 14 at approximately 6:30 p.m.

March 24, 2026 at 7pm Kelly Commons, Room 5B

SCAN THE QR CODE TO REGISTER.

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Best known as an actor for the past four decades, Andrew has appeared in such iconic films as Pretty in Pink and Less Than Zero. He lives in New York. A complimentary copy of his book, Who Needs Friends: An Unscientific Examination of Male Friendship Across America, will be provided.

MODERATOR

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Chair of Behavioral and Social Sciences Department and Professor of Psychology

This event is free and open to the public. Registration is required.

Photos

Stoppers

Libby Richman, the 71-year-old woman who was reported missing in the 50th Precinct, was found safe, police announced March 15.

50th bolsters patrol, one suspect still at large in shooting death

By Olivia Young oyoung@riverdalepress.com

The New York Police Department’s 50th Precinct has assigned extra patrol officers to monitor nightlife near West 242nd Street and Broadway in response to the fatal shooting of 44-year-old Keon Gill in January.

Naya Brown, a 26-yearold project manager for the Department of Education, Pernell Warren, a 34-yearold from Bedford Park, and Daniel Ligon were indicted in connection to the shooting, which killed Gill and hospitalized his 35-year-old brother.

Brown and Warren are being held in Riker’s Island, according to the Department of Correction. Ligon is still at large, according to the Bronx District Attorney’s Office. No additional information has been released about Ligon.

Gill suffered a fatal gunshot wound around 2:50 a.m. on Jan. 25. His brother, Luis Carratini, was shot in the knee and survived. Captain Amadeo Oktrova said the brothers had been coming from the restaurant and bar Tijuana Nites when the three suspects opened fire.

Brown, Warren and Ligon were indicted by a grand jury and charged with first-degree manslaughter, second-degree murder, second-degree attempted murder and two counts each of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

Brown and Warren are expected to appear in court June 9. The indictment alleges Brown, Warren and Ligon worked together to intentionally kill Gill with a gun and attempted to kill Carratini with a gun.

Oktrova said he does not

expect any retaliation or future violence since Gill is from Middletown in upstate New York, and Brown and Warren do not have local ties. The extra patrol officers near West 242nd Street and Broadway are a precaution, he added.

Gill is survived by his wife of 17 years, Michele Weissman, and their five children, as well as eight brothers and sisters, and his mom Brenda Gill, according to his obituary published by Riverdale-on-Hudson Funeral Home.

Police raid Khensv Bvildr church for cannabis products

By Olivia Young oyoung@riverdalepress.com

The New York City Sheriff’s Office seized cannabis products from a privatemembership church on West 238th Street March 11 around 3 p.m. Police took cannabis flower, THC vapes, cannabis pre-rolls and THC edibles that were being sold at Khensv Bvildr

508c1a Inc. The church lacked the required registration, license or permit from the New York State Office of Cannabis Management, according to a seizure notice and order to cease unlicensed activity posted on the church’s window. A summons notice from the New York City Department of Finance, also posted on the window, said the church’s maximum penalty is $25,000.

A visit by The Press on March 12 found the church to be open and operating. Individuals inside the church denied knowledge of police activity.

Christopher McCray, 41, was arrested during a business inspection at the church, police said. He was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree. The misdemeanor is punishable by up to a year in prison and a fine of $1,000. Information has not been released about McCray’s position with the church. Khensv Bvildr could not be reached for comment by press time. Khensv Bvildr is a private church that practices Kemeticism, or a religious movement that draws from ancient Egyptian worship.

Membership-only services run the first Sunday of every month, and serves as a place to find “community, worship and spiritual growth,” according to Khensv Bvildr’s website.

The website also states that the church is “recognized as the first African administered church of cannabis” in New York. According to an April 2023

report by The Quadrangle, Manhattan University’s student newspaper, the space was initially supposed to be a cycling studio created by owners Kensu and Ra

McCray in 2020. It turned into a wellness center, and then a vegan bodega, and then a vintage boutique, before registering as a religious organization.

GARY JEAN-JUSTE

Captain Amadeo Oktrova said Keon Gill and his brother were coming from the restaurant and bar Tijuana Nites when Naya Brown, Pernell Warren and Daniel Ligon shot them.

GARY JEAN-JUSTE photos

Khensv Bvildr 508c1a Inc., at 451 West 238th Street, is a private Kemetic church.

Khensv Bvildr’s website states that the

Senior centers adapt to aging transportation vans

CONTINUED from page A1

The need is growing alongside the borough’s aging population. According to Community Board 8, one in five residents in the district is over the age of 65, a 53 percent increase since 2000. As more residents age in place, demand for transportation to essential services, including access to food, continues to rise.

At Riverdale Senior Services, similar pressures have forced executive director Tina Cardoza-Izquierdo to implement a shift in how transportation is provided.

“Due to the difficulties in obtaining funding and maintaining the current bus we have, RSS has moved to utilizing Uber Health and Professional to provide transportation to our members,” she told The Press.

The change came after a series of compounding challenges, including the loss of a bus driver, difficulty hir-

ing a replacement with the required credentials and the rising cost of maintaining an aging vehicle. Cardoza-Izquierdo said the cost of sustaining the transportation system had become increasingly difficult.

“Traditional transportation involves employing a driver, utilizing a bus for multiple passengers, the expense, the maintenance, the salary,” she said. “It really adds up.”

The organization tested a rideshare-based model last year using Uber Health and Professional services.

“RSS conducted a pilot from Sep-

tember through February, with a small group, to see how utilizing Uber would impact and benefit our members,” Cardoza-Izquierdo said.

“The pilot has been a great success and will continue.” By relying on multiple drivers instead of a single bus operator, the

Before switching to a rideshare

tation system, Riverdale Senior Services

wheelchair-accessible bus that was in constant need of repair.

program has allowed the center to expand the number of rides it can provide and improve reliability for some participants. But Cardoza-Izquierdo and Ash-

erman said the issue is also tied to whether seniors can remain socially connected and emotionally supported.

“You have a lot of older adults

living independently, without family support systems,” Asherman said. “People need other people, and we need transportation to help them get here.”

Streetlight outages persist across greater Riverdale

CONTINUED from page A1

and West 255th streets.

In a traffic and transportation committee meeting last winter, residents described a stretch of Palisade Avenue as “pure darkness” during winter evenings, warning that the lack of lighting poses safety concerns for both drivers and pedestrians navigating the roadway.

“We’ve been forwarding emails from our constituents who live in Community Board 8 since December,” Allen said. “For me, one day is too long, because somebody could lose their life as a result of poor lighting.”

Beyond traffic safety, some residents voiced worries the darkened streets could make certain areas more vulnerable to crime.

CB8 Public Safety Committee Chair Ed Green said several neighbors have raised concerns about

lighting outages near locations where vehicle crimes have been reported.

“Typically criminals like to do things where they’re not going to be seen,” he said. “So the lights out make it that much easier for somebody to sit there and steal somebody’s tires or rims without having lights on them and anybody seeing them.”

In response to the complaints, the DOT told The Press it had begun addressing several of the outages flagged by the board, but did not provide a timeline of completion.

“Street lighting is essential for the safety of New York City, and NYC DOT has repaired or is working to repair each of these lighting requests from the community,” the agency said.

DOT officials noted repairs have already begun in the MacLaughlin Park area, where they said lighting

along Greystone Avenue between West 238th Street and Dash Place was recently completed.

Work is continuing along the Henry Hudson Parkway service roads, in Ewen Park and at the intersection of Riverdale Avenue and West 231st Street, the agency said.

City officials noted that the LED bulbs used in streetlights typically have a lifespan of about 10 years, which can lead to clusters of outages when fixtures installed around the same time begin to fail. The agency does not have a system in place to track the lifespan status to prepare for outages.

For residents and community board members, however, the central concern remains the pace of repairs.

“The failure for us to receive timely services from the DOT — it’s unfair to the taxpayers,” Allen said.

Celebrating diversity in literature with young readers

CONTINUED from page A1

Emmanuel Novy, LINC’s chief of strategic initiatives, said the story reflects the campaign’s broader goal of helping children navigate each other’s differences and find confidence in their own identities.

“I think, in the simplest way to say it, it’s a book about someone who, because of their background or the way they look, is experiencing something that is different from someone else,” Novy said. “And at first it feels maybe a little bit scary, or it feels like you are other than but at the end of the book, you know that everyone is important. Everyone counts.”

Other featured authors in the campaign include Susie Jaramillo, creator of the bilingual “Canticos” book series inspired by Latin American lullabies and folk traditions. But the events are designed to be more than traditional book readings.

In a city as diverse as New York, LINC Director of Strategic Initiatives Karen Rogel noted, both are essential.

“It’s a place where so many cultures live side by side, and that balance really matters,” she said, adding books that introduce unfamiliar cultures can help young readers build empathy and curiosity about the world around them.

For some families, that recognition can be especially meaningful.

“We want children to be able to walk out of there feeling that love and feeling that pride,” Rogel said. “New York is a city of immigrants, and it is a beautiful place to be.”

The Diversity Through Literacy campaign is designed to do both, offering an escape for parents as well.

“If you open the news cycle and you see everything, it can seem like

such a devastating time for our immigrant population,” Walsh said. “But I am proud to be at an organization that is committed to showing immigrants and immigrant families that ‘we love you.’”

During the event, the first 60 families who register will receive signed copies of the featured author’s book, while all children in attendance will leave with books of their own. In to-

tal, the organizers expect to distribute more than 500 free books throughout the campaign.

Take-home literacy kits will also allow families to continue the experience after the event ends. The kits include materials for children to draw self-portraits and write short “love letters” to themselves — simple exercises meant to build early writing skills

while encouraging children to think about their identities.

Keeping the events at no cost to families is central to the program’s mission, organizers say, ensuring families across the city can participate regardless of income or background.

“We know the only way that we get the essential work into the family’s hands in a very real way is to keep it free,” Novy said.

Pastor, motorcyclist finds brotherhood on open road

CONTINUED from page A1

based in ritual and respect that has roots stretching back to veterans returning from World War II who formed the clubs after the war.

“There’s what they call MC culture,” Ramos said. “There’s a hierarchy and there’s expectations of how MC protocol works — how people treat one another out there. There’s an honor code and a respect code.”

Even as a Christian club, the Least of Saints follows many of those traditions in a world defined by loyalty, hierarchy and an unwritten code of respect.

“Regardless of the fact that we’re a Christian club, we abide by the protocols of that culture,” Ramos said.

“To acknowledge it and respect that world.” Ramos himself came to motorcycling later in life. For decades, he had thought about riding but never acted on the idea.

After graduating from Princeton Theological Seminary, he became an ordained minister and built a career centered on pastoral work and spiritual counseling. The motorcycle remained an unrealized ambition until his late fifties.

“One gentleman said something funny, but he was right on,” Ramos recalled. “He said to me, ‘When are you going to do it? You’re getting older.’” At 58, Ramos finally bought his

first bike — a Honda VTX cruiser with an 1800cc engine.

“There’s this idea of buying smaller bikes and learning and working your way up to bigger bikes,” he said.

“And I ended up buying what they call an 1800, which is like a huge, powerful engine.”

Learning to ride meant mastering a complicated series of motions. Managing the machine while navigating traffic and balancing the weight of the motorcycle was no easy task.

“Riding is complex,” Ramos said.

“You have to deal with clutch, first gear, second gear. You have to switch gears while you’re watching lights, stop signs, people walking in front of you.”

Before he made the purchase, he practiced frequently during the pandemic, often riding in Staten Island, where his cousin had an extra bike he could borrow.

“I learned on that bike,” Ramos said. “We would ride at night because that’s after work. So I like night riding.The more you do it, the more it becomes part of you. People say you become one with the bike.”

Riding eventually led Ramos deeper into motorcycle club culture. His introduction to the Least of Saints came while organizing a motorcycle gathering known as Transmission, an event meant to bring riders together.

At the time he was still a relatively new motorcyclist and wanted experi-

enced riders to attend. While searching online, he found a member of the club and reached out.

“I told him, ‘I’m a pastor and I’m a new rider, and I want to do this event called Transmission,’” Ramos said.

The rider said he could not attend but offered to send other members.

“They showed up,” Ramos said.

“That’s how I got connected with them.”

Joining the club required going through the traditional stages of membership. New riders typically begin as “hang-arounds,” or spending time with members while both sides determine whether the relationship is a good fit. Those invited to continue may become “prospects,” a probationary period that can last months or longer before full membership is granted.

Ramos completed that process and eventually took on a leadership role within the club.

Over the past three years he has risen from chaplain of the New York State chapter to the club’s national chaplain.

Public service is central to the group’s mission. Members organize charitable efforts and help families in the motorcycle community when someone dies, raising money to help cover funeral costs and other expenses.

“We’ve sought to support people among the MC who pass away,” Ra-

mos said. “Help them with funeral costs and help family members after their death.” Ramos’s work outside the club often intersects with those moments of grief. In addition to his pastoral role, he serves as a spiritual care chaplain with VNS Health, formerly Visiting Nurse Service of New York, supporting hospice patients

Michelle Mullen photos

app-based transpor-

utilized a

At the Riverdale Y, New Beginnings participants are dropped off at the center’s front doors.

Michelle Mullen photos

A core part of Literacy in Community’s mission is providing reading resources for parents to utilize with their children.

Michelle Mullen photos

As part of the “A Love Letter to NYC Immigrants & Working Families” theme, Literacy in Community is bringing in authors who highlight diversity in their work.

GARY JEAN-JUSTE

Ramos was joined by several Least of Saints bikers from the New York chapter at a St. Patrick’s Day parade in Riverdale this month.

Michelle Mullen photos

Some streetlights in greater Riverdale have been out-of-order for more six months.

Riverdale second grader sets pace as fastest 8-year-old in the nation

By Olivia Young oyoung@riverdalepress.com

Joah Henry, a second grader at P.S. 81, is the fastest 8-year-old in the United States.

Joah ran the 800-meter race at the Amateur Athletic Union Indoor National Championship, held at the Virginia Beach Sports Center on March 7, with a time of 2 minutes and 44.06 seconds. A day later, he ran the 1500-meter race in 5 minutes and 27.68 seconds — nearly 20 seconds faster than the runner up.

The Amateur Athletic Union is a 130-year-old nonprofit that hosts programs for 45 different youth sports, starting at 7 years old. It has more than 800,000 members.

While running the 1500-meter race, Joah said he remained confident he could win. The moment he crossed the finish line, his dad, Clai, and 11-year-old sister June, also a competitive runner, burst out in cheers.

“I screamed a little too much, ” Clai Henry, a prosecutor for the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office and longtime Riverdale resident, said. “I was just really excited for him because he works so hard.” Joah has trained with his dad for nearly two years. For Clai Henry, what started as a way to stay active during the COVID-19 pandemic transformed into an opportunity to spend time with his kids — and ultimately two gold medals for Joah.

“It’s challenging and there’s a lot of competition,” Joah said about the sport. But that’s what he loves most about it.

Clai, Joah, and June Henry run together after school, up to 15 miles a week spread out over a few days. Sometimes they do light workouts in their North Riverdale neighborhood or around Van Cortlandt Park, other days they train at a faster pace on the park’s track to build stamina.

The kids started with local races in Van Cortlandt Park before taking their talents

nationwide. In a 2023 Amateur Athletic Union competition, June placed sixth in the 800-meter race with a time of 2 minutes and 57.95 seconds.

Clai Henry, who runs with the New York Road Runners, said he recognized the kids had potential as runners early on, and got Joah started in the sport once he was a little older.

Even when he was just starting out, Joah said running came easily to him.

“I was fast,” he said. “It was hard, but I was good.”

Over time, running has shaped more than just Joah’s daily routine. His mom, Anne Henry, who is a part-time attorney for a Westchesterbased law firm, said she’s noticed a change in Joah and June since they started running.

“I think it became a confidence builder for both of them,” she said. “It made them tougher because it’s something that, no matter what level you’re at, you can always find it to be challenging.”

Joah and June are two of four Henry kids, with a fifth one on the way. Running has become a hobby for the whole family. Last year, 2-year-old Lyla and 5-yearold Ruby took part in the annual 50-meter race for pre-kindergarten kids in Van Cortlandt Park, hosted by the nonprofit Healthy Kids Running Series.

“We promote healthy competition for our kids,” Clai Henry said. “It’s part of the way in which we parent. We’re also very big on physical fitness and health.”

The dedication has paid off. On March 29, Joah will receive the Athlete of the Year Award for overall boys runner in youth cross country from USA Track and Field New York at a ceremony in Staten Island.

When he’s not running, Joah enjoys math class at school, loves to read and play with his friends, and is an ardent Harry Potter fan.

“He’s a great athlete, but he’s also very bright,” Clai Henry said. “He’s funny, he’s kind … He’s got three sisters who he loves and takes care of … He’s a great kid.”

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Zohran Mamdani signed Executive Order 08 in January, launching the city’s first “Rental Ripoff” hearings.

Bronx tenants shape policy at Mamdani “Rental Ripoff” hearing

Zohran Mamdani’s

Ripoff”

GARY JEAN-JUSTE photos

Joah Henry left the Amateur Athletic Union Indoor National Championship with two gold medals and two trophy rings.

Joah Henry finished the 1500-meter race with a record time of 5 minutes and 27.68 seconds.

Bronx activists demand safer streets amid youth violence spike

Staff Report

In a show of unity along one of the Bronx’s busiest corridors, community activists and faith gathered in Kingsbridge Heights March 10, calling for deeper investment as a strategy to curb youth violence.

The Safer Streets Community Rally, held outside the Kingsbridge Armory, was launched as a push for expanded mentorship programs, youth engagement and long-term support systems. The gathering comes just a month after the Kingsbridge shooting death of 16-year-old Christopher Redding that sparked a wide-spread push to address juvenile violence in the Bronx.

Organizer Izaiah “Zeek” Barrow, co-founder of nonprofit Theory 9 and candidate for Democratic male district leader for Assembly District 81, said the gathering was intended to channel grief into action and bring together the people and resources needed to support young people before conflicts escalate.

“This rally was about more than responding to tragedy,” Barrow said. “It was about reminding our

young people that their community is here for them.”

Throughout the gathering, speakers emphasized that safety cannot rely solely on law enforcement, but must also be built through mentorship and consistent community presence.

Dr. Cheryl Singeltary, executive pastor of Alpha & Omega Church, framed the issue as one requiring both accountability and compassion.

“Our responsibility is not just to mourn our young people but to guide them,” she said. “When communities come together in faith, mentorship and love, we create the support systems our youth need to thrive.”

Among those who spoke were mothers who have lost their children to teen violence, including Marisol Miranda, whose 27-year-old son was fatally stabbed by 18-year-old Noah Rentas last March. Speaking to both parents and young people in the crowd, she emphasized the role families play in preventing harm.

“What we as parents need to teach our kids, there’s no closed doors here,” she said. “There’s no privacy because when you

become an adult and do wrong things and pay your own bills, then you can have your privacy. Check their book bags, check their social media, check everything that they’re doing.”

Dr. Tara Brown-Arnell, executive director of Bronx Connect and anti-violence nonprofit Release the Grip, pointed to the role of mentors, particularly those with lived experience, in reaching young people at risk of violence.

“One of the moms said every kid is our kid, and this problem is our problem,” she said. “Yes, every kid is our kid, and this problem is our problem. I know lots of wonderful, brilliant, great men and great women who had a different destiny at one time in their lives, they got distracted, and now they are considered great, credible messengers. And they speak as mentors. They speak as

violence interrupters.”

Organizations including the Kingsbridge Heights Community Center, Our Bronx and Bronx Connect distributed information about youth programs, counseling services and family support resources, using the rally as an opportunity to connect directly with residents.

Tyreek Goodman, community activist and Republican candidate for City Council District 8, empha-

sized that sustained collaboration between residents, schools, community groups and government will be essential for long-term change.

“Young people need to see that their community believes in them,” Goodman said. “When we give them guidance, opportunity and mentorship, we empower them to make choices that strengthen their future and their community.”

State assembly pushes utility relief plan as Con Edison bills rise

As New Yorkers continue to face rising energy costs, state lawmakers are advancing a series of proposals aimed at lowering utility bills and strengthening protections for consumers.

Funding for the measures was included in the New York State Assembly’s proposed one-house budget resolution for the 2026–27 fiscal year, which starts on April 1.

If approved, it will provide rebate checks to ratepayers, pause new utility rate increases and create an independent office to represent residential customers when utilities seek higher rates.

Earlier this year, Con Edison secured approval for rate hikes that will raise electric and gas bills over the next three years. The company estimates average electricity bills will increase by 3.5 percent this year, followed by 3.2 percent in 2027 and 3.1 percent in 2028. Gas bills will spike even more, increasing by 4.4 percent this year, followed by 5.7 percent in

2027 and 5.6 percent in 2028. The average gas customer will see monthly bills rise about $10.67 this year.

Assembly member Jeffrey Dinowitz, who has pushed for stronger consumer protections in utility rate cases, said the proposals reflect growing concern about affordability.

“What is quite clear is that asking New Yorkers to continue to pay more and more for one of life’s necessities is unsustainable,” he said. “New Yorkers need to have someone whose only responsibility is to fight for them when utility companies ask the Public Service Commission to grant them a rate increase.”

Dinowitz has long advocated for the creation of a State Office of the Utility Consumer Advocate, which would act as an independent agency representing residential customers in cases before the Public Service Commission, the state body responsible for approving utility rate increases.

“The inclusion of this legislation signals that the assembly has

recognized the importance of having an office solely dedicated to protecting utility consumers from the egregious rate hikes that utility consumers impose upon them,” Dinowitz said.

The assembly proposal includes $2.1 million to establish the office and an additional $1 million for utility intervenor reimbursements. Lawmakers say the new office would replace the state’s existing Utility Intervention Unit and strengthen the state’s ability to challenge rate increases on behalf of residents.

The plan is part of a broader effort by assembly leaders to address the growing cost of utilities for households across the state.

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said the proposals are intended to provide relief to New Yorkers who are facing some of the highest utility costs in the country.

“As New Yorkers faced down a brutally cold winter, we also paid among the highest utility rates in the country,” Heastie said. “The assembly majority is committed to bringing those rates down.”

Heastie said the assembly’s budget proposal includes several measures designed to ease costs for residents.

“This budget will put money back into New Yorkers’ pockets while working on comprehensive solutions to bring rates down,” he said.

Across the city, energy insecurity remains widespread, with roughly 30 percent of New Yorkers unable to meet their household energy needs, according to a report published by the New York City Comptroller’s Office under former Comptroller Brad Lander.

The burden is particularly severe in the Bronx. In 2024, 55 percent of Bronx households fell behind on their utility payments and 32 percent experienced a utility shutoff.

“Including my legislation in our Assembly One-House Budget Resolution while repealing the law that created the Utility Intervention Unit demonstrates to ratepayers that we’re serious about making sure their interests are represented when utility com-

panies, who year after year make billions in profits, seek to get approval to increase their rates,” Dinowitz said.

The assembly proposal will now be negotiated with the State Senate and Gov. Kathy Hochul as lawmakers work toward adopting a final state budget later this year.

Among the most immediate forms of relief in the proposal are rebate payments known as Pro-

tecting Our Wallets Energy Rebate, or POWER checks. Under the plan, residential ratepayers earning less than $150,000 would receive a $500 check, while households with incomes between $150,000 and $300,000 would receive $300.

Lawmakers estimate the program would provide roughly $2.6 billion in relief to residents statewide.

The Rogosin Insitute hemodialysis center at the Methodist Home is currently accepting referrals for inpatient dialysis patients. As non-profit organizations, our partnership is dedicated to providing compassionate, high-quality care to patients with kidney diseases. Our in-house patients appreciate the convenience of receiving their dialysis on-site. Outpatients are also welcome!

Rogosin is the leading center for research and treatment in all forms of kidney disease, including end-stage kidney disease.

Staff Report

Michelle Mullen photos

During the rally, Alexandra Diaz, left, who lost her son to gun violence last year embraced Carmen Ramos, center, whose brother was also fatally shot in 2025. Marisol Miranda, right, whose son was stabbed to death by a teen last year, stood beside them.

Executive pastor of Alpha & Omega Church, Dr. Cheryl Singeltary urged parents to utilize anti-violence resources available to juveniles in the Bronx.

Bronx Zoo rescues 2-year-old red fox that stowed away on ship

Staff Report

The Bronx Zoo has an unexpected new addition: a red fox discovered as a stowaway on a ship that arrived at the Port of New York and New Jersey from Southampton, England.

According to the Wildlife Conservation Society, the fox is an 11-pound male estimated to be 2 years old. He was found with the ship’s cargo and subsequently secured by United States Customs and Border Protection.

CPB then coordinated with government wildlife officials to bring the fox to the zoo Feb. 19, according to WCS.

CPB’s Office of Field Operations called the fox “a sly stowaway” in a social media post.

Red foxes are some of the most widespread carnivorous mammals in the world, WCS said. They

can be found across Europe, Asia, North America and areas of Africa. They can be identified by their reddish coats and bushy, whitetipped tails. They are also known for their adaptability, which allows them to not only survive but thrive in environments from lush forests to urban areas.

The foxes also have flexible diets, which can include everything from fruits and insects to rodents and birds. They are highly opportunistic, omnivorous eaters with sharp hunting, foraging and scavenging skills. In cities like New York, they may be seen rummaging around in the garbage for a meal.

The Bronx Zoo, located on 265 acres of hardwood forest, has regularly worked with officials to rescue illegally trafficked wildlife at local ports and airports. This red

fox, however, stowed away on the ship unbeknownst to the crew, unwittingly making a roughly 3,600 mile journey across the ocean.

As of March 11, the fox was in the care of the animal and veterinary teams at the zoo’s Animal Health Center, WCS said. Initial examinations indicated that the fox was in good condition, but veterinarians continue to await results from further routine health screenings.

Once veterinarians determine the fox is completely healthy, the zoo plans to work with wildlife experts to find the right longterm home for the animal.

CPB agriculture specialists coordinated with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and New Jersey Fish and Wildlife to bring the red fox safely to the zoo.

Courtesy WCS Newsroom

The Bronx Zoo is now home to a rescued red fox, which stowed away on a ship arriving from England.

What’s on?

Kids on the Move

Wave Hill

Atom Moore: Second Nature

Still life and product photographer Atom Moore presents “Second Nature,” an exhibit centered on the anatomy of plants in Wave Hill’s living collection. View the series at Wave Hill from March 24 to July 12.

Forest Bathing: Spring Equinox Celebrate spring with moments of grounding and mindfulness. Engage your senses and reflect as you move through the garden on a meditative stroll led by certified nature therapy guide Cindy Olsen.

Benefits of forest bathing may include cardiovascular strength-building, stress reduction, improved cognitive functioning, boosting the immune system and creating a deeper connection to nature and the self. Enjoy the healing benefits of the garden, then conclude with ceremonial tea.

Takes place on Saturday, March 21, from 12 to 2 p.m.

Family Art Project: Felted River

Let your creativity flow by using felt to depict underwater scenes of the Hudson River at Wave Hill on Saturday, March 21 and Sunday, March 22, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. You’ll craft woolly art pieces that reflect the river’s

wide variety of plant and animal life.

At 11:30 a.m., families can enjoy a story time program in the Gund Theater, all ages welcome. You will be celebrating World Water Day with the book “Turtle Splash! Countdown at the Pond” by Cathryn Falwell.

Winter Workspace Drop-In

The Winter Workspace Drop-In Sunday series provides an opportunity for Wave Hill visitors to deepen their connection with both the arts and their experience of the garden by learning how artists are drawing inspiration from the site.

Wave Hill’s Winter Workspace is a program that takes place over two seven-week sessions and provides artists with free studio space, a financial stipend and access to Wave Hill’s living collection. Since its start in 2010, the workspace has supported more than 175 artists.

During Winter Workspace, the artists have intimate access to the greenhouses, as well as horticultural and curatorial staff. Experimentation is encouraged, and artists expand their practices while working on site. At the core of the Winter Workspace is the recognition that creating art within the context of a garden is a unique experience. During Drop-in Sunday,

visitors can mingle with participating Workspace Artists in their studios, ask questions, and learn about their creative practice. It runs weekly from 1 to 3 p.m., with a different group of three or more artists participating.

At Riverdale Senior Services

St. Patrick’s Day Celebration Dinner

Celebrate the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day with an afternoon of delicious food, music and community connection at the Center for Ageless Living. Enjoy music, light entertainment, a festive Irish-inspired dinner, raffles and fun surprises on Saturday, March 28, from 3 to 5 p.m.

At the RiverdaleYonkers Society for Ethical Culture

Ethics for Kids

Facilitated by Naa Pappoe, Ethics for Kids introduces children to social justice, science, history, self-expression and empathy through stories, the arts and play.

The series, held at the Riverdale-Yonkers Society for Ethical Culture helps young learners explore what it

means to live ethically. Designed for children ages 4 to 10, but open to all. Email growingethicsrysec@gmail.com to RSVP. Sessions are held every Sunday at 10:30 a.m.

Family Shabbat Join Family Shabbat, a monthly program by the Riverdale Y and Congregation Tehillah to welcome Shabbat with singing, dancing, grape juice and challah. The next gathering is on Friday, March 20, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

At Riverdale

Neighborhood

House

Riverdale CSA

The Riverdale CSA, Community Supported Agriculture, is accepting members for its 2026 season. Deliveries of organic and biodynamic vegetables from Hawthorne Valley Farm are made weekly on Thursdays from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. from early June to November to the Riverdale Neighborhood House. Full shares and partial shares are available and include 7-10 vegetables each week. Fruit shares can be purchased that include organic strawberries, blueberries, stone fruits, apples and pears. Also available are a wide

variety of local dairy products, baked goods, meats, poultry and eggs. CSAs are mutually beneficial for farmers and communities.

For more information about this and the current Winter-Spring CSA with Clatter Valley Farm, go to https://riverdalecsa.org, www.facebook. com/RiverdaleCSA/ or email riverdalecsa@gmail.com.

Masala Bhangra

Join the Riverdale Neighborhood House for this full-body dance workout. With easy-to-follow choreography adapted from Bollywood dance styles, participants are encouraged to move, touch and inspire.

All ages are welcome. Runs on Tuesdays at 2 p.m.

Youth market

Stop by the Riverdale Neighborhood House youth market for fresh, local produce straight from area farmers. Other items for sale include sourdough bread from baker Annie Miller. The Neighborhood House accepts EBT, cash, credit, FAMM checks, vouchers, SNAP EBT and Health Bucks, helping ensure access for everyone in the community. The market is open every Thursday

Professional Services Directory

Attorneys

www.riverdalelegal.com 3265 Johnson Ave. #201 Tel: (646) 228 - 0976 / Tel: (888) 887 - 8886 leontsinberg@gmail.com

545 West 236th Street, Bronx, ny 10463 718.980.7700 www.advancedcareaudiology.com

Sarah Andrew-madison, LCSW, psychotherapy pLLC local licensed Clinical Social Worker who provides private, virtual psychotherapy to adults (18+) across

Courtesy Wave Hill

Wave Hill will celebrate the spring equinox, the first day of the season with an equal amount of daytime and nighttime. Kids are invited to join a guided garden walk with guest educator Corinne Flax. After the walk, they will enjoy a short balance-inspired yoga flow. Recommended for ages 3 to 8.

What’s on?

from 1 to 6 p.m.

Stretch and Strengthen Start your mornings this new year with a light movement class at the Riverdale Neighborhood House. Classes are held on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to noon. A social hour with refreshments follows, offering a chance to chat with neighbors.

At the New York Public Library

Mixed media art for pre-teens

Join every Tuesday at the Riverdale branch for a session of arts and crafts using different mediums such as acrylics, watercolors, clay, beads, paper and other mediums like photograms.

You’ll be simultaneously listening to podcasts like “Stuff You Missed in History Class” and “Night Vale” or just jamming to your favorite playlists.

Related books and resources will also be available for checkout to spark your creativity and help you dive deeper into techniques and other crafts. Runs every Tuesday from 3 to 4 p.m.

Riverdale Art Association

Blues

The Riverdale Art Association, in conjunction with the Riverdale Temple and Women of Reform Judaism, present The exhibit “Blues” at the Riverdale Temple. The show runs through March 27.

Members artists interpret the theme in various ways, creating an exhibition with inviting works in a true “blues” diversity. Works span a range of media and styles, including photography, pastels, oil and watercolors and sculpture.

Places and Spaces

The Riverdale Art Association invites you to visit its latest exhibit “Places and Spaces” at the gallery at Christ Church Riverdale. Member artists use an array of vibrant, contrasting colors to interpret ways to bring to life their interpretations of place and space using acrylics, watercolor, mixed media and collage.

The parish hall is open Monday to Thursday 10 a.m. to noon. The exhibit runs until April 24. There will be an opening reception on Friday, March 27 at 5:30 to 7 p.m.

At Yoga Muse

Yoga en Español

Yoga Muse offers a weekly yoga class taught entirely in Spanish. The open-level, slow-flow class is led by Meli Rios and meets every Saturday at 12:15 p.m.

At Inner Space Yoga

Mindfulness Yoga Ayurveda Spring Workshop

This 90-minute workshop explores the Ayurvedic energy of earth and water through mindful movement, invigorating breathwork and Ayurvedic wisdom, the sister science of Yoga. You’ll gently awaken the body, clear stagnation, and cultivate lightness and clarity for the season ahead.

Saturday, March 21, from 12:30 to 2 p.m.

Highlights Tour of Modern Women, Modern Vision

Join the Hudson River Museum for a docent-led tour of its “Modern Women, Modern Vision: Photographs from the Bank of America” exhibit. It explores the history of photography and the vital role women played in shaping the medium. Tours are every Friday in March.

At Lehman College

“Painted World” exhibition

Until May 2, attend the “Painted World: Text, Gesture and Expression in Contemporary Art” exhibition at Lehman College Art Gallery. The “Painted World” brings together three dozen contemporary artists who use powerful words and push the boundaries of written language through the physical act of painting.

At the New York Botanical Garden

The Orchid Show Head to the New York Botanical Garden through April 26 for the annual Orchid show, “Mr. Flower Fantastic’s Concrete Jungle.” This year, the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory transforms into a dazzling reimagining of New York City.

Orchids collide with concrete in scenes inspired by stoops, slice shops and even the subway, creating a vivid fusion of nature and cityscape artistry. Visitors can experience the flair and style of the Big Apple brought to life through thousands of flowers.

Before New York

Join the New York Botanical Garden’s Urban Conservation Team for an interactive exploration of nature in the city.

The team will highlight the importance of nature to cities and cities to nature, and introduce the redesigned Welikia Map Explorer — a historical ecology mapping tool that reveals what the landscape, plants, animals and people may have been like on a New York City block 400 years ago.

This runs from noon to 4 p.m. on March 21.

At Derfner Judaica Museum

“Envisioning the Sacred: Modern Art from the Collection”

Envisioning the Sacred: Modern Art from the Collection features 49 prints, paintings, and drawings from the Museum’s permanent collection by 20th- and 21st-century artists working in a range of modernist styles — from figurative to abstract.

These 21 artists explore stories and characters from the Bible, represent Jewish observances and traditions, or take inspiration from language and legend. Many of the artists express their Jewish identities and relationships to Jewish communal experience through their work.

For some, mysticism and quests for spiritual connection are essential features of their art. It runs until Sunday, June 21.

One World One Sky

At the Kingsbridge Historical Society

At Edgehill, the Kingsbridge Historical Society will host four Thursday evenings in March for a community art project: the “Bronx 250th Tapestry.”

As an update to the bicentennial quilts that were sewn in our area in 1976, this tapestry will represent our community, historic events, and landmarks. Only this time, no needle or thread is required to contribute.

Participants will work with teaching artist Tijay Mohammed and the KHS team to produce “squares,” which will all be stitched together later to form the larger tapestry which will be displayed at different venues in the community and preserved for future generations.

Sessions are on March, 19 and 26, from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

At Riverdale Y

100 Objects from the Collections of the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research

A pair of ruby red slippers. A medieval manuscript. A Yiddish folk medicine prescription. These and 97 other objects comprise a new centennial coffee-table-book, 100 Objects from the Collections of the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research, which chronicles modern Jewish history through 100 objects from the YIVO Archives and Library.

This gorgeously illustrated book highlights unique manuscripts, photographs, objects, and other ephemera with accompanying essays by 57 leading scholars.

Join the book’s editor, YIVO’s Director of Collections Stefanie Halpern,

on Monday, March 23, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. for a discussion that highlights how this book traces YIVO’s role in documenting key moments in modern Jewish history and culture through its 100 years of collecting.

Volunteer Cleanup

Given that the snow has melted and the streets and sidewalks are in dire need of cleaning, the Riverdale Main Street Alliance is hosting a large volunteer cleanup event on Saturday, March 28, at 10 a.m. sharp.

The alliance’s streetscape team is looking for as many volunteers as possible. The meetup location is on Riverdale Avenue and West 258th Street, in front of Chase Bank at 5656 Riverdale Avenue.

The cleanup is weather-dependent. Supplies will be provided and community service hours can be awarded.

At the Kingsbridge Heights Community Center

Prom drive

The Kingsbridge Heights Community Center’s Teen Center is collecting new and gently used formal wear, including gowns, suits, shoes, accessories, and more to help local teens feel their best on prom night this year.

Drop off donations at the community center, 3101 Kingsbridge Terrace, through April 23, 2026.

Career Day

The Kingsbridge Heights Community Center is hosting its career day on-site Thursday, March 26, where there will be a panel of accomplished women. This is a great opportunity for young people to learn and celebrate

powerful women during Women’s History Month.

Dance Workshop with the Paul Taylor Dance Company

Join this dance workshop with the Paul Taylor Dance Company on Friday, March 20 from 5 to 7 p.m. No experience needed. Space is limited to only 15 spots.

Explore early childhood services Families with children ages 0 to 5, are invited to explore the Kingsbridge Heights Community Center’s Early Childhood Service. Join us on Thursday, March 27 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 3101 Kingsbridge Terrace in the gymnasium.

Breathwork groups

Join free virtual and in-person breathwork groups for men and women ages 16 and up, every Monday and Wednesday. No experience needed. Learn guided breathing practices to help manage stress, regulate your nervous system and reconnect with your body.

Community Board 8 Meetings

Bronx Community Board 8 is in session. All meetings held at the CB8 office are located at 5676 Riverdale Ave., Suite 100. Unless specified, all hybrid meetings will be in the office or via Zoom. To access the Zoom link for CB8

March

Services Directory

Gerald neuberg, md,

For appointments, please call: 646.317.0130

Kung-Ming Jan, md

For appointments, please call: 718.601.4800

david I. sahar, md

For appointments, please call: 718.601.3700

ronald Weissman, md

dylan Marshall, md For

Affiliated

Opinion

There was a time not so long ago when, if citizens wanted to know what was happening in their communities, their go-to source was the local paper.

Not because it was as dopamine-inducing as scrolling through social media or as dramatic as a bingeable TV show. Most days it was neither. But it was where the details of local life accumulated. It shared information about the zoning hearing that ran three hours longer than expected, the debate over a school budget, the announcement of a new business. That reporting created a public record of communities and how they changed over time. It informed residents, empowering them to get involved in their neighborhoods and helping them feel connected.

Some places, like the greater Riverdale area, still benefit from the presence of a local paper. However, across the United States, that kind of coverage is steadily disappearing. Where it still remains, it looks different than it once did.

The decline of local news did not happen all at once. It occurred gradually, in increments sometimes too small to notice. But lately, the alarm bells have grown louder. Papers large and small are reducing their staff. Even the nationally recognized Washington Post recently laid off more than 300 employees, including so many talented reporters. Others are cutting back the number of days they print, or like the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, ceasing print operations completely. Some, like the 240-year-old Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, are closing entirely.

For readers, these shifts may manifest in ways that seem inconsequential. Maybe the reporter who used to attend local council meetings is no longer there. But what disappears with that reporter is not just a few headlines. Their community loses valuable insight and one of the most effective avenues for holding their officials accountable.

Local journalism functions as an essential kind of civic memory. It records who argues for what at a school board meeting, how a municipality decides on a new project, why a development proposal passed or failed. These stories create a public record of decisions being made. They let readers know how their community functions. When those stories vanish, the decisions do not stop, they just become harder to see and understand.

The economic explanation for journalism’s decline has become familiar by now. Advertising moved online. Print circulation declined. Social media and online information platforms created demand for large amounts of quick content

By Dalourny Nemorin

A moral outrage occurred in February. Ellie Aghayeva posted, “Dhs illegally arrested me. Please help,” on her Instagram stories around 6:30am Feb. 26 as the abduction of the Columbia neuroscience

that many local outfits couldn’t keep up with.

One of the most marked shifts in the media landscape is that human attention has moved. In today’s online world, we can follow events unfolding across the world in real time, refreshing our phones for constant updates from cities thousands of miles away. In many ways, the immediacy of digital media is beneficial.

Frequently though, the constant stream of headlines can create anxiety. It is also now easier than ever for misinformation and division to spread via online channels. Meanwhile, in a growing number of local news deserts, news that directly impacts residents’ day-to-day lives passes by without necessary media attention.

This imbalance can be disorienting and discouraging. It is becoming increasingly common to know more about distant conflicts and national political drama than we know about the institutions that shape our communities.

Recently, The New York Times began running an advertisement on its podcasts urging listeners to “just subscribe to a real news organization with real journalists doing firsthand, fact-based reporting.” When one of the most successful national newspapers encourages people to support journalism elsewhere, it suggests that something fundamental in the information ecosystem has shifted.

Despite constant changes, shifts and downsizing, the current portrait of local news isn’t all doom and gloom. Student reporters and nonprofit local news organizations have been rising to the occasion, filling reporting gaps across the country. Newsrooms are experimenting with new storytelling techniques and technologies to better connect readers with the stories they need to know about.

The changes in the media landscape are far from over. Reporting and distributing the news looks far different than it did a decade ago, and will likely look different still in another decade. Some things, however, remain unchanged.

At The Riverdale Press, the work continues much as it always has: attending meetings that run long into the evening and asking questions about decisions that shape our neighborhoods. As strong local journalism becomes simultaneously more rare and more important, our reporters remain steadfast in their calling to produce facts-first, fearless reporting.

To call on what is by now perhaps a cliche journalism adage coined by humorist Finley Peter Dunne, our goal remains to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.

The context may be changing, but the mission is not.

undergraduate was reported.

Columbia University President Claire Shipman said federal agents told campus officials they were looking for a missing person in order to gain access to the building where Ellie was located. When a student is seized,

when fear is used as a tactic, when authority is cloaked in intimidation, we are not debating policy anymore. We are confronting the most basic question: Do rights still mean what they say on paper?

I have spent my career as a public defender in New

York standing next to people whose rights were violated by the very systems that claim to protect them. I have watched body camera footage that told one story, and courtroom testimony that told another. I have cross-examined officers whose uniforms commanded deference, even when their conduct did not.

So let me say this plainly: a badge does not sanctify misconduct. A uniform does not make a constitutional violation disappear. Too many people of color have lost their lives because of a badge and misconduct. We are living currently in the United States of fear.

As a public defender, I know how quickly power can harden into impunity. I know how often communities, especially Black and brown communities, are told that what they saw, what they experienced, what they feared, somehow does not count. We are told to wait for internal reviews, be patient, and lower the temperature.The temperature is not the problem. The violation is.

We are living in a moment when political silence is strategic. When too many leaders weigh their words against donor spreadsheets and interest-group scorecards before deciding whether to speak. And right now, as major funding streams flow and alliances are calculated, that silence will be deafening.

It should not matter who is distributing checks. It should not matter which leadership office is counting votes. It

By Deborah Wallace

My husband/coworker and I have spent about half a century in research on the causes and consequences of the 1970s decimation of fire companies which led to the famous fire epidemic. We are preparing a paper for submission to a fire science journal: “Fire Company Availability Crisis: the Bronx” and want to alert the residents and workers of the perilous situation of ZIP code 10463, Kingsbridge, where we ourselves live. The situation of Norwood, ZIP code 10467, is also problematic.

A megafire in our paper is one to which 30 or more fire companies were assigned, a fire that destroys many homes or stores like the December 2023 fire on West 231st Street and Godwin Terrace that leveled five stores. ZIP code 10463 and ZIP code 10467 abut ZIP code 10468, the northernmost ZIP code in a cluster of five with extremely high density of megafires, a cluster forming an epicenter in a growing fire epidemic.

ZIP code 10463 had zero mega-fires from 2005 to 2007 and five years of zero megafires in the ten years from 2005-2014. During the succeeding 10 years, 2015 to 2024, ZIP code 10463 had no years of zero megafires: five years of one, four years of two and one year of three.

should not matter what political calculations are underway. When a student’s rights are violated, when force replaces dialogue, the response should be immediate and unequivocal. Solidarity is not a slogan. It’s survival. Let me be clear: I am running against an incumbent, Ritchie Torres, who has built a career inside that culture of calculation. I am not. I am running because our communities deserve representatives who do not go quiet when it is inconvenient to speak.

Days after President Trump took office promising an unprecedented crackdown on immigrants, Torres was one of seven House Democrats who joined Republicans in approving the Laken Riley Act, a law that legal experts and immigration activists warned would open the door to a massive expansion of immigration detention and widespread erosion of due process rights.

We’ve seen the spirit of that law play out over the past 13 months as Trump’s racist crusade terrifies communities, rends apart families and leads to students like Ellie being taken by masked men under flimsy pretexts. Recently, Torres tried to walk back his disastrous vote by proposing a law to require U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to wear QR codes for bystanders to scan. The idea has been derided by the people on the front lines of the fight against ICE, and for good reason: Scanning a bar code stitched on an officer’s

The rising number of megafires in the Bronx and in most of its ZIP code areas depends on the rising number of inadequate initial assignments of fire companies to structural fire alarms. A standard alarm assignment is three engines,two ladders and a battalion chief. We found an astonishing rise in the number of structural fires to which fewer than three fire units were assigned, especially in the 2015 to 2024 decade. This rise, in turn, depends on the extreme rise in medical emergencies to which fire companies are sent. This is the heart of the fire company availability crisis: too few companies, a 1975 destaffing of the remaining companies and a 1996 mandate to respond to medical emergencies because there aren’t enough ambulances. With an inadequate initial response, a fire grows and demands ever more fire companies to control it.

Fire Department of New York spokespersons always reassure the public after one of these megafires: “We got there in under four minutes.” They’re talking about the first arriving engine. They are not talking about how soon an adequate number of units arrive to control the fire or how the taking of one firefighter off every company has hampered adequacy of response.

The store fires also reflect

uniform will not stop a rights violation. If there were officers involved in this incident, their authority must be scrutinized, not presumed. If there were failures by institutions, they must be exposed, not buried. If laws were broken, prosecutions must follow. Rights are not self-executing; they require enforcement. Enforcement requires political will. In court, I do not get to remain neutral when my client’s rights are trampled. I object. I argue. I demand the Constitution be applied, not selectively, not situationally, but fully. That is the posture I bring to this moment. Because here is the truth: when powerful people go quiet, vulnerable people pay the price. This student deserved safety. Their family deserved peace of mind. Every student in New York deserves to know that disagreement will be met with debate, not detention. We cannot allow a culture to take hold where uniforms shield misconduct, where fear is normalized, where silence is rewarded. Not uptown. Not downtown. Not in the Bronx. Not anywhere. There are moments in public life when you either defend rights loudly or you help erode them quietly. I choose to be loud.

Dalourny Nemorin is a public defender and community board committee chair who is running in the Democratic primary for the Bronx’s 15th Congressional District.

inadequate building codes. The free-standing stores don’t have sprinklers or fire-resistant walls between stores. When the six stores on Bailey Avenue burned in 2021, one would think that our Dinowitzes would look into why this happened. Dinowitz pere is the chair of the assembly’s committee on codes. New York State has a building code that should be examined. Dinowitz fils is the co-chair of the Bronx delegation to the New York City Council. Fires that destroy a whole row of stores have been occurring all over the Bronx and in the other central boroughs. ZIP code areas 10463 and 10467 desperately need better leadership on these issues. Privately, my husband and I have named the vacant lot on West 231st Street and Godwin “Dinowitz Canyon.” After that fire, the elected officials ran around getting help to the affected store owners but no one paid any attention to preventing more such disasters. They all posed as heroes but neglected to use their power to keep the people and businesses of ZIP code 10463 safe in the future.

Deborah Wallace is a semi-retired natural and human ecologist living in Kingsbridge and studied the short- and long-term consequences of the 1970’s closing of fire companies for half a century.

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