What’s inside?
UMSV gets new basketball coach
Brett Gunning to lead men’s program Page A3
NYCHA touts historic investments
Upgrades on tap Page A3
New York, Ukraine kids collaborate
Art helps heal trauma Page A5
Hochul urged to tax NY’s wealthy
By Michelle Mullen mmullen@riverdalepress.com
In the northwest Bronx, calls for Gov. Kathy Hochul to raise taxes on New York’s wealthiest residents and corporations echoed across the Lehman College campus March 29, where Sen. Bernie Sanders urged the governor to take action amid New York City’s widening projected budget gap.
The “Tax the Rich” rally took place just days before Hochul’s April 1 deadline to finalize the fiscal year 2027 state budget, as negotiations in Albany over how to address the city’s estimated $5.4 million budget deficit. Progressive lawmakers and advocates pushed for rev-
enue measures backed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani — namely, raising income tax on those earning over $1 million annually and increasing corporate taxes on large, highly profitable companies.
“Mayor Mamdani has proposed a surcharge of two percentage points on New York City millionaires,” Sanders said at the rally. “That is .7 percent of total city taxes — fewer than 1 percent — which would generate approximately $3 million annually. So let us be clear on the mayor’s proposal, 99.3% of people in New York City would not nickel more in taxes.”
Hochul has resisted raising income taxes on the wealthy, and instead proposed allocating about $1.5 billion in
state aid to help address New York City’s projected budget deficit.
“I would ask Governor Hochul, ‘Listen to where the people are at,’” Sanders said, looking out at the crowd.
Although Mamdani floated property tax increases as a potential fallback to close that gap — a move that requires City Council approval — he has said he wants to avoid doing so, instead urging the state to raise income taxes on New Yorkers earning over $1 million and large corporations. Lois Harr, Riverdale resident and member of Northwest Bronx Indivisible, was in the crowd at the rally, where organizers estimated more than 2,000 people were in attendance.
Riverdale keeps momentum with third No Kings protest
By Olivia Young oyoung@riverdalepress.com
Riverdale residents joined millions of others nationwide March 28 in the third No Kings protest, a series of demonstrations against President Donald Trump and his administration’s policies. Locals took to Lou Gehrig Plaza on East 161st Street, the Henry Hudson Bridge and Midtown Manhattan to make their voices heard — primarily in opposition to aggressive measures by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, unwanted U.S. military action in Iran and what protesters feel is an erosion of democracy.
No Kings is organized by a coalition of more than 300 organizations against what are described by demonstrators as authoritarian actions. The first of the widespread protests were in June 2025, with over five million participants nationwide
according to estimates from the American Civil Liberties Union, and at least 20 from Riverdale. The second wave, in October 2025, brought seven million Americans to the streets, according to ACLU estimates, and more than 600 Riverdalians at Seton Park, according to the New York Police Department.
In the South Bronx, members of the grassroots group Northwest Bronx Indivisible raised homemade signs that read “Defend democracy” and “We don’t do kings in the Bronx” while echoing chants, bundled up against the cool weather.
Member Judy Fletcher is also a part of NYCD16/15 Indivisible, a group that promotes civic engagement in Congressional Districts 15 and 16. This is her third No Kings protest, and Fletcher said each has been bigger than the last.
“I pay my taxes, I’m not a billionaire,” she said. “I’m retired now, and I’m going to pay tax on that. It’s a noble thing to contribute to the common good we all benefit from, all kinds of things like schools, the fire department, the police department, parks.”
Yet in greater Riverdale, even among neighbors sympathetic to the message, the question of how to tax the wealthy revealed a more layered set of views.
Longtime resident Shelley Simpson said the issue is not about targeting individuals, but rather fixing structural inequities embedded in the existing system, pointing to factors like tax codes
After Bronx day care fire, owner left picking up the pieces
By Michelle Mullen mmullen@riverdalepress.com
Flames and thick smoke tore through a Kingsbridge apartment building March 17, destroying a home-based day care that served families for more than two decades.
For 23 years, Maria Capellan ran her day care, The Kid’s Room, out of her fourth-floor apartment, at 3410 Kingsbridge Ave., caring for children as young as a few months old and as old as preschool-aged. The concept began as a temporary solution to care for her own children, but into something lasting.
Capellan had been working in marketing, but the demands of the job made it difficult to balance work and family. After discovering a nanny was mistreating her children, she said she made a decision that would shape the next chapter of her life.
“I said, no, I cannot. I cannot keep doing this,” she said. “So I quit my job.”
At first, she planned to return to her career once her children were older. But something shifted as she began teaching and caring for other families’ children.
“When I started seeing that the children at three were reading, knowing the shapes, the body parts, I got some sort of high out of it,” she said, “It’s like a drug, and I just developed a passion for it.”
Over the years, Capellan built more than a business. She said parents traveled from across the region — “from Jersey, from Queens, from Connecticut, from Westchester,” she shared — to bring their children to her program. The apartment became a place of routine, vibrancy and early learning.
That sense of stability was altered in a matter of minutes.
At 18 years old, Gavin Lam earns Eagle Scout
By Michelle Mullen mmullen@riverdalepress.com
After more than a decade of work, 18-year-old Gavin Lam has achieved Eagle Scout status, the highest rank attainable in Scouting America’s Scouts BSA program. Since its inception in 1911, only about four percent of Scouts have earned the Eagle Scout rank, according to Scouting America. To qualify, Scouting America requires that candidates complete a rigorous series of merit badges, take on leadership roles within their troop and carry out a community service project intended to leave a lasting impact on those it serves. Though he grew up in Bayside,
Queens, Lam’s connection to Scouting traces back to Riverdale, where his father was raised and scouted in local Troop 240. That legacy was one of several factors that shaped Lam’s introduction to Scouting.
“For me, Scouting was a bit familial,” Lam said. “My dad and uncle are both Eagle Scouts. My two older brothers were in Scouting before me, and so it was like I followed in their footsteps.”
Lam joined Cub Scouts at five years old, and later transitioned into Boy Scouts, now called Scouts BSA, before finding his place in Queens in Troop 106. There, he threw himself into the weekly Friday night meetings. In the summers, he attended camp with fellow Scouts in upstate
Assembly member Jeffrey Dinowitz took a similar stance at the Lou Gehrig Plaza rally. He told The Press it’s important to stand together with those that are outraged, but voting to flip Republicanheld seats in New York is the only way to make substantial change.
“We are really in a dangerous, unprecedented time,” Dinowitz said. “The only way to remove that danger is by winning elections.”
Seventy-eight-year-old Merritt Claude,
“People have grown increasingly confident,” she said. “Each protest has led to more activism, more organization and more resolve.” At 75 years old, Fletcher said Trump’s policies are beyond her “sense of reality.” Ultimately, she wants Americans to take part in a general strike, which is a largescale work stoppage to pressure a government into change. But her hope now is that Democrats secure a majority in the Senate and House of Representatives ahead of midterm elections.
On the afternoon of March 17, a fire broke out in a third-floor apartment, according to the New York Fire Department below Capellan’s unit. Smoke quickly rose through the building and into her day care. Inside, she said eight children were present and napping.
As smoke crept into the room, one child — the only one awake — noticed first.
“She said, ‘under the table, under the table,’” Capellan recalled.
At first, she thought it was an electrical issue nearby. Within moments, it became clear
GARY JEAN-JUSTE
Lou Gehrig Plaza was one of thousands of sites across the country that took part in No Kings, a series of demonstrations against the Trump administration.
Courtesy Felix Lam
Jack Walsh, The National Eagle Scout Association Committee’s Greater New York Councils Chair, left, joined Gavin Lam, right, in a court of honor ceremony for the new Eagle Scout.
Teacher, lifelong Bronx resident Dolores Lessner dies at 95
Dolores Lessner, 95, a lifelong resident of the Bronx, passed away Feb. 22 at Calvary Hospital in the Bronx. She was born May 31, 1930 to the late Ida and Jacob “Jack” Isaacson. She was predeceased by Marvin Lessner, her husband of more than 60 years. Dolores was a graduate of Hunter College. She was a schoolteacher for many years — first in New Jersey and then in the New York City school system at P.S. 152 in Manhattan. She taught many generations of second and fifth grade students before specializing as a reading teacher. Toward the end of her career, she trained other teachers. After retirement, she and Marvin enjoyed educational travel and swimming at the local pool.
She is survived by her son Philip Lessner and his wife Susan of Newberry, SC, and her brother Stephen Isaacson and his wife Dominique of Paris, France.
Local elected officials make City & State’s annual
Bronx Power 100
City & State released its annual Bronx Power 100 list ranking the borough’s most notable figures, with help from Joe Konig, a New York City-based journalist who previously worked for The Press in 2019, according to his website. At number five was Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson. City & State noted her role in the plan for Bally’s Casino in Throgg’s Neck, the Hip Hop Museum set to open in Mott Haven in 2026 according to its website, and the redevelopment of the Kingsbridge Armory.
State Sen. Gustavo Rivera and state Sen. Robert Jackson were tied for number six. Rivera was noted for his role as chair of the New York Senate Health Committee, and advocacy for healthcare affordability measures such as the New York Health Act and the Home Care Savings and Reinvestment Act. Jackson was recognized for his position as chair of the New York Senate Civil Service and Pensions Committee, where he is looking to raise pension benefits for public sector unions.
Number seven was held by U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres, who was regarded for his New York City Council win in 2013 that made him the first out gay elected official in the borough. He was noted for winning a contentious race for his House seat in 2020, and City & State said has a record of challenging the Trump administration.
U.S. Rep. Adriano Espaillat came next at eight. Born in the Dominican Republic, Espaillat is the first formerly undocumented immigrant to serve in Congress, and has called to dismantle U.S.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement, City & State said. He was recognized as one of the most powerful Latino politicians in New York, who is well-equipped to take on a challenger in the Democratic primaries, City & State said.
Ranked 12th was Assembly member Jeffrey Dinowitz, who is the chair of the New York State Democratic Assembly Campaign Committee and the New York State Assembly Codes Committee. He is also secretary of the Bronx Democratic Party’s Executive Committee. City & State regarded Assembly member Dinowitz as a powerhouse in Riverdale with deep political establishment ties across the borough. He and Council member Eric Dinowitz criticized Bailey Avenue bike lane plans last July that were a part of the New York City Department of Transportation’s Harlem River Greenway plan, City & State said. According to a joint statement, the Dinowitzes cited parking concerns.
Council member Dinowitz and Council member Pierina Sanchez were tied at 18. Sanchez was noted for her position as chair of the New York City Council Housing and Buildings Committee, her help with the Kingsbridge Armory redevelopment plan, and advocacy for The Stability, Accountability and Fair Enforcement for Residents. or SAFER, Homes Act. Dinowitz was recognized as the chair of the New York City Council Education Committee, and for his focus on mayoral control of city schools and the phaseout of Regents exams.
Missing 71-year-old man
Police are asking for the public’s help in finding 71-year-old Erasmo Reinoso Diaz, who was last seen leaving his home on Kingsbridge Terrace at 5:20 p.m. March 24. At the time, Reinoso Diaz was wearing a beige shirt with a gray long sleeve shirt underneath, black pants and white sneakers. He is described as having brown hair, a light complexion, about 5 feet and 8 inches tall, and 160 pounds with a medium build.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA
(74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at https:// crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/, or on X @NYPDTips. All calls are strictly confidential.
Kingsbridge man’s missing dogs found
Kingsbridge native Eusebio Baez reunited with his four bulldogs — Banksy, Churro, Mocha and Rosie — after reporting them missing to the police March 22.
Police described the incident as grand larceny, and said the three French bulldogs and one English bulldog had been taken near Post Road and Fieldston Terrace between March 20 and March 21. The dogs were valued at about $35,500 dollars, according to police. The investigation remains ongoing.
The story “Police raid Khensv Bvildr church for cannabis products,” which appeared on page A3 March 19, stated cannabis flower, THC vapes, cannabis pre-rolls and THC edibles were being sold at Khensv Bvildr 508c1a Inc. This was an allegation made by law enforcement. It also stated the church was found to be “open and operating.” This has been retracted, as the church is a private religious institution and not a business
UMSV hires Brett Gunning to lead men’s basketball program
By Olivia Young oyoung@riverdalepress.com
The University of Mount Saint Vincent Department of Athletics has announced Brett Gunning — a 26-year coaching veteran in the NCAA and NBA — as the new head of the men’s basketball team.
Gunning was also named the athletic department’s senior associate director for athletics, according to a press release from UMSV.
“I am honored to step into this role,” Gunning said in a statement. “And look forward to building a program that reflects the university’s values and serves our student-athletes and the Bronx community with pride.” Before coming to UMSV, Gunning also worked to help kids off the court. In 2018, he founded nonprofit On the Right Path, the release said. The organization aims
By Michelle Mullen mmullen@riverdalepress.com
The New York City Housing Authority announced it invested more than $5.1 billion in repairs and upgrades over the past five years, completing more than 800 construction projects despite pandemic-related work stoppages and other COVID-19 disruptions.
City officials said the work reflects a sustained effort to address decades of deterioration, even as needs in the nation’s largest public housing system continue to outpace funding by tens of billions of dollars. Last year, according to NYCHA, the city’s annual capital spending rose to about $1.25 billion, up roughly 48 percent since 2021.
The progress follows a 2019 agreement with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that brought NYCHA under federal oversight and reshaped how it carries out capital work, NYCHA CEO Lisa Bova-Hiatt said in a statement. Under the deal, a federal independent monitor was assigned to ensure the
to guide underserved youth through education, mentorship and basketball skill development, according to On the Right Path’s website. On the Right Path also looks to combine life lessons with basketball basics. It starts by sharing a book series with kids that focuses on six life skills: loving others, being unselfish, staying healthy and strong, showing respect, showing forgiveness, and having fun. Values are further instilled through a 12-week interactive curriculum and also an online classroom, according to On the Right Path’s website.
Gunning, originally from Philadelphia, started with the NBA in 2008 as a director of player development for the Houston Rockets, where he helped improve player performance by using video analysis and on-court skill development, according to
safety requirements related to lead paint, mold, heat and elevators are met, NYCHA said.
“NYCHA is now completing more capital work annually than at any point in recent history,” Bova-Hiatt stated. “The completion of more than 800 projects is a testament to our dedication to not only enhancing and expediting service delivery, but to making tangible improvements on the campuses and inside the homes and buildings of NYCHA residents.”
Across the five boroughs, projects have included replacing aging boilers and heating systems, elevator modernizations, roof repairs, facade work and upgrades to waste management infrastructure, according to NYCHA.
In greater Riverdale, the Marble Hill Houses were among the developments included in a citywide expansion of security infrastructure as part of an effort to improve safety and daily living conditions across public housing campuses, The Press previously reported.
According to NYCHA’s online Capital Projects & Needs Tracker, the city invested more
the release. He was promoted to assistant coach three years later, before joining the Orlando Magic for three seasons.
Gunning returned to the Houston Rockets after that, where he stayed until 2020. During the 2017-18 season, the Rockets won their highest record in history at 65 games and advanced to the Western Conference finals, the release said.
Before the NBA, Gunning spent seven seasons with the Villanova Wildcats, first as an assistant coach and then an assistant head coach under Head Coach Jay Wright. Gunning helped recruit and develop teams that made the NCAA tournament four years in a row, and reached the Sweet 16 tournament three times.
His experience in coaching goes back to 1994, where Gunning worked as an assistant coach under Wright at
Hofstra University, who said in a statement Gunning was one of the best teachers of the game he’s worked with.
“He brings a rare blend of basketball knowledge, lead-
ership and genuine care for young people,” Wright stated.
“Gunning will create a culture built on accountability, togetherness and daily improvement — exactly the environment
than $200,000 to install closedcircuit television cameras in Marble Hill in a project completed in 2023.
However, in its 2025 fiveyear capital needs assessment, NYCHA estimated it needs roughly $600 million to address the most urgent issues at the Marble Hill complex.
The agency projects the total will reach about $675 million by 2044 to bring the development to “a state of good re-
pair.” That figure accounts for both systems that have already failed and those expected to deteriorate in the coming years, according to NYCHA.
Deputy Mayor for Housing and Planning Leila Bozorg said in a statement although the scale of need remains significant, the recent upgrades are already showing results.
“In the face of longstanding federal disinvestment in public housing, NYCHA has made
of
important changes over the last five years, resulting in significant capital improvements at properties across the five boroughs,” she stated. “While there is more work to do together across all levels of government to deliver for NYCHA residents, these investments and changes are making a tangible difference for thousands of our neighbors.” NYCHA expects to complete construction on more than 125
projects in 2026, and to expend more than $1 billion in capital funds for the fourth consecutive year. The agency will also begin large-scale upgrades to waste plumbing, kitchens and bathrooms at several developments, targeting the root causes of leaks and mold — issues that NYCHA said account for nearly 20 percent of its estimated $80 billion in capital
MISSION WEEK 2026
student-athletes thrive in. His impact will be felt immediately, not just in wins, but in the growth, confidence and experience
every young man he coaches.”
Courtesy Isabelle Bagon, University of Mount Saint Vincent
Brett Gunning started coaching in 1994, and went on to help develop teams in the NCAA and NBA.
File photos
NYCHA reported investing at least $50 million into the Marble Hill Houses in the past five years.
The Marble Hill Houses were part of a widespread upgrade of CCTV systems in public housing complexes across the city.
shared Lasallian Catholic mission
In greater Riverdale, residents reflect on “Tax the Rich”
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— deductions, credits, exemptions — that can significantly reduce what individuals and corporations ultimately pay.
“Every one of us takes advantage of every deduction we can get to pay the least amount of taxes,” Simpson said. “Maybe [the solution] is raising some taxes, but maybe it’s getting rid of some loopholes, maybe getting rid of some exemptions. Making it more fair than it is.”
Others in Riverdale are more skeptical, like Frank Scalesi, who echoed concerns previously raised by Gov. Hochul — that higher taxes could drive wealthy residents out of the state.
“It’s so easy to say tax the rich,” Scalesi said. “You can’t demonize the rich. You’re going to push those people out, and it hurts the whole city. They’re rich enough that they can move out, and then we’re stuck here. They can pick up and go easier than we can.”
Research suggests the relationship between taxes and migration may be less direct than many assume. A 2023 report by the nonprofit Fiscal Policy Institute — an independent, nonpartisan think tank —
found that New York’s high earners, defined as those making more than $815,000 annually, typically leave at far lower rates than working- and middle-class residents, and that previous income tax increases in 2017 and 2021 did not significantly alter their migration patterns.
Between 2020 and 2022, the study showed, about 2,400 millionaire households left New York while roughly 17,500 new millionaire households moved in during the same period — a net increase researchers linked in part to “economic growth and rising incomes.”
Nonprofit, nonpartisan groups such as the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities also found little evidence that higher taxes drive large numbers of wealthy residents to leave. Their analyses show migration among high earners is shaped more by job opportunities, family ties and quality of life than by tax rates.
Still, for residents like Scalesi, there remains an underlying concern that even the possibility of people leaving could weaken the city’s tax base. With the state budget still up in the air, that concern remains a central part of the debate as officials weigh whether higher taxes would bring in new revenue or risk losing it.
Locals rally in Riverdale, South Bronx and Manhattan
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who is on the aging committee of Bronx Community Board 8 and has been a member of the local political organization Ben Franklin Reform Democratic Club since 2007, said she was motivated to come out and protest because of Trump’s criticism of mail-in voting and proposals to restrict it.
Claude uses a rollator walker, as well as Access-A-Ride services to get around as it is difficult for her to use the subway and buses. She said she is also considered handicapped. Still, Claude says she goes in person to vote, but there could come a time where she is physically unable.
“How many elderly people do you know or people who have small babies who are going to get up and go on a bus to go vote?” Claude said.
Northwest Bronx Indivisible member Silvia Blumenfeld is set on targeting Congress too, but by demanding elected officials push back against the administration.
“Nothing changes if we don’t take
to the streets,” she said. “When [Congress members] see the grassroots energized and demonstrating, they respond.”
State Sen. Gustavo Rivera is focused on ICE, he told The Press after the Lou Gehrig rally. He said it’s critical to share with constituents specific ways they can protect themselves and others, such as through pamphlets that describe the rights a person has if approached by ICE agents, or SALUTE cards — used to document size, activity, location, uniform, time and equipment during encounters or sightings of ICE agents.
Members of the Unity Democratic Club, a local political organization created in 2022, were also present at Lou Gehrig Plaza. Don Bluestone, chair of the education and programming committee, said it was time to expand No Kings protests past Riverdale. The Bronx goes unheard when policy decisions are under consideration, he said.
Marcelo Lopez, president of the Unity Democratic Club, went to the
Riverdale community members protested at Lou Gehrig Plaza, the Henry Hudson Bridge and Midtown Manhattan. Locals raised concerns about matters such as actions by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Republican majority in Congress.
Midtown Manhattan protest, where he was at the front of the march behind a yellow banner that read “People over billionaires.” He said disinvestment at the federal level, such as Medicaid cuts, disproportionately impacts the Bronx.
According to the New York State Department of Health, 890,003 Bronxites — about 54 percent — are enrolled in Medicaid.
At the Midtown rally, Lopez said the spirit of those in attendance wasn’t self-pity, but clarity and determination.
A self-described avid history reader, he added the past shows constituents can see their demands met if they choose to fight for it. “Our eyes are open,” Lopez said. “We know what we want from our government.”
Bronx day care owner looks ahead after apartment fire
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it was something much worse.
Capellan and her two assistants began evacuating the children to the fire escape through a window, relying on drills they had practiced month after month.
“Since we do fire drills, they thought it was another fire drill,” she said. “I always make it like a game. So they think it’s fun.” Smoke filled the apartment, and the hallway became impassable. Capellan said she lined the children down the fire escape, trying to keep them calm while making split-second decisions.
“I have eight little lives that I had to keep my responsibility,” she said.
On the metal fire escape stairs outside, the children huddled together in the cold, some still groggy from their naps. Capellan recalled moving between them, steadying them and singing to keep them calm as voices rose from the street below.
At one point, believing help might not arrive in time, she made a choice to run into the smoke-filled apartment and slam the front door to alert firefighters she believed were out in the hallway.
“I said, ‘Oh my God, they’re not going to open the door. They think there’s
nobody here,’” Capellan said. “I can’t see anything. I didn’t know if the firefighters were there or not.” Eventually, Capellan said crews reached them and broke down apartment walls to lead them out to safety.
Capellan said that the children survived without injury.
In the days that followed, the full extent of the damage became clear. The apartment, and everything inside it, was destroyed or contaminated by smoke and water, according to Capellan.
“All of that is gone,” she said.
She said her day care license has since been deactivated, and cannot be restored without a new space.
The loss has left families looking for alternatives and Capellan grappling with an uncertain future.
“I have no plan. I don’t know what to do,” she said.
Capellan said she believes New York’s current safety guidelines focus on routine drills — lining children up, grabbing emergency bags and exiting the building — but fail to account for real-life conditions, where smoke, chaos and blocked exits can derail even wellrehearsed plans.
“They don’t train what to do in the case of panic,” she said.
The Kid’s Room operated out of 3410 Kingsbridge Ave. for decades before a fire shut it down.
She also believes there are gaps in how emergency supplies are handled.
The New York State Office of Children and Family Services instructs providers to keep a single backpack stocked with essentials — contact information, cash and first aid supplies — but in Capellan’s case, that bag was out of reach when the fire broke out.
Firefighters were forced to break down walls in Maria Capellan’s apartment to rescue the daycare children.
She now believes emergency protocols should require multiple kits placed throughout a space, a change she said could prove critical in a fast-moving crisis. In the aftermath, Capellan said support has poured in. A GoFundMe organized by her son, Dyangelo Capellan, to cover costs like repairs, loss of income
Maria Capellan is unsure if she will reopen the daycare in that space — or at all.
and urgent bills, has drawn donations from strangers, families and colleagues — some of whom she had not heard from in years.
The GoFundMe raised nearly $14,000 of its $16,000 goal as of March 31.
“It shows that I did something,” she said. “I did something good.”
Years of dedication earns Lam Eagle Scout rank
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New York.
“It was really about the people,” he said. “Being with the same group, going on trips together, just sharing all those experiences, that’s what made it meaningful.”
As he grew older, Lam took up playing competitive hockey, splitting his time between his high school team and a travel league. Scouting, once routine, became something he struggled to keep pace with.
“I ended up losing a lot of time with Scouting,” he said. “And there was a point where I was worried that I wouldn’t get Eagle, because I just hadn’t been able to participate as much as other kids, and I was far behind.”
Still, Lam worked through dozens of merit badges, each testing a different set of skills. Some proved more demanding than others. Lifesaving was among the most challenging, he said, requiring physical strength and endurance, while the climbing badge pushed him to confront a fear of heights.
“I had to overcome that fear and climb up the [rock wall], then selfrappel down from it multiple times to
be able to get it,” he said. “So I was really challenged mentally trying to get over my fear of going up that high.”
But not all of the badges felt like work. Earning his shotgun merit badge was his favorite, not because of the activity itself, but the people he shared it with.
“I had my older brother, Joey, teach it to me,” he said. “I sat there with three of my childhood best friends … it was just a whole group of us just having a great time, a lot of laughs doing that one.” Those moments, he said, were what kept him grounded in the program as the demands increased, ultimately carrying him through to his Eagle Scout service project, a final show of leadership that gives back to his community.
He chose to renovate a meeting room in the rectory of Sacred Heart Church in Bayside, a space he had known since childhood.
“It ends up being a test of leadership more than anything,” he said.
“You have to think through every step and keep track of everything you’re doing.”
By August 2025, Lam had completed his requirements and advanced to
the final review board, an interview that would determine whether he would earn the rank.
“I spent a couple of hours at my desk beforehand, just reviewing everything and preparing for the interview,” he said. “I don’t think I’ve ever been
GARY JEAN-JUSTE photos
Michelle Mullen photos
Senator Bernie Sanders called on Gov. Kathy Hochul to raise income taxes on the wealthiest New Yorkers.
More than 2,000 people attended the March 29 “Tax the Rich” Rally at Lehman College.
Rallygoers bore signs asking the governor to include tax increases in the fiscal year 2027 budget.
Photos courtesy Maria Capellan
Courtesy Gavin Lam Scouts are required to complete a final community service project to become an Eagle Scout. Gavin Lam’s initiative included the renovation of a community meeting room in the basement of Sacred Heart Church in Bayside, Queens.
Courtesy Felix Lam
Gavin Lam followed in the footsteps of his father and uncle, earning Eagle Scout rank this year.
Ukraine and New York students capture war and resilience with art
By Olivia Young oyoung@riverdalepress.com
Students from the School of Ukrainian Studies in Manhattan and from Ternopil Comprehensive School No. 10 in Ukraine worked together to create “Through the Eyes of Children,” an exhibit that pays homage to Ukraine and the hardships endured under war.
The collaboration was fostered by the Riverdale Y, grassroots group Art for AID, and MRP NetWorking, a nonprofit organization founded by Maria Rose in 1998 that offers educational programs to young people in New York City. Since the pandemic, MRP NetWorking has worked predominantly with Ukrainian children, with help from the Ukrainian American Youth Association, Rose said.
In the wake of World War II, Rose’s paternal grandparents fled Lviv and her maternal grandparents fled Odessa. Rose grew up on the Lower East Side, but stayed connected to her heritage through family traditions and attending Ukrainian summer camps. In her adult life, she began visiting family who still lived in Ukraine.
“Growing up, I always knew the history of [my family] coming over here and everything it took for them to come to the United States,” Rose said. “So I’ve always kept that close to heart.” After Russia launched a military offensive in Ukraine in February 2022, children from the School of Ukrainian Studies learned some Ternopil students had been displaced, and wanted to extend any help they could, Rose said. An eighth grader at the time, Nicolette Shaw, had the idea to create and sell paper cut-out angels as a way to raise money for Ternopil. Shaw, now an 11th grader, told The Press in an email she wanted the money to go toward art supplies so the Ternopil kids could cope with their trauma through art therapy.
“I realized I wanted to do something that can actually help,” Shaw said. “I felt happy to know that the work I was doing was going to be a part of helping something bigger.”
As time went on, the project grew, and the School of Ukrainian Studies students started making sunflowerthemed jewelry — Ukraine’s national flower — painted eggshells and ornaments bearing Ukraine’s national symbol of the “ ,” or trident.
Alexander Miller, also an 11th grader at the School of Ukrainian Studies, created several different ornaments painted with blue and yellow. One uses engraving to show two hands surrounding a dove, with the phrase “ ” or “Glory to Ukraine!” Another shows a
soldier in a wheelchair, holding hands with a woman sitting in a chair across from him. Miller told The Press in an email he wanted to bring more awareness to the war between Ukraine and Russia.
“I hope to bring a mix of melancholy and hope from my artworks, that peace can return to Ukraine,” Miller said. “That the displaced Ukrainians can return to their home and that the children can return to their home without the trauma from what has happened in the war.”
The larger frames of the exhibit hold paintings, colored pencil art and marker drawings made by Ternopil kids during art therapy, Rose said. The students were given prompts such as “How are you feeling today?” or “What’s bothering you?”
The exhibit is on display at the Riverdale Y at 5625 Arlington Avenue through May 15.
Liliya Snovida, the director of logistics at MRP NetWorking, moved to the United States from Ternopil 30 years ago. Her now 13-year-old son, Markian Snovida, was raised in Riverdale and took part in swimming and basketball at the Riverdale Y.
She met Rose while Markian was a student at the School of Ukrainian Studies. By the time Markian was 5 years old, he was spending summers in Ukraine, including a few months at Ternopil Comprehensive School No. 10. during the pandemic. When he was 10, Markian moved to Ukraine full time.
Markian was a talented pianist and violinist, Snovida said, and he was awarded a scholarship for music school. He lives in Ternopil with his grandparents.
“We mothers realize that if we give our children means to fight the negativity and turn anything negative into positive, this world will have a better future,” Snovida said. “In the times when a lot of people are trying to escape the war, there are people who feel very connected to the homeland and to their heritage.”
Markian told The Press that before he moved to Ukraine, he loved visiting to spend time with his grandparents and his friends. He said it is a fun and better place for him, and described himself as an athlete who enjoys sports, especially soccer.
Conflict was ongoing in Ukraine when Markian got settled there in 2023, but he said he doesn’t pay much attention to it. About once a week or every two weeks, Markian said there is an air raid. He gets a notification on his phone, and he and his classmates walk to the basement of a nearby nursery school. Sheltering can last anywhere from five minutes to 40 minutes, he shared.
Markian said he doesn’t feel scared, and he’s become accustomed to sheltering procedures. Still, he doesn’t want the rest of the world to forget about his country.
“Don’t give up on us,” Markian said.
“Usually we just chat together,” Markian said. “Sometimes if we’re in the middle of a test we have to finish it.”
Photos courtesy MRP NetWorking
“Pride,” created in 2025 by W.Z., a 7th grader.
“Landscape” created in 2025 by K.A., a 6th grader.
created in 2024 by E.S., a 10th grader.
“Colorful Sky” created in 2025 by K.B., a 4th grader.
“Blue & Yellow” created in 2025 by P.B., a 2nd grader.
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Family Art Project: Flora and Fauna Mosaics
At 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 through July 12.
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 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.
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 to 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 riverdalecsa.org 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 from 1 to 6 p.m.
Stretch and Strengthen
Start your mornings 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 Inner Space Yoga
Modern dance workshop
This hour-long workshop follows the format of a traditional modern dance technique class and is led by a former member of the world-renowned Paul Taylor Dance Company, Annmaria Mazzini.
Join Friday, April 10 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. $35 per class.
Beginner yoga series spring session Led by Kendra Jackson, this 4-week series provides a structured approach to understanding the yoga process, basic poses, the difference between good and bad tension, and how to move between poses with ease. The series runs on Saturday, April 11, April 18, April 26 and May 2, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Reserve a single class for $30 or the entire series for $100.
Breath work and meditation
Change the way you feel with your breath alone in this 90-minute workshop. Ben Alpen will help you learn how to use three different diaphragms in your body, known as bandhas, along with four different breathing techniques.
Runs Sunday, April 12, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The class is $45, but free for Inner Space Yoga monthly members.
2026 Riverdale
Comedy Night
Riverdale Comedy Night is back and better than ever. Join for a fun night at Downey’s Bar & Grill on Sa-
What’s on?
turday, April 11, at 7 p.m. The impressive lineup features comedians Devin Keast, Theresa Moriarty, Corey Tindall, Jake Velazquez, Michele Durante, Jason Chatfield and Emily Azrael.
Food and drinks will be available to purchase from Downey’s. All ticket sales support the Riverdale Main Streets Alliance nonprofit mission. For questions email rmsabx@gmail.com.
At the New York Public Library
Baby storytime
Join baby storytime at Kingsbridge Library on Thursdays at 11 a.m. Join for a special time to bond with your little one and meet other caregivers. The program will explore the joy of movement, books and songs in addition to building early learning skills you can practice at home. Come prepared to sit with your child on your lap. Best for children who are pre-walkers or crawlers.
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.
Writing Circle Kingsbridge Library hosts weekly writing circle meetings in an intimate setting where participants can share unpublished drafts and give and receive feedback. Attendees must be at least 18 years old. Registration is available at nypl.org; the Google Meet code will be emailed the day before the session. The group meets every Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon.
Riverdale Art Association
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.
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.
Painted World
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
Meet the Orchid Experts
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.
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 fea-
tures of their art. It runs until Sunday, June 21.
At Van Cortlandt Park
Forest Fridays Volunteer with the Van Cortlandt Park Alliance to remove invasive species from Van Cortlandt Park’s Northwest Forest every Friday from 9 a.m. to noon. The work helps promote biodiversity, protect young trees and improve forest health. No prior experience is needed. Tools and gloves are provided.
Trail Work Thursdays Join the Van Cortlandt Park Alliance and fellow residents every Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon to help maintain trails in Van Cortlandt Park. Tools and gloves are provided for this small-group volunteer event, which is limited to five participants
It’s a hands-on opportunity to give back to the community while enjoying the Bronx’s natural beauty.
Sherlock Holmes Red Monkey Theater Group returns to Van Cortlandt House Museum with a new dramatic adaptation of a classic Sherlock Holmes mystery. Holmes and his faithful friend Dr. Watson unravel a baffling mystery of loyalty and betrayal in a case of domestic drama with national implications. When jewels belonging to the most famous woman in England disappear from the secure country house of her banker, accusations fly, a family’s future hangs in the balance, and Holmes must solve the case before it’s too late. Catch one of three performances:
Saturday, April 11 at 7 p.m.; Sunday, April 12 at 2 p.m.; Wednesday, April 15 at 7 p.m. Seating is limited, so pre-registration is required. To register visit vchm. org. Admission is free.
Raise a Glass: An Evening of Music and Revelry Enjoy an evening of 18th-century tavern revelry with live music, drinks, games, trivia and snacks at the Van Cortlandt House Museum.
Guests will be welcomed into the historic house starting at 4:30 p.m. to enjoy beer, cider and wine alongside tavern snacks inspired by the 18th century. Try your hand at traditional games like skittles and mancala, and settle in as the atmosphere fills with music and conversation.
Local historian Nick Dembowski serves as master of ceremonies for the evening, guiding the festivities while sharing stories about the role taverns played in colonial New York. At 5:30 p.m., test your knowledge in a round of historical trivia inspired by the history of local public houses. The winner will take home a Van Cortlandt House Museum swag bag valued at $100.
The evening concludes with a special live performance by Linda Russell and Company from 6 to 6:45 p.m., bringing the sounds and spirit of the Revolutionary era to life.
Come ready to mingle, play, and enjoy a taste of colonial tavern culture in one of New York’s oldest historic houses. Proceeds of this event support Van Cortlandt House Museum and Kingsbridge Historical Society’s
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educational programs.
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.
Group meditation over Zoom Join this collaboration with The Temple of Enlightenment for group meditation sessions online. It’s a great way to relax and let go during this stressful and uncertain time. This class is free and runs every Monday and Wednesday, from 7 to 8 p.m.
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 meetings, visit their website, cbbronx.cityofnewyork.us/c.
April 6 at 7 p.m. — Executive Committee
April 7 at 7 p.m. — Economic Development
April 8 at 7 p.m.
The neighbor you wave to
Knowing the names of our neighbors is often something we take for granted. In today’s world, we may live in one place for years and never successfully put names to the faces we pass regularly on our blocks, or in our apartment complexes. Modern systems have trained us to believe that the most important connections lie elsewhere. Inboxes. Group chats. All of the endless notifications pinging from our glowing phone screens. Those screens promise constant proximity and reachability, but those promises are pervaded by a novel kind of distance.
In places like the Riverdale area, we might not think twice about the familiar faces and gestures that greet us each day. Maybe there’s a local business owner that always smiles at you as they unlock their door for the day, or a neighbor you always pass on the stairs on your way to work who never fails to say “good morning.”
There is a tendency to think of this kind of neighborliness as mere politeness. A minor virtue we perform as part of our daily routines, like holding a door open or offering up a seat on the bus. But the evidence suggests something larger. Knowing the people around you, those who make your community feel like a community, is not a small thing. It may manifest in small actions such as daily greetings, borrowed tools or the return of a misdelivered package, but these actions can accumulate to have major impacts.
Nearly a year ago, the World Health Organization Commission on Social Connection reported one in six people globally is impacted by loneliness, which can cause significant health problems. In fact, loneliness is linked to an estimated 100 deaths every hour, according to the report — that’s more than 871,000 deaths annually. The solution? Strong social connections, which can lead to improved health and longer lives.
The need for human connection is not a poetic or abstract concept. It is an epidemiological one. Loneliness is now being discussed in the same language as smoking, heart disease and air quality in relation to its impacts on human health.
The former U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, warned in his famous 2023 advisory that we are experiencing an epidemic of loneliness and isolation. That widespread loneliness was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and continues to be propped up by declining community participation, technology use and other facts of modern life.
Feelings of loneliness can be hard to pin down, but their health effects are tangible. Lacking social connections has been linked to increased risks of heart disease, stroke and even Alzheimer’s. And that loneliness doesn’t discriminate.
Essentially, we live in an era when talking to our neighbors is not just a kind act. It’s the first step toward crafting a social safety net, improving our own health, and the health of those around us.
Warnings like these once seemed unnecessary. Many people still remember a time when community was ingrained in daily life. So much so, the “nosy neighbor” trope became an annoyance, a running joke. But that nosy neighbor would likely be the first one to pick up the phone if your windows stayed dark a lit-
tle too long. If something seemed amiss. Nowadays, we are more connected than ever, but those connections are often tenuous and far-spread. We know the names of strangers who live thousands of miles away, but become frequent presences in our social media feeds. We know what is happening far from home, from political conflicts to what someone ate for breakfast. We know all of this, yet many of us barely know the person who lives across the hall.
In places like greater Riverdale, essential community connections live on in many ways. Longtime businesses know their regulars. Familiar families have resided on certain streets for generations. Many residents leave their homes in the morning knowing exactly who they’ll chat with on their commutes, or in the cafes they frequent. But that close-knit community feeling is still being challenged by the pressures of our globalized world, and it’s up to all of us to preserve it.
To some, it may be tempting to argue that this feeling is wrapped up in nostalgia. To say the world has moved on, and the concept of community looks different now. After all, it’s true that technology offers community too. We can speak to loved ones who live oceans away at the tap of a button. We can discover sprawling networks of affinity and interest on the internet that we might not have locally. There is connection and belonging to be found online, and those connections are not without value. But they aren’t replacements for those face-to-face interactions with our neighbors.
Online connection tends to be elective and reversible. You can disappear online. Mute and block others. Curate an ideal version of yourself, primed to be witnessed by the public. Our neighbors witness our existences in smaller ways. Ordinary and sometimes inconvenient ways. Our lives intersect constantly whether we want them to or not, and in those intersections grows a sense of familiarity that we need.
When you know the people around you, the world can begin to feel less abstract. Feelings of helplessness in the grand scheme of global issues can be eased, at least somewhat, by making even small differences in one’s local community. Those small differences can come from actions like a friendly wave to a neighbor, or helping someone carry groceries, or joining a local organization. These moments, no matter how fleeting they may seem, are instrumental in building toward a greater good we can all feel a part of.
In this world that insists on scale, the act of being neighborly counters by insisting that the local still matters, and that community is built and sustained in increments, through our daily decisions.
As the weather warms and we begin to see more of our neighbors emerging outside, it is important that residents of greater Riverdale continue to do what they already do so well — be a community. Support one another. It doesn’t take grand gestures. A quick wave, a question or learning a new name can make all the difference in keeping loneliness at bay. Through those quiet exchanges we begin to see that none of the distance, the untethered feelings, have to be inevitable after all.
By Rev. James Sheehan, Jr.
The old wooden side door exit of Saint Gabriel Church in the Riverdale section of the Bronx has been part of my life since my brother and I were altar servers during the change of the Mass from Latin to English in the winter of 1964. As I was eating my scone and coffee with plenty of milk on a still cold, March Sunday in 2026, I was jolted by still another scene of transition.
The door had creaked open — and four different persons behind their rollators were leaving the church from the basement auditorium worship area. An older man was holding the door open for them in his apparently assigned duty as usher. All were elderly. Three were women and one was a man. They were conscientiously and gingerly pushing their rollators out to the sidewalk. There was some conviviality, but it was of the constrained sort. They had been to Sunday liturgy, and one could sense
By Jon Hochschartner
There are many lessons we could take from the last decade of American politics, in which our country has degenerated further and further into an oligarchic hellscape. One I hope a majority would agree with is that current levels of wealth inequality are incompatible with political democracy. There are various ways this issue might be addressed, but one I’d prefer is nationalizing giant corporations, like Amazon, by which I mean putting them under public control and redirecting the profits to socially beneficial ends.
I was struck by a recent post that appeared on the website Bluesky, which said that given Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has a net worth of more than $253 billion, he could light $1 million on fire every day for almost 700 years without exhausting his funds. If this wasn’t incredible enough, a number of commentators pointed out the post was misleading, since Bezos earns more than $1 million in interest every day, so, actually, the oligarch could burn $1 million a day in perpetuity. This is, needless to say, outrageous.
Compared to many, I live a life of privilege.
that they came from the days of solemn obligation to give worship on the Sabbath to the Higher Power. I wonder what they had heard today — if anything — to make an impact on their aging routines. We were then in the fourth week of a war in Iran, and in the fourth year of the bloody mess in Ukraine. They would be aware that some of their neighbors would be finishing Ramadan shortly, or beginning Passover in a still Jewish neighborhood, as well as the Christian Holy Week with a new pope from Chicago.
What would any face of faith mean with the change of seasons, and the fears associated with the fragility of a once very confident country like the U.S., which once was very open to new blood?
What I sensed that I learned looking at a distance from a warm bagel shop was what I saw: to keep pushing the rollator and life forward. They had no need to live in the past, nor to deny the pain that their creaky bones revealed to them.
And, yet, is there any sense in which I can claim equality with Bezos? The question is laughable on its face. Take our ability to participate in the democratic process. Sure, we both have one vote, but, if I want to influence the views of others, I must write a letter to the editor which newspaper staff choose to run or create a short-form video which happens to go viral. In contrast, Bezos can purchase even more of the media landscape than he already has and change the editorial line as he sees fit.
To help neutralize this threat to democracy, we should nationalize companies like Amazon. The federal government should take over all aspects of the business, from the stock warehouses and delivery fleets to its streaming applications and cloud-computing services. The profits could be put toward any number of worthy projects, like rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure, funding local news organizations in communities without them, providing free healthcare to all, or offering no-cost college education to anyone who wants it.
Personally, as an animal activist, I’d like to see a portion of such profits devoted to funding culti-
They were to give witness that they made i t through another week. Silently and yet someho w loudly, they could claim some relationship with the Higher Power. The y were not concerned with what name to whisper as the name of the Almighty, and they were wise when they did not criticize the next generation which did not follow the traditional norms of the world’s great religious traditions. As they once pushed baby carriages through the shopping aisles of the stores, they could push their rollators to new dimensions. Life literall y had changed, but not ended — not for them and no t for us. I sometimes believe that Islam, Judaism and Christianity would agree. Rev. James Sheehan, Jr. is a priest of the Archdiocese of NY., and was raised in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, NY. He serves as University Chaplain of two community colleges, Hostos and Bronx Community College, in the City University of New York.
vated meat research. Fo r those who don’t know, cultivated meat is grown from livestock cells, without slaughter. I view developing this technolog y as the most promising means of reducing nonhuman suffering and premature death. We should be establishing facilities like the Tufts Universit y Center for Cellular Agriculture across the country. The point, however, is these profits could be pu t toward anything we migh t democratically decide on. Present levels of wealth inequality are destabilizing the United States in any number of ways. Among other things, it’s fueling a fascist movement which has taken control of the White House and the wider Republican Party. Such politics reflect what’s been termed “the socialism o f fools,” a far-right populism which blames racial, religious and gender minorities for the existing, miserable state of affairs, rather than the obscenely wealthy. Let’s help preserve American democracy by nationalizing gian t companies like Amazon. Jon Hochschartner is the author of a number of books, including The Animals’ Freedom Fighter: A Biography of Ronnie Lee, Founder of the Animal Liberation
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HOME OF THE WEEK
Ari Susswein of Douglas Elliman Real Estate
Private cul-de-sac lots blend tranquility with city access
Arare real estate opportunity has come to market in one of Riverdale’s most desirable and tranquil enclaves, offering buyers the chance to build from the ground up in a neighborhood known for its leafy charm and timeless appeal.
Located on a private cul-de-sac within the Ladd Road HOA, the offering includes two adjoining vacant parcels, each approximately 10,000 square feet. Together, the lots provide roughly 20,000 square feet of buildable land, presenting a blank canvas for a custom-designed residence—or potentially two homes—tailored to both lifestyle and landscape.
Surrounded by mature landscaping and set back from the bustle of city life, the property evokes a sense of calm that feels worlds away from Manhattan. The lots feature a desirable west-facing exposure, with the added potential for seasonal Hudson River views, enhancing their appeal as a serene residential retreat.
The flexibility of the combined parcels allows for a range of possibilities, from designing a single expansive estate to developing two distinct homes. Future owners could create a private sanctuary that embraces the natural surroundings, complete with outdoor living spaces or even a pool, making the property ideal for both relaxation and entertaining. Despite its peaceful setting, the location remains highly connected. The property sits just approximately 800 feet from the Riverdale Metro-North Station, offering a convenient commute into Manhattan. Additional access to the 1 train and multiple bus lines further enhances transportation options, blending suburban tranquility with urban accessibility. This unique dual-lot offering stands out as a rare chance to create a personalized living experience in one of Riverdale’s most soughtafter neighborhoods, where privacy, space, and convenience converge.
