The Riverdale Press Proof 03-05-2026

Snow days no fun for Parks Dept.

By Michelle Mullen mmullen@riverdalepress.com

As New York City’s Department of Parks and Recreation battled two recent snowstorms, crews were spread thin, working long hours to clear snow and ice in and around green spaces.

For park staff and volunteers, navigating bare-bones resources has become routine, part of a decades-long cycle of scrambling to maintain and steward parkland within one of the city’s historically most understaffed and underfunded agencies.

On Sunday, Jan. 25, and Feb. 22, employees at Van Cortlandt Park slept overnight in trailers and on-site Parks Department buildings so they could report

for Monday-morning shifts during active snowfall.

Crews in the northwest Bronx and across the five boroughs worked 12-hour shifts beginning at 6 a.m. for several days during and after the storms. But Christina Taylor, deputy director of the Van Cortlandt Park Alliance, said parks employees rarely get the credit she believes they’re due.

“They just work so hard and they’re so dedicated, but it’s underappreciated by the general public,” she said. “I don’t think they realize how much they’re doing with so little.”

In a statement, a parks spokesperson said workers prioritize heavily used areas first, not just those inside the green spac-

es the department maintains.

“They focus on park perimeters, commuter hubs, and other high-traffic areas before moving on to interior pathways,” the spokesman said. “Many locations we clear, due to size constraints or materials, need to be shoveled by hand.”

Perimeters include sidewalks, crosswalks, bike lanes and bus stops surrounding parkland. In the 1,146-acre Van Cortlandt Park, the third-largest in the city, staff must clean miles of sidewalks and interior parkland with a total workforce of roughly 30.

During the first storm, Taylor said, the park did not have a snowplow on site because it lent its only one to the city’s department of sanitation under an inter-

While sidewalks remain open, MTA construction

ers to double-park and risk fines.

MTA fines hurting businesses, owners say

By Michelle Mullen mmullen@riverdalepress.com

In Marble Hill, business owners on Broadway by West 225th Street say a year of construction disruptions by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has now been compounded by its new parking enforcement program, leaving merchants with mounting fines and falling sales.

For much of the past year, merchants have operated amid active work zones tied to the rehabilitation of the 1 train structure running above Broadway. The multi-year project, which spans from West 225th to West 242nd streets, has narrowed sections of the roadway, limited curb access and reduced available parking along the bustling commercial strip, presenting challenges to local businesses.

Store owners say those challenges have intensified with the rollout of the MTA’s Automated Camera Enforcement program, known as ACE, which uses cameras mounted on buses to issue violations to vehicles that double-park or block bus stops. Fines can reach $250 for repeat offenses.

All camera-captured violations are reviewed by trained city personnel prior to issuance, according to an MTA spokesperson. Violations are civil penalties and do not affect driving records or insurance, and enforcement data is regularly reviewed through a multi-agency framework involving the MTA, the city department of transportation and the department of finance to ensure accuracy and fairness.

The BX9 and BX7, routes that run through Riverdale, Kingsbridge and Marble Hill, are among the first lines to install ACE.

Merchants say the timing has been difficult. With fewer parking spaces available due to construction, customers and delivery drivers who are forced to briefly double park now risk receiving hefty fines.

“Sales have gone down quite a lot,” Alexa Garcia, an employee of Marea Fish Market and Restaurant, located at 5219 Broadway, said. “During lunch hours, people used to come in quite frequently, especially people who work outside – like taxis, Ubers — that would take their lunch break. They can’t stop anymore.”

9/11 firefighter Lennon remembered for service

By Michelle Mullen mmullen@riverdalepress.com

Gerard “Jerry” Lennon served with the New York Fire Department for more than three years when both towers of the World Trade Center were destroyed in the 9/11 terror attacks. On Feb. 21, hundreds gathered at St. Gabriel’s Church to honor Lennon, who died in December at 59 from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, linked to his recovery efforts at Ground Zero.

Lennon is among a rising number of first responders who have died from illnesses linked to rescue work after the terrorist attacks. Since then, at least 3,000 deaths have been tied to 9/11-re-

lated illnesses. Among firefighters alone, the toll has surpassed 400 — more than were killed on the day the towers fell. According to the World Trade Center Health Program, responders on scene within the first 48 hours are 30 percent more likely to develop COPD, a severe respiratory condition that progressively restricts airflow to the lungs.

Born and raised in Riverdale, Lennon attended St. Gabriel’s School and Mount St. Michael Academy. Public service, his sister Deirdre Lennon Goss said, was always part of who he was.

“Ever since he was a young, young man, he wanted to be a firefighter,” she said. “He was so compassionate and

The strain extends beyond customers. Without driveways or designated loading zones, businesses like Marea depend on short-term curb access to unload inventory. Garcia said it has become increasingly difficult.

“Apart from them passing by and giving tickets with the buses, they’re closing the street with construction and there’s a lot of parking space taken,” she said.

Two doors down at Rosarina Bakery, owner Georgina Núñez said she has accumulated multiple fines since the start of the year, including three tickets totaling $750 around Valentine’s Day.

“I went shopping for the bakery supplies, and while I was unloading everything, the buses kept passing one after the other,” she said. “If another bus passes while you’re stopped for even a second, that’s it — you’re getting a ticket.”

The week of Valentine’s Day is typically one of the bakery’s busiest and most profitable. This year, she said, customers reported struggling to find parking, with some opting not to come in at all. Núñez

agency agreement, though it was back in Van Cortlandt possession for the most recent blizzard.

Budget constraints remain a central concern heading into next year’s funding cycle. Mayor Zohran Mamdani campaigned on allocating 1 percent of the city’s budget to parks, yet his February preliminary budget proposes about $654 million for the of parks depatment out of a $127 billion budget — roughly 0.5 percent. It also includes a $33.7 million reduction, largely affecting maintenance and operations.

“I used to say that parks are like the ugly stepsister of city agencies, but I think

Our Bronx backs new housing bill

By Olivia Young oyoung@riverdalepress.com

Our Bronx, the nonprofit championing a controversial affordable housing bill called the Community Opportunity to Purchase Act, announced its support for a new piece of legislation targeting negligent landlords.

The Stability, Accountability and Fair Enforcement for Residents, SAFER, Homes Act and COPA — which gives nonprofits the first chance to purchase a building if its owner decides to sell — are part of Our Bronx’s greater effort to prevent displacement in a borough that has the highest eviction rate in the city.

The SAFER Homes Act is sponsored by Kingsbridge Heights City Council member Pierina Sanchez. It aims to make changes to the Third Party Transfer Program, a city initiative frozen in 2019 that transfers ownership of distressed buildings to nonprofit organizations or developers, who rehabilitate the building to keep it affordable.

The transfer program has faced scrutiny for discrimination, after the U.S. Court of Appeals found in 2021 it disproportionately seized property from smaller, low-income homeowners of color. Sanchez’s bill would focus the definition of “distressed” so larger landlords with a higher number of violations are targeted.

Our Bronx, formerly known as Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition, voiced its support at its 52nd annual meeting, during which more than 200 members gathered at Lehman College Feb. 28 to set this year’s agenda.

The group’s backing comes at a time when stakeholders are amending COPA after it was challenged by the city’s Law Department last month, who raised concern the bill could unlawfully restrict property owner’s rights.

Todd Baker, community development project manager at Our Bronx who has worked closely on amending the bill, said sponsor Council member Sandy Nurse is committed to reintroducing COPA this legislative session.

Our Bronx is part of the New York City Community Land Initiative, a coalition of housing justice organizations. The initiative is helping to make changes to the bill, some of which include an option to appeal if a property owner doesn’t believe COPA should apply to their

Gail Dray, counselor, dies

Gail Dray, born May 10, 1953 in Riverdale, passed away surrounded by the love of her family. A lifelong resident, she was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and mother-in-law whose warmth and kindness touched many.

She was the beloved wife of William Dray, loving mother to her son Jamie and daughter-in-law Jessica, and proud grandmother to Olivia. She is survived by her brother Bo Boland. She was predeceased by her parents, Richard and Margaret Boland, and her sister Joyce. She dedicated much of her professional life to Manhattan College and Iona College. She earned her master’s degree in counseling from Manhattan College and became a trusted source of guidance and comfort to countless college students struggling with anxiety and depression. Her compassion and steady presence left a lasting impact on many young people at pivotal moments in their lives.

Known for her sense of humor and gentle, caring nature, she had a special gift for making others feel at ease. She had a deep love for her

Second Helping 3532 Johnson Ave Riverdale NY (718)548-1818 Home Made Food

Second Helping 3532 Johnson Ave Riverdale NY (718)548-1818 Home Made Food

family and treasured time spent together, especially swimming and vacationing at the Jersey Shore and in Clearwater, Fla.

A lifelong member of St. Margaret’s Church and school community, she was a familiar and friendly presence in Riverdale. Many neighbors remember her smiling hello during her daily walks through Fieldston and the surrounding neighborhood.

She will be remembered for her kindness, faith and the quiet way she cared for others. She leaves behind a family and community who will miss her dearly.

Edwin Lemanski, aerospace engineer, dies at 98

Edwin Lemanski died peacefully in his sleep on Feb. 4 at home in Riverdale. He was 98 years old. He was born in Bridgeport, Conn. where he attended Catholic grade school and high school. He was also a competitive swimmer and lifeguard. He attended Columbia University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in engineering, and went on to obtain a master’s degree in chemical engineering.

Thereafter he accepted a position at Lockheed Martin in Bethesda, Md. working in the field of heat transfer for spacecraft. Later, he accepted a position at General Instrument Corporation in Newark, N.J. and moved his family to Livingston, N.J. for six years. Afterward, he accepted a position at Grumman Aerospace Corporation working on the environmental control system of the lunar excursion module in the Apollo program.

For the last 30 years up until age 92 he worked as an independent engineering consultant in Manhattan and the

POLICE BEAT

Grand larceny

Police are asking for the public’s help in finding a suspect wanted in connection with a grand larceny incident.

On Feb. 18, at about 11 a.m., a 42-year-old man arranged to meet with an unknown person in front of 230 W. 246th St. after meeting on Facebook Marketplace to purchase a 2022 Toyota Highlander. The victim gave the unknown person about $25,000 for the car’s keys, and the person fled on foot with the money.

The 42-year-old found out after the car’s vehicle identification number was altered, and it was confirmed as stolen.

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

Bronx. He continued to enjoy swimming and developed new passions for golf and birding. As an engineer, he had an early preoccupation with repairing older cars, culminating in owning a series of British Rover autos which he happily kept running.

He is survived by Romelia, his loving wife of 75 years, his son Paul, who is a physician in Albany, N.Y., his son Philip, who is the former executive director of the Udall Foundation in Tucson, Ariz. He has two grandchildren, Nicole and Brian Lemanski in Albany, N.Y.

Gla$ Shop 3540 Johnson Ave Riverdale, NY (718) 548-4855 Meat, Chicken & Groceries

Gla$ Shop 3540 Johnson Ave Riverdale, NY (718) 548-4855

(74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at https://crimestoppers. nypdonline.org/, on X @NYPDTips.

All calls are strictly confidential.

Assistant district attorney charged with drunk driving

On Feb. 12, around 11:09 p.m., 30-year-old Sierra Fischer was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated, driving while ability impaired and refusal to take a breath test. Fischer was an assistant district attorney at the Bronx

County District Attorney’s Office, a position she held since 2021. Before that, she helped create a nonprofit called Fischer Heart Foundation that raises money for individuals and families impacted by heart disease.

50th Precinct crime statistics

From Feb. 16 to Feb. 22, the 50th Precinct — which patrols Riverdale, Kingsbridge, Spuyten Duyvil, Marble Hill and parts of Kingsbridge Heights — saw no incidents of murder or rape. There were 11 cases of grand larceny, which is the theft of something over $1,000, four incidents of felony assault, three of grand larceny auto, two of robbery and one of burglary. Robbery differs from burglary in that it involves threatening another person. For minor crimes, 24 incidents of petit larceny occurred — a 41 percent increase from the same week in 2025 — and 13 cases of misdemeanor assault. There were also six incidents of retail theft, two sex crimes and one housing-related case. Housing crime in New York City refers to illegal activity that targets a residential property. - Olivia Young

Activists propose 6 bike-path access points along Harlem River

By Olivia Young oyoung@riverdalepress.com

Members of the nonprofit Bronx Council for Environmental Quality are still pushing to fulfill their decades-long goal of a continuous greenway that runs from Van Cortlandt Park to Randall’s Island. They now believe gateways, or distinct pathways connecting an adjacent bike lane to the waterfront, could be key to realizing their vision

The Department of Transportation is building the sevenmile bike lane, with a segment along Bailey Avenue from Van Cortlandt Park South to West 225th Street already complete. The department’s path follows the council’s, but as an on-street greenway that is not immediately along the Harlem River. The council sees the path as a critical first phase in its goal to expand river access, but believes more direct routes are needed.

Longtime council members

Robert Fanuzzi and Chauncy Young proposed six gateway sites on Feb. 28 at Bronx Parks Speak Up. The annual event is hosted by the Bronx Coalition of Parks and Greenspaces, a network of more than 50 advocacy groups. In its 32nd year,

the coalition invited environmentalists to Lehman College to lead panels and workshops that shape the borough’s greenspaces.

One of the proposed sites was just below Van Cortlandt Park, bridging the bike lane and a historic brook that currently runs underneath Tibbett Avenue. Tibbetts Brook, another project the council has long advocated for, is set to be resurfaced by 2030 through an engineering process called daylighting.

Other potential sites include Bailey Avenue South, Roberto Clemente State Park, Highbridge Park, Yankee Stadium to Mill Pond Park and from the South Bronx to Randalls Island.

Gateways are intended to signal to residents they’ve arrived at the riverfront greenway, ideally also serving as a community space. The council envisions strong branding — such as local art installations or bold signage — but also benches, maps, bike repair stations and restaurants.

“Both sides of the Harlem River deserve access to the waterfront,” Young said. “For many years, we had that commitment in Manhattan, but we didn’t have that commitment in the Bronx.

In Manhattan, 90 percent of residents living within a halfmile of the waterfront have direct access to it, compared to 47 percent of Bronx residents, according to the Department of City Planning’s Waterfront Public Access Study

Fanuzzi also pointed out current trouble spots in the transportation department’s onstreet greenway plan, such as West 225th Street to West 230th Street, where a Metro-North railroad yard sits. The department considered a bridge over the tracks, but it would require the support of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and a private developer, Dynamic Star, which owns a small section of land north of the University Heights Bridge. Ultimately, it’s out of the city’s jurisdiction.

“Without the MTA agreeing to allow a pedestrian path here, we will be forced to go on Bailey Avenue and look at getting back to the waterfront another way,” Fanuzzi said.

The transportation department said last December when it released the Harlem River Greenway Implementation Plan it would return to the project this year to complete the southern phase, which runs from West 225th Street to West Fordham Road.

Parks official says department blizzard budget is snowed under

CONTINUED from page A1

I want to change it to parks are like Cinderella — parks are beautiful but they’re not respected among city agencies,” Taylor said. “Parks are considered essential, but the staff is not treated or paid like essential workers. It’s frustrating.”

According to the Citizens Budget Commission, a nonpartisan watchdog group, when it comes to park’s operational budget, its share of the total city budget dropped by more than a third since 1970, when it stood at about 0.9 percent. Despite repeated promises from successive mayors and city council speakers, the share has remained largely flat in recent years.

Debra Travis, chair of the Community Board 8 Parks and Recreation Committee, said the numbers translate directly to what residents see on the ground.

“When you look at half a percent of the city’s budget going to an agency responsible for thousands of parks and millions of users, it’s not surprising crews are stretched thin,” Travis said. “We keep expanding expectations — more programming, more maintenance, more safety responsibilities — without expanding the budget to match.”

Jodie Colón, founder of Stewards of Henry Hudson Park and Friends of Spuyten Duyvil, said volunteers have grown accustomed to stepping

in when city resources fall short. After the January storm, 31 volunteers turned out for her city-approved Valentine’s Day cleanup to chip away several inches of ice around Henry Hudson Park’s plaza. They returned ahead of the February snowfall to prevent lingering ice from refreezing.

Colón described the pattern as cyclical, a year-round effort to which she’s dedicated decades, leading unpaid neighborhood environmental stewards to care for parts of the parks staff cannot cover.

of some clean-up.

“If it’s not snow in the winter, then it’s weeds in the spring, watering plants in the summer, removing leaves in the fall,” Colón said. “If there’s not enough park staff, we fill in where they can’t. Volunteers have been standing in the gap for decades, and it’s ultimately frustrating.”

Volunteer hours citywide dipped in fiscal year 2025, according to city data, falling to 38,845 from 39,186 the year before.

Yet parks was among the only agencies to expand volunteer-led

programming through initiatives such as Partnerships for Parks, increasing engagement among New Yorkers. Friends of Jerome Park, led by Travis, logged 4,000 hours alone last year. Colón’s racked up even more. As the fiscal year 2027 budget cycle approaches, the question is whether the city will close the gap between expectations and investment. Without sustained funding at the level promised by Mamdani and those who led the city before him,

the pattern of overworked crews and aging equipment shows no sign of slowing down.

“New York City mayors, city council, commissioners, including our current mayor, say parks are essential,” Colón said. “But they’re not putting their money where their mouth is.

People love living in this neighborhood, and if they have the time and the capacity, they will volunteer, but parks shouldn’t be

Double-parking fines frustrate Marble Hill merchants

CONTINUED from page A1

estimates she lost between $8,000 and $10,000 in sales for that period.

Delivery drivers, she added, have also received tickets while loading and unloading merchandise, and some have stopped accepting jobs in the area because of the risk.

“I cannot park three or four blocks away and bring my groceries,” Núñez said. “I’m bringing 50 pounds of cooking materials for the bakery. I can’t carry them.” So far, she’s managed to keep the bakery afloat by using income from the other two businesses she owns, adding that without that support, she would likely have to close her Marble Hill location.

Construction on the elevated 1 train structure above Broadway is expected to continue through 2027. The

structure has not undergone major rehabilitation since the late 1980s. It is currently undergoing federally funded steel replacement, abrasive blasting, repainting and concrete restoration.

While pedestrian access is maintained, parking is particularly difficult after this year’s winter stor ms, which left snowbanks that further narrow available spots.

According to the MTA, the ACE program was implemented as part of a broader citywide effort to improve bus reliability, safety and accessibility along designated corridors. In partnership with the department of transportation, the program prioritizes routes with consistently low speeds and high ridership.

The spokesperson for the MTA said business impacts related to parking and loading are addressed through existing curb and parking regulations,

including designated loading zones, time-restricted parking rules and allowances for brief pick-ups, drop-offs or driveway access consistent with posted signage.

However, these options are unavailable to those in Marble Hill.

The MTA clarified vehicles may briefly enter bus lanes to make the next available right turn or to access a legal parking space or driveway, and expeditious passenger pick-ups and drop-offs are permitted where signage allows.

Merchants on 225th Street say they understand the need for reliable bus service and infrastructure repairs. Their concerns, they said, are the overall impacts of the construction and the ACE program.

Núñez said she plans to appeal the tickets she received and write a letter to the mayor outlining her concerns as a business owner.

Sanchez housing bill SAFER with Our Bronx backing

CONTINUED from page A1 building, and a confidentiality agreement for potential buyers.

COPA was the most contested bill at city council’s last meeting of 2025, with several members arguing it would harm small property owners, stall sales and worsen building conditions. Former mayor Eric Adams vetoed the bill on his final day in office, sending it back to a council that has 11 new members.

Our Bronx has targeted several areas across the borough that are suitable for COPA — one being an apartment building on Giles Place in Kingsbridge Heights. Edward Garcia, organizing co-director and development director at the nonprofit, said a tenant association has been established and meetings are occurring regularly.

CONTINUED from page A1

empathetic. He loved life. He loved people.”

Lennon’s father joined the FDNY in 1962, part of a long line of police officers and firefighters in the Lennon family. At one point, nine of Lennon’s relatives wore a uniform at the same time.

In 1986, Lennon, then 20, joined the New York Police Department, viewing it as a step toward joining New York’s Bravest. He spent more than a decade in the South Bronx, patrolling New York City Housing Authority complexes during one of the borough’s most violent periods. His brother Hugh, who also served in both departments, recalled the intensity.

“I also worked in the 42nd Precinct in the South Bronx, where Jerry started in housing,” Hugh Lennon said. “The amount of the horrors that I saw in two years, I can’t imagine what he saw in 14. For him to leave and go to the fire department, that was just a huge relief because now everyone’s happy to see you — you’re there to save them and their property.”

At the start of his FDNY career, Lennon served on rotation, a standard practice in which firefighters move between companies during their early years to gain broader experience. One assignment placed him at Engine 23 in Midtown Manhattan. As units were dispatched downtown the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, his company remained in Midtown, responding to emergency calls and covering service gaps.

and Fair

In the days that followed, Lennon joined recovery operations at Ground Zero. Alongside thousands of others, he worked long shifts amid asbestos, jet fuel and crushed concrete dust that lingered over lower Manhattan for weeks. Within a few years, medical evaluations revealed progressive lung damage tied to that exposur e. By 2004, doctors determined Lennon was no longer fit for active duty, and he retired from the fire department’s Engine 90/Ladder 41 in the Br onx. “The doctors classified it as reactive airway disease, which then they later star ted putting it as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,” Hugh Lennon said.

Chr onic obstructive pulmonary disease is often caused by longterm exposure to airborne irritants.

“It was like every element on the chart was pulverized — every computer board and everything you could imagine coming down in the air,” Hugh Lennon, who also suffers from a 9/11-related illness, said. “That concrete dust sits in your lungs, and it does close off the bronchi. A lot of that damage that Jerry had was from that.”

Like many responders, Lennon rarely spoke in detail about what he witnessed at Ground Zero.

“You could kind of see that it was very traumatic for him,” his daughter, Veronica Lennon, said. “He didn’t r eally like to talk about that

kind of stuff. He carried it, but he didn’t put it on other people.”

Those who knew Lennon said his health struggles did not define him. Veronica described her father as animated and relentlessly funny.

“The only thing he loved more than laughing was making other people laugh,” she said in her eulogy. “He had this intense, electric kind of ener gy that colored every word he said. If you’ve ever heard him tell a story, you know this — someone else could tell the exact same story and it might seem unremarkable, but he would make it come alive. He would speak with his entire body.”

Reflecting the reach of Lennons’s many relationships, the ser-

vice at St. Gabriel’s was filled with classmates and childhood friends from across the country.

“I think he would have been so humbly brought to tears,” Deirdre Lennon Goss said. “They never think they’re heroes. It’s always somebody else.” In the coming months, Lennon’s name will be added to the Endor Garden 9/11 Memorial in Riverdale, where a plaque honors rescuers who later died from illnesses linked to the recovery effort. He will also be memorialized at

Van Cortlandt House Museum will be ADA-compliant post settlement

By Olivia Young oyoung@riverdalepress.com

Following a civil rights lawsuit settlement Feb. 24, the Van Cortlandt House Museum will undergo a longterm capital project to make it compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The settlement was announced by U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton, mandating compliance with the 35-yearold federal law prohibiting discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life. It was filed in June 2024 against the Department of Parks and Recreation and the Historic House Trust, a nonprofit preserving 22 other historic sites across the city.

The Van Cortlandt House Museum is the latest in efforts by the U.S. attorney’s office to bring city institutions such as Yankee Stadium and Madison Square Garden up to code. In the cottage and the house, two iPads must be installed that show a virtual, 360 degree tour of the upper floors that can’t be made accessible, providing audio-visual depiction and closed captions. The city will also level raised areas of the floor, add Braille signage and widen doorframes and hallways. The parks department installed temporary wooden ramps at the entrance of the

cottage after the U.S. attor-

ney’s office issued a letter of found violations. The settlement requires the house to maintain ramp access.

All work on the house must be done before Feb. 17, 2031. A design plan and approval from the Landmarks Preservation Commission has to be submitted to the U.S. district attorney by May 2027, and construction drawings are due by the end of January 2028.

A spokesperson from the parks department said the museum will be temporarily closed during construction, and that it is working with stakeholders to determine a schedule.

Debra Travis, chair of the Bronx Community Board 8 Parks and Recreation Committee, said she was not aware of the lawsuit until it was settled, and was surprised to find out the U.S. attorney’s office had become involved. She said an accessibility project that predated the settlement was already in the design phase — a $16.1 million partnership between the parks department and the house trust that would make capital repairs to the roof and exterior envelope, as well as install a small elevator. Parks is expected to come to the board with its design in the coming months.

Travis said she was not aware of any community advocacy for the project, and the parks department did not respond in time to request for comment on what prompted the U.S. attorney’s investigation.

we’ve been advocating for a long time for more community engagement.”

“I’m just happy [the city] is putting money into it,” she told The Press. “We want to see the building be as ADAaccessible as possible, so that everybody can participate …

The Van Cortlandt House is the oldest surviving building in the Bronx. It was constructed in 1748 for merchant and landowner Frederick Van Cortlandt as part of the 1,000acre park that was once the family’s plantation, where enslaved Africans were held until 1823. George Washington stayed in the house twice during the Revolutionary War — in 1776 and 1783 — as the site sat on land that was often contested, and used by both the British and the colonists.

Margaret Holmes, director of the house, said she is optimistic about the ADA improvements.

“We are fully on board and look forward to the site being more accessible to our community,” she told The Press.

The city bought the house from the Van Cortlandt family in the late 19th century, and the National Society of Colonial Dames, a nonprofit women’s organization focused on historic preservations, restored the house as a museum in 1896.

Rescue cats show out, neighbors show up looking for puurrfect pairing

By Olivia Young oyoung@riverdalepress.com

Dozens of Riverdale resi-

dents flocked to Universal Pet Care Grooming on Mosholu Avenue March 1 for the chance to meet 10 cats looking for new homes. Once victims of neglect, each feline was rescued by the volunteer-based nonprofit Riverdale Cats and offered the chance at a better life during the organization’s first adoption event of the year. Attendees were allowed to interact with the cats and learn their unique stories. One of the rescues, a 15-year-old tuxedo named Annie Marie, was found more than a year ago lying next to her deceased owner —a Vietnam War veteran named Josh Allen. Starving to the point of liver and kidney failure, Annie Marie was taken to the 50th Precinct, where Riverdale Cats founder Stephanie Lauren first met her.

After $15,000 in medical bills, Annie Marie made a full recovery, though she still requires two shots daily of spironolactone to slow the growth of a tumor on her adrenal gland. Despite her hardship, Annie Marie laid peacefully in her hanging cat bed at the adoption event, dressed in a red-and-black buffalo plaid dress. Most visitors, already familiar with her story, stopped to pet her or cradle her in their arms. A Riverdale resident since 2017, Lauren told The Press she fell into rescuing by accident. She noticed stray kittens wandering down her street

during the pandemic, and with more time on her hands, started researching how to become a certified rescuer. This involved knowing how to trap, neuter and return feral cats, as well as how to socialize cats so they are comfortable enough with humans to be adopted.

To trap-and-release, Lauren works with feeders, or individuals across the city who are responsible for giving food to distinct colonies of feral cats within neighborhood boundaries. She initially worked for a shelter in Washington Heights, but in the past two years, has directed her focus to Riverdale and Kingsbridge, where she feels she can make a greater impact.

Demand for Lauren’s rescue services keeps growing, she said. Shelters across the city are routinely at capacity, and residents are being forced to give up their pets due to rising eviction rates. Lauren frequently receives messages inquiring about surrenders, or legal transfers of animal ownership to her rescue organization.

Because Riverdale Cats doesn’t have its own brick-andmortar location, Lauren hopes more small businesses like Universal Pet Care Grooming will open their doors to cat meet-and-greets. When they’re not socializing with local residents, the furry companions are cared for by foster families while they await adoption.

Annie Marie was one of several rescues at the event marked by resilience. Last winter, 4-year-old Snow Pants was

discovered starving, filthy and crying for help, curled in a ball on Tibbet Avenue. She underwent two months of intensive care, but slowly returned to her normal weight and began showing signs of a curious and energetic personality. At the adoption event, Snow Pants shamelessly gravitated toward any visitor with treats, flicking her orange-and-black striped tail.

The most energetic of the bunch was 1-year-old Lucky. The ginger tabby was rescued from the hallway of an apartment building, where a resident witnessed him being abused and called the police.

Inside Universal Pet Care Grooming, he scampered across the room and rubbed up against visitors’ legs, leaping onto tables with confidence.

Other cats had similar local roots. Butter spent his life in the stockroom basement of a deli, Bluebell was found wandering Corlear Avenue, and siblings Scully and Mulder were rescued from a car dealership parking lot.

By the end of the day, six residents filed applications for adoption, beginning a lengthy process to determine if they are the right fit for their chosen feline. Lauren said, with each event, the community around Riverdale Cats grows. Even if someone is unable to house a cat, she encourages people to come by and enjoy the company of animals.

“Life is so hard,” she said, “Who doesn’t want to sit and pet cats for a while?”

E-RAT-icated: Rodent 311 complaints drop to a five-year low

By Michelle Mullen mmullen@riverdalepress.com

Rat sightings reported in greater Riverdale have declined to levels unseen in years, reflecting a broader trend across the city. The decrease came after a series of changes made to sanitation collection protocols aimed at reducing conditions that fuel rodent populations.

In ZIP codes 10463 and 10471, total 311 rat complaints fell from 329 to 286 last year, the lowest annual total since 2020. That trend continued in the first two months of 2026, with 30 reports filed, down from 41 in the same period the year prior and 71 in 2022.

New trash disposal policies are driving the decline by making the city a less ideal breeding ground for vermin, according to Community Board 8 Environment and Sanitation Committee chair Daniel Rowan.

“I definitely think containerization makes a difference,” Rowan said, referencing requirements for separate trash and compost bins launched in 2024. “Making everyone compost has an even bigger effect because all the food that would attract the rats is sealed in brown bins.”

Prior to that mandate, which expanded to all five boroughs last year, food scraps were mixed in with regular garbage, producing strong odors and easy access for rodents. Under the composting program, residents must separate those scraps into designated bins with secure lids, along with food-soiled paper and yard waste.

The brown containers, stamped with the Department of Sanitation’s logo, are collected on a set schedule, typically on the same day as recycling in most neighborhoods. The organic material is then transported to processing facilities, where it is broken down into compost or converted into renewable energy.

From single-family homes to large residential buildings — historically among the city’s biggest generators of exposed food waste — widespread compliance has made a significant difference.

For Angel Ortega, superintendent at Briar Oaks, a south Riverdale apartment complex with more than 300 units, separating food waste has yielded a drastic change.

“When you take the food out of the garbage, there’s nothing for the rats,” Ortega said, “Before, you’d open the compactor room [in Briar Oaks] and it smelled.”

Now, he added, sealed compost bins and lidded trash containers have reduced odors that could attract rats and limited the rodents’ access points around the property’s trash area.

Ortega said he’s seen far fewer rats in his traps since implementing the change.

While rodents are a reality of city life, Ortega noted the larger common Norway rats, which often cause the most damage, have largely disappeared.

Rowan also noted the long stretch of particularly cold weather this winter as a contributing factor to the decline in sightings.

“When it was below freezing for like three weeks straight in January and February , rat sightings went down because the rats aren’t breeding,” he said. “Overall rat populations will probably dip a little just because of the extreme cold alone.”

But, Rowan added, cold snaps alone do not explain a yearlong decline.

Rat complaints measure reported sightings, but do not determine the size of the rodent population. Warmer months typically bring increased activity, and areas with consolidated trash or high foot traffic can still generate complaints if garbage overflows or remains exposed before pickup.

Still, the sustained decline in 10463 and 10471 reflects a broader shift — fewer exposed trash bags, more sealed bins and measurable improvements to quality of life. After years of rising rat complaints across the city, changes in how waste is being handled appear to be reshaping the local landscape.

Rat complaints to 311 in Riverdale are down more than half compared to 2022.

Conservatory Family Exploration Day

7th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade

The West 251st Street St. Patrick’s Day Parade returns for its seventh year on Saturday, March 7. The grassroots celebration launched during the early days of the pandemic as a safe way to honor both the holiday and the strength of community and has grown steadily each year.

This year’s theme celebrates “The Municipal Backbone,” honoring first responders, local small businesses, neighborhood organizations, youth sports teams and more. The parade begins at West 251st Street and Broadway and proceeds northwest along West 251st Street to its terminus at West 252nd Street. Mustering begins at 1:45 p.m., with step-off at 2 p.m.

For more information, contact founder John P.L. Kelly at 914-9078460.

Exploring biomes

Explore Wave Hill’s Marco Polo Stufano Conservatory with fresh eyes on Sunday, March 8, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Learn how greenhouses mimic

three types of biomes, or regions of the world with similar climates, plants and animals. Feel the differences in humidity and temperature from room to room. Pick up a guide at the adopt-aplant station or at the conservatory. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Murder Mystery

The Horace Mann School is hosting a murderous evening in a bygone era. Enjoy dinner and solve a murder mystery on Saturday, March 14, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Come ready to play detective and follow the clues.

At the Riverdale-

Yonkers 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. De-

signed 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

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.

(888) 887 - 8886

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.

Sing Like a Star Learn fundamental vocal techniques like breathing, posture and singing on key. Wednesday, March 11, 7 to 8 p.m.

Produce Distribution Stop by to pick up some fruits and vegetables provided by Sharing Excess. Open to all with no eligibility requirements. Held on Tuesday, March 10 and 17, from 2:30 to 4 p.m.

At the New York Public Library

Stitchery circle A calm, communal space for knitting, crocheting and other stitch-based crafts at the Riverdale branch. All experience levels are welcome. Bring your current project or start something new with basic materials available on a first-come basis. Sett-

le in, share techniques and enjoy working alongside others who appreciate the rhythm of making. Join on Monday, March 9, from 2 to 3 p.m.

Mixed media art for pre-teens

Join the Riverdale Library every Tuesday for a session of arts and crafts using different mediums such as acrylics, watercolors, clay, beads, paper and other mediums like photograms. They will simultaneously listen 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.

A Celebration of Bronx Poets with Ellen Kombiyil Join Spuyten Duyvil for a celebration of Bronx Poets with Ellen Kombiyil. A celebration of Bronx Poets: Reading and interactive audience Q&A from published Bronx Poets. Readers include: Kay Poema, former Bronx poet laureate; Elvis

What’s on?

Alves, whose new book “Exile Is Home” was just released from Cornerstone; Scarlet Gomez; Ellen Kombiyil; Elaine Sexton. Takes place on Saturday, March 14, from 1 to 2:30 p.m.

Mindfulness Café: Retro Game

Edition

Enjoy an afternoon of classic fun with retro games that bring the past to life at the Van Cortlandt Library, where you’ll test your skills against peers, read up on gaming history and join the conversation about the golden age of video games. Runs on Wednesday, March 11, from 4 to 5 p.m.

College and career pathways Join the Van Cortlandt Library for a virtual information session with the Fashion Institute of Technology on Wednesday, March 11 at 4 p.m.

Young Adult Librarians will host members of the admissions team from FIT. They’ll go over all the important information to know before applying and offer a chance to ask questions at the end of the session.

Be sure to register online to participate.

Riverdale Art Association

Blues

The Riverdale Art Association, in conjunction with the Riverdale Temple and Women of Reform Judaism, presents the exhibit “Blues” at the Riverdale Temple. The show runs through March 27, 2026.

Member artists interpret the theme in various ways, creating an exhibition that invites viewers to see the world differently. Works span a range of media and styles, including photography, pastels, oil and watercolor and mixed media.

Places and Spaces

The Riverdale Art Association invites you to view its latest exhibit, Places and Spaces, at the parish hall of Christ Church Riverdale. Member artists use an array of vibrant, contrasting colors in unexpected ways to bring to life their interpretation of places and spaces using acrylics, watercolor, mixed media and collage.

The parish hall is open Monday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to noon. The exhibit runs from March 9 until April 24. There will be an opening reception on Friday, March 27 from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Riverdale Art Association meeting

The Riverdale Art Association will host a meeting on Tuesday, March 10, at 7 p.m. at 3247 Johnson Ave. The evening will feature photographer and abstract artist Jordan Moss, who will speak about his artwork and the free weekly newsletter he publishes, “Art All Around Us.” All meetings are open to the public. For more information, visit riverdaleartassociation.org.

International Women’s Day gala

At Yoga Muse

Regulate to Heal

Regulate to Heal is the day series on science-based tools for chronic pain and stress reduction. Join Yoga Instructor, Physical Therapist and Craniosacral Therapy practitioner, Tracy Lin for a heart-centered, science-informed journey to regulate your nervous system, reduce chronic pain and stress and restore inner balance.

Enrollment in all three sessions is required. Sessions are held on Saturday, March 7, and March 14, from 2 to 4 p.m.

Flow State of mind

This 90-minute workshop will teach you how to induce the flow state at will, using the breath to reduce stress and create a trusting relationship with your body and mind.

From both a seated meditative posture and then also in a vinyasa yoga sequence, you will learn how to access the flow state mindset one breath at a time.

Join on Saturday, March 7, from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

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.

Modern dance workshop

This hour-long workshop follows the format of a traditional modern dance technique class. Led by professional dancer and teaching artist Annmaria Mazzini, a former member of the world-renowned Paul Taylor Dance Company, the class will focus on alignment, proper technique and strengthening through key fundamentals of modern dance.

Friday, March 13, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Mark the Harper & Friends

Spend an evening of live music in an intimate neighborhood setting at An Beal Bocht Cafe on Saturday, March 7, from 8 to 10 p.m. Mark the Harper & Friends take the stage, bringing a lively mix of rockin’ blues with smokin’ harmonica and sizzling guitars. There is no cover.

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 Word brings together three dozen contemporary artists who use powerful words and push the boundaries of written language through the physical act of painting.

Forever Freestyle

Forever Freestyle features live performances by TKA, George LaMond, Judy Torres, Brenda K. Starr, The Cover Girls, Cynthia, Coro, Soave and C-Bank. Join on Saturday, March 14, at 8 p.m.

Three Italian Tenors

This exhilarating and unique musical event features original arrangements to universally loved Italian song and tenor arias, presenting memorable melodies and themes performed by the incredible Italian Trio Tenors in a stunning program that voyages through nostalgia with favorite memorable classics. Audiences will be captivated with this first concert tour of North America by the spectacular Three Italian Tenors. Sunday, March 15, at 4 p.m.

At the Riverdale Y Interfaith Iftar

Join for an interfaith iftar in observance of Ramadan. Open to people of all faiths, this special gathering

includes a community meal, reflection and dialogue. Build bridges of understanding and foster meaningful relationships across diverse backgrounds. A vegetarian, Halal and Kosher meal will be served. Monday, March 9, at 7:30 p.m.

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 7, March 14 and 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.

A Baker’s Dozen

The Kingsbridge Riverdale Van Cortlandt Development Corporation invites the community to Gallery 505 for “A Baker’s Dozen,” a solo exhibition by photographer Arnie Adler. The curated collection features 13 images spanning Adler’s 40-year career, from photographs taken when he was 20 years old to recent work from his 1000 Faces of Riverdale project. The exhibit highlights Adler’s signature style, marked by honesty, curiosity and a natural, unforced approach to his subjects. The exhibition runs through March 6. Gallery hours are Mondays from 4 to 6 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

March 9 at 7:30 p.m. — Law, Rules and Ethics March 10 at 6:30 p.m. — Budget, followed by a Regular Board Meeting at 7 p.m. March 11 at 7 p.m. — Land Use

Gerald

Kung-Ming

Opinions

Sunshine week keeps democracy in the light

Every March we observe Sunshine Week, a national initiative dedicated to one of democracy’s most powerful disinfectants: light. This year, Sunshine Week will be celebrated March 15 to 21, anchored by Freedom of Information Day on March 16, the birthday of James Madison. The timing is symbolic and significant. Sunshine Week reminds us that open government is not a luxury. It is a necessity.

Launched in 2005 and rooted in the pioneering 1972 Colorado Sunshine Act, Sunshine Week was created to raise awareness of the public’s right to know. At its core is a simple but profound idea: Democracy works best when the people can see what their government is doing. Transparency is not about satisfying curiosity. It’s about accountability, trust and ensuring that power remains where it belongs: with the citizens.

Sunshine Week’s foundation is the principle that government records and proceedings belong to the public. Taxpayer dollars fund government operations. Therefore, the public has both a legal and moral right to understand how decisions are made and how money is spent.

Freedom of Information laws at the federal and state levels give citizens access to public documents, from community board minutes to federal agency communications. But these laws are only as strong as the public’s willingness to use them. Like muscles, transparency laws weaken without exercise. When citizens stop requesting records, attending meetings and asking questions, secrecy grows stronger.

Open meetings and public records are not bureaucratic technicalities. They are the mechanisms that keep democracy breathing. Transparency reveals how taxpayers’ money is spent, how contracts are awarded and how policies are shaped. It enables watchdog groups, journalists and everyday citizens to trace decisions from proposal to outcome.

Without openness, the risk of waste, fraud and abuse increases. History repeatedly shows that secrecy breeds complacency and, at times, corruption. Open government, by contrast, ensures that decisions must

withstand scrutiny. Sunshine Week underscores a critical truth: When the public can see the process, officials are more likely to act responsibly.

In times of crisis, such as economic downturns, national security challenges or public health emergencies, secrecy often expands. Officials may argue that swift action requires less oversight. While emergencies can justify temporary discretion, they must never become permanent excuses for opacity.

Democracy demands vigilance. Sunshine Week serves as an annual reminder that transparency must be defended, especially when it feels inconvenient. Freedom of information cannot be indefinitely sidelined without eroding public trust.

Supporting Sunshine Week means protecting democracy itself. Openness prevents the concentration of unchecked power and ensures that elected officials remain responsive to citizens rather than to special interests.

Transparency helps parents question school board policies, residents examine zoning proposals and taxpayers track infrastructure spending. It provides communities with the tools to advocate for fair and effective governance.

It also allows us, as journalists, to do our jobs. We rely on open records laws to uncover stories about misuse of funds, conflicts of interest and public safety failures. It’s why studies show that the presence of a local newspaper in a community mitigates waste, fraud and abuse.

Public trust in government is fragile. One of the most effective ways to build and sustain that trust is through transparency. When agencies proactively release information and conduct business in public view, suspicion diminishes.

Transparency does not guarantee agreement. Citizens, and government officials, may still debate policies and priorities. But openness fosters understanding, and understanding is the bedrock of trust.

So this Sunshine Week, take a moment to reflect on the importance of open meetings and public records. And vow to step up whenever someone tries to turn off the light of transparency.

Letters to the editor

Lip service from the Dinowitzes on

To the editor,

Along with about 150 of my neighbors, I attended a second standing-room-only “the Knolls” meeting in the basement of 80 Knolls Crescent. It was announced that the space occupied by the former Rite Aid on Knolls Crescent, vacant since July 2025, was officially to be the home of a newly expanded Ben’s Market in collaboration with the national chain, Fine Fare. While this, of course, is great news for the community it is a Band-Aid on the greater problem of vacant storefronts, both in the Knolls and throughout the community.

Assembly member Jeffrey Dinowitz and his son Council member Eric Dinowitz attended, finally acknowledging our community pressure. They swooped in at the very moment a partial success was to be celebrated so … what

Knolls

role did they play in negotiating the deal between Bens and the corporate Fine Fare?

This arrangement is a one-off, not a scalable solution to an ongoing problem. As the Dinowitzes spoke, I was struck by their silence up until now as this situation has existed for quite some time throughout the city.

An attendee brought up a bill currently in the state legislature that would partially roll back the destructive practice of granting tax credits to landlords who keep their storefronts vacant. Despite being one of the most powerful individuals in the state legislature, Assembly member Dinowitz deflected any responsibility for the current status of the stalled bill, adding that it was unfortunately “stuck in the process” and that we in the community should continue

to be vocal and push. Isn’t the whole point of having an elected official with so much seniority to use that power and push through legislation that his constituents want? He’s been our assembly member for 34 years, so where has he been? New York State Campaign Finance Board reports help answer my question: he accepts donations from the real estate lobby.

Politicians suddenly showing up during an election year to placate and mollify us is merely an illusion that they are on our side, while they speak from both sides of their mouths, their palms are out for money from the greedy landlords and other real estate entities that are causing the problem in the first place.

LISA AMOWITZ

Endorsing Ritchie Torres betrays the Bronx

To the editor, Political endorsements say so many things — what a person values, who they listen to and what injustices they’re willing to excuse.

Recently, multiple Democrats have endorsed Rep. Ritchie Torres for re-election: Rep. Adriano Espaillat, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, state Sen. Jamaal Bailey, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, Assembly Members George Alvarez, Landon Dais, Jeffrey Dinowitz, John Zaccaro, Council members Eric Dinowitz, Oswald Feliz, Kevin Riley, Pierina

Sanchez, Justin Sanchez and Althea Stevens.

Endorsing Torres? Stop and think what that means: advocating for a “representative” who refuses to listen to his constituents — blocking them en masse on social media and failing to hold in person, publicly accessible town halls.

A United States congressman who has reportedly thus far taken $2,661,962 in pro-Israel donations over the span of his career. During what multiple human rights institutions have called a genocide, Torres has voted to send

billions in weapons to Israel. All while Congressional District 15 continues to be the poorest in the U.S. In 2026, Torres faces multiple quality contenders. Among them: Jose Vega, Dalourny Nemorin and Andre Easton. Anyone who endorses Torres overlooks his appalling track record. What does that sadly say about their values? Those who care for the Bronx shouldn’t be propping up Torres. They should be demanding and supporting change.

JANET CLARKE

Backlash over Epstein ties is out of control

To the editor, The demand by Morgan Evers, the challenger to Assembly Member Jeffrey Dinowitz in the June Democratic primary, that Dinowitz return Brad Karp’s $1,000 campaign donation because of Karp’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein is one small, but absurd, example of how Epstein-shaming has gone too far.

Take, for example, Karp himself, who resigned as chairman of law firm Paul Weiss based on the revelation of friendly email exchanges between him and Epstein, including Karp’s attempt to have Epstein help his son, an aspiring filmmaker, connect with Woody Allen, and Karp dispensing informal legal advice to Epstein. Apparently, the transactional nature of these com-

munications is fairly typical of those who have fallen into public disgrace based on their Epstein ties. Along with bawdy jokes, gossip and other banalities. With all the hoopla over the release of the Epstein files, there doesn’t seem to be much “there” there.

Much has been made of the fact that many of those who associated with Epstein knew — or should have known — that he had been convicted in 2008 of solicitation of prostitution involving a minor, and that the activity for which he was convicted was part of a larger pattern of behavior. While strict laws have the effect of socially ostracizing convicted sex offenders even after they have done their time, however, there is nothing illegal per se in asso-

ciating or socializing with a convicted sex offender. Would associating with Epstein, even for reasons of pure self-interest, without personally engaging in Epsteinesque activities, have been immoral? I’m not so sure. I am sure, however, that many of those who appear to be outraged by Epstein’s hangers-on for turning a blind eye to Epstein’s creepy predilections are MAGA supporters who overlook President Trump’s moral depravity because they like his policies. Or, are leftists who otherwise profess the belief that convicted criminals should be fully accepted into society once they have completed their sentences, and should not be denied employment or housing based on their history.

ZACHARY BERMAN

Online and in print — Riverdale Press classifieds get results

5 lines for one week.

AFour-bedroom corner unit boasts private terraces

storage, laundry facilities, and garage parking. The pet-friendly building is adjacent to Metro-North Railroad service and near local and express buses and major highways, providing access to Manhattan. Shops, restaurants, and parks are nearby. Maintenance includes access to the Club, pool, and fitness center,