Bronx News Network

Bronx Crime Watch: Rally for Yvette (Updated)

|

The recent shooting of 15-year-old Yvette Marie Torres and lack of progress in finding the person who shot her has led a group of concerned residents, from the Bronx, Queens and even Massachusetts, to take the investigation into their own hands.The group, led by Nelson Figueroa, a childhood friend of Yvette’s mother, have organized a “Rally for Yvette” this Saturday at 2396 Valentine Avenue, near the corner of E. 187th Street, just below Fordham Road. That’s where Yvette was shot after apparently standing up to a bully during a party. They created a “Rally for Yvette” Facebook page to advertise the event. Figueroa also set up a phone number (347-670-3843) and an e-mail address (JUSTICE4EVIE@gmail.com) so witnesses and or anyone with information about the shooting, who might not feel comfortable dealing with police, could come forward. According to Figueroa, Yvette was taken out of a medically-induced coma yesterday and given two days to respond.

Bronx News Network

Oval Park Meeting to Press for Opening of New Spray Showers and Playground

|

Frustrated with the delay in opening the new playground and spray showers in the Williamsbridge Oval Park, the volunteer group Friends of Williamsbridge Oval Park is gathering and requesting that concerned residents join them at 4:30 today in the southern section of the soccer field near the construction fence. We’ve heard from Parks officials at the site that the spray showers and playground should be open by July 4, but the Friends are insisting that the renovated areas open by the end of school on June 28. We’ll have more later today on official word from the Parks Department on when these new play areas will be open for ruse.

Bronx News Network

Bronx News Roundup, June 22

|

Weather: In the high 70s today, and thunderstorms likely this evening. Story of the Day: Future of the Muller Center To Be Debated TonightA hearing is scheduled tonight to get public input on the fate of the Muller Army Reserve Center, a 55,000-square-foot former military base in Wakefield that the Bloomberg administration wants to turn into a homeless shelter.Community leaders and elected officials, including BP Ruben Diaz, Jr., strongly oppose the plan, arguing the neighborhood is already over-saturated with homeless shelters. Diaz and education advocates propose the 238th Street site become the new home for the National Guard, currently stationed in an annex of the Kingsbridge Armory-a move they say would free up the Armory space so the city could build a new school there, providing more classroom seats for School District 10, one of the most crowded districts in the city. The decision was in the hands of the Muller Redevelopment Authority (LRA) – a panel made up of Diaz, Deputy Mayor Linda Gibbs and Tokumbo Shobowale, the chief of staff for Deputy Mayor Robert Steel. Last fall, Diaz intentionally missed a scheduled meeting of the authority in order to delay a vote on the issue.