Emily Swanson

3 days ago | bxtimes.com | Emily Swanson

A longstanding Bronx grassroots organization has signed a “revolutionary” agreement with developers of the Kingsbridge Armory, guaranteeing a community ownership stake of up to 20% in theproject. Members of the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition (NWBCCC) and development firm 8th Regiment gathered with union workers and elected officials on the armory steps to announce the agreement on June 3, immediately before Community Board 7’s first in-person rezoning hearing at a nearby school.

4 days ago | bxtimes.com | Emily Swanson

A growing staffing crisis—driven by low wages and high turnover—is putting vital services for severely disabled people in jeopardy, both in the Bronx and across New York City, warns Rupert Pearson, executive director of the Southeast Bronx Neighborhood Center (SEBNC). At the heart of the crisis are Direct Support Professionals (DSPs), the frontline caregivers responsible for assisting more than 130,000 New Yorkers with severe disabilities.

1 week ago | bxtimes.com | Emily Swanson

Three experienced barbers, one from the Bronx and two from the northwest England city of Manchester, are swapping shops this week to share styles and techniques while fostering bonds among young entrepreneurs. Joshua Julio Pacheco operates Studio Chec out of Phenix Salon Suites in Riverdale and participated in the exchange as part of the company’s “Rise of the Barber” campaign.

1 week ago | bxtimes.com | Emily Swanson

U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres is warning that President Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” which aims to cut taxes and government spending, also contains cuts to the social safety net that would be disastrous for the Bronx. The bill proposes $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid and SNAP food assistance programs, which would be a “catastrophe for the Bronx,” said Torres in an interview with the Bronx Times.

1 week ago | bxtimes.com | Emily Swanson

A University Heights building that once served as an emergency shelter for domestic violence survivors has reopened as Lily House — now offering 30 affordable apartments dedicated to housing the same vulnerable population. The shelter closed in 2020, leaving the building vacant until it underwent an $8.7 million renovation led by the nonprofit New Destiny Housing Corporation. The project was made possible through a combination of state, city, and private funding.