Domestic violence orgs. get funds
Councilwoman Vanessa Gibson announces pledge of over $220,000
Councilwoman Vanessa Gibson gives $223,000 to organizations to help combat domestic violence.
Photos by Jason Cohen
BRONX TIMES REPORTER,44 OCTOBER 23-29, 2020 BTR
BY ALEX MITCHELL
Police are searching for three
men who robbed two delis at gunpoint
in both the south and west
Bronx earlier this month.
The fi rst incident happened when
the men held a clerk at gunpoint inside
of a deli at 772 E. 161st Street in
the 40th Precinct at about 4:05 p.m.
on Oct. 1.
One of the perps went behind the
register while the employee was being
held up and stole $1,200 then, according
to the NYPD.
The second armed robbery happened
a week later inside another
deli at 2366 Jerome Ave. in the 46th
Precinct at about 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 7.
Again, cops said the three held up
the deli worker with a gun, this time
stealing $200 from the store before
fl eeing in an unknown direction.
Law enforcement sources reported
no injuries in connection to
these crimes.
Anyone with information in regard
to this incident is asked to call
the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline
at 800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish,
888-57-PISTA (74782). You can
also submit tips online at nypdcrimestoppers.
com, or on Twitter @
NYPDTips.
All calls and messages are
kept confi dential.
Photo courtesy of NYPD
BY JASON COHEN
From 2010 to 2018 the Bronx
had the highest recorded rate
of domestic violence homicides
and in 2019, the borough
also had 30,655 intimate partner
domestic incident reports.
Additionally, calls to New
York City’s 24-hour Domestic
Violence hotline at 1-800-
621-HOPE (4673) were up 19
percent between April 1 and
Sept. 27 this year compared to
the same period in 2019, emphasizing
the need for domestic
violence support during
the pandemic.
During Domestic Violence
Awareness Month, Co-Chair
of the Women’s Caucus Councilwoman
Vanessa Gibson, allocated
$223,000 on Oct. 14 for
organizations that help victims
of domestic violence.
“We know the providers
that stand at my side today
have been working around
the clock remotely checking
on families,” Gibson said.
“Many of our families are living
in dangerous situations.
Domestic violence is physical,
emotional and fi nancial. Love
should never hurt.”
In 2019, three of the precincts
within her council
district, the 42nd, 44th and
46th, reported a high volume
of domestic violence-related
complaints.
Gibson’s allocation went
toward Urban Justice Center,
Northern Manhattan Coalition
for Immigrant Rights, Violence
Intervention Program,
Sanctuary for Families, Urban
Resource Institute, Urban Justice
Center, SCAN Harbor, Day
One, Her Justice, Sauti Yetu
Center for African Women and
Bronx Legal Services.
The councilwoman praised
the nonprofi ts for the work
they do, especially during
the pandemic.
“Every day we have an opportunity
to save a victim,
that is our job to do,” Gibson
said. “We want you to come
forward. We will help you and
walk with you every step of
the way.”
Jelaine Altino, deputy clinical
director of residential services
at Sanctuary for Families,
thanked Gibson for the
fi nancial assistance. Since its
inception in 1992, Sanctuary
for Families has served thousands
of victims each year, including
2,500 from the Bronx
in 2019.
“The coronavirus pandemic
has exacerbated the
barriers for survivors in their
efforts to obtain safety and created
new challenges for advocates,”
Altino said. “Our shelters
have continued to operate
at near capacity.”
Jae Young Kim, director of
family and immigration unit
at Bronx Legal Services, said
their clients have been very
stressed during COVID-19.
They are getting calls nonstop
for help and many people are
worried about obtaining orders
of protection and not being
able to go to court.
“COVID-19 has allowed for
abusers to take advantage of
unfortunate circumstances,”
Young Kim said.
Trio robs two Bronx delis