Thread by @essayolumhense, A personnel note: Today is my last day at @THECITYNY The [...]

A personnel note: Today is my last day at @THECITYNY

The last two years have been rewarding and challenging in so many ways. And I am *very* proud of the work I was able to do there to amplify the voices, work and concerns of Bronx residents. A few of my favorite stories:

Very early in 2019, before our site was live, I met a someone at an event in Soundview who told me that the 20th anniversary of the Diallo killing was coming up. I wrote about what the death meant to some in the community for this story, our first: https://www.thecity.nyc/justice/2019/2/1/21211182/20-years-after-the-nypd-killing-of-amadou-diallo-his-mom-asks-what-s-changed

20 Years After Police Killing of Amadou Diallo, What’s Changed?

The Feb. 4, 1999, Bronx shooting of the unarmed African immigrant sparked demands for reform. But has there been progress over the past two decades?

https://www.thecity.nyc/justice/2019/2/1/21211182/20-years-after-the-nypd-killing-of-amadou-diallo-his-mom-asks-what-s-changed

I cherish the stories that come out of public records, especially when they are as fun as this one was to report. In this story, an official's public schedule offered an interesting detail: he was meeting with Melo about opening a BX basketball facility: https://www.thecity.nyc/bronx/2019/5/22/21211062/forward-thinking-carmelo-anthony-eyes-south-bronx-site-for-new-athletic-facility

Forward Thinking: Carmelo Anthony Eyes Bronx Site for New Athletic Facility

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. met with former Knick Carmelo Anthony to talk about development plans for Port Morris, THE CITY has learned.

https://www.thecity.nyc/bronx/2019/5/22/21211062/forward-thinking-carmelo-anthony-eyes-south-bronx-site-for-new-athletic-facility

When she was 80, Lorraine Evans went in for a throat biopsy. She didn't end up having one, because five of her teeth had been "knocked out" and her jaw broken during the procedure, she claimed. The hospital billed Medicare $14K for the biopsy anyway. https://www.thecity.nyc/health/2019/9/30/21210794/in-hospital-for-routine-biopsy-bronx-woman-left-with-broken-jaw-and-14k-medicare-bill

In Hospital for Biopsy, Bronx Woman Left With Broken Jaw and $14K Medicare Bill

Lorraine Evans has been fighting for four years over a procedure that went horribly wrong. She plans an appeal after a court dismissed her suit.

https://www.thecity.nyc/health/2019/9/30/21210794/in-hospital-for-routine-biopsy-bronx-woman-left-with-broken-jaw-and-14k-medicare-bill

BX DA Darcel Clark, who ran unopposed last year, collected thousands from the union representing jail guards, whom her office investigates and prosecutes in its jurisdiction over Rikers Island. https://www.thecity.nyc/2019/11/4/21210723/correction-officers-are-top-donors-to-unopposed-bronx-da-darcel-clark

Correction Officers Are Top Donors to Unopposed Bronx DA Darcel Clark’s Campaign

Union representing jail guards investigated and prosecuted by her office gave $22,000 to fund for an unchallenged reelection.

https://www.thecity.nyc/2019/11/4/21210723/correction-officers-are-top-donors-to-unopposed-bronx-da-darcel-clark

Another story about a BX senior struggling with a system, this time the city's adult protective services apparatus. APS denied this man's plea for help twice, saying he didn't qualify for their help. Somehow, after our story ran, that changed

: https://www.thecity.nyc/housing/2020/2/20/21210487/he-s-67-with-renal-disease-an-eviction-case-and-no-help-finding-a-home

He’s 67, With Renal Disease, an Eviction Case and No Help Finding a Home

For more than a year, Alvin Linton has pleaded for Adult Protective Services to help him avoid joining the growing ranks of 1,400 elderly homeless.

https://www.thecity.nyc/housing/2020/2/20/21210487/he-s-67-with-renal-disease-an-eviction-case-and-no-help-finding-a-home

Reminder: COVID-19 is a health story AND a housing, environment and poverty story too. Chilling detail from this reporting: At the time, the South Bronx’s only public hospital, Lincoln Medical Center, didn't have a COVID-19 testing site, politicians said. https://www.thecity.nyc/health/2020/4/3/21210372/bronx-residents-twice-as-likely-to-die-from-covid-19-in-nyc

Bronx Residents Twice as Likely to Die From COVID-19 in NYC

People in the borough ranked last in state on diabetes, asthma and more are at highest risk of succumbing to coronavirus illness, city stats show.

https://www.thecity.nyc/health/2020/4/3/21210372/bronx-residents-twice-as-likely-to-die-from-covid-19-in-nyc

And COVID-19 could be exacerbating existing disparities in maternal health care, doctors and birthing experts said. I will never, ever forget Amber Isaac and the work her family is doing to honor her. https://www.thecity.nyc/health/2020/4/27/21247056/a-pregnant-woman-tweeted-concerns-about-a-bronx-hospital-she-died-days-later

A Pregnant Woman Tweeted Concerns About Bronx Hospital. She Died Days Later.

Amber Isaac’s death underscored existing racial maternity health disparities that some experts say are likely being made worse by the COVID crisis.

https://www.thecity.nyc/health/2020/4/27/21247056/a-pregnant-woman-tweeted-concerns-about-a-bronx-hospital-she-died-days-later

Finally, I hope to do more work like this in the future: Projects born out of engagement work that both explain a problem and help people understand how we got here: https://www.thecity.nyc/2020/9/28/21492252/cross-bronx-expressway-covid-19-environmental-justice-nyc

For Some Near the Cross Bronx Expressway, COVID-19 is an Environmental Justice Issue, Too

Even as air has grown cleaner in The Bronx, a highway through its heart belches pollution researchers say may be linked to risk of death from the coronavirus.

https://www.thecity.nyc/2020/9/28/21492252/cross-bronx-expressway-covid-19-environmental-justice-nyc

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