Charging that “landlord speculation and profiteering, and the imposition of oppressive rents threaten the survival of small businesses,” the Johnson Avenue Merchants Association has thrown its support behind a bill to establish commercial rent control in New York City. more

The year 1958 will see a tremendous increase in private home construction in Riverdale, according to veteran builder Saul Slavin. more

In the days after the deadly Metro-North train derailment in Spuyten Duyvil, transit officials offered few answers to questions posed by residents. While many people here are wondering when train service along the Hudson Line will resume, Marjorie Anders — a spokeswoman for the Metro-North Railroad and Metropolitan Transportation Authority — could not say when the agency will restore regular service. more

The ringing phone awoke me at 8  on Sunday morning. “Sorry to wake you, but they’re saying there was a derailment at Spuyten Duyvil, and it’s a big mess.” more

Democrats may rule the Riverdale-Kingsbridge area, but this year’s Republican mayoral candidates have not forgotten the lessons of the last eight years, when local residents turned out in force to vote for Mayor Rudolph Giuliani in back-to-back elections. more

Former Manhattan borough president and city councilwoman Ruth Messinger is taking sides in the upcoming planned special election to replace the outgoing Andrew Cohen. She’s backing Jessica Haller. more

Bernard and Richard — or for just about anyone who has shared at least a hello with them at some point: Buddy and Richie. Yet there was one thing Buddy and Richie did agree on quite confidently growing up — neither of them were going to work in the family business. more

Five-year-old Rachel Deadman could not bring herself to draw a picture of a scene after the bombing in Oklahoma City. Instead, she chose the moment just before it happened. “The bomb didn’t blow up the building yet. The timer is running,” said the kindergartner at Kinneret Day School as she pointed to her crayon drawing of a colorful office building. more

You want to remember two things about Shirley Egdal: spirituality and passion. And if you forget, she’ll remind you. more

New York City’s first critical, or “hot,” nuclear reactor will be installed on the campus of Manhattan College. College officials this week were awaiting the formal government go-ahead to begin work on the reactor, which is expected to be put into use in September. more