Quiet Acknowledgment is Powerful: Rethinking Suicide Prevention for Older Adults By Dr. Tyshawn J. Thompson, Clinical Psychologist, Montefiore-Einstein Psychiatry Associates Bronx Voice August 21, 2025 NEW YORK - Despite continued awareness and prevention efforts, suicide remains a leading cause of death in the U.S. Many conversations about suicide risk focus on youth and middle-aged populations, while older adults tend to go unnoticed - but they are an important group to consider. Sadly, death by suicide is highest for men older than 75 years . Older adults can face many factors that increase their risk for suicidal thoughts and actions including: feelings of loneliness, social isolation, grief, family discord, new cognitive and physical deficits, financial strain, and institutionalization. Recently, I had a conversation with a close family member who shared feelings of anxiety and a fear of losin...
BRONX - BronxNet, the community media center, announced on Tuesday that it laid off nine of its 69 staffers on June 18, citing a decline in subscribers and public investment and warning it might have to shut its facility in the East Bronx soon.
The press release announcing the cuts to the public affairs and education TV station described only as “more than 10% of its workforce,” came hours after THE CITY inquired about reports of layoffs. According to sources familiar with the situation, the group included producers on the network’s shows along with its marketing department.
These organizations employ on-air talent, camera operators and production staff who work on local TV shows while serving as a training ground and entry point for burgeoning media professionals. BronxNet is one of the only media organizations to host political debates focused on elections in the borough, while also interviewing candidates for elected office.
BRIC eliminated 16 jobs last February, leading to programming cuts and the resignation of one executive, arts publication Hyperallegic reported. BronxNet said in its release that there have been similar cuts at Manhattan News Network. Neither organization immediately responded to a request for comment.
That agreement ended in July 2020, but Ray Legendre, a spokesperson with the city’s Office of Technology and Innovation, which oversees franchise agreements, said that a holdover provision of that agreement was enacted that continues past its expiration date.
Legendre did not explain why a new franchise agreement is not in place.
According to the existing agreement, BronxNet nets $1.40 for every subscriber up to 265,000 subscribers, and gets similar funding through a separate agreement with Verizon, which operates FiOS. BronxNet declined to share subscriber numbers, citing a confidentiality agreement.
“Optimum has maintained its commitments and obligations under its cable franchise including continued financial support for BronxNet,” Rafaella Mazella, spokesperson for Optimum, owned by Altice, told THE CITY in a written statement. “We remain fully committed and ready to renew our agreement with the City.”
BronxNet, which operates three studios after opening a new one in the South Bronx in 2023, reported a $3 million loss in 2023 financial statements, generating $4.6 million in revenue against $7.6 million in expenses. Its income from cable for that year was $4.2 million, a steady decrease from $4.5 million the year before and $5.1 million in 2021.
BronxNet also faces the potential closure of one of its public service studio locations, at Mercy University in the East Bronx, according to Monday’s press release.
As funding has dwindled, BronxNet and similar organizations have looked to state lawmakers for help. But the legislature has yet to advance two separate bills that would pour funds into local media.
Spearheaded by its marquee show, BronxTalk, hosted by Gary Axelbank, who was inducted into the Bronx Walk of Fame earlier this year, BronxNet offers diverse programming with hosts interviewing guests about a variety of issues affecting the borough.
However, that lineup of programming wasn’t able to keep buck the trend of declining cable subscriptions in favor of streaming services, as one person who was laid off noted.
“There were always subtle hints that there was no money,” they said.
Comments
Post a Comment