Jonathan Custodio, Author at THE CITY

Science graduate Simíra Smith poses for a portrait inside a lab at Lehman College in The Bronx

CUNY

Macaulay Honors Graduate Goes From Shelter To Success

June 4, 2025, 5:00 a.m.June 3, 2025, 7:25 p.m.

Simira Smith survived living in a homeless shelter and a near-fatal fire to become one of 50,000 CUNY graduates this year.

The Bronx

Community Ownership Is Now Part of Kingsbridge Armory Revival Project

June 3, 2025, 6:38 p.m.June 3, 2025, 8:08 p.m.

Northwest Bronx Community Clergy Coalition negotiated space to aid small businesses and local workers as the city begins public review to develop the long-vacant landmark.

The Bronx

Airbnb Pouring PAC Money Into Bronx City Council Races

June 3, 2025, 12:51 p.m.June 3, 2025, 12:51 p.m.

The company has spent nearly $700,000 on elections around The Bronx, including six figures boosting Elsie Encarnacion in a crowded race where they’re not the only group spending a lot to boost a candidate.

Manhattan

The Little Syria Tour Guide Bridging NYC’s First Muslim Settler and Mayoral Hopeful Zohran Mamdani

May 27, 2025, 5:00 a.m.May 27, 2025, 10:15 a.m.

Historian Asad Dandia, a city character in his own right, is showing the history of Muslims in New York while also trying to help elect the city’s first Muslim mayor.

The PAC End Homelessness and Build a Better NYC has people canvass for Council candidate Wil Lopez inn March.

Campaign 2025

How the Head of a Super PAC Tried — and Failed — to Remove Every Opponent From the Ballot

May 16, 2025, 4:16 p.m.May 16, 2025, 4:16 p.m.

An outside group has spent more than $200K backing Council candidate Wil López, not counting dark money that paid for the unprecedented blizzard of court cases seeking to clear the field of other candidates.

Queens College neuroscience student Labiba Aziz does research work at the school’s Stress in Pregnancy lab.

CUNY

Trump Cuts Off Budding CUNY Scientists From Mentorship and Aid

May 14, 2025, 5:00 a.m.May 14, 2025, 10:46 a.m.

The Trump istration has cut off that has sustained a teaching model that for decades has been instrumental in catapulting students into careers as scientists. Funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Undergraduate Research Training Initiative for Student Enhancement (U-RISE) s the pursuit of advanced degrees by students in the biomedical field, who […]

Candidate Clarisa Alayeto in a campaign image stands on a street wearing a blue cardigan, blue and white button down shirt and long loc'd hair.

Campaign 2025

Judges Reject Ballot Attack From Big-Money PAC in Bronx Council Race

May 7, 2025, 1:17 p.m.May 7, 2025, 2:52 p.m.

Clarisa Alayeto will remain on the ballot for the Democratic primary next month after fighting off a legal challenge from a deep-pocketed independent expenditure group backing her opponent.