Tuesday, December 30, 2014
City Island News BX: Holiday Filled with Tears
City Island News BX: Holiday Filled with Tears: Holiday Filled with Tears Vigil Held as Locals Mourn with Pakistani, NYPD Communities By David Greene BRONX, NEW YOR...
Holiday Filled with Tears
Holiday Filled with Tears
Vigil Held as Locals Mourn with Pakistani, NYPD Communities
By David Greene
BRONX, NEW YORK, DECEMBER 30- A crowd of nearly 100 gathered outside of Christopher Columbus High School on Astor Avenue for a tearful candlelight vigil held for the 132 school children killed by members of the Taliban in Peshawar, Pakistan.
The event, hosted by members of the Bronx Park East Community Association on Sunday, December 21, also became somewhat of a vigil after police officer's Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu were murdered in Brooklyn a day earlier.
Imam Mudassar Husdain of the Masjid Noor ul- Huda Mosque told mourners that the killings, "had nothing to do with Islam, nothing to do with Muslims and nothing to do with honoring our beloved prophet Mohammad."
Husdain added, "We all have different backgrounds, different beliefs, but we do not take each others lives in vain."
Speaking on both horrific acts, local official Joseph McManus said, "It's just a crime, in my opinion the people that performed these acts are cowards."
The crowd as diverse in age as it was in race and nationality then lit candles and held a moment of silence. The crowd would later be asked to sign a poster that would be sent to schoolchildren in Pakistan.
Monday, December 22, 2014
City Island News BX: Words Kill
City Island News BX: Words Kill: Words Kill City Mourns 2 Cops Executed #WenuanLiu #RafaelRamos #NYPD By David Greene BRONX, NEW YORK, DECEMBER 22- The month...
City Island News BX: Words Kill
City Island News BX: Words Kill: Words Kill City Mourns 2 Cops Executed #WenuanLiu #RafaelRamos #NYPD By David Greene BRONX, NEW YORK, DECEMBER 22- The month...
City Island News BX: Words Kill
City Island News BX: Words Kill: Words Kill City Mourns 2 Cops Executed #WenuanLiu #RafaelRamos #NYPD By David Greene BRONX, NEW YORK, DECEMBER 22- The month...
Words Kill
Words Kill
City Mourns 2 Cops Executed
#WenuanLiu #RafaelRamos #NYPD
By David Greene
BRONX, NEW YORK, DECEMBER 22- The month-long protests against the use of excessive force by members of the NYPD has apparently been put on hold-- as two of New York's Finest were shot dead execution-style on the street's of Brooklyn.
Patrolman Wenuan Liu and Rafael Ramos were shot dead as they sat in their patrol car on Saturday, December 20. Gunman Ismaaiyl Brinsley, 28, would use the same gun to take his own life.
The following day the family of Eric Garner joined Reverend Al Sharpton in denouncing the use of violence against police officers.
Meanwhile, the NYPD has ended lone foot patrols of officers and the NYPD's Auxiliary force who patrol without weapons, has been discontinued until further notice. Officers across the nation have been put on a heightened alert.
In reaction to the latest turn of events, Congressman Peter King told Fox News, "This is an absolute tragedy what occurred in New York, and it's really time for our national leaders, the president, it's time for the mayor of New York and really for many in the media to stop the cop bashing."
Rockland County Executive and former commander of the 47th Precinct detective squad Ed Day, stated, "To know that these brave men were murdered in cold blood should sicken us all... the cowardly act of senseless violence underscores the dangers faced by law enforcement every day."
Despite a pair of officers being assaulted on the Brooklyn Bridge on December 13, police gave Bronx protesters two extra minutes for a seven minute die-in outside the office of Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson's office on December 18.
Police Benevolent President Pat Lynch has publicly blamed Mayor Bill de Blasio for the deaths of the two officers and an online campaign reportedly has 50,000 signatures calling for the mayor's resignation.
Rumblings within the police union are even calling for ending all but the most urgent arrests made by officers.
Meanwhile, police have announced a fourth arrest of individuals involved in the Brooklyn Bridge disturbance.
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
City Island News BX: $12G Reward Offered to Catch Cops’ Attackers
City Island News BX: $12G Reward Offered to Catch Cops’ Attackers: $12G Reward Offered to Catch Cops’ Attackers BRONX, NEW YORK, DECEMBER 17- On Saturday, December 13, 2014 at approximately 7:30 p.m....
$12G Reward Offered to Catch Cops’ Attackers
$12G Reward Offered to Catch Cops’ Attackers
BRONX, NEW YORK, DECEMBER 17- On Saturday, December 13, 2014 at approximately 7:30 p.m., two New York City Police Department lieutenants were walking along the pedestrian walkway of the Brooklyn Bridge, monitoring a large crowd of demonstrators crossing into Brooklyn on the vehicular roadway below. While following the crowd, the two lieutenants, both of whom were wearing NYPD jackets, observed a male suspect attempt to throw a large garbage can down onto the roadway below, where other demonstrators and police officers were walking. The lieutenants stopped the man from throwing the garbage can and attempted to take the individual into custody, at which time the suspect violently resisted and other demonstrators intervened, pulling the suspect away from police. During the struggle, the demonstrators punched and kicked the lieutenants while attempting to remove the officers' police department radios and NYPD jackets.
As a result of the actions by those who helped prevent the lawful arrest, the suspect was able to escape but was captured a short time later. Before he ran away, however, officers were able to retain the suspect’s backpack, found to contain a black ski mask, three hammers wrapped in plastic, personal papers, and a small quantity of marijuana. Both lieutenants were transported to Lower Manhattan Hospital in stable condition: one sustained a broken nose, and both sustained multiple cuts and bruises. Both were treated and released.
Pursuant to the ongoing investigation, the NYPD is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying and locating seven suspects wanted in connection with the incident, and nine witnesses who may be able to provide information valuable to the inquest.
A $12,000 combined reward has been offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspects in this case: Crime Stoppers has offered $2,000, and Citizens Outraged at Police Being Shot has offered $10,000.
Anyone with information regarding these suspects, these witnesses, or this incident in general, is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or 1-800-COP-SHOT. The public can also submit tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.
All calls are strictly confidential.
Thursday, December 11, 2014
City Island News BX: Bad Shot Gets 25 yrs for Killing Mom
City Island News BX: Bad Shot Gets 25 yrs for Killing Mom: Bad Shot Gets 25 yrs for Killing Mom Son Pens Letter of Pain BRONX, NEW YORK, DECEMBER 11- It was a misplaced sense of loyalty tha...
Bad Shot Gets 25 yrs for Killing Mom
Bad Shot Gets 25 yrs for Killing Mom
Son Pens Letter of Pain
BRONX, NEW YORK, DECEMBER 11- It was a misplaced sense of loyalty that killed an innocent bystander and has now landed 30-year-old Joseph Diaz behind bars for 25 years, following his conviction on manslaughter in the first degree, Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson announced.
Diaz’ aim was to prove his loyalty to a friend who had lost a fistfight, when he aimed a gun at the man with whom the friend had the dispute. But the shooter, who even has a tattoo of the word “Loyalty” emblazoned across his neck, had bad aim – and instead killed a young mother, Aisha Santiago.
When Diaz fired a half-dozen shots with a .45-caliber semi-automatic. He did so during the 3 o’clock hour on one of the Bronx’s busiest streets, with the sidewalks at Willis Avenue & East 146th Street teeming with pedestrians, including mothers walking their children home from school.
The 25-year-old Santiago took a bullet straight to her heart, crumpling arms-length away from her 9-year-old son, and dying as she tried to crawl to her little boy.
That little boy, now a 14-year-old teenager, submitted a victim impact statement to the Court (in its entirety below), asking that Diaz “gets what he deserves.”
“There’s not a day I don’t think how my life would [have] been if she was still here…
“All I want is my mom back in my life and finish raising me and helping me [learn] right from wrong…”
“I never want to disappoint my mom but I’m not doing all the right things and making good decisions. But I do whatever I can possibly do to make her proud and see her smile.”
Diaz was sentenced to 25 years in prison with an additional five years post-release supervision by Supreme Court Justice Barbara F. Newman.
Monday, December 8, 2014
City Island News BX: Bronx Political Icon Badillo Laid to Rest
City Island News BX: Bronx Political Icon Badillo Laid to Rest: Bronx Political Icon Badillo Laid to Rest By David Greene BRONX, NEW YORK, DECEMBER 8 - Often called a trailblazer for becoming ...
City Island News BX: Bronx Political Icon Badillo Laid to Rest
City Island News BX: Bronx Political Icon Badillo Laid to Rest: Bronx Political Icon Badillo Laid to Rest By David Greene BRONX, NEW YORK, DECEMBER 8 - Often called a trailblazer for becoming ...
Bronx Political Icon Badillo Laid to Rest
Bronx Political Icon Badillo Laid to Rest
By David Greene
BRONX, NEW YORK, DECEMBER 8- Often called a trailblazer for becoming the first Puerto Rican to hold the office of Bronx Borough President, as well as becoming the nation’s first Latino elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, Herman Badillo has died at the age of 85.
According to his longtime friend and spokesman George Arzt, Badillo died on December 3, from complications related to congestive heart failure at New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell Hospital in Manhattan.
Badillo was a young lawyer who had served as New York Commissioner of Housing Preservation and Development before entering politics when he was elected Borough President in 1966.
Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1970, Badillo served four terms representing New York's 21st District in the South Bronx.
In 1977, Badillo stepped down from Congress to become deputy mayor of New York City under then Mayor Ed Koch from 1978 - 1979.
Badillo ran five unsuccessful campaigns for mayor of New York City- in his last attempt he was defeated by Michael Bloomberg in 2001. Badillo would later assist in Bloomberg's reelection campaign in 2005.
In recent years, Badillo was a senior counsel for the personal injury law firm Parker Waichman Alonso.
In a prepared statement announcing Badillo's death, George Arzt stated, "He lost many elections but gained respect as a real fighter and as the nation’s highest-ranking Puerto Rican office holder."
Governor Andrew Cuomo said of Badillo, "From his tenure as Bronx Borough President to his work leading the CUNY Board of Trustees, he was a shining example of how a dedication to civil service can make a difference in the world around us."
Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr., said of Badillo,"I am deeply saddened by the passing of a man whom I looked up to as a role model and who represented Latinos, Bronxites and all New Yorkers as an exemplary public servant."
Badillo was laid to rest after a private service held on December 7 at the Frank E. Campbell Funeral Home in Manhattan. He is survived by his wife Gail and son David from a previous marriage.
Thursday, December 4, 2014
City Island News BX: Which Pols are the Biggest Elected Turkeys?
City Island News BX: Which Pols are the Biggest Elected Turkeys?: Which Pols are the Biggest Elected Turkeys? 100 PERCENT By Robert Press 1st Annual Turkey Awards BRONX, NEW YORK, DECEMB...
Which Pols are the Biggest Elected Turkeys?
Which Pols are the Biggest Elected Turkeys?
100 PERCENT
By Robert Press
1st Annual Turkey Awards
BRONX, NEW YORK, DECEMBER 4- Just like many elected officials gave out turkeys last week, I am going to give my 1st Annual Turkey Awards to some elected officials.
My first Turkey Award goes to all those Republican elected and party officials who did not believe in their candidate for governor Rob Astorino. Each and everyone of you deserve to get a Turkey Award. It reminds me of those turkeys on the other side of the isle who wrote off Bill Thompson in the 2009 Mayor's race. Both races were much closer then thought, and with a little more help from their own party who knows? However ,when he first came to the Bronx I asked candidate Astorino if he was running just to help get a Republican State Senate. Well Astorino lost and the Republicans won the state senate outright. Makes you kind of wonder if I was right.
The next and last Turkey Award goes to that big Turkey who runs New Jersey. What kind of deal did he make with Andrew Cuomo? Was it the Sargent Schultz attitude Cuomo took of 'I Know Nothing, I See Nothing, I Hear Nothing' when it came to Bridge-gate that got him Republican N.J. Governor Chris Christe's support? Or should I say lack of support for Cuomo's Republican opponent Rob Astorino.
It seems that Mayor Bill de Blasio turns to his Deputy Mayors when something happens for advice. Deputy Mayors are also at press conferences with commissioners and the mayor. Al Sharpton was with the mayor and police commissioner at a press conference, and Mayor De Blasio has defended Al Sharpton in his matters with the IRS and his wife's Chief of Staff woes. De Blasio even has said that he asks Sharpton for advice at times, so just when is Mayor Bill de Blasio going to name Al Sharpton a Deputy Mayor?
Back in the Bronx – It is party time no matter which party you belong to. On Sunday December 7th, The Bronx Conservative Party is hosting their Annual Holiday Party. The location is Spoto's Restaurant 4005 East Tremont Ave (in the Throggs Neck section of the Bronx), and it will take place from 2 – 7 p.m. Bronx Conservative Party Chairman William Newmark always has a very interesting event including the delicious food. There is a $25 admission fee per person here, but one never knows just who may drop in.
On Wednesday, December 17th, The Bronx Democratic County Committee, Chairman Assemblyman Carl E. Heastie, and the Bronx Young Democrats are hosting their 2014 Holiday Celebration at the UFT Bronx Headquarters located at 2500 Halsey Avenue from 6 – 9 p.m. This event is free and open to all Bronx residents. You can call (347) 281-9757 for more information.
This past Sunday Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj celebrated the 102 years of Albanian Independence. This is very special to the first Albanian elected official in New York State. Hundreds of Albanians and others were on hand at Maestro's to celebrate their allegiance. America their new home, and to Albania the land they or their forefathers immigrated from. It was great to hear both National anthems, and see the dedication of tho Albanian-Americans to both countries.
Some others on hand were Senator Jeff Klein who spoke of how Assemblyman Gjonaj has improved the standard of living in the Pelham Parkway area of the 80th A.D. since being elected. I kidded Senator Klein that it was his old assembly district, and Senator Klein said that was a long time ago.
Assemblyman Mike Benedetto also had only praise for Assemblyman Gjonaj, and the Albanian community. 32BJ, the service workers union comprised of 145,000 members of which 20,000 are Albanians received a citation from Assemblyman Gjonaj for their work in the Albanian communities of the Bronx and Staten Island. The Bronx Jewish Community Council received a citation also from Assemblyman Gjonaj for its food pantry that services over 400 area residents including over 100 Albanians, and that shocked Gjonaj.
The third and last citation from Assemblyman Gjonaj was to Mr. Zeqir Kukaj. Mr. Kukaj was one of the first people who immigrated to the Bronx from Albania. He helped set up what is now the Bronx Albanian community. Assemblyman Gjonaj said to Zeqir, “Without you this could not have been possible.” You can go to my blog at www.100percentbronx.blogspot.com to read more about the 102nd Celebration of Albanian Independence Mark Gjonaj style. There are some real good stories that I did not have room for in this column about the upcoming political year and beyond you may want to read. By the way, the food at Maestro's was delicious as usual.
If you have any political news that you would like to share, have any comments about this column, or have an event that you would like to have listed or covered in this column or on my blog you can e-mail us at 100percentbronxnews@gmail.com or call 718-644-4199 Mr. Robert Press.
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
City Island News BX: Biblical Beatdown
City Island News BX: Biblical Beatdown: Biblical Beatdown Man Beats Friend to Death After Coming from Church By David Greene BRONX, NEW YORK, DECEMBER 3- Police a...
Biblical Beatdown
Biblical Beatdown
Man Beats Friend to Death After Coming from Church
By David Greene
BRONX, NEW YORK, DECEMBER 3- Police are looking for a dapper gunman with one drooping-eyelid and his two cohorts, who calmly waited for the gunman to take a haircut— before they robbed the joint and ran away with the shop’s cash register.
Cops were called to the Alante Barber Shop on Westchester Avenue in the Longwood section at just before 10 p.m. on November 29.
Police say that after getting his haircut the man produced a gun and the suspects preceded to rob the other customers, before fleeing down the street with the shops cash register.
Police say no shots were fired and no injuries were reported.
Detectives quickly pulled surveillance camera video that they would release to the media.
As quickly as police obtained the video, police identified the gunman as Ramael Pierson, 24, and would release a police mug shot of him from a 2008 arrest.
In the photo Pierson's left eye is nearly shut, possibly a medical condition as no swelling is evident.
Police could not immediately say if a witness identified Pierson or from facial recognition software now used daily by the NYPD.
Attempts to reach the shop owner were unsuccessful.
Police have asked anyone who has any information on the trio to call CRIMESTOPPERS at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls remain confidential.
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
City Island News BX: What do you know about Thanksgiving?
City Island News BX: What do you know about Thanksgiving?: What do you know about Thanksgiving? Community Board News N’ Views By Father Richard F. Gorman Chairman Community Bo...
What do you know about Thanksgiving?
What do you know about Thanksgiving?
Community Board
News N’ Views
By
Father Richard F. Gorman
Chairman
Community Board #12 (The Bronx)
BRONX, NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 26- Thanksgiving is truly an American holiday. It originated in the New World. Even before it became a national holiday established by law, generations of Americans celebrated a day of thanksgiving for blessings received. Americans, despite diversity in faith traditions, racial and ethnic background, economic status, gender, age, or physical and mental condition uniformly anticipate and celebrate Thanksgiving Day.
One could suppose, then, that Americans know all that is fact about Thanksgiving. Do they? How about you, neighbors and friends? For example, do you know any or all of the following …
- The first Thanksgiving Day was held in the Autumn of 1621, included 50 Pilgrims and 90 Wampanoag Indians, and lasted three days. Many historians believe that only five women were present at that first Thanksgiving, as many women settlers didn't survive that difficult first year in the New World.
- Thanksgiving didn't become a national holiday until over 200 years later. Sarah Josepha Hale, the woman who actually wrote the classic song “Mary Had a Little Lamb” convinced President Abraham Lincoln in 1863 to make Thanksgiving a national holiday, after writing letters for 17 years campaigning for this to happen.
- Historians say that no turkey was served at the first Thanksgiving. What was on the menu? Deer or venison, ducks, geese, oysters, lobster, eel and fish were. They probably ate pumpkins, but no pumpkin pies. They also did not eat mashed potatoes or cranberry relish, but they probably ate cranberries. There were no “Turduckens” -- i.e., a turkey stuffed with a duck that is stuffed with a chicken. These were nowhere to be found during that first Thanksgiving.
- The first Thanksgiving was eaten with spoons and knives, but no forks! Forks were not even introduced to the Pilgrims until 10 years later and were not a popular utensil until the eighteenth century. The Pilgrims, prior to utilizing forks, did use their fingers, however.
- Thanksgiving is the reason for T.V. dinners. In 1953, Swanson had so much extra turkey -- 260 tons -- that a salesman told them they should package it onto aluminum trays with other sides like sweet potatoes. Ergo, the first T.V. dinner was born!
- Thanksgiving was almost a fast and not a feast! The early settlers gave thanks by praying and abstaining from food, which is what they planned on doing to celebrate their first harvest, that is, until the Wampanoag Indians joined them and -- lucky for us! -- turned their fast into a three-day feast!
- Each year, the President of the United States pardons a turkey and spares it from being eaten for Thanksgiving dinner. The first turkey pardon ceremony started with President Harry S. Truman in1947.
- Why is Thanksgiving the fourth Thursday in November? President Abraham Lincoln said Thanksgiving would be the fourth Thursday in November, but, in 1939, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt moved it up a week hoping it would help improve the Christmas shopping season and spur the economy during the Depression era. It never caught on and it was changed back two years later.
- The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade began in 1924 with 400 employees marching from Convent Ave to 145TH Street in New York City. No large balloons were at this parade, as it featured only live animals from Central Park Zoo.
- Turkey is not responsible for drowsiness or the dreaded "food coma." Scientists say that extra glass of wine, the high-calorie meal or relaxing after a busy work schedule is what makes one drowsy!
- How did the tradition of watching football on Thanksgiving start? The National Football League started the Thanksgiving Classic Games in 1920 and, since then, the Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys have hosted games on Turkey Day. In 2006, a third game was added with different teams hosting.
- Wild turkeys can run 20 miles per hour when they are scared, but domesticated turkeys are bred are heavier and cannot run quite that fast.
- Benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey to be the national bird of the United States instead of the eagle.
- Americans eat 46,000,000 turkeys each Thanksgiving.
- Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin's first meal in space after walking on the moon was foil packets with roasted turkey.
- The heaviest turkey on record, according to the Guinness Book of Records, weighed 86 pounds.
- Californians consume the most turkey in the United States on Thanksgiving Day!
- Female turkeys, called “hens,” do not gobble. Only male turkeys gobble.
- The average turkey for Thanksgiving weighs 15 pounds.
- Campbell's soup created green bean casserole for an annual cookbook 50 years ago. It now sells $20 million worth of cream of mushroom soup.
So how many of these pearls of wisdom did you know? Regardless of your expertise in Thanksgiving Day trivia, there is one most important thing that all of us know-- viz., that the need for and the origin of Thanksgiving Day both spring from a common yearning to acknowledge God’s loving goodness and His munificent generosity to us. Join me, then, fulfilling this need rooted in the very core of our being by praying these words, taken from the Preface of the Roman Catholic Mass for Thanksgiving Day:
Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give You thanks.
We acknowledge You as the Lord of all Nations,
the Creator of land, and sea, and sky,
the Source of the wonders of nature and salvation.
Through Your Word You called all things into being,
that You might bestow on us Your love
reflected in the vastness of the universe
and the bounty of this earth.
You placed creation in our care,
yet You alone sustain all life with the gentle dew of Your Word
and the life-giving breath of Your Spirit.
Your gifts of nature have not exhausted Your goodness,
for the fullness of Your love is revealed by the imparting
of the manifold gifts of Your Grace.
Our hearts are moved to thankful praise,
and so we join the choirs of angels and saints
in proclaiming Your glory.
Amen.
Happy Thanksgiving! See you after the feast!
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
City Island News BX: ‘Blood’ in the Streets Over Ferguson
City Island News BX: ‘Blood’ in the Streets Over Ferguson: ‘Blood’ in the Streets Over Ferguson (Photojournalist Ken Murray is soaked in red paint aimed for Police Commissioner Bill Bratton--Pho...
‘Blood’ in the Streets Over Ferguson
‘Blood’ in the Streets Over Ferguson
(Photojournalist Ken Murray is soaked in red paint aimed for Police Commissioner Bill Bratton--Photo by James Keinom, NY Daily News via Facebook)
Photojournalist Recalls Paint Toss Aimed for Bratton
By David Greene
BRONX, NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 25- An angry crowd estimated between 300 - 500 took to the streets of Times Square to demonstrate the grand jury's decision to not indict police officer Darren Wilson in the August 9 shooting death of Michael Brown, 18, in Ferguson, MO.
Brooklyn-born photojournalist Ken Murray recalled getting the brunt of the red paint tossed at Police Commissioner Bill Bratton on Monday, November 24.
The violence in Ferguson and in Times Square broke out as President Barack Obama was asking the nation for calm and restraint regarding the decision.
Murray recalled, "He (Commissioner Bratton) was being chanted at and told to go home and some other things and then we got down the block a little bit and I got hit with the fake blood behind me, but I got the most of it."
A small army of photographers captured Murray covered in the red paint, mostly missing the intended target Commissioner Bratton.
"I didn't even flinch," Murray added, "I just kept taking my pictures."
Murray then moved with the crowd of police who quickly apprehended the former Occupy Wall Street protester, identified by police as Diego Ibanez, 26.
Ibanez was charged with assault and obstruction of government administration, disorderly conduct, harassment and criminal mischief.
As the crowd broke off into smaller groups, one group estimated at 250 walked and reportedly laid down briefly in the roadbed along the Tri-boro Bridge.
It's not immediately known if any additional arrests had been made.
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
City Island News BX: Subway Push Suspect Arrested
City Island News BX: Subway Push Suspect Arrested: Subway Push Suspect Arrested Expected to be Charged with Murder By David Greene BRONX, NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 19 - Police arreste...
Subway Push Suspect Arrested
Subway Push Suspect Arrested
Expected to be Charged with Murder
By David Greene
BRONX, NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 19- Police arrested a man in connection with the subway push murder of a Chinese immigrant.
Kevin Darden, 34, is expected to be charged with second degree murder charges at the Bronx Criminal courthouse today.
Officials say Wai Kuen Kwok, 61, was standing near the platform’s edge when he was shoved in front of the moving train at just before 9 a.m., on November 16 at the East 167 Street Station.
Kwok, an immigrant from Hong Kong, died instantly as three train cars passed over his body, before the motorman was able to bring the train to a screeching halt.
Investigators used area surveillance video to track the 'person of interest,' turned suspect as be boarded a Bx-35 bus into Highbridge where the surveillance video lost the man.
Shortly after the release of the surveillance video police questioned and later arrested Darden.
A second person was reported struck by a train at the St. Lawrence Avenue Station at 6:45 a.m. on Friday, November 14. Although no criminality was suspected, the condition of that victim was not immediately known.
Officials from the Metropolitan Transit Authority say that Kwok was the 50th person to die in a subway mishap this year, but the first to die at the hands of another individual.
Anyone with information on the individual or his whereabouts is asked to call CRIMESTOPPERS at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls are confidential.
Friday, November 7, 2014
City Island News BX: Enough of the A-Rod Circus
City Island News BX: Enough of the A-Rod Circus: Enough of the A-Rod Circus By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 7- Sooner than expected the Alex Rodriguez circus returned...
Enough of the A-Rod Circus
Enough of the A-Rod Circus
By Rich Mancuso
BRONX, NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 7- Sooner than expected the Alex Rodriguez circus returned to town. The A-Rod drama was not expected until February in Tampa Florida when the New York Yankees assemble for spring training, but we should not be shocked that he admitted the truth, under oath to a DEA investigator about using PED’s.
It is typical Alex Rodriguez territory to be in this position. And it has spread to the New York airwaves as two popular talk show hosts got involved in who was credible when asking A-Rod ro tell the truth last November. Rodriguez on one show said he never took PED’s and we didn’t believe the fraud then.
That is why it came as no shock Wednesday when a Miami Herald report said that A-Rod told the truth. After all this has always been the Alex Rodriguez saga of not telling the truth. And if he did not have the appropriate millions to have proper representation he may have had to tell the truth.
Should we forgive Alex Rodriguez? Some will say yes because his year-long suspension from Major League Baseball was served. The Yankees await the A-Rod arrival and continued circus in February and the drama will continue. It does not have to continue if the Yankees decide to eat up a remaining three-years and $61 million that remains on a contract that should have never been granted.
That was then. The Yankees upper brass, those who were dragged into the A-Rod legal battle and the circus, will have a way with dealing with this latest report. They wish it would all go away, however their fraud of a player is around for the duration. All they can do is hope that Rodriguez is healthy and will offer some type of offense to a lineup that could not score runs this past season.
They hope their fraud will be able to handle a plan at third or first base, or play a regular role in the lineup as the designated hitter, and to that there is no certainty. The Yankees are not getting younger with a damaged A-Rod in their everyday lineup but they may have no other choice to put him on the field as much as possible.
Getting back to the Alex Rodriguez image of being damaged is another issue. The Yankees as an organization have to play two sides with the damage control and continue dealing with the circus. Opposing players, at least those who did not experiment with Ped’s, will go with the flow and not make A-Rod a public issue.
Then there are the fans, many who will continue to boo when A-Rod takes the field again. Rodriguez to them will be a hero if he becomes a legitimate hitter again without the use of a steroid support system. Rodriguez may never be the same hitter he was without that support system and also take into account he has had limited playing time the past two years.
So where do we go from here? The gut feeling is, and a general consensus: Enough is enough of this A-Rod circus. Yes he served the penalty and was off the field as his Yankees teammates failed to make the postseason a second straight year. The steroid era, according to what has been determined, is over in the game of baseball. But as long as Alex Rodriguez is around the discussion may never end.
Because Alex Rodriguez, who many consider to be a fraud, is around the game again. Each time he resurfaces the talk about steroids and Ped’s will not go away. Even if the master of deception admitted his guilt to the authorities, he will never be considered that legitimate and talented ballplayer that had a quest to be the first to hit 800 career home runs.
Alex Rodriguez never played the game on an even level playing field. The circus is back in town and now that we are aware of his admission there is more reason not to grant him a chance for respect.
Comment Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso www.newyorksportsexaminer.com
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
City Island News BX: Is your church closing?
City Island News BX: Is your church closing?: UnderSouled Local Church Closings Riverdale Report By Robert Press The Archdiocese of New York has announced that as of Augu...
City Island News BX: Is your church closing?
City Island News BX: Is your church closing?: UnderSouled Local Church Closings Riverdale Report By Robert Press The Archdiocese of New York has announced that as of Augu...
Is your church closing?
UnderSouled
Local Church Closings
By Robert Press
The Archdiocese of New York has announced that as of August 1, 2015, 115 of its churches will close and/or be merged into other local churches. This move is being done citywide and in lower and upper Westchester County.
As for the Bronx 20 church's are effected. 10 will close or be merged in to 10 other nearby parishes.
The following parishes will merge. The designated parish church is identified with an asterisk (*) in the column on the left. As of August 1, 2015, although remaining a church which may be used on special occasions, Masses and the sacraments will no longer be celebrated on a regular weekly basis at the church on the right.
Bronx County
1. *Saint John Visitation
3021 Kingsbridge Avenue 160 Van Cortlandt Park South
Bronx, New York 10463 Bronx, New York 10467
_____________________
2. *Saint Brendan Saint Ann
333 East 206 Street 3519 Bainbridge Avenue
Bronx, New York 10467 Bronx, New York 10467
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3. *Saint Anselm Saint Roch
685 Tinton Avenue 525 Wales Avenue
Bronx, New York 10455 Bronx, New York 10455
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4. *Saint Rita of Cascia Saint Pius V
448 College Avenue 420 East 145 Street
Bronx, New York 10451 Bronx, New York 10454
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5. *Holy Family Saint John Vianney
2158 Watson Avenue 715 Castle Hill Avenue
Bronx, New York 10472 Bronx, New York 10473
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6. *Holy Rosary Nativity of the Blessed Lady
1510 Adee Avenue 1531 East 233 Street
Bronx, New York 10469 Bronx, New York 10466
Bronx merging church's * denotes home church only.
Parish Church
1. *Saint Margaret of Cortona Saint Gabriel
6000 Riverdale Avenue 3250 Arlington Avenue
Bronx, New York 10471 Bronx, New York 10463
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2. *Saint Jerome Saint Luke
230 Alexander Avenue 623 138th Street
Bronx, New York 10454 Bronx, New York 10454
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3. *Holy Family Blessed Sacrament
2158 Watson Avenue 1170 Beach Avenue
Bronx, New York 10472 Bronx, New York 10472
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4. *Our Lady of the Assumption Saint Mary Star of the Sea
1634 Mahan Avenue 595 Minneford Avenue
Bronx, New York 10461 Bronx, New York 10464
On Sunday November 9th there will be a Veteran's Day Ceremony at 12 p.m. in the Veteran's Memorial Grove of Van Cortlandt Park. The National Anthem 'The Star Spangled Banner' will be sung in remembrance of those who fought and gave their lives so we could celebrate this Veteran's Day 2014. This Memorial Day ceremony is made possible by the Memorial Grove Restoration Group.
The latest chapter of the Croton Filtration Monitoring Committee took place last week. While some of the faces may have changed this year the answer is the same. The committee made up of Community Board 7, 8, and 12 board chairs and the local councilman and Bronx Borough President's representative keep asking why local Bronx residents can not have access to view the beautiful water in the Jerome Park Reservoir. There are two high iron metal gates that surround the reservoir with a wide interior path for DEP cars and trucks to use. The DEP says that it is due to the security of the water supply that the two high fences are needed to keep out possible saboteurs. Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz said it best when he told DEP Associate Commissioner Eric Landau that a bad guy can just throw what the DEP wants to keep out over the two fences easily. The DEP's answer is that the inner fence will be only 4 feet high so that the community can see the water better, but the outer higher fence must remain.
While Associate Commissioner Landau was attentive to the community he admitted that he has been with DEP for only 4 months, coming from a job in Prospect Park Brooklyn. By the way the community was sure that Associate Commissioner Landau understood that any water in the Jerome Park Reservoir is unfiltered raw water that will go to the water filtration plant. As for overruns and delays, this water filtration plant was suppose to be on line by the end of 2013. That was 3 DEP commissioners ago, and the delays continue.
This past Monday night’s Community Board 8 Land Use meeting had an update on the proposed Montefiore Medical building that was scaled down from 11 stories to 6 stories, with less medical space and a higher parking ratio. No matter what a group of local residents still say the proposal is to large for the site, and want no medical center at all. Since the meeting went on after our deadline, I will have the recap for you in next weeks column. The next full Community Board 8 meeting will be held at the Riverdale Temple located at Independence Avenue and West 246th Street, and begins at 7:30 PM. If you would like to address the board members in the gallery session on a specific topic, you can call the boards office at 718-884-3959 to place your name on the speakers list.
Lastly the 2nd Annual North Riverdale Merchants Association Street Festival on Riverdale Avenue between West 256th and West 259th Streets went off this past Sunday. I stopped by during the setup, and saw that the weather was exactly as I had said in last weeks column, sunny and 50 degrees. The only thing I forgot to mention was that there might be a little wind that day. Congrats to all who participated in the event, and I can't wait for next years North Riverdale Street Festival.
If you have any comments about this column, have an event that you would like to have covered or listed in this column or on my blog, e-mail us at 100percentbronxnews@gmail.com, , or call 718-644-4199 Mr. Robert Press.
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