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 146^th 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.

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.    

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.