Memorial Services for Ozzie Brown to be Held Today

Ozzie Brown, a colorful, loquacious and dedicated member of the Bronx's Community Board 7 who was also active in the civil rights movement and an advocate for diabetes awareness, died last week after a battle with cancer. He was 67 years old.

Services are being held today for Brown at John J. Fox funeral home at 203 E. 201st St. (at the corner of E. 201st Street and Grand Concourse) from 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.

Former Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion, who said Brown was "one of his best friends," will speak at the night service.

In an interview this morning, Carrion called Brown a "true Renaissance Man."

“Ozzie was a worldly person,” Carrion said. “He brought a mix of experiences that many people would be surprised to hear about. He was a musician, a promoter of music, a philosopher, a lover of the arts.”

We'll have more on Brown's life and legacy tomorrow and in the next edition of the Norwood News, which hits streets tomorrow.

Bronx News Roundup, Dec. 3

Happy cool, crisp Friday morning. Here's some Bronx news stories to get you started today.

We'll start with an update on an old friend. Former Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion, who left his job two years to work as the Obama Administration urban policy director and is now the NY/NY regional director of Housing and Urban Development, spoke to a group of Columbia graduate school students yesterday. He hinted at a possible return to elected office, saying he still had $2 million in campaign funds after dropping his bid to become the next comptroller two years ago.

Carrion also talked -- vaguely, but strongly -- about some major urban development projects coming soon from his federal agency, saying: "We can not allow significant portions of the American populations to lag, to not be educated, to no have good physical wellness, mental wellness."

Now, some news that will affect Bronx courts:

A new report says people arrested for low-level misdemeanor crimes, like smoking marijuana, jumping subway turnstiles or shoplifting, are spending days, sometimes weeks, in jail because they can't post bail, which advocates say is being set too high and leading defendants to plead guilty to crimes they might otherwise fight. The cost to keep these individuals jailed in 2008 alone: $42 million.

This one's a little wonky. The city wants to alter how it distributes 44,000 so-called "conflict cases" to publicly-appointed defense attorneys. Previously, the cases were contracted out to private attorneys at a cost of $47.8 million, but now the city is bidding those cases out to defense groups like Legal Aid Society and the Bronx Defenders. But five county bar associations sued the city and now those cases are up in the air until a judge rules on the case in a couple of weeks. In the latest round of contracts for "primary cases," Bronx Defenders caseload will rise to 28,000 from 12,500.

Homeowners on a dead-end Riverdale street say they're unfairly being forced to install sidewalks in front of their homes.

A Westchester attorney who pleaded guilty last week to bribing a Yonkers councilwoman is now cooperating with federal prosecutors in two separate investigation, including the awarding of a contract by the city's Board of Elections. The BOE probe may involve the attorney's connection to Bronx Republican leaders.

And finally, some good news:

A baby aardvark will make his Bronx Zoo debut today thanks to the proactive care of zookeepers.

One unemployed Bronx woman has a lead on a job after 18 months of fruitless searching.

Ed. note: Start a discussion about any of these stories, or anything else you want to talk about in our reader's forum. Highlight problems in your neighborhood with our SeeClickFix feature. And find out what's happening in our constantly-updated events calendar. 

Bronx News Roundup, Dec. 2

Happy Hanukkah, everyone! The festival of lights started last night at sundown. Here's a yummy potato latke recipe from the Riverdale Press to get you in the spirit of things.

Two of the men originally named as attackers in October's antigay beatings in Morris Heights are now being identified as victims of the assault, according to WNYC.  Bryan Almonte and Brian Cepeda were originally charged by police as perpetrators in the attacks, but were later released. Five other men were arraigned yesterday on hate crime charges in the State Supreme Court.

Police are still on the hunt for the man responsible for a string of muggings in Co-op City, and one incident in Manhattan. The assailant arms himself with an ice pick, and has robbed four women in the elevators of their apartment buildings. He was caught on tape by a surveillance camera; video at the link.

Melissa Petro, the former teacher at PS 70 who was removed from her classroom after she wrote about her experiences as a sex-worker, was officially charged yesterday with conduct "unbecoming of a teacher," by the DOE.

Parishioners at St. Augustine's Church in Morrisania are worried that the closure of their parochial school could be detrimental to the parish itself, as it relies heavily on revenue from the school to operate. Six catholic schools in the Bronx face closure after funding cuts were announced a few weeks ago.

Singer and actress Jennifer Lopez says she's still a Boogie Downer at heart, according to Us Weekly. "I never miss the Bronx because it's always with me," Lopez told the celebrity magazine.

Former Borough President Adolfo Carrion, who left the Bronx for a short stint in the White House, is giving a speech today at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs.

Bronx Councilman G. Oliver Koppell introduced a bill in City Council to make all yellow taxicabs wheelchair accessible. Only 231 of over 13,000 city cabs can currently accommodate riders in wheelchairs.

Another Bronx pol, Councilman James Vacca, is behind a bill that will require the Department of Transportation to set guidelines for the approval and installation of bikes lanes, speed bumps and other "traffic calming devices."

A 26-year-old man was struck by a car and killed while crossing Riverdale Avenue on Monday night.

A new program introduced at Hostos and Bronx Community College is helping cash-strapped students stay in school by qualifying them for financial assistance, child care, health insurance and other benefits.

Bronx News Roundup, May 4

Adolfo Carrion, the former Bronx BP who moved to Washington last year to take a job as Obama's urban czar, is returning to New York to work as a regional director for the Department of Housing and Urban Development.  The move, which is considered a step down, has some observers scratching their heads.

Last year, jurors on felony cases in the Bronx found defendants guilty 43 percent of the time. In the rest of the city, this figure is above 70 percent.  There are a number of theories as to why this might be. 

Police have released photos of a suspect wanted in connection with the shooting of a man in Mott Haven.

A Bronx woman won the Long Island Marathon on Sunday. Lilia Britez, a 28-year-old who grew up in Paraguay, has only been running seriously for two years.

NY1 recently toured the water filtration plant that's being built in Van Cortlandt Park.  Alex Kratz of the Norwood News went on a similar tour last month. 

A Q & A with State Senator Eric Schneiderman, who's hoping to become New York's next attorney general.

Councilman Jimmy Vacca sat down with Streetsblog recently for a conversation about public transport and safer streets. (Vacca is the new chair of the council's transportation committee.)

Westchester Square merchants says traffic agents are taking up precious parking spots in the neighborhood.

A Bronx firehouse celebrated its 100th anniversary on Monday. 

Convicted thief Richard Izquierdo Arroyo, the grandson and chief-of-staff of Assemblywoman Carmen Arroyo, has been mocking an adversary on Facebook for being disabled.  Arroyo (the grandson, not the assemblywomen) recently pled guilty to stealing $200,000 from a non-profit.  His sentencing is scheduled for June. 

Bronx News Roundup, April 21

Yesterday, an new outreach center dedicated to helping victims of domestic violence opened at 198 E. 161st St. There are already Family Justice Centers in Brooklyn and Queens. 

Lieutenant Governor Adolfo Carrion?  Andrew Cuomo should look elsewhere says the Village Voice's Wayne Barrett.

An alleged mobster has been charged with the 1992 murder of a man on Westchester Avenue. 

DaMarcus Beasley, a US soccer star who plays in Scotland, recently compared Glasgow to the Bronx (and not in a good way), according to the Murdoch-owned Sun, Britain's best selling newspaper.  The paper falsely claims that the Bronx has had 140 murders this year.  The real number is closer to 30.  Here's a break down, precinct-by-precinct.

A former police officer has pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Juan Acosta, 34, was working out of the 43rd Precinct in the southeast Bronx when he was caught in a sting last December. 

Carmen Baez, the daughter of former Council member Maria Baez, has been fired from her job at the Bronx marriage license bureau, reports the Daily News' Bob Kappstatter in his weekly column.

At this time of year, Woodlawn Cemetery offers outdoor concerts, walking tours, and more. 

The Norwood Food Co-op is still accepting members for its 2010 summer share. 

A baseball-mad Throgs Neck couple has just celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.  

The MTA says it has no plans to put more ticket-checkers on Bx12 Select Service buses, despite reports of rampant fare-beating.

The young and very talented Highbridge Voices Chamber Choir recently visited the White House as part of a music tour of Washington DC.

From Sunday's Times: A non-descript block near the Yankee Stadium carries the name of Yankees legend Thurman Munson, but people around there don't seem to know who he was.

Bronx News Roundup, April 14

Lots of political news today.

Adolfo Carrión, Jr., the former Bronx borough president and director of the White House Office of Urban Affairs, will give the keynote presentation for the Regional Planning Association's 2010 Regional Assembly on Friday, April 16 at 12:30 p.m. His address will be streamed live at http://www.citylimits.org/.

Desiree Pilgrim-Hunter, who is expected to soon officially announce her candidacy for state Senate in the 33rd District, will have some company in her primary challenge of Pedro Espada. Bob Kappstatter had the news first yesterday in his must-read Bronx Boro News political column: Kingsbridge Heights attorney and Community Board 8 member Daniel Padernacht has thrown his hat in the ring, too. (Lots of other juicy tidbits in that column, like news of a primary challenge to Assemblyman Peter Rivera).

On her new blog, Liz Benjamin has some updates on Pilgrim-Hunter's campaign, including the fact that she's hired Lisa Hernandez-Gioia (wife of former Councilman Eric Gioia) to help her raise money.

In a Daily News editorial, State Senator Ruben Diaz, Sr. is praised for his "courage" in sponsoring a bill that would cancel a clause in teachers' contracts which stipulates that layoffs are based on seniority. 

The healthcare union 1199/SEIU is backing State Senator Eric Schneiderman in the state attorney general's race. Schneiderman also has the backing of several prominent Bronx pols. 

Despite running for borough president in 2001, State Senator Pedro Espada would like to see the office eliminated. In a statement, he said, in part:

I am recommending that the offices of borough president and city public advocate be abolished in this round of charter revision, not as a political slap at anyone in these positions, but because we have a sensible and realistic opportunity to reduce city government and empower the people.

Away from politics, an alewife herring has been caught in the Bronx River for the second year in a row, a sign that the once heavily polluted waterway is becoming healthy again.  We'll have more on this in the next Tremont Tribune, which comes out Friday.

A Riverdale man has pled guilty to accidently shooting and injuring a woman with an arrow last spring.  At the time, the case baffled detectives and local residents. 

A look back at the history of the University Neighborhood Housing Program (UNHP), which was founded in 1983 to preserve safe, affordable housing for working class Bronxites.   Today, in this latest housing crisis, the group's important work continues. 

On Easter Sunday, four people were shot in three separate incidents in midtown Manhattan. Hours later, one of the guns fired that night was used to shoot two men in the Bronx, police have discovered.

More photos of the ongoing demolition work at the old Yankee Stadium.

A new Fairway supermarket is opening today in Pelham Manor, a Westchester village just north of the Bronx.

Bronx News Roundup, March 19

Here's the Times' coverage of Megan Charlop's life and death. The much-loved director of community health for Montefiore Medical Center's School Health Program was killed on Wednesday while riding her bike. Her funeral was this morning.

More on the opening of Kips Bay Boys & Girl Club's new community center on University Avenue. Adolfo Carrion, the former Bronx borough president who now works in DC, was in attendance and hinted at a possible return to New York in the coming years to pursue citywide office.

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz believes Gov. Paterson's soda tax doesn't go far enough. Instead, he would like to see a tax on all products that contain sugar, to raise revenue and combat obesity.

A Bronx man is suing the city after cops accused him of attempting to solicit sex from a prostitute. While the charges were later dropped, he spent 24 hours in custody and was forced to miss his father's funeral.

The Bronx DA is expanding its "bait car" program, in an effort to catch more car thieves.

Last Saturday in Morris Heights, a man threatened a taxi driver with a handgun and attempted rob him. In the struggle that followed, the robber bit the driver on the neck, arm, and back before fleeing.

A New Community Center for the West Bronx

For years, the building's doors were bricked up and covered in graffiti (Photos by Alma Watkins)

This morning, community leaders and local residents attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club's new community center.

The Frederic R. & Margaret Coudert Clubhouse is located in the long-vacant Hebrew Institute Yeshiva building at 1835 University Ave., just north of West Tremont Avenue.

Those present included Adolfo Carrion, the former Bronx borough president who now works for the Obama administration in Washington, DC. It was Carrion who, as district manager of Community Board 5 in the early 1990s, first started advocating for a community center in the building.

As a city councilman in the late '90s, he got Kips Bay involved and, over the years, provided millions of dollars in funding.

Still, it's been a long road - nothing came easy, and the years dragged out.

According to Alma, the photograher who took these photos, Carrion was tearing up a little during his speech. He said he couldn't put into words how much it meant to him to see the renovation complete.

The four-story center boasts a gymnasium, a game room, and a computer room, among other things, and will serve hundreds of local children every day after school.

“We just felt that it was an underserved part of the community,” Daniel Quintero, Kips Bay's executive director, previously told the Mount Hope Monitor. “We all have our talent within and what I think the Boys  Girls Club does is that we tap into it and nourish it and bring it out.”

We'll have more about the new clubhouse in the next issue of the Monitor.

Adolfo Carrion, the former Bronx BP, was one of the driving forces behind the project

Bronx News Roundup, March 1

Time to fill you in on some Bronx news:

More details are emerging about the 911 call made by the former girlfriend (a Bronxite) of  David Johnson, the now-suspended aide to Gov. Paterson.

A Bronx mother was killed Saturday night by her friend who was too high on drugs to notice what she was doing. Magdalena Cordero was said to be staying with friend Tamisha Spellman at an apartment on Kingsbridge Terrace for some time, but was previously removed by her family due to Spellman's violent behavior.

On a brighter note, NYC overdose deaths have declined, bringing it to the lowest level seen since 1999. Though marijuana is the most used drug, most overdoses occur from cocaine, heroine and pain killers.

The Kingsbridge Heights "Noodle War."

Former Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion will be speaking at the upcoming Congressional Cities Conference.

Citing successes in North Carolina, Hofstra education professor Alan Singer argues that New York City should protect its schools, like University Heights High School, that are housed on and have permanent connections to college campuses. (U-Heights H.S. is being relocated from Bronx Community College.)

Robert Moses' nightmare brain child, The Cross Bronx Expressway, is considered the worst bottleneck in the country.

Back with the Yankees, Nick Johnson is trying to get used to the fact that he won't be behind 1st base anymore but is now the Yankees designated hitter (DH).

Bronx News Roundup, Jan. 12

The Bx34 and the Bx10, bus routes the MTA has threatened to discontinue, could be spared after all. The Bx34 runs between Woodlawn and Fordham Road; the Bx10 connects Norwood with Riverdale.

Howard Safir, the former police commissioner who reversed his SUV into a pregnant Bronx woman last week and drove off, could still face charges. The Manhattan DA is probing the incident.

The man firefighters found dead yesterday inside his fire-ravaged Marble Hill apartment, didn't die of burns or smoke inhalation. He was stabbed to death.

Andrew Cuomo's expected run for governor could kick-start a game of musical political chairs here in the Bronx.

Ray Salaberrios, head of the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corp., is stepping down. According to the Daily News' Bob Kappstatter, the resignation was expected because Salaberrios was hired by former BP Adolfo Carrion and now Ruben Diaz Jr. is in charge. Still, 2009 was a difficult year for Salaberrios and the BOEDC, after public monies tied to the Gateway Center Mall allegedly went missing.

Talking of Carrion, who now heads up the White House Office of Urban Affairs, here's an interview he gave the National Journal about his recent "listening tour" and the task ahead.  As Kappstatter notes in his column, Carrion held a gathering in the Bronx last Friday, which has politicos gossiping about his post-Washington plans. 

The manager of the Hunts Point Recreation Center has been fined $2,500 for using his Parks Department computer to sell personal items on Ebay.

Bronx Democratic Chairman Carl Heastie thinks Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand has done an outstanding job, according to his spokesman.

Assistant Chief Tom Purtell, the Bronx's top cop, talks about falling crime and the challenges ahead.

David Raskin, an assistant United States attorney who was born in Riverdale and went to Fieldston, is expected to be the lead prosecutor in the trial of Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and his alleged 9/11 cohorts.

A Reporter's Smorgasbord ... BronxTalk Celebrates 15 Years

Gary Axelbank and producer Jane Folloro celebrated 15 years of BronxTalk last night.
(Photo courtesy BronxTalk)

The 15th anniversary celebration of BronxTalk, Gary Axelbank's talk show on BRONXNET, last night was reporter heaven -- one-stop shopping for political interviews. Everyone was there.

Here are just a few items gleaned from the evening ...

Asked about the prospects for health reform, Congressman Eliot Engel said a law would pass Congress. "If we don't pass it, we're going to lose our majority," he told me. And what about the public option? There would be an "emaciated public option," he predicted.

I snagged the Bronx borough president, Ruben Diaz, Jr., for a moment and he said he thinks he'll have more votes on the City Planning Commission to back him on his "no" vote on the armory project than just that of his own representative, Kenneth Knuckles. "I don't think I'm going to be the only 'no' vote," he said. Diaz recommended a "no" vote to City Planning because the Related Companies has yet to sit down to hammer out a community benefits agreement. The Commission votes on Oct. 19 and then the City Council, which really has the most say in the matter, has 20 days to decide on the project.

Councilman Jimmy Vacca, who we don't get to see very often because he hails from way over in the east Bronx (I know, we need to get over there more), told us that, despite his well-chronicled bird-dogging of the Buildings Department, he was genuinely shocked by recent revelations of alleged mob infiltration of the agency. He also told us that the Bronx News Network is part of his daily media diet. Nice.

Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. and Councilman Jimmy Vacca
shared in the festivities in the BronxTalk studio at Lehman College. (Photo by Jordan Moss)

Fernando Cabrera was in attendance, occupying that post-primary-win, pre-general-election netherworld that Bronx Democrats, while certain of ultimate victory, are consigned to for the next five weeks nonetheless.

Cabrera asked Borough Historian Lloyd Ultan if he could recommend a good book on borough history and Ultan laughed and said that his new book, "The Northern Borough: A History of the Bronx" is just the ticket. I'd also recommend South Bronx Rising, by Jill Jonnes, an updated version of her wonderful book, "We're Still Here," chronicling the borough's rise, fall and rise.

In between interviews with those who have appeared on the show, BronxTalk aired choice clips from the last 15 years. By far the best bite was from Pedro Espada in a debate with Adolfo Carrion when they were both running for Bronx borough president ih 2000. Carrion had just been released from prison for protesting the Navy's ongoing practice bombing of the Puerto Rican Island of Vieques. "Do the job that you were elected to do," Espada chastised Carrion. "And advocate if you must and protest if you must. But do it within the confines of the law."

Congratulations to Gary Axelbank and his producer, Jane Folloro, are in order of course and I'll post a Norwood News editorial and photos paying tribute in a couple of days.

Bronx News Roundup, Oct. 6

State Senator Jeff Klein is considering running for attorney general, should current Attorney General Andrew Cuomo run for governor.

A sickly Westchester boy - whose father lives in Norwood - traveled to the Dominican Republic recently for stem-cell treatment. The procedure is illegal here in the US.

Unemployment in the Bronx is actually down on 2007 levels.

Last weekend, Rocking the Boat, a Bronx-based organization that uses boat-building to empower youth, organized a boat-trip around Manhattan, to raise money for charity.

Animal Feeds, a 4,000-square-foot store in Morrisana that sells what its name implies, is doing brisk business, despite the recession.

The first doses of the H1N1/swine flu vaccine have arrived in the city. Health care workers at Montefiore Medical Center will be among the first to be vaccinated. In their monthly column in the Mount Hope Monitor, Morris Heights Health Center has more on what you need to know this year to stay flu-free.

NY1 profiles State Senator Pedro Espada for Hispanic Heritage Week.

Allison Oldak, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr.'s Republican opponent in the Nov. 3 election, has yet to raise any money for her campaign. In April, in a special election, Diaz faced another cash-strapped challenger in Anthony J. Ribustello.

By my count, three Bronxites - Diaz, Adolfo Carrion (Diaz's predecessor who now works for the White House), and Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor - have been included in Hispanic Business Magazine's annual list of the 100 most influential Hispanic-Americans. There's no room, however, for Espada, who's arguably more influential than both Diaz and Carrion.

Bronx News Roundup July 13

Yesterday, July 12, police arrested Bronx resident Mark St. Pierre after a violent driving spree leaving one dead, 12 injured and eight cars damaged. Police say that St. Pierre started driving from a parking lot on East Gun Hill Road, hit two cars before crashing into and immediately killing Miguel Colon at the intersection on East Gun Hill Road and Knapp Street, and continued on to damage six more cars. St. Pierre faces charges of manslaughter, homicide and vehicular assault.

Former Bronx BP Adolfo Carrion, Jr. recently publicized his plans as the White House Director of the Office of Urban Affairs to forge a new national urban policy. Today, the White House is hosting a day-long urban policy discussion with urban government officials and policy experts to determine the best course for future policies. President Obama is expected to announce a plan to send Carrion and other representatives on a tour of U.S. cities to research and discuss urban issues. Issues to be discussed at the White House include a Department of Education model and housing, social and economic benefits in poor urban neighborhoods.

Judge Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation hearings are being held today in Washington D.C. Issues that will be discussed at the hearings will most likely include her judgment on the white firefighter discrimination case and her comments about being a Latina woman. The New York Times has a live blog for a play by play of the hearings.

The Throgs Neck Bridge will remain closed to trucks traveling North this Monday due to the fire on the bridge on Friday morning. As of now, the ramp to the Throgs Neck off of the Cross Island Parkway will be closed until further notice while investigators search to determine the cause of the fire. Cars will still be able to travel from Queens to the Bronx on the two open lanes, but expect traffic.

Metropolitan Jewish Health System opened a new site at Hutchinson Metro Center. The health system will provide services for all of the Bronx community.

The death of Kenneth Jackson in a fire in Bronxdale housing on March 24, 2008 is still being investigated. Now his sister, Janet Jackson, has sued the Housing Authority claiming that the smoke detector in her brother's apartment was not installed properly.

Carrion's Inauspicious Start

Adolfo Carrion, the former Bronx BP, hasn't exactly set the world on fire since moving to DC to head up the White House Office of Urban Affairs. As Politico reports, he's yet to give a major speech about his role or the administration's vision for urban policy, raising important questions about the power his office is likely to wield.

About that White House Office of Urban Policy ...

Here's an article examining the the status of the new White House Office on Urban Policy, run by our very own former Borough President Adolfo Carrion.
(Thanks to David Gonzalez for the tip.)

Bronx News Roundup, March 31

Nick Berger, an associate of former state senator Efrain Gonzalez, has pled guilty to helping Gonzalez squirrel away taxpayer money for personal use. He faces a year in jail. Gonzalez himself faces more serious charges; his much-delayed trial will start on May. 4. Here's some background reading.

Bronxites are excited about the Yankees new ballpark. Here's what they'll be paying if they decide to attend a game.

Still on the Yankees, the chairman of the much-lampooned New Yankee Stadium Community Benefits Fund, is being sued over alleged conflicts of interest.

Daily News columnist Patrice O'Shaughnnessy questions the integrity of Adolfo Carrion and Eliot Engel.

Students at the Bronx Engineering and Technology Academy, a high school in Marble Hill, are proud of their school's A grade.

Fordham University has launched an ambitious funding-raising campaign. According to the school's Web site, the school is seeking "$500 million to support new facilities, more student scholarships, more endowed faculty chairs and more funding for academic endeavors throughout Fordham’s colleges and schools."

Kemba Walker, a freshman guard from the Bronx with plenty of moxie, is one of the main reasons UConn find themselves in the Final Four. Another Bronx player, Corey Fisher, is also still in the tournament, following Villanova's defeat of Pittsburg. Anyone know where these boys grew up?

Bronx News Roundup, March 24

The Daily News has another editorial blasting Adolfo Carrion, the former Bronx borough president who now works for President Obama.

Only two City Council members (from 51) had a perfect attendance record at meetings and hearings over the past year. Yet again, Maria Baez (District 14) has the worst record, showing up less than 50 percent of the time. She recently told the Norwood News that illness and a busy schedule were to blame. Helen Diane Foster (District 16) is also in the bottom five. The Gotham Gazette has more on "who's engaged and who's not."

One of the parks built to replace parkland gobbled up by the new Yankee Stadium will finally open next month - or at least part of it will.

According to Bob Kappstatter, State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. and his son, Assemblyman Ruben Diaz Jr. (who's running for borough president), are still being investigated - this time by Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's office. Last week, Kappstatter reported that the feds had dropped a two-year investigation into the Diazes and a non-profit they founded.

A Bronx man, told by doctors he'd never walk again following a terrible car crash in December, is back on his feet, and says he has God to thank.

This is a little behind the times, but interesting all the same. In November's presidential election, Obama pulled in 95 percent of the vote in Congressman Jose Serrano's 16th Congressional District - a higher percentage than any other district in the country.

A Bronx narcotics detective has been arrested and charged with perjury.

Bronx News Roundup, March 13

Lots of politicians today.

Former Bronx Borough President and current White House urban policy czar Adolfo Carrion responded to this week's announcement by the Bronx DA's office that they are investigating possible corruption in his dealings with an architect. Carrion hasn't paid the architect for work on the then-BP's house in 2006 and 2007; the work was done while the architect had business pending with the city.
The Daily News has been leading the charge on this story; in case you missed their editorial yesterday, here it is.

Liz Benjamin has a report on State Senator Espada's ongoing problems with the state Board of Elections. On top of issues from his most recent State Senate race, Espada has over $61,000 worth of fines still due from his 2001 bid for BP. Benjamin also has an update from Espada on his still-nonexistent district office.

State Senator Eric Schneiderman has announced he won't run for DA to replace the retiring Robert Morgenthau.

Bronx Congressman Eliot Engel has been claiming his Maryland home outside DC as his primary residence on tax forms for more than ten years; Maryland is revoking the congressman's tax break.

In non-politician news, Forbes has a photo-essay on the robot team at Morris High School in the South Bronx.

And the Bronx Zoo has a brand new baby tree kangaroo. Very cute.

Bronx News Roundup, March 12

The Bronx DA is looking into Adolfo Carrion's relationship with an architect he used in 2006 to do work on his City Island home. The investigation comes on the back of this Daily News story. In an editorial today, the DN calls for Carrion to be subpoened.

A 18-year-old was stabbed to death in Morrisania on Tuesday night.

A cop who shot dead an unarmed drunk driver in Longwood in 2007 has had the most serious charges against him dropped. Here's some background on the incident. And here's an opinion piece that appeared in the Highbridge Horizon condemning the killing.

Bronx anarchists will hold an event in Brook Park on April 4. According to the event's Web site:

The Bronx Anarchist Fair is a public event for people in our neighborhoods to learn and share with each other about how to make grassroots change. We come together to celebrate the Bronx’s history of resistance and resilience, and share practical tools for anti-authoritarian organizing and action.

Freddy Ferrer, the former mayoral candidate and Bronx borough president who's stayed away from politics these past four years, has endorsed David I. Weprin for comptroller.

A Bronx teenanger's enrollment in an exclusve Upper East Side private school has helped her rediscover her Latin roots.

Councilman Oliver Koppell's potential primary opponents are unimpressed with the 68-year-old's decision to run for a third term.

Bronx State Senators Ruben Diaz Sr., Pedro Espada, and Ruth Hassell-Thompson are among those blocking plans to toll the East River River and Harlem River bridges. Tolls are seen by many as perhaps the only way to avoid MTA fare hikes and service cuts. This morning, dozens of Bronx residents, along with organizers from Nos Quedamos and Sustainable South Bronx, rallied outside Diaz's office to protest his opposition, according to a press release we received from COMMUNTE: Communities United for Transportation Equity.

Bronx News Roundup, March 10

In the South Bronx, banks are few and far between, with a measly 27 branches for an estimated 500,000 residents. The Norwood News reported on this borough-wide shortage last November. The situation is likely to get worse this year, with several JPMorgan Chase and Washington Mutual branches merging.

An assistant Bronx district attorney has written a book titled "My Body Belongs to Me," making it easier for parents to educate their children about child abuse.

In 2006, Adolfo Carrion, President Obama's new urban czar, renovated his City Island home with the help of an architect who weeks later was awarded - by Carrion - a lucrative contract to design a new facility for Boricua Village. The article, which appears in the Daily News, follows on from a previous DN story showing Carrion's habit of rewarding developers who gave him campaign contributions. Last month, the Norwood News looked back at Carrion's seven years as borough president.

Two rappers say hip-hop was born in Queens, not the Bronx.

Earl Brown, the acting Bronx Borough president who happens to live in Brooklyn, talks about East River tolls, the Atlantic Yards project, and which borough he prefers (hint: he gives a very diplomatic answer).

Thirteen high school students from the Bronx are helping to build a school in a village in Mali.

The principal of the Bronx HS of Performance and Stagecraft has been charged with driving drunk and fleeing the scene of an accident.

Ruben Diaz Jr. is a shoo-in for borough president, says Bob Kappstatter.