Deadly Shooting of Young Mother Spurs Community Concern

Editor's Note: This story was first published in the June edition of the Tremont Tribune, out now.

Family and friends erected a shrine for Claudia Millan on the street corner where she died. (Photo by Jeanmarie Evelly)

Summer started off on a tragic foot this year, as an exceptionally warm Memorial Day weekend saw the horrific and fatal shooting of a young mother in the Bathgate neighborhood.

Claudia Millan, 29, was shot in the head on the corner of Park Avenue and East 178th Street on Sunday, May 29. According to the New York Times, Millan was walking with her 2-year-old son in tow at the time of the incident, which occurred around 10:30 p.m. as she made her way towards her home on E. Tremont Avenue.

BxNN Presents: The 33rd Senate District Candidates On the Issues (Part 4)

Two weeks ago, the Bronx News Network asked candidates in 33rd District senate race to answer, in writing, a number of questions which we hope will shed light on where they stand politically, their position on key issues in the community, and what they would do if elected.

In the coming days we're going to post their unedited answers on this blog, a few at a time. Part 1 was published Tuesday. We published Part 2 Wednesday and Part 3 Thursday. Today, we are focusing on housing and crime issues. On Monday, we will center the debate on hot button social issues and on what legislative issues the candidates would prioritize if elected.

There are four candidates in the race - Pedro Espada, Jr. (the incumbent), Daniel Padernacht, Gustavo Rivera, and Fernando Tirado - which is turning into one of the most watched in the city. Padernacht, Rivera, and Tirado got back to us with answers, but Espada didn't. In an e-mail, a staffer of his wrote: "Thank you for the survey, however we will not be participating at this time. The Senator's positions will be made available via other media, including his website and Facebook, at a later date."

Part 4

QUESTION: What’s your position on vacancy decontrol? Any other housing legislation you would like to see moved in Albany?

Bronx News Roundup, June 24

Angel Franco's photography of the 46th precinct is featured today in the New York Times' Lens blog. Franco documented the west-central Bronx from 1979 through 1984, when the area was known as "The Alamo."

The police are asking for the public's help finding a man who's wanted in regard to an incident of forcible touching on a 13-year-old girl on June 17 in the Bronx. The Village Voice has the details.

The Times reported that Dennis Derryck, a 70-year-old mathematician and professor at the New School for Management and Urban Policy, has developed a commercial community-supported agriculture plan (C.S.A.) for the South Bronx. The plan allows residents to pay farmers for weekly deliveries of produce from an upstate farm and eventually own shares in the farm.

The management of the Bronx's Co-Op City met with 500 porters, janitors, handymen, and other building workers yesterday to draw up a tentative, four-year contract. The contract will provide salary adjustments, secure health care for the workers and their families, and, best of all, keep them on the job.

According to the NYPD, an armed suspect died in the Bronx this morning after a shootout with officers. Police say they were searching the Hunts Point home with a warrant at about 9:15 a.m. when the suspect and at least two officers opened fire.

The MTA has cut shuttle service from the 6 train to the floating pool in Barretto Point Park. NBC New York has the story.

A recent poll from Quinnipiac of 1,650 New Jersey residents lists the Yankees as New Jersey's favorite baseball team.

Bronx News Roundup, Nov. 16

Crain's New York Business comes down hard on Bronx politicians for fighting for a living-wage agreement at the Kingsbridge Armory. The publication says the Bronx needs more retail development and should not be insisting on a living-wage agreement.

The Yankee's earned over $200,000 for New York City by selling seats in the luxury suite for the city.

A Bronx cancer survivor, Millie Gonzalez, was treated to a day of free trapeze lessons courtesy of Gilda's Club cancer support group.

A man was found stabbed to death yesterday on the corner of Allerton Avenue and White Plains Road.

In honor of the Bronx Zoo's 110th anniversary, the Daily News published 110 interesting facts about the historic zoo.

Police are searching for three men suspected of violently robbing multiple people in Unionport.

A 28 year-old Bronx woman, Yvette Diaz, was killed on Sunday during a hit-and-run accident on 165th Street and Grand Concourse.

The New York Times profiled a family living happily, comfortably, and cheaply in the Highbridge section of the Bronx.

Speaking of real estate in the Bronx, Castle Hill has many affordable homes available in this community-driven neighborhood.

Bronx News Roundup, September 8

Bob Kappstatter of the Daily News was unimpressed with the performances of 14th District City Council candidates Fernando Cabrera and Yudelka Tapia during last week's televised debate, which was sponsored by BronxTalk and the Bronx News Network.

Tomorrow, 18 new schools across the Bronx will open their doors to a new class of students. Four of these new schools are charter schools, five are elementary schools, seven are middle schools and two are high schools. According to the DOE, these schools will give families more schooling options, encourage smaller class sizes, and improve academic performance. Also, in an effort to help parents with school children, the Bronx BP and Advocates for Children will host a series of education workshops this fall.

As the District 12 City Council Democratic primary election approaches, incumbent Larry Seabrook remains confident about his chances of winning the City Council seat despite multiple accusations of financial violations over his years as a public servant. View our post about Seabrook's controversial past here. Seabrook's two opponents in the primary are Andy King and Jerome Rice.

The New York Times claims that the new Gateway Mall "may be the maraschino cherry topping a revival of Mott Haven and other neighborhoods of the South Bronx." High quality, low price merchandise at stores such as BJ's and Target are already attracting customers and improving the surrounding neighborhoods.

A runaway 17 year-old teenage girl, Jamia Hazel, was found stabbed to death in an alleyway in Mount Hope on Saturday. Police have arrested and charged her ex-boyfriend, Darrell Spencer, with the murder.

A water scooter accident on the Hutchinson River in the Bronx left a Bronx man dead and three teenage girls with minor injuries.

Bronx News Roundup, September 2

Yesterday, an unnamed owner of the recent Mega Millions winning lottery ticket claimed their prize of $166.5 million. The winning ticket was purchased at Fordham Grocery and Convenience Store on West Fordham Road.

As the new Gateway Mall in the South Bronx begins to open big-box stores such as Target and Home Depot this summer and fall, local residents and politicians have expressed different views on the success of the development. While some store managers in the mall are happy about their new profits, other Bronx residents, such as Bronx BP Ruben Diaz, Jr. believe that the high price of parking will drive away customers.

A new, innovative theater performance presented by the Foundry Theater Company is set on an unpredictable stage--a tour bus traveling through the South Bronx. The performance, "The Provenance of Beauty," allows the audience to view past and present South Bronx landmarks while listening to actors tell their stories of the area via headphones. Of course, the performance requires a considerable amount of improvisation due to traffic and weather conditions, but this makes each showing of "Provenance" unique. Performances are scheduled to take place on the weekends through October 25. Click here for more information and tickets.

In the past week, there has been a series of three assaults against men in Tremont. In each instance, the attackers voiced anti-Mexican slurs. On Sunday, the victim of one of the assaults, a 53-year-old man, was stabbed.

After viewing a hit-and-run incident in Pelham Bay Park, a tow-truck operator chased the driver in the accident eight miles throughout the Bronx before he succeeded in holding the driver for the police.

Bronx News Roundup, August 12

Yesterday, the 14-year old accomplice of Cheyenne Cherry, a 17-year old who trashed the Bronx apartment and killed the cat of a former friend, pleaded guilty to charges of burglary and animal cruelty. The accomplice, identified as Whitney B., received a sentence of 18 months in juvenile jail.

In news that concerns all of New York City, yesterday Governor Paterson renewed mayoral control of the city's public school system until 2015.

More on that plumb Senate job Pedro Espada's on has landed.

The BoogieDowner blog and the Bedford Mosholu Community Organization are trying to save the post office near the Botanical Garden and Webster Avenue from elimination. Visit BoogieDowner to sign the petition to object to the closing of the post office. For more news on post office closures around New York City, the New York Times reports that seven Bronx postal branches are in danger of closing.

In other BoogieDowner news, the blog posted a glowing review of the newly named Pho Mien Tay, formerly known as the World of Taste Seafood. Pho Mien Tay is a Vietnamese restaurant located on Jerome Avenue near the Kingsbridge Armory.

Gun "Buy-Back" Program Coming to the Bronx

In February, 919 guns were collected during a gun “buy-back” day in Queens. Now the program, a joint effort between the NYPD, district attorneys, and local churches, is heading to the Bronx.

Police say it’ll be held on Saturday, April 25, although a spokesman for the Bronx DA’s Office said nothing had been finalized.

According to a detective I spoke with, organizers are in the process of picking out several churches in high crime precincts, including the 40th Precinct (which includes Mott Haven), the 44th Precinct (which includes Highbridge), and the 46th Precinct (which includes Mount Hope and Morris Heights). Nearer the time, fliers will be posted in the targeted neighborhoods encouraging gun owners to drop off their weapon at a given church in return for a $200 debit card – no questions asked.

Since the program was launched last summer, a handful of "buy-back" days have yeilded 3,500 weapons. Compare this to the hundred or so guns a precinct such as the Four-Six seizes each year, and you get an idea how effective the program is at getting guns off the street.

And yet, despite these impressive figures, there's some debate over whether or not these types of programs do what they're supposed to do: cut gun crime. See here and here for opposing views.

(Pictured above are photographs of several guns seized by the 46th Precinct in 2008. Photo by James Fergusson)

Bronx News Roundup, Jan 13.

After distributing 795,883 report cards in 2008, the New York City Transit has evaluated eight subway lines, including four lines that make stops in the Bronx: the 2, 4, 5 and B (during rush hour). Most subway lines received average grades, while the 4 train received the lowest grade, a D-, for overcrowding during rush hour.

The New York Assembly committee that is currently investigating the use of millions of dollars of public funding to build the new Yankees stadium has issued subpoenas to Randy Levin, the team’s president, and Seth Pinksy, an official at the city economic development office. Levin and Pinsky are expected to testify tomorrow before the committee.

Another Bronxite comes out in favor of Caroline Kennedy.

The NYPD has released statistics reporting a drop in almost all major crime categories in the Bronx in 2008. But shooting incidents were up across the borough, with 405 total, an 8.5% increase from 2007.

Yesterday we noted the protests against the partial closing of a firehouse on City Island, housing Ladder Company 53. As a sidenote, the Daily News reports that one of the firefighters in the company is charged with 'falsely reporting fires' for orchestrating a series of fake calls to the firehouse after learning of the planned cuts.

Bob Kapstatter reminds us that the Obama Administration had better hurry up and decide whether they want Borough President Adolfo Carrion in the White House: this Thursday is the deadline to declare to the city Campaign Finance Board whether he will be running for City Controller or a third term as BP.

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's yearly "Community Health Profile" reports that the South Bronx has among the highest asthma rates in the city and the area around Morrisania has a diabetes rate twice the city average, at 16%.

Confronting Crime: Sunday Meeting at Our Lady of Refuge

Very important meeting this weekend at Our Lady of Refuge, 290 E. 196th St. (Parish Center) at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. Basically, community members in the North Fordham area (or Fordham-Bedford, if you prefer), many of whom attend Our Lady of Refuge, want to talk with police about a sharp rise in violent crime in the area.

Here's our story about a recent spate of murders in the area and a police shooting there. Earlier this week, a woman was found murdered close to the church.

This is not the first time residents have asked for more help and accountability from the local police. In November 2007, Deputy Inspector James Alles and other top cops from the 52nd Precinct attended a forum about a surge in crime in the area. Alles is supposed to show up again on Sunday.

Here's a quote from the press release about the event:
>“In addition to needing more police patrol, residents have grown frustrated with slow response time to 911 calls and the lack of police intervention as crimes happen before their eyes. Many residents also report that police donot file police reports after assuring crime victims that they will. This may affect the supposed drop in crime that the NYPD has heralded. Overall, it appears that the NYPD is attempting to contain Bronx crime to the historically-troubled Fordham Beford area.”

In other words, folks are not happy and they want something done about it. Again.

New from the Norwood News

Check out all the new stories from the Norwood News, out on streets and online now!

Crime is down, but hotspots remain hot in the 52nd Precinct.

The constantly evolving plans at the Croton Water Filtration Plant project, including a dramatic design change, may have led to the projects soaring price tag and could lead to unforeseen environmental impacts.

More than a thousand people attended the parish of St. Brendan's 100th year anniversary mass.

A glimpse at the bowling renaissance at Clinton High School.

In an online exclusive this issue, our Inquiring Photographer asks locals what they're doing on election night.

Plus, our 2008 voter's guide, expanded Neighborhood Notes and our Out & About arts and entertainment guide.

Bronx News Roundup Oct. 14

According to NY1, five of the Bronx's eight council members support Mayor Michael Bloomberg's plans to extend term limits. Only Annabel Palma and Jimmy Vacca, neither of whom are term limited, are against it. Helen Foster is undecided. Across the city, 15 council members support the extension, 19 oppose it, and 17 say they haven't made up their mind. All but one of those supporting the overhaul are term-limited. Funny that. A vote is expected in the next two weeks, but the Justice Department will have the final say.

Davidson Community Center on Burnside Avenue is celebrating its 40th birthday. More here in October's Mount Hope Monitor.

Did Nelson Castro lie under oath? Richard Soto, whose brother Mike lost to Castro in September's primary, says he did. Now Soto's filed a complaint with the Bronx DA, according to Bob Kappstatter in the Daily News. This is more bad news for Jose Rivera, the embattled party chairman. Castro, who running for Assembly in the 86th District, was the only primary candidate Rivera supported who won.

Despite being 72, it appears that Rivera still packs a punch - albeit a soft one. Kappstatter says Rivera knocked him with an "intimidating knuckle tap to our jaw" for writing negatively about him and his supporters. It's not the first time Kappstatter's got on the wrong side of a Bronx pol. Earlier this year, Assemblyman State Senator Ruben Diaz accused him of spreading lies and rumors. But Diaz didn't resort to fisticuffs. Instead the good reverend promised to pray for him.

The Seattle Post Intelligencer is asking readers whether schools and politics mix. Last week, the UFT filed a lawsuit accusing the principal of C.S. 134 in Morrisania of forcing a teacher to remove a pro-Obama poster from the school's union bulletin board.

Violent crime is on the rise, says the Daily News. Here in the west Bronx, the 44th Precinct has seen a huge increase. Murders and rapes are up nearly 50 percent on last year's figures. In the Five-Two and Four-Six there's better news, with most violent crime categories down.

Several Bronx schools are helping to raise awareness about the dangers of breast cancer.

Three abandoned lots in Melrose are being redeveloped.

Bronx New Roundup, Wednesday, Oct. 1

Welcome to October. Here's some news and links to get you started this month.

The Economy
Times columnist Jim Dwyer takes a walk through the South Bronx to get a sense of how people in the Boogie Down are viewing the economic crisis and the bailout plan (which their Congressional Rep. Jose E. Serrano voted against) designed to stop the bleeding.

[Bailout Plan Update: The Senate is scheduled to vote on a new version of the plan today.]

In other citywide economic news, a story in the Times says the New York City real estate boom is dead.

And David Gonzalez writes on the Times City Room blog about a South Bronx soup kitchen struggling to keep up with increasing demand from its clients and no "bailout" from the government in sight.

Pain
An NYPD detective was accidentally shot in a very sensitive area by another cop at an east Bronx firing range.

A woman was stabbed multiple times at an East Gun Hill apartment building, allegedly during a domestic dispute. She's is reportedly in stable condition at a local hospital. Nothing has been written on this yet, but we'll try to find out more information.

Sports
The South Bronx High School football team is surprisingly dominant this year in the Cup Division, and is off to its first 4-0 start ever.

The Bronx Science women's golf team is not surprisingly dominating again this year, but faces a tough Stuyvesant team on Monday.

The Greenest Borough
Human Events, perhaps the most conservative media outlet in the entire country, wrote a long blog post about the Bronx's expansive green spaces and tourism opportunities. Who could have guessed?

Arts
The Village Voice reviews the Bronx Museum's new show: "Street Art, Street Life."

Bronx News Roundup Sept. 29

As mentioned in the previous posts, it was a busy weekend for politics in the Bronx.

It was also a rather violent one. Early Sunday, a twenty-something man was shot dead at 315 East 143rd St. On that same day, three men were shot in front of 1150 Elder Avenue. One died at the hospital and the other two are in stable condition.

Police efforts to disrupt a narcotics operation in Fordham early this morning resulted in gunfire, as well as an arrest.

Deliveryman Fengwang Chen, 31, was shot on E. 229th St. on Saturday at around 7:20 p.m. while attempting to deliver an order. He remains in critical condition but is expected to survive. While his attackers took the $22 worth of pork fried rice, wings, and fries, they didn’t bother to take the $280 in Chen’s pocket. The Chinese Restaurant alliance is offering a $3,000 reward for information on the suspects.

In another unfortunate event on E. 229^th, two brothers , 11 and 14, went missing after leaving their apartment around 7:45 a.m. Friday. For more information on how to help, click here.

Less violently, three stores in Bedford are waging war over the size of their awnings. As the Norwood News previously reported, Bedford Park Gourmet Deli and Rose Flower Chinese restaurants complained that the Kennedy Fried Chicken and Biscuit’s awning blocked their own signs. The Deli owner subsequently bought Rose Flower its own awning, which now covers Kennedy’s sign on one side.

A Bronx apartment building on 1520 Sedgwick Avenue, dubbed as “the birthplace of hip-hop” will be sold this week. Residents and housing advocates filed a law suit in the State Supreme Court to prevent the sale. However, the court ruled in favor of the landlord last Friday. Advocates worry that, with the sale and the building's removal from the Mitchell Lama housing program, rents will spiral through the roof.

Another former Bronx resident making news, Leonard Kleinrock, was one of eight awarded a Medal of Science this morning at a gala at the White House. He attended Bronx High School of Science and received a Bachelors from City college of New York and a Ph.D. from M.I.T. Kleinrock.

New from the Norwood News

The newest edition of the Norwood News is jam-packed with important stories about the northwest Bronx and it's online and on the streets now. Pick it up for free or browse through our award-winning Web site.

Here's a quick preview of what you'll find:

After a string of damaging blows to her public image -- including an atrocious attendance record at Council meetings and hearings, exorbitant phone bills and the funding of a non-existent tenants association -- The Norwood News spent two months gathering up the details and trying to get Councilwoman Maria Baez to tell her side of the story. Read the entire story here.

A successful program for high school dropouts in the northwest Bronx slated to be closed will stay open for at least another year.

We examine the complex and controversial trend of private equity firms scooping up scores of Bronx apartment buildings.

Plus, Bedford Park nuns assure a successful school's future by leasing their land...the story behind the new Farmers Market in Norwood...Crime down overall in 52nd Precinct, but same-old problems persist...Speaking of crime, vandals completely trashed the Oval Park rec center in Norwood, shutting the place for three days in the middle of summer.

Also, check out our expanded Neighborhood Notes section as well as Out & About, our entertainment and arts guide.

And don't forget to sign up for our e-mail edition and breaking news alerts by filling out a tiny form and creating a Norwood News acount.

Enjoy!

Gunmen Caught in NW Bronx Apartment

Police arrested two gunmen apprehended at 2970 Marion Avenue in Bedford Park this morning. Special unit trucks blocked streets and officers stormed the building, guns drawn, according to neighbors waiting for operations to end before being allowed to enter or leave their buildings.

Another resident of 2970 said the gunmen were caught in a first-floor apartment.

-Reporting and photo by Annie Shreffler for NYCity News Service.

Bronx News Roundup, Mondary Morning, Oct. 21

Good morning (early afternoon) everyone. Here's a few news links to accompany your cup of coffee today. Some hot topics to discuss.

The NY Times is obsessed with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's link to the Bronx, well, specifically the South Bronx. In any case, this story in yesterday's Metro section examines the quasi-socialist leader's relationship with the Bronx, where he has donated discounted heating oil and millions for development programs through Venezuela's oil company, Citgo.

This quote sums up the Times' angle on the story: "It is an unlikely flow of largess, from an oil-rich South American country where much of the population lives in poverty to one of the neediest pockets in the seat of American capitalism."

Here's a look at the organizations and programs that will benefit from the Chavez money.

Some weekend crime stories:

Two men were stabbed, one to died, during a robbery in Mt. Eden early Sunday morning.

After an earlier stabbing death in Fordham on Saturday, a man was arrested and charged with murder.

Also on Saturday, a 7-year-old girl was hit by a car in Baychester.

Jose Calderon was convicted last week of manslaughter in the beating death of Quachaun Brown, 4, in Norwood last year. The jury acquitted Calderon of the more serious murder charge. He faces up to 15 years in prison when he's sentenced Nov. 1.

The NY Post and Gothamist report on a dogfighting "lair" here in northwest Bronx on Valentine Avenue. Warning: there are some graphic and unsettling images with these stories.

And, finally, here's a Times City section story about Mexican immigrants who fear for their safety in the North Fordham area here in the Bronx. Father John Jenik, of Our Lady of Refuge Church, is quoted in the story.

Often Jenik is alone in decrying the violence and drug activity in that troubled neighborhood. In an email sent to the Norwood News yesterday, Jenik said that, for the first time ever, drug dealers were conducting transactions in his church. Not a good sign.

Note: Please feel free to weigh in here on Bronx crime and safety concerns, Hugo Chavez or anything else you feel is of concern. We want to ramp up the discussion and hear from everyone.

Bronx News Round-up, Sept. 10

Welcome to Monday, hope everyone enjoyed their weekend. Here' some links to news stories that should get you going and informed this week.

The big story over the weekend was a bloody shootout on Friday night between an undercover transit policewoman and "a parolee with an extensive criminal record" on the 4 train at the 176th Street stop. The story in the Times is kind of convoluted, but basically it appears the "parolee" put a female officer in a headlock when she and two other cops tried to escort him off the train for violating transit rules. The suspect then started shooting at the two other officers, who returned fire, with 13 shots, and killed the gunman.

The female officer was shot three times, but is in stable condition. It's unclear whether the female officer was the victim of friendly fire or was hit by the now-deceased gunman.

More tragic news came last night/early this morning, when a fire took the life of an unidentified 22-year-old woman in Williamsbridge. The woman was sleeping on the second floor of a small two-story house on East 224th Street. Two other residents were injured and taken to the hospital. NY1 reported that more than 100 firefighters showed up to fight the blaze and that three of them were injured.

Bunch of stories out today about how bank branches are popping up all over New York City, except for in the city's poorest neighborhoods. From 2000 to 2006, 168 banks branches opened citywide. Of those, only 24 opened in the Bronx, according to a report released by Queens and Brooklyn Congressman Anthony Weiner and Brooklyn Councilwoman Letitia James.

The report also said the banks were concentrated in wealthy neighborhoods. In Murray Hill there a bank for every 1,500 people, while in Tremont, here in the Bronx, there is one for every 69,000 people.

Weiner and James pointed out that the disparity means people in poorer neighborhoods are forced to cash paychecks at rip-off check cashing shops (which are not surprisingly more prevalent in those poorer areas) and also that people in places like Tremont will “have less take-home pay, are less able to accumulate long-term and emergency savings (making them more vulnerable to high-interest loans), and have a harder time establishing credit or qualifying for a loan.”

Here's links to the stories on the Times blog, The Post, and the Daily News

And also, while we're talking about money, here's a story int the Daily News about Bronx boy turned international fashion icon, Ralph Lauren, who was born Ralph Lifshitz. He celebrated his 40th year in fashion on Saturday night in Central Park.

Congrats Ralph! Don't forgot about us!

Big Surprise: Post Gives Giuliani Way Too Much Credit

Sunday's New York Post opinion piece credits former Mayor Giuliani's policing tactics for the turn-around in the Bronx over the past decade and a half:

"The Bronx's boom is the direct result of the tough policing started in the Giuliani years and largely continued under the present administration."

What about the fact that the Bronx is home to some of the largest and most successful community organizing and community development work in the country's history? The extensive history and critical impact of this work is clearly not on the radar of the Post's editorial board.

One may wonder what happens when a Giuliani-style policing takes place in another scenario -- a City without a history of community organizing and development. Well, look no further than what happened when Giuliani was called into Mexico City (click here if you prefer to watch instead of read).

Plus, if you really want to get into the crime data, maybe we were all duped into thinking the City was safer than it really was.

Stabbing death in University Heights

Last Saturday night, David Fuentes, 30, of 2300 University Avenue was stabbed to death in a basement apartment nearby, at 2285 University Avenue. Police say he was stabbed multiple times in the torso and that the investigation is ongoing. The NY Times put a small brief about this in its Metro section yesterday.