BxNN Story of the Day: Popular Bronx Pastor Hamptons-Bound

Katrina Foster is moving on after 15 eventful years as pastor of Fordham Evangelical Lutheran Church. Read the story in this month's Mount Hope Monitor.

Espada: Assaults are 'Hate Crimes'

This afternoon, State Senator Pedro Espada, Assemblyman Nelson Castro, and others, held a press conference on Walton Avenue at East 182nd Street, to bring attention to a recent spate of vicious assaults in the neighborhood.

Police say a group of men of Dominican origin have been deliberately targeting Mexican immigrants. Last Saturday, the group allegedly shouted anti-Mexican slurs at two men before attacking them. Another man was assaulted on Sunday in similar circumstances, and another on Monday. At least one of the victims was stabbed.

“Obviously these are hate crimes we are dealing with,” said Espada, the Senate's majority leader. “There is a tidal wave of hate crime against immigrants in the Bronx, in New York City, in New York State, and throughout this country.”

He said he's offering a $1,000 reward – “my personal money” – to anyone who provides information leading to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrators. He also talked about bringing together local clergy, community leaders, police, and youth, to form a "task force" with the aim of changing the perception some people have of immigrants.

“Our Mexican brothers and sisters have earned the right to be respected and to be protected in their homes and in their community," added Rev. Katrina Foster, pastor of nearby Fordham Evangelical Lutheran Church. "They have come here to contribute and not to take away.”

PHOTO: Pedro Espada (talking) and Nelson Castro (right)

Bronx Pastor Katrina Foster Questions Barack Obama on Health Care

Rev. Katrina Foster, pastor of Fordham Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Bronx, questioned Sen. Barack Obama about healthcare at last Saturday's Heartland Presidential Forum in Iowa, where grassroots community organizations from around the country participated in questioning several Democratic presidential candidates. Foster was part of a contingent from the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition. The event was organized by the Center for Community Change.

Bronxites in Iowa

Now, here's a presidential forum that might have something to do with issues facing Bronxites. The Heartland Presidential Forum in Iowa, airing live tomorrow at 2:30 on C-SPAN (Cablevision channels 65 and 66 ) is being organized by grassroots groups around the country and will feature questions of the candidates from community leaders. The Northwest Bronx Community Clergy Coalition has a crew out there, including the Rev. Katrina Foster of Fordham Evangelical Lutheran Church, who will be asking a question of Sen. Barack Obama.