Two Bronx men are accused of a hate-crime murder for beating an Ecuadorean immigrant to death in Brooklyn in December while shouting anti-gay and anti-Hispanic slurs.
WNYC's Main Street NY project visited 161st street to ask local businesses about the changes coming in the wake of the new Yankee Stadium, including the proposed rezoning. You can listen in or read the transcript here.
Perhaps you caught Anderson Cooper singling out Bronx Congressman Eliot Engel for arriving a tad early at Obama's speech on Tuesday (if not, the transcript is here; scroll down a bit). Engel, who is known for staking out choice seats at big speeches, fired back today.
Bloomberg is courting recalcitrant Bronx GOP chief Jay Savino along with the other Republican borough chairs as he prepares to run for his third term - but no luck so far.
Australian paper The Age has an article highlighting one of the many Bronx classrooms with a Teach for America recruit behind the desk.
Sustainable South Bronx founder Majora Carter is featured in the second installment of HBO's show "The Black List," airing tonight.
Bronx State Sen. Ruben Diaz, Sr. is balking at proposed tolls for the Harlem and East River bridges; the tolls are part of a plan to close the MTA budget gap and avert drastic fare increases and service cuts.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Bronx News Roundup, Feb. 26
Monday, November 17, 2008
Gay Rights Advocates Target Diaz
On Saturday, thousands of gays rights supporters rallied outside City Hall to bring attention to legislation that outlawed same-sex marriage in California, Florida and Arizona, and to push for marriage equality in New York.
According to the NYC Independent Media Center:
State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr., of the Bronx, was a specific target for his stated and long-held opposition to gay rights. Diaz Jr. [sic] is one of the senators who is threatening to withhold support from potential Senate Majority leader Malcolm Smith. He told the New York Post, in reference to Malcolm Smith, to “give it to me in writing that you will not bring gay marriage to the floor and you got me.” A speaker at the protest announced Diaz Sr.’s office phone number and encouraged activists to call on Monday morning to voice their displeasure at Diaz Sr.’s position on gay marriage.The Daily News' Elizabeth Benjamin has more on the all attention Diaz has been getting these past few days.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Bronx News Roundup Nov. 7
Plans to put a 37-story 911 call center in Morris Park have been put on ice, after the estimated cost increased to nearly $1 billion.
A University Avenue man was involved in a tense standoff with police yesterday, after allegedly stabbing and seriously injuring his girlfriend.
In July, WFUV, the radio station run out of Fordham University, interviewed the Bronx-raised singer-songwriter Regina Spektor. The hour-long interview, in which Spektor talks about her music career and childhood, is now online.
One of the two men convicted of the 2006 murder of Dr. Leandro Lozada, a popular pediatrician who ran a medical clinic on Kingsbridge Road, will serve 40-years to life in state prison, a judge a ruled. More about the murder here.
It could be that Bronx State Senators Ruben Diaz Sr. and (newly elected) Pedro Espada aren't as rebellious are previously thought.
Studs Terkel, the author and radio broadcast personality, died last Friday aged 96. Terkel once lived with his family on Bathgate Avenue, and following his death the NY Times paid a visit to his old, and much-changed neighborhood.
Bronx BP Adolfo Carrion has "quietly dumped a slew of staffers" according to the NY Post because of "mandatory belt tightening." In all, 16 of his 77 staffers have been let go. In a July editorial titled "Nix the Beeps" the paper accused Carrion and his fellow borough presidents of spending big and doing little. In a letter later that week, Brooklyn BP Marty Markowitz hit back:
We provided you with substantive information, but balance wasn't your goal. Then again, when The Post can't even get the Bronx Borough President's name right in an editorial - it's Adolfo not "Alfonso" - why should we expect you to get the facts straight?
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Bronx News Roundup: Nov. 4
Happy Election Day! Let's get to the news.
Bronx Elections Commisioner J.C. Polanco says his office is expecting record turnout with 715,000 new voters registered in New York City. He also says they're prepared for it. Based on Jordan's earlier post, we'll see.
The Inner City Press Web site just posted about voting troubles in the South Bronx.
The Attorney General set up a hotline for voting problems. Bronxites having problems should call, (718) 254-7000.
An interesting story in the Times about the half dozen closely contested State Senate Races that will decide which party takes the majority, which Republicans have held for decades. Also in the article, some intriguing in-fighting amongst the Democratic leadership. Bronx State Senator Ruben Diaz, Jr. says he's forming a caucus that might side with Republicans if current Democratic leader Malcolm Smith (Queens) decides to pursue same-sex marriage legislation. Meanwhile, up-and-coming Senate Minority Leader Jeff Klein, reportedly a fundraising star, says he'll support Smith as majority leader if the Dems take control of the Senate.
Daily News Bronx Chief Bob Kappstatter has an imaginary conversation with former New York City Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia (he's a fan of Bloomberg's term limits move), ruminates about Maria Baez's re-election prospects (they're not bad) and exposes Councilman Jimmy Vacca for his egregious flip-flop in supporting the mayor's term limits extension.
Produce business owner John Caggiano was sentenced to prison for running a gambling ring out of Hunt's Point Market for the Genovese crime family.
Bronxites play the name game a little differently than other boroughs. Jayden was the number one name in 2007 for Bronx boys. Ashley garned top spot among Bronx girls.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
More Diaz News -- Luis and Ruben Sr.
West Bronx Assemblyman Luis Diaz is stepping down to work as Gov. Paterson’s downstate community affairs person, according to the Daily News' Bob Kapstatter.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Diaz, Sr. Pledges Allegiance to Both Parties
Bronx State Senator Ruben Diaz, Sr. is running for re-election this year as both a Democrat and a Republican, according to this post on the NY Times City Room blog. Diaz, Sr., whose son Ruben Diaz, Jr. is running for Bronx Borough President, is facing a couple of challengers on the Democratic side, but none from Republicans.
Looks like he's trying to pull a Joe Lieberman, the Connecticut Senator who lost the Democratic primary last year, then re-invented himself as an Independent and took the general election.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Sen. Diaz on Clinton Campaign Shakeup
Some Latino lawmakers, including Sen. Ruben Diaz of the Bronx, are up in arms over the ousting of Patty Solis Doyle, a Latina who was Hillary Clinton's campaign manager until yesterday.
