Bronx News Roundup, Dec. 15

Every news outlet under the sun has coverage of Pedro Espada, Jr.'s indictment, as the now-former Senate Majority Leader and his son were charged yesterday with six counts of embezzlement and conspiracy. Here's what we posted last night.

Here's the Times' take, which reminds readers of how once upon a time, in 2006, Espada had accused his then-rival Ruben Diaz, Sr., of more or less the same things he's now being indicted for.

The Daily News' Celeste Katz includes a response from the Espada camp: "Today is a sad day for Soundview and a sad day for the Espada family. Senator Espada and his son deny any wrongful doing and we intend to fight the charges in court."

Both men are schedule to appear at a federal court in Brooklyn this afternoon. We'll have more on that later.

In other news:

Employees from the Bronx Psychiatric Center rallied yesterday against proposed layoffs at the facility, which they say will only make things less safe for patients and workers.

One of the city's largest chapters of the carpenters union, which represented workers in the Bronx and part of Manhattan, was officially shut down yesterday after a slew of corruption scandals.

A Bronx man was sentenced to five years in prison for selling cocaine in upstate Watertown, NY.

New Census data shows that more New York City residents are getting college degrees than ever before. The number of graduates in the Bronx increased by 2.9 percent since 2000.

Terrible conditions at an unemployment office in Mott Haven--including floods, rats and a bed bug infestation--make the spot even more depressing for the jobless who have to wait there.

HPD is still trying to get LNR Property Corp., the servicer to the dilapidated Milbank buildings, to cough up the $2.5 million in repairs that a court ordered the group to pay in September.

The Post takes a look at what our lawmakers in Washington are spending on their pet projects--aka "pork" spending--this year. Bronx Congressman Jose E. Serrano scored $500,000 for transportation improvements at the Bronx Zoo.

On the local level, a number of state lawmakers, including Bronx Assemblyman Jose Rivera, have found a loophole that allows them to collect pension checks while still in office.

The man accused of shooting an off-duty Bronx narcotics detective over the weekend was released on $5,000 bail.

Police will start using hidden cameras to videotape suspects in precincts in the Bronx and Brooklyn, stating next year.

Bronx Psychiatric Center Staff to Rally Against Layoffs

Workers at the Bronx Psychiatric Center, a 360-bed facility in Morris Park, will hold a rally tomorrow afternoon to protest recent layoffs.

According to a flyer sent to the press by the workers' union:

Fiscal and administrative mismanagement has... created a critical and dangerous situation for patients and workers. Workplace violence is on the rise. Direct Care workers are being laid off while more managers, earning double their salaries, are being hired. This madness must end!

The flyer is embedded below.

The Bronx Psychiatric Center, which is run by the state, has been in the news a fair bit this year. A patient was charged with attempting to rape a counselor.  Another patient claimed he was molested by a staff member who turned out to be a convicted sex offender. There was also a bedbug infestation.

BPC rally flyer

Bronx Roundup, June 16

Anthony (Tony D) Palumbo, 61,  already facing charges of shaking down the owners of area bar tending schools, was arraigned yesterday and charged with ordering the murder of an associate, Angelo Sangiuolo, who was killed in 1992.

The four men accused of plotting to bomb Riverdale area synagogues may be set free. After Judge Colleen McMahon indefinitely suspended their trial, she announced the set case could be dismissed due to lack of evidence. The prosecution failed to turn over evidence months ago, she said.

Bronx baby, Sophia Lopez, was recently diagnosed with a rare blood disorder that can only be cured with a bone marrow transplant. No one in her family is an ideal match. Her situation is further complicated because she is of Puerto Rican descent and they make up less than 10% of the bone marrow registry.

A 19-year-old Bronx man was charged Tuesday with being the gunman that killed hardworking driver, Cesar Santos, 48,  police say. The arrest was made with the help of an anonymous tipster who contacted the NYPD's Crime stoppers Tip line. Here's our story on the murder and arrest. Cops are currently hunting down his accomplice, described as Latino, 20, and wearing a white tank top.

A 6-foot-3, 230-pound, sex offender is being charged with attempting to rape a counselor at the Bronx Psychiatric Center who barely got away, according to court documents and the Daily News.

Bronx News Roundup, April 7

The Daily News profiles the borough's new top cop, Carlos Gomez, who takes over for Tom Purtell who moved on to the "plum" job of running Manhattan's southern patrol. Gomez says his number one priority is taking on the Bronx's recent surge in violent crime with murders and shooting incidents spiking 30% over the first three months of the year and felony assaults also on the rise. 

The Bronx Psychiatric Center is battling a serious bedbug problem.

The Times blog has a story about Los Angeles punk band, The Bronx, whose members have never actually stepped foot in their namesake borough. (They played a gig in Manhattan last night at the Bowery Ballroom.) Here's a quote from a band member on why they chose to be named after the northernmost borough: "We knew the Bronx was the toughest place on earth . . . You're young, you're badass or you think you are." Nice. Here's their Web site.

Speaking of the borough's "badass" reputation, apparently one of suspects in the recent Times Square shooting is from the Bronx. Great.