Bronx News Roundup, Feb. 25

Is this the New York Times article we've all been waiting for? The paper published a piece yesterday about a domestic violence case in Bronx Family Court that involved one of Gov. David Paterson's top aides, and raised a number of questions about what role the governor might have played in the mess. The woman who filed the charges claims she was violently attacked by Paterson staffer David W. Johnson. Here is an excerpt of her court transcript, where she claims State Police harassed her about dropping the charges.

And in another incident, an aide to Rev. Al Sharpton was charged with assault after getting into a "cat fight" with another woman at her boyfriend's Mott Haven apartment.

Chase is opening a mortgage crisis center in Parkchester today. Bronx homeowners who are struggling to make payments can seek advice at 1480 East Avenue, or call 718-678-8880.

The Park's Department has named Mill Pond Park, at East 149th and Exterior Street, as February's "park of the month." Mill Pond Park opened last fall as part of the Yankee Stadium Redevelopment Project, which has also sparked a discussion about the possibility of building a new ice skating rink, as the Riverdale Press reports today. 

An NYPD officer from Parkchester was charged with DWI and suspended without pay after a crash in Throgs Neck on Sunday. Roniel Dilone is one of a number of cops recently been busted for driving drunk.

A woman who falsely accused a Bronx man of rape back in 2005--sending William McCaffrey to prison for almost four years before admitting she'd lied--was sentenced to one to three years behind bars yesterday for perjury.

Two bodies were found in an apartment in Wakefield on Tuesday.

A Bronx man was arrested on Long Island yesterday after spending counterfeit $100 bills at a Target in Nassau County.

News Roundup for August 17

Several papers reported on the Mayor's new Street Conditions Observation Unit, or SCOUT. It's a team of 15 inspectors who will patrol the city in small golf-cart-like vehicles to look for unfilled potholes, overflowing trash basins and other quality of life complaints. This is a way for the city to take more initiative in finding and resolving these problems, rather than depending on irate New Yorkers to call 311. Here's the New York Times coverage.

The Times also has an item on the 19-year-old leak in the tunnel that carries half of NYC's water supply from the Catskills. A report by Comptroller Tom DiNapoli estimates that the spilled water costs the city $24 to $28 million a year. Added to the constantly growing costs of the Croton water filtration plant, and this could represent another burden for ratepayers.

The Sun takes a shot at the dozen city commissioners and elected officials who take off early on Fridays in the summer.

Newsday reported yesterday that New York's unemployment rate is up to 4.9 percent, with the City's unemployment up to 5.7 percent and the Bronx at 8.1 percent.

The Daily News reports that a Bronx Family Court judge caught the attention of TV producers after reports that she's been called before the state commission on judicial conduct for allegedly making rude comments toward lawyers, court officers and litigants.