Bronx News Roundup, June 23

The MTA is cracking down on fare-beaters on the Bx12 Select Bus Service.

Increasingly, teachers working at charter schools in New York and elsewhere are looking to unionize. In the Bronx, the Green Dot New York Charter School in Mott Haven could be next.

Two brothers - Rodrigo and Gonzalo Venegas (aka Rodstarz and G1 of the Bronx hip-hop group Rebel Diaz) - have been found not guilty of resisting arrest and obstruction of justice, after coming to the aid last summer of a street vendor they say cops were harassing. More here. And here's a video clip of the incident.

Twelve high school students, including at least three from the Bronx, recently traveled to South Africa to meet Nelson Mandela, after winning a competition. More here.

Governor Paterson will hold a special session in the State Senate at 3 p.m. today, in the hopes of resolving the leadership stalemate. The Republicans, meanwhile, are planning a session for 2 p.m. - meaning they will control the chamber when the Democrats arrive. More here and here.

Bob Kappstatter is wondering if the Republicans will cut Pedro Espada loose.

Espapda and fellow (or ex-) dissident Hiram Monserrate are nothing if not quotable. We linked to this yesterday, but here's Espapda claiming in the Daily News that he really does live in his Bedford Park co-op and that a young boy in the building saw him the other day and said, "Mommy, mommy, look - he does live here." And here's Monserrate likening himself to Jesus.

Bronx BP Ruben Diaz, Jr. is calling on the city to test for toxic chemicals in aging public schools.

Judy Reyes, the Bronx-born Scrubs actress and one of the inductees into this year's Bronx Walk of Fame, is expecting her first child.

Bronx News Roundup, May 29

We'll start with the lady of the moment, Supreme Court nominee and Bronxite Sonia Sotomayor. The Times reports that Sotomayor was very active as a board member with the nonprofit Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund (now known as Latino Justice), which took up discrimination cases against the likes of the NYPD and Ronald Reagan.


She was a young prosecutor at the time, but conservative critics may link her involvment with the fund and a case in Connecticut where she ruled against two white firefighters who said minority co-workers were getting promotions based on skin color, not merit or test scores.

Sotmayor's getting a break from her current job on the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals.

The AP, via Google, gives a comprehensive look at the nominee's career and how she's beign portrayed in the media.

Slate writes about Sotomayor's country of ancestry: Puerto Rico.

Other news:
Rev. Run (of Run DMC fame) is working to open a new playground in the Bronx. He and his wife will be holding a fundraiser at Odyssey House, 1328 Clinton Ave. (where the playground will be built), on June 18.

The Red Cross laid off its entire Bronx office last week as part of nation-wide downsizing effort.

Four Bronxites will be inducted into the Bronx Walk of Fame on Friday June 19: Hip-hop pioneer DJ Kool Herc, singer Tony Orlando ("Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree"), grammy-winning artist Melissa Manchester and actress Judy Reyes ("Scrubs").