Bronx News Roundup, June 25

Pedro Espada's health care business, which received a very favorable write-up in yesterday's Times, owes $347,000 in back taxes.

Still on Espada, BoogieDowner has the latest on the senator's yet-to-materialize district office. Each side - Espada's people and the Senate's staff - blames each other for the continued delay.

In a related story, CBS had this report a couple of days ago, saying Espada's desired office location - 400 E. Fordham Rd - wasn't even in the 33rd District. Certainly, if you type the address in here on the Senate's Web site, Jeff Klein's name comes up, not Espada's. Here's a map:

Map created using NYC Dept of City Planning BYTES of the BIG APPLE data

Some non-Espada news:

A Bronx detective has been found guilty of perjury, after a 17-year-old murder suspect secretly recorded an interview the detective gave him on his MP3 player. Christopher Perino, who worked out of the 44th Precinct, faces up to seven years in prison. More here on how modern technology is increasingly catching out dishonest cops.

Martha Stewart is expected at the Botanical Garden this Saturday, for the opening of a new exhibit, Edible Garden.

Last week's water main break in Kingsbridge has hit local merchants in the pocket.

Bronx News Roundup April 16

State Senator Jeff Klein has sponsored a bill that could help fight the knock-on effects of foreclosure.

A satellite image of the two Yankee Stadiums reveals their similarities.

The Hunts Point and Woodstock branches of the New York Public Library have been landmarked.

State Senators Pedro Espada and Ruben Diaz Sr still aren't budging. Both continue to oppose efforts to toll the Harlem and East Rivers, despite a compromise plan introduced by supporters that would have given rebates to certain drivers (local businesses and those travelling to medical appointments.) Diaz told The Times he's "opposed to any toll." The tolls are seen as an alternative to massive MTA fair hikes and service cuts.

Espada may be a powerful man in Albany, but his name doesn't seem to register with many of his Bronx constituents.

Tenant rights advocates rallied outside the New York Community Bank at 3681 Tremont Ave. yesterday, to bring attention to banks that give inflated loans to private equity groups.

An army reservist from the Bronx has been charged with using a government purchasing program to buy $100,000 of electronics and other supplies which he later sold on eBay.

A peek inside the train yard at 240th Street, where under-the-weather 1 trains go for rest and repairs.

This summer, Martha Stewart will redesign a herb garden at the New York Botanical Garden.