Bronx News Roundup, Feb. 11

Happy Friday, brothers and sisters of the Bronx. Praise Zeus! Or Puxatauny Phil!  Looks like today will be our last defined by frigid temperatures, for about a week or so, at least. Today will be sunny with a high just under freezing. There might be flurries tomorrow afternoon, but with a high of 39 and temperatures possibly reaching the mid-50s by Thursday, let's get out the champagne or sparkling apple juice!

Story of the Day:
While conditions continue to deteriorate at the 10 buildings abandoned by Los Angeles speculator Milbank Real Estate, a Scarsdale -based landlord, Steve Finkelstein, is closing in on a deal to acquire the properties. Finkelstein says he will put up $10 million for repairs -- up from his original offer of about $6 million -- but a report commissioned by the City Council says the full cost of repairs would be more than twice that. Finkelstein, who owns some 30 apartment buildings in the borough, told the Daily News, "There's a lot of work to be done. But I know what I have to do. These are good buildings - they just need someone to take care of them."

Meanwhile, the DN's Dan Beekman reports, tenants at one Milbank building say they were without heat last week and that vacant apartments are being used by drug dealers and abusers.

Story of the Day Too:
Former State Senator Pedro Espada, Jr. held a "unity press conference" yesterday that featured appearances by "amigo" State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. and some song and dance numbers. Espada tried to project an air of normalcy, reports NY1's Josh Robin, while trying to bring attention to the fact that the state department is denying his Soundview health care center a $3 million grant to build a new facility across the street. Espada's health care clinics can receive medicaid, but the funds can not pay for his or his son's salary. Both have been indicted for defrauding the nonprofit clinics and using its funds for their own personal use.

Quick Hits:
Melissa Petro, the former prostitute turned Bronx art teacher PS 70, announced her resignation and spoke publicly about it yesterday, saying she could have fought her DOE-imposed suspension and thought she would have won, but felt she wouldn't have been welcomed back if she did. The Post says, "This is one whore with chutzpah."

A 76-year-old man was killed by a city bus driver yesterday in Parkchester.

The Bronx Zoo has two new bald eagles that were injured in Wyoming.

A Bronx man won free cab rides for a year.

Imprisoned "A Bronx Tale" actor Lillo Brancato beat up a fellow inmate at the upstate prison where he's serving time.

And finally, in response to inquiries by the Riverdale Press, a bunch of legislators who represent their coverage area, including Councilman Oliver Koppell, Assemblyman Jeff Dinowitz and state senators Adriano Espaillat and Gustavo Rivera, all agreed to divulge their outside income. State Senator Jeff Klein didn't go into detail, but a spokesman said he made between $100,000 and $220,000. Dinowitz said part of his income was a few hundred dollars in residual checks for his acting role -- playing a congressman -- in the 2002 J.Lo movie, "Maid in Manhattan."

Want to make sure the news continues? Just a reminder to our readers that the Bronx News Network is in the middle of our annual fundraising appeal. If you value quality local journalism, please consider donating so we can continue to bring you news and features, like our daily roundup or our borough events calendar. More details on how to contribute can be found here.

Bronx News Roundup, Sept. 10

Happy Friday everyone! Some good reads to prepare you for the weekend. 

There are two Bronx memorial services scheduled for the upcoming anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. The attack claimed the lives of 156 Bronxites. The first memorial service is set for tomorrow morning at Jacobi Hospital. The second memorial will be held at the Bronx County Courthouse at noon on Wednesday.

One 9/11 widow, a Bronx woman from Ivory Coast who is Muslim, opens about her loss, her life in the wake of tragedy and her religion. Every year, she visits ground zero and prays.

Muslims and Jews share a building, ideas and inter-faith tolerance in Parkchester.

Prosecutors inthe Riverdale synagogue bombing plot trial say one of the defendants has a documented history of anti-Semitism.

The Bronx high school girls volleyball preview.

Video of Gen. Colin Powell's appearance at a ribbon-cutting for a new apartment building being opened and named after him. The south Bronx building is just blocks from where Powell grew up.

El Diario editor Erica Gonzalez talks about the challenges facing many Latino lawmakers in the Bronx, including Pedro Espada Jr.

Bronx News Roundup, Aug. 24

This week, NY1 is taking readers and viewers back in time with a series called "Once Upon a Time in the Bronx." Yesterday, the station had this piece about the history of Parkchester. Today, there's this piece about Fashion Moda, a one-time gallery and performance space on Third Avenue.

A woman wanted for a murder in Connecticut 15 years ago has turned up in the Bronx.  Patty Carrion had been living in an apartment on the Grand Concourse under an assumed name.  She was arrested on Saturday when police saw her beating up her boyfriend. Her true identity came to light when they fingerprinted her.  Carrion has previously been featured on the TV show "America's Most Wanted."

A 16-year-old cyclist was seriously injured in Fordham last night when he was hit by an unlicensed driver.

In other sad news, a 17-year-old Bronx girl was hit by a train in Bronxville, Westchester, on Sunday.  She remains in a critical condition at Jacobi Medical Center.

Jury selection has resumed for the four men accused of attempting to blow up two synagogues in Riverdale last year.

The number of shooting incidents in the Bronx may be down this year, but the murder rate is up - way up.

In today's El Diario/La Prensa, State Senator Pedro Espada, Jr. and challenger Gustavo Rivera tell readers why they deserve their vote.  The articles are in Spanish, and so Google Translate may come in handy (it did for me).  Unless I'm somehow missing it, it doesn't look like Daniel Padernacht was given a similar opportunity to state his case. One more observation: In his article, Espada talks up his "free freeze" bill, and says he helped keep Tolentine Senior Center and R.A.I.N Baily Senior Center open.  For the record, he had little to do with keeping these particular centers open. 

Rivera may have secured dozens of endorsements, but the Daily News' Bob Kappstatter says Espada could still be in good shape.  That and other political news in Kappstatter's weekly column.

The big labor unions supporting Rivera say the wealthy New Roosevelt Initiative, another Rivera backer, has been a little too quiet for their liking. 

Still on Espada, Attorney general candidate Kathleen Rice believes fellow candidate Eric Schneiderman has been too soft on him.  She says Schneiderman's missed "125 opportunities" to ask Espada to relinquish his majority leader position. Schneiderman, by the way, was endorsed by The New York Times at the weekend.

Roberto Perez, host of the radio show The Perez Notes, recently interviewed Robert Giuffre, who's running against Assemblywoman Naomi Rivera. Giuffre talks about ballot access, his reasons for running, and the assemblywoman's record.

Bronx News Roundup, May 18

The Bronx Ink takes a long look at landlord Moshe Piller. Despite a reputation for neglecting his buildings, Piller has managed to avoid any serious repercussions, much to the frustration of his long-suffering tenants.

State Senator Ruben Diaz, Sr. is gearing up for a tough race against Charlie Ramos, of the Bronx for Change group.  (If things turn nasty, perhaps Diaz will gently remind voters of Ramos' criminal record. Then again, Diaz had a similar run-in with the law when he was young man.) 

Still on Diaz, it looks like he won't be officiating at Hiram Monserrate and Karla Giraldo's wedding after all. The couple has broken up. Previously, Diaz insisted they were still in love (despite the assault conviction) and that he would one day marry them.

A Bronx man has been arrested for allegedly robbing a bank in Nassau County some 17 years ago.

Yesterday, Part of the Solution (POTS) broke ground on a new building on Webster Avenue. It's right next door to the old one but three times bigger. The organization runs a food pantry and offers free hair-cuts and access to the Internet, among other things.

The off-duty police officer who was behind the wheel of a car that flipped over on the Bronx River Parkway at the weekend - killing him, his colleague, and injuring four friends - may have been intoxicated.

A wheelchair-bound Parkchester man has been stabbed and beaten by his landlady, police say.

Police are hunting a Bronx man in connection with a murder in Harlem back in March. 

A box containing the ashes of a Queen's woman has been stolen from a minivan in Mott Haven.

The words "I served in Vietnam" are coming back to haunt Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, who's running for Senate, and who didn't, actually, serve in Vietnam.  Blumenthal is a graduate of Riverdale Country School.

Da Bakery, a clothes store on Southern Boulevard, sells custom-made clothes to trend-setters seeking to match their attire with their sneakers. 

Desiree-Pilgrim Hunter (one of State Senator Pedro Espada's likely primary opponents) isn't a fan of the Bx12 Select Bus Service on Fordham Road. [via BoogieDowner]

People living in seven apartments building in Co-op City have been told to stop using their balconies because of safety concerns.

Last Saturday, Parkchester celebrated its 70th anniversary.

The neighborhood of Wakefield was featured in Sunday's New York Times' Real Estate section.

Bronx News Roundup, May 11

In an editorial yesterday, El Diario La Prensa said "some of the points [State Senator Pedro Espada] has been raising in the face of accusations from Attorney General Andrew Cuomo merit discussion."

Cash-strapped Westchester Square Hospital seems to be hanging on and has filed a five-year plan. Officials now believe that the hospital is capable of surviving on its own.

Happy 70th Birthday Parkchester! This Saturday, the Parkchester community will be celebrating the housing development's 70th anniversary by the Metropolitan Oval.

The latest on the peace talks between Assemblyman Carl Heastie (the Bronx Democratic party boss) and Assemblyman Peter Rivera.

Governor Paterson's emergency budget bill has been approved by legislature. This will allow Paterson to furlough about 100,000 state employees without pay for one day.

The State Education Department and New York teachers unions has come to an agreement that could revamp teachers evaluations and connect them to students' test scores. At the moment, teachers are simply rated satisfactory or unsatisfactory.

Veteran Democratic consultants Patrick Jenkins and MarySol Rodriguez have founded a Bronx-based political consulting firm. State Sen. Eric Schneiderman, who's running for attorney general candidate, is already a client.

Senators Diane Savino and Jeff Klein are sponsoring a bill that would ban convicted sex offenders from living in public housing.

A lab-tech in the NYPD's forensics department has been suspended for allegedly falsifying drug-test results.

Bronx News Roundup, April 9

 A judge has rejected Efrain Gonzalez's attempt to withdraw his guilty plea, calling the effort "preposterous," according to the Associated Press. The former state Senator pleaded guilty to fraud charges last May, then tried to withdraw his plea on claims that his former lawyer gave him bad legal advice.

A drug bust yesterday in Parkchester yielded $1 million worth of heroin., according to the Post. Four people were arrested on charges of drug possession. 

Two blocks in Wakefield have turned into an illegal dumping ground for neighborhood trash.

Beloved poet and Belmont parking lot valet Joe Binder celebrates his 100th birthday today, with neighborhood celebrations taking place this weekend on Arthur Avenue.

Jury selection begins in a Connecticut court this week in the case of  Bronx man accused of stalking Oprah's best friend, Gayle King.

A 36-year-old man was shot to death this morning on East 225th Street and Barnes Avenue.

Tax preparers in Manhattan and the Bronx have been busted for fraud, some for filing returns for dead people or claiming total strangers as dependents on their forms. So far, 16 of the 26 people being accused were arrested.

Joseph Yancey Track and Field opens today near Yankee Stadium, one of the projects completed under the Yankee Park Replacement Program to make up for parkland destroyed during the construction of the new stadium.

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.

Bronx News Roundup, Jan. 8

A 10-man brawl broke out yesterday night in front of a Radioshack in Longwood. Two of the men have been left with stab wounds from a screwdriver and are currently being treated at Lincoln Hospital. The remaining eight men managed to disperse before police arrived.

Robert Finn, former U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan, recounts how his childhood in MetLife's exclusive Parkchester housing development opened his eyes to injustice and social stratification. Finn references his experiences in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Plans for an expansion of Van Nest Park are finally given the green light. Proposals include more play equipment, areas to lounge, more lights and a flagpole for the park's World War I memorial. Some local residents express traffic and parking concerns, but are actively seeking compromise.

A group of Bronx teens are treated to a tour of the White House. The members of the Bronx Youth Empowerment Program had traveled to Philadelphia to campaign for President Obama last year, and as a reward are also treated to a discussion with White House political director Patrick Gaspard.

Bronx News Roundup, Nov. 20

Happy Friday everyone! And, don't forget, if you're looking for something to do this weekend, check out our Bronx Events listing, which you can find here at the beginning and end of every week.

The NY Times follows the mother of the 16-year-old boy accused of firing shots that severely wounded one young man and hit a 15-year-old girl in the head on Monday afternoon. (While the young man is improving, 15-year-old Vada Vasquez remains in a coma.) Prosecutors say the 16-year-old, one of five young men who were implicated in conjunction with the crime, admitted to his part in the shooting. But the kid's lawyer says his client wasn't responsible. The Times talks with some of the mother's relatives at their home in East Crotona Park.

The Streets Blog bemoans the DOT's extensive $266 million plan to widen the Major Deegan, while neglecting an serious work on possibly tearing down the little-used Sheridan Expressway.

Tenants at a University Avenue apartment building are suing their landlord for dangerous living conditions.

Four Bronx Teachers are being honored for their outstanding work in teaching math and science.

A man filed a lawsuit in Bronx Supreme Court after emergency service workers threw out a piece of his ear, which a dog had ripped off.

A Columbia Spectator writer visits the Parkchester neighborhood where his father grew up.

The love story of an Upper Eastside hand model and a porter from the Bronx is generating headlines around the city. The hand model is suing her building's superintendent for a torrent of mental and physical abuse (the suit alleges that the super's wife drunkenly hit the porter in the testicles with a hand bag, causing a contusion), which began after she fell in love with the Bronx boy.

Students at the Bronx Preparatory Charter School mail out college applications.

Bronx News Roundup April 9

Ruben Diaz Jr., the front runner in the borough president's race, has announced that long-time Assemblywoman Aurelia Greene will become his deputy, should he win the special election on April 21. Greene (pictured) is looking at a significant pay rise.

Latin music legend Ralph Mercado, who in died in March aged 67, was honored yesterday at a tribute breakfast, where his widow was presented with a New York State Senate Proclamation by State Sen. Pedro Espada. Councilman Joel Rivera and his father, Assemblyman Jose Rivera, are among those looking to rename Fordham Plaza after Mercado.

A former butcher has been found guilty of murdering and dismembering a colleague in May 2006.

The president of the cash-strapped Wildlife Conservation Society wants the city to give the Bronx Zoo a much needed funding injection.

Parkchester, the neighborhood in the east Bronx best known for its sprawling residential complex of more than 100 buildings, was once home to an orphanage. [via BoogieDowner]

Bronx News Roundup Feb. 25

A security guard in the Bronx wins 1 million dollars from a scratch off ticket.

More details are being released about the Parkchester grandmother, Angela Barksdale, who killed her four-year-old grandson. The boy and his 18-month old sister lived with Barksdale on Metropolitan Avenue. Police have confirmed that Barksdale had a criminal record and was a convicted felon. The Administration for Children's Services was not responsible for placing the children in Barksdale's home and have removed the sister. Details can be found here and here.

There are going to be more MTA service changes and subway delays. The MTA is attributing the changes to repairs that need to be made.

While a study finds that New York City is the most congested city in the country, the Cross Bronx Expressway at the interchange of Bronx River Parkway was named the worst bottleneck in the nation.

Majora Carter, community activist and the founder of Sustaintable South Bronx, appeared in a commercial during the Academy Awards ceremony on Sunday. The commercial was sponsored by the company True North.