Bronx News Roundup, Sept. 19

Here's a nice out-of-town appreciation from Lawrenceville, NJ Patch (one of the AOL-owned on-line weeklies) of a Bronx treasure, Baron Ambrosia, and his quirky cinematic tours of the borough's food scene, including Neerob, a Bangladeshi joint on Starling Avenue in Castle Hill.

From much further out of town, a reporter from The Guardian, a British daily paper, details some of the stark differences between the 16th Congressional District, which is a gigantic chunk of the southern half of the borough, and the 14th District on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.

Sam Dolnick had a terrific Times piece yesterday that highlights merchants and business owners -- including Cali Rivera and his little drum factory in Highbridge -- who hold on for dear life despite the whipping winds of demographic change over decades. Great pictures, too.

Don't think we mentioned this yet, but Bob Kappstatter reported in a recent column that the trial of former State Senator Pedro Espada, Jr. and his son, Pedro G. Espada, which was supposed to be begin in mid-October has been pushed back to the beginning of next year after the judge ruled that prosecutors failed to turn over some computer files seized in the raid on Espada's Soundview Healthcare clinic. Anyone familiar with similar pre-trial maneuvers, including those of Espada's predecessor, former Sen. Efrain Gonzalez, will predict that this is probably the first of several such delays.

Troubles continue at the esteemed Bronx High School of Science as the New York Times reports that eight of 20 social studies teachers have chosen not to return.

Bronx News Roundup, Wednesday, April 6

Weather: It looks and feels beautiful out this morning -- bright and cool, but not cold -- but apparently there's a 20 percent chance of rain later on.

To the news!

Story of the Day: 'Wild Style' Filmmaker Back in the Bronx
Filmmaker Charlie Ahearn, who put a spotlight on the Bronx hip-hop and graffiti scene with his seminal documentary, "Wild Style," is returning to the Boogie Down with his new short film, "Bongo Barbershop." The new film, which is showing this week during the New York African Film Festival, is set in University Heights, near the cross section of Jerome Avenue and 183rd Street, close to the unofficial birth-place of hip-hop -- Kool Herc's basement in a Sedgwick Avenue building. It focuses on the story of a young MC from Tanzania in search of the "real hip hop" who meets a Bronx legend -- Grandmaster Caz, who starred in "Wild Style" -- in a barbershop. In the video below from the Daily News, Ahearn talks about his new film.


Quick Hits:
After rejecting a plea deal, Bronx health clinic founder and ex-State Senator Pedro Espada Jr. and his son pleaded not guilty to embezzlement and fraud charges in Brooklyn yesterday. The trial is scheduled to begin Sept. 12.

Students at St. Ignatius, a privately-funded Jesuit middle school in Hunts Point, are thriving.

Two entrepreneurs, a Yonkers rapper and his Trinidadian mixologist colleague, are trying to cash in on the fruit smoothie craze. They recently opened up a new juice bar, Juices for Life, on Castle Hill Avenue in Castle Hill.

Bronx-bred college hoops star Kemba Walker played for the Bronx-based New York Gauchos team growing up.

The NYPD is conducting "dirty bomb" training exercises that may tie you up in traffic on your way to and from the Bronx over the next few days.

Bronx-born actress Kerry Washington talks about how the arts kept her out of trouble early in life.

Formerly-homeless tenants at Bronx buildings are facing eviction and life back on the streets with the city's Advantage program set to expire on May 1 due to state budget cuts.

A Bronx man faces three years in jail for downloading a bootleg copy of the movie "X-Men Origins: Wolverine." No word yet on what he regrets more: breaking the law or watching "X-Men Origins: Wolverine."

23-year-old Bronx rapper D Bless wants to be the Bronx's next hip hop hero.

Bronx Weekend News Roundup, March 14

Cool and partly sunny on this Monday in the Bronx, with a hint of wind just to make you realize it's still not spring yet. Looking ahead, we will probably see rain mid-week and then a dramatic temperature spike on Friday -- the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. And with that, to the news!

Story of the Day: Casino Bus Crash
A tour bus heading back to Chinatown from a casino in Connecticut crashed Saturday morning just as it entered into Bronx territory, killing 14 and injuring another 19. Riders say the bus swerved several times, probably still in Westchester County, before hitting a guardrail, tipping over and skidding into a sign pole that marked an on-ramp to Hutchinson River Parkway. According to the NY Times: "The pole burst through the front window and sheared the bus in half laterally, from front to back, along the passenger window line, the police said."

The bus driver, Orphadell Williams, told investigators he was clipped by a passing tractor-trailer, causing the crash. But the NY Post reports that the truck driver who was interviewed about his involvement said he didn't touch the tour bus and other passengers said Williams was driving erratically. The tour company, World Wide Travel, has been cited five times over the past two years for "fatigued driving" and investigated for two crashes over the past two years. Six critically injured survivors are on life support at the Bronx's Jacobi Medical Center. One of those critical victims has yet to be identified.

Quick Hits: 
The 13th annual St. Patrick's Day Parade was celebrated in Throgs Neck yesterday. 

Erica Diaz, the lesbian granddaughter of staunch gay-marriage opponent State Senator Ruben Diaz, Sr., is looking to re-enlist in the military after being ousted for outing herself to superiors three years ago. Erica says she gets along with Diaz Sr. despite their difference of opinion on gay issues. 

Speaking of Diaz Sr., the pol says he'll happily take all the contributions indicted amigo, Carl Kruger, spread around to fellow Democrats. Many are saying they will give Kruger's money to charity.

Most former workers at Stella D'oro, the cookie factory that left its Kingsbridge home in 2009 rather than deal with its striking workforce, still don't have a job. Meanwhile, HBO is working on a documentary about the lengthy 2009 strike.

More on the life of Bronx comedian Mike DeStefano who died recently of a heart attack. A quote from his 1999 book, "Bada Bing, Bada Buddha": "I am from the Bronx. I am Italian. I am sensitive. If you hurt my feelings I will kill you."

A group of Bronx tenants at eight deteriorating buildings are suing the bank that holds their mortgage for repair work. They are following a successful model established by the Milbank tenants who sued for repairs last year.

The owners of the parking garages at Yankee Stadium are expected to default on a $237-million tax-exempt loan issued by the city's Industrial Development Agency. In his state of the borough speech two weeks ago, Boro Prez Ruben Diaz Jr. suggested one of the garages could be re-invented as the borough's only high-class hotel.

The Bronx Zoo is raising a rare salamander species to help save it from extinction.

Co-op City's "janitor from hell" goes on trial for murder this week.

And finally, set aside a nice chunk of time to read BxNN-hero Tom Robbins' comprehensive piece on Pedro Espada's political and legal troubles and how they are indicative of the ongoing problems in the state legislature.

Bronx News Roundup, March 4

Happy Friday everyone! Apparently, it's warming up just enough for it to rain all weekend. Lovely. To the news!

Story of the Day:
Ridiculously tragic story in the Post today about a 25-year-old Bronx woman, Lana Rosa, who was beaten into a coma, allegedly during a dispute with a man over a parking spot in the East Village. Police arrested Oscar Fuller and charged him with the crime. Here's a video report from the Post:


Quick Hits:
Ex-State Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada Jr. is due in a Brooklyn federal court today for a pre-trial hearing. Espada and his son are facing federal fraud charges involving the nonprofit health care clinics Espada founded and runs. 

Police are searching for a crew of fire escape burglars who are targeting apartments in Morrisania.

Lots of coverage today on the Bronx's New York Botanical Garden's upcoming "The Orchid Show: On Broadway," a collaboration between the Garden and theater folks (hence the "Broadway" theme) that opens tomorrow. The Times calls it a "Grand Stage for a Diva Plant." Here's video from the Daily News:


A housing coordinator at a special needs apartment building in Melrose was fired after allegedly scamming tenants out of thousands of dollars.

The "Guido Monologues," directed by Pelham Bay native Joseph Mileto, opens off-Broadway next week.

A couple of Bronx teens were nominated for an Emmy this year for a show they did on Bronxnet.

Some love for the grand architecture at Bronx Community College.

The Riverdale Press has a bunch of new Riverdale-Kingsbridge-related stories on its website. I'll let you sift through them.

He's Back! Espada Plans Rally at Soundview Clinic

Former State Senator Pedro Espada Jr. is enlisting the help of some old amigos to publicly combat charges that he embezzled more than $500,000 from the nonprofit network of health care clinics he founded and continues to run. Espada's holding a rally tomorrow morning at 11 a.m. in front of Soundview Health Center, 731 White Plains Road.

With him, according to a press release that describes the event as a "unity press conference," will be Espada's former nemesis turned number one supporter in the state senate, Ruben Diaz Sr. (we received the release from his communications person), as well as Assemblyman Marcos Crespo and Bishop Fernando Rodriguez of the Latin American Chaplain's Association, plus a whole bunch of other folks.

Espada is also facing civil charges from the Attorney General's office that he bilked another $14 million from Soundview.

Here's the meat of the release:

"State Senator Ruben Diaz, Sr., Assemblyman Marcos Crespo, Bishop Fernando Rodriguez, president of the Latin American Chaplains Association, Pedro Espada, Jr., patients, clergy and civic leaders, other elected officials,and medical staff and health vendors will hold a unity press conference and rally in support of the Soundview Healthcare Network, emphasizing the importance of the network’s four medical facilities to the health care of tens of thousands of Bronx residents, families, children and senior citizens."

Bronx News Roundup, Jan. 18

In December 2009, arsonists broke into a Unionport church, scrawling obscenities on the walls and stealing computers before setting the place alight. The church has since bounced back, rebuilding and doubling the size of its congregation.

Workers who claim they were laid off by Woodlawn Cemetery after joining a union, rallied outside the cemetery yesterday afternoon. They've previously accused their supervisors of racism.

Last year, 27 people were murdered in Bronx housing projects, up from 13 in 2009.

A Bronx boxer is returning to the ring after a 25-year absense.

Three Bronx men have been arrested for allegedly using counterfeit bills at a mall in Middletown in upstate New York.

Jorje Jimenez, a Lehman College student and possibly the best wrestler in the city, could be new Jersey-bound, dealing a blow to those trying to promote the sport here in New York.

State Sen. Jeff Klein's breakaway Independent Democratic Conference is already in trouble, says the Daily News' Bob Kappstatter in his weekly column. 

State Senator Ruben Diaz, Sr. is accusing Gov. Andrew Cuomo of "blackmailing" New York.

A Bronx gymnast with bags of potential is on the way back after a serious injoury.

A Q & A with Majora Carter, the founder of Sustainable South Bronx who now runs her own consultancy firm.

Youngsters from the Bronx and Westchester took part in the third annual Intergenerational Martin Luther King, Jr., Great Debaters Contest on Saturday morning.

More on Assemblyman's Peter Rivera ties to a non-profit organization whose executive director has been charged with corruption.  Rivera allegedly told investigators he knew nothing about Neighborhood Enhancement for Training and Services' day to day operations, and didn't even know the executive director drew a salary - which is little strange considering he's given more than $2 million to the group over the years. If nothing else, the allegations and rumors surrounding Rivera have ended any chance he had of landing a job on Gov. Cuomo's team. Here's the Bronx News Network's original post about the investigation.

Soundview Health Care Network, the group of health centers run by Pedro Espada, the legally challenged former state senator, is still open for business, despite the scandals.

Last week, Cathie Black, the new Schools chancellor, quipped that "birth control" was the solution to school overcrowding.  Mayor Bloomberg has since tried to defend her, but was booed yesterday at a Martin Luther King, Jr. Councilman Charles Barron and others say Black's remarks had racist connotations.

Espada's replacement, Gustavo Rivera, gave a wide-ranging interview to Feet in 2 Worlds about his plans for district and the alleged "debt" he owes those who helped him win election. 

More on the Archdiocese of New York's decision to close six Bronx schools.

Students at Fordham University are apparently eager to learn Twi, a language widely spoken in West Africa as well as parts of the Bronx.

More on a new city program - the Proactive Preservation Initiative - which is designed to identify buildings that are falling into disrepair. The program was inspired by the terrible conditions at 10 Bronx proprieties owned by Milbank Real Estate.

Resident of a Riverdale co-op are being driven barking mad by a neighbor's "singing" dog.

Bronx News Roundup, Oct. 20

Good morning beautiful people!

First up, highlights (lowlights?) of the Yankees getting thrashed by the upstart Texas Rangers, 10-3, last night in the Bronx. Now down 3-1 in the best of seven American League Champion Series. The Bombers face elimination in a matinee game today. Start time: 4:07 p.m.

Apparently Yankee fans bailed early from this massacre.(Disclaimer: it's written by a Red Sox fan.)

More on the largest pumpkin ever grown, which is on its way to the Bronx from New Richmond, Wisc. After a stop at the Regis and Kelly show, it should arrive at the New York Botanical Garden on Friday. It will be on display there for a week and then turned into the world's largest jack-o-lantern by superstar pumpkin carver Scott Cully.

Bronx State Senator Pedro Espada's former ally in the coup that gridlocked Albany in 2009, Hiram Monserrate (who was booted out of office earlier this year), was indicted yesterday on federal corruption charges for allegedly using a nonprofit in his district to bankroll his first run for state senate. Sound eerily familiar? Bronx City Councilman Larry Seabrook is facing similar charges and Espada's predecessor, Efrain Gonzalez, is now in prison after being convicted on basically the same charges.

A federal court awarded a Bronx man wrongly convicted of rape $18.5 million in damages from the city. Alan Newton spent two decades in prison before being cleared four years ago when DNA evidence that was finally located proved his innocence.

The City Fix, a website dedicated to advocating for environmentally-friendly transportation, says it's a great thing that the MTA is expanding it's bus rapid transit routes. The rapid transit program began with the BX12, which runs east to west on Fordham Road.

The Daily News writes about Sunday's Tour de Bronx, which, as we've mentioned a time or two, is dedicated to superstar health advocate Megan Charlop, who died in a biking accident earlier this year.

More hotels are sprouting up in the outer boroughs, including the Bronx. The story mentions the Days Inn Yankee Stadium on Brooke Avenue and says a Holiday Inn Express is also coming to the borough. BxNN reader Jack points out this relatively new hotel on 3rd Avenue.(Meanwhile, nothing seems to be happening with the half-built skeleton of what was supposed to be a Comfort Inn on Webster Avenue, near Mosholu Parkway.)

Diaz and Dinowitz to Endorse Gustavo Rivera

It's been another good day for Senate candidate Gustavo Rivera, with both City Comptroller John Liu and Public Advocate Bill de Blasio endorsing him in his race against embattled State Senator Pedro Espada, Jr.

Perhaps more importantly, Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. and Assembly Jeffrey Dinowitz have also announced they're supporting him.  They plan to make it official at a press conference on Monday morning.  More here and here.  Rivera, you may recall, has been wooing Diaz for some time.

New Poll: Espada Vulnerable But Crowded Race Benefits Him

Despite low name recognition, Gustavo Rivera is currently tied with State Senator Pedro Espada, Jr. in a head-to-head matchup, according to a recent poll conducted by Red Horse Strategies on behalf of the New Roosevelt Initiative, a political committee which has endorsed Rivera.

When Daniel Padernacht, the third candidate in the race, is added to the equation, however, Espada jumps into a healthy lead. (Concerned about the “Ralph Nader” effect, Rivera and the New Roosevelt Initiative have been urging Padernacht to end his campaign - so far without success.)

There's more analysis from the poll below.

In related news, State Senator Ruben Diaz, Sr. officially endorsed Espada today at a church in Kingsbridge, according to Riverdale Ramblings. His son, Bronx BP Ruben Diaz, Jr., is considering backing Rivera.

New Roosevelt Initiative Poll

New In The Tremont Tribune

May's Tremont Tribune is on the streets and online. Check out some of our latest stories:

• The primary race for Pedro Espada's state senate seat is getting crowded, with Community Board 7 manager Fernando Tirado and former Gillibrand staffer Gustavo Rivera both declaring their candidacy. 
• Speaking of Espada: some coverage of his current legal woes, as well as his recent financial contributions to a three local groups. 
• Tenants in two apartment buildings on Garden Street, owned by Milbank Real Estate, have found themselves living in terrible conditions after their buildings went into foreclosure last year. Now, a legal group is working on behalf of residents in ten other Milbank buildings to hold the bank that oversees the mortgage responsible for maintenance. 
• Assemblyman Michael Benjamin, whose district covers much of CB6, says he won't be seeking re-election this fall. He's toying with the idea of running against Congressman Jose E. Serrano instead. 
• A group of students from PS/MS 3 have scored a grant to help fund their quest to clean up a local park.

For more, including some great photos of recent events and our community calendar, visit www.tremonttribune.org. And don't forget to follow us on Twitter and Facebook!

Transport Union to Endorse Pilgrim-Hunter?

State Senate candidate Desiree Pilgrim-Hunter met yesterday with Israel Rivera, the secretary-treasurer of the TWU Local 100, according to a source close to her campaign.

The meeting was positive and productive, our source said, and Rivera (the union's second in command) is reportedly very happy that Pilgrim-Hunter, a community activist and Fordham Hill resident, is running. (As you've probably heard or read, she's challenging Pedro Espada, Jr., who's had a miserable week following Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's announcement that he's suing him for allegedly stealing $14 million from his non-profit healthcare network. Last night, Espada defended himself on NY1's "Inside City Hall.") 

TWU Local 100, a chapter of the Transport Workers Union of America, has 38,000 working members, mostly public transport workers in New York City - bus drivers, subway conductors, station cleaners, and the like. It's one of the most powerful unions in the five boroughs. A formal endorsement, assuming it's forthcoming, would mean plenty of money and resources for Pilgrim-Hunter's campaign come primary season.

According to the Daily News, another labor union, the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), is also expected to endorse Pilgrim-Hunter in the near future.

File photo by Adi Talwar

Bronxites Mark MLK Day With Grand Concourse March and Memorial Service

Yesterday morning, in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., about 200 people took part in a "Walk for Peace" along the Grand Concourse.

The crowd, which included State Sen. Pedro Espada, Assemblyman Nelson Castro, community leaders and clergy, met in front of the Loews Paradise Theater, before walking south, several blocks, to First Union Baptist Church for a memorial service.

Inside the church, Espada, whose office helped organize the rally (and who walked behind a massive banner with his and King's faces on), took the mic to praise the civil rights leader and ask that youngsters there sign a "Resolution for Peace and Nonviolence."

Espada also spoke about how happy he was to be the first Latino majority leader in the state Senate. And he alluded to Andrew Cuomo's ongoing investigation into his healthcare network, and some of the bad press (here's an example) he's been receiving.

"People forget that Martin Luther King, at age 39 [when he died], was not heralded by the press," Espada said. "He was not deemed to be a man of the people. We must recall that as we read our daily papers and study the news of the day."

Hit play on the podcast to hear Espada's speech.

Bronx News Roundup, Jan. 5

The NY Post has more on State Sen. Pedro Espada's suspect parking habits, which BoogieDowner revealed yesterday. 

Councilman Jimmy Vacca could be in line for a powerful committee spot.

Montefiore Medical Center and Aetna, a health insurer, have reached an 11th hour contract deal, averting a crisis that would have affected thousands of patients.

Several Bronx buses, including the Bx4 and the Bx34, could be eliminated, as the MTA looks for ways to close its budget gap.

Well-known Bronxites share their New Year's resolutions.

Espada Hits the Mail

Hardly skipping a beat after the apparent resolution of the month-long leadership crisis in the state Senate that he triggered almost single-handedly, Pedro Espada, Jr., senator for the 33rd District, just sent out a mailing to his constituents touting his "accomplishments." With breathtaking chutzpah, he takes credit for more cops on city streets, presumably because the legislature could finally approve the hike in the city's sales tax once Espada defected back to the Dems after paralyzing local governments dependent on Albany actiion with his original flip to the GOP. Sen. Espada also congratulates himself on "affordable housing," a claim sure to enrage tenant advocates who were trying to get him to address vacancy decontrol and other pro-tenant legislation before all hell broke lose in the Capitol.

We have some calls in to Sen. Espada and the legislature to find out how much he spent on his mailing which was paid for with Senate funds allotted to each member.

We'd also like to know if the mailing was sent to all of his constituents. If you live in the 33rd District, please let us know whether or not you've received this mailing. Thanks!



..

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, June 16

Mayor Michael Bloomberg has his "priorities out of whack" according to Daily News columnist Patrice O'Shaughnessy. One example: the fact that kids living in the Yankee Stadium(s) area are still waiting for new parks.

Community board funding must be maintained, writes Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. in an op-ed in the Daily News. More here on the proposed cuts.

Bronx day care centers are also facing funding cuts.

Having fought long and hard to bring a middle school to the neighborhood, Highbridge parents and community leaders want to ensure the building, when built, meets certain "green" specifications.

Bob Kappstatter wraps up the (terrible) week that was in Bronx politics.

Clyde Haberman wonders what America's D-Day heros, who died in the name of democracy, would make of the political shenanigans going on Albany this week and last, and the two men - Espada and Monserrate - at the front and center of it all.

A movable swimming pool is coming back to Hunts Point this summer.

Bronx pols Eliot Engel, Oliver Koppell, and Jeffrey Dinowitz spoke about their hopes for health care reform at an event on June 13.

A new Bronx-based program will educate 11 to 14-year-olds about violent relationships and how to avoid them.

Parents and teachers at PS 160 in Co-op City are protesting plans to put a charter school inside their school.

City Island's firehouse won't close after all.

BronxNet has launched a new channel targeted at youth.

Capitol Chaos cont'd

Liz Benjamin has updates (not to be missed) from Albany here and here.

At the end of the second post is an update that the aformentioned (in James Fergusson's news roundup) burglary of Espada's home was the one in Mamaroneck, not his Bedford Park co-op. Should've known.

Espada defects; GOP now the majority party

Some big news out of Albany.

According to The Times, State Senators Hiram Monserrate (Queens) and Pedro Espada have voted with the Republican Party to overthrow the Senate’s Democratic leadership, in a move that could end the Democrats brief control of the State Senate.

Liz Benjamin also has the story.