Bronx News Roundup, Monday, Aug. 8

Happy Monday, Bronxites! Your weather forecast for today calls for sunshine and temps in the high 80s.

Story of the Day: Espada Spent the Most Senate Cash

File photo by Jeanmarie Evelly

Pedro Espada's lavish spending habits have him back in the headlines again (just in case you've forgotten, see here.) State Senate documents released this week show that the infamously indicted former Bronx rep. spent more taxpayer money in his last three months in office than any other Senator did in double that time, doling out $750,000 in expenses and to pay staffers.

Espada managed to rack up the high tab despite the fact that he and his office were conspicuously quiet during the months in question, October to December, which was after he lost the primary to now-Senator Gustavo Rivera. During these final months in office, Espada was criticized for missing several important sessions in Albany, including a vote on housing legislation that he was the main sponsor for.

We wrote about Espada's bloated office staff roster last fall, after we noticed the number of employees on his payroll had practically doubled in the months leading up to the primary. His staff at the time insisted, however, that any campaign work they did for Espada was off the Senate clock.

In other Espada news: the Soundview Healthcare Network which he founded (and was indicted for looting) will lose $10 million in Medicaid funding because of repeated violations of state law, according to the NY Post.

Quick Hits: 
A New Jersey-based advocacy group set up shop outside Nativity of Our Blessed Lady parish in Eastchester, where they say they are urging sexual assault victims to come forward and share their stories. The church's priest, Father James Duenas, was arrested last week on molestation charges.

More ink on the Bronx-based indie flick "Gun Hill Road." (Read some of our coverage here and here.)

Bronx News Roundup, Thursday, June 30

Ladies and gentlemen of the Bronx and beyond, welcome to the last Bronx News Roundup of June. Here's to a lovely Independence Day weekend and a fantastic July. Now, to the news!

Weather: Absolutely gorgeous, high in the low- to mid-80s, nice little breeze to cool the sweat beads on the back of your neck. No complaints here. Tomorrow, there's a slight chance of isolate thunderstorms in the afternoon, but we doubt it.

Story of the Day: Report Says Father's Rage Led to Bronx Football Star's Death
Yesterday, we linked to the brain-twisting and tragic story of Truman High School football star Isayah Muller, who was stabbed to death in a Bedford Park parking lot just hours after his graduation ceremony at Lehman College. Today, more details have emerged. According to the NY Post, after a post-graduation meal on City Island, Isayah's father, Andre Muller, became enraged when he couldn't locate an expensive bottle of cologne in his car. After dropping off Isayah's grandmother, the father drove back to the parking lot where the family had dropped off the car during the ceremony and angrily confronted two attendants who were on duty. A brawl ensued, with one of the attendants wielding a machete and the other a makeshift knife, both weapons were apparently on hand for protection. (You know, in case an enraged man accuses you of stealing expensive cologne and you need to shank somebody.) Isayah went to help his father and was stabbed by one of the attendants, once, in the heart. He was pronounced dead a short time later at St. Barnabas Hospital. Muller was charged with assault yesterday and was released after pleading not guilty. Neither of the attendants have been charged with a crime.

Quick Hits:

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, Feb. 5

Heads up: NYC is on a blizzard watch. Snow may start up this evening and continue well into tomorrow afternoon, so plan accordingly. Of course, this is only rampant speculation.

In other news:

The city has forced an overnight homeless shelter at the Kingsbridge Heights Community Center to close its doors. The official explanation: land devoted to park purposes (the community center is owned by the parks department) cannot be utilized for any other purpose. The center may still offer its other services to the public during the daytime.

After passing from one owner to the next, and years of bitter labor struggles between owners and employees, the old Stella D'oro Bakery will officially be shut down. On Monday the factory will be auctioned off by its current owner, Brynwood Partners, who moved production to Ohio after buying the company from Kraft. 150 people will be unemployed as a result.

A rape victim is receiving $1 million from Parkchester South, a condominium on Tremont Avenue. The attack happened in 2003, but recent details indicate the condominium was the suspect was responsible for nearly a dozen robberies and assaults between 2002 and 2003. Residents were kept in the dark about the crime spree.

David Gonzalez over at the Times talks about the history of graffiti in New York City. In the article, Gonzalez talks to Eric Felisbret, who recently released a book anthologizing New York graffiti. Felisbret's website can be found here.

Anyone see that movie Big Fan? The Daily News has a lighter story about football fanaticism in their story about how the NFL saved the life of Benny From The Bronx, a local sports talk radio caller.

Bronx News Roundup, Oct. 16

At a hearing in Manhattan on Wednesday, a slew of Bronxites, including several representatives from the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition, urged the Federal Reserve and the government in general to do more to help struggling homeowners.

A front page story in the NY Times about the tribulations of the housing and organizing group, Acorn, starts off with former city housing commissioner Shaun Donovan praising the group for its work on a South Bronx affordable housing development. Lots of interesting stuff in this article, including its ties to the Working Families Party, which has wielded a lot of political clout in Bronx and city races this fall.

Here's the Stella D'oro cookie factory closing story from the workers' side. Here's the story from business/owners' side.

The state released its September unemployment figures yesterday. The Bronx unemployment rate jumped one-tenth of a percentage point to 13.3 percent. The overal city unemployment also jumped one-tenth of a point to 10.3 percent. The state rate is 8.9 percent.

A Bronx woman is suing a Manhattan club for excluding her because of her race.

The Bronx's JFK High School girl volleyball team improved to 6-0 this year.

DeWitt Clinton's football squad is ranked 8th in the city, according to the latest poll in the NY Post. Clinton play rival JFK, at JFK, this afternoon at 5 pm.

Bronx News Roundup, Oct. 2

Apologies for the lack of a news roundup yesterday. We'll make up for it today with an exhaustive rundown of all the Bronx stories out there.

We'll start with a feel-good story that just got even more feel-goody. Less than 24 hours after helping rescue a 4-year-old boy from a burning building in Westchester Square, Horia Cretan proposed to his girlfriend on Good Morning America. She said yes and also: "You're crazy, you know that?" (NPR plays the spoiler, pointing out that the firefighter on the scene did most of the rescuing, but Cretan, a Romanian immigrant, did climb up four flights of the fire escape and brought the kid back down to the street safely. That's still pretty darn heroic in our book, NPR.)

More good news! Two stars in the remake of "Fame," which debuts today in theatres everywhere, are from the northwest Bronx. Anthony Carr, 24, is from Kingsbrdige Road. Lydia Perez, 21, grew up in Belmont. Both emerged from open casting calls at the Bronx Dance Theatre last summer. Both are scheduled to be at Bay Plaza to talk to fans and sign autographs at the Bay Plaza theatre before the first showing at 12:30 p.m.

18 new schools have opened in the Bronx this year.

Now, the bad news. An Oklahoma woman who stands accused of locking her daughter in a basement for four years was convicted of starving her 2-year-old daughter to death in the Bronx 14 years ago.

A Bronx teacher was charged with third degree rape and sexual misconduct for allegedly having an affair with a 15-year-old student who became pregnant. Colleagues say the man was a great teacher and his sister told the Daily News that he's innocent.

In a press release, the Stella D'oro cookie company blamed the union's negotiating strategy for causing them to pack up and move their Bronx bakery operations to Ohio.

We'll end a good note. Check out the Bronx Zoo's cute new baby sea lion. Watch some older sea lions paint.

Bronx News Roundup, July 29

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted to recommend native Bronxite Sonia Sotomayor for confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court yesterday by a vote of 13-6. The vote was along aprty lines with one exception, Republican Lindsey Graham of South Carolina voted for Sotomayor. This puts her on the verge of confirmation by the full Senate, which should vote sometime in the next two weeks.

Though details remain extremely vague and sketchy, the AP, via 1010 WINS, is reporting that two Bronxites were shot last night, one fatally. There's no address or even neighborhood attached to this crime. We haven't received any reports from the NYPD about this yet.

The fight to keep the cookie factory Stella d'Oro in the Bronx is moving beyond the borough, to Wall Street, City Hall and even Washington, DC.

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. wants health care and drug research companies to set up shop in the Boogie Down.

Former Bronx B.P. Herman Badillo is endorsing Mike Bloomberg for mayor.

Stella D'oro Strike Over

A judge ruled today in favor the Bronx cookie factory's long-suffering and striking workers.

Here's the story in the Norwood News about the strike, from May.

New from the Norwood News

The latest action-packed edition of the Norwood News is out on streets and online now. We've got a great lineup of compelling stories for your reading enjoyment. Here's a quick preview:

We profile a father and Stella D'oro cookie factory worker who's struggling to provide for his family as the workers' strike stretches into its ninth month.

The Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment Alliance and Community Board 7 are going to work with new borough president Ruben Diaz, Jr. to negotiate a Community Benefits Agreement for the Armory mall project. It would be an unprecedented government-community partnership for city development projects.

The Health Department says its willing to open up a portion of the vacant old Fordham Library for community space. The agency is also willing to look at cheaper alternatives to installing a full-service animal shelter in the building, like a low-cost spay and neuter clinic, which pet advocates say would go farther toward ending pet homelessness. But first the City Council must change its law that mandates full-service shelters in all five boroughs.

The Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition looked within to find its new co-executive directors and found two women of color -- the first time women of color are heading the 35-year-old organization.

Our special Real Estate section examines the buyer's market in the Bronx.

A story on the swearing-in of new borough president Ruben Diaz, Jr. Our editorial says Diaz, Jr. could excel in his new role, but he must avoid the the borough's minefield of political pitfalls.

Cops bust a suspect who they say sexually assaulted two teenage girls in the span of 8 days in the same location.

Don't forget to check our Out & About arts, recreation and entertainment calendar, our extensive online Neighborhood Notes guide to neighborhood programs, events and services.

Finally, our Inquiring Photographer asks residents about their thoughts on mayoral control of public schools, which is up for renewal on June. 30.

Bronx News (other than term limits) Roundup: Oct. 23

NY1's Dean Meminger reports on how the DOT plans to help alleviate confusion and congestion at one of the busiest intersections in the Bronx -- 3rd Avenue and 149th Street.

A judge ordered that a Bronx building owner has 30 days to fix 269 outstanding violations or he will be forced to forfeit the property to the city.

Stella D'Oro workers are striking in protest of a wage cut imposed by the company's new owners.

The Daily News profiles Eva Bornstein of the Lehman Center for Performing Arts.

Native Bronxite and performer David Gonzalez (not to be confused with the NY Times reporter of the same name) is gaining notoriety for his show, which features "classic tales with a lot of funk."

The new Metro-North Station at Yankee Stadium is moving along swimmingly.