Update: Juanita Young acquitted

Juanita Young, a Bronx resident and anti-police brutality activist, was acquitted of all charges against her this afternoon.

A jury deliberated for about two hours before finding Young not guilty of second-degree obstruction of government administration; fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon; two counts of third-degree attempted assault ; and two counts of second-degree attempted harassment.

The charges stemmed from an incident at Young's home in November 2006. Young's oldest daughter, Saran, called 911 because her sister, D'Nai, was emotionally distressed. Prosecutors alleged that after police arrived at the Young residence, Juanita Young attempted to prevent police from entering her home and that, once officers were inside, Young threw several cans at them.

But Young denied attempting to prevent police from entering her home. And she said it was actually police who assaulted her: Young, who is partially blind and asthmatic, said several officers kicked her repeatedly in her bedroom, and that she sustained head, chest, and back injuries that hospitalized her for several days.

During closing arguments, Young's lawyer, Geoffrey Stewart, said Young did not throw cans but rather a cake-frosting container, and that she did so after being brutalized by officers. Stewart told jurors that the act was spontaneous and done out of self-defense, because Young had reasonable cause to believe there was danger of physical force being used against her.

"She saw a hand coming toward her, and this was the first thing she could grab and throw," Stewart told the jury.

In addition, Young argued that she had reason to fear the police because of her past experiences with law enforcement: In 2000, Young's son, 23-year-old Malcolm Fergusson, was unarmed when NYPD Officer Louis Rivera shot and killed him. In 2003, Young alleged officers threw her down the stairs while arresting her. Last year, Young won civil suits against the City stemming from both cases.

Stewart told jurors during closing arguments that Young raised her past experiences with police to officers in her home. " You done killed my son. And you've abused me. I'm not gonna let you touch my child," Stewart quoted Young as telling officers, before adding: "So she did take on the cops that day. She didn't do it with cans. She did it with words."

After the verdict was announced, Young hugged Stewart and her other lawyer, David Rankin, and said "Thank you."

"I'm so glad justice was done here," Young told the Horizon outside the courtroom. "The jury saw through the lies that was told. I'm just glad the people see the cops' word is not bonded."

Double Trouble and Still a Mess

Hello? Anyone out there working for the DOT?
Two weeks ago, the Norwood News ran this picture of dangerous makeshift base of a traffic pole at the corner of East 206th Street and Bainbridge Avenue as its Mess of the Month.



And though we got action -- the action made it worse.


Someone actually added another box to the previous box and put some pylons and police tape around it!
This might seem like not a big deal, but it's indicative of the way our neighborhoods are often ignored by city agencies.
We're hoping we don't have to blog about this again next week.

Bronx News Roundup Oct. 17

Yesterday, an autistic Bronx toddler was left alone on a school bus for six hours, outside P.S. 194 on Waterbury Avenue in the east Bronx. The bus driver and a school matron have been charged with endangering the welfare of a child. Just last month, another bus driver was suspended without pay for dropping off a five-year-old boy two miles from his Eastchester home.

Rose Donaghey, an 88-year-old waitress who works at the Wicked Wolf on East Tremont Avenue, is in the news again. Earlier this month she was profiled in the Daily News. The "lively octogenarian" has been working as a waitress for the past 50 years.

The trial of a Bronx man accused of murdering six men in the 1990s, begun yesterday in Manhattan's state Supreme Court. Prosecutors say Fausto Gonzalez was a motorcycle obsessed hit-man whose modus operandi was pass his victims on powerful Honda Fireblade, shoot them dead, and then speed off. Gonzalez, who's already serving a life sentence for a separate murder, is pleading not guilty.

The Times has some exhaustive coverage of yesterday's term limits hearing at City Hall. See here and here. They're also live blogging today's hearing. An hour or so ago,
Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz alluded to State Senator Efrain Gonazalez's recent primary defeat, in his argument for extending limits. "I’ve always been opposed to laws that enforce term limits. They are profoundly undemocratic," Markowitz said, according to The Times. "We have methods to apply term limits, they’re called elections. Look at the most recent elections: Two veteran state senators were defeated in elections in the Bronx and Brooklyn."

Bronx Assemblyman Ruben Diaz, on the other hand, argued against an extension. “Although I remain personally opposed to term limits, it is my opinion that it would be wrong to circumvent the results of the 1993 and 1996 referendums in which the voters of our great city both affirmed term limits and rejected any attempt to alter them,” Diaz said, according to The Times.

Diaz, it should be said, isn't affected by term limits because he's a state official. But he's running for Bronx borough president and could suddenly face a powerful opponent - Adolfo Carrion - if the current laws are changed. Carrion, the current BP, is a candidate for comptroller. He's yet to say if he'd seek another four years as BP, if allowed to run again. But he does favor a term limit overhaul. A few minutes ago, his office fired off a press release detailing Carrion's testimony at today's hearing. He said: "I support extending term limits, not because Michael Bloomberg wants to run for Mayor again, but because it begins to move us back toward responsible governance and representative democracy, which should continue to be the foundation of American democracy."

UPDATE: I should have mentioned that Diaz has previously said he'll step aside if Carrion does indeed run for a third term. We shall see.

Juanita Young trial expected to end Friday

Closing arguments are set for Friday in the trial of Bronx resident and anti-police brutality activist Juanita Young.

Young is charged with obstructing government administration and attempted assault stemming from a November 2006 incident in which she was arrested at her home. But Young, who is 53 years old and partially blind, says she was the one who was assaulted : She says that after police arrived at her home in response to a 911 call placed by one of her daughters who had gotten into an altercation with another daughter, several officers barricaded her in her room, held her down, and struck her several times.

Young was hospitalized for several days, according to the October 22 Coalition To Stop Police Brutality, an organization with which Young is active. The Coalition is urging Young's supporters to pack the courtroom tomorrow, as well as Monday - -when a verdict is expected.

Young's lawyer, Geoffrey Stewart, told the West Bronx News Blog Thursday that the assault charge is based on the allegation that Young threw a container during the incident.

Young's experience with law enforcement has been bitter, to say the least. In March 2000, her son Malcolm Fergusson, 23, was shot and killed by the NYPD in Soundview; Fergusson's name was added to the list of unarmed men of color killed by the police. Young sued the city for wrongful death, and won: In June 2007, a jury awarded her $10.7 million. In October 2007, Young won a separate lawsuit against the city stemming from a 2003 incident in which she alleged police threw her down a flight of stairs while arresting her during an eviction. Young was charged with trespassing in her own home but was later acquitted.

Young's trial is set to resume at 9:30 am Friday in Part 06, Room 460 of the Bronx County Hall of Justice, at 265 E. 161st Street.

Forced Evacuation After Chlorine Leak at Jerome Park Gatehouse

The Riverdale Press reports that workers were forced to evacuate a Jerome Park Reservoir gatehouse late last night after a chlorine leak was detected.

New from the Norwood News

Get all the latest from Norwood, Bedford Park, North Fordham and University Heights in the latest edition of the Norwood News, on the streets and online now. Here's a quick preview of some of the stories we're following:

An in-depth look into how the local groups and activists might be able to extract further community benefits from the coming renovation of the Kingsbridge Armory, which, at this point, is looking mostly like a giant shopping mall. Community Benefits Agreements have ensured substantial and enforceable benefits packages in places like California, but because of resistance by the Bloomberg administration, those types of agreements have been slow to catch on in New York City.

Also, a look at the first official public hearing about the Armory project. The Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment Alliance (KARA), which is seeking a Community Benefits Agreement with the project's developers (The Related Companies), showed up in force to voice it's concerns and wishes for the project.

Three local City Council members -- Joel Rivera, Maria Baez and Oliver Koppell -- support the mayor's plan to extend term limits. Like Bloomberg, all three face a job change or unemployment after next year. The rest of the council is split or undecided.

The warring factions inside the Bronx Democratic Party will battle it out in court, Oct. 27. Why the outcome and Bronx politics in general should matter to everyone who lives here.

A new program in University Heights is fusing basketball and academics to send kids to college and getting fantastic results.

Allen Cleaners, a "cleaner's cleaner" in Bedford Park, just celebrated its 60th year in business.

Plus, check out our Out & About arts and entertainment calendar and our Neighborhood Notes guide to local events, programs and services, which is expanded online.

Bronx News Roundup Oct. 16

Several Bronx cops were honored yesterday for outstanding service, at an awards ceremony in Morris Park.

The first of two public hearings on Mayor Bloomberg's bid to extend term limits is being held today. The Times says the City Hall hearings are the most eagerly anticipated in years. Big crowds are expected. In other news, Bronx Councilwoman Maria del Carmen Arroyo now says she's "undecided" on whether she'd vote for an extension. Previously she was in favor. In the Bronx, then, four council members want an extension, two don't, and two are undecided. More here.

Federal investigators say the city may have inflated the estimated cost of the new Yankee Stadium and then lied to the IRS. On the back of these costs, the Yankees were able to secure $942 million in tax-exempt bonds, in the process saving themselves millions of dollars.

A man has been charged with the murder of his baby son in a West Farms homeless shelter earlier this week. Police say John Rodriguez punched 8-month-old Elijah because he wouldn't stop crying.

On Tuesday night a man was murdered inside his Mount Eden apartment, police say.

Monroe College is 75-years-old. The first in a series of celebratory events will be held next Wednesday.

Sustainable South Bronx has co-authored a study calling on city policymakers to implement an "Urban Heat Island mitigation plan." The study says "vegetated and highly reflective surfaces" would help combat global warming, reduce pollution, improve public health, and even strengthen the economy.

The Bronx picked up several awards in the Village Voice's annual Best of NYC readers poll, including best public tennis courts, best Jamaican food, best Latin music store, and, er, best strip club. Boogiedowner has more details.

Last but not least, Freddy, a beloved Fly River turtle who lives at the Bronx Zoo, recently turned 50. He's the oldest known turtle of his kind.

Don't Miss This Awesome Bronx Bike Ride!

If you've never been on the Tour de Bronx, the city's largest free cycling event, you don't know what you're missing! It's simply the best and most exhilarating way to see the borough. Even if you are a Bronx native, you probably haven't seen many of the streets and neighborhoods and parks the route takes you through.

The event, organized by Tranpsortation Alternatives and the Bronx borough President's office is this Sunday, Oct. 19. (And in the interests of full disclosure, I should note that Montefiore Medical Center is a major sponsor this year. Mosholu Preservation Corporation, which publishes the Norwood News, is a not-for-profit affiliate of Montefiore.)

Call 718-590-3518 to register. Or register on-line by tomorrow at www.tourdebronx.org.

See you on Sunday!

Bronx News Roundup Oct. 15

The New York Times has an interactive map showing who in the City Council supports a term limit extension, and who doesn't. The Times sums it up this way: "Much of the support comes from the Bronx, while much of the opposition is from Queens."

The trial of a man accused of shooting dead an off-duty cop in Pelham Bay in 2005 starts today. Steven Armento could face life in prison without the possibility of parole. Armento's co-defendant, Lillo Brancato Jr., an actor who appeared in several episodes of the "Sopranos," and the film "A Bronx Tale," will be tried separately. Officer Daniel Enchautegui was killed when he went to investigate to burglary at his neighbor's house. See here and here.

State Senator Jose M. Serrano, representatives from the New York Civil Liberties Union, and others, are holding a press conference at 1 p.m. today, to protest a new Department of Education policy which makes it easier for military recruiters to access high school students' personal information.

Last week, Congressman Joseph Crowley (Bronx/Queens) helped broker a nuclear pact between the United States and India.

P.S. 5, an elementary school in Mott Haven, is giving its students cheap, indestructible laptops. The program is sponsored by Teaching Matters and the DOE. The idea is to get students onto a shared network so they can do school work at home.

JFK takes on Clinton in high school football this Saturday. The Daily News is calling the game a "battle for borough supremacy." Both teams are 5-1 so far this season.

In Defense of CRA

Opinion by Gregory Lobo Jost
It's getting a little ridiculous, to tell you the truth. According to the New York Times, an Iowa Representative has introduced legislation to repeal the 1977 watershed legislation that helped save neighborhoods across the country, including the those in the Bronx. Maybe it should come as no surprise that certain deregulation-minded conservatives who have been battling the Community Reinvestment Act for years (following the lead of former Senator Phil Gramm) would take the opportunity of a financial meltdown to once again go on the attack against CRA.

Fortunately, the Times editorial board has taken a stand today in support of CRA:

The charges do not hold up. First, how could a 30-plus-year-old law be responsible for a crisis that has occurred only in recent years? Then there’s the fact that the regulatory guidance issued under the reinvestment act and other banking laws actually impose restraints on the riskiest kinds of subprime lending.

In addition, subprime lending was not driven by banks, which are covered by the act. Rather, most subprime lending was driven by independent mortgage lending companies, which the act does not cover, and, to a lesser extent, by bank affiliates and subsidiaries that are not fully covered by the act. By some estimates, nonbank lenders and bank affiliates and subsidiaries may have originated 75 percent or more of the riskiest subprime loans.

The Times also cites a report by the Center for Community Capital at UNC Chapel Hill that shows much lower default rates in CRA loans than in subprime. A separate January 2008 study showed that banks who were subject to CRA, "were less likely to make a high cost loan, charged less for the high cost loans that were made, and were substantially more likely to eschew the secondary market and hold high cost and other loans in portfolio." In other words, they had better lending practices.

The real problem was from lenders not regulated by CRA (thanks in part to Phil Gramm) who went wild with their products. Often they didn't care if the loans were affordable because they were going to sell them off to be packaged into securities and sold to investors around the world, who were in turn duped by the ratings agencies. Plenty of people made a lot of money along the way without any real accountability. Since CRA-regulated banks are more likely to keep their loans on their own books, they actually lent with the intention of being repaid.

The lack of accountability inherent to the mortgage securitization process is what fueled the housing bubble and has brought us to this disastrous economic moment. The weakening of CRA in 1999 might be a better place to look to place a good chunk of the blame. The timing suggests it warrants a closer look.

Boys & Girls Club Coming to University Heights

The Hebrew Institute of University Heights, an abandoned Hebrew school on Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard, is being turned into a community center by Kips Bay Boys & Girl Club. The 30,000-square-foot building has been vacant for 30 years - so this is exciting news. Construction started in May and is expected to wrap up in about a year.

The Institute was built in the 1920s, when the borough's Jewish population was soaring. By 1930 the South Bronx alone was home to more than 260 synagogues, according to this Web site. Today there's just one.

(Photo by Ariel Elghanayan)

Foster Quiet on Term-Limits Issue

Council member Helen Foster is known for voicing her opinion - even when it makes her unpopular with her Bronx colleagues. But she's been oddly silent on the term-limits issue. Today, NY1 spoke to several of her constituents. One said: "She has to make up her mind."

Under current laws, Foster will be forced to step aside at the end of next year. Previously, she's expressed an interest in running for borough president.