Bronx News Roundup, Aug. 6

A 61-year-old Bronx man has contracted West Nile virus. According to the city's Department of Health, it's the city's first confirmed case of the year.

A piece of stone from the old Yankee Stadium has a new home: the Bronx Museum.

In an editorial, the Daily News had some praise for State Senator Pedro Espada, Jr. He deserves credit, the paper says, for his farm worker bill which would have granted farm workers basic labor protections. Despite Espada's efforts, the bill was narrowly defeated on Tuesday, after several Democrats who had earlier supported the legislation voted no.

Daniel Padernacht, an opponent of Espada's in this September Democratic primary, was recently interviewed on the radio show, The Perez Notes.

An investigator for the New York State Office of the Medicaid Inspector General has been convicted of attempting to bribe a Bronx pharmacist.

A corrections officer who worked at Rikers Island has been sentenced to six years in prison after being found guilty of ordering inmates to beat up two teenage prisoners in 2007. (Here's the press release from the Bronx District Attorney's office. And see here and here for earlier news stories about the case.)

Fare-beaters are continuing to abuse the honor payment system onboard Bx12 Select buses, which run along Pelham Parkway and Fordham Road.

Lloyd Ultan, the Bronx borough historian, has a protégé.

A group of graffiti artists have painted a mural of Keith Elam, aka MC Guru, on a building on East 174th Street near Webster Avenue. Guru, a rapper and producer who hailed from Boston, died in April aged 48. You can see pictures of the mural here.

Naomi Rivera To Face Primary Opponent

Robert Giuffre sent out a press release last night saying that Assemblywoman Naomi Rivera's (and lawyer Stanley Schlein's) objections against his petition signatures had been officially dropped.

Emotions ran high during a three-day courtroom battle, said Giuffre, a 27-year-old John Jay College graduate and a Morris Park resident.

He added:

I know it is hard to believe, but I was more peeved about the awful ballot access process than my own individual campaign. I admit I probably would never have cared this much about the issue if I weren't personally involved, but the process is obviously intended to keep outsiders away from mounting challenges. Although I made the ballot – eventually – many people who would of made good candidates did not, and that is wrong. Marcy Gross, Irene Estrada, and Julio Munoz [other potential Democratic primary candidates in the 80th District] all did not make it to the official ballot – and they all are excellent, qualified candidates. Even though insiders exposed to the process understandably accept the reality for what it is, the ballot access process in New York needs to change.

Gross, for one, was furious about getting kicked off. You can read about her experiences here.

PHOTO: Assemblywoman Naomi Rivera

Rivera Claims Espada is Intimidating His Supporters

Below is a copy of a letter Gustavo Rivera and his campaign team say State Senator Pedro Espada, Jr. has been mailing individuals who signed Rivera's petition, informing them that their signature may have been obtained against the law.  

Horacio Gutierrez, Rivera’s campaign manager, told The New York Times: “This letter is an intimidation tactic of people who simply showed their support for Gustavo Rivera."

The letter, which was given to us by Gutierrez, is signed by Concerned Citizens for Good Government. As Riverdale Ramblings points out, the group doesn't have much of a web presence (beyond a growing number of stories about the letter itself). In small type, at the bottom, are the words: Paid for by New Yorkers For Espada.

I just called the phone number given, the one for the "Ballot Integrity Unit." A woman picked up and while she wouldn't answer questions about the letter - she took a message instead - she confirmed that I'd reached Espada's campaign office on Webster Avenue.

Earlier in the week the Daily News reported that Espada has accused Rivera of receiving illegal help from the New Roosevelt Initiative, Bill Samuel's political action committee, which has pledged $250,000 towards removing Espada.

Letter to Rivera Supporter

Bronx News Roundup, Aug. 5

A few dozen Bronx youngsters rallied outside the State Supreme Court in the Bronx yesterday, to demand an end to violence in their communities. Through July 25, there had been 69 murders in the borough this year, up from 56 at the same point in 2009.

Bronx Congressman Eliot Engel is among a group of politicians who are skipping Congressman Charles Rangel's 80th birthday party/fund-raiser. Rangel faces ethics charges.

Police in Port Chester arrested a Bronx man after he allegedly attempted to withdraw $3,000 from a local bank using a forged New Jersey driver's license.

Some rare praise for Gov. David Paterson and state lawmakers.

In Riverdale, the cleanup effort after last month's tornado is far from over, reports The Riverdale Press (which has a brand new website).

The Press editorializes about State Senator Pedro Espada, Jr.'s recent claims that God is on his side.

Tirado Returns as CB7 District Manager

In mid-June, Community Board 7 voted in favor of forcing District Manager Fernando Tirado to take unpaid leave of absence while he ran for state Senate in the 33rd District.  Board members said that they wanted to avoid the appearance of partisanship and conflicts of interest.

Tirado's quest to unseat State Senator Pedro Espada, Jr. came to a grinding halt last week when he was kicked off the ballot, and this morning he was back at his desk in CB7's office on East 204th Street.  He just sent out the following e-mail to those on the Board's mailing list: 

Dear Residents,

I would like to inform you that starting today, I am back at the Community Board office as your District Manager. I want to thank everyone for their patience and I am looking forward to working with you in the coming year. There are many announcements that have come in and I will truncate them into one e-mail so that it doesn’t overwhelm your mailbox.

Two quick announcements, first, the Bedford Park Senior Center will be hosting a demonstration by the Board of Elections on the new electronic voting machines that will be used this year on August 24^th from 11AM to 12PM at 243 East 204^th Street. If you would like the BOE to come to your organization or group to provide a demonstration of the new voting process, please e-mail them at Demo@boe.nyc.ny.us.

Second, mark your calendar for the Board’s first meeting of the new session to be held on September 21^st at 6:30PM, also at the Bedford Park Senior Center.

Thank you and take care.
Fernando

Nelson Castro on BronxTalk

This week's BronxTalk featured 86th AD Assemblyman Nelson Castro, who is running for re-election.  His challenger, Hector Ramirez, decided not to show up for the debate, so Assemblyman Castro was the only guest.  Here's a link to the show: BronxTalk - August, 2, 2010

On Monday August 9 BronxTalk will feature a debate in the race for the 76th AD between incumbent Peter Rivera and challenger Luis Sepulveda.

On Monday August 16 BronxTalk will take a look at the recent test score results and on August 23rd a Bronx comic book artist will talk about all the things he's doing with Bronx children.

For more than fifteen years, BronxTalk has been seen live each Monday night at 9:00pm on Bronxnet's Cablevision channel 67. It's also on Verizon Fios channel 33 and streamed live at bronxnet.org. Produced by Jane Folloro, BronxTalk is repeated each day at 9:30am, 3:30pm, and 9:00pm. Archives are available at blip.tv; search for "BronxTalk."

Tony Cassino Launches Bronx Political Blog

As BoogieDowner previously pointed out, Tony Cassino, a Riverdale resident and the former chair of Community Board 8, has started a blog called Bronx Political Chatter.

So far, many of his posts have been critical of Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, with whom he has long been at odds with. (Cassino believes Dinowitz helped orchestrate his recent removal from CB8.)

Talking of Bronx blogs, Riverdale Ramblings, the staff blog of The Riverdale Press, has gained a new lease of life.  After several quiet months, there's been a mini-torrent of posts, including this photo slideshow of the damage wrought by the recent tornado.

Bronx News Roundup, Aug. 4

Due to staff vacations, we haven't done a news roundup in a while now, so this is a long one.  Here goes:

Fernando Tirado, the district manager of Community Board 7 who was looking to unseat State Senator Pedro Espada, Jr., has been kicked off the ballot.  After the validity of Tirado's petition signatures were challenged, the city Board of Elections determined he was nearly 300 short of the 1,000 required, according to the Daily News' Bob Kappstatter, whose weekly column also includes a rundown of who will face primary opponents this September and who won't. (We'll have more campaign updates later in the week.)

Espada and a group of tenant activists were involved in a nasty spat in Albany yesterday [video]. As the chair of the Senate's housing committee, Espada has long been accused of holding up tenant-friendly legislation.

As you've likely heard by now, yesterday evening state legislators finally completed the budget. Espada had been criticized in recent days for attempting to hold things up, before eventually relenting. Here's the press release he sent out late last night, and here's a full page ad he ran in El Diario recently in which he claims he's been "vilified" by the press.

Away from Espada: several community gardens in the Bronx are now home to chickens.

Faced with huge fee hikes, fruit and vegetable merchants at the Hunts Points market are threatening to move elsewhere. 

Last Saturday, a 25-year-old man was shot dead in Melrose in the courtyard of the building in which he lived. 

Police say a Bronx grandfather who was attacked by a group of men in Mott Haven on July 24, and who later died in hospital, was murdered for his cellphone.

Morrie Yohai, the 90-year-old founder of Cheez Doodles, died last week at his home on Long Island Sound.  Yohai grew up in the Bronx and created the ubiquitous snack in the 1950s after taking over the Bronx food factory his father owned.

Anthony Rotunno, the former principal of Kennedy High School who resigned after a state audit found that $90,000 in bake sale money was missing, has been fired from his new job in Westchester, after officials there learned of the probe.

A Bronx man with Down syndrome is celebrating two milestones this month: his 50th birthday and his 30th year working at the Botanical Garden. Talking of the Garden, here's a little history, courtesy of WNYC, for an ongoing series called Borough Tales.

A potential buyer has been found for 10 troubled apartment buildings owned by Milbank Real Estate, a private equity firm which defaulted on its loan and left the buildings in a terrible state.  But tenants should hold off on celebrating, says City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and others.  See here and here for some background on this issue.

In The New York Times, Steve Singer, the director of college counseling at Horace Mann School, has some advice for college applicants.

If we've missed anything important, please post a link in the comments section.

After Discrimination Review: Woodlawn Cemetery 'Reconfigures' Staff, Changes Practices

Following a review prompted by racism and discrimination charges, Woodlawn Cemetery officials said this morning in a press release that they would be "reconfiguring" their supervising staff and make significant changes to the way they train both managers and general employees.

The review became public two weeks ago after an activist group called South Bronx Community Congress and Councilman Charles Barron led a protest outside Woodlawn's northeastern gates.

Read our story about the protest and get some details about the charges by clicking here.

The protesters called for the removal of at least one particular cemtery foreman. In the press release, which I've posted below here, there is no mention of any specific personnel moves or any details about what the review found, but it's obvious whatever happened prompted significant changes. And swift ones. At least relative to once the review went public. When we contacted them two weeks ago, they said the review was still in it's "early stages." (South Bronx Community Congress lawyer Ramon Jimenez contradicted that statement, saying he was told the review was to be completed June 30).  Two weeks later, it's concluded and the board of directors voted to implement wide-ranging changes.

In any case, here's the statement, provided by P.R. firm Rubenstein Associates:

"Following a far reaching, five month review, the Board of Trustees of The Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx today announced a series of changes designed to upgrade the Cemetery’s human resources structure and function and strengthen and reinforce its anti-discrimination program."

John P. Toale, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer of Woodlawn, stated, “We are a responsible employer that seeks to provide a professional work environment for all of our employees. When it was brought to our attention that we may be deficient, we conducted a thorough, wide ranging and impartial investigation whereby complaints of discrimination were assessed, including the Cemetery’s overall management of its employees and the quality and level of training that our supervisors and employees receive. It was concluded that we can do better, and so we shall -- immediately.”

BronxTalk - The Focus is Politics

Tonight BronxTalk was to have featured a debate between the Democratic candidates for the 86th Assembly District which serves the University Heights, Tremont, and Morris Heights sections of the Bronx. But unfortunately challenger Hector Ramirez has declined the opportunity to participate. As a result incumbent Assemblyman Nelson Castro will be the only guest.

(editorial comment: It makes no sense to me why someone who seeks to defeat an incumbent would turn down the opportunity to have 30-minutes of live television to make his case. Mr. Ramirez' decision to not appear is insulting to my TV viewers, the people of the Bronx, and most importantly, to the caring voters for the 86th AD.)

On Monday August 9 BronxTalk will feature a debate in the race for the 76th AD between incumbent Peter Rivera and challenger Luis Sepulveda.

On Monday August 16 BronxTalk will take a look at the recent test score results and on August 23rd a Bronx comic book artist will talk about all the things he's doing with Bronx children.

For more than fifteen years, BronxTalk has been seen live each Monday night at 9:00pm on Bronxnet's Cablevision channel 67. It's also on Verizon Fios channel 33 and streamed live at bronxnet.org. Produced by Jane Folloro, BronxTalk is repeated each day at 9:30am, 3:30pm, and 9:00pm. Archives are available at blip.tv; search for "BronxTalk."

Posting Lull. Can You Help Us Out?

All of our editorial staff will be out of the office today and tomorrow -- it's the two days when all of our vacations overlap. So don't expect much in the way of posting until Wednesday. In the meantime, maybe you can help fill in for us. What Bronx news out there do you think your fellow BxNN readers should know about? Please feel free to post comments and links. If I get a chance, I'll re-post your comments and links in a special news roundup.

The Yankees, Unobstructed — August 2

At 40-years-old, Mariano Rivera is quietly having one of the best seasons any pitcher has ever had, and it's time to start considering him for the Cy Young Award.

The Yankees hold over first place (slight though it may be) has everything to do with their unflappable closer. With an almost unheard of 0.647 WHIP and a just-as-unprecedented-this-late-in-the-season 0.93 ERA, he's been the single most dominant pitcher in baseball.

It's been 18 years since a reliever won pitching's most prestigious honor. In 1992, Dennis Eckersley's 1.91 ERA, 51 saves and seven wins made him the right choice for both the Cy Young and the American League MVP, but Rivera's resumé is much different this season. As a closer for the Yankees, Rivera could never get the opportunity to record 50+ saves, because the Yankees have a penchant for winning games by more than three runs (the difference needed for a save opportunity). So while Rivera gets fewer opportunities to make mistakes and wear down his arm, the few mistakes he does make are magnified in his statistics.

That ERA, which has hovered near one for much of the season, is the result of just four earned runs allowed all season long. With the Yankees leading the division by only one game, that consistency makes Rivera the most important asset the team has.

Rivera does have some competition for the award. David Price has compiled some incredible statistics this year. The Rays' young ace has been stunningly good, nabbing a 2.90 ERA while going 14-5 this season. But even if he gets to 20 wins, Price should need to keep that ERA below 3.00 to win the award over a closer who's below 1.00.

There are a few others Cy Young candidates out there — Cliff Lee, Clay Buchholz and Andy Pettitte — to name a few, but none yet have resumés that quite compare with Price's or Rivera's.

In Other Yankees News

Álex Rodriguez is Killing My Fantasy Baseball Team: The nervous one has been stuck at 599 home runs since July 22. His homer-less streak, coupled with the annoying spectacle of the ball boy exchanging those special "600th home run" baseballs with the umpire every time AROD comes up to bat, has become maddening. You drop everything to make sure you watch his every at-bat, not because seeing 600 is really something special, but because you've watched so many of the at-bats since 599, that it would be like missing the toast pop if you didn't manage to catch the home run. Fine, maybe you don't do that, but I do. It's maddening.

Does Anyone Else Feel Bad for the Newest Yankees? The Yankees made a few trade-deadline moves, adding the bats of Lance Berkman and Austin Kearns, as well as reliever Kerry Wood. Berkman and Kearns went a combined 1-for-10 at the plate over the last two games. Meanwhile, Wood struck a few out, but also managed to load the bases before being yanked from a close game. Not the strongest start for anyone.

Dude, How are the Rays Only One Game Back? Look, if Tampa's going to go ahead and win eight out of every nine games (as they have in this recent stretch) for the rest of the season, than we might as well focus on the wild card. Fortunately that's not the case. We can, however, expect this division to come down to the seven remaining games we have against the Rays (and conceivably, the seven remaining games against Boston).

NOTE: Make sure to check back every week for The Yankees, Unobstructed, BNN's Yankees opinion column.

For more of Graham Kates' sports writing, check out his True/Slant blog "Coaches in the Crosshairs" (http://trueslant.com/grahamkates)