Bronx News Roundup, March 16

Rain today in the Bronx will supposedly give way to sunshine tomorrow.

To the news!

Story of the Day: Bronx Bus Crash Story Continues
Federal investigators met yesterday with Ophadell Williams, the driver of a tour bus that crashed on I-95 in the Bronx on Saturday morning, killing 15 passengers and severely injuring six others. Legal experts say Williams, an ex-con who served time for manslaughter, is unlikely to be charged with a crime unless he was under the influence of alcohol or drugs or if he demonstrated a pattern of reckless driving before the crash. The NY Times staked out the crash site, near the on-ramp to the Hutchinson River Parkway, to find tour buses passing by ever so cautiously. On Monday night, another Chinatown tour bus bound for Philadelphia crashed on the Jersey Turnpike, killing two. Here's some video on the Bronx crash from USA Today:



Quick Hits:
As they search for a missing Bronx mother of four, Tina Adovasio, police are focusing their attention on the woman's husband, Edwin Coello, a former NYPD cop who has a history of domestic violence. A month ago, the woman filed for divorce. Video from NY1.

Continuing in this vein of alleged fatal domestic violence, the comatose Bronx woman who police say was injected with cyanide by her husband (who later killed himself by injecting the same poison) died yesterday.

Crain's on the averted Bronx building workers strike.

The bandits targeting Bronx postal workers are taking the mail carriers' keys.

And finally, SOME GOOD NEWS: The cheerleading squad at MS 127 in Castle Hill earned a trip to the national championships in South Carolina, but it needs some extra funding for its trip. Send donations to: MS 127 Cheerleaders, 1560 Purdy Street, Bronx, NY 10462

Sunshine Week at BxNN: Freedom of Information Act

Today, as part of our Sunshine Week festivities, we've posted this lovely and melodic history of the Freedom of Information Act, signed by Lyndon Johnson in 1966 and then amended over the years as it suited certain presidents. Plus, it can also be used for putting babies to sleep. Enjoy. The information is out there!

Bronx Tenants Storm Bank, Demand Building Repairs [VIDEO]

Tenants Rally at New York Community Bank from Bronx News Network on Vimeo.

A group of Bronx tenants from a number of foreclosed, violation-riddled apartments have filed a lawsuit against the bank that owns the mortgage on their properties, hoping to hold the lender responsible for paying for repairs.

The lawsuit was filed last Thursday on behalf of tenants by Legal Services NYC-Bronx, the Urban Justice Center, Urban Homesteading Assistance Board and NY Communities for Change.

That same day, residents from the buildings and organizers rallied at a Manhattan branch of the New York Community Bank. They were turned away after asking to see the branch manager to make their case (see the video, above, for more from the scene.)

"We don't do those types of loans here," the dismayed manager said, after closing the door to her office once protesters filed inside the bank's lobby.

"You have no idea what we're going through, because you live fine," responded Gennet Riley, a tenant who lives in one of the foreclosed buildings at 735 Bryant Avenue. "We're here trying to let you understand that we care about our buildings. We just want you to acknowledge us."

Return Kruger Money? No Way, Bronx Sen. Diaz Says

State Senator Ruben Diaz, Jr. is laughing off requests to return money contributed to his campaign by State Senator Carl Kruger, who is facing federal bribery charges. Diaz and Kruger are pals who made up half of the so-called '4 Amigos' -- including Hiram Monserrate (who was expelled from the Senate after assaulting his girlfriend), Pedro Espada (who Bronx voters returned to his real home in Mamaroneck when they elected Gustavo Rivera).

Here's some of what Diaz has to say:

"I have no intentions at all to return any money that has been donated to my Re-Election campaign.  Anyone who knows me knows that my votes cannot be bought, and that my convictions will not change because of any campaign contribution by anyone.

"I would like for my colleagues who may be confused about what to do with campaign money they received from Carl Kruger before he was indicted, that if any of them feel guilty that they took Carl Kruger's money for their campaigns and don't know what to do with it, they can give it to my campaign. I won't feel guilty at all."

For the whole statement, click here.

'Ray of Hope' for Bronx Senior Centers

The Daily News reports today (article doesn't seem to be available on their web site) that state legislators are proposing restoring $25 million in funding ti senior centers that Gov. Cuomo was planning to cut from the budget. The commissioner for the city's Department for the Aging says if the state money is restored then she can absorb any city cuts and still keep the 105 targeted centers open, 22 of which are in the Bronx. For a Norwood News story on the potential closure of the Bedford Park Senior Center, click here.

Bronx News Roundup, March 15

Looks like mostly sun in the Bronx today with temperatures creeping toward 50. High chance of rain tonight and tomorrow before a blast of warm air hits on Thursday and Friday.

To the news!

Story of the Day: Bus Driver's Shady Past Went Unchecked
More disturbing details are emerging about the checkered, trouble-filled past of Ophadell Williams, the driver of the tour bus that crashed into a sign pole on I-95 here in the Bronx, leading to questions (from victims and even the governor) about how he got the driving gig in the first place. Williams served two years on a manslaughter charge in the early 1990s and landed back in prison in 1998, serving four years for forgery. His driving privileges were suspended in 1995 after he ignored tickets for speeding and driving without a license. Williams will meet with investigators today.

The NY Times delves into the largely unregulated business of low-cost tour bus travel. 

Meanwhile, the death toll of the crash reached 15 when a 70-year-old man succumbed to injuries last night at Jacobi. Another six victims remain in critical condition, with four of those using respirators to breath.

Quick Hits:
Following a series of fights and marital unrest, police say a Bronx man injected his wife and then himself with poison at their apartment on West 195th Street. The wife remains in a coma and is not expected to survived, while the husband was pronounced dead on arrival. 

As we reported earlier, Bronx building workers reached a new contract deal, avoiding a strike that they say would have affected 250,000 borough residents.

Police say they are looking for a group of teens who are robbing Bronx postal workers. 

The DN reports that more than 3,500 people attended the Throgs Neck St. Patrick's Day parade. Cut pictures included.

More on Bronx track superstar Ida Keeling, the fastest 95-year-old woman in the world.

The Globe and Mail is holding a live discussion with South Bronx "green" icon Majora Carter today at noon.

Author James Frey, blasted by Oprah and others for fabricating chunks of a popular memoir he wrote several years ago, has a new book out centered around a Bronx housing project. In it, the supposed Messiah smokes pot and patronizes hookers.

Bronx Building Workers Reach Deal With Landlords

Averting a strike, Bronx building workers, represented by 32BJ, reached an agreement with landlords. Here's an excerpt from the union's press release.

32BJ and the Bronx Realty Advisory Board (BRAB) reached a tentative four-year agreement this evening for more than 3,000 apartment building workers that provides annual wage increases while maintaining employer-paid family health care and secured pension benefits. The agreement narrowly averted a strike, which would have affected 250,000 Bronx residents throughout the borough including Riverdale and the South Bronx.

The whole agreement can be downloaded from the union's web site here.

Sunshine Week at BxNN: Your Right to Know

The Bronx News Network is a proud supporter and participant in Sunshine Week, an initiative started by journalists that seeks to shed light -- sun light, if you will -- on the importance of open government and freedom of information.

Here's the official tagline: "Sunshine Week seeks to enlighten and empower people to play an active role in their government at all levels, and to give them access to information that makes their lives better and their communities stronger."

In other words, open government equals more accountable government and a more-informed public citizenry.

As journalists, it is our goal to shed light on how the government works (or isn't working) for our communities. Oftentimes, as you might imagine, we run into resistance while working on this quest. Some agencies and elected officials are better than others. Many agencies put loads of information on their websites. But many remain stubborn oysters, reluctant to open up without some significant prying. This is a problem. How can we hold government accountable, if we don't even know what it's doing?

There are ways to finesse this problem and the best journalists acquire the necessary information through various tricks of the trade. The law is also on our side. And when I say "our," I mean journalists as well as the general public. Generally speaking, you have a right to know what the government you pay for (with taxes) is up to. New York State actually has a pretty robust Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), although it doesn't work 100 percent of the time.

Robert Freeman heads the state's Committee on Open Government. I'll let him explain our rights:


Check out the committee's official website for information. We'll post more videos from Freeman throughout the week.

We will also recount and examine some of our hardest cases, our most stubborn oysters. Here's a quick story to start off the conversation.

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 Tenants' Rights Night

Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition is holding a tenants' rights night tonight, March 14 at St. Nicholas of Tolentine Gymnasium (corner of Fordham Road and University Avenue).

The group is focusing on the tenants of 12 buildings deemed among the most neglected in the community but welcome everyone living in buildings with problems. Topics covered will be leaks, lack of heat/hot water, protection against your rent being raised illegally, landlord harassment and forming a tenants' association.

For more information call NWBCCC's Housing Hotline at 347-443-9222.

Drive begins to help fire victims

A five-alarm fire at 754 Manida Street destroyed a four-story apartment building on March 9 afternoon and led to over a dozen injuries to firefighters and residents of the building.

The fire also claimed the possessions of the families who lived in the building. The Point Community Development Corp. has begun a drive to help them.

The Point is accepting donations at its community center, 940 Garrison Avenue. Every cent collected, The Point says, will go to the families.

More at The Hunts Point Express.

New, Improved Foodtown Rises From the Ashes

Slideshow: Watch as Foodtown burns to the ground and then opens up last Saturday. (All photos by Adi Talwar)

By Jordan Moss and Lulaine Compere

Norwood’s popular Foodtown supermarket which was razed in a suspected incident of arson at the end of 2009 is back in business.

The store, now 50 percent larger with many more offerings, has taken up two neighboring storefronts that were home to a diner and a dental office that were also destroyed in the blaze.

“We expanded the store, we have a bigger seafood department, bakery department, produce department, and we have expanded the deli,” said Noah Katz, a member of the family that has owned the store since 1956.

Organic produce and frozen goods are new additions as are an olive and cheese counter and a section with a variety of coffee beans called Brewed Awakening.

Katz led the design of the new store, he said, and his pride in the store’s bright, spacious new look was palpable throughout a quick tour on Tuesday.

The supermarket’s total makeover includes wider aisles for shopping carts and strollers, modern lighting, and a number of large photos of a Bronx gone by, including Mosholu Parkway in 1911 and the intersection of Fordham Road and Valentine Avenue in 1951. Katz chose the images with the help of the Bronx County Historical Society.