Friday, January 25, 2013

Bedford Park News: Lots to Talk About

Bedford Park News: Lots to Talk About: --> 100 PERCENT By Robert Press BRONX, NEW YORK, January 25- Our headline was not able to be made into one specific ...
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Lots to Talk About

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100 PERCENT

By Robert Press
BRONX, NEW YORK, January 25- Our headline was not able to be made into one specific topic, as there is lots to talk about in this column. You can check my blog at www.100percentbronx.blogspot.com for more on what was in this column, what did not make it into the column, and of course the many photos that are posted.
Last week we told you of the swearing in of the two new Bronx State Assembly members, and Assemblyman Luis Supelveda sent out a lengthy summary of what the assembly has done in its first work of the new session. Legislation passed bans assault weapons, closes loopholes and cracks down on the horrific gun violence. Many other provisions of the legislation can be found on my blog archive under the heading “A Response to the Newton CT. School Shootings”, which includes the increased criminal penalties and added requirements for gun ownership.
As for education, the mayor decided to play chicken with the teachers union (UFT) on the subject of teacher evaluations that was a requirement for certain state aid of hundreds of millions of dollars. UFT President Mike Mulgrew said that the UFT and the city reached an agreement before the deadline of last week, but that the mayor had backed out of the deal. Mayor Mike Bloomberg said that the UFT was unreasonable in their demands. The state has already said that the city has lost $240 million in aid for failing to come up with a new teacher evaluation plan, and now has a deadline of February 14th imposed by State Education Commissioner John King or loose even more school aid.
School bus drivers for New York City public schools went on strike last week forcing students who rely on the yellow buses to find alternate means of transportation to get to school. While children were given metro cards that may not help in most cases where the MTA does not service where the child may live. A few years ago all bus routes were changed by the DOE, but someone forgot to let the children and their parents know about it. School bus routes have more than tripled under Mayor Bloomberg going from over 2,000 to 7,700. Children are now bused past each other to schools, and there is no more neighborhood school for the neighborhood children. Neighborhood parents are left in the dark as they may want their children to attend programs offered by their neighborhood school such as a gifted and talented program being offered. It seems that more than half of the neighborhood children who apply to these special programs at their local school are slotted to other schools for the same program, and children are then bused in to fill the program. As we have seen from the strike it is now not unusual for a parent with many school age children to have each child go to a different school.
On the subject of the school bus driver strike, Traffic Enforcement Agents (TEA) have been placed outside of every school in the Bronx, so if you are wondering why you did not get that traffic ticket during arrival or dismissal times the TEA's have gone back to school.
New Councilman Andy King opened up his 12th Council district office last week to hundreds of supporters. The office is located at 940 Gun Hill Road at the corner of Coulden Ave. The Bx 28, 30, and 38 go right past the new office, and you can go to my blog to read more and see photos of the grand opening of the cozy new 12th city council district office.
A new poll of Republican voters shows recently announced candidate Joe Lhota heads the field of candidates with 23 percent, John Catsimatidis next at 9 percent, Tom Allon tied with not voting at 5 percent each, Adolfo Carrion at 3 percent, George McDonald at 2 percent, with undecided at a whooping 53 percent.
Upcoming events include the Bronx Chamber of Commerce Inauguration of their officers for 2013 by State Comptroller Ton DiNapoli on Thursday January 31st 5:30 p.m. at the Lighthouse Restaurant located at 565 City Island Ave. The BCC also has rescheduled its 10th Annual Awards and Scholarship Gala benefit for Thursday February 28th at Marina Del Ray. The latter event was postponed due to Hurricane Sandy, and will help benefit The Empire State Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund. You must RSVP to the BCC at 718-828-3900 or Gabrielle@bronxchamber.org.
Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. will be giving his “State of the Borough” address on Tuesday February 19th in the James Monroe High School auditorium located at 1300 Boyton Ave. at 11:30 AM. RSVP to sotb@bronxbp.nyc.gov or call 718-590-6116.
If you have any comments about this column or would like to have an event listed or covered in this column or on my blog you can e-mail us at 100percentbronxnews@gmail.com or call 718-644-4199 Mr. Robert Press.
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Thursday, January 10, 2013

Bedford Park News: Political Field's Starting to Get Crowded in 2013

Bedford Park News: Political Field's Starting to Get Crowded in 2013: --> 100 PERCENT By Robert Press BRONX, NEW YORK, January 10- With many elected positions becoming vacant finally due to term...
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Political Field's Starting to Get Crowded in 2013

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100 PERCENT
By Robert Press
BRONX, NEW YORK, January 10- With many elected positions becoming vacant finally due to term limits at the end of this year, the field of candidates to replace most those term limited officials is growing. 
Starting with the mayor’s race on the Democratic side City Comptroller John Liu, Public Advocate Bill deBlasio, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, and Former City Comptroller Bill Thompson have been joined by another Democrat (and also past mayoral candidate) former Brooklyn Councilman Sal Albanese. Albanese could take away some of the Quinn vote with his noted support on the issue of Gay Rights, and his pro-stance on the issue of term limits while in the city council. Speaker Quinn was leading in the early polls for mayor on the Democratic side, but now as some of the other potential candidates for mayor have dropped out Quinn is now in second place to undecided by several percentage points. She still has has hefty lead over the other democratic candidates.
On the Republican side, former Bronx BP Adolfo Carrion has been joined by several higher profile candidates with former MTA head Joe Lhota being the latest to jump in. Other high profile candidates include George McDonald (founder of the Doe Fund, and good friend of current mayor Michael Bloomberg), supermarket magnate John Catsimatidis (who like Bloomberg has deep pockets of money), and others like Manhattan media CEO Tom Allon, and former Democratic State Senate Leader Malcolm Smith have also made overtures to the tune of possible Republican runs for mayor.
While the race for Bronx Borough President should be a solo race as current Bronx BP Ruben Diaz Jr. has two terms still as Bronx BP, it is not the same in term limited Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan (but who cares in those boroughs). Turning to Bronx city council races in the 11th to replace term limited Councilman G. Oliver Koppell currently there are two announced candidates, with a few other potential but not probable names. The 12th should be a contest again this year for Andy King who was just elected in November to replace former Councilman Larry Seabrook who should have a new residence in Chez Federal Pen. King has not been able to get his feet wet in the district, and will be running against several candidates again. Jimmy Vacca 13th and Annabel Palma 18th should get a free ride in their last terms, while Fernando Cabrera 14th could see a major challenge if Assemblyman Jose Rivera is true to his words of wanting to finish out his political career as a city councilman. The 15th to replace term limited Councilman Joel Rivera is the big race this year with as many as ten people possibly going for this seat, with the name of Bronx Democratic County Committee Executive Director Ischia Bravo now being mentioned. I asked Ms. Bravo about her running in the 15th recently, and she said that there is a good possibility of it happening. In the16th where Councilwoman Foster will be term limited out, the rumor is that Assemblywoman Vanessa Gibson should be seeking that seat, and a host of others that should drop out if Gibson does enter that race. In the 17th (Arroyo who still has one term) and 8th (which has a small part of the Bronx) no one knows what those districts will look like, as the redistricting commission has been asked to redraw the lines again. I caught up with Councilwoman Viverito (8th) at an event and asked her if her current Manhattan district was to be made a Bronx district for Bronx Democratic County Leader Carl Heastie's support of Speaker Quinn's campaign for mayor. Councilwoman Viverito was very candid in saying that yes indeed that there was politics involved in the redrawing of her district lines.
In other political news this month, newly elected Assemblymen Luis Sepulveda (87th A.D.) will have his swearing in at St. Raymond’s School auditorium (Tremont and Purdy Ave.) on Saturday January 12th starting at 12 p.m. Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj (80th A.D.) will have his swearing in at Columbus High School (925 Astor Avenue) on Sunday January 13th at 2 p.m. 
Don't forget to check my blog at www.100percentbronx.blogspot.com for the story on and many photos of the Annual Three Kings Celebration by Senator Ruben Diaz Sr., Assemblyman Marcos Crespo, Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda, and the New york Hispanic Clergy Organization. The Three Kings, Santa Claus, and several elected officials or candidates for office were in attendance, and some may have been wondering where their present from Santa or the Three Kings was. Also on the blog are other interesting items such as a link to mayoral candidate Adolfo Carrion's first campaign expenditure disclosure, how much has been spent in less than two short months, and which family member is on the Carrion for Mayor payroll.
If you have any comments about this column or would like to have an event listed or covered in this column or on my blog you can e-mail us at 100percentbronxnews@gmail.com or call 718-644-4199 Mr. Robert Press.
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Bedford Park News: Headache On Broadway

Bedford Park News: Headache On Broadway: --> Riverdale Report By Robert Press BRONX, NEW YORK, January 7- The MTA is replacing the tracks on the elevated # 1 subway...
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Headache On Broadway

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Riverdale Report
By Robert Press
BRONX, NEW YORK, January 7- The MTA is replacing the tracks on the elevated # 1 subway line along Broadway from West 238th Street down to at least West 231st Street.
Last week the MTA was working, or had Broadway half closed with no parking allowed from West 237th Street to West 233rd Street on both sides. Sections of subway track were being unloaded from tractor trailer trucks and were placed one on top of another right on the street. Broadway was closed on the southbound side with barricades and police tape along the street in the work zone. In addition all side streets on the west side of Broadway were closed, and travel was restricted to either northbound or southbound as the police tape restricted any turns into any driveways such as the one for the Stop and Shop parking lot. I asked a couple of MTA workers about the work zone, and was repeatedly told by these workers wearing Blue safety helmets that the person with the White helmet was in charge. When I found the white helmeted MTA person he was moving barricades to close of yet another side street. I asked a few questions about the work going on and if there was notice given to the community, merchants, and city agencies such as DOT. I was told that signs were put up the day before to warn of the work being done, and that the MTA did not have to let any city agency know when it is doing track work. I took several photos of the work zone on Broadway including the pile of subway tracks that were placed on top of each other on the street, and you can go to my blog at www.100percentbronx.blogspot.com to see them along with other photos and other items that may come up.
While visiting Ms. Katherine Broiher the Executive Director of the Kingsbridge Business Improvement District (BID), she said that the BID already has a problem with parking in the area now that the municipal parking lot that was at West 230th Street has closed for development of the lot into a shopping center. “Many merchants and customers parked their vehicles in the West 230th Street lot, and this MTA track work is only compounding the problem” She added that blocks of Broadway and side street parking is being taken away, and the merchants on Broadway are losing business. I visited the Stop and Shop supermarket in the middle of the track work, and the manager said that he is losing a lot of business because cars can not get into his parking lot that was more than half empty. I returned to Broadway the next day to see that there were several DOT traffic agents who were now directing traffic on Broadway at both ends and along the MTA work zone.
Former Captain Kevin Burke the commanding officer of the 50th Police precinct is now Deputy Inspector Kevin Burke. With the promotion came a raise in pay, and the fears of the community and fellow officers that a transfer will soon be coming for the new DI. In the past when captains of the 50 were promoted to DI within months they were transferred to higher positions in the NYPD.
Now that the new year has started Community Board # 8 will be having their usual monthly full board and committee meetings on matters of concern to the local community. You can check the Community Board # 8 website at www.nyc.gov/bronxcb8 and click on any of the links on the left to see when the meetings are, where the meeting are being held (as the full board and some committee meeting are throughout the community board area), what the agendas are for the full board or any committee meeting, and a brief summary of past meetings in the minutes area.
If you have any comments about this column or would like to have an event listed or covered in this column or on my blog you can e-mail us at 100percentbronxnews@gmail.com or call 718-644-4199 Mr. Robert Press.
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Monday, January 7, 2013

Cops Catch ‘Mugger’ Following Dimwit Pic taken from Stolen iPod

UPDATE
Photogenic Felons
More Criminal Masterminds Join Cops’ List of Getting Caught on Camera
By Dan Gesslein
BRONX, NEW YORK, January 7- How did cops catch this criminal mastermind? Maybe it was the photo she took of herself from a stolen iPod.
We all know that if criminals weren’t stupid they wouldn’t get caught, but one suspect made it too easy for cops. Police released photos taken, allegedly by a thief, from the victim’s stolen iPod. The drama began at around 7 p.m. on December 21. A 17-year-old woman was waiting for a bus at Tremont and Crotona Avenues. A person walked up behind and punched her in the head. The attacker took the victim’s handbag and fled. 
Although the victim was able to give a description, cops received an early Christmas present. Turns out the suspect took pictures of herself using the victim’s stolen iPod. 
Police arrested 17-year-old Felecia Cooks over the weekend for the East Tremont mugging. Cops were able to enact an arrest just days after they released photos of Cooks allegedly taken from the iPod stolen in the mugging. 
Another photogenic perp was caught on camera for a Parkchester stickup. Cops released photos of the suspect for a robbery that occurred in the vicinity of Purdy Street and Maple Drive. At around 9 p.m. on December 20, police say two men approached a 17-year-old, displayed a gun and demanded money. The pair snatched the victim’s cellphone and jewelry before fleeing on foot. However, surveillance video from inside a Parkchester building captured one of the suspects.
Cops described the suspects as both black men in their 20s about 180 pounds. One was last seen wearing blue jeans, brown coat and a blue Nautica baseball cap. The second suspect was seen wearing black jeans, blue leather jacket and black hoodie under his jacket.
In another case, police just released surveillance video of a suspect wanted for a Morris Park stickup. At around 6:30 p.m. on December 29, without wearing a mask the suspect walked into a grocery store on Morris Park Avenue and pulled out a silver handgun. Waving the weapon, the crook demanded cash. When the clerk would not move fast enough, the robber went behind the counter and took the cash out of the register. He fled on foot. 
The suspect is described as a black male 40 to 50 years old, 5 foot 8 to 6 foot 2, and weighing between 170 and 200 pounds. 
Another criminal mastermind had his victim come to him. Cops say the suspect posted an ad on Craigslist selling a laptop. On December 26, an interested buyer went to 1275 Lafayette Avenue to meet the seller. Instead of a laptop the victim got a face full of mace. The crook made off with $350 in cash but not before a photo was taken of him. 
In yet another robbery, cops released photos of a suspect in a Bedford Park robbery who did not bother to try and hide his identity while pretending to be a cop. The suspect headed a crew of four other men who all wore ski masks. However, the leader did not and his image was caught on surveillance video.
At around 5 a.m. on December 9, the suspect entered the building on Orloff Avenue and let his four accomplices in. He then proceeded to knock on an apartment door claiming to be a police officer. When the tenant opened the door, the crew rushed inside. The thieves tied up the occupants and made off with property. The phony cop is described as a Hispanic male, 30 to 40 years old and 200 pounds. He was seen wearing blue jeans and a white jacket. The four other suspects who wore ski masks are believed to be Hispanic.
Anyone with information is urged to call CRIMESTOPPERS at (800) 577-TIPS. The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers Website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or texting their tips to 274637(CRIMES) then enter TIP577.
All calls are confidential.
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