Monday, December 3, 2012

Independent Quinn

100 PERCENT

By Robert Press
BRONX, NEW YORK, December 3- This past Sunday The Independence (not to be confused with Independent) Party held its 13th Anti Corruption Ceremony. 
We never heard of the first 12 so what makes this one special. Three 2013 mayoral hopefuls are listed as attending current City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, former Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion, and former State Senate Leader Malcolm Smith. Smith is one of the honorees receiving a “Voice for the Voiceless Community Award” (not an Anti Corruption award) for his work in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Quinn with her close ties to current Mayor Mike Bloomberg who ran and won on the Republican and Independence lines should be running as a Democrat, but appears to be looking to capture the Independence party line also. 
Carrion has renounced his Democratic enrollment to become an “Independent” registered voter (no party enrollment) as is the case of Mayor Bloomberg. Carrion appears in his bid to run for mayor (or whatever else) to be seeking the Republican and now Independence lines. Smith a former State Senate Democratic Majority Leader has said that he might run for mayor on the Republican line, and now appears to be courting the Independence Party also.
This Moe, Larry, and red (or is it orange) headed third stooge trio are the perfect guests for the political party that needs to call the gala it is holding not the Anti Corruption Ceremony, but “Which One of these Three Stooges is Allegedly More Corrupt”? Quinn is best know for the statement “I told my office to stop doing that” after it was revealed that there was a five million dollar slush fund in the name of phoney neighborhood organizations run by the speakers office. Carrion was fined $10,000 by the NYC Campaign Finance Board for having renovations done on his house by a contractor who came before him (as Bronx BP) for an approval, and Carrion was also made to pay for the work done. Smith was involved in the Aqueduct Race Track Casino Probe of bid rigging, and Senate Majority Leader during the whole Pedro Espada State Senate drama.
On to the City Council redistricting drama as Speaker Quinn who denied involvement in drawing up the new district lines, and that there was nothing that she could do, has now sent a letter to the redistricting committee to redraw the lines they drew up. There were questions of a Brooklyn City Council district being redrawn so that disgraced Assemblyman Vito Lopez could become a city council member. Then there was the question of the new 8th council district. Was this redrawn to be a Bronx majority district so that Bronx County Leader Carl Heastie would have the Bronx Democratic organization endorse Speaker Quinn in her 2013 Democratic Primary. Carl, the last city council speaker to run for mayor Gifford Miller came in fifth in a four person primary in the Bronx in 2005.
I would not want to forget to mention that Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. was at his best when he hosted the Bronx Puerto Rican Heritage Month Celebration. Every month BP Diaz celebrates a different ethnic heritage, and with so many different ethnic heritages in the Bronx sometimes there is more than one in a month. You can go to my blog at www.100percentbronx.blogspot.com to see photos of the celebration, and the return of State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. looking like a new man after his full recovery from knee surgery.
Finally, in 2005 a city DEP inspector found what appeared to be a trace of asbestos in the glue of a 40-year-old tile that was removed from one of the apartments in Co-op City. 86,000 air tests and $20 million later, lawyer (and former assemblyman) Steve Kaufman is now suing the city on behalf of the 55,000 Co-op City residents who have had to foot the bill to a tune of $4 million annually since 2005. What is even worse is that two Riverbay asbestos consultants have agreed that the asbestos abatement work was not needed, one being a former DEP Commissioner.
Don't forget to check my blog for items that may come in after our deadline, more details on stories that you may see in this column, and photos of the events. 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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Riverdale News: What is CB 8 Chair Bob Fanuzzi Hiding?

Riverdale News: What is CB 8 Chair Bob Fanuzzi Hiding?: Riverdale Report By Robert Press BRONX, NEW YORK, December 3- With last week’s article by our fellow columnist Mary L...
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What is CB 8 Chair Bob Fanuzzi Hiding?

Riverdale Report
By Robert Press
BRONX, NEW YORK, December 3- With last week’s article by our fellow columnist Mary Lauro about Community Board #12 comparing CB 12 to CB 8, I must tell you things are not what you may think they are in CB 8 Mary. 
One has to pry an answer out of CB 8 Chairman Bob Fanuzzi, because he is not forthcoming with information. The CB 8 Economic Committee is meeting on Tuesday, December 4th (which is after our deadline), and the agenda was revised to add a renewal application of a Sidewalk Cafe. The matter of sidewalk cafes is taken up in the Traffic and Transportation committee, and this particular application was approved last year by the T&T committee. One has to wonder why this has been placed on the agenda of the Economic Development Committee when it was sent in only two weeks ago, and there is plenty of time for it to be placed on the next T&T Committee agenda for a proper public hearing. The matter of Street Activity Permits (SAPO) is also on the December 4th Economic Development agenda, but that matter was discussed at the last T&T committee meeting with a resolution for the entire board being approved by the committee at the meeting. We will have the answers for you in next weeks paper, and have to ask what will be next for CB 8 liquor license applications or renewals being heard in the Youth Committee.
Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz had city council candidate Andrew Cohen with him at a recent call for Con Edison to place power lines underground in what has become the “Spuyten Duyvil Triangle” where nine apartment buildings experience power outages on a regular basis. Several of the 40 area residents gave accounts of how even a gap of a second requires all appliances, building elevators, boilers, and washing machines to be reset. Ms. Blance Morganstern who needs a walker to get around said that she was a prisoner in her cold 4th floor apartment for ten days while the area had no power. She thanked her neighbors who brought her bread, non dairy cheese, and canned milk to go along with the few cans of soup she had to live on.
City council candidate and Community Board #8 Aging Committee Chair Andrew Cohen said that it is seniors like this woman who have to throw away spoiled food or medicine, are cold since there is no heat, and are trapped in their apartments when the power goes out for an extended period of time. You can go to my blog at www.100percentbronx.blogspot.com to read more on the protest see the photos of Assemblyman Dinowitz, Candidate Cohen, the crowd, trees that are currently on top of other area power lines, and poles that have been or should be replaced. It has been estimated by Con Edison that the cost could be $5,000.00 per foot to put overhead wires underground.
Finally if you did not attend the Riverdale Avenue Street Festival here is what you missed. There were pony rides, a petting zoo, the RKA Middle School Chorus (led by vocal teacher Ivan Salnas), an Elvis impersonator, other entertainment, speeches by the local elected officials, and a possible preview of the 11th City Council race as both candidates Mr. Andrew Cohen and Mr. Cliff Stanton were on hand to try to woo voters for next years race to replace current Councilman G. Oliver Koppell. Go to my blog to see photos of the ponies, petting zoo animals, entertainment, the many different offerings by the Riverdale Avenue Merchants, local elected officials, and the two candidates for Councilman Koppells seat next year.
Don't forget to check my blog for items that may come in after our deadline, more details on stories in this column, and photos of the events, like the Riverdale Avenue Street Festival.. 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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Riverdale News: Manhattan Bests Fordham in Battle of the Bronx

Riverdale News: Manhattan Bests Fordham in Battle of the Bronx: (Photos by Ken Carozza) By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, December 3- The Manhattan Jaspers (2-3) defeated the Fordha...
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Manhattan Bests Fordham in Battle of the Bronx


(Photos by Ken Carozza)

By Howard Goldin
BRONX, NEW YORK, December 3- The Manhattan Jaspers (2-3) defeated the Fordham Rams (1-5), 65-58, Friday night at the Rose Hill Gym on the Fordham University campus in the Bronx. The contest was the 105th between the men’s basketball teams of the two Bronx colleges in a rivalry that began more than a century ago.
Manhattan coach Steve Masiello kept his perfect record intact in six games against Fordham as a member of the coaching staff of Manhattan. Manhattan began the game strongly, reaching a first half high advantage of eight points, 15-7, midway through the first half. On a 12-2 scoring run, Fordham took a 19-6 lead with 4:52 remaining in the half. Two Bronx natives on the Manhattan squad, Michael Alvarado and Emmy Adujar, scored the final six points of the half to give the Jaspers a 26-23 advantage at the half.
The Jaspers retained their lead for the first five minutes of the second half. A three pointer by Fordham senior Branden Frazier followed by two free throws gave Fordham its first second half advantage, 35-33, with 13:25 left in the contest. A layup by Rhamel Brown of Manhattan put the Japers ahead, 53-52, for the final time in the game at 4:07. The visitors concluded the game successfully by outscoring the Rams, 12-6, in the final four minutes. 
Of that period of time, the Fordham coach remarked, “In the last four minutes, they just out toughed us.”
All Hallows grad Alvarado, the high scorer in the game with 19 points, was awarded the Michael Cohen MVP Award. The sophomore remarked, “When they called my name. I was a little surprised, but was very excited and happy.”
After the game concluded, both coaches said Alvarado’s play made the difference in the contest. Fordham coach Tom Pecora stated, “I thought he [Alvarado] took the game over [and] that was the difference.” 
Masiello commented, “Alvarado was the difference.”
Ryan Canty was the high scorer for Fordham. The 6-9 sophomore netted a career-high 18 points. Pecora credited him as “the bright spot of the game” for the Rams.
Both coaches also agreed that the Jaspers showed much greater intensity on the court than did Fordham. Pecora was very critical of his team’s play, “They played to the crowd. They didn’t play hard. We had guys watching; we had spectators.”
Masiello praised his team. “I thought we did a very good job in a lot of areas except turnovers. We dominated the boards (42-22 in rebounds). We got every loose ball in the last six minutes.”
Fordham will not return home until December 23 and Manhattan’s next home game at the Draddy Gymnasium. Interestingly, both teams will face Siena in the next games at home.
The women’s battle of the Bronx took place on the previous night at the Rose Hill Gym. Fordham raised its record this season to 5-1 as the rams defeated the Jaspers, 55-45.

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Riverdale News: Riverdale Comes from Behind to Win

Riverdale News: Riverdale Comes from Behind to Win: (Photos by Gary Quintal) In the opening week of PSAL boys basketball action, Riverdale/Kingsbridge Academy overcame a ...
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Riverdale Comes from Behind to Win

(Photos by Gary Quintal)
In the opening week of PSAL boys basketball action, Riverdale/Kingsbridge Academy overcame a 9-point deficit beating Alfred Smith Campus 57-56 Friday evening. The Tigers scored 26 of their points in the final quarter. The win evens their record at 1-1. Riverdale/Kingsbridge Academy looks to start a winning streak as they host High School of Science Friday. 
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