Thursday, January 10, 2013

Riverdale News: Headache On Broadway

Riverdale 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...

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

Riverdale News: Cops Catch ‘Mugger’ Following Dimwit Pic taken fro...

Riverdale News: Cops Catch ‘Mugger’ Following Dimwit Pic taken fro...: UPDATE Photogenic Felons More Criminal Masterminds Join Cops’ List of Getting Caught on Camera By Dan Gesslein ...

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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Friday, January 4, 2013

Riverdale News: 11th Council District Race

Riverdale News: 11th Council District Race: Riverdale Report By Robert Press BRONX, NEW YORK, January 4- As was the case four years ago, the term limit law will kick i...

11th Council District Race

Riverdale Report
By Robert Press
BRONX, NEW YORK, January 4- As was the case four years ago, the term limit law will kick into effect for many of our city council members, as well as some Borough Presidents and citywide elected officials such as Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Four years ago City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and the City Council at Mayor Bloomberg's urging overturned the term limit law, but that will not happen this year.
Here in the 11th City Council district four years ago Anthony Perez Cassino ran against incumbent Councilman G. Oliver Koppell. Perez Cassino lost big, but the story was that Ari Hoffnung who also announced his intention to run for Koppell's seat withdrew after the term limit law was overturned so Councilman Koppell could run for another term. Hoffnung had raised over $80,000 for his 2009 campaign that remains in limbo as he continued to keep his campaign committee alive for a possible future run. Hoffnung told me that at the beginning of January he would be making a decision as to running for Koppell's seat this year or not. Two candidates have already announced Mr. Cliff Stanton and Andrew Cohen. If Hoffnung was looking for the local political establishment to support him, he can forget about that as all the local elected officials have endorsed the Cohen candidacy. It would be an uphill battle for Mr. Hoffnung who is currently Deputy Controller for the city, and I don't see him or anyone else with a chance of winning entering this race now especially with the talks of a June primary and March petition process.
As we look at both Mr. Cohen and Mr. Stanton as candidates for city council from their palm cards and first mailings there seems to be something missing, and that is a long political background. On Mr. Cohen's material (which is quite simple) we see a large photo of the Cohen family with his four-year-old daughter Sarah holding up her thumb which many see as a sign of approval for her daddy. On the palm card and inside the mailing Cohen gets right to the point in his qualifications for the council seat, with his law and community experience. At the bottom is a photo with the four local elected officials who have already endorsed Mr. Cohen's candidacy. There is also a question on the back to be mailed back to Mr. Cohen.
Mr. Stanton's material is more complex with his mailing showing him standing in the middle of Independence Avenue next to one of the illegal stop signs that the PS 24 Parents Association paid for. The Department of Transportation Bronx commissioner said several of the illegal signs were confiscated. Inside are photos of Mr. Stanton with his daughter, what appears to be a member of the armed forces, and him talking to a few seniors. He mentions his involvement in local schools, a free senior van service he started recently started, his endorsement of the Mayor's “innovative senior center program”, being an entrepreneur, creating a neighborhood watch, and tries to take credit for the awarding of the “Slow Zone” by PS 24 and 141. There is also mention of him being treasurer of KRVDC, and that he developed or supported projects such as the ice skating rink in Van Cortlandt Park, summer pedestrian mall on Johnson Ave., plaza on Riverdale Ave., and the KRVDC free movie night series. Mr. Stanton also has a question on the back of his mailing, but unlike Mr. Cohen's this one does not need a stamp.
In comparing the two candidates we will have more in future columns. I intend to ask the questions of the candidates that you want answered, and I will tell you what each candidate said including if they tried to dodge the question, or would not give an answer.
Since Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz sponsored the Riverdale Slow Zone, city council candidate Cliff Stanton wants to take credit for the Slow Zone, and city council candidate Andrew Cohen has put on his Facebook page a photo of him raking the asphalt for one of the three new speed bumps on Independence Ave. (nine in all in the seven block slow zone), you now know who to blame when you have to repair your car. I still can't understand why two speed bumps are being placed on Palisade Ave. (nowhere near the schools), and not one is being placed on the HHP service road one block from the schools where over hundreds of children walk. Then again Assemblyman Dinowitz lives on the HHP service road less than two blocks from the schools.
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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Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Winners & Losers 2012

100 PERCENT
By Robert Press
BRONX, NEW YORK, January 2- Losers in 2012. I am going to start with the real losers of 2012, and save the politicians for last. The biggest losers were the people who were affected by Hurricane Sandy, because there were so many of them. Some are still without homes that were either ruined or are uninhabitable, and have lost almost everything they had. Many other people citywide and beyond were losers when the transit system relied upon every day went down. Tunnels as well as many lower Manhattan buildings were flooded, and power was lost for more than a week in many areas. New York City lost umpteen millions of dollars in revenue, and the lasting damage of Hurricane Sandy to the tune of over $60 million in federal aid to the tri-state area is still being felt.
The biggest loser in sports is a toss up between the National Hockey League and Lance Armstrong. While the Yankees may have won their division they were losers in the playoffs. However even bigger losers were the Boston Red Sox who finished in last place in the division. The Red Sox team was partly dismantled during the past season, and one has to wonder how the 2013 Yankee team will look like let alone perform. Staying in baseball the 2012 Mets were losers, and their prospects for 2013 look worse since losing their number one “Cy Young Award” winning pitcher. The New Jersey Jets were losers, because it didn't matter who was at quarterback since all three were trounced by the opposing defense.
Turning to politics the biggest loser has to be New York State Senate Democrats. While the official election results are still unknown two months later, unofficially Democrats had either a 33-30 or 32-31 lead after election day in the state senate. So how will Republican State Senator Dean Skellows be sworn in as Senate Majority Leader? While the names may change Democrats who were incarcerated in 2012 was former Brooklyn State Senator Carl Kruger. Democrats who were convicted in 2012 and will be sent to jail in 2013 are former Bronx State Senator Pedro Espada Jr., and former Bronx Councilman Larry Seabrook. Others like former Queens State Senator Shirley Huntley (indicted three weeks before her primary), and former Bronx Assemblywoman Naomi Rivera (involved in several investigation for alleged wrongdoing) lost their primary elections in 2012.
Winners in 2012. We have to start at the top, and say President Barrack Obama has to be the biggest winner on his re-election as president. Staying in politics locally newly elected Assemblymen Mark Gjonaj (80 A.D.) and Luis Sepulveda (87 A.D.) were big winners. Gjonaj for beating an incumbent who was endorsed by almost every Bronx elected official and the Bronx Democratic County organization, not to mention being the daughter of the former Bronx Democratic County Leader. Sepulveda for his huge victory over the former Chief of Staff to the previous assemblyman. In the special election to replace convicted former Councilman Larry Seabrook was new Councilman Andy King who brings much promise to the area he now represents. The people of the Bronx were winners when current Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. announced that he will be running for re-election in 2013.
Other winners on the short list in 2012 include NYC Police Commissioner Ray Kelly for the continued low levels of crime in the city. Derek Jeter for the better than average season he had in 2012, as he was the spark plug that drove the hitting engine. The Washington Nationals baseball team, who in two short years went from a last place division team to the best record in the 2012 baseball season. The final winners are all the people who helped, and are still helping in the recovery of Hurricane Sandy.
While you may think I left out a name you can e-mail it to me. Next week I will have things to look forward to in 2013 like a Democratic mayor being elected. Don't forget to check my blog at www.100percentbronx.blogspot.com for updates, late arriving news, or items that may not have made it into this column.
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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