Ex-Prez Clinton's coming to Co-op City

By Michael Horowitz


Former President Bill Clinton will be the featured speaker, Feb. 17, at Rep. Joseph Crowley’s annual Black History Month celebration in Co-op City.

The public is invited to attend the celebration, which will be free of charge for those who call ahead for tickets and pick them up in advance of the occasion, which is scheduled for 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Dreiser Loop Community Center. No one will be admitted to the celebration without a ticket.

Among the honorees at the celebration, in addition to former President Clinton, will be Assemblyman Carl Heastie, chairman of the Bronx County Democratic party Committee.

Former President Clinton, the husband of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, is currently leading the U. S. effort on behalf of the refugees in earthquake-ravaged Haiti.

The former President, who was wildly popular in the black community during his presidency, got into trouble with the black community while campaigning for his wife when she opposed President Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination.

At the time, the former President dismissed Obama, then a U. S. senator, as a lightweight who had played no role in the struggle by blacks for equality.

Crowley, who has represented Co-op City in Congress since 2002, is currently a member of the highly influential House Ways and Means Committee, which is chaired by Rep. Charles Rangel.

Rangel, who has served as something of a mentor for Crowley, represents Harlem in the U. S. House of Representatives.

Co-op City, following Congressional redistricting, became a key community within Rep Crowley’s constituency.

Rep. Eliot Engel, Crowley’s predecessor as Co-op City’s Congressman, has gained notoriety, in recent years, as an elected representative who reserves his place in the hall of Congress 10 hours in advance so that he can shake hands with the President after he delivers his State of the Union Address.

To arrange for tickets for Crowley’s Black History Month celebration, call Crowley’s office in Co-op City at (718) 320-2314, or his office in Throggs Neck at (718) 931-1400. Tickets can be picked up at Crowley office here in Room 3 of the Dreiser Loop Community Center.

Seabrook indicted in fed probe

By Michael Horowitz


City Councilman Larry Seabrook, a legislator for the last three decades, was indicted, Tuesday, on charges of fraud, extortion, and money laundering as part of an ongoing federal probe stemming from a City Council slush-fund scandal.

Seabrook, who has been a member of the City Council since 2001, was the subject of a 13-count federal indictment that was unsealed on Tuesday morning. He has reportedly been under intensive investigation by the U.S. Attorney and the city’s Department of Investigation, the New York Post reported.

The investigation had focused on city contracts Seabrook helped to get for a number of Bronx community organization, authorities told the Post.

According to the feds’ 13-count indictment against Seabrook, he inflated the expenses of community groups, including rent payments, so that he could hand over the difference to family members and associates.

Seabrook is also accused of doctoring receipts for expenses that were never incurred.

He also reportedly paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in consulting fees to his girlfriend, his brother, sisters, and nephews.

The indictment also indicates that the City Councilman steered $50,000 to himself from a Bronx boiler company, which had just been awarded a lucrative contract by the Yankees for their new ballpark, after he lobbied on their behalf.

The conduits for the illegal payments, the indictment alleges, were the Northeast Bronx Community Democratic Club and the Bronx African-American Chamber of Commerce, the indictment alleges. The community groups reportedly turned over the siphoned funds to the City Councilman.

Yank, baseball pledge to fight child obesity

Photo by NY Yankees

Yankees Outfielder Curtis Granderson joined Major League Baseball in supporting the new White House Anti-Obesity Campaign, which was introduced in Washington by First Lady Michelle Obama. The nationwide campaign, which will address the serious epidemic of childhood obesity, for the first time ever, will set a national goal of solving the obesity challenge within a generation, so that America’s youngest children reach adulthood at a healthy weight. This campaign will be designed to unite and inspire families to take real and sustained actions to eat better, be more active, and make a commitment to embracing healthier lifestyles. 

Building on its commitment to the cause, Major League Baseball also announced an expansion of its “Wanna Play?” initiative, a program dedicated to youth fitness. The MLB “Wanna Play?” program debuted last year with events in Cincinnati, Houston, and Philadelphia. In 2010, the program will be administered by Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the Official Charity of Major League Baseball, with the goal of reaching 175,000 Club members. “Wanna Play?” encourages boys and girls ages 6 to 12 to increase their physical fitness by focusing on agility, coordination and balance while infusing baseball and softball elements throughout the program. “Wanna Play?” features a variety of fun and engaging activities and games to help young people improve their fitness, increase awareness of good nutrition and hydration, and learn basic baseball and softball skills. 

“Major League Baseball takes its responsibility to be a positive influence in the lives of young people very seriously,” said Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig. “We are proud to expand the ‘Wanna Play?’ program’s emphasis on physical fitness and good nutrition as part of MLB’s support of the First Lady's new initiative. I can think of no better MLB representative to stand alongside the First Lady today than Curtis Granderson, a role model and ambassador for baseball who has demonstrated a passion and dedication for all issues relating to enriching young people’s lives.”

“As a member of the Major League Baseball family, I hope that we can educate young people on a variety of topics to help them in their development and communicating the importance of physical fitness and living a healthy lifestyle is critical,” said Granderson. “I'm proud and honored to be invited by the First Lady to take part in this special event, and I pledge to do my part to continue stressing the importance of staying active to today's youth.”

Granderson, an All-Star centerfielder who joined the New York Yankees this off-season and known for his strong community work, was the Detroit Tigers Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevy nominee and was voted by his peers as the 2009 Marvin Miller Man of the Year. He established the not-for-profit Grand Kids Foundation in 2008, focusing on improving opportunities for inner city youth in the areas of education and youth baseball. As a Major League Baseball Ambassador, he has visited Europe, South Africa and China to promote the game of baseball to thousands of fans overseas. 

Bikers show big heart! Throw Super Bowl party for needy vets

By Dan Gesslein

bronxnews@optonline.net

Some Bronx bikers turned in their Harleys for aprons; at least for a day. Members of one motorcycle club spent Superbowl Sunday throwing a party for Bronx veterans who used to be living on the street.

On Sunday, the tri-boro chapter of the Nam Knights cooked and served the vets who watched the big game in the cafeteria at New Era Veterans in Soundview. The residents of the SRO took part in the national past time with the help of the bikers. The club members served up snacks and during half time the vets chowed down on football faves like wings.

“It’s just our way of thanking our brothers and sisters,” said Ken Wales, road captain and treasurer of the Nam Knights tri-boro chapter. “It’s a really good, fun time.”

This is the second year that Wales’ club has been running a Superbowl party at New Era. Previously the group threw a big game bash at a homeless shelter in Queens for five years.

The Nam Knights of America Motorcycle Club is made up of Vietnam War combat veterans and law enforcement officials, who own American made motorcycles, preferably Harley Davidsons.

The Superbowl bash was just one of the many charities the Knights are involved in. In April they will hold a bike run from Throggs Neck down to the World Trade Center as a way to raise money for the police widows and orphans fund.

For more information about the Nam Knights go to:

http://www.namknights.org

Fashion for a cause! The Who, Hard Rock team up to help cancer foundation

More than 30 years ago, Eric Clapton, a regular customer at the original Hard Rock Cafe London, asked the staff if he could hang his guitar on the wall to mark his favorite bar stool as “his spot.” They did, and one week later, a package from The Who’s Pete Townshend arrived with a guitar and a note bearing the message “Mine’s as good as his! Love, Pete.”

After legendary guitarist Pete Townshend donated his guitar to Hard Rock and helped to start the brand’s world-famous memorabilia collection, Rock and Roll Hall of Famers and Super Bowl XLIV halftime performers The Who are once again making Hard Rock history. Hard Rock International is proud to announce the limited-edition The Who Signature Series: Edition XXVII, designed by Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey, which will benefit the band’s chosen charity – City of Hope, a leading research, treatment and education center for cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. Fifteen percent of the retail sales from The Who Signature Series: Edition XXVII T-shirts and pins will be donated to City of Hope.

The front of Hard Rock’s new Signature Series T-shirt features The Who’s famous logo and the timeless image of Pete Townshend swinging his arm “windmill-style” against his guitar strings, set atop a British flag. A backstage pass dangles from the neck of the navy blue T-shirt. The back of the shirt features the words “That’s Who” with an arrow leading from the “o” to the authentic signatures of Townshend and Daltrey. Offered in men’s sizes (S – XXL), Hard Rock’s The Who Signature Series T-shirt is now available online at www.hardrock.com and at Rock Shops at Hard Rock Cafes, Hotels and Casinos worldwide.

“Roger and I have a rich history with Hard Rock International and it’s an honor to join some of music’s greatest legends for this important cause,” said Pete Townshend. “It’s amazing that our design on a T-shirt can literally help save lives.”

Since it was established in 1971, Hard Rock International has been committed to a wide variety of philanthropic causes and activities around the world. Hard Rock developed the concept of partnering with world-renowned musicians and bands to create and donate imaginative designs, which are reproduced onto T-shirts, with a portion of the retail price benefitting the artist’s preferred charity. 

The Who joins a legendary roster of rock icons – from Bruce Springsteen, Eric Clapton and Bono, to Jon Bon Jovi, Shakira and John Lennon – to become part of Hard Rock’s Signature Series T-shirt program, which has helped to raise millions of dollars for charitable causes worldwide, such as WHY (World Hunger Year), Crossroads Centre Antigua, Fundación Pies Descalzos, Amnesty International and more.

“The Who is truly one of the world’s most influential rock bands and an extremely significant part of Hard Rock’s history. Not only did Pete Townshend help to start Hard Rock’s memorabilia collection, but The Who headlined the first-ever Hard Rock Calling concert in London’s Hyde Park in 2006,” said Hamish Dodds, President and CEO, Hard Rock International. 

“We are honored to have The Who become part of Hard Rock’s renowned global Signature Series T-shirt program and show our support for City of Hope and its mission.”

Located just outside Los Angeles, City of Hope is one of 40 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers and a founding member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. City of Hope is recognized worldwide for its compassionate patient care, innovative science and translational research, which rapidly turns laboratory breakthroughs into promising new therapies.

The Who Signature Series: Edition XXVII, in collaboration with Hard Rock International and Doug Morris, chairman and chief executive officer of Universal Music Group, is a key fundraising program first announced at the 2008 Spirit of Life® event. The event honored Doug Morris for his outstanding contributions to the community, music industry and significant fundraising campaigns and his longtime support of City of Hope’s lifesaving research and treatments.

For more information, please visit www.hardrock.com.

City of Hope is a leading research and treatment center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases. Designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Center, the highest honor bestowed by the National Cancer Institute, and a founding member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, City of Hope's research and treatment protocols advance care throughout the nation. City of Hope is located in Duarte, Calif., just northeast of Los Angeles, and is ranked as one of “America’s Best Hospitals” in cancer and urology by U.S.News & World Report. Founded in 1913, City of Hope is a pioneer in the fields of bone marrow transplantation and genetics. To learn more about City of Hope, please visit www.cityofhope.org.

Paradise lost! Even socialist utopia is against Bam’s plans

By Michael Horowitz

President Obama should realize that his programs are not popular when community activists in a pro-union, pro-socialist neighborhood start decrying your programs as detrimental to the economy. In Co-op City which is composed of union members, government employees and has streets named after noted socialists, like Eugene Debs, activists are outraged that the community’s unemployment rate has spiked to 12.3 percent.

Civic activists Arthur Taub and Frank Belcher, while expressing differing points of view, both condemned the way elected officials and government bureaucrats have responded to growing unemployment in Co-op City and in the rest of the Bronx.

Crain's magazine recently reported that Co-op City has a 12.3-percent unemployment rate. The New York State Department of Labor recently reported that the unemployment rate in the Bronx was at 13.9 percent, making Bronx the county with the state's highest unemployment rate.

For years, the Bronx has ranked as one of the nation's poorest counties.

Taub and Belcher, in telephone interviews this week, had harsh words for Co-op City's elected officials, as well as for Mayor Michael Bloomberg and President Barack Obama.

Taub, one of Co-op City's foremost activists for the last four decades, said that elected officials have failed to act assertively to improve the educational system.

Taub added that the elected officials serving Co-op City --- Rep. Joseph Crowley, Assemblyman Michael Benedetto, State Sen. Ruth Hassell-Thompson, Borough Diaz Jr., and City Councilman Larry Seabrook ---- have shown an appalling indifference to the effects of the economic downturn on their constituents.

Taub also condemned Mayor Bloomberg and Schools Chancellor Joel Klein, saying that their approach to improving the city's school system is wrong-headed and counterproductive.

Belcher, for his part, said that President Obama and the Democratic Congress have been leading the U. S. down a path toward socialism.

Belcher stressed, in a telephone interview this week, “The members of Congress, including Congressman Crowley, need to realize that their policies lead to too much dependence on government and not enough self-reliance among Americans, who need to learn how to fend for themselves. A rising national debt is not the answer to unemployment. Help for small businesses, which drive the economy, can help us get out of this recession. We can't depend upon government to do everything for us.”

Taub, for his part, stressed, “Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Schools Chancellor Klein seem to think that closing public schools is the way to go to improve the city's school system. I don't see that kind of approach will improve the school system.  We need to take action to improve poor-performing schools, rather than to close them down.”

Taub added, “The money that the federal government allocated to get us out of the recession went to the wrong places. We need to fund programs that will give educators the tools to work with youngsters. We need to focus on making education work in Co-op City, the Bronx, and the rest of the city.”

Taub emphasized, “As far as I'm concerned, Co-op city doesn't have elected officials. For years, we haven't had elected officials who have represented our interests.” 

'Obama' beaten by hospital cop?

By David Greene

A police Sergeant with the Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) has been suspended without pay after Barak Obama look-a-like Luis Ortiz claimed he was punched in the face by the officer in a Morris Park Deli.

According to Ortiz, the incident took place inside the S & J Deli, located at 1572 Williamsbridge Road at 3:30 a.m., on December 26. Ortiz says he was purchasing cold cuts at the deli when words were exchanged with the HHC peace officer.

Ortiz, a resident of Morris Park, admits an earlier confrontation with another officer from HHC sparked him to say something to another patron of the deli when a shoving match ensued.

Ortiz, who suffers from MS, first rejected medical treatment but visited Jacobi Hospital a day later when he began to get a severe headache. Ortiz recalled, "He punched me in the face... instead of punching him and getting into trouble, I picked up a giant grapefruit and I hit him point blank in the face."

The Sergeant and his partner would stop Ortiz down the block and would check him for any warrants before letting him go. Ortiz continued, "I told him 'You guys are screwed, I'm going to call the police.' "

The Presidential impersonator, who appeared on an episode of HBO's “Flight of the Conchords,” and who recently shot his first film in Japan, claims two officers from the 49th Precinct arrived on the scene and took the report, but when Ortiz visited the Eastchester Road station house, he was told no report had been filed.

Ortiz claims a civilian secretary found a record of the complaint to 911. When the secretary began to make a second report, she allegedly was told by an unidentified NYPD Sergeant not to make the report.

Ortiz recalled, "She told me they don't make Assault 3 charges against hospital police. That they would not arrest him and that a 61 report could not be filed against this officer."

Ortiz was told several different things including contacting the NYPD's Internal Affairs Division, the Civilian Complaint Review Board and the office of the New York City Inspector General.

Ortiz would find out later that the Sergeant issued him a summons for disorderly conduct. The presidential impersonator maintains the Sergeant never gave it to him. The ticket states on the bottom that Ortiz refused to sign the summons. Ortiz adds, "He wanted me to miss the court date and get locked up."

One volunteer fireman said of the incident, "I can call Obama a jackass or Bush a bum, but you can't just hit somebody. It has nothing to do with the President." The source said of the hospital Sergeant, "This guy's going to be in a firestorm."

Asked if members of the NYPD should have taken the report, a 20-year veteran of the force explained, "Yes. Anything that happens on the street, we're supposed to make a report." The officer continued, "I don't know if you want to get involved in a story like that..."

"If you put your hands on someone like that," the cop continued, "You should be collared. You have a simple assault, so it's an automatic arrest." The officer, who declined to use his name for this article added, "The summons should never have been written."

The officer said of the officers from the 49th Precinct, "They probably didn't want to get involved in this, so this sounds like a bag of crap... it sounds like bad, bad news for us."

In a brief e-mail response from Pam McDonnell, director of media relations for NYC HHC, stated, "I spoke to Jacobi (Hospital) and they told me they are aware of the incident. The hospital peace officer involved has been suspended without pay, pending a final investigation."

Despite four video cameras in the store, the store's owner claims the incident was not recorded. However, a second deli owner in the area, who knows the owner and store, stated, "He's full of s--t."

David Torrey, an attorney from Westchester who is representing Ortiz, said of the incident, "It's unfortunate that some members of the police department believe they can basically act with complete disregard to what the law is. They think they are above the law."

Numerous requests for comment from 1 Police Plaza and Captain John Greeley at the 49th Precinct were not returned.