Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Koch told me that he, not Ferrer, rebuilt Bx.
Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Koch told me that he, not Ferrer, rebuilt Bx.: --> (Photo by Seitu Oronde) By Michael Horowitz BRONX, NEW YORK, February 1- Ed Koch, a man I view as the city's best mayor in my lifeti...
Koch told me that he, not Ferrer, rebuilt Bx.
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(Photo by Seitu Oronde)
By Michael Horowitz
BRONX, NEW YORK, February 1- Ed Koch, a man I view as the city's best mayor in my lifetime, was a man who wanted credit for his accomplishments. He died, last Friday, after five decades of varied accomplishments.
From the former Mayor's perspective, the rebuilding of the Bronx stood out as one of his shining accomplishments. And yes, he did read community newspapers, like this one.
I recall, in the 1980s, how ticked off he was at me when I wrote an article in which former Borough President Fernando Ferrer, then a candidate for mayor, claimed credit for the rebuilding of a borough that was largely burned to the ground in the 1970s.
“What do you mean giving Ferrer credit for the rebuilding of the Bronx?” Koch asked rhetorically. “I did that, and I'm going to put you in touch with a man from the Crotona Park area who will show you what we did in that area in terms of the development of new and affordable housing.”
Within two days, a black man from the Crotona Park area, around the Bronx Zoo, contacted me, and he showed off what he and Mayor Koch had accomplished in terms of rebuilding the neighborhood that the man, an elderly gentleman, still called his home.
Mayor Koch loved to talk, and he loved to say outrageous things, but he also accomplished much more, during his 12-year tenure as mayor, than most politicians accomplish in a lifetime.
The contrast between Koch and former Gov. Mario Cuomo, who were rival candidates for mayor in 1977 and for governor 10 years later, still stands out in my min.
I interviewed both men in the 1970s, Cuomo, when he was running for mayor, and Koch, after he had been elected as mayor.
When I peppered Cuomo with pointed questions relating to the agreement he brokered to pave the way for resident management here, the man who was to become the state's governor dismissed me as someone who was beneath him.
In contrast, Koch, when he came to Co-op City in response to a News story on illegal dumping along the service road leading to the Bartow Avenue entrance to the New England Thruway, confronted me directly, in a style that fit many of the stereotypes about him.
He said that I was a “Cassandra,” or a prophet of doom, for suggesting that the city would do nothing about an eyesore and safety hazard that had been allowed to fester for years.
I remember how, much to my surprise, the city acted speedily, after Koch's visit to Co-op City, to clean up the eyesore that had been neglected for years.
Koch loved to talk, and he aroused the public with a whole host of outrageous one-liners over the course of a career in public life that spanned more than five decades. However, he didn't only talk, as many politicians do; he actually go things done.
A native of the Bronx, the former Mayor, who was buried on Monday, was a quintessential New Yorker in many ways. He was brash, but he was also sophisticated, cultured, well-educated, and worldly.
He started out in politics as a liberal Democrat from the Greenwich Village area, but he evolved into a practical politician who wanted to get things done.
Unlike most politicians today, he had friends from both the Republican and Democratic parties. He even endorsed a number of Republicans in elections because he thought that they would do a better job in the positions for which they were running than their Democratic Party rivals.
Koch was a unique kind of politician --- a non-ideologue whose major concerns were arousing the public consciousness about issues of major concern, and above all, else, getting constructive things done.
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Monday, February 4, 2013
Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Quinn Endorses Cohen
Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Quinn Endorses Cohen: --> (Photo by Robert Press) Riverdale Report By Robert Press BRONX, NEW YORK, February 4- Friday afternoon City Council Speaker Chris...
Truman HS Student Charged with Throwing Child Off Roof
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Child Fights for Life
By David Greene
BRONX, NEW YORK, February 5- A 9-year old child continues to fight for his life after falling from the roof of his Nelson Avenue building, police now say he was thrown from the roof by a teenage neighbor.
According to police, cops and paramedics were called to 1545 Nelson Avenue in the Morris Heights section, at 8:30 p.m., on February 1. Upon their arrival they discovered 9-year-old Freddy Martin, "unconscious and unresponsive," after falling off the 5-story building.
Martin was rushed to Columbia -Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan, where he remains in critical condition, having suffered a broken arm, a broken leg as well as internal bleeding. One unconfirmed report stated the child remains on life-support.
The following day the NYPD would announce the arrest of Martin's neighbor Casmine Aska, 17, who was charged with multiple charges, including one count of attempted murder in the second degree.
After being held for some 20 hours, Aska was escorted out of the 46th Precinct in handcuffs. The teen suspect did not respond to questions shouted by reporters from across the street, but the young man also did not try and hide his face, like many prisoners often do.
Police say Martin managed to tell an officer what happened and reportedly named his assailant, before slipping into unconsciousness.
Police say Aska, a student at Harry S. Truman High School, first told detectives he had nothing to with the child's fall, but later admitted he was on the roof and that the child accidentally fell.
One published report quoting an unnamed police source stated that the teen had four prior arrests for harassment, robbery, menacing and assault. Other published reports stated the teen’s police record was sealed.
Aska was also charged with assault, reckless endangerment and endangering the welfare of a child. Aska was being held without bail. Charges would likely be upgraded to murder if Martin does not survive.
Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Hayes Clips St. Ray’s Wings
Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Hayes Clips St. Ray’s Wings: --> (Photos by Gary Quintal) By Gary Quintal BRONX, NEW YORK, February 4- Friday evening saw a sold out crowd brave the cold to see...
Hayes Clips St. Ray’s Wings
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(Photos by Gary Quintal)
(Photos by Gary Quintal)
By Gary Quintal
BRONX, NEW YORK, February 4- Friday evening saw a sold out crowd brave the cold to see catholic high school basketball as Saint Raymond lost to Bronx rival Cardinal Hayes on an overtime buzzer beater 91-89.
The match-up was mostly Hayes early as they lead by double figures throughout much of the first half, taking a 46-36 lead into halftime.
Saint Rays responded in the second half, tying the game at 60-60 by the 6:20 mark of the fourth quarter. Both teams battled back and forth with each regaining the lead through the rest of the fourth, leaving the Ravens of Saint Raymond one last possession with 2.9 seconds remaining tied at 75-75.
A missed basket set up the overtime drama as the Ravens again had a chance to win taking the lead 89-88 and a free throw, giving Hayes one last chance with just under 4 seconds remaining. Hayes made the running three point attempt as time expired giving them the 91-89 victory and a 15-5 record as Saint Rays falls to 14-7.
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