Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Stop-and-Frisk Controversy Continues

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Stop-and-Frisk Controversy Continues: By David Greene BRONX, NEW YORK, June 7- The very day a federal trial concluded regarding the New York City Police Department'...

Stop-and-Frisk Controversy Continues

By David Greene

BRONX, NEW YORK, June 7- The very day a federal trial concluded regarding the New York City Police Department's controversial stop-and-frisk initiative, two men were stopped along Andrews Avenue-- and the pair were sent on their way without a form being filled out, detailing when, where and why they were stopped as per NYPD patrol policy guidelines.

The men were stopped by four officers and two detectives from the 52nd Precinct as they chatted at about 2 p.m., at the corner of Andrews Avenue and North Street, in the rough-and-tumble University Heights section.

The pair were questioned and searched for about 10 minutes, before they were allowed to go.

One of the men stopped, a 49-year old man, offered, "Yeah, they thought we were doing something."

Referring to the NYPD protocol of providing the public with a document detailing the stop, the man continued, "Yes, they are suppose to give us some kind of paper, they didn't give me anything."

The same day the men were stopped, a nine-week, class action lawsuit against the NYPD and its stop-and-frisk policies, came to an end as both sides rested. Supporters on both side continue to wait for U.S. District Judge Shira Scheindlin's decision.

In New York City the stop-and-frisk program began in the mid 1990's, but officers did not begin to record the stop-and-frisk of civilians until 2002. Local officers recorded their 5-millionth stop in March.

According to NYPD protocol, officers are supposed to fill out a UF-250 after every stop-and-frisk, however, the New York City Bar Association recently concluded, "Not all stops are recorded."

An e-mail request for comment was not immediately acknowledged by the NYPD.

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): ‘No’ For Mayor

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): ‘No’ For Mayor: Riverdale Report By Robert Press BRONX, NEW YORK, June 7- On Tuesday May 28th the Ben Franklin Democratic Club held their endorsemen...

‘No’ For Mayor

Riverdale Report

By Robert Press

BRONX, NEW YORK, June 7- On Tuesday May 28th the Ben Franklin Democratic Club held their endorsement meeting to choose their candidate for Mayor, Public Advocate, and two Bronx Civil Court Judges. 

First for Civil Court Judges the BFDC endorsed two judges that the club has endorsed in the past. Judge Larry Schachner and Judge Julia Rodriguez were endorsed for the two Bronx Civil Court Judge positions. Next up was the position of Public Advocate to be considered for endorsement. Councilman G. Oliver Koppell spoke about not endorsing for Public Advocate as the club did four years ago when there was a split amongst the members on just whom to endorse. Koppell however went on to say that the club should also vote not to endorse for mayor. Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz spoke next and said that there are seven candidates now running for mayor, and only four for Public Advocate. He then said that the club should vote to endorse for Public Advocate, then decide to endorse or not on the position of mayor. Current State Committeewoman Helen Morik said that she agreed with Councilman Koppell that the club should not endorse for Public Advocate or mayor. Former State Committeewoman Marcia Alina said that if the club does not endorse it would like the club is not participating in the races. A voice vote to endorse or not for the position of Public Advocate was to close to call, and a show of hands decided to endorse for that position. After several speakers in favor of one candidate or for no endorsement option spoke the written ballot for Public Advocate was collected and counting of the ballots began.

It was now time for the BFDC to consider to vote to endorse or not for the position of mayor. Several members spoke about how the club should not endorse for mayor now. Reasons given were that there are seven Democratic candidates now since Anthony Weiner joined the race, the numbers keep changing every day in the race, and one member even said that the club should wait a few weeks because the “Bloodletting would be done by then”. By a voice vote of over 2-1 the BFDC voted not to endorse for the office of Mayor. The results of the club vote for Public Advocate was announced that State Senator Dan Squadron had received 34 of the 53 votes cast. Since the winning margin was over 50 percent of the vote Parliamentarian Bruce Feld stated that no run off vote was needed, and congratulated the club on its choice. Mr. Feld also added that the executive committee of the BFDC could place the question of endorsing for mayor on the club agenda for a later date. The meeting was then adjourned. You can go to my blog at www.100percentbronx.blogspot.com to read more about this story, and see photos of several of the club members as they spoke.

The long awaited decision of are you running for the 11th City Council seat or not Mr. Ari Hoffnung came to a rather quiet endorsement of Andrew Cohen for the 11th City Council seat Monday morning. Hoffnung had only praise for neighbor Andrew Cohen (both live a block away from each other) as Hoffnung said right now is not the time for him to run. He said that his matching funds will go back to the city, but he will keep his campaign account with just under $82,000.00 in it active for a possible future run.

New York State Senate Co-Leader Jeff Klein visited the Riverdale Kingsbridge Academy last week to speak with some of the schools students who participated in the Project Boost program. 120 of RKA's high school students were able to visit various colleges through the Project Boost program. Several students said that if not for the program they would not have gotten to visit the various colleges, and see what school life is after high school. Senator Klein said that he is a product of Bronx public schools, and that when he went to Columbia University the tuition was $10,000. He said that tuition at his old school is now over $65,000. He added that he was proud to have given these students a chance to see a part of what college life is about. You can go to my blog to read more on this, and see photos of Senator Klein, RKA Principal Laura O'Mara, and some of the students who participated in this Project Boost program.

The New York City Department of Design & Construction announced at the May Community Board #8 Traffic and Transportation committee meeting that they will be replacing the old water mains in the area from Manhattan College to Riverdale Avenue. This includes Waldo and Greystone Avenues in the area of Manhattan College Parkway, & West 238th Street up to Riverdale Avenue. It was said that the project will begin in late June when the Fieldston school on Waldo Avenue is out, and then continue in July through August after a second project is then finished. People and businesses will be given at least 48 hours advance notice of any water shutdowns to replace the mains on the block, and I have spoken to several merchants in the area who hope that the work can be done in less than one day in their area. More on this in upcoming columns.

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.

Bronx News Sports: CC'Almost Perfect

Bronx News Sports: CC'Almost Perfect: Yankees sweep Indians behind Sabathia complete game and the long ball By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK, JUNE 5- Wednesday afternoon in th...

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): CC's Almost Perfect

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): CC's Almost Perfect: Yankees sweep Indians behind Sabathia complete game and the long ball By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK, JUNE 5- Wednesday afternoon in th...

CC's Almost Perfect

Yankees sweep Indians behind Sabathia complete game and the long ball

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, JUNE 5- Wednesday afternoon in the Bronx, CC Sabathia went to the mound in the fifth inning with a perfect game going against the Cleveland Indians. The New York Yankees ace was having that type of day. With the exception of one home run from the Indians, he was almost perfect.

Sabathia (6-4) went the route and threw the 36th complete game of his career, 10th as a Yankee, leading his team to a 6-4 win. The Yankees swept the three-game series from the Indians and embarked on a 10-game, three city trip to Seattle, Oakland and Los Angeles.

It was a vintage Sabathia outing in the first few innings and he had no trouble taming the Indians. The command on his fastball, curve and slider was outstanding. He retired the first fourteen Cleveland hitters that came to the plate before Mike Aviles hit a single to left with two outs in the fifth.

“It was too early to recognize,” said Sabathia about his perfection going into the inning.” He won his second straight start and it was his first complete game against Cleveland, the team that drafted him.

He was throwing strikes and his delivery, according to Sabathia has been much better in the last two starts. It was his second win on the home stand, the other, against Boston last week when he allowed a run on six hits.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi said he told Sabathia to finish the game before he came out for the ninth inning.

“I told him to finish it and he did,” said Girardi. “I really didn’t want to use “Mo” but I would have with two outs in the ninth. He didn’t give up a hard hit ball until the seventh inning.” The reference was to not using closer and all-time saves leader Mariano Rivera who finished the first two games of the series.

With Sabathia going the distance, Girardi gave his bullpen a well deserved rest before the upcoming road trip. Among his nine- strikeouts, he recorded four straight and struck out the side in the Cleveland third.

He was reached for two runs in the sixth and seventh innings. Yan Gomes got hold of a first pitch slider from Sabathia in the seventh inning, a two –run home run to left and the final runs of the day for the Indians. It was the fourth home run in the last nine games hit by Gomes.

“He was doing what CC does,” commented Gomes about Sabathia’s complete game. On his home run, he said, “Just got a good pitch to it. He was aggressive with all his pitches.”

Corey Kluber (3-4) the Indians’ 27-year- old right hander, in his eighth start of the season gave up two home runs in the first two innings. Travis Hafner hit a two-run blast to right in the first inning, his 10th of the season and second of the series that gave New York a 2-0 lead.

The runs were not earned as Robinson Cano reached second base on an error that Michael Bourn mishandled in center.

And in the Yankees’ four –run second inning, Bret Gardner hit a three-run homer to deep right. It was the sixth of the year for Gardner and opened up a 6-0 lead for New York. Kluber went six innings, was charged with six-runs on seven hits. But he was able to settle down and recorded eight strikeouts.

Said Gardner about Sabathia, “It’s just the way we would draw it up. He looked real good. He had no-hit stuff.”

Kluber is winless in his last four starts.

“His stuff was tremendous the whole game,” commented Indians manager Terry Francona who saw his team end a string of 20- consecutive games. “He had a couple of misfires. The fastball to Hafner that ran back over the middle. He completed and never lost his poise.”

Francona added, “That’s a pretty big hole to dig out of when CC is pitching.”

The Indians were not able to do much, but the Yankees did what they had to do again. As they often say, their goal is to win games, more so to win series, this their fifth sweep of the season. They will take a sweep coming off losing two of three to first place Boston earlier this week.

With Sabathia, the Yankees are that much better and feeling good each time their ace takes the mound.

Comment Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com