Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Preggers and Political Patronage in Election

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Preggers and Political Patronage in Election: 100 PERCENT By Robert Press BRONX, NEW YORK, AUGUST 19- With less than a month to go starting at the top with the race for mayor, i...

Preggers and Political Patronage in Election

100 PERCENT

By Robert Press

BRONX, NEW YORK, AUGUST 19- With less than a month to go starting at the top with the race for mayor, it is almost 100 percent sure that there will be a run off for mayor at least. 

The undecided vote (over 25 percent) is still larger than the number one candidate in the latest poll as once again the front runner is Christine Quinn with only 25 percent. Anthony Weiner has fallen to fourth place with Bill Thompson and Bill deBlasio both in the high teens a close second and third to Quinn. It is still too close to call as to just who may wind up as the two candidates that will face off in the run off election for mayor, and it is to close to call if the Board of Elections will have the results official (fully counted & correct) in time for the run off election.

It should be easier in the race for comptroller as there are only two candidates: Scott “Mild Mannered” Stringer and Eliot “Client # 9” Spitzer. Kristen “Madame” Davis was recently arrested for selling prescription drugs, and may not get to run in this race as planned. I was hoping for the Madame & the John to battle it out for control of New York City's finances. Spitzer has a slim lead here in the polls, but this one should go down to primary day as Stringer and Spitzer battle it out. One has to think that if Anthony Weiner did not get into the mayors race, that it could have been Eliot Spitzer for Mayor.

In the race to replace current Public Advocate Bill deBlasio his Deputy Public Advocate Reshma Saujani was last in the field of four Democratic candidates. Again here undecided voters is in first place equaling almost the total of all four candidates. Brooklyn Councilwoman Letitia James and upstart newcomer Cathy Guerriero are within one percentage point. James at 16 percent and Guerriero at 15 percent in the last poll. State Senator Dan Squadron was in third place.

“YES” current Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. has a primary this year. I was out on the campaign trail one evening as voters warmly said hello, but many added that they did not know that he was being challenged in the primary this year. Diaz wants every one to know that “YES” he does have a primary election this year.

In City Council Races - 11th District- this race is now down to two candidates Andrew Cohen and Cliff Stanton, even though Stanton's camp is also attacking me as if I am a candidate in the race (see my Riverdale Report elsewhere in this paper).

12th District - Incumbent Andy King should take this one easily.

13th District - Incumbent Jimmy Vacca has no primary.

14th District - Incumbent Fernando Cabrera should win this easily.

15th District – No incumbent, this race is down to 6 candidates. 1 - Albert Alvarez is Chief of staff to out going Councilman Joel Rivera. Alvarez should be the front runner, but he is not used to being in the spotlight. Alvarez is having a hard time explaining what was done in the past 12 years by councilman Joel Rivera, and there is little to take advantage of. 

Raquel Batista is a fine hard working community activist & organizer. She would make a fine councilwoman, but may not have enough support in the district. Batista is also nine months pregnant with one month to go in the race. 

Rev. Joel Bauza was attacked for preaching anti gay language in his one debate, and was on the defensive most of that debate. Bauza is endorsed by State Senator Rev. Ruben Diaz Sr. 

Joel R. Rivera has run for the 15th council district before, but is being challenged by other candidates for having the same name as the outgoing councilman. This Joel Rivera works for City Comptroller John Liu, and has been the most vocal in the two 15th council debates. 

Cynthia Thompkins did much better in the second debate than the first. She is openly gay, and confronted Rev. Bauza that his preaching is creating more violence towards gay people (a statement that Rev. Bauza denied and invited anyone to come to his church to hear him). 

Ritchie Torres has to be the front runner now that Kenny Agosto was knocked off the ballot. Both Torres and Agosto not only live near each other, but come from the Liberty Democratic Association. Torres has worked for Councilman Jimmy Vacca for many years as a housing liaison. Torres has been accused of taking advantage of that inside knowledge and influence in getting an apartment in a supportive housing unit when it went up several years ago. Torres has said that he has lived in poverty, and that his income of $20,000 from Councilman Vacca meets the income eligibility. Torres is still making the same salary years later as he is still living in the same supportive housing unit some of his opponents have pointed out. Torres is supported by Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

16th District – No incumbent, but 77th A.D. Assemblywoman Vanessa Gibson is the favorite in this rather large crowded field of candidates. Assemblywoman Gibson has the endorsement of the Bronx County Democratic organization which will propel her to victory in this district. It expected that the second place finisher will be Carlos Sierra.

17th District – Incumbent Maria Del Carmen Arroyo will probably win re-election over local community activist Julio Pabon, but it is the infamous Derek Jeter signature on Councilwoman Arroyo's petition that will be remembered most in this election.

18th District – Incumbent Annabel Palma should win re-election over challenger William Moore.

On Sunday August 18th Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj will be hosting International Family Day At Dewitt Clinton High School on the Goulden Avenue side from 12 – 6 p.m.

On Saturday August 24 the Committee of 100 Democrats will be hosting their 9th Annual Free Community Barbecue on East 204th Street beteeen Mosholu Parkway and the Grand Concourse from 1 – 6 PM. You can call Committee of 100 Democrats Chairman Ricky Martinez at 212-470-4784 for more information on the Free Community Barbecue.

Don't forget to check my blog at www.100percentbronx.blogspot.com for more on what you may read in this column, items that may come in after my deadline, and see the many photos of the events that were taken. 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 728-644-4199 Mr. Robert Press.

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): WILD WEEKEND

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): WILD WEEKEND: 4 Wounded in 3 Shootings in 2 Hours By David Greene BRONX, NEW YORK, AUGUST 19- Police officers in the 50 and 46 Precincts had their ha...

WILD WEEKEND

4 Wounded in 3 Shootings in 2 Hours

By David Greene

BRONX, NEW YORK, AUGUST 19- Police officers in the 50 and 46 Precincts had their hands full with three separate shootings reported in less than a two-hour period and within a 1-mile radius of each other.

Patrolmen in Kingsbridge Heights were first called for reports of a male shot outside of 2725 Webb Avenue at W. Kingsbridge Road, at 12:15 a.m., on Friday, August 16.

Police sources reported that the 19-year-old Hispanic male was discovered in the lobby of a building and removed in critical, but stable condition to St. Barnabus Hospital with gunshot wounds to a hand and leg.

The unidentified victim's condition was later upgraded to stable.

Forty-five minutes later, officers from the 46th Precinct were dispatched for a second gunshot victim in Fordham. Police say the victim was shot outside a deli at 375 E. 188 Street at 1 a.m.

According to a police source close to the investigation, the victim was transported to Jacobi Hospital by private vehicle. The victim was reported in stable condition. Investigators had no description available of the suspect at this time.

The third shooting in University Heights was reported at just before 2 a.m., outside of 2258 Grand Avenue. Officials say the gunman chased two males, firing a half dozen times, hitting one of the men.

EMS reported a 25-year-old male was shot in the right leg and was also transported to St. Barnabas Hospital where he was treated and released. The second male was reportedly treated for minor injuries.

Police have made no arrests in any of the incidents, anyone with any information is asked to call CRIMESTOPPERS at (800) 577-TIPS.   

Bronx News Sports: Angels Crush Yanks, 8-4

Bronx News Sports: Angels Crush Yanks, 8-4: Phil Hughes Loses Again By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, AUGUST 16- A very large crowd of 44,682 came to a matinee of Thursday with the...

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Angels Crush Yanks, 8-4

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Angels Crush Yanks, 8-4: Phil Hughes Loses Again By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, AUGUST 16- A very large crowd of 44,682 came to a matinee of Thursday with the...

Angels Crush Yanks, 8-4

Phil Hughes Loses Again

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, AUGUST 16- A very large crowd of 44,682 came to a matinee of Thursday with the hope and possibly even the expectation that the recently reconstituted Bronx Bombers, that scored 27 runs against the Los Angeles in the past two games, would win and sweep the four game set.

The faith of those hopeful fans was not rewarded as the Yanks scored four runs, three in the final inning, too little certainly and almost too late. The Yanks hit safely in all nine innings, but did not score in seven. On the other hand, the Angels scored eight, more than enough to achieve an easy victory.

Phil Hughes, the Yankee starter, did not pitch poorly. He yielded only six hits in six innings, but three resulted in runs off Hughes. Rookie J.B. Schuck led off the contest with a single. After stealing second, he scored on a single by Josh Hamilton.
Erick Aybar began the third with a double. After two were retired, Hughes surrendered his 23rd home run, 17 at Yankee Stadium, in his 23rd start of the season to Chris Nelson. To add insult to injury, Nelson was briefly a member of the Yankees in May and the home run was his first of 2013.

After the game, Nelson spoke about the at bat, “I started off with a strikeout [in inning #2] and had to make adjustments. I just battled my way back [from a 0-2 count].”
The three runs were sufficient for Hughes to earn the loss, his 12th of the season. The right-hander lost his last five decisions and eight of his last nine. He has been especially ineffective at home. He has a mark of 0-8 and an ERA of 7.46 in his last nine starts at Yankee Stadium.

The Yankee relievers in the eighth, Shawn Kelley, Boone Logan and Joba Chamberlain, poured gasoline on the fire that had already started as they collectively gave up an additional five runs that inning.

The hero of the game for L.A. was Nelson, who hit his second homer of the game in the eighth with the bases filled. His five RBI was a career high for a single contest. Of the game, he remarked, “I really enjoyed it.”

He also reminisced with reporters of his short time as a Yankee this year, “I enjoyed my time here. It was a great experience for me.”

Mike Scioscia, the manager of the Angels, was pleased but not surprised by the progress Nelson has made with his team, “It’s a great day for Chris, both offensively and defensively. He’s got some pop. Hopefully, it’s a sign of more to come. I think he’s getting acclimated.”

“Yankee killer’ Mike Trout continued his offensive against the Yanks. He raised his hit streak to 12 games against them. He reached base three times with a double, walk and was hit by a pitch to raise his on base streak to 37 consecutive games.
Yankee second sacker Robinson Cano raised his hitting streak to 10 games and his 2013 batting average to .300 with three hits during the game.

Alfonse Soriano who hit four homers and drove in 13 runs in the previous two games, did not lessen his batting success. He hit safely four times in five at bats and knocked in a run. When asked about Soriano, the opposing manager joked, “We kept Soriano in the park.”

The Yanks now travel north to Boston for a three game weekend series. They return to Yankee Stadium on Tuesday for a four game set with Toronto.