Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Throggs Neck News: Bronx Seeing Major Drop in Crime

Throggs Neck News: Bronx Seeing Major Drop in Crime: --> BRONX, NEW YORK, January 23- Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. released statistics highlighting the decrease in murders in th...

Bronx Seeing Major Drop in Crime

-->
BRONX, NEW YORK, January 23- Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. released statistics highlighting the decrease in murders in the Bronx in 2012. Last year, the Bronx had a total of 112 murders, down from 148 in 2011 and an all time low in the borough since the early 1960s.
“We are fed up with the negative stereotypes and the erroneous images about who we are as a Borough. The Bronx is a different place from when I was a teenager in the 80s and 90s, and hopefully we can make 2013 safer. This is a good first step, but we have much more work ahead of us,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.
“I would especially like to thank the hard work of the NYPD, our elected officials, community organizations and everyone who continues to help make our borough a safer place to live.”
With roughly 1.4 million residents in the Bronx, statistics show that in 2012 the Bronx had a murder rate of 8.0 per 100,000 residents. For example, in 2012 Philadelphia’s murder rate stood at 21.4 per 100,000 residents, while Boston had a murder rate of 9.1 per 100,000 and Newark had 33.1 per 100,000 in 2012.
Other cities with significantly higher murder rates than the Bronx included New Orleans, Detroit, Atlantic City, Cleveland, Buffalo, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Dallas and Houston. Los Angeles, with a murder rate of 7.7 per 100,000 residents, barely edged out the Bronx in 2012.
“The Bronx is outpacing the nation in a wide variety of areas, including crime reduction. These statistics show that our borough, which continues to suffer from an inaccurate image as a dangerous place, is indeed outpacing some of the nation’s biggest cities when it comes to violent crime reduction. Given these numbers, it’s time for people across the nation and the world to reconsider how they think about the Bronx,” said Borough President Diaz.
Since the NYPD began tracking crime statistics through CompStat 19 years ago, the Bronx has seen a 70.4 percent total drop in crime, including a 78.1 percent drop in murders. This year’s drop is the lowest number of total murders since 1963. In 2012, the borough saw a drop in shooting victims of 7.7 percent and in shooting incidents of 6.7 percent from the previous year. In the past 19 years, the Bronx has seen shooting victims drop 65.1 percent, and shooting incidents drop 68.5 percent.

Monday, January 21, 2013

Throggs Neck News: Maritime Loses

Throggs Neck News: Maritime Loses: --> Four Players In Double-Figures Not Enough As Privateers Lose To Mount St. Mary  BRONX, NEW YORK, January 21- The Ma...

Maritime Loses

-->

Four Players In Double-Figures Not Enough As Privateers Lose To Mount St. Mary 
BRONX, NEW YORK, January 21- The Maritime basketball team had four players scored in double-digits, but the Privateers fell to Skyline opponent Mount St. Mary, 75-64, Saturday afternoon at the Knights’ Kaplan Center. Maritime’s record drops to 1-11 (0-7 Skyline) on the season, while MSM improves to 9-6 (6-3 Skyline).
"We proved today we can play with anybody in our league,” said head coach Jake Scott. “We just need to put together a full 40 minutes of basketball. We’re looking forward to practice and three more games next week.”
The first three and a half minutes wound up being the difference in the game, as the Knights stormed out of the gate to grab a 14-0 lead. The advantage remained in double-figures for the rest of the first half, as Mount St. Mary shot 51.7-percent (15-for-29) to the Privateers’ 34.5 (10-for-29) and took a 41-27 lead into the halftime break.
Maritime fought back to within eight points, 41-33, by scoring the first six points of the second half, all by way of senior Ron Bethea (Harlem, N.Y./Humanities Prep.). At four separate times later in the half, the Privateers got within nine points, but were unable to go on the run they needed to get back into the game.
Bethea finished with a team-high 20 points, while also bringing down six rebounds. Freshman Kevin Blohm (Staten Island, N.Y./Tottenville) added 14 points, sophomore Sean Corley (Harlem, N.Y./Thurgood Marshall) chipped in with 11 points and a game-high seven rebounds and freshman Tim McNamara (Somerville, N.J./Somerville) contributed 10 to round out the double-figure scorers.
Mount St. Mary junior Joe Stabach led all players with 22 points, while classmate Chris Pisciotta had 11 points and junior Joe Henain scored 10 and matched the game-high with seven rebounds.
Dr. Dre Solo HD Purple On-Ear Headphones - 900-00064-01 (Google Affiliate Ad) --> Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0" - Gifts for Kids (Google Affiliate Ad)

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Health Screenings

-->
BRONX, NEW YORK, January 16- Residents living in and around the Bronx can be screened to reduce their risk of having a stroke or bone fracture. Knights of Columbus will host Life Line Screening on January 28. The site is located at 3243 Ampere Avenue in Bronx. 
Four key points every person needs to know:
Stroke is the third leading cause of death and a leading cause of permanent disability.
Eighty percent of stroke victims had no apparent warning signs prior to their stroke.
Preventive ultrasound screenings can help you avoid a stroke
Screenings are fast, noninvasive, painless, affordable and convenient.
Screenings identify potential cardiovascular conditions such as blocked arteries and irregular heart rhythm, abdominal aortic aneurysms, and hardening of the arteries in the legs, which is a strong predictor of heart disease. A bone density screening to assess osteoporosis risk is also offered and is appropriate for both men and women.
Packages start at $149. All five screenings take 60-90 minutes to complete.  
For more information regarding the screenings or to schedule an appointment, call 1-877-237-1287 or visit our website at www.lifelinescreening.com.  Pre-registration is required.
Dr. Dre Solo HD Purple On-Ear Headphones - 900-00064-01 (Google Affiliate Ad) --> Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0" - Gifts for Kids (Google Affiliate Ad)

Monday, January 14, 2013

Throggs Neck News: Maritime Loses at Home

Throggs Neck News: Maritime Loses at Home: --> BRONX, NEW YORK, January 14 - The Maritime basketball team was defeated by conference-opponent Farmingdale St., 80-50, Satu...

Maritime Loses at Home

-->

BRONX, NEW YORK, January 14- The Maritime basketball team was defeated by conference-opponent Farmingdale St., 80-50, Saturday afternoon at the Riesenberg Hall Gymnasium. The loss drops the Privateers to 1-8 (0-4 Skyline) on the season, while the Rams improve to 8-4 (4-1 Skyline) with the victory.
“I’m very proud of the way our players competed,” commented first-year head coach Jake Scott. “We had a lot of opportunities to get back in the game, but were not able knock down some good looks. I’m pleased with our progress and am very confident we are getting better each game.”
Maritime was led by freshman Kevin Blohm (Staten Island, N.Y./Tottenville), who tallied 17 points off the bench. Senior Ron Behtea (Harlem, N.Y./Humanities Prep.) chipped in with 16 points and a team-high four rebounds, while sophomore Sean Corley (Harlem, N.Y./Thurgood Marshall) added six points and a game-high six assists.
The Privateers actually held a 19-18 lead at 8:13 of the first half, as Blohm scored five points in the first 12 minutes. Farmingdale took control from there and spun off a 22-4 run the rest of the half to take a 40-23 lead into the half.
The Rams’ senior big-man AJ Matthews recorded a double-double, leading all players with 22 points and 14 rebounds. 13 of his points came in the second half, where Farmingdale outscored Maritime, 40-27, to secure the victory.
Three other players scored in double-figures for the Rams: sophomore Justin Bailey had 12 and senior Leo Esonwune and freshman Ryan Davis each scored 10, apiece.
Dr. Dre Solo HD Purple On-Ear Headphones - 900-00064-01 (Google Affiliate Ad) --> Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0" - Gifts for Kids (Google Affiliate Ad)

Friday, January 11, 2013

Throggs Neck News: Kennedy Beats Mott Haven

Throggs Neck News: Kennedy Beats Mott Haven: --> (Photo by Gary Quintal) By Gary Quintal BRONX, NEW YORK, January 11- Kennedy High School Campus improved to 8-1 wit...

Kennedy Beats Mott Haven

-->
(Photo by Gary Quintal)
By Gary Quintal
BRONX, NEW YORK, January 11- Kennedy High School Campus improved to 8-1 with a 73-59 win over Mott Haven Campus. 
Mott Haven kept Kennedy close through much of the game trailing by only 5 points by the close of the third quarter, but a 24-point fourth quarter by Kennedy proved to be too much.  
Kennedy's victory puts them in third behind Bronx AA division leaders Samuel Gompers and Wings Academy.   
Dr. Dre Solo HD Purple On-Ear Headphones - 900-00064-01 (Google Affiliate Ad) --> Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0" - Gifts for Kids (Google Affiliate Ad)

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Throggs Neck News: Political Field's Starting to Get Crowded in 2013

Throggs Neck News: Political Field's Starting to Get Crowded in 2013: --> 100 PERCENT By Robert Press BRONX, NEW YORK, January 10- With many elected positions becoming vacant finally due to term...

Political Field's Starting to Get Crowded in 2013

-->
100 PERCENT
By Robert Press
BRONX, NEW YORK, January 10- With many elected positions becoming vacant finally due to term limits at the end of this year, the field of candidates to replace most those term limited officials is growing. 
Starting with the mayor’s race on the Democratic side City Comptroller John Liu, Public Advocate Bill deBlasio, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, and Former City Comptroller Bill Thompson have been joined by another Democrat (and also past mayoral candidate) former Brooklyn Councilman Sal Albanese. Albanese could take away some of the Quinn vote with his noted support on the issue of Gay Rights, and his pro-stance on the issue of term limits while in the city council. Speaker Quinn was leading in the early polls for mayor on the Democratic side, but now as some of the other potential candidates for mayor have dropped out Quinn is now in second place to undecided by several percentage points. She still has has hefty lead over the other democratic candidates.
On the Republican side, former Bronx BP Adolfo Carrion has been joined by several higher profile candidates with former MTA head Joe Lhota being the latest to jump in. Other high profile candidates include George McDonald (founder of the Doe Fund, and good friend of current mayor Michael Bloomberg), supermarket magnate John Catsimatidis (who like Bloomberg has deep pockets of money), and others like Manhattan media CEO Tom Allon, and former Democratic State Senate Leader Malcolm Smith have also made overtures to the tune of possible Republican runs for mayor.
While the race for Bronx Borough President should be a solo race as current Bronx BP Ruben Diaz Jr. has two terms still as Bronx BP, it is not the same in term limited Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan (but who cares in those boroughs). Turning to Bronx city council races in the 11th to replace term limited Councilman G. Oliver Koppell currently there are two announced candidates, with a few other potential but not probable names. The 12th should be a contest again this year for Andy King who was just elected in November to replace former Councilman Larry Seabrook who should have a new residence in Chez Federal Pen. King has not been able to get his feet wet in the district, and will be running against several candidates again. Jimmy Vacca 13th and Annabel Palma 18th should get a free ride in their last terms, while Fernando Cabrera 14th could see a major challenge if Assemblyman Jose Rivera is true to his words of wanting to finish out his political career as a city councilman. The 15th to replace term limited Councilman Joel Rivera is the big race this year with as many as ten people possibly going for this seat, with the name of Bronx Democratic County Committee Executive Director Ischia Bravo now being mentioned. I asked Ms. Bravo about her running in the 15th recently, and she said that there is a good possibility of it happening. In the16th where Councilwoman Foster will be term limited out, the rumor is that Assemblywoman Vanessa Gibson should be seeking that seat, and a host of others that should drop out if Gibson does enter that race. In the 17th (Arroyo who still has one term) and 8th (which has a small part of the Bronx) no one knows what those districts will look like, as the redistricting commission has been asked to redraw the lines again. I caught up with Councilwoman Viverito (8th) at an event and asked her if her current Manhattan district was to be made a Bronx district for Bronx Democratic County Leader Carl Heastie's support of Speaker Quinn's campaign for mayor. Councilwoman Viverito was very candid in saying that yes indeed that there was politics involved in the redrawing of her district lines.
In other political news this month, newly elected Assemblymen Luis Sepulveda (87th A.D.) will have his swearing in at St. Raymond’s School auditorium (Tremont and Purdy Ave.) on Saturday January 12th starting at 12 p.m. Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj (80th A.D.) will have his swearing in at Columbus High School (925 Astor Avenue) on Sunday January 13th at 2 p.m. 
Don't forget to check my blog at www.100percentbronx.blogspot.com for the story on and many photos of the Annual Three Kings Celebration by Senator Ruben Diaz Sr., Assemblyman Marcos Crespo, Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda, and the New york Hispanic Clergy Organization. The Three Kings, Santa Claus, and several elected officials or candidates for office were in attendance, and some may have been wondering where their present from Santa or the Three Kings was. Also on the blog are other interesting items such as a link to mayoral candidate Adolfo Carrion's first campaign expenditure disclosure, how much has been spent in less than two short months, and which family member is on the Carrion for Mayor payroll.
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.
Dr. Dre Solo HD Purple On-Ear Headphones - 900-00064-01 (Google Affiliate Ad) --> Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0" - Gifts for Kids (Google Affiliate Ad)

Throggs Neck News: Feds Shut Down Bx Drug Gang

Throggs Neck News: Feds Shut Down Bx Drug Gang: --> Ringleaders Charged with Kidnapping, Burning the Victim with an Iron BRONX, NEW YORK, January 10 - The FBI and NYPD announced...

Feds Shut Down Bx Drug Gang

-->
Ringleaders Charged with Kidnapping,
Burning the Victim with an Iron
BRONX, NEW YORK, January 10- The FBI and NYPD announced charges against 10 members of a criminal organization based on Wyatt Street in the West Farms section of the Bronx. Nine of the defendants were charged with conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine and heroin. 
The crew’s alleged ringleader, Anibal Ramos, and one of its members, Anibal Soto, were charged in the original, July 2012 indictment with kidnapping, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, and the brandishing of a firearm in connection with, and in furtherance of, the kidnapping. Ramos and Soto are alleged to have kidnapped and tortured an individual, including by burning the victim with an iron. The superseding indictment adds narcotics charges against Ramos and also charges him and three of the new defendants with possessing firearms in connection with, and in furtherance of, the crack cocaine and heroin conspiracy.
All eight of the new defendants charged were taken into custody as part of a coordinated operation involving federal and local law enforcement officers. Ramos, who was arrested in August 2012, and Soto, who was arrested in July 2012, remain detained. All the defendants arrested today will be presented in Manhattan federal court this afternoon.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said, “As alleged, for far too long, these defendants were a bloody blight on a Bronx community, contaminating it with poisonous and highly addictive drugs and the guns and brutal violence that are part and parcel of the drug trade. This case demonstrates our commitment to working with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those who engage in this conduct and to expand cases previously charged when we develop new evidence. With the charges we bring today in two separate cases against 19 defendants, the Bronx neighborhoods in which they ran amok are safer places for their residents.”
FBI Assistant Director in Charge George Venizelos, “This case highlights once again the dual threat posed to our communities by the illegal drug trade. The drugs themselves are poison, with life-altering and lethal consequences. And violence almost always comes with the territory. We remain committed to restoring our communities to their law-abiding residents.”
NYPD Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly said, “The depraved acts of torture described in the indictment need no further characterization, other than to observe that the nexus between drug trafficking and violence is well-established, and the commitment among police and prosecutors to bring its practitioners to justice is unyielding.”
As alleged in the superseding indictment unsealed and other documents filed in Manhattan federal court:
From at least 2000 through August 31, 2012, Ramos was the leader of a drug crew that operated on Wyatt Street in the Bronx and sold significant street level quantities of crack cocaine and heroin. In addition, members of the drug trafficking organization used firearms, threats of violence, and violence to secure and enforce their drug territory, including the kidnapping and brutal torture committed by Ramos and Soto.
Ramos, Joel Cabrera, William Zacchi, Christopher Hernandez, Michael Aviles, Latrell Riddles, Charitza Quintana, Yasmine, Zelayandia, and Jacqueline Hernandez are charged with conspiring to distribute, and possess with the intent to distribute, crack cocaine and heroin.
Ramos, Aviles, Riddles, and Zelayandia are also charged with possessing firearms in connection with, and in furtherance of, the crack cocaine and heroin conspiracy.
Mr. Bharara praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and the NYPD. He added that the investigation is continuing.
Dr. Dre Solo HD Purple On-Ear Headphones - 900-00064-01 (Google Affiliate Ad) --> Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0" - Gifts for Kids (Google Affiliate Ad)