Zoo Crash Could have been Prevented?

Survivor to Survivor: "I know What Your Going Through"

(Construction crews begin setting up a new barrier at the site of the most recent crash.--Photo by Amparo Cruz)

(A classmate of one of the victims speaks to reporter's after a funeral mass for the seven victims at St. Raymond's Church in Parkchester.--Photo by David Greene)

By David Greene

A Bronxite who lost five members of his family as well as a close friend, has reached out to the Soundview family who lost seven members in the latest multi-fatal crash along the Bronx River Parkway.

Dexter Gardiner was hosting a memorial basketball game dedicated to his mother and sister who had passed away in the same year, when a horrific crash on July 9, 2006, claimed the lives of Asia, 6; Dexter's twin Derrick, 40; Jamel, 16; Tuywann, 23; brother in law Brandon Days, 18; and friend Jeremy Blackwell, 23.

The family members had left the game at St. James Park in the Fordham section, and were traveling southbound on the Bronx River Parkwway between the Bronx Zoo and E. 177 Street exits, when their vehicle jumped the center divider and plowed into on-coming traffic.

Gardiner, a Burke Avenue resident recalled, "I visited them the day after the crash. I know what they’re going through right now, so I just wanted to be there to support them."

Coincidentally, Gardiner was driving with his girlfriend when his son called to tell him about the car that flew off the Bronx River Parkway and into the Bronx Zoo on April 29.

The latest crash claimed the lives of Maria Gonzalez, 45; Maria Maria Munez, 39; Ana Martinez, 81; Jacob Nunez, 85; Jocelyn Gonzalez, 10; Niely Rosario, 7; and Marly Rosario, 3.

Recalling getting the tragic news, Gardiner stated, "Oh man, I was devastated. It was like a flashback... it was heartbreaking."

To no avail, Gardiner had reached out to state officials to fix the roadway, that had several major flaws but the State Department of Transportation (DOT) did nothing. In fact, Bronx Democratic District Leader Michael Robles survived when his car flew off the parkway last year and landed in front of a Bronx police station.

At the time the DOT vowed to make a statement, but the call never came.

This past week work crews had finished erecting two new, temporary barriers that will keep vehicles on the roadway in the event of a crash, until repairs cane be made.

Monte Dean, a spokesman for the DOT, stated, "The length of the barrier is about 3,000 feet in each direction. I don't have a cost yet either. No idea."

Asked about another trouble-spot identified by the Cross Bronx Expressway Initiative, which claims another dangerous location exists on the Cross Bronx Expressway near the Sheridan Expressway, Dean replied, "Well the specific conditions of Bronx River Parkway, where it had that shorter curb along the edge, but we're looking along the rest of the Bronx River Parkway, but I don't know if the Cross Bronx or the other roads have that, but I will ask our folks and see what they can tell me."

William Rivera of the Cross Bronx Initiative, who sent a letter to state officials back in November, 2011, fired back, "It sounds like a cliche, but seven people didn't have to tragically die to address unsafe conditions."

Attorney Jeff Korek of Gersowitz, Libo and Korek, who represents the only survivor from the 2006 crash, agreed, offering in a prepared statement, "The Bronx River Parkway has been an on-going problem due to, 'patchwork' and 'band aid," repairs and faulty design. A proper safety review of this roadway would have prevented many deaths, including these latest.   

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Rash of Jumpers?

Two Perish in New GWB Suicides

(Photos by David Greene)

By David Greene

For the second time in less than a month, two individuals have jumped to their deaths within hours or days of each other.

According to the Port Authority Police Department, the first incident was reported at 2:45 p.m., on May 9. The second person was spotted jumping off the bridge on Sunday, May 13, at 3:40 p.m.

Regarding the first incident, PAPD press officer Al Dellafave stated, "Witnesses said they observed him on the walkway, at the rail, and that body has not been recovered as of yet."

"Both times," Dellafave continued, "Harbor patrol and the Coast Guard searched, but still those bodies have not been recovered," and neither victim has been identified.

Dellafave could not recall April 1, when two individuals jumped within hours of each other with one body washing up in Manhattan, the other was discovered floating in the Spuyten Duyvil Creek near the Metro North station in Riverdale.

Dellafave explained, "We have so many, they kind of blend into one another."

Asked if there has been an increase in suicides since Tyler Clementi, a Rutgers University student leaped to his death in a highly publicized incident back in September, 2010, Dellafave responded, "No, it's about standard. I don't remember the numbers last year, but we run about eight to fifteen a year."

The press officer continued, "With the George Washington Bridge, the issue there is there is a parking lot and then there's a walkway, so if people have a notion to do that, you can always gain access."

Meanwhile, the FDNY reported a body was discovered in the Hudson River near Battery Park in lower Manhattan at just before 7 a.m. The NYPD reported a second body was pulled from the Manhattan side of the Spuyten Duyvil Creek at 7:30 p.m.

Police say both bodies were too decomposed to be the George Washington Bridge jumpers from Sunday.     

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Clean Sweep of Creep

Samsung 8GB Galaxy Tab 2 Wi-Fi Tablet - GT-P3113TSYXAR

Custodian at School Foils Kidnapping of Boy at School

By Michael Horowitz

BRONX, NEW YORK, May 16- A custodian at PS 160, last Friday, reportedly foiled the kidnapping of a 6-year-old boy whose mother had left him in front of the Section 5 school in anticipation of the school's opening.

John Vasquez reportedly interceded to stop the kidnapping of the boy after hearing his screams when a black man, described as in his 50s or 60s, seized the unidentified boy at about 7 a.m.

The boy's mother reportedly left the youngster alone, in front of the school, where Vasquez reportedly saw him after his assailant had seized him.

Vasquez told Channel 7's Eyewitness News that the youngster's mother, on a daily basis, left him in front of PS 160, unattended, up to an hour before the start of PS 160's breakfast program last Friday morning.

The boy's mother reportedly thanked the custodian for rescuing the boy, but it was unclear, as of early this week, why the mother made a practice of leaving her 6-year-old son, unattended, up to an hour before the start of school.

The custodian was reportedly sweeping the floor in front of PS 160 when he interceded on the unattended child's behalf.

The child's attacker was described as a 6 foot 2 husky black man who reportedly had a dark complexion and thick, bushy gray and white facial hair.

As of early this week, police were still seeking the boy's attacker.

Caitlin Franco, the principal of the Equality Charter School (which is housed in PS 160), said, Monday, that she sent a letter home with parents warning them about the dangers of dropping off their children, unattended, before the start of the school day.

The principal of PS 160 could not be reached for comment early this week.

Persons with possible clues or information relating to this case are urged to call the 45^th Precinct Detectives' Squad at (718) 822-5414, or CrimeStoppers at (1-800) 577-TIPS. All information received will be kept confidential if requested. 

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Craigslist Pimp gets 25 Years

Nike Jordan Son Of Mars Men's Shoes - White, 10 

BRONX, NEW YORK, May 14- District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced that a 34-year-old Bronx man has been sentenced to a maximum term of up to 25 years in prison for forcing a 13-year-old to service ‘Johns’ who had placed ads for sexual favors on Craigslist.

Sahim Lucas, of Prospect Avenue, was convicted by a jury earlier this month on one count of Sex Trafficking, a Class B felony offense, and one count of Promoting Prostitution in the 2^nd degree, a Class C felony offense.

Lucas was sentenced by State Supreme Court Justice Megan Tallmer to concurrent terms of 12 and a half years to 25 years on the sex trafficking charge and 7 and a half to 15 years imprisonment on the promoting prostitution charge.

The crimes of which Lucas was found guilty occurred between November 21, 2008 and December 10, 2008.

Witnesses testified that Lucas met the 13-year-old runaway from Delaware in Atlantic City, New Jersey where she told him that she was interested in becoming a model. The jury was told that Lucas convinced the victim that he was a legitimate modeling agent and persuaded her to accompany him to New York City. After arriving at Lucas’ Prospect Avenue apartment, the young girl was told that she would not be modeling but working as a prostitute instead. The victim testified that was she coerced into prostitution through physical intimidation as well as the deprivation of food and sleep. She finally managed to escape after a violent episode during which Lucas choked her.

The girl’s testimony was corroborated by another young woman who told the jury that she also had been deceived by Lucas and later manipulated into engaging in prostitution. This witness told the jury that she and the girl would sometimes be sold together as a “2 Girl Special” with the pet names of ‘buttercup’ and ‘bubbles.’

The State Division of Criminal Justice Services believes this case to be only the third trial conviction statewide since the Sex Trafficking statute became law in November 2007. One of the other two convictions was also successfully prosecuted in the Bronx.

District Attorney Johnson thanked the following for the hard work and dedication that led to today’s sentencing: the Major Case Team of NYPD’s Vice Enforcement, Detective Rose Muckenthaler, and Assistant District Attorneys Thomas Leahy, Chief of the Investigations Division, Stuart Levy, Chief of the Rackets Bureau, Robert Caliendo and Vanessa McEvoy ADAs of the Rackets Bureau. Assistant District Attorneys Caliendo and McEvoy prosecuted the case.

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Espada Found Guilty

Pol Faces 44 years in Jail for Health-Center Embezzlement

By Michael Horowitz

BRONX, NEW YORK, May 14- Former State Sen. Pedro Espada Jr., faces up to 44 years in jail following his conviction, Monday, on four counts of embezzling $210,000 from the Soundview Health Centers to support a lavish lifestyle that has included private-school education, lavish dinners, and extravagant vacations for his family.

The federal jury in the Espada case, sitting in Brooklyn's Federal Court, deadlocked on charges that the former State Senator's son, former City Councilman Pedro G. Espada, conspired with his father to siphon away funds from the Soundview Health Network.

The jury in the Espada case, which had, at one time, been ready to give up on reaching a verdict, deliberated for 11 days before reaching a verdict in the former State Senator's case.

Following the older Espada's conviction on embezzlement charges on Monday, The former State Senator's two remaining health centers, at White Plains Road and Westchester Avenue, were open, but patients were not being seen at either center.

Espada, who once served as majority leader of the State Senator, wielded power in the State Legislature as both a Democrat and a Republican, switching sides at various times to increase state funding for his health centers.

In recent years, state and federal funding for Espada's health centers had been cut off or limited, especially after the election of Andrew Cuomo as the state's governor.

In its heyday, the Soundview Health Network ran five centers in the southeast, southwest, and northeast Bronx, serving some of the poorest New Yorkers with free medical and dental care that was available in few other places.

The seeming collapse of the Soundview Health Network, which Espada founded in 1978, raises serious questions about how the void in medical and dental care for the poorest Bronxites will be filled.

Another health network for poor Bronxites, the Hunts Point Multi-Service Center, has fallen on hard times in recent years, following the death of Ramon Velez, the founder of that network of centers.

In the wake of the illness and death of Velez, one of the borough's most successful organizers of programs and services fopr4 the poor, members of Velez's organization have been fighting over the spoils of the Hunts Point Multi-Service.

Espada, a power in the Bronx who frequently crossed swords with regular Democrats in the borough, ran unsuccessfully for Bronx borough president in 2001, a year after he was acquitted on charges of siphoning away money from the Soundview Health Network for a political campaign in 1996.

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