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Parkchester News: Inside #Pope's Visit to New York

Parkchester News: Inside #Pope's Visit to New York: Inside #Pope's Visit to New York (Pope Francis, courtesy of Antonio Spadaro, SJ, editor in chief of La Civiltà Cattolica.) B...

Inside #Pope's Visit to New York

Inside #Pope's Visit to New York

(Pope Francis, courtesy of Antonio Spadaro, SJ, editor in chief of La Civiltà Cattolica.)

By Bob Howe

Papal Reflections  from Joseph M. McShane, SJ, President of Fordham

Wednesday, September 23, 2015 | The White House, Washington, D.C.

I rose at 5 and was on line by 6:10. Although the ceremony did not begin till 9:15, the time flew by. How and why?

The crowd was remarkably upbeat. In addition, I ran into many people whom I knew (which was quite a surprise).

The crowd was diverse and spirited—and very, very gracious. Not a cross word was said by anyone in spite of the long wait. When the President and the Pope finally appeared, the already-high spirits of the crowd really soared. The talks were brief but substantive. The President and the Pope are clearly very fond of one another.

I was deeply impressed with the talks that both President Obama and Pope Francis gave. I was even more impressed, however, by the images that will remain with me forever: the images of two principled men of prayer and peace standing side by side before the whole world, the image of two Americans bearing the weight of the world’s sorrows and hopes on their shoulders, the images of a remarkably diverse and hopeful crowd on the lawn of America’s house, the unforgettable sight of the sun rising on a beautiful early fall day over the City of Washington. Most of all, however, I came away with the sense that the President and the Pope have forged a close friendship, a friendship that gives hope to the whole world.

One of the most interesting encounters I had was with a woman who approached me at the end of the Pope’s remarks and asked me if he had blessed the crowd.

Thursday, September 24, 2015 | St. Patrick’s Cathedral, New York, N.Y.

Reflections on this evening’s Vespers Service at the Cathedral. Father Scirghi [Thomas Scirghi, SJ, associate professor of theology and rector of the Jesuit community at Fordham] and I made our way to the Cathedral via Metro North. After making our way through the rather rigorous security check point, we were ushered into the Cathedral and found our way to our seats which were behind a massive pillar on the North Aisle. Alas.

During the three hours before the Pope’s arrival, we were treated to a concert by the Cathedral, a lecture on the history of the Papacy, a short presentation on the history of the Cathedral and the recitation of the rosary.

The recitation of the rosary ended at 6:25, at which time the television monitors in the Cathedral were turned on to keep us up to speed on the Pope’s procession down Fifth Avenue. As you might imagine, the mood in the Cathedral became electric as the Pope got closer. Finally, the great bronze doors at the Fifth Avenue entrance to the Cathedral swung open, the organ swelled, the choir began to sing the anthems that signaled the Pope’s entrance.

(007 Actor Daniel Craig)

Then, something rather strange happened: although the congregation initially burst into thunderous applause when the Pope began to make his way up the main aisle, the applause soon became muted. I was taken aback by the sudden change in the volume of the applause until I realized that people had taken out their cellphones to snap pictures of the Pope as he passed by.

When he reached the sanctuary, the applause swelled again. Then, the mood changed markedly as the Pope disappeared to vest for Vespers. Ah, the Catholic liturgical decorum reigned as the Pope led us through the opening rites of Vespers.

The Pope began his homily with a heartfelt prayer for the Muslim pilgrims who had died earlier in Saudi Arabia. In the body of his homily, he addressed himself to the priests and religious in the congregation. (As he did in St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Washington yesterday, he offered his support to the bishops and the American Church for the pain that they (and we) had suffered as a result of the abuse scandals of the past decade.) The high point of his homily, however, was the praise that he heaped on the religious women whose hard work had built the American Church.

He was interrupted three times with thunderous applause when he spoke to and about the nuns. As I looked around the Cathedral, I could not help but be struck by the affection that the whole congregation had for these heroic women. I was also deeply moved to see many of the nuns around me crying for joy at the Pope’s words and the applause with which his words were greeted.

Following the conclusion of the Vesper Service, the Pope made his way slowly through the Cathedral reaching out to the infirm, the young, and the many religious women in the congregation. Then, he climbed into his Fiat and sped away.

The congestion dispersed quickly—but with great joy. For my part, I would have to say that I was deeply moved by his miraculous pastoral touch and the obvious love that he had/has for the Church, and the equally obvious love that the entire congregation had for him.

It was an experience of the Church at her best: inclusive, joyful, eager to embrace and transform the world in imitation of the Lord Himself.

Friday, September 25, 2015 | The United Nations, New York, N.Y.

Pope Paul VI was the first Pope to visit the United States, and the first to address the General Assembly of the United Nations.

Pope Paul VI was the first Pope to visit the United States, and the first to address the General Assembly of the United Nations. (He did so on 4 October 1965, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. I remember that day quite clearly—for a number of reasons.

First, my father (who was the SAC of New York for the State Department of the United States) served as the federal coordinator of security for the Pope’s visit. Second, I was honored to attend the Pope’s Mass in Yankee Stadium. Third, Paul VI’s address to the General Assembly captivated the world (and continues to be one that I find myself returning to quite often. Finally, it was an unbelievably cold day, which made the pilgrimage to Yankee Stadium a particularly challenging one).

I guess that it was because my memories of that first papal visit to the United States and that first papal address to the General Assembly of the United Nations are so rich that I looked forward to today with such eager longing.

I rose at 4:45 and caught the 6:00 train to Grand Central. (I noticed that there was only one person awake in Campbell/Conley/Salice at the time that I boarded the train for Manhattan.) When I arrived at the rendezvous spot to which I had been directed by the Nuncio’s staff, I was escorted to the United Nations and whisked through security. (The ease with which I made it through security is probably due to the fact that I was with Cardinal Turkson from both Ghana and the Roman Curia.)

After just a few minutes, I was led into the Assembly Chamber where I found myself in remarkable company:

Daniel (007) Craig, Bill and Melinda Gates, Mayor Deblasio, Commissioner Bratton, Cardinal Bratton, Cardinals Dolan, Turkson, and Parolin, two Apostolic Nuncios, the editor-in-chief of the Pope’s newspaper, and the Pope’s press secretary (both of the last two are Jesuits)—and what we were told was the largest of the leaders of states ever to attend the opening session of this General Assembly.

From the moment that the Pope first stepped foot on the UN campus, the television monitors on either side of the speaker’s podium kept us apprised of his progress toward the chamber. When he was finally escorted into the chamber, the entire crowd erupted into applause. (I noticed that the often-photographed Daniel Craig turned into an eager photographer as he snapped picture after picture of the Pope as he made his way to the front of the chamber. James Bond was not the only one taken with the Pope. Far from it. Heads of State whipped out their cellphones to capture the moment forever. And the press corps dropped all pretense of being blasé. They cheered, snapped and stood on their tip toes with the abandon of Yankee fans—in a good year.)

When he was introduced and began to speak, Francis captivated everyone — from the most seasoned diplomat to the most fervent believer to the most wary critic. His address championed the poor and marginalized, pled for a complete ban on nuclear weapons, wove together the themes that he wrote of so eloquently in Laudato Si. He was simply extraordinary in all he said. For my part, I was thrilled that he spoke about Paul VI’s visit to the UN fifty years ago, and even more thrilled that he made Paul’s words his own.

Then, it was over. The crowd rose to applaud him. (He was typically quite humble in acknowledging the adulation of the crowd.) And once again, cell phones were whipped out and put to good use to record the event for posterity. (I snapped more than a few myself.)

Friday, September 25, 2015 | Madison Square Garden, New York, N.Y. Mass in The Garden.

Sadly, the evening began poorly because it took anywhere from two and a half to four hours to get into the Garden. (The lines ran all the way south from the Garden entrance to 23nd Street, west on 23rd Street to 8th Avenue and all the way north on 8th Avenue to 30th Street.) The back-up was due to the intense TSA security screenings that included hand-checking every bag, wallet and belt worn or carried by the twenty thousand worshipers who were making their way to the Garden. (Tempers became quite frayed around 4 p.m.)

Once inside, however, the mood of the congregation changed dramatically—and with good reason. The Garden had been transformed from arena to a peculiarly urban cathedral (New York style), with subdued lighting and liturgical furniture hand-crafted by local artisans. (The Garden didn’t disappear entirely, however: the concession stands remained open until an hour before Mass began, and the Archdiocese filled the three-to-four-hour period before Mass with a rich mixture of catechesis, entertainment by top-draw performers and a bilingual recitation of the rosary.)

The long wait came to a close when the Pope arrived ahead of schedule. Once he arrived, he took two turns around the court in an indoor Popemobile. As you might imagine, the crowd roared when they spotted him. Once again, however, the initial applause and cheering eerily ended as people whipped out their cellphones to snap pictures of the Pope as he circled the floor.

Then, he disappeared and the mood turned liturgical-solemn. At least for a while. The opening hymn was properly festive; the readings were proclaimed with a quiet grace. And then, Francis walked to the lectern to deliver his homily. He drew the congregation in with a combination of wisdom, humility, a few savvy nods to the City and its moods and challenges and its quirky joys. The congregation fell under his pastoral spell and roared its loving approval as he preached. (He slyly looked up from his text. And he smiled. And that smile conquered the crowd.) Fortified by the crowd’s enthusiasm, the 78-year-old Pope grew stronger and more animated the longer he preached. Then came his capstone: the Pope assured the congregation that God lived in our City—with all of its challenges, its smogs and fogs, its joys, sorrows and moods (dark and light). That was all it took. The crowd very nearly swooned. They roared their loving approval of both the (papal) preacher and his consoling/challenging message. And the sedate urban cathedral once again became an arena—and arena of grace. What can I say? The soccer-fan Pope from Argentina hit a home run on a basketball court (the world’s most famous basketball court at that).

As the Mass continued, the arena once again became New York’s new cathedral. With a nod to the universal nature of the Church, the Eucharistic prayer was said in Latin, and the Lord’s Prayer was chanted Latin. A happy chaos reigned at the Kiss of Peace. Twenty thousand souls received Communion. Hymns both ancient and modern were sung with gusto or solemn decorum.

After Communion, Cardinal Dolan rose to thank the Pope for the graces of his visit. The crowd, however, was not going to let the Cardinal to speak for them. They interrupted his address with a series of raucous (hey, it was a New York crowd) standing ovations. (I don’t think it would be wide of the mark to say that they were delirious with joy. And they were determined to let their Father in faith know just how much they loved him. It was also clear that they simply didn’t want their moment of grace to end, and that they simply didn’t want to let Francis go.) As for the Pope, it was clear that he was touched and energized by the loving rapport that he had established with his New York flock.

All good things, however, must come to an end. Before he dismissed the congregation, the Pope departed from the solemn cadences of the Roman Rite and looked directly at his brothers and sisters (or were they his sons and daughters) and asked all of them (us) to pray for him. (At that moment, we were all transported back to the scene that unfolded in St Peter’s Square on the evening on which he was introduced to the world—and asked the vast crowd that had gathered when the white smoke appeared over the Sistine Chapel to pray for him. He need not worry. All who were in the urban cathedral known as MSG will pray for him, the Pope who hit a home run on a basketball court (and the most famous basketball court in the world at that).

I would imagine that the Knicks and the Rangers are jealous tonight. A soccer fan stole the spotlight in their home. And New York embraced a new star. Or basked in the love of a Father who called his sons and daughters to live with a new sense of purpose.

#Pope #PopeFrancis #Papal Visit #UnitedNations #MadisonSquareGarden #BronxNews #Fordham University

Parkchester News: #Pope Watch

Parkchester News: #Pope Watch: #Pope Watch Fordham Prepares for #PopeFrancis’ Visit Will Stream Papal Speech By Joana Mercuri Fordham University BR...

#Pope Watch

#Pope Watch

Fordham Prepares for #PopeFrancis’ Visit

Will Stream Papal Speech

By Joana Mercuri

Fordham University

BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX NEWS)- There is just one day until Pope Francis arrives in New York City as part of his visit to the United States, and Fordham is making arrangements to get the University community as involved as possible.

In the days leading up to the pope’s visit, Fordham has been preparing “spiritually and pastorally” in every way it can, said Lito Salazar, SJ, executive director of campus ministry. “We are encouraging daily and Sunday Mass homilists to consider invoking Pope Francis’ words or commenting on his global pastoral ministry whenever relevant to unpacking Scriptures at liturgical celebrations,” Father Lito said.

“In addition, the intentions of the pope and his visit have been and will continue to be in the intercessory prayers of the faithful. The Holy Hour devotion set for Mondays will have the same intention.”

Watch the pope live

The pope’s address to the United Nations, which takes place Friday, Sept. 25 at 8:30 a.m., will also be live streamed from the McGinley lobby at Rose Hill; Lowenstein 2nd floor plaza at Lincoln Center; and Room 228 at Westchester.

In addition, students can enter into a lottery to win a ticket to that evening’s papal Mass at Madison Square Garden. The lottery can be found in the student tab at my.fordham.edu.

Students and community members will also have the opportunity to pray evening vespers along with the pope as he leads evening prayer at St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Thursday, Sept 24. Beginning 6:45 p.m., the vespers will be streamed at University Church and Our Lady’s Chapel at Rose Hill and at Blessed Rupert Mayer, SJ Chapel at Lincoln Center.

Community service

On Saturday, Sept. 26, students are invited to participate in a community service project in honor of the pope’s visit. Participants will join Habitat for Humanity’s Pope Francis House in Yonkers to help construct homes.

“Care for the poor and the marginalized is a central theme of Pope Francis’ papacy, and using our gifts and talents to care for the needs of others is something that’s part of Fordham’s identity as a Catholic and Jesuit school,” said Conor O’Kane, director of campus ministry at Rose Hill.

“The pope has an authenticity and spiritual freedom that resonates with our students,” O’Kane said. “His leadership and emphasis on what it means to be a person of faith in the world today is a question that’s relevant to all of our students. So his messages have been animating all that we say and do here [in campus ministry].”

#Pope #Pope Francis #Fordham University #Holy Father 

Parkchester News: Stiff Sentence for Viagra Bootlegger

Parkchester News: Stiff Sentence for Viagra Bootlegger: Stiff Sentence for Viagra Bootlegger                 BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX NEWS)- They’re the little blue pills – and little yellow...

Stiff Sentence for Viagra Bootlegger

Stiff Sentence for Viagra Bootlegger

               

BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX NEWS)- They’re the little blue pills – and little yellow pills – that are often instantly recognizable. But what a lot of consumers didn’t recognize is that these Viagra and Cialis pills were knock-offs – made from the same or similar ingredients as the real thing, but not manufactured by pharma giants Pfizer and Eli Lilly.

And now, announced Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson, 49-year-old Babou Jobe (pron JOE-bee) has been sentenced to five years’ probation and ordered to pay a $5,000 fine, half of which he paid. Jobe pled guilty on an earlier date to Trademark Counterfeiting in the second degree, a Class E Felony. He was sentenced by Justice Marc Whiten of the Bronx County Criminal Court.

When Jobe was arrested on September 18, 2014, at a store at 6 East 184^th Street in the Fordham section of the Bronx, he had in his possession nearly 14,000 Viagra and Cialis pills in bottles and blister packs, along with a sheaf of Viagra labels. All were counterfeits.

The Viagra pills contained the active ingredient of the real drug, but at less than 15 percent of the advertised dosage and the filler material included vulcanized rubber. Jobe told investigators, “Yeah, I know it’s fake,” admitting that he’d been selling the counterfeits since 2012, making about $1,500 a month.

The packaging for both the Viagra and the Cialis pills was close, but no cigar. Noted one representative of Eli Lilly and Co., the maker of Cialis, the bottles not only had invalid lot numbers, but the coloration and design was off.

Jobe, in taking this plea, also waived his right to appeal and, as a non-US citizen, is subject to deportation to his native Gambia. At his sentencing he stated, “I’m very sorry for what I did and I ask for forgiveness from the Court.”

The case against Jobe was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Peter D’Angelo and Supervising Assistant District Attorney Cristina Park of the Bronx D.A. Arson/Auto/Economic Crime Bureau. Jobe’s arrest resulted from an investigation initiated by the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor with assistance from the New York County District Attorney’s Office.

#Viagra #Arrest #Bronx DA

Parkchester News: There is a homeless problem

Parkchester News: There is a homeless problem: Mayor Finally Admits: There is Homeless Problem City Acknowledges New Homeless Taskforce By David Greene BRONX, NEW YOR...

There is a homeless problem

Mayor Finally Admits:

There is Homeless Problem

City Acknowledges New Homeless Taskforce

By David Greene

BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX NEWS)- The half dozen homeless people who sleep on park benches along Jerome Avenue, near East Gun Hill Road in Norwood were unaware when asked about the city's new homeless outreach program, acknowledged by city officials nearly three-weeks after the program quietly began.

The city has so far identified 80 homeless encampments across the five boroughs and has begun to dismantle them, as trained professionals from nine city agencies attempt to assist some of the homeless who have apparently refused the city's invitation at city-run shelters.

The City of New York estimates that 56,000 individuals are currently homeless and being housed in city shelters throughout the five boroughs. An additional 3,000 are living on the city streets and the new program that began on August 17, is seeking to reduce that number.

Jerome Avenue was not identified as an encampment because the closely-knit group has built no structures, and those who sleep there do so in the daytime, when families gather inside of Van Cortlandt Park, when they say they feel safest.

They speak of a need to sleep in the daytime, in order to stay awake at night, so they can protect themselves and each other from attack or theft of the few belongings they still have.

Police Commissioner Bill Bratton recently said of the current situation, "The laws have changed in the last 20 years, when I was here the last time (and) the tools I had to work with," adding that panhandling is no longer considered a crime.

The NYPD's Chief of Patrol, Carlos Gomez, explained that when a unit goes to dismantle an encampment, members of the NYPD, EMS, Homeless Services, Sanitation, Parks, Transportation, Housing, Environmental Protection and the city's Legal Department will also be on hand to provide whatever assistance they can.

Gomez added, "Offering outreach and services is the main thrust, the main goal of this plan."

City officials also revealed that since the program was implemented, 161 homeless people were taken off the street and offered shelter and other services. However, only 10 individuals took the city up on its offer--with the rest apparently headed back into the streets.

"Mohammad" a homeless man who has called the park benches along Jerome Avenue home for the last three-months, recalled trying a city shelter, explaining, "I tried the shelter on Third Avenue, but it wasn't safe. And I feel like Norwood has become my home."

Speaking on his weekly radio program on WNYC on September 1, Mayor Bill de Blasio said of the crisis, "Clearly the numbers of folks in shelters shot up after 2011 and have remained very high, they would have gotten a lot higher, but for the efforts of a lot of people in this administration."

A day earlier Lilliam Barrios-Paoli, the Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services, who was in charge with handling the current homeless crisis, stepped down from her $222,000 a year post to become chairwoman of the Health and Hospitals Corporation, an unpaid position. De Blasio denied Paoli had been demoted, insisting her stepping down was a "personal decision."

Meanwhile, the de Blasio Administration has reached out to local churches and synagogues seeking 500 'Safe Haven' beds that would be incorporated into the city's "Opening Doors" program.  The city currently has more than 680 such beds that have fewer restrictions than a traditional shelter.

The city currently has $19.5 million allocated for the Safe Haven program and an additional $15.7 for the outreach program for the fiscal year 2016.   

#Homeless #deBlasio

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Parkchester News: Early Decisions Derail #Yankees in #SubwaySeries

Parkchester News: Early Decisions Derail #Yankees in #SubwaySeries: Early Decisions Derail #Yankees in #SubwaySeries #Mets Dominate Quiet Bombers By Howard Goldin QUEENS, NEW YORK (SPORTS)- ...

Early Decisions Derail #Yankees in #SubwaySeries

Early Decisions Derail #Yankees in #SubwaySeries

#Mets Dominate Quiet Bombers

By Howard Goldin

QUEENS, NEW YORK (SPORTS)- The reward for the victor of Friday night’s Subway series contest at Citi Field was far more important than bragging rights. The Mets, victorious over the Yankees, 5‐1, raised their lead over the second place Washington Nationals to nine games in the National League East with 15 games remaining and cut the magic number to clinching their first pennant in a decade (2006) to eight.

The defeat of the Yanks cost far more than embarrassment as they fell to 4.5 games behind the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League East, the largest deficit for them in the 2015 season.

On July 31, the Mets had a mark of 53‐50, trailed the Nationals by two games. The Yanks were in first place with a six-game lead and their season record was 58‐44. Since that date, the Mets have compiled a record of 31‐13, 17 of those victories have been comeback and the Mets have also tied the Blue Jays for the major league lead with 72 home runs. On the other hand, the Yanks have only played .500 ball (22‐22).

The difference in success between the two clubs can be traced in large part to unexpected decisions made by the management of each prior to the trading deadline, July 31. The reputation of the Mets ownership for not spending large amounts of money to acquire top talent from other teams or calling up their young and talented hurlers from their minor league system earlier than planned have been disregarded this year by general manager Sandy Alderson once a decision was made that a pennant was within reach in 2015. The Yankees also changed from their recent free spending methods in order to obtain a championship each season by making no major moves this year.

The result of Friday’s contest was a reflection of those earlier decisions. Steven Matz, in only his fifth start in the majors, gave up a run in the first, but held the Yanks scoreless in the next five frames to raise his record to 4‐0. His skipper, Terry Collins, remarked, “He was really impressive. He settled down [and] gave us six innings.”

Newcomer to the Mets, Yoenes Cespedes, has been carrying the team since his first game on August 1, but was hitless on Friday. Collins commented, “As good as Yo has been, it’s going to take a lot more than one guy to win games.” The home run was decisive from some of the other guys. Lucas Duda and Daniel Murphy hit solo home runs off Masahiro Tanaka and veteran infielder Juan Uribe, another July acquisition, hit a two run homer in the seventh.

Collins praised his importance to the team, “This guy is a big time player. Not only has he been a terrific guy in the clubhouse [but] he’s gotten big hits for us.”

Big hits were something the Yankees lacked without Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez and Brian McCann in the starting lineup. The Yanks left 10 runners on base while only going 2 for 8 with RISP in their 25th one run scoring game this season.

#Yankees #Mets #SubwaySeries #Tanaka #Yoenes Cespedes

Bronx DA SEEKS JUDGESHIP

BRONX D.A. SEEKING JUDICIAL NOMINATION

BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX NEWS)-  -- Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson announces that, today, he informed his staff he has now requested that Bronx County Democratic Chairman Marcos Crespo support his nomination for a  position as a Justice of the New York State Supreme Court.

Johnson said, "This spring, I did what I have done every four years, which was to submit my name for re-election to continue in the role of District Attorney for another term.  And once again, the Bronx Democratic Party, as well as the Republican and Conservative Parties, bestowed upon me their nomination to serve as District Attorney for another term.

“I have gained tremendous satisfaction from working with this Office and all its staff to provide justice and fairness for the people of The Bronx.  However, after 42 years of public service, including the U.S. Navy, The Legal Aid Society, as a Bronx Assistant District Attorney, as a Criminal Court Judge, and as the D.A. for the past 27 years, after much inner reflection, I have concluded that I would like to serve in another capacity. It is time for change in my life. The judicial position will allow me to make  a career move that provides the change that I seek without giving up public service.

“Contrary to what has been reported, no one, including anyone associated with the Bronx Democratic Party, has ever offered me another position, nor has anyone asked me to step down or retire as the District Attorney. I have, over the years, enjoyed their full faith and support both personally and through many electoral processes.

“I understand that this position cannot be offered to me prior to the Judicial Convention on Thursday, September 24th. I would not make that presumption. In fact, having gone to the Convention in 1987 as the candidate of the then County Chairman and coming out without the nomination, I understand the process better than most. I realize that the decision rests solely with the Judicial Delegates.

“Should I not be granted the nomination, I will stand for reelection in November to the position of District Attorney in order to continue to serve the people of the Bronx, a job that I love.  It is a position that allows me to secure justice for Bronx residents and the people of New York.

“I will be making no further comment on this subject."

#BronxDA #Robert t. Johnson

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Parkchester News: Parkchester Shines Bright with New Light Program

Parkchester News: Parkchester Shines Bright with New Light Program: Parkchester Shines Bright with New Light Program BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX NEWS)- It takes a lot of bulbs to light the stairwells and ...

Parkchester Shines Bright with New Light Program

Parkchester Shines Bright with New Light Program

BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX NEWS)- It takes a lot of bulbs to light the stairwells and hallways in 171 buildings that are home to tens of thousands of New Yorkers.

But the owner of the Parkchester apartments in the Bronx took advantage of Con Edison energy efficiency incentives to replace lighting in common areas throughout the giant complex.

The upgrades will save 1.6 million kilowatt hours of electricity a year. In terms of preventing greenhouse emissions, that’s the equivalent of taking 232 cars off the road.

“Our state’s energy landscape is changing dramatically, as utility customers look for ways to manage their usage, save money and protect the environment,” said Matthew Ketschke, Con Edison’s vice president, Distributed Resource Integration. “Our energy efficiency programs are one way that Con Edison helps customers like the Parkchester apartments achieve these goals.”

“We are pleased with how smoothly and quickly this project moved along and with the quality of the lighting that was installed,” said Charles Tucci, the general manager at Parkchester. “The Con Edison program gives owners of large businesses a chance to offset some of the costs of upgrades that will save them money in the long run.”

The project completed this summer included new lighting fixtures, LED bulbs, lamps and ballasts to replace older, less efficient equipment. Con Edison, through its Commercial and Industrial Energy Efficiency program, will put $407,000 toward the $1 million cost.

The Parkchester apartments have been an important part of New York City’s housing stock since the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. finished building them in 1941. The complex is on 129 acres and includes more than 100 offices and retail spaces.

Con Edison’s Commercial and Industrial program offers incentives for upgrading equipment and for performance-based energy-saving solutions. Con Edison will pay up to 50 percent of the cost of a study to evaluate a building’s energy use and recommend ways to increase electric and gas efficiency. For more information, go to: http://coned.com/energyefficiency/ci_program_rebates.asp

Con Edison has an energy-saving program for everyone. To find out which programs are right for you, visit coned.com/energyefficiency/ or call 1-877-870-6118.

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Murderous Crack Gangs Busted

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Bing Images

BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX NEWS)- Residents are relieved that members of two rival gangs who battled it out for control of the crack trade in Soundview are now behind bars thanks to the feds and NYPD.

            

Law enforcement officials announced the unsealing of two indictments charging a total of 17 members and associates of two Bronx-based street gangs, the Taylor Avenue Crew and the Leland Avenue Crew, with various racketeering and narcotics offenses, including two murders of rival gang members.

            

Twelve of the 17 defendants, James Capers, Tommy Brown, Jesse Irvin, Edwin Moye, Unique Christopher, Dante Rodgers, Irvin Ortiz, Elijah Davila, Ricardo Garcia, Pablo Chevere, Gladys Morals, Kenneth Mercado and Andrea Bell were taken into federal custody.

Four of the defendants, Marquise Rochester. Christian McKnight, Samuel Serrano and Messiah Perry are currently incarcerated in state custody on other charges, and will be presented at a later date.      

            

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said: “Members of the Taylor Avenue and Leland Avenue Crews allegedly wreaked havoc on the community through the sale of crack cocaine and a wave of violence on the streets of the Bronx.  On two occasions, that violence allegedly ended in the murders of rival gang members.”

            

HSI Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Glenn Sorge said: “Today’s arrests deal a serious blow to two gangs that allegedly used the streets of New York City to sell drugs and commit acts of violence including murder. HSI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to rid the streets of these dangerous criminal organizations that instill fear in our communities.”

            

DEA Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt said: “Drug trafficking inevitably leads to further crime and violence, as depicted in the alleged charges against the members of the Leland Avenue and Taylor Avenue Crews. Through a common goal, law enforcement pooled resources to investigate and arrest those who converted their Avenues into their own private battlefields.”                                       

            

Police Commissioner William J. Bratton said: “These indictments and arrests are the result of the collaborative power of law enforcement to address narcotics sales and street level shootings, crimes which are often committed by just a few individuals but affect a great many more. I would like to thank the NYPD investigators and our federal law enforcement partners who worked tirelessly to protect this Bronx community and bring justice to those responsible for this scourge of drugs, death and violence.”

            

As alleged in the Indictments unsealed in Manhattan federal court:

The Taylor Avenue Crew was a criminal enterprise that operated principally in and around the Bronx from at least 2012 up to and including 2015. One of the Taylor Avenue Crew’s principal objectives was to sell cocaine base, commonly known as “crack cocaine,” primarily in and around Taylor Avenue in the Bronx.  The Taylor Avenue Crew controlled crack cocaine sales within this area by prohibiting and preventing non-members, outsiders, and rival narcotics dealers from distributing crack cocaine in the area controlled by the enterprise.

Members and associates of the Taylor Avenue Crew engaged in acts of violence against the Leland Avenue Crew, a rival gang that sold crack cocaine primarily in and around Leland Avenue, which runs parallel to Taylor Avenue and is located two blocks east. These acts of violence included assaults, attempted murder, and murder, and were committed to protect the Taylor Avenue Crew’s drug territory, to retaliate against members of rival gangs who had encroached on the territory controlled by the Taylor Avenue Crew, and to otherwise promote the standing and reputation of the Taylor Avenue Crew amongst rival gangs.

The violence perpetrated by the Taylor Avenue Crew turned deadly in March 2015. On or about March 3, 2015, Elijah Davila and Allen McQueen, a now deceased member of the Taylor Avenue Crew, murdered Pablo Beard, a member of the Leland Avenue Crew, by shooting Beard in the vicinity of 1512 Leland Avenue in the Bronx.  As alleged in the Ortiz Indictment, Davila committed this murder to maintain and increase his position in the Taylor Avenue Crew.

Counts Two, Three, Six, and Eight charge Davila with conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering activity, murder in aid of racketeering activity, murder in connection with a drug crime, and a related firearms offense in connection with the March 2015 murder of Pablo Beard.

Count Four of the Ortiz Indictment charges Mercado with assault and attempted murder in aid of racketeering activity in connection with the August 2015 shooting of members of the Leland Avenue Crew.

The Leland Avenue Crew was a criminal enterprise that operated principally in and around the Bronx, New York, from at least 2012 up to and including 2015. One of the principal objectives of the Leland Avenue Crew was to sell crack cocaine, primarily in and around Leland Avenue in the Bronx. Members and associates of the Leland Avenue Crew engaged in acts of violence against the Taylor Avenue Crew.  These acts of violence included assaults, attempted murder, and murder intended either to protect the Leland Avenue Crew’s drug territory, retaliate against members of rival gangs who had encroached on the territory controlled by the Leland Avenue Crew, or to otherwise promote the standing and reputation of the Leland Avenue Crew among rival gangs.

The violence perpetrated by the Leland Avenue Crew also turned deadly in July 2015. On or about July 7, 2015, James Capers murdered Allen McQueen, a member of the Taylor Avenue Crew, by shooting McQueen in the vicinity of 1531 Taylor Avenue in the Bronx. As alleged in the Capers Indictment, Capers committed this murder to maintain and increase his position in the Leland Avenue Crew.

Counts Two, Four, and Five charge Capers with murder in aid of racketeering activity, murder in connection with a drug crime, and a related firearms offense, in connection with the July 2015 murder of Allen McQueen.

#Taylor Avenue Crew, #Leland Avenue Crew, #Drug Gangs #Crack, #NYPD