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Yanks Remain in First Place

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, September 20- A combination of outstanding pitching and timely hitting gave the Yankees a second victory on Wednesday. The 2-1 victory in the second of a day/night doubleheader on Wednesday allowed the Yanks to remain in first place in the American League East with 14 games remaining for the Bronx Bombers.

David Phelps hurled his lengthiest and most impressive start of 2012. He threw 110 pitches, 12 more his previous high of the season in 6.2 innings, a distance he had only reached once this year.

Two walks and an RBI single by Aderiny Hechevarria scored the only Toronto run in the game. Rajai Davis led off the third with a single, but was thrown out trying to steal. Phelps retired the next 12 batters before J.P. Arencibia reached first on a throwing error by Derek Jeter with one out in the sixth.

Although Pettitte pitched his expected maximum of five innings in game one, it took six relievers to complete the game. Thus, it was necessary to Phelps to carry the load in the second game. He stated, “I know I had to go out there and pitch deep into the game.”

Ichiro Suzuki showed his superior abilities are still intact. In the doubleheader he hit safely seven times, stole four bases and made a critical great catch in the first game with the bases loaded to preserve the Yankees 4-2 victory.

Suzuki went four for four in the nightcap. In the second, with Jayson Nix and Casey McGehee on base via walks, Ichiro singled to center, but Nix was thrown out trying to score.

In the eighth, with the game knotted at one, Ichiro got his fourth hit of the contest. The hit drove in Curtis Granderson with what proved to be the winning run.

After the game, the calm outfielder explained his feelings, “I came in the middle of the season; I wanted to contribute. Today was a great day. I was glad I was able to help.”

Of his fellow outfielder, Nick Swisher exclaimed, “I don’t think anybody could have got him out today.”

Another hero of the doubleheader was closer Rafael Soriano. The closer saved both games. In the opener, the save was a rare four out effort. Soriano has saved 42 games in 45 opportunities. Even more impressive is the fact that his first save did not come until May3, when Mariano Rivera was placed on the DL.

The Yankees will attempt to sweep the series on Thursday night with Phil Hughes (15-12) on the mound. Hughes will be opposed by Aaron Laffey (3-5).

Not another shelter!

COMMUNITY BOARD

NEWS N’ VIEWS

 by

Father Richard F. Gorman

Chairman

Community Board #12 (The Bronx)

“L’SHANA TOVA!” or, as one would say in English, “HAPPY NEW YEAR!” This Sunday evening past at sunset, our Jewish friends across our beautiful Borough of The Bronx and, indeed, throughout the world, began the celebration of their New Year 5773.   

The traditional New Year greeting of “L’SHANNA TOVA,” literally “for a good year,” expresses the ardent aspiration of the Jewish people for a year of holiness, wholesomeness, good health, and good will among each other and with all people. On this ROSH HASHANAH, I join with my Jewish friends in praying for such a year, not only for them, but for all of God’s Children. May 5773 bring only peace and prosperity to us all!

Regrettably, though, 5773 is not getting off on the right foot for the citizens of Community Board #12 (The Bronx) and, in particular, for the residents of Wakefield. The hard-pressed people of Wakefield, already exploited by the burden of taking on three facilities housing different populations within the greater homeless populace of the City of New York, are about to be weighed down with possibly a fourth one. 

As all in Bronx Community District #12 already know all too well, three facilities are already in the works in Wakefield. PROJECT RENEWAL, a mega-not-for-profit (N-F-P) catering to homeless individuals with chemical dependencies and/or mental illness, has undertaken to convert a former commercial building into a facility housing 100 to 125 homeless persons at 4380 Bronx Boulevard at the intersection of East 238TH Street (Nereid Avenue). Directly across the street on the very same intersection, in the now vacated SERGEANT JOSEPH E. MULLER UNITED STATES ARMY RESERVE CENTER (M.U.S.A.R.C.), formerly a base for the United States Army National Guard situated at 555 East 238TH STREET (Nereid Avenue), THE DOE FUND, another colossal charitable organization addressing the homeless issue, is intending to operate a facility for over 200 itinerant individuals. Up the hill and around the corner to the right at 4339 White Plains Road, PRAXIS HOUSING INITIATIVES  --  still another sizable charity dedicated to aiding those who are chronically homeless as a consequence of H.I.V./A.I.D.S., mental health concerns, chemical dependency, and other special needs  -- has embarked on the construction of a facility with some 60+ units in which homeless individuals, with one or more of the aforesaid complicating factors, will be leased apartments thereby technically rendering them no longer homeless.

“ENOUGH ALREADY!” one would say. Certainly, the good, decent, hard working, taxpaying people of Wakefield have done more than their fair share for their disadvantaged brothers and sisters without a roof over the head. BUT . . . . . . “NO!” says ACACIA NETWORK, still another money-spinning not-for-profit (N.F.P.) who used to go by the name “PROMESA.” Conniving with a local developer, who has a voracious appetite for gulping up sites in our neck of the woods and putting up housing that he is unable to market, ACACIA NETWORK is looking to lease a newly erected edifice situated at 4453 White Plains Road between East 240TH Street and East 241ST Street that has some 56 units --  studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments  --  in which 100 or more homeless folks could easily be sheltered. Of course, who should be noticing that the greatest transformation occurring in Wakefield has less to do with the lives of the homeless than that that of the homeowners and residents of this bucolic neighborhood, who are witnessing the conversion of their neighborhood into a homeless colony! After all, protest our say our gainfully employed friends in the N-F-P community, something needs to be done in order to get a

handle on the homeless epidemic in New York City and to turn its tide.

I wholeheartedly and enthusiastically agree. Where I vehemently

disagree with many of these folks  --  most of whom I do believe are sincere in their desire to do good for the less fortunate  --  is the fashion under which this true work of God is accomplished and how the sacrifice for it is shared.

Wakefield Homeless Facility #4 brought to us by ACACIA NETWORK is a story only beginning to unfold that requires additional space and print to tell. Tune in next week for more of the truth of this sad saga.

Until next time, that is it for this time!

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FIGHTING DIRTY!

Splash Mob Beats Laundromat Clerk

See the video 

By Dan Gesslein

BRONX, NEW YORK, September 19- A group of thugs beat and robbed a laundromat clerk in Wakefield and all of it was caught on tape.

Police released the video that showed the clerk trying to fight off a male robber while two women took turns beating the worker with a pole. While the beat down was going on, a fourth accomplice made off with the cash register. 

At around 10:40 p.m. on September 16, the group entered the Clean Laundryland Laundromat on White Plains Road and attacked the clerk. As the male robber and the clerk struggled, the two women are seen hitting him with a pole.

The main attacker is described as a black male who was seen wearing a blue-hooded sweatshirt, black pants with white stripes and sneakers. The second suspect is a black woman seen wearing a long-sleeved shirt, blue jeans and yellow baseball cap. The other woman was wearing a white tank top and blue denim shorts. The fourth suspect, who made off with the cash register, is a black male who was seen wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt, black pants and sneakers.

Anyone with information is urged to call CRIMESTOPPERS at (800) 577-TIPS. The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.

All calls are kept strictly confidential.

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Do the Yanks have the goods to earn playoff berth?

Will They or Won’t They?

(Photo by Gary Quintal)

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, September 18- Two months ago, it appeared as if the Yanks were a sure thing to finish first in the American League East. The club led the conference by a season-high 10 games on July 18. Since that date, New York has faltered.

In the following 50 games after that high-point of the season, the Yanks won only 22. Although they have remained on top or tied for the lead in the A.L. East at the end of every day since June 20, it will take effort for the team to win the pennant or even qualify for the post-season.

Parity is alive in each American League division as each game during the final 2 ½ weeks of the regular season are critical to the Yankees and their A.L. East rivals, Baltimore and Tampa, to the White Sox and Tigers in the A.L. Central and to the Rangers, Athletics and Angels in the A.L. West. The addition of a Wild Card in each league has, as was hoped, increased interest in more cities as the season nears its conclusion.

The victories of the Yanks over the Rays on September 15 and 16 kept New York one game ahead of the Orioles and increased their lead over the Rays to four with 16 games remaining.

The outstanding work of the two starters, Ivan Nova and Hiroki Kuroda, and the hope instilled by the scheduled return of Andy Pettitte from the disabled list on Tuesday greatly increases the self-confidence of the team and its rooters.

Nova’s last start was on August 21. Two days after, he was placed on the DL with right rotator cuff inflammation. Nova only allowed his “cousins” only two runs and four hits in his innings of his first start in nearly one month.

After the contest, Tampa skipper Joe Maddon spoke words of praise for Nova, “Great command of his breaking ball again. His fastball was there, too. He was up to 95. So he was well, definitely well today. Whatever was bothering him is not bothering him right now. The curveball was really good again and then the fastball velocity was up.”

Nova has little difficulty with the Rays, especially in the Bronx. Nova, at home, is 4-0 with an ERA of 1.83 against the Rays. Maddon jokingly remarked, “He [Nova] likes our uniforms. I know that. He’s very comfortable when he sees our uniform.”

On the next day, Sunday, Kuroda demonstrated his talent. He almost duplicated his stats of 11 days earlier in his only other start against the Rays. In both games he gave up four runs in six innings, but earned the win, 6-4. He threw 101 pitches I both outing with 62 as strikes on September 5 and 61 on September 16. On Sunday, he fanned 10.

Although the win was Kuroda’s 14^th, better hitting support from his teammates would have increased that number. After Sunday’s game, Yankee manager Joe Girardi commented, “His off speed was tremendous today; he really used it effectively.” He also spoke of the lack of run support during his appearances [3.07 during his previous 10 starts], “He hasn’t got a lot of run support.”

There is gleeful anticipation awaiting the schedules start of Andy Pettitte on September 18. Pettitte last started on June 27, when his left ankle was fractured by a ground ball.

Of his experience and the respect the other pitchers have for Pettitte, Girardi stated, “I think his presence is very important to our staff. He also pitched very well.”

The Yankees are hopeful the return of Nova and Pettitte and the presence of Kuroda will gave the team a berth in the playoffs.

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Jeter Moves Up on Hit List

CC, Yanks Can’t Keep Rays Down

(Lucky for him, unlucky for the Yanks - This young fan got hold of a ball Friday night, but the Yankees couldn't win for him.)

Photos by Gary Quintal  

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, September 15- David Price of the Tampa Bay Rays has had success as the opposing pitcher when facing the New York Yankees’ CC Sabathia. Coming off a 5-5 road trip, that concluded winning their last two at Boston, the Yankees needed Sabathia to be his best.

Price, got the best of Sabathia again Friday night in the Bronx pitching the Rays to 6-4 win at Yankee Stadium, the start of an important three-game series in what has become a tight race for first place in the American League east.

“That was a big game for us facing CC and that lineup,” said Price (18-5) who won his league leading 18^th game. He improved to 7-4 against the Yankees and his team has won seven of eight against New York when he is on the mound.

Though Sabathia looked sharp at times, limiting the Rays to one hit through five innings, his location was not evident as the Rays’ scored three runs in the fifth inning. A double, walk, RBI single and a wild pitch put Tampa ahead.

“I still believe in CC,” said Yankees manager Joe Girardi.  “There’s a guy that’s done so many special things for us here so I still believe in him.” Sabathia allowed six hits and four runs in 6/2-3 innings and he lost control of his breaking ball in that fifth inning.

Said Sabathia, “I feel good. I am just not going out there and executing pitches.”

The Yankees, struggling to score runs with runners in scoring position, 1-for-6, could not surmount a significant rally when Price left the game after seven innings, striking out six on five hits.

Curtis Granderson hit his 38^th home run in the fifth inning off Price. Alex Rodriguez hit his 18^th home run of the season when Price left the game off Joel Peralta in the eighth inning that that led to the final Yankees runs of the evening.

It was the 647^th career home run for Rodriquez that sent him past Lou Gehrig for ninth place on the runs list with 1,899.

With his 3,284^th hit in the fifth inning, Derek Jeter broke a tie with Willie Mays for sole possession of 10^th place on baseball’s all-time hits list. But as Jeter said, “It is more important to win games,” as the Yankees remained tied with Baltimore for first place with Baltimore in the division.

Fernando Rodney tossed 1.2 scoreless innings and got the five out save, his 43^rd. “We had two Cy Young Award candidates pitch tonight for us,” said Rays manager Joe Maddon commenting about Price and Rodney.

“It’s something that when the season is over I will have an opportunity to appreciate it more,” commented Jeter about the milestone hit. “Right now I want to concentrate on winning games.”

The Yankees will try and get on the winning track again Saturday afternoon. Ivan Nova, (11-7) gets his first start since coming off the disabled list 

e-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.,com

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Conviction in 27-year-old Cold Case

BRONX, NEW YORK, September 12- Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced that a 47-year-old deaf Pennsylvania man has been convicted of manslaughter in the stabbing death of a 21-year-old Bronx man in the Summer of 1985.

Gabriel Thompson, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, pled guilty to one count of manslaughter in the first degree before State Supreme Court Justice Margaret Clancy. The judge set sentencing for Thursday, September 27, 2012 in Part H79. Under the plea agreement, Thompson is to receive a term of four to 12 years imprisonment.

Thompson admitted that on August 31, 1985, he stabbed Miguel Lopez once in the chest causing his death during an altercation on the sidewalk in front of an apartment building at 1013 East 180^th Street. According to Thompson’s statement to investigators, he believed that Lopez was romantically involved with Thompson’s girlfriend prior to the attack.

The homicide remained unsolved until September 2010 when Thompson was arrested by Retired Detective Anthony Padilla, then assigned to the NYPD Cold Case Squad. NYPD re-opened the investigation in 2006 after receiving a tip from a witness. During the course of his investigation, Det. Padilla re-interviewed several witnesses, including one who said that he failed to identify Thompson in 1985, because he had been threatened. Ultimately, investigators were led to Thompson who had moved out of state to Pennsylvania. When Thompson returned to the Bronx for an extended visit in 2010 he was interviewed by detectives and admitted that he stabbed Lopez.

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Cougar Gate Claims Naomi!

Challenger Beats Rivera

Tracy Towers Decided the 80^th A.D. Race

By Robert Press

BRONX, NEW YORK, September 15- It was not until after 12:30 a.m. that the 80^th A.D. race was over, and Mark Gjonaj declared the winner, besting incumbent Naomi Rivera and damaging the Rivera political dynasty.

In early returns challenger Mark Gjonaj was ahead by almost 20 points, and by 10 p.m. incumbent Naomi Rivera was already on television thanking those who had worked on her campaign. A rousing roar came from the large crowd that had gathered at the Gjonaj party thinking it was a concession speech, but it was going to be a long night. As more results came in the lead narrowed, and the 20-point lead shrunk to a single digit lead at one point.

The same problem that occurred in the June congressional election happened in this election as voters found that their name did not appear in the registration books. Others found out that their Election District had changed, and that they were at the wrong table while some found that their poll site had changed. I was at one poll site where a woman claimed she voted for many years at this poll site, but her name was not in the book. She even went as far to say that her sister's name (who lives at the same address) was in the book pointing to it.

It was because of situations like that where there was a question of a voter’s status that the voter is then given an “Affidavit Ballot” to fill out which did not get scanned, but was put into an envelope at each desk to be verified by the Board of Elections at a later date after the election. There had to be about 200 of these type of ballots used during the day so any victory by either candidate would have to be even greater than the number of Affidavit ballots. Each side would claim that they had the majority of such ballots in question, and or would question the registration of the person who filled out the ballot. That is what happened in a very close special election for a Brooklyn State Senate seat which took the Board of Elections (and courts) months to decide a winner.

So any win in the 80^th A.D. had to be greater than the amount of any outstanding ballots or it could take weeks to get a winner. At 11 p.m. Mark Gjonaj's lead was down to about 150 votes that was not large enough to declare victory yet. People were wondering why it was taking so long to get the full results in, and where was the Tracy Towers’ vote that was thought Gjonaj had won big. Tracy Towers residents had a big problem on their hands with a huge rent increase looming, and when it was said that Naomi Rivera could not help. Mark Gjonaj hired a lawyer to help the tenants stop the rent increase.

By 11:30 p.m. the Gjonaj lead started to grow again not to a safe margin of victory yet, but one could tell it would be a Gjonaj victory. A short time after midnight his lead had grown to over 500 votes (52 - 41 percent) clearly enough to declare victory as 99 percent of the vote was in. It was said that the Tracy Towers poll site (which has been historically late in getting in results) had just come in, and provided the winning margin of victory. Mark then arrived, congratulated everyone in the room, thanked everyone who was a part of his winning campaign, gave a brief speech, and then went around the room to shake everyone's hand.

With his victory decided some time before Democratic primary winner in the 87^th A.D., Mr. Luis Sepulveda came in to the ballroom at Maestro's to congratulate Mark Gjonaj on his victory. 

Finally let me say I do not know how the poll workers were able to endure a 16-hour workday, with many putting in even more time. I traveled through-out the 80th A.D. yesterday stopping by almost everyone of the polling sites, and I tried to talk to as many people as I could which included the poll workers. 

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and the City Council who are fighting for other workers right to fair pay needs to look into this as the $200 pay if overtime after 8 hours of work is factored in comes out to only $10.00 dollars an hour, without benefits is lower than the recent living wage bill passed by the city council.

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