Serving Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights norwoodnews.org St. Patrick’s Day Guide NORWOOD NEWS pages 7 –10 Vol. 26, No. 5 ■ PUBLISHED BY MOSHOLU PRESERVATION CORPORATION ■ March 7 –20, 2013 EYE OF THE TIGERS Fearing the Worst, Clinton Fights to Save School By ALEX KRATZ Alan Ettman, an English teacher at DeWitt Clinton High School, has been down this path before. He taught at Walton High School, a large school just a mile south of Clinton, before a couple of small schools were “co-located” into the same building around the turn of the century. Renovations were soon done at the building for the new schools, while Walton’s facilities deteriorated and its spirit sank. At one point, Ettman literally found himself locked out of the fac - ulty bathroom. “I had every intention of finishing my career there,” Ettman says. A few years later, the Department of Education decided to close Walton completely. “It was extremely demoralizing and depressing to every - one,” Ettman says. Ettman moved on to Clinton, where he is now the (continued on p. 12 ) Photo by Adi Talwar SHAKEEM DOUGLAS of Evander Childs Campus sees a path to the hoop during the Tigers’ convincing 80-58 vic - tory over Norman Thomas last week. The win put Evander into the Sweet 16 of the Public School Athletic League Sex Offender Boys A Division tournament. For more tournament updates, visit our Breaking Bronx blog at norwoodnews.org. Charged With Unions, MS 80 Parents Rally to Webster Ave. Rape Remove Principal By DAVID GREENE By WILL SPEROS Since Polanco took the helm at the end of last year, Police arrested a registered sex offender with a lengthy some parents have expressed major concern about the criminal history and charged him with raping, assaulting Disgruntled parents and local union members ral - school’s future. Receiving active and consistent sup - and robbing a female worker at a laundromat on Webster lied last week outside of MS 80, the Norwood area’s port from other parents, however, has proved tricky. Avenue in Bedford Park. largest middle school, to protest the school’s principal, Donovan said some parents have been left “disenfran - On Sunday, Feb. 17, police say Danny Gonzalez, 44, a Emmanuel Polanco. The protesters said Polanco is chised,” fearing that any involvement in the effort to career criminal with arrests dating back to 1990, followed a leading the school down a troubling path and violated remove Polanco will negatively impact how their child 27-year-old employee inside the Broad Laundry at 3181 Web - the rights of at least one faculty member. They plan to is treated at the school. ster Ave. where she was opening the business just before 8 continue rallying every week until Polanco is (continued on p. 12 ) a.m. A week and a half later, police would arrest Gonzalez removed. on the east side of Manhattan near midtown. In his first full year at MS 80, Polanco, 30, was thrust A neighborhood source said the victim was also caring for into the spotlight after a music video on YouTube fea - her 8-month-old baby at the time of the attack, and was dis - turing his Reggaeton band, El Siki, began circulating tracted when Gonzalez locked the door and forced the woman around the school. The racy video raised eyebrows, but into a back office. The baby was not hurt during the attack. Cecilia Donovan, the former president of the Parents The source said that after the incident, “He locked her in Association, said the video is masking the real prob - the bathroom and then went to the deli and ordered a sand - lems at the school. wich.” The source had several choice words for In addition to overcrowding problems, there have the assailant that could not be printed in a family newspaper. been reports of gang recruitment, students frequently Police have credited the unidentified victim for provid - cutting class and rumors of sex on school grounds. ing such a good description and the Green Mermaid Deli While Polanco is not solely responsible for these prob - whose elaborate surveillance system captured an image of lems, Donovan and others say he isn’t doing enough to Photo by Adi Talwar the suspect that would eventually be spotted by the tipster, remedy them and is ignoring parents’ attempts to help UNION MEMBERS RALLY last Thursday in front of who called police. or have any input. MS 80 to protest the school’s new principal. (continued on p. 3) ■ Abduction Scare in U-Heights, p. 5 ■ Healthy Cooking, p. 11 ■ Help Us Serve You: Readership Survey, Back Page www.norwoodnews.org 2 ■ March 7 –20, 2013 ■ Norwood News News • Politics • Policy By Alex KrAtz Vol. 26, No. 5 Diaz: Registry Would Keep Gun Offenders Out of ‘Shadows’ Norwood News is published In an effort to reduce gun violence, justice department and a retired NYPD weapon, all the way up to murder, so bi-weekly on Thursdays by Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. sergeant, and the impact of registry there is a large gamut,” Small said. “The Mosholu Preservation Corporation wants to publicize the names and address - could be completely different. details are very important.” 3400 Reservoir Oval East es of those convicted of gun-related “I applaud the Bronx borough presi - Last week on the show BronxTalk, Bronx, New York 10467 felonies and will introduce legislation on dent for bringing light to the issue. The Diaz said he’s hoping state and city offi - the city and state levels calling for the cre - issue of gun crimes is huge in our com - cials pursue the legislation. Phone: 718 324 4998 Fax: 718 324 2917 ation of an online gun offender registry. munity,” Small said. “There are some “We need to make sure gun offenders E-mail: [email protected] “If such a gun-crime registry were serious differences between [publicizing] don’t hide in the shadows and continue to Web: www.norwoodnews.org online, as the state’s sex offender registry sex crimes and gun crimes, depending plague our neighborhoods with crime,” is, anyone would be able to view the upon the scope of what [the registry] Diaz said. —CLARKE ILLMATICAL names and addresses of people convicted would include. In certain subcultures and of gun-related felonies,” said Diaz in a gang cultures, prison is a badge of honor. Publisher CEO, Mosholu statement after announcing the plans It could be the same with a gun registry.” Mosholu Preservation Preservation during his fourth State of the Borough Tom King, president of the New York Corporation Corporation speech two weeks ago. “I strongly believe State Rifle and Pistol Association, said Editor-in-Chief Roberto S. Garcia that law-abiding citizens ought to know guns aren’t the issue. Alex Kratz who among us is responsible for gun vio - “If there is going to be a gun crimes lence. Most importantly, this easily-acces - registry, there is already a sex offender sible gun crime registry would serve as a registry, there should be an assault reg - Classified Advertising deterrent from such acts.” istry, a theft registry, a political corrup - Dawn McEvoy Repeatedly, Diaz has compared his pro - tion registry and let’s register everybody Accounts Receivable posed online gun registry to the sex that’s a criminal,” King said. “It’s not the Dawn McEvoy offender registry, hoping it will have the guns. It’s the criminals.” Proofreader same impact on criminals. Although the Small said that defining the registry Photo courtesy Bronx Borough President’s office Judy Noy concept is the same, gun-related crimes would be important. BRONX BOROUGH PRESIDENT Ruben Production do not have the same stigma as those com - “When you’re talking about [felony] Diaz Jr. proposed a gun offender registry Neil deMause mitted by sex offenders, said John Small, gun crimes, you’re talking about every - during his fourth State of the Borough a professor in Monroe College’s criminal thing from criminal possession of a Regular Contributors speech last month. David Greene, Adi Talwar Interns Rivera Backs Chief of wants to turn the Armory into a flexible ing programs, local hiring requirements Sara Regalado, Will Speros, Clarke town square-style market, with entertain - and funding for youth programs. Illmatical Staff ment, recreation and business incubator For the past months, representatives In the wild, congested race shaping up space. of the Kingsbridge Armory Redevelop - For display advertising, call in the City Council’s 15th District, which In early January, EDC officials said a ment Alliance (KARA) have been trying (718) 324-4998. stretches from the Fordham-Bedford area decision was coming “soon.” But two to hammer out a CBA with the ice center into West Farms, current seat holder Joel Support Your months later, it’s unclear what’s going on group. But there hasn’t been any word Rivera is backing his right-hand man, and Cabrera isn’t talking. He is on the about progress on those talks. Community Newspaper! Albert Alvarez. record saying he will not vote for a pro - “It’s going to happen,” Cabrera said, The Norwood News is a not-for-profit Rivera and his longtime chief of staff posal that doesn’t include a community allowing that it may take some time and publication and relies upon the support of were making the rounds at a fundraising benefits agreement, which would most patience. “If not with this mayor, then the its advertisers and readers to produce a event hosted by the Bronx Chamber of likely include thousands of feet of pro - next. We only have one shot at this.