Fresh from the oven There and back again From world-famous purveyors to mom-and-pop stores, Fieldston’s football coach calls on his roots at the school the northwest Bronx has great bakeries, page B1. — and an NFL stint, to lead the team, page B8.

Vol. 67, No. 30 Thursday, September 10, 2015 $1.00 Blast won’t Pols unveil delay JFK Broadway opening Nice kids. facelift plan By Isabel Angell By Will Speros [email protected] Good schools. [email protected] After a gas explosion partially de- A busy stretch of Broadway is an- stroyed the sixth floor of the John F. chored by malls at West 230th and Kennedy Campus near the end of Au- West 238th streets, but the space be- gust, all seven schools were on track to tween has lacked a guiding vision for Hard drugs. years. open on the first day of the school year on Wednesday. A group of elected officials an- Following the large, Aug. 20 blast, nounced plans to change that last parents and students worried that re- A Press special report — part one week. pairs would not be complete in time for Bronx Borough President Ruben the start of the school year. Authori- Diaz Jr. and other elected officials ties had blamed a massive explosion at released an analysis of the area with the JFK campus on a worker who lit a recommendations including more match in a room full of natural gas. lighting, graffiti removal, standardized However, the Department of Edu- street furniture and waste bins and the cation (DOE) released a statement creation of new parks and “public inter- saying the building is structurally action spaces.” sound and that air quality tests show “We’ve been able to work in such no possible dangers. School princi- a smart and strategic way, it really pals could return to the building last makes me proud,” Mr. Diaz said at a week, and staff returned on Tuesday. Sept. 2 press conference on West 231st Construction on the damaged floor is Street. “This is what I call planning scheduled to continue throughout the with purpose.” school year, although officials reas- Although beautification strategies sured parents the work would not take are still in the planning stages, the re- place during school hours. port outlines a few aspects of the pro- The DOE held a town hall meeting posed makeover. at the IN-Tech Academy on Sept. 3 to By Isabel Angell Jennifer’s son “Tyler” was going to be The Bronx Revolving Loan Fund address parents’ concerns. Represen- [email protected] a junior at RKA in the fall of 2014. He was has accumulated close to $500,000 in tatives from the department and other taking honors math and was a prolific art- funds for local businesses to put to- city agencies involved in repairing the In the summer of 2014, a mother at ist. Jennifer is a single mother, and she and ward the aesthetic improvement of campus came to give updates and an- the David A. Stein Riverdale/Kingsbridge Tyler were very close. their properties. Property owners are swer questions from the crowd. Academy (RKA) told fellow parent “Jenni- “Who would think that — I mean, you encouraged to contact the NYC Eco- “The building is safe, it is secure fer” that she was pulling her child out of the don’t think that,” she said in an interview nomic Development Corporation and and the air quality is good,” said Lor- school because she had learned of preva- in her Riverdale apartment. “I confronted request free graffiti removal. raine Grillo of the School Construction lent drug use among students, with some my son about it and he just kind of laughed The report calls upon the city to Authority. She explained workers have of them even doing heroin. at me.” add better lighting under the elevated already cleared away debris, demol- “I almost didn’t believe it,” recalled Jen- “But I guess at that point I probably subway track and also to provide new ished any potential safety hazards and nifer, who does not want her real name to should have taken more steps,” she contin- or improved sidewalks to the corridor. closed off the damaged areas. be used due to the sensitive matter of her ued. “I think I let too many things go that Mr. Diaz also cited the desire for a Ms. Grillo also gave an update story. “Not that this woman would be ly- seemed insignificant to me or someone “pocket park” near West 230th Street. about the workers injured in the blast, ing, but you know, sometimes people blow blowing something up out of proportion, “We’ve always talked about doing saying that all three were still in the things out of proportion.” but after all is said and done, I realized that beautification in this area and it is just hospital in stable condition and be- Jennifer said she did not know the wom- they were right.” a breath of fresh air to hear that it’s ac- ginning the process of receiving skin an very well, and while she did not dismiss As the months went by, the problem tually starting to happen,” said Farrah grafts as treatment for their burns. the warning outright, she found it hard to gradually hit home. Rubin, Development Director for the Officials from the Department believe that a good high school in Riverdale, During the summer of 2014, Jennifer Kingsbridge Riverdale Van Cortlandt of Buildings and the Department of of all places, would have a heroin problem. (Continued on page A5) Development Corportation (KRVC). Health and Mental Hygiene echoed Elected officals also stressed the Ms. Grillo’s statements: the engineers need for modernized parking meters found the campus structurally sound along the stretch of Kingsbridge. and tests revealed the air quality is safe “We want [shoppers] to have peace for students. of mind so that they can go from store (Continued on page A4) (Continued on page A11) Charters ‘thank’ Klein with cash for school votes By Will Speros as a battle between those institutions form Now PAC, an advocacy group ganizations. Mr. Klein, whose 34th dis- fundraisers in the state, received far [email protected] and teachers unions rages in Albany. endorsing the principles of charter trict includes the northwest Bronx, did more contributions from pro-charter For instance, Mr. Klein was one of school education. not answer an interview request for school and pro-privatization groups State Sen. Jeff Klein has received only two Democrats to vote in favor of “Charter schools are no longer this article. than any other incumbent state law- more campaign contribu- a March 2011 bill that ruled an experiment. Charter schools are “We are seeing the very direct in- maker. Common Cause defined pro- tions from pro-charter school out seniority as the key crite- the cure,” Mr. Klein said during a fluence of the exponential increase privatization organizations as “PACs and pro-school privatization Editorial ria teacher for layoffs in New pro-charter school rally in Albany in in privatizer political spending in the and coalitions whose central mission is groups than any other incum- comment York — a measure strongly March, according to a news article policies and legislation that are being “education reform,’” particularly those bent state legislator, Com- opposed by teacher unions. cited by Common Cause. introduced and backed by some prom- backing alternatives to traditional pub- mon Cause recently found. Page A10 Common Cause noted that The group found that between inent elected officials,” Susan Lerner, lic education. The good government group shortly after the vote, Mr. 2005 and 2014, the senator received executive director of Common Cause, The next closest officials, Republi- said the donations have influenced Klein’s campaign committee received $293,875 in contributions from several said in a phone interview. can state Senators Martin Golden and him to vote in favor of charter schools a $5,000 donation from Education Re- pro-privatization or charter school or- Mr. Klein, one of the most prolific (Continued on page A4) Young, gifted and not afraid of a long commute By Isabel Angell to the school because of her extraordi- [email protected] nary voice. “It is worth it,” she said of the com- In the days building up to the start mute. “I really like it. I think I’ll be up- of the school year, Lashanique Znya set to leave it this year.” Mourning was looking forward to It’s not all about the performing starting eighth grade — even though arts for Znya — her favorite traditional she has to wake at 4 a.m. to subject in school is math. commute to class. Znya lives with her great- The Ft. Independence A Press grandmother, Sandra Green, at Houses resident wakes up the public housing high-rise at so early because she attends profile 3340 Bailey Ave. Before attend- the prestigious Mark Twain ing Mark Twain, she went to School for the Gifted and Talented, lo- the Milton Fein School (P.S. 7). cated all the way out in Coney Island. Znya, 13, said she started singing The school offers classes in “Talent when she was 5. Back then, she did not Areas” in all sorts of subjects: math know she was special. But adults took and computers, creative writing and note of her talent, and by the time she Photo by Adrian Fussell athletics, to name a few. Znya (as she was about 9, she was getting free voice prefers, the “Z” is silent) was admitted lessons from the Bronx House School ZNyA MourNINg, an eighth-grader with a gift for music, sings as she gazes from a (Continued on page A4) eighth floor window at the Fort Independence Houses after an interview on Sept. 4.

THE PREMIER NAME IN REAL ESTATE. LIST YOUR HOME WITH SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY. INQUIRE AT [email protected]

790419 [email protected] The Riverstone 3 BR Condo Oversized convertible 2 BR Large & Sun-filled 1 BR Co-op Terrace on Johnson Ave JR 4 718.513.5810 Ardit Gjonaj 646.620.5265 Anne Shahmoon 914.262.5679 Julie Ann Gillis 917.750.1715 Ari Norberto 646.327.1904 THE RIVERDALE PRESS - Thursday, September 10, 2015 - A5 Nice kids. Good schools. Addiction to hard drugs (Continued from page A1) he could die, he could not wake up. You started to notice that Tyler, who de- know, maybe when he went to sleep he clined to be interviewed for this ar- seemed fine, but maybe he had a bag ticle, became more introverted and of something hidden somewhere and was spending more time in his room. maybe he did it in the middle of the At the time, she did not think much of night and OD’ed,” Jennifer said. “Just the change. Teenagers get moody, and knowing he could die.” Tyler had a bad relationship with his father. Jennifer was dealing with de- Possible overdose pression herself. Then, the first progress report of For one family, that fear was appar- his junior year brought failing grades ently realized on Aug. 5. A 17-year-old in two to three classes, according to former RKA student, whose name has the mother. been withheld for privacy reasons, “He never did that before,” she re- was found dead at a friend’s house marked. on Post Road in Riverdale. While the She also noticed her son picking at Office of the Chief Medical Examiner his skin — a lot. She later learned that said the toxicology report from the kind of behavior is a symptom of opi- autopsy was not complete as of press ate use. Jennifer said in October, the time, Capt. O’Toole confirmed that RKA administration called her to say the teenager’s death is believed to be the school believed her son was using drug-related. drugs. The death prompted an outpour- The call prompted her to pick her ing on social media from students son up from school and take him to a who knew the deceased. His mother hospital for a drug test. After Tyler was declined to be interviewed for this ar- found to have traces of opiates in his ticle. system, he admitted to taking Xanax, “My baby boy, your smile could a prescription anti-anxiety medication change my whole mood in a second, with opioids, the synthetic version of A mEmoriAl on Aug. 5 for a student living in riverdale who allegedly died while using opiods, uploaded to forever will be missing you,” one opiates. Jennifer said she was shocked, ‘The riverdale Press’ website by an anonymous community member. young woman wrote on Twitter. but not blown away. “Gone but never will be forgotten,” “These things happen to kids, you another wrote. “I can’t believe I’ll nev- know, if you don’t have the greatest er see you again,” said a third person. home life. His father made him feel Some teens addressed the topic of bad his whole life, so these things hap- drug use in their tweets after his death. pen. I know I did drugs as a teenager, CDC warns of jump in heroin use “Hope this is a wake up call for ev- maybe it’s just part of who I am: I pass eryone, we all need to get our [exple- it on to him,” she said. “But I still at In July, the Center for Disease tive] together,” posted one young man. that point wasn’t aware of how bad it Control (CDC) released a report “This drug [expletive] isn’t a joke, was.” warning of a growing heroin epi- it catches up to you regardless of who As it turned out, Tyler was on a tra- demic in the United States. While you are,” another young man wrote in jectory that often starts with prescrip- heroin use does not appear to be a post. “If you see someone in a bad tion drug abuse and leads to heroin. widespread at local schools, the na- way as a friend you should try to do tional numbers are startling. whatever you can to help that person. Heroin ‘clique’ “Heroin use is increasing at an Sometimes people need it,” he wrote in alarming rate in many parts of soci- a second post. In November 2014, he was arrested ety, driven by both the prescription “[The student’s] passing is terribly and hospitalized again. This time, he opioid epidemic and cheaper, more sad, and my heart goes out to his fam- admitted to Jennifer he had been using available heroin,” CDC Director ily and close friends,” said RKA prin- heroin. Her smart, talented, honors- Tom Frieden said in a statement. cipal Ms. O’Mara. “Although [he] was student son was using heroin. And he The report noted that 45 per- not a current student at the school, we was not the only one. cent of people who used heroin were recognize the impact on his friends “There’s, like, one certain group,” also addicted to prescription opioid who are here at RKA. We opened our said “Hanna,” a senior at RKA. This painkillers, illustrating the connec- doors over the summer to the grieving one group, she said, does drugs the tion between opioid pills and heroin. students and staff and plan to address rest of the student body shies away According to the U.S. Depart- his cohort on the first day of school.” from — “Xanax. Heroin. Molly. Co- ment of Health and Human Servic- caine,” she listed. Molly is the street es’ report “Trends in Heroin Use, Emergency steps name for MDMA, the active ingredient 2002-2013,” heroin use more than in ecstasy. doubled among young adults ages Even before the young man’s While the situation at RKA appears 18 to 25 in the past decade. Heroin- death, a local doctor was taking steps to be a far cry from an epidemic, drug involved overdose deaths nearly to prevent a tragedy like that from hap- use at the school echoes a nationwide doubled between 2011 and 2013. In pening. Dr. Robert Morrow, who has trend in which heroin has made a 2013, the most recent data available, a practice at 5997 Riverdale Ave., said comeback among a variety of demo- more than 8,200 people died from a he had been hearing about teenagers graphic groups in recent years. In heroin overdose. in Riverdale who were using opioids 2013, 169,000 people aged 12 and older There were 681,000 heroin us- for some time. As a family doctor and reported trying heroin, according to ers reported in the country in 2013. a local leader in continuing education the latest National Survey on Drug However, heroin use remains very for physicians, he decided he had to do rare compared to other drugs. Mari- Photo by Adrian Fussell Use and Health, compared to 90,000 Dr. roBErT morrow in his riverdale Avenue office on Aug. 28. An something about it. So in late July, he people in 2006. The report from the juana is the most common illicit placed an order for naloxone from the drug with 19.8 million past month increase in heroin use has prompted him to stock the anti-overdose U.S. Department of Health and Hu- drug naloxone. state. man Services noted that the average users in 2013. Naloxone is an opiate blocker. One age when people tried heroin was 24.5 dose, given nasally like flu medicine, and there were 681,000 total users in can counteract a heroin overdose and the country in 2013. Recent major drug busts give someone enough time to get to According to Jennifer, several a hospital. It is not a new drug — Dr. RKA students and other sources, at Morrow remembered using it in the least a handful of that school’s stu- This spring saw two major busts on heroin stash value). Called by the DEA “the biggest bust in the 1970s, when he was fresh out of medi- dents were regularly using heroin houses in the northwest Bronx, which attracts drug state in the agency’s history and the fourth biggest cal school. and opioid-based drugs during the dealers thanks to the relatively tranquil atmosphere. in the country.” “It’s amazing stuff. All these dead 2014-2015 school year. RKA’s Principal people would come in and they’d be Lori O’Mara declined an interview re- May 17, 210 W. 251st St. May 28, 238 W. 238th St. alive after you gave it to them,” the quest for this article and in a reply to 154 lbs. heroin (approximately $50 million street Part of a ring of sites processing $5 million in heroin. doctor said. an e-mailed list of questions, she did “Clearly patients and people have not go into specifics about the scope come to me saying my kids are using of the problem at her school. But she drugs, or I am using drugs. There is said, “As in every high school nation- judgments aside, he realized that the prescription opioid drug like Xanax or fines of the 50th. also a group of people who take a lot wide, we are aware that some students drug use among teens in Riverdale Percocet, a painkiller. But those drugs “He’s selling synthetic opioids... of painkillers for good or not-so-good struggle with drug abuse.” fit a pattern of how teenagers in rela- are expensive. Pills can cost $20 to $30 oxycodone, Percocets, stuff like that,” reasons who can get into trouble with Hanna estimated about 10 stu- tively well-off communities start to use each, according to police, and the gov- the captain said of the suspected drug that,” he said. “I’m in a position where dents were doing heroin during the heroin. He had seen similar patterns in ernment heavily regulates their sale. dealer. “It’s somewhat related, is it 100 it’s my responsibility.” 2014-15 school year. Jennifer said she communities upstate, when he worked In many cases, the teenager who is percent related? I can’t say. We’re very Dr. Morrow is working to make knew of at least three teenagers doing at an Arms Acres inpatient clinic in chasing that feeling of being normal new into that case, very, very new.” naloxone available to everyone in heroin besides her son. The number Putnam County. will become unable to afford his or the community who needs it. He has of minors using heroin and abusing “A lot of the people we had com- her pill addiction. Heroin is much less Using in secret been using word of mouth to spread prescription drugs in the northwest ing in were kids who had parents who expensive, about $10 for an individual the news that anyone — not just his Bronx is not known. were doing well, decent homes, had sale, so it becomes a natural progres- After his arrest, Tyler was going patients — can call and make an ap- Capt. Terence O’Toole, who be- jobs, good high schools with team sion for an opiate addict. to treatment, he was getting drug pointment to pick up the drug, free of came commanding officer of the 50th sports,” he said. “It wasn’t the normal That’s what happened with Tyler. tested, he was going to school. Things charge. Precinct in July, was not familiar with high-risk things that would place kids “He started out with Xanax, he was seemed fine. “The general idea is that you don’t specifics of heroin use at RKA. But he at high risk — financial issues, pov- self-medicating, and he turned to the Then on April 1, Jennifer’s world put a fire extinguisher in your kitchen said in general, if three students are erty.” heroin because it was cheaper. It was came crashing down for a second time. because you’re planning to have a fire. known to be doing drugs in a given Mr. Joseph said he has seen pa- too expensive to get the Xanax,” said Tyler was arrested again. He had been In fact, you hope you won’t have a fire, high school, there are probably 50 oth- tients from Pelham Manor, New Ro- Jennifer. “And I’m guessing — it’s obvi- using heroin the whole time. Jennifer but you want it there,” he said. “This ers who are not known. It was hard chelle and Yonkers that also fit this ous now — that heroin was available.” said looking back, she thinks he was stuff costs what a good fire extinguish- to determine the extent to which that trend. He noted heroin use would be able to get away with it because she er costs, but it can save a life if you rule of thumb applied to RKA. less likely to arise among groups of Big busts had been in such a panicked state. have it on hand.” While Hanna said she does not teens in an area like the South Bronx. “You know, it makes it really hard Like Mr. Joseph at Arms Acres, associate with people who do heavy “As you look in the inner city, it During a recent interview in his to really help your kid or really see Dr. Morrow emphasized that heroin drugs outside of school, she described would be more marijuana,” he ex- sunny office at the 50th Precinct, Capt. what’s going on when you’re in such and opioid use among teenagers is not knowledge of heroin use among some plained. O’Toole confirmed Jennifer’s suspi- an emotional storm. As with anything unique to Riverdale. of her classmates as an open secret. Youths from poorer neighborhoods cions. you know, if you’re so worked up over “It’s not anywhere near as bad here “Everyone knows they do it and generally cannot afford to spend up to “Heroin has become much more something or nervous it makes it dif- as it is in Vermont or upstate New stuff, so we don’t really question them. $30 on one pill of Xanax. But the route available, it’s become cheaper to pro- ficult to make dinner, to really do any- York or New Hampshire,” he said. “So It’s like a usual thing now,” she ex- starting with drugs like Xanax is a far duce, it’s easier to smuggle it in, so it’s thing,” she said. “So it — that made it is Riverdale different? No, it just hap- plained. “It’s mostly just in the clique, more dangerous one, Mr. Joseph not- becoming much more prevalent than it really difficult. So I think because of pens to be where I am… I’m sure if you like they’ll be doing it outside like in ed, since you cannot overdose on mari- was,” he explained. me dealing with that, he was able to went to Scarsdale you’d find exactly the park and stuff... like other people’s juana and do not experience symptoms This past spring saw two major her- slip by.” the same thing.” cars and stuff. Or at their houses.” of withdrawal if you stop using it. oin busts in the northwest Bronx, one For the next 17 days, Jennifer said As of the end of August, Dr. Mor- Hanna said the drug use was hard Opiates affect the central nervous in Riverdale and the other in Kings- she kept Tyler in the apartment. She row had distributed several pre-pack- to believe at first, “But now it’s just so system, relieving pain, causing drowsi- bridge. The Riverdale bust was billed watched him all the time. Calling fran- aged doses for families to have on common amongst those kids that now ness and giving some users a euphoric the biggest in New York State history tically to in-patient sites, during those hand, and he wants to pass out more. it’s just like whatever,” she said. feeling. Some teenagers try these by the Drug Enforcement Administra- days, her son finally agreed to go to an “My worldview is that everyone drugs once, twice, maybe a few times. tion, while the Kingsbridge bust netted in-patient rehab facility. He resisted at should have it, everybody who wants it Feeling ‘normal’ Maybe they do not like the drug or more than $5 million dollars in heroin. first, because he had been able to use should have it,” he explained. maybe they enjoy it, but do not feel the At the time, authorities emphasized heroin undetected for months and still But before the heroin busts, before Several RKA students have sought need to become habitual users. that drug dealers were drawn to the go through the motions of his life. the young student’s death and before treatment for their addiction at Arms “What makes it go from just a northwest Bronx because it is relative- “But I realize that no matter what, the naloxone, Jennifer was waiting Acres, an outpatient drug clinic in one-time thing... is that kid that takes ly quiet here — not to set up shop and it will always lead to more. I will never, with Tyler, hoping he would make it to Norwood located just across the street that drug and says wow, this is what sell their wares on the street. nobody, will ever be satisfied with just the rehab facility alive. from the east side of Van Cortlandt I’ve been looking for,” Mr. Joseph ex- Nevertheless, Capt. O’Toole said that little bit here and there,” she re- “It was just, it was horrible. It was Park. It is one of the few drug treat- plained. “That’s what always scares youths in the area have found a way to called Tyler telling her. “You know I horrible. And of course, it makes you ment clinics in the area that has a spe- you, when we have somebody that get heroin. keep getting in trouble, I’m getting feel like you know, you’re the mom, cific youth program. Riverdale Mental says, ‘I feel normal.’ Because before, “Someone finds out how to get arrested, I’m getting privileges taken you’re the parent, you’re responsible. Health Association, for example, does that they never felt in their skin. And heroin, they’ll procure it, they’ll start from me, this is not how I want my life If something happens, of course, it’s not. that lets you know that there was some to deal to their friends, and you’ll get to be,” he told her. going to be your fault. So there’s feel- “Initially when we started receiv- sort of... undiagnosed mental health is- a pocket at time,” he said. “There’s “You know, he wants to be free and ings of, I guess, guilt, of… I don’t know ing a few people it was like, wow,” said sue that was there from before.” someone there that obviously has a go out and do things. So that was the what the right words are,” she trailed Donnie Joseph, a case manager at Mr. Joseph said in his experience, connection to it.” thing that stopped him,” Jennifer said. off. Arms Acres who worked with several most of the young people who “feel Capt. O’Toole mentioned that his During those 17 days, the mother Part two of this story, with the rest RKA students. He declined to state normal” on drugs like Xanax do not precinct and the NYPD’s Special Nar- was gripped by an all-encompassing of Jennifer and Tyler’s story and possible how many, for privacy reasons. use heroin — at least, not at first. cotics Office have an ongoing inves- fear — the fear that Tyler would die. solutions for dealing with heroin use, But Mr. Joseph said once he set his Generally, a teenager will start with a tigation into pill sales within the con- “It was just so scary. Just knowing will be in next week’s edition. Back-to-school pics Rocky start From Kinneret Day School to the JFK campus, Season openers brought tough losses to the students are hitting the books again, page B5. JFK Knights and Clinton Governors, page B8.

Vol. 67, No. 31 Thursday, September 17, 2015 $1.00 Alleged cocaine Nice kids. Good schools. dealers arrested Hard drugs. By Anthony Capote A Press special report — part two [email protected]

A roughly seven-month undercover investigation led to the arrest of two Kingsbridge men who allegedly sold cocaine to Manhattan College students and other young people, authorities say. Victor Vigniero was arraigned on multiple counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance, among other charges, at Manhattan Supreme Court on Sept. 9. Authorities also arraigned his cousin and alleged supplier, Os- valdo Espaillat. The Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor said an anonymous com- plaint from “a member of the Manhat- tan College community” led authorities to begin an undercover investigation into Mr. Vigniero. From February to July, he alleged- ly sold a total of $6,680 in cocaine and (Continued on page A10) Students Community plays vital role fighting heroin return to By Isabel Angell diction. To all appearances, the problem an inpatient drug rehabilitation facility out [email protected] has not reached epidemic proportions in of state to treat his heroin addiction. Riverdale. But for teenagers who become Though Jennifer feared for her son’s life, school Riverdale is one of countless neigh- users, and their families, the consequenc- wondering if his use would lead to an over- borhoods throughout the country where es can be life-changing. dose, Tyler safely made it to the inpatient By Isabel Angell heroin has started to take hold One of those teenagers, “Ty- facility. There, he received counseling and ler,” was arrested for criminal pos- group and family therapy in a safe, protective [email protected] among some of its young resi- dents. Experts say the path to Editorial session of a controlled substance environment. in April. It was his second arrest “It was a miracle,” recalled Jennifer, As she walked to her first day of heroin use often starts among comment within a space of six months, and who did not want her real name to be used 12th grade at the New Visions Charter more affluent teens who have Page A8 he had continued to use heroin due to the sensitive nature of her story. “I School for Advanced Math and Sci- the means to acquire opioid- and other opioid-based drugs the had to take a bus ride home [from the ence, Kevwe said she was a little ner- based prescription drugs. When entire time — even while attending a treat- rehab center]. The whole bus ride home vous. Not to go back to school — she pills like Xanax or Percocet become too ment clinic. After his second arrest, his I was smiling, I was looking out the win- has the confidence of a senior, after expensive or difficult to obtain, some mother, “Jennifer,” fought to get him into all. She was nervous about going back teens will turn to heroin to feed their ad- (Continued on page A4) into the John F. Kennedy Campus, at 99 Terrace View Ave., where her school is located along with six others. When Kevwe first heard about the

(Continued on page A10) Riverdalian, family members die in tragic crash By Will Speros car rolled over in Sullivan County, but from the shock. not been as close in recent years, Mr. recent years, Mr. Bayme worked as [email protected] they are expected to make full recover- SAR Academy’s principal, Rabbi Bendheim said the impression Mr. an expediter, obtained his real estate ies. Binyamin Krauss, was not affiliated Bayme made was unforgettable. license and became engaged. A tragic Sept. 7 car crash took Mr. Bayme attended both Salanter with the school when Mr. Bayme at- “He was very much the center of “Things were looking like they the life of Riverdale resident Yehuda Akiba Riverdale (SAR) Academy and tended, but acknowledges the pain felt our group,” said Mr. Bendheim. “It’s were coming together a lot better,” Bayme on Route 17 near the Catskills. SAR High School just blocks away in the community. just difficult to imagine what any of said Mr. Bendheim. He was 31. from his Riverdale home, where his “Right now it’s all very raw,” he our childhoods would be like without Sharon Marson, director of arts and Also killed in the accident were Mr. family still resides today. The Bayme said. “I support the people who knew him.” enrichment at SAR Academy, taught Bayme’s future in-laws, Morris and family observed the Jewish period of him and loved him very much.” After graduating from SAR, Mr. Mr. Bayme in kindergarten close to Beth Faitelewicz. Mr. Bayme’s fiancee mourning known as shiva from Sept. 8 Etan Bendheim was one of Mr. Bayme took a gap year to study at a 25 years ago and spoke vividly of his Shani and her two brothers, Yaakov to 13. They could not be reached dur- Bayme’s childhood friends during el- seminary in Israel. He returned to kindness. and Avi, were badly injured when the ing this time. ementary and middle school at SAR. New York and went on to earn a de- “He was a very sweet, very big- The SAR community is still reeling While he acknowledges the two had gree from Yeshiva University. In more (Continued on page A10) Go ask Alice... how a classic sounds in Yiddish By Will Speros exhibition Mr. Lindseth has curated [email protected] commemorating the novel’s sesqui- centennial. Joan Braman has been through the Although a worthy candidate for looking glass. the translation, Ms. Braman had never It all began during the summer of previously given the novel a full read. 2010, when she received a phone call “I don’t think I read it completely from Jon Lindseth, an award- until they gave me this assign- winning bibliographer, who ment and I read it carefully,” called on behalf of The Gro- A Press she said. lier Club, a New York bibli- Ms. Braman is not a native ography organization. Mr. profile Yiddish speaker and does not Lindseth made a proposition speak it fluently, although she that would lead Ms. Braman on a five- can read and write the language. year mission. “I went to Yiddish schools from the She is one of the nearly 200 other elementary through the high school writers, translators and scholars en- level,” she explained. “And then I went listed by Mr. Lindseth to translate to college and I didn’t have a use for it.” Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland” Ms. Braman admits she was a bit Photo by Adrian Fussell into 150 languages for “Alice150,” an skeptical about whether she was the Joan Braman, who translated ‘Alice in Wonderland’ from English to Yiddish, in her (Continued on page A10) home in North Riverdale on Sept. 14. Nice kids. Good schools. Addiction to hard drugs Community plays vital role fighting heroin

(Continued from page A1) a number of tactics the DOE al- dow, I was able to appreciate ready employs, such as using the beauty of the world. Like evidence-based prevention pro- everything had been going past grams and utilizing trained spe- me. I couldn’t see anything be- cialists. cause this was the only focus: He cautioned that with Keep your son alive, keep your classroom-based prevention son alive.” programs, teachers must finish Tyler, a current student at the the full course. David A. Stein Riverdale/Kings- “They have to be done cor- bridge Academy (M.S./H.S. rectly,” he said. For example, if 141), declined to be interviewed a lesson plan dealing with drug for this article. But Jennifer said abuse calls for seven lessons, when she dropped him off at the the teacher must conduct all inpatient treatment center, she seven lessons. could start to live again after Mr. Vincent had another piece months of severe stress. of advice: engage the community. “You do need happiness in He explained that it is important order to be healthy. You need for community members to be a clear head in order to make aware of an issue like teen opioid the right decisions, she said. use and that they work together “None of that [was] happening to address it. He recommended because of the fear, the horrible holding a town hall meeting on fear, and really not knowing the the topic or other ways to form best solution.” strategies as a community. One month later, Tyler suc- “Is the community ready to im- cessfully completed the pro- plement programs or take a look gram and was released from at itself? Are there policies that the treatment center. The support that?” he asked. “That health care provider in charge varies widely between communi- of the facility said he was clean. ties.” Community Board 8 has fol- The front lines lowed this model in the past. In fall 2013, the Health, Hospitals Often, schools are the pri- and Social Services Committee mary source of drug preven- held a forum on underage drink- tion education. They can also ing featuring experts from a vari- be the place where students ety of agencies and organizations. are introduced to drug abuse. “It’s possible we’ll take a good Photo by Adrian Fussell Sometimes, a group of friends Dr. Robert Morrow holds a dose of naloxone, which can counteract a heroin or opioid overdose, during a inter- look at [teen substance abuse] can become involved with hard- in a future committee meeting,” er drugs, creating a “pocket of view at his North Riverdale practice on Aug. 28. said Steven Froot, who chairs use,” according to Capt. Ter- the health committee. He said he ence O’Toole, the command- would be open to holding another ing officer of the 50th Precinct. forum on the issue. It appears that was the case at Advice from the experts Once a school or community the David A. Stein Riverdale/ adopts a prevention program or Kingsbridge Academy (RKA, Educators and health experts determining if a young person able if you think someone you strategy, Mr. Vincent said it is im- M.S./H.S. 141) last school year, made a number of recommenda- might be doing heroin or opi- know might be abusing drugs. portant to keep people informed. where at least a handful of stu- tions on how a community can oids. These include: dents were using heroin and deal with heroin and opioid use 1. You can obtain a dose of nalox- Extra precautions opioid-based drugs — includ- among young people. 1. Change in mood. A DOE of- one, a drug that can counteract ing Tyler. Dr. Robert Morrow has RKA is not alone. While al- ficial noted while that behav- an opiate overdose, by e-mailing stocked his Riverdale practice cohol, marijuana and cigarettes 1. Community leaders should ior is common among teens, it [email protected] or with naloxone, a drug that can remain the most commonly start public conversation on drug sometimes indicates drug abuse calling Dr. Robert Morrow’s office counteract an opiate overdose, used drugs among teenagers, use, prevention and treatment 2. Spending more time alone at (718) 884-9803 since becoming aware of a drug schools, particularly schools in through forums like a town hall 3. Itchy skin, pulling hair or pick- 2. Call New York State’s 24-hour problem in the neighborhood. He affluent areas, have seen a rise 2. Maintain dialogue on the issue ing the face resulting in scabs, hotline for drug abuse, alcoholism also welcomed the prospect of a in opioid use among their stu- 3. Schools should pick an evi- not just acne. That is a way of and gambling 1-877-8-HOPENY community forum on opioid use. dents. dence-based prevention program dealing with anxiety and other 3. Visit www.oasas.ny.gov/ac- “The more these things are in A Department of Education and stick with it consequences of drug abuse cesshelp to find a certified addic- the light of day, the more you can spokesman called the health of 4. Establish a system of support for 4. Unexplained loss or increase tion treatment center address them and not demonize student of students the depart- students and parents at schools people,” he said. ment’s “top priority,” adding that in appetite and accompanying 4. Search for the city Department Dr. Morrow said he would ad- the DOE is currently boosting 5. Curriculums should focus on weight loss or gain of Education’s SAPIS webpage for vocate for naloxone to be available drug education. mental health and recognizing is- 5. Missing medication from your more school-related resources in schools, and he is planning to “We are increasing our already sues that could lead teens to drug medicine cabinet 5. 4. Visit www.combatheroin. meet with a DOE employee to dis- robust efforts to educate students use ny.gov for more warning signs, cuss how to proceed. about the dangers of drug abuse A variety of resources are avail- advice and resources “Something like that would and providing new resources, in- Experts also pointed out signs for not be a school-level decision,” cluding 50 additional counselors Ms. O’Mara stated. “RKA is await- who specialize in addiction pre- ing guidance from the DOE.” vention,” spokesman Jason Fink She pointed to a recently en- wrote in an e-mail statement felt supported.” the program RKA uses, Too Good the classroom approach.” — educators will not solve the acted state law that gives districts Of those 50 new counsel- For Drugs, Life Skills and Teen Mr. Thomas said that the DOE problem by simply telling stu- and schools the authority to main- ors, who are called Substance tain a supply of naloxone and offer Beyond “Just Say No” Intervene, which is aimed at older incorporates mental health aware- dents that drugs are bad. Abuse and Prevention Inter- students who may have experi- ness into its substance abuse pro- “Adults need to be transpar- staff training on administering the vention Specialists (SAPIS), 16 drug. Marion Thomas, who over- mented with drugs. grams. ent. I’m not going to sit here and of them are going to schools “We train our staff to imple- “It’s part of it. One reason stu- tell you if you smoke marijuana, “This bill will allow for wider in the Bronx. RKA already has sees the DOE’s SAPIS program, use and availability of this life- said his goal is to stop drug abuse ment these programs with fidel- dents use drugs is to self-medi- it’s gonna kill you and you’re go- one such specialist. ity… and they make a great dif- cate,” he said. ing to die because that’s not going saving antidote and, in so doing, Health classes at RKA use before it starts. save lives,” wrote the legislation’s “We’re mostly focused on pre- ference, we believe,” he said. “We “The number-one thing we to happen,” he said. “You have to a standard DOE curriculum are very proud of them.” look for in a student is a behavior be honest about what the impact sponsor, state Sen. Kemp Hannon called HealthSmart. One of the vention education,” he said in a of Long Island. phone interview. “We like to focus But the message might not be change,” he explained. “Teachers is.” units focuses on drug abuse hitting home for some students. are really aware of that and will re- But Mr. Joseph said he would Opioid use can unquestion- prevention, according to RKA’s on evidence-based programs.” ably lead to tragedy, as in the case Mr. Thomas explained this is RKA student “Grace” said in her fer students [to counseling].” like to see schools take drug edu- Principal Lori O’Mara. She add- experience, many of her class- Mr. Thomas said a behavior cation one step further. of a Riverdale teen whose August ed that the school’s drug coun- part of the trend away from the death was attributed to drug-relat- “Just Say No” or “D.A.R.E.” pro- mates do not take the drug pro- change might end up being harm- “The school is not countering selor also conducts classroom grams seriously. Like Hanna, she less, but a guidance counselor or and not creating critical thinking ed causes by the authorities (see visits and holds individual ses- grams of the past, which primar- part one of this story). ily consisted of teaching students did not want her real name used SAPIS will follow up to ascertain and not challenging what’s popu- sions with students. in this article. whether the student has an un- lar culture if it’s just a class in a But in other cases, students That echoes what RKA stu- about different drugs and their can rebound from drug abuse. negative effects and asking them “The counselor at our school derlying issue or problem. If a room,” he said. “I wouldn’t take it dent “Hanna” recalled from her would come in and talk about student does need extra help, Mr. seriously, either.” According to Jennifer, her son is classes last school year. to sign a pledge to stay drug-free. on the mend. “All that did was arouse curios- drugs and do these activities Thomas encourages the guidance “It has to be built into the fab- “Most days, they’re like where it’s talking about the effects team at each school to maintain a ric of the school,” he continued. Tyler spent the summer at- pulled out of class, the kids that ity,” Mr. Thomas said. tending an outpatient clinic, group Instead, he explained, the of the drugs,” she explained. “We list of community resources they “It can’t be a once-a-month thing.” are doing it, by like counsel- usually would just skip the class.” trust. Mr. Joseph also believes it is therapy and Narcotics Anony- ors and the deans,” she said of DOE’s programs delve into stu- mous meetings. Jennifer recently dents’ educational and other goals “Even kids who don’t do “It makes a big difference important to make direct con- classmates with a reputation for [drugs], they don’t want to hear when you can refer someone to a nections between mental health said he is still clean and back in using opioids and heroin. and how drug use could hinder school. them. The DOE also focuses on it,” added Hanna. “You always person — not just a number — a issues and addiction. He said In an e-mail statement, Ms. hear from older people, oh, don’t person,” he explained. one approach could be to form For some recovering ad- O’Mara did not go into detail building social skills and refusal dicts, returning to the environ- skills. do drugs, don’t do drugs, but kids As an example, Mr. Thomas “groups that are more interactive, about drug abuse at her school. are going to be kids, you know.” mentioned Arms Acres, an out- that are more real in terms of kids’ ment where they once used But she said her staff is on the “If you have a plan before you drugs can trigger a relapse. get into a place where you are of- Mr. Thomas said the issue of patient drug treatment facility on day-to-day experiences — what front lines for prevention and de- opioid abuse among students has Jerome Avenue where RKA stu- they’re dealing with, dealing with However, Jennifer said she was tection. fered drugs, you’re more likely to not worried about that issue turn them down,” he said. “You’re held special significance for his dents have received help. “Arms the underlying issues that may “Our staff development in- team in recent years. Acres has been a really great re- seduce someone, talking about as Tyler prepared to start the cludes direct information for prepared.” school year at RKA. “We address the perception “That’s been a problem we’ve source for us,” he said. mental illness for those kids so staff on recognizing opiate use rallied around for the last three RKA also has a social worker that it becomes a topic that’s not Instead, she was a little con- and what to do should they en- that most kids do drugs — that is cerned that school staff might wrong,” he added. years,” he said. from the Riverdale Mental Health taboo.” counter a situation involving Mr. Thomas said the problem Association who works at the He said the goal should be to approach her son with too much it. In addition, administration, caution. She recalled a moment Growing use prompted the DOE to partner school part-time. create a space where a student guidance counselors, social with NYPD’s Community Affairs “In general, I would say at feels comfortable enough to say from the end of last year, after workers, and SAPIS will all at- Bureau and the city’s Department the school it’s more consulting they have a mental health issue. Tyler had come back from the tend off site training on the According to a 2014 Univer- rehab center, when she saw one sity of Michigan study, 35 percent of Health and Mental Hygiene to with the staff and counseling the Mr. Joseph said he recognized topic as well as learning more come up with a strategy. students who have mental health that this is easier said than done. of his teachers who had been about prevention,” she stated. of 12th-grade students nation- especially supportive during ally had used marijuana, the most As a result, Community Affairs issues,” the social worker, Ariella “But I think it’s that serious That was how Jennifer found officers go to schools to conduct Rodriguez, explained. “So usu- that it warrants that,” he said. the most difficult months. out Tyler was using drugs in the common illicit drug, in the past The teacher told her that Ty- year. Less than 38 percent had prescription drug abuse aware- ally I would get referrals from the “For the kids who really come first place: someone at school ness workshops for students, par- guidance counselors or teachers to the place where they realize ler had gotten “rambunctious” noticed. Jennifer said Tyler’s drunk alcohol in the past year. in class, spraying a water bottle The study, which did not measure ents and staff. or the assistant principals for stu- they have a problem, this world work with school counselors “It’s specific interventions in dents who they feel need support is a very lonely world. It’s a very around the room. The teacher yielded mixed results. Some he heroin use, reported that 6.1 per- thought the outburst might have cent of high school seniors had specific schools across the city,” or need services.” lonely world.” liked, some he didn’t. He only he said. She said she had not worked been a sign that he was back on turned around once he made it used other forms of opioids in the drugs. last year. Further inquiry into whether with any students with heroin Community to the rehab center, where he this program has come to RKA or opioid problems and that she “I was trying to explain to could get a break from his old According to the latest Na- involvement her… it’s the end of the school tional Survey on Drug Use and was not answered. had encountered more issues life. But Jennifer said overall, Ms. O’Mara said staff mem- with marijuana. She echoed Mr. year and he’s 17 years old and she felt supported at RKA and Health, heroin remains one of the Robert Vincent is a public he wants to get the hell out of least commonly used illicit drugs, bers at her school have initiated Thomas, saying that she and RKA mentioned that one of his coun- their own measures. staff work to provide in-school health analyst for the Center for school, so he’s energetic,” Jen- selors was amazing. though it is on the rise. In 2013, Substance Abuse Prevention, a di- nifer recalled, adding she told 169,000 people aged 12 and older “Last year we brought in and off-campus support for their “I dealt with a few different speakers who addressed the students. vision of the federal government’s him to stop acting out in class. personalities, so the way they reported trying heroin, according Substance Abuse and Mental “He feels good. He’s smiling, to the report from the U.S. De- students on the dangers of drug helped or the message they were abuse and how the school can A new approach Health Services Administration. he’s laughing, he’s not sitting giving me came out differently,” partment of Health and Human He has over 25 years of experi- in a corner scratching his face. Services, compared to 90,000 help. We also communicated she said. “Sometimes it would with parents regarding substance Donnie Joseph, a case manag- ence in creating and implement- He’s enjoying himself.” seem more friendly and some- people in 2006. ing substance prevention systems In other words, Tyler was Some of the DOE’s prevention abuse,” she stated. “We intend to er for Arms Acres, said he agrees times it would seem more cold. continue that program as well as with the DOE’s current approach for students. finally being a normal teenager. But that’s just people. But I think I programs include HealthSmart, Mr. Vincent recommended Opinion Editorial We need to talk about heroin ecreational drug use has the community to form a collective strat- been ingrained in main- egy — if it is ready to. stream life for decades. Many “Is the community ready to imple- of us can remember encoun- ment programs or take a look at itself? Rtering drugs like marijuana one way or Are there policies that support that?” another during our teen years. While it he asked. “That varies widely between often seems like each generation takes communities.” things one step further than the last, The northwest Bronx is full of caring there is something especially alarming families and active volunteers. Given the about the hold that heroin and other will, we can start to address heroin and opioids have gained among some of our opioid abuse together. youths: the drug can kill you. In the meantime, there are a few steps Notwithstanding a recent slew of the city’s Department of Education can national news stories about the rise of take. While the agency has to be dis- heroin use around the country — the crete about its efforts to help students number of people 12 and up who re- with drug issues, to all appearances, the ported trying the drug nearly doubled DOE is taking the matter seriously. from 2009 to 2013, according to federal However, students say current cur- data — the issue is often in the shadows. riculums about substance abuse are eas- Maybe you hear a rumor from a neigh- ily dismissed. The DOE would be well bor or wonder why a student you know advised to rethink how it presents the is not frequenting the same places you issue to savvy teens. Enabling students used to see him or her. But for the most to help lead the conversation would be part, we go about our daily lives un- an excellent start. aware of the silent emergency that has Additionally, the DOE should hasten reached our community. to make naloxone, an antidote to opiate The time has come for the silence to overdoses, available in local middle and end. While heroin use in the northwest high schools and provide staff training Bronx has not reached epidemic propor- on how to administer the drug. State law tions, parents, policy makers and other empowers schools to maintain a supply, community members need to address and it would be foolish not to fully utilize the situation before the trend gets worse. this resource. We should start with a conversation. For The Press’ special report on her- In 2013, Community Board 8 hosted a oin use, one Riverdale mother candidly forum on underage drinking, so we al- shared the story of her struggle to ready have a model for discussing teens help her son once he began using opi- and substance abuse. One of the most oids and then heroin. After months of admirable features of the forum was that anguish and heartbreak — taking her it took an educational approach — not a child to all manner of support services Photo by Adrian Fussell judgmental one. The community should and, at the height of her family’s crisis, adopt the same mentality as it starts to staying up so she could hear whether he Photographer’s eye address heroin and opioids. It will be vi- was breathing at night — she is optimis- A broken fire hydrant next to a gas station and across the street from a firehouse, at the tal to include voices from students, the tic that he is making a full recovery. The corner of Bailey Avenue and Albany Crescent, on Sept. 14. only ones who can explain what’s really parent took the courageous step of shar- going on at their level. ing her travails in the hope of generating Robert Vincent of the federal Center constructive conversation among the for Substance Abuse Prevention said a community. Now it is up to us to build town hall would be an excellent way for on her effort. Letters to the editor From other pens Neighborhood lacks vision To the editor: lot in what could have been a again, bring minimal energy Planning? In Riverdale-Kins- wonderful multi-use area with to our area (sorry, don’t mean Proud of my ‘F’ from the NRA gbridge? What planning? stores, parks, etc.? to demean seniors, being one OK, not to disparage some Who OK’d this stupid, ugly myself). By Rep. Eliot Engel piercing “green tip” round, which fits into nice improvements. But one and useless box which brings In the old days in The River- newly designed handguns that criminals can big fat monstrosity brings sad- nothing to this community? Did dale Press, the Steins endlessly I agree wholeheartedly with The River- easily hide from police and victims. The NRA ness. To wit, that gigantic stor- our Fearless Leaders raise any rhapsodized about Beautiful dale Press editorial on Sept. 3 (“Gun control age building on a vast tract of objections? (If so, bless them Riverdale, complete with lovely shouted the ATF down. But I stood with the land along Broadway. Is this and forgive me my ignorance.) images of flowers to mark the now”): we need common-sense gun regula- ATF, introducing a bill to enact their proposed the only thing brilliant minds Of course, we will also continue changing seasons. They cham- tions now. In it, you say that we have no ex- change into law. Meanwhile, I am working could come up with? A cash to see the proliferation of se- pioned a notion that Riverdale cuse for inaction on gun violence following with the administration to restore the assault cow for its owners, hiring vir- nior/nursing complexes along stood for some sort of higher the most recent horrifying shooting on Aug. weapons import ban that President George tually nobody (usually these Broadway across Van Cortlandt cultural value. Cruel fact is, like 26 in Virginia. I would take it a step further W. Bush rescinded. And for nearly a decade storage boxes only require Park, an area ideally suited to everything else in the Big Ap- and say we have had no excuse for decades. I have championed the Protect Law Enforce- two or three hands to man the young families, mixed use resi- ple, Riverdale is about the real In July of 1984, James Huberty shot and ment Armor Act, a bill targeted directly at ar- cash registers and lock and dence, etc. These centers, like estate dollar, nothing more, killed 22 people, including himself, at a Mc- unlock), a big fat ugly box sur- the Big Ugly Box, are cash nothing less. mor-piercing handguns, particularly the FN rounded by acres of parking cows for their owners — and Norm Zamcheck Donald’s in San Diego. In October 1991, Herstal Five-seveN. South American drug George Hennard shot and killed 24 people, cartels call the Five-seveN the “mata policia” including himself, at a cafeteria in Killeen, – the “cop killer.” Nidal Hasan used a Five- Texas. Sixteen children and teachers died at seveN with an extended magazine during his Honor hardworking immigrants the shooting at Columbine High School in attack on Fort Hood. 1999. Jiverly Wong killed 14, including himself, To the editor: ny a pound and pick 4,000 pounds neither they nor their ancestors Many of my colleagues and I have been at an immigration services facility in Bingham- I’m not one of the politicians a day for a whole $40 daily. were among those original im- pushing for years to control the sale of the ton in 2009. In 2012, Nidal Malik Hasan killed Alvin Gordon called out to com- Of course, Mr. Gordon is migrants, it doesn’t matter. Nei- most dangerous weapons, to expand back- five people at Fort Hood. That same year, 27 ment on his nonsense about not angry at the rich white men ther was either side of my fam- ground checks, and to pass other common- people – including 20 young children – died at immigration (“How to discuss who hire them knowing they ily, who were Eastern European immigration?” Sept. 10). But I are here illegally. That’s why Jewish. Sandy Hook Elementary School. James Holm- sense measures to get a handle on gun violence. But we meet with overwhelming have plenty to say anyway. they get away with paying them There is still something es killed 12 more a few weeks later at a movie So Mr. Gordon claims he is so little. Are these rich white wrong with dismissing hard- theater in Colorado. The list never ends. resistance from Republicans and the gun in- dustry lobby at every turn. not a bigot. But he’s angry at men not lawbreakers? working people who are es- Mass shootings are not new. And we never immigrants, most of them Mex- This country’s original im- sential to our food supply and hear of most of them. News coverage only ever Progress on gun violence will take a well- ican, who are here illegally. migrants went on to steal land receive dirt poverty wages as draws our attention to the very worst versions informed, active, passionate voting public. Most of them pick our fruits from Native Americans and lawbreakers while we consider of this terrible story. There has been at least And a well-informed public requires full cov- and vegetables for sub-minimum commit genocide against them. our original immigrants to be one mass shooting for every day this year in erage of the scope of the problem and a full wage salaries. The ones picking But this was considered legal. perfectly legal. the United States. Nearly 9,000 people have understanding of my and others’ proposed tomatoes in Florida are paid a pen- As for those who argue that Richard Warren died from gun violence so far in 2015. Much solutions. Far from bowing to pressure or of it takes place in communities plagued by accepting contributions from gun industry Teaching kids is poverty and crime, but the violence is no less lobby groups, I am proud of my ‘F’ rating Story on charter schools’ shocking. The problem is actually much big- from the NRA. It is my hope that we can rewarding for all ger than we seem to realize, and we are the finally begin to make progress on gun vio- influence not balanced only Western democracy that tolerates it. lence in the near future. It is long past time To the editor: I have been working passionately on this for that progress to begin. To the editor: tributions made by the teach- Today, one must realize that Eliot Engel represents the 16th congressio- If contributions from pro- ers’ unions to local political the responsibility for educating issue for decades, and I mean to continue charter school organizations, candidates, as well as citywide nal district, which includes Riverdale. Point a child is placed squarely in the that work. Earlier this year, the ATF tried to and state Sen. Jeff Klein’s ac- candidates such as Mr. de Bla- hands of the teacher. Teachers restrict the sale of the very dangerous armor- of view is a column open to all. ceptance of them, amount to sio. That might let us evaluate in the inner city are aware of “corruption”, as your editorial more fully whatever degree of this fact. And once the teachers (and your news article for that corruption, if any, exists. have rolled up their sleeves... matter) suggests (Sept. 10), is Peter Heiman the process begins with com- it not possible that political con- mitment, dedication, care and Chief Executive Clifford Richner tributions by teachers’ unions, A Weekly Newspaper Published Every Thursday Officers Stuart Richner concern for a human soul. and the politicians that accept For the students who have Founded 1950 by David and Celia Stein Publishers Emeriti Bernard L. Stein those, run a similar risk? In Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Writing Richard L. Stein About letters found teachers who are there each case, interest groups to support them on their edu- Editor Shant Shahrigian are trying, legally, to advance The Riverdale Press wel- cational journey, I say, press 5676 Riverdale Avenue, Bronx, N.Y. 10471-3153 General Manager Celia Weintrob their interests. How balanced comes letters to the editor. It on! These students are the for- 718-543-6065 and Advertising Manager is this? is committed to providing an tunate ones, because it is their www.riverdalepress.com News Isabel Angell Furthermore, your editorial open forum for opinions. All teacher who must dream for Will Speros all but proclaims in red letters we ask is that you sign your them before they can dream © The Riverdale Press LLC, articles, pictures Sports Editor Sean Brennan that Mr. Klein has been bought and advertisements herein are the exclusive property letter and give us an address for themselves. It is the teacher What’s On Editor Danielle Valente by the pro-charter school in- and daytime telephone num- who prepares children for a fu- of The Riverdale Press LLC, and any republication or broadcast terests, a very serious and Photo Editor Adrian Fussell ber. We won’t publish your ture which is not his/her own. without written permission is prohibited. manifestly unfair charge. Small address or phone number. These exceptional tenured All rights and material herein are reserved. Special Projects Director Mekea Fishlin wonder Mr. Klein won’t talk to They’ll be used only to verify teachers are fortunate because Classified Manager Cheryl Ortiz The Press. Has anyone charged We are not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts or photos. a letter’s authenticity. Letters for every ounce of energy that Advertising Sales Scott Berkowitz that Mayor Bill de Blasio has may be edited for space and they use to invest in the child, Mark Sacks been bought by the teachers’ clarity. You can mail your let- they will see the rewards of Entered as Second Class Matter (USPS 466-8820) unions? Where is the fairness? ter, fax it to 718-548-4038, or their investment in the child’s at the Post Office, Bronx, N.Y. As an exercise in fairness send it via e-mail to letters@ continued growth and develop- and balance, I would suggest ment throughout the year. Published by The Riverdale Press LLC, a subsidiary of Richner Communications, Inc. riverdalepress.com. that The Press publish the con- Phyllis Murray Union yearning A golden foot Manhattan College is blocking adjunct Samantha Rosette is a goal-scoring maching for professors’ efforts to unionize, page A2. the Riverdale/Kingsbridge Academy, page B8.

Vol. 67, No. 32 Thursday, September 24, 2015 $1.00 Bus kills man at K’bridge crossroad By Shant Shahrigian feeling sick after a night of cel- “Why do things like this have incident tragic, but did not see there earlier this month. [email protected] ebrating, when the bus swerved to happen to a kid like him? He any measures that could have “Any time a New York City and struck him around 2:30 a.m. didn’t deserve it,” father Andres prevented the death. transit bus is involved in an ac- A bus struck and killed a Kings- Both the livery cab driver Inoa told News 12 The Bronx. “Obviously this is a very cident, the [MTA] conducts its bridge man in the early hours and the bus driver remained at While West 231st is one of congested intersection, but it is own investigation,” added Mr. of Sept. 18 after he staggered the scene to answer questions the busiest routes in the north- well controlled with traffic sig- Heller, a former MTA employ- out of a livery cab at West 231st from authorities. Neither faces west Bronx, with heavy car, bus nals with freshly paved streets ee. “If they find that something Street and Kingsbridge Av- any charges. and pedestrian traffic through- and painted crosswalks,” he improper happened, they could enue, according to police. Family members of Mr. out the day, it tends to become said when asked about the take action.” Authorities said Luis Inoa, Inoa, who had reportedly been quiet by late at night. nearby intersection of West “Terrible accidents can hap- 23, had stepped out of his cab, at an Inwood bar celebrating Community Board 8’s Traf- 231st Street and Broadway. The pen in a flash. People have to which he had asked to pull over a career milestone, voiced in- fic Committee Chairman Mi- city’s Department of Trans- be aware at all times when they LUIS InoA near a bus stop because he was tense grief over their loss. chael Heller called the recent portation completed upgrades cross the streets,” he concluded. Leaders Ewen Park begin has become to focus homeless on heroin campsite By Will Speros By Isabel Angell [email protected] [email protected] While a perceived homelessness As the community gains awareness crisis dominated headlines over the of use of heroin and synthetic opiates summer, prompting Mayor Bill de Bla- among teens, some leaders are start- sio to launch a new initiative to deal ing to ask how they can help deal with with the matter, homeless encamp- the problem. ments remain uncommon in Riverdale. Dan Eudene, the executive director A rare example, some residents say, of the Riverdale Neighborhood House can be found in Ewen Park. (RNH), explained his center recently “In the evenings, you can’t really go received a $150,000 grant from the to the park anymore,” said Deena Fell- city to fund an afternoon program for ner, a landlady who lives and works at middle-school students. He said that a house near the park. “If we had more program will provide police attention, these people wouldn’t safe, alternative activi- be hanging out there.” Nice ties — one of the best She and other Riverdalians said methods for prevent- they feel increasingly threatened by kids. ing drug abuse. the homeless people who sleep at the Good “The sooner you park at night, hang out during the day start, the better,” he and use the area as a bathroom. schools. said, explaining that “There’s a man sleeping on the middle school is a steps from Johnson to Riverdale Av- Hard tough time. “That’s enue. People going to work in the drugs. when we really lose morning have to literally step over this Last in them.” Pluvial poison man,” Elizabeth Dougherty said at a Mr. Eudene said recent meeting of the 50th Precinct’s a series part of a recent River- Community Council. dale Press special re- Heavy rains and sewage add up to health risk She added that she and her hus- port on teen drug use that mentioned band, who take their dog for regular many students disregard prevention By Isabel Angell It’s called “combined sewage overflow” walks at the park, have witnessed a programs struck a chord with him. man openly urinating and defecating [email protected] (CSO), and every year, an estimated 25 “Many moons ago, I was a student to 30 billion gallons of raw sewage pours (Continued on page A4) myself, and a lot of things offered in into the rivers around New York City. school as a student you kind of dis- When it rains, or when snow melts, The northwest Bronx is home to more miss,” he said. that water has to go somewhere. In New than 10 CSOs, including one of the larg- In his experience, Mr. Eudene said York City, a lot of that water goes down Cohen takes peer-led programs are more effective. the drain. The storm water and runoff est discharge points in the city — the “Kids are going to listen a little mixes in with household sewage, and it outflow for the Broadway sewer, which more to a young person or someone all goes off to a plant to get treated. runs under Broadway and discharges stand against who was recently a young person, But when it rains a lot, the treatment into the Harlem River. It is designated as rather than an adult,” he explained, de- plant can’t take the added volume. So all a “Tier 1” CSO, meaning it accounts for 50 scribing a peer-to-peer HIV-prevention that extra water — raw, untreated sewage percent of total CSO volume for the area program he used to run. included — runs straight into the river. (Continued on page A8) zoning plan Mr. Eudene continued that in some cases, a child might be predisposed to By Will Speros forming addiction. When that happens, [email protected] professionals at places like the Riverdale Mental Health Association (RMHA) Photo by Adrian Fussell After months of publicly waver- need to be vigilant and make sure addic- SIgnS WARn of dangers near a combined sewage overflow pipe at the Riverdale Metro-north station. ing on a major city initiative to rezone tion does not actually take place. large swaths of his district to accom- (Continued on page A4) modate new affordable housing units, northwest Bronx Councilman Andrew Cohen now says he is against the plan. He articulated his opposition to New BCC president can Mayor Bill de Blasio’s proposals — which include raising the height limit on senior affordable housing and re- relate to students’ struggles ducing parking requirements at such buildings — in terms of Community By Will Speros sented to Dr. Isekenegbe, he had no Board (CB) 8’s 197-a plan, which was [email protected] plans to begin a new job at a new in- published several years ago with the stitution. aim of preserving the character of As Bronx Community College “I saw the ad in the Chronicle of Riverdale. (BCC) enters its sixth decade, it is wel- Higher Education and I didn’t really “They have the 197-a plan that was coming its sixth president. pay attention to it because I didn’t see developed locally and went through Dr. Thomas A. Isekenegbe is the myself coming to live in the Bronx or the local community board,” Mr. Co- successor to Carole Berotte Joseph, live in Riverdale,” he said. hen said. “It reflects local desire of the who served for three years. Dr. Isek- Dr. Isekenegbe did not even have a way the community should be zoned. enegbe brings impressive credentials resume prepared at the time, but de- Anything that undermines this, I have and, he says, a passion for serving his cided to write one up and submit his serious concerns about.” students. name for consideration, anyway. By taking a critical stance of the “The thing we’re going to be taking “The more I dug deep about it, the mayor’s Zoning for Quality and Afford- a hard look at is what we need to do to more I read about the institution, the ability (ZQR) proposal, the councilman make sure that more of our students diversity of the student body, the num- joins local state politicians who op- become successful,” Dr. Isekenegbe ber of faculty they have, it sparked my posed the initiative from the start. As- said. “What I mean by that, in short interest,” he said. “And the rest is his- semblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz and state term, is that they stay with us and they tory.” Photo courtesy Bronx Community College Sen. Jeff Klein were quick to slam the graduate from us.” Dr. Isekenegbe came to the United ThoMAS ISeKenegBe, right, is greeted by CUnY plan as likely to cause overcrowding When the opportunity to become States from Nigeria with a bachelor’s Chancellor James B. Milliken at a Bronx Commu- and harm quality of life here. the college’s next president was pre- (Continued on page A4) nity College reception on Sept. 17. (Continued on page A4)

THE PREMIER NAME IN REAL ESTATE. LIST YOUR HOME WITH SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY. INQUIRE AT [email protected]

793401 [email protected] The Riverstone 3 BR Condo Oversized convertible 2 BR Large & Sun-filled 1 BR Co-op Terrace on Johnson Ave JR 4 718.513.5810 Ardit Gjonaj 646.620.5265 Anne Shahmoon 914.262.5679 Julie Ann Gillis 917.750.1715 Ari Norberto 646.327.1904 A4 - THE RIVERDALE PRESS - Thursday, September 24, 2015 Community leaders begin to focus on heroin (Continued from page A1) mer chair of the Committee on lowed authorized health care readily available will save thou- Many of these people have larity over the last several years. While RMHA provides in- Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, professionals to order naloxone sands of lives over time and turned to heroin,” he said. “It was widely attended, and reach mental health services said news of heroin use at RKA without a prescription and to therefore is one of my proud- I think more will follow,” he said at schools including the David came as no surprise to him. run certified training programs est achievements,” he wrote. Town hall meeting in a phone interview. A. Stein Riverdale/Kingsbridge “Heroin use is on the rise for interested people. “I will continue to be a staunch He said he had not spoken Academy (M.S./H.S. 141), again and no community is ex- One Riverdale practitioner, advocate of proper funding in Last month, Robert Vincent with anyone about a similar fo- where at least a handful of stu- empt. It’s not surprising that Dr. Robert Morrow, has al- the budget to fight substance of the federal Center for Sub- rum on opioid use in Riverdale. dents were known to do heroin there is heroin use at RKA since ready taken advantage of this abuse. I’m sure I will introduce stance Abuse Prevention sug- He added that he believes talking last school year, Mr. Eudene it is happening everywhere,” program and stocked his office more legislation in the future.” gested a town hall meeting as about the issue is helpful, and says his fellow non-profit -de Mr. Dinowitz wrote in an e-mail. with naloxone. Mr. Dinowitz said he believes a way for communities to deal that he has supported increased serves more funding. Mr. Dinowitz also co-spon- a state law passed in 2012 called with heroin and other drug use. access to naloxone as well. For the broader population, Naloxone sored legislation that gives I-Stop, which created a state- Northwest Bronx council- Mr. Eudene stressed that Mr. Eudene said, it’s all about school districts the authority to wide database that pharmacists man Andrew Cohen said he has issues like drug abuse preven- prevention. Mr. Dinowitz has sponsored store naloxone and train staff to must check before they can fill already helped implement this tion need to involve the whole “It’s boosting self-esteem, several bills in the Assembly use the drug in the case of an certain prescriptions, may be tactic elsewhere in his district. community. engaging them in healthy activi- that aim to increase access to overdose on campus. That law unintentionally contributing to In May, he co-hosted a forum “The teachers can’t do it ties, so there is less of an inclina- naloxone, which can counteract went into effect in August. the increase in heroin use. in Norwood with Community alone, RMHA can’t do it alone, tion to turn to drugs,” he said. an opioid overdose. Last year, “I believe my naloxone law “[The legislation] made it Board 7 on the drug K2, a syn- Riverdale Neighborhood House Northwest Bronx Assembly- Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed has already saved many lives. harder and very expensive for thetic form of marijuana that has can’t do it alone,” he said. “We man Jeffrey Dinowitz, the for- a bill by Mr. Dinowitz that al- Making naloxone much more pill-abusers to get their drugs. dramatically increased in popu- really need a collective effort.” Ewen Park is a haven for homeless Cohen opposes

(Continued from page A1) in the evenings. Ms. Dougherty also said at the meeting that a new zoning plan friend of hers had encountered a homeless man masturbating (Continued from page A1) the umbrella group with the in front of her in the park. It was “I think we all agree,” said Broadway Community Alliance, unclear whether they were talk- Mr. Cohen. “I think that I was recently drafted a statement ing about the same man. slow to articulate my concerns.” describing collective concerns Ms. Dougherty said she The councilman’s initial about the proposed rezoning. reached her breaking point reluctance to oppose the ZQR “Outer borough neighbor- when her dog disappeared plan, as well as an accompany- hoods will bear the brunt of into some shrubbery and re- ing proposal to require a num- high-density development pur- emerged covered in what she ber of affordable housing units suant to these citywide zoning described as “human excre- in new buildings in some neigh- text amendments that do not ac- ment.” borhoods, drew criticism from count for the varied character- “They’re using this park as a number of community mem- istics of New York’s communi- a bathroom,” she explained. “I bers. After the Department of ties,” the statement read. “One feel very violated. It’s disturb- City Planning (DCP) released size does not fit all for zoning.” ing.” a draft of its rezoning plans ear- Mr. Cohen’s support of that Capt. Terence O’Toole, the lier this year, Mr. Cohen said sentiment could make it harder for commanding officer of the he would have to wait until the DCP to sell residents on its plans. 50th Precinct, said he recently proposal was in legislative form “This is an ongoing discus- become aware of an increased to take a stance. sion and we look forward to homeless population in Ewen “I am puzzled and dismayed continued feedback from the Park. Although he and his fel- by Councilman Andrew Co- public and elected officials as low officers have received 311 hen’s decision to ‘wait until the we move through the land use complaints on the matter, Capt. legislation comes out’ before review process,” a DCP spokes- O’Toole said their hands are he decides to support or to op- man previously told The Press. tied if complaints are anony- pose the rezoning proposal. mous because it makes follow- By the time that the proposed Three meetings ups trickier. legislation is presented to the “They key is to get them into City Council, it will be more dif- CB 8 Land Use Committee the shelter system,” he said. “I ficult to change those parts of Chairman Charles Moerdler Photo by Adrian Fussell the plan which will negatively said the panel is planning to really don’t know what is im- A bench in ewen Park offers a quiet, shady resting place on Sept. 17. mediately available. We’ll ask impact our community (and hold three separate meetings them, ‘Do you want to go to a communities all over New York on the rezoning, starting early shelter? Do you want to see a from the city’s Department Although Mr. Benfatti said night and day to identify un- City),” Vivian J. Oleen wrote in next month. The dates are yet counselor?’ Once they’re into of Homeless Services (DHS) he has gotten to know some sheltered individuals and help a Sept. 3 letter to The Press. to be determined, but he said that shelter system, they’ll be have shown a 24 percent drop of the men who frequent his them find a roof. the first meeting will focus on referred for more services, but in the population in all five bor- shelter well over the years, he Eileen Torres is the execu- Stepped-up fight the ZQR proposal and the sec- you can’t force people to go.” oughs from 2005 to 2014. Amid added it is rare for them to re- tive director of BronxWorks, ond on mandatory inclusionary While speculation varies as critical summer headlines that veal much about the homeless a prominent non-profit with a As CB 8’s Land Use Com- housing. The last meeting will to why there are homeless peo- nevertheless blasted the mayor population at large. number of programs for the mittee readies for a series of include a public session and the ple in parks and streets — some for the number of homeless The shelter at the Ethical homeless. She struck an opti- meetings on the proposed re- committee will probably take a tabloids bluntly blamed Mr. de people — about 3,357 total last Society on Fieldston Road is the mistic note when asked about zoning next month, activists are vote, Mr. Moerdler said. year, according to DHS — Mr. only one of its kind in Riverdale. Blasio’s progressive policies — the homelessness situation. increasing their efforts to fight “We have been asked by sev- de Blasio unveiled a $22 million According to DHS, there are a Ms. Fellner believes the main “Collaborations have also en- the city’s plans. eral other community boards mental health care initiative to total of 81 shelters in the Bronx. A group called the Broad- to express our views as to the reason is a lack of places for the abled us to successfully transi- homeless to stay in this neigh- help the homeless. Ten of them serve single adults, way Community Alliance, package so we can guide them, tion hundreds of homeless fami- borhood. John Benfatti, who runs a eight accommodate adult fami- which focuses on North River- and we will be doing that,” he lies from shelters to permanent “They should have some- small homeless shelter one lies and 63 serve families with dale, has launched an online added. thing more readily available,” night per week at the Riverdale- children. housing,” she said in a statement. petition against the plans. An Broadway Community Al- she said. “They need to create Yonkers Society for Ethical Social services are offered “In addition, eviction preven- umbrella organization to unify liance organizer Laura Spalter housing for these people.” Culture, said the answer lies in at all Bronx shelters to help cli- tion efforts like the DHS-funded activists throughout the north- said the group is planning a It is notoriously difficult to another area the mayor has pri- ents find stability and more per- Homebase have kept thousands west Bronx is also starting up. meeting to discuss the rezoning count the number of homeless oritized — increasing the city’s manent housing. DHS also has of families in permanent housing Riverdale Community Coali- on Thursday, Oct. 8. Mr. Cohen people in the city, but surveys stock of affordable housing. a street outreach team working and out of the shelter system.” tion, which plans to be part of said he plans to attend. They’re building, but will tenants come? Prexy’s struggles by Shant Shahrigian sale, according to StreetEasy. [email protected] The Waterford at 3816 Waldo Ave. has four out of 24 apart- With landlords struggling ments for sale, the same site give him insight to find tenants for homes built says. The list goes on. in Riverdale’s housing boom of Mr. da Silva called for new (Continued from page A1) ough. The college is the Bronx several years ago, many resi- buildings to offer a mix of con- degree in biology. He attended academic partner to START-UP dents are wondering why devel- dos and rental units to avoid Indiana State University to pur- NY, a statewide initiative offer- opers want to build even more flooding either market. But sue a master’s in science edu- ing tax incentives for new tech- tall apartment buildings in the he said many developers are cation. Despite plans to return nology companies. northwest Bronx. following a model in which to Nigeria after obtaining his “I want to work with the Projects discussed at a sum- they rent out all the units in a degree, the university offered political and economic leaders mer meeting of Community new building and then sell the Dr. Isekenegbe a doctoral fel- here to see how we as a college Board (CB) 8’s Land Use Com- property to other owners such lowship to pursue a Ph.D. for can become a catalyst in mov- mittee would bring a total of 184 as investment trusts to make a free as well as the opportunity ing some of these issues along,” new apartments to the neigh- killing. to earn money as a teaching Dr. Isekenegbe said. borhood — 48 units at Simone Photo by Adrian Fussell “The commercial market for assistant. Dr. Isekenegbe said At a Sept. 17 ceremony cel- Development Companies’ lots A develoPment Site at 640 W. 238th St. fully occupied rental buildings he wants to return to the class- ebrating his inauguration, Dr. around 3735 Riverdale Ave., 15 is really hot right now,” he said. room as soon as possible. Isekenegbe emphasized the at developer Abraham Strulo- before that deadline comes so “We’re trying to meet some Nevertheless, Mr. da Silva “Teaching is a therapy for bond he shares with members vitch’s 640 W. 238th St. project that they can get their benefit,” deadlines,” Adolfo Carrión, stopped short of predicting me,” he said. “I’m going to use of BCC’s diverse student body. and 121 at the Stagg Group’s he said. who works as a consultant rep- prices here are going to plum- next summer to prepare myself “Today, many of the students 3469 Cannon Place high-rise. While only some of the de- resenting Stagg to the commu- met. to teach a freshman seminar. I are like me,” he said. “They are That’s on top of 86 apartments velopers active in the neigh- nity, said at the time. “The big He pointed out a major fac- see myself doing it next fall.” the first in their family to go to currently under construction borhood are talking affordable issue, or one of the big issues tor for transactions in River- Service learning is a top college and they are Americans at Selfhelp’s 6469 Broadway housing — that is Stagg’s stock right now, is the potential sun- dale is the Manhattan market: priority of Dr. Isekenegbe’s not by birth, but by choice. The apartment building and addi- in trade, while Simone says setting of the 421-a tax abate- when people get priced out of presidency and he is working personal story of our students tional units at Stagg Group’s it has no plans for affordable ment program.” the island, they tend to look to on creating ways for students is also my personal story. And 6155 Broadway project. More- units on Riverdale Avenue — all The rush is worrying at neighborhoods that are a short to become more involved in the that is why I am deeply, deeply over, after several consecutive buildings could be affected by least one realtor in the neigh- trip away. Bronx community at large. His committed to the success of our quarters of modest growth, Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Mandato- borhood. Still, critics like CB 8 mem- suggestions include courses students.” there was a -13 percent change ry Inclusionary Housing (MIH) Vasco Da Silva of Exclusive ber Robert Fanuzzi fear that requiring students to work or in home sale prices in Riverdale proposal, which calls for 25 to Properties Sotheby’s Interna- new construction will spiral out volunteer in the community. TENANT, LANDLORD, in the second quarter of this fis- 30 percent of new apartments tional said history is repeating of control as the city pushes to “It exposes our students to HOME OWNER SERVICES: cal year in Riverdale, according in rezoned neighborhoods to itself. Just as developers flood- rezone parts of the northwest the community and it brings The Kingsbridge-Riverdale-Van to the Real Estate Board of New go to low-income households. ed the local market with new Bronx to accommodate more our students into the commu- Cortlandt Development Corpo- York. Another factor is the state’s condos prior to the 2008 finan- affordable housing. nity. That’s very important to ration (KRVC) provides infor- So why the building boom 421-a law, which determines cial crash, builders are poised “The real animus here is me. It can be done, I’ve done it mation and technical assistance all of a sudden? eligibility for developers to re- to exceed demand for rentals. against the city selling out its in the past,” he said. to individual tenants and tenant With the city expected to ceive tax cuts in exchange for “At the height of the mar- rent control policies and de- Prior to BCC, Dr. Isek- associations and helps medi- overhaul affordable housing promising to build affordable ket, even before the market stroying its infrastructure of enegbe worked at Cumberland ate tenant/landlord disputes rules in the coming months, in- units. The state legislature ex- crashed, we had trouble mov- affordable housing to create County College in New Jersey, regarding repairs and rental ar- cluding a proposed mandate to tended the program at the end ing all of the new condo units a speculative development cli- where he worked as vice presi- rears. KRVC also helps tenants include affordable units in new of its latest session, but only by that suddenly hit the market at mate through rezoning. That’s dent of academic affairs and apply for SCRIE, HEAP, LifeLine developments in parts of the one year. the same time,” he said. “Now what I believe is driving the af- student services before rising telephone discounts and NYC city, builders want to file their The Stagg Group, for one, I’m seeing the same pattern fordable housing ire,” he said. to president. During his time Housing Authority apartments. plans before the law changes, appears to be feeling the pres- with rental units.” “It compounds the error of at Cumberland, Dr. Isekenegbe KRVC works with landlords to CB 8 Land Use Committee sure so much that it reneged on A glance at real estate web- taking affordable housing off implemented a community- develop effective management Chairman Charles Moerdler a promise not to file plans be- sites shows buildings erected the city rolls and then creating oriented strategy that included techniques and provides appli- said. fore an August meeting with Ft. prior to the 2008 crash are a favorable climate for develop- engaging students in their local cation assistance for city loan “This is a repeat of problems Independence residents. They still struggling to find tenants. ers to combine lots and create community, leadership training programs. KRVC also helps that we have had historically were outraged to learn Stagg The Solaria at 640 W. 237th St., larger houses, all in the outer and economic and workforce homeowners apply for city loan where the city of New York sets had filed the plans before the widely regarded as a case study boroughs,” Mr. Fanuzzi con- development. programs such as Home Im- a deadline to achieve a result meeting in spite on a promise in rushing plans to completion, cluded. Dr. Isekenegbe plans to provement Loans. For more in- and people put in a ton of stuff to the contrary. still has 14 out of 65 units for advance BCC’s role in the bor- formation, call 718-543-7100.