Artists open up A guide to camps Yonkers’ Blue Door Gallery is hosting a series Check out our special section on all the camps of events exploring the creative process, B section. and kid-friendly activities available this year, C section.

Vol. 64, No. 2 Thursday, February 28, 2013 1 DDoDollarlllar Clinton community speaks out against DOE co-locations

By Sarina Trangle [email protected]

José Mejia delivered a math lesson at the Feb. 21 hearing on co-locating two other high schools at DeWitt Clinton. The high school senior said that while his 12 years of schooling may look meager next to the degrees ob- tained by Mayor Michael Bloomberg and other Department of Education officials, a few diplomas couldn’t com- pare to the 116-year history threatened by the DOE’s plan to introduce two dis- trict schools into Clinton next fall. “Our school isn’t just the Macy pro- gram. It’s much more. And by taking away more programs and adding in new schools, you’re not just going to kill the resources, but you’re going to kill DeWitt Clinton’s spirit,” José said. “Our legacy is going to die.” Regardless of whether the Panel for Education Policy approves the co-loca- Photo by Marisol Díaz tions, education officials say they will BRONX SUPREME COURT cut Clinton’s student body by about 1,550 students and phase out half of its academic programs over the next four years to allow the school to focus in on individual students’ needs. Courthouse patronage Beginning in September, the school will no longer admit freshman into its animal professions, future teachers and public and community service tracks. Macy honors gifted program Politics plays key role in appointments in the sciences and humanities, health professions and business enterprise By CUNY Graduate School of Journalism Gonzalez, who was elected in November as the will continue accepting students. investigative reporting students in Bronx’s new judge of the surrogate court, re- The DOE aims to expand the com- conjunction with Riverdale Press editors peatedly tapped leaders of the Bronx Democrat- munity’s access to quality education by ic County Committee, commonly referred to as New surrogate filling the building’s new space with [email protected] the Bronx Democratic Party, to serve as court- two high schools. If approved, both appointed counsels, designations that yielded schools would start with about 105 to Despite years of reforms, in some Bronx court- tens of thousands of dollars in fees. Since she joined old game rooms, it is still just as helpful 115 freshman in 2013-2014 and add a began making appointments By Joe Stepansky and Jacob Hodes grade every year until their registers to know the judge as the law. in 2010, Judge Malave-Gon- included between 420 and 460 students Sometimes, it’s even more so. A Press zalez’s most frequent appoin- [email protected] apiece in 2016-2017, according to the That’s the finding of a tee, records show, has been DOE’s educational impact statement Riverdale Press review of dis- special report Assemblyman Jeffrey Di- In January, the Bronx got a new sur- on the proposal. cretionary appointments by nowitz, who has represented rogate judge for the first time in nearly a The schools would share large spac- local judges and the legal First in a series Riverdale and Kingsbridge in quarter-century. es such as the library, pool, Montefiore practices of politically con- Albany for 19 years and who Nelida Malave-Gonzalez became the school based health center, alumni of- nected attorneys who often serves as chair of the Bronx first woman and the first Latino to serve in fice, dance studio, two record rooms appear before them. Lawyers with political Democratic Party’s county the position, replacing longtime surrogate and three gyms. The review found that in connections are getting committee. Lee Holzman, who retired amid scandal . Dozens of people who showed up spite of repeated efforts to • Howard Vargas, a past The youngest of 12 children, Judge Ma- at the hearing said the co-locations divorce the courthouse from many of the lucrative executive director of the lave-Gonzalez, 49, grew up in public hous- would not help Clinton improve its 50 the political clubhouse, links appointments handed Bronx Democratic Party who ing in Morrisania. She graduated from percent four-year graduation rate or to between judges who must currently serves as the party’s Fordham University and Queens College move away from the “priority” label it seek election and the lawyers out by Bronx judges. For legal counsel, has won 87 ap- Law School and was elected civil court received for ranking among the 5 per- who help them win ballot lines a searchable list, go to pointments from local judges judge in 2005. cent of lowest performing schools in and votes, remain strong. since reforms went into effect After being promoted to acting justice the state. Those ties surface glar- riverdalepress.com. in 2003. Mr. Vargas’ court des- on the Bronx Supreme Court three years Students said they were concerned ingly, the review found, when ignations over the years have ago, she got the backing of the Bronx that the array of advanced placement, judges are called upon to ap- included about two-dozen appointments as a Democratic Party to run for surrogate. honors and electives classes would point attorneys to serve as legal representatives receiver for troubled multi-family properties in She went uncontested in the primary shrink along with sports and extracur- for those unable to care for themselves, or to bank foreclosures, although records show that ricular offerings. Teachers voiced con- handle estates and foreclosures. (Continued on page A9) cerns that the school would be entitled • As a Supreme Court judge, Nelida Malave- (Continued on page A9) (Continued on page A2) Students use DNA to trace ancestry By Sarina Trangle Two sets of eighth graders helped [email protected] finance the project, which involves pur- chasing kits to test their own DNA. Stu- This is not your average history dents have fundraised $900 so far and class. they aim to collect $2,000 by the end At Riverdale Country School, of the school year, according to eighth- eighth graders are uncovering the grade history teacher Jessica Shapiro. routes their own ancestors took out of Genographic director Spencer Africa, while simultaneously helping Wells and his team finance the Legacy scientists discover how humans came Fund by selling DNA analysis kits, to populate every corner of the globe. which allow people to learn about their For the past two years, the school own ancestors’ journey out of Africa. has raised money for National Geo- Riverdale Country School bought the kits and submitted swabs of stu- graphic’s genographic project, which Photo by Osjua A. Newton uses differences in DNA from indig- dents’ cheek cells for analysis this enous communities to map out the January. various waves of migration people During a Feb. 21 visit to the school, May I have this dance? Mr. Wells thanked the students for took after evolving in Africa 200,000 OMAR RIVERA, 23, and Michelle Beldtran, 18, dance at Manhattan College’s second years ago. their support and explained his re- (Continued on page A2) annual Latino Fest on Feb. 22.

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latituderiverdale.com Select 1, 2, 3 & 4 Bedroom Residences, Outdoor Space, Parking, Doorman & FHA Approved 95% Financing. 605924 THE RIVERDALE PRESS - Thursday, February 28, 2013 - A9 Politics still plays a role in court appointments (Continued from page A1) appointments, making $126,664 their friends have had more to do few avenues for making extra several of the buildings contin- over the last decade. with familiarity than with politics. money, with an easy side gig. ued to deteriorate under Mr. • Gerald Sheiowitz, a promi- This series was reported and written by a class on “The problem you really “By and large, it’s pure pa- Vargas’ administration. nent Bronx attorney who cur- confront as a judge is this, you tronage,” he said. • Lorraine Coyle, a promi- rently serves as a treasurer for investigative journalism taught by Tom Robbins have a list of people in front of Adam Skaggs, senior nent member of the influential the Bronx Democratic Trustees, at the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism. you who want to be considered counsel at the Brennan Cen- Benjamin Franklin Reform Dem- is the second highest earner for these appointments, but you ter for Justice, said attempts ocratic Club, wife of longtime from Bronx court-appointed Contributors include: Lindsay Armstrong, Carla don’t really know the quality to change the law to prevent Councilman Oliver Koppell, as positions, dating back to 1970. Astudillo, Sean Carlson, Tristan Hallman, Jacob of their work,” Judge McKeon county committees from hav- well as an attorney and a realtor, Since reforms went into effect, said. “Often, you’re going to ing exclusive power over put- has been the fifth highest earner he has earned the third highest Hodes, Alex Robinson, Rachel Sapin, Jorteh Senah, turn to someone who you’ve ting judges on the ballot — and of fees received as a court-ap- number of appointments from Joe Stepansky, Emma Thorne, and Kate Trafecante. had experience with and who thus owing favors to the people pointed fiduciary since reforms Bronx courts. His daughter Hill- you believe can do a good job.” who put them there — had went into effect, records show. ary served as treasurer for vari- Adam Wisnieski and Kate Pastor of ‘The Press’ But The Press’ review found gone all the way to the United Mr. Koppell, who has represent- ous political committees, includ- provided additional reporting and editing. that politically connected attor- States Supreme Court, but had ed Riverdale and Kingsbridge in ing the Committees to elect Civil neys have continued to prosper. fallen flat. the City Council since 2002 and Court Judge Eddie McShan and Furthermore, court docu- Changing the system, it has an active law practice, has Judge Fernando Tapia. She has reforms were put in place, even political patronage has survived ments on guardianships that seems, is a classic catch-22. received a relatively modest 30 made more than $50,000 since though she is not certified as a in spite of rigorous efforts at should be immediately available “The same party apparatus lawyer in New York State. reform. In 2003, following mul- to the public were kept under that controls the judgeship • State Sen. Jeff Klein and tiple scandals involving judicial seal. They were only released makes it difficult to move mean- Dominic Calderoni — of the appointments, then chief judge after Judge McKeon agreed to ingful reform through the legis- firm Klein, Calderoni and San- Judith Kaye implemented a se- redact personal information. lature,” he said. Plenty of plum positions tucci — have done well in the ries of rule changes designed The practice contradicts the of- The intractability of this Fiduciary appointments duciary appointees may business of court appointments, to ensure that court appointees ficial policy of the Office of Court problem may be why James involve civil cases, typi- serve as court-appointed at the same time managing to were chosen fairly. Limits were Administration, which oversees Sample, professor of Hofstra cally guardianships, es- guardians, receivers or dodge rules put in place to curb placed on the amount that indi- the courts and that of every other Law School, counts the way the amount of fees that any in- vidual attorneys and their law borough’s courthouse. judges get on the ballot as one tates or foreclosures, in evaluators. Some ap- dividual attorney or law firm firms could earn. New reporting which the court requires pointments pay only a Ravi Batra, a Brooklyn at- of the last vestiges of the old can earn. They have worked as requirements were put in place. torney who in the past has been party boss system. an impartial third party few hundred dollars, but a tag-team, often exceeding the Judge Douglas McKeon, a accused of benefiting from his “It’s kind of a byproduct of to perform certain tasks. others are worth tens of annual legal limit for what ap- Bronx Supreme Court justice, own chummy relationships with Tammany Hall,” he said. Among other roles, fi- thousands. pointees can collect. suggests that since then, repeat judges, said the court system --- Reporting contributed by This pattern of courthouse appointments of politicos and supplies politicians, who have Cesar R. Bustamante, Jr. New surrogate judge joined in old patronage game (Continued from page A1) Bronx surrogate, was censured and won the general election Court appointments by the numbers by the State Commission on handily. Judicial Conduct in December Topping Bronx politicians have aided Top earning appointees of Judge Malave-Gonzalez, 2010-2012 for failing to supervise the com- in her ascent; and they have pensation of attorneys in such the list also benefitted. Appointee Political connections cases. A Press examination of Ma- Michael Lippman, a friend When Judge Malave- lave-Gonzalez’s record reveals Jeffrey Dinowitz Chair of Bronx Democratic Party’s County and a campaign contributor Gonzalez made her first that she has steered tens of $30,331 Committee, state assemblyman, a leader of to Mr. Holzman, was indicted batch of court evaluator thousands of dollars in fiducia- in 2010 on charges of grand 13 the Benjamin Franklin Reform Democratic Club appointments on Aug. ry appointments to Bronx Dem- larceny and stands accused of 16, 2010, the court’s list ocratic heavyweights, some of Gary S. Basso Former law partner of recently deceased charging $300,000 in excessive of individuals approved whom helped her move up the fees. judicial ladder. $19,741 state Sen. Guy Velella, a Republican Party leader Judge Holzman’s manda- for such work included hundreds of names. Despite decade-old reforms 5 before his conviction on bribery charges tory retirement at the end of designed to ensure such ap- last year is what created a rare Among the four people pointments are made “on the Carl Lucas Treasurer for judgeship campaign opening for the surrogate job. she chose that day were basis of merit, without favorit- $17,745 of Ken Thompson, treasurer of City Council Assemblyman Jeffrey ism, nepotism, politics or other Dinowitz, Gerald Sheio- 9 campaign of Alberto Torres Party cleared path factors,” it seems the old pa- to judgeship witz, treasurer for the tronage system persists. Naomi C. Barrera Appointed by Carl Heastie as Bronx Democratic, Bronx Democratic Trust- Judge Malave-Gonzalez ees, and Bronx Demo- declined requests for an inter- $17,350 Commissioner of the Board of Elections Several candidates vied to gain the nomination of the cratic Counsel Howard view. Her court attorney, Mag- 5 dalena Porrata, told a reporter Bronx Democratic Party; the Vargas. That pattern that Judge Malave-Gonzalez’s Joseph A. Marra two leading candidates were continued for the dura- Judge Malave-Gonzalez and tion of her time on the policy is not to speak with the $15,300 press. Judge Darcell Clark, a Bronx bench. 3 Supreme Court justice who had Jeffrey Dinowitz overseen criminal cases for 13 Mario Biaggi, Jr. Son of former U.S. Rep. Mario Biaggi, who years. Former Assemblyman Peter won the general election easily, Judge Malave-Gonzalez’s $15,000 represented the Bronx from 1969 until his beating Ms. O’Leary 286,334 to most frequent appointee was Rivera, an ally of ousted party 6 corruption conviction in 1988 boss Jose Rivera, failed the 27,973 votes. Mr. Dinowitz, who in addition Mr. Dinowitz said the deci- to serving as chair of the Bronx Howard R. Vargas Counsel to the Bronx Democratic Party county committee’s screening process. Another candidate, sion by the Benjamin Franklin Democratic Party’s county $13,786 Club to support Judge Malave- committee is the leader of the Winston Rouse, was knocked off the ballot by the Board of Gonzalez for Civil Court and Benjamin Franklin Reform 6 then for Surrogate was based Democratic Club. Elections due to a defective cov- er sheet on the petitions he sub- on merit. To date, Mr. Dinowitz has represents total dollars awarded represents number of appointments “I can just say most people earned $30,331 on cases hand- mitted; he disputed the case in Source: NYS Unifi ed Court System. Appointees are ranked by total compensation awarded on cases to which they were appointed by Judge Malave-Gonzalez federal court, but later dropped in our club were impressed ed out by Judge Malave-Gonza- during her tenure on the Bronx Supreme Court from 2010-2012. Data is current as of Feb. 25, 2013 the lawsuit. with her,” Mr. Dinowitz said. lez. “Mind you, most people aren’t From 2000 to 2009, Mr. Di- “The Board of Election im- mediately responded with their attorneys; they don’t go before nowitz took on a handful of on the case, making $4,650 in totalingli more than $62,000 in County Committee, to present political partisan modality to her in court.” cases most years, earning an total. 2012 . its petition. remove candidates that are not As a court attorney, Mr. annual average of $5,978. But He recommended that the He has also done well in Sur- In such cases, it is the role of part of their political structure Dinowitz said he found Judge since 2010, his average has court appoint a guardian. Judge rogate’s Court, where Judge an impartial, third-party court of club house politic,” the com- Malave-Gonzalez “to be knowl- more than doubled, thanks to Malave-Gonzalez agreed, and Malave-Gonzalez now presides. evaluator to review the peti- plaint read. edgeable, patient, compassion- frequent appointments from ordered that Ms. Oppenheim’s Records show he earned anoth- tion. Judge Malave-Gonzalez The Ben Franklin Club ate, empathetic. You could see Judge Malave-Gonzalez. $1.5 million estate be managed er $132,030 in fees from cases appointed Mr. Dinowitz, whose played a crucial role in Malave- how much she cares,” he said. Mr. Dinowitz earned the by Carl Lucas, who is active in doled out there over the past assembly district overlaps with Gonzalez’s election. Thomas “Putting everything else aside, largest sum in the case of Jesse Bronx politics and has served four years. Mr. Klein’s. McNeil, a staffer for Mr. Dinow- being a Latina is a plus,” he Oppenheim, a 92-year-old wom- as treasurer of several judge- Although he initially agreed itz at the time and still a mem- added. “I think being a woman an from Riverdale suffering ship campaigns. to speak with The Riverdale A scandalous history ber-at-large of the Ben Franklin is also a political plus.” from dementia. As court evalu- In an interview with The Press, Mr. Lucas could not be Club, was listed with the state Others who have worked ator, Mr. Dinowitz was charged Riverdale Press, Mr. Dinowitz reached by telephone at the Judge Malave-Gonzalez has Board of Elections as her cam- with Judge Malave-Gonzalez with determining whether the said he saw no conflict between appointed interview time, and inherited a position marked by paign treasurer. also praised her temperament court should appoint a guardian his political activities and ac- repeated phone messages went scandal — and one in which The club also endorsed on the bench. Becky Bigio, to manage Ms. Oppenheim’s cepting work as a court appoin- unreturned. she will supervise the payment Judge Malave-Gonzalez and its a psychiatric nurse practitio- affairs. Mr. Dinowitz charged tee. He said he cannot maintain of hundreds of thousands of members petitioned and cam- ner and the co-director of the $325 per hour for his services a full-time law practice given his dollars to private attorneys ap- Naomi Barrera paigned for her. Bronx Community Guardian- duties as an assemblyman, and pointed by the court. In the general election, ship Network, said she has therefore, he welcomes oppor- Between 2010 and 2012, The surrogate court handles Judge Malave-Gonzalez ran found Judge Malave-Gonzalez tunities to take one-off cases. Judge Malave-Gonzalez gave the liquidation of a person’s against Frances O’Leary, a to be “very objective, and very “Most of the work can be five appointments to Naomi property and estate, which is recently retired Bronx court concerned about the person’s Reforms done on the weekend or in the Barrera, who for the past four particularly complex when he attorney and 25-year veteran welfare.” evening,” he said. “It’s a way to years has served as the Bronx or she dies without a will. The of the courthouse. A life- “I really respect her,” Ms. Bi- stop short do something valuable and ben- Democratic representative at work of unwinding these assets long Democrat, Ms. O’Leary gio said. “She’s willing to go the eficial.” the New York City Board of is performed both by the staff switched parties to oppose extra distance to understand People with political clout Elections, an appointment she of the Office of the Public Ad- In 2001, a commis- Judge Malave-Gonzalez on the what the person’s needs are.” should neither be favored nor gained through the backing of ministrator, which is overseen sion led by then Chief Republican and Conservative When it comes to appointees, excluded from such court ap- local party boss Carl Heastie. by the surrogate judge, and by Judge Judith Kaye with party lines, saying it was the Ms. Bigio added, the relevant pointments, Mr. Dinowitz said. Ms. Barrera had never private lawyers retained by the the aim of reducing only way for her to get onto the question should be, “Who can “If you do a good job, and if served in a fiduciary role until court on a case-by-case basis. patronage and favorit- ballot. best serve the needs of the peo- you’re not a pig about it, then I Judge Malave-Gonzalez ap- Lee Holzman, the outgoing Judge Malave-Gonzalez ple who live in this community?” ism debated barring all don’t see the problem.” pointed her as a court evalua- elected officials from When asked why he thought tor in early 2011. She has made receiving appoint- Judge Malave-Gonzalez ap- a total of $17,350 to date, the ments. However, the pointed him more often than fourth-highest amount earned Average annual compensation commission stopped anyone else, Mr. Dinowitz sim- through appointments handed short and determined ply said, “I’m very good.” out by Judge Malave-Gonzalez. earned by Jeffrey Dinowitz as a court evaluator since 2003 reforms that politicians had not As a commissioner of the $24,975 received a “large num- Carl Lucas city’s Board of Elections, Ms. ber of appointments Barrera would later play a role or particularly high- Carl Lucas has received in Judge Malave-Gonzalez’s elec- the second-highest number of tion as surrogate, voting with the paying appointments.” appointments from Judge Ma- Board to disqualify a rival candi- Instead, the new rules lave-Gonzalez, earning a total date based on a technicality. disallowed chairs of of $17,745 to date. In addition $14,612 state or county political to his work on judgeship cam- Friends on both sides parties from appoint- paigns, Mr. Lucas also served ments. as treasurer on the City Council Sometimes, familiar and That means Carl Heast- campaign of Alberto Torres, the politically connected names ap- $7,218 $6,450 ie, chair of the Bronx law partner of then-Democratic pear on opposite sides of a case. $5625 Democrats, cannot Party boss Roberto Ramirez. For example, when a nurs- $3,500 $3,475 take such work. Mr. Lucas’ compensation ing home petitioned Judge $2,000 has yet to be approved for the Malave-Gonzalez to appoint a But Mr. Dinowitz, the Oppenheim case, but based on guardian for an alcoholic man $0 county party’s second- an analysis of past guardianship under its care, the nursing ’04 ’05 ’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’12 in-command, is still fees, he stands to earn approxi- home retained the legal servic- allowed to accept ap- mately $40,000. Mr. Lucas is es of state Sen. Jeff Klein, who total dollars earned earned from cases appointed by Malave-Gonzalez pointments. also popular with other Bronx has been a prominent mem- judges, receiving payments ber of the Bronx Democratic Source: NYS Unifi ed Court System INSIDE

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Vol. 64, No. 3 Thursday, March 7, 2013 1 Dollar High school allegations Documents reveal complaints of abuse By Sarina Trangle of Investigation to The Riverdale Press [email protected] last month. They came in response to a Freedom of Information Law request A DeWitt Clinton High School seeking information on which District teacher was dismissed for sleeping 10 educators were investigated for mis- with a student after she gave birth to conduct in 2012. his child and bought wedding rings. The office, which operates indepen- A Kennedy instructor retired when dently from the schools chancellor and a student told investigators they slept the DOE, received 679 complaints of together, adding fresh allegations to his sexual misconduct during the last cal- history of alleged sexual misconduct. endar year. Two educators assigned to Clinton The number of complaints accus- and the Bronx High School of Science ing staff of inappropriate behavior were barred form working for the De- increased by 21 percent in 2012, com- partment of Education after officials said pared to the 19 percent increase in com- they were caught communicating with plaints the agency received overall. students in a sexually suggestive manner. The Office of the Special Commis- Reports about the four educators sioner of Investigations launched 287 investigations into sexual misconduct were among the documents given by Photo by Marisol Díaz the Office of the Special Commissioner (Continued on page A2) THE STAIRCASE walls at 2239 Creston Ave. are covered in graffiti requesting hot water. Letter battle turns Courthouse patronage to Board 8 dispute Party lawyer has record By Adam Wisnieski “I did mean to ruffle some feath- [email protected] ers, I’m not going to lie,” he said at last of feasting on foreclosure week’s meeting. The fierce political battle that has Mr. McShane argued that Mr. Co- By Lindsay Armstrong prove, but nothing changed. been brewing on the letter pages of hen violated the public’s trust by ac- [email protected] During the receiver’s 20-month tenure, the De- The Riverdale Press over the last few cepting a $500 donation from Daniel partment of Housing Preservation and Development weeks, spilled over into a meeting of Reingold, CEO of the Hebrew Home. Johannie Burdier has lived at 2239 Creston Ave. has added more than 30 violations to the building’s the Community Board’s Laws, Rules & He also claimed Mr. Cohen had vio- in Fordham Heights for nine years. In that time, she already long list of infractions. Almost half of them Ethics Committee on Feb. 28. lated the board’s bylaws by speaking has put up with leaks, missing steps, were classified as immediately haz- In a letter to the Press three weeks on its behalf without the chair’s per- a faulty boiler and a bathroom ceiling ardous. ago, Damian McShane, a past board mission. that collapsed four times. “There has never been a big dif- chair and current member, accused Mr. McShane and Mr. Cohen’s rival “The front door is broken so it’s A Press ference no matter who is running the CB 8’s Aging chair and City Council candidate Cliff Stanton have argued unlocked all of the time,” Ms. Burdier special report building,” Ms. Burdier said. “No one candidate Andrew Cohen of impro- that Mr. Cohen misused his power as said. “People come in to do drugs, uri- has really done anything to help.” priety for accepting a donation from chair of the Aging Committee by at- nate, do personal things. Why should A visit to the building this week re- the CEO of the Hebrew Home, which tending town hall meetings sponsored I have to bring my 12-year-old daugh- Second in a series vealed that the lock on the front door seeks to rezone part of its property by Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz. ter into the building and walk through was broken. Tenants complained of and build a new facility. They argue that Mr. Cohen’s main a crowd of people smoking marijuana?” having no hot water, of garbage piling After keeping a relatively low pro- reason for visiting the senior centers When the 28-unit building went into foreclosure up behind the building, of fecal matter in the hallway file on the board since his tenure as was to raise his profile for office. It in 2011, the court appointed a receiver to manage the and about an out-of-control rat population. Walls were is against CB 8’s bylaws to speak on chair ended in 2011, Mr. McShane, property. Ms. Burdier hoped conditions would im- (Continued on page A10) who did not reapply as a member, is behalf of the board without permis- not walking away quietly from the sion from the board chair, but it is not board he’s served for 14 years. against the bylaws to have community (Continued on page A2) Science athletes arrested for hazing, harassment By Sarina Trangle raignment, according to the Bronx Authorities said that in January constrained him and repeatedly struck their parents could be reached for [email protected] District Attorney’s Office. Pier threatened to violate the student, his genitals with a water bottle. comment. The three athletes repeatedly saying, “Touch my penis for three sec- On Feb. 25, Pier, Diallo, and a third Two days after the boys were ar- Three Bronx High School of Sci- groped a freshman over his clothing onds or I will rape.” When the student student who has not yet been arrest- rested, Science Principal Valerie Reidy ence athletes were arrested on Feb. 27 and threatened to rape him, according refused, Pier bent the freshman over ed tackled the boy onto the ground, sent a letter to parents informing them for sexually molesting and hazing one the criminal complaint. and pressed his penis into his buttocks where Boubacar forcibly inserted his about the hazing accusations and an- of their teammates over the last two Boubacar cornered the student in over his clothing, according to the fingers into the freshman’s anus over nouncing that all track team events months. early winter and said, “Oh, you need complaint. his clothing, rubbed his nipples and would be suspended until officials fin- Track team members Thomas a good fingering you freshman,” and On Feb. 20, Thomas and Pier said, “I want to cuddle,” according to ished interviewing all team members Brady, 16, Boubacar Diallo, 16, and proceeded to insert his fingers into the pinned the freshman down, stuck fin- court documents. The student told po- and investigating the matter. Pier Berkmans, 17, were arrested and boy’s anus over his clothing, according gers into his anus and said he would be lice he asked his teammates to stop, to “Understand that the decision was charged with forcible touching, as- to the court document. raped, the complaint said. The boy told which Boubacar replied, “Don’t resist, not an easy decision to make and was sault, hazing and harassment. All three The boy told authorities the abuse authorities he managed to run away, we won’t hurt you.” not meant to be punitive to any of our pleaded not guilty during a Feb. 28 ar- grew worse as weeks passed. but the boys chased him onto a bench, None of the arrested students or (Continued on page A2) Musical history meets Common Core at 244 By Sarina Trangle “I fear this generation doesn’t un- [email protected] derstand the resistance was not a mis- take, unplanned. I fear the march as The dancers stepped side to side, just another march to this generation,” sashaying to “ABC” by The Jackson 5. she said, explaining her concerns Suddenly, the music stopped and a about how young Americans view the boy bellowed: “It’s as easy as one, two Civil Rights movement. “Step team, three!” what do you fear?” The New School for Leadership and They chanted back: “I fear stagna- the Arts, MS 244’s, step team began tion and lack of progress. I fear never capping to the rhythm. The percus- reaching my potential and being aver- sion grew more complex as students age.” Their response was accented layered kicks and stomps with the beat with taps, slaps and dance steps. “I fear of their hands clapping against their not feeling these fears anymore and thighs, chests and the soles of their just floating along. These fears feed shoes. me. They nourish my drive. I love my The syncopation stopped when a fear.” Photo by Marisol Diáz woman’s voice was piped into the au- The school’s “NSLA’s Journey to LYDIA MUNOZ, Babie Covington, Carolina Guzman, Emely Rivas, Odyssey Bower, Gen- ditorium. Motown” show on Feb. 27, depicted esis Rodriguez and Ebony Jackson dance to ‘I’m Coming Out’ on Feb. 27. (Continued on page A2)

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(Continued from page A1) covered in graffiti, including some mes- sages from frustrated tenants: “We Howard Vargas need heat. Turn on the hot water.” The Creston Avenue building is and JLP Metro one of several troubled properties un- der the supervision of Howard Vargas. Management Mr. Vargas, a lawyer with strong ties to the Bronx Democratic Party, Bronx Democratic party counsel has netted more than $350,000 in fees Howard Vargas was appointed over the past decade thanks to a steady receiver 23 times from 2007 stream of court-appointed positions. to 2011. Mr. Vargas, in turn, Some of that lucrative work has come appointed JLP Metro Manage- in the form of receiverships. ment to manage 21 of these But the properties he’s been properties. JLP is a Bronx-based charged with managing have not al- firm owned by brothers Louis ways done as well. Of the 24 buildings Mr. Vargas was appointed to super- and Anton Popovic. The firm vise, five were placed on a list of the has also been involved in poli- city’s most distressed properties dur- tics. Beginning in 2010, JLP ing the receivership. contributed $2,500 to the Despite those problems, Bronx Bronx Democratic Commit- judges have continued to appoint Mr. tee and $400 total to cam- Vargas as a receiver. Photo by Marisol Díaz A TENANT at 2239 Creston Ave. shows a Riverdale Press reporter a mask that she carries daily to protect herself paigns for Bronx judges, Eddie While nearly 500 people are eligible McShan and Llinet Rosado. to serve as receivers in the Bronx, Mr. from the smell she encounters when entering the building. She said that at times there is human excrement in the hallways. Louis Popovic has contributed Vargas won nearly 15 percent of those $450 to Bronx Councilman designations between 2007 and 2011. (He was not eligible to receive appoint- filings, he has earned more than $33,000 141 to 89. However, HPD found 21 new ty Realty LLC to re-acquire the property. James Vacca’s campaign. He ments in 2012 because he well exceed- over the past decade for his work on violations. These included ongoing Mr. Vargas filed his final account- serves on Bronx Community ed the $75,000 cap the year before.) various campaigns for the Bronx Demo- problems with leaks, mold and roaches. ing for the building in April 2012 and Board 10 and was once a part- Although reforms were put into cratic Trustees, a political committee that Many of the original violations also re- requested compensation of about ner in a real estate firm with place in 2003 to stem the tide of po- raises money for the county party. He has mained open — including several that $32,000, to be split evenly between him former New York State Assem- litical patronage, he has received handled petitions and provided legal ser- Mr. Vargas said had been remedied. and Mr. Popovic. They had already blyman Stephen Kaufman, also more than 80 appointments as guard- vices to former Assemblymen Luis Diaz In January 2012, Judge Julia Ro- each made $18,000 for their work. a Bronx Democrat. ian, evaluator, receiver, referee and and Peter Rivera and current Assembly- driguez denied Mr. Davie’s motion The owner, 1201 University Realty appraiser in the Bronx since then — man and party boss Carl Heastie, among on the grounds that the tenants did LLC, opposed the fee, claiming Mr. Var- about two dozen of them receiverships others. Mr. Vargas also earned almost not have legal standing. In her deci- gas’ accounts lacked adequate detail and for distressed properties. $15,000 campaigning for Luis Gonzalez, sion, she wrote that even if the tenants needed to be independently verified. Post-reform reform Efforts to hear his side of the story the presiding justice of New York’s Appel- had standing, they had not sufficiently In an affidavit, Ben Fasten, a prop- were to no avail. Mr. Vargas did not late Court. proved their case. erty manager who had overseen the Harold Shultz, a former HPD of- return repeated calls requesting com- He served on the Taxi and Limou- The same month that the tenants’ building both before and after the ficial who currently works with the ment. When The Press finally got him sine Commission from 2005 to 2008 case was dismissed, HPD placed the receivership, questioned the expens- Citizen’s Housing Planning Council, on the phone, he said he was too busy and he has earned $150,000 since 2008 building into Alternative Enforcement, es. He noted that Mr. Vargas listed said that while political patronage now to answer questions. A subsequent call as a legislative advisor for Mr. Heastie, a rehabilitation program that annually almost $65,000 in repairs for vacant plays a smaller role in who is chosen yielded the same result. according to the Empire Center for targets the 200 most distressed prop- apartments and an additional $19,000 for receivership appointments, the New York State Policy’s database. erties in the city. for apartment repairs. But only three quality of the receivers themselves has Political connections Buildings enter receivership in apartments became vacant during the not on the whole improved. Longfellow Avenue poor physical and financial condition. receivership, Mr. Fasten said, and he “It is frustrating but more shock- Mr. Vargas’ work with the Bronx However, Mr. Vargas and Mr. Popo- saw evidence of only minimal repairs. ing to me that we don’t make sure Democratic County Committee dates In October 2010, Mr. Vargas was vic were in charge of the building for “The property manager refuses to that there are people who are com- back to at least 2002, when he began appointed receiver for a 20-unit apart- more than a year before the classifica- give us any back up in the form of in- petent to do this. Normally when you serving as its executive director. He be- ment building in Fairmont. He re- tion was made. voices, copies of checks or other infor- have a problem, you want to find the came counsel to the Bronx Democratic tained the services of Louis Popovic, mation to justify the large expenses,” best person to fix it, not the worst,” party in 2008, and continues to rep- president of JLP Metro Management. Albany Crescent he said. “For this over $70,000 of ‘va- he said. resent the party even though he lives During the next several months, cant repairs’ we should have gotten According to Kerri White, a tenant near Albany. the already distressed building at 1255 In March 2011, five months after more than a cheap paint in three units.” organizer with the Urban Homestead- His resume includes stints as court at- Longfellow Ave. racked up 37 viola- Mr. Vargas took over at 1255 Longfel- In his response, Mr. Vargas said ing Assistance Board, several housing torney for Judge Nelson Roman in Bronx tions from the Department of Housing low Ave. and before court proceedings that the records had been made avail- groups are working together to petition Civil Court and, according to expenditure Preservation and Development, bring- began in that case, he was appointed able to University Realty LLC. He said for reforms to the receiver process, in- ing its total to 141. receiver of 3044 Albany Crescent in that the allegations were meritless at- cluding creating a set of standards that “It seemed like the building was, Kingsbridge by Judge Rodriguez. tempts to reduce the court-appointees’ receivers would have to meet before a I don’t want to say abandoned, but it From March 2011 to November compensation. judge could appoint them. New York seemed like the receiver was very ab- 2012, Mr. Vargas received more than The matter came before Mary Ann They would like HPD to maintain a sent,” said Ian Davie, a lawyer with the $25,000 as the receiver. He appointed Brigantti-Hughes, the same judge list of receivers who have experience Community non-profit Legal Services Bronx. Anton Popovic, also of JLP Metro Man- who had appointed Mr. Vargas. After working with distressed properties. Mr. Davie filed a motion on behalf agement, to collect rents and to ar- a hearing, the judge determined that Judges would choose appointees ex- Bank of the tenants in August 2011. He re- range for repairs. the accounts lacked sufficient detail clusively from this list. quested that the court require New According to court documents, Mr. and held a conference with lawyers to Ms. White said that UHAB has met While it’s unusual for the court York Community Bank, which held Vargas’ responsibilities were limited examine the records. with the Office of Court Administra- to require a bank to advance the mortgage, to advance money to to notifying tenants of the receiver- According to Alexander Novak, the tion and reports that the court is open funds in a foreclosure case, Mr. Vargas to make repairs. Legal ship and sending a letter to the man- lawyer for the owner, neither he nor his to such reforms, though no clear dead- Services Bronx asserted that NYCB agement company requesting that it client had a chance to examine the re- line has been set for implementing New York Community Bank should bear some responsibility for turn over pertinent records. He also ceiver’s records before the conference. has been cited in the past for these changes. the conditions in the building, which reported preparing documents for Instead, Mr. Vargas’ lawyer brought a HPD’s Eric Bederman wrote in an selling distressed mortgages to had deteriorated, partly as a result of non-payment cases against 14 tenants. large book of receipts to the meeting. e-mail that the city is working with a unresponsive landlords. the bank’s over-leveraging. Mr. Vargas later appointed a lawyer to At the hearing, Mr. Vargas’ at- variety of groups to address problems According to a 2011 study by In their affidavits, tenants com- handle those cases. torney asserted that the expenses with receiverships. a housing organization, New plained of chronic leaks, collapsed The building remains in foreclo- had been mistakenly listed for vacant “We have been speaking with tenant York Community Bank held ceilings, inoperable toilets, mold, heat sure and Mr. Vargas is likely to receive apartments, even though repairs were advocacy groups, the Office of Court the mortgages on 143 dis- and hot water issues, and roach and rat another substantial fee at the close of also made to occupied apartments. Administration and other stakeholders tressed properties comprised infestations. They said Mr. Vargas and the receivership, despite the fact that Judge Brigantti-Hughes opted not to hear their concerns and ideas. We are of 8,889 individual apartment Mr. Popovic were unresponsive to com- the building has 33 open violations. to hold a formal hearing and instead currently working with OCA and these plaints and that repairs, when made, HPD documented 12 of these infrac- awarded Mr. Vargas and Mr. Popovic groups to review a number of options units. This was more than the were often made poorly. In one case, a tions while the building was under Mr. compensation in the full amount. next three biggest lenders that have been presented,” he wrote. hole in an interior apartment door had Vargas’ care, including three Class C, Mr. Novak said he was not sur- John A. Crotty, one-time executive combined. simply been taped over and painted, ac- immediately hazardous violations for prised at the outcome of the case. He vice president of the New York City Facing pressure from hous- cording to court documents. defective window guards, lack of gas said he has worked on about 75 fore- Housing Development and a found- ing advocates and regulators, In his response, Mr. Vargas sided and the existence of lead paint. closure cases over the past three years ing partner of Workforce Housing last year the bank agreed to with the bank. In an affidavit, Mr. Var- and that such claims rarely end with a Advisors, a development group that fo- sell the mortgages on four gas stated that all of the tenants’ com- University Place decision against the receiver. cuses on distressed property, has had distressed properties at a dis- plaints either had been or were being “Generally judges are very solici- numerous experiences with buildings counted price to a non-profit addressed. He also said the building A 38-unit building at 1201 Universi- tous of receivers. I’m not implying any under Mr. Vargas’s care. housing developer. NYCB has had a monthly rental income that pro- ty Place was placed under Mr. Vargas’ improper relationship,” said Mr. Novak, “These were tough buildings that vided enough money for repairs. care in November 2009. the owner’s attorney. “But they want to needed to be fixed,” he said. “The de- also agreed to give non-profit “I will do everything in my power to He again requested Louis Popovic as make sure that the receiver gets paid.” developers a two-week head ployment of the receiver in this case ensure the tenants have a safe and se- property manager and they worked to- He advises his clients not to pursue was not helpful. They didn’t get better start on purchasing distressed cure place to live,” Mr. Vargas stated. gether until they were both discharged such cases because the legal costs in- and you can make the argument that mortgages before opening up Two follow-up inspections by the in February 2012, when the bank hold- volved in an appeal are too great. “I tell they actually got worse.” the process to other bidders. city in September 2011 revealed mixed ing the building’s mortgage made an them it’s the cost of doing business,” results. Total violations decreased from agreement with former owner Universi- Mr. Novak said. —Marisol Diaz contributed reporting Lorraine Coyle is queen of Bronx court appointments By Carla Astudillo Judge Saks said he chose her agents to get the pulse of this The Press, Ms. Coyle explained a one-day course on receiver- Mr. Glick said. [email protected] from the list of individuals ap- responsibility.” that it had been almost 20 years ships. Thanks to the refresher Ms. Coyle said she had done proved for such work because “I am sorry that this has since her last receivership case, course, she said, she felt ready her best with a tough job. Attorney Lorraine Coyle has he had known her for many taken so long to resolve,” she and she decided she needed to try again. “That was a very, very dif- earned more than $220,000 in years and believed she was an added. more training. She flew to Two months later, in Decem- ficult building to do,” she said. fees from court appointments excellent lawyer with great in- Asked about the episode by Rochester where she attended ber 2009, she was back at work “There were a lot of problems she’s received from Bronx judg- tegrity. as a court-appointed receiver. in that building.” es since reforms went into effect “She’s in the real estate busi- Her new appointment came She was still well compen- in June 2003. Her total earnings ness and knew a lot about it so from Judge Edgar Walker who sated. In 2011, Ms. Coyle re- from such positions is $430,000, I had confidence in her ability,” asked her to manage 876 Bry- ceived $20,000 in fees for her according to data available from he said. A spike in foreclosures ant Ave., a troubled residential work managing the property. the state’s Office of Court Admin- On Nov. 6, 2008, he assigned Bronx Supreme Court judg- foreclosure is once again building in Hunts Point that She said she could never istration. Ms. Coyle as a receiver at 54 E. es appointed receivers to on the rise, from 10,464 in was also in foreclosure. have won the appointments if She’s well positioned to 167th St. Bank officials, how- collect rent, manage build- 2011 to 11,877 in 2012. But according to several ten- her work wasn’t up to speed. know judges. A former candi- ever, said Ms. Coyle was hard ings’ finances and ensure This spike in foreclosures ants and the purchaser of the “Do you really think the to reach. Linda Mandel Gates, bank note and the mortgage judges would appoint me if I date for political office herself, that properties remain hab- has taken a toll on the she is the wife of longtime who represented HSBC bank, that followed, Ms. Coyle’s per- wasn’t doing a good job? Of which held the mortgage on itable in 163 foreclosure court system. New York formance still fell short. course not. It reflects on them,” councilman — and one-time cases from 2007 to 2011. is a judicial foreclosure state attorney general — Oli- the property, complained in a The toughest criticism she said. ver Koppell. Both are active court document that Ms. Coyle As the city’s housing bub- state, meaning that a came from Chaim Glick, a But Mr. Glick said he sus- in the Benjamin Franklin Re- was for months “unresponsive ble was bursting, the num- judge must approve property manager for 13 years pects favoritism is also at play. form Democratic Club, which to the [mortgagor’s] needs and ber of first-time foreclosure each foreclosure before and whose company had man- “It’s a clique of maybe five awards crucial endorsements never qualifying in her capacity auctions for residential the property can be sold. aged the building before Ms. or six of these guys that are get- to judges in elections. as court-appointed receiver.” properties in New York City Because of the high vol- Coyle became the receiver and ting all the receivership work,” From late 2008 through 2009, Ms. Coyle eventually began rising in 2006. It ume of foreclosure cases bought the building after the re- he said. most of Ms. Coyle’s receivership agreed. On Oct. 15, 2009 — al- reached an all-time high in in the New York courts, ceivership ended. Former Judge Saks, who ap- most a year after her appoint- “Iwas able to watch it go from pointed Ms. Coyle as receiver appointments came from two 2008. That year saw 3,874 the length of the fore- judges, Edgar Walker and the ment— Ms. Coyle wrote a letter gold to garbage and then work four times from 2008 to 2010, ac- to the judge. foreclosure auctions. closure process in New my tail off to get it back to where knowledged that the system still now-retired Alan Saks. Both were Since then, foreclosures York City has doubled. In endorsed by the Ben Franklin “I have concluded that until it should be, “ Mr. Glick said. needs further reform. Club in each of their elections. I become learned in the obliga- have steadily declined, 2006, the average length He said that, under Ms. “Frankly, I never wanted to Judge Saks said Ms. Coyle tions of a receiver I should not reaching a seven-year low was 12 months. Now, the Coyle’s supervision, the building make these appointments,” he was a good choice. Referring to accept any receiverships,” stat- of 912 in 2012. average length is 1,089 had racked up around 200 new said. “I never wanted the jobs. one instance in which he’d se- ed the letter. “I will spend a fair But the number of proper- days or roughly three violations for such problems as Never thought that judges lected Ms. Coyle as a receiver amount of time speaking with ties in the earliest stages of years. leaky ceilings, mold and defective should be allowed to make that for a property in foreclosure, other relatives and managing locks. Vendors also went unpaid, judgment.” Home & Garden Art in the house A special section about design, Dozens of Bronx artists have work on display in and out of your home. at the historic Andrew Freedman Home, B1.

Vol. 64, No. 4 TThursday,hur March 14, 2013 1 Dollar Courthouse patronage Klein, law partner tag-team to score big on appointments By Sean Carlson & Alex Robinson work performed as court-appointed [email protected] fiduciaries. The fees were awarded by the Bronx state Sen. Jeff Klein has courts after Mr. Klein and Mr. Caldero- done well in politics, rising this year to ni were selected by judges to represent become one of Albany’s top kingmak- individuals unable to care for them- ers. He’s also done well in the often selves, including the elderly and the politically influenced world of court incapacitated. A Riverdale Press survey appointments. State has found that despite court records show repeated efforts to sep- that Mr. Klein and a arate the courts from longtime law partner A Press the political clubhouse, who has doubled as politically connected his legislative aide special report officials still benefit have been among the from a system in which biggest winners when Third in a series judges need political it comes to legal fees backing to win election earned from judicial Go to riverdalepress.com to the bench. designations. for complete coverage Records show that Records show that Mr. Klein took in at since June 2003, when least $155,300 from reforms aimed at limiting the appoint- appointments he’s received since ments of politically tied officials were June 2003, from judges in the Bronx implemented, Mr. Klein and his law and Nassau County. Mr. Calderoni partner, Dominick Calderoni, have has done even better, hauling in more earned nearly $730,000 in fees for (Continued on page A12)

Photo by Marisol Diáz COUNCILMAN OLIVER Koppell railed against dividing DeWitt Clinton High School at the Panel for Educational Policy meeting at Brooklyn Tech High School Monday night. Athletic director Panel votes to slice Clinton replaced at Science By Sarina Trangle The plan passed eight to four despite opposition By Sarina Trangle room teaching assignments the three may have. [email protected] from four panel members appointed by borough [email protected] presidents. Diane Peruggia, the Staten Island repre- On Monday, Principal Valerie Reidy announced that the school had select- The DeWitt Clinton dynasty has lost control of the sentative, sided with seven PEP members selected Bronx Science has replaced its ed two new athletic directors, Mr. Mc- Castle on the Parkway. by Mayor Michael Bloomberg and cast her vote for athletic director in the wake of a fresh- Grath and Ms. Bertsch, who met with Come fall, DeWitt Clinton High School will share the co-locations. The eighth mayoral appointee, PEP man’s allegations that he was repeat- coaches to review Public School Ath- its Mosholu Parkway South campus with two new Chair Tino Hernandez, was absent. edly hazed and sexually harassed by letic League rules and school sports schools. By the time public comment started, two-thirds of older students on the school’s track policies. The Panel for Educational Policy voted early Tues- the people packed into the Brooklyn Tech auditorium team. “We will also be reminding all of our day to co-locate two new district high schools inside had left. After police arrested three track students about expectations for appro- Clinton’s building and to decrease the school’s enroll- Alan Ettman, an English teacher and United Fed- athletes on Feb. 27, the Department priate behavior and what they should ment by 40 percent over four years to accommodate eration Chapter leader at Clinton, said Bronx stu- of Education suspended Bronx High do if they experience, witness or learn the new institutions. (Continued on page A8) School of Science Athletic Director Marion Dietrich and two coaches. The of conduct not within these guidelines. suspension does not affect any class- (Continued on page A2) Jaspers’ journey takes them not quite far enough By Adam Wisnieski best offensive team, the Gaels, against team’s offense fell apart in the second Bronx-born guard, RaShawn Stores, perfect from long distance, with 9 [email protected] its best defensive team, the Jaspers. with costly turnovers and mental mis- helped close the gap. points on three 3-pointers. Stores Yet the old sports cliché — defense takes. Down the stretch, Manhattan cut scored 8 points, including a pair of This Cinderella story just wasn’t wins championships — proved false While the Jaspers were able to hold Iona’s lead to 4 with a steal and lay-up 3-pointers. meant to be. on Monday night. While Manhattan onto their lead for the first seven min- by Emmy Andujar and a pair of foul Manhattan coach Steve Masiello Manhattan College’s comeback was able to keep the country’s third utes of the third quarter, Iona began shots from Rhamel Brown. In what said the loss will be something to build season ended Monday night with a highest-scoring team to only 60 points chipping away, finally taking a 37-35 may have been the most crucial play of on next year. three-point loss to Iona in the MAAC — Iona averages 80 points a game — it lead. Over the next few minutes, Iona the game, Manhattan could not come “We’re going to look back on this title game. After leading for much of wasn’t enough to seal the win. went on a 9-0 run and the momentum down with a loose rebound on the oth- day and cherish it,” he said. “And this the game, the Jaspers could not con- Manhattan’s defense, led by shifted to the Gaels. er end of the court. Iona hit a pair of will be the fuel to Manhattan’s future.” tain the higher-seeded Gaels, falling Rhamel Brown, kept Iona on its heels With 8:40 left to play, Manhattan foul shots and the game was over after The defeat ends an uneven season 60-57, at the Massmutual Center in for most of the first half. Manhattan was down by 10, but a pair of foul shots a dunk by David Laury. for the Jaspers, who got off to a dismal Springfield, Mass. also shot better from outside. At half- by Bronx-born guard Michael Alvara- Alvarado led the Jaspers with 14 start. After a 66-63 loss to a terrible The championship pitted MAAC’s time, the Jaspers led 26-24, but the do and a big 3-pointer from another points. Forward Shane Richards was (Continued on page A11) Pre-school for all? Educators weigh in By Sarina Trangle by the city, state and federal govern- [email protected] ments. The president called on Congress Riverdale, Kingsbridge and Van to allocate funding to states based on Cortlandt Village educators have their proportion of low and middle been trying to envision how President class 4-year-olds. That number is sup- posed to help the federal government Barack Obama’s plan to guarantee all determine how much funding should American children access to a pre- go toward pre-school and full-day kin- school education will pan out in the dergarten for families at or below 200 Bronx. percent of the poverty level. After Mr. Obama unveiled an ambi- Mr. Obama urged lawmakers to in- tious plan to bolster and expand early vest in Early Head Start, a free educa- education in his February State of the tion initiative for low-income children Union address, many said they were under 3, by distributing grants to pro- hopeful but wary. viders that have a record of success. They wondered what his proposals As it stands, pre-school educators would do to combat long waitlists, to say there are multiple barriers stand- Photo by Marisol Diáz supplement inadequate funding and to ing in the way of providing as compre- Denise Millan, 4, and Angelyn Dominguez, 5, read on the rug at Kingsbridge Heights streamline the guidelines put in place (Continued on page A2) Community Center on March 4.

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latituderiverdale.com Select 1, 2, 3 & 4 Bedroom Residences, Outdoor Space, Parking, Doorman & FHA Approved 95% Financing. 605924 A12 - THE RIVERDALE PRESS - Thursday, March 14, 2013 Klein, law partner tag-team to score big on appointments (Continued from page A1) the party in need. Evaluators In a Jan. 9, 2009 letter to than $570,000 in similar ap- then file a report of their find- Judge Iannacci, Mr. Calde- pointments since that date, ings with the court. roni wrote that while he had Jeff Klein, from courts in Bronx, Nassau, Mr. Klein recommended to maxed out on his own earn- Queens and Westchester coun- the court that a guardian should ings, his partner, Mr. Klein, “is pictured here, ties. be named and in January 2009, not precluded from receiving and Dominick The two men have been Judge Angela Iannacci appoint- appointments this year and partners since the mid-1990s ed one: She named Mr. Klein. he would be willing to serve Calderoni have in the Bronx-based law firm of Affidavits filed in the case as court evaluator in this mat- been closely Klein Calderoni & Santucci. Mr. indicate that Mr. Klein did the ter should the court deem Calderoni has also been a long- work. But Ms. Cohen’s daugh- it appropriate.” Judge Ian- paired in the legal time political advisor. When ter, Rabbi Judith Cohen-Rosen- nacci agreed to do so, naming work they’ve Mr. Klein was first elected to berg, said that she spoke only Mr. Klein to handle the case. the state Assembly in 1994, he to Mr. Calderoni on the tele- But Mr. Calderoni done as judicial named Mr. Calderoni as his phone, not to Mr. Klein. She again did much of the work. court appointees part-time legislative legal coun- didn’t question the substitution. Mr. Ward’s wife recalled that sel. After Mr. Klein won a Sen- “I have no idea what was sup- it was Mr. Calderoni who con- — so closely, in ate seat in 2004, Mr. Calderoni posed to happen,” she told The tacted her about the matter, fact, that some went along as part of his Senate Press. “I was so overwhelmed even visiting her at home. She staff. Mr. Calderoni resigned with my mother’s care, I just told The Press that she assumed clients told ‘The the Senate position in 2011 af- went with it.” that Mr. Calderoni was the Press’ they were ter news reports that he was court-appointed evaluator. “He receiving state-paid medical did whatever the judge appoint- confused about benefits while working the min- The substitute ed him to do,” she said. which attorney imum number of hours needed Despite the switch desig- It wasn’t the only case in to qualify. nating Mr. Klein for the post, was in charge. which the law partners worked several records in the file list as a kind of legal tag team. In Mr. Calderoni as the evalua- early 2009, records show that Close ties tor. And even a court clerk was Mr. Calderoni asked the court confused, mistakenly directing Mr. Klein and Mr. Calderoni to substitute Mr. Klein for him- compensation to Mr. Calderoni have also been closely paired in self on an upcoming case, that for the work. The files show that the legal work they’ve done as of Cecil Ward, a proprietor of a in June 2009, Mr. Klein wrote a judicial court appointees — so car dealership in Elmont, Long letter to the clerk, asking that closely, in fact, that some cli- Island whose family worried a correction be made and that ents told The Press they were that his mental condition was his own name be listed as the confused about which attorney deteriorating. recipient of legal fees awarded was in charge. The reason for the substi- in the case. In July, 2008, for instance, tution request was that Mr. Records show that during Mr. Klein was appointed by a Calderoni had had a banner Mr. Calderoni’s forced sabbati- Nassau County judge to evalu- year in 2008, earning $127,076 cal during 2009, Mr. Klein re- ate whether a guardian was in fees from fiduciary cases. ceived a total of eight appoint- needed for an elderly woman That figure far exceeded a cap ments from Judge Iannacci and named Mildred Cohen, who of $75,000 that the state’s Of- earned $30,938 in fees. had recently been moved into a fice of Court Administration Both Mr. Klein and Mr. nursing home by her family. has placed on the amount any Calderoni declined to be inter- Many of Mr. Klein’s and Mr. attorney can earn from fidu- viewed about their judicial ap- Calderoni’s judicial appoint- ciary appointments in a single pointments, but a spokesman ments have been to serve as year. (The original cap, part of said that there was nothing un- evaluators who are designated the 2003 reforms, was placed at usual about the arrangement. to conduct interviews with fami- $50,000. It was later increased “Given Sen. Klein’s extensive ly members, health care profes- after protests that the amount workload both within and be- sionals and others concerning was too low.) Photo by Marisol Díaz yond the law firm, it is not un- “We don’t tell a law firm who years. made at least $50,000 within a usual for Mr. Calderoni to serve should do the work,” he said. Mr. Fatoullah called the idea year. as the point of contact for the “The lawyer who was appointed of having a law partner stand in But a check of files at the This series was reported and written by a class on firm’s clients,” Eric Soufer, Mr. by the judge is responsible for for anyone in a court appoint- Office of Court Administration Klein’s spokesman, wrote in investigative journalism taught by Tom Robbins the end product.” ment “ludicrous. It’s definitely by Press reporters showed no an e-mail. He said that the law But attorneys familiar with not good practice,” he said. such forms submitted by Klein at the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism. partners’ arrangement was “a court appointments criticized Calderoni & Santucci, even routine matter of business prac- Contributors include: Lindsay Armstrong, Carla the practice. though records show that their ticed by law firms across New “There’s no way I would Forms not filed earnings required them to do Astudillo, Sean Carlson, Tristan Hallman, Jacob York.” send anyone other than me to so every year except 2009. David Bookstaver, spokes- The 2003 reforms, promul- Hodes, Alex Robinson, Rachel Sapin, Jorteh Senah, my hearings,” said Ronald Fa- Mr. Soufer, the spokesman, man for the Office of Court Ad- gated by then Chief Judge Ju- toullah, a former board mem- said all required paperwork had Joe Stepansky, Emma Thorne, and Kate Trafecante. ministration, said that the rules dith Kaye, not only put limits ber and fellow of the National been completed. “Every guard- do not require the attorney ap- on individuals, they also re- Adam Wisnieski and Kate Pastor of ‘The Press’ Academy of Elder Law Attor- ian appointment obtained by pointed to personally handle quired law firms to file reports neys, who has specialized in Sen. Klein and his law partners provided additional reporting and editing. the case. whenever they collectively elder care in New York for 36 was fully disclosed,” he said. Pesach 2013/5773 Everything you need for Passover! 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A SPECI AL ADVERTISING SECTION Thursday, Marc h 21, 2013 Vol. 64, No. 5 Thursday, March 21, 2013 1 DDoDollarlllar Courthouse patronage Public records blocked by court By Jacob Hodes These abuses are neither new nor [email protected] unique to the Bronx. What is unique to the Bronx is the Every year, Bronx judges appoint difficulty one encounters when trying hundreds of attorneys to handle vital to obtain records that can shed light matters for incapacitat- on whether court- ed people or distressed appoint fiduciaries are property. qualified to fulfill their These individuals, A Press responsibilities to the known as “fiduciary vulnerable in their appointees,” are well- special report care. paid for their time, Under state law, earning a total of $2.6 Fourth in a series such documents million in the Bronx should be available to last year. Editorial comment the public. Despite reforms put Page A6 Article 81 of the in place in 2003 to stem state’s Mental Hygiene the tide of political pa- Go to riverdalepress.com Law, which covers tronage, many top ap- for the complete series many of the relevant pointees are also well- cases, states that “the connected, with strong court shall not enter ties to the Bronx Democratic Party an order sealing the court records in a proceeding under this article, in whole Photo by Marisol Diáz and the political organizations that help judges win election, a recent in- or in part, except upon a written find- LORA JUNCAJ, 24, granddaughter of Drane Nikac, cries in the hallway after former NYPD Det. Kevin ing of good cause.” Spellman is given less than the maximum sentence. vestigation by the The Riverdale Press found. (Continued on page A5) Spellman could languish DOE reveals Clinton’s for nine years in prison two new high schools By Sarina Trangle regularly collected from the neighborhood. By Sarina Trangle is described as a humanities program with interdisciplinary offerings in the [email protected] In the middle of the crosswalk, Mr. Spellman’s [email protected] car struck her, throwing her approximately 40 feet DOE’s Directory of New Schools and through the air. She died shortly afterward. Education officials have selected New Programs. The school aims to Former Det. Kevin Spellman was sentenced in incorporate city resources and history Bronx Criminal Court on March 15 to serve three to Mr. Spellman refused a Breathalyzer test on the two new schools to share the building scene, but after five hours his blood-alcohol content that has been home to DeWitt Clinton into lessons and foster collaborations nine years in prison. with community leaders and profes- Mr. Spellman, a Riverdale resident and 22-year was recorded at 0.21. Beer cans were found in the for more than 80 years. government-issued Chevy Malibu Mr. Spellman was Bronx Collaborative High School sionals. Technology and social media veteran of the NYPD, was convicted on Dec. 6 of will be integrated into all subjects, ac- manslaughter in the second degree, the third highest driving, including one that was open and empty with and World View High School, both his DNA on it. brand new, will enroll 108 freshmen cording to the school’s website. charge he faced for killing 66-year-old Kingsbridge Brett Schneider, former assistant resident Drane Nikac. Judge Steven Barrett sentenced Mr. Spellman af- each this fall. As the Department of ter two of Ms. Nikac’s granddaughters described how Education gradually shrinks Clinton’s principal at Institute for Collaborative At 6:37 a.m. on Oct. 30, 2009, Ms. Nikac, an Alba- Education in Manhattan, will serve as nian from Montenegro who immigrated to the U.S. her death shattered their family. student body by 40 percent over four Sara Juncaj said she has been haunted by images years, the two new high schools will its principal, according to District 10 more than 15 years ago, crossed Kingsbridge Avenue Community Education Council Presi- at West 232nd Street, pushing a cart full of cans she (Continued on page A2) add one grade each year until their rosters list 420 to 460 students apiece. dent Marvin Shelton. Bronx Collaborative High School (Continued on page A2) Campaign cash flows to candidate Cohen By Adam Wisnieski $785 in that period, bringing her total cratic County Committee. campaign’s recent filing. “It’s not Andy one fundraiser so far and plans to have [email protected] to $1,935. Mr. Cohen said he is approaching Cohen money, but I’m still encouraged one every month going forward. Mr. Cohen, the organizational fa- the end of his big fundraising push and … people still believe in me. They are Despite raising the most money, City Council candidate Andrew Co- vorite who has the backing of many lo- looks forward to hitting the streets as confident that I can win this thing.” Mr. Cohen has spent very little so hen continues to outpace opponents cal elected officials, a few Democratic the weather warms. Mr. Stanton said he plans to host far. His campaign has spent $11,166, Cliff Stanton and Shelley Keeling in mayoral candidates and the influential “I plan to go out and knock on ev- more fundraisers and that he’s “on the mostly on campaign mailings, print- the race to replace Councilman Oliver Benjamin Franklin Reform Demo- ery door and ring every bell,” he said. phone constantly trying to drum up ing literature, on his website and for Koppell. cratic Club in his bid for the District Mr. Stanton said he was not sur- money.” fundraising expenses. Mr. Stanton’s Mr. Cohen’s campaign raised 11 seat, said he was thrilled with what prised at Mr. Cohen’s fundraising Ms. Keeling said she’s excited campaign, which was formed in Janu- $16,000 between mid-January and the he’s raised so far. In the most recent given the “flurry of endorsements for about the support she’s had and was ary 2012, nine months before Mr. Co- March 15 filing date, bringing his to- period, he’s received sizable contribu- him,” and said he expected his op- optimistic she could raise more. hen announced, has spent $32,370 on tal to $81,177. Mr. Stanton’s campaign tions from labor unions, as well as a ponent to have the lead in terms of “If I raise $2,000 this time, the next expenses including mailings, building raised $7,000 in that time, bringing his $1,000 check from Assemblyman Carl money. time I’m going to shoot for $10,000,” a website, consulting fees and legal ex- total to $53,363. Ms. Keeling raised Heastie, the head of the Bronx Demo- “I’m still encouraged,” he said of his she said, adding that she’s only hosted (Continued on page A2) Irish sporting arena to get a second life By Adam Wisnieski The MTA, which leases the field to [email protected] Manhattan College and the building next door to the New York GAA, put Gealic Park is getting a $3.2 million out an RFP for a 10-year lease that in- makeover. cluded a requirement to repair the old Just in time for Irish football sea- building or demolish it to make way for son, the MTA has approved the Gaelic a new one. Gaelic Park Restaurant and Athletic Association of Greater New Catering LLC was the sole applicant. York’s plan to knock down the existing The MTA approved the 10-year lease building at Gaelic Park and construct a at its board meeting on March 13. banquet hall and bar. Though the crowds are thinner Gaelic Park Restaurant and Cater- than decades past, Gaelic Park is still ing LLC — a new group formed by the the Mecca of Irish sport in New York. athletic association and restaurateurs The field has welcomed generations of Paul and Gieto Nicaj — plans to de- Irish football players and hurlers since molish the dilapidated building at the the stadium was constructed in 1928. southern end of Gaelic Park to build a The banquet hall at the southern new facility that will finally make a per- end of the field has been an event des- Photo by Marisol Diáz manent home for the New York GAA. tination for Irish immigrants and Irish- THE GAELIC PARK concession stand is located at West 240th Street and Corlear Avenue. (Continued on page A2)

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POLITICAL ARENA BY ADAM WISNIESKI Public records blocked at Bronx courthouse

(Continued from page A1) confirmed by Frederick Ros- He said the files should be Still, The Press was unable setti, counsel to the Bronx made available to the public to obtain any records involving County Clerk. after the redaction of any sensi- fiduciary appointments from the “Unless you get a court or- tive personal data. Bronx County Clerk’s office for der, we’re not going to” release “Obviously I have to make more than a month. All of the the files, Mr. Rossetti said. “The sure my staff has been in- files were sealed, clerks said. policy hasn’t changed in years formed” of the policy, Mr. Diaz Top officials at the clerk’s of- and years.” said. Responding to questions fice confirmed this policy, citing In 2006, the Village Voice ran about why the Bronx policy concerns about sensitive finan- a lengthy story detailing cases differed from that of the rest cial and medical information for which Stanley Schlein, a of the city, he said, “There’s a contained within some of the prominent Bronx lawyer and lot that differs between coun- documents. Democratic party political op- ties.” After being turned down, erative, had been cited for neg- In the future, requests for The Press visited courthouses in ligence in his duties as a court- such files will be forwarded to Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, appointed fiduciary. the office of Judge McKeon, Photo by Marisol Díaz Staten Island and Nassau That story, written by a re- which will redact personal in- BRONX CLERGY MEMBERS rally on March 15 at the Bronx County Courthouse in County. In each of those offices, porter who also assisted the re- formation before releasing the support of raising the minimum wage. similar case files were available cent Press investigation, relied files, Mr. Diaz said. upon request and without re- on an examination of case files, That was news to Judge daction. which were supplied without McKeon, who said he had not David Bookstaver, a delay or redaction. been informed of the new pro- Minimum wage a done deal? spokesman for the state’s Of- When asked whether the tocol. fice of Court Administration, policy changed sometime since “I frankly thought he was It looks like Gov. Andrew Cuomo Until recently it looked as if Mr. confirmed that such records then, Mr. Rossetti’s boss, coun- going to have his own redaction and legislative leaders have reached Klein’s proposal to raise the state mini- should be available to the ty clerk Luis M. Diaz, who took process,” he said, referring to a tentative agreement on raising the mum wage to $8.50 or $8.75 would public. “If they were told that over as county clerk in 2009, Mr. Diaz. state’s minimum wage to $9 per hour [the files] were not public, said he did not know. But, he added, “If he wants be a success if it passed, but the heat [they] were told incorrectly,” “This is the first time this my law office to do it, we’re hap- by 2016. has been on him to get behind $9 per he said. has come up,” he said. py to do it.” As of press time, the deal was not of- hour. Last year, he pushed Speaker Several dozen Bronx case ficial, but various news outlets report- Sheldon Silver’s bill in the Senate to files were ultimately released ed an agreement to raise the minimum raise the state minimum wage from after the intervention of the This series on courthouse patronage in the wage from $7.25 to $8 per hour next $7.25 to $8.50. He tried to convince Office of Court Administration year; to $8.75 in 2015 and then to $9 and the county’s top judge, Senate Republicans to support it by Bronx was reported and written by a class in 2016. Douglas McKeon, who direct- saying it would help inject money into Democrats and low-wage workers ed his staff to redact personal on investigative journalism at the CUNY have been pushing for an increase the state’s economy. The Republicans information from the files be- fore providing copies to The Graduate School of Journalism. Contributors above the $7.25 federally mandated didn’t budge. Then Gov. Andrew Cuomo one- Press. include: Lindsay Armstrong, Carla Astudillo, rate for some time. Republicans have But months later, the gen- argued it would hurt businesses by upped the legislature early this year, eral policy at the county clerk’s Sean Carlson, Tristan Hallman, Jacob Hodes, forcing employers to pay wages they proposing an increase to $8.75. But office had not changed. On Jan. Alex Robinson, Rachel Sapin, Jorteh Senah, Joe could not afford. Democrats have ar- President Barack Obama blew every- 28, clerks flatly denied a request gued that raising the minimum wage one out of the water during his State for files concerning two recent Stepansky, Emma Thorne, and Kate Trafecante. would inject more money into the of the Union when he called for a raise guardianship cases. Such files Adam Wisnieski and Kate Pastor of ‘The Press’ economy because low-wage earners in the federal minimum wage to $9 per were only available to parties to would have more to spend. It is unclear the case, they explained. provided additional reporting and editing. hour. The no-access policy was what Republicans got in exchange for Now, everyone’s on the $9 per hour supporting the wage increase. bandwagon though we’ll see if Senate Late last week, a group of Bronx Democrats are upset the rate may not David Bookstaver, a clergy members rallied in front of the reach $9 until 2016. Bronx County Courthouse, calling on The clergy that rallied last week spokesman for the state’s state Sen. Jeff Klein to support raising said they wanted an increase to $9 per the minimum wage to $9 per hour, tied Office of Court Administration, hour, tied to inflation, with “no loop- to inflation. holes.” confirmed that such records The group called on Mr. Klein to support the bill that passed the Assem- “Surely even the most callous of us should be available to the bly two weeks ago. Mr. Klein has sup- would agree, it’s good for the minimum public. ‘If they were told that wage to be raised to a level that at least ported a raise in the minimum wage to [the files] were not public, $8.50 and $8.75, but he has not said if gives families half a chance at keeping he supports $9 per hour. He had been their heads above water and keeps pace [they] were told incorrectly,’ pushing to have the minimum wage with inflation,” Pastor Tim English, he said. hike included in the budget, which vice president of the Northwest Bronx seemed to be holding up the budget Community and Clergy Coalition said, deal as of press time. according to a press release.

Cohen calls for reform ity of the Council should not be denied a hearing or a vote,” Mr. Cohen said in a press release. It’s a good thing Andrew Cohen got City If this were to change, it would take away the biggest power the speaker has in the City Coun- Council Speaker Christine Quinn’s endorsement cil. before he let this cat out of the bag: Mr. Cohen, He also proposes taking away what might be a Community Board 8 member who is running the speaker’s second greatest power: doling out for City Council District 11, has called for drastic member items. reforms to the way the City Council operates. As it stands now, the speaker decides how His plan would take power away from the much money each district will get in discre- speaker, give more power over legislation to its tionary funds. Mr. Cohen proposes that every sponsors and eliminate lulus. council member get the same amount of money, He proposes that any legislation with a which makes sense given each council member support from a majority of the Council will be represents the same number of people. He also scheduled for a hearing and a vote. The idea pledges to set aside a portion of his budget for was inspired by the speaker’s blockage of a few participatory budgeting, which would allow com- pieces of legislation sponsored by Councilman munity members to decide how the money is Oliver Koppell. spent. Despite having a majority of support from the This means the Council would not have to Council, Ms. Quinn refused to bring the living bow to the speaker so he/she wouldn’t get the wage bill and a bill requiring the city’s new taxi short end of the stick when it comes to funding. fleet to be accessible to a vote. The council even- Mr. Cohen is not just going after the speaker’s tually passed a watered down version of the bill power. He also proposes that lulus, a stipend giv- and Mr. Koppell invoked a sponsor’s privilege to en to council members for leadership positions, trigger a hearing and vote on the cabs. be eliminated. That’s probably not going to make Another piece of legislation in limbo is the him a lot of friends in the Council, because it’s paid sick leave bill, which has a majority of the taking money out of members’ pockets. He said Council’s support, but has been sitting idle in the it can work. Council since March 2010. “Members who want to be independent would “Bills with significant support from the major- probably applaud it,” he said.

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www.HertzDental.com 616952 566500 A6 - THE RIVERDALE PRESS - Thursday, March 21, 2013 Opinion Editorial Courting reform ustice should be blind. Urban Homesteading Assistance Board, When Assemblyman Jeffrey said housing groups are urging judges to Dinowitz, Bronx Democratic choose from a list of receivers who have Party Counsel Howard Vargas experience with distressed properties. Jand politico Lorraine Coyle are all re- The OCA has meet with UHAB to dis- peatedly chosen for lucrative discretion- cuss some of its suggestions — a good ary positions by Bronx courts — it’s a start toward instituting changes that pretty good sign that some judges feel would prioritize the wellbeing of tenants the need to sneak a peek at the political and property over the financial wellbeing credentials of their appointees. of appointees with political connections. Over the course of reporting a four-part But the OCA must also do a better job series with students at the CUNY Gradu- enforcing existing regulations. ate School of Journalism, The Press deter- Compensation limits were instituted to mined that statewide reforms put in place stop the prominent role patronage played in 2003 by then Judge Ju- in court appointments, but dith Kaye haven’t gone far such rules are meaning- enough to stem the tide less if they aren’t enforced. of political patronage in The Office of Court There is a reason that Photo by Osjua A. Newton Bronx courts. Administration should fiduciary appointments are The commission dis- revisit its rules and made to individual attor- cussed barring all elected neys, not to law firms. The Photographer’s eye officials from receiving amend them to presumption, enshrined in DOG OWNER Deborah Pines attempts to call Cody, a 7-month-old Portuguese Water Dog, away appointments, but decid- exclude a wider array the rules, is that the named from dog trainer Jorge Melara using a technique to teach dogs name recognition at a Divine K-9 class at the Riverdale-Yonkers Society for Ethical Culture on Mar. 14. ed only to disallow state of political operatives attorney will be person- and county political party ally responsible for what is chairs. Compensation from receiving always a sensitive assign- caps for individuals were appointments so that ment. It is why attorneys Letters to the editor instituted, but there are judges cannot assign are obligated to personally no strictures against attor- visit those whose affairs neys working with part- those who they rely they are overseeing. Klein should be lauded, not indicted ners to exceed the limits. on most heavily to State Sen. Jeff Klein and The commission’s stated win elections. his law partner, Dominick To the editor: vacy protection, child safety and ruin the reputation of a goal was to stop political Calderoni, worked as an The March 14 article, initiatives, financial services is- hardworking man. “Klein, law partner tag-team sues, prescription drugs, hous- FARRAH RUBIN patronage in the court- apparent tag team on sev- to score big on court appoint- ing issues and much more. We house, but some judges continue to ap- eral assignments. As a result, it’s unclear ments,” was disturbing to me continued our work together in • point political insiders with a track record whether or not they complied with rules. on two levels. this capacity when he was elect- To the editor: of failure. Required documents detailing their law First, I read it several times, ed to the Senate in 2004. I am writing in response to Carl Heastie, chair of the Bronx Demo- firm’s earnings were not available at the did some research and still Then, when I left my posi- the front-page article in The crats, is barred from work as a court-ap- Office of Court Administration. failed to see what state Sen. tion at NYPIRG to become the Riverdale Press, “Klein, law Jeff Klein did wrong. A huge executive director of the Kings- partner tag-team to score big pointed attorney, but Mr. Dinowitz, the What we do know is that people who article with that sort of place- bridge-Riverdale-Van Cortlandt on court appointments, March county party’s second-in-command, is not. had Mr. Klein assigned to handle their vi- ment implies a scandal that I Development Corporation 14. Howard Vargas, the party counsel, is also tal matters believed that Mr. Calderoni — could not discover even when I (KRVC) in 2010, we continued The article drew my interest free to receive appointments. who, for a time, had been disallowed from further researched the issue. I our work together in a different as state Sen. Jeff Klein, a strong Both men are popular with certain receiving appointments because he had have enormous respect for the capacity. We worked on mer- supporter for our community paper, its publisher, editor and chant organizing and special and schools in Riverdale, was judges. maxed out his earnings — was respon- reporters and I have come to events together. implicated to be benefiting While The Press investigation found sible for their care. expect more than this sort of More recently, since he from judicial appointments be- that Mr. Dinowitz likely benefits in the The law firm loophole should be closed sensational journalism from has become the senator for cause of his political power. high number of appointments he receives by explicitly requiring attorneys to com- The Riverdale Press. the whole community of River- I find that the article was Second, Sen. Klein, of all dale, we have developed more confusing at best in demon- from his political clout, no one is saying plete work on their own cases so that people, did not deserve to be plans for joint-initiatives and I that he hasn’t done his job well. nobody is confused about the identity of strating what was wrong in treated in this fashion. We am looking forward to work- the legal partnership between But Howard Vargas, with long-standing their legal guardian and so that compensa- are very fortunate to have ing with Sen. Klein to serve Mr. Klein and Mr. Calderoni. ties to Bronx Democrats, is a cautionary tion limits are not exceeded. such a dedicated, hardworking our community in many capaci- As partners in a legal firm, one tale of what can happen when politics Consequences should follow for those elected official working for us ties. Through the years, I have would assume that they have to in this community. For many worked with dozens of elected share their work when neces- trumps competence. who fail to document how they conducted years, Riverdale was divided officials and Sen. Klein stands With Mr. Vargas as the receiver, five their cases. sary. What I don’t understand into three Senate districts. Re- out as someone who is smart, is when this article presented buildings have been added to the city’s list cently, that changed and we strong, reliable, effective, re- cases, for instance, when a of most distressed properties. Many ten- ustice should not only be blind, now have one state senator and sourceful and honest. judge appointed Mr. Klein as For all these reasons, I am ants in buildings like 2239 Creston Ave. its administration should be it is Sen. Klein. We are fortu- the evaluator for an ailing cli- nate to no longer be divided dismayed that our local paper ent. It implied that something in Fordham Heights live in squalor while transparent. Unless these cases among different districts and attacked our state senator in was wrong when Mr. Calderoni Mr. Vargas collects up to 5 percent of their are open to public scrutiny, it is to be represented by someone this malicious, even arguably helped with the case. It was not rent. impossibleJ to determine whether vul- irresponsible manner. as respected and dynamic as clear to me why that should be Sen. Klein. This was a poor way TRACY McCABE SHELTON Despite his troubling performance, Mr. nerable people under the care of court- an issue for two partners in a to welcome him to our commu- Vargas never seems to have trouble land- appointed attorneys are being fairly rep- legal firm. In fact, I would be nity. • a little surprised if they didn’t. ing more appointments. resented. In the short time that Sen. To the editor: The repeated suggestion of The Office of Court Administration During the course of our investiga- Klein has represented our com- I am writing in response to should revisit its rules and amend them tion, we were alarmed to learn that munity, he has been enriching your article regarding state some kind of wrongdoing as our cultural life with a huge Sen. Jeff Klein scoring big on the two worked together in vari- to exclude a wider array of political opera- Bronx courts have moved backward in ous cases is vague and difficult tives from receiving appointments so that this regard. concert in Seton Park and by appointments. supporting street festivals and I was alarmed by the air of to follow. judges cannot assign those who they rely In 2006, such court records were pro- movie nights. He has been sup- scandal implied by this article. I I first met Mr. Klein at a on most heavily to win elections. vided without delay or redaction from porting our schools through could find no impropriety upon summer concert featuring Glo- When it comes to receiverships for dis- the Bronx County Clerk’s office. They numerous visits and meetings, reading into it further. ria Gaynor in Seton Park. He tressed properties facing foreclosure, they are still readily available in every bor- by attending events, making I am an active participant in was a sponsor for the event, which brought together nu- should use a set of accepted standards to ough except the Bronx. presentations and, most recent- this community and at my chil- ly, by inviting students from the dren’s school, PS 24, where I merous attendees from the make appointments based on merit. There is no reason for any additional Riverdale/Kingsbridge Acad- am co-president of the parents’ neighborhood. Everyone who In 2009, attorney Lorraine Coyle — to restrictions and the County Clerk’s of- emy, MS/HS 141, to join him association. I have met several attended had such a great time her credit — had herself removed from a fice should revert to its previous policy in Albany to launch his Teen local politicians along the way. and Riverdale has changed for complicated receivership case after realiz- of releasing court documents upon re- Health Initiative and Survey. I have to say that Mr. Klein the better because of this won- ing she was in over her head. Yet within quest. The senator has also been impressed me the most with derful event. helpful to local merchants, lo- his honest and refreshingly di- As co-president of the par- months she received new receivership ap- Political patronage has victims. At mini- cal not-for-profits and he is in a rect approach in improving our ents’ association of PS 24, I pointments. mum, there are the hundreds of approved position to do much more. Sen. community and schools. had the opportunity to meet In a recent letter to The Press, Ms. Coyle lawyers who are passed over for jobs giv- Klein is powerful in Albany. He As soon as he acquired with him a number of times said she believes such positions are better en to politically connected attorneys. is the co-leader of the state Sen- our district, he brought grant since the event. His concern off in the hands of managing agents. We At the other end of the spectrum are ate, which puts him in a posi- money to the local schools for and generosity for our school was invaluable, bringing music agree. tion to do a great deal to help more enrichment programs, he the tenants who live under the collapsed our community. brought concerts and festivals enrichment to our school and As the number of properties in the ear- ceilings and walk through the decrepit On a personal note, I first to the area and he attends sev- encouraging children to give ly stages of foreclosure climbed to 11,877 hallways at 2239 Creston Ave. started working with Sen. Klein eral local events on an almost back to the community. He has in 2012, reforming the rules that govern It’s time we stop giving those at the in the 90s when he was in the daily basis. I am happy to have done so much already for our how distressed properties are cared for is top of the totem poll a free pass to ben- Assembly and I was just start- a senator in our district who we community in such a short pe- more vital than ever. efit from life’s most unfortunate circum- ing out as a consumer attorney can be proud of. riod of time and he is going to for the New York Public Interest I would hope that the stu- do much, much more. He does Kerri White, a tenant organizer with the stances. Research Group (NYPIRG). We dents at the journalism school not deserve to be indicted in worked on numerous issues to- are taught to write responsibly this fashion. gether over the course of many and not to create sensationalist INGRID JAEN years, including consumer pri- stories to sell their publications Chief Executive Clifford Richner Officers Stuart Richner Publisher Emeritus Bernard L. Stein A Weekly Newspaper Published Every Thursday Publisher Richard L. Stein Change the board’s selection process Founded 1950 by David and Celia Stein Editor Kate Pastor Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Writing To the editor: nature of the selection process Mr. Carrion’s talk show. Associate Editor Adam Wisnieski In my opinion, there have was in jeopardy. I was able to Let’s follow an open selec- 6155 Broadway, Bronx, N.Y. 10471-3153 News Sarina Trangle been some people who were share my concern with others tion process, allowing our 718-543-6065 Marie York not reappointed to Community on the board, but I had no pow- neighbors with interest in their www.riverdalepress.com What’s On Editor Danielle Valente Board 8 due to political affilia- er over elected officials. communities to learn, preserve tions. They had a strong com- Manhattan’s borough presi- and enhance what we value in © The Riverdale Press LLC, articles, pictures Sports Editor Raphael Sugarman munity understanding, which dent has presented another Kingsbridge, Kingsbridge and advertisements herein are the exclusive property Photo Editor Marisol Díaz probably prompted their initial option for the Bronx with his Heights and Riverdale and to of The Riverdale Press LLC, and any republication or broadcast Intern Melanie Cisse selection. Later, their support model of getting a non-partisan address the issues. without written permission is prohibited. of a local candidate, who is still (I hope) selection process for KAREN PESCE All rights and material herein are reserved. Special Projects Director Mekea Fishlin getting ill will, caused one of community board members. Classified Manager Cheryl Ortiz the deciding community offi- Candidates for board positions About letters We are not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts or photos. Display Les Adler cials, to withdraw support. don’t need to be attorneys with Advertising Sales Israel Jaronowski I joined Community Board political aspirations; they need Irena Lulashi The Riverdale Press welcomes Entered as Second Class Matter (USPS 466-8820) 8 to be a supporter of our com- to represent the neighbor- letters to the editor. Letters may Production Manager Karen Mengel at the Post Office, Bronx, N.Y. munity, and I’ve expressed my hoods, as Tom Luciano of for- be edited for space and clarity. Design and Production Sheauwei Pidd disgruntlement to board mem- mer Bronx Borough President You can mail your letter, fax it to bers a few years ago when I felt Carrion Jr.’s office recently told Published by The Riverdale Press LLC, a subsidiary of Richner Communications, Inc. 718-548-4038, or send it via e-mail the independent, non-political me after my call-in question to to [email protected].