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Serving Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights norwoodnews.org Be Healthy Anti-Bullying 101 NORWOOD NEWS page 6 Vol. 26, No. 8 n PUBLISHED BY MOSHOLU PRESERVATION CORPORATION n April 18–May 1, 2013 Indicted Castro MARCH TO SPRING TRAINING Helps Build Corruption Case By ALEX KRATZ Nelson Castro’s career as a politician and undercover informant began with a lie. Ironically, the lie made him one of the most trustworthy lawmakers in New York. “With the amount of supervision he was under from the very beginning, there was no person less likely to be cor- rupt in Albany than Nelson Castro,” said Castro’s lawyer, Michael C. Farkas. Before becoming the first Dominican elected official from the Bronx, rising to a leadership position on immigra- tion issues in the state Assembly and becoming a star in a federal corruption case against fellow Bronx assemblyman Eric Stevenson, Castro stood accused of voter fraud. Case Vanishes In the summer of 2008, Mike Soto, one of Castro’s oppo- nents in the race for the 86th assembly district, which in- cludes parts of Fordham and University Heights, brought a general objection to his collection of registered voters who had a signed his petition to get on the ballot for the fall pri- mary. Photo by Adi Talwar Under scrutiny, it turned out that nine people on his pe- ON OPENING DAY for Mosholu Montefiore Community Center’s youth baseball league, April 13, young play- tition said they lived in Castro’s one bedroom apartment ers, coaches, parents and supporters march from Gun Hill Road in Norwood to Harris Field in Bedford Park in the west Bronx, including some who were his relatives. to kick off the new season. More photos on page 6 and norwoodnews.org. Castro said he didn’t know any of them. (continued on page 2) Teen Charged in Bangladeshi Group Gathers in Bronx To Support War Crimes Tribunal Fordham Heights By WILL SPEROS independence more than 40 years ago. Though BCA president Ansar H. Chowdhury said Dozens of Bangladeshi New Yorkers congregated the event would include “celebrating [independence] Blaze at a church in Norwood on a recent Sunday evening together,” the night would largely be one of “remem- By DAVID GREENE to demonstrate their support for a controversial war brance.” Hundreds of thousands died in the war and, crimes tribunal that is prosecuting alleged crimes recently, dozens have been killed in clashes between Law enforcement officials say a teen fighting with her against humanity stemming from Bangladesh’s war for Bangladesh security forces and an Islamic Party pro- mother intentionally set a blaze that injured six firefight- testing against the tribunal. ers and left homeless two dozen residents of a Fordham The event, held at the Holy Nativity Episcopal Heights building. Church on Bainbridge Avenue, was put together by the Fire Department officials said resident Princess Marti- Bengali Cultural Association of the USA, an organiza- nez, 19, confessed to setting the blaze after having a heated tion with a goal to make secularism, democracy, and hu- argument with her mother. The teen allegedly set fire to a man rights a priority since its inception in 1971 when mattress before exiting the apartment. The mother escaped Bangladesh first achieved its independence. unharmed. New York City has the highest Bangladeshi popula- Martinez was charged with arson and remains held on tion in the country, with over 57,000 living in the five $100,000 bail. boroughs today. The Bangladeshi population in the Firefighters were called to the six-story building at 2254 Bronx has soared in recent years and Muslim leaders are in the middle of building a new Islamic cultural cen- Cedar Ave., at West Fordham Road, at just before 9 a.m., on Photo by Adi Talwar ter in the Norwood area to accommodate their growing Saturday, April 6, when the fire broke out on the fifth floor. DOZENS OF Bangladeshi New Yorkers came out to Holy numbers. It quickly spread to the top floor and roof. Nativity Church in Norwood to celebrate and remember (continued on page 8) (continued on page 4) their home country’s violent path to independence. n PS 246 Shows Its Art on Its Walls, p. 3 n Fordham Plaza’s Movie Nights, p. 7 n Get Out & About in the Bronx, p. 10 www.norwoodnews.org 2 n April 18–May 1, 2013 n Norwood News News • Politics • Policy By ALEX KRATZ Vol. 26, No. 8 Under Indictment, Castro Helps Build Corruption Case (continued from page 1) Norwood News is published According to reports, the mediator bi-weekly on Thursdays by hearing the case found his testimony Mosholu Preservation Corporation “less than credible” and it looked like 3400 Reservoir Oval East Castro would be kicked off the ballot. But Bronx, New York 10467 somehow, the controversy melted away. Phone: 718 324 4998 Ultimately, Castro, who was also found Fax: 718 324 2917 to have a short criminal record from his E-mail: [email protected] younger days and thousands of dollars in Web: www.norwoodnews.org unpaid parking tickets, remained on the ballot and easily won election. His honeymoon as an assemblyman Publisher CEO, Mosholu didn’t last long. Just a few months into Mosholu Preservation Preservation his freshman year as a legislator, in April Corporation Corporation of 2009, Castro was indicted on perjury Editor-in-Chief Roberto S. Garcia charges by the Bronx District Attorney’s Alex Kratz office. Rather than face the charges, which Classified Advertising political insiders say would have been Dawn McEvoy difficult to prove, Castro cut a deal. He Photo courtesy Castro’s office agreed to help the DA’s office uncover cor- FORMER BRONX ASSEMBLYMAN Nelson Castro (left) during a recent hearing on im- Accounts Receivable ruption and, in exchange, they would seal Dawn McEvoy migration issues in Albany. Castro was just starting to come into his own as a lawmaker the indictment and Castro could continue when he was forced to resign because of perjury charges brought against him in 2009. Proofreader to hold his job in Albany. Judy Noy head of the assembly’s sub-committee on ment officials. Production On His Own New Americans, where he championed According to court documents, a few Neil deMause For four years, and two re-election pro-immigrant legislation. weeks later, on Jan. 27, Gonzalez brought Regular Contributors campaigns, Castro continued on as a state Rivera, for one, was impressed. Castro an envelope containing $12,000. David Greene, Adi Talwar legislator, solidifying his hold on the 86th “He was doing a lot of stuff,” Rivera Gonzalez took $2,000 for himself and gave Interns assembly district despite vigorous opposi- said. “He was very visible, bringing peo- the rest to Castro. Sara Regalado, Will Speros, Clarke Illmatical tion from his own party. ple together. And he was doing that until A few months later, Gonzalez began In 2008, Bronx Assemblyman Jose Ri- all of this exploded. It broke my heart.” working for the federal government and, For display advertising, call (718) 324-4998. vera was chairman of the Bronx Demo- Although Castro admitted to the perju- over the next year, with little help from cratic County Committee, which comes ry charges and helping out on “various” Castro, helped the United States Attor- Support Your with serious political clout in the bor- investigations over the past four years, ney’s office build a strong case against Community Newspaper! ough. Despite a couple of minor red flags, nothing came of his cooperation with Stevenson and the developers. The Norwood News is a not-for-profit pub- Rivera said County’s executive committee law enforcement officials until early 2012, Prosecutors say for around $20,000, lication and relies upon the support of its at the time recommended Castro to fill the when a political operative named Sigfredo Stevenson, who comes from a political- advertisers and readers to produce a quality 86th assembly seat, which was vacated by Gonzalez approached him with an offer. ly-connected family and represents some community newspaper. To support your paper, Luis Diaz who had taken a job working for of the poorest neighborhoods in the cen- become a member and receive a subscription Governor David Patterson. Working for the Feds tral Bronx, including Morrisania, agreed for one year. Despite the flags, which included his Gonzalez, who worked for former to help the developers cut thought red criminal record and the outstanding park- Bronx state senator and now convicted tape, recruit seniors for the two new adult Simply mail check or money order for $40 ing fines, Castro was experienced, having felon Pedro Espada, was working for a day care centers and introduce legislation to: Norwood News, 3400 Reservoir Oval East, group of developers. They wanted to open that would eliminate competition for the Bronx, NY 10467. worked as chief of staff for upper Man- hattan Assemblyman Adriano Espaillat, two new adult day care centers, one in developers. Norwood News is not responsible for typo- who’s now a state senator. Castro’s district on Jerome Avenue and When the indictment against Stevenson graphical errors. Opinions expressed in signed Still, Castro wasn’t connected in Bronx another in Bronx Assemblyman Eric Ste- and the developers was unveiled on April 4 letters and bylined columns represent the sole political circles and the decision to go venson’s central Bronx district. (he and the developers pleaded not guilty), opinion of the author and are not necessarily with Castro over party loyalist Hector Gonzalez told Castro that he wanted to Castro announced that he would resign as those of Mosholu Preservation Corporations Ramirez upset some of the rank-and-file set up a meeting with his associates.

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