Proudly Serving Bronx Communities Since 1988 norwoodnews.org Be Healthy Tips to Combat Fall Allergies NORWOOD NEWS page 7 Vol. 26, No. 18 n PUBLISHED BY MOSHOLU PRESERVATION CORPORATION n September 19–October 2, 2013 Torres, the Freshest of New Faces in Bronx Politics By ALEX KRATZ As midnight approached outside of Ritchie Torres’ cam- paign headquarters in Belmont, a half dozen political sol- diers basked in the dim, orange light, happily drinking, smoking and trading war stories. After an exhaustive Dem- ocratic primary campaign in the Bronx’s 15th District that ended in success last Tuesday night, there was nothing left to do but relax and enjoy the moment. More than an hour earlier, with the results heavily tilting toward Torres, the 25-year-old former housing director for east Bronx Councilman Jimmy Vacca and his team declared victory in one of the wildest Bronx City Council races in re- cent memory. While some of his campaign staffers and supporters, cel- ebrated — all of them giddy, some of them drowsy — Torres bustled around the room like he just drank a Red Bull, dis- playing the “youthful energy” he says will help him serve the Belmont, Fordham-Bedford, Tremont, West Farms and Croto- na areas he will represent once the formality of the general election is out of the way in November. (Democrats out-num- ber Republicans 11-1 in the Bronx, making the primary the de facto election night.) In the wake of his win over five opponents, including the current Councilman Joel Rivera’s chief of staff, Albert Alva- rez, another candidate named Joel Rivera, and a woman who gave birth on the campaign trail, Torres paused and reflected. Photo by Ruvi Lopez “It feels like an honor,” Torres said. “I feel like one of the RITCHIE TORRES, center, talking to his campaign staff on primary night, became the first openly gay candidate to big problems in the Bronx is that we’ve seen politicians treat win a major Bronx election last Tuesday. With his victory in the general election all but assured, Torres will replace elected office as if it’s a property right. I won’t do that. I’m on Joel Rivera as councilman in the 15th Council District and become the borough’s first gay elected official in January. (continued on page 4) Hockey Legend to Head Armory Ice Complex By ALEX KRATZ the greater New York City area and ice project through the land use review pro- Richter and Messier aren’t expecting sports in general. cess, which includes stops at Community to encounter much resistance during the In 1994, when Mark Messier helped “He’s going to be the face of KNIC,” Board 7, the Bronx borough president’s review process, which must be completed lead the New York Rangers to the team’s said one of the group’s partners, Jon- office, the City Council and, finally, the because the Armory is owned by the city. first Stanley Cup title in 54 years, he was athan Richter, who will shepherd the mayor’s office. (continued on page 2) given the loftiest of nicknames: “The Messiah.” Now, after recently becoming the CEO of the Kingsbridge National Ice Center, which is poised to open inside the Kings- bridge Armory in 2017 as the largest ice sports complex in the world, he may need a new nickname: The Messenger. Starting with the city’s land use re- view process — which began with a pub- lic hearing and Community Board 7 vot- ing 22 to 5 in favor of the plan on Tuesday night at Lehman College — Messier will be sending a message to city officials, the public and investors that a massive ice center in the Armory will be a huge boon for kids, the local community, the Bronx, Photo by Adi Talwar Primary Results, THE DEWITT CLINTON Governors football team (2-0 record) pulled off an incredible 30-28 comeback victory at home against page 2 Port Richmond on Sunday, capped by this diving 2-point conversion by sophomore quarterback Brandon Harris in double over- time. For more photos visit norwoodnews.org. n Police Report: Suicide Attempt at St. Brendan’s; Murder in Norwood, p. 6 n Tribute Concert for Ibrahim Gonzalez, p. 14 www.norwoodnews.org 2 n September 19–October 2, 2013 n Norwood News 2013 Primary Election Results The Board of Elections released prelim- Letitia James: 175,080 votes (35.93%) Pamela Johnson: 4,700 votes (32.23%) inary results for all of the primaries held Daniel Squadron: 161,541 votes (33.15%) Lenford Edie: 822 votes (5.64%) Vol. 26, No. 18 on Sept. 10. Below are preliminary results Reshma Saujani: 73,358 votes (15.05%) Adeyemi Toba: 725 votes (4.97%) in selected Bronx and citywide race. The re- Cathy Guerriero: 63,479 votes (13.03%) Norwood News is published sults should be certified in the coming days Sidique Wai: 13,855 votes (2.84%) City Council District 14 bi-weekly on Thursdays by or weeks. Winners were declared in each (Northwest Bronx including Mosholu Preservation Corporation race, except for the 86th Assembly District, Bronx Borough President, Demo- University Heights, Kingsbridge 3400 Reservoir Oval East which was too close to call. A recount of all cratic Primary Heights) Bronx, New York 10467 ballots in the district, which includes Uni- Ruben Diaz: 58,505 votes (83.80%) Fernando Cabrera: 3,873 votes (74.99%) versity Heights, Morris Heights and Mt. Mark Escoffery-Bey: 11,313 votes Israel Martinez: 1,292 votes (25.01%) Phone: 718 324 4998 Hope, is under way. (16.20%) Fax: 718 324 2917 City Council District 15 (Ford- E-mail: [email protected] Mayoral Democratic Primary N.Y. Assembly District 86, Demo- ham-Bedford, Belmont, East Web: www.norwoodnews.org Bill de Blasio: 260,473 votes (40.33%) cratic Primary Tremont, Bathgate.) William Thompson: 169,451 votes Victor Pichardo: 1,195 votes (22.70%) Ritchie Torres: 2,589 votes (36.07%) (26.23%) Hector Ramirez: 1,123 votes (21.33%) Joel R. Rivera: 1,519 votes (21.16%) Publisher CEO, Mosholu Christine Quinn: 100,020 votes (15.49%) Yudelka Tapia: 1,000 votes (18.99%) Cynthia Thompkins: 1,487 votes Mosholu Preservation Preservation John Liu: 44,972 votes (6.96%) Haile Rivera: 885 votes (16.81%) (20.72%) Corporation Corporation Anthony Weiner: 31,874 votes (4.93%) Melanie Johnson: 469 votes (8.91%) Albert Alvarez: 665 votes (9.27%) Roberto S. Garcia Editor-in-Chief Elizabeth Ortiz: 400 votes (7.60%) Raquel Batista: 524 votes (7.30%) Alex Kratz Mayoral Republican Primary Kenny Nunez: 193 votes (3.67%) Joel Bauza: 393 votes (5.48%) Joe Lhota: 29,807 votes (52.51%) Classified Advertising John Catsimatidis: 23,108 votes City Council District 11 (North- City Council District 16 (High- Dawn McEvoy (40.71%) west Bronx including Kings- bridge, Morrisania, Mount Eden, Accounts Receivable George McDonald: 3,851 votes (6.78%) bridge, Riverdale) Melrose) Dawn McEvoy Andrew Cohen: 7,306 votes (67.75%) Vanessa Gibson: 4,284 votes (43.40%) Proofreader Comptroller Democratic Primary Clifford Stanton: 3,477 votes (32.25%) Pedro Alvarez: 1,659 votes (16.81%) Judy Noy Scott Stringer: 287,798 votes (51.98%) Carlos Sierra: 1,436 votes (14.55%) Eliot Spitzer: 265,866 votes (48.02%) Daryl Johnson: 767 votes (7.77%) Production City Council District 12 (Wake- Neil deMause field, Edenwald, Baychester, Naaimat Muhammed: 659 votes (6.68%) Public Advocate Democratic Co-op City) Carlton Berkley: 596 votes (6.04%) Regular Contributors Primary Andy King: 8,336 votes (57.16%) Bola Omotosha: 470 votes (4.76%) David Greene, Adi Talwar Interns Natasha Rodriguez, Hugh Thornhill, Andrea Cetra, Michael Brown New Face of Armory Ice Complex (continued from page 1) cant head coaching position, but the For display advertising, call (718) 324-4998. The mayor’s office and Bronx Borough Rangers went in a different direction. A President Ruben Diaz Jr. have supported couple of days after the team announced Support Your the project from the beginning. It was its new coach, Alain Vigneault, Messier Community Newspaper! only after KNIC officials said they were resigned. The Norwood News is a not-for-profit pub- interested in the Armory that the city’s Although it was assumed that Messi- lication and relies upon the support of its Economic Development Corporation er felt slighted and wanted out, Messier advertisers and readers to produce a quality (EDC) issued an RFP for the long-vacant claims he wasn’t bitter, saying in a state- community newspaper. To support your paper, landmark. ment, “I am resigning my position with become a member and receive a subscription Local Councilman Fernando Cabre- the team to pursue an opportunity to ex- for one year. ra, then-Community Board 7 Chairman pand the game of hockey in the New York Paul Foster and members of the Kings- area by developing the Kingsbridge Na- Simply mail check or money order for $40 bridge Armory Redevelopment Alliance tional Ice Center (in the Bronx).” to: Norwood News, 3400 Reservoir Oval East, Bronx, NY 10467. (KARA) all endorsed the project after In an interview last week, Messier said KNIC entered into a community bene- he wanted to use the Armory to build a Photo courtesy KNIC Norwood News is not responsible for typo- fits agreement with KARA and signed a buzz around the game of hockey, just like HOCKEY LEGEND Mark Messier, the new graphical errors. Opinions expressed in signed letter of intent with the city back in late there was after the Stanley Cup title in letters and bylined columns represent the sole April.