New:Follow us on TWITTER BloggingHeads.tv
Click here for Inner City Press' weekday news reports, from the United Nations and elsewhere. Click here for a recent BBC piece on Inner City Press' reporting from the United Nations Search This Site Click for March 1, 2011 BloggingHeads.tv re Libya, Sri Lanka, UN Corruption by Inner City Press. Click here for Inner City Press front page
ICP has published a (double) book about
a variety of Bronx-relevant topics -- a review in
Commonweal magazine of Dec. 5, 2003, opines that
"Predatory Bender... is as vivid an account of life in
the Bronx as you are likely to read" -- click here for
sample chapters, here for
an interactive map,
here
for fast ordering
and
delivery, and here for
other ordering
information. See
also, "City
Lit: Roman a Klepto [Review of ‘Predatory Bender’],"
by Matt Pacenza, City Limits, Sept.-Oct. 2004. CBS
MarketWatch of April 23, 2004, says the
the novel has "some very funny moments," and that the
non-fiction mixes "global statistics and first-person accounts."
The Washington
Post
of March 15, 2004, calls Predatory Bender: America in
the Aughts "the first novel about predatory lending;" the
London
Times of April 15, 2004, "A Novel Approach," said it "has
a cast of colorful characters." The Pittsburgh
City Paper of Dec. 11, 2003, wrote that it "may, in fact,
be the first great American lending malfeasance novel" including
"low-level loan sharks, class-action lawyers, corporate bigwigs,
hired muscle, corrupt politicians, Iraq War veterans, Wall
Street analysts, reporters and one watchdog with a Web
site." And all in The Bronx! Click
here
for that
review; for more information, contact us.
2014: MRL on
Beacon Reader
By
Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon
BBC
- Guardian
UK - Honduras
- ESPN
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, July 25 – Nicholas Joseph is charged
with narcotics conspiracy in The Bronx, with a
jury trial set for September 7.
U.S.
District Court for the Southern District of New
York Judge P. Kevin Castel is managing the
proceeding, which Inner City Press is
covering.
The
US Attorney's Office on July 23 filed a motion
in limine seeking to show the jury some of
Joseph's rap videos including "gang signs, gang
colors and firearms" - and his lyrics.
Given
the First Amendment, is this really necessary?
The case is US v. Joseph, 20-cr-603 (Castel)
***
By
Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon
BBC
- Guardian
UK - Honduras
- ESPN
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, July 22 – Parrilla Latina restaurant
at 2501 Webster Avenue in The Bronx has been
sued for not paying
overtime.
On July 22, U.S. District Court for the Southern
District of New York Magistrate Judge Kevin N.
Fox held proceeding. Inner City Press covered
it.
A
previous conference on July 20 had been
adjourned for failure to attend. This time all
counsel were present.
Judge
Fox said if they wanted another conference it
would have to wait to September as he is fully
booked.
Back
in March it was said that discovery would be
complete by August 23.
By
Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Story
BBC
- Guardian
UK - Honduras
- ESPN
FEDERAL
COURT / S Bronx, July 24 – Whether or not the
U.S. Community Reinvestment Act will be again
enforced until the new Administration and its
regulators is an open question. And the proposed
acquisition by disparate lending Valley National
Bank of The Westchester Bank in New York will be
a litmus test, for the Office of the Comptroller
of the Currency.
On
July 24, Fair Finance Watch (with Inner City
Press on the FOIA) filed the below with the OCC:
This
is a timely first comment opposing and
requesting an extension of the OCC's public
comment period on the Applications by Valley
National Bank to acquire The Westchester
Bank.
The
applicant Valley National Bank in 2020 in New
York State based on its disparate marketing made
1080 mortgage loans to whites, with 83 denials
to whites -- while making only 51 loans to
African Americans, with seven denials. This is
far out of keeping with the demographics, and
others lenders, in NYS - this is outrageous.
This
is a pattern. The applicant Valley National Bank
in 2020 in Florida based on its disparate
marketing made 859 mortgage loans to whites,
with 119 denials to whites -- while making only
45 loans to African Americans, with eight
denials. This is far out of keeping with the
demographics, and others lenders, Florida - this
is outrageous.
Beyond
its lending disparities, Valley National Bank is
being sued for mis-categorizing and underpaying
those who work for it. See, e.g., PALERMO v.
VALLEY NATIONAL BANCORP (D.N.J. 2020) -
submitted for the record, and in light of the
new merger review Executive Order.
There is no public benefit to this
proposal.
Valley
National Bank should be precluded from acquiring
these branches: Yonkers 1900 Central Park
Avenue, Yonkers, NY 10710 Corporate
Headquarters 12 Water Street, White Plains,
NY Mamaroneck Store Front Mamaroneck
305 Mamaroneck Avenue, Mamaroneck, NY
10543 Mount Kisco storefront Mount
Kisco 51 South Moger Avenue, Mount Kisco, NY
10549 Ossining, 240 S.
Highland Avenue Ossining 240 S. Highland Avenue,
Ossining, NY Brook Storefront Rye
Brook 800 Westchester Ave, Rye Brook, NY
10573 Thornwood storefront Thornwood
994 Broadway, Thornwood, NY 10594
White Plains storefront White Plains 464
Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, NY
10605
FFW and Inner City Press have been deeply
concerned about the rush by the OCC's penchant
to rubberstamp mergers by redliners,
particularly during the pandemic. We timely
request public hearings.
By
Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon
BBC
- Guardian
UK - Honduras
- ESPN
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, July 5 – Michael Castillo is accused
of murder for hire, of Hector Arias in 712 East
Gun Hill Road on March 10, 2011.
The
complaint says Castillo and Arias were rivals
selling marijuana around 193rd Street and
Broadway. The government argues that his
conviction for marijuana possession is
admissible as 404(b) evidence.
On
July 5, 2021, Inner City Press reported
that a trial
approaches on July 19 before
U.S. District Court for the
Southern District of New York
Judge John G. Koeltl. Inner
City Press is following the
case.
Now
on July 9, ten days before trial, MICHAEL
CASTILLO, a/k/a “Squirrel,” pled guilty today in
Manhattan federal court in connection with the
March 10, 2011, murder of Hector Arias in the
Bronx, New York. U.S. District Judge John
G. Koeltl accepted the defendant’s guilty
plea. CASTILLO is scheduled to be
sentenced before Judge Koeltl on October 15,
2021, at 10:00 am.
The case is US v. Torres, 19-cr-428 (Koeltl)
***
By
Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon
BBC
- Guardian
UK - Honduras
- ESPN
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, June 29 – Zaro's Bake Shop's
union are trying to get money they are
owed.
On
June 29, U.S. District Court for the Southern
District of New York Judge Lewis J. Liman held a
proceeding. Inner City Press covered
it.
Talk
focused on Zaro's trying to sell a large
property in The Bronx; it was said if the sale
goes through, the union pension funds may get
paid.
Judge
Liman wished the parties luck, and set another
conference for November 5 at 10 am.
The case is Bakery and Confectionery Union and
Industry International Pension Fund et al v.
Zaro Bake Shop, Inc. et al., 20-cv-9894 (Liman)
***
By
Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon
BBC
- Guardian
UK - Honduras
- ESPN
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, Nov 19 – Niurka Feliciano was hit by
a Ryder truck on 165th Street and Gerard Avenue
in The Bronx on November 12, 2019. She sued in
state court. It was removed to Federal
court.
On
June 21, U.S. District Court for the Southern
District of New York Judge John G. Koeltl held a
proceeding. Inner City Press covered
it.
Before
Judge Koeltl began, one of the counsel asked
what this was, that a paralegal had just told
him to call in. He asked, "Is this Federal
court?" Then, the two counsel agreed, We can get
through this.
Judge
Koeltl asked about a deficiency in the pleadings
for removal, which didn't say where the parties
are domiciled. Still, the case will continue,
with discovery running to December 17.
The case is Feliciano v. Corchado et al., 21-cv-3342 (Koeltl)
***
By
Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon
BBC
- Guardian
UK - Honduras
- ESPN
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, June 17 – John Bland is charged with
being a felon in possession of a firearm, to
wit, a 9 millimeter caliber Glock 26 handgun.
Parole
officers found it, they say, in a search of his
apartment on Frisby Avenue in The Bronx on
February 11,
2021.
On June 17, U.S. District Court for the Southern
District of New York Judge Richard M. Berman
held a proceeding. Inner City Press covered it.
Bland's Federal Defender said his client is
nearing a guilty plea. He would like it in
person.
At
first the Federal Defender said the new Standing
Order prohibited virtual plea proceedings, then
he acknowledge they are still possible.
But
still this will be in person, set for July 6,
the next proceeding at least.
The case is USA v. Bland, 21-cr-267 (Berman)
***
By
Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon
BBC
- Guardian
UK - Honduras
- ESPN
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, June 8 – Fred Donnelly was driving
to his workplace at Hunts Point Auto Sales &
Service in The Bronx on March 28, 2016 when his
Buick LeSabre was hit by a truck from American
Carbonation Corporation, driven by Ricky Sherer
of Kunkletown, Pennsylvania.
Donnelly
sued, in Bronx County Supreme Court. It got
removed.
On
June 8, U.S. District Court for the South
District of New York Magistrate Judge Katharine
H. Parker began a jury trial with seven jurors,
in one of the large courtrooms on the 23rd floor
of 500 Pearl Street. Inner City Press went up
and covered it.
Donnelly
was questioned by his lawyer about the minutes
before the crash. He had stopped at a church,
and was in no rush to get to work. He said he
didn't try to pass the truck, that he respects
trucks.
The cross examination was largely about which
way the streets run, and Longfellow Avenue
intervening.
As
thunder began outside, Judge Parker let the
juror do for the day. She had held a settlement
conference in the matter, on July 28,
2020.
On
June 9 was the charging conference, and closing
arguments. And the jury delivered a nuances
verdict: Defendants 52% liable and Plaintiff 48%
liable. Judge Parker "respectfully directed the
Clerk of Court to upload to ECF the Court
Exhibits from trial... the Voir Dire
Questionnaire, the Jury Charge and the Verdict
Form." But the links in the docket are not live,
at least as of the evening of June 10.
The case is Donnelly v. American Carbonation Corporation et al., 19-cv-6030 (Parker).
***
By
Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon
BBC
- Guardian
UK - Honduras
- ESPN
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, June 2 – Christian Gonzalez is
charged, with four others, with robbing bodegas
and other commercial establishments in The Bronx
and Manhattan.
On June 2, U.S. District Court for the Southern
District of New York Judge Richard M. Berman
held a proceeding. Inner City Press
covered it.
Judge Berman noted that another co-defendant was
only recently arrested.
When
the request for release on bail, prospectively,
was raised for Gonzalez, Judge Berman suggested
the request and information should go in the
first instance to Magistrate Judge Robert W.
Lehrburger, and only if still needed, to him.
By
Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon
BBC
- Guardian
UK - Honduras
- ESPN
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, May 27 – Back in December 2020, with
a legal filing full of misspellings asking to
enjoin an election or its results, a dozen
constituents of ousted New York City Council
member Andy King asked a Federal judge for a
restraining order. It was denied.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of
New York Judge Valerie E. Caproni, in a
proceeding covered by Inner City Press, asked
how the plaintiffs had standing. (King's own
lawsuit against the City Council for ousting him
48-2 for misconduct had already failed).
Judge Caproni declined to issue a preliminary
injunction in Marchant et al v. De Blasio et
al., 20-cv-10544 (Caproni).
Then on April 12, fellow SDNY Judge
Paul A. Crotty held a proceeding in the case King v. City of
New York, 20-cv-8283 (Crotty). He gave King's lawyer Pamela
Hayes two weeks to file more papers. She asked for three.
Judge Crotty said he was not inclined, but
then relented. He gave three weeks but said if the papers are
not in, he will dismiss the case. That case is King v. City of
New York, 20-cv-8283 (Crotty).
Now on May 27, SDNY Judge Edgardo Ramos held
a proceeding in a case against King, by former staffer Shana
Melius for retaliation. The NYC City Council was refusing to
produce documents unless ordered by a court. So ordered. This
case is Melius v. New York City Council et al., 20-cv-5237
(Ramos)
***
By
Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon
Honduras
- The
Source - The
Root - etc
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, May 18 – On the second
day of 2014 in The Bronx, New York Shaquille
Malcolm was repeatedly shot and killed in a
building in the Allerton section.
In
arraignments that followed, Inner City Press reported
that the death penalty was on the table,
including as to a co-defendant who plead guilty
to a superseding indictment, Gyancarlos Espinal.
He was never given immunity to testify at the
trial, and on May 18, 2021 he was sentenced to
15 years, see below.
On
December 4, 2019 the two remaining co-defendants
Arius Hopkins and Theryn Jones a/k/a Old Man Ty
were on trial before U.S. District Court for the
Southern District of New York Judge Lewis A.
Kaplan.
On
December 12 the government gave its summary,
with many ASUAs in the
courtroom. They left
before Arius Hopkins'
lawyer Glenn
A. Garber
delivered his
folksy or
colloquial
closing,
asking the
jurors to
think about
the Instagram
post, the rap
song, and
especially the
crime scene.
Garber did a
highly
creditable
job; those too
few who saw
the trial had
nothing but
positive
reviews. But
it closed with
a whimper and
not a bang.