Family Corruption In The Big Easy

School Bus Safety Officials Indicted

2008-05-14T11:51:00.003-04:00

Some people believe everything is for sale these days including the safety of our children:

Four City Department of Education employees were charged in a federal indictment on Tuesday with soliciting bribes in exchange for promising preferential treatment, including on safety inspections, to bus companies that serve thousands of special education students.

The indictment said the bus companies, which were not named, had paid bribes from the mid-1990s to 2007 for a variety of reasons, among them to get reduced fines for safety violations and advance notice of inspections that were supposed to be unannounced. The Education Department said bus safety was not compromised by the bribes.

We cannot be certain that bus safety was not compromised by the bribes. Violations were being overlooked.

Spitzer Prostitute Folly To Plea

2008-05-13T18:24:00.003-04:00

Get this! One of the people associated with the prostitution ring that brought down Eliot Spitzer is expected to plead guilty. Prosecutors, however, are undecided as to whether Spitzer himself should be charged:

Several former prosecutors and defense lawyers said the movement toward resolving the charges against Ms. Lewis and her codefendants suggested that prosecutors were nearing a decision on whether to prosecute Mr. Spitzer. The pleas do not indicate clearly what decision the government might reach, they said.

Why is that decision so hard?

I Love New York

2008-05-12T15:34:00.002-04:00

How does one express their feelings for New York? Why, with a symbol of course:

Last week, the state tourism board, Empire State Development, announced a retooled marketing campaign centered on the famed slogan and design, this time with an emphasis on gas-sipping day trips and short vacations for residents of the region.

But inherent in the campaign is a drive to reclaim the symbol itself, which, like the Playboy logo, has become devalued, as marketers term it, through overuse. This year, state officials plan to introduce new tools — like a difficult-to-reproduce hologram — that will assure consumers that a product is officially licensed by New York State.

For those who sell unofficial “I ♥ NY” products, officials plan to warn and then penalize offenders.

Scammers will face consequences. Don't buy junk merchandise.

Repubs Wants Fossella Resignation

2008-05-09T15:18:00.004-04:00

The Republican Party sees Vito Fossella as a liability due to his scandalous behavior and they would like for the pathetic representative to resign:

Representative Vito J. Fossella, the Staten Island Republican who was arrested on drunken-driving charges in Virginia last week, acknowledged on Thursday that he had fathered a daughter, now 3, in an extramarital affair.

The five-term congressman identified the woman with whom he had the affair as Laura Fay. She is a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel whom he apparently called after he was taken into custody early May 1, saying he was on the way to pick up his sick child. The police said his blood-alcohol level at the time was more than double the legal limit, and he faces a mandatory five days in jail if he is convicted.

The repubs will probably get their way.

Uma Thurman Testifies Against Stalker

2008-05-02T10:26:00.002-04:00

We have to protect society from the deranged.

Uma Thurman told jurors how Jack Jordan, who is on trial on charges of stalking her on and off over a period of two and a half years, came to the door of her trailer on Prince Street in SoHo late on the night of Nov. 8, 2005, where she was making the movie “My Super Ex-Girlfriend.” He identified himself to one of Ms. Thurman’s assistants as a friend of Ms. Thurman’s parents, she said.

What a harrowing experience for Ms Thurman.

Gee, No Gun Control

2008-05-01T10:41:00.003-04:00

Do gun makers sell weapons directly to criminals?

A federal appeals court threw out New York City’s longstanding lawsuit against the gun industry on Wednesday, ruling that a relatively new federal law protects gun makers against such suits.

The appellate ruling killed perhaps the boldest avenue by which the city has sought to stem the flow of illegal guns into New York: a claim that gun makers and distributors have knowingly flooded illicit, underground markets with their weapons.

Criminals have a way of getting guns from law abiding citizens. It is called stealing them---that is what criminals do.

Book About Spitzer In The Making

2008-04-30T11:24:00.004-04:00

What could be more juicier than the story of a former governor who previously busted up and prosecuted prostitution rings to be later caught up with a prostitute? Penquin group now wants to bring the story to a bookstore near you.

A book about the rise and stunning decline of former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer, co-authored by the makers of a book and film about the fall of Enron, is being published by Penguin Group (USA), Penguin imprint Portfolio announced Wednesday.

Peter Elkind, who helped write the best-seller about Enron, ''The Smartest Guys in the Room,'' is collaborating on the Spitzer book with filmmaker Alex Gibney, who is making a documentary about the law-and-order Democrat who resigned last month over allegations about his connection to a $5,500-an-hour call girl ring. The book's title and publication date weren't immediately available.

Actor Robin Williams should play Spitzer in the movie version.

It's Not Over For Officers In The "Sean Bell " Case

2008-04-29T10:09:00.004-04:00

Yes, they have been acquitted, but more may be in store for these officers:

Although detectives Gescard F. Isnora, Michael Oliver and Marc Cooper — were acquitted of criminal charges in Queens on Friday, they and their three colleagues are still facing the specter of a federal civil rights investigation, and the possibility of being brought up on departmental charges. Therefore, all six officers remain in limbo, working without their guns and badges.

Could it be possible that they may be fired---or better yet, serve time in federal prison? It's not over till it's over.

Muslim Educator's Dream Falls Short

2008-04-28T14:44:00.003-04:00

Critics can have you so dismayed that you give up on your dream. Debbie Almontaser learned this the hard way when critics stepped in to criticize her school:

The school’s creation provoked a controversy so incendiary that Ms. Almontaser stepped down as the founding principal just weeks before classes began last September. Ms. Almontaser, a teacher by training and an activist who had carefully built ties with Christians and Jews, said she was forced to resign by the mayor’s office following a campaign that pitted her against a chorus of critics who claimed she had a militant Islamic agenda.

Did they have proof as to the nature of her agenda?

Officers Accused In Sean Bell Case Found Innocent

2008-04-25T13:17:00.002-04:00

This news should not surprise many. According to the judge, the witnesses for Sean Bell were not believable. What is ironic is that the judge must want us to believe that the officers were totally believable.

When Will They Leave Martin Tankleff Alone?

2008-04-24T18:33:00.002-04:00

First they convict him for a crime he did not commit, then he spends 17 years in prison before being released; now they put Marty's life on hold by their flim flop actions:

Though the court overturned his convictions, it left standing the original indictments in the 1988 murders. At first the Suffolk County district attorney, Thomas J. Spota, indicated that Mr. Tankleff would be retried; he later announced that the charges would be dropped.

Then the New York State attorney general, Andrew M. Cuomo, was appointed as a special prosecutor to reinvestigate the case, a move that kept the indictments open. He is expected to announce on June 16 whether Mr. Tankleff should be prosecuted again.

Enough is enough; let Martin Tankleff get on with his life.

Check Cashing Corpse Case Dismissed

2008-04-23T09:15:00.003-04:00

Remember the case of the two elderly men who brought their dead friend to a check cashing place to case his social security check? As it turns out, the gentlemen may not have been dead after all:

Since prosecutors could not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Cintron had died before leaving the apartment en route to Pay-O-Matic, Judge Evelyn Laporte dismissed the forgery and larceny charges against Mr. O’Hare and Mr. Daloia.

Sometimes we are quick to think the worse of people. This was probably just a case of friends trying to help each other out.

No Good Deed Goes Unpunished

2008-04-22T08:44:00.005-04:00

Can you imagine facing unwanted scrutiny based on your tax deductions? Well, that is exactly what is happening to Gov. David Patterson. When the New York Times first mentioned the governor's charitable donation amount, my first thought was that maybe he did not want to disclose all of his charitable donations.

I thought that was something everyone should be proud of because he was not trying to deduct every little penny in order to decrease his tax liability. The governor has since offered his own explanation:

Gov. David A. Paterson described himself on Monday as a generous person, but said he did not want to reveal more about his charitable giving because he was worried that it would bring intrusive news media attention to those he helps.

His explanation is still not enough for the New York Times who obviously is trying to grab a news story. Shame on you the New York Times..

Official With Ties To Spitzer Faces Scrutiny

2008-04-21T09:07:00.003-04:00

You may land in hot water when speaking to a reporter...or is it just the Spitzer connection? Maybe I am just tired, but so freakin what.

Daniel Wiese, a former State Police official, was put on paid leave after a report by the Albany County district attorney said that he had spoken to a reporter for The New York Times in July at Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s behest. During a telephone conversation with the reporter, Mr. Wiese backed the administration’s claim that the State Police had long held concerns about whether Joseph L. Bruno — the Senate majority leader and Mr. Spitzer’s chief adversary in Albany — had been inappropriately using state aircraft.

CNN Anchor Charged With Drug Possession

2008-04-19T02:14:00.003-04:00

Listen to this: A CNN anchor gets busted in the park for loitering. It is later discover that he is in possession of meth. Now read what the judge tells him:

At Friday’s arraignment, Judge Anthony J. Ferrara told Mr. Quest that the case would be dismissed and sealed if he reported back in October and demonstrated sufficient progress in his therapy. The judge also agreed that there would be no restrictions placed on Mr. Quest’s ability to travel.

Dah...the case would be sealed. What's the point? Everyone knows the story by now.

Quinn Apologizes To Council Members

2008-04-18T02:08:00.003-04:00

Is Quinn's apology a little too late?

In a series of private meetings with rank-and-file members of the City Council on Monday, Speaker Christine C. Quinn kept apologizing. She told them she had blundered badly in her response to revelations about the Council’s appropriation of money to fictitious organizations.

Some want her to resign. This appropriation is serious stuff. It will be very difficult for trust to be rebuilt.

J.K. Rowling Extends "Olive Branch" To Potter Lexicon

2008-04-17T03:09:00.003-04:00

When I wrote the title to this blog post, I said to myself-what a bunch of fugery-it's not real:

Ms. Rowling told the judge in Federal District Court in Manhattan that she had been misunderstood.

“I never ever once wanted to stop Mr. Vander Ark from doing his own guide — never ever,” she said as she took the stand for the second time in the three-day trial, as the last rebuttal witness. “Do your book, but please, change it so it does not take as much of my work.”

Her words were not that sincere since her attorney proceeded as usual. Apparently she just felt compelled to utter them since her opponent had been crying. Be honest, J.K., you really don't want him to publish the Lexicon.

New York Governor's Tax Return Faces Scrutiny

2008-04-16T08:57:00.003-04:00

There is a lot of hoopla and speculation going around about David Patterson and his wife's 2007 tax return. It seems that some people are appalled at their charitable donation of $150.

Could it be that the governor is more generous than they expect by not claiming every dime from his charitable donations? Some people will find anything to gripe about. They feel that it is more conducive to their psyche by trying to seek out what they perceive is the worst in people instead of focusing on positive things. The governor does not owe them any explanation.

Profiting On The "Harry Potter" Craze

2008-04-15T03:11:00.003-04:00

J.K. Rowling goes to court:

Ms. Rowling and Warner Brothers Entertainment, which produces the Harry Potter films, are suing RDR Books, a small Michigan publisher, to stop the publication of Steven Vander Ark’s “Harry Potter Lexicon,” an encyclopedia based on Mr. Vander Ark’s popular Web site of the same name.

Ms. Rowling argued on Monday in Federal District Court in Manhattan that the proposed encyclopedia — she has read the manuscript — is a copyright infringement and is little more than an alphabetical form of plagiarism.

What she denounced as plagiarism and a waste of money, the publisher defended as literary scholarship and an invaluable tool for Harry Potter readers, similar to a Shakespeare concordance, the Encyclopedia Britannica, the dictionary and other reference books.

While I never understood the hype behind the "Harry Potter" books, I do agree with Rowling's assessment of this situation.

What Is Eliot Spitzer Up To?

2008-04-14T09:48:00.003-04:00

According to the New York Times, the former governor has a lot of things on his plate these days. Some of those things include meeting with his legal advisers, dealing with his father's illness and attending couples therapy.

The one that strikes me the most is the couples therapy. How does one go about rebuilding a relationship after such a betrayal? I know his constituents are possibly concerned about any legal ramifications behind Spitzers actions but I am concerned about what this has done to his family.

Pope To Visit New York City

2008-04-11T02:12:00.002-04:00

Everything publicly mapped out for the Pope:

He will address officials at the United Nations at 11 a.m. and, in a separate talk, members of the United Nations staff. In the afternoon he will visit Park East Synagogue, on East 67th Street, and later, the Church of St. Joseph, on East 87th Street.

Pope Benedict will be staying at the East 72nd Street residence of Archbishop Celestino Migliore, the Vatican’s representative to the United Nations. The archbishop’s home, off Fifth Avenue, could take on the atmosphere of an armed fortress, officials said. The street will be closed, and those who live on the block “will be escorted by police officers to their residences,” said Mr. Kelly. “They should have their ID.”

Let's hope no crazys' are listening.

Is Your Child Gifted?

2008-04-10T03:08:00.003-04:00

The new rules may say so..

Under a change which is expected to be approved at a meeting on Thursday by the Panel for Educational Policy, students scoring in the top 10th percentile on admissions tests, as measured nationwide, would be guaranteed a slot in kindergarten or first-grade gifted and talented programs in New York. Under new rules announced last fall, however, only those scoring in the top 5th percentile would have been admitted.

So fellow New Yorkers, make sure your little kiddies are prepared for the test.

Assemblywoman Found Guiltty Of Bribery

2008-04-09T06:46:00.004-04:00

This is just another case of a greedy politician using her office for personal gain:

State Assemblywoman Diane M. Gordon of Brooklyn was convicted on Tuesday of receiving a bribe for offering to help a developer acquire a parcel of city-owned land in her district if he would build her a free house in a gated community in Queens.

Honesty in government seems to be a goal few politicians are willing to achieve.

I Smell Smoke

2008-04-08T08:48:00.002-04:00

Will you complain about her perfume next?

The plaintiffs — Jonathan Selbin and his wife, Jenny, both lawyers — had sued their fourth-floor neighbor, Galila Huff, claiming that smoke seeping from her condo into the common hallway was jeopardizing the health of the Selbins’ young son.

I know Ms. Huff is glad this suit has ended.

Project Runway

2008-04-07T01:31:00.003-04:00

People came from all over the country to line up outside hotel W, in Times Square, for their big chance on being the next contestant on "Project Runway". I am really not a fan of the show myself, but I am always curious about those people who spend so much time trying to appear on reality TV.

I guess it is a lot cheaper to host reality TV shows than to pay actors to perform in sitcoms and dramas. As a result, reality TV is here to stay.