Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Pelham Bay News: Buying City Hall
Pelham Bay News: Buying City Hall: Bx. GOP chair among those charged in attempt to buy mayoral race By Robert Press BRONX, NEW YORK, April 3- In a six count ind...
Buying City Hall
Bx. GOP chair among those charged in attempt to buy mayoral race
By Robert Press
BRONX, NEW YORK, April 3- In a six count indictment released by the United States Attorney, State Senator Malcolm Smith, Queens Councilman Dan Halloran, Bronx County Republican Leader Joseph Savino, and Queens county Republican Vice-Chair Vincent Tabone were arrested for attempting to fix the Republican candidate choice in the upcoming mayors race in New York City by defrauding the public. Also as part of the indictment the mayor and deputy mayor of Spring Valley were arrested for their alleged part in a scheme with Senator Smith to defraud New York State on a contract Smith was to have approved with the officials for a Spring Valley road.
Starting from about November 2012 the complaint states that Smith, Hallogan, Savino, and Tabone (together with others known and unknown) willfully and knowingly did combine, conspire, confederate, and agree together with each other to commit offenses against the United States, to wit, wire fraud and bribery in violation of Title 18, United States
code, sections 1343, 1346, and 1952.
Undercover FBI agent (Thomas Holmes) posing as a wealthy real estate developer and an unidentified cooperating witness met with Smith to bribe leaders of the Republican Party County Committee to obtain certificates of authorization called Wilson Pakula certificates
allowing Smith to run as a Republican candidate for mayor of New York City even though Smith was a registered Democrat. It is then alleged that Queens Councilman Dan Halloran met with the pair to negotiate the amount of bribes to Savino and Tabone for the Wilson Pakula certificates, and Halloran was given $20,500 for his services.
According to the indictment, Smith agreed to use his official position to obtain New York State funds for the Spring Valley Project. Savino met the undercover agent in a Manhattan restaurant and allegedly accepted $15,000 in cash in the undercover agent’s car. Tabone met the UC in a Manhattan restaurant and allegedly accepted $25,000 in cash in the undercover agent’s car. Also in February Smith suggested that the undercover agent and the state senator representing the Spring Valley area meet concerning the funding for the Spring Valley project.
In March, telephone and text messages continued between the undercover agent, a witness, Smith, and Halloran as to the status of the Wilson Pakulas. Smith is quoted as saying, “Before any committee leader receives a nickel more (he'd) have to stand on the Empire State Building and drop every person (he) endorsed, and hold Malcolm up and
say he's the best thing since sliced bread”. “Matter of fact, he's better than sliced bread”.
FBI New York Assistant Director in Charge George Venizelos made the following comments on the arrests of New York State Senator Malcolm Smith, New York City Council Member Daniel Halloran, and others: “Elected officials are called public servants because they are supposed to serve the people. Public service is not supposed to be a shortcut to self-enrichment. People in New York, in Spring Valley—in any city or town in this country—rightly expect their elected or appointed representatives to hold themselves to a higher standard. At the very least, public officials should obey the law. As alleged, these defendants did not obey the law; they broke the law and the public trust. There is a price to pay for that kind of betrayal.”
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Bronx News-Author-on-the-Fast-Track
Author writes and sells from experience at a rapid pace
By Rich Mancuso
BRONX, NEW YORK, March 2- Author and poet Lucian A. Sperta-Nunez started to write when he was younger. The soon to be 50-year old, and resident of Pelham Bay lost interest in what he was writing because there was that insecurity. Now, 15 years later, a copulation of his poems and works are being published at a rapid pace.
He has published 10 books in less than a year, mostly on Amazon and available on digital, Kindle and paper back. Authors and writers are accustomed to seeing their works culminate with a best seller listing with the New York Times. However, in this era of technology, Sperta is adjusting to getting noticed as a top 100- seller on Amazon.
“I can’t sleep at night,” says the mild mannered author. “I turn off the light, have the pen and pad near me, write, click and save.” With minimal sleep, he prepares, and boards the nearby 6 train on Buhre Avenue at 4am. Then he resumes and writes, on the journey to work as a fulltime care coordinator for the New York Institute of Community Living in East New York.
The job can be a mental challenge. Sperta tends to those addicted with substance abuse, alcohol, and the abused. The day is a challenge and the reward and outlet comes with his writing about topics from past and current experience. Like any writer, the biggest challenge is constant proofreading and frustration when a common typo is missed.
Two of his most recent works, “Fahishah” and “Al-Fitan” are on that Amazon list. The latter is a compilation of Sperta’s poetry of the last year. There are poems in both works that relate to experiences of overcoming addiction and abuse as a child.
Many compilations have appeared in magazines, paper back, and sold in Barnes and Nobles book stores.
Yes, writing to this author is indeed an outlet that is getting noticed. The events and experiences that in his words were, “The angry little kid that was in treatment made me, write poems.” Twice, “Yesterdays Rain” hit the Amazon Top 100, and that was also an accomplishment and unexpected.
“Reviewing these books,” he says, “I never thought it would reach the top 100. I was playing around on my computer, came across Amazon and said ‘Oh my God, my book is there.’” Wars and current event themes are about living his adult life, whereas the ranting and raving come from experiences as an abused child and being “That angry little kid that was in treatment.”
Creativity does play a role in the words and the rapid pace of getting his works published. However, those experiences, more so the present, are quickly putting this author on the map. Currently, Sperta has another work almost complete and he writes frequently about his pet cat, “Pepper.”
He writes about a pigeon in “Fahishah.” The titles of works are unique. “I wanted to get titles that were not common but related to what the book is about,” he says. While some look at pigeons as a nuisance, on his way to work Sperta noticed something that inspired the poem, “Don’t watch Over Me.”
“One flew and another was grieving. One did not leave the other from his side and I wrote a poem and took pictures and was inspired. Maybe it triggered my history of childhood loss. A pigeon was dead talking to a pigeon that was alive. That is how the poem is written.”
One of his favorite recording artists, the late Donna Summer and her song, “MacArthur Park” is based on a poem in “Al-Fitan.” He uses the title of the song in some of the stanzas.
“With my life story going through it,” he says. “It talks about how I was abused. It is a long poem but so deep to write. It brought back to my teenage years of drugs, alcohol and sex and one of those things that was more hard core.”
Yet, writing from experience has become an outlet. “The internet was overwhelmed and I did not have the mindset,” says Sperta. “It was too much and too complicated. and I think now, because I am older and more settled and recovered.”
That partly explains finishing one work and moving on to the next after facing reality that writing was his call to ease the pressure and pain. It has become a second job, more than a hobby and this quiet and reserved author does not seem concerned about the financial reciprocation.
Writing and getting sold on the internet can be an arduous process and getting paid takes time.
“Even if I come up with ten poems, I am going to publish it,” comments Sperta. “Its’ 12:48AM, I got up and a title just came to my head called, “Weeping Willow.” Sometimes I allow the poems to lose themselves. I already wrote two of them. It’s a tree that appears to be sad and glorious at the same time.”
He says, “Sadness like that came to me like, “Boom”….describes where I am, this person who is weeping but strong at the same time.” Sperta continues to work on the 13th chapter of memoirs that describe fear and trembling. And still to be complete, “Missing Time on the 6 Line” that is more than poetry, rather his persona and experiences in the home and on the outside.
“I didn’t want people to see me just as a poet who was going through these trials and tribulations. I wanted people to see my other side. “And of course, Sperta continues to write about “Pepper.”
The writer born in East Harlem can be reached at his web site: http://lsperta.wix.com/alazim or lsperta@optimum.net or on Facebook author and Poet Lucian A. Sperta-Nunez.
Email Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com
By Rich Mancuso
BRONX, NEW YORK, March 2- Author and poet Lucian A. Sperta-Nunez started to write when he was younger. The soon to be 50-year old, and resident of Pelham Bay lost interest in what he was writing because there was that insecurity. Now, 15 years later, a copulation of his poems and works are being published at a rapid pace.
He has published 10 books in less than a year, mostly on Amazon and available on digital, Kindle and paper back. Authors and writers are accustomed to seeing their works culminate with a best seller listing with the New York Times. However, in this era of technology, Sperta is adjusting to getting noticed as a top 100- seller on Amazon.
“I can’t sleep at night,” says the mild mannered author. “I turn off the light, have the pen and pad near me, write, click and save.” With minimal sleep, he prepares, and boards the nearby 6 train on Buhre Avenue at 4am. Then he resumes and writes, on the journey to work as a fulltime care coordinator for the New York Institute of Community Living in East New York.
The job can be a mental challenge. Sperta tends to those addicted with substance abuse, alcohol, and the abused. The day is a challenge and the reward and outlet comes with his writing about topics from past and current experience. Like any writer, the biggest challenge is constant proofreading and frustration when a common typo is missed.
Two of his most recent works, “Fahishah” and “Al-Fitan” are on that Amazon list. The latter is a compilation of Sperta’s poetry of the last year. There are poems in both works that relate to experiences of overcoming addiction and abuse as a child.
Many compilations have appeared in magazines, paper back, and sold in Barnes and Nobles book stores.
Yes, writing to this author is indeed an outlet that is getting noticed. The events and experiences that in his words were, “The angry little kid that was in treatment made me, write poems.” Twice, “Yesterdays Rain” hit the Amazon Top 100, and that was also an accomplishment and unexpected.
“Reviewing these books,” he says, “I never thought it would reach the top 100. I was playing around on my computer, came across Amazon and said ‘Oh my God, my book is there.’” Wars and current event themes are about living his adult life, whereas the ranting and raving come from experiences as an abused child and being “That angry little kid that was in treatment.”
Creativity does play a role in the words and the rapid pace of getting his works published. However, those experiences, more so the present, are quickly putting this author on the map. Currently, Sperta has another work almost complete and he writes frequently about his pet cat, “Pepper.”
He writes about a pigeon in “Fahishah.” The titles of works are unique. “I wanted to get titles that were not common but related to what the book is about,” he says. While some look at pigeons as a nuisance, on his way to work Sperta noticed something that inspired the poem, “Don’t watch Over Me.”
“One flew and another was grieving. One did not leave the other from his side and I wrote a poem and took pictures and was inspired. Maybe it triggered my history of childhood loss. A pigeon was dead talking to a pigeon that was alive. That is how the poem is written.”
One of his favorite recording artists, the late Donna Summer and her song, “MacArthur Park” is based on a poem in “Al-Fitan.” He uses the title of the song in some of the stanzas.
“With my life story going through it,” he says. “It talks about how I was abused. It is a long poem but so deep to write. It brought back to my teenage years of drugs, alcohol and sex and one of those things that was more hard core.”
Yet, writing from experience has become an outlet. “The internet was overwhelmed and I did not have the mindset,” says Sperta. “It was too much and too complicated. and I think now, because I am older and more settled and recovered.”
That partly explains finishing one work and moving on to the next after facing reality that writing was his call to ease the pressure and pain. It has become a second job, more than a hobby and this quiet and reserved author does not seem concerned about the financial reciprocation.
Writing and getting sold on the internet can be an arduous process and getting paid takes time.
“Even if I come up with ten poems, I am going to publish it,” comments Sperta. “Its’ 12:48AM, I got up and a title just came to my head called, “Weeping Willow.” Sometimes I allow the poems to lose themselves. I already wrote two of them. It’s a tree that appears to be sad and glorious at the same time.”
He says, “Sadness like that came to me like, “Boom”….describes where I am, this person who is weeping but strong at the same time.” Sperta continues to work on the 13th chapter of memoirs that describe fear and trembling. And still to be complete, “Missing Time on the 6 Line” that is more than poetry, rather his persona and experiences in the home and on the outside.
“I didn’t want people to see me just as a poet who was going through these trials and tribulations. I wanted people to see my other side. “And of course, Sperta continues to write about “Pepper.”
The writer born in East Harlem can be reached at his web site: http://lsperta.wix.com/alazim or lsperta@optimum.net or on Facebook author and Poet Lucian A. Sperta-Nunez.
Email Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com
Monday, February 11, 2013
Pelham Bay News: Winter Wonderland
Pelham Bay News: Winter Wonderland: --> (Photos by Dan Gesslein) Bronxites in Pelham Bay enjoyed the snow after Old Man Winter dumped the white stuff all over the bor...
Winter Wonderland
-->
Ad.jpg)
(Photos by Dan Gesslein)
Bronxites in Pelham Bay enjoyed the snow after Old Man Winter dumped the white stuff all over the borough. In Pelham Bay Park, children and parents made snowmen while older kids played football in the snow.
Beats By Dr. Dre Solo HD Light Blue On-Ear Headphones - BT ON SOLOHD LBL (Google Affiliate Ad)Beats By Dr. Dre Solo HD Pink On-Ear Headphones - BT ON SOLOHD PNK (Google Affiliate Ad)Spalding 63-995E NBA Varsity Junior Outdoor Basketball - Pink-Green (Google Affiliate Ad)Franklin Trac-Tec Breakaway Basketball Hoop (Google Affiliate Ad)
Ad.jpg)
Friday, February 1, 2013
Pelham Bay News: Bronx Hails Koch
Pelham Bay News: Bronx Hails Koch: --> Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. issued the following statement on the passing of Mayor Ed Koch: BRONX, NEW YORK...
Bronx Hails Koch
-->
Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. issued the following statement on the passing of Mayor Ed Koch:
BRONX, NEW YORK, February 1- “Today the Bronx is mourning the death of a son and one of the city’s greatest and most charismatic public leaders. Mayor Ed Koch was a man of wit and wisdom, a leader who helped lift our city out of the brink of bankruptcy, raising our spirits along the way and securing New York’s place as the capital of the world.
“Mayor Koch was always proud of his Bronx roots. During his administration he helped rebuild the South Bronx, creating a task force that helped restore burned-out buildings while creating new, thriving communities—work that still resonates to this day. He was a man of deep devotion, who after leaving office continued to inspire New Yorkers through his activism and his commitment to a city he fiercely loved.
“While we mourn his loss we honor his legacy, commitment to civil rights and his civic leadership, which will forever live in our hearts and in the millions of lives he touched. On behalf of the 1.4 million residents of the Bronx, I would like to extend our most heartfelt condolences to his family and friends during this very difficult time,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)