This week's Riverdale Review and Bronx Press

Here are the stories in this week's issue (December 6 - December 12) of the Riverdale Review:

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr joins Rabbi Levi Shemtov to
light the largest menorah in the Bronx, located at Bell Tower Park.

* Engel and Klein reach for the pinnacles of power > Congessman Eliot Engel has been anointed as  the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee in Washington D.C., and as such he wants to push for peace in the Middle East. The Foreign Affairs Committee has jurisdiction over bills and investigations related to foreign affairs of the United States.

* DNA evidence helps local police solve cold case murder > Detectives from the 50th Precinct finally may have cracked the 1993 murder of a prostitute in North Riverdale, thanks to DNA analysis. Police said Lucius Crawford, a 60-year-old ex-con from Mount Vernon, last week confessed to the fatal stabbing of Nella West--a crime he allegedly committed nearly two decades ago. According to police, the body of West, 38, was found by a cab driver face-up outside 5815 Liebig Avenue just after 3 a.m. on October 20, 1993. The victim, a known prostitute, suffered multiple stab wounds to the head, face and torso, a broken eye socket and a crushed skull during the brutal attack that took her life. The cold case had remained unsolved until five-og Detective Chris Boerke and Malcolm Reiman from the Bronx Homicide Squad made a breakthrough earlier this year. The pair ran biological evidence collected from the scene through the current DNA database and found a match.

* Local nursing home rocked by sex assault allegation > The distraught family of an 81-year-old female resident who was sexually assaulted at Hudson Pointe may file a lawsuit against the nursing care facility. Experienced Cheryl R. Eisberg Moin, who has been enlisted by the victim's family, accused the facility's administration of breaching their duty of care toward Gertrudis Munoz. Police allege Munoz was sexually assaulted bby a janitor in  the third-floor dementia unit of the Hudson Point at Riverdale Center of Nursing and Rehabilitation on November 29. Jorge Sarmiento, 56, of Washington Heights, has since been arrested and charged with endangering the welfare of an incompetent person and attempted sexual assault.

* Algiers still without gas > Residents of The Algiers in central Riverdale remain without gas nearly three weeks after a fire on the south side of the complex forced Con Edison to shut off gas service.

* Reporter tossed from community board meeting > The chair  of Community Board 8 allegedly violated the state's open meetings law when he tossed the media out of this month's executive committee meeting. CB8 chair Robert Fanuzzi asked a reporter from the Riverdale Review to leave last Wednesday's meeting after members spent 40 minutes discussing whether the law applied to the executive committee.

* Settlement in co-op discrimination suit > Parties involved in a housing discrimination lawsuit at 3800 Independence Avenue have reached an agreement. According to a press release from the United States Attorney's Office, Loventhal Silver Riverdale, Goodman Management and Jesus Velasco allegedly discriminated against African-American apartment seekers. The release charged that Velasco, the building's superintendent, admitted he informed prospective African-American buyers that there were no vacant units in the complex. On the very same day, he informed potential Caucasian buyers that there were available units. The United States District Court in the Southern District of New York signed a settlement and consent decree on October 16, but news of the decision only surfaced last week. Loventhal Silver Riverdale and Velasco are required to pay a $40,000 civil penalty.

* North Riverdale merchants weigh BID > Merchants in North Riverdale are in the preliminary stages of establishing a business improvement district in the neighborhood. The ambitious plan is still two to three years away, but local merchants said the BID's formation is part of a wider beautification project.

* Fuel conversion strains local buildings > Building owners and managers are already scrambling to meet their first deadline under the Clean Heat program announced by Mayor Michael Bloomberg last year. The program requires all residences to convert from No. 6 heating oil to cleaner-burning No. 4 by 2014. By 2030, all buildings must upgrade to the still-cleaner No. 2 or to natural gas. According to Con Edison's gas conversion procedures, building owners have until January 11, 2013, to submit both an acknowledgment and a load letter in order to participate in the 2013 area growth program. A load letter requires that a certified plumber examine a buildings' heating system and come up with an estimate for the conversion. But with the influx of requests, there are not enough certified plumbers to go around because many are involved with repairs in the aftermath of superstorm Sandy.

* Spellman charged with manslaughter > Riverdale resident Kevin Spellman, a now-retired NYPD detective, was convicted last Thursday of second-degree manslaughter for the death of Kingsbridge resident Drane Nikac in October 2009, Bronx district attorney Robert Johnson announced. Witnesses said Spellman drove through a red light on Kingsbridge Avenue near West 232nd Street at around 6:30 a.m. when the victim, a 66-year-old Albanian native, began crossing the avenue with a cart containing bottles and cans for recycling. Spellman, 45, faces up to 15 years in prison and is free on bail awaiting sentencing on February 15.

* Benefit concert at HIR for Sandy relief > A varied lineup of performers will offer a Hurricane Sandy Relief Concert this Sunday, December 16, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale. Admission is $36, but donations of larger amounts are welcome. Proceeds will go to a fund administered by the UJA-Federation of New York to help those still in need as a result of the October storm that wrecked several of the city's neighborhoods.

* Local workers sought for 230th Street mall construction > It will be the $54 million two-story shopping mall that Bronx workers helped to build. The developer of the Broadway Plaza shopping center has announced that the borough's tradesmen will have first crack at filling a portion of the construction jobs on offer. Equity One last week revealed they have started hiring for the project and are seeking resumes from qualified, but currently unemployed, tradesmen who live in the northwest Bronx.

* Koppell declares war on graffiti > Graffiti vandals be warned: If you plan to tag in Riverdale, it probably won't stay up for long. Councilman G. Oliver Koppell has teamed up with CitySolve, a graffiti removal business, to remove to handiwork of graffiti vandals across his district. Koppell kicked off his campaign last Friday and personally painted over defaced sections of the West 235th Street Henry Hudson Parkway pedestrian overpass during the launch.

Also, in the Bronx Press:

* Campaign to save Clinton HS gathers steam > DeWitt Clinton High School on Mosholu Parkway, labeled as a failing school for the past three years by the Department of Education, has been on the chopping block twice and has become a dumping ground for failing students. Yet students, parents and teachers poured into the school auditorium for a hearing on December 6 to show their support and to prove to the DOE that their school deserves another chance.

* Eight injured in mattress fire in Longwood > At least five residents of an apartment building, said to be a recently converted homeless shelter, are recovering after a mattress fire near the lobby entrance. Firefighters got the call at 5:30 p.m. on December 9, as the billowing black smoke climbed up into the six-story building at 941 Intervale Avenue, creating panic among the trapped residents. RMS reported at least eight injuries, including five civilian and three firefighters. 

* Norwood resident gunned down along Murder Row > A popular Norwood man was shot and killed during an early-morning dispute on Decatur Avenue, just two blocks from his home. The deadly confrontation took place outside of a three-family home at 3089 Decatur Avenue between Mosholu Parkway North and East 204th Street at 2:2 a.m. on December 9. The victim was later identified as Gary Rodriguez, 46, of 3285 Decatur Avenue.

 

Five Bronx post offices saved, 12 others still at risk

Here's a story from the Riverdale Review and Bronx Press

By Brendan McHugh 

The Bronx went postal on the United States Postal Service when 17 post offices were being studied for closure last year. Through rallies and community meetings, along with sending thousands of letters, five of the 17 have been saved so far. 

Fieldston, Einstein in Co-op City, Castle Hill, Hunts Point and West Farms Post Offices have all been removed from the list, the USPS announced last week. 

Robert Gratz, far right, held a successful
rally to save the Fieldston Post Office.

“I am so glad USPS has come to realize what the community and I have known all along: these post offices are much more than a place to drop off mail; they provide the essential services that residents rely on every day,” said Rep. Joseph Crowley, who has four of the offices in his district. 

Rep. Eliot Engel, who has the Fieldston office in his district, was thrilled at the news as well. 

“It is also encouraging that the Postal Service is listening to the rising chorus of reason. The Postal Service is facing difficult times but cutting off service to its customers is not the way out. The Post Office cannot fix its financial problems by making access to post offices more difficult and inconvenient.  This is a business plan designed for failure,” Rep. Engel said, noting that the Mount Vernon office in his district has also been saved. 

State of the Union response

Rep. Eliot Engel issued the following statement after President Obama’s State of the Union address. Make the jump to read U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand's statement. 

“The President’s speech tonight was essentially a strategic plan to bolster the American Dream – which is slipping out of reach for far too many Americans.  President Obama cited the fear of losing out on the American Dream for low- to middle-income families as the reason he sought public office.  As the son of an ironworker growing up in public housing, and educated in New York City Public Schools and at the City University of New York, this struck close to home for me.  I was afforded the opportunity to one day serve my country in the United States Congress.  As a parent, we always seek better opportunities for our children than we had ourselves.  That should be the case for all American families.

“Our economy has come a long way since the dark days back in 2007-08 when we were losing hundreds of thousands of jobs each month.  We cannot ignore 22 consecutive months of growth, and over three million private sector jobs added since the President’s first State of the Union address.  Recovery has been slower than anyone wants, but the fact remains our economy is getting better.

“We must return to the days where both parties worked together for the good of the country.  Compromise cannot continue to be a dirty word.  Our challenges are far too great for us to continue self-defeating partisanship.  Our goals should be for the betterment of the American people, not cold-hearted electoral politics. 

“I was pleased to hear the President sees energy as one of the main avenues for shoring up the American Dream.  Clean energy investments created tens of thousands of good paying jobs in recent years. Reducing pollution will also protect the health of all Americans by, cutting down the rates of serious diseases.  Promoting alternative fuel sources will help lead our country to a future free from dependence on foreign governments, many of which are hostile to our interests.  Oil production has never been higher, and Democrats must remember we must avoid saying no all of the time and find other ways to produce domestic energy sources. 

“Far too many families can barely keep pace with their mortgage payments and household expenses.  Our focus must remain on jobs and the economy, and rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure.  However, we are sadly mistaken if we lose sight of the crisis our public education system faces.  We must reform No Child Left Behind, or every American will be left behind.   We must fix our borders and reform our immigration system.  We cannot forget that immigration done correctly has made our country the successful melting pot it is today.  We must also finally come to grips that health care in this nation is a right and not a privilege. We have much more that needs to be accomplished to keep America great, and enable more people to take part in the American Dream. 

“I am hopeful that 2012 will be more productive than 2011, when manufactured crises dominated our national rhetoric.  Americans expect more from their government, and we should demand it of ourselves.  We must show that we can still come together to preserve and expand the American Dream.”

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'Dream' speech

Here is the famous 'I have a dream' speech by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., given Aug. 28, 1963. Below are some statements from various officials and a video of mayoral candidate Bill Thompson.



Also, here is Thompson speaking at the Trinity Baptist Church today. Introduction by Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

Engel continues call for jobs bill

On the news of a better-than-expected jobs report, Rep. Eliot Engel has renewed his demand that a jobs bill be passed by Congress.

White House provided chart showing private
payroll job loss and growth over the last four years.

With the overall amount of jobs created at 200,000, higher than expect, the unemployment rate fell to 8.5 percent, the lowest it has been in three years.

Engel believes the passage of a jobs bill will boost the economy and get more Americans back to work. The latest report, combined with the revised September report showing over 200,000 jobs created, followed by two months which combined for another 200,000, means more than 600,000 new jobs created in the last four months. In all, the American economy has added over 1.6 million jobs in 2011, the most in five years.

“The recent trend towards job growth stands in stark contrast to the near-depression numbers of the Bush Administration. The economy seems poised to continue moving in the right direction, and it would extremely helpful if Congress could give it a hand with a jobs bill. We need to use the recent job growth as a springboard to a stronger economy. The House Republican Majority refuses to work with Democrats, or the President, on legislation to help create jobs. Instead it is fixated on an ideological agenda not on helping middle and lower income families," Engel said in a statement today.

“Too many Americans are out of work, but at least the trend is moving in the right direction," he said. "Hopefully, we can continue this momentum into 2012. It could have been even better if not for such unavoidable obstacles such as the Japan earthquake and European financial crisis, and avoidable ones such as the debt ceiling debacle and credit downgrade. The fact that we are here at the end of the year talking about real gains in job growth is satisfying."

An Engel spokesman said a jobs bill would focus on improving infrastructure, such as rebuilding schools and bridges.

“There is still much to be done, and it would be very helpful if Congressional Republicans would work with Democrats and the White House to boost job creation through a bipartisan jobs bill.  Unfortunately, they show little indication they care to do so.”

One year after DADT and "the sky hasn't fallen," Engel says

It was one year ago yesterday that President Barack Obama signed the repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, allowing gay and lesbian people to openly serve in the military. 

“Despite the naysayers who claimed all sorts of dire consequences for our armed forces, it is now one year since the DADT policy became history and the sky hasn’t fallen," Rep. Eliot Engel said. "Regardless of the bumpy road which led to the repeal, one thing is for sure – America’s military no longer discriminates against gay men and women who wish to serve our country – and is stronger because of it.  If you believe in one of the core tenets of our nation – all people are created equal and deserve equal rights under the law – then this has been a good change in policy.  The gay community still has a long way to go before they enjoy equal rights– the next step will be marriage equality – but this was a giant leap forward. 

 “Unit cohesion remains strong in our military and instead of a drop in recruitment, all four branches have either met or exceeded their recruiting goals.  Bravery and dedication have never been solely possessed by heterosexuals.  As the 1964 Republican Presidential Candidate, Senator Barry Goldwater, said, ‘You can be gay and still shoot straight.’  The sky didn’t fall on our military after discrimination against the gay community ended, I am sure that the institution of marriage will also survive once that restriction is lifted for all Americans someday.”

'Doomed' post offices get year's reprieve

Here's a story from this week's Riverdale Review and Bronx Press.

By Brendan McHugh 

The U.S. Postal Service is delaying any closing or consolidating of any post offices until at least May 15, 2012. 

This comes as good news to local leaders, who have fought against closures of 17 Bronx post offices for the past few months. 

“I am encouraged to see the Postal Service has chosen to listen to the rising chorus of voices from across the country urging it to stop trying to plug their financial gaps by cutting an essential service to the American people,” Rep. Eliot Engel said.

Jump below for the full story.

Kim Jong Il's death causing serious concerns in Asia

North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il's death has created more questions than it answered, apparently.

Rep. Eliot Engel, a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee who has visited North Korea twice in the last decade, issued the following statement:

“The world will not miss Kim Jong Il, who oppressed his people back to the Stone Age. When I went to North Korea, I was stunned by how the country appears to be a fossil from an age long gone. Seeing the starvation, the state-run propaganda and the lack of access to the rest of the world was jarring. North Korea is a throwback to East Germany from the Cold War era – a situation which is extremely dangerous. A vacuum in leadership for a dictatorship with access to nuclear arms is frightening, and we must closely coordinate any response with South Korea and our other allies in Asia. I am hopeful that the death of this tyrant could lead to change in North Korea – something which would only help the North Korean people, our Asian allies, and the world, but I am skeptical that any change will take place in the near future. In the end, the United States and our democratic friends in Asia, Europe, and elsewhere look forward to the day when the repression ends in North Korea and the regime makes the necessary reforms and enters the modern world.”

Fear for future of postal service

A story from this week's Riverdale Review and Bronx Press.

By Brendan McHugh 

Even worse postal service is coming to the Bronx. 

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) announced the elimination of overnight service for First-Class mail this week. 

Currently, 41.5 percent of First-Class mail arrives the next day, but with the Post Office’s proposed changes, it will go to zero. To get overnight service under the new regulations, the public would have to spend $13 to overnight a letter. 

They have already closed the Bronx Processing and Distribution Center earlier this year, which has slowed down mail for some Bronxites already. 

“It is a self-fulfilling prophecy – you provide inferior service, and you drive away business,” condemned U.S. Rep. Eliot Engel in a statement. “This gives them another excuse to curtail even more services, and all of a sudden it’s a downward spiral to poorer service."

The planned cuts include terminating 250 postal centers and laying off nearly 30,000 workers nationwide. 

Jump below for the full story.

Engel encouraged by falling unemployment numbers

Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY-17) said he was encouraged by the better-than-expected unemployment numbers for November, as the rate dropped to 8.6% in the nation, the lowest since March 2009.

In addition to the 120,000 jobs added, an upgrade of the September and October reports accounted for another 52,000 jobs. Engel repeated his call for passage of jobs legislation to boost the economy and get even more Americans back to work.

Last week, however, we reported that unemployment in the Bronx had increased over the past year.

Private payrolls in the country grew by 140,000 jobs in November after increasing by 117,000 in October, according to the recent report by the Department of Labor. This is the 21st consecutive month of private sector job growth. Government employment fell by 20,000 jobs as public payrolls have fallen for the tenth time in the last 11 months. Retail jobs surged in November, adding almost 50,000 jobs. Construction jobs fell slightly, while manufacturing rose. Health care and social assistance jobs rose by almost 20,000, while temporary hiring also increased by over 22,000. Temporary hirings are often seen as a sign of an increase in future permanent hirings.

Engel released a statement rejoicing in the improved numbers and calling for a jobs bill, something he's been blaming the Republicans on because they have refused to work with the other side of the aisle.

“Far too many families are still struggling with long-term unemployment – but it is much nicer to be talking about gaining 140,000 private sector jobs than the hundreds of thousands we lost during the months leading to the end of the Bush Administration. We need to use the positive signs seen this fall as a springboard to facilitate a stronger recovery," Engel said.

“This means setting aside political rancor and sending a bipartisan jobs bill to the President’s desk. The House Republican Majority refuses to work with the Democratic Minority, or the President, to put forth legislation to help create jobs, and instead is fixated on an ideological agenda ahead of helping middle and lower income families.

“It also means extending unemployment insurance for those still struggling to find work. In 75 years, we have never cut off unemployment insurance benefits when the unemployment percentage was so high.  Hardly anyone receiving unemployment benefits chooses to be in this position, but until more jobs are created we must do what is necessary.

“Our economy is gradually making positive strides, in spite of Republican opposition to any effort to strengthen it. Imagine what we could do if they’d join our efforts to pass the American Jobs Act – or similar legislation. Let’s finally work together, and produce a jobs bill which helps the unemployed and aids employers at the same time.”

NAACP releases redistricting maps

The state NAACP has released a handful of maps they gave to LATFOR, the committee charged with redistricting the state.

The maps created are just the NAACP's opinions on what they would like see, which would be to ensure the African American population continues to be represented in Congress. They are not the final product.

"The big picture here is to preserve New York's black congressional districts and black New Yorkers' voting rights," NAACP State President Hazel Dukes said in a statement. "I urge our faith and civic leaders, grassroots activists, good government and legal defense groups, politicians and others to join with the NAACP in this fight."

This district would be the 15th Congressional District, which is currently represented by Rep. Charlie Rangel. They also created maps for Queens/Nassau and Brooklyn.

The new district would run from Manhattan's Upper West Side to Marble Hill, through to the reservoir, then up through Norwood and Wakefield to Mount Vernon, also spanning further east to Co-Op City.

This map takes away from Rep. Eliot Engel more than anyone else, which would push Engel--who is white--further into Westchester and Rockland counties. Engel would keep Rivedale, Woodlawn and Van Cortlandt Park but lose Jerome Park Reservoir and everything east and south of Van Cortlandt. He would also lose Mount Vernon.

It would take Co-Op City from Rep. Joseph Crowley, who has parts of the Bronx and Queens.

NYS-NAACP_PrelimPlan_BlackVtgRts_CD15

Will this be the last Veterans Day that our heroes are made to wait for memorial?

Here's a story from this week's Riverdale Review and Bronx Press.

By Brendan McHugh

ROTC students from several Bronx colleges
participated in the ceremonies to mark Veterans Day
in Van Cortlandt Park.

This past Sunday, about 100 people showed up on a brisk November afternoon to honor Riverdale’s veterans at the Van Cortlandt Park Memorial Grove. 

Herb Barret and Don Tannen, the leaders of the Memorial Grove Restoration Group and two veterans themselves, have held the ceremony for the past five years, not only for the veterans in the area, but also to highlight the need to restore the war memorial. 

“We were hoping that a good part of the grove would be completed,” Barret said at the ceremony. “We’d just like to see it finished.” 

The grove is set for completion this January, though Barret and Tannen have had to be relentless in getting the Department of Parks and Recreation in moving quickly. The grove is suppose to honor 37 deceased war heroes—including two Medal of Honor recipients—with 37 trees and plaques, but a handful of trees weren’t there and many of the plaques disappeared over the years. Many of those honored in the grove are from World War II, though a small number honor those who fought in World War I and the Korean War. 

Jump below for the full story.

Bronx pols honor Veterans Day

If you're hankering to celebrate veterans in the Bronx, you can find information here for an event Sunday in Van Cortlandt Park.

Other than that, I wanted to pass along messages from the local elected officials.

State Senator Gustavo Rivera issued the following statement today in honor of Veterans Day and announced that he is introducing legislation that will do a better job of matching veterans with services that they are entitled to.

Rep. Eliot Engel highlighted multiple bills he has sponsored, including one that streamlines the ability for veterans to get compensation for disabled vets.

Jump below for the statements. More coming when/if I receive them.

Electeds meet their constituents in West Bronx town meeting

Here's a story from this week's Bronx Press.

By Brendan McHugh 

Engel courts future voters at the town hall meeting Sunday.

Stray cats, street repairs, the millionaires’ tax and much more were brought up in during a ‘meet and greet’ with local elected officials last week at Vladek Hall.

In the first of four town hall meetings, residents were able to spend some one-on-one time with their local elected officials, a change from the typical town halls where residents fire off questions publicly and the officials respond in an open forum.

Rep. Eliot Engel, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, state Senator Gustavo Rivera and City Councilman G. Oliver Koppell spoke with their constituents on a variety of issues Sunday afternoon in one of the Amalgamated Houses.

“People brought up a lot of local issues,” Dinowitz said after the gathering. “Some people talk to us about more national issues. They’re very pro-Democrat and want Obama to be stronger in his fight to get bills passed, his fight with Republicans. We got a lot of that: Obama needs to be tougher with Republicans.”

Jump below for the full post.

Engel celebrates Obama's decision to withdraw troops from Iraq

Rep. Eliot Engel issued the following statement in response to President Obama’s announcement that all American troops will be out of Iraq by the end of the year. Engel is a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

“I applaud President Obama for this decision to bring our troops home and I hope in the not-so-distant future he can do the same in Afghanistan.  After nearly nine years, the war in Iraq is finally coming to a close.  The President fulfilled his campaign promise to end the war, which has lasted twice as long as World War II, cost our nation billions of dollars and sadly we have lost approximately 4,500 American lives.  I have been calling for the end of the war since 2007, and at long last it is coming true.  While the mission was often muddled, the bravery and dedication of our men and women in uniform was never in question.  They can return home for the holidays, to the loved ones they left behind, knowing that they served their country honorably, and that they have the gratitude of the entire nation.

“This action is long overdue, and has my full support.  Unfortunately, the lasting legacy of this war is the emboldening of Iran, the loss of American lives, and the sacrifices we must now demand in order to pay the bills and take care of America’s veterans.  I fully believe the war in Afghanistan could have ended long ago, if we didn’t divert attention and resources to Iraq.

“Iraq once again belongs to the Iraqi people.  Between this, the deaths of Moamar Qadaffi and Osama bin Laden, the systematic elimination of al Qaeda leaders, and the continued withdrawal of troops in Afghanistan, perhaps this long chapter in our history will come to a close.  We must remain vigilant, as our enemies still lurk and remain committed to attacking us at home and abroad.  However, today is a great day for the families of our service men and women, for the Iraqi people and for the American people.  I commend the President for his actions, and look forward to the day where the last American boot finally leaves Iraqi soil.”

Engel reacts to Gadhafi's death

Rep. Eliot Engel issued the following statement in response to the death of Moamar Gadhafi in Libya today. Engel is a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee:

“With the death of Moamar Qadaffi, it is time for Libyans to get on with the difficult job of setting up a functioning government and rebuilding their country. The United States and our European allies should help the transitional authorities in Libya as they establish democratic institutions, but we must also caution that they contain radical elements. It is my hope that a democratically-chosen government in Libya will promote the freedom and prosperity of its citizens and will quickly discard the extremist agenda of Qadaffi who spent more time propping up dictators in Africa, vilifying Israel, and blowing up civilian airliners than bettering his own country.”

The spelling in Engel's statement differs from ours. AP Style spells it Gadhafi, and there are even more different spellings beyond that. The various media outlets are spelling it every which way.

Crowley rakes in $$$ in third-quarter fundraising

Here are the three Bronx congressmen's latest campaign filings, in case you were wondering:

Third Quarter Take (Cash on Hand)

Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-7th): $237,571; ($933,462)

Rep. Jose Serrano (D-16th): $12,075; ($14,504)

Rep. Eliot Engel (D—17th) : $73,750; ($111,542)

Check out the full list at the Daily Politics, or surf around Open Secrets and see what you can find.

Tappan Zee Bridge reconstruction fast-tracked

The Tappan Zee Bridge has been tapped for a speedy review and approval process, which will allow reconstruction of the bridge to begin much sooner than previously thought.

President Barack Obama has green-lighted New York State's request, and with the expedited federal review of the Environmental Impact Statement and the processing of certain permits, the Tappan Zee project could begin as early as next year.

“This is a shot in the arm for the project and a major step forward to restoring this key piece of our infrastructure and putting tens of thousands of New Yorkers back to work,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said.

According to the Presidential memorandum, “improved coordination among multiple federal agencies will reduce the time needed to proceed from a Draft Environmental Impact Statement to a Record of Decision, potentially reducing the project timeline by multiple years.”

Rep. Eliot Engel, who applauded the president for his actions, says that serious damage to the bridge would be horrendous for the tri-state area.

Jump below for the full story, including information as to when public meetings will be held to discuss the $5.2 billion project's details.

Four town hall meetings coming to the northwest Bronx

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, Rep. Eliot Engel, City Councilman Oliver Koppell, state Senators Gustavo Rivera, Jeffrey Klein and Adriano Espaillat are hosting several town hall meetings to answer constituents’ questions and hear their concerns.

The first is a lighthearted meet and great, and will be the only one that Engel attends. The third, on Tuesday, Oct. 25, will be focused around environmental issues, including Indian Point and hydrofracking. The other two, I assume, are free for alls.

Sunday, October 23 • 1:30pm	Monday, October 24 • 7:30pm
Vladeck Hall	St. Barnabas High School
74 Van Cortlandt Park South	425 East 240th Street
Meet and Greet Your Elected Officials	Town Hall Meeting
Sponsored by the Amalgamated Housing Cooperative	Sponsored by the Woodlawn Heights Taxpayers and Community Association
With Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, Congressman Eliot Engel, Council Member Oliver Koppell, and State Senator Gustavo Rivera	With Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, Council Member Oliver Koppell, and State Senator Jeffrey Klein
Tuesday, October 25 • 7:30pm	Wednesday, November 2 • 7:30pm
Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel of Riverdale	Mosholu Montefiore Community Center
475 W. 250 St. (on Henry Hudson Pkwy. E.)	3450 Dekalb Avenue
Special Forum on Environmental Issues	Town Hall Meeting
With Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, Council Member Oliver Koppell, and State Senator Adriano Espaillat	Sponsored by the Mosholu Montefiore Community Center
	With Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, Council Member Oliver Koppell, and State Senator Gustavo Rivera

Today is the 10th Anniversary of U.S. forces in Afghanistan

A decade ago today, the U.S. began its response to the 9/11 terror attacks, invading Afghanistan in search of the Taliban and attempting to stabilize the Middle East.

Congressman Eliot Engel issued the following statement on the 10th Anniversary of American military engagement in Afghanistan. Engel is a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

The statement weaves between applauding the reasons for going to Afghanistan and President Obama's withdrawal plan, with condemning the actions of getting sidetracked into Iraq in search of weapons of mass destruction. Make sure to jump below for the full statement.

“The heady days of American forces and the Northern Alliance overthrowing the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, and quickly stabilizing the country are long gone. This situation has become a seemingly endless slog that more and more resembles a civil war.

“Our initial involvement in Afghanistan was the right thing to do. Its government sheltered a terrorist organization that directly attacked the United States on September 11, 2001, killing almost 3,000 people.

“However, instead of finishing the job in Afghanistan, America got sidetracked into Iraq based on spurious information about non-existent weapons of mass destruction. We are still in Iraq, and we are still in Afghanistan. As each day passes, more Iraqis and Afghanis ask why we are still there. The American people have been asking the same question. I can’t help but believe that if the Bush Administration never attacked Iraq, the war in Afghanistan would have been won long ago, and our country would be $1 trillion less in debt," Engel said.

Jump below for the full statement.