Monday, August 28, 2017
Council Member Andy King - FREE MAMMOGRAM SCREENINGS FOR WOMEN AGE 40 AND OVER
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. NYC Council Member Andy King, in partnership with St. Barnabas Health System, will host a Mobile Mammography Unit to give women age 40 and over FREE mammogram screenings on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at his District Office, 940 East Gun Hill Road, Bronx. In addition,HealthFirst will be on hand to discuss health insurance needs. To RSVP for an appointment please call the Office of Council Member Andy King at (718) 684-5509.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW - CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS STATUE -VS -THE TAPPAN ZEE BRIDGE
By Senator Rev. Rubén DÃaz
District 32 Bronx County, New York
You should know that the "honorable" New York City Council Speaker, Ms. Melissa Mark-Viverito, a Puerto Rican like me, has pointed her guns and marked for destruction the Statue of Christopher Columbus, (Cristobal Colon in Spanish), located on Columbus Circle in Manhattan.
Trying to show her "love & respect" for the native American Indians; Ms. Viverito has gone back four hundred (400) years and suddenly has remembered all the "evil" things that Columbus did to the Native Americans, and to compensate what was done four centuries ago she is asking for the statue of Columbus to be removed.
According to Ms. Viverito by doing that we will do justice and honoring the Native American Indians.
However, in another part of the state, now four hundred years after Christopher Columbus, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo, is changing the name of the Tappan Zee Bridge in honor of his father and former Governor Mario Cuomo.
You should know that according to "Wikipedia", on March 1952 New York State started the Construction of a Bridge, crossing the Hudson River at one of its widest points; as an integral conduit within the New York Metropolitan area.
The bridge connects South Nyack in Rockland County with Tarrytown in Westchester County in the lower Hudson Valley.
It is important for you to know that it took only three years for the Bridge to be constructed and on December 15, 1955, it was officially opened to traffic.
On February 28, 1956, New York State Governor W. Averell Harriman officially named the Bridge "Tappan Zee Bridge", in honor of an American Indian tribe from the area called "Tappan and Zee, was the Dutch word for "Sea".
I believe that if Melissa Mark-Viverito and others are seriously concerned about the legacy of the American Indian they should be angrier at Governor Andrew Cuomo's intention to erase the name of the Tappan Indian Tribe that was officially given to the Bridge in honor of the Native American Indian Tribe sixty-one (61) years ago by Governor Harriman.
It is my opinion that if Ms. Viverito is hurt by what was done to the American Indian 400 years ago by Christopher Columbus she should be agonizing by what Governor Andrew Cuomo is doing to the legacy of the Tappan Indian Tribe at the present time.
But surprise, surprise I do not hear Ms. Viverito complaining or criticizing Governor Cuomo for his dishonoring a Native American Indian Tribe by removing and renaming the Tappan Zee Bridge.
I am Senator Reverend Rubén DÃaz, and this is what you should know.
Saturday, August 26, 2017
Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr. & Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda Hosts Free BBQ at St. Helena's Church
State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr., Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda, and 87th A.D. Female District Leader Julia Rodriguez as well as over 200 people were joined by State Senator Jeff Klein for a good old fashion barbecue in the parking lot of St. Helena's Church. There were Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, fresh roasted corn on the cob, water and juice, and a cotton candy machine to provide refreshments while everyone enjoyed the other activities. There was a huge Bouncy House, face painting, games of musical chairs, and some good old neighborhood getting to talk to each other. The speeches were very short while several nice items were raffled off during the day.
Above and Below - Many people wanted their picture taken with Senator Diaz and Assemblyman Sepulveda.
Above - Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda introduces State Senator Jeff Klein.
Below - State Senator Jeff Klein lets everyone know that while State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. covers most of Assemblyman Sepulveda's district, that he Senator Klein also covers part of Assemblyman Sepulveda's district. That way Assemblyman Sepulveda can have two State Senators in Albany working for his disrict.
Above - State Senator Jeff Klein also said that Ruben Diaz Sr. is needed in the City Council. Senator Diaz Sr. has four opponents in the race and may need some divine help.
Below - Father David Powers of St. Helena's Church blesses Ruben Diaz Sr. in his quest to become the City Councilman for the 18th Council district.
Above - After talking to a few more voters.
Below - It was off to the RUBEN DIAZ Truck to spread the word.
RADICAL CLERIC SHAIKH FAISAL INDICTED FOR RECRUITING SUPPORTERS AND FACILITATING EFFORTS TO JOIN ISLAMIC STATE
Influential ISIS Recruiter Used Public Profile to Solicit Acts of Violence and Terrorism
Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., and New York City Police Commissioner James O’Neill today announced the indictment of TREVOR WILLIAM FORREST, a/k/a “SHAIKH ABDULLAH FAISAL,” a/k/a “SHAIKH FAISAL,” 53, for using his public profile and personal network to recruit and provide support to those seeking to commit acts of violence and terrorism against others. The defendant is charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with Soliciting or Providing Support for an Act of Terrorism in the First Degree as a Crime of Terrorism and other charges.[1]
The indictment follows a yearlong investigation by the NYPD Intelligence Bureau and the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office’s Counter Terrorism Program, which was created in June 2015 to identify and pursue investigative leads related to homegrown terror plots, extremist activities, and terror-financing.
“Shaikh Faisal has dedicated his life to terror recruitment,” said District Attorney Vance. “Through his lectures, website, and videos, he incites untold numbers of people around the world to take up the cause of jihad. As is alleged in this case, he provided material support to the Islamic State by facilitating the passage of a self-described ISIS sympathizer from New York to Syria. A charismatic leader, the defendant’s rhetoric has been cited by several convicted or suspected terrorists in New York, London, and beyond. As charged in today’s indictment, the defendant also served as the fulcrum of a recruitment effort that encouraged individuals to carry out acts of terrorism in the name of the Islamic State and connected them with other radical supporters who were willing—or already in the process—of doing the same in countries around the world.”
Police Commissioner James P. O’Neill said: “Shaikh Faisal has used his influence and direction to groom and inspire terrorists who have bombed trains, attempted to blow up airliners, and attack Americans here and abroad. His arrest for his efforts to recruit people for ISIS, a terrorist group that has plotted attacks against New York City, should bring an abrupt end to his global outreach in support of terror groups such as al-Qaida and ISIS.”
According to the indictment and documents filed in court, beginning in December 2016, FAISAL and an undercover NYPD officer based in New York began communicating remotely while the defendant was living in St. James, Jamaica.
Since 2014, FAISAL, who was previously convicted in the U.K. of crimes related to inciting murder and using racially charged, hateful rhetoric in furtherance of terrorist ideologies, has publicly supported a terrorist organization known as the Islamic State, a/k/a “ISIS” or “ISIL”, and called for the establishment of an Islamic caliphate through violent acts encouraged by the defendant’s online lectures and militant propaganda.
During their conversations, which occurred over email, text messages, and video chats, FAISAL encouraged the undercover officer to view his lectures online and began sending this person propagandist reports from an official Islamic State news outlet. After their initial exchanges, the defendant offered to help the undercover officer leave the U.S. and travel to the Middle East to support foreign fighters abroad. FAISAL also offered to connect this individual with contacts, cautioning the undercover officer to be circumspect about explicit references to the plan, employ coded language, and use an encrypted chat tool while communicating with FAISAL and his associates.
In a subsequent conversation, the undercover officer informed the defendant that they were certified to perform first aid and CPR, and reiterated the undercover officer’s desire to go overseas to provide aid to foreign fighters in the Middle East. FAISAL then suggested that the undercover officer enter into a marriage with someone in the Islamic State to enable travel abroad, and offered to broker the arrangement. Members of the NYPD Intelligence Bureau, along with the undercover officer, then traveled to the Middle East and, upon their arrival, the defendant provided the undercover officer with contact information for an individual based in Raqqa, Syria. In early 2017, that individual contacted the undercover officer and began collecting information about this person’s location and whereabouts in order to facilitate entry into the Islamic State.
Prior Anti-Terror Prosecutions
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has successfully prosecuted terrorists under New York State’s anti-terror laws, which were enacted following the attacks on September 11, 2001.
In March 2014, Jose Pimentel was sentenced to 16 years in state prison for constructing improvised explosive devices to detonate in Manhattan. Pimentel, who viewed FAISAL’s videos, participated in the defendant’s online chat forum, and cited the defendant as one of his primary inspirations, was convicted of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the First Degree as a Crime of Terrorism.
In another case, in March 2013, Ahmed Ferhani was sentenced to 10 years in state prison after the defendant pleaded guilty to terror-related charges, including Attempted Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the First Degree as a Crime of Terrorism, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree as a Crime of Terrorism, and Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Third Degree as a Crime of Terrorism, among other charges, for plotting to bomb synagogues in Manhattan.
District Attorney Vance thanked the following individuals and agencies for their assistance with the investigation: the NYPD, and in particular, Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence and Counterterrorism John Miller, Chief of Intelligence Thomas Galati, Assistant Commissioner of Intelligence Analysis Rebecca Weiner, Deputy Chief Paul Ciorra, Deputy Inspector Paul Mauro, Captain Joseph Seminara, Sergeant Kevin Thacke, Detective Sherif Moussa, Detective Mohammad, and Investigative Analyst Jacque Singer-Emery; the U.S. Department of Justice Office of International Affairs, Criminal Division, and in particular, Trial Attorney Brian Nicholson; the United States Marshall Service in particular, Henry Gerbeth; and the Jamaica Constabulatory Force.
[1] The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. All factual recitations are derived from documents filed in court and statements made on the record in court.
Defendant Information:
TREVOR WILLIAM FORREST, a/k/a “SHAIKH ABDULLAH FAISAL”, a/k/a “SHAIKH FAISAL”, D.O.B. 9/10/1963
St. James, Jamaica
Charged:
- Soliciting or Providing Support for an Act of Terrorism in the First Degree as a Crime of Terrorism, a class B violent felony, 1 count
- Soliciting or Providing Support for an Act of Terrorism in the First Degree, a class C violent felony, 1 count
- Attempted Soliciting or Providing Support for an Act of Terrorism in the First Degree as a Crime of Terrorism, a class C violent felony, 1 count
- Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree as a Crime of Terrorism, a class D violent felony, 1 count
- Attempted Soliciting or Providing Support for an Act of Terrorism in the Frist Degree, a class D violent felony, 1 count
Nine Alleged Loot Gang Members Variously Charged With Conspiracy to Commit Murder; 14 People Shot in Seven Incidents
Defendants Shot at Rivals in Fast Food Restaurant, at July 4 Party and in Drive-by Shootings; Innocent College Student Shot Dead; Bystander, in Separate Incident, Shot After Being Grabbed and Used as “Human Shield”
Acting Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, together with New York City Police Commissioner James P. O’Neill, today announced that nine alleged members of the Brownsville- based Loot Gang have been variously charged in a 69-count indictment with conspiracy to commit murder, murder, attempted murder, weapons possession and other charges in connection with seven separate shootings that left one innocent man dead and 13 people injured. Four of those shot were women, all innocent bystanders.
Acting District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This indictment underscores our commitment to prosecuting to the fullest extent of the law the violent gang members responsible for most of the senseless shootings in certain pockets of Brooklyn. Our targeted approach to enhancing public safety focuses on the shooters and gang leaders who drive the violence. We simply will not tolerate such lawlessness and bloodshed in our communities, which put hardworking residents at risk.”
Commissioner O’Neill said, “This indictment illustrates how law enforcement is taking a strong stance against violent gang members who commit these heinous acts of senseless violence against innocent victims. We stand with our local law enforcement partners ready to identify, investigate and arrest those who are at the root of crime and collateral damage in our neighborhoods.”
The Acting District Attorney said that some of the defendants were arraigned yesterday before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice William Harrington and held without bail. The rest are expected to be arraigned this week. The defendants are variously charged with first-, second-, third- and fourth-degree conspiracy, second-degree murder, second-degree attempted murder, first-degree gang assault, first-degree criminal use of a firearm, first- and second-degree attempted assault, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, second-degree assault, and first-degree reckless endangerment. The defendants face up to 25 years in prison on the top conspiracy count. (See defendant addendum.)
The Acting District Attorney said that, according to the indictment, the defendants, who range in age from 15 to 25, are alleged to be members of the Loot Gang, which operates out of the New York City Housing Authority Ocean Hill Houses in the 73rd Precinct in Brownsville.
The defendants are variously charged in connection with 10 incidents, including seven shootings and one assault, between November 2015 and August 2016. Fourteen people were shot, including one fatally. One person was beaten. The defendants mostly targeted rival gangs, including, on multiple occasions, shooting at members of True Bosses Only (TBO) in Bushwick, which is TBO territory. In addition to Bushwick, the shootings occurred in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Fort Greene, Canarsie, and Jamaica, Queens. In one instance an innocent 22-year-old man who was a student at John Jay College was shot and killed. It is alleged that all of the shootings were committed when Loot members were “spinning the block,” i.e., driving through rival territory looking for rival gang members and using one or more of four “community guns,” i.e., including a .357 Magnum, which the defendants referred to as “Becky,” and shared among themselves.
During the course of the conspiracy, the defendants allegedly agreed to commit crimes, including murder, assault and weapons possession, in order to maintain their dominance over their claimed geographic area, their social media dominance and superior positioning among budding rap artists.
Furthermore, Loot members allegedly used Facebook private messaging, as well as the calling feature available through Facebook messaging, along with text messages, phone calls, and FaceTime to communicate about getting guns and ammunition and committing acts of violence against rival gangs. Loot used public Facebook postings and music videos posted to YouTube and SoundCloud to antagonize rival gang members, boast about previous acts of violence against rival gangs and show Loot loyalty through hand signs, clothing and lyrics.
It is alleged that at least one shooting, on November 27, 2015, was in retaliation for the shooting death of Armani Hankins, a.k.a., Rocky, in Fort Greene, a month earlier. The victim was allegedly a friend of some of the Loot Gang members, and they released a rap music video entitled “Rockyworld” on YouTube which is a song about retaliation against a gang known as 900 for his death.
Among the acts of violence charged in the conspiracy are the following:
• On February 20, 2016, at approximately 12:25 a.m., it is alleged, that as part of the conspiracy which originated in Brooklyn, a person later identified as Dylan Cruz, dressed in all black with a red bandanna covering his face, ran into Rico Chimi restaurant located at 80-01 Atlantic Avenue in Jamaica, Queens, and shot at Tysheen Gott, an alleged rival gang member. Gott then grabbed a 33-year-old female patron and held her in front of him in an attempt to shield himself. He sustained five shots to both legs and his groin. The woman sustained three gunshot wounds to the left leg. Both survived. It is alleged that Quincy Vital drove Cruz to the restaurant and drove him away after the shooting.
• On July 4, 2016, there were allegedly four separate shootings involving Loot gang members, including early in the day, defendants Burston, Gilbert and Vital went “spinning” in TBO territory in a grey Mazda. They saw some TBO members. Vital grabbed a .357 magnum and handed it to Gilbert, who fired at the TBO rival. Hours later, at around 9 p.m., the TBO member who had been fired at shot and injured Corey Webb, an alleged Loot member. An hour later, Loot retaliated, returning to TBO territory and shooting a man in the abdomen. Finally, continuing to retaliate, at approximately 11:30 p.m., at 419 Chauncey Street, in Bedford-Stuyvesant, in Boss Gang territory, an ally of TBO, defendant Maurice Ellis allegedly fired on a crowd at an outdoor party, from a grey Mazda, striking seven people, including three women.
• On August 12, 2016, at about 12:40 a.m., at Wilson Avenue and Covert Street, in Bushwick, in TBO territory, it is alleged that Quincy Vital walked up to Terrell Henry, 22, a student at John Jay College, who had no gang affiliation, and shot him twice outside a bodega after Henry left a nearby party to buy an iced tea. He died of his injuries.
The investigation was conducted by New York City Police Department Detective Michael Algieri, of the Gun Violence Suppression Division’s Violence Reduction Task Force, with the assistance of Detectives Frank Murdocco, Nicholas Sofokles and Stephen Berardi, and Police Officer Jean Graf, also of the Violence Reduction Task Force, under the supervision of Sergeant Andrew Dunton and Lieutenant Richard Zacarese, and the overall supervision of Inspector Richard Green, Executive Officer, and Assistant Chief James Essig, Commanding Officer of the Gun Violence Suppression Division.
An indictment is merely an accusation and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.
DEFENDANT ADDENDUM:
1. Dylan Cruz, a.k.a., Banga, 25, of Queens.
2. Quincy Vital, a.k.a., SK, 19, of Queens.
3. David Burston, a.k.a., Spazz, 21, of Brownsville, Brooklyn.
4. Earl Gilbert, a.k.a., Bloccz, 22, of Queens.
5. apprehended juvenile, 15, of East New York, Brooklyn.
6. Legrant Foster, a.k.a., Brisko, 22, of East New York, Brooklyn.
7. Maurice Ellis, a.k.a., Maur, 20, of Brownsville, Brooklyn.
8. Josiah Morris, a.k.a., Siah, 19, of Brownsville, Brooklyn.
9. Terrard Wimms, a.k.a., Ty, 19, of East New York, Brooklyn.
The Commodores Perform At Loretto Park as Part of Senator Klein's Summer Symphony Series
No Lionel Ritchie was not on hand for this performance of the Commodores since he had left the group to go solo many years ago. However the event area was filled to capacity with about 500 people who came to enjoy a night of listening to good music from the Commodores.
Above - Sharp Dude.
Below - Even Sharper Dude on the Guitar.
Above - Not only did Senator Klein get to be on stage with Assembly members Mark Gjonaj and Michael Benedetto, to introduce the Commodores but.
Below - The three elected officials took a great picture with the Commodores.
