Speed Camera or Speed Trap

 

As a car goes over the West 239th Street overpass of the Henry Hudson Parkway and continues to travel south on Riverdale Avenue the roadway begins to have a downward slope picking up speed. You then approach a light at West 238th Street, where cars can speed up to beat the light. However there is something that the NYCDOT has placed on the light pole in the foreground that is magnified in the next photo.

There is a speed camera perched on the light pole at Riverdale Avenue South and West 238th Street. Yes there is a school across the street, or at least a driveway to the school and a large athletic field. Also there is no speed camera in the northbound direction since that is uphill where the drivers are going much slower than traveling downhill. 

So is this a speed camera or a speed Trap?

Eric Dinowitz Campaign Rally in Ewing Park Riverdale

As you can see in the photo, Saturday there was a get out the vote rally for Eric Dinowitz attended by Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., Congressman Ritchie Torres, City Council Speaker Cory Johnson, and the man who made it all possible, Eric's father Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz.

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz has tried to stay on the sidelines during the special election to let now Councilman Eric Dinowitz be his own person, campaigning the way he feels most comfortable. In a six candidate race Eric got forty-eight percent of the vote after all the votes were counted, kicking in Rank Choice voting since no one received over fifty percent of the vote. After Rank Choice Voting was done Eric had fifty-nine percent of the vote to thirty-three percent for Mino Lora, with eight percent exhausted with no candidate to drop down to. 

Councilman Eric Dinowitz is expected to win ree;ection in the June 22nd Democratic Primary, which in the Bronx is the real election, as the November General Election is a mere formality of the June Democratic Primary. The only questions that remain are will Councilman Dinowitz get more than fifty percent of the vote in the Democratic Primary, or if he doesn't how long will it take the Board of Elections to count the votes, and then drop them down as Rank Choice Voting requires.

Only a small part of the supporters that Councilman Eric Dinowitz has that came out on the day before Mother' Day to help go out in Riverdale to remind voters to vote to reelect Eric Dinowitz their councilman.

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz said while I may be Eric's father, Eric is his own person, and that the two don't always agree on everything.

However it may have been Alex Dinowitz the son of Eric Dinowitz who may have stole the show as he tries to interview Congressman Ritchie Torres, as Speaker Johnson and his grandpa Dinowitz watch during Eric's speech.

Reporter Alex Dinowitz winds up the interview of Congressman Torres with an autograph.

RAY McGUIRE RELEASES A STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO THE TIMES SQUARE SHOOTINGS AND OVERALL INCREASE IN GUN VIOLENCE

 

Democratic mayoral candidate Ray McGuire released the following statement in regards to the shooting in Times Square and rise in overall gun violence. 

"The most fundamental responsibility New York City has to its citizens is to keep them safe. Again and again we have seen our leaders fail to do so and the city has breached its contract with New Yorkers. Our babies are dying in the streets.

"The simple fact is: no safety, no city. 

"As gun violence continues to rise in our city at alarming rates, the fix isn't to defund and disarm, leaving the most vulnerable and often forgotten neighborhoods unprotected, nor is the answer going back to Giuliani-era police tactics like some have suggested. We need to immediately increase the number of police officers within the NYPD focused on getting guns off our streets, as well as community resources that effectively prevent and disrupt violence. And our courts need the ability to get repeat offenders and known members of criminal organizations off the streets.

"Mayor de Blasio must immediately assemble the NYPD, NYC DA’s, and city and state legislators to make any legal, budgetary, and strategic changes necessary to end this violence. 

"Today, a mother is spending her Mother’s Day at a hospital bedside, praying for her child to recover. No more mothers should have to experience the tragic loss of a child to gun violence. We must act now to protect the future of our children, our families and our city."

WILLIAMS' STATEMENT ON SHOOTING IN TIMES SQUARE THAT INJURED TWO WOMEN & 4-YEAR-OLD GIRL

 

 Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams issued the following statement after two women and a 4-year-old girl were wounded in Times Square shooting yesterday.

"Last night's shooting in Times Square shook me, shook our city, and forever changed the lives of the three victims - who I am deeply relieved have survived. I offer my prayers to each of them, and to their families, for a quick and full recovery. 

"On Mothers' Day, we think of the women shot, the child shot, and we think of all parents trying to keep their children safe in our city. We owe it to them as leaders to implement a plan for co-producing public safety, with everyone playing a role, to prevent future violence and save lives. We have already proven that we know what works to combat gun violence, and we can do it again - in recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, we must also fight this wave in the gun violence epidemic. 

"We cannot ignore that this shooting - not a targeted attack but an incident of street violence - occurred in one of the most recognizable areas in our city and in the world. One with police presence who were thankfully able to respond, but were not able to prevent it. That speaks to the idea that this violence can occur anywhere, but also reminds us that we need multiple responses to truly tackle this epidemic. In addition, when the same kind of violence happens in Central Brooklyn, the South Bronx, or Southeast Queens, the loss demands the same level of attention and the communities demand equitable response."

Councilman Mark Gjonaj's NYC Moving Forward Week in Review - 5/7/2021

 

Dear Friends,

Hope you and your families are doing well as we are finally in the beautiful month of May, surrounded by warmer weather, blooming flowers and chirping birds that hopefully will bring an awakening and positive energy as the City is hopefully gearing to opening up soon.

Sunday marks a very special celebration and even more meaningful than in previous years. After 2020, we were reminded of how important it is to stay connected with those we love. That goes double for our mothers, grandmas, sisters, mother figures etc. Take time out of your day to call, spend time, give flowers and thank all the moms around us.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and a time to raise awareness of those living with mental or behavioral health issues and others that have been facing issues and have been impacted by the pandemic. Glad to have hosted a Virtual Townhall for our constituents in partnership with Jacobi Hospital and Good Samaritans to answer questions and explore any resources available.

This spring and summer I am proud to bring more events and concerts for constituents in District 13 such as Shredding events in cooperation with Phipps Neighborhoods and the Summer 2021 Concert Series in partnership with KRVC’s Brush the Bronx Cultural Programs, starting on June 4th through August 13th.

Legislatively my NYC Council colleagues and I held a hearing on the future of Hart Island, a final resting place for so many and what we can do to ensure that we respect those buried there, give their loved ones access to the island so that they can continue to pay respect and review the City’s proposal for public burials.

We are proud of serving you and being with you throughout this pandemic. We are continuing to give out food boxes, offer Rapid Testing, Free Tax Preparation and many more services throughout our community. Please do not hesitate to contact my office with any issues or concerns at 718-931-1721 or email at MGjonaj@council.nyc.gov.

Sincerely,

NYC Councilman Mark Gjonaj

District 13, Bronx

Councilman Mark Gjonaj was glad to work with the NYC Council on an upcoming street co-naming ceremony in our District in memory of RAIN Founder and community activist Beatrice Castiglia Catullo.

Team Gjonaj takes pride in attending all community meetings as we listen to and share all our office is doing to help our constituents in need. We were glad to be part of this month’s Allerton International Merchants Association meeting.

238 Days and Counting

 

Charlene Do you like these three day weekends? Soon I'll add Monday's so we can have four day weekends. What's that Charlene, soon we'll have seven day weekends when I am term-limited out of office?

Governor Cuomo Announces 60% of Adults in New York Have Received at Least One Covid-19 Vaccine Dose

 

168,958 Doses Administered in the Last 24 Hours

More than 1 Million Doses Administered Over Past Seven Days

Vaccine Dashboard Updated Daily on the State's Vaccine Program Here

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that 60 percent of New Yorkers who are 18 years of age or older have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. 168,958 doses have been administered across the state's vast distribution network in the last 24 hours, and more than 1 million doses have been administered over the past seven days.            

"The vaccine is the best weapon we have in our fight against COVID, and we all need to take it in order to finally defeat this beast." Governor Cuomo said. "With 60 percent of all adults and almost half of all eligible New Yorkers having received at least one dose, we continue to make remarkable progress as a state, but we cannot get lax. If you still need to get your shot, please do so quickly at one of our many sites across the state. Everyone who is 16 and older is eligible here in New York, and the vaccine is free, safe and effective."          

All New York State mass vaccination sites are now open to eligible New Yorkers for walk-in vaccination on a first come first serve basis. The walk-in appointments are reserved for first doses only with second doses to be scheduled automatically after administration of the initial shot. In addition, all vaccine providers are encouraged to allow walk-in appointments for eligible New Yorkers. People who would prefer to schedule an appointment at a state-run mass vaccination site can do so on the Am I Eligible App or by calling 1-833-NYS-4-VAX. People may also contact their local health department, pharmacy, doctor or hospital to schedule appointments where vaccines are available, or visit vaccines.gov to find information on vaccine appointments near them.                    

STATEWIDE BREAKDOWN

Total doses administered - 16,564,716

Total doses administered over past 24 hours - 168,958

Total doses administered over past 7 days - 1,015,327

Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 59.7%

Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 47.8%

Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 48.0%

Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 38.2%  

New York Hedge Fund Founder Sentenced For Bankruptcy Fraud

 

 Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that DANIEL KAMENSKY, the founder and former manager of New York-based hedge fund Marble Ridge Capital (“Marble Ridge”), was sentenced today in Manhattan federal court to six months in prison for engaging in fraud and extortion to pressure a rival bidder to abandon its higher bid for assets in connection with Neiman Marcus’s bankruptcy proceedings so that Marble Ridge could obtain those assets for a lower price.  KAMENSKY pled guilty on February 3, 2021, before United States District Judge Denise L. Cote, who imposed today’s sentence.

U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said:  “Daniel Kamensky committed bankruptcy fraud – undermining the integrity of bankruptcy proceedings and violating his fiduciary responsibility – in an effort to take extra profits for himself and his hedge fund.  As he himself predicted, this fraud has now landed Daniel Kamensky in prison.”

As alleged in the Complaint, the Information, and statements made in court:           

DANIEL KAMENSKY was the principal of Marble Ridge, a hedge fund with assets under management of more than $1 billion that invested in securities in distressed situations, including bankruptcies.  Prior to opening Marble Ridge, KAMENSKY worked for many years as a bankruptcy attorney at a well-known international law firm, and as a distressed debt investor at prominent financial institutions.

The Neiman Marcus Bankruptcy

Neiman Marcus, an American chain of luxury department stores with stores located across the United States, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas (the “Bankruptcy Court”) in May 2020.  At the outset of the bankruptcy, Marble Ridge, through KAMENSKY, applied to be on the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors (the “Committee”) and was thereafter appointed to be a member of the Committee.  As a member of the Committee, KAMENSKY had a fiduciary duty to represent the interests of all unsecured creditors as a group.

During the bankruptcy process, the Committee had negotiated with the owners of Neiman Marcus to obtain certain securities, known as MyTheresa Series B Shares (the “MYT Securities”), and ultimately, the Committee was successful in coming to a settlement to obtain 140 million shares of MYT Securities for the benefit of certain unsecured creditors of the bankruptcy estate.  In July 2020, KAMENSKY was negotiating with the Committee for Marble Ridge to offer 20 cents per share to purchase MYT Securities from any unsecured creditor who preferred to receive cash, rather than MYT Securities, as part of that settlement.

Kamensky’s Fraudulent Scheme 

On July 31, 2020, KAMENSKY learned that a diversified financial services company headquartered in New York, New York (the “Investment Bank”), had informed the Committee that it was interested in bidding a price between 30 and 40 cents per share – substantially higher than KAMENSKY’s bid – to purchase the MYT Securities from any unsecured creditor who was interested in receiving cash.

That afternoon, KAMENSKY sent messages to a senior trader at the Investment Bank (“IB Employee-1”) telling him not to place a bid, and followed those messages up with a phone call with IB Employee-1 and a senior analyst of the Investment Bank (“IB Employee-2,” and collectively the “Employees”).  During that call, KAMENSKY asserted that Marble Ridge should have the exclusive right to purchase MYT Securities, and he threatened to use his official role as co-chair of the Committee to prevent the Investment Bank from acquiring the MYT Securities.  KAMENSKY also stated that Marble Ridge had been a client of the Investment Bank in the past but that if the Investment Bank moved forward with its bid, then Marble Ridge would cease doing business with the Investment Bank.

The Investment Bank thereafter decided not to make a bid to purchase MYT Securities and informed the legal adviser to the Committee of its decision.  The Investment Bank further told the legal adviser it made that decision because KAMENSKY – a client of the Investment Bank – had asked them not to.

Advisers to the Committee informed counsel for Marble Ridge of their call with the Employees, and after speaking with KAMENSKY, counsel for Marble Ridge falsely informed the advisers that KAMENSKY had not asked the Employees not to bid, but instead had told them to place a bid only if they were serious.  Later that evening, KAMENSKY contacted IB Employee-1 and attempted to influence what IB Employee-1 would tell others, including the Committee and law enforcement, about KAMENSKY’s attempt to block the Investment Bank’s bid for the MYT Securities.  KAMENSKY said at the outset of the call, in substance, “this conversation never happened.”  During the call, KAMENSKY asked IB Employee-1 to say falsely that IB Employee-1 had been mistaken and KAMENSKY had actually suggested that the Investment Bank bid only if it were serious, and made comments including the following:  “Do you understand . . . I can go to jail?”  “I pray you tell them that it was a huge misunderstanding, okay, and I’m going to invite you to bid and be part of the process.”  “But I’m telling you . . . this is going to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.  This is going to go to the court.”  “[I]f you’re going to continue to tell them what you just told me, I’m going to jail, okay?  Because they’re going to say that I abused my position as a fiduciary, which I probably did, right?  Maybe I should go to jail.  But I'm asking you not to put me in jail.”

During a subsequent interview with the Office of the United States Trustee, which was conducted under oath and in the presence of counsel, KAMENSKY stated that his calls to IB Employee-1 were a “terrible mistake” and “profound errors in lapses of judgment.”

After this series of events, Marble Ridge resigned from the Committee and advised its investors that it intended to begin winding down operations and returning investor capital.

In addition to his prison term, KAMENSKY, 48, of Roslyn, New York, was sentenced to six months of supervised release on home confinement and ordered to pay a fine of $55,000.

Ms. Strauss praised the work of the FBI.  Ms. Strauss further thanked the Office of United States Trustee and the Securities and Exchange Commission for their cooperation and assistance in this investigation.