Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Round'em Up

Here are some Bronx-related stories which we've rounded up you, our lovely readers, while trolling the interweb with our horse and lasso this fine morning:

Here's a story not for the faint of heart:
A profile of 2320 Aqueduct Avenue, aptly named 'Hookers, Slot Machines, Rats: Life at the Bronx's 2320 Aqueduct Ave' [Village Voice] [BD Note: Although a horrific story of landlord (not to mention law enforcement) neglect, we have to admit we had a few chuckles while reading this piece. The prez of 2320's tenant association is one Adolph Santana, AKA 'El Gordito.' This guy's a real piece of work - at one point he's quoted as saying, "I'm the president of the tenants association! I know when the girls get their periods." Talk about a class act. The piece describes Santana as "a former law enforcement officer and addict who specialized in providing security for thugs and gangsters." So what was his most recent gig? Serving on Pedro Espada Jr.'s security team of course!]

Remember that Claremont woman who was complaining that the City wanted to plant free trees in front of her home? Well, she got them anyway. [Daily News]

You can't throw a stone in the Catholic community in the Bronx without hitting a Jesuit from Fordham who is assisting within struggling parishes [Fordham]

Our beloved borough (along with Staten Island... bleh) is one of the only not represented in the 'Edible' foodie magazine network [Gothamist]

Some much-needed improvements may be coming to White Plains Road [Yournabe.com]

~ErLu

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

In the Village Voice piece on the Aqueduct Avenue building, there is a passage about the prior life of Santana, the head of the tenant's association that reads:

"In the '80s, he says, he worked as a bouncer at after-hours clubs where he was approached by legendary Harlem heroin kingpin Nicky Barnes with an offer of employment. Santana says he turned him down."

This is a flat out lie, since Barnes was in prison from 1978 until his sentence was commuted in 1998. In other words, he was behind bars throughout the 80s.

The building's problems aside, you have to wonder how a reporter would not bother to check this. Makes you wonder what other tall tales they accepted at face value.