Bill attempts crack down on biker free-for-alls

Form the NY Post:

New legislation targeting rogue motorcyclists in the wake of the vicious beatdown of a Manhattan man in front of his wife and baby daughter will be introduced in the state Senate on Monday.

Sen. Adriano Espaillat, whose district includes Washington Heights, where the violence took place, and Assemblywoman Gabriela Rosa, will propose four bills giving cops and prosecutors new tools to go after reckless bikers.

The bill will apply in the city only, not the rest of the state.

“While the brutal assault caught on video captured the world’s attention, aggressive and reckless motorcyclist behavior in upper Manhattan has been a persistent quality-of-life hazard in our community for years,” Espaillat said.

Rule-breaking bikers have been a particular nuisance in his district because it includes parts of the West Side Highway, FDR Drive, and other major routes.

The first measure would stiffen penalties for a group attack by bikers.

The second would make it illegal for bikers to do stunts like wheelies in traffic.

“Anyone who thinks performing risky maneuvers in the middle of traffic is a good idea should have their license suspended so they understand their actions put lives in danger,” Espaillat said.

A third bill would require groups of 50 or more motorcyclists to get a permit approved by the NYPD.

And the last part of the legislation would shift the power from the state to the city to install cameras on roads. Currently, the state has the power to approve traffic cameras.

A bill was also introduced to increase penalties for those caught driving with suspended licenses.

He just doesn't know when to quit

From NY1:

Charles Rangel was first elected to Congress the year the Beatles broke up. John Lindsay was mayor, and the nation's Environmental Protection Agency was born.

Now, Rangel said Thursday that he is seeking a 23rd term to help implement President Barack Obama's agenda.

"There's a lot of work that the president has started that we haven't had an opportunity to complete," he said.

If Rangel and the president see eye-to-eye on policy, they haven't always had the smoothest personal relationship. Obama once stated publicly that the dean of New York's congressional delegation should "end his career with dignity" when facing an ethics scandal. Privately, Obama has reportedly said much worse things.

"I don't have any problems with this president," Rangel said. "I have a problem with our economy. I've got a problem with the homeless, the jobless and the hopeless."

Two years ago, Rangel faced a primary challenge from state Senator Adriano Espaillat. The district became more Latino when it was redrawn in 2012. While Rangel won that race, it was close, with Espaillat not conceding for two weeks.

Espaillat is stopping just short of publicly saying he's running again.

Is she getting paid?

From NY1:

State Senator Adriano Espaillat of Upper Manhattan has been active in helping constituents who intervened to stop the assault.

"I'm appalled. I heard it. I thought it was disastrous," Espaillat said. "It was terrible that someone in government is helping these folks that we saw through a film, through a video beat up on this defenseless father."

According to Ferraras' office, Yvettelis Rodriguez is on what you might call modified duty. She is no longer coming to work, but she remains on staff until the Council can conduct its investigation and determine whether or not she can be let go.

From the Queens Chronicle:

Guilt by association is wrong, even as it relates to a husband and wife, so you can’t hang the threats made by Rodriguez’s alleged spouse on her. But we agree with Ferreras that her aide’s activities are inappropriate, at the very least, for someone whose job is to serve the public — and whose checks are paid for by that public — and we look forward to the results of the investigation.

Illegal immigration status led to 22-year old cold case

From the NY Times:

Before she came to be known as Baby Hope, Anjelica Castillo lived with seven people in the Queens apartment where she was killed. None of them spoke up when she vanished one summer day.

Neither did her parents, who never reported the girl missing, nor did at least two of her sisters, who spoke of it to each other but not to the authorities.

Several factors may have contributed to the family’s reluctance to speak up. Many were living in the United States illegally, according to two other law enforcement officials, and were likely fearful of coming forward. One of the officials said that after the killing, Ms. Juarez-Ramirez and Mr. Juarez told others living in the apartment on 30th Avenue in Astoria that “Anjelica is not coming home” and that they should not ask questions. Investigators believe the pair might have succeeded in keeping them quiet because of the immigration status of those living there.

Fat lady hasn't sung for Charlie yet

From NY Magazine:

This week's New York primary truly was the biggest fight of Representative Charlie Rangel's career — and it still isn't over. State Sentator Adriano Espaillat conceded defeat on Tuesday night following reports that the the 21-term congressman was ahead by double digits. However, as more results came in, Rangel's lead dwindled to a little over 1,000 votes out of the nearly 39,000 counted. Now Espaillat's supporters are calling for an investigation into the results, saying that when all is said and done, their candidate may still manage to unseat Rangel.

The Associated Press reported on Wednesday that, in contrast to preliminary results, Rangel only had a 2.8 percent lead with returns from 33 precincts and paper affidavit ballots yet to be counted. By the next day, results from 32 of the district's 506 precincts still hadn't been reported and the New York City Board of Elections had yet to provide an explanation.

On Thursday afternoon, about 30 Espaillat supporters held a protest outside of Rangel's Harlem office and demanded that the Board of Elections release more information about the vote. The Daily News reports that City Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez also held a press conference, telling reporters that a large number of uncounted affidavit ballots are from his home district, where Espaillat is particularly popular.