By SOPHIE DWECK
It’s almost the most wonderful time of the year — again.
In the basement of the St. Paul the Apostle Church on Thursday stood two, long uniform rows of women facing a mirrored wall. All were beaming yet with a certain seriousness behind the smiles. All 80 women were around the same height, 5 ft 7 in. Their hair was tied up in high topknots and their lips were a bright shade of red. The women wore similar black outfits—black character shoes, black spandex, and the same top that read “Rockettes” in rhinestones.
“And 5,6,7,8,” shouts Julie Branam, the director and choreographer of the Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes.
The familiar holiday instrumental music started up, and the Radio City Rockettes were off rehearsing the number “New York at Christmas” for the 2016 production.
Known for their precision, the dancers showed off the very routine that makes the Rockettes, “the Rockettes.” They each kicked up their left legs to eye level and followed with their right in perfectly synched unison, and so on and so forth. Not once did the girls wipe the dazzling smiles off their faces.
This was the first day of rehearsals for the girls. During the next eight weeks, they will be rehearsing for the prominent holiday show for seven hours a day, six days a week.
“It’s a long process, but it’s worth it,” Samantha Berger, a New York City Rockette said. “That’s what makes us so special. It’s the precision and all the details we have to pay attention to.”
Since The Christmas Spectacular’s debut in 1933, the Radio City Rockettes have danced into the hearts of millions and spread holiday cheer to people of all ages. During the Christmas season, the Rockettes perform five shows a day, seven days a week, featuring popular dance numbers and extravagant costumes.
Berger who has been a Radio City Rockette for 12 years, thanks her mother, who first urged her to audition, for what she calls the “best experience for her life”.
“Always listen to your mother,” she said assertively. “She’s always right.”
The show was scheduled t0 run from November 11 to January 2.
Photo and Video by Sophie Dweck
Radio City Rockettes Rehearsal
By MARK SULEYMANOV & LINDA KRESTANOVA
A serial rapist was sentenced to 20 years to life on Thursday as he sat silently, wearing the dark-rimmed glasses that he’d previously stated were what got him caught.
Rodney Stover pleaded guilty to sexual assault in late September after having claimed innocence when arrested in April of 2015. While denying he’d committed the crime following his arrest, he complained that his glasses “aren’t even black,” saying that cops had all suspects don similar glasses when the victim recognized him in a lineup.
On April 11, the victim, then 23, had been at the Flatiron District’s Turnmill bar, on East 27th Street, with her boyfriend celebrating a friend’s birthday. While she was in the basement restroom, Stover shoved her into a stall, grabbed her throat, verbally threatened and raped her.
After fleeing, Stover was caught a few days later when he was seen strolling by the Turnmill. The bar’s owner, Tom Lucas, easily recognized him after having watched camera footage of the night of the crime and he alerted police.
At the time of his arrest, Stover was already classified as a Level 3 sex offender by the criminal justice system.
Stover, 49, had spent more than 20 years in prison for sexual attacks, which included the rape of a 42-year-old Long Island woman in 1992. When released from a Pennsylvania prison on Feb. 14, 2015, he took a bus to New York City and began living in the Bellevue Men’s Shelter. He was still living there on the day of his arrest.
During a 2015 interview with the New York Post, Stover made claims that included having been molested by his mother as a child.
Speaking about his criminal past, he said that he did not need to resort to rape to get women.
“I’m not a bad-looking guy,” he said, before raising his eyebrow and saying, “That was my Cary Grant.”
By CHRISTELL CHERENFANT
A bar worker who pleaded guilty to burglary and arson in the second-degree when setting fire to the place where he worked, was sentenced three-and-a-half years in prison followed by five years of probation on Thursday.
In May 2015, Aureliano Flores, who was at the time, was caught stealing $2,200 from the register of Pony Bar, a bar that serves some of the most extensive tap beer, in the Upper East Side.
Flores, a Brooklynite, tried to hide his face from the surveillance cameras with an umbrella, then to cover his tracks, began pouring gasoline on the floor of the bar, which has three floors of apartments above, and set the place ablaze. The flames were put out by the sprinkler system.
Flores, who said that he stole the money to pay his rent snd buy his girlfriend a trip to Mexico, was stopped by fire marshals before he left the building.
Flores, dressed in a sweat suit, appeared cool and calm at the sentencing, though he benches were filled with unhappy family members and friends who seemed to be in more pain than he was.
After Justice Maxwell Wiley’s ruling, his supporters ran from the room in tears.
“I wish to not have anything else put into the media,” said one young teary-eyed woman after Flores’ lawyer told the family to talk only to him on the phone. The defense attorney, as well as various other family members, wished to remain anonymous because they said the media portrayed Flores in a bad light.
By RENEE SAFF
Mayor de Blasio’s second in command testified at a City Council hearing on Thursday that ignorance and miscommunication led to the removal of two deed restrictions, enabling the sale of a Lower East Side nursing home by a for-profit company for a $72 million profit.
“I did not realize the deed restrictions had been amended or lifted in such a way that would allow luxury housing to occur,” said First Deputy Mayor Anthony E. Shorris in his testimony.
Shorris apologized for the city’s mishandling of the Rivington House, admitting that he is accountable for the Rivington fiasco and calling it a “failure of execution” during his two-and-a-half hour questioning by councilmembers in a joint meeting of the Committee on Oversight and Investigations and the Committee on Government Operations.
“I believe fundamentally that accountability lies at the top,” Shorris said. “I am accountable and in some respects to blame.”
City-issued deeds, which restrict the use of a property, have required Rivington House to be used for non-profit healthcare services in the past. Village Care, the building’s original operator on the verge of bankruptcy, sold Rivington House in early 2015 to Allure, a for-profit healthcare company. Allure paid the city over $16 million to have the deed restrictions lifted, and sold the property to a luxury housing developer for an excess of $100 million shortly thereafter.
According to his testimony, when Shorris heard that Village Care was on the verge of bankruptcy, he decided that the best option for Rivington House would be to keep it as a nursing home, so he gave permission for the Department of Citywide Administrative Services to change the non-profit status of the property to allow a for-profit nursing home operator to come in. Shorris said he never intended for the site to be used for anything but a for-profit nursing home. The city never took any steps to ensure that this was carried out. Somehow, as a result of this, both deed restrictions were unnecessarily lifted, allowing Allure to sell the building to a luxury housing developer.
“There was a clear effort to deceive the city,” Shorris said. “This should be a formalized process that should ensure better communication.”
Shorris failed to read weekly memos regarding Rivington House and meet monthly with the DCAS commissioner responsible for handling the deeds during the months while the changes were being made.
“There are gaps, there are mistakes that happen,” Shorris said. “This was one. It won’t happen again.”
When Councilman David Greenfield questioned Shorris on why none of his staff members had been disciplined or fired for the slip-up, Shorris said that there was no one person to blame, choosing instead to blame a flawed system for the miscommunication. To date, the deputy mayor has not disciplined any of his staff members.
The hearing’s most heated moment came just seconds before Shorris left the chamber, when Councilman Ben Kallos asked for an on the record explanation of why the deputy mayor’s appearance at the hearing was limited to two-and-a-half hours. The council was led to believe that Shorris had a flight to catch to Oklahoma with de Blasio, which turned out to be false.
“That’s actually quite disturbing and we’ll deal with that later,” Kallos said upon finding out that there was no pressing reason for a time limit to be imposed on Shorrisris by ’s appearance. “This is an example of yet another communication problem.”
In an attempt to make up for the botched sale of Rivington House, another site owned by the city has already been identified for affordable senior housing and assisted living to replace Rivington’s 200 beds. The city plans to pour the $16 million that it received to lift the deed restriction back into the community.
“Although we can’t literally replace it on that site, at least as far as we know, building several hundred beds of affordable senior housing with an assisted living facility and other healthcare components in that community using the money that the city received is the best way we can to mitigate what happened,” Shorris told reporters after the hearing.
Photo of Deputy Mayor Shores by Renee Saff
By PAUL FRANGIPANE
The family of 18-year-old Ramarley Graham on Thursday demanded more information about the aftermath of the Bronx teen’s death, four and a half years since he was fatally shot by police and Mayor Bill de Blasio urged a “fair, speedy and transparent investigation” into the case.
The family’s anger was stoked by having to learn from an article in the Wall Street Journal that a police departmental trial was set for narcotics officer Richard Haste — who shot and killed unarmed Graham in February 2012 in the bathroom of Graham’s own home — rather than hearing about it from the mayor.
“I felt like it was so disrespectful for Mayor de Blasio to send this information to the Wall Street Journal before he calls me,” Graham’s mother, Constance Malcolm said while holding back tears on the steps of City Hall. “First of all, I live in the Bronx, they don’t even sell the Wall Street Journal in the Bronx.”
Civil Rights Attorney Gideon Oliver drafted a Freedom of Information Law request and filed it with the police department Thursday, demanding the identities of the other officers on the scene where Graham was killed and any actions that have been taken against them.
While Haste has been put on modified duty since 2012 and stripped of his badge, he has remained on payroll while the outcomes for some 12 other officers who were on the scene in 2012 were shrouded in mystery.
Councilman Andy King was told by the department that Haste’s trial would begin no later than November and conclude in January. Malcolm said she wanted to know the exact date of the trial in order to attend.
“Four and a half years and two de Blasio police commissioners later, the Graham family and the rest of us are still in the dark,” Oliver said.
Royce Russell, the Graham family attorney said, “The wheels of justice move slowly…At this point, those wheels are flat.”
De Blasio had demanded a quick resolution of the case when he still held the office of Public Advocate. Now that he is the mayor and has gone back on his promise, said Malcolm and the wall of council members and attorneys standing behind her, she vouched to oppose his reelection.
“You’re gonna be a one-term mayor and if it’s the last thing I do, that’s what I have to do,” Malcolm said.
Civil rights lawyer Tamika Mallory echoed the sentiment.
“We will ensure that if he does not do his job, we will be out campaigning just as we did for him, against him,” Mallory shouted.
“It’s embarrassing to know that the mother of a young man who lost his life can’t get basic answers from the administration,” Councilman Antonio Reynoso said of the situation. “I don’t even have the words to describe how little sense it makes and I apologize for the administration.”
De Blasio, who was traveling to Oklahoma for a conference of mayors, could not be reached for comment.
Photo by Paul Frangipane
By LINDA KRESTANOVA
Maurice “Hank” Greenberg, 91, mumbled page numbers to himself as he leisurely shuffled through pages of documents he was asked to read, only to answer repeatedly, “I don’t recall.”
Wearing a blue suit and gold-rimmed reading glasses, the ex-CEO of AIG appeared relaxed Thursday at Manhattan Civil Court during his third day on the witness stand, where he defended himself against claims that he had orchestrated sham transactions to hide insurance losses. At stake was an estimated $55 million.
At one point, he even chuckled at an objection made by his own lawyer.
“This is very soothing,” New York State Supreme Court Justice Charles E. Ramos jokingly said, “but I really wish we’d move this along. I do have 350 other cases.”
During Greenberg’s testimony, the state kept the focus on fraud allegations regarding an auto-warranty program of 2000, specifically AIG’s former senior vice president Joseph Umansky’s decision to search for investors for CAPCO Reinsurance Co. in Switzerland. CAPCO, a Barbados-based company, had allegedly been utilized in unloading losses from the auto-warranty program.
The case against Greenberg, AIG’s former chief executive, was first filed in May 2005 by former New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer. The defendants, Greenberg and Howard I. Smith, AIG’s former chief financial officer, were accused of orchestrating fake deals in 2000 and 2001 that concealed insurance losses worth hundreds of millions of dollars from shareholders.
Despite denying the allegations, Greenberg and Smith paid $16.5 million to settle failure-to-supervise charges. The state is now seeking to bar the two men from serving in the securities business or as executives of any public company. It is also seeking damages of over $50 million, an amount based on what the two men received in bonuses, with interest, after the transactions under scrutiny.
Greenberg arrived early and sat in silence, leaning back in his chair while his lawyers conversed. Later, during a break, he strolled through the courtroom and initiated numerous conversations, at times smiling to himself as he looked around.
The trial, which is being heard without a jury, was scheduled to resume on Oct. 3, where Greenberg is set to continue his testimony.
By SASKIA NEWTON
A Brooklyn woman accused of killing her boyfriend in an argument over beer was found guilty of manslaughter in the second degree in Brooklyn Supreme Court on Thursday.
The tension was felt in the courtroom as the verdict was being read, causing Latrina Crocker, 47, to break down in tears. She gripped her bible while tears streamed down her face. An unidentified family member of the defendant stormed out of the courtroom mumbling and shaking his head after she was taken into custody.
Prosecutors said Crocker stabbed Michael Artist in the heart with a steak knife after he tried to drink her beer. Crocker and Artist were dating on and off for two years and had a very toxic relationship.
On the night of the incident Crocker testified she was at a friend’s birthday party around the block where she consumed two six packs of Old English mixed with Hennessy. While walking home drunk she stopped at a deli and purchased more beer.
Crocker also admitted on the witness stand to being an alcoholic and said she used to drink a six pack almost every day.
After the verdict the defense attorney Julie Clark asked the judge for time to work on a motion, where she wants to include Crocker’s medical records.
Sentencing was scheduled for October 21st.
“It is finished,” said Assistant DA Ada Erskine as she walked over to an unidentified family member of the victim and shook her hand.
BY NAAFUA AKUMAH
Two local politicians on Thursday proposed legislation in Albany to toughen the penalty for drivers who speed in school zones that would cause them lose their licenses for 60 days after three or more violations during school days within an 18-month period.
During the announcement, which was held in front of PS 41 in Manhattan, Senator Jose Peralta and Assemblywoman Deborah Glick were joined by members of Transportation Alternatives and Make Queens Safer, two advocacy organization.
“We have a speeding problem in one of every three schools in the city,” said Peralta. “If passed, this legislation will punish offenders by taking away their driver’s licenses for 60 days. We have a responsibility to hold reckless drivers accountable for their actions. Schools zones are now slow zones. Period.”
When asked if there was a specific incident that motived the introduction of the bill, Peralta replied, “It’s just the fact there’s been an increase in accidents in school zones.”
In 2013, according to New York City’s Department of Transportation, at least three in every four drivers exceed limits within a quarter mile of 100 school buildings surveyed. In addition, at another 306 school zones, between 25 and 75 percent of the drivers exceeded the speed limit.
“Let me tell you if I don’t have my license with me for one day because I left it in my wallet somewhere, I go crazy looking for it so not being able to actually have your license for two months, especially in the city of New York, trying to get around if you have a car. I think that a send a message that I need to slow down next time,” Peralta said.
Glick said every day one million children travel to and from school in New York City. When a parent or guardian sends their children to school, they deserve the peace of mind to know that speeding motorists will not put their children in danger.
Cristina Furlong, Co-founder of Makes Queens Safer, also said that speed camera enforcement has changed behavior and reduced traffic dangers around the schools where they are located.
“When drivers persist in disregarding the safety of our children, the result could be tragic,” Furlong said. “We believe that it is fair and just to have this new legislation to act as a deterrent to the dangerous behaviors and rampant speeding that put our children in harm’s way.”
By SOPHIE DWECK
High fashion, like many other things cultural and social, may be crossing the Brooklyn Bridge.
A press conference was held at Brooklyn Borough Hall Thursday to announce the selections of designs for next spring and summer to be previewed at Fashion Week Brooklyn, beginning October 1.
Founded in 2006 by the non-profit organization, Brooklyn Style Foundation, the bi-annual international collection show has been showcasing the talent of many designers across the globe.
And although New York Fashion Week has already ended for the showcasing of new collections of the Highline, international designers, it’s only just started for some aspiring and established designers.
“I started Fashion Week Brooklyn because after being a stylist for so many years and being in the industry, I figured since I lived in Brooklyn, Brooklyn has so much fashion and style,” Ricky Davy, Founder of the Fashion Week Brooklyn told Brooklyn News Service. “We need to bring what’s in Manhattan to Brooklyn.”
In 2014, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams formally endorsed Fashion Week Brooklyn as the “official” Fashion Week of the borough.
Four designers showed off two of their newest designs on their models, giving a hint of what’s to come.
“The whole idea of our show is to discover new talent,” Davy said. “We give them an opportunity to show us their designs that they wouldn’t get to show at other venues.”
One of designers was South Korean born and New York based, Lissa Koo. She spoke about her new designs for clothing brand, “saku new york,” which combines both the chic New York and the easy, breezy West Coast atmosphere.
“The SS17 theme is called, Link,” she told Brooklyn News Service. “I got inspired by how every creature has some kind of connection.”
For the past 10 years, the group has supported many charitable organizations such as Soles4Soles Foundation, MTV Staying Alive Foundation, Denim Day NYC, and more. It also has been vocal about social issues like human rights and poverty.
Queens-based designer, Tyran Marquis, showcased two new bleached and stained denim designs from his “Under Pressure” line, which is supposed to embody the feeling of being a minority.
“My line is based around turmoil, destruction, and poverty,” he told Brooklyn News Service. “Since what we’re going through with police brutality, I wanted the bleach to symbolize that on nicely done clothes.”
The public will get to meet the designers as well as view their collections, October 5 at Macy’s Herald Square.
By LINDA KRESTANOVA
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair smiled a bit uneasily as he fielded a reporter’s question at a panel at the Council of Foreign Relations on Thursday after he asserted that education was the key to curbing global extremism.
“What role in educating the people who became extremists [did] the fact that their countries were invaded, intervened, bombed by forces led by your country have?” The reporter asked pointedly, adding that a report in the U.K. now “blames you substantially, condemns you substantially.”
“I think I know where you’re coming from,” he began, prompting laughter from his audience.
The question highlighted widespread criticism of Blair’s controversial decision to lead Britain into war in Iraq in 2003 as detailed in the Chilcot report published by a retired civil servant earlier this year.
The sparring between Blair and the reporter followed his earlier remark regarding the necessity of lessons promoting acceptance, when he had cheerfully said, “I know a lot more about this now than I did when I was prime minister.”
In response Blair expressed is belief that extremism was not caused by foreign policy decisions, citing Libya as an example of failure to halt terrorism despite taking numerous actions to remove a “brutal” regime and guide the country to democracy.
“You will help defeat this ideology if you educate the next generation of young people to be culturally open to those that are different,” he said, inciting applause.
Blair, who has described his decision to have the U.K. join American forces in Iraq in 2003 as the “most agonizing decision” of his life, expressed regret over the failures of the war in a press conference over two months ago. However, he stood by his belief that it had been the right decision and denied accusations that he had deceived the British public regarding details of the war.
Blair announced Tuesday that he plans to close his highly successful commercial businesses to focus on non-profit work. Since leaving office in 2007, he has spent a lot of time in the Middle East, where his work focuses on religious-based extremism. He established the Tony Blair Faith Foundation to help push a global policy change within education programs across the world.
The hour-long conversation on Thursday, during which Blair was joined by Irina Bokova, the Director General of UNESCO, emphasized the dangers of close-minded views – specifically regarding Islam – which are often directly or indirectly taught both in Qur’anic schools and schools supporting anti-Muslim ideologies.
The solution, according to both Blair and Bokova, was a long-term approach rooted in the proper education of children and young adults. This requires governments to help one-another.
“If you’re polluting within your borders, it’s affecting us, not just you,” Blair said. “Therefore we need to set some global responsibility. I think it’s the same with education.”
Photo by Linda Krestanova
