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QC03142013

18 The Queens Courier • MARCH 14, 2013 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com ‘CANNIBAL COP’ FOUND GUILTY BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO aaltamirano@queenscourier.com BY CRISTABELLE TUMOLA ctumola@queenscourier.com In a Jackson Heights McDonald’s, the large sodas still flow. And customers were just happy they still had the choice of ordering sugary drinks bigger than 16 ounces. “I think people are smart enough to decide what’s good for them and what’s just too big,” said 19-year-old Chris Rojas. Less than 24 hours before it was to take effect, a judge halted the city’s sugary drink ban that was set to start on Tuesday, March 12. The same day, Mayor Michael Bloomberg vowed to appeal the ruling. In a press conference Monday, Bloomberg cited the leading role of sugary drinks in the obesity epidemic and the history of the New York City Board of Health taking “bold action to confront major health problems” as reasons why the ban is important. “With so many people contracting diabetes and heart disease, with so many children who are overweight and obese, with so many poor neighborhoods suffering the worst of this epidemic, we believe it is reasonable and responsible to draw a line — and that is what the Board of Health has done,” he said. Bloomberg also said he was certain that they city’s ban would eventually go forward as planned. “There are many, many instances where a lower court decision has gone against us and then been reversed. If lower court rulings had always stood, Grand Central Photo courtesy Facebook Terminal would have been knocked down 40 years ago,” he said. “We’re confident that the court’s decision will ultimately be reversed, too.” In October, the American Beverage Association and six other groups with members affected by the ban filed the suit against the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, arguing that the board did not have the authority to pass the ban. In his ruling, State Supreme Justice Milton Tingling found that the Board “may supervise and regulate the food supply of the city when it affects public health, but the Charter’s history clearly illustrates when such steps may be taken, i.e. when the city is facing eminent danger due to disease, and that hasn’t been demonstrated.” In the suit, the plaintiffs argued that the ban unfairly targets certain drinks and certain food establishments, while ignoring others. Large-sized non-diet sodas would have been prohibited, but sugary alcoholic drinks are not. Pizza places would not have been allowed to deliver a two-liter soda to a family of four, but the 7-Eleven chain could sell a Big Gulp to one person. “If you want to educate people and say listen, the sugar is no good for you, fine. But to ban the two-liter bottle is absolutely ridiculous,” said James Coady, co-owner of Cascarino’s, a pizzeria with multiple locations. “Nobody is sitting there and drinking a two-liter bottle and guzzling it.” Guilty on all counts. After four days of deliberation, the jury has found “cannibal cop” Gilberto Valle guilty of both counts of conspiracy to commit kidnapping and for accessing a federal government computer database without authorization. The six-year NYPD veteran who planned to kidnap, kill and eat 100 women, made the decision to not take the stand during his trial and reportedly only spoke to the judge on the last day to discuss his decision “not to testify.” The trial began February 25 and closing arguments were given on Tuesday, March 5. During the trial, testimony was given by possible “targets” in Valle’s “deranged” plot, which included his estranged wife who broke down as she took the stand to describe the details of her husband’s plan. FBI agents also provided evidence of Valle’s “sick web chats with fellow fetishists” and Internet searches including “recipes for human flesh” and “how to chloroform a girl.” Valle could face life in prison. ON ICESODA BAN FIZZLES, MAYOR VOWS FIGHT NEW POPE, NEW HOPE First Latin American To Lead Catholics BY MAGGIE HAYES AND TERENCE M. CULLEN editorial@queenscourier.com The papal conclave elected Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina, the first South American and Jesuit pope, after one of the shortest conclaves in history. He selected the papal name Francis I. The decision came just a day after the voting began on Tuesday, March 12, following the official end of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s reign at the end of February. “Let us begin this journey together, this journey for the Roman Catholic Church,” said Pope Francis to a packed-tight crowd in St. Peter’s Square. “It’s a journey of friendship, of love, of trust and faith.” Pope Francis, 76, was born in Buenos Aires, and was Archbishop of his native city from 1998 until last year. His career, thus far, has been spent solely in Argentina. He is the 266th pope and the first non-European choice in over 1,000 years. “He’s a very holy and humble man,” said Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello of the Archdiocese of Brooklyn, which also serves Queens. “I think he’s a man who can bring a lot of trust back to the papalcy.” In Catholic history, St. Francis was a man who came to serve the poor, and there has also never been a pope named Francis. “It could mean that he’s not looking towards other papacies as inspiration,” said John Heyer, also of the Archdiocese. During his first address as Pope, he requested that his followers “always pray for one another,” and asked for the crowd’s blessing, which evolved into a moment of silence throughout the previously rambunctious square. As a Latin American, he represents nearly half of the world’s Catholic population, according to Heyer. Also as a Jesuit, Pope Francis could possibly bring a new open-mindedness to the church, as Jesuits are seen to be. “Jesuits realize we live in a multifaceted, multicultural world,” said Heyer, who hopes Pope Francis can apply these attributes to the Catholic world. According to the National Catholic Reporter, Pope Francis is against same-sex marriage, use of contraception and premarital sex. He has been, however, against clerical privilege, and criticized priests who refused to baptize children out of wedlock. “The church needs to reconcile in many places and build back bridges,” said Heyer. “The Christian message is about love. If that’s the direction we can go in, then I think we’re going towards a good place.” Shafran nets $60K BY QUEENS COURIER STAF editorial@queenscourier.com Austin Shafran, the former vice president of public affairs for Empire State Development under Governor Andrew Cuomo, has raised almost $60,000 since launching his city council campaign nearly two months ago. There were more than 320 individual donors on the filing, according to Shafran’s campaign, with contributions coming from across the diverse Council District 19. Of the contributions, $20,000 was from small-dollar donations, which is the most a candidate can receive in public matching funds in the primary. “As a strong voice fighting for working families,” said Shafran, 32. “I’m truly honored to have such a deep and diverse chorus of support behind our middleclass first agenda.” Candidates in the primary were capped off from taking contributions on Monday, March 11 and had to file their intake by that Friday, March 15. He faces a Democratic primary with former Assemblymember John Duane, community activist Paul Graziano and attorney Paul Vallone — the son of former City Council Speaker Peter Vallone Sr. and brother of Councilmember Peter Vallone Jr. Democratic State Committee Chair Matthew Silverstein is reportedly planning on dropping his bid for City Council. He did not confirm or deny rumors when The Courier reached out to him. The primary winner will likely face off with Republican incumbent Councilmember Dan Halloran in the November election. “I think people are smart enough to decide what’s good for them and what’s just too big” chris rojas


QC03142013
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