Pg. 28 081414 (BW)

RT08142014

TIMES, THURSDAY, AUGUST 14, 2014 • 28 Baldeo Guilty Of Obstruction FDNY Scraps Yard Plan For Sunnyside combined two facilities into one at the new site. “I am pleased that the FDNY has decided to withdraw its application for the proposed 43rd Street facility,” Van Bramer said in a statement. “While I support the FDNY and the brave men and women who serve it, this site is not appropriate for this use.” As previously reported in the Times Newsweekly, the department planned to consolidate the Accident and Decommissioned Apparatus, Emergency Crew and Motor Transport Units to the site, department officials said. The site was also slated to be used for Fleet Services and Facilities Management, a spokesperson said in June. According to Van Bramer’s office, many in the community contacted him with concerns over increased traffic, the proximity to schools and parks and the site’s location in a non-industrial area. The Council Majority Leader expressed these concerns at a meeting with Fire Department Commissioner Daniel Nigro in July, an aide noted. “I want to thank FDNY Commissioner Nigro for meeting with me and listening to the community's concerns. And I pledge to work with the Commissioner to find a more appropriate site in the future,” Van Bramer said. Fire Department officials said in June that for the last 20 years the Spare and Reserve Fleets have been stored at a facility on Paidge Avenue in Greenpoint. Relocation of this facility is imperative because of its current location in a Level A flood zone, an official told Board 2. The Paidge Avenue facility was damaged by flooding during Hurricane Sandy, as were vehicles and department equipment the official said. The department is reportedly looking for another facility, possibly also in Queens. -CONTINUED FROM PG. 12- Audits Find Many Flaws In City’s 911 System priority is public safety, and we do not take that charge lightly.” de Blasio said upon the report’s releases. “We have identified the problems that have long plagued the ECT, and we’re committed to taking the necessary corrective action to ensure the program is brought back on track.” DOI Commissioner Mark Peters found similar issues. The agency released preliminary findings of an agency report and recommendations for going forward to be reviewed by the mayor. The DOI found that ECT “struggled with vague lines of authority, a lack of advanced planning,” and a failure to engage an independent monitor to oversee operations. “Instead of strong city governance, the project outsourced critical responsibilities to consultants who were insufficiently accountable to the city,” Stringer added. “I commend Mayor de Blasio for initiating this much needed interagency review. ECT has taken far longer thatn anticipated, stretching from the initial estimate of five years to the current estimate of 15 years, with the end date now projected to be no sooner thatn 2018. The comptroller noted other problems including a lack of transparency regarding total costs of the system to taxpayers. Stringer found the possible cost understatement in excess of $200 million, he said. His recommendations to overhaul the system are to impose a new control structure that reflects a united vision; hire technology experts to oversee the progress of the project; publish and consider all associated costs of the project; and implement a system to review consultants invoices to limit costs. The DOI recommended empowering one official to lead the ECT and make critical decisions; establishing a concise scope of each ECT component; and naming an integrity monitor to identify potential sources of waste, fraud and corruption. “Layers of consultants, middlemen and outsourcing have resulted in 10 years of delays and hundreds of millions in cost overruns to the city’s upgrade of its 911 system,” Stringer said. “This program produced an outrageous waste of funds due to the lack of oversight and accountability. It’s time to fix the boondoggle once and for all.” -CONTINUED FROM PG. 10- Ozone Park Parents Charged With Child Abuse this investigation, and commissioner Gladys Carrion joined Brown at last Tuesday’s announcement. The victim reportedly lived with her father and stepmother at their 96th Street home, Brown stated. The victims’ stepmother appeared in court on Tuesday, July 29, before Queens Criminal Court Judge Deborah Modica, Brown stated. She was charged with second-degree assault and endangering the welfare of a child, he said. She faces up to seven years in prison on the assault charge and 25 maximum for endangerment, according to the DA. She is being held in prison on $60,000 total bail for both charges, it was noted. She was ordered to reappear in court yesterday, Brown said. The victims’ father appeared in court on Friday, Aug. 1 before Queens Criminal Court Judge Michelle Armstrong, according to the DA. He was charged with second and third-degree assault, first-degree unlawful imprisonment and endangering the welfare of a child, Brown stated. He is being held in lieu of $25,000 bail and was ordered to reappear yesterday as well, it was noted. He faces up to seven years in prison if convicted, Brown said. “The criminal charges allege that this young victim was subjected to years of unspeakable physical abuse at the hands of her father and stepmother––including being locked in her bedroom by her stepmother without food or water for extended periods of time and forced to take cold showers while her father hit her about her body with his hands and even a baseball bat,” Brown said. After one incident, on May 6, 2013, the victim was reportedly found by medical personnel lying in a pool of blood after allegedly being severly beaten by her stepmother. She was allegedly beaten so badly with a broken metal broom handle that her wrist was cut to the bone and her injuries required surgery and hospitalization, the DA stated. In another instance, on Apr. 16, 2014, the victim was allegedly hit in the face with a wooden rolling pin by her stepmother, and after being transported to Queens Hospital Medical Center for treatment of her inquiries, doctors allegedly found her emaciated and thin, weighing 58 lbs and wearing dirty clothes, according to Brown. “I am deeply grateful to the Child Protective Specialists and Investigative Consultants whose diligence and professionalism saved the life of this young girl and ensured that she and her siblings were removed from this home and are now safe from further abuse,” Carrion said. The investigation was conducted by the 106th Precinct Detective Squad. Assistant District Attorney Melissa Kelly, of the District Attorney’s Special Victims Bureau, is prosecuting the case under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Kenneth M. Appelbaum, bureau chief, and Assistant District Attorneys Lucinda C. Suarez and Eric C. Rosenbaum, deputy bureau chiefs, and the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Major Crimes Charles A. Testagrossa and Deputy Executive Assistant District Attorney for Major Crimes Daniel A. Saunders. -CONTINUED FROM PG. 9- Monday. “With today’s verdict of guilty, an impartial federal jury has found that Baldeo lied and instructed others to lie to law enforcement agents investigating the source of his campaign contributions and threatened and intimidated others in order to conceal the truth.” Elected in 2010 as the Democratic district leader for the 38th Assembly District, Baldeo was one of six candidates that November who sought the vacant 28th City Council District seat in a special election. The seat was held by the late Thomas White, who died earlier in the year, and subsequently won by Ruben Wills. Two years after the failed effort, federal prosecutors charged Baldeo with concocting a scheme during the City Council campaign to obtain $15,000 from the CFB. He reportedly provided several individuals (straw donors) with his own money and instructed them to donate it to his campaign. After they complied with his request, Baldeo allegedly instructed them to sign a CFB campaign contribution card including their name, address, employment information and amount of money which they falsely claimed they donated on their own accord. Several of the straw donors were also instructed by Baldeo to sign affidavits falsely affirming that the contributions made to his campaign were their own, prosecutors noted. The contribution cards and one of the affidavits were reportedly sent to the CFB along with Baldeo’s matching fund request. Ultimately, the CFB denied the claim due to questions regarding the validity of many of the purported contributions. Thereafter, the agency, along with the FBI, launched investigations. Bharara thanked the FBI, the CFB, the DOB and the ACS for their cooperation in the matter. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel C. Richenthal and Martin S. Bell of the office’s Public Corruption Unit prosecuted the case. -CONTINUED FROM PG. 10- Selling A Home Or Car? Renting An Apartment? Having A Yard Sale? Looking To Hire Someone? Let The Times Newsweekly Classified Section Work For You! Call Us At 1-718-821-7500


RT08142014
To see the actual publication please follow the link above